This chapter is occupied with the offerings of the eighth day when Jehovah appeared, manifesting the acceptance of all and displaying His glory in the midst of the people. But it is earthly blessing, not heavenly. The blood of the sin-offering was not carried within the vail, though the body was burned without the camp. It was sprinkled where God met—not the mediator, but—the people. The bearing away of sin was not less shown, but no entrance into the holiest. Sacrifice and sin-offering are seen in all their forms.
Aaron puts the blood of the calf for the sin-offering on the horns and pours out the rest at the bottom of the altar; be burns the fat, etc., thereon, and the flesh and the hide without the camp. Then he deals with the burnt-offering as prescribed, sprinkling the blood round about, and burning the body, etc., on the altar. (Vers. 1-14.) Then the people's offering is brought, the goat of the sin-offering, the burnt-offering, the meal-offering, the bullock and the ram of the peace-offerings with the breasts and the right shoulder for a wave-offering. (Vers. 15-21.)
“ And Aaron lifted up his hand toward the people and blessed them, and came down from offering of the sin-offering, and the burnt-offering and peace offerings. And Moses and Aaron went into the tabernacle of the congregation, and came out, and blessed the people: and the glory of the LORD appeared unto all the people. And there came a fire out from before the Lord, and consumed upon the altar the burnt-offering and the fat; which when all the people saw, they shouted and fell on their faces” (vers. 22-24).
This typifies not at all what we know as drawing near into the sanctuary, but the public recognition of Christ's sacrifice. Hence here Jehovah's glory appears, as it will to Israel by and by. No doubt it will be Christ, King and Priest; but He is and is owned as Jehovah in that day, and withal the Messiah Whom they had pierced.
Here Moses and Aaron enter the tabernacle for the first time; but this (not as in our case) is followed by their coming out and blessing the people, when Jehovah's glory appears. So it will be for Israel in due time. Our place meanwhile is to draw near by faith where Christ is in the sanctuary. But He will surely come forth, as indicated here in the coming out of Moses and Aaron. The blessing of Israel will be publicly displayed, and the outpouring of the Spirit will be for all flesh on the earth. But at Pentecost the Spirit was shed on the church and so abides forever while Christ is hid in God within. We are blessed in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavenlies; whereas He will appear for Israel's blessing on the earth. Every eye shall see Him then. J. N. D.