Leviticus 8 CONSECRATION 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 out in the open in front of the Tabernacle. This was not some private act of consecration, but was seen by those who looked on, and would see there is a difference between them and us. They had been chosen by God to bring offerings that He designated, to do the work of service in the Tabernacle in His way. This was not left up to the people to do in their own way, any more than worship and service for God is left up to us to do in our own way. A person consecrated to God is one chosen by God and entrusted with holy things. We cannot add to those things anything of ourselves or of the world's way. It is our responsibility to worship as a church and serve in the body of Christ as He has designated.
Aaron, as the high priest, is a type of Christ in the Levitical priesthood. His sons who were priests are representatives of the Church. There is a priesthood of all believers that is associated with Christ, in a similar fashion as Aaron's sons were taken "with him" to be consecrated. They were sons who were set apart from others by birth who were now to be engaged in priestly work by consecration. They were set apart from others by their birth, even as all believers who have been born again into the family of God. That is one meaning of the word "consecration." Another meaning of the word is "hand that are filled," indicating there is a consecration to service as well as being set apart by birth. An unconsecrated son of Aaron would not be able to engage in priestly service for God. Not every Christian does practice the priesthood of believers even though they are priests by God's grace. The public practice of the priesthood is not popular today and is not done in very many "church gatherings."
The garments of Aaron, in the position of high priest have teaching for us in relation to the high priestly ministry of our Lord Jesus Christ. His High Priesthood is different from Aaron in that Aaron never took an oath to be a priest forever because he had to die. Our High Priest is a priest forever by oath because He will never die, and "ever liveth to make intercession" for us. The coat of white linen Aaron first put on speaks to us of the pure, sinless humanity of our Lord Jesus Christ that was able to be seen by God. The girdle like a sash around him is a type of the faithfulness and righteousness of Christ in His work as He did God's will in every way. The robe of blue that was put on next would speak of the heavenly perfections of our Great High Priest who has access to the throne of God on our account. In front of that beautiful garment was fastened the breastplate reminding us of the righteous judgment and justice that makes possible our continual acceptance by God. His advocacy and the perfectness of His decisions are more important than we could ever imagine. Without Him I could do nothing.
The Urim and Thummim were two articles of some kind probably kept in a hidden pouch that would be used in decision making to discern God's decision on a particular matter of inquiry. In some way by looking at these two things, there was revealed to them something that only God could know. Our Lord Jesus and the Father are always in perfect agreement and what one knows and does is perfectly clear and satisfying to the other. We may never know the reason for some things that happen, but our Lord does and the Righteous God does, and that is all that matters. The high priest also wore a miter, a visible head-piece that indicated his subjection to God's authority. He was able to act with delegated authority - not on his own authority. The Lord Jesus Christ who is eternal in His being and power, as the High Priest for us, acts with authority from God for us. When we pray we do so under authority of the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. We don't make requests or claim promises because of who we are. Our only acceptance is because of Him in whose name we pray. The gold plate on the front of the miter separated the priest from everyone else and all else - to God... "Holiness to the Lord." The bonnets the sons of Aaron wore, typified the subjection of the priests to the high priest in the same way we, as a kingdom of priests, are subject to our Great High Priest. Our access to God is through Him.
The oil that was poured on Aaron, the high priest, tells us of the unreserved outpouring of the Holy Spirit on the Lord Jesus Christ when He was here and when He was raised by from the among the dead by the power of the Spirit. There is no limit to the power and dominion of the Lord. "All power is given unto Me in heaven and in earth." The same Spirit has been given to us who are in 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 that no longer has dominion over us.
The priests, the sons of Aaron, speak to us of the priesthood of all believers. The girdles and bonnets typify the fact that we have been placed in an office with the official position of priests to offer our spiritual sacrifices to God. When the sin offering was made there had to be evidence that atonement was made, sin was put away and that was burned outside the camp as evidence of a finished work. The fat was burned on the altar as a testimony to the fact that God knew what Christ went through. Aaron killed that animal reminding us that Christ laid down His life for us. He knew what was needed and He did it. When Aaron killed the burnt offering, there was a testimony in the blood sprinkled and some put on the ear and toe of the high priest and his sons, the priests, they were then set apart and ready for service. Christ was sanctified for our sakes and we in turn are associated with Him because of the same perfect sacrifice. That sacrifice was waved before God, so it was for both God and man in the same way the sacrifice of the Lord Jesus was for God's satisfaction and our blessing. Even Moses had a part in this wave offering teaching us that Christ is both the Apostle (Communicator - Moses) and the High Priest (Mediator - Aaron) of our profession.
Separately Moses sprinkled blood and oil on Aaron and his sons. The blood speaks of us being separated unto God by the sacrifice of Christ, and being united in priestly service by the Holy Spirit who gives us each a work to do for God. When they ate together of that boiled flesh and bread for the whole week, there was truth testified to of communion and fellowship with God and other. And in our case, it continues until Christ comes and ushers in the new week of blessing. By the time that week was over, there was no question on the minds of the on-lookers as to who the high priest was and who were priests who could lead in worship the way God intended. May it ever be so with us as we worship and serve in our public practice of the priesthood of believers.
Look and see, who are those men standing before that door? They are those God has called to serve Him evermore. Only men it is true, but the sons of the Great High Priest -
Children of God are a kingdom of priest from the greatest to the least.
Our heavenly Great High Priest is always before God on our behalf. Our worship and service are His in righteousness, not what we have or lack. So as those who come to offer God what we have gathered up to give - That is what we value most, it is in Christ alone we live.
The duty of the priest is to offer the sacrifices of praises unto God. And support in whatever way we can the interests of our Lord. On behalf of others we pray and serve them in Jesus' name. If we neglect our intercession, we are the ones to blame.
The grace of God displayed is testified to in many a way. We do so in daily offerings to God, and on one special day. The "Lordly day" has things unique we carry out in faith. Offering gifts of worship and sacrifice we do in a chosen place.
Our priestly service involves us giving honor, praise and glory. But that is not all that God accepts, there is more to a priest's story. He is to offer himself to God, blameless and undefiled. The priestly office is not held by strangers, each priest is God's own child.
"Holy Father, my mind is turned to the moment after consecration has taken place, to the first time a priest, I offered a sacrifice to Thee. It was with fear and trembling. Now I continue to do so, with reverence for Thee and a desire to honor and glorify Thee. The focus on myself that made me fear the first time, now is on Thee and the Lord Jesus. I believe there is a greater sense of awe and the holiness involved now than there was at the beginning of my Christian life. I honor and worship Thee in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, Amen."