When God separated the Levites from the children of Israel to serve as “priests” in His holy service (Num. 18:1-7), He also told them what to wear (Ex. 28:1-3). Notice, it wasn’t just anything, but very nice respectful clothing for honor and beauty.
“And thou shalt make holy garments for Aaron thy brother for glory and beauty” (Ex. 28:2).
“And for Aaron’s sons thou shalt make coats, and thou shalt make for them girdles, and bonnets shalt thou make for them, for glory and for beauty” (Ex. 28:40).
“And they made coats of fine linen of woven work for Aaron, and for his sons, And a mitre of fine linen, and goodly bonnets of fine linen, and linen breeches of fine twined linen, And a girdle of fine twined linen, and blue, and purple, and scarlet, of needlework; as the Lord commanded Moses” (Ex. 39:27-29).
The priesthood may have changed (Heb. 7:12), but nevertheless, a priesthood still remains today made up of faithful Christians who offer holy sacrifices (1 Pet. 2:5,9; Rev. 1:6: 5:10; Rom. 12:1-2; Heb. 13:15).
Our Sovereign God does not change in how He is (Mal. 3:6; Heb. 13:8; Jas. 1:17). Times change, things change, people change, but God doesn’t change. God wanted/demanded the best from His priests before in what they wore, and I believe He still does. Not that we have to go out and buy expensive clothes, and not that our clothes define us. But simply, as in all things, as we do our best we should also wear our best.
“For whatsoever things were written aforetime were written for our learning, that we through patience and comfort of the scriptures might have hope” (Rom. 15:4).
Richard Stevens, III
