Oxford eagle. (Oxford, Lafayette Co., Miss.) 1876-current, 1906-08-30

1H4 anu Ulalc LOT themselves the
golden calf there at Mount Sinai Day
BY day they had received instruction
at Moses hand in the laws and ordi-
nances Of God. which he had received
wnile on the mount with God. and
While they wrought In the WORK they
WED with each other in seeing how
faithfully and well they could perform
their tasks.
They had talked together Of that
day when the Tabernacle should be
set up. and God would be served in
tie way appointed. and Il Is re won
der that when the tidings came 10
them that on the morrow they would
see the Tabernacle reared. there was
very great rejoicing. so that the sound
OF laughter and singing filed the
camp.
The sun that night set upon an ex-
pectant people. At the place appoint
ed the rich and costly materials had
been brought and the Levites in
structed concerning the placing of the
same. while the people stood at =
distance and watched as long as the
day light lasted and then as the soft
glow Of the pillar resting high up on
the side Of the mountain fell upon the
camp. the people turned slowly and
vent to their tents. saying. softly to
themselves.
~To-morrow will the Lord have .
dwelling place in our midst.
But how little they realized all that
was implied in that saying. How
meager vas their idea Of the mean.
ing Of the Tabernacle and its ap-
pointed worship. Its richness OF ma,
tsrial. its varied appointments tho
plans for the Tabernacis service all
absorbed their attention. and apart
from the general consciousness OF God,
they did not enter deeply into the
spirit of the occasion.
But wen though the heart under
stood not. eyes and ears were eager
to drink in every detail Of the ami
mated scene which began next day
with the first rays of light. A rev.
erent hush was upon the people while
the work was going on. and no mar
dared TO venture near where the walls
OF the tabernacle were reared and the
tent spread above.
Then Moses took the ark. and in
the sight Of all the people. he placed
therein the tablets of stone on
which vert written the command
ments. and the rod and 4 pot OF the
mama And then he set the slaves
on the ark and put the mercy seat
above the ark. and it vas carried
within.
See. whispered the people. one to
another. as the Levitss bearing the
ark disappeared. see what Moses has
done with the rod. and the tablets Of
stone given to him on the mountain.
and the pot Of anna
Yea. cried Moses. turning towards
the people. and noting the solemn
hush which had fallen upon them.
yea IL IS the testimony Of the Lord
Beneath the mercy seat where God
viii now have his abiding place in
the midst Of Israel. rest the evidences
Of Gods presence with Israel thus far
The rod through which God worked
such mighty d~eiiverance. the pot o.
mama the evidence Of Gods uliraeu
lous feeding OF his people in the
midst OF the wilderness Businesses. the
tables OF stone. the revelation Of Gods
perfect will for the guidance OF his
people These tokens Of Gods deal
ings with his people rest beneath the
nercy seat. Y Is you. the children
Of Abraham. are preserved under the
mercy seat Of Gods love
Again silence feil upon the people
As Moses ceased speaking The Levites
have Withdrawn. leaving the ark In
the holy OF holes. and the people
stand ~expectant-
Moses Will noS enter and talk with
God. they whispered one to tn
other.
But while they thus spoke. the
Cloud. which had stood upon the noun
tain side. came and covered the Tab
ernaeie. and the glory Of the Lord
filed the place
Never before had the people beheld
such glory and splendor. The Cloud
had always been a thing of wonder by
day and splendor Of glory by night
but now il giowed and seintillated
with a beauty transcendent
Surely this was the temple of the
Lord and he had come down and filed
IL
What temple in Egypt had they
e e which had been 50 visited
by the gods in whose name they had
been reared7
When bad il ever been that the
priests OF Egypt could not enter their
temples because the glory OF their
gods had so filed the place?
So thought the people as they stood
there. and at last conscious that Moses.
instead of entering the place had
fallen PROSTATE upon the ground &
worship and alteration Of the wonder
full manifestation Of Gods presence
they. too. bowed in reverent worship