“And he brought the other ram, the ram of consecration; and Aaron and his sons laid their hands upon the head of the ram. And he slew it; and Moses took of the blood of it and put it upon the tip of Aaron’s right ear, and upon the thumb of his right hand, and upon the great toe of his right foot.And he brought Aaron’s sons, and Moses put of the blood upon the tips of their right ears, and upon the thumbs of their right hands, and upon the great toes of their right feet: and Moses sprinkled the blood upon the altar round about.” Lev. 8:22-24.

Even though our text does not mention the concept of “prayer”the context I believe is referring to it. Here we have the “Consecration, the Setting Apart” for God’s service of Aaron and his sons. They are priests, “Bridge Builders” for God and for Israel. We also are referred to as priests, “an holy priesthood,” in I Peter 2:5, “Ye also, as living stones, are built up a spiritual house, an holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God by Jesus Christ.” And a royal priesthood, in I Peter 2:9,  “But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people (a people of His own) that you should show forth the praises of Him who has called you out of darkness into His marvelous light.” Even Jesus Christ is referred to as our “High Priest’ in Hebrews 7:26, “For such an ‘high priest’ was fitting for us, who is holy, harmless, undefiled, separate from sinners and made higher than the heavens;” A priest’s job was to mediate, to intercede, to be a go between, to stand between God and man. We have been given that ministry as believers in Christ, the ‘ministry of reconciliation.’ II Cor. 5:18, “All things are of God, who has reconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ, and has given us the ministry of reconciliation;” So, like Aaron we have a ministry to perform, a ministry of intercession, a ministry of supplication, a ministry of reconciliation, or a ministry of prayer. If the saved people don’t pray for this lost, hell bound world, who will? Now before we can enter into that “Ministry of Reconciliation” we need that blood of consecration applied to us just like it was to Aaron and his sons in v. 22-24.

This act of consecration of Aaron and his sons, putting the blood of the sacrificial ram on their right ears, right hands, and right feet signifys total consecration of the whole body  for sacrificial service  for the LORD. This same procedure was used in the cleansing of a leper in Lev. 14:14 for total consecration. It is also applied to the most representative member in each case, the ‘right side’ as opposed to the ‘left side.’  The right side was always more honorable, the right hand of God, the right hand of fellowship, most Jewish people are right handed, being left handed was a stigma in ancient Israel. (Ehud the left handed judge). Their right ear, hand and foot being consecrated  also symbolized their senses and active powers being devoted to God. Before you can enter into the ministry of intercessor, mediator, or supplicator; before you can stand in the gap for mankind you must be consecrated yourself with the blood of the, Lamb of God,  ‘Afresh!’

The blood was applied to the right ear so they could hear for God and from God. They could hear the pleas of mankind and bring them to the throne of God but hearing God’s response is another matter altogether. We are very good at listening to mankind for the most part, but the art of listening to God, is a lost art. An art we all need to spend time developing, Psalm 46:10, “Be still and know (yada- intimacy) God.” We also have to be in His Word, listening to what He has to say, so we can pray according to His Will and Word. So, the blood on the ear, refers to the head and heart to hear for and from God. They were not to form their own precepts or opinions, the ear-gate was to be open to hear from heaven and was to be kept sacred for the LORD. Is that your phone ringing?

The blood on the thumb of the right hand referred to sacred service for the LORD. The priests offered the blood and sacrifices for the people on the altar, now we don’t offer sacrifices for people today but we still serve God, Matt. 5:16, “Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father, who is in heaven.” We were created for “good works” Eph. 2:10, “For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God has before ordained that we should walk in them.” We were saved to serve, ‘Service, Earnest Service’ is the duty of every believer priest. Luke 17:10. The hand is an emblem of both strength and acceptance and with it we distribute and receive. The hands of the priests would be busy offering sacrifices, burning incense, offering up prayer, receiving gifts for God, or sprinkling blood. Therefore, they must be clean, consecrated, and ready to present the gifts to God from His people and to convey God’s blessings to His people.

However, both of these are as sounding brass and a tinkling cymbal without the third one. The blood of the ram of consecration was applied to the big toe of the right foot, representing their walk. I saw a sign once of a mother duck and some baby ducks walking and it read, “Your talk talks, and your walk talks, but your walk talks louder than your talk talks.” We need to ‘Walk our Talk’ as the saying goes. We need to listen to God; we need to serve God; and we need to walk with God. Anybody can talk the talk, putting on the moccasins and walking the walk for 30, 40, 50 years or more, now that’s a different story. Talk is cheap, it doesn’t cost you a dime but the walk can cost you everything you have including your own life. Matt. 16:24; Mark 8:34; Luke 9:23, (Deny, Embrace Follow). People ask me quite often, “What are you?” Meaning are you a Baptist, Methodist, Presbyterian, Brethren, what? The best answer I believe to that question was given to me by the Holy Spirit, when I was confronted with it in a synagogue by a Rabbi and several of his people I said, “I am a disciple of Jesus Christ.” Any other answer would have put more fuel on the debate but instead I was able to share the Gospel. Our feet move us in the direction our hearts prompt us. The feet of the priest stood in the holy place and the ‘Holy of Holies’ it was only right that they be consecrated and sanctified first. The big toe is what gives us balance in our walk, without it we would fall, it is only right that it would be consecrated with the blood of the ram. The thumb gives us strength in our right hand and power to hold a weapon or tool, without it we could not hold a sword or spear or fend off the enemy. In ancient times they cut off the thumbs of kings and captains so they could never hold a scepter or weapon again. This is true for us today as believer priests, before we can step into the arena of intercession we must make absolutely certain that the blood has been applied ‘Afresh’ and we are, “Listening, Serving, & Walking’ to and with the LORD. “…Between The Lines…”

“Oh LORD, help us today to spiritually apply the blood of Your Son afresh to our ears so can hear your voice, to our hands so we might be better able to serve You, and to our feet that we might be better able to walk the talk and stand on that Holy ground for your glory. In Jesus name. Amen!”

“Consecration For Prayer” – ‘Lev. 8:22-24’ – 11/22/12