Talbot - Christ in the Tabernacle

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The T11ber1UCle very chapter, which, we believe, is misinterpreted by those who make the leaven symbolize the Gospel, the woman hides the leaven in the meal until the whole is leavened. What a picture of the insidious, permeating influence of apostasy in professing Christendom today! Yes; invari- ably the Word of God pictures leaven as a symbol of sin. (See Matt. 16:6-12; I Cor. 5:6-8; Gal. 5:9; Matt. 13:33; Mark 8:15; Luke 12:1.) Surely we need not quote further Scripture to prove that our Lord Himself was ever, always without sin! In His Person there was only light without darkness. In Him was only good, without evil. That is why the Father could delight in the Son. And that is why He expressly com- manded Moses not to put leaven in the holy bread that stood "before the Lord," for leaven is the symbol of sin. 3. The Baking with Fire-A Type of Christ's Suffer- ing for Sinners. Even as the twelve loaves of the shew- bread were baked with fire, so also our Lord stood the fires of testing and suffering, that we might be saved. The fire of God's holiness searched and tested Him, and found Him absolutely holy. That is why He could die upon the cross as the perfect Substitute for sinful man. Into the agony of His sinless soul we can not fully enter, for we are sinful by nature. But we can thank Him for His love and grace! 4. The Frankincense-A Type of Christ's Fragrant Life. Frankincense is a sweet gum; and when it was burned upon the altar, as "an offering made by fire unto the Lord," it went up before Him as a sweet-smelling savour. What a picture of the loveliness and beauty and fragrance of His matchless life! His very name is precious to the Father! Is it the most precious name in heaven or

The Tabernacle 213 on earth to you, my friend? The wicked Jews of His day called Him "Beelzebub," the prince of demons, even Satan himself. What blasphemy! Do you know Him as your Saviour and Lord and Friend? One day men, angels, and demons will have to acknowledge what the born-again child of God delights to proclaim today, that "His name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace" (Isaiah 9:6). The Father calls Him His "beloved Son"! This is the God-given description of the holy bread which was placed by the priests each Sabbath Day upon the golden-covered table in the Holy Place of the sanctu- ary; and this, we believe, is the scriptural interpretation of its beautiful symbolism. There was satisfaction for the representatives of all God's people; for no tribe was overlooked. There is satis- f' action in Christ for all the world! As the table and the bread were one; and as the ..Bread of God" became food for the priests, even so we are complete in Christ Jesus. The fragrant frankinc~n_se of His life is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Spmt, if we let Him fill our very being; and the Father sees us uaccepted" in Him, complete in Him. We ar~ ~ted to Him; one body, of which He is the Head; H~s bride, of -whom He is the Heavenly Bridegroom. In Him we find daily nourishment for our souls, constant fellowship at His table, because He was «the corn of wheat" w~ch was ..ground in the mill of suffering and brought mto the :fire of judgment" to take our place on Calvary's cross (Scofield Reference Bible, page 102). Truly we can say, with the Apostle Paul,

"I am crucified with Christ: nevertheles~ I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I

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