Exodus 28:30 And you shall put in the breastplate of judgment the Urim and the Thummim; and they shall be on Aaron's heart… A very great mystery hangs over those two words — "the Urim and the Thummim" — commonly translated "light and perfection" — in the Septuagint version, "manifestation and truth," — and in the Vulgate, "doctrine and truth." But until there shall stand up a priest with Urim and Thummim, we are told, both in Ezra and Nehemiah, it will remain a mystery. And as a mystery we must view it. I. THE STONES REPRESENTING THE CHURCH, THAT WERE BORNE UPON THE HIGH PRIEST'S BREAST AND THE HIGH PRIEST'S SHOULDERS, CONNECT THEMSELVES WITH THE URIM AND THE THUMMIM. In some way or other, it is quite clear that God was pleased to reveal His will in connection with these twelve stones. In what way it is very difficult to determine. There are these possible interpretations. It may be that it pleased God at certain times to throw a miraculous light upon these twelve different coloured stones, which did in some way write His mind; either by the initiatory letters, or by some signs which were familiar to the high priest, God did, by the means of these twelve precious stones, representing the twelve tribes, convey His will to the high priest — that he might again convey it to the people. But the closest investigation that has been given to the subject does not lead to that conclusion — and those who are the most competent to speak do not adopt that interpretation. It has been rather supposed that these stones were not made themselves the channels or the mediums by which God conveyed His will, but that they accredited, as it were, and empowered the high priest, when he was before God, authenticated the high priest, that then God seeing him in the fulness of his priesthood, was pleased to convey spiritually and not materially by these stones to his mind what God had in His own mind upon the subject that was transferred to him for consultation. II. Consider now practically WHAT IS THAT WHICH IS TO US THE URIM AND THUMMIM? — AND HOW SHOULD WE CONSULT GOD, AND OBTAIN OUR ANSWERS? 1. And here let me speak to you of the very great importance of going to God very often consultingly. In prayer, pray consultingly — in reading, read consultingly. Always consult God first, before you ask any man — if possible, before you ask yourself. Before you go to a thought, if possible, ask God to take the initiative — ask God first to speak even before your own heart speaks. 2. You must be very careful, whenever you go to consult God, that there are two conditions. (1) That your mind is not pre-occupied, that you be free, that you do not bring pre-conceived and settled ideas, and then ask God to fall in with your view. You will be surprised, if you examine your own hearts, how very generally you do that. You have settled what you wish, and then you go to God to persuade God, as it were, to follow your design. Try to go to God as the blank sheet, that God will write there, upon a mind quite free, His own entire will. (2) And again, it is quite essential, if you will have answers to your consultings of God, that you should have thoroughly and honestly made up your mind to follow whatever you find to be, believe to be God's guidance. If you do not go to God with that true determination, you will consult him in vain. (3) If we are to attain Urim and Thummim in our consultations with God, we must do it through priest-hood — in the recognition of the priesthood of the Lord Jesus Christ. III. THERE ARE MANY WAYS IN WHICH GOD MAY GIVE US THE URIM AND THUMMIM TO DIRECT OUR STEPS. 1. By a light breaking on some passage of the Bible. 2. By the Spirit of God illuminating our own minds. (J. Vaughan, M. A.) Parallel Verses KJV: And thou shalt put in the breastplate of judgment the Urim and the Thummim; and they shall be upon Aaron's heart, when he goeth in before the LORD: and Aaron shall bear the judgment of the children of Israel upon his heart before the LORD continually. |
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