The three primary colors of worship

Book 2.
Chapter 5. The Three Colors of Worship
In the Book of Exodus, from chapter 25 through chapter 31, we have the details of
the instructions that God gave to Moses while He conversed with him over a period of 40
days. This was the first time that Moses went up into the mountain at the command of
the Lord. This was prior to the event described in chapter 32 when the people were
worshiping the golden calf.
Red, Blue, and Violet… the colors found in the Tabernacle…
Included in all of these details of the furnishings of the temple and the instructions
for service is the mention of the specific colors of thread that were to be used in weaving
fabric for certain uses. The mention of these 3 colors and their use is beyond the realm of
circumstantial. There is clearly a specific significance to the use of these same 3 colors
in the tabernacle. Since God is primarily spirit, there must be spiritual importance
assigned to these colors when used in worship. These colors are red, blue, and purple, and
we will see various appearances of them.
The furnishings possessing these 3 colors…
Some of the specific uses for this special weaving of fabric were the 2 door
hangings. One of the hangings hung over the doorway which provided entrance to the
outer courtyard where the brazen altar and the brazen laver were positioned. The second
hanging was to cover a smaller doorway which provided passage for priest to go into the
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Holy place to tend to the light of the lamp stand, the table with the showbread on it and
the altar of incense.
Then there was the other major hanging which actually provided a separation
barrier between the Holy place and Holy of Holies, where the Ark of the Covenant rested.
The difference between this hanging, called The Veil, and the other door hangings was
that on this veil, by the use of gold thread, an outline of the cherubim figures which
graced the top of the mercy seat of the Ark of the Covenant was embroidered on its
surface. Directly overhead, providing the ceiling and covering for the tabernacle, were
10 layers of woven fabric all woven with these same 3 colors. In addition to these layers,
was another layer of badger skins that had been dyed red.
A spiritual implication…
Consider with me a spiritual implication of the presence of these 3 specific colors
on the hangings and the veil. Namely, no one goes in or out of God’s presence without
passing through the grace (red) and mercy (blue) and the justice (purple) of God. God
views all the various aspects of our worship to Him through the layers of grace, mercy
and judgment. Also, concerning the veil, the atoning work of the sacrifice for man’s sins
is always viewed through the lenses of God’s grace and mercy and His justice. Wouldn’t
it be interesting if we looked at one another through these same three “lenses” of God’s
glory? I think there would be a whole lot more love evidenced in our meetings together,
don’t you?
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The clothing of the Priests contained these 3 colors…
One more very interesting use of fabric woven with threads of these 3 colors has
to do with the vesture of the priests themselves. First of all, the undergarment, referred to
as the ephod, was fashioned with fabric made of these colors. The breastplate of
judgment, which provided the background for the 12 stones representing the 12 Tribes of
the children of Israel was made of fabric using these 3 colors. There was also in the
ephod a pouch that contained the Urim and the Thummin: 2 special stones, which were
used to discern the will of God concerning various matters.
The outer robe of the priests’ garments was a beautiful blue color, but down at the
very bottom of this outer robe was a series of 3 differently colored pomegranates. The 3
colors were, as you might guess, red, blue and purple. These were alternated around the
entire border of the high priest’s blue outer robe and inter-spaced with small golden bells.
There was the sound of the small golden bells, along with the sound of dried
pomegranates rattling as the high priest went about his duties in the temple. One time per
year, on the Day of Atonement, the High Priest would go into the Holy of Holies with the
blood of the atoning sacrifice which was to be sprinkled over the mercy seat which
covered the Ark of the Covenant, or ark of the presence of The Almighty. This act
complied with God’s instruction regarding providing atonement for the sins of the people.
Should the sound of the bells and pomegranates fall silent while the high priest was
behind the veil, his lifeless body could be pulled out with the aid of a rope fastened to one
of his legs. I am not aware that history records specific examples of this actually
happening; but nevertheless, provision was made in the event of such an occurrence.
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The color blue…
There is the presence of a single color that was used extensively throughout the
tabernacle. This color is the color blue. Again, this color denotes the merciful nature of
God. It is seen in the cloth that covered the top of the Table of Showbread. It was also
found used in the outer robe of the priests’ garments. But another specific place we find
the instruction to employ the use of the color blue is referred to in the Book of Numbers,
chapter 15. One of my favorite writers who has inspired many people to seek after the
Lord and His righteousness is J. Hudson Taylor. His most noted writing among
evangelical Christians is his work entitled, Union and Communion. However, a lesser
known book that I have in my library is his book entitled, “A Ribband of Blue”. This
book is actually referred to as a companion volume to Union and Communion, and is a
study of this specific passage of Scripture from Numbers 15. Here, Jehovah instructed
Moses to have the children of Israel use blue thread in the borders of their clothing
throughout all of their generations to “… remind them of all the commandments of
Jehovah, to do them; and that ye seek not after your own heart and your own eyes, after
which you use to go a whoring. That ye may remember, and do all my commandments,
and be holy unto your God.” (verses 39 and 40). Specifically, the mercy and compassion
of our God with us is to remind us throughout all of our life that we are to be a holy and
obedient people; extending the same compassion and forgiveness to those with whom we
interact during the course of our life. We are to be God’s own possession; a separate and
holy expression of His paternal compassion with us.
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The 3 pillars of God’s work in man…
So, in all these examples, specific instruction was given by God for the use of the
colors red, blue, and purple in the service within the temple as people worshiped their
Holy God. These colors are representative of the 3 pillars of God’s work with mankind:
grace, mercy and justice.
The color violet…
A further side note concerning the color purple: I have found it quite interesting
that the opposite effect of God’s justice is the fleshly work of man which has as its
motivation the elements of fear and worry. The purpose of God’s justice is to bring about
a righteous godliness in the life of the individual He is working with. God’s purpose in
providing for man’s righteousness is that man may be at peace with Him. The ultimate
goal in the life of the one who is righteous and at peace with God is that man will become
one with Him and His divine will. So, the opposite effect of man’s own effort to achieve
a conscious state of peace with God is a life full of short-comings and unrealized
expectations. This constant failure fuels the destructive nature of worry and fear in the
life of the seeker of truth and light.
It seems so foolish to me to see people look in all other places for this pathway to
peace, instead of simply trusting in the truth of the statements that our Lord Jesus Christ
made when He stated that He is the way; the only way to the Father of Light. Why would
anybody seek all kinds of other ways to find God before actually seeking God through
His Son, Jesus?