THE TABERNACLE BOARDS

 

Text: Exodus 26:15-30; 36:20-34

 

The Tabernacle proper (structure within the courtyard) was 45 feet long, 15 feet wide, and 15 feet high.

It was divided into two rooms. The first room was 30 feet long by 15 feet wide by 15 feet high, and the second, The Holy of Holies, was 15 feet long by 15 feet wide by 15 feet high.

There were 48 boards, each ten cubits long and a cubit and a half broad; twenty boards for the south side, twenty for the north side, and six boards and two corner boards for the west side. Each board was set in two sockets of silver. The boards stood upright, side by side. Over the top were four coverings.

The Tabernacle faced east.

 

I. Coverings (Linen, Goats hair, Rams skin, Badger skin).

1. Ten curtains of Linen, Exodus 26:1-6.

Innermost covering was a linen material of white, blue, purple, and scarlet with cherubim figures. The four colors are the same as in the gate and door openings.

Purple represents royalty.

Scarlet, the sacrificial suffering of Christ.

White, His purity.

Blue, Heavenly origin.

2. Eleven curtains of Goats Hair, Exodus 26:7-13.

This reminds us of the garments of the prophets (Elijah, 2 Kings 1:8) and John the Baptist (John 1:21, 25).

Exodus 35:26- Was spun by God fearing women.

John 1:14- Represents Christ taking on a fleshly body to be the Sacrifice, the he-goat being a sin offering.

3. Rams skin dyed red, Exodus 26:14.

The ram leads the flock. This covering shows the sacrifice of our shepherd.

The ram was the sacrifice for the consecration of the priests, Exodus 29:1, 31.

Was the substitute sacrifice for Isaac, Genesis 22:13.

4. Badger skin, Exodus 26:14.

Badger skin was unattractive, as Jesus’ appearance in the flesh was, Isaiah 53:2.

Philippians 2:7- Jesus came as a servant so there was nothing extraordinary He wanted to be viewed as in the flesh.

The beauty of Jesus was within, spiritual. Just as the Tabernacle, its beauty was within.

Psalm 96:6- Just as the Church, its beauty is within, the members that live a life pleasing to God.

Ephesians 3:21- Glory is in the Church, not outside.

Revelation 21:24- For eternity, the place of glory and honor is within God’s house (city), not outside.

II. The 48 boards stand for refuge… the boards are a type of the Church:

1. Exodus 26:22- The 6 boards on the west side, than the other 42 boards, stand for refuge. Numbers 35:6-7, 13- 6 cities of refuge, another 42 for the tribe of Levi.

Joshua 20:6-9- 6 cities of refuge named.

Joshua 21:41- 48 cities were given to tribe of Levi.

2. The Church is the place of refuge for God’s children.

Matthew 5:15-16- Our light as church members needs to be put on the candlestick (Church) so the world may truly see it.

Luke 8:16- We as church members are outside our refuge when our light is outside the church.

III. The dimensions of the boards were 1.5 cubits wide (27 inches or 2.25 feet) and 10 cubits high (15 feet):

1. The length or height of each board (10 cubits) is full of holy truth:

1. The boards are twice as high as the court fence, which was five cubits high.

1. Ephesians 3:21; 5:25-27- The Church is twice as high as the kingdom in God’s sight.
2. Every child of God is born into the kingdom, but He receives glory in the Church.

1. Ten speaks of new order in perfection.

1. From Adam, Noah is the tenth, hence a new beginning, 1 Chronicles 1:1-4.

• The church was a new beginning from Judaism.

1. From Shem, Abraham is the tenth, 1 Chronicles 1:24-27.

• Then a new nation.
• The Church is a holy nation, 1 Peter 2:9.

1. Israel tempted God ten times, thus a new order of judgment, Numbers 14:22.

• Wrath was first in Egypt, not Israel (ten plagues).

1. The boards were made of acacia wood:

1. They were growing wild in the wilderness.

1. So were we, Jeremiah 17:9; Ephesians 2:12.

1. The boards had to be cut down and removed from their natural standing, then prepared before they could occupy a place in God’s tabernacle.

1. So the sinner must be cut down by conviction, be removed from his standing as a man in the flesh, and prepared before the Lord will add him to His church,

Matthew 3:10; Acts 2:27-28, 41.

• All false hopes and glories must be cut off, 1 Tim 6:6-12.
• Paul was cut down, Acts 9:4.

1. The boards had to be covered with gold.

1. We must be covered with the blood and righteousness of Christ, Psalm 32:1; Romans 13:14; 2 Corinthians 5:21; Galatians 3:27; Ephesians 4:22-24.

1. Each board had two tenons, or two feet, to allow it to stand solidly on its foundation, which was two sockets of silver, so that they stood independent of the sand of the desert.

Exodus 38:25-27- Each board rested on two sockets, each socket was a talent of silver, a talent of silver weighs around 100 pounds, so each board had a base weighing 200 pounds.

1. They stood upright in the desert, and not of the desert.

1. Once they, as trees, were well rooted in the desert (world), Ephesians 2:2-3.
2. We are to be in the world, and yet separate from it,

Gal 5:16-17, 24-25; 2 Corinthians 6:14-18.

1. We stand upright on a solid and unmovable foundation, Psalm 40:1-2; Isaiah 28:16; 1 Corinthians 3:11.

Matthew 7:24-27- We are to build our lives on this foundation (the Rock).

1. Many have one foot in Christ and the other in the world, 1 John 2:15; Matt 6:24;

1 Corinthians 6:15.

2. We are to stand fast on the Lord, Ephesians 6:13-14; Philippians 4:1.

1. We no longer stand in the flesh, but God and His Holy Spirit hold us in Christ,

Galatians 2:20; Ephesians 1:13; Colossians 3:3; 1 Peter 2:5.

1. The boards stood so “fitly framed together” as to become one building:

So do we, Ephesians 2:19-22; 4:16; 1 Corinthians 12:12-27.

2. They were equal in height, width, and thickness:

We are equal, Matthew 20:25-27; 2 Corinthians 8:14.

3. Their construction:

1. They were bound and held together at the base by the two sockets, made of the silver atonement money, Exodus 30:11-16.

The precious blood of Christ is the basis of our communion with God and one another,

1 John 1:7; 2 Corinthians 5:21; Acts 20:28.

2. They were bound together by fifteen bars made of shittim wood covered over with gold, four visible on each side and one invisible (5 bars on 3 sides).

1. Five equals grace (unmerited favor).
2. The invisible bar is a type of the Holy Spirit dwelling in the hearts of His people and binding their hearts to each other, Romans 8:16; 1 Peter 1:8.
3. The four visible bars we find in Ephesians 4:1-3.

• Lowliness, having a humble opinion of one’s self;
• Meekness, gentleness, Philippians 4:5;
• Longsuffering, slowness in avenging wrongs;
• Forbearance, to hold one’s self erect and firm against any person or thing.

1. Ephesians 4:1-4- If the boards and bars (members of the body) are maintained, the unity of the Spirit will be kept in the bond of peace, and there will be unity of the body.

Unrighteous characteristics within the Lord’s house is an abomination, Ezekiel 6:11.