The Pulpit Commentary — Exodus — Volume 2 — Section 239

HOMILIES BY VARIOUS AUTHORS. Chap. xxv., vers. 10-16; chap. xxxvii., vers. 1-5.-The ark of the testimony. When Jehovah provided for Israel an abiding record of his holy will, it was needful that Israel should also provide an appropriate receptacle. Nor was it left to Moses a.ncl the people to determine what might be most appropriate. Jehovah arranged things so that all the religious service of the people gathered around the two tables of stone. An Israelite gazing upon the great holy place of another nation and inquiring what might be its innermost treasure hidden and guarded from all presumptuous approach, wouhl get for answer that it was some image graven by a.rt and man's device; and he woultl further learn that the supposed will of this deity found its expression in all licentious and abominable rites. But, on the other hand, a gentile, looking towar<ls Israel's holy place and inquiring what might be behind the curtains of the tabernacle, and expecting perhaps to hear of some magnificent image, would be astounded with a very different reply. No image there I and not only no image, but words graven by God's desire which forbade fabrication of everything in the shape of an image. Within that gildetl box of shittim wood there lie written the leading requirements for those who would obey the will of J eho'l"ah. Litera scrip ta manet. 'I'he spot where that ark had a resting-place was a sacred spot, not approachable by the co=on multitude : but this was not because there was anything to conceal. The recesses of heathenism will not bear inspectiou. 'l'he character of the deity worshipped corresponds with th3 degradation of the worshippers. But here is the great distinction of that Divine service found in Israel, that however vile the people might be, and even the officiating priests, an exposure of the hidden things of their sacied place would have been an exposure of their apostasy. No Israelite neecletl to be a.shamed of what lay within the ark on which he was bound to look with :such veneration, which he was bound to guard with such assiduity; and if it be true that every human heart ought to be a sanctuary of God, then the very heart of hearts should be as the ark of the testimony in the sanctuary of old. Our hearts should be better than ow· outward services. We should have the consciousness that God's will has a real, an abiding, a cherished, a predominating place in our affections. A:11. the ~ctio1:1s of life should flow from the fountain formed by the ever living force of a J?1vme will ~1thin us. Let us ever consider the internal more than the external. If the mternal be nght, the external will come ricrht in due time. If God's co=andments-the full scheme uf Christian virtucs-aro'\ndeed written in our hearts, then all superficial hindrance~ ill.Ill roughness can only last for a littlo time. 'I'ho Divine life ruling with.in mw;t subdue :ill tLings to itsclf.-Y,  21\2 'l'IIE llOOK OF EX.onus. (en. nv. 10-40.