READING IN EXODUS
READING IN EXODUS
JP This chapter deals with priesthood.
JT I think the distinction pointed out this morning is important: that is, that the things in the tabernacle represent more what is of God, and what is for the eye of man; but then there is that which is for God’s eye. This chapter brings the latter forward.
JP It is the tabernacle of testimony.
JT Yes, and being the tabernacle of testimony it of necessity conveys the thought of what God would present to man, so that which meets the eye in the tabernacle refers to God Himself in the way in which He has manifested Himself in Christ. But then there is that which is for God, and the priesthood answers to that.
JP God says here, “That they may minister unto me”. Exodus 28: 41.
GWH Is the thought in the priest that there is a man who responds to God fully?
JT Yes. There is an intelligent answer in service on the part of man to the revelation of God.
WHF So we have set forth here the consecrated company — Aaron and his sons.
JT Yes, and we must bear in mind that the initial thought of the priesthood is that it is to be for God. “That they may minister unto me in the priest’s office”. Exodus 28: 41. It seems to me that is what we should keep clearly before us. There is that which God presents to us in the way of testimony, and there is that which is for God, which is the answer to it; so the priesthood is brought in here and the habiliments in which Aaron and his sons were to appear before God. All this, I think, refers to man as appearing before God in Christ and the church. There were garments made for the sons of Aaron,
[p. 417] as well as for Aaron himself. The garments of Aaron differed very materially from those of his sons, nevertheless the sons had garments of glory and beauty; they were garments that were suitable for the presence of God.
JP I notice that while Aaron’s sons are mentioned in verses 1 and 4, almost the whole chapter is occupied with Aaron and his garments. In verse 41 the sons are spoken of again: “That they may minister unto me in the priest’s office”.
I feel that we have been really defective as to priesthood. We have thought of our part, but I do not think the thought of what God desired for Himself, and what is really secured for Him in connection with the priesthood, has had its place before us.
JT It is clear that although the church has its part in the service, Christ personally is mainly before the mind of the Spirit in these types. As was said, most of the chapter is occupied with Aaron and his garments. It is Christ that is presented to us here; the garments, etc., refer to the affection and grace which manifested themselves in Him in relation to His people in the carrying out of His service before God. This includes His going into heaven, for the bells and pomegranates on Aaron’s robe represent the testimony and fruitfulness seen in the saints here on earth by the Spirit, which they received from Christ as exalted. Following on this Aaron’s sons appear. They are also clothed, but their garments are not so elaborate and magnificent as those of the high priest. Aaron’s sons typify the members of the church as clothed by the Spirit in the beauty and grace of Christ, and appearing before God in association with Him in service.
JP So the end of the chapter would be what is realised now in connection with Christianity. That is to say, the Lord has gone on high, the Holy [p. 418] Ghost has come, and now there is produced in the saints that which was seen in Himself.
JT There was the perfect display in Christ of what was in the mind of God. This the tabernacle represents. Then the necessity for the priesthood arises, and that is the subject in this chapter. Priesthood points to Christ viewed from the side of man — He is Man before God.
GWH In the first case is He viewed as the Apostle — that is, as coming out and establishing the system?
JT Quite so. All the instructions relative to the construction of the tabernacle were communicated to Moses. Aaron had nothing to do with the reception of them. As Apostle Christ is alone, but others are associated with Him in priesthood.
GWH In Acts 2 they continued praising God. This was priestly service.
WHF Is there a sense in which priesthood is manward? I was thinking of what we get in Peter: “But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should show forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light”. 1 Peter 2: 9.
JT Yes, there is, only it is not seen here. What is seen here is ministry in connection with the tabernacle.
Ques What would you say answers in the assembly today to the holy garments?
JT They represent the divine graces produced in the saints by the Spirit, which constitute them fit for the presence of God. You are not to appear in your nakedness; that is, as in the flesh. Natural ability, learning, etc., introduced into the service of God are simply human nakedness. This God refuses at every point. You need divine habiliments to appear in the presence of God, and all must be the fruit [p. 419] of the Spirit.
WHF The clothing is really for the eye of God.
JT That is the great thought in the clothing of the priest. They were for glory and beauty. The priest was to appear in the presence of God in these garments, and none other would do. In Christ the garments are seen perfectly. In Him they are not the fruit of the Spirit (although He always acted by the Spirit) they are what He is inherently, but the garments in us must be the fruit of the Holy Ghost.
Rem Aaron appeared in the presence of God representatively for the people.
JT That is what the breastplate indicates. It is a great thing to get a right thought as to the garments of the high priest. They symbolise what was seen in Christ personally; and He was anointed thus, apart altogether from blood.
Ques Would you say a word as to our title to take this place?
JT No one in Israel had any title to priesthood except a son of Aaron. Even if a man were a king he would not be allowed to minister as priest in the tabernacle.
JP The title lay in kinship with Aaron. So it does with us: “He that sanctifieth and they who are sanctified are all of one”. Hebrews 2: 11. It is only on that ground.
JT It is not simply as redeemed out of Egypt you can minister as priest. A new thought arises in connection with the tabernacle: that is, that an entirely distinct and new order of man was required for the service of God there. Hence Aaron and his sons.
WHF So in order to be priests we must be of the nature of the High Priest.
Rem God proposed that all the people should be priests. How would you say that comes in?
JT That does come in, but it depended on [p. 420] their keeping His covenant, but priesthood is connected with Aaron — his sons were priests because of their relation to him, not because they kept the covenant. It is of prime importance that we should seize the thought set forth in Aaron here: he represents Christ as an entirely new order of Man clothed with every divine grace, and so infinitely acceptable in the presence of God. He is not a Priest simply on the ground of keeping the covenant; He is such in right of what He is in His own Person as Son of God. The robe all of blue signifies His heavenly origin and character. He is “the Second Man, out of heaven”. 1 Corinthians 15: 47.
Ques Would you say something about the colours, etc.? We find gold, purple, blue, scarlet and fine linen in verses 5 and 6.
JP There is no doubt that the gold has its own significance, it speaks of what is divine. The blue would speak of what is heavenly; the purple, royalty: the scarlet, that which is glorious; and the fine linen is personal purity. “And the fine linen is the righteousnesses of the saints”. Revelation 19: 8.
JT The names of the children of Israel on the breastplate and on the shoulders of Aaron are of touching interest. Each saint is represented in the affections of our High Priest and His strength is available to us. The Urim and Thummim point to the light, or guidance, known to those who are in the intimacy of the affection suggested by the breastplate. The disciple “whom Jesus loved” and who leaned on His bosom, illustrates this. The desired information was obtained through him, John 13: 23 - 26.
Ques How do you understand, “That they die not”?
JT It sets forth the imperative character of God’s requirements, and that these could not be met in any other than Christ. It was utterly impossible [p. 421] possible that man in the flesh could appear before God. The Aaronic priesthood viewed literally proved the utter unsuitability and weakness of the first man as serving in divine things. The spiritual significance of these types involves the complete setting aside of the literal.
JP The Aaronic priests were continually dying, but Christ is Priest “according to the power of an indissoluble life”. Hebrews 7: 16. And as “both he that sanctifieth and they who are sanctified are all of one”, (Hebrews 2: 11) you could not connect the thought of death even with the priestly company.
RSS Would you not think “that they die not” conveys an idea of the greatness of the Person that is approached?
JT Yes. The presence of God is of such character that aside from the requirements which this demanded death would be the penalty of those who entered there, but we know that in Christ that is out of the question. The requirements are absolutely there in every way. Now that the true Priest has come in, the terribleness of man in the flesh attempting to exercise priesthood, as is the case in Christendom, is seen in its true light.
Rem The end of Korah and his company, and Nadab and Abihu is a warning.
This applies to a person taking the place of a Christian without having the Holy Ghost. “If any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his”. Romans 8: 9.
JT It is a very solemn thing to appear in the presence of God aside from His requirements. While every believer has title to priesthood, our concern ought to be whether we have on the suitable garments.
Ques Does that raise the question of state?
JT Yes, I think so. I think in approaching God in service it ought to be a very great concern as to whether we have [p. 422] the garments.
JP The garments present more than the fact of having the Spirit. The Corinthians had the Spirit, but I do not think there was much that is priestly about them. I am sure the Galatians had the Spirit, but I do not think you could have discovered any of these garments that are detailed in this chapter which we have read in their case.
Ques Would you say then that affection and intelligence should mark those who approach God in service?
JP Certainly.
GWH Priesthood for us stands on the ground of resurrection then?
JP Certainly it does. We cannot take up priesthood in any real way in our souls on any other ground. I think we often come together with our everyday clothes on; that is, we take account of ourselves in connection with our life in flesh down here. Hence we often bring in our trials, difficulties, and circumstances. All that is a hindrance.
GWH Resurrection was to be the great proof that Aaron was the true priest. The rod that budded and bore almonds was preserved in the ark as testimony to this.
JT Yes; resurrection is the proof of priesthood. Morally the Lord was a Priest before, but resurrection proved the inherent power of life in Him, and hence that true priesthood could belong to none other than He. But while the Aaronic order was still owned outwardly, Christ could not be priest officially, for He was not of the house of Levi. Hebrews deals with the heavenly system of things in contrast to what was instituted on earth in connection with man in the flesh, hence Christ is viewed as having gone into heaven to appear in the presence of God for us.
In appearing before God the priests were not only to be suitably attired, but they were to have their hands full of what spoke to God of the excellencies [p. 423] of Christ — the parts of the ram of consecration, etc. This refers, I think, to our intelligent appreciation of Christ by the Spirit, as before God. But all was to be consumed on the altar for a sweet savour.
JP While the clothing is for the eye of God, you do not present it. It is what fills your hands you present.
Ques On Lord’s day morning if you look into your heart and find it is not filled with affection for Christ, would you stay at home?
JT No, I would not. It says, “Let a man examine himself and so let him eat”. 1 Corinthians 11: 28. Nothing must prevent your eating, for if you do not eat you will not live. If anything defiling has occurred, judge it but do not forsake the assembly. Still we should not come empty. And in coming together in assembly we should have before our minds the greatness of Him in whose presence we are — that our offering (so to speak) might be in accordance therewith.
Ques Do you not think that there is a great deal offered that is lame and sick?
JT As in Malachi’s time. God says, “I am a great King”. Malachi 1: 14. God asserts His greatness when men make little of Him. He says, “Offer it now unto thy governor; will he be pleased with thee, or accept thy person?” Malachi 1: 8.
GWH You were saying that the meetings which follow during the week are connected with the morning meeting?
JT I think from the way things are presented in Scripture that the first day of the week is the beginning for us and all that follows during the week takes character from it.
WHF I think the meeting for prayer naturally follows the Lord’s day morning meeting. It is a continuation.
JT “They continued stedfastly in the apostles’ doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers”. Acts 2: 42.
JP The prayer is very closely connected with the breaking of bread there.
Ques Would continuing in the apostles’ doctrine indicate what is connected with such a meeting as this?
J .T. You feel the need of Christians being instructed in doctrine, hence you can count on the Lord’s support in meetings like these. But the Lord’s supper brings the saints together: then there is room for the Spirit, who ever makes Christ supreme. There will be the recognition of the headship of Christ, and the liberty of the Holy Ghost, so that there is liberty for the exercise of gift, if there is such. The Scriptures are plain as to the means of convening the assembly; the Lord being fully owned, and the order becoming the house of God. All other meetings would be according to the judgment of the saints, and we can always count on the Lord’s favour and support.
RSS That is exceedingly important. Where our fellow Christians miss it so much is that divine order is not owned.
,J .T. One great advantage in the recovery of the truth is that saints are able, as it were, to get things into working order, and to recognise certain channels through which light and blessing come. Unless these are recognised you do not get the light and the blessing.
GWH At the close of this book all is seen complete: the tabernacle is constructed and set up according to the instructions give to Moses; then the glory fills it.
JT That conveys what is in God’s mind: the whole creation is to be filled with the divine glory; and that is what every true believer is looking for. The believer rejoices in the hope of the glory of God.