The breastpiece (breastplate)

The shapes of the love — A meditation

  God is Love – 3/3

The High Priest in the Old Testament:

You are to make an embroidered breastpiece (breastplate) for making decisions..
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Place a setting of gemstones on it, four rows of stones:
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The 12 stones are to correspond to the names of Israel’s sons. Each stone must be engraved like a seal, with one of the names of the 12 tribes.
_{Exo 28:15.17.21}

The breastpiece on the High Priest

Whenever he enters the sanctuary, Aaron is to carry the names of Israel’s sons over his heart on the breastpiece for decisions, as a continual reminder before the Lord.
_{Exo 28:29}

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The High Priest in the New Testament:

..because He, Jesus remains forever, He holds His priesthood permanently. Therefore, He is always able to save those who come to God through Him, since He always lives to intercede for them.
Heb 7:24-25

  In these turbulent times, we must recognize Christ’s true rank. No. He is not the Jewish high priest who entered the Holy Place once a year. Jesus is the Christ. He is the Holy King and Intercessor—according to the order of Melchizedek. This rank is far more ancient and powerful than any rank that served and serves before God. He does not pray merely on behalf of the 12 tribes, but continually and perfectly keeps the pleas and prayers for everyone before the Heavenly Father.
  The High Priest appointed by the Law of the Mosaic era literally took the tribes of the chosen people to heart, bringing their lives and sins before the Throne of Grace through prayer and sacrifice.
The ever-living Highest Priest, however (that is, the Messiah, the King and the High Priest together according to the order of Melchizedek), sees, understands the lives of all nations and, through His Cross, through His Blood, offers the possibility of eternal life. He lives forever and always intercedes before the Father with unceasing prayer. {Heb 7:25}

· How many tribes was brought in the Most Holy place for intercession and decisions in the Old Covenant?
· And today, how many soul are being brought in the Most Holy place where Jesus intercedes for them?
· As a royal priesthood, what are the responsibilities /tasks of local congregations as they serve Christ, the High Priest?
· They are on the "breastpiece" of the Mighty priest, forever, "like a seal" on His heart.
Would you pls. open now the Song of Songs at 8:6?

⚠ Warning!
you need to be aware that attempts to correlate the tribal stones with the stones on the foundations of the New Jerusalem (Revelation 21) meet with several difficulties:
The correlation between the Hebrew names of the stones of the breastplate and the Greek names of the stones is uncertain.
The foundations of the New Jerusalem are named according to the apostles and not by the Israeli tribes. Therefore there is not a precise correlation between the stones on the foundations and the stones of the tribes.
As for the foundations of Her walls it is more focused to make a comparison with Isaiah 60:18 where it is said of Zion (the Church in the New Testament meaning), “You will call your walls Salvation and your gates Praise” which is more the subject of Revelation 21.

i - ii - iii

  About the devoted heart:
- Chpt. 1. Is "Hesed" equal to "Agape"?
- Chpt. 2. Filia, Storge and Agape
- Faithful High Priest