"So Aaron shall bear the names of the sons of Israel in the breastpiece of judgment on his heart, when he goes into the Holy Place, to bring them to regular remembrance before the Lord" (Ex. 28:29).
When Aaron the priest went before the Lord he didn't just come representing himself. He came representing the people of God. The names of the 12 tribes of Israel were not only etched on stones that he bore upon his shoulders, but the 12 precious stones on his breastpiece also represented the 12 tribes. So when he came before the presence of God he came with the burdens of his people on his shoulders and concern for their welfare on his heart. God's people today are to come before the Lord in a similar fashion. The blood of Jesus has made all believers kings and priest before God (1 Pet. 2:9). As such, we are to come before God not only with our own burdens, but with the burdens of others on our shoulders and their concerns on our hearts. Do you come before the Lord with the needs of others on your heart?
If you're like me sometimes your memory will fail you. Therefore, as the priest wore stones etched with the names of the tribes of Israel to remind them of who they were representing before God, we should do the same. I don't mean that we should put on the attire of an Old Testament Priest. But what we can do is keep a prayer journal. It's been said, "The weakest ink is better then the best memory." Remember to pray for others.
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