patriarchs and prophets-第57章

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！


put　themselves　in　the　servant's　place；　leading　them　to　be　kind　and
compassionate；　to　deal　with　others　as　they　would　wish　to　be　dealt　with。

The　rights　of　widows　and　orphans　were　especially　guarded；　and　a　tender
regard　for　their　helpless　condition　was　enjoined。

　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　311

〃If　thou　afflict　them　in　any　wise；〃　the　Lord　declared；　〃and　they　cry　at　all
unto　Me；　I　will　surely　hear　their　cry；　and　My　wrath　shall　wax　hot；　and　I
will　kill　you　with　the　sword；　and　your　wives　shall　be　widows；　and　your
children　fatherless。〃　Aliens　who　united　themselves　with　Israel　were　to　be
protected　from　wrong　or　oppression。　〃Thou　shalt　not　oppress　a　stranger：　for
ye　know　the　heart　of　a　stranger；　seeing　ye　were　strangers　in　the　land　of
Egypt。〃

The　taking　of　usury　from　the　poor　was　forbidden。　A　poor　man's　raiment　or
blanket　taken　as　a　pledge；　must　be　restored　to　him　at　nightfall。　He　who　was
guilty　of　theft　was　required　to　restore　double。　Respect　for　magistrates　and
rulers　was　enjoined；　and　judges　were　warned　against　perverting　judgment；
aiding　a　false　cause；　or　receiving　bribes。　Calumny　and　slander　were
prohibited；　and　acts　of　kindness　enjoined；　even　toward　personal　enemies。

Again　the　people　were　reminded　of　the　sacred　obligation　of　the　Sabbath。
Yearly　feasts　were　appointed；　at　which　all　the　men　of　the　nation　were　to
assemble　before　the　Lord；　bringing　to　Him　their　offerings　of　gratitude　and
the　first　fruits　of　His　bounties。　The　object　of　all　these　regulations　was
stated：　they　proceeded　from　no　exercise　of　mere　arbitrary　sovereignty；　all
were　given　for　the　good　of　Israel。　The　Lord　said；　〃Ye　shall　be　holy　men　unto
Me〃worthy　to　be　acknowledged　by　a　holy　God。

These　laws　were　to　be　recorded　by　Moses；　and　carefully　treasured　as　the
foundation　of　the　national　law；　and；　with　the　ten　precepts　which　they　were
given　to　illustrate；　the　condition　of　the　fulfillment　of　God's　promises　to
Israel。

The　message　was　now　given　them　from　Jehovah：　〃Behold；　I　send　an　Angel　before
thee；　to　keep　thee　in　the　way；　and　to　bring　thee　into　the　place　which　I　have
prepared。　Beware　of　Him；　and　obey　His　voice；　provoke　Him　not；　for　He　will
not　pardon　your　transgressions：　for　My　name　is　in　Him。　But　if　thou　shalt
indeed　obey　His　voice；　and　do　all　that　I　speak；　then　I　will　be　an　enemy　unto
thine　enemies；　and　an　adversary　unto　thine　adversaries。〃　During　all　the
wanderings　of　Israel；　Christ；　in　the　pillar　of　cloud　and　of　fire；　was　their
Leader。　While　there　were　types　pointing　to　a　Saviour　to　come；　there　was　also
a　present　Saviour；　who　gave　commands　to　Moses　for　the　people；　and　who　was
set　forth　before　them　as　the　only　channel　of　blessing。

Upon　descending　from　the　mountain；　〃Moses　came　and　told　the　people　all　the
words　of　the　Lord；　and　all　the　judgments：

312

and　all　the　people　answered　with　one　voice；　and　said；　All　the　words　which
the　Lord　hath　said　will　we　do。〃　This　pledge；　together　with　the　words　of　the
Lord　which　it　bound　them　to　obey；　was　written　by　Moses　in　a　book。

Then　followed　the　ratification　of　the　covenant。　An　altar　was　built　at　the
foot　of　the　mountain；　and　beside　it　twelve　pillars　were　set　up；　〃according
to　the　twelve　tribes　of　Israel；〃　as　a　testimony　to　their　acceptance　of　the
covenant。　Sacrifices　were　then　presented　by　young　men　chosen　for　the
service。

Having　sprinkled　the　altar　with　the　blood　of　the　offerings；　Moses　〃took　the
book　of　the　covenant；　and　read　in　the　audience　of　the　people。〃　Thus　the
conditions　of　the　covenant　were　solemnly　repeated；　and　all　were　at　liberty
to　choose　whether　or　not　they　would　comply　with　them。　They　had　at　the　first
promised　to　obey　the　voice　of　God；　but　they　had　since　heard　His　law
proclaimed；　and　its　principles　had　been　particularized；　that　they　might　know
how　much　this　covenant　involved。　Again　the　people　answered　with　one　accord；
〃All　that　the　Lord　hath　said　will　we　do；　and　be　obedient。〃　〃When　Moses　had
spoken　every　precept　to　all　the　people　according　to　the　law；　he　took　the
blood；　。　。　。　and　sprinkled　both　the　book　and　all　the　people；　saying；　This　is
the　blood　of　the　testament　which　God　hath　enjoined　unto　you。〃　Hebrews　9：19；
20。

Arrangements　were　now　to　be　made　for　the　full　establishment　of　the　chosen
nation　under　Jehovah　as　their　king。　Moses　had　received　the　command；　〃Come　up
unto　the　Lord；　thou；　and　Aaron；　Nadab；　and　Abihu；　and　seventy　of　the　elders
of　Israel；　and　worship　ye　afar　off。　And　Moses　alone　shall　come　near　the
Lord。〃　While　the　people　worshiped　at　its　foot；　these　chosen　men　were　called
up　into　the　mount。　The　seventy　elders　were　to　assist　Moses　in　the　government
of　Israel；　and　God　put　upon　them　His　Spirit；　and　honored　them　with　a　view　of
His　power　and　greatness。　〃And　they　saw　the　God　of　Israel：　and　there　was
under　His　feet　as　it　were　a　paved　work　of　a　sapphire　stone；　and　as　it　were
the　body　of　heaven　in　his　clearness。〃　They　did　not　behold　the　Deity；　but
they　saw　the　glory　of　His　presence。　Before　this　they　could　not　have　endured
such　a　scene；　but　the　exhibition　of　God's　power　had　awed　them　to　repentance；
they　had　been　contemplating　His　glory；　purity；　and　mercy；　until　they　could
approach　nearer　to　Him　who　was　the　subject　of　their　meditations。

　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　313


Moses　and　〃his　minister　Joshua〃　were　now　summoned　to　meet　with　God。　And　as
they　were　to　be　some　time　absent；　the　leader　appointed　Aaron　and　Hur；
assisted　by　the　elders；　to　act　in　his　stead。　〃And　Moses　went　up　into　the
mount；　and　a　cloud　covered　the　mount。　And　the　glory　of　the　Lord　abode　upon
Mount　Sinai。〃　For　six　days　the　cloud　covered　the　mountain　as　a　token　of
God's　special　presence；　yet　there　was　no　revelation　of　Himself　or
communication　of　His　will。　During　this　time　Moses　remained　in　waiting　for　a
summons　to　the　presence　chamber　of　the　Most　High。　He　had　been　directed；
〃Come　up　to　Me　into　the　mount；　and　be　there；〃　and　though　his　patience　and
obedience　were　tested；　he　did　not　grow　weary　of　watching；　or　forsake　his
post。　This　period　of　waiting　was　to　him　a　time　of　preparation；　of　close
self…examination。　Even　this　favored　servant　of　God　could　not　at　once
approach　into　His　presence　and　endure　the　exhibitions　of　His　glory。　Six　days
must　be　employed　in　devoting　himself　to　God　by　searching　of　heart；
meditation；　and　prayer　before　he　could　be　prepared　for　direct　communication
with　his　Maker。

Upon　the　seventh　day；　which　was　the　Sabbath；　Moses　was　called　up　into　the
cloud。　The　thick　cloud　opened　in　the　sight　of　all　Israel；　and　the　glory　of
the　Lord　broke　forth　like　devouring　fire。　〃And　Moses　went　into　the　midst　of
the　cloud；　and　gat　him　up　into　the　mount；　and　Moses　was　in　the　mount　forty
days　and　forty　nights。〃　The　forty　days'　tarry　in　the　mount　did　not　include
the　six　days　of　preparation。　During　the　six　days　Joshua　was　with　Moses；　and
together　they　ate　of　the　manna　and　drank　of　〃the　brook　that　descended　out　of
the　mount。〃　But　Joshua　did　not　enter　with　Moses　into　the　cloud。　He　remained
without；　and　continued　to　eat　and　drink　daily　while　awaiting　the　return　of
Moses；　but　Moses　fasted　during　the　entire　forty　days。

During　his　stay　in　the　mount；　Moses　received　directions　for　the　building　of
a　sanctuary　in　which　the　divine　presence　would　be　specially　manifested。　〃Let
them　make　Me　a　sanctuary；　that　I　may　dwell　among　them〃　（Exodus　25：8）；　was
the　command　of　God。　For　the　third　time　the　observance　of　the　Sabbath　was
enjoined。　〃It　is　a　sign　between　Me　and　the　children　of　Israel　forever；〃　the
Lord　declared；　〃that　ye　may　know　that　I　am　Jehovah　that　doth　sanctify　you。
Ye　shall　keep　the　Sabbath　therefore；　for　it　is　holy　unto　you。　。　。　。
Whosoever　doeth　any　work　therein；　that　soul　shall　be　cut　off　from　among　his
people。〃　Exodus　31：17；

314

13；　14。　Directions　had　just　been　given　for　the　immediate　erection
of　the　tabernacle　for　the　service　of　God；　and　now　the　people　might　conclude；
because　the　object　had　in　view　was　the　glory　of　God；　and　also　because　of
their　great　need　of　a　place　of　worship；　that　they　would　be　justified　in
working　at　the　building　upon　the　Sabbath。　To　guard　them　from　this　error；　the
warning　was　given。　Even　the　sacredness　and　urgency　of　that　special　work　for
God　must　not　lead　them　to　infringe　upon　His　holy　rest　day。

Henceforth　the　people　were　to　be　honored　with　the　abiding　presence　of　their
King。　〃I　will　dwell　among　the　children　of　Israel；　and　will　be　their　God；〃
〃and　the　tabernacle　shall　be　sanctified　by　My　glory〃　（Exodus　29：45；　43）；　was
the　assurance　given　to　Moses。　As　the　symbol　of　God's　authority　and　the
embodiment　of　His　will；　there　was　delivered　to　Moses　a　copy　of　the　Decalogue
engraved　by　the　finger　of　God　Himself　upon　two　tables　of　stone　（Deuteronomy
9：10；　Exodus　32：15；　16）；　to　be　sacredly　enshrined　in　the　sanctuary；　which；
when　made；　was　to　be　the　visible　center　of　the　nation's　worship。

From　a　race　of　slaves　the　Israelites　had　been　exalted　above　all　peoples　to
be　the　peculiar　treasure　of　the　King　of　kings。　God　had　separated　them　from
the　world；　that　He　might　commit　to　them　a　sacred　trust。　He　had　made　them　the
depositaries　of　His　law；　and　He　purposed；　through　them；　to　preserve　among
men　the　knowledge　of　Himself。　Thus　the　light　of　heaven　was　to　shine　out　to　a
world　enshrouded　in　darkness；　and　a　voice　was　to　be　heard　appealing　to　all
peoples　to　turn　from　their　idolatry　to　serve　the　living　God。　If　the
Israelites　would　be　true　to　their　trust；　they　would　become　a　power　in　the
world。　God　would　be　their　defense；　and　He　would　exalt　them　above　all　other
nations。　His　light　and　truth　would　be　revealed　through　them；　and　they　would
stand　forth　under　His　wise　and　holy　rule　as　an　example　of　the　superiority　of
His　worship　over　every　form　of　idolatry。




　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　（315）

　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　Chapter　28

　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　Idolatry　at　Sinai


While　Moses　was　absent　it　was　a　time　of　waiting　and　suspense　to　Israel。　The
people　knew　that　he　had　ascended　the　mount　with　Joshua；　and　had　entered　the
cloud　of　thick　darkness　which　could　be　seen　from　the　plain　below；　resting　on
the　mountain　peak；　illuminated　from　time　to　time　with　the　lightnings　of　the
divine　Presence。　They　waited　eagerly　for　his　return。　Accustomed　as　they　had
been　in　Egypt　to　material　representations　of　deity；　it　had　been　hard　for
them　to　trust　in　an　invisible　being；　and　they　had　come　to　rely　upon　Moses　to
sustain　their　faith。　Now　he　was　taken　from　them。　Day　after　day；　week　after
week　passed；　and　still　he　did　not　return。　Notwithstanding　the　cloud　was
still　in　view；　it　seemed　to　many　in　the　camp　that　their　leader　had　deserted
them；　or　that　he　had　been　consumed　by　the　devouring　fire。

During　this　period　of　waiting；　there　was　time　for　them　to　meditate　upon　the
law　of　God　which　they　had　heard；　and　to　prepare　their　hearts　to　receive　the
further　revelations　that　He　might　make　to　them。　They　had　none　too　much　time
for　this　work；　and　had　they　been　thus　seeking　a　clearer　understanding　of
God's　requirements；　and　humbling　their　hearts　before　Him；　they　would　have
been　shielded　from　temptation。　But　they　did　not　do　this；　and　they　soon
became　careless；　inattentive；　and　lawless。　Especia