Exodus 28:15-30: a reflection

15“You shall make a breastplate of judgment, the work of the skillful workman; like the work of the ephod you shall make it; of gold, of blue, and purple, and scarlet, and fine twined linen, you shall make it. 16It shall be square and folded double; a span shall be its length, and a span its width. 17You shall set in it settings of stones, four rows of stones: a row of ruby, topaz, and beryl shall be the first row; 18and the second row a turquoise, a sapphire, and an emerald; 19and the third row a jacinth, an agate, and an amethyst; 20and the fourth row a chrysolite, an onyx, and a jasper. They shall be enclosed in gold in their settings. 21The stones shall be according to the names of the children of Israel, twelve, according to their names; like the engravings of a signet, everyone according to his name, they shall be for the twelve tribes. 22You shall make on the breastplate chains like cords, of braided work of pure gold. 23You shall make on the breastplate two rings of gold, and shall put the two rings on the two ends of the breastplate. 24You shall put the two braided chains of gold in the two rings at the ends of the breastplate. 25The other two ends of the two braided chains you shall put on the two settings, and put them on the shoulder straps of the ephod in its forepart. 26You shall make two rings of gold, and you shall put them on the two ends of the breastplate, on its edge, which is toward the side of the ephod inward. 27You shall make two rings of gold, and shall put them on the two shoulder straps of the ephod underneath, in its forepart, close by its coupling, above the skillfully woven band of the ephod. 28They shall bind the breastplate by its rings to the rings of the ephod with a lace of blue, that it may be on the skillfully woven band of the ephod, and that the breastplate may not swing out from the ephod. 29Aaron shall bear the names of the children of Israel in the breastplate of judgment on his heart, when he goes in to the holy place, for a memorial before the LORD continually. 30You shall put in the breastplate of judgment the Urim and the Thummim; and they shall be on Aaron’s heart, when he goes in before the LORD. Aaron shall bear the judgment of the children of Israel on his heart before the LORD continually.

The high priest's garments included a breastpiece set with twelve precious stones, each engraved with the name of one of the tribes of Israel. And the instruction about it is tender: Aaron shall bear the names of the sons of Israel on the breastpiece over his heart, when he goes into the holy place, as a continual memorial before the LORD. Whenever the priest entered God's presence, he carried the names of the people, engraved on precious stones, over his heart.

Notice the beauty of that image. The people were not left outside, forgotten, while the priest went in alone; he carried them with him, their names inscribed on jewels held over his heart, into the very presence of God. Each tribe was named, valued as a precious stone, and borne on the heart of the one who represented them before the LORD. They were carried in, named and treasured, on the heart of their priest.

And this points, as so much of the priesthood does, to Christ. Our great High Priest carries us, his people, on his heart into the presence of the Father. You are not forgotten or left outside; your name is, so to speak, engraved on the heart of Christ, who bears you continually before God. He represents you there not coldly but as one who carries you on his heart, named and treasured. When you feel far from God or forgotten, remember: your High Priest carries your name on his heart into God's presence, continually. You are borne, named and precious, on the heart of Christ.

Lord, the high priest carried the names of your people over his heart into your presence, named and treasured, a continual memorial before you. Thank you that Christ, my great High Priest, carries me on his heart into the presence of the Father, named and precious, never forgotten or left outside. When I feel far from you or overlooked, remind me that my name is engraved on the heart of my High Priest, who bears me continually before you. I am carried on the heart of Christ.