BREASTPLATES
BREASTPLATES
Exodus 28: 15-30; 1 Thessalonians 5: 4-8; Ephesians 6: 10-14; Revelation 9: 13-17
No doubt most will see that the subject I desire to speak of is connected with the thought of the breastplate, as found in scripture. Two matters of the greatest importance relate to the influences that bear on our affections, on the one hand, and what controls our minds on the other. The great issues that are being worked out relate to what is controlling our affections and our minds specially in the last days, as the Apostle says, in the last days men would have their hearts under many evil influences, being lovers of money — that is one influence that controls the heart; and lovers of pleasure — another; and lovers of self — another very great one; and having no love for what is good; and “lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God” (2 Timothy 3: 4). God not in their hearts. On the other hand, dear brethren, one of the great issues of the Book of Revelation is as to who is to have man’s mind? The importance given to the forehead in that book is significant. God would seal the foreheads of His own — the Name of God and the Lamb is to be there. The false prophet would put the mark of the beast — his name — on the foreheads of those he deceives. I do not pursue the last subject, but I wish to take up the influences that God would have bearing on our affections which I believe is the one thought set out in the breastplate which guards and influences the affections. As it says in the first passage read, Aaron would bear this wonderful breastplate on his heart; his heart would be influenced by what was set out in that breastplate, and I would speak of this first, for one loves to think of what is engaging the Lord’s heart at the present time. He uses wonderful words in the scripture, “And for their sakes I sanctify Myself” (John 17: 19), the Lord setting Himself apart for our sakes that we might be sanctified by the truth. Think of the Lord setting Himself apart as though He had nothing else to do (though He has very much more on hand, for He is so great He can do everything). He speaks in the seventeenth John just as if that was all that was engaging Him. “For their sakes I sanctify Myself,” He says, and the Apostle presents a similar thought, “He ever liveth to make intercession for them” (Hebrews 7: 25), as though the Lord was ever living with this one object to take care of His own. This I believe underlies the thought of the breastplate. It is made of gold, and of blue and of purple and of scarlet and fine twined linen; these things represent the basis of which this breastplate is formed, and indicate to us what the Lord has in view in this service. First the gold, the structure of the breastplate indicates that divine glory is first there; and the blue, the will of God — for that is what the blue signifies, I believe, “Thy will be done in earth as it is in heaven” (Matthew 6: 10). Heaven is where the will of God prevails, and it is the will of God that the Lord has in view; and the purple signifies that He takes us up in the power that is His as King; the scarlet is true greatness; and the linen righteousness. On this combination of materials there are set these twelve stones in rows of three, and on each the name of one of the tribes of Israel. The Lord in that way is presented to us as the great Priest carrying all the tribes by name on His heart. It is called the breastplate of judgment; that does not mean punishment but rather that the Lord is engaged in seeing that what is according to God is maintained in each tribe, that God’s thoughts for each tribe are being executed and maintained. There is but little that we can say about each tribe but they are all there, each with its own distinctiveness, each with a distinct name. Each stone is descriptive of the distinctive character of the tribe, and the Lord is engaged, His heart is engaged, in the support of this, and if need be His shoulders are engaged,
for the Spirit of God is careful to say that this breastplate is bound to the shoulder as well as round the girdle, for the Lord’s strength, if necessary, becomes active in this matter as well as His heart.
I do not propose to speak of what the twelve tribes of Israel represent, even if I could, but to us the tribal position means the local position. Israel may be looked at as one nation, a holy nation, but the tribes represent every section, every locality making up Israel. I do not think we realise sufficiently how the Lord loves local assemblies. He loves the Church in its Ephesian character — “Christ also loved the church and gave Himself for it” (Ephesians 5: 25). That is the whole assembly, but then He loves local assemblies and would have each maintained in its own distinctive character according to the work of God. This is seen in the Lord’s movements in the seven assemblies, how He speaks to each, how He encourages each, how He notes the deficiency or dangers threatening each, how He warns most, showing the perfect interest the Lord had in each of the seven assemblies which represent all. The Lord’s heart engaged with every one of these stones that each tribe should be supported according to the divine thought as to each. I have no doubt the source of what is represented in these stones is the Urim and Thummim, light and perfection as seen in Christ. Every light, every thought that was ever in mind to be expressed in the assemblies, has its origin in Christ, and perfection, the blessed answer to the light, is also expressed in Him. These great thoughts are set out in Moses and Aaron. Moses in a sense brings the light and Aaron brings the response to the light, perfection. There is, of course, what is proper to, and common to all the assemblies, as the Apostle says, “We have no such custom, neither the churches of God” (1 Corinthians 11: 16). There is what is proper to all, but then there is what is distinctive with each one and that is what the Lord is engaged with, for each one expresses something of Himself, each one expresses some feature that comes from the light and is an answer to the perfection that is in Himself.
As privileged to see some of the beloved saints in various cities, one is filled with admiration at the way the Lord maintains His own work in every city. It is significant that the priest with the Urim and Thummim is mentioned again in the days of Nehemiah in days of recovery though in great weakness, for so weak was the position outwardly that they said, “If a fox go up he shall even break down their stone wall” (Nehemiah 4: 3). That is true externally as we think of the dear brethren recovered to the truth in the various cities, the position outwardly is as weak as water, and it would seem as if any fox could break it down, but many a fox has tried, yet the wall stands. The priest with the Urim and Thummim has arisen with the breastplate on His heart and He is engaged maintaining His people in tribal settings. It is very affecting to see what is preserved year after year in many localities, but this is owing to the breastplate on the heart of the great Priest. He sees that the work of God is not destroyed, but what is in some sense descriptive of some feature of Christ is maintained. I do not deny the weakness, but there is in this day what corresponds with Nehemiah’s day, and the Lord is engaged protecting the work of God in every tribe.
Now to refer for a moment to the stones themselves; if we understood them more we would know that each stone describes what God would have in each particular tribe, for on each stone is the name of a tribe. Name means the renown or the distinctive feature of the tribe. I have no doubt the same thought is in the twenty-first Revelation where the names of the twelve Apostles of the Lamb are stated to be in the foundation, and the precious stones are there. Each precious stone probably has some relation to the name or distinctive feature marking each Apostle.
God would maintain in localities what is represented in these stones. I am sure there is distinctiveness that He would have in this city, as a feature of the work of God. A frequent feature found in the stones is the blending of colours. One distinct colour stands out with some; red with the ruby, blue with the sapphire, green with the emerald, purple with the amethyst, but most of the others are blended colours, and I believe God greatly delights in stones that blend together various colours in beauty. God has done this in creation, it is delightful to see it whether you look at it in flowers or birds or insects or precious stones. What effects God gets when He blends colours!
Where will you see such perfect blending of moral beauties as in our Lord Jesus? At times you see the green, at times the purple, but how often a perfect blend giving a wonderful effect. God hates wrong mixtures but He loves right ones. The holy anointing oil was compounded together with various ingredients after the art of the apothecary, a wonderful art that blended together the various substances to produce a unique odour. Think of the Lord at Calvary — we see the blue, perfect submission to the will of God; we see the purple, the true King; we see the ruby, true greatness; we see the emerald, freshness and living conditions, the green tree indeed;
we see the jasper, perfect transparency; the diamond glistening with the light of heaven; but in addition, we see the most beautiful combination of moral excellence. God would have these features in local companies. The Lord is speaking to us in many places as to the ability to blend, to combine the work of God with various features all in harmony. I have no doubt He would have every local company learn this great lesson, but He would have it to be distinctive in some places. There are some places where the brethren are blended together in holy and beautiful features. Then he would have the sapphire so that it may be said of this tribe that it always maintains the will of God: come what may, the will of God is to prevail. In another tribe you see the amethyst: true ability to rule according to God exists. In another tribe the ruby — the red of true greatness, not the greatness of man after the flesh, but true greatness is found. What a beautiful stone! Another tribe is marked by the jasper — transparency, nothing dark and hidden secreted there. I can only suggest these things; they are on the Lord’s heart to maintain in every locality, even in what corresponds with Nehemiah’s day of public ruin — the distinctive feature of the work of God in every assembly and in every city. He says to one of the seven assemblies, “As many as I love” (Revelation 3: 19). His heart is influenced by God’s thoughts for the assemblies, and His shoulders bear the burdens as well as His heart that these distinctive features might come out even in the last days. It is noticeable that the prophet Zechariah wakes up out of sleep and he sees the seven branched golden candlestick. God thus securing at the end of Israel’s history, prior to the Lord coming to them, what He began with. So the Lord is moving in our day to recover local assemblies in various places as at the beginning, and to form in each some distinctive feature of the work of God. I admit that in some ways the assemblies are to be alike, yet God would have a distinctive feature stand out in every assembly.
The breastplate of judgment is entirely Christ’s, Aaron being a figure of Him; there is no suggestion that Aaron’s sons had it, I am sure we love to recognise any service that is confined to Him. The Apostle Paul refers to a Thessalonian breastplate, and to an Ephesian breastplate for the saints. Our affections are to be protected and influenced by these breastplates. The Thessalonian one is faith and love. Instead of being controlled by the darkness and drunkenness of the day around them, they were the children of light and were to have this breastplate of faith and love. Their affections are protected and influenced by these two features, faith and love. The Thessalonians were a young, happy company of saints, marked by great affection; they were the assembly of the Thessalonians in God the Father. The enemy would break through, but their protection was faith and love. If there is anything fresh and living today, it needs this breastplate, the young specially need it. Faith means that our hearts are influenced by what is unseen. The great effort of the enemy today, as ever, is to bring us under the control of what is visible. But faith brings the heart under the control of what is invisible. As with Moses he “endured as seeing Him Who is invisible” (Hebrews 11: 27). What a breastplate he had! His eye was on the invisible God. The Lord, too, says, “Abraham rejoiced to see my day; and he saw it, and was glad” (John 8: 56). His eye was looking out for the heavenly city, “For he looked for a city which hath foundations, whose builder and maker is God” (Hebrews 11: 10). The king of Sodom would get at his heart, he would say “Give me the persons, you can have the goods,” but the breastplate of faith and love guards Abraham. “He that cometh to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of there that diligently seek Him” (Hebrews 11: 6). I have no doubt the beloved brethren abroad are learning in a special way to see Him Who is invisible, and have their affections set on Christ “Whom having not seen we love,” and to regard the heavenly city, “Ye are come unto mount Zion, and unto the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem” (Hebrews 12: 22). All this is in faith, and faith is one of the great elements that guard our hearts from the darkness of the night around. Two great features of the moment are darkness and intemperance, not only in a material sense, but morally, but our safeguard is in faith and love. It is remarkable how these two are often brought together, faith is translated into actions, for faith works through love. As the Apostle says, “Let us not love in word, neither in tongue, but in deed and in truth” (1 John 3: 18). Faith without actions is questionable. Abraham is the father of the faithful — he is also marked by love — he loved God, and he loved Isaac. “Your faith increases exceedingly and the love of each one of you all” (2 Thessalonians 1: 3).
I refer to the Ephesian breastplate — called the breastplate of righteousness — part of the armour of God. The Apostle is speaking of the great conflict in which dreadful powers are engaged — far greater than flesh and blood — “principalities and powers.” We have no conception of the mighty power of the princes of darkness — princes, not merely angels, but princes. “Spiritual wickedness in the heavenlies:” unseen lawless activities that operate on men’s spirits. Then he calls them the universal lords of this darkness, far greater than the great dictators of the world, “universal lords of this darkness.” The Apostle wrestled against them. One admitted his power, saying, “Jesus I know and Paul I am acquainted with” (Acts 19: 15). All the infernal powers know Jesus and they will know His power further, they will have to confess that He is Lord, but they have been already made to feel His power. Paul had made them know him, for he had on this armour in the conflict, including the breastplate of righteousness. This is a very serious matter for us all, for what exposures there have been of some who assumed to enter the conflict, assumed to take part in this mighty wrestling. It humbles us, and indeed one would speak with fear, but if in the background of our lives there is unrighteousness, these powers will overcome us, we shall never stand against them; the safeguard for the heart is the breastplate of righteousness. Better not to enter into the conflict than to have in our relationships of life, or in our occupations, what is unrighteous. I speak urgently and feelingly, but I beg everyone to see that there is no hope to escape the fiery darts of the wicked one unless our affections are under the influence of righteousness. Our blessed Lord could face all the darts the devil possessed. “Thou hast loved righteousness and hast hated lawlessness” (Hebrews 1: 9). If we are to be supported in the battle against these evil influences, we must have the breastplate of righteousness. Let us therefore judge and abandon every unrighteous matter in our homes, in our relationships of life, in our occupations.
I pray the Lord will help us all, especially those who are active in conflict, to see that righteousness is guarding our affections, righteousness toward God and toward Christ, toward one another and toward the world.
I would say a word about this last breastplate, a dreadful one which is rapidly appearing; 200 million horsemen from the Eastern world bring into christendom the darkening teaching of apostasy. “Out of their mouths issued fire and smoke and brimstone” (Revelation 9: 17). It is what is being taught by these dreadful powers in such things as spiritism and theosophy and the like that destroys men morally. Fire consumes, smoke blinds and brimstone poisons. These horsemen have breastplates of fire and jacinth and brimstone. What breastplates! What a contrast to the beautiful breastplate of Aaron! They are past feeling. Ephesians speaks of this. Fire represents that which would consume; jacinth, the hard state of their affections; and the brimstone, what poisons. With such breastplates their feelings cannot be touched, they do not care what happens to anyone. Lack of true human feeling is one of the features of the modern world. It will appear in its fulness soon. “The beast which I saw was like unto a leopard and his feet were as the feet of a bear, and his mouth as the mouth of a lion” (Revelation 13: 2). There is complete disregard for human feelings in the leopard, the bear and the lion. That is what is coming and what is almost here, breastplates appearing of fire and jacinth and brimstone.
I only point it out in contrast. Think of all the tender feelings of the heart of Christ! Think of His holy breastplate of judgment as He takes up the interests of every tribe and sees they are effectively carried out and secured. Think of the breastplate of the Thessalonians, faith and love. Think of the Ephesian breastplate of righteousness. If we turn away from these holy influences, our hearts may be affected by the awful breastplates soon to be manifest in this world. God grant we may cultivate tender feelings, that we may be far, far away from such a breastplate as is seen with these horsemen. May the Lord save His people from such a breastplate by bringing us to, appreciate the breastplate of Christ, by helping us to have on day and night the breastplate of faith and love and also the breastplate of righteousness.