THE TABERNACLE OF THE TESTIMONY
J. G. Chalmers
Some of us considered this section of scripture in this room three days ago and we were impressed with the moral greatness of the tabernacle, called here “the tabernacle of the testimony”, an unusual name which denotes its distinctiveness. The fact that the things that composed the tabernacle were numbered and counted shows their value to God; each item, in the sight of God, was of great price. The tabernacle of the testimony is a type of the assembly, the vessel of the testimony in this dispensation, and it represents what is universal, but the truth of it is worked out in local assemblies. The assembly of God in Corinth was the vessel of the testimony in that place. In this day of public ruin and confusion we cannot claim to be the assembly—that would be assumption—but as walking in the divinely prescribed path of separation according to 2 Timothy 2: 19–23 we can work out together, in the grace and power of the Holy Spirit, the moral features proper to the assembly, the vessel of the testimony.
Our sister had a living part in that. Her whole life was related to the assembly and she was numbered and counted as one who was of great value in the sight of God. The section goes on to speak of the weight of gold. Those of us who knew our sister could discern the gold in her—the work of God in its own intrinsic value which will abide to eternity. Then it speaks of the weight of silver which was provided by the half shekel brought by those who were numbered from twenty years old and upward. Our sister brought her half shekel—her
appreciation of the fact that she had been redeemed by the precious blood of Jesus, that He loved her and gave Himself for her. The chapter finishes with the weight of copper, and the pegs are mentioned last. They are also mentioned in the first verse we read. These pegs of copper were not conspicuous but they played a vital part in the support of the tabernacle, especially in the vicissitudes of the wilderness. Our sister was a peg of copper. She was formed by the Spirit in the principles of separation from iniquity. She was never prominent but was present at all the meetings as long as she was able and she always supported the truth and the testimony in a humble spirit, no matter how critical the times were. She was truly a peg of copper, steadfast and immovable. The Lord Jesus has now taken her to be with Himself. She is now in the blessed rest of His presence. What a comfort for those who mourn! But the assembly, the vessel of the testimony, is still here and will remain here until the Lord comes to translate her to her own heavenly place. That event is imminent. Then the assembly will appear with Christ, no longer as the vessel of the testimony, but as the vessel of display. Finally, she will be the residence of glory in the eternal state.
May each one of our hearts be freshly impressed with the moral greatness of the assembly as the vessel of the testimony, especially our young brothers and sisters, so that they may commit themselves fully to the testimony and so be found amongst those who are numbered and counted as pleasurable and valuable to God Himself, both in His service and in His testimony. May the death of our sister yield fruit to God in this way, for His name’s sake.
Word at the burial of Miss V. Murray, Buckie
September 1989