The Memorial

From: The Tabernacle, the Priesthood and the Offerings By: Henry William Soltau

Exodus 28:12; Exodus 39:7; Exodus 28:29 • 3 min. read • grade level: 9

Exodus 28:12¹²And thou shalt put the two stones upon the shoulders of the ephod for stones of memorial unto the children of Israel: and Aaron shall bear their names before the Lord upon his two shoulders for a memorial. (Exodus 28:12); Exodus 39:7⁷And he put them on the shoulders of the ephod, that they should be stones for a memorial to the children of Israel; as the Lord commanded Moses. (Exodus 39:7); Exodus 28:29²⁹And Aaron shall bear the names of the children of Israel in the breastplate of judgment upon his heart, when he goeth in unto the holy place, for a memorial before the Lord continually. (Exodus 28:29)

"And thou shalt put the two stones upon the shoulders of the ephod, for stones of memorial unto the children of Israel: and Aaron shall bear their names before the Lord upon his two shoulders for a memorial." Exodus 28:12¹²And thou shalt put the two stones upon the shoulders of the ephod for stones of memorial unto the children of Israel: and Aaron shall bear their names before the Lord upon his two shoulders for a memorial. (Exodus 28:12). "And he put them (the onyx-stones) on the shoulders of the ephod, that they should be stones for a memorial to the children of Israel, as the Lord commanded." Ex. 39:7⁷And he put them on the shoulders of the ephod, that they should be stones for a memorial to the children of Israel; as the Lord commanded Moses. (Exodus 39:7). "And Aaron shall bear the names of the children of Israel in the breastplate of judgment upon his heart, when he goeth in unto the holy place, for a memorial before the Lord continually." Ex. 28:29²⁹And Aaron shall bear the names of the children of Israel in the breastplate of judgment upon his heart, when he goeth in unto the holy place, for a memorial before the Lord continually. (Exodus 28:29).

Israel had one feast, to which this word " memorial" was peculiarly attached-the feast of the passover. " This day shall be unto you for a memorial: and ye shall keep it a feast to the Lord throughout your generations: ye shall keep it a feast by an ordinance forever." Ex. 12:14¹⁴And this day shall be unto you for a memorial; and ye shall keep it a feast to the Lord throughout your generations; ye shall keep it a feast by an ordinance for ever. (Exodus 12:14), and xiii 9. They had therefore two constant reasons for remembering the Lord-their deliverance from judgment and bondage in Egypt, by the blood of the paschal lamb; and their acceptance in the brilliancy and glory of precious stones before the Lord, on the shoulders of the high priest, where their names were engraved according to their birth; children of Israel; of him who as prince with God and with men, had power, and had prevailed.

There are two memorials to us, as believers, which should be constantly kept in remembrance-our redemption through the precious blood of the Lamb-redemption not only from wrath, but from this present evil world-and our standing before God as His children, upheld in His presence, in all the glory and beauty of His Son.

The names of the children of Israel, on the shoulder-stones and on the breastplate, were also borne as a memorial before the Lord. Aaron could not enter the holy place without reminding Jehovah of the love and perfection in which Israel stood accepted before Him, The sevenfold light of the candlestick in the holy place, and the light of God's glory from between the Cherubim, over the mercy-seat, in the holy of holies, caused: the precious stones to send forth their brilliancy and various beautiful tints, so as to attract the eyes of the Lord of Hosts. In like manner, we have a constant memorial before Him, in our great High Priest, who, presents us, in the fullness of His love and power, bright with His own glory; spotless in His own holiness; righteous, because He is our righteousness; and strong,. for He is our strength; emblazoned on the heart of love, and on the shoulders of power; shining forth with His own glory and beauty, as jewels adorning Him, from whom alone all our luster and perfection spring.

Continually. This word is especially connected with the show-bread, Ex. 25:30³⁰And thou shalt set upon the table showbread before me alway. (Exodus 25:30). "Thou shalt set upon the table show-bread before me alway, or continually." Lev. 24:8⁸Every sabbath he shall set it in order before the Lord continually, being taken from the children of Israel by an everlasting covenant. (Leviticus 24:8); Num. 4:7⁷And upon the table of showbread they shall spread a cloth of blue, and put thereon the dishes, and the spoons, and the bowls, and covers to cover withal: and the continual bread shall be thereon: (Numbers 4:7).

With the candlestick: " to cause the lamp to burn always, or continually." Ex. 27:20²⁰And thou shalt command the children of Israel, that they bring thee pure oil olive beaten for the light, to cause the lamp to burn always. (Exodus 27:20); Lev. 24:2,3,4²Command the children of Israel, that they bring unto thee pure oil olive beaten for the light, to cause the lamps to burn continually. ³Without the vail of the testimony, in the tabernacle of the congregation, shall Aaron order it from the evening unto the morning before the Lord continually: it shall be a statute for ever in your generations. ⁴He shall order the lamps upon the pure candlestick before the Lord continually. (Leviticus 24:2‑4).

With the incense, " a perpetual, or continual incense before the Lord." Ex. 30:8⁸And when Aaron lighteth the lamps at even, he shall burn incense upon it, a perpetual incense before the Lord throughout your generations. (Exodus 30:8).

With the burnt-offering and the fire on the altar.

Ex. 29:38,42³⁸Now this is that which thou shalt offer upon the altar; two lambs of the first year day by day continually. (Exodus 29:38)
⁴²This shall be a continual burnt offering throughout your generations at the door of the tabernacle of the congregation before the Lord: where I will meet you, to speak there unto thee. (Exodus 29:42); Lev. 6:13¹³The fire shall ever be burning upon the altar; it shall never go out. (Leviticus 6:13); Num. 28:3,6³And thou shalt say unto them, This is the offering made by fire which ye shall offer unto the Lord; two lambs of the first year without spot day by day, for a continual burnt offering. (Numbers 28:3)
⁶It is a continual burnt offering, which was ordained in mount Sinai for a sweet savor, a sacrifice made by fire unto the Lord. (Numbers 28:6). With the meat-offering. Lev. 6:20²⁰This is the offering of Aaron and of his sons, which they shall offer unto the Lord in the day when he is anointed; the tenth part of an ephah of fine flour for a meat offering perpetual, half of it in the morning, and half thereof at night. (Leviticus 6:20); Num. 4:16¹⁶And to the office of Eleazar the son of Aaron the priest pertaineth the oil for the light, and the sweet incense, and the daily meat offering, and the anointing oil, and the oversight of all the tabernacle, and of all that therein is, in the sanctuary, and in the vessels thereof. (Numbers 4:16). With the golden plate on the forehead of the high priest. Ex. 28:38³⁸And it shall be upon Aaron's forehead, that Aaron may bear the iniquity of the holy things, which the children of Israel shall hallow in all their holy gifts; and it shall be always upon his forehead, that they may be accepted before the Lord. (Exodus 28:38).

It tells us of the ceaseless presence of Christ before God for us. That He ever liveth to make intercession for us. That the efficacy of His sacrifice is perpetual; and that we, as believers, are ever presented in the fullness of His glory before God. Complete in Him. Accepted in the Beloved. His priestly ministrations on behalf of His people never fail. With unwearied faithfulness He continues with them and for them to the end of the world.

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