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From Eternity Past
worship of God will manifest the same spirit of sacrifice in preparing
a house where He may meet with them. An amount sufficient to
accomplish the work should be freely given, that the workmen may
be able to say, as did the builders of the tabernacle, “Bring no more
offerings.”
The tabernacle was small, not more than fifty-five feet in length,
and eighteen in breadth and height. Yet it was magnificent. The wood
was that of the acacia tree, less subject to decay than any other at Sinai.
The walls consisted of upright boards, set in silver sockets, and held
firm by pillars and connection bars, all overlaid with gold, giving the
appearance of solid gold.
Two Apartments Symbolize Two Phases of Ministry
The building was divided into two apartments by a beautiful veil,
and a similar veil closed the entrance of the first apartment. These
were of gorgeous colors—blue, purple, and scarlet—while inwrought
with threads of gold and silver were cherubim to represent the angelic
host.
The sacred tent was enclosed in an open space called the court.
The entrance was at the eastern end, closed by curtains of beautiful
workmanship, though inferior to those of the sanctuary. The building
could be plainly seen by the people without. In the court stood the
brazen altar of burnt offering. On this altar were consumed all the
sacrifices made by fire unto the Lord, and its horns were sprinkled with
the atoning blood. Between the altar and the door of the tabernacle
was the brass laver made from the mirrors that had been the freewill
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offering of the women of Israel. At the laver the priests were to wash
their hands and feet whenever they went into the sacred apartments or
approached the altar to offer a burnt offering unto the Lord.
In the first apartment, or holy place, were the table of showbread,
the candlestick, and the altar of incense. The table of showbread stood
on the north; it was overlaid with pure gold. On this table the priests
were each Sabbath to place twelve cakes, arranged in two piles. On the
south was the seven-branched candlestick, its branches ornamented
with exquisitely wrought flowers, the whole made from one solid piece
of gold. The lamps were never all extinguished at one time, but shed
their light by day and night.