The Passover.

Ex. 12:7.

1893 211 It is instructive to note where the blood was sprinkled. Not at all on the fourth or lower side. Why was this? True, the blood of the lamb was not to be trampled upon; but does it seem that such is the special lesson taught by the omission? There the question was not how the blood was not to be treated by those whom it sheltered, but rather how the Israelite fared in virtue of it. The judgment of God was in question and where the blood had to be sprinkled in order to shelter from it. From what quarter was the stroke coming? Assuredly not from beneath, but from above. We know that God's relative position to man as put in Scripture is always above. Whether to judge or to deliver, He had to come down (Gen. 11:7, Ex. 3:8).

Here therefore the blood was sprinkled; where there was exposure to judgment, passing over. The lower side was the only one unexposed at all stages of the passing over; and God did not say, I will pass under you, but over you.

Further, as God is above, so is the devil helped by "all that is in the world." See John 8:23, 44. Evil power is "from beneath." The blood of "Christ our passover" was not shed and sprinkled to shelter the believer from the assaults of the world, the flesh, and the devil, but from the righteous judgment of God. Those Israelites very early found that the blood did not insure them against the attack of Pharaoh and his host. So is it with every believer while in the world. From God's judgment he is now and eternally sheltered (John 5:24); but so far is he from not being exposed to attacks from spiritual wickedness that God has provided a complete suit of armour for him, which only avails with prayer and dependence on God (Eph. 6:11-17). D. T.