patriarchs and prophets-第65章

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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　into　the
holy　place；＇*　SEE　APPENDIX；　NOTE　6。＇　but　the　flesh　was　then　to　be　eaten　by
the　priest；　as　Moses　directed　the　sons　of　Aaron；　saying；　〃God　hath　given　it
you　to　bear　the　iniquity　of　the　congregation。〃

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Leviticus　10：17。　Both　ceremonies　alike　symbolized　the　transfer　of　the　sin
from　the　penitent　to　the　sanctuary。

Such　was　the　work　that　went　on　day　by　day　throughout　the　year。　The　sins　of
Israel　being　thus　transferred　to　the　sanctuary；　the　holy　places　were
defiled；　and　a　special　work　became　necessary　for　the　removal　of　the　sins。
God　commanded　that　an　atonement　be　made　for　each　of　the　sacred　apartments；
as　for　the　altar；　to　〃cleanse　it；　and　hallow　it　from　the　uncleanness　of　the
children　of　Israel。〃　Leviticus　16：19。

Once　a　year；　on　the　great　Day　of　Atonement；　the　priest　entered　the　most　holy
place　for　the　cleansing　of　the　sanctuary。　The　work　there　performed　completed
the　yearly　round　of　ministration。

On　the　Day　of　Atonement　two　kids　of　the　goats　were　brought　to　the　door　of
the　tabernacle；　and　lots　were　cast　upon　them；　〃one　lot　for　the　Lord；　and　the
other　lot　for　the　scapegoat。〃　The　goat　upon　which　the　first　lot　fell　was　to
be　slain　as　a　sin　offering　for　the　people。　And　the　priest　was　to　bring　his
blood　within　the　veil；　and　sprinkle　it　upon　the　mercy　seat。　〃And　he　shall
make　an　atonement　for　the　holy　place；　because　of　the　uncleanness　of　the
children　of　Israel；　and　because　of　their　transgression　in　all　their　sins；
and　so　shall　he　do　for　the　tabernacle　of　the　congregation；　that　remaineth
among　them　in　the　midst　of　their　uncleanness。〃

〃And　Aaron　shall　lay　both　his　hands　upon　the　head　of　the　live　goat；　and
confess　over　him　all　the　iniquities　of　the　children　of　Israel；　and　all　their
transgressions　in　all　their　sins；　putting　them　upon　the　head　of　the　goat；
and　shall　send　him　away　by　the　hand　of　a　fit　man　into　the　wilderness：　and
the　goat　shall　bear　upon　him　all　their　iniquities　into　a　land　not
inhabited。〃　Not　until　the　goat　had　been　thus　sent　away　did　the　people　regard
themselves　as　freed　from　the　burden　of　their　sins。　Every　man　was　to　afflict
his　soul　while　the　work　of　atonement　was　going　forward。　All　business　was
laid　aside；　and　the　whole　congregation　of　Israel　spent　the　day　in　solemn
humiliation　before　God；　with　prayer；　fasting；　and　deep　searching　of　heart。

Important　truths　concerning　the　atonement　were　taught　the　people　by　this
yearly　service。　In　the　sin　offerings　presented　during　the　year；　a
substituted　had　been　accepted　in　the　sinner's　stead；　but　the　blood　of　the
victim　had　not　made　full　atonement　for　the　sin。　It　had　only　provided　a　means
by　which　the　sin　was

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transferred　to　the　sanctuary。　By　the　offering　of　blood；　the　sinner
acknowledged　the　authority　of　the　law；　confessed　the　guilt　of　his
transgression；　and　expressed　his　faith　in　Him　who　was　to　take　away　the　sin
of　the　world；　but　he　was　not　entirely　released　from　the　condemnation　of　the
law。　On　the　Day　of　Atonement　the　high　priest；　having　taken　an　offering　for
the　congregation；　went　into　the　most　holy　place　with　the　blood　and　sprinkled
it　upon　the　mercy　seat；　above　the　tables　of　the　law。　Thus　the　claims　of　the
law；　which　demanded　the　life　of　the　sinner；　were　satisfied。　Then　in　his
character　of　mediator　the　priest　took　the　sins　upon　himself；　and；　leaving
the　sanctuary；　he　bore　with　him　the　burden　of　Israel's　guilt。　At　the　door　of
the　tabernacle　he　laid　his　hands　upon　the　head　of　the　scapegoat　and
confessed　over　him　〃all　the　iniquities　of　the　children　of　Israel；　and　all
their　transgressions　in　all　their　sins；　putting　them　upon　the　head　of　the
goat。〃　And　as　the　goat　bearing　these　sins　was　sent　away；　they　were；　with
him；　regarded　as　forever　separated　from　the　people。　Such　was　the　service
performed　〃unto　the　example　and　shadow　of　heavenly　things。〃　Hebrews　8：5。

As　has　been　stated；　the　earthly　sanctuary　was　built　by　Moses　according　to
the　pattern　shown　him　in　the　mount。　It　was　〃a　figure　for　the　time　then
present；　in　which　were　offered　both　gifts　and　sacrifices；〃　its　two　holy
places　were　〃patterns　of　things　in　the　heavens；〃　Christ；　our　great　High
Priest；　is　〃a　minister　of　the　sanctuary；　and　of　the　true　tabernacle；　which
the　Lord　pitched；　and　not　man。〃　Hebrews　9：9；　23；　8：2。　As　in　vision　the
apostle　John　was　granted　a　view　of　the　temple　of　God　in　heaven；　he　beheld
there　〃seven　lamps　of　fire　burning　before　the　throne。〃　He　saw　an　angel
〃having　a　golden　censer；　and　there　was　given　unto　him　much　incense；　that　he
should　offer　it　with　the　prayers　of　all　saints　upon　the　golden　altar　which
was　before　the　throne。〃　Revelation　4：5；　8：3。　Here　the　prophet　was　permitted
to　behold　the　first　apartment　of　the　sanctuary　in　heaven；　and　he　saw　there
the　〃seven　lamps　of　fire〃　and　the　〃golden　altar〃　represented　by　the　golden
candlestick　and　the　altar　of　incense　in　the　sanctuary　on　earth。　Again；　〃the
temple　of　God　was　opened〃　（Revelation　11：19）；　and　he　looked　within　the　inner
veil；　upon　the　holy　of　holies。　H