God's Regard for the Ten Commandments.
The following is the concluding portion of an article by Enoch Pond, D. D., published in the N. Y. Observer of Feb. 22, 1871:— Without dwelling longer on the exegetical part of this subject, I proceed to deduce from it some important truths. In the first place, by means of the ark of the testimony—with its appendages, contents, and place of deposit—God is teaching us, and impressing upon us, the high regard which he has for his law. In illustration of this, let me call attention, for a moment, to the structure of the ancient temple and the place of deposit for the ark. The temple, with its several courts, was surrounded with a high wall 750 feet square, including more than twelve acres. Immediately within this exterior wall was what was called the court of the Gentiles. Passing through this, you come to another wall, inclosing the outer court of the temple. Passing through this and the outer court, you come to the inner court of the temple. Passing through this and the inner court, you come to the gate of the temple itself. Passing through this, you first enter what was called the sanctuary. Here stood the great altar of burnt-offering surrounded by the priests engaged in presenting the sacrifices of the people. Passing through this apartment, you next enter the holy place. Here stood the candlestick, the table of shew-bread, and the altar of incense, on which was offered the morning and evening sacrifice. Passing through this, you next enter the most holy place. In the temple, this was a spacious room, thirty feet square, and overlaid with pure gold. It was situated in the deepest recess of the temple and protected by its sacred, successive inclosures. It was open to none except the high priest, and to him only once in a year. And what did this splendid, awful apartment contain? Not an individual thing, except the ark of the testimony and the cherubim covering it. And what did the ark of the testimony contain? Nothing originally, except the tables of stone, on which was inscribed the moral law. And now, in this wonderful, awful structure—this vast institution—what a high regard did God manifest for his holy law! How could he have manifested for it a higher regard, or put upon it a greater honor? He laid it down—where it still lies—at the foundation of the whole scheme of mercy. He laid it down in the most sacred recess of the temple and at the foundation of the entire service of his church. Here rested the tables of the law, covered and protected by the wings of mighty cherubim. Here they rested, overshadowed by a visible manifestation of the divine presence and glory, to be approached by no foot but that of the high priest, and by his only once in a year. How could the great Sovereign of the world have said in more intelligible language, “This law is holy and must be maintained. It has been transgressed, but it shall not be dishonored. No scheme of mercy can ever be tolerated which brings the least stain upon the law. Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in nowise pass from the law till all be fulfilled.” In the ark and its accompaniments, God sets before us not only the honors of his law, but that, in some way, there is mercy for those who have transgressed it. Over the ark there was laid a mercy-seat, and here God was graciously pleased to dwell and to hold communion with his people. Both in the tabernacle and temple, the mercy-seat was the place where the tokens of the divine presence were specially visible; where rested the glorious Shechinah—the pillar of a cloud and of fire. Here, too, was the place where God promised to meet his people and hold communion with them. “I will appear in the cloud upon the mercy-seat. There will I meet thee, and there will I hold communion with thee.” To the ancient believers, all this was full of precious, glorious meaning. They saw in it that, in some way, “mercy and truth had met together;” that “righteousness and peace had embraced each other.” They saw in it that a holy and righteous God could yet be merciful; that, in some way, he could be just to himself and his law, and yet justify the penitent, returning transgressor. Nor did the ark, and the services connected with it, leave the ancient worshiper altogether in ignorance as to the method of justification. Once every year, on the great day of atonement, he saw the high priest, attired in his sacred vestments, venture into the holy of holies, to sprinkle the mercy-seat with blood, and to burn incense before it. By this awful service, the priest was instructed to propitiate the God of Heaven and make an atonement for the people. In these symbolical transactions, the believing Israelite saw much of the method of salvation. By these typical atonements, made by the blood of bulls and goats, he looked forward to a greater atonement, consisting in a richer sacrifice, and more precious blood. We learn farther, from the ark and its appendages, the deep and abiding interest which celestial beings feel in the wonderful work of man's redemption. Cherubim were erected on either side of the mercy-seat and extended their wings over it. More lofty cherubim were erected in the most holy place in the temple, under the shadow of whose wings the whole ark was deposited. And, besides these, we are told that Solomon carved the entire wall of this most sacred apartment “round about with carved figures of cherubim.” The faces of all these figures were turned inward on the ark, in a posture of the deepest and most devout attention—thus indicating that the ark, with its appendages and contents, furnished matter of the profoundest interest and wonder to the cherubim world. Celestial beings here saw that which they loved and obeyed carefully deposited in the most holy place, and honored with tokens of the highest regard. They knew that this law had been dreadfully violated on the earth, and had reason to expect that its fearful penalty was about to be executed. But, instead of this, they saw the ark covered with a mercy-seat, and saw the Holy One of Israel descend and take up his abode there. They saw him holding communion with apostate creatures and dispensing pardons to guilty men. They saw the curse of the violated law removed, and yet its authority sustained and strengthened. They saw it pass away as a foundation of hope for sinners, and yet remain in full force and effect as a rule of life. They saw, in short, that a just God could consistently save the guilty; and not only so, but he was sincerely disposed to do it. They heard him crying from the mercy-seat: “Ho every one that thirsteth, come ye to the waters; and he that hath no money, come ye, buy wine and milk, without money and without price;” “Look unto me and be ye saved, all ye ends of the earth.” Now these things, we have reason to know, are matters of delight and wonder to the celestial world: “Into which things the angels desire to look;” and redeemed souls cannot be less engrossed with them than they. With intense interest they cluster around the mysterious ark. They bend over it, they fasten their eyes upon it in a posture of the most devout attention. They are never wearied or satisfied with this blessed employment. Their mighty energies are engrossed and their eternity occupied in searching into the wonders and pouring forth the praises of redeeming love. Oh, that Christians in this world might imbibe more of their fervor, and more closely imitate, in this respect, their example!