God bless!

Especially through a mountain pile of useless English HW T^T

But sometimes, even HW seems very unimportant next to how Jesus died just to get to be known to us a little easier...

-Love, GinniePark

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Memory Verse of the Week:

"Make sacred garments for your brother Aaron to give him dignity and honor." - Exodus 28:2

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The Clothes (Part 1) - Exodus 28:1-14

The Skilled Workers

1: "Have Aaron your brother brought to you from among the Israelites, along with his sons Nadab and Abihu, Eleazer and Ithamar, so they may serve me as your priests."

2: "Make sacred garments for your brother Aaron to give him dignity and honor."

3: "Tell all the skilled workers to whom I have given wisdom in such matters that they are to make garments for Aaron, for his consecration, so he may serve me as priest."

4: "These are the garments they are to make: a piece, an ephod, a robe, a woven tunic, a turban, and a sash. They are to make these sacred garments for your brother Aaron and his sons, so they may serve me as priests."

5: "Have them use gold, and blue, purple, and scarlet yarn, and fine linen."

The Ephod

6: "Make the ephod of gold, and of blue, purple, and scarlet yarn, and of finely twisted linen - the work of skilled hands."

7: "It is to have tow shoulder pieces attached to two of its corners, so it can be fastened."

8: "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."

9: "Take two onyx stones and engrave on them the names of the sons of Israel,"

10: "in the order of their birth - six names on one stone and the remaining six on the other."

11: "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,"

12: "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."

13: "Make gold filigree settings,"

14: "and two braided chains of pure gold, like a rope, and attach the chains to the settings."

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Reflection

The Skilled Workers (28:1-5)

This whole chapter is dedicated to the priestly garments. Why is so much attention and detail given to clothing? In the next few days, we will see that the seven holy garments were not only decorative and functional, but symbolic of the nature and character of Jesus Christ, reflecting His glory and beauty. The first five verses of this chapter talk about the craftsmen who are to make the regalia. It is interesting to note that the first people recorded to have been filled with the Spirit of God are not priests or prophets, but craftsmen (Exod. 31:1-11); God bestows wisdom, understanding, and skills for certain men to make artistic designs. Our God is an artistic and creative God. His work did not end with the six days of creation. He is still creating today; it is His nature to create beautiful things. His greatest work is the work He is doing for you.

The Ephod (28:6-14)

The ephod is a sleeveless vestment worn by the priest and looks kind of like an apron. It is elaborately embroidered with two pieces, back and front, joined at the shoulder with a band at the waist. Each shoulder strap has a stone engraved with six names, together representing the twelve tribes of Israel (vv.9-10). Symbolically, the priest carries the burden of the whole nation on his shoulders as he represents the people before God. Moreover, the colors of the material (gold, blue, purple, and scarlet, symbolizing the beauty and glory of God) are the same colors as the tabernacle, which further shows that they act as representatives of God to the people. Similarly, Jesus Christ is the ultimate High Priest (Heb. 4:14) who carries the burden of all humanity on His shoulders as He represents the world before God. He is also the perfect representation of God to His people.

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Application

-What are the creative gifts the Lord has given you? God has given us abilities and skills to use for His glory. Whether it is business, teaching, arts, medicine, etc., God is continously doing new things. Ask Him to fill you with His Spirit to be able to perform your work for the world.

-How do you represent Jesus to those around You? You have been called a "royal priesthood" that others may see God's holiness through your life.

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"We must accept that this creative pulse within us is God's creative pulse itself."

-Joseph Chilton Pearce

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Clothed in Beauty

Kings and rulers often adorn themselves with gold, silver, and many other precious jewels. It signifies their worth and value. It demonstrates their power and prosperity. It declares to the rest of the world that they are "special." God also dressed His high priests with many precious jewels. But what was the purpose? Was it to mark the priest as more valuable than everyone else? Not at all! The precious stones were there to point to our worth and value before God.

One thing people often struggle with is their identity. Due to the lies of the devil and this world, we do not see ourselves as valuable or precious. We see ourselves as ugly and worthless. However, because of Christ's sacrifice, God now sees us differently. We have been washed pure, and we now stand before Him sanctified. Thomas Watson writes that sanctification has a positive part to it, "which is the spiritual refining of the soul; which in Scripture is called a 'renewing of our mind,' and a 'partaking of the divine nature.' The priests in the law were not only washed in the great layer - but adorned with glorious apparel. Exodus 28:2. Just so, sanctification not only washes from sin - but adorns with purity."

Christ's blood has washed us clean. Not only is our dirt removed, but we stand before Him sparkling white. In 1 Peter 2:9, we are called a royal priesthood. In Exodus 28, we see that the priests were adorned in beautiful jewels. Thus, God shows us our worth by covering us in priceless gems, and so declares that we are priceless and beautiful before Him.

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A Letter to God

Lord, thank You for the skills and gifts that You have bestowed upon me.

May I always use my abilities for Your glory alone.

May those around me see Your beauty and glory through my life.

Let me shine Your light in this world. In Jesus' name. Amen.