“AND THOU shalt make a plate of pure gold, and grave upon it, like the engravings of a signet, Holiness to the Lord.... and it shall be upon Aaron’s forehead.”
The plate of gold, placed on the mitre and worn on the forehead of Aaron, the high priest, is a further display of God’s grace to His people, for Aaron was to bear the iniquity of Israel’s holy things in all their holy gifts. The mitre tells of God’s gracious provision for the defilements and imperfections in all our service and worship. Even at best we fail so often—sometimes we do a right thing in a wrong way. If left to ourselves, our offerings could never be accepted before God, for He can accept only that which is suited to His own nature, which is holiness.
But Christ has met all our needs, and He bears the iniquity of our holy things. In all our prayers and praises only what is pleasing to God reaches His ear because our great high Priest wears the mitre for us. This ought to encourage us to speak forth His praise all he more, for God is love and He delights in the prayers and worship of His people.
To all our prayers and praises
Christ adds His sweet perfume,
And love the censer raises,
These odors to consume.
“And thou shalt embroider the coat of fine linen, and thou shalt make the mitre of fine linen, and thou shalt make the girdle of needlework.” v. 39.
The coat, or inner garment, made of fine linen, tells of the spotless personal purity of our blessed Lord. The embroidery work speaks of the graces of His Person. Spotless in His own holiness He could stand before God to make atonement for the sins of others.
After the death of his sons, Nadab and Abihu, sin having come in, Aaron could go but once a year into the Holiest of all, on the great day of atonement. On that occasion he laid aside his garments “for glory and beauty"; he did not wear them within the veil.
Robed in the holy linen garments he entered into the holiest with the golden censer and the blood of atonement.
However, we learn from the book of Hebrews that Christ having] died, all is changed now. All that those garments of glory and beauty speak of are now for us His people to enjoy with Him within the veil. We are “accepted in the Beloved,” and He, as the High Priest of His people, brings us into the enjoyment of all the blessings that are set forth in these wonderful types and shadows.
He’s gone within the veil,
For us that place has won;
In Him we stand, a heavenly band
Where He Himself is gone.
From head to foot Aaron would be clothed with that which spoke of purity and holiness. How beautiful he must have looked in his splendid robes, with those shining gems sparkling in the light of the holy place! Would you not have liked to have seen him, dear young reader. We are sure you would. Remember, hover, the beauty of Jesus far exceeds that of Aaron as the sun exceeds in splendor the light of the candle. Soon He will come forth from His heavenly tabernacle above to bless His people, “to be glorified in His saints, and to be admired in all them that believe.” 2 Thess. 1:1010When he shall come to be glorified in his saints, and to be admired in all them that believe (because our testimony among you was believed) in that day. (2 Thessalonians 1:10). May we be found at that day among those who “love His appearing,” that we may be changed into His glorious image.
ML-10/04/1970