The Covering and support of the Ministry

The Covering and Support of the Ministry

The construction of the Holy Place and the Holy of Holies in the Tabernacle in the Wilderness shows that there are four coverings, each having a spiritual significance in the plan and purpose of Adonai. They are the Covering of Linen, The Covering of goats Hair, The Covering of Rams Skin and the Covering of Badger Skin.

The outer covering of the tabernacle symbolized separation from the world, and each of the four coverings also has a specific meaning. First the covering of Linen is symbolic of the basic covering of the ministry; this could only be seen from the inside of the tabernacle. This is a type of the covering of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit, and the manifested presence of Adonai. The color of the linen is white, the color used to interweave the pattern into the linen were Blue, scarlet and purple.

The color White represents the righteousness of the saints, Blue for heavenly character, Scarlet for blood of The Lamb of YAHVEH, and Purple for royalty. In order to fully understand the fullness of this we need to understand ministry as manifested in the life of Yahushua.

The inside covering of fine linen is a picture of purity and righteousness of Adonai, when the Priest looks out toward the people and up towards Adonai his view and action should be one of purity and righteousness. This was a constant reminder to bask in the great symbolism of the curtains, that YAHVEH is pure and righteous. This is the first and great covering the ministry needs to learn and remember.

 

The covering of Goats Hair, which necessitated the death of the old goat nature. Symbolic of the need for a sin offering and for cleansing. That is why the goat skins were placed on top of the inner curtain of fine linen. This also implies that a sin offering had to cover the worshipper as he approached the righteousness and the purity of YAHVEH. Those who have been cleansed are cleansed from all unrighteousness, those who have been cleaned receives the gift of the Holy Spirit. Those who have been cleansed have their conscience purified for service to YAHVEH. Those who have been cleansed are given a close bond of fellowship with other believers. Those who have been cleansed lives with YAHVEH forever he will never die.

The third layer from the bottom is the covering of Rams skin dyed red. The ram skin is symbolic of the shed blood of our Messiyah. He is the perfect sacrifice, the perfect Lamb of YAHVEH who died for the sins of mankind. The perfect Lamb of YAHVEH is the ideal man.

The fourth and final layer is the Covering of Badger Skin. This outer layer was made of leather, probably the skin of the sea cow. This covering was the top covering; the covering that protected all the other covering that protected the integrity of the Tabernacle. This layer of protection covering is pictured as separation from the natural, the world.

The ministry or Priesthood must have this essential covering. It needs to be so guarded lest it become spoiled by the world. The threat of worldliness is a very real danger to the ministry. The things of the world can quickly strain the heart of even the most mature believer. There is a danger of being contaminated by the unclean things of the world, of touching things forbidden by Adonai.

Isaiah 52:¹¹ Depart! Depart! Go out from there, Touch no unclean thing; Go out from the midst of her, be clean, You who bear the vessels of YAHVEH. ¹² For you shall not go out with haste, nor go by flight; For YAHVEH will go before you, And the YAHVEH of Yisrael will be your rear guard.

II Corinthians 6:¹⁷ Therefore “Come out from among them and be separate, says YAHVEH. Do not touch what is unclean, and I will receive you. ¹⁸ I will be a Father to you, and you shall be My sons and daughters, Says YAHVEH Almighty.”

 There is the danger of loving the world and the things of the world too much. There is the danger of being caught up in the friendships of the world, of giving in to its sexual and immoral ways. There is the danger of being consumed with the ways of the world and the cares of this life, and being caught off guard. There is the danger of forgetting the YAHVEHly, righteous things one has been taught and giving in to the influence of the world. There is the danger of being conformed to religious activity, or allowing ones mind to be blinded by things that seem spiritual but carry a false doctrine.

The frame symbolized the stability, the support, the foundation, which would have been absolutely useless without the frame, and the beautiful and elaborate furnishings of the Tabernacle would be at the mercy of the elements. Without the frame, the tabernacle’s message would have been impossible to see. That man must repent and being baptized, He must acquire the baptism of fire, He must read the word, He must worship YAHVEH in spirit and in truth.

Without the frame, there would have been no tent, no sanctuary, no Most Holy Place in which YAHVEH could dwell. We need to remember that the frame is crafted from Shitten wood overlaid with gold, symbolizing Humanity being covered with the glory of YAHVEH. It is these people who make up the framework, the support, and the foundation of the church.

Men like Moses, Caleb, Joshua, David, Elisah, Elijah, Paul, Peter, and Matthew are representative of such a foundation. The frame was the foundation, the support that held up and stabilized the tent or the covering. The ministry or Priesthood is the foundation; the support that helps to stabilized the church as the believer journeys to their Promised Land. Yahushua gives the believer stability through His Mighty Hand, the New Testament tells us that the passages in the Old Testament that refer to the Rock or Stone are prophecies pointing to the Messiyah, YAHVEH Yahushua Himself.

It is also interesting to remember that the integrity of the boards surrounding the Holy Place and the Holy of Holies were kept in place by five poles. The Five-Fold ministry is the agent provided by YAHVEH to keep the church together. There are two rods that maintain the foot, symbolizing the Evangelist and the Pastor. There are two that maintain the top, symbolizing the Teacher and the pastor, and there is one that runs through the inside of the boards, which represent the Apostle. It is also interesting to note that five pillars, also representing the Five-Fold ministry, guard the entrance to the Holy Place.