Exodus, 29
37. Seven days you shall make atonement for the altar, and consecrate it, and the altar shall be most holy; whatever touches the altar shall become holy.
37. Seven days you shall make atonement for the altar, and consecrate it, and the altar shall be most holy; whatever touches the altar shall become holy.
Exodus 29 deals with the consecration of the Levite priests, where Moses receives detailed instructions from God about how the ceremony should be done. The priests should be washed, dressed in sacred and oil anointed clothes. The consecration ceremony was important for priests to be able to serve God and offer sacrifices in the tabernacle. Below are five verses related to the topics covered in Exodus 29:
Leviticus 8:6: "Then Moses presented Aaron and his children and washed them with water." This verse describes an important moment at the consecration ceremony, when Moses washes Aaron and his children before wearing them with sacred clothes.
Leviticus 8:12: "He also poured the anointing oil over Aaron's head and anointed him to sanctify him." Here we see the importance of anointing with oil during the consecration of priests. This gesture symbolized the separation and sanctification of the priests for the service to God.
Leviticus 8:30: "Moses also took from the anointing oil and the blood that was on the altar, and sprung him upon Aaron and his garments, as well as his children and their robes, thus sanctified Aaron, his garments, his garments , your children and their robes. " This verse describes how Moses anointed Aaron and his children with the altar's oil and blood, following God's instructions to consecrate them as priests.
Leviticus 8:33: "You will not leave the door of the congregation tent for seven days until the day the days of your consecration are fulfilled; for for seven days you will be consecrated." This verse emphasizes the importance of the consecration ceremony and the separation of priests for a period of seven days, before they can begin to perform their functions in the tabernacle.
Numbers 18:7: "But to you and your children with you will keep your priesthood in all that relates to the altar and to what is behind the veil; and you will give you your priesthood therefore by gift; and the approaching stranger will die. " This verse highlights the exclusivity of the Levite priesthood and how only those who have been consecrated to this service can exercise it. This was a serious matter, and anyone who tried to approach the altar without permission could be killed.
“Enquanto estivermos vivos sempre seremos tentados. A vida é uma contínua luta. Se às vezes há uma trégua é para respirarmos um pouco.” São Padre Pio de Pietrelcina
