The priest at the altar.
Aaron now enters on the great and high work to which he is appointed—that of God's chosen high priest. He "went unto the altar." As we follow him in that first official act (Leviticus 9:8) and see him, with the help of his sons (Leviticus 9:9), slaying the calf or the goat (Leviticus 9:8, Leviticus 9:15), putting the blood on the horns, or pouring it at the bottom of the altar (Leviticus 9:9), we are reminded of fundamental truth which does not belong to one dispensation or one race, but to man everywhere and arrays.
I. THE SAD ASSUMPTION—UNIVERSAL GUILT. Some truths are rather assumed than enunciated in Scripture: this is one. Not that it is not stated (Romans 3:9, Romans 3:23; Galatians 3:22, etc.). But it is more often taken for granted. Thus in this scene. Aaron and his sons present sin offerings for themselves. It is assumed that there are not only "sinners of the Gentiles" needing mercy, but that the "holy nation" itself, the priestly family itself, nay, the high priest himself, is numbered among the sinful. This accords with our experience.
1. A large proportion of men are notoriously, presumptuously guilty; their lives proclaim aloud that they are transgressors against God.
2. Of the rest, a very large proportion are confessedly guilty; they allow freely that they have sinned by omission and commission.
3. The rest are evidently mistaken concerning themselves. If not apparent to human eye, it is obvious to the Divine that their lives are faulty and their souls stained. There is not one exception in the whole camp, in the entire congregation, in the nation, in the race. All have sinned, and need atonement.
II. THE FIRST DEEP NEED OF THE SOUL—DIVINE MERCY. The first sacrifice presented by Aaron for himself was "the calf of the sin offering" (Leviticus 9:8); the first for the people was "the goat which was the sin offering" (Leviticus 9:15). Man can do nothing in God's service till he is pardoned and accepted. "Forgiveness of sins" is the first great need of the soul, as it is the first great gift of the gospel (Luke 24:47; Acts 2:38; Acts 26:18, etc.). "There is forgiveness with God, that he may be feared" (Psalms 130:4). There would be no "fear," no reverence, no worship, no service of the Holy One, if forgiveness of sin were not attainable at once. That is the starting-point and. condition of human devotion.
III. THE ATTENDANT SPIRITUAL STEP—SELF-SURRENDER. When Aaron had presented the sin offering for himself, he had not concluded his oblation; "he slew the burnt offering" also (Leviticus 9:12). So with "the people's offering" (Leviticus 9:15, Leviticus 9:16). The significance of this second sacrifice was that the worshipper consecrated himself on the altar (to the service) of Jehovah. A perfect picture of sacred and abiding truth. We cannot go in humility and penitence, seeking mercy through Christ Jesus, without offering ourselves to him who has bought us with the price or' his own blood. The soul longing for reconciliation with God offers itself freely in holy service unto him, lays itself on his altar, a "whole burnt offering unto the Lord." A living faith in Christ implies the eager taking of everything from him, and the cheerful giving of everything to him.
IV. THE CERTAIN ISSUE—A BLESSED SPIRITUAL ESTATE. A "meat offering" and "peace offerings" (Leviticus 9:17, Leviticus 9:18) came after the other two. Sin forgiven, self-surrendered,—then comes a sense of reconciliation, grateful acknowledgment of God's kindness, a holy joy in him (Romans 5:1, Romans 5:11). The assurance in the heart of Divine forgiveness, and the consequent surpassing peace and elevated joy, may not immediately fellow. In the Divine life, the peace offering does not always come directly after the burnt offering. But it will come; it does come; and then, "oh, the blessedness of the man whose transgression is forgiven!" etc. (literal translation, Psalms 32:1). "Seek, and ye shall find" (Matthew 7:7).—C.