A reading of Anglican priest Robert Hawker’s (1753–1827) morning devotional writings from “The Poor Man’s Morning and Evening Portion.”
The music for this reading is “Sandhill Crane” by Chad Crouch and was adapted for length under a Creative Commons License (CC BY-NC 4.0).
The precious ointment upon the head that ran down upon the beard, even Aaron’s beard, that went down to the skirts of his garments.—Psalm 133:2.
My soul, behold, in the anointing here set forth of the Jewish high-priest, a type of His anointing who is a Priest for ever, and a Priest upon his throne; and while looking at Aaron, say as the Lord Jesus did upon another occasion concerning Solomon, “A greater than Aaron is here.” It is sweet, very sweet, and very profitable, to behold the old church shadowing forth the new, and the law ministering to the gospel. Yes, blessed Jesus! I behold in Aaron, and in the precious ointment poured forth upon his head, thus running down to the skirts of his garments, the beautiful representation of that fullness of the Spirit, which was poured out upon thee without measure; that from thee the communication might flow down to the poorest, the humblest, the lowest of thy members, even to the very skirts of thy clothing. It pleased the Father that in thee should all fullness dwell; that of that fullness all thy people might receive, and grace for grace. And by virtue of our interest in thee and union with thee, all thy people do richly partake of communion in all thy benefits, blessings, mercies. The sun shines not to itself, nor for itself, but to impart light and life to others: so dost thou, the Sun of Righteousness, shine forth in all thy glory, not for thyself, but to bless, and enliven, and give out of all thy grace and fullness, every suited blessing, according to the measure of the gift of Christ. My soul! bring home these precious truths to the conviction of experience. Was Jesus indeed anointed for his people? Was grace poured into his lips? Was he, like Aaron, so installed into the office of the priesthood, and the Holy Spirit so unmeasurably communicated to him, on purpose that all his little ones should partake of this unspeakable gift of God? Did God the Father say to Jesus, “I will pour my Spirit upon thy seed, and my blessing upon thine offspring?” Well then, my soul, hast thou partaken of the Holy Spirit? Hast thou communion with Jesus in all that concerns thy salvation? A child of God, a joint-heir with Christ, and a soul begotten of the Holy Spirit hath interest and communion in all that belongs .to Jesus, as the Great Head and Mediator of his church; interested in his Person, interested in his work, interested in his righteousness, in his life, in his death, in his resurrection, in his everlasting priestly office, and in his everlasting glory. What sayeth my soul to these things? Go, my soul, go this morning, go in the strength of this interest, and look at a throne of grace, within the vail, whither thy forerunner is for thee entered: behold thy glorious Aaron, wearing the priestly vestments still, and having all grace, all fullness; waiting to be gracious, and to impart of that fullness to thy necessities; and having received gifts for men, yea, for thee, the most rebellious, that the Lord God might dwell among them. Lord, proportion thy mercies to my wants! and as the day is, so let the strength be!
