THE PRAISE OF BROTHERHOOD

Exodus 28; Psalm 133



INTRODUCTION TO EXODUS 28


A. Exodus 28 gives instruction for Aaron’s (High Priest’s) garments that he was to wear while ministering in the tabernacle/temple.


B. Aaron’s garments were symbolic of the glory, beauty and unity of the church (Exodus 28:2,40).

1. Aaron’s ephod was a sleeveless garment. On this garment were to be placed two onyx stones with the names of the sons of Israel engraved (Ex.28:6-14; cf. Isa.54:11,12; Ezek.28:13; Revelation 21:19-20).


2. The breastpiece was worn over the ephod and it contained the twelve stones representing the twelve sons of Jacob (Ex.28:15-30; 39:8-21; cf. Isa.54:11,12; Ezek.28:13; Revelation 21:19-20 [note, the high priest did not wear the ephod or breastpiece when he went into the Most Holy Place {Leviticus 16:1-4}; only when He ministered in the Holy Place {Exodus 28:4}])


I. BEHOLD, HOW GOOD AND HOW PLEASANT IT IS FOR BROTHERS TO DWELL TOGETHER IN UNITY! (Psalm 133:1)


A. The history of the church seems to be characterized more by division than by unity.

1. David’s household (2 Samuel 12:10).

2. Rehoboam and Jeroboam (1 Kings 12)

3. Israel’s rejection of Jesus, the Lord of Glory

4. The Judaizers/Party of the Circumcision

5. Paul and Barnabas (Acts 15:36-41)

6. Euodia and Syntyche (Philippians 4:2-3)

7. Corinth (1 Corinthians 1:10-12; 11:17ff.) – The Lord’s Supper should be pretty simple (bread and wine/fruit of the vine) and yet it has always been one of the most contentious issues.


B. Be “diligent to preserve the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace” (Ephesians 4:3-6; cf. Romans 12:18).


II. UNITY IS LIKE THE DEW OF HERMON (Psalm 133:3)


A. Dew is a sign of God’s blessing (Dt.33:13-16; Ps.110:3; Hos.14:5; 1 Kings 17:1; Hag.1:10-11).


B. The unity of brothers is like a rich water source that waters the earth and makes it fruitful.


C. Two mountains are mentioned in Psalm 133: Zion and Hermon because mountains are sources of water.

1. Mount Hermon had three peaks, two of which were over 9,000 feet in elevation. Mount Zion was only 2,400 feet in elevation. Mount Marcy, the highest point in New York is 5,344 feet in elevation.

2. Mount Hermon is a major source of water for the Jordan River – the main River in Israel.


III. UNITY IS LIKE THE OIL GOING DOWN AARON’S BEARD (Psalm 133:2)


A. The oil represents the Holy Spirit (Exodus 30:22-33; 1 Samuel 10:1; 16:1,13; Isaiah 61:1; Mark 6:13; Acts 2:42-47; 1 Cor.1:21; 1 John 2:20; James 5:14).


B. Oil covering Aaron represented the unity that comes from the work of the Holy Spirit.





QUESTIONS FOR SABBATH DISCUSSION & MEDITATION:


Take what you have learned this morning and pray that God would impress upon you the greatness of His miraculous work of justifying the ungodly through faith alone.


What passages of Scripture were read this morning?


Why does the history of the church seem to be characterized by division instead of unity?


How many mountains are mentioned in Psalm 133 and what were their names?


What was the significance of these mountains?


Why should Aaron’s beard lead us to sing with joy and gratitude about the peace and unity of the church?



“The Scripture's sufficiency must be maintained, and nothing beyond it imposed on others...We must learn to distinguish between certainties and uncertainties, necessaries and unnecessaries, catholic verities and private opinions; and to lay the stress of the Church's peace upon the former, not upon the latter” (Richard Baxter, The Reformed Pastor).