Understanding The Bible |
W. W. Rugh,
Bible Institute of Philadelphia
40 Page Printed Devotional Guide
1st Edition 1912
The Boards.
Ex. 26:15-30. Forty-eight Boards of shittim wood
"standing up," made the walls of the Tabernacle on the north and south sides,
and the west end.
Two silver sockets, weighing about 100 pounds each, made a foundation for
each Board to rest upon.
Two tenons, like hands, at the bottom of each Board set in the silver
sockets, thus keeping each Board firmly in place on its foundation.
Five bars of shittim wood, overlaid with gold, kept the Boards in their
proper position with reference to each other.
The middle bar, in the midst of the Boards, passed through from end to
end. This bar was probably invisible, passing through the middle of each Board,
from edge to edge. The four outer bars passed through rings of gold.
A covering of gold overlaid each Board and bar, thus hiding the knots and
cross-grains.
For us the typical meaning of the Boards is discovered in the Spirit
given verses of Eph. 2:21, 22, "a building fitly framed together," that "groweth
into a holy temple in the Lord; in whom ye also are builded together for a
habitation of God in the Spirit."
From these verses we learn that the Boards, as a part of God's dwelling, "a
building fitly framed together," are typical of the Church, God's dwelling
place, "a habitation of God in the Spirit." 1 Corinthians 6:19, 20; 2
Corinthians 6:16; John 14:23.
Every word of God has significance, because His word has been Inspired by
the Holy Spirit, therefore, when the Spirit speaks twice of the Boards "standing
up," we ought to give heed. Exodus 26:15; 36:20. The same blessed Spirit
declares, that, as believers who are justified through faith in Christ, we also
have "access by faith into this grace wherein we stand." Romans 5:2.
From these verses we learn that the Boards foreshadow our standing before God
in Christ, in heaven.
The cutting down of the Boards, as to their natural standing, typifies
what God wrought for us in Christ, when he crucified the old man, and
buried him together with Christ. Romans 6:6, 4.
The fitting of the Boards for their place in the Tabernacle, by making
each the same length, the same width, the same thickness, and overlaying each
with gold, foreshadows what God did for us when He made us meet, or fit, to be
partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light. Colossians 1:12. This God
did when He quickened us together with Christ, and raised us up together with
Him. Ephesians 2:5, 6.
The setting up of each Board in its proper position is a most wonderful
illustration of what God wrought for us in Christ when He made us to sit
together with Him in the heavenly places, when He made us accepted in the
Beloved. Exodus 40:1, 18; Ephesians 2:6; 1:6.
The putting in of the bars typifies what God did for us in Christ, when
He "set the members each one of them in the body, even as It pleased Him." 1
Corinthians 12:18; Eph. 4:4.
The middle or invisible bar is a figure of the one Spirit
by whom we were all baptized into one body. 1 Corinthians 12:13; Ephesians 3:6.
The four outer bars suggest to us how God "tempered the body together,"
or "caused the several parts to combine into one organic structure," "that there
might be no disunion in the body, but that all the members might entertain the
same anxious care for one another's welfare." 1 Corinthians 12:24-25; Ephesians
4:11-16. Our standing before God in Christ, with relation to each other, is
manifest as we "walk worthily of the calling wherewith we were called, with all
lowliness and meekness, with longsuffering, forbearing one another in
love; giving diligence to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace."
Ephesians 4:1-3. R. V.
The foundation of silver, on which the Boards rested, was made of the
ransom, or atonement, money obtained from the men of war, who were numbered at
mount Sinai. Exodus 30:11-16.
To us the silver is typical of "the precious blood of Christ, as of a
lamb without blemish and without spot," by which we have been redeemed. 1 Peter
1:18, 19; Acts. 20:28. The only ground of our acceptance before a holy God is
the precious blood of Christ, which cleanseth us from all sin. 1 John 1:7;
Romans 3:21-26.
The two tenons, or hands, which held the Boards securely on the
foundation, are typical of the hand of our Savior, and the hand of our Father,
which hold, securely and forever, every true believer upon the Foundation, which
is Christ and His finished work. John 10:27-29; Col. 3:3. These are the loving,
faithful, and mighty hands that keep every child of God in the place of favor
before God, into which we were brought through the finished work of Christ. 1
John 5:18.
The two silver sockets under each Board picture the death and
resurrection of Christ, the only Foundation for our salvation. Romans 5:24; 1
Corinthians 15:3, 4.
The one hundred silver sockets foreshadow the multiplied, the perfect
responsibility of Christ to uphold us in our standing before God. How blessedly
He is able to save to the uttermost, completely, or evermore, them that
come unto God through Him, seeing He ever liveth to make intercession for them.
Hebrews 7:25.
Ten cubits, the height of the Boards, reveals the fact that we are
responsible "to walk worthily of the calling wherewith we were called," to walk
"as becometh saints," to "walk as children of light." Ephesians 4:1; 5:2, 3, 8.
We are not to do this or that, in order to become saints, or in order to become
children of light. Ephesians 1 to 3 reveal the glorious fact that God has
blessed the Church in Christ, has made us one with Him and in Him, as members of
His body. His bride, and Eph. 4 to 6 tell us how we ought to live because of
this standing which God has given us in Christ.
The equal height, width, and thickness of the Boards sweetly proclaim the
precious truth that every believer has the same standing before God, for every
member of Christ's body is accepted and blessed before God even as He is, for we
are complete in Him, who is the Head of all principality and power. Ephesians
1:3, 6, 22, 23; Colossians 2:10.
Like the people of Israel, shut out from the presence of God by the hangings of
linen about the Court, we were all excluded from the presence of the holy God,
because we had all sinned and come short of the glory of God. Romans 3:23.
There was no difference as to our standing before God, as sinners, (Hid every
one who comes to God must come, and does come, through
Jesus Christ, therefore there is no difference in our standing before God as
saints.
The covering of gold on the Boards is typical of the divine glory that is
ours in Christ, for when God glorified His Son, He glorified us in Him. John
17:1, 5, 24; Acts 3:13; Romans 8:30.
So many of God's dear ones do not understand the difference between the
standing and the state of believers, and therefore are living under
the law, praying for mercy and blessing which are already theirs in Christ.
Our standing is what God has done for us in Christ, justified us,
sanctified us, glorified us. Romans 8:29, 30; 1 Corinthians 1:30; Hebrews 10:10,
14.
Our state is what God works in us by His Spirit and word, as we believe
and obey Him. Ephesians 3:14-20; Philippians 2:13; Colossians 1:29.
Our standing is what God has made us in Christ, sons of God, kings,
priests, heirs, joint-heirs, members of the bride of Christ. Galatians 3:26;
Ephesians 1:5, R. V.; Revelation 1:6; Romans 8:17; 7:4; Ephesians 5:30-32.
Our state is how we are living day by day, whether as sons, enjoying
fellowship in life and service with our Lord, or as babes knowing only that our
sins are forgiven and that we are born again. 1 John 2:12-17. Living as kings
and priests, a life of victory over Satan, sin, and self, in unceasing prayer
and labor for others, or as bondslaves of evil habits and evil dispositions,
controlled by Satan, a wretched, prayerless, powerless, selfish, and
self-centered life, which reveals nothing of Christ but only self, and is a
blessing to no one. Romans 6, 7, 8; Galatians 2:20. Living as heirs, and
joint-heirs, asking and receiving what we ask for out of the unsearchable riches
which are ours in Him, or living like beggars who ask and ask, and go away
hungry and empty. 1 John 3:21, 22; 5:14, 15; James. 1:6, 7; 4:3. Living as
members of His bride beloved by Him, and our hearts enraptured with Him who is
"altogether lovely," so that more and more His beauty and loveliness are
manifest through us, or complaining, criticizing, finding fault because the way
is hard, the food He gives us for our souls is dry and tasteless, and "He does
not love us very much, or He would not permit such evil things to come upon us."
Song of Songs 5:10-16; Numbers 21:4, 5; Psalms 77:9, 10. How few seem to enjoy
their marriage relationship with our risen Lord. Romans 7:4; Galatians 5:22, 23.
Our standing is where God has placed us in Christ, "far above all rule,
and authority, and power, and dominion," and all things in subjection. Ephesians
1:18-23. R. V.
Our state, at best here, is a wrestling against principalities, against
the powers, against the world-rulers of this darkness, against the host of
wicked spirits in the heavenly places. Ephesians 6:10-18. Many dear ones know no
better state than a conflict with the lusts of the flesh, because not yielded to
God nor filled with His spirit. 1 Peter 2:11.
Our standing is how God loves us in Christ, which is just the same as His
love for Christ, a love that is eternal, infinite, and unchangeable from which
nothing can separate us. John 17:23; Ephesians 1:3-6; Romans 8:28-39; John 13:1;
James 1:17.
Our state is how we love God, which depends upon our knowledge of His
great love for us, and our knowledge is so Imperfect at best. 1 John 4:19;
Ephesians 3:19; 1 John 3:1.
Our standing is how God knows us in Christ. Philippians 3:12; 2
Corinthians 13:12.
Our state is
how much we have grown in grace and in the knowledge of our Lord and Savior
Jesus Christ. 2 Peter 3:18; 1:1-11.
Our standing is the goal, the prize of the high calling of God in Christ
Jesus. Philippians 3:14; Ephesians 1:18.
Our state is how far we have run in the race to win the goal, or the
prize. Philippians 3:12, 13.
Our standing is "the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ."
Ephesians 4:13. A revelation of this measure is given in 1 Corinthians 13:4-7;
Colossians 3:12, 13; James. 3:17.
Our state is just how high we have grown up in all things in Christ.
Ephesians 4:14-16.
Our standing is just as perfect as Christ in all His purity and
loveliness before God.
Our state, alas! how unlike Him is the holiest saint on earth, therefore
"this one thing I do, forgetting the things which are behind," all past
attainments, I stretch forward to the things which are before, "confident of
this very thing that He who began a good work in me will perfect it until the
day of Jesus Christ." Philippians 3:13; 1:6. R. V.
By W. W. RUGH, Associate
Dean, Bible Institute of Pennsylvania
1418 N. 16th Street, Philadelphia, Pa.
"Mason's Notes"
200 Manor Avenue Langhorne, PA 19047 United States of America |
"Mason's Notes" Study materials on this website are made available here free, through the generosity of Cairn University, and may be copied for use in Bible study groups, in limited numbers, providing that no charge is made for them. No further distribution or use of these materials is allowable under U.S. or International Copyright Law without the express permission of Cairn University. |
20160407