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blood and by incense God was to be approachedsymbols pointing to the great
Mediator； through whom sinners may approach Jehovah； and through whom alone
mercy and salvation can be granted to the repentant； believing soul。
As the priests morning and evening entered the holy place at the time of
incense； the daily sacrifice was ready to be offered upon the altar in the
court without。 This was a time of intense interest to the worshipers who
assembled at the tabernacle。 Before entering into the presence of God
through the ministration of the priest； they were to engage in earnest
searching of heart and confession of sin。 They united in silent prayer； with
their faces toward the holy place。 Thus their petitions ascended with the
cloud of incense； while faith laid hold upon the merits of the promised
Saviour prefigured by the atoning sacrifice。 The hours appointed for the
morning and the evening sacrifice
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were regarded as sacred； and they came to be observed as the set time for
worship throughout the Jewish nation。 And when in later times the Jews were
scattered as captives in distant lands； they still at the appointed hour
turned their faces toward Jerusalem and offered up their petitions to the
God of Israel。 In this custom Christians have an example for morning and
evening prayer。 While God condemns a mere round of ceremonies； without the
spirit of worship； He looks with great pleasure upon those who love Him；
bowing morning and evening to seek pardon for sins committed and to present
their requests for needed blessings。
The showbread was kept ever before the Lord as a perpetual offering。 Thus it
was a part of the daily sacrifice。 It was called showbread； or 〃bread of the
presence；〃 because it was ever before the face of the Lord。 It was an
acknowledgment of man's dependence upon God for both temporal and spiritual
food； and that it is received only through the mediation of Christ。 God had
fed Israel in the wilderness with bread from heaven； and they were still
dependent upon His bounty； both for temporal food and spiritual blessings。
Both the manna and the showbread pointed to Christ； the living Bread； who is
ever in the presence of God for us。 He Himself said； 〃I am the living Bread
which came down from heaven。〃 John 6：48…51。 Frankincense was placed upon the
loaves。 When the bread was removed every Sabbath； to be replaced by fresh
loaves； the frankincense was burned upon the altar as a memorial before God。
The most important part of the daily ministration was the service performed
in behalf of individuals。 The repentant sinner brought his offering to the
door of the tabernacle； and； placing his hand upon the victim's head；
confessed his sins； thus in figure transferring them from himself to the
innocent sacrifice。 By his own hand the animal was then slain； and the blood
was carried by the priest into the holy place and sprinkled before the veil；
behind which was the ark containing the law that the sinner had
transgressed。 By this ceremony the sin was； through the blood； transferred
in figure to the sanctuary。 In some cases the blood was not taken into the
holy place；＇* SEE APPENDIX； NOTE 6。＇ but the flesh was then to be eaten by
the priest； as Moses directed the sons of Aaron； saying； 〃God hath given it
you to bear the iniquity of the congregation。〃
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Leviticus 10：17。 Both ceremonies alike symbolized the transfer of the sin
from the penitent to the sanctuary。
Such was the work that went on day by day throughout the year。 The sins of
Israel being thus transferred to the sanctuary； the holy places were
defiled； and a special work became necessary for the removal of the sins。
God commanded that an atonement be made for each of the sacred apartments；
as for the altar； to 〃cleanse it； and hallow it from the uncleanness of the
children of Israel。〃 Leviticus 16：19。
Once a year； on the great Day of Atonement； the priest entered the most holy
place for the cleansing of the sanctuary。 The work there performed completed
the yearly round of ministration。
On the Day of Atonement two kids of the goats were brought to the door of
the tabernacle； and lots were cast upon them； 〃one lot for the Lord； and the
other lot for the scapegoat。〃 The goat upon which the first lot fell was to
be slain as a sin offering for the people。 And the priest was to bring his
blood within the veil； and sprinkle it upon the mercy seat。 〃And he shall
make an atonement for the holy place； because of the uncleanness of the
children of Israel； and because of their transgression in all their sins；
and so shall he do for the tabernacle of the congregation； that remaineth
among them in the midst of their uncleanness。〃
〃And Aaron shall lay both his hands upon the head of the live goat； and
confess over him all the iniquities of the children of Israel； and all their
transgressions in all their sins； putting them upon the head of the goat；
and shall send him away by the hand of a fit man into the wilderness： and
the goat shall bear upon him all their iniquities into a land not
inhabited。〃 Not until the goat had been thus sent away did the people regard
themselves as freed from the burden of their sins。 Every man was to afflict
his soul while the work of atonement was going forward。 All business was
laid aside； and the whole congregation of Israel spent the day in solemn
humiliation before God； with prayer； fasting； and deep searching of heart。
Important truths concerning the atonement were taught the people by this
yearly service。 In the sin offerings presented during the year； a
substituted had been accepted in the sinner's stead； but the blood of the
victim had not made full atonement for the sin。 It had only provided a means
by which the sin was
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transferred to the sanctuary。 By the offering of blood； the sinner
acknowledged the authority of the law； confessed the guilt of his
transgression； and expressed his faith in Him who was to take away the sin
of the world； but he was not entirely released from the condemnation of the
law。 On the Day of Atonement the high priest； having taken an offering for
the congregation； went into the most holy place with the blood and sprinkled
it upon the mercy seat； above the tables of the law。 Thus the claims of the
law； which demanded the life of the sinner； were satisfied。 Then in his
character of mediator the priest took the sins upon himself； and； leaving
the sanctuary； he bore with him the burden of Israel's guilt。 At the door of
the tabernacle he laid his hands upon the head of the scapegoat and
confessed over him 〃all the iniquities of the children of Israel； and all
their transgressions in all their sins； putting them upon the head of the
goat。〃 And as the goat bearing these sins was sent away； they were； with
him； regarded as forever separated from the people。 Such was the service
performed 〃unto the example and shadow of heavenly things。〃 Hebrews 8：5。
As has been stated； the earthly sanctuary was built by Moses according to
the pattern shown him in the mount。 It was 〃a figure for the time then
present； in which were offered both