The Pulpit Commentary — Leviticus — Section 185

I. Gon'e CALL TO me OWN PREBENCJIJ. (Vere. 5, 6.) H was at the Lord's own command that "all the congregation drew near and stood before" him. The entire scene was due to explicit Divine direction. It is God himself who calls ns to his presence. We may venture to ask why he does so, and to answer by suggesting: 1. That it is a part of his Divine satisfaction in us to receive our nnited homage and thanksgiving; and 2. That he knows that public worship is beat Bllited to impress our minds and strengthen our souls in heavenly wisdom. But we are certain that it ia his W11l, for whatever reasons. "Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together," etc. (Heb. x. 25; set Acts ii. 42). The presentation of ourselves before God should be measured thus: (1) multiplied by (a) our sense of God's pleasure with our worship; (b) our need of spiritual refreshment and elevation; (c) Ullefulness to others by way of encouragement in piety. (2) Liinited by home duties and the other claims of our outer life. II. THE BUMAN INSTRUMENT IN TBIS SACRED SUllllONB. ~ers. 1, 3.) Here we have a double human instrumentality: Moses called Aaron, etc. ver. 1), and Aaron was in- structed to take on himself the duty of summoning the chi! en of Israel to bring their sacrifices before the Lord (ver. 3). God continually speaks to us through man. Some men are his spokesmen in an especial sense and in a large degree; all of us are to be listeners to those who speak in his name. Those who speak for him are to be faithful and earnest in summoning his people to "stand before the Lord." Does the prophet. ask, "What shall I cry?" Surely, one answer of the heavenly voice is," 0 come, let us worship and bow down : let us kneel before the Lord our Maker " (Isa. :d. 6 ; Ps. xcv. 6; see Ps. c. 2, 3, 4). IIL THE SPIRIT IN WHICH WE SHOULD RESPOND. We should come before the Lord : 1. In a spirit of humility. Aaron himself was to take a sin offering (ver. 2), and this after all the sacrifices described in the preceding chapter. The people also were to present a sin offering (ver. 3). Though we may be in a state of reconciliation with God, we have need of the spirit of penitence at all times, and, when we draw near to the throne of grace, should ask that the mercy of God in Jesus Christ may cover our offences and shortcomings. 2. In a spirit of consecration. Aaron was to take a ram for a burnt offering (ver. 2); the people a calf and a lamb for the same kind of sacrifice (ver. 3). They were-as we are-to be ready to consecrate themselves unto the Lord, to offer themselves in spiritual sacrifice on his altar. We are to go up to God's house ready to renew our vows unto him. 3. In a spirit of gratitude and joy. The children of Israel were not to omit the meat offering or the peace offering (ver. 4). We are to take with ns before God a heart full of thanksgiving for his bounty; also of social, sacred joy. We are to rejoice together before him. 4. In a spirit of dewut ezpectati<Y11. The Hebrew worshippers were to look for the manifestation of Jehovah: "To-day the Lord will appear unto yon" (ver. 4). We, too, are to expect that God will be with us; that he will draw nigh unto us when we draw nigh unto him (Jas. iv. 8); that Christ our Lord will "manifest himself unto us," will "come unto us, and make his abode with us" (John xiv. 21-23).-C. Ver. 7.-&crifice for sin. We may look first at our subject simply as an incident in human history, apart from the consideration of its place in the mspired record. Then we have- I. A REPRESENTATIVE SCENE IN TBB HISTORY OF MAN. The most eminent civilian in the nation says to the most eminent ecclesiastic, "Go unto the altar, and offer thy sin offering, .•. and make an atonement for thyself, and for thy people." Under every sky, in every age, we have the sad, solemn facts of which these words are the ex- pression. 1. Man conscious of sin, saying, "I ought" and "I ought not," knowing in his heart that he has done that which should have been left undone, and has omitted to do that which he should have done; with the language of conscious guilt upon his lips. 2. Man seeking reconciliation with an offended God, feeling and owning that, in addition to other duties, and even above all other considerations, be must seek and find a way by which God, by which the Supreme Power, may be conciliated. 3. Man seeking restoration by sacrifice; practically acknowledging that death is due to sin, dramatically appealing to the offended Power to accept the life of the slain animal instead of his own; "making atonement" for sin. 'l'he priest at the altar is a picture IIVhich all nations have presented-a picture of humanity conscious of itd guilt seeking LEVITICUS. T,  14.6 1"HE DOOK OF LEVITICUS. [oH. IX, 1-24-.