Dec 22
11
Old Testament Reading: Exodus 39
“From the blue and purple and scarlet yarns they made finely woven garments, for ministering in the Holy Place. They made the holy garments for Aaron, as the LORD had commanded Moses. He made the ephod of gold, blue and purple and scarlet yarns, and fine twined linen. And they hammered out gold leaf, and he cut it into threads to work into the blue and purple and the scarlet yarns, and into the fine twined linen, in skilled design. They made for the ephod attaching shoulder pieces, joined to it at its two edges. And the skillfully woven band on it was of one piece with it and made like it, of gold, blue and purple and scarlet yarns, and fine twined linen, as the LORD had commanded Moses. They made the onyx stones, enclosed in settings of gold filigree, and engraved like the engravings of a signet, according to the names of the sons of Israel. And he set them on the shoulder pieces of the ephod to be stones of remembrance for the sons of Israel, as the LORD had commanded Moses. He made the breastpiece, in skilled work, in the style of the ephod, of gold, blue and purple and scarlet yarns, and fine twined linen. It was square. They made the breastpiece doubled, a span its length and a span its breadth when doubled. And they set in it four rows of stones. A row of sardius, topaz, and carbuncle was the first row; and the second row, an emerald, a sapphire, and a diamond; and the third row, a jacinth, an agate, and an amethyst; and the fourth row, a beryl, an onyx, and a jasper. They were enclosed in settings of gold filigree. There were twelve stones with their names according to the names of the sons of Israel. They were like signets, each engraved with its name, for the twelve tribes. And they made on the breastpiece twisted chains like cords, of pure gold. And they made two settings of gold filigree and two gold rings, and put the two rings on the two edges of the breastpiece. And they put the two cords of gold in the two rings at the edges of the breastpiece. They attached the two ends of the two cords to the two settings of filigree. Thus they attached it in front to the shoulder pieces of the ephod. Then they made two rings of gold, and put them at the two ends of the breastpiece, on its inside edge next to the ephod. And they made two rings of gold, and attached them in front to the lower part of the two shoulder pieces of the ephod, at its seam above the skillfully woven band of the ephod. And they bound the breastpiece by its rings to the rings of the ephod with a lace of blue, so that it should lie on the skillfully woven band of the ephod, and that the breastpiece should not come loose from the ephod, as the LORD had commanded Moses. He also made the robe of the ephod woven all of blue, and the opening of the robe in it was like the opening in a garment, with a binding around the opening, so that it might not tear. On the hem of the robe they made pomegranates of blue and purple and scarlet yarns and fine twined linen. They also made bells of pure gold, and put the bells between the pomegranates all around the hem of the robe, between the pomegranates— a bell and a pomegranate, a bell and a pomegranate around the hem of the robe for ministering, as the LORD had commanded Moses. They also made the coats, woven of fine linen, for Aaron and his sons, and the turban of fine linen, and the caps of fine linen, and the linen undergarments of fine twined linen, and the sash of fine twined linen and of blue and purple and scarlet yarns, embroidered with needlework, as the LORD had commanded Moses. They made the plate of the holy crown of pure gold, and wrote on it an inscription, like the engraving of a signet, “Holy to the LORD.” And they tied to it a cord of blue to fasten it on the turban above, as the LORD had commanded Moses. Thus all the work of the tabernacle of the tent of meeting was finished, and the people of Israel did according to all that the LORD had commanded Moses; so they did. Then they brought the tabernacle to Moses, the tent and all its utensils, its hooks, its frames, its bars, its pillars, and its bases; the covering of tanned rams’ skins and goatskins, and the veil of the screen; the ark of the testimony with its poles and the mercy seat; the table with all its utensils, and the bread of the Presence; the lampstand of pure gold and its lamps with the lamps set and all its utensils, and the oil for the light; the golden altar, the anointing oil and the fragrant incense, and the screen for the entrance of the tent; the bronze altar, and its grating of bronze, its poles, and all its utensils; the basin and its stand; the hangings of the court, its pillars, and its bases, and the screen for the gate of the court, its cords, and its pegs; and all the utensils for the service of the tabernacle, for the tent of meeting; the finely worked garments for ministering in the Holy Place, the holy garments for Aaron the priest, and the garments of his sons for their service as priests. According to all that the LORD had commanded Moses, so the people of Israel had done all the work. And Moses saw all the work, and behold, they had done it; as the LORD had commanded, so had they done it. Then Moses blessed them.” (Exodus 39, ESV)
New Testament Reading: 1 Timothy 2:1–6
“First of all, then, I urge that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for all people, for kings and all who are in high positions, that we may lead a peaceful and quiet life, godly and dignified in every way. This is good, and it is pleasing in the sight of God our Savior, who desires all people to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth. For there is one God, and there is one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus, who gave himself as a ransom for all, which is the testimony given at the proper time.” (1 Timothy 2:1–6, ESV)
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Please excuse any typos and misspellings within this manuscript. It has been published online for the benefit of the saints of Emmaus Reformed Baptist Church but without the benefit of proofreading.
Introduction
The sermons that I have preached on Exodus chapters 35 and following have been a little unusual. Instead of moving slowly through these texts to consider the details, I’ve stepped back from these texts to consider the Sabbath, the tabernacle, and its furnishings theologically. We considered these things in detail when they were first mentioned to us in Exodus 25 through 31. But in this repetitive portion of Exodus where the actual building of the tabernacle is described to us, I’ve taken the opportunity to do what is called Biblical theology. In Biblical theology, we identify themes in scripture and trace their development in individual books, and even throughout the whole of Scripture. This we have done with the theme of Sabbath, the tabernacle and its furnishings, and today we will do it with the priesthood. With each theme, I have attempted to demonstrate that they find their fulfillment in Christ, his finished work, and his eternal reward. Christ is our eternal Sabbath rest. Christ is the tabernacle or temple of God. Through faith in him we come to God. Through faith in him we will enter into the new heavens and earth, that is to say, into God’s eternal temple. And so, in previous sermons, we have considered the gospel of the Sabbath, the gospel of the tabernacle, the gospel of the ark, table, and lampstand, and the gospel of the courtyard, the altar of burnt offering, and the bronze laver. Today’s sermon is entitled, The Gospel Of the Priesthood.
Here in Exodus 39 we are told about the making of the garments for the priests of Old Covenant Israel. These priests were of the tribe of Levi. Aaron was the first High Priest. All others descended from him. And we know that these men were set apart to minister in the tabernacle, and later the temple. They ministered on behalf of the people and before God. They functioned as mediators or middlemen. Having been washed with the water of the laver, they ministered daily at the altar of burnt offering in the courtyard, daily at the altar of incense in the holy place, and once a year before the mercy seat in the Holy of Holies. Here in this text, we are told about the making of their garments.
In fact, Exodus 39:32-43 bring this entire section, which began at 35:1, to a conclusion. There we read, “Thus all the work of the tabernacle of the tent of meeting was finished, and the people of Israel did according to all that the LORD had commanded Moses; so they did…” This reminds us of the instructions that were given to Moses on the mountain abc in Exodus 25-31. God told Israel to do this, and they did it. That is the point. After this, we are told in 39:33, that they “brought the tabernacle to Moses, the tent and all its” fittings and furnishings. In 39:41 we are told that they also brought before Moses these finely worked garments for ministering in the Holy Place, the holy garments for Aaron the priest, and the garments of his sons for their service as priests.”
Can you picture the scene? After all of the construction work was done in the making of the tabernacle, its fittings, and furnishings, along with the priestly garments, the people brought their finished work to present it to Moses, the Prophet of God. The work was conducted according to the patern of the Sabbath, remember? It was stressed in Exodus 35:1-3 that the tabernacle was to be built according to the pattern of Sabbath. 35:2 says, “Six days work shall be done, but on the seventh day you shall have a Sabbath of solemn rest, holy to the LORD. Whoever does any work on it shall be put to death” (Exodus 35:2, ESV). So then, teh work of tabernacle building was no exception. Isarel was to work six days and rest on the seventh according to the pattern established by God at creation.
I wonder if you can see why I am stressing this. I have tried to convince you in previous sermons that the tabernacle was a little miniature replica of the heavens and the earth. When Israel constructed the tabernacle they were mimicking God’s work of creation, therefore. In imitation of God and according to his command, they made a little replica of the heavenly realm where God manifests his glory before the angels, of the heavens above where their sun, moon, and stars reign, and of the earth with its dry land, mountains, and seas. Israel, in imitation of their Maker, and in obedience to his command, worked six days and rested on the seventh. And when the work was done, they brought it before Moses, the Man of God, to see.
Listen carefully to verse 43 to see if it reminds you of another famous text in Scripture. “And Moses saw all the work, and behold, they had done it; as the LORD had commanded, so had they done it. Then Moses blessed them” (Exodus 39:43, ESV). Students of the Bible have long noticed that Exodus 39:43 sounds a lot like Genesis 1:31-2:3. “And God saw everything that he had made, and behold, it was very good. And there was evening and there was morning, the sixth day. Thus the heavens and the earth were finished, and all the host of them. And on the seventh day God finished his work that he had done, and he rested on the seventh day from all his work that he had done. So God blessed the seventh day and made it holy, because on it God rested from all his work that he had done in creation” (Genesis 1:31–2:3, ESV). Well, when Israel had finished the work of building the tabernacle, which was a little replica of the heavens and earth, according to the pattern of the Sabbath established by God at creation, “And Moses saw all the work, and behold, they had done it; as the LORD had commanded, so had they done it. Then Moses blessed them” (Exodus 39:43, ESV). This observation certainly reinforces all that has been said before about the tabernacle being a replica of the original creation, and of Eden.
I have briefly addressed Exodus 39:32-42 so that we might return to our main question for today: Why the priesthood? It is one thing to know the facts about the priesthood of the Old Covenant. Who were the priests? They were of the tribe of Levi. What did they wear? They wore these garments that were constructed according to the pattern shown to Moses on the mountain. And what did they do? Having been washed with the water of the laver, they ministered daily at the altar of burnt offering in the courtyard, daily at the altar of incense in the holy place, and once a year before the mercy seat in the Holy of Holies. But my question is why? Why did God command this? Why did he institute the Aaronic Priesthood? And I suppose, the most basic answer to this question is that they were appointed to minister in the tabernacle so that the people might approach God in worship according to the means that God had appointed under the Old Covenant. But when I ask “why?”, I’m asking something more. I’m wanting to know what the presence of the priests communicated concerning God’s plan of redemption.
In brief, the answer is this: God gave Old Covenant Israel the Levitical priesthood to communicate symbolically, that the way to the forgiveness of sins, to full reconciliation with God, and into the New Heavens and Earth, would be opened up by a priestly mediator, Christ the LORD.
Stated differently, while on the most basic level the Levitical priests were in fact used by God under the Old Covenant to administer the forgiveness of sins and reconciliation with God on earth as the worshippers came to worship at the tabernacle according to the terms of the Old Covenant, the Levitical priests could not, in and of themselves, provide for the forgiveness of sins to the cleansing of the conscience, not reconcile sinners to God fully, nor bring sinners into the eternal presence of God in the New Heavens and earth. Only Christ, the mediator and High Priest of the New Covenant can do that. And I am saying that the priests of the Old Covenant anticipated him. They proclaimed him. They foreshadowed Jesus Christ, God’s great Prophet, Priest, and King.
In just a moment we will consider how the priests of the Old Covenant, and especially the High Priests, proclaimed the good news of Jesus Christ in a symbolic way. But before we go there, I would like to show you three ways in which the book of Exodus itself communicates that the priests of the Old Covenant could not themselves provide for the true forgiveness of sins nor bring about full reconciliation with God leading to life eternal in the new heavens and earth.
One, consider that the Old Covenant priests themselves were sinful men in need of cleansing, atonement, and imputed righteousness. In other words, they themselves were in need of a Savior. They could not, therefore, be the Savior. Remember, the priests had to be washed with the water of the laver. When the High Priest entered the Most Holy Place on the Day of Atonement, he had to take blood – blood to atone for his own sin, and he sins of the people. And why were the priests clothed in these elaborate garments for “glory and beauty”? For many reasons, one of them being to cover their sin and signify the imputed righteousness of Christ. Just as God graciously clothed Adam and Eve with animal skins after their fall into sin, so too he clothes his priests with garments for “glory and beauty”. And do not forget the episode involving Aaron leading the people in the worship of the golden calf. That episode was important for many reasons, one of them being that it clarified that Aaron was not the Messiah. He could not be, for he himself, along with all of the other priests of the tribe of Levi, was tainted by sin. The Old Covenant priests themselves were sinful men in need of cleansing, atonement, and imputed righteousness. They themselves were in need of a Savior. They could not, therefore, be the Savior. But they did point to him, as we will see.
Two, consider that the Old Covenant priests of Israel ministered on earth and with earthly things. They did not minister before God in heaven (as Christ does). They ministered on earth. The blood they offered up was animal blood. And we know that animal blood cannot atone for the sins of man to the cleansing of the conscience. They were purified in a fleshly way through the washing of the body with water. But we know that water cannot cleanse the soul. The priests and their administration could not provide for the true forgiveness of sins nor bring about full reconciliation with God leading to life eternal in the new heavens and earth. But they did point forward to the one who could, as we will see.
Three, the book of Exodus itself does communicate the limitations of the tabernacle and the priests who served there, and it does so in many ways. Consider again the veil that separated the holy place from the Holy of Holies. Yes, provision was made for the High Priest to enter the Holy of Holies once a year, but not without animal blood. Certainly, the message was this: the way to reconciliation with God is not opened wide by this tabernacle, these sacrifices, or this priesthood. And would you turn with me to Exodus 40:34? Before this verse, we are told about the tabernacle being set up by Israel, and in 40:34 we read, “Then the cloud covered the tent of meeting, and the glory of the LORD filled the tabernacle. And Moses was not able to enter the tent of meeting because the cloud settled on it, and the glory of the LORD filled the tabernacle” (Exodus 40:34–35, ESV). Moses was not able to enter. So which is it? Did the tabernacle, Moses, and the priests of the Old Covenant make a way for sinners to come before God in worship and to enter into his presence or not? Answer: yes and no. Yes, in an earthy, partial, and temporary way, but not in a heavenly, full, and eternal way. The Old Covenant, its laws, tabernacle, priests, and sacrifices were good, but they were limited in their design and purpose from the beginning. That said, they did also point forward to Jesus the Messiah, our great Prophet, Priest, and King, the only “mediator between God and men” (1 Timothy 2:5). By his obedience, he has entered into the heavenly Holy of Holies (Hebrews 10:1-18), and through faith in him we have bold access to the Father (Hebrews 10:19ff.)
So now I ask, how did the priests of the Old Mosaic covenant proclaim the gospel of Jesus Christ? No doubt, some of the proclaimed the gospel of Jesus Christ with their lips as they read and taught the word of God and urged worshippers to trust, ultimately, not in the tabernacle, nor in the animal sacrifices, nor in the priesthood, but in the Messiah who was promised to them, of whom these earthly things were signs. But my question is a little different. I am asking, how the priesthood, as an Old Covenant institution, proclaims the good news of Jesus Christ in a shadowy and symbolic way.
I have three points: One, through their mediation in the courtyard at the altar of burnt offering. Two, through their mediation at the altar of incense in the Holy Place. Three, through their mediation in the Most Holy place, before the Ark of the Covenant, on the Day of Atonement. As the priests, and especially the High Priest, moved about the tabernacle amongst the people day after day, and year after year, they proclaimed the good news of Jesus Christ in a symbolic way.
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Through Their Mediation In The Courtyard At The Altar Of Burnt Offering.
First, let us consider how the priests proclaimed the good news of Jesus Christ through their mediation in the courtyard at the altar of burnt offerings.
You should notice that I have repeated the word “mediation” in each of the points of this sermon. What is “mediation”? It is the act of intervention, intercession, or reconciliation between two parties. If two people are at odds with one another, they may need “mediation”. They may need a third person to intervene to help them work out their differences. Hopefully, the mediator will be successful leading to the reconciliation, or bringing back together again, of the two people.
I want you to see that the priests of the Old Covenant functioned as mediators. Who were the two parties they mediated between? Answer: God in heaven and Israel on earth. All of Israel did not enter into the Holy Place or the Most Holy Place. Only the priests did. But when they entered, they represented all of Israel. This is seen most clearly in the garments that the High Priest wore. On his shoulder, there were set two precious stones, one on each side. And on those stones were engraved the names of the twelve tribes of Israel, six on each side. So then, as the High Priest ministered at the tabernacle he “carried” all of Israel on his shoulders. And on his chest there hung a breastpiece. And on that breastpiece there were twelve precious stones, four rows of three. Each of those precious stones had the name of one of the twelve tribes of Israel engraved upon it. So then, as the High Priest ministered at the tabernacle he “carried” all of Israel on his chest, that is to say, on his heart.
The priests in general, and especially the High Priest, stood on behalf of the people of Israel before God, and on behalf of God before the people of Israel. The priests were mediators, middlemen, or intercessors, between God and Israel, under the Old Covenant.
Think of what this communicated concerning God’s plan of redemption. Though it is true that the priests of the Old Covenant were unable to reconcile sinners to God really, truly, and eternally, it communicated that God’s plan of redemption would be accomplished through the work of a mediator. Someone greater than Moses and Arron would arise who would mediate between God and man, not only on earth and in a temporary way, but really and truly in heaven and for eternity. And we know who this Mediator is. He is Jesus the Messiah of Israel. He has accomplished our redemption.
Now back to the priests of Old. Where did they minister primarily except at the altar of burnt offerings? And what did they do there? There on that little mountain, they represented the people before God and God to the people, as they offered up animal sacrifices according to the law that was given to them. The blood of these animals atoned for the sins of the people in an earthly way. It made them right before God temporarily and according to the terms of the Old Covenant. But it did not take away their sins to the cleansing of their conscience.
This ministry of the priests at the altar reminded the worshippers of the past. It reminded them of the worship at Able, the worship of the patriarchs at altars, and even Abraham’s worship on the mountain when he offered Issac up, but God provided a substitute. The blood on the altar would have also reminded Israel of the blood of the Passover lamb by which they were redeemed.
This ministry of the priests at the altar would have communicated truths to the worshipper concerning the present. The blood sacrifices would have reminded them of their sin asnd of their need for true forgiveness. The blood sacrifices would have reminded the worship of God in heaven and that he is “the LORD, a God merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love and faithfulness, keeping steadfast love for thousands, forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin, but who will by no means clear the guilty, visiting the iniquity of the fathers on the children and the children’s children, to the third and the fourth generation” (Exodus 34:6–7, ESV).
The ministry of the priests at the altar was also meant to direct the minds and hearts of the worshipper to the future to that day when the precious and very great promises concerning the Messiah would be fulfilled. After all, God announced to Adam and Eve that one of their offspring would crush the head of the serpent. And he announced to Abraham that one of his offspring would inherit the earth and bless the nations. All who had true faith under the Old Covenant new that they were not to place their faith in the blood of bulls and goats, but in the Messiah who had been promised to them.
When the Messiah came into the world, he too was a priest who mediated between God and man at an altar. He was not a priest in the line of Levi or Aaron, for he was not a priest or mediator of the Old Covenant. He was a priest in the order of Melchizedek, who was also the king of Salam, who lived in the says of Abraham, long before the Levitical priesthood was established. The Messiah was of the tribe of Judah and David, not Levi and Aaron, for he, like Melchizedek, was a priest-King. And neither did the Messiah serve in the temple at the altar there, for that temple and that altar, like the Levitical priests, belonged to the Old Mosaic Covenant. As I have said, Christ is not a mediator of the Old Covenant order. He is the great High Priest and mediator of the New Covenant, which is the Covenant of Grace. It is through this covenant alone, and through this Mediator and Priest alone, that sinners are actually forgiven and reconciled to God eternally. And it all comes down to the altar and to what is offered there.
Under the Old Covenant, the Levitical priests offered the blood of bulls and goats up on the altar for the cleansing of the flesh so the worshipers might be made right on earth and under the terms of the Old Covenant.
But the New Covenant has Christ as Mediator. He is God’s Prophet, Priest, and King, who came in the order of Melchizedek. And what altar did he minister at? It was the altar of the cross. And what sacrifice did he offer up there? He offered Himself us, “a sacrifice to satisfy divine justice, and reconcile us to God…” The blood of bulls and goats offered up by the Levites could not accomplish this. But they did point forward to the one who could. And all who have true faith in this promised Messiah will have true and eternal forgiveness of sins. “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life” (John 3:16, ESV).
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Through Their Mediation At The Altar Of Incense In The Holy Place.
Secondly, and very briefly, let us consider how the priests of Old proclaimed the good news of Jesus Christ through their mediation at the altar of incense in the Holy Place.
Can you picture the priests of Old burning incense on that altar that stood immediately outside of the veil which separated the Holy Place from the Most Holy Place? What did the smoke of that incense symbolize? The prayers of God’s people. So what then were the priests of Old doing when they burnt that incense morning and evening? They mediated between God and Israel in prayer.
Christ did this in his earthly ministry. He did it often, but you made read of it in John chapter 17. There we hear the prayer of our great High Priest as he interceded on behalf of the true Israel of God, that is to say, all whom the Father gave to him in eternity.
And what is Christ doing now that he is risen and ascended? He is interceding for his people as our great High Priest, the only true Mediator between God and man. This is what Paul says in that beautiful and much-loved passage. “What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? He who did not spare his own Son but gave him up for us all, how will he not also with him graciously give us all things? Who shall bring any charge against God’s elect? It is God who justifies. Who is to condemn? Christ Jesus is the one who died—more than that, who was raised—who is at the right hand of God, who indeed is interceding for us. Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or danger, or sword? … No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us.” (Romans 8:31–37, ESV).
Here is the thing that I want you to see. The priests of Old interceded on behalf of the people at the altar of incense from on earth. Christ intercedes for us in the heavenly Holy of Holies itself, the true reality of which the Holy of Holies on earth was a sign. As the priests of Old ministered on earth they did not only do a good thing for Old Covenant Israel, they also pointed forward to the greater priest to come, Christ the Lord, who intercedes for us now in heaven. Through him, we have bold access to the Father.
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Through Their Mediation In The Most Holy Place Before The Ark Of The Covenant On The Day Of Atonement
Thirdly, lastly, and briefly, let us consider how the priests proclaimed the good news of Jesus Christ through their mediation in the Most Holy place before the Ark of the Covenant on the Day of Atonement.
Much of what I have said before applies here too. I simply want you to imagine the High Priest of Old passing through the veil of the curtain once per year and not without blood. It communicated three things. One, the way into the presence of God was not hopelessly lost after man’s fall into sin. After all, the High Preist was invited to enter in. So, we can see that God had made a way. Two, the way into the presence of God was not yet, in those days, opened wide. After all, only the High Priest could enter in, and only once per year. Three, the way into the presence of God required the shedding of blood. The High Priests of Old could enter in after offering up animal blood to atone for their sin, “[b]ut when Christ appeared as a high priest of the good things that have come, then through the greater and more perfect tent (not made with hands, that is, not of this creation) he entered once for all into the holy places, not by means of the blood of goats and calves but by means of his own blood, thus securing an eternal redemption. For if the blood of goats and bulls, and the sprinkling of defiled persons with the ashes of a heifer, sanctify for the purification of the flesh, how much more will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without blemish to God, purify our conscience from dead works to serve the living God. Therefore he is the mediator of a new covenant, so that those who are called may receive the promised eternal inheritance…” (Hebrews 9:11–15, ESV)
The mediation of the High Preist in the Most Holy could not reconcile us to God truly or secure our eternal redemption. But his movements in the tabernacle of Old did point forward to the One who has accomplished this work, Christ Jesus the Lord, our great Prophet, Priest, and King who has come in the order of Melchizedek, the only mediator between God and man.
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Conclusion
May we be found united to him by faith on the last day, for no one comes to the Father except through him.
