EXODUS 26
31 “And you shall make a veil of blue and purple and scarlet yarns and fine twined linen. It shall be made with cherubim skillfully worked into it. 32 And you shall hang it on four pillars of acacia overlaid with gold, with hooks of gold, on four bases of silver. 33 And you shall hang the veil from the clasps, and bring the ark of the testimony in there within the veil. And the veil shall separate for you the Holy Place from the Most Holy. 34 You shall put the mercy seat on the ark of the testimony in the Most Holy Place. 35 And you shall set the table outside the veil, and the lampstand on the south side of the tabernacle opposite the table, and you shall put the table on the north side.36 “You shall make a screen for the entrance of the tent, of blue and purple and scarlet yarns and fine twined linen, embroidered with needlework. 37 And you shall make for the screen five pillars of acacia, and overlay them with gold. Their hooks shall be of gold, and you shall cast five bases of bronze for them. – Exodus 26:31-37
EXODUS 26 THE VEILS & SCREENS FOR THE TABERNACLE
After the instructions for the exterior was done, Moses was now given the next details about the veils and the screens for the tabernacle. Here the color blue and purple were specified once more. Blue symbolizes heaven and purple represents the royalty of Jesus. The inclusion of the cherubim skillfully incorporated in the veil would give a glimpse of the heavenlies where angels are all over the place. The veils were to separate the Holy Place from the Most Holy Place. The placement of the mercy seat and the lampstand was also very clearly specified in the Most Holy Place.
In Isaiah 59:2-3, we hear that sin separated us from God. The veil is the symbol of such separation. God has placed this boundary between Himself who is the only righteous one and mankind where there’s no one righteous. According to Hebrews 10:19-20, the veil was Jesus’ flesh which was ripped off when he died for us so we can enter the holy place by his blood. His blood made us clean to be holy in God’s presence. By believing in Jesus who cleansed us from sin, we can now be able to present ourselves to God.
The screen door once again foreshadows Jesus. The scarlet color was added here to represent Jesus’ blood from his sacrifice on the cross. The pillars of acacia which represent strength and strong foundation clearly point again to our Lord Jesus Christ.
REFLECTION
· How do these veils and screens indicate God’s goodness and love?
