with Elder Elico Manenji
Exodus 26:1-14-The curtains for the covering of the tabernacle.
The tabernacle, tent was to house the Ark of the covenant in the Holy of Holies, the Table of shewbread in the north side of rhe Holy place, the Seven branchef candlestand on the south side of rhe Holy place. The tabernacle was the dwelling of God's glory and the movable until 480 years when Solomon built a permanent structure as God's temple from whence His glory and presence was manifested.
The curtains were made so the glory of God is hidden to all who stand outside Jesus Christ. Man cannot surprise God and penetrate His presence without Christ. It is only in Christ that the glory and revelation of God is most brightly revealed.
Christ is that curtain hanging on the poles to reveal God's glory for the salvation of sinners. But beholding Him from His human perspective we see no beauty in Him from the outside but the glory of God is revealed in Him as we go inside with Him to behold the glory of God.
It is only when we believe in Christ as the Son of God and rest in Him as such that we behold the fulness of His glory.
The colours are the symbols of the different characteristics of God as blue, the colour of the atmospheric heaven signifies the special revelation of God, and denotes our loyalty and obedience to do His will in Christ.
Red and crimson denotes the colour of fire and blood, and symbolise the sacrificial love of God, to send Christ to die for sinners, purple is the highest dignity, majesty of royal power, it is rhe colour of Kings and princes as in Christ we are made royals and princes of God and everlasting priests of His covenanted people.Rhen the white colour, denotes the holiness and purity of Christ which Je imparts to all who come to Him for cleansing from sin and unrighteousness.
In Christ is love, there is life, there is beauty of holiness, there is the majesty of God most brightly expressed. Of our own, we can never see the glory of God and live but in Christ we can approach the throne of God with confidence.
The Apostle says, "But to the Son he said, Your throne, O God, is for ever and ever: a scepter of righteousness is the scepter of your kingdom" (Hebrews 1:8)
Exodus 26:15-30- The frames and pillars for the tabernacle_
That the tabernacle was of frames and pillars of wood and gold under lies the invincible strength and apparent weakness of the gospel. The gospel despite all its natural and human aspects has a Divine character and basis as our faith rests in the power of God.
As the Tabernacle was divided into two parts of one Tabernacle it tells us that the saints in heaven and the saints on earth make but one Church as the curtains of goats’ hair were hung over the frames and pillars, so the gospel strength hangs of the sacrifice of Jesus Christ for the sin of the world and so is emblematical of the righteousness of Christ, which is the justification of the Church.
The curtains were joined together by clasps of brass to make one whole which is an emblem of strength, in the Lord Jehovah, in Jehovah Tsidkenu is everlasting strength.
The prophet says, "Surely, shall one say, in the LORD have I righteousness and strength: even to him shall men come; and all that are incensed against him shall be ashamed" (Isaiah 45:24)
Each board of shittim wood was overlaid with gold as it portrayed the Lord Jesus Himself both the Son of God and the Son of Man.
The shittim wood was incorruptible wood, being a shadow of the incorruptible nature of Christ who partook of flesh and blood, was the seed of the woman, yet the Son of God, the Son of the Highest, born of the Virgin, the Emmanuel, God with us.
Though the man Christ Jesus made in the likeness of sinful flesh, He overcame sin in the sinful flesh, was not tainted with sin for one moment, He ever lived on earth without sin, uncorrupted by sin as having a body prepared for Him by God and we too in Him can live holy lives in Him here in this sinful world.
Text - "Now then we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God did beseech you by us: we pray you in Christ's stead, be you reconciled to God. For he has made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him" (2 Corinthians 5;20-21).
Christ’s righteousness imputed is our justification and Christ’s righteousness imparted is our sanctification.
We cannot have one without the other for they must be in our experience coupled together. Jesus Christ is our Righteousness and our Sanctification. For Christ for us is our perfect righteousness and Christ in us is our perfect sanctification.
The Apostle says, "But of him are you in Christ Jesus, who of God is made to us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption" (1 Corinthians 1:30)
Exodus 26: 31-37 - The veil and curtain of the entrance to the Most Holy place of the Tabernacle_*
As the curtains were fastened together by blue loops and taches of gold so as to form one tabernacle as the loops and taches were exactly over the vail, this teaches us the connection between Christ’s work in heaven and His work on earth.
The curtains were full of cherubim embroidery work which work symbolises believers who are Christ’s mystical body as Christ and His members are one.
The curtains are emblems of the church of Christ adorned with the graces of the Holy Spirit to impart by her work the art of salvation to the sinful world.
As the loops and golden clasps united the curtains together it shows us the place for little deeds of kindness and little deeds of love as believer unite their work with Christ to preach the gospel of love, kindness and truth in the power of the Holy Spirit.
Kind words fitly spoken are golden clasps, there is far more power in kind words than some people think as kind words are very uniting.
The wiseman says, "A word fitly spoken is like apples of gold in pictures of silver" (Proverbs 25:11)
Text - "Who serve to the example and shadow of heavenly things, as Moses was admonished of God when he was about to make the tabernacle: for, See, said he, that you make all things according to the pattern showed to you in the mount" (Hebrews 8:5)
Over the tent was a covering of rams’ skins dyed in red, a beautiful emblem of the protecting blood of Christ.
Where God places His glory, He will create a defence even on the habitations of the righteous there shall be a covert. The Psalmist says, *"For in the time of trouble he shall hide me in his pavilion: in the secret of his tabernacle shall he hide me; he shall set me up on a rock" (Psalm 27:5).
Appeal
The way into the holiest of all was not made manifest while the first tabernacle was standing as life and immortality lay concealed till they were brought to light by the gospel which was signified by the rending of this veil at the death of Christ so that the fulness of God's glory was revealed, life and immortality was openly proclaimed in Him dying on the Cross, buried and raised to life again without seeing corruption.
This gave hope to believers, even when they die, they die with the hope of being raised to life eternal.
The Apostle says, "For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord" (1 Thessalonians 4:16-17) Amen!!!
Elico Manenji
(+263712952704)
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