Bahan Alkitab: Exodus 28, 38:1-31, Numbers 3:5-9, Exodus 29:1-11, Leviticus 8:1-10:5
Tanggal: 31/01/2021
Ringkasan:
For the past few weeks, we learned about the construction of the Tabernacle and the various furniture in it. At this point, the Tabernacle was already completed, but what was missing is the people who would serve the LORD at the Tabernacle. This group of people is called the Priests. The priests’ main task of is to be the mediator between God and the Israelites. They are also required to perform all the rituals, such as animal sacrifices, for the Israelites.
Among all the Israelites, God chose Levi tribe to help the priests, and among the Levites, God chose Aaron and his descendants to be God’s priests.
Now that God had chosen Aaron and his sons as the priests, He needed to set them apart in terms of appearance so that the people of Israel would show them honour and respect. God gave Moses very detailed instructions for making special clothes for the High Priest & the other priests. And, the people of Israel made the clothes for the priests, “as the LORD commanded Moses”, just like how they had built the Tabernacle and its furniture.
Before Aaron and his sons could start their work as priests, they must first be consecrated. The purpose of the consecration ceremony was to cleanse the priests of their own sins and to make atonements. It also signified that they were devoting their whole lives for God’s holy work. After one week of consecration ceremony, Aaron and his sons could officially start work as the Priests of Israel.
However, Nadab and Abihu, 2 of Aaron’s sons, did not follow God’s instruction and dishonoured God, causing God’s wrath to consume them with fire. As much as the priests try their hardest to be godly and sacred, they remain sinful before our Holy God. That is why God sent Jesus Christ to be our Great High Priest. Jesus was the last Priest and the only one who could perfectly obey God and offered the most perfect sacrifice, Himself, as final and complete atonement for our sin.
We, as Christians, no longer need to offer animal sacrifices, but we are called to consecrate our lives for God, as a living sacrifice.
Ayat Hafalan:
Exodus 29:45-46
I will dwell among the people of Israel and will be their God. And they shall know that I am the Lord their God, who brought them out of the land of Egypt that I might dwell among them. I am the Lord their God.