Our Great High Priest Women s Core Bible Study March 13, 2013

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1 Our Great High Priest Women s Core Bible Study March 13, 2013 Exodus 27:20-29:46 Linda Hamilton Illustration My sister s outfit. I. Dressed for the job God s holiness is perfect and God s beauty is glorious. We must be gloriously and beautifully holy or else be represented by someone who is. (Ryken, 878) A. To represent God to people Holy garments for Glory and Beauty 1. Sacred garments reflected the holiness and purity of God a. All priests wore four linen inner-garments: b. Breeches - linen undergarments waist to thigh, cover nakedness c. Tunic - long and close fitting, finely woven pure white linen, symbolized righteousness. d. Sash - girding the waist e. Caps - head covering 2. Shimmering radiant colored over-garments reflected the glory, beauty and majesty of God a. High Priest alone wore the four glorious and majestic over-garments b. He was dressed in flaming hues of gems and fabric like the fiery Shekinah glory of God c. His vestments matched the scarlet, purple, blue and gold materials of the tabernacle. He was like a mini version of the tabernacle only opposite. The most glorious part of the priest s garments was worn outermost, whereas the most glorious part of the tabernacle the Most Holy Place, was innermost. What is outermost in the vestments corresponds to what it innermost in the tabernacle. (Kline, 45) d. The garments reflect the meaning of what the priest does in the tabernacle. The High Priest s clothing reflected the beauty of the tabernacle and his work in the tabernaclethat is: doing what is necessary to permit an unholy people to dwell in the presence of a holy God. B. To represent the people to God 1. Seamless robe of blue like firmament, like curtains in entrance and veil. It was worn over the tunic and fell to the knee with an opening for the head, and slits for arms. The hem was adorned with a border of blue, purple and scarlet pomegranates alternating with golden bells. The bells jingled as the priest moved. Reverently announces priest s presence to the Holy and dangerous God. Keeping him safe, so he will not die. (v.28:35) The sound is a reminder to the people of their peril without mediating work of the priest on their behalf. Wake up call. 2. Ephod - Like a pinafore or apron worn over the blue robe, draped down the front and back. It was made of fabric woven of radiant blue, purple, scarlet linen thread entwined with bright metallic gold thread. A waistband, or sash was of the same material as the ephod, binding the front and back of ephod firmly to the body. a. Memorial Stones - Shoulder clasps joined the ephod at the top. Each clasp was inlaid with a precious onyx stone. The names of the 12 tribes were engraved on stones, the six

2 younger sons of Israel on one side and the six elder on the other. The priest was bearing the names before the Lord continually as a memorial. Whenever the priest put on ceremonial robes, he lifted the people on his shoulders and carried them into the presence of God. (Ryken, 872) 3. Breastpiece of decision for determining God s divine will for his people. It was a square nine by nine-inch piece of cloth, folded with opening at top to form a pouch. It was made of the same fabric as ephod, and worn over the priest s heart. Mounted on the front of the breastpiece were twelve precious gemstones. They were arrayed in four rows with 3 gems each. Each gemstone was engraved with one of the names of the sons of Israel, revealing God s purpose to possess Israel as his own treasure. a. Urim and Thummim - literally light and perfections, were hidden behind the breastpiece in the pouch over the priest s heart. Purpose was to obtain divine revelation to guide their actions. May have been little stones that functioned like dice. Or perhaps they were precious gems. If so, some speculated that they might have functioned in accordance with their meaning, lights and perfections, in an illuminating fashion. What we do know is that the priest used them to determine God s will. Aaron carried the concerns of the people before the LORD. Aaron will always bear the means of making decisions for the Israelites over his heart before the LORD. (Ryken, 882) 4. Turban - The high priest wore turban made of fine linen that was bound around his head in coils. It attached to a golden plate or crown, the most significant part. The crown went across Aaron's forehead and was engraved with the words: HOLY to the LORD. This was a constant reminder of holiness required to be in the presence of God: "Be holy because I, the LORD your God, am holy."' (Lev. 19:2). The priest was holy on behalf of the people. If he was not considered holy, God could not accept the sacrificial offerings presented in place of the people. There would be no substitute for sin. So how is an unholy priest made holy? II. Consecrated for a sacred office - Ordination A. Washed with water 1.Before they could be dressed in their sacred clothes, or enter God s holy presence, the priests had to be washed with water at the entrance of the Tent of Meeting. 2. Washing symbolized spiritual purification. B. Anointed with oil 1. After the priest was dressed, a copious amount of precious oil was poured on his head, coming down upon the beard, even Aaron s beard, coming down upon the edge of his robes. (Psalm 133:2) 2. It set him apart for public office 3. Oil is the golden symbol of the Spirit of glory and life. (Kline, 45)

3 4. This anointing with oil showed that the high priest was holy, that God had poured out his Spirit on the man. (Ryken, 902) C. Holy sacrifices The life of a creature is in the blood, and I have given it to you to make atonement for yourselves on the altar; it is the blood that makes atonement for one s life. (Lev. 17:11) For the priests: 1. Sin offering an unblemished bull - Priests put hands on bull as a symbol of transference of their sin to the bull, the substitute - The bull was sacrificed and its blood sprinkled on the horns of the altar, making it holy. - They burned the fat and acceptable inner parts on the altar. - The skin, flesh and entrails taken outside the camp and burned 2. Burnt offering of dedication - the first of two rams - Laid hands on its head and slaughtered it - Sprinkled blood against all the sides of the altar - The ram was cut into pieces, washed and all of it was the burned on the altar - It was a pleasing aroma to God. -Sacrifice of dedication - burning the whole animal signified that the priests were offering themselves in wholehearted service to the LORD. 3. Ram of ordination - the second of two rams. Unique, only for the priests. - The main purpose was to sanctify the priests for their sacred duties - The the blood was sprinkled on their bodies and garments instead of the altar. - The blood was smeared on particular parts of the body to consecrate them: Right earlobe (sanctified to hear God s word) Right thumb (sanctified the hands to perform the mediatorial work) Right big toe (sanctified the feet to walk in the way of the Lord) -The ram of ordination literally means the lamb of filling. -The best parts of the ram and various breads are to fill the hands of the priest, who then gives them back to God as a wave offering to be burned. -But the priest does not come back empty handed. The breast of every animal waved, along with the thigh, is given to back to the priest as his share. The waving is not from side to side but toward the altar and back, showing that the sacrifice is given to God and then received back by the priest for his use. (Longman, Garland, 531) 4. Covenant meal a sacred meal with God. -The priest s share of the ram is to be cooked in a sacred place -They were to eat meat and bread at the entrance of the tabernacle -They are eating in the presence of God. Communion!!! The meal they shared showed that they had fellowship with the living God, that they were bound to him in the covenant. The priests were feasting upon his grace. (Ryken, 915) 5. Ordination took seven days. A bull was sacrificed each day. - Blood from the bull was put on altar each day to purify it and make it most holy. - Whatever touches the consecrated altar will be made holy. The law requires that nearly everything be cleansed with blood. (Heb. 9:11) This included the priest, whom God dedicated for his service. They were washed with water robed in righteousness anointed with oil. They were sprinkled with sacrificial blood. They were purified, sanctified, anointed and justified and in this way they were consecrated for the holy service of God. (Ryken, 905)

4 For the people: 6. Daily offering of two lambs - one in the morning and one in the evening -For the sins of the people -Continuous offering -Pleasing aroma to the LORD Sacrifices must be made for the people. We have the same need. III. Who are we? A. We are like Joshua in Zechariah 3. Then he showed me Joshua the high priest standing before the angel of the Lord, and Satan standing at his right hand to accuse him. And the Lord said to Satan, The Lord rebuke you, O Satan! The Lord who has chosen Jerusalem rebuke you! Is not this a brand plucked from the fire? Now Joshua was standing before the angel, clothed with filthy garments. And the angel said to those who were standing before him, Remove the filthy garments from him. And to him he said, Behold, I have taken your iniquity away from you, and I will clothe you with pure vestments. And I said, Let them put a clean turban on his head. So they put a clean turban on his head and clothed him with garments. And the angel of the Lord was standing by. (Zech 3:1-5,) B. Joshua the priest can t approach the throne to offer sacrifices for himself or the people. Satan has grounds to accuse him. But he has a defense attorney! The Lord. The Lord says: Shame on you Satan. I have pulled Joshua out of the fire. He is precious to me! Give him clean robes. And put a crown on his head, one that says Holy to the Lord! C. That s what Jesus says about you. Give her new clothes, put a crown on her head. She is holy to Me! IV. Jesus our priest A. Jesus is not only clothed in garments of righteousness, He is the pure and righteous One: I saw in the midst of the lampstands one like a son of man, clothed with a long robe and with a golden sash around his chest. The hairs of his head were white, like white wool, like snow. His eyes were like a flame of fire. (Rev 1:13-14) B. And he clothes us in the righteous robes of salvation: For he has clothed me with the garments of salvation; he has covered me with the robe of righteousness, as a bridegroom decks himself like a priest with a beautiful headdress. (Is. 61:10) C. Jesus is the high priest who has engraved our names on himself. Not on his shoulders, but on his hands. (Isaiah 49:15)

5 D. Jesus is the high priest who has lifted us on his shoulders. He bore our burden of guilt when he was stretched out on the cross. E. Jesus is the high priest who holds us close to his heart. He cares about our concerns. For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin. Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need. (Heb 4:14-16) F. Jesus is the high priest who enters God s throne room on our behalf: He is a forerunner on our behalf, having become a priest forever, after the order of Melchizedek. (Hebrews 6:20) God s people needed a perfect priest. They needed a holy priest who was uncorrupted by his own sin. They needed a glorious priest who would shine forever in God s light. They needed a beautiful priest who would offer his pure life to God. In a word, they needed Jesus, because the great message of the gospel is that God has provided the perfect priest in the person of his own Son. (Ryken, 873) V. Jesus our sacrifice A. Jesus is our substitute, who made atonement for our sin. When we lay our hands on him by faith, he becomes our substitute, dying in our place. (Ryken, 905) God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God. (1 Cor. 5:21) B. He was the sin offering that was taken outside the camp: After the high priest offers the blood of animals as a sin offering, the bodies of those animals are burned outside the camp. Jesus himself suffered outside the city gate, so that his blood would make people holy. (Heb. 13:11-12) C. His blood takes us into the throne room of God We have confidence to enter the holy place by the blood of Jesus, by a new and living way which He inaugurated for us through the veil, that is, His flesh. (Hebrews 10:19-20) D. His wounds intercede for us: Five bleeding wounds He bears; received on Calvary; They pour effectual prayers; they strongly plead for me: Forgive him, O forgive, they cry, Forgive him, O forgive, they cry, Nor let that ransomed sinner die! " (Charles Wesley, lyrics, Arise My Soul, Arise!) VI. Why would God do all of this for us? The central staggering promise that He gave to Israel in chapter 29:44-45 is the answer: I will dwell among the sons of Israel and will be their God. They shall know that I am the Lord their God who brought them out of the land of Egypt, that I might dwell among them; I am the Lord their God. And this is perfectly true for us because it has been fulfilled in Jesus: And the Word became flesh, and dwelt among us, and we saw His glory, glory as of the only begotten from the Father, full of grace and truth. (John 1:14)

6 Extra questions: 1.The priests were to keep the lights burning in the tabernacle day and night perpetually. This represents the eternal presence of God with us. Find other verses that show the promise of God s presence. How does knowing this affect your worship? 2.Every aspect of the priestly service reveals something about what Christ, our high priest, has done for us. List some of them and explain how they impact you as a believer. 3. Exodus 29:20 talks about sanctifying the priest s ear, thumb and toe for service. (Think hearing, hands and feet.) I Peter 2:5 tells us that we are to be a holy priesthood to offer spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ. How do these two verses inform the way we are to live? Bibliography Enns, Peter, The NIV Application Commentary - Exodus, Zondervan: Grand Rapids, Kline, Meredith G., Images of the Spirit, self- published, Longman III, Tremper, and David E. Garland., The Expositor s Bible Commentary, Gen-Lev, revised ed., Zondervan: Grand Rapids, Ryken, Philip Graham, Preaching the Word, Exodus Saved for God s Glory, Crossway Books: Wheaton, Aaron Light and perfection on the breast, Harmonious bells below raising the dead To lead them unto life and rest. Thus are true Aarons dressed. Profaneness in my head, Defects and darkness in my breast, A noise of passions ringing me for dead Unto a place where is no rest: Poor priest! thus am I dressed. Only another head I have another heart and breast, Another music, making live, not dead, Without whom I could have no rest: In Him I am well dressed George Herbert

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