Announcements

• Open forum this evening (7:15-8:15) in Jenks 237

• Next exam on 8 October (next Wednesday)• Check exams: Part B

– Form A, question 19– Form B, question 18– If you answered (D) instead of (E), please bring your

answer sheet to me to receive credit. (It was the question about the Assyrians.)

Sanctuary, Priesthood, Sacrifices

Several Introductory Matters

• Review categories of Torah• The importance of symbols and ritual• Overarching structure of Leviticus

– Chapters 1-10 – the way to the Holy One (approaching God)

– Chapters 11-27 – the way of holiness (all of life lived in the presence of God)

The Nature of Worship in the First Testament: A Paradoxical Scene

• What is the paradox?• Implications of approaching God

– Sacred space– Sacred time

• Central feature was the sacrifice: What did it teach?– Propitiation – appeasing God’s wrath with shedding of blood

(Leviticus 17:11; and see Hebrews 9:22)– Expiation - canceling sin– The process graphically depicts horror and pain caused by sin

• Sanctuary and priests necessary to carry out sacrificial ritual

• What do we learn about ourselves and God through the details of the sanctuary and the priestly functioning?

Compare and Contrast With New Testament

• What concepts remain the same?– Hebrews 9:22– Hebrews 12:28-29

• What has changed?– Hebrews 7:24-27– Hebrews 10:10-12

Sanctuary• Several literary observations

– 12 chapters in Exodus devoted to sanctuary– Placement – between ratification of covenant in

Exodus 20-24 and instructions about sacrifice in Lev 1-10

– The golden calf – idolatry– The instructions were carried out after that

• Significance of terms used– Sanctuary - mikdash– Tabernacle - mishkan– Tent of meeting – ohel mo’ed

Purposes of the Sanctuary

• Dwelling place of God in their midst, present but set apart

• A “bridge” to the Incarnation (cf. John 1:14)

• Prefiguring of the heavenly dwelling (Hebrews 8:5 and 9:11)

• Symbol of the way back to the “tree of life”

Structure

• Frames and curtains – set the tabernacle apart from the community

• Holy Place and Most Holy Place (or Holy of Holies)

• Cherubim on curtain as “guards” – note the role of the cherubim at the entrance to the Garden in Eden

Furnishings• Ark of the covenant – God’s presence at the

atonement cover overshadowed by cherubim• Table for show bread (or bread of the Presence)

– looks forward to “living Bread”• Lampstand – symbolic of the Spirit • Altar for incense – symbolic of prayers in

Revelation• Outside furnishings

– Altar for offerings– Basin for washing

Structure and Furnishings:Note the “path” into the presence of God

Added details

• Anointing oil and incense

• Maintained by the half-shekel

Priests and Levites

• Levites took care of Tabernacle (later Temple), camped around it, later provided music and were also teachers (Deut 17)

• Priests offered sacrifices and were teachers of Torah as well (Deut 31:9-13)

Attire of the High Priest:His Intercessory Role

• Ephod• Breastpiece – with Urim and Thummim• Robe• Turban• Linen underclothes

• Note that Jesus fulfills this intercessory role – the importance of praying “in the name of Jesus”

Ordination• Intricacy of the procedure• Initial ordination• Lessons from Nadab and Abihu

– Worship must be conducted as God commands– It is not a matter of enjoyment or feeling good– Maintaining holiness is essential

• Restrictions for priests – to maintain and demonstrate holiness– No normal mourning practices– Could not drink wine while officiating– Must distinguish between holy and profane– Must not trim beards– Must marry virgins– No physical defects

Sacrifices: General Procedures• Individual brought the animal - cost• He placed his hand on its head – identification

with animal / transfer of sin• He killed the animal – graphic reminder of our

own participation in the horror of sin• Priest sprinkled the blood – mediation needed• The sacrifice was burned in whole or in part –

consecration and refining• For fellowship offering, part was eaten in

community

Individual Offerings• Whole burnt offering – to atone for sin in general• Sin offering – to cover when someone sinned

unintentionally• Guilt or trespass offering – to atone for

unintentional sins regarding holy things; also for some deliberate sins

• Grain offering – giving the best in thanksgiving• Peace or fellowship offering – give thanks to

God• Additional offerings – thank offerings, and those

for vows