SUNDAY October 14, 2018

Priestly Duties

“ ‘And it shall come to pass that everyone who is left in your house will come and bow down to him for a piece of silver and a morsel of bread, and say, ‘Please, put me in one of the priestly positions,
that I may eat a piece of bread.” ’ ”
1 Samuel 2:36

Eli’s life, as a high priest, was to be consecrated, but his life and his son’s lives became corrupt––this earthly, priestly line failed. The man of God, who prophesied, spoke of Eli’s priesthood ending. Understand that the priests who served the Lord in the tabernacle received a portion of the sacrifice for their provision. Yet in the future, all position and provision, sought after by those in Eli’s family line, would cease.

In the tabernacle at Shiloh, in the Holy Place, was placed the golden lampstand––the Menorah. There were no candles, but little cups that were kept filled with oil. One of the priestly duties was to make sure the light burned constantly every day––it could not go out. The oil was symbolic of the Holy Spirit. The seven branches creating the lampstand were later used as a picture of the seven churches that Jesus Christ spoke about in Revelations 1:4; 2.

Then in the Holy of Holies, separated by a thick veil, was the ark of God. The ark of God speaks of God’s presence in the midst of His people. Once a year, only the high priest could go into the Holy of Holies on the Day of Atonement––Yom Kippur. The high priest would place the blood of the animal sacrifice into a basin and then sprinkle the blood on the mercy seat––the golden lid where two cherubim’s faced each other––to be a covering for the sins of the people.

Understand, the high priest’s life needed to be kept consecrated to the Lord; otherwise, in the presence of a holy God, he could be killed. Do you have a consecrated life? Do you realize that in the kingdom of God we shall be made kings and priests? Think about that!

To Him [Jesus] who loved us and washed us from our sins in His own blood, and has made us kings and priests to His God and Father, to Him be glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen.
~Revelation 1:5-6~

For more from Raul Ries, please visit Somebodylovesyouradio.org!