hich it
was intended to lead, was never given. Nothing is said in the books of
Moses concerning the people's state of mind during the time when the
high-priest stood in God's presence. The transaction was so purely
ceremonial that the people do not seem to have taken any part in it,
beyond gathering perhaps around the tabernacle to witness the ingress
and egress of the high-priest. Moreover, no words were spoken either by
the high-priest before God, or by God to the high-priest or to the
people. No prayer was uttered, no revelation vouchsafed. For these
reasons the Apostle goes back to the revelation on Sinai, which indeed
instituted the rites of the covenant. With the revelation that preceded
the sacrifices of the Law he compares the revelation that is founded
upon the sacrifice of Christ. This is the fundamental difference between
Sinai and Zion. The revelation on Sinai precedes the sacrifices of the
tabernacle; the revelation on Zion follows the sacrifice of the Cross.
Under the old covenant the revelation demanded sacrifices; under the new
covenant the sacrifice demands a revelation.

From this essential difference in the nature of the revelations a
twofold contrast is apparent in the phenomena of Sinai and Zion. Sinai
revealed the terrible side of God's character, Zion the peaceful
tenderness of His love. The revelation on Sinai was earthly; that on
Zion is spiritual.

There can be no question that the Apostle intends to contrast the
terrible appearances on Sinai with the calm serenity of Zion. The very
rhythm of his language expresses it. But the key to his description of
the one and the other is to be found in the distinction already
mentioned. On Sinai the unappeased wrath of God is revealed. Sacrifices
are instituted, which, however, when established, evoke no response from
the offended majesty of Heaven. Of the holiest place of the old covenant
the best thing we can say is that the lightning and thunders of Sinai
slumbered therein. The author's beautiful description of the sunny steep
of Zion is framed, on the other hand, in accordance with his frequent
and emphatic declaration that Christ has entered the true holiest place,
having obtained for us eternal redemption. All that the Apostle says
concerning Sinai and Zion gathers around the two conceptions of sin and
forgiveness.

The Lord spake on Sinai out of the midst of the palpable, enkindled
fire, of the cloud, and of the thick darkness, with a great voic