The Universalist. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1884-1897, 1888-07-21
,tlu 90. 1883.
Exodus X. ZIG. ]
THE HOUSE OF GOD.


An account of the construction of the sacred
tent and its furniture is contained in chapters
xxxvi.-xxxx. The first anniversary OF the
departure of the Israelites from Egypt xii.
q. about April 1, 1890 B. O., was the day ap-
pointed for this important event in the relig-
ious history of the People of GoD. The work
of construction had occupied perhaps less
than six months. The arrival at Sinai was
in the third month xix. u, and it was prob
ably more than three months after before the
work of the Tabernacle was begun; as, be-
sides the time previously occupied In pro-
claiming the Commandments, ratifying the
Covenant, and obtaining the contributed
materials, Moses had spent two periods of
forty days each on the Sacred Mount.
The renewed loyalty and fidelity of the peo-
ple were manifested in their zeal display ed
in building the sanctuary. The Tabernacle
was dwelling place of COP; as place of
worship it was Tent of Meeting. In both
respects of its object and use it was the
House of COP, and superseded the simple
altar called Bethel House of GoDl, which
was the sanctuary of the Patriarchs. 1t was
superseded by the Temple, and Christianity
with its churches has taken the place of this
in the religious education of mankind.
THE STRUCTURE AND ITS FURNITURE.
The Tent of Meeting was rectangular
tent, forty-five by fifteen feet (reckoning
cubit to be eighteen inches,, constructed OF
boards fifteen feet high, and covered with
cloth and leather, and surrounded by an I'M
covered court one hundred and fifty feet
long by fifty wide, formed by curtained en-
closure seven and half feet high. 1t was
richly ornamented with gold and silver plat
ings, and bright colored embroidered draper
les. 1t is estimated to have cost more than
million dollars. The Tabernacle was di-
vided into two apartments by vail or
screen. of costly linen drapery; one thirty
feet by fifteen feet, called the Holy Place;
the other fifteen feet square, called the Holy
of Holes, or Hottest Place, where the pres
ence of COP was conceived to be. In this
place only the high priest was permitted to
enter once a year (see Xxx. 10; Leviticus XVI.
p. Into the Holy Place the priests entered
daily in the performance of their official
duty Hebrews tx. 6, y. The people entered
only the court of the Tent of Meeting. The
entrance was from the east by curtained or
screened doors. When the Israelites were
on the march the Tabernacle was taken
down and carried by the priests and Levites,
the tribes to which the family of Aaron be-
longed, aud was set up in the center of the
camp when they encamped. When Ca
naan was finally occupied, it was set up at
Shiloh, and after varied fortunes was rivaled
by a new one erected by King David in Jeru-
salem, and both were finally superseded by
the temple of Solomon on Mount Zion, B. @.
1908, more than four centuries after the
sanctuary was set up by Moses at Mount
Sinai.
l. THE ARK.-In the Holy of Holes was
placed chest made of wood, plated inside
and out with pure gold, called the Ark of the
Testimony, or Ark of the Covenant, 80 called
because it contained the tablets of the Com
mandments, which were the basis of Cons
covenant with Israel. Between two golden
images, called cherubim, on the bright-pol-
ished lid of the sacred chest, the invisible
presence of COP was conceived to be. 1t
was the symbol of Cons presence in the
sanctuary, and of his throne "a the King of
Israel. This symbol of the Presence was an
object lesson of the divine omnipresence.
We know that GoD is everywhere only when
we recognize that he is somewhere. In the
journey of the Israelites to Canaan, the Ark,
as the symbol of COPS presence, was car
ried by the priest in advance of the march
ing host. 1t WAS once captured by the Phil
istines, but soon returned Il Samuel iv. B
III. 1t was afterwards located in the new
tabernacle at Jerusalem, from which it was
transferred to the Temple, and was finally
carried away with the spoils of war to Baby
lon, B. G. 5S8, having been preserved nearly
thousand years.
2. THE TABLE OF SHEW -BREAD.-On
the north side of the main division of the
Tabernacle, or Holy Place, there was placed
table plated with gold, upon which was
kept twelve fresh loaves, with reference,
probably, to the twelve tribes, eaten every
Sabbath by the priest, and replaced. 1t is
called shew bread, which is explained to
mean presence bread. Why 80 called is not
quite clear, unless it was because it was kept
before the sacred Presence. Neither is its
symbolic meaning well defined. 1t may
have represented the dependence of the Is
raelites upon COP for their snstenance, and
it may have in some way symbolized spirit
ual food, of which COP is the source, the
fact of which it was to be the mission of Is
rael to teach mankind. The golden table
probably met the fate of all the valuable
furniture of the Temple, to which it was
probably transferred, and was carried away
by the army of Nebuchadnezzar. Whether
it was restored to the second Temple or not,
after the captivity, we are not informed. We
are informed by Josephus that after its
spoilation by Antiochus, new one was made
at great expense by Ptolemy. One was CAR
ried away by the Romans at the final de-
struotion of the Temple, A. D. 70, a picture
of which was inscribed on the Arch of Titus
at Rome.
3. THE CAEDLESTICK. - Opposite the
golden table, on the south side of the Taber-
nacle, was placed an deliberately wrought
golden candelabrum, or lamp-stand, upon
the seven branches of which were seven
lamps, which were employed to illuminate
the sacred edifce. The seven lamps may
represent the days of the week. with special
reference to the Sabbath, and Israel as the
Light of tbs Nations may be symbOlized.
Light is the appropriate symbol of intelli-
gence, and especially of religious truth and
experience. "God is light" JESUS called
himself the LIGHT of the World He said the