The Universalist. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1884-1897, 1888-07-14
THIRD QUARTER.
STUDIES In THE OLD TESTAMENT,
July 22, 1888.
BY REV. ROBERT T. POLK.
Exodus xxxv. 20-29. ]
THE TABERNACLE.

A sANCTUARY.-Durin the forty days
when Moses was on Mount Sinai, commun-
ing with GoD and writing the command
ments on the stone tablets for permanent
preservation as the fundamental law of the
kingdom of Israel, he was divinely moved
to construct tabernacle or tent which
should represent the abode of COP, or pal
ace of their King, with his people, the form,
manner of construction and use of which
were revealed to him (xxv-xxxi.) But the
idolatry of the people delayed its construc-
ton. Moses appears to have removed his
own tent away from, and in full view OF, the
camp, and employedit as substitute (xxxiii.
n. But when he had obtained the promise
of Cons presence with repentant Israel, de-
scribed in the last Lesson, he proceeds to
enlist the people in the construction OF a
sanctuary which should bring them to rec
ognition of his perpetual presence with
them as their COP and King. They had
recognized his wonderful providence which
had attended them in their deliverance from
Egyptian bondage and their journey through
the sea and Wilderness he was surely in the
awful mountain from which they had received
them in their journey to the promised land;
and it was fitting that he, their Cooking,
should have dwelling place with his people,
where his presence might be recognized and
acknowledged. Having spent another forty
days in communing with GoD on the sacred
mount, and having brought again other tab
lets upon which were engraved the COM
mandments, he assembled the represent
atives of Israel and announced to them the
commands of COP, that they make him
sanctuary that he might dwell among them,
the pattern of which, with all its appoint
ments and uses, had been previously re-
vealed to him txxxiv-xxxv. 19). Always the
true sanctuary of COP must be fashioned by
men after Divine pattern. The soul is the
real temple of GoD. JESUS is the ideal soul
in whom COP dwelt to manifest his presence
with mankind.
THE TENT OF MEETING.-The sanctu-
airy for which Moses asked the voluntary
contributions of the people was to be tent
of meeting, where the people might stand
before Con- Chat is the symbol of his
presence) and worship him. In all respects
its construction and use was to be an i'm
pressive symbol of GoD's relation to Israel,
his chosen nation, and his purpose with it
in the religious education of mankind. The
tabernacle, with its ceremonies of worship,
was intended to promote the education Of
Israel in the recognition of the Divine omni-
presence and administration in the govern
ment of the world. The realization of its
symbolic teaching was in the vision of the
Revelator: "Behold the tabernacle of GoD is
with men, and he shall dwell with them and
they shall be his peoples, and GoD Himself
shall be with them, their GoD. Revelations
xxi 81. Gop is with His children always and
ever, where, who may commune with him
"worship him in spirit and in truth" - in
every place and at all times. We have our
special places and times of worship, that we
may specially recognize and experience the
Divine presence aud fellowship. By the rec
ognition and experience of the Divine pres
ence at some time and place, our souls are
brought to realize his presence at all times
and everywhere. What our churches are to
us the tabernacle was to Israel. 1t was the
means GoD employed to teach his chosen
people the fact of his perpetual presence
with them and of his,power to protect them.
Moses called upon the people to make volun-
tary contributions of material and service
for the building and furnishing of the tab
ernacle, to be a place of meeting and sane
tuary of COP. Our Lesson is an account of
their free-will offerings.