The Pulpit Commentary — Leviticus — Section 92

offerings and peace offerings were consumed together (ver. 5). The great sacrifice of Christ prepares the altar for sacrifices of praise. These were not accepted till we were ,econciled through him.-J. A. M. Vers. 6-17.-The peace offering of the flock. The ceremony in relation to this is almost identical with that of the herd already described. Nevertheless, there are a few expressions in the course of the description which are not found in the former paragraph. We call attention to- I. THE DESCRIPTION OF THE FAT OF THE LAlfll. Vcrs. 8-10. 1. Note the expres- sion," Thefut thereof, and the whole rump." The" and" here is expletive rather than copulative, thus," The fat thereof, even the whole rump." But the "rump," as vulgarly understood among as, is muscle, not fat. The part here indicated is the tail. This is evident from what follows, viz. "It shall be taken off hard by the back-bone." The tail of the sheep even in our climate is fat, but in the East it is remarkably so, some of them weighing from twelve to forty pounds. 2. The portions burnt were very infla,mmable. (1) Here, in addition to the fat of the ta.ii, was all the fat of the inwards, which in a sheep might weigh eight or ten pounds. This, when ignited, would be consumed, whatever else may have been laid upon the altar. (2) These parts were considered to be the seat of the animal passions. In this view the lesson of their consumption upon the altar would be that our passions should be in complete sub- jection to God. Also to impress upon us that, if not consumed in the milder fires of his love, how obnoxious they are to the fierce fires of his wrath I (3) The rapid consumption of the fat of lambs upon the altar is therefore appropriately used to describe the extermination of the wicked, "Ilut the wicked shall perish, and the enemies of the Lord shall be as the fat of lambs: they shall consume; into smoke shall they consume away" (Ps. xxxvii. 20). Fire, it would seem, will be the chief instrument which Providence will summon for the destruction of the forces of Anti- christ (Rev. x:.vii.16; x:.viii. 9; x:.ix. 3, 20; xx. 9, 14). II. THE EXPRESSION, "FOOD OF THE OFFERING MADE BY FIRE UNTO THE LORD n (ver. 11). 1. Thus, what was consumed by fire is called God's food. (1) Some construe this to mean that what is consumed is food for the fire. But this is to give no infor- mation. Nor would this be a sufficient reason for the prohibition of the fat as food for an Israelite (see vers. 16, 17). Note, the fat intermingled with the flesh was not forbidden, but those portions only which were prescribed to be offered upon the altar (see Neh. viii. 10). (2) But how could God be said to feast upon such food? Not literally, certainly (see Ps. 1. 13). But figuratively. Thus his attributes of justice and mercy are, so to speak, hungry for satisfaction; and this satisfaction they find in that sacrifice of Christ, in virtue of which he is not only merciful, but just in justifying the ungodly (Rom. iii. 24-26). (3) To avail ourselves of this mercy of God, we must justify him, viz. by hearty repentance and true faith. While God magnifies his justice in his mercy, we, too, must magnify his justice in his mercy. 2. 'l'he portions of the peace offering not consumed upon the altar were eaten by men. (1) Here, then, was the expression of a fellowship between God and men, which is established through sacrifice. 'l'his glorious privilege is set forth also in the Christian Eucharist. We feast with the Lord at his table (1 Cor. x:.. 21). (2) Here also was fellowship between religious men. The priest had his portion, and the offerer his. That the offerer should feast with a Gentile would have been profanity. So the fellowship of Christians is with the holy universe (Heb. xii. 22-24). III. THE NOTE PROHIDITING THE EATING OF BLOOD. Ver. 17. 1. What are the reasons for this? (1) 'l'he first is that the blood is the life of the flesh. 'fhe prohibition of blood as food is a Noachian precept., and this reason is given there. The object is to set a store upon life (see Gen. ix. 4-6). (2) The second is that blood is given upon the altar to make atonement for the soul, viz. life for the life (Lev. xvii. 10-14). 'l'he atoning blood of Christ must not be treated as a common thing (Heh. x. 29). 2. We may here refer to a circumstance in connection with the bleeding of the sacrifice. (1) The Jews tell us that the animal, after the slaughtering, was suspended on hooks near the place of rings for the removing of the skin. How suggestive of the hanging of Jesus upon the tree of his cro~s I (2) The next thing was the opening of the heart, to let the ramo.ining blood escape, '!'hat this should happen to Chrilit was a special subject of 4;9 THE BOOK OF LEVITICUS. [cH. m. 1-17.