365 Reflections

Not enough people hear this but it is true. Serving God's purpose is the most privileged life we can experience. Remember the Levites? They were the tribe that sided with Moses in the golden calf incident. They took up swords against the immorality of the people and zealously defended the honor of God. For this they got? No land inheritance in Israel. Yes. The tribe that served the Lord righteously and did not bow to the calf was rewarded with something far better than material wealth. And what was it? Life in the presence of the Lord. Deuteronomy 18:1–5 (ESV) “The Levitical priests, all the tribe of Levi, shall have no portion or inheritance with Israel. They shall eat the LORD’s food offerings as their inheritance. 2 They shall have no inheritance among their brothers; the LORD is their inheritance, as he promised them. 3 And this shall be the priests’ due from the people, from those offering a sacrifice, whether an ox or a sheep: they shall give to the priest the shoulder...

Exodus 30 describes two mixtures for the Tabernacle ministry. An anointing oil which is made by the "finest spices" and an incense mixture made with "sweet" spices. The first is the anointing oil. It is made according to a specific recipe and prohibited to be made by anyone else or used on ordinary people. God says: Exodus 30:26–30 (ESV) With it you shall anoint the tent of meeting and the ark of the testimony, 27 and the table and all its utensils, and the lampstand and its utensils, and the altar of incense, 28 and the altar of burnt offering with all its utensils and the basin and its stand. 29 You shall consecrate them, that they may be most holy. Whatever touches them will become holy. 30 You shall anoint Aaron and his sons, and consecrate them, that they may serve me as priests. Sometimes when you read the book of Exodus it can seem like such a bore. But the more you see it through the New Testament revelation of who we are in Christ, the more powerful...

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...