The Pulpit Commentary — Leviticus — Section 414

: not suffice, and God gave the Light of the world, bis only begotten Son. "That waa • the true light which, coming into the world, enlightencth every one." 4. And he came that he might leave in the world the light of the Christian Church ; those to whom and of whom he could say, " Ye are the light of the world." "As he was, so are we in this world," sources of heavenly illumination, of inward purity, of Divine wisdom. II. ITS TRUE CHARAOTEBISTICS. These are: 1. Purity: they were to bring " pure oil olive beaten." The light which is to shine in our words and from our character is to be such that there shall be the least possible admixture of error and corruption. 2. Ful- ness: we read of "the lamps" (plural), and we know that there were seven of these (Exod. xxv. 31, 32)-a complete, perfect number. The truth we are to make manifest is not only to be pure, but full. We must declare the "whole connsel of God •" the severe as well as the gracious, the_ less pleasa:°t as well as the more acceptable, the deeper as well as the more superficial, the ethical as well as the doctrinal, aspects of the truth of God. 3. Constancy: they were "to cause the lamps to burn continually" (ver. 2), "from the eveni_ng unto the morning before the Lord continually" (ver. 3). Whether all day and all mght long, or only (as seems more probable) through the niaht the lamps were to burn all the appointed time without ceasing to shine; there wa~ t~ be no fitfulness or unsteadiness about the light which shone "before the Lord." So our words and our deeds are to be continually reflecting the light of heavenly truth. In our work and in our play, in things sacred and in things secular, at home and from home, consciously and unconsciously, we are to be "bearing witness unt.o the truth," we are to be "shining as lights in the world." III. ITS IU.INTENA.NCE. •• Aaron shall order it." "He shall order the lamps." The Jewish priest was to take every care that the lamps burnt brightly and continually. 1. The Christian minister has to see that he does his part in" ordering t.he lamps." He must preach such truth and give such counsel as shall feed the fires of the soul most effectively. 2. Each Christian man must do his part also. Every one of us must (1) watch to see when the light is low; (2) replenish the spirit with sacred truth, that truth which nourishes and sustains the soul in the life of God; (3) seek from heaven those l)ivine influences which shall be as oil to the flame and make it • •.. to his glory burn With inextinguishable blaze." 0. Vars. 5-9.-The lesson of the loaves. In this act of worship the Jews made weekly acknowledgment of the goodness of God to them and of their dependence on him; they presented to him a suitable offering of those things he had given them; and they silently pleaded for God's continued remembrance of them and their necessities. The lesson of these loaves, of this "bread of presence," is therefore- !. THAT Goo's GIFTS TO UB ARE BUOH AB TO DEMAND OUR CONTINUAL ACKNOWLEDO- :MENT. 'l'he Hebrew priest was to place before the Lord bread, the source of strength (Ps. civ. 16); wine, the source of gladness (Ps. civ. 16); and frankincense (ver. 7), the source of sweetness. He was to renew these presentations every sabbath day "con- tinually" (ver. 8), and the table was never to be without them. This was a constant ncknowlcdgment by the nation, through the net of the priesthood, of its dependence on God for all the good gifts received at his hand. We also, in our way, are to make continual acknowledgment every sabbath day in the sanctuary, every day at the family altar, and in the chamber of devotion, of our absolute dependence on God, for (1) our strength,-all things that minister to our health and vigour of body, mind, spirit, being due to his providing love; for (2) our gladness,-all those comforts and enjoyments, all those happy memories and inspiring hopes which make the music of our life, which infuse joyousness and elasticity into our nature, coming from his bountiful hand; and fur (3) the sweetness of our life,-all the tender affections, the delicate delights which belong to pure and holy love, being the gift of his kindnes~ also. u. THAT WITH OUR BENSE OF WHAT WE OWE TO Goo IT 18 SUITABLE THAT WE PRESENT SOME OFFERING TO HIM. Of that which made Israel strong, the priest presented bread; of thnt which made it glad, wine; of that which was sweet, frankincense. 1. Our strength is in mental power, knowledge, gift of speech, bodily vigour, wealth; of these  380 THE BOOK OF LEVITICUS. [otl, XXIV, 1-0,