Making the Breastplate

Hey, hey, good morning, good morning. Welcome to Coffee and Devotions. This is where every day you and I, we get together, we have a little bit of coffee, we get into God's word, and we grow in our love for the Lord. Together in this year, 2023, Lord willing, we'll make it from Genesis through Leviticus. I'm so glad to be with you today. Why don't we have some coffee, we'll pray, and we'll continue on in Genesis, or in Genesis, Exodus, verse, or chapter 39. Oh boy, I need coffee. Let's pray.
Father, we thank you so much for this day. It's a joy and a blessing to get to read your word. Lord, it's in a language we can understand, and that is not something to be taken lightly. So we thank you for your work of providence, putting this in our hands. And we pray now that you would help us to understand it. In Jesus' name, amen. Okay, here we go.
Exodus chapter 39, beginning at verse eight. and he made the breastplate artistically woven like the workmanship of the ephod of blue, gold, purple, and scarlet thread, and a fine woven linen. He made the breastplate square by doubling it. A span was its length and a span was its width when doubled.
And when they set in it four rows of stones, A row with a sardis, a topaz, and an emerald was the first row. The second row a turquoise, a sapphire, and a diamond. The third row a jacanth, an agate, and an amethyst. The fourth row a beryl, an onyx, and a jasper. They were enclosed in settings of gold in their mountings. There were twelve stones according to the names of the sons of Israel, according to their names, engraved like a signet, each one with its own name according to the twelve tribes.
And they made chains for the breastplate at the ends, like braided cords of pure gold. They also made two settings of gold and two gold rings, and put the two rings on the two ends of the breastplate. and they put the two braided chains of gold in the two rings on the end of the breastplate. The two ends of the two braided chains they fastened in the two settings and put them on the shoulder straps of the e-fad in the front. And they made two rings of gold and put them on the two ends of the breastplate, on the edge of it, which was on the inward side of the ephod. They made two other gold rings and put them on the two shoulder straps underneath the ephod toward its front, right at the seam above the intricately woven band of the ephod. And they bound the breastplate by means of its rings to the rings of the ephod with a blue cord, so that it would be above the intricately woven band of the ephod, and that the breastplate would not come loose from the ephod, as the Lord had commanded Moses."
Well, we need to ask our three questions. A. What's this about?
B. What's the best verse to summarize this? And C. What are we called to do? So, What's this about? Well, the ephod has been made, now the breastplates being made. Remember, God had previously, in Exodus 28, given the pattern, commanded Moses, this was the way things were supposed to be made. And now, again, don't take this for granted, don't assume these things would normally happen. Now Bezalel and Aholiub are actually making exactly as God described.
He gave them the pattern. They were to fill it in with their artistic talents that He had given them in wisdom and skill to make these things. But now they're actually seeing this come together in their eyes. They're seeing it being made. They're making it with their own hands. They're being obedient day after day after day.
How did God tell us to do this? Oh, He told us to make sure that there were three rows, four, four, and four, and here's the different types. Hey, we need to sort through the gems, sort through the jewels, find the exact right ones, and then You need to work on engraving the names in there. Some people think that they actually put gold in those gems to make sure that they would stand out.
I'm not sure, but the point is, we're going to make it like this, and then we're going to fold it over, and we're going to put the gold rings, and we're going to put the gold chains, just like God said. How the chains were made? Were they single hook or double hook? Were they twist chain or were they straight chain? I don't know this stuff.
That's what the Lord left to them in their wisdom and talent, but they're making it according to His pattern as Jehovah had commanded Moses. This was their blessing. to have spirit-filled obedience, to recognize that God was their sovereign king. God was the covenant maker and redeemer of his people. He was the one who was to be obeyed, and they're showing that obedience in how they make Aaron's priestly garments. Aaron's going to serve as a mediator, the go-between. I'm not sure God would have accepted Aaron as the mediator without Bezalel and Holyab, obeying the Lord. Because every time he would have seen Aaron, he would have said, you covenant breaking people.
But here in his mercy, they obey. What's the best verse to summarize this? Well, in my Bible, you're gonna see a pattern here. The first verse, first part of the first verse, and he made the breastplate. And then the last part of the last verse, as the Lord commanded Moses. He made the breastplate as the Lord commanded Moses.
So what in your life? As you seek to worship Him, as you seek to serve Him, as you seek to follow Him, where in your life do you obey the law of Christ? Where in your life are you failing to do that? And where you do, I hope you repent, but also remember That Jesus Christ was given a priesthood far better than that of Aaron.
He was given the priesthood of Melchizedek. One without genealogy and without end. He was given the priesthood by his perfect obedience. And God never looks at Jesus and goes, I didn't follow the commandments. I'm not going to listen to my people anymore.
He looks at Jesus Christ. He remembers his son who died for his people, who obeyed for their righteousness. And he welcomes us into his presence. He is our breastplate of righteousness. So cling to Jesus, brother and sister. Love him. Let's pray. Father, we thank you so much for Jesus Christ. We thank you for the work of your Holy Spirit, and we pray, Lord, that you would please teach us to follow after you. Father, we want to love you. We want to keep your commands not out of a slavish fear, but out of a loving heart. So please teach us, Lord, and help us in Jesus's name. Amen. May the joy of the Holy Spirit, the shepherding of the Son, and the love of the Father be with you today and forever. I'll see you next time. Bye.
Thanks for listening to this week's message from God's Word for You, a ministry of Sharon R.P. Church in rural southeast Iowa. We pray that the message would be used by God to transform your faith and your life this week. If you'd like to get more information about us, feel free to go to the website, SharonRPC.org. We'd love to invite you to worship with us. Our worship time is 10 a.m. every Sunday at 25204 160th Avenue. Morning Sun, Iowa, 52640. May God richly bless you this week.