CHAPTER IV.

THE GIRDLE.

THIS was made of needlework, of fine twined linen, and blue, and purple, and scarlet. (Ex. xxxix. 29.) How it was placed on the body of the high priest has been a subject of difference. The tunic, or "coat," fitted close to the body, like that of our blessed Lord's (John. xix. 23), and was woven of one piece. As it was close-fitting the girdle could not, strictly speaking, have been necessary. "No doubt it really reached beyond the feet, and required to be thrown over the shoulder during ministration. Hence its object must have been symbolical." In Rev. i. 13, the Saviour is seen "girt about the paps with a golden girdle." Again, in Rev. xv. 6, "the angels come forth with golden girdles about their breasts." From this it is evident that both this girdle, and also the curious girdle of the Ephod— which we must not confound with this-were both girded round the breasts, and not round the loins. (See Ezek. xliv. 18.)

This girdle over the breast and shoulders of the high priest was common to all the other priests,

excepting that theirs was simply of fine twined linen, without gold or colours of any kind. There are beautiful references to these linen garments in Scripture. (See Rev. xix. 8; Isa. lxi. 10; Rev. iii. 4; Rev. vi. 11.) Girdles of leather, and of very costly materials, were worn, both by rich and poor, round the loins, to gird up their long flowing garments, and to enable them to engage in active service. To these reference is frequently made in Scripture. (Luke xii. 35; 1 Peter i. 13; Eph. vi. 14; Isa. xxii. 21.) In this last quoted passage the girdle is the sign of official dignity. The girdle of the priests is, therefore, the emblem of service. As the high priest, thus girded, ministered in the tabernacle for the people, so the Lord Jesus is ever living to make intercession for us in heaven. His character as the girded servant is brought before us in the Old Testament: "Righteousness shall be the girdle of his loins, and faithfulness the girdle of his reins." (Isa. xi. 5.) He came "not to be ministered unto, but to minister." “I am among you," He said, "as one that serveth." And this aspect of the Lord Jesus as the girded servant in heaven, on our behalf, is beautiful'y brought before us in John xiii. "He riseth from supper and laid aside his garments." Here we have the spiritual truth of Jesus giving up all personal refreshment-all the attractions of earth-and, "laying aside his garments" of glory, emptying Himself. He "took a towel" (or linen cloth), and girded Himself. Here He becomes, in symbol, the girded priest on behalf of his people. He "began to wash the disciples' feet,

and to wipe them with the towel wherewith He was girded." Here He is engaged in his priestly work in heaven-putting away our defilements, the defilements of our "feet," or daily walk through the world. This was why this was one of the Saviour's last acts, just as He was "going back to God" (John xiii. 1), to show them that it was that in which He would be engaged in glory till they should see Him again. He tells us, too, that this service is the one in which all his people should be engaged till that time comes: "If I, then, your Lord and Master, have washed your feet, ye ought also to wash one another's feet." "If ye know these things, happy are ye if ye do them."

How can we do this? By doing exactly what our Lord did-putting away from one another everything that is contrary to God's Word or grievous to His Spirit; by helping each other to become clean, to be holy, to grow in grace, to become more and more like Christ. This is to wash one another's feet. It is so to live as to be a blessing to others; to lift them up, make them more heavenly, and by our words and deeds to cleanse one another "from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God."

Christian reader, are you thus washing the feet of others? Are you thus "doing?" Is your soul "happy" in this constant service? Or is your

religion head knowledge and profession,-" the form without the power?" Oh, see to it, that you are fulfilling your Lord's last commission. Be, in this respect, "a doer of the Word." Let your loins be

girded about and your lights burning; and ye yourselves like unto men that wait for their Lord when He will return from the wedding. Blessed are those servants whom the Lord when He cometh shall find watching: verily, I say unto you, that He shall gird Himself, and make them to sit down to meat, and will come forth and serve them." (Luke xii. 35-37.)

OVER

CHAPTER V.

THE ROBE OF THE EPHOD.

EXODUS xxviii. 31-35; xxix. 22, 23.

VER the coat or tunic along with its girdle was placed the robe of the Ephod, so called, because the ephod, the principal of the priestly garments, and that which gave authority and dignity to the high priest, was put upon it. This robe was entirely dark blue. It was of inferior material to the ephod itself being only of woven work. It was also longer than the ephod, but not so long as the inner coat or tunic. The white coat was visible beneath it. This robe had no sleeves, therefore the sleeves of the coat or tunic were also visible. It was put on over the head, and had simple slits in the sides for the arms to pass through. It was of one piece, and seamless. Round the edge of the hole at the top was a binding of woven work, so that it might not be rent. This band of woven work was so strong that the hole is compared to the hole of a habergeon, or breastplate of armour.

It is probable that this garment did not reach lower than the knees, or very little lower. The Greek