Good Morning.
And you shall put in the breastplate of judgment the Urim and the Thummim, and they shall be over Aaron’s heart when he goes in before the Lord. So Aaron shall bear the judgment of the children of Israel over his heart before the Lord continually. (Exodus 28:30)
Though Scripture doesn’t specify exactly what the Urim and Thummim was, there are traditions in Judaism that seek to explain it. One tradition says it was a parchment bearing God’s most sacred name YHVH, that when pronounced by the High Priest, certain stones on the breastplate would light up. There are other traditions that suggest the twelve stones collectively constituted the Urim and Thummim. This is very interesting considering that the Bible doesn’t mention any artisans fashioning the urim and thummim perhaps suggesting that the urim and thummim and the 12 stones were one and the same. The one thing we can be sure of is the urim and thummim were a means of communication; this was how Israel got answers to important questions. Furthermore, the twelve stones on the breastplate were an important element in this process and so it was very important that all twelve stones were together and where they were supposed to be.
Whichever of the traditions regarding the urim and thummim might be true, it would not have performed its function if even one of the stones had been missing. If the stones were there, in part, to give illumination in regards to a query posed by the priest, if any stones were missing, the potential was there to get an incomplete or even an incorrect answer. May even make a faulty conclusion because some stones were missing. Seeing that these stones represent the twelve tribes of Israel — a united people — the message is that all of God’s people must be in their proper place and must be united if we are going to hear and understand clearly. Paul alludes to this concept in Romans 11 when he says that “blindness in part” has happened to Israel “until the fullness of Gentiles.”
In other words, how can the Body of Messiah truly fulfill the mandate to be a light to the nations if we are divided? There can be no “perfect light” if we, as “living stones,” are committed to being one people in one mind and in one accord. Frankly, until we come to that place, there are certain things that will not happen. However, when we do come together and are of one heart and one soul, miraculous things occur — answers come and insight is given. This is not to say that God doesn’t speak to us now but it is to say that, as a Body, there are things we need to do as one and, therefore, there is a need for us to be united, not divided. Remember, a house divided cannot stand; let’s not be those who stand in the way of a united house.
Blessings and Shalom,
Bill
Recent Comments