"And thou shalt make bars of shittim wood; five for the
boards of the one side of the Tabernacle, and five bars for the boards of the
other side of the Tabernacle, and five bars for the boards of the side of the
Tabernacle for the two sides westward. And the middle bar in the midst of the
boards shall reach from end to end" (vv. 26-28).
We have considered the BOARDS fitly framed together, firmly fixed in the
sockets of silver, as typical of believers standing in redemption. We have now
to consider the BARS of shittim wood overlaid with gold - God's provision for
compacting together and securing the whole.
In the first six verses of Eph. 4. the sevenfold unity of the Church is
mentioned: One body, one Spirit, one hope, one Lord, one faith, one baptism,
one God and Father of all. From verses 7-11, the FIVE gifts given from an
ascended and glorified Saviour are noticed; apostles, prophets, evangelists,
pastors and teachers.
The object for which they are given is stated from verses 12 to 16 : "For
the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of
the body of Christ. Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the
knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the
stature of the fulness of Christ. That we henceforth be no more children,
tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the
sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive;
but speaking the truth in love, may grow up into Him in all things, which is
the head, even Christ. From whom the whole body fitly joined together and
compacted by that which every joint supplieth, according to the effectual
working in the measure of every part, maketh increase of the body unto the
edifying of itself in love."
The FIVE BARS answer strikingly to these FIVE GIFTS from a risen Christ, and
the object and the end is the same, both in the Tabernacle and the Church: the
"perfecting," "edifying," and "compacting of the whole
together."
THE MATERIAL.
They were to be of SHITTIM WOOD; reminding us that those who have received
gifts for service to the Lord and to His saints, are men of like passions with
others. They have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellency of the
power may be of God, and not of them. Not sufficient of themselves to think
anything as of themselves, their sufficiency is of God.
THE ARRANGEMENT OF THE BARS.
God's arrangements and provisions for ministry are simple, perfect, and
uniform, adapted to the need of the Church of God throughout the whole world.
All believers everywhere have need of all the gifts of the Spirit for their
compacting and edifying; and according to God's arrangements, whatever gifts
there may be, are designed for all.
The leading of the Spirit, or the providence of God, may place some in certain
localities; all believers have a title to their service, and they are debtors,
according to their ability and opportunity, to all. Two of the bars were placed
near the bottom of the boards; one in the centre extending from end to end; and
two near the top, thus
Pastors and Teachers.
Evangelists.
Apostles and Prophets.
The two UNDER bars may be taken to represent the gifts of the APOSTLES and
PROPHETS. These, as to doctrine and practice, according to the ability given
them of God, have laid the foundation. The Church is said to be "built
upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ Himself being
the chief corner stone." They laid the foundation by their labours,
example, and teaching in their lifetime; and in the inspired Scriptures in the
New Testament which they have left, the Church has still the benefit of their
gifts.
The MIDDLE bar in the centre of the boards was entire, extending the whole
length of the Tabernacle, from end to end; beautifully suggestive of the widely
extended sphere of the labours of the EVANGELIST; whose commission is, "Go
ye into all the world, and ,reach the gospel to every creature."
The two bars near the top, represent the ministry of PASTOR and TEACHER: the
PASTOR watching over souls of the converted, feeding the flock of God; the
TEACHER leading the children of God onward and upward into further and higher
acquaintance with 'divine truth, and of the love, person, and ways of the Lord
Jesus.
THE OVERLAYING OF THE BOARDS WITH GOLD.
"And thou shalt overlay the boards with gold, and make their rings of
gold for places for the bars; and thou shalt overlay the bars with
gold" (v. 29).
It is remarkable that the direction for OVERLAYING the boards does not occur in
the portion which treats of the BOARDS (v15-25), but in connection with the
BARS; doubtless, this is significant. The boards were of shittim wood:
representing believers, IN THEMSELVES partakers of HUMAN NATURE in its weakness
and frailty. But overlaid with gold: signifying that, as one in Spirit with
Jesus, believers are also partakers of the DIVINE NATURE (2 Peter 1. 4). As we
are by the grace of God - as seen by Him in the Son of His love - such we ought
to be practically, experimentally, at all times; especially when gathered in
the Name of Jesus, under the searching eye of Him with whom we have to do; that
as builded together for a habitation of God through the Spirit, there may be
nothing to grieve or quench that Holy Spirit of God, or hinder the full flow of
blessing from our God and Father. As the shittim wood in the Tabernacle was
nowhere to be seen, so the flesh, or that which is merely natural, should never
be manifest in the assembly of God's saints. But putting off the old man, and
putting on the new, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, the divine nature
should appear, and divine charity be ever in full exercise. The distinctions
which cannot be overlooked with impunity in the outward walks of life, would
disappear when believers are assembled in the Church; and all as children of
God, members of Christ, dwelt in by the Spirit, would hold the faith of our
Lord Jesus Christ, the Lord of glory, without respect of persons (James 2. 1).
Whilst the gold glittered on the surface, the shittim wood existed within. So
it becomes us to remember that, notwithstanding all that divine grace has made
us in Christ, in ourselves we are nothing at all. The true circumcision,
worshipping God in the Spirit, rejoicing in Christ Jesus, but having no
confidence in the flesh. This is no excuse for sin or failure; the grace of God
is sufficient; His strength is made perfect in weakness.
But why is this direction inserted here with the instructions respecting the
bars? Does it not intimate a connection between the exercising of the gifts for
ministry, and the fuller realization and manifestation of the divine nature?
Thus holding the Head, "all the body, BY JOINTS AND BANDS, having
nourishment ministered, and knit together, increaseth WITH THE INCREASE OF
GOD." Whilst God, according to His divine power, has given unto us all
things that pertain unto life and godliness, whereby are given unto us
exceeding great and precious promises, THAT BY THESE WE MIGHT BE PARTAKERS OF
THE DIVINE NATURE - is it not through the exercise of the gifts of the Spirit,
in the ministry of the Word, that individually and collectively these great and
precious promises are realized and this growth in grace is experienced? (2 Pet.
1. 3, 4).
THE GOLDEN RINGS.
"Rings of gold for places for the bars." There is a divinely
given place for ministry in the exercise of the gifts of the Spirit in the
Church of God.
There is a place appointed of God for each kind of ministry. A place for the
APOSTLES and PROPHETS, which none else can occupy: a place of authority and
power.
A place for the EVANGELIST, a work of vast importance and responsibility;
having to do with souls and eternity.
A place for the PASTOR and TEACHER, in watching over and instructing the souls
of the redeemed, with which the saints' well-being, and the honour of the Lord
Jesus is connected.
THE OVERLAYING OF THE BARS.
Real ministry is the exercise of a gift received from God through Jesus Christ,
in the power of the Holy Ghost, according to the ability which God giveth, and
for God's glory. "As every man hath received the gift, even so minister
the same one to another, as good A stewards of the manifold grace of God. If
any man speak, let him speak as the oracles of God; if any man minister, let
him do it as of the ability which God giveth: that God in all things may be
glorified through Jesus Christ" (1 Peter. 4.10-11). To sum up these
various figures of ministry. In the CHERUBIM OF the mercy-seat in the holiest
of all, we have set forth MINISTRY IN ITS HEAVENLY ORIGIN AND SOURCE.
In the golden LAMPSTAND in the holy place, over against the Table, by the Altar
of incense, MINISTRY IN THE ASSEMBLY, IN CONNECTION WITH COMMUNION AND WORSHIP.
In these BARS uniting the BOARDS, we see MINISTRY FOR THE BUILDING UP AND
COMPACTING of the Church of God.
THE CHARGE.
"And thou shalt rear up the Tabernacle according to the fashion
thereof, which was showed thee in the Mount" (v30).
Whether as to Church gathering and constitution, or as to ministry, God's
pattern, and that alone, is to be followed; a pattern not earthly and human,
but heavenly and divine.
God has condescended to arrange everything for us in His Word in type in the
Old Testament, in example in the Gospels and the Acts, and in express
directions in the inspired Epistles of the apostles. May we esteem all God's
commandments concerning all things to be right: and hating every false way, be
fully persuaded that His plans are the best, and that in keeping His
commandments there is great reward.