King James Bible Study – [And when he had called the people unto him with his disciples also, he said unto them, Whosoever will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me. – Mark 8:34]
Date: Thursday, February 12, 2026
Chapters: Exodus 39-40
Message: Exodus: The Holy Garments
Hello My Friend,
The Tabernacle, as the first house of worship for God, provided Israel with a visible place where they could be assured of His nearness. Yesterday we considered the construction of the Tabernacle itself and the careful preparation of every item God commanded. As we come to the end of the reading of Exodus, we learn of the making of the priestly garments—the holy garments for them to minister before the Lord and perform their duties.
[Exodus 39:1-4 And of the blue, and purple, and scarlet, they made cloths of service, to do service in the holy place, and made the holy garments for Aaron; as the LORD commanded Moses. 2 And he made the ephod of gold, blue, and purple, and scarlet, and fine twined linen. 3 And they did beat the gold into thin plates, and cut it into wires, to work it in the blue, and in the purple, and in the scarlet, and in the fine linen, with cunning work. 4 They made shoulderpieces for it, to couple it together: by the two edges was it coupled together.]
On an interesting note, they prepared the gold by beating it into thin plates, cutting it into wires, and twisting those wires into the colored threads. The gold used for the ephod and breastplate was one thread of pure gold twisted with six threads. In all, four threads contained gold, making twenty‑eight threads total. Can you imagine the labor required to beat gold into thin strands and weave it into the threads? Such painstaking work reminds us that what we wear is just as important to God as what do. In order to serve Him properly we need to put on the righteousness of Christ, which is His Spirit, for without Him we will not be recognized.
[Romans 8:8-10 So then they that are in the flesh cannot please God. 9 But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you. Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his. 10 And if Christ be in you, the body is dead because of sin; but the Spirit is life because of righteousness.]
The word ephod means “image,” reminding us that the gold, blue, purple, scarlet, and fine linen all point to the image of Christ—gold to His Deity, blue to His heavenly home, purple to His royalty, scarlet to His sacrifice, and linen to His purity and righteousness. Now, we move on to the breastplate, it was to be attached to the ephod.
[Exodus 39:8,10-14 And he made the breastplate of cunning work, like the work of the ephod; of gold, blue, and purple, and scarlet, and fine twined linen. 10 And they set in it four rows of stones: the first row was a sardius, a topaz, and a carbuncle: this was the first row. 11 And the second row, an emerald, a sapphire, and a diamond. 12 And the third row, a ligure, an agate, and an amethyst. 13 And the fourth row, a beryl, an onyx, and a jasper: they were inclosed in ouches of gold in their inclosings. 14 And the stones were according to the names of the children of Israel, twelve, according to their names, like the engravings of a signet, every one with his name, according to the twelve tribes.]
The signets were seals, each bearing the name of one of the children of Israel, engraved in precious stone. Every stone and every name resting upon the high priest’s chest served as a continual reminder of the covenant God had made with His people and of how precious they are to Him—more precious than the finest stones on the earth. It is important to note that the breastplate and the ephod were fastened securely so that they lay snug against the robe. With that foundation in place, the description now turns to the robe itself.
[Exodus 39:21-25 And they did bind the breastplate by his rings unto the rings of the ephod with a lace of blue, that it might be above the curious girdle of the ephod, and that the breastplate might not be loosed from the ephod; as the LORD commanded Moses. 22 And he made the robe of the ephod of woven work, all of blue. 23 And there was an hole in the midst of the robe, as the hole of an habergeon, with a band round about the hole, that it should not rend. 24 And they made upon the hems of the robe pomegranates of blue, and purple, and scarlet, and twined linen. 25 And they made bells of pure gold, and put the bells between the pomegranates upon the hem of the robe, round about between the pomegranates;]
The robe was woven from a single piece, without seams, and its neckline was reinforced with a collar so it would not tear. Along the hem were gold bells and pomegranates of blue, purple, and scarlet. As we learned earlier, whenever the high priest entered the Holy Place, he was required to wear this robe, and the sound of the bells signaled his approach. This was not because God needed to be alerted, it was because He wanted them to understand that consequences come to those who are not prepared as it does all of us, [I Thessalonians 5:2-4 For yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so cometh as a thief in the night. 3 For when they shall say, Peace and safety; then sudden destruction cometh upon them, as travail upon a woman with child; and they shall not escape. 4 But ye, brethren, are not in darkness, that that day should overtake you as a thief.]
Now we come to the coats, the mitre (or turban), the bonnets, the breeches, and the girdles that all the priests would wear. Each of these garments was crafted with the same care and precision God required for every part of His service. In addition to these, the crown that would rest upon the high priest’s head is also described, completing the sacred attire of those who ministered before the Lord.
[Exodus 39:27-31,42 And they made coats of fine linen of woven work for Aaron, and for his sons, 28 And a mitre of fine linen, and goodly bonnets of fine linen, and linen breeches of fine twined linen, 29 And a girdle of fine twined linen, and blue, and purple, and scarlet, of needlework; as the LORD commanded Moses. 30 And they made the plate of the holy crown of pure gold, and wrote upon it a writing, like to the engravings of a signet, HOLINESS TO THE LORD. 31 And they tied unto it a lace of blue, to fasten it on high upon the mitre; as the LORD commanded Moses. 42 According to all that the LORD commanded Moses, so the children of Israel made all the work.]
Inscribed upon the crown were the words “Holiness to the Lord,” a visible reminder that the one who served in God’s presence had to be set apart for Him alone. Those whom God calls into His service—whatever that ministry may be—are likewise to set themselves apart, even from the broader Christian community. While we are all one body in Christ, those called to lead and minister are to set the example for those who are not. In a very real sense, they carry the weight of the body upon their shoulders and in their hearts, just as our Lord Jesus does, [John 15:16-17,19 Ye have not chosen me, but I have chosen you, and ordained you, that ye should go and bring forth fruit, and that your fruit should remain: that whatsoever ye shall ask of the Father in my name, he may give it you. 17 These things I command you, that ye love one another. 19 If ye were of the world, the world would love his own: but because ye are not of the world, but I have chosen you out of the world, therefore the world hateth you.]
Once we have put on the proper garments and are anointed with the holiness of Christ, we are finally able to minister to God, and He not only recognizes us, but blesses us. Only when we are clothed in what He provides can we stand before Him in service. And now, with all the materials, furniture, vessels, and garments completed exactly according to God’s plan, it was finally time for everything to be assembled. God gave specific instructions on how and when they were to set up the Tabernacle, everything had to be set up in a particular order.
[Exodus 40:2-8 On the first day of the first month shalt thou set up the tabernacle of the tent of the congregation. 3 And thou shalt put therein the ark of the testimony, and cover the ark with the vail. 4 And thou shalt bring in the table, and set in order the things that are to be set in order upon it; and thou shalt bring in the candlestick, and light the lamps thereof. 5 And thou shalt set the altar of gold for the incense before the ark of the testimony, and put the hanging of the door to the tabernacle. 6 And thou shalt set the altar of the burnt offering before the door of the tabernacle of the tent of the congregation. 7 And thou shalt set the laver between the tent of the congregation and the altar, and shalt put water therein. 8 And thou shalt set up the court round about, and hang up the hanging at the court gate.]
God had given step‑by‑step instructions for how everything was to be brought into the tent and arranged, both inside and outside. Yet the tent, even when fully assembled, was not enough. It provided the appearance of the Tabernacle, but its true significance depended on God Himself dwelling there. And exactly how was God going to enter into the tabernacle? By their anointing everything with the holy oil that was prepared just for this occasion.
[Exodus 40:9-12,14-15 And thou shalt take the anointing oil, and anoint the tabernacle, and all that is therein, and shalt hallow it, and all the vessels thereof: and it shall be holy. 10 And thou shalt anoint the altar of the burnt offering, and all his vessels, and sanctify the altar: and it shall be an altar most holy. 11 And thou shalt anoint the laver and his foot, and sanctify it. 12 And thou shalt bring Aaron and his sons unto the door of the tabernacle of the congregation, and wash them with water. 14 And thou shalt bring his sons, and clothe them with coats: 15 And thou shalt anoint them, as thou didst anoint their father, that they may minister unto me in the priest’s office: for their anointing shall surely be an everlasting priesthood throughout their generations.]
Everything—from the person entering the tent to the laver standing outside—had to be anointed with the holy oil. The Holy Spirit, whether we speak of Him as the Holy Ghost, the Spirit of God, the Glory of God, or simply the Spirit, is the true anointing this oil represented. Just as the Tabernacle and the people were consecrated with oil, we too must be anointed with the Holy Spirit. This is why Jesus will say to many, “I know you not whence ye are.” There is absolutely no way for us to stand before God, let alone do anything for Him that carries eternal weight, without His Spirit living within us, [John 3:7-8 Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again. 8 The wind bloweth where it listeth, and thou hearest the sound thereof, but canst not tell whence it cometh, and whither it goeth: so is every one that is born of the Spirit.]
It had now been two years since Israel was set free from Egypt, and the very first sanctuary for God was finally being raised. Moses followed every instruction exactly as God had given it, and after six months of careful labor the Tabernacle stood complete, ready for the presence of God to dwell among His people.
[Exodus 40:17,21,23-24,33 And it came to pass in the first month in the second year, on the first day of the month, that the tabernacle was reared up. 21 And he brought the ark into the tabernacle, and set up the vail of the covering, and covered the ark of the testimony; as the LORD commanded Moses. 23 And he set the bread in order upon it before the LORD; as the LORD had commanded Moses. 24 And he put the candlestick in the tent of the congregation, over against the table, on the side of the tabernacle southward. 33 And he reared up the court round about the tabernacle and the altar, and set up the hanging of the court gate. So Moses finished the work.]
While we thank God for preachers, teachers, and other ministers who faithfully guide us in His Word, there is a saying that comes to mind: “It takes a village to raise a child.” In the same way, the church cannot place the entire responsibility and burden of ministry on its leaders alone. As saved, born‑again Christians, we are called to do our part as well—through tithes, through offering our time, and through whatever work God calls each of us to do, [I Corinthians 12:12,23,25 For as the body is one, and hath many members, and all the members of that one body, being many, are one body: so also is Christ. 23 And those members of the body, which we think to be less honourable, upon these we bestow more abundant honour; and our uncomely parts have more abundant comeliness. 25 That there should be no schism in the body; but that the members should have the same care one for another.]
The Tabernacle was completed and set up in six months, and this stands as clear proof that when the hearts of God’s people are willing and united, great things can be accomplished in a short amount of time. Once everything was built, arranged, and anointed according to God’s command, the priests were finally able to enter and minister before Him. And as soon as Moses finished the work, the glory of God descended—His radiant cloud hovered over the Tabernacle and then filled it, declaring that He had chosen to dwell among His people.
[Exodus 40:34-38 Then a cloud covered the tent of the congregation, and the glory of the LORD filled the tabernacle. 35 And Moses was not able to enter into the tent of the congregation, because the cloud abode thereon, and the glory of the LORD filled the tabernacle. 36 And when the cloud was taken up from over the tabernacle, the children of Israel went onward in all their journeys: 37 But if the cloud were not taken up, then they journeyed not till the day that it was taken up. 38 For the cloud of the LORD was upon the tabernacle by day, and fire was on it by night, in the sight of all the house of Israel, throughout all their journeys.]
Simply incredible! God, in all His glory, dwelling in the cloud by day and the fire by night, guided Israel every step of the way toward the promised land. When the cloud remained still, they set up camp and stayed; when it lifted and moved, they gathered everything and followed. This is the pattern for us as well the moment we receive Christ as our Saviour. The Holy Spirit becomes our guide, His leading becomes our direction, and our responsibility is simply to follow wherever He moves.
[Galatians 5:16-17,22-25 This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh. 17 For the flesh lusteth against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh: and these are contrary the one to the other: so that ye cannot do the things that ye would. 22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, 23 Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law. 24 And they that are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts. 25 If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit.]
Today’s Prayer: Jesus, You have given us the greatest example of what we need to do to not only be saved, but have fellowship with our Father as well as serve Him. Thank You, for giving Your own life to save us from all the steps needed to be saved, we no longer need to put on special clothes, pour oil on our bodies, or go through the constant consecration needed to stand before Him, all we need is to put Your blood upon our soul. Lord, lead us and guide us, keep our eyes and hearts open to see where You are leading us, and help us to keep studying in the Word of God to know You did so that we can do the same thing too. I love You Lord, and ask this in Your name, Jesus, Amen.
God Bless You, I am praying for you,
Christina
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