LIFE SCRIPTS

15 “Fashion a breastpiece for making decisions—the work of skilled hands. Make it like the ephod: of gold, and of blue, purple and scarlet yarn, and of finely twisted linen. 16 It is to be square—a span long and a span wide—and folded double. 17 Then mount four rows of precious stones on it. The first row shall be carnelian, chrysolite and beryl; 18 the second row shall be turquoise, lapis lazuli and emerald; 19 the third row shall be jacinth, agate and amethyst; 20 the fourth row shall be topaz, onyx and jasper. Mount them in gold filigree settings. 21 There are to be twelve stones, one for each of the names of the sons of Israel, each engraved like a seal with the name of one of the twelve tribes. 22 “For the breastpiece make braided chains of pure gold, like a rope. 23 Make two gold rings for it and fasten them to two corners of the breastpiece. 24 Fasten the two gold chains to the rings at the corners of the breastpiece, 25 and the other ends of the chains to the two settings, attaching them to the shoulder pieces of the ephod at the front. 26 Make two gold rings and attach them to the other two corners of the breastpiece on the inside edge next to the ephod. 27 Make two more gold rings and attach them to the bottom of the shoulder pieces on the front of the ephod, close to the seam just above the waistband of the ephod. 28 The rings of the breastpiece are to be tied to the rings of the ephod with blue cord, connecting it to the waistband, so that the breastpiece will not swing out from the ephod. 29 “Whenever Aaron enters the Holy Place, he will bear the names of the sons of Israel over his heart on the breastpiece of decision as a continuing memorial before the Lord. 30 Also put the Urim and the Thummim in the breastpiece, so they may be over Aaron’s heart whenever he enters the presence of the Lord. Thus Aaron will always bear the means of making decisions for the Israelites over his heart before the Lord.
Exodus 28:15‭-‬30 NIV

https://bible.com/bible/111/exo.28.15-30.NIV.

The breastplate was to have the same design as the ephod and connected to it using gold chains. The most outstanding things on the breastplate were these twelve precious stones each representing the children of Israel. These same stones are highlighted in Revelation as the foundation stones of the new Jerusalem or heaven. It’s worth noting that Aaron and his sons were not only to bear the people on their shoulders (work for them) but on their hearts also (love them). Loving God and loving people. That’s the call we have as priests of God. But beyond these precious stones were a unique set of decision instruments called the Urim and the Thummim or Lights and Perfections. In the old testament, God guided His people on several occasions using these instruments upon consultation by a priest or exceptionally when David was the king. These two instruments seemed a bit mysterious in the way they worked but they did deliver God’s will when used by the high priest. In 1 Samuel 30, David asked Abiathar, the high priest for the ephod (which as we know was connected to the breastplate using gold chains). Upon inquiring of God, He gave him a go ahead to pursue and defeat the Amalekites after they raided their camp. The breastplate was a symbol of God’s love for His people. It was a symbol of God’s longing to relate with His people. Another breastplate is alluded to in Ephesians 6:14. The breastplate of righteousness…part of the full armor of God which protects us from the attacks of the enemy.