SCRIPTURE: EXODUS 28
BIBLE VERSES:
“ “Have Aaron your brother brought to you from among the Israelites, along with his sons Nadab and Abihu, Eleazar and Ithamar, so they may serve me as priests. Make sacred garments for your brother Aaron to give him dignity and honor. Tell all the skilled workers to whom I have given wisdom in such matters that they are to make garments for Aaron, for his consecration, so he may serve me as priest. These are the garments they are to make: a breastpiece, an ephod, a robe, a woven tunic, a turban and a sash. They are to make these sacred garments for your brother Aaron and his sons, so they may serve me as priests. Have them use gold, and blue, purple and scarlet yarn, and fine linen.” (Exodus 28:1-5)
“Whenever Aaron enters the Holy Place, he will bear the names of the sons of Israel over his heart on the breastpiece of decision as a continuing memorial before the Lord. Also put the Urim and the Thummim in the breastpiece, so they may be over Aaron’s heart whenever he enters the presence of the Lord. Thus Aaron will always bear the means of making decisions for the Israelites over his heart before the Lord.” (Exodus 28:29)
THE PRIESTLY GARMENTS (vs. 1-5)
God told Moses to mark sacred garments for Aaron and his sons Nadab and Abihu so they may serve Him as priests. The sacred garments will give Aaron dignity and honor. The garments to be made were: a breastpiece, an ephod, a woven tunic, a turban and a sash. Use gold and blue, purple and scarlet yarn and fine linen.
THE EPHOD (vs. 6-14)
Ephod is a seamless coast made of gold, blue and purple and scarlet yarn and of finely twisted linen. It was fastened together with spiral clamps with a onyx stone engraved with the names of six of the tribes in each side. The high priest carried his people on the shoulders as hes erved the Lord. The high priest wore a girdle around the ephod as a remender that he was a servant.
THE BREASTPLATE (vs. 15-30)
A beautiful cloth “pouch” that had 12 precious stones on the outside and the urim and thummim in the pocket. It handed over the high priest’s heart held by golden chains and blue lace. The high priests carried the 12 tribes not only on his shoulder but also in his own heart.
The name of the tribes on the 2 shoulder stones were positioned according tot heir birth orders while on the breastplate was according to the tribal order established by the Lord. Urim and thummim means “curses and perfection”
OTHER PRIESTLY GARMENTS (vs. 31-43)
ROBES OF THE EPHOD – This was a seamless blue garment with an opening for the head in its center. Make pomegranates of blue, purple and scarlet yarn around the hem of the robe, with gold bells between them. The gold bells and the pomegranates are to alternate around the hem of the robe. Aaron must wear it when he ministered. The sound of the bells will be heard when he enters the Holy Place before the Lord. The bells suggest joyfulness and pomegranates suggest fruitfulness.
THE HOLY CROWN – The turban was a simple white linen cap held by a lace of blude with engraved “Holy to the Lord”/
THOUGHTS:
During Moses’ time, the priests had to from the tribe of Levi. They w re the people’s representative before God to perform the daily sacrifices, maintain the tabernacle, offer animal sacrifices and counseled the people how to follow God. Today, Jesus is our High Priest. we are no longer required to offer animal sacrifices as Jesus had sacrificed himself on the cross for our sins. Ministers today lead us in prayer and teach us God’s commandment to live a new life as Christians.
The Urim and Thummim were used by the priest to make decisions. Theyw ere kept in a pocket and shaken out to get a yes or no decision. Today,w ere use prayers and wait for God’s will.