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Observations from today’s readings and today’s S-WOD, Wednesday, 29 January 2025:
Exodus 28:2 — And you shall make holy garments for Aaron your brother, for glory and for beauty.
Aaron’s glory and honor came from his service to God. The garments were not intended to point to Aaron but rather to his position under God. God does not share glory and honor with people. All glory and honor goes to Him. Never let anyone point to you rather than Jesus.
Exodus 28:3 — You shall speak to all the skillful, whom I have filled with a spirit of skill.
We rely on God’s grace (God giving to us what we don’t deserve and can’t earn) not just for salvation but for everything. You don’t breathe a breath without God’s grace, and when you are saved, you are intended to increasingly rely on God’s grace as you do more things in faith which are impossible for you to do without God’s supernatural enabling. Through the Spirit, God gives skills to serve Him. Our skills were not intended to serve self. People take pride in their skills as if they earned the, but while much effort may have been involved to hone those skills, they are fundamentally God-given and God-enabled. For skills to be fully realized, they must be fully dedicated to God’s glory and the benefit of others.
Exodus 28:9-12 — You shall take two onyx stones, and engrave on them the names of the sons of Israel, six of their names on the one stone, and the names of the remaining six on the other stone, in the order of their birth. As a jeweler engraves signets, so shall you engrave the two stones with the names of the sons of Israel. You shall enclose them in settings of gold filigree. And you shall set the two stones on the shoulder pieces of the ephod, as stones of remembrance for the sons of Israel.
The priest carried the names of the people on his shoulders before the LORD, identifying himself with them and carrying their interests to the Almighty. Jesus, the perfect and ultimate High Priest carries our names on His shoulders, identifying us as His, interceding for us before the Father, and carrying us through life’s challenges. Verse 21 further tells us that Jesus as the Great High Priest carries our names on His heart as well.
- Isaiah 9:6 — For to us a child is born, to us a son is given; and the government shall be upon his shoulder, and his name shall be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.
Exodus 28:30 — And in the breastpiece of judgment you shall put the Urim and the Thummim, and they shall be on Aaron’s heart, when he goes in before the Lord. Thus Aaron shall bear the judgment of the people of Israel on his heart before the Lord regularly.
The Urim and Thummim, which means “Lights and Perfections,” were used, perhaps like dice, to make decisions which weren’t discernable through God’s word or direct revelation — For example, should we go right or left? They are referenced in various places throughout the Old Testament — Numbers 27:21, 1 Samuel 28:6, Ezra 2:63, and Nehemiah 7:65; implied in and their use may be implied in Judges 1:1; 20:18, 23) These were never to be used as a substitute for God’s word or as a way to alter God’s clear guidance. They also weren’t considered a game of chance or intended to put God to the test. The intent was to take all human emotion, biases, and flawed discernment out of the equation, trusting God with whatever outcome resulted. The Urim and Thummim acknowledged God’s perfect sovereignty and perfect providence over all circumstances. Should I go right our left? Either way, God is sovereign and trustworthy, and I can glorify Him in both directions.
Exodus 28:35 — And it shall be on Aaron when he ministers, and its sound shall be heard when he goes into the Holy Place before the Lord, and when he comes out, so that he does not die.
Aaron could not be seen by the people while he performed his priestly role inside the Holy Place, but he could be heard. This likely served as a constant reminder to both Aaron and the people of the importance of his every move before God and on the behalf of the people. It likely also served as a reassurance to the people that Aaron was actively faithful before the Lord as their intermediary. Perhaps we should also place things in our lives to continually remind us we are always “before the face of God” (Coram Deo), that we should be “always faithful before the face of God” (Semper Fidelis Coram Deo) in our every deed, that our every action should be intentionally directed towards reconciliation — bring others closer to Jesus, and that others should have constant evidence of our ministry to them before the Lord, confidence that we are always praying for them.
“Cross” Fit S-WOD (Spiritual Workout of the Day) – 29 January 2025: Today, focus on trusting God in your circumstances, no matter what you are going through. Remember He knows you by name, carries you on His shoulders, holds you in His heart, and presents you as His before the Father. Nothing you are going through, even the consequences of your bad decisions, can separate you from His love and perfect providence. Trust Him and keep moving forward in faith and obedience with love, joy, and peace.
Defenders Bible Reading Plan 