The Unity of the Spirit - All The LORD is near Daily Devotionals for 2024

There shall be eight boards, and their bases, of silver, sixteen bases; two bases under one board, and two bases under another board. And thou shalt make bars of acacia-wood; five for the boards of the one side of the tabernacle, and five bars for the boards of the other side of the tabernacle, and five bars for the boards of the side of the tabernacle at the rear westward; and the middle bar in the midst of the boards reaching from one end to the other.
Exodus 26:25-28 JND

The Unity of the Spirit
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.

-- J. Koechlin

We praise Thee for those ties divine that bind Thy saints to Thee,

As members of Thy body one—the Spirit's unity.

-- A. Cutting