The Loops and Brazen Tames

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 coupling which coupleth the second. 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.) We have just seen the ‘arrangement of God, that the curtains may be united. We have here his provision, that the tent may be one; for church union is not only an ‘association of churches, but ONE CHURCHAPTER
Bezaleel and his companions were endued with skill and wisdom from God, to make the tabernacle and the tent according to the pattern shown to Moses in the Mount—one tabernacle and one tent.
The Spirit of God baptizes into one body all believers in Jesus, as the tabernacle or dwelling-place of God; and the apostles and their fellow-laborers, under the direct guidance and control of the Spirit, carried out the Divine thought in the original formation of the outward Church; for it was one, in a manifest, and unbroken outward unity, one tent.
And God had made full provision for the continuance of this Oneness, in the one doctrine of his Word, the one teaching of his Spirit, and the supreme Lordship of his Son. But human traditions having been permitted to mingle with, and to supersede the pure doctrines Of the Word; and the teachings of the so-called Church to interfere with the teaching of the Spirit; and the authority of than to set aside the sole Lordship of Christ in his Church, the outward oneness which once existed, exists no longer. But God’s principles are unchangeably the same. The Word of God continues to be the depository and. criterion of revealed’ truth; ‘the Comforter remains, and the Lord ‘Jesus retains his supremacy;’ and the blessing, and the privilege; and the profit, is to be realized and enjoyed ‘still, whenever two or three are found to carry into practice God’s original instructions, by meeting together on God’s principles.’ The testimony of the Lord Jesus to the Church in Philadelphia is the witness of this. (Revelation 3:7-13.)
There were one hundred-loops, (of what material or color we are not told; probably of the same material as the curtains,) forming one hundred links of union, but not of blue, not of. heavenly perfectness. And fifty taches of brass, strong and enduring, but not taches of gold, the emblem of Divine and eternal oneness.
The loops of blue and taches of gold uniting in one the tabernacle of God, prefigured the oneness of the Church in Spirit, in the bond of charity or love—a bond Divine, heavenly, and perfect.
These loops of goats’ hair and taches of brass coupling the tent together that it might he one, spews the outward Church united in the bond of brotherly kindness, a bond strong and lasting indeed, but still human.
This distinction is marked in 2 Peter 1:5-7: “Giving all diligence add to your brotherly kindness, charity.”
The tache of gold never lets go, for it is the emblem of Divine charity. The loop of blue never gives way, for it is the figure of perfect love. Not so the taches of brass and the loops of the tent, for they represent the human affections; the brotherly kindness which, by the command of God, we are —to manifest the one to another, as belonging to the family of God and the household of faith, whilst walking worthy of God.
“If any man obey not the Word of God, we are to have no company with him; that he may be ashamed.” (2 Thessalonians 3:14.) The outward expression of brotherly love has received a check yet we are not to count him as an enemy, but admonish him as a brother: (2 Thessalonians 3:15.) The tache of gold remains intwined with the loops of blue. That is, in the exercise of Divine charity, we are to be perfect, as our Father which is in heaven is perfect.
In the deep love of our hearts we may grieve over, pray for, and seek the restoration of our erring brother; but if he brings, not the pure doctrine of a true Christ, we are not to receive him into our house, neither bid him Godspeed, for in bidding him God speed we should be partakers of his evil deeds. (2 John 10,11.)
John was the disciple whom. Jesus loved; one who was wont to lie in the bosom of Jesus, and whose heart there learned to beat in unison with the heart of him in whom Divine love, in all its fullness, dwelt. Yet we hear John saying, “I wrote unto the Church, but Diotrephes, who loveth to have the pre-eminence among them, receiveth us not. Wherefore, if I come, I will remember his deeds which he doeth.”
(3 John 9,10.) John was one of those, and prominent among them, whose constant effort it was to maintain the truth of the Person of Christ, and who would admit of no compromise.
Diotrephes was one who sought to maintain his own place in the Church, in indifference to the truth of Christ. This is manifest, for rather than have his own influence interfered with, he kept the witnesses for the truth of Christ outside. “Beloved, follow not that which is evil, but that which is good.” (3 John 11.)
Divine love led the Father to give his Son to die for sinners. The same love leads him to chasten his children for their sins. Christ loved the Church, and gave himself for it. But he himself says, “As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten. (Revelation 3:19.) Divine love led Jesus to be a sacrifice for sin. The same love constrained him to pray, “If it be possible, let this cup pass from me;” for contact with sin, and to be numbered with transgressors, is intolerable to Divine love in its intrinsic holiness.
Divine love in a believer clings to a brother with an undying grasp; but Divine love will never allow him to rejoice in his iniquity, nor to have fellowship with his untruthfulness. For it is love in the truth for the truth’s sake which Divine charity manifests.
Jesus prayed for his Church, that it might be one, and it is one, divinely, perfectly, and forever one. Jesus commanded his disciples that they should love one another, and they are taught of God to do so. He who does not love, gives no evidence that he is born of God. And we do love one another, just in proportion as the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost, and as we are thus made partakers of the Divine nature, for God is love, and love is of God. But in the manifestation of this love, and in the exercise of brotherly kindness, there is need of Divine wisdom, for real love can neither connive at sin, nor be indifferent to error. “Charity rejoiceth not in iniquity, but rejoiceth in the truth.” (1 Corinthians 13:6.) It manifests itself in faithfulness; faithfulness to God, to Christ, and to the brethren.