patriarchs and prophets-第95章
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written upon our hearts。 Having the Spirit of Christ； we shall walk even as
He walked。 Through the prophet He declared of Himself； 〃I delight to do Thy
will； O My God： yea； Thy law is within My heart。〃 Psalm 40：8。 And when among
men He said； 〃The Father hath not left Me alone； for I do always those
things that please Him。〃 John 8：29。
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The apostle Paul clearly presents the relation between faith and the law
under the new covenant。 He says： 〃Being justified by faith； we have peace
with God through our Lord Jesus Christ。〃 〃Do we then make void the law
through faith？ God forbid： yea； we establish the law。〃 〃For what the law
could not do； in that it was weak through the flesh〃it could not justify
man； because in his sinful nature he could not keep the law〃God sending
His own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh； and for sin； condemned sin in
the flesh： that the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us； who
walk not after the flesh； but after the Spirit。〃 Romans 5：1； 3：31； 8：3； 4。
God's work is the same in all time； although there are different degrees of
development and different manifestations of His power； to meet the wants of
men in the different ages。 Beginning with the first gospel promise； and
coming down through the patriarchal and Jewish ages； and even to the present
time； there has been a gradual unfolding of the purposes of God in the plan
of redemption。 The Saviour typified in the rites and ceremonies of the
Jewish law is the very same that is revealed in the gospel。 The clouds that
enveloped His divine form have rolled back； the mists and shades have
disappeared； and Jesus； the world's Redeemer； stands revealed。 He who
proclaimed the law from Sinai； and delivered to Moses the precepts of the
ritual law； is the same that spoke the Sermon on the Mount。 The great
principles of love to God； which He set forth as the foundation of the law
and the prophets； are only a reiteration of what He had spoken through Moses
to the Hebrew people： 〃Hear； O Israel： The Lord our God is one Lord： and
thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thine heart； and with all thy
soul； and with all thy might。〃 Deuteronomy 6：4； 5。 〃Thou shalt love thy
neighbor as thyself。〃 Leviticus 19：18。 The teacher is the same in both
dispensations。 God's claims are the same。 The principles of His government
are the same。 For all proceed from Him 〃with whom is no variableness；
neither shadow of turning。〃 James 1：17。
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Chapter 33
From Sinai to Kadesh
The building of the tabernacle was not begun for some time after Israel
arrived at Sinai； and the sacred structure was first set up at the opening
of the second year from the Exodus。 This was followed by the consecration of
the priests； the celebration of the Passover； the numbering of the people；
and the completion of various arrangements essential to their civil or
religious system； so that nearly a year was spent in the encampment at
Sinai。 Here their worship had taken a more definite form； the laws had been
given for the government of the nation； and a more efficient organization
had been effected preparatory to their entrance into the land of Canaan。
The government of Israel was characterized by the most thorough
organization； wonderful alike for its completeness and its simplicity。 The
order so strikingly displayed in the perfection and arrangement of all God's
created works was manifest in the Hebrew economy。 God was the center of
authority and government； the sovereign of Israel。 Moses stood as their
visible leader； by God's appointment； to administer the laws in His name。
From the elders of the tribes a council of seventy was afterward chosen to
assist Moses in the general affairs of the nation。 Next came the priests；
who consulted the Lord in the sanctuary。 Chiefs； or princes； ruled over the
tribes。 Under these were 〃captains over thousands； and captains over
hundreds； and captains over fifties； and captains over tens；〃 and； lastly；
officers who might be employed for special duties。 Deuteronomy 1：15。
The Hebrew camp was arranged in exact order。 It was separated into three
great divisions； each having its appointed position in the encampment。 In
the center was the tabernacle； the abiding place of the invisible King。
Around it were stationed
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the priests and Levites。 Beyond these were encamped all the other tribes。
To the Levites was committed the charge of the tabernacle and all that
pertained thereto； both in the camp and on the journey。 When the camp set
forward they were to strike the sacred tent； when a halting place was
reached they were to set it up。 No person of another tribe was allowed to
come near； on pain of death。 The Levites were separated into three
divisions； the descendants of the three sons of Levi； and each was assigned
its special position and work。 In front of the tabernacle； and nearest to
it； were the tents of Moses and Aaron。 On the south were the Kohathites；
whose duty it was to care for the ark and the other furniture； on the north
Merarites； who were placed in charge of the pillars； sockets； boards； etc。；
in the rear the Gershonites； to whom the care of the curtains and hangings
was committed。
The position of each tribe also was specified。 Each was to march and to
encamp beside its own standard； as the Lord had commanded： 〃Every man of the
children of Israel shall pitch by his own standard； with the ensign of their
father's house： far off about the tabernacle of the congregation shall they
pitch。〃 〃As they encamp； so shall they set forward； every man in his place
by their standards。〃 Numbers 2：2； 17。 The mixed multitude that had
accompanied Israel from Egypt were not permitted to occupy the same quarters
with the tribes； but were to abide upon the outskirts of the camp； and their
offspring were to be excluded from the community until the third generation。
Deuteronomy 23：7； 8。
Scrupulous cleanliness as well as strict order throughout the encampment and
its environs was enjoined。 Through sanitary regulations were enforced。 Every
person who was unclean from any cause was forbidden to enter the camp。 These
measures were indispensable to the preservation of health among so vast a
multitude； and it was necessary also that perfect order and purity be
maintained； that Israel might enjoy the presence of a holy God。 Thus He
declared： 〃The Lord thy God walketh in the midst of thy camp； to deliver
thee； and to give up thine enemies before thee； therefore shall thy camp he
holy。〃
In all the journeyings of Israel； 〃the ark of the covenant of the Lord went
before them； 。 。 。 to search out a resting place
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for them。〃 Numbers 10：33。 Borne by the sons of Kohath； the sacred chest
containing God's holy law was to lead the van。 Before it went Moses and
Aaron； and the priests； bearing silver trumpets； were stationed near。 These
priests received directions from Moses； which they communicated to the
people by the trumpets。 It was the duty of the leaders of each company to
give definite directions concerning all the movements to be made； as
indicated by the trumpets。 Whoever neglected to comply with the directions
given was punished with death。
God is a God of order。 Everything connected with heaven is in perfect order；
subjection and thorough discipline mark the movements of the angelic host。
Success can only attend order and harmonious action。 God requires order and
system in His work now no less than in the days of Israel。 All who are
working for Him are to labor intelligently； not in a careless； haphazard
manner。 He would have his work done with faith and exactness； that He may
place the seal of His approval upon it。
God Himself directed the Israelites in all their travels。 The place of their
encampment was indicated by the descent of the pillar of cloud； and so long
as they were to remain in camp； the cloud rested over the tabernacle。 When
they were to continue their journey it was lifted high above the sacred
tent。 A solemn invo
