Decision Making

Exodus 39:21: "They tied the rings of the breastpiece to the rings of the ephod with blue cord, connecting it to the waistband so that the breastpiece would not swing out from the ephod-as the LORD commanded Moses."

The ephod was a sacred object in the life of the Old Testament covenant community. It was made of gold and finely twisted linen and was used as the housing for two onyx stones that had engraved the names of the twelve sons of Israel (six on one stone and six on the other). It was attached to shoulder pieces so that the High Priest could wear it when he went into the presence of the Lord to offer the atonement sacrifice for the sins of the people. Specifically, the priest was to "bear the names on his shoulders as a memorial before the LORD [Exod 28:12]"; that is, the High Priest symbolically carried the sins of the people before the Lord so that they might be forgiven through the sacrifice of blood upon the altar of God.

The High Priest was also commanded to wear a breastpiece over his heart for the purpose of making decisions for the people of Israel. The breastpiece was an elaborately embroidered piece made like the ephod: "of gold, and of blue, purple and scarlet yarn, and of finely twisted linen" (Exod. 28:15). It contained 12 stones to represent the twelve tribes . . . the people of the covenant. The breastpiece contained the Urim and Thummin (i.e. stones for discerning God's will for the people) so that the priest, "would always bear the means of making decisions for the Israelites over his heart before the Lord" [Exod 28:30].

Instruction was given that the breastpiece and the ephod were to be tied so that one would not swing out from the other. The golden rings of the two were to be tied with blue cord so that they might be fastened close together at all times.

So why would the two be tied together so that the breastpiece would not swing out from the ephod? One could see the practical significance in that the priest would be sacrificing items on the holy altar in the tabernacle and did not need to have a garment swinging out wildly or even touching inappropriately the altar of the LORD.

We can see another symbolic reason for this dictate from the LORD. The ephod was the garment piece that the intermediary would wear to bear the names of the chosen people and in effect represent them and their sins before the LORD. The breastpiece was used to discern the will of God, and it too was presented before the presence of the LORD. These two items were to be uniquely tied together so that the people would know that forgiveness from sin and discernment of God's will were in fact interrelated. Only God is the source of forgiveness of sins; so too He is the one from whom we find the answers to life's questions. God will be found, once one has surrendered to Him as Lord and has received salvation through His atoning sacrifice.

There is a wonderful parallel in the Christian life today. Jesus Christ, our High Priest, is the one through whom we are able to receive the forgiveness of sins. . . and he is the one through whom we ultimately find the answers to life's questions. These two are inseparable; to attempt to separate our decision making from the one who provides forgiveness of sins is to seek direction without the help of God Himself. This is where we get ourselves into significant trouble, because we end up making decisions that gratify self rather than glorify God.

The ephod and the breastpiece were tied together to remind us that the power of forgiveness and the power of discernment are found solely in our faithful High Priest, the Lord Jesus Christ! May we never separate the two.