Introduction: Read Exodus29

At first sight this is a very difficult passage to preach on in that it is far removed from the way leaders are appointed today by the Baptist churches with which I am familiar. One asks oneself how the instructions given on how to consecrate Aaron and his sons to the priesthood can possibly be relevant today.

I think it is best to apply this chapter to all Christians bearing in mind Peter describes every believer as a priest. As you come to him, the Living Stone - rejected by men but chosen by God and precious to him - you also, like living stones are being built into a spiritual house to be a holy priesthood, offering spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ. ..... But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people belonging to God .... 1Pet2v4,5and9.

There are very few expository sermons on the internet dealing with Exodus 29. However, I found Warren Wiersbe's comments in his book, 'Be Delivered,' very helpful. He applies the information on consecrating the priests to all Christians. This exposition will borrow from him.

The priests were set apart to serve God in seven ways:

(1) They were washed and clothed. See Ex29v4to6.

Aaron and his sons were washed by Moses at the entrance to the Tabernacle. Then Aaron and his sons were dressed in their new and distinctive attire.

When I was a boy, my brothers and I always had a bath on Saturday night so we looked our best on Sunday. If it was a special occasion such as a Sunday School Anniversary - when children of the Sunday School sang and recited - the little girls would have on new dresses. Parents wanted their offspring to be at their best. It was a way of showing respect for God's day, God's house and God's people.

Young people were very casually dressed for the most part at Pioneer Camp - the Christian camp I served for 20 years as sports organiser. However, things were very different on Sunday. Then everyone smartened up. The male workers wore suits and the ladies attractive dresses. It was a way of showing that Sunday at camp was a special day.

Something is lost when people turn up for worship in t-shirts and tatty jeans!

The main lesson to learn from the clean and gorgeously clad priests is that we should be careful to give God our best. This is one way to show respect for God. When people have an audience with the Queen they aim to look their best as a sign of respect for the monarchy. God is worthy of far more respect than the greatest earthly monarch.

(2) They were anointed. See Ex29v7.

Moses took anointing oil and poured it over the high priest's head. In the Old Testament, prophets, priests and kings were all anointed with oil. It was a sign that they were set aside for service and, perhaps, a symbol that the Holy Spirit would be poured out equipping them for that service.

Isaiah wrote: The Spirit of the Sovereign LORD is upon me, because the LORD has anointed me to preach good news to the poor. He has sent me to bind up the broken hearted, to proclaim freedom for the captives and release from darkness for the prisoners, to proclaim the year of the LORD's favour .... . Is61v1and2. These are the words that Jesus quoted at the commencement of his ministry. Lk4v18and19.

Today Christians may not be anointed with oil but they are anointed with the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit:

• Enlightens. See 1Jn2v20 and Jn16v13.

• Assures us of salvation and eternal life. See 2Cor1v22.

• Helps us as Jesus helped his disciples when he was on earth. See Jn14v15.

• Equips us with gifts to serve the church. See 1Cor12v7to11.

(3) They were forgiven. See Ex29v10to14.

Aaron and his sons had to make a SIN offering for their sins to be forgiven. First they identified with the sacrificial bull by putting their hands upon it. Blood from the bull was sprinkled on the horns of the altar and poured out at its base. The fat was burned on the altar but the bull's flesh, skin and offal were burned outside the camp.

This signifies that:

(a) The priests, notwithstanding their status, were just as much sinners as everyone else. We are apt to forget, especially at the funeral of a good man of no faith, that There is not a righteous man on earth who does what is right and never sins. Ecc7v20. Or as Paul put it: there is none righteous no not one!

(b) The only way to be forgiven is through sacrifice. The bull was slain and destroyed by fire outside the camp to atone for the priest's sin. The priests had to rely on God graciously accepting this token payment for sin. This sacrifice did not give God any pleasure. It took place outside the camp - not on the altar.

Every sinner, and that means everybody, should be humbled by the price Jesus paid to atone for their sin. He died outside the city wall for us. Jesus' suffering did not make God glad. He abandoned his Son as the sacrifice took place.

There is a green hill far away
Without a ciy wall,
Where the dear Lord was crucified,
Who died to save us all.

(4) They were dedicated. See Ex29v15to18.

Although the sin offering, the destruction of the bull outside the camp, gave God no pleasure, the burnt offering of a ram did. It is a burnt offering to the LORD, a pleasing aroma, an offering made to the LORD by fire. v18.

A burnt offering was an expression of devotion and commitment. It was roast on the altar in its entirety. None of it could be claimed by the priests or eaten by them. It was a gift to God - a free will offering.

It is important for Christians to give to God in this spirit. Our giving can become mechanical, purely routine and without devotion. Our hearts are frequently not in our giving. We need to give consciously and gladly to God. Only then will it ascend to him as a pleasing aroma.

Sometimes, someone who loves you will put a lot of thought into buying a Christmas present. I once told my uncle David that about the only poet whose work I enjoyed was John Clare. Next Christmas I received a copy of John Clare's, 'A Shepherd's Calendar' from my uncle. I value that little book - it was a love gift and as such precious.

That is how we should give to God. We should give to him and his son, Jesus, what they really like.

(5) They were marked by blood. See Ex29v19to22.

Another ram was slain for a third offering - a fellowship offering. The fat was once again burned on the altar. Some of the blood was taken and dabbed on the right ear lobes, thumbs and big toes of the priests. Blood and oil were also sprinkled on the garments of the priests. (Blood is not easy to remove from cloth!!)

We cannot be sure what the significance of the blood-marked ear lobes, big toes, thumbs and garments was because we are not told! I think Wiersbe's suggestion is as good as any: God's servants must listen to his word, do his work and walk in his ways. I would add that the blood stained garments were a perpetual reminder of what was owed to God's grace.

The shed blood of Jesus should provide his followers with powerful motivation to obey his teaching, engage cheerfully in practical service and follow his example. We should never forget the price Jesus paid for our redemption. Without the shedding of his blood there would be no forgiveness of sin. We are bound to celebrate that outpoured blood during Communion lest we forget what we owe to Christ's mercy and God's grace.

(6) They benefitted from God's provision. See Ex29v22to28 and 31to34.

The second ram, the ram of ordination (See v2and3), and some of the bread, cakes and wafers were to be eaten by the priests at their consecration. Subsequent fellowship offerings were different in that only the breast and right thigh were given to the priests.

The main point to make is that the priests did not lose out by serving God. The fellowship offerings brought pleasure to God, his servants the priests and the people who provided the sacrificial animal who also usually ate it.

We should never overlook the fact that Christian worship and service, pleasing as it is to God, also gives enjoyment and satisfaction to its participants. A lady who creates a lovely flower arrangement to God's glory gives pleasure to herself and to those who enjoy what she has created.

When I worked hard organising activities at a Christian camp for boys and girls there was much happiness for me - the affection of the children, fellowship with my fellow labourers, the open air life and evidence that the Holy Spirit was at work. I had some wonderful experiences because God is no man's debtor.

(7) They ministered daily. See Ex29v38to46.

The priests had to ensure, following their consecration, that every day began and ended with the sacrifice of a lamb as a burnt offering. This was a daily expression of the Israelites' devotion and commitment to the LORD.

It is a good thing for parents to begin and end each day dedicating and committing their children to God. Church officers should do the same for their flock.

Flour, oil and wine, those great staples of the Mediterranean diet, were also offered daily to the LORD. This was done in acknowledgment that the Israelites owed their daily sustenance to God.

In our days of plenty we should never forget that we rely on God for our daily bread. This is a feature of the Lord's Prayer - 'Give us this day our daily bread.' It is easy to take God's providential care for granted. It would only take a large meteor strike or a series of prolonged and unusually violent volcanic eruptions to result in a series of cold summers, crop failure and mass starvation. Western man is far too self-confident for his own good. We are dependent upon God for our material as well as our spiritual well being.