THROUGH THE BIBLE - Leviticu..

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com. That's cornerstonerbc.com. Leviticus chapter nine from verse one. On the eighth day, Moses called Aaron and his sons and the elders of Israel.

And he said to Aaron, take for yourself a bull calf for a sin offering and a ram for a burnt offering, both without blemish and offer them before the Lord and say to the people of Israel, take a male goat for a sin offering and a calf and a lamb, both a year old without blemish for a burnt offering, and an ox and a ram for peace offerings to sacrifice before the Lord, and a grain offering mixed with oil for today the Lord will appear to you. And they brought what Moses commanded in front of the tent of meeting, and all the congregation drew near and stood before the Lord. And Moses said, this is the thing that the Lord commanded you to do, that the glory of the Lord may appear to you. Then Moses said to Aaron, draw near to the altar and offer your sin offering and your burned offering and make atonement for yourself and for the people and bring the offering of the people and make atonement for them as the Lord has commanded. So Aaron drew near to the altar and killed the calf of the sin offering, which was for himself.

And the sons of Aaron presented the blood to him, and he dipped his finger in the blood and put it on the horns of the altar and poured out the blood at the base of the altar. Ten. But the fat and the kidneys and the long lobe of the liver from the sin offering he burnt on the altar as the Lord had commanded Moses. The flesh and the skin he burnt up with fire outside the camp. Then he killed the burnt offering and Aaron's sons handed him the blood and he threw it against the sides of the altar.

And they handed the burnt offering to him piece by piece and the head and he burnt them on the altar and he washed the entrails and legs and burnt them with the burnt offering on the altar. And then he presented the people's offering and took the goat of the sin offering that was for the people and killed it and offered it as a sin offering like the first one. And he presented the burnt offering and offered it according to the rule. And he presented the grain offering, took a handful of it and burnt it on the altar besides the burnt offering of the morning. Then he killed an ox and a ram and the sacrifice of peace offering for the people.

And Aaron's sons handed him the blood and he threw it against the sides of the altar. But the fat pieces of the ox and of the ram, the fat tail and that which covers the entrails and the kidneys and the long lobe of the liver, they put the fat pieces on the breasts and he burnt the fat pieces on the altar. But the breasts and the right thigh, Aaron waved for a wave offering before the Lord as Moses commanded. Then Aaron lifted up his hands towards the people and blessed them. And he came down from offering the sin offering and the burnt offering and the peace offerings.

And Moses and Aaron went into the tent of meeting. And when they came out, they blessed the people and the glory of the Lord appeared to all the people. And the fire came out from before the Lord and consumed the burnt offering and the pieces of fat on the altar. And when all the people saw it, they shouted and fell. on their faces.

Amen. Beloved, this is the word of the Lord. Now, brothers and sisters, as we're probably all still aware, and if you remember, even from last week, I told you all that the chapters that we're examining or the chapters that we're considering together in the book of Leviticus now in these chapters, These really do have the Levitical priests in central view. In particular, if we think about the latter part of chapter six. through to chapter 10, because halfway through chapter six through seven, we see the detailed instruction for the priest on the specifics pertaining to the five different types of offerings and sacrifices that they'll perform in their priestly duties on behalf of the people of Israel.

Now, those five different types of sacrifices are the sacrifices we've all examined in the first chapters of the book of Leviticus. And then in chapter eight, which is what we examined last week, It's a chapter that details the ordination ceremony that God had prescribed through Moses in order to ordain Aaron and his sons as priests. they would become the mediators of this covenant people of God, and they would serve before Yahweh in the tabernacle. I said last week that the commissioning of Aaron and his sons was not a private matter, but rather the whole congregation of Israel was commanded to witness this seven-day ceremony, a ceremony that emphasized the need of these mere men, but chosen men, to be cleansed and to be purified and consecrated fully to serve before holy God, holy God of the universe in this wilderness tabernacle. Now we've just read together chapter nine, and chapter nine begins by informing us that it is the eighth day.

You see, the ordination ceremony of Aaron and his sons is a seven-day ceremony. Now it's complete. And as priests, they've begun their first public offerings on behalf of the people as the official priests of Israel the very next day. the specific details of the priesthood and the whole sacrificial system that we've been reading about in the book of Leviticus will now be performed by the approved Levitical priests Aaron and his sons from this time forward now the the first four verses in chapter nine if you look down there you'll see there a summary or an overview of the the rest of the chapter you see you see Moses instructs here Aaron and the now high priest in his to make sacrifices or to give offerings. Firstly, to offer on for himself and then to offer on behalf of the people of Israel.

Now, when he's asked to offer on behalf of himself, it could be in fact, because of his son's contributions in his offerings, it's not explicit in the text, but perhaps that the offerings he makes on behalf of himself were also offerings on behalf of his sons also. Now these would be Aaron's first public offerings. His first offerings after he takes the office of high priest. And the first offering he offers to Yahweh, to the Lord before all the people of Israel is a sin offering. And then a burnt offering, we're told these things in verse eight through 14, which mentions all the details of both.

We've already discussed most types of offerings in previous weeks and even months. So we won't do it again here now, but I will mention two differences that you may have already realized in the sin offering in particular, compared to what is detailed for us and what we read only about a month ago in chapter four. Firstly, Aaron doesn't place his hands on the head of the animal. You remember when the sin offering is committed and when the animal is killed, the guilty party or the worshiper puts their hands on the head of the animal. It's a symbol of transferring the guilt and the sin from the person to the animal.

It's a picture of this, but this is not done here. Now, it's not to say that it wasn't done in fact, but it could have been because it could be that it was just, assumed to be done and assumed that all would know that it was done because this comes inherent to all sin sacrifices, but we cannot be sure. But also the other thing that we realize is Aaron doesn't sprinkle any of the blood in front of the veil of the tabernacle, which is something he was instructed to do back in chapter four. Now this, we don't really know why. Again, we were not told exactly why this is the case.

But however, we have to realize that Aaron had not yet entered into the tabernacle as high priest. If you remember the seven day ordination, they weren't allowed to go into the tabernacle, nor were they allowed to go out into the camp. They stayed in the temple grounds but not in the tabernacle building so it would probably be logical and it's perhaps that he doesn't sprinkle the blood on the vow before the Lord because the tabernacle was devoid of the sinful presence of Aaron up until this point and maybe up until now the tabernacle didn't need to be cleansed in this way. However, I want us to take note of the first public sacrifice that the new high priest offers in plain view of all of Israel. And it was, as I said earlier, it was a sin offering for himself and perhaps his sons also.

Now, I believe there's a reason for this. I believe God was teaching the people that although Aaron and his sons will be their priestly mediators before him, but they're mere men. And as mere men, they are in just as much need for atonement of their own sins as the people that they will mediate on behalf of. In this first official action as high priest, the people would see and they would be taught not to look to Aaron and his sons for their ultimate hope. They are sinners just like them.

Rather, they are to look to God himself. They are to see God as the one who instituted a way where there seemed to be no way. And he does this through the means of evil, even sinful men. that he would take care of the sin problem that warrants judgment and breaks fellowship with himself, that he would make a way to dwell among his people in this way. It's God who made a way, not Aaron, not his sons, and not Moses.

People ought to be looking to Yahweh and Yahweh alone as their hope, not to Aaron, because Aaron is a sinner in and of himself. And so now the Aaron has offered the sin offering and his sacrifice as well as the burnt offering. He's now been cleansed and purified of his and his sins atoned for. He was now to make the offerings on behalf of the people of Israel. who drew near.

That's what the text tells us, who drew near. All of Israel was commanded to come before the tabernacle, the gate there, the tent, the gate of the meeting. And then they were meant to come and they were meant to witness. This is what we're told here in verse 15 through 21, where Aaron now, he offers the sacrifice on behalf of the people of Israel. And he offers it on their behalf.

And it's the same sacrifice. We read carefully. It's the same sacrifices that he offered for himself and possibly his sons. There's a sin offering and there's a burnt offering, but furthermore, he'll then offer grain offering as per chapter two on behalf of the people. And then finally he'll offer an ox and a ram as a peace offering as per what we read and examined in chapter three which speaks of the peace offerings now that he does this all according to the rule all according to throughout this chapter you'll see according to the instructions given to Moses according to the rule these are specific rules given by God and now followed by Aaron and his sons meticulously However, there is a little bit of a difference in the peace offering as to what we saw in chapter three, because here two animals are offered, not just one, as prescribed in chapter three.

Perhaps, perhaps, I'm not sure, but perhaps the two animals, because this is a special inauguration of the sacrificial system, perhaps that's why two animals are offered and not just the one. But it's certainly fitting to me, at least, to see that the peace offering takes place last. Again, remember, the people are being taught in these rituals, the tabernacle and the sacrificial system and all its workings and the priest. These are a teaching tool to the people of Israel. The order is important because the people of God are to see now that their sins are atoned for because the sin offering has been offered before God in the way that God had prescribed as a substitutionary sacrifice.

They are now made reconciled with God. Now reconciled to have fellowship with the Holy God of the universe as forgiven sinners. Beloved, fellowship comes after atonement for sins. We need to remember that. Now, after the offerings were all offered, Aaron lifted up his hands and blesses the people, we're told in verse 22.

Now, we don't know exactly how that blessing went and what he said. Perhaps, perhaps that blessing was something similar to what is noted for us in Numbers chapter six, which is the high priest blessing, which reads like this. The Lord bless you and keep you. The Lord make his face shine upon you and be gracious to you. The Lord lift up his countenance upon you and give you peace.

Perhaps, perhaps that's what Aaron said to the people. And then And then further from that in verse 23, we read, and Moses and Aaron went into the tent of meeting. And when they came out, they blessed the people. That's again, and the glory of the Lord appeared to all the people and the fire came out from before the Lord and consumed the burnt offering and the pieces of fat on the altar. And when all the people saw it, they shouted and they fell on their faces.

Fire from above. fire from before the Lord falls from above. And if you remember brothers and sisters that it's about 500 years from now, this happens again in the inauguration in the in the dedication of the temple that Solomon built for the Lord in Jerusalem. If you remember that also fire came from above and burnt the on the palm the altar then as well. It's clear that this fire had come down from heaven, from before Yahweh Himself.

It's clear to say that this fire which is now consuming the burnt offerings on the altar is a sign of approval by God. God is approving of the whole sacrificial system as these priests, Aaron and his sons have been performing for the first time. God is approving of the newly ordained priests who are before him, those who are called to sacrifice and offer these sacrifices on behalf of these people. God is pleased that his people would now approach him through blood and through the mediator of these libidical priests. God is approving of these things.

And so God pours down his fire from heaven upon the altar. Now, beloved, we need to be very careful because week after week, we've been reading the description of the many sacrifices and offerings in the old covenant with the people of Israel, thinking through the details and the many facets of these sacrifices. Over the last couple of months, we thought through the bulls and the rams and the turtle doves, the grain and the blood, the purification, the cleansing, forgiveness of sins, fire on the altar and on and on and on. And now here in chapter nine, it's much of the same thing, more sacrifices, more detailed sacrifices. same five but but they keep repeating and we we keep reading of these offerings and these sacrifices now to be sure in previous chapters it was instruction given firstly to the common worshiper and then of course to the priest and now here in chapter nine it's implementation it was instruction and now it's implementation because the priests have now just recently recently been ordained but it's much the same details beloved And the risk is that due to the repetitiveness of the details and instructions in the text, that it can become familiar to our ears.

The risk is that we may miss the very climax and the purpose of all of it. And brothers and sisters, I submit to you this evening that the glorious climax and the very purpose for the priesthood itself and every intricate detail they need to follow, the very purpose of the whole sacrificial system is actually found in the profound chapter that is before us here in chapter nine. In fact, it's found on more than one occasion. It's found twice. And we've simply brushed over them both.

For B, this is the purpose foretold And in the last or final two verses of the chapter is the purpose fulfilled. And if you put your eyes down in text, you probably know exactly what I'm talking about, because I submit to you brothers and sisters, the single overarching purpose for all that we've read about is this, the glorious presence of Yahweh among his people. This is the greatest privilege known to mankind, and the substance of everything we've read about. In 4b, verse 4b, we're told, for today the Lord will appear to you. And in 23b, after all was done according to how the Lord commanded Moses, we read, and the glory of the Lord appeared to all the people.

That's what it's all about. The holy God of the universe has made a way to manifestly presence himself among a sinful, unworthy people. And beloved, he's the wonder, he's the amazing thing that he presents himself and dwells among them without them being destroyed under his purity and under his righteousness. He has made a way in order not to be a distant God. He's not a God that is interested in being aloof and far off from his people, but rather a God in the midst of his people.

This is why he rescued these people from slavery in Egypt. It wasn't simply to give them a land and make them a nation. The greatest treasure and delight for the true children of God was never to have a land flowing in milk and honey, but the Lord to be their God. and the God who dwells among them, and for them to be his children, enjoying his glorious presence. Beloved, that's what God intends for his people, and that ought to be the heart of his people, the presence of God.

Moses, Moses understood this from way back before the construction of the tabernacle. You remember back in Exodus 33 after Aaron gives into the peer pressure and sinfully makes a golden calf at the foot of Sinai. And by the way, as a side note, hope you realize that Aaron's first public offering as high priest before all the people of Israel was a sacrifice of a calf. a calf for his own sins. Just thought that would be interesting to note.

But back to the point, God is angered at Aaron for making this golden calf. And he's angered at Israel for their rebellion before him at the foot of Sinai. And he's threatened to remove his presence from going up with this stiff neck people after the golden calf incident. Do you remember it? It wasn't that long ago.

But do you remember what Moses said? Do you remember what Moses said when he was interceding for these people? He says to God, he says, if your presence will not go with me, do not bring us up from here. They're in the middle of the desert. So in other words, Moses is saying, God, if you don't come with us, if you don't presence yourself among us, if you're not near to us, then let us die now.

It's incredible. Moses knew the presence of God was the true treasure and delight of the people of God. And now this exact point is being taught to the people of Israel at the entrance of the tabernacle. Their sin has broken fellowship with God and needs to be dealt with in order for them to enjoy the greatest treasure, and that is God in their midst. This is This is what distinguishes the people of God from the pagan world.

It's the intimate presence of God. Yes, God is omnipresent, but he's not present in the same way with the pagan world and the pagans as he is with his own people, that intimate fellowship that he has with his own people. And therefore what we see before us is the whole purpose of the tabernacle. And later the temple finds its substance on this one point, beloved, the presence of God among his people. Beloved, think of the last nine chapters of the book of Ezekiel.

No matter what the nuances of your eschatology are, we should all be able to agree on at least this one point. After nine chapters of intricate detail in that book, the book of Ezekiel, about the temple and the priests and so on, the climax, the goal and the purpose of that glorious temple is then described for us. in the very last words of the very last chapter of this book of prophecy. And that climax and that purpose of the new temple is found in the name given to the city where the temple is found. Ezekiel 48, 35, the last verse reads, and the name of the city from that time on shall be the Lord is there.

The Lord is there. The presence of Yahweh is there. And beloved, for God's people, that is bliss. Can you see how the presence of God ought to be the greatest desire of our souls? But as New Testament Christians, It's not the manifest glory of God that appeared in the man-made structure called the tabernacle, even later on in the temple.

No, the tabernacle and the temple, remember, but a picture of the substance to come. We've always said that. And that substance, beloved, is Christ our Lord. He's the ultimate fulfillment of the one the prophet Isaiah foretold when he wrote, behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son and she shall call him his name, Emmanuel. What does that name Emmanuel mean?

Well, Matthew tells us in the birth narrative of our Lord, in the birth narrative of our Lord in the first chapter of Matthew, he tells us that Emmanuel means God with us. The presence of God is now among his people in an intimate way in Christ Jesus. It is he, that is Christ, that the Apostle John spoke about when he wrote, and the eternal Logos, God himself became flesh and tabernacled, dwelt among us. Beloved, it's Jesus Christ of Nazareth who all these passages speak of. He's the one who has destroyed the temple.

where the manifest presence of God once was, and in three days raised it up in his body, John 2, 19. And by faith, it is in his finished work, through his perfect righteous life, his bloody sacrificial death, and his glorious triumphant resurrection, we are told that he makes his dwelling place not near us, but in us. Beloved, not near us, but in us, for we have become the body of Christ, the temple of God, 1 Corinthians 3, 16. And this is how the apostle Paul is able to say, based on this reality, based on this truth, based on this blessed truth, beloved, that he's able to say, it's no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. Oh, these are glorious truths.

The presence of God is nearer to his people than our skin is to our own body. And if the people of Israel If the people of Israel in their response to the manifest presence of God, the glory of God that was displayed, put on display for them in the very last verse of this chapter, when he came down and consumed the fire in verse 24, if their response was they shouted and fell on their faces, a term in the original that connotes a joyful reverential worship. Then beloved, I ask you, brothers and sisters, What ought to be our response? What ought to be our heart's attitude towards a God who is now eternally dwelling in the life of His people in Christ Jesus? Let's pray.