The Price and Power of Our Consecration to God's Purposes

Exodus 29:35–37 (ESV) “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.

Exodus 29 describes the long and extremely costly price to consecrate Aaron and his sons to serve as priests before the Lord. This was to be a seven day process with a bull offered each day on the altar. This is in addition to the consecration offerings listen in the beginning of the chapter:

Exodus 29:1–3 (ESV) “Now this is what you shall do to them to consecrate them, that they may serve me as priests. Take one bull of the herd and two rams without blemish, 2 and unleavened bread, unleavened cakes mixed with oil, and unleavened wafers smeared with oil. You shall make them of fine wheat flour. 3 You shall put them in one basket and bring them in the basket, and bring the bull and the two rams.

All in all, the ordination of the priesthood in the Old Covenant was 8 bulls, two rams, bread, cakes and wafers all presented in perfect condition before the Lord. All the priests who were set apart in such away were well aware of the great cost it required to make them eligible for God's special service toward others and before the Lord.

What's important to understand is the different offerings made for these priests. The first was the bull which was killed and offered as a "sin offering." 

Exodus 29:14 (ESV) But the flesh of the bull and its skin and its dung you shall burn with fire outside the camp; it is a sin offering.

It is worth noting that this is the first mention of "sin offering" in the Bible. The priests FIRST had to have their sins atoned for in order to serve as priests. Aaron and his sons were to lay their hands on the animals as they were put to death. This reminded them it was their sin that cost this bull its life.

Then they took the first ram, sacrificed it, sprinkled it's blood on the altar and burned up the entire animal. This was to symbolize total commitment on the part of the priests. Nothing was left over to remind them of the "old life" of that ram that existed. The priest did not just have sin atoned for, his whole life was consumed by the purposes of God. 

The second ram was sacrificed and it's blood was applied to the physical bodies of the priest - their right ear lobe, their right thumb and their right big toe. Finally, the rest of the blood was mixed with oil on the altar and sprinkled on the clothes of Aaron the priest. This sacrifice reminded the priests that the blood had to be applied so that they might "hear" the Word of God, "serve" the proper sacrifices of God and "walk" in the ways of God. The blood was not just shed, it was applied so that appropriate service might be rendered before the Lord.

By the time all this sacrificing was done, blood was everywhere - most notably, all over Aaron and his sons. The garments stained with blood were also passed down to succeeding priests from generation to generation. 
Exodus 29:29–30 (ESV) “The holy garments of Aaron shall be for his sons after him; they shall be anointed in them and ordained in them. 30 The son who succeeds him as priest, who comes into the tent of meeting to minister in the Holy Place, shall wear them seven days.

What a picture of the work of God in us through the Lord Jesus, our great High Priest. In the New Testament, we are God's "royal priesthood" and consecrated wholly to God through Jesus blood. We are first atoned for by the high cost of Christ's sacrifice. Secondly, our former life is over (2 Corinthians 5:17), our new life is completely His (Romans 12:1). Finally, our hearing, serving and walking is anointed not simply with the blood of Jesus but also by the power of the Holy Spirit (as symbolized in the anointing oil for Aaron and his sons). 

John will use this imagery for the New Testament believers as a guardian against falsehood. Listen to his words: 1 John 2:26–27 (ESV) I write these things to you about those who are trying to deceive you. 27 But the anointing that you received from Him abides in you, and you have no need that anyone should teach you. But as His anointing teaches you about everything, and is true, and is no lie—just as it has taught you, abide in Him.

We are anointed by the Lord Jesus with the Spirit so that we might not be deceived and rather taught by God about ALL THINGS and inspired to remain in Christ. 

Finally, as the priesthood of Aaron was perpetual:

Exodus 28:43 (ESV) This shall be a statute forever for him and for his offspring after him.

The priesthood of believers is forever. We do not lose it! God has given and will not take it away. What a high price He has paid! What a sure promise we have! What confidence inspired in us to act accordingly! 

Christian, your consecration was costly. Your consecration is powerful and effective for every part of your life. Finally, your consecration is forever! 

This means we do not rely on what we bring to the table to serve God! We rely on His final work on our behalf to make the Holy Spirit available to our lives so that we can serve Him confidently and powerfully!

AMEN!