Leviticus 9:1-24
1 And it came to pass on the eighth day, that Moses called Aaron and his sons, and the elders of Israel;
2 And he said unto Aaron, Take thee a young calf for a sin offering, and a ram for a burnt offering, without blemish, and offer them before the LORD.
3 And unto the children of Israel thou shalt speak, saying, Take ye 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;
4 Also a bullock and a ram for peace offerings, to sacrifice before the LORD; and a meat offering mingled with oil: for to day the LORD will appear unto you.
5 And they brought that which Moses commanded before the tabernacle of the congregation: and all the congregation drew near and stood before the LORD.
6 And Moses said, This is the thing which the LORD commanded that ye should do: and the glory of the LORD shall appear unto you.
7 And Moses said unto Aaron, Go unto the altar, and offer thy sin offering, and thy burnt offering, and make an atonement for thyself, and for the people: and offer the offering of the people, and make an atonement for them; as the LORD commanded.
8 Aaron therefore went unto the altar, and slew the calf of the sin offering, which was for himself.
9 And the sons of Aaron brought the blood unto him: and he dipped his finger in the blood, and put it upon the horns of the altar, and poured out the blood at the bottom of the altar:
10 But the fat, and the kidneys, and the caul above the liver of the sin offering, he burnt upon the altar; as the LORD commanded Moses.
11 And the flesh and the hide he burnt with fire without the camp.
12 And he slew the burnt offering; and Aaron's sons presented unto him the blood, which he sprinkled round about upon the altar.
13 And they presented the burnt offering unto him, with the pieces thereof, and the head: and he burnt them upon the altar.
14 And he did wash the inwards and the legs, and burnt them upon the burnt offering on the altar.
15 And he brought the people's offering, and took the goat, which was the sin offering for the people, and slew it, and offered it for sin, as the first.
16 And he brought the burnt offering, and offered it according to the manner.a
17 And he brought the meat offering, and tookb an handful thereof, and burnt it upon the altar, beside the burnt sacrifice of the morning.
18 He slew also the bullock and the ram for a sacrifice of peace offerings, which was for the people: and Aaron's sons presented unto him the blood, which he sprinkled upon the altar round about,
19 And the fat of the bullock and of the ram, the rump, and that which covereth the inwards, and the kidneys, and the caul above the liver:
20 And they put the fat upon the breasts, and he burnt the fat upon the altar:
21 And the breasts and the right shoulder Aaron waved for a wave offering before the LORD; as Moses commanded.
22 And Aaron lifted up his hand toward the people, and blessed them, and came down from offering of the sin offering, and the burnt offering, and peace offerings.
23 And Moses and Aaron went into the tabernacle of the congregation, and came out, and blessed the people: and the glory of the LORD appeared unto all the people.
24 And there came a fire out from before the LORD, and consumed upon the altar the burnt offering and the fat: which when all the people saw, they shouted, and fell on their faces.
Leviticus 9:1. On the eighth day. The eighth day was the period mostly prescribed for the removal of impurities. A son was circumcised on the eighth day. A lamb or a kid was with its dam till the eighth day; and then it might be sacrificed. Leviticus 22:27. The healed leper was shut up for that time, preparatory to his cleansing. Leviticus 14:15. Our Saviour also, on the eighth day after his resurrection, in a particular manner set apart the apostles for their work. The rabbins say that this additional calf was offered, because Aaron had made the golden calf.
Leviticus 9:23. Moses and Aaron went into the tabernacle. Moses here accompanied the priest to sprinkle the blood, to instruct him, and to pray for the holy fire.
Leviticus 9:24. A fire from before the Lord. See on Leviticus 27:20. It is said that Moses prayed for this fire to descend. Malachi 2:10 Malachi 2:10. The Lord also answered Solomon's prayer in the same manner, as well as the united prayers of the apostles on the day of Pentecost. 1 Kings 8:10; Acts 2:3. This should greatly encourage faithful ministers to pray for the influences of the Holy Spirit, to accompany and to bless all their labours.
REFLECTIONS.
Aaron and his sons now enter on the hallowed functions of the tabernacle: and the first object which strikes us is, his unspeakable inferiority to our great Highpriest, the Son of God, who is entered into the heavens for us. Aaron was obliged to offer sacrifice for his own sin, before he could officiate for the people; and ministers cannot face their congregations till their iniquities are removed. Our Saviour was indeed reproached with sin, but the reproach was misapplied: he was wounded for our transgressions, and bruised for our iniquities.
Moses and Aaron being blessed themselves, now came forth and blessed the people. The Lord having treasured up in Christ a fulness of felicity, it is the first duty of ministers to pray for the people, to bless them, and to do them good.
The Lord who had honoured the tabernacle with his glory, now honoured the altar with the fire of his presence. It kindled the wood, and consumed the victims. This fire was to Israel full proof that God accepted their offerings, and consequently, their persons. It was the visible seal of the covenant to which they had subscribed. The fire was figurative of the gift of the Holy Ghost, and consequently a test of true religion. It was a visible emblem of the divine presence shining forth in the ancient way, as with Abraham when a deep sleep fell upon him, and when the Lord's presence was like the smoke of a burning lamp. Genesis 15. So the Holy Spirit comes into the heart prepared for his reception, and consumes the desires of the flesh and of the mind, which are contrary to holiness. So he comes to sanctify and consecrate the soul to his glory, that it may resemble him in purity and every virtue. Oh my soul, never, never be satisfied that thou art in full covenant with God, unless while thou art in the means of grace, or musing and meditating in solitude, the fire kindle from heaven on the altar of thy heart. It is the love of God shed abroad there which expels fear, and hallows and consecrates thy soul for his service. Thus sealed with the divine presence, the incense of devotion shall ever ascend before the throne of God.