3/16/25 Weekly Bible Lesson: Preparation for Service

Background — Communities set apart certain people to carry out special duties on behalf of the group. What are some ways of marking this special status? Exodus 29 describes God’s instructions to Moses for the preparation of Aaron and his sons to the holy priesthood. 

Preparing the Israelite sanctuary and its priesthood for their sacred function was an elaborate week-long procedure that purified and sanctified them by ritual agents such as water, anointing oil, and sacrificial blood. The priests serving in the Tabernacle were engaged in all aspects involved. The elements that are brought forward—unblemished animals and unleavened cakes made with choice flour—represent the finest offerings. This signifies the importance and sacred nature of the event. 

The anointing oil is described in Exodus 30:22-33. It was made from the very finest spices and olive oil. It was not to be used for any other purposes besides anointing the Tabernacle, ark, priests, and other items associated with worship. It was set apart as holy for these purposes. 

Verses 1-9 — 

The Scriptures often show literal things with symbolic meanings. The bulls and rams had to be young and without blemish. Anything flawed was not acceptable as an offering. Even lambs are mentioned in Scripture as sacrifices to God. They also had to be without blemish. Jesus is referred to as the “Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world” (John 1:29, 36; I Peter 1:19). 

The bread, cakes, and wafers had to be made without leaven. It’s easy to understand why God wanted a perfect sacrifice and offerings. Blemish means God gets less than He deserves. Every time it appears in Scripture leaven is representative of sin. An example of this is Jesus’s use of the phrase, “the leaven of the Pharisees.” Another example is when God instituted the Passover in Exodus 12. One of the requirements was all leaven had to be removed from their houses. It was not enough to bake bread without leaven—it was not to even be found in their dwellings! 

The lesson for us is clear: our lives are to be pure, purged from all corrupt and sinful influences. As we offer ourselves as living sacrifices, we are to pursue holiness without which no one will see the Lord. The apostle John states, “Everyone who has this hope in Him purifies himself, just as He is pure” (1 John 3:3). 

God required purity in preparation for worship. He wants us to come humbly before Him, casting cares upon Him, seeking to worship Him in spirit and truth. Paul tells believers they must examine themselves before taking the Lord’s Supper. 

Aaron and his sons had to be consecrated. Part of the consecration of Aaron and his sons had to do with the clothing they wore. God provided special clothing for their special function. For Aaron, it was an ephod, a full dress of various colored threads and precious stones. The ephod represented purity and consecration, and it was a sacred thing for the High Priest to wear. Without the ephod, the High Priest was unfit to serve. 

When we consider the wardrobe of the High Priest, one thing is crystal clear: he stood out in a unique way. The same should be true of us. We are to be salt and light and live Christian lives in a way that, “you may become blameless and harmless, children of God without fault in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation, among whom you shine as lights in the world” (Philippians 2:15). 

In Colossians 3:12-13, Paul exhorts us, “as the elect of God, holy and beloved, put on tender mercies, kindness, humility, meekness, longsuffering; bearing with one another, and forgiving one another, if anyone has a complaint against another; even as Christ forgave you, so you also must do.” 

Are we living out our faith in Christ in such a way that we stand out because of our godly character? What actions can we take to be more consecrated to the Lord? 

Verses 35-36 —  

Since Aaron was the High Priest and his sons were priests, they were to be consecrated every day as they served God in the Tabernacle. This was God’s plan for worship and sacrifice. Anything apart from that would have been detestable in His eyes. 

When we prepare for worship, we first must come humbly before God. Worship is not to be defiled by worldliness or entertainment or show. Humility helps us confess our sins before God. It also reminds us God is sovereign. 

Verse 37 —  

The preparation for worship included physical cleansing and proper dress for Aaron and his sons. Washing was not simply a bath; it had godly meaning. When God required cleansing of the body, it was to help the priest focus on the spiritual things related to worship. Only those who were cleansed (holy), inside and out, were allowed to touch the altar. 

God expects us to take care of our bodies, for they are the temple of the Holy Spirit. He commands that we worship Him in spirit and truth, that we obey Him, repent of sins, and even “be holy as He is holy” (I Peter 1:15-16). Are we consecrated and ready to do the will of God?