Tag: priesthood

How Great is Our God

Celebrating the King

”How Great is Our God” is an extravagant parade introduction for a victorious king who has conquered. My purple, burgundy, and crimson flags are those you might wave before your king to announce the king’s presence.

This dance of celebration was born out of a color study. My favorite color is purple. I love all variations of purple: violet, burgundy, lavender. Light purple, dark purple. I surround myself with purple – purple harp, purple bedsheets, purple water bottle, tablet cover, books, bags, clothing, bridal bouquets. Given the option, I prefer purple.

But why am I so drawn to the color purple? Colors subconsciously affect a person’s emotions and perceptions. A person’s response to a particular color or combinations of color can be different depending on their age, gender, culture or experiences. However, colors can produce common associations. People often associate the color purple with royalty, extravagance or vanity.

The Meaning of Purple

In the Bible, the color purple represents royalty, priesthood and wealth. The Israelites created fabrics, clothing, and other materials from wool that was dyed various colors. Dyes were created from various plants, minerals and other resources found in nature. For example, pomegranates were used to dye wool pink, red or yellow-orange. Woad flowers were ground into a powder and used to dye wool blue.

Purple dye came from the murex, a mollusk found in the great sea. Hundreds or thousands of murex shells were required to create a rich purple color, but the murex was very difficult to find. For this reason, purple dye was very expensive. Purple garments were only affordable by royalty and the wealthy.

In scripture, purple identifies:

• Wealth (Proverbs 31:22; Luke 16:19)
• Royalty (Esther 8:15; Daniel 5:29; Judges 8:26)
• Kings (Esther 1:6; Song of Solomon 3:9-10)
• Authority (Daniel 5:7; Daniel 5:16; Ezekiel 23:6)
• Priesthood (Exodus 28; Exodus 36; Exodus 39)

Purple fabric was also used in the curtains of the tabernacle (Exodus 36). In Solomon’s temple, a veil of blue, purple and crimson linen hung between the Holy Place and the Holy of Holies (2 Chronicles 3:14). Priests passed through this threshold to enter the presence of God.

Moreover, from the blue and purple and scarlet fabric, they made finely woven garments for serving and ministering in the Holy Place; they made the holy garments for Aaron, just as the Lord had commanded Moses.

Exodus 39:1