|
Index of
Compass Articles
|
(#7)
God Provides
A MEDIATOR
(Exodus 28-29)
The last two articles have considered the WAY provided by God for us to meet with and worship him, first through a meeting PLACE, then through a system of ATONEMENT--by sacrifice and cleansing--that enables a sinful people to approach him.
The third part of God's provision is the priesthood. It is through the priests that the people bring their sacrifices and through him that atonement is made.
Most broadly considered, the role of priest is one of serving in God's presence, in his "Holy Place" with the central duties of offering him worship (sacrifices, prayers), guarding the holiness of his dwelling place, and bringing blessing to his creatures. This is a central part of the original call of the human race. Adam is placed in the holy place--the Garden of God--to care for and guard it.
In fact, it is the call of God's redeemed as well, to be "kings and priests to God" (Exodus 19:5-6, 1 Peter 2:9-10).
The priestly call of God's people is something we will return to in a future article.
But there is also a specialized priesthood, with one High Priest.
This work of this priesthood, and especially of the high priest, is introduced in Exodus, and laid out in detail in Leviticus and Numbers. The specialized priesthood acts in behalf of God's people. Its members are mediators between God and man.
The Mediating Work of the High Priest
The work of this priesthood, though still first of all concerned with worshiping God, is shaped by the presence of sin and uncleanness, i.e., by the fact that people are not fit to enter God's presence and worship him. It is now only through this priesthood and the system of atonement God provides, God's people are able to worship.
First, the (high) priest is the one through whom atonement is made. He is called to offer up sacrifices for the sins of the people, and also to carry out ritual cleansing, and declare.
The (high) priest's role of representing the people to God in presenting sacrifices from them and for them, also includes his prayers of intercession for the people. The intercession, however, is not a distinct activity. Rather it is presented WITH the sacrifice, and on the basis of the sacrifice.
The (high) priest, then acts as a representative of the people in God's presence. He is one of the people, identified with them and able to act in their behalf.
But he also acts as God's own representative. He does so as he guards God's holy place, from uncleanness. In pronouncing someone UNclean he acts to protect the purity of the camp where God dwells with his people.
Further he speaks for God to the people. One aspect of this is teaching them what is clean and unclean, and how to be a holy people. The other is in applying that teaching. When the priest declares a person "clean" or "unclean" it is God's pronouncement, for he acts as God's representative. God is the One who heals (Ex 15:26, Ps 103:3), but the healing and cleansing are pronounced by his representative, the priest.
It is in this light that the priest BLESSES the people, best known in the "Aaronic benediction" (Numbers 6:24-26)
The Lord bless you and keep you,
The Lord make his face shine upon you
and be gracious to you;
The Lord turn his face toward you and give you peace.
This benediction is not simply a prayer to God for him to bless his people but God's word of blessing on his own. God declares "this is how you are to bless the people" and explains, "So they will put my name on the Israelites and I will bless them." (vv.23, 27)
But, in fact, it is difficult to make a great distinction between this 'divine benediction,' and the high priest's prayers of intercession for the people. In interceding, the priest speaks on the basis of the sacrifices-- God's own provision! --and the promises God himself has made to bless his people.
The (High) Priest's Provisions
The Law provides for the priest in several ways. First, it provides detailed instructions for how the priest is to carry out his work for the people --how to tend the sanctuary (such as lighting the lamps), how to determine what is clean or unclean, how to cleanse, how and when to offer various sacrifices.
In addition, the instructions for the construction of the Tabernacle include the "furniture" the priest needs, such as the basin for him to wash in and the altar at which he offers the sacrifices. They provide a unique 'recipe' for the incense (symbolic of prayers) he is to offer with his sacrifices and prayers. (The fact that incense is offered with the sacrifice is a visible sign of the connection between the offering/sacrifice and prayer.)
But even before this, the priests are set apart and equipped by God. (Exodus 28-29)
They are set apart themselves by cleansing and sacrifices for their own sins.
The are provided with and formally "invested" with special clothing to wear in entering God's presence.
They are anointed with special oil-- and so publicly marked out by God as those he has chosen.
Appearance/Clothing of the High Priest
The clothing worn by the high priest tells us more about his role.
Many of the materials are precisely the same as those used for the tabernacle. Just as the tabernacle--the dwelling of the Great King --displays something of God's royal splendor, so his priests are clothed with garments which give them 'dignity and honor' (Ex 28:2,40) that reflect his glory (2 Chr 6:41).
In fact, the priest's robes are reminiscent of a king's.
The clothing reflects God's glory and tells us that he is a servant and representative of God. He is specifically marked out as God's. Indeed, on his forehead he wears a plate of pure gold engraved "holy to God." (Ex 28:36-38)
At the same time, he comes as a representative of the people. The names of each of the 12 tribes are engraved on the two stones set on his shoulders, and on the 12 stones of his breastpiece ( Ex 28:9-21), so that
"Whenever Aaron enters the Holy Place, he will bear the names of the sons of Israel over his heart on the breastpiece. . . as a continuing memorial before the Lord" (Ex 28:29)
The Great High Priest
The letter to the Hebrews argues in detail that Jesus is the final high priest, the fulfillment of their work.
He has been chosen and marked out by God himself as his high priest, his "anointed one"
He having finished his sacrifice sat down at God's right hand (Hebrews 1:3). He has been "crowned" (Hebrews 2:7-9)and 'invested' with honor and glory (2 Peter 1:17), far above all priests and kings.
He is, like the Aaronic priests, one of the people --able to sympathize with them and to represent them (Hebrews 2:11-18).
He has done what the high priests in the line of Aaron could not do because of their own sin and mortality.
He offers himself as the perfect and final sacrifice of atonement for sins.
On the basis of that sacrifice he intercedes for his people, representing them before God's throne (Hebrew 7:23-28) And because he lives forever, he never ceases to intercede for them and to receive God's forgiveness and blessing for them ("mercy and grace"). (Hebrews 4:14-16) And his prayers are heard.
Here, indeed, is "a high priest who meets our need."
Putting it Into Practice
- How is each of the following acts of the (high)priest reflected in our worship services? How is it like OT worship? How is it different because of the finished work of Christ?
- * teaching about holiness
- * pronouncing clean (or unclean)
- * offering sacrifices
- * intercession, including confession of sin?
- * blessing/benediction
- The OT priest wore clothing of 'dignity and honor' before God. What, if anything, does this say about how ministers, worship leaders, worshipers.... dress or act in worship assemblies?
- The highpriest represents "the people of God" atones for and prays for all the people. How does our worship, particular our times of prayer, reflect this corporate aspect?
- The priest also pronounces individuals clean and offer sacrifices for individuals. How do we reflect this truth in our worship? How do we "balance" these corporate and individual/personal aspects?
- (see Pathways Service #7)
YOUR FEEDBACK, SUGGESTIONS
|
