The Tabernacle Part 7 The Coverings Series

THE COVERINGS

(Ex. 26:1-14; 36:8-19)

The boards, studied in the last lesson, consti¬tuted the walls of the tabernacle. Over these boards, which stood fifteen feet high, four coverings were placed to form the roof of this peculiar building. We shall study these from the outside inward.

1. Why four?

• There were four pillars in the gate

• There were four colors in the hanging of gate

• We now see four coverings to the tabernacle.

• They represented the fourfold work of the Coming one

• The One of whom the tabernacle was said to be "a figure" (Heb. 9:9).

2. The badger skins.

• These provided the outside covering.

• In Ezekiel 16:10 is the only other mention of badger skins.

• They were used for sandals.

• This covering was durable and used for protection against the storms of rain and sand and the heat of the

desert.

• They were dull and unattractive in ap¬pearance.

• To the uninformed traveler, this looked like the other tents of the desert.

• They would have no idea of the beauty and wealth underneath.

• This covering spoke of Christ who came in the flesh

• He was but a root out of dry ground (Isa. 53:2)

• He was without form or comeliness “

• In fact when he was accused they said “He being a man maketh himself to be God”

• ( He looked like any other man…no special glow over him) John 1:14

And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only

begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.

3. Rams' skins dyed red

• These were always spoken of as "dyed red."

• The rams' skins represented the object of His humanity. He came to die.

• The first mention of the word "ram" is in connection with sacrifice

Gen. 15:9.

And he said unto him, Take me an heifer of three years old, and a she goat of three years old, and a ram of

three years old, and a turtledove, and a young pigeon.

John 1:14 corresponds to the first cover¬ing of badger skins

John 1: 29 corresponds to the second cover of Ram skins died red.

Always keep in mind the object of Christ's humanity

Rom. 4:25

Who was delivered for our offences, and was raised again for our justification.

I Cor. 15:4

And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the

scriptures:

II Cor. 5:21

For He hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in

him.

I Pet. 2:24).

Who his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto

righteousness: by whose stripes ye are healed

# Abrahams offering…the ram offering was a substitute

• Abraham offered him up in the stead of his son (Gen 22:23)

# Jesus came and was offered in our stead…

• For Christ also hath once suffered for sins, the just for the unjust, that he might bring us to God I Peter 3:18

• Who gave himself for our sins Gal 1:4

• He was made sin for us 2 Cor 5:21

• While we were yet sinners Christ died for us Romans 5:8

• The Lord hath laid on him the iniquity of us all Isaiah 53:6

• For God so loved the world that he gave his ONLY BEGOTTEN son, that whosoever beleiveth in him should not

perish but have everlasting life Jn. 3:16

4. Goats' hair.

• This covering was pure white.

• The goats' skins represented the result of His sacrifice, which is righteousness.

• This was the only covering that extended down over part of the door (Ex. 26:9)….. WHY???

# Two Goats taken on the day of Atonement

• One was killed….The other, with the sins ceremoniously confessed upon it, was led away into the wilderness.

• These two spoke of Him of whom John said, "Behold the Lamb of God which taketh up and beareth away the

sins of the world" (John 1:29).

5. The fine twined linen.

• The innermost cover¬ing was like the hanging of the gate of the court studied in lesson #2

• What was said of it is applicable to this covering.

• There was one addition here.

• Cherubim of cunning work were added (Ex. 26:1).

• Cherubim in Scripture, have to do with the holiness of God. (See Gen. 3:22-24; Ex. 25:19, 20; Rev. 4:6-8). Their

presence, real or in figure, indicates the presence of God's holy throne.

6. Our position.

While these coverings primarily referred to Christ, yet they speak to us of our fourfold position in Him.