Exodus 39:1-21 Click here for Bible Verses
Hi GAMErs!
Today’s passage is Exodus 39:1-21. Let’s go!
Exodus 39:1-21 (NIV)
1 From the blue, purple and scarlet yarn they made woven garments for ministering in the sanctuary. They also made sacred garments for Aaron, as the LORD commanded Moses.
2 They made the ephod of gold, and of blue, purple and scarlet yarn, and of finely twisted linen.
3 They hammered out thin sheets of gold and cut strands to be worked into the blue, purple and scarlet yarn and fine linen–the work of a skilled craftsman.
4 They made shoulder pieces for the ephod, which were attached to two of its corners, so it could be fastened.
5 Its skillfully woven waistband was like it–of one piece with the ephod and made with gold, and with blue, purple and scarlet yarn, and with finely twisted linen, as the LORD commanded Moses.
6 They mounted the onyx stones in gold filigree settings and engraved them like a seal with the names of the sons of Israel.
7 Then they fastened them on the shoulder pieces of the ephod as memorial stones for the sons of Israel, as the LORD commanded Moses.
8 They fashioned the breastpiece–the work of a skilled craftsman. They made it like the ephod: of gold, and of blue, purple and scarlet yarn, and of finely twisted linen.
9 It was square–a span long and a span wide–and folded double.
10 Then they mounted four rows of precious stones on it. In the first row there was a ruby, a topaz and a beryl;
11 in the second row a turquoise, a sapphire and an emerald;
12 in the third row a jacinth, an agate and an amethyst;
13 in the fourth row a chrysolite, an onyx and a jasper. They were mounted in gold filigree settings.
14 There were twelve stones, one for each of the names of the sons of Israel, each engraved like a seal with the name of one of the twelve tribes.
15 For the breastpiece they made braided chains of pure gold, like a rope.
16 They made two gold filigree settings and two gold rings, and fastened the rings to two of the corners of the breastpiece.
17 They fastened the two gold chains to the rings at the corners of the breastpiece,
18 and the other ends of the chains to the two settings, attaching them to the shoulder pieces of the ephod at the front.
19 They made two gold rings and attached them to the other two corners of the breastpiece on the inside edge next to the ephod.
20 Then they made two more gold rings and attached them to the bottom of the shoulder pieces on the front of the ephod, close to the seam just above the waistband of the ephod.
21 They tied the rings of the breastpiece to the rings of the ephod with blue cord, connecting it to the waistband so that the breastpiece would not swing out from the ephod–as the LORD commanded Moses.
On verses 1-21: After describing the building of the tabernacle and all its furniture (Exodus 36-38), Moses goes on to describe in Exodus 39 the making of the clothes for Aaron the high priest and his sons who will all serve as priests. Exodus 39 is basically the fulfillment of Exodus 28, when the LORD first tells Moses the kind of clothes that the high priest and priests should wear.
Here’s what I notice: notice how blingy the high priest’s clothes are. Whether it’s the ephod (v2), the waistband (v5), the onyx stones in gold filigree settings (v6), or the breastpiece (v15-21), all of it is decorated with gold. You only put gold on someone you think is worthy of it. The fact that God put so much gold on His high priest and saw to it that his clothes were decorated in gold speaks of how valuable the priest was to God. Likewise, as believers in Jesus Christ, we are priests in God’s kingdom (1 Peter 2:9) and you are precious to God. God has covered us in something even more precious and, from heaven’s perspective, even blingier than gold; it’s the blood of Jesus.
Let’s show our great worth in God’s sight not necessarily by wearing gold jewelry (see for example 1 Peter 3:3-4 and 1 Timothy 2:9-10), but by seeking to live up to Jesus’ golden standard for our lives, practicing the golden rule to love our neighbour as ourselves, giving God our gold (i.e. our best), and doing things that make a golden difference in the lives of others.
Notice also that the high priest would wear on his shoulders 12 onyx stones, each showing the name of one of the 12 sons of Israel (v6-7). He would also wear on the breastpiece 12 precious gems, each individually unique from all the others, and these also represented the 12 sons of Israel. What can we learn from the fact that God would use unique precious gems to represent the 12 sons of Israel? To God, you’re not just a number, but God knows and loves you personally and specifically. God knows your name and sees you not as some cookie cutter product, but as a unique creation, such that there is no one else like you. Like a precious gem on the breastpiece of the high priest, you are as precious and valuable to God as you are unique. As the title of today’s sharing, you are bling bling for the King.
Just as the high priest wore these names on his breastpiece wherever he went, so Jesus carries you near His heart wherever you go.
It’s no wonder that David would say in Psalm 139, “I praise You because I am fearfully and wonderfully made. Your works are wonderful; I know that full well.” It’s my prayer that you would know how valuable and unique you are, that you would praise God and embrace your uniqueness.
Father, because Your Word says so, I declare that I am loved by You, made by You to be as unique as I am, and cherished by You like a precious gem. Thank You for always keeping me near Your heart. Thank You that I am covered in something more precious than gold. It’s Your love, which You showed most of all when You sent Jesus Christ to die for my sins. Just as You always carry me near and in Your heart, may I carry You near and in my heart today and every day. In Jesus’ name, AMEN!
