By G. Neil Armstrong

Verse 5:

I think it's noteworthy to point out that here, God did clearly appoint Aaron, his sons and his fathers house to sort of guide the People, refrain them from crossing a boundary that God has set forth. They were to "keep charge" of the sanctuary and the altar so that the People would not provoke God to anger again.

Verse 6:

Now God seems to present these new priests to the People as sort of a gift, or at the very least, to show the People that this new order of things is not at all a punishment for anything. It is a gift. As a gift, it should not be taken lightly what a gift actually is. When I give something away, and after the other person takes it from my hand, do I pause there for just a second? Do I pause to hear him say something? Should he say, "thank you"?

With a GIFT, the giver cannot expect ANYTHING in return... not even a simple "thank you." A gift cannot be revoked.

So far in the wanderings of this seemingly vast wilderness God has already purposed in His heart to repent of this wicked and perverse nation "to be". He had done more than any one of them could ever have imagined in effort to "train Him up a nation" so that they might represent them well, and for the entire world to know that He is God.

Now, He considers their stiff-necked ways. He sees these people as ones that want to do His will, but that they still have such a strong nature about them, adopted by the Egyptian nation. They knew no other way, except for the precious few who did still study the ancient writings of their forefathers. This People needed physical examples that will literally order their every step.

I have been that way for many years. It's probably likely that I grew up just knowing that if I were raised up in a Christian home, where there is a constant, 'round the clock guidance, then I'd have gotten a good foothold on the Right Path. I did go and live with two different Christian families. Each time did help me draw closer to God in very deep ways. But it was not at all due to their influence on me. Both were not at all an example of the ideal Christian family. Though they did have an appearance of Godly living, both were in a different way.

Nevertheless, I still needed to lean heavily on my raw desire to draw even closer still. The trouble was that I didn't know the rules. What changes must occur before I can begin to live a life of Godliness, as described many times in the Bible, and preached by every preacher? Today I don't have a "voice of God" such as the Prophets were. I have only the Bible, and my unyielding desire to draw closer still to this "Voice of Truth", as described in Psalm 91.

An appointed leadership was necessary, of the family of Aaron, the Levites. They shall take charge of these things, to set the people on a right path of mannerism and respect for the Sovereign God.

This is my portion. This is where I draw my hope from... that God will make a way of escape for me, to protect me from me. He will not suffer me to more than I can bear, but that He will always provide a way of escape. Now I have an appointed leadership over me to "nudge" me into the Good Path. This "gentle nudge" can quickly become a stern, stoic demand in short order. I could easily be put in jail again. I end up in jail EVERY time I wander off the Path.

Verse 7:

The church will guide me as Aaron’s sons shall keep the priest's office for everything of the altar. Everywhere I have ever gone, I have only seen an altar in a church. I've never seen an outdoor alter. I've never seen one way up on the high point of a hill, either. Today, the church is where we go to lay our sins at the altar. Church is what we are called when we come together to worship and receive atonement for our sins. God has instill in each of us, INSIDE, self-contained sanctuary, alter, holy place, and most holy place. In the outer court is where a lot of people try to put God. They don't seem to want Him in THEIR most holy place. Have the priests been keeping it clean?

Is this "secret place", the "most holy place" that which we hold dearest in our value system? Is it at least ranked among the top? Can God come it, just about any time He wants? Is it dirty in there? Is there still blood splattered all over the place from the previous atonement offerings? Are we ashamed? Want to clean it up? We have a guest that wants to come in and fellowship with us in our Most Holy Place. He wants to endue you with power from on high. The church will guide me, as Aaron’s sons shall keep the priest's office for everything of the altar. Everywhere I have ever went; I have only seen an altar in a church. I've never seen an outdoor alter. I've never seen one way up on the high point of a hill, either. Today, the church is where we go to lay our sins at the altar. Church is what we are called when we come together to worship and receive atonement for our sins. God has instilled in each of us, INSIDE, a self-contained sanctuary, alter, holy place, and most holy place. In the outer court is where a lot of people try to put God. They don't seem to want Him in THEIR most holy place. Have the priests been keeping it clean?

Is this "secret place", the "most holy place" that which we hold dearest in our value system? Is it at least ranked among the top? Can God come it, just about any time He wants? Is it dirty in there? Is there still blood splattered all over the place from the previous atonement offerings? Are we ashamed? Want to clean it up? We have a guest that wants to come in and fellowship with us in our Most Holy Place. He wants to endue you with power from on high.

Verse 8:

God knows what great authority he has placed in the hands of Aaron’s family. He desires that they do take great care of the tabernacle, and the way it is hallowed. Today, we have the task of keeping our tabernacle clean. Conveniently enough, but not to be taken lightly, The very blood that soils our Most Holy Place, or Secret Place, as an atonement for our sins, is the very same blood required in order for us to clean it up.

Dried and crusty blood occurs in the presence of sin. Fresh blood is what heals the sick, mends the heart, accesses us to the very thrown of God; the blood of the Lamb.