Christian symbolism in the breastplate of judgment–chapters 11 & 12

The Christian’s conversion, two natures, spiritual covering, and God’s continual blessings are a few things we see represented by Joseph and the Onyx.

In Benjamin and the Jasper, we get a glimpse of our spiritual perfection, God’s divine order, persistence in righteousness, and the fact that we are God’s beloved.  The word jasper is iaspis in the Greek and is a compound word combining ias which has to do with curing, healing, and making whole and pis which has the idea of persuading, trusting, assuring, and believing. The word can be taken to mean “healed in believing”, “cured by trusting”, or something similar. Our sin-sick souls are made whole by trusting in the Lord (Is. 53:5; 1 Pet. 2:24).

Christian symbolism in the breastplate of judgment–chapters 9 & 10

Are you bearing spiritual fruit for God, witnessing to the lost, and bearing God’s burdens faithfully?  Then you have a lot in common with Issachar and the amethyst.

As Christians, God refines us through trials we face in life.  In the midst of our trials he is our shelter and causes us to prosper spiritually in spite of our circumstances.  These are a few things we learn when we take a close look at Zebulun and the beryl.

Christian symbolism in the breastplate of judgment–chapters 7 & 8

Click here to read how Gad and the ligure represent liberty, boldness, skill while fighting spiritual battles, and other important Christian characteristics.

In Asher and the agate, we see the power of the Holy Spirit, hunger for God’s word, and strength that endures.

Christian symbolism in the breastplate of judgment–chapters 5 & 6

In what way should a Christian be like a serpent?  Should we as Christians ever pass judgment?  For answers to these questions, read about Israel’s tribe of Dan and its memorial stone, the sapphire.

From the tribe of Naphtali and its stone the diamond we learn the importance of being a good wrestler (spiritually speaking) and the wisdom of allowing God to speak through us to others. 

Christian symbolism in the breastplate of judgment–chapters 3 & 4

Israel’s priestly tribe of Levi is explained in chapter 3 and the kingly tribe of Judah is covered in chapter 4.

Christian symbolism in the breastplate of judgment–chapters 1 & 2

In the first chapter I discuss what the tribe of Reuben and the sardius stone symbolize.

The second chapter covers the tribe of Simeon and the topaz.

Christian symbolism in the breastplate of judgment–Introduction

I did a study from 2002-2006 of the breastplate worn by the Jewish high priest in the Old Testament.  I’ll be sharing what I discovered in the next several posts.  Here’s the introduction to start things off.