The Pulpit Commentary — Exodus — Volume 2 — Section 256

HOMILETICS. Ven;, 1-8.-The B,'fmholi-sm of the brazen aUar. The noticeaHe points of this altar a.re its position, material, ornaments, and purpose or use. I. !'I'll l'OSITION. (1) It was wi~l.cmt the sanctuary, in the open court beyond; (2) under the canopy of heaven; (.<1) directly in front of the sanctuary, and so of the ark and the mercy-Be&t. (1) It was without the se.nctuary, that none might venture inside the holy structure, e.nd so draw nigh t.o God without passing it, e.nd obtaining from it the purification which it could confer. Even if the priests on the way to the tabernacle did not al ways st.op e.t the e.lta.r t.o offer a victim as a se.crifice, they would ha,·e the thought of the need of expiation brought home t.o them by the sight of it, e.nd might as they passed propitiate the Most High by the offering of e. prayer. 'l'he position of the altar t.aught that man's first need is to have his sins e.nd .!_lllpurities purged away; and that until this is done, he must not presume to worship God, or enter into his presence, or offer the sacrifice of praise, or minglo in the company of those who form "the general assembly e.nd church of the first-bore, which are written in heaven." (2) It wa.s under the open canopy of heaven, visible to e.11, accessible to e.11, for e.ll Israel might enter the court; thereby teaching, that the necessary purification was intended by God to be open to all, and that his eye looked down from heaven with f,wour upon e.ll who desired t.o be purged from their impurities, and were willing to accept the appointed mode of purging. (3) It was directly in front of the sanctuary, and so of the ark and the mercy-seat. By this position it pointed to them, led the eye towards them, reminded men of them. With God, in the holy of holies, was at once justice, and also mercy-the law and the mercy-seat. Here, at the altar, was the place where the two could be reconciled, where "mercy and truth might meet together, righteousness and peace kiss ea.eh other." Here was to be begun that purging, both of the nation and of individuals, which was only complete when once in the year the high priest entered into the holiest, with the blood of the sin-offerings, and sprinkled it on the horns or the altar that was within the veil (eh. xxx. 10), and" on the mercy- ,;;ea.t eastward" (Le'°. xvi. 14), so atoning both for himself and for the sins of the people (Heb. ix. 7). II. ITS ll.A.TEBIAL. The material was (1) shittim or acacia wood; (2) bronze; and (3) earth; the earth a.lone constituting the true altar (eh. x.x. 24), and the wood and metal a casing, by means of which the earth was kept t.ogether. (1) Shittim, or e.cacia, the most incorruptible of woods, typified the purity required in e.ll that is set apart for God. (2) Bronze, the metal most common in the use of the time, indicated that the altar was for every-day employment by the mass of the people (Lev. i.-vJ.). (3) Earth, pure fr3:gra.nt mould, that of whic~-~ was formed at the first (Gen. ii. 7), _and into wliich he 1s re:!Olved e.t the last (Gen. lll.19), may well have represented Humanity; so that in the altar, which God had required to be made of earth (Ex. xx. 24), he saw Humanity ma.king its offerings t.o him,-peace-offerings in thankfulness for his mercies, 11in-offerings in deprecation of his anger, burnt-offerings in complete dedication of the whole being to his service. Or the mould may primarily have represented this earth, in which we live, whereof it is the essence as being the life-sustaining portion, and only aecon.darily man, for whom the earth was brought into existence, and of which he is ~Le master. 111. 1TB ORNAMENTS. These were, (1) perhaps, its cincture; (2) certainly, its horns. (1) The cincture, or "compe.ss" (ver. 5), if it was wholly .for ornament, may sirnpl,v have indicated the propriety of adorning and beu.utifyiag everything· which is brought I'll. X~\'Tl. 1-R.] nm noor~ nF r-:xnnr9. '.?ii