THE GOLDEN WALLS

THE GOLDEN WALLS We now go on to build the gold house, and, as divinely directed on the silver foundation we have been laying.

THE FORTY-EIGHT GOLD COVERED BOARDS Of these, twenty stood on the south side (Exodus 26:18), twenty on the north (Exodus 26:20); six with two corner ones on the west (Exodus 26:22-25). In all forty-eight. Each measured 10 cubits high, and 11/2 cubits broad (Exodus 26:16).

LENGTH AND BREADTH OF THE HOUSE,
DETERMINED BY THE BREADTH OF THE BOARDS By multiplying 20, the number of the boards at each long side, by 11/2 cubits, the breadth of a board, we get the exact length of the house, 30 cubits; but by multiplying the six west end boards by 11/2 cubits, we get only 9 cubits, one too few for the breadth of the house, and if we include the two corner boards, we get 12 cubits, two too many. By making the two corner boards angular in shape as their name suggests, each consisting of two equal halves of an ordinary board, dovetailed or otherwise united, yet so that when united they constitute but one board; one half of each of these corner boards facing the back end, and the other half of each facing respectively the south and north sides, we get the required breadth of the house, 10 cubits (diagram, p. 13). See further with respect to corner boards and breadth of the house, appendix, chapter 26. The length of the socket, 3/4 of a cubit (p. 6), and the breadth of the board, 1¥2 cubits (p. 12), both combine to show that the internal length of the house was 30 cubits (45 feet), and the breadth 10 cubits (15 feet). The size of the curtains also shows that the house was of these dimensions. See chapter 4, “On the Cherubim Curtains.” THE BARS

Five gold covered bars went along the sides of the tabernacle (Exodus 26:26-29). Four of the bars, as shown in our specimen board (p. 14), passed through gold rings fixed to each board. The third, or middle bar, however, did not pass through rings (v. 28), but through the boards themselves, a hole being bored through them for the purpose as indicated in the illustration (p. 14). “He made the middle bar to shoot through the boards from the one end to the other” (Exodus 36:33). The general opinion is that there were five bars to each of three sides arranged in so many rows—the middle one reaching the whole length, while the other four ran along only part of the wall. See woodcut No. 1, p. 15.

Some are of opinion that the five bars formed three rows, the four shorter ones running half the distance—two at or near the foot, and starting from each end, and meeting at the middle of the boards; and two near the top, similarly arranged—the middle bar running the whole distance (see No. 2, p. 15). The objection to this conjecture is, that no sufficient reason can be shown why, if the middle row should consist of but one bar, the other two rows should consist of two bars each.

No. 3 (p. 15) shows the four short bars trans-versing the sides, as some think they should, and meeting in the center of the wall, and the middle one reaching from end to end. This may seem to agree with the text, but it removes the bars from the foot and the top of the boards while the top especially may be supposed to require a bar.

No. 4 (p. 15) is intended to represent the middle bar as passing through the heart of the boards, which have been mortised for this purpose to admit of its passing through them. The other four bars run along the outside. We do not think the text implies that the four bars ran along only part of the wall, but that the middle bar entered in at the one end of the wall, and, passing through the heart or inside of the boards, reached to the other end, and that the other four bars extended along the walls on the outside. This view appears to be in harmony with the text, “And he made the middle bar to shoot through the boards from the one end to the other” (Exodus 36:33).

The woodcut on p. 14 will fully illustrate a tabernacle board in connection with its tenons, sockets, bars, rings, cord, and pin. THE TENONS At the foot of every board, as shown in the illustration at p. 14, were two tenons (Heb. “hands”), by means of’ these each board went into and took hold of its two ransom silver sockets, and as the boards thus by their hands went into their respective sockets, the sockets in their turn took hold of the boards by a firm grip and upheld them. The cord and pin shown in our specimen board will be noticed afterward.

PILLARS

Four pillars overlaid with gold and resting on silver sockets, stood at the distance of 20 cubits from the entrance to the sacred dwelling, and 10 cubits from the back wall (see woodcut, p. 17). Five similar pillars stood at the entrance of the tabernacle (p. 17). It may appear singular to some that their sockets were not made of ransom silver, like those of the four pillars and those of the golden boards. The reason is that they (the sockets for the five pillars) were situated immediately on the outside of the threshold of the house, and on that account, being considered as pertaining to the court and not to the sanctuary, were, like the rest of the court sockets, made of brass. (See threshold indicated in diagram, p. 7.) VIEW OF ALL THE PARTS OF THE GOLDEN FRAME-WORK The silver sockets, comprising the foundation of the tabernacle, and the various parts comprising the golden frame-work, having been illustrated in detail, a kind of bird’s eye view of the whole is given on p. 17 by means of diagrams. The three walls are supposed to be raised from their foundations and laid flat on their sides, enabling you to see all the boards, bars, tenons, rings, and staples. The sockets, represented by dots, describe the ground- plan. In imagination raise the three walls, bring them to the ground-plan, place the tenons in their respective sockets, and rear up the pillars, and the eye of your mind will have presented to it a model of the gold and silver edifice. The illustration on p. 18 is a perspective view taken from our model of the sacred structure.

In this view all the sockets, boards, rings, bars, and pillars are represented. Twenty boards at the south side are shown standing in and on their forty sockets; twenty at the north side, standing in and ontheir forty sockets; six with two corner boards at the back end, standing in and on their sixteen sockets; and four pillars within the house, standing in and on their four sockets—in all, forty-eight gold-covered boards and four gold-covered pillars, standing in and on the one hundred atonement silver money sockets (Exodus 38:27). Four rows of bars passing through gold rings extend along the three sides of the house, clasping firmly board to board; the boards being still more closely knit together by means of the middle bar, an unseen yet strong uniting and supporting band acting like a backbone to the structure, while the outside bars act like ribs. The building is still further compacted by means of the corner boards and corner sockets, uniting the three walls into one whole. The five gold- covered pillars resting on their five brazen sockets stand like guardian angels before the entrance to the sanctuary.

From Model. Framework of Tabernacle.

Thus at the foot of Mount Sinai the many and divers parts of the sacred building were made, and without a single nail or noise of hammer fitly framed into one beautiful compact gold and silver tabernacle, and so constructed as to be easily taken to pieces and easily rebuilt again, this being necessary, as frequently it had to be removed from one place to another in the wilderness. When finished with its cherubim and other curtains, hangings and coverings, and surrounded by its lovely court, it was the most costly and magnificent portable temple ever made with hands. As a work of art it was complete, lacking in nothing. All this need not greatly surprise you, for its Architect was He of whom it is said in the Bible, “His work is perfect,” and who inspired the master builders, Bezaleel and Aholiab, and other craftsmen, with wisdom (Exodus 36:1) for their great undertaking, strictly charging Moses to see that all things were made according to the pattern which, while enshrined with Him in the cloud of glory on Mount Sinai, He caused to pass before His servant’s wondering and admiring eyes.

£3000 worth of gold was used in covering one board, and in covering them all £144,000. The entire gold offering weighed 29 talents and 730 shekels (Exodus 38:24), equal to 43,865 ounces. Approximate value of gifts for the tabernacle:— THE GOLD OFFERING

And if you add to this the value of the voluntary offerings of other needful materials used in the construction of the building, and the value of the workmanship freely executed by the Israelites, who lent their hands as well as gave their gifts, £300,000 may not be too high a sum at which to value the tabernacle. Even this large sum, however, does not fully indicate the liberality of the Hebrew pilgrims, for we do not know how much more they might have brought, had they not “been restrained from bringing, for the stuff they had was sufficient for all the work to make it, and too much” (Exodus 36:6-7).

Only men were allowed to bring silver, and neither less nor more than half a shekel each; but all, men and women alike, were invited to bring other material, and as much as they were able or inclined to fetch. Gold was brought in the form of bracelets, ear-rings, seal-rings, and tablets (or necklaces). Those not able to bring gold, brought brass, wood, flax, linen, goat-hair, skins, and other needful materials.

Every jewel brought, as well as every other gift, great or small, bore a beautiful stamp, heaven’s hall mark, a willing heart. It was this willing- heartedness that spiritualized and transfigured the free-will offerings, and which causes them to shine with imperishable luster on the beautiful pages of Exodus for our edification and imitation.

New Testament Israelites are invited to bring gifts for the building of a greater temple than the tabernacle, and that all may enjoy the privilege of giving, the very smallest offerings are acceptable. As the hair and the skins brought by some who may not have had jewels to bestow were as necessary for the construction of the sacred structure as the more costly offerings of their richer brethren, so the coppers of the poor, or of little children, are as needful to assist in building the spiritual edifice as the sovereigns of the wealthy. The immense service rendered by pence in spreading the Redeemer’s kingdom is beyond all human calculation. Pence only, however, will not be an acceptable offering from those who have the more precious metals at their disposal. Gold and silver, as well as brass or copper, were among the materials with which the tabernacle was constructed, and they are also required for building up the church of God.

If you have these, and would follow the example of the Hebrew givers, you will not keep them back. If the poor bring pence, see that you forget not to lay silver and gold on the altar. One thing in particular the Lord asks you to give. Refuse it, and your offerings, however costly, will be discarded by Him as nought; but give Him this one thing, and then, as in the case of the Hebrew givers, all else He would like you to bring will crowd after it, and be heaped along with it on the gospel altar. “Son, daughter, give me thine heart.” God had recently done great things for Israel, and no doubt a sense of gratitude prompted their liberality; but He has done greater things for both Jews and gentiles: “He so loved the world that He gave His only- begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life;” and Jesus “gave Himself for us, that He might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto Himself a peculiar people.”

I gave my life for thee,
My precious blood I shed,
That thou might’st ransomed be,
And quickened from the dead.
I gave my life for thee;
What hast thou given for Me? Be not content with mere giving, be girt for service. There is work enough in the Christian church not only for Bezaleels and Aholiabs—for ministers, elders, and missionaries—but for all Christ’s disciples. None are so unifluential but they may do something for the Master’s cause. If not in teaching little children the sweet name of Jesus, or in visiting the abodes of the godless, or in handing tracts to this and that person as opportunity offers, yet in one or other of the endless ways in which they may engage in works of faith and labors of love. How many alas! who bear Christ’s name stand listlessly by, and refuse to give heed to the Master’s voice, “Why stand ye here all the day idle?”

If professing Christians were to give as liberally as the Hebrews gave for the work of the tabernacle, the coffers of the church would soon so overflow as to necessitate a proclamation from every pulpit in Christendom commanding the people to bring no more gifts; and were all who are able for any work about Zion to come and do it, the laborers would no longer be few, but many, and sufficiently numerous as instruments for the conversion of the whole world. How speedily, then, would Zion’s walls be built up, and the great temple of living stones completed! Do you long for this glorious consummation? If you do, see that you delay it not, either by not giving as the Lord hath prospered you, or by sitting with folded hands while you should be up and working. And, dear friend, if you have put your hand to this blessed employment, let your resolution be that of one of the noblest builders of old, “I am doing a great work, so that I cannot come down” (Nehemiah 6:3).

ANALOGY BETWEEN PARTS OF THE TABERNACLE
AND THE MEMBERS OF THE SPIRITUAL TEMPLE The gold gilded boards.—How lovely the boards must have shone as they stood on the ransom silver, but all who are resting on Jesus their Redeemer shine far more gloriously: they shine with the unfading beauty of holiness.

Tenons and sockets.—At the foot of every board were two tenons or hands (p. 14), to enable it to go into and take hold of its two atonement money sockets, and as the boards by their hands took hold of the ransom silver, the sockets in their turn took hold of the boards with a firm grip and upheld them. Faith is like the board hands, for it is by faith we lay hold of Christ our ransom, and as we lay hold of Him, even though our faith may be feeble, He at the same time, ransom-socket like, lays hold of us with a firm, yea, with an almighty grasp, and will never suffer anyone to pluck us out of His hands.

Stranger, pilgrim here below,
Traveling to fair Canaan’s Land,
Lean on Jesus as you go,
For by faith alone ye stand.

Golden bars encircled the boards, and helped, along with the silver foundation, to bear them up and keep them from falling, and so all who are resting on and cleaving to Jesus are surrounded by strong supporting bands, for, as the golden bars around the sacred tent, the everlasting arms are around all God’s dear children, so that they can never fall.

Pillars are elegant parts of a structure. They are graceful and yet strong supports. Those of the tabernacle helped to sustain the roof, and the veils were suspended from them. Eminent saints are said to be pillars in the house of God (Revelation 3:12), for they are her ornaments and chief props. With few exceptions, those who enlist early in the Master’s service become her brightest ornaments.

If you know that your hopes of heaven and everlasting blessedness rest on the one sure foundation; if you feel the loving arms of your Heavenly Father encircling you, and if, in some degree, you are shining with the beauty of holiness, forget not that you owe all to Him who loved you and gave Himself for you. May the love of Christ, therefore, constrain you to live not unto yourselves, but unto Him who died for you. May there be such evidence of your being united by faith to Christ, the sure foundation, that it may be said of you, “Now therefore are are no more strangers and foreigners, but fellow citizens with the saints, and of the household of God; and are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ Himself being the chief corner stone; in whom all the building fitly framed together groweth into an holy temple in the Lord: in whom are also are builded together for an habitation of God through the Spirit” (Ephesians 2:19-22).