God’s Mighty Men

Did you know there was a special group of men in the Bible called David’s Mighty Men? David’s Mighty Men were an elite band of roughly 37 loyal, highly skilled warriors—warriors whose courage and loyalty set them apart from all others. They were known for extreme bravery and supernatural feats, often overcoming impossible odds. But they weren’t famous simply because they were strong. They were mighty because they were obedient men who moved at the word of their king, even when that word was spoken casually and the cost was enormous. There’s one story that stands out to me about these mighty men found in 2 Samuel 23:13-17. David mentions—almost in passing—that he longs for a drink of water from the well of Bethlehem. He doesn’t issue a command. He doesn’t demand action. Yet three of his mighty men break through enemy lines, risk their lives, and return with water drawn from that well. Why? Because obedience to their king mattered more than their own safety. And when David sees what their obedience cost, he refuses to drink the water. Instead, he pours it out before the Lord. Why? Because obedience like that belongs to God—it produces worship, and worship invites glory. That moment teaches us something vital: God’s glory is not experienced through convenience, talent, or good intentions. It is revealed when His people respond to Him in worship with reverent obedience.

And this is where the story intersects with our scripture this morning. Because while David’s mighty men fought battles with swords in the valley, there was another group of “mighty men”, Aaron and his sons, the priests of Israel, fighting a different kind of battle. They carried no weapons of war, yet they stood daily in the presence of a holy God. Their battlefield was the altar. Their weapons were obedience, sacrifice, reverence and worship. And if they failed—not in combat, but in worship—the nation would not lose land, but something far more devastating: the glory of God’s presence. David’s warriors defended Israel from enemies without. Aaron’s sons defended Israel from corruption within. One group protected the kingdom’s borders; the other protected the kingdom’s relationship with God. Both teach us the same truth: God’s glory is never separated from obedient worship. So as we begin our study of Leviticus 9 today, here’s the question before us: Are we willing to be God’s mighty people—not merely in belief, but in obedience—so that we might truly experience His glory? That brings us to our big idea that God’s people must worship Him in obedience to experience His glory.

Let’s pray: Gracious God, we quiet our hearts before You now. Open our minds to Your truth, soften our spirits to Your leading, and prepare us to receive Your Word. May it speak clearly to us, transform us deeply, and draw us closer to You. Guide our time this morning for Your glory. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

This morning, we are going to see what is required of the Israelites for them to experience the glory of God. Which will then inform us about what is required for us to experience God’s glory and to worship Him in joy and awe. Our first point, God’s Presence, found in Leviticus 9:1-7. You can follow along as I read. This is what God’s Word says, “On the eighth day Moses summoned Aaron and his sons and the elders of Israel. He said to Aaron, “Take a bull calf for your sin offering and a ram for your burnt offering, both without defect, and present them before the LORD. Then say to the Israelites: ‘Take a male goat for a sin offering, a calf and a lamb—both a year old and without defect—for a burnt offering, and an ox and a ram for a fellowship offering to sacrifice before the LORD, together with a grain offering mixed with olive oil. For today the LORD will appear to you.’” They took the things Moses commanded to the front of the tent of meeting, and the entire assembly came near and stood before the LORD. Then Moses said, “This is what the LORD has commanded you to do, so that the glory of the LORD may appear to you.” Moses said to Aaron, “Come to the altar and sacrifice your sin offering and your burnt offering and make atonement for yourself and the people; sacrifice the offering that is for the people and make atonement for them, as the LORD has commanded.”

The first thing we see is a timestamp. We are told exactly when the events of this chapter take place. Aaron and his sons have just finished their seven-day ordination ceremony and the first verse says, “it came to pass on the eight days.” Now we can assume that this is important or Moses may have just written “the next day.” In the Hebrew, the number eight means “to make fat” signifying something super-abundant. In the Bible, the number eight symbolizes new beginnings, resurrection, and regeneration. As the number following seven, which means perfection or completeness, it signifies a fresh start, representing a new order or creation that emerges after the completion of a previous cycle. We see that God uses the number eight a lot in the Bible. The English word for the number "eight" appears 80 times in the KJV. It is found 74 times in the OT and 6 in the NT. In Hebrew society, the eighth day became an important part of Israelite rituals. It was set aside for the perfecting and purifying of both man and animal. This included the dedication of the firstborn to God, circumcision, purification of one suffering from a skin disease or from a bodily discharge. Also, an animal could not be sacrificed until they were eight days old, the Feast of Shelters concluded on the eight days with a festival, and in the purification of a defiled Nazirite, they shaved their head on the seventh day, brought sacrifices and restarted their Nazarite vow on the eighth day.

Moses is still the covenant mediator as he called for Aaron and his sons and the elders of Israel. The elders were called because they represented the Israelite people. They may have been the same people whom Moses called in chapter 8 to observe the ordination ceremony on behalf of the entire congregation. Moses directs Aaron to take a young bull calf without blemish to sacrifice as a sin offering and a ram without blemish as a burnt offering, both for himself. Aaron was to offer these animals as sacrifices before the Lord on the burnt altar. The Hebrew word used here for calf is the same word used for the golden calf that Aaron made at the request of the Israelites in Exodus 32. Interestingly, this word is only mentioned three times in the first five books of the Bible and all of them reference the golden calf. It’s as if God was redeeming Aaron from his “great sin” in leading the people into idolatry and pagan worship of the golden calf. This reminds me of Jesus redeeming Peter after he denied Him three times. The calf will be sacrificed for the purification and atonement of Aaron’s sins, and the ram will be sacrificed as a burnt offering which reflects Aaron’s total commitment and strength offered to God as a “living sacrifice.”

Moses then tells Aaron to tell the children of Israel to take a male goat without blemish to be sacrificed as their sin offering and a calf and a lamb, both one year old, without blemish to be sacrificed as their burnt offering. This marks the beginning of Aaron’s role as High Priest of Israel. After the sacrifice and offerings of his ordination ceremony, he now has the authority to speak to the people when it comes to worship and priestly matters. The male goat, or the hairy goat, was the same sin offering that the leader of the congregation was to bring when they sinned unintentionally, according to Leviticus 4:23. This was brought because the leaders or elders were accountable to God for themselves and for those under them. Hair represents an awareness of sin, and the hairy goat symbolizes the consciousness of sin. Jesus is the picture of the hairy goat, who came to be the sin offering for those who acknowledge and turn from their sin. The people were required to bring two animals for their burnt offering, a one-year-old calf and a one-year-old lamb. Again, the Hebrew word for calf is the same as the one for Aaron and so it seems God is also redeeming the people for their role in worshipping the golden calf. The meaning of the word for lamb is “to dominate” and pictures Christ dominating sin and defeating it. God accepts Jesus Christ as an acceptable sin offering.

Next, we see two more offerings that the people were to bring. They were to take an ox and a ram for peace offerings and a grain offering mixed with oil before the Lord. The peace offering symbolized that the previous offerings were accepted by the Lord and there could now be communion and fellowship between God and the people. Notice that every type of offering is being presented except for the reparation or guilt offering. This was probably because the reparation offering was a more personal and individual sacrifice which never appeared as a public sacrifice, presumably because its role was specialized in cases involving certain or suspected sacrilege. Next, we see what all these sacrifices were for. It was because the Lord was going to appear to them that day. This phrase is in the past tense. The Lord’s appearance is a foregone conclusion, an accomplished fact. It is the same past tense we see in Psalm 102:16, which says, “For the Lord will rebuild Zion and appear in his glory.” This is speaking of Jesus Christ being resurrected on the third day and appearing to His disciples and others signifying the new beginning that had taken place. If the Israelite congregation would worship the Lord in obedience, they were promised that they would see God’s Presence appear to them.

We are told that Aaron and the people obediently brought the sacrifices Moses commanded to the front of the tent of meeting and the entire assembly came near and stood before the Lord. The elders are still present before the Lord but there may have been others in the congregation who tried to find good vantage points to see the proceedings. Moses reiterates that if they are obedient in their worship of the Lord, the glory of the Lord would appear to them, showing His pleasure for their obedience. Moses tells Aaron to go to the burnt altar and offer his sin and burnt offerings to make atonement for himself and the people and then to offer the sin offering for the people to make atonement for them. Even though Aaron had offered sin offerings before the Lord in the past seven days, he was still required to make atonement for himself. This shows us two things. One, Aaron was a human priest who had to continually present sin offerings before the Lord repeatedly. Which reminds us that Jesus Christ, our perfect High Priest, made his sin sacrifice for us once and for all. Only after Aaron’s sins are atoned for and forgiven can he offer the sin offering on the people’s behalf, making atonement for them. Two, Aaron would now be fully acting as High Priest on behalf of the people.

That brings us to our second point, God’s Provision, found in verses 8-21. This is what God’s Word says, “So Aaron came to the altar and slaughtered the calf as a sin offering for himself. His sons brought the blood to him, and he dipped his finger into the blood and put it on the horns of the altar; the rest of the blood he poured out at the base of the altar. On the altar he burned the fat, the kidneys and the long lobe of the liver from the sin offering, as the LORD commanded Moses; the flesh and the hide he burned outside the camp. Then he slaughtered the burnt offering. His sons handed him the blood, and he splashed it against the sides of the altar. They handed him the burnt offering piece by piece, including the head, and he burned them on the altar. He washed the internal organs and the legs and burned them on top of the burnt offering on the altar. Aaron then brought the offering that was for the people. He took the goat for the people’s sin offering and slaughtered it and offered it for a sin offering as he did for himself. He brought the burnt offering and offered it in the prescribed way. He also brought the grain offering, took a handful of it and burned it on the altar in addition to the morning’s burnt offering. He slaughtered the ox and the ram as the fellowship offering for the people. His sons handed him the blood, and he splashed it against the sides of the altar. But the fat portions of the ox and the ram—the fat tail, the layer of fat, the kidneys and the long lobe of the liver— these they laid on the breasts, and then Aaron burned the fat on the altar. Aaron waved the breasts and the right thigh before the LORD as a wave offering, as Moses commanded.

Now we see God’s provision of the system of sacrifices for the atonement that He required in order that everyone could see His presence. We see the proper order that God commanded for the sacrifices as Aaron went to the altar and killed the calf for his sin offering. The atonement of sin had to come first before a person could completely dedicate themselves to the Lord. Aaron is the one who kills the calf symbolizing that Jesus Christ was our willing sacrifice on the altar of the cross. Then we see Aaron’s son’s, the priests, effectively being installed in their role in the sacrificial system. His sons also needed to be atoned for and so each one, by faith, brought the blood of the sacrifice to Aaron. Aaron dipped his finger in the blood and put it on the horns of the burnt altar and poured the rest out at the base of the altar. Normally, when the sin offering was offered for the High Priest, he had to take the blood into the Holy Place and sprinkle it before the veil and then put it on the horns of the incense altar. Because he didn’t do that, we can surmise two things. One, this offering was for Aaron’s sin nature not for a specific sin committed by him. Two, he did not have access to the Holy Place yet. Now that he has offered his sign offering, he will have that access, as we will witness a little later in our passage. The blood placed on the horns of the altar symbolizes Christ blood that has the power to cleanse and forgive sin. Pouring out the rest of the blood symbolized Christ’s shed blood on the cross. It also symbolized that the blood belonged to God and it was being returned to Him.

As Aaron continued to obey God’s commands for their worship, he burned the fat, the kidneys, and the fatty lobe of the liver on the altar. These symbolized the best part of the animal and that God deserves the best of our worship. Aaron then burned the flesh and the hide outside the camp. It would have been unacceptable for Him to partake of the animal since it was offered for his sin. It would have been symbolic of Aaron taking his sin back inside himself and so it had to be purged from the camp. This was all done according to the Lord’s commands to Moses. Then Aaron continues to offer the sacrifices in an orderly fashion as he offers the burnt offering. Once His sin was atoned for, he could dedicate himself wholly to the Lord. Again, each of his sons present the blood of the sacrifice to Aaron and so is representative of them all dedicating themselves wholly to the Lord. Aaron splashes the blood all around the altar symbolizing the complete atonement, purification, and consecration of the altar for holy use. Aaron’s sons cut up the burnt offering so it will burn completely on the altar, and they hand the pieces and the head to Aaron to burn. Aaron washed the entrails and legs symbolizing the inner purity of Christ and that there was no defilement in him. Even with living on the earth as a human being there was no defilement found in his life. This signifies that Aaron and his sons are to live the same way as God’s priests as Jesus did.

Now that Aaron and his sons have been atoned for and they have completely dedicated themselves as living sacrifices to the Lord they can now be mediators to the people of Israel and offer their sacrifices to God. Again, Aaron starts with the sin offering. He killed the goat and offered it to God for their atonement. This highlights the fact that we must have an acceptable mediator to offer our sacrifices before the Lord for our atonement. Of course, this is Jesus Christ, our High Priest and mediator, who became sin for us and made us acceptable to God. The remains of the goat were to be eaten by Aaron and his sons according to the instructions given previously. They could partake because it was not offered for their sin and because the blood was never carried into the Holy Place. Now in quick succession we see Aaron offering the burnt offering, the grain offering and the peace offering. Aaron continues to be obedient as he brings the burnt offering in the prescribed way, in the same pattern as he did for himself and his sons. The people were now wholly dedicated to God. Aaron then brought the grain offering and took the memorial portion and burned it on the altar in addition to the morning’s burnt offering. The memorial portion symbolized that the people remembered and were grateful to the Lord for his provision for them. If you remember they were to sacrifice a lamb in the morning and one in the evening as a burnt offering. The grain offering would be put on top of the morning burnt offering that was already on top of the altar. The peace offering for the people consisted of an ox and a ram. Aaron killed them and his sons brought the blood to him, and he splashed it against the sides of the altar. He took all the fat from both animals and laid it on the breasts and the right thigh. Once the fat, the breasts and the right thigh were waved before the Lord, the fat was burned on the altar and the breasts, and the right thigh were reserved for the priests. If everything was done obediently, God would provide for their atonement, their dedication, their gratitude and their peace with Him, and they would experience the glory of God.

That brings us to our third point, God’s Glory, found in Leviticus 9:22-24. This is what God’ Word says, “Then Aaron lifted his hands toward the people and blessed them. And having sacrificed the sin offering, the burnt offering and the fellowship offering, he stepped down. Moses and Aaron then went into the tent of meeting. When they came out, they blessed the people; and the glory of the LORD appeared to all the people. Fire came out from the presence of the LORD and consumed the burnt offering and the fat portions on the altar. And when all the people saw it, they shouted for joy and fell facedown.

Aaron is now fully installed as the High Priest of Israel and has performed the sacrifices God ordained for their worship and he has been obedient throughout. In honor of mediating on behalf of the people, he consecrates the moment and his authority by lifting his hands in blessing and praying to God. Some commentators say this was the high priestly blessing found in Numbers 6:24-26 which says, “The Lord bless you and keep you; the Lord make his face shine on you and be gracious to you; the Lord turn his face toward you and give you peace.”’ Another tradition says the blessing could have been Psalm 90:17 which says, “May the favor of the Lord our God rest on us; establish the work of our hands for us—yes, establish the work of our hands.” This one is interesting because it is the oldest Psalm in the Bible and the only one written by Moses. Aaron acknowledging his right to bless the people foreshadows Jesus Christ and his blessing given to His disciples at His ascension. Luke 24:50-51 says, “When he had led them out to the vicinity of Bethany, he lifted his hands and blessed them. While he was blessing them, he left them and was taken up into heaven.” No matter what the words were, the blessing originated from God himself, and Aaron was the vehicle in which it was given to the people. Then Aaron stepped down from offering the sin offering, the burnt offering, and peace offering. “Stepped down” could mean two things: One, that Aaron stepped down a ramp built beside the altar, if there was one. This may have made it easier for the priests to access the altar and the sacrifices. Or that he left the altar, stepped down, and approached the people, meaning he stepped down in place of importance not in elevation. He was now on their level.

Then we see for the first time Aaron entering the tent of meeting and Moses for the last time. From now on Aaron and his sons would be responsible for the spiritual condition of the Israelites. We are not told what Moses and Aaron did inside the Holy Place. There was probably a private transfer of priestly duties from Moses to Aaron. Moses may have been pointing out the furniture and giving instructions for each. They may have prayed at the altar of incense and sprinkled blood before the veil. If nothing else, it showed the people that everything that was done that day was accepted by God and that Aaron had been accepted as the High Priest. The people may have been holding their breath to see if they would come out from the presence of the Lord in the tabernacle. When they finally did come out, Moses and Aaron spoke in unison and blessed the people again. Again, we don’t know what was said but we do know what happened next. The glory of the Lord appeared to all the people and fire came out from before the Lord and totally consumed the burnt offering and the fat on the altar. Commentators are split about whether the offerings had already been smoldering on the altar or the offerings were all ignited at the same time by the Lord’s fire. But what we do know is that when the Lord’s fire hit the altar the offerings were totally consumed showing God’s approval of their obedient worship. The fire came from the presence of the Lord which means it probably came out from the Holy of Holies in the tabernacle. It was clear that the fire came from the Lord and not from Moses and Aaron. The Israelites saw and personally experienced the glory of the Lord. They had worshipped their Covenant King and Lord in obedience. They had correctly offered the prescribed sacrifices that God had provided for their atonement and so God allowed them to experience His glory (Big Idea). And we see the result of the Lord’s glory manifested in the people’s presence. They shouted for joy and fell on their faces in awe and worship.

In conclusion, the question for us today is, have you experienced the glory of God? Or maybe you’re wondering how can I experience His glory? First, what is the glory of God? The glory of God is the manifest beauty, weightiness or significance of God, and the splendor of His character, holiness, and attributes. It is the outward display of His inner essence—including His love, power, and justice—revealed through creation, scripture, and Jesus Christ. The glory of God serves as the goal of all things and the source of human joy. It is often associated with the tangible presence of God. Second, how can we recognize His glory? We recognize His glory when we see and experience His goodness, justice, and mercy. We recognize His glory through His works including miracles, salvation, and the answering of prayer. Third, how do we experience God’s glory today? Experiencing the glory of God today is achieved by actively focusing on the life, character, and work of Jesus Christ, walking in love, obeying His commands and living in complete devotion to Him. It means striving with the help of the Holy Spirit to become more like Jesus. To prepare to experience God’s glory, we must remove hindrances like unrepentant sin and cultivate a healthy reverence or fear for the Lord. We must have a hunger and thirst for righteousness and seek a deeper relationship with God which includes intentional spiritual practices, such as spending time in prayer, studying the Bible, and heartfelt, obedient worship. That brings us to our first next step which is I will give my life in complete devotion to God and worship Him in obedience to experience His glory.

Now if you have experienced the glory of God, it’s important that you manifest or display God’s glory to those around you. By you displaying the glory of God might be the very thing someone needs to experience to bring them into the family of God. How do we manifest God’s glory to those around us? It involves reflecting His character—love, holiness, and power—through intentional daily actions, such as performing good works, exercising forgiveness, and serving others. It is achieved by living a consecrated life, speaking truth, and sharing the Gospel, which allows God's wisdom and presence to shine through you. We reflect or "give" glory to God by praising Him, living according to His will, and acknowledging His worth. Essentially, by aligning your life with God’s principles, your life becomes a testament to His power, presence and glory. That bring us to our last next step which is I will display the glory of God to those around me by my life becoming a testament to God’s power, presence and glory.

As the praise team comes to lead us in a final song and the ushers prepare to collect the tithes and offerings, let’s pray: Heavenly Father, thank you for your Word. Thank you for your Holy Spirit, who helps us to understand the truths found in it. Lord, we ask for the Holy Spirit to help us to worship obediently and allow us to experience your glory in our lives and in the life of our church. Help us to give our lives in complete devotion to you. And help us to display your glory to those around us by our lives becoming a testament to your power, presence and glory. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

God’s Mighty Men

God's people must worship Him obedience to experience His glory.

Weekly Schedule

Contact Information

Stay Connected