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"The Number Five"
Five is four plus one. We had hitherto the three persons of the Godhead, and their manifestation in creation. Now we have a further revelation of a People called out from mankind, redeemed and saved, to walk with God from earth to heaven. Hence, Redemption follows creation. Inasmuch as in consequence of the fall of man creation came under the curse and was made subject to vanity, therefore man and creation must be redeemed. Thus we have: (1). The Father. (2). The Son. (3). The Holy Spirit. (4). The Creation. (5). Redemption. These are the five great mysteries, and five is the number of grace.
If four is the number of the World, then it represents man`s weakness, and helplessness, and vanity. But four plus one is significant of Divine strength added to and made perfect in that weakness: of omnipotence combined with the impotence of earth: of Divine favor uninfluenced and invincible.
Grace means favor. But what kind of favor? For favor is of many kinds. Favor shown to the poor we call pity: favor shown to the suffering we call compassion: favor shown to the obstinate we call patience: but favor to the unworthy we call Grace! This is favor indeed: favor which is truly Divine in its source and in its character. Light is thrown upon it in (Romans 3:24
Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus:). The word here translated freely occurs again in (John 15:25 But this cometh to pass, that the word might be fulfilled that is written in their law, They hated me without a cause.). Was there any real cause why they hated the Lord Jesus? No! Nor is there any real cause in us why God should justify us. So we might read Romans 3:24 thus: Being justified without a cause by His grace. Yes, this grace indeed, favor to the unworthy.It was so with Abram. There was no cause in him why God should have called him and chosen him! There was no cause why God should have made an unconditional covenant with him and his seed forever. Therefore the number five shall be stamped upon this covenant by causing it to be made with five sacrifices, a heifer, a goat, a ram, a dove, and a pigeon. (Genesis 15:9
And he said unto him, Take me an heifer of three years old, and a she goat of three years old, and a ram of three years old, and a turtledove, and a young pigeon.).It is remarkable, also, that afterwards, when God changed Abram`s name to Abraham, (Genesis 17:5
Neither shall thy name any more be called Abram, but thy name shall be Abraham; for a father of many nations have I made thee.). The change was made very simply, but very significantly, for there is no chance with God, but inserting in the middle of it the fifth letter of the Hebrew alphabet, (Hey), the symbol of the number five, and Abram, became Abraham. All this was grace, and it is stamped with this significance.It is worthy of note that this change was made at a particular moment. It was when Abraham was called to walk before God in a very special manner. He was to look for the promise seed from no earthly source, and thus he was to walk by faith and not by sight. It was at this moment that God revealed Himself for the first time by His name “El Shaddai,” i.e. the all bountiful One! Able to supply all Abraham`s need: able to meet all his necessities: able to do for him all that he required. How gracious! How suitable! How perfect! It is the same in (2 Corinthians 6:17-18
Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you, And will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty.). When we are called, as Abraham was, to come out, to be separate, and walk by faith with God. He reveals Himself, for the first time in the New Testament, by the same wonderful name, Ye shall be My sons and daughters, said the Lord Almighty! able to support and to sustain you: able to supply all your need. This is grace.The Tabernacle had five for its all pervading number: nearly every measurement was a multiple of five. Before mentioning these measurements we ought to notice that worship itself is of all grace! No one can worship except those who are sought and called of the Father, (John 4:23
But the hour cometh, and now is, when the true worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth: for the Father seeketh such to worship him. Psalm 65:4 Blessed is the man whom thou choosest, and causest to approach unto thee, that he may dwell in thy courts: we shall be satisfied with the goodness of thy house, even of thy holy temple.).The Divine title of the book we call Leviticus is in the Hebrew Canon “He Called.” It is the book of worship, showing how He wills to be approached. The book opens with the direction that if any man will bring an offering to the Lord he shall bring such and such an offering. The offers and the priests are told minutely all that is to be done. Nothing is left to their imagination.
We have seen that Leviticus is the third book of the Bible. It comes to us stamped with the number of “Divine Perfection.” The opening words are “And God spoke,” an expression which occurs in the book 36 times. Indeed, this third book is unique, consisting, as it does, almost wholly of the words of God. No other book of the Bible is so full of Divine utterances. It is fitting, therefore, that the number three should be stamped upon it.
“I am God” occurs 21 times. “I am the Lord your God” occurs 21 times. “I God am” occurs three times, (Leviticus 19:1
And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying, Leviticus 20:26 And ye shall be holy unto me: for I the LORD am holy, and have severed you from other people, that ye should be mine. Leviticus 21:8 Thou shalt sanctify him therefore; for he offereth the bread of thy God: he shall be holy unto thee: for I the LORD, which sanctify you, am holy.). And “I God do” twice, (Leviticus 21:15 Neither shall he profane his seed among his people: for I the LORD do sanctify him. Leviticus 22:9 They shall therefore keep mine ordinance, lest they bear sin for it, and die therefore, if they profane it: I the LORD do sanctify them.). I the Lord do sanctify them. Five times together.Here then we have Divine communications, and the number of God stamped upon it. This might have been brought out under the number three, but it is well to have it here in connection with worship as springing from the will of God, and being found in grace.
The Tabernacle has this number of grace (five) stamped upon it. The outer court was 100 cubits long and 50 cubits wide. On either side were 20 pillars, and along each end were 10 pillars, or 60 in all: that is (5x12), or grace in governmental display before the world, 12 being the number of the Tribes.
The pillars that held up the curtains were 5 cubits apart and five cubits high, and the whole of the outer curtain was divided into squares of 25 cubits (5x5). Each pair of pillars thus supported an area of 5 cubits of “fine white linen,” thus witnessing to the perfect grace by which alone God`s people can witness for Him before the world. Their own righteousness (the fine linen) is filthy rags, (Isaiah 64:6
But we are all as an unclean thing, and all our righteousnesses are as filthy rags; and we all do fade as a leaf; and our iniquities, like the wind, have taken us away.). And we can only say, (1 Corinthians 15:10 But by the grace of God I am what I am: and his grace which was bestowed upon me was not in vain; but I laboured more abundantly than they all: yet not I, but the grace of God which was with me.). A sinner saved by grace. This righteousness is based on atonement, for 5x5 was also the measure of the brazen alter of burnt offering. This was the perfect answer of Christ to God`s righteous requirements, and to what was required of man. True, this brazen alter was only 3 cubits high, but this tells us that the provision was Divine in its origin, that atonement emanates soley from God.The building itself was 10 cubits high, 10 cubits wide, and 30 cubits long. Its length was divided into two unequal parts, the Holy place being 20 cubits long: and the Holy of Holies 10 cubits, being therefore a perfect cubit of 10 cubits. It was formed of forty-eight boards, twenty on either side, and eight at the end, the front being formed of a curtain hung on five pillars. These forty-eight boards are significant of the nation before God in the fullness of privilege on the earth (4x12). The twenty boards on each side were held together by five bars passing through rings attached to them.
The curtains which covered the Tabernacle structure were four in number. The first was made of ten curtains of hyssop in various colors adorned with embroidered cherubim. Each curtain was 28 (4x7) cubits long and four wide. They were hung on five on each side, probably sewn together to form one large sheet (20x28): the sheets coupled together by loops, and fifty (5x10) taches of gold. The second covering was formed of eleven curtains of goats hair, each 30 cubits long and four wide, join together in two sheets fasten by loops and taches of brass. The third was of rams skin dyed red, the fourth was of tachash, or color skins, which the dimensions are not given.
The Entrance Veil were three in number. the first was, the gate of the court, 20 cubits wide and 5 high, hung on 5 pillars. The second was that of the Tabernacle, 10 cubits wide and 10 cubits high, hung like the gate of the court on 5 pillars. The third was the beautiful veil, also 10 cubits square, which divided the Holy place from the Holy of Holies. One feature of these veils is remarkable. The dimensions of the veil of the court and those of the Tabernacle were different, but yet the area was the same. The former was 20 cubits by 5 equal 100 cubits: the latter were 10 cubits by 10, equal 100 cubits also.
Thus while there was only one gate, one door, one veil, they each typified Christ as the only door of entrance for all the blessing connected with salvation. But note that the gate which admitted to the benefits of atonement was wider and lower, 20 cubits wide, and 5 cubits high: while the door which admitted to worship was both higher and narrower, being only 10 cubits wide, and half the width, and twice the high, 10 cubits high: thus saying to us, that not all who experience the blessing of atonement, understand or appreciate the true nature of spiritual worship. The highest worship, admittance to the mercy seat was impossible for the Israelites except in the person of their substitute the high priest: for the beautiful veil barred their access. Yet this veil was rent in twain the moment the true grace which came by Jesus Christ was perfectly manifested. And it was rent by the act of God in grace, for it was rent from the top to the bottom.
The Holy Anointing Oil, (Exodus 30:23-25
Take thou also unto thee principal spices, of pure myrrh five hundred shekels, and of sweet cinnamon half so much, even two hundred and fifty shekels, and of sweet calamus two hundred and fifty shekels, And of cassia five hundred shekels, after the shekel of the sanctuary, and of oil olive an hin: And thou shalt make it an oil of holy ointment, an ointment compound after the art of the apothecary: it shall be an holy anointing oil.). Was composed of five parts, for it was a revelation of pure grace. This five marked by the number four and one. For four parts were of spices, and one of oil.The four principle spices: (1). Myrrh, 500 shekel (5x100). (2). Sweet cinnamon, 250 shekels (5x50). (3). Sweet calamus, 250 shekels (5x50). (4). Cassia, 500 shekels (5x100). And olive oil, one hin. This anointing oil was holy, for it separated to God: nothing else could separate. It was of God, and therefore of grace: and therefore the number of its ingredients was five, and their quantities were all the multiples of five.
Seven classes of persons or things were consecrated with oil. (1). Aaron and his sons. (2). The Tabernacle itself. (3). The table and its vessels. (4). The candlestick and its furniture. (5). The alter of burnt offering and its vessels. (6). The alter of incense. (7). The laver and its foot.
The word for consecration and the act are so misunderstood that it maybe well to make a passing note upon it. The Hebrew word is (Mah-leh). It means, to fill, fill up, complete. Its first occurrence is (Genesis 1:22
And God blessed them, saying, Be fruitful, and multiply, and fill the waters in the seas, and let fowl multiply in the earth.). Multiply and fill the waters in the seas. So in (Genesis 21:19 And God opened her eyes, and she saw a well of water; and she went, and filled the bottle with water, and gave the lad drink.). She filled the bottle with water. (Genesis 29:21 And Jacob said unto Laban, Give me my wife, for my days are fulfilled, that I may go in unto her.). My days are fulfilled. (Exodus 15:9 The enemy said, I will pursue, I will overtake, I will divide the spoil; my lust shall be satisfied upon them; I will draw my sword, my hand shall destroy them.). My soul shall have its fill of them. (Exodus 28:41 And thou shalt put them upon Aaron thy brother, and his sons with him; and shalt anoint them, and consecrate them, and sanctify them, that they may minister unto me in the priest’s office.). Thou shall fill their hand. this has been translated consecrate. Which is a comment rather than a translation.When this word is used with the word (Yad), hand, it means to fill the hand, especially with that which is the sign and symbol of office, i.e., to fill the hand with a scepter was to set apart or consecrate to the office of king. To fill the hand with certain parts of sacrifices, was to set apart for the office of priest and to confirm their right to offer both gifts and sacrifices to God, (Exodus 29:22-25
Also thou shalt take of the ram the fat and the rump, and the fat that covereth the inwards, and the caul above the liver, and the two kidneys, and the fat that is upon them, and the right shoulder; for it is a ram of consecration: And one loaf of bread, and one cake of oiled bread, and one wafer out of the basket of the unleavened bread that is before the LORD: And thou shalt put all in the hands of Aaron, and in the hands of his sons; and shalt wave them for a wave offering before the LORD. And thou shalt receive them of their hands, and burn them upon the altar for a burnt offering, for a sweet savour before the LORD: it is an offering made by fire unto the LORD. Exodus 32:29 For Moses had said, Consecrate yourselves to day to the LORD, even every man upon his son, and upon his brother; that he may bestow upon you a blessing this day. Hebrews 5:1 For every high priest taken from among men is ordained for men in things pertaining to God, that he may offer both gifts and sacrifices for sins: Hebrews 8:3-4 For every high priest is ordained to offer gifts and sacrifices: wherefore it is of necessity that this man have somewhat also to offer. For if he were on earth, he should not be a priest, seeing that there are priests that offer gifts according to the law:). A ram of consecration, or of filling, was a ram with parts of which the hands of the priest were filled, when they were set apart to their office.Whenever the word refers to an official appointment or separation to a work or dignity, it is the sovereign act of God, and the accompanying symbolical act was the filling of the hand of the person so appointed with the sign which marked his office. Hence the verb means in this usage to invest with an office, to communicate a dignity. It is needless to say that no man can do this for himself. It must be the act of God.
When the word is used of what man can do, it is followed by the preposition, which means to or for, as in (2 Chronicles 29:31
Then Hezekiah answered and said, Now ye have consecrated yourselves unto the LORD, come near and bring sacrifices and thank offerings into the house of the LORD. And the congregation brought in sacrifices and thank offerings; and as many as were of a free heart burnt offerings.). To fill the hand for one, i.e., to bring offerings to God, which is quite a different thing altogether. There is no idea here of what is called today consecration. It is a simple offering of gifts, which the offer brings in his hands.Only God Himself can invest a man with the privilege of any office in His service. No man take this honor unto himself, but he that is called of God, (Hebrews 5:4
And no man taketh this honour unto himself, but he that is called of God, as was Aaron.). Hence the Lord Jesus is specially called the Anointed, which is in the Hebrew “Messiah,” and in the Greek, “Christos,” and in the English, “Christ.” Those who vainly talk of consecrating themselves should read (2 Chronicles 13:9 Have ye not cast out the priests of the LORD, the sons of Aaron, and the Levites, and have made you priests after the manner of the nations of other lands? so that whosoever cometh to consecrate himself with a young bullock and seven rams, the same may be a priest of them that are no gods.), and (John 3:34 For he whom God hath sent speaketh the words of God: for God giveth not the Spirit by measure unto him.).As the consecration of the priest under the Old Covenant in (Exodus 29:20
Then shalt thou kill the ram, and take of his blood, and put it upon the tip of the right ear of Aaron, and upon the tip of the right ear of his sons, and upon the thumb of their right hand, and upon the great toe of their right foot, and sprinkle the blood upon the altar round about.). The number three and five accompany the act of Divine grace. Three acts, each associated with five. The blood, and afterwards the holy oil upon it, was put. (1). On the tip of the right ear, signifying that the Holy Spirit would cause him to hear the Word of God, and separating his five senses for God. (2). On the thumb of his right hand, one of the five digits, signifying that he was to do and act for God. (3). On the great toe of his right foot, again five, signifying that his personal walk was to be conformed to God`s Word.Thus it is now that the Holy Spirit consecrates all who are priest unto God. It is a Divine act, and act of sovereign grace. A grand reality when done for the sinner by God the Holy Spirit, but a worthless vanity when presumptuously done by a mortal man.
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