The three sides of the tabernacle were made of boards, in other words broad planks, of acacia-wood, overlaid with gold and placed upright on sockets of silver. This is a picture of saved souls, firmly established on redemption, of which silver always speaks, and clothed in divine justice—the gold—with the intention of showing forth the divine character which should now be displayed.

But in order that the boards should hold together, and withstand the desert wind, it was further necessary to have traversing bars, which make us think of all that unites the children of God: thus, for example, the gentle bonds of brotherly love. What a support for a young believer to have a brother or a friend with whom he can speak of his difficulties and get down on his knees with him! Above all, one Spirit unites all the saved ones of the Lord so that they remain fitted together and connected in such a way to resist every wind of doctrine and the efforts of the enemy to stumble them (Eph. 4:2–4, 14–16; cf. 1 Cor. 10:12).

Finally, notice particularly that which characterized the corner boards: they were perfectly “united at the top” (v. 24; see Jn. 17:21 and 1 Cor. 1:9–10). A mutual link with the Lord, that is what perfectly cements the bonds of fellowship of Christians among themselves.