Scripture Daily

Context No. 2007 of 4322 · Exodus

Context · Reflection

Exodus 28:6-14: in context

6“They shall make the ephod of gold, blue, purple, scarlet, and fine twined linen, the work of the skillful workman. 7It shall have two shoulder straps joined to the two ends of it, that it may be joined together. 8The skillfully woven band, which is on it, shall be like its work and of the same piece; of gold, blue, purple, scarlet, and fine twined linen. 9You shall take two onyx stones, and engrave on them the names of the children of Israel. 10Six of their names on the one stone, and the names of the six that remain on the other stone, in the order of their birth. 11With the work of an engraver in stone, like the engravings of a signet, you shall engrave the two stones, according to the names of the children of Israel. You shall make them to be enclosed in settings of gold. 12You shall put the two stones on the shoulder straps of the ephod, to be stones of memorial for the children of Israel. Aaron shall bear their names before the LORD on his two shoulders for a memorial. 13You shall make settings of gold, 14and two chains of pure gold; you shall make them like cords of braided work. You shall put the braided chains on the settings.

The instructions for the high priest's garments include two onyx stones set on the shoulder straps of the ephod, engraved with the names of the twelve tribes of Israel, six on each. And the purpose is given: Aaron shall bear their names before the LORD on his two shoulders for a memorial. Whenever the high priest went in before God, he carried the names of all the people on his shoulders, bearing them into God's presence, representing the whole people before the LORD.

The image is worth dwelling on: the high priest bore the names of the people on his shoulders as he came before God. He did not come alone, for himself only; he carried the whole people with him, their names engraved on his shoulders, bearing them into God's presence. When he stood before the LORD, all the tribes stood there in him, represented, carried, borne on the shoulders of the one who came on their behalf. The high priest bore the people before God. And this points to a greater high priest who bears us. For the New Testament tells us that Christ is our high priest, who has entered God's presence on our behalf and there represents us continually. As Aaron bore the names of the people on his shoulders before the LORD, so Christ bears us before God, carries us into his presence, represents us there. He always lives, Hebrews says, to make intercession for those who come to God through him; he bears us before the Father, our names, as it were, on his shoulders, never coming before God without us. There is deep assurance in this. We do not have to secure our own standing before God, to represent ourselves, to bear ourselves into his presence; we have a high priest who bears us, who carries us before God on his shoulders, who represents us continually in the place we could not enter on our own. Our names are on his shoulders; he does not come before the Father without us; he bears us there. And the picture of the shoulders speaks of strength to carry: as a shepherd lays the sheep on his shoulders and carries it home, so Christ carries us, bearing us before God and bearing us through all our way. He will gather the lambs in his arm, Isaiah says, and carry them in his bosom. The high priest bore the people's names on his shoulders before God; and Christ our high priest bears us, carrying us into God's presence and representing us there, so that we come before God not on our own strength but borne on the shoulders of the one who always lives to intercede for us.

Do I imagine I must secure my own standing before God and represent myself in his presence, or can I rest in the truth that Aaron bore the people's names on his shoulders and Christ our high priest bears us, carrying us before God and representing us continually, so that I come into God's presence not on my own strength but borne on the shoulders of the one who always lives to intercede for me?

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