PLEASE READ THIS FIRST: Exodus 27-28
What do you sense the Lord saying to you in this passage?
“Make sacred garments for your brother Aaron to give him dignity and honour.” (Exodus 28:2)
The priest was to serve as the go-between, between God and the world.
They were dressed, and anointed, and given important tasks in the community.
The people were to give them dignity and honor, as God’s messiah/christ (anointed one).
The idea of having a priest (go-between) was not how God created things originally.
In the beginning all people were God’s image-bearers, anointed with the Spirit.
It was sin that separated people from God and each other, and created division.
The priest symbolically represented what was lost, and what God wanted to restore.
Jesus comes as the Christ (anointed one), perfectly representing God and humans.
He is also ‘clothed’ and ‘anointed’, but not with dignity and honour (John 19:2-3).
But God clothes him with glory and honour, and puts him in charge.
Jesus makes us all priests again, and anoints us all (1 Peter 2:9, Revelation 1:5-6).
We need no go-between other than Jesus; we all can approach God with Jesus.
And we are all clothed with Jesus’s glory, and deserve dignity and honour.
All people are holy, not just an ordained few; let’s treat all people accordingly!
PRAYER
Lord, thank you for giving me my dignity and honour back… and everyone else’s. Help me to not see myself as either better or less than others, but to see myself and others as you see us!
Aaron is anointed and consecrated and has a special clothing including a plate on his turban: “Make a plate of pure gold and engrave on it as on a seal: holy to the Lord”. He is told He must wear it in the presence of God – this is what God sees – Aaron is the go-between the unrighteous and God . As believers Christ was the final go-between – mediator and sacrifice that once and for all by faith makes us ‘Holy to the Lord”. Jesus promised the gift of the HS – so that we may be holy to the Lord – it is the HS that enables me to be Holy -even as I struggle with sin! The detail recorded in scripture reminds that this is not easy or a casual thing. Aaron and the Israelites needed to see God as Holy – that they were privileged to be the people by whom all other people are blest!
In the beginning, there was no go between God and man. God walked and talked with Adam in the garden. But then we fell and went our own way. Through the priesthood we the people were connected to God once again. He restored our connection to Him through His priesthood. Then Christ came along. He died and rose and ascended so that our connection to God is through our Saviour. He intercedes for you and me in God’s presence so that once again we can walk and talk with our risen Saviour. We are all precious in His sight.
I am weak but Thou art strong;
Jesus, keep me from all wrong;
I’ll be satisfied as long
As I walk, let me walk close to Thee.
Refrain:
Just a closer walk with Thee,
Grant it, Jesus, is my plea,
Daily walking close to Thee,
Let it be, dear Lord, let it be.