Read: Leviticus 8
Background: The Priesthood had been described earlier in Exodus 28,29, when it was announced that Aaron and his line would serve as priests on a permanent basis. Here in Leviticus 1-7 we have seen how they were to help the people with the bringing of their sacrificial offerings. Now God has Moses ordain them into service so they can actually begin this ministry. After giving instructions to Moses, God has him serve as temporary priest for the priests. Moses takes them through a cleansing ceremony, gives them their priestly garb, anoints them with oil, and offers a sin offering on their behalf.
Key Passage: 22 Then he presented the other ram, the ram of ordination, and Aaron and his sons laid their hands on the head of the ram. 23 And he killed it, and Moses took some of its blood and put it on the lobe of Aaron's right ear and on the thumb of his right hand and on the big toe of his right foot. 24 Then he presented Aaron's sons, and Moses put some of the blood on the lobes of their right ears and on the thumbs of their right hands and on the big toes of their right feet. And Moses threw the blood against the sides of the altar. 25 Then he took the fat and the fat tail and all the fat that was on the entrails and the long lobe of the liver and the two kidneys with their fat and the right thigh, 26 and out of the basket of unleavened bread that was before the Lord he took one unleavened loaf and one loaf of bread with oil and one wafer and placed them on the pieces of fat and on the right thigh. 27 And he put all these in the hands of Aaron and in the hands of his sons and waved them as a wave offering before the Lord. 28 Then Moses took them from their hands and burned them on the altar with the burnt offering. This was an ordination offering with a pleasing aroma, a food offering to the Lord. 29 And Moses took the breast and waved it for a wave offering before the Lord. It was Moses' portion of the ram of ordination, as the Lord commanded Moses.
Thoughts: Moses then offered a second ram as a kind of peace offering, vowing the priests into service, along with a grain offering. Since he served as priest for the priests, he shared in the offering. The passage goes on to give instructions for the priests to have a meal from the sacrifice as well. The next day they began their service.
Everything God did had a "neat and orderly plan" ( see I Corinthians 14). It was meaningful and gave a reference point for both priests and people to say: "This is where it all began, and this is how it is to be done."
No comments:
Post a Comment