THE DEDICATION OF THE LEVITES
In this section we have the due preparation of those who are specially devoted to the service of God. Consider, therefore—
I. THAT BEFORE THEY COULD SERVE THEY MUST BE CLEANSED. Even so all that would do God service, or be useful to others in religions concerns, must first themselves be cleansed; because all that is human is unclean (Job 15:14), and nothing that is unclean can do God service, for he requireth holiness in his servants (Proverbs 20:9; Psalms 5:5; Isaiah 52:11; Habakkuk 1:13; Matthew 5:48; Matthew 22:12).
II. THAT THIS CLEANSING WAS TWOFOLD, PARTLY WROUGHT UPON THEM, PARTLY WROUGHT BY THEM. Even so the cleansing which prepares for the service of God, and for his nearer presence, is twofold; partly it is done for us by the Mediator, partly by us through our own efforts (Psalms 51:7; 2 Corinthians 7:1).
III. THAT THE CLEANSING A PARTE DEI WAS BY SPRINKLING OF SIN WATER, THE EXACT NATURE OF WHICH IS DISPUTED. Even so every one that would belong to the kingdom of God must receive that washing of water and of the Holy Spirit, which is in its nature mysterious, and in definition controverted (Ezekiel 36:25; John 3:5; Acts 22:16; Hebrews 10:22).
IV. THAT THE CLEANSING A PARTE SUA WAS BY SEDULOUSLY GETTING RID OF ANY POSSIBLE IMPURITY WHICH MIGHT ADHERE FROM WITHOUT. Even so he who would truly serve God must be not only careful, but conscious, and according to the ordinary standard extreme, to detach and remove from himself all those impurities of common life which so easily cling to us; to reform those private, social, and domestic habits, which sit as closely to us as our clothes, which seem as much a part of us as our hair, and which, as it were, absorb and retain the inherent sinfulness of our nature (1 John 3:3; 2 Peter 3:14; James 1:21; James 4:8).
V. THAT FOR THE LEVITES WERE OFFERED FIRST A SIN OFFERING, AND A BURNT OFFERING, FOR AN ATONEMENT. Even so no service, however able and laborious, is acceptable unto God except it have been sanctified through the sacrifice and self-sacrifice of Christ (Hebrews 10:10).
VI. THAT THE CHILDREN OF ISRAEL LAID THEIR HANDS UPON THE LEVITES WHEN THEY WERE DEVOTED. Even so whatever labour be undertaken for the body of Christ, should receive recognition and sympathy from all members of the body, for all are concerned (1 Corinthians 16:15, 1 Corinthians 16:16; Acts 13:3; Acts 14:26; 1 Corinthians 12:26).
VII. THAT THE LEVITES WERE "WAVED." Even so all who would labour in holy things must present themselves as a living sacrifice to God, to be wholly his and no longer suce potestatis. Those who do religious work, because they like it themselves, "have their reward;" but where the Pharisees had it, in this world only (Romans 12:1; 1 Corinthians 6:20; Galatians 2:20).
VIII. THAT ONLY AFTER THEIR CLEANSING AND WAVING COULD THEY ENTER IN TO WAR THE WARFARE OF THE TABERNACLE. Even so, none can do real service to God unless they are wholly converted and have given themselves to him (Luke 22:32 b; Acts 8:21; James 1:8; and cf. 7:4, 7:7).
IX. THAT AFTER THE FIFTIETH YEAR THEY WERE RELEASED FROM DOING SERVICE, BUT WERE STILL PERMITTED TO KEEP THE CHARGE. Even so it is part of the goodness of God that no one should be held to do laborious work in the Church when he is old; but also part of his goodness that he should still keep such charge as is fitted to his years.
Note, that the Levites are said to have made an atonement for the children of Israel.—
1. By taking upon themselves, in their separated but representative character, those religious obligations of the congregation (especially of the first-born) which they dared not attempt.
2. By performing such obligations rightly, which those could not have done. There is none of us that can do this, because we cannot even do our own duty, far less another's (Psalms 49:7; Luke 17:10; Galatians 6:5) Wherefore this applies only unto Christ, by whom we have received the atonement (Romans 5:11), and throws an important light upon that atonement.
Consider, therefore—
1. Christ hath "made atonement" for us, as having undertaken for us those duties of a human life and ministry wholly and perfectly devoted and consecrated to the Father, which we for our unworthiness durst not even have attempted (Luke 2:49; John 4:34; John 6:38; Hebrews 10:5-9; Hebrews 9:14).
2. Christ hath "made atonement" for us, as having lived that perfect life, and rendered that perfect ministry, which we never could have lived or rendered, and therefore never could have pleased God, nor satisfied his just and necessary requirements (Matthew 3:17; Matthew 12:18; Matthew 17:5; John 17:4; John 19:30; James 3:2).
3. Christ hath "made atonement" for us, as having thus pleased God, as man, and as our separated and accepted representative, "the Son of man"—"the second man."
4. Christ hath saved us thereby from the sorrow which even in heaven itself (could we have got there) our want of will and want of power to serve God acceptably would have brought upon us (Ephesians 1:6), having appeared in our behalf in the presence of God with the offering of a perfect human life.
HOMILIES BY W. BINNIE