Tabernacle Typology 11: Precious Stones

Tabernacle Typology 11: Precious Stones

by | Oct 1, 2024 | Bible Studies, God in the Details, Tabernacle Typology

Exodus 39:10-13, KJV:

“And they set in it four rows of stones: the first row was a sardius, a topaz, and a carbuncle: this was the first row. And the second row, an emerald, a sapphire, and a diamond. And the third row, a ligure, an agate, and an amethyst. And the fourth row, a beryl, an onyx, and a jasper: they were inclosed in ouches of gold in their inclosings.”

The priest wore a garment called an ephod. Along with the ephod he wore a heavy breastplate decorated with precious stones. These stones were called ‘stones of remembrance’ and were engraved with the names of the twelve tribes of Israel.

These stones were carried on the shoulders of the high priest – the high priest carried the burden of their sins upon his shoulders.

There is much debate as to the specific stones used, and what each individual stone might mean or represent – but what can be said for sure is that they symbolised the twelve tribes.

In a broader sense they symbolise all of humanity and the church. (1 Peter 2:4-5) Each stone was unique – no stone was used twice – it represents all the unique nations of the world. It represents your uniqueness as a child of God.

You are one of a kind to God. There is only one of you.

And just as the names were engraved upon the stones set in the breastplate of judgement (as it was called), so too your name is engraved on your own stone upon His breastplate of righteousness.

Your name is engraved in the palm of His hand – not just written and waiting to fade away – but engraved.

Your name is engraved upon His heart.

Jesus carried the burden of your sin, the burden of your shame and the burden of your sorrow upon His shoulders.

Just like the stones were taken from the earth through hard labour, hewn out of the rock, so too God – through Jesus Christ – struck a blow to the hard bedrock of sin and iniquity to get you out.

Just like these stones are precious to man, even more so, you are precious to Him.

At the time these were the most valuable jewels the Israelites possessed – bought from merchants traveling through, merchants from far off lands – so too you have been redeemed.

Valuable to God.

Just as the high priest felt the burden of these stones while making intercession for the nation of Israel, so too Christ felt the burden of our sin and remembered us upon the cross.

Our Cornerstone and Solid Rock of our Salvation – the Foundation of our Faith – these stones taken from the heart of the earth represent Christ’s heart for us.

You are loved. You are redeemed – you are His – precious and valuable to Him.

Reflect:

1. These stones, set in the breastplate, would signify a great burden – the burden of a nation’s sin and iniquity. In our own lives we often feel the burden of our own sin and iniquity – do you have any heaviness in you? How can you let go of it today?

2. Read 1 Peter 5:8-9. These stones were called ‘stones of remembrance’ and served to remind the high priest of the importance of the intercession he was making. What does intercession look like to you? What role does it play in your life?

Prayer: Lord, how wonderful to know that my name is engraved upon Your heart – that You took my burden of sin and sorrow upon You and paid the price for all of it. I thank You Lord for Your mercy, grace and great love. As I look upon the beauty of Your sacrifice, Lord, let my heart be transformed – break my heart for what breaks Yours! Polish me Lord, like a precious stone – make me more like You. In Jesus Name. Amen.

Tabernacle Typology 10: Incense

Tabernacle Typology 10: Incense

by | Sep 18, 2024 | Bible Studies, Christological Reflections, God in the Details, Tabernacle Typology

Exodus 30:34-35, KJV:

“And the Lord said unto Moses, Take unto thee sweet spices, stacte, and onycha, and galbanum; these sweet spices with pure frankincense: of each shall there be a like weight: And thou shalt make it a perfume, a confection after the art of the apothecary, tempered together, pure and holy…”

According to the Lord’s command, incense was made for burning on the golden altar within the Sanctuary.

It was made of equal quantities of stacte, galbanum, onycha and frankincense.

Frankincense: Considered a sign of wealth and prosperity, it was a very costly substance in ancient times. It was and still is widely used in many religious and spiritual practices around the world.

The plant it is derived from – Boswellia Sacra – grows in some of the most harsh and arid regions in the world.

The frankincense speaks of the divinity of Jesus. It is the divinity of Jesus that is worthy of all worship and adoration.

As frankincense is used symbolically in the Bible to represent our prayers (eg. Revelation 5) it is also typical of His priesthood and represents His intercession for us on the cross.

Stacte: ‘Stacte’ is a Greek word meaning ‘oozing substance’. The Hebrew word used here is ‘Nataph’ which is translated as ‘drop’ and can mean ‘to distil’. Many scholars believe that this refers to a type of distilled myrrh. Another strong contender is the resin from the storax tree.

Storax is a medicinal shrub. In ancient times its resin was a popular additive to all kinds of incense.

Jewish tradition, however, holds that ‘Stacte’ was synonymous with opobalsamum – a rare type of myrrh found growing wild in Yemen, Mecca and Israel. The first-century rabbi Gamliel said, “Stacte is simply the sap that drips from the tapping of the wood of the balsam tree” (Kerithot 6a).

The balsam tree is also where the famous healing Balm of Gilead was derived from.

Besides its many medicinal uses, it was also a highly volatile, flammable substance.

As the incense is typical of our worship of Christ, the stacte typifies the spread of the Gospel through the Spirit after the resurrection – it spread like wildfire!

The sweet stacte released upon the Cross, through the piercing of Jesus(much like the trees were ‘wounded’ to procure the resin) and the power of His sacrifice, caught fire in the hearts of believers everywhere and continues to catch a flame – continues to burn throughout the ages – releasing the fragrant offering of our praise.

Onycha: Derived from the operculum of certain sea snails – it resembles a fingernail and is a sort of secreted plate that closes the aperture of the shell when the snail is retracted – sort of like a trap door.

These little plates would be removed, cleaned and soaked in either fermented caper berry juice or white wine, before being crushed into a powder for use in perfumes and incense.

Christ was crushed for our iniquities (Isa 53:5) – the sweet, fragrant sacrifice of our Lord is a main ingredient in the incense of our praise and worship.

Galbanum: Commonly used in the ‘green’ incense of the ancient Egyptians, galbanum offered a very bitter, acrid and peculiar smell, before changing to a very complex spicy and balsam-like fragrance similar to green apples and musk.

According to the French Rabbi Rashi, the resin of the galbanum flower was an intentional additive to the incense because of its bitter taste – to serve as a reminder of our sin as people.

Kris Valloton is quoted as saying: “There is no victory without a battle, no testimony without a test, and no miracle without an impossible circumstance.”

Just so Christ upon the Cross took our battle upon Himself. Although the initial notes would be bitter and acrid, He took our sins and sorrows and traded them for beauty and joy.

The bitter galbanum serves as a reminder, in our worship of Christ, of where we came from – but also hints at where we are going. His work on the cross transforming us from wretched sinners to victorious overcomers.

No longer do we smell of sin and shame – but rather the sweetness of His sacrifice.

Just before closing I would like to point out that all of the above ingredients are the result of wounding and crushing – just like the pain and suffering of our Saviour – His wounding and crushing – is the origin of the fragrant offer of our prayers and worship.

Let us approach each day with the incense of worship burning in our hearts, giving all our praise and adoration to the One who is worthy of it all!

Reflect:

1. The galbanum, when burnt, offers a bitter, acrid (unpleasantly pungent) smell before giving way to a sweeter, musky fragrance. How does this speak to you? How does this represent your testimony?

2. All of the ingredients above are the result of wounding, crushing and a tearing apart. True worship comes from the heart. How does the wounding, crushing and tearing apart speak about true worship?

Prayer: Lord, let sweet incense arise from my heart. Let praise and thanksgiving be upon my lips. I thank You Lord for Your blood, shed upon the Cross – for the wounding and the crushing You had to endure on my behalf. Let that same sweet fragrance be released in my heart – a broken heart, my repentant heart. Break my heart for what breaks Yours, Lord, and let my life be a fragrant offering unto You.

Tabernacle Typology 9: Spices

Tabernacle Typology 9: Spices

by | Sep 11, 2024 | Bible Studies, God in the Details, Tabernacle Typology, Typology

Exodus 30:23-25, KJV:

“Take thou also unto thee principal spices, of pure myrrh five hundred shekels, and of sweet cinnamon half so much, even two hundred and fifty shekels, and of sweet calamus two hundred and fifty shekels, And of cassia five hundred shekels, after the shekel of the sanctuary, and of oil olive an hin: And thou shalt make it an oil of holy ointment, an ointment compound after the art of the apothecary: it shall be an holy anointing oil.”

In the previous reading we looked at the use and the significance of olive oil in the Tabernacle – how it was used as fuel for the lamps – but also for the production of anointing oil.

This time we will look at the 4 spices included in the anointing oil.

The four spices are: Myrrh, Cinnamon, Calamus and Cassia.

Myrrh: Myrrh has been used throughout the ages for medicine and perfumery. It is a sweet smelling substance and bitter to the taste. It is closely related to frankincense and comes from the same family of woody, flowering plants.

It is extracted by repeatedly wounding the trees until they ‘bleed’ the myrrh gum.

In medicine it is used as an antiseptic in toothpastes, gargles and mouthwashes. It is also used in salves for abrasions and as a pain-reliever in ointments. It has also been said to be helpful in relieving the symptoms of arthritis among other things.

In ancient times myrrh was used as a tincture to alleviate the suffering of the dying. Jesus, on the cross, was offered myrrh mixed with wine for the pain, but He refused.

The trees were ‘bled’ to procure the oil, ‘wounded’ to get the healing balm. Christ was wounded for our transgressions and pierced for our iniquities – for the Healing Balm of His Blood to flow.

Fragrant Cinnamon: Cinnamon is obtained from the bark of trees belonging to the Cinnamomum family.

It is used to add flavor to both sweet and savoury dishes – breakfast, lunch and dinner – and has a lot of health benefits.

In Ancient Times it was considered very rare and costly. According to Pliny the Elder a Roman pound (more or less 327 grams) cost about 50 months of labor (or 1500 denarii). It was often given to kings and emperors as gifts, and even offered as tribute to their pagan gods.

In the body it reduces inflammation and is also good for your heart health. It is considered a heart stimulant because it increases blood flow. It can stimulate a weak heart.

Our hearts might’ve been weak before – but with the death and resurrection of our Lord we are encouraged, our hearts stimulated with hope, faith and courage. Where the myrrh symbolizes His suffering, the cinnamon embodies the sweet, fragrant nature of His sacrifice.

When we apply the sacrifice of Jesus to a discouraged heart – His death and resurrection – we find joy unspeakable and full of glory – adding flavour to our worship as our lives are transformed and we become a fragrant offer unto our Lord.

Calamus: This spice comes from a semi-aquatic, flowering plant found around marshes, next to rivers and in wetlands. It is a sweet smelling stalk which was often cut and dried to produce a type of powder which would then be used in medicines and perfumes.

It was not native to Palestine – where the Israelites were at the time – and was probably imported from Arabia Felix or India. This made it very rare and extremely costly.

It was often used in the treatment of eye infections and diseases.

It is through the sacrifice of Christ on the Cross that the eyes of our hearts are opened to see the resurrection power of God.

The Hebrew word used to describe Calamus is ‘Qaneh’ derived from ‘Qanah’ which is also translated in the Old Testament to refer to buying or redeeming.

Just like the calamus flower grows out of the marsh, rising up through and flowering above the pungent, often stagnant water, so Jesus was put in the marsh of the grave only to rise and bring New Life. Calamus therefore remains a powerful reminder of the precious, sweet resurrection of our Lord Jesus.

Cassia: This fragrant spice is closely related to the fragrant cinnamon above – the difference is the plant it is derived from. Cassia is derived from the plant Cinnamomum Cassia which, like Calamus, was an imported trade item bought from Southeast Asia.

Cassia is a type of evergreen, ‘weeping’ tree – this means that the branches are soft and limp, bending evermore downward as the grow.

The Hebrew word for Cassia, ‘qadad’ means ‘bowed down’. This speaks of the humility with which Christ approached the Cross – humbly giving His life for the ransom of many.

This is the same attitude with which we should approach the Cross. It is in us ‘bending down’ like the branches of the Cassia tree that we allow Christ to move in power and glory in our lives, in humility we go to His throne and He gives us the victory.

Reflect:

1. Besides typifying Christ, all of these precious, aromatic spices are also symbolic of our worship of Christ. What are some of the ways in which we can make a connection between these spices and our Christian walk?

2. All of these materials were exceedingly precious and costly. What is precious to you? Are you willing to give it as a sacrifice to the Lord? What would it mean if you were to give it to Him?

Prayer: Lord, I come and pour out my heart before You in gratitude and thanksgiving. As I reflect on the passage above, I pray that You would help me to start living a life worthy of the One You gave. I pray that I will become willing to bring what is costly to me as a sacrifice to You – my time, my effort and all of my strength – that my life might be a fragrant and pleasant offering unto You. In Jesus Name. Amen.

Tabernacle Typology 8: Oil

Tabernacle Typology 8: Oil

by | Sep 3, 2024 | Bible Studies, Christological Reflections, God in the Details, Tabernacle Typology, Typology

Ex. 27:20-21: (KJV)

“And thou shalt command the children of Israel, that they bring thee pure oil olive beaten for the light, to cause the lamp to burn always. In the tabernacle of the congregation without the vail, which is before the testimony, Aaron and his sons shall order it from evening to morning before the Lord: it shall be a statute for ever unto their generations on the behalf of the children of Israel.”

The Lord commanded the people of Israel to bring pure, cold-pressed olive oil for the lamps and for the anointing oil (Exodus 30).

To get the oil out of the fruit of the olive tree, the olives were either crushed with a mortar and pestle, or by being trodden with their feet.

The word used here for ‘beaten’ in the Hebrew is ‘Katith’ – which most properly translates as ‘to break into pieces’.

The Encyclopedia Judaicia has the following insights to offer: “The olives were beaten down from the trees with poles (Isa.17:6), and were pounded into pulp in mortars or by the feet (Micah 6:15). The pulp was placed in wicker baskets from which the lightest and finest oil could easily run off This grade of oil, known as beaten oil (Heb. Shenen katit), is mentioned five times in the Bible. It served as fuel for the lamp in the Tabernacle (Exo.27:20; Lev.24:2) and as an element in the obligatory daily meal offerings (Exo.29:40; Num.28:5).”

They used only the finest oil for the lamps. This valuable and labor intensive product was used to keep the lamp burning in the Tabernacle – day and night, night and day – the light never went out.

This meant that the production of oil by the Israelites was an always ongoing process and daily sacrifice.

In the Old Testament, the earliest reference to the olive tree is found in the Noah’s Ark narrative.

Here it represents peace, hope and restoration.

The process through which the oil was procured signifies the sacrifice of Christ – who was bruised – and broken into pieces (‘katith’) for our transgressions. His suffering was the chastisement for our peace.

David speaks about the ‘oil of gladness’ (Psalm 45:7). It is through the beaten oil of Christ that we have much to rejoice about.

The Oil is also representative of the Divinity of Jesus. The fullness of the Godhood within Him – He is the Light of the World stepping down into darkness to illuminate the Way for us – the Way to life.

The oil itself – both in the lamp and the anointing oil – is typical of the Holy Spirit – God within us.

When we turn to Christ as our Lord and Saviour we receive His Spirit – the fire of His presence burning in our hearts.

Much like Aaron and his sons we then have the duty to keep this fire burning through prayer, Bible study and obedience to the Lord and His ways.

Reflect:

1. The production of the oil was a daily sacrifice of time and effort, as was the burning of the lamps. What daily activities should we pursue to keep our lamps burning? What daily sacrifices must we make to make sure there is oil in our spiritual lives?

2. If we make a diligent effort to keep our lamps burning, what will the result be? How does a life full of oil look?

Prayer: Lord, give me oil in my lamp. Keep me burning day and night. Let me be a light to the world around me. Let others see this light and draw near out of the darkness – let them find You Lord. Anoint my lips to speak Your truth. Anoint my hands to pray for people and do good works. In Jesus Name. Amen.

Tabernacle Typology 7: Wood

Tabernacle Typology 7: Wood

by | Aug 28, 2024 | Bible Studies, Christological Reflections, God in the Details, Tabernacle Typology, Typology

Ex. 25:1-9: (KJV)

And the Lord spake unto Moses, saying, “Speak unto the children of Israel, that they bring me an offering: of every man that giveth it willingly with his heart ye shall take my offering.And this is the offering which ye shall take of them; gold, and silver, and brass,And blue, and purple, and scarlet, and fine linen, and goats’ hair,And rams’ skins dyed red, and badgers’ skins, and shittim wood, Oil for the light, spices for anointing oil, and for sweet incense, Onyx stones, and stones to be set in the ephod, and in the breastplate. And let them make me a sanctuary; that I may dwell among them.

Wood from the Shittah Tree – later classified as a type of Acacia – was used in the construction of the Tabernacle. These trees were common in the Sinai Desert and in the Jordan River Valley.

It was a light, but hard and durable wood – known for its strength and its natural resistance to insects and decay.

In ancient Egyptian and Israelite tradition it represented endurance and immortality – because of its evergreen nature.

Because of its resistance to decay it also represented integrity and purity.

It represents the perfection of Jesus and God’s covenant with His people. Strong and unyielding, enduring and steadfast.

The shittim wood symbolizes Jesus as the Holy One of God who saw no corruption. (Psalm 16:10). It typifies His purity, where He was likewise to His brethren, but without sin. (Heb 4:15)

Jesus was in the desert – much like the Shittim trees that grow in the Wilderness  – and did not bend, nor did He break when faced with temptation.

Just like these trees grow in desolate and dry places – providing shade from the desert sun – so Jesus is our shelter in the wilderness – our covering.

Another interesting ‘point’ – mind the pun – has to do with the thorny nature of the tree. As Charles Loder shares: “shittîym comes from שׁטֵט shôtêt “to pierce” (Strong’s #7850), for Christians, therefore, Shittim may hint to the piercing of Christ on the cross and his crown of thorns. The root verb also means to whip and scourge, another feature of Christ’s trial and crucifixion.” 

A last inference I would like to share comes from the fact that the shittah tree is a source of gum arabic – which is used for a variety of products, but also has medicinal effects.

Just like medicine can be taken from this tree, so also healing is found in Christ. 

He is our healer, our shelter – the One pierced for our transgressions and scourged for our iniquity – the Mighty One who saves. He is our strength in weakness. The Perfect and Spotless Lamb of God, incorruptible and holy. Steadfast and unchanging – His love is unyielding and eternal. 

Reflect:

  1. How does the Shittim wood and the symbolism thereof speak of Christ in us? What does this mean in the life of the believer?
  2. What does it mean to be incorruptible? How much of this quality do you possess? Is there any way in which we  – through the practice of Spiritual Disciplines – can bolster our faith to be more resistant to drought, decay and the insects of temptation?

Prayer: Lord, be my strength in weakness. Just like shittim wood is strong and resistant to decay, strengthen me against temptation, keep me standing in times of trouble, and preserve me in trial and tribulation so that I may endure to the very end and have eternity with You. Let me find rest in Your unfailing and unyielding love. Be my shelter in the wilderness of life and let me abide in You forever. In Jesus Name. Amen.

Tabernacle Typology Part 6: Coverings

Tabernacle Typology Part 6: Coverings

by | Aug 21, 2024 | Bible Studies, Christological Reflections, God in the Details, Tabernacle Typology, Typology

Tabernacle Typology 6: Coverings

Ex. 25:1-9: (KJV)

And the Lord spake unto Moses, saying, “Speak unto the children of Israel, that they bring me an offering: of every man that giveth it willingly with his heart ye shall take my offering.And this is the offering which ye shall take of them; gold, and silver, and brass,And blue, and purple, and scarlet, and fine linen, and goats’ hair,And rams’ skins dyed red, and badgers’ skins, and shittim wood, Oil for the light, spices for anointing oil, and for sweet incense, Onyx stones, and stones to be set in the ephod, and in the breastplate. And let them make me a sanctuary; that I may dwell among them.

Much like these temples made of flesh and bone that we inhabit, the Tabernacle was likewise covered with skins and hair.

God instructs Moses to use Goat’s Hair, Ram’s Skin and Badger Skin in the construction of the Tabernacle.

From outside the Tabernacle, then, would’ve looked like any other tent – just like Jesus, taking on flesh, would look like any other man. The rather mundane coverings hid from view the Holy and the Divine within.

In Isaiah 53 we read: “He had no beauty or majesty to attract us to him, nothing in his appearance that we should desire him. He was despised and rejected by mankind, a man of suffering, and familiar with pain. Like one from whom people hide their faces he was despised, and we held him in low esteem.” (Isaiah 53:2-3, NIV)

The coverings also speak of Jesus in other ways:

Goat’s Hair: This hair was woven by women into yarn (Ex. 35:26), making a hard-wearing material most suitable as a tent-covering.

In Matthew 25:32, a description of the Last Judgement, we find goats and sheep being separated from one another, the sheep signifying the righteous, whilst the goat’s were emblematic of the unrighteous. On the cross, Jesus was our scapegoat (Leviticus 16), taking all our transgressions upon Himself, taking all the blame for us. God revealed Himself in the likeness of sin, He revealed Himself in the likeness of unrighteousness to condemn it, and set us free (Rom 8:3). Thus it typifies Christ coming in the likeness of sinful flesh to defeat death and break the bonds of sin.

Ram’s Skins: Dyed red after they had been prepared.

Christ is called the Lamb of God, signifying His pure and spotless life, as well as His gentleness and meekness, the love that defined every deed, every act and every word to come from Him. The ram however signifies the strength of His public testimony, His steadfastness and resolve.

It also signifies the covenant made with Abraham – the fact that Jesus would take our place on the Cross. The Ram’s skins were dyed red, typifying how Jesus sealed the testimony in His blood, how the new covenant in His blood was made.

Sealskins: Or ‘badgers’ skins’. The Hebrew word Tachash – translated here as Badger Skins and Seal Skins in other versions of the text – has been the subject of much debate over the years. Jewish legend explains it as a unique animal, which existed only in the time of Moses.

Dr. Terry Harman shares the following thought: “If the tachash was a mysterious animal that only lived during the construction of the Tabernacle, then the Lord provided it and the people of God used it to glorify the Lord and the dwelling place of the Shekinah because it was a “one of a kind,” fit for the King of Kings and it will always remain a mystery.”

The Badger’s Skins are emblematic of strength and endurance. It was the external covering of the Tabernacle, probably hinting at the outer, or physical appearance of Jesus. Jesus was a carpenter (Mark 6:3), and thus it’s probably not too farfetched to assume that He might’ve had a rather rugged appearance. The fact remains that many who looked at Jesus only saw the uncomely badger’s skin of the Christ – and could not recognize that which was under the skin.

The badger’s skins typify Christ as a pilgrim, a sojourner in this world. An outcast, if you will, meant not for this life, but for the glory that was, and is, and always will be His!

Reflect:

1. In meditating on the above, on the coverings of skin and hair – how does it speak about the life of the Believer in Christ?

2. Many did not recognize the beauty of the Messiah. Thinking back on your own life, what is it that attracted you to Christ? How has your thinking and vision of Him changed as you have ventured deeper into the Sanctuary of relationship with Him?

Prayer: Lord, I pray that my relationship with You will always be more than just skin deep. I pray that You will take me deeper – deeper into the Sanctuary of Your Presence. Expand my vision of You and Your Kingdom – and guide my steps as a pilgrim and sojourner in this world – that I might be a testimony of Your strength and steadfast love. In Jesus Name. Amen.