21. That ram’s blood being applied to the altar has what meaning for us?

²¹ Application of the blood of the ram. (Le 8 Vs. 19) “After that Moses slaughtered it and sprinkled the blood round about upon the altar.” Again we note the blood being applied to the altar, pointing to the cleanness and purity of God’s altar by means of which the atoning merit of Jesus’ shed blood comes to his underpriests. Thereby the way is opened for multitudes of honesthearted persons from all nations and languages to assemble themselves unto an organization of priests through which, during the Millennium, Jehovah is pleased to receive them for instruction and cleansing under direction of the great High Priest in the heavens.

22. The disposition of the entire ram of the burnt offering has what application to Christ Jesus and to his underpriests?

²² The entire ram smoked upon the altar. (Le 8 Vss. 20, 21) “And he cut up the ram into its pieces, and Moses proceeded to make the head and the pieces and the suet smoke. And the intestines and the shanks he washed with water, and Moses then made the entire ram smoke upon the altar. It was a burnt offering for a restful odor. It was an offering made by fire to Jehovah, just as Jehovah had commanded Moses.” The completeness of Jesus’ sacrifice of himself, his physical and mental powers, his inmost thoughts and desires, his walking in a pure course, is noted by the shadow representation here. His anointed followers must follow the path he trod, throw themselves wholeheartedly into the service of the “true tent.” They can never permit any other concern of life to overshadow their devotion to the interests of God’s pure worship. As did their Leader, so must they think, not of themselves alone, but of the multitude of others who urgently need help to make a successful approach to Jehovah.

THE RAM OF THE INSTALLATION

23. How does the presentation of the ram of installation apply in the reality?

²³ The ram of installation presented. (Le 8 Vs. 22) “Then he brought the second ram, the ram of the installation, near, and Aaron and his sons laid their hands upon the ram’s head.” Again we have to appreciate that this offering is something of prime concern to the entire priesthood under Christ, for Aaron and his sons again laid their hands upon this third animal offering. The blood of Jesus having first been offered for the sins of humankind, and then special request having been made for the benefits of that sacrifice to begin accruing to his anointed followers, the third step is to constitute the actual installation of this body of priests, charging them with duties and responsibilities relating to pure worship. Here, too, emphasis is placed upon the perfect offering from which stems the empowering of this priesthood to serve effectually at the “true tent” of God’s worship.

24. How has Christ Jesus fulfilled the picture of Aaron having his right ear, thumb and great toe smeared with blood?

²⁴ Blood applied to Aaron’s right ear, thumb, toe. (Le 8 Vs. 23) “After that Moses slaughtered it and took some of its blood and put it upon the lobe of Aaron’s right ear and upon the thumb of his right hand and upon the big toe of his right foot.” During his sacrificial ministry of three and a half years on earth, the greater High Priest, Christ Jesus, provided the perfect example for his underpriests. His ear was continually attuned to the directions of Jehovah as expressed in the written Word; he gave these his primary attention. His physical and mental abilities and equipment were expended fully in doing the work assigned him; he gave of his best. And never did his feet stray from the narrow path of integrity-keeping; prophetically his very steps had been plotted out for him, and thus it could be said that “all the things written in the law of Moses and in the Prophets and Psalms about me” were truly fulfilled.—Luke 24:44.

25. How does the application of the blood to Aaron’s sons apply to the Christian priesthood?

²⁵ Blood applied to Aaron’s sons. (Le 8 Vs. 24) “Next Moses brought Aaron’s sons near and put some of the blood upon the lobe of their right ear and upon the thumb of their right hand and upon the big toe of their right foot; but Moses sprinkled the rest of the blood round about upon the altar.” Jesus’ anointed followers are committed to a course identical with that of their High Priest. They too must give their best attention to the directives of God’s Word as made plain to them by holy spirit. They must apply the best of their physical and mental powers to the work of carrying out the things heard, and they must ever walk in a right way before Jehovah, constantly ‘making straight paths for their feet.’ (Heb. 12:13) They must grasp God’s service, as it were with right hand, and apply their best powers to their priestly duties.

26. Why is information about the heavenly priesthood under Christ of special comfort to life seekers today?

²⁶ How comforting and thrilling it is to know that Jehovah’s exalted King-Priest after the manner of Melchizedek is reigning and has an organization of priestly servants to serve with him during the Millennium as an acceptable approach for multitudes as they bring their gifts and offer their vows to the Sovereign Ruler of all the universe, with strong hope of being eventually brought into full harmony with him!

Part 2—Empowering a Priesthood for Effectual Service

1. Why is information about the heavenly priesthood vital today, and what is meant by their installation?

THE present welfare and future prospects of a great crowd of persons out of every nation, tribe, people and tongue are, in God’s purpose, tied in with a divinely approved priesthood composed of a glorious heavenly High Priest and his underpriests. It should give us strong confidence to learn that the shadow pictures of the law given through Moses point clearly to that priesthood and show that their “being adequately qualified issues from God,” in harmony with the inspired words of the apostle Paul to that effect. (2 Cor. 3:5) Since the empowering of this priesthood is referred to by Jehovah himself as ‘a filling of their hands with power,’ it is of special interest to us to note the next step in this series of shadow pictures enacted under the direction of Moses for our instruction and encouragement.—Lev. 8:33; Heb. 10:1.

2. What is pictured by the waving to and fro before Jehovah of choice portions of the ram of installation?

² Wave offering of ram of installation. (Lev. 8:25-27) “Then he took the fat and the fat tail and all the fat that was upon the intestines, and the appendage of the liver and the two kidneys and their fat and the right leg. And out of the basket of unfermented cakes that was before Jehovah he took one unfermented ring-shaped cake and one ring-shaped cake of oiled bread and one wafer. He then placed them upon the fatty pieces and the right leg. After that he put all of them upon the palms of Aaron and the palms of his sons and began to wave them to and fro as a wave offering before Jehovah.” The rich, fatty portions of this ram together with its liver, kidneys and right leg, as well as baked offerings, are loaded upon the hands of high priest Aaron and his sons, and by them waved to and fro before Jehovah. The waving denotes continuous action as distinct from a single act. Jesus’ anointed followers have the privilege of sharing with their High Priest in a continuous course of devotion to the service of Jehovah, a service that is marked by zeal for Jehovah’s name and by a giving of the best of their mental and physical efforts. And there must be joy in such a privilege, for the apostle Peter bids them to “go on rejoicing forasmuch as you are sharers in the sufferings of the Christ [for the sake of Jehovah’s name], that you may rejoice and be overjoyed also during the revelation of his glory.”—1 Pet. 4:13.

3. In the reality, how do the baked goods included in the wave offering relate to the ministry of Christ and his underpriests?

³ Members of this priesthood share with their High Priest a ministry that calls for purity from sin and false religion (the unfermented cake), fruitful service marked by the fruits of the holy spirit (the oiled cake), and by workmanship of the finest quality (the wafer). The ministry of the High Priest himself exemplified all these excellent qualities, and he stands ready at all times to aid his underpriests as they strive to follow his steps closely. Such continuous offering of devoted practical works of faith are fitly accompanied by prayer to the builder of the “true tent,” in harmony with the words of the psalmist: “May my prayer be prepared as incense before you, the raising up of my palms as the evening grain offering.”—Ps. 141:2; 1 Cor. 5:8.

4. The smoking of the wave offering on the altar has what significance?

⁴ Wave offering smoked upon the altar. (Le 8 Vs. 28) “Then Moses took them off their palms and made them smoke upon the altar on top of the burnt offering. They were an installation sacrifice for a restful odor. It was an offering made by fire to Jehovah.” The wave offering is completed by Moses’ taking the portions from the hands of Aaron and his sons and burning them upon the altar on top of the burnt offering. From this it becomes evident that the faithful continuing ministry of Christ’s priesthood must lead all its members to spend themselves and their humanity in its entirety for the interest of the “true tent” of God’s own building. This offering, too, is spoken of as a restful odor, indicating that it now pleases Jehovah to accept the services of this body of priests sponsored by his own beloved Son, and to receive their offerings with pleasure.

5. Moses’ waving of the breast of this second ram points to what in the reality?

⁵ Wave offering of the breast by Moses. (Le 8 Vs. 29) “And Moses proceeded to take the breast and to wave it to and fro as a wave offering before Jehovah. From the installation ram it became the portion for Moses, just as Jehovah had commanded Moses.” The breast of the installation ram, doubtless including the heart, since it is not otherwise mentioned, was waved to and fro by Moses and then taken to himself as his portion of the offering. Moses here appears to act as the special representative of Jehovah, and in accepting the breast he foreshadows Jehovah’s own acceptance of Jesus Christ and of the priests under Christ on the basis of his Son’s own perfect offering, an offering rendered up with gladness in response to the Father’s invitation: “My son, do give your heart to me, and may those eyes of yours take pleasure in my own ways.” (Prov. 23:26) Jesus’ underpriests must also give wholehearted devotion to the worship at the “true tent” and sing its Builder’s praises with heartfelt joy.

6. The spattering of oil mixed with blood has what application to the Christian priesthood?

⁶ Sanctification with oil and blood. (Le 8 Vs. 30) “After that Moses took some of the anointing oil and some of the blood that was upon the altar and spattered it upon Aaron and his garments and upon his sons and the garments of his sons with him. Thus he sanctified Aaron and his garments and his sons and the garments of his sons with him.” The spattering of the mixture of blood from the altar and oil upon Aaron and his sons and their garments served to sanctify them. This seems to speak of a more effectual priesthood whose identification and authority from God would be marked by a spirit-filled ministry and whose acceptance with God is founded upon strong faith in the precious sacrifice of Christ Jesus. Both persons and garments being spattered suggests that the members of this priesthood, individually and collectively, inwardly and outwardly, must be identified as depending fully upon the merit of Christ’s atoning blood and bringing forth the rich fruitage of Jehovah’s holy spirit.

7, 8. Complete disposition of all that is left of the ram of installation indicates what as to the real installation?

⁷ Aaron and his sons boil and eat the flesh. (Le 8 Vs. 31) “Then Moses said to Aaron and his sons: ‘Boil the flesh at the entrance of the tent of meeting, and there is where you will eat it and the bread that is in the installation basket, just as I was given the command, saying, “Aaron and his sons will eat it.”’” The shadow here tells of the complete disposition of the installation sacrifice. So, too, it is Jehovah’s will that the empowering of the priesthood under Christ should proceed to its thorough completion. Also, here we have indication of Jehovah’s ample provision for the spiritual sustenance of this body of priests under Christ. They are also promised sufficient material necessities for each day as they go on discharging their priestly duties, for the apostle Paul declares: “Do you not know that the men performing sacred duties eat the things of the temple, and those constantly attending at the altar have a portion for themselves with the altar? In this way, too, the Lord ordained for those proclaiming the good news to live by means of the good news.” As they busily preach and teach the good news, God puts it into the hearts of appreciative hearers to share with them material necessities of life.—1 Cor. 9:13, 14; Eph. 3:16; Gal. 6:6.

⁸ Leftovers of installation sacrifice burned. (Le 8 Vs. 32) “And what is left over of the flesh and the bread you will burn with fire.” Whether by eating on the part of the priests or by burning, that installation sacrifice was to be completely consumed. In the reality Christ Jesus applies the merit of his sacrifice to its fullest extent toward those who are formed into a holy priesthood so that they may be fully acceptable to God and fully empowered to extend effectual help to others who seek to approach the Source of life.

9. What is the application of the “obligatory watch” (a) to Christ Jesus, and (b) to his anointed followers?

⁹ Keeping the obligatory watch seven days. (Le 8 Vss. 33-35) “And you must not go out from the entrance of the tent of meeting for seven days, until the day of fulfilling the days of your installation, because it will take seven days to fill your hand with power. Just as it has been done this day, Jehovah has commanded to be done so as to make atonement for you. And you will stay at the entrance of the tent of meeting day and night for seven days, and you must keep the obligatory watch of Jehovah, that you may not die; for so I have been commanded.” The exemplary High Priest of God fulfilled his period of duty of three and a half years here on earth, and then was raised a spirit creature and exalted to the highest position in the universe under the Creator. His underpriests must also faithfully complete the term of their earthly ministry, devoting themselves wholly to the interests of the “true tent,” so that they may also in due course be raised to life as spirit creatures. While still on earth this priesthood has been given an effective “ministry of reconciliation” on behalf of other life seekers. When its members complete their faithful ministry in the flesh by participation in “the first resurrection,” then truly their hands are filled with power to serve God’s purpose effectually to bless multitudes upon this earth during the Millennium.

A HEAVENLY PRIESTHOOD IN ACTION

10. Why are blessings from Jehovah available even now through the ministry of Christ’s body of priests?

¹⁰ Thus blessings for men and women of all nations and tribes and peoples and tongues who now turn in repentance to the “true tent” of God’s building do not have to wait until the last members of that body of priests finish their earthly ministry in order to gain benefits. No, for the blood of Jesus’ perfect offering has been applied in behalf of these last members, and by God’s holy spirit they have been given a new birth as his spirit-begotten sons and have been qualified to do what they could not otherwise do as mere imperfect human creatures. Jehovah