patriarchs and prophets-第71部分

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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

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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　two　large　stones　of　great
brilliancy。　These　were　known　as　the　Urim　and　Thummim。　By　them　the　will　of
God　was　made　known　through　the　high　priest。　When　questions　were　brought　for
decision　before　the　Lord；　a　halo　of　light　encircling　the　precious　stone　at
the　right　was　a　token　of　the　divine　consent　or　approval；　while　a　cloud
shadowing　the　stone　at　the　left　was　an　evidence　of　denial　or　disapprobation。

The　miter　of　the　high　priest　consisted　of　the　white　linen　turban；　having
attached　to　it　by　a　lace　of　blue；　a　gold　plate　bearing　the　inscription；
〃Holiness　to　Jehovah。〃　Everything　connected　with　the　apparel　and　deportment
of　the　priests　was　to　be　such　as　to　impress　the　beholder　with　a　sense　of　the
holiness　of　God；　the　sacredness　of　His　worship；　and　the　purity　required　of
those　who　came　into　His　presence。

Not　only　the　sanctuary　itself；　but　the　ministration　of　the

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priests；　was　to　〃serve　unto　the　example　and　shadow　of　heavenly　things。〃
Hebrews　8：5。　Thus　it　was　of　great　importance；　and　the　Lord；　through　Moses；
gave　the　most　definite　and　explicit　instruction　concerning　every　point　of
this　typical　service。　The　ministration　of　the　sanctuary　consisted　of　two
divisions；　a　daily　and　a　yearly　service。　The　daily　service　was　performed　at
the　altar　of　burnt　offering　in　the　court　of　the　tabernacle　and　in　the　holy
place；　while　the　yearly　service　was　in　the　most　holy。

No　mortal　eye　but　that　of　the　high　priest　was　to　look　upon　the　inner
apartment　of　the　sanctuary。　Only　once　a　year　could　the　priest　enter　there；
and　that　after　the　most　careful　and　solemn　preparation。　With　trembling　he
went　in　before　God；　and　the　people　in　reverent　silence　awaited　his　return；
their　hearts　uplifted　in　earnest　prayer　for　the　divine　blessing。　Before　the
mercy　seat　the　high　priest　made　the　atonement　for　Israel；　and　in　the　cloud
of　glory；　God　met　with　him。　His　stay　here　beyond　the　accustomed　time　filled
them　with　fear；　lest　because　of　their　sins　or　his　own　he　had　been　slain　by
the　glory　of　the　Lord。

The　daily　service　consisted　of　the　morning　and　evening　burnt　offering；　the
offering　of　sweet　incense　on　the　golden　altar；　and　the　special　offerings　for
individual　sins。　And　there　were　also　offerings　for　sabbaths；　new　moons；　and
special　feasts。

Every　morning　and　evening　a　lamb　of　a　year　old　was　burned　upon　the　altar；
with　its　appropriate　meat　offering；　thus　symbolizing　the　daily　consecration
of　the　nation　to　Jehovah；　and　their　constant　dependence　upon　the　atoning
blood　of　Christ。　God　expressly　directed　that　every　offering　presented　for
the　service　of　the　sanctuary　should　be　〃without　blemish。〃　Exodus　12：5。　The
priests　were　to　examine　all　animals　brought　as　a　sacrifice；　and　were　to
reject　every　one　in　which　a　defect　was　discovered。　Only　an　offering　〃without
blemish〃　could　be　a　symbol　of　His　perfect　purity　who　was　to　offer　Himself　as
〃a　lamb　without　blemish　and　without　spot。〃　1　Peter　1：19。　The　apostle　Paul
points　to　these　sacrifices　as　an　illustration　of　what　the　followers　of
Christ　are　to　become。　He　says；　〃I　beseech　you　therefore；　brethren；　by　the
mercies　of　God；　that　ye　present　your　bodies　a　living　sacrifice；　holy；
acceptable　unto　God；　which　is　your　reasonable　service。〃　Romans　12：1。　We　are
to　give　ourselves　to　the　service　of　God；　and　we　should　seek　to　make　the
offering　as　nearly　perfect　as　possible。　God　will　not　be　pleased　with
anything

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less　than　the　best　we　can　offer。　Those　who　love　Him　with　all　the　heart；　will
desire　to　give　Him　the　best　service　of　the　life；　and　they　will　be　constantly
seeking　to　bring　every　power　of　their　being　into　harmony　with　the　laws　that
will　promote　their　ability　to　do　His　will。

In　the　offering　of　incense　the　priest　was　brought　more　directly　into　the
presence　of　God　than　in　any　other　act　of　the　daily　ministration。　As　the
inner　veil　of　the　sanctuary　did　no　extend　to　the　top　of　the　building；　the
glory　of　God；　which　was　manifested　above　the　mercy　seat；　was　partially
visible　from　the　first　apartment。　When　the　priest　offered　incense　before　the
Lord；　he　looked　toward　the　ark；　and　as　the　cloud　of　incense　arose；　the
divine　glory　descended　upon　the　mercy　seat　and　filled　the　most　holy　place；
and　often　so　filled　both　apartments　that　the　priest　was　obliged　to　retire　to
the　door　of　the　tabernacle。　As　in　that　typical　service　the　priest　looked　by
faith　to　the　mercy　seat　which　he　could　not　see；　so　the　people　of　God　are　now
to　direct　their　prayers　to　Christ；　their　great　High　Priest；　who；　unseen　by
human　vision；　is　pleading　in　their　behalf　in　the　sanctuary　above。

The　incense；　ascending　with　the　prayers　of　Israel；　represents　the　merits　and
intercession　of　Christ；　His　perfect　righteousness；　which　through　faith　is
imputed　to　His　people；　and　which　can　alone　make　the　worship　of　sinful　beings
acceptable　to　God。　Before　the　veil　of　the　most　holy　place　was　an　altar　of
perpetual　intercession；　before　the　holy；　an　altar　of　continual　atonement。　By
blood　and　by　incense　God　was　to　be　approachedsymbols　pointing　to　the　great
Mediator；　through　whom　sinners　may　approach　Jehovah；　and　through　whom　alone
mercy　and　salvation　can　be　granted　to　the　repentant；　believing　soul。

As　the　priests　morning　and　evening　entered　the　holy　place　at　the　time　of
incense；　the　daily　sacrifice　was　ready　to　be　offered　upon　the　altar　in　the
court　without。　This　was　a　time　of　intense　interest　to　the　worshipers　who
assembled　at　the　tabernacle。　Before　entering　into　the　presence　of　God
through　the　ministration　of　the　priest；　they　were　to　engage　in　earnest
searching　of　heart　and　confession　of　sin。　They　united　in　silent　prayer；　with
their　faces　toward　the　holy　place。　Thus　their　petitions　ascended　with　the
cloud　of　incense；　while　faith　laid　hold　upon　the　merits　of　the　promised
Saviour　prefigured　by　the　atoning　sacrifice。　The　hours　appointed　for　the
morning　and　the　evening　sacrifice

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were　regarded　as　sacred；　and　they　came　to　be　observed　as　the　set　time　for
worship　throughout　the　Jewish　nation。　And　when　in　later　times　the　Jews　were
scattered　as　captives　in　distant　lands；　they　still　at　the　appointed　hour
turned　their　faces　toward　Jerusalem　and　offered　up　their　petitions　to　the
God　of　Israel。　In　this　custom　Christians　have　an　example　for　morning　and
evening　prayer。　While　God　condemns　a　mere　round　of　ceremonies；　without　the
spirit　of　worship；　He　looks　with　great　pleasure　upon　those　who　love　Him；
bowing　morning　and　evening　to　seek　pardon　for　sins　committed　and　to　present
their　requests　for　needed　blessings。

The　showbread　was　kept　ever　before　the　Lord　as　a　perpetual　offering。　Thus　it
was　a　part　of　the　daily　sacrifice。　It　was　called　showbread；　or　〃bread　of　the
presence；〃　because　it　was　ever　before　the　face　of　the　Lord。　It　was　an
acknowledgment　of　man's　dependence　upon　God　for　both　temporal　and　spiritual
food；　and　that　it　is　received　only　through　the　mediation　of　Christ。　God　had
fed　Israel　in　the　wilderness　with　bread　from　heaven；　and　they　were　still
dependent　upon　His　bounty；　both　for　temporal　food　and　spiritual　blessings。
Both　the　manna　and　the　showbread　pointed　to　Christ；　the　living　Bread；　who　is
ever　in　the　presence　of　God　for　us。　He　Himself　said；　〃I　am　the　living　Bread
which　came　down　from　heaven。〃　John　6：48…51。　Frankincense　was　placed　upon　the
loaves。　When　the　bread　was　removed　every　Sabbath；　to　be　replaced　by　fresh
loaves；　the　frankincense　was　burned　upon　the　altar　as　a　memorial　before　God。

The　most　important　part　of　the　daily　ministration　was　the　service　performed
in　behalf　of　individuals。　The　repentant　sinner　brought　his　offering　to　the
door　of　the　tabernacle；　and；　placing　his　hand　upon　the　victim's　head；
confessed　his　sins；　thus　in　figure　transferring　them　from　himself　to　the
innocent　sacrifice。　By　his　own　hand　the　animal　was　then　slain；　and　the　blood
was　carried　by　the　priest　into　the　holy　place　and　sprinkled　before　the　veil；
behind　which　was　the　ark　containing　the　law　that　the　sinner　had
transgressed。　By　this　ceremony　the　sin　was；　through　the　blood；　transferred
in　figure　to　the　sanctuary。　In　some　cases　the　blood　was　not　taken　int