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Leviticus Chapter Nine

 

Leviticus 9

Chapter Contents

The first offerings of Aaron for himself and the people. (1-21) Moses and Aaron bless the people Fire cometh upon the altar from the Lord. (22-24)

Commentary on Leviticus 9:1-21

These many sacrifices which were all done away by the death of Christ teach us that our best services need washing in his blood and that the guilt of our best sacrifices needs to be done away by one more pure and more noble than they. Let us be thankful that we have such a High Priest. The priests had not a day's respite from service allowed. God's spiritual priests have constant work which the duty of every day requires; they that would give up their account with joy must redeem time. The glory of God appeared in the sight of the people and owned what they had done. We are not now to expect such appearances but God draws nigh to those who draw nigh to him and the offerings of faith are acceptable to him; though the sacrifices being spiritual the tokens of the acceptance are spiritual likewise. When Aaron had done all that was to be done about the sacrifices he lifted up his hands towards the people and blessed them. Aaron could but crave a blessing God alone can command it.

Commentary on Leviticus 9:22-24

When the solemnity was finished and the blessing pronounced God testified his acceptance. There came a fire out from before the Lord and consumed the sacrifice. This fire might justly have fastened upon the people and have consumed them for their sins; but its consuming the sacrifice signified God's acceptance of it as an atonement for the sinner. This also was a figure of good things to come. The Spirit descended upon the apostles in fire. And the descent of this holy fire into our souls to kindle in them pious and devout affections toward God and such a holy zeal as burns up the flesh and the lusts of it is a certain token of God's gracious acceptance of our persons and performances. Nothing goes to God but what comes from him. We must have grace that holy fire from the God of grace else we cannot serve him acceptably Hebrews 12:28. The people were affected with this discovery of God's glory and grace. They received it with the highest joy; triumphing in the assurance given them that they had God nigh unto them. And with the lowest reverence; humbly adoring the majesty of that God who vouchsafed thus to manifest himself to them. That is a sinful fear of God which drives us from him; a gracious fear makes us bow before him.

── Matthew HenryConcise Commentary on Leviticus

 

Leviticus 9

Verse 1

[1] And it came to pass on the eighth day that Moses called Aaron and his sons and the elders of Israel;

On the eighth day — Namely from the day of his consecration or when the seven days of his consecration were ended. The eighth day is famous in scripture for the perfecting and purifying both of men and beasts. See Leviticus 12:2; 3; 15:13 14; 22:27.

And the elders of Israel — All the congregation were called to be witnesses of Aaron's installment into his office to prevent their murmurings and contempt; which being done the elders were now sufficient to be witnesses of his first execution of his office.

Verse 2

[2] And he said unto Aaron Take thee a young calf for a sin offering and a ram for a burnt offering without blemish and offer them before the LORD.

For a sin-offering — For himself and his own sins which was an evidence of the imperfection of that priesthood and of the necessity of a better. The Jewish writers suggest that a calf was appointed to remind him of his sin in making the golden calf. Thereby he had rendered himself for ever unworthy of the honour of the priesthood: on which he had reason to reflect with sorrow and shame in all the atonements he made.

Verse 3

[3] And unto the children of Israel thou shalt speak saying Take ye a kid of the goats for a sin offering; and a calf and a lamb both of the first year without blemish for a burnt offering;

A sin-offering — For the people for whose sin a young bullock was required Leviticus 4:15 but that was for some particular sin; this was more general for all their sins. Besides there being an eye here to the priest's consecration and entrance into his office it is no wonder if there be some difference in these Sacrifices from those before prescribed.

Verse 4

[4] Also a bullock and a ram for peace offerings to sacrifice before the LORD; and a meat offering mingled with oil: for to day the LORD will appear unto you.

The Lord will appear — Heb. Hath appeared. He speaks of the thing to come as if it were past which is frequent in scripture to give them the more assurance of the thing.

Verse 5

[5] And they brought that which Moses commanded before the tabernacle of the congregation: and all the congregation drew near and stood before the LORD.

Before the tabernacle where God dwelt.

Verse 6

[6] And Moses said This is the thing which the LORD commanded that ye should do: and the glory of the LORD shall appear unto you.

The glory of the Lord — The glorious manifestation of God's powerful and gracious presence.

Verse 7

[7] And Moses said unto Aaron Go unto the altar and offer thy sin offering and thy burnt offering and make an atonement for thyself and for the people: and offer the offering of the people and make an atonement for them; as the LORD commanded.

Go and offer — Moses had hitherto sacrificed but now he resigns his work to Aaron and actually gives him that commission which from God he had received for him.

For thyself and for the people — The order is very observable first for thyself otherwise thou art unfit to do it for the people. Hereby God would teach us both the deficiency of this priesthood and how important it is that God's ministers should be in the favour of God themselves that their ministrations may be acceptable to God and profitable to the people.

Verse 9

[9] And the sons of Aaron brought the blood unto him: and he dipped his finger in the blood and put it upon the horns of the altar and poured out the blood at the bottom of the altar:

The altar — Of burnt-offering of which alone he speaks both in the foregoing and following words; and the blood was poured out at the bottom of this altar only not of the altar of incense as appears from Leviticus 4:7 where indeed there is mention of putting some of the blood upon the horns of the altar of incense in this case of the priest's sacrificing for his own sins. But there seems to be a double difference 1. That sacrifice was offered for some particular sin this for his sins indefinitely. 2. There he is supposed to be compleat in his office and here he is but entering into his office and therefore must prepare and sanctify himself by this offering upon the brazen altar in the court before he can be admitted into the holy place where the altar of incense was. And the like is to be said for the difference between the sin-offering for the people here and Leviticus 4:17 18.

Verse 10

[10] But the fat and the kidneys and the caul above the liver of the sin offering he burnt upon the altar; as the LORD commanded Moses.

He burnt it — By ordinary fire which was used until the fire came down from heaven Leviticus 9:24 though afterwards it was forbidden. And if it had not been allowed otherwise yet this being done by Aaron at the command of Moses and consequently with God's approbation it was unquestionably lawful. Add to this that there is nothing said to be consumed by that heavenly fire but the burnt-offering with the fat belonging to it namely that burnt-offering mentioned Leviticus 9:16 which therefore is not there said to be burnt as it is said of the other burnt-offering Leviticus 9:13 and of the rest of the sacrifices in their places.

Verse 16

[16] And he brought the burnt offering and offered it according to the manner.

The burnt-offering — Which also was offered for the people as the last mentioned sin-offering was.

Verse 17

[17] And he brought the meat offering and took an handful thereof and burnt it upon the altar beside the burnt sacrifice of the morning.

Besides the burnt-sacrifice — Which was to be first offered every morning; for God will not have his ordinary and stated service swallowed up by extraordinary.

Verse 19

[19] And the fat of the bullock and of the ram the rump and that which covereth the inwards and the kidneys and the caul above the liver:

That — Fat.

Which covereth the inwards — Or the Guts.

Verse 22

[22] And Aaron lifted up his hand toward the people and blessed them and came down from offering of the sin offering and the burnt offering and peace offerings.

Aaron lifted up his hands — Which was the usual rite of blessing. By this posture he signified both whence he expected the blessing and his hearty desire of it for them.

And blessed them — In some such manner as is related Numbers 6:24 etc. though not in the same form for it is not probable that he used it before God delivered it And this blessing was an act of his priestly office no less than sacrificing. And herein be was a type of Christ who came into the world to bless us and when he was parting from his disciples lifted up his hands and blessed them: yea and in them his whole church of which they were the elders and representatives.

And came down — From the altar; whence he is said to come down either 1. Because the altar stood upon raised ground or 2. Because it was nearer the holy place which was the upper end.

Verse 23

[23] And Moses and Aaron went into the tabernacle of the congregation and came out and blessed the people: and the glory of the LORD appeared unto all the people.

And Moses — Went in with Aaron to direct him and to see him perform those parts of his office which were to be done in the holy place about the lights and the table of shew-bread and the altar of incense upon which part of the blood of the sacrifices now offered was to be sprinkled Leviticus 4:7 16.

And blessed the people — Prayed to God for his blessing upon them as this phrase is explained Numbers 6:23 etc. and particularly for his gracious acceptation of these and all succeeding sacrifices and for his signification thereof by some extraordinary token.

And the glory of the Lord — Either a miraculous brightness shining from the cloudy pillar as Exodus 16:10 or a glorious and visible discovery of God's gracious presence and acceptance of the present service.

Verse 24

[24] And there came a fire out from before the LORD and consumed upon the altar the burnt offering and the fat: which when all the people saw they shouted and fell on their faces.

And there came a fire — In token of God's approbation of the priesthood now instituted and the sacrifices offered and consequently of others of the like nature. And this fire now given was to be carefully kept and not suffered to go out Leviticus 6:13 and therefore was carried in a peculiar vessel in their journeys in the wilderness.

From before the Lord — Or from the presence of the Lord that is from the place where God was in a special manner present either from heaven or from the holy of holies.

They shouted — As wondering at rejoicing in and blessing God for this gracious discovery of himself and his favour. This also was a figure of good things to come. Thus the Spirit descended in fire upon the apostles so ratifying their commission as this does that of the priests. And the descent of this holy fire into our souls to kindle in them devout affections and such an holy zeal as burns up all unholiness is a certain token of God's gracious acceptance.

── John WesleyExplanatory Notes on Leviticus

                             

 

09 Chapter 9

 

Verses 1-24

Leviticus 9:1-24

Aaron therefore went unto the altar.

Aaron in the duties of his office

The duties of the high priest as exhibited in this chapter divide themselves into two general classes. Some of his services related exclusively to himself and the rest exclusively to the people. Aaron though a priest was still a man with all the wants and infirmities of men. He consequently needed atonement as much as those for whom he was to officiate. And before he was allowed to proceed with his duties for others he was required to offer sacrifices for himself.

1. Aaron was first of all to offer a calf for a sin-offering. And it may be that this was intended to refer back to his great sin in the matter of the “golden calf ” which he had been prevailed upon to make for the worship of the people while Moses was in the mount. It is a hard thing to shake off the degrading recollection of any marked deed of wrong! The soil of sin upon the conscience cannot be easily washed out. I once heard a man say with tears upon his cheeks that if he owned a world he would willingly and gladly give it to have certain recollections of crime blotted from his mind. He was a pious man--a man who had solemnly consecrated himself to labours for the good of his kind; but the thought of his former deeds of shame haunted him like a demon and clouded his brightest peace. Aaron had done a great evil in the sight of God and the dark shadow of its remembrance followed him even into the honours of his high priesthood and stood before him every time he came to enter into the Tabernacle of the Most High.

2. The second offering which Aaron was to make for himself was the holocaust or whole burnt-offering. In addition to his special sin he was a common sinner with all other men. He needed justification by the blood of Jesus just as everybody else. There is a sense in which all are equally guilty before God the high and the low the rich and the poor the young and the old the learned and the ignorant the priest and the people. And the only deliverance from this common guilt as from all other guilt is through the one great offering of “The Lamb of God that taketh away the sin of the world.” Even Aaron in his priesthood needs it just as much as the wickedest and vilest of the race. These preliminary and personal services having been attended to Aaron proceeded as God directed to perform the duties of his office for the people for whom he was ordained. A sin-offering a burnt-offering a peace-offering and a meat-offering had been prescribed and his functions with reference to these he now proceeded to discharge. Let us then contemplate him in the solemn service.

1. Aaron’s first official duties were connected with the altar at the door of the Tabernacle and were all performed in the presence of the people. Now in order to understand the typical meaning of all this it will be necessary to observe that Christ is at once the priest and the sacrifice. It was impossible to unite these two things in the type. They stand in the Levitical ritual as distinct and they are not at all confounded together in the great mediation of Calvary. But we must bear in mind that Christ is at the same time the victim and the High Priest who officiates in offering that victim. When He was led forth to His immolation He was the lamb without blemish and also the one who was to lay its body upon the fire and sprinkle its blond upon the altar. As the apostle tells us “He offered up Himself.” He is the great High Priest who officiated at His own immolation. It was He Himself that presided at the awful ceremony in which all His joints were relaxed and all the binding ligaments of His being cut asunder and all the tender parts of His most interior nature torn out for burning--and His body soul and spirit laid down as a sacrifice for the sins of the world. It was by His own will that the blow was struck; that the blood flowed; that every covering and protection was torn off; and the whole blessed Christ reduced to a mangled and lifeless mass around and upon the altar of God. And it is this very fact that so infinitely ennobles exalts and dignifies Christ’s sacrifice. It was a willing surrender of Himself to death. There is a very remarkable expression in the fifteenth verse to which I desire to call your particular attention in this connection. You read there that Aaron “took the sin-offering for the people and slew it and offered it for sin.” A stricter rendering of the original as noted by various critics would be “He sinned it ” or “He made it to be sin.” The same diction occurs in Leviticus 6:26. The idea is that the sin-offering somehow had the sin transferred to it or laid on it or was so linked with the sin for which it was to atone as to become itself the sinful or sinning one not actually but imputatively and constructively. The animal had no sin and was not capable of sinning; but having been devoted as a sin-offering and having received upon its head the burden of the guilty one who substituted its life for his own it came to be viewed and treated as a creature which was nothing but sin. And this brings us to a feature in the sacrificial work of Christ at which many have stumbled but which deserves to be profoundly considered. Jesus died not only as a martyr to the cause He had espoused not only as an offering apart from the sins of those for whom He came to atone but as a victim who had received all those sins upon His own head and so united them with His own innocent and holy person as to be viewed and treated in part at ]east as if He Himself had sinned the sins of all sinners. “The Lord laid on Him the iniquity of us all.” “He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us.”

2. Having attended to what was to be done with the sacrifices at the altar in presence of the people the next duty of Aaron as the high priest was to enter into the sanctuary and the most Holy Place with the blood of the sin-offering as directed in Exodus 30:1-38. But before entering upon this second grand department of his priesthood he “lifted up his hands towards the people and blessed them.” It was a very significant act. It was as if he were emptying over them from his bloody hands all the effects and virtues of that blood. And it pointed forward to those gracious transactions of the Lord Jesus subsequent to His offering of Himself for us and prior to His ascension into heaven. But having thus spread his hands in blessing towards the people Aaron “went into the Tabernacle ” and was hidden from the view of the solemn worshippers. How beautiful the connection between type and Antitype! Of our Aaron it is written “He lifted up His hands and blessed them. And it came to pass while He blessed them He was parted from them and carried up into heaven”; “while they beheld He was taken up; and a cloud received Him out of their sight.” Aaron was to enter into the Tabernacle with the atoning blood of the victim slain without. “But Christ being come an High Priest of good things which were to come entered into a greater and more perfect tabernacle not made with hands not by the blood of goats and calves but with His own blood . . . For Christ is not entered into the holy places made with hands which are the figures of the true; but into heaven itself now to appear in the presence of God for us.” Moses as the representative of Jehovah in these transactions accompanied Aaron into the holy places and delivered over to his care all the vessels of the sanctuary and put the ordering of all the sacred services into his hands. And thus also hath Jesus “received from God the Father honour and glory.” But Aaron did not stay in the Tabernacle. He went in after the morning sacrifices were made; bat before the evening sacrifices he again “came out and blessed the people.” The soul kindles as we proceed with these ancient types. They portray so beautifully the grand mysteries of redemption’s progress. When I read of Aaron returning from his duties in the Holy Place the words of the bright angels that kept guard at the Saviour’s ascension gather new preciousness. “Ye men of Galilee why stand ye gazing up into heaven? this same Jesus which is taken up from you into heaven shall so come in like manner as ye have seen Him go into heaven.” When Aaron came out of the Holy Place it was to bless the waiting people. And so it is written of our great High Priest in heaven--“Unto them that look for Him shall He appear the second time without sin unto salvation.” Most people are afraid of the Saviour’s second coming and never think of it but with dread. It is because they have not sufficiently considered its nature and what it is for. It is not to curse but to bless. It is not to distress but to heal and save. It is not a thing to be dreaded but to be prayed for and most earnestly desired. It is the event that is to finish our redemption and complete our bliss. When Aaron came out of the Holy Place “the glory of the Lord appeared unto all the people.” Nor shall it be otherwise when Christ’s epiphany shall occur. Then shall Jerusalem’s light come and the glory of the Lord arise upon her. Then shall the pure in heart see God and the righteous behold the King in His beauty. When Aaron came out of the Holy Place “there came a fire out from before the Lord and consumed upon the altar the burnt-offering and the fat.” These things had been “made sin.” It was the exact picture of what is predicted concerning the reappearance of our great High Priest (2 Thessalonians 1:7-9; Malachi 4:1; Hebrews 10:26-27)
. But the fire that darted forth before Aaron and burned up what was accounted to be sin in that congregation touched not me of the waiting worshippers. They saw it leap out with lightning fierceness and lick up the guilty mass in a moment but it came not near either of them. Not a saint of God shall be burned by the terrific fires of the Great Day. When the wicked are cut off they shall see it. But He who upholds the worlds yet marks the sparrow’s fall says to His people: “When these things begin to come to pass then look up and lift up your heads: for your redemption draweth nigh.” Nay when the congregation of Israel saw the fires “they shouted” and adored. They “fell on their faces” for very ecstasy and holy worshipful admiration. They had expected much but the thing transcended their most rapturous imaginings. And so in the day of our Saviour’s coming there is a joy and glory and holy exultation and adoring gladness for the people of God which eye hath not seen nor ear heard nor the heart of man conceived. (J. A. Seiss D. D.)

For to-day the Lord will appear unto you.

Sacrificial preparation for Jehovah a appearing

Who would see God? Let the soul make ready. To whom will God show Himself? They who make ready by sacrifices.

I. To see the Lord demands spiritual preparedness in man.

1. For man to meet God without readiness would entail on him terror and death.

2. But man may meet God with readiness prepared even to behold His glory.

3. When man meets God thus prepared the meeting is propitious and privileged.

II. Sacrificial merits prepare man for searching manifestations of God.

1. By affecting the complete removal of his sin (by sin-offering) and therefore cancelling his condemnation.

2. By presenting an offering of self-devotion (burnt-offering) and thereby obtaining the Divine favour.

3. By conciliatory acts of propitiation (peace-offering) thus removing all estrangement.

4. By covenanted communion with God (meat-offering); fellowship with God in the sacrificial feast. When Jehovah meets a soul thus “made nigh” by sacrificial merit not only is there “no condemnation ” but “access unto grace” is assured and even “joy in God” (cf. Romans 5:1-2; Romans 5:11)
.

III. Amid most glorious divine manifestation the soul prepared by sacrifice stands fearless and blest.

1. Revelations of God come now to privileged souls and are “times of refreshing.”

2. The unveilings of death which will bring the soul to God’s clear presence will not terrify the believer: it will be “far better.”

3. The Lord’s appearance “in great glory” at the judgment will be welcomed with joyous acclaim by those who “look for His appearing.”

4. And in the splendour of heaven the ransomed hosts will stand without rebuke realising in God’s presence “fulness of joy.” (W. H. Jellie.)

Advent glory

Sometimes perhaps you have passed in the daytime through some public place where at night there was to be a magnificent exhibition of pyrotechnic art and you have seen the figures that are to be lighted up as they stand ready for the exhibition. They are very plain and common-looking. You can see in the rude outlines the forms of men the crown upon the kingly brow and the jewels that flash from it; but there is no beauty and glory whatever about them. But wait till the eventide till the sun goes down and the master of ceremonies appears on the scene and suddenly at the signal perhaps of a trumpet-blast or a chorus of melody the lights are turned on and a blaze of glory lights up the scene. Every figure stands out in radiant light and the whole scene is illuminated transfigured and seems almost supernatural. So it will be when our Master appears and these bodies of humiliation shall be lighted up with His brightness and all the members shall shine with the beauty and majesty of their living Head and He shall reveal all His glory in His heavenly Bride.

Aaron lifted up his hand toward the people and blessed them.--

A solemn benediction

I. In the relations of men to Jehovah there are those who attain a higher life of privilege and of power. The high priest alone was empowered to bless. His was a spiritual elevation above the priests.

1. Conscious nearness to God is not equally attained by all.

2. Sacred power from God is not equally derived by all.

II. Hidden fellowship with jehovah is the source of exalted qualification the spring of beneficent spiritual power. Aaron had spent solemn seasons during the seven days enclosed within the Tabernacle. It nerved his heart for his high task; it gave him assurance as he assumed the high function of blessing the people in Jehovah’s name. But after that official act he went into more intimate fellowship and prayer with God (Leviticus 9:23); and when he came forth he again “blessed the people.” It was the act of one whose soul was full of conscious power to whom it was no longer an official trust and duty to bless but a delight and privilege; it was the outflowing of a soul all a dent and adoring.

1. Blessings can only flow from a soul itself rich in the affluence of blessedness.

2. Affluence of blessedness can only be won by the most intimate communion with the Lord.

III. They who live an elevated spiritual life are rich benefactors to a sinful world.

1. They draw power from God which does not rest unused but goes forth in blessing others.

2. They exert salutary and saving energy among men by which earthly life is sweetened and spiritual health is imparted and Christian peace is bestowed.

3. Their very prayers unheeded as factors of good win daily benediction from Heaven on many hearts and homes.

4. As a daily influence in society such elevated souls shed a benign grace making social circles purer kinder less selfish and sinful more gentle peaceful and Christian.

5. In all their active ministries for Christ they are potent for good. They cannot “lift up their hands towards the people” but gracious results ensue. Thus should every Christian seek to be a “light of the world ” “salt in the earth.” Therefore let each--

Blessing the people

I. THE RECOGNITION OF MAN’S GREATEST NEED viz. GOD’S BLESSING. Probably the formulary employed was that recorded in Numbers 6:23-27 or Psalms 90:17. What a complete and comprehensive blessing! Man needed the face of God to shine upon him--God s reconciled cheering transforming face the face of his Father and King. The peace of God alone could remove remorse for the past and dread apprehensions for the future. Here then was the bestowment of all needed grace the earnest as well as preparation for final glory. These blessings centre in and flow from Christ with--

1. Infinite fulness.

2. Inestimable graciousness; for all men and all time.

II. The declaration of god’s greatest joy viz. Blessing men. He is slow to anger and delights in mercy. Aaron standing with outspread hands was the representative of God as well as of the people; and in the words of the Lord as well as in His name he pronounced the blessing. God blessed man.

1. In equity. He had not connived at iniquity had not accepted man into His confidence and communion without obedience and satisfaction.

2. Out of the sanctuary. The high priest came out of the Tabernacle and blessed the people; and God still pronounces His best and brightest blessing out of Zion where His name is recorded His worship observed.

3. In connection with human means. It was the blessing of God but it passed through the lips of Aaron. God employed and honoured human agency. (F. W. Brown.)

Christ’s priestly blessing

Jewish priests were required to give the blessing--or as we say “pronounce the benediction”--at the close of their religious meetings as the ministers of the gospel do now. And this was especially done at the close of the solemn service here among the Jews every year on what was called “the great Day of Atonement.” We know what the words were which the priests used on these occasions. We find them in Numbers 6:24-26. They are these: “The Lord bless thee and keep thee: the Lord make His face shine upon thee and be gracious unto thee: the Lord lift up His countenance upon thee and give thee peace.” These words are very beautiful. But then the Jewish priests could only use them as a kind of prayer. But they had no power to give the people these blessings. And here we see the great difference between all other priests and Jesus our heavenly Priest. He not only speaks the words of blessing but He really gives the blessings those words represent. This was what He meant when He said to His disciples “Peace I leave with you; My peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth give I unto you” (John 14:27). The world or the people in the world can only wish or pray that we may have peace. But Jesus can give peace. Yes and not only peace but pardon and hope and joy and grace and every blessing that we need Jesus is able to give. He came to bless the world. He did bless it while He was in it. He “went about doing good.” He was scattering blessings wherever He went. And He is doing the same still. He loves to bless; and the store of blessings He has to draw upon is so large and full that it never can fail. Look at yonder sun. For thousands of years it has been shining away all the time; and yet the sun has as much light to give to-day as it had in the day when God first made it. Or look at yonder ocean. It has been giving up its water to supply the springs and fountains of the earth ever since it was made; and yet there is as much water in the ocean to-day as there was thousands of years ago. And so it is with Jesus. For thousands of years He has been giving away blessings continually; and yet He has as many to give to-day as though He had never given one before. He came to bless the world. He has blessed it and He is blessing it still. He is blessing nations and families and individuals in such a way as nothing else can bless them. (Richard Newton D. D.)

There came a fire out from before the Lord.--

The miraculous fire

I. Some of the facts which the flashing fire confirmed.

1. That the sacrifices were Divinely accepted.

2. That the priests were Divinely accredited.

3. That the Tabernacle was Divinely appropriated.

II. Some of the effects which the flashing fire produced.

1. Holy rapture.

2. Gratitude.

3. Sacred awe.

4. All the manifestations of God’s glory to men in nature and in revelation are calculated and designed to awaken rapture and beget reverence.

The gospel brings glad tidings of great joy; it begets reverence for it shows us how great our sins and how holy our God. We see God as a consuming fire to consume sin and to purify from all defilement. Let us so live that hereafter we may enter into the glory unchanging and eternal. Rapture and reverence will characterise the delight and worship of heaven. (F. W. Brown.)

God’s acceptance of the sacrifices

I. The testimonies of God’s acceptance. These were of different kinds.

1. Ministerial. Moses and Aaron having finished all that they had to do within the Tabernacle came forth and “blessed the people.” In this they were

2. Personal. In two ways did God Himself by direct testimonies apart from all indirect human agency manifest His acceptance.

II. Effects produced by these testimonies of God’s acceptance. Visible objects affect us strongly; the people now were deeply impressed with what they saw. They were filled--

1. With exalted joy. Had they not been taught to expect this manifestation they would have been terrified thereby as Gideon and Mancah (Judges 6:21-22; Judges 13:19-22); but being prepared they rent the air with their shouts. The inward triumph of Paul seems more suited to our dispensation (Romans 8:31-39) and that is both the privilege and duty of every one of us to enjoy.

2. With profound reverence. Humility united with joy. Even the seraphim cover their faces and feet before the throne; glorified saints cast their crowns at the feet of Him who sitteth thereon. Exalted joys should be tempered with adoration. Illustrations will be found in Genesis 17:3; Exodus 3:6.

Learn--

Gracious fire

I. Fire seals with heaven’s own seal the atoning rites. Wherefore comes the fire forth? Is it to seize the guilty sons of men? Is it to hurl on them deserved wrath? Far otherwise. It comes with olive-branch of peace. It settles on the altar. It feeds on the victim as its feast. Then it brings evidence of God’s delight. Then it fills hearts with tranquil peace. The flame with blazing tongue proclaims “Here is the sacrifice which God selects approves calls men to bring and never will refuse.”

II. The attesting fire speaks god’s acceptance of substitution. The altar victims were the foreshadowing of Christ. Faith therefore loves this scene. It is one of the wells from which it gladly draws new joy. It is one of the meadows of its richest food. But what is the antitype of the descending flame? The clear gospel page. Three distinct testimonies answer to this approving sign.

1. The angelic host a shining train which swept down from heaven at Jesus’ birth.

2. The baptismal seal (Luke 3:21-22).

3. Transfiguration glories rest on Him and a voice from the cloud proclaims “This is My beloved Son.”

4. The opened grave guarded by the angels for in the resurrection of Christ we have the fiery seal of an accepted sacrifice. When Israel’s host beheld the fire of God what were their feelings? “They shouted and fell on their faces.” Sweet joy was theirs. Deep adoration warmed each heart. Exulting praise burst forth. Profoundest worship was their instant act. Shall we not do the like? God sent His Son to seek to save. Oh then let every breath praise God! Let every hour of every day be inward worship! (Dean Law.)

Of the divers occasions of the sending of miraculous fire upon the sacrifices

1. One occasion was when in the confusion of things they had need of some unwonted confirmation; as when Gideon was appointed to be the deliverer of the people this figure was given him in that confused state to confirm him in his calling (Judges 6:21).

2. Another reason was when God’s worship was to be maintained against idolatry and false worship; as when Elijah contended with Baal’s priests the like miracle was shown (1 Kings 18:38).

3. And further when the Lord was pleased to give assurance of His favour and reconciliation after some sin committed; as when David had numbered the people and the Lord being therewith offended had sent a great plague He showed his acceptance of David’s sacrifice by answering him by fire from heaven (1 Chronicles 21:26).

4. By the sending also of fire the Lord gave assurance of His perpetual presence and assistance; as at the dedication of Solomon’s Temple. Thereby He testified that the mount of Sion pleased Him.

5. And hereby also the Lord gave approbation of His own ordinance as here He doth demonstrate Himself to be the Author of the legal priesthood. (A. Willet D. D.)

The fire in the gospel

This fire which came from God upon Aaron’s sacrifice representeth the spiritual force of the gospel. The fire hath four properties--to give light to heat to examine and try to consume; so the Word of God is a lantern to our feet; it inflameth the heart; it trieth our life and doctrine; it consumeth and purgeth our sin. Ambrose here saith well “Thou art the bush I the fire in the bush; I therefore am as fire in the flesh that I may give thee light and consume thy sins.” (A. Willet D. D.)

──The Biblical Illustrator