THE WHITE LINEN CURTAINS

Gloria Phifer

Exodus 25:8 “Let them make Me a sanctuary that I may dwell among them. God’s heart was with man…wanting to be with them. In the Tabernacle we see a picture of God’s heart that would bring His Son into this world, to be a sacrifice for our sins, to present His blood as atonement for our sins. And now He is alive, sitting on the Right Hand of The Majesty on High as Our High Priest, Who continually intercedes for us.

One of my favorite scriptures John 1:14 “And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt (Tabernacled) among us. And we beheld His glory as The Only begotten of The Father, full of grace and truth. Galatians 4:4-7. “But when the fullness of time was come, God sent forth His Son, made of a woman, made under the law, to redeem them that were under the law, that we might receive the adoption of sons.” Why did God send His Son, in the fullness of time? What does the fullness of time mean to you? I thought of the cross…in this period of time Rome had brought crucifixion…Jesus became a curse for us to redeem us from the curse of the law. Galatians 3:13-14. Anyone who was hung on a tree according to the law was cursed. Jesus, hanging on the cross, redeemed us from the curse of the law. Thoughts?

We are going to look at the fence that enclosed the court yard of the Tabernacle and The Tabernacle itself.

Exodus 27:9-18. On the south and north side were 150 feet of curtains, the west side of the court was 75 feet. The east side was also 75 feet. On each side of the entrance there was 22 ½ feet of curtains. The entrance to the court yard was a 30 ft. wide curtain. All the curtains, except for the entrance, (which was also fine linen), were made of white fine-linen. The height was 7 ½ feet. The curtains were hung by silver rods, using silver hooks. The posts, of acacia wood, were imbedded into solid bronze bases.

As we studied the materials that were used, we saw the symbolism, the significance of each material. White, fine linen is for righteousness. These curtains were 7 ½ feet tall. Far above the height of man. Not to be attained to. If you stood next to them, you would not be able to see into the court yard. Can you imagine how bright this was as the sun shone down on the curtains?

 No person can attain to the righteousness of God on their own. Isaiah 64:6 our own righteousness is as filthy rags. The Hebrew for filthy is very daunting: “the menstrual flux. Soiling, filthy. Menstruation. Filthy rag, stained garment.” What are your thoughts?

What I see is we are stained. To me it is interesting that this would have to do with “blood.”

Isaiah 1:18”…though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool.” A sheep’s coat (in most cases) is white and that is where they get wool. Isaiah 53:6 “All we as sheep have gone astray; we have turned everyone to his own way; and The Lord has laid on Him (Jesus) the iniquity of us all.” Thoughts?

 There is only One cleansing agent for our sin…and it has to do with “blood”…Matthew 26:27-28. Christs blood for the remission of our sins. 1 John 1:7 “The Blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses us from all sin.” It is interesting to me that “filthy” had to do with blood and stain. And Jesus blood cleanses us from all sin. (All filthiness and stain…making us, as His sheep, white as snow…like white wool.) What are your thoughts?

Righteousness…we have no righteousness of our own…we were lost and undone…stained beyond cleanliness…as filthy rags…and then…Jesus Christ…The Anointed One…The Word made flesh came and tabernacled among us and became sin for us, on that cross…so…2 Cor. 5:21 “For He has made Him to be sin for us, Who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in Him.”

Right now, it is like I am seeing this again for the first time. I never realized that the filth had to do with blood and our righteousness has to do with Jesus blood…I had never put the two together. Thank You Lord Jesus…thank you that you have made me white as snow in Your Righteousness. Amen. How great is our God!!! What are your thoughts?

Righteousness is also part of the Armor or God that we wear. Ephesians 6:10-18. The breastplate of righteousness that covers the heart and the vital organs. Our righteousness was paid for by The Blood of The Lamb…Jesus Christ.

Exodus 27:9-10 the curtains were held together by silver hooks attached to silver rods. Earlier, when we were looking at the meaning of the materials, silver represents “Redemption.”

Our salvation, our righteousness ,hangs on and is held together by the redemption that Christ paid for us. Redeemed means to be “bought back.” To buy back that which once belonged to you and was lost or stolen. We are redeemed, bought back, by the price of The Blood of The Lamb.

1 Peter 1:18-20. Redeemed by The Blood of The Lamb. Revelation 5:9-14.

Silver in Hebrew is the word “keceph.” ‘Silver (from its pale color); by implication…money…price…silver. It comes from another word “kacaph”. To pine after, have desire, to long for, yearn for, long after. To long for deeply.” When I read this I thought of God longing after us…yearning for us…and paying the price to redeem us back to Himself.

The sockets of the pillars were brass. They stood in these sockets. As we saw in the material study, brass is for “judgement.” Psalm 19:9, Psalm 33:5, John 5:27, Isaiah 53:4-12. Jesus took our judgement on the cross.  

Next week, we will look at the Entrance…the colored curtain…to the court of the Tabernacle.

There was only One Way to enter.