Thoughts on the Priesthood

This week's reading is Exodus 28-31.  After instructing Moses regarding the Tabernacle, God continued by defining the priesthood.  The priests were those who had the special role of appearing before the presence of God on behalf of the people.  They did not so much lead the people in worship (as pastors are in the church).  Rather, they performed the worship of Israel.  Most Israelites personally came to worship only very infrequently.  The rituals for purification were too time-consuming to be done regularly; and, after the land was settled, most people lived too far away to attend the temple frequently.  However, the priests maintained Israel's worship, interceding on behalf of the whole nation.

28:1-2 Throughout Exodus, Moses has been the primary representative of the people before God.  He was the one who constantly communicated with God, interceded on behalf of the people, and made sacrifices (24:4-8).  However, somewhat surprisingly, the priesthood is given to Aaron and his descendants, rather than Moses.

28:2-43 As was the case with the Tabernacle, the garments of the priests are described in great detail.  These sacred garments are full of meaning:

• They "give [the priests] dignity and honor" (2).
• A breastpiece (15-29) bears twelve stones engraved with the names of the tribes of Israel.  Thus, the priest symbolically carries Israel into God's presence.
• The priest wears a plate that states "Holy to the Lord."  This is a symbol of the priest's consecration to God: being set apart for Holy purposes.
• The garments also prevent the priests from dying (35, 43)!  In the Old Testament, what we would call symbolism is often more than symbolic.  The "symbol" actually takes on the meaning of what it represents.  So the clothing is not merely a symbol of the priestly role; it is a necessary part of the office.  A priest without his linen undergarments is not really a priest

28:30 In the breastpiece are the Urim and Thummim.  These are called "the means of making decisions for the Israelites".  No one knows for sure what they were.  However, it seems they were a way of seeking the Lord's will.  The Israelites believed that God's will could be communicated through an apparently random activity like casting lots.  For example, see 1 Samuel 14:36-41.  Perhaps the Urim and Thummim were objects that allowed for this--some form of dice, flat coin-like objects, etc.  This sort of divination seems awfully superstitious to us.  However, it is worth noting that even in the New Testament the apostles cast lots. To choose a successor to Judas.  When I worked for a Christian company, we decided who to pray for each morning by randomly selecting an index card with someone's name written on it.  Not infrequently, the choice turned out to be timely.  This sort of thing may well be an appropriate way of submitting to God's will in certain situations (provided your heart is in the right place, all of the options before you are good, it is not used to try to manipulate God or determine the future, etc.).

29:1-44 The priests are consecrated (set apart as holy) and ordained (called and placed in service) through an elaborate series of sacrifices.  The shedding of blood is for purification and forgiveness of sins.  The priests need this most of all, because they will be in such dangerous proximity to the presence of God.  The priests intercede on behalf of the sins of the Israelites, yet they themselves are sinful as well, and need forgiveness before they can minister.  To close, consider the reflection in Hebrews on this fact: 

The former regulation is set aside because it was weak and useless (for the law made nothing perfect), and a better hope is introduced, by which we draw near to God.

And it was not without an oath! Others became priests without any oath, but he became a priest with an oath when God said to him: 

   "The Lord has sworn and will not change his mind: 

   'You are a priest forever.' "

Because of this oath, Jesus has become the guarantee of a better covenant.

Now there have been many of those priests, since death prevented them from continuing in office; but because Jesus lives forever, he has a permanent priesthood. Therefore he is able to save completely those who come to God through him, because he always lives to intercede for them.

 Such a high priest meets our need—one who is holy, blameless, pure, set apart from sinners, exalted above the heavens. Unlike the other high priests, he does not need to offer sacrifices day after day, first for his own sins, and then for the sins of the people. He sacrificed for their sins once for all when he offered himself. For the law appoints as high priests men who are weak; but the oath, which came after the law, appointed the Son, who has been made perfect forever.