THE KINGDOM OF PRIESTS.—Exodus 28:39-43
Aaron was the high priest, but all his sons were priests also, and in the text we have given more particularly the garments of the common priests. Let us notice these as suggestive of the character of the kingdom of priests created by Christ Jesus.
I. The holiness of the garments. Not only are Aaron’s garments called “holy,” Exodus 28:2; but the garments for his sons are called “holy” also, Exodus 28:4. He who wore these garments was separated to God, doing God’s service. The sons of Christ are thus holy unto God. These garments indicate the completeness of their sanctification. The garments of the priest in several parts indicate that he is entirely clothed in holiness. Does not the coat of fine linen or the tunic, Exodus 28:39, indicate the sanctification of the heart which beats beneath it? Does not the girdle, Exodus 28:39, which is a symbol of readiness and service, indicate the sanctification of the active life? Does not the bonnet or turban, Exodus 28:4, indicate the hallowing of the intellect? Do not the linen drawers, Exodus 28:42, indicate the sanctification of the flesh? The whole nature and life for God. These garments indicate the thoroughness of their sanctification. The tunic above the drawers, the girdle around the tunic. Our purity must be deep and thorough. “Thou desirest truth in the inward parts.” Are we thus sanctified to God?
II. The beauty of the garments. The workmen were to “take the gold, and the blue, and the red, and the crimson, and the fine linen,” Exodus 28:5. The tunic was of fine linen, the girdle was the work of the embroiderer, and the turban was for glory and beauty. Holiness is beauty. Is not this the grand idea of the priest’s gorgeous apparel? Purity causes the whole man to shine, and touches his whole life into beauty. Many aim to make themselves beautiful, but it is a mistake to aim at beauty; we must aim at purity, and purity transfigures all. What beauty about a true heart! A noble mind! A chaste body! A sincere and transparent life! Holiness is the highest beauty. Gold, blue, crimson, red, fine linen—here you have the richest material, the finest fabric, the highest colours. Holiness of heart and life reveal the highest beauty. Physical, intellectual beauty are alike inferior to the beauty of holiness. “I will greatly rejoice in the Lord, my soul shall be joyful in my God: for He hath clothed me with the garments of salvation; He hath covered, me with the robe of righteousness” (Isaiah 61:10). Notice—
III. The indispensability of these garments, Exodus 28:43. “Without holiness no man shall see the Lord.” Without this holiness our worship will not be acceptable; our services for society not be efficacious; our spirit shall not stand acquitted in the judgment It is the wedding-garment of the Gospel.
ILLUSTRATIONS
BY
REV. WILLIAM ADAMSON
Scripture-Secrets! Exodus 28:1-43. “The Bible can never be exhausted. The most learned commentators and eloquent preachers have but crossed the threshold of the magnificent temple. As in Nature, so in Revelation: the materials of every steam-engine, telegraph, microscope, and other mechanical and scientific contrivances, have been lying for countless ages under the dust of the earth undisturbed until a comparatively recent date.… And what yet may be fashioned out of the materials of nature no sagacity can prognosticate. Our present conquests form the starting-points of more dazzling victories. So, in reference to Revelation: generations yet unborn will group around its pages, and gather from them more sublime and radiant truths than those which have flashed on our intellect and cheered our heart—from the harps of the Hebrew bards they will hear a more elevating melody than ever charmed our spirits, and in the living words of the Divine Man perceive a depth, a grandeur, and a significance of which no conception can be formed. The ancient prophets have yet more to relate. Isaiah will reveal glories surpassing imagination, and Ezekiel unfold splendours which would overpower our visual organs. Intellectual perception will be quickened so as to penetrate the clouds which intercept man’s vision of the truth. No NEW Revelation, however, will be granted; but from the present Bible will stream ‘a light above the brightness of the sun.’ Never need we fear an exhaustion of the truth. It is sempiternal as God, and perennial as the springs of immortality.”
“The Book of God! a well of streams divine!
But who would wish the riches of that mine
To make his own, his thirst to satisfy
From that pure well, must ear, eye, soul apply.”
—Mant.
Holy Wholly! Exodus 28:40-43. In the raiment of Aaron, as in all the tabernacle appurtenances, every part was holy throughout. Not a carven pomegranate—not a bell, silver or golden, but was holy wholly. The table and its lamps, with flowers of silver light, tent and stones, fluttering curtains and ascending incense, altar and sacrifice, breastplate and ephod, mitre and gem-clasped girdle, wreathen chains and jewelled hangings, were holy. This signified not only
(1) the entire holiness of God, with whom we have to do, but also
(2) the absolute necessity for thorough sanctification of heart and life in ourselves. This is the will of God; and to accomplish this He sets His jewels in the fires that they may be purified, and like Himself in holiness.
“No spot or wrinkle on their holy brow,
No film upon their robes of dazzling white,
Most beautiful, most glorious; every saint
HOLY in individual HOLINESS.”