The Pulpit Commentary — Leviticus — Section 175

Vera. 33-36.-The burden of the Lord. It is in our nature to love distinction, office, power. The instincts and impulses of our humanity enter with us into the service of the Lord; they-belong to us as subjects of the kingdom of Christ (see Mark :x. 28, 35, etc.), - But-here, as elsewhere, distinctions and duties, prizes and perils, honours and an;xieties go together. We are reminded- -I., 'l'HAT PROTRACTED PREPARATION .!UY BE NECESSARY for high office in the Church (ver; 33). Aaron and his -sons were required to go through consecration services for seven··days. It seems -to us as if they must have beeome wearisome by exceeding length. ' But· for such services as he and they were to render, such preparation was none too long. Consider how Moses was long in Midian, and Paul in Arabia, preparing for after-wor-k. Our Lord himself went "into the wilderness" and into "desert places," preparing himself for his Divine ministry. In proportion to the seriousness, the great- ness of the work we have to do, we may expect to find the extent and severity of the preparatory work, ; IL !l'HAT UNPAltATABLE COMMUNICATIONS MAY HAVE TO BE MADE, in conformity with God's will. Moses might have shrunk (probably would have done so) from voluntarily imposing -such protracted services on Aaron ; but he had no option. God's will was clear,'and-he had no course but to obey; "so I am commanded," said he (ver. 35). Again e.nd :again the minister of Christ has to say or do things he would gladly leave unsaid or undone. But in such cases he must "not confer with flesh and blood " (Gal. i. 16), but do the will of the Master he serves (see 1 Sam. iii.). IlL THAT DISOBEDIENCE TO THE CLEAR WILL OF Goo INVOLVES great danger:" Keep the charge of the Lord, that ye die not" (ver. 35). We cannot undertake great duties without incurring the most serious responsibilities and running grave risks. If we take the post of " watchman unto the house ilf Israel," we must speak the true and faithful word, or the blood of souls will be required at our hand (Ezek. x:xxiii. 7, 8). They who stand ia: God~s house- and speak in his Name, but who depart from bis \Vord, grievously mislead their brethren, and must be answerable to the Lord their Judge at the day of account. iJV, THAT AN OBEDIENT HEART· NEED· NOT, AND WILL NOT, SHRINK .FROM THE COM- MANDMENTS OF THE LORD. (Ver, 36.) Aaron and bis sons did not question or hesitate; they obeyed. Doubtless they found, as we shall find, that: 1. What seems formidable in prospect becomes simple and manageable in actual engagement. 2. God helps with his inspiring Spirit those who go with alacrity to-their work. 3. There arc unsuspected pleasures in sacred service. " His commandments are not grievous ; " his "yoke is easy, his burden light;" his statutes e.re not our complaints but our songs in the house of our pilgrimage (Ps. cxi.x. 64).-C. Vers. 1-5.-Public inauguration of Divine service. I. ALL THE PEOPLE GATHERED TOGETHER. 1. Religion is universal, as human necessity and sin. God and mo.n reconciled o.nd united in fellowship . .No human condition dispenses with worship. We should labour to·get all the people to the tabernacle. God invites them. Hill ministers should summon them; No excuse co.n be suffered either for their absence or for the lack of success in gathering them together; • We shall succeed best when we speak to them in the Name of God and with his own Word. Lower means and motives, if employed at all, must be kept in subordinate places. 2. There e.re no secrets in reU- gion; no esoteric doctrine; no rites or privileges which are not for the people. If the priests e.re set apart, the people witness their consecration, and sanction it e.nd to.ke part in it. The priests are for the people. A Church which withholds a part of the Lord's Supper from the congregation cannot be a true Church. In the commandment to gather the people was the implicit doctrine of universal priesthood, afterwards ( as in 1 Pet.) more perfectly expressed when the great High l'riest had come. II. THK FOUNDA'l'I0N ON WHICH ALL RELIGION STANDS 18 THE REVEALED "rOBD AND 136 THE BOOK OF LEVITICUS. [CH. vm. 1-36.