Ordained by God

Introduction:

We have a lot to cover tonight, so let’s dive in right away as we take a look at the ordination of the priests. Normally we think of ordination as a type of service we hold in a church when we are calling someone to ministry, be it a pastor or a deacon. But all of us are really ordained by God to serve Him in some capacity.

Let’s take a look at this ordination we have as we look at the ordination of the priesthood in the Book of Leviticus.

1. We Have a Calling from God (vv.1-4)

Leviticus 8:1–4 ESV

1 The Lord spoke to Moses, saying, 2 “Take Aaron and his sons with him, and the garments and the anointing oil and the bull of the sin offering and the two rams and the basket of unleavened bread. 3 And assemble all the congregation at the entrance of the tent of meeting.” 4 And Moses did as the Lord commanded him, and the congregation was assembled at the entrance of the tent of meeting.

2. We Have a Baptism of a New Covenant (v.5)

Leviticus 8:5 ESV

5 And Moses said to the congregation, “This is the thing that the Lord has commanded to be done.”

This was a ceremonial washing, but it points towards baptism

It represented the cleansing of the worshiper, just like our baptism represents our turning from our old way of life in sin towards a new life in Christ

Romans 6:3–4 ESV

3 Do you not know that all of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? 4 We were buried therefore with him by baptism into death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might walk in newness of life.

Romans 6:6–7 ESV

6 We know that our old self was crucified with him in order that the body of sin might be brought to nothing, so that we would no longer be enslaved to sin. 7 For one who has died has been set free from sin.

3. We Have a New Identity in Christ (v.6-9)

Leviticus 8:6–9 ESV

6 And Moses brought Aaron and his sons and washed them with water. 7 And he put the coat on him and tied the sash around his waist and clothed him with the robe and put the ephod on him and tied the skillfully woven band of the ephod around him, binding it to him with the band. 8 And he placed the breastpiece on him, and in the breastpiece he put the Urim and the Thummim. 9 And he set the turban on his head, and on the turban, in front, he set the golden plate, the holy crown, as the Lord commanded Moses.

The priest would put on the garments to minister and take them off before returning to their regular life

We are called as Christians to put on Christ and never take Him off

Colossians 3:3–4 ESV

3 For you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. 4 When Christ who is your life appears, then you also will appear with him in glory.

What did these garments look like?

4. We Have an Anointing by the Holy Spirit (vv.10-13)

Leviticus 8:10–13 ESV

10 Then Moses took the anointing oil and anointed the tabernacle and all that was in it, and consecrated them. 11 And he sprinkled some of it on the altar seven times, and anointed the altar and all its utensils and the basin and its stand, to consecrate them. 12 And he poured some of the anointing oil on Aaron’s head and anointed him to consecrate him. 13 And Moses brought Aaron’s sons and clothed them with coats and tied sashes around their waists and bound caps on them, as the Lord commanded Moses.

Remember that the oil represented the Holy Spirit

Everything was anointed with the oil to make it suitable to use in the tabernacle, and later the temple

We are not suitable for God’s use until we are filled with the Holy Spirit (salvation) and full of the Spirit (abiding in Christ)

5. We Have Forgiveness in Christ (vv. 14-17)

Leviticus 8:14–17 ESV

14 Then he brought the bull of the sin offering, and Aaron and his sons laid their hands on the head of the bull of the sin offering. 15 And he killed it, and Moses took the blood, and with his finger put it on the horns of the altar around it and purified the altar and poured out the blood at the base of the altar and consecrated it to make atonement for it. 16 And he took all the fat that was on the entrails and the long lobe of the liver and the two kidneys with their fat, and Moses burned them on the altar. 17 But the bull and its skin and its flesh and its dung he burned up with fire outside the camp, as the Lord commanded Moses.

Before the priest could perform his duties he had to have a sacrifice for his sin

Jesus stands different from us in that he was the sacrifice for sin

6. We Have a Dedication to Serve (vv.18-31)

Leviticus 8:18 ESV

18 Then he presented the ram of the burnt offering, and Aaron and his sons laid their hands on the head of the ram.

Remember the burnt offering was a dedication offering of complete service to the Lord

Look at vvv. 22-24. We get into some interesting and neat things here

Leviticus 8:22–24 ESV

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.

How many of you are feet people? This verse here seems strange doesn’t it! Why does God want the priest to have his ear lobe and his thumb and his big toe annointed?

Here’s what they represent:

Ear Lobe - represents dedication to hearing God’s commands

Thumb - represents dedication to doing God’s commands

Big Toe - represents dedication to going where God commands

In essence, the priest must be fully committed and devoted to serving the Lord

7. We Have a Fellowship with God (vv. 31-36)

Leviticus 8:31–36 ESV

31 And Moses said to Aaron and his sons, “Boil the flesh at the entrance of the tent of meeting, and there eat it and the bread that is in the basket of ordination offerings, as I commanded, saying, ‘Aaron and his sons shall eat it.’ 32 And what remains of the flesh and the bread you shall burn up with fire. 33 And you shall not go outside the entrance of the tent of meeting for seven days, until the days of your ordination are completed, for it will take seven days to ordain you. 34 As has been done today, the Lord has commanded to be done to make atonement for you. 35 At the entrance of the tent of meeting you shall remain day and night for seven days, performing what the Lord has charged, so that you do not die, for so I have been commanded.” 36 And Aaron and his sons did all the things that the Lord commanded by Moses.

Remember that the grain offering was a peace offering of fellowship with God

The priests were to sit in the tabernacle or the courtyard of the tabernacle and dine with God

Don’t miss this! It took 7 days to ordain the priest, right?

Leviticus 8:35 ESV

35 At the entrance of the tent of meeting you shall remain day and night for seven days, performing what the Lord has charged, so that you do not die, for so I have been commanded.”

Now, this may be nothing, but think about that number. They are dining at the Lord’s Table for 7 days.

I believe we will be raptured up to Heaven prior to the 7 years of Great Tribulation on the Earth and when we do we will eat at the Marriage Supper of the Lamb.

Revelation 19:6–9 ESV

6 Then I heard what seemed to be the voice of a great multitude, like the roar of many waters and like the sound of mighty peals of thunder, crying out, “Hallelujah! For the Lord our God the Almighty reigns. 7 Let us rejoice and exult and give him the glory, for the marriage of the Lamb has come, and his Bride has made herself ready; 8 it was granted her to clothe herself with fine linen, bright and pure”— for the fine linen is the righteous deeds of the saints. 9 And the angel said to me, “Write this: Blessed are those who are invited to the marriage supper of the Lamb.” And he said to me, “These are the true words of God.”

Did you catch that? We get new linen garments. We get to put on the righteousness of God. We eat with Jesus. We get the opportunity to put on His righteousness.

But most of all this is a wedding feast. It lasts for 7 days. In this context the days match the 7 years of tribulation.

Conclusion:

We’ve covered a lot tonight. I hope you have learned something and realized that all of the Old Testament ritual was pointing to Jesus and the fulfillment found in His sacrifice. But, you and I are called to carry on the work of the priesthood as we live out our lives, ultimately waiting for the full consecration of the day in which we get to dine with Jesus in His Father’s House at the Marriage Feast of the Lamb. Until then, we practice every time we partake of the Lord’s Supper. Let’s make sure we go and invite others to join us!