The coverings of the tabernacle of Moses were no accident.. as is with everything recorded in God's perfect Book, there are no misprints! A careful study of these coverings is a great blessing, I can promise you. These are "the patterns of the things in the heavens" (Heb 9:23); they are "figures of the true" (Heb 9:24).
Covering the tabernacle were 4 separate coverings, one on top of another; these coverings acted as a curtained ceiling (Exod 25:1-5; 26:1-14). These included coverings of badger's skin, ram's skin dyed red, goat's hair, and fine-twined linen. Each of these coverings is pregnant with New Testament typical truth: the badger's skin is representative of Christ's humanity, even as He possessed no outward comeliness that we should desire Him (Isa 53:2), yet within was ever-so-glorious.. He bore the heat of the day, and the exposure to storm and tempest, all to protect the inhabitants of Moses' tabernacle, typifying you and I as kings and priests, safe in His wounded side. The ram's skins dyed red of course are significant of Christ as the suffering servant. Skins cannot be obtained without a sacrifice, and these skins underwent both death and transformation, in that they were dyed red. Jesus surely is the man of sorrows, with garments dyed red of His precious redemptive blood! The coverings of white goat's hair also speak of our Lord, even as He possessed spotless holiness, the only One able to rest in the holiness of God, yet (by His perfect sacrifice) preparing a trail for us to follow.
The final covering was of fine-twined linen, made up of several embroidered colors. This was the innermost covering. This covering possessed many descriptions, each bringing out a separate perfection of the Lord Jesus, being manifested by Him as He passed through this world of sin. This covering was blue.. Blue, in Scripture, represents the heavenlies, and is ever employed for the setting forth of celestial things (Exod 24:10; Ezek 1:26; 10:1; Numb 15:38; etc). This speaks of the divinity of Jesus. The blue embroidery upon the white background tells us that He who came down to our depths of humiliation was "the Lord from heaven" (1 Cor 15:47; Jn 3:13). Though He was very much a man (completely man, in fact), He yet walked in complete consciousness of His divinity! He never once forgot where He came from, where He was, nor where He was going. As our Forerunner, He had perfect and uninterupted communion with His Father; spiritual Zion was His perpetual abode!
This covering was purple too. Purple is symbolic of kingship and royalty (Jdgs 8:26; Jn 19:1-5; Lk 16:19; Rev 18:12-16; Song 3:10; 7:5; Mk 15:17-20; etc). In fact, in ancient times, purple was a very precious color, extracted from the purpura, or murex, a species of shell-fish; and was supposed to be the same with the costly and much celebrated Tyrian purple. This references the kingship of Jesus. That He was mocked as a king, no one can deny: "And set up over his head his accusation written, THIS IS JESUS THE KING OF THE JEWS" (Matt 27:37; etc).
This covering was also scarlet. Scarlet, in Scripture, is symbolic of suffering and blood atonement (Lev 14:52; Josh 2:18, 21; Isa 1:18; Ps 51:7; Eph 1:6-8; Rev 7:14; 17:3-4; 18:12; Heb 9:19; etc). This speaks of the servanthood and suffering of Jesus. Verily, our Lord, who knew no sin, was made sin for us (2 Cor 5:21), taking the very punishing place which we deserved. He took the place of "a worm" (Ps 22:6), which phrase is the actual Hebrew rendering of the word "scarlet" (tolaath shani). He went down into death, crushed under wrath and judgment, His blood being shed to put away our scarlet sins!
And finally, this covering was in-wrought with cherubim.. Many people believe these creatures to be angelic beings, but I cannot agree. The Scriptures seem to say otherwise.. Cherubim, in my humble opinion, represent God's own redeemed people (see Rev 5:8-9), so closely united to Him that they become part of Himself, "bone of his bone" (Gen 2:23). They actually become a part of the covering of God, sewn into it's very fabric, replacing Lucifer (Ezek 28:13, 16), manifested in God's great image (2 Cor 3:18)! "And a man shall be as an hiding place from the wind, and a covert from the tempest; as rivers of water in a dry place, as the shadow of a great rock in a weary land" (Isa 32:2). What an honor!
Friends, what do these truths teach us? I believe they speak deeply concerning the precious and unfathomable mercies of our God! He is covering you, shading you from worldly storms, intoxicants, evils and frets; He's thoroughly and eternally preserving all those who come into His courts (Heb 5:9)! His great character (of which these 4 coverings clearly typify) will never allow us to flee; we are safe and sound (Jn 10:28)! His covering keeps us safe from the wrath of God, poured out on sinful humanity, even as the "covering" of Noah's ark kept all the inhabitants safe and dry (Gen 8:13). Reader, it's only "destruction" that has "no covering" (Job 24:7); it's only the spiritually poor (Job 31:19; Rev 3:18)! It's only those rebellious children that are found with a covering "not of My Spirit" (Isa 30:1). But to those who adore His great name, He's provided a glorious covering: "He spread a cloud for a covering; and fire to give light in the night" (Ps 105:39). He's provided a defense (Isa 4:5)! His covering is even "paved with love" (Song 3:10)! Have you been ruined by this gloriously curtained salvific "ceiling"? I sure have!
Let's not be hid "under falsehood" (Isa 28:15)! Let's not be found covered in the judgment of sackcloth (Isa 50:3; Exod 10:21; Rev 6:12)! Rather, come into His gates with thanksgiving, and into His courts with praise (Ps 100:4)! Hide in the secret place, under His wings (Ps 91:1-4); For here, and only here, is our true covering found.
"I will abide in thy tabernacle for ever: I will trust in the covert of thy wings. Selah" (Ps 61:4)!
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