The Montgomery tribune. (Montgomery City, Mo.) 1892-1910, 1907-08-02
THE
ABERNACL
Sunday School Lesson Tor Ase. I. 1907
Specially Prepared for This Paper

LESSON TExT.-Exodus 40:1-l3, 1919
Memory verses "a, 81.
GOLDEN TEXT.-'"Then a cloud COW
cred the tent of the congregation and tho
glory Of the Lord filled the tabernacle"
Exodus 1914.
TIME-The work on the tabernacle,
was begun In the seventh. month from
the Exodus, and completed during thet
remainder Of the year. The tabernacle
was dedicated on the first day of the,
year. on the first Of Abb tcaiicd also
Nisan), b. G. 149o-the latter part OF
March or early in April.
PLACE.-The plain, Er-Rahah, at tho
foot of Mount Sinai. The wilderness.
SCRIPTURAL REFERENCES.-His-
tory OF the TabernacIe.-Ex. ESQ, 40:l
Heb. S:5: Ex. ~40:17-33; Mum. 2:1T; Josh.
1871: / Sam. 21:1-e; 1 Chron. 1893; 2 Chron.
1856: SIS compared with Ia, S. s and II
Kings S4 F1gurative Meaning Of the
Tabernacle.-2 Cor. 81; Heb. 1925: 9:1-12:l
2 Pct. 1:13; Rev. 2i:3.
Comment and Suggestive Thought.
The Tabernacle Tvs. I, ~ There
are not a few diff 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-
s~cription. Even the form of so sim
pie a thing as the golden candlesticki
1t 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 Meaning1of the Taberna-
cle.--At all times there is need of WIS.,
ible expressions and manifestations
of the unseen spiritual things to help
ever 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 by the re-
Election of its rays on material par
ticles in the air. So the institutions
of religion are 'the shadow Of heav-
emily things" Heb. s: 81 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 Eible story.
1t taught the gradual progress OF
the soul toward God; step by step we
hONt bOuWdfu anu HGdNCuW diut CoCh
stage more precious as we draw near
to him. There is a fourfold teaching
of the gradual education. az 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 its por-
there's, to h tapestry of the curtains
of the tent. ca 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.
nj 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 obeys 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 LAYER ". y. symbolized the
necessity of moral cleansing before
one can enter the Holy Place. Wash
me and l shall be whittier than snow"
The candlestiek ". ~ symbolized
the true. sanctified people Of God.
letting their light shine, themselves
fed by the spirit of God, the source
of all light.
The Table Of shewbread ". q. OPP
posite, on the north side, to the right,
as one faced the Holy Of Holes. was .
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 iva. "a, 3a).
, The shining cloud came to show
that God a with them. a consum-
ing fire to the wrong-doer, but Q
Glory and Guide. Defender, Redeemer.
and Friend.
The Golden Altar Of Incense ". 81
stood just before the entrance to the
l Holy of Holes. II was IS inches
square and three feet high. The fra
: france of incense, IT'S preciousness,
and its beautiful clouds rising to
heaven make II a suitable symbol
for prayer n thanksgiving, the
I mean Of communion with God. After
the experiences typified BY these oh
, iects, n can meet God In the Holy
y Of HOLES and live according to the
4 laws Of his covenant as near ia
heaven as Ii IL possible IN b. ON earth