Prayer Journal

Monday, February 9, 2004

Consecration was the process whereby a priest was commissioned to stand before God and offer an acceptable sacrifice on behalf of someone else. Cleanliness was important at the beginning of the process, but it quickly took another form as the service continued.

Oil was poured over the heads of the priests (anointing), a ram was killed (ordination ram) and its blood spread, first on the sides of the altar and then on the robes of the priests. Then the animal was burned on the altar together with bread made without yeast, a cake made with oil and a wafer. The smell of burning flesh must have saturated the priest and everything around him. But to God, it was a pleasing aroma.

Perhaps you've seen a picture in a book of a Jewish priest decked out in a garb of white linen with gold appointments. (Symbolizing righteousness and holiness respectively.) What you've probably failed to consider however is the fact that after he started working he was covered in blood from head to foot. I can say that because the priest would cut the throat of rams and goats, drain their blood, bisect their body parts and then lift their carcass up in the air and pray, all as a normal part of worship.

Amazingly, in one day Solomon sacrificed one hundred and forty two thousand (142,000) head of cattle, sheep and goats. (2Chr 7) I challenge anyone to kill a single animal in the way described above and keep blood off his clothes. Whatever white linen the priests were wearing had to be matted with dried blood. If the linen of the priest's robe symbolized righteousness and the shed blood a suitable sacrificial animal for atonement, it's easy to see the imagery of Christ's work on the cross for us.

"Why the gory picture of blood," you may be asking. I wanted to emphasize the fact that commissioning someone for service in God's work consists of both anointing and ordination. That is, they must be anointed with the power of the Holy Spirit and completely covered in the provisional blood of Jesus Christ - the only sacrifice pleasing to God. Before and unless that happens, a person is not qualified or ready to serve, especially intercede on behalf of another.

Before you pray for someone today, you better make sure you're anointed and consecrated. If so, your sacrifices are like a pleasing aroma to the Lord. Otherwise, you risk angering God, giving others false hope and adding to your own frustration.

Just Thinkin'... WebServant

1. Developed from Read the Bible Thru ( Ex. 29:1-30:10 Mt. 26:14-46 Ps. 31:19-24 Pr. 8:14-26 )
2. Scripture comes from the Holy Bible, New International Version; (c)1978 by New York International Bible Society

Copyright © 1998-2004 James R. Green and Prayertower Ministries
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