The People of the Tabernacle - Part 2 - The Priests

After all the parts of the tabernacle were completed, those who worked in the Lord’s service must also be adequately prepared. God didn’t leave anything without a plan. Even the garments, their arrangement, and the washing of the priest mattered to God. Those in His service were set apart from everyone else, just as we are today.
The priests and high priest all wore the same “base” outfit made up of 4 components: the coat, the bonnet, the girdle, and the breeches. There wasn’t an area of those who served the Lord that wasn’t arranged by God. Let God arrange you as one of His! Look at all His great creation, what beauty and design has been placed into it! (Psalm 19:1). Notice that these garments, while they stood out, were for “glory and for beauty” (Exodus 28:40). This wasn’t defined by man, social media, style, or culture. These garments were designed by God, and He is the one that said they were for glory and beauty. God should be the one always giving His children the patterns they should live by! It is His standard that we must meet up to, not our own or another’s! The best part is that when we give our all to God, He says it is a thing of glory and beauty!
The coat was like a tunic. A long flowing garment that went down to the feet and wrists, white and made of flax linen. This is very similar to what the 24 elders are seen wearing in Revelation 4 and 5 of those that have overcome the previous perils of this current life. This garment is a symbol of the purity and righteousness of Christ that He has placed on us and is not something that we did ourselves.
The bonnet was worn on the head and made of the same material as the coat. This fabric was made to keep the wearer cool in hot weather and warm when the nights got cold. It is interesting to point out that in the New Testament those in the service of the Lord are to not be brawlers and fighters, but shall we say…cool headed. (1 Timothy 3)
The girdle was made to be kept around the priest’s waist to gather up the material from the coat so they could move about. The belt was made of blue, purple, scarlet wool and white linen. These colors have been seen throughout the tabernacle and all point to the person of Christ. Blue - He is heavenly, Purple - He is Divine, Scarlet - He is our sacrifice, and White - He is holy and pure. Because He is who He is, we can be who we are in Him! Without Christ our life would fall apart, and our righteousness would fall off! There is no purity, no holiness without Him!
The breeches were made of the same material as the tunic and turban. Keeping the wearer cool. These were also to cover the nakedness of the priests. Covering from the waist to the bottom of the thigh at the knee, these were not to make him modest, that is what the tunic was for. These kept the secret parts secret while he was working for the Lord. Many items that are worn today cover the nakedness of people. However, the term nakedness for modern times is not the same as it was in Bible times. God defines nakedness as the area from the shoulders to the tops of the knees. In the New Testament we are told to be modest, which is a covering beyond nakedness. Modesty is not just the covering of nakedness nor is it one inch away from nakedness. (1 Timothy 2:9) Any priest that ministered before the Lord had to be correctly covered or they would die. Are you properly covered to minister for the Lord? Would you be allowed to enter God’s presence? This didn’t end with the tabernacle, but it is a statute forever. (Exodus 28:43)
For more reading on the priest: Ezekiel 44; Exodus 39
What did the priest do? Killed things, cleaned things, gave God everything, trusted God for everything, served God, moved with God, carried God everywhere, kept God burning, ate of bread of heaven, offered incense before the Lord, kept God’s statues and commands, and taught others about God.
The office of the priest has not gone away, but we are priests unto God. (Revelation 1:6; 5:10; 1 Peter 2:9-10) Service starts with sacrifice. (Romans 12:1-2)
Have you looked at your reflection considering the word of God and not the world around you? God never intended for us to look to the world and compare how clean or unclean we are. We are to compare ourselves to Him and His Word. Have you looked into His mirror? What adjustments have you made? Galatians 5 makes it clear what needs to be washed away from the life of a believer, and by doing so, what begins to grow. Look into this chapter and into the mirror of the Word and see what next steps may be needed by you. Wash if it is needed.
The role of the priest was busy. There were no seats in the tabernacle. Be busy for the Lord. There is much work to be done.
This is the role the Lord has placed all believers in. Let’s be busy for Him.
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