The Vision of the Tabernacle |
The Outer Court of the Tabernacle |
Exodus 27:10 tells us that the pillars of the outer court have hooks and rods of silver that hold up the curtains. In the Bible, silver signifies Christ’s redemption. The sockets of bronze and the hooks and rods of silver indicate the redemption of Christ and the result of God’s righteous judgment on sin, the world, the flesh and Satan.
The function of the hooks and the rods was to keep the curtains together, forming a boundary around the outer court. This implies that Christians, who are represented by the pillars, are joined together, not because of their natural capacity or abilities, but by Christ’s redemption. In this way, we were all bought with the same price, independent of our nationality or social position: by the blood of Christ Jesus. Since the same price was paid for you and for me, we can be joined together in the church and uphold the boundary established by God for the testimony of the oneness of His people: one city, one church.
All around the outer court there were curtains of fine white linen. The fine linen symbolizes God’s righteousness, whereas the color white represents God’s holiness. Hence, righteousness and holiness were within the boundary of the tabernacle; nothing unrighteous or common could be there. Those who had the desire to enter the outer court firstly had to pass through the altar of burnt offering and present an offering for sin or for transgressions. Each one of them had to be judged by identifying himself with the offering that was being sacrificed in his place; in this way becoming holy, cleansed from his sin.
On one hand, there is no outward demand in the church - anyone may be a member. On the other hand, there is an inward demand to satisfy God’s righteousness and holiness. This happens when we receive Christ as our Lord and Savior. After we receive Him, we can become a pillar, upholding the testimony of the oneness of the church.
We cannot know what kind of wood the pillars were made of. However, surely they were of some kind of strong, treated wood in order to not bend or break under the action of the wind and to not be attacked by insects. If we want to be like these pillars, we need to pass through all kinds of dealings. This happens by means of the difficulties we face and the people we live with. Every time we are misunderstood or opposed, we are receiving a little dealing for the purpose of cleansing us of our soul-life and causing us to become useful and absolute for God. This is how we will be qualified to be a pillar in the church.
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