RPG Adults
ANOINTING THE PRIESTS
MONDAY, APRIL 29
Leviticus 8
1 Peter 1:13-16
“…Moses took the anointing oil,
and anointed the tabernacle
and all that was therein…”
ANOINTING THE PRIESTS
For the first time in Israel’s existence, she was about to witness something most sacred! It was the anointing of the priesthood for ministry. From her existence as slaves to the completion and consecration of the Tabernacle, Israel did not have anything spiritual on a national level. Israel was about to witness a spiritual blessing that would set the tone of holiness in a manner that the world had never seen before.
The LORD alone ordains His priests. They were the mediators between God and man. Man could not appoint his own priests. They must come from the lineage of Aaron as he was the first high priest. They were holy before God as God’s priests. Whether they were believers or not, they were ordained to do the work of the priesthood. If it was done rightly according to Scriptures, it would be accepted before God. The offerings were offered by the worshipper to the LORD. It was between the worshipper and the LORD, and as long as the priests did it correctly, the sins of the worshipper would be forgiven. The priests had no power to forgive sins at all. They were merely mediators. They had to put on their priestly garments designed by the LORD. This reminded the priests that whenever they put on their priestly garments, they were doing holy work. They must be holy as the LORD is holy. The Tabernacle and all the items needed to be sanctified first before the consecration of the priests could begin. Once the items of the Tabernacle were sanctified with the anointing oil, then the priests were similarly sanctified by the anointing oil that was poured onto Aaron’s head.
Holy people were allowed to touch holy things. The work of the Tabernacle was holy work. The distinction between the holiness of the LORD and the sinfulness of the people of Israel was visibly manifested by the priestly garments and the Aaronic priesthood. The rest of Israel were forbidden to do the work of the priests. Not even their future kings would be allowed to do so.
MEMORISATION: Leviticus 8:12
PRAYER: Make me holy as Thou art holy, O LORD God almighty, for Jesus’ sake. Amen.