Head and Shoulders, Knees and Toes

As a little kid, we used to sing the song, "Head and shoulders, knees and toes" to help a child learn about how to identify different parts other body. When we come to Leviticus 8 & 9 we find God setting apart His priests and he does this in a rather interesting way. He ordains them for their priesthood in a rather unique way. He places some blood on their right ear, their right thumb, and their right big toe. There's a word of significance in each of them.

Highlight:

'Next he presented the second ram, the ram of ordination, and Aaron and his sons laid their hands on the head of the ram. Moses slaughtered it, took some of its blood, and put it on Aaron’s right earlobe, on the thumb of his right hand, and on the big toe of his right foot. Moses also presented Aaron’s sons and put some of the blood on their right earlobes, on the thumbs of their right hands, and on the big toes of their right feet. Then Moses splattered the blood on all sides of the altar. ' Leviticus 8:22-24

Explain:

Leviticus 8 & 9 give us a very specific account of the sanctification (the setting apart of Aaron and his sons to serve as priests in God’s Tabernacle.). These men had been set apart for service and these chapters chronicle the meticulous detail Moses undertook to prepare these men for the important work they were doing on behalf of the people, a covenant people who belonged to God as His possession now. It is important to note that Moses did everything the Lord commanded Him to do. Nothing was left out He did it exactly as the Lord directed. His obedience is on full display in these passages.

One of the things Moses does in this chapter is ordain Aaron and his sons as priests before God. They go through a bizarre but very important ceremony to become priests. Moses slaughters the ram and presents it as the ram of ordination. Moses takes some of the blood and puts it on Aaron’s right ear, the thumb of his right hand and the big toe of his right foot. (Head and shoulders knees and toes).

But why? Why is this important. Well let’s break it down.

The blood purified everything. Hebrews 9:22 says, “according to the law almost everything is PURIFIED by blood and without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness.” So the blood purified them, it set them apart for a unique fellowship. That setting apart as holy was not focused on what they were set apart from, but about what they were set apart to. God was giving them special access to Himself, they would interact with His very presence daily and so they had to be purified with blood, set apart for a specific purpose namely fellowship with God.

But why the right side. The right side is always seen as the side of power and strength. The scepter of a king would be held in HIs right hand. Remember the words of the Psalmist. 'You reveal the path of life to me; in your presence is abundant joy; at your RIGHT HAND are eternal pleasures.' Psalms 16:11

But why the right ear? Because it was sanctifying what was heard. It was setting it apart for what it heard. God wanted to speak specifically to His people through Aaron and Moses and so God wanted Aaron and his sons ear to be set apart for the purpose of hearing from God. When God spoke they heard it and shared it with the people. James 1 talks about being a doer of the word and not just a hearer.

Why the right thumb then? The strength of the hand is the thumb and the hands were set apart for doing the work of God. It was representative of their service to God. God was setting apart their hands for service to Him. Ecclesiastes 9:10 says, “whatever your hand finds to do, do it with all your might."

What about the big toe? The toe is the strength of the foot as the thumb is the strength of the hand. God was setting apart where they went. They needed sure footing because they were walking in the presence of God at all times. God was setting apart where they went and was signifying that God would guard their steps and order them. Psalms 37:23 reads, “the steps of a good man are ordered by the Lord and he delights in His ways.”

Apply:

So how do we apply all of this. 1 Peter 2:9 reads, "'But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his possession, so that you may proclaim the praises of the one who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light. ' 1 Peter 2:9

We, as believers in Christ, have been made into a royal priesthood. That means that we have been set apart not just from the unrighteousness of this world, but for the fellowship with God. We have the tremendous access and privilege to the Father and as such, our lives must be set apart for fellowship with God as well. The blood of Jesus Christ sets apart our strength (our right side). The best that we have we give to Him. We need His blood to set apart our ears for hearing what God longs to say to us through His word. We must be willing to listen and to hear and to obey. Our hearts should leap that we are given this privilege to hear from God Himself through His word and our ears should be set apart and fine tuned to hear God’s voice. Can I hear God’s voice amidst the pressures and pace of this world. I have to get alone with God in the quiet to hear Him speak.

The blood should be on our right thumb because our hands should be consecrated (set apart) for the service of God. We are given the privilege of working in this life for the life that is to come inaugurated in the kingdom. Our hands and service have been set apart for that purpose. We must embrace that thought. None of us leave the service of our God we are constantly commissioned. We dare not sit on the sidelines and not work for God, to allow someone else to do it, is a copout sometimes. We are to be about the Father’s business, using our hands to work for the kingdom advancement.

We need the blood on our toes as well to set apart our steps. They are directed by God for His own glory. God means to use every step in your life to point to Him. The next step in our life is set apart for that purpose. God leads our lives, He is the One who gives us sure footing in His presence and He will lead us, if we will but follow. We must do this because our steps have been set apart for this purpose.

Respond:

Jesus help me to listen, to work, and to walk the way You have me apart to do so. Help me to follow You, work for You, and listen to You. Thank You for the marvelous privilege of entering into Your presence and for setting me apart for this purpose of fellowship with You.