“Let the priests who come near the Lord consecrate themselves” (Ex 19:22), says God to us.
Exodus 28 begins with an introduction: “Take Aaron your brother, and his sons with him, from among the children of Israel, that he may minister to Me as priest, Aaron and Aaron’s sons” (v 1). I’m sure you’ve heard of the 12 tribes of Israel. But did you know there were actually 13? When Jacob adopted Joseph’s two sons, Ephraim and Manasseh, as his own to give Joseph a double portion, he increased the tribes by one. But since Israel had rejected God’s offer to be “a kingdom of priests” (19:6), He selected and separated out the family of Levi, attaching them to Himself (remember Levi means “attached”). Moses and Aaron were from that tribe. Now in our examination of the types, the way a smaller thing stands for one of God’s big things, Aaron the High Priest will picture Christ, our “great High Priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God” (Heb 4:14). His sons will be prototypes for all those who are privileged by grace to be “a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ” and “a royal priesthood…that you may proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light” (1 Pet 2:5, 9). Did you know that every believer is a priest? We are to worship, representing man to God, and to witness, representing God to man. Remember: priesthood was a constant occupation, not a weekly visit. Are we worshiping and witnessing through the days and weeks the Lord gives us? It is the greatest honor given the human race, far beyond being a president or king. David thought so. He took early retirement from being ruler to give himself to worship! Priests must have their hands and hearts full of Christ and His gifts of grace if we desire to do this.