READING FOR JULY 19, 2024: EXODUS 28, 1 TIMOTHY 3, PSALM 69:25-36 EXODUS 28 God’s directions for making the priestly garments include more explanation of the symbolic significance than was given regarding the Tabernacle. Before God gives His directions, though, He reaffirms that Aaron and his four sons will be the priests. These priests will have a vital mediating role between the people and God. Thus, their garments are to be set apart with “glory and beauty” to signify this sacred function.
Since the reemphasis on the Biblical text in the Reformation in the sixteenth century, the concept of the priesthood of all believers diminished the separation between priests and the people: “You [all believers] also, as living stones, are being built up as a spiritual house for a holy priesthood, to offer spiritual sacrifices that are acceptable to God through Jesus Christ” (1 Pet. 2:5). Jesus alone is now our high priest for all time: “We have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God” (Heb. 4:14). Priests in the Old Testament were an essential connection to God.
God said Aaron’s garments were to be made by “skillful people whom I have endowed with the spirit of wisdom.” This shows that certain people had developed artistic skills and certain of these were additionally endowed with wisdom by the Holy Spirit. Though this was a one-time task, might artistic gifts still be given by and offered back to God? Due to limited space, let’s focus on the ephod and breastpiece. A robe, tunic, turban, and sash were also made.
The Ephod. An ephod is a ceremonial apron-like item. This one was made of gold and apparently an interwoven combination of violet, purple, and scarlet material—the same colors used in the tabernacle covering. Placed on the shoulder pieces were two onyx stones. Engraved on each were the names of six sons of Israel, arranged in birth order. Obviously, this had the important effect of calling to mind God’s faithfulness to His Covenant, not the least necessary because the people needed to obediently uphold their part of this agreement.
The Breastpiece of Judgment. This breastpiece had the same color motif as the ephod. In Ephesians 6 and Isaiah 59:17 a breastplate of righteousness is mentioned. Garments often have symbolic spiritual significance in the Bible. Keeping our wandering minds set on God and His grace through symbols is always important. Four rows of precious stones, each row containing three stones, were mounted on the breastpiece: “so Aaron shall carry the names of the sons of Israel in the breastpiece of judgment over his heart when he enters the Holy Place, as a memorial before the Lord continually” (28:29). Each stone, like each son of Jacob is different, but each is precious. Urim and Thummim were also attached to the breastpiece. These apparently were gemstones used at God’s direction to help the people discern God’s will. “He shall stand before Eleazar the priest, who shall inquire for him by the judgment of the Urim before the Lord” (Num. 27:21).
READING FOR JULY 19, 2024: EXODUS 28, 1 TIMOTHY 3, PSALM 69:25-36 1 TIMOTHY 3 Paul uses this chapter, along with Titus 1, to describe the appropriate organizational structure of the local church. As with 1 Tim. 2, there is a feminist egalitarian perspective and an historical complementarian one. The egalitarian view adds the words “and women” whenever men or husbands are mentioned in this chapter. Obviously, if one holds to Paul’s prohibition in 1 Tim. 2 of women exercising authority over men in church, one’s view is complementarian. There are two slightly different complementarian views: one allows for women to be deacons because of the context of verses 8-13.
Paul says a man wanting to be an “overseer” aspires to a good position. In Titus 1 this word is used interchangeably with “elder.” The Methodist church appears to use these words more in the sense of an ordained minister or a statewide leader. The biblical usage, as seen in Phil. 1:1, Acts 11:30, and 20:17, is that of a group of local church leaders. The office of “deacon” got its start in Acts 6 when the church got its start. The job of the seven original deacons in Jerusalem was to ensure that widows fairly received their daily distribution of food, which was vital to church unity and growth at that critical time. The closest equivalent to these two offices at Yorktown Methodist Church is the Leadership Council.
Most of this chapter deals with the spiritual and personal characteristics of individuals holding these positions. Some churches don’t examine candidates based on these characteristics, per- haps because the pastor handles the administrative decisions and spiritual direction of the church. Others follow these criteria closely and actively involve the elders and deacons in the church's spiritual and organizational life. If the elders and deacons meet these biblical criteria, the latter model safeguards the church from personal or theological failings of the pastor.
PSALMS 69:25-36 Verse 26 offers the surprising complaint that David’s enemy is taking credit for punishment that the Lord administered. This seems to imply that we should not rejoice whenever a believer is undergoing suffering, even if the Lord is disciplining him/her. David’s disgust is so great at this that he asks that this person’s name not be listed in the Book of Life—in other words be eternally damned. From verse 29 onward, David, though still in pain, seems to have an attitude shift. He changes from cursing his enemy to praising his God.Don’t we all feel more comfortable about this? If one were not aware of the sacrificial system, his comment about God preferring thanksgiving to an ox might seem a bit weird. But what a blessing that God hears the needy and that those in prison who might have problems getting their lawyer still have immediate access to the God of the universe. David, by now really warming up, says even the seas praise Him. And so they do and so should we.
