THE TABERNACLE was an object lesson to Israel for nearly five hundred years-from Moses to David. It then gave place to the Temple, the more permanent structure. But the continuity of the great and blessed fact for Israel, namely, the presence of Jehovah in the midst, is witnessed in the interesting circumstance that the only Tabernacle vessel transferred from the Tabernacle to the Temple was the Ark of the Covenant and its bloods sprinkled Mercy-seat―the recognized center within, as the Brazen Altar was without.
Imperfectly at the best, and slowly, the faith of some—perhaps of many—looked beyond those dim outlines and faint shadows to God’s revelation of One—foreshadowed by the Tabernacle in its wondrous structure, its mysterious veils, colors, and coverings, and its equally inexplicable sacrifices and ritual. The Law was the Jewish schoolmaster. The faith of the Christian rests on a fuller revelation and on the descent of the Holy Ghost—the Teacher and Guide of the Church. Our horizon is heaven and earth, and our faith comprehends the past and future, or from eternity to eternity, and thus exceeds by far that of the most advanced believer of Old Testament times.
The Tabernacle and all pertaining to it had a Divine meaning. The terms, “patterns” and “shadows,” would intimate as much. The “patterns” had to be filled up and the “shadows” find their substance. Type, shadow, prediction, and prophecy converge in Christ. One Name, one Sacrifice, one Altar, one Sanctuary, and one High Priest in the heavens is God’s answer and explanation of the Levitical system of old. Christ is all to God and all to us. What a galaxy of office and glory centers in Him!
The guide-book for the Jewish priesthood was the book of Leviticus. The guide-book for the Christian priesthood is the epistle to the Hebrews and 1 Peter 2. Leviticus is the most meaningless book ever written, if Christ is not seen enshrouded in its every page. The epistle to the Hebrews is the key to unlock the treasures hidden in Leviticus; this consideration makes that be ok one of absorbing interest, and of deep spiritual profit to all. Thus, then, we travel back from the Substance to the shadow―from Christ to Moses. Christ in Himself is both Tabernacle and Temple (John 1:1414And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth. (John 1:14); Heb. 9:1111But Christ being come an high priest of good things to come, by a greater and more perfect tabernacle, not made with hands, that is to say, not of this building; (Hebrews 9:11); John 2:19-2219Jesus answered and said unto them, Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up. 20Then said the Jews, Forty and six years was this temple in building, and wilt thou rear it up in three days? 21But he spake of the temple of his body. 22When therefore he was risen from the dead, his disciples remembered that he had said this unto them; and they believed the scripture, and the word which Jesus had said. (John 2:19‑22)).
In the following exposition, therefore, we have sought to bear repeated witness to Christ, to the holy character and dignity of His Person as Son of God, Emmanuel, God manifested in flesh, to His ever-glorious and permanently-completed Sacrifice, with its eternal and infinite results to God and to man―for the Cross in moral glory and issues transcends all else―and, finally, to His ever-prevailing ministry as our Great High Priest, according to Melchezedek order, and Aaronic pattern, in the heavenly Sanctuary.
The inefficiency of Jewish sacrifice is strikingly hewn by the author of the epistle to the Hebrews. “For the law having a shadow of good things, and not the very image of the things CAN NEVER with those sacrifices which they offered year by year continually make the corners thereunto perfect.” Thus there could be no true standing before God, nor perfectness of conscience under the law. But, further, “it is not possible that the blood of bulls and of goats should take away sins.” (Heb. 10:1, 4, 111For the law having a shadow of good things to come, and not the very image of the things, can never with those sacrifices which they offered year by year continually make the comers thereunto perfect. (Hebrews 10:1)
4For it is not possible that the blood of bulls and of goats should take away sins. (Hebrews 10:4)
11And every priest standeth daily ministering and offering oftentimes the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins: (Hebrews 10:11)). The combined value of all contained in Lev. 16. and in Num. 19. could only sanctify the flesh (Heb. 9:1313For if the blood of bulls and of goats, and the ashes of an heifer sprinkling the unclean, sanctifieth to the purifying of the flesh: (Hebrews 9:13)) They had no virtue to reach either soul or conscience. The repetition of sacrifice, instead of blotting out sin from before the face of God, or removing it entirely, only brought it constantly to remembrance (verse 3). Now we love to trace the following words in paper, and, as they are read, may God engrave them on the tablets of the heart of every reader:—“But this Man, after He had offered ONE SACRIFICE FOR SINS, forever sat down on the right hand of God. “
“No More Offering for Sins.”
There is one unique feature of Judaism which distinguishes it from every other national and religious system on earth. Every people―more or less―has within themselves a commemorative system, founded on certain historical events, which is meant to perpetuate the remembrance of these events to succeeding generations. But Judaism reveals an anticipative system―full and complete in itself―founded on prophecy, not on history. The history of the Jewish people to the end of time is written beforehand in her Mosaic institutions and in the writings of her prophets, and to this end the Tabernacle and its services contribute in no small degree.
Again, however, we would emphasize the fact, that the main design in these Levitical types and teachings is the unfolding of the personal and official glories of Christ.
The earnest prayer of the author is that every reader of the following pages may find therein abundant refreshment which may promote communion with God and His beloved Son—to whom be eternal glory!
HAMILTON HOUSE, GEDLING ROAD, CARLTON, NOTTINGHAM.