EXPOSITION. Vers. 43--46.-Goo's PROMISES. The chap- and acceptance. The tabernacle shall be ter terminates with a parenthetic insertion of sanati.11.ed by my glory. Compare eh. xl. 3-l. various promises, intended to cheer the The presence of the Shechinah was the trne sanctification of the tabernacle-all the rest Israelites under the hard circumstances of was mere type and fignre. God not only their wanderings in the wilderness, and grow- "pnt his name there," but put his presence ing out of the mention of the tabernacle as there visibly. " the tabernacle of meeting" (ver. 42). Ver. 44.-1 will sanctify ... the altar. " There," says God, " He will meet, not only See Lev. ix. 24, where we learn that on the first occasion of Aaron's offering sacrifice npon Moses, to speak to him, but also the children the brazen altar, " there came a :fire out from of Israel, to receive their offerings, hear their before the Lord, and consnmed upon the altar prayers, and grant their requests. There will the bnrnt offering and the fat." Thns the he meet them, and there his glory shall be; altar had its miracnlous sanctification, as well and the tabernacle shall be thereby sanctified. as the tabernacle, and was not merely con- secrated by hnman instrwnentality. I will He will sanctify both the tabemacle and the sanctify also both Aaron and his sons. It altar; he will sanctify, moreover, both A11ron would seem to follow, by parity of reasoning, and his sons; and he will dwell among the that here also something more is intended children of Israel, aud be their God; and they than bad been accomplished by the rites of shall know him." Very precious and gracions consecration. The verb is in the future-<; I will sanctify "-and must allude to something promises, mRde absolutely ; though, as the which has not yet ta.ken place. Probably, result showed (2 Chr. xxxvi. 14---18), con- sanctification of the spirit is intended-th,,t tinl!'ent ou their obedience ; and faithfully Divine iuflnence upon the hell.rt which alone perf0rmed, as long as even a remnant was makes men really and truly "holy." (Com- obedient, during a space of e.bove seven p11.re Lev. x..ti. 8, 15; x..~i. 9, 16.) But in this case the promise mu,i; have been con- huudred years froru the Exodus to the Cap- ditional. God would sanctify them so far as tivity! they would allow him. Ver. 43.-There will I meet the children Ver. 45.-1 will dwell among the children of Israel. Lay Isr11.elites might not enter of Israel. Compll.re eh. x..'lv. S. Primlll"ily, the t11bernacle, and could ouly "meet God" the indwelling of the Sh~chinah in the holy at its entrance, when they brought their of holies is, no doubt, meant; but the expn's- sacrifices to the alt,1r. He promises, however, sion need not be limited to this. God would t.o meet them on these occusious with f.,nair be preseut with his people in u:,m,io]J ways THE BOOK OP EXODUS. [ <'II. XXI!. 43-46.
-to direct. l!Ulltain, enlighten, defend, and know in their inmost hearbl, that I am the sa,..c them. And will be their God. Com- ee.me God who delivered them ont of the pa..'1' eh. ,,;. 7. What treasures of love, pro- bondage of Egypt, and brought them forth tection. bounty, tendemes11, and pardon, arc for the very pnrpoee of "dwelling e.mong ther<> iu thi.6 phrlll'e 1 them." I am lehovah, their God. No other Ver. 46.-And they llhall lm.ow, etc. When God could deliver after this sort. No other they experience my protection, bounty, love, God cou1d be so long-llllffering to a " etiff- tendemel!I!, pardon • they shall truly feel and nookcd people "
HOMILETICS. Ver,;. 43-46.-God'6 promises to Isroel. Here we may note-I. Tm: DIVINE OOODNEB6 AS SHOWN IN THE KAKING OF PROMISES. Man has no claim upon his Maker. Our " ~oodness ext,endeth not t.o him." So far forth as we " do him true and laudable service, we are " unprofitable servants-we have done that which was our duty to do" (Luke nii. 10). Rut how little of such servioe is rendered I How groat are our short- coming,,! How many our "sins, negligences, and ignorances I" How little do we deserve anything but evil at God's hand I And yet, he not only bears with us, but makes us gracious promises. He binds himself to us beforehand by express engage- ments-he pledges his own sacred word to bestow upon us divers blessings. Here he >,1romised lsra.el five thing,,-1. The sanctification of the tabernacle by the Shechinnh; 2. l'hc sanctification of the altar; 3. Holiness in Aaron and his sons; 4. His own per- manent abiding presence with them as their God; and 5. Their own recognition of him ~ their Lord God-the deliverer who brought them out of Egypt-the eternal-Jehovah Eloheyhem. .And to Christians he has promised fa.r more-pardon, redemption, accept- ance, sanctification by the Holy Spirit, eternal life! Utterly unworthy as we a.re, these promises have been made to us. God's infinite goodness has ea.used him to condescend to enter into covenant with his creatures ; and the promises which he has made to us, •· he for his part will most surely keep and perform." II. THE Drvn,'E FAITHFULNESS, AB SHOWN IN TIIE FULFILMENT OF TIIE PROMISES KADE. (1) The sanctification of the tabernacle was effected by the entrance into it of the Saechinah ( eh.. xl. 34); (2) That of the altar by the fire which "came out from before the Lord" (Lev. ix. 24); (3) Aaron and his sons were sanctified to the effectual performance of all their ministerial acts, and were further personally sanctified, so far as their own willi would permit; (4) God did abide with his people Israel, notwithstanding all their short-comings, for at least seven centuries ; defended them from their enemies ; taught them by his pro,ehets ; ma.de them a praise and a wonder among the nations. And, on the whole, (5) notwithstanding occasional defections, Israel did recognise Jehovah a.s their God, did maintain his worship, did observe his laws, did believe that he dwelt among them, and was" the Lord their God." Shall we think that to us he will be less faithful ? Shall we doubt that he will give to us the covenanted blessings- pardon, and redemption, and acceptance, and sanctification, and eternal life? Surely, " God is not a man that he should lie, or the son of man that he should repent." He iB "the faithful and the true" (Bev. xix. 11). He never broke a promise. All to which he is pledged he will most assuredly perform, if we only a.re not wanting on our part.
HOMILIES BY VARIOUS AUTHORS. Ver.,. 43-46.-.1.mul IIOIIICl,ifi,ed by God'6 presence. 1. Three grades of sanctification. (1) By blood. (2) Unction of the Spirit. (3) Personal Divine indwell~. 2. God's clwel.li.ng with Im:ael saw:tifieB (1) the tabernacle; (2) his acrvants; (3) the whole peopjc.--J. o. UTT. UX. 1-10.] 'l'IIE BOOK OF EXODUS.