For an impromptu game of half-court basketball or tag football, this was probably the easiest way to tell teams apart, without uniforms. Looking pass the ball? You can easily tell who is on your team and who is not.
In my brother’s autobiography (of sorts), Reflections of an American Idiot, he talk about trying be more accepting of his peers when in college by wearing fashionable clothing. My sister would tailor shirts for him to wear and he started to be a GQ kind of guy. Clothes made the man, for a while, anyway. The older I get, the more I realize that clothing really does not make the man. The older I get, the more I like to tell stories. Problem is, the older I get the more I forget. So I wind up tell the same story, over and over again, to the same people.
Up until the time that Moses penned the Pentateuch, the primary way to tell history was through oral tradition. Fathers told their children stories orally. In the case of Adam, who lived 930 years, he probably told his story a hundred thousand times. He told the story about the garden, how he met with God, how sin changed their relationship, how he ‘discovered’ his nakedness and made his own clothing from fig leaves. And when Moses wrote these words: And Jehovah Elohim made Adam and his wife coats of skin, and clothed them... (Gen. 3:21), the story was probably well known amongst the Israelites that have heard and told the story over and over.
We are not told in the text, but I believe that God performed the slaughter by blood shed. I also believe that Adam and Eve watched the slaughter of an innocent animal dying for their sin. I also believe that the entire animal, sans skins, were consumed by fire. Then the skins were provided to the man (and his wife) as a covering.
And [as to] the priest that presenteth any man's burnt-offering, the skin of the burnt-offering which he hath presented shall be the priest's for himself. Lev. 7:8
The priests got to keep the skins of the burnt offerings. I think that it was a vivid reminder to Aaron and his sons, of that story that they had heard, about how the skin was provided by God to man as a covering.
The requirements for the animal to be offered as a burnt offering is given in Leviticus chapter 1. It was the one and only voluntary offering. The animal offered was to be examined from the outside in. It had to be without blemish. The animal in its entirety, sans skins, was to be consumed by fire on the altar of burnt offerings. Skins were provided to the priests. When the priest clothed himself with the skins of the burnt offerings (i.e., when he was not on duty), it was a spotless garment.
How are we to be clothed? Paul tells us: But put on the Lord Jesus Christ (like a garment), and do not take forethought for the flesh to [fulfil its] lusts. Romans 13:14. And: For ye, as many as have been baptised unto Christ, have put on Christ (here again, like a garment). There is no Jew nor Greek; there is no bondman nor freeman; there is no male and female; for ye are all one in Christ Jesus: Gal 3:27-8
Well, what about you? Shirts or skins? Are you dressing in fashionable shirts, trying to gain the acceptance of fellow man? Or, are you clothed with skins? The skins of the ultimate burnt offering: Christ, who was examined from the outside in and found to be spotless (1 John 1:1-3), yet voluntarily died to pay the price for the guilty sinner (like me, like you)?
Let thy priests be clothed with righteousness, and let thy saints shout for joy. Ps. 132:9
Sunday, December 5, 2010
Tuesday, November 2, 2010
With Eyes Wide Open, Pray!
But in the fourth watch of the night he went off to them, walking on the sea. And the disciples, seeing him walking on the sea, were troubled, saying, It is an apparition. And they cried out through fear. But Jesus immediately spoke to them, saying, Take courage; it is I: be not afraid. And Peter answering him said, Lord, if it be thou, command me to come to thee upon the waters. And he said, Come. And Peter, having descended from the ship, walked upon the waters to go to Jesus. But seeing the wind strong he was afraid; and beginning to sink he cried out, saying, Lord, save me. And immediately Jesus stretched out his hand and caught hold of him, and says to him, O thou of little faith, why didst thou doubt? And when they had gone up into the ship, the wind fell. But those in the ship came and did homage to him, saying, Truly thou art God's Son.
Matt 14:25-33 (Darby)
Peter, in this passage reminds me of the seed sown among the thorns—this is he who hears the word, and the anxious care of this life, and the deceit of riches choke the word, and he becomes unfruitful.
Matt 13:22 (Darby)
Priest, while in service in the Holy Place, were surrounded by Cherubim. Cherubim were embroidered on the tabernacle proper and on the veil. Within the Holiest of Holiest, two Cherubim of solid gold sat on opposite ends of the mercy seat.
And thou shalt make two cherubim of gold; [of] beaten work shalt thou make them, at the two ends of the mercy-seat. And make one cherub at the end of the one side, and one cherub at the end of the other side; out of the mercy-seat shall ye make the cherubim at the two ends thereof. And the cherubim shall stretch out [their] wings over it, covering over with their wings the mercy-seat, and their faces opposite to one another: toward the mercy-seat shall the faces of the cherubim be [turned]. And thou shalt put the mercy-seat above on the ark, and shalt put in the ark the testimony that I shall give thee. And there will I meet with thee, and will speak with thee from above the mercy-seat, from between the two cherubim which are upon the ark of the testimony, everything that I will give thee in commandment unto the children of Israel. Exd 25:18-22
Two Cherubim: one on either side of the mercy seat, the solid gold slab that served as the lid to the ark of the testimony. The cherubim were positioned so that they faced each other, but they are looking down onto the mercy seat. God made His abode between these Cherubim. This is why it says in Psalm 99:1 Jehovah reigneth: let the peoples tremble. He sitteth [between the] cherubim: let the earth be moved.
The Cherubim had a view that no one else did. Not even the high priest on the Day of Atonement saw the view that the Cherubim had all the time.
On the Day of Atonement, God was manifested as a cloud (Lev. 16:2). Aaron was to take a censor and smoke out the Holiest of Holiest. Between the smoke and the cloud, I don’t think he could see. Lev. 16:13 . Blood from a number of animals were to on the mercy seat throughout the day . So the solid-gold mercy seat was stained with animal blood.
The golden cherubim that were one with the mercy seat, look continuously down, on the blood, the blood that was shed for atonement for the sins of the high priest...and the blood that was shed for the sins of the people. Their gaze was fixed upon the shed blood that stained the slab of gold that covered the ark of testimony.
The golden cherubim had stiff necks. They, obviously, could not move from their position. We, on the other hand, have necks that can move and we are free to look about.
Like Peter, we can be easily distracted. And when we take our eyes off the blood, the anxious care of this life, and the deceit of riches choke the word, and [we] become unfruitful.
Next time you bow down your head to pray, whether it be before a meal or during your devotions or bible study, or whatever, don’t close your eyes. Remember the Cherubim! Picture their view. Remember the blood. Remember the blood that was shed. Remember the blood that was shed, not to cover your sins, but to remove them to be remembered no more.
I can see the blood drops, red ’neath His thorny crown,
From the cruel nail wounds now they are falling down;
Lord, when I would wander from Thy love away,
Let me see those blood drops shed for me that day. -- Maud Frazer
Matt 14:25-33 (Darby)
Peter, in this passage reminds me of the seed sown among the thorns—this is he who hears the word, and the anxious care of this life, and the deceit of riches choke the word, and he becomes unfruitful.
Matt 13:22 (Darby)
Priest, while in service in the Holy Place, were surrounded by Cherubim. Cherubim were embroidered on the tabernacle proper and on the veil. Within the Holiest of Holiest, two Cherubim of solid gold sat on opposite ends of the mercy seat.
And thou shalt make two cherubim of gold; [of] beaten work shalt thou make them, at the two ends of the mercy-seat. And make one cherub at the end of the one side, and one cherub at the end of the other side; out of the mercy-seat shall ye make the cherubim at the two ends thereof. And the cherubim shall stretch out [their] wings over it, covering over with their wings the mercy-seat, and their faces opposite to one another: toward the mercy-seat shall the faces of the cherubim be [turned]. And thou shalt put the mercy-seat above on the ark, and shalt put in the ark the testimony that I shall give thee. And there will I meet with thee, and will speak with thee from above the mercy-seat, from between the two cherubim which are upon the ark of the testimony, everything that I will give thee in commandment unto the children of Israel. Exd 25:18-22
Two Cherubim: one on either side of the mercy seat, the solid gold slab that served as the lid to the ark of the testimony. The cherubim were positioned so that they faced each other, but they are looking down onto the mercy seat. God made His abode between these Cherubim. This is why it says in Psalm 99:1 Jehovah reigneth: let the peoples tremble. He sitteth [between the] cherubim: let the earth be moved.
The Cherubim had a view that no one else did. Not even the high priest on the Day of Atonement saw the view that the Cherubim had all the time.
On the Day of Atonement, God was manifested as a cloud (Lev. 16:2). Aaron was to take a censor and smoke out the Holiest of Holiest. Between the smoke and the cloud, I don’t think he could see. Lev. 16:13 . Blood from a number of animals were to on the mercy seat throughout the day . So the solid-gold mercy seat was stained with animal blood.
The golden cherubim that were one with the mercy seat, look continuously down, on the blood, the blood that was shed for atonement for the sins of the high priest...and the blood that was shed for the sins of the people. Their gaze was fixed upon the shed blood that stained the slab of gold that covered the ark of testimony.
The golden cherubim had stiff necks. They, obviously, could not move from their position. We, on the other hand, have necks that can move and we are free to look about.
Like Peter, we can be easily distracted. And when we take our eyes off the blood, the anxious care of this life, and the deceit of riches choke the word, and [we] become unfruitful.
Next time you bow down your head to pray, whether it be before a meal or during your devotions or bible study, or whatever, don’t close your eyes. Remember the Cherubim! Picture their view. Remember the blood. Remember the blood that was shed. Remember the blood that was shed, not to cover your sins, but to remove them to be remembered no more.
I can see the blood drops, red ’neath His thorny crown,
From the cruel nail wounds now they are falling down;
Lord, when I would wander from Thy love away,
Let me see those blood drops shed for me that day. -- Maud Frazer
Wednesday, August 11, 2010
Need a Light?
And the boy Samuel ministered to Jehovah before Eli. And the word of Jehovah was rare in those days; a vision was not frequent. And it came to pass at that time, when Eli lay in his place (now his eyes began to grow dim, he could not see), and the lamp of God had not yet gone out, and Samuel lay in the temple of Jehovah, where the ark of God was, that Jehovah called to Samuel. And he said, Here am I. 1 Sam. 3:1-3
The temple? Every English version I looked up says the temple. The first temple had not been built, yet. We do know that the tabernacle was parked in Sheckem after the Israelites settled and the tabernacle apparently is the setting. What really has me confused is where are are Eli and Samuel sleeping? There was no provisions for any sort of sleeping furniture in the courtyard or the holy place within the tabernacle. I don’t know where they slept, but I do know what time it was.
The lamp of God had not yet gone out ... In other words, it was pre-dawn. The golden lamp stand in the tabernacle was to be burning from evening to morning, from dusk to dawn.
Outside the veil of the testimony, in the tent of meeting, shall Aaron dress it from evening to morning before Jehovah continually: [it is] an everlasting statute throughout your generations. Lev 24:3
And thou shalt command the children of Israel, that they bring thee olive oil, pure, beaten, for the light, to light the lamp continually. In the tent of meeting outside the veil, which is before the testimony, Aaron and his sons shall dress them from evening to morning before Jehovah: [it is] an everlasting statute, for their generations, on the part of the children of Israel. Ex. 27:20-21
These three sets of verses show that the lamp was to be lit from dusk to dawn.
When healing a blind man, Jesus says As long as I am in the world, I am [the] light of the world. John 9:5 . While He was in the world He was the light of the world.
Now from [the] sixth hour there was darkness over the whole land until [the] ninth hour Matt. 25:35. When He was on the cross, the light of the world was extinguished. Lights out! For 3 hours it was completely dark.
As I mentioned in an earlier post, the light of the world now is two pronged. It is the Christ-followers and the local assembly, the church. What kept the lights lit at night in the darkness? The crushed olive oil. The lamp stand had to be refueled daily. In the morning, when the fuel ran out, the lights went out.
What keeps the believer and/or the local assembly as lights in a darkened world? The Holy Spirit. How often does the fuel of the holy spirit need refilling? Let me suggest daily. What happens when we do not refuel daily? Lights out. maybe permanently. Jesus told John to write the following to the angel at Ephesus: ...but I have against thee, that thou hast left thy first love. Remember therefore whence thou art fallen, and repent, and do the first works: but if not, I am coming to thee, and I will remove thy lamp out of its place, except thou shalt repent. Rev. 2:4-5.
Need a light? How is the light of your local assembly? Burning brightly? Dimmed? or maybe gone out completely? Then remember, repent and do the first works. You know, the three things you had no problem doing before you left thy first love.
This little light of mine
I’m gonna let it shine
This little light of mine
I’m gonna let it shine, let it shine, let it shine, let it shine...
The temple? Every English version I looked up says the temple. The first temple had not been built, yet. We do know that the tabernacle was parked in Sheckem after the Israelites settled and the tabernacle apparently is the setting. What really has me confused is where are are Eli and Samuel sleeping? There was no provisions for any sort of sleeping furniture in the courtyard or the holy place within the tabernacle. I don’t know where they slept, but I do know what time it was.
The lamp of God had not yet gone out ... In other words, it was pre-dawn. The golden lamp stand in the tabernacle was to be burning from evening to morning, from dusk to dawn.
Outside the veil of the testimony, in the tent of meeting, shall Aaron dress it from evening to morning before Jehovah continually: [it is] an everlasting statute throughout your generations. Lev 24:3
And thou shalt command the children of Israel, that they bring thee olive oil, pure, beaten, for the light, to light the lamp continually. In the tent of meeting outside the veil, which is before the testimony, Aaron and his sons shall dress them from evening to morning before Jehovah: [it is] an everlasting statute, for their generations, on the part of the children of Israel. Ex. 27:20-21
These three sets of verses show that the lamp was to be lit from dusk to dawn.
When healing a blind man, Jesus says As long as I am in the world, I am [the] light of the world. John 9:5 . While He was in the world He was the light of the world.
Now from [the] sixth hour there was darkness over the whole land until [the] ninth hour Matt. 25:35. When He was on the cross, the light of the world was extinguished. Lights out! For 3 hours it was completely dark.
As I mentioned in an earlier post, the light of the world now is two pronged. It is the Christ-followers and the local assembly, the church. What kept the lights lit at night in the darkness? The crushed olive oil. The lamp stand had to be refueled daily. In the morning, when the fuel ran out, the lights went out.
What keeps the believer and/or the local assembly as lights in a darkened world? The Holy Spirit. How often does the fuel of the holy spirit need refilling? Let me suggest daily. What happens when we do not refuel daily? Lights out. maybe permanently. Jesus told John to write the following to the angel at Ephesus: ...but I have against thee, that thou hast left thy first love. Remember therefore whence thou art fallen, and repent, and do the first works: but if not, I am coming to thee, and I will remove thy lamp out of its place, except thou shalt repent. Rev. 2:4-5.
Need a light? How is the light of your local assembly? Burning brightly? Dimmed? or maybe gone out completely? Then remember, repent and do the first works. You know, the three things you had no problem doing before you left thy first love.
This little light of mine
I’m gonna let it shine
This little light of mine
I’m gonna let it shine, let it shine, let it shine, let it shine...
Tuesday, July 27, 2010
Worth His (or Her) Weight in Gold
Are you worth it? Are you worth your weight in gold? As I write this, pure gold is $1189 per Troy ounce. There are 12 Troy ounces in a Troy pound. And there are 0.822853347 US pounds (also known as the avoirdupois weight system) in a Troy pound. I’ll save you the math. If my math is correct, one hundred US pounds of pure gold is worth a bit over $1.7 Million.
The golden candlestick (or lampstand) weighed one talent and it and its base was made from a single chunk of pure gold (Ex. 25:31-9). It should be noted that not all gold used in the construction of the tabernacle was pure gold. A talent weighed about 100 US pounds, give or take, depending on the reference you use for the conversion factor. This one chunk of pure gold worth $1.7 million was beaten into the the lampstand. Beaten, not melted down and poured into a mold.
So where did this one chunk of gold come from? Well, it came from the free will offering that God told Moses to collect (Ex. 25:1-2) for the construction of the tabernacle. This was a collection of gold, and silver, and copper, and blue, and purple, and scarlet, and byssus, and goats' [hair], and rams' skins dyed red, and badgers' skins; and acacia-wood; oil for the light; spices for the anointing oil, and for the incense of fragrant drugs; onyx stones, and stones to be set in the ephod, and in the breastplate. (Ex. 25:3-7)
Notice that gold is the first thing on the list. The actual collection is recorded for us ten chapters later in Exodus 35. According to this passage, gold came from both men and women; every one who was of willing heart brought nose-rings, and earrings, and rings, and bracelets, all kinds of utensils of gold: every man that waved a wave-offering of gold to Jehovah.
So, where did this gold come from? Weren’t they slaves in Egypt? Wherefore the gold? Just before they left Egypt, God told them that every woman shall ask of her neighbour, and of her that is the inmate of her house, utensils of silver, and utensils of gold, and clothing; and ye shall put [them] on your sons and on your daughters, and shall spoil the Egyptians.
Speak now in the ears of the people, that they ask every man of his neighbour, and every woman of her neighbour, utensils of silver and utensils of gold. (Ex. 11:2)
So after decades of being slaves, the Israelites were finally getting wages that were long due them. It is as if wages were being withheld all their lives and are now being paid, all at once, in one night. So as they left Egypt, they carried with them gold that they got.
Since the gold was one chunk taken from an offering, it must have come from one person. That one person, on passover night, was handed a utensil of pure gold weighing 100 pounds and worth $1.7 million dollars. That one slave must have been very valuable to the Egyptians to get something like that in back wages.
What is your worth? If someone were to pay you what you are worth to them in gold, pure gold, would you get 100 pounds of the stuff? You have been bought and you are worth much more.
....ye have been redeemed, not by corruptible [things, as] silver or gold, from your vain conversation handed down from [your] fathers, but by precious blood, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot, [the blood] of Christ, foreknown indeed before [the] foundation of [the] world, but who has been manifested at the end of times for your sakes, who by him do believe on God, who has raised him from among [the] dead and given him glory, that your faith and hope should be in God. 2 Peter 1:18-21
You are worth it…
The golden candlestick (or lampstand) weighed one talent and it and its base was made from a single chunk of pure gold (Ex. 25:31-9). It should be noted that not all gold used in the construction of the tabernacle was pure gold. A talent weighed about 100 US pounds, give or take, depending on the reference you use for the conversion factor. This one chunk of pure gold worth $1.7 million was beaten into the the lampstand. Beaten, not melted down and poured into a mold.
So where did this one chunk of gold come from? Well, it came from the free will offering that God told Moses to collect (Ex. 25:1-2) for the construction of the tabernacle. This was a collection of gold, and silver, and copper, and blue, and purple, and scarlet, and byssus, and goats' [hair], and rams' skins dyed red, and badgers' skins; and acacia-wood; oil for the light; spices for the anointing oil, and for the incense of fragrant drugs; onyx stones, and stones to be set in the ephod, and in the breastplate. (Ex. 25:3-7)
Notice that gold is the first thing on the list. The actual collection is recorded for us ten chapters later in Exodus 35. According to this passage, gold came from both men and women; every one who was of willing heart brought nose-rings, and earrings, and rings, and bracelets, all kinds of utensils of gold: every man that waved a wave-offering of gold to Jehovah.
So, where did this gold come from? Weren’t they slaves in Egypt? Wherefore the gold? Just before they left Egypt, God told them that every woman shall ask of her neighbour, and of her that is the inmate of her house, utensils of silver, and utensils of gold, and clothing; and ye shall put [them] on your sons and on your daughters, and shall spoil the Egyptians.
Speak now in the ears of the people, that they ask every man of his neighbour, and every woman of her neighbour, utensils of silver and utensils of gold. (Ex. 11:2)
So after decades of being slaves, the Israelites were finally getting wages that were long due them. It is as if wages were being withheld all their lives and are now being paid, all at once, in one night. So as they left Egypt, they carried with them gold that they got.
Since the gold was one chunk taken from an offering, it must have come from one person. That one person, on passover night, was handed a utensil of pure gold weighing 100 pounds and worth $1.7 million dollars. That one slave must have been very valuable to the Egyptians to get something like that in back wages.
What is your worth? If someone were to pay you what you are worth to them in gold, pure gold, would you get 100 pounds of the stuff? You have been bought and you are worth much more.
....ye have been redeemed, not by corruptible [things, as] silver or gold, from your vain conversation handed down from [your] fathers, but by precious blood, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot, [the blood] of Christ, foreknown indeed before [the] foundation of [the] world, but who has been manifested at the end of times for your sakes, who by him do believe on God, who has raised him from among [the] dead and given him glory, that your faith and hope should be in God. 2 Peter 1:18-21
You are worth it…
Saturday, July 10, 2010
Shine
Regarding the candlestick, most commentators say that the golden candlestick was the only source of light in the Holy place. There are a few commentators that say it was not the sole source of light (sunlight during the daylight hours being the other light source). Therefore, all agree that it was the only source of light in the Holy place...at night.
Nicodemus came to Jesus in the darkness of the night (John 3:2). While it was yet dark, Jesus says: And this is the judgment, that light is come into the world, and men have loved darkness rather than light; for their works were evil. For every one that does evil hates the light, and does not come to the light that his works may not be shewn as they are; but he that practises the truth comes to the light, that his works may be manifested that they have been wrought in God.
In case there was any doubt about what, or who the light was, Jesus later explains, Again therefore Jesus spoke to them, saying, I am the light of the world; he that follows me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life. John 8:12
Jesus is the light. Come to Him and your works may be shewn as they are. Do you practice truth? The light will manifest works...that they have been wrought in God. But all things having their true character exposed by the light are made manifest; for that which makes everything manifest is light. Eph. 5:13
The light shows the path and exposes true character.
And Aaron did so; he lighted the lamps thereof over against the candlestick, as Jehovah had commanded Moses. Numbers 8:3
‘Over against’ could have been translated ‘before’ or ‘in front of’. One commentator says that this means that light from the lamps were to provide light to the lampstand (or candlestick) itself. Aaron was to light the lamps so that the light lights up the candlestick. While I’m sure that the rest of the room was filled with light (remember, everything is gold and gold is highly reflective), the primary purpose of the light was to cast light on itself.
Isn’t this what Jesus did while He was here on this planet? Gold is a symbol of deity. Jesus, in everything He did, didn’t He show forth His Deity? His true character was (is) His Deity, like the reflection of gold.
As long as I am in the world, I am [the] light of the world. John 9:5
Jesus was the light of the world on a temporary basis. Now He is no longer in the world, but is there light? Did He take the light with Him? Is the light out? Of course not.
In Mathew 5:14, Jesus tells His followers Ye are the light of the world... and since they are...Let your light thus shine before men, so that they may see your upright works, and glorify your Father who is in the heavens. Mat. 5:16
The golden candlestick was lit in such a way that it casts light against itself. Jesus when He was on the earth, was the light of the world shining on Himself reflecting His Deity. We are now reflecting the light of His Diety before men. Or, we should be.
shine
make ´em wonder what you´ve got
make ´em wish that they were not
on the outside looking bored
shine
let it shine before all men
let´em see good works, and then
let ´em glorify the Lord - The Newsboys
Nicodemus came to Jesus in the darkness of the night (John 3:2). While it was yet dark, Jesus says: And this is the judgment, that light is come into the world, and men have loved darkness rather than light; for their works were evil. For every one that does evil hates the light, and does not come to the light that his works may not be shewn as they are; but he that practises the truth comes to the light, that his works may be manifested that they have been wrought in God.
In case there was any doubt about what, or who the light was, Jesus later explains, Again therefore Jesus spoke to them, saying, I am the light of the world; he that follows me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life. John 8:12
Jesus is the light. Come to Him and your works may be shewn as they are. Do you practice truth? The light will manifest works...that they have been wrought in God. But all things having their true character exposed by the light are made manifest; for that which makes everything manifest is light. Eph. 5:13
The light shows the path and exposes true character.
And Aaron did so; he lighted the lamps thereof over against the candlestick, as Jehovah had commanded Moses. Numbers 8:3
‘Over against’ could have been translated ‘before’ or ‘in front of’. One commentator says that this means that light from the lamps were to provide light to the lampstand (or candlestick) itself. Aaron was to light the lamps so that the light lights up the candlestick. While I’m sure that the rest of the room was filled with light (remember, everything is gold and gold is highly reflective), the primary purpose of the light was to cast light on itself.
Isn’t this what Jesus did while He was here on this planet? Gold is a symbol of deity. Jesus, in everything He did, didn’t He show forth His Deity? His true character was (is) His Deity, like the reflection of gold.
As long as I am in the world, I am [the] light of the world. John 9:5
Jesus was the light of the world on a temporary basis. Now He is no longer in the world, but is there light? Did He take the light with Him? Is the light out? Of course not.
In Mathew 5:14, Jesus tells His followers Ye are the light of the world... and since they are...Let your light thus shine before men, so that they may see your upright works, and glorify your Father who is in the heavens. Mat. 5:16
The golden candlestick was lit in such a way that it casts light against itself. Jesus when He was on the earth, was the light of the world shining on Himself reflecting His Deity. We are now reflecting the light of His Diety before men. Or, we should be.
shine
make ´em wonder what you´ve got
make ´em wish that they were not
on the outside looking bored
shine
let it shine before all men
let´em see good works, and then
let ´em glorify the Lord - The Newsboys
Wednesday, June 30, 2010
Jesus and the Color Purple
Commentators say that the color purple in the Bible signifies royalty. If you do a search on the word purple in the Bible you will see that the first references are regarding, yes, the tabernacle. Purple was one of the colors of the entrance, the veil, and the tabernacle (proper). It is interesting to note that purple was always mentioned between blue and scarlet, and purple is the color you get if you mix blue and scarlet.
When the Israelite camp was on the move, God gave directions regarding the altar of burnt offering. Aaron was to clean it of ashes and cover it with a purple cloth (Numbers 4:13). Once covered, it was the Kohathites' duty to carry the altar of burnt offering using staves. So when it was on the move one only saw the royal covering (and the four guys carrying it). When camp was established, then the purple covering is removed and the activity of slaughtering and burning burnt offerings resumed. The purple was removed before the offering of sacrifices could start.
Jesus, crowned with thorns, was clothed in purple (in a mocking sort of way but it was still purple (Mark 15:17)). And the purple was taken off when He was led away to be crucified (Mark 15:20). The purple was removed before He offered Himself as the sacrifice that was the fulfillment of every burnt, meat, peace, sin and trespass offerings ever made.
Isn't this what Jesus did figuratively? He was clothed, as it were, in royalty in heaven. He removed His royal robes, laid them aside to take on the form of a man, to walk among His creatures. With His royal garments removed, He took on the form of a bondman (or servant) to do the will of His Father, even if it meant sacrificing Himself on the cross...for you and for me!
For let this mind be in you which [was] also in Christ Jesus; who, subsisting in the form of God, did not esteem it an object of rapine to be on an equality with God; but emptied himself, taking a bondman's form, taking his place in [the] likeness of men; but emptied himself, taking a bondman's form, taking his place in [the] likeness of men; and having been found in figure as a man, humbled himself, becoming obedient even unto death, and [that the] death of [the] cross. Phl 2:5-8
I like how Charles Wesley put it in that great hymn Amazing Love (or And Can it be? depending on your hymnal) -
He left His Father’s throne above
So free, so infinite His grace—
Emptied Himself of all but love,
And bled for Adam’s helpless race:
’Tis mercy all, immense and free,
For O my God, it found out me!
’Tis mercy all, immense and free,
For O my God, it found out me!
When the Israelite camp was on the move, God gave directions regarding the altar of burnt offering. Aaron was to clean it of ashes and cover it with a purple cloth (Numbers 4:13). Once covered, it was the Kohathites' duty to carry the altar of burnt offering using staves. So when it was on the move one only saw the royal covering (and the four guys carrying it). When camp was established, then the purple covering is removed and the activity of slaughtering and burning burnt offerings resumed. The purple was removed before the offering of sacrifices could start.
Jesus, crowned with thorns, was clothed in purple (in a mocking sort of way but it was still purple (Mark 15:17)). And the purple was taken off when He was led away to be crucified (Mark 15:20). The purple was removed before He offered Himself as the sacrifice that was the fulfillment of every burnt, meat, peace, sin and trespass offerings ever made.
Isn't this what Jesus did figuratively? He was clothed, as it were, in royalty in heaven. He removed His royal robes, laid them aside to take on the form of a man, to walk among His creatures. With His royal garments removed, He took on the form of a bondman (or servant) to do the will of His Father, even if it meant sacrificing Himself on the cross...for you and for me!
For let this mind be in you which [was] also in Christ Jesus; who, subsisting in the form of God, did not esteem it an object of rapine to be on an equality with God; but emptied himself, taking a bondman's form, taking his place in [the] likeness of men; but emptied himself, taking a bondman's form, taking his place in [the] likeness of men; and having been found in figure as a man, humbled himself, becoming obedient even unto death, and [that the] death of [the] cross. Phl 2:5-8
I like how Charles Wesley put it in that great hymn Amazing Love (or And Can it be? depending on your hymnal) -
He left His Father’s throne above
So free, so infinite His grace—
Emptied Himself of all but love,
And bled for Adam’s helpless race:
’Tis mercy all, immense and free,
For O my God, it found out me!
’Tis mercy all, immense and free,
For O my God, it found out me!
Friday, June 18, 2010
The Movable Corner Stone
And two boards shalt thou make for the corners of the tabernacle at the rear; and they shall be joined beneath, and together shall be united at the top thereof to one ring: thus shall it be for them both; they shall be for the two corners. And there shall be eight boards, and their bases, of silver, sixteen bases; two bases under one board, and two bases under another board. Exodus 26:23-4
God gave instructions regarding the corners of the tabernacle. The corners are where the boards on the western part of the sanctuary met the boards on the North and South. These corners are the corners of the Holiest of Holiest opposite the veil. The two boards seem to reinforce the corners, but it is not specified where exactly they are to be placed or how exactly they are to be attached. I like what James Strong says. He says that the extra 2 boards on the corner are attached to the boards on the west in such a way they overlap the end boards on the outside. This way, the corners inside the Holiest of Holiest maintain square and the inside of the Holiest of Holiest remains a cube.
One of the thing I like about the Darby Bible is that it is printed in paragraph format with the verse numbers in the margin. Yes, it makes sword drills more of a challenge, but I do not have the distraction of verse breaks. I am easily distracted.
Another thing I like about the Darby Bible is his annotations. Like this one that I stumbled across while considering the corners of the tabernacle in 1 Sam 14:38. And Saul said, Draw ye near hither, all the heads[10] of the people; and know and see wherein this sin has been this day. The footnote for this verse says: Lit. 'corners,' 'corner-stones,' as Judges 20:2
And the heads of all the people, of all the tribes of Israel, presented themselves in the congregation of the people of God, four hundred thousand footmen that drew sword. Judges 20:2
I have always thought of a corner stone as being stationary, a corner of a foundation laid, unmovable. But, according to these verses, the corners were all the heads of the people and footmen that drew sword.
This sheds a little different light on Jesus' statement after the parable of the vineyard. ... What then is this that is written, The stone which they that builded rejected, this has become the corner-stone? Every one falling on this stone shall be broken, but on whomsoever it shall fall, it shall grind him to powder. Luke 20:17-18
Christ is our Cornerstone,
On Him alone we build;
With His true saints alone
The courts of heaven are filled;
On His great love our hopes we place
Of present grace and joys above. -- Unknown author
God gave instructions regarding the corners of the tabernacle. The corners are where the boards on the western part of the sanctuary met the boards on the North and South. These corners are the corners of the Holiest of Holiest opposite the veil. The two boards seem to reinforce the corners, but it is not specified where exactly they are to be placed or how exactly they are to be attached. I like what James Strong says. He says that the extra 2 boards on the corner are attached to the boards on the west in such a way they overlap the end boards on the outside. This way, the corners inside the Holiest of Holiest maintain square and the inside of the Holiest of Holiest remains a cube.
One of the thing I like about the Darby Bible is that it is printed in paragraph format with the verse numbers in the margin. Yes, it makes sword drills more of a challenge, but I do not have the distraction of verse breaks. I am easily distracted.
Another thing I like about the Darby Bible is his annotations. Like this one that I stumbled across while considering the corners of the tabernacle in 1 Sam 14:38. And Saul said, Draw ye near hither, all the heads[10] of the people; and know and see wherein this sin has been this day. The footnote for this verse says: Lit. 'corners,' 'corner-stones,' as Judges 20:2
And the heads of all the people, of all the tribes of Israel, presented themselves in the congregation of the people of God, four hundred thousand footmen that drew sword. Judges 20:2
I have always thought of a corner stone as being stationary, a corner of a foundation laid, unmovable. But, according to these verses, the corners were all the heads of the people and footmen that drew sword.
This sheds a little different light on Jesus' statement after the parable of the vineyard. ... What then is this that is written, The stone which they that builded rejected, this has become the corner-stone? Every one falling on this stone shall be broken, but on whomsoever it shall fall, it shall grind him to powder. Luke 20:17-18
And, of course, Peter links this directly to Jesus:
To whom coming, a living stone, cast away indeed as worthless by men, but with God chosen, precious, yourselves also, as living stones, are being built up a spiritual house, a holy priesthood, to offer spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God by Jesus Christ. Because it is contained in the scripture: Behold, I lay in Zion a corner stone, elect, precious: and he that believes on him shall not be put to shame. To you therefore who believe [is] the preciousness; but to the disobedient, the stone which the builders cast away as worthless, this is become head of [the] corner, and a stone of stumbling and rock of offence; [who] stumble at the word, being disobedient to which also they have been appointed. But ye [are] a chosen race, a kingly priesthood, a holy nation, a people for a possession, that ye might set forth the excellencies of him who has called you out of darkness to his wonderful light; who once [were] not a people, but now God's people; who were not enjoying mercy, but now have found mercy. 1 Peter 2:4-10Christ is our Cornerstone,
On Him alone we build;
With His true saints alone
The courts of heaven are filled;
On His great love our hopes we place
Of present grace and joys above. -- Unknown author
Sunday, June 6, 2010
I'm Board....
Puerto Rico is an island of micro-climates. Driving from San Juan (PR's largest city, on the northern shore) to Ponce (PR's second largest city, a bit west on the southern shore) you pass though mountains lush and green. Rise up through a cloud layer and then back down. More often than not, you would drive through a torrential down pour somewhere between the northern and southern shores. When you get to the southern portion of the island, the lush green mountains fade into flat drab dessert. The vegetation appears to be stressed and you see lots of bare ground, cacti and acacia trees. This southern part of the island is a dessert that gets less than 3 inches of rain per year. If you turn north at Ponce and drive 20 minutes to Ajuntas coffee growing mountains it rains every day, especially during the wet season. All this without mentioning the rain forest or the dry forest, which are only 20 minutes apart.
The acacia trees in dessert area of Puerto Rico are short, stubby and spiny. Acacia was the type of wood used throughout the tabernacle. The altar of burnt offering was made of acacia wood and plated with copper. The ark, the table, the altar of incense, and the boards of the tabernacle were made of acacia wood and plated with gold. In a previous post I suggested that the boards in the tabernacle were a type of believer...made of wood, but when people see us, they should see Christ (gold). I also mentioned that each board stood upright on two sockets of silver that represent the ransom paid by Jesus.
No one knows exactly what these boards actually were. Some believe that the boards were solid. Others think they were hollowed out boards. While others believe that they were not boards at all, but wooden frames or lattices. We do know that two of the three dimensions of the boards are given: each board was a cubit and a half wide and ten cubits long (Ex. 26:13). No thickness specified.
So, how do you get a 17 foot long board (about 10 cubits) 30 inches (about 1 1/2 cubits) wide from end to end, from a short, stubby, spiny tree? In order to cut a board of that size, one would have start with a bigger piece and cut it to the correct size. Maybe acacia trees are bigger in that area of the globe. Maybe they grew much larger 3,000 years ago. I don't know. I asked a carpenter friend of mine how do you get a large wide board from a short narrow tree, he said that they would notch smaller boards and peg them together until they got the desire length and width. When finished, the sides would be smooth and you can get many boards the same size. To sum it up, to get about 45 solid boards/ hollow boards/ lattice or frames, it takes work, a lot of work.
Before the tree is cut down, it is rooted and grounded in the ground. When cut, it is separated from its roots. It either needs to be cut down to size, or built up to size. Then each were plated with gold. Fitted and framed together by poles, made from acacia wood overlaid with gold. How is a board like a believer?
The acacia trees in dessert area of Puerto Rico are short, stubby and spiny. Acacia was the type of wood used throughout the tabernacle. The altar of burnt offering was made of acacia wood and plated with copper. The ark, the table, the altar of incense, and the boards of the tabernacle were made of acacia wood and plated with gold. In a previous post I suggested that the boards in the tabernacle were a type of believer...made of wood, but when people see us, they should see Christ (gold). I also mentioned that each board stood upright on two sockets of silver that represent the ransom paid by Jesus.
No one knows exactly what these boards actually were. Some believe that the boards were solid. Others think they were hollowed out boards. While others believe that they were not boards at all, but wooden frames or lattices. We do know that two of the three dimensions of the boards are given: each board was a cubit and a half wide and ten cubits long (Ex. 26:13). No thickness specified.
So, how do you get a 17 foot long board (about 10 cubits) 30 inches (about 1 1/2 cubits) wide from end to end, from a short, stubby, spiny tree? In order to cut a board of that size, one would have start with a bigger piece and cut it to the correct size. Maybe acacia trees are bigger in that area of the globe. Maybe they grew much larger 3,000 years ago. I don't know. I asked a carpenter friend of mine how do you get a large wide board from a short narrow tree, he said that they would notch smaller boards and peg them together until they got the desire length and width. When finished, the sides would be smooth and you can get many boards the same size. To sum it up, to get about 45 solid boards/ hollow boards/ lattice or frames, it takes work, a lot of work.
Before the tree is cut down, it is rooted and grounded in the ground. When cut, it is separated from its roots. It either needs to be cut down to size, or built up to size. Then each were plated with gold. Fitted and framed together by poles, made from acacia wood overlaid with gold. How is a board like a believer?
Before believers believe, they are rooted and grounded in the the world. When we believe, were a cut off and separated from the world (in the world not of the world) . Then God has to work with us to perfect us (or make us complete), either cutting and grinding away the excess or piecing together, building up. We call this process sanctification. We are clothed in the righteousness of Christ. Standing upright with both feet resting on the redemptive work of Christ, no longer grounded and rooted in the world, but grounded and rooted in love (Eph. 3:17).
How's the process going? Still rooted in the world? Are you letting the Master Carpenter hack and shape you? Are you resting solely on the redemptive work of Christ? Are you fitted together with fellow believers? Are you board? Are you standing? Or teetering, about to fall?
Pride [goeth] before destruction, and a haughty spirit before a fall. -- Prov. 16:18
http://theforgottenfifty.blogspot.com/
http://theforgottenfifty.blogspot.com/
Thursday, May 6, 2010
Where Are You Walking?
So Mephibosheth dwelt in Jerusalem; for he did eat continually at the king's table. And he was lame on both his feet. - 2 Sam. 9:13
In 2 Sam. chapter 9, we are provided one of the greatest pictures of grace in the Old Testament. David the king, seeks out Mephibosheth, who was lame on both his feet. He wasn't born that way, when Mephibosheth was 5 years old, King Saul, Mephibosheth's grandfather, was killed in battle. Jonathan, Mephibosheth's dad, next in line for the throne, was killed in the same battle. When news of the deaths got to Mephibosheth's nurse's ears, she feared for Mephibosheth's life, since the boy was next in line for the throne (and in those days they liked to totally wipe out the king's entire family), she did what any good nurse would do, she picked up a 5 year old Mephibosheth and ran. Have you ever tried to run carrying a 5 year old boy? Yeah, she had a hard time and dropped him. And that is how Mephibosheth became lame on both his feet (2 Sam 4:4).
Fast forward. David has been king for a couple decades and Mephibosheth is old enough to have a children. Mephibosheth apparently has been in hiding this whole time. King David sought Mephibosheth out and showed kindness to him. Mephibosheth realizes his own unworthiness and David gives him a place at the king's table and he did eat continually at the king's table. Mephibosheth was provided a place at the table based on some pact David made decades earlier with Jonathan, Mephibosheth's dad, probably before Mephibosheth was born. There was nothing Mephibosheth could have done to earn a place at the king's table. He was lame. Thus, grace.
Did you know that the first mention of the word table in the Bible is in reference to the tabernacle? The table of shewbread (or table of presence or table of face) held twelve loaves of bread, each one represented a tribe of Israel. On each Sabbath, the priest would replace the existing loaves with freshly baked ones. The old loaves they were to be eaten by the priest before the Lord. Unlike Mephibosheth, who could not stand on his own, the priests had to eat standing up. There were no chairs in the tabernacle, no place to sit.
Tables are for fellowship. Who do you have fellowship with? If you think about it, you have fellowship with those that you have something in common with. The priest that ate the shewbread in the presence of the Lord were all blood related--Aaron and his sons. They entered the Holy Place and walked to the table to place the bread on it. They walked to break and pass the bread. And, if they were anything like me, they walked around while eating the bread. They were having fellowship with each other and with God, since they were to eat before the Lord.
Opposite the table of shewbread stood the golden lamp-stand. The golden lamp-stand provided light in the Holy Place. So the priest, who typified the believer, had fellowship with other priest (other believers) and with God while walking in the light.
That which we have seen and heard declare we unto you, that ye also may have fellowship with us: and truly our fellowship [is] with the Father, and with his Son Jesus Christ. And these things write we unto you, that your joy may be full. This then is the message which we have heard of him, and declare unto you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all. If we say that we have fellowship with him, and walk in darkness, we lie, and do not the truth: But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another... 1 John 1:3-7
Mephibosheth had fellowship with King David at the king's table. The priests in the wilderness had fellowship with other priest and with God at the table of shewbread, while walking in the light. We have fellowship with the Father, and with his Son Jesus Christ, and with fellow believers, as long as we are walking in the light. Where are you walking?
While we walk with God in light,
God our hearts doth still unite;
Dearest fellowship we prove,
Fellowship in Jesus’ love.-- Charles Wesley
In 2 Sam. chapter 9, we are provided one of the greatest pictures of grace in the Old Testament. David the king, seeks out Mephibosheth, who was lame on both his feet. He wasn't born that way, when Mephibosheth was 5 years old, King Saul, Mephibosheth's grandfather, was killed in battle. Jonathan, Mephibosheth's dad, next in line for the throne, was killed in the same battle. When news of the deaths got to Mephibosheth's nurse's ears, she feared for Mephibosheth's life, since the boy was next in line for the throne (and in those days they liked to totally wipe out the king's entire family), she did what any good nurse would do, she picked up a 5 year old Mephibosheth and ran. Have you ever tried to run carrying a 5 year old boy? Yeah, she had a hard time and dropped him. And that is how Mephibosheth became lame on both his feet (2 Sam 4:4).
Fast forward. David has been king for a couple decades and Mephibosheth is old enough to have a children. Mephibosheth apparently has been in hiding this whole time. King David sought Mephibosheth out and showed kindness to him. Mephibosheth realizes his own unworthiness and David gives him a place at the king's table and he did eat continually at the king's table. Mephibosheth was provided a place at the table based on some pact David made decades earlier with Jonathan, Mephibosheth's dad, probably before Mephibosheth was born. There was nothing Mephibosheth could have done to earn a place at the king's table. He was lame. Thus, grace.
Did you know that the first mention of the word table in the Bible is in reference to the tabernacle? The table of shewbread (or table of presence or table of face) held twelve loaves of bread, each one represented a tribe of Israel. On each Sabbath, the priest would replace the existing loaves with freshly baked ones. The old loaves they were to be eaten by the priest before the Lord. Unlike Mephibosheth, who could not stand on his own, the priests had to eat standing up. There were no chairs in the tabernacle, no place to sit.
Tables are for fellowship. Who do you have fellowship with? If you think about it, you have fellowship with those that you have something in common with. The priest that ate the shewbread in the presence of the Lord were all blood related--Aaron and his sons. They entered the Holy Place and walked to the table to place the bread on it. They walked to break and pass the bread. And, if they were anything like me, they walked around while eating the bread. They were having fellowship with each other and with God, since they were to eat before the Lord.
Opposite the table of shewbread stood the golden lamp-stand. The golden lamp-stand provided light in the Holy Place. So the priest, who typified the believer, had fellowship with other priest (other believers) and with God while walking in the light.
That which we have seen and heard declare we unto you, that ye also may have fellowship with us: and truly our fellowship [is] with the Father, and with his Son Jesus Christ. And these things write we unto you, that your joy may be full. This then is the message which we have heard of him, and declare unto you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all. If we say that we have fellowship with him, and walk in darkness, we lie, and do not the truth: But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another... 1 John 1:3-7
Mephibosheth had fellowship with King David at the king's table. The priests in the wilderness had fellowship with other priest and with God at the table of shewbread, while walking in the light. We have fellowship with the Father, and with his Son Jesus Christ, and with fellow believers, as long as we are walking in the light. Where are you walking?
While we walk with God in light,
God our hearts doth still unite;
Dearest fellowship we prove,
Fellowship in Jesus’ love.-- Charles Wesley
Friday, April 30, 2010
Feet Defiled
And during supper... [Jesus,] ... pours water into the washhand basin, and began to wash the feet of the disciples, and to wipe them with the linen towel with which he was girded. He comes therefore to Simon Peter; and *he* says to him, Lord, dost thou wash *my* feet? Jesus answered and said to him, What I do thou dost not know now, but thou shalt know hereafter. Peter says to him, Thou shalt never wash my feet. Jesus answered him, Unless I wash thee, thou hast not part with me. Simon Peter says to him, Lord, not my feet only, but also my hands and my head. Jesus says to him, He that is washed all over needs not to wash save his feet, but is wholly clean... John 13:2-10
Peter apparently took a bath (or shower) so he was already washed all over. His feet, however, were dirty. They wore open toe sandals. He walked on dirt. The dirt dust defiled his feet. His feet were dirty, but he was clean.
And this is the thing which thou shalt do to them to hallow them, that they may serve me as priests:...Aaron and his sons thou shalt bring near the entrance of the tent of meeting, and shalt bathe them with water. -- Ex. 29:1,4
Aaron and his sons, the first high priest and the first priests, had to be bathed as a part of their consecration ritual after they were selected by God but before they were to serve. At the door of the tabernacle, Moses bathed Aaron and his four sons. They were wholly clean one time.
Thou shalt also make a laver of copper, and its stand of copper, for washing; and thou shalt put it between the tent of meeting and the altar, and shalt put water in it. And Aaron and his sons shall wash their hands and their feet out of it. When they go into the tent of meeting, they shall wash with water, that they may not die; or when they come near to the altar to serve, to burn an offering by fire to Jehovah. And they shall wash their hands and their feet, that they may not die... Ex. 20:18-20
Once in service, the priests had to wash their feet that they may not die. While performing the duties of the priesthood, their feet got dirty. They wore open toe sandals. The tabernacle had no floor. The tabernacle had no chair. They walked on dirt. The dirt dust defiled their feet. Their feet were dirty, but they were wholly clean.
We believers, are now priest (1 Pet. 2:9, Rev. 1:6)
as priest, we are wholly clean: the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanses us from all sin. 1 John 1:7
Since we are still walking in the world, we sin. Our feet get defiled by walking on the dirt of this world: If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. 1 John 1:8
Like the ancient Israel priest, we need to wash our defiled feet. We need to wash frequently. How do we get cleansed? By confessing. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and righteous to forgive us [our] sins, and cleanse us from all unrighteousness. If we say that we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us. 1 John 1:9-10
Clean Peter needed his feet washed...the consecrated priests needed their feet washed, often...the forgiven believer needs to confess sins, as often as he sins, which is often...
Peter apparently took a bath (or shower) so he was already washed all over. His feet, however, were dirty. They wore open toe sandals. He walked on dirt. The dirt dust defiled his feet. His feet were dirty, but he was clean.
And this is the thing which thou shalt do to them to hallow them, that they may serve me as priests:...Aaron and his sons thou shalt bring near the entrance of the tent of meeting, and shalt bathe them with water. -- Ex. 29:1,4
Aaron and his sons, the first high priest and the first priests, had to be bathed as a part of their consecration ritual after they were selected by God but before they were to serve. At the door of the tabernacle, Moses bathed Aaron and his four sons. They were wholly clean one time.
Thou shalt also make a laver of copper, and its stand of copper, for washing; and thou shalt put it between the tent of meeting and the altar, and shalt put water in it. And Aaron and his sons shall wash their hands and their feet out of it. When they go into the tent of meeting, they shall wash with water, that they may not die; or when they come near to the altar to serve, to burn an offering by fire to Jehovah. And they shall wash their hands and their feet, that they may not die... Ex. 20:18-20
Once in service, the priests had to wash their feet that they may not die. While performing the duties of the priesthood, their feet got dirty. They wore open toe sandals. The tabernacle had no floor. The tabernacle had no chair. They walked on dirt. The dirt dust defiled their feet. Their feet were dirty, but they were wholly clean.
We believers, are now priest (1 Pet. 2:9, Rev. 1:6)
as priest, we are wholly clean: the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanses us from all sin. 1 John 1:7
Since we are still walking in the world, we sin. Our feet get defiled by walking on the dirt of this world: If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. 1 John 1:8
Like the ancient Israel priest, we need to wash our defiled feet. We need to wash frequently. How do we get cleansed? By confessing. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and righteous to forgive us [our] sins, and cleanse us from all unrighteousness. If we say that we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us. 1 John 1:9-10
Clean Peter needed his feet washed...the consecrated priests needed their feet washed, often...the forgiven believer needs to confess sins, as often as he sins, which is often...
Thursday, April 8, 2010
What is it?
And the children of Israel saw [it], and said one to another, What is it? for they did not know what it was. And Moses said to them, This is the bread which Jehovah has given you to eat. Ex. 16:15
When they first saw it they did not know what it was but we are told that it was like coriander seed and taste like wafers made with honey...and honey is sweet. Ex. 16:31
For five days a week, they were to gather a certain amount each morning, but if they wanted more, they were free to gather and consume more. Or, if they wanted less, they were free to gather and consume less (Ex. 16:18) and on the sixth day, they were to gather a double portion.
In John chapter 6 Jesus tells us that the manna symbolized Himself. The day after He fed bread to the five thousand, Jesus explains the sign of the manna that was given from heaven. The manna was a type of Christ. Let's consider: Jesus is sweet. The best time to gather and consume Christ is in the morning. If you want to gather and consume more of Him, you are free to. And, conversely, if you want less, you are free to gather and consume less. Just like the wilderness wanderers, you are free to take as much or as little of the sweet stuff as you desire.
Some manna was put away and kept for future generations (Ex. 16:33). A typical person's day's portion was to be place into a golden pot. That golden pot was to be put into the ark of the testimony (which was a gold-plated wooden box). The ark of the testimony was to be covered with a slab of gold (the mercy seat). The ark was to be place in the holiest of holiest (that, incidentally, had gold-plated wooden walls). And the holiest of holiest was off limits to all but the high priest, once a year, not without blood. So, there was manna in the pot, and the pot in the ark, and the ark in the holiest of holiest, and the holiest of holiest in the sanctuary, and the sanctuary in the tabernacle, and the tabernacle in the wilderness, and the green grass grew all around and around, the green grass grew all around (sorry). Along with Aaron's rod that budded, the stone tablet and (I don't know why everyone forgets this one) a copy of the law (Deut. 31:26), this manna was hidden in the ark.
Not much more is said about this hidden manna.
Jesus tells the church at Pergamos: He that has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the assemblies. To him that overcomes, to him will I give of the hidden manna... Rev. 2:17
What is it? What is this hidden manna? Could this be the same manna that was hidden in the gold pot, in the gold chest, in the gold room that was off limits? Could this be the same manna that was a type of Christ? If so, there is something really special in store for him that overcomes!
Let us love our God supremely, let us love each other, too;
Let us love and pray for sinners, till our God makes all things new.
Then He’ll call us home to Heaven, at His table we’ll sit down;
Christ will gird Himself and serve us with sweet manna all around. -- William Moore
http://theforgottenfifty.blogspot.com/
When they first saw it they did not know what it was but we are told that it was like coriander seed and taste like wafers made with honey...and honey is sweet. Ex. 16:31
For five days a week, they were to gather a certain amount each morning, but if they wanted more, they were free to gather and consume more. Or, if they wanted less, they were free to gather and consume less (Ex. 16:18) and on the sixth day, they were to gather a double portion.
In John chapter 6 Jesus tells us that the manna symbolized Himself. The day after He fed bread to the five thousand, Jesus explains the sign of the manna that was given from heaven. The manna was a type of Christ. Let's consider: Jesus is sweet. The best time to gather and consume Christ is in the morning. If you want to gather and consume more of Him, you are free to. And, conversely, if you want less, you are free to gather and consume less. Just like the wilderness wanderers, you are free to take as much or as little of the sweet stuff as you desire.
Some manna was put away and kept for future generations (Ex. 16:33). A typical person's day's portion was to be place into a golden pot. That golden pot was to be put into the ark of the testimony (which was a gold-plated wooden box). The ark of the testimony was to be covered with a slab of gold (the mercy seat). The ark was to be place in the holiest of holiest (that, incidentally, had gold-plated wooden walls). And the holiest of holiest was off limits to all but the high priest, once a year, not without blood. So, there was manna in the pot, and the pot in the ark, and the ark in the holiest of holiest, and the holiest of holiest in the sanctuary, and the sanctuary in the tabernacle, and the tabernacle in the wilderness, and the green grass grew all around and around, the green grass grew all around (sorry). Along with Aaron's rod that budded, the stone tablet and (I don't know why everyone forgets this one) a copy of the law (Deut. 31:26), this manna was hidden in the ark.
Not much more is said about this hidden manna.
Jesus tells the church at Pergamos: He that has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the assemblies. To him that overcomes, to him will I give of the hidden manna... Rev. 2:17
What is it? What is this hidden manna? Could this be the same manna that was hidden in the gold pot, in the gold chest, in the gold room that was off limits? Could this be the same manna that was a type of Christ? If so, there is something really special in store for him that overcomes!
Let us love our God supremely, let us love each other, too;
Let us love and pray for sinners, till our God makes all things new.
Then He’ll call us home to Heaven, at His table we’ll sit down;
Christ will gird Himself and serve us with sweet manna all around. -- William Moore
http://theforgottenfifty.blogspot.com/
Friday, March 5, 2010
Both Feet
And why call ye me, Lord, Lord, and do not the things that I say? Every one that comes to me, and hears my words and does them, I will shew you to whom he is like. He is like a man building a house, who dug and went deep, and laid a foundation on the rock; but a great rain coming, the stream broke upon that house, and could not shake it, for it had been founded on the rock. (Luke 6:46-48)
The Church’s one foundation
Is Jesus Christ her Lord,
She is His new creation
By water and the Word.
From heaven He came and sought her
To be His holy bride;
With His own blood He bought her
And for her life He died. -- Samuel J. Stone
…and that Rock was Christ (1 Cor. 10:4). I know that this is a misapplication of the rockin this verse...but stay with me.
Everyone that comes...hears...and does is like a house-building man that dug...went deep...and laid the foundation on rock. A foundation on rock is built to be permanent. But what if it was to be temporary house? A house that was to be moved? A house that was at rest for a while, but then had to be picked up and moved? Is the foundation any less important? Is it necessary to dig deep?
The tabernacle in the wilderness was the dwelling place (or house) of God. The tabernacle was mobile. The tabernacle was built up when camp was made and taken down when the camp was on the move.
Most, but not all, of the silver were made into sockets. Each socket weighed about 100 pounds. Two silver sockets held up each board in the tabernacle. The sockets provided the foundation of the boards.
The boards were gold-plated incorruptible wood -- a type of the believer. The wood represents humanity and when one looked at the boards he saw gold...when one looks at a believer he should see Christ. The boards were 'fitly framed together' by 5 bars. Four bars going through rings on each board and the middle bar was 'shot through' all of the boards (just how they drilled so many holes so they all lined up is a mystery to me). The boards were locked in place with bars, but their foundation was the sockets that was made from the silver that was collected as the redemption tax.
Each board had two socket, each believer has two feet. Just like the boards rested on the redemption money which was a picture of Christ, each of our feet ought to be resting on the redeeming blood of Christ. Both feet grounded...not one foot on the work of Christ and one foot on our own works...not one foot on Christ's redemption and one foot in the world...not one foot on Christ, and one foot on a creed. Both feet need to be resting on the redemption provided by the blood of Christ.
Come, hear, and do by digging deep and build your foundation on the redemption provided by the blood.
The Church’s one foundation
Is Jesus Christ her Lord,
She is His new creation
By water and the Word.
From heaven He came and sought her
To be His holy bride;
With His own blood He bought her
And for her life He died. -- Samuel J. Stone
Saturday, February 6, 2010
How's Your Feet?
I often wonder what was Cain's rejected offering. We are only told that it was of the "fruit of the ground". I'm sure it was a very pretty offering with all the fruit in a very attractive arrangement. I'm sure he labored laboriously to till, sow, water, weed, prune and harvest. Once harvested, I'm sure he picked the best fruits in the land, put it in a beautiful arrangement, and made his offering. I do realize that his offering represent works and that there was no remission of sin because there was no shedding of blood. But what was in the basket? Maybe a little balm, and a little honey, spices, and myrrh, nuts, and almonds? I wonder what made up the "fruit of the ground".
Much has been said about Joseph being a type of Christ. Less has been said about Joseph's older brother, Judah, being a type of Christ.
In Genesis 43 we have the story of Judah offering himself as surety for Benjamin (thus, Judah was a type of Christ being a surety for us.) Judah persuaded his dad to let Benjamin travel with them and Jacob sent his sons back to Egypt with Benjamin, double money, and a gift: a little balm, and a little honey, spices, and myrrh, nuts, and almonds...the best fruits in the land. Gen 43:11. I'm sure it was a very beautiful arrangement, the best he had to offer.
When they got to Joseph's house, they entered with their gift, the best fruits of the land. Joseph doesn't seem to even acknowledge the gift and he commanded his men to slaughter cattle. I wonder what was going through their minds when they heard the command to have an animal slaughtered. I wonder if they thought of an earlier day when they slaughtered an animal just to dip Joseph coat into the blood, to deceive their father.
The brothers then had their feet washed, and they sat at the table to eat in the presence of Joseph. Eat what? The animal that was slain? No. To eat bread.
What does all this have to do with the tabernacle? They entered the house, like one would enter the tabernacle. Cattle were slaughtered like animals that were slaughtered at the door of the tabernacle, at the altar of burnt offering. The priest frequently washed their feet at the laver while in service. And once a week, in the Holy Place, the priest were to eat the bread of presence in the presence of the Lord (standing at the table of shewbread).
Shedding of blood was for the atonement of sins, foot washing was a type of sanctification, and eating bread at a table means fellowship.
Have you come to God with the best you can offer? Is it pretty? Neatly arranged? The best fruits of your labor? Or are you trusting solely in the shed blood of Jesus? If you are trusting Jesus and Jesus alone, how's your fellowship? How's your feet?
Wash me, and make me thus Thine own,
Wash me, and mine Thou art,
Wash me, but not my feet alone,
My hands, my head, my heart. -- Charles Wesley
Wednesday, January 27, 2010
Free to Roam
In the beginning, God created the Earth.
In the beginning, the earth had two parts: Eden and the rest of the planet.
In the beginning, in the place called Eden, God planted a garden.
So, in the beginning, the geography of the earth had 3 parts, the garden, Eden, and the rest of the the planet.
In the beginning, man was placed into the garden and was free to roam about the garden. In the beginning he was free to leave the garden and roam the rest of Eden. In the beginning, he could roam past the border of Eden and roam about the rest of the planet.
In the beginning, when man met with God, he went into the garden, the only recorded place we have, where God and man met. I venture to say that the most intimate relationship ever between man and God, was in the garden. I venture to say that the most intimate fellowship ever between man and God, was in the garden. Before sin there was no separation.
Sin changed everything. Man was no longer free to roam about the garden. Man was ejected from the garden and was prevented from ever going back in by a flipping flaming sword and Cherubim that were placed in the East of the garden, toward the rising of the sun. He could not enter the garden, where he used to meet with God. The intimate relationship was lost. The intimate fellowship was lost. In fact Adam lived to be 930 years old...and we do not have recorded any further dialog between Adam and God.
Like the geography of the earth in the beginning, the tabernacle had three areas: the court, the holy place and the 'holiest of holiest'. Like the garden, God dwelt in the Holiest of Holiest. After the sin of Adam, Cherubim separated man from God in the garden. Cherubim separated man from God in the tabernacle. Cherubim (no mention of flaming sword) were embroidered on the veil that separated the holiest of holiest from the the holy place. Like the garden, the Cherubim on veil faced east, toward the rising of the sun. Man, no longer free to roam into the presence of God, could only enter on God's terms; one man, of God's choosing, once a year, not without blood. Cherubim on the veil served as a reminder to the priests of God's judgement in the original sin.
Jesus, when he had cried again with a loud voice, yielded up the ghost. And, behold, the veil of the temple was rent in twain from the top to the bottom... Matt 27:50-1
The veil was rent. No more reminder of God's judgement of the original sin. No more Cherubim separating man from God. Because of the death of Jesus, we can, once again, have an intimate relationship with God. We can, once again, have intimate fellowship with God.
We are free to roam.
I am the door: if any one enter in by me, he shall be saved, and shall go in and shall go out and shall find pasture.
Monday, January 18, 2010
Da Lamb
When one opens the Old Testament and start reading, the first mention of the word lamb is in reference to a 'burnt offering'. The second mention (in the same dialog) is a prophetic statement about the Lord Jesus Christ:
And Isaac spake unto Abraham his father, and said, My father: and he said, Here [am] I, my son. And he said, Behold the fire and the wood: but where [is] the lamb for a burnt offering? And Abraham said, My son, God will provide himself a lamb for a burnt offering: so they went both of them together. Gen. 22:7-8 KJV
When one opens the door of the tabernacle and enters, the first time one would see a lamb is by the time he got to the altar of burnt offering, the first piece of furniture.
And this is what thou shalt offer upon the altar -- two lambs of the first year, day by day continually. The one lamb thou shalt offer in the morning; and the other lamb thou shalt offer between the two evenings. And with the one lamb a tenth part of wheaten flour mingled with beaten oil, a fourth part of a hin; and a drink-offering, a fourth part of a hin of wine. nd the second lamb shalt thou offer between the two evenings; as the oblation in the morning, and as its drink-offering shalt thou offer with this, for a sweet odour, an offering by fire to Jehovah. It shall be a continual burnt-offering throughout your generations at the entrance of the tent of meeting before Jehovah, where I will meet with you, to speak there with thee. Exodus 29:38-42
Lamb was also use for the trespass offering, the sin offering and the peace offering. In each of these offerings, the lamb provided atonement for sins.
When one opens the New Testament and start reading, the first mention of the word lamb is the fulfilment of the prophecy in Genesis 22 as well as the anti-type of each and every lamb that was ever offered as a burnt, peace, sin, or trespass offering:
On the morrow he sees Jesus coming to him, and says, Behold the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world. John 1:36
The lamb in the offerings covered sin, with the sacrifice of Jesus, sins are actually taken away.
And every priest stands daily ministering, and offering often the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins. But he, having offered one sacrifice for sins, sat down in perpetuity at [the] right hand of God, waiting from henceforth until his enemies be set [for the] footstool of his feet. For by one offering he has perfected in perpetuity the sanctified. Heb. 10:11-14
Thursday, January 14, 2010
The Calf Offering
The calf offering?
If you look through the list of animals that could be offered for a sin offering, you won't find a calf. In fact, if you look through the instructions for each of the other blood offerings (burnt, peace, sin and trespass) you will not find a calf list amongst the animals to be offered. Nothing. Nadda. There were absolutely no provisions in any of the offerings for a calf.
In Leviticus 8 and 9 there is the consecration of the first priests of Israel. As part of their consecration ritual, they were to be separated from the people and not leave the tabernacle for seven days. On the eighth day, the high priest had to take a young calf for a sin-offering...and present it before the Lord (along with a ram for a burnt offering). This is the only time a calf was to be used for a blood offering, specifically, a sin offering.
Well, the high priest was Aaron. The same Aaron, that while Moses was on the mountain seeing the pattern and getting the instructions for the tabernacle, took up a collection of gold and built the golden calf. The same Aaron that called the golden calf Jehovah and led worship of it. The same Aaron that, when confronted by Moses, excused by saying "I don't know what happened! The people threw their gold into the fire and poof! Out popped a golden calf! Don't really know how it happened, it just did!" The same Aaron that, after watching Moses ground up the golden calf into dust and contaminate their drinking water supply, probably drank the water.
Maybe God required the calf for an offering this one time, just to bring to mind Aaron's sin. The sin had to be atoned before Aaron could serve. I almost find it amusing that after all Aaron's sin with the golden calf, that God would have him slaughter a calf to cover (or atone for) is sin.
I am sure that it was also a stark reminder to Aaron how he failed to keep the first commandments:
I am Jehovah thy God, who have brought thee out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of bondage. Thou shalt have no other gods before me. Thou shalt not make thyself any graven image, or any form of what is in the heavens above, or what is in the earth beneath, or what is in the waters under the earth: thou shalt not bow down thyself to them, nor serve them; for I, Jehovah thy God, am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the sons to the third and to the fourth [generation] of them that hate me, and shewing mercy unto thousands of them that love me and keep my commandments. Thou shalt not idly utter the name of Jehovah thy God; for Jehovah will not hold him guiltless that idly uttereth his name.
Aaron was selected to serve as Jehovah's one and only high priest. But before he could take his position, Aaron had to deal with his sin. This was part of God's sanctification process.
Has God put anything to your mind lately?
If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and righteous to forgive us [our] sins, and cleanse us from all unrighteousness. If we say that we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us.
If God has brought a sin to mind, confess it so God can use you in His service.
If you look through the list of animals that could be offered for a sin offering, you won't find a calf. In fact, if you look through the instructions for each of the other blood offerings (burnt, peace, sin and trespass) you will not find a calf list amongst the animals to be offered. Nothing. Nadda. There were absolutely no provisions in any of the offerings for a calf.
In Leviticus 8 and 9 there is the consecration of the first priests of Israel. As part of their consecration ritual, they were to be separated from the people and not leave the tabernacle for seven days. On the eighth day, the high priest had to take a young calf for a sin-offering...and present it before the Lord (along with a ram for a burnt offering). This is the only time a calf was to be used for a blood offering, specifically, a sin offering.
Well, the high priest was Aaron. The same Aaron, that while Moses was on the mountain seeing the pattern and getting the instructions for the tabernacle, took up a collection of gold and built the golden calf. The same Aaron that called the golden calf Jehovah and led worship of it. The same Aaron that, when confronted by Moses, excused by saying "I don't know what happened! The people threw their gold into the fire and poof! Out popped a golden calf! Don't really know how it happened, it just did!" The same Aaron that, after watching Moses ground up the golden calf into dust and contaminate their drinking water supply, probably drank the water.
Maybe God required the calf for an offering this one time, just to bring to mind Aaron's sin. The sin had to be atoned before Aaron could serve. I almost find it amusing that after all Aaron's sin with the golden calf, that God would have him slaughter a calf to cover (or atone for) is sin.
I am sure that it was also a stark reminder to Aaron how he failed to keep the first commandments:
I am Jehovah thy God, who have brought thee out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of bondage. Thou shalt have no other gods before me. Thou shalt not make thyself any graven image, or any form of what is in the heavens above, or what is in the earth beneath, or what is in the waters under the earth: thou shalt not bow down thyself to them, nor serve them; for I, Jehovah thy God, am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the sons to the third and to the fourth [generation] of them that hate me, and shewing mercy unto thousands of them that love me and keep my commandments. Thou shalt not idly utter the name of Jehovah thy God; for Jehovah will not hold him guiltless that idly uttereth his name.
Aaron was selected to serve as Jehovah's one and only high priest. But before he could take his position, Aaron had to deal with his sin. This was part of God's sanctification process.
Has God put anything to your mind lately?
If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and righteous to forgive us [our] sins, and cleanse us from all unrighteousness. If we say that we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us.
If God has brought a sin to mind, confess it so God can use you in His service.
Saturday, January 2, 2010
Afar Off
The children of Israel shall encamp every one by his standard, with the ensign of their father's house; round about the tent of meeting, afar off, opposite to it shall they encamp. Number 2:2
When the ancient Israelites pitched their tent in the wilderness, they were in groups according to family or tribe. Each had their place. But according to this verse, they could not pitch the tent anywhere near the tabernacle (or the tent of meeting). The Levites and the priest, who had to serve in the tabernacle, were permitted to pitch tents closer.
The only reason for a non-Levite/priest to come to the tabernacle was with an offering. Since his tent was pitched afar off, the offerer had to travel with his offering (or gift) to the entrance of the tabernacle. In plain sight. In the sight of everyone.
Offerings were brought for several reasons including:
- for a known sin: trespass offering
- for a sin that was not known, but brought to light later: sin offering
- for thanksgiving
- for a vow
- for praising Jehovah
- for fellowship
- and there was the offering just to please Jehovah, the continual burnt offering (as far as I can tell, there was no other reason for this offering).
The sinner had to come from afar off. I suppose that some that were more conscience of the power of the Most Holy and their own unworthiness, probably made more frequent trips.
They could approach Jehovah, but since Jehovah dwelt in the Holiest of Holiest, the offerer could not really get too close. He had no business going any further than the altar of burnt offering. There was nothing for him beyond that point.
Just like the ancient Israelite, we approach Jehovah. We approach Him in prayer. The offerer had to enter the tabernacle gate. When we enter into prayer, we are told to enter into thy chamber, and having shut thy door, pray to thy Father who is in secret, shutting ourselves in separated from the cares of this world . The ancient Israelite had no reason to come without a gift, an offering. We have no reason to bring an offering. We come to God in prayer empty-handed. Each and every offering brought to the tabernacle (or later, temple) and offered on the altar of burnt offering (for whatever reason) was merely a foreshadowing looking forward to a day when Jesus Christ was to be made the offering for us. The author of the book of Hebrews spent a lot of ink to demonstrate this.
This reminds me of the parable of the lost son (you may call him a prodigal if you like). After the son spent and lost everything, he came to his father empty-handed and his father spotted him while he was yet afar off.
And he rose up and went to his own father. But while he was yet a long way off, his father saw him, and was moved with compassion, and ran, and fell upon his neck, and covered him with kisses. Luke 15:2
So, when you have to confess sin, give thanks, vow a vow, offer praise, desire fellowship or just want to please God, come empty-handed in prayer. Shut the door behind you. Pray to the Father who is in secret. See if He is not moved with compassion.
And remember why your hands are empty.
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