Robe of Declaration

Robe of Declaration

Exodus 28: ³¹ “You shall make the robe of the ephod all of blue. ³² There shall be an opening for his head in the middle of it; it shall have a woven binding all around its opening, like the opening in a coat of mail, so that it does not tear. ³³ And upon its hem you shall make pomegranates of blue, purple, and scarlet, all around its hem, and bells of gold between them all around: ³⁴ a golden bell and a pomegranate, a golden bell and a pomegranate, upon the hem of the robe all around. ³⁵ And it shall be upon Aaron when he ministers, and its sound will be heard when he goes into the holy place before the Lord and when he comes out, that he may not die.

 

³⁶ “You shall also make a plate of pure gold and engrave on it, like the engraving of a signet:

 

HOLINESS TO THE LORD.

 

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GOD gave Moses instructions to make the robe of the ephod. HE gave specific instructions and specific words that must be used.

 

My Observations:

• GOD was preparing the robe to be used as a signal that the high priest was still alive, by using bells to alert people outside of the tabernacle.
• GOD used the complex fruit of a pomegranate as decoration.
• GOD seemed to be preparing the high priest to declare HOLINESS TO THE LORD.

 

Preparing to meet GOD took a change of clothing and a change of mindset. This was not an ordinary meeting; rather, it was a meeting that could be fatal if handled improperly. GOD is holy and wants to be treated as such.

 

Humans are not holy until GOD declares them as holy. This requires the right mindset towards our sin. We need cleansing from our sin and the only one who can do this is JESUS. HE is our forgiver who washes away our sins so we can live a daily life for HIM.

 

When we put on the robe of JESUS, we are declared as holy. In other words, when we believe that JESUS took our punishment instead of us facing it, we not only get eternal life, but HE intervenes in this life. We declare that the LORD is holy and HE declares us as holy.

 

Challenge

• Why does GOD remind Moses about the robe of the ephod?
• Has GOD washed away all of your sins?
• How can you declare GOD as holy?

Reminder of Thoughtfulness

Reminder of Thoughtfulness

Exodus 28: ²⁶ “You shall make two rings of gold, and put them on the two ends of the breastplate, on the edge of it, which is on the inner side of the ephod. ²⁷ And two other rings of gold you shall make, and put them on the two shoulder straps, underneath the ephod toward its front, right at the seam above the intricately woven band of the ephod. ²⁸ They shall bind the breastplate by means of its rings to the rings of the ephod, using a blue cord, so that it is above the intricately woven band of the ephod, and so that the breastplate does not come loose from the ephod.

 

²⁹ “So Aaron shall 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 continually. ³⁰ And you shall put in the breastplate of judgment the Urim and the Thummim, 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.

 

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GOD gave Moses the final instructions to create the breastplate of judgment.

 

My Observations:

• GOD wanted Aaron to remember the children of Israel when he met with GOD.
• The judgment that GOD assigned to the high priest helped people to be successful by changing the mindset to focus on GOD versus human desires.
• Judgment was not always punitive, rather clarity of thought.

 

“Use good judgment” is a statement that comes to mind when making decisions. Bad judgment can cause problems, while good judgment progresses the person to success. GOD wanted the high priest to remember those where were assigned to him. GOD wants you and me to do the same.

 

GOD used rare stones, Urim and Thummim as a reminder of how rare good judgment would be. When faced with difficult situations, Aaron would need GOD to guide him in wisdom. People would bring selfish situations and present them before Aaron. Unique wisdom would point people to GOD as the constant answer.

 

Challenge

• Why does GOD remind Moses about the thoughtfulness the priest needed to have about HIS people?
• Who has GOD given to you and what good judgment do you need to guide them?
• Will your thoughtfulness of others help someone grow in GOD?

Viewed as Precious

Viewed as Precious

Exodus 28: ¹⁵ “You shall make the breastplate of judgment. Artistically woven according to the workmanship of the ephod you shall make it: of gold, blue, purple, and scarlet thread, and fine woven linen, you shall make it. ¹⁶ It shall be doubled into a square: a span shall be its length, and a span shall be its width. ¹⁷ And you shall put settings of stones in it, four rows of stones: The first row shall be a sardius, a topaz, and an emerald; this shall be the first row; ¹⁸ the second row shall be a turquoise, a sapphire, and a diamond; ¹⁹ the third row, a jacinth, an agate, and an amethyst; ²⁰ and the fourth row, a beryl, an onyx, and a jasper. They shall be set in gold settings. ²¹ And the stones shall have the names of the sons of Israel, twelve according to their names, like the engravings of a signet, each one with its own name; they shall be according to the twelve tribes.

 

²² “You shall make chains for the breastplate at the end, like braided cords of pure gold. ²³ And you shall make two rings of gold for the breastplate, and put the two rings on the two ends of the breastplate. ²⁴ Then you shall put the two braided chains of gold in the two rings which are on the ends of the breastplate; ²⁵ and the other two ends of the two braided chains you shall fasten to the two settings, and put them on the shoulder straps of the ephod in the front.

 

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GOD told Moses to create the breastplate of judgment. HE gave the instructions to use twelve precious stones to engrave the names of the sons of Israel.

 

My Observations:

• GOD created people and values them as precious to HIM.
• GOD wanted each tribe to have its own unique stone, showing a unique relationship with HIM.
• GOD provided the precious stones and the skills to engrave names in them.

 

Four rows of three precious stones were to be laid out in the order of birth. GOD seems to specialize in symbolic gestures that help humans relate to HIS heart. The breastplate of “judgment” contained symbolism of how precious people are to HIM.

 

GOD used multiple colors. This was another symbolic gesture that does not place superiority of one race over another. GOD values you and me. HE values the people you despise and those who despise you. HE views people as precious and wanted the priest to do the same.

 

Challenge

• Why does GOD remind Moses about the precious stones used in the breastplate of judgment?
• What stone do you think has your name carved in it?
• Have you forgotten how precious you are to GOD?

Ephod to Remember Mercy

Ephod to Remember Mercy

Exodus 28: ⁵ “They shall take the gold, blue, purple, and scarlet thread, and the fine linen, ⁶ and they shall make the ephod of gold, blue, purple, and scarlet thread, and fine woven linen, artistically worked. ⁷ It shall have two shoulder straps joined at its two edges, and so it shall be joined together. ⁸ And the intricately woven band of the ephod, which is on it, shall be of the same workmanship, made of gold, blue, purple, and scarlet thread, and fine woven linen.

 

⁹ “Then you shall take two onyx stones and engrave on them the names of the sons of Israel: ¹⁰ six of their names on one stone and six names on the other stone, in order of their birth. ¹¹ With the work of an engraver in stone, like the engravings of a signet, you shall engrave the two stones with the names of the sons of Israel. You shall set them in settings of gold. ¹² And you shall put the two stones on the shoulders of the ephod as memorial stones for the sons of Israel. So Aaron shall bear their names before the Lord on his two shoulders as a memorial. ¹³ You shall also make settings of gold, ¹⁴ and you shall make two chains of pure gold like braided cords, and fasten the braided chains to the settings.

 

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GOD told Moses to engrave the names of Israel’s sons onto onyx stones. HE also had Moses make an ephod to hang the two stones.

 

My Observations:

• GOD knew Jacob (Israel) was a scoundrel, yet HE claimed him in HIS family.
• GOD saw the atrocities the sons of Israel did against Joseph and other people, yet HE had their named engraved in rare stones.
• GOD seems to be showing an extreme amount of mercy on the family who was in the lineage of CHRIST.

 

If humans made up the story of JESUS, they would have made it like Hollywood. Everyone in JESUS’s family would be perfect and JESUS would easily defeat evil. But it didn’t happen that way.

 

Israel and his sons were sinners like you and me. Joseph’s own brothers plotted to kill him out of rage and jealousy. Have you ever been jealous or enraged? GOD reveals to us that we need mercy and that HE has shown it. The priest would remember GOD’s mercy on HIS people every time he put on the ephod.

 

Challenge

• Why does GOD remind Moses about making the ephod?
• What mercy is GOD showing you right now?
• Have you overlooked GOD’s mercy on you and taken HIS love for granted?

Clothes Used for Acknowledgment

 

Clothes Used for Acknowledgment

Exodus 28: “Now take Aaron your brother, and his sons with him, from among the children of Israel, that he may minister to Me as priest, Aaron and Aaron’s sons: Nadab, Abihu, Eleazar, and Ithamar. ² And you shall make holy garments for Aaron your brother, for glory and for beauty. ³ So you shall speak to all who are gifted artisans, whom I have filled with the spirit of wisdom, that they may make Aaron’s garments, to consecrate him, that he may minister to Me as priest. ⁴ And these are the garments which they shall make: a breastplate, an ephod, a robe, a skillfully woven tunic, a turban, and a sash. So they shall make holy garments for Aaron your brother and his sons, that he may minister to Me as priest.

 

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GOD told Moses to make holy garments for Aaron and his sons.

 

My Observations:

• GOD enjoys when humans acknowledge HIS use of beauty.
• GOD seemed to have the garments made for the priests to meet with HIM.
• GOD seemed to desire a specific time in which the priest was declared as holy by putting on the garments and having a discussion with HIM.

 

Reverence comes to mind when I see the lengths GOD had Moses go through to make the garments. GOD would supernaturally provide the skills needed to people who would create the garments. The priest was a human who was a sinner. But during the time the priest wore the garment, he would be declared holy.

 

It really stands out to me that GOD enjoys beauty. The garment was not only functional, but beautiful. The priest would feel special and represent the needs of the people in a special way. The garments would not be seen by the masses of people. This was for a meeting between the priest and GOD.

 

Challenge

• Why does GOD remind Moses about the holy garments?
• What beauty comes to mind that you can acknowledge came from GOD?
• What special skill has GOD gifted you with when HE filled you with the spirit of wisdom?

Lampstand of the Tabernacle

Lampstand of the Tabernacle

Exodus 27: ²⁰ “And you shall command the children of Israel that they bring you pure oil of pressed olives for the light, to cause the lamp to burn continually. ²¹ In the tabernacle of meeting, outside the veil which is before the Testimony, Aaron and his sons shall tend it from evening until morning before the Lord. It shall be a statute forever to their generations on behalf of the children of Israel.

 

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GOD gave Moses instructions on how to keep the fire of the lampstand burning at each stop.

 

My Observations:

• GOD the FATHER, SON and HOLY SPIRIT showed HIMSELF as fire in a bush to Moses and in a pillar of fire to the children of Israel.
• GOD told Moses that Aaron and his sons, representing the Levitical priests, will tend to the fire.
• GOD wanted a symbolic gesture of showing the people that HE would never leave them and HE could be counted on.

 

When the children of Israel would stop where GOD told them to stop, they would have to erect the tabernacle based on the instructions GOD gave them. The lampstand would be put up and lit until they were told to leave. This meant the priests had to keep olives ready to be pressed into oil. GOD would provide the olives in abundance.

 

GOD wanted you and me to know HE is with us, no matter how things seem. JESUS is the “light” of the world. HE lights up dark paths and eradicates dark thoughts. HE gives HIS light to us to pass on to others. We should never hide the light HE has given us in shame.

 

This symbolic light was to provide encouragement to all people that JESUS has overcome the world. It began with the priests and ended with JESUS being raised from the dead.

 

Challenge

• Why does GOD remind Moses about keeping the fire of the tabernacle lampstand?
• What light has GOD given you?
• Is something hindering you from shining GOD’s light on those around you?

A Place of Preparation

 A Place of Preparation

Exodus 27: ⁹ “You shall also make the court of the tabernacle. For the south side there shall be hangings for the court made of fine woven linen, one hundred cubits long for one side. ¹⁰ And its twenty pillars and their twenty sockets shall be bronze. The hooks of the pillars and their bands shall be silver. ¹¹ Likewise along the length of the north side there shall be hangings one hundred cubits long, with its twenty pillars and their twenty sockets of bronze, and the hooks of the pillars and their bands of silver.

 

¹² “And along the width of the court on the west side shall be hangings of fifty cubits, with their ten pillars and their ten sockets. ¹³ The width of the court on the east side shall be fifty cubits. ¹⁴ The hangings on one side of the gate shall be fifteen cubits, with their three pillars and their three sockets. ¹⁵ And on the other side shall be hangings of fifteen cubits, with their three pillars and their three sockets.

 

¹⁶ “For the gate of the court there shall be a screen twenty cubits long, woven of blue, purple, and scarlet thread, and fine woven linen, made by a weaver. It shall have four pillars and four sockets. ¹⁷ All the pillars around the court shall have bands of silver; their hooks shall be of silver and their sockets of bronze. ¹⁸ The length of the court shall be one hundred cubits, the width fifty throughout, and the height five cubits, made of fine woven linen, and its sockets of bronze. ¹⁹ All the utensils of the tabernacle for all its service, all its pegs, and all the pegs of the court, shall be of bronze.

 

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GOD gave Moses instructions on how to build a courtyard for the tabernacle.

 

My Observations:

• GOD seemed to be providing a place for the high priest to transition from the day to day, to getting ready to meet with the Most High GOD.
• GOD gave very specific numbers of pillars.
• GOD used a mixture of bronze and silver.

 

To prepare the high priest for meeting GOD, a courtyard was arranged to transition the mindset from whatever was going on, to focusing on meeting with GOD. This shows that GOD was to be handled with reverence, though the formality was disassembled when JESUS died on the cross.

 

Later, when prophets saw a glimpse of GOD, they trembled at HIS sight. Sixty pillars would be needed in the construction. Twenty for the south, twenty for the north, ten for the west and ten for the east. GOD gave specific instructions for the pillars on the east. GOD wants us to prepare ourselves when speaking with HIM.

 

Challenge

• Why does GOD remind Moses about the courtyard and the pillars?
• Has GOD become common to you?
• How are you viewing GOD in your life?