Msg #2606c Precious Tabernacle Coverings

Msg #2606c Precious Tabernacle Coverings

What The Bible Says

Good Samaritan’s Penny Pulpit by Pastor Ed Rice

In the OT God made a tabernacle for his people; in the NT God makes a people for his tabernacle. The lessons to be learned about God tabernacleing with man begin with the construction materials of the OT tabernacle; the trinity of precious metals, and colors, is rich with symbolism; so too are the four coverings over the holy place. The wonder of the 48 standing gold-plated shittim wood boards arranged as an open-ended rectangular box standing 15 ft high, the wonder, I say, continues with the coverings. It is first covered with ten 6 ft by 42 ft curtains of fine twine linen coupled together with gold taches. They have symbolic colorings of blue, and purple, and scarlet, and symbolic Cherubims of cunning work (Exo.26). The linen is woven from flax. Carding and spinning those stiff heckled plant fibers into strong linen thread requires a laborious “wet spinning” to smooth fibers onto the distaff. When woven into fabric linen clothing, applicably found throughout the Bible, gets softer with use and whiter with exposure to the Son, … as well as the Sun. It is an extraordinary fabric; in the Revelation of Jesus Christ clothing of fine linen, clean and white, “is the righteousness of saints” (Rev.19:8,14).

The next covering over the 45 ft by 18 ft holy place was eleven 6 ft by 45 ft cashmere curtains coupled together with taches of brass. Goat’s hair makes a luxurious, lightweight, exceptionally soft fabric prized for high insulation and durability. Above these was a covering of rams’ skins dyed red, and a covering above of badger skin. Rams’ skins tanned with the wool on it was commonly used for a shepherd’s winter coat; the red dye emphasizes the blood and death of the sacrificial ram. Abraham said, “The LORD will provide himself a ram,” … and he did.

The covering of badger skin, commonly used as a shoe leather, with badger’s hair once sold by the Fuller brush man for shaving brushes, is curious. Carnivorous vicious hunters named after their white badges likely emphasizes the fact that God looks on the inside not the outward appearance. The materials for God Tabernacleing with man give us some insights to this holy venture.

Another Essay for week #6 Feb 8, 2026
Checkout www.GSBaptistChurch.com/temple/tabernaclematerials.pdf
Penny Pulpit Blog www.gsbcpastorrice.wordpress.com

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