V. 9 Command Aaron and his sons".
The view of the offering is from the viewpoint of PRIESTLY activities. This exclusive standpoint is maintained till 7:29 when "the children of Israel" are brought in (fellowship).
Law = The principles on which the service of God must be carried on.
Priest = A spiritual person who considers what is due to God.
Linen = Righteousness see Revelation 19:8, 14; Ezekiel 44:17-18.
V. 9 It is burning upon the altar all night unto the morning.
Night = The character of the period which followed the offering of Christ (deliberate rejection).
Morning = Prefigured by Solomon dedicating the house (2 Chronicles 5 to 7). Universal gladness brought in on the ground of the burnt offering the earth filled with glory.
V. 9 margin - "A burning mass" Psalm 102:3 (NIV "glowing embers".)
Hebrews 9:14 - His inward perfections tested. The testing brought out the sweet savor of infinite perfection.
V. 10 Ashes = The witness that the testing is past - never to be gone through again. Hebrews 9:25, 28
Vs. 12, 13. "not be put out", shall ever be burning", "never go out": The fragrance of Christ is perpetuated before God in the praise of the saints.
Keep the incense burning
Though thy faith be weak;
Though in word thou canst not
All thy longing speak:
Silent heart-petitions,
Spirit-taught will be
Gloriously answered:
Wrought by God for thee
(Margaret E. Barber)
Priestly service is required to keep the fire burning (V. 12). This means that fervent affections are to be maintained in which the preciousness and perfectness of Christ are cherished by the Spirit.
Psalm 134 (the last of the Songs of Degrees) leads up to this point: "all night" = present activity until the "morning. Psalm 134 brings in the morning.
V. 13 Who lit the fire? Originally from heaven (9:24) it was supernatural. (This is the origin of the perpetual light in Roman Catholic worship). It was preserved till the destruction of the temple by Nebuchadnezzar, and it was one of the five things lacking in the second temple.
Leviticus 10:1. Strange fire - other than that Jehovah had commanded, required, and given from heaven (1:7; 6:12; 9:24; 16: 12; cp. Exodus 30:9). It was their own kindling and so is all that is offered to God in worship today. If so, according to John 4:23, 24, it is strange fire and deserves the same judgment. All worship that is not kindled by the Holy Spirit is strange and is of the flesh. Cp John 3:6; 6:63. It profits nothing, and God has no respect to it (Genesis 4:4,5; Hebrews 11:4).
The incense of prayer and worship on the golden altar in the holy place was kindled by fire taken from the brazen altar in the outer court on which atonement was made (see Leviticus 16:12, 13; Revelation 8:5). Only those, therefore, whose sin is atoned for, can worship.
The first recorded individual use of incense began in disobedience (Leviticus 10:1) and the last ended in unbelief (Luke 1:10, 20).
Note the three fires:
Fire of true worship (Leviticus 9:24)
The strange fire of false worship (Leviticus 10:1)
The devouring fire of judgment
Fire: The Spirit - to consume and set aside in judgment all that is of the flesh (Isaiah 4:4)
Another aspect: By fire, the fragrance of Christ as the Burnt Offering is caused to ascend
"Continual fire" = Philippians 3:3 - The Spirit as the power for the present action of Christ Godward in praise.
Another emblem of the Spirit = Oil (Exodus 27:2). He maintains the light of Christ in ministry manward through the night of His absence.
Wood (V. 12) = The condition of the soul which is readily available for the action of the Spirit (Luke 24:32).
"In order (V. 12) = Intelligent and spiritually regulated affections (1 Corinthians 14:15; 1 Kings 18:26, 28).
Ashes (V. 10) = Sacrifice wholly consumed. They speak of a dead Christ.
V.10 - Put on linen garments and take up the ashes. If we have acceptance with God, it is a righteous thing to be dead with Christ.
"Beside the altar" (V. 10) - Take up the exercise with God (Colossians 2: 20; 2 Timothy 2:11-13 - probably an ancient spiritual song).
The next step
V. 11 "put off, put on". Having taken our place in righteousness now deliberately prepare ourselves for the place of reproach (Hebrews 13:13)
This is illustrated in John 19:38-42
First secretly
The death of Christ brought things to an issue, they identified with the ashes.
Did they take their seats in the council again?
Summary
Identified with the acceptance of the Burnt Offering
Sustaining the fragrance before God all night through the night of his rejection.
Of necessity we identify with the ashes
In righteousness
In reproach