(1.) Their daily services were two: [1.] The dressing of the lamps of the candlestick, supplying them with the holy oil, and taking care of all things necessary unto the cleansing of them, that their light might be preserved. This was done morning and evening, a continual service in all generations,—the service of the candlestick, —ArAuarpela. [2.] The service of the golden altar, the altar of incense in the midst of the sanctuary, at the entrance of the most holy place, before r. over against the ark of the testimony. Hereon the priests burned incense every day, with fire taken from the altar of burnt-offerings, that was in the court before the door of the taber- nacle. ‘This service was performed evening and morning, imme- diately after the offering of the daily sacrifice on the altar ‘of burnt- offerings. And whilst this service was performed the people gave _ themselves to prayer without, with respect unto the sacrifice offered, Luke i. 10. For this offering of incense on the sacrifice, and that fired with a coal from the altar whereon the sacrifice was burned, was a type, as we have declared, of the intercession of Christ. For although they understood it not clearly in the notion, yet were true believers guided to express it in their practice, The time of the priest’s offering incense they made the time of their own solemn prayers, as believing that the efficacy and acceptance of their prayers depended on what was typified by that incense, Ps, cxli. 2. These were the daily services. It is uncertain whether they were all per- formed at the same time or no; namely, those of the candlestick and the altar of incense. If they were, it should seem that they were done by no more but one priest at one time; that is, every morning and evening. For of Zacharias it is said, that “ it was his lot to burn in- cense in the temple;” and no other was with him there when he saw the vision, Luke i. 8, 9, 21,22. Wherefore, whereas it is said in the institution of these things, “ Aaron and his sons shall do this service,” it is intended that some one of them should do it at any one time.
(2.) The weekly service of the sanctuary was the change of the
Tas Aarpelas eoriveAouyrese
228 AN EXPOSITION OF THE [CHAP. IX.
bread on the table of shew-bread. This was performed every Sabbath- day in the morning, and not else.
Now all this daily service was typical. And that which it did represent was the continual application of the benefits of the sacri- fice and whole mediation of Christ unto the church here in this world. That the tabernacle itself with the inhabitation of God therein was a type of the incarnation of the Son of God, we have showed before; and have also declared that all the utensils of it were but representations of his grace in the discharge of his office. He is the light and life of the church, the lamp and the bread thereof. The incense of his intercession renders all their obedience acceptable unto God. And therefore there was a continual application made unto these things without intermission every day. And we may thence observe, that,—
Obs. A continual application unto God by Christ, and a continual application of the benefits of the mediation of Christ by faith, are the springs of the light, life, and comfort of the church.
Ver. 7.—“ But into the second [went] the high priest alone once every year, not without blood, which he offered for himself, and [ for] the errors of the people.”
The use and service of the second part of the tabernacle, or the most holy place, which the apostle designeth principally to apply unto his present argument, are declared in this present verse. And he describes them, 1. By the person who alone might perform the service which belonged unto this part of the sanctuary; and this was . the high priest. 2. By that which in general was required unto the other part of it; he went into rt. This is not here expressed, but the sense of it is traduced from the foregoing verse. The other priests entered into the sanctuary, and the high priest into this; that is, he entered or went into it. 3. From the time and season of this his entrance, which was once a-year only; in opposition unto the entrance of the priests into the other part, which was at all times, every day. 4 By the manner of his entrance, or what he carried with him to administer or perform the holy service of the place, expressed negatively; not without blood,—that is, with blood. 5. From the use of the blood which he so carried in with him; it was that which he offered for himself and the errors of the people.
That which the apostle here respects and describes was the great anniversary sacrifice of expiation, whose institution, rites, and so- lemnities are at large declared, Lev. xvi. And herein,—
1. The person designed unto this service was the “high priest alone,” and no other person, Lev. xvi. 2,32. And he was to be so alone as that none were to attend, assist, or accompany him, in any part of the service. Yea, it
Mévos o ap- repens.