the ruminations of aaron eberline

In Leviticus 21 and 22 rules and laws are given by God for Aaron and his descendants for all generations. The priests were not allowed to approach a dead person unless it was a relative and the high priest was forbidden to approach a dead body even of his own relatives. The priest’s needed to live above reproach. They needed to follow God’s commands in regard to mourning death. When customs in that time were to shave your head, cut your beard, and cut your body in mourning the priests could not because they were set apart by God as Holy. When seeking a wife the priests needed to find a woman (i.e. a virgin, not a prostitute or widow) from his own people to marry. If any of these priest had any physical blemish of defect they were forbidden to approach and make sacrifices to God. – At this point in honor of the end of verse 21 chapter 21 let me just say OUCH! – Then any priest who was unclean could not partake in the food from the offerings because the food was holy. It sure seems like a lot of burden doesn’t it? Why are such laws placed on these mere men? The truth of the matter lies not in the men but God! Could a perfect and holy God require anything but the ones who approach Him to be perfect and holy? It is just like the requirements for the animals used for sacrifices. They needed to be perfect also. All of these requirements just reinforce how holy God really is. It makes me remember reading A.W. Tozer’s book The Knowledge of The Holy. I remember how infinitesimal I felt after reading about the many attributes of God. Why God chooses to concern Himself with me just boggles my mind.

So how do all of these requirements for priest and the awesome holiness of God apply to me? The requirements of a perfect and holy priest as well as a perfect sacrifice always draw my thoughts to Jesus Christ. I am unable to live up to any of the requirements listed in these chapters because I am inherently sinful by nature but God loved me enough to make a way. I love the words ‘But God’ because it means that God acted against how human nature would expected and grace was extended. Jesus Christ is the ultimate High Priest and Sacrifice. That fact is humbling because I always struggle knowing that He died for me and I didn’t deserve it. Oh that marvelous grace that saved me. Do you live in that grace? The curse of sin rests upon all mankind and the only way out from that curse is to accept that grace which was given to you. Since Jesus Christ is my High Priest and my Sacrifice I am able to approach God not because of anything I have done but because of what He did. That is assurance and peace to help me through this day and everyday.