The Sanctuary Lesson 6b Consecration of Aaron and His Sons 1 1 The Consecration of Aaron 2 2 We read about it in Leviticus 8 It was a solemn occasion It occupied seven days, during which time the candidates were not allowed to leave the sanctuary grounds. The first ceremony was that of washing. 3 3 Moses said unto the congregation, This is the thing which the LORD commanded to be done. And Moses brought Aaron and his sons, and washed them with water. (Leviticus 8:5, 6) 4 4 Washing (Lev. 8:6) Symbolic act An act of regeneration (Titus 3:5) The priests were not allowed to wash themselves. God was teaching them that the purity which he required was not something they could provide for themselves. Someone else must provide it. (Andreasen) 5 5 Holy Garments Again, Moses clothed Aaron and his sons; they did not dress themselves. This was symbolic of Aaron and his sons having Christ’s righteousness given to them and that nothing Aaron or his sons could do on their own could make them acceptable or righteous to God. Again, they had to submit to the command of God, for there was nothing they could do to make himself acceptable to God. 6 6 High Priest’s Garments (Lev. 8:7) Coat In the breastplate, the Urim and the Thummim Girdle Mitre on his head Robe Golden plate or holy crown Ephod upon the mitre Curious girdle of the ephod Breastplate 7 7 Exodus 28 Breastplate—gold, blue, Girdle of ephod—gold, purple, scarlet, fine linen blue, purple, scarlet, fine with 12 precious stones and linen with the Urim and Thummim Robe of the ephod—blue Ephod—gold, blue, purple, Broidered coat of fine linen scarlet, fine linen; two onyx Mitre with plate of gold stones in shoulders; hem of HOLINESS TO THE pomegranates of blue, LORD purple, scarlet and bells of gold Girdle of needlework Linen breeches 8 8 Priests’ Clothing (Lev. 8:13) Coat Girdle about the coat Bonnets Linen breeches 9 9 The Anointing Holy oil on Aaron’s head to sanctify him (Lev. 8:12) The crown of the anointing oil was upon him (Lev. 21:12). 10 10 Holy Anointing Oil: 500 shekels—pure myrrh (balsam) 250 shekels—sweet cinnamon 250 shekels—sweet calamus (buttery, nut) 500 shekels—cassia (cinnamon-like) an hin—olive oil 1 part myrrh, 1 part cassia, 1/2 part cinnamon, and 1/2 part calamus mixed in olive11 oil. 11 Crown—nē·zěr Consecration, dedication; or a crown, diadem, or headband It is a noun and signifies the sorting of one thing from another, such as the holy from the common. Did Aaron have a crown? Yes, two! Exodus 29:6 calls the plate, HOLINESS TO THE LORD, a crown (nezer); and the anointing oil was a crown (nezer ) (Lev. 21:12). Aaron was doubly consecrated, or doubly set apart —by the holiness headband and by the anointing oil. 12 12 Tabernacle and furniture were also anointed. Leviticus 8:10 Sprinkled the altar seven times, anointed the altar and all the vessels, both the laver and the foot (v. 11) 13 13 Exodus 29:26–29 The tabernacle of the congregation The ark of the testimony The table and all vessels The candlestick and all vessels The altar of burnt offering and all vessels The laver and foot 14 14 The Offerings Bullock for a sin offering for the altar, to sanctify it. The blood was not carried into the HP. No sacrifice had been made on the altar yet. The bullock was taken outside the camp and burned. A ram was then offered for a burnt offering. The whole ram was burned on the altar. 15 15 Another ram was then offered—a ram of consecration. The blood was applied to the tip of Aaron’s right ear, thumb of right hand, and great toe of right foot. The same was done to Aaron’s sons. 16 16 The significance . Ear—hearken diligently to God’s commandments and close ears to evil. Thumb—Henceforth do righteousness; entire dedication to God Toe—Walk in the right way, do God’s errands, stand for truth and uprightness, tread the path of obedience 17 17 The altar was then sprinkled with the blood of the ram of consecration. The altar had already been anointed with oil. The blood of the sin offering and the blood of the burnt offering had already been applied. Now the blood of the ram of consecration was applied. 18 18 Then Moses took the right shoulder of the ram and the fat and other parts of the animal, plus one unleavened cake, a cake of oiled bread, and a wafer, and put these things upon the hands of Aaron and upon the hands of his sons and waved them for a wave offering before the Lord, and then they were burned upon the altar for a sweet savor. Moses then took the breast of the ram, the part given to him, and waved it before the Lord. 19 19 Sprinkling the Oil and the Blood Then Moses took of the anointing oil and of the blood upon the altar and sprinkled it upon Aaron and upon his garments, and upon his sons and their garments and sanctified Aaron and his garments and his sons and their garments. (See Lev. 8:30) 20 20 Boiling the Wave Offering The final act in the ceremony of consecration was for Aaron and his sons to take the flesh which remained of the wave offering and to boil it at the door of the tabernacle and to eat it there with the bread in the basket of consecrations. (v. 31) 21 21 The eating of the flesh of the ram of consecration was to consecrate and to sanctify them. This is not to be confused with the eating of the sin offering, which was for the purpose of bearing sin. 22 22 Aaron at the Altar During the seven days of consecration Aaron and his sons did not do service with the ministration of blood nor did they enter the sanctuary. Moses is the one who entered the tabernacle to consecrate the furniture. It was on the 8th day that Aaron began his service at the tabernacle. 23 23 Aaron first offered his own sin and his own burnt offering. Then he offered the sin offering and the burnt and meal offering for the people. Lastly he offered the bullock and the ram for the peace offering. 24 24 The blood of the sin offering was put on the horns of the altar of burnt offering. The blood of the burnt offering was sprinkled upon the altar round about. The blood of the peace offering was also sprinkled upon the altar round about. Then Aaron lifted up his hand toward the people and blessed them and came down from offering the sin, the burnt, and the peace offerings. 25 25 Then Moses and Aaron went into the holy place. This was the first time Aaron had entered the holy place. 26 26 When they came out, they blessed the people and the glory of the Lord appeared unto all the people. There came a fire out from before the Lord and consumed upon the altar the burnt offering and the fat and all the people shouted and fell on their faces. God had accepted man’s work. The sanctuary was now consecrated and dedicated, as were the priests. Now the sanctuary services could function for Israel. 27 27 A Royal Priesthood 28 28 But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light: (1 Peter 2:9) 29 29 The believer in Christ is consecrated to high and holy purpose. Before the service of the royal priesthood the glory of the Aaronic priesthood is eclipsed. (RH, October 30, 1900 par. 7) 30 30 Called according to God’s purpose, set apart by grace divine, invested with Christ’s righteousness, imbued with the Holy Spirit, offering up the sacrifices of a broken and contrite heart, the true believer is indeed a representative of the Redeemer. (Ibid.) 31 31 Upon such a worshiper, God looks with delight. He will let his light shine into the chambers of the mind and into the soul- temple if men, when they lack wisdom, will go to their closets in prayer, and ask wisdom from him who gives to all men liberally and upbraids not. (Ibid.) 32 32 Christ has pledged himself to be our substitute and surety, and he neglects no one. There is an inexhaustible fund of perfect obedience accruing from his obedience. In heaven his merits, his self- denial and self-sacrifice, are treasured up as incense to be offered up with the prayers of his people. As the sinner’s sincere, humble prayers ascend to the throne of God, Christ mingles with them the merits of his life of perfect obedience. Our prayers are made fragrant by this incense. Christ has pledged himself to intercede in our behalf, and the Father always hears his Son. Pray then; pray without ceasing; an answer is sure to come. (RH, October 30, 1900 par. 7) 33 33 Why do you not cease from sin? You may overcome if you will co-operate with God. Christ’s promise is sure. He pledges himself to fill the office of personal Intercessor, saying, “I will pray the Father.” He who could not see human beings exposed to eternal ruin without pouring our his soul unto death in their behalf, will look with pity and compassion upon every one who realizes that he can not save himself.