Leviticus 8:8

The garments — the coat, the robe and ephod, the breastplate with the Urim and the Thummim, and the turban with the golden plate — were not those of the atonement day, of linen only, but "for glory and beauty." They express what Christ is and does for us as the great High Priest before God... The breastplate of judgment was on his heart for a memorial continually. It held a still more precious token: twelve stones of rare value, each bearing a name of Israel's sons. In it Moses put the Urim and the Thummim, the lights and the perfections.

The meaning of these Hebrew words is "lights" and "perfections." They were distinct from the gems on the breastplate, for Moses put the breastplate on Aaron, and "in the breastpiece he put the Urim and the Thummim" (Lev. 8:8). It is clear that God answered questions by means of the Urim and the Thummim.

For some wise reason Scripture does not give the details of how they were placed in the breastplate, or how they worked. Guessing about this would serve no good purpose. Moses put them in "the breastplate of judgment." The breastplate seems to get this title from the Urim and Thummim. Judgment here does not mean condemnation, but discernment and guidance. In everyday speech we speak of a man of sound judgment, that is, one able to give wise counsel.

Many passages of the Word connect the "Urim" with God making His mind known on the questions that came up in Israel's history. For example, at the appointment of Joshua we read, "He shall stand before Eleazar the priest, who shall inquire for him by the judgment of the Urim before the Lord" (Num. 27:21)... "And when Saul inquired of the Lord, the Lord did not answer him, either by dreams, or by Urim, or by prophets" (1 Sam. 28:6)... So we learn two things. The high priest carried the judgment of the congregation before the Lord. He also brought the judgment of the Lord back to the congregation.

The breastplate is called the breastplate of judgment. We might have thought it would be called the breastplate of love. But love is made perfect with us in just this, that we might have confidence for the day of judgment, because as He is, so also are we in this world. What can the holy judgment of God say to those who are only seen as written in each precious stone? ... They shone in the breastplate, and made clear the beauty and perfection of the setting of the names according to the judgment of God.

A precious stone has this special excellence: the stronger the light shone on it, the brighter it shines... Whatever their weaknesses, errors, or failures, their names sparkled on the breastplate and never lost their brilliance. The Lord had set them there, and who could pluck them from it?

In Nehemiah's day there were matters that could not be settled until a priest stood up with Urim and Thummim. In the Lord Jesus we have such a Priest, One in whom is all the mind of God, in whom all light and perfections are found.

We too need to truly recognise the lights and perfections of Christ in His saints. Without that, we will not have the discernment to judge any important problem that arises.