And there shall be a tabernacle for a shadow in the daytime from the heat, and for a place of refuge, and for a covert from storm and from rain.
There shall be a tabernacle for a shadow in the day-time from the heat, and for a place of refuge - Christ's body (John 1:14). 'The Word tabernacled [Greek for "dwelt," eskeenoosen] among us' (John 2:21; Hebrews 8:2, "the true tabernacle, which the Lord pitched, and not man"). It is a shadow from the heat" and "refuge from the storm" of divine wrath against man's sins (Isaiah 25:4). Heat and storms are violent in the East; so that a portable tent is a needful part of a traveler's outfit. Such shall be God's wrath hereafter, from which the "escaped of Israel" shall be sheltered by Jesus Christ (Isaiah 26:20-21; Isaiah 32:2).
Covert - answering to "defense" (Isaiah 4:5). The Hebrew х uwlmictowr (H4563), from chaatar (H5641), to cover] for defense in Isaiah 4:5 is 'covering.' The lid of the ark, or mercy-seat, was named from a Hebrew word of similar sound and sense kapowret, from kaapar (H3722): the propitiatory for it, being sprinkled with blood by the high priest once a year, on the day of atonement, covered the people typically from wrath. Jesus Christ is the true Mercy-seat, on whom the Shekinah rested, the propitiatory [kapowret, hilasteerion (G2435)], or atonement, beneath whom the law is kept, as it was literally within the ark, and man is covered from the storm. The redeemed Israel shall also be, by union with Him, "a tabernacle" for God's glory, which, unlike, that in the wilderness, "shall not be taken down " (Isaiah 33:20).
Remarks: In contrast to the consuming judgments about to fall on the reprobate stand the sparing, preserving, and ultimately sanctifying mercies which are in store for the elect remnant, "the escaped of Israel." Messiah, as "the Branch of the Lord," in that day shall be to them "beauty and glory." The means of sanctification are the same in the Church as in the literal Israel. The "fountain opened for uncleanness," the blood of Jesus Christ, "washes away the filth" and guilt all believers, and the Holy Spirit, by chastening "judgments," convicts of sin, and by the fire of trials purifies and refines them. It is infinitely better now to pass through purifying fires than hereafter to be doomed with the wicked to the destroying fire forever.