(1) Then verily the first covenant had also ordinances of divine service, and a worldly sanctuary. (2) For there was a tabernacle made; the first, wherein was the candlestick, and the table, and the shewbread; which is called the sanctuary. (3) And after the second veil, the tabernacle which is called the holiest of all; (4) Which had the golden censer, and the ark of the covenant overlaid roundabout with gold, wherein was the golden pot that had manna, and Aaron's rod that budded, and the tables of the covenant; (5) And over it the cherubim of glory shadowing the mercy seat; of which we cannot now speak particularly.
How gracious was it in God the Holy Ghost, to give the Church an account, as he hath here done, of the furniture of the tabernacle and so blessedly explained the subject, as he hath hereafter done in this chapter, in relation to Christ. Oh! the goodness and condescension of God the Spirit! Truly was it said, by our dear Lord, concerning him, when teaching his disciples to be on the lookout for his coming after Christ's departure, he shall not speak of himself, And where do we find the blessed Spirit speaking of himself? But he shall glorify me, said Jesus. And, oh! Reader, how doth the Holy Ghost indeed glorify my Lord to my poor soul, when Ha shews me more and more the plague of my own heart; and that there is none in heaven or earth that can bring a remedy for it, but the Lord Jesus Christ John 16:13-14. I do hope, before we close this Chapter, both, the Writer and Reader (if it be the Lord's holy will) may find cause to raise a renewed monument of praise to the Holy Spirit, for what He hath here revealed of all-precious Jesus!
I desire the Reader, one by one, to observe the several articles here enumerated, in what belonged to what is called the first covenant. All were costly. And as all was of God's own appointment in divine service, and yet were but typical and preparatory to the Gospel Church of Christ, they serve the more to shew of what vast importance in God's sight must have been, and still is, that glorious dispensation by Christ, which was thus set forth with such a world of attention? The first court, which was called the holy place, and used in daily service, contained the candlestick, to intimate, perhaps, that as the light there shining communicates brightness around, so Christ, in his Church, is the sole light of his Church. The table, which is said to have been made of Shittim-wood, Exodus 25:10, and which was not liable to be worm-eaten, was perhaps typical of the incorruptible nature of Christ's humanity, which, though subject to death, as the sacrifice for sin, yet not to corruption, Psalms 16:1. And as a table is a place of fellowship in families, where the several members partake of the same viands, it is probable that the Holy Ghost might intend to convey, by this representation, the communion and fellowship Christ and his members have with each other. All these were, in what was called the sanctuary, or holy place, to distinguish it both from the world without, and the Holy of Holies within. Here was performed all the ordinary service of the priests, in their daily ministration. Christ must be the daily light, and life, and food, and communion of his people. To Him do all his redeemed; whom he hath made kings and priests to the Father, duly come, and by him offer the sacrifice of praise to God continually, that is the fruit of our lips, giving thanks to his name, Hebrews 13:15
By the second vail is meant within the vail, for there was but one veil in the sanctuary, Exodus 26:33, and which was rent in the moment of Christ's death, to imply that all intervening obstructions, which kept the people of God from the Lord, was now done away by that death. Jesus had then removed forever the vail spread over all nations, Isaiah 25:6-8; Colossians 2:14. Hence the call to draw nigh, Hebrews 10:19-23. The furniture within this vail, which was called the holy of holies, was, no doubt, highly significant also; but, as the Apostle's speaking of those things in full declared that he could not now speak particularly, so may we. That they were all typical, seems to be without all doubt, for the law itself was a shadow of good things to come. But there is a certain obscurity thrown over such things as are not immediately necessary to be known, for wise and good purposes. We can, and do, through divine teaching, behold the figure of Christ, in the golden Censer: see Revelation 8:3-4. and in the Ark also, there could be no other than Christ intended, who is to all his elect as the Ark was to Noah, into which the Patriarch entered by faith, Hebrews 11:7. The Pot that had manna, which in its nature is so perishing, and yet so wonderfully preserved by this means, very strongly, and aptly represented Christ, preserving our nature. And the Rod that budded, pointed to Him, who is Jehovah's rod of strength, and the everlasting bud, blossom, and fruit of Jehovah's eternal love, to all his people forever, Psalms 110:2. The tables of the Covenant, perhaps had an allusion to God's New Testament dispensation, when God promised to write them in the living tables of the heart of his people, Hebrews 8:10; 2 Corinthians 3:3. And the Cherubim of glory, could mean no other than what from the first, at the gate of Eden, represented the glorious Persons in Jehovah. Through all the word of God it is plain, the Cherubim could have allusion to none but the Lord. Reader! think with what a vast preparation the Gospel of Christ hath been ushered in, and how infinitely important, therefore, it must be? Oh! for grace, to contemplate more and more, the Person of the Lord Jesus, in, whom all centre, and who is the sum and substance of all!