Holy Garments Part III

Among the holy garments of the High Priest was the breastplate of judgment. The breastplate of judgment was four square with 12 stones bearing the 12 names of the children of Israel arranged in four rows. The High Priest was to bear the names of the children of Israel in the breastplate of judgment upon his heart when he went into the holy place, for a memorial before the Lord continually. "And thou shalt put in the breastplate of judgment the Urim and Thummin; and they shall be upon Aaron's heart, when he goeth in before the Lord: and Aaron shall bear the judgment of the children of Israel upon his heart before the Lord continually."

There are several things in the scripture that are said to be four square in addition to the breastplate of judgment: the brazen altar (Ex. 27:1); the incense altar (Ex. 30:2); the inner court of the Lord's house (Ezek. 40:47); holy oblation of the first fruits (Ezek. 48:20); and the holy city (Rev. 21:16). Each one of these things is laid out in such a way as to have four measured borders of equal length. Within the four borders of equal length is either the people (inner court, holy oblation, holy city), or a representation of the people (breastplate of judgment) or a representation of someone representing the people (brazen altar, incense altar).

Thus we have a figure of the people or their representative being positioned within a four square border. This is a figure of the covenant of redemption. The people who God chose in Christ before the foundation of the world (Ep. 1:4) are, of course, the same ones who God foreknew in Rom. 8:29. The people whom God foreknew are surrounded by four borders of exactly the same length.

The first border is God's predestination. He predestinated all that he foreknew to be conformed to the image of Christ (Rom. 8:29).

The second border is God's calling. He called to spiritual life all that he foreknew (Rom. 8:30).

The third border is God's justification. God justified all that he foreknew by His redemptive work (Rom. 8:30).

The fourth border is God's glorification. God glorifies all that he foreknew in body, soul, and spirit, which work will be completed at the resurrection. Thus all the elect are predestinated, called, justified, and glorified by our High Priest, Jesus Christ.

The twelve stones with the engraved twelve names of the children of Israel within the breastplate of judgment represented the twelve tribes of Israel. This was the entirety of national Israel being represented by the high priest after the order of Aaron. Jesus Christ, our High Priest after the order of Melchisidec, represented the entire elect family of God in judgment. He came to save His people from their sins and he suffered the wrath of God and died on the cross in their room and stead. (This is typified by the brazen altar). As he bore them on his heart as he lived and died for them thus accomplishing the judgment of God, so also does He now ever live to make intercession for them. (This is typified by the incense altar). Thus He is the first fruits of the elect. (This is typified by the holy oblation).

There were twelve different stones on the breastplate of judgment. Each stone being different yet precious tells us that each of the elect of God are unique in character yet are precious in the sight of God.  According to 1 Cor, 15 one star differs from another star in glory. We are told that no two fingerprints are alike and that no two snow flakes
are identical. God has made us unique yet we by his grace and mercy and love are precious in his sight.

Furthermore, the four square breastplate of judgment with the twelve stones was carried upon the heart of the High Priest when he went into the most holy place to offer the sacrifice of atonement. It certainly is a comforting thought to me to know that I am upon the heart of my High Priest, Jesus Christ, continually, not only when he lived and died and arose and made his offering unto God, but that I am upon his heart
daily as I struggle with the problems and affairs of this life.

Furthermore, I will be upon his heart when I lay this body down in death, knowing that he will never forget me and that I will be upon his heart in the morning of the resurrection when he returns to take his children home to glory. What a precious comforting thought this is to me. The breastplate of judgment is said to contain Urim and Thummin or as these words are interpreted, "lights and perfections." The elect children of God are neither light nor perfection in and of themselves.  They come to possess spiritual life because Christ, the Word of God, "lighteth every man that cometh into the world (John 1:9). As a result they become the "light of the world" and in obedience they become a part of the "city that is set upon a hill that cannot be hid." They have also become perfect before God in judgment "for by one offering he hath perfected forever them that are sanctified" (Heb. 10:14). Thus by the one offering of Jesus Christ we are perfected for ever before God in judgment.

Finally, the breastplate was doubled. A double portion has been given us of the Lord. He not only died to redeem us from our sins and thus restore us to the position of our father Adam which he had before he transgressed, but he gave us spiritual eternal life and an inheritance with him in glory.

Thus as the prophet proclaimed in Is. 40:1, 2,"Comfort ye, comfort ye my people, saith your God. Speak ye comfortably to Jerusalem, and cry unto her, that her warfare is accomplished, that her iniquity is pardoned: for she hath received of the Lord's hand double for all her sins." Thanks be to God for this double portion that has been given us by his grace.