The Pulpit Commentary — Leviticus — Section 412

kindred senses. 1. God's Word written. (1) This Is no uncertain light, as that of mere reason is. (2) It is no false light, e.s the.t of tradition often is. For, however pure it me.y he.ve been at its source, it soon becomes corrupted in transmission. 2. The personal Word of Gnd. (1) The presence of e. personal Teacher in the living Spirit of Christ is e. priceless blessing. (2) Such e.n Interpreter is infinitely better than popes or Councils. (3) Christians are still the disciples of the personal Jesus. They should cultivate in prayerfulness the simplicity e.nd docility becoming such (see John vii. 17). III. THE on. THAT SUSTAINS THE LIGHT IS THE HOLY SPIRIT'l!I GRACE. No wonder it must be "pure oil olive bee.ten for the light." 1. J/!8'U8 had the Spirit without measure. (1) The fulness of the Godhead bodily we.a in him. So was be anointed with the oil of gladness immeasurably e.bove his fellows. (2) Thus was he constituted the Christ, or Anointed One. 2. Of his fuln/!88 we receive grau. (1) Christians, therefore, with propriety have their name from Christ. Those who first gave that name in derision little knew its propriety (see 2 Cor. i. 21 ; 1 John ii. 20, 27). (2) This anointing is illuminating. So we learn in these references from John. It enlightens the Christian himself. It enables him to illumine others. IV. THE on. WAS FURNISHED BY THE WORSHIPPERS. 1. There la a sense in which believers bring the Hvly Ghost. (1) They do this by their faith. When the faith of the people is constant, the lamps of the Churches "burn continually." What an honour to the faithful I (2) Through unfaithfulness the candlestick (or lamp) may be removed (see Rev. ii. 5; e.lso Me.tt. xxi. 43). How great is the responsibility of professors I 2. The Holy Ghost is nevertheless the Gift of God. (1) This is true of bis type. Who but God could put oil into the olive? (2) So of the Anti type. Accordingly, in Zech. iv. 2, 3, the oil is represented. as feeding the candlestick immediately from the olive. The figure is explained thus, "Not by might, nor by power, but by my Spirit, saith the Lord of hosts" (Zech. iv. 6). V. A.ARON AMONG THE LIGHTS REPRESENTED CHRIST AMONG HIS CHURCHES, 1. This we have from the nature of the case. The high priest was, generally, e. type of Christ. So in this particular. 2. We have it also by special revelation (see Rev. i. 13). VI. THE CANDLESTICK WAS WITHOUT THE VAIL. 1. The Churchu shine in this world. (1) The sanctuary was the type of the kingdom of the heavens upon the earth. Here the candlestick was ple.ced. (2) Every Church member should rce.lize that he has bis light from God that he may diffuse it (Matt. v.14-16). 2. The Shechinah was within the vail. (1) There is no need of a candle in that bright Presence (see Isa. Ix. 19, 20; Rev. xxi. 10, 23; xxii. 6). (2) The seven Churches are there lost in the one Church, which flames with the glory of God. If there a.re before the throne "seven lamps of fire," they are explained to be the "seven Spirits of God," or Holy Spirit, whose light i.s "sevenfold" or perfect (Rev. iv. 6; Isa. xxx. 26).-J. A. M. Vere. 6-9.-The bread of the presence. As there was light on the candlestick in God's house, so was there bread on his table. It was ea.lied the "sbewbrend," litero.lly, "bread of faces," or of the presence, viz. of Jehovah. Let us consider- !. lTs DESCRIPTION. 1. It was composed of fine flour. (1) Christ is compo.red to n corn of wheat, viz. before it is ground, and while the life is whole in it (see Ps. h:xii. 16, where the "handful of corn" may be more literally construed a corn of wheat; and comp. John xii. 24, where Jesus evidently cites this passage and applies it to himself). (2) So is he compared to bread. 'l'his is corn whose life is sacrificed in the treatment to which it is subjected. Jesus calls himself the Bread who gives his life unto the world (John vi. 33). (3) The very manner in which corn loses its life to become nourishment, it being bruised e.nd burnt, describes the sufferings of Christ in body and spirit from the hands of man and of God. (4) Bread is the ate.pie in food. As without it there is no feast, so without Christ there is no true joy. As with it there i8 no hunger, so have we in him a satisfying portion. 2. It was measured in tenth,. (1) Ten is the number for riche,; and Christ, as the Rich One, is ea.lied a Tenth (see Isa. vi. 13). All the holy bread we.s mee.sured in tenth-deals, to point to the "measure of the fulness of Christ" (Eph. iv. 7, 13). The riches of eternity are ours in him (see Homily on the Feast of Expiation). (2) But why two tenth-deals to each cake? Perhaps light me.y be let in upon this by noting that, on the sixth day, two om~rs, or tenths, of manna were gathered to prepare for the eabbe.th (Exod. xvi. 22). It  378 THE BOOK or LEVITICUS. [OH. XXIV, 1-9.