The Overlaying of the Boards with Gold

Ver. 29. And thou shalt overlay the boards with gold It is remarkable that the direction for overlaying the boards does not occur in the portion which treats of the boards themselves (verses 15 to 25). but here in connection with the bars; and, doubtless; there is significance in this. The boards were of shittim wood, for they represent believers, in themselves the partakers of human nature, in its weakness and frailty. But the boards are overlaid with gold; signifying that, as one with Jesus, believers are also partakers of the Divine nature. (2 Peter 1:4.)
As associated together in the confession of the name of Christ, they are not regarded as they are in themselves, but as seen or God in Christ Jesus, —the sons and daughters of the Lord God Almighty.
As we are by the grace of God—as seen by Him in the—Son of his love—such we ought to be practically and experimentally at all times, but especially when gathered in the name of Jesus, under the searching eye of him with whom we have to do, that, as builded together for an habitation of God through the Spirit, there may be nothing to grieve or quench that Holy Spirit of our God, or to hinder the full flow of blessing from our God and Father.
Oh for grace ever to remember this! As the shittim wood in the tabernacle was nowhere to be seen, so the flesh, or that which is merely natural, should never be manifest in the assembly of God’s saints. But putting off the old man, and Putting on the new, as the elect of God holy and beloved, the Divine nature should appear, and Divine charity be ever in full exercise: Thus it would come to pass that the distinctions and graduations which exist in the arrangements of Divine providence, and which cannot be overlooked with impunity in the outward walks of life, would disappear when believers were assembled together in the Church; and each and all, as children. of God, members of Christ, dwelt in by the Spirit, partakers of the Same Divine arid eternal life, loved and loving with the same Divine charity, they would hold the faith of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Lord of glory, without respect of persons. (James 2:1)
But more than this: “Holiness becomes God’s house.” The infirmities of the flesh may be confessed in the closet, but ought never to mar the worship of the assembled saints: Collective failure may be acknowledged in the prayer meeting; but when met in the Church, as, for example, around the table of the Lord, we should meet and worship as the sods of God, “a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar People, showing forth the praises of him who bath called us out of darkness into his marvelous light.” (1 Peter 2:9.)
Yet, while the gold glittered on the surface of the boards, the shittim wood, still existed Within. So it becomes us ever to remember that, notwithstanding all that Divine grace has made us; in ourselves we are nothing at all. “The true circumcision, worshipping God in the Spirit, rejoicing in Christ Jesus, but having no confidence of the flesh.” This, however; is no excuse for sin or failure; for the grace of Christ is sufficient for us, and his strength is made perfect in weakness.
But why is this direction to overlay the boards with gold reserved for insertion here, in the midst of the instructions respecting the bars?
Does it not intimate a connection between the exercising of the gifts given, and the fuller participation and manifestation of the Divine nature?
Thus holding the Head, all the Body, by joints and bands, having nourishment ministered and knit together, increaseth with the increase of God.
And while God, “according to his Divine power, has given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness, whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises, that by these we might be partakers of the Divine nature,”—is it not through the exercise of the gifts of the Spirit, in the ministry of the Word, that very especially, both individually and collectively, these great and precious promises are realized, and that this growth in grace is experienced? (2 Peter 1:3,4.)