Topic: Priestly Comportment [DCLM Daily Manna 2 October 2020 Devotional By Pastor William Folorunso Kumuyi]
Text: Leviticus 22:1-8 (KJV)
1 And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying,
2 Speak unto Aaron and to his sons, that they separate themselves from the holy things of the children of Israel, and that they profane not my holy name in those things which they hallow unto me: I am the LORD.
3 Say unto them, Whosoever he be of all your seed among your generations, that goeth unto the holy things, which the children of Israel hallow unto the LORD, having his uncleanness upon him, that soul shall be cut off from my presence: I am the LORD.
4 What man soever of the seed of Aaron is a leper, or hath a running issue; he shall not eat of the holy things, until he be clean. And whoso toucheth any thing that is unclean by the dead, or a man whose seed goeth from him;
5 Or whosoever toucheth any creeping thing, whereby he may be made unclean, or a man of whom he may take uncleanness, whatsoever uncleanness he hath;
6 The soul which hath touched any such shall be unclean until even, and shall not eat of the holy things, unless he wash his flesh with water.
7 And when the sun is down, he shall be clean, and shall afterward eat of the holy things; because it is his food.
8 That which dieth of itself, or is torn with beasts, he shall not eat to defile himself therewith: I am the LORD.
Key Verse: “Speak unto Aaron and to his sons, that they separate themselves from the holy things of the children of Israel, and that they profane not my holy name in those things which they hallow unto me: I am the LORD.” – (Leviticus 22:2)
MESSAGE:
The priest’s office in Israel was unique and sacred. This is because he was the intermediary between God and Israel. On his shoulders rested the duties of performing various sacrifices – sin offerings, burnt offerings, peace offerings, etc., by which God’s people were reconciled back to Him in forgiveness. The priest also was a teacher – “For the priest’s lips should keep knowledge, and they should seek the law at his mouth: for he is the messenger of the LORD of hosts” (Malachi 2:7). Aaron’s role during the wilderness journey was very crucial; he often had to intercede to stop the plague from consuming the people. His life was therefore strictly regulated by the law of God.
Instructions were given to the priests not to profane the name of God but treat the offerings of God reverentially. They must not go “unto the holy” things with uncleanness lest they would die. Any leper or he that had “running issue” would not eat of the holy things until he became clean. They were not to eat any animal that died of itself or torn by another. They were to observe and keep the law of God.
The Old Testament priest had to go to the holy of holies in the temple once in a year to atone for the sins of the people. But Christ having died and risen up for the New Testament believers who are also priests now lives in them. It means that the blemishes that were found in some of the Old Testament characters like Asa, Jehoshaphat, David, Gideon, Samson, etc., should not be found in the New Testament saints. We are expected to deny “ungodliness and worldly lusts… (and to) live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world.” As pilgrims on earth, we are expected to live a God-honouring life.
Thought For The Day: True saints are a shining light in the world.
The Bible In One Year: Hebrews 1-4
DCLM Daily Manna was written by Pastor William Folorunso Kumuyi; is the founder and General Superintendent of the Deeper Life Bible Church situated at KM 42 on the busy Lagos-Ibadan Expressway, Nigeria.
