THE IMPORTANCE OF THE ALTAR.
In this glad summing up of the great aggregate value of the offerings, we not only get a further view of the Divine complacency in the love-gifts of His people, and in the persons of the offerers, but the object of the offerings is also brought into special prominence. As the list of each prince's offerings was preceded and followed by reference to the person of the offerer, so the list of totals is preceded and followed by the thought, This was the dedication of the altar in the day when it was anointed.
The importance of the brazen altar can scarcely be exaggerated. The Tabernacle contained many precious things, each typifying most important truths concerning our Lord and His ministry; the ark on which rested the Shekinah, which enshrined the tables of the law, and was covered by the mercy-seat, the table of shew-bread, the candlestick of gold, and the golden altar were all most precious; but, apart from the brazen altar, there was no access to them for guilty man; without shedding of blood there is no remission of sin. Hence the recognition by the princes of the importance of the altar; and hence the Divine emphasis placed upon those gifts—an emphasis wholly without parallel in the sacred Records. To the godly Israelite the brazen altar typified that which was fulfilled at the Cross, and well may we exclaim: "God forbid that I should glory, save in the Cross of our Lord Jesus Christ" (Gal. vi. 14).
Looking back over the two chapters on which we have been dwelling we see in them a marvellous revelation of Divine love—even in Mosaic times. First, an unrestricted invitation to draw near to God; woman or man, of any tribe—whosoever will—may come and be wholly separated unto the Lord—but only in God's way. We learn, too, that in such consecration there is no merit on which man may rest, or in which he may boast; we are at best unprofitable servants, accepted only in the Beloved, complete only in Him. Yet such consecration gives joy to God, and opens the way to wonderful revelations of blessing; blessing which when enjoyed constrains to service, to gift, to recognition of the preciousness of the Altar, of the Cross—a service in which God Himself finds delight, and on which He never wearies to dwell.
May God make our meditations very practical; and may we "thus judge, that if One died for all, then were all dead; and that He died for all, that they which live should not henceforth live unto themselves, but unto Him which died for them and rose again,"—or, as we may better read it, "unto Him which died and rose again for them."
Are we really thus living? God knows: eternity will show: what answer does conscience give now? What conclusions do our brothers, sisters, children, friends draw from our lives? Our true self-denial, self-emptying, and giving for Christ's cause practically show our real estimate of the value of the Cross of Christ, our real love for the Christ who was crucified for us.
THE END.
Transcriber's Note:
Mismatched and inconsistent punctuation has been retained as it appears in the original book.