Approaching God
OPENING PRAYER:
Lord God, I am grateful for today, the potential and privileges of it. Help me to make wise use of each hour.
The Priestly Garments
28 “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. 2 Make sacred garments for your brother Aaron to give him dignity and honor. 3 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. 4 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. 5 Have them use gold, and blue, purple and scarlet yarn, and fine linen.
The Ephod
6 “Make the ephod of gold, and of blue, purple and scarlet yarn, and of finely twisted linen—the work of skilled hands. 7 It is to have two shoulder pieces attached to two of its corners, so it can be fastened. 8 Its skillfully woven waistband is to be like it—of one piece with the ephod and made with gold, and with blue, purple and scarlet yarn, and with finely twisted linen.
9 “Take two onyx stones and engrave on them the names of the sons of Israel 10 in the order of their birth—six names on one stone and the remaining six on the other. 11 Engrave the names of the sons of Israel on the two stones the way a gem cutter engraves a seal. Then mount the stones in gold filigree settings 12 and fasten them on the shoulder pieces of the ephod as memorial stones for the sons of Israel. Aaron is to bear the names on his shoulders as a memorial before the Lord. 13 Make gold filigree settings 14 and two braided chains of pure gold, like a rope, and attach the chains to the settings.
The Breastpiece
15 “Fashion a breastpiece for making decisions—the work of skilled hands. Make it like the ephod: of gold, and of blue, purple and scarlet yarn, and of finely twisted linen. 16 It is to be square—a span[a] long and a span wide—and folded double. 17 Then mount four rows of precious stones on it. The first row shall be carnelian, chrysolite and beryl; 18 the second row shall be turquoise, lapis lazuli and emerald; 19 the third row shall be jacinth, agate and amethyst; 20 the fourth row shall be topaz, onyx and jasper.[b] Mount them in gold filigree settings. 21 There are to be twelve stones, one for each of the names of the sons of Israel, each engraved like a seal with the name of one of the twelve tribes.
22 “For the breastpiece make braided chains of pure gold, like a rope. 23 Make two gold rings for it and fasten them to two corners of the breastpiece. 24 Fasten the two gold chains to the rings at the corners of the breastpiece, 25 and the other ends of the chains to the two settings, attaching them to the shoulder pieces of the ephod at the front. 26 Make two gold rings and attach them to the other two corners of the breastpiece on the inside edge next to the ephod. 27 Make two more gold rings and attach them to the bottom of the shoulder pieces on the front of the ephod, close to the seam just above the waistband of the ephod. 28 The rings of the breastpiece are to be tied to the rings of the ephod with blue cord, connecting it to the waistband, so that the breastpiece will not swing out from the ephod.
29 “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. 30 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.
Footnotes
[a] Exodus 28:16 That is, about 9 inches or about 23 centimeters
[b]Exodus 28:20 The precise identification of some of these precious stones is uncertain.
REFLECT:
‘Lord, let your Word be to me today a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.’ (Psalm 119:105).
Gold and blue, purple and scarlet (v 5). Breastpiece, ephod (sleeveless garment), robe, tunic, turban, sash (v 4). Unlike a catwalk in New York, London or Paris, the creative threads on display here are not to draw attention to the wearer. These are the garments Aaron was to wear for his consecration and in his sacred duty as high priest – they gave him the dignity and honor fitting for his role (v 2). Reflect for a moment: how did you approach God as you came to read his Word today – did you have to dress up or go through a purification ritual so that you wouldn’t die? Thank Jesus that he has made a way for you to approach God just as you are, covered by his royal robe of righteousness (see Isaiah 61:10).
Any time we read descriptions of Old Testament priests and their duties, it points us toward Jesus, our perfect High Priest (Hebrews 7:26,27). He doesn’t need to wear a breastpiece for decision making (v 15), nor does he need a reminder of the names of those that are his (vs 21,29). Not a single one, including you, is forgotten or lost by your great High Priest (see Revelation 21:27; John 10:28,29).
APPLY:
What kind of worker are you? Whether carer or professional, paid or unpaid, employee or volunteer, ask the Lord to give you wisdom and skill (v 3) to help you serve him in all you do today.
CLOSING PRAYER:
Gracious God, I thank you for the opportunity to work. As I toil, either outside the home or inside the home, may I serve to your glory.