Then The Glory Came Down

Hebrews 10:12–14 (ESV) But when Christ had offered for all time a single sacrifice for sins, he sat down at the right hand of God, 13 waiting from that time until his enemies should be made a footstool for his feet. 14 For by a single offering he has perfected for all time those who are being sanctified.

Those words are never more wonderful than when you read Leviticus 8-9 and see what was required of the Levitical priesthood in order for the glory of the Lord to appear under the Old Covenant.

After 7 days of preparation with cleansing, clothing, offerings and anointing, Aaron is now to prepare the people for the presence of God in Leviticus 9.

Leviticus 9:1–4 (ESV) On the eighth day Moses called Aaron and his sons and the elders of Israel, 2 and he said to Aaron, “Take for yourself a bull calf for a sin offering and a ram for a burnt offering, both without blemish, and offer them before the LORD. 3 And say to the people of Israel, ‘Take a male goat for a sin offering, and a calf and a lamb, both a year old without blemish, for a burnt offering, 4 and an ox and a ram for peace offerings, to sacrifice before the LORD, and a grain offering mixed with oil, for today the LORD will appear to you.’ ”

The eighth day is a significant day in the church. It actually becomes the day of worship after Jesus rises again on the "first" day of the week (which is technically day 8 of the previous week). The eighth day was when a newborn Jewish boy was circumcised and given a name. Here, it is the eighth day in which the glory of God will appear and reside in the Tabernacle - a prefiguring of the Tabernacling of Christ! The eighth day is a day of renewed grace and the new covenant. Under the Old Covenant, Israel worked and then rested. In the New Covenant, God's people REST first in Christ and then work. The Lord is making clear that He will appear for a new day in the history of redemption. All these activities of the Levitical priesthood are pointing forward to the finished work of Christ. 

After the offerings are gathered, Aaron and his sons do the heavy lifting of offering these animals to God as burnt offerings, handling their meat, washing the parts, and scattering the blood appropriately around the altar. This is one of those chapters that is easy to read but also easy to overlook for the amount of work it took. Consider slaughtering only one calf! Aaron must handle four animals: calf, lamb, ox and ram in one long service.

The calf was offered for Aaron's sins.

The lamb for the people's sins.

The ox and ram were peace offerings for the people.

It is important to note that this ceremony was for the inauguration of the priesthood and temple worship. The priests exemplified for the people their regular acts of worship in the future in the presence of the glory of God. 

The effect was successful. God shows up!

Leviticus 9:22–24 (ESV) Then Aaron lifted up his hands toward the people and blessed them, and he came down from offering the sin offering and the burnt offering and the peace offerings. 23 And Moses and Aaron went into the tent of meeting, and when they came out they blessed the people, and the glory of the LORD appeared to all the people. 24 And fire came out from before the LORD and consumed the burnt offering and the pieces of fat on the altar, and when all the people saw it, they shouted and fell on their faces.

The response of the people is humility and joy. They bow down and they shout! This is what a worship service should look like. We come into the presence of God made holy by the blood of the offerings. Yet how many of us realize the heavy lifting that was done for us on the Cross 2000 years ago? God came down, offered Himself a perfect once and for all sacrifice for sins. He had made the way for you to experience not simply religious activity - but divine glory! 

What is our response? THANKFULNESS!

1 Thessalonians 5:18 (ESV) give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.