Christian Life Page 18

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)

Ju.12:7-15 "70 Ass colts"

And Jephthah judged Israel six years. Then died Jephthah the Gileadite, and was buried in one of the cities of Gilead./

8And after him Ibzan of Bethlehem judged Israel./9And he had thirty sons, and thirty daughters, whom he sent abroad, and took in thirty daughters from abroad for his sons. And he judged Israel seven years.

In this list of names their role were as judges and as matter of course served the house of Israel and the Spirit do not pause to give them encomiums, and rightly so since they ruled by the Spirit of God and not by their own merits. "And I looked, and there was none to help; and I wondered that there was none to uphold: therefore mine own arm brought salvation unto me; and my fury, it upheld me(Is.63:5)". The Spirit uses however certain tags to give their service within the context of the Son as the Judge. So threescore and ten ass colts found place here because the Spirit is serving multilayered account of the Salvation Plan of God.

Earlier we read of "Jair, a Gileadite, and judged Israel twenty and two years./And he had thirty sons that rode on thirty ass colts(10:3-4)", Here we have Abdon associated with ass colts which are hovever 70 in number.

And after him Abdon the son of Hillel, a Pirathonite, judged Israel./And he had forty sons and thirty nephews, that rode on threescore and ten ass colts: and he judged Israel eight years. He belonged to Ephraim while Jair belonged to Gilead.

What is the significance? Gilead and Ephraim just went through a bitter conflict, 'and there fell at that time of the Ephraimites forty and two thousand'(12:6). In Christ Jesus their middle wall of partition was removed. 70 number connects Ephraim and Gilead to the Prince of peace. 70 is a command number to refer the end times.

Ju.12:6-7 "Burden" (2 of 2)

When God delivered Israel from Egypt he freed them from their burdens. They were a people and not 12 tribes each indivisible part of the whole. In the choice of Judges also we see this. Israel's blessings on his death bed foresaw Judah ''The sceptre shall not depart from Judah, nor a lawgiver from between his fee(Ge.49:10a). The Judges were whoever handpicked by God from the whole. All these were in frame of reference to his Son. that is all.

Here we see instead a conflict between brethren and were under the partisan spirit of Satan.

"Wherefore say unto the children of Israel, I am theLord, and I will bring you out from under the burdens of the Egyptians, and I will rid you out of their bondage, and I will redeem you with a stretched out arm, and with great judgments:/ And I will take you to me for a people, and I will be to you a God: and ye shall know that I am theLordyour God, which bringeth you out from under the burdens of the Egyptians(Ex.6:6-7)."

Ju.12:6-7 "Burden" (1 of 2)

"And the Gileadites took the passages of Jordan before the Ephraimites: and it was so, that when those Ephraimites which were escaped said, Let me go over; that the men of Gilead said unto him, Art thou an Ephraimite? If he said, Nay;

6Then said they unto him, Say now Shibboleth: and he said Sibboleth: for he could not frame to pronounce it right. Then they took him, and slew him at the passages of Jordan: and there fell at that time of the Ephraimites forty and two thousand."12:6-7

The internecine war between the Gileadites and Ephraimites was set in motion by Abimelech who set tribes at each others throat and as we shall see there are more such conflicts in the offing. Earlier to it we are given a ringside view of the spirit of revolt in the camp of Korah, Dathan & Co. The Spirit however gives us it silently working in them which is fought in earnest when the son of Gideon's concubine could get men of Shechem to back his power grab. Here we have now the struggle for pre-eminence between Ephraim and Gilead.

As Jeremiah would say whoever made his reliance on his arm was accursed. "Thus saith theLord; Cursed be the man that trusteth in man, and maketh flesh his arm, and whose heart departeth from theLord (Je.17:5)". The number of casualties as a result of the battle was 42x1000. This number connects it to the end times. Thousand signify that period of time. The beast in the latter days was given power for a duration of 42 months.("and power was given unto him to continue forty and two months".-Re.13:5b)). The culprit that caused this conflict was none other than Satan who gave the beast authority to muddy the glory of the word of God. The difference between Shibboleth and Sibboleth is how an ear of corn of corn becomes a burden. "They are exalted for a little while, but are gone and brought low; they are taken out of the way as all other, and cut off as the tops of the ears of corn( Job 24:24)".

Ju.11:11-31 " On Taking Oath"

Then Jephthah went with the elders of Gilead, and the people made him head and captain over them: and Jephthah uttered all his words before theLordin Mizpeh./And Jephthah sent messengers unto the king of the children of Ammon, saying, What hast thou to do with me, that thou art come against me to fight in my land?

Jephthah was not picking a quarrel with the king in order to prove a point of his valor but God had willed it so. Moses in his farewell address "For theLordthy God, he it is that doth go with thee; he will not fail thee, nor forsake thee(De.31:3-6)". Just as Moses and Joshua had served before him Jephthah would have a formidable strategy, a willing formula that is trust. He spoke to the king, "So whomsoever theLordour God shall drive out from before us, them will we possess(vv. 23-24)".

Jephthah the mighty man of valour spoke, well not drawing attention to him but to the Omnipotent God whose word would never fail. The king shall know the Lord God is the sovereign Lord of heaven and the earth. His word whatever spoken therefore came up before the Word eternally settled in heaven. (Ps.119:89).

The Spirit also gives us a fatal error by which his spoke under oath and it was impossible for him to withdraw. The Spirit instructs us not to swear any oath owing to our infirmity in the flesh. God multitasks so events are in flux to which no one may foresee unless it is given from above. Jephthah never hoped to see his only child coming to greet him on his return.

Here below we have Jesus warning as to to the peril of oaths. God does not demand one from us knowing our weak nature. By an oath does anyone think to rise to His level? Grace is all that we need.

It is for this reason Jesus warned us,"But let your communication be, Yea, yea; Nay, nay: for whatsoever is more than these cometh of evil(Matt.5:37)". We are accountable for every idle word spoken.

Ju.11:6-24 "The Head"

"And it came to pass in process of time, that the children of Ammon made war against Israel./And it was so, that when the children of Ammon made war against Israel, the elders of Gilead went to fetch Jephthah out of the land of Tob:/And they said unto Jephthah, Come, and be our captain, that we may fight with the children of Ammon."

In this context let us go back to the fable of Jotham. "The trees went forth on a time to anoint a king over them; and they said unto the olive tree, Reign thou over us./But the olive tree said unto them, Should I leave my fatness, wherewith by me they honor God and man, and go to be promoted over the trees?((:8-9)"

What made olive tree bear the fatness to honor God and man but God who is the Head? When trees forget this crucial fact it bodes ill for them. They are clueless without God. What they choose shall be leaders without exception, fools whose short-sightedness only matched by the calamity brought in by events that turn contrary. This is one lesson we learned from wars in our century. Unless God is not the head, - the Tree of Liberty we shall keep counting Iraq, Afghanistan not to forget Vietnam so many bitter fruits of nation's misdaventure. You keep counting and it shall do no good. People perish for want of vision.

This is how man without God leads nations.

Israel had to come back to Jephthah whom they had earlier rejected because God had taken a hand in the matter.

Ju.11:1-4

"Jephtha"

Now Jephthah the Gileadite was a mighty man of valour, and he was the son of an harlot: and Gilead begat Jephthah.

The Spirit sets Jephtha the Gileadite in the mold of Gideon by addressing him with the title God had used earlier."And the angel of theLordappeared unto him, and said unto him, TheLordis with thee, thou mighty man of valour(6:12)". This sets continuity which by the Law of Gradation invites comparison with God and we shall begin with this verse,"The right hand of theLordis exalted; the right hand of theLorddoeth valiantly(Ps.118:16-KJ21). This takes us all the way to the Son the Alpha Omega, the beginning and the ending. So when Jesus announces "but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.( John 16:33b)"what are we to assume? Is it not that the final outcome of the battle is already determined? For those who entrust their lives unto him, He is the King of kings Lord of Lords who is shown arrayed in all white and on a white horse. He bears this inscription, -"And he hath on his vesture and on his thigh a name written,King Of Kings, And Lord Of Lords(Re.19:16)". Predestination by the word of God which is eternal, has covered us. It is a decree Ps.2:7-8. When John speaks of him reveals, "Who has made us kings and priests 'unto God and his Father(Re.1:6)"

Jephtha was the son of a harlot for which his brethren had cast him out. But God raises him out of exile as he did with Moses. God did not hold against Gideon for his Father's idol worship. God had already found him an extension of His sword and also sets events,- as we might say God multitasks, that we cannot refuse but take up our cross as mighty men of valor. As teachers, helps, administrators or as influencers God can make use of every Christian for His kingdom. God chose Jephtha despite of what shame he might have carried among his brethren."Who is my mother? and who are my brethren?/And he stretched forth his hand toward his disciples, and said, Behold my mother!"

Ju.8:1-3 "Gideon"

Gideon rallied around him men from his own tribe Manasseh and all those who obeyed call to arms from other tribes from Asher Zebulun and Naphtali(6:35). Since it was God who fought their battle he could accept criticism from men of Ephraim who had faulted him for not including them.

'A soft answer turns away wrath'. In vv. 2-3 Gideon puts this precept to practice (Pr.15:1). Gideon as a judge did not win their victory but the word of God by Law of Gradation made his sword as that of David after him one and also with that of the Prince of peace. When the three hundred in one voice shouted "The sword of theLord, and of Gideon(7:18)" it was God the Son who fulfilled the directive of his Father. The glory of his Word when flashed holds eternal word in its fierceness against which no power shall stand. Thus the Law of Gradation just stated, takes us to Moses on the rock at Horeb with his hands raised up while Joshua fought with Amalek (Ex.17:13) The same sword connects with the sword of Jesus Christ, 'And out of his mouth goeth a sharp sword, that with it he should smite the nations(Re.19:15a)'

Gideon places himself merely as doing the will of his Father. The Spirit uses him as a stand-in for the Son. What does it lead to. He makes himself insignificant before the men of Ephraim,'What have I done now in comparison of you? Is not the gleaning of the grapes of Ephraim better than the vintage of Abiezer?'. Ephraim can take credit over their victory and it recalls the line' the lame take the prey, "For theLordis our judge, theLordis our lawgiver, theLordis our king; he will save us.When God is the cause for victory even The lame shall take the prey(Is.33:23)"

Ju.7:16-25 "The Three Companies" 2 of 2)

"No weapon that is formed against thee shall prosper; and every tongue that shall rise against thee in judgment thou shalt condemn. This is the heritage of the servants of theLord, and their righteousness is of me, saith theLord(Is.54:17)".

By Law of Gradation we fight against spiritual wickedness in high places where we are backed by every hero of faith, 'cloud of witnesses' (He.12:1) and we have already considered the Spirit using expression 'multitudes' or 'as the sand by the sea side for multitude(v.12)'. Such numbers we are given is what the Spirit found as more accurate in God document. On the other hand history of wars between nations the manner numbers are used are arbitrary. The Bible is God document and intent of the Spirit is not to control history from the victor's standpoint.