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Sanctuary
119
camp, saying, “Let neither man nor woman make any more work
for the offering of the sanctuary. So the people were restrained from
bringing.”
Recorded for Later Generations
The repeated murmurings of the Israelites, and the visitations of
God’s wrath because of their transgressions, are recorded in sacred
history for the benefit of God’s people who should afterward live
upon the earth, but more especially to prove a warning to those who
should live near the close of time. Also their acts of devotion, their
energy and liberality in bringing their free-will offerings to Moses
are recorded for the benefit of the people of God. Their example
in preparing material for the tabernacle so cheerfully is an example
for all who truly love the worship of God. Those who prize the
blessing of God’s sacred presence, when preparing a building that
He may meet with them, should manifest greater interest and zeal in
the sacred work in proportion as they value their heavenly blessings
higher than their earthly comforts. They should realize that they are
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preparing a house for God.
It is of some consequence that a building prepared expressly for
God to meet with His people, should be arranged with care—made
comfortable, neat, and convenient, for it is to be dedicated to God
and presented to Him, and He is to be entreated to abide in that
house and make it sacred by His holy presence. Enough should be
willingly given to the Lord to liberally accomplish the work, and
then the workmen be able to say, Bring no more offerings.
According to the Pattern
After the building of the tabernacle was completed, Moses ex-
amined all the work, and compared it with the pattern, and directions
he had received of God, and he saw that every part of it agreed with
the pattern; and he blessed the people.
God gave a pattern of the ark to Moses, with special directions
how to make it. The ark was made to contain the tables of stone, on
which God engraved, with His own finger, the Ten Commandments.
It was in form like a chest, and was overlaid and inlaid with pure