Exodus 28:6-14 – In Christ, we are ever before God

Whenever the priest would go before God, he would be representing the people. Hence, the garment he wore for the duty was not only important for him but also for the people of Israel. He was there not to intercede or act for himself but for the people he represented. Therefore, it was critical what he wore to do that function. He would be wearing a specially made “…ephod of gold, blue and purple and scarlet material and fine twisted linen, the work of the skilful workman. It shall have two shoulder-pieces joined to its two ends, that it may be joined. The skillfully woven band, which is on it, shall be like its workmanship, of the same material: of gold, of blue and purple and scarlet material and fine twisted linen.” The material used would be like the very material used for the inner curtain of the Tabernacle. It would be made like an apron or a vest without any sleeve. It also had two suspenders or straps so that the vest could be hanged over the shoulders when the priest came before God.   

In verses 9-14 God instructed Moses on how the ephod was to be put together. Two onyx stones engraved with the names of the 12 sons of Israel, six on each stone, were attached to the shoulder piece of the ephod by golden wire. The names of Israel’s 12 sons were to engraved in the order of their birth. Whenever Aaron comes before the Lord wearing the ephod, he would be bearing the names of the 12 sons of Israel as a memorial before the Lord. Reuben, Simeon, Judah, Dan, Naphtali and Gad would be engraved on one stone: and Asher, Issachar, Zebulun, Ephraim, Manasseh and Benjamin would be engraved on the other. These 12 names on the ephod would be the emphasis. Bear in mind that the people camped outside the fence. At the centre of the fenced area would be the Tabernacle, the dwelling place of God, which no one was allowed in except the priest. And whenever the high priest entered the Holy of holies wearing the ephod, he carried the people with him into the presence of God. In a sense he was not there alone, he was also representing the people of Israel before God.    

Whenever the high priest wearing the ephod went into the presence of God, he would bear the needs of the people before God to atone for their sins. The only problem with this was that no matter how well dressed the high priest was, he himself was a sinner. The cloth he wore could not cover the sin of his heart before God. Hence the sacrifice had to be repeated yearly. But the wonderful truth is that we have a great high priest in Jesus Christ. He is the perfect sinless high priest. He can perfectly bear our sin before the presence of God. This is precisely what He had done for us. The good news is that in Jesus Christ, we have a high priest who is ever present before the Father, making intercession for us. He bore us in His heart with Him and so we are ever before God. What a glorious thought!