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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 Henry《Concise 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 Wesley《Explanatory Notes on
Leviticus》
09 Chapter 9
Verses 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》