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Devotionals
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A Golden Bell and a Pomegranate
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A Golden Bell and a Pomegranate
[And what they have to do with us!]
(By Steve Brand)
"And thou shalt make the robe of the ephod all of blue... And beneath upon the hem of it thou shalt make pomegranates of blue, and of purple, and of scarlet, round about the hem thereof; and bells of gold between them round about: A golden bell and a pomegranate, a golden bell and a pomegranate, upon the hem of the robe round about." Exodus 28:31, 33-34
What's really important to God? Does He really care about the little details of your life and mine?
I wonder if the Jews ever thought that... The answer from Scripture is a resounding, "Yes, God does care!" This was certainly true when it came to His priests. God had given amazingly intricate details for their clothing, even down to what the hem of their robe was to look like.
I must confess that I own a lot of pants with worn out, frayed hems. I keep on wearing them because most people don't pay any attention to what the hems of my pants look like. But God was very concerned with the hems on the garments of His earthly priests. It was so important that His Law twice records the details of these hems (Exodus 28; 39): They were to have blue, purple, and scarlet pomegranates hanging beneath them, separated by alternating golden bells. As Scripture says, "A golden bell and a pomegranate, a golden bell and a pomegranate..." Everywhere the priest walked, the pomegranates would sway and the bells would ring.
If you do not yet know it, I want to tell you that God is very interested in the hem of your garment today as well. Of course, I'm not speaking about the fringe of your clothes, but rather about the daily walk of your life. Garments in Scripture speak so often of our character and walk. Just as the priest's walk was made distinctive by the hem of his garment, so your walk ought to be characterized spiritually by these same things - the pomegranate and the bell.
Perhaps I should ask first of all if you know what a pomegranate is... It's not something that most of us eat very often.
The pomegranate is a fruit, but there's something very special about it when compared to other fruit. Most fruit have only a few seeds, found in the center; but a pomegranate is full of hundreds and hundreds of seeds all throughout its flesh.
The pomegranate on the priest's hem reminds us that the Lord wants our walk to be a fruitful walk - full of the fruit of the Spirit (Galatians 5). But He also wants our walk to be a reproductive walk. Just as the pomegranate is full of seeds, so he desires that our Christlike walk will spread the gospel and cause Christ to be reproduced in the lives of others around us.
Did you know that a single pomegranate contains enough seeds to plant an entire orchard of pomegranate trees? What an amazing reproductive ability this plant has, but it is nothing compared to the reproductive power of a single believer whose walk is entirely controlled by the Spirit of God.
There were three colours linked with the pomegranates on the priest's hem.
The pomegranates were blue. This reminds us that our walk ought to be a heavenly walk.
"If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God. Set your affections on things above, not on things on the earth" (Colossians 3:1-2)
The pomegranates were purple. This reminds us that our walk ought to be a royal walk.
Christ has "made us kings and priests unto God" (Revelation 1:6). We are "rich in faith, and heirs of the kingdom which he hath promised to them that love him" (James 2:5). His desire is that we "would walk worthy of [Him], who hath called [us] unto his kingdom and glory" (1 Thessalonians 2:12).
The pomegranates were scarlet. This reminds us that our walk ought to be a redeemed walk.
Every step that you take is a step taken by feet which were purchased by the blood of Christ. "What? know ye not that ... ye are not your own? For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God's" (1 Corinthians 6:19a, 20).
Finally, we notice that there were golden bells between the pomegranates. The walk of the priest was a walk of witness. Every step told all who could hear what he was - one set apart for the service of God.
We, too, have been chosen by Him to be holy priests and royal priests (1 Peter 2:5, 9). But is your walk the walk of one who is set apart for His service?
Just as the Lord cared about the hem of the priestly garment, so He deeply cares about the walk of each one of His blood-bought priests. His heart's desire is to see that golden bell of witness and that pomegranate of fruitfulness in your steps and mine. May He be pleased with our walk today.
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Davidwayne Lackey 07/16/2015 22:37 |
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