For April 23, 2012
Prepare: Christ is our high priest.
Read: Exodus 28:1-14
Most of the instructions given in Exodus do not make very thrilling reading, nor do they read like a detective story or a mystery, but they do reveal Christ. The priesthood was both a privilege and a responsibility. It was wonderful to wear the glorious garments and be in the holy courts, but being a priest also brought serious obligations.
They ministered first to the Lord (1-4): Four times in this chapter, God emphasized this point (vv/1,3,4,41). Gods servants must seek to please Him alone (1 Cor.4:1-7). We must be "bondservants for Jesus' sake" (2 Cor.4:5). Aaron as high priest had to have certain garments. These garments were not holy in the sense that you and I think of holy today. The Hebrew word for holy means 'set apart.' These holy and beautiful garments were set apart for His service.
They ministered to the people (5-14): God's people are like jewels to Him (Mal. 3:17).
The ephod is difficult to describe. Two long pieces of cloth were brought together and fastened by a stone on one shoulder and a stone on the other shoulder. The two onyx stones had all the names of the sons of Israel. When the high priest went into the presence of God, he carried the children of Israel on his shoulders. Our great High Priest carries us over His heart and on His shoulders, and that is where He carries you, friend. From time to time I get off His shoulders but He is right there to lift me back to that place of safety and continue to carry me. What a lovely picture the ephod gives us of Christ.
Respond: He represents us before the throne of God so that we are "accepted" because of His redemptive work.
Prepare: Christ is our high priest.
Read: Exodus 28:1-14
Most of the instructions given in Exodus do not make very thrilling reading, nor do they read like a detective story or a mystery, but they do reveal Christ. The priesthood was both a privilege and a responsibility. It was wonderful to wear the glorious garments and be in the holy courts, but being a priest also brought serious obligations.
They ministered first to the Lord (1-4): Four times in this chapter, God emphasized this point (vv/1,3,4,41). Gods servants must seek to please Him alone (1 Cor.4:1-7). We must be "bondservants for Jesus' sake" (2 Cor.4:5). Aaron as high priest had to have certain garments. These garments were not holy in the sense that you and I think of holy today. The Hebrew word for holy means 'set apart.' These holy and beautiful garments were set apart for His service.
They ministered to the people (5-14): God's people are like jewels to Him (Mal. 3:17).
The ephod is difficult to describe. Two long pieces of cloth were brought together and fastened by a stone on one shoulder and a stone on the other shoulder. The two onyx stones had all the names of the sons of Israel. When the high priest went into the presence of God, he carried the children of Israel on his shoulders. Our great High Priest carries us over His heart and on His shoulders, and that is where He carries you, friend. From time to time I get off His shoulders but He is right there to lift me back to that place of safety and continue to carry me. What a lovely picture the ephod gives us of Christ.
Respond: He represents us before the throne of God so that we are "accepted" because of His redemptive work.
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