The Lord gave the instructions for manufacturing the tabernacle and for handling the offerings brought to the tabernacle before the priests were ordained to carry out their duties. These men needed to know what to do so that as soon as they are ordained they will be ready to perform their work. Today we begin a two part study of their ordination ceremony.
"The Lord said to Moses, 'Bring Aaron and his sons, their garments, the anointing oil, the bull for the sin offering, the two rams and the basket containing bread without yeast, and gather the entire assembly at the entrance to the tent of meeting.' Moses did as the Lord commanded him, and the assembly gathered at the entrance to the tent of meeting." (Leviticus 8:1-4) In Exodus 29 the Lord explained to Moses what would be needed for the ordination ceremony and what would be done during it. Moses was prepared for this day and he begins carrying out the Lord's instructions for Aaron and his four sons whose names are Nadab, Abihu, Eleazar, and Ithamar.
"Moses said to the assembly, 'This is what the Lord has commanded to be done.' Then Moses brought Aaron and his sons forward and washed them with water. He put the tunic on Aaron, tied the sash around him. clothed him with the robe and put the ephod on him. He also fastened the ephod with a decorative waistband, which he tied around him. He placed the breastpiece on him and put the Urim and Thummim in the breastpiece. Then he placed the turban on Aaron's head and set the gold plate, the sacred emblem, on the front of it, as the Lord commanded Moses." (Leviticus 8:5-9) Some scholars believe the washing with water was like baptism and that each man was momentarily immersed in the water. We can't be sure though because the Bible doesn't tell us how this ceremonial washing took place. It could be that Moses poured water over them from some type of pitcher.
I assume the priests kept on at least the linen robes that men typically wore as an undergarment in those times. I can't imagine that the men would be expected to undergo a ritual bath unclothed in front of the assembly. The Bible has a lot to say about modesty and about not shaming oneself by nudity, so I do not think the men would have bathed unclothed at the entrance to the Lord's house or that they would have bathed unclothed in the sight of the people.
In Exodus we studied the descriptions of the garments and accessories that we find Moses placing upon his brother Aaron in verses 5-9 so we won't go over these descriptions again. But if you would like a recap of them you will find them in Exodus 28.
"Then Moses took the anointing oil and anointed the tabernacle and everything in it, and so consecrated them. He sprinkled some of the oil on the altar seven times, anointing the altar and all its utensils and the basin with its stand, to consecrate them." (Leviticus 8:10-11) In the Bible we find oil symbolizing the anointing of the Holy Spirit. Pouring and sprinkling oil in the tabernacle and on everything in it is like issuing an invitation to the Holy Spirit, saying, "You are welcome here! Please come in and dwell here and meet with us." Also in the Bible we often see the number seven used as a symbol for something that is complete or perfect. This is probably why we find Moses sprinkling oil on the altar seven times, to signify that the work on the altar and everything around it is complete and that the tabernacle and its furnishings are ready for use.
I feel it's important to note that the Holy Spirit is welcomed before the Israelites begin to make use of the tabernacle. If the Holy Spirit is not present, nothing they do will matter. As my pastor often says, if the Holy Spirit isn't present in our services then we might as well not be there. Nothing will be accomplished unless the Holy Spirit graces us with His presence and anoints our hearts and minds to understand the word of God and to apply the word of God to our lives.
Now that the tabernacle and its furnishings have been anointed and are ready for use, Moses anoints Aaron as high priest. "He poured some of the anointing oil on Aaron's head and anointed him to consecrate him. Then he brought Aaron's sons forward, put tunics on them, tied sashes around them and fastened caps on them, as the Lord commanded Moses." (Leviticus 8:12-13) We studied the garments of the other priests back in Exodus at the same time that we studied the garments of the high priest.
What Moses (the mediator of the Old Covenant) does for Aaron and his sons symbolizes what Christ (the mediator of the New Covenant) does for those who place their faith in Him. Christ had us come to Him just as we were and He cleaned us up. Here in Leviticus 8 we find Aaron and his sons coming to the entrance of the tabernacle to meet Moses where Moses performs the ritual cleansing ceremony for them. Christ changed us from the inside out and in that sense dressed us in fresh new robes that He provided for us. We find Moses exchanging the priests' old robes for new robes that were made for them; they didn't have to make or procure these robes for themselves. And once we were transformed, and once we were dressed no longer in the filthy rags of sinners but were adorned in clothing appropriate for children of the King, He anointed us with the Holy Spirit to consecrate us and make us fit to perform our duties for His kingdom. We see Moses anointing the priests with the special anointing oil, and only after undergoing this anointing are the men considered consecrated to perform God's work.
There's nothing you did and there's nothing I did that saved our souls. All we were asked to do and all we were able to do was meet with Christ. He did all the work that saved us and keeps us saved.
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