AN ORDERLY GOD WHO LIKES THINGS DONE IN A PROPER MANNER
As we approach Leviticus Chapter 8 God is telling Moses how to ordain the priests for the ministry of the wilderness tabernacle. Consecration of the tabernacle and ordination of the priesthood is an important event that must happen before they can move ahead.
Notice how everything was done in a certain way and in a certain order. We have seen many of these types of patterns over and over now.
God is orderly and He likes things done properly. A lot of care and attention has already been given to all the work of the tabernacle and the construction of the sacred objects that will be used in worship; including the garments that the priests will wear. Now everything must be properly consecrated and set aside purely for the worship of God.
ALL ABOUT GOD
In our current times, our worship can often be very casual. Sometimes that is quite appropriate. Other times I think we could possibly be more considerate of what God expects from us in fulfilling His desires with our worship.
Yes; worship is all about relationship; and I get that; but let’s further define the acts of relationship. Relationship usually doesn’t mean asking someone to conform to your own personal definition of comfortable; it typically means that you must try to conform to the other person’s ways. This shows your will to be in relationship; your desire to please the one you desire to be in relationship with. Sometimes, if we are not careful; our modern-day worship does not take God’s desires into consideration; and the services accidentally turn out to be “all about us” instead of focusing on the object of our worship – God. I’m not trying to be critical; but I am just trying to suggest that we consider God’s desires in our worship; after all – worship is only supposed to be “all about Him.”
WORSHIP MEANS COMMUNICATING WITH GOD
How did Moses know exactly what God wanted in those ancient times?
He communicated with God and God gave Moses specific instructions.
God will do the same for us; if we allow Him to do so.
I’m not saying we need to go back to ancient standards; simply that we must honor God above all other things as we worship. We must consider the things that we KNOW He desires.
Some of the things of the ancients give us physical clues that lead to spiritual principles we can follow. We know this because God was the One giving Moses the instructions for their worship.
INTRODUCTION
Welcome to our every Thursday on-line bible study called COME AS A CHILD.
We are slowly walking together through each book of the bible, approaching each passage of scripture with the heart of a child seeking to know their Father more; remembering Jesus’s words found in Matthew 18:3: “Truly I tell you, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the Kingdom of Heaven.”
Today’s study begins Leviticus; Chapter 8.
If you missed last week’s lesson; you may review it here: https://theinseasonlifestyle.com/sin-offerings/.
SET APART AND HOLY
The priest (Aaron and his sons) were instructed by God to be ordained, or set apart as holy.
God told Moses to gather the people, the priests, the sacrifice, the anointing oil and the sacred vessels and to meet Him at the entrance to the tent of meeting. Moses did as God commanded and when the people were gathered he explained God’s commandments to them. He brought Aaron and his sons to the front and washed them and put the priestly garments upon them.
We have studied the significant meanings of each of these priestly garments before. If you wish to review those studies; I will provide links here as we mention each one. For a more detailed overview of this same subject in an earlier lesson click here: https://theinseasonlifestyle.com/consecration-priest/.
A GOOD TIME FOR REVIEWING A FEW POINTS FROM THE PAST
If you review the past lessons we offer through the provided links today; you will get the jest of today’s scripture passages in detail. I highly recommend re-reading all of these past lessons, so that everything about the Aaronic priesthood is still fresh in your mind as we journey on.
Moses put the tunic on Aaron and tied the sash around him and clothed him with the robe of a priest. https://theinseasonlifestyle.com/belt-truth-dress-code-god/ https://theinseasonlifestyle.com/robe-priest/.`
He put the ephod on him and fastened it with the special waistband. Then Moses placed the breastpiece on Aaron. https://theinseasonlifestyle.com/clothes-of-the-ancient-priest/. He put the Urim and Thummim inside the breastpiece. https://theinseasonlifestyle.com/understanding-ephod/, https://theinseasonlifestyle.com/turban-crown/ He placed the turban on Aaron’s head and set the sacred emblem in place.
CONSECRATION OF EVERY THING AND EVERY ONE
The next thing that God commanded Moses to do was to take the anointing oil and consecrate everything within the wilderness tabernacle; the altars, the vessels, the sacred things that had been made specifically by God’s instructions.
After Moses had done this; God told him to consecrate Aaron as high priest and Moses poured the sacred oil on Aaron’s head.
Then he brought in Aaron’s sons and washed them and clothed them in the garments of the priest and consecrated and anointed them also.
All of these actions were very important to God. He instructed Moses specifically on how to consecrate and anoint everything and every one being used in the service of the wilderness tabernacle.
MORE THAN ANCIENT RITUAL
I think of this passage in Leviticus Chapter 8 every time I hear someone grumble and complain with the comment today that says “ritual” isn’t necessary.”
To many people of today; all of these things that Moses did on this occasion would be considered antiquated and out-of-date and unnecessary; stop and think!
From Whom did Moses receive the instructions to do these things?
Do you think God thought it was meaningless ritual?
I don’t.
I think it was of the utmost importance to God that His holy servants and His holy vessels of worship be set aside and pure. It mattered that they contained a complete measure of holiness. It mattered that they were publicly dedicated for service in the eyes of God’s called out people. It mattered in God’s eyes most of all. God cared about these things.
None of these things were considered to be “unnecessary ritual” to God.
This holy, sacred time was actually a time of God’s people as a whole acknowledging their loyalty to Him and showing their understanding of His holy order.
These things were very pleasing to God.
A TIME OF ACKNOWLEDGING SACRIFICE FOR SIN
So after the priests were consecrated and everything about the tabernacle was consecrated as holy to God; Moses brings out the bull to make the sacrifice for sins.
Aaron and his sons laid hands on the bull transferring all sins to it; and Moses slaughtered the bull. He took the blood of the bull and placed it on the horns of the altar. He poured out the rest of the blood at the base of the altar. This consecrated the altar to make atonement. He took the fat around the internal organs and the lobe at the base of the liver, both kidneys and their fat and burned them at the altar. Then he took the hide, its flesh and intestines and burned them outside the camp. This was all as God had commanded.
A TIME OF BURNT OFFERINGS FOR GOD
Next came the offering of a ram for the burnt offering. Aaron and his sons laid their hands on top of the animal’s head and Moses slaughtered the ram and splashed its blood on the side of the altar. He cut the ram into pieces and burned the head, the pieces and the fat. He washed the internal pieces and the legs with water and burned the whole ram at the altar. This was the burnt offering and it had a pleasing aroma to the LORD. It was a food offering that was burned at the altar and presented to God first.
A RAM FOR ORDINATION OF THE PRIESTS
Then they brought forth another ram which was the ram for the ordination. Aaron and his sons laid hands on this animal’s head and Moses slaughtered it. He took some of the blood and placed it on the lobe of Aaron’s right ear, on the thumb of his right hand, and on the big toe of his right foot.
This puzzled me for a long time.
Why would this peculiar set of symbolic actions be required of God?
The blood on the right ear lobe, the right thumb and the big toe of the right foot seemed a bit far-fetched and crazy at first.
One thing I DO know is; if God required it; there was a reason. God doesn’t waste time and energy. He does only what is necessary; but why this?
It is a good question and something to look forward to next Thursday when we cover our next lesson.
UNTIL THE NEXT LESSON
In the meantime be digesting all of the things that happened above.
It is so important that Christians understand the function and necessity of the early, ancient Aaronic priesthood because we too have been called to another holy, everlasting priesthood with Christ as our High Priest. They are a type and shadow for us to follow.
We have much to learn from Aaron and his sons about what God requires.
These things; though physical in the olden times; all relate to the spiritual duties of the Christians of today. We simply have to receive the wisdom and understanding that God wanted us to gain from this bunch of ancient priests.
One thing that stands out in my mind today is the fact that God wanted his priest to be clothed in His righteousness, pure and holy; set apart from the world and clean and consecrated in order to offer their ministry in the tabernacle.
Your body is your tabernacle today.
Have you been covered with the blood of Christ?
He is the holy sacrifice that gives all of this physical ritual spiritual significance.
Is your temple (your body) clean and set apart from the ways of the world?
Are you following God’s commandments in your service to Him?
Are you putting on your priestly garments each day (the spiritual armor of God) and using these concepts as tools for your service?
Ponder these things during the next week; then we will move on to more answers to the questions of today.