Garments of the High Priest

Garments of the High Priest
5/3/2019

Garments of the High Priest Exodus 28:4-42
The Arronic Priesthood Exodus 28-29; Hebrews 4:14-5:5 The Melchizedek Priesthood Genesis 14: Psalm 110: Hebrews 7 Introduction to the Garments Exodus 28:1-43; Leviticus 8:6-9 The Linen Tunic Exodus 28:39; 39:27 The Robe of the Ephod Exodus 28:31-35; 39:22-26 The Ephod and Waistband Ex 28:6-8; 39:1-5; Lv 8:7; 1Sa 30:1; Ho 3:4 The Breastpiece of Decision Exo 28:9-30; Gen 49; Deut 33 Introduction to the Precious Stones Genesis 29; Exodus 28:17-21 Ruby - Judah Gen 29:35; 49:8-12; Exo 28:17; Deu 33:7 Topaz - lssachar Ge 30:14-18; 49:14-15; Ex 28:17; De 33:18-19 Beryl - Zebulun Gen 30:19-20; 49:13; Exo 28:17; Deu 33:18-19 Turquoise - Reuben Gen 29:32: 49:3-4: Exo 28:18; Deu 33:6 Sapphire - Simeon Genesis 29;33; 49:5-7; Exodus 28:18

Diamond - Gad Gen 30:9-11; 49:19; Exo 28:18; Deu 33:20-21
Jacinth - Ephraim Gen 41:50-52; 48:17-20; Exo 28:19; Deu 33:17 Agate - Manasseh Gen 41:51; 48:16; Exo 28:19; Deu 33:17 Amethyst - Benjamin Gen 35:16-20; 49:27; Exo 28:19; Deu 33:12 Chrysolite - Dan Gen 30:1-6; 49:16-18; Exo 28:20; Deu 33:22 Onyx - Asher Gen 30:12-13; 49:20; Exo 28:20; Deut 28:24-25 Jasper - Naphtali Gen 30:7-8; 49:21; Exo 28:20; Deu 33:23 Appendix to the Stones - Levi – Attaching Ge 29:34; 49:5-7; De 33:8-11 Appendix to the Stones - Joseph – Fruitful Ge 30:22-24; 49:22-26; De 33:13-17 Urim and Thummim Ex 28:30; Le 8:8; Nu 27:21; De 33:8; 1Sa 28:6; 30:7-8; Ezr 2:63; Neh 7:65 The Turban and the Headband Exo 28:39-40; 39:28 The Sacred Diadem Exo 28:36-38; 39:30-31 The Trousers Exo 28:42-43; Lev 6:8-10; 16:4; Eze 44:18 Bibliography

Exodus 28:4-42 The High Priest’s life was dedicated to serving the Lord and representing the people before their God. The design of the priestly garments was an expression of God’s righteousness and merciful love for His people. 5/3/2019

Exodus 28:4-42 The priest dressed in a tunic and mitre (turban) of fine linen. The mitre had a gold plate (crown) inscribed with the words “HOLINESS UNTO THE LORD” just over the priests forehead. The phrase can be translated “Set apart as Holy to the Lord” This was worn in the Lord’s presence so the peoples sacrifices would be recognized as God’s alone. The priest wore a blue robe with the ephod (vest / waist coat) with stones on each shoulder inscribed with the names of the sons of Israel. Over the ephod the priest wore a gold breastplate in which were set 12 precious stones carved with a name of one of the 12 tribes of Israel on each stone. This was worn over his heart as a reminder of the Lord’s love for His people. V29 The Urim and Thummim were kept in the priest’s pocket over his heart as objects to determine the Lord’s will for His people. 5/3/2019

Made by divine wisdom given to Bezaleel Exodus 28:3 And thou shalt speak unto all that are wise hearted, whom I have filled with the spirit of wisdom, that they may make Aaron's garments to consecrate him, that he may minister unto me in the priest's office. Exodus 36:1 Then wrought Bezaleel and Aholiab, and every wise hearted man, in whom the LORD put wisdom and understanding to know how to work all manner of work for the service of the sanctuary, according to all that the LORD had commanded. Exodus 39:1 And of the blue, and purple, and scarlet, they made cloths of service, to do service in the holy place, and made the holy garments for Aaron; as the LORD commanded Moses. Were for beauty and ornament. Exodus 28:2 And thou shalt make holy garments for Aaron thy brother for glory and for beauty. 5/3/2019

Worn at his consecration. Leviticus 8:7 And he put upon him the coat, and girded him with the girdle, and clothed him with the robe, and put the ephod upon him, and he girded him with the curious girdle of the ephod, and bound it unto him therewith. Leviticus 8:9 And he put the mitre upon his head; also upon the mitre, even upon his forefront, did he put the golden plate, the holy crown; as the LORD commanded Moses. Worn seven days after consecration. Exodus 29:30 And that son that is priest in his stead shall put them on seven days, when he cometh into the tabernacle of the congregation to minister in the holy place. 5/3/2019

Descended to his successors. Exodus 29:29 And the holy garments of Aaron shall be his sons' after him, to be anointed therein, and to be consecrated in them. Wore the ordinary priest's garments when making atonement in the holy place. Leviticus 16:4 He shall put on the holy linen coat, and he shall have the linen breeches upon his flesh, and shall be girded with a linen girdle, and with the linen mitre shall he be attired: these are holy garments; therefore shall he wash his flesh in water, and so put them on. 5/3/2019

Ephod with its curious girdle. Exodus 28:6-7 And they shall make the ephod of gold, of blue, and of purple, of scarlet, and fine twined linen, with cunning work. It shall have the two shoulderpieces thereof joined at the two edges thereof; and so it shall be joined together. Girdle. Exodus 28:4 And these are the garments which they shall make; a breastplate, and an ephod, and a robe, and a broidered coat, a mitre, and a girdle: and they shall make holy garments for Aaron thy brother, and his sons, that he may minister unto me in the priest's office. Exodus 28:39 And thou shalt embroider the coat of fine linen, and thou shalt make the mitre of fine linen, and thou shalt make the girdle of needlework. 5/3/2019

Broidered coat. Exodus 28:4 And these are the garments which they shall make; a breastplate, and an ephod, and a robe, and a broidered coat, a mitre, and a girdle: and they shall make holy garments for Aaron thy brother, and his sons, that he may minister unto me in the priest's office. Exodus 28:39 And thou shalt embroider the coat of fine linen, and thou shalt make the mitre of fine linen, and thou shalt make the girdle of needlework. 5/3/2019

Robe of the ephod. Exodus 28:31-35 And thou shalt make the robe of the ephod all of blue. And there shall be an hole in the top of it, in the midst thereof: it shall have a binding of woven work round about the hole of it, as it were the hole of an habergeon, that it be not rent. And beneath upon the hem of it thou shalt make pomegranates of blue, and of purple, and of scarlet, round about the hem thereof; and bells of gold between them round about: A golden bell and a pomegranate, a golden bell and a pomegranate, upon the hem of the robe round about. And it shall be upon Aaron to minister: and his sound shall be heard when he goeth in unto the holy place before the LORD, and when he cometh out, that he die not. … 5/3/2019

Breastplate. Exodus 28:15-29 (15) "You shall make a breastpiece of judgment, the work of a skillful workman; like the work of the ephod you shall make it: of gold, of blue and purple and scarlet material and fine twisted linen you shall make it. (16) "It shall be square and folded double, a span in length and a span in width. (17) "You shall mount on it four rows of stones; the first row shall be a row of ruby, topaz and emerald; (18) and the second row a turquoise, a sapphire and a diamond; (19) and the third row a jacinth, an agate and an amethyst; (20) and the fourth row a beryl and an onyx and a jasper; they shall be set in gold filigree. 5/3/2019

Breastplate. Exodus 28:15-29 (21) "The stones shall be according to the names of the sons of Israel: twelve, according to their names; they shall be like the engravings of a seal, each according to his name for the twelve tribes. (22) "You shall make on the breastpiece chains of twisted cordage work in pure gold. (23) "You shall make on the breastpiece two rings of gold, and shall put the two rings on the two ends of the breastpiece. (24) "You shall put the two cords of gold on the two rings at the ends of the breastpiece. (25) "You shall put the other two ends of the two cords on the two filigree settings, and put them on the shoulder pieces of the ephod, at the front of it. (26) "You shall make two rings of gold and shall place them on the two ends of the breastpiece, on the edge of it, which is toward the inner side of the ephod. (27) "You shall make two rings of gold and put them on the bottom of the two shoulder pieces of the ephod, on the front of it close to the place where it is joined, above the skillfully woven band of the ephod. (28) "They shall bind the breastpiece by its rings to the rings of the ephod with a blue cord, so that it will be on the skillfully woven band of the ephod, and that the breastpiece will not come loose from the ephod. (29) "Aaron shall carry the names of the sons of Israel in the breastpiece of judgment over his heart when he enters the holy place, for a memorial before the LORD continually. 5/3/2019

Linen mitre. Exodus 28:4 And these are the garments which they shall make; a breastplate, and an ephod, and a robe, and a broidered coat, a mitre, and a girdle: and they shall make holy garments for Aaron thy brother, and his sons, that he may minister unto me in the priest's office. Exodus 28:39 And thou shalt embroider the coat of fine linen, and thou shalt make the mitre of fine linen, and thou shalt make the girdle of needlework. Plate or crown of gold Exodus 28:36-38 And thou shalt make a plate of pure gold, and grave upon it, like the engravings of a signet, HOLINESS TO THE LORD. And thou shalt put it on a blue lace, that it may be upon the mitre; upon the forefront of the mitre it shall be. And it shall be upon Aaron's forehead, that Aaron may bear the iniquity of the holy things, which the children of Israel shall hallow in all their holy gifts; and it shall be always upon his forehead, that they may be accepted before the LORD. 5/3/2019

Made by divine wisdom given to Bezaleel Exodus 28:3 And thou shalt speak unto all that are wise hearted, whom I have filled with the spirit of wisdom, that they may make Aaron's garments to consecrate him, that he may minister unto me in the priest's office. Exodus 36:1 Then wrought Bezaleel and Aholiab, and every wise hearted man, in whom the LORD put wisdom and understanding to know how to work all manner of work for the service of the sanctuary, according to all that the LORD had commanded. Exodus 39:1 And of the blue, and purple, and scarlet, they made cloths of service, to do service in the holy place, and made the holy garments for Aaron; as the LORD commanded Moses. Were for beauty and ornament. Exodus 28:2 And thou shalt make holy garments for Aaron thy brother for glory and for beauty. 5/3/2019

Worn at his consecration. Leviticus 8:7 And he put upon him the coat, and girded him with the girdle, and clothed him with the robe, and put the ephod upon him, and he girded him with the curious girdle of the ephod, and bound it unto him therewith. Leviticus 8:9 And he put the mitre upon his head; also upon the mitre, even upon his forefront, did he put the golden plate, the holy crown; as the LORD commanded Moses. Worn seven days after consecration. Exodus 29:30 And that son that is priest in his stead shall put them on seven days, when he cometh into the tabernacle of the congregation to minister in the holy place. 5/3/2019

Descended to his successors. Exodus 29:29 And the holy garments of Aaron shall be his sons' after him, to be anointed therein, and to be consecrated in them. Wore the ordinary priest's garments when making atonement in the holy place. Leviticus 16:4 He shall put on the holy linen coat, and he shall have the linen breeches upon his flesh, and shall be girded with a linen girdle, and with the linen mitre shall he be attired: these are holy garments; therefore shall he wash his flesh in water, and so put them on. 5/3/2019

Our service to God is to be kept holy and set apart. As we pray for others and brings their names and burdens to God we remember that God loves His children with deep affection. Jer 31:3 Christ is our example as high priest. He is righteous and merciful. He was willing to sacrifice his life for us and now lives to intercede for us. Mat 20: Heb 7:28 Garments of the High Priest 5/3/2019

Based on: These Are the Garments A Study of the Garments of the High Priest of Israel by C W Slemming CLC PUBLICATIONS Fort Washington, PA 19034 Published by CLC .:. PublicationsU.S.A. P.O. Box 1119, Fort Washington, PA 19034 GREAT BRITAIN 51 The Dean, A1resford, Hants. S024 9BJ AUSTRALIA P.O. Box 419M, Manunda, QLD 4879 NEW ZEALAND 10 MacArthur Street, Feilding Copyright © Mrs. Hylda Slemming ISBN First American edition 1974 Contemporized 1998 by Robert Delancy Unless otherwise indicated, Scripture quotations are from the Holy Bible, New International Version, Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984 International Bible Society. Used by permission of Zondervan Bible Publishers. All Rights Reserved This printing 2003 Printed in the United States of America

Preface These lectures have been delivered throughout Great Britain and the continent of North America in Bible schools and colleges as well as many churches. On every occasion there have been many testimonies of blessing received, of new light imparted, of difficult things made clear, of new appreciation of the Priestly Ministry of the Lord Jesus Christ. Likewise has blessing come to an unknown company through the first edition of this book. As this new edition goes forth on the ever widening circles of interest in a subject that has too long been neglected, I trust that the Mediatorial work of the Lord Jesus Christ and His great Priestly Ministry on behalf of His people may cause many to rejoice in the substance of the New Testament as it becomes manifest through the shadows of the Old Testament. This new edition has been completely revised and reset; and it is hoped that the illustrations, specially drawn for the work, will increase the usefulness and interest of the book. Yours because His, Charles W. Slemming London and Chicago 1955

Preface to 1998 Edition Even great books may, in time, need updating and improving. In the late 1930's, when this study was first published, the Authorized Version (King James) was the translation preferred by most Bible readers. Today, in 1998, several other versions of the Scripture are just as popular, if not more so. They also throw additional light on various elements of this at times puzzling subject. To aid today's readers, the editor has chosen to use the New International Version (NIV) as the basic Bible text. Where helpful, reference will be made to the New American Standard Version (NASV) and, of course, to both the King James and the New King James (NKJV) Bibles. Even those readers who are steeped in the poetic English of the Authorized Version will enjoy the freshness of the New International Version - especially with regard to the topic at hand, for so many of the older terms describing the high priest's garments give a distorted picture to today's reader. Both clarity and accuracy have been the goal behind the revising of this popular devotional study. R.D. (Robert Delancy)

THE AARONIC PRIESTHOOD Exodus 28 - 29; Hebrews 4:14 - 5:5
Heb 3:1 Therefore, holy brothers, who share in the heavenly calling, fix your thoughts on Jesus, the apostle and high priest whom we confess. Before meditating upon the subject of the priestly robes, we must know something concerning those who were consecrated to wear them -- the priests of the Aaronic order. We need to differentiate among three terms which reoccur often and which, to some, are interchangeable words. While they are related they are not interchangeable… "priests," "high priests," and "Great High Priest.”

Priests. These were the members of the Aaronic family. The only claim for this office was sonship. There were many priests, the number varying according to the size of the family. Their work was to minister in holy things.

(2) High Priests. Aaron was the first. He was succeeded by his son, and so on, generation after generation. Only one high priest held office at a time; yet, according to Josephus, somewhat more than eighty men officiated in this capacity between Aaron, the first, and Christ – the only reason for the change being death. This the Apostle tells us in Hebrews 7:23: "Now there have been many of those priests, since death prevented them from continuing in office."

A changing priesthood meant an imperfect priesthood, so came the need of a permanent, once and for all, unchanging … (3) Great High Priest. There was one and one only. He was the Lord Jesus Christ. He came not of the Aaronic order, not even of the tribe of Levi. He was a priest after the order of Melchizedek. He inherited His priesthood from no one, He passed it on to none. He remains a priest. He supersedes all others by reason of His endless life and, therefore, changeless ministry.

The priesthood was progressive. It’s development can be seen throughout the Scriptures. In the beginning every individual man was his own priest and offered his own sacrifices. E.G. Adam, Cain, Abel, Noah, Abram, and others. In the book of Exodus the head of the family officiated on behalf of all who were in his house. (Ex 12:3). "Tell the whole community of Israel that on the tenth day of this month each man is to take a lamb for his family, one for each household." Then one tribe was separated from the twelve tribes for holy service and intercession between the nation and God. From this tribe one man was chosen to be high priest -- Aaron. He was assisted by his sons because of the magnitude of his ministry. This Aaronic priesthood, as it came to be called, continued until the death of Christ in the days of Caiaphas, the high priest. Then it ended … Christ passed within the veil and sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high as the Great High Priest, taking upon Himself the ministry of intercession for the whole Church across time and space - forever.

The progression summarized is, therefore: A priest for himself. A priest for a family. A priest for a nation. A priest for the Church.

It is the priest for a nation that we consider here. The inauguration of the priesthood is recorded in Exodus 28 and 29. Remembering that these things "were written for our learning" (KJV), we will gather a few thoughts concerning our Great High Priest and a few practical lessons for ourselves.

CALLED. "Have Aaron your brother brought to you from among the Israelites, along with his sons Nadab and Abihu, Eleazar and lthamar, so they may serve me as priests" (Exod. 28:1). To receive a divine call is a matter of first importance. Korah and his companions evidently believed this, but were unwise in the way they handled the matter, for (in Numbers 16 and 17) instead of ascertaining the actual facts, they laid grievous charges against Moses, accusing him of making the calling a family matter and an outcome of pride. This resulted in a rebellion in which two hundred and fifty princes took sides with Korah, Dathan and Abiram, bringing upon themselves a plague from the Lord. It was after this rebellion that God revealed through Aaron's rod, which He caused to bud, blossom and yield fruit, that the appointment of Aaron was of God. * See the C.W.Slemmings’ book: Made According to Pattern, chapter 28.

Christ had no selfish nature, neither did He choose for Himself His mission in life. Hebrews 5:1-6, 10: "Every high priest is selected from among men and is appointed to represent them in matters related to God, to offer gifts and sacrifices for sins. He is able to deal gently with those who are ignorant and are going astray, since he himself is subject to weakness. This is why he has to offer sacrifices for his own sins, as well as for the sins of the people. No one takes this honor upon himself; he must be called by God, just as Aaron was. So Christ also did not take upon himself the glory of becoming a high priest. But God said to him, 'You are my Son; today I have become your Father.' And he says in another place, 'You are a priest forever, in the order of Melchizedek.' ... [Jesus] was designated by God to be high priest in the order of Melchizedek.”

If such a calling became necessary for the priesthood of the old order and If Christ was called of God, How much more should those who are engaged in the work of the ministry assure themselves that they are there because of a divine call. Most who are in the ministry today are there by the election of a synod or because of ordination by the laying on of hands by the presbytery. Primarily though, they should be there because they were conscious that the Lord had already called and ordained them. The human sphere must always stand second to God. There are some who view the work of the ministry as a profession with the result that they are doing nothing really vital. The vital part of God's work is: seeing men and women won for Christ through a real evangelism, establishing the converts in their "most holy faith" through the unfolding of the Word of God, and the encouraging of all God's people to a deeper life of sanctification.

We are all called to be priests unto God. "As a prisoner for the Lord, then, I urge you to live a life worthy of the calling you have received. Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love" (Eph 4:1-2). And again: " ... God chose you to be saved through the sanctifying work of the Spirit and through belief in the truth. He called you to this through our gospel, that you might share in the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ. So then, brothers, stand firm and hold to the teachings we passed on to you, whether by word of mouth or by letter" (2 Th15). We are all, therefore, called to "walk worthy" and to "stand firm."

CLEANSING "Then bring Aaron and his sons to the entrance to the Tent of Meeting and wash them with water" (Exod. 29:4). This washing does not refer to salvation – it relates to the priesthood. An unsaved man would never be called to the ministry. The washing which brings cleansing from sin is in the blood, not in water. Water is a figure, a type representing the Word of God: "You are already clean because of the word I have spoken to you" (Jn 15:3) "How can a young man keep his way pure? By living according to your word" (Ps. 119:9), etc. Anyone called to God's service should become immersed in the Word of God for his own sanctification as well as for his spiritual equipping to instruct others. Christ Himself, who became the Great High Priest, was the Word Incarnate.

We are not told how the washing was done, except that it was public, in the presence of the whole congregation, and we presume it was at the bronze basin known as the laver. Ministers of God who take a public stand for God's Word and institutions and instructors who train them and who use the Bible as their chief textbook will find that God's Word : - washes away any doubts and criticisms, divests from us of all speculation and self-opinion, all private interpretations and leaves us standing on good solid ground and a firm immovable foundation.

CLOTHED "Take the garments and dress Aaron with the tunic, the robe of the ephod, the ephod itself and the breastpiece. Fasten the ephod on him by its skillfully woven waistband. Put the turban on his head and attach the sacred diadem to the turban" (Ex 29:5-6). These garments were actually part of Aaron's consecration, Exodus 28:3, " ... that they are to make garments for Aaron, for his consecration, so he may serve me as priest.” The garments he wore – his covering – as is often pointed out in Scripture is a figure that represents his and our character, our life style and our manner of living in and among the world – our reputation …

Keep in mind these three truths of "Calling," "Cleansing," and "Clothing” John the Baptist announced Jesus, our Great High Priest, as the one who was called by God, saying, "Look, the Lamb of God!" (John 1:29). - Calling "Then Jesus came from Galilee to the Jordan to be baptized by John" (Matt. 3:13). - Cleansing Although baptism is a symbolic act of death, we can see a picture in the public washing of one who was about to take up His public ministry. "As soon as Jesus was baptized, he went up out of the water. At that moment heaven was opened, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and lighting on him" (Matt. 3:16). - Clothing

John, speaking of this incident said: "I would not have known him, except that the one who sent me to baptize with water told me, 'The man on whom you see the Spirit come down and remain is he who will baptize with the Holy Spirit'" (Jn 1 :33). This being "clothed" with the Holy Spirit makes for consecration. It is being clothed with the mantle of the Holy Spirit that truly equips one for powerful service. It was the order for Old Testament service – and It is the order for New Testament ministry.

CONSECRATION "In this way you shall ordain Aaron and his sons" (Ex 29:9). The detail of the ordinance of this consecration is found in verses The outstanding peculiarity of this ceremony is that which relates to the application of the blood. "Take the other ram, and Aaron and his sons shall lay their hands on its head. Slaughter it, take some of its blood and put it on the lobes of the right ears of Aaron and his sons, on the thumbs of their right hands, and on the big toes of their right feet. Then sprinkle blood against the altar on all sides.”

There comes to mind how Peter cut off the ear of Malchus, the high priest's servant, in a spirit of revenge. Why that part of the anatomy, we do not know. Also, how Adoni-Bezek cut off the thumbs and great toes of seventy kings he had subdued, and then how he himself suffered the same (Jdg 1:6-7). The reason for committing such a cruel act appears to be one of moral disposition. "Thumbs were cut off to incapacitate the hand from using the bow; great toes to render the gait uncertain.”

Instead of being incapacitated by amputation, these priests were to have each of these member quickened by consecration through the annointing of the blood of the sacrifice. Rather than to maim or inhibit them, it was to figuratively signified setting them apart for service them… The ear was anointed so that it might be sensitive to the law of God, and that it might hear the confessions of the people's sins - for God and not for gossip. The thumb was anointed that it might do the bidding of God, and that it might handle the offerings of the people - for God and not for gold. The great toe was anointed that it might walk in the ways of God, and that it might minister in service - for God and not for gain.

The Apostle writing to the Hebrews tells them that the priests must be ... COMPASSIONATE "He is able to deal gently with those who are ignorant and are going astray, since he himself is subject to weakness" (Heb. 5:2). "For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are - yet was without sin" (Heb. 4:15). How often we read in the gospel story: "And he had compassion on them." As priests of God we will do little for men unless We have this same heart of compassion for them and We know how to bear each other's burdens, We can weep with those who weep and rejoice with those who rejoice.

COMMISSIONED The priestly commission is found throughout the book of Leviticus. They had to obey all the instructions of the Lord God They had to become, through the sacrifices, intercessors between God and man. Christ today is fulfilling His priestly functions on our behalf. As His children we must fulfill ours priestly function – do the work of interceding on behalf of and reconciling the world to God.

The Melchizedek Priesthood Genesis 14: Psalm 110: Hebrews 7
"This Melchizedek was king of Salem and priest of God Most High, He met Abraham returning from the defeat of the kings and blessed him, and Abraham gave him a tenth of everything. First, his name means 'king of righteousness'; then also, 'king of Salem' means 'king of peace.' Without father or mother, without beginning of days or end of life, like the Son of God be remains a priest forever. Just think how great he was: Even the patriarch Abraham gave him a tenth of the plunder! Now the law requires the descendants of Levi who become priests to collect a tenth from the people - that is, their brothers - even though their brothers are descended from Abraham, This man, however, did not trace his descent from Levi, yet he collected a tenth from Abraham and blessed him who had the promises. And without doubt the lesser person is blessed by the greater" (Heb. 7:1-7)

While the Aaronic priesthood was God - ordained and sufficient for that period of time, it was by no means perfect because it was carried out by men who were sinners and, therefore, were subject to death. This meant a priesthood that was ever changing, with all that was resultant. But God knew this, and had planned a more perfect priesthood which could only come into being in the fullness of His time, for God works according to schedule. This is seen from many scriptures,

"But when the time had fully come, God sent his son, born of a woman, born under law" (Gal. 4:4). '''Dear woman, why do you involve me?' Jesus replied, 'My time has not yet come'" {John 2:4). " ... but no one laid a hand on him, because his time had not yet come" (John 7:30). Jesus praying, in John 17:1, says: "Father, the time has come." To His disciples He said: "It is not for you to know the times or dates the Father has set by his own authority" (Acts 1:7). In the next chapter are the words: "And when the day of Pentecost came" (Acts 2: 1). This applies also to His Second Advent: "No one knows about that day or hour, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father" (Matt. 24:36).

One other reference tells us that "He has set a day when he will judge the world with justice by the man he has appointed" (Acts 17:31). Although that perfect priest was Jesus, and although His priestly ministry was not to commence until after His death when He ascended on high, yet God gave a very vivid picture of the nature of this priesthood nearly two thousand years before it was established, and just over four hundred years before the Aaronic order was instituted. Maybe the meaning that lay behind the sudden appearing and disappearing of Melchizedek was not recognized then - not until it was uttered by David in one of his Messianic prophecies: "You are a priest forever, in the order of Melchizedek" (Ps. 110:4). The Apostle makes much more of it in the book of Hebrews.

Hebrews is considered one of the grandest and ablest arguments or demonstrations of reasoning ability in the whole of literature. The writer - whom we believe to be Paul - was faced with Judaism, which was a yoke of bondage to the Christian faith (as he states in Galatians), and he realized how difficult it was for those Hebrew Christians to abandon all their traditions. At the same time, possibly knowing that the predicted day was not far distant when the Temple would be destroyed and they would be scattered around the world - thus ending suddenly much to which they were holding - he most masterfully seeks to wean them from the "old" and woo them to the "new" by asking them to consider the Apostle and High Priest of their confession, Christ Jesus

He reminds them of the faithfulness of Moses and expounds to them the greater worthiness of Christ. From Moses he passes on to Aaron and the priesthood, showing how they failed to satisfy the requirements of men. Then, coming to the middle of the book, he takes up the subject of Melchizedek and shows him to be a more perfect priest than any of the Aaronic family. Finally, declaring that Christ was not only in the order of Melchizedek but that He superseded all, for He opened a "new and living way" by His death so that we could "draw near to God with a sincere heart in full assurance of faith.”

Let us now consider what the difference is between the Aaronic priesthood and the Melchizedek priesthood. The question is naturally asked: "Who was Melchizedek?" Many have suggested that he was some superhuman person, some even believing him to be Christ. The text of Scripture is quite opposed to such suggestions and, if read correctly, everything is quite logical. Some think that it is not logical for a man to have no parents, and to have no birth or death - and rightly so! But how does the Bible state it?

It is most important always to know where we are reading and about what we are reading, because statements are often relative to something else. To understand a text we must know the context, otherwise our interpretation may be a pretext. We must ask ourselves such questions as: "Who is speaking - God or man? Is it the Old Testament or the New Testament? Is it a historical statement or is it of doctrinal intent?" By doing this we shall be better able to "correctly handle the word of truth.”

With these things in mind then, consider two statements. They are Genesis 14:18-20 and Hebrews 7:1-3. Both are stated by man. One is written in the Old Testament, the other in the New Testament. The first is a definite historical record, the second is an exegesis of the first. Written in the two Testaments, the statements are about two thousand years apart the one is historical, the other is not.

The historical account, which is a statement of facts, reads thus: "Then Melchizedek king of Salem brought out bread and wine. He was priest of God Most High, and he blessed Abram, saying, 'Blessed be Abram by God Most High, Creator of heaven and earth. And blessed be God Most High, who delivered your enemies into your hand") (Gen 14:18-20). There is nothing strange or superhuman in that statement. Nothing whatever!

Reading the whole chapter, it concerns a battle, a defeat, a victory, and a blessing. It gives the names of ten kings and the districts or cities over which they reigned. Among these names is Melchizedek, king of Salem. Salem will be found on any map of that period as the ancient name for Jerusalem, which was at that time Canaanitish. It is all so very matter-of-fact. We know then who Melchizedek was - a godly king of the very ancient city of Jerusalem, who also officiated as a priest for God, and whom God sent out to refresh and bless Abram.

Now consider the characteristics of this new "order": It was unique. There were many high priests and priests who officiated under the Aaronic priesthood, all of whom were subject to death; contrariwise, here there was only one, Melchizedek, and he stood out like the moon against the stars of the night. But when the morning of the New Testament came, the one Great High Priest - Jesus - arose like the sun, subduing all other lights. Others had only borne a dim reflection of Him.

It was universal. While the Aaronic priesthood was established for a nation, Israel - and for a period, until Christ should come - Melchizedek came before Jews and Gentiles existed as separate people, and very early in time. When the greater than Melchizedek came, He made Jew and Gentile one again in Himself. For in Christ Jesus there is neither Jew nor Gentile, all are one in Him. His priestly work is worldwide and is agelong, as He intercedes for all believers everywhere, irrespective of nation or denomination. He is the one Mediator between God and men.

It was unchanging. That Melchizedek in all his greatness was only a type is pointed out by the Apostle as he shows the need of a change from the changeable to the changeless in the words: "If perfection could have been attained through the Levitical priesthood (for on the basis of it the law was given to the people), why was there still need for another priest to come one in the order of Melchizedek, not in the order of Aaron? For when there is a change of the priesthood, there must also be a change of the law.

He of whom these things are said belonged to a different tribe, and no one from that tribe has ever served at the altar. For it is clear that our Lord descended from Judah, and in regard to that tribe Moses said nothing about priests. And what we have said is even more clear if another priest like Melchizedek appears, one who has become a priest not on the basis of a regulation as to his ancestry but on the basis of the power of an indestuctible life. For it is declared: 'You are a priest forever, in the order of Melchizedek'" (Heb 7:11-17). Then again in verse 24: "But because Jesus lives forever, he has a permanent priesthood.”

It was unchanging. As one high priest succeeded another, the earthly commandment said he must be a son of the former, but no law could alter or control the character of that son. One priest might be willing, but not the next; one might be kind and loving, another irritable; one devoted, the other half - hearted; one man might be understanding, but his successor have little feeling. But we have an unchanging priest - "Jesus Christ, the same yesterday and today and forever." He is kind, gentle, and able to sympathize with our weaknesses. He is consecrated by an oath which cannot be altered. This indeed should make our souls cry out: "Hallelujah, what a Saviorl”

It was uniform. Melchizedek and Christ bear the same names and office. They are: King. Melchizedek had royal blood in his veins; he claimed the title of kingship. Aaron could make no such claim, neither could anyone else of the tribe of Levi. It was a sacred tribe. Kingship was confined mostly to Judah, from which came David, Solomon and others. It was Uzzah, king of Judah, who attempted to offer incense at the golden altar and was smitten with leprosy. Only one king descended from Judah ever became a priest and that was Christ, the Lion of the tribe of Judah; hence He was not of the Aaronic order but above it. He was the Royal Priest.

(2) Righteousness. "King of Righteousness" is the meaning of the name Melchizedek. Christ was more than King of Israel; He, too, was King of Righteousness. His name was Jehovah Tsidkenu, "The lord our Righteousness." He preached righteousness. He lived righteously. He reigns in righteousness, and all His people He makes righteous. (3) Peace. As King of Salem, or King of Peace, Melchizedek met Abram on his return from warfare, having gained a great victory. One has no need to enlarge on this wonderful attribute of Christ, the King of Peace, He who has destroyed our enemies and who reigns in peace in the hearts of His children. (4) Priest of God Most High. This is stated of both, and describes their great office.

Introduction to the Garments Exodus 28:1 - 43; Leviticus 8:6 - 9
(Exo 28:1-5) "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. (5) "They shall take the gold, blue, purple, and scarlet thread, and the fine linen,

MUCH DETAIL is given in the instructions for the making of the garments for Aaron and his sons, so much so that one's attention is naturally drawn to the meaning of it all. Since Scripture tells us that "everything that was written in the past was written to teach us," it is necessarily our duty to find out what the lord desires us to know. As the high priest was a type of the Great High Priest, Jesus, so the garments of the high priest were typical of the character of Jesus Christ. Likewise, as the sons of the high priests were priests and as we who are the sons of God are called to be priests, even so the dress of the priests typifies the character of the believers. The chief lesson to be learned from these robes is, therefore, the character that is essentially Christ's, and then the character of believers in their relationship to Him.

In Exodus chapters 25 to 30 the details of the Tabernacle are fully prescribed. Two of the intermediate chapters are occupied with the instructions concerning the priestly clothing and consecration. So the priesthood, with its robes and ritual, was not an afterthought but the very life of the Tabernacle service. The Tabernacle without the priesthood would be barren and void. The ministry, therefore, must not be disdained, because it has been God - ordained; while the minister himself must be enveloped in all that for which God and the Church stand. The ministry must be recognized by those who enter it as a high calling demanding the very best that man possesses, and it must be recognized by the people as a God - chosen avenue for conveying His truth to the Church through an honest handling of the Word of God.

The quality of the whole of these vestments, whether it was texture or material or workmanship, was the very best of its kind - fine linen, pure gold, precious stones, costly ointment, skillful workmanship, all used bv wise hearts. This was because it was all a type of Christ's character, and nothing but the very highest quality will do to portray Him who was an example of humanity as it ought to be and as one day it will be. Jesus was Divinity manifested in human form so that humanity might take on the divine nature by becoming the sons of God. Nothing but that which was unalloyed could represent Him who was "holy, blameless, pure, set apart from sinners'" who was "wisdom, righteousness, holiness, and redemption." Again He was the personification of "love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self - control.”

Majesty and humility were blended in Him. Mercy and truth met in Him and kissed each other. Humanity and Divinity harmonized only in the High Priest of our confession. Aaron was clothed with these garments, thus fItting him for the office to which he was called and covering him with a dignity he did not otherwise possess, for the robes were part of his consecration. What a contrast to the Lord Jesus Christ. Character, not clothes, fitted Him; His glory and dignity He had from eternity - they were essentially His.

It is inspiring to meditate on the thought given us in the first verse of Exodus 28: "Have Aaron your brother brought to you from among the Israelites, along with his sons Nadab and Abihu, Eleazar and lthamar, so they may serve me as priests." But several older versions translate the last phrase more literally: "that he may minister to me as priest." God chose five men, Aaron and his four sons, and then referred to them in the singular pronoun "that he may minister." The ministries of these five men were inseparably wrapped up in each other, so that God saw them as one. Aaron did not minister without the priests (except on the Day of Atonement), and the priests could not minister without their high priest.

This is all very wonderful, for Christ does not minister alone. He has called us to be priests that we might share in the ministry of intercession. We, too, like the priests of old, cannot minister apart from our Great High Priest upon whom we have to depend at all times. These five men working together remind us that even behind the law, God was seeking to show forth His grace. (Five is the typical number of grace.)

The vestments included a tunic with its sash (or belt), a robe, an ephod and waistband, a breastpiece holding the Urim and Thummim, and a turban with a sacred diadem of pure gold. (There is also mention of trousers as an undergarment.) This is not the order given in Exodus, for there is no particular order there. However, this is the order in which we shall deal with the subject because this is the order in which the priest would put them on, and is found in Leviticus 8:7 - 9. We begin, therefore, with the tunic, which is the foundation, and work outwards.

The priest in his garments of "dignity and honor" was adorned in harmony with his surroundings -- the Tabernacle; there are the same colors, some of the same materials, the same skillful workmanship. This again reminds us of the great fact that God loves harmony, and that all His work is harmonious.

Much Christian work today manifests discord. Somehow, dancing and worship do not blend; there is little harmony between church music and jazz. A rock concert jars with the singing of psalms. A raffle and any of the divine ordinances of the church surely are in great contrast. Yet all these things are indulged in by some, and are sponsored under the same name of "church." Let us come to a holy God as holy people. Let the reverence of the sanctuary pervade everything. "May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be pleasing in your sight, O Lord, my Rock and my Redeemer" (Ps. 19:14).

The Linen Tunic Exodus 28:39; 39:27
And these are the garments which they shall make; a breastplate, and an ephod, and a robe, and a broidered coat, a mitre, and a girdle: and they shall make holy garments for Aaron thy brother, and his sons, that he may minister unto me in the priest's office. (Exod 28:4) "Weave the tunic of fine linen and make the turban of fine linen. The sash is to be the work of an embroiderer" (Exod. 28:39). "For Aaron and his sons, they made tunics of fine linen - the work of a weaver " (Exod. 39:27). "Then Moses brought Aaron and his sons forward and washed them with water. He put the tunic on Aaron, tied the sash around him, clothed him with the robe and put the ephod on him. He also tied the ephod to him by its skillfully woven waistband; so it was fastened on him" (Lev. 8:6 - 7).

"Weave the tunic of fine linen." Only six words in all, but it is like the comparatively small telescope which, when put to the eye, will bring to your vision a great panorama of beauty. There was nothing plain or ordinary in the things which God planned; nature tells us so, the harmony of the Bible declares it, and so does everything else. Looking at this tunic from a distance, and especially in contrast to the other garments, it would appear quite ordinary, but upon closer examination there was skill and beauty involved in the makeup of the fabric.

The Authorized Version (KJV) refers to it as a "coat." A tunic is a loose - fitting garment, sleeved or sleeveless, extending to the knees or below. In ancient times it was commonly worn by both men and women. This one sentence is the sum total of what we are told about this garment - "Weave the tunic of fine linen." There are those who take a casual glance at "Jesus of Nazareth," the "Man of Galilee"; they see an ordinary yet good man. But study that character, look into that life, note those good works, and meditate upon His words. Here is no ordinary person, even though He was "found in fashion as a man." There is a divine pattern intrinsically worked into the human frame - a perfection that reveals Him to be the Son of God.

This "fine linen" is such as cannot be purchased or even manufactured today. It was an Egyptian art that died with the early Egyptians. The fine linen and embroidered work, the yarn and woolen stuffs of the upper and lower country are frequently mentioned, and were highly esteemed. But what has Egypt and its art to do with the priestly garments? How did these Israelites in a wilderness come to possess such material? They had plundered the Egyptians when they left Egypt under Moses! Exodus 3:22.

Not only did this material have a fine texture note the same typology as the fine flour of the showbread and the fine flour of the grain offering (Lev 2:4) – we have every reason to believe that it was pure white. A picture of Him who (Rev 1:13-14) was "dressed in a robe reaching down to his feet" and whose "head and hair were white like wool, as white as snow" enveloped in a spotless purity and the essence of perfect righteousness. Our Great High Priest, and thus He was when He was found in fashion as a man. All who spoke truthfully attested to His flawless, perfect life. Meeting temptation in the wilderness He overcame it and remained sinless (Luke 4); associating with sinners He was not contaminated (Matt. 9:10-13); mixing among publicans and harlots, He stood pure and holy (Mark 2:15-17; John 8:2–11)

As in His life, so in His death. For here are the verdicts of the leading characters in that greatest drama of all time: Pilate: "I find no basis for a charge against this man" (Luke 23:4). Pilate's wife: "Don't have anything to do with that innocent man" (Matt 27:19). Judas: "I have sinned, for I have betrayed innocent blood“ (Matt 27:4). The Criminal: "But this man has done nothing wrong" (Luke 23:41). The Centurion: "Surely this was a righteous man" (Luke 23:47). God: "This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased" (Matt 17:5).

The apostles, writing in later years, declared with no uncertainty the same thing: Peter: "You disowned the Holy and Righteous One and asked that a murderer be released to you" (Acts 3:14). Stephen: "Was there ever a prophet your fathers did not persecute? They even killed those who predicted the coming of the Righteous One. And now you have betrayed and murdered him" (Acts 7:52). Ananias (recounted by Paul): "Then he said: 'The God of our fathers has chosen you to know his will and to see the Righteous One and to hear words from his mouth'" (Acts 22:14), Paul: "", but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are - yet was without sin" (Heb.4:15).

Consider the Hebrew word here translated "tunic" or "coat" (KJV) kethoneth. The root meaning is twofold - "to cover" or "to hide." The same word is used in Genesis 3:21 >>"coats" (KJV), "tunics" (NKJV), or "garments" (NIV). "And Jehovah God does make to the man and to his wife garments [kethoneths] of skin and does clothe them." In the original the word "skin" is singular and not plural, as in the Authorized Version. This suggests that one sacrifice was sufficient for both.

When Adam sinned he tried first to cover his nakedness with leaves, and Then he sought to hide behind the trees of the garden. Both were of no avail before the penetrating eye of a righteous God who was demanding a strict adherence to His word. Then it was that He made for them a kethoneth to cover their sin and to hide their shame. This we know was only accomplished through the death of another through the shedding of blood. This basic garment of the high priest is to show the wonder of the holiness and righteousness of the Christ.

The short trousers (breeches KJV) the priests wore underneath their tunics were also of linen (Exod 28:42; Lev 16:4). These particular garments were alike for the high priest and other priests. All wore the white tunic except that it was the high priest's undergarment. For the priest it was his outer garment. Righteousness was the foundation of all else that Christ was, but the only merit claimed by a believer is an imputed righteousness. As the sons of God, we have been clothed in His righteousness because we have been washed in His blood. "I delight greatly in the Lord; my soul rejoices in my God. For he has clothed me with garments of salvation and arrayed me in a robe of righteousness ... " (Isa 61:10). "Therefore be holy, because I am holy" (Lev 11:45, 1 Pet 1:16).

The tunic was put on the moment the priest was washed (Lev 16:4), but not so with Jesus. It was never something he needed to put on. When He had divested Himself of everything that He had with the Father in eternity When He had stripped Himself of His glory and had made Himself of no reputation This character remained inseparably His. He was holy, He was righteous, and none could rob Him.

Attached to the woven linen tunic was The Sash or Girdle (KJV) This embroidered belt is nearly always a symbol of service, Girded loins denoted readiness for action. This must always be the attitude of the priest. It is certainly true of Christ: "He always lives to intercede for us.“

This linen belt is not the same as the skillfully woven waistband of Exodus 28:8. It was attached to the undergarment and so was not seen except on the Day of Atonement. Nonetheless it was there, encircling the waist. Perhaps we are not always conscious that the Lord is ministering on our behalf, especially when we see no outward evidence; but we can encourage our hearts with the fact that He is always working on our behalf. "But with righteousness he will judge the needy, with justice he will give decisions for the poor of the earth. He will strike the earth with the rod of his mouth; with the breath of his lips he will slay the wicked. Righteousness will be his belt and faithfulness the sash around his waist" (lsa 11:4-5).

Paul, referring to the believers, calls them to put on the "belt of truth" (Eph 6:14). Christ and His people are not only clothed with righteousness but that righteousness is bound to us by the righteous, eternal and unalterable word of the living God. This tunic with its sash for the waist, as well as the more gorgeous apparel, is called a garment of dignity and honor.

The Robe of the Ephod Exodus 28:31 - 35; 39:22 - 26
""Make the robe of the ephod entirely of blue cloth, with an opening for the head in its center. There shall be a woven edge like a collar around this opening, so that it will not tear. Make pomegranates of blue, purple and scarlet yarn around the hem of the robe, with gold bells between them. The gold bells and the pomegranates are to alternate around the hem of the robe. Aaron must wear it when he ministers. The sound of the bells will be heard when he enters the Holy Place before the LORD and when he comes out, so that he will not die." (Ex 28:31-35) They made the robe of the ephod entirely of blue cloth—the work of a weaver—with an opening in the center of the robe like the opening of a collar, and a band around this opening, so that it would not tear. They made pomegranates of blue, purple and scarlet yarn and finely twisted linen around the hem of the robe. And they made bells of pure gold and attached them around the hem between the pomegranates. The bells and pomegranates alternated around the hem of the robe to be worn for ministering, as the LORD commanded Moses. (Ex 39:22-26).

The Robe of the ephod is the first vestment that belongs expressly to the high priest. This is the first time that the word "robe" occurs in Scripture. It stands in contrast to the tunic. Certain words and expressions which we use in a general way are used in Scripture in a definite, specific way. The tunic is a garment used expressly for the purpose of covering. The robe is always worn as the symbol of office and authority. "The men said, 'This is the day the Lord spoke of when he said to you, "I will give your enemy into your hands for you to deal with as you wish.'" Then David crept up unnoticed and cut off a comer of Saul's robe" (1 Sa 24:4). "I put on righteousness as my clothing; justice was my robe and my turban" (Job 29:14). "Then all the princes of the coast will step down from their thrones and lay aside their robes and take off their embroidered garments. Clothed with terror, they will sit on the ground, trembling every moment, appalled at you" (Ez 26:16)

DIGNITY. You cannot imagine a person in his robes of office being other than dignified. The robes dignify a man for the office he holds. Aaron was robed for office and his position commanded respect. Every servant of the Lord who ministers in holy things should himself respect his office and should be respected because of his office. "They stripped him and put a scarlet robe on him ... and mocked him. 'Hail, king of the Jews!' they said" (Mat 27:28-29) Aaron had no claim to kingship. His robes only dignified him in his priestly capacity. Jesus dignified the realm of royalty as well as that of priesthood.

ROYALTY Royalty is the underlying truth of the garment so far as its name is concerned, and reveals that royalty which be longed to the Christ of God, the Great High Priest. This priestly office of Christ superseded that of Aaron, being of the Melchizedek order picturing an endless life. Melchizedek was king of righteousness and king of peace. The robe of the ephod, having on it as an ornamentation the symbols of peace is placed upon a man already wearing the white tunic, the emblem of righteousness. Thus the man foreshadowed Him who never wore the emblem of, but who himself in reality actually was, the King of Righteousness and the King of Peace.

Notice the striking omissions of Scripture. Nothing is said as to the nature of the material used. It is not revealed whether the garment was of linen, silk, wool, goat's hair, camel's hair, or any other fabric worn by Eastern people. Scripture simply states: "Make the robe of the ephod entirely of blue cloth" (v 31). The emphasis seems to be on the color rather than the material or texture. This is a peculiarity of Scripture in its original text.

Ps 45:8: "All your robes are fragrant with myrrh, and aloes and cassia " Leaving out the underlined word which are is in the original, it reads: "All your robes are with myrrh and aloes and cassia " This makes it read as though the garments of the king were made of a composition of sweet spices and not of material scented with them. Ps 109:4: "but I am a man of prayer." Again, omitting the underlined words to get the original rendering, it reads: "but I prayer!' David became to his adversary - prayer. This is the sense that has to be read into the robe of the ephod. It was "made of blue.”

It was "made of blue." Blue is a color that signifies … GRACE. The high priest may endeavor to be gracious, but Christ IS grace. "Grace and truth came through Jesus Christ" (John 1:17). The beautiful blue sky never reminds us of judgment - the storm clouds do that. The gathering blackness tends to make one fearful, but the blue sky brings cheer and reminds us of the goodness of the Lord and His great grace.

Blue was the color that abounded in both the Tabernacle and its ministry. It was in the ten frame curtains of the tent, In the shielding curtain (the vail KJV), and In the curtain at the entrance to the courtyard. Every piece of furniture was covered with a blue cloth when in transit. A blue cord fastened the gold diadem to the head of the priest, Cords of blue secured the breastpiece to the ephod. Blue was worked into both the ephod and its intricately woven band, while the robe was "entirely of blue cloth.”

As blue was in abundance in the Tabernacle, so grace is to be seen everywhere in the Church of God today. "By the grace of God I am what I am, and his grace to me was not without effect. No, I worked harder than all of them - yet not I, but the grace of God that was with me" (1 Cor 15:10). The righteousness of God depicted in the spotless tunic of fine white linen as unattainable by the natural man. But God has covered the white with the blue; He has covered law with grace. It is not our filthy - rag righteousness but His own righteousness which He has imputed by His grace that gives us access to God. The foundation of His grace is His righteousness.

This robe also sets forth His ... DIVINITY. Blue is also the emblematic color of divinity. It is one of the symbols that carries a dual meaning. Nothing can embrace or give expression to all that God is in Christ Jesus. As the blue - vaulted heavens are immeasurable, so is the divine Son of God.

A further picture of His eternal Deity, His divine Personage, and His matchless grace is seen in the fact that this robe was woven in one piece - it was seamless. It was the skillful work of a craftsman. No loom on earth could ever have produced the wonderful fabric of the Incarnate God. While Christ was born of a woman and found in appearance as a man, yet that did not alter His eternal existence. He was with the Father from before the creation of the world - He was eternal. "I and the Father are one". He was divine.

As we look at Jesus in his perfect humanity we see Immanuel - God with us, God manifest in the flesh. His life was seamless. It had no beginning, it knows no end. During the little time He tabernacled in human flesh, His eternal existence was declared: "Jesus knew that the Father had put all things under his power, and that he had come from God and was returning to God; so he got up from the meal, took off his outer clothing ... " (John 13:3-4).

This robe of the ephod was not only seamless but it was made in such a way that it was not possible for man to rend it. There was an opening in the top through which the head passed. This opening, we are told, had "a woven edge like a collar." " ... like the opening in a coat of mail," say several other translations. (Actually, the true meaning of this rare Hebrew word is unknown. But there is no question about the words "so that it will not tear.") This instruction was given to Moses by God, therefore it was in the divine plan.

Every time man inflicted a doubt, saying: "If you are the king of the Jews," God was there to prove that He was. The devil said in Judea's wilderness: "If you are the son of God," but he was vanquished with the "It is written." While Christ was on the cross the people said: "Let him save himself If he is the Christ of God, the Chosen One" (Lu 23:35). The soldiers said: "If you are the king of the Jews, save yourself" (Lu 23:37). One of the criminals hanging there joined the cry of doubt, saying: "Aren't you the Christ? Save yourself and us!" (Lu 23:39) To all these "ifs" came the challenge of the resurrection on the 3rd day. Man said "Isn't this the carpenter's son!" (Mat 13:55). God said: "This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased" (Mat 3:17).

It was thought that the robe of Divinity had been torn from the Lord on the day they laid Him in the tomb and set the seal upon the stone. Instead, Christ was encountering the last enemy that was to be put under His feet - Death – and in meeting him, destroyed him. Irrespective of guard, seal and stone, He came forth and went back into eternity, via Olivet. "Where, 0 death, is your victory? Where, 0 death, is your sting? The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. But thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ" (1 Cor 15:55-57).

Works may fail, our love may waver, our passions may vary, but grace does not depend on these things or else it would be merited. The word itself means "unmerited favor." "For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith - and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God" (Eph 2:8). " ... the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men" (Titus 2:11), " ... that having been justified by his grace, we might become heirs having the hope of eternal life" (Titus 3:7).

The hem remains to be considered for upon it were golden bells and pomegranates, alternating all the way around. THE POMEGRANATES. These were made of blue, purple and scarlet yarn. They acted as pads between each of the bells, thus preventing them from clashing against each other with discord. The fact that pomegranates are a fruit most naturally suggests "fruitfulness" to us. Although the pomegranate is not overly appreciated in England and America, yet it is considered a luscious fruit in the East. As the apple is the fruit of love (Song of Sol 2) and The grape is the emblem of joy (John 15), So the pomegranate speaks of peace (Joel 1). Love, joy and peace go together (Gal 5:22).

Pomegranates belong to Canaan; they do not grow in the land of "leeks, onions and garlic." The two spies brought back pomegranates with their large bunch of grapes from Eshcol (Nu 13:23) as a witness that the land was fruitfull. "I went down to the grove of nut trees to look at the new growth in the valley, to see if the vines had budded or the pomegranates were in bloom" (SoS 6:11). "Let us go early to the vineyards to see if the vines have budded, if their blossoms have opened, and if the pomegranates are in bloom - there I will give you my love" (SoS 7:12).

When we see this fruit on the hem of the high priest's garment we catch a glimpse of Him who, with royal robe and the fruit of the peace made by the cross, stands as King of Peace and Righteousness, the than Melchizedek. He came as the Prince of Peace, He made peace through His cross, and Now He intercedes for us who are those who have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.

Between the pomegranates, the fruit of peace, are the … GOLDEN BELLS. These tell us of the gospel of peace. Each bell had a distinct mellow ring, and yet they rang together with beautiful melody – there was no discordant sound rather one clear harmonious sound. Just like the gospel of peace through Jesus Christ. While the message was written by independent men at different times, each with his own personality and each from his local viewpoint, the individual writer rings clear - and yet they ring together without jarring, discord, or contradiction.

The high priest did not wear these bells on the Day of Atonement when he went into the Most Holy Place with the blood, it was a day of humiliation and he wore only plain white garments of linen. He wore the robes on every other day in the year as he ministered in the Holy Place where the golden altar of intercession, the lampstand, and the table of consecrated bread were located. It was from here that his sound of the bells ringing out peace with God could be heard.

The common man was not permitted to enter any part of the Tabernacle except the outer court where the Altar of Sacrifice and the great Laver were located. While the priest lived and moved, the bells rang; and while the bells rang, the people knew the priest was alive. We can know that Jesus lives and is interceding for us. We can “hear” the harmonious bells ringing out peace with God from within our spirit, sounding out in our lives.

The Ephod and Waistband Exo 28:4, 6-8, 39; 39:1-5; Lev 8:7; 1 Sa 30:1; Hos 3:4
Make the ephod of gold, and of blue, purple and scarlet yarn, and of finely twisted linen — the work of a skilled craftsman. It is to have two shoulder pieces attached to two of its corners, so it can be fastened. Its skillfully woven waistband is to be like it — of one piece with the ephod and made with gold, and with blue, purple and scarlet yarn, and with finely twisted linen. Ex 28:6-8 Very little is said concerning this vestment and very little can be Iearned from it as a garment. Its lessons are to be found in the colors. From the text we can conclude that it was made as a back and a front joined only at the shoulders by means of onyx shoulder stones set in gold and made secure by means of a woven waistband. The ephod, waistband and breastpiece were united so that they became a single inseparable unit.

The Ephod and Waistband Exo 28:4, 6-8, 39; 39:1-5; Lev 8:7; 1 Sa 30:1; Hos 3:4
Ephod with its curious girdle. Exodus 28:6-7 And they shall make the ephod of gold, of blue, and of purple, of scarlet, and fine twined linen, with cunning work. It shall have the two shoulderpieces thereof joined at the two edges thereof; and so it shall be joined together. Girdle. Exodus 28:4 And these are the garments which they shall make; a breastplate, and an ephod, and a robe, and a broidered coat, a mitre, and a girdle: and they shall make holy garments for Aaron thy brother, and his sons, that he may minister unto me in the priest's office. Exodus 28:39 And thou shalt embroider the coat of fine linen, and thou shalt make the mitre of fine linen, and thou shalt make the girdle of needlework. 5/3/2019

The Ephod and Waistband Exo 28:6-8; 39:1-5; Lev 8:7; 1 Sa 30:1; Hos 3:4
Inside the breastpiece were deposited Urim and Thummim, stones used for giving a verdict. This explains a Scripture passage in 1 Sam 30:7-8: "Then David said to Abiathar the priest, the son of Ahimelech, 'Bring me the ephod.' Abiathar brought it to him, and David inquired of the Lord, 'Shall I pursue this raiding party? WillI overtake them?' 'Pursue them,' he answered. 'You will certainly overtake them and succeed in the rescue.'" David asked for the ephod with its Urim and Thummim because the Amalekites had come up against Ziklag, destroyed it, and taken David's two wives. He desired therefore to seek the mind of God as to what he should do in the matter and it was by Urim and Thummim that God revealed His will to him.

Make the ephod of gold, and of blue, purple and scarlet yarn, and of finely twisted linen — the work of a skilled craftsman. It is to have two shoulder pieces attached to two of its corners, so it can be fastened. Its skillfully woven waistband is to be like it — of one piece with the ephod and made with gold, and with blue, purple and scarlet yarn, and with finely twisted linen. Ex 28:6-8 The specified colors of this vestment, with the addition of gold, are the same as those seen in the fabrics of the Tabernacle. Twenty-six times in the book of Exodus these colors are mentioned, always in the same order - gold, blue, purple and scarlet. Blue and scarlet can sometimes clash, but purple – mixing of scarlet and blue - between them harmonizes them.

Gold, blue, purple and scarlet harmonize in nature. Stand on the seashore at evening on a summer's day and watch these colors blaze across the sky. Above is the beautiful azure blue sky, calm and serene; before lies the deep blue of the ocean. The golden sun as it begins to set in the west sends a path of gold across that blue sea – the gold and blue harmonizing in glory. As the sun sinks lower toward the horizon it reflects and illuminates the scattered clouds in splashes and hues of scarlet. As the sun begins to disappear its rays blend together the blue and the scarlet which always make purple. A purple cap is put upon the head of the mountains and a purple cloak of haze is thrown around the distant horizon. Words fail to express the glories of nature when the hand of God begins to move across the sky. The result will be a marveling at the beauty of the Lord our God.

GOLD This was real gold. Exodus 39:3 "They hammered out thin sheets of gold and cut strands to be worked into the blue, purple and scarlet yarn and fine linen the work of a skilled craftsmen." Being a metal it must have stiffened the ephod as well as giving it a glory and brilliance which was unsurpassed. "garments ... for glory and for beauty" (Ex. 28:40, KJV).

Gold is an emblem of eternal Deity - that which speaks of the Godhead - because it was then the most precious metal as well as the metal that stood the test of time. There is nothing that will alter gold. It is not affected by exposure to the air and it will not deteriorate if buried for thousands of years. Acid will not destroy it and fire will not burn it; from these it only comes out purified. "It can be beaten into leaves so exceedingly thin that one grain in weight will cover 56 square inches, such leaves having the thickness of only one two hundred and eighty-two thousandth (1/282,000) part of an inch. A single grain may be drawn into a wire 500 feet long, and an ounce of gold covering a silver wire is capable of being extended upwards of 1,000 miles. It may be melted and remelted without loss by oxidation" (The British Encyclopedia).

While its properties are really amazing, this ‘symbol’ of the eternal Godhead does not come close to expressing Him. " 'To whom will you compare me? Or who is my equal?' says the Holy One" (Is 40:25). His is the uncreated and eternal glory, and that glory was also in His Son. "We have seen his glory, the glory of the One and Only, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth" (John 1:14). The glory of the priesthood of Christ centered in the fact that He ministered in the power of an endless life. "No one takes it from me ... I have authority to lay it down, and authority to take it up again.”

The non-perishing gold of His Deity is wonderfully expressed by the Apostle in Hebrews 1, particularly verses 11 and 12: "They [the heavens] will perish, but you remain; they will all wear out like a garment. You will roll them up like a robe; like a garment they will be changed. But you remain the same, and your years will never end.”

BLUE Blue is the second color here, but the first in order in the Tabernacle where the gold was not found in the fabrics. Blue is the color with which Scripture typifies Divinity gold and blue side by side, Deity and Divinity together. Considering blue thoughts are directed toward Divinity or that which speaks of Him as the eternal Son of God. Blue is seen in God's handiwork by gazing upwards toward the immense, immeasurable, infinite space of heaven above us. But Christ is infinitely greater…

Jesus was with the Father when the galaxies were brought into being. God "stretches out the heavens like a canopy, and spreads them out like a tent to live in" (Is 40:22). And the writer to the Hebrews says that one day He will take them and fold them up like a vesture, so that the heavens and the earth will pass away, "... but you remain ... " Clouds gather, fogs and mists may rise from the earth and dim our vision but the heavens remain unchangeably the same. When the clouds break and "the mists have rolled away," there is still the blue of the heavens. Oppression may come, or the cares of life and the problems of the world may cloud life and temporarily rob us of the joy of our salvation - as they did with David - but, through them all, He is the same. Difficulties come but difficulties go. Disappointments become His appointments as we learn to trust the Divine God who is there and is in control.

SCARLET. Blue and scarlet often stand in great contrast to each other, thus needing the purple as an intermediary color to blend them. You look upwards for the blue in Palestine or Sinai, where the record was given, You would look downwards for the red, for there it is often the color of the earth. Blue and red are therefore opposites. The divine contrasting with the earthly. The name Adam comes from a root word adham which means "red earth" from which he was made. Esau was a man of the earth with carnal desires and earthly appetite, for he sold his birthright for a dish of red lentils. In the account of his birth it is said that he came out "red and hairy" (Ge 25:25).

He who had His beginning with God as God and who was the Son of God (blue) stepped down from heaven to earth and became the Son of Man (red) and dwelt among us. The dye was deeper than that of the adham "red earth" - it was scarlet, a color derived from the coccus ilicis or cochineal, which in Hebrew is termed "the scarlet worm" and therefore the color is called "worm scarlet." When Christ humbled Himself, He stepped to the very lowest. He, "being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, but made himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself and became obedient to death - even death on a cross!" (Phil 2:6-8). David in Ps 22:6 said concerning the Lord: "I am a worm and not a man.”

These two colors denote two extreme facts. The one Divinity and the other humanity. These have become diverse from each other because of sin, for it was sin that separated man from God. Is it possible for there to be harmony again? Naturally speaking, the answer is always no… But when blue and scarlet are mixed they produce … PURPLE

PURPLE. This is the intermediate color. When blue and red, Divinity and humanity, God and man, were blended, Jesus, Immanuel - God with us, or God manifested in the flesh - was revealed. As such and only as such could He become a Mediator. As God (blue) Jesus can satisfy the claims of God; As man (scarlet) Jesus can meet the needs of man, and As a Mediator (purple) Jesus is able to bring God and man together. "For there is one God and one Mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus" (1 Ti 2:5).

All these colors, representing such wonderful truths, were worked upon a background of finely woven linen, the essence of His righteousness - apart from which He never could have become a Mediator and a Priest. In the natural world such a thing could never be. A third person can mediate - operate between them - seeking a reconciliation. Easy to arrange because all parties concerned are men. If a difference arises between a man and an animal - a dog becoming ferocious or a mule becoming stubborn - no arbitrator can be found to conciliate because the opposing parties are different - one is human, the other animal. There is no common ground of approach nor an intermediary that can enter into the feelings and understandings of both.

Through sin, God and man were separated from each other in the beginning. There was none who could negotiate, mediate or arbitrate, because there was nothing common between them - God and man, Creator and creature, Divinity and humanity, Holiness and sin. It was into this impossible situation that God sent His Son, born of a woman, to redeem us – divine God born into humanity. He, as God, could understand God, and as man He could enter into the feelings of man; Being fully both, He was able to become the only one capable of mediating between God and man.

THE WAISTBAND. This belt was neither loose nor attached but was an integral part of the ephod. "Its skillfully woven waistband is to be like it - of one piece with the ephod" (Exod. 28:8). It is difficult to ascertain exactly what this item looked like. The word used in the original Hebrew simply means "a woven device" so one has to look carefully at the context in which it appears.

A belt or waistband is used to strengthen the loins; It equips a man for a strenuous walk. "This is how you are to eat [the Passover meal]: with your cloak tucked into your belt, your sandals on your feet ... " (Exo 12:11). It also equips the person for work. Elisha told a young man: "Tuck your cloak into your belt, take this flask of oil with you and go to Ramoth Gilead" (1 Kings 9:1). And it equips the person for warfare: "Put on the full armor of God ... stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist" (Eph 6:11-14).

When we consider the dignified position of the high priest we observe that in his glorious vestments He would not go for long walks. Neither would he engage in secular work. And he was certainly exempt from war. Why, then, did he wear this "device"? Henry Soltau points out that the statement concerning it found in Leviticus 8:7 - "so it was fastened on him" - literally reads: "and it was ephodized [aphod] to him." The waistband connected the ephod with the person who wore it in such a way as to attach and fasten to him the virtues it contained.

The garments delineate the character of Christ: white, His righteousness; blue, His Divinity; scarlet, His humanity; purple, His Mediatorship; bells and pomegranates, His peace. All these elements of character are inseparably bound to Him because they are part of Him. You may rob a man of his reputation (what he is thought to be) but you cannot take from a man his character, because that is what he really is. May we so be bound up in Christ that His character becomes our character because we are one with Him.

The Breastpiece of Decision Exo 28:9-30; Gen 49; Deut 33
"Take two onyx stones and engrave on them the names of the sons of Israel in the order of their birth - six names on one stone and the remaining six on the other. Engrave the names of the sons of Israel on the two stones the way a gem cutter engraves a seal. Then mount the stones in gold filigree settings and fasten them on the shoulder pieces of the ephod as memorial stones for the sons of Israel. Aaron is to bear the names on his shoulders as a memorial before the Lord. Make gold filigree settings and two braided chains of pure gold, like a rope, and attach the chains to the settings.

(Exod. 28:9-30). "Fashion a breastpiece for making decisions - the work of a skilled craftsman. Make it like the ephod: of gold, and of blue, purple and scarlet yarn, and of finely twisted linen. It is to be square - a span long and a span wide - and folded double. Then mount four rows of precious stones on it. In the first row there shall be a ruby, a topaz and a beryl; in the second row a turquoise, a sapphire and an emerald; .in the third row a jacinth, an agate and an amethyst; in the fourth row a chrysolite, an onyx and a jasper. Mount them in gold filigree settings. There are to be twelve stones, one for each of the names of the sons of Israel, each engraved like a seal with the name of one of the twelve tribes.

(Exod. 28:9-30). "For the breastpiece make braided chains of pure gold, like a rope. Make two gold rings for it and fasten them to two comers of the breastpiece. Fasten the two gold chains to the rings at the corners of the breastpiece, and the other ends of the chains to the two settings, attaching them to the shoulder pieces of the ephod at the front. Make two gold rings and attach them to the other two corners of the breastpiece on the inside edge next to the ephod. Make two more gold rings and attach them to the bottom of the shoulder pieces on the front of the ephod, close to the seam just above the waistband of the ephod.

(Exod. 28:9-30). The rings of the breastpiece are to be tied to the rings of the ephod with blue cord, connecting it to the waistband, so that the breastpiece will not swing out from the ephod. "Whenever Aaron enters the Holy Place, he will bear the names of the sons of Israel over his heart on the breastpiece of decision as a continuing memorial before the Lord. Also put the Urim and the Thummim in the breastpiece, so they may be over Aaron's heart whenever he enters the presence of the Lord. Thus Aaron will always bear the means of making decisions for the Israelites over his heart before the Lord”

In the Authorized Version it is called "the breastplate of judgment," which means "the ornament of decisions." Its sole purpose was to be a repository for the Urim and Thummim by which God was to give His judgment or His decision in the event of doubt. On the outside were the twelve precious stones bearing the names of the twelve tribes of Israel for whom direction was given. "Also put the Unm and the Thummim in the breastpiece, so they may be over Aaron's heart whenever he enters the presence of the Lord. Thus Aaron will always bear the means of making decisions for the Israelites over his heart before the Lord" (Exod. 28:30).

The breastpiece was doubled to form a pouch into which the Urim and Thummim were deposited. Its shape was square. There is a repetition of the word "square" in the Tabernacle. The bronze altar, the golden altar, and the breastpiece are each described as squared. A square is a geometrical figure that has equal measurements. It speaks of solidity, balance and equality.

Christ's sacrificial work represented by the bronze altar is solid, reasonable, and without partiality; it is the same for sinners on this side of the world and on the other. His intercessory work (the golden altar) knows no favoritism; His priestly work is for the whole Church of the redeemed equally. Whether Jew or Gentile, whether Greek or Scythian, whether bond or free, male or female, red, yellow, black, brown or white, He mediates for all in the same way, on the one common ground that each is accepted in the Beloved through faith in Christ's sacrificial death.

The size is not without significance: a span long and a span wide. That is nine inches square, It just covered the whole of the priest's breast. Since we know the breast to be a symbol of affection and love, it reminds us that the whole of Christ's love is toward the believer. "Having loved his own who were in the world, he now showed them the full extent of his love" (John 13:1).

RINGS - CHAINS - CORDS. There were 6 rings altogether, 4 were on the breastpiece itself, 2 were on the ephod just above the waistband as the means of securing it on the ephod. The 4 rings of the breastpiece were placed at the four corners. From the 2 upper rings hung braided chains of gold linking the breastpiece to the shoulder stones above. Attached to the 2 lower rings on the breastpiece were blue cords fastening the breastpiece to the 2 rings of the ephod.

RINGS - CHAINS - CORDS. These chains and cords were the same two colors again gold and blue - the gold of Deity and the blue of grace. God demands holiness and justice; Attributes found in Christ who was accepted by God The two golden chains linked them together. Man below needed grace and mercy. Christ reached down and gave them to man The blue cords linking man to Christ.

RINGS - CHAINS - CORDS. This blue cord of grace was later given to man to wear. The story is found in Numbers 15. In the latter part of that chapter a man is found gathering sticks on the Sabbath day, thus breaking the commandment in Exodus 31:14. The mind of God was sought on the matter, and God said he must be put to death, again a fulfillment of Exodus 31:15. The law can show no mercy; it must be adhered to rigidly.

RINGS - CHAINS - CORDS. God in His mercy put before their eyes a constant reminder that He was a covenant keeping God. "Speak to the Israelites and say to them: 'Throughout the generations to come you are to make tassels on the corners of your garments, with a blue cord on each tassel. You will have these tassels to look at and so you will remember all the commands of the Lord, that you may obey them and not prostitute yourselves by going after the lusts of your own hearts and eyes. Then you will remember to obey all my commands and will be consecrated to your God'" Nu 15:38-40 It was likely this tassel of mercy and cord of grace that the woman touched when she reached out to the edge of Jesus' cloak (Luke 8:44). She certainly contacted the spring of His mercy and love.

THE PRECIOUS STONES. Twelve precious stones were set into the breastpiece, each one bearing the name and representing one of the twelve tribes of Israel Just as Aaron bore the names of Israel upon his breast when he went into the presence of God, Jesus, our Great High Priest, bears our names on His heart as He stands in the presence of God to make intercession for us.

THE PRECIOUS STONES. The breastpiece with its multi-colors sets forth Christ. The gems were mounted in "gold filigree settings." Gold representing the eternal Godhead. Believers are set into Christ by God Himself. No one can claim this honor as his own doing. You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you John 15:16 For he chose us in him before the creation of the world Eph 1:4

THE PRECIOUS STONES. The gems were then set in order: God is always the God of order. God’s order can be seen everywhere in the material world; It can be seen with the same clarity in the spiritual world. The order of the stones placed in four rows of three: ruby, topaz, beryl; turquoise, sapphire, emerald; jacinth, agate, amethyst; chrysolite, onyx, and jasper. On each stone of the breastpiece was engraved the name of one of the twelve tribes: Judah, Issachar, Zebulun; Reuben, Simeon, Gad; Ephraim, Manasseh, Benjamin; Dan, Asher, and Naphtali. Which tribe is missing? Why?

THE PRECIOUS STONES. The names of these stones occurs very infrequently in the Bible so their exact identification is not always certain or agreed upon. Translations frequently differ. For instance, the Authorized Version reads: sardius, topaz, carbuncle; emerald, sapphire, diamond; ligure, agate, amethyst; beryl, onyx, and jasper - a 50 percent disagreement.

THE PRECIOUS STONES. The names on the two onyx shoulder stones were: Reuben, Simeon, Levi, Judah, Dan and Naphtali on one stone; and on the other stone Gad, Asher, Issachar, Zebulun, Joseph and Benjamin. The names vary on the breastplate both as to the persons and also the order. On the breastpiece the names of Levi and Joseph do not appear, but they are found on the shoulder stones; On the breastpiece are the names of Ephraim and Manasseh, but these are absent from the shoulder stones.

THE PRECIOUS STONES. Why is this? On the Ephod Ex 28:10 says: "In the order of their birth - six names on one stone and the remaining six on the other"; On the breastpiece it is stated: "There are to be twelve stones, one for each of the names of the sons of Israel, each engraved like a seal with the name of one of the twelve tribes" Ex 28:21 There was a tribal order ordained by God in Numbers 10 when the Israelites made their first move from Sinai. God has a place for every man, and He desires that every man shall be in his place

The shoulder stones. As far as family relationship is concerned, God is no respecter of persons. He sees us all the same. Every believer is seen by God "in Christ Jesus." We are "chosen in him," we are "in the One he loves" Eph 1:4, 6 The common ground of our acceptance by God is redemption through the blood of Christ. Jesus is not only Priest, He is also the Shepherd - and it was upon His shoulder that He brought the wandering sheep back to His fold. God has no priority order in the Book of Life. The youngest convert is as much saved as the oldest saint. There are differences, of course, but these are in connection with service and reward.

No two of the stones were alike. Like the Church of God on earth, no two believers are alike. While there was variety, there was also harmony, the twelve stones made one breastpiece, even as seven branches made one lampstand. The Church is made up of many members, each one having his own individuality. Denominationalism and individuality does not need to be a hindrance to the work of God if we the Church of Christ walk in the oneness of spirit Jesus asked the Father to give to us.

One person, may be like the ruby, fiery and eloquent in his delivery; Another is quiet, gentle, and yet persuasive, like the soft - colored sapphire each is just as much in the breastpiece of God's purpose as any other. There is the diamond nature, the servant of God who is so brilliant and shines with so many hues and succeeds in every phase of his versatile life. There was only one of each stone in the breastpiece, no duplicates; Since God has given many gifts, qualities, and characteristics to the members of His body as He willed, each person must be contentedly himself - living solely for God.

While there was variation in color, brilliance, and attraction, they were all precious stones. Each and every child of God is precious in His sight because of what you cost Him. Psalm 116:15, "Precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of his saints,“ This verse reads beautifully in another possible translation. "Precious in the eyes of Jehovah is [His] death for His saints." That is just the reason why we are so precious to Him.

On the shoulder stones appear the names of Levi and Joseph, both of whom were born into the family. They are replaced by Ephraim and Manasseh who, being the sons of Joseph and not Jacob, have no place on the shoulder stones. Levi is not on the breastpiece because, as a separated tribe set apart for the ministry in holy things, he was not counted with the twelve. Nor is Joseph on the breastpiece, and yet in a sense he is. God promised to Joseph (Gen. 48:22) one portion more than his brothers. He received a double inheritance in the names of his two sons, Ephraim and Manasseh, and so the twelve were made up again.

The names on the breastplate are also in a totally different order from that of their birth order. Reuben may have lost first place because of instability (Gen. 49:4). Many a Christian loses joy and blessing on this point. They are not to be depended upon in the hour when most needed. They can serve God in the fair day, but are often missing in the foul day. Judah may have been placed first by God because his name means "The Praise of Jehovah" God always seems to put praise foremost

On these stones were engraved the names of the twelve tribes, thus representing the whole of Israel. We, as spiritual Israel, have our names written on His heart. Seeing that the stones were set in the breastpiece and the breastpiece was linked to the ephod by chains and cords, it was not possible to remove one name without removing the whole glory of the robe.

Once a year, on the great Day of Atonement, the high priest humiliated himself and - putting on the plain white garment - took the blood of a bullock first and afterwards that of the sacrificial goat and entered within the veil, having put incense on the burning coals in the censer. There in the presence of God, he sprinkled the blood seven times on the atonement cover or "mercy seat" (KJV), symbolizing a perfect acceptance with God; and seven times before the ark of the testimony, symbolizing a perfect standing before God. Having presented the blood and its having been accepted, he came out and addressed the gathered congregationf people saying: "You are clean from all your sin." Putting on again his garments of dignity and honor, he went about his daily administration.

Jesus left heaven's glory and put on the plain robes of humanity. He stepped down to this earth to go to the cross because the great Day of Atonement had come. Instead of offering a bullock for Himself and a goat for the people, He offered Himself for us and died. After His resurrection there came the passing in beyond the veil to present the blood. It was not the veil of the Temple, for that had been rent in two three days previously. It was the veil of the sky.

In John 20 He said to Mary: "Do not hold on to me, for I have not yet returned to the Father" (vs. 17), and yet He said to Thomas a few days later: "Put your finger here; see my hands. Reach out your hand and put it into my side" (vs. 27). Something happened in between the two statements. Having thus presented to the Father His nail - pierced hands and satisfied the claims of God, He returned to prove His resurrection by His many appearances.

Then one day, as He stood upon the Mount of Olives blessing His disciples, a cloud received Him out of their sight. He ascended again into the glory. He went back to receive again the glory He had laid aside when He took on His humility – now a glorified man. Having received it again, He will never again remove it. And just as the priest of Israel could not remove one name from his breast without removing most of his priestly garments, so it is quite impossible for Christ to remove our names without removing some of His glory. Regardless our situation or circumstance, He is the same; and He remains at the right hand of the Majesty on high, making intercession for us. We are never forgotten or forsaken by Him.

Introduction to the Precious Stones Genesis 29; Exodus 28: 17 - 21
The names of the twelve tribes of Israel were written upon the 12 stones of the breastpiece, each name on a different kind of stone. These stones and their order were purposely chosen for the engraving of the particular tribal name. There is a definite connection between the character of the person and the nature of the stone. T There are also connections between each son's birth, his father's blessing, and the tribal blessing by Moses. The Scripture references are as follows: 1. The Birth Genesis 29: :24 2. The Patriarchal Blessing Genesis 49 3. The Mosaic Blessing Deuteronomy 30 4. The Stones of the Breastpiece. Exodus 28: It would be useful to read these references through all at one sitting.

While these men were all sons of Jacob, they were not all the children of one wife. Jacob had two wives, both the daughters of Laban his uncle. He fell in love with Rachel and served Laban seven years as a dowry - and said it seemed to him as only a few days! But he was deceived by Laban and was given Leah, her sister. When he complained to Laban concerning his treatment, Laban made the excuse that in his country the younger was never given before the older.

Laban promised to give him Rachel also seven days later if he would promise to serve seven additional years for her. This Jacob did. But Rachel always remained the wife of his love, and therefore the favorite, while Leah was despised in his sight - Genesis 29:31 (KJV). The Lord seemed to recompense Leah by opening her womb, while Rachel remained barren. In the East children were considered a great blessing and sons a great inheritance.

Every woman longed to be a mother, and every mother yearned for a son in the hope that her son might prove to be the promised Messiah. Even if not, he would continue their posterity. It was for this reason that Hannah went to the Tabernacle and pleaded with God for a son, and God gave her Samuel This longing created a rivalry between Jacob's two wives. In their desire to increase their inheritance - and either to gain favor or to retain favor in the eyes of Jacob - they both gave their handmaids to Jacob as concubines. It would appear that it is in connection with their passion and rivalry the boys were named. We gather this from the meanings of the various names.

God was working out His purposes despite man’s scheming. No name was given without purpose - and God's purpose, at that - for each name had a meaning, and in those meanings is teaching for us. For example: Reuben means "See, a son." Simeon means "Hearing." Levi means "Joined." Judah means "The Praise of Jehovah." God has sent forth Jesus, saying, See My Son, hear Him, be joined to Him, and your life will be one of praise! Proof again that these things were written for our learning.

Ruby - Judah Gen 29:35; 49:8 - 12; Exo 28:17; Deu 33:7
"She conceived again, and when she gave birth to a son she said, 'This time I will praise the Lord.' So she named him Judah. Then she stopped having children" (Ge 29:35). "Judah, your brothers will praise you; your band will be on the neck of your enemies; your father's sons will bow down to you. You are a lion's cub, a Judah; you return from the prey, my son. Like a lion be crouches and lies down, like a lioness - who dares to rouse him! The scepter will not depart from Judah, nor the ruler's staff from between his feet, until be comes to whom it belongs and the obedience of the nations is his. He will tether his donkey to a vine, his colt to the choicest branch; be will wash his garments in wine, his robes in the blood of grapes. His eyes will be darker than wine, his teeth whiter than milk" (Ge 49:8-12).

HIS BIRTH. The predominant theme in Judah's character is "Praise." Leah named him Judah, which means "The Praise of Jehovah." God always puts praise first. This is evidenced from such Scripture verses as "Praise awaits you, 0 God, in Zion" (Ps 65:1), "Enter his gates with thanksgiving and his courts with praise" (Ps 100:4), "How good it is to sing praises to our God" (Ps 147:1). Judah came to be in the leading position among the tribes and foremost on the breastpiece of the high priest.

Praise brings blessing, and blessing brings praise. THE BLESSING. ''Judah, your brothers will praise you." This man not only offered praise, he was a recipient of it. Praise is infectious. To see the bright and right side of life is to cause others to see it, and they will praise God because of you.

"Your band will be on the neck of your enemies." To get one's finger and thumb into the back of the neck of another means you have subdued and conquered him. He is on the ground beneath you and is unable to rise. This meant victory for Judah. Every praising Christian ought to know a life of victory. Recognizing that everything comes from God and all our powers are bestowed by Him, and praising Him daily and hourly for all that HE is to us, is the best way of getting one's hand on the neck of self and keeping him low.

"Your father's sons will bow down to you." Of course this meant his own brothers. The fulfillment of this phase of Judah's blessing was that his descendants ultimately became the royal tribe out of which the kings of Israel came. Therefore the rest were in subjection. There is a still fuller meaning and a deeper revelation. Out of Judah came the Messiah - the Christ. To Him every tribe and kindred and people and tongue shall bow and confess that He is Lord of all.

"You are a lion's cub, 0 Judah; you return from the prey, my son. Like a lion be crouches and lies down, like a lioness - who dares to rouse him?" Judah seems to be like a lion in all its phases. As the cub with its agile and virile life. As the mature lion with its strength, and As a lioness. Christ himself was "the Lion of the tribe of Judah.” The statement is a picture of a lion crouching for its prey, then taking it away to the lair and, having feasted, lying down with a contentment and a dignity from which no one will dare to rouse him. The Christian is one who rejoices in his salvation but who is not content unless he brings back some trophies of grace, some prey from the forces of the enemy.

"The scepter will not depart from Judah, nor the ruler's staff from between his feet, until be comes to whom it belongs and the obedience of the nations is his.“ (Ge 49:8-12). The scepter is a symbol of authority and acceptance. Esther 4:11: "All the king's officials and the people of the royal provinces know that for any man or woman who approaches the king in the inner court without being summoned the king has but one law: that he be put to death. The only exception to this is for the king to extend the gold scepter to him and spare his life. But thirty days have passed since I was called to go to the king." Esther dared to enter into the presence of the king. She found favor in his sight so that he held out the scepter to her. When she had touched its tip she had the authority to ask what she would. God holds out the scepter which gives us the authority to go forth and preach the gospel: having given to all believers the ministry of reconciliation.

Regal power meant legal power. The rod of leadership as well as the scepter of authority belonged to, and remained, Judah's until the Lion of Judah's tribe came. The coming of Christ has given to Judah a great preeminence, for Judah is still spoken of even though many of the tribes are seldom, if ever, remembered. To have these characteristics of Judah means to have Christ dwelling within one's heart in all His fullness.

(Ge 49:8-12) "He will tether his donkey to a vine, his colt to the choicest branch; he will wash his garments in wine, his robes in the blood of grapes. His eyes will be darker than wine, his teeth whiter than milk. " The donkey was the common beast of burden. Practically everybody owned one and used it for every sort of purpose. The vine however, is the type of that which is choice. It stands for fruitfulness and joy. Judah could take the common things of life and link them to the choice things. He knew how to blend the earthly and the heavenly.

The washing of Judah's garments in wine suggests that wine was as abundant as or even more abundant than water in the land of Judah. The choice thing became to him the common place thing. So it should be with the rejoicing believer - the joy of the Lord ought to enter into all the ordinary things of life, until the wine of the everlasting joy of the Lord becomes more important than the water of the pleasures of the world.

(Ge 49:8-12). "His eyes will be darker than wine, his teeth whiter than milk." NASV "His eyes are dull from wine, and his teeth white from milk." The man in the world who suffers from inflamed eyes is the man addicted to intoxicating liquors. Dull eyes suggest that he has been drinking wine to excess. Would to God that we might drink fuller and deeper of the wine of God's Holy Spirit, and so receive of His fullness that the joy of the Lord would radiate from our eyes. "These men are not drunk, as you suppose. It's only nine in the morning!" (Acts 2:15).

“Come, buy wine and milk without money and without cost" (Is 55:1). Both beverages suggest strength: milk builds up the body of the child, wine masters the man, as seen in intoxication. Wine is also the emblem of joy and we are told that Neh 8:10 He also told them, "Go eat the best food, drink the best wine, and give something to those who have nothing, since this day is holy to our Lord. Don't be sorrowful, because the joy of the LORD is your strength."

THE MOSAIC BLESSlNG. Judah's position as leading tribe naturally brought him great responsibilities that needed added strength. This strength was not only given to him in the symbols of wine and milk but it was requested in the blessing of Moses. Hear, 0 Lord, the cry of Judah; bring him to his people." Many prayers in Old Testament history which were heard from Judah's lips. The prayers of David and Solomon, of Asa and Jehoshaphat, of Hezekiah against Sennacherib of King Manasseh and of Daniel the prophet were all the 'voice of Judah.' Every prayer of our Lord's is also the 'voice of Judah‘.

And this he said about Judah: "Hear, O LORD, the cry of Judah; bring him to his people. With his own hands he defends his cause. Oh, be his help against his foes! De 33:7 As a Messianic fulfillment - as the Lion of the tribe of Judah brings to perfection all that was promised to Judah. The hands that ministered to the poor and needy, that touched the eyes of the blind and brought healing to the leper - those hands that were nailed to the cross were not only sufficient then but have been ever since. They still minister today. His enemies have all been destroyed including that last enemy, which is Death. The Lion of Judah shall break every chain and give us the victory again and again.

THE RUBY. The name "sardius" found in the Authorized Version, is simply the Latin word meaning "a stone from Sardis." The Hebrew name is odem, the root meaning of which is "red." This was the color of the stone, it could be either a ruby or a carnelian, which is also red. It will readily be seen that the color of this stone was in harmony with the character of the one whose name was indelibly inscribed thereon.

THE RUBY. Garments washed in wine and robes in the blood of grapes mean that this rich color flowed in abundance in Judah's land. But, then again, his eyes were red with wine (KJV). What was natural in his life became obvious in his record, or his permanent testimonial. What is predominant in life is that which will remain predominant in history. Oh, to be known as one who has been washed in the blood of the Lamb and made precious in Him!

Topaz - lssachar Ge 30:14-18; 49:14-15; Ex 28:17; De 33:18-19
"During wheat harvest, Reuben went out into the fields and found some mandrake plants, which he brought to his mother Leah. Rachel said to Leah, 'Please give me some of your son's mandrakes.' But she said to her, 'Wasn't it enough that you took away my husband? WIU you take my son's mandrakes too?' 'Very well,' Rachel said, 'he can sleep with you tonight in return for your son's mandrakes.' So when Jacob came in from the fields that evening, Leah went out to meet him. 'You must sleep with me,' she said. 'I have hired you with my son's mandrakes.' So he slept with her that night. God listened to Leah, and she became pregnant and bore Jacob a fifth son. Then Leah said, 'God has rewarded me for giving my maidservant to my husband.' So she named him Issachar" (Ge 30:14-18).

"Issachar is a rawboned donkey lying dm.vn between two saddlebags. When he sees how good is his resting place and how pleasant is his land, he will bend his shoulder to the burden and submIt to forced labor" (Ge 49:14-15). "About Zebulun he said: 'Rejoice, Zebulun in your going out) and you, Issachar, in your tents. They will summon peoples to the mountain and there offer sacrifices of righteousness; they will feast on the abundance of the seas, on the treasures hidden in the sand“ (De 33:18-19).

HIS BIRTH. The reason for naming Leah's fifth son Issachar, which means "to hire for payment" or "reward," is discovered in the account concerning his birth. Here we have a story that is often passed by as unreadable. It is even called by some a sordid story. We may be sure that it would never have been recorded by the Holy Spirit had there not been something worthy of contemplation in the events.

Reuben, the son of Leah, was about four or five years old. He was playing in the fields, evidently following the reapers. We are expressly told that it was at the time of the wheat harvest - when he found a pretty little red and white flower with a strong scent. He uprooted this attraction and took it home in all his innocence to his mother. The root of the mandrake is of the taproot family; Various descriptions are given of it. When the child had brought the flower home to his mother, his aunt Rachel had noticed the root and had coveted it. Eastern women believed the mandrake contained certain medical properties, if not magical qualities, which were a cure for barrenness.

Her barreness was a great grief to Rachel, Leah had borne four sons to Jacob and though Rachel had sought to obtain children through her handmaid, her sister had done the same thing with the same results. She saw what she thought was her opportunity and requested that the mandrakes be given to her. She received a rebuff from her sister, who said: "Wasn't it enough that you took away my husband? Will you take my son's mandrakes too?" The result was that they struck a bargain. Rachel secured her mandrake but Leah was given another son. It was because of this bargaining over a mandrake that Leah named the child Issachar - "hire" or "reward." Rachel remained barren for another two years.

THE PATRIARCHAL BLESSING. "Issachar is a rawboned donkey lying down between two saddlebags." "Issachar is a strong ass couching down between two burdens." AV This blessing has often been misinterpreted because the donkey is so often considered a silly animal, but this is not true. That idea originally came from legend, not from fact. The animal may be stubborn at times, but never silly. Of the 143 references in the Scriptures, not one of them would justify this characteristic and many would prove the contrary.

Balaam's ass saw the angel and sought to avoid him while Balaam remained blind to the situation. The ass was certainly wiser than Israel in the estimation of Isaiah when he said: "The ox knows his master, the donkey his owner's manger, but Israel does not know, my people do not understand" (Isa 1:3). In Issachar we shall see that wisdom caused him to work in anticipation of the manger and for the rest which he saw was good.

The lying down between two burdens has suggested indolence and stubbornness to some minds, but this is far from the truth. If we compare scripture with scriptureinstead of isolating the scriptures, as we are inclined to do, we would discover that the history of Issachar was the reverse of indolence. Issachar was prepared to work because of the rest coming at the end of the day. It is the statement "lying down between two saddlebags" that now needs to be defined. These words have been translated in many ways: "between the cattlepens," "between two campfires," "lying down between the folds," "within their own boundaries."

"About Zebulun he said: 'Rejoice, Zebulun in your going out) and you, Issachar, in your tents. They will summon peoples to the mountain and there offer sacrifices of righteousness; they will feast on the abundance of the seas, on the treasures hidden in the sand“ (De 33:18-19). If we link the name of Issachar with that of Zebulun, as Moses did, we see that God distributes to men according to their ability and qualification. Zebulun was a man and a tribe with a desire for travel, a going out and a coming in, so God gave him coastlines. lssachar, however, found his delight and pleasure in his local environment and in his tents. He delighted to remain within his own boundaries, not to laze but to bend his back to labor.

"About Zebulun he said: 'Rejoice, Zebulun in your going out) and you, Issachar, in your tents. They will summon peoples to the mountain and there offer sacrifices of righteousness; they will feast on the abundance of the seas, on the treasures hidden in the sand“ (De 33:18-19). God gave to Issachar some of the most fertile land in Palestine. Zebulun was nautical, Issachar agricultural. Each followed its own pursuits with equal success. How often we long to be in different circumstances or have different service, but God has put each us into the most favorable circumstances, if we would only bend to them.

The incentive to solid service, to burden bearing, to progressive production, was that at the end there was rest and reward. Issachar's name meant "hire" or "reward." His nature was to hire himself out so that he might afterward enjoy his reward. The person who can really sit down and conscientiously enjoy rest is the one who has labored faithfully and earned it - the harder the day's work, the sweeter the evening's rest; the more weary the body, the more comfortable the bed. There remains, then, a Sabbath - rest for the people of God; for anyone who enters God's rest also rests from his own work, just as God did from his. Let us, therefore, make every effort to enter that rest" (He 4:9-11).

THE MOSAIC BLESSING. We find Moses supporting the sentiments of Jacob, except to emphasize the thought linking the two names Zebulun and Issachar under one joint blessing: Brothers with opposite outlooks and diverse natures can labor together for God. One thinks of the opposites in the rugged, denouncing Elijah and the quiet, domestic Elisha; the temperamental Peter and the steady John; the aged Paul and his son in the faith, Timothy; and many other partners in service.

If we apply the thought to the Church, then we see the missionary enterprise of “Zebulun” linked with the hard, plodding work of those of “Issachar” who never leave their local church but upon whom, through loyalty and devotion, one can always rely. Dr. J. Orton: “Some choose to dwell with Zebulun at the haven of ships; others with Issachar in the tents of the country, among the bleatings of the flocks. Nor is this different choice entirely owing to education and habit, since it is frequently seen that young people choose a different occupation from their father, and some are uneasy till they have changed that to which they were brought up. This diversity of inclination is by appointment and influence of God, the Supreme Sovereign of every community.“

THE TOPAZ. The Hebrew word is pitpab. Although this stone is mentioned five times in the Scriptures, its origin and meaning are not easily ascertained. One record which tells us "that 'topaz' comes from the Greek word zeteo meaning 'to seek.' The stone was first found on an island in the Red Sea which was often surrounded by fog. Because the sailors had to seek long for the island before they found it, they called the gem 'topaz

The topaz seems, from this island legend, to be a reward for diligent seeking. That is exactly the meaning of the name written thereon - Issachar, "a reward." The stone is a cheerful, golden yellow, and is said to bring beauty, wisdom and long life. Attributes which belonged to Issachar. All Christians, like the topaz, should be bright and cheerful, reflecting the glory of their Lord.

Beryl - Zebulun Gen 30:19-20; 49:13; Exo 28:17; Deu 33:18-19
"Leah conceived again and bore Jacob a sixth son. Then Leah said, 'God bas presented me with a precious gift. This time my husband will treat me with honor, because I have home him six sons.' So she named him Zebu!un" (Gen 30:19-20). "Zebulun will live by the seashore and become a haven for ships; his border will extend toward Sidon" (Gen 49:13). "About Zebulun be said: 'Rejoice, Zebulun, in your going out, and you, Issachar, in your tents. They will summon peoples to the mountain and there offer sacrifices of righteousness; they will feast on the abundance of the seas, on the treasures bidden in the sand'" (Deu 33:18-19)

HIS BIRTH. Not much can be said concerning the birth of this son except that, while he was the fifth to receive the blessing of Jacob, he was the sixth son of Leah. For some reason Jacob chose to reverse the names of Issachar and Zebulun as he reversed the order of Manasseh and Ephraim. Maybe it was because Zebulun was a more progressive man than the placid Issachar.

When Leah gave birth to this her sixth son she was still fighting her battle for recognition and equality, for said she: "God has endowed me with a good gift; now my husband will dwell with me, because I have borne him six sons" (NASV - a more literal translation). So she named him Zebulun, which means "dwelling." Again, behind the naming of this child is the prophetic, or perhaps the foreseeing, eye of God. Both Jacob and Moses played on the meaning of his name in the bestowing of their blessings.

THE PATRIARCHAL BLESSING. "Zebulun shall dwell at the seashore; and he shall be a haven for ships“ (NASV). We are not quite certain of the boundaries of Zebulun. It is believed that one side was marked by the western shores of the Sea of Galilee, but how far the territory extended towards the Mediterranean is questionable. From these blessings it would appear that Zebulun occupied some of the main coastline, although most modern maps do not show it that way.

The ships referred to would hardly be the small boats of Galilee's lake, for from an inland body of water one could not "feast on the abundance of the seas," neither would there be much "going out." Josephus, the historian, suggests that this land stretched from sea to sea. "The tribe of Zebulun's lot included the land which lay as far as Gennesaret [Galilee] and that which belonged to Carmel and the sea." Jacob said: "His border will extend toward Sidon."

The land of Galilee in the New Testament embraced the territories of Issachar, Zebulun, and Naphtali. This is interesting because two disciples once came to Jesus and asked: "Rabbi, where are you staying?" He said: "Come and you will see:" If we go to see where that dwelling place was It will be found to be in Zebulun. Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judah. He dwelt in Nazareth of Zebulun

THE MOSAIC BLESSING. Speaking of Zebulun Moses said: "Rejoice, Zebulun, in your going out They will summon peoples to the mountain and there offer sacrifices of righteousness; they will feast on the abundance of the seas." There are two ways in which this going out and coming in can be effected in the maritime world. This Mosaic blessing tells of the first. The going out would be with precious cargoes of merchandise - gold, wool, wines, brass, lace and cedar - in exchange for which they would bring in the abundance of other things carried upon the seas. In this Zebulun could truly rejoice.

The second means of feasting on "the abundance of the seas" is shown in THE BERYL, Beryl is the stone of the breastpiece upon which was indelibly inscribed the name of Zebulun. The AV here says "carbuncle," orignially a name applied to any rounded red gem. This stone was not round. The Hebrew word here is bareqeth meaning "glittering“. It is derived from a Hebrew root used sometimes for "lightning" or "flashing." Zebulun, who was to "live by the seashore" to be "a haven for ships," might well be represented as a lighthouse with its flashing light "going out" warning the mariner of dangers, or welcoming the storm - tossed traveler to seek the refuge of the haven.

This was not only a haven for anchorage, it was a "haven for ships," which means there were docking facilities for the loading and unloading of vessels that desired to berth. There is a need for a welcome beam to invite the weary, worn, tear-stained traveler of this storm tossed world to a haven of rest, not just to hide from the storm but where men and women may unload their troubles, pour out their sorrows, discharge their sin, and find relief from their difficulties, problems, trials and setbacks - and then be reloaded with joy and peace, and the assurance that comes through believing. But, that need has already been provided for if man would only see the Light and follow its beam I AM the light of the world… a light set on a hill cannot be hid…

Zebulun did become that shore from which that Light shone and still shines. Read Isa 9:1-2 and confirmed by Mat4: concerning Jesus. "Leaving Nazareth, he went and lived in Capernaum, which was by the lake in the area of Zebulun and Naphtali - to fulfill what was said through the prophet Isaiah: 'Land of Zebulun and land of Naphtali, the way to the sea, along the Jordan, Galilee of the Gentiles - the people living in darkness have seen a great light; on those living in the land of the shadow of death a light has dawned.'''

Should not we who love the Lord and His promises become the lighthouse keepers, and keep our reflectors polished so that the beam is ever radiating? And should we not become the harbormasters who welcome, comfort and support all who seek the refuge of the Church of God, and Jesus, its Lord? With them, we shall "feast on the abundance of the seas"!

Turquoise - Reuben Gen 29:32: 49:3-4: Exo 28:18; Deu 33:6
Gen 29:32 Leah became pregnant and gave birth to a son. She named him Reuben, for she said, "It is because the LORD has seen my misery. Surely my husband will love me now." Gen 49:3-4 (3) "Reuben, you are my firstborn, my might, the first sign of my strength, excelling in honor, excelling in power. (4) Turbulent as the waters, you will no longer excel, for you went up onto your father's bed, onto my couch and defiled it. Deu 33:6 "Let Reuben live and not die, nor his men be few.”

HIS BIRTH. There was strong rivalry between Rachel and Leah because of favoritism shown by Jacob, who loved Rachel preferring her to Leah. God did not approve of this sort of action and intervened. In the East children were considered a great blessing; future posterity was everything, To be without a son to perpetuate the name of his father was like having a curse resting upon one's head.

Jacob, no doubt, would have chosen to receive this blessing from Rachel, his favorite, but "When the Lord saw that Leah was not loved, he opened her womb, but Rachel was barren. Leah became pregnant and gave birth to a son" (Gen 29:31-32). Leah broke forth in rejoicing: "It is because the Lord has seen my misery. Surely my husband will love me now." This first son was named Reuben meaning: "See, a son.” This became Leah’s great hope of emancipation: she might now possibly find equality with Rachel in Jacob’s eyes, if not a preeminence over her.

A son! - in him is the blessing of Jacob, for his family will continue! Reminds us of the cry of Isaiah the prophet: "To us a child is born, to us a son is given." When we were oppressed (because of sin) and alienated from God, the Son of God carne to bring us joy and salvation. We could also say: "It is because the Lord has seen my misery," and then, looking away to Jesus our Savior, say: "See, a Son."

Later, when God gave to Moses the law which was to control the lives of the people and the life of the nation, He very clearly revealed His mind: "If a man has two wives, and he loves one but not the other, and both bear him sons but the firstborn is the son of the wife he does not love, when he wills his property to his sons, he must not give the rights of the firstborn to the son of the wife he loves in preference to his actual firstborn, the son of the wife he does not love. He must acknowledge the son of his unloved wife as the firstborn by giving him a double share of all he has. That son is the first sign of his father's strength. The right of the firstborn belongs to him" (Deu 21:15-17

Jacob certainly acknowledged Reuben as the first sign of his strength, although he did not give him the firstborn's blessing. This was not a short coming on Jacob's part but a loss sustained by Reuben himself - for he robbed himself, through his sin, of both birthright and blessing, and these were given to the sons of Joseph and to Judah respectively. 1 Chr 5:1-2: "The sons of Reuben the firstborn of Israel (he was the firstborn, but when he defiled his father's marriage bed, his rights as firstborn were given to the sons of Joseph son of Israel; so he could not be listed in the genea, logical record in accordance with his birthright, and though Judah was the strongest of his brothers and a ruler came from him, the rights of the firstborn belonged to Joseph)."

THE PATRIARCHAL BLESSING. "My firstborn." As such he was entitled to a double blessing. E. Bendor Samuel, quoting from the ancient Jerusalem Targum, relates that this blessing is thus paraphrased: "Reuben, my firstborn art thou, my strength, and the beginning of my sorrow. To thee, my son Reuben, would it have pertained to receive three portions above thy brothers, the priesthood, birthright, and kingdom, but because thou hast sinned, the birth, right is given to Joseph, the kingdom to Judah, and the high priesthood to Levi." This makes a threefold blessing of it.

Whatever may be our rights and inheritances, sin - even one sin - can deprive us of all. But with all his loss, his sonship remained. Paul refers when he says: "Saved, though as by fire" (KJV). This firstborn blessing that caused Elisha to ask of Elijah "a double portion of your spirit.” "My might, the first sign of my strength." Jacob proceeded to make known the qualities of a firstborn son (such as Reuben should have had) so that he and all others might know what he lost through his sin. "This," said Jacob, "was the first sign of my strength" - the strength of that family that was to increase throughout succeeding generations.

Jacob had hoped for strength of character as well as numerical strength, and in this son he had been bitterly disappointed. The Lord looks for character in us as sons of God. We must not fail Him through sin. "Excelling in honor, excelling in power." This may have had reference to the dignity of the offices that he could have held and the power that he could have exercised therein; or it may refer to some qualities of character which he did possess but to our knowledge, did not develop.

These qualities are to be seen when, in Genesis 37:21-22, he withstood his brothers for the safety of Joseph and was instrumental in saving the lad's life, although he identified himself with them in their deceit. And again, when Joseph in Egypt demanded the bringing of Benjamin, it was Reuben who stood security to his father for his youngest brother. Even so, he could not be relied on - instability was his weakness. With all these privileges and qualities yet "turbulent as the waters, you will no longer excel."

The old man then proceeded to remind him of a vile crime he had committed some forty years earlier, the stain of which had never been removed. Gen 35:22 It came about while Israel was dwelling in that land, that Reuben went and lay with Bilhah his father's concubine, and Israel heard of it. Now there were twelve sons of Jacob– If a man is not capable of controlling his own passions, of bringing his own carnal desires under strict discipline, he is certainly not capable of holding any holy office where he is responsible for controlling or being an example for the lives and conduct of other people.

THE MOSAIC BLESSING. "Let Reuben live and not die, nor his men be few." More of a request or a prayer. Reuben had lost his position; may he not lose his life and may he not lose his existence as a tribe! An Old Testament picture of grace, which is so much greater than law. There are some who think the rendering should be "Let Reuben live and not die, though his men be few"; which means, though he must not expect to flourish, yet let him not perish. This would reveal the limitation of grace under the Old Testament law and thus magnify the grace that came by Christ Jesus in the New Testament, in which our sins are remembered against us no more.

THE TURQUOISE. Reuben found his name inscribed upon a precious stone like the rest, a faltering man but none the less precious. The Hebrew word nophek simply means "glistening," and though the Authorized Version say; "emerald" most modern translators have chosen "turquoise." Both stones are green in color, like the depths of the sea. Reuben, the man who was as turbulent as the waters found his name on a stone that is the color of the ever rolling, restless sea. Unstable, and yet on the breastpiece; “Saved, though as by fire." May the Lord deliver us from being Reubens.

Sapphire - Simeon Genesis 29;33; 49:5 - 7; Exodus 28:18
"She conceived again, and when she gave birth to a son she said, 'Because the Lord heard that I am not loved, he gave me this one too.' So she named him Simeon" (Gen. 29:33). "Simeon and Levi are brothers - their swords are weapons of violence. Let me not enter their council, let me not join their assembly, for they have killed men in their anger and hamstrung oxen as they pleased. Cursed be their anger, so fierce, and their fury, so cruel! I will scatter them in Jacob and disperse them in Israel" (Gen 49:5-7).

HIS BIRTH. Simeon was the second son of Leah. When Reuben, the firstborn, arrived, Leah rejoiced in the hope that her son would be the means of drawing her husband's love toward her, but seemingly this did not happen. Leah must have often prayed that the Lord would hear her petition in her distress and grant her the relationship with Jacob she desired. Now that a second son was born, her hopes rose once more. "Because the Lord heard that I am not loved, he gave me this one too." It was these prayers she now acknowledged the Lord to be answering, naming her second son Simeon, which means "hearing.“

Leah brought two senses into operation in the naming of her first two sons - the eye and the ear, "seeing" and "hearing." There was something prophetic about the naming of these children as well as something historic: the first "See, a son," the second "hearing." We are called to look to Jesus and in Him to "see a Son". Then, seeing Him as the Son of God, to hear Him as the "Word of God." That Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. "This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased. Listen to him!" (Matt.17:5)

There are also many passages of Scripture which reveal that His eyes and ears are ever open toward us. "The eyes of the Lord are on the righteous, and his ears are attentive to their cry" (Ps. 34:15), "The Lord said, 'I have indeed seen the misery of my people in Egypt. I have heard them crying out because of their slave drivers, and I am concerned about their suffering'" (Exod. 3:7 and Acts 7:34). "Because the Lord heard," said Leah. The Lord is always ready to hear us when we talk to Him. He desires that we should always be ready to listen when He speaks to us.

THE PATRIARCHAL BLESSING. Simeon and Levi cannot be separated because they were one in their stubborn and self-willed action and they were one in the reproof that fell from the lips of their dying father. "Simeon and Levi are brothers" not only because of the same parentage but they were brothers in spirit, in purpose, in character, in many things. "Birds of a feather flock together." The Scriptures bear out the same evidence in the proverb: "One who is slack in his work is brother to one who destroys" (Prov 18:9). This is something that speaks to each of us in very loud words, saying that it is important to watch our company.

"Their swords are weapons of violence." The incident referred to by Jacob is summed up in Genesis 34:25-26 "Three days later, while all of [the Shechemites] were still in pain, two of Jacob's sons, Simeon and Levi, Dinah's brothers, took their swords and attacked the unsuspecting city, killing every male. They put Hamor and his son Shechem to the sword and took Dinah from Shechem's house and left." Verse 30 tells us of Jacob's immediate reaction: "Then Jacob said to Simeon and Levi, 'You have brought trouble on me by making me a stench to the Canaanites and Perizzites, the people living in this land. We are few in number, and if they join forces against me and attack me, I and my household will be destroyed.' " The mercy of God prevented this feared tragedy from falling upon the household of Jacob

Jacob never seemed to have survived the shock of their crime and now on his deathbed he sought to assure all that he never approved of this action. He put the responsibility on the shoulders of those to whom it belonged and thereby vindicated his name and that of his family. The "weapons of violence" refers to their evil planning to ensnare and trap, to deceive and destroy. Jacob says of himself: "Let me not enter their council, let me not join their assembly." A servant of God must never condone sin because it is a member of the family who has committed it.

This was what brought tragedy to Eli. Eli failed to correct the sins of his sons. Within the Church is sometimes found deceitful planning that needs to be suppressed and denounced - things in which the child of God should have no part. "For the ... have killed men in their anger and hamstrung oxen as they pleased. Cursed be their anger, so fierce, and their fury! so cruel!" Anger can be righteous and indignation justifiable, but they can quickly deteriorate into something very sinful.

Shechem had wronged their sister, and it was natural that, as brothers, they should defend their sister and seek retribution for the evil committed against her. Their judgment comes because their anger was fierce and their fury cruel, and surely nothing justifies cruelty. Jacob used the strange expression "they slew a man and in their self-will they digged down a wall" The Authorized Version literally it reads: “ In their anger they slew man," the word "man" here being a collective singular word which means "men."

One man had sinned against Dinah, but instead of punishing that man or even extending it to that man's family, these two brothers each took a sword and at a time when the men of the city of Shechem were at a disadvantage, they killed everyone of the men of Shechem. Moreover, in their stubborn and cruel self - will, said Jacob, "they digged down a wall." All commentators are agreed that the literal rendering of this strange translation, is "they hocked an ox," or "they have hamstrung oxen." It refers to "a process of wantonly cutting the tendons of oxen so as to make them useless." Ruthless cruelty to animals or to mankind is indeed an unpardonable crime. Jacob found it necessary to remind these men of their wickedness.

In telling them of their future he said: "I will scatter them in Jacob and disperse them in Israel." Future history shows this to have been fulfilled, At the first census taken of Israel the tribe of Simeon numbered 59,300 (Num 1:23). At a second census some years later they had been reduced to 22,200 (Num 26:14), which means that just before the conquest of the Promised Land, Simeon was the smallest tribe.

THE MOSAIC BLESSING The Mosaic blessing bestowed on each of the tribes is given in Deuteronomy 33. Simeon is not mentioned by Moses at all. Although Jacob laid a curse on their sin, he did not curse the sinners. These men reaped what they sowed, yet the mercy of God brought them at last to a place of honor. God's promised blessings do not, however, mean immunity from punishment for any who transgress His commandments.

THE SAPPHIRE. The English word "sapphire" is evidently taken from the Hebrew sappiyr, which is derived from a verb signifying "to scratch or polish and also means "to cut off or divide." It is the second hardest stone in the world. Simeon's name was inscribed on the sapphire and thus it became the foundation for his name. The character of Simeon (and of Levi) was one of hardness. The action against the Shechemites was merciless; "scratching" or tearing to pieces a community. The result of this conduct was that they were scattered in Jacob and dispersed in Israel, which harmonizes with the derivation of "sapphire": "to cut off or divide. "

"When Leah saw that she had stopped having children, she took her maidservant Zilpah and gave her to Jacob as a wife. Leah's servant Zilpah bore Jacob a son. Then Leah said, 'What good fortune!' So she named him Gad" (Gen 30:9-11). "Gad will be attacked by a band of raiders, but he will attack them at their heels" (Gen 49:19). "About Gad he said: 'Blessed is he who enlarges Gad's domain! Gad lives there like a lion, tearing at arm or head. He chose the best land for himself; the leader's portion was kept for him. When the heads of the people assembled, he carried out the Lord's righteous will, and his judgments concerning Israel'" (Deut 33:20-21).

HIS BIRTH. Leah had given birth to four sons after which Rachel had made use of her handmaid in the hope of securing a son by proxy. Rachel had been successful so, Leah did the same thing; A child was born of Zilpah and was taken by Leah as her adopted son. She named him Gad, which has two equally correct meanings and so translations differ. The Authorized Version reads: "A troop cometh." This was her fifth son and she still longed for more, hence she made the remark: "A troop comes!"

PATRIARCHAL BLESSING. "Gad, a troop shall overcome him, but he shall overcome at the last" (KJV). A study of the records of the tribe of Gad reveals them as great warriors fighting many battles, knowing both defeat and victories, showing the great prowess of a tribe of "able-bodied men who could handle shield and sword, who could use a bow, and who were trained for battle" (1 Chr 5:18). Is this not a great thought worthy of much consideration: "A troop shall tramp upon him, but he shall triumph at last" (NKJV) Another way of expressing this is "stooping to conquer."

Israel was a troop. God promised Abraham that his seed would be as numberless as the sand of the seashore and as countless as the stars of heaven, and that through his seed all the families of the earth would be blessed. The multiplication began in Jacob and his twelve sons, and continued until the family became a nation. Jacob said: "I had only my staff when I crossed this Jordan, but now I have become two groups" - the same word, "troop" - but Israel was to be overcome and then to rise.

Oppressed by an "Egyptian troop," they came forth victors Overcome by a "Babylonian troop," they came out of their seventy years of captivity. They were later overcome by the Greeks and then the Romans. They have suffered great persecution and appalling massacres, including the vile Nazi atrocities, but "he shall triumph at last." They will ultimately come through as revealed in Ezekiel 37. They shall return to their land so that, when they see and recognize Him whom they pierced, a regenerate nation shall be born in a day. Then they shall become the leading power in the world.

Concerning Jesus the Christ it is recorded that every knee shall bow and every tongue shall confess Him as Lord; And that around Him will gather a company that no man can number - surely a great troop. There was a time when it appeared that evil men had overcome Him, as He was led by them to the cross; and that death had gained the victory, as they laid Him in the tomb. On the third day He proved that He overcame; He rose triumphant! Ultimately we shall see Him coming forth with all the armies of heaven and with myriads of His saints to destroy those nations who are seeking to oppress His people and to overcome Him. "He shall triumph at last." Scripture is being fulfilled before our very eyes, by the setting up of Israel as a Jewish state in 1948 after World War II. And Jews from many nations continue to flow into the land.

The Church is a troop of believers. At the moment we are pressed down by the burdens of this present life. The god of this world is having his way so that it appears as though the Church is being overcome, But, we shall overcome at last! We shall be part of the victorious troop that will sing the praises of the Lord in eternity. We shall reign with Him! Every believer who would be an overcomer must first be overcome himself. We must be vanquished if we would be victor. Lives conquered by the grace of God become conquerors through the grace of God.

THE MOSAIC BLESSING. The whole of this blessing continues to reveal the warlike nature of Gad. It was a tribe that delighted to be m the front of the battle, a plundering tribe always seeking: 0 enlarge its territory and its possessions. Moses said: "Blessed is he who enlarges Gad’s domain! Territorial gains and increased prosperity achieved through conflict are really obtained because of the blessing of God. We may enter into spiritual conflict, We may bring all we have to bear upon our adversary, We may plunder and ravage the citadels of Satan, Yet success will not be ours unless the hand of the Lord rests upon us in blessing.

Like a lion, unafraid, Gad used his strength to tear in pieces the enemy. Jephthah and Elijah were both Gadites. Jephthah, though cast out and overcome by his own people because of his unfortunate birth, rose up to deliver his people out of the hand of the Ammonites, and then "administered the justice of the Lord" (v 21, NKJV) as one of the judges of Israel. Elijah, the rough and rugged Tishbite, the man of the wilderness, who tore to pieces the evils of Ahab and the idolatrous Baal worship, also "administered the justice of the Lord." "He chose the best land for himself.

At the time of the conquest of Canaan, Gad was one of the tribes who - with Reuben and half the tribe of Manasseh - asked for their possessions right away, telling Joshua they would prefer to remain on the east side of the Jordan. Joshua assured them that they could have that territory provided they went forward over the Jordan with their brothers and fought alongside them until the whole land was subdued and then they could return. They immediately consented and having "chosen the best land for himself," they went forward to help others. No man lives unto himself, there is no blessing or possession that we personally enjoy which someone else has not helped us attain. We must not become complacent while our fellow man needs a helping hand.

THE DIAMOND. Contrary to the NIV rendering "emerald," both the NASB and the RSV agree with the KJV Authorized Version and use the word "diamond." Diamond, in our Hebrew - English lexicon, is the same word as "adamant," and adamant means "impenetrable hardness," hardness that cannot be broken. Diamond in our Bible, according to William Robertson, is derived from the Hebrew root signifying "to break in pieces or bruise," a stone that breaks or scratches all others. Diamond is so hard that it can cut glass or precious stones. It can scratch indelible marks without hurting itself.

This was true of Gad. "I will make your forehead like the hardest stone, harder than flint. Do not be afraid of them or terrified by them, though they are a rebellious house" (Ezek 3:9). May the Lord give us this tenacity of purpose. The diamond is not only hard, it is precious. The Lord grant us that courage which is so precious in these days of apathy; that loyalty, the preciousness of which stands out amidst the faithlessness of our generation; that love and faith which are more precious than much fine gold; and that wisdom which in price is far above rubies. Lord, make me a Diamond warrior of yours!

Jacinth - Ephraim Gen 41:50 - 52; 48:17 - 20; Exo 28:19; Deu 33:17
"The second son he named Ephraim and said, 'It is because God has made me fruitful in the land of my suffering''' (Gen 41:52). "When Joseph saw his father placing his right hand on Ephraim's head he was displeased; so he took hold of his father's band to move it from Ephraim's head to Manasseh's head. Joseph said to him, 'No, my father, this one is the firstborn; Put your right hand on his head.' But his father refused and said, 'I know, my son, I know. He too will become a people, and he too will become great. Never the less, his younger brother will be greater than he, and his descendants will become a group of nations.' He blessed them that day and said, 'In your name will Israel pronounce this blessing: "May God make 'IOU like Ephraim and Manasseh"'" (Gen 48:17-20). "In majesty he is like a firstborn bull; his horns are the hams of a wild ox. With them he will gore the nations, even those at the ends of the earth. Such are the ten thousands of Ephraim; such are the thousands of Manasseh" (Deu 33:17).

HIS BIRTH. Ephraim was not the firstborn of Joseph. Manasseh, his brother, was the older of the two. While Joseph was in Egypt he was given a Gentile bride, Asenath, the daughter of Potiphera, priest of On, who bore him two sons. The first he named Manasseh, meaning "forgetfulness. "It is because God has made me forget all my trouble and all my father's household." The second son he called Ephraim, meaning "doubly fruitful," saying at his birth, "It is because God has made me fruitful in the land of my suffering.”

Just before the death of Jacob, Joseph brought his two sons to his father so that he might bless them. Jacob sat up on his bed and, intentionally crossing his hands, placed his right hand on the younger and his left on the older, giving the blessing of the firstborn to the younger. Joseph tried to correct his father, but Jacob assured him that his action was deliberate and that the older would serve the younger. From then on we never read of Manasseh and Ephraim but always Ephraim and Manasseh.

Jacob said: "Now then, your two sons born to you in Egypt before I came to you here will be reckoned as mine; Ephraim and Manasseh will be mine, just as Reuben and Simeon are mine" (Gen 48:5) "The Angel who has delivered me from all harm - may he bless these boys. May they be called by my name" (Gen 48:16). We see that not only did Jacob adopted these two grandsons of his into his own family but that he gave them an equality with the firstborn" “Just as Reuben and Simeon, they will be mine." Reuben was the beginning of his strength

How often the Lord crosses our purposes and brings our despised and rejected "Ephraims" to the very front rank of blessing. It may be that troublesome child in our family from whom we expect nothing but disappointment; It may be the unnoticed, almost despised, person in the church; It might be some talent or gift in your own life upon which you have put no value or don’t yet realize you possess. You may have prayed: "Lord, bless me in this thing," and instead you have found Him blessing you in that other thing. Maybe you were disappointed at the time. But, we should thank Him for His wisdom, because His wisdom always proves to be greater than our requests.

Ephraim and Manessah became two of the tribes of Israel, and were the double portion of Joseph who never found himself becoming a tribe in his own name. Both Ephraim and Manessah found a place upon the breastpiece as tribes They were never named on the shoulder stones as sons of Israel (Jacob) by birth.

HIS BLESSING. "The second son he named Ephraim and said, 'It is because God has made me fruitful in the land of my suffering.'" As already stated, Ephraim means "doubly fruitful" When Jacob set Ephraim above his brother and bestowed on him the blessing of the firstborn, Ephraim became the inheritor of the double portion of the firstborn. So far as we know, Joseph had no other children except these two born to him in Egypt during the seven years of plenty. The increase of Joseph's posterity was in these two sons and especially in Ephraim

The book of Genesis closes by telling us that Joseph saw Ephraim's children of the third generation. When the tribes of Israel were numbered, Ephraim stood at 40,500 against Manasseh at 32,200. Moses conveys exactly the same thought in his blessing of Joseph: "In majesty he is like a firstborn bull; his horns are the horns of a wild ox. With them he will gore the nations, even those at the ends of the earth. Such are the ten thousands of Ephraim; such are the thousands of Manasseh" The strength of the advance of Joseph and the establishment of his family was in his two sons, but particularly in Ephraim.

God had caused Joseph to become fruitful and prosperous in Egypt, the land of his affliction. "For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all" (2Co 4:17). It did not appear so to Joseph. He might easily have said: "Why did my brothers hate me? It was not my fault that my father favored me. Why did they misunderstand my dreams? I never told them with any pride or conceit in my heart. When my father sent me to Shechem to my brothers, why did I not return home instead of pursuing them on to Dothan? Why did that caravan of traders come along just at that particular time so that I was sold to them? Why was Potiphar's wife so cruel and deceitful to me? Why did I receive evil for doing good? Why the prison? Why did the cupbearer forget to plead my cause?

Why! Why!! Why!!!?" This is how Joseph could have reflected. Take away anyone of those experiences and the sequence of events has broken down, Joseph would never have found his way to the second throne of Egypt; His name would never have been Zaphenath-Paneah, meaning, according to the Vulgate: "The savior of the age." They meant it for evil but God meant it for good! We must somehow learn that the life submitted to the Lord is overruled by Him so that ALL things work TOGETHER for GOOD to those who love Him

We can be sure that "suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope. And hope does not disappoint us, because God has poured out his love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit whom he has given us" (Ro 5:3-5). We, who are the "Ephraims" of the Lord, live because our "Joseph," the Lord Jesus Christ, came into the "Egypt" of this world and through the hate and the misunderstanding, the trials and the mockings, found HIS way via the cross into the prison of the tomb and death. On the third day, being delivered from His imprisonment because death could not keep Him and corruption could not be His lot, He arose from the grave, ascended on high, and is now seated on the throne of His eternal glory, ministering the Bread of Life to His people as well as presenting their cause before the Father.

Two great peoples have and do exist in this world. Their records are to be found in the annals of God revealing their beginning and their end. They each hold a great prominence in the history of the world. The first is the seed of Abraham according to promise, or Israel. This nation is referred to as the son of God and is the firstborn. "Israel is my firstborn son, and I told you, 'Let my son go, so he may worship me.' But you refused to let him go; so I will kill your firstborn son" (Exo 4:22-23). This people would be seen in Manasseh.

The second great company is the Church of Christ, which came into being long after and so would be represented by Ephraim. In the course of time Israel forgot their God. They crucified their Messiah, Thus we see God crossing His hands, as it were. While both peoples are to enjoy the blessings of the Lord, the double blessing of the firstborn has fallen out to the Church – "the older will serve the younger" The Church is younger than Israel by some 2,000 years; yet we are going to reign with Christ.

THE JACINTH. In the Authorized Version the stone of the breastpiece upon which the name of Ephraim was written is called a "ligure." The Hebrew word is leshem, no one is sure what it means. The word "ligure" is derived from the Greek ligurian meaning, simply, "a precious stone." Commentators differ in their suggestions, but most of them say that it was possibly the modern jacinth or yellow jargoon. Flinders Petrie identifies it with the yellow agate. The uncertainty of it causes us to refrain from seeking any spiritual application.

Agate - Manasseh Gen 41:51; 48:16; Exo 28:19; Deu 33:17
And Joseph called the name of the firstborn Manasseh: For God, said he, hath made me forget all my toil, and all my father's house. (Gen 41:51) The Angel which redeemed me from all evil, bless the lads; and let my name be named on them, and the name of my fathers Abraham and Isaac; and let them grow into a multitude in the midst of the earth. (Gen 48:16). And the third row a ligure, an agate, and an amethyst. (Exo 28:19) His glory is like the firstling of his bullock, and his horns are like the horns of unicorns: with them he shall push the people together to the ends of the earth: and they are the ten thousands of Ephraim, and they are the thousands of Manasseh. (Deu 33:17)

HIS BIRTH. This record of the birth of the two sons of Joseph is given as a joint record. No reason is given as to why Manasseh lost his position as firstborn to the advantage of his younger brother or why Jacob reversed the blessing. There is no evidence of sin, slackness, or unworthiness in his character, such as is found in the story concerning Jacob and Esau with the transfer of birthright and blessing. It is the second time such an act had been performed by Jacob Joseph, the father of these lads had received preference in his younger days creating hatred among his brothers. Jacob is doing it again and although Joseph may protest, the protest cannot carry much weight, since he had enjoyed similar favors.

Although it was customary to bestow the double portion on the firstborn, the father had the right to bestow it on whom he chose. Maybe Jacob detected something in the character of Ephraim that was more steadfast Maybe God guided him to bestow it on the man who in future days would use such powers best. The Lord, who knows our lives and who knows our end from the beginning will mete out His blessing according to His divine wisdom and foreknowledge, This means blessing for the receiver, but it does not necessarily mean judgment to the person who has not received that favor.

HIS BLESSING: "Joseph named his firstborn Manasseh and said, 'It is because God has made me forget all my trouble and all my father's household,'" There is a forgetfulness that is a vice and should be severely shunned, and There is a forgetfulness that is a virtue and should be whole heartedly embraced. Joseph named his firstborn "Forgetting" and his second "Fruitful”

When we forget the things that are behind, when we forget self and sin - it is then that the Lord makes us become fruitful, and that fruitfulness soon begins to take the first place under His guidance. "Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus" (Phil 3:13-14). "God has made me forget all my trouble." In the joy of the present Joseph could afford to forget the sorrow of the past, the wrong, the injustice, the bitter way he had been made to walk by the actions of his brothers and later by the conduct of Potiphar's wife and the forgetfulness of the cupbearer. These were the things God had allowed him to forget.

How many Christians live in their past! They nurse in their hearts all the wrongs that have ever been done to them. They embalm them in an unforgiving spirit so that they may always have them ready for display when it suits them. And then they wonder why the Lord never gives them an "Ephraim" of fruitfulness. Until you have brought forth Manasseh – “forgetfulness” there can never be an Ephraim – “fruitfulness” It was the joy of a son of his own - the building up of Joseph's own family - that caused his father's house (the old life) to take a second place. It is the joy that comes through the Son of God finding a place in our lives that changes all our past relationships.

Joseph, like Paul, was now crucified to the old things and alive to the new. He was not looking back to the old home with the unhappy relationships. He was looking forward to meeting his father and his brothers again - not backward, but forward. 2Co 5:17 Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.

Jacob's Statement: "The Angel who has delivered me from harm - may he bless these boys." This Angel was the Lord: no doubt the same Angel who wrestled with Jacob at Peniel until the breaking of the day; the Angel who changed Jacob, the supplanter, into Israel, That same Angel who did such great things for me, bless the lads! Guard them from the evils of life, redeem them from the perils of the way. No greater request could be made for his grandchildren and adopted sons. " ... and may they increase greatly upon the earth." These two grew into two tribes numbering 72,700, stretching across the center of Palestine, second only to Judah,.

Moses' Statement. "In majesty he [Joseph] is like a first born bull; his horns are the horns of a wild ox." Look at a map of Palestine showing the tribes, Ephraim and half the tribe of Manasseh stretch from the Mediterranean coast to the Jordan River which runs down the center of the land. The other half of Manasseh's territory reaches from the east side of the Jordan River to the border of Syria. The two tribes stretch across the land like two great horns.

Manasseh existed each side of the Jordan, hence the frequent reference to the half tribe of Manasseh. This division of this tribe may be accounted for on the supposition that the warlike section preferred to settle in the mountainous region of the northeast, while the more agricultural section preferred to adhere to the western tribes. The Manassites on the east of Jordan are described as the descendants of Machir. Under the leadership of Jair they won the northern part of the TransJordanic territory. They were well fitted to inhabit this difficult country and to defend the passes of the north" (F. Marshall, M.A.).

Ephraim - including the western portion of Manasseh. It was emphatically a good land, including the plain of Sharon, famous for its fertility. The position was central and though rugged in many parts was broken up into wide plains in the heart of the mountains and diversified both in hill and valley by streams of running water and by continuous tracts of verdure and vegetation. (Stanley).

THE AGATE. Manasseh's name was inscribed on an agate and set into the breastpiece. Agate is a semi-translucent compound mineral which, when found are rough and unattractive; but when split/cut and polished produces beautiful and precious variegated stones. An agate is harder than steel and being rustless is often used instead of steel in certain scientific instruments. These stones were originally found at Achates in Sicily, from whence the name is derived. Manasseh, though second to Ephraim and deprived of the first blessing, became a large tribe, a tribe that was split in two so that half dwelt on each side of the Jordan River being made of service both here and there.

Amethyst - Benjamin Gen 35:16-20; 49:27; Exo 28:19; Deu 33:12
"Then they moved on from Bethel. While they were still some distance from Ephrath, Rachel began to give birth and had great difficulty. And as she was having great difficulty in childbirth, the midwife said to her, 'Don't be afraid, for you have another son.' As she breathed her last - for she was dying - she named her son Ben-Oni. But his father named him Benjamin" (Gen 35:16-20). "Benjamin is a ravenous wolf; in the morning he devours the prey, in the evening he divides the plunder" (Gen 49:27) "About Benjamin he said: 'Let the beloved of the Lord rest secure in him, for he shields him aU day long, and the one the Lord loves rests between his shoulders'" (Deu 33:12)

HIS BIRTH. The story surrounding the birth of Benjamin is a sad one Rachel was the favorite wife of Jacob, but she was in great distress because God had withheld from her the fruit of the womb, the coveted possession of all Eastern women. She had on several occasions sought to force an issue. She who first took the expedient of giving her handmaid to her husband as a wife hoping thereby to obtain children by adoption. On another occasion, in bitterness of soul she said to Jacob: "Give me children, or I'll die!" For this her husband had to reprove her, saying: "Am I in the place of God, who has kept you from having children?" (Gen 30:2).

In the course of time God gave her a son and she called his name Joseph, saying: "May the Lord add to me another son" (Gen. 30:24). God gave her that second son, but it cost her her life. She said: "Give me children or I'll die!" God gave her children and she died in childbirth. What a picture of the folly of demanding prayer! We need to learn complete surrender to - complete confidence in - the divine will

Rachel and Jacob and the family was on a journey and not very far from Bethlehem when a halt was called. Rachel could go no farther, for she had entered into labor. The midwife sought to comfort her by assuring her that this too was a son and that all would be well, but in her anguish she named him Ben-Oni, meaning "The son of my sorrow." She died and was buried there by the wayside. Rachel's tomb can be seen near the road to this very day. Jacob was not happy about the name of this son. It was too much of a reminder to him of the sorrow of his beloved Rachel; so he changed the name from Ben-Oni to Ben-jamin, "The son of my right hand."

The thought of demanding prayer can be found throughout the whole of the history of Israel. Even in connection with the tribe of Benjamin it occurs again. A time came when the Israelites demanded a king. They were warned of the consequences but still they pressed their demand. So a king was given who came from the tribe of Benjamin - Saul - and they lived to regret their demand. Let us beware, and let us pray: "Thy will be done."

Ben - Oni and Benjamin - "Son of my sorrow" and "Son of my right hand" the Son at God's Right Hand, the Lord Jesus Christ, became for us the "Man of Sorrows." Benjamin was the only son named by his father. Jesus too was named by His Father, for God "gave him the name that is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow." The reason why Jacob loved Benjamin above all the others was the fact that the lad cost him the life of Rachel, the wife who was so dear to him. We who are Christians are all "Benjamins" We cost the eternal God the life of His only begotten Son to give us eternal life and to make us sons of God.

Three great characteristic men were born in Bethlehem: Benjamin, "The son of my right hand"; David, the beloved, Israel's greatest king; and Jesus, the Son of God, great David's greater Son. A wonderful line of truth can be pursued by connecting these names with each other.

THE PATRIARCHAL BLESSING. "Benjamin is a ravenous wolf; in the morning he devours the prey, in the evening he divides the plunder." This sounds foreign to the character of Benjamin as we usually imagine him. This may be because, since he was the youngest, he is so often thought of as a child; and Also perhaps because of his father's concern for his protection when he refused to allow him to accompany his brothers into Egypt. In fact, Benjamin was a fully matured man. Whatever the quality of character that was in Benjamin as an individual that "Benjamin is a ravenous wolf" is amazingly true of him as a tribe in Israel.

Considering all that is recorded in the Scriptures concerning this tribe, it was a warring tribe, always on the prowl seeking for prey. Ehud, the left - handed warrior, who fought and afterwards judged Israel, was of this tribe (Judges 3:12- 30). Israel's first king, Saul, the son of Kish, was a Benjamite. (1Sa 9:21). Saul, as the history of his rule reveals, certainly knew how to ravage like a wolf. Jonathan, of course, was of the same tribe. Mordecai and Esther - who were called by God for a time and a purpose brought great destruction to the enemies of the Jews and enjoyed the later years of their lives in power and authority - were also of this tribe (Esther 2:5).

Paul (Saul) said: "I am an Israelite myself, a descendant of Abraham, from the tribe of Benjamin" (Rom 11:1). "Circumcised on the eighth day, of the people of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin ... " (Phil 3:5). In his younger adult years, like a wolf he ravaged the Church - laying hands on whom he would, throwing them into prison, having others killed. In the later years of his life however he shared in the sufferings of the saints turning his zeal and passion toward Jesus the Christ rather than against Him.

THE MOSAIC BLESSING. "About Benjamin he said: 'Let the beloved of the Lord rest secure in him, for he shields him all day long, and the one the Lord loves rests between his shoulders." Shoulders are the symbol of strength. It is here that the heavy burden is carried. It was there that the shepherd bore his lamb. But also, a mother in Palestine rests and carries her child in a cradle made of goats' hair, which she slings over her head so that, with a band around her forehead, the baby is resting in its cradle between her shoulders, suspended from her head. Her large veil, worn as a headdress, is pulled over the cradle to help keep both the sun and the flies off the child. With the child in this safe place where no harm can befall it, the mother walks abroad, shopping, visiting, doing necessary errands.

The thought behind the verse is, therefore, one of devotion. Mother and child are always together; the child is never left behind. The promise was that the Lord would not leave Benjamin in his need but would always give him the fondness, care, protection and covering that a mother would give her infant. What was promised to Benjamin, the Lord has promised to those of us who are His children: "I will never leave you nor forsake you”

THE AMETHYST. Bible Dictionary: "It is agreed that the common amethyst, properly called amethystine quartz, is meant. This is rock crystal colored purple by manganese and iron. The Oriental amethyst is a much rarer gem, composed of violet corundum (oxide of aluminium) - in short, a purple sapphire. The name of the amethyst is derived from its supposed property, no doubt associated with its wine - like color, of acting as a preventive of intoxication." The English Dictionary says: "A bluish - violet kind of quartz, formerly supposed to prevent intoxication (Ok. a-methystos, not drunken; from methyein, be drunk)."

Amethyst was a stone of great hardness, the color of wine. The tribe of Benjamin was hard and often headstrong in their warlike character. Once this tribe of 26,700 faced 40,000 in battle, following the wronging a Levite by abusing and killing his wife. It is a gruesome story in Judges 19-20, perhaps summed up in the word intoxication. When Saul (Paul), the Benjamite, persecuted the Christians, he was "obsessed" against them and stopped at nothing, traveling far and taking women and children. He was intoxicated with anger. These descendants of Benjamin needed the influence and the power of God to bring them into discipline and self-control.

Chrysolite - Dan Gen 30:1-6; 49:16-18; Exo 28:20; Deu 33:22
"When Rachel saw that she was not bearing Jacob any children, she became jealous of her sister. So she said to Jacob, 'Give me children, or I'll die!' Jacob became angry with her and said, 'Am I in the place of God, who has kept you from having children?' Then she said, 'Here is Bilhah, my maidservant. Sleep with her so that she can bear children for me and that through her I too can build a family.' So she gave him her servant Bilhah as a wife. Jacob slept with her, and she became pregnant and bore him a son. Then Rachel said, 'God has vindicated me; he has listened to my plea and given me a son.' Because of this she named him Dan" (Gen 30:1-6). "Dan will provide justice for his people as one of the tribes of Israel. Dan will be a serpent by the roadside, a viper along the path, that bites the horse's heels so that its rider tumbles backward. I look for your deliverance, 0 Lord" (Gen 49:16-18). "About Dan he said: 'Dan is a lion's cub, springing out of Bashan'" (Deu 33:22).

HIS BIRTH. The character of Rachel was one of impatience and jealousy. As a result of her barrenness she had taken a despairing view of life, so that she approached her husband in a vindictive manner, saying: "Give me children, or I'll die!" by which she meant Deliver me from my barrenness or I am as a dead woman, despised and unwanted." She thereby kindled the anger of her husband and thus became responsible for a general disturbance in relationships throughout the family.

In her determination, she adopted the extreme expedient of giving her handmaid to her husband, hoping that she might be able to claim the child and become a mother by proxy. This revealed a lack of trust in God. Her plan succeeded for the moment, and as she took this child from Bilhah, she declared: "God has vindicated me " or, as the NKJV puts it, "God has judged my case:" So she called his name Dan, which means "He judged." She felt that the Lord had supported her in her effort and had vindicated her from her humiliation. As we shall learn, the tribe of Dan was responsible for humiliating all Israel on more than one occasion through its idolatry .

THE PATRIARCHAL BLESSING. "Dan will provide justice for his people as one of the tribes of Israel." As the NKJV and NASV put it, "Dan shall Judge his people as one of the tribes of Israel." It does not say that Dan shall judge the tribes, even though he may have ascended to that position once when Samson, a Damite, governed Israel during the period of the Judges. What Jacob said was: "Dan shall judge his people as one of the tribes.” Not as a superior but as an equal, not judging others but judging himself; and if he did judge others, it was on the ground of mutuality

We too have this responsibility, for we are to judge ourselves as believers. "A man ought to examine himself before he eats of the bread and drinks of the cup" (1 Cor 11:28). "But if we judged ourselves, we would not come under judgment" (1 Cor 11:31). None of us likes to be judged by others. The solution to that dislike is to keep our own lives under a self judgment according to the standards of God's Word. This is a personal matter.

"Dan shall judge his people“; the judgment of one's own community. Paul applies this to the Church. "What business is it of mine to judge those outside the church? Are you not to judge those inside? God will judge those outside" (1 Cor 5:12-13). "Dan will be a serpent by the roadside, a viper along the path, that bites the horse's heels so that its rider tumbles backward. This creature, to which Dan was likened, was the horned serpent - the color of sand and marked with white and black spots - which was exceedingly dangerous to passersby. Its fangs could inflict a fatal wound.

Israel's idolatry. The nation was warned of God's hatred of idolatry and of the consequences of engaging in such misconduct. Israel fell to this vice and lost her prestige and, consequently, like a rider on horseback, was brought down to the ground. Dan was the tribe responsible for this fatal nip. It began with one man, but soon the whole tribe was affected and eventually the nation. The first small, subtle "bite" was when some Danite soldiers found an ephod and several idols in the house of Micah, (Judges 18). They took these from the man and made them their own as a people. "The Danites set up for themselves the idols, and Jonathan son of Gershom, the son of Moses, and his sons were priests for the tribe of Dan until the time of the captivity of the land. They continued to use the idols Micah had made, all the time the house of God was in Shiloh" (Judges 18:30-31).

Later on, Jeroboam set up two golden calves. "One he set up in Bethel, and the other in Dan. And this thing became a sin; the people went even as far as Dan to worship the one there" (1 Kings 12:29-30). Thus the sin of one man extended to the tribe and from the tribe to the nation, and so the nation was brought down, surely by "a serpent by the roadside." We must watch our smallest shortcomings - our secret sins. They may affect a whole community.

In Judges 16, Samson, a member of the tribe of Dan, and a judge in Israel. Watch his deterioration as he gave away to his enemy the secret of his great strength, until the enemy he once mastered had become his master. In utter shame - weak, blind and helpless - he was led by a lad into the great auditorium where the Philistines began to make sport of him. Three thousand were up on the roof and great was their glee, but Samson, the Danite, prayed that the Lord God would remember him and strengthen him just once more so that he could "bite" at the heels of these his enemies and bring them down in the midst of their pride

God answered his prayer and, bracing himself against the two central pillars, Samson brought the whole building and the Philistines down to their death. May God make us "as wise as serpents and as harmless as doves" so that in our faithfulness to the Lord - we might be used to break down the strongholds of Satan and bring the enemies of the cross to their knees in repentance and in acknowledgment of Christ Jesus as Lord.

"I have waited for your salvation, O Lord!" (NKJV). This 18th verse seems to have nothing to do with the blessing of Dan or of any other of the tribes. It almost appears to be out of place. In the midst of blessing his sons, Jacob seems suddenly carried away in the Spirit beyond the fortunes of these tribes with all their battles and victories, beyond all things national, to the triumphant, permanent victory of the Messiah. This thought may be verified by the Jewish Targums in which this translation is found: "Our father, Jacob, said, Not for the salvation of Gideon the son of Joash, does my soul look out, for that is only temporary, and not for the salvation of Samson, for that is only transient, but for the salvation promised in Thy Word for Thy people, the sons of Israel; for that salvation does my soul look out."

THE MOSAIC BLESSING. "About Dan he said: 'Dan is a lion's cub, springing out of Bashan." Not that Dan will leap from Bashan, but that he would spring out suddenly as the lions of Bashan were known to leap out from the forests upon the unwary traveler. Commentators agree that this is a possible reference to an incident in Joshua 19:47, when the children of Dan displayed a severe kind of judgment. Deciding that their territory was too small, they suddenly pounced upon a neighboring people dwelling quietly and securely and took possession of their land and named it after their father, Dan. The lion of the tribe of Dan differed considerably from the Lion of the tribe of Judah.

THE STONE. The Hebrew word is tarshiysh and has reference to Tarshish, Many believe this to be Spain - perhaps the source of this gemstone. The majority of translations translates this as "beryl," The NIV says "chrysolite." The NIV tranlates bareqeth, the stone engraved with the name of Zebulon, to be "beryl." Another name for chrysolite is "olivine," referring to its color. A rare, transparent variety of this, "peridot," is used as a gem. Another possibility is "chrysoberyl." Whichever it was, this stone, on which Dan's name was registered on the breastpiece, is a very hard stone

It is referred to in Ezekiel in connection with the swift and powerful chariots and wheels seen by the prophet (Eze 10:9). The hands of the Bridegroom, in the Song of Solomon, are set with it (Song 5:14). It is not too difficult to see why this stone was chosen for Dan, the judge who was ever breaking or subduing in one way or another. May the Lord make us hard gemstones, "breaking and subduing" wherever we meet the forces of sin and Satan in the Lord’s strength, not ours.

Onyx - Asher Gen 30:12-13; 49:20; Exo 28:20; Deut 28:24-25
"Leah's servant Zilpah bore Jacob a second son. Then Leah said, 'How happy I am! The women will call me happy.' So she named him Asher" (Gen. 30: ). "Asher's food will be rich; he will provide delicacies fit for a king" (Gen. 49:20). "About Asher he said: 'Most blessed of sons is Asher; let him be favored by his brothers, and let him bathe his feet in oil. The bolts of your gates will be iron and bronze, and your strength will equal your days'" (Deut. 33: ).

HIS BIRTH. Ashur was the second born of Zilpah and adopted by Leah, who was also responsible for naming him. As she took this child into her arms, with an air of contentment and pleasure she said, "How happy I am! The women will call me happy," and she gave him the name Asher, which means "happy" or "blessed." The whole sense of Leah's remark is two - pronged. "How happy I am! The women will call me happy." So she named him Asher. What was hers became his also…

What was hers became his. This mutuality of blessing is a principle of Christian doctrine. In the Old Testament: I will bless you and you will be a blessing" (Gen 12:2). In the New Testament: " ... that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete" (John 15:11). We are blessed by the Lord and yet we are called upon to bless the Lord.

THE PATRIARCHAL BLESSING. "Asher's food will be rich; he will provide delicacies fit for a king." Some believe this points to the richness of the soil in his allotted territory, but there is something much deeper than that. The whole of the statements concerning Asher reveals quality. Christ is the Bread of Life to His people, and that bread is neither chaffy nor cheap. It is of highest quality, nourishing, and satisfies the hungry soul. "My soul will be satisfied with the richest of foods" (Ps 63:5) "They feast on the abundance of your house" (Ps 36:8).

Asher represents those people who feed upon "the finest of wheat." They know a living, abiding communion with Christ Himself. The Word of God is their daily portion. "I have treasured the words of his mouth more than my daily bread" (Job 23:12). The natural result of a healthy intake is a virile output. Asher provided royal delicacies - tempting, attractive, appetizing, and wholesome.

Because the vitality of many churches is low just now and their members cannot stand solid food - the nourishing bread of God's Word - many a congregation has resorted to the husks and peelings of sociability and compromise in which the food value is entirely missing. 1Co 3:2 I have fed you with milk, and not with meat: for hitherto ye were not able to bear it, neither yet now are ye able. Heb 5:12 For when for the time ye ought to be teachers, ye have need that one teach you again which be the first principles of the oracles of God; and are become such as have need of milk, and not of strong meat For every one that useth milk is unskilful in the word of righteousness: for he is a babe. This is a tragic mistake and will never make for healthy recovery.

Our methods may have to change, but our material - our content of fundamental gospel truth must never be replaced. Men of God ought so to feed on the richness of God's Word that, like Asher, they may give to the people "delicacies" straight from the King's banqueting table. "A word aptly spoken is like apples of gold in settings of silver" (Prov 25:11).

THE MOSAIC BLESSING. "About Asher he said: 'Most blessed of sons is Asher.” There are many interpretations given to this statement by Moses "blessed with many children," "blessed above other sons:" "blessed by his own sons" - all of which ably fit Asher's character. But there is a preposition here which is always used to denote the source from which anything proceeds or the agent by whom anything is done. The interpretation of "blessed with children" might readily be extended to include the meaning that he was to be blessed "through his children," who were to reap their benefits from him

Asher, in the richness of his own experience, was to become such an avenue and agent of blessing that in coming generations his children would rise up and call him blessed, When our influence is so felt by our children and has brought such blessing to their lives that they want to thank God for every remembrance of us, that is richness of character indeed, If we want to bless the lives of our children so that they may bless us, then let us remember that we are the children of God and that He is our great Asher.

He has blessed us abundantly; therefore we must do only that which will cause men who see our good works to glorify our Father who is in heaven. To the extent that we bring blessing to His name, to that same measure shall we be made a blessing to others, "Let him be favored by his brothers." Often success, whether in material possessions or in spiritual qualities and service, produces a jealousy in the hearts of one's brothers, which (as in the case of Joseph's brothers) grows into a hatred that insists on vengeance. Asher was to be delivered from this curse and was to be favored by them - surely a blessedness that ought to make him very happy.

"Let him bathe his feet in oil." Many have made reference to the fruitfulness of the tribe of Asher as a land of olive groves and to the pressing of oil from olive berries. A modern view is that it might be a prophetic utterance referring to the pipeline of the Iraq Petroleum Company which passes through Asher's territory and at one time poured out some million gallons of oil daily at Haifa, which is also within Asher's boundaries. Even more, to the recent reserves of natural gas and oil in the sea just offshore from the territory of Ashur. Ashur is literally bathing his feet in oil. These suggestions are acceptable, but the spiritual meaning of these statements is still of paramount importance.

The richness of the land is no doubt here, but what of the richness of the believer's walk? A foot literally bathed in oil would leave behind it an almost indelible impression. "How beautiful on the mountains are the feet of those who bring good news, who Proclaim peace, who bring good tidings, who proclaim salvation, who say to Zion, 'Your God reigns!' (Isa 52:7) What matters is not only what we say now but, as with Asher, is what we leave behind. Succeeding generations rejoiced in the sustained blessings of Asher. May we so bathe our feet in the oil of God's Holy Spirit that we may leave behind us that definite imprint which will cause men to say: "These have been with Jesus and learned from Him."

"The bolts of your gates will be iron and bronze." The whole suggestion is of a strong fortification, a trampling underfoot of evil. "You will tread upon the lion and the cobra; you will trample the great lion and the serpent" (Ps 91:13). Or a barricading against the advancing hosts. The fruitful life is the overcoming life.

"Your strength will equal your days." A literal rendering of the Hebrew is: "As your days, your strength." A strength that will last as long as your days, or a strength which, like your days, is ever increasing. There is no suggestion of a fluctuating strength that varies according to circumstances, as so many interpret it. It is not according to your needs but according to your days, and they never fail as long as you are alive. The Hebrew word here translated "strength" is an unusual one implying slow motion. "According to your days, so shall your leisurely walk be.“ NASB

THE ONYX. It is very difficult to ascertain exactly what stone is referred to as onyx in the Bible because it is spoken of as being precious and brilliant. Onyx as it is known today is neither. According to Robertson, the Hebrew word shoham is derived from an unused root signifying "to shine with the luster of fire" and "a flashing forth of splendor." If so, it is most characteristic of the tribe whose name it bore. Asher's character flashed forth with splendor, its glory still reaching down even to us today.

Jasper - Naphtali Gen 30:7-8; 49:21; Exo 28:20; Deu 33:23
"Rachel's servant Bilhah conceived again and bore Jacob a second son. Then Rachel said, 'I have had a great struggle with my sister, and I have won.' So she named him Naphtali" (Gen 30:7 - 8). "Naphtali is a doe set free that bears beautiful fawns" (Gen 49:21). "About Naphtali he said: 'Naphtali is abounding with the favor of the Lord and is full of his blessing; he will inherit southward to the lake'" (Deu 33:23). The three sections, His Birth, The Patriarchal Blessing, and The Mosaic Blessing, might readily be sub-headed as Wrestling, Liberty, and Resting. These three words sum up this character possibly better than any others.

HIS BIRTH - Wrestling. Like Dan, Naphtali was born of Bilhah and adopted by Rachel, who felt that her strugglings to maintain the favor of her husband against the rivalry of her sister had not altogether been in vain. "I have had a great struggle with my sister, and I have won." So she called the child Naphtali, meaning "My struggle" or as the NASB and several older versions put it, "My wrestling

Some commentators suggest that this reference is to a prevailing in prayer - that it should be understood as a wrestling with God rather than a wrestling with her sister. We are bidden to "watch and pray," we are expected to pray and work, but one cannot find any authority for praying and plotting or for dishonest scheming that displays a lack of faith in God or at least shows a lack of patience with God. To suggest that Rachel prevailed with God is to suggest that God submitted His approval to bigamy, which He never did. It is not that Rachel did not pray, nor even that she did not wrestle in prayer, because she did; God heard her earlier prayers and gave her Joseph in response to those prayers

Naphtali was not the result of wrestling in prayer. Rachel was successful in her scheme but success does not always mean that God is in it Even though Rachel may have thought it so and even though we allow ourselves to be beguiled. God sometimes permits us to have our stubborn way and yet He need not be "in" it. God is always in "faithfulness" but not necessarily in "success

Sarah thought that God would not be able to fulfill His promise concerning a son without her help, so she gave her handmaid to Abram, resulting in the birth of Ishmael. God said: "You have got your Ishmael; I will bless him, but I am still going to have My way, and Isaac will come as I have promised" and he did. It appeared as though Sarah was successful, but she was not. Ishmael always proved to be a "thorn in the flesh.”

Now God is saying to Rachel: "You have prevailed in your schemes, but Joseph is to come in My time and in My way." Rachel perpetuated her wrestlings in naming this child, but Rachel was not alone in her wrestlings. Her husband later came to the place where he learned something about wrestling. God met him on his return journey from Haran and there Jacob was engaged in wrestling throughout one lonely night, lasting until the break of day. At Peniel he learned that God must break Jacob before He could make an Israel.

From the beginning of time man has known something of the power of wrestling - sometimes prevailing, sometimes losing in the struggle. Man wrestles with his conscience, with his habits, with temptation. Children in the tenderness of their years have at times to wrestle with their temper or with other things, little to us but everything to them. Nature is involved in wrestling. The oak is made strong as it struggles against wind and storm. Man wrestles with nature as he tries to steer his vessel through the raging gale and the tempestuous seas. Wrestling always means that one person or element is defeated while the other is strengthened as victory is gained.

Think of the wrestlings of Christ! Sin has separated God and man. Satan was laying claim to the human race and they were crying out for deliverance. In creation, God merely spoke the word and it was done: by His word worlds were made and flung into immeasurable space. At His word today the storm is released or withheld. But more than His mighty word is required for any spiritual accomplishments.

Our new birth was procured by the travailing of the Son of His love. Wrestling in prayer in Gethsemane, Wrestling with Satan on Calvary, Wrestling with death within the tomb, Jesus prevailed through His Father's strengthening. He defeated Satan, He destroyed death, and thus wrought for us our salvation. Having prevailed in this wrestling, the third day He arose and came forth as "a doe set free," quoting Jacob in his blessing of Naphtali.

The result of Christ's wrestlings means the birth of many spiritual Naphtalis – believers. And we too must know something of wrestling in our spiritual life, for we are called to warfare. My little children, of whom I travail in birth again until Christ be formed in you, (Ga 4:19) "For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms" (Eph 6:12). It is the act of wrestling that makes for strong, healthy, virile Christians.

THE PATRIARCHAL BLESSING - Liberty. “Naphtali is a doe set free that bears beautiful fawns." As the NIV footnote puts it: "Naphtali is a deer set free; he utters beautiful words." The deer, like its cousin the gazelle, is a creature that is graceful, gentle and agile. With a sure foot it bounds to the highest height of the rocky crag beyond the reach of its enemies - the emblem of glorious freedom. The male of the species has been spoken of as a symbol of the warrior, and in this sense was fitting of Naphtali, the tribe that was swift and sure in its accomplishments on the battlefield.

Here we have the picture of a deer caught in a trap or entanglement. But once having been liberated (by itself or someone else), it bounds away upward to a place of safety. "Naphtali is a deer set free" - liberty. "He makes my feet like the feet of a deer; he enables me to stand on the heights" (Ps 18:33) - sureness. Habakkuk says the same in his last verse. "My lover is like a gazelle or a young stag. Look! There he stands behind our wall, gazing through the windows, peering through the lattice" (Song 2:9) - gentleness. Solomon speaks of a bride as: "a loving doe, a graceful deer" (Prv 5:19) – loving.

Proverbs 5:18-19: 'May you rejoice in the wife of your youth: a loving doe, a graceful deer.' Here the deer is used as a symbol of affection. "The feet of the deer enable it to stand securely upon the summit of lofty crags, out of the reach of danger, and lifted above the snares and pitfalls of the world below. 'He makes my feet like the feet of a deer; he enables me to stand on the heights' (2Sa 22:34; Ps 18:33). 'The Sovereign Lord is my strength; he makes my feet like the feet of a deer, he enables me to go on the heights' (Hab 3:19).

He has made our feet like deer's feet; we are raised up together with Him; and we have to stand on the heights, to which we as believers have thus been exalted; and not to let Satan cast us down from our excellency. We, like Naphtali, have to wrestle - not against flesh and blood, but against rulers, against authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against spiritual forces of evil (Eph. 6:12). But Jehovah God is our strength. His great Priest has known the power of the enemy, and has conquered He will enable us to overcome and maintain our stand on the heights. He will uphold us in our wrestlings against the foe by bringing to our remembrance His throes of anguish on the tree, and by clothing us with His strength.“

THE MOSAIC BLESSING - Resting. "Naphtali is abounding with the favor of the Lord and is full of his blessing; he will inherit southward to the lake." The man who can (like the deer) climb the heights of spiritual attainment, rising above all the carnality of the lower regions - and breathe the fresh air of God's grace and stand fast in the liberty with which Christ has made him free - is surely the man who is "abounding with the favor of the Lord and is full of his blessing." Moses' blessing appears to be a consequence of Jacob's blessing. This privileged person is now told he will inherit southward to the lake.

The man who is abounding with favor is the man who finds rest for his soul. Naphtali was certainly favored and full of blessing because his southeast border was the northern seashore of Galilee It included Capernaum, Tiberias, Korazin, Magdala and other places where our Lord Jesus ministered, mostly in teaching and healing.

THE JASPER (Hebrew: yasbpeb). Jasper can be found in many colors, the commonest being yellow. Others are scarlet, red, crimson, green, various browns, and one is green with red spots known as the bloodstone. Some are transparent and others opaque. It is not known what color the one on the breastpiece was, but we may be fairly certain that it was transparent. In the book of Revelation, the One who sat on the throne in chapter four had the appearance of jasper and carnelian. The wall of the Holy City in Revelation 21 was made of jasper and one of its foundations was made of the same.

One usually thinks of this as a beautiful yellow, full of luster, so significant of glory. John describing the heavenly new Jerusalem he said he saw it "coming down out of heaven from God shining with the glory of God its brilliance was like that of a very precious jewel, like a jasper, clear as crystal." A man who, living in the higher realms of a spiritual atmosphere has a testimony that is as clear as crystal and therefore shows forth the glory of God ..

Appendix to the Stones – Levi Genesis 29:34; 49:5-7; Deuteronomy 33:8-11
(1) Levi - Attaching "Again she conceived, and when she gave birth to a son she said, 'Now at last my husband will become attached to me, because I have borne him three sons.' So be was named Levi" (Gen 29:34). "Simeon and Levi are brothers - their swords are weapons of violence. Let me not enter their council, let me not join their assembly, for they have killed men in their anger and hamstrung oxen as they pleased. Cursed be their anger, so fierce, and their fury, so cruel! I will scatter them in Jacob and disperse them in Israel" (Gen. 49:5-7).

(1) Levi - Attaching "About Levi be said: 'Your Thummim and Urim belong to the man you favored. You tested him at Massah; you contended with him at the waters of Meribah. He said of his father and mother, "I have no regard for them." He did not recognize his brothers or acknowledge his own children, but be watched over your word and guarded your covenant. He teaches your precepts to Jacob and your law to Israel. He offers incense before you and whole burnt offerings on your altar. Bless all his skills, 0 Lord, and be pleased with the work of his bands, Smite the loins of those who rise up against him; strike his foes till they rise no more" (Deu 33:8-11).

HIS BIRTH, Leah's confidence took a big step forward when her third son, Levi, arrived. When the first two were born she had hoped to gain a little more of her husband's love and attention. At the birth of the first she said: "It is because the Lord has seen my misery. Surely my husband will love me now." At the arrival of the second she said: "Because the Lord heard that I am not loved, he gave me this one too." Now she is more bold and declares: "Now at last my husband will become attached to me." She called this child Levi, which means "attached." There is no evidence in Scripture that this passionate longing of hers was ever realized.

When discussing Reuben and Simeon, we considered their names in connection with Christ and the Church, observing that we are in Jesus, to "see a Son," and also to "hear" Him. "Seeing" Him as the Son of God and "hearing" Him as the Son means that we are then "attached" to Him in a new life. The connection is certainly interesting and helpfully suggestive. The fourth son, Judah, gives the result of the three acts, for his name means "The Praise of Jehovah.”

The meaning of Levi’s name - "attached" - was apparently not realized by Leah. It might be said that because of this failure on her part there is no purpose in considering it, since it cannot convey its intended lesson. Although Leah thought she was responsible for the naming and believed she had a strategy that would force an issue with her husband, actually God was controlling the naming so that He might thereby disclose His purposes. All these tribal names become a play on words. We will dwell on the two words "attached" and "scattered," which are antithetical.

THE PATRIARCHAL BLESSING. It was Leah, Levi's mother, who said "attached," but Jacob, his father, said "scattered" "I will scatter them in Jacob and disperse them in Israel." We noted in the chapter on Simeon why Levi was scattered. It was because of a gross sin, and sin always has a devastating effect. The tribe, having no inheritance, was given several towns by each of the other tribes, forty - eight towns in all, but these towns were scattered all over the land (Num. 35). Therefore Levi was found in little communities throughout Israel. Here is a wonderful picture of the grace of God operating in the Old Testament. Says Paul: "Where sin increased, grace increased all the more" (Rom. 5:20). Sin had separated all mankind from God, yet God desired that those thus separated might be reunited to Himself. Therefore He made a temporary provision by means of offerings and sacrifices - but someone must minister these on the behalf of man. So it was that God chose the scattered tribe of Levi for this priestly work of joining men to God through sacrifice. Thus the man who fell deeply into sin was the man who in his descendants was lifted high in holiness. Was it because "he who is forgiven much loves much"! At any rate, Levi became closely attached to God in service and closely attached to all the other tribes in Tabernacle ministry. The thought is that there must be a scattering before there can be a gathering; there must be a dividing before there can be a joining. This suggestion is certainly conveyed throughout the New Testament. Jesus said: "I did not come to send peace, but a sword. For I have come to turn a man against his father ... " (Matt. 10: ). Also, "And everyone who has left houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or children or fields for my sake will receive a hundred times as much and will inherit eternal life. But many who are first will be last, and many who are last will be first" (Matt. 19: ). The person who desires to be joined to Christ in happy fellowship must be separated from the world, its sins and its culture. THE MOSAIC BLESSING. The blessing of Moses upon Levi appears to be a revoking of the judgment given by Jacob. As Moses was himself a member of this tribe, he has to be careful in giving a reason why it was possible to do this. Moses desired for this tribe a continuance of the priestly privilege (the Thummim and Urim) because they had proved themselves worthy at Massah and Meribah. There were two experiences of testing at the waters, one at the beginning of their wilderness journeyings and the other towards the end. The first is recorded in Exodus 17:1 - 7, the second in Numbers 20: Both were murmurings of the people against their leaders because of lack of water. As the first and last, they may well represent the whole of Israel's murmurings against Moses and Aaron, the representatives of Levi. But throughout these testings the two men proved faithful - except for Aaron's sad lapse in the matter of the golden calf and for Moses' unfortunate slip in the last incident, a failing that cost him his entrance into the Promised Land. In none of these bitter trials did these leaders of the tribe of Levi lift up the sword of revenge. Yet there was one time when they had to take up the sword. On that occasion it was not for personal revenge but at the command of God. The people had committed a great sin against their God in setting up and worshiping the golden calf (Exod. 32). Moses called for those who were on the Lord's side to step out, and all the sons of Levi came forward. Moses said to these men, in effect, "Here is an opportunity to consecrate yourselves against the treacherous act that has brought so much shame on your tribe. Let every man put his sword to his side. Now go out and use it again, but you must slay your brother, your neighbor, your friend, whoever has sinned against God. Slay him, spare not, take no pity on those who are your kinsmen." What they sowed, they reaped. This is the possible meaning of the next clause of the Mosaic blessing: "He said of his father and mother 'I have no regard for them.' He did not recognize hi~ brothers or acknowledge his own children." Thus their stance was reversed and those that were scattered in Jacob and dispersed in Israel had it said of them, "He teaches your precepts to Jacob and your law to Israel." Saul, the persecutor of the early Church, having been met by the Lord, became Paul, the teacher of the early Church. The sinner who hated Jesus, through conversion becomes the saint who loves Jesus because He is his Savior. Thus the "scattered" become the "attached." One final word. Moses said: "Bless all his skills, O Lord, and be pleased with the work of his hands." He had no territory to bless, no fields to multiply, no coasts to protect, so the blessing was upon his skills, upon the service he rendered to the nation as a whole. And his enemies were not national or tribal, for he had no territory to lose and none to gain. His enemies would most likely be spiritual. Moses asked for a complete and final deliverance from such. Learn that Jesus can take a sinner and make him a saint. He can lift the needy from the ash heap and set him upon the throne of His glory - and then give him the victory over all things.

"I will scatter them in Jacob and disperse them in Israel."
Appendix to the Stones – Levi Genesis 29:34; 49:5-7; Deuteronomy 33:8-11 THE PATRIARCHAL BLESSING. It was Leah, Levi's mother, who said "attached," Jacob, his father, said "scattered" "I will scatter them in Jacob and disperse them in Israel." Levi was scattered because of a gross sin. Sin always has a devastating effect. The tribe, having no inheritance, was given several towns by each of the other tribes, 48 towns in all, but these towns were scattered all over the land (Num. 35). Levi was found in little communities throughout Israel - a picture of the grace of God operating in the Old Testament. "Where sin increased, grace increased all the more" (Rom. 5:20

Sin had separated all mankind from God, yet God desired that those thus separated might be reunited to Himself. He made a temporary provision by means of offerings and sacrifices Someone must minister these on the behalf of man. It was that God chose the scattered tribe of Levi for this priestly work of joining men to God through sacrifice. Thus the man who fell deeply into sin was the man who in his descendants was lifted high in holiness. Levi became closely attached to God in service and closely attached to all the other tribes in Tabernacle ministry.

There must be a scattering before there can be a gathering; there must be a dividing before there can be a joining. Jesus said: "I did not come to send peace, but a sword. For I have come to turn a man against his father ... " (Mat 10:34-35) "And everyone who has left houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or children or fields for my sake will receive a hundred times as much and will inherit eternal life. But many who are first will be last, and many who are last will be first" (Mat 19:29-30). The person who desires to be joined to Christ in happy fellowship must be separated from the world, its sins and its culture.

THE MOSAIC BLESSING. The blessing of Moses upon Levi appears to be a revoking of the judgment given by Jacob. Moses was himself a member of this tribe, so he has to be careful in giving a reason why it was possible to do this. Moses desired for this tribe a continuance of the priestly privilege (the Thummim and Urim) because they had proved themselves worthy at Massah and Meribah. There were experiences of testing at the waters, one at the beginning of their wilderness journey (Ex 17:1-7) the other towards the end. (Nu 20:1-13). Both were murmurings of the people against their leaders because of lack of water.

They may well represent the whole of Israel's murmurings against Moses and Aaron, the representatives of Levi. But throughout these testings the two men proved faithful - except for Aaron's sad lapse in the matter of the golden calf and for Moses' unfortunate slip in the last incident, a failing that cost him his entrance into the Promised Land.

On both these occasions God provided “living water” from the “rock” for his people – in spite of their actions and attitudes…. In the first Moses was to “strike” / bruise the rock of their salvation. In the second he was to have “spoken” the rock – he struck it here again. Had he been obedient to the letter of God’s instruction, it would have been a visible symbol of Christ’s first and second coming to his people. In the first, he was rejected, beaten and bruised. In the second he will be praised with raised voices in acknowledgement of who and what He is…

In none of these bitter trials did these leaders of the tribe of Levi lift up the sword of revenge. There was one time when they had to take up the sword but it on that occasion it was not for personal revenge but at the command of God. The people had committed a great sin against their God in setting up and worshiping the golden calf (Ex 32). Moses called for those who were on the Lord's side to step out and all the sons of Levi came forward. In effect Moses said to these men, "Here is an opportunity to consecrate yourselves against the treacherous act that has brought so much shame on your tribe. Let every man put his sword to his side. Now go out and use it again, but you must slay your brother, your neighbor, your friend, whoever has sinned against God. Slay him, spare not, take no pity on those who are your kinsmen."

What they sowed in Shechem, they reaped in the wilderness. This is the possible meaning of the next clause of the Mosaic blessing: "He said of his father and mother 'I have no regard for them.' He did not recognize his brothers or acknowledge his own children." Thus their stance was reversed and those that were scattered in Jacob and dispersed in Israel had it said of them, "He teaches your precepts to Jacob and your law to Israel." Saul, the persecutor of the early Church, having been met by the Lord, became Paul, the teacher of the early Church. The sinner who hated Jesus, through conversion becomes the saint who loves Jesus because He is his Savior. The "scattered" becomes the "attached."

Moses said: "Bless all his skills, O Lord, and be pleased with the work of his hands." Levi had no territory to bless, no fields to multiply, no coasts to protect, so the blessing was upon his skills, upon the service he rendered to the nation as a whole. And his enemies were not national or tribal, for he had no territory to lose and none to gain. His enemies would most likely be spiritual. Moses asked for a complete and final deliverance from such. Jesus can take a sinner and make him a saint. He can lift the needy from the ash heap and set him upon the throne of His glory - and then give him the victory over all things.

Appendix to the Stones Joseph – Fruitful Gen 30:22-24; 49:22-26; Deu 33:13-17
"Then God remembered Rachel; he listened to her and opened her womb. She became pregnant and gave birth to a son and said, 'God bas taken away my disgrace.' She named him Joseph, and said, 'May the Lord add to me another son'" (Gen 30:22-24). "Joseph is a fruitful vine, a fruitful vine near a spring, whose branches climb over a wall, with bitterness archers attacked him; they shot at him with hostility. But his bow remained steady, his strong arms stayed limber, because of the hand of the Mighty One of Jacob, because of the Shepherd, the Rock of Israel, because of your father's God, who helps you, because of the Almighty, who blesses you with blessings of the heavens above, blessings of the deep that lies below, blessings of the breast and womb. Your father's blessings are greater than the blessings of the ancient mountains, than the bounty of the age - old hills. Let all these rest on the head of Joseph, on the brow of the prince among his brothers" (Gen 49:22-26).

"About Joseph he said: 'May the Lord bless his land with the precious dew from heaven above and with the deep waters that lie below; with the best the sun brings forth and the finest the moon can yield; with the choicest gifts for the ancient mountains and the fruitfulness of the everlasting hills; with the best gifts of the earth and its fullness and the favor of him who dwelt in the burning bush. Let all these rest on the head of Joseph, on the brow of the prince among his brothers. In majesty he is like a firstborn bull; his horns are the horns of a wild ox. With them he will gore the nations, even those at the ends of the earth. Such are the ten thousands of Ephraim; such are the thousands of Manasseh'" (Deu 33:13- 17).

What history! What experience! What blessings!
Appendix to the Stones Joseph – Fruitful Gen 30:22-24; 49:22-26; Deu 33:13-17 The other not represented on the breastplate in his own name is Joseph, who, having received a double blessing, found himself represented in the names of his two sons, Ephraim and Manasseh. What history! What experience! What blessings! The life of Joseph is so full that the events could easily fill a book. But as regards the Priestly Garments, this man is only a parenthesis – a footnote.

HIS BIRTH. "Then God remembered Rachel." Joseph, like Samuel, was an answer to prayer, but Rachel had thought that God had forgotten her. Delayed answers to prayer may be for the testing of faith. Delayed answers are evidence of God's intense interest, not of His indifference. Joseph came at the right time, to save his people from the results of famine. Joseph was born for a purpose, Jesus was born for a purpose, You and I are born for a purpose. Life is not mere chance.

Joseph's name means "May he add" or "doubly fruitful," He actually has a double representation on the breastpiece in the names of his two sons, Ephraim and Manasseh.

THE PATRIARCHAL BLESSING. ''Joseph is a fruitful vine." An examination of his life reveals that he was a person who produced the whole cluster of the fruit of the Spirit love in his whole life, joy in family renewal, peace of heart while in prison, patience toward a forgetful cupbearer, kindness when his brothers were cruel, goodness in his home life, faithfulness toward his God at all times, gentleness in his dreams, and Self-control in Potiphar's house. His life evidenced these qualities at all times.

"A fruitful vine near a spring." The secret of his fruitfulness was his position, "planted by streams of water" (Ps 1:3), his spiritual roots in the place of abundant supply. Rooted and grounded in love. "Whose branches climb over a wall." The picture of usefulness. It is one thing to live a Christian life inside the church and among fellow Christians, it is another thing to bear fruit in the home, the business, the world. Our branches must go over the wall so that fainting souls may pick from the fruit of our experience.

"With bitterness archers attacked him; they shot at him with hostility." "In this world you will have trouble" Well - placed roots are an essential, but not the only essential. Pruning is also necessary no pruning, no fruit; no warfare, no victory; no trial, no faithfulness. Joseph was "attacked" by misunderstanding, "shot at" by hurled accusations, "hated" by brothers, mistress and master, "but his bow remained steady, his strong arms stayed limber, because of the hand of the mighty One of Jacob."

"No weapon forged against you will prevail"
Appendix to the Stones Joseph – Fruitful Gen 30:22-24; 49:22-26; Deu 33:13-17 "No weapon forged against you will prevail" Joseph proved it; we may prove it. He advanced until he was second ruler in the land of Egypt and was enjoying all the blessings that are enumerated in the text. He was made strong and found favor because he was blessed by the loving God of Abraham, the faithful God of Isaac, the mighty God of Jacob, and the protecting God of Joseph.

"About Joseph he said: 'May the Lord bless HIS LAND...”
Appendix to the Stones Joseph – Fruitful Gen 30:22-24; 49:22-26; Deu 33:13-17 THE MOSAIC BLESSING. The blessing bestowed by Moses upon Joseph as a people is in harmony and accord with that bestowed on Joseph as an individual by Jacob. At a first it might almost appear to be a repetition; yet there is a fundamental difference between the two. In Genesis all the blessings of heaven and earth - blessings past, present, and future - are bestowed upon Joseph, In Deuteronomy similar abundance is bestowed on his land. "About Joseph he said: 'May the Lord bless HIS LAND...”

The man rooted and grounded in God is the man who will find that he is enriched not only in spiritual things but also in the realm of the material. Is this not the suggestion of the psalmist in his first psalm? "He is like a tree planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit [spiritual] in season and whose leaf [material] does not wither. Whatever [spiritual and material] he does prospers."

Urim and Thummim Ex 28:30; Le 8:8; Nu 27:21; De 33:8; 1Sa 28:6; 30:7-8; Ezr 2:63; Neh 7:65
"Also put the Urim and the Thummim in the breastpiece, so they may be over Aaron's heart whenever he enters the presence of the Lord. Thus Aaron will always bear the means of making decisions for the Israelites over his heart before the Lord" (Exo 28:30).

No one can speak with certainty.
Urim and Thummim Ex 28:30; Le 8:8; Nu 27:21; De 33:8; 1Sa 28:6; 30:7-8; Ezr 2:63; Neh 7:65 What are the Urim and the Thummim? There are numerous answers suggested, both as to their appearance and their method of operation. The majority of ideas are mere speculation without any reason given. No one can speak with certainty. It appears to be one of the things that God has hidden from us for the time being - to be some of that "hidden manna" upon which we shall feast in the eternity when "we shall know fully even as we are fully known."

The two words mean: Urim, "Lights"; Thummim, "Perfections." Christ is light, for in Him there is no darkness at all. He is the light of life, the light of understanding, and the light of revelation. Christ is perfect. Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made. He is the Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end of all things. To none other could be committed the work of "making decisions.”

A key principle of Bible interpretation is to understand that it is an Eastern book, written in the environment of Palestinian life and habit, Every illustration used by God was an illustration readily discerned by man because it was something in common use. If this were not so then it would not be an illustration - illustrations are always given for clarity, not for complication. The use of black and white stones was common to people in those days and therefore they would fully understand their implications.." Urim and Thummim were in the form of two stones, one black – being the negative and one white – being the positive both deposited within the breastpiece;

The casting of lots held a prominent place in the Scriptures. This was not like the gambling of modern days and in no wise justifies a belief that luck was involved. There were evil men, like the hard and callous soldiers, who cast lots for the garment of the Lord; There were superstitious sailors who cast lots to find out the cause of the storm in the experience of Jonah. On the other hand, there were the honest and noble disciples who cast lots for the choosing of Matthias for apostleship. The high priests sought the mind of the Lord in a similar fashion. Most of the vices of today are an abuse of something once given for man's use! The action of the apostles was one of prayer and belief in divine guidance.

Rev 2:17 "He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To him who overcomes, I will give some of the hidden manna. I will also give him a white stone with a new name written on it, known only to him who receives it." What was this white stone inscribed with a name that was offered to the overcomer? Black and white stones were used in many ways in the East for the giving of a verdict.

In England, in the Criminal Court, if a man is found guilty of murder the judge will don a black cap in pronouncing the sentence of death. In a similar way, in the East the judge would hand to the guilty prisoner a black stone, meaning condemnation. Should the prisoner be handed a white stone it would mean acquittal. In the election of magistrates and other officers of State, a number of black stones would be put into a bag with one white stone on which the name of the particular office was written. The number of stones would equal the number of nominees. These would be drawn from the bag and the man obtaining the white stone would gain the office.

Men would be admitted into certain secret societies using stones. Men would draw stones from a bag for the allocation of portions of land for farming so that there would be no unfairness in distribution. A white stone was given to the winner of the ancient races and other sports. It brought him his reward. The relation to the white stone of the overcomer in the text of Revelation, those who overcome "by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony" will receive the white stone: of acquittal - justified; of office - elected kings and priests; of society - brought into His fellowship; of land - an inheritance with the saints; of reward - a crown of life.

These stones brought decision in matters of importance and that their usage was common. Urim and Thummim were used as deciding factors to know the will of God. The two stones had to be both of one size and shape and would be placed within the doubling of the breastpiece. When the mind of God was wanted, prayer would be offered, guidance sought and then under that guidance the hand would be put in and a stone withdrawn

For example 1 Sa 30:7-8: "Then David said to Abiathar the priest, the son of Ahimelech, 'Bring me the ephod.' [The reason he asked for the ephod when he actually required the Urim and Thummim was that the Urim and Thummim were inside the breastpiece and the breastpiece was joined to the ephod at the shoulders by the shoulder stones. Therefore the whole had to be brought so as to keep the Urim and Thummim secreted inside.] Abiathar brought it to him, and David inquired of the Lord, 'Shall I pursue this raiding party? Will I overtake them?' 'Pursue them,' he answered. 'You will certainly overtake them and succeed in the rescue.' " In effect, just the positive of the inquiry was spoken – no other conversation or explanation.

Even today, when no Urim and Thummim are required, guidance is sought from the Holy Spirit, the Third Person of the Holy Trinity, who leads into all truth; and while we are sure of His power and of His guidance, yet He remains indefinable. Whatever we may reason and however we may speculate, we must ultimately come back to the place in which we trust where we cannot trace.

Dr. Joseph Parker: "What the Urim and the Thummim actually were no man has been able to find out. Whether they were to be used for the purpose of ascertaining the Divine will in critical and perplexing circumstances has been a question which has excited devout attention; Whatever the Urim and the Thummim were, there can be no doubt as to what our Urim and Thummim are. We are not left without light and perfection; we are not destitute of means of discovering the Divine purpose in our life and progress. Our Urim and Thummim is God’s Word. Keep it near the heart; be at home with them in all their wondrous variety of speech, of doctrine, of song, of inspiration, and of instruction of every kind; and then you never can stray far from the path providential that makes its own course straight up to the God who started the mysterious outgoing.

We have nothing to do with incantation; we do not go to consult the witch of Endor, the sorcerer, or the conjurer; we ask no questions at forbidden places. …. Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly. Scripture given by inspiration is profitable for all the necessities of life. If we stray, it is not for want of light; if we persist in obeying our own perverted instincts and impulses, we must not be surprised that we end in the bog of despair or in the wilderness of destitution. Do not move without consulting the oracle Divine. Let our motto be, 'To the law, and to the testimony,' and what cannot be confirmed by the spirit of the book is unworthy to be admitted into our life as an inspiring and directing force."

The Turban and the Headband Exodus 28:39-40; 39:28
"Weave the tunic of fine linen and make the turban of fine linen. The sash is to be the work of an embroiderer. Make tunics, sashes and headbands for Aaron's sons, to give them dignity and honor" (Exo 28:39-40). "And the turban of fine linen, the linen headbands and the undergarments of finely twisted linen" (Exo 39:28).

Very little is said concerning the turban and no description is given of its shape. There was a distinction between the headdress of the high priest and that of the priests. The high priest wore a turban, His sons wore headbands. These headbands were in the form of tall caps. The word "put" in Exo 29:9 is the word "bind" in the original. These headdresses were made of fine linen like the tunic, The head was crowned with the symbol of holiness and righteousness. An important factor for those who hold the responsibility of leadership, and particularly those who lead in religious affairs. This was true of the Lord Jesus Christ, our Great High Priest. His was holiness in the deepest and fullest sense of the word.

The head denotes authority. It is the head that controls the whole of the body. Christ as the Head of His Church controls the Church. The head becomes the emblem of wisdom. The gray head that speaks of wisdom because wisdom is obtained by experience, "Gray hair is a crown of splendor; it is attained by a righteous life" (Prv 16:31); "The glory of young men is their strength, gray hair the splendor of the old" (Prv 20:29). Old age and white hair tell of a life lived, experience gained, and (usually) wisdom obtained, which means that such should have the power to impart wisdom

Rehoboam, the king of Israel, consulted with the old men as to how he should govern his people. They advised him on the ground of their experience, but he ignored their wisdom and sought the guidance of the young men who had little knowledge of the actual facts and their advice proved to be folly (see 1 Kings 12). The Lord is referred to as "the Ancient of Days" in Daniel 7:9. "As I looked, thrones were set in place, and the Ancient of Days took his seat. His clothing was as white as snow; the hair of his head was white as wool ... " The Lord is seen in the midst of the 7 golden lampstands which stood for the seven churches. He is there in administrative power. "His head and hair were white like wool, as white as snow ... " (Rev 1:14)

The use of the white wig now worn by judges and others in the courts of Britain is derived from the white head being the symbol of wisdom and understanding. This white headdress of wisdom belonged to high priest and priest alike. "He has become for us wisdom [the turban] from God - that is, our righteousness [the tunic], holiness [the golden diadem] and redemption [the breastpiece]"; (1Co 1:30) "If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him" (James 1:5).

The word "headband" is derived from a word that means "to elevate" or "lift up." Only the priests wore this lofty headdress, not the high priest. Christ, our Great High Priest, has lifted us to heavenly places and made us kings and priests unto Him. Not one of us was in himself worthy of such honor. He humbled Himself that we might be exalted. Let us therefore walk worthy of the vocation to which we have been called.

The real reason for wearing a headband or turban was to cover the head because of being in the presence of a holy God. The covering of the head always signifies subjection. "For I have come down from heaven not to do my will but to do the will of him who sent me" (John 6:38). "Did you not know that I must be about my Father's business?" (Luke 2:49, KJV). "Yet not my will, but yours be done" (Luke 22:42).

It was customary for the Jew to cover his head and uncover his feet when entering the synagogue, or when praying, or reading the Law or the Prophets their sacred books. This was a recognition of the majesty of God, His greatness and their unworthiness; not a cowed attitude of fear, crouching under a hard master, but the willing subjection of reverence and holy love. This is the subjection referred to in Ephesians 5:22-24: "Wives, submit to your husbands as to the Lord. For the husband is the head of the wife as Christ is the head of the church, his body, of which he is the Savior."

In the New Testament the practice is changed. The man now uncovers his head and keeps his feet covered, instead of covering his head and uncovering his feet as God had told Moses: "Take off your sandals, for the place where you are standing is holy ground" (Exo 3:5). Because the woman covered her head, regulations were laid down to the Corinthian church: "Every man who prays or prophesies with his head covered dishonors his head. And every woman who prays or prophesies with her head uncovered dishonors her head Judge for yourselves: Is it proper for a woman to pray to God with her head uncovered?" (1 Cor 11:4-5, 13). These scriptures were written for our learning.

Unworthy men must approach a holy God in an attitude that recognizes His dignity and authority. Changing scenes and times may alter the mode of acknowledgment, as can readily be seen between Old and New Testament times, but this neither justifies nor excuses the non-wearing of hats by women in our church services today. Today's attitude is not so much changing the method of acknowledgment of God but the entire abandonment of any act of recognition - an undermining of the principle itself.

When we forsake principles we forsake foundations; When foundations are removed, whole structures fall. Let us not be wise in our own conceits, Let us enjoy the adornment of that wisdom of which comes from God: "But the wisdom that comes from heaven is first of all pure; then peace - loving, considerate, submissive, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial and sincere" (Jas 3:17).

The Sacred Diadem Exodus 28:36-38; 39:30-31
"Make a plate of pure gold and engrave on it as on a seal: HOLY TO THE LoRD. Fasten a blue cord to it to attach it to the turban; it is to be on the front of the turban. It will be on Aaron's forehead, and he will bear the guilt involved in the sacred gifts the IsraeUtes consecrate, whatever their gifts may be. It will be on Aaron's forehead continually so that they will be acceptable to the Lord" (Exo 28:36-38). ''They made the plate, the sacred diadem, out of pure gold and engraved on it, like an inscription on a seal: HOLY TO THE LORD. Then they fastened a blue cord to it to attach it to the turban, as the Lord commanded Moses" (Exo 39:30-31).

The Herew word here translated "plate" is tsits. Elsewhere it is translated "flower" or "blossom," as in the flowers (tsits) which adorned the inner walls and the pillars of Solomon's Temple called Jakin and Boaz. The flowers that wreathed those massive pillars of strength added beauty - a grace, a charm - as did the sacred diadem upon the brow of the high priest, and as does the holiness that hallows the head of the believer. The word is also found in Psalm 103:15: "As for man, his days are like grass, he flourishes like a flower [tsits] of the field." Isaiah likens man's glory to a fading flower and says: "All men are like grass, and all their glory is like the flowers [tsits] of the field. The grass withers and the flowers [tsits] fall ..." (Isa 40:6-8).

Exodus 28:36 reads: "Make a plate [tsits] of pure gold." Might this not suggest the thought that man at his best - when he has entered into the full bloom of life, enjoying the flower of manhood, full of his own self - importance and boasting of all his beauty and strength - is no more than a fading flower? He has nothing he can retain. Today the grass is and tomorrow it is cast into the oven. Today man is and tomorrow he hastens into eternity. Perhaps it ought to be explained that the grass of the field in Palestine, and therefore in the Bible, is not limited to the grass of field and meadow in the sense that we understand grass, but it refers to all vegetation that springs up out of the ground of its own accord. It includes all wild flowers - - and there are many in that country; hence the references to the beauty, and to the wind blowing over it and it is gone and its place remembers it no more. Against all this brevity, uncertainty, and fading, there stands in contrast that lasting beauty, that glorious certainty, that permanent quality that belongs to the person whose life is crowned with the fragrant blossom of holiness. On our Great High Priest, Jesus, we see the unfading flower of pure gold that adorns the brow once pierced with thorns. Notice further the position of this glorious diadem that rests on the foundation of a spotless righteousness (of which the turban is made): "It will be on Aaron's forehead." The forehead is the seat of the will and of the intellect. The determination of that will and the character of that mind indelibly inscribe themselves upon the forehead, so that it can truthfully be said that an inscription is written on every forehead. You have heard it said, or possibly have said it yourself about someone: "I can read him like a book." But always remember that if this is true, then the other person may read you like a book. This should bring an important inquiry from us: If he can, then what does he read? On seeing a person with a high forehead, like that of Caesar, the remark is passed that that man has a large brain; he is a thinker. Another has a wrinkled brow and those wrinkles spell out the word "worry." When the forehead is dropped, stern determination is detected. These are always plainly read inscriptions, often unconsciously inscribed. Some scriptures bear out the same thought. Jeremiah 3:3: "You have the brazen look of a prostitute" - literally, "a harlot's forehead." This was said to Israel and Judah concerning their idolatry and rebellion. Ezekiel 3:7: " …for the whole house of Israel is hardened and obstinate" - literally, "of a hard forehead and a stiff heart." Then in the next verses: "But I will make you as unyielding and hardened as they are. I will make your forehead like the hardest stone, harder than flint." The Lord is here telling Ezekiel that stubbornness is the character of the nation. There was no bending of their wills, but God would make His prophet as determined in ministering the message as they were in refusing it. And notice Revelation 17:5: "This title was written on her forehead: MYSTERY, BABYLON THE GREAT, THE MOTHER OF PROSTITUTES AND OF THE ABOMINATIONS OF THE EARTH." Leviticus 13 teaches that there were many forms of infectious skin disease. Each had to be treated differently. One of these was a reddish - white sore on the forehead (vss ), and this was the worst with which a person could be defiled. Verse 44 says that the priest was to pronounce him ceremonially uncl~ an. The infected person had to wear torn clothes and let his hair be unkempt. He was required to put his hand to his upper lip and cry: "Unclean, unclean!" He also had to live in isolation outside the camp or city. In this connection there is an extraordinary illustration in 2 Chronicles 26 where the story is told of good King Uzziah. He reigned fifty - two years in Jerusalem and did much that was highly commendable until, in the hour of his strength, pride took hold of him and he entered the Temple of the Lord to burn incense. This was a privilege that never fell to kings to perform. It was the exclusive ministry of the priests and that by divine ordination. Azariah the priest went in with his colleagues to forbid the king his act of desecration and to warn him of the penalty, but pride was ruling. The king would not be deterred but rather showed his anger at being reproved, and we read: "And while he was raging at the priests in their presence leprosy broke out on his forehead, ... so they hurried him out. Indeed, he himself was eager to leave, because the Lord had afflicted him. King Uzziah had leprosy until the day he died. He lived in a separate house - leprous, and excluded from the temple of the Lord." The pride, arrogance and self - will of his mind wrote themselves upon his forehead in the dread disease of leprosy. What do you and I have written on our foreheads? The high priest bore the inscription HOLY TO THE LORD. This is the crowning fact, the culmination of everything. Without this "all else is worthless forms, ceremonies, priestly attire, sacrifice, prayer, are mockeries. It required primarily the high priest himself to be holy; but it was a call also to the whole nation, whose representative the high priest was, that they should be 'a holy nation,' 'a kingdom of priests,' and should consecrate themselves heart and soul to Jehovah" (Ellicott). To have HOLY TO THE LORD written upon the flower of life, upon that which is best, upon our intellect, upon our character, is to have it written everywhere; for here it must affect the labors of our hands, here it must influence the utterances of our lips, here it must control the path of our feet, here it must sweeten the influence we radiate. But not any of these things is ours by merit. This inscription did not belong to the priests of the Old Testament, only to the high priest; and yet today these things can be ours. They are to be ours because the Lord said: "Consecrate yourselves and be holy, because I am holy." This diadem with its inscription was attached to the turban by a blue cord. Aaron could bear the guilt involved in the sacred gifts of the people only because the honor, privilege, and responsibility were conferred upon him by the grace of God. Jesus, however, was holy by divine right. Blue is the typological color for both Grace and Divinity. Write upon our garnered treasures, Write on our choicest pleasures, Upon things new and old, The precious stone and gold, wife, husband, children, friends on all that goodness lends; Go write on your good name, Upon your cherished fame, On every pleasant thing - On stores that heaven doth fling Into your basket - write Upon the smile of God, Upon His scourging Write on your inmost heart, Write upon every to Him who claims the whole, time, talent, body, soul: HOLY TO THE LORD!

Exodus 28:36 reads: "Make a plate [tsits] of pure gold." Man at his best - when he has entered the full strength or adulthood, enjoying his life, full of his own self-importance, boasting of all his beauty and strength - is no more than a fading flower. He has nothing he can retain. Today the grass is and tomorrow it is cast into the oven. Today man is and tomorrow he hastens into eternity

The grass of the field in Palestine, and therefore in the Bible, is not limited to the grass of field and meadow in the sense that we understand grass. It refers to all wild vegetation that springs up out of the ground. It includes all wild flowers - and there are many. hence the references to the beauty, and to the wind blowing over it and it is gone and its place remembers it no more. Against all this brevity, uncertainty, and fading, there stands in contrast that lasting beauty, that glorious certainty, that permanent quality that belongs to the person whose life is crowned with the fragrant blossom of holiness. On our Great High Priest, Jesus, we see the unfading flower of pure gold that adorns the brow once pierced with thorns.

The position of this glorious diadem that rests on the foundation of a spotless righteousness (of which the turban is made): "It will be on Aaron's forehead." The forehead is the seat of the will and of the intellect. The determination of that will and the character of that mind indelibly inscribe themselves upon the forehead, It can truthfully be said that an inscription is written on every forehead. You have heard it said, or possibly have said it yourself about someone: "I can read him like a book." But always remember that if this is true, then the other person may read you like a book. If he can, then what does he read?

These are always plainly read inscriptions, often unconsciously inscribed. A person with a high forehead is said to have a large brain; he is a thinker. A wrinkled brow spell out the word "worry." A dropped forehead, denotes a stern determination of purpose. Jer 3:3: "You have the brazen look of a prostitute" - literally, "a harlot's forehead." Eze 3:7: " …for the whole house of Israel is hardened and obstinate" - literally, "of a hard forehead and a stiff heart…. But I will make you as unyielding and hardened as they are. I will make your forehead like the hardest stone, harder than flint." - stubbornness is the character of the nation, but God would make His prophet as determined in ministering the message as they were in refusing it. Rev 17:5: "MYSTERY, BABYLON THE GREAT, THE MOTHER OF PROSTITUTES AND OF THE ABOMINATIONS OF THE EARTH.“ - This title was written on her forehead.

Leviticus 13 teaches that there were many forms of infectious skin disease. Each had to be treated differently. One of these was a reddish - white sore on the forehead (v ) this was the worst with which a person could be defiled. Verse 44 says that The priest was to pronounce him ceremonially unclean. The infected person had to wear torn clothes and let his hair be unkempt. He was required to put his hand to his upper lip and cry: "Unclean, unclean!" He also had to live in isolation outside the camp or city

2 Chr 26 the story is told of good King Uzziah. He reigned 52 years in Jerusalem and did much that was highly commendable. However, pride took hold of him and he entered the Temple of the Lord to burn incense. This was a privilege that never fell to kings to perform. It was the exclusive ministry of the priests and that by divine ordination. Azariah the priest went in with his colleagues to forbid the king from performing this act of desecration and to warn him of the penalty, but pride was ruling.

The king would not be deterred but rather showed his anger at being reproved, and we read: "And while he was raging at the priests in their presence leprosy broke out on his forehead, ... so they hurried him out. Indeed, he himself was eager to leave, because the Lord had afflicted him. King Uzziah had leprosy until the day he died. He lived in a separate house - leprous, and excluded from the temple of the Lord." The pride, arrogance and self-will of his mind wrote themselves upon his forehead in the dread disease of leprosy.

The high priest bore the inscription HOLY TO THE LORD on the diadem he wore on his forehead. This is the culmination of everything. Without this "all else is worthless forms, ceremonies, priestly attire, sacrifice, prayer, are mockeries. It required primarily the high priest himself to be holy; but it was also a call to the whole nation, whose representative the high priest was, that they should be 'a holy nation,' 'a kingdom of priests,' and should consecrate themselves heart and soul to Jehovah“ 1 Peter 2:9

HOLY TO THE LORD written upon our character, is to have it written everywhere; it must affect the labors of our hands, it must influence the utterances of our lips, it must control the path of our feet, it must sweeten the influence we radiate. But none of these things is ours by merit. This inscription did not belong to the priests of the Old Testament, only to the high priest; Today these things can be ours. "Consecrate yourselves and be holy, because I am holy."

This diadem with its inscription was attached to the turban by a blue cord. Blue is the typological color for both Grace and Divinity. Aaron could bear the guilt involved in the sacred gifts of the people only because the honor, privilege, and responsibility were conferred upon him by the grace of God. Jesus was holy by divine right.

The Trousers Exo 28:42 - 43; Lev 6:8 - 10; 16:4; Eze 44:18
"Make linen undergarments as a covering for the body, reaching from the waist to the thigh. Aaron and his sons must wear them whenever they enter the Tent of Meeting or approach the altar to minister in the Holy Place, so that they will not incur guilt and die" (Exod 28:42-43). "The Lord said to Moses: 'Give Aaron and his sons this command: 'These are the regulations for the burnt offering: The burnt offering is to remain on the altar bearth throughout the night, till morning, and the fire must be kept burning on the altar. the priest shall then put on his linen clothes, with linen undergarments next to his body, and shall remove the ashes of the burnt offering that the fire has consumed on the altar and place them beside the altar" '" (Lev 6:8-10).

The last verses of Exodus 28 are a summary of what remains of the vestments of the ordinary priests - tunics, belts, and headbands - all made of the same material as those of the high priest but just a little different in detail. Finally, one more garment, common to all and essential to all is introduced. The priests were to wear short linen trousers underneath everything.

While it was customary for the Egyptians to wear this garment, it was not so with the peoples of many nations, particularly in the conducting of worship to their heathen gods. Much of idol worship was sensual, sexual, obscene. Nakedness was often part of their conduct. For the worshiper of God, however, there must be modesty and decency, We must worship Him in the beauty of holiness.

This trousers were to be worn when coming into the Tent of Meeting or when approaching the altar to minister in the Holy Place. Worship and service must be according to the prescribed method given by God or death will be the result. Matthew Henry: "Those who are guilty of omission in duty as well as omission of duty, shall bear their iniquity. If the priests perform the instituted service and do not do it in the appointed garments, it is (say the Jewish doctors) as if a stranger did it, and the stranger that comes nigh shall be put to death

God will not honor the presumptions and irreverences. even of those whom God causes to draw most near to Him: if Aaron himself put a slight upon the divine institution, he shall bear iniquity and die." Is this the reason why so much of our Christian worship is formal and lifeless? Is this the cause of so much of our Christian service being fruitless and dead? We must not only do the thing that God requires of us but we must also do it in the way He desires. We need to examine our conduct, our methods, in the light of this revelation.

This is an Old Testament requirement under the law, but it can be seen in principle to be a New Testament requirement under grace. The subject of holiness, which culminates in the sacred diadem secured to the brow of the high priest, has its development of thought typified in each of the garments made of the finely woven linen, giving us an appreciation of the term "sacred garments."

The tunic that clad his person signifies holiness of the heart that was beating beneath it. The waistband that bound up his loins suggests holiness in the service rendered to the Lord. The turban that adorned his head speaks of holiness of thought and of control, The linen trousers that covered his lower body declare a holiness of the flesh - the covering of the flesh. It is through the flesh, its desires and passions, sin operates.

Galatians 5 lists the works of the sinful nature: "sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery; idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like." Romans 7:18: "I know that nothing good lives in me, that is, in my sinful nature." It was through the flesh - the cravings of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the boastful pride of life - that Eve and Adam fell and, having done so, they sought to cover the flesh with their homemade aprons but without success.

God sees all, God knows all, and God made the adequate provision. With the sanctified life engaged in the service of the Lord, there must be no provision made for the flesh. The Lord has made the covering, and to approach the Holy Place or the altar without it is death.

"Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus, because through Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit of life set me free from the law of sin and death. For what the law was powerless to do in that it was weakened by the sinful nature, God did by sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful man to be a sin offering. And so he condemned sin in sinful man, in order that the righteous requirements of the law might be fully met in us, who do not live according to the sinful nature but according to the Spirit.” "Those who live according to the sinful nature have their minds set on what that nature desires; but those who live in accordance with the Spirit have their minds set on what the Spirit desires. The mind of sinful man is death, but the mind controlled by the Spirit is life and peace; the sinful mind is hostile to God. It does not submit to God's law, nor can it do so. Those controlled by the sinful nature cannot please God.”

"You, however, are controlled not by the sinful nature but by the Spirit, if the Spirit of God lives in you. And if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he does not belong to Christ. But if Christ is in you, your body is dead because of sin, yet your spirit is alive because of righteousness. And if the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead is living in you, he who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through his Spirit, who lives in you. "Therefore, brothers, we have an obligation - but it is not to the sinful nature, to live according to it. For if you live according to the sinful nature, you will die; but if by the Spirit you put to death the misdeeds of the body, you will live, because those who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God" (Romans 8:1-14).

The high priest’s life was dedicated to serving the Lord and representing the people before their God. The design of the priestly garments was an expression of God’s righteousness and merciful love for his people. The priest dressed first in a tunic and mitre (a turban) of fine linen. The mitre had a gold plate (or crown) inscribed with the words “HOLINESS TO THE LORD” just over the priest’s forehead. The Hebrew words can also be translated “Set Apart as Holy to the Lord”. This was worn in the Lord’s presence so that the people’s sacrifices would always be acceptable to God The priest wore a blue robe with the ephod (a vest or waist coat) with stones on each shoulder bearing the names of the sons of Israel. Over the ephod, the priest wore a gold breastplate that was set with twelve precious stones carved with the names of the twelve tribes of Israel. This was worn over his heart and was to continually remind the Lord of his people (v29) The Urim and Thummin were kept in the priest’s pocket over his heart as objects used to determine the Lord’s will for his people. 5/3/2019

The Garments of the High Priest Ex 28:4-42
5/3/2019

To Think About: Our service to God is to be holy and set apart.
As we pray for others and bring their names and burdens to God, we remember that God loves his children with deep affection. (Read Jer 31:3) Christ is our example as high priest: He is righteous and merciful. He was willing to sacrifice his life for us and Now He lives to intercede for us. (Read Mat 20:25-28; Heb 7:25) 5/3/2019

C.W. SLEMMING PAPERACKS ISBN CLC PUBLlCATIONS Fort Washington. Pennsylvania 19034 THESE ARE THE GARMENTS A study of the High Priest's robes and .their spiritual significance. It is full of information concerning Aaron's vestments; every color, texture, and accessory is symbolic. The book has a practical message for the Christian of today. Illustrated MADE ACCCORDING TO PATTERN This book, in its new and revised form, has taken its place as a standard study of the Tabernacle and its spiritual significance. THUS SHALT THOU SERVE Thus Shah A study of the Offerings and Feasts of early Jewish worshippers, in which the author desires to show what God requires of us in our worship in these New Testament days. HE LEADETH ME Too few people are acquainted with the habits and customs of Palestine and so fail to obtain from the Scriptures the first lessons they are meant to convey. This book portrays shepherd life in the East from the Twenty - Third Psalm. Illustrated.

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