Bible Commentaries

CONTENTS

The communion between the Lord and his servant Moses, is not yet finished, concerning the ordination of the tabernacle furniture, and service; but is continued through this Chapter. Instructions are here given respecting the altar of incense, and of the ransom money: of the laver for the priests to wash in: of making the oil for anointing; and of the spices to be burnt on the golden altar.

Exodus 30:1

Did not this altar to burn incense upon, represent the person and merits of Christ? Revelation 8:3-4.

It is observable, that the size of this altar was but half that mentioned by Ezekiel, Ezekiel 41:22. perhaps on account of the imperfection of this dispensation. Observe this also was of gold: the perfect worship in gospel times was to be spiritual. Malachi 1:11.

Did not this crown refer to the kingly office, as well as the priestly office, of the Lord Jesus? Zechariah 6:11-13. And Jesus intercedes as one that hath power with God, and must prevail. His language is, Father I will. John 17:24.

Was not the design of putting the altar before the vail of the mercy-seat to show that Jesus is always appearing in the presence of God for his people? Hebrews 9:24-26.

Doth not this suggest to us the Lord Jesus in his perpetual advocacy? And doth it not also imply the morning offering of his people? While the Jewish priest was burning sweet incense, the people were praying. Luke 1:10; Revelation 5:8, with Revelation 8:5. The lamps, perhaps, refer to the word of God, which should always be made, in the perusal of it, part of our morning as well as evening devotions. Psalms 119:103.

By strange incense I think must be meant the offerings of the unrenewed soul. See Isaiah 1:13; Isa_66:3.

Leviticus 16:18; Lev_16:29-30.

How sweet that scripture! 1 Timothy 2:6.

Half a shekel was in point of value about 14 pence of our money.

What a delightful evidence was here given, of the equal value of souls. Not that money was supposed to purchase the atonement, but only given as a token of love, in testimony, of having by sin forfeited their souls to God, and looking for redemption alone by the Lord Jesus Christ; this followed as an acknowledgment of so receiving and accepting it. See Psalms 49:7-8; Psa_49:15; Proverbs 22:2.

Reader! while those verses serve to teach us how clean the feet and hands of those ought to be who stand to minister before the Lord, think, and think with holy joy, what our privileges are who have a fountain always open for sin and for uncleanness. Zechariah 13:1. Lord grant that I may wash in it, and be clean. James 4:8. David perhaps had an eye to this cleansing when he penned Psalms 26:6.

Can anything more aptly represent the anointings of the Holy Ghost, and that unction of the Spirit, which all the Lord's Israel are said to have? 1 John 2:20.

Was not this meant to show the sanctity of holy things? Acts 13:2.

The fragrancy of those ingredients perhaps referred to the merits of the Lord Jesus. Song of Solomon 1:3. And subordinately to this, it is said in scripture, that the name of believers is valuable like ointment. Ecclesiastes 7:1.

Doth not this bruising of the spices indicate the bruised body of the Lord Jesus, when about to be offered in sacrifice? Isaiah 53:10; Ephesians 5:2.

The same precept as in Exodus 30:32 and Exodus 30:33: the setting it apart as holy, implies the importance of the thing itself.

REFLECTIONS

Come, my soul, look at the Jewish ordinances, and with an eye of faith behold thy Redeemer shadowed out in every one. He is indeed the golden altar, the ransom money, the true laver, or fountain for sin and for uncleanness; the sweet spices, the holy oil in the graces of his Holy Spirit; and the sum and substance of all divine ordinances. Dearest and ever-blessed Jesus! on thee may I be enabled, as the altar of offering, to bring all my oblations: in thy all-sufficient merits, and death, to rest every hope of acceptance in the well-grounded assurance, that God my Father hath found in thee a ransom, and hath said concerning my soul, Deliver him from going down into the pit. May God the Spirit anoint me with the holy oil of his manifold gifts and graces; and may Jesus, my great high Priest, in his perpetual advocacy, present me in the sweet and all-prevailing incense of his merits, that being washed in his blood, and accepted in his righteousness, I may at all times come boldly to a throne of grace, and find grace to help in every time of need.