October 6

     “Like Aaron, who symbolized Christ, our Saviour bears the names of all His people on His heart in the holy place. Our great High Priest remembers all the words by which He has encouraged us to trust. He is ever mindful of His covenant.”

             Christ’s Object Lessons p.148


     At our church we’re really fortunate to be studying what happened in the Sanctuary the Priests worked in so we have a bit of an insight into this short passage. We have been reminded so far that God wants us to pray, to keep praying and to keep on praying. Now we move back to an earlier theme.

     Aaron was the first of the Priests so imagine him as he begins to put his new clothes on. He has had a really good wash, not only because God wants him to be clean inside and out but because those clothes are gorgeous.

     Perhaps last of all he puts on a kind of waistcoat with two shoulder pieces. These have engraved onyx stones on the shoulder. The names of each of the tribes are engraved on the onyx. Aaron is the only one who has ever worn such clothing. He feels so proud. He feels so responsible.

     Responsible is the word to bear in mind here. I have a commentary on this verse which tells me that those engraved jewels are there to remind the Priest of his responsibility to the people and also a reminder to God that he is responsible for those same people. The Priest and Jesus are reminded, "Don't forget these people".

     Aaron, as Priest, is only there to paint a picture for the people of what Jesus is doing for them. Jesus, we then imagine, because that is the teaching from the picture, bears the responsibility of the people on His shoulders. Jesus is reminded, "Don't forget these people".

     Jesus knows us, He remembers his people. He remembers us and our words and our needs.

     When we pray we can take the teaching picture of the Priest and the names he bears on his shoulders and turn that into trust that when we ask God will do something.

     There isn’t some heavenly paper bin for prayers. God reads everything, takes note of everything and ignores nothing. Trust that.