Bible Heaven/Bible Heaven.iso/online/mhcc09/v10700

Text File | 1994-03-01 | 10KB | 173 lines

10704
 ** God ordained divers kinds of oblations and sacrifices, to
 assure his people of the forgiveness of their offences, if they
 offered them in true faith and obedience. Also he appointed the
 priests and Levites, their apparel, offices, conduct, and
 portion. He showed what feasts they should observe, and at what
 times. He declared by these sacrifices and ceremonies, that the
 reward of sin is death, and that without the blood of Christ,
 the innocent Lamb of God, there can be no forgiveness of sins.

 * The offerings. (1,2) From the herds. (3-9) From the flocks,
 and of fowls. (10-17)

 #1,2 The offering of sacrifices was an ordinance of true
 religion, from the fall of man unto the coming of Christ. But
 till the Israelites were in the wilderness, no very particular
 regulations seem to have been appointed. The general design of
 these laws is plain. The sacrifices typified Christ; they also
 shadowed out the believer's duty, character, privilege, and
 communion with God. There is scarcely any thing spoken of the
 Lord Jesus in Scripture which has not also a reference to his
 people. This book begins with the laws concerning sacrifices;
 the most ancient were the burnt-offerings, about which God here
 gives Moses directions. It is taken for granted that the people
 would be willing to bring offerings to the Lord. The very light
 of nature directs man, some way or other, to do honour to his
 Maker, as his Lord. Immediately after the fall, sacrifices were
 ordained.

10706
 #3-9 In the due performance of the Levitical ordinances, the
 mysteries of the spiritual world are represented by
 corresponding natural objects; and future events are exhibited
 in these rites. Without this, the whole will seem unmeaning
 ceremonies. There is in these things a type of the sufferings of
 the Son of God, who was to be a sacrifice for the sins of the
 whole world. The burning body of an animal was but a faint
 representation of that everlasting misery, which we all have
 deserved; and which our blessed Lord bore in his body and in his
 soul, when he died under the load of our iniquities. Observe, 1.
 The beast to be offered must be without blemish. This signified
 the strength and purity that were in Christ, and the holy life
 that should be in his people. 2. The owner must offer it of his
 own free will. What is done in religion, so as to please God,
 must be done by love. Christ willingly offered himself for us.
 3. It must be offered at the door of the tabernacle, where the
 brazen altar of burnt-offerings stood, which sanctified the
 gift: he must offer it at the door, as one unworthy to enter,
 and acknowledging that a sinner can have no communion with God,
 but by sacrifice. 4. The offerer must put his hand upon the head
 of his offering, signifying thereby, his desire and hope that it
 might be accepted from him, to make atonement for him. 5. The
 sacrifice was to be killed before the Lord, in an orderly
 manner, and to honour God. It signified also, that in Christians
 the flesh must be crucified with its corrupt affections and
 lust. 6. The priests were to sprinkle the blood upon the altar;
 for the blood being the life, that was it which made atonement.
 This signified the pacifying and purifying of our consciences,
 by the sprinkling of the blood of Jesus Christ upon them by
 faith. 7. The beast was to be divided into several pieces, and
 then to be burned upon the altar. The burning of the sacrifice
 signified the sharp sufferings of Christ, and the devout
 affections with which, as a holy fire, Christians must offer up
 themselves, their whole spirit, soul, and body, unto God. 8.
 This is said to be an offering of a sweet savour. As an act of
 obedience to a Divine command, and a type of Christ, this was
 well-pleasing to God; and the spiritual sacrifices of Christians
 are acceptable to God, through Christ, #1Pe 2:5|.
10713
 #10-17 Those who could not offer a bullock, were to bring a
 sheep or a goat; and those who were not able to do that, were
 accepted of God, if they brought a turtle-dove, or a pigeon.
 Those creatures were chosen for sacrifice which were mild, and
 gentle, and harmless; to show the innocence and meekness that
 were in Christ, and that should be in Christians. The offering
 of the poor was as typical of Christ's atonement as the more
 costly sacrifices, and expressed as fully repentance, faith, and
 devotedness to God. We have no excuse, if we refuse the pleasant
 and reasonable service now required. But we can no more offer
 the sacrifice of a broken heart, or of praise and thanksgiving,
 than an Israelite could offer a bullock or a goat, except as God
 hath first given to us. The more we do in the Lord's service,
 the greater are our obligations to him, for the will, for the
 ability, and opportunity. In many things God leaves us to fix
 what shall be spent in his service, whether of our time or our
 substance; yet where God's providence has put much into a man's
 power, scanty offerings will not be accepted, for they are not
 proper expressions of a willing mind. Let us be devoted in body
 and soul to his service, whatever he may call us to give,
 venture, do, or suffer for his sake.
10721
 * The meat-offering of flour. (1-11) The offering of
 first-fruits. (12-16)

 #1-11 Meat-offerings may typify Christ, as presented to God for
 us, and as being the Bread of life to our souls; but they rather
 seem to denote our obligation to God for the blessings of
 providence, and those good works which are acceptable to God.
 The term "meat" was, and still is, properly given to any kind of
 provision, and the greater part of this offering was to be eaten
 for food, not burned. These meat-offerings are mentioned after
 the burnt-offerings: without an interest in the sacrifice of
 Christ, and devotedness of heart to God, such services cannot be
 accepted. Leaven is the emblem of pride, malice, and hypocrisy,
 and honey of sensual pleasure. The former are directly opposed
 to the graces of humility, love, and sincerity, which God
 approves; the latter takes men from the exercises of devotion,
 and the practice of good works. Christ, in his character and
 sacrifice, was wholly free from the things denoted by leaven;
 and his suffering life and agonizing death were the very
 opposites to worldly pleasure. His people are called to follow,
 and to be like him.

10732
 #12-16 Salt is required in all the offerings. God hereby
 intimates to them that their sacrifices, in themselves, were
 unsavoury. All religious services must be seasoned with grace.
 Christianity is the salt of the earth. Directions are given
 about offering their first-fruits at harvest. If a man, with a
 thankful sense of God's goodness in giving him a plentiful crop,
 was disposed to present an offering to God, let him bring the
 first ripe and full ears. Whatever was brought to God must be
 the best in its kind, though it were but green ears of corn. Oil
 and frankincense must be put upon it. Wisdom and humility soften
 and sweeten the spirits and services of young people, and their
 green ears of corn shall be acceptable. God takes delight in the
 first ripe fruits of the Spirit, and the expressions of early
 piety and devotion. Holy love to God is the fire by which all
 our offerings must be made. The frankincense denotes the
 mediation and intercession of Christ, by which our services are
 accepted. Blessed be God that we have the substance, of which
 these observances were but shadows. There is that excellency in
 Christ, and in his work as Mediator, which no types and shadows
 can fully represent. And our dependence thereon must be so
 entire, that we must never lose sight of it in any thing we do,
 if we would be accepted of God.
10737
 * The peace-offering of the herd. (1-5) The peace-offering of
 the flock. (6-17)

 #1-5 The peace-offerings had regard to God as the giver of all
 good things. These were divided between the altar, the priest,
 and the owner. They were called peace-offerings, because in them
 God and his people did, as it were, feast together, in token of
 friendship. The peace-offerings were offered by way of
 supplication. If a man were in pursuit of any mercy, he would
 add a peace-offering to his prayer for it. Christ is our Peace,
 our Peace-offering; for through him alone it is that we can
 obtain an answer of peace to our prayers. Or, the peace-offering
 was offered by way of thanksgiving for some mercy received. We
 must offer to God the sacrifice of praise continually, by Christ
 our Peace; and then this shall please the Lord better than an ox
 or bullock.

10742
 #6-17 Here is a law that they should eat neither fat nor blood.
 As for the fat, it means the fat of the inwards, the suet. The
 blood was forbidden for the same reason; because it was God's
 part of every sacrifice. God would not permit the blood that
 made atonement to be used as a common thing, #Heb 10:29|; nor
 will he allow us, though we have the comfort of the atonement
 made, to claim for ourselves any share in the honour of making
 it. This taught the Jews to observe distinction between common
 and sacred things; it kept them separate from idolaters. It
 would impress them more deeply with the belief of some important
 mystery in the shedding of the blood and the burning the fat of
 their solemn sacrifices. Christ, as the Prince of peace, "made
 peace with the blood of his cross." Through him the believer is
 reconciled to God; and having the peace of God in his heart, he
 is disposed to follow peace with all men. May the Lord multiply
 grace, mercy, and peace, to all who desire to bear the Christian
 character.