Priest is an official minister or worship leader in the nation of Israel who represented the people before God and conducted various rituals to atone for their sins. This function was carried out by the father of a family - Job 1:5 - or the head of a tribe in the days before Moses and his brother Aaron. But with the appointment of Aaron by God as the first chief Priest, the priesthood was formally established. Aaron's descendants were established as the priestly line in Israel. They carried out their important duties from generation to generation as a special class devoted to God's service.

A chief priest of the Hebrew people, especially of the ancient Jewish Levitical priesthood traditionally traced from Aaron. Head/Chief priest, the great one from his brothers, and ruler of the house of God are literal translations of references to this officer. - Lev. 21:10; 2Chr. 19:11 - The chief priest was the supreme civil head of his people.

The Sacred Scripture/Holy Bible often speaks of priests and Levites as if these two offices were practically the same. - 1Chr. 23:2, 24:6,31 - Indeed, they were closely related, in that both priests and Levites sprang from a common ancestor. They traced the lineage back to Levi, head of one of the original twelve tribes of Israel. But these two offices were different, in that priests (a specific branch of Levites descended through Aaron) and Levites (all descendants of Levi in general) performed different duties.

Priests officiated at worship by offering various offerings on behalf of the nation and by leading the people to confess their sins. The Levites were assistants to the priests. They took care of the tabernacle and the Temple and performed other menial tasks, such as providing music, serving as door-keepers, and preparing sacrifices for offering by the priests. In their function of offering sacrifices at the altar, the priests acted as mediators between man and God, offering sacrifices so that sin might be forgiven. - Lev. 4:20,26,31 - Each sacrifices was demonstration that the penalty of sin is death - Ezek. 18:4,20 - and that there can be no forgiveness of sin without the shedding of Blood. - Heb. 9:22 -

The first priest mentioned in the Sacred Scripture/Holy Bible was Melchizedek, 'king of Salem' and 'the priest of God Most High.' - Gen. 14:18 - Next mentioned was Jethro, Moses' father-in-law and the priest of Midian, who joined Moses, Aaron and the elders of Israel for a sacrificial meal. - Ex. 18:1,12 - The true priesthood began many years before their time in the Garden of Eden. After Adam and Eve sinned against God, He made them tunics of skin and clothed them. Thus, the death of animals became a symbol of the removal of man's guilt. - Gen. 3:21 -

After the event, Abel sacrifice that pleased God. - Gen. 4:4 - Still later, Noah - Gen. 8:28 - Abraham - Gen. 12:7-8 - Isaac - Gen. 26:25 - Jacob - Gen. 35:1-7 - and Job - Job 1:5 - all acted as priests, offering sacrifices to God. In fact, each family in Israel killed the "Passover" lamb, offering it as sacrifice to God. But when God established Israel as His Chosen People at Mount Sinai after their deliverance from slavery in Egypt - Ex. 6:7, 19:5-6 - God established a formal priesthood through Aaron and his descendants. As descendants of Levi, they were to represent the nation of Israel in service to God at the tabernacle and altar. - Num. 8:9-18 -

The priesthood was given to Aaron and his descendants 'as a gift for service' - Num. 18:7 - and as 'an everlasting priesthood throughout their generations.' - Ex. 40:15 - Since the office was hereditary, the descendants of Aaron were obligated to accept the responsibility and meet the qualifications. No person with a physical defect or disqualifying disease could serve as a priest because bodily perfection was to symbolize the priest's spiritual wholeness and holiness of heart. Priest must not show grief for the dead - even his father or mother - by removing his headdress or letting his hair go unkempt. He must not tear his clothes in grief or go near a dead body. Leaving his duties unperformed because of a death would 'profane the sanctuary.' - Lev. 21:6-21 -

Aaron and his sons were consecrated for the priesthood in an elaborate seven day ceremony. - Ex. 29:30-37 - Their bodies were bathed to symbolize the purifying of their souls from sin. Then they were clothed in their priestly garments and anointed with oil as sacrifices were made on their behalf. The entire dedication procedure was an outward sign of their 'Sanctification' in God's total service. - Ex. 29:9 -

The clothes which the priests wore also carried great significance. Their white linen garments symbolized holiness and glory. They also wore a coat woven in one piece without a seam to indicate their spiritual integrity, wholeness, and righteousness. The four cornered cloth of the coat signified that the priest belonged to the kingdom of God. The cap, resembling an opening flower, symbolized the fresh, vigorous life of the one who wore it. The girdle, or sash, a belt which encircled the priest's body, was the priestly sign of service. It showed that the wearer was an office bearer and administrator in the kingdom of God. - Exodus chapter 39 -

The priests had several responsibilities as mediators between the sinful people and their holy God. They lit the incense and cleaned, trimmed, and lit the lamps. Ministering before God at the altar, the priests had to make sure the offerings of the people were correct and that the sacrificial rituals were carried out correctly. Otherwise, the people could not be cleansed of their sin until the priests had made atonement for the error. - Num. 18:1 -

As 'messengers of the Lord' - Mal. 2:7 - the priests were to teach the Law to the people of Israel. In addition to instructing in the Law year by year, they were also responsible for reading the Law at the Feast of Tabernacles every seventh year. - Deut. 31:9-13 - By their example, the priests also taught the people how to distinguish between holy and unholy, and between unclean and clean. - Lev.10:10 - Living in cities scattered throughout the nation of Israel, the priests were in a good position to fulfill this function. - Josh. chapter 21 - In addition, the priests served as judges, acting as a kind of supreme court for Israel. - Deut. 17:8-13 - In special cases, the chief or high priests declared the will or judgment of God throughout Urim and Thummin, the medium through which God sometimes communicated His divine will. - Ex. 28:30; Lev. 8:8; Deut. 33:8 -

A chief priest or high priest was consecrated (installed in office) by an elaborate seven day service at the tabernacle or Temple. - Ex. chapter 29; Lev. chapter 8 - He was cleansed by bathing, then dressed in the garments and symbols he must wear in his ministry and anointed with special oil. Sacrifices of sin offering, burnt offerings, and consecration offering were made for him; and he was anointed again with oil and blood of the sacrifice. Thus, "sanctified" to serve as a high priest and "consecrated" to offer sacrifice, he became the "holy one of the Lord." - Ex. 28:41, 29:9; Ps. 106:16 -

The high priest's special dress represented his function as mediator between God and man. Over the trousers, coat, girdle, and cap, worn by all priests, the high priest wore a special an 'Ephod' a two pieces apron reaching to his hips, made of royal colors (blue, purple/violet, and scarlet) and sewed with gold thread. By the two onyx stones bearing the names of the twelve tribes of Israel fastened to the shoulders of the ephod, he brought the whole nation before God in all his priestly acts. - Ex. 28:5-14 - The 'breastplate of judgment' made of the same material, was attached to the front of the ephod. - Ex. 28:15-30 - On its front were 12 precious stones engraved with the names of the 12 tribes. In its pocket, directly over his heart, were the Urim and Thummin, the medium through which God could communicate His will. By this the high priest was Israel's advocate before God and God's spokesman to them.

Over the breastplate he wore the blue 'robe of the ephod' - Ex. 28:31 - Around his hem were pomegranates, pointing to the divine law as sweet and delicious spiritual food. - Deut. 8:3 - and bells that would ring as he went "into the holy place before the Lord...that he may not die." - Ex. 28:35 - The bells announced God's gracious salvation for He had accepted the people in the person of their advocate, the high priest. On his forehead the high priest wore "the holy crown" of gold engraved with the words, "Holiness to the Lord." - Ex. 28:36-37 - Thus, he was represented as bearing 'the iniquity of the holy things' - Ex. 28:38 - which Israel offered to God and crowned mediator, making atonement for the nation so God might accept their gifts and show them favor.

All these garments stood for the "glory and beauty" - Ex. 28:40 - which God placed upon his priests, sanctifying them to minister in His name. - Ex. 28:3 -

The high priest held a leadership position in seeing that all responsibilities of the priests were carried out. - 2Chr. 19:11 - He could participate in all priestly ministry, but certain functions were given only to him. As he alone wore the Urim and the Thummim, Israel came to him to learn the will of God. - Deut. 33:8 - For this reason Joshua was to 'ask counsel' of Eleazar regarding the movements of the army in the conquest of the land of Canaan. - Num. 27:21 -

The high priest had to offer a sin offering for his own sins and the sin of the whole congregation. - Lev. 4:3-21 - At the death of the high priest freedom was granted to all who were confined to the Cities of Refuge for accidentally causing the death of another person. - Num. 35:28 - The most important responsibility of the high priest was to conduct the service on the "Day Of Atonement" the tenth day of the seventh month each year. On this day the high priest alone entered the Holy Place inside the veil before God. Having made sacrifice for himself and for the people, he brought the blood into the Holy of Holies and sprinkled it on the mercy seat, "God's throne." This he did to make atonement for himself and the people for all their sins committed during the year just ended. - Ex. 30;10; Lev. chapter 16 - It is with this particular service that the ministry of Jesus Christ as high priest is compared. - Heb. 9:1-28

When the land of Canaan was conquered and divided among the tribes of Israel, 13 cities with their surrounding land were allotted to the priests as residences for their families and pasture lands for their flocks. - Josh. 21:10-19 - Across the centuries, the priests increased to a numerous body. King David divided them into 24 groups. - 1Chr. 24:1-19 - Except for the great festivals when all the groups served at the tabernacle at the same time, each group of priests officiated for a week at a time on a rotating basis.

As long as the king and the people of Israel remained loyal to God and His Law, the priests were highly respected and exercised a healthy influence in the land. But the priests eventually sank to immorality, departed from God, and worshiped idols, along with the rest of the people. - Ezek. 22:26 -

In the final book of the Old testament, the prophet Malachi pointed to the neglect, corruption and false teaching of the priests. According to prophet Malachi, this was the reason why the people began to neglect the offerings and festivals of the Temple. They lost their respect for the persons who held the office, and finally the office itself. - Mal. 1:6, 2:7-9 - Thus, the Old Testament closes with the announcement that God in His judgment "will suddenly come to His temple...like a refiner's fire" to purify the priests. - Mal. 3:1-3 - God was determined to preserve His human priests until the appearance of His true Priest, Jesus Christ.

In the context of historical development, Eleazar succeeded Aaron - Num. 20:28 - and served at Shiloh where the tabernacle was erected after the conquest of Canaan by the Israelites. He was followed by his son Phinehas. - Num. :25:11-12; Josh. 24:33 - Eli, a descendant of Ithamar, the younger brother of Eleazar, held the office by the Lord's choice - 1Sam. 2:28 - at the end of the period of the judges, the change being explained and because of the sins of Eli's sons, Samuel appears to have succeeded Eli - 1Sam. 2:12-36, 7:5, 9-10, 17 -although he is not called a high priest, and did not regularly function at the tabernacle. Eli's sons cared for the tabernacle at Nob after the destruction of Shiloh. - 1Sam. chapter 21-22 - Abiathar, a descendant of Eli, escaped Saul's slaughter of the priests at Nob - 1Sam. 22:19-21 - taking the ephod with him and serving with David. - 1Sam. 23:9, 30:7 -

King David appointed Zadok, a descendant of Eleazar, to serve at the tabernacle at Gibeon - 1Chr. 16:39 - at the same time that he took the ark to Jerusalem. Zadok and Abimelech, the son of Abiathar, are listed as priests among David's officers. Zadok crowned Solomon - 1King 1:39 - and was appointed by him as high priest in the place of Abiathar when the latter was bannished for supporting Adonijah's claim to the throne. - 1King 2:26-27, 35 - This made him the high priest to minister in the Temple. His line of high priests served there until Babylonian Captivity. - 1Chr. 6:3-15 -

Mutual support and encouragement characterized the Davidic kings and high priests. David organized 24 groups of priests to serve by turn at the Temple, supervised by both Zadok and Abiathar. - 1Chr. 24:6, 31 - Solomon confirmed the appointments of his father. - 2Chr. 8:14-15 - Jehoshaphal organized priests , Levites, and chief men of Israel under the leadership of the high priest to go through the land teaching the people the law, encouraging them to faithful, reverent service. - 2Chr. chapter 19 - The high priest Jehoiada protected Joash from Athaliah's murder of the king's sons and organized his coronation and the destruction of Athaliah. - 2Chr. 22:10-23:21 -

King Hezekiah and king Josiah assisted the high priests in reform and restoration of the Temple and its worship after its desecration by Ahaz and Manasseh. - 2Chr. chapter 30,31,34,35 - Ezekiel announced that the sons of Zadok would be priests in the new Temple - Ezek. 44:15-16 - because they had not rejected God when Israel went astray. - 1King 12:31; 2Chr. 11:13-15, 13:9 -

After the Captivity, Joshua the high priest, of the sons of Zadok - Hag. 1:1 - and Zerubbabel of the house of David - the governor appointed by Cyrus - led the rebuilding of the Temple. As no further governors were appointed, the high priest became sole political and religious leader. Great care was taken by Ezra and Nehemiah to restore the Mosaic order in purity, but interference by unprincipled civil rulers took a sad toll on the purity and influence of the high priest. The Syrian, Antiochus IV, removed the Zadokite high priest and replaced him with a man from a non-priestly family.

In the revolt that followed and the consequent independence, the Hasmoneans, a family of ordinary priests, took political control. In 153 B.C. one of them, Jonathan, assumed the high priest's office, and later the royal title.

When Herod came to power under Rome in 37 B.C. he arbitrarily deposed and appointed high priests as he pleased, and did away with anointing them. During this period until the destruction of the Temple in Jerusalem in 70 A.D., five prominent families of high priests held power. Annas was the leader of one of these. His son-in-law Caiaphas, five of his sons, and a grandson held the office. Although Annas had been replaced by Caiaphas before the time of Jesus' ministry, his influence continued. - Luke 3;2; John 18:13,24 -

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Sunday, May 24, 2009

I have through years of reading, pondering, reflecting and contemplating, the 3 things that last; FAITH . HOPE . LOVE and I would like to made available my sharing from the many thinkers, authors, scholars and theologians whose ideas and thoughts I have borrowed. God be with them always. Amen!

I STILL HAVE MANY THINGS TO SAY TO YOU BUT THEY WOULD BE TOO MUCH FOR YOU NOW. BUT WHEN THE SPIRIT OF TRUTH COMES, HE WILL LEAD YOU TO THE COMPLETE TRUTH, SINCE HE WILL NOT BE SPEAKING AS FROM HIMSELF, BUT WILL SAY ONLY WHAT HE HAS LEARNT; AND HE WILL TELL YOU OF THE THINGS TO COME.

HE WILL GLORIFY ME, SINCE ALL HE TELLS YOU WILL BE TAKEN FROM WHAT IS MINE. EVERYTHING THE FATHER HAS IS MINE; THAT IS WHY I SAID: ALL HE TELLS YOU WILL BE TAKEN FROM WHAT IS MINE. - JOHN 16:12-15 -