Leviticus 9: The Dawn of Acceptable Worship
And it came to pass on the eighth day, that Moses called Aaron and his sons, and the elders of Israel;
And he said unto Aaron, Take thee a young calf for a sin offering, and a ram for a burnt offering, without blemish, and offer them before the Lord.
And unto the children of Israel thou shalt speak, saying, Take ye a kid of the goats for a sin offering; and a calf and a lamb, both of the first year, without blemish, for a burnt offering;
Also a bullock and a ram for peace offerings, to sacrifice before the Lord; and a meat offering mingled with oil: for to day the Lord will appear unto you.
And they brought that which Moses commanded before the tabernacle of the congregation: and all the congregation drew near and stood before the Lord.
And Moses said, This is the thing which the Lord commanded that ye should do: and the glory of the Lord shall appear unto you.
And Moses said unto Aaron, Go unto the altar, and offer thy sin offering, and thy burnt offering, and make an atonement for thyself, and for the people: and offer the offering of the people, and make an atonement for them; as the Lord commanded.
Aaron therefore went unto the altar, and slew the calf of the sin offering, which was for himself.
And the sons of Aaron brought the blood unto him: and he dipped his finger in the blood, and put it upon the horns of the altar, and poured out the blood at the bottom of the altar:
But the fat, and the kidneys, and the caul above the liver of the sin offering, he burnt upon the altar; as the Lord commanded Moses.
And the flesh and the hide he burnt with fire without the camp.
And he slew the burnt offering; and Aaron’s sons presented unto him the blood, which he sprinkled round about upon the altar.
And they presented the burnt offering unto him, with the pieces thereof, and the head: and he burnt them upon the altar.
And he did wash the inwards and the legs, and burnt them upon the burnt offering on the altar.
And he brought the people’s offering, and took the goat, which was the sin offering for the people, and slew it, and offered it for sin, as the first.
And he brought the burnt offering, and offered it according to the manner.
And he brought the meat offering, and took an handful thereof, and burnt it upon the altar, beside the burnt sacrifice of the morning.
He slew also the bullock and the ram for a sacrifice of peace offerings, which was for the people: and Aaron’s sons presented unto him the blood, which he sprinkled upon the altar round about,
And the fat of the bullock and of the ram, the rump, and that which covereth the inwards, and the kidneys, and the caul above the liver:
And they put the fat upon the breasts, and he burnt the fat upon the altar:
And the breasts and the right shoulder Aaron waved for a wave offering before the Lord; as Moses commanded.
And Aaron lifted up his hand toward the people, and blessed them, and came down from offering of the sin offering, and the burnt offering, and peace offerings.
And Moses and Aaron went into the tabernacle of the congregation, and came out, and blessed the people: and the glory of the Lord appeared unto all the people.
And there came a fire out from before the Lord, and consumed upon the altar the burnt offering and the fat: which when all the people saw, they shouted, and fell on their faces.
Leviticus 9 marks a pivotal moment in Israel's history: the official commencement of the sacrificial system under Aaron's leadership. After a week of consecration, the stage was set for the priests to begin their divinely appointed duties, offering sacrifices that would mediate between a holy God and a sinful people. This chapter details the initial acts of worship and God's dramatic confirmation of His acceptance, but also foreshadows the grave consequences of disobedience. Let's delve into the significance of these events and their enduring relevance for us today.
Entering God's Presence Through Sacrifice (Leviticus 9:1-7)
Following the seven days of priestly consecration, the eighth day arrived, heralding the commencement of the sacrificial system. The people, as Moses commanded, presented the required offerings—sin offerings, burnt offerings, fellowship offerings, and grain offerings—at the tabernacle (Leviticus 9:1-4). With the congregation gathered before the altar (Leviticus 9:5), Moses instructed Aaron to begin his priestly duties, initiating Israel's sacrificial system. "Approach the altar," Moses urged Aaron, "and sacrifice your sin offering and your burnt offering; make atonement for yourself and the people. Sacrifice the people’s offering and make atonement for them, as the LORD commanded" (Leviticus 9:7).
Aaron's Atonement and Consecration (Leviticus 9:8-14)
Aaron's first act was to offer a sin offering and a burnt offering for himself (Leviticus 9:8-14). This was a crucial step, signifying his own need for atonement and his complete consecration to the Lord. There's a poignant irony in Aaron offering a calf as his sin offering (Leviticus 9:8), a stark reminder of his past transgression in fashioning the golden calf (Exodus 32). Despite this past failing, the people could now be assured that Aaron’s sin had been forgiven and that he was authorized to serve as their high priest. This act not only cleansed Aaron but also established his legitimacy as the high priest, the mediator between God and the people.
Atonement and Fellowship: Sacrifices for the People (Leviticus 9:15-24)
With his own atonement secured, Aaron then proceeded to offer the sin, burnt, and fellowship offerings brought by the people. These sacrifices served multiple purposes: they atoned for the people's sins, symbolized their complete dedication to God, and, most importantly, provided a pathway for sinful humans to have fellowship with a holy God. The sacrifices created a space for God to dwell among His people without His holiness being compromised or His justice demanding immediate judgment for their sins. This forgiveness and fellowship were essential for the Israelites then, and they remain essential for us today.
The culmination of this inaugural worship service was nothing short of miraculous. God demonstrated His acceptance of their worship by manifesting His presence in a cloud of glory and consuming the sacrifice with fire (Leviticus 9:23-24). The people's response was a mixture of awe and reverence: they shouted and fell facedown (Leviticus 9:24). This was not merely an expression of worship but also a demonstration of godly fear. They understood that God's fire, which consumed the sacrifice, could just as easily consume them. This powerful display of God's glory and power underscored the seriousness of approaching Him with reverence and obedience.
The narrative in Leviticus 9 serves as a powerful reminder of the need for atonement and the possibility of fellowship with God through sacrifice. While the Old Testament sacrifices were temporary and symbolic, they pointed forward to the ultimate sacrifice of Jesus Christ on the cross. As believers whose sins have been forgiven once-for-all by Christ’s death on the cross, we are truly in a privileged position today. The writer to the Hebrews highlights the terrifying nature of God’s presence during the time of Moses, noting that even Moses trembled in fear (Hebrews 12:18-24). Yet, through Christ, we can now approach God with confidence, joy, and even share in His holiness, all because of His atoning death and resurrection.
And it came to pass on the eighth day, that Moses called Aaron and his sons, and the elders of Israel;
And he said unto Aaron, Take thee a young calf for a sin offering, and a ram for a burnt offering, without blemish, and offer them before the Lord.
And unto the children of Israel thou shalt speak, saying, Take ye a kid of the goats for a sin offering; and a calf and a lamb, both of the first year, without blemish, for a burnt offering;
Also a bullock and a ram for peace offerings, to sacrifice before the Lord; and a meat offering mingled with oil: for to day the Lord will appear unto you.
And they brought that which Moses commanded before the tabernacle of the congregation: and all the congregation drew near and stood before the Lord.
And Moses said, This is the thing which the Lord commanded that ye should do: and the glory of the Lord shall appear unto you.
And Moses said unto Aaron, Go unto the altar, and offer thy sin offering, and thy burnt offering, and make an atonement for thyself, and for the people: and offer the offering of the people, and make an atonement for them; as the Lord commanded.
Aaron therefore went unto the altar, and slew the calf of the sin offering, which was for himself.
And the sons of Aaron brought the blood unto him: and he dipped his finger in the blood, and put it upon the horns of the altar, and poured out the blood at the bottom of the altar:
But the fat, and the kidneys, and the caul above the liver of the sin offering, he burnt upon the altar; as the Lord commanded Moses.
And the flesh and the hide he burnt with fire without the camp.
And he slew the burnt offering; and Aaron’s sons presented unto him the blood, which he sprinkled round about upon the altar.
And they presented the burnt offering unto him, with the pieces thereof, and the head: and he burnt them upon the altar.
And he did wash the inwards and the legs, and burnt them upon the burnt offering on the altar.
And he brought the people’s offering, and took the goat, which was the sin offering for the people, and slew it, and offered it for sin, as the first.
And he brought the burnt offering, and offered it according to the manner.
And he brought the meat offering, and took an handful thereof, and burnt it upon the altar, beside the burnt sacrifice of the morning.
He slew also the bullock and the ram for a sacrifice of peace offerings, which was for the people: and Aaron’s sons presented unto him the blood, which he sprinkled upon the altar round about,
And the fat of the bullock and of the ram, the rump, and that which covereth the inwards, and the kidneys, and the caul above the liver:
And they put the fat upon the breasts, and he burnt the fat upon the altar:
And the breasts and the right shoulder Aaron waved for a wave offering before the Lord; as Moses commanded.
And Aaron lifted up his hand toward the people, and blessed them, and came down from offering of the sin offering, and the burnt offering, and peace offerings.
And Moses and Aaron went into the tabernacle of the congregation, and came out, and blessed the people: and the glory of the Lord appeared unto all the people.
And there came a fire out from before the Lord, and consumed upon the altar the burnt offering and the fat: which when all the people saw, they shouted, and fell on their faces.
Leviticus 9 marks a pivotal moment in Israel's history: the official commencement of the sacrificial system under Aaron's leadership. After a week of consecration, the stage was set for the priests to begin their divinely appointed duties, offering sacrifices that would mediate between a holy God and a sinful people. This chapter details the initial acts of worship and God's dramatic confirmation of His acceptance, but also foreshadows the grave consequences of disobedience. Let's delve into the significance of these events and their enduring relevance for us today.
Entering God's Presence Through Sacrifice (Leviticus 9:1-7)
Following the seven days of priestly consecration, the eighth day arrived, heralding the commencement of the sacrificial system. The people, as Moses commanded, presented the required offerings—sin offerings, burnt offerings, fellowship offerings, and grain offerings—at the tabernacle (Leviticus 9:1-4). With the congregation gathered before the altar (Leviticus 9:5), Moses instructed Aaron to begin his priestly duties, initiating Israel's sacrificial system. "Approach the altar," Moses urged Aaron, "and sacrifice your sin offering and your burnt offering; make atonement for yourself and the people. Sacrifice the people’s offering and make atonement for them, as the LORD commanded" (Leviticus 9:7).
Aaron's Atonement and Consecration (Leviticus 9:8-14)
Aaron's first act was to offer a sin offering and a burnt offering for himself (Leviticus 9:8-14). This was a crucial step, signifying his own need for atonement and his complete consecration to the Lord. There's a poignant irony in Aaron offering a calf as his sin offering (Leviticus 9:8), a stark reminder of his past transgression in fashioning the golden calf (Exodus 32). Despite this past failing, the people could now be assured that Aaron’s sin had been forgiven and that he was authorized to serve as their high priest. This act not only cleansed Aaron but also established his legitimacy as the high priest, the mediator between God and the people.
Atonement and Fellowship: Sacrifices for the People (Leviticus 9:15-24)
With his own atonement secured, Aaron then proceeded to offer the sin, burnt, and fellowship offerings brought by the people. These sacrifices served multiple purposes: they atoned for the people's sins, symbolized their complete dedication to God, and, most importantly, provided a pathway for sinful humans to have fellowship with a holy God. The sacrifices created a space for God to dwell among His people without His holiness being compromised or His justice demanding immediate judgment for their sins. This forgiveness and fellowship were essential for the Israelites then, and they remain essential for us today.
The culmination of this inaugural worship service was nothing short of miraculous. God demonstrated His acceptance of their worship by manifesting His presence in a cloud of glory and consuming the sacrifice with fire (Leviticus 9:23-24). The people's response was a mixture of awe and reverence: they shouted and fell facedown (Leviticus 9:24). This was not merely an expression of worship but also a demonstration of godly fear. They understood that God's fire, which consumed the sacrifice, could just as easily consume them. This powerful display of God's glory and power underscored the seriousness of approaching Him with reverence and obedience.
The narrative in Leviticus 9 serves as a powerful reminder of the need for atonement and the possibility of fellowship with God through sacrifice. While the Old Testament sacrifices were temporary and symbolic, they pointed forward to the ultimate sacrifice of Jesus Christ on the cross. As believers whose sins have been forgiven once-for-all by Christ’s death on the cross, we are truly in a privileged position today. The writer to the Hebrews highlights the terrifying nature of God’s presence during the time of Moses, noting that even Moses trembled in fear (Hebrews 12:18-24). Yet, through Christ, we can now approach God with confidence, joy, and even share in His holiness, all because of His atoning death and resurrection.