Christ in all the scriptures
Holy, Holy, Holy! Leviticus 24
Across the entire chapter could be written the acclamation of the Seraphim to the thrice holy God, "Holy, Holy, Holy, is the Lord God of hosts: the whole earth is full of His glory"-Isaiah 6v3. In chapter 24v1-4 the holy oil for the lampstand; v5-9 the holy bread for the table; v10-23 the holy name of the Lord which all were to revere in deed as well as in word.
In the Holy place we note that it was "pure olive oil beaten for the light"-v2; the light was from the "pure lampstand"-v4. It was the "pure table" for the bread, and it was "pure frankincense" poured upon it-v6-7. At the outer camp we could write across the verses, "Hallowed be thy name".
HOLY OIL FOR THE LAMPSTAND-24v1-4 "Command the children of Israel, that they bring unto thee pure oil olive beaten for the light, to cause the lamps to burn continually". The oil is interpreted as the Holy Spirit (Zechariah 4v1-6. Placed, as it is, at the outset of the chapter, the lesson is obvious-the work of God is dependent on the operation of the Spirit of God. This is true in all generations, whatever the work being done, it must be in the power of the Spirit, as was said to Zechariah, "not by might, nor by power, but by my Spirit saith the Lord". The people were to supply it, this makes the need to always act in the Spirit, very personal. It must be pure (unmixed with foreign matter), beaten (ultimately the fruit would be crushed but the initial beating of the olives produced the purest oil) Its purpose was to enable the lamps to burn continually; the light of God must never go out. The pure oil of the Spirit enables the light to burn continually. Every day, of every month of every year, over the centuries, the light of God shines, both on the godless world, and in the hearts of His people. In Divine patience, amidst much mocking and criticism, and rejection (beaten oil), the Spirit calls incessantly, calling sinners to repentance (refer Paul in Romans 10v21 "All day long, I have stretched out my hands unto a disobedient and gainsaying people". Believers should also be aware of the role of the Spirit in their lives and service for God, in their conversion to Christ (Ephesians 1v13); in the giving of gifts (1st Corinthians 12v4; in their practical unity (Ephesians 4v3-4); in their prayer life (Romans 8v26-27; and in our eventual translation to heaven (Romans 8v11). Even with us He is like the beaten oil, for we can grieve Him, and we can quench Him in the course of His work. He never complains, He never ceases, the light burns continually! He shines light on the beautiful lampstand. the revelation of Christ as the light of the world. "He is the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth Him not, neither knoweth Him..."-John 14v17. To those who know Him, "He shall glorify me, for He shall receive of mine, and shall show it unto you"-John 16v14. This is the pure testimony of the Spirit in unceasing light.
Aaron the High Priest controlled the lighting of the lamps. Jesus, our great High Priest, oversees the burning of the lamps. Revelation chapters 2/3 describes the seven churches of Asia as the "seven golden lampstands"-Rev. 1v20, 2v1. In Rev. 1v12-13 we see that Christ walks in the midst of the seven lampstands. Just as Jesus declared He was the light of the world, He also said the disciples were the light of the world (Matthew 5v14). The seven churches of Asia were the light of God in that region. Jesus oversees the work, He "walks in the midst, checking the oil, trimming the wicks to enable the light to shine continually. There was even one church (Ephesus where He threatened to remove the lampstand for it was no longer reflecting Him. Churches today take note! The lamps were to be burning brightly "from the evening until the morning", that is through all the hours of darkness. Scriptures are clear that this world is in moral darkness, it is blinded by the deception of Satan. They cannot see the light, except through us, and we are called to shine in our words and our works-Philippians 2v15 "That ye might be blameless, and harmless, the sons of God without rebuke, among whom ye shine as lights in the world". Jesus in Matthew 5v16, "Let your light so shine before men that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven".
HOLY BREAD FOR THE TABLE As much as the oil for the lamps speaks of testimony, the bread for the table speaks of fellowship. Note the superlative language describing the table of the Lord: fine flour used for the bread, flour without lumps or impurities: two tenth deals in every cake of bread ( a tenth deal is an omer, one tenth of an ephah-being the largest commercial weight for transportation. In Exodus 16v16, when collecting the manna for their daily portion, the Lord said "for every man an omer") Each bread cake consisted of two tenth deals so the thought is of a generous portion. Twelve cakes had to be baken, representing the twelve tribes, thus ALL the people of God! They were set in two rows of six, symbolising man in fellowship with one another, and with God. They were placed upon the pure table, designed meticulously by God, and constructed with equal precision by men. Pure frankincense was to be poured upon each row as a memorial before the Lord of the perfection of Christ (whom the bread symbolises-refer John 6 and 1st Corinthians 10). Every seven days on the sabbath the bread was to be refreshed, and the bread which had been the food of God for seven days was shared among all the officiating priests. We could summarise it like this: The fineness of the flour-the purity of Christ; the fulness of the portions-the generosity of the people in returning to God a little of His bounty; the fellowship of the redeemed-the unity of all God's people (a truth that has been cast aside in modern times with all our schisms and divisions); the fragrance of the frankincense-the delight brought to the heart of God by the perfect manhood of Christ; the freshness of the bread-the constant renewal of fellowship, nothing stale in priestly service for God! This is the theme of the Corinthian epistles from beginning to end-the sacred fellowship of God with His people:
"God is faithful, by whom ye were called unto the fellowship of His Son, Jesus Christ our Lor1st Corinthians 1v9.
"The bread which we break, is it not the communion of the body of Christ? For we, being many are one bread and one body: for we are all partakers of that one bread"-1st Corinthians 10v16-17.
"The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Ghost, be with you all. Amen"-2nd Corinthians 13v14.
THE HOLY NAME OF GOD In the Holy Place, next to the Holy of Holies, where only the eye of God can see, and the officiating priests, all is light and beauty; all is provided, and there is order, and fragrance, and purity, and unity, and dignity. But the view from the outside camp is altogether different. There is strife in the camp, and blasphemy, and cursing, and disorder, and confusion, and, ultimately Divine judgment. How close to reality this is of humanity who can corrupt even the most sacred of privileges. Privilege and responsibility are at odds. The sanctuary of God is tarnished with external commotion.
The problem started in one man who was the child of unequal yoke-"the son of an Israelitish woman, whose father was an Egyptian"-24v10. This man who had travelled with the children of Israel from Egypt, must have been part of the "mixed multitude" who left Egypt at the Passover. These were not pure Israelites, and, possibly had never come under the protection of the Passover, due to idolatrous Egyptians being opposed to Israel, and considered sheep and lambs to be an abomination. Nevertheless, the Lord allowed their presence in the camp for the sake of family connections. This is similar to the "wheat and the tares" in Matthew 13, where the injunction was "Let both grow together until the time of harvest". The reality is that in any community of God's people there may be some who are not the Lord's, but they are among us through other associations. It is not for us to determine the spiritual standing of anyone, only the Lord knows that, and He will deal with it in time. In this instance, the reality came sooner, and this person blasphemed and cursed the name of the Lord in the camp of Israel. This is a direct breach of the third commandment (Exodus 20v7) and was punishable by stoning (Leviticus 24v16). The sanctity of the name of the Lord must be preserved in the congregation. A shocked community had to participate in the stoning of an individual at the command of the Lord. This is hard, as the ultimate punishment, but God's people must revere the name of God.
Additionally they must revere human life, for man was made in the image of God, and to kill another person is punishable by death at the command of the Lord. The fact that the laws of the land are at odds with this does not alter the Divine injunction which is unmistakeable "He that killeth any man shall surely be put to death"-Leviticus 23v17. This is repeated in verse 21, there is no doubt about the mind of the Lord on murder.
Again there is to be reverence for other people's persons and property (v18-22). "And he that killeth a beast shall make it good, beast for beast. And if a man cause a blemish in his neighbour: as he has done, so shall it be done unto him; breach for breach, eye for eye, tooth for tooth: as he hath caused a blemish in a man, so shall it be done unto him again...ye shall have one manner of law, as well for the stranger, as for one of your own country: for I am the Lord your God".
Sanctity to the name of the Lord; sanctity to the life of men made in the image of God; sanctity to their beasts for livelihood; sanctity to their persons and property. This is the thrust of the chapter, and where things are unjust, restitution must be made. Sanctity to His Holy name also involves respect to His creatures in every way. James wrote that it is folly to bless God and curse men. Our attitude to our fellow man may reflect our attitude to the Lord.
Deep thought must be given as to what holiness means to me, if I am truly to serve Him. In the Holy place we see the blessings God has given us. My prayer must be, "Lord, help me to adorn the doctrine of God our Saviour in all things".