Leviticus 16:21 KJV And Aaron shall lay both his hands upon the head of the live goat, and confess over him all the iniquities of the children of Israel, and all their transgressions in all their sins, putting them upon the head of the goat, and shall send him away by the hand of a fit man into the wilderness:
Exodus 19:1-6 KJV In the third month, when the children of Israel were gone forth out of the land of Egypt, the same day came they into the wilderness of Sinai. [2] For they were departed from Rephidim, and were come to the desert of Sinai, and had pitched in the wilderness; and there Israel camped before the mount. [3] And Moses went up unto God, and the LORD called unto him out of the mountain, saying, Thus shalt thou say to the house of Jacob, and tell the children of Israel; [4] Ye have seen what I did unto the Egyptians, and how I bare you on eagles' wings, and brought you unto myself. [5] Now therefore, if ye will obey my voice indeed, and keep my covenant, then ye shall be a peculiar treasure unto me above all people: for all the earth is mine: [6] And ye shall be unto me a kingdom of priests, and an holy nation. These are the words which thou shalt speak unto the children of Israel.
I. INTRODUCTION—THE PRIORITY OF A PERSONAL PRIESTHOOD
The beginning thoughts for this Bible study series started in January 2013. I had been studying for a Sunday school lesson concerning when the blood was applied to the life of a believer. During that preparation time, the phrase from Leviticus 16, “a fit man” seemed to lodge in my mind as a very apt and descriptive phrase of a man who is to be involved in the priestly ministry. We have to remember that the setting of Leviticus 16 is the Day of Atonement which was literally the highest day of worship for Israel during the entire year. All of the other sacrifices, feasts, and so forth were important but it was on this Day of Atonement that the sins of Israel would be pushed back for another year. It was a solemn, humbling, and serious day in the life of Israel.
As I began to even more deeply contemplate this idea of a man fitting into this role of being approved by God, the passage in Exodus 19 seemed to pull at me with a vengeance. Moses was clearly told by God that Israel would be a kingdom of priests and a holy nation. It is no mistake that when Peter addressed the state of the redeemed in 1 Peter 2:9, he picked up this same understanding when he noted that we would be a in a royal priesthood and in a holy nation. For a New Testament believer, no matter what status he is in the apostolic church, he must be approved by God to serve in this role.
The next week, I went to Because of the Times and as I listened to Sister Vesta Mangun, she related about how that Elder G. A. Mangun would pray through the Tabernacle every day in the routine of his prayer life, this thought of a “fit man” pulled at me again. To some degree, I have attempted to work through the pattern of prayer that Brother Mangun practiced for years. Furthermore, I am certain that there are others both preachers and saints alike who have followed his advice to move down this avenue of prayer. To those who are interested, there is a sermon series done by Pastor Anthony Mangun entitled “Heaven to Earth: The Tabernacle Today” which is a nine-part series on praying through the Tabernacle. I would recommend that series to you (www.thepentecostals.org or 318.487.8997) as you will find it to be inspirational and convicting which is the kind of preaching this generation sorely needs.
With all of those things rolling about in my soul, Sister Mangun stimulated some questions for me as she noted praying through the Tabernacle. I share those with you to kindle your own thoughts:
• Does it still matter what the condition of a man’s heart when he approaches God in prayer?
• If a qualified priest was needed in the Old Testament act of worship, does God need the condition of my soul to be qualified in the New Testament era?
• If there were physical requirements of the priests and their garments in the Old Testament Tabernacle, are there related spiritual requirements for a New Testament saint to approach God?
• If the priest had to dress in the fine white linen as a sign of purity, what kind of purity is enjoined for me as I approach God in prayer, worship, thanksgiving, and praise?
• Did the plain attire of the priest lean toward humility before God? Is humility required of the New Testament saint to come before the Lord?
• What correlation is to be made with the priest and his washings in the Old Testament and the saint in the New Testament as he comes to worship?
It is also important to establish the context of the phrase “a fit man” in Leviticus 16. This literally means a man who is ready for service. He is a man of discretion, discernment, and capable of doing the work. Some scholars do not necessarily believe that this man had to fill the role as a priest but he did have to meet the approval of the holy order.
What we all should seek to understand is that there must be an establishment of the priority of a personal priesthood. All Holy Ghost filled saints must determine that a commitment has to be the foundation of their relationship with God. The things of this life is fleeting and passes away so quickly and only what is done for Christ will really last.
II. EXPLORING THE AVENUES OF THE OLD TESTAMENT PRIESTHOOD
In this introductory lesson, the plan is to look at some of the aspects of the priesthood that God established in the Law to be carried out by Aaron and his sons. This would lead to the role that the Levites would follow throughout their tenure of service. They were a group of men who had been set apart whose whole life revolved around the various aspects of worship.
A. The Priests and Levites—A Type of the Church
As has been noted multiple times in the past, the OT has many helpful types (symbols) to help us to gain insight into the way the NT church operates. When we look at the priests and Levites we find multiple analogies that help us to see this. The following list will have OT references with the correlating cross-reference to the NT to show us the power of the Word of God. These pictures are focused on the relationship of the priest with God which leads to the relationship of the saint with God.
• Possessed by God—Num. 8:14, 16; 3:12~John 17:9-10; Rom. 14:8; Acts 15:14
• Confirmed by Covenant—Jer. 33:20-21; Mal. 2:4~Heb. 6:17-18; 8:6
• By the Choice of God—Deut. 18:5; 21:5; 1 Chron. 15:2; 16:41; 2 Chron. 29:11~John 10:3; 15:19; 1 Peter 2:9; Acts 9:15; Eph. 1:4; Mark 3:13-14
• In Position with God—Num. 3:5-6; 16:10~Eph. 2:13, 18
• Relationship as a Family—Num. 18:2~Heb. 2:11; 1 Cor. 6:17; Eph. 5:30
• Draw near in Worship—Lev. 9:9, 12~Heb. 10:19-22
• Separated to God—Exo. 18:1~Col. 2:20; 3:1, 3-4
• With Him in Service—Exo. 18:1~John 15:5
• Clothed with Him—Exo. 38:2, 41~1 John 3:2
• Anointed with Him—Exo. 40:15~1 John 2:20
• Sanctified with Him—Exo. 29:44~John 17:19
• Consecrated with Him—Exo. 29:9~Col. 2:9-10
• With the Lord in Obedience—Lev. 8:36~John 15:10
• With the Lord in Resurrection—Num. 17:3, 8~1 Cor. 15:20; 6:14; Rom. 8:11
There were also character qualities that the priests had which are mirrored in the life of the NT saint.
• Have Life and Peace—Mal. 2:5~Rom. 8:6
• Have the Fear of the Lord—Mal. 2:5~Heb. 12:28
• Possess Truth—Mal. 2:6~Eph. 4:15
• Have Purity of Speech—Mal. 2:6~1 Peter 2:1
• Have Knowledge—Mal. 2:7~Titus 2:1; Rom. 15:14
• Have Fellowship with God—Mal. 2:6~1 John 1:3
• The Aspect of Holiness—2 Chron. 31:18~2 Cor. 7:1
• Given to Uprightness—2 Chron. 29:34~Php. 1:10; 1 Cor. 5:8
• Wholehearted—Deut. 33:9~Luke 14:26; Matt. 19:29
• Obedient—Deut. 33:9~Matt. 28:20; John 14:23
• Have Strength for Service—1 Chron. 26:8~2 Cor. 3:6; Eph. 6:10
• Separated for Service—Num. 8:14; 16:9; Deut. 32:5~Php. 2:15
• A Diversity to Accomplish the Work—1 Chron. 25:8~1 Cor. 12:20-22, 27
• Abstained from Wine—Lev. 10:8-9~Eph. 5:18; 1 John 2:15-17
• Involved in a Cleansing Process—Num. 8:6-7~Heb. 10:22; 1 Cor. 11:28; 2 Cor. 7:1
• Purified—Num. 8:21~Titus 2:14
• Purged of Impurity—Mal. 3:3~2 Tim. 2:20-21; 1 Peter 1:7
• Involved in a Public Confession—Exo. 32:26~Luke 11:23; Heb. 13:13
• Washed—Exo. 29:4~1 Cor. 6:11; Eph. 5:25-26
• Hands and Feet Washed—Ex. 40:30-32~John 13:10
• Clothed—Exo. 29:8-9; Lev. 7:8; Ps. 132:9, 16~Rom. 13:14; Col. 3:12-14; Eph. 1:6; 6:14; 1 Thess. 5:8
• Anointed—Exo. 28:41~2 Cor. 1:21; 1 John 2:27
• Sanctification and Sprinkling—Exo. 28:41; Lev. 8:30~1 Thess. 5:23; 1 Peter 1:2; Heb. 12:24
• Required an Act of Dedication—Exo. 29:20~Rom. 12:1; 1 Cor. 6:19-20
• A Readiness for Service—Num. 8:22~Rom. 6:18
• In a Holy Place—Lev. 24:9; Eze. 44:16~Eph. 2:6; 1 Cor. 10:21
• Followed a Pattern—1 Chron. 28:12-13, 19~Eph. 4:11-13; John 13:15
• Appointed to Service—Num. 4:19, 27; 1 Chron. 6:48~Mark 13:34; Gal. 6:5; Eph. 2:10; 1 Thess. 5:18; 1 Cor. 12:28
• Served Day and Night—1 Chron. 9:33~1 Cor. 15:58
• Served Continually—Jer. 33:18~Heb. 13:15-16
• Worked Daily—1 Chron. 16:37~Acts 2:46-47
• Could Not Leave the Service—1 Chron. 35:15~Matt. 24:46
All of these areas are excellent references to help us to gain an understanding of what takes place when we become Spirit-filled. Christianity is not behavior modification but rather living a life that flows in response to the impulses of the Spirit and the mandates established by the Word of God.
B. The Progression of the Priesthood
Generally there are three kinds of priests that are mentioned in the Bible.
• Priests—These were the members of Aaron’s family. They came into this position by virtue of being one of the descendants of Aaron. Their work centered on taking care of the holy things.
• High Priests—Aaron was the first in the long line of these men. Only one man could hold this position at one time. According to the writings of Josephus, there were in the neighborhood of eighty men who held this post from the time of Aaron until the time of Jesus Christ. We gather the fact that these priests all died and had to be replaced. This is reflective of an imperfect and time limited priesthood.
• Great High Priest—Only One could be in this role and that was Jesus Christ. He was not limited by the grave or imperfection. He was a priest after the order of Melchisedec in that He did not inherit the priesthood from anyone nor did He pass it on to anyone.
In observing these roles the priests held, it is easy to see the progressive nature of God’s work in his plan of the priests. In fact, it is notable in Scripture that at the beginning of creation that each man was his own priest. Adam, Cain, Abel, Noah, and Abraham all had their role to play as a priest in their relationship with God. But when we come to the book of Exodus, it is noted that the head of the family will officiate as the priest of his home (Exo. 12:3). He does this by obtaining a lamb for his house and following God’s specific requirements that were given by Moses.
After the exit of Israel from Egypt, God determines that He will again work through a progressive manner by setting aside one of the twelve tribes who will be designated to perform the holy service of the Lord. This opens the way for Aaron and his sons. Because of the magnitude of the service that would be required of them, it would take more than just one man to fulfill this obligation determined by God.
By the time that Jesus set foot on the earth, the work of the priesthood was absolutely incredible. It must be understood that the earthly role of these men had become tainted because of the human factor of sin that was present. Despite the corruption of man, the sacrifices, offerings, and other priestly functions still required a great number of attendants to do the job. Yet God had already determined that the role He would fill when He put on flesh would supersede that of man. When Jesus Christ passed through the veil and sat down as the Great High Priest, the need for an earthly priesthood was no longer necessary.
C. The Aspects of the Calling of the Priests in the Old Testament
The beginning of the Aaronic priesthood is found in Exodus 28-29. Among these two chapters there are also many other places throughout Scripture that further helps us to see the actions, requirements, and functions of this God-ordained service. Paul noted that all of these things were written for our admonition and instruction (1 Cor. 10:11). With that in mind, it is helpful to walk through that divine calling that God ordained for the priesthood.
Exodus 28:1 KJV And take thou unto thee Aaron thy brother, and his sons with him, from among the children of Israel, that he may minister unto me in the priest's office, even Aaron, Nadab and Abihu, Eleazar and Ithamar, Aaron's sons.
The first notable thing that took place was the fact that there was a calling that was involved for divine service. Before anyone can effectively render service to God there must be a divine calling to take place in their life. With this calling also came a qualifying authority. This would be well demonstrated later when the rebellion of Korah took place. Korah gathered two lieutenants, Abiram and Dathan, and 250 princes who attempted to usurp the leadership of Moses and Aaron. God dealt very harshly with this and they were swallowed up by the earth (Numbers 16; 26).
After this rebellion, God chose a sign to prove to the people that Aaron was God’s choice as the High Priest. The sign came through Aaron’s rod. It began to bud, blossom, and then bear fruit (Numbers 17:8). An authentic calling will always be a calling that bears fruit. This whole analogy concerning the Christian life can be taken down a long path but we shall leave it for now.
When the Lord Jesus Christ came, He also did not choose to serve in the role He came but was called to do it (Heb. 5:1-6, 10). If that calling was necessary for the Aaronic priesthood and for the priestly role of Jesus Christ, then certainly the same thing can be true for all New Testament saints and particularly those who are called to serve in the five-fold ministry.
The ministry is not a profession that can be undertaken as a career choice. It has to be something that a man settles in his heart as to the divine calling necessary to advance the kingdom of God. The source of every calling has to be that of God. Through this divine calling God will make His choice and then He will do everything necessary to equip that person who has been called. This is not to say that there is no human effort involved after the calling takes place because Scripture clearly determines that we are to shun laziness. However, the calling and the equipping is wholly the action of God. After an establishment of the calling, God will make clear His purpose for those who have been called.
The following considerations need to be understood about the calling:
• The call is made possible because of the gospel—2 Thess. 2:14
• The call is a call to salvation and it is a holy calling—2 Tim. 1:19
• The call comes from heaven—Heb. 3:1
• The call of God is primarily to show glory to Him—1 Peter 5:10; 1 Thess. 2:12
• The call of God will involve a glorious hope—Eph. 1:18
• The call demands a worthy walk—1 Thess. 2:12
• The call of God demands faithfulness and personal responsibility—Eph. 4:1; 1 Cor. 4:2
• The call of God is a high calling and ultimate goal of our life—Php. 3:14
• The call of God is a personal and individual matter—1 Cor. 1:26
It cannot be reiterated enough how important that a personal calling is for each individual person in their service for the Lord. Just as the OT priesthood had to have a calling, the NT saint must have a calling. Only those who are willing to seriously pursue the matter of their calling will be effective.
One other helpful matter concerning their call is to notice that these men were called to accomplish several duties.
• They were to offer gifts and sacrifices for sin—Heb. 5:1; 7:27
• They were to show compassion for the ignorant and those who go astray—Heb. 5:2
• They were to teach the people—Neh. 8:2, 9
• They were to be representatives of God, mediators between God and man—Lev. 6:6-7; 16:30
• They were to pray and make intercession for the people—Exo. 28:12; Heb. 7:23-25
Therefore it is easy to see that all of these matters were the responsibilities of the priests who had been called to serve.
Exodus 29:4 KJV And Aaron and his sons thou shalt bring unto the door of the tabernacle of the congregation, and shalt wash them with water.
The second aspect of the priesthood comes to from Exodus 29:4: he must have a cleansing with water. There aren’t any great details that are given to us concerning the actual process of the cleansing. We are aware of the fact that it was in public and in the presence of the whole congregation. Furthermore it is clear that this was a cleansing that took place after the call to the priesthood had been acknowledged. He was a man who was to be morally cleansed by the Lord. It was a symbolic act but there is a continued mandate for the NT saint to be continually cleansed. Multiple passages indicate this cleansing:
2 Corinthians 7:1 KJV Having therefore these promises, dearly beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God.
2 Timothy 2:21 KJV If a man therefore purge himself from these, he shall be a vessel unto honour, sanctified, and meet for the master's use, and prepared unto every good work.
James 4:8 KJV Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you. Cleanse your hands, ye sinners; and purify your hearts, ye double minded.
Psalms 79:9 KJV Help us, O God of our salvation, for the glory of thy name: and deliver us, and purge away our sins, for thy name's sake.
Psalms 119:9 KJV BETH. Wherewithal shall a young man cleanse his way? by taking heed thereto according to thy word.
Isaiah 1:16 KJV Wash you, make you clean; put away the evil of your doings from before mine eyes; cease to do evil;
One of the most effective ways for us to have the constant cleansing going on in our lives is by exposure to the Word of God (John 15:3).
Exodus 29:5-6 KJV And thou shalt take the garments, and put upon Aaron the coat, and the robe of the ephod, and the ephod, and the breastplate, and gird him with the curious girdle of the ephod: [6] And thou shalt put the mitre upon his head, and put the holy crown upon the mitre.
The third element of the calling of the priest is found in Exodus 29:5-6 and has to do with the aspect of being clothed. We will not go into great detail at this point because the emphasis of the series is to look at each of these garments under a magnifying glass. The clear picture that we gain when we see Aaron putting on the holy garments is a NT saint being clothed with the imputed righteousness of Jesus Christ. We are to “put on” the new man which is the new nature of God (Rom. 13:14; Eph. 4:24; Col. 3:10-12; Ps. 132:9; Isa. 61:10).
Exodus 29:9 KJV . . . and thou shalt consecrate Aaron and his sons.
The fourth aspect of this calling is crucial and deals with consecration (Exo. 29:9). The whole process of the act of consecration is very detailed and precise and is found in Exodus 29:10-36. Consecration means that we are to be purified, sanctified, and set apart to the service of the Lord. You will observe that in this ceremony that blood played a chief role as it was placed on the ear, the thumb, and the great toe of each priest. Our ears are to be sanctified and we must guard what we listen to and how our mind incorporates it (Prov. 8:34; James 1:19; 2 Tim. 4:4). The thumbs in consecration meant that our hands are to be set aside to only do those things worthy of the Lord’s service (Gal. 6:2; 6:10; Ps. 2:11). Lastly, the blood was put on the great toe symbolic of our feet being consecrated to walk in the ways of the Lord (Eph. 4:1; Gal. 5:16; 1 John 1:7; Deut. 10:12).
The next portion of the priests calling was given in Hebrews 5:2:
Hebrews 5:2 KJV Who can have compassion on the ignorant, and on them that are out of the way; for that he himself also is compassed with infirmity.
The priesthood was to be compassionate. We cannot forget the notation of the Lord when it states that He was moved with compassion when He saw the people and their great needs of the soul.
Finally the priesthood found that there was a commission to be served. This whole description of the commission is found in the book of Leviticus. The book of Leviticus was to the priests what the pastoral epistles are to church leaders in the NT church. There is a discovery of the job description of what a priest was to be involved in doing.
III. CONCLUSION—THE OPENING OF THE DOOR
This is only the entry point to one of the most compelling directions to a NT saint. In the coming weeks we shall see the fantastic connection between the clothing of the priests and how it relates to the way we are to live and conduct our lives in a world that needs deliverance as never before.
Philip Harrelson
March 6, 2013
