A FEW words on priestly service. Some may ask what is their official occupation? No one could trace the inspired account of the service of the “sons of Aaron” without being struck with how much they had to do with the sacrifices. They were constantly serving in the sanctuary — “the priests went always into the first tabernacle, accomplishing the service of God” (Heb. 9:66Now when these things were thus ordained, the priests went always into the first tabernacle, accomplishing the service of God. (Hebrews 9:6)). But they washed their hands and feet at the laver every time they went into the tabernacle, or drew near to the altar to minister (Exod. 30:19-2119For Aaron and his sons shall wash their hands and their feet thereat: 20When they go into the tabernacle of the congregation, they shall wash with water, that they die not; or when they come near to the altar to minister, to burn offering made by fire unto the Lord: 21So they shall wash their hands and their feet, that they die not: and it shall be a statute for ever to them, even to him and to his seed throughout their generations. (Exodus 30:19‑21)). They were also to order the lamps, and were in frequent association with the High Priest. Moreover, as we have seen, they were sustained in their service there by feeding on the various parts of the offerings that were allotted to them. This is communion, and it forms no small part of priestly occupation.
But besides the work immediately connected with the sacrifices and other service of the sanctuary, it was for them on certain occasions to sound the silver trumpets so as to make known the will of God, as they had learned it in the place of His presence, whether for the calling of the assembly or for the journeying of the camps. (See Num. 10:2-82Make thee two trumpets of silver; of a whole piece shalt thou make them: that thou mayest use them for the calling of the assembly, and for the journeying of the camps. 3And when they shall blow with them, all the assembly shall assemble themselves to thee at the door of the tabernacle of the congregation. 4And if they blow but with one trumpet, then the princes, which are heads of the thousands of Israel, shall gather themselves unto thee. 5When ye blow an alarm, then the camps that lie on the east parts shall go forward. 6When ye blow an alarm the second time, then the camps that lie on the south side shall take their journey: they shall blow an alarm for their journeys. 7But when the congregation is to be gathered together, ye shall blow, but ye shall not sound an alarm. 8And the sons of Aaron, the priests, shall blow with the trumpets; and they shall be to you for an ordinance for ever throughout your generations. (Numbers 10:2‑8).) Sure it is that only those who now know what it is to abide in the Lord Jesus — our sanctuary — living upon Him by faith, and thus by the Spirit entering into His counsels and truth, will know His mind, and be the fitting instruments for communicating it to their brethren. But observe, it was not a terrifying, harsh sound that characterized this ministry; it was the sweet melody of the silver trumpet that enjoined them thus to be obedient to the Divine will. We should never forget this; for it is one thing to inform our brethren of what the will of the Lord is, but it is quite another thing to do so in the way and spirit which suits Him who is full of grace and truth.
The sons of Aaron, the priests, were to “blow an alarm” when the people were to go forward and take their journeying. And who can enjoin their brethren to go forward and onward in their pilgrim course according to the will of God but those who have tasted the blessing and enjoyed the privilege of being in His presence, as set apart for Him, both by the blood of Jesus and by the anointing of the Holy Ghost? How important, yea, indispensable, then, if we would really be a help to others, that we ourselves should have the comfort in our own souls of nearness to God, and happy relationship and intercourse with Him. Again, “When the congregation is to be gathered together, ye shall blow, but ye shall not sound an alarm” (ver. 7). And who, I would ask, are there in the present day to sound a note sufficiently clear, certain, and distinct for gathering together the members of the body of Christ in His most precious name? Can they be any other than those who know personal communion with the Lord Himself, and the sweetness and joy of being in the sanctuary where Jesus our Great High Priest is, and where His blood is ever speaking for us? Who can know and long that others should taste the reality and preciousness of our being gathered tether in the name of the Lord Jesus, who is in the midst, but those who realize personal intercourse with that blessed One, who is the central object of the Father’s heart, the alone center of coming glories, whether, celestial or terrestrial, and the only true center around which, according to the will of God, every member of the body should now by the Spirit be gathered? “Where two or three are gathered together in My name, there am I in the midst of them,” is a cardinal truth, and as real and fresh as ever.
And further, in time of distress from the oppression of the enemy, the priests were also to blow “an alarm” with the silver trust. And why? That they might be remembered before the Lord their God, and be saved from their enemies (ver. 9). How touching this is! for it shows the deep interest in the welfare of God’s people, and the sympathy in time of affliction and distress those will manifest who are living in communion with the Lord Jesus, feeding in the holy place, and in a clean place, upon those things wherewith atonement was made. Such go out in heart and soul to God on their behalf. They blow their silver trumpet; for they only can intelligently discern and enter into the blessedness of going forward in His name, following Him, of being gathered together in His name, or in times of difficulty thinking on His name, and being saved from their enemies.
In days of gladness, in solemn days, and in the beginnings of months the trumpets were also blown over the sacrifices of burnt-offerings and peace-offerings; for holy rejoicing cannot fail to be associated with those wondrous aspects of Jesus in His entire surrender to God, as well as for the ground that has been laid for our fellowship with the Father, and with His Son Jesus Christ, and with one another (ver. 10). The priests then were the great movers in this time of rejoicing and solemn gladness.
The priestly work is now spiritual. These shadows instruct us, but they are not the very image. Jesus the Son of God has come, and is gone up into heaven, and has given us the Holy Ghost; and He teacheth and searcheth all things — yea, the deep things of God. We are therefore no longer groping our way in uncertainty and obscurity, for “the darkness is past and the true light now shineth.” We are then “an holy priesthood” to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God by Jesus Christ. “The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, long-suffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance”; and we are to offer up spiritual sacrifices, not carnal religiousness, “the desires of the flesh and of the mind,” but that which is in the energy of the Holy Ghost, who glorifies Christ in all the variety of His workings in bringing forth fruit in its season. “The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit: a broken and a contrite heart, O God, Thou wilt not despise”! We read, too, of “sacrifices of joy,” of “presenting our bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God”; and we are also exhorted “by Him to offer the sacrifice of praise to God continually; that is, the fruit of our lips giving thanks to His name” (Heb. 13:1515By him therefore let us offer the sacrifice of praise to God continually, that is, the fruit of our lips giving thanks to his name. (Hebrews 13:15)). Thus as “an holy priesthood” are we to offer up “sacrifices, acceptable to God by Jesus Christ.”
We are also “a royal priesthood,” to exemplify Christ in all our ways. “Ye are a royal priesthood,... that ye should show forth the praises (virtues) of Him who hath called us out of darkness into His marvelous light” (1 Pet. 2:5-95Ye also, as lively stones, are built up a spiritual house, an holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God by Jesus Christ. 6Wherefore also it is contained in the scripture, Behold, I lay in Sion a chief corner stone, elect, precious: and he that believeth on him shall not be confounded. 7Unto you therefore which believe he is precious: but unto them which be disobedient, the stone which the builders disallowed, the same is made the head of the corner, 8And a stone of stumbling, and a rock of offence, even to them which stumble at the word, being disobedient: whereunto also they were appointed. 9But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should show forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light: (1 Peter 2:5‑9)). Thus in every relationship of life, at all times, and under all circumstances, are we to walk as He walked. The office of priesthood is therefore not occasional, but continuous, whether looked at God-ward or man-ward; whether in offering the sacrifice of praise to God continually, or in showing forth the way of godliness in daily details. Like every other aspect of divine truth, the relationship is first set forth, and then the entire consecration suited to it. “The sons of Aaron,” it is true, had a place of distinction bore men, as well as the work of the sanctuary where God’s presence was; but they were to be distinguished from others, not so much by their official trappings as by their practical nearness to the place of God’s presence, and their life of consecration to Him as those who were marked with the blood and anointed with the oil.
This double aspect of priesthood — “an holy Priesthood” and “a royal priesthood” — reads deeply serious and practical lessons to us. We are redeemed to God, children of God, and we are God’s; not our own, but His. Hence we are to live not to ourselves, but unto Him who died for us, and rose again. As another has said, we have a bright specimen of this double action of priesthood in Paul and Silas when at Philippi. With backs aching and bleeding with cruel scourging, and heartlessly thrust into the inner prison, with their feet made fast in the stocks, not all this suffering could check the outflow of praise from these holy priests. Even at midnight they sang praises, and not only God heard them but the prisoners also. Thus we see the living activities of “an holy priesthood.” And when in the darkness and stillness of the night God sent an earthquake, so that the prison doors flew open, and every prisoner’s bands were loosed, and the jailor himself was so terrified that he drew his sword in readiness to commit suicide, the loving voice of the “royal pries” was solemnly and quietly heard, “Do thyself no harm!” How like the blessed Master, who loved His enemies, prayed for them, and instructed us to do the same! The Christ-like word of kindness, “Do thyself no harm!” was used to bring the stout-hearted jailor down at the apostles’ feet, crying out, “Sirs, what must I do to be saved?”
The result we are familiar with. Enough has been said to illustrate the difference between “an holy priesthood” and “a royal priesthood.”
It is for us not only to enter into and enjoy the various relationships into which the grace of God has brought us, as in His most holy presence, but also to see how, when truly entered upon and enjoyed, they must give a complexion and a character to all our ways. If we really enjoy the blessedness of being inside the veil, where else can it put us here but “outside the camp,” the religious camp? If we are conscious that we are consecrated or “made priests unto God,” and feed upon that which He has provided for our sustenance in a clean place in His most holy presence, and offer up praise to God continually, what else could characterize us here but showing forth the virtues of Him who hath called us out of darkness into His marvelous light?
“Unto Him that loveth us, and hath washed us from our sins in His own blood, and hath made us kings and priests unto God and His Father; to Him be glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen.”
H. H. S.