The Pulpit Commentary — Exodus — Volume 2 — Section 252

divided the sacred enclosure into two apartments, the outer, the holy place, and the inner. the holy of holies, the true dwelling of Jehovah. The division, e.s already seen, "correspnnd!'d to the design of the tabern&Cle, where Jehovah desired not to dwell alone b:, himself, but to come and meet with his people" (Keil). The holy of holies, accordingly, contained the ark; the holy place, the symbols of the VOC&tion of the people. It was the ph\ce of the people's appro1tOh to God. Another curtain, "wrought with needlework," and, like the veil, suspended from pillars by hooks of gold, hung before the entrance in front. The pillars, in this ca,se, were/foe in number (vers. 86, 87). For details, dimensions, and theories of arrangement, consult the exposition. No scheme yet propounded is entirely free from ditncult:es. 'l'he general mee.surements, and the mention of "pins" in eh. xxvii. 19, point strongly in the direction of a tent form such as that suggested by Mr. Fergusson (Diet. of Bible, art. Temple). A difficulty, on this theory, arill8B from the stat.ement that the veil was to be hung" under the taches" (ver. 33). But the expression," under the taches," may be 1188d of a high- roofed structure with some degree of latitude, otherwise we must suppose that the veil origina.lly divided the sanctuary into two apartments of equal size. 2. Glory and beauty of the dweUing-place. Within the limits of its dimensions, the tabernacle was nia.lly a pla.ce of great splendour-a costly and magnificent erection. We should err, however, in going much beyond the general effect to be produced in seeking for s~·mbolica.l meanings. The shittim wood, the precious meta.ls, the colours, the finely- embroidered Hnen fabrics, have significance only as adding to the bea.uty and richness of the pla.ce designed for Jehove.h's abode. The end was, as far as possible, to rear a residence worthy of" the King of glory," or, from another point of view, to set forth, by the ext.emal splendour of the dwelling, the surpa.ssing glory and magnificence of him who dwelt in it. Thus a.lso was enhanced the idea. of the singular honour enjoyed by those who were permitt.ed to minister before him (see Fairbairn). The cherubic figures woven into the ta.berna.cle drapery, point, if our int.erpreta.tion of these figures is correct-to the host of angels who continua.Uy attend Jehova.h, who are his willinii; serva.nts in all that rela.tes to his kingdom, who take so deep a.n interest in its progres··, who furnish to his people a constant model of obedienoe (Matt. vi. 10), and who may be viewed as joiniug with them, in a.11 their services, in the worship of their King. They are pa.rt of the heavenly community, to which, a.s citizens in God's kingdom, we belong (B.eb. :xii. 22). The chapter ,suggests the following genera.I reflections : - 1. Wha.tever glory or bea.uty the tabernacle possessed was derived ultimately from God. Man could but work up materials furnished to him by the Maker of a.11. So with the "beauties of holiness" in the Church. It is God who gives us of his grace, and who works in us to will and to do of his good pleasure (Phil. ii. 13). 2. The ta.berna.cle, in another aspect of it, was a product of human art and skill. The pla.n was Divine; the materials were from God; "but the workmanship was man's. It is a characteristic of the " spiritua.l house" which God is now building on earth, that it also is being reared by human agency, a.nd that ea.eh individual has it in his power to contribute something to its beauty. Every holy life that is being lived is the weaving of a beautiful fa.bric for the adornment of this house. 3. God's condescension is seen in his wil,lingness to dwell with Israel in this wilderness-ma.de a.bode. Magnificent a.s it was, it was but a paltry abode to offer to the maker of heaven a.nd earth-to the possessor of a.11 things. Yet Jehovah did not spurn it. He sought an a.bode with men. His dwelling in the tabernacle was, in some aspects of it, a. grander thing than his inhabi- tation of the infinities of space. It told of a. God who does not spurn to enter into personal relations with his creatures. He will stoop as far as holiness permits, in his endeavour to reach them, and to lift them up to communion with himself. 4. The tabeI'WICle, glorious a.s it wo.s, was but the type of dwelling-places more glorious than itself. We have found the a.ntitypes in the once abased, but now glorified, humanity of Christ ; in the renewed heart of the believer; in the redeemed Church a.s a whole. God prefers the temple of the humble and contrite heart to the grandest building ever reared by hands of man (Is. lvil. 15).-J. 0. Vers. 1-37.-7"7.e tabernacle itself. Consider here- I. Goo's COMMANDMENT THAT A DWE!,LING-PLACE SHOULD BE PROVIDED FOR HIM • .A.gain.st cveu the lea,t degree of illlage-wak.ing there was a stern edict; and we might ali;o OIi. XXVI. l-3i.) TIIE IlOOK OF EXODUS.