And the fourth row a beryl, and an onyx, and a jasper: they shall be set in gold in their inclosings.
Exodus 28:20 names beryl, onyx and jasper as the fourth row of the breastplate, set in gold in their settings as part of a rich and beautiful work worn over the chest, suspended from the shoulders and glittering like diamonds. Its precious stones bore the names of the twelve tribes of Israel engraved within the gold, appearing enlarged as the high priest moved, and they were of the same kinds as those used for the twelve foundations of the city of God. The breastplate belonged to the sanctuary service for receiving messages from Jehovah, when the light of His glory flashed upon the stones in approval and the cloud of His disapproval shadowed them, until Christ's death rent the veil, removed His presence from the mercy-seat and ended that flashing and shadowing. It stands among God's detailed and specific instructions for what those who minister before Him should wear, because their apparel and conduct can honor or dishonor Him and shape the people's reverence, calling ministers to order in everything and especially to cleanliness. The many different stones joined into one breastplate show how people of distinct minds, characteristics and qualities, each with its own special light and significance, form one united church family and contribute to one united whole under one Mind.
Breastplate and Its Stones
The fourth row of the breastplate holds beryl, onyx, and jasper, each set in gold in its enclosure. This row completes the four rows of precious stones ordered for the high priest's breastplate as part of the sanctuary service for receiving messages from Jehovah. The breastplate itself was a rich and beautiful work worn over the chest. It was suspended from the shoulders and glittered like diamonds, seen in the heavenly scene as a precious, glittering garment bearing engraved names.
Its precious stones bore the names of Israel's twelve tribes engraved on stones within the gold setting. Those names appeared enlarged as the high priest moved. The kinds of stones set in the breastplate are the same kinds as those used for the twelve foundations of the city of God.
The breastplate belonged to the sacred garments worn in service before the Lord. The high priest alone was authorized to wear it when he went before the Lord. Each stone had its own special light and significance, contributing to the beauty of the whole breastplate. The many stones together formed one breastplate.
Guidance and Its Ending
The breastplate whose fourth row held beryl, onyx, and jasper was part of the sanctuary service appointed for receiving messages from Jehovah. At its sides stood two larger stones by which the divine answer was made known, approval by a light resting upon them and refusal by a cloud overshadowing them. So long as the divine presence overshadowed the earthly mercy-seat, the light of glory flashed upon those precious stones and the cloud of disapproval shadowed them.
When Christ died the veil of the temple was rent in twain from top to bottom. The most holy place, entered only once a year, was then revealed to common gaze. God's protection of the temple ceased and His presence no longer overshadowed the mercy-seat, so that the flashing of glory and the shadowing of disapproval upon the stones came to an end.
That same breastplate is reflected in the heavenly scene as a precious, glittering garment bearing engraved names.
Order and Unity in Ministry
Exodus 28:20 is one of the detailed, specific, symbolic instructions for Aaron's tabernacle garments, showing that God specified what those who served Him should wear. God gave special directions to Moses about the dress of those who were to minister in His service, as part of His detailed instruction about everything connected with His service. Those specific instructions for the clothing of those who ministered before Him show that care and order in ministers' appearance matter.
The apparel of those who officiate before God can honor or dishonor Him. Their apparel and conduct shape the people's reverence for Him and His sacred service. Those who minister are therefore to maintain order in everything, and especially to preserve cleanliness.
The breastplate holds many different stones together forming one breastplate, each stone having its own special light and significance and contributing to the beauty of the whole. Those distinct stones illustrate how people with distinct minds, characteristics, and qualities can form one united church family under one Mind. Distinct members and minds thus contribute their particular qualities to one united whole.
Exodus 28:20 names beryl, onyx and jasper as the fourth row of the breastplate, set in gold in their settings as part of a rich and beautiful work worn over the chest, suspended from the shoulders and glittering like diamonds. Its precious stones bore the names of the twelve tribes of Israel engraved within the gold, appearing enlarged as the high priest moved, and they were of the same kinds as those used for the twelve foundations of the city of God. The breastplate belonged to the sanctuary service for receiving messages from Jehovah, when the light of His glory flashed upon the stones in approval and the cloud of His disapproval shadowed them, until Christ's death rent the veil, removed His presence from the mercy-seat and ended that flashing and shadowing. It stands among God's detailed and specific instructions for what those who minister before Him should wear, because their apparel and conduct can honor or dishonor Him and shape the people's reverence, calling ministers to order in everything and especially to cleanliness. The many different stones joined into one breastplate show how people of distinct minds, characteristics and qualities, each with its own special light and significance, form one united church family and contribute to one united whole under one Mind.
Breastplate and Its Stones
The fourth row of the breastplate holds beryl, onyx, and jasper, each set in gold in its enclosure. This row completes the four rows of precious stones ordered for the high priest's breastplate as part of the sanctuary service for receiving messages from Jehovah. The breastplate itself was a rich and beautiful work worn over the chest. It was suspended from the shoulders and glittered like diamonds, seen in the heavenly scene as a precious, glittering garment bearing engraved names.
Its precious stones bore the names of Israel's twelve tribes engraved on stones within the gold setting. Those names appeared enlarged as the high priest moved. The kinds of stones set in the breastplate are the same kinds as those used for the twelve foundations of the city of God.
The breastplate belonged to the sacred garments worn in service before the Lord. The high priest alone was authorized to wear it when he went before the Lord. Each stone had its own special light and significance, contributing to the beauty of the whole breastplate. The many stones together formed one breastplate.
Guidance and Its Ending
The breastplate whose fourth row held beryl, onyx, and jasper was part of the sanctuary service appointed for receiving messages from Jehovah. At its sides stood two larger stones by which the divine answer was made known, approval by a light resting upon them and refusal by a cloud overshadowing them. So long as the divine presence overshadowed the earthly mercy-seat, the light of glory flashed upon those precious stones and the cloud of disapproval shadowed them.
When Christ died the veil of the temple was rent in twain from top to bottom. The most holy place, entered only once a year, was then revealed to common gaze. God's protection of the temple ceased and His presence no longer overshadowed the mercy-seat, so that the flashing of glory and the shadowing of disapproval upon the stones came to an end.
That same breastplate is reflected in the heavenly scene as a precious, glittering garment bearing engraved names.
Order and Unity in Ministry
Exodus 28:20 is one of the detailed, specific, symbolic instructions for Aaron's tabernacle garments, showing that God specified what those who served Him should wear. God gave special directions to Moses about the dress of those who were to minister in His service, as part of His detailed instruction about everything connected with His service. Those specific instructions for the clothing of those who ministered before Him show that care and order in ministers' appearance matter.
The apparel of those who officiate before God can honor or dishonor Him. Their apparel and conduct shape the people's reverence for Him and His sacred service. Those who minister are therefore to maintain order in everything, and especially to preserve cleanliness.
The breastplate holds many different stones together forming one breastplate, each stone having its own special light and significance and contributing to the beauty of the whole. Those distinct stones illustrate how people with distinct minds, characteristics, and qualities can form one united church family under one Mind. Distinct members and minds thus contribute their particular qualities to one united whole.