Spiritual Significance of the Urim and Thummim

This week's Torah portion introduces us to two of the most mysterious items concerning ancient Hebrew worship: the Urim and Thummim. These are often envisioned as special precious stones placed in the breastpiece of the High Priest and used to discern the will of God concerning whatever issue was in question. The Urim and Thummim are first spoken of as God gave Moses instructions concerning the tabernacle and the various items used in tabernacle worship.

"You shall put in the breast piece of judgment the Urim and Thummim, and they shall be over Aaron's heart when he goes in before the Lord; and Aaron shall carry the judgment of the sons of Israel over his heart before the Lord continually". (Exodus 28:30)

There is no description in the Bible of exactly how the priest discerned the will of God by the use of Urim and Thummim but it is evident that they were used for this purpose. Most commentators see the use of Urim and Thummim as some sort of lots. Later, we see "lots" being cast to decide between alternatives but the process appears different from the use of Urim and Thummim by the High Priest to determine God's will. The last time that we see lots used in the Bible is recorded in Acts 1:26 when the disciples chose a replacement for Judas.

The words used to describe these items help us understand something of their use. The Urim (אורים) plural of the word Ur or light means "lights" or "revelations". The word Thummim (תמים) is derived from the word Thom which means integrity and wholeness. Thummim is interpreted as truth. In the Septuagint, the Greek translation of the Hebrew Scriptures, the word aletheia () is used for Thummim. The Greek term means truth. So we gain some insight of the Urim and Thummim as we understand that they represent "revelation" and "truth" and were placed directly over the heart of the High Priest. In some manner now lost to us, the Lord supernaturally utilized these devices to communicate decisions to the High Priest.

When we study the Tabernacle we see that it was designed in a highly symbolic manner. For example, the Holy of Holies symbolized the throne of God. The Veil represented the separation or barrier between the spiritual and the physical realms. The outer chamber, the Holy Place, represented the ministry of Messiah in the physical realm including revelation (Menorah), provision (Bread of Presence) and intercession (Golden Altar of Incense). Approach to the tent was by the bronze altar (expiation of sin) and the laver (cleaning by God's word). Messiah Jesus declared,

"…I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father but through me". (John 14:6)

Surely, Jesus was describing His function in terms of the symbolism of the tabernacle. Jesus also declared that:

"…an hour is coming, and now is, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth; for such people the Father seeks to be His worshipers." (John 4:23)

Jesus could just as well have said "true worshipers will worship the Father in Urim and Thummim". Obviously, these "true worshipers" are understood to mean born-again, Spirit-filled believers under Jesus' authority who are worshipping the Holy One in the Holy Spirit. Therefore, we maintain that the Urim and Thummim over the heart of the High Priest are symbolic of the Holy Spirit dwelling in the heart of the believer. It is the Holy Spirit that reveals the things of God to us and makes known to us the will of the Father. It is this same Holy Spirit by which we make Jesus Lord (I Corinthians 12:3) and who guides us into all truth (John 16:13).