Hosea 3:5Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers

Without a high priest dressed according to the law in the appropriate vestments for ministry, what divine manifestations could possibly be witnessed?

While it may be known to the curious why these appearances were instituted, it is useful to briefly recall. When the sovereign Lord established the guidelines for the adornment of the high priest, He instructed the holy Moses to create a judgmental plate made to specified dimensions, forming a square (Ex. 28:15-16). He commanded that precious stones, inscribed with the names of the twelve tribes, be intricately woven into this sacred garment. Among these stones were those denoted with the names of ‘appearance’ and ‘truth’ (Ex. 28:30). This judgmental plate was suspended from the clasp on golden chains and placed upon the heart of the High Priest. These terms, ‘appearance’ and ‘truth,’ symbolize Immanuel, for all things that come from the Father have been communicated to us (John 15:15), revealing the will of the One who sent Him and clarifying the path to understanding.

That He embodies the truth is unquestionable, as He clearly stated, ‘I am the truth.’ Thus, this judgmental plate rested upon the heart of the high priest, signifying a call and a clear proclamation that the holy lineage would harbor the Savior and Redeemer of all, the Truth and the Appearance, within their hearts and minds. It was imperative that the priests continually remember Christ and harbor Him within their spirits. He requires a sanctuary of a pure mind and an untainted heart. Therefore, the Lord declared, ‘the days of many sons of Israel shall sit without king or prince,’ meaning they shall lack a ruler or protector, for the monarchy of Judah shall cease, and there will be no priests presiding over the law, nor will there be an altar or sacrifices, or priestly services. Nevertheless, Israel will not be forsaken forever, nor fully cast aside. A day will come when they will be summoned and transformed through faith, coming to know the sovereign God and, along with Him, David—Christ, born of the lineage of David, King and Lord of all.

Then, they will be awed by the vastness of His generosity and the profound grace of His love, as they will partake in the hope laid out for the saints, sharing in a rich pasture with the ranks of believers. The era of glorious grace awaiting them will coincide with the end of the world and the final days of the age, and in Christ, through whom and with whom to God the Father belongs glory alongside the Holy Spirit, forever and ever. Amen.

The term “ephod” signifies the priestly garment, often referred to as the breastplate in the books of Exodus and Leviticus. The term “teraphim” is interpreted as images or representations, which we might understand as cherubim or seraphim, or any adornments instructed for the temple. However, the Greek translation denotes 'appearances' while other translations might refer to divine illuminations. It is understood that the high priest should possess truth and doctrine within his heart, enabling him to both recognize the true faith and verbally affirm it.

In his letters, Paul instructs Titus on the qualities deserving of a bishop, highlighting the necessity for them to be blameless, as a steward of God, not arrogant, quick-tempered, indulgent, or abusive, but rather hospitable, upright, pure, just, noble, disciplined, holding firmly to the faithful message so they can teach and refute those who oppose sound doctrine.

In the book of Judges, there are references to the ephod and the images made by Levi, who then allied with six hundred armed men from the tribe of Dan. Since the suffering of our Lord Savior, it has been nearly four hundred years, and regarding the remaining time until the day of judgment, neither angels nor the Son know, emphasizing that understanding this is not essential for us.

Thus, the afflicted synagogue and the unfaithful woman endure hardship, languishing due to their separation from Christ. They await the King, of whom the Father declared that He would establish a ruler in righteousness, as stated, "But I have set my King on my holy hill of Zion." They remain without a leader—the Lord Himself or perhaps the high priest, referenced in Scripture, "You shall not speak evil of a ruler of your people."

Without a sacrifice or altar, the Jewish people have been left without these necessities following the temple's destruction and the burning of Jerusalem. They exist in want of priestly vestments and accessories. Jacob foretold the lineage of Judah, proclaiming that the ruler from Judah shall never be absent until the awaited one arrives; that is, the one who was hoped for by the nations.

The spiritual blindness affecting a portion of Israel has occurred until the full number of the Gentiles come to faith, at which point all Israel will also find salvation. When that day comes, the Israelites will see Him whom they had rejected, now reigning in glory alongside His Father, and they will tremble and marvel at the Lord's kindness. He is a righteous Son, born of a righteous Father, and the psalmist expresses this realization of the Lord's goodness in the land of the living, a land marked by spiritual desolation.

This division is sometimes explained by the Jews in relation to the Babylonian captivity when the temple lay in ruins for seventy years, during which there was no altar or priesthood. Others, as we do, interpret this as a foreshadowing of a future event. They struggle to comprehend the reason for such prolonged abandonment, particularly since they did not worship idols, recognizing that their forsakenness is inextricably linked to the crucifixion of the Savior.