2.—IDENTIFICATION WITH THE OFFERING.
AFTER the acceptance by Jehovah of the offering which had been presented to Him, the offerer identified himself with it.
The first and foremost question was, Would Jehovah accept the offering presented to Him? and this may be expressed as the satisfaction of God in the transaction; next came the question of the offerer's relation to the offering in view of his transgression, and this may be termed man's side of the transaction, and as his own satisfaction obtainable from it.
Let us slightly vary the diagram of our previous paper in order to make this vital consideration as plain as an object lesson can do. The throne of God, the altar, and their lessons remain the same, as indeed does the position of the offerer, or the transgressor, but there has been added a second arrow, indicating the position of the offering. In the Jewish practice of approach to Jehovah the offering and the offerer both faced the same way, i.e., towards the throne of Jehovah. Now the acceptance of the offering by Jehovah did not cause an atonement for sin; it was the preliminary to atonement. Neither did the acceptance of the offering connect the sin of the offerer with the offering. But this connection was absolutely necessary to procure the removal of the trans or the forgiveness of the sin which had been committed.
For the removal of the offerer's guilt his identification with the offering was the first requirement. He had expressly to indicate that the offering was for him. And to make this as evident as action could do, the offerer laid his hand upon the head of the offering. Neither did he simply touch its head; he pressed his weight heavily upon it, and by that action, he witnessed that the spiritual burden of his sin was laid upon the offering. The Jewish offerer had thus a personal dealing with the offering as he stood facing the altar which was placed between him and Jehovah's throne.
Now granting that we come to God through Christ—the one offering accepted of God—the great consideration for us is our personal identification with Christ. Surely our hearts should be no less emphatic than the hands of the Israelite! We in our hearts lean our whole weight of guilt upon Him. We do not actually place our sins upon Him, for Jehovah laid upon Him the iniquity of us all, but the faith of the believer expresses itself about his sin and the Sin-bearer, as does the verse of the old hymn:
“My faith would lay her hand
On that clear head of Thine,
While like a penitent I stand,
And there confess my sin.”
Having identified himself with the offering, the offerer slew it before the Lord. We have to maintain the position indicated by the two arrows, and to remember that "before the Lord" signifies facing the throne of Jehovah. In the apprehension of the just and eternal claims of God's throne, in the conviction that the offering met God's requirements, and in the sense that his sin called for the substitutionary death of the victim, the offerer slew it before the Lord.
“Before the Lord" contains a most important principle. The eternal God changes not, and our dealings respecting Christ and our guilt, to be effectual, must be in deed and in truth "before the Lord." The light way in which sin is now so often viewed would vanish in a moment, if the soul were truly "before the Lord" in spirit. Let us transfer ourselves to the diagram, and as sinners, and having Christ for our sacrifice, stand in spirit "before the Lord." What a realization of sin thus presents itself to our souls! How positive is the need for Him as our substitute! How deep becomes our sense of the holiness of God and the claims of His eternal throne! The contemplation of these verities greatly subdues the soul, and produces humility and godly fear, yet, also, an exaltation of Christ and of His work, together with joy unspeakable and full of glory. None but Christ could satisfy God, and Christ's death for us could alone atone for our sins. "The Son of God gave Himself for me." "Christ died for us." Such texts come at once before the mind, not as words well known merely, but as words full of the most intense meaning.
Let us note again these solemn words, "before the Lord”:—
“He shall offer it... before the Lord"
“He shall kill it ... before the Lord."
Our opinions are of little worth indeed when we submit to the thoughts and purposes of THE LORD GOD. And the only acceptable position we can take up is "before the Lord." We can but agree that this is a position stamped with eternal reality, and that all others are unworthy of God, though it is possible they may be highly esteemed among men.
Once more let us betake ourselves to the diagram and apply the fullness of the object lesson to ourselves, our Sacrifice, and the throne of our God.