February 2

Exodus xxxiii. — 7. And Moses took the tabernacle, and pitched it without the camp afar off from the camp, and called it the Tabernacle of the Congregation. And it came to pass, that every one which sought the Lord went out unto the tabernacle of the congregation which was without the camp.

8. And it came to pass, when Moses went out unto the tabernacle, that all the people rose up, and stood every man at his tent-door, and looked after Moses until he was gone into the tabernacle.

9. And it came to pass, as Moses entered into the tabernacle, the cloudy pillar descended, and stood at the door of the tabernacle, and the LORD talked with Moses.

10. And all the people saw the cloudy pillar stand at the tabernacle-door; and all the people rose up and worshipped, every man in his tent-door.

11. And the Lord spake unto Moses face to face, as a man speaketh unto his friend.

12. And Moses said unto the Lord, See, thou sayest unto me, Bring up this people; and thou hast not let me know whom thou wilt send with me. Yet thou hast said, I know thee by name, and thou hast also found grace in my sight.

13. Now therefore, I pray thee, if I have found grace in thy sight, show me now thy way, that I may know thee, that I may find grace in thy sight; and consider that this nation is thy people.

Even the most spiritual religion cannot dispense with all forms of worship, and every symbol of faith. Though Jehovah was invisible, and no graven image was suffered to be made, yet the cloudy pillar represented his presence, and a sacred tent was erected, where all the people could see it, though none of them were permitted to approach it. Here Moses held communion with the Lord, separated from the camp by a cloud. Thus were maintained the sanctity of Jehovah and the authority of his servant. But Moses did not use this privilege of communion for his own advantage,

14. And he said, My presence shall go with thee, and I will give thee rest.

15. And he said unto him, If thy presence go not with me, carry us not up hence.

16. For wherein shall it be known here that I and thy people have found grace in thy sight? Is it not in that thou goest with us? So shall we be separated, I and thy people, from all the people that are upon the face of the earth.

17. And the Lord said unto Moses, I will do this thing also that thou hast spoken; for thou hast found grace in my sight, and I know thee by name.

18. And he said, I beseech thee, show me thy glory.

19. And he said, I will make all my goodness pass before thee, and I will proclaim the name of the Lord before thee; and will be gracious to whom I will be gracious, and will show mercy on whom I will show mercy.

20. And he said, Thou canst not see my face; for there shall no man see me, and live.

21. And the Lord said, Behold, there is a place by me, and thou shalt stand upon a rock;

22. And it shall come to pass, while my glory passeth by, that I will put thee in a cleft of the rock, and will cover thee with my hand while I pass by;

23. And I will take away mine hand, and thou shalt see my back parts; but my face shall not be seen.

nor suffer it to inflate him with pride. It was as a humble suppliant for grace, and as an intercessor for the people, that he went into the presence of God. That presence, the sense of God's nearness and favor, was his sole reliance in his responsible task. But even Moses was not permitted to see God. The glory of his majesty and power, the splendor of light about him, the sapphire pavement under his feet, — these made no revelation of his essence; and not even this most favored servant could see his face. Only in Christ can we see the Father.

APPROPRIATE HYMNS.]

Prayer.

[Nos. 59, 145.

O Almighty Father, who dwellest in the light which no man can approach unto! look upon us in the face of thy blessed Son, who bore our sins in his own body on the tree, and receive us graciously, for the sake of Jesus Christ, our Saviour.

Many and great have been the favors bestowed on thy unworthy servants and on those belonging to us. Oh! cause us to see and feel thy goodness in all that thou hast given, and in all thou hast denied or taken from us. We praise thee for our creation, preservation, and for all the comforts and blessings of this present life, but more especially for the grace of our Christian calling in Christ Jesus, for thy long-suffering mercy and forgiveness, for the knowledge of thy truth and will, and for the blessed hope of everlasting life. We bless

thee for this holy day; for thy holy Church; for thy holy Word; for the house of prayer and the communion of saints; and pray that all the means of grace may this day minister to our spiritual good. O Lord! command thy blessing upon Zion, even life forevermore.

Give thy blessing, we beseech thee, to the schools, that all children may be brought up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord. And grant, O heavenly Father! that all we of this household may ever, as far as in us lies, promote thy glory, and the spiritual as well as temporal good of all men in this place; that thy name may be hallowed, thy kingdom come, and thy will be done among us as it is in heaven, for thy mercy's sake, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.