Silver

Abraham's gifts to Rebekah

Gen. 24:53 "And the servant brought forth jewels of silver, and jewels of gold, and raiment, and gave them to Rebekah: he gave also to her brother and to her mother precious things."

In the scriptures the metal, silver, is very closely correlated with the subject of redemption.  Likewise, the metal, gold, is very closely correlated with the subject of kings and kingdoms. 

When Abraham was old, he sent his servant to find a bride for his son, Isaac.  The servant was to go to Abraham's kindred in the land of Mesopotamia to the city of Nahor.  The servant prayed and God providentially intervened to bring Rebekah to the servant to be the bride of Isaac.  At first the servant put a golden earring on the face of Rebekah and then two golden bracelets upon her wrists. 

The servant had revealed to the mother and brother of Rebekah that Abraham his master had sent him to find a bride for Isaac and that God had providentially intervened to bring Rebekah to him.  Now the servant brought forth the gifts stated above to show to the family the riches of his master and the generosity of his master.

There were three types of gifts that the servant gave to Rebekah: jewels of silver, jewels of gold, and raiment. 

Similar to the above, God has given to the people who make up his covenant, militant bride on earth known as His church three great gifts as well.  He has given to us redemption through the blood of Christ (compares to jewels of silver).  He has given to us a kingdom and Christ reigns as the King over the Kingdom and his obedient people serve as his subjects (compares to jewels of gold).  Third, he has given to us the imputed righteousness of Jesus Christ as our raiment: 2 Cor. 5:21 "For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him."  (This compares to the raiment the servant gave unto Rebekah).

Foundation of the Tabernacle

In the scriptures there is a strong correlation between the metal, silver, and the subject, redemption.

In the building of the tabernacle there were boards that formed the framework of the tabernacle. These boards were made of shittim wood and had sockets on which they stood. The sockets formed the foundation of the boards. The sockets were of silver as follows:

1. Ex. 26:19 "And thou shalt make forty sockets of silver under the twenty boards; two sockets under one board for his two tenons, and two sockets under another board for his two tenons."
2. Ex. 26:21 "And their forty sockets of silver; two sockets under one board, and two sockets under another board."
3. Ex. 26:25 "And they shall be eight boards, and their sockets of silver, sixteen sockets; two sockets under one board, and two sockets under another board."
4. Ex. 26:32 "And thou shalt hang it upon four pillars of shittim wood overlaid with gold: their hooks shall be of gold, upon the four sockets of silver."

Just as the boards of the tabernacle were founded upon sockets of silver, the church of the Lord Jesus Christ is founded upon the redemptive work of Jesus Christ:
1. Rom. 3:24 "Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus:"
2. Rom. 8:23 "And not only they, but ourselves also, which have the firstfruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting for the adoption, to wit, the redemption of our body."
3. 1 Cor. 1:30 "But of him are ye in Christ Jesus, who of God is made unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption:"
4. Gal. 3:13 "Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us: for it is written, Cursed is every one that hangeth on a tree:"
5. Gal 4:5 "To redeem them that were under the law, that we might receive the adoption of sons."
6. Eph 1:7 "In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace;"
7. Eph. 1:14 "Which is the earnest of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, unto the praise of his glory."
8. Eph. 4:30 "And grieve not the holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption."
9. Col. "In whom we have redemption through his blood, even the forgiveness of sins:"
10. Titus 2:14 "Who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works."
11. Heb. 9:12 "Neither by the blood of goats and calves, but by his own blood he entered in once into the holy place, having obtained eternal redemption for us."
12. Heb. 9:15 "And for this cause he is the mediator of the new testament, that by means of death, for the redemption of the transgressions that were under the first testament, they which are called might receive the promise of eternal inheritance."
13. 1 Pet. 1:18 "Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, from your vain conversation received by tradition from your fathers;"
14. Rev. 5:9 "And they sung a new song, saying, Thou art worthy to take the book, and to open the seals thereof: for thou wast slain, and hast redeemed us to God by thy blood out of every kindred, and tongue, and people, and nation;"
From the above we gather that redemption by the shed blood of Christ is the foundation of our justification; and is central in our adoption; delivers us from the curse of the law; results in the forgiveness of sins; results in our ultimate resurrection from the dead; and brings us to God. What a foundation this is to stand upon!