LESSON 44
THE PRIESTLY GARMENTS COMPLETED
By E. L. Bynum, Pastor
Memory Verse: 39:32————Lesson: Ex. 39:1-32
The garments of the priest were a symbol of service “in the beauty of holiness.” I Chron. 16:29, Give unto the LORD the glory due unto his name: bring an offering, and come before him: worship the LORD in the beauty of holiness. Believers are also to adorn themselves for service. Eph. 4:24, And that ye put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness. I Thess. 3:13, To the end he may stablish your hearts unblameable in holiness before God, even our Father, at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ with all his saints. I Thess. 4:7, For God hath not called us unto uncleanness, but unto holiness. “As the Lord commanded” is stated seven times in this lesson: vv. 1, 5, 7, 21, 26, 29 & 31. Faithfulness is required, success is supplied by the Lord.
I. THE MATERIAL USED. v. 1
A. The Color Of Significance. (See Lesson 30)
1. Blue-Heavenly
2. Purple-Royalty
3. Scarlet-Sacrifice or earthly.
B. The Cloths Of Service.
1. Made to contribute to the service of God.
2. Made to be adorned by the priest.
C. The Place Of Service.
1. God’s presence makes a place holy. Ex. 3:5
2. A holy place requires separated service. Heb. 7:26, For such an high priest became us, who is holy, harmless, undefiled, separate from sinners, and made higher than the heavens.
3. A holy service requires an anointed priest. Ex. 28:41. (Heb. 7:26, above) Acts 10:38, How God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Ghost and with power: who went about doing good, and healing all that were oppressed of the devil; for God was with him.
4. A holy person requires holy garments. Ex. 35:19. Heb. 4:15, For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin. Rom. 8:3, For what the law could not do, in that it was weak through the flesh, God sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, and for sin, condemned sin in the flesh. II Cor. 5:21, For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.
II. THE EPHOD. v. 2-7; Ex. 28:5-14.
A. The Material Construction. v. 2-3
1. Gold-deity; Blue-heavenly; Purple-royalty; Scarlet-sacrifice blood redemption; Linen-righteousness.
2. The gold beaten. Isa. 53:4-5, Surely he hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows: yet we did esteem him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted. But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed.
3. The Gold cut into wires. Isa. 53:8, He was taken from prison and from judgment: and who shall declare his generation? for he was cut off out of the land of the living: for the transgression of my people was he stricken.
4. The Gold woven together with “cunning work.” Psa. 139:15, My substance was not hid from thee, when I was made in secret, and curiously wrought in the lowest parts of the earth.
B. The Shoulder Pieces & The Curious Girdle. v. 4-5
1. Made in two pieces coupled at the shoulders.
2. The “curious girdle” was interlaced with, and a part of the ephod. (Not to be confused with the “girdle” of v. 29.)
C. The Stones For A Memorial. v. 6-7
1. The names of the children of Israel rested on the priests’ shoulders.
a. Bearing them before the Father. John 17:11, And now I am no more in the world, but these are in the world, and I come to thee. Holy Father, keep through thine own name those whom thou hast given me, that they may be one, as we are.
b. The shoulder represents strength for the work. Isa. 40:28, Hast thou not known? hast thou not heard, that the everlasting God, the LORD, the Creator of the ends of the earth, fainteth not, neither is weary? there is no searching of his understanding.
2. As the high priest went in before God bearing the names of the children of Israel, so also our High Priest bears our, names before the Father. Luke 10:20, Notwithstanding in this rejoice not, that the spirits are subject unto you; but rather rejoice, because your names are written in heaven. John 17:20-21, Neither pray I for these alone, but for them also which shall believe on me through their word; That they all may be one; as thou, Father, art in me, and I in thee, that they also may be one in us: that the world may believe that thou hast sent me.
III THE BREASTPLATE. v. 8-21; Ex. 15-30
A. The Breastplate Of Judgement. v. 8-14
1. “Cunning work” of gold, blue, purple, scarlet, linen. v. 8
2. The size and shape. v. 9
3. The setting of the precious stones. v. 10-13
4. The names of the twelve tribes. v. 14. (See Lesson #30.)
B. The Breastplate Attached To The Ephod. v. 15-21
1. Attached by golden chains and ouches. A divine work. John 9:4, I must work the works of him that sent me, while it is day: the night cometh, when no man can work.
2. It was a memorial upon the priests’ heart.
3. It was not to be separated from the ephod. v. 21
4. As the shoulder bears the names of the tribes Israel, representing the strength of the Lord, so the breastplate represents His constant love
IV. THE ROBE, POMEGRANATES, BELLS. v. 22-26
(See notes on Lesson 30)
A. The Robe Of Blue. v. 22-23; Ex. 23:31-34
1. Signifies high-priestly authority from heaven. v. 22. Heb. 5:5, So also Christ glorified not himself to be made an high priest; but he that said unto him, Thou art my Son, to day have I begotten thee.
2. Signifies the strength of this authority. v. 23
B. The Pomegranates & Bell. v. 24-25
1. A reminder of the service to a performed. Psa. 89:15, Blessed is the people that know the joyful sound: they shall walk, O LORD, in the light of thy countenance. Num. 15:38-40, Speak unto the children of Israel, and bid them that they make them fringes in the borders of their garments throughout their generations, and that they put upon the fringe of the borders a ribband of blue: And it shall be unto you for a fringe, that ye may look upon it, and remember all the commandments of the LORD, and do them; and that ye seek not after your own heart and your own eyes, after which ye use to go a whoring: That ye may remember, and do all my commandments, and be holy unto your God.
2. The people knew the priest was still active by the sound of the bells. Heb. 7:25. Wherefore he is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by him, seeing he ever liveth to make intercession for them.
V. THE COAT, MITRE, BONNET, & GIRDLE. v. 27-29
Ex. 28:39-43
These were the ordinary garments of the priest, “for Aaron and his sons.” (See notes on lesson 30.)
VI. THE HOLY CROWN. v. 30-31; Ex. 28:36-38
A. Worn Upon The Forehead. v. 30; Ex. 28:38
1. To bear the “iniquity of the holy things.” Isa. 53:11-12, He shall see of the travail of his soul, and shall be satisfied: by his knowledge shall my righteous servant justify many; for he shall bear their iniquities. Therefore will I divide him a portion with the great, and he shall divide the spoil with the strong; because he hath poured out his soul unto death: and he was numbered with the transgressors; and he bare the sin of many, and made intercession for the transgressors.
2 . To assure acceptance “before the Lord.”
B. Fastened Firmly. v. 31
1. By a lace of blue.
2. By the command of the Lord.
VII. THE FINISHED WORK. v. 32
1. They made the tabernacle according to God’s pattern. Deut. 12:32, What thing soever I command you, observe to do it: thou shalt not add thereto, nor diminish from it. Heb. 8:5, Who serve unto the example and shadow of heavenly things, as Moses was admonished of God when he was about to make the tabernacle: for, See, saith he, that thou make all things according to the pattern shewed to thee in the mount.
2. Ever New Testament Church is to be built according to God’s pattern. Matt. 28:18-20, And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth. Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen.
—by W. W. Mosley & E. L. Bynum
STUDY QUESTIONS
1. How many times in this lesson do we hear these words: “As the Lord commanded Moses”?
2. What is the significance of this number?
3. Name the pieces of the garments of the priest and briefly explain their position and purpose.
4. What do the colors and the cloth represent in v. 1?