Exo 36:1-38 The People Brought Much More than Enough for the Service of the Work
Exodus 36:1-38 The People Brought Much More than Enough for the Service of the Work
[Study Aired February 6, 2023]
Exo 36:1 Then wrought Bezaleel and Aholiab, and every wise hearted man, in whom the LORD put wisdom and understanding to know how to work all manner of work for the service of the sanctuary, according to all that the LORD had commanded.
Exo 36:2 And Moses called Bezaleel and Aholiab, and every wise hearted man, in whose heart the LORD had put wisdom, even every one whose heart stirred him up to come unto the work to do it:
Exo 36:3 And they received of Moses all the offering, which the children of Israel had brought for the work of the service of the sanctuary, to make it withal. And they brought yet unto him free offerings every morning.
Exo 36:4 And all the wise men, that wrought all the work of the sanctuary, came every man from his work which they made;
Exo 36:5 And they spake unto Moses, saying, The people bring much more than enough for the service of the work, which the LORD commanded to make.
Exo 36:6 And Moses gave commandment, and they caused it to be proclaimed throughout the camp, saying, Let neither man nor woman make any more work for the offering of the sanctuary. So the people were restrained from bringing.
Exo 36:7 For the stuff they had was sufficient for all the work to make it, and too much.
Exo 36:8 And every wise hearted man among them that wrought the work of the tabernacle made ten curtains of fine twined linen, and blue, and purple, and scarlet: with cherubims of cunning work made he them.
Exo 36:9 The length of one curtain was twenty and eight cubits, and the breadth of one curtain four cubits: the curtains were all of one size.
Exo 36:10 And he coupled the five curtains one unto another: and the other five curtains he coupled one unto another.
Exo 36:11 And he made loops of blue on the edge of one curtain from the selvedge in the coupling: likewise he made in the uttermost side of another curtain, in the coupling of the second.
Exo 36:12 Fifty loops made he in one curtain, and fifty loops made he in the edge of the curtain which was in the coupling of the second: the loops held one curtain to another.
Exo 36:13 And he made fifty taches of gold, and coupled the curtains one unto another with the taches: so it became one tabernacle.
Exo 36:14 And he made curtains of goats’ hair for the tent over the tabernacle: eleven curtains he made them.
Exo 36:15 The length of one curtain was thirty cubits, and four cubits was the breadth of one curtain: the eleven curtains were of one size.
Exo 36:16 And he coupled five curtains by themselves, and six curtains by themselves.
Exo 36:17 And he made fifty loops upon the uttermost edge of the curtain in the coupling, and fifty loops made he upon the edge of the curtain which coupleth the second.
Exo 36:18 And he made fifty taches of brass to couple the tent together, that it might be one.
Exo 36:19 And he made a covering for the tent of rams’ skins dyed red, and a covering of badgers’ skins above that.
Exo 36:20 And he made boards for the tabernacle of shittim wood, standing up.
Exo 36:21 The length of a board was ten cubits, and the breadth of a board one cubit and a half.
Exo 36:22 One board had two tenons, equally distant one from another: thus did he make for all the boards of the tabernacle.
Exo 36:23 And he made boards for the tabernacle; twenty boards for the south side southward:
Exo 36:24 And forty sockets of silver he made under the twenty boards; two sockets under one board for his two tenons, and two sockets under another board for his two tenons.
Exo 36:25 And for the other side of the tabernacle, which is toward the north corner, he made twenty boards,
Exo 36:26 And their forty sockets of silver; two sockets under one board, and two sockets under another board.
Exo 36:27 And for the sides of the tabernacle westward he made six boards.
Exo 36:28 And two boards made he for the corners of the tabernacle in the two sides.
Exo 36:29 And they were coupled beneath, and coupled together at the head thereof, to one ring: thus he did to both of them in both the corners.
Exo 36:30 And there were eight boards; and their sockets were sixteen sockets of silver, under every board two sockets.
Exo 36:31 And he made bars of shittim wood; five for the boards of the one side of the tabernacle,
Exo 36:32 And five bars for the boards of the other side of the tabernacle, and five bars for the boards of the tabernacle for the sides westward.
Exo 36:33 And he made the middle bar to shoot through the boards from the one end to the other.
Exo 36:34 And he overlaid the boards with gold, and made their rings of gold to be places for the bars, and overlaid the bars with gold.
Exo 36:35 And he made a vail of blue, and purple, and scarlet, and fine twined linen: with cherubims made he it of cunning work.
Exo 36:36 And he made thereunto four pillars of shittim wood, and overlaid them with gold: their hooks were of gold; and he cast for them four sockets of silver.
Exo 36:37 And he made an hanging for the tabernacle door of blue, and purple, and scarlet, and fine twined linen, of needlework;
Exo 36:38 And the five pillars of it with their hooks: and he overlaid their chapiters and their fillets with gold: but their five sockets were of brass.
The chapter basically deals with the freewill offering brought to Moses and how the tabernacle was constructed. The tabernacle individually refers to our bodies as the temple of the Lord. Collectively, the tabernacle refers to the church of the first born or the New Jerusalem. This study will therefore give us insight into how the church of the firstborn is built by the Lord through us.
1Co 3:16 Do you not know that you are God’s temple and that God’s Spirit dwells in you?
1Pe 2:5 Ye also, as lively stones, are built up a spiritual house (the church of the firstborn), an holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God by Jesus Christ.
Exo 36:1 Then wrought Bezaleel and Aholiab, and every wise hearted man, in whom the LORD put wisdom and understanding to know how to work all manner of work for the service of the sanctuary, according to all that the LORD had commanded.
Exo 36:2 And Moses called Bezaleel and Aholiab, and every wise hearted man, in whose heart the LORD had put wisdom, even every one whose heart stirred him up to come unto the work to do it:
Bezaleel and Aholiab, together with all that were wise-hearted were given wisdom and understanding to know how to do the work of building the tabernacle. Aholiab means ‘tent of his father’. Our bodies are the earthly tent of our Father, Jesus. Aholiab, therefore, represents the body of Christ or the Lord’s elect as we are given to work with the Lord, who is represented here as Bezaleel in the building of the New Jerusalem for our Lord to dwell. The wise-hearted are also the elect.
2Co 5:1 Our bodies are like tents that we live in here on earth. But when these tents are destroyed, we know that God will give each of us a place to live. These homes will not be buildings that someone has made, but they are in heaven and will last forever. (CEV)
We are therefore co-workers with the Lord as we work together as a unit to achieve what God desires. That is, by building the church of God which is the Lord’s body.
1Co 3:9 For we are labourers together with God: ye are God’s husbandry, ye are God’s building.
1Co 3:10 According to the grace of God which is given unto me, as a wise masterbuilder, I have laid the foundation, and another buildeth thereon. But let every man take heed how he buildeth thereupon.
Exo 36:3 And they received of Moses all the offering, which the children of Israel had brought for the work of the service of the sanctuary, to make it withal. And they brought yet unto him free offerings every morning.
Exo 36:4 And all the wise men, that wrought all the work of the sanctuary, came every man from his work which they made;
Exo 36:5 And they spake unto Moses, saying, The people bring much more than enough for the service of the work, which the LORD commanded to make.
Moses here represents the Lord who has given us, the elect, (the wise-hearted) more than enough spiritual blessings to carry out the work of building the temple of the Lord within each one of us and collectively, to build the New Jerusalem or the church of the firstborn. These spiritual blessings, signified here by the offering, include the physical blessings we need for our living.
Eph 4:7 But unto every one of us is given grace according to the measure of the gift of Christ.
Eph 4:8 Wherefore he saith, When he ascended up on high, he led captivity captive, and gave gifts unto men.
Eph 4:9 (Now that he ascended, what is it but that he also descended first into the lower parts of the earth?
Eph 4:10 He that descended is the same also that ascended up far above all heavens, that he might fill all things.)
Eph 4:11 And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers;
Eph 4:12 For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ:
Eph 4:13 Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ:
Eph 4:14 That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive;
Eph 4:15 But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things, which is the head, even Christ:
Eph 4:16 From whom the whole body fitly joined together and compacted by that which every joint supplieth, according to the effectual working in the measure of every part, maketh increase of the body unto the edifying of itself in love.
In verse 5, we are told that the people brought more than enough for the service of the work. This means that the Lord has given us more than we need for the building of the temple of the Lord within each one of us. It is the abundance of the spiritual blessing the Lord has bestowed on us which ensures that we are not barren but fruitful in the knowledge of the Lord.
2Pe 1:3 According as his divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of him that hath called us to glory and virtue:
2Pe 1:4 Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust.
2Pe 1:5 And beside this, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue; and to virtue knowledge;
2Pe 1:6 And to knowledge temperance; and to temperance patience; and to patience godliness;
2Pe 1:7 And to godliness brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness charity.
2Pe 1:8 For if these things be in you, and abound, they make you that ye shall neither be barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.
2Pe 1:9 But he that lacketh these things is blind, and cannot see afar off, and hath forgotten that he was purged from his old sins.
One thing we have to learn is that the Lord’s spiritual blessings upon us come in abundance. Our Lord does not give us His blessings sparingly. This is all to give us a foretaste of what will happen in the fullness of time. We shall be overwhelmed by the joy that is set before us as shown by Judah’s inheritance.
Mat 13:12 For whosoever hath, to him shall be given, and he shall have more abundance: but whosoever hath not, from him shall be taken away even that he hath.
Jos 19:9 Out of the portion of the children of Judah was the inheritance of the children of Simeon: for the part of the children of Judah was too much for them: therefore the children of Simeon had their inheritance within the inheritance of them.
Exo 36:6 And Moses gave commandment, and they caused it to be proclaimed throughout the camp, saying, Let neither man nor woman make any more work for the offering of the sanctuary. So the people were restrained from bringing.
Exo 36:7 For the stuff they had was sufficient for all the work to make it, and too much.
Moses’ command for the people of Israel not to give any more offering for the sanctuary is to let us know that when the Lord comes to us with His spiritual blessings, we cease from our own strivings. In other words, we come to rest in the Lord of all sufficiency. Indeed, our Lord’s grace is more than sufficient for us to worry ourselves with our own works!!
2Co 12:9 And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.
2Co 12:10 Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for Christ’s sake: for when I am weak, then am I strong.Heb 4:10 For he that is entered into his rest, he also hath ceased from his own works, as God did from his.
Heb 4:11 Let us labour therefore to enter into that rest, lest any man fall after the same example of unbelief.
Exo 36:8 And every wise hearted man among them that wrought the work of the tabernacle made ten curtains of fine twined linen, and blue, and purple, and scarlet: with cherubims of cunning work made he them.
The tabernacle is made of ten curtains of fine twined linen with the colors of blue, purple and scarlet. The curtains in the scriptures are synonymous with tents. In other words, tents and curtains are the same. The following verses affirm this point:
Hab 3:7 I saw the tents of Cushan in affliction: and the curtains of the land of Midian did tremble.
Isa 40:22 It is he that sitteth upon the circle of the earth, and the inhabitants thereof are as grasshoppers; that stretcheth out the heavens as a curtain, and spreadeth them out as a tent to dwell in:
Isa 54:2 Enlarge the place of thy tent, and let them stretch forth the curtains of thine habitations: spare not, lengthen thy cords, and strengthen thy stakes;
The tent, in turn, represents our bodies as follows:
2Co 5:1 For we know that if the tent, our earthly home, is torn down, we have a building from God—a home not made with human hands, eternal in the heavens. (TLV)
The fact that the curtains must be ten confirms the fact that we are talking about our earthly tent, which is our bodies. As we know, the number ten symbolizes corruptible dying flesh throughout scripture and therefore refers to our earthly bodies, which we are to offer as living sacrifices, holy and acceptable to God.
Rom 12:1 I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.
Rom 12:2 And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.
The curtains must be of fine linen and colored blue, purple and scarlet. The curtains also represent the elect, who are the Cherubims. The color red or scarlet symbolizes the first Adam being of the earth, while the color blue symbolizes the last Adam – Jesus Christ coming to be in our heavens. The curtain of fine linen colored purple and scarlet represents us while we are in Babylon where our adamic nature became obvious while living under the law as shown in the following verses:
Rev 18:15 The merchants of these things, which were made rich by her, shall stand afar off for the fear of her torment, weeping and wailing,
Rev 18:16 And saying, Alas, alas, that great city, that was clothed in fine linen, and purple, and scarlet, and decked with gold, and precious stones, and pearls!
What this means is that a prerequisite of becoming a habitation for the Lord to dwell is the recognition of our spiritual poverty (purple and scarlet linen) before we are turned into blue linen.
Exo 36:9 The length of one curtain was twenty and eight cubits, and the breadth of one curtain four cubits: the curtains were all of one size.
The measurement of each of the curtains is the same and therefore refers to Christ, who is our standard of measurement. This means that every one of the curtains having the same measure means that to become a habitation for our Lord to dwell, we must all measure up to the standard of Christ. We are therefore constantly being measured and judged to conform to the standards of Christ. All those who are not measured are not part of those who are made a habitation for the Lord to dwell. They belong to the Gentiles!!
Rev 11:1 And there was given me a reed like unto a rod: and the angel stood, saying, Rise, and measure the temple of God, and the altar, and them that worship therein.
Rev 11:2 But the court which is without the temple leave out, and measure it not; for it is given unto the Gentiles: and the holy city shall they tread under foot forty and two months.
Exo 36:10 And he coupled the five curtains one unto another: and the other five curtains he coupled one unto another.
The dividing of the ten curtains into two groups of five is very significant. This is very symbolic in the sense that it is faith through the grace of God (the meaning of the number five) that we become a habitation for the Lord. That is when we become witnesses of Christ (the meaning of the dividing of the curtains into two groups).
Rom 5:1 Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ:
Rom 5:2 By whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God.
The five curtains being coupled together means that, as His elect, we must have the same mind and the same judgment. Being coupled together is the work of the Lord. It is from Him that the whole body (the elect) is fitly joined together and compacted by what every joint supplies. So, the curtains being coupled together is to facilitate the supply of our spiritual food by every joint.
1Co 1:10 Now I beseech you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that ye all speak the same thing, and that there be no divisions among you; but that ye be perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgment.
Exo 36:11 And he made loops of blue on the edge of one curtain from the selvedge in the coupling: likewise he made in the uttermost side of another curtain, in the coupling of the second.
Exo 36:12 Fifty loops made he in one curtain, and fifty loops made he in the edge of the curtain which was in the coupling of the second: the loops held one curtain to another.
Exo 36:13 And he made fifty taches of gold, and coupled the curtains one unto another with the taches: so it became one tabernacle.
The two sets of curtains are connected together with fifty blue loops as well as fifty gold clasps. What connects us together as the Lord’s elect is the spirit of the Lord.
1Co 12:11 But all these worketh that one and the selfsame Spirit, dividing to every man severally as he will.
1Co 12:12 For as the body is one, and hath many members, and all the members of that one body, being many, are one body: so also is Christ.
1Co 12:13 For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body, whether we be Jews or Gentiles, whether we be bond or free; and have been all made to drink into one Spirit.
1Co 12:14 For the body is not one member, but many.
Exo 36:14 And he made curtains of goats’ hair for the tent over the tabernacle: eleven curtains he made them.
Exo 36:15 The length of one curtain was thirty cubits, and four cubits was the breadth of one curtain: the eleven curtains were of one size.
Exo 36:16 And he coupled five curtains by themselves, and six curtains by themselves.
The goats’ hair was used as a weather resistant external covering of the tabernacle. The dimensions of the goats’ hair show that they were longer than the first curtains, thus providing total protection of the inner curtains and items inside the tabernacle. What is insightful is the source of the goats’ hair cover. The curtains of goats’ hair were obtained by the killing of live goats and the subsequent removal of their skins. The curtains of goats’ hair therefore represent our Lord Jesus Christ who was the goat slaughtered on our behalf. It is also significant to note that the number of goats’ hair curtains needed was eleven. The number eleven symbolizes the ruin and disintegration of the perfection of the flesh. It is through the ruin and disintegration of the flesh of our Lord Jesus Christ that we are found in Him, as we represent the inner curtains, and He signifies the outer goat hair cover. As He is, so are we. We, too, are being slaughtered daily to complete the Lord’s preparation of our hearts and mind to become His habitation.
Lev 16:7 And he shall take the two goats, and present them before the LORD at the door of the tabernacle of the congregation.
Lev 16:8 And Aaron shall cast lots upon the two goats; one lot for the LORD, and the other lot for the scapegoat.
Lev 16:9 And Aaron shall bring the goat upon which the LORD’S lot fell, and offer him for a sin offering.
Lev 16:10 But the goat, on which the lot fell to be the scapegoat, shall be presented alive before the LORD, to make an atonement with him, and to let him go for a scapegoat into the wilderness.Col 1:24 Who now rejoice in my sufferings for you, and fill up that which is behind of the afflictions of Christ in my flesh for his body’s sake, which is the church:
The fact that the eleven curtains must be of one measure is another way of saying that as He is, so are we. In other words, we must also be “killed” before we can become useful for the habitation of God.
1Jn 4:17 Herein is our love made perfect, that we may have boldness in the day of judgment: because as he is, so are we in this world.
The coupling of the five curtains by themselves means that it is faith through the grace of God (the meaning of the number five) that we become a habitation for the Lord. The number six signifies mankind. Thus, the other six curtains are to affirm to us that the dwelling place of the Lord is with man.
Rev 21:3 And I heard a great voice out of heaven saying, Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and he will dwell with them, and they shall be his people, and God himself shall be with them, and be their God.
Exo 36:17 And he made fifty loops upon the uttermost edge of the curtain in the coupling, and fifty loops made he upon the edge of the curtain which coupleth the second.
Exo 36:18 And he made fifty taches of brass to couple the tent together, that it might be one.
The two sets of curtains are connected together with fifty blue loops as well as fifty gold clasps. What connects us together as the Lord’s elect is the spirit of the Lord.
1Co 12:11 But all these worketh that one and the selfsame Spirit, dividing to every man severally as he will.
1Co 12:12 For as the body is one, and hath many members, and all the members of that one body, being many, are one body: so also is Christ.
1Co 12:13 For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body, whether we be Jews or Gentiles, whether we be bond or free; and have been all made to drink into one Spirit.
1Co 12:14 For the body is not one member, but many.
This spirit of the Lord is the same as His words. Through His words, we become of one mind and that is what connects us together.
1Co 1:10 Now I beseech you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that ye all speak the same thing, and that there be no divisions among you; but that ye be perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgment.
Exo 36:19 And he made a covering for the tent of rams’ skins dyed red, and a covering of badgers’ skins above that.
A ram also represents Christ. The use of the rams’ skin as a covering is to let us know that it is through the death of Christ (the killing of the ram) that we are found in Him (covering us). The fact that the rams’ skins must be dyed red is to point to the fact that our Lord Jesus Christ was made like us – earthy (red). In a similar vein, the Badger (probably antelope) also represents Christ, and it is through His death that are found in Him.
Lev 16:5 And he shall take of the congregation of the children of Israel two kids of the goats for a sin offering, and one ram for a burnt offering.
Lev 16:6 And Aaron shall offer his bullock of the sin offering, which is for himself, and make an atonement for himself, and for his house.
Exo 36:20 And he made boards for the tabernacle of shittim wood, standing up.
Exo 36:21 The length of a board was ten cubits, and the breadth of a board one cubit and a half.
Exo 36:22 One board had two tenons, equally distant one from another: thus did he make for all the boards of the tabernacle.
Exo 36:23 And he made boards for the tabernacle; twenty boards for the south side southward:
The tabernacle was constructed with boards made of acacia wood. Apart from the fact that acacia wood grows wild in the desert, it is considered incorruptible. It is very dense and resistant both to disease and insects, just like cedar. Each of the boards is required to stand upright, not laying down and must have two tenons. A tenon is an end of a piece of wood that is cut into a special shape to fit into a hole on another piece of wood to make a strong joint. Twenty boards were to be fixed in the southern part of the tabernacle. The boards of shittim wood represent the elect whom the Lord is using to build His temple. The fact that the boards must stand upright is to remind us of our standing in the presence of the Lord.
Rev 11:4 These are the two olive trees, and the two candlesticks standing before the God of the earth.
We are the two candlesticks and the two olive trees that are standing before the presence of the Lord, just as the boards are standing before the Lord. Each of the boards must have two tenons or supports. As indicated, a tenon must be shaped to fit into another wood to make a strong joint. As boards, we are being shaped to fit the standard of Christ. This is being done through the judgment of our old man in this life. The result of the judgment process we are going through is to form a strong joint with Christ for the building of His temple.
Eph 2:19 Now therefore ye are no more strangers and foreigners, but fellow citizens with the saints, and of the household of God;
Eph 2:20 And are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone;
Eph 2:21 In whom all the building fitly framed together groweth unto an holy temple in the Lord:
Eph 2:22 In whom ye also are builded together for an habitation of God through the Spirit.
In verse 23, twenty boards were to be used for the southern side of the tabernacle. The number twenty, on a positive note, refers to those who are mature enough to wage war. This means that the twenty boards on the southern side signify those whom the Lord is using to build His temple are those who are mature enough to wage war with the flesh to overcome it.
Num 1:20 And the children of Reuben, Israel’s eldest son, by their generations, after their families, by the house of their fathers, according to the number of the names, by their polls, every male from twenty years old and upward, all that were able to go forth to war;
Exo 36:24 And forty sockets of silver he made under the twenty boards; two sockets under one board for his two tenons, and two sockets under another board for his two tenons.
Exo 36:25 And for the other side of the tabernacle, which is toward the north corner, he made twenty boards,
Exo 36:26 And their forty sockets of silver; two sockets under one board, and two sockets under another board.
Exo 36:27 And for the sides of the tabernacle westward he made six boards.
As indicated, each of the boards must be supported by two tenons. A tenon must be shaped to fit into another wood, which in this case is the socket to hold the boards firm. Since there were twenty boards for the southern side, there must be forty sockets which were made of silver. The northern side also had twenty boards which were also supported by forty sockets of silver. The forty sockets on each side of the tabernacle – the south and the north sides show us that our trials (the significance of the number forty) form an integral part of becoming part of the temple the Lord is building.
Psa 95:9 When your fathers tempted me, proved me, and saw my work.
Psa 95:10 Forty years long was I grieved with this generation, and said, It is a people that do err in their heart, and they have not known my ways:
Psa 95:11 Unto whom I sware in my wrath that they should not enter into my rest.
On the west side, there were sixteen sockets supporting eight boards. Thus, in total, there were 100 sockets for the boards. Apart from supporting the boards, it is the sockets on which stood the pillars that support the veil. These sockets therefore represent the foundation of the tabernacle. What this means is that the hundred sockets of silver symbolize the atonement and the redemptive work of Christ on our behalf. The strength of the whole structure depended on this foundation, which rested on the silver of atonement. Fellowship with God can only be based on redemption.
1Ki 20:39 And as the king passed by, he cried unto the king: and he said, Thy servant went out into the midst of the battle; and, behold, a man turned aside, and brought a man unto me, and said, Keep this man: if by any means he be missing, then shall thy life be for his life, or else thou shalt pay a talent of silver.
Jesus Christ therefore has laid the foundation for our temple to be built.
1Co 3:11 For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ.
Silver also signifies the doctrine of Christ as shown in the following verse:
Eze 16:17 Thou hast also taken thy fair jewels of my gold and of my silver, which I had given thee, and madest to thyself images of men, and didst commit whoredom with them,
Joe 3:5 Because ye have taken my silver and my gold, and have carried into your temples my goodly pleasant things:
As we are aware, Christ is the word of God. This means that the materials that we need for the foundation of the Lord’s temple within us are Christ’s work of atonement and redemption and His words.
Exo 36:28 And two boards made he for the corners of the tabernacle in the two sides.
Exo 36:29 And they were coupled beneath, and coupled together at the head thereof, to one ring: thus he did to both of them in both the corners.
Exo 36:30 And there were eight boards; and their sockets were sixteen sockets of silver, under every board two sockets.
At the two corners at the rear, the setup was different. Two boards were made for each corner, thus a total of four boards. The corner boards, however, were to be coupled together by a ring at the top and at the bottom. The two corner boards, plus six boards, totaling eight boards were to be at the west end. The Bible does not describe in detail how the corner boards were made. The joining of the boards at the corner provided the needed stability to the rear of the tabernacle. It is through our coming together as one that we become witnesses of Christ (the meaning of the number two) and therefore become established in Christ. What brings us together is the spirit of the Lord, which in this case refers to the ring at the top and the bottom used to couple the corner boards together.
Act 1:8 But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.
Act 5:32 And we are his witnesses of these things; and so is also the Holy Ghost, whom God hath given to them that obey him.
The coupling of the two boards at each corner results in eight boards being at the rear of the tabernacle. As we are aware, the number eight signifies a new beginning. In the process of becoming a habitation of the Lord, we are turned into new creatures before God – the old things are gone!!
2Co 5:16 Wherefore henceforth know we no man after the flesh: yea, though we have known Christ after the flesh, yet now henceforth know we him no more.
2Co 5:17 Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.
Exo 36:31 And he made bars of shittim wood; five for the boards of the one side of the tabernacle,
Exo 36:32 And five bars for the boards of the other side of the tabernacle, and five bars for the boards of the tabernacle for the sides westward.
Exo 36:33 And he made the middle bar to shoot through the boards from the one end to the other.
Exo 36:34 And he overlaid the boards with gold, and made their rings of gold to be places for the bars, and overlaid the bars with gold.
Along with the boards and the sockets, bars were made. They were needed to reinforce the frame of the tabernacle walls. The Israelites were to make bars of acacia wood. The bars mentioned here, were probably crossbars that supported the sides of the tabernacle. As we have indicated in previous studies, the bars being made of acacia, which were found growing wild in the Sinai desert and the Jordan River valley, means that they were not planted and taken care of by man. In other words, it is not the work of man. If we are to become a habitation for the Lord, then we need to know that from the beginning until our maturity it is all the work of God – not man. Even our sins are all part of the work of God. All we do to become like Christ is to believe in Him.
Joh 6:28 Then said they unto him, What shall we do, that we might work the works of God?
Joh 6:29 Jesus answered and said unto them, This is the work of God, that ye believe on him whom he hath sent.
There were to be fifteen bars in all. Ten bars were to be used for the boards on each side – five on the north side and five on the south side. Another five bars were to be used on the back (west) side of the tabernacle. The middle bar in the center of the boards shall pass through from end to end. This might mean that the middle bar was longer than the rest. It apparently passed through a hole drilled in the boards, whereas the other bars passed through rings.
Overlaying the bars with gold means that to become like Christ, we must be refined just like gold refined in the fire. This is the judgment of our old man which brings us to learn righteousness. That is what will qualify us to be crowned with gold just as our Lord Jesus Christ overcame.
Job 23:10 But he knoweth the way that I take: when he hath tried me, I shall come forth as gold.
Rev 3:18 I counsel thee to buy of me gold tried in the fire, that thou mayest be rich; and white raiment, that thou mayest be clothed, and that the shame of thy nakedness do not appear; and anoint thine eyes with eyesalve, that thou mayest see.
Exo 36:35 And he made a vail of blue, and purple, and scarlet, and fine twined linen: with cherubims made he it of cunning work.
Exo 36:36 And he made thereunto four pillars of shittim wood, and overlaid them with gold: their hooks were of gold; and he cast for them four sockets of silver.
Exo 36:37 And he made an hanging for the tabernacle door of blue, and purple, and scarlet, and fine twined linen, of needlework;
Exo 36:38 And the five pillars of it with their hooks: and he overlaid their chapiters and their fillets with gold: but their five sockets were of brass.
The word “veil” in Hebrew means “to separate.” The veil was at the gate of the entrance into the tabernacle just before the bronze altar. We are the veil. This means that it is through us that all the people of the world, including Babylon, will have access to the Lord.
Rom 11:30 For as ye in times past have not believed God, yet have now obtained mercy through their unbelief:
Rom 11:31 Even so have these also now not believed, that through your mercy they also may obtain mercy.
Rom 11:32 For God hath concluded them all in unbelief, that he might have mercy upon all.
The veil acted as a barrier between the Lord and the world. The fact that Cherubims must be woven on the veil was to remind us that, just as the Cherubims served as a barrier to Adam and Eve from accessing the tree of life, which is Christ, we, as the veil, are playing the same role as the Cherubims in preserving the things of God from the world in this age.
Gen 3:24 So he drove out the man; and he placed at the east of the garden of Eden Cherubims, and a flaming sword which turned every way, to keep the way of the tree of life.
The veil must be of fine linen and colored blue, purple and scarlet. This means that we are those who are being changed from our Adamic nature to that of Christ.
The four pillars upon which the veil must be hung represent the whole of the elect in every generation. The fact that the pillars were made of shittim wood and were overlaid with gold means that to become the dwelling place of God is the Lord’s work as He takes us through fiery trials to learn righteousness.
Gal 2:9 And when James, Cephas, and John, who seemed to be pillars, perceived the grace that was given unto me, they gave to me and Barnabas the right hands of fellowship; that we should go unto the heathen, and they unto the circumcision.
May the Lord help us to become lively stones for the building of the Lord’s spiritual house!! Amen!!