Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on the Whole Bible
Leviticus Ch.9 / 27 Ch.s
LE:9
* The first offerings of Aaron for himself and the people.
(1-21) Moses and Aaron bless the people, Fire cometh upon the
altar from the Lord. (22-24)
#1-21 These many sacrifices, which were all done away by the
death of Christ, teach us that our best services need washing in
his blood, and that the guilt of our best sacrifices needs to be
done away by one more pure and more noble than they. Let us be
thankful that we have such a High Priest. The priests had not a
day's respite from service allowed. God's spiritual priests have
constant work, which the duty of every day requires; they that
would give up their account with joy, must redeem time. The
glory of God appeared in the sight of the people, and owned what
they had done. We are not now to expect such appearances, but
God draws nigh to those who draw nigh to him, and the offerings
of faith are acceptable to him; though the sacrifices being
spiritual, the tokens of the acceptance are spiritual likewise.
When Aaron had done all that was to be done about the
sacrifices, he lifted up his hands towards the people, and
blessed them. Aaron could but crave a blessing, God alone can
command it.
#22-24 When the solemnity was finished, and the blessing
pronounced, God testified his acceptance. There came a fire out
from before the Lord, and consumed the sacrifice. This fire
might justly have fastened upon the people, and have consumed
them for their sins; but its consuming the sacrifice signified
God's acceptance of it, as an atonement for the sinner. This
also was a figure of good things to come. The Spirit descended
upon the apostles in fire. And the descent of this holy fire
into our souls, to kindle in them pious and devout affections
toward God, and such a holy zeal as burns up the flesh and the
lusts of it, is a certain token of God's gracious acceptance of
our persons and performances. Nothing goes to God, but what
comes from him. We must have grace, that holy fire, from the God
of grace, else we cannot serve him acceptably, #Heb 12:28|. The
people were affected with this discovery of God's glory and
grace. They received it with the highest joy; triumphing in the
assurance given them that they had God nigh unto them. And with
the lowest reverence; humbly adoring the majesty of that God,
who vouchsafed thus to manifest himself to them. That is a
sinful fear of God, which drives us from him; a gracious fear
makes us bow before him.