Chronological Reading Plan for Feb 8, Ex 28-29

Today's reading is Ex 28-29. Tomorrow's is Ex 30-32. 

God gives the instructions for making the garments the priest will wear while serving in the Tabernacle. They are just as intricately detailed as those of the Tabernacle. The priest must be adorned in perfect clothing, according to God's clear instructions. While the Jews do not yet have a full understanding of how all this symbolism applies to the coming Messiah - none of this has been revealed to them at this point - they do have a reverence for God and His commandments that leads them to see His holiness in the details. To us, the precision and perfection of the priestly clothing is another shadow of the perfection of Christ. 

The priest wears an invaluable, ornately designed ephod (a kind of breastplate) which bears that names of the twelve tribes. The names are brought before the Lord each time the priest ministers. Today, we see this as a picture of Christ and our union with Him. Christ is our advocate appearing before God in a more perfect and more beautiful manner than the priest could. He bears our names and bring us into the Father's presence.

  

The priest must be consecrated by a ritual bath (cleansed) before putting on the priestly garments. The cleansing ritual is a symbol of the removal of sin and the filth of the world. The garments are a symbol of untainted and perfect righteousness.  Sacrifices are commanded, morning and evening. God takes pleasure in the sacrifice. The sacrifice is meant to atone for the sins. God takes pleasure in them because they point to the ultimate sacrifice and the full implementation of His plan for redemption, revealing His glory. 

The priest can fulfill his duties in the Tabernacle only after he's been sprinkled by the blood of the sacrifice. This is seen as part of the ritual cleansing process, allowing the priest to enter the Holy of Holies. Later, the Scriptures will tell of the work of Jesus being completed only by the shedding of His blood, allowing the believer to come into the presence of God (Heb 10:19). 

The priest and his sons cannot approach the mercy seat unless they are consecrated and wearing the proper clothes. This is by the commandment of God, revealing His holiness and the necessity of righteousness in order to come before Him. In a similar manner, we are unable to enter back into relationship with the Father unless we are cleansed of our sin and wearing the righteousness of Christ (Is 61:10).

The Tabernacle, all of its trappings, the priest and his clothing, even the preparation of the priest...they all foreshadow Christ. To the Jews, in their time, they were instructions ordained by God. The Jews, in spite of their stumbles and failings, want to honor God in all they do. So, they follow His instructions down to the finest detail. They are the evidence to all around them of obedience to the Father. Unlike the gods the pagans worship, gods who are demanding and dangerous, The God of the Hebrews is a God of grace, incessantly shedding that grace on His chosen people. These people, the Hebrews, are set apart by their obedience and His grace.