Priestly Garments, Part 2
Notes
Transcript
I. The breastpiece of judgment, or decision, 28:15-21.
I. The breastpiece of judgment, or decision, 28:15-21.
Verse 15 - the breastpiece of judgment (decision) was a separate piece made of the same materials as the ephod of the high priest. It was to be another beautiful piece of craftsmanship, made by a skillful worker with cloth.
Verse 16 - The breastpiece is in the shape of a square after it is folded in two. The breastpiece is a span in length and a span in width. A span is the distance between the tip of your thumb and the tip of your little finger spread out on an outstretched hand, or slightly over 8 1/2 inches. The folding of the material that made up the breastpiece became a pouch on the chest of the high priest.
Verse 17 - 21 - This piece of craftsmanship was to have four rows of precious and semi-precious stones skillfully set upon it, three stones per row. Looking forward in the context, we find that each stone represents one of the twelve tribes of Israel; together they represent all the tribes of Israel. The arrangement of the stones may have been according to the order of the tribes as they marched.
Each stone was to be set in gold filigree and upon each stone was inscribed the name of a tribe of Israel. The identification of the stones listed here is not certain; in fact there are several renderings of some of the stones possible. Each stone was unique.
The variety of the stones suggests the variety within the children of Israel, but all of them precious to God.
The high priest would represent each tribe and the whole nation, bearing them whenever he came before the LORD in his high priestly garments. He carried them not only on his shoulders, but he also carried them over his heart. The high priest not only was to represent Israel, he was also to hold them close to his heart as he ministered for them before the LORD.
II. The placement of the breastpiece, 28:22-30.
II. The placement of the breastpiece, 28:22-30.
Verses 22-25 - The filigrees and the braided chains of pure gold are the same as for the ephod. How they were attached is not given; we are told that the braided chains were used to attach the breastpiece. Two rings are attached to the top corners of the breastpiece, to which the gold chains/cords were connected. The filigrees on the shoulders of the ephod received the other ends of the two cords. This filigree was probably on the front side of the shoulders, one on each shoulder.
Verses 26-28 - There are two more rings which were attached to the backside of the breastpiece “on the edge of it, which is toward the inner side of the ephod.” Then there are two more rings which were attached to the bottom of the two shoulder pieces of the ephod , on the front of it close to the place where it is joined, above the skillfully woven band of the ephod.” What we do not know is where this band was actually located. These rings of the breastpiece and those of the ephod were bound together with a bluish purple (or violet purple) cord; its placement of the breastpiece would be on the skillfully woven band of the ephod so that it would not come loose from the ephod
Verses 29-30 - These stones on the breastpiece of judgment, or decision, were born before the LORD by the high priest. They were born over the heart of Aaron continually when he goes before the LORD. The heart refers to the seat of feelings and affections in the OT.
Another important role of the breastpiece was that it contained within the Urim and Thummim, probably stones themselves. One suggestion as to how they were possibly used is suggested by Ronald Youngblood:
“The purpose of the breastpiece was ‘for making decisions’ (v. 15). The Urim and Thummim, deposited in the pouch, were sacred lots used as the ‘means of making decisions’ (v. 30). The word ‘Urim’ begins with the first letter of the Hebrew alphabet and ‘Thummim’ begins with the last letter, so the lots were probably restricted to giving either positive or negative responses to questions asked of them.”
Another suggestion is that the stones, rather than cast like die or shaken like lots, were drawn out of the breastpiece in response to a question, and the LORD’s answer was based on which stone was drawn. To distinguish them, they may have been two different colors (white/black or ?)
A third suggestion is derived from the Hebrew meaning of Urim, which is “lights” and that of Thummim, meaning “perfections.” To determine God’s will, the Urim and Thummim had limited use in that it would only answer “yes and no” questions. The very word “light” is said to show in which way it would answer. If the answer was “yes,” the stone would light up; if the answer was “no,’ it would not light up. Several questions would have to be asked in logical order before the will of God was determined (Edersheim, Fruchtenbaum).
We really do not know how they worked; we only know that they were used to make decisions before the presence of the LORD. They were to be used by the priests to determine God’s will for the nation.
Spiritual significance for us.
Spiritual significance for us.
We today must go through our high priest Jesus to discern God’s will in areas of our uncertainty.
For there is one God, and one mediator also between God and men, the man Christ Jesus,
My little children, I am writing these things to you so that you may not sin. And if anyone sins, we have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous;
It is through Jesus that all final judgment will pass.
“For not even the Father judges anyone, but He has given all judgment to the Son,
and He gave Him authority to execute judgment, because He is the Son of Man.
Just as the high priest bore the children of Israel upon his heart, each tribe being represented by a precious stone, as he ministered before the LORD, so the Lord Jesus bears us close to His heart as He represents us before God.
Who will bring a charge against God’s elect? God is the one who justifies;
who is the one who condemns? Christ Jesus is He who died, yes, rather who was raised, who is at the right hand of God, who also intercedes for us.
Every Christian is a precious stone to the Lord, forming His church.
in whom the whole building, being fitted together, is growing into a holy temple in the Lord,
in whom you also are being built together into a dwelling of God in the Spirit.
you also, as living stones, are being built up as a spiritual house for a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.
Each stone in the breastpiece had its individual character, color, beauty, and glory. It is just so with each follower of Christ. We are one body, the body of Christ, yet individually we reflect Christ’s glory in our own unique way.
As priests before God, we are to put on “the breastplate of righteousness” (Eph. 6:14). We have the imputed righteousness of Christ, which guards us against the fiery darts of Satan.
Finally, the Urim and Thummim picture Christ. As the Urim means “lights,” Christ is the believer’s light.
Then Jesus again spoke to them, saying, “I am the Light of the world; he who follows Me will not walk in the darkness, but will have the Light of life.”
This light may only be obtained by placing your faith in His atoning work on the cross. Will the world eagerly seek Jesus as the light of life? No, Jesus says:
“This is the judgment, that the Light has come into the world, and men loved the darkness rather than the Light, for their deeds were evil.
The Thummim speaks of the perfection found in Christ.
who committed no sin, nor was any deceit found in His mouth;
Christ is our perfect counselor.
in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.
Christ lights the path we are to walk as He guides us along the way.
We have also been given the Word of Guide to guide our steps. It reveals to us the God of the Word: His character, His desires and His purposes for His people. So if we want to know God’s will, we have His word to draw upon. The better we know God through His revealed word, the better we can discover His will and if we are sincerely willing to obey, God is willing to direct us.
“If anyone is willing to do His will, he will know of the teaching, whether it is of God or whether I speak from Myself.
Good and upright is the Lord; Therefore He instructs sinners in the way.
He leads the humble in justice, And He teaches the humble His way.
All the paths of the Lord are lovingkindness and truth To those who keep His covenant and His testimonies.
For Your name’s sake, O Lord, Pardon my iniquity, for it is great.
God knows what is best for us. If we had a simple, infallible method of determining the will of God such as the Urim and Thummim, i think we would not rely on the Lord as much through prayer and seeking His face, we would not search the Scriptures as eagerly, or humble ourselves as much as we do today as we seek God’s direction. It is through seeking and doing God’s will that we grow in the Lord. Eagerly sharing in that process brings us as much a blessing as knowing the results.