Part 9.1 - Entrance of the Priests

CHAPTER IX. THE ENTRANCE OF THE PRIESTS INTO THEIR OFFICE.

Leviticus 9:1. THE ceremonies of the previous chapter were the business of seven days; in this we have the circumstances and work of the eighth day. This is not the subject of a separate ordinance newly given; but it is merely said, " It came to pass, on the eighth day, that Moses called Aaron and his sons and the elders of Israel." The persons summoned are the High Priest, the priests his sons, and the elders, the representatives of the people on whose behalf the priesthood was instituted. The first direction is to Aaron, to take for himself a sin offering and a burnt offering. This was atonement and acceptance in the exercise of his priestly functions.

Though above the people in the privilege of his office, he was not so in his need of cleansing and acceptance, but was in this point on the same level as others. For he was taken from among men, and had need to offer for himself as well as for the people.

Aaron is commanded to offer the sacrifices for himself alone : for the work of atonement and perfect obedience is exclusively Christ’s. Our part is communion with Him in His work. Aaron’s sons merely present to him the blood and the pieces of the burnt offering.

Then Moses directs Aaron to speak unto the children of Israel, and bid them bring a sin offering and a burnt offering, together with a peace offering and a meat offering. The reason given for this is the awful announcement,-"To-day the Lord will appear unto you."

These were the circumstances:-The offerings had been appointed, the priests consecrated to their office, and now the whole congregation, with the priests and the offerings, were before the door of the tabernacle of the congregation where the Lord had appointed to meet them. The order of the offerings was as follows:-First, Aaron slew the calf for the sin offering, which was for himself.

Then he offered the burnt offering (a ram) for himself.

Afterwards came the offerings for the people, viz.:-The goat for a sin offering. The meat offering, of which a handful was burnt "beside the burnt sacrifice of the morning." The bullock and the ram for peace offerings. This is the first complete act of priestly service: the offerings which had been offered at the consecration were offered by Moses. Their first offerings, which the priests offer for themselves, mark them as partaking of infirmity and sin: and therefore the question of their own cleansing and acceptance is first settled, before the Lord and before the whole congregation. Then they are ready to minister for others. And this they do, intimating, by the usual order of the sacrifices, atonement, acceptance, communion, and, as the result of all, peace.

Lastly, the breasts and the right shoulder were waved for a wave offering, and then taken as the priests’ portion.

Thus we have the full and complete order of these offerings, in the circumstances stated; viz., while the priests and the whole congregation were standing before the door of the tabernacle waiting for the appearance of the glory of the Lord.

Aaron then lifted up his hand towards the people and blessed them, and so came down after finishing this complete course of offering. The action of priestly blessing is also recorded of the Lord Jesus Christ in Luke 24:50. And the form and character of it are given in Numbers 6:22-27.

Moses and Aaron now go into the tabernacle together, and disappear from view. Then they come out and bless the people; and immediately the glory of the Lord appears unto all the people; and a fire comes out from before the Lord, and consumes upon the altar the burnt offering and the fat; and all the people saw it, and shouted, and fell upon their faces. The royal Priest, the Melchizedek, now comes forth to bless. For Moses and Aaron, walking and blessing together, represent the one great King and Priest at His second appearing. The Lord Jesus was always the royal Priest; but for a while He laid aside His royalty, and took the place of Aaron alone. The blessing of Moses and Aaron would be that of Genesis 14:1-24Deuteronomy 33:1-29, &c. With this royal blessing there is God’s manifestation of His acceptance and approval, as shown in the fire taking up to Him the smoke of the burnt offering and the fat. Our actual present position is represented by the absence of Aaron and Moses in the tabernacle of the congregation.

We are still in faith realizing the seven days of consecration, still standing before the door of the tabernacle, having as yet received only the Aaronic blessing. But further, we are able to go by faith within the vail, and there to look upon the glory that is to be revealed, and learn the character of the heavenly and earthly blessings which shall be manifested when our Melchizedek, the Priest of the most High God, comes forth with bread and wine to bless. In this chapter the directions are given to Aaron, and he does all that is required. His sons only present to him the blood, and, though thus far joined with him in office, are rather identified with the whole congregation in their need and general circumstances. This shows us how, though priests, we are ministering one to another in equal need of the fulness of grace that is in our great High Priest, of Whom alone is the whole work and the sufficiency. But it is our duty to present to Him the blood, without which there can be neither atonement nor acceptance, that He may sprinkle and apply it.

Whilst keeping the charge of the Lord in maintaining inviolate our seven days of holy consecration, we are at the same time in the eighth day’s service, in that we are abiding in the midst of the congregation at the door of the tabernacle, presenting the blood, receiving the blessing, and waiting for our great Priest to come forth in the full manifestation of His glory, and in the fulness of His power to bless. In such circumstances we must specially keep in mind what is presented to us in this chapter. We must remember the parts of the offering which are put aside for our use, after they have been waved as a wave offering before the Lord: we must feel that sympathy one for another which is felt for all by our great High Priest, Who bears their names upon His heart, and is afflicted in all their afflictions. And just as He carries their names also upon His shoulder, so must we bear one another’s burdens. The time during which Moses and Aaron remained within the tabernacle is not mentioned. It was probably but a little while : they " went into the tabernacle of the congregation, and came out." (Compare 2 Chronicles 7:1-4.) " Again a little while, and ye shall see Me."