The Urim And The Thummim

The outer garment, called “The ephod”, was constructed very specifically as God had commanded. There were the stones on the shoulders, the breastplate, and the two stones inside that pocket behind the breastplate that was covered with 12 precious stones; each with the name of one of the tribes of Israel etched in its matching stone.

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By means of these items of clothing, the High Priest could learn the counsel and judgment of God on various problems the nation would face. He could then declare the course of action that the people should take. He could sometimes then tell what events were about to happen. This was how God often spoke to Israel in those days, instead of the spiritual gifts that he uses for us today. The Holy Ghost had not yet been given. The Gifts of the Spirit were not in Israel, at least not in the same fashion. So God chose to speak to them in a different manner.

The last time that God spoke to Israel, using the garments of the High Priest, that I know of, was during the time of King David

Abiathar (the only surviving priest of the line of Eli) had went to David bringing with him the ephod of the High Priest. During this time, all of the families of David’s army had been captured by the enemy, and the army had begun to turn against him.

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1 Samuel 30:6 And David was greatly distressed; for the people spake of stoning him, because the soul of all the people was grieved, every man for his sons and for his daughters: but David encouraged himself in the LORD his God.

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1 Samuel 30:7 And David said to Abiathar the priest, Ahimelech's son, I pray thee, bring me hither the ephod. And Abiathar brought thither the ephod to David.

1 Samuel 30:8 And David enquired at the LORD, saying, Shall I pursue after this troop? shall I overtake them? And he answered him, Pursue: for thou shalt surely overtake them, and without fail recover all.

On three separate occasions, David used the ephod to inquire of the Lord what he should do in the face of the enemies of Israel. At none of these three occasions was the Ark of the Covenant with David, so there was no Mercy Seat, nor the presence of the Shekinah, only the priest and the breastplate on the ephod. But within the pocket of the breastplate there was the urim and thummim and these would be the means by which God’s glory would shine to give an answer to Israel’s prayer.

Today, we no longer look upon the breastplate of a high priest in the church. Neither do we regard his earthly robes, and we do not depend upon the urim and the thummim for answers.

But these are representative to us of the gifts of the Spirit in operation within the church to enlighten us to God’s will; to show the path to victory; and to receive the answers to our prayers.

Just as it was in the days when God would speak through the urim and the thummin, we must rely only upon the presence, the power, the glory of the Lord, and the moving of the Holy Spirit within, to lead us to where we need to be in God. Without direction from God, we can easily fall into the trap of our enemy who seeks to kill, steal and destroy. As long as we follow God and seek his will, we will escape the traps of the devil.