The Pulpit Commentary — Leviticus — Section 304

Christ we should bring, beside this, our adoration, praise, gratitude, trust, love, conse- cration, etc. 2. We must learn to connect daily blessings with the Divine hand. We should, in thought though not in act, bring everything we have to "the door of the tabernacle," trace each good thing we enjoy to the generous Giver of all, to his heart of love as well as to his hand of bounty. 3. We sh,,iul,d bless God for revealing himself to us as our Divine Friend, in the person of Jesus Christ. Jesus Christ has tauuht 0 us to tll'ink and feel that we are the friends and guesta of God (John xv. 14 16 • :x.iv. 23 • Rev. iii. 20).-C. ' ' ' Vers. 10-16.-.Atoning death. We have here a repetition of a law which had already been twice delivered (chs. iii. 17; vii. 23-26). Its full and formal restatemeni is Yery significant, and this the more because of the emphatic utterance of Divine dis- pleasure in the event of disobedience. "I will even set my face against that soul ... and will cut him off," etc. (ver. 10). Obviously, the highest importance was attached by God to the observance of this injunction not to eat "any manner of blood." We regard- I. THE PRIMAIIY SIGNIFICANCE OP THIS LAW. This is clearly indicated in vers. 11 and 12. We shall understand it if we consider the subject thus: 1. Happy and harmonious relations between Jehovah and his people were maintained by continual sacrifices at lais altar. 2. In these sacrifices the life of the slain animal was accepted by God as an atonement for the forfeited life of the human transgressor. 3. But the blood uf the animal was regarded as the seat and source of its life. When its blood was shed its life was taken, and the shed blood was sprinkled before the vail or poured on the altar (eh. ii 6, 7), as standing for the life which had been offered by man, and been accepted by God. "The blood of bulls and of goats," therefore, however insufficient of itself for the high purpose of atonement for human sin, was yet the outward and visible means which the Holy One of Israel was pleased to appoint for reconciliation between him.sell and his people. 'l'herefore it was to be held sacred; the idea of it must not be vulgarized, as it would inevitably be if blood were used as common food at ordinary meals. Its sanctity must be carefully fenced. Men must associate with it, in their minds, nothing but the forfeited life, the atonement, with which it was so closely connected. All their domestic and social customs (vers. 13, 15, 16) must be so ordered that the blood of animals, anywhere and anywise slain, should speak of those sacrifices at the altar in which the erring souls of men sought and found the mercy and the favour of their God. II. lTs SIG!HFICANCE TO OURSELVES. It suggests to us the truth that, as the disciples of Jesus Christ, we also should count very sacred in our esteem the thought of atoning blood. 1. For we, too, are redeemed by "precious blood" (see 1 Pet. i. 18, 19;. Eph. i. 7; Heh. ix. 12-14; Rev. v. 9). It may not have been needful that, in the literal sense, the blood of the Son of man should flow, but it was needful that his life, of which the blood is the source and the symbol, should be laid down. 2. Our Lord has given us a permanent institution, the object of which is to keep before our minds the shedding of his blood for our sins (Matt. xxvi. 28 ; 1 Cor. xi. 26). 3. By their words, he and his apostles laid the greatest stress on his atoning death as the source of our life and hope (John xii. 32; vi. 53; Luke xxiv. 46, 47; Heb. ix. 14;. 1 John i. 7, etc.). 4. His atoning death was the object of our soul's trust when we entered our Christian courni, and will be at the hour when we shall complete it. 6. It ~ the will of Christ that we should keep it continually in view thro:ighout our life. It is our wisdom as well as our duty so to do, inasmuch as the contemplation of his death for our sins will minister (1) to our humility; (2) to our gratitude; (3) to & consecrated life of cheerful obedience and submission.-0. Vers. 1-9.-Sanctity of animal life, All God's people commanded to observe restrictions as to tho shedding of blood. Door of the tabernacle connected with the sphere of common life; thus religion and its duty threw sacredness over nll things. I. THE DOJIUNION OF MAN OVER THE LOWER CREATION. 1. .Appointed by God (se& Gen. L 26 and Ps. viii.). 2. Limited in its eztent, by necessity, humanity of feeling, provision for the higher purposes of human life. 3. Capable of being blended with th& Law of the sanctuary. We should afford all creatures de1icndcnt on us, as much aa Clll. XVU. 1-16.] THE BOOK OF LEVITICUS. 2()9