1. Sacred garments of dignity and honor (1-5)

God chose Aaron and his sons to be the first priests, establishing a priestly family. The purpose of being a priest was to serve God and to serve people. Sacred means set apart as holy; the garments were to represent the dignity and honor of the priest wearing them. Since they represent God to the people and the people to God, they must be humble.

2. He will bear the names over his heart (6-30)

To be a priest was a great responsibility. Thus, the ephod and the breastpiece also paralleled the symbolic weight of the tribes on his body as he served. Urim and Thummim were mysterious decision-making implements, entrusted to Aaron. So, he bore the means of decision making on his heart. In this way, God made a way for his people to come to him and to give them direction. Now Jesus is our mediator (1Ti 2:5) and high priest (Heb 2:14).


Application: Father, thank you for Jesus, our high priest. The government is on his shoulders, and he bears us on his heart. Help me to have fellowship with you through Jesus each day.
One Word: We are a royal priesthood