The
Priestly Garments
A Hebraic
Viewpoint of Ephesians 6:10-18
By Debra
Brandt
Deborah’s
Messianic Ministries
Deborah’s
Drash
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As I was studying the Torah
portion in Exodus 39,the Ruach Ha Kodesh suddenly showed me a picture in my spirit
of what Rav Shaul was talking about in Ephsians 6:10-18 it was not the armor of a Roman Soldier, but the
garments of the Holy Priesthood of Yahweh.
How many years have we been taught that the armor in Ephesians 6 was
that of a Roman soldier dressed for battle?
When you start reading those verses in light of the Torah, and in the
light of the Ruach Ha Kodesh you begin to see another picture, that of the
priestly garments of the Messianic Believer in Yeshua.
Ephesians 6:10-18 Complete
Jewish Bible
10 Finally, grow powerful in union with the Lord,
in union with his mighty strength! 11
Use all the armor and weaponry that God provides, so that you will be
able to stand against the deceptive tactics of the Adversary. 12 For
we are not struggling against human beings, but against the rulers, authorities
and cosmic powers governing this darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil
in the heavenly realm. 13 So take up every piece of war equipment
God provides; so that when the evil day comes, you will be able to resist; and
when the battle is won, you will still be standing. 14 Therefore,
stand! Have the belt of truth buckled around your waist,put on
righteousness for a breastplate, 15 and wear on your feet the
readiness that comes from the Good News of shalom. 16 Always
carry the shield of trust, with which you will be able to extinguish all the
flaming arrows of the Evil One. 17 And take the helmet of
deliverance;along with the sword given by the Spirit, that is, the Word of
God; 18 as you pray at all times, with all kinds of prayers and
requests, in the Spirit, vigilantly and persistently, for all God’s people.[1]
The Duty of the Priest
The Heb. kohen, always denote one who offers sacrifices.
The name first occurs as
applied to Melchizedek (Gen_14:18).
Under the Levitical arrangements the office of the priesthood was limited to
the tribe of Levi, and to only one family of that tribe, the family of Aaron.
Certain laws respecting the qualifications of priests are given in Lev_21:16-23. There are ordinances also
regarding the priests' dress (Exo_28:40-43)
and the manner of their consecration to the office (Exo. 29:1-37).
Their duties were manifold (Exo_27:20-21; Exo_29:38-44;
Lev_6:12; Lev_10:11;
Lev_24:8; Num_10:1-10;
Deu_17:8-13; Deu_33:10; Mal_2:7).
They represented the people before God, and offered the various sacrifices
prescribed in the law.
In the time of David the
priests were divided into twenty-four courses or classes (1Ch_24:7-18). This number was retained after the
Captivity (Ezr_2:36-39; Neh_7:39-42).
The whole priestly system of
the Tenachk was typical. It was a shadow of which the body is Messiah. The
priests all prefigured the great Priest who offered "one sacrifice for
sins" "once for all" (Heb_10:10,
Heb_10:12). There is now no human
priesthood. (See Epistle to the Hebrews throughout.) The term
"priest" is indeed applied to believers (1Pe_2:9;
Rev_1:6), but in these cases it implies
no sacrificial functions. All true believers are now "kings and priests
unto God." As priests they have free access into the holiest of all, and
offer up the sacrifices of praise and thanksgiving, and the sacrifices of
grateful service from day to day.
Exodus 28 and 39 is a
picture of the Whole Armor of G-d that we are called to put on as His Holy
Priesthood who stand before the L-rd.
Exodus 28 – The
Garments of the Priests
1 “Then bring near to yourself Aaron your brother, and
his sons with him, from among the sons of Israel, to minister as priest to
Me—Aaron, Nadab and Abihu, Eleazar and Ithamar, Aaron’s sons.
2 “You
shall make holy garments for Aaron your brother, for glory and for beauty.
3 “You
shall speak to all the skillful persons whom I have endowed with the spirit of
wisdom, that they make Aaron’s garments to consecrate him, that he may minister
as priest to Me.
4 “These are the garments which they shall make: a breastpiece
and an ephod and a robe and a tunic of checkered work, a turban and a sash, and
they shall make holy garments for Aaron your brother and his sons, that he may
minister as priest to Me.
5 “They
shall take the gold and the blue and the purple and the scarlet material and
the fine linen.
6 “They shall also make the ephod of gold, of blue and
purple and scarlet material and fine twisted linen, the work of
the skillful workman.
7 “It
shall have two shoulder pieces joined to its two ends, that it may be joined.
8 “The
skillfully woven band, which is on it, shall be like its workmanship, of the
same material: of gold, of blue and purple and scarlet material and fine
twisted linen.
9 “You
shall take two onyx stones and engrave on them the names of the sons of Israel,
10 six
of their names on the one stone and the names of the remaining six on the other
stone, according to their birth.
11 “As
a jeweler engraves a signet, you shall engrave the two stones according to the
names of the sons of Israel; you shall set them in filigree settings of
gold.
12 “You
shall put the two stones on the shoulder pieces of the ephod, as stones
of memorial for the sons of Israel, and Aaron shall bear their names before the
Lord on his two shoulders for a
memorial.
13 “You
shall make filigree settings of gold,
14 and
two chains of pure gold; you shall make them of twisted cordage work, and you
shall put the corded chains on the filigree settings.
15 “You shall make a breastpiece of judgment, the work of a
skillful workman; like the work of the ephod you shall make it: of gold, of
blue and purple and scarlet material and fine twisted linen you shall
make it.
16 “It
shall be square and folded double, a span in length and a span in width.
17 “You
shall mount on it four rows of stones; the first row shall be a row of
ruby, topaz and emerald;
18 and
the second row a turquoise, a sapphire and a diamond;
19 and
the third row a jacinth, an agate and an amethyst;
20 and
the fourth row a beryl and an onyx and a jasper; they shall be set in gold
filigree.
21 “The
stones shall be according to the names of the sons of Israel: twelve, according
to their names; they shall be like the engravings of a seal, each
according to his name for the twelve tribes.
22 “You
shall make on the breastpiece chains of twisted cordage work in pure gold.
23 “You
shall make on the breastpiece two rings of gold, and shall put the two rings on
the two ends of the breastpiece.
24 “You
shall put the two cords of gold on the two rings at the ends of the
breastpiece.
25 “You
shall put the other two ends of the two cords on the two filigree settings,
and put them on the shoulder pieces of the ephod, at the front of it.
26 “You
shall make two rings of gold and shall place them on the two ends of the
breastpiece, on the edge of it, which is toward the inner side of the ephod.
27 “You
shall make two rings of gold and put them on the bottom of the two shoulder
pieces of the ephod, on the front of it close to the place where it is joined,
above the skillfully woven band of the ephod.
28 “They
shall bind the breastpiece by its rings to the rings of the ephod with a blue
cord, so that it will be on the skillfully woven band of the ephod, and that
the breastpiece will not come loose from the ephod.
29 “Aaron
shall carry the names of the sons of Israel in the breastpiece of judgment over
his heart when he enters the holy place, for a memorial before the Lord continually.
30 “You
shall put in the breastpiece of judgment the Urim and the Thummim, and they
shall be over Aaron’s heart when he goes in before the Lord; and Aaron shall carry the judgment of the sons of
Israel over his heart before the Lord continually.
31 “You shall make the robe of the ephod all of blue.
32 “There
shall be an opening at its top in the middle of it; around its opening there
shall be a binding of woven work, as like the opening of a coat of mail, so
that it will not be torn.
33 “You
shall make on its hem pomegranates of blue and purple and scarlet material, all
around on its hem, and bells of gold between them all around:
34 a
golden bell and a pomegranate, a golden bell and a pomegranate, all around on
the hem of the robe.
35 “It
shall be on Aaron when he ministers; and its tinkling shall be heard when he
enters and leaves the holy place before the Lord,
so that he will not die.
36 “You shall also make a plate of pure gold and shall engrave
on it, like the engravings of a seal, ‘Holy to the Lord.’
37 “You
shall fasten it on a blue cord, and it shall be on the turban; it shall be at
the front of the turban.
38 “It
shall be on Aaron’s forehead, and Aaron shall take away the iniquity of the holy
things which the sons of Israel consecrate, with regard to all their holy
gifts; and it shall always be on his forehead, that they may be accepted before
the Lord.
39 “You shall weave the tunic of checkered work of fine linen,
and shall make a turban of fine linen, and you shall
make a sash, the work of a weaver.
40 “For Aaron’s sons you shall make tunics; you shall also
make sashes for them, and you shall make caps for them, for glory and for
beauty.
41 “You
shall put them on Aaron your brother and on his sons with him; and you shall
anoint them and ordain them and consecrate them, that they may serve Me as
priests.
42 “You shall make for them linen breeches to cover their bare
flesh; they shall reach from the loins even to the thighs.
43
“They shall be on Aaron
and on his sons when they enter the tent of meeting, or when they approach the
altar to minister in the holy place, so that they do not incur guilt and die.
It shall be a statute forever to him and to his descendants after him.[2]
Exo 39:1 And of the
blue, and purple, and scarlet, they made cloths of service, to do service in
the holy place, and made the holy garments for Aaron; as the LORD commanded
Moses.
Exo 39:2 And he made
the ephod of gold, blue, and purple, and
scarlet, and fine twined linen.
Exo 39:3 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.
Exo 39:4 They made
shoulderpieces for it, to couple it together:
by the two edges was it coupled together.
Exo 39:5 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.
Exo 39:6 And they
wrought onyx stones inclosed in ouches of gold, graven, as signets are graven,
with the names of the children of Israel.
Exo 39:7 And he put
them on the shoulders of the ephod, that they
should be stones for a memorial to the children of Israel; as the
LORD commanded Moses.
Exo 39:8 And he made the breastplate of
cunning work, like the work of the ephod; of
gold, blue, and purple, and scarlet, and fine twined linen.
Exo 39:9 It was
foursquare; they made the breastplate double: a
span was the length thereof, and a span
the breadth thereof, being doubled.
Exo 39:10 And they set
in it four rows of stones: the first row
was a sardius, a topaz, and a carbuncle:
this was the first row.
Exo 39:11 And the second
row, an emerald, a sapphire, and a diamond.
Exo 39:12 And the
third row, a ligure, an agate, and an amethyst.
Exo 39:13 And the
fourth row, a beryl, an onyx, and a jasper: they
were inclosed in ouches of gold in their inclosings.
Exo 39:14 And the
stones were according to the names of
the children of Israel, twelve, according to their names, like the engravings of a signet, every one with
his name, according to the twelve tribes.
Exo 39:15 And they
made upon the breastplate chains at the ends, of
wreathen work of pure gold.
Exo 39:16 And they
made two ouches of gold, and two gold
rings; and put the two rings in the two ends of the breastplate.
Exo 39:17 And they put
the two wreathen chains of gold in the two rings on the ends of the breastplate.
Exo 39:18 And the two
ends of the two wreathen chains they fastened in the two ouches, and put them
on the shoulderpieces of the ephod, before it.
Exo 39:19 And they
made two rings of gold, and put them on
the two ends of the breastplate, upon the
border of it, which was on the side of
the ephod inward.
Exo 39:20 And they
made two other golden rings, and put
them on the two sides of the ephod underneath, toward the forepart of it, over
against the other coupling thereof,
above the curious girdle of the ephod.
Exo 39:21 And they did
bind the breastplate by his rings unto the rings of the ephod with a lace of
blue, that it might be above the curious girdle of the ephod, and that the
breastplate might not be loosed from the ephod; as the LORD commanded Moses.
Exo 39:22 And he made the robe of the ephod of
woven work, all of blue.
Exo 39:23 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.
Exo 39:24 And they
made upon the hems of the robe pomegranates of
blue, and purple, and scarlet, and
twined linen.
Exo 39:25 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;
Exo 39:26 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.
Exo 39:27 And they
made coats of fine linen of woven work for Aaron, and for his sons,
Exo 39:28 And a mitre of fine linen, and goodly bonnets of
fine linen, and linen breeches of fine twined linen,
Exo 39:29
And a girdle of fine twined linen, and blue, and purple, and
scarlet, of
needlework; as the LORD commanded Moses.
Exo 39:30 And they made the plate of the holy crown of pure
gold, and wrote upon it a writing, like to the engravings of a signet,
HOLINESS TO THE LORD.
Exo
39:31 And they tied unto it a lace of
blue, to fasten it on high upon the mitre; as the LORD commanded Moses.
The dress of the priests in
the Old Testament is a spiritual picture of the Bride's clothing. Exodus 28
describes the priest clothing. In this section, we see the following
characteristics: [3]
- The Holy garments of the priests were for glory
and beauty (Exodus 28:2)
- They had the spirit of wisdom (Exodus 28:3)
- They are sanctified/consecrated before God so that
they can minister to Him (Exodus 28:3)
- A breastplate and a robe (Exodus 28:4, Isaiah
61:10)
- The priests' garments were made of fine twined
linen (Exodus 28:6, 8)
- They had the stones of the twelve tribes of Israel
engraved upon the breastplate of the high priest (Exodus 28:15-21)
- They wore the Urim and Thummim to know God's Will
(Exodus 28:30)
- He wore a crown of holiness on his head (Exodus
28:35-36)
- The priests were anointed, consecrated and sanctified for the
Lord's service (Exodus 28:41)
For years the Church has taught that this is a picture of a Roman Soldiers armour because of the Greco/Roman teaching that crept into the Church. When you study these scriptures based on the Torah and with a Hebrew mind set, you come up with a totally different picture, which I believe this is what Rav Shaul was speaking about.
The Armour of the Priesthood who stands in the gap by intercessory prayer and against the accuser of the brethren.
Eph 6:10 Finally, my
brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might.
Eph 6:11 Put on the
whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the
devil.
The Robe (Exodus 28:31-35)
The Robe was made entirely of blue. It had a hem, attached to which were
pommegranate motifs (in blue, purple and scarlet), with golden bells
alternating in between the pommegranates. The golden bells were an audible
announcement of the high priest's service, a beautiful sound, backed up by
beautiful fruits, the pommegranates. This same balance of words and deeds we
find in the Lord Jesus (Luke 24:19).
The Robe represents that we are clothed in
Righteousness
Exo
39:1 And of the blue, and purple, and
scarlet, they made cloths of service, to do service in the holy place,
and made the holy garments for Aaron; as the LORD commanded Moses.
1Pe 2:9 But 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 marvellous light:
1Pe 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.
The Shoulder
Stones
(Exodus 28:9-12)
On each shoulder-piece of the Ephod was a precious stone. Six names were
written on each of the stones, altogether naming the twelve tribes of Israel
Every time the high priest went before God at the Golden Incense Alter , the names
of all the people of God were upon His shoulders.
Stones – Represent
the 12 Tribes of Israel
Exo
39:10 And they set in it four rows of
stones: the first row was a sardius, a topaz, and a carbuncle:
this was the first row.
Exo
39:11 And the second row, an emerald, a
sapphire, and a diamond.
Exo
39:12 And the third row, a ligure, an
agate, and an amethyst.
Exo
39:13 And the fourth row, a beryl, an
onyx, and a jasper: they were inclosed in ouches of gold in their
inclosings.
Exo 39:14 And the stones were according to the
names of the children of Israel, twelve, according to their names, like
the engravings of a signet, every one with his name, according to the twelve
tribes.
Exo
39:15 And they made upon the
breastplate chains at the ends, of wreathen work of pure gold.
Exo
39:16 And they made two ouches of
gold, and two gold rings; and put the two rings in the two ends of the
breastplate.
Exo
39:17 And they put the two wreathen
chains of gold in the two rings on the ends of the breastplate.
Spritual House – His
Temple
We are His Spiritual
House and Temple -
Holy Priesthood –
Body of Messiah
Eph 6:12 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.
Eph 6:13 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.
Exo
39:2 And he made the ephod of
gold, blue, and purple, and scarlet, and fine twined linen.
Exo
39:3 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.
Exo
39:4 They made shoulderpieces for it,
to couple it together: by the two edges was it coupled together.
Exo
39:5 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.
Exo
39:6 And they wrought onyx stones
inclosed in ouches of gold, graven, as signets are graven, with the names of
the children of Israel.
Exo
39:7 And he put them on the shoulders
of the ephod, that they should be stones for a memorial to the children
of Israel; as the LORD commanded Moses.
White- WHITE: purity, righteousness acquired through the
blood, Christ, angels, saints,
colour of creator
from: Revelation 6;2, 19:8, 7:9,
4:4, 3:18,
Ecclesiastes 9:8, Matthew 17:2,
28:3,
Acts 1:10, Daniel 7:9, Isaiah
1:18
Gold –GOLD:
glory of God, might of His people, divine nature
from: Ezra 1:4, 8:2 and Revelation
3:18
GOLD: holiness, royalty
from: Revalation 4:4, 14:14,
Malachi 3:3, Haggai 2:8,
Song of Songs 5:11
Blue- BLUE: symbol
of heaven and authority, spiritual or heavenly realm
from: Exodus 24:10, Ezekiel 1:26, 10:1
Purple-PURPLE (DARK): royalty,wealth
from: Judges 8:26, Song of Songs
3:10,
John 19:2
Scarlet-RED (DEEP)
CRIMSON or SCARLET: blood
atonement, sacrifice of
Christ's blood from sin and death
from: Leviticus 14:52, Isaiah
1:18,
Hebrews 9:14
RED (DEEP)
CRIMSON or SCARLET: colour of the
Holy Spirit
from: Acts 1:3-4
RED: war, bloodshed, and death
(also war in the heavenlies)
from: 2 Kings 3:21-23, Revelation
6:4, 12:3-8,
Nahum 2:3, Numbers 19:2-
Eph 6:14 Stand
therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, The Loins girt about speak
of the garments of the High Priest
The
Ephod (Exodus 28:5-14; 39:2-7)
The Ephod is the apron-like garment worn by the high priest. It was made in four
colours: blue, purple, scarlet and the white of the fine linen. Also embroidered into the Ephod is the gold
thread, a beautiful 'type' of Christ's heavenly ministry as great High Priest
for His own.
Eph
6:14b and having on the breastplate of righteousness;
The
Breastplate
(Exodus 28:15-30)
The breastplate was square in its proportions, and also embroidered with gold.
Set into the Breastplate in gold were twelve precious stones, one for each of
the twelve tribes of Israel. Each stone had the name of the respective tribe
engraved upon it.
Exo
39:8 And he made the breastplate of
cunning work, like the work of the ephod; of gold, blue, and purple, and
scarlet, and fine twined linen.
Exo
39:9 It was foursquare; they made the
breastplate double: a span was the length thereof, and a span the
breadth thereof, being doubled.
Eph 6:15 And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace;
As His Priesthood we walk on holy
ground, when we are in His presence on Holy Ground we receive the anointing to
take the Gospel of Shalom/Peace to the world.
Eph
6:16 Above all, taking the shield of
faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked.
All prayers and intercession must be backed by faith in His Holy Torah/Word. As we stand in His Presence and pray His Holy Word the ha Satan must flee! As we stand in the gap for others and plead the blood of Yeshua and pray His Word in faith His Shield protects us.
Psa 3:3 But thou, O LORD, art a shield for me; my glory, and the
lifter up of mine head.
Psa 18:35 Thou hast also given me the shield
of thy salvation: and thy right hand hath holden me up, and thy gentleness hath
made me great.
Psa 28:7 The LORD is my strength and my shield; my heart
trusted in him, and I am helped: therefore my heart greatly rejoiceth; and with
my song will I praise him.
Psa 33:20 Our soul waiteth for the LORD:
he is our help and our shield.
Psa 84:9 Behold, O God our shield,
and look upon the face of thine anointed
Psa 84:11 For the LORD God is a sun and shield: the LORD will give
grace and glory: no good thing will he
withhold from them that walk uprightly.
Psa 115:9 O Israel, trust thou in the
LORD: he is their help and their shield.
Psa 115:10 O house of Aaron, trust in the
LORD: he is their help and their shield.
Psa 119:114 Thou art my hiding place and my shield: I hope in thy word.
Psa 144:2 My goodness, and my fortress;
my high tower, and my deliverer; my shield, and he in whom I trust; who subdueth my people under
me.
Pro 30:5 Every word of God is pure: he is
a shield unto them that put their trust in him.
Eph
6:17 And take the helmet of salvation,
The Helmet of
salvation is the headpiece the High Priest Wore which said “Holy Unto The Lord”
The Turban
and the Crown (Exodus 28:36-39)
The Turban was made of white
fine linen. Generally, fine white linen signifies righteous deeds (Revelation 19:8).
Here the emphasis is on our mind, the covering of our thought processes,
"taking every thought captive to the obedience of Christ" (II
Corinthians 10:5) by taking "the helmet of salvation" (Ephesians
6:17). Our mind is the big problem. When Zechariah saw the vision of Joshua
(Zechariah 3:1-5), the Lord began to address the problem of the filthy garments
(v3) by putting a clean Turban on his head (v5). Since the Hebrew words for
Joshua (Yoshuah) and salvation (yeshuah) are so close, we see here the picture
of taking up the helmet of salvation, to deal with our filthy thoughts of
unrighteousness.
Attached to the Turban and upon
the forehead of the high priest was the Crown, a gold plate on which "HOLY
TO THE LORD" was engraved. This seal of God is legitimately there on the
forehead of our Lord Jesus Christ, our great High Priest. But for us, whom He
has also made priests (Revelation 1:5-6), there is a clear indication that we
are not just to be outwardly dressed up in Christ; He must transform us, by the
renewing of our mind that we may prove the will of God: our sanctification
(Romans 12:2 & I Thessalonians 4:3). How we need to be renewed in the
spirit of our mind, to put on the new man created in righteousness and true
holiness (Ephesians 4:23-24)!
Exo
39:30 And they made the plate of the
holy crown of pure gold, and wrote upon it a writing, like to the
engravings of a signet, HOLINESS TO THE LORD.
Exo
39:31 And they tied unto it a lace of
blue, to fasten it on high upon the mitre; as the LORD commanded
We have
been set apart and called “Holy” because of what Yeshua has done for us.
Eph 6:17 and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God:
The Sword of the Spirit is the Torah
Eph 6:18 Praying always
with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all
perseverance and supplication for all saints;
Joh 17:17 Sanctify
them through thy truth: thy word is truth.
Act 4:29 And now, Lord, behold their
threatenings: and grant unto thy servants, that with all boldness they
may speak thy word,
Deu 30:14 But the word is very nigh unto thee, in thy mouth, and in thy
heart, that thou mayest do it.
Psa 147:18 He sendeth out his word,
and melteth them: he causeth his wind to blow, and
the waters flow.
Isa 40:8 The grass withereth, the
flower fadeth: but the word of our God shall stand for ever.
Isa 55:11 So shall my word be that
goeth forth out of my mouth: it shall not return unto me void, but it shall accomplish
that which I please, and it shall prosper in the
thing whereto I sent it.
Jer 1:12 Then said the LORD unto
me, Thou hast well seen: for I will hasten my word to perform it.
Jer 15:16 Thy words were found, and I did
eat them; and thy word was unto me the joy and rejoicing of mine
heart: for I am called by thy name, O LORD God of hosts.
Jer 23:29 Is
not my word like as a fire? saith the LORD; and like a hammer that breaketh the rock in pieces?
The High Priest stood
in the gap for Israel before the presence of the Lord. We are called to stand in the gap in
intercessory prayer as His Holy Priesthood and interceed for those who are
lost.
The Incense
represents the Prayers of the Saints.
The priest had to burn incense
at this altar in the morning and at twilight (Exodus 30:7-8), as a perpetual
fragrance before the Lord.
The burning incense
signifies prayer (Psalm 141:2 Revelation 5:8) and points us to the prayer of
the Lord Jesus in the garden of Gethsemane (John chapter 17, Mark 14:32-42).
Rev 8:3 And another angel came and
stood at the altar, having a golden censer; and there was given unto him much incense,
that he should offer it with the prayers
of all saints upon the golden altar which was before the throne.
Rev 8:4 And the smoke of the incense,
which came with the prayers of the
saints, ascended up before God out of the angel's hand.
Yeshua is our High
Priest and He has called us as His Holy Priesthood to wear the Holy Garments of
the Priesthood as described in Ephesians 6
A ROYAL PRIESTHOOD[4]
Eddie Chumney
The spiritual attributes of God's Bride is
foreshadowed by the priesthood in the Old Testament. Therefore, God's Bride has
the same attributes as the Old Testament priests. What were the requirements of
the priests in the Old Testament and how were these principles of God's Kingdom
communicated by God to the nation of Israel and to all believers today?
- God desired for the nation of
Israel and ALL believers to become a KINGDOM of priests (Exodus 19:5-6,
1 Peter 2:5,9, Revelation 5:10)
- God desires for the nation of
Israel and ALL believers to be a holy and sanctified people (Exodus
28:1, 35-36, Leviticus 19:2, 20:7-8, Ephesians 5:26-27, 1 Peter 1:15-16)
- The clothing of the priests in
the Old Testament is the same clothing as God's Bride (Exodus 28,
Psalm 45:8-15, Isaiah 61:1-3, 6,10, Revelation 19:7-8, 21:9-21)
- The primary duty of the
priesthood and the Bride of Christ is to teach God's Torah to His people (Leviticus
10:8,10-11, Deuteronomy 17:8-11, Jeremiah 18:18, Ezekiel 44:15, 23-24,
Malachi 2:7, Matthew 5:17-19, John 1:38, 3:2; Hebrews 4:14-16)
- Those who reject God's Torah
will NOT be priests before God and will NOT be the Bride of Christ (Hosea
4:6, 8:12, Matthew 7:23, 24:12)
- While it is God's perfect Will
for ALL believers to be a kingdom of priests and to be the Bride of
Christ, those believers who mix paganism and the ways of the world with
the worship of the God of Israel, will be disqualified from being the
Bride of Christ (Exodus 32:1, 4-6, 1Kiings 12:25- 33, 1 Corinthians
1:2, 11:2,
1 Thessalonians 4:1-7, 2 Timothy 2:19-22) - As priests before God, the eternal destiny of the Bride of Christ
is to teach the Torah to all nations and to dwell in the heavenly
Jerusalem with God for all eternity (Isaiah 2:2-3, Matthew 28:17-19,
Revelation 21:9-10, 24-26)
GOD DESIRES FOR ALL BELIEVERS TO BE A KINGDOM OF
PRIESTS [5]
Eddie Chumney
God desired for the nation
of Israel and ALL believers to become a KINGDOM of priests. This was the
perfect Will of God for the nation of Israel and this is the perfect Will of
God for all believers. While it was the perfect Will of God for the nation of
Israel and for all believers who accept Jesus as their personal Lord and Savior
to be a kingdom of priests before God, this promise of God is conditional.
God's people being a kingdom of priests is conditional upon God's people loving
Him with all their heart, mind, soul and strength and being obedient to God and
following His commandments. These truths can be seen in Exodus 19:5-6
as it is written:
"Now therefore, if you will OBEY MY VOICE indeed and KEEP MY
COVENANT, then you shall be a peculiar treasure unto me above all people: for
all the earth is mine: And you shall be unto me a kingdom of priests, and a
holy nation ... "
God
desires for all believers in Jesus as Messiah to be a kingdom of priests. In
1 Peter 2:5, 9 it is written:
"Ye also, as lively stones, are built up a SPIRITUAL HOUSE, A
HOLY PRIESTHOOD, to offer up SPIRITUAL SACRIFICES, acceptable to God by Jesus
Christ ... But ye are a chosen generation, a ROYAL PRIESTHOOD, a holy nation, a
peculiar people; that you should show forth the praises of him who has called
you out of darkness into marvelous Iight."
The Priests
were called to stand in the gap for Israel as Intercessors. The Full Armour of God is the Garment of the
Priesthood. We as believers in Messiah are(Mat 2:4
KJV) And when he had gathered
all the chief priests and scribes of the people together, he demanded of them
where Christ should be born.
Role of Priests as Intercessors, they were to stand
in the gap between sinful man and God.
Hebrews 9;24
24 For Christ
(the Messiah) has not entered into a sanctuary made with [human] hands, only a
copy and pattern and type of the true one, but [He has entered]
into heaven itself, now to appear in the [very] presence of God on our behalf.[6]
Hebrews 7:25
25 Therefore
He is able also to save to the uttermost (completely, perfectly, finally, and
for all time and eternity) those who come to God through Him, since He is
always living to make petition to God and intercede with Him and
intervene for them.[7]
Romans 8:34
34 Who is
there to condemn [us]? Will Christ Jesus (the Messiah), Who died, or rather Who
was raised from the dead, Who is at the right hand of God actually pleading as
He intercedes for us?[8]
We need to stand against the Accuser of the Brethren
ha Satan
Revelation 12:10
10 Then I
heard a strong (loud) voice in heaven, saying, Now it has come—the salvation and
the power and the kingdom (the dominion, the reign) of our God, and the power
(the sovereignty, the authority) of His Christ (the Messiah); for the accuser
of our brethren, he who keeps bringing before our God charges against them day
and night, has been cast out! [Job 1:9–11].[9]
Job 1:1-12
1 There was a man in the land of Uz whose name was Job;
and that man was blameless, upright, fearing God and turning away from evil.
2 Seven
sons and three daughters were born to him.
3 His
possessions also were 7,000 sheep, 3,000 camels, 500 yoke of oxen, 500 female
donkeys, and very many servants; and that man was the greatest of all the men
of the east.
4 His
sons used to go and hold a feast in the house of each one on his day, and they
would send and invite their three sisters to eat and drink with them.
5 When
the days of feasting had completed their cycle, Job would send and consecrate
them, rising up early in the morning and offering burnt offerings according
to the number of them all; for Job said, “Perhaps my sons have sinned and
cursed God in their hearts.” Thus Job did continually.
6 Now there was a day when the sons of God came to present
themselves before the Lord, and
Satan also came among them.
7 The
Lord said to Satan, “From where
do you come?” Then Satan answered the Lord
and said, “From roaming about on the earth and walking around on it.”
8 The
Lord said to Satan, “Have you
considered My servant Job? For there is no one like him on the earth, a
blameless and upright man, fearing God and turning away from evil.”
9 Then
Satan answered the Lord, “Does
Job fear God for nothing?
10 “Have
You not made a hedge about him and his house and all that he has, on every
side? You have blessed the work of his hands, and his possessions have
increased in the land.
11 “But
put forth Your hand now and touch all that he has; he will surely curse You to
Your face.”
12 Then
the Lord said to Satan, “Behold,
all that he has is in your power, only do not put forth your hand on him.” So
Satan departed from the presence of the Lord.
Satan’s hatred for Israel and all of Gods people has
not abated
Psalm 83:1-8
1 O
God, do not remain quiet;
Do not be silent and,
O God, do not be still.
2 For behold, Your enemies make an uproar,
And those who hate You
have exalted themselves.
3 They make shrewd plans against Your people,
And conspire together
against Your treasured ones.
4 They have said, “Come, and let us wipe them out as a nation,
That the name of
Israel be remembered no more.”
5 For they have conspired together with one mind;
Against You they make
a covenant:
6 The tents of Edom and the Ishmaelites,
Moab and the
Hagrites;
7 Gebal and Ammon and Amalek,
Philistia with the
inhabitants of Tyre;
8 Assyria also has joined with them;
They have become a
help to the children of Lot.[10]
We
as Yeshua’s Priesthood called to
interceed through Yeshua for Israel and the Nations
1 Peter 2:9
9 But you are
a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a dedicated nation, [God’s] own purchased,
special people, that you may set forth the wonderful deeds and display
the virtues and perfections of Him Who called you out of darkness into His
marvelous light. [Exod. 19:5, 6][11]
Where are the Intercessors for Israel? It was the Priests job to stand in the gap for
Israel before the Alter to plead on their behalf because of the Blood that was
shed to cover Israel’s sins. The only
blood atoning sacrifice now for Israel and the World is Yeshua, He was
sacrificed once, and for ALL!
Eze 22:30 And I sought for a man among
them, that should make up the hedge, and stand in the gap
before me for the land, that I should not destroy it: but I found none.
Isaiah 62:1
1 For Zion’s sake I will not keep silent,
And for Jerusalem’s
sake I will not keep quiet,
Until her righteousness
goes forth like brightness,
And
her salvation like a torch that is burning.[12]
The
Priesthood of believers must stand in the gap for Israel through the blood of
Messiah and not keep silent on their behalf.
Psalm 28:6-9
6 Blessed
be the Lord,
Because He has heard
the voice of my supplication.
7 The Lord is my
strength and my shield;
My heart trusts in
Him, and I am helped;
Therefore my heart
exults,
And with my song I
shall thank Him.
8 The Lord is their
strength,
And He is a saving defense
to His anointed.
9 Save Your people and bless Your inheritance;
Be their shepherd also, and carry them forever.[13]
Our Priesthood is a lifetime occupation and
is to be taken seriously
Malachi 2:1-7
1 “And now this commandment is for you, O priests.
2 “If
you do not listen, and if you do not take it to heart to give honor to My
name,” says the Lord of hosts,
“then I will send the curse upon you and I will curse your blessings; and
indeed, I have cursed them already, because you are not taking it to
heart.
3 “Behold,
I am going to rebuke your offspring, and I will spread refuse on your faces,
the refuse of your feasts; and you will be taken away with it.
4 “Then
you will know that I have sent this commandment to you, that My covenant may
continue with Levi,” says the Lord
of hosts.
5 “My
covenant with him was one of life and peace, and I gave them to him as
an object of reverence; so he revered Me and stood in awe of My name.
6 “True
instruction was in his mouth and unrighteousness was not found on his lips; he
walked with Me in peace and uprightness, and he turned many back from iniquity.
7 “For
the lips of a priest should preserve knowledge, and men should seek instruction
from his mouth; for he is the messenger of the Lord of hosts.
When we are walking in the flesh, backbiting,
Gossiping and slandering the brethren (Lashon hara) as in Galatians :14-21 we are in union with ha
Satan
14 For the whole Law [concerning human
relationships] is complied with in the one precept, You shall love your
neighbor as [you do] yourself. [Lev. 19:18].
15 But if you bite and devour one another [in
partisan strife], be careful that you [and your whole fellowship] are not
consumed by one another.
16 But I say, walk and live [habitually]
in the [Holy] Spirit [responsive to and controlled and guided by
the Spirit]; then you will certainly not gratify the cravings and
desires of the flesh (of human nature without God).
17 For the desires of the flesh are opposed to
the [Holy] Spirit, and the [desires of the] Spirit are opposed to the flesh
(godless human nature); for these are antagonistic to each other [continually
withstanding and in conflict with each other], so that you are not free but
are prevented from doing what you desire to do.
18 But if you are guided (led) by the [Holy]
Spirit, you are not subject to the Law.
19 Now the doings (practices) of the flesh are
clear (obvious): they are immorality, impurity, indecency,
20 Idolatry, sorcery, enmity, strife, jealousy,
anger (ill temper), selfishness, divisions (dissensions), party spirit
(factions, sects with peculiar opinions, heresies),
21 Envy, drunkenness, carousing, and the like.
I warn you beforehand, just as I did previously, that those who do such things
shall not inherit the kingdom of God.
As
His Priesthood we are to walk after the Ruach Ha Kodesh
22 But the fruit of the [Holy] Spirit [the work
which His presence within accomplishes] is love, joy (gladness), peace,
patience (an even temper, forbearance), kindness, goodness (benevolence),
faithfulness,
23 Gentleness (meekness, humility),
self-control (self-restraint, continence). Against such things there is no law
[that can bring a charge].
24 And those who belong to Christ Jesus (the
Messiah) have crucified the flesh (the godless human nature) with its passions
and appetites and desires.
25 If we live by the [Holy] Spirit, let us also
walk by the Spirit. [If by the Holy Spirit we have our life in God, let us go
forward walking in line, our conduct controlled by the Spirit.]
26 Let us not become vainglorious and
self-conceited, competitive and challenging and provoking and
irritating to one another, envying and being jealous of one another.
Ministry
of the Priests was to keep the fire burning continually before the Lord
Lev. 6:12-13
12 ‘The
fire on the altar shall be kept burning on it. It shall not go out, but the
priest shall burn wood on it every morning; and he shall lay out the burnt
offering on it, and offer up in smoke the fat portions of the peace offerings
on it.
13
‘Fire shall be kept
burning continually on the altar; it is not to go out.[14]
We are to keep the fires burning through intercessory prayer. The role of the Priest was one who stood in the gap for
Israel. As the Priests were covered by
the blood of the sacrifice and were anointed with oil, we are covered by the
blood of Yeshua and anointed with the
oil of the Ruach HaKodesh.
Leve 8:6
5 Moses said to the congregation, “This is
the thing which the Lord has
commanded to do.”
6
Then Moses had
Aaron and his sons come near and washed them with water.
We are washed in
the blood by faith in Yeshua the Living
Torah/ Word
Heb 10:22
Let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having
our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience, and our bodies washed with
pure water.
7 He
put the tunic on him and girded him with the sash, and clothed him
with the robe and put the ephod on him; and he girded him with the
artistic band of the ephod, with which he tied it to him.
8 He
then placed the breastpiece on him, and in the breastpiece he put the
Urim and the Thummim.
9
He also placed the
turban on his head, and on the turban, at its front, he placed the
golden plate, the holy crown, just as the Lord
had commanded Moses.
We are clothed with the garments of the Priesthood
10 Moses then took the anointing oil and anointed the
tabernacle and all that was in it, and consecrated them.
11 He
sprinkled some of it on the altar seven times and anointed the altar and all
its utensils, and the basin and its stand, to consecrate them.
12
Then he poured some
of the anointing oil on Aaron’s head and anointed him, to consecrate him.
We are anointed by the Ruach Ha Kodesh
13 Next
Moses had Aaron’s sons come near and clothed them with tunics, and girded them
with sashes and bound caps on them, just as the Lord had commanded Moses.
14 Then he brought the bull of the sin offering, and Aaron and
his sons laid their hands on the head of the bull of the sin offering.
15 Next
Moses slaughtered it and took the blood and with his finger put some
of it around on the horns of the altar, and purified the altar. Then he
poured out the rest of the blood at the base of the altar and
consecrated it, to make atonement for it.
16 He
also took all the fat that was on the entrails and the lobe of the liver, and
the two kidneys and their fat; and Moses offered it up in smoke on the altar.
17 But
the bull and its hide and its flesh and its refuse he burned in the fire
outside the camp, just as the Lord
had commanded Moses.
18 Then he presented the ram of the burnt offering, and
Aaron and his sons laid their hands on the head of the ram.
19 Moses
slaughtered it and sprinkled the blood around on the altar.
20 When
he had cut the ram into its pieces, Moses offered up the head and the pieces
and the suet in smoke.
21 After
he had washed the entrails and the legs with water, Moses offered up the whole
ram in smoke on the altar. It was a burnt offering for a soothing aroma; it was
an offering by fire to the Lord,
just as the Lord had commanded
Moses.
22 Then he presented the second ram, the ram of ordination,
and Aaron and his sons laid their hands on the head of the ram.
23 Moses
slaughtered it and took some of its blood and put it on the lobe of
Aaron’s right ear, and on the thumb of his right hand and on the big toe of his
right foot.
24 He
also had Aaron’s sons come near; and Moses put some of the blood on the lobe of
their right ear, and on the thumb of their right hand and on the big toe of
their right foot. Moses then sprinkled the rest of the blood around on
the altar.
We are covered by the Blood of Yeshua
30 So Moses took some of the anointing oil and
some of the blood which was on the altar and sprinkled it on Aaron, on his
garments, on his sons, and on the garments of his sons with him; and he
consecrated Aaron, his garments, and his sons, and the garments of his sons
with him.[15]
Who we are in Messiah/Christ is based upon our
Priesthood in Him. Our Priesthood is
not a minor or insignificant thing it is a lifetime calling.
Yeshua is Our High Priest
Hebrews/Messianic Jews 7:2-4
FOR THIS Melchizedek, king of Salem [and] priest of the Most High God,
met Abraham as he returned from the slaughter of the kings and blessed him,
2 And Abraham gave to him a tenth portion of
all [the spoil]. He is primarily, as his name when translated indicates, king
of righteousness, and then he is also king of Salem, which means king of peace.
3 Without [record of] father or mother or
ancestral line, neither with beginning of days nor ending of life, but,
resembling the Son of God, he continues to be a priest without interruption and
without successor.
4
Now observe and
consider how great [a personage] this was to whom even Abraham the patriarch
gave a tenth [the topmost or the pick of the heap] of the spoils.
Hebrews/Messianic Jews 7:22-28
22 In keeping with [the oath’s greater strength
and force], Jesus has become the Guarantee of a better (stronger) agreement [a
more excellent and more advantageous covenant].
23 [Again, the former successive line of
priests] was made up of many, because they were each prevented by death from
continuing [perpetually in office];
24 But He holds His priesthood unchangeably,
because He lives on forever.
25 Therefore He is able also to save to the
uttermost (completely, perfectly, finally, and for all time and eternity) those
who come to God through Him, since He is always living to make petition to God and
intercede with Him and intervene for them.
26 [Here is] the High Priest [perfectly
adapted] to our needs, as was fitting—holy, blameless, unstained by sin,
separated from sinners, and exalted higher than the heavens.
27 He has no day by day necessity, as [do each
of these other] high priests, to offer sacrifice first of all for his own
[personal] sins and then for those of the people, because He [met all the
requirements] once for all when He brought Himself [as a sacrifice] which He
offered up.
28
For the Law sets up men in
their weakness [frail, sinful, dying human beings] as high priests, but the
word of [God’s] oath, which [was spoken later] after the institution of the
Law, [chooses and appoints as priest One Whose appointment is complete and
permanent], a Son Who has been made perfect forever. [Ps. 110:4].[16].
Hebrews/Messianic Jews 8
NOW THE main point of what we have to say is this: We have such a High
Priest, One Who is seated at the right hand of the majestic [God] in heaven,
[Ps. 110:1].
2 As officiating Priest, a Minister in the
holy places and in the true tabernacle which is erected not by man but
by the Lord.
3 For every high priest is appointed to offer up
gifts and sacrifices; so it is essential for this [High Priest] to have some
offering to make also.
4 If then He were still living on earth, He
would not be a priest at all, for there are [already priests] who offer the
gifts in accordance with the Law.
5 [But these offer] service [merely] as a
pattern and as a foreshadowing of [what has its true existence and reality in]
the heavenly sanctuary. For when Moses was about to erect the tabernacle, he
was warned by God, saying, See to it that you make it all [exactly] according
to the copy (the model) which was shown to you on the mountain. [Exod. 25:40].
6 But as it now is, He [Christ] has acquired a
[priestly] ministry which is as much superior and more excellent [than
the old] as the covenant (the agreement) of which He is the Mediator (the
Arbiter, Agent) is superior and more excellent, [because] it is enacted and
rests upon more important (sublimer, higher, and nobler) promises.
7 For if that first covenant had been without
defect, there would have been no room for another one or an attempt to
institute another one.
8 However, He finds fault with them [showing
its inadequacy] when He says, Behold, the days will come, says the Lord, when I
will make and ratify a new covenant or agreement with the house
of Israel and with the house of Judah.
9 It will not be like the covenant that I made
with their forefathers on the day when I grasped them by the hand to help and
relieve them and to lead them out from the land of Egypt, for they did
not abide in My agreement with them, and so I withdrew My favor and
disregarded them, says the Lord.
10 For this is the covenant that I will make
with the house of Israel after those days, says the Lord: I will imprint My
laws upon their minds, even upon their innermost thoughts and
understanding, and engrave them upon their hearts; and I will be their God, and
they shall be My people.
11 And it will nevermore be necessary for each
one to teach his neighbor and his fellow citizen or each one his brother,
saying, Know (perceive, have knowledge of, and get acquainted by experience
with) the Lord, for all will know Me, from the smallest to the greatest of
them.
12 For I will be merciful and gracious
toward their sins and I will remember their deeds of unrighteousness no more. [Jer.
31:31–34].
13
When God speaks of a
new [covenant or agreement], He makes the first one obsolete (out of use). And
what is obsolete (out of use and annulled because of age) is ripe for
disappearance and to be dispensed with altogether.
(Rev 1:6 KJV) And hath
made us kings and priests unto God and his Father; to him be glory and dominion for ever and ever. Amen.
(Rev 5:10 KJV) And hast
made us unto our God kings and priests: and we shall reign on the earth.
(Rev 20:6 KJV) Blessed and
holy is he that hath part in the first
resurrection: on such the second death hath no power, but they shall be priests
of God and of Christ, and shall reign with him a thousand years.
Can you see the picture now that Rav Shaul
was trying to paint?
It was not that of a Roman Soldier but that of the Garments of the Holy
Priesthood of Yahweh!
Ephesians 6:10-18 Complete
Jewish Bible
10 Finally, grow powerful in union with the Lord,
in union with his mighty strength! 11
Use all the armor and weaponry that God provides, so that you will be
able to stand against the deceptive tactics of the Adversary. 12 For
we are not struggling against human beings, but against the rulers, authorities
and cosmic powers governing this darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil
in the heavenly realm. 13 So take up every piece of war equipment
God provides; so that when the evil day comes, you will be able to resist; and
when the battle is won, you will still be standing. 14 Therefore, stand!
Have the belt of truth buckled around your waist,put on
righteousness for a breastplate, 15 and wear on your feet the
readiness that comes from the Good News of shalom. 16 Always
carry the shield of trust, with which you will be able to extinguish all the
flaming arrows of the Evil One. 17 And take the helmet of
deliverance;along with the sword given by the Spirit, that is, the Word of
God; 18 as you pray at all times, with all kinds of prayers and
requests, in the Spirit, vigilantly and persistently, for all God’s people.[17]
“So Take
Up” or as the King James Version says
“Take On” This is a command to put on the garments and keep them on!
We
are commanded to put on the priestly garments and never take them off. We are to stand continually before the Lord
and not stop interceding for Israel or the Nations as His Holy Priesthood.
