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Exodus 28 Commentary
by Brad Boyles
“You shall make on its hem pomegranates of blue and purple and scarlet material, all around on its hem, and bells of gold between them all around:
Exodus 28:33 NASB
You may ask, why bells? The tinkling of the bells would sound as the priest moved about within the sacred places. For people on the outside, this was a very tangible way for them to know that the priest was interceding on their behalf. I wondered, as I read this, what would that be for us today?
What indicators do we have that the Holy Spirit is interceding for us? Do we notice them? Have we even thought about them?
For in hope we have been saved, but hope that is seen is not hope; for who hopes for what he already sees? 25 But if we hope for what we do not see, with perseverance we wait eagerly for it. 26 In the same way the Spirit also helps our weakness; for we do not know how to pray as we should, but the Spirit Himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words; 27 and He who searches the hearts knows what the mind of the Spirit is, because He intercedes for the saints according to the will of God.
Romans 8:24-27 NASB
The Spirit intercedes for us with groanings that cannot be verbalized. To us, they are unspoken. I’ve often thought about this verse when I am so overwhelmed that I simply don’t know how or what to say. Here in Exodus 28, we read of the priestly duty of intercession. It was the first establishment of this duty. Jesus Christ, THE High Priest, performed the ultimate intercession at the cross. The tinkling of the Holy Spirit in our hearts affirms that priestly duty and reminds us daily that we have a mediator, advocate, and Savior. It’s a powerful image.
The hope we have in Christ, however, is a greater hope than any previous priestly generation. Who would you rather have interceding for you, Aaron or Jesus Christ? This revelation should lead us to a place of thankful reverence for the gift of Salvation. Like the one and only Samaritan leper (out of 10) who went back and thanked Jesus in Luke 17, we must always remember to give thanks to the One who purchased us for eternity.