Friday, January 4, 2019

Ordination to Ministry in the Bible

1Then the LORD said to Moses, 2“Take Aaron and his sons, their garments, the anointing oil, the bull of the sin offering, the two rams, and the basket of unleavened bread, 3and assemble the whole congregation at the entrance to the Tent of Meeting.”
4So Moses did as the LORD had commanded him, and the assembly gathered at the entrance to the Tent of Meeting. 5And Moses said to them, “This is what the LORD has commanded to be done.”
6Then Moses presented Aaron and his sons and washed them with water. 7He put the tunic on Aaron, tied the sash around him, clothed him with the robe, and put the ephod on him. He tied the woven band of the ephod around him and fastened it to him. 8Then he put the breastpiece on him and placed the Urim and Thummim in the breastpiece. 9Moses also put the turban on Aaron’s head and set the gold plate, the holy diadem, on the front of the turban, as the LORD had commanded him.

Thoughts: Ordination is a special thing in the Old Testament.  It is a calling- God is the One telling Moses to make Aaron a priest and Aaron responds.  It is a cleansing and setting apart- there is a lot of washing and a sacrifice in this ordination service to indicate that 1) everyone needs cleansing- even priests but especially priests; and 2) it is a holy work and the priest is called to be cleansed and holy to do it.  The whole community was to gather around to see it (vs. 3).  It is not done in a corner, and Aaron is honored in the midst of his people.  The ones who serve God are called to be honored.  It is a noble task (1 Tim. 3:1).  But it is a call not just to be honored.  It is a call to serve, to pray for, to lift up the people to God and lift up God to the people.  

Prayer: Lord, may those who enter the ministry take the call seriously and earnestly as a holy calling from you. Equip them with everything they need to do your work. 

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