The Pulpit Commentary — Exodus — Volume 2 — Section 241

holy pl11ce. The true Christi11n Church the only light which in the world's darknes 8 reve11ls the things of God 11nd the pathway to his pre8cnce.-U. Vers. 1~0.-The arlc, the table, and the candlestick. The inRtructionR for th~ making of these essontial p11rts of the t11bernacle furniture occupy the remainder of the chl\pter. The directions for making the altar of incense are postponed to eh. xxx. 1-LO. 'fhe reason seems to be that the uses of this altar could not be described without refe- rence to commands which were to be given respecting the altar of bumt-offerincr-to 0 which the altar of incense stood in a certain relation of dependence-and tQ the onli- nance for the institution of the priesthood. The instructions have respect to the internal relation of the parts. I. THE ARK AND MERCY BEAT (vers. 10---23). This was the heart of the sanctuary -the throne of Jehovah. As the nucleus of the whole structure, it is described first. 1. The arlc proper (vers. 10---17). For details, consult the exposition. A plain wooden box or chest, overlaid within and without with pure gold, and borne upon staves, for the insertion of which rings were provided in its feet or comers, its structure could not well have been simpler. On the resemblances and differences between this ark o.nd the religious arks of the Egyptians, see the interesting article in " Kitto's Cycloprodia." The ark, in the religion of Israel, was simply a depository for the two tables of stone-the tables of the covenant. In its freedom from idolatrous symbols (in this respect a contrast to the Egyptian arks), it was a testimony to monotheism; in the character of its contents, it testified to the ethical foundation of the religion-to the severe and stem morality which formed its basis. If ever doubt is cast on the pure moral character of the Hebrew faith, it.should suffice to refute it, to point to the ark of the testimony. What a witness to the ruling power of the moral in this religion that, when the sacred chest is opened, the sole contents are found to be the two stone tables of the moral law (ver. 16) I The deposition of these tables in the ark, under- neath the mercy seat, had three ends. (1) They testified to the fact that God's kingdom in Israel was founded on i=utable justice and righteousness (Ps. 1xxxix.. 15; xcvii. 2). Even grace, in its actings, must respect law. Favour cannot be dispensed on terms which make the law "void" (Rom. iii. 31). If sin is pardoned, it must be with full recognition of the law's claims against the sinner. The ultimate end must be to " esta- blish the law" (Rom. iii. 31). Only in the Gospel have we the clear revelation of how, on these terms, mercy and truth can meet together, and righteousness and. peace can kiss each other (Ps. lxxxv. 10 ; Rom. iii. 21-27). (2) They testified to the covenant obligation. The tables were, as Oehler calls them, "the obligatory document of the covenant." As such they were laid up in the heart of the sanctuary. (3) They testi- fied against Israel's sins and backslidings. They testified against all sin in Israel, but especially against rebellion and deliberate apostasy. This appears to be the special force of the expression-" the testimony," "tables of testimony," etc. (Of. Deut. xxxi. 26, 27-" Take this book of the law, and put it in the side of the ark of the covenant of the Lord your God, that it may be there f o·r a witness against thee. For I know thy rebellion," etc.) 2. The mercy seat (ver. 17). The mercy seat, or propitiatory, made of pure gold, served as a lid or covering to the sacred chest. Th1t name, however, as the Piel form implies, had more especial reference to the covering of sins. Sprinkled with blood of atonement, the mercy seat cancelled, as it were, the con- demnatory witness of the underlying tables-covered sin from God's sight (ver. 21). From above this mercy seat, and from between the two cherubim that were upon it, God promised to meet with Moses, and to commune with him (ver. 22). The gracious element in the covenant with Israel here reaches its distinct expression. J ehova.h coul<l. "by no means clear the guilty;" i.e., he could not call sin anything else than what it was, or tamper in the least dearee with the condemnatory testimony of the law against it; but he could admit atone~ents, and on the ground of expiatory rites, could furgiue sin, and receive the sinner anew to his favour. The mercy seat thus foreshadowe<l. Christ, as, in his sacred Person, the great Propitiatory for man (Rom. iii. 25j-priest, sacrifice, and mercy seat in one. On the basis of mere law, there can be no communion between God and man. The blooti-spr:nk:ed mercy seat must intervene. Only on the grouml of Christ's mediation aud intercession, can God_ transac_t with sinners. 3. The ·cherubim (vcn,. 18-23). The chernb10 figlll'cs were lurrueJ. lrom the same piece of  TIIE ROOK OF EXODUS. [rn. XXV. 10-40.