The Right Shade of Blue
For some silly reason I have been singing and humming the chorus to that old tune by Tony Orlando and Dawn, “Tie a Yellow Ribbon Round the Old Oak Tree”.
If you are not familiar, the guy is coming home, and he is writing to his girlfriend. I always had the impression that he had been in the service, like the army. Apparently, I did not pay attention to the verses.
Bottom line, he has been gone 3 years and he is riding the bus home. If she still wants him, she should tie a yellow ribbon around the old oak tree. If he doesn’t see a ribbon, he will stay on the bus, move on, and forget about the two of them.
What he sees instead, as a reminder of the love she has for him, is a hundred yellow ribbons tied to that old oak tree.
The yellow ribbon was a sign. It declared her love for him. And it reminded him of that love.
God’s color choice is blue. The Jews were to add a blue cord, the color of sapphire, to their tassels as a reminder to keep God’s law. (Numbers 15:37-39)
But why blue?
Do you remember that first epic movie you saw a child or young adult? I’m talking back in the 50’s and 60’s. For me it was the movie The Ten Commandments. As I recall it was the longest movie I had ever seen and the scene that sticks out most in my mind is Charlton Heston descending the mountain, holding the tables of stone with the Ten Commandments. Large slabs of brown rock, obviously chiseled from the ground.
In fact, if you look at any picture of the 10 Commandments they are written on slabs of grey stone, or brown, even Ivory. But none of those are the correct depiction of what God did that day.
There is evidence that the 10 Commandments were written on Sapphire stone.
“and they saw the God of Israel. And there was under His feet as it were a paved work of sapphire stone, and it was like the very heavens in its clarity.” Exodus 24:10. NKJV
“Then, the LORD said to Moses, “Come up to Me on the mountain and be there; and I will give you tablets of stone, and the law and commandments which I have written, that you may teach them.” Exodus 24:12
The sapphire is the only stone mentioned in this context so one can conclude that this is the stone that God used to write on. The Bible also says that God not only engraved the Ten Commandments but He made the stone: “Now the tablets were the work of God, and the writing was the writing of God engraved on the tablets.” Exodus 32:16
It is also possible that the tablets for the law were taken out of God’s throne, which was made out of sapphire: “Above the expanse over their heads was something like a throne, resembling a sapphire stone. Above the shape of the throne was a figure of human appearance” Ezekiel 1:26
That is why God told the Jews to add a blue cord (the color of sapphire) to their tassels. It was a reminder to keep God’s law and a reminder of His love. That can be found in Numbers 15:37-39.
In addition, according to bibleask.org, Rabbinical Judaism, as found in the Talmud and Mishnah, teaches that the tablets of the law were made of sapphire stone.
It was not a yellow ribbon, but the blue of Sapphire that declared and demonstrated His love for us.
Sapphire-blue pavement.
Sapphire-blue throne.
Sapphire-blue tablets of stone.
Can you imagine the beauty of any one of those things? And then we look at New Jerusalem; the Holy City.
The wall is built of jasper.
The city is pure gold, clear as glass.
The foundations of the wall are adorned with twelve kinds of jewels, including sapphire.
Oh! The beauty that is awaiting us!
“One thing I have desired of the Lord… That I may dwell in the house of the Lord All the days of my life, To behold the beauty of the Lord…” Psalm 27:4 NKJV
Friends, God has plans for us that are absolutely going to blow our minds. Jesus is coming soon. He promised He would.
“And behold, I am coming quickly, and My reward is with Me, to give to every one according to his work.” Revelation 22:12 NKJV