Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1926-09-04
By REV. HUGH T. STEVENSON.

The Tent of Meeting--Exodus. xxxii. 20.
Golden Text-Jehovah spake pnt ,,rt MOSES Sis
face TO face. az man speaketh unto MS
friend.-Exodus. xxxiii.11.
Israel was brought face to face with
a dreaded crisis when Moses was or
dered to break camp and lead the ma
ton away from Sinai, that had been
their camping ground for about a
year. During his absence Of 40 days
the people had started a national re-
bellion against the methods Of his alb
sentee leadership in demanding from
Aaron that he make them gods that
shall go before u.s." Egypt had left
its impress upop them in their de-
mand for something visible to repre-
sent to them the invisible. They had
no desire to supplant Jehovah. but
they were violating His command
ment that prohibited the making Of
any craven image and the worshiping
Of the same in their demand for a
visible representation Of Him.
Filled with righteous Indignation at
the apOstasy of the nation, Moses had
completely destroyed the molten calf
which they were worshiping when
he returned from communion with
Jehovah. He made the people drink
the nauSeouSi water containing the
ashes Of their idol, and left nothing
undone to eradicate the infection of
idolatry from spreading among the
people. He recognized the need Of an
"expulsive power Of a new affection"
that would fill the nation with the
true spirit Of worship and devotion
free from all idolatrous ideals.
The apostasy of the people filled
Moses with double anxiety. He was
afraid to absent himself from his way.
ward followers and equally afraid to
be long withdrawn from the presence
of Jehovah, who had informed Moses
that He proposed to send an angel
along to guide the nation in it's ell
trance into the promised land as a
substitute for His personal presence.
Inspired by the conception Of the
tabernacle, he took his own tent and
pitched 1t outside Of the camp to ex-
press the estrangement of the people
from Jehovah. He invested it with a
sacred character by calling it the tent
OF meeting with Cod, or tabernacle
OF the congregation. 1t became hence.
forth the scene of his communion with
Jehovah, who spake unto Moses face
to face, as a man speaketh unto a
friend When the people saw the
evidence OF Gods presence in the pill
lar of cloud that had descended they
revealed their attitude Of worship by
rising and prostrating themselves be-
fore their tents.
The Place of Prayer.
Although the tents removal was
due to the apostasy of the people,
yet all who wished to commune with
Jehovah had the privilege of draw
ing near unto Him at the tent of
meeting. In our day there has arisen
a dangerous tendency upon part of
many neglecting the assembling of
themselves at the appointed places
of prayer, worship and praise. If we
forget God now, we do it at the cost
OF tremendous spiritual loss. A Chris
tan life calls for the attendance upon
the places of divine worship and per-
sonal prayer.
Some of the greatest religious
truths that we possess were given to
individual wOrshipers, but both
Christianity and Judaism have
given to the public worship a large
place. All who wish to worship God
in spirit and truth can find Him at
any time and in any place, but He
is more apt to be found in the reg
ular services of His people. 1t was
for this reason that our Lord planned
for His people to meet together in
groups making a promise that He
would meet with them, even in a
small group of two or three, assem-
bled in His name to restore some
weak soul.
Moses formed the habit Of regularly
worshiping Jehovah. We ought to
have a fixed time. when we would
go alone to meet our Lord face to
face. 1t ought to be quiet place,
where the spirit of the world Is shut
out and where We can pour out the
longings of our heart to Him in
PRAYER and praise. The meeting
place should be one where we can
obey the injunction to BE still, and
know that He is God" Prayer calls
for us to listen to the Masters voice
He wants to speak to us, as much as
He desired to speak to any of the
heroes of faith in the past, face to
face as man speaketh unto his
friend"
The Prayer Of Moses.
Moses prayer for Israel revealed
his patriotism and leadership. He
drew near to Jehovah and placed his
problems as a director of the ma
tional program before the Lord.
While he seeks personal strength, he
sought it so that he could better
serve God and his countrymen. He
pleaded that he needed light concern
ing Gods program. so that he could
work in harmony with Jehovah.
whom he wished to serve but boldly
declared that he could not do so with
the aid of only an ordinary angel.
He sought this information not only
because of his task. but on account