48 The Taber1111cle We can not hear His Word unless we stand at the brazen altar, as it were, at the foot of His cross; but there we see His perfect sacrifice, His own shed blood, poured out for our sins. At the cross we learn that He made a full atone- ment for our sins, arose from the dead, and «ever liveth to make intercession" for us. And the sweet incense of His prayers avails! The golden bells tell us that He has made a full atonement for sin. They tell us of the fra- grance of prayer and praise. The pomegranates, embroidered in blue, purple, and scarlet, speak to us of the fruitfulness of Christ's ministry for us. Here, as in everything connected with the Jewish tabernacle, the blue speaks to us of our Lord's deity, for blue is the heavenly color; the purple, of His royalty; the scarlet, of His sacrifice. He was the One sent down from heaven to die for the lost; then to be exalted far above all principalities and powers; one day to be honored by men, angels, and demons as King of kings, and Lord of lords! As Aaron walked, the pomegranates were about his feet. As our Lord walked among men, He went every- where doing good, healing the sick, casting out demons, forgiving sins, binding up the wounded and the broken- hearted. As deeds prove the sincerity of words, so the pomegranates gave proof that His words were verified by His gracious deeds. How lovely was His walk! How filled with the fruits of love! Israel rejoiced in Aaron, her high priest, knowing that he was ministering for her, and would bless her. Do we re- joice in Jesus, our Great High Priest, in the golden bells of His gracious words, and in the fruitfulness of His love? We do love Him, if we are saved. But are we more oc- cupied with His gifts than with His own loveliness and
49 The Tabernacle beauty and holiness? For our heart-hunger He gives us the Bread of Life. For our thirsty souls He o:ffers the Living Water. For our weary, sin-sick lives He gives rest of heart and forgiveness of all our sins. He now ap- pears "in the presence of God for us" (Heb. 9: 24) . The aged John saw Him in His resurrection glory, dressed as our Great High Priest, "clothed with a garment down to the foot, and girt about the paps with a golden girdle" (Rev. 1: 13). John saw Him «in the midst of the seven golden candlesticks," or lampstands, which sym- bolized His church. He is the Man Christ Jesus, repre- senting His blood-bought bride before the Father in the Most Holy Place. John saw Him glorified. We see Him now by faith. And one day we shall look upon Him, whose nail-prints bear witness to His Priestly work that shall abide for all eternity. 4. The Ephod. The breastplate was securely fastened to the ephod, and should be considered with this garment, which was "for glory and for beauty." The two were never to be separated. They were made of the same ma- terials. First the ephod is described in Exod. 28 :6-14; then the breastplate is described in minute detail, including the instructions for securing it to the ephod. The ephod was an outer garment; a long, sleeveless tunic; reaching below the waist, possibly a little below the knees. It was formed of a front and a back, fastened by two precious onyx stones on the shoulders. It was made of gold and of fine white linen, embroidered in blue, pur- ple, and scarlet, "with cunning work." It was held in place by the «curious girdle"; that is, the "skilfully made gir- dle," fashioned of the same beautiful materials as those which went into the making of the ephod. The breastplate, also of the same gold, fine linen, and blue, purple, and
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