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As a nation Israel was now reconciled and set apart unto God - both having been
accomplished bythe "blood of sprinkling." Thereby they became prepared for that
fellowship with Him which wassymbolized in the sacrificial meal that followed.
(Exodus 24:9-11) There God, in pledge of His favor,fed His people upon the sacrifices
which He had accepted. The sacrificial meal meant the fellowshipof acceptance; its
joy was that of the consciousness of this blessed fact. And now Moses andAaron, and
his two sons (the future priests), along with seventy of the elders of Israel, went up
intothe mount, "and did eat and drink" at that sacrificial meal, in the seen presence of
the God of Israel,not indeed under any outward form, (Deuteronomy 4:12-15) but with
heaven's own brightnessunderneath the Shechinah. Thus "to see God, and to eat and
drink," was a foretaste and a pledge ofthe perfect blessedness in beholding Him
hereafter. It was also a symbol and a type of what shall berealized when, as the
Alleluia of the "great multitude" proclaims the reign of the "Lord Godomnipotent," the
gladsome, joyous bride of the Lamb now made ready for the marriage, andadorned
with bridal garments, hears the welcome sound summoning her to "the marriage
supper ofthe Lamb." (Revelation 19:6-9)
(^)