In the days of the patriarchs, household priests would sacrifice and build shrines wherever they traveled. But when the Law was given, the Lord declared that those times and practices were coming to an end. He revealed that the sin, burnt, and peace offerings were to be given at the place where the Lord God chose to put His name.[1]

The place where the Lord’s name took up habitation was the temple in Jerusalem. But the temple was only a shadow of God’s ultimate dwelling place—the hearts of those who have accepted Jesus as Lord. The church is the temple and habitation of God.[2] It is the place where the gifts commanded by Moses find fulfillment through faith in the accomplished work of Jesus Christ.

After the priests were consecrated to their office, Moses gave them instructions for the commencement of their ministry and the official functioning of the tabernacle.

Leviticus 9:3-4, 6
³ And unto the children of Israel thou shalt speak, saying, Take ye a kid of the goats for a sin offering; and a calf and a lamb, both of the first year, without blemish, for a burnt offering;
⁴ Also a bullock and a ram for peace offerings, to sacrifice before the Lord; and a meat offering mingled with oil: for to day the Lord will appear unto you.
⁶ And Moses said, This is the thing which the Lord commanded that ye should do: and the glory of the Lord shall appear unto you.

Hear the promise of God. If we offer up the sin offering, the burnt offering, and the peace offering, the Lord will appear unto us in glorious manifestation! If the letter that brought death has such a glorious promise, what will be the result in our lives seeing that we have a much better covenant? Goats, calves, lambs, rams, and bullocks were offered up in the Old Covenant and the glory of the Lord appeared! The blood of Jesus Christ is far superior to the blood of animals. His blood truly cleanses sin, consecrates the saint, and makes possible communion with God. What glory shall appear to us when we appropriate these offerings of the Lord by declaring them in faith from the heart?

Leviticus 9:22
And Aaron lifted up his hand toward the people, and blessed them, and came down from offering of the sin offering, and the burnt offering, and peace offerings.

Once he had finished with the sin, burnt, and peace offerings, Aaron lifted his hand toward the people and blessed them. The blessing of the Lord comes after the sacrifices are offered! We need to receive the sacrificial blood of the Lamb to receive the full blessing of the Lord! What was the blessing that Aaron spoke over the people?

Numbers 6:23-27
²³ Speak unto Aaron and unto his sons, saying, On this wise ye shall bless the children of Israel, saying unto them,
²⁴ The Lord bless thee, and keep thee:
²⁵ The Lord make his face shine upon thee, and be gracious unto thee:
²⁶ The Lord lift up his countenance upon thee, and give thee peace.
²⁷ And they shall put my name upon the children of Israel; and I will bless them.

The offerings were to be given where the Lord put His name. In tabernacle and temple times, this was a place. But His ultimate aim was always to have His name on a people. The Israelites offered the sacrifices at the place of the tabernacle. The Lord then had Aaron place His name on the people through the blessing.

The Aaronic blessing follows the pattern of the offerings. The Lord blesses us and keeps us when we offer the only sacrifice for sin, the blood of Jesus Christ. He causes His face to shine (read flaming fire!) on us and is gracious to us when we consecrate ourselves to Him because of the burnt offering of the Lord Jesus. And He lifts His countenance on us (read fellowship and communion) and gives us peace, because by the blood of the peace offering of Jesus Christ we are at peace with Him and one another. With this blessing comes the stamp of His name. With these offerings comes the manifestation of His glory.

Leviticus 9:23-24
²³ And Moses and Aaron went into the tabernacle of the congregation, and came out, and blessed the people: and the glory of the Lord appeared unto all the people.
²⁴ And there came a fire out from before the Lord, and consumed upon the altar the burnt offering and the fat: which when all the people saw, they shouted, and fell on their faces.

On this inaugural day of the tabernacle service, fire came from the Lord and consumed the sacrifice upon the altar. Are we willing to stay on the altar and allow His fire to transform us? Be assured, if we wash our sins in His blood and consecrate ourselves because of His offering and give Him continual praise and thanks for what He has done, the glory of the Lord will appear unto us. The fire of the Holy Spirit will come upon us and the glory of God will shine through us, unencumbered by a stained conscience.

By the sin sacrifice of our Savior Jesus Christ, let us be cleansed of all unrighteousness. By the burnt offering of our Lord, who offered Himself without spot and blemish unto God as a sweet smelling savor, let us present our bodies a living sacrifice unto God, dedicating ourselves to serve Him. By the peace offering of our Bridegroom, let us offer the sacrifice of praise to God continually, the fruit of our lips giving thanks to His name as we do good and attend to the needs of the saints, looking forward to the great wedding feast of the Lamb in the day of our Lord!

The Lord bless you and keep you.
The Lord make His face shine upon you and be gracious unto you.
The Lord lift up His countenance upon you and give you peace.
Amen!

[1] See Ex 20:24; Deut 12:13-14; 16:5-6
[2] Eph 2:19-22