patriarchs and prophets-第70部分

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could　be　used。　And　Moses　caused　to　be　proclaimed　throughout　the　camp；　〃Let
neither　man　nor　woman　make　any　more　work　for　the　offering　of　the　sanctuary。
So　the　people　were　restrained　from　bringing。〃　The　murmurings　of　the
Israelites　and　the　visitations　of　God's　judgments　because　of　their　sins　are
recorded　as　a　warning　to　after…generations。　And　their　devotion；　their　zeal
and　liberality；　are　an　example　worthy　of　imitation。　All　who　love　the　worship
of　God　and　prize　the　blessing　of　His　sacred　presence　will　manifest　the　same
spirit　of　sacrifice　in　preparing　a　house　where　He　may　meet　with　them。　They
will　desire　to　bring　to　the　Lord　an　offering　of　the　very　best　that　they
possess。　A　house　built　for　God　should　not　be　left　in　debt；　for　He　is　thereby
dishonored。　An　amount　sufficient　to　accomplish　the　work　should　be　freely
given；　that　the　workmen

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may　be　able　to　say；　as　did　the　builders　of　the　tabernacle；　〃Bring　no　more
offerings。〃

The　tabernacle　was　so　constructed　that　it　could　be　taken　apart　and　borne
with　the　Israelites　in　all　their　journeyings。　It　was　therefore　small；　being
not　more　than　fifty…five　feet　in　length；　and　eighteen　in　breadth　and　height。
Yet　it　was　a　magnificent　structure。　The　wood　employed　for　the　building　and
its　furniture　was　that　of　the　acacia　tree；　which　was　less　subject　to　decay
than　any　other　to　be　obtained　at　Sinai。　The　walls　consisted　of　upright
boards；　set　in　silver　sockets；　and　held　firm　by　pillars　and　connecting　bars；
and　all　were　overlaid　with　gold；　giving　to　the　building　the　appearance　of
solid　gold。　The　roof　was　formed　of　four　sets　of　curtains；　the　innermost　of
〃fine　twined　linen；　and　blue；　and　purple；　and　scarlet：　with　cherubim　of
cunning　work；〃　the　other　three　respectively　were　of　goats'　hair；　rams'　skins
dyed　red；　and　sealskins；　so　arranged　as　to　afford　complete　protection。

The　building　was　divided　into　two　apartments　by　a　rich　and　beautiful
curtain；　or　veil；　suspended　from　gold…plated　pillars；　and　a　similar　veil
closed　the　entrance　of　the　first　apartment。　These；　like　the　inner　covering；
which　formed　the　ceiling；　were　of　the　most　gorgeous　colors；　blue；　purple；
and　scarlet；　beautifully　arranged；　while　inwrought　with　threads　of　gold　and
silver　were　cherubim　to　represent　the　angelic　host　who　are　connected　with
the　work　of　the　heavenly　sanctuary　and　who　are　ministering　spirits　to　the
people　of　God　on　earth。

The　sacred　tent　was　enclosed　in　an　open　space　called　the　court；　which　was
surrounded　by　hangings；　or　screens；　of　fine　linen；　suspended　from　pillars　of
brass。　The　entrance　to　this　enclosure　was　at　the　eastern　end。　It　was　closed
by　curtains　of　costly　material　and　beautiful　workmanship；　though　inferior　to
those　of　the　sanctuary。　The　hangings　of　the　court　being　only　about　half　as
high　as　the　walls　of　the　tabernacle；　the　building　could　be　plainly　seen　by
the　people　without。　In　the　court；　and　nearest　the　entrance；　stood　the　brazen
altar　of　burnt　offering。　Upon　this　altar　were　consumed　all　the　sacrifices
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

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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

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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

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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　sho