Consecration

The setting apart of people, things, times or places as sacred, for God to use.

Consecration is the requirement of a holy God

Leviticus 20:7–8 See also Leviticus 11:44, Leviticus 22:32

Consecrate yourselves, therefore, and be holy, because I am the LORD your God. And you shall keep My statutes and practice them. I am the LORD who sanctifies you.

The consecration of people

The importance of personal consecration

Romans 6:13

Inward consecration to God is symbolised by outward cleansing

Romans 12:1; 2 Corinthians 5:14–15; 1 Peter 2:24; Exodus 19:10, Exodus 19:14; 1 Samuel 16:5; 2 Chronicles 30:17, 2 Chronicles 35:6; Psalm 50:5; Romans 12:1

The consecration of all firstborn males

Exodus 13:2; Luke 2:22–23 See also Exodus 13:12–13; Numbers 3:11–13, Numbers 8:17–18 The Levites served in place of the firstborn males in Israel.

“Consecrate to Me every firstborn male. The firstborn from every womb among the Israelites belongs to Me, both of man and beast.”

And when the time of purification according to the Law of Moses was complete, His parents brought Him to Jerusalem to present Him to the Lord (as it is written in the Law of the Lord: “Every firstborn male shall be consecrated to the Lord”),

The consecration of priests

Exodus 29:1 See also Exodus 19:22; 1 Kings 13:33; 2 Chronicles 30:3, 2 Chronicles 30:24

“Now this is what you are to do to consecrate Aaron and his sons to serve Me as priests: Take a young bull and two rams without blemish,

The consecration of the Aaronic priesthood

Exodus 30:30 See also Exodus 28:41; Leviticus 8:30; 1 Chronicles 23:13

Anoint Aaron and his sons and consecrate them to serve Me as priests.

The consecration of the Levitical priesthood

1 Chronicles 15:12; 2 Chronicles 23:6, 2 Chronicles 29:5, 2 Chronicles 35:3

Special consecration is marked by a vow

Numbers 6:8, Numbers 6:11 the Nazirite vow

The consecration of things

Altars

Exodus 29:36–37 See also Exodus 30:29EXO Exodus 40:9–11; Leviticus 8:11–12

Sacrifice a bull as a sin offering each day for atonement. Purify the altar by making atonement for it, and anoint it to consecrate it. For seven days you shall make atonement for the altar and consecrate it. Then the altar will become most holy; whatever touches the altar will be holy.

Meat

Haggai 2:12 The state of consecration could be transmitted; Jeremiah 11:15 True consecration should involve a right spirit.

Certain places are consecrated

Exodus 19:23 Mount Sinai; Exodus 29:43–44 the Tent of Meeting; Leviticus 8:10; Numbers 7:1; 1 Kings 8:64 parallel 2 Chronicles 7:7; 1 Kings 9:3 parallel 2 Chronicles 7:16; 2 Chronicles 29:17–19

Certain times are specially consecrated

Leviticus 25:10 the Year of Jubilee; Genesis 2:3; Exodus 20:8, Exodus 20:11; Deuteronomy 5:12

The consecration of daily life

1 Timothy 4:4–5 The reference may be to grace before eating. See also Zechariah 14:20–21

For every creation of God is good, and nothing that is received with thanksgiving should be rejected, because it is sanctified by the word of God and prayer.

Consecration as preparation for work and worship

Numbers 11:18; Joshua 3:5, Joshua 7:13

Consecration to other gods incurs God's displeasure

Isaiah 66:17 See also Judges 17:3; 2 Chronicles 13:9, 2 Chronicles 26:18, 2 Chronicles 30:17, 2 Chronicles 36:14; Hosea 9:10

“Those who consecrate and purify themselves to enter the groves — to follow one in the center of those who eat the flesh of swine and vermin and rats — will perish together,” declares the LORD.