Bible Heaven/Bible Heaven.iso/online/mhcc09/v10900

Text File | 1994-03-02 | 6KB | 103 lines

10912
 * The first offerings of Aaron for himself and the people.
 (1-21) Moses and Aaron bless the people, Fire cometh upon the
 altar from the Lord. (22-24)

 #1-21 These many sacrifices, which were all done away by the
 death of Christ, teach us that our best services need washing in
 his blood, and that the guilt of our best sacrifices needs to be
 done away by one more pure and more noble than they. Let us be
 thankful that we have such a High Priest. The priests had not a
 day's respite from service allowed. God's spiritual priests have
 constant work, which the duty of every day requires; they that
 would give up their account with joy, must redeem time. The
 glory of God appeared in the sight of the people, and owned what
 they had done. We are not now to expect such appearances, but
 God draws nigh to those who draw nigh to him, and the offerings
 of faith are acceptable to him; though the sacrifices being
 spiritual, the tokens of the acceptance are spiritual likewise.
 When Aaron had done all that was to be done about the
 sacrifices, he lifted up his hands towards the people, and
 blessed them. Aaron could but crave a blessing, God alone can
 command it.

10933
 #22-24 When the solemnity was finished, and the blessing
 pronounced, God testified his acceptance. There came a fire out
 from before the Lord, and consumed the sacrifice. This fire
 might justly have fastened upon the people, and have consumed
 them for their sins; but its consuming the sacrifice signified
 God's acceptance of it, as an atonement for the sinner. This
 also was a figure of good things to come. The Spirit descended
 upon the apostles in fire. And the descent of this holy fire
 into our souls, to kindle in them pious and devout affections
 toward God, and such a holy zeal as burns up the flesh and the
 lusts of it, is a certain token of God's gracious acceptance of
 our persons and performances. Nothing goes to God, but what
 comes from him. We must have grace, that holy fire, from the God
 of grace, else we cannot serve him acceptably, #Heb 12:28|. The
 people were affected with this discovery of God's glory and
 grace. They received it with the highest joy; triumphing in the
 assurance given them that they had God nigh unto them. And with
 the lowest reverence; humbly adoring the majesty of that God,
 who vouchsafed thus to manifest himself to them. That is a
 sinful fear of God, which drives us from him; a gracious fear
 makes us bow before him.
10936
 * The sin and death of Nadab and Abihu. (1,2) Aaron and his sons
 forbidden to mourn for Nadab and Abihu. (3-7) Wine forbidden to
 the priests when in the service of the tabernacle. (8-11) Of
 eating the holy things. (12-20)

 #1,2 Next to Moses and Aaron, none were more likely to be
 honourable in Israel than Nadab and Abihu. There is reason to
 think that they were puffed up with pride, and that they were
 heated with wine. While the people were prostrate before the
 Lord, adoring his presence and glory, they rushed into the
 tabernacle to burn incense, though not at the appointed time;
 both together, instead of one alone, and with fire not taken
 from the altar. If it had been done through ignorance, they had
 been allowed to bring a sin-offering. But the soul that doeth
 presumptuously, and in contempt of God's majesty and justice,
 that soul shall be cut off. The wages of sin is death. They died
 in the very act of their sin. The sin and punishment of these
 priests showed the imperfection of that priesthood from the very
 beginning, and that it could not shelter any from the fire of
 God's wrath, otherwise than as it was typical of Christ's
 priesthood.

10938
 #3-7 The most quieting considerations under affliction are
 fetched from the word of God. What was it that God spake? Though
 Aaron's heart must have been filled with anguish and dismay, yet
 with silent submission he revered the justice of the stroke.
 When God corrects us or ours for sin, it is our duty to accept
 the punishment, and say, It is the Lord, let him do what seemeth
 him good. Whenever we worship God, we come nigh unto him, as
 spiritual priests. This ought to make us very serious in all
 acts of devotion. It concerns us all, when we come nigh to God,
 to do every religious exercise, as those who believe that the
 God with whom we have to do, is a holy God. He will take
 vengeance on those that profane his sacred name by trifling with
 him.

10943
 #8-11 Do not drink wine or strong drink. During the time they
 ministered, the priests were forbidden it. It is required of
 gospel ministers, that they be not given to wine, #1Ti 3:3|. It
 is, Lest ye die; die when ye are in drink. The danger of death,
 to which we are continually exposed, should engage all to be
 sober.

10947
 #12-20 Afflictions should rather quicken us to our duty, than
 take us from it. But our unfitness for duty, when it is natural
 and not sinful, will have great allowances made for it; God will
 have mercy, and not sacrifice. Let us profit by the solemn
 warning this history conveys. When professing worshippers come
 with zeal without knowledge, carnal affections, earthly, light,
 vain, trifling thoughts, the devices of will-worship, instead of
 the offering of soul and spirit; then the incense is kindled by
 a flame which never came down from heaven, which the Spirit of a
 holy God never sent within their hearts.