In the brazen altar in Exodus 27 it is the same side of truth; but there is this characteristic difference.
Not less than the ark, the golden throne of God in the most holy place, it shows us God’s righteousness; but with this difference between them – that gold is the righteousness of God for drawing near where God is; brass is the righteousness of God for dealing with man’s evil where man is. Such is the line which divides them. It is the display of God in both cases – the one in the presence of God where He manifests Himself; the other in dealing with man and his wants in this world.
Hence we find, for instance, the righteousness of God in Romans. If we consider with any care Romans 3, it is the righteousness of God presented to man as a sinful being in this world. But if I look at the passage where it is said, “He made Him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in Him,” it is evident that we are brought into the very presence of God. Thus, 2 Corinthians 5 corresponds with the ark rather than the brazen altar. Everything has its beautiful and perfect answer in the word of God; but then all is useless to the soul, except just so far as one sees and receives the Lord Jesus Christ.
Next, from the latter part of Exodus 27 we have a change evident, and of more weight.
The last two verses are, I think, transitional. They prepare the way for types which, instead of displaying God in Christ to man, set forth rather man drawing near by the appointed channel to God. They are occupied with the provision of light where God manifested Himself, and in order to the due service of those who entered the sanctuary. “And thou shalt command the children of Israel, that they bring thee pure oil olive beaten for the light, to cause the lamp to burn always.”
It may be added here, as some have found an apparent inconsistency in comparing the passage with 1 Samuel 3:33And ere the lamp of God went out in the temple of the Lord, where the ark of God was, and Samuel was laid down to sleep; (1 Samuel 3:3), that the Hebrew means not “always” in the absolute sense, but continually or constantly. It was from evening to morning, and of course uninterruptedly for that time. “In the tabernacle of the congregation without the vail, which is before the testimony, Aaron and his sons shall order it from evening to morning before Jehovah.” This is greatly confirmed by what follows.