Daily Devotions
Exodus
"But Christ came as High Priest of the good things to come, with the greater and more perfect tabernacle not made with hands, that is, not of this creation." Hebrews 9:11
Text: Exodus 28 : 31-35
THE HIGH PRIESTLY REGALIA
The high priest was to be properly attired for his ministry in the Tabernacle. He would firstly wear an ephod. He would also have to don the breastplate of judgment! These were to bear the marks of superb workmanship!
The high priest would also be given a robe to wear. The description of this robe is quite brief.
“You shall make the robe of the ephod all of blue,
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.”
EXODUS 28:31-32
1. “The robe of the ephod all of blue”
This phrase suggests that it is not the ephod itself. (The description for the making of the ephod was well described earlier in Exodus 28:5-14). The robe would complement the wearing of the ephod, making the high priestly garment truly grand.
The colour “blue” may be used to complement the other colours that were already included in the making of the ephod. This colour may also be symbolizing heaven!
2. “So that it does not tear”
Great care must be taken to fit in these three pieces of garment. The phrase “so that it does not tear” expresses well the sense of “oneness”. Each piece of garment may represent different truths, but all of these truths form an integrated whole!
GOLDEN BELLS AND POMEGRANATES
One of the “national fruits” of ancient Israel was the pomegranate. It was a hardy plant that yielded good and refreshing fruit. It was used to symbolize fruitfulness. Its motif in the hem of the robe of the ephod is fascinating.
“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: a golden bell and a pomegranate,
a golden bell and a pomegranate, upon the hem of the robe
all around. 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.”
EXODUS 28:33-35
The bells were to signal that the high priest was entering into the Holy Place! The high priest must at no time imagine that he can nonchalantly walk in and out of the Holy Place! He was to announce his entrance and his departure from the holy place. Such must be his regard of the holy place! He must do this on pain of death!