Consecration (2)

Consecration is the requirement of a holy God

Leviticus 20:7–8 NKJV

7 Consecrate yourselves therefore, and be holy, for I am the Lord your God. 8 And you shall keep My statutes, and perform them: I am the Lord who sanctifies you.

See also Le 11:44; Le 22:32

The consecration of people

The importance of personal consecration

Romans 6:13 NKJV

13 And do not present your members as instruments of unrighteousness to sin, but present yourselves to God as being alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness to God.

Inward consecration to God is symbolised by outward cleansing

Ro 12:1; 2 Co 5:14–15; 1 Pe 2:24; Ex 19:10; Ex 19:14; 1 Sa 16:5; 2 Ch 30:17; 2 Ch 35:6; Ps 50:5; Ro 12:1

The consecration of all firstborn males

Ex 13:2; Lk 2:22–23

See also Ex 13:12–13; Nu 3:11–13; Nu 8:17–18 The Levites served in place of the firstborn males in Israel.

The consecration of priests

Exodus 29:1 NKJV

1 “And this is what you shall do to them to hallow them for ministering to Me as priests: Take one young bull and two rams without blemish,

See also Ex 19:22; 1 Ki 13:33; 2 Ch 30:3; 2 Ch 30:24

The consecration of the Aaronic priesthood

Exodus 30:30 NKJV

30 And you shall anoint Aaron and his sons, and consecrate them, that they may minister to Me as priests.

See also Ex 28:41; Le 8:30; 1 Ch 23:13

The consecration of the Levitical priesthood

1 Ch 15:12; 2 Ch 23:6; 2 Ch 29:5; 2 Ch 35:3

Special consecration is marked by a vow

Nu 6:8; Nu 6:11 the Nazirite vow

The consecration of things

Altars

Exodus 29:36–37 NKJV

36 And you shall offer a bull every day as a sin offering for atonement. You shall cleanse the altar when you make atonement for it, and you shall anoint it to sanctify it. 37 Seven days you shall make atonement for the altar and sanctify it. And the altar shall be most holy. Whatever touches the altar must be holy.

See also Ex 30:29

The use of oil in consecration:

Ex 40:9–11; Le 8:11–12

Offerings

Ex 28:38; Ex 29:27; Le 22:2; 2 Ch 30:17

Garments

Ex 28:3; Ex 29:21; Ex 40:13; Nu 15:39–40

Bread

1 Sa 21:4; 1 Sa 21:6; Mt 12:4

Meat

Hag 2:12 The state of consecration could be transmitted; Je 11:15 True consecration should involve a right spirit.

Certain places are consecrated

Ex 19:23 Mount Sinai; Ex 29:43–44 the Tent of Meeting

The tabernacle:

Le 8:10; Nu 7:1

The temple:

1 Ki 8:64; 1 Ki 9:3; 2 Ch 29:17–19

Certain times are specially consecrated

Le 25:10 the Year of Jubilee

The Sabbath:

Ge 2:3; Ex 20:8; Ex 20:11; Dt 5:12

The consecration of daily life

1 Ti 4:4–5 The reference may be to grace before eating.

See also Zec 14:20–21

Consecration as preparation for work and worship

Nu 11:18; Jos 3:5; Jos 7:13

Consecration to other gods incurs God’s displeasure

Isaiah 66:17 NKJV

17 “Those who sanctify themselves and purify themselves, To go to the gardens After an idol in the midst, Eating swine’s flesh and the abomination and the mouse, Shall be consumed together,” says the Lord.

See also Jdg 17:3; 2 Ch 13:9; 2 Ch 26:18; 2 Ch 30:17; 2 Ch 36:14; Ho 9:10