Ex. 31:10; 35:19; 39:1,4110And the cloths of service, and the holy garments for Aaron the priest, and the garments of his sons, to minister in the priest's office, (Exodus 31:10)
19The cloths of service, to do service in the holy place, the holy garments for Aaron the priest, and the garments of his sons, to minister in the priest's office. (Exodus 35:19)
1And of the blue, and purple, and scarlet, they made cloths of service, to do service in the holy place, and made the holy garments for Aaron; as the Lord commanded Moses. (Exodus 39:1)
41The cloths of service to do service in the holy place, and the holy garments for Aaron the priest, and his sons' garments, to minister in the priest's office. (Exodus 39:41).
THE next lesson we will try to learn will be from the “holy garments” in which the priests were to be clothed. When they went into the sanctuary to do service they must wear special clothing suited to that holy place, and the garments in which they robed themselves were called holy.
In these days of Christianity there is no holy place where God’s glory is veiled from the eyes of the people. To the prophet Ezekiel it was made known that the Lord would go far off from His sanctuary, because of the abominations committed there (Ez. 8:6), and this prophet saw in vision “the glory of the God of Israel” lifted up, and departing from the temple which God had owned, as His house. Now, not only is the glory departed, but the temple itself is gone.
Are we then shut out from the presence of God, with no priest to stand between us and Him? Oh, no! When the veil of the temple was rent, “boldness to enter into the holiest by the blood of Jesus,” the “new and living way” was given to all who believe in Him. Thus we have access into God’s very presence by faith. Do we not then need priests to offer up our offerings unto God? We do; but, mark it well, the Lord has made all of us, who believe in Him, priests who may offer their own offerings. “Unto Him that loved us, and washed us from our sins in His own blood, and hath made us kings and priests unto God and His Father.”
And have we, who are made priests, any holy garments to put on? Listen again to what God says, “He hath clothed me with the garments of salvation, He hath covered me with the robe of righteousness.” (Is. 61:10.) How very beautiful this is! —prophetic language of one who was greatly rejoicing in the Lord, and whose soul was joyful in his God. And now, we who believe in Jesus can say, Christ is my salvation, and He is my robe of righteousness. What more beautiful garment, what holier dress could we have?
Oh, dear young Christian, do not forget that you are clothed with this wonderful robe. May you be enabled, through grace, to “walk in newness of life,” and according to the heavenly position into which you are brought! And may you know the power of that “pure religion and undefiled” which will keep you “unspotted from the world.”
ML 01/17/1904