Leviticus 8:1-13: a reflection

1The LORD spoke to Moses, saying, 2“Take Aaron and his sons with him, and the garments, and the anointing oil, and the bull of the sin offering, and the two rams, and the basket of unleavened bread; 3and assemble all the congregation at the door of the Tent of Meeting.” 4Moses did as the LORD commanded him; and the congregation was assembled at the door of the Tent of Meeting. 5Moses said to the congregation, “This is the thing which the LORD has commanded to be done.” 6Moses brought Aaron and his sons, and washed them with water. 7He put the tunic on him, tied the sash on him, clothed him with the robe, put the ephod on him, and he tied the skillfully woven band of the ephod on him and fastened it to him with it. 8He placed the breastplate on him. He put the Urim and Thummim in the breastplate. 9He set the turban on his head. He set the golden plate, the holy crown, on the front of the turban, as the LORD commanded Moses. 10Moses took the anointing oil, and anointed the tabernacle and all that was in it, and sanctified them. 11He sprinkled it on the altar seven times, and anointed the altar and all its vessels, and the basin and its base, to sanctify them. 12He poured some of the anointing oil on Aaron’s head, and anointed him, to sanctify him. 13Moses brought Aaron’s sons, and clothed them with tunics, and tied sashes on them, and put headbands on them, as the LORD commanded Moses.

Aaron's ordination as priest is worth watching closely, because of what is done to him and by whom. Aaron does not prepare himself. Moses washes him with water, clothes him in the tunic and robe and ephod and breastplate, sets the turban with its golden plate on his head, and anoints him with oil. Aaron stands and receives it all; every step of his consecration is done to him.

Notice that the priest does not approach God in his own clothes or by his own qualifications. Before he can serve, he must be washed clean, dressed in garments given to him, and anointed, none of it self-generated. His fitness to stand before God is entirely something he is given, put on him from outside, not produced from within.

This is a picture of how anyone comes near to God. Not scrubbed up by our own effort or dressed in our own achievements, but washed, clothed, and consecrated by God himself. The New Testament will speak of being clothed with Christ, dressed in a righteousness that is given, not earned. If you have felt you must make yourself presentable before God will receive you, this ordination says otherwise. Come to be washed and clothed by him. Your standing before God is a gift he puts on you, as Aaron's was.

Lord, like Aaron I cannot dress myself for your presence. Wash me, clothe me in the righteousness you give, and consecrate me for yourself. Let me stop trying to make myself presentable and receive the standing before you that is your gift.