p. 108 | THE SANCTUARY by Uriah Smith

Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Apr 6, 1876

THE SANCTUARY.

By Uriah Smith

Fourteenth Paper.—What Is the Sanctuary?

This is exclusively a Bible question. With the testimony of the Bible only, then, have we to do. The object of our inquiry can only be, What does the Bible reveal to us respecting the sanctuary? And we shall find its testimony neither brief nor obscure on this important subject. The word occurs in the inspired Scriptures one hundred and forty-six times; and more times than this does it offer us instruction by prediction, definition, or historic record, concerning this wonderful object.

Perhaps no language can better introduce this subject than that of the apostle Paul in his letter to the Hebrews. In chap. 8, he contrasts the two covenants, the first and the second, the old and the new, under the latter of which we now live. In chap. 9, he then speaks as follows:—

“Then verily the first covenant had also ordinances of divine service, and a worldly sanctuary. For there was a tabernacle made; the first wherein was the candlestick, and the table, and the show-bread; which is called the sanctuary; and after the second vail, the tabernacle which is called the holiest of all; which had the golden censer, and the ark of the covenant, overlaid round about with gold, wherein was the golden pot that had manna, and Aaron’s rod that budded, and the tables of the covenant, and over it the cherubims of glory, shadowing the mercy-seat,” &c. Verses 1–5.

Let this language of the apostle be carefully considered. It both introduces and settles one great division of this question. It tells us definitely what, for a time, constituted the sanctuary of the Lord. During the period covered by the first covenant, while the tabernacle, ordained as thus plainly described, was in existence, there can be, in the face of these words of Paul, no controversy as to what constituted the sanctuary. Turning to the records of those times, we find a more definite mention of this singular structure, which, from its bearings and relations in the temple of divine truth, deserves to be examined with absorbing interest.

Go back to the time when Israel, crowned with deliverance, stood on the shore of the Red Sea, while the Egyptians were perishing at their feet in the returning and angry waters. Listen to that song of triumph which Moses sings, and mark this language, “The Lord is my strength and song, and he is become my salvation; he is my God, and I will prepare him an habitation.” Ex. 15: 2. In this we receive the first intimation of that building that was afterward to be erected by the direction of the Lord, that he might dwell among his people. In verse 17 of the same chapter, is the first occurrence of the word sanctuary which we find in the Bible.

Pursuing the sacred record, we find in the twenty-fifth chapter of Exodus, and onward, more definite information respecting the sanctuary. Here we read the commission which God gave to Moses for the erection of this building. In the third month after their departure from Egypt, the children of Israel came to the wilderness of Sinai. There Moses was summoned up into the mount, to an audience with his Maker. Forty days and nights were consumed in that memorable interview. During this time Moses was shown the pattern of the sanctuary, and all the sacred vessels, and received full instructions in relation thereto.

Into a particular description of the tabernacle, as erected by Moses, we need not here enter. It is minutely set forth in Exodus, chapters 25–31. Suffice it to say that it was a structure of extraordinary magnificence, formed of upright boards overlaid with gold. It was thirty cubits in length, about ten in width, and ten in height. At the east end, which was the entrance, there were five pillars of shittim wood, overlaid with gold, having hooks of gold and sockets of brass. Over the tabernacle, thus erected, were thrown four different coverings. The first and inner covering was composed of fine linen, embroidered with figures of cherubim in blue, purple, and scarlet. By this would be formed a ceiling of surpassing beauty and magnificence. The second covering was made of goats’ hair; the third of rams’ skins dyed red; and the fourth and last of badgers’ skins. A richly embroidered curtain suspended from the five pillars overlaid with gold, that stood at the entrance upon the east, formed the door of the tabernacle.

The sacred tent was divided into two apartments by means of a vail suspended from four pillars of shittim wood, overlaid with gold, set in sockets of silver. In what proportion the sanctuary was thus divided we are not informed; but it was undoubtedly the same that was afterward observed in the temple, 1 Kings 6, in which two-thirds of the space was allotted to the first apartment, and the remaining one-third to the second.

In the first apartment or holy place were three things worthy of notice: the golden candlestick, the table of show-bread, and the altar of incense. The candlestick was of solid gold, the table of show-bread and the altar of incense, of shittim wood, but overlaid throughout with pure gold. In the second apartment, or most holy place, were also three things to claim attention: the ark, the mercy-seat, and the cherubim. The ark was a chest of shittim wood, two cubits and a half in length, a cubit and a half in breadth, and the same in height. It was overlaid within and without with pure gold. The mercy-seat was the cover of the ark, of solid gold, and the cherubim were likewise of pure gold, on either end of the mercy-seat. It was above the ark, over the mercy-seat between the cherubim, that God manifested his presence, and from whence he communicated with his people. Ex. 25: 22. And so David prays, “Thou that dwellest between the cherubim, shine forth.” Ps. 80:1. U. S.