HOMILETICS. Vers. 9-18.-The Oourt of the Tabernacle. I. TnE UBE OJI' THE COURT. The court w0,9 primarily a precinct inclosing the sacred structure, and preserving it from contact with the roughnesses of the rude world without. It formed a sort of vestibule to the tent-temple, which awoke solemn thoughts, and gave men time to put away secular considE>rations, and attune their minds to the Divine harmonies, before entering the house itself, which contained the manifestation of the Divine presence. God must be approached with preparation, humbly, reverently, tremblingly. The court at once pre- served the sacred structure from accidental or intentional profanation, and helped to prepare the priests for the duties of their office. Secondly, the court was the place of sacrifice. It contained the brazen altar, whither all Israel was to bring their gifts. Here were offered, e.t once e.11 the stated sacrifices, daily, or weekly, or monthly, or yearly, and all the irregular and voluntary offerings which the piety of the Israelites induced them to bring in. The smoke of victims continually ascended from it to heaven. Here was the place .for expiation-for thankfulness-for self-dedication to the service of God_ II. THE PERSONS ENTITLED TO HAVE THE USE OJI' IT. These were all Israel-young and old, rich and poor, great and small, priests and laymen. Into the holy of holies none but the high priest, into the holy place none but the priests might enter. But the court was common to the priesthood with the laity. Hither came, to "the door of the tabernacle of the congregation," every pious Israelite who was minded to offer a sacrifice of any kind-whose heart swelled with gratitude for mercies received, and who there- fore brought a" thank-offering "-whose soul was weighed down with the sense of sin, and who sought relief by the sacrifice of a. "sin-offering "-whose awakened spirit told him that unless the soul wholly rests on God there is no peace for it, and who, as a. sign of absolute self-dedication, came to offer a. "burnt-offering." Hither ea.me many a man, and many a woman, like Hannah (1 Sam. i. 7-11), in sore trouble, and offered to the Lord Almighty their vows. Whatever may have been the practice with respect to the temple, while tne tabernacle endured, the whole congregation had free access to it_ Here they felt themselves to be that "kingdom of priests"-that "holy nation"- which God had declared that they should be (eh. xix. 6). Here they realised, at any rate to some extent, that blessing which is among the greatest of the Christian's privi- leges-the right to "come boldly to the throne of grace" (Heb. iv. 16)--to "draw near to God," without an earthly mediator, "in full assurance of faith" ( ib. L 22}--to " cast all our care upon him "-to have direct communion with him-to speak with him, "as a. man speaks with his friend." Ill. '!'HE POSITION OF Tm: COURT' WlTU RESPECT TO THE REST OF THE TABERNACLE. There was clearly a gradation in holiness. '!'he inner shrine had a sanctity peculiar to itself, expressed by the very name, " holy of holies." Here was the greatest beauty and the greatest magnificence. Walls entirely of gold, curtains of cunning work, inter- woven with the graceful forms of cherubim, furniture all covered with gold, golden cherubs of beaten work upon the mercy-seat-above all, the glory of God showing in the space .between these ficrures. A lesser degree of sanctity belonged to the outer chamber-" the holy place /'and this was indicated by inferior richness and magnificence. Though gold was still the metal chiefly used, silver, an~ even br~nze ( eh. xxvi. 37), were introduced. '!'he outer curtain was not wrought with cherubim (ver. 36). The change was even greater between the "holy place" and the court. In the court was no gol<l, out only silver and bronze. '!'he "hangings" were for the most p..rt plain. Only t:XOIJUS-11. 27'4 THE BOOK OF EXODUS. [m. nvn. l!l.
nt the ent.rl\nce did the eye rest upon t.he mingled glory of blue and purple and scarlet, ""d upon the cunning work of embroidery. The furniture 1md uteneilB were of bronze only. Again, the gr&de.tion we.~ m1trked by the law of Rdmission: into the court, Rll t U<' congregation; into the II holy pll\ce," the priests only; into the II holy of holies," none hut the high rriest. And thus it will be RlwRys, M we Bre nee.rer to God or furthor from him. If we dwell only in his courts, on the out.er verge of his kingdom, we must be content with the bronze e.nd pie.in linen of be.re e.ccepte.nce ; we must not expect tnvour, glory, beauty. If, on the other band. we press forward from his courts into his R&nctue.ry; if we strive ever to BdvBnce in holiness, then he has better things in store for us. " For brass he will give gold" (ls. Ix. 17), for acccpte.noe, approval-for mere pardon, communion and fellowship; and to such as press into the inner shrine, with the" boldneRs" the.t is now legitimo.te (Hob. x. 19), ho will revee.l himself in the full splendour of his majesty, end in the perfect glow of his love.
EXPOSITION. Ver 19.-TRE VEIIIIBLl!OPTBE'l'ABEIDiAOLB. great laver or "brazen aea," for the smaller There were many " - l s of the tabernacle " lave!'II upon wheels, for the pots, the shovels, which have not hitherto been mentioned, as the basins, the snuffers, the spoons, and many the great }aver in the coort (eh. u:x. 18; xl. other sacred vessels (1 King& vii. 15-45 ; 30) with the basins for washing which mllBt 2 Kings xxv. 18, 14). Though "common," have belonged to it; the pins or pegs whereby it was never reckoned " nnclea.n," or less the nrioos curtains were ext.ended and sup- fitted for the service of the sanctuary tho.n ported ; and probably much BBCri.ficial ap- silver or gold. It bad, however, its own paratus beRids what i& enumerated in ver. 8. proper place, an inferior place to that held by All these were t.o be of bronze, the commonest the more precious metals. metal of the time, but one very suit.able for Ver. 19. - All the plu thereof. The the varioos purposes, being, as the Egyptians " pins " of the tabernacle are nndoubtedly the mauufactured it, of great hardness, yet ex- peg& or tent-pins, whereby the tent-cloth ~ngly ductile and ready to take all shapes. wherewith it was covered was extended o.nd Its usefuln- and convenience ea used it to kept taut. There were also probably similar Nblin it& place, even in the gorgeoos and pegs or pins for cords used t.o keep the " pillars " ( eh. xxvi. 87) or tent-poles in "magnificent" temple of Solomon (1 Cbron. place. The JIUIII of the oourt supported in lCtiL 2, 7), where it was employed for the the same way the pillu& of the court (ver& two gr.t pillu&, Jachin and Boaz, for the 10-15).