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Patriarchs and Prophets
the shoulders by a cord of blue from golden rings. The border was
formed of a variety of precious stones, the same that form the twelve
foundations of the City of God. Within the border were twelve stones
set in gold, arranged in rows of four, and, like those in the shoulder
pieces, engraved with the names of the tribes. The Lord’s direction was,
“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.”
Exodus 28:29
. So Christ, the
great High Priest, pleading His blood before the Father in the sinner’s
behalf, bears upon His heart the name of every repentant, believing
soul. Says the psalmist, “I am poor and needy; yet the Lord thinketh
upon me.”
Psalm 40:17
.
At the right and left of the breastplate were two large stones of
great brilliancy. These were known as the Urim and Thummim. By
them the will of God was made known through the high priest. When
questions were brought for decision before the Lord, a halo of light
encircling the precious stone at the right was a token of the divine
consent or approval, while a cloud shadowing the stone at the left was
an evidence of denial or disapprobation.
The miter of the high priest consisted of the white linen turban,
having attached to it by a lace of blue, a gold plate bearing the inscrip-
tion, “Holiness to Jehovah.” Everything connected with the apparel
and deportment of the priests was to be such as to impress the beholder
with a sense of the holiness of God, the sacredness of His worship,
and the purity required of those who came into His presence.
Not only the sanctuary itself, but the ministration of the priests, was
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to “serve unto the example and shadow of heavenly things.”
Hebrews
8:5
. Thus it was of great importance; and the Lord, through Moses,
gave the most definite and explicit instruction concerning every point
of this typical service. The ministration of the sanctuary consisted
of two divisions, a daily and a yearly service. The daily service was
performed at the altar of burnt offering in the court of the tabernacle
and in the holy place; while the yearly service was in the most holy.
No mortal eye but that of the high priest was to look upon the inner
apartment of the sanctuary. Only once a year could the priest enter
there, and that after the most careful and solemn preparation. With
trembling he went in before God, and the people in reverent silence
awaited his return, their hearts uplifted in earnest prayer for the divine