As far back as Exodus 25:8, Holy Writ records "And let them make Me a sanctuary that I may
dwell among them."

The Jews had seen the glory of God from Mount Sinai (Exodus 20:19) and had said to Moses,
"Speak thou with us." God had spoken; His glory had been seen, but, though the people had said
that they would do what the Lord had said and be obedient, God could not dwell in their midst
unless His glory could be maintained. So soon after promising to be obedient, they sinned
grievously in seeking to displace Him with gods of gold.

In the tabernacle we see the glory of God about the ark, behind the veil. The blood upon the lid
of the ark (the mercy seat) tells the wondrous story of how God was able to dwell in the midst of
His people. Not only is redemption from the penalty of sin accomplished, in type, by the blood
shed and placed on the mercy seat, but also by the blood sprinkled before it. Provision is also
made for the daily cleansing of the people. The priesthood was instituted, and man could be in the
presence of God because of the advocacy of the high priest. "If any man sin we have an Advocate
with the Father, Jesus Christ, the Righteous" (I John 2:1).

Relationship having been established between the Father and us, the children, the blood maintains
this relationship before God. But in Exodus 19:4-6, we see that glory is to be maintained by
remembering how we have been brought out of bondage, how we are to obey His voice and live
as a peculiar people, and lastly how we shall be a kingdom of priests to Him. These thoughts are
connected with communion which depends to a very large extent on us. Remembering our
salvation, tends to keep us humble and gives glory to God. This in turn helps us to realize that we
are a peculiar treasure, and energizes us, to live in the exercise of our priestly functions, both
toward God and toward man, and to give glory to the Worthy One.

This thought is expanded for us in I Peter 2:5,9, and Hebrews 13:15,16. As "holy" priests,
believers enter the "holiest" and offer up spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God by Jesus Christ,
and as "royal" priests, they do good and communicate, for with such sacrifices God is well
pleased. So believers work out their own salvation "with fear and trembling" (Phil. 2:12), having
a constant carefulness in their dealings with others (force of Greek) and God is glorified.

If an Old Testament saint, one of God’s earthly people, was to be so careful, how much more
responsible are we, who have the Holy Spirit dwelling in us, as well as with us. We should be
better able to seek His glory, bear His shame, keep His Word and love His Name. That Holy
Spirit is here to testify of Him, to take of the things of Christ and show them unto us. "He shall
teach you all things_" (a) "bring all things to your remembrance" (John 14:26)_the Gospels; (b)
"guide you into all truth" (John 16:13)_the Epistles; (c) "show you things to come" (John
16:13_the Revelation. The Holy Spirit thus is to glorify our blessed Lord, according to His Word
in John’s Gospel and other portions.

In John’s Gospel, our blessed Lord said, (chapter 17) "I have glorified Thee on the earth." Thus
the glory of God is seen as being upheld by all three Persons of the Godhead, and the priesthood

here as serving to keep us nigh in communion, all tending to the same end. With the blessed Lord
before us as "the chiefest among ten thousand" (a standard bearer), His Person as seen leading
amid the "soldiers of the cross", His footsteps being followed, how can we ever forget what the
Word says, Whose we are and Whom we serve?

God grant unto His beloved people to remember His Person, His Presence and His Promise, "Be
content with such things as ye have, for He hath said I will never leave thee nor forsake thee"
(Heb. 13:5). Christ is All. We have Christ. What can we want more?