For Glory and for Beauty

Day 39.
And you shall make holy garments for Aaron your brother, for glory and for beauty. (Exodus 28:2 ESV)

So much of the last half of Exodus is tedious reading as it has to do with the construction of the tabernacle, the furniture in the tabernacle, and the ordination of the priests, which are all distant both in time and theological dispensations from us. It was a big part of the Old Covenant administration but was fulfilled in the person and work of Christ. But reading this verse hit me this morning. The priestly garments were to be made “for glory and for beauty.”

The text does not explain why this is the case. We are left to picture if for ourselves. This certainly would have caused the priests to stand out in a most respectable, perhaps even awe-filling way as Moses did when his face would shine after meeting with the Lord. The beauty matched the beauty of the tabernacle itself, the place that would represent the dwelling place of God among them. The work they would do was of paramount importance and the “glory and the beauty” of their garments would contribute to communicating that. It was a beautiful thing to administer the work that brought reconciliation between man and God. Their glory and beauty pointed forward to the glory and beauty of Jesus as he served as the true high priest.

With the work of Jesus’ atoning death finished, the ministry of reconciliation now belongs to the church so that now it is “the feet of those who bring good news” that is beautiful. (Ro 10:15) It is now the church that is to be a “kingdom of priests” and be dressed in finished work of Christ for glory and for beauty.

How does this affect you?

Chronological Reading Plan plus Psalms: Ex 28-29, Ps 39