He is our great High Priest. Leviticus 9.5-24
Jesus throughout the Scriptures: Leviticus/Numbers (3)
Pray Psalm 32.1, 2.
Blessed is he whose transgression is forgiven,
Whose sin is covered.
Blessed is the man to whom the LORD does not impute iniquity,
And in whose spirit there is no deceit.
Sing Psalm 32.1, 2.
(Hendon: Take My Life and Let It Be)
Blessed are they whose sins the LORD has forgiven by His Word!
Pure their spirits are within; them He charges with no sin;
them He charges with no sin!
Read Leviticus 9.5-24; meditate on verses 22-24
Preparation
1. What would happen when the atonement offering had been made?
2. When did this happen?
Meditation
Here, the people experienced the glory of God, which was attached to an offering for atonement and the work of the high priest. When Aaron offered the sacrifice precisely according to the Word of God, and after he (with Moses) entered into the dwelling place of the Lord, and came out with a blessing for the people, then “the glory of the LORD appeared to all the people” and consumed their offering.
“When all the people saw it, they shouted and fell on their faces.”
Does this really need explaining? Jesus is both our atoning sacrifice and our great High Priest. His blood has cleansed all who believe in Him, and He lives continually to intercede for His people (Heb. 7.23-25). Through Him, we can know the glory of the Lord because we have access through Jesus, our great High Priest, into the eternal dwelling place of God. God shows us His glory through creation, Scripture, and especially through Jesus (Jn. 1.14).
The proper response to this is worship—fearing and loving God and rejoicing to be in His Presence. Through Jesus, our High Priest, we offer ourselves as a living sacrifice day by day (Rom. 12.1, 2).
And unlike the Aaronic high priests, our High Priest made only one sacrifice, once for all, and by it unleashed the fire of His Spirit and the glory of the Lord upon His people forever.
Treasure Old and New: Matthew 13.52; Psalm 119.162
“Then Moses said, ‘This is the thing which the LORD commanded you to do, and
the glory of the LORD will appear to you’” (Lev. 9.6). Obey, then you’ll see.
Before Moses attempted the work of bringing the people out of Egypt, when he was questioning the feasibility of the project with God, God told him not to worry because He would give him a sign that this was, in fact, a task that he had been called to by Him: “I will certainly be with you. And this shall be a sign to you that I have sent you: When you have brought the people out of Egypt, you shall serve God on this mountain” (Ex. 3.12). Wait. What? I’ll know this was the right thing to do, after I have done it, and I am back on this very mountain leading myriad of people to the Promised Land? Then? Yes, indeed, then.
But when you think about it, that is exactly how employers treat their employees.
You do the work, then they pay you.
And this is the same way our beloved Savior tackled the work that was set before Him.
Jesus, Who is the Author and Finisher of our faith, “for the joy that was set before Him
endured the cross, despising the shame”,
and then sat down at the right hand of the throne of God (Heb. 12.2).
He did all the work of redemption before He was reseated back in glory with His Father, to reign and rule His Kingdom forever. Obedience to eternal glory and praise.
This is the way of most work; and most assuredly, it is the way of Kingdom work.
The people were to do what God commanded and then the promised appearance of the LORD would happen. God always keeps His Promises. He foretells, then it occurs. Truth always follows His Word.
As He says of Himself:
“Who has declared this from ancient time?
Who has told it from that time?
Have not I, the LORD?
And there is no other God besides Me,
A just God and a Savior;
There is none besides Me” (Is. 45.21).
“The proper response to this is worship—fearing and loving God and rejoicing to be in His Presence.”
In obedience we wait for all the promises of God to unfold. Jesus arrived as foretold. He has commanded us to obey Him and enjoy Him and glorify Him forever. Obey, then you’ll see—Jesus, now and forever.
Reflection
1. What is the glory of God? How do you experience it?
2. Jesus became our High Priest by obeying the will of the Father. How should His example encourage us?
3. As our High Priest, Jesus makes intercession for us. Today, what do you need Jesus to intercede about with the Father for you?
The fulfilment of this type was at length manifested in Christ, who is not only the source and cause of blessing, but publishes it by the Gospel with effectual results; for He came to “preach peace to them which were afar off, and to them that were nigh,” (Ephesians 2:17;) and although He does not appear or speak in a visible form, yet we know what He says… John Calvin (1509-1564), Commentary on Leviticus 9.22-24
Pray Psalm 32.3-11.
Thank God for Jesus, our great High Priest, and for the sacrifice of atonement He made for our sins. Rejoice in Him. Call on the Lord to show you His glory. Go forth to live for Him today.
Sing Psalm 32.3-11.
(Hendon: Take My Life and Let It Be)
When in silence I remained, groaning in my sinful pain,
You Your hand upon me lay; all my strength You drained away,
all my strength You drained away.
I confessed my sin to You; You forgave me, ever true!
Let confession’s pleading sound reach You while You may be found,
reach You while You may be found!
When flood waters threaten me, You my hiding place will be.
O’er them I will rise above, buoyed by Your redeeming love,
buoyed by Your redeeming love.
Teach me, LORD, how I should live; sound instruction ever give.
Let me never stubborn be; let Your eye watch over me,
let Your eye watch over me.
Though the wicked wail and weep, they rejoice whose souls You keep.
Trusting, we exult with praise, joyf’ly singing all our days,
joyf’ly singing all our days!
T. M. and Susie Moore
If you have found this meditation helpful, take a moment and give thanks to God. Then share what you learned with a friend. This is how the grace of God spreads (2 Cor. 4.15).
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Except as indicated, all Scriptures are taken from the New King James Version. © Copyright 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved. For sources of all quotations, see the weekly PDF of this study. All psalms for singing are from The Ailbe Psalter.
