Exodus 40:12-16: a reflection

12“You shall bring Aaron and his sons to the door of the Tent of Meeting, and shall wash them with water. 13You shall put on Aaron the holy garments; and you shall anoint him, and sanctify him, that he may minister to me in the priest’s office. 14You shall bring his sons, and put tunics on them. 15You shall anoint them, as you anointed their father, that they may minister to me in the priest’s office. Their anointing shall be to them for an everlasting priesthood throughout their generations.” 16Moses did so. According to all that the LORD commanded him, so he did.

In the setting up of the tabernacle, God directs Moses to consecrate Aaron and his sons for the priesthood: to wash them, clothe them in the holy garments, and anoint them, that they may minister to God. And of this anointing God says something striking: Their anointing shall be to them for an everlasting priesthood throughout their generations. They were being set apart, consecrated, for a lasting calling, a service that would continue through the generations. The anointing marked them as set apart for God's service, a calling that was to endure.

Notice that they were consecrated, set apart, for a lasting service to God. They were washed, clothed, anointed, not for a passing role, but for an enduring calling, an everlasting priesthood. To be consecrated was to be set apart from ordinary use for God's service, marked as belonging to him, dedicated to minister to him. And this consecration was to a lasting calling, not a temporary one; they were set apart for God's service enduringly. The anointing marked a life dedicated to God.

That being set apart for God is worth taking to heart, for we who belong to God are also, in a sense, consecrated to him, set apart for his service. We are not our own; we have been set apart, dedicated to God, marked as belonging to him and called to serve him. And this is not a passing role, but an enduring calling: to belong to God and serve him is a lasting consecration. Remember that you are set apart for God, consecrated to belong to him and serve him, not for a passing moment but as an enduring calling. Do not live as though you were your own, free for ordinary use; you have been set apart for God, dedicated to his service, as the priests were consecrated for an everlasting priesthood. Live as one consecrated to God, set apart for his service, belonging to him, as Aaron and his sons were anointed and set apart for a lasting priesthood, dedicated to minister to the Lord.

Lord, in the setting up of the tabernacle, you direct Moses to consecrate Aaron and his sons for the priesthood: to wash them, clothe them in the holy garments, and anoint them, that they may minister to you. And of this anointing you say something striking: their anointing shall be to them for an everlasting priesthood throughout their generations. They were being set apart for a lasting calling. The anointing marked them as set apart for your service, a calling that was to endure. Show me that they were consecrated, set apart, for a lasting service to you. They were washed, clothed, anointed, not for a passing role, but for an enduring calling. To be consecrated was to be set apart from ordinary use for your service, marked as belonging to you. And this was to a lasting calling. The anointing marked a life dedicated to you. Take that being set apart to my heart, for I who belong to you am also, in a sense, consecrated to you, set apart for your service. I am not my own; I have been set apart, dedicated to you, marked as belonging to you and called to serve you. And this is not a passing role, but an enduring calling. Help me remember that I am set apart for you, consecrated to belong to you and serve you. Keep me from living as though I were my own, free for ordinary use; I have been set apart for you, Lord. Help me live as one consecrated to you, set apart for your service, belonging to you, as Aaron and his sons were anointed for a lasting priesthood.