The Rice belt journal. (Welsh, Calcasieu Parish, La.) 1900-19??, 1906-08-31


in silver and gold and brass, the carv-
ing and shaping of the wood had pro-
crossed wonderfully. Everybody had
some part in the work, even the chill
dren catching the eager spirit of their
elders and gladly doing what they
could to help.
How swiftly the weeks and months
had passed. So occupied with the task
in hand had they been that they had
no time for murmuring. 1t hardly
seemed possible that they were the
same people who had threatened
Moses at Rephidim, or had forgotten
GOD and made for 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
While on the mount with God, and
While they wrought in the work they
wed with each other in seeing how
faithfully and we'll 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
the way appointed, and it is no won.
der that when the tidings came to
them that on the morrow they would
see the Tabernacle reared, there was
very great rejoicing, so that the sound
OF laughter and singing filled 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 a
distance and watched as long as the
daylight 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
went to their tents, saying, softly to
themselves:
Tomorrow will the Lord have a
dwelling place in our midst"
But how little they realized all that
was implied in that saying. How
meager was their idea of the mean
ing OF the Tabernacle and it's ap-
pointed worship. It's richness of ma.
terial, its varied appointments, the
plans for the Tabernacle 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 even 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 man
, 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 were written the command
ments, and the rod and pot of the
mamma. And then he set the slaves
on the ark and put the mercy seal
, above the ark, and it was carried
within.
&c.," whispered the people, one tc
4 another, as the Levites bearing the
1 ark disappeared, "see what Moses has
j. done with the rod, and the tablets OF
stone given to him on the mountain
+ and the pot of mamma"
I YEA" cried Moses, turning towards
the people, and noting the solemn
hush which had fallen upon them
yea, it is the testimony of the Lord
Beneath the mercy seat where Goo
will now have his abiding place In
9 the midst of Israel, rest the evidences
= of Gods presence with Israel thus far
: The rod through which God worked
Q such mighty deliVerance, the pot o.
3 mama the evidence Of Gods miracu
g lous feeding of his people in the
s midst of the wilderness Businesses, the
+ tables of stone, the revelation of Gods
7 perfect will for the guidance OF hls
J. people. These tokens of Gods deal
ings with his people rest beneath the
: mercy seat, even as you, the children
J. of Abraham, are preserved under thu
mercy seat of Gods love"
Again silence fell upon the people
as Moses ceased speaking. The Levitei
g have withdrawn, leaving the ark IL
y the holy of holes, and the people
u stand expectant.
& Moses will now enter and talk witt
e God" they whispered one to thu
c other.
l. But while they thus spoke, thu
Cloud, which had stood upon the noun
II tain side, came and covered the Tab
u ernacle, and the glory of the Lore
L filed the place.
o Never before had the people behel'
such glory and splendor. The Clou'
q had always been a thing of wonder b,
<. day and splendor Of glory by night
y but now it glowed and scintlllate'
d with a beauty transcendent.