Exodus: God's Priests (Part 2)

Introduction

Some jobs require more preparation than others to perform. Welder requires great skill but the time involved in becoming a doctor is significantly higher, not just because of the degree of difficulty but also because of the sacred nature of the work itself. When lives are constantly at stake, the level of preparation must rise to meet the occasion.

A similar case can be made for our text today.

Cleaning the Outside

English Standard Version Chapter 29

“Now this is what you shall do to them to consecrate them, that they may serve me as priests. Take one bull of the herd and two rams without blemish, 2 and unleavened bread, unleavened cakes mixed with oil, and unleavened wafers smeared with oil. You shall make them of fine wheat flour. 3 You shall put them in one basket and bring them in the basket, and bring the bull and the two rams. 4 You shall bring Aaron and his sons to the entrance of the tent of meeting and wash them with water. 5 Then you shall take the garments, and put on Aaron the coat and the robe of the ephod, and the ephod, and the breastpiece, and gird him with the skillfully woven band of the ephod. 6 And you shall set the turban on his head and put the holy crown on the turban. 7 You shall take the anointing oil and pour it on his head and anoint him. 8 Then you shall bring his sons and put coats on them, 9 and you shall gird Aaron and his sons with sashes and bind caps on them. And the priesthood shall be theirs by a statute forever. Thus you shall ordain Aaron and his sons.

Verse 1 establishes that this is not just a suggestion from God but this is a requirement form God. This is preparation for the job. No less will do. If you’re going to be my people and they are going to perform this job, then this is what they WILL DO!

I’m constantly fascinated by how many Christians in our time and place in the world insist on saying that they serve God and yet have no qualms at all with announcing that service on THEIR terms...

You can practically pick ANY SUBJECT: Sexuality, Marriage, Money, Kingdom Service, Connection to the Local Church. Christians who are called first to serve God seem to have no issue DICTATING to God what they will hear and what they will ignore in these areas.

One of the first lessons that we need to establish when describing living a Christian in life in SERVICE to the LIVING God is that HE SETS the terms. We are called to OBEY…aka LISTEN and TRUST.

A Christianity that goes to God and says…”Ok, I’ve looked over everything in Your word, and I’m cool with this, this, and this, but not so much with this, this, and this. So how about we just set our relationship terms based on the things that I’m feeling and not so much the things that I’m not and in exchange you can look after me, protect me, and keep me, bless me when I call on you.”

Saints of God that Christianity is FOREIGN to the BIBLE…You’re not switching up insurance providers or picking up a personal trainer. You are entering into covenant with the God of the Universe. The God who holds all things together in galaxies known and unknown with His voice.

We enter humbly into covenant with Him ready to serve Him in whatever way He has laid out for us to do so.

APPLICATION: If I were to ask you right now, how did you view your relationship with the Lord today. What would your answer be? Is it with a commitment, albeit imperfect, to serve Him on His terms or is it with a commitment for Him to serve us on ours?

In addition to this clear mandate in verse 1, to consecrate Aaron and His sons my way, in order that they may serve as priests, we get the actual details of what God’s way looks like in the rest of the chapter.

The first ten verses tell us much of what we need to know.

One Sacrificial Bull will be involved.

Two Sacrificial Rams will be involved.

Bread, Cakes, and Wafers made from fine wheat flour with no oil will be involved.

And the garments whose designed we discussed last week are now ready to be put on...

Two other very noteworthy things happen here that need our attention...

Washing of the Priests

Exodus 29:4 ESV

4 You shall bring Aaron and his sons to the entrance of the tent of meeting and wash them with water.

In preparation to wear the holy garments, Aaron and his sons are to be washed and rinsed with water.

This ceremony represents a cleansing of sorts…The priests need to be clean…not only externally but internally before they enter into the holy place.

Anointing of the Priests

Exodus 29:7 ESV

7 You shall take the anointing oil and pour it on his head and anoint him.

This is a sign of ordination and appointment. God is choosing someone to fulfill a role for Him.

This is also a sign of calling and sanctification. God is setting someone aside for His divine purposes.

When we see anointing oil, we are also supposed to see this as representative of God’s Spirit resting upon the one who was anointed because with God’s choosing and God’s setting aside comes God’s enablement.

The Psalmist actually captures this moment in Psalm 133...

Psalm 133:1–3 ESV

1 Behold, how good and pleasant it is when brothers dwell in unity! 2 It is like the precious oil on the head, running down on the beard, on the beard of Aaron, running down on the collar of his robes! 3 It is like the dew of Hermon, which falls on the mountains of Zion! For there the Lord has commanded the blessing, life forevermore.

Cleaning the Inside

The priest was washed with water, dressed from head to toe. They were smelling good and they were even looking good. And yet they still were not clean...

The greatest work of cleaning ALWAYS takes place on the inside of a person.

We can devote a lot of attention to external adorning but the internal cleansing is without question the most important.

And thus, the Lord’s instruction moves from the cleanliness of the outside of the priests to cleanliness of the inside of the person.

And how does He addresses the priests’ inside? Through sacrifices...

As we read just a moment ago, the priests are called to use several animals to make number of sacrifices and offerings here. Sin offerings, burnt offerings, peace offerings and even wave offerings.

The first offering: A Bull

English Standard Version Chapter 29

10 “Then you shall bring the bull before the tent of meeting. Aaron and his sons shall lay their hands on the head of the bull. 11 Then you shall kill the bull before the LORD at the entrance of the tent of meeting, 12 and shall take part of the blood of the bull and put it on the horns of the altar with your finger, and the rest of the blood you shall pour out at the base of the altar. 13 And you shall take all the fat that covers the entrails, and the long lobe of the liver, and the two kidneys with the fat that is on them, and burn them on the altar. 14 But the flesh of the bull and its skin and its dung you shall burn with fire outside the camp; it is a sin offering.

Leviticus 17:11 ESV

11 For the life of the flesh is in the blood, and I have given it for you on the altar to make atonement for your souls, for it is the blood that makes atonement by the life.

Phil Ryken says of this moment...The significance of the sin offering was powerfully demonstrated by the action of the priests. Before Moses killed the bull, the priests gathered around to lay their hands on its head. This identified them with the sacrifice, imputing sin from the priests to the bull...a case of transference, in which the unholiness and impure nature of the priesthood are transferred to the animal...What happened to the sacrifice is what should have happened to each sinner. As the priests watched the bull burn on the altar—the bull on which they had lain their own sinful hands—they realized they were the ones who deserved to die. God was executing his death penalty against their sin. But in his mercy he allowed the bull to serve as their substitute, dying in their place.

Ryken, P. G., & Hughes, R. K. (2005). Exodus: saved for God’s glory (p. 905). Wheaton, IL: Crossway Books.

The Second Offering: A Ram

Exodus 29:15–18 ESV

15 “Then you shall take one of the rams, and Aaron and his sons shall lay their hands on the head of the ram, 16 and you shall kill the ram and shall take its blood and throw it against the sides of the altar. 17 Then you shall cut the ram into pieces, and wash its entrails and its legs, and put them with its pieces and its head, 18 and burn the whole ram on the altar. It is a burnt offering to the Lord. It is a pleasing aroma, a food offering to the Lord.

The first of two rams...

Burn all of it...

Sprinkle the blood on the sides of the altar versus the horns of the altar...

The Third Offering: The Second Ram- The Priests’ Offering

Exodus 29:19–21 ESV

19 “You shall take the other ram, and Aaron and his sons shall lay their hands on the head of the ram, 20 and you shall kill the ram and take part of its blood and put it on the tip of the right ear of Aaron and on the tips of the right ears of his sons, and on the thumbs of their right hands and on the great toes of their right feet, and throw the rest of the blood against the sides of the altar. 21 Then you shall take part of the blood that is on the altar, and of the anointing oil, and sprinkle it on Aaron and his garments, and on his sons and his sons’ garments with him. He and his garments shall be holy, and his sons and his sons’ garments with him.

This ram is actually for Aaron and his sons...

Again, the hands are laid on the animal as a sign of transferring the guilt of people to the animal, but now instead of the blood going to the altar first it is going on Aaron and his sons...

First, we see the blood start on the right ear, then on the thumbs of the right hands, then on the big toes of the right feet…then to the altar but it doesn’t stop there, then the garments must be sprinkled with this oil and blood.

This feels a little horror movieish for our sensibilities but what is happening here?

More CLEANSING is happening here.

Hebrews 9:22 ESV

22 Indeed, under the law almost everything is purified with blood, and without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness of sins.

Purification happens through blood. So here Aaron and his sons themselves are being purified in order to be used by God…In order to be used by God we must be purified...

2. The Consecration of the Whole Man is happening here.

By placing blood at the top of their head all the way down to their feet, God is communicating that the whole man belongs to me and is dedicated to me…not only this man and his sons but every generation afterwards...

Where else do we see Consecration like this happening in Scripture...

The Consecration of Christ as our High Priest

Luke 3:21–22 ESV

21 Now when all the people were baptized, and when Jesus also had been baptized and was praying, the heavens were opened, 22 and the Holy Spirit descended on him in bodily form, like a dove; and a voice came from heaven, “You are my beloved Son; with you I am well pleased.”

Washing with Water

Anointing

Our High Priest petitions God the Father now on our behalf.

Our Own Consecration as members of the royal priest hood

Washed -

Our Baptism is a symbolic gesture of that reality. The reality of being cleansed from sin…Ceremonially washed.

If you’ve lived long enough with you, this should sound reasonable to you. You above anyone else know that you have some dirt that needs to be washed from your life.

Some of our thoughts are twisted. We assign the worst intentions to people only to find out we were wrong about them. We think too highly of ourselves and too little of others. We lust and we crave. We silently envy the success and prosperity of others. We silently bad mouth their promotions or we talk down on their talents

Some of our deeds are twisted. We declare that we are doing a thing for one reason, while all along doing it for an entirely different reason. We are too easily angered. We withhold generosity from those in need of it. We hold grudges. We chose not to forgive even after God tells us we must. We can’t control our tongues. We pursue unhealthy relationships in our lives. We give into peer pressure to do things that make less of our God and make much of the world and its lies...

WE ARE IN NEED OF CLEANSING and THANK GOD WE RECEIVING CLEANSING from God himself through his Son Jesus.

Titus 3:5 ESV

5 he saved us, not because of works done by us in righteousness, but according to his own mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewal of the Holy Spirit,

But this cleansing isn’t a one time act…we are routinely cleansed by God

1 John 1:9 ESV

9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

This leaves us in the position of being able to approach the throne of God accepted not based on our own merit but based his own righteousness.

Hebrews 10:22 ESV

22 let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, with our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water.

Clothed

We not only are washed like the priest for consecration but we are also clothed like the priest with holy garments.

The only difference is that our holy garments are Christ himself...

Galatians 3:27 ESV

27 For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ.

No matter how dirty we were…we’ve been cleansed by Christ and clothed with Christ.

We’ve also been anointed like the priest with the Spirit of the living God for the Lord’s service.

Anointed

Today is the day that the church celebrates Pentecost. The arrival of Holy Spirit into the world. Regarding the Holy Spirit’s Arrival, Jesus told his disciples, but you shall receive POWER when the Holy Spirit. DIVINE ENABLEMENT to fulfill the mission God has assigned to you.

In other words, His arrival to the world meant a lot of things but one thing it meant was our anointing...

1 John 2:20 ESV

20 But you have been anointed by the Holy One, and you all have knowledge.

1 Corinthians 1:21–22 ESV

21 For since, in the wisdom of God, the world did not know God through wisdom, it pleased God through the folly of what we preach to save those who believe. 22 For Jews demand signs and Greeks seek wisdom,

So you are not only made righteous by God by through cleansing and robing, but you are anointed by God through His Spirit to fulfill His calling for your life.

Sacrifices

And lastly, we have received a sacrifice on our behalf.

Like the bull and the two rams who the priests laid their hands on and substituted, we lay our hands upon Christ in Faith and a transference of sorts happens. Our sins are placed upon his shoulders.

Romans 3 tells us that He became our PROPITIATION…our substitutionary sacrifice. The transference of our sins has been accomplished through Christ!

Some of you are literally paralyzed in your relationship with God right now. Not moving forward at all because you believe your sin has stopped you

But in Christ there is cleansing, in Christ you can be robed with a righteousness that is not your own, in Christ the weight of your sin has been transferred to Him by faith. You don’t have to stop moving forward. All you have to do is take it to the Lord in prayer!

WE ARE PRIESTS

To what end does God do all of this? Cleanse us, Robe us, Anoint us and Offer Sacrifice for us? To the same end as the priest of the Old Testament. To the end of consecrating us for service! To the end of making us all dedicated priests.

1 Peter 2:9 ESV

9 But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light.

Revelation 1:6 ESV

6 and made us a kingdom, priests to his God and Father, to him be glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen.

We have been made priests through the sacrificial work of our High Priest Jesus Christ in order to be used for His divine purposes and service...

We have been consecrated not through bull and rams but through the blood of the Holy Lamb of God in order that we might commune with God and serve Him with everything we have...

It is his blood that has been sprinkled on us to purify us for service to God...

AND It is his blood that has been sprinkled from head to toe to communicate that every part of our being belongs to him in sacred service...

Scripture says you were bought with a price, you are not your own, therefore glorify God in your bodies...

How many of you will pray this prayer fervently from the depths of your soul this morning. LORD WITH YOUR SPIRIT WHATEVER YOU WANT ME TO DO, I WILL FIGHT TO DO. LORD WHATEVER YOU WANT ME TO SAY, I WILL STRIVE TO SAY. LORD WHATEVER YOU WANT ME TO QUIT, I WILL AIM TO STOP.

How many of you will pray this prayer fervently, LORD USE ME, I AM AT YOUR SERVICE

Exodus 29:38–46 ESV

38 “Now this is what you shall offer on the altar: two lambs a year old day by day regularly. 39 One lamb you shall offer in the morning, and the other lamb you shall offer at twilight. 40 And with the first lamb a tenth measure of fine flour mingled with a fourth of a hin of beaten oil, and a fourth of a hin of wine for a drink offering. 41 The other lamb you shall offer at twilight, and shall offer with it a grain offering and its drink offering, as in the morning, for a pleasing aroma, a food offering to the Lord. 42 It shall be a regular burnt offering throughout your generations at the entrance of the tent of meeting before the Lord, where I will meet with you, to speak to you there. 43 There I will meet with the people of Israel, and it shall be sanctified by my glory. 44 I will consecrate the tent of meeting and the altar. Aaron also and his sons I will consecrate to serve me as priests. 45 I will dwell among the people of Israel and will be their God. 46 And they shall know that I am the Lord their God, who brought them out of the land of Egypt that I might dwell among them. I am the Lord their God.