"Moses ordains Aaron and his sons as the priests of the tent of meeting. The ordination took place in order to atone for their sins before becoming priests. During the ceremony, one bull and two rams were sacrificed. After the ordination, Aaron and his sons remained in the tent of meeting for seven days. They were to keep the Lord's charge or else they would die."
Leviticus 8 Amplified Bible (AMP)
The Consecration of Aaron and His Sons
8 Then the Lord spoke to Moses, saying, 2 “Take Aaron and his sons with him, and the garments [which are symbols of their office], and the anointing oil, and the bull for the sin offering, and the two rams, and the basket of unleavened bread; 3 and assemble the entire congregation at the doorway of the Tent of Meeting.” 4 Moses did as the Lord commanded him, and the congregation was assembled at the doorway of the Tent of Meeting. 5 Moses said to the congregation, “This is what the Lord has commanded us to do.”The Consecration of Aaron and His Sons
6 Then Moses brought Aaron and his sons and washed them with water. 7 He put the undertunic on Aaron, tied the sash around him, clothed him in the robe, and put the [a]ephod (an upper vestment) on him. He tied the [skillfully woven] band of the ephod around him, with which he secured it to Aaron. 8 Moses then put the breastpiece on Aaron, and he put in the breastpiece the Urim and the Thummim [the sacred articles the high priest used when seeking God’s will concerning the nation]. 9 He also put the turban on Aaron’s head, and on it, in the front, Moses placed the golden plate, the holy crown, just as the Lord had commanded him.
- AMAZING GRACE OF GOD TO AARON AND SONS. I can't help but remember the golden calf incident wherein the people got impatient and worshiped the 'physical' representation of God. Yet despite of everything, God still chose and anointed Aaron, and his sons to be priests. It makes me think of who I am as well-- despite of all my sins and failures, God still chose to save and love me through His Son Lord Jesus Christ.
- ALL ACCORDING TO GOD'S COMMANDS. So far, Moses and all the Israelites have been able to obey and follow everything according to God's will. It's all hard work, but it's all for God's glory and honor. Everything is going to point for the coming Savior, the Promised One, the High Priest Himself and the offering/sacrifice Himself, who was Jesus.
14 Then he brought the bull for the sin offering, and Aaron and his sons laid their hands on the head of the bull. 15 Next Moses killed it and took the blood and with his finger put some of it around on the horns of the altar and purified it [from sin]. Then he poured out the rest of the blood at the base of the altar and consecrated it, to make atonement for it. 16 He took all the fat that was on the entrails, and the lobe of the liver, and the two kidneys with their fat, and Moses offered them up in smoke on the altar. 17 But the bull (the sin offering) and its hide, its meat, and its refuse he burned in the fire outside the camp, just as the Lord had commanded Moses.
- ANOINTING OIL. I'd like to think that the anointing oil-- that was used to the priests and even sprinkled to the altar, the Tabernacle-- is the physical representation of the Holy Spirit, whom Lord Jesus sent and gifted to those who believes in Him, after He ascended to heaven. Without God's Spirit and anointing, it will just be all about our 'works' or our efforts. But there is something supernatural and miraculous when the Spirit of God is at work.
"God used an important cultural symbol and practice to foreshadow the work of the Holy Spirit. Although the Israelites consecrated priests and holy objects, setting them apart for God’s work, that was only the beginning.
The Holy Spirit consecrates saints; He anoints them. He sets us apart to do the work of God.
We can also see God’s provision at work through the multiple uses of oil. In the same way, we can picture how God can use us in multiple ways. Sometimes He’ll ordain ordinary tasks such as our day-to-day tasks in the workplace.
In other instances, He’ll give us spiritual gifts to use to encourage other believers and present a light to unbelievers.
We see the importance of oil through the word “anointed” and its associations with Jesus. Anointing oil was used on priests and kings for important purposes. In the same way, Jesus is our High Priest and our King.
This practice used in Israel and throughout the Ancient World foreshadowed God’s work through his Son."
The Holy Spirit consecrates saints; He anoints them. He sets us apart to do the work of God.
We can also see God’s provision at work through the multiple uses of oil. In the same way, we can picture how God can use us in multiple ways. Sometimes He’ll ordain ordinary tasks such as our day-to-day tasks in the workplace.
In other instances, He’ll give us spiritual gifts to use to encourage other believers and present a light to unbelievers.
We see the importance of oil through the word “anointed” and its associations with Jesus. Anointing oil was used on priests and kings for important purposes. In the same way, Jesus is our High Priest and our King.
This practice used in Israel and throughout the Ancient World foreshadowed God’s work through his Son."
22 Then he brought the second ram, the ram of consecration (ordination), and Aaron and his sons laid their hands on the head of the ram. 23 Moses killed it and took some of its blood and put it on the lobe of Aaron’s right ear, and on the thumb of his right hand, and on the big toe of his right foot. 24 He also brought Aaron’s sons forward and put some of the blood on the lobes of their right ears, and the thumbs of their right hands, and the big toes of their right feet; and Moses sprinkled the rest of the blood around on the altar. 25 He took the fat, the fat tail, all the fat that was on the entrails, the lobe of the liver, and the two kidneys and their fat, and the right thigh; 26 and from the basket of unleavened bread that was before the Lord, he took one unleavened cake, a cake of oiled bread, and one wafer and put them on the fat and on the right thigh; 27 and he put all these things in Aaron’s hands and his sons’ hands and presented them as a wave offering before the Lord. 28 Then Moses took these things from their hands and offered them up in smoke on the altar with the burnt offering. They were a consecration (ordination) offering for a sweet and soothing aroma, an offering by fire to the Lord. 29 Moses also took the breast and presented it as a wave offering before the Lord; it was Moses’ portion of the ram of consecration (ordination), just as the Lord had commanded Moses.
30 So Moses took some of the anointing oil and some of the blood which was on the altar and sprinkled it on Aaron and his garments, and also on his sons and their garments with him; so Moses consecrated Aaron and his garments, and his sons and his sons’ garments with him.
31 Then Moses said to Aaron and to his sons, “Boil the meat at the doorway of the Tent of Meeting and eat it there together with the bread that is in the basket of the consecration (ordination) offering, just as I commanded, saying, ‘Aaron and his sons shall eat it.’ 32 And what remains of the meat and of the bread you shall burn in the fire. 33 You shall not go outside the doorway of the Tent of Meeting for seven days, until the days of your consecration (ordination) are ended; for it will take seven days to consecrate you. 34 As has been done this day, so the Lord has commanded to do for your atonement. 35 You shall remain day and night for seven days at the doorway of the Tent of Meeting, doing what the Lord has required you to do, so that you will not die; for so I (Moses) have been commanded.” 36 So Aaron and his sons did all the things which the Lord had commanded through Moses.
Footnotes: Leviticus 8:7 See Ex 28:6-8.
- EVERYTHING NEEDS CONSECRATION. If something is to be used for the service and for the glory of God, then it should be consecrated, or made sacred. No if's and no but's. God is holy and sacred, and everyone and everything shall be 'symbolically' sacred as well.
After reading, I always check out the Study Guide Commentary from David Guzik (very helpful!):
a. Take Aaron and his sons with him: Exodus 29 records the command God gave to Moses to carry out this consecration ceremony with Aaron and his sons. Now that the tabernacle was built it was time to perform the ceremony.
i. Exodus 29:1 stated the purpose for the ceremony: To hallow them for ministering to Me as priests. That is, it was to set the priests aside for God's purpose and will.
ii. Since in Jesus we are a holy priesthood … a royal priesthood (1 Peter 2:5, 9), there is much for us to learn by analogy in this consecration ceremony. God wants us set apart for His purpose and will, and He uses these principles to accomplish that goal.
b. And washed them with water: The process of consecration began with cleansing. All priestly ministries began with cleansing, and a cleansing that was received: you shall wash them. Aaron and his sons did not wash themselves; they received a washing.
i. This was humbling, because it took place publicly at the door of the tabernacle of meeting. We cannot be cleansed from our sin without being humbled first.
iv. Like these ancient priests, every Christian is washed by the work of God's word (Ephesians 5:26), by the regenerating work of the Holy Spirit (Titus 3:5). This cleansing work was accomplished by the death of Jesus for us (Revelation 1:5) and appropriated by faith.
a. And he put the tunic on him: After being cleansed, the priest had to be clothed - but not in his own clothes. He had to put on garments given by God.
i. Like these ancient priests, every believer is clothed in Jesus Christ and in his righteousness (Revelation 3:5). These are clothes that are given freely by Jesus, but received and "worn" by faith.
ii. "Note, that these garments were provided for them. They were at no expense in buying them, nor labor in weaving them, nor skill in making them; they had simply to put them on. And you, dear child of God, are to put on the garments which Jesus Christ has provided for you, at his own cost, and freely bestows upon you out of boundless love." (Spurgeon)
b. And he poured some of the anointing oil on Aaron's head and anointed him, to consecrate him: Priests also had to be anointed. The oil (a picture of the Holy Spirit) was poured over their heads, indicating that it was given in great measure, not in small measure (Psalm 133:2). Things were sprinkled, but upon people the oil was out-poured.
i. To consecrate him: This means that the anointing oil set Aaron apart. If something is consecrated, it is then set apart for God's service. Once sprinkled with oil, then the tabernacle wasn't just a tent anymore; the altar was no longer just a fire-pit; and Aaron was no longer just a man.
c. Tip of Aaron's right ear, on the thumb of their right hand, and on the big toe of their right foot: These consecrated priests were stained with the blood of sacrifice. They should hear differently because the blood was on their ear. They should work differently because the blood was on their thumb. They should walk differently because the blood was on their toe.
i. Specifically, it was applied to the right ear, hand, and foot. This isn't because God felt they could do whatever they wanted to with their left ear, hand, and foot. It is because the right side was considered superior, with more strength and skill (because most people are right-handed). God wanted their best to be dedicated to Him.
b. You shall stay at the door of the tabernacle of meeting day and night for seven days: For seven days they lived at the tabernacle and ate the ram of the consecration and the bread of consecration. The consecration ceremony wasn't quick and easy. It took time, reflection, and a constant awareness of sacrifice and atonement.
Reference and credits to https://www.blueletterbible.org/Comm/guzik_david/StudyGuide2017-Lev/Lev-8.cfm © 2004 David Guzik
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