The first work they set about was the framing of the house, which must
be done before the furniture of it was prepared. This house was not
made of timber or stone, but of curtains curiously embroidered and
coupled together. This served to typify the state of the church in this
world, the palace of God's kingdom among men. 1. Though it is upon the
earth, yet its foundation is not in the earth, as that of a house is;
no, Christ's kingdom is not of this world, nor founded in it. 2. It is
mean and mutable, and in a militant state; shepherds dwelt in tents,
and God is the Shepherd of Israel; soldiers dwelt in tents, and the
Lord is a man of war, and his church marches through an enemy's
country, and must fight its way. The kings of the earth enclose
themselves in cedar (Jer. xxii. 15), but the ark of God was lodged in
curtains only. 3. Yet there is a beauty in holiness; the curtains were
embroidered, so is the church adorned with the gifts and graces of the
Spirit, that raiment of needle-work, Ps. xlv. 14. 4. The several
societies of believers are united in one, and, as here, all become one
tabernacle; for there is one Lord, one faith, and one baptism.