Up to this point (chapter 28) God has been revealing Himself (in type) in Christ to man. Now we find Him providing a way for man to be represented in His presence; hence, what follows concerns access to Him. The vessels that have been omitted are those that are used in drawing nigh to God, and these are described after the question of the priesthood is considered. The priest was the medium through which the people had to do with God. He represented the people, and ministered on their behalf. God's character was such, and man's condition was such that man could not know what God required of him, nor could he stand in God's presence, so a mediator is provided. Garments in Scripture speak of walk and character. Here the garments of the priest are described, and bring before us the character of God's beloved Son in His office as High Priest. What is needed for God's presence is necessarily symbolized also. Aaron and his sons were chosen of God to minister to Him in the priest's office. Aaron, when viewed alone, is a type of Christ as the High Priest for all believers now. When Aaron is associated with his sons, he is a type of the Church; that is, they together form in type the priestly family, believers now being made priests unto God. We get, then, in Aaron and his sons, the Church in association with Christ, and in Aaron, as looked at alone, a type of our great High Priest. It was the high priest only who could represent the people, and none but Christ can represent those who are saved. One Christian cannot represent another before God. All Christians have access to God, as priests, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God by Jesus Christ (1 Pet. 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. 6Wherefore also it is contained in the scripture, Behold, I lay in Sion a chief corner stone, elect, precious: and he that believeth on him shall not be confounded. 7Unto you therefore which believe he is precious: but unto them which be disobedient, the stone which the builders disallowed, the same is made the head of the corner, 8And a stone of stumbling, and a rock of offence, even to them which stumble at the word, being disobedient: whereunto also they were appointed. 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 2:5‑9)).
In this 28th chapter of Exodus, two things are presented to us—the garments for the priests, and the priestly office. These garments for Aaron, which were to be "for glory and for beauty," consisted of twelve different parts—the breastplate, ephod, robe of blue, broidered coat, miter, girdle, gold chains, rings, lace of blue, gold bells, pomegranates, and plate of gold for the miter. The ephod, being pre-eminently the priestly garment, is first described. The priest could not fully execute his office without this garment. It was made of the same materials as the various hangings of the tabernacle, with gold added. The divine character of Him who is our great High Priest is brought before us in the gold, which is mentioned first. The blue comes next, and speaks of His heavenly character—then the purple which tells of His glories as Son of man—"Lord of lords, and King of kings." Then the scarlet in its order, telling of Jewish royalty, as Son of David—"born King of the Jews." Last, the fine twined linen which speaks of the spotless purity of His life on earth—"holy, harmless, undefiled, separate from sinners." Christ, acting for us as Priest, is thus beautifully presented to us. In Heb. 4:1414Seeing then that we have a great high priest, that is passed into the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our profession. (Hebrews 4:14), mention is made of this perfect High Priest in such a way as to bring both God and man before us; "Seeing then that we have a great high priest, that is passed into the heavens, Jesus the Son of God," etc. The gold woven into the garments speaks of that which is divine; the varied colors speak of the perfections of the "man Christ Jesus." But the interweaving of the gold with the other materials, shows the inseparable character of the two. Who but such a Person could be a suitable representative for His people? He is not in God's presence for the salvation of sinners; sinners must meet Him at the cross; He is there on behalf of a saved people (Heb. 9:2424For Christ is not entered into the holy places made with hands, which are the figures of the true; but into heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God for us: (Hebrews 9:24)). We see this in Aaron who entered the holiest in virtue of the shed blood on 'behalf of God's people. And Christ is before God for us, not according to what we are, but according to what He is. This is a truth of vast importance which we should do well to remember.
The gold was beaten into thin plates and then wrought into the blue, and into the purple, and into the scarlet, and into the fine linen, with cunning work (chap. 39:3). Thus we see all were interwoven; and in the words of another, "The strength and glory of the gold was intimately blended with every part of the ephod, and gave firmness as well as brilliancy to the whole fabric.... Scarlet and blue are colors of the ephod. The purple also—the new and wondrous color which combines in itself both the blue and the scarlet was curiously wrought in this priestly garment—a color denoting that great mystery so inseparably connected with all contemplation of the ways, thoughts, and words of Jesus; namely, that He did combine the wisdom, love, holiness, and power of God, with every true feeling, affection, and sympathy proper to man. All these beauties were inwrought in a vesture of fine twined linen." These materials thus interwoven, would forbid us to say, This part is gold; that part is something else. Neither can we say of our blessed Lord, This part is divine; that is human. But this we can say: Christ can represent His people because He is human; He can go into God's presence because He is divine.
Such is our High Priest, dear fellow believer. When we look at His spotless life, we can say, God sees us there, for we are in Him—"accepted in the beloved." When we look at the glory into which, as man, He has entered, we can say, That is what awaits us, for His own words are, "The glory which Thou gavest Me I have given them." John 17:2222And the glory which thou gavest me I have given them; that they may be one, even as we are one: (John 17:22). God looks upon the Christian as in Christ, and can, therefore, speak of him as cleansed from all sin through the blood of Jesus Christ (1 John 1:77But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin. (1 John 1:7)). On the same principle He could say as to failing Israel, "He hath not beheld iniquity in Jacob, neither hath He seen perverseness in Israel." Numb. 23:2121He hath not beheld iniquity in Jacob, neither hath he seen perverseness in Israel: the Lord his God is with him, and the shout of a king is among them. (Numbers 23:21).
The girdle of the ephod was of the same beautiful materials as the ephod itself. It seems to have been used to bind the ephod upon the high priest. In the girdle we get the thought of service (Luke 12:3737Blessed are those servants, whom the lord when he cometh shall find watching: verily I say unto you, that he shall gird himself, and make them to sit down to meat, and will come forth and serve them. (Luke 12:37)). Christ our High Priest never ceases to serve. The love that led Him to die for us, leads Him to live for us. The bitter waters of death that rolled over His soul, could not quench that love; it lives in all its unchanging power and blessedness today. In God's presence for His people, He is thinking of them in all their weakness and all their need; He is concerned in all that concerns them; He is pleading their cause with the Father, and meeting all the accusations that the enemy of souls is bringing against them. Failure after failure marks the steps of His people, but His love for them changes not; their hearts often grow cold, and their feet turn into a wrong path; unwearyingly He follows them, and in tenderest love restores; His care for them, notwithstanding their perversities, never ceases. Unfalteringly He nourishes and cherishes them. The hands of Moses grew weary, and had they not been upheld by Aaron and Hur until the going down of the sun, the battle would not have been to Israel. Our blessed High Priest needs none to stay His hands; they are ever uplifted in intercession in behalf of His people (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)). Those who come unto God by Him are saved "to the uttermost." Triumphant victory will be theirs—"more than conquerors" through Him that loved them.
We get next the onyx stones and the breastplate (chap. 28:9-30). The names of the children of Israel were to be engraved upon two onyx stones, six names on each; these stones were to be set in gold, and then placed upon the shoulders of the ephod which was to be worn by the high priest. We should notice that these names were to be "according to their birth." As a writer beautifully brings before us, "If looked at in the onyx stones, there was no difference between one of the children of Israel and another. They were alike children of the same father, and each was presented in the same glory and beauty. No order of precedence was adopted—no conduct evidenced by any altered the arrangement. Reuben might prove as unstable as water, and yet he was first in one of the stones. Benjamin and Joseph might be especial favorites, yet they were last. In point of fact, each of the two stones gave forth its glowing brilliancy equally to each of the six names inscribed thereon. Thus it is with all the redeemed now. If viewed with reference to their birth of God, there can be no difference. One is as precious and glorious as the other."
These names were to be engraved on the stones—not simply written upon, but cut into them, there to remain. This pictures to us the blessed security of those whose names are written in the book of life, never to be erased. The stones were to be set in gold, which would speak to us of God's righteousness surrounding and securing His people. The high priest was to bear the stones on his shoulders; this was the place of strength, and since it was not one, but both shoulders, it gives the thought of full strength; the thought connected with the onyx stone is blessedness; and with full strength, the One in the sanctuary above, to whom all power belongs, is bearing His people on to the blessedness that awaits them.
The same precious and comforting truths are brought before us in the breastplate, where again the names were engraven on precious stones. But in the breastplate, each name had its separate stone, while on the onyx stones, six names were on one, and six on another, as we have seen. Also the names were placed in an altogether different order. On the onyx stones each came in the order of birth, the first six were placed on the right shoulder, the other six on the left shoulder, each name being that of a son of Jacob. On the breastplate the two sons of Joseph are found, and Levi, devoted to the service of the sanctuary, was omitted. The arrangement of the twelve on the breastplate was according to the arrangement of the tribes about the camp. Judah, Issachar, and Zebulon were placed on the east side at the front of the tabernacle. They formed the advance guard, being the first to set forth when the tabernacle was taken down. Reuben, Simeon, and Gad were on the south side, and they set forth in the second rank; then came the tabernacle borne by the Levites; next came Ephraim, Manasseh, and Benjamin from the west side; they set forth in the third rank; Dan, Asher, and Naphtali brought up the rear. In this order the names were placed on the breastplate. Each name there had its own peculiar precious stone, and each its own peculiar place. So it is with those who compose the Church of God. Each has his own place, and each is marked by some special Christ-like trait, as love, faith, courage, hope, patience, endurance, gentleness, humility, absence of self, and so on. These beauties of character are seen in different ways and in different measures, even as in the stones: "The gorgeous color of the ruby stone shone out from one; the soft refreshing green of the emerald was visible in another; the brilliant light of the diamond flashed out from a third; and the heavenly azure of the sapphire was displayed in a fourth." Whatever is seen of Christ in the Christian is a joy and beauty to those who behold. It is the light that brings out these beauties.
The breastplate was worn over the heart, the seat of the affections. Deep, sweet comfort is given to the saints of God in this wonderful picture. They are precious to Christ; their names are engraven on His heart, and they are firmly held in this place of affection; they are borne along in all the power of the Omnipotent. Everlasting love and everlasting power are thus combined in their behalf. What more could be asked—what more desired?
Chains of gold in rings of gold bound the breastplate to the shoulders and to the ephod, so nothing was to separate Israel from the strength, affection, and priestly character of the high priest. The chains of gold on a lace of blue would serve to show that these everlasting ties of divine righteousness are connected with the heavenly character. May those who know the Lord, appreciate more fully what it is to have a High Priest in whom these types are all fulfilled, and One who surpasses all. His beauty can never fully be made known; His eternal worth can never be fathomed.
We would make mention of one more thought in connection with the names borne upon Aaron's shoulders. They were there for a memorial (vv. 12, 29). Aaron's presence in the holy place would bring before Jehovah "the love and perfection in which Israel stood accepted before Him"; and thus we have "a constant memorial before God in our great High Priest who presents us in the fullness of His love and power, bright with His own glory, spotless in His own holiness." Can we measure what it is to be "accepted in the beloved"?
The Urim and Thummim were put in the folded breastplate. The meaning of Urim is "lights"; of Thummim, "perfections." Through these "lights" and "perfections," the Lord gave counsel and guidance to Israel (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)). But Aaron bore the judgment of Israel on his heart before the Lord in connection with the breastplate on which their names were engraven (v. 30). So Christ has borne our judgment; our names are upon His heart, and according to the "lights" and "perfections" that dwell in Him will be our guidance. God alone could give the lights and perfections of the Urim and Thummim, but this He gave to Israel; and to this people He committed His oracles. And through them, as instruments of God, we are indebted for the preservation of the Old Testament Scriptures. Thus they are given to us of God, according to His own mind. How full, how inexhaustible, how exact is the Word of God. May it be our guide at every step.