Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on the Whole Bible
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Numbers
Book: Numbers
Chapter: 8
Overview:
The lamps of the
Sanctuary.
(1-4) Consecration of the Levites,
and their service.
(5-26)
1-4 Aaron himself lighted the lamps, thus representing his
Divine Master. The
Scripture is a
Light shining in a dark place,
2Pe 1:19. A dark place even the
Church would be without it; as
the
Tabernacle, which had
No Window, would have been without the
lamps. The work of ministers is to
Light these lamps,
By
expounding and applying the
Word of God.
Jesus Christ is the
only
Light of our dark, sinful world; and
By his
Atonement,
By
his
Word and the Holy
Spirit, he diffuses
Light around.
5-26 Here we have directions for the solemn ordination of the
Levites. All
Israel must know that they took not this honour to
themselves, but were called of
God to it; nor was it enough that
they were distinguished from others. All who are employed for
God, must be dedicated to him, according to the employment.
Christians must be baptized, ministers must be ordained; we must
first give ourselves unto the
Lord, and then our services. The
Levites must be cleansed. They must be
Clean that
Bear the
vessels of the
Lord.
Moses must sprinkle the water of purifying
upon them. This signifies the application of the
Blood of
Christ
to our souls
By Faith, that we may be fit to serve the living
God.
God declares his acceptance of them. All who expect to
share in the privileges of the
Tabernacle, must resolve to do
the service of the
Tabernacle. As,
On the one
Hand, none of
God's creatures are his necessary servants, he needs not the
service of any of them;
So none are merely honorary servants, to
do nothing. All whom
God owns, he employs; angels themselves
have their services.