XII.-Animals Used Symbolically.
The unusual length to which last month's subject extended must have astonished many of our readers, who doubtless thought when the subject was given that the research would produce a very small result. We had no idea that so much of varied interest could be found respecting the animals selected, and are sure that the list now collected, we believe for the first time, will prove of great value to Bible Students. We will just indicate briefly one or two points of interest that have struck us in glancing down the list, leaving our readers to consider the subject more deeply at their leisure.
One great fact that impresses us at once is, that every animal that is typical of the believer is also in some way typical of Christ. There are seven animals that are used in this double way: the lamb, the calf, the dove, the hart, the lion, the sheep, and the serpent. We will just look at each briefly.
The lamb is typical of Christ in suffering (as " led to the slaughter ") in death (the Lamb slain), and in glory (the Lamb is the light thereof). It is typical of the believer in feebleness and dependence ("as lambs among wolves"), also of young believers specially (" Feed my lambs.")
The calf is typical generally of Christ in death, and specially of Him as the best thing our Father's heart can give us for food. It is also typical of the prosperity of those who form the Jewish remnant, and who fear the Lord, to whom Christ shall arise with " healing in His wings."
The dove is typical of Christ in death, being the offering provided for the one who was too poor to buy an ox or a sheep.
The believer is also called upon to be as harmless as a dove, while the turtle dove in Psa. 74:19 is emblematical of God's people in affliction.
The hart is beautifully used in the Canticles as figurative of Christ, and in the Psalms as figurative of the earnest longing of the believer's soul. It is further typical of the believer's joy, and of the security and sure footedness of those who trust in God.
The lion is one of the titles of Christ in the Apocalypse, symbolical of strength and power, doubtless also alluding to the description of Judah in Gen. 49 It is also used by the prophet Micah to show the strength of the faithful remnant of God's people when surrounded by their enemies. No other animal is used in such varied similes as this, which is typical not only of God, of Christ, of Judah, and of the faithful remnant, but also of the wicked cities of Nineveh and Babylon, of rebellious Israel, of Christ's crucifiers, and even of Satan himself.
The sheep in her dumbness and patience at shearing time is typical of our Lord in His sufferings. It is also typical of all believers, once lost, now found.
The serpent (the last of the seven) made in brass and lifted upon a pole is typical of Christ as the only saving object for the eye of faith to rest on, while believers are to be " wise as serpents," though " guileless as doves."
Thus, although the usage may differ, the fact remains, that no animal in the list is typical of the believer that is not also typical of Christ. In our natural state it is not so. The unconverted man is compared in value to an ass, the ransom money for both being the same; also to a dog in his uncleanness and shamelessness, but to neither of these is Christ ever compared.
On the other hand in His atoning death the Lord is symbolized by goats and oxen, neither of which are symbolical of believers. Speaking of goats we think the heading in page 189 "The two scape goats" must be an oversight, for there was but one scapegoat. The two goats beautifully show, as is pointed out, the difference between propitiation and substitution. The blood of one goat carried into the holiest and sprinkled in the Divine presence, typifies the aspect of the atonement in Rom. 3:25, in virtue of which the guilt of sin having been put away by Christ's sacrifice, God is free to declare his righteousness and show forth His grace. All this, however, does not in itself save the sinner. It provides perfect salvation for him, but unless he takes it he is still lost. Here then the second or scape-goat comes in, where the sins of the people are confessed upon the head of the live goat, and it bears them all away forever; so in Rom. 4:25 we read " who was delivered for our offenses." Thus also in Egypt where though, there was but one lamb, it was not only slain, but the blood was sprinkled by the hand of the saved person over his own door.
We trust these few remarks have been sufficient to show how much there is of interest to repay further study of this wide and varied subject.