EXODUS 29 CONSECRATION - IDENTIFICATION The whole congregation of Israel were to gather at the gate of the Tabernacle when the consecration of the priests was to take place. It had been God's intention for every person in Israel was to be a priest to Him, but because of Israel's sin this could not happen. The family of Aaron, the son of faithful Amran and Jocabed, was identified as priests on behalf of the whole nation. The gathering would have impressed all who attended with the seriousness of approaching God and of God approaching them. God was teaching His people how to worship Him. The priests were publicly washed indicating the necessity of cleansing from sin that speaks to us of salvation. The washing of the Word and the preparation by the Holy Spirit was typified by what took place at the laver before the priest went into worship in the Holy Place. That is needed today in order for us to truly worship "in spirit and in truth." The appropriate attitude (spirit) is linked with God's will (truth) when we come to worship. The washing in verse 4 of this chapter is a reference to moral cleansing teaching us the necessity of the new birth as cleansing from the guilt of sin. The whole person was cleansed. One unwashed priest approaching God on behalf of the people would have jeopardized every person he represented. These similar two words for "clean" are used in John 13:10. When one comes to Christ, he has had the bath - has been morally cleansed - but in daily life we contact defilement and need our feet washed by the continual intercession of Christ.
After the washing, the garments for "glory and beauty" are worn as the priestly service was inaugurated. The oil with which the High Priest was anointed is a type of the Holy Spirit. The priests were anointed later. There was no question the Holy Spirit "anointed" Christ when He was here on earth. He was in fellowship with the Spirit, He was led of the Spirit. The disciples were anointed by the Spirit after He ascended into heaven. When Christ entered His public ministry there was no doubt as to His holiness, His uniqueness, His fellowship with God in every act and word. The garments of the priests were different than that 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 go into the presence of God and engage in service for Him, there had to be offerings made. The bull for the sin offering was brought and the hands of the priests were pressed down on its head. By doing this there was the type given of the sinless substitute bearing their sins which were transferred to it before it died. That solemn ceremony involved the bull being killed, its blood being put on the horns of the altar and poured out at the bottom of the altar. This is the basis of reconciliation. "Without the shedding of blood there is no remission." We have been "justified freely by His blood." Peace has been made 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 that we might be made the righteousness of God in Him." In the sin offering, the pressing down of the hands of the priests on the bull's head identified them with the one who was to die in their place for atonement for their sins.
Now a ram was brought for a burnt offering and the priests pressed their hands down on the ram's head. In this way they were identifying themselves with the excellence of the substitute. We are not able to please God in every way during our life. But the perfections of Christ do please God. In the burnt offering we are accepted by God because of the perfections of Christ our substitute. In the sin offering Type, "He was made sin for us... that we might be made the righteousness of God in Him" - the burnt offering. The perfection of the ram was accepted by God for the priests. We are "accepted in the Beloved."
The second ram was the one to signify consecration. This is 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 the head of this ram 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 do always those things that please the Father." That is consecration. Consecration is not what we give up for our service for the Lord, but what is our attitude toward the privilege of serving Him. The more there is of Christ in our life, the less of self-will is seen.
Blood on the ear of the priests means we first hear the Word of God and the blood on the hand means we obey that Word. The right hand of power and skill is for God. It made the priests fit to handle the sacrifices on behalf of the people and for God. We need to do what we do with the best of our ability "as unto the Lord and not unto man." The blood on the foot indicates separation unto God in a consecrated walk. As believers we are not free to do our own will or to go our own way, but are set apart for God. "You are not your own, for ye are bought with a price."
All that spoke of Christ were put into the hands of the priests for a wave offering before the Lord. Their hands are filled in consecrated service with Christ in His death - parts of the ram; Christ in His spotless life - the loaves. God got His part and the priest got their part. The flour teaches us of the perfect life of Christ; the oil of Him being begotten of the Holy Spirit; the wine of the joy of communion with God as we share with Him in the perfections of His Son.
The meeting place, the Tabernacle was consecrated by God's glory. People could only come to the gate. Those who were priests were allowed to enter. Now God chooses to dwell with the people. "Ye are the temple of God." "Your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost." "The temple of God is holy."