THE PRIESTHOOD OF THE SANCTUARY.
By M. H. Brown
In the patriarchal age the husband and father was the priest of his own household. He erected his altar and brought offerings for himself and his family, and prayer and praise ascended to God every morning and evening. This form of service and worship was customary with God's true people until the erection of the tabernacle in the wilderness in the days of Moses. The Priesthood of Melchizedek.
The priesthood of Melchizedek stood forth by itself, separate and apart from any other. He had no predecessor or successor as priest, that is, there was no priest before or after him in that line. He was "made like unto the Son of God," and thus "abideth a priest continually." Heb. 7:3. In other words, Christ's work as priest is complete and sufficient in itself, needing no other priest to begin or close the service, because he "ever liveth." Heb. 7:25. He differed from the priests under the Levitical priesthood, "because they were not suffered to continue by reason of death" (verse 23), hence Christ is declared to be a priest after the order of Melchizedek, because, like him, Christ "continueth forever," and "hath an unchangeable priesthood" (verse 24). We are not, however, to understand that the priesthood of Christ will never end, that it will always continue, but that it will continue without interruption from death or any other cause till his work as our advocate is finished. Christ could not be a priest after the order of Aaron, because he did not belong to the tribe of Levi. Heb. 7:11-17. He belonged to the kingly line, the tribe of Judah, and descended from David, of whose throne and kingdom he is the rightful heir; hence he will be given the throne of his father David. Luke 1:31-33. The kingship and the priesthood were united in the person of Melchizedek, for he was king of Salem and priest of the most high God. Heb. 7:1. Hence, as Christ is a priest after the order of Melchizedek, he unites in himself the kingship and priesthood. We therefore learn concerning the nature of Christ's priesthood by studying the priesthood of Melchizedek, for he was a priest after the order of Melchizedek. We may learn concerning Christ's priestly service by studying the service of the priests belonging to the Levitical priesthood, because they "serve unto the example and shadow of heavenly things." Heb. 8:5. Hence, these things that "were written aforetime were written for our learning, that we through patience and comfort of the Scriptures might have hope." Rom. 15:4. The Levitical Priesthood.
When the tabernacle was made, the Lord took the tribe of Levi as his own, in place of all the firstborn of the children of Israel. The Lord had claimed all the firstborn of Israel, because he spared them from destruction when he slew all the firstborn of Egypt, just before the exodus. Num. 3:12, 13. "In the days of Abraham the priesthood was regarded as the birthright of the eldest son. Now, instead of the firstborn of all Israel, the Lord accepted the tribe of Levi for the work of the sanctuary. . . . The priesthood, however, was restricted to the family of Aaron. Aaron and his sons alone were permitted to minister before the Lord; the rest of the tribe were intrusted with the charge of the tabernacle and its furniture, and they were to attend upon the priests in their ministration, but they were not to sacrifice, to burn incense, or to see the holy things till they were covered."—Patriarchs and Prophets. In Ex. 2:1-10 and 4:14 we learn that Moses and Aaron were of the house of Levi, and hence their descendants were Levites. Aaron and Moses were chosen as priests to minister in the sanctuary. Ex. 28:1. THE GARMENTS OF THE PRIESTS.
In Exodus 28 we have a description of the garments prepared for the priests, and in the next chapter we have an account of the services connected with their consecration. These should be carefully studied. In accordance with their office a special dress was appointed for the priests. . . . The robe of the common priest was of white linen, and woven in one piece. It extended nearly to the feet, and was confined about the waist by a white linen girdle, embroidered in blue, purple, and red. A linen turban, or miter, completed his outward costume. Moses at the burning bush was directed to put off his sandals, for the ground whereon he stood was holy. So the priests were not to enter the sanctuary with shoes upon their feet. Particles of dust cleaving to them would desecrate the holy place. They were to leave their shoes in the court before entering the sanctuary, and also to wash both their hands and their feet before ministering in the tabernacle or at the altar of burnt offering. Thus was constantly taught the lesson that all defilement must be put away from those who would approach into the presence of God.6The garments of the high priest were of costly material and beautiful workmanship, befitting his exalted station. In addition to the linen dress of the common priest he wore a robe of blue, also woven in one piece. Around the skirt it was ornamented with golden bells and pomegranates of blue, purple, and scarlet. Outside of this was the ephod, a shorter garment of gold, blue, purple, scarlet, and white. It was confined by a girdle of the same colors, beautifully wrought. The ephod was sleeveless, and on its gold-embroidered shoulder pieces were set two onyx stones, bearing the names of the twelve tribes of Israel. Over the ephod was the breastplate, the most sacred of the priestly vestments. This was of the same material as the ephod. It was in the form of a square, measuring a span, and was suspended from the shoulders by a cord of blue from golden rings. The border was formed of a variety of precious stones, the same that form the twelve foundations of the city of God. Within the border were twelve stones set in gold arranged in rows of four, and, like those in the shoulder pieces, engraved with the names of the tribes. The Lord's direction was, "Aaron shall bear the names of the children of Israel in the breastplate of judgment upon his heart, when he goeth in unto the holy place, for a memorial before the Lord continually." So Christ, the great High Priest, pleading his blood before the Father in the sinner's behalf, bears upon his heart the name of every repentant, believing soul. Says the Psalmist, "I am poor and needy, yet the Lord thinketh upon me." At the right and left of the breastplate were two large stones of great brilliancy. These were known as the Urim and Thummim. By them the will of God was made known through the high priest. When questions were brought for decision before the Lord, a halo of light encircling the precious stone at the right was a token of the divine consent or approval, while a cloud shadowing the stone at the left was an evidence of denial or disapproval. The miter of the high priest consisted of the white linen turban, having attached to it by a lace of blue a gold plate bearing the inscription, "Holiness to Jehovah." Everything connected with the apparel and deportment of the priests was to be such as to impress the beholder with a sense of the holiness of God, the sacredness of his worship, and the purity required of those who came into his presence.—Patriarchs and Prophets.