CONSECRATION. Leviticus 8 The ordination of the priests in chapter eight marked the beginning of offering regular sacrifices, which the priests then carried out. After their consecration, when Moses served as a priest, Aaron and his sons took their places as active priests, as described in chapter nine. The death of two of Aaron’s sons in chapter ten highlighted the importance of strict obedience to the prescribed way of conducting the ordinances by every priest. We are not free to do as we please in worship and serving the Lord. Those set apart for God's work must remember that holy things require holiness from us.
Those who believe in the Lord Jesus Christ show what is real inside. We have accepted the Lord Jesus Christ as our personal Savior, and the Holy Spirit lives in us. The actions we take, how we speak, and our attitude toward God and His people reveal what’s inside. Obedience doesn’t create inner reality but confirms it.
Observing the public consecration of Aaron and his sons as priests before the Lord and on behalf of the people, I noticed this took place openly in front of the Tabernacle. This was not a private act of consecration, but was witnessed by those who observed, showing that there was a difference between them and the observers. God had chosen them to bring offerings He had designated and to do the work of service in the Tabernacle His way. This was not left up to the people to do in their own way; just as worship and service for God are not left up to us to do in our own way. A person consecrated to God is chosen and entrusted with holy things. We cannot add anything of ourselves or the world's way to those things. It is our duty to worship as a church and serve in the body of Christ as He has specified.
As the high priest, Aaron symbolizes Christ in the Levitical priesthood. His sons, who were priests, represented the Church. There is a priesthood of all believers connected with Christ, similar to how Aaron's sons were taken "with him" to be consecrated. They were sons set apart by birth and now participate in priestly work through consecration. They were distinguished from others by their birth, just as all believers who are born again into God's family.
That is one meaning of the word "consecration." Another meaning is "hands that are filled," which signifies a dedication to service as well as being set apart by birth. An unconsecrated son of Aaron would not be able to participate in priestly service for God. Not every Christian “practices the priesthood of believers,” even though they are priests by God's grace. The public practice of the priesthood is not widespread today and is not observed in many "church gatherings."
The garments of Aaron, as the high priest, teach us lessons about the high priestly ministry of our Lord Jesus Christ. His High Priesthood differs from Aaron’s because Aaron never took an oath to be a priest forever; he had to die. Our High Priest is a priest forever by oath because He will never die and "ever lives to make intercession" for us.
The coat of white linen that Aaron first wore symbolizes the pure, sinless humanity of our Lord Jesus Christ, which God could see. Like a sash around Him, the girdle represents Christ's faithfulness and righteousness in fulfilling God's will in every way. The blue robe that was put on next signifies the heavenly qualities of our Great High Priest, who has access to God's throne on our behalf. In front of that beautiful garment was fastened the breastplate, reminding us of the righteous judgment and justice that make our ongoing acceptance by God possible. His advocacy and the perfection of His decisions are more important than we often realize. Without Him, I could do nothing.
The Urim and Thummim were two objects, likely kept in a hidden pouch, used in decision-making to reveal God's answer on a particular matter. In some way, by examining these two items—something only God could know—truth was uncovered. Our Lord Jesus and the Father are always in perfect harmony, and what one knows and does is always clear and satisfying to the other.
We may never understand the reasons behind some events, but our Lord and the Righteous God do, and that is all that matters. The high priest also wore a miter, a visible headpiece that signified his submission to God's authority. He could act with delegated authority—not on his own. The Lord Jesus Christ, who is eternal in His being and power, serves as the High Priest for us and acts with authority from God on our behalf.
When we pray, we do so in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. We don't make requests or claim promises based on who we are. Our only acceptance comes through Him, in whose name we pray. The gold plate on the front of the miter distinguished the priest from everyone else—and all else—to God... "Holiness to the Lord." The bonnets worn by the sons of Aaron symbolized their submission to the high priest, just as we, as a kingdom of priests, are subject to our Great High Priest. Our access to God is only through Him.
The oil poured on Aaron, the high priest, symbolizes the full outpouring of the Holy Spirit on the Lord Jesus Christ during His time here and when He was raised from the dead by the Spirit's power. There is no limit to the Lord's power and authority. "All power is given unto Me in heaven and in the earth." The same Spirit has been given to us who are part of the Church. We are one body in the Lord. We are not powerless. The Lord was victorious over the world, over Satan, and over sin, which no longer has dominion over us.
The priests, the sons of Aaron, teach us about the priesthood of all believers. The girdles and bonnets symbolize that we have been given an office with the official role of priests, offering our spiritual sacrifices to God. When the sin offering was made, there had to be proof that atonement was achieved—sin was removed—and it was burned outside the camp as evidence of a complete work. The fat was burned on the altar to show that God knew what Christ endured. Aaron killing the animal reminds us that Christ laid down His life for us. He understood what was necessary, and He did it. When Aaron killed the burnt offering, the blood sprinkled served as a testimony, and some was placed on the ear and toe of the high priest and his sons, the priests; they were then consecrated and prepared for service. Christ was sanctified for our sake, and in turn, we are connected to Him because of the same perfect sacrifice. That sacrifice was waved before God, symbolizing that it was for God and man, just as the sacrifice of Jesus was for God's approval and our blessing. Even Moses took part in this wave offering, showing us that Christ is the Apostle (Messenger—Moses) and the High Priest (Mediator—Aaron) of our profession.
Separately, Moses sprinkled blood and oil on Aaron and his sons. The blood symbolizes our separation "unto” God through the sacrifice of Christ and our unity in priestly service by the Holy Spirit, who grants each of us a work to do for God. When they ate together of that boiled flesh and bread for the entire week, it testified to the truth of communion and fellowship with God and others. In our case, this continues until Christ comes and begins the new week of blessing. By the end of that week, there was no doubt among the onlookers about who the high priest was and who the priests were who could lead worship as God intended. May it always be so with us as we worship and serve in the public priesthood of believers.
Look and see, who are those men standing before that door? They are the ones God has called to serve Him and His people. They are just men, but the sons of the Great High Priest—children of God—are a kingdom of priests from the greatest to the least. Our heavenly Great High Priest is always before God on our behalf so that our worship and service are accepted because of His righteousness, not because of what we have or lack. Those who come to offer sacrifices and worship to God have gathered to give what we value most. In Christ alone, we live, move, and have our being.
The duty of a priest is to offer sacrifices of praise to God and to support, in any way we can, the interests of our Lord. On behalf of others, we pray for and serve them in Jesus' name. If we neglect our intercession, we are the ones to blame. The grace of God displayed is evidenced in many ways. We do this through daily offerings to God, and on one special day, the "Lordly day," we carry out unique actions in faith. We offer gifts of worship and sacrifice in a chosen place. Priestly service involves us giving honor, praise, and glory to our Lord, but that is not all God accepts. There is more to a priest's story because he is to offer himself to God, blameless and undefiled. Strangers do not hold the priestly office; each priest is God's own child.