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Friday, September 9, 2016

A Priest

"Now set the Levites apart from the rest of the people of Israel and make them ceremonially clean. Do this by sprinkling them with the water of purification, and have them shave their entire body and wash their clothing. Then they will be ceremonially clean. Have them bring a young bull and a grain offering of choice flour moistened with olive oil, along with a second young bull for a sin offering. Then assemble the whole community of Israel, and present the Levites at the entrance of the Tabernacle. (Numbers 8:6-9 NLT)

We already saw yesterday that the Levites were set apart as Holy.  Holy, in this context, means different or set apart for the LORD.  They had a special job to do.  They would take care of the Tabernacle of God.

Within the tribe of Levi, Aaron and his descendants would have another special job.  They would be called priests.

"Call for your brother, Aaron, and his sons, Nadab, Abihu, Eleazar, and Ithamar. Set them apart from the rest of the people of Israel so they may minister to Me and be My priests. (Exodus 28:1 NLT)

The priest’s responsibility was to be the intermediary between people and the LORD.  They would receive the offerings from the people and present them in an acceptable form to God.  Burnt offerings were burnt by the priest.  Wave offerings were waved by the priests.  You get the idea.  They took the final steps into the presence of God on behalf of the people.  They were set apart for this special work.  Because of their work, the people of Israel knew that God was always near.

Yes, I will consecrate the Tabernacle and the altar, and I will consecrate Aaron and his sons to serve Me as priests. Then I will live among the people of Israel and be their God, and they will know that I am the LORD their God. I am the One who brought them out of the land of Egypt so that I could live among them. I am the LORD their God. (Exodus 29:44-46 NLT)

The Levites (Tabernacle workers) and Aaron’s descendants (Priests) weren’t the only ones who were set apart as Holy and Priests.  All Israelites were being set apart as Holy Priests.  Remember God’s promise in the covenant?

Now if you will obey Me and keep My covenant, you will be My own special treasure from among all the peoples on earth; for all the earth belongs to Me. And you will be My kingdom of priests, My holy nation… (Exodus 19:5-6a NLT)

How about you?  Do you see yourself as being Holy (set apart) for God?  Do you see yourself as a priest (introducing people to God)?  Do you walk together with God?  Do you empower even more?

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