Respect

 Greetings to you all in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ,

     Leviticus 16:2 says, “And the LORD said unto Moses, Speak unto Aaron thy brother, that he come not at all times into the holy place within the vail before the mercy seat, which is upon the ark; that he die not: for I will appear in the cloud upon the mercy seat.”

     How do you answer people who speak to you?  In the military, we always had t o include the word “sir” in whatever response we were giving to an officer.  If we were passing an officer going the same direction, you had to say in passing, “By your leave, sir.” and salute as you passed by.  I have mentioned about texting and how I have began to use it. Texting however, is not like a conversation and hours may go by before a text is answered and sometimes generic words are used that mean absolutely noting.  Words are used like, “OK” and “Cool”  You iknow by that how interested people are in y our conversation.  I have had too many “OK’s”  and know that t he person on the other end could care less about what was said.  Now, how would you respond to God?

     I wold have a hard time being in Aaron’s shoes and ministering as the priest in performing the various sacrifices that had to be done in exactly the right way and if you messed up, “Poof” your dead.  Your nation has just spent over 400 years in captivity and you are now getting to know God and what His requirements are for you to make the right sacrifice the right way and at the right time.  As the high priest, Aaron would go once a year into the Holy of Holies, to maike atonement for the himself and for the people.  A rope was tied around him and there were bells fastened to the hem of his garment, probably so his body could be pulled out if perchance he died in the Holy of Holies.  No one else could enter that part of the tabernacle except the high priest.  God was going to meet him on the Mercy Seat of the ark of the Covenant, and the blood of the sacrifice had to be on the Mercy seat, and Aaron’s clothes had to be just right.  When God speaks , you have to say something greater than just “yes sir.”  It is no wonder that John the Apostle fell down at the sound of the voice that was as a the sound of many waters  or whenever an angel would speak to him.  It has to be total reverence towards the One Who is speaking to you.  In our case, we find the very words of God in the Scriptures that we read and hear.  People today often complain about having to stand when the Scriptures are read.  The Israelites once stood for over three hours as the Bible Word was read to them after having been in captivity.  We stand in honor of Him Who wrote the Bible.  It is just plain respect for Who He is.  In all of this, Hebrews 4:16 still reminds us that we can come today to His throne in prayer.  How great is that?  Praise God for His love.