The Tupelo journal., 1907-08-02
THE
RNA
Sunday School Lesson for Aug. 4. 1907
Specially Prepared for This Paper

SMMM
LESSON T-EXT.-Exodus 40:1-13. 34-3S.
Memory verses %. 50.
GOLDEN TEXT.-'"Then a cloud COW
cred the tent of the congregation and the
glory of the Lord filled the tabernacle"
Exodus 40:34.
TIME.-The work on, the tabernacle
was begun in the seventh month from
the Exodus, and completed during the
remainder of the year. The tabernacle
was dedicated on the first day of the
year, on the first of Abb (called also
Nisan), B. C. 149O-the latter part Of
March or early in April.
PLACE-The plain, Er-Rahah, at the
foot of Mount Sinai. The wilderness.
SCRIPTURAL REFERENCEs.-His-
tory of the Tabernacle.-Ex. 25:9, 40;
Heb. s:5; Elk. ~4O:17-3S; Mum. 2:17; Josh.
1871; ] Sam. Ellis; l Chron. 1888; 2 Chron.
1856; SIS compared Wit 1:S, 5, 6 and /
Kings Sci. Figurative Meaning of the
Tabernacle Cor. ST.; Heb. S:2-6; 9:1-12:
2 Pet. 1:13; Rev. 21:3.
Comment and Suggestive Thought.
The Tabernacle Tvs. 1, 2.) There
are not a few difficulties in the way
of obtaining an accurate idea of the
form and construction of the taber-
nacle, from the descriptions given; as
is usual in all attempts to realize a de-
scription. Even the form of so SIM
pie a thing as the golden candlestick
it was impossible to copy in brass
from the description given till the
model was found in the triumphal
arch of Titus at Rome pictured among
the treasures he brought from Jeru-
salem after it's destruction.
Spiritual Meaning of the Taberna-
cIe.-At all times there is need of Wis.,
ible expressions and manifestations
of the unseen spiritual things to help
even the most educated, cultured, and
holy men to realize the unseen God
n character and life. So through
nature. we understand God and keep
him in mind, as nearly all we know of
the sun is revealed to us b. the re-
Election of its rays on material par
t1cleS in the air. So the Institutions
OF religion are "the shadow of heav-
emily things" (Heb. s: So Still more
were these institutions necessary in
the early education of man. So the
great churches and cathedrals of the
agen when few could read and write
are filled with pictures and carvings
of the Bible story.
1t taught the gradual progress of
the soul toward God: step by step we
move Godward and heavenward, each
stage more precious as we draw near
to him. There is a fourfold teaching
of the gradual education. % The
movement is from the camp to the
priests square, then to the court of
the tabernacle, to the holy place, to
the Holy of Holes. (2) The progress
sion is from the bronze of the outer
court, to the silver of the tent, to the
gold of its candlestick and altar. (3)
From the linen curtains of the outer
court to the embroidery of it's por-
there's, to the tapestry of the curtains
of the tent. (4) From the symbolism
of the furniture of the court and Of
the tent, as described below.
The Ark of the Testimony or wit.
ness, containing the tables of the law,
the covenant between God and man,
and the witness to the obedience of
man. The ark was a chest of shittim
wood, overlaid with gold within and
without, three feet nine inches long,
two feet three inches broad and deep.
Over 1t was the mercy seat of gold,
upon which were the cherubim, per.
haps "a symbolical representation OF
the redeemed" This was the central
object of the tabernacle, the place OF
Gods presence, reached only by a
heart that loves and obeyss Gods law,
and through his loving mercy in for
giving and cleansing.
The altar symbolized the need OF
sacrifice for sin, for some atoning
power.
The laver ". y. symbolized the
necessity of moral cleansing before
one can enter the Holy Place. Wash
me and 1 shall be whittier than snow"
The candIestick ". ~ symbolized
the true, sanctifed people of God.
letting their light shine, themselves
fed by the spirit of God, the source
of all light.
The Table Of Shewbread ". ~. Op-
posite, on the north side, to the right.
as one faced the Holy of Holes, was a
goldplated table on which were placed
the twelve loaves of bread in two
golden dishes. 1t was three feet long.
Is inches broad, and q inches high.
Gods Visible Presence Tvs. "a, as).
The shining cloud came to show
that God was with them, a consum-
ing fire to the wrong-doer, but a
Glory and Guide, Defender, Redeemer.
and Friend.
The Golden Altar of Incense ". 81
stood just before the entrance to the
Holy of Holes. 1t was Is inches
square and three feet high. The fra
GRANGE of incense, it's -preciousness.
and it's beautiful clouds rising to
heaven make it a suitable symbol
for prayer and thanksgiving, the
mean of communion with God. After
the experiences typiied by these OBJ
jects, one can meet God in the Holy
of Holes and live according to the
laws of his covenant, as near to
heaven as it is possible to be on earth.
The Table of SheWbread,-The
bread typified that we need our daily
spiritual bread in order to grow good
and to be fitted for Gods service as
much as we need daily bread for our
bodies. The healthy soul is full Of
hungers and thirsts, and every one of
them needs the food that satisfies