Chapter 8 (Continued) (There is currently no audio for this lesson.)

The Sanctification and Offering of the Levites (Continued)

5. A COMPARISON OF THE LEVITES AND BELIEVERS IN THE AGE OF GRACE
1. A Baptist Distinctive
1. The Acronym
1. B – Biblical authority
2. A – Autonomy of the local church
3. P – Priesthood of the believer
4. T – Two ordinances
5. I – Individual soul liberty
6. S – Saved, baptized church membership
7. T – Two offices in the church
8. S – Separation of church and state
2. The priesthood of the believer (1 Peter 2:5Ye also, as lively stones, are built up a spiritual house, an holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God by Jesus Christ.
   See All..., 9-10; Revelation 1:6And hath made us kings and priests unto God and his Father; to him be glory and dominion for ever and ever. Amen.
   See All...; Revelation 5:10And hast made us unto our God kings and priests: and we shall reign on the earth.
   See All...; Revelation 20:6Blessed and holy is he that hath part in the first resurrection: on such the second death hath no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with him a thousand years.
   See All...)
1. We have direct access to God (Romans 5:2By whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God.
   See All...; Ephesians 2:18For through him we both have access by one Spirit unto the Father.
   See All...; Hebrews 10:19-20 [19] Having therefore, brethren, boldness to enter into the holiest by the blood of Jesus, [20] By a new and living way, which he hath consecrated for us, through the veil, that is to say, his flesh;
   See All...).
1. Note:  We actually have more access than the Levites because they could not go into the holy of holies.  The Lord Jesus Christ has given us complete access by bringing in a better hope (Hebrews 7:19For the law made nothing perfect, but the bringing in of a better hope did; by the which we draw nigh unto God.
   See All...).
2. We offer sacrifices to God.
1. Our own lives (Romans 12:1-2 [1] I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. [2] And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.
   See All...)
2. Prayers (Revelation 8:3And another angel came and stood at the altar, having a golden censer; and there was given unto him much incense, that he should offer it with the prayers of all saints upon the golden altar which was before the throne.
   See All...; Psalm 141:2Let my prayer be set forth before thee as incense; and the lifting up of my hands as the evening sacrifice.
   See All...)
3. Praise or thanks (Hebrews 13:15By him therefore let us offer the sacrifice of praise to God continually, that is, the fruit of our lips giving thanks to his name.
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4. Giving (Philippians 4:18
   See All...)
3. We are all equal in Christ (1 Corinthians 12:20-27 [20] But now are they many members, yet but one body. [21] And the eye cannot say unto the hand, I have no need of thee: nor again the head to the feet, I have no need of you. [22] Nay, much more those members of the body, which seem to be more feeble, are necessary: [23] And those members of the body, which we think to be less honourable, upon these we bestow more abundant honour; and our uncomely parts have more abundant comeliness. [24] For our comely parts have no need: but God hath tempered the body together, having given more abundant honour to that part which lacked. [25] That there should be no schism in the body; but that the members should have the same care one for another. [26] And whether one member suffer, all the members suffer with it; or one member be honoured, all the members rejoice with it. [27] Now ye are the body of Christ, and members in particular.
   See All...).
1. Christ is the Head (Ephesians 1:22And hath put all things under his feet, and gave him to be the head over all things to the church,
   See All...; Colossians 1:18And he is the head of the body, the church: who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead; that in all things he might have the preeminence.
   See All...).
2. We are the body (Ephesians 1:23Which is his body, the fulness of him that filleth all in all.
   See All...; Colossians 1:18And he is the head of the body, the church: who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead; that in all things he might have the preeminence.
   See All...; Colossians 2:19And not holding the Head, from which all the body by joints and bands having nourishment ministered, and knit together, increaseth with the increase of God.
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3. There is no such thing in the New Testament as clergy and laity.  This is Romish terminology and not scriptural.
4. We are a kingdom of priests (Revelation 1:6And hath made us kings and priests unto God and his Father; to him be glory and dominion for ever and ever. Amen.
   See All...; Revelation 5:10And hast made us unto our God kings and priests: and we shall reign on the earth.
   See All...).
4. We are directly responsible to God (Romans 14:12So then every one of us shall give account of himself to God.
   See All...; 2 Corinthians 5:10For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ; that every one may receive the things done in his body, according to that he hath done, whether it be good or bad.
   See All...).
2. Chosen
1. Levites chosen by natural birth (Numbers 8:6Take the Levites from among the children of Israel, and cleanse them.
   See All...)
2. Believers chosen by spiritual birth (Matthew 22:14For many are called, but few are chosen.
   See All...; John 15:16Ye have not chosen me, but I have chosen you, and ordained you, that ye should go and bring forth fruit, and that your fruit should remain: that whatsoever ye shall ask of the Father in my name, he may give it you.
   See All..., 19)
3. Atonement
1. Levites had to be atoned for before they could serve (Numbers 8:12And the Levites shall lay their hands upon the heads of the bullocks: and thou shalt offer the one for a sin offering, and the other for a burnt offering, unto the LORD, to make an atonement for the Levites.
   See All..., 15).
2. The blood must atone for believers before they can serve (Hebrews 9:12-14 [12] Neither by the blood of goats and calves, but by his own blood he entered in once into the holy place, having obtained eternal redemption for us. [13] For if the blood of bulls and of goats, and the ashes of an heifer sprinkling the unclean, sanctifieth to the purifying of the flesh: [14] How much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without spot to God, purge your conscience from dead works to serve the living God?
   See All...).
4. Purchased by God
1. God purchased the Levites.  The Israelites owed God the firstborn of everything that was born, but God took the Levites instead (Numbers 3:12And I, behold, I have taken the Levites from among the children of Israel instead of all the firstborn that openeth the matrix among the children of Israel: therefore the Levites shall be mine;
   See All...).
2. God has purchased believers.  The price of redemption was God’s blood (Acts 20:28Take heed therefore unto yourselves, and to all the flock, over the which the Holy Ghost hath made you overseers, to feed the church of God, which he hath purchased with his own blood.
   See All...).
5. Cleansing
1. The Levites had to be cleansed before they were fit for service (Numbers 8:21-22 [21] And the Levites were purified, and they washed their clothes; and Aaron offered them as an offering before the LORD; and Aaron made an atonement for them to cleanse them. [22] And after that went the Levites in to do their service in the tabernacle of the congregation before Aaron, and before his sons: as the LORD had commanded Moses concerning the Levites, so did they unto them.
   See All...).  Part of this cleansing is with the water of purifying (Numbers 8:7And thus shalt thou do unto them, to cleanse them: Sprinkle water of purifying upon them, and let them shave all their flesh, and let them wash their clothes, and so make themselves clean.
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2. Believers must be cleansed in order to be fit for the Master’s use (Ephesians 5:26-27 [26] That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word, [27] That he might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish.
   See All...; Hebrews 10:22Let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience, and our bodies washed with pure water.
   See All...).
6. Presented to the High Priest
1. The Levites were presented as a gift to Aaron (Numbers 3:9And thou shalt give the Levites unto Aaron and to his sons: they are wholly given unto him out of the children of Israel.
   See All...;  Numbers 8:19And I have given the Levites as a gift to Aaron and to his sons from among the children of Israel, to do the service of the children of Israel in the tabernacle of the congregation, and to make an atonement for the children of Israel: that there be no plague among the children of Israel, when the children of Israel come nigh unto the sanctuary.
   See All...).
2. Believers are given as a gift to the Lord Jesus Christ (John 6:37All that the Father giveth me shall come to me; and him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out.
   See All...; John 17:6I have manifested thy name unto the men which thou gavest me out of the world: thine they were, and thou gavest them me; and they have kept thy word.
   See All..., 24; Ephesians 5:26-27 [26] That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word, [27] That he might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish.
   See All...).
7. Reminder of the Passover
1. The Levites were a reminder of the passover, for God took them in the stead of the firstborn (Numbers 8:17-18 [17] For all the firstborn of the children of Israel are mine, both man and beast: on the day that I smote every firstborn in the land of Egypt I sanctified them for myself. [18] And I have taken the Levites for all the firstborn of the children of Israel.
   See All...).
2. Believers should be a reminder to this world of our Passover, Jesus Christ.  Our life should demonstrate the working of Calvary in a sinful man’s heart (Acts 4:13Now when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, and perceived that they were unlearned and ignorant men, they marvelled; and they took knowledge of them, that they had been with Jesus.
   See All..., Acts 11:26And when he had found him, he brought him unto Antioch. And it came to pass, that a whole year they assembled themselves with the church, and taught much people. And the disciples were called Christians first in Antioch.
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8. Ministry of Reconciliation
1. It was up to the High Priest to make sure that the blood was on the mercy seat, but the Levites were still very much involved in the ministry of the congregation and the High Priest in some ways was involved in bringing the two together.
2. It is up to Jesus Christ to take care of the saving of one’s soul and application of the blood, but we have been given the ministry of reconciliation between the High Priest and men (2 Corinthians 5:18-21 [18] And all things are of God, who hath reconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ, and hath given to us the ministry of reconciliation; [19] To wit, that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them; and hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation. [20] Now then we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God did beseech you by us: we pray you in Christ's stead, be ye reconciled to God. [21] For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.
   See All...).
9. Withholds the Judgment of a People
1. The Levites are said to make an atonement for the children of Israel and they are there “that there be no plague among the children of Israel” (Numbers 1:53But the Levites shall pitch round about the tabernacle of testimony, that there be no wrath upon the congregation of the children of Israel: and the Levites shall keep the charge of the tabernacle of testimony.
   See All...; Numbers 8:19And I have given the Levites as a gift to Aaron and to his sons from among the children of Israel, to do the service of the children of Israel in the tabernacle of the congregation, and to make an atonement for the children of Israel: that there be no plague among the children of Israel, when the children of Israel come nigh unto the sanctuary.
   See All...).
2. The obedience of believers can protect individuals, peoples and nations (Genesis 18:23-32 [23] And Abraham drew near, and said, Wilt thou also destroy the righteous with the wicked? [24] Peradventure there be fifty righteous within the city: wilt thou also destroy and not spare the place for the fifty righteous that are therein? [25] That be far from thee to do after this manner, to slay the righteous with the wicked: and that the righteous should be as the wicked, that be far from thee: Shall not the Judge of all the earth do right? [26] And the LORD said, If I find in Sodom fifty righteous within the city, then I will spare all the place for their sakes. [27] And Abraham answered and said, Behold now, I have taken upon me to speak unto the LORD, which am but dust and ashes: [28] Peradventure there shall lack five of the fifty righteous: wilt thou destroy all the city for lack of five? And he said, If I find there forty and five, I will not destroy it. [29] And he spake unto him yet again, and said, Peradventure there shall be forty found there. And he said, I will not do it for forty's sake. [30] And he said unto him, Oh let not the LORD be angry, and I will speak: Peradventure there shall thirty be found there. And he said, I will not do it, if I find thirty there. [31] And he said, Behold now, I have taken upon me to speak unto the LORD: Peradventure there shall be twenty found there. And he said, I will not destroy it for twenty's sake. [32] And he said, Oh let not the LORD be angry, and I will speak yet but this once: Peradventure ten shall be found there. And he said, I will not destroy it for ten's sake.
   See All...; Jeremiah 23:21-22 [21] I have not sent these prophets, yet they ran: I have not spoken to them, yet they prophesied. [22] But if they had stood in my counsel, and had caused my people to hear my words, then they should have turned them from their evil way, and from the evil of their doings.
   See All...; 1 Timothy 4:13-16 [13] Till I come, give attendance to reading, to exhortation, to doctrine. [14] Neglect not the gift that is in thee, which was given thee by prophecy, with the laying on of the hands of the presbytery. [15] Meditate upon these things; give thyself wholly to them; that thy profiting may appear to all. [16] Take heed unto thyself, and unto the doctrine; continue in them: for in doing this thou shalt both save thyself, and them that hear thee.
   See All...).  The only thing holding back the wrath of God upon this world is the presence of His church (1 Corinthians 15:52In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed.
   See All...; 1 Thessalonians 4:16-18 [16] For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: [17] Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord. [18] Wherefore comfort one another with these words.
   See All...; Romans 8:1There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.
   See All...; 1 Thessalonians 1:10And to wait for his Son from heaven, whom he raised from the dead, even Jesus, which delivered us from the wrath to come.
   See All...; 1 Thessalonians 5:9For God hath not appointed us to wrath, but to obtain salvation by our Lord Jesus Christ,
   See All...).
10. Inheritance
1. The inheritance of the Levites was not of this world Deuteronomy 12:12And ye shall rejoice before the LORD your God, ye, and your sons, and your daughters, and your menservants, and your maidservants, and the Levite that is within your gates; forasmuch as he hath no part nor inheritance with you.
   See All...; Deuteronomy 14:27And the Levite that is within thy gates; thou shalt not forsake him; for he hath no part nor inheritance with thee.
   See All...).
2. The inheritance of the believer is not of this world  (1 Peter 1:3-5 [3] Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which according to his abundant mercy hath begotten us again unto a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, [4] To an inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and that fadeth not away, reserved in heaven for you, [5] Who are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.
   See All...).
11. Living Sacrifices
1. The Levites were presented to God as a sacrifice; however, they did not shed their own blood.  They were a living sacrifice (Numbers 8:13And thou shalt set the Levites before Aaron, and before his sons, and offer them for an offering unto the LORD.
   See All...).
2. Believers are to present themselves to God as a living sacrifice (Romans 12:1-2 [1] I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. [2] And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.
   See All...).

Chapter 9

The Second Passover

1. INTRODUCTION
1. The Passover Observed in the Wilderness
1. The passover was observed in 3 distinct locations.
1. Coming out of Egypt (Exodus 12)
2. In the wilderness (Numbers 9:1-14 [1] And the LORD spake unto Moses in the wilderness of Sinai, in the first month of the second year after they were come out of the land of Egypt, saying, [2] Let the children of Israel also keep the passover at his appointed season. [3] In the fourteenth day of this month, at even, ye shall keep it in his appointed season: according to all the rites of it, and according to all the ceremonies thereof, shall ye keep it. [4] And Moses spake unto the children of Israel, that they should keep the passover. [5] And they kept the passover on the fourteenth day of the first month at even in the wilderness of Sinai: according to all that the LORD commanded Moses, so did the children of Israel. [6] And there were certain men, who were defiled by the dead body of a man, that they could not keep the passover on that day: and they came before Moses and before Aaron on that day: [7] And those men said unto him, We are defiled by the dead body of a man: wherefore are we kept back, that we may not offer an offering of the LORD in his appointed season among the children of Israel? [8] And Moses said unto them, Stand still, and I will hear what the LORD will command concerning you. [9] And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying, [10] Speak unto the children of Israel, saying, If any man of you or of your posterity shall be unclean by reason of a dead body, or be in a journey afar off, yet he shall keep the passover unto the LORD. [11] The fourteenth day of the second month at even they shall keep it, and eat it with unleavened bread and bitter herbs. [12] They shall leave none of it unto the morning, nor break any bone of it: according to all the ordinances of the passover they shall keep it. [13] But the man that is clean, and is not in a journey, and forbeareth to keep the passover, even the same soul shall be cut off from among his people: because he brought not the offering of the LORD in his appointed season, that man shall bear his sin. [14] And if a stranger shall sojourn among you, and will keep the passover unto the LORD; according to the ordinance of the passover, and according to the manner thereof, so shall he do: ye shall have one ordinance, both for the stranger, and for him that was born in the land.
   See All...)
3. In the land of Canaan (Joshua 5:10And the children of Israel encamped in Gilgal, and kept the passover on the fourteenth day of the month at even in the plains of Jericho.
   See All...)
2. In type the blood of the lamb
1. Brought them out of Egypt
2. Led them through the wilderness
3. And landed them safely in Canaan
3. It is important to note that the actual passover only occurred once and the other feasts were only in remembrance of the one-time event.
2. Division
1. The commandment of the Lord concerning the passover (Numbers 9:1-3 [1] And the LORD spake unto Moses in the wilderness of Sinai, in the first month of the second year after they were come out of the land of Egypt, saying, [2] Let the children of Israel also keep the passover at his appointed season. [3] In the fourteenth day of this month, at even, ye shall keep it in his appointed season: according to all the rites of it, and according to all the ceremonies thereof, shall ye keep it.
   See All...)
2. The obedience of the people (Numbers 9:4-5 [4] And Moses spake unto the children of Israel, that they should keep the passover. [5] And they kept the passover on the fourteenth day of the first month at even in the wilderness of Sinai: according to all that the LORD commanded Moses, so did the children of Israel.
   See All...)
3. The problem concerning the passover (Numbers 9:6-7 [6] And there were certain men, who were defiled by the dead body of a man, that they could not keep the passover on that day: and they came before Moses and before Aaron on that day: [7] And those men said unto him, We are defiled by the dead body of a man: wherefore are we kept back, that we may not offer an offering of the LORD in his appointed season among the children of Israel?
   See All...)
4. The provision for the passover (Numbers 9:8-12 [8] And Moses said unto them, Stand still, and I will hear what the LORD will command concerning you. [9] And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying, [10] Speak unto the children of Israel, saying, If any man of you or of your posterity shall be unclean by reason of a dead body, or be in a journey afar off, yet he shall keep the passover unto the LORD. [11] The fourteenth day of the second month at even they shall keep it, and eat it with unleavened bread and bitter herbs. [12] They shall leave none of it unto the morning, nor break any bone of it: according to all the ordinances of the passover they shall keep it.
   See All...)
5. The neglect of the passover (Numbers 9:13But the man that is clean, and is not in a journey, and forbeareth to keep the passover, even the same soul shall be cut off from among his people: because he brought not the offering of the LORD in his appointed season, that man shall bear his sin.
   See All...)
6. The inclusion of the passover (Numbers 9:14And if a stranger shall sojourn among you, and will keep the passover unto the LORD; according to the ordinance of the passover, and according to the manner thereof, so shall he do: ye shall have one ordinance, both for the stranger, and for him that was born in the land.
   See All...)
7. The presence of God (Numbers 9:15-23 [15] And on the day that the tabernacle was reared up the cloud covered the tabernacle, namely, the tent of the testimony: and at even there was upon the tabernacle as it were the appearance of fire, until the morning. [16] So it was alway: the cloud covered it by day, and the appearance of fire by night. [17] And when the cloud was taken up from the tabernacle, then after that the children of Israel journeyed: and in the place where the cloud abode, there the children of Israel pitched their tents. [18] At the commandment of the LORD the children of Israel journeyed, and at the commandment of the LORD they pitched: as long as the cloud abode upon the tabernacle they rested in their tents. [19] And when the cloud tarried long upon the tabernacle many days, then the children of Israel kept the charge of the LORD, and journeyed not. [20] And so it was, when the cloud was a few days upon the tabernacle; according to the commandment of the LORD they abode in their tents, and according to the commandment of the LORD they journeyed. [21] And so it was, when the cloud abode from even unto the morning, and that the cloud was taken up in the morning, then they journeyed: whether it was by day or by night that the cloud was taken up, they journeyed. [22] Or whether it were two days, or a month, or a year, that the cloud tarried upon the tabernacle, remaining thereon, the children of Israel abode in their tents, and journeyed not: but when it was taken up, they journeyed. [23] At the commandment of the LORD they rested in the tents, and at the commandment of the LORD they journeyed: they kept the charge of the LORD, at the commandment of the LORD by the hand of Moses.
   See All...)
2. THE COMMANDMENT OF THE LORD CONCERNING THE PASSOVER (Numbers 9:1-3 [1] And the LORD spake unto Moses in the wilderness of Sinai, in the first month of the second year after they were come out of the land of Egypt, saying, [2] Let the children of Israel also keep the passover at his appointed season. [3] In the fourteenth day of this month, at even, ye shall keep it in his appointed season: according to all the rites of it, and according to all the ceremonies thereof, shall ye keep it.
   See All...)
1. Time
1. First month, second year after they were come out of Egypt
2. The fourteenth day of the month
3. This should be thirteen days after the tabernacle was reared (Exodus 40:17And it came to pass in the first month in the second year, on the first day of the month, that the tabernacle was reared up.
   See All...).
2. Children of Israel To Keep Passover
1. In his appointed season (Numbers 9:2-3 [2] Let the children of Israel also keep the passover at his appointed season. [3] In the fourteenth day of this month, at even, ye shall keep it in his appointed season: according to all the rites of it, and according to all the ceremonies thereof, shall ye keep it.
   See All...)
1. Possibilities to whom the “his” is referring
1. The children of Israel – not likely to be them
2. God – God appointed this feast and so it is likely to be Him.
3. The lamb – The lamb is the central theme of the passover – so much so, that the term “the passover” came to be used interchangeably of the lamb as well as the holiday (Exodus 12:21Then Moses called for all the elders of Israel, and said unto them, Draw out and take you a lamb according to your families, and kill the passover.
   See All...; Deuteronomy 16:2Thou shalt therefore sacrifice the passover unto the LORD thy God, of the flock and the herd, in the place which the LORD shall choose to place his name there.
   See All...).  It could be that this is a reference to the lamb and a look forward to Jesus Christ as our Passover (1 Corinthians 5:6-7 [6] Your glorying is not good. Know ye not that a little leaven leaveneth the whole lump? [7] Purge out therefore the old leaven, that ye may be a new lump, as ye are unleavened. For even Christ our passover is sacrificed for us:
   See All...).
2. According to the rites of it (Numbers 9:3In the fourteenth day of this month, at even, ye shall keep it in his appointed season: according to all the rites of it, and according to all the ceremonies thereof, shall ye keep it.
   See All...)
3. According to the ceremonies of it (Numbers 9:3In the fourteenth day of this month, at even, ye shall keep it in his appointed season: according to all the rites of it, and according to all the ceremonies thereof, shall ye keep it.
   See All...)
3. THE OBEDIENCE OF THE PEOPLE (Numbers 9:4-5 [4] And Moses spake unto the children of Israel, that they should keep the passover. [5] And they kept the passover on the fourteenth day of the first month at even in the wilderness of Sinai: according to all that the LORD commanded Moses, so did the children of Israel.
   See All...)
1. Moses tells the children of Israel they should keep the passover.
2. They keep it “according to all that the LORD commanded Moses.”
3. This is the third time in the Book of Numbers that we find this exact phrase (Numbers 1:54And the children of Israel did according to all that the LORD commanded Moses, so did they.
   See All...; Numbers 2:34And the children of Israel did according to all that the LORD commanded Moses: so they pitched by their standards, and so they set forward, every one after their families, according to the house of their fathers.
   See All...; Numbers 9:5And they kept the passover on the fourteenth day of the first month at even in the wilderness of Sinai: according to all that the LORD commanded Moses, so did the children of Israel.
   See All...) and one time previous in the Book of Numbers we find the phrase “according unto all that the LORD commanded Moses” (Numbers 8:20And Moses, and Aaron, and all the congregation of the children of Israel, did to the Levites according unto all that the LORD commanded Moses concerning the Levites, so did the children of Israel unto them.
   See All...).
4. God’s people are being obedient to Him.
5. It has not been too long since the time they were redeemed from Egypt.  The remembrance of bondage is there and the people are glad to be free.  Everything is sweet.  The Lord tells them something to do and they are glad to do it.
4. THE PROBLEM CONCERNING THE PASSOVER (Numbers 9:6-7 [6] And there were certain men, who were defiled by the dead body of a man, that they could not keep the passover on that day: and they came before Moses and before Aaron on that day: [7] And those men said unto him, We are defiled by the dead body of a man: wherefore are we kept back, that we may not offer an offering of the LORD in his appointed season among the children of Israel?
   See All...)
1. Men were defiled by the dead body of a man.
2. They could not offer at His appointed season.
1. They were put out of the camp (Numbers 5:2Command the children of Israel, that they put out of the camp every leper, and every one that hath an issue, and whosoever is defiled by the dead:
   See All...).
2. They were unclean seven days (Numbers 19:11He that toucheth the dead body of any man shall be unclean seven days.
   See All...).
3. This was not necessarily their fault (Numbers 19:14This is the law, when a man dieth in a tent: all that come into the tent, and all that is in the tent, shall be unclean seven days.
   See All...).
4. This group of people could very well be typical of our sin nature.
1. When David confessed, "I was shapen in iniquity; and in sin did my mother conceive me" (Psalm 51:5Behold, I was shapen in iniquity; and in sin did my mother conceive me.
   See All...), he was speaking of the sinful nature with which he was born.
2. This sin nature is not sin itself and does not make us automatically guilty. However, it means that by nature we will find ourselves incapable of fully doing good.
5. THE PROVISION FOR THE PASSOVER (Numbers 9:8-12 [8] And Moses said unto them, Stand still, and I will hear what the LORD will command concerning you. [9] And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying, [10] Speak unto the children of Israel, saying, If any man of you or of your posterity shall be unclean by reason of a dead body, or be in a journey afar off, yet he shall keep the passover unto the LORD. [11] The fourteenth day of the second month at even they shall keep it, and eat it with unleavened bread and bitter herbs. [12] They shall leave none of it unto the morning, nor break any bone of it: according to all the ordinances of the passover they shall keep it.
   See All...)
1. Those who were defiled or on a journey were still to keep the passover (Numbers 9:10Speak unto the children of Israel, saying, If any man of you or of your posterity shall be unclean by reason of a dead body, or be in a journey afar off, yet he shall keep the passover unto the LORD.
   See All...).
2. Another date for observance – the fourteenth day of the second month (Numbers 9:11The fourteenth day of the second month at even they shall keep it, and eat it with unleavened bread and bitter herbs.
   See All...; 2 Chronicles 30:1-5 [1] And Hezekiah sent to all Israel and Judah, and wrote letters also to Ephraim and Manasseh, that they should come to the house of the LORD at Jerusalem, to keep the passover unto the LORD God of Israel. [2] For the king had taken counsel, and his princes, and all the congregation in Jerusalem, to keep the passover in the second month. [3] For they could not keep it at that time, because the priests had not sanctified themselves sufficiently, neither had the people gathered themselves together to Jerusalem. [4] And the thing pleased the king and all the congregation. [5] So they established a decree to make proclamation throughout all Israel, from Beersheba even to Dan, that they should come to keep the passover unto the LORD God of Israel at Jerusalem: for they had not done it of a long time in such sort as it was written.
   See All...)
3. The orders are still the same.
1. Keep it “at even.”
2. Eat it with unleavened bread and bitter herbs.
3. Leave none of it unto the morning.
4. Nor break any bones of it.
5. According to all of the ordinances
4. God is longsuffering and gracious.
1. God is not willing that any should perish.
2. He gives them an alternate time at which they can come.
3. Even though God is longsuffering, He cannot compromise the details of the passover.
4. “We are never to lower the standard, in the things of God, because of the failure and weakness of God’s people; but rather, on that very account, to take special pains to hold the standard up, in all its divine integrity.” C.H. Mackintosh
5. Sinners may come at a different time than when God originally dealt with them, but there is only one true and living way to come.
6. THE NEGLECT OF THE PASSOVER (Numbers 9:13But the man that is clean, and is not in a journey, and forbeareth to keep the passover, even the same soul shall be cut off from among his people: because he brought not the offering of the LORD in his appointed season, that man shall bear his sin.
   See All...)
1. The man who could have offered
1. He was clean.
2. He was not in a journey.
3. He chose not to keep the passover.
4. This man would be typical of the fact that we are sinners by practice.  This man chose to disobey.
2. He was cut off.
3. He was to bear his sin.
1. The passover was not a sacrifice that was meant to take away sins.
2. However, this man will bear his sin.
3. What was his sin? Not accepting the sacrifice of the passover lamb.
4. So it is with men today.  Drinking, gambling and adultery do not send a man to hell; rather it is the rejection of Jesus Christ, our Passover.
5. The passover is an illustration of the substitutionary work of our Saviour.  It is either the lamb or you.  Rejection of Jesus Christ will cause a man to bear his own sin.
7. THE INCLUSION OF THE PASSOVER (Numbers 9:14And if a stranger shall sojourn among you, and will keep the passover unto the LORD; according to the ordinance of the passover, and according to the manner thereof, so shall he do: ye shall have one ordinance, both for the stranger, and for him that was born in the land.
   See All...)
1. Available to the stranger
2. For him that was born in the land
3. Notice the word will .  They kept it by choice, not by force.
8. THE PRESENCE OF GOD (Numbers 9:15-23 [15] And on the day that the tabernacle was reared up the cloud covered the tabernacle, namely, the tent of the testimony: and at even there was upon the tabernacle as it were the appearance of fire, until the morning. [16] So it was alway: the cloud covered it by day, and the appearance of fire by night. [17] And when the cloud was taken up from the tabernacle, then after that the children of Israel journeyed: and in the place where the cloud abode, there the children of Israel pitched their tents. [18] At the commandment of the LORD the children of Israel journeyed, and at the commandment of the LORD they pitched: as long as the cloud abode upon the tabernacle they rested in their tents. [19] And when the cloud tarried long upon the tabernacle many days, then the children of Israel kept the charge of the LORD, and journeyed not. [20] And so it was, when the cloud was a few days upon the tabernacle; according to the commandment of the LORD they abode in their tents, and according to the commandment of the LORD they journeyed. [21] And so it was, when the cloud abode from even unto the morning, and that the cloud was taken up in the morning, then they journeyed: whether it was by day or by night that the cloud was taken up, they journeyed. [22] Or whether it were two days, or a month, or a year, that the cloud tarried upon the tabernacle, remaining thereon, the children of Israel abode in their tents, and journeyed not: but when it was taken up, they journeyed. [23] At the commandment of the LORD they rested in the tents, and at the commandment of the LORD they journeyed: they kept the charge of the LORD, at the commandment of the LORD by the hand of Moses.
   See All...)
1. Time
1. On the day that the tabernacle was reared
2. This was the first day of the first month in the second year (Exodus 40:17And it came to pass in the first month in the second year, on the first day of the month, that the tabernacle was reared up.
   See All...).
3. Notice that the Book of Numbers goes back and forth some in time  (Numbers 7:1And it came to pass on the day that Moses had fully set up the tabernacle, and had anointed it, and sanctified it, and all the instruments thereof, both the altar and all the vessels thereof, and had anointed them, and sanctified them;
   See All...; Numbers 9:1-3 [1] And the LORD spake unto Moses in the wilderness of Sinai, in the first month of the second year after they were come out of the land of Egypt, saying, [2] Let the children of Israel also keep the passover at his appointed season. [3] In the fourteenth day of this month, at even, ye shall keep it in his appointed season: according to all the rites of it, and according to all the ceremonies thereof, shall ye keep it.
   See All..., 15).
2. The Appearance of the Presence of God (Numbers 9:15-16 [15] And on the day that the tabernacle was reared up the cloud covered the tabernacle, namely, the tent of the testimony: and at even there was upon the tabernacle as it were the appearance of fire, until the morning. [16] So it was alway: the cloud covered it by day, and the appearance of fire by night.
   See All...)
1. The tent of the testimony
1. More than likely this was over the holiest of all.
2. The ark inside is called the “ark of testimony” (Exodus 25:16And thou shalt put into the ark the testimony which I shall give thee.
   See All...).
3. God said He would dwell in the cloud on the ark (Leviticus 16:2And the LORD said unto Moses, Speak unto Aaron thy brother, that he come not at all times into the holy place within the vail before the mercy seat, which is upon the ark; that he die not: for I will appear in the cloud upon the mercy seat.
   See All...).
2. The cloud by day
1. The cloud was to lead (Exodus 13:21And the LORD went before them by day in a pillar of a cloud, to lead them the way; and by night in a pillar of fire, to give them light; to go by day and night:
   See All...; Psalm 78:14In the daytime also he led them with a cloud, and all the night with a light of fire.
   See All...).
2. The cloud was for protection (Exodus 14:19-20 [19] And the angel of God, which went before the camp of Israel, removed and went behind them; and the pillar of the cloud went from before their face, and stood behind them: [20] And it came between the camp of the Egyptians and the camp of Israel; and it was a cloud and darkness to them, but it gave light by night to these: so that the one came not near the other all the night.
   See All...; Psalm 105:39He spread a cloud for a covering; and fire to give light in the night.
   See All...).
3. The appearance of fire by night (Exodus 13:21And the LORD went before them by day in a pillar of a cloud, to lead them the way; and by night in a pillar of fire, to give them light; to go by day and night:
   See All...; Nehemiah 9:12Moreover thou leddest them in the day by a cloudy pillar; and in the night by a pillar of fire, to give them light in the way wherein they should go.
   See All...; Psalm 78:14In the daytime also he led them with a cloud, and all the night with a light of fire.
   See All...; Psalm 105:39He spread a cloud for a covering; and fire to give light in the night.
   See All...)
4. The cloud and fire typified Jesus Christ.
1. Protection
1. It protected the people from the heat of the sun in the day.
2. Even so Jesus Christ protects us from the wrath of God that would scorch us.
2. Light
1. It gave the people light to travel in the night.
2. Jesus Christ is the light of the world.  As such He is the only true source for direction in the midst of the darkness of this age.
5. The pillar of cloud and fire was to manifest that God’s presence was in the midst of the tabernacle.  This would explain something God was doing in the New Testament and His reason for doing it  (1 Corinthians 3:16Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you?
   See All...; 1 Corinthians 6:19What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own?
   See All...; Acts 2:2-4 [2] And suddenly there came a sound from heaven as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting. [3] And there appeared unto them cloven tongues like as of fire, and it sat upon each of them. [4] And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.
   See All...).