The Robe and The Bells

I was reading from the Bible today when two scenes collided together. One from the Old Testament and one from the New Testament. I begin in the Old. It’s God’s very detailed instructions to Aaron (the brother of Moses) who was to become the first High Priest of Israel.

Exodus 28:35 (NLT)

Aaron will wear this robe whenever he ministers before the LORD, and the bells will tinkle as he goes in and out of the LORD’s presence in the Holy Place. If he wears it, he will not die.

It looks like it’s a really bad idea to catch the Lord by surprise when you’re carrying out your priestly duties in the Tabernacle. The Lord required Aaron to wear a special priestly robe with little bells on the fringe that would make an audible sound as he moved around and carried out his priestly duties in the Tabernacle of the Lord.

This is the statement that struck me… If he wears it, he will not die. There was a Robe and a Bell that stood between life and death as Aaron entered the presence of God. The Robe and the Bells were nonnegotiable. This was life and death. These instructions to Moses and Aaron were so very detailed.

Exodus 28:31-35 (NLT)

“Make the robe that is worn with the ephod from a single piece of blue cloth,

32 with an opening for Aaron’s head in the middle of it. Reinforce the opening with a woven collar so it will not tear. 33 Make pomegranates out of blue, purple, and scarlet yarn, and attach them to the hem of the robe, with gold bells between them. 34 The gold bells and pomegranates are to alternate all around the hem. 35 Aaron will wear this robe whenever he ministers before the LORD, and the bells will tinkle as he goes in and out of the LORD’s presence in the Holy Place. If he wears it, he will not die.

Now for the New Testament. Do you think the dress code will be important when God the Father hosts the upcoming Wedding Banquet for His Only Son Jesus? This is how Jesus describes the upcoming event.

Matthew 22:11-14 (NLT)

“But when the king came in to meet the guests, he noticed a man who wasn’t wearing the proper clothes for a wedding. 12 ‘Friend,’ he asked, ‘how is it that you are here without wedding clothes?’ But the man had no reply.

13 Then the king said to his aides, ‘Bind his hands and feet and throw him into the outer darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.’

14 “For many are called, but few are chosen.”

The Robe and the Bells. The Wedding Robe is the righteousness of Christ covering our shameful nakedness and the bell symbolizes that we should never forget that we are now in the Lord’s Presence. If he wears it, he will not die.

Maranatha, Hosanna, Hallelujah and Amen,

Terry Cooper