July 22

Journey-through-the-Bible-with-us

READING FOR JULY 22, 2024, EXODUS 29, 1 TIMOTHY 4, PSALM 70                                   EXODUS 29 God told Moses what Aaron and his sons had to do to serve Him as priests. Notice God tells them how they can be acceptable; it's not their method.  God says they will serve Him primarily, not the people. This is knowable only through God’s revealed word, not through their own or anyone else’s ideas. This seems to be how God operates with us. Yet we as humans continue to find this offensive, as if this is limiting and we know better. Why?  As we walk through this process, suggestions will be made as to the meaning of certain aspects based upon what’s known in the Bible, particularly referencing Leviticus 8--when this was first implemented. The main reason these actions have meaning (unless God tells us) is that they are God’s commands, not what we think they should symbolize. 

First God says to gather together all the ingredients they will need. Then Aaron and his sons are to come to the door of the tent of meeting to be washed by Moses, God’s chosen representative. In Leviticus 8 we learn this location allows all the people to see the washing and their need for cleansing from sin. Then Moses is told to dress Aaron with all the items mentioned in Exodus 28, which we have seen symbolize God’s covenant. Then Moses is to pour the anointing oil on Aaron’s head to consecrate (set apart) him: “Then he poured some of the anointing oil on Aaron’s head and anointed him, to consecrate him” (Lev. 8:12). God says to follow the same procedure for all of Aaron’s sons as part of the ceremony. 

Moses then is to have a bull come to the Tabernacle door so that 1) Aaron and sons can lay their hands on its head—symbolizing the transfer of sins-- and 2) the bull can be slaughtered in front of God and all the people. Moses is told to dip his finger in the blood and place some on the horns of the altar (to purify it according to Lev. 8: 15). Some fat and some organs of the bull are offered as a smoke offering on the altar and the rest is burned outside the camp as a sin offering. In Hebrews, we learn this points forward to Jesus: “Therefore Jesus also suffered outside the gate, that He might sanctify the people through His own blood” (Heb. 13:12).

They were told to do much the same with a ram for the purpose of providing a pleasing aroma to God. With another ram they were to place some of the blood on Aaron and sons’ right big toe, thumb, and ear. This seems to connect the priests with their coming atoning ministry: “For the life of the flesh is in the blood, and I have given it to you on the altar to make atonement for your souls; for it is the blood by reason of the life that makes atonement” (Lev. 17:11). Moses is then told that blood also needs to be sprinkled on the altar and the garments as part of the consecration. 

Again, writing space is vanishing. Below is a brief summary of the rest of the chapter: 

READING FOR JULY 22, 2024 CONTINUED: EXODUS 29, 1 TIMOTHY 4, PSALM 70  

  • Some fat, internal organs, and the right thigh from the ram, plus bread and oil are to be waved before the altar. Then it is to be all burned on the altar to the Lord. This is the only instance in the Bible of a wave offering being totally burned on the altar after it is waved. 
  • A similar wave offering is made using the breast from the ram. After this waving, however, it is given to Aaron and sons for food. These cases of God consuming meat by fire first and then the priests eating might symbolize the fellowship possible between God and the priests once sin has been atoned.      
  • The entire process above is to take place each day for seven consecutive days!     
  • Then God tells them the sacrifices needed to be offered every morning and evening after that in order to allow God to “dwell among the sons of Israel” and for them to “know that I am the Lord their God.” 

Just a thought: Might this process tell us about our Holy God’s attitude toward sin and the work of Jesus to provide a better way for us through the cross to interact with Him?

1 TIMOTHY 4 Paul clearly warns that people can and will lose their salvation. WATCH OUT!Just because something sounds good doesn’t make it right. We must all be Bereans: “Now these people [Bereans] were more noble-minded than those in Thessalonica, for they received the word with great eagerness, examining the Scriptures daily to see whether these things were so” (Acts 17:11).  

Paul told Timothy (AND US) to stay close to the Bible, avoid worthless stories, be more concerned with spiritual discipline than bodily exercise, and work for God motivated by our hope in Him. He told Timothy, even though he is young, he can be an example to the church by his behavior, by exercising his gift, and by a spiritual growth that can be observed by others. 

PSALM 70 There is much teaching about waiting on the Lord, yet here David obviously wants help from God in a hurry. Which is it? Keep in mind that David seems to be staring imminent death in the face. Recommending praying for patience when someone is seconds away from death might not be well received or even appropriate. 

The fact that David seeks God’s help at all in such a circumstance is rather amazing. Most of us have rarely been in such a spot, but perhaps if we were alert to the spiritual realities around us, we might share some of David’s urgency. Consider Peter’s warning “Be on the alert. Your adversary, the devil, prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour. So, resist him” (1 Pet. 5:8-9).                        

Sandwiched between David’s urgent cries is another request that we know is God’s will for David and us based upon promises made by God in His word and verified by our own experience of Him: “May all who seek You rejoice and be glad in You; And may those who love Your salvation say continually, “May God be exalted!”   Let’s love and treasure the salvation we have in Jesus Christ our Lord and Savior. May our praise and our lives truly exalt the Lord before a world that needs to know Him.