"I can do anything through Christ who gives me strength."

God bless!

-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 2) - Exodus 28:15-30

The piece of Judgment

15: "Fashion a piece for making decisions - the work of skilled hands. Make it like the ephod: of gold, and of blue, purple, and scarlet yarn, and of finely twisted linen."

16: "It is to be square - a span [nine inches] long and a span wide - and folded double."

17: "Then mount four rows of precious stones on it. The first row shall be carnelian, chrysolite, and beyrl;"

18: "the second row shall be turquoise, lapis lazuli, and emerald;"

19: "the third row shall be jacinth, agate, and amethyst;"

20: "the fourth row shall be topaz, onyx, and jasper. Mount them in gold filigree settings."

21: "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."

22: "For the piece make braided chains of pure gold, like a rope."

23: "Make two gold rings for it and fasten them to two corners of the piece."

24: "Fasten the two gold chains to the rings at the corners of the piece,"

25; "and the other ends of the chains to the two settings, attaching them to the shoulder pieces of the ephod at the front."

26: "Make two gold rings and attach them to the other two corners of the piece on the inside edge next to the ephod."

27: "Make two more gold rings and attach them to the bottom of the shoulder pieces on the front of the ephod, close to the saeam just above the waistband of the ephod."

28: "The rings of the piece are to be tied to the rings of the ephod with blue cord, connecting it to the waistband, so that the piece will nto swing out from the ephod."

 

Administering Discernment

29: "Whenever Aaron enters the Holy Place, he will bear the names of the sons of Israel over his heart on the piece of decision as a continuing memorial before the LORD."

30: "Also put the Urim and the Thummim in the piece, 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."

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Reflection

The piece of Judgment (28:15-28)

Yesterday, we began our study on the meaning and purpose behind the priestly garments. In today's passage, we focus on the piece of judgment. Once again, this special garment is to be tailored by the most skilled craftsmen (v.15). Some scholars interpret the colors to have symbolic meaning as well: gold representing purity of the heart; blue, the heavenly realm; purple (a combination of blue and red), man being both physical and spiritual; and scarlet, the physical realm.

Like the ephod, the piece is made of the same material. It has twelve different stones set within, each engraved with a seal, representing the twelve tribes of Israel (v.21). Also like the ephod, the piece indicates that the priest represents the people before God and reveals God's compassion for His people. Names engraved in precious stones can never be erased. Remember that your name is engraved in the palm of God's own hand (Isa. 49:16).

 

Administering Discernment (28:29-30)

The primary purpose of the piece is to store the sacred lot - the Urim and the Thummim. By wearing them above his heart, the priest is reminded that justice begins with God and that He has given him authority to administer justice to Israel. In this passage, the article is referred to as the "piece of decision" (v.29). When the king had a question concerning the nation (e.g., Should we go to war?), the High Priest would face the Most Holy Place to inquire, and God would answer. It is not clear how these lots were used, but Israel put their trust in God to lead their nation. Although the use of the sacred lot is no longer practiced today, Christians are led by the Holy Spirit who is also called the Spirit of wisdom, understanding, counsel, and knowledge. Further, Jesus Himself was continually led by the Spirit (Matt. 4:1; Luke 4:1).

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Application

-Do you ever feel as though God has forgotten and abandoned you? You cannot make God stop loving you! You can try, but you will fail because God's love is based on who He is, not what you do.

-Are there important decisions you will be making in the near future, choices pertaining to career, marriage, moving, etc.? Instead of trying to make decisions on your own, seek the Lord for discernment. God will lead you with the best plans in mind.

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"The Christian heart, since it has been thoroughly persuaded that all things happen by God's plan, and that nothing takes place by chance, will ever look to him as the principle causes of things."

-John Calvin

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The Representative

This world might be a better place if everyone got a vote and if we could all democratically decide what is best for the world. But that is not possible. There are over seven billion people on eaarth. It is impossible for us all to gather in one place and systematically take a vote on even one issue. it is difficult for any one country to do this, much less the entire world. So, representatives are needed - representatives such as kings, presidents, and prime ministers.

In the same way, Israel as a whole could never have feasibly come into the presence of God in a manner that was appropriately holy. So, one man was chosen to represent the entire nation of Israel. As this man ministered and made decisions before God, he carried over his heart the names of God's people in the form of the piece.

According to J. Ligon Duncan III, the high priest "was their representative; hence, the stress on the stones being - where? - close to his heart. In the Holy of Holies, in a sense...the high priest was Israel, and if you were an Israelite, you went into the presence of God in the Holy of Holies in and through, and only in and through, that high priest." Aaron, and all the priests who were to minister after him, was always meant to have his fellow brothers on his heart whenever it was time to make a decision. The same is true for us today. We are expected to see to the interests of others (Phil. 2:4), especially when we find ourselves in a position of authority (1 Pet. 5:2-3).

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A Letter to God

Lord, thank You for Jesus, the Great High Priest and Mediator between God and men.

Thank You that my name is forever engraved on Your hands.

I submit my plans and aspirations to You.

Lead me, Holy Spirit, as I trust You and submit myself to You. In Jesus' name. Amen.