Exodus 26:19-21 And thou shalt make forty sockets of silver under the twenty boards; two sockets under one board for his two tenons, and two sockets under another board for his two tenons. 20 And for the second side of the tabernacle on the north side there shall be twenty boards: 21 And their forty sockets of silver; two sockets under one board, and two sockets under another board.
So I’ve waited for a revelation that would uphold the tabernacle as a type of the individual believer like we have in the other devotionals, but to no avail. They always told me that types just never hold up so you can’t get carried away with them. My heart right now really is on the church and the doctrine of the church. Ecclesiology. I can’t get away from (Ephesians 2:19-22) Now therefore ye are no more strangers and foreigners, but fellowcitizens with the saints, and of the household of God; 20 And are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone; 21 In whom all the building fitly framed together groweth unto an holy temple in the Lord: 22 In whom ye also are builded together for an habitation of God through the Spirit. So let’s just go with it.
It’s two sockets under one board. And that’s perfect because Ephesians says that the saint sets upon the foundation of two sets of individuals: the apostles and the prophets. One tenon in one socket and the other tenon in the other socket. We stand with one foot in the apostles and one foot in the prophets. And I still think that this gives us the reality of worshiping God, and the presence of God.
When I consider the disciples, I think of how they gathered around Jesus feet and listened intently to every word that fell from his lips; his doctrine, his parables, his prayers. They followed him wherever he would go; in the sea, up the mount, in the desert place. They did whatever he said; cast the nets, fetch the colt, prepare the Passover. They were the closet people on earth to walk with Jesus and witness him firsthand; they were exceedingly amazed, they marvelled, they were astonished. They feared, they worshipped, they rejoiced. They called him Rabbi, Master, Lord. O Lord, that we might walk in the ways of your precious and loved disciples. (John 6:68) Lord, to whom shall we go? thou hast the words of eternal life. This one thing is needful, that we might sit at the master’s feet. (Luke 24:32) And they said one to another, Did not our heart burn within us, while he talked with us by the way, and while he opened to us the scriptures?
One foot in the disciples’ socket and the other in the prophets’. The bible says (Revelation 19:10) The testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy. It was right after that in which John wrote the most anticipated words in the Holy Bible.
(Revelation 19:11-16) And I saw heaven opened, and behold a white horse; and he that sat upon him was called Faithful and True, and in righteousness he doth judge and make war. 12 His eyes were as a flame of fire, and on his head were many crowns; and he had a name written, that no man knew, but he himself. 13 And he was clothed with a vesture dipped in blood: and his name is called The Word of God. 14 And the armies which were in heaven followed him upon white horses, clothed in fine linen, white and clean. 15 And out of his mouth goeth a sharp sword, that with it he should smite the nations: and he shall rule them with a rod of iron: and he treadeth the winepress of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God. 16 And he hath on his vesture and on his thigh a name written, KING OF KINGS, AND LORD OF LORDS.
The second coming of our blessed Lord and Savior Jesus Christ! To plug one tenon into the socket of the holy prophets is to tap in to (Titus 2:13) that blessed hope. To walk the path of prophets is to (Luke 21:28) lift up your heads; for your redemption draweth nigh; to (1 Thessalonians 5:6) watch and be sober. Like Rebekah, may we from atop God’s providential camels, lift up our eyes and look across the fields of this quickly fleeting life, and catch the eye of our Isaac! (Genesis 24:65) What man is this that walketh in the field to meet us? O Glory to God it won’t be long! (Philippians 3:20) For our conversation is in heaven; from whence also we look for the Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ.
May we lay them down and stand upon these, the foundation of the apostles and prophets, in our worship and service to God, and be not ashamed. This is the habitation of God; the holy temple in the Lord. And may God fill his temple. This is no wood, hay, and stubble. These silver sockets will endure. They most assuredly (1 Corinthians 3:13) shall be made manifest: for the day shall declare it, because it shall be revealed by fire… What an amazing thought of our reality in Christ; to walk in the footsteps of the apostles and prophets; to walk the path that they once trod. What a comfort to know that this path is not obscure and uncertain, but others have gone before. And then also, that there’s more boards in this tabernacle, standing side by side, in the same silver sockets that you stand. And that God dwells in the midst of these. Praise the Lord for the His glorious marvelous church!