Thurs.’s Devo - Garments of Salvation

Read: Exodus 28:1-43; Matthew 25:31-26:13; Psalm 31:9-18; Proverbs 8:12-13 Moses was given instructions for the garments that Aaron and his sons: Nadab, Abihu, Eleazar and Ithamar must wear when they were acting as priests. These garments were to represent who Jesus as our High Priest was. These garments were for glory and beauty. Aaron was the High Priest so his garment described the person of Jesus Christ, our High Priest. *** The ephod was a made of gold, blue, purple, and scarlet thread and fine linen. It had two shoulder straps that had two onyx stones. On one the names of six of the tribes of Israel were etched and the other had the six other names of Israel. They sat on the shoulders of the High Priest so when God looked down from heaven he saw them. (“And the government shall be upon his shoulders.” Isaiah 9:6) *** The breastplate was worn next to the High Priest’s heart. It was called the breastplate of judgment. It had the twelve stone of all colors to represent the twelve tribes of Israel. They were set in four rows of three stones. The name of the tribe it represented was etched on the stone. Jesus wore the ones he came to save, his children, over his heart.The breastplate was bound with a blue cord to his heart so when he went before the Lord they would be a remembrance to the Lord. In the breastplate of judgment was the Urim and the Thummin. They were used to determine God’s answer. *** Next was the robe of righteousness. It was to have pomegranates of blue, purple, and scarlet around its hem and bells of gold between them. There are 613 laws in the Torah and the rabbi’s likened it to the pomegranate that they said also had 613 seeds. Bells put off a frequency that is know now to bring healing. Jesus is the Word who became flesh and dwelt among us (John 1). *** On his head, he was to wear a turban with a gold plate that read “Holiness to the Lord”. Its purpose was to bear the iniquity of the holy things which the children of Israel hallow in all their holy gifts. It was always to be on his forehead that we might be accepted before the Lord. *** These were the garments of the High Priest, Aaron as he represented the Christ which was to come and become our High Priest. Aaron’s sons represented us, God’s holy priesthood. They were to wear linen garments to show that they were righteous because they were the children of their father. They wore the garments of salvation. All of their body was covered in linen which made them acceptable to minister to the Lord. We enter into the presence of God through the blood of Jesus who made us holy and acceptable to God. *** Jesus explained that when he came in his glory, he would separate the sheep from the goats. The sheep were the ones who ministered to him here on earth and ministered to people that he created. The goats were the one who didn’t receive him or honor the ones he created. They will be thrown into the fire prepared for Satan and his demons and the sheep will inherit eternal life. *** It was two days before Passover, Jesus last Passover on earth. the priests and elders were meeting at the home of Caiaphas, the high priest at that very moment plotting Jesus assassination. The agreed not to do it during Passover because they were afraid of a riot. *** Jesus was at the home of Simon who Jesus had cleansed of leprosy. A woman came in with a jar of expensive perfume and poured it over his head. The disciples criticized her because that perfume could have been sold for much money that could have benefited the poor. Jesus rebuked them and told them that they would always have the poor to worry about but they would not always have him in bodily form. She was anointing his body for burial and wherever the Good News was preached, she would be remembered and what she did would be discussed and understood. *** Lord, Thank you for putting your imprint in everything you created. Everything speaks of your goodness and your glory. May we join in the song.