Exodus 29

v1-37: The priests “were distinguished from ordinary people, set apart from ordinary service, and consecrated to God and serving him directly.” They were to be washed, to show their need for cleansing from their sins. They were to be clothed, which shows that “it was not enough for them to put away the contamination of sin,” they must “be clothed with righteousness.” Aaron was also anointed with oil, “as a sign of the pouring out of the Spirit on him, to qualify him for his work.” Sacrifices also needed to be offered to make atonement for them, and to show their “total dedication of themselves to God and to his service as living sacrifices.” This ordination of the priests “was a shadow of the good things to come.” Both our Lord Jesus, the great High Priest, and all believers as “spiritual priests who offer spiritual sacrifices” having been “washed in the blood of Christ,” “clothed with the beauty of holiness,” and received the Spirit.

v38-46: Every morning and evening a sacrifice was offered “to make atonement for [Israel’s] daily sins, and to acknowledge God for their daily mercies.” In this we see “the continual intercession which Christ always lives to make because of his atonement for the continual sanctification of his church.” It also teaches us “to offer to God the spiritual sacrifices of prayer and praise every day, morning and evening, in humble acknowledgement of our dependence on him and our obligations to him.”

Exodus 30

v1-10: The altar of incense “was placed in front of the curtain, on the outside of that partition, but before the mercy seat.” This was so that even though “the one who ministered at the altar could not see the mercy seat,” he “must still look towards it and direct his incense that way.” Through this we are taught to direct our prayers to the throne of grace, even though we cannot physically see it. “When the priest was burning incense, the people were praying, to show that prayer is the true incense.”

v11-16: “In other offerings people were to give according to their ability, but this, which was the ransom of the soul, must be the same for all.” The money was used to maintain the service of the tabernacle, and both rich and poor were to contribute because both benefitted from it. “Money… cannot make an atonement for the soul, but it may be used for the honour of him who has made the atonement and for the upkeep of the Gospel in which the atonement is declared.”

v17-21: This basin for washing reminds us of our need “to daily renew our repentance of sin and our believing acceptance of the blood of Christ to our souls to receive forgiveness, for we stumble daily in many things and become dirty with sin.”

v22-38: The anointing oil and incense “should not be made for any common use,” because “what is special to God must not be used in ordinary ways.” We insult God when we treat God’s word and ordinances carelessly.