Good Morning.
You shall also make a plate of pure gold and engrave on it, like the engraving of a signet: HOLINESS TO THE LORD. (Exodus 28:36)
The plate referred to here was a head plate that was attached to the mitre — or crown — worn by the High Priest. As it says in the text, engraved upon this plate of gold were the Hebrew words, קדוש ליהוה Kadosh l’YHVH – holy unto the LORD. This man, and all those he represented were considered as being set apart unto the LORD for His purpose and for His service. In acknowledgement of that, though he held no political or military power, the High Priest wore a crown.
That is interesting when you consider that there is no Biblical command in regard to the kings of Israel being given a crown. There are certainly verses that mention the kings having crowns, but there doesn’t seem to be a Biblical mandate for it. Here is the point: in God’s Kingdom, His priests wore a crown that recognized the Creator’s sovereignty, not their own. Even when not in the Sanctuary, the priest was still to “wear” that crown, and by that I mean, he was to continue conducting himself as being “holy unto the LORD” in his daily life.
You and I have a Heavenly High Priest who serves as our Advocate before the Father. As such, He bears our iniquities and transgressions before God and is “set apart” for that duty. However, unlike the Priests of old, our High Priest is to be crowned King of kings and Lord of lords. He is destined to be enthroned upon the “holy hill of Zion” and to rule over all the earth as the only Supreme and Righteous Judge and King. As Sovereign over all, He is to wear, as the book of Revelation records, “many crowns.”
As for us, we are reminded that we must always conduct ourselves as “holy to the LORD.” If we are faithful to this calling, we are destined to rule with Him as priests and kings. However, though He is worthy of those “many crowns,” as His priests, we derive our value, our authority and honor from Him. In other words, we should not delight ourselves in the notion that we will rule over others, but rather that our names “are written in heaven” (Luke 10:20). If the 24 elders see fit to cast their crowns before Him in acknowledgement of His Kingship, shouldn’t we be content to live in a way that acknowledges His sovereignty over our lives today? So then, may it be that from the crown of our head to the sole of our feet, our thoughts, words and deeds proclaim that we are “Holy unto the LORD.”
Blessings and Shalom,
Bill
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