THE GARMENTS OF GLORY AND BEAUTY
Ex. 28 gives us the details of this dress; chapter 29., the order of putting the several garments on. It will be noticed that this is the reverse of the order in 28:4; the application to man usually begins with the close of the order of a divine announcement. It was so with the sacrifices, and also with the building of the tabernacle and its coverings.
We have seen Aaron bathed—new created in figure, and then the coat was the first garment put on.
“And thou shalt embroider the coat of fine linen, and thou shalt make the miter of fine linen, and thou shalt make the girdle of needlework," chapter 28:39.
Fine linen has two references in the New Testament which will show its meaning. It was the material of which the veil was made, and we read in Heb. 10:2020By a new and living way, which he hath consecrated for us, through the veil, that is to say, his flesh; (Hebrews 10:20), "the veil, that is to say, His flesh," i.e., the very body of Christ; and again, in Rev. 19:88And to her was granted that she should be arrayed in fine linen, clean and white: for the fine linen is the righteousness of saints. (Revelation 19:8), "the fine linen is the righteousnesses of the saints." Both thoughts seem to be found in the coat, Christ Himself, in the character of righteousness. The further idea of the embroidery will be one of special enrichment, about which no detail is told us. It was of divine pattern, for Moses was to make all things after the pattern shown to him in the mount. It may suggest to us, not simply righteousness of life, but that divine righteousness which we find in the New Testament, "righteousness of God.”
This needs examining, for we find our Lord Jesus was made sin for us, "that we might be made the righteousness of God in Him," 2 Cor. 5:2121For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him. (2 Corinthians 5:21). This must be distinguished from simply justification, it is vastly more than that. Nor is it the imputation to us of the righteousness Christ ever wrought in His life here. Blessed and perfect as all His ways were, He ever magnifying the law, and making it honorable, yet clearly that could not be imputed to us, seeing we are told in Gal. 2:2121I do not frustrate the grace of God: for if righteousness come by the law, then Christ is dead in vain. (Galatians 2:21) "if righteousness come by the law then Christ died in vain." No legal righteousness then is ours in grace before God, but Christ Himself "is made unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption," 1 Cor. 1:3030But of him are ye in Christ Jesus, who of God is made unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption: (1 Corinthians 1:30). It is then what God has made Christ personally to be to us. It is a new thing since the cross, not anything our Lord did, but what He now is, being made such by God. This does not detract from either His life or His death; rather it shows what His life and death must have been to God, that God should thereupon constitute Him God's righteousness. So in Phil. 3:99And be found in him, not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith: (Philippians 3:9), Paul says, "not having mine own righteousness which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith.”
This is what the gospel brings to the soul, of which the Apostle says, he was not ashamed, "For therein is righteousness of God by faith revealed to faith," Rom. 1:1717For therein is the righteousness of God revealed from faith to faith: as it is written, The just shall live by faith. (Romans 1:17), lit. Again, "by deeds of law there shall no flesh be justified in His sight," Rom. 3:2020Therefore by the deeds of the law there shall no flesh be justified in his sight: for by the law is the knowledge of sin. (Romans 3:20). "But now righteousness of God without law is manifested, being witnessed by the law and the prophets; righteousness of God, by faith of Jesus Christ." It is the revelation of another righteousness, one of which law knew nothing, but we are made it in Christ, and Christ is made it to us.
The coat of linen, embroidered, may well illustrate this truth in Christ, the righteousness of God.
It will not be supposed that the dress of the high priest, used here to illustrate grace to us, is intended to suggest even that we become high priests. Not at all. But believers to-day are in Him who is the Great High Priest, so that while the dress is the display of what is proper to the Lord alone, it tells also of blessing which we are brought into as in Him.
“And thou shalt make the girdle of needlework." The primary use of the girdle is to secure the dress to the person who is wearing it. This the girdle did when put on. Thus the coat was fastened to the priest; and so in grace is God's righteousness, not Christ's, secured to the believer; it is a gift of God, and can never be taken away.
The robe of the ephod was the next garment; in verses 31-35 it was made all of blue, with a hole in the top bound round that it be not rent, while on the hem were pomegranates of blue, purple and scarlet, alternated with golden bells.
“All of blue" suggests a heavenly character which was so real in Christ. The Lord says "they are not of the world, even as I am not of the world," John 17:1616They are not of the world, even as I am not of the world. (John 17:16). Our citizenship is in heaven, even where the Lord is. He is rejected from the earth, and "the disciple is not above his Master, but every one that is perfect shall be as his Master," Luke 6:4040The disciple is not above his master: but every one that is perfect shall be as his master. (Luke 6:40). It is a special privilege that we now have, that of being associated with Him whom the world cast out.
It is from the hem of the blue that the rich fruits and bells hang. The fruits are formed in the three colors, and in those three characters-Son of God, Son of Man, and Son of David, our Lord bore fruit to God. The bells of gold speak of divine testimony, and He was "the faithful and true witness." That fruit and testimony we share, while also fruit and testimony that should result from us will flow from our taking up our heavenly calling. We can be no more than instruments, but what an honor to be put in trust in any way with the truth of God; what an honor to "go forth therefore unto Him without the camp," our very outsideness being some witness in itself, in addition to any sound that may be heard.
As Aaron moved, wearing the dress, the sound was heard without any effort on his part. If we but quietly went about in the joy of our heavenly calling, thankful to be separated to the Lord, the witness would flow freely with no effort from us. Our part is to live just what we are—results are with God.
The ephod itself, verses 6, 7, was of linen, decorated with gold, blue, purple, and scarlet; chapter 39: 3 shows that the gold was beaten into thin plates, and cut into wires or laces and worked into the linen, etc. There would appear to have been a front and a back part, which were connected by two shoulder pieces, while "a curious girdle" bound the lower parts together upon the priest's body.
It was the display of the colors, and added to them, of the gold, which is divine glory; Christ in the characters of Son of God, Son of Man, Son of David, and also gold; the Revealer of the chief glory of God, the love of His heart. "Hereby we have known love, because He laid down His life for us," 1 John 3:1616Hereby perceive we the love of God, because he laid down his life for us: and we ought to lay down our lives for the brethren. (1 John 3:16). Only so do we know true love, and "God is love." It is told us in Christ supremely. Presently too, when the millennial fulfillment of all this is accomplished, the glory of God will be displayed in Christ and in us, to the world. Even now to faith God's glory shines in the face of Jesus Christ.
There are two special passages written for us that appear to carry the thought of the gold, "That ye would walk worthy of God, who hath called you unto His own kingdom and glory," 1 Thess. 2:1212That ye would walk worthy of God, who hath called you unto his kingdom and glory. (1 Thessalonians 2:12), and "The God of all grace who hath called us unto His eternal glory in Christ Jesus," 1 Peter 5:1010But the God of all grace, who hath called us unto his eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after that ye have suffered a while, make you perfect, stablish, strengthen, settle you. (1 Peter 5:10).
What a place of blessing for us in Christ, known now.
The "curious girdle," tied all on Aaron; the full display of Christ the King that has yet to be made in millennial times, is as sure as the past display of God in Christ, humbled 1,800 years ago, and our blessing in Him equally so "Heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ.”
Two onyx stones, each with six names of the tribes of Israel graven upon it, are to be set in ouches of gold upon the shoulders of the ephod, as stones of memorial unto the children of Israel. Thus Israel as an entire nation, all 12 tribes, is to be borne in the place of power by their high priest before God.
Our great High Priest ever liveth to make intercession for us, having entered into heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God for us, able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto' God by Him.
The breastplate also was fastened to the ephod. Of the same materials, four-square doubled, a span each way. It had four rows of different stones each bearing a graven name of a tribe, three in a row, 12, and each set in gold. Probably these rows were the four sides of a square, leaving the center for the Urim and Thummim which were put in it. The order of the names on the shoulders was that of birth, verse 10, but this is not said in verse 21, where it is simply said, "according to their names," no precedence being indicated.
The whole is fastened by rings, chains, and laces, to the ephod, "that the breastplate be not loosed from the ephod, and Aaron shall bear the names of the children of Israel in the breastplate of judgment"—estimate—"upon his heart, when he goeth in unto the holy, for a memorial before Jehovah continually," verses 28, 29.
Now it is upon his heart, in the place of affection, that the 12 names are borne. Accordingly, each name has a different stone; they are not alike, for the estimate of each is varied, but all are there, and in gold settings. This too, was "for a memorial.”
To-day "the Lord knoweth them that are His," 2 Tim. 2:1919Nevertheless the foundation of God standeth sure, having this seal, The Lord knoweth them that are his. And, Let every one that nameth the name of Christ depart from iniquity. (2 Timothy 2:19), and "having loved His own which were in the world, He loved them unto the end," John 13:11Now before the feast of the passover, when Jesus knew that his hour was come that he should depart out of this world unto the Father, having loved his own which were in the world, he loved them unto the end. (John 13:1) "As the Father hath loved me, so have I loved you," John 15:99As the Father hath loved me, so have I loved you: continue ye in my love. (John 15:9). Christ "loved the church, and gave Himself for it," Eph. 5:2525Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it; (Ephesians 5:25).
As Israel in the near future will be inseparable from the glory of His earthly kingdom, so too we are bound up in the love of His heart with all the display then, as well as with all His interests now.
“In Him," He is—coat—made unto us righteousness, the righteousness of God.
“In Him," He is—robe—not of this world, but heavenly; the wisdom of the counsels of God are hid in the mystery of the church, Col. 2:2, 32That their hearts might be comforted, being knit together in love, and unto all riches of the full assurance of understanding, to the acknowledgement of the mystery of God, and of the Father, and of Christ; 3In whom are hid all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge. (Colossians 2:2‑3), with its heavenly calling.
“In Him," He is-ephod-the glorified One, with whom we shall be glorified, when the redemption shall be completed for body as well as soul, "whom He justified, them He also glorified.”
Lastly, the miter, bearing the gold plate graven with "Holiness to Jehovah," is to be on Aaron's forehead, that he "may bear the iniquity of the holy things which the children of Israel shall hallow in all their holy gifts.”
Himself our sanctification, as well as righteousness, wisdom, and redemption.
Let no license intrude here, and think that the faults of our services are of little moment. The abundance of God's blessed provisions, instead of producing in us any tolerance of the least wrong, should produce a deeper and more thorough condemnation of it. Indeed, if we but enjoyed our privileges, the latter would be the sure result.
Yet what a true comfort, the Lord our sanctification is. How much there is that we fail to perceive, which is none the less due from us, and how much there is that we do perceive, that we but very partially fulfill.
The Lord Jesus as our sanctification meets for us all the omissions and the commissions by which we vary from the perfect standard, the unknown as well as those known which we fail to confess.
Is not the mercy of our God perfect? Is it not the precious tenderness of a Father's love?