The Tabernacle, The Curtains Of The Tabernacle, Exodus 26:1-6, Part 3 - Lesson 39

Our lessons of late and lessons to come in the future, the Lord willing, concern the coverings of the tabernacle structure.

Four coverings were commanded by God and we will see that each covering displays a part of God’s redemption plan.

The Linen Curtain shows the requirement for Righteousness

The Goats' Hair Curtain shows the need for a Sin Offering And Rebellion Punisher

The Rams' Skin Dyed Red shows the need for a Substitute And Avenger Of The Saints

The Badgers' Skin shows God’s Protection and Covering

We have been speaking of the first covering or curtain of the tabernacle.

It was composed of ten curtains of fine twined linen, each of 6 ft widths and 42 ft lengths.

God commanded Moses that it be made with five curtains sown together and another five curtains sown together with both groups connected together by loops and taches and in this configuration resembled the two tablets of the Law.

And therefore this linen curtain speaks of the law and the law keeper.

It speaks of the righteousness of the law and the law keeper.

And it also speaks of God’s provision of a covering for those, who because of their very nature, are not able to keep His perfect law.

God’s law is perfect but to one whose very nature is that of a sinner, the law is a curse, for a sinner is not equipped to keep God’s law and must look for another to keep it in his stead.

This curtain tells us of that other, and that other is no other than the Lord Jesus Christ, who covers our sin from the face of God.

And because of that covering we can joyfully sing the words of this hymn.

For because of Christ We are:

Free from the law, O happy condition,
Jesus has bled and there is remission,
Cursed by the law and bruised by the fall,
Grace hath redeemed us once for all.

Now the fine twined linen, in colors of white, blue, purple, and scarlet, colors in themselves that declare the coming of a man from heaven, with royalty and kingship, to shed his precious blood in order for His Father to gain a peculiar treasure, was to be adorned with cunning work.

Exodus 26:1-6,  Moreover 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.

Webster’s 1828 Dictionary defines this word cunning as: knowing, skilful; experienced, well instructed.

It is applied to all kinds of knowledge, but generally and appropriately, to the skill and dexterity of artificers, or the knowledge acquired by experience.

There used to be many more occasions for seeing the works of a cunning person than there is now.

I remember as a child taking shoes to the shoe repair man and upon entry into the shop the leather and glue smells told you immediately that you were in the presence of a cunning man.

Shoes in all states of repair filled the shop and the shoes that already had enjoyed cunning repair work were lined up like soldiers waiting for their reunion with familiar feet.

The shoes came in all tired and weary but after being in the hand of the cunning man were now equipped with energy to carry the load.

So this word cunning as used by God in His instruction to Moses means to plait or interpenetrate which means to weave or contrive into the linen, forms of cherubim.

This linen, with the inwrought Cherubim, would then comprise the ceiling for the Sanctuary and perhaps even the walls.

From the description of the Mercy Seat, these Cherubim had wings.

They would stretch forth their wings above the Sanctuary under which the Priest ministered.

The Priest would in effect be walking, ministering, and enjoying fellowship under the shadow of the wings of the Cherubim.

It was a beautiful type and picture of us as believer-priests ministering "under the shadow of the Almighty.

Psalm 91:1-4,  He that dwells in the secret place of the most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty.  I will say of the Lord, He is my refuge and my fortress: my God; in him will I trust.  Surely he shall deliver thee from the snare of the fowler, and from the noisome pestilence. He shall cover thee with his feathers, and under his wings shalt thou trust: his truth shall be thy shield and buckler.

Now as to the details of the linen curtains God is careful to command in His usual exacting way.

Exodus 26:2-6,  The length of one curtain shall be eight and twenty cubits, and the breadth of one curtain four cubits: and every one of the curtains shall have one measure. The five curtains shall be coupled together one to another; and other five curtains shall be coupled one to another. 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. 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. And thou shalt make fifty taches of gold, and couple the curtains together with the taches: and it shall be one tabernacle.

There were TEN CURTAINS, which were arranged in two groups of FIVE.

These two sets of FIVE CURTAINS were joined together by 50 clasps (taches) of gold and 50 loops of BLUE.

When all was joined together it formed and covered ONE TABERNACLE.

Each of these 10 curtains was 28 cubits (42 feet) in length and 4 cubits (6 feet) in width.

When these were all joined together as we have just described, they formed a COVERING of 28 cubits wide and 40 cubits long.

This was placed over the framework of the 48 upright boards which displayed a picture of men under the law.

The Board Structure was 10 cubits wide by 30 cubits long by 10 cubits high.

When the Curtains were placed over the framework there was 30 cubits of the 40 cubit length above the holy places with the remaining 10 cubits hanging over the west or back wall of the Most Holy place.

In this configuration the joining of the five curtains to five curtains by loops of blue and taches of gold would be over the inner veil.

So five of the curtains would be over the Most Holy Place with the other five over the Holy Place.

Remember the first five commandments were of man’s relationship with God while the second five were man’s relationships with man.

Since the North side (10 cubits) and South side (10 cubits) and the ceiling (10 cubits across) totaled 30 cubits, we see that the Curtains which were 28 cubits long were suspended one cubit above the ground on either side of the Framework.

With the curtains so arranged, they would cover the full length of the Framework with an overhang on the walled West end of 10 cubits.

Since there was a veil for the EAST end, the entry of the Tabernacle, the curtains covered the 10 cubits of the west wall as well.

Now above this linen curtain God commanded Moses to make a covering of Goat’s Hair.

Exodus 26:7-13,  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 of the one curtain that is outmost in the coupling, and fifty loops in the edge of the curtain, which couples the second. [11] And thou shalt make fifty taches of brass, and put the taches into the loops, and couple the tent together, that it may be one. [12] And the remnant that remaineth of the curtains of the tent, the half curtain that remaineth, shall hang over the backside of the tabernacle. [13] And a cubit on the one side, and a cubit on the other side of that which remaineth in the length of the curtains of the tent, it shall hang over the sides of the tabernacle on this side and on that side, to cover it.

Over the 10 curtains of fine linen were placed ELEVEN Curtains of Goats' Hair.

Now this eleven is composed of two groups of 5 curtains and 6 curtains.

All numbers in the tabernacle have spiritual significance and as we have said before the number 5 stands for grace, while the number 6 is the number of man.

Grace and Man connected with goat’s hair. What does this mean?

The Goat was one of the animals used in Israel for sacrifice.

It was used primarily in connection with the sin offering on the Day of Atonement and the cleansing of the Sanctuary:

Leviticus 5:6,  And he shall bring his trespass offering unto the Lord for his sin which he hath sinned, a female from the flock, a lamb or a kid of the goats, for a sin offering; and the priest shall make an atonement for him concerning his sin.

Leviticus 9:3,  And unto the children of Israel thou shalt speak, saying, Take ye a kid of the goats for a sin offering; and a calf and a lamb, both of the first year, without blemish, for a burnt offering;

The Goat was used in connection with three FEASTS OF ISRAEL.

It was used in the Feasts of Passover, Pentecost and Tabernacles.

On the Day of Atonement, two Goats were to be taken.

One was to be killed for a sin offering, the other was to be preserved alive to be used as the scapegoat.

In connection with the Feast of Passover, the Israelites were instructed to offer "one Goat for a Sin offering to make atonement for you." (Numbers 28:22).

The goat is always used in connection with the SIN OFFERING (Lev. 4:23)

It was used for a sin offering:

For the common people (Lev. 4:27-28)

For the Consecration of the Priesthood (Lev. 9:2-3)

For the dedication of the Altar - (Numbers 7)

For the sins of ignorance (Numbers 15:24,27)

For each new month (Numbers 28:11-15)

Jesus gives us a picture of unrepentant sinners in Matthew 25 and labeled them as "goats."

So in this covering of goats' hair, we see the thought of sin and rebellion.

The curtains speak to us of the fact that Jesus became sin for us that we might be "covered" from the wrath of God that is upon all who sin so that we might have the righteousness of Christ.

He was offered to bear the sins of many!

2 Corinthians 5:19-21,  To wit, that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them; and hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation. [20] Now then we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God did beseech you by us: we pray you in Christ's stead, be ye reconciled to God. [21] For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.

Now the length of these curtains was to be 30 cubits.

Thirty is the number of the consecration of the Priesthood.

Each priest had to be 30 years of age before he could minister.

Numbers 4:3,  From thirty years old and upward even until fifty years old, all that enter into the host, to do the work in the tabernacle of the congregation.

Jesus was 30 years of age when He began His Priestly ministry, which consummated with His being offered as a SIN OFFERING for us at Calvary.

Jesus was consecrated to the Father's Will, even to the death of the CROSS and therefore He was both Priest and He was himself the offering for sin.

The 11 curtains were to be in two sets, a set of five and a set of six and joined by 50 taches and loops.

Once again, this speaks to us of the number 50 in scripture, which is the number of LIBERTY, FREEDOM, PENTECOST and JUBILEE.

These taches (clasps) were to be made of BRASS, which is a type of judgment against SIN.

Brass is linked to the SIN OFFERING.

As God is righteous sin must always be judged for the wages of sin is death. But our God does not stop there for He tells us that the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.

So in this covering we find the message of Romans 6:23, the message that Christ and Christ alone is our covering for sin.

The third covering of four coverings is a covering of Ram’s skins dyed red.

Exodus 26:14,  And thou shalt make a covering for the tent of rams' skins dyed red, and a covering above of badgers' skins.

So this third layer of Rams' Skins is spoken of expressly as a "Covering."

The RAM was used as a TRESPASS OFFERING, for Burnt Offerings and for Peace Offerings:

Trespass Offering: Leviticus 5:15, If a soul commit a trespass, and sin through ignorance, in the holy things of the Lord; then he shall bring for his trespass unto the Lord a ram without blemish out of the flocks, with thy estimation by shekels of silver, after the shekel of the sanctuary, for a trespass offering:

Burnt Offering: Leviticus 8:18, And he brought the ram for the burnt offering: and Aaron and his sons laid their hands upon the head of the ram.

Peace Offering: Leviticus 9:4, Also a bullock and a ram for peace offerings, to sacrifice before the Lord; and a meat offering mingled with oil: for to day the Lord will appear unto you.

The animal was also called "The Ram of Consecration."

It spoke of substitution for it was the Ram, which was used in the consecration of the Priests to minister (Lev. 8:22).

The first place in the Bible we see the Ram is in Genesis 22 when it was used as a SUBSTITUTE for ISAAC, the son of Abraham on Mt. Moriah (Genesis 22:8-13)

This is all prophetic of the Son of God, Jesus Christ, who became the LAMB OF GOD to take away the sin of the world (John 1:28, 36).

The covering of Ram’s skin reveals Christ as the:

The SACRIFICIAL ONE who was offered to God (Hebrews 9:26-28)

The SUBSTITUTE ONE who died in our stead (1 Corinthians 15:4; Galatians 1:4)

The CONSECRATED ONE who was committed to God's will. (Hebrews 7:25-28)

Hebrews 9:26-28,  For then must he often have suffered since the foundation of the world: but now once in the end of the world hath he appeared to put away sin by the sacrifice of himself. [27] And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment: [28] So Christ was once offered to bear the sins of many; and unto them that look for him shall he appear the second time without sin unto salvation.

Hebrews 7:25-28,  Wherefore he is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by him, seeing he ever lives to make intercession for them. [26] For such an high priest became us, who is holy, harmless, undefiled, separate from sinners, and made higher than the heavens; [27] Who needs not daily, as those high priests, to offer up sacrifice, first for his own sins, and then for the people's: for this he did once, when he offered up himself. [28] For the law makes men high priests who have infirmity; but the word of the oath, which was since the law, makes the Son, who is consecrated for evermore.

This Rams' covering is a type of the covering Christ has provided for the Church that we may partake of HIS NATURE and SPIRIT!.

We are to give ourselves to receive HIM!

Romans 12:1-2,  I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. [2] And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.

These Rams' skins were to be DYED RED.

RED is the color of sacrificial blood and is identified in the cleansing of sin.

The Rams' Skins dyed red were the central covering of the Tabernacle pointing to the central figure of the GODHEAD - JESUS CHRIST.

They are typical of the sacrifice of the Lord Jesus and His shed blood for our sin.

He is our Redeemer and that Ram of Consecration who was sold out to the will of the Father and brought to us an EVERLASTING COVENANT OF SALVATION!

His blood has cleansed us from our sins!

Isaiah 1:18,  Come now, and let us reason together, saith the Lord: though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool.

In our Lord's first advent, His garments were DYED RED in the blood of ATONEMENT.

In His second advent, His garments are also DYED RED in the blood of HIS ENEMIES.

Here the dyed Red Garments of the Lord speak not of Atonement, but of judgment on sinners.

There is coming a day when the GRACE of the Lord Jesus will end and VENGEANCE will be poured out upon all the ungodly and unrepentant:

Isaiah 63:1-3,  Who is this that cometh from Edom, with dyed garments from Bozrah? this that is glorious in his apparel, traveling in the greatness of his strength? I that speak in righteousness, mighty to save. Wherefore art thou red in thine apparel, and thy garments like him that treads in the wine fat? I have trodden the winepress alone; and of the people there was none with me: for I will tread them in mine anger, and trample them in my fury; and their blood shall be sprinkled upon my garments, and I will stain all my raiment.

Revelation 19:11-14,  And I saw heaven opened, and behold a white horse; and he that sat upon him was called Faithful and True, and in righteousness he doth judge and make war. [12] His eyes were as a flame of fire, and on his head were many crowns; and he had a name written, that no man knew, but he himself. [13] And he was clothed with vesture dipped in blood: and his name is called The Word of God. [14] And the armies, which were in heaven, followed him upon white horses, clothed in fine linen, white and clean.