The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1905-05-14
Silver Socket.
(selectcd for rhc rimes-Dispatch.

(Selected for The rimes-Dlspatcl.)
'The Lord spake unto Moses, saying
When thou takest the sum OF the cnil-
drcn OF Israel 49, then shall they slVc
every man q ransom for ms soul fun ,1p
tho Lord. ss The rich shall not give
more and tho poor shall not give less
than half shekcl, when they give an
offering unto the Lord to make atone
ment for your souls. Anu OF inc
talents Of silver were cast the socket on
the sanctuary and tho sockets OIL tno
vail. e s-Ex., xxx:ll, and EN- SxSVl'i:
q.
Redemption is the only ground of &C.
ceptance before God. There was not
lump sum to be paid for the nation nor
twelve amounts for the tribes Each
man must bring his own half sheKei l ot
himself. Rank could not save me princes
nor office spare the elders. Every man
Of Israel must be redeemed, and no man
could pass tho muster roll without MS
half shekcl whatever he might say OF
do or be.
.The rich shall not give more and the
poor shall45n give less man huii
q shekel." Kings on their thrones must
ho redeemed, as we'll as prisoners in
their dungeons. The redemption money
was the same for all; for all nave sillheu
and are in like condemnation.
You must bring to God the redemption
He has upponted-the blood and right
eousnesss Of Christ. Nothing more moth
ing less
When each man paid his huff shekcl
there was great mass of silver. For we
are told the full number r,f men re.
deemed was 6s,55o.
It must have weighed moro than four
tons, and was dedicated to the use. OF. OF tAc
tabernacle. It was made into sockets
to uphold thes fifty boards of the Holy
Place.
You Will remember they were in Will
derness and continually shifting the taoer-,
nacle. They might have dug q fo c'.1n
ton in the sand. or drilled it In a rock
(should they have lighted on one); but
the Lord appoin Ted that they should
carry the foundation Of the tabernacle
With stlhem, 4ss eeoAlA always % the
same.
/, a talent 81 silver weighing close upon
one hundred pounds was formed into the
shape Of wedge, SO as to be driven mo
the ground or, else made into soiid
SQUARE plate toble upon.it. In the wedge
or.plate were made mortises, into "hi en-.
the lemons Of tho boards could be read
| Nv fitted These plates OF silver
| fitted, tho one into the other tenor,
and mortise wise, thus they made
compact parallelogram, strengthened At
| the corners with double plates and formed
! one foundation, movable when taken to
pieces, yet when In use secure as
whole. ,fsas
And this foundation was made entirely
Of the redemption money. See the IN
structive emblem! The foundation Of the
worship of Israel was redemption. me
visible dwelling place of the Lord their
] God was founded on atonement. All the
boards of incorruptble wood covered with
gold, stood upon tho redemption price;
the curtains Of fine linen and the veil
Of matches workmanship rested upon
nothing else but this solid mass OF silver,
which had been paid as the redemption
money OF the people.
was the entrance to the molly place.
Three pillars were set upon sockets OF
brass, because as the priest went IN and
out constantly, 1t was not meet mat they
should tread upon this token of redemp-
ton. The blood Of tho Paschal Lamb
when Israel came out Of Egypt. was
| sprinkled on the Intel and two Side
posts; but out Of reverence to that blooe
and what ii typhed, 1t was not to be
+ sprinked on the Threshold, Everything
was done to show that atonement IS e
be the precious foundation of all holy
things and everything possible to pre-
vent any sighting or disregard OF It.
The lesson here taught seems to bf
a very striking, full and suggestive EN-
blem, setting forth most clearly certain
precious truths. i do not see why they
could not have made the foundation
sockets OF iron, Certainly It was mucl
stronger and more useful than silver
or why they could not be content witt
tent pins and cords, as IN other cases .
tent building.
Why this command that the sockets b
of silver? There must be some hldde'
reason Why was that particular sllye
prescribed? Why must the redemption
money be used and nothing elseY surel
there is some truthttaught here II W
will but see 1t. !, % III
Christ alone Is the sure foundation 10
: the Church. The tabernacle was neye
: blown down. 1t had no foundation by
: tho talents Of silver, and yet IT brave
: every desert Storm Tho wilderness IS
: place of rough winds; 1t is called how
ing wllderness but the sockets Of sllye
held the boards upright, and tho mol
tent dened tho rage Of the elements
Gods Churcl. will never be overthrow
4 no matter what hurricanes may come
These silver sockets were very preclou
I but very welghty. i dare say the me
Il | ,vbn had Il, ,,,oya than1 sometimes TOuIl