Sun.’s Devo - The Priestly Garments

Read: Exodus 28:1-43; Matthew 25:31-26:13; Psalm 31:9-18; Proverbs 8:12-13 Moses called Aaron and his sons to him and told them to make holy garments for them to wear as priests. He gave them explicit instructions about what to tell the artist who would make their garments. *** The garment for the high priest, Aaron included a breast piece, an ephod, a robe, an embroidered coat, a mitre, a turban and a sash. The ephod was to be made of gold, blue, purple and scarlet twisted thread. A shoulder piece would hold two onyx stones that would rest on the priest’s shoulder and have the names of Jacob’s first six sons engraved on the right shoulder stone and the names of his last six sons on the left one. They would stand as a remembrance and be seen by God as he looked down. *** A breast plate of judgement was made of the same material but was more like a bib that he wore over his chest. On it were the stones of the tribes of Israel in four rows, three across. Each tribe was known by its different stone. This was to remind the priest that he always carried the cause of Israel in his heart. There was an inside pocket that held the Urim and the Thrummed. This would help him make decisions as one stood for “No” and the other “Yes”. *** The robe of the high priest was blue with pomegranates and bells alternating around the hem. The pomegranates stood for the Word since there are 613 laws in God’s Word and the same number of seeds in a pomegranate. The bells were to ring out the presence of the priests. Bells speak to healing and joy. *** On his turban would be a gold plate that read “Holy to the Lord.” As Aaron wore this garment and acted the part of the high priest he was a type of Jesus. Aaron was to bear the guilt of the people who offered their gifts to the Lord. He would consecrate their gifts and make them holy. That is what Jesus does for us. *** Aaron’s sons were to wear fine linen robes and turbans and tie their robes with an embroidered sash. Everything was made for beauty and to glorify God. They even wore fine linen undergarments. They were to wear them when they went into the tabernacle or came hear the altar to minister in the Holy Place or they would die. *** In Matthew, Jesus said that when he comes to earth in his glory, he will have his angels with him and he will then sit on his throne. All the nations will be gathered to him and he will separate the sheep from the goats. His sheep will go to the right and the goats to the left. *** He will welcome the sheep who cared for one another as unto him. He will tell the goats that they did not feed or care for the poor, visit the sick or those in prison. They did not love “the least of these.” They will be sent to eternal punishment. *** Jesus told his disciples that the Passover was two days away and that was when he would be delivered up to be crucified. At that very time, the chief priests and elders were at Caiaphas’ house plotting to snatch him and kill him. They decided to wait until after the feast because they didn’t want the people to riot. *** Jesus was staying at Bethany at Simon’s house and a woman came and began pouring expensive ointment on his head. When the disciples saw it and thought it was wasteful, Jesus rebuked them. He said that what she had done was beautiful and was in preparation for his burial. She would be remembered forever for what she did. *** Lord, help us to remember what we do matters. May our eyes be open to the poor, the needy and those locked in prisons. May we constantly remember what you have done for us. We anticipate your return with great joy.