The Lord is awe-inspiring, fearsome, fascinating, intriguing, majestic, and full of splendor: breathtaking! Here is what I saw of him today and what came to my heart and mind in Leviticus 8:10,
"Then Moses took the anointing oil and anointed the tabernacle and everything in it, and so consecrated them."
The term "consecrate" is used five times in this chapter. We are told Moses consecrated the tabernacle and everything in it, our verse above. He consecrated the altar, all its utensils and the basin with its stand, verse 11. Moses then consecrated Aaron as the high priest, verse 12. Although he had consecrated the altar with "anointing oil" in verse 11, he then consecrated it with blood from the bull of the sin offering by pouring it at the base of the altar, verse 15, making atonement for it. Later in the chapter we read that Moses consecrated Aaron and his priestly garments along with his sons and their garments, verse 30.
To consecrate is to make or declare something sacred. In this case it was the tabernacle with all its furnishings and the priests who would serve there. It carries the sense of making something venerable (sacred) or set apart from being able to violate or profane. The worship of God was to be engaged in within these parameters.
The authority, the bona fides, the genuineness for this consecration, of course, lies in the fact that God himself ordained this consecration. This was done at God's command, God's will. His imprimatur was behind the consecration of the tabernacle and the priesthood.
Today we have all kinds of religions, all kinds of "Christian" denominations and sects that have established their own "consecration" of things: their leaders, their facilities, their vestments and liturgies, their objects, utensils and tools. The problem from my standpoint is the supposed authority of these "consecrated" things leading to the veneration of them. None of it can be found anywhere in Scripture. No apostolic witness for it, no grounding for it in the pages of truth. The claim is simply "tradition". Perhaps I'm being a bit harsh here, but those are sorry grounds compared to what we read of in Leviticus 8. You get the feeling of witnessing some lame copy-cating.
How about this for consecration: "Everything God created is good, and nothing is to be rejected if it is received with thanksgiving, because it is consecrated by the word of God and prayer." 1 Timothy 4:4.
Anything of the Lord capture your heart from Scripture today? Share what moved you about him from your Bible reading today. I'd love to hear from you!
If you have someone you would like to receive these ruminations, send me their email address. I'm happy to add them to the list. If you are receiving this and would like to be removed from the list, just reply and let me know.
"Then Moses took the anointing oil and anointed the tabernacle and everything in it, and so consecrated them."
The term "consecrate" is used five times in this chapter. We are told Moses consecrated the tabernacle and everything in it, our verse above. He consecrated the altar, all its utensils and the basin with its stand, verse 11. Moses then consecrated Aaron as the high priest, verse 12. Although he had consecrated the altar with "anointing oil" in verse 11, he then consecrated it with blood from the bull of the sin offering by pouring it at the base of the altar, verse 15, making atonement for it. Later in the chapter we read that Moses consecrated Aaron and his priestly garments along with his sons and their garments, verse 30.
To consecrate is to make or declare something sacred. In this case it was the tabernacle with all its furnishings and the priests who would serve there. It carries the sense of making something venerable (sacred) or set apart from being able to violate or profane. The worship of God was to be engaged in within these parameters.
The authority, the bona fides, the genuineness for this consecration, of course, lies in the fact that God himself ordained this consecration. This was done at God's command, God's will. His imprimatur was behind the consecration of the tabernacle and the priesthood.
Today we have all kinds of religions, all kinds of "Christian" denominations and sects that have established their own "consecration" of things: their leaders, their facilities, their vestments and liturgies, their objects, utensils and tools. The problem from my standpoint is the supposed authority of these "consecrated" things leading to the veneration of them. None of it can be found anywhere in Scripture. No apostolic witness for it, no grounding for it in the pages of truth. The claim is simply "tradition". Perhaps I'm being a bit harsh here, but those are sorry grounds compared to what we read of in Leviticus 8. You get the feeling of witnessing some lame copy-cating.
How about this for consecration: "Everything God created is good, and nothing is to be rejected if it is received with thanksgiving, because it is consecrated by the word of God and prayer." 1 Timothy 4:4.
Anything of the Lord capture your heart from Scripture today? Share what moved you about him from your Bible reading today. I'd love to hear from you!
If you have someone you would like to receive these ruminations, send me their email address. I'm happy to add them to the list. If you are receiving this and would like to be removed from the list, just reply and let me know.
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