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would desecrate the holy place。 They were to leave their shoes in the court
before entering the sanctuary； and also to wash both their hands and their
feet before ministering in the tabernacle or at the altar of burnt offering。
Thus was constantly taught the lesson that all defilement must be put away
from those who would approach into the presence of God。
The garments of the high priest were of costly material and beautiful
workmanship； befitting his exalted station。 In addition
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to the linen dress of the common priest； he wore a robe of blue； also woven
in one piece。 Around the skirt it was ornamented with golden bells； and
pomegranates of blue； purple； and scarlet。 Outside of this was the ephod； a
shorter garment of gold； blue； purple； scarlet； and white。 It was confined
by a girdle of the same colors； beautifully wrought。 The ephod was
sleeveless； and on its gold…embroidered shoulder pieces were set two onyx
stones； bearing the names of the twelve tribes of Israel。
Over the ephod was the breastplate； the most sacred of the priestly
vestments。 This was of the same material as the ephod。 It was in the form of
a square； measuring a span； and was suspended from the shoulders by a cord
of blue from golden rings。 The border was formed of a variety of precious
stones； the same that form the twelve foundations of the City of God。 Within
the border were twelve stones set in gold； arranged in rows of four； and；
like those in the shoulder pieces； engraved with the names of the tribes。
The Lord's direction was； 〃Aaron shall bear the names of the children of
Israel in the breastplate of judgment upon his heart； when he goeth in unto
the holy place； for a memorial before the Lord continually。〃 Exodus 28：29。
So Christ； the great High Priest； pleading His blood before the Father in
the sinner's behalf； bears upon His heart the name of every repentant；
believing soul。 Says the psalmist； 〃I am poor and needy； yet the Lord
thinketh upon me。〃 Psalm 40：17。
At the right and left of the breastplate were two large stones of great
brilliancy。 These were known as the Urim and Thummim。 By them the will of
God was made known through the high priest。 When questions were brought for
decision before the Lord； a halo of light encircling the precious stone at
the right was a token of the divine consent or approval； while a cloud
shadowing the stone at the left was an evidence of denial or disapprobation。
The miter of the high priest consisted of the white linen turban； having
attached to it by a lace of blue； a gold plate bearing the inscription；
〃Holiness to Jehovah。〃 Everything connected with the apparel and deportment
of the priests was to be such as to impress the beholder with a sense of the
holiness of God； the sacredness of His worship； and the purity required of
those who came into His presence。
Not only the sanctuary itself； but the ministration of the
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priests； was to 〃serve unto the example and shadow of heavenly things。〃
Hebrews 8：5。 Thus it was of great importance； and the Lord； through Moses；
gave the most definite and explicit instruction concerning every point of
this typical service。 The ministration of the sanctuary consisted of two
divisions； a daily and a yearly service。 The daily service was performed at
the altar of burnt offering in the court of the tabernacle and in the holy
place； while the yearly service was in the most holy。
No mortal eye but that of the high priest was to look upon the inner
apartment of the sanctuary。 Only once a year could the priest enter there；
and that after the most careful and solemn preparation。 With trembling he
went in before God； and the people in reverent silence awaited his return；
their hearts uplifted in earnest prayer for the divine blessing。 Before the
mercy seat the high priest made the atonement for Israel； and in the cloud
of glory； God met with him。 His stay here beyond the accustomed time filled
them with fear； lest because of their sins or his own he had been slain by
the glory of the Lord。
The daily service consisted of the morning and evening burnt offering； the
offering of sweet incense on the golden altar； and the special offerings for
individual sins。 And there were also offerings for sabbaths； new moons； and
special feasts。
Every morning and evening a lamb of a year old was burned upon the altar；
with its appropriate meat offering； thus symbolizing the daily consecration
of the nation to Jehovah； and their constant dependence upon the atoning
blood of Christ。 God expressly directed that every offering presented for
the service of the sanctuary should be 〃without blemish。〃 Exodus 12：5。 The
priests were to examine all animals brought as a sacrifice； and were to
reject every one in which a defect was discovered。 Only an offering 〃without
blemish〃 could be a symbol of His perfect purity who was to offer Himself as
〃a lamb without blemish and without spot。〃 1 Peter 1：19。 The apostle Paul
points to these sacrifices as an illustration of what the followers of
Christ are to become。 He says； 〃I beseech you therefore； brethren； by the
mercies of God； that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice； holy；
acceptable unto God； which is your reasonable service。〃 Romans 12：1。 We are
to give ourselves to the service of God； and we should seek to make the
offering as nearly perfect as possible。 God will not be pleased with
anything
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less than the best we can offer。 Those who love Him with all the heart； will
desire to give Him the best service of the life； and they will be constantly
seeking to bring every power of their being into harmony with the laws that
will promote their ability to do His will。
In the offering of incense the priest was brought more directly into the
presence of God than in any other act of the daily ministration。 As the
inner veil of the sanctuary did no extend to the top of the building； the
glory of God； which was manifested above the mercy seat； was partially
visible from the first apartment。 When the priest offered incense before the
Lord； he looked toward the ark； and as the cloud of incense arose； the
divine glory descended upon the mercy seat and filled the most holy place；
and often so filled both apartments that the priest was obliged to retire to
the door of the tabernacle。 As in that typical service the priest looked by
faith to the mercy seat which he could not see； so the people of God are now
to direct their prayers to Christ； their great High Priest； who； unseen by
human vision； is pleading in their behalf in the sanctuary above。
The incense； ascending with the prayers of Israel； represents the merits and
intercession of Christ； His perfect righteousness； which through faith is
imputed to His people； and which can alone make the worship of sinful beings
acceptable to God。 Before the veil of the most holy place was an altar of
perpetual intercession； before the holy； an altar of continual atonement。 By
blood and by incense God was to be approachedsymbols pointing to the great
Mediator； thr