I have two good suits that I reserve for special occasions. I would never consider wearing them for my morning prayer or evening quiet time before bed.
In contrast, the men called by God to intercede on behalf as priests of His people were dressed in a specific manner. This attire underscored the immense importance of appearing before the greatest being in the universe.
“Then bring near to you your brother Aaron and his sons with him, from among the Israelites, to serve me as priests—Aaron and Aaron’s sons: Nadab and Abihu, Eleazar and Ithamar. You shall make sacred vestments for the glorious adornment of your brother Aaron.
And you shall speak to all who are skillful, whom I have endowed with skill, so that they make Aaron’s vestments to consecrate him for my priesthood.
These are the vestments that they shall make: a breastpiece, an ephod, a robe, a checkered tunic, a turban, and a sash. When they make these sacred vestments for your brother Aaron and his sons to serve me as priests” (Exodus 28:1-4).
Below is an AI-generated image of the vestments worn by the high priest. I am not sure how accurate the picture is, but it will give you an idea of what it may have looked like.
The Ephod
The ephod was a waistcoat suspended from the shoulders by straps. Each strap featured a golden clasp, on top of which a stone was mounted. The names of Israel’s six younger sons were engraved on one stone, and the names of the six elder sons were engraved on the other.
These names symbolized that the high priest represented all of Israel when he ministered in the Tabernacle.
The Breastpiece
The breastplate featured twelve stones, one for each tribe, arranged in four rows of three. Each stone bore the engraved name of a son of Jacob, following their birth order.
With the ephod and the breastplate, the entire nation was represented before the Lord two times. These stones serve as a powerful reminder of the immense value God places on every individual, each created in His image.
Reflections
When I consider the high priest’s clothing, three thoughts come to mind. First, I realize I often approach God far too casually. While I’m grateful that Jesus calls us His friends, He is not our “buddy.”
My second thought is that the priest carried the names of the people before God.
In a world where we are largely anonymous and our names often seem insignificant, we can be assured that God cares about us individually. He knows our names, hopes, dreams, desires, plans, and every other aspect of our lives.
The priest’s role, and let’s remember that we are all priests before God, is to carry the names of the people within our sphere of influence before God in prayer.
My third thought revolves around God’s interest in humans.
God has no desire to exist apart from us. He is not the distant “unmoved mover” some ancient philosophers thought. Instead, He is intimately personal, longing to interact with us and welcoming us into His presence.
YouTube Discussion
In today’s YouTube video, Rudy Ross continues his explanation of the priesthood, the clothing they wore, and the importance of each item of clothing. Bruce Kirby and I join in the discussion.
Real Voices 