Spiritual apparel.
"Take Aaron and his sons with him and the garments." Aaron and his sons were about to be invested. Their formal investiture of the priestly office was to be signified and symbolized by their putting on the sacerdotal garments. The robes of office are fully described (Leviticus 8:7-9). These "holy garments" (Exodus 28:2) not only gave an imposing and inspiring appearance to the officiating priests, but they severally and separately suggested certain spiritual qualities. The white linen spoke of righteousness, the girdle of activity or strength, etc. (see above).
We who are servants of Jesus Christ are also priests (1 Peter 2:5; Revelation 1:6). There are certain things in which we are to be robed. We are, speaking generally, to "put on the Lord Jesus Christ (Romans 13:14); to put on the new man," etc. (Ephesians 4:24).
But there are certain graces which we are more particularly to wear.
I. THE ROBE OF HUMILITY. This is the beginning and the end, the first and the last grace, the foundation and the topstone of Christian character: we may call it an undergarment and an overcoat of the Christian wardrobe. "Be clothed with humility" (1 Peter 5:5).
II. THE GARMENT OF FAITH. This is that clothing without which we cannot be justified before God now, nor permitted to sit down to the heavenly banquet hereafter (Matthew 22:11, Matthew 22:12).
III. THE GIRDLE OF TRUTH. (Ephesians 6:14.) It is truth, heavenly wisdom, which knits all other things together, and gives play and power to the spiritual faculties.
IV. THE SANDALS OF PEACE. (Romans 10:15; Ephesians 6:15.)
V. THE CROWN OF RIGHTEOUSNESS. (2 Timothy 4:8.) Righteousness is the regal thing; when that is gone the crown is fallen from our head (Lamentations 5:16).
To those who "overcome" (Revelation 3:5), who are "faithful unto death" (Revelation 2:10), who "keep the faith" (2 Timothy 4:7), it shall be given to:
1. Be clothed in white raiment" (spotless purity).
2. To receive "the crown of life" (life in all its celestial fullness and blessedness).
3. To wear "the crown of righteousness"—"a crown of glory that fadeth not away" (1 Peter 5:4).—C.
Equipment for special work.
There was a sense in which the whole congregation of Israel constituted a priesthood. It was an early promise that they should be a "kingdom of priests and a holy nation" (Exodus 19:6). And such, indeed, they were, so far as they entered into and fulfilled the purposes of God. They were:
1. Separate from surrounding people (holy unto the Lord).
2. Permitted to draw near to God.
3. Allowed to bring the sacrificial victim to the holy place and slay it; indeed, in the case of the paschal lamb, they acted as priests without aid from any other hand.
But there were those who were:
1. Separated from them, and were thus holier than they.
2. Allowed to draw nearer to the Divine presence.
3. Designated to be continually offering up sacrifices to Jehovah. These were the priests and the high priests of the Lord in an especial sense, and they needed special equipment for their special work.
From this chapter we select four principal points—
I. SPECIAL CLEANSING OF SOUL. (Leviticus 8:6.)
II. SPECIAL CONSECRATION OF SPIRIT. (Leviticus 8:23, Leviticus 8:24.) One of the most significant rites in the entire ceremony of consecration was the taking by Moses of the blood of the "ram of consecration" (Leviticus 8:22), and putting it "upon the tip of Aaron's right car, and upon the thumb of his right hand, and upon the great toe of his right foot." The interpretation of this symbolism hardly admits of error. What other truth could it import but that Aaron was thus set apart, not only generally for the service of the Lord, but specially in every member of his frame, in every faculty of his mind? He was to have:
1. An open ear, to welcome every word of the Lord.
2. A ready hand, to discharge diligently and conscientiously his daily duties.
3. A quick foot, to run in the way of God's commandments.
III. SPECIAL SYMPATHY WITH MEN. (Leviticus 8:8.) The plate on which were inscribed the names of the twelve tribes was, as the word indicates, a breast-plate: so that the high priest symbolically bore the children of Israel on his heart. He carried their burden into the presence of God.
IV. SPECIAL ENDOWMENT. (Leviticus 8:30.) The precious ointment, the anointing oil, upon the head that ran down upon Aaron's beard, that went down to the skirts of his garments (Psalms 133:2), probably symbolized the grace of the Spirit of God outpoured upon the heart, affecting the whole nature, diffusing the delightful fragrance of piety and virtue.
We learn from these particulars—
1. That we must not covet posts of special difficulty except we are equipped with peculiar qualifications. Not every good or every earnest Christian man is fitted to take high office in the kingdom of God.
2. That if we feel ourselves summoned to special work, we must seek all possible spiritual equipment. The conditions of successful service are those indicated above: