The Pulpit Commentary — Exodus — Volume 2 — Section 262

the victims slain; nround the altor the atoning bloorl. was poured or sprinkled; in th•i cnso of the sin offering, the blood was Hmeared upon the horns: with live coals from tho nltar did the priest replenish his censer when he went in to burn incense before the Lord. On this nltnr wns laid the daily burnt-offering, together with the "sacrifices of righte011 ,... ness," "the burnt-offering, a.nd whole burnt-offering" (Ps. Ii. 19), by which the peoplo expressed their consecration to God. Here were consumed the fat and choice parts of the peace-offerings, etc. 4. Its typical significance. ( l) The altar, as the place of l\tonement, reminded the worshipper of sin, and of his need of cleansing from sin's guilt. In this way, it pointed forward to Christ, in whom the whole ritual of sacrifice reacbe~ its consummation. (2) As the altar of burnt-offering, it taught the duty of uncornli- tional and entire surrender to the will of God. This offering up of the whole being to God in inward consecration underlies the special acts of consecration symbolised in tho show-bread, in the lighted candlestick, and in the ascent of incense from the golden nltar. (3) As God's altar, it was a witness to the Divine readiness to pardon; yet a testimony to the stern truth that without shedding of blood there is no remission (Heh. ix. 22). II. THE COURT OF THE TABERNACLE (vers. 9-20). On the general construction of the court, see the exposition, We have to view it as a spacious enclosure of a hunclrc,l cubits by fifty, its sides formed by linen hangings, five cubits in height, and supporte,l by pillars of brass (bronze) five cubits apart, to which the hangings were attached by hooks and fillets of silver. The brazen altar stood in the forepart of the court; the tabernacle towards the rear. Between the brazen altar and the tabernacle was the !aver. 'J'he design of this court was to furnish the people, who were precluded from entering the sanctuary, with a place in which they might still, though a1. some distance, per- sonally appear before Jehovah, The court conferred a privilege, yet taught a lesson. 'l'he fact that ho could approach no further than its precincts painfully reminded the Israelite that, as yet, the work of atonement was incomplete---that he still stood, because of his unholiness, at a great distance from God. In the gospel of Christ, these barriers are all done away with.---J. 0. Vers. 20, 21.-The burning lamp. God's care for his sanctuary descends even to so small a matter as the replenishing and trimming of its lamps. Note---1. The end of the ordinance. God deHires tha1. 1.he light obtained from the lampe in his sanctuary be -{1) pure, (2) bright, (3) constant. The best light possible. Such should be the light of the Christian life, 2. The means to this end. (1) The lamps were to be fed "ith the best and purest oil. The Holy Spirit. (2) The lamps were to be duly trimmed and ordered. Watchfulness, care. 'l'he light needs to be attended to.---J. U. Vers. 20, 21.-The oil for the lamp. A special commandment was given that the oil should be pure and rich : - 1. THAT THERE M..IGHT BI!! A DUE CORRESPONDENCE BETWEEN THE LIGHT A::-."D THE GLORY OF THE CANDLESTICK, The candlestick was composed of the most precious of all metals, nnd it had been fashioned by the hands of an artist Divinely chosen and inspired. Great, therefore, would have been the incongruity, if any but the steadiest and most brilliant light had shone forth from this candlestick. Indeed the provision of the very best material might seem to have been self-suggested and to require no commandment at all, did we not know how forgetful, how inconsiderate human nature is. Man needs to be kept up to the mark by sharp and frequent admonitions; else he will keep the best for himself, and let anything be put forward for such a mere formality as too often he reckons the service of God to be. Still it surely would nut require much thought to perceive how disgraceful a dim light w?uld be in connection with such a glorious fabric as the candlestick presented. But the~e 1s a more glon~us fabric far than this candlestick if we onlv consider each human life that comes mto this worltl ; if we only con;ider the riches and strength that are in each one of us by natural constitution, 'l'here is something very glorious about the natural life of man, in spite of its depravity, its miseries and its mortahty; _and God has g;iven us the opportunity of still further glorifying our natura_l !if~ m this _world by offermg tu 1uake us supports such as may nid in sustaining and d1ffusrng the l1~ht he woul~ shc,l ,1bru,i,l amongst mcu. When God puts his gospel into the charge ol human bcmgs he ca.lli  27ft THE BOOK OF EXODUS. [OK. xxvm. 1-12.