The Man with the Gun

O. T. #274  "The Man with the Gun"
April 23, 2014
Leviticus 9-Part 1
And Aaron lifted up his hand toward the people, and blessed the, and came down from offering of the sin offering, and the burnt offering, and peace offerings.  Leviticus 9:22

LET IT GLOW

Sorry if this story is gruesome. There was one time that we were going to send a steer to be butchered as beef for our family to eat. I remember that the guys separated the large calf from the rest of the herd, put it into the pen, and waited for the man with the gun to come. (I thought he was coming to pick it up, then kill the animal at the slaughtering house.) Well, he came, walked out into the cow lot with his gun. He walked right up to the calf.  That was when the calf became restless and called out. He could sense something was going to happen, I just know it. No one had ever pointed a gun at him before. Then it happened, the gun was shot, and down went the calf. It was over. Why did I watch that scene? It was harsh to see an innocent animal penned up and killed, drop dead before my eyes. I knew what was going to happen. I stood there watching helplessly, doing nothing to rescue the animal from its death. I was silent after the scene took place. The calf gave its life for me to have meat to eat. You know, Jesus gave His life so you and I could have eternal life.

I wonder if the crowd, the disciples, the family of Jesus felt as helpless when they saw their Beloved Jesus handing on the cruel cross, suffering in pain, waiting for His death. Such a harsh scene for them to watch. An innocent man paid the price for their sins, for our sins. He was pierced for our transgressions. By His wounds we are healed.

The priests had a gruesome job, killing beautiful young animals because of the sinful people. Read on, friend.


John Phillips wrote in 100 Old Testament Sermon Outlines:

Israel had no priest in Egypt. The Priesthood is introduced only after the people had been redeemed. The Aaronic priesthood primarily illustrates the priesthood of the Lord Jesus Christ and, in a lesser way, the priesthood of the New Testament believer today. Christ functions as a Priest for His own people. The sinner does not need a priest, he needs a Savior. The Lord Jesus never needed cleansing. We, as priests, of course do.

He continues to mention this about Aaron's priesthood as a high priest:

• the calling (Exodus 28:1-2; Lev. 8:1)
• the cleansing (Ex. 29:4; Lev. 8:6)
• the consecration (Ex. 29:7; Lev. 8:12)
• the clothing (Ex. 28:2; Lev. 8:7-9)
• the commission (Lev. 9:22-24)
• the communion (Lev. 21:16-22:16)
• the conduct (Lev. 21:1-15)

Has the Lord called you from your work, out of your home, away from your life as usual, and into His service?

Again, the congregation of Israel were told to assemble before the Tabernacle. The Lord was going to appear to them.
Notice that the priests were to first offer the sin and burnt offerings for themselves before offering for the congregation. I wonder if every time Aaron offered a calf, that he thought of the golden calf he made for the Israelites to worship while Moses was up on Mt. Sinai receiving the Ten Commandments and sacrificial instructions from God. Surely it stabbed Aaron in the heart as he remembered his own sins back in Exodus 32 as he stabbed the calf.

When we see a cross, are we stabbed in our heart because of our sins Jesus endured the cross?
Glory to His name!


LET IT GROW

After the offerings were made for the sins of the people of Israel according to God's instructions and Moses' commands, we read in verse 22:

• Aaron lifted up his hand toward,
• he blessed them,
• came down from the offering of the sin, burnt, and peace offerings.

The priest was to give a blessing at the conclusion of his ministration. Contrast this with the speechless Zechariah in Luke 1:22 who had no blessing to impart. But at the conclusion of His earthly ministry, Christ, our great High Priest, ...lifted up His hands and blessed them (Luke 24:50); and as He was doing so, He ascended back up to heaven (Luke 24:51). (Falwell)

Jesus Christ is our High Priest, who sits at the right hand of God, interceding for us. He presents our praise and prayers to the Father on our behalf. We are talking about the sacrificial Lamb of God, who takes away the sins of the world, our sins. What a loving Savior!

Can we lift our hands in praise to the Father and Savior?

LET IT GO  ...of those sins that have me bound.

Lift up my head and hands in praise to my Living Savior, Messiah, High Priest.

Give Him the praise, glory, and honor which He deserves.