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The Sabbath-School

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International Tract and Missionary Society · Oakland, California · Apr 8, 1889

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 15, No. 14.

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The Sabbath-School.

Old Testament History.

THE ARK, ITS USE AND SIGNIFICANCE.

(Lesson 16, April 20, 1889.)
1. NAME the articles of furniture that were in the tabernacle? Ex. 25:10, 23, 31; 30:1.
2. According to what were they fashioned? "And look that thou make them after their pattern, which was showed thee in the mount." Ex. 25:40.
3. Of what were they representations? "Moreover he sprinkled likewise with blood both the tabernacle, and all the vessels of the ministry. And almost all things are by the law purged with blood; and without shedding of blood is no remission. It was therefore necessary that the patterns of things in the heavens should be purified with these; but the heavenly things themselves with better sacrifices than these." Heb. 9:21-23.
4. Have any of these articles been seen in the true tabernacle in Heaven? Rev. 11:19; 1:12; 8:3.
5. Describe the ark. "And they shall make an ark of shittim wood; two cubits and a half shall be the length thereof, and a cubit and a half the breadth thereof, and a cubit and a half the height thereof. And thou shalt overlay it with pure gold, within and without shalt thou overlay it, and shalt make upon it a crown of gold round about. And thou shalt cast four rings of gold for it, and put them in the four corners thereof; and two rings shall be in the one side of it, and two rings in the other side of it." Ex. 25:10-12.
6. Tell what the covering of the ark was called, and describe it. "And thou shalt make a mercy-seat of pure gold; two cubits and a half shall be the length thereof, and a cubit and a half the breadth thereof." "And thou shalt put the mercy-seat above upon the ark." Verses 17, 21, first part.
7. What was upon the mercy-seat, or cover of the ark? "And thou shalt make two cherubim of gold, of beaten work shalt thou make them, in the two ends of the mercy-seat. And make one cherub on the one end, and the other cherub on the other end; even of the mercy-seat shall ye make the cherubim on the two ends thereof. And the cherubim shall stretch forth their wings on high, covering the mercy-seat with their wings, and their faces shall look one to another; toward the mercy-seat shall the faces of the cherubim be." Verses 18-20.
8. In what part of this tabernacle was God's presence specially manifested? Verse 22; Num. 7:89; 8:1.
9. What do we read of the real throne of God? "The Lord is in his holy temple, the Lord's throne is in Heaven; his eyes behold, his eyelids try, the children of men." Ps. 11:4. "The Lord reigneth; let the people tremble; he sitteth between the cherubim; let the earth be moved." Ps. 99:1. See also Eze. 1.
10. Since the tabernacle was a figure of the true sanctuary in Heaven, what must have been signified by the ark with its covering, from which God spoke?—The throne of God in Heaven.
11. What was placed in the ark in the earthly sanctuary? Ex. 25:16, 21; Deut. 10:4, 5.
12. Remembering that everything about the earthly sanctuary was a representation of things in the heavens, what must we conclude from the fact that the tables containing the ten commandments were placed in the ark, from above which God spoke?—That the law of God—the ten commandments—is underneath the throne of God in Heaven.
13. What statements have we to this effect? "Justice and judgment are the habitation of thy throne; mercy and truth shall go before thy face." Ps. 89:14. "Clouds and darkness are round about him; righteousness and judgment are the habitation of his throne." Ps. 97:2.
14. What are the commandments of God declared to be? "My tongue shall speak of thy word; for all thy commandments are righteousness." Ps. 119:172.
15. Whose righteousness are they? "Lift up your eyes to the heavens, and look upon the earth beneath; for the heavens shall vanish away like smoke, and the earth shall wax old like a garment, and they that dwell therein shall die in like manner; but my salvation shall be forever, and my righteousness shall not be abolished. Hearken unto me, ye that know righteousness, the people in whose heart is my law; fear ye not the reproach of men, neither be ye afraid of their revilings." Isa. 51:6, 7.
16. Since the law of God is the foundation of his throne, how enduring must it be? Ps. 36:5, 6; 111:7, 8; 119:160.
17. To what would the abolition of the law of God be equivalent?—To the overthrow of the Government of God.
18. Then is it conceivable that the law can be abolished or changed?