Bible Commentaries

CONTENTS

The subject is still continued, and advancing in sublimity. Here is great honour shown to the Prince, whose entrance through the East gate forbad all others from so doing, to notify his glory and distinction. After this, divers ordinances are appointed in this Chapter, concerning those who minister in holy things.

Surely there is in those verses so plain an allusion to the person of the Lord Jesus Christ, that it is hardly possible for any to mistake it, or make application to any other. And not only to his person, on account of his infinite dignity, but also to his offices and character. For Jesus is not only the way, and the only way of access to Jehovah; but it is impossible, we are told, to approach by any but him. The gate is shut, and forever shut. How blessedly the Apostle speaks, on this grand point. Hebrews 9:11-12.

What a beautiful view is again and again given of the Shechinah, or glory of the Lord filling the house. And what an holy awe do we always find induced by it, on the minds of holy men of old. Isaiah 6:1-5; Daniel 10:7-8. Reader! what a blessed dispensation is that of the Gospel, to which we are called, who have Jesus to go to, and Jesus to trust in at all times, and who is the Lord Our Righteousness, and hath brought us nigh by his blood?

Here are very important commissions given to the Prophet to deliver to the people, all which are plain and express, and in which we find the sacred jealousy the Lord hath for his holy name and ordinances. Reader! our approaches now under the gospel dispensation, ought not to lessen our reverence, but increase it; seeing we have Jesus to give us boldness in his blood, it should make us delight ourselves to draw nigh. Hebrews 4:14-16.

I pray the Reader not to overlook the abundant grace of our adorable Jesus in what is here said, that he is the inheritance, and he is the possession of his people. Twice it is repeated in one verse; as if the Lord would have the impression of it not to pass away from their minds. If the Reader observes, as I hope he doth observe, that when this is said, it is said in peculiar reference to the Lord's priests; I cheerfully acquiesce in the same; but I beg the Reader no less to remember, that all God's people are said to be a nation of priests to the Lord. And in Jesus Church, He hath made all his redeemed, both Kings and Priests, to God and the Father, by his blood. Pray turn to those sweet scriptures in confirmation. Exodus 19:3-6; 1 Peter 2:9; Revelation 1:6; Rev_5:9-10; Galatians 3:27-29.

REFLECTIONS

AND art thou, my soul, indeed a Priest, in this glorious House of thy God? Oh! then consider the great Apostle, and High Priest of thy profession, Christ Jesus. It is by virtue of thy union with Him, and redemption, by Him, that thou art brought into this royal Priesthood, and made an heir of God, and a joint heir with Christ. In him, all thine authority is found. By Him, all thy priestly exercises are carried on. Through Him, is the whole, both of thy person and offerings accepted. And for Him, and His sake alone, Jehovah hath respect to the whole Church, which is His body. Hail! thou Lamb of God! who art still the Lamb in the midst of the throne: equally attentive to thine house below, as to thine house above! All is made holy, and blessed, being chosen by Jehovah, in thee, before the world began! And now, and forever, is every individual member of thy mystical body made honorable and glorious, by the sprinkling of thy blood, and by the sweet communications of thy blessed Spirit. Lord! add a blessing to these immense privileges, and cause me daily, hourly, minutely, to remember, and live up to that remembrance, that thou art my inheritance; that I have no inheritance in anything here below; no possession in earth, and earthly concerns; for the Lord is the portion of mine inheritance, and of my cup, thou maintaineth my lot! And oh, for g race, to be as momently living to the glory and praise of my Lord; and presenting my body a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is my reasonable service.