patriarchs and prophets-第76部分

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impossible　for　them　to　keep　God's　law；　and　they　readily　entered　into
covenant　with　God。　Feeling　that　they　were　able　to　establish　their　own
righteousness；　they　declared；　〃All　that　the　Lord　hath　said　will　we　do；　and
be　obedient。〃　Exodus　24：7。　They　had　witnessed　the　proclamation　of　the　law　in
awful　majesty；　and　had　trembled　with　terror　before　the　mount；　and　yet　only　a
few　weeks　passed　before　they　broke　their　covenant　with　God；　and　bowed　down
to　worship　a　graven　image。　They　could　not　hope　for　the　favor　of　God　through
a　covenant　which　they　had　broken；　and　now；　seeing　their　sinfulness　and　their
need　of　pardon；　they　were　brought　to　feel　their　need　of　the　Saviour　revealed
in　the　Abrahamic　covenant　and　shadowed　forth　in　the　sacrificial　offerings。
Now　by　faith　and　love　they　were　bound　to　God　as　their　deliverer　from　the
bondage　of　sin。　Now　they　were　prepared　to　appreciate　the　blessings　of　the
new　covenant。

The　terms　of　the　〃old　covenant〃　were；　Obey　and　live：　〃If　a　man　do；　he　shall
even　live　in　them〃　（Ezekiel　20：11；　Leviticus　18：5）；　but　〃cursed　be　he　that
confirmeth　not　all　the　words　of　this　law　to　do　them。〃　Deuteronomy　27：26。　The
〃new　covenant〃　was　established　upon　〃better　promises〃the　promise　of
forgiveness　of　sins　and　of　the　grace　of　God　to　renew　the　heart　and　bring　it
into　harmony　with　the　principles　of　God's　law。　〃This　shall　be　the　covenant
that　I　will　make　with　the　house　of　Israel；　After　those　days；　saith　the　Lord；
I　will　put　my　law　in　their　inward　parts；　and　write　it　in　their　hearts。　。　。　。
I　will　forgive　their　iniquity；　and　will　remember　their　sin　no　more。〃
Jeremiah　31：33；　34。

The　same　law　that　was　engraved　upon　the　tables　of　stone　is　written　by　the
Holy　Spirit　upon　the　tables　of　the　heart。　Instead　of　going　about　to
establish　our　own　righteousness　we　accept　the　righteousness　of　Christ。　His
blood　atones　for　our　sins。　His　obedience　is　accepted　for　us。　Then　the　heart
renewed　by　the　Holy　Spirit　will　bring　forth　〃the　fruits　of　the　Spirit。〃
Through　the　grace　of　Christ　we　shall　live　in　obedience　to　the　law　of　God
written　upon　our　hearts。　Having　the　Spirit　of　Christ；　we　shall　walk　even　as
He　walked。　Through　the　prophet　He　declared　of　Himself；　〃I　delight　to　do　Thy
will；　O　My　God：　yea；　Thy　law　is　within　My　heart。〃　Psalm　40：8。　And　when　among
men　He　said；　〃The　Father　hath　not　left　Me　alone；　for　I　do　always　those
things　that　please　Him。〃　John　8：29。

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The　apostle　Paul　clearly　presents　the　relation　between　faith　and　the　law
under　the　new　covenant。　He　says：　〃Being　justified　by　faith；　we　have　peace
with　God　through　our　Lord　Jesus　Christ。〃　〃Do　we　then　make　void　the　law
through　faith？　God　forbid：　yea；　we　establish　the　law。〃　〃For　what　the　law
could　not　do；　in　that　it　was　weak　through　the　flesh〃it　could　not　justify
man；　because　in　his　sinful　nature　he　could　not　keep　the　law〃God　sending
His　own　Son　in　the　likeness　of　sinful　flesh；　and　for　sin；　condemned　sin　in
the　flesh：　that　the　righteousness　of　the　law　might　be　fulfilled　in　us；　who
walk　not　after　the　flesh；　but　after　the　Spirit。〃　Romans　5：1；　3：31；　8：3；　4。

God's　work　is　the　same　in　all　time；　although　there　are　different　degrees　of
development　and　different　manifestations　of　His　power；　to　meet　the　wants　of
men　in　the　different　ages。　Beginning　with　the　first　gospel　promise；　and
coming　down　through　the　patriarchal　and　Jewish　ages；　and　even　to　the　present
time；　there　has　been　a　gradual　unfolding　of　the　purposes　of　God　in　the　plan
of　redemption。　The　Saviour　typified　in　the　rites　and　ceremonies　of　the
Jewish　law　is　the　very　same　that　is　revealed　in　the　gospel。　The　clouds　that
enveloped　His　divine　form　have　rolled　back；　the　mists　and　shades　have
disappeared；　and　Jesus；　the　world's　Redeemer；　stands　revealed。　He　who
proclaimed　the　law　from　Sinai；　and　delivered　to　Moses　the　precepts　of　the
ritual　law；　is　the　same　that　spoke　the　Sermon　on　the　Mount。　The　great
principles　of　love　to　God；　which　He　set　forth　as　the　foundation　of　the　law
and　the　prophets；　are　only　a　reiteration　of　what　He　had　spoken　through　Moses
to　the　Hebrew　people：　〃Hear；　O　Israel：　The　Lord　our　God　is　one　Lord：　and
thou　shalt　love　the　Lord　thy　God　with　all　thine　heart；　and　with　all　thy
soul；　and　with　all　thy　might。〃　Deuteronomy　6：4；　5。　〃Thou　shalt　love　thy
neighbor　as　thyself。〃　Leviticus　19：18。　The　teacher　is　the　same　in　both
dispensations。　God's　claims　are　the　same。　The　principles　of　His　government
are　the　same。　For　all　proceed　from　Him　〃with　whom　is　no　variableness；
neither　shadow　of　turning。〃　James　1：17。





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　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　Chapter　33

　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　From　Sinai　to　Kadesh


The　building　of　the　tabernacle　was　not　begun　for　some　time　after　Israel
arrived　at　Sinai；　and　the　sacred　structure　was　first　set　up　at　the　opening
of　the　second　year　from　the　Exodus。　This　was　followed　by　the　consecration　of
the　priests；　the　celebration　of　the　Passover；　the　numbering　of　the　people；
and　the　completion　of　various　arrangements　essential　to　their　civil　or
religious　system；　so　that　nearly　a　year　was　spent　in　the　encampment　at
Sinai。　Here　their　worship　had　taken　a　more　definite　form；　the　laws　had　been
given　for　the　government　of　the　nation；　and　a　more　efficient　organization
had　been　effected　preparatory　to　their　entrance　into　the　land　of　Canaan。

The　government　of　Israel　was　characterized　by　the　most　thorough
organization；　wonderful　alike　for　its　completeness　and　its　simplicity。　The
order　so　strikingly　displayed　in　the　perfection　and　arrangement　of　all　God's
created　works　was　manifest　in　the　Hebrew　economy。　God　was　the　center　of
authority　and　government；　the　sovereign　of　Israel。　Moses　stood　as　their
visible　leader；　by　God's　appointment；　to　administer　the　laws　in　His　name。
From　the　elders　of　the　tribes　a　council　of　seventy　was　afterward　chosen　to
assist　Moses　in　the　general　affairs　of　the　nation。　Next　came　the　priests；
who　consulted　the　Lord　in　the　sanctuary。　Chiefs；　or　princes；　ruled　over　the
tribes。　Under　these　were　〃captains　over　thousands；　and　captains　over
hundreds；　and　captains　over　fifties；　and　captains　over　tens；〃　and；　lastly；
officers　who　might　be　employed　for　special　duties。　Deuteronomy　1：15。

The　Hebrew　camp　was　arranged　in　exact　order。　It　was　separated　into　three
great　divisions；　each　having　its　appointed　position　in　the　encampment。　In
the　center　was　the　tabernacle；　the　abiding　place　of　the　invisible　King。
Around　it　were　stationed

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the　priests　and　Levites。　Beyond　these　were　encamped　all　the　other　tribes。

To　the　Levites　was　committed　the　charge　of　the　tabernacle　and　all　that
pertained　thereto；　both　in　the　camp　and　on　the　journey。　When　the　camp　set
forward　they　were　to　strike　the　sacred　tent；　when　a　halting　place　was
reached　they　were　to　set　it　up。　No　person　of　another　tribe　was　allowed　to
come　near；　on　pain　of　death。　The　Levites　were　separated　into　three
divisions；　the　descendants　of　the　three　sons　of　Levi；　and　each　was　assigned
its　special　position　and　work。　In　front　of　the　tabernacle；　and　nearest　to
it；　were　the　tents　of　Moses　and　Aaron。　On　the　south　were　the　Kohathites；
whose　duty　it　was　to　care　for　the　ark　and　the　other　furniture；　on　the　north
Merarites；　who　were　placed　in　charge　of　the　pillars；　sockets；　boards；　etc。；
in　the　rear　the　Gershonites；　to　whom　the　care　of　the　curtains　and　hangings
was　committed。

The　position　of　each　tribe　also　was　specified。　Each　was　to　march　and　to
encamp　beside　its　own　standard；　as　the　Lord　had　commanded：　〃Every　man　of　the
children　of　Israel　shall　pitch　by　his　own　standard；　with　the　ensign　of　their
father's　house：　far　off　about　the　tabernacle　of　the　congregation　shall　they
pitch。〃　〃As　they　encamp；　so　shall　they　set　forward；　every　man　in　his　place
by　their　standards。〃　Numbers　2：2；　17。　The　mixed　multitude　that　had
accompanied　Israel　from　Egypt　were　not　permitted　to　occupy　the　same　quarters
with　the　tribes；　but　were　to　abide　upon　the　outskirts　of　the　camp；　and　their
offspring　were　to　be　excluded　from　the　community　until　the　third　generation。
Deuteronomy　23：7；　8。

Scrupulous　cleanliness　as　well　as　strict　order　throughout　the　encampment　and
its　environs　was　enjoined。　Through　sanitary　regulations　were　enforced。　Every
person　who　was　unclean　from　any　cause　was　forbidden　to　enter　the　camp。　These
measures　were　indispensable　to　the　preservation　of　health　among　so　vast　a
multitude；　and　it　was　necessary　also　that　perfect　order　and　purity　be
maintained；　that　Israel　might　enjoy　the　presence　of　a　holy　God。　Thus　He
declared：　〃The　Lord　thy　God　walketh　in　the　midst　of　thy　camp；　to　deliver
thee；　and　to　give　up　thine　enemies　before　thee；　therefore　shall　thy　camp　he
holy。〃

In　all　the　journeyings　of　Israel；　〃the　ark　of　the　covenant　of　the　Lord　went
before　them；　。　。　。　to　search　out　a　resting　place

376

for　them。〃　Numbers　10：33。　Borne　by　the　sons　of　Kohath；　the　sacred　chest
containing　God's　holy　law　was　to　lead　the　van。　Before　it　went　Moses　and
Aaron；　and　the　priests；　bearing　silver　trumpets；　were　stationed　near。　These
priests　received　directions　from　Moses；　which　they　communicated　to　the
people　by　the　trumpets。　It　was　the　duty　of　the　leaders　of　each　company　to
give　definite　directions　concerning　all　the　movements　to　be　made；　as
indicated　by　the　trumpets。　Whoever　neglected　to　comply　with　the　directions
given　was　punished　with　death。

God　is　a　God　of　order。　Everything　connected　with　heaven　is　in　perfect　order；
subjection　and　thorough　discipline　mark　the　movements　of　the　angelic　host。
Success　can　only　attend　order　and　harmonious　action。　God　requires　order　and
system　in　His　work　now　no　less　than　in　the　days　of　Israel。　All　who　are
working　for　Him　are　to　labor　intelligently；　not　in　a　careless；　haphazard
manner。　He　would　have　his　work　done　with　faith　and　exactness；　that　He　may
place　the　seal　of　His　approval　upon　it。

God　Himself　directed　the　Israelites　in　all　their　travels。　The　place　of　their
encampment　was　indicated　by　the　descent　of　the　pillar　of　cloud；　and　so　long
as　they　were　to　remain　in　camp；　the　cloud　rested　over　the　tabernacle。　When
they　were　to　continue　their　journey　it　was　lifted　high　above　the　sacre