Welcome, friends, to another
broadcast of Morsels for Zion's Poor. The main characteristic
which often separates between good artists and great ones is
their attention to detail. Most anyone can draw the outline
of a tree, but a great artist can depict the tree in a manner
which makes it difficult to differentiate it from a real tree. Human artists
struggle to convey beauty in the detail of the work which
they undertake. Yet the grandest artist of all has defined the
very concepts of beauty and reality. Not only has he designed the
panorama of what is called nature, but he has left out no detail
or minute element which together define the whole. His artistry
goes much further than the canvas of those things which can be
seen with the eye of the flesh, but extends into those realms
of which man can have no understanding. who hath put wisdom in the inward
parts, or who hath given understanding to the heart. As Paul says of
him, who only hath immortality, dwelling in the light to which
no man can approach unto, whom no man hath seen nor can see,
to whom be honor and power everlasting. Amen. Thus we see layer upon
layer of detail, which He has set forth in His Word, which
is in many cases like peeling away the layers of an onion,
only to discover a fresher surface beneath. O the depth of the riches
both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are
His judgments and His ways past finding out! For who hath known
the mind of the Lord, or who hath been His counselor? We can
see his attention to detail illustrated for us quite clearly in the meticulous
instructions that he gave to Moses for the construction of
the tabernacle, the sacrifices, and even the material which the
garments of the high priest were to be made out of. He left nothing
to chance or man's design. We do not claim to have definitive
answers as to the significance of every article in the Tabernacle,
yet we can learn of some of these materials due to their continued
reference throughout the Scriptures. The fine twined linen is one
of those materials which point to the perfections of Christ
and the pervasive nature of His presence throughout the whole
of Scripture, most especially in regard to the office of the
High Priest and the purity which He alone could bring to that
office. It is likely that the Israelites learned the craft
of making fine twined linen from the Egyptians, who were appointed
to destruction. Linen is woven from thread made
from the fibers of the flax plant, which was evidently quite abundant
in Egypt. Flax was the very stuff under which Rahab the harlot
hid the Israeli spies in the city of Jericho. Thus the Lord
appointed that deliverance should come to these men by one who
was likely a maker of linen, along with her other occupation.
Not one stalk of this flax was there by chance, any more than
the rescue of Rahab and her household was a random act. The Lord ordains
the salvation of His people. Rahab's honor was bestowed on
her because she was precious in the sight of the Lord, not
because of her actions, but because of His grace. The inside of the
tabernacle was then divided into the holy place and the most holy
place by a curtain of fine twined linen. The ark of the covenant
and the mercy seat which covered it along with the table which
held the showbread and the candlestick were in this most holy place
which was hid from the eyes of all but the high priest. The
presence of God is wrapped in the pure righteousness of Jesus
Christ who cannot be seen apart from his demonstration of mercy
in condescending to dwell among men. The mercy seat is Christ,
which cannot be seen by any except they be brought within that veil
of fine twined linen. Those who are unable to enter
there only gain admission by reason of being in him as their
great high priest. The garments of the high priest
were to be made of gold and fine twined linen. In this gold we
can see the royalty which surrounds this office and the fine twine
linen which bespeaks the purity and righteousness of the one
who enters into the Holy of Holies in the behalf of the people whom
he represents, sprinkling the mercy seat with the blood of
an acceptable sacrifice. Aaron's priestly office could
not continue due to death. Aaron was clad in linen garments
and a linen head covering, showing that he had a righteousness which
was bestowed upon him because of his office. Christ, on the
other hand, bestowed his own righteousness upon the office
of priest and king. able to offer better sacrifices
than Aaron, obtaining eternal redemption for his people, not
with the blood of bulls and goats, but with his own blood, as of
a lamb without spot or blemish. The last mention of fine linen
in the scriptures is found in John's revelation of Jesus Christ.
Speaking of the bride of Christ, he says, and to her was granted
that she should be arrayed in fine linen, clean and white,
for the fine linen is the righteousness of saints. Like Aaron, she is
clothed upon, and her righteousness is the righteousness of Christ.
She goes to war in the same, and the armies which were in
heaven followed him upon white horses, clothed in fine linen,
white and clean. For a free CD containing 15 of
these radio broadcasts, send an email to forthepoor at windstream.net.