The Curtains

by G.PRASHER | Category: The Tabernacle | Mar 1959

The instructions for making the tabernacle curtains are given in Exodus 26, and the carrying out of these instructions is recorded in chapter 36. The curtains were made "of fine twined linen, and blue, and purple, and scarlet, with cherubim the work of the cunning workman," and were joined together in two groups to form the tabernacle.

The word translated " tabernacle " here means, dwelling place. This should be noted, because the use of mishkan (dwelling place), and that of ohel (tent), afford much light to the student of Scripture. Later we may dwell more upon this important matter, but here we just mention that the curtains bring us directly to the subject of the divine dwelling place upon the earth; whereas the thought suggested by the tent is that of a meeting place. In connexion with this we might note the words: "When they shall blow with them (the trumpets), all the congregation shall gather themselves unto thee at the door of the tent of meeting " (Numbers 10.8). The tent, therefore, is connected with the meeting place, or place of congregation; the tabernacle is the dwelling place. Both are together, however, in the divine arrangement, for the tent covered the tabernacle. Surely the teaching of the Spirit of God, so implicit in these shadows, is that saints that are scattered abroad today should be gathered with those already together of God, and in whose midst He dwells.

WILLING AND WISE-HEARTED

If God were to have a dwelling place two classes of people were necessary, namely, willing-hearted ones and wise-hearted ones. "The children of Israel brought a freewill offering unto the LORD; every man and woman, whose heart made them willing to bring" (Exodus 35.29). "Every one whose heart stirred him up, and every one whom his spirit made willing, ... brought the LORD'S offering" (verse 21). Apart from this willingness on the part of both men and women the work could not have been accomplished. Verse 5 of chapter 36 shows how willing God's people were at that time; but wisdom was also needed, and so we read, "All the women that were wise hearted did spin with their hands, and brought that which they had spun, the blue, and the purple, the scarlet, and the fine linen" (35.25). God makes honourable mention of the work of the women in the making of His dwelling, and we are assured that the day of Christ will bring rewards to faithful women whose wisdom led them to work in accord with God's word in the furtherance of His present-day testimony. May every encouragement be given to such women now! Those in apostolic days who were well reported of for good works, having brought up children, having used hospitality to strangers, having washed the saints' feet, having relieved the afflicted, having diligently followed every good work, are given special commendation (1 Timothy 5.10). A lesson may be gleaned, however, from the fact that the spinning of the material by the wise hearted women of Israel would be done in their own tents, and this suggests very different behaviour from that of many modern women today who engage in public teaching and preaching, which is forbidden by the Spirit of God (1 Corinthians 14.34, 35; 1 Timothy 2. 11-13).

The actual making of the curtains was the work of wise hearted men, at the head of whom were Bezalel, of the tribe of Judah, and Oholiab, of the tribe of Dan. The wisdom, both of spinners and weavers, should speak loudly to workers for God in this dispensation. Their wisdom was manifested in their ability to work, and in their doing the work exactly as the word of the LORD required it to be done. "The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge" (Proverbs

1.7). "The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom" (9.10). Such fear operating in the heart will ensure adherence to divine instruction. "Through wisdom is an house builded; and by understanding it is established: and by knowledge are the chambers filled with all precious and pleasant riches" (Proverbs 24.3, 4).

CHRIST IN YOU

The curtains are described as being made firstly of fine twined linen. If readers will compare the description of the veil, the door, and the gate, a difference will be observed that the blue comes first. We judge that this is because these speak of Christ alone. The tabernacle curtains, while they portray Christ-the blue His coming from heaven, the purple His kingly aspect, the scarlet His lowly yet dignified character, the linen His elevated righteousness-show forth also those who are so wrought upon by the Spirit of God that they form a dwelling place of God in the Spirit (Ephesians 2.22).

In respect to the believer in Christ the fine twined linen suggests that righteousness which he has in Christ; but not only that, though it must be the basis, he must also be a follower after righteousness, as Timothy was exhorted in 2 Timothy 2.22. He should be like his Master of whom it is written, "Thou hast loved righteousness, and hated iniquity" (Hebrews 1. 9); and the Lord's command in Matthew 6.33 should ever be before him, "But seek ye first His kingdom, and His righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you."

The blue, the purple, and the scarlet which so beautifully set forth Christ should not be lacking in the true disciple of the Lord. What happened when he was baptized into the Name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit (Matthew 28.19)? To this Galatians 3.27 gives an interesting answer: "For as many of you as were baptized into Christ did put on Christ." How important! and this at the beginning of the disciple pathway. Here is seen the blue, the purple, and the scarlet, and the fine twined linen. But this is not all, seeing this act of baptism in water is an act that needs to be done once only, there should also be a daily putting on of Christ.

Christ was seen in the apostles who were spoken of as "unlearned and ignorant men," but the leaders of the Jews "marvelled; and they took knowledge of them, that they had been with Jesus" (Acts 4.18). Men saw Christ in these disciples of the Lord. "But put ye on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make not provision for the flesh, to fulfil the lusts thereof" (Romans 13.14); "Put on the new man, which after God hath been created in righteousness and holiness of truth" (Ephesians 4.24), are exhortations to the end that the beauties of Christ may be seen in us, who should walk not after the flesh but after the Spirit. May we be helped increasingly so to do! In Colossians 3.10 we are told that the new man "is being renewed unto knowledge after the image of Him that created Him."

MEASUREMENT, MATERIAL AND DESIGN

Each of the tabernacle curtains is suggestive of an assembly of God, which is a compound unit, and is part of a larger whole, the whole being the divine dwelling place. The curtains were the same in measurement, material and design, the Holy Spirit thus indicating what should and did obtain within the Fellowship, which constituted the house of God. That which characterized one church of God was seen in all the churches ; thus the same principles of truth which directed the ways of the saints in the churches of God in Judea, operated also in Thessalonica, and so those saints in Thessalonica were commended in that they "became imitators of the churches of God ... in Judea" (1 Thessalonians 2. 14). Other passages which illustrate this same truth are 1 Corinthians 4.17, " Even as I teach everywhere in every church"; and chapter 7. 17, "And so ordain I in all the churches."

The teaching of the apostles, as given in the epistles, will, in the measure it is received and expressed, make the lives of the saints beautiful, and it ought to be the earnest desire of all to adorn the doctrine of God our Saviour in all things" (Titus 2. 10). The Lord Jesus, according to Isaiah 42.21, made the teaching great and glorious; and in wondrous grace He "gave Himself for us, that He might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto Himself a people for His own possession, zealous of good works." In the every-day things of life this beauty of character should be exhibited, as, for example, in the case of bondservants, who are exhorted to be in subjection to their own masters, and to be well pleasing to them in all things; not gainsaying; not purloining, but shewing all good fidelity " (Titus 2.9, 10). In these days of unions of masters and unions of workmen there arc still great opportunities for servants to manifest those characteristics which will adorn the doctrine.

THE COUPLINGS OF THE TABERNACLE

As one curtain did not make the tabernacle, so one church of God does not make the dwelling, although at the beginning of the dispensation, and for a brief period, the church in Jerusalem undoubtedly did so. In the expansion of the work of God, however, and the planting of churches of God in other places the Scriptures show that to form the house of God "each several building" must be "fitly framed together " (Ephesians 2.21), and here the tabernacle curtains furnish important lessons. Firstly, "five curtains shall be coupled together one to another; and the other five curtains shall be coupled one to another." Two groups were thus made. Still an individual group did not make the tabernacle. We might liken this to a group of assemblies such as was found in the five provinces of Asia (1 Peter 1.1), which did not form the house apart from others who were in the same community. (See 1 Thessalonians 2.14.)

To complete the coupling and make the tabernacle ONE, fifty clasps of gold were placed in the same number of loops of blue on the outer edge of each group of curtains. The blue of the loops speaks of that which is heavenly, while the gold of the clasps reminds us of the divine. The oneness of the dwelling place is thus seen to be of heaven, and of God. A thing must either be from heaven or from men as is shown by the Lord's answer to the question from the chief priests and elders concerning His authority, "The baptism of John, whence was it? from heaven or from men? " It is a joy to consider that by God-given principles from this word, and by the operating of the Holy Spirit the churches of God in the British Isles are joined with other churches of God beyond the seas, and so form ONE dwelling place for God in the Spirit. A lovely expression of this oneness is seen when representatives from overseas attend the

conferences for overseers from the British Isles and Overseas, where matters relative to the whole Community can be discussed together, and unity maintained.

A WOMAN TO HER SISTER

In joining the individual curtains one to another, and in coupling the groups one to another, the Spirit of God uses a striking expression. The literal translation of the words "one to another" is a woman to her sister. (See Newberry's margin.) The LORD uses it six times, twice for the curtains, once for the boards (Exodus 26. 17), and thrice in connexion with the living creatures (Ezekiel 1. 9, 28 3.13). What can be meant by this seemingly strange expression? Surely the closeness of the union is indicated. How are a woman and her sister joined ? Undoubtedly by the tic of relationship, out of which should flow love and mutual service. Lack of these manifestations robs the relationship of its intended purpose and may lead to severance. How beautifully the Spirit of God thus indicates the fact that the churches of God are joined together into one whole, and also that love and mutual service should prevail between sister assemblies. " She (the church, or the sister) that is in Babylon, elect together with you, saluteth you;. and so doth Mark my son. Salute one another with a kiss of love " (1 Peter 5.18, 14) is surely an example of this union and this love, while the principle of mutual service is seen in 2 Corinthians 8. 18, 14, and exemplified in Romans 15.26, 27.

THE CHERUBIM

Besides being adorned with blue, purple and scarlet, the curtains of the dwelling had cherubim, the work of the cunning workman. Cherubim are usually found in close association with the throne of God and would appear to have a connexion with the carrying out of divine judgement. (See Genesis 3.24; Ezekiel 9 and 10.) Their being seen in the curtains of the tabernacle would remind us that the house of God is a place where divine judgement must be carried out. Peter tells us, " For the time is come for judgement to begin at the house of God " (1 Peter 4.17). Jacob's words, "How dreadful is this place!" (Genesis 28.17) are in keeping with the character of the house. It is God's resting place, and the place of His throne (Psalm 132. 14 ; Ezekiel 43.7). Where His throne is, there is divine rule and government. So far as the house on earth is concerned this rule must be exercised through elders or overseers. The Hebrew saints were called on to " remember them that had the rule over you " ; and to "obey them that have the rule over you" (Hebrews 13.7, 17). Some time ago, while in conversation with a brother in Christ the writer heard him make the candid confession, "We have not got rule: we arc wrong in government." He was referring to a company of Brethren. It is very important that in assemblies of God His rule be carried out. Thus the kingdom of God can find expression in and through the little flock.

G.PRASHER | Mar 1959
The Tabernacle