Priestly Reminders (Exodus 28)

I was reading Exodus 25-28 this morning.

Okay, I admit it. I did read some of it, but I also skimmed some of it, especially the parts where Moses explained in excrutiating detail the various covers for the tabernacle.

However, as I drew to the end of my reading, there were a few things in Exodus 28 that grabbed my attention, and I'd like to share my observations with you.

First of all, in Exodus 28, God is issuing regulations regarding "holy garments" that were to be specially made and worn by the high priest and priests (vs. 1-2). There would be "a breastplate, an ephod, a robe, a skillfully woven tunic, a turban, and a sash" (vs. 4). Then, beginning in verse five, God told Moses how these holy garments were to be made.

But the point of this short article is NOT to discuss the priestly garments. Instead, what I find interesting is that, in commanding these holy garments, God gave specific instructions regarding what I call "priestly reminders." I'll go ahead and list these priestly reminders and then I'll make my point:

"Then you shall take two onyx stones and engrave on them the names of the sons of Israel: six of their names on one stone and six names on the other stone, in order of their birth...and you shall put the two stones on the shoulders of the ephod as memorial stones for hte sons of Israel. So Aaron shall bear their names before the Lord on his two shoulders as a memorial" (vs. 9-10, 12).

"So Aaron shall also bear the names of the sons of Israel on the breastplate of judgment over his heart, when he goes into the holy place, as a memorial before the Lord" (vs. 29).

"And you shall put in the breastplate of judgment the Urim (lights) and the Thummim (Perfections), and they shall be over Aaron's heart when he goes in before the Lord. So Aaron shall bear the judgment of the children of Israel over his heart before the Lord continually" (vs. 30).

"You shall also make a plate of pure gold and engrave on it, like the engraving of a signet: HOLINESS TO THE LORD...So it shall be on Aaron's forehead..." (vs. 36, 38).

Now, did GOD need to be reminded of these things? In other words, was God commanding these things so that when the high priest and priests came into the sanctuary, that He would recall the value of His people, and the importance of purity, truth, judgment and holiness? Maybe God had moments of forgetfulness, but then Aaron would come in and God would see the onyx stones with the tribes of Israel listed on them and be like, "Oh yeah...them." No, of course this wasn't the reason.

The reason that God commanded these priestly reminders was to remind the priests of these things. And isn't it interesting what God felt was important for the priests to remember when they came into the sanctuary to worship Him?

1. There were two places on the priestly garments where the names of the tribes of Israel would be listed: once on the onyx stones which were embedded in the shoulders of the ephod and the second time on the breastplate itself. These were "memorials" for Aaron, to remind him that his work as a priest had a direct impact on his brethren. He wasn't alone. The priests weren't alone. Even though they had a special work and function, and even though, in a certain sense, they were separated from the rest of Israel, they were to be constantly reminded of the COLLECTIVE of Israel. What an awesome responsibility it would be...to know that thousands or even millions of other people are looking to you and depending on you. 
2. Second, there were the Urim and Thummim that were placed over Aaron's heart. While many are not certain as to the purpose of the Urim and Thummim, it appears in other places that these were used in seeking God's judgment. The very words themselves, as odd as they are, are defined as light and perfection, or truth. It is implied in other places. Light is symbolic of God's purity, in contrast with the darkness of sin. Perfection and truth emphasize the importance of obedience - abiding in the judgments of God, rather than straying into the realm of human judgment and opinion. There were priests, even high priests, that forgot these things. I am reminded of Eli's sons, and even the sons of the prophet Samuel, who "perverted judgment."
3. Finally, we see that on Aaron's forehead was a gold plate that read "HOLINESS TO THE LORD." Indeed, Aaron's mind...his thoughts, were to be holy. He was to be mentally focused on his work before God. As Paul urges us today, we are to "think on THESE things" (Phil. 4:8). At all times, but especially during worship, we are to approach God with a yearning for holiness.

The application?

Christians are called "a royal priesthood" (1 Peter 2:9). We may not have a physical tabernacle or temple in which to worship, and we may not have "holy garments" such as these, but nevertheless, as we worship and serve God, we also need such priestly reminders.

We need to be reminded of the fact that while salvation is a personal thing between an individual and God, we ARE indeed members of the body of Christ. We see this throughout the New Testament. I like the way Paul puts it in Ephesians 4:16 when he says that as members of the body of Christ, Christians are "joined and knit together by what every joint supplies." Your actions do have an impact on other Christians. Whether its at church or at work or at home, we need to act in such a way that is beneficial to our brethren. Do not fall into the trap of thinking that your actions are limited to you.

Furthermore, our lives need to be governed by God's light and truth. Jesus is the "light of the world" (John 8:12) and He is "the way, the truth, and the life..." (John 14:6). The judgments (decisions) we make each and every day need to be guided by Jesus and His will. Not by what we think or want, but by what Jesus would have us do.

And finally, our minds must be focused not just on how holy God is, but how holy we ought to be before such a holy God. "But as He who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct, because it is written, 'Be holy, for I am holy'" (1 Peter 1:15-16). Don't be deceived by the notion that you can't be holy, or that somehow God really doesn't expect you to be holy. Also, do not think that only the "clergy" are required to be holy. While the priesthood in the Old Testament was limited, all Christians are priests today, and thus all of us are to be holy before a holy God.

It is interesting to me that God viewed these three truths as SO important that he had them incorporated into the holy garments of the priests. As the priests of God today, perhaps we ought to meditate upon these things today...and every day, as we worship and serve in "the true tabernacle which the Lord erected, and not man" (Hebrews 8:2).