THE SABBATH SCHOOL

Pacific Press Publishing Company · Oakland, California · May 15, 1901

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 27, No. 20.

THE SABBATH SCHOOL

LESSON 8.—MAY 25.—ALTAR OF INCENSE, THE VAIL, AND ARK.

[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, 77, 78; also read “Patriarchs and Prophets,” chapters 5 and 30. “Christ Our Advocate,” Bible Students’ Library No. 120 (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. Where was the altar of incense placed?

“And thou shalt make an altar to burn incense upon; of acacia wood shalt thou make it.”

“And thou shalt put it before the vail that is by the ark of the testimony, before the mercy-seat that is over the testimony, where I will meet with thee.” Ex. 30:1, 6. (Ex. 40:26.)

2. For what purpose was it used? When was it offered?

“And Aaron shall burn thereon incense of sweet spices; every morning, when he dresseth the lamps, he shall burn it. And when Aaron lighteth the lamps at even, he shall burn it, a perpetual incense before the Lord throughout your generations.” Ex. 30:7, 8.

3. With what was the offering of incense connected? Of what was it a symbol?

“Let my prayer be set forth as incense before Thee; the lifting up of my hands as the evening sacrifice.”

“And another angel came and stood over the altar, having a golden censer; and there was given unto him much incense, that he should add it unto the prayers of all the saints upon the golden altar which was before the throne. And the smoke of the incense, with the prayers of the saints, went up before God out of the angel’s hand.” Ps. 141:2; Rev. 8:3, 4. (Note.)

4. For what purpose was the second vail?

“And he made the vail of blue, and purple, and scarlet, and fine twined linen; with cherubim the work of the cunning workman made he it. And he made thereunto four pillars of acacia, and overlaid them with gold; their hooks were of gold; and he cast for them four sockets of silver.” Ex. 36:35, 36. (Ex. 40:3, 21; Heb. 9:4.)

5. What was connected with the ark that needed to be vailed?

“And the Lord said unto Moses, Speak unto Aaron thy brother, that he come not at all times into the holy place within the vail, before the mercy-seat which is upon the ark; that he die not; for I will appear in the cloud upon the mercy-seat.” Lev. 16:2.

6. What was represented by the vail? Into what place may we now come?

“Having therefore, brethren, boldness to enter into the holy place by the blood of Jesus, by the way which He dedicated for us, a new and living way, thru the vail, that is to say, His flesh.” Heb. 10:19, 20.

7. What was placed within the ark?

“And thou shalt put into the ark the testimony which I shall give thee.” Ex. 25:16. (Deut. 10:4, 5.)

8. With what was the law covered?

“And thou shalt put the mercy-seat above upon the ark; and in the ark thou shalt put the testimony that I shall give thee.” Ex. 25:21.

9. Where was the blood of the atonement sprinkled?

“Then shall he kill the goat of the sin-offering, that is for the people, and bring his blood within the vail, and do with his blood as he did with the blood of the bullock, and sprinkle it upon the mercy-seat, and before the mercy-seat.” Lev. 16:15.

10. Where does our hope center?

“Which we have as an anchor of the soul, a hope both sure and steadfast and entering into that which is within the vail; whither as a forerunner Jesus entered for us, having become a high priest forever after the order of Melchizedek.” Heb. 6:19, 20.

11. What confidence should this give us?

“Let us therefore draw near with boldness unto the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy, and may find grace to help us in time of need.” Heb. 4:16.

NOTE.

“Day and night the holy incense diffused its fragrance throughout the sacred apartments, and without far around the tabernacle.” “The incense, ascending with the prayers of Israel, represents the merits and intercession of Christ.” “In the offering of incense the priest was brought more directly into the presence of God than in any other act of daily ministration.”—Patriarchs and Prophets, pp. 348, 353. So in prayer we are brought nearer to God than in any other act of worship.