PRECIOUS THINGS
[Illustration] "THE new church holds ten times as many people as the
Tabernacle could," observed Agnes. "I cannot think how a large nation
like the Israelites could find space to meet in such a small place,
only about twice the size of this room?"
"The Tabernacle was never intended to be to the Israelites what a
church is to us," remarked Mrs. Temple. "In the warm climate of Arabia,
the people worshipped in the open air, under the blue canopy of the
sky; no building to shelter them was required, such as is needful in
England. The men of Israel brought their sacrifices to the court of the
Tabernacle, where, as you already know, the Altar of burnt-offering and
the Laver were placed."
"But, mamma, what was inside the Tabernacle itself—what was so very
carefully kept under those four sets of curtains?" asked Dora.
"The Tabernacle was divided into two rooms by a most magnificent
curtain of rich embroidery called the 'Veil,'" replied Mrs. Temple.
"The outer room, which was double the size of the inner, was named
the 'Holy,' or 'Sanctuary.' In this outer room were kept the splendid
golden Candlestick with its seven branches, each supporting a lamp
which burned all through the night, and the Table of Shewbread, on
which twelve cakes of unleavened bread were constantly kept—the supply
being changed on every Sabbath."
"Ah! I remember, it was that shewbread which was given to David when
he was hungry," said Lucius, "though it was meant to be eaten only by
priests."
"What other things were in the outer part of the Tabernacle?" asked
Agnes.
"There was the Altar of Incense, upon which sweet perfume was daily
burned, so that the room was filled with fragrance."
"You have told us, mamma, what was in the first part of the beautiful
Tabernacle; but what was in the very innermost part, the little room
beyond the Veil?" asked Amy.
"That little room, about fifteen feet square, was called the 'Holy of
holies,' and contained the most precious object of all—the special
symbol of the presence of the Most High. That object was the Ark,
with its cover of pure gold which was called the 'Mercy-seat,' and
on which were figures of cherubim, wrought also in gold, with wings
outstretched. Over this Mercy-seat, and between the golden cherubim
rested the wondrous glory which showed that God was with His people.
David, doubtless, referred to this when he wrote in the eightieth
Psalm, 'Thou that dwellest between the cherubims, shine forth!'"
"And were not precious things laid up in the Ark?" inquired Agnes.
"Were not the tables of stone on which the Commandments were written
put into it?"
"And the Pot of Manna, kept to remind the people how their fathers were
fed in the desert?" said Dora.
"And the wonderful Rod of Aaron that budded and blossomed and bore
fruit, was not that also in the Ark?" asked Lucius.
"All these most precious and holy things were laid up in the Ark,
beneath the golden cherubim," replied Mrs. Temple.
"Oh, I should have liked above all things to have, seen them!"
exclaimed little Elsie. "I should have liked to have lifted up the
splendid curtain-veil, and to have gone into the Holy of holies—if the
light had not been too dazzlingly bright—and have looked upon all those
precious things! Most of all, I'd have liked to see that wonderful Rod
of Aaron, if it was the very very same rod that had once been turned
into a serpent."
"Ah, my child, none of us would have dared to have lifted that Veil,
or to have placed a foot within the Holy of holies!" exclaimed Mrs.
Temple. "No mortal was ever suffered to enter that place, most sacred
of all, except the High Priest, and that but on one day of the year—the
Day of Atonement. Aaron himself, the first High Priest, with trembling
awe must have lifted the Veil, and approached the Mercy-seat over which
the cherubims spread their wings of gold!"
[Illustration: THE ARK.]
Mrs. Temple spoke in so solemn a tone, as she pointed to the picture of
the High Priest kneeling in the Holy of holies, that the children felt
that the subject was very sacred, and none of them spoke for several
moments. Then Lucius observed, "There is now no place on earth into
which no one dare enter, like the Holy of holies in the Tabernacle of
old."
"No, my dear, because the Veil has been rent in twain, and the Lord
Christ, our great High Priest, has opened a free way for all believers,
even into the Holy of holies where God dwells in glory for ever!" said
Mrs. Temple, with even greater reverence in her manner, and clasping
her hands as she spoke.
"Mamma, I cannot understand you!" cried Amy.
"These are the deep things of God, my dear, and it is very difficult to
explain their meaning to children.
"The Tabernacle and the things within it were types, or, as we may call
them, pictures of heavenly mysteries, revealed to us by the Gospel. But
we will not enter now upon those difficult subjects. I think that you
know a little about the appearance of the Tabernacle of which you are
anxious to make a model, and also of what was contained within it. To
understand the meaning of that holy place, and of its contents, will
require much earnest thought and attention. We may perhaps converse a
little about it to-morrow, which is Sunday. You will have abundance of
time, as the fear of giving infection to others obliges me to keep you
from going to church."