Posts Tagged ‘Priest’

Scripture reading for June 25th: Psalms 107-110

Psalm 110 is one of David’s psalms that was used by Jesus Christ to confound his adversaries.  Jesus was being tested by the teachers of the law to try to prove that he could not be the messiah.  To counter their arguments, Jesus quoted Psalm 110:1 and attributed it to King David speaking under the power of the Holy Spirit.  “The Lord said to my lord: “Sit at my right hand until I put your enemies under your feet.” (Psalm 110:1)  “David himself calls him ‘Lord.’  How then can he be his son?” (Mark 12:36-37a)  Jesus’ question was designed to help these teachers of the law connect with the plain teaching of God’s Word that the messiah would be a son of David as well as his Lord! (2nd Samuel 7:12, 13, 16)  This is a hard concept for us to grasp and this psalm has been difficult for some to understand throughout history.

The psalm is a prophetic picture of the messiah who would come from the line of David.  This messiah would sit at God’s right hand and rule until the Lord God put all His enemies under His feet.  The messiah would be made or declared a priest as well as a ruling king!  A priest represents the people before God by intercession and sacrifice.  The king was to rule on behalf of God.  These offices were not combined in the Old Testament history of God’s people.  There was one person in history who was both a priest and a king.  His name was Melchizedek.  (Genesis 14:18-20) (Hebrews 5:5-10, 6:19-7:28)  Melchizedek was the King of Salem (Peace) and a priest of the Most High God.  He received tithes from Abraham and blessed Abraham.  This descendant of David who was to come would be a priest and king like Melchizedek!

Priests normally did not sit down while at work.  This King who was seated at God’s right hand who also was a Priest was invited to sit!  He was sitting down, because His work of sacrifice on behalf of the people was completed!  (Acts 5:31)  (Ephesians 1:20)  David was seeing a vision of the throne in heaven following the crucifixion and resurrection of Jesus Christ, who offered His own sinless body as the payment for the sins of the whole world!  John the Baptist remarked of Jesus: “Look, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!” (John 1:29)  Jesus now is interceding for us as a priest before God, seated at His right hand! (Romans 8:34)

This King/Priest is ruling in the midst of His enemies now, waiting for them to bow their knees!  (Psalm 11o:2,3)  He is marshaling His troops for a day of battle!  There is a coming day of wrath where all enemies who have not become one of his troops by bowing their knees will suffer a crushing defeat! (Psalm 110:5-6)  This King will judge nations and crush rulers of the earth!  He will be refreshed after the battle and exalted as the King of Glory!  (Psalm 110:7)  Truly, this King is the Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, Son of David, David’s Lord!

Wow!  Leviticus really makes you appreciate what we have today because of Jesus Christ!  I know I would have had a hard time bringing all those animals to offer for my sins.  It’s hard to admit sin privately before the Lord.  I can’t imagine having to confess my sins to the priest and then offer an animal that would die right in front of my own eyes!  Sin might become detestable after a few times!  Maybe that was God’s intent!

Being a priest would have been difficult and very messy!  Killing animals daily and sprinkling blood and washing and lifting dead carcasses up before the Lord would have been gruesome work.  Going into the Tent of Meeting knowing that you might die yourself would also not be exciting.  I am sure that Aaron had his moments too.  He lost two sons who went into that Tent, probably under the influence of alcohol.  Can you imagine his thoughts each year as he had to go in with the blood of a bull for himself and his family and then the blood of a goat for the whole nation?  He had to go in alone and by faith make the acceptable sacrifice.  It was probably not something he took lightly!

We have it easy today!  Jesus has done it all!  He is our high priest and intercedes for us.  He sacrificed his own body and blood for our “atonement” covering of our sins.  Our sins are taken away and our consciences are cleansed!  It is finished!  He did not have to sacrifice for Himself, like Aaron, because He was without sin.  He ever lives to make intercession for us!  Take time and reflect on this past week’s reading and thank Jesus for fulfilling all the law!  Ask Him to make you holy, as He is holy.  By faith, claim His righteousness.  True Christianity brings rest and true joy!  God bless you and have a great sabbath rest!

“Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come!  . . .”God made him (Jesus) who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.” 2nd Corinthians 5: 17, 21.

Scripture reading for January 29th: Exodus 28-31

A priest’s job is to mediate between men and God.  Men who are dealing with God must be holy and proper.  If those assigned and prepared for this job were not obedient, death could result and did on occasion!  (Leviticus 10:1-6)  Just as God gave great detail in how his Tabernacle would be built, He also gave great detail about the men who would serve in His house!  They had to pay attention to detail again.

Two other stones, the urim and thummin were  also in the breastpiece, right over Aaron’s heart.  (Exodus 28:30) These stones were to enable Aaron to make godly decisions in accordance with God’s will.  These stones’ names mean “lights” and “perfections”.  They have to do with the treasures of wisdom and knowledge hidden only in God.

The turban for Aaron’s head was also made of fine linen.  It had a special gold plate with “Holy to the Lord” engraved on it.  Aaron was to wear that plate on the front of his turban whenever he ministered. (Exodus 28:36-39)

So it is that Jesus Christ is our High Priest forever living to make intercession for us!  (Hebrews 7:23-25)  He carries our names on his breastpiece like precious stones and we are over His heart!  In Him are all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge! (Colossians 2:2-3) He stands as the only mediator between God and man, a mixture of earthly (He is a man) and heavenly (He is God). (1st Timothy 2:5-6)  Let’s face it, Jesus is dressed to meet with God on our behalf!  He is better than Aaron or his line because he lives forever.  He is seated because his work is finished for our redemption.  He is royalty in heaven and on earth!  He offered Himself as the sacrifice for our sins.  What a Savior!

One of the important lessons in this part of Scripture is this: are you dressed to meet with God?  It is not so much a matter of clothes as it is of our heart.  Are we going to Jesus as our way to the Father?  Do we go in faith in His sacrifice?  Are we going humbly?  Are we seeking the proper attire of holiness?  Examin yourself today and get dressed to meet with God!

“Therefore, since we have a great high priest who has gone through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold firmly to the faith we profess.  For we do not have a high priest who is unable to symphathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are–yet without sin.  Let us then approach the throne of grace with confidence so that we may receive mercy and find help in time of need.” Hebrews 4:14-16