When you think about what’s happening here, it really is amazing.
I suppose we could get caught up in the details of what Aaron wore, and where the gold ring attached to the cord that was above such and such knot….but let’s knot. (see what I did there?) Ha.
In the bigger picture, which really is what I am shooting for, there is one thing happening here. God is preparing priests to offer sacrifices for the forgiveness of sins. Aaron and his family are being set apart for all time as the tribe from which all the priests will come. With that appointment comes great responsibility: the High Priest will carry on his shoulders the entire nation of Israel. The High Priest will enter the most holy place, and because he is declared to be “Holy to the Lord” he will not be killed for entering God’s presence. Once in the holy place he will be able to offer sacrifices that will absolve the community of their guilt. Only the High Priest is able to do this, and he may only do it if he himself is anointed, consecrated and purified. This honor cannot be taken upon oneself, it is bestowed by God.
The community is instructed to support the priesthood with specific portions, from this point forward they are to consider a part of what they raise and produce as property of the Lord, reserved for the priests.
Thinking of all this, I am reminded of a passage from Hebrews 4:14-15 where it says “we have a great high priest who has entered heaven; Jesus, the Son of God.” Perhaps you think of your pastor as your “high priest”…that’s flattering, but flatly incorrect. Your pastor cannot carry you into the presence of almighty God on his shoulders. He isn’t qualified to go there, and he isn’t appointed to do it. We have a High Priest, Jesus, who is qualified and capable, consecrated and anointed for the task. He alone approaches the Father on our behalf.
Perhaps you thought that a portion of your income was going to the Pastor. Not true. A portion of your income, as well as a sampling of your talents and other abilities are contributed to the Lord. Anything you give to the body of Christ is given to Christ. A certain part of what you have been blessed with is specified for return to The Lord. As we continue to read we will see that additional offerings are often requested or encouraged. For instance, the fabric and thread that made the holy garments that the priests wore was an offering from the people over and above their regular giving.
I noticed one more thing that I want to hang onto. Anything that touched the altar became holy. That is unusual, because in every other case if something unclean touches something clean it contaminates it. Clean becomes unclean with contact, not the other way around. The only other case where I remember this happening is with Jesus himself. Unclean people who touched him became clean. There’s power at the altar, gang.
The next time you happen to bend your knee before God whether you are physically at the altar, or just in spirit remember this.
Also, I grew up calling the “kneeling rail” the altar…and I think that’s fine. But in the truest sense of the word, the communion table represents the altar for us. In the way that the original altar held the sacrificial lamb, the communion table holds the body and blood of the sacrifice, Jesus Christ. So, there is a special power reserved for us in communion. When we take part in the communion ritual, that which is unholy (us) becomes holy because we have come into contact with God himself.
Faithfully,
PR