NOTES OF LESSONS ON THE TYPES.

THE TYPE. THE FEAST OF TRUMPETS.

THIS Feast was appointed for the first day of the Seventh Month, thus introducing the other Feasts of that important Month. Scripture gives us but little information as to the observances or the design of the Day, but there is enough to supply valuable instruction. The use of the trumpet was very common in the Jewish Ceremonial, see Numbers x. 7-10; Ps. lxxxi. 3; it formed a part of their discipline when marching through the Wilderness, Numbers x. 5, 6; and was especially enjoined on two memorable occasions in Jewish History, Joshua vi., and Judges vii. 16-22; whilst the awful scenes of Sinai were accompanied by "the sound of the trumpet" blown by no mortal breath, Ex. xix. 19. But on this one Day the Trumpet was the chief part of the Ceremonial, and the blast was itself the object of attention, instead of being merely a call, as at other times, Numbers xxix. 1-6. That blast, however, could only be considered as a type or symbol of some Truth; and we may look on it as representing two things:

I. THE PROCLAMATION OF GOD'S WILL. The sound was intended and adapted, on all occasions to attract attention; something was to be done or said of importance; and as the Jews lived under the immediate government of Jehovah, all their affairs being regulated by his commands, the sound of the Trumpet did in fact mean the proclamation of his Will. This can easily be applied to all the instances noticed above; it was God's will that Jericho should fall, that Gideon should triumph, that Israel should march; and most truly so, when from Sinai He gave forth his commands.

Looking to the future we notice two points :-He will recall his scattered people, and the trumpet is said to be the means, Isaiah xxvii. 13; He will raise the dead, and they again are to hear that sound, 1 Cor. xv. 52; 1 Thess. iv. 16; in each instance it is the proclamation of God's Will.

II. THE MEMORIAL OF GOD'S PROMISES. This is to be gathered not only from Levit. xxiii. 24, which may mean Man's being reminded of God's will, but from Numbers x. 9, where God promises to remember the Israelites. We may apply the same idea, indeed, to all the instances given above. God had PROMISED to destroy Jericho, and to make Gideon victorious. He had PROMISED to bless the Israelites as long as they were obedient, so every observance of his Will was a remembrance of his Promises.

THE CONNECTION.

In this we are left to trace what we can of resemblance to anything in Gospel times, but we can scarcely do wrong in taking the Trumpet sound as symbolical of THE ANTITYPE.-A PREACHED GOSPEL.

For as a Prophet in old time was said to use the trumpet, Ezek. xxxiii. 3 : Hosea viii. 5 (also see Isaiah lviii. 1); so may the appointed preachers of the Gos. pel be said to proclaim aloud their still nobler message.

I. It is THE PROCLAMATION OF GOD'S WILL. He "WILL "" have all men to be saved; it is NOT HIS WILL that any should perish; He COMMANDS men to repent; see Matt. xviii. 14; 1 Tim. ii. 4; Acts xvii. 30. The Lord of all proclaims to all his Will, and none can disobey with safety.

II. The preaching of the Gospel is also the MEMORIAL OF GOD'S PROMISES, reminding Man of God's free mercy in Christ, and reminding God (as He bids us, Isaiah lxii. 6, 7) of his promises of Pardon.

THE TYPE.-THE YEAR OF JUBILEE.

THIS type is one of great significance, and full of rich encouragement to the true "Israel of God." To the Jew of old time the return of the Jubilee was a striking lesson on God's goodness and loving-kindness, and we may gather the same precious truths from it.

This year-every fiftieth-must be distinguished from the seventh year, but only in its being the same blessing PERFECTED.

I.—IT WAS A TIME OF RELIEF, a year of rest. Its return was welcomed by the joyous blowing of trumpets, verse 9. And it is worthy of remark that it thus commenced on the very Day of Atonement, as though to show that (like all other true blessings) it was purchased by atoning blood. In it God appointed— REST FOR THE WEARY. The toils of the husbandman ceased, and in glad holiday he fed on the accumulated harvests of the preceding year, verses 21, 22. He who bade him rest, provided that he should not suffer by obedience.

Again, there was FREEDOM FOR THE SLAVE, or hired servant, or bondsman, verses 10, 40-42, 54. Although the name and state of slavery was forbidden, between Jew and Jew, yet poverty led to a kind of forced service, nearly resembling it, verse 39. But as soon as the Jubilee trumpet sounded, the man was free to "return unto his family," verse 10.

Again, there was RESTORATION TO THE POVERTY-STRICKEN. Calamity might reduce a man to poverty, and compel him to give up his land, but the year of Jubilee saw him once more possessed of his former wealth, verses 10, 28. Thus it was a time of universal happiness: tears ceased to flow, and hearts to ache. And soII. IT PROVED GOD'S OWNERSHIP. Man had gone on toiling, scheming, planting, building, growing rich or poor, great or humbled, gaining or losing; but then a Divine hand interposed to repair the unequal fortunes. The land was all the Lord's, verse 23, and much more they that dwelt on it, verse 42 (compare Matt. x. 31), and He would thus redress all human injustice, and repair all human calamities by restoring what He had originally given in trust, as if He said, "ALL ARE MINE, and they that are mine are too dear to Me that I should leave them in misery. I would have all men happy."

THE CONNECTION.

We have no Scripture authority for interpreting this type, but the nature of its provisions leads our thoughts at once to spiritual blessings. And for any satisfactory fulfilment of the type we shall look in vain to the PAST or the PRESENT. Never yet has the world known perfect peace since sin entered into it, with its bitter wages, when man became subject to misery and death, and the very earth was cursed, Gen. iii. 17; Rom. viii. 22. But Scripture tells us clearly that a glorious FUTURE is in store: as for instance, Isaiah xxxv.; lx. WILL IT BE ON EARTH? Yes, to a certain extent, see Rev. xx. 1-6. But for the perfect fulfilment we must look to

THE ANTITYPE.-HEAVEN.

Probably we could not understand more than the little that is revealed to us of that blessed home; but the two points mentioned above are quite clear.

I.-It will be A PLACE AND STATE OF REDEMPTION. Rest for the weary,-who have, by God's grace, struggled against sin,—often overcome, but preserved by Him. Freedom for the slave,-no more "bondage of corruption," either bodily or spiritual. And restoration for the destitute, who had lost all, by their sin, and regain all through their Saviour. See the priceless blessings promised in Rev. xxi.; xxii. II.-GOD WILL BE THE KING AND LORD, acknowledged thus by all, and proved to be so by his having thus renewed a polluted creation, and redeemed a fallen people. LET OUR PRAYER DE PSALM CVI. 5.

THE TYPE.-THE BRAZEN SERPENT.

THIS Type is as clear as it is interesting and instructive. The Israelites were suffering under the plague of fiery serpents, a punishment brought upon them by deep offences, see Numbers xxi. 4, 5; for to their usual murmuring was now added a scornful rejection of that daily provision of manna, which God had graciously ordained for them. "Man did eat angel's food" yet "loathed it." No wonder that God's wrath was kindled and his hand stretched forth to strike. Then followed, however, the usual course; the people yielding to fear the reverence which they had not love enough to pay without it, humbly beg for pardon and for Moses' intercession, which is again freely given, and is again successful, verses 6, 7.

I. See THE URGENCY OF THE NEED. Death, speedy, agonizing, inevitable, was there. No human skill could avoid the fatal bite, nor rob it of its sting: the fiery poison coursed through the veins of the sufferer, drying up his very life; and death was terrible, because it was the immediate punishment of one particular transgression. Compare Job vi. 4; Ps. xxxviii. 2. And it was still more frightful to see thousands exposed to the same rapid destruction.

II. THE OBEDIENCE REQUIRED. The serpent of brass was made, and raised up that all might see: but that was not enough. Each man MUST LOOK, or the offered cure would be of no avail. Imagination cannot picture any one so mad as to refuse to look! to feel the agony of approaching death and neglect the ready easy cure! How eagerly must each dying man have turned to the saving sign, as soon as he heard the message! When deliverance from earthly terror and pain can be had thus easily, none refuse it, Job ii. 4.

III. THE RESULT, a certain, speedy cure, v. 9. It never failed, and was never withheld, as long as one remained to profit by the relief. Let us try to imagine the sense of safety--the change from death to life, from agony and terror to health and peace-the escape from a yawning grave!

THE CONNECTION.

Here we cannot err, for He has taught us, who was Himself the great Antitype, the Lord Jesus, John iii. 14, 15. No one at the very time could suppose that the sight of a serpent of brass could be an antidote to a fierce poison: none could doubt but that it was a type. LIFTED UP on high, so as to be seen by all who chose, it typified Him who was not only lifted up on the Cross, in a bodily sense, but BY THAT CRUCIFIXION was lifted up in a way to claim the notice of all the children of men ; as indeed the most conspicuous object a sinner could ever

gaze on.

THE ANTITYPE.-CHRIST.

I. THE URGENCY OF THE NEED. That sin ends in death is a melancholy truth that needs no proof. Around us on every hand are the sad instances and illustrations of Rom. vi. 23. And no human skill can arrest or heal the fatal disease: it lies too deep for the touch of a fellow-sufferer. Note, too, the universality of the ruin-" all have sinned," all must perish. But God graciously interposes (not now asked for), and a Saviour is provided, FREE TO ALL, ENOUGH FOR ALL.

II. THE ACT OF OBEDIENCE REQUIRED. A look was enough to save the dying Israelite, and now all that is needed is "Believe on the Lord Jesus," Acts xvii. 31. Compare Isaiah xlv. 22. True, we have no faith to look till He gives it, but ARE WE WILLING?

III. THE RESULT: the life from the dead-the peace that passeth understanding-grace here, and glory hereafter. Ps. xvi. 11; Ephes. v. 14.

THE TYPE. THE SCAPE GOAT.

THIS remarkable Type brings before us a fresh view of redemption, as the REMOVAL of a curse, its being totally taken away, to return no more. In one sense, Gospel truth may be all summed up in St. Paul's form of words, Acts xvii. but this simple truth may, and should, be looked at in many different points of view, as taught us in the Scriptures. And we have now to look on THE SUB

31;

STITUTION OF ONE VICTIM FOR ANOTHER.

The scape (or escaped) goat was one of the ceremonies of the great day of atonement, that solemn day on which the high priest entered into the Holy of Holies, Lev. xvi. His entry there was limited to one day in the year (see Lesson 38), and was accompanied by everything that could render the whole scene most impressive as a means of instruction. God TAUGHT his people by every ceremony, and by this among the rest.

In considering this, and other sacrifices separately, we cannot avoid going, to some extent, over the same ground; for every sacrifice told of sin and of atonement—of man's need and God's relief; but each may also be found to present the truth in a new light.

I. See THE GUILT TRANSFERRED.-Aaron acted as the representative of the whole nation-so that not as an individual, but as if he were the whole people in one, he confessed the national guilt, placing both his hands on the head of the goat, Lev. xvi. 21. The placing of hands on others was the constant sign of something imparted to the person so touched, and, in this instance, we have the express remarkable words, "putting them (transgressions) on the head of the goat." Thus, was the guilt transferred from the nation to the scape-goat, which, therefore, became A SUBSTITUTE. And the very evident fact, that the substitute was, itself, incapable of guilt, was the strongest proof that the truth revealed was the transfer of guilt to one, who, in himself, was entirely without sin.

II. THE GUILT REMOVED. The victim was driven away into the desert, to be seen no more, Lev. xvi. 22—a merciful assurance that the guilt thus transferred would never again overwhelm the sinner,—it was gone for ever.

THE CONNECTION.

This we gather from the evident meaning of the ceremony, rather than from any direct authority in Scripture. But when we find the very phrases of Isaiah liii. 4, 6, almost a repetition of verses 20, 21, we are irresistibly led to fix on

THE ANTITYPE,-THE LORD JESUS,

and that with particular reference to the two points noted. In Him every sacrifice found its antitype-each one tells of guilt and of atonement; but here we note especially,

I. THE GUILT TRANSFERRED.—The language of Scripture is clear on two important matters-that Christ suffered AS IF HE WERE A SINNER-and that the sin for which He suffered WAS NOT HIS OWN. Mere bodily pain would not bring drops of blood, nor extort the agonising cry that God had forsaken Him. These proved the burden to be not pain but God's wrath, see Is. liii.; 1 Pet. ii. 24: 2 Cor. v. 21; none could find a fault in Him; and the guilt He bore was put on Him, or rather taken by Him on Himself.

II. THE GUILT IS REMOVED.-The Scripture phrase, "blotted out," expresses the same, -or still more clear is Jer. 1. 20. The fearful condemnation cannot return,

God has forgiven and FORGOTTEN, and there is PEACE.

THE TYPE.-JOSHUA THE CAPTAIN.

THE work, the character, and the offices of the Lord Jesus, could not all be typified by any one individual amongst the typical persons: we must of necessity complete that perfect portrait from many imperfect sources. The truths now brought to our notice are different from those presented by other characters: but have a deep interest of their own.

Moses, the ruler, lawgiver, and mediator (Lessons 15, 16) had completed his work when he ascended Mount Pisgah to die; another, younger, more active, and more warlike leader was needed, now that Israel had to fight for the possession of the promised land, and Joshua was the appointed captain, Numbers xxvii. 18-23. He never laid down his arms till his work too was finished, Joshua xxiii. 1. There are two leading ideas brought out here.

I. A FIERCE STRUGGLE TO BE GONE THROUGH. The Israelites were never led to undervalue the difficulties: indeed their own unbelief exaggerated them, Numbers xiii. 31-33; but without such excessive alarm there was reason to feel that the task before them was no light one. The Israelites were at that time an unwarlike race, broken in spirit by Egyptian bondage, and (which was far worse) weak in faith. But for God's presence and blessing they had no chance of victory, and there is no wonder that they utterly despaired the moment they seemed to have lost that blessing, Joshua vii. 5.

II. A CERTAIN TRIUMPH AT LAST. The appointment of Joshua was not only the means but the pledge of victory, Numbers xxvii. 15-18; Deut. xxxi. 1—8. His courage, skill, and (above all) faith, were the rallying points of the children of Israel; and God's blessing never forsook him. It is worthy of remark that we read of no failure in this man.

CONNECTION.

The very name of Joshua (a Saviour, the same as Jesus, by which he is called in Heb. iv. 8) leads our thoughts to our Lord; and the wonderful incident related in Joshua v. 13-15, authorizes us to look on Joshua as a type of Him.

THE ANTITYPE.-CHRIST.

In this case we are to look on Him as the Leader and Captain of his people, laying aside for the time the view of his suffering and atoning.

What is the state of his people on earth, that makes this type so important? I. THERE IS A FIERCE STRUGGLE. Our spiritual enemies are many (Mark v. .9) 1 and they are bitterly hostile (1 Peter ii. 8; Ephes. vi. 12); nothing less will satisfy them than our eternal ruin. Satan tempted Eve, David, Peter, Ananias, our Lord himself. The older we grow the more we shall feel and suffer from this enmity, and understand the experience of St. Paul, groaning under it, Rom. vii. 18-24.

And nothing less than victory can satisfy the Christian: if he would inherit, he must OVERCOME, Rev. xxi. 7. But,

II. THERE IS AN ASSURED VICTORY, not through any strength of our own (Prov. xxviii. 26; 2 Cor. iii. 5), but through the Lord Jesus, the "Captain of our Salvation," Hebrews ii. 10 (compare Isaiah lv. 4). We might well despair if left alone, but with Him as our leader we are safe. He knows, for He has experienced all the enmity and cunning of the wicked one, and HE HAS CONQUERED, as for instance, Matt. iv. 1-11. The Bible is full of rich promises to those who trust on Him and follow Him. They will be tried, but THEY CANNOT PERISH, John x. 28.