The evening times. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1895-1902, 1902-08-02
Facts Of the Lesson.

Central Theme: The rearing up Of
the tent Of worship and the coaSsera-
tion Of Aaron and MS sons TO the
priesthood.
And Jehovah spoke unto Moses. say
ing: 'On the first day OF the first
month shalt thou rear up the tabernacle
Of the tent Of meeting, put therein the
ark Of the testimony. screen the ark
With the veil bring in the table, and
set in order the things that are TO be-
upon it; bring IN the candlestick and
light the lamps thereof. SGT the golden
altar for incense befo-e the ark Of
the testimony; put the curtains Of the
door to the tabernacle; set the altar
Of buTnt-odering before the door. set
the laver between the tent OF meeting
and the altar and pat water therein;
set up the court round about; hang up
the curtains Of the gate Of the court;
take the amounting oil. and auoiBt the
tabernacle all that is therein and hal
low it. Bring aaron and his sons unto
the door Of the tent Of meeting; wash
them with water; put upon Aaron the
holy garments. and thou shalt s-1oint
MIN and sanctify him. that he may
minister unto me in the priests Office"
Pillar of Cloud and Fire.
Let US study the whole scene connect
ed with the tabernacle. More is said
about the tabernacle in the Bible than
about any other one thing. Jehovah
was the architect OF this building II
was a kindergarten school Of religious
instruction. It was miniature portrait
OF the Christian religion. The life OF the
Israelitish people centered around this
building The tribes encamped as they
soJOurned IN the wilderness IL an or
Derby way around It Each tent door
faced toward the tabernacle. There was
q vacant space about mile across in
mediateIy around the tabernacle The
tents Of Moses, Aaron, and the tribe OF
Levi are pitched in this square as q
guard around the tabernacle
AS We gaze upon this scene We notice
that a solitary cloud stands by day and
by night Just above the tabernacle. The
cloud frequently changes its appearance
When the sun beats down upon The en-
campment by day It spreads itself out
like an awning and shades the people
from the scorchiHg rays OF the sun.
When the darkness Of the night falls the
cloud becomes a luminous ball OF flame.
like a great electric light. At times this
mysterious cloud rose from above the
tabernacle and began to move forward
Instantly the millions encamped below
were astfr- the black tents were folded
as II by magic, bands Of men fell into
ranks. and the host followed as It
swung slowly forward over the plain
This supernatural and resplendent cloud
synboIfzed three things: l. The pres
ence OF Jehovah. :. The protection Of
Jehovah. 3. The leadership OF Jehovah
The Tabernacle.
Let US view the tabernacle itself It
was the grandest tent ever known in
hfstory-~The most superb building
of the kind ever reared by man" The
silver and gold contributed by the peo-
pie for its equipment was over $1,000,
COO.
It was fncIosed by a court yard, 175 by
s7Iz feet in size, fenced around BY white
linen curtains. which hung by silver
hooks upon silver rods. which Joined to-
gether thorn wood posts, OveTlaid with
copper and gold. set in the ground with
copper sockets. On the east side q cur
tain Of finely wrought linen. dyed blue,
purple. and scarlet. and embroidered
with fancy needlework, hung upon four
pillars. forming a kind of gate The
fence was III feet high. The taber-
nacIe proper was - feet long and 10
feet wide. separated into two apart
ments by veil OF linen. Of blue. Dur-
pie and scarlet, embroidered with che
rubin. and hung upon pillars Of thorn
wood. overlaid with gold. set in the
ground with sockets OF silver The west
apartment was a cube Is feet as to its
dimensions, and was called the Nest
Holy Place The east apartment was 80
feet long, j. wide, and 10 feet high
Thorn-wood boards, overlaid with gold,
10 feet high. and - inches wide, Join ID
together by lemons and strengthened by
FIVE thorn-wood bars. oveTIaid with gold