The Pulpit Commentary — Leviticus — Section 62

remained in ignorance but for those special manifestations of which the sacred Scriptures, are the record. The text reminds us that these include- !. His PECULIAR PEOPLE. Out of the human race God chose one people II the con- gregation," "the children of Israel," to whom he would appear, by whom the' knowledge- of his nature and will should be retained, and through whom he should be made known to others. To this congregation " were committed the oracles of God • " and while sur- rounding nations were stUD1hling in the darkness, Israel was walking in the light of the Lord. II. Il1s OWN HOUSE. "God spake out of the tabernacle," etc. This his dwellinrr- place in Israel had just been constructed, and there, in the most holy place he h:d signified his presence by the glory-cloud. That was none other than the house of God, his abode in the midst of the congregation. III. His CHOSEN MINISTER. "The Lord called unto Moses." The experiences or Sinai had shown that there was need of mediation between the Majesty of heaven and the children of earth. God, therefore, chose to reveal his mind through the one man, who was fittest for close access, and who would calmly receive and faithfully announce his will-the courageous, devoted, magnanimous Moses. IV. His PARTICULAR DIRECTIONS. "Speak . . . and say , •." Then follow the- instructions of this book of the Law: particular and precise regulations, by attention to which the congregation might worship with acceptance and II live in holiness and righteousness before God.• In the dispensation in which we now stand we have analogous special manifestations .. 1. Tiu Church of Christ is now the congregation of the Lord, the "Israel of God;,,. not the members of any visible organization, but all those of every society who love and honour Christ, "both theirs and ours." To such "he manifests himself as he does not unto the world;" in them his Holy Spirit dwells; through them he works on the world without. 2. Tiu Christian sanctuary is now the house of the Lord, the "place of his abode." 'l'here he makes his presence felt; there he causes us to behold his. glory, the beauties of his character, the glories of his grace. At the table of the Lord, more especially, the risen M'\ster meets with his true disciples, the Divine Host with his human friends and guests, to receive and return their love, to accept their vows, to impart his benediction and his blessing. 3. The Christian ministry is now the chosen channel of his co=unications. Not necessarily those ordained with human hands; these if sent by God, but only if sent of him; and beside these, all whose hearts he has touched (1 Sam. x. 26), whose minds he has filled with spiritual understanding (Col i. 9), and whose lips he has opened (Ps. Ii. 15); all tho.se on whose soul there really rests the "burden of the Lord." 4. The New Testament now contains the Divine instructions. These are (1) few in number; (2) moral and spiritual rather than formal and mechanical in their nature; (3) adequate to penetrate to the deepest springs of the soul, and to cover the widest particulars of the life. It becomes us, in view of these special manifestations of God in Christ, (a) to associate ourselves immediately with the recognized people of God; (b) to seek, con- stantly and sedulously, hie face and favour and the knowledge of his will, in his house; (c) to hold ourselves ready to speak for him to others or to receive his message from others, as hie Spirit shall prompt us or them; (d) to master and foster those principles of righteousness which Christ has taught us, that we may cultivate our character and regulate our lives according to his holy wilL-C. Vers. 2-17.-The true end of sacrifice,-entire consecration to God. We shall reach the end for which God introduced all that apparatus of Divine worship so elaborately described in this book if we take the following steps:- I. THE SEPABATD"G PBEBENCE OF BIN IN THE HEART AND LIFE OF MAN. But for the sin whii::h "separate. between us and our God" there would have been unrestrained C;ommunion between man and his Maker in every age and land : no need of mediation, of special arrangements, of careful limitations, of means and media of approach. Every line of this chapter, as also of this book, speaks of sin-sin in the soul, sin in the life, sin on tl:e conscience, sin as a hindrance in the way of man. II. THE EFFORT oF MAN TO FIND A WAY BACK TO GoD. It is impossible to forget that while Isra.el was offering its sacrifices as God directed, other nations were bringing ffll, L 1-17.] THE BOOK OF LEVITICUS. 17