God who consecrates,
You lay out the steps to make priests holy for service
the washing with water,
the clothing in sacred garments,
the anointing with oil.
Every detail speaks of cleansing,
covering,
and empowering by Your hand.
A bull is brought for the sin offering,
its blood placed on the altar,
its body burned outside the camp.
Two rams follow
one for a burnt offering,
one for ordination.
Blood is placed on the right ear,
the right thumb,
and the right big toe of the priests
signifying that hearing, doing, and walking
are all now devoted to You.
You command that some of the blood
be sprinkled on the garments,
mingled with anointing oil
a visible seal that they belong to You
in both calling and cleansing.
Bread, cakes, and wafers from the basket of ordination
are placed in their hands,
then burned on the altar
because service to You is both received and offered back.
Then You establish the rhythm
two lambs each day,
morning and evening,
as a continual burnt offering throughout the generations.
This daily sacrifice keeps the doorway of the tent of meeting
a place where You promise to meet and speak with Your people.
Lord, consecrate my ears to hear only Your truth,
my hands to do only what honors You,
my feet to walk only in Your ways.
Mark my life with daily devotion,
not just great moments of surrender,
but ordinary constancy.
Dwell among me and make me know
that You are the LORD my God,
who brought me out of slavery
to live in Your presence forever.
In the name of Jesus,
the Lamb who consecrates us by His blood
and makes us a dwelling for God,
Amen.