The Pulpit Commentary — Leviticus — Section 392

FOSTERS IN ALL ms PEOPLE. The voluntary leaving of their homes for a season to live in a "tented state" was a ~eautiful_ embodiment of the stranger and pilgrim spirit to which we are called. God ln the wilderness dwelt as the Great Pilgrim in a tent with his pilgrim people; and year by year he enjoined his people in their generations to be- come literally "strangers with him" (Ps. xxxix. 12), as their fathers had been. And the same danger threatens us, to feel at home in this world and to give up the pilgrim- age. Hence the apostle's warning is ever needful: " Dearly beloved I beseech you ~ strangers and pilgrims, abstain from fleshly lus~s, _which war against the soul" (1 Pet. 11. 11). If the world does not seem strange to us, 1t 1s because we are not living as near as we ought to God. The more access we have to him, the greater will be our moral distance from the world. IV. THE JOY OF THE FEAST OF TABERNACLES WAS EN1UNOED BY THE HOME-GOING WHICH LAY BEYOND IT. 'l'he "tented state" is not intended to be permanent. Its value lies in its temporary nature. Canaan lay in sunlight beyond the wilderness,and the thought of" home" there encouraged them in their pilgrimage. The week's camp- ing out after Canaan had been reached made them enjoy their home life all the more. In the same way, while we confess like the patriarchs to be "strangers and pilgrims upon the earth," we are seeking, and rejoicing in the prospect of yet reaching, a better country, with a city of God and permanent abodes (Heb. xi. 13-16). The pilgrimage is joyful because it is destined to end in the everlasting home. Perpetual pilgrimage no man could desire, for this would be perpetual exile from legitimate home joys. A long pilgrimage can be welcomed if it lead towards everlasting joy in the Father's house. And is there not an element of triumph associated with such a. celebration a.s this Feast of Tabernacles? It indicates victory over worldly feeling through faith in God. No wonder, then, that palm branches and goodly boughs were waved by joyous ones before the Lord. It is into victorious joy he summons a.11 his people e.s the earnest of the everlasting joy with which he is yet to crown them.-R. M. E. Vers. 4--14.-The Passover. Under this general title we include the Feast of Un- leavened Bread, a.nd the offering of the firstfruits which was connected with it. The history of the institution is given in Exod. xii. Tha.t the Passover was a type of Christ is evident (see 1 Cor. v. 6-8). I. THE LlllB TYPIFIED ms PERSON. (John i. 36.) 1. Ie was taken from the flock (Exod. xii. 9). (1) As it had been one with the flock, so wa.s Jesus one with us. His humanity was no phantom, but a reality. (2) What an honour is conferred upon us, that the God of glory should stoop to assume our nature, to become "bone of our bone" I Let us not dishonour ourselves by sinning against such grace. 2. It was a male of the first year. (1) This was ordered because the male is the stronger animal, a.nd wa.s viewed as an emblem of excellence. Christ amongst men is the most excellent ; "the fairest amongst ten thousand." (2) Hence he is distinguished as "The Son of David," as "The Seed of Abraham," as " The Son of ma.n." David had many sons, but in com- parison with him they were nowhere; so he is the Son of David, the one glorious descendant who throws all others into the shade. So with the seed of Abraham. So with the sons of Adam. In the whole race there is no one to compare with him. 3. It was without blemish. (1) The blemishes tha.t would disqualify a. Paschal la.mb were physical, and so, abstractedly considered, of little a.ccount. But these blemishes were typical of moral evils, and in this view were very important. (2) But Christ was, in the moral sense, absolutely blemishless. He was unique. Singular, however, not iL eccentricity but in transcendent goodness. As under the microscope the works of Goci are seen to differ essentially from those of men, appearing more variously a.nd wonder- fully beautiful as they are more nearly examined under higher powers, so the more minutely Christ is considered the more wonderful a.nd beautiful is he seen to be. IL ITs BACBIF'ICE FORESHADOWED HIS PASSION. 1. The lamb suffered vicariously. (1) When taken from the flock the rest of the flock wa.s spa.red. So was Jesus chosen tha.t by his suffering his nation and his race might not perish (see John xL 49-53). (~) The blood of the lamb was sprinkled on the doorposts of the houses to avert the wrath of the df:stroying angel. The firstborn in every house wa.s sacrificed where no vicarious blood appeared. So are we saved from wrath by the sprinkling of the blood of Jesus Christ through faith. (3) Those saved from destruction through the blood of the la.mb 08:. XXIII, 6-44.) THE BOOK OF LEVI'l'ICl1S. 357