Weekly expositor. (Brockway Centre, Mich.) 1882-1894, 1888-07-26
SUNDAY SCHOOL LESSON.
lesson v, july %. 1888.


ing, .. On the first day Of the first menth
shalt thou set up the tabernacle of the tent
OF the congregation. g. And thou shalt put
therein the ark of the testimony, and cover
the ark with the vail. 4. And thou shalt
bring in the table and set in order the
things that are TO be set in order upon it /;
and thou shalt bring in the candlestick and
light the lamps thereof. 5. And thou shalt
set the altar of gold for the incense before
the ark of the testimony, and put the hang
ing OF the door TO the tabernacle. u. And
thou shalt set the altar of the burnt Offering
before the door of the tabernacle of the
tent of the congregation. z. And thou shalt
set the lavcr between the tent of the con-
gregation and the altar, and shalt put water
therein. 3. And thou shalt set up the court
round about, and hang up the hanging at
the court gate. g. And thou shalt take the
amounting oil, and anoint the tabernacle,
and all that is therein, and shalt hallow 1T,
and all the vessels thereof; and IL shall be
holy. 10. And thou shalt anoint the altar
OF the burnt Offering, and all his vessels,
and sanctify the altar; and 1t shall be an
altar most holy. IL. And thou shalt anoint
the LAYER and his foot, and sanctify it. II.
And thou shalt bring Aaron and his sons
unto the door of the tabernacle of the con-
gregation, and wash them with water. l3.
And thou shalt put upon Aaron the holy
garments and anoint him, and sanctify
him; that he may minister unto me in the
priests office IA. And thou shalt bring
his sons, and clothe them with coats. ID.
And thou shalt anoint them, as thou didst
anoint their father, that they may minister
unto me in the priests office; for their
priesthood throughout their generations.
IS Thus did Moses, according TO all that
the Lord commanded him, so did he
GOLDEN TExT.-Behold, the tabernacle
of God is with men, and he will dwell with
them.-Rev. 81 g.
The manufacture ofmaterials and prepar-
alton for the tabernacle were continued
during the autumn and winter and every
thing was ready for the celebration OF the
first anniversary of Israel's independence:
April, 1890 b. G. There had been spinning
and weaving, fashioning and polishing of
woods, melting and moulding of gold and
silver into various utensils, vases, hooks
and rings, according to the pattern Moses
had received. The lesson to-day is the
divinely given pro .ramme of Israels new
years celebration: Cd The setting up of the
tabernacle GU its dedication; (3) installa-
ton Of priests.
THE TABERNACLE.
The tent, constructed after the pattern
showed Moses in the Mount, is the most
fully described of the three tabernacles
one (the dwelling-place of Moses,) was
placed at the edge of the Israelitish encamp-
ment for convenient transaction of public
business (Ex 33:7), The second was the
Sinaitic tabernacle set up the first day of
the first month in the second year after
Israel left Egypt. The third was the Davidic
tabernacle erected in Jerusalem by David
for the reception of the ark.
The second tabernacle, the setting up of
which is referred to in our lesson, is the one
Of greater prominence. Moses was COM
handed to have il constructed by voluntary
and
choicest materials. 1t accompanied Israel
in all their migrations in the wilderness and
in the conquest of Canaan; after which il
remained stationary for long periods in var
ious towns in Palestine. In the days of
Solomon II was at Gideon.
1t exceeded in costliness and splendor the
cathedrals of modern times, compared with
the wealth Of the people of that day The
framework consisted of perpendicular hard
wood boards gilded, fixed into silver sockets
and fastened by means Of gold rings through
which transverse bars were passed. over
the framework four coverings were spread,
the first of fine texture dark blue, purple
and scarlet into which representations OF
cherubim were woven. The second cover
ing, somewhat larger, was of fine wool; the
third was of rcd morocco and the fourth OF
coarser, stronger leather, capable of re-
sisting storm. The inside hanging or dral-
ing, with its rich colors and figures of cheru-
bin, constituted beautiful and costly
tapestry, completely hiding the framework.
The entrance was towards the east and
was closed by a curtain supported by four
wooden columns overlaid with gold. The
interior was divided into two rooms. The
holy of HOLES (abOut 10 feet square) was
separated from the sanctuary (30Xl5) by the
cherubm woven curtain. The veil separat-
ing the holy of holics typifed Christ S
humanity which yelled the Deity.
The tabernacle proper was surround
ed by q court $50 feet long by Is wide
which was enclosed by curtains suspended
upon exqusitely finished columns. In the
holy of HOLES STOOD the ark of the covenant
In the ark besides the tables of the law
was the rod that budded, symbol of life
from the dead: II am the resurrection and
the life.n
In the sanctuary on the right was the Ia
BILE with the twelve loaves of shew bread
TO the left the table upon which rested the
golden candle-stick, and between these was
the altar of incense. In the court under
the open sky was the altar of burnt offer
ings and between the altar and sanctuary
the brazen LAYER.
Everything pertaining TO the tabernacle
pointed TO Christ. II was intended forcibly
10 set forth the plan OF redemption. II
symbolized the abiding presence of GOO
with his people and taught the way of ac
cess for sinful man. II symboliZed the holi
ness of God, by the approach through tho
court to the holy place, thence to the holy
On DOllcS, WHtTt NtIC inc ldDltS VI lllt per
feet law. and the mercy seat of perfect love
The ark of testimony. So called because
the engraved law of God within was ties
timony of his will and OF his perfect char
acter The ark was made Of acacia WOOD
three feet and nine inches by one foot and
three inches, it's height also one foot three
inches. The body, covered outside and in
with gold, was surmounted by top of solid
gold called the mercy seat, and resting up
on this were cherubim, golden figures with
outstretched wings a visible symbol of in
visible Power. Gold bands wrought into
leaves and flowers encircled the ark anC
two rods of acacia wood oyerlaid with
gold passed through rings at the four cor
ners, by which the ark was 10 be lifted
These were never to be removed. The Law
in the ark beneath the mercy seat taught
that the centre of all is righteousness; the
law must be in human hearts and writer
in human minds and eXemplitied in human
lives, if the kingdom of God be realized
over the law was the mercy seat, n symbo
that humanity Notwithstanding q broker
law, was not left without hope. 1t alsC
taught that through the mercy scat one
may reach the perfection of righteousness
The mercy seat leads to right doing enc
protects from condemnation In failure Il