The Consecration of the Priests. Exodus 29:1-30 The entire congregation of Israel was to gather at the gate of the Tabernacle for the priests' consecration. God intended for every person in Israel to be a priest to Him, but because of Israel's sin, this could not happen. The family of Aaron, the son of faithful Amram and Jochebed, was chosen as priests on behalf of the entire nation. The gathering would have impressed all attendees with the seriousness of approaching God and of God approaching them. God was teaching His people how to worship Him.
The word “hallow” [KJV] is significant because it means to “mark out as distinct.” A brand new chapter for Aaron and his sons began that day in front of the entire congregation of Israel, which had gathered to witness this event. Several items had to be brought to this place. Three types of bread in one basket: unleavened bread, thick cakes of unleavened bread mixed with oil in the dough, and thin unleavened wafers with oil on the outside, remind us of the sinless perfection of our Lord and the unity of divine Persons when God’s people gather to worship the Lord. Three animals were sacrificed: a bull for the sin offering, a ram for the burnt offering, and a ram for consecration, which shares the general characteristics of the peace offering.
The priests were publicly cleansed, symbolizing the need for spiritual purification that points us to salvation. The washing of the Word and the preparation by the Holy Spirit were symbolized by what occurred at the laver before the priest entered the Holy Place to worship. This remains necessary today so we can worship truly "in spirit and in truth." The right attitude (spirit) must be connected with God's will (truth) when we worship. The cleansing mentioned in verse 4 of this chapter refers to moral purification, teaching us the importance of the new birth as a means of cleansing from sin's guilt. The entire person was purified. An unwashed priest approaching God on behalf of the people would have endangered everyone he represented. The two similar words for "clean" are used again in John 13:10. When someone comes to Christ, they have had the bath - they have been morally cleansed - but in daily life, we face defilement and need our feet washed continually through Christ's ongoing intercession.
After the washing, the garments for "glory and beauty," which were worn in priestly service, were inaugurated. The oil used to anoint the High Priest is a symbol of the Holy Spirit. The priests were anointed afterward. There was no question that the Holy Spirit "anointed" Christ when He was here on earth. He was in fellowship with the Spirit and led by the Spirit. The disciples were anointed by the Spirit after He ascended into heaven. When Christ began His public ministry, there was no doubt about His holiness, His uniqueness, and His fellowship with God in every act and word. The priests' garments differed from those of the high priest but were similar. There should always be a similarity in our walk, our work, and our ways to the Lord Jesus Christ. We have been given the divine nature and are able to engage in holy service for God.
Before the priests could enter God's presence and serve Him, offerings had to be made. The bull for the sin offering was brought, and the priests pressed their hands down on its head. This act symbolized the sinless substitute taking on their sins, which were transferred to it before its death. The solemn ceremony involved killing the bull, placing its blood on the altar's horns, and pouring some out at the base of the altar.
This is the foundation of reconciliation. "Without the shedding of blood, there is no remission." We have been "justified freely by His blood." Peace has been established through "the blood of His cross." The fat was burned on the altar, and the rest of the bull was burned outside the camp. The Lord Jesus Christ suffered "without the gate," but the sweetness of His Person was accepted by God on our behalf. "He was made sin for us so that we might be made the righteousness of God in Him." In the sin offering, the pressing down of the priests' hands on the bull's head identified them with the one who was to die in their place for atonement of their sins.
Then, a ram was brought as a burnt offering, and the priests pressed their hands down on the ram's head. This act symbolized their identification with the excellence of the substitute. We cannot please God in every way during our lifetime, but the perfection of Christ does please Him. In the burnt offering, we are accepted by God because of Christ's perfection, our substitute. In the sin offering, "He was made sin for us... that we might be made the righteousness of God in Him"—the burnt offering. God is glorified— we are saved. The perfection of the ram was accepted by God on behalf of the priests. We are "accepted in the Beloved."
The second ram, the “ram of consecration,” was the one used to signify consecration. The difference between being “hallowed” and “consecrated” is that the first means being set aside as distinctly marked, while the second involves being set aside with hands filled for service. This aligns with the general pattern of the peace offering, teaching us about the blessing of communion with God. The Lord Jesus never turned aside from His devotedness to God. The priest pressed their hands down on this ram's head to show they were identified with the ram of consecration.
Our Lord Jesus was "obedient unto death, even the death of the cross." The Lord could say of Himself, "I always do those things that please the Father." He has been consecrated forever and consecrated for us. That is true consecration. Our Lord intends us to be separated to Himself and set apart (consecrated) with our hands filled for serving Him with gladness and obedience. Consecration is not what we give up for our service to the Lord, but our attitude toward the privilege of serving Him. The more there is of Christ in our lives, the less self-will is seen.
Blood on the priest's ear symbolizes that we first hear the Word of God, and blood on the hand shows that we obey that Word. The right hand of strength and skill belongs to God. It equipped the priests to handle sacrifices for the people and for God. We should do our work to the best of our ability "as unto the Lord and not unto man." The blood on the foot signifies separation unto God in a dedicated walk. As believers, we are not free to follow our own will or take our own path but are set apart for God. "You are not your own, for ye are bought with a price."
After the blood had been applied to the priests themselves, their garments were sprinkled with blood and anointing oil. The sprinkling of blood signifies being forgiven of our sins and justified by blood before being sealed and indwelt by the Holy Spirit of God. All of this had to be done before offering the wave offering. The wave offering indicated that everything was owed to God, but some of it was received back as a gift from God.
All that speak of Christ are entrusted to the priests for a wave offering before the Lord. Their hands are filled with consecrated service, sharing in Christ's death—represented by parts of the ram—and His spotless life—symbolized by the loaves. God receives His part, and the priest receives theirs. The flour symbolizes the perfect life of Christ; the oil represents Him being begotten of the Holy Spirit; and the wine signifies the joy of communion with God as we share in the perfections of His Son.