Building the Tabernacle
The Tabernacle of old was . . . built by
Moses according to a pattern shown him in the mount (Hebrews 8:5; Exodus 25:40). We like
to think of that ancient edifice as a symbol or picture of Christ Jesus who, while on this
earth, was virtually a tabernacle or sanctuary in which God dwelt by his Spirit. As Moses
was required to leave behind him his people—the nation of Israel—and ascend into
the mountain (Exodus 24:18) to obtain this vision, i.e., to “see” the pattern
according to which he was to build the dwelling-place of God, the Tabernacle among the
people, so too must we respond to the invitation of God . . . by consecration to separate
ourselves from the “people of the land,” and climb the “mountain of
spirituality” in order to obtain from God that vision of Christ Jesus, according to
which we too are to build our “tabernacles” to be the dwelling-places of God
among the people.
—Anton Frey, Notes on the Tabernacle, p. 3
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 ye also are builded together for an habitation of God through the Spirit.—Ephesians
2:20-22
Let us, as day after day rolls by, remember
our three-fold relationship to this Temple: 1. We are still in process of preparation as
living stones. 2. As members of the Royal Priesthood carrying the Ark we are marching from
the Tabernacle into the Temple condition; some of our number have already entered in and
some are still on the way. 3. As the Lord’s people the time has come for us to know,
to sing with the spirit and understanding, the new song of divine mercy, justice, love and
truth. Let us be faithful in each of these respects, fulfilling our parts, and ere long
our course will be ended and the glory of the Lord will fill the Temple.
—Manna,
September 26
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