The Middleburgh post. [volume] (Middleburgh, Snyder Co., Pa.) 1883-1916, 1888-07-26
SUNDAY SCHOOL.
LESSON FOR SABBATH, JULY 90.
"Thc Tabernacle" Exodus xl, 10
Golden Text, xxi 3.

often we read this sentence and how little we
are apt to think Of the meaning OF IL or of
the Thus saith the Lord" of the prophets.
or the II 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.
.. ION the first day of the first month"
It was the second year Verse Ia and just n
year since tho great passover night on which
they left the land OF bondage xiii, 2; xiii, ~.
That month was ever to be n memorable
month TO them because of the great deliver
ance Although 1t was the seventh month OF
their civil year, they were henceforth to
count IL the first month, for IL was the first
month of the first year OF their history as n
redeemed people. Every Christian has two
birthdays, the day OF his birth as n child of
God, when his life really began, for up to
that time he had no real life. His first or
natural birthday he can IT, John ", ~ surely
tell but the exact time OF his new birth,
although he may not know, God knows.
"The tabernacle OF the tent of meeting
God has delivered the nation from the bond
age OF Egypt and brought them unto Him
self that they might be unto Him peculiar
treasure above all people, kingdom of
priests, n holy nation xix, ,, ~, to make him
n name III sam. vii, - and now He will
dwell among them by visible presence In this
tabernacle specially prepared for Him XIV,
~. The tabernacle after some 800 years gave
place to the Temple OF Solomon, which. with
some rebuilding, continued until Christ
came, the true tabernacle Heb. viii, p; but
He, being rejected 10y the nation rejected
them a'so for u time and their temple and
city and land became n ruin and dcsolate
because OF their rejection OF their King.
Whether we study the tabernacle or the tenn
pie, the past or future history OF Israel, or
the history of the present gathering out from
the nations OF people for His name, or the
personal dealings Of God with AN individual,
We find that Jesus, the Christ, the Son of
Man, the Son Of God, is always IN the midst,
the first aud the last. the foundation and the
head corner stone, the center and circumfer-
ence OF all the work of redemption from be-
ginning to end
g. "rhe ark OF the testimony. THE ark, table
and altar OF incense were each made Of acacia
wood covered with gold, reminding us OF the
incorruptiblc humanity and divinity OF
Christ. The ark was the only vessel in the
Holy Of Holes, n room ten cubits long and
wide and high, three sides Of which were
boards covered with gold; the fourth was the
veil, type OF the body Of Christ Heb. K 10;
the ceiling was the beautiful curtains, and
the floor was the earth. Tho cover of the
ark, called the mercy seat or propitatory
Heb. tx, ,, RN., margu), was OF pure gold,
and out OF it was beaten at each end
n cherub overshadowlng IT. over the
mercy seat, between the cherubim, in this
ftblH VI llOhtN, was lut paw Va Aut
presence of God (EN. XIV, l7-22l The ark
was made TO contain tho tables of testimony,
and there they were kept. The people could
not keep that holy law, but Christ, the truo
ark. kept it perfectly, and OF Him 1t is writ.
ten; "A body has Thou prepared for me-
God; yea, Thy law is within my heart Ps.
ri, 81 For us lie kept the law, and then
died to atone for our sins: by His precious
blood propitiating or eifectunlly covering all
our traDsgressions; becoming 'the end of the
law for Righteousness 10 every one that be
lievethn Rom. X, A., in order that as His ro.
deemed osas we may delight TO keep His
commandments
4. 1.-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, 5-g. The table and
the bread and the incense all speak OF Him.
lie is the bread OF life, the true bread
which came down from Heaven; there was
no leaven in Him, and all His thoughts,
words and deeds were as sweet incense to
God. He is the living word, and the Scrip
lures which are the written word become
living word to all who by the spirit see Him
and eat Him as their bread OF life. He him
self said ale that eateth Me, even he shall
live by Me- John vi, 30.
THE candlestick' was made OF n talent Of
pure gold XIV, 80, and would therefore be
worth about $2jOOO. IL was more like
lampstand than what we understand by n
candlestick. Each Of its seven branches held
n lamp which every day had to be trimmed
and filled with oil So aS TO burn continually
before tho Lord. Christ is the light of tho
world, the true light and He is pleased TO
say to uS:"N are the light of the world.n As
bread corn was crushed, and gold beaten,
and incense burned, so Christ was made u
perfect Saviour, our bread and light ny His
sulrerings for us and only as We are willing
TO be bruised aud suffer with Him can We bc
=. - a
without oil, and that too was obtained 10y
beating. l.ev xiv, l-ll Every word and
work Of Christ was by the SPIRIT and only
by the same Spirit can we do anything ac-
ceptahe.
B. "The altar of incense" On this tho
priest was to burn incense every morning
and evening while he trimmed the lamps
Xxx, Z, ~, teaching Ms that although moth
ing that we do can be acceptable in itself
because of our snfuness, yet whatever Is
heartily done in His name with q sincere de-
sire for His glory is made acceptable by tho
incense of His merits, which is ever sweet
perfume to God. This should greatly encour-
age us in all our work for God not to look at
our imperfect service but at Him who is all
our righteousness and perfection.
These three vessels, the table, the candle
stick and the altar OF incense, were III the
holy place or first room into which the high
priest went every day, but into tho holy of
holies he went only once year,
u, Z. "The altar Of burnt Offering and tho
layer" 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 IL speaks
to MS of the Goldman, our sacrifice for sin.
and tells us that II we are UNIV Wiling to ac-
cept the blood OF the Lamb as our ransom,
there is no possibility Of our coming to God.
The laver was made out OF the braZen mir
rors OF the women txxNviii., 81, and contained
water with which the Priests washed their
hands and feet, reminding us that he that Is
washed lin the blood needeth not, save 10
wash his feet with the water OF the world
but is clean every whit John xiii, l0; and
that it is better to look into the perfect law
OF liberty and continue therein than to look
at ones self in the glass James l., 23-25.l
g. "The court and gate" Curtains OF fine
linen hanging upon sixty wooden pillars
standing in brass sockets. and kept upright
by cords fastened 10 brass tent pins, formed
a fence five cubits high around the court
which was 100 cublts long by 80 broad
(xxvii, 16-lS. The linen fence, the court
gate, the pillars with their brass sockets,
silver chapters and books, the cords and
pins, all speak to us OF the Righteousness,
atonement and power of our Lord Jesus, and
how we may become partakers thereof.
Gil. ''The tabernacle and all its vessels
anointed." A full description OF the holy
anointment oil is found in xxx, 22-33, and
speaks to US OF the varied graces OF the Holy
| Spirit found in divine fullness in Christ
| fully confirming that every vessel and every
yhit Of ha IN har acl Ia n ttarefh His piory