Leviticus 23

REFLECTIONS UPON CHAP. XXIII.—While I consider these sacred festivals as morals—of the finished work of creation—of Israel’s deliverance from Egypt of the giving of the law at Sinai—of the provocation of the golden calf, and mcilement relative to it—and of the Hebrews dwelling in tents—let me also learn them as typical figures of the gospel rests in the apostolic, millennial, eternal, periods. Jesus’ person work, and fulness, appear as the end, and stance of them all; and the oblations then offered represent to me Jesus, my the burnt-offering, who satisfied justice, and glorified all the divine perfections in my stead; Jesus, my sin-offering, who expiates every crime; Jesus, peace-offering, whose blood pacifies an offended God, quiets my conscience, comforts my heart; Jesus, my meat-offering, who is meat indeed for the enrichment of my soul. Yea they represent to me how his people, and their bless offered through him, are the delight of his Father, and the joy of his heart. In the first fruits of barley and flour let me behold Jesus, in his movement and glory, as having in all things the pre-eminence, sanctifying the the harvest of elect men, and all their fruits of righteousness; and as offered in the present and endless nourishment of my soul. Let them also figure out the called of God, who are first-fruits to God and the Lamb; and their ready acceptable service. In the passover I discern him as our passover sacrificed by. In the feast of unleavened bread I see him as through his whole life a corrows; but holy, harmless, and undefiled. In pentecost I behold him exhibited as the law-fulfiller in the apostolic period for the salvation of multitudes. In the feast of trumpets I hear the gospel-sound, from morning to evening of the Christian period, proclaiming a full salvation through a crucified Redeemer to all the ends of the earth. In the fast of expiation I again behold him finishing transgression, and making an end of sin, the sin of a whole elect world, in one day; and, having by himself purged away our sins, sitting down at the right hand of the Majesty in the heavens, there to appear in the presence of God for us. And in the feast of tabernacles he is prengured as tabernacling in our nature and world, that we might have familiar fellowship with him, particularly in the apostolic and millennial, but chiefly in the eternal, period. Let me bless the Lord for such manifold memorials of Jesus; and especially that our privileges under the gospel are still more excellent, our enemies themselves being judges. Let me observe holy seasons in an holy manner. Let the sabbaths of the Lord be kept in all our hearts, in all our dwellings, and by all under our care. Let us honour the Lord with the first fruits of all our substance. While kind to strangers, to the poor and destitute, let us hearken to the joyful sound of salvation to miserable sinners; and, looking on Jesus Christ as crucified for us, let us afflict our souls till God himself wipe away all tears from our eyes: and when our harvest and vintage of labours are ended, then shall we commemorate with pleasure our hardships by the way, and rejoice to change them for an eternal weight of glory. K K