Weekly passages: Leviticus 6:8-8:36; Jeremiah 7:21-8:3; Hebrews 7:24-8:6.

The titles given to the Torah portions read each Sabbath are each taken from a significant word at the beginning of the respective passage. This week it is Tsav, which means 'a command'. It is the third time the Lord told Moses to issue a specific command to the Israelites (Ex 27:20, 36:6, and in this week's portion in Lev 6:9).

This one is a command to Aaron covering the regulations for priestly functions - consecration, anointing and sacrifices. Each function, especially the offerings, had a specific instruction, because everything about the Tabernacle had to be performed correctly, as it was a pattern of the Heavenly reality which was the dwelling of God with His people (Ex 25:9, 40; Num 8:4; Heb 8:5, 9:23).

Consecration with Emphasis

The anointing and consecration of the priests for their service has a relevance for Christians too, as we also are called to be "a holy priesthood, offering spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ" (1 Pet 2:5).

Of particular interest, this anointing of Aaron and his sons for consecration was to be on the lobe of their right ear, the thumb on their right hand and the big toe of their right foot (Lev 8:23). Does this seem a very odd command? Stay with me! David Blumenthal points out that some biblical texts have cantor marks over words (here underlined) to indicate how they are to be sung,1 as in this week's passage where Moses "slaughtered a ram" as a sin offering. There are only three other places where this cantor mark is added:

• in the phrase, "Lot hesitated" (on leaving Sodom, in contrast to Abraham who hurried to obey God's command when he heard it) - Genesis 19:16;
• in the phrase, "Eliezer prayed" (for a sign in choosing a wife for Isaac, followed by Rachel drawing water for him and his 10 camels – 400 gallons, the work of her hands) - Genesis 24:12;
• and in the phrase "but he [Joseph] refused" (the advances of Potiphar's wife, and he ran away quickly from evil) - Genesis 39:8.

In these passages, we can note the relevance of anointing the right ear, the right thumb, and the right toe. Each of these parts of the body is symbolic of our functions as priests, and they need to be consecrated for our walk with the Lord. So the priests were anointed on these parts for obedience to God's commands – to hear, to work and to walk/run. Are we consecrated for these vital priestly functions for the Lord?

Are we hearing what God is saying? Are we ready to work for Him? Are we walking in His path and running from evil?

Offering Ourselves in Love

James tells us that faith needs the witness of good deeds; Paul reminds us that we are created in Christ Jesus to do good works which God prepared for us in advance for us to do (Eph 2:10). For this we need to listen, to work and to walk/run in obedience to God's calls. Let us offer, as priests, our ears, our hands and our feet, to be consecrated to hear what He says, to obey as He commands (to work while it is day), and to walk in His path, as He leads.

If we love Him, and obey His commands, the Father and the Lord Jesus will come to us and make their home with us (John 14:23). Then what we do will be more about Him and less about us. We may think the work we do is for Him. But if God abides in us, then we can do His work and carry His blessing to draw others into the Kingdom. To bear fruit for the Kingdom we need to remain (abide) in Him (John 15:4).

Obedience as Well as Worship

Priestly function (for us too) is to offer obedience and worship (Lev 8:36) together with blessings for people (Num 6:23-27). In Jeremiah's time (as in our day also), Israel did not always uphold this loyalty. The people came even into the Temple to claim God's blessing and protection while continuing in their evil ways. God warned them: "Has this House which bears My Name, become a den of robbers to you? But I have been watching, declares the Lord" (Jer 7:11).

In Jesus' day, too, the Temple (which should have been a holy sanctuary) was being used as a marketplace for commercial profit. This led Him to drive out the money-changers (the 'bureau-de-change') and those buying and selling, quoting Isaiah and Jeremiah: "My House will be called a House of Prayer for all nations. But you have made it a den of robbers" (Isaiah 56:7; Mark 11:17). Is this sometimes true today also?

God speaks clearly to believers (His priests). He says, of Jesus, "This is My Son, whom I love. Listen to Him" (Mark 9:2).

God's frustration with His ancient people Israel was clear. "I spoke to you again and again [Hebrew – rising up early and speaking], but you did not listen. I called to you, but you did not answer" (Jer 7:13). God still speaks to His people, but are our ears anointed for listening to His voice today? He would say to all believers today: Sh'ma! Hear (and obey).

Our Great High Priest

Aaron was, for a time, a High Priest who stood among the children of Israel. But we have a permanent High Priest who sat down at the right hand of the Throne of the Majesty in Heaven, and who serves in the Sanctuary, the true Tabernacle set up by the Lord and not by man (Heb 8:1-2). This High Priest, Yeshua, Israel's Messiah, is able to save – completely - those who come to God through Him. Such a High Priest meets our needs, because He made a sacrifice for the sins of the people, once for all, when He offered Himself (Heb 7:25-27) as the Lamb of God at Passover.

Author: Greg Stevenson

References

1 Blumenthal, DR, 1994. God at the Centre, Meditations on Jewish Spirituality. Jason Aronson, p78.

Geert Vanden Wijngaert/AP/Press Association Images