This week, we wrapped up the “Doing the Impossible”
series with a message on the importance of understanding who we are in Christ.
Until we see ourselves as being worthy to be used by God, we will not be used
by Him in the way He intends. We
examined an element of the building of the Tabernacle in the wilderness.
Specifically, we looked at the golden boards that made the walls of the Holy Place
These walls were made of wood. In the Bible, wood is
often symbolic of man and his weakness and frailty. Wood can be burned and needs to be protected
from burning (thus the covering). Wood
comes from trees, which come out of and gain their nutrients from the soil –
soil that is cursed. Trees are limited
based on the resources given it by the earth (water, soil quality, etc). This
wood had to be cut down and disconnected from the cursed ground to be of use in
God’s house. The wood was also to be acacia wood. Acacia wood was what Noah
build his ark out of. Acacia was also prevalent
in the wilderness where God’s people were journeying to the Promised Land.
Acacia was also symbolic of incorruptible humanity. We understand that only
Jesus was the incorruptible. But, in Him, we become incorruptible – not because
of anything we’ve done or what we don’t do, but because of what He did!
Next, those wood boards were fashioned to fit into
a silver socket. In Moses’ day, silver
was actually more valuable than gold. Joseph was sold into slavery by his
brothers for silver. Of course, we know
Jesus was sold for silver. Silver is also
symbolic in the Bible of redemption (involving a purchase) or salvation. It is
a picture that there is a price paid to redeem man – to redeem you and I. The redemption is what lies between us (wood)
and the earth to keep and preserve. It cuts us off from the curse. Jesus became
a curse for us! Based on today’s
standards, the wood used to make the walls is valued at about $1, but the
silver used to make the base is about $1000.
Additionally, the contribution used to make atonement offerings in the
Israelite community was 1 shekel of silver each. No matter how poor or rich you were, you gave
a shekel, and only a shekel. The price
for each was set and not negotiable.
This was to be used for the service of the tent of meeting. This atonement was temporary and something
that had to be bought, but ours is a gift now for eternity. Jesus’ death, and most importantly
resurrection, purchases the removal of our sin from us forever. The silver protects us from the earth. It protects and preserves us.
Next, the boards were covered in pure gold. Gold is
symbolic of the divine nature of God and His righteousness. His divine nature
is love and it is grace. SO, in order to complete the picture, we must allow Him
to clothe us in HIS righteousness. Ours is as filthy rags, but His is
everlasting and it is unfailing. Lastly,
the boards, fit in their silver sockets, are joined together, side by side in
His house, with crosspieces going through to hold them together. Gold always touches gold, and the wood never
touches other wood. We need to see each
other through the righteousness of Christ and not through our own lens. No one board is greater than the other. They
are equal in stature and purpose and fit together. And when they are joined
together they form a shining wall that literally reflects Jesus. The wall
reflected the Ark of the Covenant which is representative of Jesus Himself. 2 Corinthians 5:1 echoes this idea.
This is why it is so important for us to stay
Christ-centered in all things – wrapped in grace and love. Then, we will be a
more accurate reflection of Him in this world. Then we will be able to do the
truly great things of God.
To listen to the entire sermon go to http://ahwatukeechurch.com/ and click on online media. To learn more about Living Word Ahwatukee, visit http://ahwatukeechurch.com/.
