Last week we began to examine the division of the Threefold Office within the nation of Israel. The prophetic office was instituted by God so that He might proclaim His Word to His people. While the prophet represented God to the people, it was also necessary for someone to represent the people before God. The office of priest was instituted by God to meet this significant need.

While men like Noah, Abraham, and Jacob each performed priest-like duties such as the offering of sacrifices to the Lord, they were never officially designated as priests. It was not until Israel came to Mt. Sinai and was given instruction about how to build the Tabernacle that Aaron and his sons, along with the rest of the tribe of Levi, were set apart as priests. Exodus 28-29 describe the vestments the priests were to wear and the ceremonies which they were to undergo in order to be ordained to serve God (Ex. 29:9). The final verses of this section (Ex. 29:45-46) are significant because they explain the goal of the priesthood, namely that God would be able to dwell among His people.

At first it is unclear how the priesthood would function to allow God to dwell among His people, but the end of Exodus and the beginning of Leviticus help us to make the connection. Exodus closes with the completion of the Tabernacle and the descending of the glory cloud, which was symbolic of God’s presence (Ex. 40:34-35). The glorious presence of God created a problem, however, in that even Moses was unable to enter into the Tabernacle. With no one able to enter into the Lord’s presence, there was no one who could represent the people before God.

The book of Leviticus provides a remedy for the problem that closes the book of Exodus. God speaks to Moses and gives him an extended series of instructions as to how the nation is to relate to God, seeking to be holy as He is holy (Lev. 19:2). While all of the instructions in Leviticus are significant, those given to the high priest in Leviticus 16 describe the most significant work of the Levitical priesthood. Once per year, he was to enter the Most Holy Place and offer one goat as a sacrifice for the sins of the people as well as confess the sins over another goat and send it away from the camp.

This vital work of the priests in representing the people before God and accomplishing atonement for their sins was at best a temporary work. The priests themselves were men who died and were replaced by others. They were also sinful men who were flawed and, therefore, had to make sacrifices on their own behalf before sacrificing on behalf of the people. These limitations anticipated the work of a Greater Priest who was to come.

All mankind, not just Israel, was in need of someone who could be the Mediator between God and Man. Jesus was made like us (Heb. 2:14-15), taking on human flesh in order to redeem us. Mankind was in need of a Priest who could accomplish a finished work rather than simply repeat a yearly sacrifice, and so Christ entered once for all into the Most Holy Place (Heb. 9:12). Mankind needed more than ritual ceremonies that cleanse the body, and so Christ accomplished a work that cleansed His people spiritually (Heb. 9:8-10). Finally, mankind needed to be returned to the very presence of God, and so Christ opened the way for us through His work on our behalf (Heb. 10:19-22).

Join us this Sunday as we come together to fellowship together and to worship our Great High Priest, Jesus Christ. He has made it possible once again for God’s presence to dwell among His people!

Soli Deo Gloria.

-Thomas