Never Forsaken: The New Testament Church - A Kingdom of Priests

 

So I will consecrate the tent of meeting and the altar and will consecrate Aaron and his sons to serve me as priests. Then I will dwell among the Israelites and be their God. Exodus 29:44-45

 In today’s text (Exodus 28-29) we focus on the consecration and role of the priests of Israel – Aaron and his sons. I was drawn into the illustration and correlation between this text and how we, as Christians are, “a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people of his own, so that you may proclaim the virtues of the one who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light.” (1 Peter 2:9). Charles Spurgeon, in one of his many sermons, fleshed out this correlation and showed me some interesting insights.

 The consecration of Aaron, and his descendants that followed him, began with a ceremonial cleansing. They would be washed fully outside of the entrance to the Tabernacle. In order to serve and minister before God, the priests needed to be cleansed from their sins. God is holy and all who would come before Him, or enter into communion with Him, must also be holy. As Christians, we also must receive the cleansing from our sins given to us through Jesus. After this initial washing, they would only need to wash their feet when entering in the future. Jesus echoed this when He washed His disciples’ feet in John 13:10 telling Peter, “The one who has bathed needs only to wash his feet, but is completely clean. And you disciples are clean, but not every one of you.” Spurgeon shared of this, “Believers should not pray to their heavenly Father as if their sins still rested upon them and had never been forgiven, for the Lord has put away their sin, and as far as the east is from the west so far hath he removed their transgressions from them: yet as they continually accumulate some evil and stain by being in this body, and in this world, they have need to come each day with, “Forgive us our trespasses as we forgive them that trespass against us.” Our first washing has removed all sin as before God the Judge; our daily washing cleanses us from offences towards God as our Father.”

 After being washed, the priests were clothed. The garments given to them were not ones that they made themselves or saved up for and purchase, they were given to them through no earning or justification they had done. Likewise, as we are clothed in Christ as believers, we wear the garment of salvation that we could never have attained on our own (Isaiah 61:10). Our only act is to put this garment on, it’s construction and beauty created by God alone.

 Then, the priests were anointed with oil, which represented the Holy Spirit, without which we cannot minister in God’s Name.

 After having been prepared, a sacrifice was performed on their behalf. Hebrews 9:22 teaches us that, “In fact, according to the law of Moses, nearly everything was purified with blood. For without the shedding of blood, there is no forgiveness.” If you read about the sacrifices that took place here for Aaron, there is blood everywhere! There is blood on the altar, around the altar, splashed here and there. Moses place blood on the right ear, thumb and big toe of Aaron and his sons and sprinkled blood mixed with oil on them. Again, like these men, we cannot receive forgiveness without the shedding of blood. Praise God that Jesus made this sacrifice on our behalf, once and for all. Through His shed blood, we are cleansed and forgiven. I read in David Guzik’s commentary that the priests didn’t just place their hands gently on the animal as it was being killed for them, but they were to lean into it, placing the burden of their own sin on it. A heavy weight formed in my heart as I imagined that I, too, needed to lean into Jesus, my horrible, disgusting sin being pressed upon Him, as He died that I might live. It’s not just a story. It’s not separate, a distant history. It’s real and relevant and important that we recognize today.

 The final sacrifice in this series was a peace offering. In this, the priests were to offer some of the animal, it’s best parts, on the altar for God. This is also the point at which they were anointed with both the blood of the sacrifice and oil. Just like them, we need to be touched by the blood of Jesus and the presence of the Holy Spirit (represented by oil). Forgiven in Christ and indwelt by His Holy Presence, we can live our lives as an offering of love to Him. In addition to the sacrifice burned on the altar for God, they were to wave some of it before God and then prepare it for themselves to eat. Here they experienced fellowship with God, having a meal with Him. I love how Spurgeon drew out that the arms of the priests were pressed against the sacrifice as they gave up their sin upon it, but then God didn’t leave them empty-handed. In fact, in Deuteronomy 16:16 we are instructed that no one is to appear before God without a gift for Him. But did the priests have to go searching? No, God provided even this for them, as He does for us. He filled their hands with meat and bread and wine that they were to wave before Him, then consume in His presence. Whatever God has given us, we should offer back to Him. That doesn’t mean that every penny we make should be given back in tithe, as here the priests were blessed to enjoy these things. But they did so in the presence of God and with His blessing. We get to enjoy the gifts God has given us as well, but we ought to be very sure to recognize that it is Him that has given them and offer them up as thanks and peace offerings to Him.

 Lastly, Spurgeon points out that his consecration was for life. Once Aaron or his descendants had become a priest, they were a priest forever. It’s the same for us. We don’t have to appear at the entrance to the Tent of Meeting (the Tabernacle) and be washed from head to toe every year or every day. We don’t have to offer blood sacrifices for our sins over and over. No. Jesus died on the cross once for all time, for all mankind (Hebrews 10:10-12). Today, we have our feet washed as we confess our daily sins (Matthew 6:12). We remember Jesus’ sacrifice for us as we celebrate communion together. And we offer up all that we have, our very lives, as wave offerings to God, communing with Him as we enjoy all the gifts that He has provided to us.

Here’s the Thing: It’s pretty common that at first glance I see a passage like today’s and think that it has nothing to do with me. That it’s a history from a former time about ancient people. But today, God taught me that it is very relevant indeed, and that I certainly have a lot to learn!

*Guzik, David. "Study Guide for Exodus 29." Blue Letter Bible. 6/2022. Web. 12 Apr, 2026. <https://www.blueletterbible.org/comm/guzik_david/study-guide/exodus/exodus-29.cfm>.