Daily Scripture Reading Exodus 39:8-31

It is human nature to want to fit in, and to be like everyone else. We want the approval of the majority. We want to be part of the majority. For Christians, wanting the approval of the masses means wanting the approval of a group of people who are probably mostly non-Christian.

The Bible is very clear that Christians need to be different from the world. We should not seek the approval of the masses. Instead, we should seek God’s approval. When non-Christians look at us, they should know that we are different.

Under the Mosaic Law, the high priest was the ultimate example of being holy and set apart. He was the highest religious authority. He wore garments that were designed to visually set him apart as different and unique. When the Israelites went to the tabernacle, they knew precisely which man was the high priest because his clothing was unique and identified him as the high priest.

The distinctiveness of the high priestly garments is a picture of how we are to live our lives in a way that differentiates us from the world in which we live.

The 39th chapter of Exodus describes the clothing of the high priest. The first item was an ephod. It had shoulder pieces and onyx stones were attached to the shoulder pieces.

Ex. 39:8 ¶ He made the breastpiece, the work of a skillful designer, like the workmanship of the ephod: of gold, and of blue and purple and scarlet material, and fine twisted linen.

Notice the words “blue and purple and scarlet material”. The breastpiece was multi-colored. Multiple colors added to the complexity of creating it; thus, increasing the value and uniqueness of the breastpiece.

Ex. 39:9 It was square; they made the breastpiece, having been folded double, a span long and a span wide when folded double.

Ex. 39:10 And they mounted four rows of stones on it. The first row was a row of ruby, topaz, and emerald;

Very few people have garments with four rows of stones. A breastpiece with gemstones was unique; thus indicating the uniqueness and stature of the priest who wore the breastpiece.

Ex. 39:11 and the second row, a turquoise, a sapphire, and a diamond;

Ex. 39:12 and the third row, a jacinth, an agate, and an amethyst;

Ex. 39:13 and the fourth row, a beryl, an onyx, and a jasper. They were set in their filigree settings with gold filigree.

Look at the words “gold filigree”. Gold is expensive and soft. It is not a material typically used to create clothing. The inclusion of gold in the garments of the priest contributed to the exclusivity of the garments.

Ex. 39:14 The stones were corresponding to the names of the sons of Israel; they were twelve, corresponding to their names, engraved with the engravings of a signet, each with its name for the twelve tribes.

Ex. 39:15 They made on the breastpiece chains of a twisted work of cords in pure gold.

Wearing gold chains communicates wealth and prestige.

Ex. 39:16 They made two gold filigree settings and two gold rings, and put the two rings on the two ends of the breastpiece.

Ex. 39:17 Then they put the two gold cords in the two rings at the ends of the breastpiece.

Ex. 39:18 They put the other two ends of the two cords on the two filigree settings and put them on the shoulder pieces of the ephod at the front of it.

Ex. 39:19 They made two gold rings and placed them on the two ends of the breastpiece, on its inner edge which was next to the ephod.

Ex. 39:20 Furthermore, they made two gold rings and placed them on the bottom of the two shoulder pieces of the ephod, on the front of it, close to the place where it joined, above the skillfully woven band of the ephod.

Ex. 39:21 They bound the breastpiece by its rings to the rings of the ephod with a blue cord, so that it would be on the skillfully woven band of the ephod, and that the breastpiece would not come loose from the ephod, just as Yahweh had commanded Moses.

Notice the words “would not come loose”. The garments were to be secure.

Ex. 39:22 ¶ Then he made the robe of the ephod of woven work entirely of blue;

Ex. 39:23 and the opening of the robe was at the top in the center, as the opening of a coat of mail, with a binding all around its opening, so that it would not be torn.

Torn clothing communicates sloppiness and poverty. Care was taken to make sure the robe would not tear so as to proclaim wealth, prestige, and attentiveness.

Ex. 39:24 They made pomegranates of blue and purple and scarlet material and twisted linen on the hem of the robe.

Ex. 39:25 They also made bells of pure gold and put the bells between the pomegranates all around on the hem of the robe,

Ex. 39:26 alternating a bell and a pomegranate all around on the hem of the robe for the ministry, just as Yahweh had commanded Moses.

Everyday clothing does not have bells and pomegranates hanging on the hem. Thus, the inclusion of these items created a distinctive aura around the high priest.

Ex. 39:27 ¶ They made the tunics of finely woven linen for Aaron and his sons,

Ex. 39:28 and the turban of fine linen, and the headdresses of the caps of fine linen, and the linen undergarments of fine twisted linen,

In addition to the multiple layers of clothing, the priest wore a turban.

Ex. 39:29 and the sash of fine twisted linen, and blue and purple and scarlet material, the work of the weaver, just as Yahweh had commanded Moses.

In addition to layers of clothing and a turban, the priest had a sash. The multiple layers and items of clothing created an outfit that stood out and was one of a kind, befitting the status of the high priest as one of a kind.

Ex. 39:30 ¶ They made the plate of the holy crown of pure gold and wrote upon it with engraved writing as found on a signet, “Holy to Yahweh.”

Consider the words “Holy to Yahweh”. The word “holy” means set apart. The high priest was set apart to serve in the tabernacle. He did not need to have a job outside the priesthood to support himself. His livelihood came from serving in the tabernacle.

The clothing he wore as high priest was designed to set him apart by making him look unique, dignified, and important. Any Israelite who went to the tabernacle could identify the high priest because his clothing set him apart from everyone else.

As Christians, we are commanded to be different from the world. Furthermore, there is a specific command that tells us how to be recognized as Christians. It is found in John 13:34-35 where we are told to love one another. We are promised that if we have love for one another, then all people will know that we are disciples of Jesus.

Ex. 39:31 They fastened a blue cord to it, to fasten it on the turban above, just as Yahweh had commanded Moses.

It is human nature to want to fit in, be like everyone else, and enjoy the approval of the masses. However, the Bible is very clear that Christians need to be different from the world. We should not seek the approval of the masses. Instead, we should seek God’s approval.

The high priest was identified by the clothing he wore. Anyone entering the tabernacle could pick out the high priest because his clothing identified him as the priest.

As Christians, we are not commanded to stand out as Christians by what we wear. Instead, we are commanded to identify ourselves as disciples of Jesus by loving one another.

When non-Christians look at you, do they see a loving person and know that you are a Christian?

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“Scripture quotations taken from the (LSB®) Legacy Standard Bible®, Copyright © 2021 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. Managed in partnership with Three Sixteen Publishing Inc. LSBible.org and 316publishing.com.”