The Arrangement of the Vessels of the Sanctuary

Ver. 33. That thou mayest bring in thither within the vail the ark of the testimony....
34. And thou shalt put the mercy seat upon*the ark of the testimony in the most holy place.
35. And thou shalt set the table without the vail, and the candlestick over against the table on the side of the tabernacle toward the south: and thou shalt put the table on, the north side.
The ark and the mercy seat were to be placed within the vail in the holiest of all. Thither Jesus our forerunner has for us entered: and there it is, from off the mercy seat, that God delights to hold communion with his people.
The table and the candlestick had each their up-pointed position in the holy place without the vail; for they typify communion and testimony in the Church on earth assembled.
The table has its place on the north side, or side of judgment; for it is in connection with the table of the Lord that discipline is to be maintained.
The candlestick was to be set over against the table. For the ministry of the truth of Christ is designed to throw its light on the communion of saints. And it was to be on the south side; for it is to be a testimony of grace.
Neither is communion to set aside ministry, nor ministry to supersede communion; but each is to occupy its proper place, the place assigned to it by God in his word.
The altar of incense, afterward described, had also its place before the vail and mercy seat; for worship conies in beautifully and blessedly in combination with communion and testimony.