‏ Exodus 39

* The priests' garments. (1-31) The tabernacle completed.

(32-43)

1-31 The priests' garments were rich and splendid. The church

in its infancy was thus taught by shadows of good things to

come; but the substance is Christ, and the grace of the gospel.

Christ is our great High Priest. When he undertook the work of

our redemption, he put on the clothes of service, he arrayed

himself with the gifts and graces of the Spirit, girded himself

with resolution to go through the undertaking, took charge of

all God's spiritual Israel, laid them near his heart, engraved

them on the palms of his hands, and presented them to his

Father. And he crowned himself with holiness to the Lord,

consecrating his whole undertaking to the honour of his Father's

holiness. True believers are spiritual priests. The clean linen

with which all their clothes of service must be made, is the

righteousness of saints, #Re 19:8|. 32-43 The tabernacle was a type or emblem of Jesus Christ. As

the Most High dwelt visibly within the sanctuary, even on the

ark, so did he reside in the human nature and tabernacle of his

dear Son; in Christ dwelt all the fulness of the Godhead bodily,

#Col 2:9|. The tabernacle was a symbol of every real Christian.

In the soul of every true follower of the Saviour the Father

dwells, the object of his worship, and the author of his

blessings. The tabernacle also typified the church of the

Redeemer. The meanest and the mightiest are alike dear to the

Father's love, freely exercised through faith in Christ. The

tabernacle was a type and emblem of the heavenly temple, #Re

21:3|. What, then, will be the splendour of His appearance, when

the cloud shall be withdrawn, and his faithful worshippers shall

see him as he is!