“…so [you] shall bear the judgment of the children of Israel over [your] heart before the Lord continually” (Ex 28:30, NKJ)
In our dealing with the theme of the showbread in the tabernacle we have shown that the showbread also refers to the will of God. It relates closely to parts of the priestly garment that have been discussed previously, namely the Urim and the Thummin (U&T). These “instruments” were, according to Ex 28:30, part of the “breastplate of judgment” which consisted of a small box in which the twelve tribes of Israel were each symbolised by a specific gemstone. Very little detailed information exists about these instruments, but we read that the U&T had to be “inside” the breastplate and thus it can be assumed that it was underneath the twelve gemstones. The U&T were two stones that were used to discern the will of God. When the high priest asked God specific questions, there was a supernatural reflection of light from the U&T. In Hebrew Urim means “all light and revelation and truth”. Thummin means “all excellence, completion, and perfection”. Thus, together: “full light as to amount and perfect as to kind, i.e., complete illumination” (James Strong).
How exactly it operated, we don’t know, but in 1 Sam 14:41 the use of it is explained as follows: “Then Saul prayed to GOD, ‘O God of Israel, why haven’t you answered me today? Show me the truth. If the sin is in me or Jonathan, then, O GOD, give the sign Urim. But if the sin is in the army of Israel, give the sign Thummim.’ The Urim sign turned up and pointed to Saul and Jonathan. That cleared the army.”
Many believers would be able to use such a Yes/No device quite well! It highlights another similar aid that believers often use to determine the will of God. With reference to Gideon’s experience, I call it the put-out-a-fleece-test. (Read the account in Judges 6:36-40.) It entails that you ask God for a physical sign and if it happens or doesn’t happen, then you assume that it is the will of God.
The U&T and the fleece were both Old Testament aids and have been made “complete” in the New Testament through the Holy Spirit. He alone will guide you in all Truth (John 16:13). Jesus, as we know, is the Truth. The concept of the U&T begins in Hebrew with the first Hebrew letter alef and ends with the last Hebrew letter ta – that’s HIM. The Spirit of Christ, close to your heart, allows the shekinah glory to illuminate IN you what the Truth of His will is. Do not quench the Holy Spirit (1 Thess 5:19) by using all kinds of external aids – an evil generation seeks after a sign (Matt 12:39; Luke 17:20; John 4:48). The Scripture in John 6:26 is true of a believer in the third dimension: “Most assuredly, I say to you, you seek Me, not because you saw the signs, but because you ate of the loaves and were filled.”
- Sela: Pray through Deut 30:14 and make it practice in your life.
- Read: Ex 30; Ps 80; Mark 6
- Memorise: Mark 6:52
- Going deeper: Read Coelho’s The Alchemist and see how the U&T is used in an occult manner.
