Nepaug Bible Church - http://www.nepaugchurch.org - Pastor's Sermon Notes - http://www.nepaugchurch.org/Sermons/zz20100613.htm

THRU THE BIBLE EXPOSITION
Exodus: God's Forming The Nation Israel For His Abrahamic Covenant
Part II: God's Forming Israel To Heed Him, Exodus 15:22-40:38
K. God's Directive Of The Tabernacle To Fellowship With His People
7. The High Priest's Attire, Exodus 28:1-39
a. The Ephod: Typifying Christ As Our All-Sufficient Savior
(Exodus 28:1-4, 5-14)
    Introduction: (To show the need . . . )

    Many people today feel a sense of hopelessness over sin and its effects not only regarding the world at large, but also in themselves:

    (1) A letter to the editor by Brad Zetterlund of Pleasanton, California in the June 7, 2010 issue of USA TODAY, p. 10A asserted a sense of hopelessness with Congress. He wrote: "Any American who honestly believes cleaning house' by voting out incumbents will change the way things are done in Washington is out of touch . . ."

    Lest we think Brad's view is overly pessimistic, many others feel a sense of hopelessness with the government as noted by a caller on Dan Lavallo's June 7, 2010 "Talk of Connecticut" show. She said she felt the current presidential administration is intentionally trying to create chaos in the nation's economy and society in order to seize control of our lives and promote greater socialism in the government!

    (2) Yet, the feeling of a sense of hopelessness is not only directed at government or society, but often toward one's self. Linda Chavez' column, "In the end, is no marriage truly safe?" in the June 7, 2010 Waterbury Republican-American lamented the news that former Vice President Al Gore and his wife, Tipper, have decided to separate.

    Why? Ms. Chavez expressed fear that the break up of such a public marriage as the Gores may lead many other people in the nation who have looked up to them as role models to value preserving their own marriages less. In other words, Linda Chavez fears we all have a problem holding to family and marital values!

    She concluded: "(I)f the Gores decide to break those [wedding] vows, they've hurt all of us, not just each other, and they've chipped away at the very institution of marriage. Let's hope they don't move from separation to divorce, for all of our sakes." (Ibid.)



    Thus, we ask, "In view of a sense of hopelessness at sin and its effects not only in society, but in ourselves, where can we turn?"

    Need: "I sense hopelessness over sin and its effects not only in the world around me, but in myself as well, so, where can I turn?!" WHERE?!"

  1. God had Israel build a tabernacle to typify how He as a holy God could fellowship with sinful man and meet his needs, Ex. 25:1-9.
  2. In Exodus 28:1-4, God introduced His commands on the garments of the high priest, and Hebrews chapters 5-9 show the high priest typified Christ's current heavenly work as our Great High Priest.
  3. The first garment described in Exodus 28:5-14, the ephod, pictures CHRIST'S ALL-SUFFICIENCY as MANKIND'S SAVIOR:
    1. The ephod was a linen garment embroidered in blue, purple, scarlet and gold, recalling the courtyard entry, the curtain to the Holy Place and the veil to the Holiest of Holies that all depicted Christ's glory.
    2. As a two-piece (front-and-back), sleeveless garment, the ephod was hung at the top from 2 shoulder straps and tied into the body by an ornamental belt. On each strap sat an onyx stone engraved with 6 of the names of "Israel's" [Jacob's (Gen. 32:28)] 12 sons listed in their birth order, Ex. 28:10; Ryrie St. Bib., KJV, 1978, ftn. to Ex. 28:6-14.
    3. To discern what all of this means, we study the context (as follows):
      1. Exodus 28:24-28 NIV closely links the ephod to the next item described in the text, the breastpiece that was worn over the ephod.
      2. Now, we note the 11th stone named of the breastpiece, an onyx, is the same kind of stone as the ephod's 2 onyx stones, Ex. 28:9, 17-20, and each stone in the breastpiece represents a son of Jacob (Ex. 28:21a; Gen. 32:28) listed in his birth order (Exodus 28:10b).
      3. As the breastpiece's 11th onyx stone then depicts Jacob's 11th son, Joseph (Gen. 29:31-30:24; 35:16-18), the ephod with the breastpiece highlight the similarity of Joseph and Jesus Christ!
      4. Well, Joseph in typology mainly depicts Christ as our SAVIOR:
        1. In Genesis 37:18, 28; 41:56-57; 50:15-21, Joseph's brothers, the heads of Israel, hated and betrayed him to suffer; yet, God used this to lead Joseph to rule and graciously forgive and save Israel and the surrounding Gentile nations from death by famine.
        2. In Isaiah 53:3-5; Matt. 26:14-16, 47-49; Acts 2:23-24, 37-39 and Eph. 1:19-23, Jesus was also rejected of Israel and betrayed to suffer; yet, God used this and raised Christ up graciously to save Jews (Isaiah 53:5) and Gentiles (Isaiah 52:15a) from hell.
    4. Thus, the EPHOD recalls the salvation God wrought through Joseph RICHLY to illustrate the salvation He wrought through Christ:
      1. The ephod pictures the GRACE of God's salvation through Christ:
        1. The ephod's front and back pieces hung entirely from the shoulder straps on which were set the 2 large onyx stones.
        2. These stones were engraved with the names of Jacob's sons, typifying Israel, showing as Joseph graciously bore his family, Israel, to save her from death by famine, Christ graciously bore Israel's sin on the cross to save her from hell unto eternal life!
        3. However, just as Joseph saved not only his brothers (Israel), but the nations, Christ died for the world, 2 John 2:2; Isaiah 52:15a.
        4. Thus, as the ephod's shoulder straps and onyx stones depict the full weight of the world was born by Christ on the cross, so His salvation of the souls of all men is by grace through faith apart from any human merit or work, Eph. 2:8-9; Rom. 3:23-24!
      2. However, Joseph's salvation also illustrates how Christ's salvation extends beyond the saving of souls to deliver the world's societies:
        1. When Joseph saved his brothers and his world (Gen. 41:56-57), it took a 7 year famine "tribulation" to bring everyone into full submission to him (Genesis 41:54 with 57; 42:7), and for his brothers to reconcile with him (Genesis 45:4-9; 50:15-22).
        2. Similarly, it will take the future 7 year Great Tribulation period for Israel as a nation and the world to reconcile with Christ at His Second Coming (Daniel 9:27; 12:1-3, 11-12; Zechariah 11:1-14:8). Then He will establish His worldwide Messianic Kingdom of blessing on the earth, Zechariah 14:9-21.
        3. Thus, as Joseph was used of God to save the Ancient Near Eastern world's societies, delivering them from extinction by famine, Jesus will be the Savior of the world's societies in His coming Messianic reign! (Amos 9:11-12)
Application: (1) May we trust in Christ as our Savior to become a child of God, John 1:11-12. (2) Then, may we (a) REST in His gracious salvation of the SOUL, and (b) heed Scripture on preparing for His Kingdom that will save the world's SOCIETIES.

Conclusion: (To illustrate the message . . . )

 We began our message with a reference to various problematic issues we face in the world or even within ourselves.

The Savior we have signaled His work in our behalf last week to cause us to hope in Him to "bear" both us and the needs of the world around us, and I share some of them here in encouragement to you:

(1) After working on the first draft of this sermon Tuesday morning, I went out the front of the Church to pick up the day's mail.

(2) On the way, I saw various evidences of God's work to answer prayer and encourage us, and I took the time to appreciate it:

(a) First, I noticed the walkway that was cleared off of the former ant hills and weeds. Two folk in our body had addressed it.

(b) I then looked at the newly worked flower beds along the front of the Church on either side of the porch, and recalled the same parties had produced these. (c) It also led to me recall and appreciate the work another party had done on the flower patch in the front lawn, the sides of the Church and around the Church sign, and (d) the work another party had done to install the attractive stone steps from the walkway down to the east parking lot.

(e) I then turned around to view the front of the Church. It left me appreciative of how this year's new coat of paint there was an answer to prayer made years ago, that the new coat had been able to be applied easily via a member's donation of the use of his hydraulic lift.

(f) I also appreciated the washing of the front porch that had been accomplished by others on our recent Work Day.

(3) Grateful to God for all these blessings and more, I finally made it to the mailbox, and found there a letter from a party who uses our web site. In it was a gift in appreciation of my ministry! I wrote a thank-you note in reply, and realized this was partial fulfillment of the Revelation 3:20 promise God would supply all we need as we minister His Word and not pressure people to give to this ministry!

(4) Later that day, when I went for a walk near my home, I saw and retrieved a dollar bill that was caught in shallow grass along Route 4! In the aftermath of the previous letter, I viewed this as an added signal of God's encouragement that He would provide as promised in Revelation, and all regardless what financial or political trials we face!

We have a great, All-Sufficient Savior and coming Ruler of the whole world! May we trust Him, rest in Him, and serve Him!