The Bars

Ver. 26. And thou shalt make bars of shittim wood.) We have already considered the boards of the tabernacle, fitly framed together, and firmly fixed in the sockets of silver, as typical of believers standing in redemption, and associated together in Church fellowship. We have now to consider the bars of shittim wood, overlaid with gold—God’s provision for compacting together and securing the whole.
The fourth chapter of the Epistle to the Ephesians will furnish us with a solution of the spiritual import of these bars.
The Epistle to the Hebrews is largely occupied with priesthood and sacrifice, and there we find the corresponding types richly unfolded.
The Epistle to the Ephesians preeminently treats (Incomplete Article...) of the Church, and it is there we especially find the interpretation of the things connected with the tabernacle.
In the first six verses of Ephesians 4, the seven-fold, or perfect provision for the unity of the Church is mentioned; one body, one Spirit, one hope, one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all.
Then, from verses 7, to 11, the five, gifts given from a once humbled, but now ascended and glorified Savior, are noticed—apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors, and teachers.
Then the object for which they are given is stated from verses 12 to 16: “For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ; till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ: that we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive; but speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things, which is the Head, even Christ, from whom the whole body fitly joined together, and compacted by that which every joint supplieth, according to the effectual working in the measure of every part, maketh increase of the body unto the edifying of itself in love.”
These five bars of the tabernacle answer most strikingly to these five gifts. From a risen Christ, and their object and end is the same, the “perfecting,” “edifying,” and “compacting! of the whole together.
The Material.
“Bars of Shittim Wood.”
They were to be of shittim. wood, reminding us that those. who have received gifts for service to the Lord and to his saints, are men of like passions with others. They have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellency of the power may be of God, and not of them. Not sufficient of themselves to think anything as of themselves, they can of their own selves do nothing.