Fellowship with the Father.
In these renewed directions (see Leviticus 2:1-16) concerning the meat offering, we have the striking expression, "I have given it unto them for their portion of my offerings" (Leviticus 6:17). So that this sacrifice, beside furnishing an opportunity to the people of acknowledging their indebtedness to God as the generous Giver of all blessings, provided an opportunity to the priests of fellowship with God, He shared these "his offerings" with his ministers, and they ate with him "in the holy place" (Leviticus 6:16), within the precincts of his house. "And truly our fellowship is with the Father, and with his Son Jesus Christ" (1 John 1:3). In Divine and human fellowship under the gospel, there is—
I. FEASTING TOGETHER. The truest Christian counterpart of the sacred service described in the text is found in the Lord's Supper, There we, who arc all "priests unto God" (Revelation 1:6; 1 Peter 2:5, 1 Peter 2:9), meet at the table of the Lord (1 Corinthians 10:21), and eat and drink in his presence, rejoicing in his redeeming love, renewing before him our vows.
II. SPEAKING ONE TO ANOTHER.
1. God to man in
2. Man to God in
III. REJOICING IN ONE ANOTHER.
1. God in man (Deuteronomy 32:9; Psalms 35:27; Psalms 147:11; Habakkuk 3:18; Ephesians 5:27; Revelation 21:2).
2. Man in God (Psalms 16:5; Psalms 89:16; Psalms 149:2; Philippians 3:3; Philippians 4:4).
IV. WORKING TOGETHER. We are "workers together with him" (2 Corinthians 6:1); "labourers together with God" (1 Corinthians 3:9). While God is working in us and through us, he is also working with us; united with us in working out the reconciliation and regeneration of the world.—C.