The dress in the Sanctuary doctrine has been our topic for the last two studies.  We are learning the meaning of Gods way in the sanctuary.

Isaiah 55:8 For my thoughts [are] not your thoughts, neither [are] your ways my ways, saith the LORD. 

55:9 For [as] the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts. 

It was through the appreciation of the detail of the sanctuary we came to know Gods ways. Here is a scripture explaining how we come to know God and his ways;

Ezekiel 43:7 And he said unto me, Son of man, the place of my throne, and the place of the soles of my feet, where I will dwell in the midst of the children of Israel for ever, and my holy name, shall the house of Israel no more defile, [neither] they, nor their kings, by their whoredom, nor by the carcases of their kings in their high places. 

 43:8 In their setting of their threshold by my thresholds, and their post by my posts, and the wall between me and them, they have even defiled my holy name by their abominations that they have committed: wherefore I have consumed them in mine anger. 

 43:9 Now let them put away their whoredom, and the carcases of their kings, far from me, and I will dwell in the midst of them for ever. 

 43:10 Thou son of man, show the house to the house of Israel, that they may be ashamed of their iniquities: and let them measure the pattern. 

 43:11 And if they be ashamed of all that they have done, show them the form of the house, and the fashion thereof, and the goings out thereof, and the comings in thereof, and all the forms thereof, and all the ordinances thereof, and all the forms thereof, and all the laws thereof: and write [it] in their sight, that they may keep the whole form thereof, and all the ordinances thereof, and do them. 

It is quite in the order of God that we go over all of Gods ways in the sanctuary as we have read.  As they become ashamed of their ways they will learn of my ways. 

One of the forms of the house and its material and clothing of the priest is what we have details of.  We recall that the clothing of the priest was indeed symbolic.

One of the points upon which those newly come to the faith will need instruction is the subject of dress. Let the new converts be faithfully dealt with. Are they vain in dress? Do they cherish pride of heart? The idolatry of dress is a moral disease. It must not be taken over into the new life. In most cases, submission to the gospel requirements will demand a decided change in the dress.  {6T 96.1} 

There should be no carelessness in dress. For Christ's sake, whose witnesses we are, we should seek to make the best of our appearance. In the tabernacle service, God specified every detail concerning the garments of those who ministered before Him. Thus we are taught that He has a preference in regard to the dress of those who serve Him. Very specific were the directions given in regard to Aaron's robes, for his dress was symbolic. So the dress of Christ's followers should be symbolic. In all things we are to be representatives of Him.  {6T 96.2} 

As we go through all the forms of the sanctuary, that one is as relevant to us as the others are. That God is particular with regards to our dress because it is symbolic.

The symbolism of dress and the impact of the dress we wear has an effect upon the character of God in the eyes of the people we meet so they appreciate the character of God we exude by our dress.  We are to appreciate dress in reference to character.  We see how the New Jerusalem was cloaked;

Revelation 19:8 And to her was granted that she should be arrayed in fine linen, clean and white: for the fine linen is the righteousness of saints. 

Linen has to do with righteousness. The clothing is a symbolism of righteousness. We see this in the white linen around the sanctuary and how the sanctuary was covered over in its cloaks.  As we looked at the linen it was just fine pure linen.  Why?  Why wasn’t it some other fabric intermingled? 

Leviticus 19:19 Ye shall keep my statutes. Thou shalt not let thy cattle gender with a diverse kind: thou shalt not sow thy field with mingled seed: neither shall a garment mingled of linen and woollen come upon thee. 

What is this saying? The fabric that you wear must not be mingled with other fibres.  The garment was to be of singular fabric.  It is to be a representation of the purity not mingled with any fibre of human devising. 

This robe, woven in the loom of heaven, has in it not one thread of human devising. Christ in his humanity wrought out a perfect character, and this character he offers to impart to us.  Christ Object Lessons page 311:4. 

Deuteronomy 22:9 Thou shalt not sow thy vineyard with divers seeds: lest the fruit of thy seed which thou hast sown, and the fruit of thy vineyard, be defiled. 

 22:10 Thou shalt not plow with an ox and an ass together. 

22:11 Thou shalt not wear a garment of divers sorts, [as] of woollen and linen together. 

The garment is not to be of diverse sorts.  Like the oxen and ass one would work differently with the other.  Like the mingling with the certain fibres would create an effect. 

“Garments were ever taken as an emblem of the righteousness of Christ, and when different substances as linen and wool were mingled, it spoiled the figure.” Stephen Haskell.

This is the detail that we would like to appreciate.  What does the mingling of fibres in a garment effect?  What is Joshua 7 referring to? What happened in the case of Achan. Recall when they went into Jericho and they were told not to take anything. 

Joshua 7:20 And Achan answered Joshua, and said, Indeed I have sinned against the LORD God of Israel, and thus and thus have I done: 

 7:21 When I saw among the spoils a goodly Babylonish garment,

Note how it is called a babylonish garment.  With our understanding of babylonish, what is it?  Is it not pollution?  Babylon the mother of harlots with all the pollutions of sensuality. 

Joshua 7:11 Israel hath sinned, and they have also transgressed my covenant which I commanded them: for they have even taken of the accursed thing, and have also stolen, and dissembled also, and they have put [it] even among their own stuff. 

God was referring to what Achan did.  What did he call the babylonish garment?  An accursed thing.  Babylonish garments were especially woven and made in reference to the sensuality of the pagans.  It is fascinating studying the fabrics that would arouse sensuality. This is what babylonish garments do.

We seek to help by pulling people out of Babylon and the fire because anyone who is part of Babylon is going to burn;

Jude 1:23 And others save with fear, pulling [them] out of the fire; hating even the garment spotted by the flesh. 

A garment by the spotted by the flesh.  What is that?  It is the way the garment is made that creates fleshliness.  Babylonish sensitivities.  Recall when the women were crying for Tammuz?  They were involved in this sensuality of babylonish worship.

Women have a battle to overcome in the way they dress.  It is a pall of Satan that affects the women gender to cause sensuality in men.  That is what it is all about in the fabric production in the world around us.  It is the babylonish garment spotted by the flesh.

     The love of dress endangers the morals and makes woman the opposite of the Christian lady characterized by modesty and sobriety. {4T 645.2} 

Showy, extravagant dress too often encourages lust in the heart of the wearer and awakens base passions in the heart of the beholder. {4T 645.2} 

Allot of people don’t stop to think about this statement.  What does it say? 

God sees that the ruin of the character is frequently preceded by the indulgence of pride and vanity in dress.  {4T 645.2}

It is directly connected with the pride and vanity of dress that the character is polluted. 

He sees that the costly apparel stifles the desire to do good. {4T 645.2} 

God sees that.  Is it easy to identify with?  Only if we are honest with ourselves that yes a certain garment, the way it deals upon my sensitivities encourages lust.  The pride and joy of that experience to a bewildered person who doesn’t know what is happening to them can’t see it.  If we let the statements of God’s word work upon our hearts we will discover what God is saying.

Self-denial in dress is a part of our Christian duty. To dress plainly, abstaining from display of jewelry and ornaments of every kind is in keeping with our faith. Are we of the number who see the folly of worldlings in indulging in extravagance of dress as well as in love of amusements? If so, we should be of that class who shun everything that gives sanction to this spirit which takes possession of the minds and hearts of those who live for this world only and who have no thought or care for the next.  {3T 366.1} 

The indulging of dress we should steer clear of.

     Christian youth, I have seen in some of you a love for dress and display which has pained me. In some who have been well instructed, who have had religious privileges from their babyhood, and who have put on Christ by baptism, thus professing to be dead to the world, I have seen a vanity in dress and a levity in conduct that have grieved the dear Saviour and have been a reproach to the cause of God. I have marked with pain your religious declension and your disposition to trim and ornament your apparel. Some have been so unfortunate as to come into possession of gold chains or pins, or both, and have shown bad taste in exhibiting them, making them conspicuous to attract attention. I can but associate these characters with the vain peacock, that displays his gorgeous feathers for admiration. It is all this poor bird has to attract attention, for his voice and form are anything but attractive.  {3T 366.2} 

Among the causes which prevent muscular exercise, the compression of the chest by corsets is the most remarkable. Where on the earth, or under the earth, or in the waters, or in the air, in things animate or inanimate, this fashion found its original model, unless it be in the venomous wasp, it would be hard to discover.  {RH, October 31, 1871 par. 34} 

It is not only women who are affected by the way they dress, but also men and their babylonish garments.  

Isaiah 3:16 Moreover the LORD saith, Because the daughters of Zion are haughty, and walk with stretched forth necks and wanton eyes, walking and mincing [as] they go, and making a tinkling with their feet: 

What does this sound like?  Women walking down the street with their high heels.

 3:17 Therefore the Lord will smite with a scab the crown of the head of the daughters of Zion, and the LORD will discover their secret parts. 

 3:18 In that day the Lord will take away the bravery of [their] tinkling ornaments [about their feet], and [their] cauls, and [their] round tires like the moon, 

Cauls = hair netting/lace

Round tires = necklaces

 3:19 The chains, and the bracelets, and the mufflers, 

Mufflers = two piece veils, long veil.

 3:20 The bonnets, and the ornaments of the legs, and the headbands, and the tablets, and the earrings, 

 3:21 The rings, and nose jewels, 

 3:22 The changeable suits of apparel, and the mantles, and the wimples, and the crisping pins, 

Wimples = veil

 3:23 The glasses, and the fine linen, and the hoods, and the veils. 

 3:24 And it shall come to pass, [that] instead of sweet smell there shall be stink; and instead of a girdle a rent; and instead of well set hair baldness; and instead of a stomacher a girding of sackcloth; [and] burning instead of beauty. 

God is not at all interested in any display of that kind of thing. 

Now the men come into the picture;

3:25 Thy men shall fall by the sword, and thy mighty in the war. 

1 Timothy 2:9 In like manner also, that women adorn themselves in modest apparel, with shamefacedness and sobriety; not with broided hair, or gold, or pearls, or costly array; 

With all that paraphernalia, Sr White writes what we accept in society as not being Gods way. 

Some have had a burden in regard to the wearing of a marriage ring, feeling that the wives of our ministers should conform to this custom. All this is unnecessary. Let the ministers' wives have the golden link which binds their souls to Jesus Christ, a pure and holy character, the true love and meekness and godliness that are the fruit borne upon the Christian tree, and their influence will be secure anywhere. The fact that a disregard of the custom occasions remark is no good reason for adopting it. Americans can make their position understood by plainly stating that the custom is not regarded as obligatory in our country. We need not wear the sign, for we are not untrue to our marriage vow, and the wearing of the ring would be no evidence that we were true. I feel deeply over this leavening process which seems to be going on among us, in the conformity to custom and fashion. Not one penny should be spent for a circlet of gold to testify that we are married.  {TM 180.2}

That ring encircling your finger may be very plain, but it is useless, and the wearing of it has a wrong influence upon others.  {RH, July 8, 1880 par. 9} 

Gods people have nothing to do with the babylonish methods of covering themselves or displaying anything.  Having studied the subject to this point, we notice then that everything we wear and put upon our person needs to be symbolic in relation to Jesus Christ in our life. 

    Of how little value are gold or pearls or costly array in comparison with the loveliness of Christ. Natural loveliness consists in symmetry, or the harmonious proportion of parts, each with the other; but spiritual loveliness consists in the harmony or likeness of our souls to Jesus. This will make its possessor more precious than fine gold, even the golden wedge of Ophir. The grace of Christ is indeed a priceless adornment. It elevates and ennobles its possessor and reflects beams of glory upon others, attracting them also to the Source of light and blessing.  {AG 121.3} 

     Our appearance in every respect should be characterized by neatness, modesty, and purity. But the Word of God gives no sanction to the making of changes in apparel merely for the sake of fashion, that we may appear like the world. Christians are not to decorate the person with costly array or expensive ornaments. . . .  {AG 121.4} 

     All who are in earnest in seeking for the grace of Christ will heed the precious words of instruction inspired by God. Even the style of the apparel will express the truth of the gospel.  {AG 121.5} 

     It is right to love beauty and to desire it; but God desires us to love and seek first the highest beauty, that which is imperishable. No outward adorning can compare in value or loveliness with that "meek and quiet spirit," the "fine linen, white and clean" (Revelation 19:14), which all the holy ones of earth will wear. This apparel will make them beautiful and beloved here, and will hereafter be their badge of admission to the palace of the King.  {AG 121.6} 

Here is something you can see to be attracted by.  To follow Gods simplicity and to have the beautiful character of Jesus and the clothing, the style of clothing, will express the truth of the gospel in the character.

We are all standing before the Lord in the light of his way being much higher than our way.  We place ourselves under the manifestations of the beauty of holiness as he is and the dress being in direct relationship to that.

The priest was dressed for beauty, holiness, and glory.  As the appreciation of the dress comes upon us with all we have studied, there comes a point in time where we discover Gods way in this matter, he has shown us this way;

The Lord has shown us His way; shall we walk in it? or shall we, finite and erring as we are, walk in our own counsel, and practice the principles which He has warned us against?  {TM 382.2}

We have seen the principle of the dress. What are we going to do about it?  We have a wonderful example.  Our dress and adornment will have an effect on us and the beholder. 

What happened to Jacob and his children and his daughter?  Recall one of the pagan inhabitants took her and wanted her to be his wife as she was very attractive.  After all that happened to take her out of the hands of this pagan king’s son, God gave Jacob some instruction;

Genesis 35:1 And God said unto Jacob, Arise, go up to Bethel, and dwell there: and make there an altar unto God, that appeared unto thee when thou fleddest from the face of Esau thy brother. 

 35:2 Then Jacob said unto his household, and to all that [were] with him, Put away the strange gods that [are] among you, and be clean, and change your garments: 

 35:3 And let us arise, and go up to Bethel; and I will make there an altar unto God, who answered me in the day of my distress, and was with me in the way which I went. 

 35:4 And they gave unto Jacob all the strange gods which [were] in their hand, and [all their] earrings which [were] in their ears; and Jacob hid them under the oak which [was] by Shechem. 

They made a change.  They got rid of their ornaments, they changed their garments.  As they got rid of that, what happened?

Genesis 35:5 And they journeyed: and the terror of God was upon the cities that [were] round about them, and they did not pursue after the sons of Jacob. 

This is the result of putting away the appearances of the nations and people around us.  If we do as God is saying and put away the ornaments that we have indulged in, change our garments and put ourselves under Gods way then the fear of the nations around us will be of such that we will not be molested which is happening so strong in today’s society.  Molestation is engendered by the babylonish garments and the proud tinkling of the women.

In a previous study we saw there are two roads and some people are going along in the broad way and were paying particular attention to their person whereas Gods people were dressed differently and were not paying attention to their person but were looking for the beauty of the kingdom of heaven. 

This apparel will make them beautiful and beloved here, and will hereafter be their badge of admission to the palace of the King.  {AG 121.6} 

That is where we are heading.  May the Lord embed these appreciations of his way of dress in our being and there will be the changes that we saw in Jacobs children. 

Amen.