29 “So Aaron shall bear the names of the sons of Israel on the breastplate of judgment over his heart, when he goes into the holy place, as a memorial before the LORD continually."
Have you ever been told things in church like, "God may come to you (while you are worshipping Him in church mind you) and whisper to you, 'You're not being real with Me;' or 'You're not really worshipping me. You're just going through the motions.' Or maybe, 'I see what you can become,' when here you are thinking you're just loser and going nowhere in life."
I actually heard with my own ears a theologian (PhD in Divinity) say those very words, (to my incredulous ears), heaping condemnation on his hearers. If he or she is trying to get YOU LOOKING AT YOU, implying somehow you haven't quite measured up, he or she is not speaking Gods's word.
I have good news for you: THOSE ACCUSATIONS ARE NOT FROM GOD. I don't care if the person has a PhD and says "Thus saith the Lord." That doesn't mean that person is speaking a word from God. He or she has, in fact, grieved the Holy Spirit.
(For more on that topic, follow this link:
How can you tell? Because our Father doesn't make you feel bad, somehow less or condemned nor does He tell you that you've "fallen short." Far from it! Jesus also does not hurl insults or thoughts of condemnation at you which is exactly what this is. YOU looking at YOU is actually a form of SELF-RIGHTEOUSNESS. More to the point, it is the spirit of ANTI-CHRIST at work in the Church. When you're not looking at Jesus but focused 180% in THE WRONG DIRECTION, it is against, or anti, Christ.
There is, however, someone who does hate you. He bends over backwards to get you to focus on you and to get your eyes off Jesus. Hmmm......lemme think now....who could it be?......Oh, yeah: THE DEVIL. Well, WE DON'T CARE WHAT HE THINKS. What we want to know is, What does God think? What does He see when He looks at you?
Of all his garments, it was the MOST EXPENSIVE accessory by far. The twelve precious stones mounted on it, one for each tribe, and the onyx stones on on his shoulders, were of the finest quality on earth and far beyond price.
There is, however, someone who does hate you. He bends over backwards to get you to focus on you and to get your eyes off Jesus. Hmmm......lemme think now....who could it be?......Oh, yeah: THE DEVIL. Well, WE DON'T CARE WHAT HE THINKS. What we want to know is, What does God think? What does He see when He looks at you?
The Breastplate of Judgment paints a very clear picture of exactly what He sees. Understanding this will put your mind and heart at ease and put to rest any thoughts of self doubt you may have.
Of all his garments, it was the MOST EXPENSIVE accessory by far. The twelve precious stones mounted on it, one for each tribe, and the onyx stones on on his shoulders, were of the finest quality on earth and far beyond price.
Where did they get all these things to fashion the garments and the tabernacle? Every single bit of gold, silver, precious metals and gems were given to the Israelites by their Egyptian neighbors when the left Egypt. They were put to good use in crafting everything according to what God commanded Moses on Mt. Sinai.
That night when they left their land of slavery, literally the wealth of the "world" (Egypt is a picture of the world) was thrown at their feet! Back pay for those 400 years of slave labor. Not too shabby!
(Onyx stones with tribes of Israel listed in birth order.)
Two brilliant onyx stones were skillfully placed in settings of gold on high priest's shoulders. These were not the kind of onyx we have today. They were VERY precious, priceless stones whose brilliance flashed like fire when illuminated! Each was engraved with the names of the 12 tribes, six on each stone, in BIRTH ORDER: Reuben, Simeon, Levi, Judah.....etc.
They were identical in size, shape and setting typifying that all believers, from the newest Christian to the most seasoned believer, are equally precious and complete in His sight. The fact that the names were ENGRAVED--not written, into each stone, shows us that we are eternally secure in Jesus.
They were CHAINED to the ephod by gold chains that were braided and twisted for double strength. The Holy Spirit is showing that we are SECURELY FASTENED TO OUR HIGH PRIEST. Not only that, but our names are ENGRAVED, NOT WRITTEN, into the surface of each stone. They can NEVER be removed meaning your salvation is SECURE. YOU CANNOT LOSE IT no matter what you do, regardless of what some well-meaning preacher may have told you. You and I are "double chained" to our Jesus by gold chains to His heart of love.
Shoulder speaks of power meaning we all have equal access to Jesus' power.
This perfectly illustrates what the Apostle Paul said that "NOTHING can separate us from the love of Jesus!"
(Stones on the Breastplate in order of their encampment.)
The stones on the Breastplate, however, were mounted in order of their encampment, not birth order as on his shoulders. This is very significant. Here's why.....
The gems were placed over his heart, each one unique but equally beautiful. 12 individual, PRICELESS gems. The uniqueness of each stone speaks of how Jesus loves and relates to us as individuals. Though it's true He loves everybody in the world, more importantly, HE LOVES YOU, His beloved child! He knows YOU and He calls YOU BY NAME. He sees YOU as a PRECIOUS, PRICELESS GEM, forever complete in Christ.
The first stone was a "sardius" which we today would call a "ruby." As on the onyx stones, their names were engraved into it, not merely written on it's surface. The last stone listed was "Jasper, a clear stone, either closely related to or a type of diamond. Remember this for later because the order has a message that will bless you.
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Just as Jesus sees us as precious individuals, we, too, need to see each other, fellow believers, regardless of church affiliation, race, country of origin, whether they agree with us or not, as PRECIOUS GEMS ON JESUS' HEART. That's how He see us; that how we need to see us.
Why gems? Because natural gems are buried deep in the earth. The "miner" {Jesus} has to diligently search for them with great purpose, dig them out of the "dirt," and wash the dirt off (with His blood). Then the Master Jeweler must cut and shape each individual gem in such a way as to to bring out it's true, inner beauty. The different, precise cuts on each gem are the individual trials we go through that mold and shape us.
The Bible tells us God is light. When a brilliant light shines on a beautifully cut, precious gem, it shines with fiery brilliance! That is how you and I look to God! He sees beautiful, brilliant, priceless gems on Jesus' heart: Forever complete, forever beautiful, forever shining, precious and secure! He not only isn't the angry or disappointed with you and I, as God is so often portrayed from the pulpit; with us HE IS WELL-PLEASED!
Ok. Remember the first stone was ruby and the last was a clear stone or diamond? Turn to Revelation chapter 4 vs 3. It says that "there was sitting on the throne (of God) One Whose appearance was like "a JASPER and a SARDIUS stone."
Jasper is a very clear stone, a type of diamond as I said. It is mentioned first; then sardius, or ruby, in reverse of the order of the way they are placed on the breastplate. Hmmmm......why?
Isn't God so cool?! The Holy Spirit has chosen such beautiful, colorful visual aids to help illustrate these important spiritual truths. They are a perfect portrayal of 1 Corinthians 13. God wants us to see each other through the lens (chrystal/gem) of "love" to testify to those outside of Christ. They will know us BY OUR LOVE.......not our "doctrine."
So next time you wonder how YOU or fellow believers look to God, remember: He sees ALL of us as Bright, Sparkling Gems on Jesus' heart.
That is the lesson of the Breastplate of Judgment.
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