Week of Monday February 16 - February 22
Consecrated – Man as Chaplain
“Now this is what you shall do to them to consecrate them, that they may serve me as priests… and you shall kill the ram and take part of its blood and put it on the tip of the right ear of Aaron and on the tips of the right ears of his sons, and on the thumbs of their right hands and on the great toes of their right feet, and throw the rest of the blood against the sides of the altar.” - Exodus 29:1, 20
Imagine a firefighter standing at the station at the beginning of a shift. Before he ever steps onto the truck, there is a process. He doesn’t show up in street clothes. He is issued protective gear—helmet, coat, gloves, boots—each piece designed for a specific purpose. His ears must be ready to hear the alarm, his hands prepared to handle the equipment, and his feet ready to carry him into places others are running away from. Only after he is properly equipped does he go out to serve and protect others.
In Exodus 29, God is doing something similar—but far more sacred. Before Aaron and his sons can serve as priests, they must be prepared. God is showing His people that service in His presence is never casual. Those who represent Him must be consecrated by Him. This process with the priests reminds us that serving the Lord begins not with what we do for God, but with what God does in us. There are three parts to this consecration of the priests that apply to us.
First there is cleansing. Notice this cleansing was received: “you shall bring Aaron and his sons to the entrance of the tent of meeting and wash them” (v 4). Aaron and his sons did not wash themselves; they were washed by others. How humbling. We cannot be cleansed from our sin without being humbled first. This ritual bodily cleansing was a one-time thing, just like our salvation and the baptism that symbolizes it. From then on, they just needed to ritually cleanse their hands and their feet in the bronze laver.
In the upper room, Jesus put it this way to Simon Peter who first protested about the foot washing: “If I don’t wash you, you have no part in me.” Peter basically said: “Lord, if that’s the case, wash me all over.” Jesus replied, “The one who has bathed does not need to wash, except for his feet, but is completely clean” (John 13:10). Applied to us, we received one baptism to symbolize the complete cleansing of our sin, but then we are to go back to the Lord for daily cleansing of sin. So, they were cleansed and clothed with the priestly garments provided, just as we are clothed with the righteousness of Christ provided for us through the cross.
That cleansing is followed by anointing the priest with oil in v 7. The oil on their heads is a type and picture of the Holy Spirit. The Apostle John tells us that every believer enjoys the anointing of the Holy Spirit (1 John 2:20). Plus, it was poured all over the head, which speaks of abundance. So, finally, as a thorough cleansing, then an abundant anointing, and finally a sacred consecrating of these priests for service (v 19-21). Notice the consecration was done with sacrificial blood. So, what is the significance of the blood on the right ear, thumb and big toe? It was symbolic of the fact that they should hear differently because the blood was on their ear. They should work differently because the blood was on their hand. They should walk differently because the blood was on their feet.
Once we’ve been cleansed by the blood of Jesus, clothed with His righteousness, and anointed by His Spirit, we should surrender ourselves to be consecrated for the service of God. Exodus 29 is sort of an Old Testament version of Romans 12:1-2 where Paul says we are to offer our ourselves as a living sacrifice… we offer our ears to hear the word of God, our hands to do the work of God and our feet walk in the ways of God. All that we are is to be consecrated for serving God and serving others.
Exodus 29 ends with an amazing promise: God does not merely consecrate His servants so they can serve Him—He consecrates them so He can dwell among them. Cleansing leads to more communion. Anointing leads to greater nearness. Consecration leads to God’s glorious presence with His people. When God’s people live this way—set apart, surrendered, and ready to serve—He delights to make His presence known among them.
May we offer ourselves daily as living sacrifices, fully consecrated, so that the Lord may dwell with us and be glorified through us.
Consecrated – Man as Chaplain
“Now this is what you shall do to them to consecrate them, that they may serve me as priests… and you shall kill the ram and take part of its blood and put it on the tip of the right ear of Aaron and on the tips of the right ears of his sons, and on the thumbs of their right hands and on the great toes of their right feet, and throw the rest of the blood against the sides of the altar.” - Exodus 29:1, 20
Imagine a firefighter standing at the station at the beginning of a shift. Before he ever steps onto the truck, there is a process. He doesn’t show up in street clothes. He is issued protective gear—helmet, coat, gloves, boots—each piece designed for a specific purpose. His ears must be ready to hear the alarm, his hands prepared to handle the equipment, and his feet ready to carry him into places others are running away from. Only after he is properly equipped does he go out to serve and protect others.
In Exodus 29, God is doing something similar—but far more sacred. Before Aaron and his sons can serve as priests, they must be prepared. God is showing His people that service in His presence is never casual. Those who represent Him must be consecrated by Him. This process with the priests reminds us that serving the Lord begins not with what we do for God, but with what God does in us. There are three parts to this consecration of the priests that apply to us.
First there is cleansing. Notice this cleansing was received: “you shall bring Aaron and his sons to the entrance of the tent of meeting and wash them” (v 4). Aaron and his sons did not wash themselves; they were washed by others. How humbling. We cannot be cleansed from our sin without being humbled first. This ritual bodily cleansing was a one-time thing, just like our salvation and the baptism that symbolizes it. From then on, they just needed to ritually cleanse their hands and their feet in the bronze laver.
In the upper room, Jesus put it this way to Simon Peter who first protested about the foot washing: “If I don’t wash you, you have no part in me.” Peter basically said: “Lord, if that’s the case, wash me all over.” Jesus replied, “The one who has bathed does not need to wash, except for his feet, but is completely clean” (John 13:10). Applied to us, we received one baptism to symbolize the complete cleansing of our sin, but then we are to go back to the Lord for daily cleansing of sin. So, they were cleansed and clothed with the priestly garments provided, just as we are clothed with the righteousness of Christ provided for us through the cross.
That cleansing is followed by anointing the priest with oil in v 7. The oil on their heads is a type and picture of the Holy Spirit. The Apostle John tells us that every believer enjoys the anointing of the Holy Spirit (1 John 2:20). Plus, it was poured all over the head, which speaks of abundance. So, finally, as a thorough cleansing, then an abundant anointing, and finally a sacred consecrating of these priests for service (v 19-21). Notice the consecration was done with sacrificial blood. So, what is the significance of the blood on the right ear, thumb and big toe? It was symbolic of the fact that they should hear differently because the blood was on their ear. They should work differently because the blood was on their hand. They should walk differently because the blood was on their feet.
Once we’ve been cleansed by the blood of Jesus, clothed with His righteousness, and anointed by His Spirit, we should surrender ourselves to be consecrated for the service of God. Exodus 29 is sort of an Old Testament version of Romans 12:1-2 where Paul says we are to offer our ourselves as a living sacrifice… we offer our ears to hear the word of God, our hands to do the work of God and our feet walk in the ways of God. All that we are is to be consecrated for serving God and serving others.
Exodus 29 ends with an amazing promise: God does not merely consecrate His servants so they can serve Him—He consecrates them so He can dwell among them. Cleansing leads to more communion. Anointing leads to greater nearness. Consecration leads to God’s glorious presence with His people. When God’s people live this way—set apart, surrendered, and ready to serve—He delights to make His presence known among them.
May we offer ourselves daily as living sacrifices, fully consecrated, so that the Lord may dwell with us and be glorified through us.
- As the chaplain and spiritual leader in the home, what is your process of preparation to serve the Lord and your loved ones?
- Have you surrendered everything to the Lord and His service? Are you seeking the Lord for cleansing, are you receiving the anointing of the Spirit, and allowing the Lord to consecrate you for service?
- Ask the Lord to equip you to serve the Lord and those whom you love and lead.