MAIN HOMILETICS OF THE PARAGRAPH.— Exodus 25:10-17
THE LAW OF GOD
The ark of the covenant, containing the two tables of the testimony, was itself a symbol of its contents. It symbolised—
I. The graciousness of the law. The chest was covered with gold (Exodus 25:11). Law is generally used as the antithesis of grace; but, really, the law in its inmost essence is love. Men speak sometimes of the “beautiful” laws of nature—the laws of the moral universe are beautiful also. The law is “good”—generous, just, unchallengeable—the expression of essential purity and kindness.
Moral law has become terrible in our eyes, because we have broken it and felt its penalty; but as we are forgiven and restored to purity and understanding, the moral law ever becomes more gracious and precious in our sight. The law was borne in a chest of gold, not of iron, for the law is not a harsh rule of life, propounded by despotism, but the rule of action delivered by Eternal Wisdom and Love to secure the protection and happiness of the whole universe. There is only what is tender and generous on the first table! God asks not from us blood, sweat, and tears, but love. And only the spirit of a noble justice and a generous love breathes in the second table.
II. The immortality of the law. The ark was made of acacia wood—an incorruptible wood. The moral law abides for ever. When Christ came it was not to destroy, but to fulfil this law. His sacred humanity was the golden ark in which the moral law was republished with living power. All those systems which seek to abolish or relax the moral law, whether they are found within the Christian Church or without it, are intensely anti-Christian. This law is the law of the eternal universe. The fashion of the world passeth away, but the word of the Lord endureth for ever. Heaven and earth may pass away, but not a jot or tittle of the law shall perish.
III. The supremacy of the law. “And shalt make upon it a crown of gold round about” (Exodus 25:11). This law is sovereign. All must bow to it. The angel that keeps it not is cast from heaven. The kingdom that will not bow to it is broken. The life that will not obey it is damned. Blessed are all those who keep it, but woe to all who despise it. Let us remember this in our outward life of business, pleasure, politics, society; let us remember it in our inner life of imagination, thought, and passion.
IV. The holiness of the law. This is set forth by the fact that the staves of the ark were “not to be taken from it” (Exodus 25:15). So that there was no need for the ark to be touched. The law of God is glorious in holiness, and is not to be touched by us. How mixed are the graceful fables of Greece, the mythologies of India, the moral systems of China, the visions of Mahomet! But this law is altogether pure and sublime. Nothing must be added to it—nothing must go into the ark besides it; nothing must be taken from it. It stands alone, the sublime manifestation of the mind and character and purpose of God.
1. Let the priests sustain the law. It was the duty of the priests to carry the ark, and it is the duty of the priests still to sustain, to hold up, to magnify the law.
2. Let the people follow the law. The ark directed the steps of Israel. Where the law does not lead us, let us not go: where it directs the way we shall be right and safe and happy.
SUGGESTIVE COMMENTS ON THE VERSES
Exodus 25:10 to Exodus 17:1. With reference to the ark, we believe that, in its materials, construction, and use, it might point to our Lord Jesus Christ as the true ark of the everlasting covenant; uniting in Himself the divine and human natures, and exhibiting in His life a most perfect conformity to all requirements of God’s just and holy law. “Wherefore when He cometh into the world, He saith, Sacrifice and offering thou wouldest not but a body hast thou prepared Me: in burnt-offerings and sacrifices for sins Thou hast had no pleasure. Then said I, Lo, I come (in the volume of the book it is written of Me [namely, in Psalms 40:6-8], I delight to do Thy will, O God: yea, Thy law is within my heart” (Hebrews 10:5-7). Jesus Christ, then, is the grand depository of the Father’s will. The costliest and most exquisite productions of human art, although shittim-wood and gold alone may enter into their composition, afford but imperfect resemblances of the person and work of our glorious Immanuel. An understanding that is infinite; a power that is almighty; a love that is inestimable, and a mercy that is boundless and endless as eternity, combined to prepare a body for the Son of God (Luke 1:35). No worm might corrode His flesh; no stain might soil His spirit. All was incorruptible and pure in the world’s Redeemer.
—W. Mudge.
ILLUSTRATIONS
BY
REV. WILLIAM ADAMSON
Typology! Exodus 25:1-40. If you hold up your hand between the candle and the wall, what do you see? That shadow of your hand is not, however, of the same size and colour. It is only an outline. Holding up some beautiful object which we have never seen before, its shadow would give but a feeble impression of itself. So Hebrews 10:1 says, that the Law had a shadow of good things to come. Those good things have come; and
“Man has gazed on heavenly secrets,
Sunned himself in heavenly glow;
Seen the glory, heard the music,—
We are wiser than we know.”
—Mackay.
Ark of Testimony! Exodus 25:11. It is God’s will that His Son should be set forth without a cloud, in full-orbed splendour. Hence, He first shows that which shows Him most clearly.
1. It was for the ark that the Holy Tent was reared—that the holiest place was set apart. As the richest jewel in the sacred casket, as the topstone of the hallowed pile, is the Covenant-Ark given precedence.
2. It exhibits Christ in its substance of wood and gold—as the ark of redemption—as very man, and spotless man, conjoined with perfect Deity.
3. It testifies to the kingship of Christ in the crown that surrounds its summit; for He hath on His vesture and on His thigh a name written, “King of kings and Lord of lords” (Revelation 19:16).
4. It speaks of Christ abiding as the inmate of the faithful heart, but passing on if not heeded; for the staves might not be taken out.
“Jesus, Master! I am Thine;
Keep me faithful, keep me near;
Let Thy presence in me shine,
All my homeward way to cheer.
Jesus! at Thy feet I fall—
Oh, be Thou my ALL IN ALL.”
Mercy-Seat! Exodus 25:17 to Exodus 23:1. A lid is placed above the Ark for the purpose of hiding the Law from every eye. The requirements of the Law are very long and wide, their breadth embracing the whole of each man’s life. But Christ covers the vast dimensions of the requiring and condemning code; for an exact covering conceals all claims.
2. A lid of solid gold is made, because mercy has no birthplace but in heaven. And what is mercy but Christ in His finished work? He is, says Law, the mirror of God’s loving heart—the pinnacle of tender grace. He is the mountain towering above mountains, in which every grain is God’s goodness.
“While reason, like a Levite, waits
Where priest and people meet,
Faith, by a ‘new and living way,’
Hath gained the Mercy-Seat.”
Mercy-Model! Exodus 25:17. Our Lord said, “Be ye merciful, as your Father also in heaven is merciful.”
1. Sterne says somewhat strongly that while we may imitate the Deity in all His attributes, mercy is the only one in which we can pretend to equal Him. We cannot, indeed, give like God; but surely we may forgive like Him.
2. Richter says, When thou showest mercy, the man who has pierced thy heart stands to thee in the relation of the sea-worm that perforates the shell of the oyster, which straightway closes the wound with a shining, precious pearl.
“The quality of mercy is not strained;
It droppeth as the gentle rain from heaven
Upon the place beneath: it is twice bless’d;
It blesseth him that gives, and him that takes.”
—Shakespeare.
Cherubims! Exodus 25:18. The form of the cherubim used in the tabernacle is uncertain. From the other descriptions of these symbolic figures in Scripture, we perceive that while the same type was adhered to, the details of the form varied.
1. Fairbairn considers them to have symbolised the fulness of life, i.e., life most nearly and essentially connected with God-life, as it is or shall be held by those who dwell in His immediate presence—preeminently, therefore, spiritual and holy life.
2. Brown is of opinion that these cherubim represent the redeemed themselves, preoccupied in the holy and delightful exercise of meditation upon the mysteries of grace—the same beings as were inwrought upon the Cherubic Veil.
3. Law says that, being of the same material as the Mercy-Seat, and indeed of one piece, they teach that the heirs of life have no dependence but on Christ; that they are one with Him, partakers of the Divine nature; and that their expanded wings indicate the devoted and ever-ready zeal of believers to serve God.
4. A reference to these has been found in Song of Solomon 6:12: “The chariots of My willing people.” During the Gospel and Millennial, and even in the Eternal, ages, Christ will be borne abroad—
“Himself the Bridegroom on the right of power,
Where in the heaven of heavens He sate embosom’d,
All in His Glorious Majesty, and deign’d
Ascend the chariot of Omnipotence,
Borne onward by cherubic shapes.”
Mercy-Mirror! Exodus 25:21. Trapp quaintly says that in the heaven-bow there are many wonders. Amongst these are its beautiful shape and various colours. It also has two contrary significations; fair weather and foul. It is a monument of God’s justice in drowning, and of God’s mercy in delivering the world. The Jews have an odd conceit, that the name JEHOVAH is written on it. Whenever, therefore, they behold its lovely arch they hide their eyes, confess their sins, and adore the Divine Mercy. But the rainbow is not visible after nightfall. Mercy is like it; we must never look for it when night has gathered. It shines not in the other world. If we refuse mercy here, says Le Bas, we shall not find it spanning the dark vault of death and hell. Mercy’s bow is only visible NOW, Justice—
“Doth bend itself into a hollow shroud,
On which, when MERCY doth but cast her face,
A thousand colours do the Bow enchase.”
—Fletcher.
Throne of Grace! Exodus 25:22. Ballow says that between the humble and contrite heart and the Majesty of heaven there are no barriers. The only password is Prayer.
1. It is, however, a blood-besprinkled mercy-seat before which the soul prostrates itself in supplication. There God is present to hear, answer, and bless. There He will open all His heart, and deal, as friend with friend, in all the freeness of familiar love.
2. The Mosaic throne of grace has disappeared. But Christ ever lives. In Him the Throne of Grace cannot be moved. Essential blessings have eternal life; and he who passes often to it through the parted veil, will return laden with blessings—rich in grace—refreshed with heavenly converse and meet for a heavenly home.
“How dreary and how lonely
This changeful life would be,
Without the sweet communion,
The secret rest with Thee!”
Table of Shewbread! Exodus 25:23.
1. A carved representation of this is visible on the famous Arch of Titus. In height it was to be coequal with the ark, whilst the measure of its length and breadth were to be less. The substance also was identical; the inner frame being incorruptible acacia wood, the outer case shining in the chaste splendour of pure gold.
2. The rings mentioned in Exodus 25:22 were not found in the table which was afterwards made for the Temple, nor indeed in any of the sacred furniture where they had previously been, except in the Ark of the Covenant. These rings were for the insertion of the staves to carry it from place to place during the wilderness wanderings.
3. Many see in this table a type of the Divine-human nature of Christ. He is the one full table which is ever full. And as the thought and plan of the shewbread table were wholly from above, and of no human pattern or design, so Christ is the offspring of full grace, and comes forth from God.
“I would rejoice for all that Thou hast given in Christ to Me,—
For grace, and peace, and gladdening hope of heaven,
Not bought, but FREE.”