The Pulpit Commentary — Leviticus — Section 168

Vers. 10--12.-Levitical anointings. The subjects of these anointings as brought under our notice in the text, are, generally, "the tabernacle and all that ;as therein." From amongs~ these included things we have _afterwards particularly specified, "the altm and all his vessels," and "the laver and his foot." The anointina0 of Aaron also is distinctly mentioned. We shall review these in order. I. THE TABERNACLE. 1. This was _C!',n emblem of the moral universe. The holy places repi:esented the heavens (Heb. vm. 1, 2). Thus (1) the most holy place, where the shechrnah was, represented the "heaven of heavens," the "third heaven" or that which, by way of distinction and excellence, is called "heaven itself" (Heh. ix. 24). (2) The holy place, ~bich must be pass~d through in ord~r to reach the most holy, represented those reg10ns of the moral universe through which Jesus passed on his way from his cross to the throne of his majesty (Heb. iv. 14; vii. 26). In that passage be was "in paradise," and sometimes manifesting himself to his disciples (see Ps. xvi. 10; Acts ii. 23-32; Luke xxiii. 43; xxiv. 15, 16, 31, 36, 51). The spiritual world is not far from us. (3) If the most holy place represented the "third heaven," and the holy place leading to it the second, then the court of the priests will stand for the first. It describes the "kingdom of heaven" on earth, in other words, the spiritual Church of God. In this we are already" come," in faith and hope and joy," unto M~unt Sion, and unto the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem," etc., and hear the very voice of Jesus from the heavens·above us (see Heb. xii. 22-25). (4) The courts out- side represented the Church in its visible part, viz. the court of Israel, the court of the women, and the court of the Gentiles. The distinctions which formerly existed here are now done away, so that instead of three, the courts are one (see Gal. iii. 25-28; Eph. ii.11-19). It is well to be found in these courts, for all outside are in alienation. But we should not rest satisfied with the profession of the outer court. Without the spiritual experience of the court of the priests we can never pass into the heavens "whither the Forerunner is for us entered" (Heb. vi. 19, 20). 2. It was sanctified with the holy anointing oil (ver.10). (1) This oil represented the Holy Spirit in his gifts and graces ( comp. Acts i. 6 with x. 38; see also 2 Cor. i. 21 ; 1 John ii. 20, 27). It. was of peculiar composition. The formula is given in Exod. xx.x. 23-25; but on pain . of excommunication it must not be put to common use (Exod. xxx. 31-33). The person and offices of the Holy Ghost must be held in the greatest reverence; to profane these is fatal wickedness (Matt. xii. 31, 32). (2) With this oil the tabernacle was "sanctified," that is, separated to God. It was so separated to him for services of worship. Also to be a shadow of heavenly things. So the moral universe is claimed by God. The gifts and graces of the Holy Spirit are the principles of universal sanctification. II. THE ALTAB AND THE LAVER. 1. The altar and all his vessels. (1) This is obviously the altar of burnt offerings which stood in the court of the priests. The "vessels" were those for receiving the blood of the sacrifices, and all the implements used in connection with the service of the altar. (2) It typified Calvary, the altar upon which the Great Sacrifice of the gospel was offered. And taken in a grander sense, in consistency with the magnificence of the figure in which the tabernacle represents the great universe of God, this earth was the altar upon which our Lord was offered. (3) The altar was sprinkled with the oil "to sanctify it." 'l'he earth is thereby marked out as destined to be sanctified to God, and sanctified too by the gifts and graces of the Holy Spirit. It was sprinkled "seven times," to show the perfectness of that sanctification. And is not this the burden of prophetic hope (Ps. x.xxvii. 10, 11, 34; Isa. xi. 6-9)? 2. The laver ano.' his foot. (1) '!'his also was located in the court of the priests. In it they washed their hands and feet, and also the parts of the sacrifiQes requµing wasµing aCQ<Jrdi11g to the Lii.w. (2) The anointing of this was "to 011. vm. I-36.) THE BOOK OF LEVITICUS. 129