The Need for a Priest
Read Leviticus 8:1-4
Today’s Truth
These verses give us an introduction to priesthood by describing in very brief compass the ingredients which make it possible. First comes the word of God. A true priesthood never originates from man's conception of what he needs. The second element is Aaron and his sons. Aaron was the brother of Moses. He and his descendants were the only family in the entire Old Testament authorized to serve as priests. The third ingredient of the priesthood is the garments. In the symbolism of Scripture, garments are always a revelation of the character of the individual who wears them. The fourth ingredient of the priesthood is the anointing oil, which, in Scripture, always speaks of the Holy Spirit. This means that a priest, to be effective, always must be walking in the Spirit. The next ingredient is the sacrifices. These always speak of redemption, of the need for dealing with the problem of sin and guilt. Since Aaron and his sons were but men, they too needed sacrifices.
The sixth element of the priesthood was the fact that God told Moses to bring all the congregation together. God insisted that all the adults and children be there. He wanted the humblest and the greatest in Israel to be present.
Discussion Questions
- How can the attention to cleanliness during the consecration process influence our understanding of physical and spiritual purity today?
- How does the communal involvement in the consecration ceremony speak to the role of community in our spiritual journey today?
- How does the act of consecration in the Old Testament point forward to the ministry of Christ and His ultimate sacrifice on the cross?
Application
Every aspect of God-ordained Priesthood has been fulfilled in our High Priest, the Lord Jesus Christ. When He enters as our Savior and Lord, He ministers to all our need, and invites us to serve as His representative priests. Have we entered into this amazing inheritance?
