The Holy Tent
T. Champness. Exodus 25:1-9 And the LORD spoke to Moses, saying,… I. We should mark that GOD MAKES HIMSELF DEPENDENT ON THE WILL OF MAN. "Let them make Me." This is true, not only of material wealth, but of man's nature. 1. God wants human nature, He seems to covet to have the affection of our life, and yearns to be looked to by the creature He has made. Let us not cheat Him, for we shall rob ourselves most of all. 2. God may be thwarted by man. II. In this Divine conception of the Church, THERE IS A PLACE FOR THE RICH. It is not impossible for rich men to be good men. It is not easy, but still it can be done. God has given them a place. "This is the offering which ye shall take of them: gold. God would not have accepted planks from those who had gold, and so God will not accept industry in His service in the place of wealth. III. LABOUR HAS ITS PLACE. There was a great deal of timber required; the wood of the acacia tree was used for the framework. Here was work which the poorest could do. Is it not so to-day? In building the Church, what room for a holy industry! IV. WOMAN HAS HER RIGHTS HERE. We read in Exodus 35:24, 25, of women that were wise-hearted, who did spin with their hands, etc. Influence of Christian mothers. Sunday-schoolworkers. Mothers' meetings. Let woman do her work well. We must have her work, or we cannot finish ours. V. THERE IS ROOM FOR GENIUS. Precious stones" are required. The onyx stones, and other jewels, took up but small room, but they added beauty and splendour to the rest. God does not create genius every day. Many rhymers, but few poets. VI. Still, we must not forget that THE MEANEST IS ACCEPTABLE, IF IT IS THE BEST WE CAN BRING. There are times when cleverness is baffled, and wealth is powerless. But see to it God has your best. Acacia wood will not be accepted in the place of anything else. But if the axe and saw are your talents, by all means use them. VII. OUR BEST AND OUR ALL IS OF NO AVAIL WITHOUT THE ATONEMENT. Alms and deeds are only safe as they rest upon Christ's merits. (T. Champness.) Parallel Verses KJV: And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying, WEB: Yahweh spoke to Moses, saying,