patriarchs and prophets-第88章

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Presence；　and　from　between　the　cherubim；　God　made　known　His　will。　Divine
messages　were　sometimes　communicated　to　the　high　priest　by　a　voice　from　the
cloud。　Sometimes　a　light　fell　upon　the　angel　at　the　right；　to　signify
approval　or　acceptance；　or　a　shadow　or　cloud　rested　upon　the　one　at　the　left
to　reveal　disapproval　or　rejection。

The　law　of　God；　enshrined　within　the　ark；　was　the　great　rule　of
righteousness　and　judgment。　That　law　pronounced　death　upon　the　transgressor；
but　above　the　law　was　the　mercy　seat；　upon　which　the　presence　of　God　was
revealed；　and　from　which；　by　virtue　of　the　atonement；　pardon　was　granted　to
the　repentant　sinner。　Thus　in　the　work　of　Christ　for　our　redemption；
symbolized　by　the　sanctuary　service；　〃mercy　and　truth　are　met　together；
righteousness　and　peace　have　kissed　each　other。〃　Psalm　85：10。

No　language　can　describe　the　glory　of　the　scene　presented　within　the
sanctuarythe　gold…plated　walls　reflecting　the　light　from　the　golden
candlestick；　the　brilliant　hues　of　the　richly　embroidered　curtains　with
their　shining　angels；　the　table；　and　the　altar　of　incense；　glittering　with
gold；　beyond　the　second　veil　the　sacred　ark；　with　its　mystic　cherubim；　and
above　it　the　holy　Shekinah；　the　visible　manifestation　of　Jehovah's　presence；
all　but　a　dim　reflection　of　the　glories　of　the　temple　of　God　in　heaven；　the
great　center　of　the　work　for　man's　redemption。

A　period　of　about　half　a　year　was　occupied　in　the　building　of　the
tabernacle。　When　it　was　completed；　Moses　examined　all　the　work　of　the
builders；　comparing　it　with　the　pattern　shown　him　in　the　mount　and　the
directions　he　had　received　from　God。　〃As　the　Lord　had　commanded；　even　so　had
they　done　it：　and　Moses　blessed　them。〃　With　eager　interest　the　multitudes　of
Israel　crowded　around　to　look　upon　the　sacred　structure。　While　they　were
contemplating　the　scene　with　reverent　satisfaction；　the　pillar　of　cloud
floated　over　the　sanctuary　and；　descending；　enveloped　it。　〃And　the　glory　of
the　Lord　filled　the　tabernacle。〃　There　was　a　revealing　of　the　divine
majesty；　and　for　a　time　even　Moses　could

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not　enter。　With　deep　emotion　the　people　beheld　the　token　that　the　work　of
their　hands　was　accepted。　There　were　no　loud　demonstrations　of　rejoicing。　A
solemn　awe　rested　upon　all。　But　the　gladness　of　their　hearts　welled　up　in
tears　of　joy；　and　they　murmured　low；　earnest　words　of　gratitude　that　God　had
condescended　to　abide　with　them。

By　divine　direction　the　tribe　of　Levi　was　set　apart　for　the　service　of　the
sanctuary。　In　the　earliest　times　every　man　was　the　priest　of　his　own
household。　In　the　days　of　Abraham　the　priesthood　was　regarded　as　the
birthright　of　the　eldest　son。　Now；　instead　of　the　first…born　of　all　Israel；
the　Lord　accepted　the　tribe　of　Levi　for　the　work　of　the　sanctuary。　By　this
signal　honor　He　manifested　His　approval　of　their　fidelity；　both　in　adhering
to　His　service　and　in　executing　His　judgments　when　Israel　apostatized　in　the
worship　of　the　golden　calf。　The　priesthood；　however；　was　restricted　to　the
family　of　Aaron。　Aaron　and　his　sons　alone　were　permitted　to　minister　before
the　Lord；　the　rest　of　the　tribe　were　entrusted　with　the　charge　of　the
tabernacle　and　its　furniture；　and　they　were　to　attend　upon　the　priests　in
their　ministration；　but　they　were　not　to　sacrifice；　to　burn　incense；　or　to
see　the　holy　things　till　they　were　covered。

In　accordance　with　their　office；　a　special　dress　was　appointed　for　the
priests。　〃Thou　shalt　make　holy　garments　for　Aaron　thy　brother；　for　glory　and
for　beauty；〃　was　the　divine　direction　to　Moses。　The　robe　of　the　common
priest　was　of　white　linen；　and　woven　in　one　piece。　It　extended　nearly　to　the
feet　and　was　confined　about　the　waist　by　a　white　linen　girdle　embroidered　in
blue；　purple；　and　red。　A　linen　turban；　or　miter；　completed　his　outer
costume。　Moses　at　the　burning　bush　was　directed　to　put　off　his　sandals；　for
the　ground　whereon　he　stood　was　holy。　So　the　priests　were　not　to　enter　the
sanctuary　with　shoes　upon　their　feet。　Particles　of　dust　cleaving　to　them
would　desecrate　the　holy　place。　They　were　to　leave　their　shoes　in　the　court
before　entering　the　sanctuary；　and　also　to　wash　both　their　hands　and　their
feet　before　ministering　in　the　tabernacle　or　at　the　altar　of　burnt　offering。
Thus　was　constantly　taught　the　lesson　that　all　defilement　must　be　put　away
from　those　who　would　approach　into　the　presence　of　God。

The　garments　of　the　high　priest　were　of　costly　material　and　beautiful
workmanship；　befitting　his　exalted　station。　In　addition

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to　the　linen　dress　of　the　common　priest；　he　wore　a　robe　of　blue；　also　woven
in　one　piece。　Around　the　skirt　it　was　ornamented　with　golden　bells；　and
pomegranates　of　blue；　purple；　and　scarlet。　Outside　of　this　was　the　ephod；　a
shorter　garment　of　gold；　blue；　purple；　scarlet；　and　white。　It　was　confined
by　a　girdle　of　the　same　colors；　beautifully　wrought。　The　ephod　was
sleeveless；　and　on　its　gold…embroidered　shoulder　pieces　were　set　two　onyx
stones；　bearing　the　names　of　the　twelve　tribes　of　Israel。

Over　the　ephod　was　the　breastplate；　the　most　sacred　of　the　priestly
vestments。　This　was　of　the　same　material　as　the　ephod。　It　was　in　the　form　of
a　square；　measuring　a　span；　and　was　suspended　from　the　shoulders　by　a　cord
of　blue　from　golden　rings。　The　border　was　formed　of　a　variety　of　precious
stones；　the　same　that　form　the　twelve　foundations　of　the　City　of　God。　Within
the　border　were　twelve　stones　set　in　gold；　arranged　in　rows　of　four；　and；
like　those　in　the　shoulder　pieces；　engraved　with　the　names　of　the　tribes。
The　Lord's　direction　was；　〃Aaron　shall　bear　the　names　of　the　children　of
Israel　in　the　breastplate　of　judgment　upon　his　heart；　when　he　goeth　in　unto
the　holy　place；　for　a　memorial　before　the　Lord　continually。〃　Exodus　28：29。
So　Christ；　the　great　High　Priest；　pleading　His　blood　before　the　Father　in
the　sinner's　behalf；　bears　upon　His　heart　the　name　of　every　repentant；
believing　soul。　Says　the　psalmist；　〃I　am　poor　and　needy；　yet　the　Lord
thinketh　upon　me。〃　Psalm　40：17。

At　the　right　and　left　of　the　breastplate　were　two　large　stones　of　great
brilliancy。　These　were　known　as　the　Urim　and　Thummim。　By　them　the　will　of
God　was　made　known　through　the　high　priest。　When　questions　were　brought　for
decision　before　the　Lord；　a　halo　of　light　encircling　the　precious　stone　at
the　right　was　a　token　of　the　divine　consent　or　approval；　while　a　cloud
shadowing　the　stone　at　the　left　was　an　evidence　of　denial　or　disapprobation。

The　miter　of　the　high　priest　consisted　of　the　white　linen　turban；　having
attached　to　it　by　a　lace　of　blue；　a　gold　plate　bearing　the　inscription；
〃Holiness　to　Jehovah。〃　Everything　connected　with　the　apparel　and　deportment
of　the　priests　was　to　be　such　as　to　impress　the　beholder　with　a　sense　of　the
holiness　of　God；　the　sacredness　of　His　worship；　and　the　purity　required　of
those　who　came　into　His　presence。

Not　only　the　sanctuary　itself；　but　the　ministration　of　the

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priests；　was　to　〃serve　unto　the　example　and　shadow　of　heavenly　things。〃
Hebrews　8：5。　Thus　it　was　of　great　importance；　and　the　Lord；　through　Moses；
gave　the　most　definite　and　explicit　instruction　concerning　every　point　of
this　typical　service。　The　ministration　of　the　sanctuary　consisted　of　two
divisions；　a　daily　and　a　yearly　service。　The　daily　service　was　performed　at
the　altar　of　burnt　offering　in　the　court　of　the　tabernacle　and　in　the　holy
place；　while　the　yearly　service　was　in　the　most　holy。

No　mortal　eye　but　that　of　the　high　priest　was　to　look　upon　the　inner
apartment　of　the　sanctuary。　Only　once　a　year　could　the　priest　enter　there；
and　that　after　the　most　careful　and　solemn　preparation。　With　trembling　he
went　in　before　God；　and　the　people　in　reverent　silence　awaited　his　return；
their　hearts　uplifted　in　earnest　prayer　for　the　divine　blessing。　Before　the
mercy　seat　the　high　priest　made　the　atonement　for　Israel；　and　in　the　cloud
of　glory；　God　met　with　him。　His　stay　here　beyond　the　accustomed　time　filled
them　with　fear；　lest　because　of　their　sins　or　his　own　he　had　been　slain　by
the　glory　of　the　Lord。

The　daily　service　consisted　of　the　morning　and　ev