What’s the first thing you do in the morning, after coffee, of course? One of the first things I do is check the weather. Why? Because I need to know what to wear, how to dress. Whether we are getting kids off to school, headed to the barn, headed to work, headed to the store, to the doctor, or wherever else we might go, we generally check the weather first.
I’ve wondered what the weather was like the morning that Mary and Martha ran to the tomb of Jesus – you know, on the Third Day. We don’t really know the answer to that, I don’t think, I’ve just wondered. Am I the only one? Our best information is that Jesus was crucified, died, buried, and arose again probably in the month of April. April in Jerusalem could have seen temperatures in the mid-to-upper 70’s. It’s just a curiosity thing for me. Of course, in their time, they generally wore the same thing day after day, robes.
Have you ever thought about what you wear on a day-to-day basis? What’s your style? What do you put on? Fitted. Flared. Casual. Chic. Sophisticated. We’ve been talking a lot of style around our house lately. Livi’s getting married next year and we’ve been talking wedding gown styles. Mermaid. A-line. Trumpet. Ballgown. Etc.
Have you ever thought about what you wear to Church? I’m not talking about standing in front of your closet trying to figure out if you wore that same shirt last week or if this tie matches this jacket. I’m talking about what we really wear. What clothes do we wear to Church?
The Book of Exodus is a memoir of the Israelites escape from captivity from Egypt and the progression of their formation as a nation – as the people belonging to God. Believe it or not, in the Book of Exodus God gave the Israelites instructions on what to wear to Church – very specific instructions.
Make the robe of the ephod entirely of blue cloth, with an opening for Aaron’s head in the middle of it. The opening will be reinforced by a woven collar so it will not tear. Make pomegranates out of blue, purple, and scarlet yarn, and attach them to the hem of the robe, with gold bells between them. The gold bells and pomegranates are to alternate all the way around the hem. Aaron will wear this robe whenever he enters the Holy Place to minister to the Lord, and the bells will tinkle as he goes in and out of the Lord’s presence. If he wears it, he will not die. Exodus 28:31-35
Ok, I don’t know about you, but I’d be wearing me a blue robe with some pomegranates and bells on the sleeves. God ordered that Aaron and his sons would be set apart to minister and serve him and the robe was just part of the clothing for the priests. Pomegranates and bells were to be alternated around the hem “and the bells would tinkle,” or chime. The King James Version says: “and his sound shall be heard when he goeth in unto the holy place before the Lord.” The word sound comes from the Hebrew word “qol” which means sound or voice.
Can you visualize that? A royal blue robe with colorful decorations and gold bells hanging on the hem. How beautiful. That’s not all, God had a matching royal blue turban made to complete the ensemble.
Attached to Aaron’s turban by a blue cord was a medallion made of pure gold. The medallion was inscribed with these words: “SET APART AS HOLY TO THE LORD.” Aaron was to always wear the robe and turban so that the children of Israel might be acceptable to God. This was a reminder to Aaron and the other priests that God is Holy and that they must be holy.
Just as Aaron was set apart to serve God – so are we. How do we serve God? By serving others. Just as Aaron was set apart as holy to the Lord – so are we. So, are we dressed for service? When we are out and about serving God, do they hear the tinkling of the bells on the hem of our service garments?
Do we wear holy? Do we look like we’ve been consecrated in God’s service? Do we look like we’ve been chosen? Not in our dress, but in our attitude? Do our words speak holy? Are our words encouraging or judgmental? Do our bells tinkle with patience? Does love hang from our robe?
Be holy, because I am holy. 1 Peter 1:16
Aaron wore the robe every time he entered the Holy Place to minister to the Lord, and the bells tinkled as he went in and out of the Lord’s presence. Knowing Jesus makes us constantly in the presence of the Lord because His Spirit is living in us. Is that not the holiest place of all – in the presence of God? Aaron dressed so he would not die. The veil was torn so that we might live!