The Pulpit Commentary — Leviticus — Section 154

offered to God should be allowed to become unsound. No danger was to be incurred in the way of putrefaction. .Another statute in defence of purity in worship I In the service of the Holy One of Israel we must be pure in thought, in word, in act. He is "of purer eyes than to behold evil," etc. (Ha.b. i. 13), and ca.n find no pleasure in any service tainted with iniquity. The connection in which this restriction occurs suggests that, especially in those religious engagements in which we find social pleasure, we 1hould be careful to maintain purity of spirit, integrity of heart. II. CABEFUL BETENTION OF SACBEDNESS OF THOUGHT. The partaking of the flesh and the bread which had been presented to God, though these were eaten at home, was to be regarded as a sacred act. It was sacramental. Therefore it was fitting that no great interval of time should come between the act of presentation and the consumption. For the consequence would inevitably be that the sacred festival would tend to sink to the level of an ordinary meal. Sacred thoughts would be less vivid and less frequent; the engagement would become more secular and more simply social as more time intervened. We learn that we should take the greatest care to retain in our mind the sense of the sacredness of religious acts during their performance. When they become mechanical, or wholly bodily, or simply social; when the realization of the religious and the Divine element falls out, then their virtue is gone; they are no longer" an acceptable offering unto the Lord." We must accomplish this end by: 1. Studious spiritual endeavour to realize what we are doing. 2. By wise precautions, judicious measures, which will tend to preserve sanctity and to guard against secularity of thought. III. UNSELFISHNESS IN BELIGIOUS BEBVICE. The commandment to consume every- thing within one or two days pointed to an increase in the number of partakers; it suggested the calling together friends and dependents; also the invitation of the poor and needy. This was not only the design but the effect of the injunction (see Deut. xii. 18; xvi. 11). The Israelites, in "eating before the Lord," showed a generous hospitality while they were engaged in an act of piety and of sacred joy. Let unselfish- ness be a prominent feature in our religious institutions. It is well to remember: 1. '!'hat selfishness is apt to show itseU here as elsewhere. 2. That it is never so incon- sistent and unsightly as in connection with the service of God. 3. That it is a painful exhibition to the Lord of love. 4. That the more generous and self-forgetting we are in sacred things, the more we approach the spirit and life of our Divine Exemplar (Phil. ii. 4-8).-0. Vera. 1-10.-The trespass offering, burnt offering, and meat offering, affording support to the minister of the sanctuary and occasion/or feasting. I. It is the intent of true religion that those consecrated to its service should be provided for liberally. II. .Acknowledgment of sin and atonement made lead to rejoicing, and the festival life of man grows out of reconciliRtion with God. III. TYPICALLY; Christ the High Priest is rewarded in the sanctification of his people. " He shall see of the travail of his soul, and be satisfied."-R. Vers. 11-21.-The peace offerings and thank offerings. The unleavened bread and the leavened bread, both offered. The offerings must be quickly eaten, and all un- cleanness must be avoided as iniquity. Thus are taught-- I. THE DUTY OF THANKFULNESS. 1. It should be cheerful, glnd, pure, speedy. 2. It should be religious, expressed towards God as the .Author and Giver of every good gift. 3. It should be social, recognizing both the house of God and family life. II. 'l'HE NECESSITY OF HOLINESS in all things and at all times. Thanks-vows-- voluntary offerings ;-in all there must be separation to God, and from the corrupt and unclean. 1. In nothing more need of vigilance than in ezpressing the heart's more J<Jy- ful feelings. Possibility of prolonging the joy till it becomes corrupt. Hilarity over- balancing the soul. Intemperance in enjoyments. 2. The uncleannest of the world ia apt to cling to us. We should especially watch against carrying the impure spirit into the sanctuary. The mind should be free, the heart calm, the soul hungering and thirsting after spiritual delights, when, on the Lord's day, we enter the courts of his house to offer sacrifice. 3. Fellowship with God's ministers and his services. One voice, but many hearts. True mediatiq:i when all alike by faith depending on Christ.-B. I,J!:TITIClllB, J 114: THE BOOK OF LEVITIOUS. [oB. VIL 1-38,