The Pulaski citizen. [volume] (Pulaski, Tenn.) 1866-current, 1888-07-26
AS TO THE TABERNACLE.

AS TO THE TABERNACLE.
LESSON v, THIRD QUARTER, IN
TERNATlONAL SERIES, JULY 20.
Text Of the Lesson. Ex. II. i-I6-Commit
Verses. i-S-Goiden Text. Rev. xxi. s..
Commentary by Rev. d. NJ. stearns.
condensed from Lesson Helper Quarterly, by
permission OF H 8. HOFFMAN, hilRdelphia, pub
isherl
l. "And the Lord spake unto Moses How
often we read this sentence and how little we
are apt to think Of the meaning of it or of
the ''Thus saith the Lord" of the prophets,
or the 81 say unto you" of Jesus Himself,
who was the Lord God of the prophets We
cannot give too much heed to the word of
God, nor heed it too reverently; and unless
we really hear God speaking to us in His
word it will not profit us
2 "On the first day of the first month"
It was the second year tverse N and just
year since the great passover night on which
they left the hand of bondage xii, Q; xiii, a.
That month was ever to be a memorable
month to them because of the great deliver
ance Although it was the seventh month of
their civil year, they were henceforth to
count it the frst month, for it was the first
month of the first year Of their history as a
redeemed people. Every Christian has two
birthdays, the day Of his birth into this
world and the day Of his birth as a child of
God
1.-THE tabernacle Of the tent Of meeting I"
R W God has delivered the nation from
the bondage Of Egypt and brought them
unto Himself that they might be unto Him a
peculiar treasure above all people, king
dom Of priests, holy nation tdx, 5, o., to
make him name QI Sam. vii, 23, and now
He will dwell among them by visible pres
ence in this tabernacle specially prepared for
Him txxv, s., The tabernacle after some
500 years gave place to the Temple Of Solo
mon, which, with some rebuilding, continued
until Christ came the true tabernacle Heb.
viii, q; but He, being rejected by the nation,
rejected them also for a time, and their tenn
pie and city and land became a ruin and des-
olate because Of their rejection of their king.
When He shall return in power and glory to
sit on David's throne and reign over the
house of Jacob forever qLuke i, 50, S3, and
to restore all things of which the prophets
have spoken lActs iii, 1920, than there shall
be a new temple according to Eek. Il to
Xviii. and Jerusalem shall be a city of truth
and peace and Righteousness, and to it the
nations shall go up from year to year to
worship the King, the Lord Of Hosts. tZech-
viii and xiv, 49, Meantime. between the
scattering and regathering Of Israel, God is
adding to the seed of Abraham from all the
nations of the earth and building temple of
living stones Eph. il. 10 %; Pet ii, S; Gal iii,
~. which, according to our golden text and the
chapter in which it Is found, will come down
from God out of heaven, be light to all the
nations of earth, and the dwelling place of
Christ and His saints In connection with this
earth when the kingdom comes
8 "rhe ark of the testimony" The dimen-
sions of all the vessels except the candlestick
and taper are given In previous chapters;
can only briefly refer to the material, situa-
tion and significance of each The ark, table
and altar Of incense were each made of shit
tim or acacia wood, covered With gold, re-
mindipg us of the incorruptfble humanity
and divinity of Christ The ark was the
only vessel In the Holy of Holies a room ten
cubits long and wide and high. three sides of
which were boards covered with gold;
the fourth was the veil, a type of
the body Of Christ Heb. <, 2O; the
ceiling was the beautiful curtains, and
the 6oor was the earth. The cover
of the ark, called the mercy seat or
propitiatory Heh ix, 8, R. ", margin),
was of pure gold, and out Of it was beaten at
each end cherub overshadowing it. Over
the mercy seat, between the cherubim, In this
Holy of Holes, was the place Of the manifest
presence of God Ex XIV, l7-22) The ark
was made to contain the tables of testimony,
and there they were kept The people could
not keep that holy law, but Christ, the true
ark, kept it perfectly, and Of Him it is writ
ten. "A body has thou prepared for me-"
T. '.The table" on which was placed every
week-every Sabbath day-twelve cakes of
bread in two rows, with frankincense upon
each row. lev xiv, Soy The table and the
bread and the incense all speak Of Him
"The candlestick" was made of a talent
of pure gold txxv, so, and would therefore
be worth about $4,000 1t was more like
a lanpstand than what we understand by
candlestick. Each of its seven branches held
a lamp which every day had to be trimmed
and filled with oil SO to burn continually
before the Lord. Christ is the light of the
world, the true light, and He Is pleased to
say to us ''Ye are the light Of the world"
5. 'sThe altar of incense" On this the
priest was to burn incense every morning
and evening while be trimmed the lamps
Xxx, Z, s., teaching US that although moth
ing that we do can be acceptable In it.
self because of our sinfulness, yet whatever
Is heartily done in His name with a sincere
desire for His glory is made acceptable by
the incense of His merits, which Is ever
sweet perfume to God
These three vessels, the table, the candle
stick and the altar of incense, were in the
holy place or first room into which the high
priest went every day, but into the holy of
holies he went only once year.
6.7. 1.-THE altar Of burnt Offering and the
laver." These were the only two vessels In
the outer court of the tabernacle; the first
was made Of wood covered with brass, and
was just inside the gate of the court; it
speaks to US Of the Goldman, our sacrifice
for sin, and tells us that IL we are unwilling
to accept the blood Of the Lamb as our ran
som, there is no possibility Of our coming to
God The laver was made out of the brazen
mirrors OF the women txxxviii, s., and
contained water with which the priests
washed their hands and feet, reminding us
that he that is washed Tin the blood needeth
not, save to wash his feet with the water of
the world. but is clean every whit.
8. 'The court and gate" Curtains Of fine
AAA~A ANhSAlt6 NPStA SiAey "OOuSA PAiisilS
standing in brass sockets, and kept upright
by cords fastened to brass tent pins, formed
fence Eve cubits high around the court,
which was 100 cutits bong bY SO broad
txxvi. 16-iA The linen fsnsa the court
gate, the pillars With their brass sock
cts, silver chapters and books, the cords
and pins all speak to US Of the righteoueness,
atonement and power Of our Lord Jesus, and
how we may become partakers thereof
ell. 1.-The tabernacle and all its vessels
anointed." A full description Of the holy
anointment oil is found in Xxx, @ SO
and speaks to US Of the varied graces of the
Holy Spirit found in divine fullness in Christ
l2-la Aaron and his sons anointed." First
washed. then clothed and then anointed; our
sins forgiven, then clothed with the gar
ments of salvation, and then anointed with
power to minister unto Him. II we realized
our need Of this power and waited upon Him
more earnestly for this amounting we would
be holier and happier people and more used
by Him Whatever we may now enjoy Of
His service is, however, but foretaste Of the
more glorious service when our golden text
shall be fulfilled.
10 : I zI|S! III q 3