Leviticus 8:1-17
Q.1. Why were all the children of Israel called to witness the consecration of the priests and the Tabernacle? – (Lev.8:1-5)
The simple answer is that God had commanded Moses to do everything according to His instructions (Lev.8:3-5). Moses was from the tribe of Levi as was Aaron, the High Priest. Aaron was Moses’s own blood brother. Aaron’s sons were Moses’s nephews. Thus, the priesthood could have been considered to be nepotism, and therefore snubbed by the twelve tribes of Israel. However, it was God Who had appointed Aaron and his sons to represent all of Israel before Him. This was supported by God’s explanation to Moses -12 Behold, I have taken the Levites from among the sons of Israel instead of every firstborn, the first issue of the womb among the sons of Israel. So, the Levites shall be Mine. 13 For all the firstborns are Mine; on the day that I struck down all the firstborn in the land of Egypt, I sanctified to Myself all the firstborn in Israel, from man to beast. They shall be Mine; I am the Lord.” (Num. 3:12-13). The priests fulfilled an integral role in the whole nation.
Q.2. What was involved in the consecration of the priests and the Tabernacle? – (Lev.8:6-13)
Moses was to – take Aaron and his sons with him, and the garments and the anointing oil and the bull of the sin offering, and the two rams and the basket of unleavened bread (Lev.8:2). Aaron and his sons firstly had to be cleansed by washing. Next, they were anointed with oil, in order to be consecrated to serve the Lord. Then they were dressed in all the beautiful garments, complete with the Ephod on the shoulders, and also the Breastplate. They all bore the names and colours of the twelve tribes of Israel which they represented before God. The Urim and Thummim, which were part of the Breastplate, enabled the priests to discern the will and judgment of God (Exo.28:29-30). The anointing oil was used to consecrate the Tabernacle, plus all the sacred vessels and utensils used therein (Lev.8:10-13). All was done – just as the Lord commanded Moses (Lev.8:9 & 13).
Q.3. Why was blood required to make atonement for the priests and the altar of sacrifice? – (Lev.8:14-17 c.f. Heb.9:21-22)
Before the priests could do any ministry, they firstly needed to symbolically transfer their sin to the bull, thus making atonement for their own sin (Lev.8:14). This offering bull carrying the sins of the priests, then was slain, and the blood was applied and sprinkled around the altar (Lev.8:15). Next, the fat and inner organs were offered to the Lord. It was a burnt offering for a soothing aroma. It was an offering by fire to the Lord (Lev.8:16). The rest was burned in the fire outside the camp. All the Covenants were made in blood. The Lord had said during the birth of the nation – when I see the blood I will Passover you! (Exo.12:13). The writer of Hebrews applied this blood requirement this way – 21 And in the same way Moses sprinkled both the tabernacle and all the vessels of the ministry with the blood. 22 And according to the Law, one may almost say, all things are cleansed with blood, and without shedding of blood there is no forgiveness (Heb.9:21-22). This blood pointed to the sacrifice of God’s spotless Lamb, the Lord Jesus, Who replaced all the laborious requirements of the sacrificial system, by shedding His own precious blood, once for all people, and once for all time (Heb.10:10-14).