Divine Harmony And Abounding Fruitfulness

by L. H. Taylor | Category: General | Oct 1959

The beautiful robe of the ephod worn by Israel's high priest was made of woven work, reinforced around the neck as a coat of mail, so that it could not be rent. Arranged around the hem as a fringe were a golden bell and a pomegranate, a golden bell and a pomegranate, equal in number. The bells were of pure gold and between the bells were the pomegranates coloured in blue, purple and scarlet. The purpose of this unique adornment around the hem of the robe of the ephod was that, "It shall be upon Aaron to minister: and the sound thereof shall be heard when he goeth in unto the holy place before the LORD, and when he cometh out, that he die not" (Exodus 28.35).

On the great day of Atonement Israel's high priest entered into the awesome presence of Him who dwelt between the cherubim upon the mercy-seat. On this occasion no sound was heard, for the high priest was robed in garments of plain linen (Leviticus 16.4)

After performing his service before the mercy-seat and at the copper altar in the court, he changed his garments, and again the joyful melody was heard by a waiting and worshipping people, as he trod the sacred path out of the Tabernacle.

Gold is a type of divine glory. The sound the bells gave forth was sweet music to the ears of the people and to the ears of Jehovah. How appropriately are thus portrayed the character and service of our High Priest! His every step is golden and His speech has a heavenly cadence. He is the true Wearer of the ephod all of blue. Many heard the golden music of the voice of Him, God's pattern Servant, and they left all and followed Him. "Never man so spake" (John 7.46).

His voice went forth and many an ear was attuned to the divine message. In all this there is a lesson for us. Is our spiritual attire fringed with the golden music of divine testimony so that other ears may hear the heavenly harmony of the golden bells?

Corresponding exactly in number with the golden bells were the pomegranates, examples of abounding fruitfulness. This Eastern

fruit is described as being all seed and sweetness, each pearly seed resting in its crimson bed of luscious pulp." The divine testimony of the golden bells is equally balanced by the rich and abundant fruitfulness of the sweet pomegranates. This sublime balance of testimony and fruitfulness was evidenced in the life and walk of the Lord Jesus Christ and it should also characterize the walk and work of His true disciples, who are responsible to sound forth the glad tidings of divine grace and to bring forth fruit, the fruit of a godly life.

The Lord Jesus said of His early disciples, "Ye did not choose Me, but I chose you, and appointed you, that ye should go and bear fruit, and that your fruit should abide" (John 15.16).

With what infinite care and patient toil has the Divine Husbandman nurtured every plant in God's garden in order that it may bear fruit, and bear it abundantly!

The pomegranate provides a prolific amount of seeds: it is all seed and sweetness. This indicates the extent to which it draws fertility from a rich soil. So our roots should go deep down into the word of God, that rich and fertile soil from which to draw the needful nourishment that we may be abundantly fruitful and exhibit the sweet graces of a Christlike life. Paul said, " If we live by the Spirit, by the Spirit let us also walk," and the delightful fruit of the Spirit is "love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, meekness, temperance (self-control)." See Galatians 5. 22, 23. Such fruitbearing gives pleasure to the Divine Husbandman. It is well when He can be invited to come into His garden and eat His precious fruits (Song of Songs 4.16).

L. H. Taylor | Oct 1959
General