Thurs’s Devo - Priestly Garments

Read Ex. 28:1-12 Who says God doesn’t love fashion? He adorned the High Priest in a garment like none other. The priest was the central figure of the Old Covenant system and the whole nation because he represented the nation before God. He wore 7 different pieces of clothing which means he was perfectly clothed for his position. His garments were made of fine linen and red, blue, purple, and gold. This garments was to reveal the character of the one wearing it. They all pointed to Jesus, our High Priest. First, he wore white linen breeches and a white linen coat over it that hung to the floor. This was what all the priests wore every day. They represented perfect righteousness. Over this, he wore a blue robe which hung down almost to the floor. Blue is a picture of heaven. Embroidered on the bottom of the hem were golden bells with pomegranates of blue, purple and scarlet. Gold represents deity and purple and scarlet to royalty and blood sacrifice. The bells allow the people to hear the priest moving within the curtain to know that he is moving in their behalf. The pomegranate is a symbol of fruitfulness and the Torah, because of its many seeds. The pomegranate is said to have 613 seeds which corresponds to how many laws in the Torah. On top of this robe, the priest wore an ephod which was like a vest made of thing gold wires which were woven into the linen of blue, purple and scarlet. It consisted of two pieces that were joined at the shoulders with chains. Two onyx stones were set in gold and attached to the shoulders. On these stones were the 12 tribes of Israel, 6 on each stone. So the priest bore the children on his shoulders like a person would bear a burden. When he went into the Holy of Holies God could see the names of his children. A sash fastened around the ephod and held it in place. It reminded the priest that he was a servant to God and the people. Tomorrow we will talk about the breast plate. The High Priest was a token of the Hight Priest that was to come - Jesus who would not only be the Priest, but the sacrifice and our way to God. He would bear our names on his shoulders and ever live to make intercession for us. Thank you Lord, for being our High Priest.