Our Attire

DEVOTION

EXODUS

OUR ATTIRE

Ex 28:6-28

6 "Make the ephod of gold, and of blue, purple and scarlet yarn, and of finely twisted linen — the work of a skilled craftsman. 7 It is to have two 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. 15 "Fashion a breastpiece for making decisions — the work of a skilled craftsman. 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 long and a span wide — and folded double. 17 Then mount four rows of precious stones on it. In the first row there shall be a ruby, a topaz and a beryl; 18 in the second row a turquoise, a sapphire and an emerald; 19 in the third row a jacinth, an agate and an amethyst; 20 in the fourth row a chrysolite, an onyx and a 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 breastpiece make braided chains of pure gold, like a rope. 23 Make two gold rings for it and fasten them to two corners of the breastpiece. 24 Fasten the two gold chains to the rings at the corners of the breastpiece, 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 breastpiece 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 seam just above the waistband of the ephod. 28 The rings of the breastpiece are to be tied to the rings of the ephod with blue cord, connecting it to the waistband, so that the breastpiece will not swing out from the ephod.

NIV

This is a very detailed description of the robe, the priestly outfit for Aaron to wear in his service of the LORD. Again God has gifted those in the arts with the ability to create images of this entire priestly attire so we do not have to attempt to recreate it in words. The idea is that God wanted Aaron to be dressed so that his clothes not only gave him dignity and honor but that his clothes also represented the whole of the people, the twelve tribes of Israel. Aaron served a dual purpose as a representative of God to the people and a representative of the people to God. Surely as a representative of God he was clothed so that he would stand out from the rest, giving him dignity an honor. But his attire also brought them before the LORD. What do we learn from this? It would seem it is but a historical fact with significance for its time. But this duality seems to be able to be applied to our lives in our present time. It is not that the local pastors of churches, or for that matter, the district superintendent, or other heads of denominations are the representatives of God to the people. Perhaps in Catholicism the Pope is somewhat thought of in that sense, especially since he wears a very special attire. Even the local priests are adorned in some fashion on looked upon as the envoy of God to the people. But then are we not also ambassadors of Christ?

2 Cor 5:19-20

 20 We are therefore Christ's ambassadors , as though God were making his appeal through us.

NIV

We are his representatives to the people! This act of salvation, this act of reconciliation on the part of God makes us new creatures. The old has passed away, he has clothed us in the righteousness of Christ.

2 Cor 5:16-19

16 So from now on we regard no one from a worldly point of view. Though we once regarded Christ in this way, we do so no longer. 17 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come! 18 All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation: 19 that God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ, not counting men's sins against them. And he has committed to us the message of reconciliation.

NIV

How much greater is our attire than that of Aarons. He merely had an outward attire, but we have one that in both inward and outward, for as our heart is so are we. As ambassadors of God, as his representative in this foreign land, we speak for our sovereign Lord. It is through our heart and thus our outward appearance, our behaviors among the people, that we have dignity and honor, showing God to the people. If they happen into our church being convicted by the Holy Spirit, will they find us in worship with dignity and honor? Will our behavior represent God? When we are outside of church we are still his ambassadors, his spokesperson to the people. Our attire, our continence should be reflected in our lives. This is that grace in action. The grace we find in scriptures so often that is defined as the divine influence upon our heart and how that is reflected in our lives. This is Christ living in us, or as one writer puts it Christ living as us. We are clothed in Christ so that we serve God, but also bring the people to God. As Aaron’s attire represented the tribes of Israel before God, we also might represent people to God. That is we pray for them, even our enemies, bringing them before our sovereign Lord.

Matt 5:43-48

43 "You have heard that it was said, 'Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.' 44 But I tell you: Love your enemies  and pray for those who persecute you, 45 that you may be sons of your Father in heaven. He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous. 46 If you love those who love you, what reward will you get? Are not even the tax collectors doing that? 47 And if you greet only your brothers, what are you doing more than others? Do not even pagans do that? 48 Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect.

NIV  

Yes, our priestly attire makes us a little different than most the people, and thus we both serve God and the people. We present God to them and bring them before God.