Ordination


Exodus 29:1-46
As the reading for the last few days are slightly longer, I am providing a link to the text. Please don't skip reading the Biblical text. That's the most important part of these devotionals.

http://www.esvbible.org/Exodus%2029/

In 1981, in a small church in rural Iowa, my husband was ordained as a pastor in the Lutheran Church. Needless to say, that ordination service looked very little like the one we see described in our reading for today. No animals were sacrificed, no blood was placed upon the altar and he didn’t have to take a public bath. But it was an important event and there was plenty of ritual and special activity. He did have robes to wear and a stole (that I made!) was placed upon his shoulders. The most moving part of the ceremony was when a group of fellow pastors placed their hands upon his head and prayed over him. He walked into that sanctuary as a layman and walked out as an ordained pastor. It was a big day for our little family.

As we read these verses from Exodus we cannot help but see that the men chosen as priests who stand before the Lord on behalf of the people have a great responsibility. They are not sinless or perfect. There isn’t anything special about them personally other than that they are chosen by God to serve in this role. After all of the details of how these men are drawn into the position of priest, we find the stated goal in verses 45 and 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.

Here’s why God places priests in His Tabernacle. God is God and we are not. The priest stands before us to remind us that we are indeed cared for by Someone greater than ourselves. We are blessed because God has chosen to dwell among us even though we do not deserve it. The word Tabernacle simply means “dwelling”. As the high priest enters the tabernacle dressed in the magnificent array of symbolic clothing to meet with God the people know that God is with them – dwelling with them. It is a significant expression of God’s relationship with us.

We are far more casual today than the Children of Israel were in the expression of our worship lives. I’m fairly conflicted as to whether that is positive or negative. But our imagination can transport us to that time when a man dressed in clothing that reflected the glory of God entered into His dwelling place on behalf of the people. Now, because of Jesus’ work of salvation we are allowed to enter on our own behalf and stand before a holy God with our lives lifted before Him. No robes are needed. No more blood needs to be shed. God’s plan always included the work of  Jesus and He graciously provided the Children of Israel with a foreshadowing of the Messiah in the model of the priests of Israel.

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