patriarchs and prophets-第78节

按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！


made　by　fire　unto　the　Lord；　and　its　horns　were　sprinkled　with　the　atoning
blood。　Between　the　altar　and　the　door　of　the　tabernacle　was　the　laver；　which
was　also　of　brass；　made　from　the　mirrors　that　had　been　the　freewill　offering
of　the　women　of　Israel。　At　the　laver　the　priests　were　to　wash　their　hands
and　their　feet　whenever

348

they　went　into　the　sacred　apartments；　or　approached　the　altar　to　offer　a
burnt　offering　unto　the　Lord。

In　the　first　apartment；　or　holy　place；　were　the　table　of　showbread；　the
candlestick；　or　lampstand；　and　the　altar　of　incense。　The　table　of　showbread
stood　on　the　north。　With　its　ornamental　crown；　it　was　overlaid　with　pure
gold。　On　this　table　the　priests　were　each　Sabbath　to　place　twelve　cakes；
arranged　in　two　piles；　and　sprinkled　with　frankincense。　The　loaves　that　were
removed；　being　accounted　holy；　were　to　be　eaten　by　the　priests。　On　the　south
was　the　seven…branched　candlestick；　with　its　seven　lamps。　Its　branches　were
ornamented　with　exquisitely　wrought　flowers；　resembling　lilies；　and　the
whole　was　made　from　one　solid　piece　of　gold。　There　being　no　windows　in　the
tabernacle；　the　lamps　were　never　all　extinguished　at　one　time；　but　shed
their　light　by　day　and　by　night。　Just　before　the　veil　separating　the　holy
place　from　the　most　holy　and　the　immediate　presence　of　God；　stood　the　golden
altar　of　incense。　Upon　this　altar　the　priest　was　to　burn　incense　every
morning　and　evening；　its　horns　were　touched　with　the　blood　of　the　sin
offering；　and　it　was　sprinkled　with　blood　upon　the　great　Day　of　Atonement。
The　fire　upon　this　altar　was　kindled　by　God　Himself　and　was　sacredly
cherished。　Day　and　night　the　holy　incense　diffused　its　fragrance　throughout
the　sacred　apartments；　and　without；　far　around　the　tabernacle。

Beyond　the　inner　veil　was　the　holy　of　holies；　where　centered　the　symbolic
service　of　atonement　and　intercession；　and　which　formed　the　connecting　link
between　heaven　and　earth。　In　this　apartment　was　the　ark；　a　chest　of　acacia
wood；　overlaid　within　and　without　with　gold；　and　having　a　crown　of　gold
about　the　top。　It　was　made　as　a　depository　for　the　tables　of　stone；　upon
which　God　Himself　had　inscribed　the　Ten　Commandments。　Hence　it　was　called
the　ark　of　God's　testament；　or　the　ark　of　the　covenant；　since　the　Ten
Commandments　were　the　basis　of　the　covenant　made　between　God　and　Israel。

The　cover　of　the　sacred　chest　was　called　the　mercy　seat。　This　was　wrought　of
one　solid　piece　of　gold；　and　was　surmounted　by　golden　cherubim；　one　standing
on　each　end。　One　wing　of　each　angel　was　stretched　forth　on　high；　while　the
other　was　folded　over　the　body　（see　Ezekiel　1：11）　in　token　of　reverence　and
humility。　The　position　of　the　cherubim；　with　their　faces　turned

　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　349

toward　each　other；　and　looking　reverently　downward　toward　the　ark；
represented　the　reverence　with　which　the　heavenly　host　regard　the　law　of　God
and　their　interest　in　the　plan　of　redemption。

Above　the　mercy　seat　was　the　Shekinah；　the　manifestation　of　the　divine
Presence；　and　from　between　the　cherubim；　God　made　known　His　will。　Divine
messages　were　sometimes　communicated　to　the　high　priest　by　a　voice　from　the
cloud。　Sometimes　a　light　fell　upon　the　angel　at　the　right；　to　signify
approval　or　acceptance；　or　a　shadow　or　cloud　rested　upon　the　one　at　the　left
to　reveal　disapproval　or　rejection。

The　law　of　God；　enshrined　within　the　ark；　was　the　great　rule　of
righteousness　and　judgment。　That　law　pronounced　death　upon　the　transgressor；
but　above　the　law　was　the　mercy　seat；　upon　which　the　presence　of　God　was
revealed；　and　from　which；　by　virtue　of　the　atonement；　pardon　was　granted　to
the　repentant　sinner。　Thus　in　the　work　of　Christ　for　our　redemption；
symbolized　by　the　sanctuary　service；　〃mercy　and　truth　are　met　together；
righteousness　and　peace　have　kissed　each　other。〃　Psalm　85：10。

No　language　can　describe　the　glory　of　the　scene　presented　within　the
sanctuarythe　gold…plated　walls　reflecting　the　light　from　the　golden
candlestick；　the　brilliant　hues　of　the　richly　embroidered　curtains　with
their　shining　angels；　the　table；　and　the　altar　of　incense；　glittering　with
gold；　beyond　the　second　veil　the　sacred　ark；　with　its　mystic　cherubim；　and
above　it　the　holy　Shekinah；　the　visible　manifestation　of　Jehovah's　presence；
all　but　a　dim　reflection　of　the　glories　of　the　temple　of　God　in　heaven；　the
great　center　of　the　work　for　man's　redemption。

A　period　of　about　half　a　year　was　occupied　in　the　building　of　the
tabernacle。　When　it　was　completed；　Moses　examined　all　the　work　of　the
builders；　comparing　it　with　the　pattern　shown　him　in　the　mount　and　the
directions　he　had　received　from　God。　〃As　the　Lord　had　commanded；　even　so　had
they　done　it：　and　Moses　blessed　them。〃　With　eager　interest　the　multitudes　of
Israel　crowded　around　to　look　upon　the　sacred　structure。　While　they　were
contemplating　the　scene　with　reverent　satisfaction；　the　pillar　of　cloud
floated　over　the　sanctuary　and；　descending；　enveloped　it。　〃And　the　glory　of
the　Lord　filled　the　tabernacle。〃　There　was　a　revealing　of　the　divine
majesty；　and　for　a　time　even　Moses　could

350

not　enter。　With　deep　emotion　the　people　beheld　the　token　that　the　work　of
their　hands　was　accepted。　There　were　no　loud　demonstrations　of　rejoicing。　A
solemn　awe　rested　upon　all。　But　the　gladness　of　their　hearts　welled　up　in
tears　of　joy；　and　they　murmured　low；　earnest　words　of　gratitude　that　God　had
condescended　to　abide　with　them。

By　divine　direction　the　tribe　of　Levi　was　set　apart　for　the　service　of　the
sanctuary。　In　the　earliest　times　every　man　was　the　priest　of　his　own
household。　In　the　days　of　Abraham　the　priesthood　was　regarded　as　the
birthright　of　the　eldest　son。　Now；　instead　of　the　first…born　of　all　Israel；
the　Lord　accepted　the　tribe　of　Levi　for　the　work　of　the　sanctuary。　By　this
signal　honor　He　manifested　His　approval　of　their　fidelity；　both　in　adhering
to　His　service　and　in　executing　His　judgments　when　Israel　apostatized　in　the
worship　of　the　golden　calf。　The　priesthood；　however；　was　restricted　to　the
family　of　Aaron。　Aaron　and　his　sons　alone　were　permitted　to　minister　before
the　Lord；　the　rest　of　the　tribe　were　entrusted　with　the　charge　of　the
tabernacle　and　its　furniture；　and　they　were　to　attend　upon　the　priests　in
their　ministration；　but　they　were　not　to　sacrifice；　to　burn　incense；　or　to
see　the　holy　things　till　they　were　covered。

In　accordance　with　their　office；　a　special　dress　was　appointed　for　the
priests。　〃Thou　shalt　make　holy　garments　for　Aaron　thy　brother；　for　glory　and
for　beauty；〃　was　the　divine　direction　to　Moses。　The　robe　of　the　common
priest　was　of　white　linen；　and　woven　in　one　piece。　It　extended　nearly　to　the
feet　and　was　confined　about　the　waist　by　a　white　linen　girdle　embroidered　in
blue；　purple；　and　red。　A　linen　turban；　or　miter；　completed　his　outer
costume。　Moses　at　the　burning　bush　was　directed　to　put　off　his　sandals；　for
the　ground　whereon　he　stood　was　holy。　So　the　priests　were　not　to　enter　the
sanctuary　with　shoes　upon　their　feet。　Particles　of　dust　cleaving　to　them
would　desecrate　the　holy　place。　They　were　to　leave　their　shoes　in　the　court
before　entering　the　sanctuary；　and　also　to　wash　both　their　hands　and　their
feet　before　ministering　in　the　tabernacle　or　at　the　altar　of　burnt　offering。
Thus　was　constantly　taught　the　lesson　that　all　defilement　must　be　put　away
from　those　who　would　approach　into　the　presence　of　God。

The　garments　of　the　high　priest　were　of　costly　material　and　beautiful
workmanship；　befitting　his　exalted　station。　In　addition

　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　351

to　the　linen　dress　of　the　common　priest；　he　wore　a　robe　of　blue；　also　woven
in　one　piece。　Around　the　skirt　it　was　ornamented　with　golden　bells；　and
pomegranates　of　blue；　purple；　and　scarlet。　Outside　of　this　was　the　ephod；　a
shorter　garment　of　gold；　blue；　purple；　scarlet；　and　white。　It　was　confined
by　a　girdle　of　the　same　colors；　beautifully　wrought。　The　ephod　was
sleeveless；　and　on　its　gold…embroidered　shoulder　pieces　were　set　two　onyx
stones；　bearing　the　names　of　the　twelve　tribes　of　Israel。

Over　the　ephod　was　the　breastplate；　the　most　sacred　of　the　priestly
vestments。　This　was　of　the　same　material　as　the　ephod。　It　was　in　the　form　of
a　square；　measuring　a　span；　and　was　suspended　from　the　shoulders　by　a　cord
of　blue　from　golden　rings。　The　border　was　formed　of　a　variety　of　precious
stones；　the　same　that　form　the　twelve　foundations　of　the　City　of　God。　Within
the　border　were　twelve　stones　set　in　gold；　arranged　in　rows　of　four；　and；
like　those　in　the　shoulder　pieces；　engraved　with　the　names　of　the　tribes。
The　Lord's　direction　was；　〃Aaron　shall　bear　the　names　of　the　children　of
Israel　in　the　breastplate　of　judgment　upon　his　heart；　when　he　goeth　in　unto
the　holy　place；　for　a　memorial　before　the　Lord　continually。〃　Exodus　28：29。
So　Christ；　the　great　High　Priest；　pleading　His　blood　before　the　Father　in
the　sinner's　behalf；　bears　upon　His　heart　the　name　of　every　repentant；
believing　soul。　Says　the　psalmist；　〃I　am　poor　and　needy；　yet　the　Lord
thinketh　upon　me。〃　Psalm　40：17。

At　the　right　and　left　of　the　breastplate　were