patriarchs and prophets-第89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 iniquit
