SPIRITUAL
DIARY FOR 03-19-03
My
Worship Time Focus:
The changing of the priesthood
Bible
Reading & Meditation Reference: Hebrews 7:11-14
Message
of the verse: “11 Now if perfection
was through the Levitical priesthood (for on the basis of it the people
received the Law), what further need was there for another priest to arise
according to the order of Melchizedek, and not be designated according to the
order of Aaron? 12 For when the priesthood
is changed, of necessity there takes place a change of law also. 13 For the one concerning whom these things
are spoken belongs to another tribe, from which no one has officiated at the
altar. 14 For it is evident that our
Lord was descended from Judah, a tribe with reference to which Moses spoke
nothing concerning priests.” (NASB) “And finally, if the priesthood of Levi could
have achieved God’s purposes—and it was that priesthood on which the law was based---why
did God need to send a different priest from the line of Melchizedek, instead
of from the line of Levi and Aaron? And
when the priesthood is changed, the law must also be changed to permit it. For the one we are talking about belongs to a
different tribe, whose members do not serve at the altar. What I mean is, our Lord came from the tribe
of Judah, and Moses never mentioned Judah in connection with the
priesthood.” (NLT)
I want to
zoom in on the word “perfection” as it has been used many times in this letter
to the Hebrews, and the word means complete.
It is used in the following verses: 2:10; 5:9; 6:11; 7:11, 19; 9:9;
10:1, 14. I will give its meaning from
the Strong’s Concordance: “1) a
completing, a perfecting 1a) Fulfilment, accomplishment 1b) The event which
verifies the promise 1c) Consummation, perfection” The question is why was
there no perfection in the priesthood of Aaron?
First off the priesthood was based on the OT Law or the Law of Moses and
that Law was established as a schoolmaster for the people preparing them for
the arrival of Jesus Christ. (See
Galatians 3:19—4:7)
“Since our
High Priest came from the tribe of Judah, according to His human ancestry, then
there must have been a change in Moses’ Law.
There has been! The entire system
of OT Law has been fulfilled in Jesus Christ and has been taken out of the
way! (Col. 2:13-14) The believer has been set free from the Law
(Gal. 5:1-6) and is dead to the Law (Rom. 1:1-4).” (From Warren Wiersbe’s book: “Be Confident”)
The Word of God was refreshing to me as I read it today.
My
Steps of Faith Today: I
am thankful for the Lord seeing me through the events of yesterday and I would
pray again that He would see me through the special events of today.
Memory verses for the week:
Psalm 40:1-5
1.
I waited patiently for the LORD; And He inclined to me and heard
my cry.
2.
He brought me up out of the pit of destruction, out of the
miry clay; And He set my feet upon a rock making my footsteps firm.
3.
And He put a new song in my mouth, a song of praise to our
God; Many will see and fear, And will trust in the LORD.
4.
How blessed is the man who has made the LORD his trust, And
has not turned to the proud, nor to those who lapse into falsehood.
5.
Many, O LORD my God, are the wonders which Thou hast done,
And thy thoughts toward us; There is none to compare to Thee; If I would
declare and speak of them, they would be too numerous to count.
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