The Pulpit Commentary — Leviticus — Section 171

presence of God in bis taber.nncle. ~o the spirit~al priesthood have access to God in heaven. We must be anomted with the unct10n of the Holy One, and sprinkled with the blood of Ghrist, that we may enter into that most holy place (Heh. L 19-22 • 1 John ii. 20, 27). • III. THAT IT FILLED THE HANDS 01" AARON Alm HIS SONS. 1. It wa., treated a, a wave offering. (1) The breast bad the fat laid upon it. A bread offering also was laid upon H. The whole was then waved before the Lord. The shoulder also was heaved (see Exod. xxix. 27). Thus God was praised as the Crea.tor and Dispenser or every good. and perfect gift. (2) Moses acted as priest in all this ceremony. He put these things upon the bands of Aaron and bis sons, and waved and heaved them. From this action the. ram of consecration took its name (0•1ot',o ',•i,t, eil milluim), the ram of filling up. Thus the essence of the consecration was the filling the hand with the oblation, or conferring the right to offer sacrifices to God (~ee Ezck. xliii. 26, margin). (3) The wave breast then came to the lot of Moses, and Aaron and his sons appear to have shared it with him as the feast upon the sacred food (see ver. 31). 2. The ceremonies of the consecration la,!ed seven day.,. (1) Seven is the numeral of perfection, so at the close of the seven days this was a perfect consecration, intimating that all the powers of the consecrated ones should be wholly given to God. (2) They "kept the charge of the Lord," during these seven days, " at the door of the tabernacle." They were not as yet qualified to enter the holy place, and they must not leave the -court of the priests on pain of death (see 1 Kings xix. 19-21; Matt. viii. 21, 22; Luke ix. 61, 62). (3) " Aaron and his sons did all things which the Lord commanded by the hand of Moses." Had Jesus failed in any point, his consecration would be imperfect; he could not have become our Saviour.-J. A. M. Vers. 3-5.-.A time/or publicity. The solemn inauguration of Aaron and his sons into their sacred office was to have the utmost possible publicity. This was- 1 A DIVINE INSTRUCTION. The Lord said, "Take Aaron . . . and gather thou all the congregation together," etc. (vers. 1-3). "This is the thing which the Lord -commanded to be done>' (ver. 5). .II.· A PBOVlSION AGAINST POPULAR JEALOUSY. The scene described in Numb. xvi. shows only too well how necessary it was to convey to "all the congregation " the -truth that Aaron and his sons were divinely appointed to their office. This the more -because of the near relationship between Moses and Aaron. III. A PROVISION FOR POPULAR ESTEEM. It was in the last degree desirable that the people should have an exalted idea of the priesthood, o.nd, more especially, of the high priesthood. Everything which would contribute to this .would. be of real religious .service. It was, therefore, fitting that " all the congregation" should be spectators of the impressive solemnities of the inaugural scene. IV. A HELPFUL INFLUEN0E ON THEIR OWN MINDS. It was of equal importance to the Hebrew commonwealth that the priests themselves should cherish a profound sense of -the sacred and elevated character af their work. For 1Lny irrevereuce or neglect of theirs was calculated to involve the community in sin and in disaster (see 1 Sam. i. 17; MILi. ii. 8). So solemn and impressive a ceremony ns this, in the sight of all the people, would exert IL salutary influence on the mind both of father and sons. In ordinary lifo, piety and publicity are strangers. Devotion shuts itself in the inner chamber (Matt. vi. ti), or climbs up into the fold of the mountain (Matt. xiv. 23). We nourish our holiest thoughts, and form our best resoil'es, not in the glare of the public gathering, but in the secret place, when alone with God. Nevertheless, there are -Occasions when we should not shun publicity; when it is not modesty but weakness to do so. When we avow our attachment to our Saviour, and thus "confess him before 'Dlen" (Matt. x. 32); still more, when we enter upon any responsible office in con- nection with bis Church (e.g. the Christian min~try); and yet more, if we ILre summoned, ILS Aaron was, to any post of unusual eminence 1Lnd responsibility, we do -well to t1Lke the vows of God upon us before "ILll the congregation." If not "IL thing which the Lord commanded to be done,n it is (1) IL Divine suggestion (Acts vi. 7; xiii. 3; 1 Tim. vi.12); (2) instructive to the people; (J) hdpful to ourselves. We need all the influences we can gain from every source ta incite us to zealous labour, and to strengthen us against temptation. It is right 1Lnd wise to 1Lvail ourselves of all tha 132 TRE BOOK OF LEVITICUS. (err. VIII. 1-3G-.