In the year 1868, after the Civil War, General John A. Logan declared that May 30th would be a day to “decorate with flowers the graves of comrades who died in defense of their country during the late rebellion.” After World War I the day was set aside to honor all of the American wars, and the custom was extended to pay homage to deceased relatives and friends, both military and civilian.(1)
On Memorial Day we recognize the names of those who have died in the armed services, and we recall all of our loved ones, young an old, who have gone on before us; but the main thing is we “remember” them. That’s why it’s called Memorial Day. It’s a day of remembering. Being remembered by the people we love is something we all hope will happen when we pass away, but the most important thing is to be remembered before God when we stand in His presence; and being remembered before God is what we’re going to see being emphasized in our passage from Exodus.
I’ve entitled our message for this morning, “Memorial Stones Before God,” and I want to get us started with a quick explanation, or a quick setup, of what’s to follow. In Exodus chapter 28, we read where the Lord commanded that Moses’ brother Aaron, along with his four sons, be set aside from the children of Israel as holy priests (vv. 1-2); and the Lord commissioned artisans to fashion sacred vestments for them, containing a breastplate, an ephod, a robe, a tunic, a turban, and a sash (vv. 3-8); and we then start reading the following words of instruction beginning in Exodus 28:9-12:
Memorial Stones Carried on His Shoulders (vv. 9-12)
9 Then you shall take two onyx stones and engrave on them the names of the sons of Israel: 10 six of their names on one stone, and six names on the other stone, in order of their birth. 11 With the work of an engraver in stone, like the engravings of a signet, you shall engrave the two stones with the names of the sons of Israel. You shall set them in settings of gold. 12 And you shall put the two stones on the shoulders of the ephod as memorial stones for the sons of Israel. So Aaron shall bear their names before the Lord on his two shoulders as a memorial.
In verse 12, we encounter a word that some of us probably don’t recognize, which is the word “ephod.” Easton’s Bible Dictionary defines the word “ephod” as “a sacred vestment worn originally by the high priest, [and] afterwards by the ordinary priest . . . It was made of fine linen, and consisted of two pieces, which hung from the neck, and covered both the back and front . . . The two pieces were joined together over the shoulders by clasps or buckles of gold or precious stones.”(2)
These verses tell us that on the shoulder straps of the ephod, there would be two onyx memorial stones set in place, on which would be inscribed by an engraver the names of the twelve tribes of Israel; six names on each stone, in order of birth (vv. 9-11). There would be “the names of the six eldest on the stone upon the right shoulder” and “the names of the six youngest on the stone upon the left shoulder . . . so that, upon the first stone, were engraved the names of Reuben, Simeon, Levi, Judah, Dan, and Naphtali; and on the second stone, the names of Gad, Asher, Issachar, Zebulun, Joseph, and Benjamin.”(3)
Now, when I try to imagine what these onyx shoulder stones might have looked like, I envision something like the “epaulets” worn on the shoulders as part of military dress uniforms, such as what we wore on our Air Force “blues” when I was in the Civil Air Patrol. An “epaulet” is defined as “an ornamental shoulder piece on . . . the coat or jacket of a military uniform” (Lexico, Oxford). You will also see them on fire and police department uniforms, and on the shoulders of the white dress shirts worn by airline pilots; and they usually have small yellow bars across them indicating rank.
The text tells us about the purpose of these two onyx stones: They would be worn by Aaron as he entered the holy of holies; and thereby, the names of the twelve tribes of Israel would be seen by the Lord (v. 12). The reason for displaying these two onyx stones before God in His holy tabernacle is so they would serve as “memorial stones” to the Lord (v. 12), so that the Lord would extend His mercy and favor toward Israel. But, according to commentator John Gill, these stones were not meant “to put the Israelites in mind [on account of] the merits of their ancestors . . . for none of their works were meritorious, and some were not good, and not worthy of remembrance.”(4)
So, the stones that bore the names of the twelve tribes were not meant to remind God of Israel’s goodness; and thus, gain the people His favor by means of their works. And even today, our right standing before God is not acquired by good deeds. In the book of Titus, the apostle Paul said, “Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to His mercy He saved us . . . that having been justified by His grace we should become heirs according to the hope of eternal life” (Titus 3:5, 7). We are justified and saved only by God’s grace through faith (Ephesians 2:8-9).
The reason for displaying these two onyx stones before God in His holy tabernacle is so they would serve as “memorial stones” to the Lord (v. 12), always “reminding” Him of His covenant with the tribes of Israel; for it was by God’s covenant that the Lord extended His mercy and favor toward Israel. The stones also served to remind God that they were His dear, special, and chosen people. The stones were a reminder, just as the rainbow was a reminder to the Lord of the covenant He made with all flesh.
When Aaron went into the holy of holies and presented the stones before the Lord on the mercy seat, he interceded for the tribes of Israel; and in patiently bearing all their infirmities and weaknesses, he served as a type of Christ; similar to how Jesus presents all His people unto His heavenly Father, and makes intercession for them, and bears all their burdens.(5) Hebrews 5:9-10 tells us of Jesus that “He became the author of eternal salvation to all who obey Him, called by God as High Priest according to the order of Melchizedek.” Hebrews 7:25 says that “He is also able to save to the uttermost those who come to God through Him, since He always lives to make intercession for them,” and Isaiah 53:4 says, “Surely He has borne our griefs and carried our sorrows.”
So, we’ve been reading here about these two onyx stones, but I haven’t yet told you what onyx is. You see, I’ve intentionally saved some of the best symbolism for last in the exposition of verses 9-12. Onyx is a black gemstone that has parallel bands of white encircling it. Spiritually speaking, black is usually associated with sin, while white is associated with innocence and purity. A variation of onyx is sardonyx, which is banded in red instead of white; which the color red, also, has significance, as it often represents the shed blood of Jesus Christ, which according to 1 John 1:7, cleanses us from all sin.
When I was a child, my family used to vacation at Cave City and Mammoth Cave, Kentucky. And I’ll never forget passing the numerous signs that read “Great Onyx Cave.” I always wondered what onyx was; and now I know. So, from now on, when I’m travelling near Cave City, and I see those signs for “Great Only Cave,” I’m going to be thinking about a merciful God who, when He looks at me now, instead of seeing the blackness of a sin-stained heart, sees instead a heart wrapped in bands of purest white; and in seeing the color white, God is “reminded” of “the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world” (John 1:29); the One who was “led as a lamb to the slaughter” (Isaiah 53:7); who was wounded for my transgressions, bruised for my iniquities; who took the chastisement for my peace upon Himself; and by whose stripes I am healed (Isaiah 53:5).
Memorial Stones Carried Over His Heart (vv. 15-21, 28-29)
15 You shall make the breastplate of judgment. Artistically woven according to the workmanship of the ephod you shall make it: of gold, blue, purple, and scarlet thread, and fine woven linen, you shall make it. 16 It shall be doubled into a square: a span shall be its length, and a span shall be its width. 17 And you shall put settings of stones in it, four rows of stones: The first row shall be a sardius, a topaz, and an emerald; this shall be the first row; 18 the second row shall be a turquoise, a sapphire, and a diamond; 19 the third row, a jacinth, an agate, and an amethyst; 20 and the fourth row, a beryl, an onyx, and a jasper. They shall be set in gold settings. 21 And the stones shall have the names of the sons of Israel, twelve according to their names, like the engravings of a signet, each one with its own name; they shall be according to the twelve tribes . . .
28 They shall bind the breastplate by means of its rings to the rings of the ephod, using a blue cord, so that it is above the intricately woven band of the ephod, and so that the breastplate does not come loose from the ephod. 29 So Aaron shall bear the names of the sons of Israel on the breastplate of judgment over his heart, when he goes into the holy place, as a memorial before the LORD continually.
In verse 15, we read that the high priest also wore a breastplate called “the breastplate of judgement.” When the priest wore it, he would have in mind to “do justice and judgment in the execution of his office” and to “have at heart the judgment of the people of Israel.” In difficult cases he would inquire of God, and once he received the answer, he would then declare it to the people.(6)
Now, the breastplate was woven of four colors. The first was “gold,” and gold represents God’s sovereignty, His presence, and purification by fire. The second color was “blue,” which represents the Lord’s healing and grace. The third was “purple,” which represents royalty; and the fourth color was “scarlet,” which represents the blood of sacrifice spilt for the atonement of sin. According to verse 29, the breastplate was also something that served as a “memorial” to God; as it caused Him to “remember.” When the Lord saw these colors He remembered that, even though He is royal, sovereign and righteous to exact judgement; that He is also full of healing and forgiveness, and ready to extend grace on account of the blood sacrifice that was shed and covers our sins.
Now, within the breastplate were twelve stones, and on each stone was written the name of one of the tribes of Israel (vv. 17-21); so, twelve stones and twelve names. Commentator Warren Wiersbe observes, “So, the high priest not only carried the people on his shoulders, but he also carried them over his heart.”(7) John Gill elaborates on this observation, saying this: “Their names being engraved on the stones, and the stones put into the breastplate of judgment, and this breastplate hanging down upon the breast and heart of Aaron, he was a representative of the twelve tribes of Israel, [just] as Christ his antitype is the representative of the whole Israel of God,” and those “who lie near the heart of Christ, are set as a seal upon it, are engraved on the palms of His hands, and carried in His bosom, and whom He always presents to His divine Father, and [they] are accepted in Him.”(8)
He continues to add that the breastplate “was, with the twelve stones in it, an emblem of the church and people of God, borne upon the heart of Christ our great High Priest, who are made righteous by Him . . . and are called by His name, the Lord ‘our’ righteousness; the judgment or government of whom is committed to Him, and which He exercises . . . by vindicating and protecting them, and by the open justification of them at the last Day.”(9)
Now, notice that each name of the twelve tribes was written on a different, or separate, type of gemstone. The twelve names weren’t all written on the same type of material as they were in the two onyx shoulder stones. Now, I’m not going to take the time to go through the meaning of each and every gemstone, but I am going to mention a few, in order to show you how they correlate to another passage of Scripture.
These twelve stones are seen again over in the book of Revelation. So, listen closely as I read Revelation 21:19-20: “The foundations of the wall of the city were adorned with all kinds of precious stones: the first foundation was jasper, the second sapphire, the third chalcedony, the fourth emerald, the fifth sardonyx, the sixth sardius, the seventh chrysolite, the eighth beryl, the ninth topaz, the tenth chrysoprase, the eleventh jacinth, and the twelfth amethyst.” Now, as I read these verses, you probably noticed some variation, as some of the gemstones from Exodus chapter 28 “are” mentioned in Revelation chapter 21, and others appear nowhere to be found.
The gemstone names of Exodus chapter 28 that are obviously repeated in Revelation chapter 21 are: sardius, topaz, emerald, sapphire, jacinth, amethyst, beryl and jasper. The ones that appear to missing from Revelation chapter 21 are: turquoise, diamond, agate and onyx – but these four are actually there! “Turquoise” (Exodus 28:18) in the ancient world simply referred to a green-colored stone. Revelation 21:20 mentions “chrysoprase,” which is a turquoise-green color of jade; so there, we have identified turquoise.
“Diamond” (Exodus 28:18) was not well known in the ancient world, and likely referred to corundum (corindon) or chrysolite.(10) Diamond is the hardest gemstone, corundum is the second hardest, and chrysolite is the third hardest.(11) Revelation 21:20 mentions “chrysolite,” which in the ancient world was equated with diamond; so there, we have identified diamond. “Agate” (Exodus 28:19) is a variety of “chalcedony,”(12) which is mentioned in Revelation 21:19; so there, we have identified agate. And “onyx” (Exodus 28:20) is seen in Revelation 21:20 as “sardonyx.” Sardonyx is a variant in which the colored bands are “sard,” or shades of red; so there, we have identified onyx.
I shared all this information to show you that the twelve stones of the breastplate, mentioned in Exodus chapter 28, are all seen in Revelation chapter 21, in the foundation of the city wall of the New Jerusalem.
You see, stone represents strength and timelessness. For example (and this ties in with Memorial Day), when we carve a gravestone to be placed in a cemetery, we want it to be made of granite so that it will withstand the elements. I’m sure you’ve notice how those erected in the 1700’s, and made of limestone, have now eroded so badly that you can barely make out the names and dates. We want tombstones to withstand the test of time, because none of us want our names to be forgotten; but let me tell you, real strength and true timelessness cannot be found in anything here on earth; nor can eternal remembrance. It can only be found in Christ.
When the high priest bore the twelve names of the tribes of Israel before the Lord, it represented how we are borne on the heart of Christ and how we rest in Him; and when we rest in Jesus, we have a firm foundation. Jesus once said, “Therefore, whoever hears these sayings of Mine, and does them, I will liken him to a wise man who built his house on the rock: and the rain descended, the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house; and it did not fall, for it was founded on the rock” (Matthew 7:24-25).
When we are carried on the heart of Christ before God, we can rest assured that we will stand. Because the twelve tribes of Israel made God their foundation, they have become so strong in Him they will be “as” the foundation of the walls of the New Jerusalem; the spiritual foundation, that is. Now, in order to have integrity and strength, every wall must have a cornerstone, and in Matthew 21:42, Jesus declared of Himself, “The stone which the builders rejected has become the chief cornerstone.” In 1 Peter 2:6, we read, “Behold, I lay in Zion a chief cornerstone, elect [and] precious, and he who believes on Him will by no means be put to shame.”
In Ephesians 2:19-22, Paul said of those who have chosen to believe in Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord, and who now comprise the church, “Therefore, you are no longer strangers and foreigners, but fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God, having been built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ Himself being the chief cornerstone, in whom the whole building, being joined together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord, in whom you also are being built together for a dwelling place of God in the Spirit.”
Whereas, the tribes of Israel (and the apostles and prophets) will become “as” the spiritual foundation, believers will become “as” the spiritual house or temple. However, there will be no “actual” temple in the New Jerusalem, for according to Revelation 21:22, “the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb are its temple.” But in that heavenly city the Lord will abide in us, and we in Him. So, spiritually speaking, we become “as” God’s temple, one built on a solid foundation; and this happens through faith in God, and by confessing His Son, Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord.
Jesus is the chief cornerstone, and those who rest in Christ, who are borne on the shoulders of the Great High Priest before God; they have a firm foundation. They will stand forever and never fall, because when God looks at those who know Christ, He sees a stone; and that stone is Jesus. When He looks at us who are saved, instead of seeing our sins, He only sees the blood of Jesus Christ that has washed us as white as snow. He only sees those who are now called the righteousness of God in Christ (2 Corinthians 5:21). He sees eternal and everlasting spiritual strength in those who are now called living stones (1 Peter 2:5), who are believers; who, according to Zechariah 9:16, are said to be precious gemstones, “like the jewels of a crown, lifted like a banner over His land.”
What we have acquired by faith in Jesus Christ is a beauty, strength and timelessness that never fails; and we have God’s eternal remembrance through which we receive His forgiveness, grace and eternal life.
Time of Reflection
As I stated at the beginning of this message, on Memorial Day we recognize the names of those who have gone on before us, and we “remember” them. Being remembered by the people we love is something we all hope will happen when we die; but the most important thing is to be remembered before God when we stand in His presence, especially as we stand before Him at the final judgment.
In Revelation 2:17, Jesus declared, “To him who overcomes I will give some of the hidden manna to eat. And I will give him a white stone, and on the stone a new name written which no one knows except him who receives it.” To him who overcomes; or rather, to him who has received Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord; he will receive a band new name inscribed on stone that will serve as a memorial before God; reminding the Lord of His mercy and favor extended toward undeserving sinners.
This new name depicts a new spiritual beginning, and the white stone portrays being cleansed from our sin. Therefore, as Christians, when we pass away and stand before God’s throne, He will not recall our former sinful life. He will instead remember His covenant, the New Covenant made in Christ. The writer of Hebrews said, “This is the covenant that I will make with them after those days, says the Lord: I will put My laws into their hearts, and in their minds I will write them” and “their sins and their lawless deeds I will remember no more” (Hebrews 10:16-17).
This morning, as we remember our loved ones, I want to encourage you to make sure you do what it takes to see them again. If you have a relationship with God through His Son, Jesus Christ, then He will remember your name when you stand before His heavenly throne; and He will remember His covenant and His mercy. He will declare to you, “Well done, good and faithful servant . . . enter into the joy of your Lord” (Matthew 25:21). If you want to know Jesus today, and make certain that your name is written down in His book of remembrance, as Malachi calls it (Malachi 3:16), then I invite you to come walk the aisle and pray to receive Him as Savior and Lord of your life.
NOTES
(1) David Whitten, “Every Sunday is a Memorial Day,” Sermon Central: www.sermoncentral.com (Accessed May 2003).
(2) Easton’s Bible Dictionary, “Ephod,” Power Bible CD-ROM.
(3) John Gill, John Gill’s Exposition of the Bible, Bible Study Tools (biblestudytools.com).
(4) Ibid.
(5) Ibid.
(6) Ibid.
(6) Warren Wiersbe, “The Complete Old Testament in One Volume,” The Wiersbe Bible Commentary (Colorado Springs: David C. Cook, 2007), p. 197.
(8) Gill.
(9) Ibid.
(10) “Gemstones in the Bible”
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gemstones_in_the_Bible#Chrysolite.
(11) “Chrysoberyl Classification and Properties,” https://www.alexandrite.net/chapters/chapter4/index.html.
(12) https://rocktumbler.com/blog/what-is-agate-jasper-chalcedony/
