Ephod

Today is Purim. We can read about Purim in the Book of Esther. It is the day that an enemy of God's people had planned for their condemnation and destruction, but those plans were exposed and overturned, and God gave, instead, complete victory and favor to His people. As Esther was implored by Mordechai to intercede with the king on behalf of the Jews, she told Mordechai that the Jews were to fast for three days, as she would do also, before she entered the king's presence. Fasting is a form of repentance and consecration before God. When she then entered the king's presence uninvited, he looked upon her with favor, and extended his scepter to her. He listened to her and agreed to banquet with her. It was at this banquet that the enemy's plans were revealed to the king, and the king acted on Esther's behalf. Esther had consecrated herself, and went before the king, and he heard her petition. This week's Sabbath reading has much in common with Esther in a way. It begins in Ex. 27 and 29 in the Torah. Here we read the description of the high priest's garments that were to be prepared according to the pattern that Moses was shown on the mountain by God. One of the parts of the high priest's garments was called the ephod .Ephod, in general, means "an image". These were God's instructions: "And you shall make holy garments for Aaron your brother, for glory and for beauty. So you shall speak to all who are gifted artisans, whom I have filled with the spirit of wisdom, that they may make Aaron's garments, to consecrate him, that he may minister to me as priest...They shall take the gold, blue, purple, and scarlet thread, and fine woven linen, artistically worked...And the intricately woven (ingenious work) band of the ephod, which is on it, shall be of the same workmanship, made of gold, blue, purple, and scarlet thread, and fine woven linen." (Ex. 28:2-8 excerpt). God gave Moses a very detailed description of the ephod that the high priest would wear over his tunic. It would cover his chest and back. It would also contain gems representing the twelve tribes of Israel. An interesting point to note is that the LORD said that these garments would "consecrate", or set apart and treat as holy, the high priest. The garments were to be made by only the most gifted of the artisans, not just gifted with talent, but with wisdom as well. From the detailed description of the ephod, or breastplate worn by the high priest, this item meant a great deal to God. Through the ephod, God would communicate with, and guide His people. The stones on the ephod would light up, these lights being called the Urim and Thummim (meaning lights and perfections, or perfect light), when His people sought guidance from Him. Can we see how lovingly God placed His guidance and voice among His people in the pattern of the ephod? It was also important to God because of the prophetic fulfillment of the ephod that we will see later. Many centuries after the time of Moses, the ephod will save David's life. In this Sabbath's haftarah reading from 1 Sam. 23, Saul is the king of Israel, although he was informed by Samuel the prophet that God has rejected him from being king. David has already been chosen by God and anointed to replace Saul as king, and therefore, Saul has sought to kill David. In fact, Saul had by this time killed all of the priests of God (1 Sam. 22:20-21). Only one priest, Abiathar (meaning "my Father is great"), has escaped with the ephod of the high priest, and fled to David. At this time also, the Philistines were attacking the city of Keilah (meaning "fortress"), to rob it of its grain. David sought the LORD to ask if he and his men should go to fight the Philistines at Keilah. The LORD answered, "Go and attack the Philistines and save Keilah." (1 Sam 23:2). David's men, however, were afraid even in Judah, because they were hiding from Saul. It was too risky to show themselves at Keilah, they told David. David inquired again of the LORD, and the LORD again confirmed that he was to go: "I will deliver the Philistines into your hand." David and his men did defeat the Philistines at Keilah, and saved the city (v. 5). King Saul indeed heard that David was going to save Keilah, and "called all the people together for war" (v. 8). He planned to trap David there. David called the last surviving priest, Abiathar, to him and said, "Bring the ephod here." (v. 9). He inquired of the LORD through the ephod, and the LORD confirmed that Saul intended to trap David there in Keilah. David and his men fled that city and were spared. Saul, unlike David, did not value either the prophetic Word, or access to God's counsel through the high priest's ephod, seeing that he killed the priests of God. Eventually, Saul was killed in battle, and David did become the new king of Israel, as God had prophesied. David would later say of the importance of the ephod in his life, "One thing I have desired of the LORD, that I will seek: that I may dwell in the house of the LORD all the days of my life to behold the beauty of the LORD, and to inquire in His temple." (Ps. 27:4). The glory and beauty of the ephod are refleted in these revelations of Jesus, our Perfect Light: "And whatever you ask in My name, that I will do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. If you ask anything in My name, I will do it." (Jn. 14:13-14). Speaking to His disciples about His going to the Father after His death, Jesus said, "And in that day, you will ask Me nothing. Most assuredly I say to you, whatever you ask the Father in My name He will give you. Until now, you have asked nothing in My name. Ask, and you will receive, that your joy may be full." (Jn. 16:23-24). Hebrews says: "Seeing we have a great High Priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession...Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need." (Heb. 4:14-16). In another place, "...continue to believe in the name of Son of God. Now this is the confidence that we have in Him, that if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us. And if we know that He hears us, whatever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we have asked of Him." (1 Jn. 5:13-15). Not only does the Father desire to listen, but He made the provision of His Holy Spirit, so we may hear from Him in return. Jesus said, "I still have many things to say to you, but you cannot bear them now. However, when He, the Spirit of truth, has come, He will guide you into all truuth; for He will not speak on His own authority, but whatever He hears, He will speak; and He will tell you things to come. He will glorify Me, for He will take of what is Mine and declare it to you." (Jn. 16:12-15). God still wants to communicate with His people. There is a living High Priest, a living Ephod, who enables our petitions to our Father: "In that day, you will ask in My name, and I do not say to you that I shall pray the Father for you; for the Father Himself loves you because you have loved Me, and have believed that I came forth from God." (Jn. 16:26-27). We are represented among the precious gems that Jesus wears on the breastplate over His heart as our High Priest. We need have no hesitation to bring our thoughts, hopes, prayers, questions and troubles to our Father, and He will answer. The title of this week's Sabbath reading is T'tzavveh, which is translated, "you shall command". May we understand the heart of our Father, who sent His Son to be the Perfect Light for us - a Son who opens the Holy of Holies to us through His own flesh, and asks us to inquire of His Father regarding all things, and He will answer. Our Father wants to communicate with His people. If you would like to know Jesus, you can pray: "Lord Jesus, I come to You as my High Priest. You gave Yourself so that I could have access to our heavenly Father, who is perfect and holy. You died for my sins, and You rose from the dead and went to be with the Father on my behalf. Fill me with the Holy Spirit, according to Your promise, so I can walk with You in wisdom, knowledge, understanding, and truth. I thank You that You hear my prayer, spoken in Your name, and You have answered it. In Jesus' name, Amen."