Bible Talks

From: Messages of God's Love: 1970

Narrator: Chris Genthree

• 2 min. read • grade level: 6

Exodus 28:22-35²²And thou shalt make upon the breastplate chains at the ends of wreathen work of pure gold. ²³And thou shalt make upon the breastplate two rings of gold, and shalt put the two rings on the two ends of the breastplate. ²⁴And thou shalt put the two wreathen chains of gold in the two rings which are on the ends of the breastplate. ²⁵And the other two ends of the two wreathen chains thou shalt fasten in the two ouches, and put them on the shoulderpieces of the ephod before it. ²⁶And thou shalt make two rings of gold, and thou shalt put them upon the two ends of the breastplate in the border thereof, which is in the side of the ephod inward. ²⁷And two other rings of gold thou shalt make, and shalt put them on the two sides of the ephod underneath, toward the forepart thereof, over against the other coupling thereof, above the curious girdle of the ephod. ²⁸And they shall bind the breastplate by the rings thereof unto the rings of the ephod with a lace of blue, that it may be above the curious girdle of the ephod, and that the breastplate be not loosed from the ephod. ²⁹And Aaron shall bear the names of the children of Israel in the breastplate of judgment upon his heart, when he goeth in unto the holy place, for a memorial before the Lord continually. ³⁰And thou shalt put in the breastplate of judgment the Urim and the Thummim; and they shall be upon Aaron's heart, when he goeth in before the Lord: and Aaron shall bear the judgment of the children of Israel upon his heart before the Lord continually. ³¹And thou shalt make the robe of the ephod all of blue. ³²And there shall be an hole in the top of it, in the midst thereof: it shall have a binding of woven work round about the hole of it, as it were the hole of an habergeon, that it be not rent. ³³And beneath upon the hem of it thou shalt make pomegranates of blue, and of purple, and of scarlet, round about the hem thereof; and bells of gold between them round about: ³⁴A golden bell and a pomegranate, a golden bell and a pomegranate, upon the hem of the robe round about. ³⁵And it shall be upon Aaron to minister: and his sound shall be heard when he goeth in unto the holy place before the Lord, and when he cometh out, that he die not. (Exodus 28:22‑35)

THE breastplate and the shoulders of the ephod were bound together with chains and rings of gold. Since the breastplate worn on the high priest’s heart tells of the love of Christ for His people, and since the shoulders speak of strength, then these chains and rings of gold teach us of how His strength and love unite in bearing us up and in presenting us before God as those He loves and cherishes. “Neither shall any man pluck them out of My hand” (John 10:28²⁸And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand. (John 10:28)); again “Who shall separate us from the love of Christ?” (Rom. 8:35³⁵Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? (Romans 8:35)).

The Urim and Thummim, meaning “lights” and “perfections,” were put into the folded breastplate. We are not told of how or what they were made, but they had to do with wisdom and judgment from the Lord. He gave counsel and guidance to Israel and answered questions through them at times in their history (1 Sam. 28:6⁶And when Saul inquired of the Lord, the Lord answered him not, neither by dreams, nor by Urim, nor by prophets. (1 Samuel 28:6)). When Israel is restored, Christ Himself will take the place of the ancient Urim and Thummim.

The robe of the ephod is next described; it was of blue. Blue is the familiar heavenly color, and set forth the heavenly character of the One who was “made higher than the heavens” (Heb. 7:26²⁶For such an high priest became us, who is holy, harmless, undefiled, separate from sinners, and made higher than the heavens; (Hebrews 7:26)).

There was to be a hole in the top the robe, but it was to be bound that it “be not rent.” No imperfections could be allowed in that which set forth Christ. There was no place where His coat was joined: the Lord Jesus was God and perfect man the same time. God did not allow even His enemies to rend His rob (John 19: 23,24.)

On the hem of the robe wen placed golden bells and pomegranates, made of blue, purple, scarlet and fine twined linen. The pomegranate was a fruit that belonged especially to the “holy land” and was not found in Egypt.

The bells were for the purpose of giving forth a sound so that Aaron might be heard when he went into the holy place, and when he came out. A heavenly note sounded out at each step. No fleshy, discordant sounds of earth must sound out at the footsteps of one who approached God. It must be a heavenly melody; his walk must be a heavenly walk. What heavenly melody sounded out when the Lord Jesus after His wonderful work on the cross entered the heavenly sanctuary. What fruit was thus borne to God. And when He comes forth again from the sanctuary above to call His loved people home, what heavenly melody will mark that scene!

“A bell and a pomegranate"—testimony and fruit were to mark all the high priest’s goings. And this should be so with us as Christians in our walk down here, now that we belong to Christ.

ML-09/27/1970

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