THE PRIESTHOOD IN ISRAEL
Reading: Exo. 28,29 : Heb. 4:14 , 5: 10, 7:1 , 8: 6
Memory Verses : Heb 4:14 - 16
Theme : To learn that the priesthood given to Israel was only a shadow for the High Priestly office for our Lord Jesus Christ through whom we can boldly approach the presence of God and receive blessings.
Introduction : Have you seen people who are called priests? How do you recognize them ?
What is their job? In the Old Testament days, Israel had priests. Clear instructions regarding their priesthood were given to them on Mount Sinai through Moses
1 “Have Aaron your brother brought to you from among the Israelites, along with his sons Nadab and Abihu, Eleazar and Ithamar, so they may serve me as priests. 2 Make sacred garments for your brother Aaron to give him dignity and honor. 3 Tell all the skilled workers to whom I have given wisdom in such matters that they are to make garments for Aaron, for his consecration, so he may serve me as priest. 4 These are the garments they are to make: a breastpiece, an ephod, a robe, a woven tunic, a turban and a sash. They are to make these sacred garments for your brother Aaron and his sons, so they may serve me as priests. (Exodus 28:1-4)
Before that the eldest son in the family used to do priestly duties for the family. The Aaronic priesthood was established through the Law of Moses.
Priests: There were two offices ordained by God in the Old Testament times: Priest and Prophets. Priests are those who stands between man and God and speak to God on behalf of man. But the Prophets are those who stands between God and man and speaks to man on behalf of God. At the time when the law was given to the people of Israel, God separated the tribe of Levi from among them to carry out the priestly services
At that time the LORD set apart the tribe of Levi to carry the ark of the covenant of the LORD, to stand before the LORD to minister and to pronounce blessings in his name, as they still do today. (Deuteronomy 10: 8)
When all Israel turned to idolatry, Moses called out those who are on the Lord's side to come near him. Then the the tribe of Levi came forward and showed their opposition to idolatry and their allegiance to the Lord.
25 Moses saw that the people were running wild and that Aaron had let them get out of control and so become a laughingstock to their enemies. 26 So he stood at the entrance to the camp and said, “Whoever is for the LORD, come to me.” And all the Levites rallied to him. 27 Then he said to them, “This is what the LORD, the God of Israel, says: ‘Each man strap a sword to his side. Go back and forth through the camp from one end to the other, each killing his brother and friend and neighbor.’ ” 28 The Levites did as Moses commanded, and that day about three thousand of the people died.(Exodus 32:25-28)
Aaron and his sons belonging to the family of Kohathin the tribe of Levi were appointed to do priestly duties. Other Levites were appointed to assist the priests in worship services. There was only one High prest at a time. Aaron was the first High Priest. when the High Priest died, his official garments and position were handed down to his eldest son. Thus the high priestly position remained traditionally with the family of Aaron. From the family of Aaron, one would be the High Priest and other sons would be ordinary priests. If anyone was disabled or afflicted with leprosy or unclean in any other way, he had no right to do any priestly duty. The High Priest stands symbolically as out Lord Jesus Christ and the priest represent the believers.
The Priestly Ministry: The duties of the priests were confirmed to the Outer Court and the Holy Place of the Tabernacle.
The alter for sacrifices and the laver of brass containing water for cleansing were placed in the outer court.
The golden candlestick, the table of show-bread and the incense alter were kept in the Holy Place.
Priests go to the Holy Place every day with the blood of sacrifices. The New Testament believers are all priests
4 As you come to him, the living Stone—rejected by humans but chosen by God and precious to him— 5 you also, like living stones, are being built into a spiritual house to be a holy priesthood, offering spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ. 6 For in Scripture it says: “See, I lay a stone in Zion, a chosen and precious cornerstone, and the one who trusts in him will never be put to shame.” 7 Now to you who believe, this stone is precious. But to those who do not believe, “The stone the builders rejected has become the cornerstone,” 8 and, “A stone that causes people to stumble and a rock that makes them fall.”They stumble because they disobey the message—which is also what they were destined for. 9 But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s special possession, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light. 10 Once you were not a people, but now you are the people of God; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy. (1 Peter 2:4-10)
We are duty-bound to offer spiritual and acceptable sacrifices every day. We approach the presence of God on the basis of the supreme sacrifices of Jesus Christ. We enter the Holy Place, the church, after cleansing ourselves by Gods word and the Holy Spirit. There we shine as candlestick filled with the olive oil of Holy Spirit, obtain nourishment through Jesus Christ the Bread of Life and offer the incense of prayer and praise to God. As priest of the New Testament, it is Gods will that we offer sacrifices continually like this in His presence. Let us examine ourselves how we stand in this matter.
Ministry of the High Priest: The Aaronic high priest entered the Holiest Place with the blood of sacrifice only once in a year on the tenth day of the seventh month known as the Day of Atonement.
He sprinkled blood and burnt incense in fire on the alter for his own sins and for the sins of the people. This act foreshadowed the redemptive act of Jesus Christ. Christ who came as the High Priest of all future blessing offered Himself as sacrifice on the cross of Calvary. He has gone to the Holiest place in heaven with his own blood to intercede for us in the presence of God. It is not necessary for Him to offer sacrifices again and again for His own sins and for the sins of the people as the Aaronic high priests had to do. Jesus Christ is our High Priest: The greatness of our High Priest is described in the Epistle to the Hebrew.
14 Therefore, since we have a great high priest who has ascended into heaven, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold firmly to the faith we profess. 15 For we do not have a high priest who is unable to empathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are—yet he did not sin.(Hebrew 4:14,15)
There is no High priest other than Jesus Christ."There is one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus, who gave Himself a ransom for all" (1 Tim.2:5,6). Let us draw near to the Throne of Grace boldly and receive blessings.
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