“It takes on form like clay under a seal, and stands out like a garment.”
(Job 38:14, NKJ)
The Old Testament high priest was clothed in a very specific and unique way (Ex 28) and, as with many other Old Testament examples, this was also fulfilled in Christ. Scripture says that Christ became our High Priest in the new covenant (Heb 3:1) and that all believers form a “royal priesthood” (1 Pet 2:9). It is no longer, as it was in the old covenant, that only certain families (like Aaron’s) or clans (like the clan of Levi) could be priests, but everyone who is born again is given the position of priest (1 Pet 2:5). In the new covenant we thus believe, as Ortiz puts it, in “the priesthood of all believers”. Because He, as High Priest, became like us in every way (Heb 2:17), there is an appeal to us to continually, in all aspects, become more and more like Him (Rom 8:29) so that one day when He comes we will be like Him in every way (1 John 3:2).
Part of this unfolding identification is that we must be clothed with Christ (Rom 13:14). This clothing begins when you are baptised: “For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ.” (Gal 3:27). The high priest’s clothing is thus the natural indicator of spiritual principles/clothing in the new covenant.
It goes without saying that clothing is necessary, as we are actually naked before God – we don’t often realise this, though (Rev 3:17). After Adam and Eve sinned the first thing they realised was that they were naked (Gen 3:10-11). God took the first step to cover their nakedness by killing an innocent animal and using its skin to clothe them (verse 21). In the same way all humanity has sinned and falls short of the glory of God (Rom 3:23), which is the covering of God (Ps 104:2) that we had in paradise. That is why there is this overwhelming need “… to be clothed with our habitation which is from heaven, if indeed, having been clothed, we shall not be found naked” (2 Cor 5:2-3).
The nakedness of Adam and Eve before they fell into sin (Gen 2:25) is described in the Hebrew word “ârôm”, which means to cover with something. After they sinned, Gen 3:7 also describes the concept of ‘naked’, but the word used here is “êrôm”, which means “all gone; without anything”. “Blessed is he who watches, and keeps his garments, lest he walk naked and they see his shame.” (Rev 16:15). Thus God invites us in Rev 3:18: “I counsel you to buy from Me … white garments, that you may be clothed, that the shame of your nakedness may not be revealed”.
The first garment that the priest needed to put on was an undergarment of white linen – in plain terms, knee-length underpants. This is the “garment of salvation” that Isa 61:10 talks about. It is an action where you, out of free choice, pick up something from the ground and put it on from below (= from the natural realm). Thus, when you make the choice for God and you are converted, you pick up the underpants of God’s redemption and salvation and you are saved. Your shame is immediately covered!
Isa 61 continues that you are then clothed with the “robes of righteousness”. You lift up your hands (= surrender) and you are clothed from above (= from the spiritual realm). This garment is rebirth. Rebirth originally means literally to be born from above. This garment, which you obtain from being born of water and of the Spirit (John 3:5), is the complete garment that is necessary to be a guest at the wedding feast (Matt 22:11-12) – without it you do not have access to the Kingdom of God.
The third garment that the priest obtains, which fits over the white two-piece, is a royal blue garment with purple threads woven into it which is also placed on the priest from above. It is called the shoulder garment or the “ephod”. It indicates that the person is separated unto God and symbolises baptism with the Holy Spirit, in other words, being clothed with the Holy Spirit.
Hung at the hem of this garment are small alternating bells and pomegranates. The pomegranates refer to the fruits of the Spirit (those mentioned in Gal 5:22) and the bells indicate the gifts of the Spirit (1 Cor 12 and 14). Interestingly, if a person only functions in the gifts then he becomes like “sounding brass or a clanging symbol” – gifts must be balanced out with the fruit of the Spirit. After all, a tree is recognised by its fruit and not by its gifts (Luke 6:44). It is interesting that, for example, Chapters 12 and 14 of 1 Corinthians are separated from each other by Chapter 13: love; a lovely demonstration of Gift → Fruit → Gift.
In Heb 6:2 the foundations of Christian belief are listed and the second subject that is mentioned is: “the doctrine of baptisms”. There is more than one type of baptism and we have touched on the first two: baptism with water and baptism with the Holy Spirit. Both are symbolically demonstrated in the garments of the high priest. This doctrine is illustrated in various ways over and over again.
When it states in Job 38:14 that: “It takes on form like clay under a seal, and stands out like a garment”, then it is referring to what happens to you at conversion, rebirth, baptism with water and baptism with the Holy Spirit. Your fleshly nature (= you are dust, clay: Gen 2:7, 3:19; Ps 103:14) is changed and you obtain a new self – this is how you are clothed with Christ (Col 3:10).
- Sela: Use Eph 4:24 and Col 3:10-14 to personally work through with God what it means to be clothed with Christ.
- Read: Gen 27 & 28; Ps 27 & 28; 2 John 1 & 3 John 1
- Memorise: Ps 27:11
- Going deeper: Listen to the cd teaching of Timothy Prince Olesegun: Become a priestly king in your family – a Biblical model.
