Exodus 28:6-14: a reflection

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.

In the making of the high priest's garments, the ephod was to bear two onyx stones, engraved with the names of the twelve tribes of Israel, set on the shoulder straps. And the purpose is stated: Aaron shall bear their names before the LORD on his two shoulders for a memorial. When the high priest went before God, he carried the names of all the people on his shoulders, bearing them before God, representing them, holding them before the LORD.

Notice what the high priest did: he bore the names of the people before God. Engraved on the stones on his shoulders were the names of all the tribes; and when he went before God, he carried them with him, bearing the whole people before the LORD, representing them, holding them before God. The people were, in a sense, carried on the high priest's shoulders into God's presence, borne before the LORD by their representative.

That picture points to what Christ, our great high priest, does for us. As the high priest bore the names of the people on his shoulders before God, so Christ bears us before the Father, carrying us, representing us, holding us before God. We are, in a sense, borne on Christ's shoulders into God's presence, carried by our high priest before the Father. And Christ does not forget us or set us down; he continually bears us before God, representing us, interceding for us. When you feel forgotten, or fear you have no place before God, remember that Christ, your high priest, bears you before the Father, as the high priest bore the names of the people on his shoulders. You are carried before God by Christ, held before the Father, not forgotten but borne on the shoulders and heart of your high priest. Rest in the assurance that Christ bears you before God continually, carrying you into the Father's presence, as the high priest bore the names of the people before the LORD; you are not forgotten, but borne before God by Christ, your great high priest.

Lord, in the making of the high priest's garments, the ephod bore two onyx stones engraved with the names of the twelve tribes, set on the shoulder straps; and Aaron was to bear their names before you on his two shoulders for a memorial, carrying the whole people before you when he went into your presence. Show me what the high priest did: he bore the names of the people before you, representing them, holding them before you. And let that point me to what Christ, my great high priest, does for me. As the high priest bore the names of the people on his shoulders before you, so Christ bears me before you, carrying me, representing me, holding me before you. I am, in a sense, borne on Christ's shoulders into your presence. And Christ does not forget me or set me down; he continually bears me before you, interceding for me. When I feel forgotten, or fear I have no place before you, help me remember that Christ, my high priest, bears me before you, as the high priest bore the names of the people on his shoulders. I am carried before you by Christ, held before you, not forgotten but borne on the shoulders and heart of my high priest. Help me rest in the assurance that Christ bears me before you continually, Lord, carrying me into your presence. Thank you that I am borne before you by Christ, my great high priest.