The nation of Israel in their apostasy, 'perpetual backsliding' shall not escape the cup of fury reserved for them. Nations that have similarly made mammon their god shall drink it. No escape. It is what we can gather from vv26-29. "For, lo, I begin to bring evil on the city which is called by my name, and should ye be utterly unpunished? Ye shall not be unpunished: for I will call for a sword upon all the inhabitants of the earth, saith theLordof hosts(v.29). Jesus Christ while teaching his disciples had revealed nations shall fight one another. It is what we see in v.32."Thus saith theLordof hosts, Behold, evil shall go forth from nation to nation, and a great whirlwind shall be raised up from the coasts of the earth". All these whirlwinds are in relation to the emblem of whirlwind set for the nations that forget the commands of righteous God. Recent news of migrants in custody being denied potable water is not racially charged responses but insults hurled at God who is their maker. (2019)
"For thus saith theLordGod of Israel unto me; Take the wine cup of this fury at my hand, and cause all the nations, to whom I send thee, to drink it./And they shall drink, and be moved, and be mad, because of the sword that I will send among them./Then took I the cup at theLord's hand, and made all the nations to drink, unto whom theLordhad sent me:"(vv.14-17)
What it is to be a sign? It is set by God and in this chapter we see God has set the prophet as a sign. What he does with wine cup of God's fury is as though it is effected though these places are at the far corners of the earth. When God set Ezekiel as a watchman (Ez.4) he was to lie and the number of days had significance as lying on the right side. In such a position his sign was different from what preceded. He bore the sin of Judah and as such its significance also varied,'I have assigned you 40 days, a day for each year'. It is God who sets signs and it is all valid as the Spirit creates emblem (part of heavenly realities as in the manner 'the lamb slain before the worlds began' is set to indicate Salvation Plan of God) and in the Book of Jeremiah we have it in the whirlwind."For, behold, theLordwill come with fire, and with his chariots like a whirlwind, to render his anger with fury, and his rebuke with flames of fire (Is.66:15-16)".
Here lesson that we can learn is the role of man is on which realities of heaven and the earth are calibrated. It is for the glory of God. Thus great prophets like Elijah and Elisha would pray and achieved results."The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much (Jas.5:13-16). What is the secret? Jesus explained it as finger of God with which he cast out demons and healed the sick. It signified a righteous man is one whose faith is hitched upon the creative faith so all glory and honor due to God is reinstated. Instead when prosperity theology debases faith for accumulating wealth one can imagine how antichrist has stepped in the breach of God and man. The nation of Israel in their apostasy, 'perpetual backsliding' shall not escape the cup of fury reserved for them. Nations that have similarly made mammon their god shall drink it. No escape. It is what we can gather from vv26-29. ""For, lo, I begin to bring evil on the city which is called by my name."
Thus whosoever allows himself to be the point where reality of the heaven and of the earth meet in him is a mediator, and by law of gradation reckoned as having Jesus Christ as the firstborn of all creation. Joseph Moses, the prophets were all forerunners of Jesus Christ and so are children of God whose faith squarely is in tune with God who sent his only begotten Son for salvation of mankind. Our faith is a seed sown in us by God. When God breathed into the nostrils of Adam whatever may be known of God also became a faculty and faith that comes by hearing the word of God.(Ro.10:17) Faith must be articulated. "Itisnot in heaven, that thou shouldest say, Who shall go up for us to heaven, and bring it unto us, that we may hear it, and do it...But the message is very near you, in your mouth and in your heart, so that you may follow it.? (De.10:12-14)"
"In the beginning of the reign of Jehoiakim the son of Josiah king of Judah came this word from theLord, saying,/Thus saith theLord; Stand in the court of theLord's house, and speak unto all the cities of Judah, which come to worship in theLord's house, all the words that I command thee to speak unto them; diminish not a word:"(26 Je.1-2)
What is the eternal word of God? "For ever, OLord, thy word is settled in heaven (Ps.119:89)". Now ask ourselves what was the Word? According to the Gospel of St John the Word was with God from the beginning. He was God and the Word was made flesh 'and dwelt among us'. Jesus the Son of man has also testified,"For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled (Matt.5:18)". The eternal word simply put is the constitution of God and when the Spirit places realities of heaven and the earth on a single yardstick it is true. Whosoever places himself to do the will of the Father perfectly is perfect fit as 'the finger of God'. Jeremiah could not do otherwise. He was threatened by his peers to hold silence. He was beaten, and his feet were put in stocks. Yet he could not be silent since God the Supreme Sovereign Lord had laid a charge that took precedence over his peers,- kings, princes governors or officials of the ecclesiastical courts.
Hear what the prophet says, "Then I said, I will not make mention of him, nor speak any more in his name. But his word was in mine heart as a burning fire shut up in my bones, and I was weary with forbearing, and I could not stay (Je.20:9-10). Holding back the word that God had put in his mouth was on the other hand was gnawing his vitals like new wine within pressing on old wineskins to rip apart. A child of God has truth written in his inward parts. This is similar to the constitution of God serving as counterweight. in each one of us. So when we are sure of what we have we ought to say as with the Psalmist,"TheLordis on my side; I will not fear: what can man do unto me?(Ps.118:6-9)" Our equipoise or rest comes from the assurance of God's promises, which is what the constitution of God means. Nothing shall happen outside the will of God. This was the strength of Prophet Jeremiah.
What is the significance of 70 years? The number of 7 refers to what is ordained by God. Creative Power and Wisdom signaled seven as a rest which has no bearing on the eternal God whose state of Being is characterized as Truth. Rest of Sabbath when observed by His people merely in formalism and superficial piety, it cannot please God."If thou turn away thy foot from the sabbath,fromdoing thy pleasure on my holy day; and call the sabbath a delight, the holy of the LORD, honourable; and shalt honour him, not doing thine own ways, nor finding thine own pleasure, nor speakingthine ownwords:(Is.58:13-14)" The same number also refer to the disfavor of God lasting a specific period.
Multiple of 10 refer to the decalogue which is handful, and counted on fingers. When Jesus expounded the Commandments he simplified it as two hands. This is as simple to remember but how many can be said as having observed it?"Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself. On these two commandments hang all thelawand the prophets." With all thy heart does not mean merely observing it. So the law indifferently handled by the nation determined desolation. As a result Babylonian captivity is a visible manifestation of God's wrath, and forms one in many such desolations making up the perpetual desolation.
Holocaust prior to the founding of the state of Israel is covered in the desolations which are qualified as perpetual desolations. ":....and make them an astonishment, and an hissing, and perpetual desolations(Je.25:9)". This state of affair shall continue till the Anointed One comes second time. Perpetual backsliding of Israel go with perpetual desolation as we seen in our times as well..
God had made clear what He required from the nation of Israel. 'They were to observe to do his commandments and statutes.' Failure of which would be desolation associated with the curse of apostasy, signaling dearth destruction and dispersion. So the Babylonian King was an instrument to chastise them. "The Lord shall cause thee to be smitten before thine enemies..." (De.28:15,25). God had instructed Jeremiah and accordingly he had been warning of the impending doom. The Lord now gives a reason,"Because ye have not heard my words,/Behold, I will send and take all the families of the north, saith the God, and Nebuchadrezzar the king of Babylon, my servant,..(vv.8-9)"Here we have a specific period stipulated. "And this whole land shall be a desolation, and an astonishment; and these nations shall serve the king of Babylon seventy years." Not only Judah and Jerusalem but also "nations round about, and will utterly destroy them, and make them an astonishment, and an hissing, and perpetual desolations(v.9). This ought to warn us that our disobedience affects not only ourselves but also carries 'a collateral damage clause' therein. When God pronounced blessing and curse it sets squarely every one of us at the eye of blessings or desolations and these desolations are like earthquakes bringing their aftershocks.
Another point we may consider the usage of numbers. 70 weeks and 70 years have their spiritual ramifications. Commandment of Artaxerxes, the King of Persia issued to rebuild Jerusalem (Dan.9:25) would not mean the exiled nation was all ecstatic with one mind to do their bit for the glory of God. In 458 BC he gave Ezra permission (Ezr.7). In the same book we see opposition building up against the repair work(Ezr.4:7-23). There were equally a group of Jews who had no mind or patience to undergo the rigor of resettling in 'the city of God.' Even with many dispersion we see the single-mindedness of the nation becoming diluted,
What the exiles endured in the hands of Chaldeans may be disgusting and fall from grace but if it were accepted as ordained from God they shall find God gathering them after 70 years and they shall be established once more in their homes. Those who refused God's chastisement as the writer to the Hebrews said they were base and bastards. This is what the two baskets of figs now signify.
Perpetual backsliding of the nation and not God who should be blamed for their desolations. This being the case destruction of Jerusalem in 70 AD lay in future and we may be certain that they would certainly face dispersion in our century as well. Prophet Jeremiah predicts nature of desolations and these are set in God's Time. In the end only a remnant shall be found.
Here two baskets of figs and it is interesting to note where these were set. The temple of the Lord is not qualified as of any nation in particular. It is not any building built of the historical time but of eternity.
TheLordshewed me, and, behold, two baskets of figs were set before the temple of theLord, after that Nebuchadrezzar king of Babylon had carried away captive Jeconiah the son of Jehoiakim king of Judah, and the princes of Judah, with the carpenters and smiths, from Jerusalem, and had brought them to Babylon.
"Thus saith theLord, the God of Israel; Like these good figs, so will I acknowledge them that are carried away captive of Judah, whom I have sent out of this place into the land of the Chaldeans for their good./For I will set mine eyes upon them for good, and I will bring them again to this land: and I will build them, and not pull them down; and I will plant them, and not pluck them up./And I will give them an heart to know me, that I am theLord: and they shall be my people, and I will be their God: for they shall return unto me with their whole heart./And as the evil figs, which cannot be eaten, they are so evil; surely thus saith theLord,"
Here we have an objective lesson as in the case of the earthen vessel of which we had earlier discussed. It was indicative of a specific time but it also carried an universal lesson meaning that desolations that the nation would meet would not spare the prophet in as much the physical reality of his body suffered the common fate of all. But truth written in his inward parts signified that righteousness of God separated him from the rest. "for I am with thee, saith theLord, to deliver thee(Je.1:19)". It was His promise.
Another important lesson we have drawn has to do with the manner the Spirit catalogues places on the earth, cities where partial judgements would occur Egypt, Sodom Babylon Jerusalem to name a few are juxtaposed to the crucified Lord Savior (Re.11:8). Thus the Spirit is establishing the nature of Atonement. Jesus Christ died for the whole world and not for a few as some sects would teach. ( John 3:16). The spiritual underpinning of the Righteous God therefore is established by objective lessons. God is Truth which in terms of light makes God the Father of lights. In the creation account when the Spirit writes God separating light from darkness before He set the sun, moon and the stars in the firmament it is a clear giveaway to the diligent reader the divine purpose. There shall be in the end two groups children of light and children of darkness.
It is in this context we have to look at the present lesson. In order to understand we need go back to the Ch.21 (vv.8-10):And unto this people thou shalt say, Thus saith theLord; Behold, I set before you the way of life, and the way of death." What the Lord here says is simple. Those who were chastened shall live. And those who cheat exile and disgrace by going to Egypt or any other merely bought reprieve for a time.
Principle of Similitude keeps such comparisons heavenly realities with realities of the earth. We find it the Bible throughout. God breathing into the nostrils of Adam is one way the Spirit draws our attention to how wonderfully we are made. It has a bearing upon the incident when Gideon's hundred routed the Midianites. We are pitchers holding light and it is what living soul means.
In vv.13-14 we see prophets of Samaria are placed on the same scale of prophets of Jerusalem because evil makes no difference. It is God's Time placing evil on the same category; evil of holding truth in unrighteousness characterized them and it is judged on the same scale as false teachers of today. They were shown the way of life and they acknowledged truth once but now? Their lust for fame and wealth led them down a slippery slope and what they preach damns them. They are wolves in sheeps clothing. When they toady up to their President and make a show of piety and prayers what are they doing but 'they strengthen also the hands of evildoers?'. These shall not go unpunished.
And I have seen folly in the prophets of Samaria; they prophesied in Baal, and caused my people Israel to err (v.13).
14I have seen also in the prophets of Jerusalem an horrible thing: they commit adultery, and walk in lies: they strengthen also the hands of evildoers, that none doth return from his wickedness; they are all of them unto me as Sodom, and the inhabitants thereof as Gomorrah.
The Spirit compares things, people and their state of being in terms of realities of heaven."Because it is written, Be ye holy; for I am holy(1 Pe.1:16; Le..11:44)"What does it indicate? Truth is Holy which is the everlasting God. It is illustratively described as 'set in unapproachable light' St Paul defines it as 'Who only hath immortality, dwelling in the light which no man can approach unto; whom no man hath seen, nor can see: to whombehonour and power everlasting. Amen.(1 Ti.6:16)"The Supreme Being is transposed into a state of being and is also defined as the everlasting light. When Jesus said,"I am the truth" we get to see the image of the Invisible God (Col.1:15). What is darkness but absence of light? Darkness is a state of being as light is. This being the case let us consider this verse,"And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil ( John 3:19). " Their response to light is predictable. 'Lest their actions would be reproved' they stay away How shall they know the value of grace?
For every one that doeth evil hateth the light, neither cometh to the light, lest his deeds should be reproved..But he that doeth truth cometh to the light, that his deeds may be made manifest, that they are wrought in God(John.3:20-21). As demanded by God Prophet Jeremiah had to break the earthen vessel at the east gate leading to the valley of Hinnom, it had a lesson for him. Truth was wrought in his inward parts. It is what the body holds. Thus the Spirit compares the inner man with Truth which is wrought of God. It has a lesson for us. 'Whatever we may know God or truth is understood by His creation so no man has excuse. What is truth Pontius Pilate would ask and leave the Jews to do what they would,-and to their perpetual shame they rejected the prince of life.
And the present state is not frozen in time but it is leading to desolations that are to fall upon the whole earth. It is signified by a whirlwind which Spirit introduced in an earlier chapter(Is.66:15). In the present chapter vv.19-24 it is ever on the move which must be considered as perpetual in the same category of perpetual backsliding of the nation. If we consider everlasting light representing righteousness of God it is only natural to accept as Just God the whirlwind of his fury is intended to break upon the wicked or the children of darkness.
In the Vision of Ezekiel we read of this whirlwind coming out of the north(Ez.1:4). In this context we get some additional clues from the Book of Psalms. We read of God 'who maketh the clouds his chariot: who walketh upon the wings of the wind:/Who maketh his angels spirits; his ministers a flaming fire:(Ps.104:3-4).
"Behold, a whirlwind of theLordis gone forth in fury, even a grievous whirlwind"(23:19-23)
in the latter days ye shall consider it perfectly."
v.5: "This Day of the Lord shall culminate in the advent of the Mesiah-King, the Anointed One from God. It is what we read in v.5: "Behold, the days come, saith theLord, that I will raise unto David a righteous Branch, and a King shall reign and prosper, and shall execute judgment and justice in the earth.
"Therefore thus saith theLordGod of Israel against the pastors that feed my people; Ye have scattered my flock, and driven them away, and have not visited them: behold, I will visit upon you the evil of your doings, saith theLord(v.2)".
'Pastors that feed my people' are to be understood from this context,"O LORD our God, other lords beside thee have had dominion over us: but by thee only will we make mention of thy name(Is.26:13)". In monarchical system the nation of Israel has had an array of kings both good and bad. By law of gradation all these are catalogued as good or evil and their frame of reference to the Son, in whom is the fulness of the Sovereign Lord of all. Whether pastor or Sanhedrin of the post-exilic times they were leaders or pastors and as such they were accountable to God for their actions. One egregious miscarriage of justice was when they denied and rejected Christ the servant-king before Pontius Pilate and vowed Caesar as their only lord. This was foreordained and it was quoted by Jesus on the night he was taken,"..."This very night you will all fall away on account of Me. For it is written: 'I will strike the shepherd, and the sheep of the flock will be scattered(Matt.26:31).' He was quoting Prophet Zachariah(13:7). Revelatory nature of prophets takes us all the way to God and the Spirit in setting forth the desolations with which evil of man and nations are purged periodically are not in strict chronological order. When God commanded Jeremiah not to take a wife or family 'in this place' he served as a sign. It is not how God demanded of Hosea. In this present chapter while God reveals about return of the nation of Israel what he revealed to him in Ch.16 is of the same, immediate turn around as well of turmoil breaking out in the future leading up to the Millennial Reign. (Je.16:13-21)This is what we see at present and the present state is not frozen in time but it is leading to desolations.
Man-child is a composite picture in the Vision of the woman clothed with the sun (Re.12). The iron rod that he was given is a clue to the identity of the Son. He is the way, the truth and the life. Antithetically what modern churches present is a composite picture of wolves in sheeps clothing. Their ravening appetite is for wealth while their 'Jesus talk' is like a sugar coating to bring in larger congregation ready to part with their earnings.
You judge the quality of a tree by its fruits. Faith of these false teachers is more in tune with the Barnum quote,'A sucker is born every minute.' Our Redeemer Lord did not have a fixed abode and for what purpose did he come to the earth? He suffered shame for our sake. "Let us go forth therefore unto him without the camp, bearing his reproach (He.13:13,12)". In the present chapter the prophet accuses them thus,"Woe be unto the pastors that destroy and scatter the sheep of my pasture! saith theLord./Therefore thus saith theLordGod of Israel against the pastors that feed my people; Ye have scattered my flock, and driven them away, and have not visited them: behold, I will visit upon you the evil of your doings, saith theLord(vv.1-2).
"....For every man's word shall be his burden; for ye have perverted the words of the living God, of theLordof hosts our God (v.36)".
"Woe be unto the pastors that destroy and scatter the sheep of my pasture! saith theLord./Therefore thus saith theLordGod of Israel against the pastors that feed my people; Ye have scattered my flock, and driven them away, and have not visited them: behold, I will visit upon you the evil of your doings, saith theLord."
The burden of Jeremiah as a prophet was to deliver an unpalatable truth and he was vilely treated. He was beaten and was put in stocks, meaning that his freedom of movement was restricted. He owed to God his allegiance because He was the sovereign Lord God. His body was nothing much, but as chosen before the worlds began his soul and inner man testified Truth. So he could not go against it.
His body was as the earthen vessel that he broke at the east gate leading to the valley of Hinnom. His action was a sign of discharging God's command faithfully. By the same token he had submitted his body for suffering. He chose the way of life because of which his own people had become his enemies. His enemies were powerful and they represented the powers that be. What he predicted before the nation would also touch him but these were only as far physical realities were concerned. He was secure since he fulfilled the will of the Lord God. His soul was safe ."And fear not them which kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul: but rather fear him which is able to destroy both soul and body in hell (Matt.10:28)".it is what the words of holiness signify: these stand as signposts that direct the course of all those who would choose way of life.
Here we see two directions that spell out way of life and way of death. Of which Jesus also spoke: "Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it (Matt.7:14). Jesus showed with his example where would that lead to. "Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wideisthe gate, and broadisthe way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat:(7:13)"Also significant is the verse that follow it."Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves." In Jeremiah's time such a phenomenon existed and it is very much now evident.
Man without God relies on his wisdom and his diplomacy is based on the ground realities which however it may sound reasonable is no guarantee that it would remain for long. "The lot is cast into the lap; but the whole disposing thereofisof the LORD(Pr.16:33)". It was thus with Zedekiah seeking the help of Pharaoh. His future was tied up with the ups and down of the ways of the world.
On the other hand Jeremiah remained steadfast since God had assured him his safety. Because he served Him than a changeable man he was misunderstood and mistaken for a spy, treated vilely as a traitor. HIs body frail as it was could do with some comfort under such unrelenting oppression from his fellow countrymen. The king still retained some sympathy for him so he would ask him favor,"I pray thee, be accepted before thee; that thou cause me not to return to the house of Jonathan the scribe, lest I die there(v.20)". The king granted his request and had him put in a prison in the palace courtyard. He was allowed a loaf of bread daily that must have been generous considering that the city was under siege and food was hard to come by.
As predicted by the prophet we read that King Zedekiah died in exile and received a decent burial in the end.
From the lives of the prophet and the king what spiritual truth we may learn? The heart of both were fashioned alike while outward circumstances differed vastly. Truth written inward parts of the prophet benefited from the word God had put in him. His inner man on the strength of which could make him endure hardship, suffer humiliation and all of which were only superficial. Inner man is a term to indicate inner life of man.
Christian Living teaches us to live, to which life experience is not merely our physical lives on the earth. It is a life nourished by the word of God. We are in heavenly places though glory of the body is fading away.
And king Zedekiah the son of Josiah reigned instead of Coniah the son of Jehoiakim, whom Nebuchadrezzar king of Babylon made king in the land of Judah.
Chapters are not sequenced since the narrative is set in God's Time. We already had come across Zedekiah earlier and now as the verse states he was set on the throne by Nebuchadrezzar king of Babylon. As with the lives of children of God vis-a vis nations the difference is that God does not change, so a child of God is secure come what may while there is change in fortunes of nations. This is abundantly made clear in the instances of Jeremiah and King Zedekiah. God had prepared Jeremiah for the tasks ahead while the king of Judah was a puppet to the fickle nature of the world powers.
What is statecraft but a calculated risk at best? In the King's court there must have been a faction advising Zedekiah to seek the support of Egypt to checkmate the threat from Babylon. In the Book of Isaiah we read that King Ahaz sought the help of Assyria to break the league of Samaria made with Syria. Judah did not learn the lesson and neither would they now.God had determined to chastise Judah for her manifold sins and apostasy. Her seeking help of Egypt, a broken reed would not stopthe Chaldeans from fulfilling the purpose of God. "Then Pharaoh's army was come forth out of Egypt: and when the Chaldeans that besieged Jerusalem heard tidings of them, they departed from Jerusalem./Then came the word of theLordunto the prophet Jeremiah saying,/Thus saith theLord, the God of Israel; Thus shall ye say to the king of Judah, that sent you unto me to enquire of me; Behold, Pharaoh's army, which is come forth to help you, shall return to Egypt into their own land./And the Chaldeans shall come again, and fight against this city, and take it, and burn it with fire(vv.5-8)." Man without God relies on his wisdom and his diplomacy is based on the ground realities which however it may sound reasonable.
The Bible speaks of a time of great deception and a falling away from the Truth in the Latter days. We are living that time period right now.
Many of you on this site believe that the words in the modern version bibles are just as important as the words are in the King James Bible.
Those who are deceived and the falling away in the Lastdays will be true believers, it will be Christians who think they are doing the will of God.
I'm not trying to change anyone's mind or tell them what to believe or how to think in this post, but we should ALWAYS allow the Word of God to speak for Itself!
Please read the whole chapter of Jerimiah 23 in a KJB with an open mind and Pray for the Holy Ghost to lead you into the Truth, Then, you should see how God feels about His Words being changed! ( Jer 23:36) perverted means "to change".
You should re-read the first 2 verses and the last 2 verses in that chapter several times ( Jer 23:1-2) ( Jer 23:39-40)
May the Lord open the eyes of all who are being deceived.
New song in the lexicon of the Holy Spirit is of salvation. In the vision of John we have the first fruits,- the saints redeemed from among men singing 'and no man could learn that song but 144,000, which were redeemed from the earth." (Re.14:1-4). Soul is no more under the law of sin. It is a song taught of the everlasting gospel. Jesus Christ brought it to children men and no man who has not lived in it, signifying that he has put on Christ and learned of him, shall not be able to sing. It is special because life and the voice making melody of the word of God sound in harmony with heavenly choir. It is called the song of the Lamb. ("And they sing the song of Moses the servant of God, and the song of the Lamb,(Re.15:3)." There are the song of Moses and of the Lamb obviously. The first fruits hold a quality in their voice as there are musical parts written unique for castrato (whose voice can hold high notes). They are called virgins on account of it.
Psalm 138 onwards we have seven psalms ascribed to David which out to tell us a few tips as to how the Spirit has organized the God document. At the end of psalm 72 we have this note: "The prayers of David the son of Jesse are ended"(72:20). Second point to remember the number of psalm ascribed to David, which are seven. Seven is the completeness determined from heaven. Thus the name David is a label for giving the role of the soul of man being led by the Son. In Psalm 139 when David asks,"Whither shall I go from thy spirit? or whither shall I flee from thy presence?" we have to infer that it is the soul finding voice where David is interchangeable with any other.
In vv.1-8 we have the scene described in the Book of the Revelation where the Word of God, the rider on the white horse about to engage in a battle with the beast the false prophet and their cohorts. (Re.19:11-21). Thereafter Satan is bound for thousand years. (Re.20:2-3)
The Holy Spirit once again introduces selah at the end of v.3. The line'When I awake, I am still with thee' points it to the day of regeneration. The passage, marked of vv.18-22 from the previous psalm is to be considered as coming from the man, the psalmist assured of appearing before the God.
"Do not I hate them, OLord, that hate thee? and am not I grieved with those that rise up against thee?/I hate them with perfect hatred: I count them mine enemies." (139:21-22) is to be read as part of the psalm where he prays, "Deliver me, OLord, from the evil man: preserve me from the violent man;/Which imagine mischiefs in their heart; continually are they gathered together for war./They have sharpened their tongues like a serpent; adders' poison is under their lips."
Selah at the end of verse. This is what concerns the body, where man has to be constantly vigilant from being ensnared by the ungodly 'who have purposed to overthrow my goings' which is now set from the standpoint of the soul. Compare with 139:3, "Thou compassest my path and my lying down, and art acquainted with all my ways."
Keep me, OLord, from the hands of the wicked; preserve me from the violent man; who have purposed to overthrow my goings/The proud have hid a snare for me, and cords; they have spread a net by the wayside; they have set gins for me."
Selah at the end of v.5 marks the change and passage marked vv.6-13 is from Jesus Christ the captain of our salvation. The prayer of the psalmist is thus being allied to the word of God in the vision of John where saints follow the rider on the white horse. ("And the armies which were in heaven followed him upon white horses, clothed in fine linen, white and clean."-Re.19:14) "OGodthe Lord, the strength of my salvation, thou hast covered my head in the day of battle."(v.7)
Selah is inserted thrice in this psalm v.3,v.5 and v.8 to indicate a saint as foreknown and abiding in Christ
Here we have soul of man before the throne of judgment. The psalmist spells out his credo: "And that my soul knoweth right well."
"Because that which may be known of God is manifest in them/.... so that they are without excuse;"(Ro.1:19-20) Breath of God supplies impetus which Esau would treat as trivial while Jacob even in womb would reach out.
We have three major divisions.
vv.1-3 Preface 'all my ways'
'My downsitting and mine uprising' are with regards to the spiritual content so God understands the vector of his thinking."Thou understandest my thought afar off," significant is that thought is singular. Consequently God hated Esau and loved Jacob.St Paul annotates the quote from Malachi to introduce what God could offer Esau. (He knows the thoughts of man are vanity but he could offer mercy if Esau felt the need for it. "It does not, therefore, depend on human desire or effort, but on God's mercy." Ro.9:16)
vv.4-14 Division-I "My soul knows"
This division is about the world of the Spirit What is his confidence but that his life in its entirety stand naked before God. The v.1 refers "O lord, thou hast searched me, and known me." His soul knows well what His divine breath set him for.
vv.3-14 enumerate the spiritual impulses in him to which his soul was acquainted with. 'Whither shall I go from thy spirit? or whither shall I flee from thy presence?" His soul was right there.
In v.16 Division-II "The Body "
The psalmist presents his body the source of which characterized him as earthy. 'when I was made in secret, and curiously wrought in the lowest parts of the earth," in contrast with the soul. (God breathed into the nostrils of man) It implies his spiritual content as from heaven. "But there went up a mist from the earth, and watered the whole face of the ground./And theLordGod formed man of the dust of the ground,"(Ge.2:6-7)
Truth writ in our inwards makes both worlds of the flesh and of the Spirit as one in relation to the word. Thus testimony of Jesus Christ in the inaugural vision is both father and the Son as one. Whereas the night vision that the Spirit revealed to Daniel in Ch.7 we have the Ancient of days and the one in the likeness of the Son separately. From the above how do we consider our body? Only present in the world of the flesh or both worlds as one, having to give confession before the eternal word? Heresies are brought by Satan who is spirit but unclean since he puts himself out side the Law. Without the Son man is lost. Without abiding in him by faith all works are froth. "He who does not honor the Son does not honor the Father who sent Him."( John 5:23--NKJV)
"And lead me in the way everlasting" The eternal word assures eternal life for those who have the Son abiding in them'. "I am the Way the truth and the life" Death of the body merely changes the order of two worlds so the world of the Spirit which were unseen stands before the risen Lord savior which is of heaven."And as we have borne the image of the earthy, we shall also bear the image of the heavenly."(1 Co.15:49)
The psalmist in this psalm touches upon 'my substance'. "My substance was not hid from thee, when I was made in secret, and curiously wrought in the lowest parts of the earth./Thine eyes did see my substance, yet being unperfect; and in thy book all my members were written, which in continuance were fashioned, when as yet there was none of them." This also is open before God meaning the past present and eternity glory of which is bound up with the Son (He.13:8). In terms of theology predestination is the glory of God in terms of Power and Wisdom principle so when Jesus says, "I am the way" it is validated by the eternal word. '"For thou hast magnified thy word above all thy name". This glory of the word has two parts. Holy is his name. This refers to the divine will of the Father. Second part is the name that the son gives to the overcomer. "And I will write upon him my new name."(Re.3:12)
Secondly 'The works of thine hands' (138:8) is a proof of the unity of the Spirit. The psalmist asks 'Whither shall I go from thy spirit? In terms of the Spirit there is no up or down as we speak being primed for terrestrial living. Our inner ear tells its own story which is true as far as our body goes. The world of the Spirit in which heart carries a personal spiritual space is merely to give volume to a man dead in sins a context. Dead to the world at baptism he is hidden in heavenly places refer to this unity.
As mentioned above there is no up or down; nor is there in terms of the Spirit, east or west. "If I take the wings of the morning, and dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea;/Even there shall thy hand lead me, and thy right hand shall hold me." (vv.9-10) In terms of glory God the Father signifies Power and the Son, the wisdom aspect which is female principle. When God ('elohim') speaks male and female it refers to the glory aspect of Christ and the church (the bride) as well.
"Remember, OLord, the children of Edom in the day of Jerusalem; who said, Rase it, rase it, even to the foundation thereof.(vv.5-7)
In the day of Jerusalem speaks of a day, a day of calamity for Israel. The word of God says,"Except theLordkeep the city, the watchman waketh but in vain." (127:1b) Isaiah wailed over it,"How is the faithful city become an harlot! it was full of judgment; righteousness lodged in it; but now murderers."(Is.1:21-22). This change was not instant but the result of walking after their own ways.'we have turned everyone to his way' as the prophet would lament. and when God sent his only begotten Son they would reject him. In the vision of John the great city was spiritually same as Sodom or Babylon. (Re.11:8) In another vision she had become so deep in mire so she even wore a name,"And upon her forehead was a name written,Mystery, Babylon The Great, The Mother Of Harlots And Abominations Of The Earth./And I saw the woman drunken with the blood of the saints, and with the blood of the martyrs of Jesus:"(Re.17:5-6). In this dramatic change we cannot help but recall the words of Jesus, ""So the last will be first, and the first will be last."(Matt.20:16)(De.
This can explain the enmity of Edom for Israel their brethren, which found expression in their day of reckoning. Beginning of their quarrel owes to Jacob cheating Esau the firstborn over the birthright. Isaac having blessed Jacob what he could offer him was somewhat comparable to a 'left-handed blessing. "By your sword you shall live,/and youshall serve your brother;/ but when you grow restless/you shall break his yoke from your neck." (Ge.27:40-ESV). Israel never learned how and their works without faith made the soul very alien to them. The word was in their heart to which they had no respect.
Their lament in the captivity meant nothing. "I will make them angry by a nation that has no understanding"(De,32:21) It makes news.
Israel's captivity in a strange land remained unchanged and their sorrow was merely a luxury they indulged in since they had no depth to seek the truth in their own heart and turn it around. "But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him."(He.11:6)
How well are we fitted out in our times when the humanity of Jesus is more preferred than his deity and his miracles? The key to the heresies that have clouded the vision of Christian world is their lack of faith. What are the songs of Zion for them? Christian nationalism is a clear example of miry clay making common cause with the runaway State off the guard rail than stick to the national motto. "in God we trust." How good people could stand by and make excuses for bad people in power, or promote them with a missionary zeal shows this strange land. Like reprobate Israel these Christians cannot see past their own resentments and bias.
With such mindset what does the word of God mean to them, "For here have we no continuing city, but we seek one to come,"(He.11:14)?
"O daughter of Babylon, who art to be destroyed; happy shall he be, that rewardeth thee as thou hast served us./Happy shall he be, that taketh and dasheth thy little ones against the stones." This is what apostate Israel would and had no clue that they themselves were to blame. Prophet Jeremiah had warned them,"For my people have committed two evils; they have forsaken me the fountain of living waters, and hewed them out cisterns, broken cisterns, that can hold no water." (Je.2:13) Then as now.
"By the rivers of Babylon, there we sat down, yea, we wept, when we remembered Zion./We hanged our harps upon the willows in the midst thereof./For there they that carried us away captive required of us a song; and they that wasted us required of us mirth, saying, Sing us one of the songs of Zion."
The rivers whether it be of Babylon or of Damascus, their source as well as their end rests with God. The will of God directs it's course and the Son shall fulfill it so one might say Jordan, Tigris or Euphrates are mere labels and interchangeable. Naaman the leper asked," Are not Abana and Pharpar, rivers of Damascus, better than all the waters of Israel?"(2 Ki.5:12). No no, God has determined before beginning of the world as to where and on whom His blessings shall rest.
'God sent his word, healed them and delivered from their destructions'. The rivers accordingly trace a course in the visible world. "So he (Naaman) went down and dipped himself in the Jordan seven times,as the man of God had told him, and his flesh was restoredand became clean like that of a young boy."(2 Ki.5:14) Naaman, a Gentile took the word of the prophet totally, doubting nothing, and as a result was healed. The word was from God and whether it was administered by Elisha or Jesus faith is the same, and for this reason it worked.
Gentile or Jew when one hears the word, it creates in the world of the Spirit faith (Ro.10:17), which must prove that the sovereign grace of God and faith are not imposed from external world but gushes forth from inner world of the Spirit.For this reason God commanded Samuel to reject Jesse's other sons. Eliab seemed right for Samuel. "But theLordsaid unto Samuel, Look not on his countenance, or on the height of his stature; because I have refused him: for theLordseeth not as man seeth; for man looketh on the outward appearance, but theLordlooketh on the heart."(1 Sa.16:7)
It is the Holy Spirit exhorts,"Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity!" If God could work with us and make us sons and daughters how do we treat others? Is it not blasphemous to divide them on account of race, color or according to our own ideas? Love of God is compared to precious ointment running down to anoint mankind as well. This is how we see the light through the true Light that came down to give us eternal life. Who are we to grudge it anointing others as well as we are? ( John 3:16). "Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ:"(Ep.4:13)
All blessings pour down from the Sovereign Lord to the lesser. Unity of the Spirit explains this organization of several feature of His kingdom into which every creature has use and holds a place so no part can be seen as separate. "The eyes of all wait upon thee; and thou givest them their meat in due season./The eyes of all wait upon thee; and thou givest them their meat in due season."(145:15-16).
"For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled."(Matt.5:18) This jot is set in context of the Law. How do we explain in human relationships? "And whoso shall receive one such little child in my name receiveth me./But whoso shall offend one of these little ones which believe in me, it were better for him that a millstone were hanged about his neck, and that he were drowned in the depth of the sea."(Matt.18:5-6) Do we ask further proof if the church has lost its historical connection with church set on the foundation of Christ in the face of 'abuse' covered up by Mother church?
Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity!/It is like the precious ointment upon the head, that ran down upon the beard, even Aaron's beard: that went down to the skirts of his garments;/As the dew of Hermon, and as the dew that descended upon the mountains of Zion: for there theLordcommanded the blessing, even life for evermore.
Soul is the seal of this unity so human spirit is set in context of the Spirit of Christ. When the Holy Spirit says, "Now is the day of salvation' our time must synchronize with His Time, is it not? It is for this we have a scale as well as a body which was prepared no matter in the eternal mind but Jesus Christ the same yesterday, today and forever gives us the basis with which we are set in in context of the eternal godhead. Faith with works do not mean mere observances in the manner the nation of Israel made a travesty of it.
Moses taught Israel, " Hear, O Israel: TheLordour God is oneLord:" (De.6:4) In the creation account we have this verse,"So God created man in his own image,"(Ge.1:27) How are we as a result? Spirit Soul and Body going in three different ways or all three working as one? Unity of the Spirit thus explains Trinity as well as man. None of these was brought by our own volition. Naked we came forth and we shall also leave empty handed. period.
The Same Spirit but with seven facets holding together so the eternal Spirit holds relevance. "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." 1 Co.2:11). Soul is compared to a child. Thus every man receive Jesus Christ by the same faith which is also one. This unity makes Jesus as the firstborn of all creation and others as our brethren.It is the Holy Spirit exhorts,"Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity!"
We have the words of King Solomon at the dedication of the temple referring what was in the heart of his father. "And it was in the heart of David my father to build an house for the name of theLordGod of Israel."(1 Ki.8:17) This psalm references it in vv.1-5 not in context of David but to the fruit of his loins, according to the flesh, Christ who could genuinely claim, 'This is my rest forever.'
Here below we have a passage from Apostle Peter explaining the outpouring the Holy Spirit. "Men and brethren, let me freely speak unto you of the patriarch David, that he is both dead and buried, and his sepulchre is with us unto this day./...He seeing this before spake of the resurrection of Christ,/ that his soul was not left in hell, neither his flesh did see corruption./This Jesus hath God raised up, whereof we all are witnesses./Therefore being by the right hand of God exalted, and having received of the Father the promise of the Holy Ghost, he hath shed forth this, which ye now see and hear." (Ac.2;29-33)
The outpouring of the Spirit served as a place of rest so one may boldly claim his heart as a tabernacle for worshiping God in Spirit and truth. Christ thus finds home in us by faith and by no other means. St Paul's prayer also makes it clear, "That he would grant you, according to the riches of his glory, to be strengthened with might by his Spirit in the inner man;/That Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith;/ that ye might be filled with all the fulness of God." (Ep.3:16-20).
Power working in us reconciles two natures of Father and the Son in our soul. Holiness of God the Father and obedience of the Son are two sides of the Word as a sign and sound. Soul finds rest when man has faith and works. As Christ was in the world so we shall be be. Our soul would not be left in hell. Without witnessing to soul where abiding in Christ produces fruits we trivialize faith.
Lord, my heart is not haughty, nor mine eyes lofty: neither do I exercise myself in great matters, or in things too high for me./Surely I have behaved and quieted myself, as a child that is weaned of his mother: my soul is even as a weaned chil
God is the creator of heaven and the earth. "But I am poor and needy; yet the Lord thinketh upon me:"(Ps.40:17). What name shall fit him, considering His infinite nature? Whatever human intellect may settle shall be inadequate since Power and Wisdom of the Being is absolute. So the HolySpirit simply says, 'Holy is his Name.'( Luke 1:49). Holiness must explain every feature of His creative mind. Thus the fall of a sparrow does not go without it knowing (Matt.10:29), neither will He let go evil unpunished. Thus restoring holiness in His sovereign kingdom,- both worlds of the flesh and the spirit in harmony belongs to God alone. "For we know him who said, "Vengeance is mine; I will repay." And again, "The Lord will judge his people."(He.10:30; De.32:35).
God is a Spirit and when we say 'His people' it must be clear that holiness must necessarily be a common factor which is natural for man to work with God. Soul of man is the article which can serve him to this purpose. The indwelling Spirit serves as a tutor so it holds a candle to his innermost recesses. In the verse below we read the psalmist directed his body to behave in such manner so as to put his soul at rest. Man child is the name wherewith man may become part of His people.
Holiness of God suffices for man since his own attempts to pass for holy is like the truncated tail of a dead lizard. You see in it works but its body of faith is dead. In his Son is the fountain of light. We need see the light through the true Light. This is the way to holiness and in our faith we allow our lives to be molded in his image.
"Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus:"(Ph.2:5-11)
The nation of Israel in their apostasy, 'perpetual backsliding' shall not escape the cup of fury reserved for them. Nations that have similarly made mammon their god shall drink it. No escape. It is what we can gather from vv26-29. "For, lo, I begin to bring evil on the city which is called by my name, and should ye be utterly unpunished? Ye shall not be unpunished: for I will call for a sword upon all the inhabitants of the earth, saith theLordof hosts(v.29). Jesus Christ while teaching his disciples had revealed nations shall fight one another. It is what we see in v.32."Thus saith theLordof hosts, Behold, evil shall go forth from nation to nation, and a great whirlwind shall be raised up from the coasts of the earth". All these whirlwinds are in relation to the emblem of whirlwind set for the nations that forget the commands of righteous God. Recent news of migrants in custody being denied potable water is not racially charged responses but insults hurled at God who is their maker. (2019)
"For thus saith theLordGod of Israel unto me; Take the wine cup of this fury at my hand, and cause all the nations, to whom I send thee, to drink it./And they shall drink, and be moved, and be mad, because of the sword that I will send among them./Then took I the cup at theLord's hand, and made all the nations to drink, unto whom theLordhad sent me:"(vv.14-17)
What it is to be a sign? It is set by God and in this chapter we see God has set the prophet as a sign. What he does with wine cup of God's fury is as though it is effected though these places are at the far corners of the earth. When God set Ezekiel as a watchman (Ez.4) he was to lie and the number of days had significance as lying on the right side. In such a position his sign was different from what preceded. He bore the sin of Judah and as such its significance also varied,'I have assigned you 40 days, a day for each year'. It is God who sets signs and it is all valid as the Spirit creates emblem (part of heavenly realities as in the manner 'the lamb slain before the worlds began' is set to indicate Salvation Plan of God) and in the Book of Jeremiah we have it in the whirlwind."For, behold, theLordwill come with fire, and with his chariots like a whirlwind, to render his anger with fury, and his rebuke with flames of fire (Is.66:15-16)".
Here lesson that we can learn is the role of man is on which realities of heaven and the earth are calibrated. It is for the glory of God. Thus great prophets like Elijah and Elisha would pray and achieved results."The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much (Jas.5:13-16). What is the secret? Jesus explained it as finger of God with which he cast out demons and healed the sick. It signified a righteous man is one whose faith is hitched upon the creative faith so all glory and honor due to God is reinstated. Instead when prosperity theology debases faith for accumulating wealth one can imagine how antichrist has stepped in the breach of God and man. The nation of Israel in their apostasy, 'perpetual backsliding' shall not escape the cup of fury reserved for them. Nations that have similarly made mammon their god shall drink it. No escape. It is what we can gather from vv26-29. ""For, lo, I begin to bring evil on the city which is called by my name."
Thus whosoever allows himself to be the point where reality of the heaven and of the earth meet in him is a mediator, and by law of gradation reckoned as having Jesus Christ as the firstborn of all creation. Joseph Moses, the prophets were all forerunners of Jesus Christ and so are children of God whose faith squarely is in tune with God who sent his only begotten Son for salvation of mankind. Our faith is a seed sown in us by God. When God breathed into the nostrils of Adam whatever may be known of God also became a faculty and faith that comes by hearing the word of God.(Ro.10:17) Faith must be articulated. "Itisnot in heaven, that thou shouldest say, Who shall go up for us to heaven, and bring it unto us, that we may hear it, and do it...But the message is very near you, in your mouth and in your heart, so that you may follow it.? (De.10:12-14)"
"In the beginning of the reign of Jehoiakim the son of Josiah king of Judah came this word from theLord, saying,/Thus saith theLord; Stand in the court of theLord's house, and speak unto all the cities of Judah, which come to worship in theLord's house, all the words that I command thee to speak unto them; diminish not a word:"(26 Je.1-2)
What is the eternal word of God? "For ever, OLord, thy word is settled in heaven (Ps.119:89)". Now ask ourselves what was the Word? According to the Gospel of St John the Word was with God from the beginning. He was God and the Word was made flesh 'and dwelt among us'. Jesus the Son of man has also testified,"For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled (Matt.5:18)". The eternal word simply put is the constitution of God and when the Spirit places realities of heaven and the earth on a single yardstick it is true. Whosoever places himself to do the will of the Father perfectly is perfect fit as 'the finger of God'. Jeremiah could not do otherwise. He was threatened by his peers to hold silence. He was beaten, and his feet were put in stocks. Yet he could not be silent since God the Supreme Sovereign Lord had laid a charge that took precedence over his peers,- kings, princes governors or officials of the ecclesiastical courts.
Hear what the prophet says, "Then I said, I will not make mention of him, nor speak any more in his name. But his word was in mine heart as a burning fire shut up in my bones, and I was weary with forbearing, and I could not stay (Je.20:9-10). Holding back the word that God had put in his mouth was on the other hand was gnawing his vitals like new wine within pressing on old wineskins to rip apart. A child of God has truth written in his inward parts. This is similar to the constitution of God serving as counterweight. in each one of us. So when we are sure of what we have we ought to say as with the Psalmist,"TheLordis on my side; I will not fear: what can man do unto me?(Ps.118:6-9)" Our equipoise or rest comes from the assurance of God's promises, which is what the constitution of God means. Nothing shall happen outside the will of God. This was the strength of Prophet Jeremiah.
What is the significance of 70 years? The number of 7 refers to what is ordained by God. Creative Power and Wisdom signaled seven as a rest which has no bearing on the eternal God whose state of Being is characterized as Truth. Rest of Sabbath when observed by His people merely in formalism and superficial piety, it cannot please God."If thou turn away thy foot from the sabbath,fromdoing thy pleasure on my holy day; and call the sabbath a delight, the holy of the LORD, honourable; and shalt honour him, not doing thine own ways, nor finding thine own pleasure, nor speakingthine ownwords:(Is.58:13-14)" The same number also refer to the disfavor of God lasting a specific period.
Multiple of 10 refer to the decalogue which is handful, and counted on fingers. When Jesus expounded the Commandments he simplified it as two hands. This is as simple to remember but how many can be said as having observed it?"Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself. On these two commandments hang all thelawand the prophets." With all thy heart does not mean merely observing it. So the law indifferently handled by the nation determined desolation. As a result Babylonian captivity is a visible manifestation of God's wrath, and forms one in many such desolations making up the perpetual desolation.
Holocaust prior to the founding of the state of Israel is covered in the desolations which are qualified as perpetual desolations. ":....and make them an astonishment, and an hissing, and perpetual desolations(Je.25:9)". This state of affair shall continue till the Anointed One comes second time. Perpetual backsliding of Israel go with perpetual desolation as we seen in our times as well..
God had made clear what He required from the nation of Israel. 'They were to observe to do his commandments and statutes.' Failure of which would be desolation associated with the curse of apostasy, signaling dearth destruction and dispersion. So the Babylonian King was an instrument to chastise them. "The Lord shall cause thee to be smitten before thine enemies..." (De.28:15,25). God had instructed Jeremiah and accordingly he had been warning of the impending doom. The Lord now gives a reason,"Because ye have not heard my words,/Behold, I will send and take all the families of the north, saith the God, and Nebuchadrezzar the king of Babylon, my servant,..(vv.8-9)"Here we have a specific period stipulated. "And this whole land shall be a desolation, and an astonishment; and these nations shall serve the king of Babylon seventy years." Not only Judah and Jerusalem but also "nations round about, and will utterly destroy them, and make them an astonishment, and an hissing, and perpetual desolations(v.9). This ought to warn us that our disobedience affects not only ourselves but also carries 'a collateral damage clause' therein. When God pronounced blessing and curse it sets squarely every one of us at the eye of blessings or desolations and these desolations are like earthquakes bringing their aftershocks.
Another point we may consider the usage of numbers. 70 weeks and 70 years have their spiritual ramifications. Commandment of Artaxerxes, the King of Persia issued to rebuild Jerusalem (Dan.9:25) would not mean the exiled nation was all ecstatic with one mind to do their bit for the glory of God. In 458 BC he gave Ezra permission (Ezr.7). In the same book we see opposition building up against the repair work(Ezr.4:7-23). There were equally a group of Jews who had no mind or patience to undergo the rigor of resettling in 'the city of God.' Even with many dispersion we see the single-mindedness of the nation becoming diluted,
What the exiles endured in the hands of Chaldeans may be disgusting and fall from grace but if it were accepted as ordained from God they shall find God gathering them after 70 years and they shall be established once more in their homes. Those who refused God's chastisement as the writer to the Hebrews said they were base and bastards. This is what the two baskets of figs now signify.
Perpetual backsliding of the nation and not God who should be blamed for their desolations. This being the case destruction of Jerusalem in 70 AD lay in future and we may be certain that they would certainly face dispersion in our century as well. Prophet Jeremiah predicts nature of desolations and these are set in God's Time. In the end only a remnant shall be found.
Here two baskets of figs and it is interesting to note where these were set. The temple of the Lord is not qualified as of any nation in particular. It is not any building built of the historical time but of eternity.
TheLordshewed me, and, behold, two baskets of figs were set before the temple of theLord, after that Nebuchadrezzar king of Babylon had carried away captive Jeconiah the son of Jehoiakim king of Judah, and the princes of Judah, with the carpenters and smiths, from Jerusalem, and had brought them to Babylon.
"Thus saith theLord, the God of Israel; Like these good figs, so will I acknowledge them that are carried away captive of Judah, whom I have sent out of this place into the land of the Chaldeans for their good./For I will set mine eyes upon them for good, and I will bring them again to this land: and I will build them, and not pull them down; and I will plant them, and not pluck them up./And I will give them an heart to know me, that I am theLord: and they shall be my people, and I will be their God: for they shall return unto me with their whole heart./And as the evil figs, which cannot be eaten, they are so evil; surely thus saith theLord,"
Here we have an objective lesson as in the case of the earthen vessel of which we had earlier discussed. It was indicative of a specific time but it also carried an universal lesson meaning that desolations that the nation would meet would not spare the prophet in as much the physical reality of his body suffered the common fate of all. But truth written in his inward parts signified that righteousness of God separated him from the rest. "for I am with thee, saith theLord, to deliver thee(Je.1:19)". It was His promise.
Another important lesson we have drawn has to do with the manner the Spirit catalogues places on the earth, cities where partial judgements would occur Egypt, Sodom Babylon Jerusalem to name a few are juxtaposed to the crucified Lord Savior (Re.11:8). Thus the Spirit is establishing the nature of Atonement. Jesus Christ died for the whole world and not for a few as some sects would teach. ( John 3:16). The spiritual underpinning of the Righteous God therefore is established by objective lessons. God is Truth which in terms of light makes God the Father of lights. In the creation account when the Spirit writes God separating light from darkness before He set the sun, moon and the stars in the firmament it is a clear giveaway to the diligent reader the divine purpose. There shall be in the end two groups children of light and children of darkness.
It is in this context we have to look at the present lesson. In order to understand we need go back to the Ch.21 (vv.8-10):And unto this people thou shalt say, Thus saith theLord; Behold, I set before you the way of life, and the way of death." What the Lord here says is simple. Those who were chastened shall live. And those who cheat exile and disgrace by going to Egypt or any other merely bought reprieve for a time.
Principle of Similitude keeps such comparisons heavenly realities with realities of the earth. We find it the Bible throughout. God breathing into the nostrils of Adam is one way the Spirit draws our attention to how wonderfully we are made. It has a bearing upon the incident when Gideon's hundred routed the Midianites. We are pitchers holding light and it is what living soul means.
In vv.13-14 we see prophets of Samaria are placed on the same scale of prophets of Jerusalem because evil makes no difference. It is God's Time placing evil on the same category; evil of holding truth in unrighteousness characterized them and it is judged on the same scale as false teachers of today. They were shown the way of life and they acknowledged truth once but now? Their lust for fame and wealth led them down a slippery slope and what they preach damns them. They are wolves in sheeps clothing. When they toady up to their President and make a show of piety and prayers what are they doing but 'they strengthen also the hands of evildoers?'. These shall not go unpunished.
And I have seen folly in the prophets of Samaria; they prophesied in Baal, and caused my people Israel to err (v.13).
14I have seen also in the prophets of Jerusalem an horrible thing: they commit adultery, and walk in lies: they strengthen also the hands of evildoers, that none doth return from his wickedness; they are all of them unto me as Sodom, and the inhabitants thereof as Gomorrah.
The Spirit compares things, people and their state of being in terms of realities of heaven."Because it is written, Be ye holy; for I am holy(1 Pe.1:16; Le..11:44)"What does it indicate? Truth is Holy which is the everlasting God. It is illustratively described as 'set in unapproachable light' St Paul defines it as 'Who only hath immortality, dwelling in the light which no man can approach unto; whom no man hath seen, nor can see: to whombehonour and power everlasting. Amen.(1 Ti.6:16)"The Supreme Being is transposed into a state of being and is also defined as the everlasting light. When Jesus said,"I am the truth" we get to see the image of the Invisible God (Col.1:15). What is darkness but absence of light? Darkness is a state of being as light is. This being the case let us consider this verse,"And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil ( John 3:19). " Their response to light is predictable. 'Lest their actions would be reproved' they stay away How shall they know the value of grace?
For every one that doeth evil hateth the light, neither cometh to the light, lest his deeds should be reproved..But he that doeth truth cometh to the light, that his deeds may be made manifest, that they are wrought in God(John.3:20-21). As demanded by God Prophet Jeremiah had to break the earthen vessel at the east gate leading to the valley of Hinnom, it had a lesson for him. Truth was wrought in his inward parts. It is what the body holds. Thus the Spirit compares the inner man with Truth which is wrought of God. It has a lesson for us. 'Whatever we may know God or truth is understood by His creation so no man has excuse. What is truth Pontius Pilate would ask and leave the Jews to do what they would,-and to their perpetual shame they rejected the prince of life.
If you would allow me once again to intervene.
The book of Job is written mostly in poetic form.
Job 27:1 and Job 29:1 Job is speaking and it has nothing to do with the topic of the clouds or bottles.
Job 38 it is the Lord speaking, Not Job.
Job 38:1-3 Then the LORD answered Job out of the whirlwind, and said,
Who is this that darkeneth counsel by words without knowledge?
Gird up now thy loins like a man; for I will demand of thee, and answer thou me...
Lee, test what you gather from others with the written scriptures and continue on with a reading program.
Also a concordance and a bible dictionary is a great help.
And pray always.
Here is where I pull out of this discussion
God bless you.
And the present state is not frozen in time but it is leading to desolations that are to fall upon the whole earth. It is signified by a whirlwind which Spirit introduced in an earlier chapter(Is.66:15). In the present chapter vv.19-24 it is ever on the move which must be considered as perpetual in the same category of perpetual backsliding of the nation. If we consider everlasting light representing righteousness of God it is only natural to accept as Just God the whirlwind of his fury is intended to break upon the wicked or the children of darkness.
In the Vision of Ezekiel we read of this whirlwind coming out of the north(Ez.1:4). In this context we get some additional clues from the Book of Psalms. We read of God 'who maketh the clouds his chariot: who walketh upon the wings of the wind:/Who maketh his angels spirits; his ministers a flaming fire:(Ps.104:3-4).
"Behold, a whirlwind of theLordis gone forth in fury, even a grievous whirlwind"(23:19-23)
in the latter days ye shall consider it perfectly."
v.5: "This Day of the Lord shall culminate in the advent of the Mesiah-King, the Anointed One from God. It is what we read in v.5: "Behold, the days come, saith theLord, that I will raise unto David a righteous Branch, and a King shall reign and prosper, and shall execute judgment and justice in the earth.
"Therefore thus saith theLordGod of Israel against the pastors that feed my people; Ye have scattered my flock, and driven them away, and have not visited them: behold, I will visit upon you the evil of your doings, saith theLord(v.2)".
'Pastors that feed my people' are to be understood from this context,"O LORD our God, other lords beside thee have had dominion over us: but by thee only will we make mention of thy name(Is.26:13)". In monarchical system the nation of Israel has had an array of kings both good and bad. By law of gradation all these are catalogued as good or evil and their frame of reference to the Son, in whom is the fulness of the Sovereign Lord of all. Whether pastor or Sanhedrin of the post-exilic times they were leaders or pastors and as such they were accountable to God for their actions. One egregious miscarriage of justice was when they denied and rejected Christ the servant-king before Pontius Pilate and vowed Caesar as their only lord. This was foreordained and it was quoted by Jesus on the night he was taken,"..."This very night you will all fall away on account of Me. For it is written: 'I will strike the shepherd, and the sheep of the flock will be scattered(Matt.26:31).' He was quoting Prophet Zachariah(13:7). Revelatory nature of prophets takes us all the way to God and the Spirit in setting forth the desolations with which evil of man and nations are purged periodically are not in strict chronological order. When God commanded Jeremiah not to take a wife or family 'in this place' he served as a sign. It is not how God demanded of Hosea. In this present chapter while God reveals about return of the nation of Israel what he revealed to him in Ch.16 is of the same, immediate turn around as well of turmoil breaking out in the future leading up to the Millennial Reign. (Je.16:13-21)This is what we see at present and the present state is not frozen in time but it is leading to desolations.
Man-child is a composite picture in the Vision of the woman clothed with the sun (Re.12). The iron rod that he was given is a clue to the identity of the Son. He is the way, the truth and the life. Antithetically what modern churches present is a composite picture of wolves in sheeps clothing. Their ravening appetite is for wealth while their 'Jesus talk' is like a sugar coating to bring in larger congregation ready to part with their earnings.
You judge the quality of a tree by its fruits. Faith of these false teachers is more in tune with the Barnum quote,'A sucker is born every minute.' Our Redeemer Lord did not have a fixed abode and for what purpose did he come to the earth? He suffered shame for our sake. "Let us go forth therefore unto him without the camp, bearing his reproach (He.13:13,12)". In the present chapter the prophet accuses them thus,"Woe be unto the pastors that destroy and scatter the sheep of my pasture! saith theLord./Therefore thus saith theLordGod of Israel against the pastors that feed my people; Ye have scattered my flock, and driven them away, and have not visited them: behold, I will visit upon you the evil of your doings, saith theLord(vv.1-2).
"....For every man's word shall be his burden; for ye have perverted the words of the living God, of theLordof hosts our God (v.36)".
"Woe be unto the pastors that destroy and scatter the sheep of my pasture! saith theLord./Therefore thus saith theLordGod of Israel against the pastors that feed my people; Ye have scattered my flock, and driven them away, and have not visited them: behold, I will visit upon you the evil of your doings, saith theLord."
The burden of Jeremiah as a prophet was to deliver an unpalatable truth and he was vilely treated. He was beaten and was put in stocks, meaning that his freedom of movement was restricted. He owed to God his allegiance because He was the sovereign Lord God. His body was nothing much, but as chosen before the worlds began his soul and inner man testified Truth. So he could not go against it.
His body was as the earthen vessel that he broke at the east gate leading to the valley of Hinnom. His action was a sign of discharging God's command faithfully. By the same token he had submitted his body for suffering. He chose the way of life because of which his own people had become his enemies. His enemies were powerful and they represented the powers that be. What he predicted before the nation would also touch him but these were only as far physical realities were concerned. He was secure since he fulfilled the will of the Lord God. His soul was safe ."And fear not them which kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul: but rather fear him which is able to destroy both soul and body in hell (Matt.10:28)".it is what the words of holiness signify: these stand as signposts that direct the course of all those who would choose way of life.
Here we see two directions that spell out way of life and way of death. Of which Jesus also spoke: "Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it (Matt.7:14). Jesus showed with his example where would that lead to. "Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wideisthe gate, and broadisthe way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat:(7:13)"Also significant is the verse that follow it."Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves." In Jeremiah's time such a phenomenon existed and it is very much now evident.
Man without God relies on his wisdom and his diplomacy is based on the ground realities which however it may sound reasonable is no guarantee that it would remain for long. "The lot is cast into the lap; but the whole disposing thereofisof the LORD(Pr.16:33)". It was thus with Zedekiah seeking the help of Pharaoh. His future was tied up with the ups and down of the ways of the world.
On the other hand Jeremiah remained steadfast since God had assured him his safety. Because he served Him than a changeable man he was misunderstood and mistaken for a spy, treated vilely as a traitor. HIs body frail as it was could do with some comfort under such unrelenting oppression from his fellow countrymen. The king still retained some sympathy for him so he would ask him favor,"I pray thee, be accepted before thee; that thou cause me not to return to the house of Jonathan the scribe, lest I die there(v.20)". The king granted his request and had him put in a prison in the palace courtyard. He was allowed a loaf of bread daily that must have been generous considering that the city was under siege and food was hard to come by.
As predicted by the prophet we read that King Zedekiah died in exile and received a decent burial in the end.
From the lives of the prophet and the king what spiritual truth we may learn? The heart of both were fashioned alike while outward circumstances differed vastly. Truth written inward parts of the prophet benefited from the word God had put in him. His inner man on the strength of which could make him endure hardship, suffer humiliation and all of which were only superficial. Inner man is a term to indicate inner life of man.
Christian Living teaches us to live, to which life experience is not merely our physical lives on the earth. It is a life nourished by the word of God. We are in heavenly places though glory of the body is fading away.
And king Zedekiah the son of Josiah reigned instead of Coniah the son of Jehoiakim, whom Nebuchadrezzar king of Babylon made king in the land of Judah.
Chapters are not sequenced since the narrative is set in God's Time. We already had come across Zedekiah earlier and now as the verse states he was set on the throne by Nebuchadrezzar king of Babylon. As with the lives of children of God vis-a vis nations the difference is that God does not change, so a child of God is secure come what may while there is change in fortunes of nations. This is abundantly made clear in the instances of Jeremiah and King Zedekiah. God had prepared Jeremiah for the tasks ahead while the king of Judah was a puppet to the fickle nature of the world powers.
What is statecraft but a calculated risk at best? In the King's court there must have been a faction advising Zedekiah to seek the support of Egypt to checkmate the threat from Babylon. In the Book of Isaiah we read that King Ahaz sought the help of Assyria to break the league of Samaria made with Syria. Judah did not learn the lesson and neither would they now.God had determined to chastise Judah for her manifold sins and apostasy. Her seeking help of Egypt, a broken reed would not stopthe Chaldeans from fulfilling the purpose of God. "Then Pharaoh's army was come forth out of Egypt: and when the Chaldeans that besieged Jerusalem heard tidings of them, they departed from Jerusalem./Then came the word of theLordunto the prophet Jeremiah saying,/Thus saith theLord, the God of Israel; Thus shall ye say to the king of Judah, that sent you unto me to enquire of me; Behold, Pharaoh's army, which is come forth to help you, shall return to Egypt into their own land./And the Chaldeans shall come again, and fight against this city, and take it, and burn it with fire(vv.5-8)." Man without God relies on his wisdom and his diplomacy is based on the ground realities which however it may sound reasonable.
The Bible speaks of a time of great deception and a falling away from the Truth in the Latter days. We are living that time period right now.
Many of you on this site believe that the words in the modern version bibles are just as important as the words are in the King James Bible.
Those who are deceived and the falling away in the Lastdays will be true believers, it will be Christians who think they are doing the will of God.
I'm not trying to change anyone's mind or tell them what to believe or how to think in this post, but we should ALWAYS allow the Word of God to speak for Itself!
Please read the whole chapter of Jerimiah 23 in a KJB with an open mind and Pray for the Holy Ghost to lead you into the Truth, Then, you should see how God feels about His Words being changed! ( Jer 23:36) perverted means "to change".
You should re-read the first 2 verses and the last 2 verses in that chapter several times ( Jer 23:1-2) ( Jer 23:39-40)
May the Lord open the eyes of all who are being deceived.
We are running out of time fast!
God Bless you all!
"I will sing a new song unto thee, O God."
New song in the lexicon of the Holy Spirit is of salvation. In the vision of John we have the first fruits,- the saints redeemed from among men singing 'and no man could learn that song but 144,000, which were redeemed from the earth." (Re.14:1-4). Soul is no more under the law of sin. It is a song taught of the everlasting gospel. Jesus Christ brought it to children men and no man who has not lived in it, signifying that he has put on Christ and learned of him, shall not be able to sing. It is special because life and the voice making melody of the word of God sound in harmony with heavenly choir. It is called the song of the Lamb. ("And they sing the song of Moses the servant of God, and the song of the Lamb,(Re.15:3)." There are the song of Moses and of the Lamb obviously. The first fruits hold a quality in their voice as there are musical parts written unique for castrato (whose voice can hold high notes). They are called virgins on account of it.
Psalm 138 onwards we have seven psalms ascribed to David which out to tell us a few tips as to how the Spirit has organized the God document. At the end of psalm 72 we have this note: "The prayers of David the son of Jesse are ended"(72:20). Second point to remember the number of psalm ascribed to David, which are seven. Seven is the completeness determined from heaven. Thus the name David is a label for giving the role of the soul of man being led by the Son. In Psalm 139 when David asks,"Whither shall I go from thy spirit? or whither shall I flee from thy presence?" we have to infer that it is the soul finding voice where David is interchangeable with any other.
In vv.1-8 we have the scene described in the Book of the Revelation where the Word of God, the rider on the white horse about to engage in a battle with the beast the false prophet and their cohorts. (Re.19:11-21). Thereafter Satan is bound for thousand years. (Re.20:2-3)
The Holy Spirit once again introduces selah at the end of v.3. The line'When I awake, I am still with thee' points it to the day of regeneration. The passage, marked of vv.18-22 from the previous psalm is to be considered as coming from the man, the psalmist assured of appearing before the God.
"Do not I hate them, OLord, that hate thee? and am not I grieved with those that rise up against thee?/I hate them with perfect hatred: I count them mine enemies." (139:21-22) is to be read as part of the psalm where he prays, "Deliver me, OLord, from the evil man: preserve me from the violent man;/Which imagine mischiefs in their heart; continually are they gathered together for war./They have sharpened their tongues like a serpent; adders' poison is under their lips."
Selah at the end of verse. This is what concerns the body, where man has to be constantly vigilant from being ensnared by the ungodly 'who have purposed to overthrow my goings' which is now set from the standpoint of the soul. Compare with 139:3, "Thou compassest my path and my lying down, and art acquainted with all my ways."
Keep me, OLord, from the hands of the wicked; preserve me from the violent man; who have purposed to overthrow my goings/The proud have hid a snare for me, and cords; they have spread a net by the wayside; they have set gins for me."
Selah at the end of v.5 marks the change and passage marked vv.6-13 is from Jesus Christ the captain of our salvation. The prayer of the psalmist is thus being allied to the word of God in the vision of John where saints follow the rider on the white horse. ("And the armies which were in heaven followed him upon white horses, clothed in fine linen, white and clean."-Re.19:14) "OGodthe Lord, the strength of my salvation, thou hast covered my head in the day of battle."(v.7)
Selah is inserted thrice in this psalm v.3,v.5 and v.8 to indicate a saint as foreknown and abiding in Christ
Here we have soul of man before the throne of judgment. The psalmist spells out his credo: "And that my soul knoweth right well."
"Because that which may be known of God is manifest in them/.... so that they are without excuse;"(Ro.1:19-20) Breath of God supplies impetus which Esau would treat as trivial while Jacob even in womb would reach out.
We have three major divisions.
vv.1-3 Preface 'all my ways'
'My downsitting and mine uprising' are with regards to the spiritual content so God understands the vector of his thinking."Thou understandest my thought afar off," significant is that thought is singular. Consequently God hated Esau and loved Jacob.St Paul annotates the quote from Malachi to introduce what God could offer Esau. (He knows the thoughts of man are vanity but he could offer mercy if Esau felt the need for it. "It does not, therefore, depend on human desire or effort, but on God's mercy." Ro.9:16)
vv.4-14 Division-I "My soul knows"
This division is about the world of the Spirit What is his confidence but that his life in its entirety stand naked before God. The v.1 refers "O lord, thou hast searched me, and known me." His soul knows well what His divine breath set him for.
vv.3-14 enumerate the spiritual impulses in him to which his soul was acquainted with. 'Whither shall I go from thy spirit? or whither shall I flee from thy presence?" His soul was right there.
In v.16 Division-II "The Body "
The psalmist presents his body the source of which characterized him as earthy. 'when I was made in secret, and curiously wrought in the lowest parts of the earth," in contrast with the soul. (God breathed into the nostrils of man) It implies his spiritual content as from heaven. "But there went up a mist from the earth, and watered the whole face of the ground./And theLordGod formed man of the dust of the ground,"(Ge.2:6-7)
v.25 Division III Prayer
"Lead me In the way everlasting"
Truth writ in our inwards makes both worlds of the flesh and of the Spirit as one in relation to the word. Thus testimony of Jesus Christ in the inaugural vision is both father and the Son as one. Whereas the night vision that the Spirit revealed to Daniel in Ch.7 we have the Ancient of days and the one in the likeness of the Son separately. From the above how do we consider our body? Only present in the world of the flesh or both worlds as one, having to give confession before the eternal word? Heresies are brought by Satan who is spirit but unclean since he puts himself out side the Law. Without the Son man is lost. Without abiding in him by faith all works are froth. "He who does not honor the Son does not honor the Father who sent Him."( John 5:23--NKJV)
"And lead me in the way everlasting" The eternal word assures eternal life for those who have the Son abiding in them'. "I am the Way the truth and the life" Death of the body merely changes the order of two worlds so the world of the Spirit which were unseen stands before the risen Lord savior which is of heaven."And as we have borne the image of the earthy, we shall also bear the image of the heavenly."(1 Co.15:49)
The psalmist in this psalm touches upon 'my substance'. "My substance was not hid from thee, when I was made in secret, and curiously wrought in the lowest parts of the earth./Thine eyes did see my substance, yet being unperfect; and in thy book all my members were written, which in continuance were fashioned, when as yet there was none of them." This also is open before God meaning the past present and eternity glory of which is bound up with the Son (He.13:8). In terms of theology predestination is the glory of God in terms of Power and Wisdom principle so when Jesus says, "I am the way" it is validated by the eternal word. '"For thou hast magnified thy word above all thy name". This glory of the word has two parts. Holy is his name. This refers to the divine will of the Father. Second part is the name that the son gives to the overcomer. "And I will write upon him my new name."(Re.3:12)
Secondly 'The works of thine hands' (138:8) is a proof of the unity of the Spirit. The psalmist asks 'Whither shall I go from thy spirit? In terms of the Spirit there is no up or down as we speak being primed for terrestrial living. Our inner ear tells its own story which is true as far as our body goes. The world of the Spirit in which heart carries a personal spiritual space is merely to give volume to a man dead in sins a context. Dead to the world at baptism he is hidden in heavenly places refer to this unity.
As mentioned above there is no up or down; nor is there in terms of the Spirit, east or west. "If I take the wings of the morning, and dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea;/Even there shall thy hand lead me, and thy right hand shall hold me." (vv.9-10) In terms of glory God the Father signifies Power and the Son, the wisdom aspect which is female principle. When God ('elohim') speaks male and female it refers to the glory aspect of Christ and the church (the bride) as well.
"Remember, OLord, the children of Edom in the day of Jerusalem; who said, Rase it, rase it, even to the foundation thereof.(vv.5-7)
In the day of Jerusalem speaks of a day, a day of calamity for Israel. The word of God says,"Except theLordkeep the city, the watchman waketh but in vain." (127:1b) Isaiah wailed over it,"How is the faithful city become an harlot! it was full of judgment; righteousness lodged in it; but now murderers."(Is.1:21-22). This change was not instant but the result of walking after their own ways.'we have turned everyone to his way' as the prophet would lament. and when God sent his only begotten Son they would reject him. In the vision of John the great city was spiritually same as Sodom or Babylon. (Re.11:8) In another vision she had become so deep in mire so she even wore a name,"And upon her forehead was a name written,Mystery, Babylon The Great, The Mother Of Harlots And Abominations Of The Earth./And I saw the woman drunken with the blood of the saints, and with the blood of the martyrs of Jesus:"(Re.17:5-6). In this dramatic change we cannot help but recall the words of Jesus, ""So the last will be first, and the first will be last."(Matt.20:16)(De.
This can explain the enmity of Edom for Israel their brethren, which found expression in their day of reckoning. Beginning of their quarrel owes to Jacob cheating Esau the firstborn over the birthright. Isaac having blessed Jacob what he could offer him was somewhat comparable to a 'left-handed blessing. "By your sword you shall live,/and youshall serve your brother;/ but when you grow restless/you shall break his yoke from your neck." (Ge.27:40-ESV). Israel never learned how and their works without faith made the soul very alien to them. The word was in their heart to which they had no respect.
Their lament in the captivity meant nothing. "I will make them angry by a nation that has no understanding"(De,32:21) It makes news.
Israel's captivity in a strange land remained unchanged and their sorrow was merely a luxury they indulged in since they had no depth to seek the truth in their own heart and turn it around. "But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him."(He.11:6)
How well are we fitted out in our times when the humanity of Jesus is more preferred than his deity and his miracles? The key to the heresies that have clouded the vision of Christian world is their lack of faith. What are the songs of Zion for them? Christian nationalism is a clear example of miry clay making common cause with the runaway State off the guard rail than stick to the national motto. "in God we trust." How good people could stand by and make excuses for bad people in power, or promote them with a missionary zeal shows this strange land. Like reprobate Israel these Christians cannot see past their own resentments and bias.
With such mindset what does the word of God mean to them, "For here have we no continuing city, but we seek one to come,"(He.11:14)?
"O daughter of Babylon, who art to be destroyed; happy shall he be, that rewardeth thee as thou hast served us./Happy shall he be, that taketh and dasheth thy little ones against the stones." This is what apostate Israel would and had no clue that they themselves were to blame. Prophet Jeremiah had warned them,"For my people have committed two evils; they have forsaken me the fountain of living waters, and hewed them out cisterns, broken cisterns, that can hold no water." (Je.2:13) Then as now.
"By the rivers of Babylon, there we sat down, yea, we wept, when we remembered Zion./We hanged our harps upon the willows in the midst thereof./For there they that carried us away captive required of us a song; and they that wasted us required of us mirth, saying, Sing us one of the songs of Zion."
The rivers whether it be of Babylon or of Damascus, their source as well as their end rests with God. The will of God directs it's course and the Son shall fulfill it so one might say Jordan, Tigris or Euphrates are mere labels and interchangeable. Naaman the leper asked," Are not Abana and Pharpar, rivers of Damascus, better than all the waters of Israel?"(2 Ki.5:12). No no, God has determined before beginning of the world as to where and on whom His blessings shall rest.
'God sent his word, healed them and delivered from their destructions'. The rivers accordingly trace a course in the visible world. "So he (Naaman) went down and dipped himself in the Jordan seven times,as the man of God had told him, and his flesh was restoredand became clean like that of a young boy."(2 Ki.5:14) Naaman, a Gentile took the word of the prophet totally, doubting nothing, and as a result was healed. The word was from God and whether it was administered by Elisha or Jesus faith is the same, and for this reason it worked.
Gentile or Jew when one hears the word, it creates in the world of the Spirit faith (Ro.10:17), which must prove that the sovereign grace of God and faith are not imposed from external world but gushes forth from inner world of the Spirit.For this reason God commanded Samuel to reject Jesse's other sons. Eliab seemed right for Samuel. "But theLordsaid unto Samuel, Look not on his countenance, or on the height of his stature; because I have refused him: for theLordseeth not as man seeth; for man looketh on the outward appearance, but theLordlooketh on the heart."(1 Sa.16:7)
It is the Holy Spirit exhorts,"Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity!" If God could work with us and make us sons and daughters how do we treat others? Is it not blasphemous to divide them on account of race, color or according to our own ideas? Love of God is compared to precious ointment running down to anoint mankind as well. This is how we see the light through the true Light that came down to give us eternal life. Who are we to grudge it anointing others as well as we are? ( John 3:16). "Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ:"(Ep.4:13)
All blessings pour down from the Sovereign Lord to the lesser. Unity of the Spirit explains this organization of several feature of His kingdom into which every creature has use and holds a place so no part can be seen as separate. "The eyes of all wait upon thee; and thou givest them their meat in due season./The eyes of all wait upon thee; and thou givest them their meat in due season."(145:15-16).
"For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled."(Matt.5:18) This jot is set in context of the Law. How do we explain in human relationships? "And whoso shall receive one such little child in my name receiveth me./But whoso shall offend one of these little ones which believe in me, it were better for him that a millstone were hanged about his neck, and that he were drowned in the depth of the sea."(Matt.18:5-6) Do we ask further proof if the church has lost its historical connection with church set on the foundation of Christ in the face of 'abuse' covered up by Mother church?
Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity!/It is like the precious ointment upon the head, that ran down upon the beard, even Aaron's beard: that went down to the skirts of his garments;/As the dew of Hermon, and as the dew that descended upon the mountains of Zion: for there theLordcommanded the blessing, even life for evermore.
Soul is the seal of this unity so human spirit is set in context of the Spirit of Christ. When the Holy Spirit says, "Now is the day of salvation' our time must synchronize with His Time, is it not? It is for this we have a scale as well as a body which was prepared no matter in the eternal mind but Jesus Christ the same yesterday, today and forever gives us the basis with which we are set in in context of the eternal godhead. Faith with works do not mean mere observances in the manner the nation of Israel made a travesty of it.
Moses taught Israel, " Hear, O Israel: TheLordour God is oneLord:" (De.6:4) In the creation account we have this verse,"So God created man in his own image,"(Ge.1:27) How are we as a result? Spirit Soul and Body going in three different ways or all three working as one? Unity of the Spirit thus explains Trinity as well as man. None of these was brought by our own volition. Naked we came forth and we shall also leave empty handed. period.
The Same Spirit but with seven facets holding together so the eternal Spirit holds relevance. "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." 1 Co.2:11). Soul is compared to a child. Thus every man receive Jesus Christ by the same faith which is also one. This unity makes Jesus as the firstborn of all creation and others as our brethren.It is the Holy Spirit exhorts,"Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity!"
We have the words of King Solomon at the dedication of the temple referring what was in the heart of his father. "And it was in the heart of David my father to build an house for the name of theLordGod of Israel."(1 Ki.8:17) This psalm references it in vv.1-5 not in context of David but to the fruit of his loins, according to the flesh, Christ who could genuinely claim, 'This is my rest forever.'
Here below we have a passage from Apostle Peter explaining the outpouring the Holy Spirit. "Men and brethren, let me freely speak unto you of the patriarch David, that he is both dead and buried, and his sepulchre is with us unto this day./...He seeing this before spake of the resurrection of Christ,/ that his soul was not left in hell, neither his flesh did see corruption./This Jesus hath God raised up, whereof we all are witnesses./Therefore being by the right hand of God exalted, and having received of the Father the promise of the Holy Ghost, he hath shed forth this, which ye now see and hear." (Ac.2;29-33)
The outpouring of the Spirit served as a place of rest so one may boldly claim his heart as a tabernacle for worshiping God in Spirit and truth. Christ thus finds home in us by faith and by no other means. St Paul's prayer also makes it clear, "That he would grant you, according to the riches of his glory, to be strengthened with might by his Spirit in the inner man;/That Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith;/ that ye might be filled with all the fulness of God." (Ep.3:16-20).
Power working in us reconciles two natures of Father and the Son in our soul. Holiness of God the Father and obedience of the Son are two sides of the Word as a sign and sound. Soul finds rest when man has faith and works. As Christ was in the world so we shall be be. Our soul would not be left in hell. Without witnessing to soul where abiding in Christ produces fruits we trivialize faith.
Lord, my heart is not haughty, nor mine eyes lofty: neither do I exercise myself in great matters, or in things too high for me./Surely I have behaved and quieted myself, as a child that is weaned of his mother: my soul is even as a weaned chil
God is the creator of heaven and the earth. "But I am poor and needy; yet the Lord thinketh upon me:"(Ps.40:17). What name shall fit him, considering His infinite nature? Whatever human intellect may settle shall be inadequate since Power and Wisdom of the Being is absolute. So the HolySpirit simply says, 'Holy is his Name.'( Luke 1:49). Holiness must explain every feature of His creative mind. Thus the fall of a sparrow does not go without it knowing (Matt.10:29), neither will He let go evil unpunished. Thus restoring holiness in His sovereign kingdom,- both worlds of the flesh and the spirit in harmony belongs to God alone. "For we know him who said, "Vengeance is mine; I will repay." And again, "The Lord will judge his people."(He.10:30; De.32:35).
God is a Spirit and when we say 'His people' it must be clear that holiness must necessarily be a common factor which is natural for man to work with God. Soul of man is the article which can serve him to this purpose. The indwelling Spirit serves as a tutor so it holds a candle to his innermost recesses. In the verse below we read the psalmist directed his body to behave in such manner so as to put his soul at rest. Man child is the name wherewith man may become part of His people.
Holiness of God suffices for man since his own attempts to pass for holy is like the truncated tail of a dead lizard. You see in it works but its body of faith is dead. In his Son is the fountain of light. We need see the light through the true Light. This is the way to holiness and in our faith we allow our lives to be molded in his image.
"Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus:"(Ph.2:5-11)
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