It’s time to get our armor on and try it all out! See how things work. Adjust it so it fits and make sure we all know how to move about in it swiftly and with precision.
There is much to be said and to learn about with the Tabernacle of God, the Arc of the Covenant and the Priestly Garments and all the many duties of the Aaronic priesthood. Why? Because all of these priestly positions and duties were a shadow of things to come and were a symbolic order of preservation for God’s chosen people Israel to teach them and guide them until the coming of their Messiah who would fulfill all things and set up God’s Heavenly Kingdom and Priesthood by the Heavenly Order of Melchizedek. And that has taken place! The Lord has been made our High Priest forever by the heavenly order of Melchizedek! And he is the King of Kings and Lord of Lords.
In looking at the old covenant Tabernacle and Temple duties and priestly garments, I believe we find that the priestly garments and breastplate parallels with the Full Armor of God that we are instructed in Ephesians to put on daily in order to stand in the wicked day. Not that there is any High Priest other than our Lord, but that there are parallels to the Armor of God and the garments of the priests. How many of you have compared these garments? I had not looked at the garments in this way until we began to look at the Lord our living corner stone and we as living stones who make up the Temple of God. (And our body part of light and how to turn that on to reach its highest beam).
Here is what I found. Can you see it?
Whereas the Temple and the Levitical Priesthood of Aaron were a shadow of things to come, it led me to look at the garments of the High Priests.
This came about in my thoughts when looking at the scriptures about those who believe in the Lord as being made living stones and the Lord being the chief corner stone that the builders rejected. Which among the builders who rejected Him were the same ones wearing the stones in the breastplate that had to be worn in the Holy of Holies in the presence of God and before the Arc of the Covenant. No one could touch the Arc without sudden death except the High Priest who wore the protective breastplate. The Arc of the Covenant radiated with the great power of the light of the Holy Spirit and the presence of God was within it. The Arc was carried before them into battle and rested inside the Holy of Holies in the Temple, behind the veil. There are many scriptures pertaining to the Arc of the Covenant. There are many interpretations about the Arc, but we are sticking today with garments of the priesthood as it is written that now we are the temple and the Holy Spirit, the Lord and our Father dwell in us and us in them, and we are made one with them, even as Jesus and His Father are one.
John 17: 20-24
“20Neither pray I for these alone, but for them also which shall believe on me through their word; 21That they all may be one; as thou, Father, art in me, and I in thee, that they also may be one in us: that the world may believe that thou hast sent me.
“22And the glory which thou gavest me I have given them; that they may be one, even as we are one: 23I in them, and thou in me, that they may be made perfect in one; and that the world may know that thou hast sent me, and hast loved them, as thou hast loved me. 24Father, I will that they also, whom thou hast given me, be with me where I am; that they may behold my glory, which thou hast given me: for thou lovedst me before the foundation of the world.“
That being said, we are going to look at those things that pertained to the garments of the Levitical Priesthood of Aaron and see how they might represent our Armor of God that all who have faith in the Lord are given to wear.
Let us first look at what it says on this in Matthew Henry’s Commentary:
Exodus 28:40
And for Aaron’s sons thou shalt make coats, and thou shalt make for them girdles, and bonnets shalt thou make for them, for glory and for beauty.
28:40-43 The priest’s garments typify the righteousness of Christ. If we appear not before God in that, we shall bear our iniquity, and die. Blessed is he, therefore, that watcheth, and keepeth his garments, Re 16:15. And blessed be God that we have a High Priest, appointed of God, and set apart for his work; furnished for his high office by the glory of his Divine majesty, and the beauty of perfect holiness. Happy are we, if by the law spiritually understood, we see that such a High Priest became us; that we cannot draw near to a holy God, or be accepted, but by him. There is no light, no wisdom, no perfection, but from him; no glory, no beauty, but in being like unto him. Let us take encouragement from the power, love, and compassion of our High Priest, to draw near with boldness to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.
We are told to put on the whole armor of God so we can stand against the wiles of the devil.
The Full Armor of God Ephesians 6:10 – 17 says, “10 Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might. 11 Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. 12 For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places. 13 Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. 14 Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness; 15 And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace; 16 Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked. 17 And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God:
Pray Continually for all others as the Aaron Priesthood did…
18 Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints; 19And for me, that utterance may be given unto me, that I may open my mouth boldly, to make known the mystery of the gospel, 20 For which I am an ambassador in bonds: that therein I may speak boldly, as I ought to speak.
The full armor of God is found in the high priests attire.
We are now the temple of God and the Lord, and God our Father and the Holy Spirit dwell in us and us in them. 1Peter 2:5, ” Ye also, as lively stones, are built up a spiritual house, an holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God by Jesus Christ.” We are living stones in the Kingdom of God, and the government rests upon the Lords shoulders as it did on the High Priest’s shoulders of the Ephod that held the breastplate in place… the ephod represents our High Priest Jesus’s belt of truth. We are to wear the linen ephods of the lessor priests under our High Priest. For the Lord made us Priests and Kings.
1Peter 2:9, “9But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvelous light: 10Which in time past were not a people, but are now the people of God: which had not obtained mercy, but now have obtained mercy.”
Revelation 1:6, “And hath made us kings and priests unto God and his Father; to him be glory and dominion for ever and ever. Amen.”
In Exodus 19:6, it is written: “And you shall be to me a Kingdom of priests and a holy nation.”
We are to put on the belt of truth in our armor of God that we are given to wear.
The belt of truth is the ephod or belt. The two stones on the shoulders of the ephod bore the names of the children of Israel The Ephod was attached to the breastplate of judgement…it was truth. Exodus 28:8 “8 And the curious girdle of the ephod, which is upon it, shall be of the same, according to the work thereof; even of gold, of blue, and purple, and scarlet, and fine twined linen.”
Exodus 28:12
12 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.
Isaiah 9:6
6 For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.
Matthew Henry Commentary Exodus 28:6-14 This richly-wrought ephod was the outmost garment of the high priest; plain linen ephods were worn by the inferior priests. It was a short coat without sleeves, fastened close to the body with a girdle. The shoulder-pieces were buttoned together with precious stones set in gold, one on each shoulder, on which were engraven the names of the children of Israel. Thus Christ, our High Priest, presents his people before the Lord for a memorial. As Christ’s coat had no seam, but was woven from the top throughout, so it was with the ephod. The golden bells on this ephod, by their preciousness and pleasant sound, well represent the good profession that the saints make, and the pomegranates the fruit they bring forth.
Thus, the feet shod of Peace is represented in the golden bells and pomegranates… the fruit they bring forth.
The breastplate of righteousness is the high priest breastplate.
Exodus 28:15-25, 15 And thou shalt make the breastplate of judgment with cunning work; after the work of the ephod thou shalt make it; of gold, of blue, and of purple, and of scarlet, and of fine twined linen, shalt thou make it.
16 Foursquare it shall be being doubled; a span shall be the length thereof, and a span shall be the breadth thereof. (The “span” was reckoned at half a cubit, or about nine inches. Matthew Henry’s Concise Commentary 28:15-30 The chief ornament of the high priest, was the breastplate, a rich piece of cloth, curiously worked).
17 And thou shalt set in it settings of stones, even four rows of stones: the first row shall be a sardius, a topaz, and a carbuncle: this shall be the first row.
18 And the second row shall be an emerald, a sapphire, and a diamond. 19 And the third row a ligure, an agate, and an amethyst.
20 And the fourth row a beryl, and an onyx, and a jasper: they shall be set in gold in their inclosings. 21 And the stones shall be with the names of the children of Israel, twelve, according to their names, like the engravings of a signet; every one with his name shall they be according to the twelve tribes.
22 And thou shalt make upon the breastplate chains at the ends of wreathen work of pure gold.
23 And thou shalt make upon the breastplate two rings of gold, and shalt put the two rings on the two ends of the breastplate. 24 And thou shalt put the two wreathen chains of gold in the two rings which are on the ends of the breastplate. 25 And the other two ends of the two wreathen chains thou shalt fasten in the two ouches, and put them on the shoulder pieces of the ephod before it.
Exodus 28:28-29, “28 And they shall bind the breastplate by the rings thereof unto the rings of the ephod with a lace of blue, that it may be above the curious girdle of the ephod, and that the breastplate be not loosed from the ephod.
29 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.“
The helmet of salvation is the turban with a plate of pure gold. The Lord said “Buy from me Gold tried in the fire”. The belt of truth is attached to the judgement of God the breastplate of the Holy Spirit protection within us all the four rows of stones represented the children of Israel and the stones of memorial on the shoulder straps that held the breastplate together… two stones Jacob and Joseph contained all the names of the children of Israel. Shouldering the government of the Lord God our Savior. “The government shall be upon his shoulders.”
Pulling it all together…
The belt of Truth is the epod.
The breastplate of righteousness is the high priest breastplate… the shadow of things to come. The full armor of God was represented by the dress of the High Priest. The Lord has made us both priests and kings in His Kingdom.
Thus the helmet of salvation is the turban.
The sword of the spirit is the Word of God. It is a two edged sword. Exodus 31:18
The shield of faith is the protection the light, the energy field of the Lord. God’s light and divine protection. The Holy Spirit within the Arc. So powerful the protection is against the fiery darts of the wicked ones.
The stones on the breastplate to me tightly fit together in rows of 4 down and 3 across in a span by span of 9 inches by 9 inches, show we are held close to the Lord over His heart. In my thoughts, this appears to also provide the grounding so only the high priest who was grounded with the precious stones (living stones) was able to touch the ark of the covenant… no one else could touch it without being destroyed. No one can annul the new covenant that God has given to the people who love Him. And there is no way to enter into God’s Arc of the Covenant except through the Lord with the garments and turban of the Lord in the manner the Lord appointed them especially not without the helmet of salvation. The only protection is with the Lord God.
Feet shod of Peace is represented in the golden bells and pomegranates… the fruit they bring forth.
Thus we are given the full armor of God that was represented in the garments of the High Priest who entered into the Holy of Holies of which they only were worthy to enter into before the arc of the covenant… of which the new covenant has come in its fullness and now all who have faith in the Lord and have repented and follow Him… are given the full armor of the priesthood by the order of Melchizedek who Christ our Lord is our High Priest forever. We must wear all of our armor daily.
No one could touch the arc without the adornments of the priesthood lest they would be instantly struck dead.
Aaron as High Priest was a shadow of things to come… our Lord Jesus the Christ is the High Priest forever by the order of Melchizedek. Whereas John the Baptist was the last of the priestly line of Aaron, took not the priesthood but was one crying in the wilderness with the spirit of Elijah to prepare the way of the Lord baptizing in water. When the Lord came to John to be baptized John passed over the Levitical priesthood of Aaron to the Messiah of the Heavenly order of Melchizedek, our High Priest Forever.
Hebrews 7:11-21
11 If therefore perfection were by the Levitical priesthood, (for under it the people received the law,) what further need was there that another priest should rise after the order of Melchisedec, and not be called after the order of Aaron? 12 For the priesthood being changed, there is made of necessity a change also of the law. 13 For he of whom these things are spoken pertaineth to another tribe, of which no man gave attendance at the altar. 14 For it is evident that our Lord sprang out of Juda; of which tribe Moses spake nothing concerning priesthood. 15 And it is yet far more evident: for that after the similitude of Melchisedec there ariseth another priest, 16 Who is made, not after the law of a carnal commandment, but after the power of an endless life.
17 For he testifieth, Thou art a priest for ever after the order of Melchisedec.
18 For there is verily a disannulling of the commandment going before for the weakness and unprofitableness thereof. 19 For the law made nothing perfect, but the bringing in of a better hope did; by the which we draw nigh unto God. 20 And inasmuch as not without an oath he was made priest:
21 (For those priests were made without an oath; but this with an oath by him that said unto him, The Lord sware and will not repent, Thou art a priest for ever after the order of Melchisedec:) 22 By so much was Jesus made a surety of a better testament.
23 And they truly were many priests, because they were not suffered to continue by reason of death: 24 But this man, because he continueth ever, hath an unchangeable priesthood. 25 Wherefore he is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by him, seeing he ever liveth to make intercession for them.
26 For such an high priest became us, who is holy, harmless, undefiled, separate from sinners, and made higher than the heavens; 27 Who needeth not daily, as those high priests, to offer up sacrifice, first for his own sins, and then for the people’s: for this he did once, when he offered up himself. 28 For the law maketh men high priests which have infirmity; but the word of the oath, which was since the law, maketh the Son, who is consecrated for evermore.
The Urim and Thummim:
And then there is also the Urim and the Thummim which were behind the breast plate. I have always seen this as the Holy Spirit of God who answers our difficult questions and heeds us with a yes and a no. “Go there, don’t go there.” “Yes do it. No don’t do it.”
The breastplate was actually made of two pieces, which formed a sort of purse, or bag, in which also was kept the two sacred stones, named the Urim (representing light and excellence) and the Thummim (representing perfection and completion). These stones were some divinely appointed instruments by which the High Priest inquired of God about matters concerning the welfare of the Children of Israel. The Bible makes several references to these miraculous stones, but not anything physical, like the shape or size.
Matthew Henry’s Commentary has this to say of the breastplate and the Urim and the Thummin – light and integrity (truth).
And thou shalt make the breastplate of judgment with cunning work; after the work of the ephod thou shalt make it; of gold, of blue, and of purple, and of scarlet, and of fine twined linen, shalt thou make it.
“28:15-30 The chief ornament of the high priest, was the breastplate, a rich piece of cloth, curiously worked. The name of each tribe was graven in a precious stone, fixed in the breastplate, to signify how precious, in God’s sight, believers are, and how honourable. How small and poor soever the tribe was, it was as a precious stone in the breastplate of the high priest; thus are all the saints dear to Christ, however men esteem them. The high priest had the names of the tribes, both on his shoulders and on his breast, which reminds us of the power and the love with which our Lord Jesus pleads for those that are his. He not only bears them up in his arms with almighty strength, but he carries them in his bosom with tender affection. What comfort is this to us in all our addresses to God!
“The Urim and Thummim, by which the will of God was made known in doubtful cases, were put in this breastplate. Urim and Thummim signify light and integrity. There are many conjectures what these were; the most probable opinion seems to be, that they were the twelve precious stones in the high priest’s breastplate. Now, Christ is our Oracle. By him God, in these last days, makes known himself and his mind to us, Heb 1:1,2; Joh 1:18. He is the true Light, the faithful Witness, the Truth itself, and from him we receive the Spirit of Truth, who leads into all truth.”
There is so much to cover on this roll out of many scriptures. It is filtered throughout the testaments of the prophets and of our Lord’s disciples. I don’t pretend to be accurate in all I have thought in this… but I do hope it kindles a fire for all to dig in and find what they see as truth. For we all know in part and learn here a little and there a little. There is so much to learn. We can fully appreciate our armor when we know the power it holds and the truth behind it. We are pulling back the veil and looking with eyes to see and listening with ears to hear. The story is unfolding in ways that keep getting easier and easier to see.
Moses was given all the instruction for the Tabernacle, the Law, The Priesthood and all the Priestly Utensils, Garments and instructions by God, Himself on Mount Sinai.
After leading the Hebrews out from the bondage of Egypt, and through the Red Sea, the Bible tells us that in Exodus 24 verse 12, the Lord said to Moses, “Come up to me into the mount, and be there: and I will give thee tables of stone, and a law, and commandments which I have written; that thou mayest teach them.”
Today, as living stones through the blood of our Lord we are the Temple and the Holy of Holies is within us and dwells there to teach all things. The Lord has made us priests and kings… and given us the helmet of salvation and the full armor of God to wear and wield so we can stand in the wicked days against the dark principalities and powers. It’s time for us to learn how to work our equipment and wield our gifts.
And so, it is written in Exodus and other scriptures, that while Moses was given instruction on Mt. Sinai of what to do with the tabernacle and how to build it… the people were impatient and demanded Aaron make them a molten calf of their gold to be a god to be worshipped even declaring these be the gods that brought Israel out of Egypt.
This is beginning to become very visual like a play… where the Lord in the new covenant freed the people from darkness and showed them the light of the world and said come follow me…where in his absence… many people have forgotten all the instruction and made for themselves all manner of religions within the camp of the Lord and now… they say “these are the gods we worship” and “here are the writings by which we shall follow”. Whereas some are as far away from the truth as the golden calf. And no one flinches as to what the Lord shall do to them when they meet him, and or when He returns. The same as no one flinched of what Moses would do when he returned from Almighty God on top of Mt. Sinai.
We are living in an age where we truth is trampled and unrighteousness abounds. We are in the days of Noah and Sodom and Gomorrah and the darkness of Egypt is shouting make us an A.I. God we can worship and write for us a new set of words, that we can all say is our god. One that says what we do is good.
When we follow the Hebrews wandering in the wilderness we find parallels of our own wandering through 2024 as all the darkness covers more and more of the land. Yet, there is a light and it is bright and many are holding that light up high for others to see and know… there are many others and they are not alone. The Lord is within His people in their heart we are shielded by his breastplate, and we have a helmet of salvation and the full armor of God. We have everything we need to stand and we are never alone. We are God’s Holy Children and a Royal Holy Priesthood.
KEEP ON PRESSING INTO THE KINGDOM OF GOD! PRESS, PRESS, PRESS!
DIANNE
