Exodus 28
WE all know that the Epistle to the Hebrews is the key to the books of Exodus, Leviticus, and Numbers. It is the key to all the offices of the Lord Jesus. The word that runs through the whole of it, the key-note, that which makes the epistle so precious to us, is that word " Son." It is the " Son" who is set before us, as fulfilling all the offices of all those who were raised up as types. He is the One by whom the Father has spoken. The Son is the Captain of Salvation. The Son is the High Priest. The Son is the Mediator of the New Covenant, &c., &c. And what is the meaning of the name? It tells out all the fullness of the heart of God. We are not to stop short of God Himself. The way to secure the not stopping short of God is to think of Jesus in all His offices, as Prophet, Priest, &c. The word "Son" leads us up into the heart of the Father, into the bosom of God. There is our resting place, there is our home.
In reading this chapter, the thought to be kept in mind is, that God seeing our need, our sinfulness and infirmities, has provided His Son as our Great High Priest.
Verse 1. " And take thou unto thee Aaron, thy brother," &c. It is God who chooses who the High Priest should be. This is alluded to in Hebrews, chap. V. to show that Christ's priesthood comes altogether from God, and the word " Son" is found in connection with it.
One part of the glory of the Lord Jesus, is executing His Priesthood on our behalf. We may see ourselves vile and worthless, but God infinitely values us. The heart of God is set upon His children. And so the Lord Jesus esteems it part of His glory to sustain the office of Priest in God's presence for us. If I look up to heaven I see Jesus presenting our prayer to the Father. Not like Aaron, who was sometimes asleep, and had to be roused to put on his garments. Jesus is ever alive to take the feeblest cry and present it to our Father. How this tells out the heart of God towards us!
Observe, another thing, the Priest was to be taken "from among the children of Israel." Now whilst it is true that the " Son" is made High Priest in contrast with men who have infirmity, yet there is this much of comparison that He has the nature that can sympathize. "As the children were partakers of flesh and blood, he also himself likewise took part of the same." For it is the "seed of Abraham" He helps. Thus He takes up relationship with the human family of faith. The Holy Ghost delights to expatiate on the fullness of Jesus-how He becomes us. Not only as made higher than the heavens, but as having passed through all ages and scenes down here. Having been a child, He can sympathize with all the feelings of childhood; having been the carpenter's son, He knows all the trials of the daily Bourse of an earthly calling; and having been tempted of Satan, He knows what sore temptations mean. " For we have not an High Priest who cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities, but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin."
This chapter will be blessed to us, just as we discern what the person of our High Priest is. He is now serving us, a minister of the holiest before the Father, as the first verse says, " That he may minister unto me in the priest's office."
Verse 2. "And thou shalt make holy garments for Aaron, thy brother, for glory and for, beauty. They were holy, glorious, and beautiful. There is everything in Jesus to satisfy our new nature. Wherefore, let us gird up the loins of our minds to look into these things. Instead of being occupied with earthly things, let us search into His attractive glory and beauty. It is the knowledge of the Lord Jesus alone, that can enable us to look at all we once prized as dung and dross, and to say, to earthly things, • "I have something better."
This chapter is most precious as the record of our Father's heart towards us. He knows what poor, infirm, weak children we are, and He deals with us accordingly. " Like as a father pitieth his children, so the Lord pitieth them that fear him." God does not act towards us according to what we ought. to be, but according to our need in the condition in which we arc. God came down from heaven because we were not what we ought to be. Grace supposes sin and ruin, everything at enmity with God. But when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of His Son. We cannot think of ourselves too vilely; but God has put our names on the shoulders of His Son, and on His heart. That is our joy. Nothing short of this grace could meet our need, or satisfy His love towards us.
One remark I would add as to the names of the children of Israel. They were not engraved according to merit, but "according to birth." (Ver. 10.) Reuben, Simeon, and Dan's names, were as much engraven there, and were as near the heart of the High Priest, as Judah and Joseph's. The most inconsistent believer in Jesus is as much on His heart as the most devoted saint. This is grace. And it is grace that breaks our proud hearts and touches the life of the soul, and breaks the power of sin, and constrains us to give ourselves up in holy, happy service to Jesus. In Luke 15 the shepherd seeks His sheep; and when He hath found it, "he layeth it on his shoulders rejoicing." So as soon as I am saved, I see my name engraven on His shoulders.
In verse 12, we see that the stones were "for a memorial unto Israel" as well as "for a memorial before the Lord." Thus Israel were to know that they were ever borne by Aaron, whilst Aaron bore them ever to remember them. I know myself as a poor, weak, failing one, full of infirmity; and although I am forgiven, I must also see myself sustained in the presence of God. I may say, that is true of Paul; but it is true of me also. Yes, my name is as much there as that of Judah; for Dan's and Simeon's were there. " He which stablisheth us with you in Christ is God." Adam failed, Israel failed; bat we are set in Christ, and therefore secured. " They shall never perish, neither shalt any man pluck them out of my hand." But besides the knowledge of our security in seeing our names graven on His breastplate, we find that " he is able to succor them that are tempted." If we look up and see our names on His shoulders, we shall have the succor we need. But if we forget Jesus, and go on in our own strength, we shall be easily overcome, even by the naughtiness of a child.
Is it not blessed to remember Jesus as the minister of the sanctuary in heaven, where He is ever ministering for us? And this too as the expression of the love of God. toward us. For the Holy Ghost, as the end of all His teaching, would ever lead us up through Jesus to God Himself. Thus we have communion; and we joy in God, through our Lord Jesus Christ.