Leviticus 21:5-8
Lev 21:5 They will not make bald patches on their heads, nor shave off the edges of their beards, nor make any cuts on their skin.
Lev 21:6 They will be holy to their God and not profane the name of their God. Because they offer Yahveh’s fire offerings, the bread of their God; therefore, they will be holy.
Lev 21:7 They will not marry a prostitute or a woman who has been defiled, neither will they marry a woman divorced from her husband, because the priest is holy to his God.
Lev 21:8 You will sanctify him, because he offers the bread of your God. He will be holy to you, because I, Yahveh, who sanctify you, am holy.
exclusive dedication
The Israelites were to exclusively dedicate their priests to the LORD, because the priests were responsible for the worship at the temple. The priests offered the bread of their God — the bread of the manifest presence. Because the LORD exclusively dedicated the whole people to himself, the priests were to reflect the LORD’s holiness.
Under the new covenant, all believers are priests. We are a kingdom of priests. We have been given the means of reflecting God’s image, and manifesting his presence, because we have been given his Holy Spirit.
LORD, thank you for the means of reflecting your glory, your Holy Spirit within us.
Does this have implications for any believers who have been previously divorced from holding any offices in the church?