Clothing symbolizes a way of life, to be kept clean, as in the
"wedding garment" of Christ's parable (Mat 22:11-13). It describes an inner
beauty, not like the Pharisees' "whited sepulchres" -- which are outwardly
clean, but inside are filled with dead men's bones (Mat 23:25-28; Ecc 3:11).
"Let your priests be clothed with righteousness" (Psa 132:9). "I put on
righteousness, and it clothed me: my judgment was as a robe and diadem" (Job
29:14). "Put on the new man... righteousness, true holiness" (Eph 4:24). "Be
clothed with humility" (1Pe 5:5). "Whole armor of God..." (Eph 6).
"Righteousness, girdle of loins; faithfulness, girdle of reins" (Isa 11:5).
"Clothed with house from heaven" (2Co 5:2,3). "Girt with golden girdle" (Rev
1:13).
TO GIVE HIM DIGNITY AND HONOR: "For glory and for
beauty" (AV). Cp Psa 27:4; 29:2; 90:17; 149:4.
"God's purpose for these particular works of Bezalel suggests
a purpose for all of the arts -- to glorify God and to manifest beauty" (Gene
Edward Veith).
Exo 28:5
GOLD: A tried faith (1Pe 1:7), necessary to please God
(Heb 11:6). "When he has tried me, I shall come forth as gold" (Job
23:10).
BLUE: Color of heaven, God's dwelling (on fringe of
garments, to remember commandments: Num 15:37-40).
PURPLE: Color of kings. Jesus wore such a robe. Cp Mar
15:17; Est 8:15; Dan 5:7 mg. Combination: blue of God and red of man.
SCARLET: Or red, "adom": denotes our mortal, sinful
natures (Isa 1:18; Rev 6:4; 17:3). (Conc Christ: "God made him to be sin": 2Co
5:21.)
FINE LINEN: White, sym righteousness (Rev
19:8).
Exo 28:8
SKILLFULLY WOVEN WAISTBAND: "Curious girdle" (AV). A
belt, allowing freedom of movement without stumbling. Exhortation to put aside
hindrances. An active, working righteousness: "Loins girt, lamps burning... as
men that wait for their lord" (Luk 12:35,36). "Gird up loins of mind" (1Pe
1:13). Also, Eph 6:4.
Exo 28:12
ON THE SHOULDER PIECES: And upon heart (v 30), and
forehead (v 38).
MEMORIAL STONES FOR THE SONS OF ISRAEL: And for God (v
29).
Exo 28:15
A BREASTPIECE FOR MAKING DECISIONS: "A breastplate of
judgment" (AV). "Urim" (lights: ie Zec 14:7) and "Thummim" (fullness: ie Col
1:19) speak of glorious light from stones in breastplate. Represent the light of
God (1Ti 6:16) and holy men -- ie saints (Deu 33:8), both now (Phi 2:15; Eph
5:8) and in purified state (Dan 12:3; Mat 13:43).
Exo 28:16
SQUARE: "Foursquare" (AV), sym Israel, with 4 cherubim
of Ezek, 4 divisions of camp, and "foursquare" New Jerusalem. Prob 4 lines of 3
stones each, forming a square, like the encampment of Israel.
Exo 28:21
"The names of all the saints he bears, engraven on his
heart..." (cp v 39).
Exo 28:29
WHEN AARON ENTERS THE HOLY PLACE, HE WILL BEAR THE NAMES OF
THE SONS OF ISRAEL OVER HIS HEART: Christ bore our names into the holy
place: By his own blood, obtaining eternal redemption (for himself, and for
others): Heb 9:11,12.
A CONTINUING MEMORIAL BEFORE THE LORD: And a memorial
to the children of Israel (v 12). "To bring them to continual remembrance before
the Lord" (RSV).
Exo 28:30
PUT... IN: Or "inside". A pouch, behind breastplate
(WRev 24). Cp Lev 8:8.
OVER HIS HEART: "Set me as a seal upon your heart"
(Song 8:6).
Exo 28:33
POMEGRANATES: Sig "fruit": "By their fruits you shall
know them" (Mat 7:16). "Fruits of spirit" (Gal 5:22,23). The land of promise =
"land of pomegranates" (Deu 8:8), and is for those who manifest the "fruits of
the Spirit". Sym multitudinous Christ, with many seeds in perfect
whole.
GOLD BELLS: The bell-shaped blossom as well as the ripe
fruit (LB 584). Thus, both promise and fruition. Also, "bells" for a joyful
noise of worship. Bells of gold = words of faith.
Exo 28:37
TURBAN: "Mitre" (AV). A crown, on forehead. "As
frontlets between your eyes" (Deu 6:6-9). Our minds always engraved with mind of
God; "sealed" (Rev 7:2,3; Zec 3:4; 2Co 3:3; 11:22).