The violations of these 3 commands resulted in death:
(1) The priests did not wash before they served v.17-21
(NET) The symbolic meaning of washing has been taught throughout the ages. This was a practical matter of cleaning hands and feet, but it was also symbolic of purification before Yahweh. It was an outward sign of inner spiritual cleansing, or forgiveness. Jesus washed the disciples feet (Jn 13) to show this same teaching; he asked the disciples if they knew what he had done (so it was more than washing feet). In this passage the theological points for the outline would be these: I. God provides the means of cleansing; II. Cleansing is a prerequisite for participating in the worship, and III. (Believers) priests must regularly appropriate God’s provision of cleansing.
Observation: Serving God is a serious matter. Not only before the priest entering the tent (mind-requiring job), but also before the priest puting the fire on the animal sacrifice (labor-requiring job) they needed to wash.
Principle: People needed to be purified before we can serve the Holy God.
Reflection: Do we serve God with the same seriousness? No matter we are teaching children Sunday school, or we are leading songs during worship they are both serious ministries.
(2) People who made the same recipe of the sacred anointing oil and those who used the oil on anyone other than the priests v.22-33
(2) People who made the same recipe of the sacred anointing oil and those who used the oil on anyone other than the priests v.22-33
a. The oil was made by spices v.22 with the top grade and they functioned as a perfume v.25. Anyone who entered the tent was surrounded by the beautiful colors of the curtains, golden texture of the furniture, crafty design of the lampstand, and the sweet smell of the fragrance. This is an unique experience that God would not want people to duplicate in anywhere else. That was reserved for God.
Reflection: Does God occupy an unique place in your heart? You love God in a unique way. You do not love God like you love your puppy, or your spouse or your children. You love God with the kind of love that is reserved just for God. (In the Bible, the relationship is described as master-servant, or king-citizen. Loyalty and obedience were emphasized).
b. The only person that can wear this perfume (other than the furniture of the tent) was the priests. They smelled different than the rest of the people and they smelled the same as the furniture of the tent.
Reflection: Do we carry this sweet fragrance of God to people around us so that they know that we belong to God?
(3) People who made the same formula of the holy incense v.34-38.
What does the most holy mean?
29:37 For seven days you are to make atonement for the altar and set it apart as holy. Then the altar will be most holy. Anything that touches the altar will be holy.
30:29 So you are to sanctify them, and they will be most holy; anything that touches them will be holy.
30:29 So you are to sanctify them, and they will be most holy; anything that touches them will be holy.
30:36 You are to beat some of it very fine and put some of it before the ark of the testimony in the tent of meeting where I will meet with you; it is to be most holy to you.
30:37 And the incense that you are to make, you must not make for yourselves using the same recipe; it is to be most holy to you, belonging to the LORD.
(NET) This line states an unusual principle, meant to preserve the sanctity of the altar. S. R. Driver explains it this way (Exodus, 325): If anything comes in contact with the altar, it becomes holy and must remain in the sanctuary for Yahweh’s use. If a person touches the altar, he likewise becomes holy and cannot return to the profane regions. He will be given over to God to be dealt with as God pleases. Anyone who was not qualified to touch the altar did not dare approach it, for contact would have meant that he was no longer free to leave but was God’s holy possession—and might pay for it with his life (see Exod 30:29; Lev 6:18b, 27; and Ezek 46:20).
Audrey
Audrey
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