Page:An Exposition of the Old and New Testament (1828) vol 1.djvu/355

Rh from on high yet visited his church; yet God left not himself without witness, nor them without instruction; the commandment was a lamp, and the law a light, and the prophets were branches from that lamp, which gave light in their several ages to the Old-Testament church. The church is still dark, as the tabernacle was, in comparison with what it will be in heaven; but the word of God is the candlestick, a light shining in a dark place; (2 Pet. 1. 19.) and a dark place indeed the world would be without it. The Spirit of God, in his various gifts and graces, is compared to the seven lamps which burn before the throne, Rev. 4. 5. The churches are golden candlesticks, the lights of the world, holding forth the word of life, as the candlestick does the light, Philip. 2. 15, 16. Ministers are to light the lamps and snuff them, (v. 37.) by opening the scriptures. The treasure of this light is now put into earthen vessels, 2 Cor. 4. 6, 7. The branches of the candlestick spread every way, to denote the diffusing of the light of the gospel into all parts by the Christian ministry, Matth. 5. 14, 15. There is a diversity of gifts, but the same Spirit gives to each to profit withal.

Lastly, There is, in the midst of these instructions, an express caution given to Moses to take heed of varying from his model; (v. 40.) Make them after the pattern showed thee. Nothing was left to his own invention, or the fancy of the workmen, or the people's humour; but the will of God must be religiously observed in every particular. Thus, (1.) All God's providences are exactly according to his counsels, and the copy never varies from the original. Infinite Wisdom never changes its measures; whatever is purposed shall undoubtedly be performed. (2.) All his ordinances must be administered according to his institutions. Christ's instruction to his disciples, (Matth. 28. 20.) is like this here, Observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you.

CHAP. XXVI. Moses here receives instructions, I. Concerning the inner curtains of the tent or tabernacle, and the coupling of those curtains, v. 1..6. II. Concerning the outer curtains, which were of goats' hair, to strengthen the former, v. 7..15. III. Concerning the case or cover which was to secure it from the weather, v. 14. IV. Concerning the boards which were to be reared up to support the curtains, with their bars and sockets, v. 15..30. V. The partition between the holy place and the most holy, v. 31..35. VI. The vail for the door, v. 36, 37. These particulars, thus largely recorded, seem of little use to us now; yet having been of great use to Moses and Israel, and God having thought fit to preserve down to us the remembrance of them, we ought not to overlook them. Even the antiquity renders this account venerable.

OREOVER, thou shalt make the tabernacle with ten curtains of fine twined linen, and blue, and purple, and scarlet: with cherubims of cunning work shalt thou make them. 2. The length of one curtain shall be eight and twenty cubits, and the breadth of one curtain four cubits: and every one of tbe curtains shall have one measure. 3. The five curtains shall be coupled together one to another; and other five curtains shall be coupled one to another. 4. And thou shalt make loops of blue upon the edge of the one curtain, from the selvedge in the coupling; and likewise shalt thou make in the uttermost edge of another curtain in the coupling of the second. 5. Fifty loops shalt thou make in the one curtain, and fifty loops shalt thou make in the edge of the curtain that is in the coupling of the second, that the loops may take hold one of another. 6. And thou shalt make fifty taches of gold, and couple the curtains together with the taches; and it shall be one tabernacle.

The house must be a tabernacle or tent, such as soldiers now use in the camp, which was both a mean dwelling and a moveable one; and yet the ark of God had no better till Solomon built the temple, 480 years after this, 1 Kings, 6. 1. God manifested his presence among them thus in a tabernacle, 1. In compliance with tlieir present condition in the wilderness, that they might have him with them wherever they went. Note, God suits the tokens of his favour, and the gifts of his grace, to his people's wants and necessities, according as they are; accommodating his mercy to their state, prosperous or adverse, settled or unsettled. When thou passest through the waters, I will be with thee, Isa. 43. 2. 2. That it might represent the state of God's church in this world, it is a tabernacle state, Ps. 15. 1. We have here no continuing city; being strangers in this world, and travellers towards a better, we shall never be fixed till we come to heaven. Church privileges are moveable goods from one place to another; the gospel is not tied to any place; the candlestick is in a tent, and may easily be taken away, Rev. 2. 5. If we make much of the tabernacle, and improve the privilege of it, wherever we go it will accompany us; but, if we neglect and disgrace it, wherever we stay it will forsake us; What hath my beloved to do in my house? Jer. 11. 15.

Now, (1.) The curtains of the tabernacle were to be very rich, the best of the kind, fine twined linen; and colours very pleasing, blue, and purple, and scarlet. (2.) They were to be embroidered with cherubims, (v. 1.) to intimate that the angels of God pitch their tents round about the church, Ps. 34. 7. As there were cherubims over the mercy-seat, so there were round the tabernacle; for we find the angels compassing, not only the throne, but the elders; see Rev. 5. 11. (3.) There were to be two hangings, five breadths in each sewed together, and the two hangings coupled together with golden clasps; or tacks, so that it might be all one tabernacle, v. 6. Thus the churches of Christ and the saints, though they are many, yet they are one, being fitly joined together in holy love, and, by the unity of the Spirit, so growing into one holy temple in the Lord, Eph. 2. 21, 22.—4. 16. This tabernacle was very strait and narrow; but, at the preaching of the gospel, the church is bid to enlarge the place of her tent, and to stretch forth her curtains, Isa. 54. 2.

7. And thou shalt make curtains of goats' hair, to be a covering upon the tabernacle: eleven curtains shalt thou make. 8. The length of one curtain shall be thirty cubits, and the breadth of one curtain four cubits: and the eleven curtains shall be all of one measure. 9. And thou shalt couple five curtains by themselves, and six curtains by themselves, and shalt double the sixth curtain in the forefront of the tabernacle. 10. And thou shalt make fifty loops on the edge