Sermon Tone Analysis

Introduction

The structure of this chapter is neatly done up in seven sections, each ending with the refrain “as the Lord commanded” signifying the obedience of Moses and Aaron.

It emphasizes the necessity of obedience to the Lord if one hopes to truly worship Him.

This also folds nicely into three headings: the gathering, 1-4; the prepping, 5-13; the consecrating, 14-36.

This appears to me to be a covenant meal with the congregation being the witnesses.

The offerings are those which have already been discussed in chapters 1-7.

I.

The Gathering,

This appears to me to be a covenant meal with the congregation being the witnesses.

The offerings are those which have already been discussed in chapters 1-7.

This chapter is the fulfillment account of the ordination legislation recorded in , and is directly connected to the command to ordain the tabernacle and priesthood in as well as the partial record of its fulfillment in –38.

1 Biblical Studies Press.

(2005).

The NET Bible First Edition; Bible.

English.

NET Bible.;

The NET Bible.

Biblical Studies Press.

If you read , you see the intended result of this consecration offering is threefold: God will dwell with the people, God will be their God, they will know I am the Lord their God.

that statement is mirrored again in v.46.

Then in after the tabernacle was completed and its vessels consecrated the Glory of the Lord filled the tabernacle.

So we come with that in mind to this passage and this section,

So first of all,

I.

The Gathering,

Moses was to gather the assembly at the door of the tent of meeting.

They were to come to the place where God’s presence was.

They were in a sense gathering at God’s house.

He was the one inviting them to come to this covenant meal (remember that we likened this earlier to a wedding celebration where the convenantal vows were recited before a bevy of witnesses and then a meal ate in ratification of that covenant).

note too that they were to gather the assembly at the door of the tent of meeting.

They were to come to the place where God’s presence was.

They were in a sense gathering at God’s house.

He was the one inviting them to come to this covenant meal (remember that we likened this earlier to a wedding celebration where the convenantal vows were recited before a bevy of witnesses and then a meal ate in ratification of that covenant).

The fact that this was a meeting whereby there is a change in relationship shows us there are necessary elements of that ritual of change as in a wedding:vows, exchange of rings etc.

This is a rite of purification/consecration that puts Aaron and his sons in a renewed relationship with the Lord whereby they are able to act as holy mediators between God and the people.

They were then also models of purity/holiness and wore clothing that was holy and set them apart for that ministry.

Noteworthy too is that as long as they had the tabernacle whenever they were to come before God in anything significant they always came to His house.

This is what in the NT I think Jesus is talking about in his parables of the wedding where those who were called didn’t come and then when he called the others they came and filled the house, though some were interlopers/fakes who were not clothed in wedding clothes.

so then we have the gathering of the people to be consecrated (1), and the nation as a whole (3)

v.2 we have the first command

a qal/impv -you take followed by a list of persons and items to take

then in v.3 the second imperative, Hiphil/impv- cause to gather the assembly at the door of the tent of meeting.

By these two commands God gives responsibility to Moses to ensure that the people are called and gathered and all that is necessary is collected in order to carry out the anointing of Aaron and his sons.

thereby facilitating the covenant meal.

v.4

Moses did what he was commanded and the assembly was gathered at the door of the tent of meeting.

This refrain that Moses did as the Lord commanded Moses frames the entire chapter.

It speaks of the thought that Moses and Aaron and his sons were models of obedience to the commands of the Lord.

7x this refrain is used at the end of each section indicating that attention to obedience v.4,9, 13, 17, 21, 29, 36.

The last one makes the statement that Aaron and his sons did all the words which the Lord commanded Moses.

Whereas the others were Moses doing what the Lord commanded.

Their worship was to be an act of obedience or in obedience.

God will not accept worship without obedience.

Nadab and Abihu are an example as is King Saul when he offers sacrifice wrongly, .

AS I pointed out earlier, This refrain that Moses did as the Lord commanded Moses frames the entire chapter.

It speaks of the thought that Moses and Aaron and his sons were models of obedience to the commands of the Lord.

7x this refrain is used at the end of each section indicating that attention to obedience v.4,9, 13, 17, 21, 29, 36.

The last one makes the statement that Aaron and his sons did all the words which the Lord commanded Moses.

Whereas the others were Moses doing what the Lord commanded.

Their worship was to be an act of obedience or in obedience.

God will not accept worship without obedience.

Nadab and Abihu are an example as is King Saul when he offers sacrifice wrongly, .

So we have all the elements and persons gathered in order to observe the ritual purity that would place Aaron and his sons, and all the vessels, and tabernacle in a ready position of holiness to operate as Priests of God and to mediate with men.

All is in place.

II.

The prepping, 5-13

The purpose of this ritual was to make Aaron and his sons holy so they could officiate at the altar.

I’m going to divide this into 3 sections, washing, clothing, anointing

a few notes:

-God does the choosing, implied earlier when He chose both Moses and Aaron before the exodus

-Moses does the washing and clothing of Aaron and his sons.

They do not do it themselves

A. Washing of the person is the first step for ritual holiness.

B. The second step was being clothed with the appropriate clothing that signified them as set apart for this service.

Much as we do today with priests wearing robes, collar, etc.

Or those in mourning wearing black.

It was also a symbol to the people that these were priests and were due appropriate honor toward those who have this responsibility.

The clothing of the high priest with its gold plated on the turban set him apart from all the priests as the leader.

The colors and and crown set him off as a royal official.

IN this case the representative of the King (God) along with His royal attendants.

The king dwelling amid his people in his holy palace.

the clothing elements represent the righteousness of Christ, the robe is the righteousness as we have seen before.

The ephod an apron like garment.

The breastpiece contained the names of the tribes of Israel so Aaron acts as the representative of the nation as Christ is our representative.

The Urim and Thummim were the means for discerning the will of God, so Aaron was being giving that ability, then the turban and holy diadem were placed on his head indicating that Aaron was the acceptable representative of the people before God. .

-the clothing elements represent the righteousness of Christ, the robe is the righteousness as we have seen before.

The ephod an apron like garment.

The breastpiece contained the names of the tribes of Israel so Aaron acts as the representative of the nation as Christ is our representative.

The Urim and Thummim were the means for discerning the will of God, so Aaron was being giving that ability, then the turban and holy diadem were placed on his head indicating that Aaron was the acceptable representative of the people before God. .

This entire section pictures Christ for the believer.

The believer is clothed in the righteousness of Christ.

We put on Christ, or rather God puts Him on us, we do not clothe ourselves.

He bears the names of His people before the Lord, He is our representative head bringing us before the Father.The believer then is able to go before the Lord.

C. The Anointing

The next item is the anointing oil, a type of Holy Spirit.

We are clothed with the righteousness of Christ, and indwelt by the Holy Spirit, that consecrates us for fellowship with the Father and empowers us to mediate between the lost and God.

v.13 is a summary statement that the same thing was done for the sons of Aaron making them suitable for service in the presence of God.

Clothed in righteousness, anointed with the holy oil/Holy Spirit able to bear the gospel to the people through mediation of the sacrifices.

Now everything is in place to offer the three sacrifices of ordination.

This I think corresponds to Paul’s statement in about the washing of the water by the word.

There you will remember that Paul had told them of their need to be filled with the Spirit, which surely corresponds to the anointing here, and then embarks on teaching them what that looks like in the life of a believer.