The Tabernacle was God’s object lesson to Israel and to the Church. Its main design was threefold. First, it was Jehovah’s house set in the midst of His redeemed people. Second, it served as the scene and witness of various manifestations and revelations of God to man. Third, it also revealed the holy and righteous ground (sacrifice) and means— (priesthood)— by which men could in grace draw nigh to God. Now this latter consideration has been generally overlooked. Had it been borne in mind, the seeming disorder in the enumeration of the sacred vessels might easily be accounted for. Instead of disorder we have perfection. In those wondrous types and shadows, why is the Incense or Altar of Gold omitted in the description of the holy place? (25.) and why is the Laver not referred to in the account of the Court? (27.). Why also are those two vessels fully described in chapter 30, after the institution of the priesthood? (chaps. 28., 29). The reasons are not far to seek. The worship of the people was conducted at the Golden Altar, and the practical cleansing of the priests―whether for worship inside or service outside-was an imperative necessity, and of this the Laver was the witness. Both were priestly vessels, and ere they could be brought into service, the priests had to be consecrated in order to use them. The priesthood, these vessels, and all that which specially pertained to them, were the divinely-appointed means by which a redeemed people could be brought to God in worship and service, hence the fitting place of these vessels after the institution of the priesthood. Practical purification and worship as God’s priests are the respective thoughts conveyed by the Brazen Laver and Golden Altar. In the use of these, or rather what they symbolized, we draw nigh to God. We would call special attention to the fact that from chap. 25. till chap. 28:19 of Exodus we have as the grand and fundamental idea—God making Himself known to man; while in chaps. 27:20 till 30. it is the appointed means whereby men can approach God.