The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1888-07-19
SUNDAY MEDITATION.
Practical Duties Taught By Study of the Inter-
national Sunday -Seh0Ol Lesson Appointed for
July %. Ex., 40: 1-t6.

Zone reading these notes should first carefully
study the paragraph from the Holy Scriptures as
indicated above.i
SUBJECT: Objections AS TO THE ERECTION
OF THE TABERNACLE AND THE ARRANGE
MENT OF ITS FURNISHINGS AND SUR
ROUNDINGs
1. Time and Place
The children of Israel left Egypt on the 14th
day of Abb. Eek, 12:6 Is, %; 13:4.) Zif
was the second month of the Jewish year, and
Swan was the third month. In Swan they
reached Mt. Sinai. Let us suppose it was Swan
18th. Then it took them two months to reach
their first stopping place for any considerable
length of time They went from Mt Sinai on
the Goth day of the month Zf. Hence, they
remained at alt. Sinai II months and six days.
During this time Moses was absent in the
mountain for 80 days. ga: 10; 81: 25.( Then
take out intervals between arrival and first as
cent, between the two accents, and after both
ascents, till work actually began We may sup
pose the time for constructing the tabernacle
and all other structures aud utensils needed in
worship was over six months. Moses received
directions as to putting the parts of the taber-
nacle together, furnishings, etc, some time be-
fore the month Abb of the year next after the
exodus, probably in the latter part Of the
last month of the Jewish year, to wit, the
month Adar. The structure was to be erected
on the first day of the month Abb, just Ii days
short of one year after the exodus, which took
place Abb 18th
The tabernacle could have been erected at
any time but God studies fitness as to places
and dates. The first day of Abb was the Jew
ish sacred New Year The structure was raised
in single day. Everything had been done
by rule, and hence all parts fitted.
The tabernacle was manufactured and set up
at the foot of Mt Sinai.
q The Occasion.
People until 2514 A. NJ. had worshiped ont of
doors or in their homes Affairs had been
erected on hillsides or along water-courses or
on elevated points. There is an inspiration
about the worship of the masses It is we'll to
have place where God and men can meet.
Such Interviews should be somewhat protract-
ed aud not interrupted by storm or heat or cold.
Such places should be held in so much rever-
ence as to preclude noise and lead to devotion.
The tabernacle was the forerunner of the
temple, of synogogs, aud later of Christian
churches. To effect Gods purpose Of arrang-
ing for the convenience of congregations unit
ing IN divine worship he had tabernacle
built. To secure profound respect for the
structure he demanded it to be composed of
the very choicest materials, gold, silver,
precious stones, fine twined. linen, royal blue,
purple aud scarlet. To interest the people in
the work he required that each should make
sacrifice of desirable POSSESSIONS time, labor,
ease. There is something exceedingly admira-
| bic about the prompt, cheerful, selfsacriicing
| spirit of the masses. The last six months had
| been busy ones to the travellers on way to the
| Promised Land. All had been employed in
| work for the tabernacle. Saw, hammer, en-
| broidery needle, spinning and weaving ma
| chimes, engravers tools, and a thousand other
/ utensils, had kept up din in the valleys about
| Sinai Mountain. Everything is ready. So
| scientifically have all things been executed
that when brought together they will exactly
match. The time has come for erection and
| arrangement.
8. The Order.
| The command to put all of the parts of the
| tabernacle together and to locate all the pieces
| of furniture and utensils was issued to Moses
/ by Jehovah, and through Moses to the people.
/ Though the second person is used, thou"
| throughout the account, we are to understand
that Moses was simply the leader and was to
! be aided by all his associates. This order to
| erect was probably separate order from that
| to build, and hence was not uttered long before
the tabernacle was reared. As the people were
indebted to God for plans. 80 they looked to
| him for dictation as to the work, and would
not erect the building till they received init
nations as to the Divine viii with reference to
time and place.
l. The Parts.
1. The tabernacle proper This was built Of
| boards overlaid with gold was 81 feet long and
| 10 wide rooted with four coverings of vari-
ously wrought pliable materials; divided into
| two parts, the Holy Place and the Most Holy
| Place, between which hung vail. In the
| Holy of HOLES was the ark, with mercy seat
inclosing the two tables of Testimony, viz, the
| 10 Commandments. In the Holy Place were
the bread table on the north side, the candle
stick on the south side and the incense table
at the west end. Laymen could not enter the
tabernacle.
2. The court. That inclosed the tabernacle
100 r.oN a n
east; made of pillars, from which, on rods, were
suspended flexible hangings Between the
gate and that of the tabernacle were the brass
altar and the laver, the LAYER being between
the tabernacle door and the altar. The court
was for the people in general.
g. Articles used. 1. Oil. This was pure olive
OIL and was employed for giving light and fol
amounting. For the first purpose it was used
unmixed, save as some jointly ignited perfume
made the illumination more grateful. Fol
amounting it entered largely in an ointment
very fragrant, and never used for a secular pur
pose. 2. Water. This was of special service
at the laver. 3. Raiment. The priests were
to be peculiarly appareled All items of THEN
official clothing are prescribed. 4. Sweet In
cense. This was called for in particular for the
altar of incense found in the Holy Place. 5
Bread. This was called shewbread, because pu
in the Holy Place in presence or sight 0
Jehovah.
D. Explanations
| "set in order" (V. d. See Lev, 24: 5-9
"The laver.p (V.7.) The women parted will
their looking glasses not from glass bu
from polished metal-to furnish material for tn
casting of the laver. In amounting things tn
oil was sprinkled in amounting persons it wa
{ poured from the vial upon the head of each.
AS to order for materials, see 25:1 10. As t
materials being bought, see 80: 1923 and SO: 3
T. As to superintendent of the work, Sc
I:1-6; 80: 3O-35; S.: /, 2; 37:1; 50: 21-2S
AS to the execution of the order, see chapter
SO, 81, 80 and 80: 1872.
, Instead of congregation" (V. q it woul,
be better to say of meeting. The tabernacle wa
not so much place in which the people coult
congregate, but rather the spot where God me
his people.
By sanctifying and hallowing persons ant
| things we mean the setting them apart 70
/ purely religious uses. The method was anoint
ing. 1t would be we'll to read Lev, 8, for som
thoughts in special as to the particulars in con
, secrating ministers to their holy office.
Symbols. The tabernacle prefigured tn
4 church edifce. The brass altar for sacrifc
f points to the Blood of Christ shed on Calvary
The bread on the table in the Holy Place set
one into meditation on the Holy Communion
The candestick reminds us of Christ the Light
Incense suggests prayer; water, recognition
= oil, the work of the Holy Spirit; the priest!
= the Christian clergy. The priestly attire init