The Breastplate
Now let us consider the breastplate which the high priest had to put on over the ephod (Ex. 28:15-21). It was the most beautiful garment worn by the high priest. The same materials as were used for the ephod were used for it: gold, blue, purple, scarlet and white linen. Twelve stones were embedded in the breastplate and these were the most precious stones in the world. They were arranged in three rows of four each. They were shining, precious and beautiful. Anyone could see the shining stones on the breastplate of the high priest as they passed by. God was saying: "O my people, even though you have been ruined by sin completely and there is no hope left for you, you can become like these stones by My grace and power." Every ruined sinner can be transformed to become like these bright, shining stones. It does not matter who you are and how many sins you have committed, by His grace and power you can be transformed into new creatures.
I know it by experience. Nobody could have been more sinful than I was. I knew that I was the worst sinner. In 1919, in blindness and folly I tore the Bible and for ten long years I went on speaking words of blasphemy against the Bible and against the Lord's people. Even though no Christian did any harm to me, and no one in my family or among the Sikh priests ever uttered a single word against Christians and the Bible, yet I found in my heart hatred for the Lord Jesus Christ, for the Bible and for God's people. I led a very shameful life for more than three years and even said that there was no God. Yet the God of grace sought me and found me, cleansed me and changed me. He loved me even though I was the worst sinner. He loves every sinner, whoever you may be, we appeal to you again and again not to live any more in your own wretched and sinful condition. Do not let the devil gain ground in your life. May the Lord Jesus Christ save you, transform you and make you like these bright, shining, beautiful stones.
The breastplate was one span in length and one span in breadth (Ex. 28: 16). A span is a human measurement. In olden days when cloth was measured, the fingers and hand breadth were used. It is still done in the villages. By this, God was showing that salvation is for every man today. By His grace the Bible is being printed in 1500 languages and is within the reach of kings and all classes of people.
We become to God very precious like those bright, shining, precious stones. Take a piece of black coal and put it very deep in the earth. After many centuries, by heat and pressure, the coal will become a diamond. If a piece of black coal becomes a diamond by heat and pressure, how much more can His blood make us a pearl of great price. In the eyes of God we are very precious. Others may call us by other names. Our neighbors and relations may make fun of us by different names and say that we are foolish and stubborn, but the Lord Jesus Christ says that we are His peculiar treasure as we are redeemed by His precious blood (Ex. 19:5; Deut. 14:2). The name Jacob means deceiver but Israel means prince. Before we were born again, we had Jacob's black nature, full of deception. By coming to Him and being transformed we become princes, Israel. The breastplate speaks of those who are purchased by His precious blood. They are very, very precious unto Him. He paid all that He had to purchase them.
In Matt. 13: 44-46, we read about a person who is in search of a field. Being a man of experience, he discovers hidden treasure in a field. He sells all that he had to buy that field. His eyes could see that hidden treasure. In a similar way gold was found near Bangalore. There is a place called Kolar near Bangalore. For many years it was only a wilderness and a jungle. One day a soldier, who knew something about geology discovered that there was some gold in Kolar. He went on digging and digging. He found gold in one or two places. Then he went and bought that land. Similarly the Lord finds some hidden treasure in us. Our fellowmen cannot see it. They can only see our foolishness, our weaknesses and failures. But our Lord Jesus Christ, being the Creator, could see in us the hidden treasure. He gave all that He had to buy us. He left His throne and His glory. He became a babe and was born in a manger. He emptied Himself completely. Eventually He gave His hands to be pierced, His back to be scourged, His hair to be plucked and face to be spat upon. By His precious blood He purchased us, who are full of sin and corruption, to make us precious stones.
God's fullness is to be revealed finally through His Church (Eph. 1:23). It cannot be revealed through angels or other heavenly beings. Similarly God's manifold wisdom, God's glory, God's power, God's life, God's grace and purpose are revealed through His Church. That is why the church is so precious unto Him. He wants us to be a part of the Church and He uses every possible means to make us a part of the Church. This preciousness is symbolized by the twelve stones on the breastplate, which stones were engraved with the names of the twelve tribes of Israel. In the next four chapters we shall' consider the spiritual lessons derived from these twelve names.
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