The Lord is awe-inspiring, fearsome, fascinating, intriguing, majestic, and full of splendor: breathtaking! Here is what I saw of him and what came to my heart and mind in Ezra 2:62-63,
"These searched for their family records, but they could not find them and so were excluded from the priesthood as unclean. The governor ordered them not to eat any of the most sacred food until there was a priest ministering with the Urim and Thummim."
There were certain men who could not provide their "family records" to prove their inclusion as priests when the first group of returnees headed for the homeland. They were excluded from participation in the priesthood until there was a priest who could settle the matter with the Urim and Thummim.
The Urim and Thummim were a part of the accouterments the high priest in Israel wore. In Exodus 28:29-30 we read, "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. 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."
The Urim and Thummim (some think the words mean "Lights and Perfections") were used as a means to determine the rightful answer for questions that might be asked - questions that required insight or information from the Lord otherwise unavailable.
It really is quite fascinating the Lord provided for such a tool in the high priest's toolbox. Apart from Jewish tradition, I'm not aware that anyone knows for sure what the objects were, what exactly they looked like and specifically how they were used, just that they were used in appealing to the Lord to settle questions.
It calls to mind another passage of Scripture which is equally fascinating, "The lot is cast into the lap, but its every decision is from the Lord." Proverbs 16:33.
"These searched for their family records, but they could not find them and so were excluded from the priesthood as unclean. The governor ordered them not to eat any of the most sacred food until there was a priest ministering with the Urim and Thummim."
There were certain men who could not provide their "family records" to prove their inclusion as priests when the first group of returnees headed for the homeland. They were excluded from participation in the priesthood until there was a priest who could settle the matter with the Urim and Thummim.
The Urim and Thummim were a part of the accouterments the high priest in Israel wore. In Exodus 28:29-30 we read, "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. 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."
The Urim and Thummim (some think the words mean "Lights and Perfections") were used as a means to determine the rightful answer for questions that might be asked - questions that required insight or information from the Lord otherwise unavailable.
It really is quite fascinating the Lord provided for such a tool in the high priest's toolbox. Apart from Jewish tradition, I'm not aware that anyone knows for sure what the objects were, what exactly they looked like and specifically how they were used, just that they were used in appealing to the Lord to settle questions.
It calls to mind another passage of Scripture which is equally fascinating, "The lot is cast into the lap, but its every decision is from the Lord." Proverbs 16:33.
Some time check out Joshua 7:16-18 and 1 Samuel 14:36-43... very interesting!
Anything of the Lord capture your heart from Scripture today? Share what moved you about him from your Bible reading today. I'd love to hear from you!
If you have someone you would like to receive these ruminations, send me their email address. I'm happy to add them to the list. If you are receiving this and would like to be removed from the list, just respond and let me know.
Anything of the Lord capture your heart from Scripture today? Share what moved you about him from your Bible reading today. I'd love to hear from you!
If you have someone you would like to receive these ruminations, send me their email address. I'm happy to add them to the list. If you are receiving this and would like to be removed from the list, just respond and let me know.
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