The prison mirror. [volume] (Stillwater, Minn.) 1887-1894, 1888-08-01

A Short Sketch of the Divine Covenant
With Israel..ExOdus XIV, 1.l2.

Short Sketch of the Divine Covenant
With Israel..ExOdus XIV, 1.12.
In the course of much desultOry reading,
had placed before me the familiar volume
of JOsephus' History of the Jews. In read
ing it l compared several portions with
the Mosaic books of the Old Testament,
especially that portion referred to in the
title of this sketch. The features of this
passage gave me the means of much pleas
urable, and. trust. profitable meditation.
This, then. is my apology for introducing
this essay to your notice.
The establishment of the covenant be-
tween Jehovah and Israel is the most WON
derful and far-reaching moment in history.
This, in truth. is the birthday of nation
destined to furnish the Messiah. 1t is the
foundation stone OF all future revt latiOn.
Its issues Cypress the Jews to-day; its
tory. not legend. nor the product of a later
national pride. We find the relation be-
tween God and his chosen people was
founded thus: ....
l. Note the preiiminaries OF the covenant.
The chapter commences with the Divine
command to Moses to come up into the
mountain. with Aaron and other representa-
tives of the people. Moses alone entered
the Divine presence, the Others remained
alOOf wOrshiping. After time Moses
comes down from the stern. cloud tipped
summit to the great plain where the camp
was, all eyes watching his descent. They
gather round him, eager. curious. He re-
counts ''all the Judgments" the series of
laws, which had been stored in his memory
by God and is answered by an universal
shout of obedience. too swiftly promised.
would ask those to whom this subject is
OF interest, to glance over the preceding
chapters and SET how much was covered by
''all that the Lord hath spoken" And
while you look. remember that every lip
which united in that lightly made vow,
drew its last breath in the wilderness. be-
cause of disObedience; the burst of homage
thus becomes a sad witness to human weak
ness and folly.
:. Note the rite of ratification of the
covenant
The ceremonial is camplete and signiti-
cant. 1t is not necessary to 90 into it's de-
tails. however impressive and strange, at
least to our eyes. it may be; but rather let
us search for the meaning of those burnt
offerings and that blood thrown on the altar
ana the crOWu. First came TWO KINDS OF
sacrifices. offered not by priests. but by Sc
lected young men. probably one from each
tribe, whose Sacritcial employment seems
to point to the priestly character of the
whole nation. according to Exodus XIX. 8.
The difference between the burnt and
peace offerings was mainly in this: the
former was entirely consumed i'm the flames.
while in the latter. part was eaten by the
Otferer. The one symbOliZed entire cOnse-
| Grafton; the other, communion with God on
| the basis of sacrifice.
The expiation by blood being made, all
hnderanceS to the nations entering into
covenant are removed. Next follows the
formal step of taking on themselves its
obligations The freshly written book"
is produced and read to the silent. listening
people. before the bloody altar. below the
holy mount of Sinai. Again rises up their
shout of assent; again does the multitude
accept the conditions this is the actual con-
tract on their part, and its place in the
ceremonial is significant. 1t follows expi-
alton, without which man cannot approach
God to hold communion with Him, without
the acceptance of which man will not yield
himself in obedience. The ritual of this
first covenant transcends the retributive
compact which it sealed. and sfOretels a
gospel beyond law. that new covenant
which brings better gifts and does not turn