The Coverings For The Tabernacle: A Refuge From The Storm

The Curtains and the coverings:

The ten curtains were referred to as the Tabernacle and the eleven goats skin curtains referred to the tent. 

~The curtains of fine linen (Ex. 26: 1-6 and 36:8-13): These were the framework of the Tabernacle and the ceiling of the Sanctuary. 

~The curtain of Goat’s hair: (Ex. 26:7-13 and 36:14-18): This referred to as the tent and was placed over the white linen.

~ Ram’s Skin dyed red (Ex. 26:14 and 36:19): This was the ‘covering’ and went over the goat’s hair.

~Badgers Skin (Ex. 26:14 and 36:19): The final covering and was the layer seen by all on the outside.

I will rejoice greatly in the Lord, My soul will exult in my God; For He has clothed me with garments of salvation, He has wrapped me with a robe of righteousness, As a bridegroom decks himself with a garland, And as a bride adorns herself with her jewels. Is. 61:10 NASB

~Fifty Loops and fifty taches. 50 is the number of jubilee, Pentecost; it is significant of freedom, liberty, Pentecost, and jubilee.

~The taches that were brass (Judgment) and hung the black curtain; the taches that hung the inner most beautiful curtains were of gold.

~The fifty loops were to be of blue, the heavenly color. It speaks of Jesus Christ as the Second Man. The Lord from Heaven. With gold taches- linking heaven and earth together. Gold representing the divinity of Christ.

~ everything hangs on Jesus Christ.

It is also interesting to note, that FIFTY also represents the fifty names of Christ that refer to His deity:

1.      The Mighty God

2.      The Almighty

3.      Jehovah

4.      The Son

5.      The Son of God

6.      The only begotten of the Father

7.      The First-born of every creature

8.      The Word

9.      The Beginning

10.  The Wisdom of God

11.  The Power of God

12.  The Image of the Invisible God

13.  The Brightness of God’s glory

14.  The Eternal Life

15.  The First and the Last

16.  Immanuel

17.  Jesus

18.  Messiah

19.  The Lord

20.  The Lord of Glory

21.  The Prince of Life

22.  The Prince of Peace

23.  The Everlasting the Father

24.  The Creator

25.  The Sustainer

26.  The Holy One of God

27.  The Same

28.  Wonderful

29.  Counselor

30.  The Son of Man

31.  The seed of the woman

32.  The Resurrection

33.  The Quickening Spirit

34.  The Light

35.  The Truth

36.  Righteousness

37.  The Way

38.  The Sun of Righteousness

39.  The Day-Star

40.  The Amen

41.  The King of Kings

42.  The Heir of all things

43.  The Root of David

44.  The Offspring of David

45.  The Shepherd

46.  The Lamb of God

47.  The Rock of Ages

48.  The True Witness

49.  Shiloh (or sent one)

50.  The Redeemer

The White Blue Purple and scarlet linen

~The veil will speak more about when we talk about the Holy of Holies

~The Cherubim do not represent angels; they represent the workings and operation of the Holy Spirit and the Father in the birth, life, ministry, death, resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ. The inwrought cherubim manifest Christ as the fullness of the God-head.

~Also made up the ceiling of the sanctuary so the priest ministered in the holy place under the cherubim. The Cherubim then would have their wings spread out over the sanctuary as the priest ministers.

~This represents the wings of the Almighty

~The priest would in effect be enjoying fellowship under the wings which is seen in Scripture: In the shadow of thy wings will I rejoice (Ps. 63:7); Under His Wings shalt thou trust (Ps. 91: 1-2,4).

And now, in the holy places not made with hands, Christ is the covert, the hiding-place, the refuge, the defenses, help, power, and joy, of all those who trust under the shadow of His wings. 

Goats hair curtain

Read Ex. 26:7-13

~Over the ten curtains of linen, the eleven curtains were placed, this is referred to as the tent as well as the covering

~there were eleven curtains- eleven is the number of lawlessness and disorder—associated with sin and rebellion.

~The goat was one of the animals used in the sacrificial offerings. It was offered as a sin offering on the Day of Atonement and for cleansing the sanctuary.

~it was used as the scapegoat

The Goat speaks of sin. Jesus used the goats to represent unrepentant sinners (Matt. 25: 31-32).

~ The goat hair covering speak of our Lord Jesus Christ who became sin for us, who knew no sin, that we might be made the righteousness of God within Him (II Cor. 5:21 and Rom. 8:3).

He was offered to bear the sins of many (Heb. 9:28)

The eleventh curtain was the only one visible to the observer.

Ram’s Skin Dyed Red

~The ram’s skin was called a covering

~The Ram was used in the trespass offering, burnt offering, and peace offerings.

~Also called the Ram of consecration—it was used to consecrate the priests to minister.

~The first time we see the ram as a substitution is with Abraham and Isaac (Gen. 22:8-13)

~This all speaks to Christ who became the Lamb of God to take ways the sins of the world (John 1:29, 36).

Christ as:

1.       The Sacrificial One offered to God (Heb. 9:26-28)

2.      The Substitute One who died in our stead (I Cor. 15:4; Gal. I:4)

3.      The Consecrated One who was committed to God’s will (Heb. 7:25-28)

This is the covering that Christ provided for the Church, so that we may partake of His nature.

~The curtains were dyed red—again representing the color of blood and represents the cleansing of sin.

~The first time Christ came, His garments were died red with His shed blood, the second time Christ comes, they will be dyed with the blood of His enemies.

~Represents Christ’s judgment on sin.

Who is this who comes from Edom, With garments of glowing colors from Bozrah, This One who is majestic in His apparel, Marching in the greatness of His strength? “It is I who speak in righteousness, mighty to save.” Why is Your apparel red, And Your garments like the one who treads in the wine press? “I have trodden the wine trough alone, And from the peoples there was no man with Me. I also trod them in My anger And trampled them in My wrath; And their lifeblood is sprinkled on My garments, And I stained all My raiment. Isaiah 63:1-3 NASB

~The Book of Revelation, we see a rider on a white horse whose vesture is dipped in blood. Rev. 19: 11-14

Badger Skins

~The final and outer covering

~these skins are recorded as seal or porpoise skin and blueish-grey. The Septuagint translates it as skin of blue color.

~They were the final covering which gave protections from the storms, weather and heat of the desert.

~Badger skins were used to cover all the vessels of the Tabernacle during travel.

~There was no beauty in the badger skins, so those that look upon it did not see anything beautiful (a reference to Christ He has no stately form or majesty that we should look upon Him, nor appearance that we should be attracted to Him. Isaiah 53:2)

Those who are sinners are not attracted to Christ

Those who are in Christ:  He is altogether lovely Song of Songs 5:16;

~Only the priest who were allowed to enter saw the beauty of the inside of the tabernacle.

To recap:

1. Linen curtain—Righteousness
2. Goat’s Hair Curtain— Sin offering
3. Ram’s Skin dyed red—Substitution
4. Badger’s skin—Protection and covering.