Context No. 2895 of 4322 · Exodus

Exodus 39:22-26: in context

22He made the robe of the ephod of woven work, all of blue. 23The opening of the robe in the middle of it was like the opening of a coat of mail, with a binding around its opening, that it should not be torn. 24They made on the skirts of the robe pomegranates of blue, purple, scarlet, and twined linen. 25They made bells of pure gold, and put the bells between the pomegranates around the skirts of the robe, between the pomegranates; 26a bell and a pomegranate, a bell and a pomegranate, around the skirts of the robe, to minister in, as the LORD commanded Moses.

This describes the making of the high priest's robe: woven all of blue, with a reinforced collar so it would not tear, and around the hem an alternating pattern of golden bells and pomegranates of colored yarn, a bell and a pomegranate, all the way around.

These tiny details had a purpose. The bells sounded as the high priest moved in the sanctuary, a sign that he was alive and serving before God, and the pomegranates spoke of fruitfulness. Every element of his garments was prescribed, because coming before the holy God was never a casual thing left to improvisation. What can look like mere decoration was actually obedience down to the smallest particular, a reminder that even the details of how we approach God matter to him. And the robe woven not to tear quietly points ahead to a greater High Priest whose service on our behalf would never be interrupted.

Do I attend to the details of how I come before God, or treat approaching him as something casual and offhand?

Sources

Exodus 28:35: "Its sound shall be heard when he goes in to the holy place before the LORD, and when he comes out."
Hebrews 7:25: "He is able also to save to the uttermost those who draw near to God through him, seeing that he lives forever to make intercession for them."
Psalm 29:2: "Worship the LORD in holy array."