The Torah passages describing Tabernacle proceedings for the priests are full of details. Why?
I’m thinking if you were a priest performing services in the “tent of meeting,” details would be very important. Consider what YHWH said to Moses:
“And they (the priestly garments) shall be upon Aaron, and upon his sons, when they enter the Tent of Meeting, or when they approach the Altar to minister in the holy place, so that they may not bear iniquity and die.” Exodus 28:43
A little drastic don’t you think? Who would want to “sign up” for this job?
We read in Exodus 29:44-45:
“And I will consecrate the tent of meeting and the altar, I will also consecrate Aaron and his sons to minister as priests to me. And I will dwell among the sons of Israel and will be their Elohim.”
YHWH Himself is letting us know that He will bless the tent. He will bless the priesthood. And He will dwell among His people. Therefore, according to YHWH, details become a primary matter as well as whom He chooses.
We learned in the study of Terumah, that the Mercy Seat above the Ark of the Covenant was put into place to reflect the Testimony of Messiah’s work. This testimony reflected Messiah’s work to YHWH as a “pleasing aroma.” The priests, facilitated and interceded for Israel as they presented offerings and prayers to be covered by “The Testimony.” But being born into sin themselves, the priests also needed a covering.
Were the details of the priesthood coverings a picture that only reflects the Messiah or was it also an example of how to with interact Holiness? In the Book of Hebrews chapter 10, we read that the priesthood was a working picture of Messiah and what He does for us. Though likewise, if we are called to be a royal priesthood (I Peter 2), should we not consider putting on a garment of holiness? If so, then what could possibly be holy enough to keep us alive in the Presence of the Almighty?
Consider the following steps for a priest:
They were taken from among the children of Israel. Exodus 28:1 YHWH calls or chooses each person. Yeshua called his disciples. They did not call or choose him, but they were chosen BY Him and had to respond to that call. (John 15:16)
They were brought into the door of the tabernacle (Exodus 29:4) just as the bondservant is brought to the door of his master (Exodus 21) The door of the tabernacle is Messiah Yeshua who is the door to the sheepfold. No man comes to the Father except through Yeshua. (John 10:1–5,7,9)
They were washed (Exodus 29:4) Upon accepting the work of Yeshua one must be immersed for the remission of sins (Acts 2:28) to identify spiritually with the death, burial, and resurrection of Yeshua (Acts 2:38; Rom 6:3–14), and the washing of the water of the Word (Eph 5:26).
They were clothed in their official garments (Exodus 29:4–9) The redeemed believer is to put on the robes of righteousness (note Gal 3:27, “For as many of you as have been baptized into Messiah have put on Messiah”). Paul talks about the fruits of righteousness through Yeshua in Philippians 1:1.
They laid their hands on the head of the animals which were sacrificed, blood was shed and sprinkled on Aaron and his sons (Exodus 29:10–26, 32–33)
Each born-again believer has to take personal responsibility for his own sins. The sacrifice of Yeshua, the Lamb of Elohim, at the cross must become personal to each person (see Heb 10:19; 13:12; 1 Pet 1:2;1 John 1:17 and Rev 1:5).
They were anointed with oil (Exodus 29:21) the Set-Apart Spirit (Ruach) of Elohim (see Acts 8:17; 19:6).
They were sanctified or set-apart for a special, divine purpose (Exod 29:44) set-apart unto YHWH as a set-apart priesthood doing the set-apart work of YHVH (see Romans 15:16; 1 Corinthians 1:2; 6:11; Hebrews 10:10,14; 1 Peter 2:9).
Some think that intentions or goodwill is all that is needed to enter Yah’s presence. But that wasn’t so for Nadab and Abihu who brought in the strange fire. Nor was it true for the young priest by name of Uzzah who tried to “stabilize” the ark of the covenant. Yah’s details cost these men their lives. In each example, they did what they wanted to do. They failed to consider what Yah wanted to provide.
Are we ready to be taken, committed, washed, clothed, willing to lay our sins down, to open ourselves to the Spirit, and to start setting ourselves apart? Tough order isn’t it?
The workings of the tabernacle are given to show (Ez. 43) the promise and work of a Greater High Priest. If not followed, we could die in the presence of holiness. Hence the reason for an even greater intercessor–Yeshua the Messiah. (Heb. 10) He is the righteous covering of white linen. He is the breastplate of righteousness. And it is He who speaks through the Urim and Thurmin.
I know that there are many who are not called to be a “priest” within a church or fellowship family. But we are called to be a priest in our daily lives. Do we take this work for granted? Do we disregard the calling to be a royal priesthood? In my estimation, we can take the words of the Apostle Peter to heart when we choose to receive Yah’s revelation and instructions without carelessness.
“Therefore, rid yourselves of all malice and all deceit, hypocrisy, envy, and slander of every kind. Like newborn babies, crave pure spiritual milk, so that by it you may grow up in your salvation now that you have tasted that the Lord is good. As you come to him, the living Stone—rejected by humans but chosen by God and precious to him 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.” I Peter 2:1-5
Is it possible to start practicing the concept of holiness? Let us seek His Holiness and His priestly covering this Sabbath with every good intention.
Be blessed,
Rollyn