The Breastplate
Sermon • Submitted • Presented
0 ratings
· 3 viewsNotes
Transcript
Text: Exodus 39:21
Intro: It is important that we see the ephod, curious girdle, and breastplate as __________ holy garment. Although we get the description of them separately and they were made separately, they did not remain that way. The Lord commanded them to be bound together, and there was never a time where they were taken apart.
Read: Exodus 28:15-30
I think we often think of the breastplate as this big plate of gold but I would describe it more like a beautifully made linen bag. It was made of the same materials as the ephod and curious girdle. On the front of it was placed twelve precious jewels arranged in four rows of three. Inside it was placed two objects that although we don’t have a description of them, we know what they were called. (Urim and Thummim) There meanings are ________________ and __________________. The breastplate was fastened to the front of the ephod by wreathed chains made from gold. They were secured on the shoulders using two onyx stones. On the back, there were two rings in which the bottom was attached to the ephod above the curious girdle. This attachment was not made with wreathed chains however, this was secured using a lace of blue.
The ephod, breastplate, and curious girdle were all bound together to form one garment. In wearing it the high priest carried the names of the children of Israel both on his shoulders and on his heart!
Shoulders: Are a symbol of ____________________.
In the parable of “the lost sheep” the Lord says...
And when he hath found it, he layeth it on his shoulders, rejoicing. And when he cometh home, he calleth together his friends and neighbours, saying unto them, Rejoice with me; for I have found my sheep which was lost. I say unto you, that likewise joy shall be in heaven over one sinner that repenteth, more than over ninety and nine just persons, which need no repentance.
Read Matthew 23:1-4, and Matthew 11:28-30
Heart: Is a symbol of ___________________.
Of course we see this through the sacrifice of Christ on the cross but in context we remember that He entered into His role as High Priest after His death burial and resurrection. So the display of this today we see in Jude 24...
Now unto him that is able to keep you from falling, (shoulders) and to present you faultless before the presence of his glory with exceeding joy. (heart)
The Stones:
There is a striking difference in the setting of the names on the stones on the shoulders vs. those on the breastplate.
Those graven on the shoulder placed according to their birth...
Six of their names on one stone, and the other six names of the rest on the other stone, according to their birth.
These two stones were made both of onyx representing _____________________________. This represented a likeness in look, placement, and value.
For ye are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus.
Whether weak in our faith, or a mighty mover of mountains we are all children of God by Christ!
The stones on the breastplate were distinctively different in appearance, placement, and value. While all of the children of Israel were on His heart, and He loved them all the same, they were different. The same is true of us as New Testament believers as well.
And they shall be mine, saith the Lord of hosts,
In that day when I make up my jewels;
And I will spare them, as a man spareth his own son that serveth him.
The value of something is based upon the sum of what someone is willing to pay for it. If you had a rare coin that was worth $100, but no one wanted to buy it from you, would it really be worth $100? What then is the value of one person? _____________________________________________________________.
For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God’s.
The difference in the jewels on the breastplate represent position. Although all the jewels were on His heart, some were distinctly closer to the center then others. While the shoulders bore the children of Israel according to their birth, the jewels on his heart were placed according to their position in the camp.
As believers we are all on the shoulders of our Lord according to our ____________ birth, because it is that which made us children of God, we all occupy our distinctive place on His heart, which is according to His position in our daily lives.
At first Christ had seventy disciples. Out of the seventy He had twelve which forsook and followed Him. Out of the twelve there were three who were more intimate and closer to Him then the others. Of the three there was only one who leaned upon His bosom which the Scripture refers to as “the one whom Jesus loved.” (John 13:23) He was also called “the beloved disciple.”
Read: John 18:15-16, 19:26-27, 20:2-4, 8, 21:7, 20, 23-24.
All of us can say with Paul, “…who loved me, and gave himself for me.” (Gal. 2:20)
However, the intensity and degree of His love for us will be in proportion as to whether we are following Him “afar off” like Peter or “leaning” on His bosom like John. Not because Christ is ever unwilling, but because we are…
Yea doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but dung, that I may win Christ,
For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain.
Wherefore we labour, that, whether present or absent, we may be accepted of him.
It is a privilege for us to live down here on earth as Christians, that we may continually grown in the favor of our Lord, to be used of Him, and enjoy that beloved relationship that He offers each and every one of us!
The different positions, names, jewels, beauty and splendor all testify that disciples will differ from one another in the relationship that they will sustain with the coming King of Glory! If you look up in the sky at night, every start is different in size, location, and brightness, so will our lives be different, according to the life, love, and service to our God while we yet remain here. We are not striving to live like sons of God that we might become one… We are the sons of God, so we strive to live like one!