Simchat Torah: Rejoicing In Torah

The Feast of Tabernacles has drawn to a close, and today marks the Simchat Torah, A day of rejoicing with the Torah. This is not a biblical feast, it was added later to the Jewish holidays, but I love the implications. 

Devout Jews read through the Torah cyclically through the year. The eighth day of the Feast of Tabernacles marks the end of the cycle of weekly Torah readings with Deuteronomy 34, and the new cycle begins, going back to Genesis 1. Synagogues hold services on this day, and at the end of the reading service, a ceremony call the Hagbah is performed. The Hagbah is lifting the Torah Scroll for the people to see. It is held in a way where it is reversed with all the weight of the scroll on one side to symbolize turning the Torah back to its beginning. This eighth day is said to be the last great scene of Jehovah’s joy in the accomplishment of His purposes of grace.

What are the implications here for believers in Yeshua? Jesus is the Living Word, the Living Torah, written upon our hearts, so that we can truly dance and embrace God’s Truth. David said of the Torah:

I delight in following your commands more than in having great wealth. I study your instructions; I examine your teachings. I take pleasure in your laws; your commands I will not forget (Ps. 119: 14-16 NASB).

In Nehemiah 8, Nehemiah and Ezra, and the Levites, gathered the people to read them the Law (Torah), because it had been lost for so long, and the people did not know or understand what was written in the Law:

Then Nehemiah, who was the governor, and Ezra the priest and scribe, and the Levites who taught the people said to all the people, “This day is holy to the Lord your God; do not mourn or weep.” For all the people were weeping when they heard the words of the law. Then he said to them, “Go, eat of the fat, drink of the sweet, and send portions to him who has nothing prepared; for this day is holy to our Lord. Do not be grieved, for the joy of the Lord is your strength.”  So the Levites calmed all the people, saying, “Be still, for the day is holy; do not be grieved.”  All the people went away to eat, to drink, to send portions and to celebrate a great festival, because they understood the words which had been made known to them (vv. 9-12).

The people were weeping at the reading of the Torah. That we would be in awe over hearing God’s Word. Nehemiah instructs the people not to mourn, but that this is a time of celebration. Celebrate over the Word—that we would celebrate over the Word. Right after this, the people realized that the Feast of Booths had not been celebrated since the days of Joshua.

The sons of Israel had indeed not done so from the days of Joshua the son of Nun to that day. And there was great rejoicing. He read from the book of the law of God daily, from the first day to the last day. And they celebrated the feast seven days, and on the eighth day there was a solemn assembly according to the ordinance (vv.17-18).

Again there is celebration over obeying the Word; such an example for us.

Jesus said in Matt. 5, that He came not to destroy the Torah, but to fulfill the Torah. He is the embodiment of the Word. Jesus Is the Word and He came down and dwelt among us;

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.  He was in the beginning with God.  All things came into being through Him, and apart from Him nothing came into being that has come into being.  In Him was life, and the life was the Light of men.  The Light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not comprehend it… And the Word became flesh, and dwelt among us, and we saw His glory, glory as of the only begotten from the Father, full of grace and truth (John 1:1-5,14).

Jesus is the Word and we should be celebrating Him every day. We should be thankful for His Word, and allow it to guide our lives—daily.

The Word came to make you whole, and to heal you. I love the account of the woman caught in adultery. The religious leaders threw her at the feet of Jesus, at the end of Sukkot (Jn.8). Jesus had remained in Jerusalem during the conclusion of the eighth day of the Feast of Tabernacles, and it was during this time that a woman caught in her sin, had an appointment with the Word Himself. Not to be condemned by it, but cleansed by it.   

The Torah in which they were celebrating, Numbers 5 to be precise, describes a test for a woman suspected of adultery. If a husband suspected his wife committed adultery but could not prove it, he would bring her to the priest. The priest wrote the curses of the law on parchment. He would then mix the water from the dirt and pour it over the ink-stained parchment. This would cause the ink to bleed into the cup. The woman then was required to drink it. If she was not guilty she would have no ill effect. If she was guilty her thigh would swell.

This test for adultery is known as the trial of bitter waters, and it usually is performed in the temple. The leaders however, decided they would kill two birds with one stone; condemn the woman and trap their enemy. They did not understand that they brought her to Christ—for the Living Torah Himself to bring judgement according to the Word. He simply knelt down and wrote in the sand. Is it possible that He wrote this in the sand with the finger that created the universe?

Lord, you are the hope of Israel; all who forsake you will be put to shame.Those who turn away from you will be written in the dust because they have forsaken the Lord, the spring of living water (Jeremiah 17:13).

They were saying this, testing Him, so that they might have grounds for accusing Him. But Jesus stooped down and with His finger wrote on the ground. But when they persisted in asking Him, He straightened up, and said to them, “He who is without sin among you, let him be the first to throw a stone at her.”  Again He stooped down and wrote on the ground.  When they heard it, they began to go out one by one, beginning with the older ones, and He was left alone, and the woman, where she was, in the center of the court. Straightening up, Jesus said to her, “Woman, where are they? Did no one condemn you?” She said, “No one, Lord.” And Jesus said, “I do not condemn you, either. Go. From now on sin no more.” John 8:6-11

Whatever Jesus wrote in the sand that day, we will not know—at least not on this side of eternity. But He was most likely writing in the very dust that would have been used at the woman’s bitter waters trial that day. The religious leaders brought her to Jesus to condemn her according to the Torah; He restored her according to the Word. He told her to go and not sin—He never condoned her sin, He freed her from it. Now we can rejoice that the living Torah delivers the sinner from sin and guilt, and restores them to life. This is worth celebrating. 

This is my scribbling...

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Sabbath Sanctuary: Awe and Wonder

Piper's Farm

Rosh Hashanah commenced the New Year—literally the head of the year. It is a fresh start, a brand new year. It also is the beginning of the Days of Awe, (Yamim Noraim), or the Days of Repentance, which will culminate on Yom Kippur—the Day of Atonement.  It is a season of chronos, interrupted by a kairos—an appointed time. Jews worship in the synagogue, and break bread with loved ones—at home and within the community of faith. 

The Days of Awe are filled with wonder and worship. They are days for self-reflection, fasting, and prayer; they are solemn days. The Yamim Noraim are meant to set the tone for the coming year. Traditionally, this is a time of reconciliation with others.  Reconciliation and Reflection.

Therefore if you are presenting your offering at the altar, and there remember that your brother has something against you, leave your offering there before the altar and go; first be reconciled to your brother, and then come and present your offering (Matt. 5:23-24).

So that He might sanctify her, having cleansed her by the washing of water with the word, that He might present to Himself the church in all her glory, having no spot or wrinkle or any such thing; but that she would be holy and blameless (Eph. 5:26-27).

 But if we judged ourselves rightly, we would not be judged. But when we are judged, we are disciplined by the Lord so that we will not be condemned along with the world (1 Cor. 11:31-32).

Piper's Farm

 Our heart should be drawn to the Lord in worship; worshiping Him in spirit and truth (see John 4:24) We should stand in awe of Him and all that He has done for us, and all that He is going to do. He is Amazing. He is Awesome. He is Wonderful. He is Magnificent. He is Holy. This is awe.

YHWH (Yahweh) is God’s sacred covenant Name. Adonai and Elohim were heard among the nations, but Yahweh is the name unique to His people; by this Name God identified Himself with His people. He desires to dwell with His people. The Creator of the universe desires to make His abode in our hearts. I am brought alive by this, and it should stir in us the Awe and Wonder that He deserves—He wants to be with us. He loves us that much. 

Piper's Farm

Yom Kippur is approaching next week, though I don’t keep the Jewish festival of The Days of Awe, I feel a nudging in my heart to spend this week in self-reflection, fasting, and prayer. I will search my heart: “Therefore, since we have so great a cloud of witnesses surrounding us, let us also lay aside every encumbrance and the sin which so easily entangles us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God” (Heb. 12:1-2).

I pray for a revival to restore the Awe of God to His beloved, precious, blood bought Church, and that His people would come alive with Awe and Wonder at the King of Kings and the Lord of Lords. I pray His Word would come alive in the hearts of His people, afresh and new. That our eyes will be opened and our hearts awakened again by His Word. 

Piper's Farm

Piper's Farm

They said to one another, “Were not our hearts burning within us while He was speaking to us on the road, while He was explaining the Scriptures to us? (Luke 24:32).  

Yahweh, I want to be in awe of You. I want to fall in love with You and Your Word. I pray that it wash and cleanse me of all that breaks Your heart. Open the eyes of our hearts Adonai, to all that Your Word reveals about You. Let us be in awe of You again. 

Rest this Sabbath in Reconciliation, Reflection, Awe and Wonder. 

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The Giver of Dreams

Dreams…everyone has them; dreams for their lives and the future. Sometimes, those dreams can be snatched away in the blink of an eye. Life doesn’t always happen the way we dream it will (pun intended). Life can throw some devastating blows; and before you know it, everything you dreamed for your life is gone. It takes more than your dreams away; it takes your breath away.

Ruth is a woman whose dreams have been shattered. Born and raised in Moab, she grows up and marries the man of her dreams. Then one day, he suddenly dies. The Bible doesn’t say anything about the husband Ruth lost, but it turns her world upside down.

Ruth finds herself in the company of sorrow. Her mother-in-law, Naomi, and sister-in-law have lost their husbands as well. The three of them are left to pick up the pieces of their lives. Naomi decides to go home—back to the land of Judah—and her daughters-in-law follow. Somewhere along the journey, one of them decides to turn back. However, Ruth journeys on with Naomi. There is nothing left for her in Moab. She no longer has a dream to hold on to and no clue as to what her future holds. She is weary and everything is a blur. What she doesn’t realize is that she is actually being drawn by the God of Israel, the Giver of Dreams.

The journey is long and hard, but these two brave women make their way back to Bethlehem. Ruth, wanting to take care of Naomi, gleans in the field of a man named Boaz. He notices her diligence and faithfulness to Naomi in the face of all she has lost, and he commends her. Boaz implores Ruth to stay in his field; he will provide for her and protect her. Boaz is a near relative to Naomi—a kinsman redeemer. When Naomi realizes this and hears of the favor Boaz shows Ruth, she instructs her to go to Boaz at the harvest, on the threshing floor.

Naomi has a glimpse of a dream for the future; she wants the best for Ruth and hopes that Boaz will redeem her. Ruth is beginning to see a glimpse of her future, too. She obeys the instruction of her mother-in-law and goes to Boaz seeking redemption. He assures her that he will redeem her, but there is one glitch: there is another relative with the first right of redemption. If he will forfeit his right, Boaz will redeem Ruth.

Ruth and Naomi wait. Boaz awaits the other relative’s arrival and offers him the right to redeem the two women. During this time, Ruth must be struggling with insecurities; she is a foreigner, a heathen, and much younger than Boaz. Why would a respectable man redeem her? Why would he want to marry her? What could she possibly offer him for such redemption? Yet when the other relative forfeits his right of redemption, Boaz redeems Ruth. They marry and have a child named Obed—the great grandfather to King David.

Ruth had lost everything before coming to Bethlehem. The Bible is silent about her family, but obviously there was nothing left for her in Moab. So she took her chances and followed her mother-in-law to a strange land. She came from Moab to Bethlehem a poor widow, a foreigner gleaning in the field of Boaz. When she arrived as a beggar, she never imagined she would be the wife of the field’s owner.

God’s grace is unfathomable to us. How He can take what we perceive as a small, insignificant life, and use it for His glory! God had a plan for Ruth, even when she didn’t know Him and life had drained all of her hope. God does the same for you and me. He has a plan for our lives—He gives us dreams, even when we cannot dream for ourselves.

God chose Ruth for a very special purpose. He needed someone to marry Boaz and keep the line of Judah, the line of the Messiah, from ceasing from the earth. He needed the perfect woman to be the great grandmother of King David. He did not choose a righteous Jewish girl like Mary, a princess of promise like Sarah, or a warrior princess like Deborah. He saw and chose an obscure, Gentile widow full of sorrow and grief, and gave her a dream. Ruth has a book in the Bible dedicated to her life; she is one of only four women found in the genealogy of Christ.

Life has many detours and roadblocks, and can leave you feeling overwhelmed. Dreams can vanish in an instant. But God has a plan, a dream to give you. Though everything seems empty now, He is working out His perfect will for your life. Life is a canvas. Sometimes that canvas seems blank. You don’t know where you are going, but God does. His eyes are roaming the earth looking for a daughter to bestow His favor and blessing upon. One day when you least expect it, God will see you and say, “Her! I pick her!” He has a plan for your life; He has a dream for your life. You have caught His eye and now you have a dream.

This article was originally published in SHINE Magazine 9th Edition

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Witnessing the Divine: Rain, George Herbert, and Piper's Farm

Witnessing the Divine  grace of God today, as it is cold and raining on Piper's Farm; George Herbert seems appropriate;

 Rain, do not hurt my flowers, but gently spend

Thy honey drops: do not press to smell them here:

When they are ripe their odor will ascend,

And at thy lodging with their thanks appear.

George Herbert Providence

Remembering My Father....

My dad passed in October of 2013. I wrote about it here. I thought a deserving memorial to be the Eulogy I spoke at his funeral. Though my earthly father is with Christ now, I am grateful that my heavenly Father walks with me everyday.

My Father

On January 14, 1930 in Kansas City, Missouri, Marvin Paul Burnett arrived accompanied by his twin brother Marion. Unfortunately, Marion died when only three years old.
 
Marvin spent the first six years of his life fending off illness, a strep infection forced his parents to move to Denver in 1936, so that Marvin could undergo a bilateral-mastoidectomy to remove the infected bone from behind the ear. He also was one of the first in the US to receive antibiotics, which had to be flown in from Germany. For years to follow he did not experience significant health problems, but medicine would be a part of him for the rest of his life.
 
Upon graduating from Denver South high school in 1948, he attended Colorado A&M, which is now CSU. However, college was put on hold as he was called into active duty to serve in the Korean War. He jokingly remarked to a buddy, that thanks to the war, he didn’t have to study for his upcoming Zoology exam. He completed infantry training in California and In April of 1951 was assigned to the First Marine Division as a rifleman. He was released from active duty as a corporal—earning a Purple Heart Medal for shrapnel in his shoulder, which he also carried for the rest of his life. 

He re-entered college in 1952 and received his Bachelor of Science in Zoology in the June of 1954. He considered becoming a Veterinarian, but his college counselor would not have it, and refused to sign a recommendation for him unless it was to enter medical school. He devoted the next two years to graduate research studies and finally entered medical school in the fall of 1956. He continued as a graduate assistant in teaching Zoology Laboratory and Ornithology. He enjoyed research, however, it became clear that clinical medicine was his calling. Though, his interest in Zoology and Ornithology continued, as numerous cats, dogs, reptiles, and the like were a constant in the Burnett household, along with the Field Guide to North American Birds and a pair of binoculars.
 
In 1960 he graduated from the University of Colorado School of Medicine. After graduation he served as a Captain in the United States Army from 1960-1961 in the state of Washington, to complete a one year medical residency. From 1961-1964 he completed a residency at Presbyterian Hospital in Denver and completed a second residency with Denver Presbyterian in Pathology from 1964-1965. This was not enough for my dad as he completed yet another residency at the University of New Mexico from 1965-1966 in Hematology.

Just a few years later my father and two partners, Dr. Robert Berris and Dr. Paul Hamilton founded Hematology Oncology Associates in Denver, down on 18th and Franklin. This is the original entity that over the years has grown and evolved into what is now Rocky Mountain Cancer Center. Though retiring in 1998, medicine continued to surround his life.

Apart from practicing medicine, my dad also enjoyed the outdoors. It is no secret my dad loved to golf, but even more he loved to fish. In fact, his Physical Therapist Adam, endured 10 years of bibliographies of fly-fishing must-reads. His hobby of tying his own flies reflected his love for the stream, and you would be hard pressed to find something in the Burnett house-hold that did not have either the Orvis, Trout Unlimited, or Catch and Release logo proudly displayed. He loved taking the family fishing. The first morning light of loading the station wagon with tents, pillows, blankets, fishing tackle, coolers, kids, and the like, proved inspiring. The white and black checkered luggage carrier on top of the brown and white wood-grain ‘76 Country Squire station wagon, was indeed a sight to be seen. By the time he unloaded the fishing tackle from underneath the non-essential fishing equipment, he could expect a good hour or two of prime fishing. 

He also loved to hunt. I can remember many trips to the far-east; well, the far east of Colorado or Kansas to walk the corn fields. I did get to accompany him, as the assistant to his retriever. I loved those memories, good times! 

My father earned a mention in his former Drill Sergeant’s memoir of the Korean War, The Run Up to The Punch Bowl. The Punch Bowl was an ancient volcanic crater off the coast of Japan, and it gave the North Koreans a great advantage in the war. My dad had to face a Punch Bowl of his own, which included many life-threatening illnesses, that resembled a volcanic crater that at times seemed to have the advantage. But my dad lived a life of miracles. 

His first miracle as a child, receiving antibiotics for a strep infection was the first not the last. His second life miracle was surviving the rearing of three daughters. He earns double credit for me, he should receive a special honor for surviving my teenage and young adult years, until Christ grabbed hold of my heart and life and gave my dad a bit of a reprieve. But as I heard a wise pastor’s wife once say about child-rearing, “Who could be a better parent than the heavenly Father, and under perfect circumstances, His children fell.” So I hope that comforts my dad. He was a good father, one that loved his family, and his faith. His faith dictated his practice of medicine, and his compassion for the sick and dying still strikes me today. 

Just as the first six or seven years of my dad’s life began warding off sickness, the last six or seven years of his life was spent the same way. Though many illnesses threatened my dad, he kept them at bay, until Sunday October 13, 2013. It was simply his time. I can see the finger prints of Jesus all over his life. And it is the grace of God that allowed my dad to be with us as long as he was, in the face of illnesses that sought his life. 

You see Psalm 91 on your programs today, it is fitting. Barb Roberts read it over my dad just a few days before he passed, and we all knew that Psalm would be a part of my dad’s service today. Because although, it looks like from our perspective that pestilence did come near my dad, and in fact ended his life, death does not win, it does not have the last word. The Cross of Christ overcame the power that death had; 1 Corinthians 15:55 taunts death, “O death, where is your victory? O death, where is your sting?” I don’t think it a strange coincidence that this verse has three “fives” in it, as five is the number of grace. Christ forever destroyed the power of death, and though we may be separated from our bodies which are decaying, we can never be separated from spending an eternity with Jesus our Lord. 

It will forever be a precious memory that I witnessed my dad’s last breathe on earth, as he enter into the presence of the Lord, with such peace. My dad is now with the Lord and no longer does cancer, triple “A” ruptures, strokes, or infection plague his body. He can speak again, he can walk perfect again——no plague comes near his dwelling, for now he is truly sheltered in the wings of the Most High. 

Our hope is in God. I heard another pastor’s wife say of hope, after her son committed suicide, “Having hope is not a magic spell we use to get our way - it simply realigns our hearts towards God in such a way that allows faith to grow and opens the doors to miracles. God is all that remains constant - our hope is IN HIM. Our hope is in a Person, not a particular outcome.” (Kay Warren). Yes, I prayed and hoped for him to be healed. God answered my prayer, just not on this side of eternity. Isn’t that our hope as believers? That is my hope. I know that I will see my dad again one day. And that is what takes the sting of death from us, that Christ-followers have it all - hope for today AND hope for tomorrow.

Circa. 1969
I am sitting next to my dad...

I loved my dad. I always looked up to him and respected the accomplishments in his life. How he took care of and provided for his family. A beautiful reflection of the heavenly Father; who provides and cares for the needs of His family. We will always love you dad, your life truly glorified God.

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.