Leviticus 23:9-14 And the LORD spoke to Moses, saying,… We have here - I. THE DIVINE FORETHOUGHT. Jehovah (1) anticipated the religious wants of his people, and made due provision for them. "When ye be come into the land... and shall reap the harvest thereof, then ye shall bring," etc. (verse 10). God has anticipated our spiritual necessities with every provision in the gospel; there will never arise any necessity for which there is not, in Christ Jesus and his salvation, an adequate supply. (2) Anticipated their bodily necessities. He was preparing for them corn and wine and oil in the land whither they went. So God is, through all the months between seed-sowing and harvest, "preparing us corn," providing for our nourishment, and also for our enjoyment. His hand of power is ever working (John 5:17) in anticipation of our wants and wishes. II. HUMAN PIETY IN RESPONSE. The goodness of God, shown to us through all generations, demands intelligent and devout response. We are reminded by the beautiful act of symbolism here enjoined - the presentation of the first sheaf of the harvest unto the Lord (verses 10, 11) - that our responsive piety should show itself in: 1. Conscious dependence on God, the Source of all life and strength; the waving of the firstfruits was a clear acknowledgment that the whole came from him and belonged to him. 2. Gratitude to God, the bountiful Benefactor. Undoubtedly this was to be a principal element in the institution; their hearts were to be filled with thankfulness for the harvest then about to be gathered in. There is not less gratitude due to our gracious God for giving us food as the result, in part, of our own labour, skill, intelligence, and patience; there is, in truth, immeasurably more, for it is the kindest way of doing the kindest thing; it is a way in which he has regard not only to our physical requirements, but also to our moral and spiritual well-being. 3. Fellowship with God. The meat and drink offerings (verse 13) spoke of the fellowship of the worshipper with Jehovah himself. We are, as reconciled children, to have communion with the God whom we love, to rejoice in his presence, to sit down at his table. 4. Consecration to God. (1) The burnt offering (verse 12) pointed to the dedication of themselves to the Lord; and (2) the strict injunction of verse 14 intimated that they were to bring to the service of Jehovah the first produce of the fertile land he had given them. This is the culmination of true piety, the (1) presentation of ourselves to him as to the One whose we are (Romans 12:1; 1 Corinthians 6:19, 20), and (2) bringing the first and the best we have to his holy service (Proverbs 3:9); laying ourselves and our substance on the altar of our Lord. - C. Parallel Verses KJV: And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying, |
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