And the Number 1 reason for the tabernacle not being studied is…drum roll, please… the priesthood of the believer is so misunderstood.
Aaron and his sons were hand-selected by God to serve Him, the Kohathites were not. Aaron and his sons were set apart for certain services and they even stood out by their dress, the Kohathites did not. Aaron and his sons could enter the holy place, the Kohathites could not. Once in the holy place, Aaron and his sons got to maintain the lamp, offer up incense, and even break bread with the Almighty, the Kohathites could not. Aaron and his sons could eat their portions of the 'meat offering' and the peace offering and could clothe themselves in the skins from the burnt offerings, the Kohathites could not. Aaron and his sons played a part in the various offerings, the Kohathites did not. Aaron and his sons were priests, the Kohathites were not.
Aaron had a cousin named Korah. Korah was a Kohathite. Kohathites were a family within the tribe of Levy that were in charge of moving the tabernacle and its furniture when the camp moved from place to place during the wilderness journey (Numbers 4:1-15). Korah was not a happy camper. He was not happy with his role that he was assigned and got a small, but powerful, mob together to lead a rebellion against his cousins, Moses and Aaron. His protest -- It is enough; for all the assembly, all of them are holy, and Jehovah is among them; and why do ye lift up yourselves above the congregation of Jehovah? (Num. 16:4)
Moses responds -- Even to-morrow will Jehovah make known who is his, and who is holy; and he will cause him to come near to him; and him whom he has chosen, him will he cause to come near to him. (Num. 16:5).
From Moses’ response we get a definition of the priests. They were owned by God by His choice, they were holy, and they had the right (or privilege) to come near to God. In that day, there were two types of redeemed people in the world: the priest and the congregation (everyone else). Today, there are two types of redeemed people in the world: those that think that there is still two groups (priest and the congregation), and those that do not. The congregation has been eliminated, therefore the latter type is correct. All redeemed are now priests and as priests we are all on a level playing field. I like the way Peter puts it:
To whom coming, a living stone, cast away indeed as worthless by men, but with God chosen, precious, yourselves also, as living stones, are being built up a spiritual house, a holy priesthood, to offer spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God by Jesus Christ. --1Pe 2:4b-5
But ye [are] a chosen race, a kingly priesthood, a holy nation, a people for a possession, that ye might set forth the excellencies of him who has called you out of darkness to his wonderful light; -- 1Pe 2:9
All of the redeemed are a holy, kingly priesthood owned by God by His choice with the right (or privilege) to come near to God. Wow.
Let’s take another look at Korah’s complaint. He said that the priests should not be exalted over everyone else because all of the redeemed are holy and Jehovah is dwelling among them. This statement, by the way, costs him his life (Read all about it in Numbers 16).
Something strikes me as odd, though, about his complaint. If you fast-forward to today where there are the two groups, and someone that belongs to a church in the group that still believes that there are separate groups (the congregation and the priesthood), and a congregant made Korah’s complaint, he might just have a case(!). We are all redeemed and Jehovah is dwelling with(in) us, so no one should be lifting themselves above the congregation.
To him who loves us, and has washed us from our sins in his blood, and made us a kingdom, priests to his God and Father: to him [be] the glory and the might to the ages of ages. Amen. Rev 1:5b-6
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