THE ROBE OF THE EPHOD Ex. 28:4 And these are the garments which they shall make; a breastplate, and an ephod, and a robe, and a broidered coat, a mitre, and a girdle: and they shall make holy garments for thy brother, and his sons, that he may minister unto me in the priest's office. 5 And they shall take gold, and , and purple, and scarlet, and fine linen. 6 And they shall make the ephod of gold, of blue, and of purple, of scarlet, and fine twined linen, with cunning work. 28:31 And thou shalt make the robe of the ephod all of blue. 32 And there shall be an hole in the top of it, in the midst thereof: it shall have a binding of woven work round about the hole of it, as it were the hole of an habergeon, that it be not rent. 33 And beneath upon the hem of it thou shalt make pomegranates of blue, and of purple, and of scarlet, round about the hem thereof; and bells of gold between them round about: 34 A golden bell and a pomegranate, a golden bell and a pomegranate, upon the hem of the robe round about. 35 And it shall be upon Aaron to minister: and his sound shall be heard when he goeth in unto the holy place before the LORD, and when he cometh out, that he die not. … 39: 2 And he made the ephod of gold, blue, and purple, and scarlet, and fine twined linen. 3 And they did beat the gold into thin plates, and cut it into wires, to work it in the blue, and in the purple, and in the scarlet, and in the fine linen, with cunning work. 4 They made shoulderpieces for it, to couple it together: by the two edges was it coupled together. 5 And the curious girdle of his ephod, that was upon it, was of the same, according to the work thereof; of gold, blue, and purple, and scarlet, and fine twined linen; as the LORD commanded Moses. 39:22 And he made the robe of the ephod of woven work, all of blue. 23 And there was an hole in the midst of the robe, as the hole of an habergeon, with a band round about the hole, that it should not rend. 24 And they made upon the hems of the robe pomegranates of blue, and purple, and scarlet, and twined linen. 25 And they made bells of pure gold, and put the bells between the pomegranates upon the hem of the robe, round about between the pomegranates; 26 A bell and a pomegranate, a bell and a pomegranate, round about the hem of the robe to minister in; as the LORD commanded Moses.

What a beautiful part of the high priest’s garment we are about to study! It is the first time the word ‘robe’ appears in Scripture (ly[im. me`iyl {meh- eel'}). In latter times it was a garment worn over a tunic by men of rank, and also a long garment worn by ’s daughters … but here, - in the very first mention of the word, - it is used with a particular purpose relating to the high priest.

We noticed the linen coat was the garment both the priests and the high priest wore, - it was for the purpose of covering. The garment worn over the linen coat was the robe, and it was the symbol of office and authority. … When came into the cave where David was hiding, David’s men said to him, I Sam. 24:4 Behold the day of which the LORD said unto thee, Behold, I will deliver thine enemy into thine hand, that thou mayest do to him as it shall seem good unto thee. Then David arose, and cut off the skirt of Saul's robe privily. This was how Job used the word (29:14 I put on righteousness, and it clothed me: my judgment was as a robe and a diadem) and Ezekiel (26:16 Then all the princes of the sea shall come down from their thrones, and 2 lay away their robes, and put off their broidered garments: they shall clothe themselves with trembling; they shall sit upon the ground, and shall tremble at every moment, and be astonished at thee).

At its very beginning, with this robe of dignity Aaron commanded the respect of his people in his priestly capacity.

As the years progressed the word ly[im. me`iyl {meh-eel'} became more to mean royalty … and royalty is the underlying developing theme of this garment, - of course, we recognize this royalty to be pointing forward to the Lord Jesus, - our Great High Priest and King of kings. The high priest wore his linen coat, - the clothes of righteousness, - and then placed over it the robe, - the clothes of royalty, - … surely this was a foreshadowing of Christ Who was in the model of Melchizedek, - the eternal King of Righteousness and the eternal King of Peace.

In our last study (the linen coat) the material of the cloth was very much to the fore, now the emphasis is placed more upon the colours of the garment … and the emphasis now is on the colour rather than the texture, 28:6 And they shall make the ephod of gold, of blue, and of purple, of scarlet … v.31 thou shalt make the robe of the ephod all of blue. What is the significance of these colours? … Taking into account God always has a reason for everything, there also must be a reason as to why He chose these colours! … What were those reasons? … Let’s keep it simple …

THE GLORY OF THE GOLD ∗ In other words, this robe was made out of both metal and material … The gold was beaten into thin plates, and then cut into wires and woven into the fine linen. ∗ Such intricacy and care and attention were given to the task! ∗ The gold would never fade or corrode, - it speaks of everlastingness, and preciousness, and something that would never lose its value. ∗ The gold points to the eternality of God, Ps. 90:2 Before the mountains were brought forth, or ever thou hadst formed the earth and the world, even from everlasting to everlasting, thou art God … Jn. 17:5 O Father, glorify thou me with thine own self with the glory which I had with thee before the world was. ∗ … And yet, when we think of linen, - it is a beautiful cloth (e.g. Moygashel linen), - but it is very much an earthly cloth. 3 ∗ Here … in the gold being woven into the linen, we can see the heavenly and the earthly come together … and does it not speak beautifully of the deity and humanity of the Lord Jesus Christ! ∗ He is perfect God and yet perfect man … gold, … and fine linen finely blended together.

THE BEAUTY OF THE BLUE ∗ Blue was the colour so often mentioned in both the and its ministry, - in the veil, the curtains, the door and the gate. ∗ Every piece of furniture was covered with a blue cloth when it was being moved. ∗ A blue lace fastened the high priest’s head covering. ∗ A blue lace also secured the breastplate to the ephod. ∗ Blue was worked into both the ephod and the girdle, whilst the robe was all blue. … It was as if blue was involved in everything! ∗ In a similar way, the grace of God permeates into every aspect of His people today. The blue speaks of God’s grace. ∗ Everything God does towards this world is because of grace, - we are saved by grace, kept by grace, sustained by grace … “Grace! 'tis a charming sound … ’Twas grace that wrote my name In life's eternal book; 'Twas grace that gave me to the Lamb, Who all my sorrows took. Grace taught my wandering feet To tread the pilgrim road; … Grace taught my heart to pray, And made my eyes o'erflow; 'Tis grace which kept me to this day, And will not let me go.” ∗ There is no salvation outside of God’s grace, - the reason for God’s salvation is His grace … In just the same way God used the blue in the high priest’s garments and the tabernacle grace is the vehicle of God’s goodness and favour towards His children. ∗ God’s grace runs through our salvation from the very moment we are saved … and even from before, Eph. 2:8 by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: 9 Not of works, lest any man should boast. 10 For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them. … Woven throughout our salvation, - like the blue in the high priest’s garments, - is God’s grace. ∗ The glory of the gold, the beauty of the blue …

4 THE PRINCELINESS OF THE PURPLE ∗ Purple is the colour of the kings. Judges 8:26 speaks about the purple raiment that was on the kings of Midian … Esther 8:15 And Mordecai went out from the presence of the king in royal apparel of blue and white, and with a great crown of gold, and with a garment of fine linen and purple … Mk. 15:17 And they clothed him with purple, and platted a crown of thorns, and put it about his head, 18 And began to salute him, Hail, King of the Jews! ∗ … It pointed to the Saviour, Is. 9:6 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. 7 Of the increase of his government and peace there shall be no end, upon the throne of David, and upon his kingdom. … Lk. 1:31 thou shalt conceive in thy womb, and bring forth a son, and shalt call his name JESUS. 32 He shall be great, and shall be called the Son of the Highest: and the Lord God shall give unto him the throne of his father David: 33 And he shall reign over the house of Jacob for ever; and of his kingdom there shall be no end. ∗ Pilate demanded an answer from Him, Jn. 18:37 Art thou a king then? Jesus answered, … To this end was I born, and for this cause came I into the world. ∗ The glory of the gold, the beauty of the blue, the princeliness of the purple …

THE SIMPLICITY OF THE SCARLET ∗ The only place Moses would find the scarlet dye in the wilderness was in a little worm/grub that grows on the back of the desert cactus; you would gather these little worms, squeeze them in your hands and you would produce this scarlet dye! … Obviously, your hands would be covered in scarlet … these little grubs/worms all squeezed … ∗ Ps. 22 begins, My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me? Obviously these words are prophetic, relating to Christ on the cross. ∗ Look at v.6, But I am a worm, and no man; a reproach of men, and despised of the people. On the cross Jesus was ‘squeezed’ until the blood flowed from His precious body. ∗ In just the same way the worm on the desert cactus was squeezed, the Saviour was ‘crushed’ and ‘squeezed’ on the cross.

∗ Now look what has happened … the whiteness of the purity of the fine linen coat has been covered, - it is the complete opposite of what Christ has done for us in salvation … He has taken from off us the filthy rags and covered us with His pure white robes of righteousness … but it meant our Saviour had to become filthy in order to make us clean! 5

∗ … And all the pieces of cloths were woven in one piece, - it was seamless (… with cunning work, Ex. 28:6). ∗ Every part of God’s plan is seamlessly interwoven, - it has no divisions or variances … every part of God’s plan is as one! ∗ The ephod had a hole in the top through which the head passed, and it had a neckband that was bound to the strength of ‘habergeon’ (to an armoured plate or a coat of mail standard) … that it be not rent (28:32), - you could not tear it! ∗ Surely this speaks to us of the impossibility of man to hinder the work and plan of God in Christ, ∗ Lk. 4:3 the devil said unto him, If thou be the Son of God, command this stone that it be made bread. ∗ Lk. 23:35 the rulers also with them derided him, saying, He saved others; let him save himself, if he be Christ, the chosen of God. ∗ Lk. 23:36 the soldiers also mocked him, coming to him, and offering him vinegar, 37 And saying, If thou be the king of the Jews, save thyself. ∗ Despite all their ‘if’s’ the will and plan and power and purposes of God could be not rent (Ex. 28:32).

∗ Only one more item needs to be considered in regard to the robe of the ephod, - the hem that had the golden bells and pomegranates alternating all the way round. ∗ They were made of blue, purple and scarlet. They acted as pads between each of the bells so that the bells would not clash against each other. ∗ The simplest idea behind the pomegranates is their fruitfulness. In Num. 13:23 we read of the two spies speaking about the fruitfulness of the land, And they came unto the brook of Eshcol, and cut down from thence a branch with one cluster of grapes, and they bare it between two upon a staff; and they brought of the pomegranates. In Songs 6:11 I went down into the garden of nuts to see the fruits of the valley, and to see whether the vine flourished, and the pomegranates budded … 7:12 Let us get up early to the vineyards; let us see if the vine flourish, whether the tender grape appear, and the pomegranates bud forth. ∗ Yes, the pomegranates speak of fruitfulness, - the fruitfulness of all that Christ achieved. He made peace for us through the cross, and now He is interceding for us. We have peace with God only through Him and the fruitfulness of His labours. 6 ∗ And in between the pomegranates, - the symbol of peace and righteousness, - are the golden bells, (28:34 A golden bell and a pomegranate, a golden bell and a pomegranate, upon the hem of the robe round about. … 39:26 A bell and a pomegranate, a bell and a pomegranate, round about the hem of the robe). ∗ Do you see the detail God included in this part of the garment? He had a reason for everything. ∗ There would be a sound from these bells, but because they had the pomegranate between them there would be no discord. ∗ Each of the bells had its own unique and distinct sound that came together beautifully, especially as the high priest ministered in the Holy place where the golden altar of intercession, the candlestick, and the table of were. The ordinary men were not permitted to enter … but they could hear the sound of the high priest’s robe as he served before God, interceding on their behalf. ∗ … Christ is interceding on our behalf this evening. The prayers we offer up are taken by Him and presented before the altar of God in Heaven. ∗ We have every confidence He hears our prayers … just as Daniel prayed believingly, 9:17 Now therefore, O our God, hear the prayer of thy servant, and his supplications, and cause thy face to shine upon thy sanctuary that is desolate, for the Lord's sake. 18 O my God, incline thine ear, and hear; open thine eyes, and behold our desolations, and the city which is called by thy name: for we do not present our supplications before thee for our righteousnesses, but for thy great mercies. 19 O Lord, hear; O Lord, forgive; O Lord, hearken and do; defer not, for thine own sake, O my God: for thy city and thy people are called by thy name.

CONCLUSION ∗ The writer to the Hebrews could see by faith, 8:1 this is the sum: We have such an high priest, who is set on the right hand of the throne of the Majesty in the heavens; 2 A minister of the sanctuary. ∗ And here, - in our prayer meeting this evening, - what is the consequence of having such a High Priest, Heb. 4:14 Seeing then that we have a great high priest, that is passed into the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our profession. 15 For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin. 16 Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.