INTERNATIONAL SERIES

Pacific Press Publishing Company · Oakland, California · May 1, 1901

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 27, No. 18.

INTERNATIONAL SERIES

THE SABBATH SCHOOL

LESSON 6.—MAY 11.—THE COURT, ALTAR OF BURNT-OFFERING, AND LAVER.

[Note to the Student.—These lessons are not designed to be exhaustive, but suggestive. In references to the “Desire of Ages,” in the lessons, the subscription edition is referred to. Those who have only the trade edition will find the matter in chapters 1, 4, 11, 27, 71, 77, 78; also read “Patriarchs and Prophets,” chapters 5 and 30. “Christ Our Advocate,” Bible Students’ Library No. 129 (price, 10 cents), and “Looking unto Jesus” (price, $1.00) will be found a great help. The SIGNS OF THE TIMES will have an article on the subject of each lesson this quarter by J. O. Corliss. Read these articles in connection with the study of the lesson. We have not space to print all the scriptures. Let the student study them carefully from the Bible. Those printed are from the Revised Version.]

SUGGESTIVE QUESTIONS.

1. In what was the sanctuary enclosed? By what was it surrounded? What was its size?

Ans.—By the court, 100x50 cubits, enclosed by brass pillars set in sockets of silver, 5 cubits apart, on which were hung a curtain of fine twined linen five cubits wide. The gate on the east side was 20 cubits wide. See Ex. 27:9-18.

2. Of what was the gate or door composed? Where was it placed?

“The hangings for the one side of the gate shall be fifteen cubits; their pillars three, and their sockets three. And for the other side shall be hangings of fifteen cubits; their pillars three, and their sockets three. And for the gate of the court shall be a screen of twenty cubits, of blue, and purple, and scarlet, and fine twined linen, the work of the embroiderer; their pillars four, and their sockets four.” Ex. 27:14-16. (Note 1.)

3. On entering thru the door into the court, what would be reached first?

“And thou shalt set the altar of burnt-offering before the door of the tabernacle of the tent of meeting.” Ex. 40:6.

4. What offerings were slain there?

Ans.—Burnt-offerings, sin-offerings, trespass or guilt-offerings. See Lev. 1:10; 6:25; 7:2.

5. What was done with the blood?

“And the priest shall put of the blood upon the horns of the altar of sweet incense before the Lord, which is in the tent of meeting; and all the blood of the bullock shall he pour out at the base of the altar of burnt-offering, which is at the door of the tent of meeting.”

“And the priest shall put of the blood upon the horns of the altar which is before the Lord, that is in the tent of meeting, and all the blood shall he pour out at the base of the altar of burnt-offering, which is at the door of the tent of meeting.”

“And the priest shall take of the blood thereof with his finger, and put it upon the horns of the altar of burnt-offering, and all the blood thereof shall he pour out at the base of the altar.” Lev. 4:7, 18, 30.

6. What is the blood declared to be?

“For the life of the flesh is in the blood; and I have given it to you upon the altar to make atonement for your souls; for it is the blood that maketh atonement by reason of the life. Therefore I said unto the children of Israel, No soul of you shall eat blood, neither shall any stranger that sojourneth among you eat blood.”

“For as to the life of all flesh, the blood thereof is one with the life thereof; therefore I said unto the children of Israel, Ye shall eat the blood of no manner of flesh; for the life of all flesh is the blood thereof; whosoever eateth it shall be cut off.” Lev. 17:11, 12, 14. (Gen. 9:4.)

7. For what purpose did Christ shed His blood or give His life?

“For I delivered unto you first of all that which also I received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures.” 1 Cor. 15:3. (1 John 1:7; 1 Peter 1:18, 19; 2:24; 3:18.)

8. Where was the laver placed? What was its use?

Ans.—At the east end of the tabernacle between the altar of burnt-offering and the sanctuary, for the use of the priests in washing. See Ex. 30:18-21.

9. How are we washed and cleansed?

“Peter saith unto Him, Thou shalt never wash my feet. Jesus answered him, If I wash thee not, thou hast no part with Me. Simon Peter saith unto Him, Lord, not my feet only, but also my hands and my head. Jesus saith to him, He that is bathed needeth not save to wash his feet, but is clean every whit; and ye are clean, but not all.” John 13:8-11. (John 15:3. Note 2. “Desire of Ages,” p. 646.)

NOTES.

1. By carefully comparing the statements in verses 9-18, it will be seen that the gate of the court was on the east end. This corresponded, of course, to the door of the tabernacle, which was at the east end in both the sanctuary which Moses built and the temple which Solomon built. See Eze. 8:16, and “Christ Our Advocate,” pp. 20, 21.

2. The people came to the sanctuary, where God dwelt between the cherubim, thru the gate or door of the court, by the altar of burnt-offering and the laver. So we come to the heavenly sanctuary, where God dwells, thru Christ, who is the door (John 10:7, 9), the sin-offering (Heb. 9:13, 14; 10:10-14), that was slain at the altar of burnt-offering, and the living Word by which we are cleansed from sin (John 1:1; 15:3; 1 Cor. 10:4; Eph. 5:25, 26). Christ was symbolized by the smitten rock which gave water to the people in the wilderness. When Aaron and his sons were chosen for the priesthood, they were washed all over by Moses, who was a representative of Christ. The new birth is spoken of as the washing of regeneration. Titus 3:5, margin. Ps. 119:9, 11 shows how we are cleansed by the Word.