July 19, 2009
Background Scripture: Leviticus 8:1-13
Devotional Reading: Romans 11:33 through 12:2

If you are not already familiar with the Book of Leviticus, let me prepare you for what you will find: One of the least coherent and pleasing books of the Old Testament, for it speaks from a perspective that appears to be relevant today to neither Jew nor Christian.

In it, you will find detailed instructions for Temple sacrifice, ordination of priests, ritual for purification and the Day of Atonement, some offenses punishable by death and a few regulations for moral behavior – none with which we can easily identify.

Nevertheless, there is one passage that alone can justify the existence of this book. In Luke 10:27, when replying to a lawyer who asked, “Teacher, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?” Jesus answered: “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart with all your soul, with all your strength, and with all your mind,” and then he added these words from Leviticus 19:18b: “… and you shall love your neighbor as yourself.”

Ancient questions
Furthermore, our passage for this week lifts up some concepts that are relevant for us today: priesthood, holiness and consecration. The writer of Leviticus supplies us with questions from which we may find directions for 21st century answers.

For example, Leviticus 8:1-13 is about the ordination of Hebrew priests. Although Moses performed some priestly functions for the people of Israel, Aaron is regarded as the first Hebrew priest.
His sons and their descendents continued as priests for much of Jewish history, until the destruction of the Temple by the Romans in 70 A.D., an event from which the Temple was never restored. There is much scholarly controversy over the role and connection of the Levites (sons of Levi), the Zadokites and the Cohens.

As there is no longer a Temple in Judaism today, there are no longer any ordained priests. In the Roman Catholic, Orthodox and Episcopal churches the term “priest” has been retained – although without the sacrificial function – while in most other Protestant and independent churches the term “minister” is used instead.
A kingdom of priests

Still, that does not mean there are no priesthoods in Judaism and Christianity. In Exodus 19:6, God says: “… you shall be to me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation.” As a “holy nation” the people of Israel are to be a people “set aside,” “consecrated” or “sanctified” for a special purpose. (See also Leviticus 11:44 and Numbers 15:40.)

Dwight E. Stevenson says, “Israel was to be the world’s priest …” The sons of Aaron and Levi and Zaddok had narrowly defined roles as priests in the Tabernacle and later the Temple, but however often Israel recalled it and however long they kept it in memory, the whole nation was called to be holy and priests to each other and the world.

So, too, as Christians we are called to a priesthood of all believers. Some people are uncomfortable with this Reformation concept, but Lutheran theologian Paul Althaus said “there is one element in the ancient priesthood that is retained in the gospel: (We) have mutual responsibility for the Christian condition of others … ’Universal priesthood’ definitely does not mean an individualistic dissolution of the church as a fellowship. It is just the opposite; it is the binding of every member to every other member … Priesthood, in the Reformation sense, means the ‘communion of saints.’”
So, we may not all be “clergy” but, if we are followers of Christ, we all are  “ministers” and “priests.”

The views and opinions expressed in this column are those of the author and not necessarily those of Farm World. Readers with questions or comments for Rev. Althouse may write to him in care of this publication.