p. 6 | BUILDING TABERNACLES

Pacific Press Publishing Company · Oakland, California · Mar 8, 1899

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 25, No. 10.

BUILDING TABERNACLES.

IN the ninth chapter of Luke is the account of Jesus going up into a mountain to pray, and taking Peter and James and John with Him.

"And as He prayed, the fashion of His countenance was altered, and His raiment was white and glistering. And, behold, there talked with Him two men, which were Moses and Elias; who appeared in glory, and spake of His decease which He should accomplish at Jerusalem. But Peter and they that were with Him were heavy with sleep; and when they were awake, they saw His glory, and the two men that stood with Him. And it came to pass, as they departed from Him, Peter said unto Jesus, Master, it is good for us to be here; and let us make three tabernacles: one for Thee, and one for Moses, and one for Elias; not knowing what he said. While he thus spake, there came a cloud, and overshadowed them; and they feared as they entered into the cloud. And there came a voice out of the cloud, saying, This is My beloved Son; hear Him." Verses 29-35.

The tabernacles that Peter had in mind were no doubt such as were used by the Jews in their annual feast of tabernacles. These were but temporary shelters, for use only seven days. They were built of "olive branches, and pine branches, and myrtle branches, and palm branches, and branches of thick trees." See Neh. 8:14-18; also Lev. 23:39-43. The idea of building such temporary fragile structures for the abode of heavenly beings and for the glorified Redeemer was compatible with the dreamy imaginations of a man just waking out of sleep. Well does the inspired record add the significant words, "not knowing what he said." The suggestion of Peter was a fit companion-piece of the proposition of James and John to call down fire from heaven upon a certain village whose inhabitants refused to receive Jesus. On this occasion also they were ignorant of the import of what they said; for Jesus "rebuked them, and said, Ye know not what manner of spirit ye are of." Parallel in short-sighted futility was the attempt of a multitude to take Jesus by force and make Him a king (John 6:14, 15), on which occasion He

again rebuked their folly by hiding Himself from them.

The nominal Christian world to-day is full of tabernacle-builders, whose ideas and suggestions for the promotion of Gospel work are of the most temporary, impracticable character. The last-days characteristic, "a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof," is prevalent everywhere. Men deny the power of godliness, which power is the Spirit of God, when they resort to human methods and seek political influence in furthering the work of salvation. "For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ. Now if any man build upon this foundation gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, stubble; every man's work shall be made manifest; for the day shall declare it, because it shall be revealed by fire; and the fire shall try every man's work of what sort it is." 1 Cor. 3:11-13.

Hay, wood, stubble, and brush tabernacles will not stand fire. Silver and gold are refined, not destroyed by fire. Only the dross is burned. The Lord says, "I counsel thee to buy of Me gold tried in the fire, that thou mayest be rich." Rev. 3:18. The traditions and dogmas of man's invention are but brush tabernacles; those who are drawn into the nominal fold by such means will prove to be only food for the flames. "This is My beloved Son; hear Him." When Peter was converted, and had learned better than to build a tabernacle of tinder on the earth as an abode for the Lord Jesus Christ, he expressed a very different sentiment: "Seeing ye have purified your souls in obeying the truth through the Spirit unto unfeigned love of the brethren, see that ye love one another with a pure heart fervently; being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the Word of God, which liveth and abideth forever." 1 Peter 1:22, 23.

When men endeavor to compel by civil law the observance of religious institutions, or make the adherence to some religious formality the qualification for temporal position, they are simply building inflammable tabernacles for the abode of whatever deity they profess to serve. If they profess to serve Christ, they build such a tabernacle for Him. Hear what the beloved Son Himself says: "All things whatsoever ye would that men should do to you, do ye even so to them."

When men think to make Jesus Christ a king in this or any other political government; when they think to elevate Him by any political means, they are simply building for His abode a temporary ceremonial booth—a tabernacle of the most treacherous sort. No wonder He is spiritually hiding Himself from those who would so degrade Him from the exalted position which He already occupies in the throne of the universe. "My kingdom is not of this world," says the beloved Son, whom we are enjoined to hear. He has not asked any man to build Him a tabernacle of branches of the trees, a mere dry-weather shelter of outward display—of national or municipal recognition. He says, "My son, give Me thine heart." Prov. 23:26. "Behold, I stand at the door, and knock; if any man [not any nation or city] hear My voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with Me." Rev. 3:20. He is already a minister "of the true tabernacle, which the Lord pitched, and not man." Heb. 8:2. Let us recognize Him there, as He makes intercession for us as individuals and not as communities. The only real honor that we can give Him is the honor of humble obedience. "Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter; Fear God, and keep His commandments; for this is the whole duty of man." Eccl. 12:13. "Follow Me," is the command of the Master, whose only occupation as a minister of the Gospel was going about doing good. G.