Learning From the Past

tuesday

JULY 19

Testimony

1 Chron. 23:28–30

Learning From the Past

“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 approached—sym­bols 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 evening sacrifice 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.”*

REACT

1. What parts of today’s communion service point to Jesus, our Media­tor?

2. Why are mornings and evenings good times to commune with God through prayer?

3. When we pray, we are to ask for forgiveness and for “needed bless­ings.” Why else should we pray?

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*Patriarchs and Prophets, pp. 353, 354.

Christians have an example for morning and evening prayer.

Lyn Van Denburgh, Milwaukee, Wisconsin, U.S.A.43