This Bible study is all about how we are God’s priests under the new covenant and how we are clothed in His righteousness.
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God’s priests were called to be set apart for the glory of God. Their lives were dedicated to ministering to God and His people. In these chapters, you can see the calling of the priests and how they devote their whole lives to God. You can also see how God has called you into His priesthood and how you can dedicate your life to being one of God’s priests.
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Read all about being God’s priests, before reflecting on it below.
Exodus 28 – 31
The work of skilled hands
God told Moses to have the skilled workers make the garments – they were to use the gifts that God had given them to bring glory to God. And God would give them His spirit to guide them in their work. God doesn’t just use those who are directly involved in ministry, He uses the common laborer to share His love with others.
How does God use your everyday skills for His kingdom (1 Peter 4:10-11)?
The garments of God’s priests
The garments of the High Priests pointed to Jesus. The linen undergarment and tunic were both white, indicating purity. The colorful ephod and breast-piece were woven from blue, purple, and scarlet yarn – the same colors as the inner sanctuary of the tabernacle. And the turban was also worn by Jesus as a crown of thorns while he was crucified, and will be worn as a crown during the second coming.
How were the priest’s garments pointing to God’s redemption in the New Testament, and in your life (Hebrews 4:14)?
God’s priests bear His people on their shoulders and heart
The ephod had a stone with Israels’ tribes inscribed and placed on each shoulder, reminding the priest that they were to work for the people. The shoulders were a symbol of heavy labor, and the Onyx stone on each shoulder was a constant reminder that although the High Priest was ministering to God, he was bearing the weight of the people. The breast-piece also had 12 different precious stones, each inscribed with one of the 12 tribes of Israel. The High Priest was to wear this over his heart, reminding him that He served out of love for the people.
How do you minister to God with a labor of love (Romans 15:15-16)?
God’s priests were to be set apart as Holy
A turban was to be worn with the inscription “Holy to the Lord”. Reminding the Priest and the Israelites to be set apart. The priest would also bear the guilt involved in the sacrifices of the Israelites so that they would be acceptable to God. Even when the Israelites were making sacrifices to atone for their sins, it was not enough to make them righteous before God. God had to provide another way for them to be acceptable. Even the gifts that we bring before God are covered with iniquity, but we have Jesus as a ransom, paying the price to make us acceptable before God.
Are you aware of your complete brokenness aside from the cross, but your righteousness because of Jesus (Mark 10:45)?
Anoint, consecrate and sanctify
There are three things that are repeated over and over in Exodus 29. Anoint. Consecrate. Sanctify. Over and over these things are repeated. To anoint, מָשַׁח, was to pour oil over their heads, letting it run down over their beards. This speaks to the outpouring of the Holy Spirit on us when we believe. To Consecrate, מָלָא, is a picture of an open hand, being emptied of all our sin, shame, and rebellion, expectantly waiting on God. And sanctification, קָדַשׁ, is God working in us so that we are ready for His service. Here He is preparing us and setting us apart for Him.
How are you being anointed, consecrated, and sanctified by God (Romans 6:13)?
Priests need to humble themselves before coming to God
Before the Priest could serve God and the people, they first had to be consecrated. The first step was for the priest to be washed at the entrance of the tent. This was a public washing so that the Israelites could see. The Priests had to humble themselves before they could enter the Lord’s presence. Then, they were to dress the priest in the garments provided. There was nothing a person could do to buy the garments, rather, the priests had to simply receive them.
How are you humbled before God and clothed in his righteousness (Romans 13:14)?
Sacrifice is required for consecration
The priests were to bring a bull to the altar, laying their hands on its head, signifying the transferring of their sins onto the sacrifice. Then the bull was to be burned completely as a sin offering, acknowledging their failure to give everything to God. Having the bull completely consumed was a sign that they themselves wanted to be completely consumed by God. They were to also sprinkle the blood of the sacrifice on their ear, hand, and foot, signifying that they would hear, work and walk differently because they served the Lord.
How is your life transformed because of Christ (Romans 12:1-2)?
Our prayers should be a sweet aroma to God
The picture of prayer is given through the altar of incense. Just as God’s priests were to tend to the altar so that it would burn regularly before the Lord, we are to pray continuously, offering our lives as a living sacrifice to God. We do this knowing that He will meet with us – and that He desires to meet with us.
How do you see prayer? Is prayer a way to meet the Father, something you long to do continuously (1 Thessalonians 5:16-18)?
The anointing oil and incense
God gave His people very specific instructions on how to make the anointing oil and the incense for His altar. He also told them not to use those blends for any purpose other than what He designated them for in the Tabernacle. They were to be used only to glorify God and not to bring glory to man. God was essentially telling them to not make common what He has already declared Holy.
Do you give reverence to the things God has made holy (Deuteronomy 13:4)?
Remember the Sabbath
At the end of the tabernacle commands, God again reminds the Israelites that they were to observe the Sabbath. Although they were to work hard at building the tabernacle, they were to remember that God gives them rest. In the same way, we need to do everything that we do for the glory of God (Colossians 3:17). But we also need to remember that Jesus is our rest, and we need to enter into the rest that He gives.
The Israelites were continuously reminded to observe the Sabbath. Why is the Sabbath so important? How do you rest on the Sabbath (Hebrews 4:9-11)?
Reflect on how you are God’s priests and what it means
Under the old covenant, God’s priests were predetermined from a specific lineage. Under the new covenant, Jesus became the High priest and adopted us into His family. As co-heirs with Jesus, we are set apart for the work of God, and our lives should look different because we are marked by His sacrifice.
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The priestly Garments were meant to be colorful, giving glory to the creator who made all things.
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