patriarchs and prophets-第77节

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ruin　that　have　resulted　from　it。　Says　the　psalmist；　〃Thou　hast　destroyed　the
wicked；　thou　hast　put　out　their　name　forever　and　ever。　O　thou　enemy；
destructions　are　come　to　a　perpetual　end。〃　Psalm　9：5；　6。

But　amid　the　tempest　of　divine　judgment　the　children　of　God　will　have　no
cause　for　fear。　〃The　Lord　will　be　the　hope　of　His　people；　and　the　strength
of　the　children　of　Israel。〃　Joel　3：16。　The　day　that　brings　terror　and
destruction　to　the　transgressors　of　God's　law　will　bring　to　the　obedient
〃joy　unspeakable　and　full　of　glory〃　〃Gather　My　saints　together　unto　Me；〃
saith　the　Lord；　〃those　that　have　made　a　covenant　with　Me　by　sacrifice。　And
the　heavens　shall　declare　His　righteousness：　for　God　is　Judge　Himself。〃

〃Then　shall　ye　return；　and　discern　between　the　righteous　and　the　wicked；
between　him　that　serveth　God　and　him　that　serveth　Him　not。〃　Malachi　3：18。
〃Hearken　unto　Me；　ye　that　know　righteousness；　the　people　in　whose　heart　is
My　law。〃　〃Behold；　I　have　taken　out　of　thine　hand　the　cup　of　trembling；　。　。　。
thou　shalt　no　more　drink　it　again。〃　I；　even　I；　am　He　that　comforteth　you。〃
Isaiah　51：7；　22；　12。　〃For　the　mountains　shall　depart；　and　the　hills　be
removed；　but　My　kindness　shall　not　depart　from　thee；

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neither　shall　the　covenant　of　My　peace　be　removed；　saith　the　Lord　that　hath
mercy　on　thee。〃　Isaiah　54：10。

The　great　plan　of　redemption　results　in　fully　bringing　back　the　world　into
God's　favor。　All　that　was　lost　by　sin　is　restored。　Not　only　man　but　the
earth　is　redeemed；　to　be　the　eternal　abode　of　the　obedient。　For　six　thousand
years　Satan　has　struggled　to　maintain　possession　of　the　earth。　Now　God's
original　purpose　in　its　creation　is　accomplished。　〃The　saints　of　the　Most
High　shall　take　the　kingdom；　and　possess　the　kingdom　forever；　even　forever
and　ever。〃　Daniel　7：18。

〃From　the　rising　of　the　sun　unto　the　going　down　of　the　same　the　Lord's　name
is　to　be　praised。〃　Psalm　113：3。　〃In　that　day　shall　there　be　one　Lord；　and
His　name　one。〃　〃And　Jehovah　shall　be　king　over　all　the　earth。〃　Zechariah
14：9。　Says　the　Scripture；　〃Forever；　O　Lord；　Thy　word　is　settled　in　heaven。〃
〃All　His　commandments　are　sure。　They　stand　fast　forever　and　ever。〃　Psalms
119：89；　111：7；　8。　The　sacred　statutes　which　Satan　has　hated　and　sought　to
destroy；　will　be　honored　throughout　a　sinless　universe。　And　〃as　the　earth
bringeth　forth　her　bud；　and　as　the　garden　causeth　the　things　that　are　sown
in　it　to　spring　forth；　so　the　Lord　God　will　cause　righteousness　and　praise
to　spring　forth　before　all　nations。〃　Isaiah　61：11。




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　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　Chapter　30

　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　The　Tabernacle　and　Its　Services


The　command　was　communicated　to　Moses　while　in　the　mount　with　God；　〃Let　them
make　Me　a　sanctuary；　that　I　may　dwell　among　them；〃　and　full　directions　were
given　for　the　construction　of　the　tabernacle。　By　their　apostasy　the
Israelites　forfeited　the　blessing　of　the　divine　Presence；　and　for　the　time
rendered　impossible　the　erection　of　a　sanctuary　for　God　among　them。　But
after　they　were　again　taken　into　favor　with　Heaven；　the　great　leader
proceeded　to　execute　the　divine　command。

Chosen　men　were　especially　endowed　by　God　with　skill　and　wisdom　for　the
construction　of　the　sacred　building。　God　Himself　gave　to　Moses　the　plan　of
that　structure；　with　particular　directions　as　to　its　size　and　form；　the
materials　to　be　employed；　and　every　article　of　furniture　which　it　was　to
contain。　The　holy　places　made　with　hands　were　to　be　〃figures　of　the　true；〃
patterns　of　things　in　the　heavens〃　（Hebrews　9：24；　23）a　miniature
representation　of　the　heavenly　temple　where　Christ；　our　great　High　Priest；
after　offering　His　life　as　a　sacrifice；　was　to　minister　in　the　sinner's
behalf。　God　presented　before　Moses　in　the　mount　a　view　of　the　heavenly
sanctuary；　and　commanded　him　to　make　all　things　according　to　the　pattern
shown　him。　All　these　directions　were　carefully　recorded　by　Moses；　who
communicated　them　to　the　leaders　of　the　people。

For　the　building　of　the　sanctuary　great　and　expensive　preparations　were
necessary；　a　large　amount　of　the　most　precious　and　costly　material　was
required；　yet　the　Lord　accepted　only　freewill　offerings。　〃Of　every　man　that
giveth　it　willingly　with　his　heart　ye　shall　take　My　offering〃　was　the　divine
command　repeated　by　Moses　to　the　congregation。　Devotion　to　God　and　a　spirit
of　sacrifice　were　the　first　requisites　in　preparing　a　dwelling　place　for　the
Most　High。

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All　the　people　responded　with　one　accord。　〃They　came；　every　one　whose　heart
stirred　him　up；　and　every　one　whom　his　spirit　made　willing；　and　they　brought
the　Lord's　offering　to　the　work　of　the　tabernacle　of　the　congregation；　and
for　all　His　service；　and　for　the　holy　garments。　And　they　came；　both　men　and
women；　as　many　as　were　willinghearted；　and　brought　bracelets；　and　earrings；
and　rings；　and　tablets；　all　jewels　of　gold：　and　every　man　that　offered；
offered　an　offering　of　gold　unto　the　Lord。〃

〃And　every　man　with　whom　was　found　blue；　and　purple；　and　scarlet；　and　fine
linen；　and　goats'　hair；　and　rams'　skins　dyed　red；　and　sealskins；　brought
them。　Everyone　that　did　offer　an　offering　of　silver　and　brass　brought　the
Lord's　offering：　and　every　man；　with　whom　was　found　acacia　wood　for　any　work
of　the　service；　brought　it。

〃And　all　the　women　that　were　wisehearted　did　spin　with　their　hands；　and
brought　that　which　they　had　spun；　the　blue；　and　the　purple；　the　scarlet；　and
the　fine　linen。　And　all　the　women　whose　heart　stirred　them　up　in　wisdom　spun
the　goats'　hair。

〃And　the　rulers　brought　the　onyx　stones；　and　the　stones　to　be　set；　for　the
ephod；　and　for　the　breastplate；　and　the　spice；　and　the　oil；　for　the　light；
and　for　the　anointing　oil；　and　for　the　sweet　incense。〃　Exodus　35：23…28；　R。V。

While　the　building　of　the　sanctuary　was　in　progress　the　people；　old　and
youngmen；　women；　and　childrencontinued　to　bring　their　offerings；　until
those　in　charge　of　the　work　found　that　they　had　enough；　and　even　more　than
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