The burden of the Lord.
It is in our nature to love distinction, office, power. The instincts and impulses of our humanity enter with us into the service of the Lord; they belong to us as subjects of the kingdom of Christ. But here, as elsewhere, distinctions and duties, prizes and perils, honours and anxieties go together. We are reminded—
I. THAT PROTRACTED PREPARATION MAY BE NECESSARY for high office in the Church (Leviticus 8:33). Aaron and his sons were required to go through consecration services fur seven days. It seems to us as if they must have become wearisome by exceeding length. But for such services as he and they were to render, such preparation was none too long. Consider how Moses was long in Midian, and Paul in Arabia, preparing for after-work. Our Lord himself went "into the wilderness" and into "desert places," preparing himself for his Divine ministry. In proportion to the seriousness, the greatness of the work we have to do, we may expect to find the extent and severity of the preparatory work.
II. THAT UNPALATABLE COMMUNICATIONS MAY HAVE TO BE MADE, in conformity with God's will. Moses might have shrunk (probably would have done so) from voluntarily imposing such protracted services on Aaron; but he had no option. God's will was clear, and he had no course but to obey; "so I am commanded," said he (Leviticus 8:35). Again and again the minister of Christ has to say or do things he would gladly leave unsaid or undone. But in such cases he must "not confer with flesh and blood" (Galatians 1:16), but do the will of the Master he serves (see 1 Samuel 3:1-21).
III. THAT DISOBEDIENCE TO THE CLEAR WILL OF GOD INVOLVES great danger: "Keep the charge of the Lord, that ye die not" (Leviticus 8:35). We cannot undertake great duties without incurring the most serious responsibilities and running grave risks. If we take the post of "watchman unto the house of Israel," we must speak the true and faithful word, or the blood of souls will be required at our hand (Ezekiel 33:7, Ezekiel 33:8). They who stand in God's house and speak in his Name, but who depart from his Word, grievously mislead their brethren, and must be answerable to the Lord their Judge at the day of account.
IV. THAT AN OBEDIENT HEART NEED NOT, AND WILL NOT, SHRINK FROM THE COMMANDMENTS OF THE LORD. (Leviticus 8:36.) Aaron and his sons did not question or hesitate; they obeyed. Doubtless they found, as we shall find, that:
1. What seems formidable in prospect becomes simple and manageable in actual engagement.
2. God helps with his inspiring Spirit those who go with alacrity to their work.
3. There are unsuspected pleasures in sacred service. "His commandments are not grievous;" his "yoke is easy, his burden light ;" his statutes are not our complaints but our songs in the house of our pilgrimage (Psalms 119:54).—C.
HOMILIES BY R.A. REDFORD