Exodus 28. The garments for Glory and
Beauty.
WE have now come to the second part of this section of the book of Exodus. God having come to the outside of the tabernacle where He has met the people, He now provides a priest to represent them in His presence and therefore He clothes him in garments suitable for His presence.
As a rule when one represents another, or a firm, he bears the character of the one or the firm whom he represents, but it is not so with God’s high priest for His people Israel. He had to bear God’s character, so that he would be suitable for His presence, and God could look at His people in the suitability of the high priest. God therefore tells how he has to be clothed, for all that was to be put upon him had to be symbolical of His character.
Aaron, the high priest, brings before us a type of Christ, as the Great High Priest, for His people now; and Aaron’s sons are a type of all the saved people now.
We have first the priesthood in verses 1-3; then the priestly garments in verse 4; and the materials to be used in making these garments in verse 5.
The ephod which was the priestly robe, with its girdle, and the two stones on the shoulders are described in verses 6-14.
The breastplate with the twelve precious stones occupy verses 15-29.
The Urim and Thummin (which will be explained later, as well as these others) are given to us in verse 30.
The robe of the ephod is described in verses 31-35.
The crown and the mitre (or hat) in verses 36-38.
Last of all the ordinary garments of the high priest and priests are given in verses 39-43.
This is a long chapter, and we have pointed out its divisions so that you will easily get hold of each part, and in our next paper we purpose giving the typical teachings.
ML 06/18/1922