Christian Gems – Past & Present: Excerpt from CH Mackintosh’s Notes on the book of Exodus (Chapter 25): The Tabernacle To the human eye there would seem to be a desultoriness in the mode in which the Holy Ghost has presented the furniture of the tabernacle; but in reality, as might be expected, there is the most perfect order, the most remarkable precision, the most studious accuracy. From chapter 25 to chapter 30 inclusive, we have a distinct section of the book of Exodus. This section is divided into two parts, the first terminating at chapter 27:19, and the second at the close of chapter 30. The former begins with the ark of the covenant, inside the veil, and ends with the brazen altar and the court in which that altar stood. That is, it gives us, in the first place, Jehovah’s throne of judgment, whereon He sat as Lord of all the earth; and it conducts us to that place where He met the sinner, in the credit and virtue of accomplished atonement. Then, in the latter, we have the mode of man’s approach to God — the privileges, dignities, and responsibilities of those who, as priests, were permitted to draw nigh to the Divine Presence and enjoy worship and communion there. Thus the arrangement is perfect and beautiful. How could it be otherwise, seeing that it is divine? The ark and the brazen altar present, as it were, two extremes. The former was the throne of God established in “justice and judgment” (Ps. 89:14); the latter was the place of approach for the sinner where “mercy and truth” went before Jehovah’s face. Man, in himself, dared not to approach the ark to meet God, for “the way into the holiest of all was not yet made manifest” (Heb. 9:8); but God could approach the altar of brass, to meet man as a sinner. “Justice and judgment” could not admit the sinner in, but “mercy and truth” could bring God out; not, indeed, in that overwhelming brightness and majesty in which He was wont to shine forth from between those mystic supporters of His throne — “the cherubim of glory,” but in that gracious ministry which is symbolically presented to us in the furniture and ordinances of the tabernacle. All this may well remind us of the path trodden by that blessed One who is the antitype of all these types — the substance of all these shadows. He traveled from the eternal throne of God in heaven, down to the depths of Calvary’s cross. He came from all the glory of the former, down into all the shame of the latter, in order that He might conduct His redeemed, forgiven, and accepted people back with Himself and present them faultless before that very throne which He had left on their account. The Lord Jesus fills up, in His own Person and work, every point between the throne of God and the dust of death, and every point between the dust of death and the throne of God. In Him, God has come down, in perfect grace, to the sinner; in Him, the sinner is brought up, in perfect righteousness, to God. All the way from the ark to the brazen altar was marked with the footprints of love, and all the way from the brazen altar to the ark of God was sprinkled with the blood of atonement; and as the ransomed worshiper passes along that wondrous path he beholds the name of Jesus stamped on all that meets his view. May that name be dearer to our hearts!
Posted on: Thu, 30 Jan 2014 12:04:23 +0000
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