Deuteronomy 18:22 "If what a prophet proclaims in the name of the LORD does not take place or come true, that is a message the LORD has not spoken. That prophet has spoken presumptuously. Do not be afraid of him."
What does it mean that "the LORD is their inheritance?" The Levites, 1/12th of the tribes of Israel have no inheritance as the other tribes. The others get the land and the material things. The Levites live on the offerings and charity of the rest of them. They only ate because of the sin of the people. If there was no need for sacrifice, priests would go hungry. It would follow then that their office would probably be eliminated. But sacrifice was necessary. The priests were the buffer zone between God and man. The priests were consecrated among the consecrated. The priests were also the recipients of tithed material goods. So...tithing was an essential part of man's relationship Godward. This tithe ensured that priests could live, and their mediation could continue. They were clean, and the Israelites were not.
I must confess my own fascination with the occult. Not that I would believe in it, or give any sort of weight to any sort of divination or futurism, but I wonder what it is that makes it physically go. What causes the need to know what happens in the future? Where is this curiosity rooted? God has been revealed to be able to see what happens in the future before it happens, and this isn't just power to make things happen. That ability is amazing, and beyond any of us.
The passage beginning in verse 9 is rather eye opening. There is a command that "no one be found among you who sacrifices his son or daughter in the fire, who practices divination or sorcery, interprets omens, engages in witchcraft, or casts spells, or who is a medium or spiritist or who consults the dead." This reveals numerous things. Child sacrifice by fire was taking place...presumably to Molech. We find out that consulting the dead was at least believed to be a reality. The Bible at this point has not revealed much about the dead, other than that they will be gathered together, and are someplace else. What does this mean? Consulting the dead. Why consult the dead? Does this desire for "knowledge" begin with the forbidden tree in the Garden? A desire to become like God?
These practices are all condemned as destestable. They are not permissible. Does this mean that other nations have permission? They are assuredly not held to any standard.
As for future events, God said that he will raise up a prophet from among their brothers who has the word of God in his mouth, and will speak in God's name. This prophet will be so esteemed, that those who do not heed his words will be called to account personally by God Himself. Prophets speaking in the name of other Gods had to be put to death. Joshua is Moses successor, so that's a possibility. Apparently other prophets will rise up and speak presumptuously, make claims to be speaking on behalf of God, whether sincere or not. But there is no cause for alarm.
Showing posts with label Consecration of the Priests. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Consecration of the Priests. Show all posts
Thursday, April 10, 2008
Saturday, February 09, 2008
Lev. 21: Priests Can Do It!
Just as the nation of Israel as a whole was called to be separate from other nations, those in the priesthood were called to be separate from their own nation. Just as Israel had rules to follow to ensure their separation, the priests had their rules as well.
Priests were called to be uber-clean, and not make themselves ceremonially unclean for anyone who dies...which I presume means handling or touching a dead body...except for someone in their own family, a close relative.
They weren't allowed to shave their heads, trim their beards, cut their skin, or profane the name of God. OK. Makes sense, I'm with it so far. The Bible here says they present offerings as the "food of their God." As in, this food comes from God, is given by Him, or is given to Him to be consecrated.
As far as marriage, priests were allowed to marry. The wife had to be a virgin, not a former prostitute, not a divorced woman, not a widow. This was to keep the line priestly line pure. The priests always had to have that extra step up and beyond the Israelite people. If a priest's daughter succumbed to the draw of prostitution, she was to be burned in the fire. Homie don't play that. That would defile the line.
The anointed one, the high priest, was held to a higher standard still. He was not allowed to tear his clothes or let his hair become "unkempt." Messy or uncovered, whatever. He could not enter a place where there was a dead body, even if it was mom or dad. He also couldn't leave the sanctuary, because he was anointed, he was separate. I don't know if he couldn't leave at all, or just during priestly duties. The Bible doesn't say, and I'm not familiar enough with the priestly culture at this point in my reading. But I'd hate to not be able to leave a certain place for the rest of my life. That would more than kinda suck.
What is kinda strange, yet kinda understandable, yet still kinda strange is the regulations for the priests beginning in Lev. 21:16. No one in the priestly line could become a priest if he had a defect. You were excluded from service as a priest if you had the following defects:
Blind
Lame
Disfigured
Deformed
Crippled Foot
Crippled Hand
Hunchbacked
Dwarfed
Eye Defect
Festering or Running Sores
Damaged Testicles
Was God being a jerk? I don't think so. It seems like it though. Nowadays, we tolerate and bend over backwards to accommodate people with the above afflictions, so naturally, this would seem pretty horrible of God to do. But I seem to recall God requiring rams and bulls and goats and lambs...all without defect. Perfection was required, and priests needed to be as perfect as they could be as well. At least that's my estimation. People in Aaron's line were allowed to eat the sacrificed food, but could not approach the altar to make atonement. This would desecrate the sanctuary.
It is God who makes people holy.
Priests were called to be uber-clean, and not make themselves ceremonially unclean for anyone who dies...which I presume means handling or touching a dead body...except for someone in their own family, a close relative.
They weren't allowed to shave their heads, trim their beards, cut their skin, or profane the name of God. OK. Makes sense, I'm with it so far. The Bible here says they present offerings as the "food of their God." As in, this food comes from God, is given by Him, or is given to Him to be consecrated.
As far as marriage, priests were allowed to marry. The wife had to be a virgin, not a former prostitute, not a divorced woman, not a widow. This was to keep the line priestly line pure. The priests always had to have that extra step up and beyond the Israelite people. If a priest's daughter succumbed to the draw of prostitution, she was to be burned in the fire. Homie don't play that. That would defile the line.
The anointed one, the high priest, was held to a higher standard still. He was not allowed to tear his clothes or let his hair become "unkempt." Messy or uncovered, whatever. He could not enter a place where there was a dead body, even if it was mom or dad. He also couldn't leave the sanctuary, because he was anointed, he was separate. I don't know if he couldn't leave at all, or just during priestly duties. The Bible doesn't say, and I'm not familiar enough with the priestly culture at this point in my reading. But I'd hate to not be able to leave a certain place for the rest of my life. That would more than kinda suck.
What is kinda strange, yet kinda understandable, yet still kinda strange is the regulations for the priests beginning in Lev. 21:16. No one in the priestly line could become a priest if he had a defect. You were excluded from service as a priest if you had the following defects:
Blind
Lame
Disfigured
Deformed
Crippled Foot
Crippled Hand
Hunchbacked
Dwarfed
Eye Defect
Festering or Running Sores
Damaged Testicles
Was God being a jerk? I don't think so. It seems like it though. Nowadays, we tolerate and bend over backwards to accommodate people with the above afflictions, so naturally, this would seem pretty horrible of God to do. But I seem to recall God requiring rams and bulls and goats and lambs...all without defect. Perfection was required, and priests needed to be as perfect as they could be as well. At least that's my estimation. People in Aaron's line were allowed to eat the sacrificed food, but could not approach the altar to make atonement. This would desecrate the sanctuary.
It is God who makes people holy.
Wednesday, January 09, 2008
Ex. 29: Consecrate Me Some Priests, Mo.
Chapter 29 was absolutely fascinating. It described the atonement offerings and the purpose of the priesthood. It seemed like everything I read previously in regards to the tabernacle, the furnishings, the offerings and the priestly garments came together and was resolved in this chapter. I suggest you read it.
OK, so what made the priests so special? God chose them. And they were the conduit by which the Israelites atoned for their daily goofs. And by goofs, I mean soul-damning rejection of the LORD. This was a grave responsibility. And because of the importance of this responsibility, God made very clear the instructions. Convoluted, yeah.
The first step was to prepare the offering. This was comprised of the following:
The Ordination
This was a process as well. Aaron and his sons had to br brough to the Tent of Meeting and washed up. Aaron had to be dressed up in the tunic, the robe of the ephod, the ephod, the breastpiece, and the turban and diadem.
Then Aaron had to be anointed with oil poured on his head. Not sure why, God just said it.
Then Aaron's sons had to be brought in, dressed in tunics and headbands, and then the whole crew received sashes.
The priesthood is theirs by a lasting ordinance.
The Sin Offering
This was the purpose of the bull. The priests would lay their hands on it's head and then slaughter it before the LORD at the tabernacle entrance. The bull's blood was to be dabbed onto the horns of the altar, and then the rest poured out at the base. On the altar, the bull's fat around the inner parts, the covering of the liver and the kidneys were burned. The rest of the flesh was burned outside the camp.
The Burnt Offering
This is described as a pleasing aroma, made to the LORD by fire. One of the previously described rams was purposed in this way. Same way as the bull - the priests would lay hands on its head and then slaughter it. The blood here was to be sprinkled on the sides of the altar. This lamb was cut into pieces and the pieces washed, and then the entire lamb was burned on the altar. Not sure why that was a pleasing aroma to the LORD. It probably didn't smell like a nice barbecue. It was probably the symbolic burning of sin that was pleasing. And I wonder if they washed the blood off the altar at all. Because I imagine it would get pretty rotten.
The Fellowship Offering
The Consecration
This was the second ram. This is the most deeply described offering. Again, the laying on of hands, and then the slaughter. Then blood was to be dabbed onto the lobes of the priests' right earlobes (hearing), right thumbs (doing), and right big toes (following?). The blood was also to be sprinkled against the sides of the altar. I'm guessing to signify that all sides were covered by the blood. Also, some of the blood, along with anointing oil, was to be sprinkled on the priests' and their garments.
The Ordination
From the second ram, the fat, the fat tail, the internal organ fat, the liver and the two fatty kidneys, and the right thigh (In Gen. 24, we learned that oaths were sworn with the thigh) were to be separated out. These parts, along with a loaf of bread, an oil cake, and a wafer were to be given to Aaron and his sons as a wave offering. Basically, they were to wave them at the LORD. Other translations have "lift up." Then they are to be burned on the altar before the LORD. Then Moses can wave the ram's breast at the LORD, and have it as his share.
The waved thigh and the presented breast are to be the regular share...meal ticket, I spose...for Aaron and his sons, and it is Israel's fellowship offering before the LORD.
Aaron's garments are to be passed down to his descendants, and whoever takes over has to wear the priestly garments for seven days.
The rest of the ram is to be cooked in a "sacred place." Then at the entrance to the tabernacle, Aaron and his sons can eat the offerings "by which atonement was made for their ordination and consecration." That's a mouthful, but essentially means they were offered for that purpose. Any leftovers can't be munched by anyone else, because they were consecrated and ordained...and therefore sacred. It has to be burned up.
This ordination process is to take seven days. A bull is to be sacrified each day, and the altar is supposed to be purified each day.
Two lambs are also to be sacrificed each day as a part of this atonement. One in the morning, and one at twilight with a bit of flour, olive oil and wine. The Bible says this offering is to be made regularly. I don't know if that's yearly, but I'll probably find out. This tent of meeting is where God will meet Moses and speak to him and the Israelites, and will consecrate the place with His glory. His awesomeness. Probably the only Person who could make a place consecrated by His sheer awesomeness.
OK, so what made the priests so special? God chose them. And they were the conduit by which the Israelites atoned for their daily goofs. And by goofs, I mean soul-damning rejection of the LORD. This was a grave responsibility. And because of the importance of this responsibility, God made very clear the instructions. Convoluted, yeah.
The first step was to prepare the offering. This was comprised of the following:
- a young bull and two rams without defect.
- from fine wheat flour, 86 the yeast: bread, cakes mixed with oil, and wafers spread with oil
The Ordination
This was a process as well. Aaron and his sons had to br brough to the Tent of Meeting and washed up. Aaron had to be dressed up in the tunic, the robe of the ephod, the ephod, the breastpiece, and the turban and diadem.
Then Aaron had to be anointed with oil poured on his head. Not sure why, God just said it.
Then Aaron's sons had to be brought in, dressed in tunics and headbands, and then the whole crew received sashes.
The priesthood is theirs by a lasting ordinance.
The Sin Offering
This was the purpose of the bull. The priests would lay their hands on it's head and then slaughter it before the LORD at the tabernacle entrance. The bull's blood was to be dabbed onto the horns of the altar, and then the rest poured out at the base. On the altar, the bull's fat around the inner parts, the covering of the liver and the kidneys were burned. The rest of the flesh was burned outside the camp.
The Burnt Offering
This is described as a pleasing aroma, made to the LORD by fire. One of the previously described rams was purposed in this way. Same way as the bull - the priests would lay hands on its head and then slaughter it. The blood here was to be sprinkled on the sides of the altar. This lamb was cut into pieces and the pieces washed, and then the entire lamb was burned on the altar. Not sure why that was a pleasing aroma to the LORD. It probably didn't smell like a nice barbecue. It was probably the symbolic burning of sin that was pleasing. And I wonder if they washed the blood off the altar at all. Because I imagine it would get pretty rotten.
The Fellowship Offering
The Consecration
This was the second ram. This is the most deeply described offering. Again, the laying on of hands, and then the slaughter. Then blood was to be dabbed onto the lobes of the priests' right earlobes (hearing), right thumbs (doing), and right big toes (following?). The blood was also to be sprinkled against the sides of the altar. I'm guessing to signify that all sides were covered by the blood. Also, some of the blood, along with anointing oil, was to be sprinkled on the priests' and their garments.
The Ordination
From the second ram, the fat, the fat tail, the internal organ fat, the liver and the two fatty kidneys, and the right thigh (In Gen. 24, we learned that oaths were sworn with the thigh) were to be separated out. These parts, along with a loaf of bread, an oil cake, and a wafer were to be given to Aaron and his sons as a wave offering. Basically, they were to wave them at the LORD. Other translations have "lift up." Then they are to be burned on the altar before the LORD. Then Moses can wave the ram's breast at the LORD, and have it as his share.
The waved thigh and the presented breast are to be the regular share...meal ticket, I spose...for Aaron and his sons, and it is Israel's fellowship offering before the LORD.
Aaron's garments are to be passed down to his descendants, and whoever takes over has to wear the priestly garments for seven days.
The rest of the ram is to be cooked in a "sacred place." Then at the entrance to the tabernacle, Aaron and his sons can eat the offerings "by which atonement was made for their ordination and consecration." That's a mouthful, but essentially means they were offered for that purpose. Any leftovers can't be munched by anyone else, because they were consecrated and ordained...and therefore sacred. It has to be burned up.
This ordination process is to take seven days. A bull is to be sacrified each day, and the altar is supposed to be purified each day.
Two lambs are also to be sacrificed each day as a part of this atonement. One in the morning, and one at twilight with a bit of flour, olive oil and wine. The Bible says this offering is to be made regularly. I don't know if that's yearly, but I'll probably find out. This tent of meeting is where God will meet Moses and speak to him and the Israelites, and will consecrate the place with His glory. His awesomeness. Probably the only Person who could make a place consecrated by His sheer awesomeness.
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