IN the epistle to the Hebrews we have presented the metaphysical sense of much of the ritual of the earlier Judaic faith. The tabernacle and its furnishings, as well as the sacrifices, are explained as types of that purely spiritual worship which Christ Jesus said the Father desires. It is too often forgotten that what the Bible calls "worship" is an essential element of man's true nature, and that without it humanity would sink into mere animality. Without religion art would have been barren indeed, whether in Christian or pagan lands, yet it is seldom realized that all true art must ever tend to lift thought above the material and sensuous by an insistent demand for perfection, else its mission will fail.
It is very significant that the types and symbols used by the children of Israel were all of a character in keeping with the concept of a pure monotheism as taught by Moses. The command, "Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image," was obeyed in all that pertained to their divine service, and even their symbolism was intended to direct thought away from the corporeal and sensuous to the spiritual. When, however, the people lapsed into idolatry, their concepts of deity found expression in what was material and sensual. They could not think of deity apart from corporeality, an error which has not been confined to any age or nation. Little wonder, then, that Jesus said to the Samaritan woman: "Ye worship ye know not what."
In the eighth chapter of Hebrews the services and symbolism of the Jewish religion are spoken of as "the example and shadow of heavenly things," but even in respect to these the command was, "See . . . that thou make all things according to the pattern showed to thee in the mount." In going back to the Old Testament we find that the utmost care was taken to obey this command given to Moses. We are told that the men chosen to carry out this commission were not merely skilful as artificers in silver, gold, brass, and precious stones, but that they were likewise filled "with the spirit of God, in wisdom, and in understanding, and in knowledge." They were also spoken of as "wise hearted," the end and aim of all their work being to enable men, "from the least to the greatest," to know God better.
