A) SIGNIFICANCE OF THE SANCTUARY COLORS.

B) SIGNIFICANCE OF THE SANCTUARY METALS.

C) GOLD.

D) BRASS.

E) SILVER.

F) SIGNIFICANCE OF THE SHITTIM WOOD.

G) THE HOLY ANOINTING OIL.

H) SIGNIFICANCE OF THE HORNS.

 

 

A) SIGNIFICANCE OF THE SANCTUARY COLORS

 

It should not be argued that WHITE represents purity and righteousness (Rev. 7:14; 19:8).  SCARLET (Red) stands out as representing sacrifice (Isa. 63:1-3; Rev. 19:13).  PURPLE signifies royalty (Jud. 8:26; John 19:2-3), as in England and other nations, this still holds concurrent.

 

Our last major color to be identified is BLUE, which symbolizes obedience (Num. 15:37-40), or the keeping of God’s Law.  From this blue ribbon has come down to us an old expression you may recognize -- “True Blue.”  This saying still implies that the person is honest and true to his word, always on the straight and narrow.  As BLUE mixed with SCARLET results in PURPLE, so OBEDIENCE and SACRIFICE produce the SANCTIFIED (Sanctuary) life.

 

According to the account given us in the Book of John, Chapter 19, verses 2 & 5, our LORD was first arrayed in a “purple robe” by the mocking “soldiers” at the place of the cross.  While, from the Book of Matthew, Chapter 27, our LORD was placed in a “scarlet robe,” verse 28; then they put back upon Jesus His “own raiment,” verse 31, which would have had to have the “blue fringe” upon it and the simple “white” of a priest.  Thus, our LORD easily identifies with the Sanctuary Sacrificial service and Him being the purpose of the Sanctuary as its ultimate Sacrifice.  Recognized as “Royalty” (Purple and Scarlet) and the perfect (white) Sacrifice, yet as the obedient (blue ribbon) Servant, Christ died for those who confess their sins.

 

 

B) SIGNIFICANCE OF THE SANCTUARY METALS

 

 

C) GOLD

 

 

Gold is a symbol of Divinity:  “Yea, the Almighty shall be thy gold,” Job 22:25, margin.  The total amount of gold used was 29 talents and 730 shekels (Exo. 38:24), approximately 3,000 pounds.  A talent = 300 Shekels (obtained from Exo. 38:26).  The shekel was the common standard of weight and value with the Hebrews and is probably to be estimated at just over half and ounce.

 

According to the Bible Commentator Albert Barnes, in his work, “Albert Barnes Notes on the Bible,” “. . .the Hebrew talent was 94 2/7 lbs. avoirdupois.  The Greek (Aeginetan) talent, from which the Septuagint and most succeeding versions have taken the name ‘talent,’ was 82 1/4 lbs.  The original Hebrew word, ‘kikar,’ would denote a circular mass, and nearly the same word, ‘kerker,’ was in use among the Egyptians for a mass of metal cast in the form of a massive ring with its weight stamped upon it.”  Thus, using an average of 90 lbs. for the shekel, 29 times 90 would equal 2,610 lbs.  Using an average weight of 1/2 pound, 730 times 1/2, would equal 365 lbs.  Thus, we come to our estimated total of 3,000 lbs. of gold.

 

We must be as gold tried in the fire with all of the dross removed.  Only thus can we represent the Divine qualities of Christ and be “more precious than fine gold,” Isaiah 13:12.  To further prove that gold is a symbol of Divinity, this is why when Israel apostatized, they made their gods out of gold, saying in essence, “These be thy gods, O Israel, which have brought thee up out of the land of Egypt.”  Exodus 32:4 & 8.  The common priests never whore any gold; whereas the high priest [Christ, our High Priest] does (Rev. 1:13).

 

 

D) BRASS

 

 

The “fine brass,” mentioned only twice in the Scriptures (Rev. 1:15; 2:18), was of such superior quality that its value was often considered of a greater value then that of gold.  The brass offering was approximately 9,000 pounds in weight (Exo. 38:29-31).  It was used for the 60 pillars, the 65 sockets, which would include the five for the Sanctuary entrance door, the Brazen Altar with its vessels, and the Laver.  If we allow 6,000 pounds for the 60 pillars, a 100-pound pillar would not be out of line.

 

Brass signifies strength (Deu. 33:25; Mic. 4:13), stability (Zec. 6:1), and judgment (Lev. 26:18-20; Deu. 28:23; Rev. 1:15).  Brass is only formed through the use of fire in the furnace.  We can see the representation of Christ’s righteousness shown through the “furnace of affliction,” Isaiah 48:10 & Revelation 1:15.  Now we can better understand why Christ teaches us:  “And whether we be afflicted, it is for your consolation and salvation, which is effectual in the enduring.”  First Corinthians 1:6.  Moreover, it was Christ’s feet of “fine brass,” Revelation 1:15, which walked this earth in the “furnace of affliction.”  In other words, “brass” is the only metal that can withstand fire; thus symbolizing judgment and the righteous souls that will be redeemed because of Brasses resistance to the fiery furnace.

 

“Christ was treated as we deserve, that we might be treated as He deserves.  He was condemned for our sins, in which He had no share, that we might be justified by His righteousness, in which we had no share.  He suffered the death which was ours, that we might receive the life which was His.”  DA:25.

 

Many Bible students miss the significance of the serpent being made with brass, which Moses made via our Lord’s instructions (Num. 21:9).  Not that it represented our Lord only, “And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of man be lifted up.”  John 3:14.   But why and how brass represented our Lord, let along the serpent, consider.  Since brass is a representative of judgment, and the serpent is representative of sin, therefore, since we know that our sins were placed upon our Lord, and He, becoming sin for us, He received the judgment that we deserve.

 

 

E) SILVER

 

 

1,775 silver shekels were used in making the “chapiters, fillets, and hooks” for the sixty pillars (Exo. 38:26 & 28).  This would be approximately 100 talents, or at least 10,000 pounds.  Silver is representative of redemption (Exo. 30:11-16).  All must do their part in this process, for every man, from twenty years old and upward, was required to give half a shekel of silver as “a ransom for his soul,” Exodus 30:12.  It is also representative of “pure words,” Psalm 12:6.

 

Like the tithe, this payment, which was for the sustenance of the Sanctuary (see also Exo. 38:26), was not voluntary, but required.  The annual Passover celebration would remind the people that the nation had been redeemed from bondage, and this annual “census tax” would be another reminder of their redemption (see 1Pe. 1:18-19).  Even Christ Himself paid the temple tax, called “tribute money” in Matthew 17:24, for it was the atonement money, even though it was not for Himself.  Here is my Matthew 17:24 Note:  “tribute” = This was not a tax to be paid to the Roman government; but a tax for the support of the Temple.  The Law (Exo. 30:13-16; 38:26) obligated every male above the age of 20 among the Jews to pay half a shekel yearly for the support of the Temple; and this was continued by them wherever dispersed, until after the time of the emperor Vespasian (see Josephus, in his work, “War,” book 7. c. 6), who ordered it afterwards to be paid into the Roman treasury.

 

The Greek word in Matthew 17:24, “didrachmon,” which is generally translated as “tribute,” signifies the “didrachma,” or two drachms.  Though all Jews were required to pay the Temple tax, priests, Levites, and rabbis were exempt.  Therefore, this question about whether Jesus paid the Temple tax was a challenge to His ministry and more importantly, to Who He really was.  Notice also that Jesus did not get the money from the groups purse, but from a fish’s mouth.  It’s as if to say that it did not come from His Own hand; which would have acknowledged an untruth, that He was not a “priest” or “rabbi.”

 

What a fitting example to show our obedience in sustaining God’s Church today.  Christ’s blood paid for our true redemption, but most men only value it as in the “thirty pieces of silver” (Zec. 11:12-13; Mat. 26:15; 27:3 & 9), offered by Judas and accepted by the priests.

 

Getting back to the redemptive aspects of silver in the Sanctuary, the poles, or “boards,” Exodus 26:18; most likely made of “shittim wood,” Exodus 26:26, of the Tabernacle were seated upon silver sockets (Exo. 26:19 & 21), set in the ground (“beneath,” Exo. 26:24).  Thus, the entire Tabernacle is seen as resting upon the blood of Jesus Christ, just like you and I.

 

To sum up the metals, remember:  “Now if any man build upon this foundation gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, stubble,” First Corinthians 3:12, we know which will be purified and which will burn up.  This tremendous expense in the building of the Sanctuary shows the infinite cost of our salvation.  Better, it cannot be measured!!!

 

 

F) SIGNIFICANCE OF THE SHITTIM WOOD

 

 

The word “shittim” is the plural form of the word “shittah,” the tree itself being called the “shittah tree.”  It was a small thorny tree, most likely what we know today as the “acacia tree.”  It was of enduring quality, requiring much patient labor to prepare it for use (Exo. 35:24; 36:20).  Thus, it is a fitting symbol of the removal by God of our carnal nature, hewing and polishing us in the process, until our apparent worthless material becomes of enduring quality.

 

The boards were then “carved” with figures, probably like Solomon’s was:  “And he carved all the walls of the house round about with carved figures of cherubims and palm trees and open flowers, within and without,” First Kings 6:29.  Each of the boards was “heavily plated,” GC:411, with pure gold.  Since wood is a symbol of humanity, and gold as symbolism of Divinity, we must cover ourselves with the covering of Christ’s righteousness, else:  “(16) Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you? (17) If any man defile the temple of God, him shall God destroy; for the temple of God is holy, which temple ye are.”  First Corinthians 3:16-17.

 

These boards never quarreling with each other, for they worked together as a team.  Anything short of that and the wall would have fallen down.  Thus they admonish us, as did Paul:  “Endeavouring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.”  Ephesians 4:3.  No one individual is a “fold” in and of and by himself.  He will love his brothers and sisters in Christ; appreciate their gifts and talents (given to them by Christ); and would want to introduce new prospects to these pillars of the Church.  “And other sheep I have, which are not of this fold:  them also I must bring, and they shall hear My voice; and there shall be one fold, and one shepherd.”  John 10:16.

 

 

G) THE HOLY ANOINTING OIL

 

 

According to Exodus 30:23-33, this oil consisted of four spices:

 

Pure Myrrh, a resin or liquid which is secreted from the thorny tree species of the Comephorid genus, belonging to the Burseraceae family;

Sweet Cinnamon, the yellowish-brown spice produced from the dried inner bark of several trees or shrubs;

Sweet Calamus, a reed-like plant, native to India;

Cassia, a grass-like herb plant.

 

These spices weighed about 48 pounds compounded into “an hin,” Exodus 30:24, or about 5 quarts of olive oil.  Here we can see that since the spices, representing Christ’s “sweet savour,” or “sacrifice,” Leviticus 8:21 (see also Eph. 5:2), being “compounded,” indicates the close cooperation of Christ and His representative, The Holy Spirit.  For a representation of “oil” as being the Holy Spirit, see Matthew 25:3-4; COL:407; 3RH:291 & 292 & 483; 4RH:110; GC:394.

 

 

H) SIGNIFICANCE OF THE HORNS

 

 

Horns in Scripture signify “power” (see 1Sa. 2:1-10; 2Sa. 22:3).  They were used in the services of the Sanctuary to bind the sacrifices to the Alters (Psa. 118:27).  They were also sprinkled with the blood from the sacrifice (Exo. 29:12).  The symbolism is one of pointing to Christ’s unfaltering commitment to carry out the Father’s Will (Heb. 10:5-7), by even allowing Himself to be nailed to the cross.  Moreover, we must keep in mind that nothing could have held our Lord there.  It was His choice to stay there for you and for me.  So what do you think really held Him there?  Love!!!

 

The four horns were placed such that they pointed both outward and upward (45-degree angle; Eze. 43:15).  And with the blood of the sacrifice sprinkled upon them, the symbolism is one in which is depicted the pleading of our Lord’s blood to be accepted of the Father, looking upward, covering and pleading for all those under His protecting blood found in the four corners of the earth.