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Awesome Hands – Part 101

“Garments of Consecration”

July 8, 2016

Ministering to God and His will is a calling we have all been given.

In Exodus 28 we are going to see the establishment of God’s tabernacle concerning the priests and their offices and how the Lord commanded the “children of Israel” to approach ministering to Him via His tabernacle.

There are many gifts within the body of Christ and it is important that we be able to recognize and emphasis each of them for their importance to the collective body.

In our verses today, we are going to see the start of the priesthood being setup for the benefit of the tabernacle and for ministry towards the Lord.

Our verses for today are found in Exodus 28:1-29.

Exo 28:1  And take thou unto thee Aaron thy brother, and his sons with him, from among the children of Israel, that he may minister unto me in the priest's office, even Aaron, Nadab and Abihu, Eleazar and Ithamar, Aaron's sons.
Exo 28:2  And thou shalt make holy garments for Aaron thy brother for glory and for beauty.

The first thing to notice is that Aaron and his sons are taken from the children of Israel so that they can minister to the Lord. Of course, their ministering to the tabernacle is a direct way for them to minister to the people of God.

The next thing told to Moses is that he, Moses, will make holy garments for Aaron for glory and beauty. When considering that Moses was made a god to Pharaoh and Aaron was his prophet, then considering this type and shadow as applying here, we can see it is a type of Jesus Christ making holy garments for His prophets so that they, too, can be used to show the glory and beauty of the work of the Lord.

Exo 7:1  And the LORD said unto Moses, See, I have made thee a god to Pharaoh: and Aaron thy brother shall be thy prophet.
Exo 7:2  Thou shalt speak all that I command thee: and Aaron thy brother shall speak unto Pharaoh, that he send the children of Israel out of his land.
Exo 7:3  And I will harden Pharaoh's heart, and multiply my signs and my wonders in the land of Egypt.

This point is important to remember as we go through this study because the Lord uses His prophets to speak AGAINST whatever the “Pharaoh’s heart” says concerning the commandments that the Lord brings to his attention. We must all continually weigh the heart of the old man in us against the Word of God.

Continuing, we read:

Exo 28:3  And thou shalt speak unto all that are wise hearted, whom I have filled with the spirit of wisdom, that they may make Aaron's garments to consecrate him, that he may minister unto me in the priest's office.

Another important aspect to point out is that in verse 2 the Lord tells Moses that Moses will be the one to make holy garments for Aaron, but now we learn how it is Moses will ORCHESTRATE the making of these items which will allow Aaron and his sons to minister to Him in the tabernacle.

Moses will do the making by “speaking to the wise hearted who have the spirit of wisdom” so that they can make these garments of consecration.

Right about now you may be asking yourself why I am pointing out the things we just read, and the answer to that is that it is incumbent for us to realize that it is the children of Israel filled with wisdom (wisdom being Jesus Christ when we consider the sum of the Word), who have prophets pulled out from among them AND who are also used to create these items necessary for the ministering of the tabernacle.

This will make a lot of sense moving forward in this study, but for now we are going to be told what items are to be created.

Exo 28:4  And these are the garments which they shall make; a breastplate, and an ephod, and a robe, and a broidered coat, a mitre, and a girdle: and they shall make holy garments for Aaron thy brother, and his sons, that he may minister unto me in the priest's office.
Exo 28:5  And they shall take gold, and blue, and purple, and scarlet, and fine linen.

Notice that the items to be made are made out of the same materials from which the tabernacle is made because “the dream is one.” Everything we read about in the old testament tabernacle is going to see connected to us today in very striking ways as the Lord reveals it to us.

Starting in this study today we are going to give general descriptions to the various garments worn by the priests. Then we are going to get a little more specific with each item.

We won’t get to them all today, but we will cover a few of them.

We see mentioned 6 different items: A breastplate, an ephod, a robe, a broidered coat, a mitre and a girdle.

Breastplate

H2833
chôshen
Total KJV Occurrences: 25
breastplate, 25
Exo_25:7, Exo_28:4, Exo_28:15, Exo_28:22-24 (4), Exo_28:26, Exo_28:28-30 (4), Exo_29:5, Exo_35:9, Exo_35:27, Exo_39:8-9 (2), Exo_39:15-17 (3), Exo_39:19, Exo_39:21 (2), Lev_8:8 (2)

H2833

chôshen
kho'-shen
From an unused root probably meaning to contain or sparkle; perhaps a pocket (as holding the Urim and Thummim), or rich (as containing gems), used only of the gorget of the highpriest: - breastplate.
Total KJV occurrences: 25

H2833
chôshen
BDB Definition:
1) breastplate, breastpiece
1a) sacred pouch of the high priest designed to hold the Urim and Thummim
Part of Speech: noun masculine
A Related Word by BDB/Strong’s Number: from an unused root probably meaning to contain or sparkle
Same Word by TWOT Number: 772a

The main function of the breastplate is that the one speaking on behalf of God, Aaron, was speaking from a place of judgment because judgment is always on the heart of Aaron.

Exo 28:15  And thou shalt make the breastplate of judgment with cunning work; after the work of the ephod thou shalt make it; of gold, of blue, and of purple, and of scarlet, and of fine twined linen, shalt thou make it.

Exo 28:29  And Aaron shall bear the names of the children of Israel in the breastplate of judgment upon his heart, when he goeth in unto the holy place, for a memorial before the LORD continually.
Exo 28:30  And thou shalt put in the breastplate of judgment the Urim and the Thummim; and they shall be upon Aaron's heart, when he goeth in before the LORD: and Aaron shall bear the judgment of the children of Israel upon his heart before the LORD continually.

Urim and Thummim were used to know the judgment of the Lord via working through the hands of the one holding the Urim and Thummim. There are many scholarly endeavors to try to figure out the meaning of these two items and how exactly they were used, but the most accepted explanation is that they were used for yes and no questions or guilt versus innocence.

This would make biblical sense as well given that Christ tells us be mindful to let communication be yay or nay.

Mat 5:37  But let your communication be, Yea, yea; Nay, nay: for whatsoever is more than these cometh of evil.

Why would it be important that the high priest always have the judgment of the Lord on his heart? Simply put, the Lord has made His priests overseers of the flock of Israel, and we know who are the true Jews to our Lord.

Rom 2:28  For he is not a Jew, which is one outwardly; neither is that circumcision, which is outward in the flesh:
Rom 2:29  But he is a Jew, which is one inwardly; and circumcision is that of the heart, in the spirit, and not in the letter; whose praise is not of men, but of God.

The overseers of the Lord will always be looking out for the flock while guarding against wolves in sheep’s clothing and also ministering to the tabernacle. In fact, they are one in the same thing.

Ephod

The second item we are going to see mentioned is the ephod.

Exo 28:6  And they shall make the ephod of gold, of blue, and of purple, of scarlet, and fine twined linen, with cunning work.
Exo 28:7  It shall have the two shoulderpieces thereof joined at the two edges thereof; and so it shall be joined together.

We now have the shoulder piece being mentioned which has several interesting characteristics.

H646
'êphôd
Total KJV Occurrences: 49
ephod, 49
Exo_25:7, Exo_28:4, Exo_28:6, Exo_28:12, Exo_28:15, Exo_28:25-28 (7), Exo_28:31, Exo_29:5 (3), Exo_35:9, Exo_35:27, Exo_39:2, Exo_39:7-8 (2), Exo_39:18-22 (8), Lev_8:7 (2), Jdg_8:27, Jdg_17:5, Jdg_18:14, Jdg_18:17-18 (2), Jdg_18:20, 1Sa_2:18, 1Sa_2:28, 1Sa_14:3, 1Sa_21:9, 1Sa_22:18, 1Sa_23:6, 1Sa_23:9, 1Sa_30:7 (2), 2Sa_6:14, 1Ch_15:27, Hos_3:4

H646

'êphôd    'êphôd
ay-fode', ay-fode'
Second form is a rare form; probably of foreign derivation; a girdle; specifically the ephod or high priest’s shoulder piece; also generally an image: - ephod.
Total KJV occurrences: 49

H646
'êphôd
BDB Definition:
1) ephod
1a) priestly garment, shoulder-cape or mantle, outer garment
1a1) worn by an ordinary priest and made of white stuff
1a2) worn by the high priest - more costly, woven of gold, blue, purple, scarlet, and linen threads provided with shoulder-pieces and a breast piece of like material, ornamented with gems and gold
Part of Speech: noun masculine
A Related Word by BDB/Strong’s Number: probably of foreign derivation
Same Word by TWOT Number: 142.1a

Here is what the ephod looked like.

Exo 28:8  And the curious girdle of the ephod, which is upon it, shall be of the same, according to the work thereof; even of gold, of blue, and purple, and scarlet, and fine twined linen.
Exo 28:9  And thou shalt take two onyx stones, and grave on them the names of the children of Israel:
Exo 28:10  Six of their names on one stone, and the other six names of the rest on the other stone, according to their birth.
Exo 28:11  With the work of an engraver in stone, like the engravings of a signet, shalt thou engrave the two stones with the names of the children of Israel: thou shalt make them to be set in ouches of gold.
Exo 28:12  And thou shalt put the two stones upon the shoulders of the ephod for stones of memorial unto the children of Israel: and Aaron shall bear their names before the LORD upon his two shoulders for a memorial.

Here is what the breastplate looked like. This is in the ESV translation.

Exo 28:15  "You shall make a breastpiece of judgment, in skilled work. In the style of the ephod you shall make it--of gold, blue and purple and scarlet yarns, and fine twined linen shall you make it.
Exo 28:16  It shall be square and doubled, a span its length and a span its breadth.
Exo 28:17  You shall set in it four rows of stones. A row of sardius, topaz, and carbuncle shall be the first row;
Exo 28:18  and the second row an emerald, a sapphire, and a diamond;
Exo 28:19  and the third row a jacinth, an agate, and an amethyst;
Exo 28:20  and the fourth row a beryl, an onyx, and a jasper. They shall be set in gold filigree.
Exo 28:21  There shall be twelve stones with their names according to the names of the sons of Israel. They shall be like signets, each engraved with its name, for the twelve tribes.
Exo 28:22  You shall make for the breastpiece twisted chains like cords, of pure gold.
Exo 28:23  And you shall make for the breastpiece two rings of gold, and put the two rings on the two edges of the breastpiece.
Exo 28:24  And you shall put the two cords of gold in the two rings at the edges of the breastpiece.
Exo 28:25  The two ends of the two cords you shall attach to the two settings of filigree, and so attach it in front to the shoulder pieces of the ephod.
Exo 28:26  You shall make two rings of gold, and put them at the two ends of the breastpiece, on its inside edge next to the ephod.
Exo 28:27  And you shall make two rings of gold, and attach them in front to the lower part of the two shoulder pieces of the ephod, at its seam above the skillfully woven band of the ephod.
Exo 28:28  And they shall bind the breastpiece by its rings to the rings of the ephod with a lace of blue, so that it may lie on the skillfully woven band of the ephod, so that the breastpiece shall not come loose from the ephod.
Exo 28:29  So Aaron shall bear the names of the sons of Israel in the breastpiece of judgment on his heart, when he goes into the Holy Place, to bring them to regular remembrance before the LORD.

Essentially you have 4 rows of stones with each row having 3 stones. Each stone represents one of the tribes of Israel. The breastplate hangs from the ephod, the shoulder piece, which also has two onyx stones. Each onyx stone has six of the tribes engraved on it with one being on one shoulder and the other stone on the opposite shoulder.

Literally, the high priest bares the weight of Israel on his shoulders as he also kept them close to his heart.

Exo 28:12  And thou shalt put the two stones upon the shoulders of the ephod for stones of memorial unto the children of Israel: and Aaron shall bear their names before the LORD upon his two shoulders for a memorial.

Exo 28:29  And Aaron shall bear the names of the children of Israel in the breastplate of judgment upon his heart, when he goeth in unto the holy place, for a memorial before the LORD continually.

High priest

Heb 3:1  (ESV) Therefore, holy brothers, you who share in a heavenly calling, consider Jesus, the apostle and high priest of our confession,

Heb 3:1  (KJV) Therefore, holy brothers, you who share in a heavenly calling, consider Jesus, the apostle and high priest of our confession,

Heb 4:12  For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.
Heb 4:13  Neither is there any creature that is not manifest in his sight: but all things are naked and opened unto the eyes of him with whom we have to do.
Heb 4:14  Seeing then that we have a great high priest, that is passed into the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our profession.
Heb 4:15  For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin.
Heb 4:16  Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.

Mentioning all of these items that the children of Israel, filled with wisdom, made for the high priest, helps us understanding our connection to the high priest.

Understanding this connection always entails knowing how the high priest is chosen.

Heb 5:1  For every high priest taken from among men is ordained for men in things pertaining to God, that he may offer both gifts and sacrifices for sins:
Heb 5:2  Who can have compassion on the ignorant, and on them that are out of the way; for that he himself also is compassed with infirmity.
Heb 5:3  And by reason hereof he ought, as for the people, so also for himself, to offer for sins.
Heb 5:4  And no man taketh this honour unto himself, but he that is called of God, as was Aaron.
Heb 5:5  So also Christ glorified not himself to be made an high priest; but he that said unto him, Thou art my Son, to day have I begotten thee.

Why do I mention these things? I think it will be more easily understood if I use examples from scripture to explain.

Joh 14:1  Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me.
Joh 14:2  In my Father's house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you.
Joh 14:3  And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also.

When we take Jesus at His words here, the natural and literal interpretation of what we just read will be utter foolishness.

How can a “house” have “many mansions”? Houses have rooms, but how can they CONTAIN whole mansions?

Well, looking at it in a literal way will not allow us to see the meaning behind Jesus’ words. Likewise, understanding our connection to Jesus the Christ with Jesus being the Head and the church being the body is a similar example.

Specifically, the body is made up of “many members in particular” as the KJV puts it. Those members are given gifts, not of themselves but given by God.

1Co 12:13  For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body, whether we be Jews or Gentiles, whether we be bond or free; and have been all made to drink into one Spirit.
1Co 12:14  For the body is not one member, but many.
1Co 12:15  If the foot shall say, Because I am not the hand, I am not of the body; is it therefore not of the body?
1Co 12:16  And if the ear shall say, Because I am not the eye, I am not of the body; is it therefore not of the body?

1Co 12:27  Now ye are the body of Christ, and members in particular.
1Co 12:28  And God hath set some in the church, first apostles, secondarily prophets, thirdly teachers, after that miracles, then gifts of healings, helps, governments, diversities of tongues.
1Co 12:29  Are all apostles? are all prophets? are all teachers? are all workers of miracles?
1Co 12:30  Have all the gifts of healing? do all speak with tongues? do all interpret?
1Co 12:31  But covet earnestly the best gifts: and yet shew I unto you a more excellent way.

1Co 13:8  Charity never faileth: but whether there be prophecies, they shall fail; whether there be tongues, they shall cease; whether there be knowledge, it shall vanish away.
1Co 13:9  For we know in part, and we prophesy in part.
1Co 13:10  But when that which is perfect is come, then that which is in part shall be done away.

The entire tabernacle is representative of Jesus Christ. Therefore, the tabernacle of God is representative of the Head and the body. The body cannot be separated from the Head without both dying and being of no use.

In particular to this study, the reason God chose out Aaron and his sons was so that they could minister to the tabernacle. In our day and age as Christians this is represented in various gifts and appointments that God has ordained to happen.

Like with Moses, God uses those with wisdom to ordain His ministers.

Exo 28:3  And thou shalt speak unto all that are wise hearted, whom I have filled with the spirit of wisdom, that they may make Aaron's garments to consecrate^H6942 him, that he may minister unto me in the priest's office.

Exo 28:40  And for Aaron's sons thou shalt make coats, and thou shalt make for them girdles, and bonnets shalt thou make for them, for glory and for beauty.
Exo 28:41  And thou shalt put them upon Aaron thy brother, and his sons with him; and shalt anoint them, and consecrate them, and sanctify them, that they may minister unto me in the priest's office.

Exo 28:41  And thou shalt put them upon^{H3847 (H853) (H853)} Aaron^H175 thy brother,^H251 and his sons^H1121 with^H854 him; and shalt anoint^H4886 them, and consecrate^{H4390 (H853) H3027} them, and sanctify^H6942 them, that they may minister unto me in the priest's office.^H3547

What does it mean to be anointed, consecrated and sanctified in the priest’s office?

Anoint

H4886

mâshach
maw-shakh'
A primitive root; to rub with oil, that is, to anoint; by implication to consecrate; also to paint: - anoint, paint.
Total KJV occurrences: 71

Consecrate

H4390 with H3027
mâlê'  /  mâlâ'
BDB Definition:
1) to fill, be full
1a) (Qal)
1a1) to be full
1a1a) fulness, abundance (participle)
1a1b) to be full, be accomplished, be ended
1a2) to consecrate, fill the hand
1b) (Niphal)
1b1) to be filled, be armed, be satisfied
1b2) to be accomplished, be ended
1c) (Piel)
1c1) to fill
1c2) to satisfy
1c3) to fulfil, accomplish, complete
1c4) to confirm
1d) (Pual) to be filled
1e) (Hithpael) to mass themselves against
Part of Speech: verb
A Related Word by BDB/Strong’s Number: a primitive root
Same Word by TWOT Number: 1195

From dictionary.com:

verb (used with object), consecrated, consecrating.
1. to make or declare sacred; set apart or dedicate to the service of adeity to consecrate a new church building.
2. to make (something) an object of honor or veneration; hallow:
a custom consecrated by time.
3. to devote or dedicate to some purpose:
a life consecrated to science.
4.to admit or ordain to a sacred office, especially to the episcopate (bishop).
5. to change (bread and wine) into the Eucharist.
adjective
6. consecrated; sacred.

Sanctify

H6942

qâdash
kaw-dash'
A primitive root; to be (causatively make, pronounce or observe as) clean (ceremonially or morally): - appoint, bid, consecrate, dedicate, defile, hallow, (be, keep) holy (-er, place), keep, prepare, proclaim, purify, sanctify (-ied one, self), X wholly.
Total KJV occurrences: 171

There are a few things I’ll mention about consecration because it is very informative and important to understand.

We see the English word consecration used a few times in Exodus 28, but one time it actually is the same Hebrew word meaning sanctify (verse 3). The other time it is used in conjunction with “yad”, H3027, meaning hand.

The very first appointments to any office with God in His tabernacle was done with the laying on of hands of Moses to Aaron and his sons.

For us as Christians, this has a spiritual meaning, but the Hebrew example and definition you read above is the combination of two words that equal the concept of consecration.

Exo 28:41  And thou shalt put them upon^{H3847 (H853) (H853)} Aaron^H175 thy brother,^H251 and his sons^H1121 with^H854 him; and shalt anoint^H4886 them, and consecrate^{H4390 (H853) H3027} them, and sanctify^H6942 them, that they may minister unto me in the priest's office.^H3547

Exo 28:41  And thou shalt put them upon Aaron thy brother, and his sons with him; and shalt anoint them, and consecrate^{H4390 (H853) H3027} them, and sanctify them, that they may minister unto me in the priest's office.

Here are a few other examples found in Exodus 29, Leviticus 16 and Ezekiel 43. There are others, but these will suffice as examples.

Exo 29:33  And they shall eat^H398 those things wherewith^H834 the atonement was made,^H3722 to consecrate^{H4390 (H853) H3027} and to sanctify^H6942 them: but a stranger^H2114 shall not^H3808 eat^H398 thereof, because^H3588 they^H1992 are holy.^H6944

Lev 16:32  And the priest,^H3548 whom^H834 he shall anoint,^H4886 and whom^H834 he shall consecrate^{H4390 (H853) H3027} to minister in the priest's office^H3547 in his father's stead,^{H8478 H1} shall make the atonement,^H3722 and shall put on^{H3847 (H853)} the linen^H906 clothes,^H899 even the holy^H6944 garments:^H899

Eze 43:26  Seven^H7651 days^H3117 shall they purge^{H3722 (H853)} the altar^H4196 and purify^H2891 it; and they shall consecrate^{H4390 H3027} themselves.

The example of this having a spiritual meaning for us as Christians is found in 1 Timothy.

1Ti 5:17  Let the elders that rule well be counted worthy of double honour, especially they who labour in the word and doctrine.
1Ti 5:18  For the scripture saith, Thou shalt not muzzle the ox that treadeth out the corn. And, The labourer is worthy of his reward.
1Ti 5:19  Against an elder receive not an accusation, but before two or three witnesses.
1Ti 5:20  Them that sin rebuke before all, that others also may fear.
1Ti 5:21  I charge thee before God, and the Lord Jesus Christ, and the elect angels, that thou observe these things without preferring one before another, doing nothing by partiality.
1Ti 5:22  Lay hands suddenly on no man, neither be partaker of other men's sins: keep thyself pure.

The Hebrew concept of consecration is to “fill the hands” with the one on whom you are placing yours hands. In other words, in order to ordain anyone to an office of the Lord, one must give their full confidence to the one being appointed and also recognize that by doing so they, too, will have their “hands full” and be able to lay hands on others.

Conclusion

With the conclusion of this study I will explain how and why this all comes together and why it is important and also how to build upon it as we do the next few studies.

The tabernacle in the old testament is the physical example of the spiritual tabernacle of Jesus the Christ in the new testament.

The priests have been ordained by God and clothed with items that the children of Israel were used to create to give God all the glory. The priests and people are used together for the plan of God and you cannot separate one from the other.

Just like physical Israelites must visit the tabernacle and be ministered to by the priests for things such as the sacrifices for their sins, so, too, must the spiritual Jews come together to represent all the many-membered functions and gifts of the body of Christ.

If a member of the body of Christ isolates himself from the rest of the body, then he will be swallowed up by the sea of humanity and the doctrines they possess.

The very image of the items given to the priests to wear and what they represent tells us that God takes His judgments seriously, and those that have been ordained to keep judgment close to their heart at all times, are the ones God tells us we MUST be willing to visit especially concerning doctrine.

Likewise, we should never forget that out of the very first priests that God ordained to be His priests, two of them (Nadab and Abihu) offered strange fire to the Lord and were killed. They offered STRANGE DOCTRINE, in other words, if we want to see the spiritual equivalent of their actions because our words are as fire.

Jer 23:29  Is not my word like as a fire? saith the LORD; and like a hammer that breaketh the rock in pieces?

Jer 5:14  Wherefore thus saith the LORD God of hosts, Because ye speak this word, behold, I will make my words in thy mouth fire, and this people wood, and it shall devour them.

Just because two of those ordained priests of God were killed for false doctrine/strange fire, that does not mean that the rest of the priests have false doctrine.

We all as the body of Christ must keep our eyes on Jesus Christ, and we must remain true to His doctrine, and I hope that will be shown as we continue to examine the various offices of the tabernacle and how they were filled.

Just like Peter who was called out by Christ to walk on the sea/water, we, too, will sink if we do not keep our eyes on Jesus Christ. However, Jesus Christ is a head and body, and we MUST be as watchmen and keep our eyes ever watching over the city of the tabernacle, else we will sink into the doctrines of the sea of humanity.

In our next study, we are going to continue to look at the other items mentioned as being created and placed on the priests.

The robe, broidered coat, mitre and girdle all have very important meanings for our lives as Christians and will all coalesce around how we use them to be in the world but not of the world …. just as the tabernacle of the Jews was in type and shadow in the old testament.