Tetzaveh “You shall command”
Exodus 27:20–30:10
Ezekiel 43:10–27
Acts 18-22

All Dressed Up

It was quite an honor to have been born a Levite in the time of the Tabernacle. But while it was it an honor, it was also quite a bit of work! There was always something to do. Moving days were the hardest, with all the take down and set up of the Tent and its furnishings. But everyday tasks were not much easier. There was the daily upkeep and cleaning as well as the sacrifices that had been ordered. There was also the job of making sure all the garments were clean and ready for the priests to wear into His presence.

The priests of that day never had to think about what to wear during their days of service. The way they would dress and how they would enter into His presence was a big deal to them. It was also a big deal to Elohim. They could not simply dress any old way. They had to dress as if for an appointment with someone who was royalty or something. Truth is, they did have an appointment with royalty!

What does all this have to do with us today? I think plenty. Let me set the stage first.

We live in what has become in America, a world of slobs. I was just yesterday walking into Wal Mart and saw a lady, who not only had not read my last weeks teaching on taking care of the gift of a body, but had on pajamas! Now I have nothing against pajamas, but in public? This of course is not an isolated case. I have seen people getting on airplanes and in malls dressed the same way. Ragged shorts, torn T-shirts and baggy pants with underwear hanging out seems to no longer be the exception of our day. Rather it has become the rule of our day.

What is tragic is that I see the same kind of dress in congregations of people who say they have come to meet with YHVH!

Call me old fashioned if you like, but I can remember not too long ago when you just did not go to a church service without dressing in your "Sunday best." It was a big deal to get the family up and get them all dressed for church. You were going to meet with and worship your Creator. It was time to dress for the part.
Don't get me wrong, I am not saying we all need to go back to coats, ties and fancy dresses, but has our pendulum swung a bit too far on this one? Can we learn something from the priests in Israel?

Recently I was having an email conversation with a friend. She is a faithful intercessor who does not allow a day to go by without praying for me, my family and this ministry. I am not sure how we got to the subject, but she told me that years ago she had been instructed to begin every day with prayer. Before she could begin her prayer time though, she was to get up, get dressed, wash her face and even put on her make up. In short, she was to act like and dress like she was meeting with the Creator of the Universe, because she was. Her email got me to thinking and then I opened scripture and read about the priests and their dress. I just could not treat this as coincidence or pass up the opportunity to think it through a bit.

Take journey in time with me before we go on. The time is the Millennium. You have just received a notice that Yeshua would like to meet with you personally this coming Shabbat. Now do not get too spiritual with me on the glorified body and stuff, just stay on task. Would you show up for that meeting in your pajamas? Would you show up looking like you had combed your hair with a pillow only moments ago? Would you wear your favorite pair of baggy jeans and torn T-shirt, or would you spend a little extra time that morning preparing yourself physically as well as spiritually? Think it through.

What if the meeting was not in the Millennium with Yeshua, but rather an important job interview or meeting with an important person today? How would you dress?

Now think back to the last service you went to. How were the people dressed? Were they dressed to meet with an important person? One of royalty and honor? Did it look like a meeting with The King or a slob convention? How did you and your family look that day? Questions to ponder, don't you think?

We should not go back to the days we tried to out dress each other to impress them or ourselves, but a bit of balance may be a good thing to consider today. Next time you sit down for a special time of prayer or go to your congregation, consider how you look. I know He looks on the heart, but maybe we should allow His eyes to see something a bit better as He is looking there. A lesson from the priests of Israel may not be such a bad idea. In fact getting ready on the outside, may just help us to get ready on the inside.