Meditation by T.D. Wood, sequel to that on Gen.1. No.9.
There are two definite lines discernible in Scripture — God's (a) directive will, and (b) permissive will; (a) unfold to us God's purpose, and (b) His overruling in the midst of the ruined creation in His providential dealings. These are set forth in the expressions, "Evening morning" and "Morning evening." The morning sets forth what God has before Him on the line of His purpose — the evening, the ruin that sin brought in the grave moral features of "Man's day." While the expression "Evening" occurs over 50 odd times only in Scripture — the expression "Morning" occurs on over 200 occasions. There are five Hebrew terms used to express the word "evening" as also five Greek terms are used to express the same word. In the numerals of Scripture, five is a figure of human weakness, ending in death. There are eight Hebrew terms used to express the word "morning" as also seven Greek terms are used to express the same word. The number eight sets forth Resurrection and new creation; and the number seven, Divine perfection.
The first mention of "evening" is in Genesis 1. in connection with creation — the last mention is in John 20:19, and is rendered literally "It being late." The first mention of "morning" is in Genesis again connected with creation and the last mention is in Revelation 22:16, morning only, the "Morning star." Let us trace briefly, how this two-fold truth is set forth in the sacrificial glory of the offerings, also in days of recovery, anticipating the bright days of the Millennial earth. Exodus 27:20-21, Leviticus 24:1-4 "Evening to morning" equals moral glory. That is seen here in the pure oil olive beaten for the light, setting forth (a) a Man here both conceived by and anointed with the Holy Ghost. (b) The light shone outside the veil and during the night. (c)) The vessel of the Spirit during the time of Israel's moral darkness. Lev. 6:8-13. "All night unto the morning" equals Sacrificial glory. The fragrance of the Burnt offering, the "Olah," the ascending offering. The ashes without the camp as cited in Hebrew 13. — without the camp, and without the gate — set forth Christ's present position in the outside place. The Fire ever burning upon the altar brings before us the continuity of that sacrifice; the fragrance of which ever ascends, both today and for ever.
Psalm 22. To the chief Musician upon "Aijeleth Shahar" (the hind of the morning). Here we have presented the SIN offering. Psalm 16. gives the MEAL offering, Psalm 11. the BURNT offering, Psalm 69 the TRESPASS offering, Psalm 116 the PEACE offering But in the title the Lord looks on to the morning of joy — "joy cometh in the morning." Ps. 22 looks beyond the cross and anticipates His portion and ours in the midst of the Assembly.
2 Chronicles 13:11 "Every morning and every evening" equals days of recovery after failure and division. Under Abijah, Jehoshaphat, Hezekiah, and Josiah, certain features were restored, but glories never recovered. The Shekinah glory of Solomon's day (1 Kings 8:11), (2 Chron. 7:1). The Glory cloud that filled the house (1 Kings 8:10-11). The Fire of the Burnt offering and the Sacrifices (2 Chron. 7:1) are never restored. The 24 Courses of the Priests — 2 Chron. 31:2-16 of the house Eleazar, and 8 of Ithamar, 1 Chron. 24:4 — these we restored. The Burnt offering and the Song of the Lord began, 2 Chron. 29:27, in the recovery of the Pre-exilic days. Similar moral features are restored to the Assembly today.
Moving to Post-exilic days we find the expression, "Morning and Evening" (Ezra 3:3). This suggests recovery on the lines of King David's festival sacrifice, where Asaph and his brethren render the psalm of thanksgiving. Zadok the Priest offered burnt offerings unto the Lord upon the altar of the Burnt offering; "Morning and evening," 1 Chron. 16. The "Evening sacrifice" (Ezra 9:4-5, Psalm 140:1-2) brings before us the expression of confession and the language of the penitent who in principle eat the sin and trespass offerings as did Nehemiah and Daniel in making the nation's sin their own.
Daniel 8:13-14, the transgression of desolation, the 2300 days, are literally rendered "Evenings mornings." This prophecy doubtless finds its partial fulfilment in the profane history of Antiochus Epiphanes, the little horn of Daniel 8:9. "The vision of the evening and the morning which was told is true" (v. 26)
Ezekiel 46:13, 15. "Every morning" — lit. "Morning by morning."
Exodus 29. and Numbers 28. present the morning lamb and the evening lamb. (There is no Evening lamb in the Millennium. The bright day of the Millennial earth). While the sin and trespass offerings are there, as sin will still be in existence; yet the thought of what is penal or expiatory will not be prominent. In that sense their character will be memorial feasts. Divine and moral glories in the Burnt and Meal offerings, also the Priests' and Princes' part in the Peace and Drink offerings, are prominent. goes back to His original purpose in the bright day of the restored earth. We look on to the "Bright morning Star" (Rev. 22:16), and as there was no "Evening" on the 7th day (the Sabbath of rest), so God will usher in the Eternal state where
"All taint of sin shall be removed,
All evil done away;
And we shall dwell with God's Beloved,
Through God's eternal day."