Priests of God Series Lesson 4: Consecrated as a Priest
From our previous lessons it should be clear that the Melchizedek priesthood is different from the Levitical priesthood. The Melchizedek priesthood is an Eternal priesthood whereas the Levitical priesthood was temporary and functioned only as a type and shadow priesthood for the Tabernacle, which, itself, was a type and shadow of something in the Heavens. However, because the Levitical priesthood was patterned after the reality of the Eternal priesthood, there are spiritual lessons for us in the way that a Levitical priest was consecrated for service. The key word here is “spiritual”. I am in no way endorsing any form or revival of any physical function of the Levitical priests. The Levitical priesthood no longer exists and will never exist again in the purposes of God. It has passed away because a greater priesthood is here and our High Priest ever lives to make intercession for us. Also, by the way, this is not an endorsement of the Catholic Priest system either. It is not a New Testament priesthood.
The first Levitical priests that were consecrated were Aaron as the High Priest and his sons as priests of the Tabernacle. Moses administered the consecration process to them. In this Moses was functioning as a Melchizedek type of priest that had been appointed by God. This is all detailed for us in the eighth chapter of Leviticus
Leviticus 8:1-5 NASB Then 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 doorway of the tent of meeting." (4) So Moses did just as the LORD commanded him. When the congregation was assembled at the doorway of the tent of meeting, (5) Moses said to the congregation, "This is the thing which the LORD has commanded to do."
NOTE: Moses was following the commandment of the Lord as he carried out the instructions that he had been given. Note also that this all occurred before the doorway of the tent of meeting in front of the entire congregation.
SPIRITUAL APPLICATION: The requirements and implementation of priesthood consecration are designed by the Lord and not man. We follow his methods. We don't develop our own ways.
Leviticus 8:6 NASB Then Moses had Aaron and his sons come near and washed them with water.
NOTE: Aaron and his sons were stripped and washed before the entire congregation.
SPIRITUAL APPLICATION: The first requirement of consecration for a Melchizedek type of priest is the willingness to be stripped bare in front of people. We have to become transparent. No hidden ambitions or fleshly lusts. Nothing is hidden; we stand exposed to all. Only that which is exposed can be washed. The washing is by the water of the Word and the Holy Spirit.
Leviticus 8:7-9 NASB He put the tunic on him and girded him with the sash, and clothed him with the robe and put the ephod on him; and he girded him with the artistic band of the ephod, with which he tied it to him. (8) He then placed the breastpiece on him, and in the breastpiece he put the Urim and the Thummim. (9) He also placed the turban on his head, and on the turban, at its front, he placed the golden plate, the holy crown, just as the LORD had commanded Moses.
NOTE: This is not a quick change dressing procedure. This is a systematic dressing that involves complex tying of garments.
SPIRITUAL APPLICATION: We have to be dressed in Holy garments. This takes time and effort. “It was given to her to clothe herself in fine linen, bright and clean; for the fine linen is the righteous acts of the saints.” (Revelation 19:8 NASB)
Leviticus 8:10-12 NASB Moses then took the anointing oil and anointed the tabernacle and all that was in it, and consecrated them. (11) 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) Then he poured some of the anointing oil on Aaron's head and anointed him, to consecrate him.
NOTE: The anointing oil was put on the tabernacle, the contents of the tabernacle, the altar, its utensils, the basin and stand, and then on Aaron's head.
SPIRITUAL APPLICATION: The anointing oil of the Holy Spirit is necessary for everything that is involved in our priestly service including ourselves.
Leviticus 8:14-17 NASB 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) Next Moses slaughtered it and took the blood and with his finger put some of it around on the horns of the altar, and purified the altar. Then he poured out the rest of the blood at the base of the altar and consecrated it, to make atonement for it. (16) He also took all the fat that was on the entrails and the lobe of the liver, and the two kidneys and their fat; and Moses offered it up in smoke on the altar. (17) But the bull and its hide and its flesh and its refuse he burned in the fire outside the camp, just as the LORD had commanded Moses.
NOTE: This was a sin offering. The fat and kidneys were offered on the altar to the Lord. The rest of the animal was burned in fire outside the camp.
SPIRITUAL APPLICATION: The things that we would not consider valuable was what the Lord wanted offered to Himself. The things that we would consider valuable and worthwhile, the Lord counted as worthless and it was burned outside the Lord's presence.
Leviticus 8:18-21 NASB Then he presented the ram of the burnt offering, and Aaron and his sons laid their hands on the head of the ram. (19) Moses slaughtered it and sprinkled the blood around on the altar. (20) When he had cut the ram into its pieces, Moses offered up the head and the pieces and the suet in smoke. (21) After he had washed the entrails and the legs with water, Moses offered up the whole ram in smoke on the altar. It was a burnt offering for a soothing aroma; it was an offering by fire to the LORD, just as the LORD had commanded Moses.
NOTE: This is a “burnt offering”, which means it was wholly burnt until it was ashes. It occurs between the sin offering and the peace offering.
SPIRITUAL APPLICATION: This symbolizes entire surrender to God. As Paul tells us, “Therefore I urge you, brethren, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies a living and holy sacrifice, acceptable to God, which is your spiritual service of worship.” (Romans 12:1 NASB) The presenting of our bodies is our “burnt offering” it is wholly consumed on the altar as a soothing aroma.
Leviticus 8:22-24 NASB Then he presented the second ram, the ram of ordination, and Aaron and his sons laid their hands on the head of the ram. (23) Moses slaughtered it and 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) He also had Aaron's sons come near; and Moses put some of the blood on the lobe of their right ear, and on the thumb of their right hand and on the big toe of their right foot. Moses then sprinkled the rest of the blood around on the altar.
NOTE: The blood of the ordination sacrifice was applied to the right ear, right thumb, and the big toe of the right foot. Then the blood was sprinkled around on the altar.
SPIRITUAL APPLICATION: In the “burnt offering” our bodies were presented as a living sacrifice to the Lord. Now, comes our call to service or ministry. The ear, hand, and foot are now sanctified for service. The ear so that we hear the Spirit; the thumb so that we might do what the Lord desires; the big toe so that we might go where the Spirit leads.
Leviticus 8:25-28 NASB He took the fat, and the fat tail, and all the fat that was on the entrails, and the lobe of the liver and the two kidneys and their fat and the right thigh. (26) From the basket of unleavened bread that was before the LORD, he took one unleavened cake and one cake of bread mixed with oil and one wafer, and placed them on the portions of fat and on the right thigh. (27) He then put all these on the hands of Aaron and on the hands of his sons and presented them as a wave offering before the LORD. (28) Then Moses took them from their hands and offered them up in smoke on the altar with the burnt offering. They were an ordination offering for a soothing aroma; it was an offering by fire to the LORD.
NOTE: The fat, meat, and bread were put into the hands of Aaron and his sons so that they might make a wave offering before the Lord.
SPIRITUAL APPLICATION: We partake of the ministry and service; but even what we receive is acknowledged as the Lord's. Then the service of ministry is wholly given as an offering to the Lord.
Leviticus 8:30 NASB So Moses took some of the anointing oil and some of the blood which was on the altar and sprinkled it on Aaron, on his garments, on his sons, and on the garments of his sons with him; and he consecrated Aaron, his garments, and his sons, and the garments of his sons with him.
NOTE: Blood had previously been sprinkled on the altar. Now it is taken from the altar and, along with anointing oil, sprinkled on Aaron, his sons, and their garments to consecrate them.
SPIRITUAL APPLICATION: It is the blood of Jesus and the anointing of the Holy Spirit which consecrate us, set us apart for service. Without both of these elements our consecration is not complete.
Leviticus 8:31-32 NASB Then Moses said to Aaron and to his sons, "Boil the flesh at the doorway of the tent of meeting, and eat it there together with the bread which is in the basket of the ordination offering, just as I commanded, saying, 'Aaron and his sons shall eat it.' (32) "The remainder of the flesh and of the bread you shall burn in the fire.
NOTE: The meat and bread from the previous offering were to be food for Aaron and his sons with the remainder burnt with fire.
SPIRITUAL APPLICATION: The consecrated ones are sustained by partaking of that which has been offered to the Lord. It is our meat and bread for the laborer is worthy of his hire. However, what is not needed cannot be stored by the consecrated ones but must be returned to the Lord.
Leviticus 8:33-35 NASB "You shall not go outside the doorway of the tent of meeting for seven days, until the day that the period of your ordination is fulfilled; for he will ordain you through seven days. (34) "The LORD has commanded to do as has been done this day, to make atonement on your behalf. (35) "At the doorway of the tent of meeting, moreover, you shall remain day and night for seven days and keep the charge of the LORD, so that you will not die, for so I have been commanded."
NOTE: Although they are now prepared to serve as priests, they are commanded to wait before the tent of meeting for seven days
SPIRITUAL APPLICATION: This is the hardest part of the process for us. After being prepared and set apart for service, we wait before the Lord and the people doing nothing for seven days—seven meaning fullness or completeness. We feel like we should be doing something, after all we have been prepared for work. The people also prod us to be doing something, after all we are ready. But the Lord says wait. We have to settle in our spirits so that we do not do things in the power of our own self will.
Leviticus 9:1-21 NASB Now it came about on the eighth day that Moses called Aaron and his sons and the elders of Israel; (2) and he said to Aaron, "Take for yourself a calf, a bull, for a sin offering and a ram for a burnt offering, both without defect, and offer them before the LORD. (3) "Then to the sons of Israel you shall speak, saying, 'Take a male goat for a sin offering, and a calf and a lamb, both one year old, without defect, for a burnt offering, (4) and an ox and a ram for peace offerings, to sacrifice before the LORD, and a grain offering mixed with oil; for today the LORD will appear to you.'" (5) So they took what Moses had commanded to the front of the tent of meeting, and the whole congregation came near and stood before the LORD. (6) Moses said, "This is the thing which the LORD has commanded you to do, that the glory of the LORD may appear to you." (7) Moses then said to Aaron, "Come near to the altar and offer your sin offering and your burnt offering, that you may make atonement for yourself and for the people; then make the offering for the people, that you may make atonement for them, just as the LORD has commanded." (8) So Aaron came near to the altar and slaughtered the calf of the sin offering which was for himself. (9) Aaron's sons presented the blood to him; and he dipped his finger in the blood and put some on the horns of the altar, and poured out the rest of the blood at the base of the altar. (10) The fat and the kidneys and the lobe of the liver of the sin offering, he then offered up in smoke on the altar just as the LORD had commanded Moses. (11) The flesh and the skin, however, he burned with fire outside the camp. (12) Then he slaughtered the burnt offering; and Aaron's sons handed the blood to him and he sprinkled it around on the altar. (13) They handed the burnt offering to him in pieces, with the head, and he offered them up in smoke on the altar. (14) He also washed the entrails and the legs, and offered them up in smoke with the burnt offering on the altar. (15) Then he presented the people's offering, and took the goat of the sin offering which was for the people, and slaughtered it and offered it for sin, like the first. (16) He also presented the burnt offering, and offered it according to the ordinance. (17) Next he presented the grain offering, and filled his hand with some of it and offered it up in smoke on the altar, besides the burnt offering of the morning. (18) Then he slaughtered the ox and the ram, the sacrifice of peace offerings which was for the people; and Aaron's sons handed the blood to him and he sprinkled it around on the altar. (19) As for the portions of fat from the ox and from the ram, the fat tail, and the fat covering, and the kidneys and the lobe of the liver, (20) they now placed the portions of fat on the breasts; and he offered them up in smoke on the altar. (21) But the breasts and the right thigh Aaron presented as a wave offering before the LORD, just as Moses had commanded.
NOTE: Aaron followed the commands of the Lord according to the procedure that Moses had taught him in his own consecration as a priest. This was necessary for the glory of the Lord to appear to the people.
SPIRITUAL APPLICATION: Productive service to the Lord and for the people doesn't begin until the eighth day—until the time of waiting before the Lord is completed. Then service comes from the methods and procedures that we have been taught in our own maturing process. The goal is the revelation of the glory of the Lord.
Leviticus 9:22-24 NASB Then Aaron lifted up his hands toward the people and blessed them, and he stepped down after making the sin offering and the burnt offering and the peace offerings. (23) Moses and Aaron went into the tent of meeting. When they came out and blessed the people, the glory of the LORD appeared to all the people. (24) Then fire came out from before the LORD and consumed the burnt offering and the portions of fat on the altar; and when all the people saw it, they shouted and fell on their faces.
NOTE: After the offerings were completed, Aaron blessed the people and the glory of the Lord appeared to all and fire from the Lord consumed the offering.
SPIRITUAL APPLICATION: After our ministry to the Lord we can bless the people. Until we minister to the Lord we have no blessing for the people. However, out of the fullness of ministry to the Lord comes the blessing for the people. When this occurs, the Lord answers with fire as a testimony to the people.
We can see from this process of consecration to service of the Levitical priests that it was not something entered into lightly. The people watched and could see what was necessary for a priest to function on their behalf. The same is true for us as we are set aside to function as a Melchizedek type of priest—a New Testament priest. The process is ordered by the Lord with the goal being the revelation of His glory. It is not entered into lightly. There is no place for self-will or self-direction. All things depend upon the Lord.
© 2009 Art Nelson www.lifestreamteaching.com