they were of pre-eminent importance, and were in- tended to convey the most valuable instruction. Mark,
1. The renewing of the tables which had been broken —
[This intimated that God was reconciled towards them, and was still willing to take them as his people, and to give himself to them as their God. The very first words of the Law thus given said to them, " I am the Lord thy God." So that on this part of the subject it is unnecessary to dwell.]
2. The putting of them, when so renewed, into an ark —
[Christ is that ark into which the law was put. To him it was committed, in order that he might fulfil it for us. He was made under the law for this express endf : and he has ful- filled it in all its parts ; enduring all its penalties, and obeying all its precepts g. This he was appointed of God to do: the law was put into his heart on purpose that he might do ith : and having done it, he is " the end of the law for righteousness to every one that believe th1." Hence we are enabled to view the law without fear, and to hear it without trembling. Now we can contemplate its utmost requirements, and see that it has been satisfied in its highest demands. We can now even found our hopes upon it ; not as obeyed by us ; but as obeyed by our surety and substitute, the Lord Jesus Christ; by whose obedience it has been more magnified than it has ever been dishonoured by our disobedience. It is no longer now a " ministration of death and condemnation k," but a source of life to those who plead the sacrifice and obedience of Jesus Christ. In this view the law itself, no less than the prophets, bears testimony to Christ1, and declares that, through his righteousness, God can be " a just God, and yet a Saviour™," " just, and yet the justifier of all them that believe11." This is the great mystery which the angels so much admire, and which they are ever endeavouring to look into0.
If it appear strange that so much should be intimated in so small a matter, let us only consider what we know assuredly to have been intimated in an occurrence equally insignificant, which took place at the very same time. When Moses came down with these tables in his hand, his face shined so bright that the people were unable to approach him ; and he was constrained to put a vail upon his face in order that they might
f Gal. iv. 4, 5. e Gal. hi. 13, 14. Phil. ii. 8.
h Ps. xl. 8. * Rom. x. 4. k 2 Cor. iii. 7, 9.
\ Rom. iii. 21, 22. m Isai. xlv. 21. n Rom. iii. 26.
0 Carefully compare Exod. xxv. 17 — 20. with 1 Pet. i. 12.