Exodus 28:1-5

¹ “And you should bring Aaron your brother near to you, and his sons along with him, chosen from among the sons of Israel, to serve me as priests- Aaron and Aaron’s sons, Nadab and Abihu, Eleazar and Ithamar. ² And you should make holy clothes for Aaron your brother, to display glory and for beauty. ³ You should speak to all those whose hearts are wise, whom I have filled with a spirit of wisdom, so that they make Aaron’s clothes to consecrate him for my priesthood. ⁴ These are the clothes that they should make: a sacred pouch, an ephod, a robe, a coat of checker work, a turban, and a sash. They should make holy clothes for Aaron your brother and his sons to serve me as priests. ⁵ They should receive gold, blue and purple and scarlet yarns, and fine twined linen.

decked out

Moses, as the leader of the Israelites, was not given any specific instructions as what to wear. But his brother and his nephews were to be made unique, intricate and costly clothes. They were to be decked out like no other Israelites. Their clothes were to be made of the same materials as the curtains and fixtures in the tabernacle. As priests of Yahveh, they were to represent him. They were to be focused on ministering to Yahveh at all times, but particularly when they were serving within the temple courts. That was when they were to wear these unique, intricate and costly clothes.

Applying this text is not so easy today, since we have no tabernacle or physical temple, nor do we have a priesthood like this under the new covenant. Under the new covenant, the kingdom and priesthood are subsumed together as one.[1] The specially prepared white garments of this kingdom/priesthood will be put on only after the second coming of Christ.[2] We will be clothed upon with a special holy body fit for ministering to the Lord for eternity.[3]

So, how is the believer in Christ to be decked out today? Paul says that “He who has prepared us for this very thing is God, who has given us the Spirit as a guarantee.”[4] The Holy Spirit within us is all the special attire we need to function as priests to the LORD. We minister to him by faith, not based on how holy of sinless we feel today, but based on his promise that we will be made holy and sinless when he comes.

LORD, we surrender to your Holy Spirit within us. We minister to you in faith, trusting you to make us worthy of that task by your power and grace.

[1] Revelation 1:6; 5:10; 20:6.

[2] Revelation 3:4-5, 18; 4:4.

[3] 2 Corinthians 5:1-4.

[4] 2 Corinthians 5:5 ESV.