Garments Of Glory And Beauty

by Toms, A. F. | Category: Christ In Type And Shadow | Sept 1989

Aaron was a representative man. In his office as high priest he represented his people before God. Their service and worship in the Tabernacle was entirely dependent upon his intercessory work on their behalf.

To fit him for this work God provided him with what are described as holy garments "for glory and for beauty" (Ex. 28:2). Three hundred and sixty four days of every year he wore these garments as he served in the holy place. But on one day in the year an exception was made.

White Linen Garments

On the day of atonement Aaron entered into the most holy place on behalf of the people and then he wore only the fine linen garments which God provided. On that day he was offering for sin and "the holy garments" (Lev. 16:4) of white linen, telling of the righteousness of God (Lev. 19:8), were the appropriate garments to wear, for sin must be dealt with in righteousness and truth.

Interestingly Aaron's four sons who served under him as priests were also clothed in these white linen garments. That was their regular priestly attire and they also are described as garments "for glory and for beauty" (Ex. 28:40), for what is more beautiful in the sight of God than "the beauty of holiness"? But for the high priest on every other day than the day of atonement, the white linen garments were hidden by the beautiful garments which marked him out in his unique office among the people of God.

The robe, ephod, breastplate and mitre answered to the needs of the people he represented and they contain lessons about the present work of our Lord Jesus as our High Priest in the presence of God. What needs of ours does He meet which are seen in shadow in these beautiful garments? That is the subject of this article, as we look beyond the shadows to the substance, to the great realities of Christ's present work in God's presence for us.

The Robe of Blue

Leviticus 8:7-9 lists the high priest's garments in the order in which they were worn and we will follow that order. Over the linen coat came the robe of blue, the heavenly colour, reminding us that Christ was appointed High Priest when He took His seat at God's right hand, for "if He were on earth, He would not be a priest at all" (Heb. 8:4). On the hem of this garment were the golden bells and pomegranates arranged alternately and the tinkling of the bells testified to the movements of the high priest serving in the holy place on behalf of the people. How do we know that the Lord Jesus is serving for us today in the holy place above? Is it not by the Holy Spirit's testimony in our hearts to the truth of God's word that "He ever liveth to make intercession for them" and by the fruit of that word as we prove in daily experience His power to save to the uttermost as we draw near to God through Him? (Heb. 7:25).

The Ephod

Over the robe of blue came the ephod "of gold, of blue, and purple, scarlet, and fine twined linen, the work of the cunning workman" (Ex. 28:6). The NIV translation of "skilled craftsman" may be better understood today. It is the first garment mentioned in the detailed instruction of Exodus 28 and its glory and beauty drew attention to the uniqueness of the high priest's office. We delight in the materials of which it was made; the blue reminding us of the One presented by John, the eternal Word who said "I am come down from heaven"; and the purple may speak of the royal son of David as we see Him in Matthew's gospel. The dye for the scarlet came from the coccus worm and points to the lowliness of Christ, a Man' amongst men, as Luke presents Him. "Behold, the Man" said Pontius Pilate and he spoke better than he knew that day, for there never was a man to compare with Him. And the fine linen, as we have already noticed, speaks of righteousness, and of God's righteous Servant so beautifully presented by Mark.

God has given us these four pictures of His Son on earth and through them all the skilled Craftsman has woven the pure gold of His deity, beaten into thin plates and cut in wires as Exodus 39:3 describes. Who but the Divine Spirit could have woven together His manhood and His deity, combined and yet distinct, so that we see Him asleep on the pillow in the boat and then rising to still the storm with a word; resting weary with His journey by Sychar's well and then revealing to the surprised Samaritan woman the secrets of her life; sending Peter first to the lake to claim the shekel from the fish's mouth and then to those who collected the taxes to present it "for Me and for thee"? Skilled Craftsman indeed, and our hearts are bowed in worship as we contemplate the One who represents us upon heaven's throne in His dual nature as God and man, Jesus the Son of God (Heb. 4:14). That is His high priestly title. And we remind ourselves He could never have served as High Priest had He not come to earth and

combined in one Person both deity and manhood.

Shoulderpieces and Breastplate

The two shoulderpieces were inseparably attached to the ephod. "Joined together" is the way the scripture describes it. In the shoulderpieces were the two onyx stones engraved with the names of the children of Israel according to their birth, six on one stone and six on the other. The breastplate also was attached to the ephod by a lace of blue through rings of gold, and in the breastplate were set four rows of three stones in each, engraved with the names of the children of Israel according to their tribes. So while Levi and Joseph would be represented on the shoulders, Manasseh and Ephraim would take their place on the breastplate. Levi was omitted among the tribes because the service of the Lord became his special portion. Every time and all the time the high priest served in the holy place the people were thus represented before the Lord by birth and by tribe, linking their salvation and their service together as God always intended it should be.

The scripture says "Aaron shall bear their names before the LORD upon his two shoulders for a memorial" and again "Aaron shall bear the names of the children of Israel in the breastplate of judgement upon his heart" (Ex. 28:12,29). Who bore their judgement? Aaron did. "Aaron shall bear the judgement of the children of Israel upon his heart before the LORD continually" (verse 30). Despite all their failings and infirmities their names would glitter before God in the light of those stones. They might be grumbling in their tents, as often they were, but Balaam's word held good that "He hath not beheld iniquity in Jacob, neither hath He seen perverseness in Israel" (Num. 23:21) for Aaron bore their names upon his shoulders and on his breast continually.

When we turn from the shadows to the substance and consider our High Priest bearing us before God in the strength of His shoulders as touching our salvation and in the affections of His heart as to our service we realize how eternally secure and immeasurably blessed we are in Him. He is on heaven's throne as our Representative and God sees us in Him in all the beauty of His Person and in all the glorious perfection of His work. R.C. Chapman has expressed it so well in his hymn:

On His heart our names are graven,

On His shoulders we are borne;

For His sake the Father loves us,

Praise becomes us in return.

We notice that on the shoulders both the stones were the same, for "our common salvation" (Jude 3) was in view; whereas the engravings on the breastplate were in a variety of precious stones, each shining with a different glory, as is the case in regard to our service.

The Urim and the Thummim

The breastplate of judgement was made of the same materials as the ephod and the cloth was double, forming a pouch in which were placed the Urim and the Thummim. We are not told much about them, or what they were made of, but the references in Numbers 27:21 and 1 Samuel 28:6 make it clear that they were used to enquire the mind of the Lord. So the high priest not only bore the judgement of the people; he also communicated to the people the judgement of the Lord.

The Mitre

Finally upon the high priest's head was placed the mitre with its plate of

pure gold and in the front and engraved upon it the words HOLY TO THE LORD. The scripture says "it shall be always upon his forehead that they may be accepted before the LORD" (Ex. 28:38). Notice upon his forehead that they may be accepted. What tremendous truth. May our hearts grasp by faith the implications of it as it affects our lives of service in God's house today. Christ has entered heaven itself "now to appear before the face of God for us" and in the beauty of God's holiness we find our acceptance for ever.

Toms, A. F. | Sept 1989
Christ In Type And Shadow