The Pulpit Commentary — Leviticus — Section 180

HOMILIES BY VARIOUS AUTHORS. .A sign expected and received. Ch. ix.; cf. 2 Chron. v. 13, 14; Ezra vi. 16-22; .Acts i.; ii. We have now before us the hopeful fashion in which Aaron and bis sons entered upon their work. The consecration being completed on the eighth day, Moses directed them to take for themselves a sin offering and a burnt offering, and to receive at the hands of the people similar offerings, and, in addition, a bullock and a ram for peace offerings, with the usual _accompaniment_ of a meat offering, and to expect a sign from the Lord at the conclusion of the service. "To-day," said he, "the Lord will appear unto you." A penitent yet consecrated priesthood, acting on behalf of a penitent anci consecrated people, are warranted in expecting a sign from God himself. 'l'he first priestly service is thus filled with hope, and the hope was realized at the end of it. 'l'he following lessons are plainly taught by this passage- • I. THE ONE INDISPENSABLE PRELIMINARY TO EXALTATION FR0H GoD IB HUHILUTION BEFORE HIM. Both priests and people must bring their sin offering and appear in penitential mood. Unless we humble ourselves under the mighty hand of God, we need not expect to be exalted (Matt. xxiii. 12; 1 Pet. v. 6). Hence the Law of the Divine dealings has been to "hide pride from man" (Job xx.x.iii. 17). It is only when we have pride eliminated that we have room for blessing. II. CONSCIOUS DEDICATION TO GOD IS AN EARNEST OF BLESSING ON ITS WAY. The priests and people both bring their burnt offerings as well as their sin offerings. They realize how reasonable it is to dedicate themselves to the Lord, who has been so merciful in his dealings with them. It was the same with Solomon and his associates at the dedication of the temple. It was the same with the disciples previous to the Pentecostal baptism. It was consecrated men and women who expected special blessing. And it is the same still; self-emptied, self-dedicated sinners are being qualified for special blessing. Ill. THE UNION OF NUMDERS IN DESIRE AND IN HOPE IS ALSO A BION OF A COMING BLESSING. The people assembled in their thousands before the tabernacle, and the priests e<r0perated with them in their offices. One heart and hope animated the host. We see the same unity at the dedication of Solomon's temple. "It came even to pass, as the trumpeters and singers wer~ as one, to make one sound," etc. (2 Chron. v. 13). We see the same unity before Pentecost. "These all continued with one accord in prayer a.nd supplication, with the women, and Mary the mother of Jesus, and with his brethren" (Acts i. 14). Such a union of numbers in desire and in hope should be encouraged continually. It need not be disregarded. It is a sign surely that blessing iB on its way when such happy union of heart and hope takes place. IV. GoD's RIGHTS HUST BE CAREFULLY REGARDED IF HIS SPECIAL BLESSING IS TO BE OBTAINED. The priests were directed to lay the best portions on the altar, to pay thus their due to God, before the blessing is vouchsafed. This element is sometimes over- looked. People make "systematic beneficence" depend upon special blessing, instead of preceding it. But it is manifest, from Mai. iii. 10, that God asks for proof, in the payment of Divine dues, of people's desire for special blessing. It is idle to expecL great blessing from above if men wrong God as they do. His proportion of our sub- stance can be calculated in cool blood and paid conscientiously, without waiting for a baptism in order to do so, and if we are prepared to exhibit our sense of obligation to God in this real way, we may hope for a very special baptism. V. BENEDICTION llA. Y BE PRONOUNCED WITH CONFIDENCE IN THE LIGHT OF PROMISED llLEBSING. At the conclusion of the ritual, Aaron proceeded to bless the people. His benediction preceded the Divine manifestation. It was pronounced in full view of the promise. It was, as we shall soon see, amply redeemed. And does not this fact throw light upon all benedictions? 'fhey are not blessings conveyed through the person J,ronouncing them, but blessings guaranteed, so to speak, to proceed from God himselJ on the ground of his own promise. It is the faithful Promiser the people are to look to, not his officer in pronouncing the benediction. VI. Gon WAS PLEA.BED TO HANIUEST HIMSELF AS CONBUHING FIRE UPON HIB ALTAR. What Goel gave was adJitione.l fire to the sacred deposit already so carefully preserved. en. 1x. 1-24.J THE BOOK OF LEVITICUS. lU