Leviticus chapter 8 is today’s focus, 36 verses of instruction from God to Moses. Entirely regarding the priesthood, the ministry of Aaron and his sons.

And within those 36 verses … we find many times words like these: “And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying …” Leviticus 8:1

Verse 5 … “And Moses said unto the congregation, This is the thing which the LORD commanded to be done.” Where the “thing” commanded is the consecration/dedication of the priests of Israel.

Verse 9 … “And he put the mitre upon his head; also upon the mitre, even upon his forefront, did he put the golden plate, the holy crown; AS THE LORD COMMANDED MOSES.”

Verse 13 uses these words too, this Consecration was obviously GOD’S IDEA! GOD’S REQUIREMENT!

Again in verse 21 … Moses did: “the thing which the LORD commanded to be done.”

If I count them correctly … 12 times in one chapter … such words of “commandment/direction” from the Lord!

Wow, a dozen times!

Here’s my point this morning. God communicating with mankind … a priesthood (being a go-between) linking God and man in some sort of communion … was not of man’s initiative!

God began, yea commanded, the process! (Along the same line as “We love him, because he first loved us.” 1 John 4:19)

Aaron can do nothing … apart from God’s anointing being upon him! That anointing (the “how to do it” portion) being God’s idea totally! (Yet do note, Moses and Aaron and the sons of Aaron had to obey God’s injunctions here!) Here is human responsibility added to God’s Holy Demands!

Now … having established the fact of God the Father’s initiative here … let me mention some things about Jesus. OUR great High Priest!

He too never did anything without “Commandment” from His Father! (In fact, Jesus’ very Consecration was God appointed, all the way back to the Holy Spirit like a dove descending upon Him as He was baptized!)

God “orchestrating” the Life of Jesus … the Father “commanding” His every Move … “For I came down from heaven, not to do mine own will, but the will of HIM (the Father) that sent me.” John 6:38, so said our Lord.

John 5:30 … “I can of mine own self do nothing: as I hear, I judge: and my judgment is just; because I seek not mine own will, but the will of the FATHER which hath sent me.”

Wow!

“Then said Jesus unto them, When ye have lifted up the Son of man, then shall ye know that I am he, and that I do nothing of myself; but as my FATHER hath taught me, I speak these things.” John 8:28

The whole idea of Jesus’ Priesthood is summed as follows: “And no man taketh this honour (the Priesthood) unto himself, but he that is called of God, as was Aaron. So also Christ glorified not himself to be made an high priest.” Hebrews 5:4-5

Jesus’ Priesthood was God’s Prerogative, God the father’s Behest … every bit as much as was Aaron’s Priesthood! Jesus was “given” that office … by Divine Command! (And by the way, HE IS WORTHY!)

I hope you see my thought today.

Twelve times in Leviticus 8 … “and God commanded”(or similar words) … regarding the Aaronic priesthood, concerning its consecration, dedication, ordination!

And many, many times (equally so, if not more) “and God commanded or taught or authorized or empowered” Jesus to do all He did on earth!

Jesus, our great High Priest!

Hallelujah!

Operating under the Power of God the Father!

No wonder the Father was always so deeply well-pleased with the Son!

— Dr. Mike Bagwell

Us communing, fellowshipping, spiritually dwelling together with God Almighty … through a powerfully effective Priesthood, now being the resurrected, ascended, glorified Lord Jesus at the Father’s Right Hand … totally God’s Idea! And a vital one … or else we old sinners would have spent eternity in Hell!

One more thought … this gravity, this seriousness about God’s Hand being on the Old Testament Priests surely says something about how God’s Men, even in this dispensation, need the assurance of God’s Call upon their lives, ministries. I for one am certain … God called (drafted, placed, ordained) me into the Gospel Ministry, the delightful occupation of preaching His predacious Word! Paul wrote of this, using the word “necessity!” That’s how “binding” the call to preach really is! (1 Corinthians 9:16 … “For though I preach the gospel, I have nothing to glory of: for NECESSITY is laid upon me; yea, woe is unto me, if I preach not the gospel!”)

Wow!

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