
Leviticus 8-12. These chapters have provoked me. I hope you’re not easily offended…..
Leviticus 8-12
Link to Online Bible to read Leviticus 8-12 is here
‘And Moses did as the Lord commanded him’ – a statement is repeated quite a bit.
Makes me wonder what my record will be in heaven.
‘And “name” did (or did not) as the Lord commanded. God, it’s a serious matter, that consecration.
We’re very modern. Do we understand these things?
Mishandling God’s things has consequences
The terrible thing is Aaron’s sons messed up.
They were in that space, serving God with their father, but they ‘offered strange fire’ to the Lord. A fire came out from the Lord and devoured them, they died before the Lord. (Leviticus 10:1-2).
The holiness and sanctification of God are so precious.
Do we understand these things?
Do we try to blend spiritualism and the ‘religion pure and undefiled’ which is of God? Scary!
Those men that had been chosen to be priests had been went through a process of consecration.
The Anointing Oil and expectations on those anointed
‘In 8:12 we’re told that Moses ‘poured of the anointing oil upon Aarons head and anointed him, to sanctify him.’
Now, in our day, in this New Covenant, where Jesus is the High Priest, the mediator of the new covenant, and to which Peter speaks:
‘You also, as lively stones, are built up a spiritual house, an holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, accepted able to God by Jesus Christ’ (1 Peter 2:5)
‘But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a peculiar people; that you should show forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light’ (1 Peter 2:9)
So – if this is the case – and we know that Jesus, is the Messiah (meaning Anointed One), we know the Holy Spirit has been ‘poured out’ on all flesh (Acts 2), and we know that it happened because of his blood, the anointing oil, the flesh and the bread – all elements of consecration, like were displayed in the days of Moses.
Which implies the consecration, the sanctification, the separation, of those who are his, are critical to true relationship.
Standards of those anointed
They were told:
‘Do not drink wine or strong drink, thou or thy sons with thee (anyone anointed with that oil)…..
That you may put difference between holy and unholy; between unclean and clean’ (Lev 10:9-10)
And Paul says:
“And be not drunk with wine wherein is excess, but be filled with the Spirit’ (Ephesians 5:18).
So, it’s a question of sanctification, of separation…..these are the very things Christians will argue you with over their right to be ‘free’. As if Jesus means you can be worldly but he’ll cover you with his forgiveness and look the other way.
God, help the church.
God wants the best for all
Leviticus 11 is fascinating. All the animals, what is good for you to eat, what is not.
You can see that God was really wanting the best life for these people. He wanted them to thrive, and to have the knowledge to do that.
So interesting and provoking.
May we all receive that anointing oil poured on our heads, that we may serve God.