The Golden Altar and Priesthood.-Exodus 28-30

We will look into the priesthood first, for if we are to have a worship altar, as the golden altar was, we must needs have priests to worship there. Before God gives the golden altar, He describes the priests'
dress and consecration. So we will now consider our-selves as priests inside the sanctuary. We find our-selves in God's house, in His presence. We are not only to enjoy our position and rejoice in the things of Christ, but also to worship Him and offer up the in-cense there. Let us see then what priesthood is.
We have in this chapter a description of the priests' robes first. Garments were to be made for glory and beauty. Few of us enter into that and rejoice in it. A little while ago we considered the offering of the high priest on the day of atonement, and we found he was clothed in white robes, signifying the spotless humanity of Christ. Now we are to consider the glories of Christ which He has now before God. These garments are described as being " for glory and for beauty," to show forth Christ's glory and His beauties.
Let us get rid of a wrong thought first. It is a common thought that Christ is high priest to intercede for the sins of the people. He is not. He did that on the cross, and having finished it on the cross, He has not to do it any more. It is a finished work. He is the High Priest of God, not to put away our sin now, but to watch over us and intercede for our needs.
Let us then examine a little into these garments for glory and beauty, to the refreshment of our souls. Ex. 28:6. We have the same colors here in the same order that we had in the curtains, with the addition of the gold; a thread of gold ran through the garments, for Christ's priesthood is a divine one; and the robe of the ephod was made entirely of blue, for His priesthood is heavenly. Now these two facts, the divine and the heavenly character of Christ's priesthood, is what the Holy Spirit dwells especially on in Hebrews for our comfort. He is able to save to the uttermost, that is right to the end, every soul that comes unto God by Him.
We have next the description of the garments (ver. 9). Two onyx stones were to be placed on the high priest's shoulders. On the stones were to be inscribed the names of the twelve tribes. Aaron the high priest was to bear the names on his shoulders, the place of strength. A type, this, of Christ before God bearing up every saved one. We are borne up by His strength and not by our own. " With the work of an engraver." Who is the engraver? Surely it is God Himself. " Like the engraving of a signet," that pledge of remembrance, our names are there engraved. Will God then ever forget? Nay, never! Through Christ we are ever before His mind.