Wed.’s Devo -The Priests and the High Priest

Read: Exodus 28:1-43; Matthew 25:31-26:13; Psalm 31:9-18; Proverbs 8:12-13 Aaron and his sons Nadab, Abihu, Eleazar, and Ithamar were to be set apart as priests to the Lord. Aaron was to be set apart as the High Priest and was given special garments to wear which would represent the office of Jesus as our High Priest. All five of them were to wear robes made of fine linen cloth embroidered with gold, blue, purple and scarlet thread. Aaron was to wear an ephod which was like an open vest. It was to be of the same linen and thread with two pieces that flapped over his head and hung down in the front and back. It was attached only at the shoulders. A decorative sash held it in place, close to his body. Two onyx stones were carved with the names of six of the tribes on one stone and the other six on the others. They would be set in gold filigree on the shoulders so when God looked down from heaven he would see those names. Aaron would also wear a chestpiece which would have an inner pocket for the stones of the Urin and the Thummim which would determine the will of God. One stood for “yes” and the other “no”. On the outside of the chestpiece were three rows of four stones. They were all different and each one etched with the name of the tribe they represented. This chest piece was attached to the ephod with rings of gold. In this way, Aaron would hold the tribes of Israel close to his heart. Over all this, Aaron was to wear a robe made from a single piece of blue cloth with an opening for his head in the middle of it. It was to have pomegranates embroidered with the colored threads at the bottom with a bell between each pomegranate. The bells would tinkle when he walked. On his head, he was to wear a turban with a gold seal on it that read, “Holy to the Lord”. This would keep him holy while he bore the sins of the people. Aaron and his sons were to be consecrated to serve as priests then adorned in their priestly garments. They were to wear linen undergarments to cover them when performing their duties. All of the garments of the priests pertain to Jesus, his holiness, and his great intercessor that he is for us. He carried our guilt and shame into the presence of the Lord after he became our final sacrifice. Now, we as part of his holy priesthood stand before God in holy garments who can boldly approach his throne of grace. Jesus continued his sermon about the end of time in Matthew. When Jesus comes back with all the angels, he will sit upon his throne. All the nations will be gathered for the judgment and he will separate the sheep on his right - those who were his, from the goats on his left- those who were Lucifer’s. The sheep will be invited to inherit the Kingdom prepared for them because they ministered to people as unto the Lord. They will go to eternal life. The ones on the left who lived only for themselves will go to eternal punishment. It was two days before the Passover. Jesus reminded his disciples that he would become the Lamb of God that would be offered for the sins of the world. (They did not grasp this at the time.) At this very time across town, the priests and elders were meeting at Caiphas’ house to plot Jesus’ death. A woman came and anointed Jesus head and feet with expensive perfume. When the disciples opposed the opulence of the act, Jesus explained that she was preparing his body for burial. Lord, reading this I am reminded of how many times we miss the importance of the moment only to find out later. May our spirits be in tune with what you are doing today in our lives and may we walk according to your plan. Thank you that you are our High Priest who bore our sin and guilt upon you. Thank you for cleansing us and making us holy in your sight.