 |  |
In spite, however, of the savour of these God-appointed offerings and cleansings, we
have already seen that the intrusion even of the privileged Levite into the priest's office
involved death.
Time and space, however, fail to permit of the pursuit of this theme in detail. We can
but summarise the remainder, trusting that the reader will not fail to get for himself the
impression that an actual reading of the entire record gives.
The priest were separated from the Levites to their distinctive office by distinctive
garments "for glory and for beauty", by anointing, by sacrifice, by unleavened bread,
and by the sanctifying of the ear, hand and foot with blood and oil. Aaron, as high priest,
was moreover separately consecrated and robed for his distinctive work. Again,
Exod. 28: and 29: must be carefully read if the reader is to get the details. Here at
long last is the one man set apart by all these concentric cleansings. But even he must
wash his flesh, must never omit the blood for his own sins, must have the protecting
cloud of incense, "that he die not", and, in order further to impress upon him and the
people the holiness of the Lord he served, this separated high priest was permitted to
enter within the veil but once every year.
Our consideration of holiness, as exhibited in these ceremonials, however, is not yet
complete. What of the sprinkling and cleansing of altars and vessels? What of the
washing of sacrificial animals, already certified "without blemish"? What of the laws
concerning clean and unclean meats, and the elaborate ceremonial attached to the
cleansing of the leper?
"The camp was purified, the people were purified; everything was purified and
re-purified, and each process of the ordinances was designed to reflect purity upon the
others until finally that idea of purity formed in the mind and rendered intense by the
convergence of so many rays, was by comparison referred to the idea of God, . . . . . thus
they learned in the sentiment of Scripture that God was of too pure eyes to look upon
iniquity" (Philosophy of the Plan of Salvation).
If we again took up the question of the land of Israel, we should find that, while the
whole land is called the Holy Land, there is yet in that land one place more holy than the
rest, the holy city Jerusalem, "My holy mountain". And so the lesson is impressed form
every side. Sufficient, however, has been set forth to enable us to appreciate in some
degree that glorious sanctification which is ours through the blood of Christ, that not only
makes us near, but gives us "boldness of access", yea, "seats us together" in His
Presence.
It is no wonder that they sang on the bank of the Red Sea:--
"Who is like unto Thee, O Lord, among the gods? Who is like Thee, glorious in
holiness, fearful in praises, doing wonders?" (Exod. 15: 11).