Numbers 7:1-89 - Acceptable Offerings

I. THAT THE OFFERINGS WERE CONNECTED IN TIME WITH THE DAY OF CONSECRATION , BUT WERE ACTUALLY PRESENTED LATER . Even so all Christian offerings, whether of ourselves or of our substance, date from the day when the altar of the cross was consecrated, and the mercy-seat sprinkled with the precious blood; it is from that day they draw their inward inspiration and their meaning, but they are outwardly dispersed through many days ( 2 Corinthians 5:14 ).

II. THAT THE COMMON OFFERING OF THE PRINCES WAS FOR THE EASIER ONWARD MOVEMENT OF THE SANCTUARY , the pattern, center, and microcosm of the Church.

Even so all the faithful are bound to give common help to further the onward progress of the Church in her ceaseless extension and her journey towards her consummation.

III. THAT ALL THE SEVERAL OFFERINGS OF THE PRINCES WERE RECEIVED WITH LIKE FAVOUR AND SOLEMNITY : that of Dan as much as that of Judah. Even so all equal offering or sacrifice on the part of Christian Churches or individuals is equally acceptable with God, and comes into the same remembrance with him. Only this equality is not now a material equality (as then), but is proportioned to advantages and opportunities ( Mark 12:43 ; Luke 12:48 ; 2 Corinthians 8:12 ).

IV. THAT THE OFFERINGS WERE IN EACH CASE MINUTELY RECORDED , having evidently been entered in some roll kept in the sanctuary. Even so there is nothing, however trivial, done for God or given to him which shall ever be forgotten ( Malachi 3:16 ; Matthew 10:42 ; Matthew 25:40 ; Hebrews 6:10 ; Hebrews 13:16 ).

V. THAT WHILE THE BURNT OFFERINGS AND ( STILL MORE ) THE PEACE OFFERINGS WERE MULTIPLIED , THE SIN OFFERING REMAINED ( IN EACH CASE ) BUT ONE . Even so it is open to all good people to multiply their self-oblations and their offerings of thankfulness and praise, but there is for each (and can be) but the one offering for sin, even he who was in himself the Lamb of God, and yet in respect of the sin which be assumed, and the curse he endured, was as it were "the shaggy one of the goats." Note that this word, sa'eer , is translated "devil" (Le Numbers 17:7 ; 2 Chronicles 11:15 ), and "satyr" in Isaiah 13:21 ; Isaiah 34:14 , being a most manifest type of Christ.

VI. THAT GOD SPAKE UNTO MOSES ACCORDING TO HIS PROMISE , FROM ABOVE THE MERCY - SEAT ( ἄνωθεν τοῦ ἱλαστηρίου ). Even so the Divine intercourse with man in Christ rests upon the incarnation and the atonement, of which the ark and the mercy-seat were the types. But note that whereas these holy things were but figures, God hath now spoken unto us plainly by his Son, whom he set forth as the propitiation through faith ( ὅ προέθετο ἱλαστήριον διὰ τῆς πίστεως ) . And note that then the voice spake out of the darkness behind the veil, but in Christ the veil is taken away, and heaven laid open, and God himself revealed and declared ( Matthew 27:51 ; John 1:18 ; 2 Corinthians 3:14 ; Hebrews 9:8 ).

VII. THAT WHENEVER ( AS IT WOULD SEEM ) MOSES WENT IN TO SPEAK UNTO GOD HE HEARD THE DIVINE VOICE SPEAKING TO HIM . Even so as often as we go to God in Christ, having somewhat really to say to him, we shall not fail also to hear the Divine voice speaking unto us in answer.