Great Themes of the Bible (continued)
of putrifying and to show that it was an extraordinary peaceoffering.
2. THE CONSECRATION OF THE PRIEST The consecration of the priest took seven days to complete, and the length of time and the character of the ceremonies were intended to intimate to them, first, that it was of very great concern to them to get their sins pardoned, and that though atonement was made, and they had had the comfort of it, yet they must still keep up a penitent sense of sin and oft repeat the confession of it. Then, secondly, that those sacrifices, which were thus offered day by day to make atonement, could not make the comers thereunto perfect, for then they would have ceased to be offered, as the apostle argues (cf. Heb. x.
I, 2). They must therefore expect the '"'bringing in of a better hope''.
Now this consecration of the priests was a "shadow of good things to come'"'.
(a) Our Lord fesus is the great High Priest of our profession, called of God to be so, consecrated for evermore, anointed with the Spirit above His fellows, whence He is called '' Messiah"', "The Christ'; clothed with the holy garments, even with glory and beauty; sanctified by His own blood, not that of bullocks and rams (cf. Heb. ix. 12); made perfect, or consecrated, through sufferings (Heb. ii. 10). Thus in Him was "'a perpetual statute" (Exod. xxix. 9).
(b) All believers are spiritual priests, to offer spiritual sacrifices (cf. 1 Pet. ii. 5), washed in the blood of Christ, and so made to our God priests (cf. Rev. i. 5, 6). They also are clothed with the beauty of holiness and have received the anointing (1 John ii. 27). Their hands are filled with work, which they must continually attend to; and it is through Christ, the great sacrifice, that they are dedicated to this service. His blood, sprinkled upon the conscience, purgeth it from dead works, that they may as priests serve the living God.
3. THE PREPARATION OF THE ALTAR (Exod. xxx. 10, 15).
The altar was cleansed by the blood of atonement. The brazen altar was a type of Christ's dying on earth; the golden altar in the sanctuary was a type of Christ's interceding in heaven, in the virtue of His satisfaction. This altar was "before