Correspondence: Ex. 28:38; Born of the Flesh

Narrator: Chris Genthree
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Ans. In Exodus 28 the garments of glory and beauty present (in figure) the offices of Israel’s high priest but fulfilled in Christ Himself. The priesthood in Israel failed, and these garments had to be changed for others when the high priest went into the Holiest of all (Lev. 16:44He shall put on the holy linen coat, and he shall have the linen breeches upon his flesh, and shall be girded with a linen girdle, and with the linen mitre shall he be attired: these are holy garments; therefore shall he wash his flesh in water, and so put them on. (Leviticus 16:4)).
It is therefore the Lord Jesus as the Great High Priest we are to see in them. Crowned with glory and honor (Heb. 2:7-97Thou madest him a little lower than the angels; thou crownedst him with glory and honor, and didst set him over the works of thy hands: 8Thou hast put all things in subjection under his feet. For in that he put all in subjection under him, he left nothing that is not put under him. But now we see not yet all things put under him. 9But we see Jesus, who was made a little lower than the angels for the suffering of death, crowned with glory and honor; that he by the grace of God should taste death for every man. (Hebrews 2:7‑9)). He is now not Israel’s High Priest, but ours, who have a heavenly calling. He ever liveth to make intercession for us (Heb. 7:2525Wherefore he is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by him, seeing he ever liveth to make intercession for them. (Hebrews 7:25)). In Israel, one family of the tribe of Levi was chosen as priests. Now, all believers are priests, holy priests to enter in and to offer sacrifices of praise. And royal priests to show forth the virtues of Him who hath called us out of darkness into His marvelous light (1 Peter 2:5,95Ye also, as lively stones, are built up a spiritual house, an holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God by Jesus Christ. (1 Peter 2:5)
9But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should show forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light: (1 Peter 2:9)).
Aaron and his sons had to offer sacrifices continually for their own sins, and for the sins of others; Christ’s one sacrifice for sin has perfected us forever.
Aaron and his sons, the offering priests (Christ in figure), had to bear the iniquity of those gone out of the way. Our great High Priest carries on His work for us all.
“For us He wears the Miter
Where “Holiness” shines bright.
We can draw near, without fear, in full assurance of faith. All the mistakes of our ignorance and of our infirmities are understood and borne by our High Priest. What a comfort it is to know that He bears the iniquity of them, and gives efficacy to every desire and thought that is for the glory of God.
This is not only true in our individual approach to God; it is also true for our collective prayers and worship, and should help us to bear with each other. We lose much if we allow in ourselves a spirit of criticism. If we look at the Lord in the midst of His gathered saints (Matt. 15:2020These are the things which defile a man: but to eat with unwashen hands defileth not a man. (Matthew 15:20)), and at the saints as He sees them, we will see their faults, and, knowing our own also, we will pray for them. Satan wants us to see them through his eyes, and be like him, an accuser of the brethren.
We are children of the Father also, our worship is to be in the liberty of children, “The Father seeketh such to worship Him” (John 4:2323But the hour cometh, and now is, when the true worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth: for the Father seeketh such to worship him. (John 4:23)).
We see in it how careful the Lord was over the apostle, who might have been exalted above measure by the special privileges the Lord had given him. The flesh is just the same in an apostle as in us; it had to be kept down, so the Lord sent him something that kept him humble. Thrice he asked the Lord that it might be removed, but the Lord saw it was needed. Paul was in earnest and prayed on till he got the answer, “And He said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for My strength is made perfect in weakness.” When he knew the Lord’s mind about it, he was content as his weakness brought in the power of Christ.
This is a lesson for us. We need to be kept humble, so a messenger of Satan is allowed to try us in some way, then we go to the Lord. If we do, we hear Him saying, “I will be your strength, I will be your stay”.
Precious Savior! May we never try to do without Thee.