EXPOSITION
GOD'S PROMISES. The chapter terminates with a parenthetic insertion of various promises, intended to cheer the Israelites under the hard circumstances of their wanderings in the wilderness, and growing out of the mention of the tabernacle as "the tabernacle of meeting" (Exodus 29:42). "There," says God, "He will meet, not only Moses, to speak to him, but also the children of Israel, to receive their offerings, hear their prayers, and grant their requests. There will he meet them, and there his glory shall be; and the tabernacle shall be thereby sanctified. He will sanctify both the tabernacle and the altar; he will sanctify, moreover, both Aaron and his sons; and he will dwell among the children of Israel, and be their God; and they shall know him." Very precious and gracious promises, made absolutely; though, as the result showed (2 Chronicles 36:14), contingent on their obedience; and faithfully performed, as long as even a remnant was obedient, during a space of above seven hundred years from the Exodus to the Captivity!
There will I meet the children of Israel. Lay Israelites might not enter the tabernacle, and could only "meet God" at its entrance, when they brought their sacrifices to the altar. He promises, however, to meet them on these occasions with favour and. acceptance. The tabernacle shall be sanctified by my glory. Compare Exodus 40:34. The presence of the Shechinah was the true sanctification of the tabernacle—all the rest was mere type and figure. God not only "put his name there," but put his presence there visibly.
I will sanctify … the altar. See Le Exodus 9:24, where we learn that on the first occasion of Aaron's offering sacrifice upon the brazen altar, "there came a fire out from before the Lord, and consumed upon the altar the burnt offering and the fat." Thus the altar had its miraculous sanctification, as well as the tabernacle, and was not merely consecrated by human instrumentality. I will sanctify also both Aaron and his sons. It would seem to follow, by parity of reasoning, that here also something more is intended than had been accomplished by the rites of consecration. The verb is in the future—"I will sanctify"—and must allude to something which has not yet taken place. Probably, sanctification of the spirit is intended—that Divine influence upon the heart which alone makes men really and truly "holy." (Compare Le Exodus 21:8, Exodus 21:15; Exodus 22:9, Exodus 22:16.) But in this ease the promise must have been conditional. God would sanctify them so far as they would allow him.
I will dwell among the children of Israel. Compare Exodus 25:8. Primarily, the indwelling of the Shechinah in the holy of holies is, no doubt, meant; but the expression need not be limited to this. God would be present with his people in manifold ways—to direct, sustain, enlighten, defend, and save them. And will be their God. Compare Exodus 6:7. What treasures of love, protection, bounty, tenderness, and pardon, are there in this phrase!
And they shall know, etc. When they experience my protection, bounty, love, tenderness, pardon, they shall truly feel and know in their inmost hearts, that I am the same God who delivered them out of the bondage of Egypt, and brought them forth, for the very purpose of "dwelling among them." I am Jehovah, their God. No other God could deliver after this sort. No other God could be so long-suffering to a "stiff-necked people."
HOMILETICS
God's promises to Israel.
Here we may note—
I. THE DIVINE GOODNESS AS SHOWN IN THE MAKING OF PROMISES, Man has no claim upon his Maker. Our "goodness extendeth not to him." So far forth as we "do him true and laudable service," we are "unprofitable servants—we have done that which was our duty to do" (Luke 17:10). But how little of such service is rendered! How great are our shortcomings! How many our "sins, negligences, and ignorances!" How little do we deserve anything but evil at God's hand! And yet, he not only bears with us, but makes us gracious promises. He binds himself to us beforehand by express engagements—he pledges his own sacred word to bestow upon us divers blessings. Here he promised Israel five things—
1. The sanctification of the tabernacle by the Shechinah;
2. The sanctification of the altar;
3. Holiness in Aaron and his sons;
4. His own permanent abiding presence with them as their God; and
5. Their own recognition of him as their Lord God
the deliverer who brought them out of Egypt—the eternal—Jehovah Eloheyhem. And to Christians he has promised far more—pardon, redemption, acceptance, sanctification by the Holy Spirit, eternal life! Utterly unworthy as we are, these promises have been made to us. God's infinite goodness has caused him to condescend to enter into covenant with his creatures; and the promises which he has made to us, "he for his part will most surely keep and perform."
II. THE DIVINE FAITHFULNESS, AS SHOWN IN THE FULFILMENT OF THE PROMISES MADE.
(1) The sanctification of the tabernacle was effected by the entrance into it of the Shechinah (Exodus 40:34);
(2) That of the altar by the fire which "came out from before the Lord" (Le Exodus 9:24);
(3) Aaron and his sons were sanctified to the effectual performance of all their ministerial acts, and were further personally sanctified, so far as their own wills would permit;
(4) God did abide with his people Israel, notwithstanding all their short-comings, for at least seven centuries; defended them from their enemies; taught them by his prophets; made them a praise and a wonder among the nations. And, on the whole,
(5) notwithstanding occasional defections, Israel did recognise Jehovah as their God, did maintain his worship, did observe his laws, did believe that he dwelt among them, and was "the Lord their God." Shall we think that to us he will be less faithful? Shall we doubt that he will give to us the covenanted blessings—pardon, and redemption, and acceptance, and sanctification, and eternal life? Surely, "God is not a man that he should lie, or the son of man that he should repent." He is "the faithful and the true" (Revelation 19:11). He never broke a promise. All to which he is pledged he will most assuredly perform, if we only are not wanting on our part.
HOMILIES BY J. ORR
Israel sanctified by God's presence.
1. Three grades of sanctification.
(1) By blood.
(2) Unction of the Spirit.
(3) Personal Divine indwelling.
2. God's dwelling with Israel sanctifies
(1) the tabernacle;
(2) his servants;
(3) the whole people.—J.O.