INTERCESSORY PRAYER

"Therefore I exhort first of all that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks be made for all men, for kings and all who are in authority, that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and reverence. For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior, who desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth" (2 Timothy 2:1-4).

Devotion 9 of 17 INTERCESSION IN TYPOLOGY

Typology is the study of divinely appointed shadows, or precursors of the new covenant. Using the People of Israel and designated procedures, the Lord acquainted people with principles that would be put in place under the Government of Christ. Of particular interest is the ministry of Aaron, the High Priest. In particular, his ministry foreshadowed that of the Lord Jesus Christ. In general, it introduced us to the concept of intercession, and God's desire for it. "And thou shalt put the two stones upon the shoulders of the ephod for stones of memorial unto the children of Israel: and Aaron shall bear their names before the LORD upon his two shoulders for a memorial" (Exo 28:12). "And Aaron shall bear the names of the children of Israel in the breastplate of judgment upon his heart, when he goeth in unto the holy place, for a memorial before the LORD continually" (Exo 28:29). "And thou shalt put in the breastplate of judgment the Urim and the Thummim; and they shall be upon Aaron's heart, when he goeth in before the LORD: and Aaron shall bear the judgment of the children of Israel upon his heart before the LORD continually" (Exo 28:30). "And it shall be upon Aaron's forehead, that Aaron may bear the iniquity of the holy things, which the children of Israel shall hallow in all their holy gifts; and it shall be always upon his forehead, that they may be accepted before the LORD" (Exo 28:38). In Aaron the High Priest, the Lord provided a means through which He could remember Israel. The truth of the matter is that Israel did not give God much of a reason to remember them. Rather, they "provoked" Him (Num 16:30; Deut 9:8,22; 32:6,21). Yet, Aaron, bore the names of the children of Israel on his shoulders when he came before the Lord; and he did so "continually." In fact, Israel's acceptance depended upon Aaron's appointed intercession: "that they may be accepted before the Lord!" This all pointed to the unique condition we now enjoy in Christ Jesus. The preservation of our lives is due to the Lord Jesus, "Who ever liveth to make intercession" for us (Heb 7:25). That is the ultimate fulfillment of the typology seen in Aaron.

AARON PRAYS FOR BLESSING

When God blessed Israel, He chose to do it through the words of Aaron. Do not miss the remarkable nature of this situation. It contradicts whole bodies of theology that has God blessing people in ignorment of holy people. The Aaronic blessing remains a coveted one for every one that knows the Lord. "Speak unto Aaron and unto his sons, saying, On this wise ye shall bless the children of Israel, saying unto them. The LORD bless thee, and keep thee: The LORD make His face shine upon thee, and be gracious unto thee: The LORD lift up His countenance upon thee, and give thee peace" (Num 6:23-26).

AARON STANDS IN THE GAP

On one occasion, the people of Israel so angered the Lord that He sent a plague upon them. The plague was a grievous one, causing multitudes to die. As soon as the plague begun, Moses turned to Aaron with a directive. Moses knew the Lord, how He thought and what He preferred. He perceived that wrath had gone out from the Lord, and knew the remedy for it. "And Moses said unto Aaron, Take a censer, and put fire therein from off the altar, and put on incense, and go quickly unto the congregation, and make an atonement for them: for there is wrath gone out from the LORD; the plague is begun. And Aaron took as Moses commanded, and ran into the midst of the congregation; and, behold, the plague was begun among the people: and he put on incense, and made an atonement for the people. And he stood between the dead and the living; and the plague was stayed. Now they that died in the plague were fourteen thousand and seven hundred, beside them that died about the matter of Korah" (Num 16:16-49). This is a most extraordinary circumstance! Here was a man that "took his stand between the dead and the living (RSV)." The effectiveness of his intercession is seen in these words; "and the plague was stayed." Could God have accomplished this without the involvement of an intercessor? That is not a proper question. God was acting in accordance with His own nature, providing for the reclamation of His people through the mediation of another. This principle of intercession carries over into the new covenant. In fact, the New Covenant was the reason for its introduction under the Law.

-- TOMORROW: SAMUEL, THE INTERCESSOR --