Christian Life Page 15

Ju.16 Death of Samson (1 of 2)

Delilah would tempt the mighty Samson with all her wiles but would not know the secret of his strength. Before that fatal hour when he committed a folly from which he would never recover we are given a clue to it.

"For the time would fail me to tell of Gideon, and of Barak, and of Samson, and of Jephthae; of David also, and Samuel, and of the prophets:(He.11:33)" His faith connects with other heroes of faith that does not whit lessen his error of judgement. He let down God as he did himself. God had foreknown him before he was born and the cords with which he was tied to the Lord was one and the same that his Son made manifest in ample measure. Samson tore the young lion that leaped at him without doubt and his faith was under the authority of the Spirit. By same unflinching faith the jawbone of an ass in his hand is a formidable weapon of slaughter. The works was his faith and the Spirit puts his seal of approval. There were however areas where he did not foresee danger to his spiritual life. He had an uncanny ability to consort with the wrong crowd and women were of ill-repute. His experience with his Philistine wife from Timnath did not improve his relations with Delilah. The least could be said in fairness to the unfaithful woman is they are consistent. "There was no one like Ahab who had chosen so often to do what the LORD said was wrong, because his wife Jezebel influenced him to do evil (1 Ki.21:25-NCV). Jezebel was first sold to Satan and wean souls away from God. Deliah was of the same mold. It is in the men of faith we see often fluctuations and time and occasion do make some of them dupes. That tells.

When we find among us are many who started well but falling victims to heresies and immoderate affections. Covetousness is idolatry. The Church in Thyatira was a case in point,"Because thou sufferest that woman Jezebel, which calleth herself a prophetess, to teach and to seduce my servants to commit fornication,"(Re.2:20)

Matt.21:1 "Triumphal entry into Jerusalem"

Branches of trees are associated with the feast of the Lord. During the eight days of the feast, the Israelites would dwell in booths or tabernacles that were made from the branches of trees ( Leviticus 23:40-42). Secondary meaning we shall examine. This triumphal entry of Jesus into Jerusalem was also celebration of the circuit of the word of God which in the person of Jesus of Nazareth was moving forward. Isaiah had foretold,"So shall my word be that goeth forth out of my mouth: it shall not return unto me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it." We already examined the Spirit's annotation on this, " His going forth is from the end of the heaven, and his circuit unto the ends of it: and there is nothing hid from the heat thereof."(Ps.19:5-6) He is indicated as the bridegroom. It is thus we examine the itinerary of the Son on his father's errand and he is passing through. He knew well what awaited him there.

It was at the festival of the tabernacles he announced, "He that believeth on me, as the scripture hath said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water./(But this spake he of the Spirit, which they that believe on him should receive: for the Holy Ghost was not yet given; because that Jesus was not yet glorified.)" John 7:37-38

In the vision of Ezekiel we have the river of time, "Now when I had returned, behold, at the bank of the river were very many trees on the one side and on the other."(Ez.47:7-12)

In Ez.41 the vision concerns the temple the motif of palm tree connects. "And it was made with cherubims and palm trees, so that a palm tree was between a cherub and a cherub; and every cherub had two faces;"(41:18) The living waters issued from the Sanctuary from creation account to Re.22:1-3 also gives us the circuit of the word that God sent forth. Thus it is triumph of the word of God as much as of Jesus Christ.

Matt.21:1 "Triumphal Entry of Jesus" (1 of 2)

"As they approached Jerusalem and came to Bethphage on the Mount of Olives, Jesus sent two disciples",

Triumphal entry of Jesus is triumph of the word sent forth('out of my mouth') as Isaiah foretold,"but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it."(Is.55:11).

Jesus in sending his disciples two by two at the beginning of his ministry as at the end he did as the word become flesh. Gospel of God he delivered by principle of Association and in his words,"He that receiveth you receiveth me, and he that receiveth me receiveth him that sent me."(Matt.10:40) He who received the disciples to all intent and purpose received him who sent them. Then as now. The word sent forth by God thus connected Isaiah who spoke accordingly and it connects Prophet Zachariah who spoke of his triumphal entry into Jerusalem. "Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion; shout, O daughter of Jerusalem: behold, thy King cometh unto thee: he is just, and having salvation; lowly, and riding upon an ass, and upon a colt the foal of an ass." Ze. 9:9 Whatever spoken according to the scriptures shall be fulfilled and it what the above mentioned quote from Isaiah signifes. So the ass, and upon a colt the foal of an ass' are there when he require them. Faith of Jesus is demonstrated here. His disciples did as they were told so by principle of Association they wer associates which is established by the eternal word forever settled in heaven. "All this was done, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophet, saying,"(21:4-6)

" And a very great multitude spread their garments in the way; others cut down branches from the trees, and strawed them in the way." What was the significance of the palm branches?

1 Corinthians 2:4-13

Paul Apostle left very clear saying to the Church of Corinthians, as follow:

4 And my speech and my preaching was not with enticing words of man's wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power:

5 That your faith should not stand in the wisdom of men, but in the power of GOD.

6 Howbeit we speak wisdom among them that are perfect: yet not the wisdom of this world, nor of the princes of this world, that come to nought:

7 But we speak the wisdom of GOD in a mystery, even the hidden wisdom, which GOD ordained before the world unto our glory:

8 Which none of the princes of this world knew: for had they known it, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory.

9 But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which GOD hath prepared for them that love him.

10 But GOD hath revealed them unto us by his Spirit: for the Spirit searcheth all things, yea, the deep things of GOD.

11 For what man knoweth the things of a man, save the spirit of man which is in him? even so the things of GOD knoweth no man, but the Spirit of GOD.

12 Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the spirit which is of GOD; that we might know the things that are freely given to us of GOD.

13 Which things also we speak, not in the words which man's wisdom teacheth, but which the Holy Spirit teacheth; comparing spiritual things with spiritual.

Matthew 11:27

... no man knoweth the Son, but the Father; neither knoweth any man the Father, save the Son, and he to whomsoever the Son will reveal Him.

Ge.22:14-19 "Beersheba" (2 of 2)

So how we fit in the body of Christ is His task. He proved his faith when he died for us, Will not God then give us al things pertaining to our lives and godliness?

v.17 "That in blessing I will bless thee, and in multiplying I will multiply thy seed as the stars of the heaven, and as the sand which is upon the sea shore; and thy seed shall possess the gate of his enemies." This verse is recalled in the Epistle to the Hebrews, "Therefore sprang there even of one, and him as good as dead, so many as the stars of the sky in multitude, and as the sand which is by the sea shore innumerable./These all died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them afar off, and were persuaded of them, and embraced them, and confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth."(He.11:12-13)

God's promise to Abraham was renewed at Jehovah-Jireh so in our workaday world we are interacting with the world without as though we are in Beersheba. It is a world of contentions and our piece of mind is tested against the irritations and vexations it brings. Abraham had his own share. 21:25-34



"And thy seed shall possess the gate of his enemies," recalls the curse,"And I will put enmity between thee and the woman, and between thy seed and her seed; it shall bruise thy head, and thou shalt bruise his heel."(Ge.3:17) God's promise to Abraham still stands. (v.17) "Happy is the man that hath his quiver full of them: they shall not be ashamed, but they shall speak with the enemies in the gate."(Ps.127:5) Psalm is referring about hell as Jesus refers to the church. "And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it."(Matt.18:16) Christ is the only foundation. The same rock in the above mentioned Psalm is compared to 'his quiver'.

Ge.22:14-19 "Beersheba" (1 of 2)

"And Abraham called the name of that place Jehovahjireh: as it is said to this day, In the mount of theLordit shall be seen."(v.14)

"To this day" an expression the Spirit uses in order to fix the events in context of the Son.There are too many examples to put in one comment, and one instance we have here:"even unto the great stone of Abel, whereon they set down the ark of theLord: which stone remaineth unto this day in the field of Joshua, the Bethshemite."(1 Sa.6:18) We have been foreknown and blessed so the emblem, the atonement and the glory that waits, come under the holdall of eternity. The Lamb slain refers to the context of the time of calling, which is irrevocable. So the phrase' before the foundation of the world' is embedded in the now; All his promises are yea in the Son. The throne of God and of the Lamb is ahead of us. It is how we translate the Word become flesh in our present frame of reference.

As St Paul explains,"Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ:/According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love."(Ep.1:3-4). The condition 'that we should be holy and without blame is not what we can manufacture by our own will or merits. It is the grace which came by Jesus Christ. So we walk by faith, "I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I now live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me."(Gal.2:20)

"Unto this day" therefore has a specific weight in terms of Abraham and also for us. It is the Spirit's way to indicate where our wherewithal comes from. We are 'dead' in a manner of speaking so our body as was Abraham ("and him as good as dead,"He.11:12) is for the eternal word to fashion it whichever way our Lord would have it.

Ge.37:12-20 (2 of 2)

"On his father's errand"

The logos aspect of Jesus Christ was there in bodily form as Joseph was in Dothan. 'Joseph went after his brethren and found them in Dostan.' By setting parallel account of Joseph and Jesus we are given a ringside view of the effect of Law of Moses on the nation. As soon as his brethren set eyes afar off what was their reaction. "Come now therefore, and let us slay him.". They hated his dreams as much as they hated his person. Jesus well knew his presence had left them with no cloak to hide. "I know that you are Abraham's descendants, but you seek to kill Me, because My word has no place in you."( John 8:37-NKJV) "If I had not come and spoken unto them, they had not had sin: but now they have no cloak for their sin."( John 15:22)

In addition to this parallel narrative the Spirit serves another symbol as dreams of Joseph convey the role of the world of the Spirit. We carry while abiding in Christ the body of Christ as was prepared before the worlds began. This is faith in quintessence. By abiding as branches our works are what our lives show. Envy, rancor and divisions as we see that the activism of modern churches causes are not from God. Nation of Israel had no cloak to hide when Jesus came among them. Their conspiracy finds parallel to what faced Joseph in Dostan.

What is the significance of Dostan? It was where God heard the prayer of Elisha. "Open his eyes,Lord, so that he may see." Then theLordopened the servant's eyes, "(2 Ki.6:17).

Joseph was there at the mercy of his brethren. The Spirit uses the name to evoke that there was no way they could escape their heinous crime from retribution. Joseph's story is a commentary as the fate of Israel after they had rejected Jesus and killed him on trumped up charges. The word of God 'shall prosper in thing whereto I sent it.'

Ge.37:12-20 (1 of 2)

On his father's errand"

"And his brethren went to feed their father's flock in Shechem./And Israel said unto Joseph, Do not thy brethren feed the flock in Shechem? come, and I will send thee unto them. And he said to him, Here am I./And he said to him, Go, I pray thee, see whether it be well with thy brethren, and well with the flocks; and bring me word again. So he sent him out of the vale of Hebron, and he came to Shechem."(vv.12-14)

The Spirit in order to inform us the role of the patriarchs and the nation of Israel specifically in relation to Jesus Christ recreates a snapshot from the life of Joseph. He is the heir of promise and as such wherever they are set down in the narrative they also in the narrative has a double function: one of which is as the double for the Son. His brethren proved to be incapable for receiving the word of His grace.

When John writes, "For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life,"( John 3:16) it is about as much as the word of God and as of the world.

Good soil is distinct from the bad. So the word of God defines children of light and of darkness.

Israel sends Joseph to seek out where his brethren are, see whether it be well with thy brethren, and well with the flocks and bring me word again. There are four elements. God is concerned for the world which cover both his brethren and his flock. The relation between the Father and the Son has to do with the Son of man as well. This is what Isaiah annotated in this verse."So shall my word be that goeth forth out of my mouth: it shall not return unto me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it."(Is.55:11) God sends his Son in due time.

Ru.2:17-23 "A Day's work" (2 of 2)

"And she took it up, and went into the city: and her mother in law saw what she had gleaned: and she brought forth, and gave to her that she had reserved after she was sufficed./And her mother in law said unto her, Where hast thou gleaned to day? and where wroughtest thou? blessed be he that did take knowledge of thee. And she shewed her mother in law with whom she had wrought, and said, The man's name with whom I wrought to day is Boaz."(vv.18-19)

Ruth and Naomi were companions in suffering while in Moab,- and in a way their suffering was partly owing to their being part of the divine Will. Naomi administered the good news of her salvation which lay in the direction of Bethlehem. Unknown to her God guided them both through sufferings that are part of their world of the flesh. If there is famine that corrodes the body there is also famine for the word of God. Naomi was a living example of the fatness of the soul fed from the eternal word of God. Ruth was not blind to it and it works out slowly and when she also followed her to Bethlehem they were in time for barley harvest. St Paul speaks of it in his epistle "As ye are partakers of the sufferings, so shall ye be also of the consolation(2 Co.1:7)". The day's work brought Ruth before Boaz and also lead to circumstances which prove to be a blessing for everyone concerned..

Ruth 2:17-23 "A Day's Work" (1 of 2)

So she gleaned in the field until even, and beat out that she had gleaned: and it was about an ephah of barley.

About seven and half gallons of barley which was a days work. In providing manna God showed what was a day's work.What Ruth collected was meant for Naomi as well. God commanded the children to Israel to gather manna 'take ye every man for them which are in his tents.' Naomi had served as a messenger from God as it were, in bringing her to the Lord who went visiting his people. The Gospel of God when served as manna the spiritual significance therein still holds good. It meant, 'each gather according to the gifts given from above. Thus the young widow gleaned for her aged mother-in-law as well. Isaiah's expression 'the lame takes the prey' is relevant in this context.

We shall refer the Book of Exodus for a commentary on God's provisions for his people.

"And when the children of Israel saw it, they said one to another, It is manna: for they wist not what it was. And Moses said unto them, This is the bread which theLordhath given you to eat./This is the thing which theLordhath commanded, Gather of it every man according to his eating, an omer for every man, according to the number of your persons; take ye every man for them which are in his tents.17And the children of Israel did so, and gathered, some more, some less./And when they did mete it with an omer, he that gathered much had nothing over, and he that gathered little had no lack; they gathered every man according to his eating(Ex.16:16-18)".

Ps.24:7 "King of glory"-2

This death is physical which has its spiritual ancillary. He tasted death once for all so we may be brought into the selfsame glory. It speaks of New Jerusalem and old Jerusalem is no more for the living. "For it became him, for whomareall things, and by whomareall things, in bringing many sons unto glory, to make the captain of their salvation perfect through sufferings.:(He.2:10)

Jesus is the captain of our salvation. or rather he led the way. "And the nations of them which are saved shall walk in the light of it: and the kings of the earth do bring their glory and honour into it./And the gates of it shall not be shut at all by day".(Re.21:24-25)

Compare this with Isaiah's prophesy:"Open ye the gates, that the righteous nation which keepeth the truth may enter in."(Is.26:2). Also this verse, "Therefore thy gates shall be open continually; they shall not be shut day nor night; thatmenmay bring unto thee the forces of the Gentiles, andthattheir kingsmay bebrought."(Is.60:11)

Ps.24:7 "King of Glory"

"Lift up your heads, O ye gates; and be ye lift up, ye everlasting doors; and the King of glory shall come in."

Jesus riding into Jerusalem is specific which according to the narrative mode of the Spirit has its spiritual ancillary. In the gospel we read, "And the multitudes that went before, and that followed, cried, saying, Hosanna to the Son of David: Blessed is he that cometh in the name of the Lord; Hosanna in the highest."(Matt.21:9) Multitudes going before similarly has its multilayered meaning. 'The multitudes point to the prophets as in the epistle to the Hebrews, "God, who at sundry times and in divers manners spake in time past unto the fathers by the prophets,/ Hath in these last days spoken unto us by his Son,"(He.1:1-2). They 'that followed' by the same token agree with those whom the risen Christ sent "Go ye therefore, and teach all nations," (Matt.28:19)

The city doors were only one part in his circuit to the glory that awaited him. These doors signifying Jerusalem is only associated with the Word become flesh and beyond that to its everlasting shame we have this condemnation," And their dead bodies shall lie in the street of the great city, which spiritually is called Sodom and Egypt, where also our Lord was crucified."(Re.11:8)

We have another gate through which God sent his Son the King of glory to enter. God out of the whirlwind asks Job,"Have the gates of death been opened unto thee? or hast thou seen the doors of the shadow of death?"( Job 38:17) He is the king of glory because he triumphed over death. "Whom God hath raised up, having loosed the pains of death: because it was not possible that he should be holden of it."(Ac.2:24)

"And this is the gate of heaven," which Jacob saw in his dream,(Ge.28:17) through which Jesus Christ went up. "Why stand ye gazing up into heaven? this same Jesus, which is taken up from you into heaven, shall so come in like manner as ye have seen him go into heaven."(Ac.1:11)

Ps,115:16 The Heavens (3 of 3)

Cloud of witnesses also form part of this heaven. (He.12:1) In short the Land of the living where these are alive and are in the presence of God. God is the God of the living and it is how we live two worlds at a time. "I am the God of Abraham, and the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob? God is not the God of the dead, but of the living." (Matt.22:32). Jesus answered and said unto them, Ye do err, not knowing the scriptures, nor the power of God./For in the resurrection they neither marry, nor are given in marriage, but are as the angels of God in heaven."(Matt.22:29)

The three heavens are a generic label for the kingdom of God whose word is the Law. According to the key text God has allowed children of Man the run of the earth but shall call them to account. So how do we come to the inheritance of the saints in light?

We walk by faith. it applies to us so we run our race looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith. We live both worlds at the same time. Nothing less shall justify being a child of God. (Ro.8:14)."

Ps.115:16 (2 of 3)

St John is set in the first heaven . Trinity is present here. "And before the throne there was a sea of glass like unto crystal: and in the midst of the throne, and round about the throne, were four beasts full of eyes before and behind." the body, the seven Spirits of God and the soul is indicated by lightenings or the glory of the Son.

Principle of Similitude sets the firmament, where the sea of glass bears relationship with the sky.separating the waters above and below.(Ps.19:1). Altar of souls remind us of the martyrs resting for a season.

Third heaven is "And every creature which is in heaven, and on the earth, and under the earth, and such as are in the sea, and all that are in them, heard I saying, Blessing, and honour, and glory, and power, be unto him that sitteth upon the throne, and unto the Lamb for ever and ever."(Re. 5:10)

Think of it as schematic diagram from the throne forming the apex to a base, a cone for example. Isaiah speaks of it as a tent, tepee or whatever, "It is he that sitteth upon the circle of the earth, and the inhabitants thereof are as grasshoppers; that stretcheth out the heavens as a curtain, and spreadeth them out as a tent to dwell in:"(Is.40:22) The earth is laid out as circle within this cone.

"The third heaven can be considered as the great congregation to which Jesus visited in his Spirit and preached, "By which also he went and preached unto the spirits in prison."(1 Pe.3:19) Psalm 40:9-10 predicts this. "I have preached righteousness in the great congregation: lo, I have not refrained my lips, O Lord, thou knowest."

Ps.115:16 The Heavens (1 of 3)

"The heaven,eventhe heavens,arethe LORD'S: but the earth hath he given to the children of men."

St Paul speaks of a man 'such an one caught up to the third heaven,' and we shall consider this from all evidence set down by the Holy Spirit.(2 Co.12:2).

Firstly the two worlds framed by the word of God according to the key text are of God and of his Son who is the visible image of the invisible God. This invisible God has a throne which Isaiah assigns to the Father.(He.11:3;Is.66:1)

"And, behold, a throne was set in heaven, and one sat on the throne." (Re. 4:2) "And out of the throne proceeded lightnings and thunderings and voices: and there were seven lamps of fire burning before the throne, which are the seven Spirits of God."(v.3)

'Thundering' explains the word of God sent forth. These have a circuit "There is no speech nor language, where their voice is not heard./Their line is gone out through all the earth, and their words to the end of the world. In them hath he set a tabernacle for the sun," (Ps.19:3-5) The Spirit sets the sun of righteousness as a bridegroom. He is referring to the Man component in the Fellowship of God with Man.

Heavens declare the glory which encapsulates the Gospel of God and the earthly ministry of his Son. Coming back to the vision of St John, "And when he had cried, seven thunders uttered their voices. In Re.110 vv.4-5 explains it, "And when the seven thunders had uttered their voices, I was about to write: and I heard a voice from heaven saying unto me, Seal up those things which the seven thunders uttered, and write them not." The Gospel of Christ has been proclaimed so John was not to write them down. It is part of the everlasting gospel. "And I saw another angel fly in the midst of heaven, having the everlasting gospel to preach unto them that dwell on the earth, and to every nation, and kindred, and tongue, and people," (Re.14:6-7) Thrust of this is in v.7.

1 John 4:4 He that is with you" (3 of 3)

In exercising the sword of Spirit we ward off many thrusts of the enemy even this moment. Ungodly world encourages a child of God to join with them in many hare-brained schemes be it Ponzi scheme or Pro-life marches or pro Israel. Palestine nation reduced to misery without basic amenities did not raise even a murmur from the Christian world against giving a better life to them. What hypocrisy is to take a march for the unborn? Here was a news item, "The fentanyl that killed a one-year-old child at a nursery in New York City was hidden in the nap room under a mat as he slept, police say.". Local churches turn a blind eye to the free flow of dangerous drugs falling into the hands of the vulnerable but they are most vocal for the rights of the foetus! These sort of activism are not from God but from Satan. The word of God is to be used for his glory and not from some worthless political causes.

There was war in heaven and in the Book of Daniel and Revelation we see bad actors spiritual darkness getting involved in the nations. Unknown to us we are engaged in a spiritual struggle against the powers of darkness. There are rules of engagement to which we have our roles, "Watch ye, stand fast in the faith, quit you like men, be strong. Let all your things be done with charity."(1 Co.16:13-14)

"And they went out, they and all their hosts with them, much people, even as the sand thatisupon the sea shore in multitude, with horses and chariots very many." ( Josh 11:3-4) The Spirit gives us as total numbers from both worlds of the Spirit and of the body. Here is another passage, "And the number of the army of the horsemen were two hundred thousand thousand: and I heard the number of them./And thus I saw the horses in the vision,..."(Re.9:16-18)

St. John heard the number and it is a vision given to him. The Spirit gives us a clue. 'Third of men killed''/ The number tag of Three sets in context of the of Son. ( John 16:33)

1 John 4:4 (2 of 3)

God a Spirit and has accordingly by his divine Power given us all things required for life and godliness. We are chosen generation and a peculiar people that he put all the details what makes us a holy nation on the simple article as trust. This faith is greater than the pomp and circumstance that the world flaunts. Many instances we have of those who came to nothing. Who wants such glory that Satan gives the foolish and takes away when is least expected? God does indeed make a distinction between children of light and of wrath. "To bring to nought things that are:/That no flesh should glory in his presence," is the divine rationale.

We are of God so God has in reserve for us the wherewithal to lead a holy life unmolested by spiritual darkness. "For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in highplaces."(Ep.6:12) we see in the life of Elisha, "And he answered, Fear not: for they that be with us are more than they that be with them./And Elisha prayed, and said,Lord, I pray thee, open his eyes, that he may see. And theLordopened the eyes of the young man; and he saw: and, behold, the mountain was full of horses and chariots of fire round about Elisha."(2 Ki.6:15-23)

We have not counted the great congregation that we find associated with the Ancient of days.. There is no change in the numbers or in the divine will set before the worlds began."A fiery stream issued and came forth from before him: thousand thousands ministered unto him, and ten thousand times ten thousand stood before him: the judgment was set, and the books were opened."(Dan.7:10)

'Judgment was set' is by Jesus Christ the same yesterday today and forever. So we figure among the number mentioned in the vision which is our reality in the world of the Spirit. So when we refer to the whole armor of God faith we hold as shield even in the present hour.

1 John 4:4 (1 of 3)

"Ye are of God, little children, and have overcome them: because greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world. "

Apostle John speaks of our antecedents. "Ye are of God" We have ben called forth before the worlds began. We are a chosen generation. Because when God separated light from darkness (Ge.1:3-4) He set us apart to be with him in the light where we have his Son as the true Light. Before we were born it was a matter determined by Him and when we received Jesus Christ as our savior we became according to the word of God, a peculiar people. God also set our tasks which we cannot escape. We should show forth the praises as faithful servants.

"But yearea chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light:"(1 Pe.2:9). In another epistle St Peter says,' to glory and virtue'. ("According as his divine power hath given unto us all things thatpertainunto life and godliness, through the knowledge of him that hath called us to glory and virtue."-2 Pe.1:3)

How peculiar are we that God should his glory invest in us? "And base things of the world, and things which are despised, hath God chosen, yea, and things which are not, to bring to nought things that are:/That no flesh should glory in his presence." (1 Co.1:28-29)

Ju.20 "As One Man" (2 of 2)

"And the children of Israel arose, and went up to the house of God, and asked counsel of God, and said, Which of us shall go up first to the battle against the children of Benjamin? And theLordsaid, Judah shall go up first(v.18)". In v.21 we read that they were thrashed by the tribe of Benjamin.Third time God answers them. "And the children of Israel enquired of theLord, (for the ark of the covenant of God was there in those days,/ And Phinehas, the son of Eleazar, the son of Aaron, stood before it in those days,) saying, Shall I yet again go out to battle against the children of Benjamin my brother, or shall I cease? And theLordsaid, Go up; for to morrow I will deliver them into thine hand(27-28).

But for 600 men of valor from the tribe of Benjamin who sought refuge in a cave others were killed and their towns were torched. "But six hundred men turned and fled to the wilderness unto the rock Rimmon, and abode in the rock Rimmon four months./ And the men of Israel turned again upon the children of Benjamin, and smote them with the edge of the sword, as well the men of every city, as the beast, and all that came to hand: also they set on fire all the cities that they came to.(v.47-48)"

Heresies breed result of which are house of Ophrah, of Micah and the one set up by the tribe of Dan. These may be megachurches but not sanctioned by God. It is thus in the latter days. " Every man's work shall be made manifest: for the day shall declare it, because it shall be revealed by fire; and the fire shall try every man's work of what sort it is."(1 Co.3:13)".

Ju.20. "As One Man" (1 of 2)

Then all the children of Israel went out, and the congregation was gathered together as one man, from Dan even to Beersheba, with the land of Gilead, unto theLordin Mizpeh".

Horror of the Levite dividing his concubine and sending to every tribe brought them as one man. Similar horrors were waiting to recall their sin. In the first revelation young Samuel had we read thus,"And theLordsaid to Samuel, Behold, I will do a thing in Israel, at which both the ears of every one that heareth it shall tingle(1 Sa.3:11-13)". Then God goes on to say,"In that day I will perform against Eli all things which I have spoken concerning his house: when I begin, I will also make an end". This refers to the house of Eli as well as Israel as stated here,"For I have told him that I will judge his house for ever (v.13a)" (Notice the expression 'forever" referring to his Son who is the judge.)

In that day refers to the Day of judgment and it is solely left to the Son. Thus in the key verse the congregation coming together over punishing the people of Gibeah is with reference to the Son. What they deliberated would come up to him. He is the beginning and the Ending(Re.1:8).

The expression 'as one man' is repeated. The congregation hears from the Levite and they vow to punish the guilty."And all the people arose as one man, saying, We will not any of us go to his tent, neither will we any of us turn into his house (v.8)." We will not any of us go to his tent' until the crime has been thoroughly cleansed off the land. They arose as one man. But do they succeed? Without cleansing their own guilt and making peace with God going to Mispah shall prove fruitless.

Ju.19 "Bethlehem-Judah" (2 of 2)

Bethlehem-Judah is an indictment against the partisanship of tribes and against their tribal mentality where God delivered them out of the fiery furnace that was Egypt as 'a people' and not any particular tribe. Israel wad his first born because of his Son whom he would send to them in due time. 'In the fulness of time' speaks of his perfect will. By their disbelief they led events overtake them as with a flood.

Gideon's shrine at Ophrah set in motion, ravages of sin dividing tribes that shall result ultimately into the twin monarchial system. Abimelech made the men of Shechem his base and brought the present schism. This lesson is relevant for us. "Dead flies cause the ointment of the apothecary to send forth a stinking savour(Ec.10:1)": Even a holocaust cannot cure a nation's apostasy. Before they can be helped they need see themselves as they are. It is God who the Shepherd of souls who is in charge.

Ju.19 "Bethlehem-Judah" (1 of 2)

The Spirit in narrating the gruesome incident of the 'certain Levite sojourning on the side of mount Ephraim' and his concubine serves us with an allegory on which we shall focus here. She like Israel went whoring after other gods."And his concubine played the whore against him(v.2)."

The Levite recalls God who commands Prophet Hosea, " Go, take unto thee a wife of whoredoms and children of whoredoms: for the land hath committed great whoredom, departing from theLord.(Ho.1:2)". In v.11 the servant tells the Levite,"Come, I pray thee, and let us turn in into this city of the Jebusites, and lodge in it." He refuses to stay-over for the night in any other place,"We will not turn aside hither into the city of a stranger, that is not of the children of Israel; we will pass over to Gibeah(v.12)". Significant is the mention of the city of Jebusites that shall later on play a great role in the history of Israel as the city of King David.."And they passed on and went their way; and the sun went down upon them when they were by Gibeah, which belongeth to Benjamin."

The concubine was from Bethelehem-Judah geographically it is nonexistent but made up of two names.This is what we need examine closely in order understand the lesson the allegory holds for us.

The hyphenated Bethlehem-Judah recalls another name man-child referring to Jesus Christ. Thus the Spirit establishes a frame of reference to the unfolding of events where the concubine shall be cut up by the Levite ('he took a knife, and laid hold on his concubine, and divided her, together with her bones, into twelve pieces,') and in sending 12 parts to the 12 tribes the Spirit is instructing us that each tribe was equally guilty of departing from the commandments of God.. Also significant is the expression,'unto this day' in v.30 "There was no such deed done nor seen from the day that the children of Israel came up out of the land of Egypt unto this day."

Ju.19:22 "Sons of Belial" (2 of 2)

The Spirit introduces this chapter with this phrase,'And it came to pass in those days, when there was no king in Israel" Of three times we come across it, and the first time in context of the Levite we have the tag placed by the Spirit. He is a Levite coming from BethelhemmJudah, "In those days there was no king in Israel, but every man did that which was right in his own eyes(17:.6). In this chapter we find mention associated with the place name BethelhemJudah. 'In those days' is obviously referring to Jesus Christ whose antecedents agree with both Bethelehem and Judah.

What these sons of Belial did here recalls the day God judged Sodom. It was in connection with Lot who had separated from Abraham. Lot was given preference but he chose the cities of the plains judging by the fertility of land. "Lot looked around and saw that the whole plain of the Jordan toward Zoar was well watered, like the garden of the LORD, like the land of Egypt. (This was before the LORD destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah.(Ge.13:10-NIV). It is similar to the manner prosperity theology gives the sons of Belial a reading and Lot chose the reward of here and now. "As the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, that they may have glory of men. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward (Matt.6:2b)".

Ju.19:22 "Sons of Belial" (1 of 2)

"Now as they were making their hearts merry, behold, the men of the city, certain sons of Belial, beset the house round about, and beat at the door, and spake (v.22)"

Who are these sons of Belial? In the Book of Deuteronomy we are shown what they do. You shall know them by their fruits. They have certain zeal but not according to the knowledge as St Paul writes,"that they are zealous for God, but their zeal is not based on knowledge(Ro.10:2)"."Certain men, the children of Belial, are gone out from among you, and have withdrawn the inhabitants of their city, saying, Let us go and serve other gods, which ye have not known;(De.13:13.)"

These men whose activism is to make others much more worthy of hell by their heretical mindset are sons of Belial. Jesus calls such who know the truth but would not live accordingly as hypocrites. "Hypocrites! for ye compass sea and land to make one proselyte, and when he is made, ye make him twofold more the child of hell than yourselves(Matt.23:15)". In short they hold their truth in unrighteousness. Their heart is without borders so when they handle serpents they shall not let another ask,'do you have to tempt God' they point to the verse from the gospel ( Mark 16:17) and conveniently ignore the call of Jesus,"And he said to them all, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me( Luke 9:23)". 'Denying himself goes with taking up the cross daily which are only two legs for the one who wants to be part of the body of Christ. His eye must be ever on the way followed by Jesus, 'Not my will but thine'.

Sons of Belial are those who have no vision."Where there is no vision, the people perish: but he that keepeth the law, happy is he(Pr.29:18)".

Ju.18:17-21 "Ephod and teraphim" (2 of 2)

The house of Micah by Law of Gradation follows that of Gideon and at the end of this chapter Danites follow suit. The priest the Levite retained by Micah would set up a megachurch, no doubt of that, but the Spirit makes it clear in v.31. "And the children of Dan set up the graven image: and Jonathan, the son of Gershom, the son of Manasseh, he and his sons were priests to the tribe of Dan until the day of the captivity of the land/ And they set them up Micah's graven image, which he made, all the time that the house of God was in Shiloh (vv.30-31).

Of what use was the house set up by the tribe of Dan when the house of God was in Shioh? Similarly in our times we hear another Christ being preached and in their gospel prosperity is sign of blessing. All scandals are permitted as long as it is contained within the members of the board? God is not mocked. The have brought in the eleventh commandment. "Believe what we say; but do not do what we do. No room for competition." So goes trying to be number one. Day of the Lord shall sweep them away. Maranatha.

Ju.18:17-21 "Ephod and Teraphim" (1 of 2)

What was the ephod and teraphim in the house of Micah but made out of 'the other man's riches'? Literally it belonged to his mother which she had consecrated for God's service. By adding one fifth of value of 200 shekels the Spirit is underlining the fact that it was trespass offering but was going instead into the making of idols. This in turn invites us to the idols which Gideon had made and it caused Israel to go astray. "And Gideon made an ephod thereof, and put it in his city, even in Ophrah: and all Israel went thither a whoring after it: which thing became a snare unto Gideon, and to his house(8::27)". Gideon also was spending as the verses preceding would indicate the other man's riches(8:24-26). In short it belonged to mammon.

When God commanded "Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image, or any likeness of any thing that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth(Ex.20:4)"

In the light of the above whether the house of Micah was similar to the one Gideon set up in Orphah or not, it was heresy. Teraphim supposedly represent the cherubim above the mercy seat. Ephod refer to sacerdotal garments specified by God which Moses had to make and also was specified where it may be used. Where it was ignored what was beithElohimbut synonym for Beth-aven? Without the God-Man component tabernacle was nothing. It is thus we preach Gospel of God as Gospel of Christ but prove it by doing the will of God. No short cuts, our faith must follow with works so all glory is unto God alone. We must be conformed in the image of Christ. "My doctrine is not mine, but his that sent me ./If any man will do his will, he shall know of the doctrine, whether it be of God, or whether I speak of myself ( John 7:16-17)" Gideon erred which would give rise unfortunately to all that division.

Ju.18:1 "Unto that day"

"In those days there was no king in Israel: and in those days the tribe of the Danites sought them an inheritance to dwell in; for unto that day all their inheritance had not fallen unto them among the tribes of Israel".

'Unto that day' belongs to the part of the day of creation which is the first thing we need understand from here. Wherever the expression indicated 'unto this day it sets its frame of reference to the Day of the Lamb. In the episode of Achan we came across this verse, "And they raised over him a great heap of stones unto this day. So theLordturned from the fierceness of his anger. Wherefore the name of that place was called, The valley of Achor, unto this day(Josh.7:26)". The preceding verse spoken by Joshua gives us precisely its significance. "And Joshua said, Why hast thou troubled us? theLordshall trouble thee this day. And all Israel stoned him with stones, and burned them with fire, after they had stoned them with stones". He says,'The Lord shall trouble thee this day. " The day was set in terms of the Day of Judgement where the Son shall judge the living and the dead.

Here the Spirit is giving us at literal level regarding inheritance. The tribe of Dan went about in utmost secrecy 'For unto that day' all their inheritance had not fallen unto them. The Spirit emphasizes the day with this phrase to the inheritance of the saints in light. This is all the more set in contrast, in the manner the 600 men of valor handpicked from the tribe went about by stealth. They smote the village that went about their daily business unmolested holding no quarrel with the world. "unto a people that were at quiet and secure: and they smote them with the edge of the sword, and burnt the city with fire./And there was no deliverer, because it was far from Zidon, and they had no business with any man;(18:27-28).

"For our conversation is in heaven, from whence also we look for the Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ (Phil.3:20-21)'

Ju.17:10-13 "The Levite"

And Micah said unto him, Dwell with me, and be unto me a father and a priest, and I will give thee ten shekels of silver by the year, and a suit of apparel, and thy victuals. So the Levite went in./And the Levite was content to dwell with the man; and the young man was unto him as one of his sons./And Micah consecrated the Levite; and the young man became his priest, and was in the house of Micah.

"Then said Micah, Now know I that theLordwill do me good, seeing I have a Levite to my priest."

In the time of the judges Micah found having 'a Levite to my priest' helped his house. In v.6 we read,"In those days there was no king in Israel, but every man did that which was right in his own eyes." Thus the Levite was free to come as the "young man out of Bethlehemjudah of the family of Judah, who was a Levite," found out. If it was right in his eyes to sojourn where the pay was good it was, also by same argument right to leave where he had a better offer. When Jesus cleansed the temple there were sheep coming in and going out; similarly money came in and money changers attended to convert shekels into temple use. The Temple in Jerusalem did well but Jesus drove them all out.( John 2:15-17) Jesus said,"Take these things hence; make not my Father's house an house of merchandise(v.16)'.

Of course the house of Micah was not the house of God. Here we are comparing spiritual with spiritual things. House of Micah dealt with 'other man's riches' while Jesus Christ burning with the jealousy of His Father found the mercantile spirit ruling the roost in the temple precincts. In the age of consumerism consumables are what the world of the flesh holds as status symbol. This mercantile spirit qualifies a Canaanite."and in that day there shall be no more the Canaanite in the house of the LORD of hosts (Ze.14:21)". The spirit of ungodliness making inroads in the national life of Israel and the verse quoted from Zechariah points to the latter days.

Ju.17:4-9

"The House of Micah"

"Yet he (Micah) restored the money unto his mother; and his mother took two hundred shekels of silver, and gave them to the founder, who made thereof a graven image and a molten image: and they were in the house of Micah."

Micah stole and he made good knowing it was offered by his mother as a vow. "His mother said, I had wholly dedicated the silver unto theLordfrom my hand for my son." The Spirit gives us a hint by the value of silver that went into making a graven image and a molten image' that it was a trespass pure and simple, In the Book of Leviticus we have the mention of the thief making good of the value stolen by adding one fifth thereto which form the part of trespass offering. "Or all that about which he hath sworn falsely; he shall even restore it in the principal, and shall add the fifth part more thereto, and give it unto him to whom it appertaineth, in the day of his trespass offering(Le.6:5). What went into the house of Micah, which was not Bethel or the House of God, was the money that belonged to his mother. The Spirit signifies it belonging to mammon or 'other man's riches.' It is how heresies with their church planting achieves and one may call it XY and another A2Z church or whatever.. When their names hit the headlines in news media what the world gets to see are tax evasion, child abuse sexual immorality and greed of their pastors. Ultimately their activism turns out to be simple abuse of their position in disseminating hate and division.

5And the man Micah had an house of gods, and made an ephod, and teraphim, and consecrated one of his sons, who became his priest.

While God has commanded Joshua to set up the Ark of the covenant at Shiloh how valid was the house of Micah?

Ju.17:1-6 "Micah"

'In those days there was no king in Israel, but every man did that which was right in his own eyes.'

Set this verse in a context of the Ark of the tabernacle being set up under Joshua in Shiloh. "And the whole congregation of the children of Israel assembled together at Shiloh, and set up the tabernacle of the congregation there. And the land was subdued before them(Josh.18:1)".God dwelt there by implication that explains the last line. The land was subdued or was at rest. For this reason wherever the Spirit placed a tag there,'So the land had peacefor forty years,until Othniel son of Kenaz (3:11-NIV) The Spirit informs that under Othniel who judged the people of the covenant, the land was at rest. Othniel was only a visible image of the invisible God (Col.1:15). Thus with many other Judges mentioned in the book.

The Spirit in narrating the role of Micah during the times of the Judges is giving us the slow contagion of heresy, which in our times the ecumenical movement represents, slowly gaining ground among the Israelites. Christians in our times are more to be toeing the correct doctrine which loses somewhat in translation but in effect dividing the body of Christ in the many sects.They are a law unto themselves and we find sometimes unsavory details of their abuse hitting the headlines.Like Samson many Christians holds truth of the gospels but to acquire the mind of Christ means swimming against the tide of the ungodliness of modern world. They all want to be seen good and do whatever they think right.

In the text what we read must be set in context of the warning of Moses, " Ye shall not do after all the things that we do here this day, every man whatsoever is right in his own eyes.

9 For ye are not as yet come to the rest and to the inheritance, which the Lord your God giveth you."(De.12:8-9)