"Fashion a breastpiece for making decisions---the work of skilled hands. Make it like the ephod: of gold, and of blue, purple and scarlet yarn, and of finely twisted linen." (Exodus 28:15) In television shows, movies, and artistic renderings you'll almost always find the breastpiece depicted as a square or rectangular plate made of gold, but from our text we can clearly see that this item is fashioned out of material---the same material as the ephod (apron) of the high priest. I've inserted a drawing below that I feel is a fairly good demonstration of what the breastpiece may have looked like.
Yesterday we took a look at the stones that rest upon the priest's shoulders, the stones that bear the names of the twelve tribes of Israel. We spoke about how this symbolizes the huge responsibility carried by the priest. He had the weight of the entire congregation of Israel upon his shoulders. The item of apparel we're studying today symbolizes the priest carrying the entire congregation of Israel in his heart. The breastpiece will be adorned with twelve stones and each of these stones will represent a tribe of Israel. "Then mount four rows of precious stones on it. The first row shall be carnelian, chrysolite and beryl; the second row shall be turquoise, lapis lazuli and emerald; the third row shall be jacinth, agate and amethyst; the fourth row shall be topaz, onyx and jasper. Mount them in gold filigree settings. There are to be twelve stones, one for each of the names of the sons of Israel, each engraved like a seal with the name of one of the twelve tribes." (Exodus 28:17-21)
Yesterday we took a look at something the Apostle Paul said when he spoke of how burdened his heart was every day with worry for all the churches. He didn't mean his concern for the churches was unwelcome or unpleasant to him, but rather that he felt this heavy weight of care because he loved his fellow Christians so much. I don't see how Paul could have borne the responsibility of being such a major authority figure in the Christian church if he had not loved others as much as he did. The Lord knows that the high priest of Israel will find it unpleasant, unwelcome, and perhaps even impossible to shoulder the heavy burden of his spiritual responsibilities day after day if he doesn't love his congregation. So in addition to bearing the names of the tribes of Israel upon his shoulders, he's to bear the names of the tribes of Israel upon his heart. If this man were only willing to bear the responsibility but not to love his fellow countrymen, he wouldn't be able to fulfill his role as spiritual leader in the way God intends. If this man were only willing to love his fellow countrymen but not to exert proper spiritual authority over the congregation and to set a strong example for them, he wouldn't be able to fulfill his role in the way the Lord intends. The high priest has to be both a figure of authority and a figure of love. The Lord is both of these, isn't He? God wields authority and power and righteousness and justice, but at the same time He offers love and mercy and comfort and forgiveness.
The breastpiece is going to need a way to be fastened to the chest of the priest. "For the breastpiece make braided chains of pure gold, like a rope. Make two gold rings for it and fasten them to two corners of the breastpiece. Fasten the two gold chains to the rings at the corners of the breastpiece, and the other ends of the chains to the two settings, attaching them to the shoulder pieces of the ephod at the front. Make two gold rings and attach them to the other two corners of the breastpiece on the inside edge next to the ephod. Make two more gold rings and attach them to the bottom of the shoulder pieces on the front of the ephod, close to the seam just above the waistband of the ephod. The rings of the breastpiece are to be tied to the rings of the ephod with blue cord, connecting it to the waistband, so that the breastpiece will not swing out from the ephod." (Exodus 28:22-28) The breastpiece will be securely attached to the ephod so that it cannot come loose or swing about while the priest carries out his duties.
"Whenever Aaron enters the Holy Place, he will bear the names of the sons of Israel over his heart on the breastpiece of decision as a continuing memorial before the Lord." (Exodus 28:29) Aaron was the first high priest of Israel and this is why we will find the Lord saying Aaron is to do this or Aaron is to do that. But all the high priests who came after Aaron were to wear these same garments and to perform these same duties. The names of the sons of Israel are inscribed on precious stones over Aaron's heart because these tribes are very precious and loved in the sight of the Lord. The breastpiece serves as a continual reminder that the high priest is to have the same attitude toward the congregation that the Lord has.
Tomorrow we are going to talk about what we saw in verse 15 of our study today: that the breastpiece will be used "for making decisions". We'll talk about two mysterious items that are to be stored inside the breastpiece and how they may have been utilized in making prayerful decisions in the presence of the Lord. But for now we're going to conclude today's study by talking about love.
If we do things for our fellow man only out of a sense of duty---because "it's the right thing to do"----we're going to become weary. We might even start to feel resentful toward the very people we're trying to help. We may stagger under the heavy load of the responsibilities we've taken on and end up collapsing from exhaustion. The only way we're going to be able to keep ministering to others day after day and year after year with a cheerful heart and a willing spirit is if we love them. How did Christ endure His mockery of a trial before the Sanhedrin and the unlawful beating He suffered at their hands during an illegal nighttime trail that violated His rights? He endured it because He loved us. How did He withstand the cruel mockery and being whipped within an inch of His life by Pontius Pilate's soldiers? He withstood it because He loved us. How was He able to force Himself to submit to the tortures of the cross while all the time knowing He could easily set Himself free and walk away? He submitted because He loved us. Why did He give His life on the cross as if He were a criminal and allow His body to be buried in a borrowed tomb like a pauper? He was willing to give up all the glories and treasures of heaven---along with all the authority and honor that were rightfully His---because He loved us. I don't think even the Son of God could have done these things for the sake of sinful human beings unless He loved us. How then can we expect to minister to others in the way God commands unless we love them? I believe the Apostle Paul knew he couldn't minister to the church members the way the Lord wanted unless he loved them, which is why he wrote this passage below:
"If I speak in the tongues of men or of angels, but do not have love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal. If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but do not have love, I am nothing. If I give all I possess to the poor and give over my body to hardship that I may boast, but do not have love, I gain nothing. Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres." (1 Corinthians 13:1-7)
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