24 July 2026

When Moses received the Ten Commandments on Mount Sinai, God also told him how to design, furnish and adorn the Tabernacle. It was to be full of representational art and it had to extend to the liturgical garments worn by the priests.

In particular, Aaron’s liturgical robes were to be decorated in a very colourful and surprising way. There were to be golden bells attached to the lower hem. Can you imagine them ringing from a  Kirk minister’s Geneva gown?

In addition, there w ere to be homemade ‘pomegranates of blue, purple and crimson yarns’. The liturgical artists were to have a field day for these robes were not only colourful but imaginative!

Where have you ever seen blue pomegranates? Purple and crimson – yes! But blue – no! In this instruction, God was saying that the artists should be free to use their imagination and make blue pomegranates.

They would create a frisson of excitement and cause a stir. Questions would be asked, imaginations  stimulated. People would be transported to a new place where the Word of God could speak even more powerfully.

Later on, Solomon built the Temple to the instructions which God had given his father, David. ‘And Solomon garnished the house with precious stones for beauty.’ writes the Chronicler. It was for no other purpose  than beauty!