"And seeing the multitudes, he went up into a mountain: and when he was set, his disciples came unto him."(v.1) St Matthew sets Jesus in the backdrop of a mount which is significant as the traditional names are besides the point. Similarly his transfiguration is set against 'an high mountain.' Luke sets Jesus differently, "And he came down with them, and stood in the plain,",- and his sermon more or less follows the same doctrine that he brought from his Father.( Luke 6:17) St Matthew chose to give the backdrop in terms of the stone, "Therefore thus saith the Lord God, Behold, I lay in Zion for a foundation a stone, a tried stone, a precious corner stone, a sure foundation."(Is.28:16). The House that Wisdom built and the seven pillars thereof, casts ints shadow into the narrative. Zion, the stone is a symbol. He references the generation of Jesus with allusions so we have besides Isaiah (1:22-23),another from Zechariah,"All this was done, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophet, saying,/Tell ye the daughter of Sion, Behold, thy King cometh unto thee, meek, and sitting upon an ass, and a colt the foal of an ass." (Matt.21:4-5)
Of all the Gospel writers, Matthew's use of the Hebrew Bible is the most extensive. His Gospel contains approximately 124 quotations and allusions. Of which we take the Generation of Jesus Christ in the context of Zion.
St Peter qualifies the mount of transfiguration as 'the holy mount'(2 Pe.1:18). This mount was sanctified or set apart for the generation of Jesus Christ.
Coming back to the Genesis account it marks the seventh day. The terms we have examined in terms of the Abstract such as day, the pillar refer to the fulfillment and it is a command number used by the Spirit to refer the generation of heavens. It is thus the stone serves as a symbol more so in the manner St Matthew uses it in the gospel.
Without abiding in Jesus Christ by faith his deity would mean little and it like the man looking his natural face in a glass (Jas.1:23-25) Faith with works denote the glory of his deity being impressed therein, 'this man shall be blessed in his deed.' His works cannot seen separate from 'the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.' In short faith establishes every believer as a representative of the generation of Jesus Christ.
Adoption of Seth in place of Abel is how the Spirit has worked out the holy family. This was evident in the genealogy of Adam and we have this Pauline quote,"For if by one man's offence death reigned by one; much more they which receive abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness shall reign in life by one, Jesus Christ."(Ro.5:17) This is the gift of righteousness we find in the life of Abraham. "And he believed in the Lord; and he counted it to him for righteousness."(Ge.15:6) God blessed Abraham, "And in thee shall all families of the earth be blessed." (Ge.12:3)
Where was this blessing first stated? "And God blessed them," (Ge.1:28) God blessed Adam and Eve who represent the Son and the church, his bride. For this reason the Spirit sets him as the last Adam, to establish Jesus Christ as the redeemer for all the families of the earth. It is clearly a heresy to speak of limited salvation as it is to delink faith from works.
We shall see in terms of symbolism how St Matthew has dealt with generation of Jesus Christ in another post.
"The book of the generation of Jesus Christ, the son of David, the son of Abraham." We shall study the Gospel in terms of the deity and humanity of Jesus Christ, beginning with the version of St Matt. Many Bible scholars have noted the Jewish upbringing because of which he uses kingdom of heaven rather than mentioning the name 'God.' They have got it only correct partly. St Matthew begins with the generation unlike other three gospels for the simple reason that it makes connection with generations of heavens in Ge.2:4 "These are the generations of the heavens and of the earth when they were created, in the day that the Lord God made the earth and the heavens,"
The seven days in the Abstract that precedes are generations and are compared to seven pillars leading us to the new heavens and the new earth in Re.21:1 The Word is clear, "The earth abides forever" because it speaks of the generation of Jesus Christ where it pleased God that all his fulness should in him dwell. It is how we need interpret He.11:3 He framed the worlds by his word so the fulness of God the invisible aspects of the Father is mirrored in the earth. The earth abides forever because it is the inheritance of children of light for whom Jesus Christ is the firstborn of all creation. So new heaven and the new earth is applied exclusively in terms of the just. "The just shall live faith." This we see from the life of Abraham. "By faith he sojourned in the land of promise, as in a strange country, dwelling in tabernacles with Isaac and Jacob, the heirs with him of the same promise:/For he looked for a city which hath foundations, whose builder and maker is God."(He.11:9-10)
"And God blessed the seventh day, and sanctified it: because that in it he had rested from all his work which God created and made." Ge.2:3) God rested because he blessed man in the sixth 'day' so we may say Abraham was counted righteous because of his faith and had adopted him in his Son. (Ep.1:3)
Matt.1:1 "The book of the generation of Jesus Christ, the son of David, the son of Abraham." Matthew 1:1
The Spirit introduces Jesus as the son of David as well as the son of Abraham. Deity of Jesus Christ is on the basis of faith so whosoever believed in the Son is adopted into the fellowship of God with Man. While according to the flesh Jesus came out of the loins of David. Representational aspect of persons is thus worked into the narrative. Envy and hatred of the patriarchs against their sibling makes Joseph as a stand-in for Jesus. In dilating upon the sufferings the Spirit makes such representations irrefutable on the basis of selfsame suffering children of light shall face in their time and place. Joseph's brethren sold him so did Judas Iscariot, his master. it is the generation of Jesus where whosoever believes in him and receives his as Savior fulfills the condition of his Father. He is part of his generation.
"That whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have eternal life./ For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life./For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved."( John 3:15-17)
Life and everlasting life are as distinct as his generation from which he was cut off the land of the living. "He was taken from prison and from judgment: and who shall declare his generation? for he was cut off out of the land of the living."(Is.53:8)
Then Saul took three thousand chosen men out of all Israel, and went to seek David and his men upon the rocks of the wild goats.
Saul beginning well is now showing himself an imbecile. He chosen men cannot be wiser than he is while God in choosing Gideon's army required only those who would obey. In olden days when smallpox and polio stalked the land vaccination proved a cure and the world took it without a murmur. Why global anti-vaxx movement now, and where does it come from? Satan of course. For man who tweaks with truth to create contextual truth stones of division is a stone of stumbling to break the neck of fools.
Progress was for them the bottle imp and they cant get it back into its bottle. It is thus the world is at present all for conjuring up the Father of all lies.So we see the wicked becoming worse, deceiving and being deceived. How unreal is the Instagram look, nevertheless we see someone has given mentally fragile youth an underhand swipe.
"And it came to pass, when Saul was returned from following the Philistines, that it was told him, saying, Behold, David is in the wilderness of Engedi(v.1)".
'And David went up from thence, and dwelt in strong holds at Engedi.'(23:29)
En-gedi means 'kid's well which is a wilderness and must be like being led by the Lord in a wilderness which is the world. Psalm 23 celebrates the still waters ('He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters'-v.2. ) as against the sea which is restless throwing up mire and dirt.
For the love-bitten bride it is the intimacy so we have seen,"My beloved is unto me as a cluster of camphire in the vineyards of Engedi (The song.1:14)". Abiding in Jesus Christ the vine we abound in bearing fruits. The place suited David in his present predicament. There were caverns that sheltered him from Saul, which served him as 'strongholds.' Literally meant geography of the terrain suited him and his band. 'En-gedi was situated near to the western coast of theDead Sea, not far from Jeshimon'. In spiritual terms it is the pavilion where our heart has laid open a royal highway to God.
'In my Father's house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you.( John 14:2)' The word of God is eternal and has already gone out of his mouth meaning it is the will of God that His children shall be secure under His wings. Jesus laments for Jerusalem and rightly so since their disbelief denied what was eternally open for them.(Matt.23:30) Jesus Christ the same etc.,(He.13:8) means just that. When David asked of the Lord,"saying, Shall I go and smite these Philistines? And theLordsaid unto David, Go, and smite the Philistines, and save Keilah(23:2)". The will of God is clear. There were dotted lines which had to connected and it is how faith is followed by works. David trusting in the promise wins victory of the Philistines.
Here in the text God sets the Philistines to save David from being caught. The pandemic, heat domes, wildfires tornadoes and supply chain bottlenecks, economic downturns are God's way of scattering the smile off the face of superpowers whose words and actions do not match. Either nations gather with God or scatter all that they arrogantly reserved for themselves. The stone of divisions is a warning for them.
Selahammahlekoth means the rock of divisions and king Saul looking for David went in all direction about the wilderness but with no success. If God be for us who can be against us? The Spiritual rock which was Christ is a refuge for saints redeemed from the earth, whose strivings without God is vain. In the many heresies that plague the Christian world we have similarly rock of divisions which are as Prophet Jeremiah says,"They have healed also the hurt of the daughter of my people slightly, saying, Peace, peace; when there is no peace(Je.6:14)".
"But there came a messenger unto Saul, saying, Haste thee, and come; for the Philistines have invaded the land./Wherefore Saul returned from pursuing after David, and went against the Philistines: therefore they called that place Selahammahlekoth.29And David went up from thence, and dwelt in strong holds at Engedi."
As we trace the career paths of King Saul and younger David we see the truth of Jesus' words,"He that is not with me is against me; and he that gathereth not with me scattereth abroad(Matt.12:30)".Saul in his rage and hatred would stand athwart God's will, and when failed would only add to his hatred towards his rival. Unclean spirits of envy, malice and vanity merely scattered whatever standing he had in God''s sight. He whined for safety of his kingdom "That all of you have conspired against me, and there is none that sheweth me that my son hath made a league with the son of Jesse, and there is none of you that is sorry for me, or sheweth unto me that my son hath stirred up my servant against me, to lie in wait, as at this day?(22:8)" That was his 'big lie' moment and it led to the slaughter of the priests. What does Saul who was anointed,- God gave him a new Spirit, become? Now he is King Saul the whiner.
King Saul hearing that David won a victory against the Philistians at Keilah,"And Saul called all the people together to war, to go down to Keilah, to besiege David and his men." He slipped out before he could and goes to Ziph. Before he could be betrayed he runs off to yet another,-wilderness of Maon; In v.26 he is surrounded so God steps in. "And Saul went on this side of the mountain, and David and his men on that side of the mountain: and David made haste to get away for fear of Saul; for Saul and his men compassed David and his men round about to take them."
"And David said unto Ahimelech the priest, The king hath commanded me a business, and hath said unto me, Let no man know any thing of the business whereabout I send thee, and what I have commanded thee: and I have appointed my servants to such and such a place(21:1-2)". This would consequently cost the lives of 85 priests including that of Ahimelech.
When Jesus was brought before Pilate,"Pilate therefore said unto him, Art thou a king then? Jesus answered, Thou sayest that I am a king. To this end was I born, and for this cause came I into the world, that I should bear witness unto the truth. Every one that is of the truth heareth my voice( John 18:37)".
Jesus spoke truth since he being the truth he could not have denied anymore than his Father who as the verse says"he cannot deny himself(2 Ti.2:13b)".
David was 'a man after my heart' the Scripture bears testimony but he was forbidden to build a house for God."But the word of the LORD came to me, saying, Thou hast shed blood abundantly, and hast made great wars: thou shalt not build an house unto my name, because thou hast shed much blood upon the earth in my sight(1 Chr.22:8)". Needless blood of the priests also must be included therein.
"But if I say thus unto the young man, Behold, the arrows are beyond thee; go thy way: for theLordhath sent thee away./And as touching the matter which thou and I have spoken of, behold, theLordbe between thee and me for ever."(20:22-23).
Covenant between soul of man and God is eternal as the Word is eternal. Jesus warns,"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). To this St Paul refers in his epistle,"For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ; that every one may receive the things done in his body, according to that he hath done, whether it be good or bad.(2 Co.5:10)" This terror is all too real for man so his fear for death is understood but not all are alike. A soul is prudent since is animated by the breath of God and a fool cares little for what he cannot handle or see for himself. "A prudent man foreseeth the evil, and hideth himself; but the simple pass on, and are punished(Pr.27:12)". .Jonathan well knew what David shall become. In their covenant we have Jonathan signifies the role of a soul David is a stand-in for Jesus Christ. For this reason the Spirit narrates their pact for our spiritual edification, and when Jonathan speaks, 'Behold, theLordbe between thee and me for ever' it is a cue for us to approach it in spiritual terms.
Young David had to grow spiritually since Samuel had anointed him his every move had to be in accordance with the will of God. We do not see him consulting him as he did in the case of the Philistines. In his flight from Saul while in Nob he went to Ahimelech, the priest. "And Ahimelech was afraid at the meeting of David, and said unto him, Why art thou alone, and no man with thee?" Ahimelech's fear was a gut-feeling which shows how we have apprehension and it is how our soul primes us up. David's reply was not true.
Finally a distinction between soul and the inner man may be relevant here. God made Adam a living soul which signifies the truth written in inward parts is alive:as a live wire and is ready to catch divine fire. When you hear the word of God it does something to you that you cannot miss it.(Ro.10:17).
Faith is what you follow up with works. Thus Abraham steps out of his comfort zone to a place God has promised to give. He believed therefore it was counted to him for righteousness. Soul of man is His presence which for saints who are led by him have Father's name in their foreheads which are different from man who is carnal. His heart is not entirely perfect before him. For those who have received Jesus Christ as their Savior has a helper, the indwelling Spirit.. When St Paul prays,'That he would grant you, according to the riches of his glory, to be strengthened with might by his Spirit in the inner man(Ep.3:16)' it is of a different quality. So he warns,'And grieve not the holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption(Ep.4:30-32)'. Inner man of child of God has hope for the risen Christ promises,"To him that overcometh will I give to eat of the hidden manna, and will give him a white stone, and in the stone a new name written, which no man knoweth saving he that receivethit(Re.2:17;Is.62:2)".
On the other hand soul of a wicked man is trash."The tongue of the just is as choice silver: the heart of the wicked is little worth(Pr.10:20)".
"Then they told David, saying, Behold, the Philistines fight against Keilah, and they rob the threshingfloors./Therefore David enquired of theLord, saying, Shall I go and smite these Philistines? And theLordsaid unto David, Go, and smite the Philistines, and save Keilah./ And David's men said unto him, Behold, we be afraid here in Judah: how much more then if we come to Keilah against the armies of the Philistines?/Then David enquired of theLordyet again. And theLordanswered him and said, Arise, go down to Keilah; for I will deliver the Philistines into thine hand."(vv.1-4)
''Therefore David enquired of theLord,' While David was holed up in the cave of Adullam he heard the Philistines robbing Israel of their harvest. He enquired of the Lord what he ought to do. Had he enquired of the Lord before going to Ahimelech the priest in Nob it would have spared lot of bloodshed. He came a long way spiritually. From the stone Ezel to Adullam soul of man is creating its own back up system as bees store up honey in hives. This is what the Spirit wants us to know.
Earlier Jonathan brought him vital information while he was waiting for it. We shall refer the passage 20:18-22)."Then Jonathan said to David, To morrow is the new moon: and thou shalt be missed, because thy seat will be empty./And when thou hast stayed three days, then thou shalt go down quickly, and come to the place where thou didst hide thyself when the business was in hand, and shalt remain by the stone Ezel".
The message from Jonathan was clear 'The Lord hath sent thee away." David fleeing from Saul has found refuge in the cave of Adullam and the place traces the manner his soul being spiritually fortified. We covered the significance of the three arrows shot by Jonathan and while we are considering the role of the soul of man we shall mention the Psalm of David composed while he was Adullam,"Yea, in the shadow of thy wings will I make my refuge,..."
Secondly Doeg carrying the tale of David being sheltered by Ahimelech in Nob to King Saul is what man who shall resort in order to rise in career. It is what body is capable of doing.
Thirdly how David changed his behavior in front of Achish the king of Gath, whether it is reaction to lying or psychological condition is a matter left to the soul.
Thus body spirit and soul pose questions for man who would explain everything by approaching the word of God by literalism The Spirit employed the episode of Jonathan shooting arrows is clearly meant for a child of God for instruction. In all the three areas how Jesus handled we shall see in another post.
"And David said unto Abiathar, I knew it that day, when Doeg the Edomite was there, that he would surely tell Saul: I have occasioned the death of all the persons of thy father's house./Abide thou with me, fear not: for he that seeketh my life seeketh thy life: but with me thou shalt be in safeguard."
David is here referring to a certain knowledge which is supplied by the soul and validated by the Holy Spirit. :And he who searches our heartsknows the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedesfor God's people in accordance with the will of God(Ro.8:26-27-NIV). The Spirit shall do only in accordance with the will of God while soul signifies the presence of God in man. In the covenant confirmed by David and Jonathan we have the role of soul which for a child of God is in context of Jesus Christ Light of the knowledge is for the glory of God."For God, who commanded the light to shine out of darkness, hath shined in our hearts, to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ./But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellency of the power may be of God, and not of us(2 Co.4:6-7)". Knowledge therefore has to be for the glory of God and it is in context of Jesus Christ. In the Holy Cuty of God the tabernacle ofGod is with man and Zion is its heart and it is stand-in for the soul of Christ the Head.
How soul works with a child of God we shall see in specific case of David who did not exactly tell the truth to Ahimelech, the priest while in Nob(21:1-2). How it led to the slaughter of 85 priests (22:18) no man may be able to explain anymore than the manner the doctrine of Balaam corrupted Israelites without ever speaking to them. It is between the Spirit and the soul. The spirit of man communicates with spirit of another.
How soul relates to a child of God can be explained by this verse,"He that dwelleth in the secret place of the most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty(Ps.91:1). The spiritual space of heart has truth correspondingly as eternal word is settled in heavens for His creation. It is brought out by the Spirit in the manner Jonathan promises David to intimate what his father's real intentions are. In vv19-20 Jonathan has a confidante, a young lad with artillery to go between them. David was to come to the appointed place,"and come to the place where thou didst hide thyself when the business was in hand, and shalt remain by the stone Ezel./And I will shoot three arrows on the side thereof, as though I shot at a mark."
The manner Jonathan directed the lad was his cue."But if I say thus unto the young man, Behold, the arrows are beyond thee; go thy way: for theLordhath sent thee away./And as touching the matter which thou and I have spoken of, behold, theLordbe between thee and me for ever(vv.22-23). Significant is the usage of 'forever'. A believer who is led by the indwelling Spirit is the son of the Most High. 'He shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty' forever.
In our times when Evangelicals think of activism they mean they are positioned to judge those whose lifestyles are different. They are like the young lad ignorant of how soul can take care of child of God, without busybodies coming between. "But the lad knew not any thing: only Jonathan and David knew the matter./And Jonathan gave his artillery unto his lad, and said unto him, Go, carry them to the city(vv.39-40).
"And Jonathan caused David to swear again, because he loved him: for he loved him as he loved his own soul(v.17).
The covenant that Jonathan and David enter into concerns two houses, of Jonathan and David respectively, soul of each being knit as one. The Spirit has set them signifying the role of the soul of man which is a presence establishing truth written in his inward parts. There is no excuse the rich fool in the Parable did nothing to be rich towards God. Now Jonathan has precognition as to the role David was to play. He is also aware that his father had lost it all.'And theLordbe with thee, as he hath been with my father'.
In the min-max narrative mode every covenant a believer makes with Jesus Christ and accepting him as the Savior Lord conforms to the covenant of God made with the Son.(Ps.2:7-8). As discussed in the post titled School of Prophets a prophet is appointed by God and when he spoke of judgment it was valid for specific as well as for the Final judgment. The reason is simple: the eternal word is settled in heaven.(Ps.119:89) and it applies specifically to Jesus Christ.For thetestimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy.(Re.19:10-NKJV) " For this reason prophets from Abraham ('for he is a prophet'-Ge.20:7)to John ( Luke 16:16) are like series regardless of time and place takes us to the Day of the Lord. "He shall call to the heavens from above, and to the earth, that he may judge his people./Gather my saints together unto me; those that have made a covenant with me by sacrifice(Ps.50:4-5)".
Jonathan is a stand-in for soul to which David signifies the Son. In eternity the body of Christ the church has only one Law and,- Zion is the soul of New Jerusalem; and Psalm of Asaph sings,'Out of Zion, the perfection of beauty, God hath shined(Ps.50:2; Is.2:3).
In the Parable of the Rich Fool he addresses his soul and it is his other self, sum total of his worth in a figurative sense . This soul is different from inner man. If soul is as true with a carnal man, so with a spiritual man. His soul is the presence and it is in this sense the Spirit has built up the relationship of David and Jonathan. First from the parable,"And I will say to my soul, Soul, thou hast much goods laid up for many years; take thine ease, eat, drink, and be merry.But God said unto him, Thou fool, this night thy soul shall be required of thee: then whose shall those things be, which thou hast provided? ( Luke 12:19-20)."With death who shall collect all that he stored? Not he that is for sure. He knew how to make wealth but when his soul proved to be worthless we need understand soul of a carnal man is worthless signifying it was only as good as his body had his being. Eyes are the window of one soul which is only the sound and fury one can perceive,- but does it add up? Such was the rich fool as the Bard would say, and he told a story as long as he walked with his heavy tread of wealth, but it was a tale at the end signifying nothing.
And David fled from Naioth in Ramah, and came and said before Jonathan, What have I done? what is mine iniquity? and what is my sin before thy father, that he seeketh my life?/2And he said unto him, God forbid; thou shalt not die.".
Jonathan was certain that his father shall not do anything without first telling him. It helps us recall the words of Jesus,""Truly, truly, I say to you, the Son can do nothing of his own accord, but only what he sees the Father doing. For whatever the Father does, that the Son does likewise( John 5:19)". When we speak of Christ living in us by faith our soul is that presence and it strengthens our our inner man every time we do things in obedience to his words so our soul is his presence irradiating inner man. It is like the face of Moses (Ex.34:29).
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.
"And seeing the multitudes, he went up into a mountain: and when he was set, his disciples came unto him."(v.1) St Matthew sets Jesus in the backdrop of a mount which is significant as the traditional names are besides the point. Similarly his transfiguration is set against 'an high mountain.' Luke sets Jesus differently, "And he came down with them, and stood in the plain,",- and his sermon more or less follows the same doctrine that he brought from his Father.( Luke 6:17) St Matthew chose to give the backdrop in terms of the stone, "Therefore thus saith the Lord God, Behold, I lay in Zion for a foundation a stone, a tried stone, a precious corner stone, a sure foundation."(Is.28:16). The House that Wisdom built and the seven pillars thereof, casts ints shadow into the narrative. Zion, the stone is a symbol. He references the generation of Jesus with allusions so we have besides Isaiah (1:22-23),another from Zechariah,"All this was done, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophet, saying,/Tell ye the daughter of Sion, Behold, thy King cometh unto thee, meek, and sitting upon an ass, and a colt the foal of an ass." (Matt.21:4-5)
Of all the Gospel writers, Matthew's use of the Hebrew Bible is the most extensive. His Gospel contains approximately 124 quotations and allusions. Of which we take the Generation of Jesus Christ in the context of Zion.
St Peter qualifies the mount of transfiguration as 'the holy mount'(2 Pe.1:18). This mount was sanctified or set apart for the generation of Jesus Christ.
Coming back to the Genesis account it marks the seventh day. The terms we have examined in terms of the Abstract such as day, the pillar refer to the fulfillment and it is a command number used by the Spirit to refer the generation of heavens. It is thus the stone serves as a symbol more so in the manner St Matthew uses it in the gospel.
Without abiding in Jesus Christ by faith his deity would mean little and it like the man looking his natural face in a glass (Jas.1:23-25) Faith with works denote the glory of his deity being impressed therein, 'this man shall be blessed in his deed.' His works cannot seen separate from 'the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.' In short faith establishes every believer as a representative of the generation of Jesus Christ.
Adoption of Seth in place of Abel is how the Spirit has worked out the holy family. This was evident in the genealogy of Adam and we have this Pauline quote,"For if by one man's offence death reigned by one; much more they which receive abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness shall reign in life by one, Jesus Christ."(Ro.5:17) This is the gift of righteousness we find in the life of Abraham. "And he believed in the Lord; and he counted it to him for righteousness."(Ge.15:6) God blessed Abraham, "And in thee shall all families of the earth be blessed." (Ge.12:3)
Where was this blessing first stated? "And God blessed them," (Ge.1:28) God blessed Adam and Eve who represent the Son and the church, his bride. For this reason the Spirit sets him as the last Adam, to establish Jesus Christ as the redeemer for all the families of the earth. It is clearly a heresy to speak of limited salvation as it is to delink faith from works.
We shall see in terms of symbolism how St Matthew has dealt with generation of Jesus Christ in another post.
"The book of the generation of Jesus Christ, the son of David, the son of Abraham." We shall study the Gospel in terms of the deity and humanity of Jesus Christ, beginning with the version of St Matt. Many Bible scholars have noted the Jewish upbringing because of which he uses kingdom of heaven rather than mentioning the name 'God.' They have got it only correct partly. St Matthew begins with the generation unlike other three gospels for the simple reason that it makes connection with generations of heavens in Ge.2:4 "These are the generations of the heavens and of the earth when they were created, in the day that the Lord God made the earth and the heavens,"
The seven days in the Abstract that precedes are generations and are compared to seven pillars leading us to the new heavens and the new earth in Re.21:1 The Word is clear, "The earth abides forever" because it speaks of the generation of Jesus Christ where it pleased God that all his fulness should in him dwell. It is how we need interpret He.11:3 He framed the worlds by his word so the fulness of God the invisible aspects of the Father is mirrored in the earth. The earth abides forever because it is the inheritance of children of light for whom Jesus Christ is the firstborn of all creation. So new heaven and the new earth is applied exclusively in terms of the just. "The just shall live faith." This we see from the life of Abraham. "By faith he sojourned in the land of promise, as in a strange country, dwelling in tabernacles with Isaac and Jacob, the heirs with him of the same promise:/For he looked for a city which hath foundations, whose builder and maker is God."(He.11:9-10)
"And God blessed the seventh day, and sanctified it: because that in it he had rested from all his work which God created and made." Ge.2:3) God rested because he blessed man in the sixth 'day' so we may say Abraham was counted righteous because of his faith and had adopted him in his Son. (Ep.1:3)
The Spirit introduces Jesus as the son of David as well as the son of Abraham. Deity of Jesus Christ is on the basis of faith so whosoever believed in the Son is adopted into the fellowship of God with Man. While according to the flesh Jesus came out of the loins of David. Representational aspect of persons is thus worked into the narrative. Envy and hatred of the patriarchs against their sibling makes Joseph as a stand-in for Jesus. In dilating upon the sufferings the Spirit makes such representations irrefutable on the basis of selfsame suffering children of light shall face in their time and place. Joseph's brethren sold him so did Judas Iscariot, his master. it is the generation of Jesus where whosoever believes in him and receives his as Savior fulfills the condition of his Father. He is part of his generation.
"That whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have eternal life./ For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life./For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved."( John 3:15-17)
Life and everlasting life are as distinct as his generation from which he was cut off the land of the living. "He was taken from prison and from judgment: and who shall declare his generation? for he was cut off out of the land of the living."(Is.53:8)
[Comment Removed]
Then Saul took three thousand chosen men out of all Israel, and went to seek David and his men upon the rocks of the wild goats.
Saul beginning well is now showing himself an imbecile. He chosen men cannot be wiser than he is while God in choosing Gideon's army required only those who would obey. In olden days when smallpox and polio stalked the land vaccination proved a cure and the world took it without a murmur. Why global anti-vaxx movement now, and where does it come from? Satan of course. For man who tweaks with truth to create contextual truth stones of division is a stone of stumbling to break the neck of fools.
Progress was for them the bottle imp and they cant get it back into its bottle. It is thus the world is at present all for conjuring up the Father of all lies.So we see the wicked becoming worse, deceiving and being deceived. How unreal is the Instagram look, nevertheless we see someone has given mentally fragile youth an underhand swipe.
"And it came to pass, when Saul was returned from following the Philistines, that it was told him, saying, Behold, David is in the wilderness of Engedi(v.1)".
'And David went up from thence, and dwelt in strong holds at Engedi.'(23:29)
En-gedi means 'kid's well which is a wilderness and must be like being led by the Lord in a wilderness which is the world. Psalm 23 celebrates the still waters ('He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters'-v.2. ) as against the sea which is restless throwing up mire and dirt.
For the love-bitten bride it is the intimacy so we have seen,"My beloved is unto me as a cluster of camphire in the vineyards of Engedi (The song.1:14)". Abiding in Jesus Christ the vine we abound in bearing fruits. The place suited David in his present predicament. There were caverns that sheltered him from Saul, which served him as 'strongholds.' Literally meant geography of the terrain suited him and his band. 'En-gedi was situated near to the western coast of theDead Sea, not far from Jeshimon'. In spiritual terms it is the pavilion where our heart has laid open a royal highway to God.
'In my Father's house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you.( John 14:2)' The word of God is eternal and has already gone out of his mouth meaning it is the will of God that His children shall be secure under His wings. Jesus laments for Jerusalem and rightly so since their disbelief denied what was eternally open for them.(Matt.23:30) Jesus Christ the same etc.,(He.13:8) means just that. When David asked of the Lord,"saying, Shall I go and smite these Philistines? And theLordsaid unto David, Go, and smite the Philistines, and save Keilah(23:2)". The will of God is clear. There were dotted lines which had to connected and it is how faith is followed by works. David trusting in the promise wins victory of the Philistines.
Here in the text God sets the Philistines to save David from being caught. The pandemic, heat domes, wildfires tornadoes and supply chain bottlenecks, economic downturns are God's way of scattering the smile off the face of superpowers whose words and actions do not match. Either nations gather with God or scatter all that they arrogantly reserved for themselves. The stone of divisions is a warning for them.
Selahammahlekoth means the rock of divisions and king Saul looking for David went in all direction about the wilderness but with no success. If God be for us who can be against us? The Spiritual rock which was Christ is a refuge for saints redeemed from the earth, whose strivings without God is vain. In the many heresies that plague the Christian world we have similarly rock of divisions which are as Prophet Jeremiah says,"They have healed also the hurt of the daughter of my people slightly, saying, Peace, peace; when there is no peace(Je.6:14)".
"But there came a messenger unto Saul, saying, Haste thee, and come; for the Philistines have invaded the land./Wherefore Saul returned from pursuing after David, and went against the Philistines: therefore they called that place Selahammahlekoth.29And David went up from thence, and dwelt in strong holds at Engedi."
As we trace the career paths of King Saul and younger David we see the truth of Jesus' words,"He that is not with me is against me; and he that gathereth not with me scattereth abroad(Matt.12:30)".Saul in his rage and hatred would stand athwart God's will, and when failed would only add to his hatred towards his rival. Unclean spirits of envy, malice and vanity merely scattered whatever standing he had in God''s sight. He whined for safety of his kingdom "That all of you have conspired against me, and there is none that sheweth me that my son hath made a league with the son of Jesse, and there is none of you that is sorry for me, or sheweth unto me that my son hath stirred up my servant against me, to lie in wait, as at this day?(22:8)" That was his 'big lie' moment and it led to the slaughter of the priests. What does Saul who was anointed,- God gave him a new Spirit, become? Now he is King Saul the whiner.
King Saul hearing that David won a victory against the Philistians at Keilah,"And Saul called all the people together to war, to go down to Keilah, to besiege David and his men." He slipped out before he could and goes to Ziph. Before he could be betrayed he runs off to yet another,-wilderness of Maon; In v.26 he is surrounded so God steps in. "And Saul went on this side of the mountain, and David and his men on that side of the mountain: and David made haste to get away for fear of Saul; for Saul and his men compassed David and his men round about to take them."
"And David said unto Ahimelech the priest, The king hath commanded me a business, and hath said unto me, Let no man know any thing of the business whereabout I send thee, and what I have commanded thee: and I have appointed my servants to such and such a place(21:1-2)". This would consequently cost the lives of 85 priests including that of Ahimelech.
When Jesus was brought before Pilate,"Pilate therefore said unto him, Art thou a king then? Jesus answered, Thou sayest that I am a king. To this end was I born, and for this cause came I into the world, that I should bear witness unto the truth. Every one that is of the truth heareth my voice( John 18:37)".
Jesus spoke truth since he being the truth he could not have denied anymore than his Father who as the verse says"he cannot deny himself(2 Ti.2:13b)".
David was 'a man after my heart' the Scripture bears testimony but he was forbidden to build a house for God."But the word of the LORD came to me, saying, Thou hast shed blood abundantly, and hast made great wars: thou shalt not build an house unto my name, because thou hast shed much blood upon the earth in my sight(1 Chr.22:8)". Needless blood of the priests also must be included therein.
"But if I say thus unto the young man, Behold, the arrows are beyond thee; go thy way: for theLordhath sent thee away./And as touching the matter which thou and I have spoken of, behold, theLordbe between thee and me for ever."(20:22-23).
Covenant between soul of man and God is eternal as the Word is eternal. Jesus warns,"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). To this St Paul refers in his epistle,"For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ; that every one may receive the things done in his body, according to that he hath done, whether it be good or bad.(2 Co.5:10)" This terror is all too real for man so his fear for death is understood but not all are alike. A soul is prudent since is animated by the breath of God and a fool cares little for what he cannot handle or see for himself. "A prudent man foreseeth the evil, and hideth himself; but the simple pass on, and are punished(Pr.27:12)". .Jonathan well knew what David shall become. In their covenant we have Jonathan signifies the role of a soul David is a stand-in for Jesus Christ. For this reason the Spirit narrates their pact for our spiritual edification, and when Jonathan speaks, 'Behold, theLordbe between thee and me for ever' it is a cue for us to approach it in spiritual terms.
Young David had to grow spiritually since Samuel had anointed him his every move had to be in accordance with the will of God. We do not see him consulting him as he did in the case of the Philistines. In his flight from Saul while in Nob he went to Ahimelech, the priest. "And Ahimelech was afraid at the meeting of David, and said unto him, Why art thou alone, and no man with thee?" Ahimelech's fear was a gut-feeling which shows how we have apprehension and it is how our soul primes us up. David's reply was not true.
Finally a distinction between soul and the inner man may be relevant here. God made Adam a living soul which signifies the truth written in inward parts is alive:as a live wire and is ready to catch divine fire. When you hear the word of God it does something to you that you cannot miss it.(Ro.10:17).
Faith is what you follow up with works. Thus Abraham steps out of his comfort zone to a place God has promised to give. He believed therefore it was counted to him for righteousness. Soul of man is His presence which for saints who are led by him have Father's name in their foreheads which are different from man who is carnal. His heart is not entirely perfect before him. For those who have received Jesus Christ as their Savior has a helper, the indwelling Spirit.. When St Paul prays,'That he would grant you, according to the riches of his glory, to be strengthened with might by his Spirit in the inner man(Ep.3:16)' it is of a different quality. So he warns,'And grieve not the holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption(Ep.4:30-32)'. Inner man of child of God has hope for the risen Christ promises,"To him that overcometh will I give to eat of the hidden manna, and will give him a white stone, and in the stone a new name written, which no man knoweth saving he that receivethit(Re.2:17;Is.62:2)".
On the other hand soul of a wicked man is trash."The tongue of the just is as choice silver: the heart of the wicked is little worth(Pr.10:20)".
"Then they told David, saying, Behold, the Philistines fight against Keilah, and they rob the threshingfloors./Therefore David enquired of theLord, saying, Shall I go and smite these Philistines? And theLordsaid unto David, Go, and smite the Philistines, and save Keilah./ And David's men said unto him, Behold, we be afraid here in Judah: how much more then if we come to Keilah against the armies of the Philistines?/Then David enquired of theLordyet again. And theLordanswered him and said, Arise, go down to Keilah; for I will deliver the Philistines into thine hand."(vv.1-4)
''Therefore David enquired of theLord,' While David was holed up in the cave of Adullam he heard the Philistines robbing Israel of their harvest. He enquired of the Lord what he ought to do. Had he enquired of the Lord before going to Ahimelech the priest in Nob it would have spared lot of bloodshed. He came a long way spiritually. From the stone Ezel to Adullam soul of man is creating its own back up system as bees store up honey in hives. This is what the Spirit wants us to know.
Earlier Jonathan brought him vital information while he was waiting for it. We shall refer the passage 20:18-22)."Then Jonathan said to David, To morrow is the new moon: and thou shalt be missed, because thy seat will be empty./And when thou hast stayed three days, then thou shalt go down quickly, and come to the place where thou didst hide thyself when the business was in hand, and shalt remain by the stone Ezel".
The message from Jonathan was clear 'The Lord hath sent thee away." David fleeing from Saul has found refuge in the cave of Adullam and the place traces the manner his soul being spiritually fortified. We covered the significance of the three arrows shot by Jonathan and while we are considering the role of the soul of man we shall mention the Psalm of David composed while he was Adullam,"Yea, in the shadow of thy wings will I make my refuge,..."
Secondly Doeg carrying the tale of David being sheltered by Ahimelech in Nob to King Saul is what man who shall resort in order to rise in career. It is what body is capable of doing.
Thirdly how David changed his behavior in front of Achish the king of Gath, whether it is reaction to lying or psychological condition is a matter left to the soul.
Thus body spirit and soul pose questions for man who would explain everything by approaching the word of God by literalism The Spirit employed the episode of Jonathan shooting arrows is clearly meant for a child of God for instruction. In all the three areas how Jesus handled we shall see in another post.
"And David said unto Abiathar, I knew it that day, when Doeg the Edomite was there, that he would surely tell Saul: I have occasioned the death of all the persons of thy father's house./Abide thou with me, fear not: for he that seeketh my life seeketh thy life: but with me thou shalt be in safeguard."
David is here referring to a certain knowledge which is supplied by the soul and validated by the Holy Spirit. :And he who searches our heartsknows the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedesfor God's people in accordance with the will of God(Ro.8:26-27-NIV). The Spirit shall do only in accordance with the will of God while soul signifies the presence of God in man. In the covenant confirmed by David and Jonathan we have the role of soul which for a child of God is in context of Jesus Christ Light of the knowledge is for the glory of God."For God, who commanded the light to shine out of darkness, hath shined in our hearts, to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ./But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellency of the power may be of God, and not of us(2 Co.4:6-7)". Knowledge therefore has to be for the glory of God and it is in context of Jesus Christ. In the Holy Cuty of God the tabernacle ofGod is with man and Zion is its heart and it is stand-in for the soul of Christ the Head.
How soul works with a child of God we shall see in specific case of David who did not exactly tell the truth to Ahimelech, the priest while in Nob(21:1-2). How it led to the slaughter of 85 priests (22:18) no man may be able to explain anymore than the manner the doctrine of Balaam corrupted Israelites without ever speaking to them. It is between the Spirit and the soul. The spirit of man communicates with spirit of another.
How soul relates to a child of God can be explained by this verse,"He that dwelleth in the secret place of the most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty(Ps.91:1). The spiritual space of heart has truth correspondingly as eternal word is settled in heavens for His creation. It is brought out by the Spirit in the manner Jonathan promises David to intimate what his father's real intentions are. In vv19-20 Jonathan has a confidante, a young lad with artillery to go between them. David was to come to the appointed place,"and come to the place where thou didst hide thyself when the business was in hand, and shalt remain by the stone Ezel./And I will shoot three arrows on the side thereof, as though I shot at a mark."
The manner Jonathan directed the lad was his cue."But if I say thus unto the young man, Behold, the arrows are beyond thee; go thy way: for theLordhath sent thee away./And as touching the matter which thou and I have spoken of, behold, theLordbe between thee and me for ever(vv.22-23). Significant is the usage of 'forever'. A believer who is led by the indwelling Spirit is the son of the Most High. 'He shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty' forever.
In our times when Evangelicals think of activism they mean they are positioned to judge those whose lifestyles are different. They are like the young lad ignorant of how soul can take care of child of God, without busybodies coming between. "But the lad knew not any thing: only Jonathan and David knew the matter./And Jonathan gave his artillery unto his lad, and said unto him, Go, carry them to the city(vv.39-40).
vv.14-17
"And Jonathan caused David to swear again, because he loved him: for he loved him as he loved his own soul(v.17).
The covenant that Jonathan and David enter into concerns two houses, of Jonathan and David respectively, soul of each being knit as one. The Spirit has set them signifying the role of the soul of man which is a presence establishing truth written in his inward parts. There is no excuse the rich fool in the Parable did nothing to be rich towards God. Now Jonathan has precognition as to the role David was to play. He is also aware that his father had lost it all.'And theLordbe with thee, as he hath been with my father'.
In the min-max narrative mode every covenant a believer makes with Jesus Christ and accepting him as the Savior Lord conforms to the covenant of God made with the Son.(Ps.2:7-8). As discussed in the post titled School of Prophets a prophet is appointed by God and when he spoke of judgment it was valid for specific as well as for the Final judgment. The reason is simple: the eternal word is settled in heaven.(Ps.119:89) and it applies specifically to Jesus Christ.For thetestimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy.(Re.19:10-NKJV) " For this reason prophets from Abraham ('for he is a prophet'-Ge.20:7)to John ( Luke 16:16) are like series regardless of time and place takes us to the Day of the Lord. "He shall call to the heavens from above, and to the earth, that he may judge his people./Gather my saints together unto me; those that have made a covenant with me by sacrifice(Ps.50:4-5)".
Jonathan is a stand-in for soul to which David signifies the Son. In eternity the body of Christ the church has only one Law and,- Zion is the soul of New Jerusalem; and Psalm of Asaph sings,'Out of Zion, the perfection of beauty, God hath shined(Ps.50:2; Is.2:3).
In the Parable of the Rich Fool he addresses his soul and it is his other self, sum total of his worth in a figurative sense . This soul is different from inner man. If soul is as true with a carnal man, so with a spiritual man. His soul is the presence and it is in this sense the Spirit has built up the relationship of David and Jonathan. First from the parable,"And I will say to my soul, Soul, thou hast much goods laid up for many years; take thine ease, eat, drink, and be merry.But God said unto him, Thou fool, this night thy soul shall be required of thee: then whose shall those things be, which thou hast provided? ( Luke 12:19-20)."With death who shall collect all that he stored? Not he that is for sure. He knew how to make wealth but when his soul proved to be worthless we need understand soul of a carnal man is worthless signifying it was only as good as his body had his being. Eyes are the window of one soul which is only the sound and fury one can perceive,- but does it add up? Such was the rich fool as the Bard would say, and he told a story as long as he walked with his heavy tread of wealth, but it was a tale at the end signifying nothing.
And David fled from Naioth in Ramah, and came and said before Jonathan, What have I done? what is mine iniquity? and what is my sin before thy father, that he seeketh my life?/2And he said unto him, God forbid; thou shalt not die.".
Jonathan was certain that his father shall not do anything without first telling him. It helps us recall the words of Jesus,""Truly, truly, I say to you, the Son can do nothing of his own accord, but only what he sees the Father doing. For whatever the Father does, that the Son does likewise( John 5:19)". When we speak of Christ living in us by faith our soul is that presence and it strengthens our our inner man every time we do things in obedience to his words so our soul is his presence irradiating inner man. It is like the face of Moses (Ex.34:29).
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.