Leviticus 9.
For seven days, the priests had remained within the tabernacle, according to the commandment of God through Moses, “Ye shall not go out of the door of the tabernacle of the congregation in seven days, until the days of your consecration be at an end: for seven days shall he consecrate you” (Lev. 8:33). These seven days represent the whole period of the church’s consecration to God on earth, a period that shall end with the coming of the Lord to take His people to be for ever with Himself in heaven. The eighth day is a new beginning of God’s ways with His people Israel. Since the death of Christ at the hands of His earthly people, God has set Israel aside as a nation, and has had for Himself on earth the church, a heavenly people, represented by the priests, but very soon God will take up Israel again on the ground of the New Covenant.
Two Companies Called
Moses, God’s representative, called Aaron and his sons, who typify the church, but also the elders of Israel who represented the people. This is what will mark the eighth day, the millennial day, the blessing of those who are called to heavenly blessing with Christ, a heavenly company of priests, which may include the Old Testament saints as well as the church (for the redeemed in heaven as seen in the twenty four elders of Revelation 4 and 5, are a priestly company, having harps and vials full of odours), and an earthly people who are called to earthly blessing.
The Offerings
It is to be noted that there are no offerings for the sons of Aaron on the eighth day, for their offerings had been offered on the day of their consecration. There were offerings for Aaron, but the principal offerings were for the people, for it is Israel’s place that is specially before the Spirit of God in this portion. For Aaron, there were but two offerings, “a young calf for a sin offering, and a ram for a burnt offering, without blemish” (verse 2). Aaron as the represented of Christ, Israel’s High Priest in the coming day, enters upon His priesthood for His earthly people on the ground of His work on the cross. They are blessed on the same foundation as are the heavenly people, and by the Lord when He is manifested as their High Priest.
For the people, there were a number of offerings, “a kid of the goats for a sin offering; and a calf and a lamb, both of the first year, without blemish, for a burnt offering; also a bullock and a ram for peace offerings, to sacrifice before the Lord; and a meat offering mingled with oil: for today the Lord will appear unto you” (verses 3-4). All these offerings are in view of the Lord’s appearing to His people. The saints of the present time are brought into blessing during the time of the Lord’s absence from this world, but His earthly people Israel wait for their blessing at the appearing of the Lord.
Israel Brought Near
Historically, Israel were brought near to Jehovah at that time, and they “stood before the Lord,” and it was to behold the appearing of the glory of the Lord. Yet, it was only to the door of the tabernacle they could approach; there was not the nearness that saints enjoy today, as having boldness to enter the holiest by the blood of Jesus. It was nearness compared with the Gentiles who were far from Jehovah, without the knowledge possessed by a people brought into national relationship with Him. But this is but a foreshadowing of the near place that Israel will enjoy in the day to come, when all the nations are blessed, but Israel will be near, Jehovah’s dwelling being in their midst.
Aaron’s Offerings
Aaron’s sin offering was a calf, which was a large offering compared with the goat which was to be offered as a sin offering for the people. Does not this indicate that the sin offering that brought Christ into His priesthood for Israel involved much more than the blessing of Israel? Indeed, Christ’s priesthood, taken up on His entering heaven, after His death and resurrection, has to do with a heavenly people as well as with an earthly.
The sons of Aaron bring the blood to him, and he puts it, as was normal with a sin offering, on the horns of the altar, and pours it at the foot of the altar. There is an intelligence with the saints today in relation to God’s ways with His ancient people, and in nearness to Christ realise that His death, the shedding of His blood is the means of the blessing of Israel. The foundation of their approach to God is in redemption, as is also the power that brings them near. All the inward excellence of the victim goes up in a sweet savour to God, while the rest is consumed to ashes outside the camp. How wonderful is this great contrast; the deep pleasure of the Father in the perfections of the Son, as manifested in His death; and the Son enduring the consuming judgment of God upon the cross.
When the burnt offering was slain, Aaron’s sons present the blood to him. What a privilege for us to speak to Jesus of the preciousness of His blood, and to understand in some little way the great and varied results that flow from the work of redemption. They have also the privilege of presenting to the High Priest the burnt offering, “with the pieces thereof, and the head,” to burn upon the altar. And how great is our priestly privilege to reverently handle, as we contemplate the deep perfections of Jesus, each outstanding feature that came out in the death of the Son of God, and to speak of them to the Lord and to His God and Father. We think together of the divine strength that was all devoted to God’s will, the obedience, the faithfulness, the affection, the confidence in God, and the meek submission to all that the cross entailed for Him, and many more traits that gave infinite delight and satisfaction to God. The legs washed with water speak of a walk for God that was pure and for His praise; the inwards, the pure springs that energised every thought, desire, and inward and outward movement of His life, and in death.
The People’s Offering
As on the day of atonement, the people’s offering for sin, was a goat. It was not such a large offering as the bullock for Aaron and his sons, both on the day of their consecration, and on the day of atonement, for those brought into the nearest place with God and with Christ must needs have a greater appreciation of what that precious death means, both in relation to Him who gave Himself, and also as to the vast results for God and for men.
The burnt offering consisted of two animals, “a calf and a lamb, both of the first year, without blemish.” This being wholly for Jehovah, there is no question at this time of the apprehension of the people, but rather of the qualities depicted in the calf and the lamb. In both there is the freshness and tenderness denoted in the lamb. In both there is the freshness and tenderness denoted in the “first year,” but there is also the devotedness in service that marks the calf, and the unresisting and harmless features of the lamb. A lamb of the first year was also the sacrificial animal of the continual burnt offering, morning and evening, for Israel (Ex. 29:38–42).
It is noticeable that the “burnt sacrifice of the morning,” just referred to, is brought in with “the meat offering” (verse 17). Even on this wonderful eighth day, there is no setting aside of the “daily sacrifice;” but it is noticeable that it is the morning sacrifice that is referred to. In the millennium, prefigured by the eighth day, there will be no more an evening sacrifice, for the divine instruction is, “Thou shalt prepare daily a burnt offering unto the Lord of a lamb of the first year without blemish: thou shalt prepare it every morning” (Ezek. 46:13). The dawning of the new day for God’s people is kept before them; for them the Sun of Righteousness has arisen; they have been brought to the morning long looked for, and this is constantly celebrated in the morning lamb. But the holy life of the Lord Jesus in this world will never be forgotten before God, therefore the meat offering has its place with the morning sacrifice.
In the peace offerings we have the great results for the people of the death of Christ, and the largest animal of the herd and the largest animal of the flock, a “bullock and a ram” are used to set this forth. Although the earthly blessing cannot be compared with the heavenly, the blessing of Israel on earth will be wonderful. After their long separation from God, having been dispersed among the nations because of their sins, they will be brought back to the land to enjoy the nearest place to God, a people blessed on the ground of the New Covenant in Christ’s blood, the centre of the renewed earth, and having communion with God as no other nation of the earth will ever have. Many Scriptures in the Old Testament foretell the blessedness of Israel’s portion, when “They shall not hurt nor destroy in all my holy mountain: for the earth shall be full of the knowledge of the Lord, as the waters cover the sea” (Isa. 11:9).
Aaron’s sons again present the blood, as showing the interest of the saints of this day in Israel’s blessing, and an intelligent interest as they “put the fat upon the breasts.” Here, the inward energy and springs of Christ are connected with His affections for His people Israel, and this we should ever realise. Though so richly blessed with every spiritual blessing in the heavenlies in Christ, it is our priestly privilege to intelligently apprehend and value what Christ has done for Israel, shedding His blood to bring them into blessing; giving Himself, in all His deep love for them, that they might have the wonderful place that God has for them in His grace. The blood sprinkled round about on the altar tells Israel that they, with ourselves, owe every blessing to the blood of sprinkling.
The fat is taken from the breasts, and burnt upon the altar; another token of the exceeding preciousness of Christ to God in the giving of Himself in death for the glory of God. Christ’s affections, as seen in the breasts, and His strength as devoted to God’s will in death, seen in the right shoulder, are waved by Aaron before Jehovah; the Offering Priest bringing before Jehovah, His own great love and devotion to Him and to those who are blessed through Him.
The Blessing of the People
After the sacrificial work is over, the people are blessed; a blessing based on the work that has been accomplished. How eloquently this reminds us that Israel will not be blessed on the ground of law, but on account of Christ’s death. In Luke 24:50-51, we have the answer to verse 22, and of part of verse 23, of our chapter. Here, “Aaron lifted up his hand toward the people, and blessed them, and came down from offering the sin offering, and the burnt offering, and peace offerings. And Moses and Aaron went into the tabernacle of the congregation.” In Luke, “And He led them out as far as Bethany, and He lifted up His hands, and blessed them. And it came to pass, while He blessed them, He was parted from them, and carried up into heaven.”
In Luke, a remnant of God’s people receive the blessing as the Lord, the True Aaron and Moses, enters into the heavenly tabernacle, having completed the great work on the cross whereby His people can be blessed. He has come down from doing this great work, and having finished it, He has gone into God’s presence, where He now sits on the right hand of the majesty on high. Moses was king in Jeshurun, and Aaron the high priest; and the Lord bears this double character. Indeed Moses was also God’s prophet, and the mediator, and he represented the Lord who is both Prophet and Mediator; indeed, was down here.
Soon, the True Moses and Aaron will come out again, as we read in verse 23, and when that glorious event takes place, when Christ comes out from heaven, the True King and Priest, to sit as Priest upon His throne, the glory of the Lord will appear to all the people as it did on the eighth day so long ago. At that day, the glory will remain; it will not be a passing vista as in days gone by, but it will remain as long as Christ’s kingdom, a kingdom that will never be removed, and that will never pass away. Not only will Israel see the glory, but “Behold He comes with clouds; and every eye shall see Him” (Rev. 1:7). There will be judgment, but here, it is the blessing that is brought before us, the blessing that come after the judgment.
Christ bore the judgment for His own that they might not be judged; but the same sacrifice that took away the sins of His own brought infinite glory to God, and this is seen on the eighth day, when “There came a fire out from before the Lord, and consumed upon the altar the burnt offering and the fat” (verse 24). The people had been blessed when Moses and Aaron entered the presence of God, but there was no response; they were blessed again when Moses and Aaron came out, and the glory of the Lord appeared to all the people. But their response is when they see the fire consume the victim and the fat. So will it be in the coming day. When God’s people realise that the One whom they refused is the One who gave Himself, not only for their blessing, but for God’s glory, there will be a response from them.
Israel’s response is to fall on their faces, after they shout for joy. There is joy in the realisation of their acceptance with God through the work of the cross, and they fall on their faces in adoration and worship. While waiting for that blessed day, when God’s earthly people shall answer to all that God has done for them through the work of His Son, how great is our privilege of singing His praises, and worshipping Him, as He desires, in spirit and in truth.
R. 14.12.64