Exodus 28:30, commentary and pictures

God placed the Urim and Thummim in the breastplate of judgment so the high priest, bearing Israel upon his heart, could seek and receive decisions and messages from God when he went in before the Lord. Approval was shown by light flashing upon the precious stones on the right, permitting action and promising success, while refusal and displeasure were shown by a cloud shadowing the stones on the left, a sign also given at times upon the cherubim above the ark in the Most Holy Place. Aaron's bearing the judgment of Israel continually foreshadows Jesus as the great High Priest, who bears the names of all His people, remembers them and His covenant, and ministers their burdens in the heavenly sanctuary without any human bearer of the breastplate. That manifestation by light and shadow ended at the death of Christ, when the veil was torn, God's protecting presence left the temple and no longer overshadowed the mercy seat and breastplate, and the temple sacrifices lost their value because the Lamb of God had become the sacrifice for the world. The exact directions for the breastplate and priestly garments show that those who minister before a holy God must come with reverence, order and cleanliness, with dress and service that honor Him and teach the people His holiness.

Guidance Through the Breastplate

The Urim and Thummim placed in the breastplate of judgment were the appointed means by which the high priest sought and received decisions and messages from Jehovah. When inquiry was made, the answer was signaled by the two stones: light resting on the right stone meant approval, success, and permission to act, whether to go to battle or to decide difficult cases, while a cloud resting on the left stone meant refusal and failure. The answer was also sought when ministering before the ark in the Most Holy Place, where God could reply audibly or signify approval or refusal by light or cloud upon the cherubim.

God thus made known His acceptance or displeasure through the precious stones of the breastplate, with the light of His glory flashing upon them and the cloud of His disapproval shadowing them. The breastplate of judgment belonged to the high priest and was worn when he went in before the Lord, and its sacredness came from its use in the service God had directed rather than from the object itself, so Gideon's imitation of it to establish worship elsewhere was unauthorized. This manifestation by light and shadow rested on God's presence overshadowing the earthly mercy seat in the Most Holy Place.

Christ the True High Priest

Aaron's bearing the judgment of the children of Israel upon his heart before the Lord continually is a symbol of Jesus as the great High Priest, who bears the names of all His people in the holy place. He remembers His people and the words He has given them to encourage their trust, and He remains mindful of His covenant. The priestly breastplate is reflected in His heavenly ministry, where the breastplate bears magnified names showing His relation to Israel as He enters the second apartment of the heavenly sanctuary after the prophetic periods ended in 1844. As High Priest He is able to bear this responsibility and the burdens of His people, and human agents are not required to carry the official breastplate. The costly breastplate that once bore the light of God's glory displays the sacred splendor of the high-priestly office in contrast to His humble appearance when He stood on trial.

That manifestation of acceptance or displeasure by light and shadow in the precious stones ended at the death of Christ. When He died the veil of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom, the Most Holy Place and its sacred objects were exposed to common gaze, and God's protecting presence left the temple. The earthly Most Holy Place was no longer sacred, and His presence would never again overshadow the earthly mercy seat or the breastplate, so the light no longer flashed upon the stones nor did the cloud shadow them. The blood of the temple offerings was henceforth of no value, because the Lamb of God in dying had become the sacrifice for the sins of the world.

Reverence in Priestly Service

Exodus 28:30 belongs to God's specific, detailed and symbolic directions about priestly garments, including what was to be placed in the breastplate. God distinctly specified what garments the priests were to wear, requiring them to be made in a particular style in accordance with their work of doing service in the holy place and ministering in the priest's office. The care given to those garments shows a divine preference concerning the dress of those who serve Him.

Before coming into God's presence, every particle of dust had to be put away by washing hands and feet at the laver placed between the altar and the congregation, because God is so high and holy that death would follow unless these conditions were met. Those who minister before God must therefore approach Him with care, reverence, order, and especially cleanliness. Their ordered, clean appearance teaches the people that God is holy and His service is sacred, and that impurity and defilement must be put away. God requires order in everything connected with His service, and the apparel of those who officiate before Him can honor or dishonor Him. So too the dress of Christ's followers should be symbolic, representing Him in all things.