Class 04 The Law of the priesthood

The Study of Leviticus

Class 4

The Law of the Priesthood

The Priest

Leviticus - Chap. 8, 9The Law of the Priesthood

If you will indeed obey my voice... you shall be to me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation (Exodus 19:5-6).

Soon after God removed his people from Egypt, we see him revealing his purpose: to have a nation of priests.


The people of Israel refused to fulfill the Lord’s purpose, when they told Moses in Exodus 20:19, you speak with us, and we will hear; but let not God speak with us.

However, God through the church, fulfilled his will. Today we are all priests and we will also reign with him. We are a nation of kings and priests. (1 Peter 2:9; Revelation 5:10).


The priest of the Old Testament was a type of the believer whose reality is fulfilled today in the church.

Leviticus chapters 8-10, deal with the consecration of Aaron’s sons.


After we have been saved, we have been baptized into the body of Christ.

Psalm 133, referring to the consecration of Aaron, says that the oil that was poured on his head, flowed down over, the whole body down to the border of his garment.


Aaron as high priest, is a type of Christ, and we are his body, over which flows the oil of anointing.

Each one of us however, as members of the body of Christ, have been united and consecrated by God for the priesthood before him.


1. The washing of water “Then Moses brought Aaron and his sons and

washed them with water.” (8:6). Here the water symbolizes sanctification by the

action of the Holy Spirit and the Word of God. The first thing that Moses did was wash Aaron and his sons with water. This washing with water represents justification and sanctification (Titus 3:5, 1 Corinthians 6:11).


In the past we were sinners, but now we have a different position, we are in Christ Jesus. And we are not only in him, but also in God’s Holy Spirit, in whom we have been washed.

Aaron and his sons were washed with water, but we have been washed with the Holy Spirit. For this reason we are clean, sanctified and justified, ready to receive the priestly garments.


2. The garments for the priesthood In Exodus 28:1-4, we see that the priests had to use

a special type of garment: “And you shall make holy garments for Aaron your brother, for glory and for beauty”.

Those who have been commissioned by God, must be dressed in glory and beauty.

Before we receive the anointing we must have the garments of glory and beauty.


a. The robe of fine linen – a righteous character The fine linen refers to acts of righteousness of the

Saints (Revelation 19:8). The robe of fine linen denotes a garment made

through acts of righteousness. We are already clothed with the righteousness of

Christ, but we still have to weave the wedding garments made of our own acts of righteousness.


b. The sash- firmness in the move of God The sash provided firmness. We need firmness in our walk, in order to maintain

the move of God. The sash represents an aspect of firmness, of the

perseverance that we must have in battle and in the give and take of war.

The Sash


c. The ephod – preparation for battle (Exodus 28:31)

The ephod was blue in color indicating that we as priests are heavenly although we serve God on the earth.

The ephod covered the thorax and the back, it looked like the metal mail that protected the soldiers of the middle ages. This reinforces the aspect of battle as we serve as priests.

The Ephod


d. The priestly turban - prayer Based on 1 Samuel 30:7-8, we can conclude that

Aaron could not pray without this part of the priestly garments.

The turban is a piece that shows one of the great functions of the priesthood which is prayer, and the burning of incense before God’s presence (2 Corinthians 29:11; 1 Corinthians 23:13).

The Robe


e. The breastplate and shoulder straps- responsibility and love

The breastplate and shoulder straps formed one piece. The shoulder straps, had stones of Onyx with the names of the 12 tribes of Israel inscribed on them, six on each side (Exodus 28:9-10).

The breastplate also had 12 stones each with a name of one of the 12 tribes (Exodus 28:17-21). This means that in the life of the church we carry the brethren on our shoulders and in our heart.

The Breastplate

The Breastplate and shoulder straps


f. The Urim and the Thummim – sensitivity to the Spirit

These were the means by which God spoke to the priests. There was a type of shining that gave the priest the understanding of what God wanted to speak and do. Today God speaks to his priests by way of the Holy Spirit.


g. The Gold Plate on the Turban - authority The turban indicated that although the priests had

authority God did not constitute them as lords, but the Lord was head over them and they were to be submissive to God.

In the front of the turban a plaque of gold was affixed with the following inscription: “HOLINESS TO THE LORD” (Exodus 28:36), showing that he was a sanctified priest, separated unto God.

The Turban with gold plate


3. The Anointing - supernatural ability In Exodus we have the recipe with the list of

ingredients for liberating the anointing (Exodus 30:23-29)


a. Death to self (ego) (Myrrh) Myrrh was sweet smelling, but bitter to the taste. It was used as a type of antiseptic, that is why the

Romans offered it to Jesus mixed with wine. Myrrh was used in burials. In John 19 Myrrh was

used to prepare Jesus for burial. The wise men gave Jesus Myrrh as part of their gift Therefore we conclude that there is no anointing

without death to self (Psalm 51:16-17)


b. Sweetness, simplicity (Cinnamon) Cinnamon was used to neutralize the smell of dead

animals. It was also used to stimulate the heart. If we are complicated and sophisticated we will not

flow in the anointing of God.


c. Character (Cane) Cane grows clay and muddy earth, revealing its

ability to avoid corruption. In order for its fragrance to be released, it had to be

crushed and ground. The character of brokenness gives place for the gifts

of the Spirit to operate.


d. Prayer (Cassia) Cassia only grows in altitudes above 6,500 feet. You

must climb a mountain in order to obtain it. The word Cassia means to separate, to purify.

Cassia was also used as a type of insect repellent. Cassia was also used as a laxative to purify the

intestines.

Class 04 The Law of the priesthood

Spiritual

Transcript of Class 04 The Law of the priesthood