Breast Piece חֹ֫שֶׁן

We are in chapter twenty-eight of Exodus with our word for today. חֹ֫שֶׁן breast-piece, breast-pouch. It is used 25 times in the Old Testament, 11 times in our chapter today. Since it is used almost half of the time in our chapter we will start and focus there for today. Exodus 28:15-30 You shall make a חֹ֤שֶׁן breastpiece of judgment, in skilled work. In the style of the ephod you shall make it—of gold, blue and purple and scarlet yarns, and fine twined linen shall you make it. It shall be square and doubled, a span its length and a span its breadth. You shall set in it four rows of stones ... They shall be set in gold filigree. There shall be twelve stones with their names according to the names of the sons of Israel. They shall be like signets, each engraved with its name, for the twelve tribes. You shall make for הַחֹ֛שֶׁן the breastpiece twisted chains like cords, of pure gold. And you shall make for הַחֹ֔שֶׁן the breastpiece two rings of gold, and put the two rings on the two edges of הַחֹֽשֶׁן the breastpiece. And you shall put the two cords of gold in the two rings at the edges of הַחֹֽשֶׁן the breastpiece. The two ends of the two cords you shall attach to the two settings of filigree, and so attach it in front to the shoulder pieces of the ephod. You shall make two rings of gold, and put them at the two ends of הַחֹ֑שֶׁן the breastpiece, on its inside edge next to the ephod. And you shall make two rings of gold, and attach them in front to the lower part of the two shoulder pieces of the ephod, at its seam above the skillfully woven band of the ephod. And they shall bind הַ֠חֹשֶׁן the breastpiece by its rings to the rings of the ephod with a lace of blue, so that it may lie on the skillfully woven band of the ephod, so that הַחֹ֔שֶׁן the breastpiece shall not come loose from the ephod. So Aaron shall bear the names of the sons of Israel בְּחֹ֧שֶׁן in the breastpiece of judgment on his heart, when he goes into the Holy Place, to bring them to regular remembrance before the Lord. And in theחֹ֣שֶׁן breastpiece of judgment you shall put the Urim and the Thummim, and they shall be on Aaron's heart, when he goes in before the Lord. Thus Aaron shall bear the judgment of the people of Israel on his heart before the Lord regularly. We also find 8 uses in Exodus 39 when the breast-piece is being made. But for today did you catch the emphasis on the heart. As a leader who connects God with people which is what a priest does this is significant. While serving Aaron was to have the people on his heart. This breastpiece would be a reminder of that. A great passage that shows God’s heart for his people and the work of Jesus who acts as our priest to connect us back to God is this famous one. John 3:16-17 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him. We also see Jesus heart when he fulfilled the Old Testament prediction about his saving work and compassion. Matthew 12:15-17, 20 Jesus, aware of this, withdrew from there. And many followed him, and he healed them all and ordered them not to make him known. This was to fulfill what was spoken by the prophet Isaiah: … a bruised reed he will not break, and a smoldering wick he will not quench. Jesus as God embodies this Psalm. Psalm 34:18 The Lord is near to the brokenhearted and saves the crushed in spirit. I’ll close with another picture of Jesus love and having us on his heart when he calls us to come to him. Matthew 11:28-30 Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.