LESSON 33
THE CONSECRATION OF THE PRIESTS (Cont.)
– By E. L. Bynum, Pastor
Memory Verse: Ex. 29:45————Lesson: Ex. 29:26-46
Three animal sacrifices have been brought before the Lord. The first a “bullock” for “a sin offering” v.14. The second a “ram” for “an offering made by fire unto the Lord” v.18. The third a second “ram” for “consecration” v. 22. Portions of this “ram of consecration” shall be for a “wave offering” and a “heave offering” unto the Lord and also for a portion for the priests to partake of.
I. THE PRIEST’S PORTION FOR FOOD. v. 26-34
A. The Ram Of Consecration. v. 19-22; Lev. 8:22-29
The ram of consecration is used to fill the hands of Aaron and his sons. With their hands filled with the portion designated, they wave it before the Lord as a sign that all else had been fulfilled: the putting on of the priestly garments; the anointing with oil; the identification with the sin offering, etc.
B. The Portion Of The Ram Used. v. 26-28; Lev. 7:31-34
1. The breast for a wave offering. v. 26
a. At this time it was Moses’ part. Remember Moses’ God-given position. Ex. 4:16
b. Later this was to be Aaron’s and his sons. Lev. 7:31, And the priest shall burn the fat upon the altar: but the breast shall be Aaron’s and his sons’.
2. The shoulder a wave offering. v. 27
3. A continuous statute for the priesthood. v. 28
C. The Holy Garments For Aaron’s Replacement. v. 29-30
1. Continuous fellowship demands proper adornment.
2. The next priest would also need to be anointed, consecrated. v.29
3. All this is a must “to minister in the holy place.” v. 30
4. God expects believers to be clothed in the holy garments Jesus’ righteousness when we come to worship Him. This means that we must have the imputed righteousness of Christ, and separated to God. Rom. 4:22-24, And therefore it was imputed to him for righteousness. Now it was not written for his sake alone, that it was imputed to him; But for us also, to whom it shall be imputed, if we believe on him that raised up Jesus our Lord from the dead.
D. The Priests Feasting. v. 31-34; Lev. 8:31
1. The preparation and the place. v. 31-32
a. Typical of true fellowship with the Lord.
b. The bread of life. John 6:35, And Jesus said unto them, I am the bread of life: he that cometh to me shall never hunger; and he that believeth on me shall never thirst. John 6:48-51, I am that bread of life. Your fathers did eat manna in the wilderness, and are dead. This is the bread which cometh down from heaven, that a man may eat thereof, and not die. I am the living bread which came down from heaven: if any man eat of this bread, he shall live for ever: and the bread that I will give is my flesh, which I will give for the life of the world.
2. The people who could not partake. v. 33. The stranger could not eat, just as unsaved people cannot partake of Christ, until they are saved.
3. The process to follow. v. 34
a. The place to be eaten. At the door of the Tabernacle. v. 33
b. All must either be consumed or burned with fire. v. 34
c. All of this service was associated with the brazen altar which is a type of the cross.
II. THE COMPLETE CONSECRATION. v. 35-37
1. Seven is the number of spiritual perfection. In the repetition of these ordinances we see a completion of the consecration of the priests. v. 35
2. God requires the sin offering for atonement, and cleansing the altar. v. 36-37. The cleansed altar speaks of our altar, the Lord Jesus Christ. Heb. 13:10, 15, We have an altar, whereof they have no right to eat which serve the tabernacle. By him therefore let us offer the sacrifice of praise to God continually, that is, the fruit of our lips giving thanks to his name.
3. All of this was necessary to represent the true pattern. The requirements of God must not be taken lightly. Heb. 8:1-2, Now of the things which we have spoken this is the sum: We have such an high priest, who is set on the right hand of the throne of the Majesty in the heavens; A minister of the sanctuary, and of the true tabernacle, which the Lord pitched, and not man. Heb. 9:24, For Christ is not entered into the holy places made with hands, which are the figures of the true; but into heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God for us.
4. They were to do this for seven days, and seven speaks of completion. Christ’s people are to be completely consecrated to Him. Col. 2:10, And ye are complete in him, which is the head of all principality and power.
5. We must worship God in spirit and in truth. John 4:23-24, But the hour cometh, and now is, when the true worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth: for the Father seeketh such to worship him. God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth.
III. THE REGULAR REPRESENTATION. v. 38-42
A. The Daily Offering. v. 38
1. It was a definite requirement. “thou shalt offer.”
2. It was a daily requirement. “day by day continually”
3. It was a designated requirement. “lambs of the first year”
B. One Lamb Every Morning And One Every Evening. v. 39-41
1. A regular and orderly service. I Tim. 3:14-15, These things write I unto thee, hoping to come unto thee shortly: But if I tarry long, that thou mayest know how thou oughtest to behave thyself in the house of God, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and ground of the truth. They started each day with a lamb, and they ended each day with a lamb. We should start the day and end the day in communion with our “Lamb.” John 1:36, And looking upon Jesus as he walked, he saith, Behold the Lamb of God!
2. An offering of “sweet savour” unto the Lord. Eph. 5:1-2.
3. The lamb is a type of Christ, and the flour represents the grain of wheat that was crushed and died for our sins. John 12:24, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Except a corn of wheat (Christ) fall into the ground and die, it abideth alone: but if it die, it bringeth forth much fruit.
4. The wine speaks of joy, and of the joy of the Father in His Son. Jud. 9:13, And the vine said unto them, Should I leave my wine, which cheereth God and man, and go to be promoted over the trees? Psa. 104:15, And wine that maketh glad the heart of man, and oil to make his face to shine, and bread which strengtheneth man’s heart. Matt. 3:17, And lo a voice from heaven, saying, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.
5. God wants His people to be joyful. I John 1:4, And these things write we unto you, that your joy may be full. Phil. 4:4, Rejoice in the Lord alway: and again I say, Rejoice.
C. A Continual Burnt Offering. v. 42
1. The people; “throughout your generations.”
2. The place: “before the Lord.”
3. The purpose: “where I will meet you, to speak there unto thee.” Heb. 10:19-25, Having therefore, brethren, boldness to enter into the holiest by the blood of Jesus, By a new and living way, which he hath consecrated for us, through the veil, that is to say, his flesh; And having an high priest over the house of God; Let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience, and our bodies washed with pure water. Let us hold fast the profession of our faith without wavering; (for he is faithful that promised;) And let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works: Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching.
4. God meets with His people in the local church. Matt. 18:20, For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them.
IV. THE AFFIRMED ASSURANCE. v. 43-46
A. The Sanctified Place. v. 43-44
1. God sanctified and appointed a place for them to meet.
2. A sanctified priest to do service.
3. It was sanctified by God’s glory.
B. The Sanctified People. v. 44
1. The Altar for sacrifice.
2. Aaron and his sons for service.
C. The Certified Promise. v. 45-46; Ex. 25:8
1. God’s presence. “dwell among them.” v. 45.
2. God’s protection. “be their God.” v. 45.
3. God’s providential Presence. v. 46.
4. God has led them out of Egypt that He “may dwell among them” and be “the Lord their God.”
—by E. L. Bynum
STUDY QUESTIONS
1. What were the three animals that were brought for offerings in the first part of this chapter and give their place in the sacrifice?
2. What was the purpose of the ram of consecration?
3. What does the feasting of the priests typify?
4. Who was not allowed to participate in this feasting?
5. Where was this feasting to take place?
6. What does the number seven mean?
7. How many days was the consecration of the priests to be continued?
8. What animals were to be sacrificed daily?
9. What was God’s divine promise to the children of Israel when the service was completed?