April 25th, 2012
Today’s reading from Encounter with God

The Dangers of Leadership

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Opening Prayer

Lord, what a gift it is to call You Father. I rejoice to realize that You, my Heavenly Father, know best.

Read Exodus 28:31-43

[31] “Make the robe of the ephod entirely of blue cloth, [32] with an opening for the head in its center. There shall be a woven edge like a collar around this opening, so that it will not tear. [33] Make pomegranates of blue, purple and scarlet yarn around the hem of the robe, with gold bells between them. [34] The gold bells and the pomegranates are to alternate around the hem of the robe. [35] Aaron must wear it when he ministers. The sound of the bells will be heard when he enters the Holy Place before the LORD and when he comes out, so that he will not die. [36] “Make a plate of pure gold and engrave on it as on a seal: HOLY TO THE LORD. [37] Fasten a blue cord to it to attach it to the turban; it is to be on the front of the turban. [38] It will be on Aaron’s forehead, and he will bear the guilt involved in the sacred gifts the Israelites consecrate, whatever their gifts may be. It will be on Aaron’s forehead continually so that they will be acceptable to the LORD. [39] “Weave the tunic of fine linen and make the turban of fine linen. The sash is to be the work of an embroiderer. [40] Make tunics, sashes and headbands for Aaron’s sons, to give them dignity and honor. [41] After you put these clothes on your brother Aaron and his sons, anoint and ordain them. Consecrate them so they may serve me as priests. [42] “Make linen undergarments as a covering for the body, reaching from the waist to the thigh. [43] Aaron and his sons must wear them whenever they enter the Tent of Meeting or approach the altar to minister in the Holy Place, so that they will not incur guilt and die. “This is to be a lasting ordinance for Aaron and his descendants.

Scripture taken from the Holy Bible, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984 International Bible Society. All rights reserved throughout the world. Used by permission of International Bible Society.

Meditate

“The descendants of Aaron did not always live up to their priestly function. Only a High Priest greater than Aaron could restore the priesthood to God’s original intention” (Richard Harvey). Jesus is that High Priest.

Think Further

A priest’s work was dangerous. We find the death threats startling (35,43). Clearly, the status and responsibilities of priesthood was not something to be taken lightly. The priest must focus on spiritual things, not bodily matters. The prescribed underwear (42) covered his “flesh,” which symbolized what was not spiritual, not of God, or “mortal” (Gen. 6:3). Scripture continues to connect “flesh” with sin, especially in Paul’s “sins of the flesh” (Col. 2:11, TNIV “sinful nature”). These the priest must turn from absolutely. The priest, after all, was invested with enormous power. Whenever entering the Holy Place, he bore on his body the ephod, bringing all Israel into the presence of God, and the breastplate, holding the means to determine God’s will for them.

The bells on his robe had to ring so that the people could hear when he was bringing them before God (vs. 33-35). They were not unlike the sanctus bell, still used in some churches, which before the advent of modern sound systems signaled the progress of the service so that those unable to fit in the building could follow from outside. Similarly, outside the tabernacle, the faithful were joined to the rituals by the sound of the bells. The repeated threat of death again emphasizes that these are urgent, fearful duties, vital for the community and risky for the priest.

Warnings to church leaders in the New Testament are no less severe. They should not lightly presume to the privilege of leadership in the church: God will judge them more strictly (Jas. 3:1). Paul sets out standards of morality, temperance, honesty and self-control for all who aspire to leadership (1 Tim. 3:1-13), stricter standards than those he sets out for others.

Apply

What sort of “priestly role” are you called to play today? How does Jesus help you?

Closing prayer

Lord, remind me that You call me to serve rather than be served. I also pray that that truth be known to the church leaders close to me.

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