Exodus 28:27
And two other rings of gold thou shalt make, and shalt put them on the two sides of the ephod underneath, toward the forepart thereof, over against the other coupling thereof, above the curious girdle of the ephod. And two other rings of gold thou shalt make, and shalt put them on the two sides of the ephod underneath, toward the forepart thereof, over against the other coupling thereof, above the curious girdle of the ephod.
The verse directs that two additional rings of gold be fashioned and fastened on the two sides of the ephod underneath, toward its front, opposite the other coupling and above the curious girdle of the ephod. It belongs to the detailed and precise instructions given by Christ as the great I AM to Moses for His church in the wilderness, specifying the dress and everything connected with the service of those ministering before Him in the tabernacle sanctuary. The ephod and breastplate were sacred only when used in the solemn service God had directed, and only the high priest was authorized to wear them when going before the Lord. The directions for the robes were particular because the clothing was symbolic, belonging to a system of symbols and types pointing to the Saviour.
That particularity teaches that the Lord cares about the dress of those who serve Him and that His followers' dress should represent Christ. The directions show that He requires order in everything and especially cleanliness, so the dress of those approaching Him was to be orderly and clean, since impurity and untidiness were not fitting. Care in appearance helped teach the people that God is holy and His service is sacred. The God who moves the world and sustains life and health may be honored or dishonored by the apparel of those who officiate before Him.
The chapter expresses God's will and outline for the mental, physical, and moral improvement of the whole being, telling His covenant with the people He is seeking to save today, the terms of salvation, and the most valuable education, giving the higher education and the highest knowledge after the divine similitude. The high-priestly garments described in the chapter are those with which Jesus clothed Himself in heaven at the close of the prophetic periods in 1844, when He ended His ministration in the holy place and closed the door of that apartment, leaving in great darkness those who had heard and rejected the messages of His coming and lost sight of Him. When fully attired, His robe had around the bottom a bell and a pomegranate in alternation, a breastplate of curious work was suspended from His shoulders that glittered like diamonds as He moved and magnified letters that looked like names written or engraved upon it, and upon His head was something with the appearance of a crown. Surrounded by angels He passed in a flaming chariot within the second veil into the most holy place.
The breastplate set with precious stones flashed forth the light of God's glory or cast the shadow of His disapproval, showing His presence overshadowing the earthly mercy-seat in the most holy place, which human feet entered only once a year behind the veil separating the holy from the most holy place. At the moment Christ died, the veil, a strong rich drapery renewed yearly, was rent in two from top to bottom by divine power. The most holy place was revealed to the common gaze, the sacred mysteries long protected were exposed to curious eyes, and God's presence no longer overshadowed the earthly mercy-seat nor gave light or shadow upon the breastplate stones.