'Let's roll.' Todd Beamer's last words with Lisa Jefferson, a customer service supervisor at GTE Airfone's Chicago call center, just before he and other passengers on Flight 93 became the first heroes in the war against islamic terrorists on September 11th. Just before he uttered 'lets roll', some news reports said that he recited the so-called Lord's Prayer. Some news reports said he recited Psalm 23. Some news reports said he recited both.
Psalm 23 is probably the most well known psalm. If I were a betting man, I would bet that if one were to survey church-going folks and ask what their favorite psalm is, Psalm 23 would top the list. If I were a betting man, I would bet that more people have it memorized than any other passage in the Bible (the so-called Lord's prayer being a close second). If I were a betting man, I would bet that Psalm 23 has been put to music more than any other Psalm. I learned, the hard way, a long, long, long time ago, not to bet. Good thing it was only a 25 cent bet!
Did you know that Psalm 23 is the middle psalm of a trilogy? A trilogy of Messianic Psalms -- Psalm 22 is the suffering dying messiah, Psalm 23 is the risen messiah, and Psalm 24 is the returning messiah.
Psalm 22 is past, Psalm 23 is current, and Psalm 24 is future.
Psalm 22 we have the Crucifixion. It has been said that there are 30 specific references to the Crucifixion in the psalm and was written centuries before crucifixion was invented by the Romans. Some have even suggested that Jesus quoted the entire psalm while hanging on the cross beginning with My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me? ending with that he hath done [it] that may be translated: He hath finished it or, it is finished.
Psalm 23 we have a picture of the 'good shepherd' who leads and provides for His flock. This is the relationship between Jesus and believers now. He provides, as we let Him, and He leads, as we let Him. We are no more than stupid sheep trying to pave our own way as we travel through the valley of the shadow of death.
In Psalm 24 we have the returning Savior; the King of Glory triumphantly entering the gates. Who is this King of glory? Jehovah strong and mighty, Jehovah mighty in battle.
In Psalm 22 we are in the court of the tabernacle between the door and the altar of burnt offering, where the innocent is dying for the guilty and His precious blood being shed.
In Psalm 23 we are in the Holy Place, where a table is being prepared before me in the presence of mine enemies. Table...presence...get it? In the tabernacle there was the table of shewbread, also known as the bread of presence. Prepare a table in the presence of...maybe it is just me(?). The table in the tabernacle was set before the Lord, continually. The table in this psalm is set in the presence of ...enemies...interesting.
In psalm 24, we are ushered into the very presence of God in the Holy of Holies. ...who shall stand in his holy place? and what makes Him worthy of the position? He that hath blameless hands and a pure heart; who lifteth not up his soul unto vanity, nor sweareth deceitfully. Only certain Old Testament priest were permitted to approach God and those priests could not be defiled. They had to be perfect in their outward appearance and clean. They had to wash their hands at the laver before they entered the holy place that they die not. How does one get defiled? ...but the things which go forth out of the mouth come out of the heart, and those defile man. Matt. 15:18. Jesus was undefiled. His hands needed no cleansing because he was blameless and had a pure heart. And did He ever lift His soul unto vanity, or swear deceitfully?
Notice, He is to stand in the holy place. We sometimes make a big deal about Jesus sitting, ...having offered one sacrifice for sins, sat down ... at [the] right hand of God... Heb. 10:12. But Stephen got a glimpse into heaven, into the Holy of Holies, and saw Jesus standing ...But being full of [the] Holy Spirit, having fixed his eyes on heaven, he saw [the] glory of God, and Jesus standing at the right hand of God, Acts 7:55
He died (past). He is preparing something (right now). He is returning (future).
Do you believe He died for you (past)? Do you believe He is preparing something for you (right now)? Do you believe He is coming again for you, or with you (future)?
Reminds me of what He said on the eve before His death: In my Father's house there are many abodes; were it not so, I had told you: for I go to prepare you a place; and if I go and shall prepare you a place, I am coming again and shall receive you to myself, that where I am ye also may be. John 14:2-3
He prefaced this by saying: Let not your heart be troubled; ye believe on God, believe also on me.
Do you believe on Him? If you do, your heart shouldn't be too troubled. If your heart is troubled, let him lead, let him provide. Well, we really don't have a problem with His provisions (at least I don't), it is the letting Him lead that takes faith. Stop being a stupid sheep.
And remember, He is coming again...
Lift up your heads, ye gates, and be ye lifted up, ye everlasting doors, and the King of glory shall come in. Who is this King of glory? Jehovah strong and mighty, Jehovah mighty in battle. Lift up your heads, ye gates; yea, lift up, ye everlasting doors, and the King of glory shall come in. Who is he, this King of glory? Jehovah of hosts, he is the King of glory. Selah. Ps. 24:7-10
http://theforgottenfifty.blogspot.com/
Thursday, August 11, 2011
Monday, July 11, 2011
The Physically-Perfect-in-His-Outward-Appearance Priest
And Jehovah spoke to Moses, saying,Speak unto Aaron, saying, Any of thy seed throughout their generations that hath any defect, shall not approach to present the bread of his God;for whatever man hath a defect, he shall not approach: a blind man, or a lame, or he that hath a flat nose, or one limb longer than the other,or a man that is broken-footed, or broken-handed,or hump-backed, or withered, or that hath a spot in his eye, or hath the itch, or scabs, or his testicles broken.No man of the seed of Aaron the priest that hath defect shall come near to present Jehovah's offerings by fire: he hath a defect; he shall not come near to present the bread of his God.The bread of his God, of the most holy and of the holy, shall he eat;only he shall not come in unto the veil, nor shall he draw near unto the altar; for he hath a defect: that he profane not my sanctuaries; for I am Jehovah who do hallow them.And Moses told it to Aaron, and to his sons, and to all the children of Israel.Lev 21:16-24
One thing that struck me as I taught through this passage recently (yes, I bore kids with stuff like this...) is that each one of these defects are physical, you can look at someone and tell that they are blind, lame or flat-nosed. Apparently, according to this passage, a physically deformed priest could serve other priestly duties, since he could eat his portion of the sacrifices, but he was forbidden to approach God. In order to approach God, a priest had to be perfect in his outward appearance.
The Old Testament priest is a type of New Testament believer (1 Pet. 2:5, Rev. 1:6)
Our (believers) outward appearance, should be blemish free to the outside world; we ought to be different, noticeably different, in a good way.
Remember, the physically-perfect-in-his-outward-appearance priest was permitted to approach God only if he washed at the laver first. Not only did the priest had to be physically perfect in his outward appearance but he had to be clean, too! Washing at the laver is a type of cleansing of the Word. We now get cleansed by the confession-forgiveness cycle (1 John 1:8-9)
What do people see when they observe you? You may not be physically perfect in your outward appearance, but what about your character? Is it spotless? Do they see Jesus?
If not, maybe you need a little more cleansing. Spend sometime in confession. If you have a hard time getting your sins to the surface, back up to the Altar of Burnt Offering. Consider the crucifixion and what Jesus accomplished for you at the cross. In the light of the cross, your sins will surface.
Upon that cross of Jesus mine eye at times can see
The very dying form of One Who suffered there for me;
And from my stricken heart with tears two wonders I confess;
The wonders of redeeming love and my unworthiness. -- Elizabeth C. Clephane
One thing that struck me as I taught through this passage recently (yes, I bore kids with stuff like this...) is that each one of these defects are physical, you can look at someone and tell that they are blind, lame or flat-nosed. Apparently, according to this passage, a physically deformed priest could serve other priestly duties, since he could eat his portion of the sacrifices, but he was forbidden to approach God. In order to approach God, a priest had to be perfect in his outward appearance.
The Old Testament priest is a type of New Testament believer (1 Pet. 2:5, Rev. 1:6)
Our (believers) outward appearance, should be blemish free to the outside world; we ought to be different, noticeably different, in a good way.
Remember, the physically-perfect-in-his-outward-appearance priest was permitted to approach God only if he washed at the laver first. Not only did the priest had to be physically perfect in his outward appearance but he had to be clean, too! Washing at the laver is a type of cleansing of the Word. We now get cleansed by the confession-forgiveness cycle (1 John 1:8-9)
What do people see when they observe you? You may not be physically perfect in your outward appearance, but what about your character? Is it spotless? Do they see Jesus?
If not, maybe you need a little more cleansing. Spend sometime in confession. If you have a hard time getting your sins to the surface, back up to the Altar of Burnt Offering. Consider the crucifixion and what Jesus accomplished for you at the cross. In the light of the cross, your sins will surface.
Upon that cross of Jesus mine eye at times can see
The very dying form of One Who suffered there for me;
And from my stricken heart with tears two wonders I confess;
The wonders of redeeming love and my unworthiness. -- Elizabeth C. Clephane
Tuesday, March 15, 2011
Take Me to Your Leader!
And Jesus coming up spoke to them, saying, All power has been given me in heaven and upon earth. Go [therefore] and make disciples of all the nations, baptising them to the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit; teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have enjoined you. And behold, *I* am with you all the days, until the completion of the age. Matt. 28:18-20
The gospel according to Mathew ends thus. Jesus gives a command to make disciples. Notice, He doesn’t say to make converts. He doesn’t say to make believers. He doesn’t say to win souls. His command is simply to make disciples. A disciple is one who follows with the intent to learn. The command is to make Christ-followers.
Try to follow me here...
A believer may or may not be following Christ. Just like the nobleman in John chapter 4, a believer may not be a follower. Three times we are told that the nobleman believed, but, he returned home and, as best I can tell, never became a follower of Jesus. Believers today may be non-Christ-followers. The reasons for this could be because they may not know that they are supposed to, they may not letting Jesus lead, or they may be following some earthly charismatic leader instead of the One that set aside His rights to royalty to come and die on their behalf. If you point a non-following believer to Christ and they begin to follow, you have then fulfilled the command to make a disciple, even though they were a believer to start with.
Are you following?
Non-believers are not generally followers of Christ, but they may be. The Biblical example being Judas. Judas was a disciple, but Jesus called him the ‘son of perdition’. Judas was a Christ-follower, yet was heavily influenced by the devil. Since he held the money bag, Judas must have been trusted by the other disciples, yet for 30 pieces of silver, he betrayed Jesus with a kiss. Judas was named among the disciples, a trusted Christ-follower, but not a believer. So, if you point a non-believer towards Christ, and they begin to follow to learn, even if they do not convert or believe right away, you have fulfilled the command to make a disciple.
Ah, I see you are still following (you may not be agreeing with me, but you are still following).
Judas was a disciple, but did not follow to the end. During the Passover feast, he stopped following, he left the group of true believers. Did you ever consider the timing of his departure? He left the feast after the foot washing, but before the institution of the Lord’s supper. This is a turning point in John’s gospel. After Judas departs, Jesus is left with His followers who also believe.
Follow me on a walk through the John’s gospel and I will try to show how it is like a walk through the tabernacle:
(Wow, that was longer than I thought it would be, and I didn’t even cover the great “I am” statements in John!)
Are you following? Are you a Christ-follower? Great! Then go teach the gospel and point others to Christ. Keep your eyes focused on Christ and others will follow. Heck, I will follow! Take me to your leader!
Who will follow Jesus,
In His work of love,
Leading others to Him,
Lifting prayers above?
Courage, faithful servant!
In His Word we see,
On our side forever
Will this Savior be. -- Eliza E. Hewitt
The gospel according to Mathew ends thus. Jesus gives a command to make disciples. Notice, He doesn’t say to make converts. He doesn’t say to make believers. He doesn’t say to win souls. His command is simply to make disciples. A disciple is one who follows with the intent to learn. The command is to make Christ-followers.
Try to follow me here...
A believer may or may not be following Christ. Just like the nobleman in John chapter 4, a believer may not be a follower. Three times we are told that the nobleman believed, but, he returned home and, as best I can tell, never became a follower of Jesus. Believers today may be non-Christ-followers. The reasons for this could be because they may not know that they are supposed to, they may not letting Jesus lead, or they may be following some earthly charismatic leader instead of the One that set aside His rights to royalty to come and die on their behalf. If you point a non-following believer to Christ and they begin to follow, you have then fulfilled the command to make a disciple, even though they were a believer to start with.
Are you following?
Non-believers are not generally followers of Christ, but they may be. The Biblical example being Judas. Judas was a disciple, but Jesus called him the ‘son of perdition’. Judas was a Christ-follower, yet was heavily influenced by the devil. Since he held the money bag, Judas must have been trusted by the other disciples, yet for 30 pieces of silver, he betrayed Jesus with a kiss. Judas was named among the disciples, a trusted Christ-follower, but not a believer. So, if you point a non-believer towards Christ, and they begin to follow to learn, even if they do not convert or believe right away, you have fulfilled the command to make a disciple.
Ah, I see you are still following (you may not be agreeing with me, but you are still following).
Judas was a disciple, but did not follow to the end. During the Passover feast, he stopped following, he left the group of true believers. Did you ever consider the timing of his departure? He left the feast after the foot washing, but before the institution of the Lord’s supper. This is a turning point in John’s gospel. After Judas departs, Jesus is left with His followers who also believe.
Follow me on a walk through the John’s gospel and I will try to show how it is like a walk through the tabernacle:
- First time we see Jesus in John’s gospel, He is declared the Lamb of God that takes away sin.
- The first piece of furniture we see when we enter the court of the tabernacle, is the altar of burnt offering, where lambs were continually slaughtered to atone for the sins of the people.
- Between the first sighting up to chapter 13, Jesus interacts with four different groups of people: believers that follow Christ (the 11), believers that do not follow Christ (the ‘nobleman’ in John 4), non-believers that follow Christ (Judas), and non-believers that did not follow Him.
- The high priest in the court of the tabernacle interacted with his sons, the priests, and the offerers. According to the book of Hebrews, Jesus is now our high priest. According to Revelation 1:6, we believers are all priest. In John chapter 13 Jesus enters the upper room with his disciples only, leaving all others outside.
- The feast begins and there is a foot washing.
- In the tabernacle the laver, in the court, was the place where the priest washed their feet.
- Judas leaves leaving the 11 true believing followers in the upper room.
- At first Aaron had four sons but two never made it to serve as priests. Nadab and Abiyu (Aaron’s eldest) apparently washed at the laver, but were killed by God for offering strange fire on the last day of their of their consecration as priests. After the laver, there is the the Holy place, a room in the tabernacle only for the priest (a type of true believers).
- In the upper room Jesus says to His true believing followers that He is the way...no one comes to the Father but through Him.
- The veil separated the Holy Place from the Holiest of Holiest, where God, the Father dwelt. In Hebrews 12 we are told that the veil was Jesus’s flesh. The only way to the Father on the other side of the veil was through the veil.
- Jesus broke bread with His true-believer followers.
- In the tabernacle, the high priest breaks bread with the priests, on each Sabbath.
- Jesus had fellowship with His true-believing followers and talks to them for three chapters (the end of John 13 to the end of 16).
- The high priest had fellowship only with the priests in the Holy Place.
- In the beginning of John 17, Jesus turns His back, as it were, on His disciples and turns to His Father in prayer. He prays as if His followers aren’t even there -- even refers to them in the third person.
- In the tabernacle, on the Day of Atonement, the high priest leaves the Holy Place to enter the Holiest of Holiest where he is one on one with the Father.
(Wow, that was longer than I thought it would be, and I didn’t even cover the great “I am” statements in John!)
Are you following? Are you a Christ-follower? Great! Then go teach the gospel and point others to Christ. Keep your eyes focused on Christ and others will follow. Heck, I will follow! Take me to your leader!
Who will follow Jesus,
In His work of love,
Leading others to Him,
Lifting prayers above?
Courage, faithful servant!
In His Word we see,
On our side forever
Will this Savior be. -- Eliza E. Hewitt
Sunday, December 5, 2010
Shirts or Skins?
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
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
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
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