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Exodus 29 English Standard Version (ESV)

Consecration of the Priests

¹ “Now this is what you shall do to them to consecrate them, that they may serve me as priests. …….

³⁵ “Thus you shall do to Aaron and to his sons, according to all that I have commanded you. Through seven days shall you ordain them, ³⁶ and every day you shall offer a bull as a sin offering for atonement. Also you shall purify the altar, when you make atonement for it, and shall anoint it to consecrate it. ³⁷ Seven days you shall make atonement for the altar and consecrate it, and the altar shall be most holy. Whatever touches the altar shall become holy.

³⁸ “Now this is what you shall offer on the altar: two lambs a year old day by day regularly. ³⁹ One lamb you shall offer in the morning, and the other lamb you shall offer at twilight. ⁴⁰ And with the first lamb a tenth measure of fine flour mingled with a fourth of a hin of beaten oil, and a fourth of a hin of wine for a drink offering. ⁴¹ The other lamb you shall offer at twilight, and shall offer with it a grain offering and its drink offering, as in the morning, for a pleasing aroma, a food offering to the Lord. ⁴² It shall be a regular burnt offering throughout your generations at the entrance of the tent of meeting before the Lord, where I will meet with you, to speak to you there. ⁴³ There I will meet with the people of Israel, and it shall be sanctified by my glory. ⁴⁴ I will consecrate the tent of meeting and the altar. Aaron also and his sons I will consecrate to serve me as priests. ⁴⁵ I will dwell among the people of Israel and will be their God. ⁴⁶ 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.

REFLECTION

• The theme of this chapter is the sanctification of priests. If time permits, read through the whole chapter once.  Then re-read the selected portion above.
• Priests has to wash and offer sacrifices to symbolize being cleansed before he can put on the sacred clothing. God accepts their morning and evening sacrifices (v42), and promises to be with the people always.  This foretold the truth “come near to God and he will come near to you” (James 4:8).
• In verses 44-46, “dwell” has the sense of abiding, living among, taking up residence. God’s purpose in delivering the Israelites out of Egypt is to live among them.  God is also dwelling in the hearts of believers today.

PRAYER

How would you react if God’s presence became visible in the building where you attend worship services?  Next Sunday try a little experiment: arrive at the worship service fifteen minutes early, sit quietly in the sanctuary, and pray for God’s presence to be especially strong.  What difference did this exercise make in your attitude during worship?