The Pulpit Commentary — Leviticus — Section 162

especially in the arrangement about the Urim and Thummim. The beautiful garments and this mysterious portion which lay upon tho high priest's bosom were to convey certain ideas about the office, and to secure in him the oracular man (cf. Ewald's • Antiquities of Israel,' pp. 288-98). Now, in the baptism of Christ, as be was pray- ing with uplifted eye, he saw" bea_ven opened;" that is, the source of light, the fountain of all knowledge, was opened to him. In other words, hl' obtained and bad continued to him a full revelation of all which he needed for bis work. (b) The gift of UNCTION on INSPIRATION, to enable the10. to interpret the revelation already guaranteed. This was indicated by the anointing of Aaron, not only on the head, but on the ear hand and foot. In this way the needful inspiration was symbolized, and the ritual' of th~ ram of_ consecration coincided therewith. In Christ's case the perfect inspiration was symbolized by the descent of the dove. The dove being an organic whole, a totality, \ndicates that to Jes\L~ there was communicated the entirety of the Holy Spirit, for the purposes of his priesthood. "The Holy Spirit was not given by measure unto him," and "out. of his fulness do all we receive, and grace for grace" (John iii. 34; i. 16). (c) The gift of COMMUNION AND ABIDING. Aaron, after the ritual of the sin offering, burnt offering, and consecration offering was over, an4 the best portions had been laid upon God's altar, was called to communion in the feast o.t the door of the tabernacle. There he was to abide in the enjoyment of fellowship with God, and in this spirit was to do all his work. And the assurance of sonship which Christ received in baptism corresponded to this, The words of the Father, "This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased;" and "Thou a.rt my beloved Son ; in thee I am well pleased" (Matt. iii. 17; Luke iii. 22), spoken respectively to John and to Jesus, convey the state of sweet assurance of sonship in which our Lord lived all his life. It was this sup- ported him when he foresaw the dispersion of the disciples, "Behold, the hour cometh, yea., is now come, that ye shall be scattered, every man to bis own, and shall leave me alone: and yet I am not alone, because the Father is with me" (John xvi. 32). The Grea~ High Priest performed his mediatorial work in an assurance of sonship and in the enjoyment of fellowship. It was only in the climax of his sufferings on the cross, when the desolation came upon him, that for a season he seemed to lose sight of his sonship, and was constrained to cry, '' My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?" II. THE CONSECRATION OF THE MINOR PRIESTS COMPARED WITH THE CONSECRATION OF BELIEVEIIS. Now here we have to notice- !. That the sons of .Aaron were consecrated along with .Aaron. It was one con- secration. Although the high priest received special anointing, and was chief of the group, the others shared his consecration. The one oil and the one consecrating blood went npon all. 'l'he one burnt offering was presented on behalf of all, and they all partook of the one feast and fellowship at last, And is this not to indicate that all believers share in the consecration of Jesus, their Great High Priest Y It is the Spirit of Christ and the mind of Christ which is made over to them. He is the reservoir, and out of his fnlness all the minor receptacles receive. 2. This fellowship in consecration was with a view to fellowship in service, The priesLly service was so arranged that all bad a share in it. 'l'here were, of course, services in connection with atonement which only the high priest could perform, but there was ample work about the tabernacle for nil the minor priests. In the same way the life of believers is to be e. consecrated fellowship with Christ in work. "Fellow- workers with God" is the great honour of the religious life. A Divine partnership is what we are asked to enter UJIOn. And this is the greatest honour within the reach of man.-B. M. E. Vere. 4, 5.-'17,e installation of Aaron. The origin of any order of mon is traced with interest, and the account given of the appointment of a special class to wait upon the Lord in the service of bis sanctuary cannot be read without profit. I. THE ASSEMBLING OF THE PEOPLE TO WITNESS TIJE INSTALLATION, 1. It deeply concerned them; the office was created for their benefit. We may witness the investit_ure of a knight of the Garter, and deem it a gorgeous scene, but one bearin~ n~ prnct1cnl relationship to us, Not so with the corone.tion of our prince or the ord1nat1on of our pastor. By the mediation of the priests the Israelites were to find acceptance with God. And JesUB Christ has been inducted into his lofty position for the advantage  OR. VJD. 1-36.] TJIE BOOK OF LEVITICUS. 123