THE essential feature connected with this sanctuary, as described above, was the ministration of the priests which was there performed. To study this we must first glance briefly at the furniture with which the sanctuary was provided for this purpose.
As we enter the court through the opening on the east, we find, standing nearest the door, an object five cubits square and three cubits high, overlaid with brass; this was the altar of burnt offering, on which all offerings of that nature were to be burned with fire. Between this altar and the tabernacle, which was placed in the western square of the court, stood the laver, a large brazen vessel filled with pure water, in which the priests were to wash both their hands and feet when they went into the tabernacle of the congregation, or when they approached the altar to offer a burnt offering thereon to the Lord.
Passing on we find the entrance of the tabernacle closed by a curtain, or veil, of the same material and workmanship as the veil that divided between the holy and the most holy place. This inner veil is called by Paul in Heb. 9:3 the second veil. That which formed the door of the tabernacle was therefore the first veil; and certainly the term "veil" may be applied to this as well as to the inner veil.
As we enter the first apartment, or holy place, three objects meet our gaze: first, a golden candlestick standing at the left of the door, or south side of the tabernacle, consisting of a standard and seven branches, beaten out of a solid piece of gold, about the weight of a talent, and worth, according to our present currency, over twenty-five thousand dollars. The seven branches supported seven lamps, which were kept continually burning. When we come to look at its symbolical nature, we shall find it representing the seven lamps of fire which John saw burning before the throne of God in heaven. Rev. 4:5.
On the north side of the holy place, opposite the candlestick, stood the table of showbread. On this were placed twelve loaves of bread, representing the twelve tribes of the children of Israel. These loaves were renewed every Sabbath, the loaves which were removed being eaten by the priests in the holy place. This bread fitly symbolized the manifold grace of God, which we receive through Christ, the heavenly manna, on which the Christian replenishes his spiritual life.
Between the candlestick and the table, but further inward and near the inner veil, stood the third object, the altar of incense. It was for the purpose of burning incense before the Lord morning and evening. In Rev. 8:3 John was shown an angel offering incense with the prayers of saints, which clearly indicates what the incense symbolized, as offered by the priests in the tabernacle of Moses.
As pertaining to the most holy place, there were three things also mentioned as worthy of notice, namely, the golden censer, the ark, and the mercy seat.
1. The golden censer. This was a vessel borne in the hands of the priest from place to place, and used for the purpose of burning incense. It was constructed in various forms, and of various materials; but there was one particularly of fine gold, which was used only on the day of atonement, and was probably always kept, when not in use, in the most holy place, and hence is spoken of as pertaining to that department. Heb. 9:4; Lev. 16:12.
2. The ark. This was a coffer, or chest, of precious wood, overlaid within and without with the purest gold. It was two cubits and a half (three feet nine inches) in length, and a cubit and a half (two feet three inches) in width and height. It was constructed for the special purpose of receiving the two tables of the law, the ten commandments, which were sacredly deposited therein. Ex. 25:16; 31:18.
3. The mercy seat. This was simply the cover of the ark; but it was a magnificent and costly piece of workmanship. It was of course of the same length and width as the ark, and two cherubim formed a part of it, one standing on each end, and all beaten out of one solid piece of gold. These cherubim were made looking reverently down upon the mercy seat, and shadowing it with their wings, which were spread aloft, and touched each other midway above it. This cover of the ark was called "the mercy seat" because here mercy took up its abode, and met and satisfied the claims of justice; for it was upon the mercy seat, beneath which reposed the law which men had transgressed, that the blood of the sacrifice was sprinkled, which satisfied the claims of the law, and left the sinner free. Here was the focal point where mercy and justice met and were reconciled. As the Psalmist beautifully expresses it, here "mercy and truth are met together; righteousness and peace have kissed each other." Ps. 85:10.
It was in this consecrated spot, between the cherubim, over the mercy seat, that the holy shekinah, representing God's presence, was manifested, and from whence God usually communicated with his people.
For the construction of all this wonderful work God called certain ones, and specially qualified them by putting his Spirit upon them. The sanctuary was not therefore merely the work of men. It was the inspiration of heaven, manifested in this unparalleled and unapproachable work of art.
How impressive must have been the scene presented by the interior of this building! There were its walls, having all the appearance of massive and solid gold, and reflecting in a thousand directions the light of the seven lamps of the golden candlestick. There were the table of showbread and the altar of incense, overlaid with burnished gold. And there was the curtain, which formed the gorgeous ceiling, with its mystic figures of cherubim in blue and purple and scarlet, adding its beauty to the brilliant scene; while in, beyond the second veil, was the golden ark, and above it the glorious shekinah, or visible manifestation of God's glory, into the awful presence of which (except the high priest's entrance alone once every year), no man could venture and live.
We now have before us the sanctuary as Moses erected it in the wilderness of Sinai, 1,490 years before Christ. With its ark of the covenant, its mercy seat, and its glorious shekinah, it constituted the heart and center of Israel's religious worship under that typical system.