“And you shall put the two stones on the shoulders of the ephod as memorial stones for the sons of Israel …” (Ex. 28:12).
The ephod was the outermost garment of the high priest. Inferior priests wore linen ephods (1 Sam. 22:18), and Samuel wore one when he was a child (1 Sam. 2:18). David also wore one when he danced before the ark (2 Sam. 6:14). But this one that the high priest wore was called a golden ephod because there was a great deal of gold woven into it. It was a short coat without sleeves, buttoned closely, with a girdle of the same material. The shoulder pieces were buttoned together with two precious stones set in gold, one on each shoulder on which were engraved the names of the children of Israel (Ex. 28:9–12).
In allusion to this, Christ, the Great High Priest, appeared to John girded about the breast with a golden girdle, just like the one on the ephod (Rev. 1:13). The Scriptures tell us in Isaiah 11:6 that righteousness is the girdle of His loins, and so it should be for us. Ephesians 6:14 says, “Stand therefore, having girded your waist with truth, having put on the breastplate of righteousness.” This has a double meaning, for Christ’s righteousness is imputed to us, protecting us from the slanders and accusations of the devil, enabling us to stand against his wiles. If we had to stand before the tribunal of God with Satan as our accuser, we could never survive by our own righteousness because we have no goodness in us. But because of the imputed righteousness of Christ, bound about us like a breastplate, like a golden ephod, we can stand boldly before the judgment seat, for God’s wrath has been appeased.
Another truth from this verse is that, as believers indwelt by the Holy Spirit, we are being conformed daily to the image of Christ. This work of sanctification is a daily struggle as we, by God’s grace, put to death the misdeeds of the body and put on Christ and His character. Each day, our goal should be to abide in our Lord, seeking first the kingdom of God and all His righteousness.
The golden ephod worn by the high priest bore the names of the tribes of Israel. In the same way, Jesus Christ represents the church as He stands before the presence of the Father, interceding on our behalf. Our names are known to Him because He died for us. He stood in our place, representing not an abstract number, but people known by Him and loved by Him, even while we were yet sinners.
Read Ephesians 4:17–5:21. Paul teaches believers how to put on the breastplate of righteousness as we strive to be conformed to the image of our Lord. What do you need to do to put on righteousness? What do you need to put off? Describe the old man. Describe the new man. Memorize Ephesians 4:22–24.
