"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)
Blessed is every one that feareth theLord; that walketh in his ways./For thou shalt eat the labour of thine hands: happy shalt thou be, and it shall be well with thee.
Fear of the Lord was when Adam hid himself from the presence of God. We shall go through the passage in order to set the fear in proper context. Adam having ate of the fruit hears the footsteps,"And theLordGod called unto Adam, and said unto him, Where art thou?/ And he said, I heard thy voice in the garden, and I was afraid, because I was naked; and I hid myself./And he said, Who told thee that thou wast naked?(Ge.3:9-11) Obviously Adam's bad conscience caused fear of consequences.
What made Adam assume that he was naked? His soul of course. Sin of disobedience had exposed himself, which affected his soul equally as well. This fear is not what the psalmist here sings about. Fear of God in man is where his soul is at rest. Contrast the feeling of Adam to this verse, "I was glad when they said unto me, Let us go into the house of theLord./Our feet shall stand within thy gates, O Jerusalem."(122:1-2). His gladness was from the fear of God, where the soul exulted with every part of his being. "And thou shalt love theLordthy God with all thine heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy might."(De.6:5)
In pedagogy fear of the Lord stands foremost. "Fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom'.. This is how instruction in righteousness has set down in scriptures. "But of him are ye in Christ Jesus, who of God is made unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption."(1 Co.1:30) Without this fear of God suffusing your entire, 'with all thine heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy might.' ministers may speak eloquently from pulpit but it is mere 'Jesus talk.'
3Thy wife shall be as a fruitful vine by the sides of thine house: thy children like olive plants round about thy table./Behold, that thus shall the man be blessed that fear
Thus man child is a composite term and a Christian is not allied to any other than with Jesus Christ. "Behold, I and the children whom the LORD has given me are signs and portents in Israel from the LORD of hosts, who dwells on Mount Zion."(Is,8:18-ESV;He.2:13), Christians have no business to meddle with the so-called Christian nationalism. It is what the dead minding the cause of the damned.
"As arrows are in the hand of a mighty man; so are children of the youth./Happy is the man that hath his quiver full of them: they shall not be ashamed, but they shall speak with the enemies in the gate."
These children brought before Jesus gives us a representation of the soul of man who receives Jesus by faith. They did not come there to be blessed by Jesus by any coincidence. Nor is our salvation left to chance.( John 6:37)
In the vision of John the cavalcade of the four introduces the man in white with a bow in hand. Where are his arrows? "And I saw, and behold a white horse: and he that sat on him had a bow; and a crown was given unto him: and he went forth conquering, and to conquer." (Re.6:2)
We see him again but this time leading an army and the arrows are there,"And the armies which were in heaven followed him upon white horses, clothed in fine linen, white and clean."(Re.19:14)
"Lo, children are an heritage of theLord: and the fruit of the womb is his reward."
The Spirit is not speaking of children in the sense they are flesh and blood but of the heritage of the Lord where faith is the DNA so Jesus would phrase accordingly. "Verily I say unto you, Whosoever shall not receive the kingdom of God as a little child, he shall not enter therein."( Mark 10:15). He blessed them when they were brought to him,"But Jesus said, Suffer little children, and forbid them not, to come unto me: for of such is the kingdom of heaven."(Matt.19:15) Jesus knew what was written of him in the word. As man-child He represented the man part in it. . Isaiah refers to it. "for as soon as Zion travailed, she brought forth her children.(Is.66:8)" In the preceding verse Isaiah designates them "Before she travailed, she brought forth; before her pain came, she was delivered of a man child."(Is.66:7)
Zion as a dwelling place is 'the rod of thine inheritance'. "Remember thy congregation,whichthou hast purchased of old; the rod of thine inheritance,whichthou hast redeemed; this mount Zion, wherein thou hast dwelt."(74:2). The Father promised the Son consequently a congregation and it is to which the quote from Matthew leads us. Before we come to it here is a verse, "All those the Father gives me will come to me, and whoever comes to me I will never drive away." So the casual incident where the disciples rebuking those who brought children before Jesus has an important lesson for us. The Bible as a document is organized by the Holy Spirit for our instruction in righteousness. Thus Synoptic gospels are not simply four gospels but the command number four has its own significance. Besides through each four gospel the Holy Spirit is giving solid meat for our perfection. Gospels of Thomas and Philip may have their uses but the Holy Spirit has not found them fit with His purpose.
This song of Solomon is classed as a song of Ascents that pilgrims traditionally recited going up to the city of Jerusalem. The Spirit is exhorting us to look beyond the superficials and we are to be fitly framed together as holy temple. "Look unto the rock whence ye are hewn, and to the hole of the pit whence ye are digged."(Is. 51:1)
"Except theLordkeep the city, the watchman waketh but in vain."
The city of habitation is a heavenly city. Zion to give it a name.("Behold, I lay in Zion for a foundation a stone, a tried stone, a precious corner stone, a sure foundation"-Is.28:16;102:16). The Lord God is the maker of heaven and the earth. When He sent his only begotten Son to the world it was not to found any new city or keep a city already founded by man, than the one which He already had. It is to this Jesus referred,"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.... that where I am, there ye may be also."( John 14:2).
Preparation of this house has been set in motion from the moment a day was decreed for the Son. It a city which is his inheritance by right. "Ask of me, and I shall give thee the heathen for thine inheritance, and the uttermost parts of the earth for thy possession." The psalm refers it as uttermost parts, from one end to another and the house that can accommodate such a company, 'and ten thousand times ten thousand stood before him' to give it a number, -and it is what Daniel reckoned Dan.7:10, . In the literal temple of Solomon the priests could not enter because the glory "of the Lord had filled the house of the Lord."(1 Ki.8:11).
In the Isaiah quote mentioned at the outset has a sure foundation and it was for which God sent his sent his Son. His death and resurrection delineate the way, "For no one can lay a foundation other than that which is laid, which is Jesus Christ."(1 Co.3:11)
"Except theLordbuild the house, they labour in vain that build it: except theLordkeep the city, the watchman waketh but in vain".
This psalm attributed to Solomon answers the question, "Thus saith theLord, The heaven is my throne, and the earth is my footstool: where is the house that ye build unto me? and where is the place of my rest?"(Is.66:1)..
Here the Spirit introduces two kinds of habitation. The house is much more on an intimate scale a place of rest to which the members each closely knit may take ease. This often passes for family. When God speaks of family he envisages happiness as a blessing. "Thy wifeshall beas a fruitful vine by the sides of thine house: thy children like olive plants round about thy table."(128:3). There is also a house where man may hold an intimate relationship with God which can only be maintained on a common basis.
To this we see God himself took the initiative. Truth in inward parts of man sets a tabernacle in his heart. "He that dwelleth in the secret place of the most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty./I will say of theLord, He is my refuge and my fortress: my God; in him will I trust."(91:1-2). But for that abiding in Christ would not hold meaning. "That Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith; that ye, being rooted and grounded in love,/May be able to comprehend with all saints whatisthe breadth, and length, and depth, and height;(Ep.3:17-18). The Lord God is the maker and builder of the earth and heaven. Naturally this space infinite or microcosmos holds the fulness of God. "And to know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge, that ye might be filled with all the fulness of God."(Ep.3:19).Every believer being part of the pillar is not an afterthought but was in the divine Will of God. "Look unto the rock whence ye are hewn, and to the hole of the pit whence ye are digged." Even before the foundation stone in Zion was laid we were called. (Is.28:16)
I've had it with these End time prophecy teachers, who teach nothing, but are fear mongers. Jesus did not explain the events of the end until he was asked, and even then he only gave us a glimpse. Not ALL THAT important. Is your house in order, are you guilty of presumptuous sin? Is Jesus Christ, His death, burial and resurrection the center focus of your outlook on life. The Apostle Paul asked the question "Shall we continue in sin that grace may abound"? Rom 6:1 God forbid! I believe we are tasked with getting the LOG out of our eye, which requires much practice of the fervency prayer talked about in James 5:16 and it says
"The effectual FERVENT prayer of a righteous man avails much." The indoctrination of the clueless who have flooded our weak pulpits with their doctrine of "self gratification" blowing up their own minds by speaking great swelling words, and leaving us with nothing but gravel to chew on. I believe we have some self examining to do. "For in an hour that ye think not the SON of man cometh" Matthew 24:44 Being ready as our LORD commanded us. Watch and pray! Drawing ever so closer to the MASTER of our souls, and redeeming the time for the time is at hand. We have been commissioned to "Go ye therefore" to preach, and to teach, what JESUS taught. All that He taught his disciples when he walked on this earth, and how he lived his life; We are to live. A replication of the manifestation of the LOVE that dwelt in the HOLY child Jesus. May it be imparted unto us. May our minds be renewed day by day. "For which cause we faint not; but though our outward man perish, yet the inward man is renewed day by day." 2 Corinthians 4:16 If our focus is NOT JESUS CHRIST, and HIM only then our lives lay waste, and the abominable awaits, the passions of our wicked evil heart. Only to be consumed by our lustful desires, the enemy of our soul, the carnal mind. O how it plays on our vulnerability. We have some examining to do for the hour is late, and the time is at hand.
"When theLordturned again the captivity of Zion, we were like them that dream./Then was our mouth filled with laughter, and our tongue with singing: then said they among the heathen, TheLordhath done great things for them." (vv.1-2)
The Holy Spirit here gives us a specific event, which is the return of exiles from Babylon and extends its significance as the universal case of enmity of flesh with the Spirit being laid to rest. Redemption of our soul is when spiritual bodies replace the physical bodies and the soul stands for the individual and accountable whether it be good or bad before the Lord. Captivity of soul in one sense defines Zion.
" Speak ye comfortably to Jerusalem, and cry unto her, that her warfare is accomplished, that her iniquity is pardoned: for she hath received of the Lord's hand double for all her sins."(Is.40:2)
Restoration of Israel as a historical event gave the nation a brief respite. Prophet Isaiah introduces the voice in the wilderness motif. In their failure to walk 'the highway for our God' shall lead them again to a far more disastrous exile in AD70. We see what they dreamt then was a lie.
Prophet Isaiah speaks of a night vision signifying that God had foreknown it before the worlds began. Moses had predicted of the spirit of deep sleep that kept them from following the commandments of God. "They made me jealous by what is no god and angered me with their worthless idols. I will make them envious by those who are not a people; I will make them angry by a nation that has no understanding. " (De.32:21-NIV). It is to which Prophet Isaiah says,"For theLordhath poured out upon you the spirit of deep sleep, and hath closed your eyes."
God shall once again stretch his hand out redeem a holy nation in which a remnant of Israel shall be restored. So the phrase 'we were like them that dream' is overarching to the end-times.
Symbolism of pillar is used to give a place to an overcomer so in eternity the church of Philadelphia can relate to. The Spirit exhorts the church to overcome the persecution that is to engulf them. "I also will keep thee from the hour of temptation," This is how pillar connects from the tabernacle in the wilderness to the end times. By the same token seven days in the Genesis Chapters 1-2 we have seven pillars which is compared to the House of Wisdom.(Pr.9:1) Foundation of this house with seven pillars in Zion.(Is.28:16). This temple building or New Jerusalem keeps going against the rise and fall of nations. This can make sense only to those who follow the instruction in righteousness in the right spirit. It is thus the phrase 'unto this day' keeps us in focus of the Son in whom we have redemption.
t is not the form and shape of the tabernacle that is crucial but the fellowship. In the eternal fellowship of God with Man how best you represent the Son, the Man component that is the question. Synagogues of Satan have their day but the open door left for the church of Philadelphia is grace. The risen Christ knows the works,"behold, I have set before thee an open door, and no man can shut it: for thou hast a little strength, and hast kept my word, and hast not denied my name(Re.3:8)".
Cherubim above and the ark with the end of staves is what the risen Christ signifies for a believer. This cannot be seen by the world and the ungodly. Christ as a Paraclete in heaven pleads our case with the Father as the indwelling Spirit with God.
To sum: Our fellowship with Christ Jesus goes beyond our bodily circumstances. "For we know that if our earthly house of this tabernacle were dissolved, we have a building of God, an house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens(2 Co.5:1)".
"And the priests brought in the ark of the covenant of theLordunto his place, into the oracle of the house, to the most holy place, even under the wings of the cherubims./For the cherubims spread forth their two wings over the place of the ark, and the cherubims covered the ark and the staves thereof above./And they drew out the staves, that the ends of the staves were seen out in the holy place before the oracle, and they were not seen without: and there they are unto this day(vv.6-8).
'Unto this day' The Spirit in using the curious expression which we have come across earlier is applied to a house historically is past. The house of God beginning with the tabernacle in the wilderness is modeled after a pattern existing forever in heaven. "According to all that I shew thee, after the pattern of the tabernacle, and the pattern of all the instruments thereof, even so shall ye make it (Ex.25:9)". What were the significance of the two pillars in the porch but it led the eye of the believer to the pillars within? To him the promise of the Son is "Him that overcometh will I make a pillar in the temple of my God."(Re.3:12). Church of God is foreshadowed by the church of Philadelphia. every overcomer is part of this pillar.
The divine Will has never been changed and it is a decree to which what opinion man may have is irrelevant. The Son is the heir of all things to which a day has been appointed. Consequently when He says,'This day have begotten thee', it is to him the day belongs."I will declare the decree: theLordhath said unto me, Thou art my Son; this day have I begotten thee(Ps.2:7). There is an emblem 'the slain Lamb before the worlds began' and it is established as the Law. Thus pattern of things have been set into the constitution and events are set in motion, which shall never return to God in void. This pattern is what God showed Moses. He told him,"And let them make me a sanctuary; that I may dwell among them(25:8)".
The church at Philadelphia was to overcome their circumstance in times of peace or in times of tribulation. "Because thou hast kept the word of my patience, I also will keep thee from the hour of temptation, which shall come upon all the world, to try them that dwell upon the earth(Re.3:19)" The churches at the time of St John were going through persecution and it helps us to understand the great tribulation that has more to do with our times. The Spirit is setting down for believer wherever they are, of what are we confronted with. Synagogue of satan is the seat of heresies and the so-called church hobnobbing with the beast and anti-Christ are signs of our times. So the church of Philadelphia is a generic name for the remnant of holy seed. Remember what God told Elijah who was disheartened that he was left to himself."Yet I have left me seven thousand in Israel, all the knees which have not bowed unto Baal, and every mouth which hath not kissed him". (1 Ki.19:18)
Every child of God has a ministry, of shining as lights in this untoward generation, and also has received gifts. Power and Wisdom are blessings from God freely distributed so wherever man makes proper use are giving glory to God. 'The earth and the fulness thereof are the Lord's.' God called out Bezalel son of Uri for His service and in the case of Temple of Solomon we find God had chosen Hiram or Huram "And king Solomon sent and fetched Hiram out of Tyre./He was a widow's son of the tribe of Naphtali, and his father was a man of Tyre, a worker in brass: and he was filled with wisdom, and understanding, and cunning to work all works in brass. And he came to king Solomon, and wrought all his work(vv.13-14)".
It is unfaithful servant who would bury his talent in a hole in the ground.
"And he set up the pillars in the porch of the temple: and he set up the right pillar, and called the name thereof Jachin: and he set up the left pillar, and called the name thereof Boaz./ And upon the top of the pillars was lily work: so was the work of the pillars finished."
In a traditional story How important is the name of a pillar in the porch when focus of the narrative is about the temple of God? Jachin has a meaning,'he that strengthens makes steadfast. The other pillar was called Boaz, which is also strength and resonates with Boaz of the Book of Ruth. These two pillars taken together gives us the concrete image of this verse, "And now, brethren, I commend you to God, and to the word of his grace, which is able to build you up, and to give you an inheritance among all them which are sanctified."(Ac.20:32). Every believer approaches God in faith and these witnesses testify the word of his grace as well as the inheritance promised to him. Those two witnesses slain by the beast before Jerusalem (Re.11:8) Let us examine the words, "And when they shall have finished their testimony," gives us the time period. God shuts the church age so word of grace is a rarity, ("I will make a man more precious than fine gold; even a man than the golden wedge of Ophir."-Is.13:12)
We came across seven pillars of Wisdom in the context of the Abstract in Ge.1. The two witnesses refers to all witnesses preaching the gospel in the world of the Spirit and in earth, the agency of the Spirit of Christ and these foorm two pillars.
The church at Philadelphia was to overcome their circumstance in times of peace or in times of tribulation. "Because thou hast kept the word of my patience, I also will keep thee from the hour of temptation, which shall come upon all the world, to try them that dwell upon the earth(Re.3:19)" The churches at the time of St John were going through persecution and it helps us to understand the great tribulation.
"There isa river, the streams whereof shall make glad the city of God, the holyplaceof the tabernacles of the most High."(Ps.46:4)
What are these streams? Each heart of a believer is connected to this river of time, and being hid in heavenly places, are sated by it. It helps us to fortify our hearts with faith and by grace we do not complain as Israel did of the fleshpots of Egypt.
The river of water of life sets the world of the Spirit and the world of the body on this side of the bank so every heart of the believer draws to the city which has foundations whose Maker and builder is God. It is also the House of prayer for all nations. The tree of life sets every believer that has dug deeper to be nourished by the water as tree of righteousness whose leaves do not wither away. Ps.1:2-3). It serves as a emblem for Christ as the last Adam. No more curse no more tears. "I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the ending, saith the Lord, which is, and which was, and which is to come, the Almighty(Re.1:8).
How significant is the manner the timber was brought to build the temple of Solomon? The Spirit does not give such extraneous details unless for a reason. King Solomon had arranged with King Hiram of Tyre to bring the forest of Lebanon all cut to size ready to instal in the king's house. "My servants shall bring them down from Lebanon unto the sea: and I will convey them by sea in floats unto the place that thou shalt appoint me, and will cause them to be discharged there, and thou shalt receive them: and thou shalt accomplish my desire, in giving food for my household./ So Hiram gave Solomon cedar trees and fir trees according to all his desire(5:9-10)". The sea has its own spiritual significance as 'the place appointed.' The sea denotes us who were dead in sins' and we are to approach the throne of grace and not unto the high places where Israelites went whoring after. Path is cut out since Jesus Christ is the way. We follow after his steps.
"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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Blessed is every one that feareth theLord; that walketh in his ways./For thou shalt eat the labour of thine hands: happy shalt thou be, and it shall be well with thee.
Fear of the Lord was when Adam hid himself from the presence of God. We shall go through the passage in order to set the fear in proper context. Adam having ate of the fruit hears the footsteps,"And theLordGod called unto Adam, and said unto him, Where art thou?/ And he said, I heard thy voice in the garden, and I was afraid, because I was naked; and I hid myself./And he said, Who told thee that thou wast naked?(Ge.3:9-11) Obviously Adam's bad conscience caused fear of consequences.
What made Adam assume that he was naked? His soul of course. Sin of disobedience had exposed himself, which affected his soul equally as well. This fear is not what the psalmist here sings about. Fear of God in man is where his soul is at rest. Contrast the feeling of Adam to this verse, "I was glad when they said unto me, Let us go into the house of theLord./Our feet shall stand within thy gates, O Jerusalem."(122:1-2). His gladness was from the fear of God, where the soul exulted with every part of his being. "And thou shalt love theLordthy God with all thine heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy might."(De.6:5)
In pedagogy fear of the Lord stands foremost. "Fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom'.. This is how instruction in righteousness has set down in scriptures. "But of him are ye in Christ Jesus, who of God is made unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption."(1 Co.1:30) Without this fear of God suffusing your entire, 'with all thine heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy might.' ministers may speak eloquently from pulpit but it is mere 'Jesus talk.'
3Thy wife shall be as a fruitful vine by the sides of thine house: thy children like olive plants round about thy table./Behold, that thus shall the man be blessed that fear
Thus man child is a composite term and a Christian is not allied to any other than with Jesus Christ. "Behold, I and the children whom the LORD has given me are signs and portents in Israel from the LORD of hosts, who dwells on Mount Zion."(Is,8:18-ESV;He.2:13), Christians have no business to meddle with the so-called Christian nationalism. It is what the dead minding the cause of the damned.
"As arrows are in the hand of a mighty man; so are children of the youth./Happy is the man that hath his quiver full of them: they shall not be ashamed, but they shall speak with the enemies in the gate."
These children brought before Jesus gives us a representation of the soul of man who receives Jesus by faith. They did not come there to be blessed by Jesus by any coincidence. Nor is our salvation left to chance.( John 6:37)
In the vision of John the cavalcade of the four introduces the man in white with a bow in hand. Where are his arrows? "And I saw, and behold a white horse: and he that sat on him had a bow; and a crown was given unto him: and he went forth conquering, and to conquer." (Re.6:2)
We see him again but this time leading an army and the arrows are there,"And the armies which were in heaven followed him upon white horses, clothed in fine linen, white and clean."(Re.19:14)
"Lo, children are an heritage of theLord: and the fruit of the womb is his reward."
The Spirit is not speaking of children in the sense they are flesh and blood but of the heritage of the Lord where faith is the DNA so Jesus would phrase accordingly. "Verily I say unto you, Whosoever shall not receive the kingdom of God as a little child, he shall not enter therein."( Mark 10:15). He blessed them when they were brought to him,"But Jesus said, Suffer little children, and forbid them not, to come unto me: for of such is the kingdom of heaven."(Matt.19:15) Jesus knew what was written of him in the word. As man-child He represented the man part in it. . Isaiah refers to it. "for as soon as Zion travailed, she brought forth her children.(Is.66:8)" In the preceding verse Isaiah designates them "Before she travailed, she brought forth; before her pain came, she was delivered of a man child."(Is.66:7)
Zion as a dwelling place is 'the rod of thine inheritance'. "Remember thy congregation,whichthou hast purchased of old; the rod of thine inheritance,whichthou hast redeemed; this mount Zion, wherein thou hast dwelt."(74:2). The Father promised the Son consequently a congregation and it is to which the quote from Matthew leads us. Before we come to it here is a verse, "All those the Father gives me will come to me, and whoever comes to me I will never drive away." So the casual incident where the disciples rebuking those who brought children before Jesus has an important lesson for us. The Bible as a document is organized by the Holy Spirit for our instruction in righteousness. Thus Synoptic gospels are not simply four gospels but the command number four has its own significance. Besides through each four gospel the Holy Spirit is giving solid meat for our perfection. Gospels of Thomas and Philip may have their uses but the Holy Spirit has not found them fit with His purpose.
Thus man child is a composite term.
This song of Solomon is classed as a song of Ascents that pilgrims traditionally recited going up to the city of Jerusalem. The Spirit is exhorting us to look beyond the superficials and we are to be fitly framed together as holy temple. "Look unto the rock whence ye are hewn, and to the hole of the pit whence ye are digged."(Is. 51:1)
"Except theLordkeep the city, the watchman waketh but in vain."
The city of habitation is a heavenly city. Zion to give it a name.("Behold, I lay in Zion for a foundation a stone, a tried stone, a precious corner stone, a sure foundation"-Is.28:16;102:16). The Lord God is the maker of heaven and the earth. When He sent his only begotten Son to the world it was not to found any new city or keep a city already founded by man, than the one which He already had. It is to this Jesus referred,"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.... that where I am, there ye may be also."( John 14:2).
Preparation of this house has been set in motion from the moment a day was decreed for the Son. It a city which is his inheritance by right. "Ask of me, and I shall give thee the heathen for thine inheritance, and the uttermost parts of the earth for thy possession." The psalm refers it as uttermost parts, from one end to another and the house that can accommodate such a company, 'and ten thousand times ten thousand stood before him' to give it a number, -and it is what Daniel reckoned Dan.7:10, . In the literal temple of Solomon the priests could not enter because the glory "of the Lord had filled the house of the Lord."(1 Ki.8:11).
In the Isaiah quote mentioned at the outset has a sure foundation and it was for which God sent his sent his Son. His death and resurrection delineate the way, "For no one can lay a foundation other than that which is laid, which is Jesus Christ."(1 Co.3:11)
"Except theLordbuild the house, they labour in vain that build it: except theLordkeep the city, the watchman waketh but in vain".
This psalm attributed to Solomon answers the question, "Thus saith theLord, The heaven is my throne, and the earth is my footstool: where is the house that ye build unto me? and where is the place of my rest?"(Is.66:1)..
Here the Spirit introduces two kinds of habitation. The house is much more on an intimate scale a place of rest to which the members each closely knit may take ease. This often passes for family. When God speaks of family he envisages happiness as a blessing. "Thy wifeshall beas a fruitful vine by the sides of thine house: thy children like olive plants round about thy table."(128:3). There is also a house where man may hold an intimate relationship with God which can only be maintained on a common basis.
To this we see God himself took the initiative. Truth in inward parts of man sets a tabernacle in his heart. "He that dwelleth in the secret place of the most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty./I will say of theLord, He is my refuge and my fortress: my God; in him will I trust."(91:1-2). But for that abiding in Christ would not hold meaning. "That Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith; that ye, being rooted and grounded in love,/May be able to comprehend with all saints whatisthe breadth, and length, and depth, and height;(Ep.3:17-18). The Lord God is the maker and builder of the earth and heaven. Naturally this space infinite or microcosmos holds the fulness of God. "And to know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge, that ye might be filled with all the fulness of God."(Ep.3:19).Every believer being part of the pillar is not an afterthought but was in the divine Will of God. "Look unto the rock whence ye are hewn, and to the hole of the pit whence ye are digged." Even before the foundation stone in Zion was laid we were called. (Is.28:16)
"The effectual FERVENT prayer of a righteous man avails much." The indoctrination of the clueless who have flooded our weak pulpits with their doctrine of "self gratification" blowing up their own minds by speaking great swelling words, and leaving us with nothing but gravel to chew on. I believe we have some self examining to do. "For in an hour that ye think not the SON of man cometh" Matthew 24:44 Being ready as our LORD commanded us. Watch and pray! Drawing ever so closer to the MASTER of our souls, and redeeming the time for the time is at hand. We have been commissioned to "Go ye therefore" to preach, and to teach, what JESUS taught. All that He taught his disciples when he walked on this earth, and how he lived his life; We are to live. A replication of the manifestation of the LOVE that dwelt in the HOLY child Jesus. May it be imparted unto us. May our minds be renewed day by day. "For which cause we faint not; but though our outward man perish, yet the inward man is renewed day by day." 2 Corinthians 4:16 If our focus is NOT JESUS CHRIST, and HIM only then our lives lay waste, and the abominable awaits, the passions of our wicked evil heart. Only to be consumed by our lustful desires, the enemy of our soul, the carnal mind. O how it plays on our vulnerability. We have some examining to do for the hour is late, and the time is at hand.
"When theLordturned again the captivity of Zion, we were like them that dream./Then was our mouth filled with laughter, and our tongue with singing: then said they among the heathen, TheLordhath done great things for them." (vv.1-2)
The Holy Spirit here gives us a specific event, which is the return of exiles from Babylon and extends its significance as the universal case of enmity of flesh with the Spirit being laid to rest. Redemption of our soul is when spiritual bodies replace the physical bodies and the soul stands for the individual and accountable whether it be good or bad before the Lord. Captivity of soul in one sense defines Zion.
" Speak ye comfortably to Jerusalem, and cry unto her, that her warfare is accomplished, that her iniquity is pardoned: for she hath received of the Lord's hand double for all her sins."(Is.40:2)
Restoration of Israel as a historical event gave the nation a brief respite. Prophet Isaiah introduces the voice in the wilderness motif. In their failure to walk 'the highway for our God' shall lead them again to a far more disastrous exile in AD70. We see what they dreamt then was a lie.
Prophet Isaiah speaks of a night vision signifying that God had foreknown it before the worlds began. Moses had predicted of the spirit of deep sleep that kept them from following the commandments of God. "They made me jealous by what is no god and angered me with their worthless idols. I will make them envious by those who are not a people; I will make them angry by a nation that has no understanding. " (De.32:21-NIV). It is to which Prophet Isaiah says,"For theLordhath poured out upon you the spirit of deep sleep, and hath closed your eyes."
God shall once again stretch his hand out redeem a holy nation in which a remnant of Israel shall be restored. So the phrase 'we were like them that dream' is overarching to the end-times.
Symbolism of pillar is used to give a place to an overcomer so in eternity the church of Philadelphia can relate to. The Spirit exhorts the church to overcome the persecution that is to engulf them. "I also will keep thee from the hour of temptation," This is how pillar connects from the tabernacle in the wilderness to the end times. By the same token seven days in the Genesis Chapters 1-2 we have seven pillars which is compared to the House of Wisdom.(Pr.9:1) Foundation of this house with seven pillars in Zion.(Is.28:16). This temple building or New Jerusalem keeps going against the rise and fall of nations. This can make sense only to those who follow the instruction in righteousness in the right spirit. It is thus the phrase 'unto this day' keeps us in focus of the Son in whom we have redemption.
t is not the form and shape of the tabernacle that is crucial but the fellowship. In the eternal fellowship of God with Man how best you represent the Son, the Man component that is the question. Synagogues of Satan have their day but the open door left for the church of Philadelphia is grace. The risen Christ knows the works,"behold, I have set before thee an open door, and no man can shut it: for thou hast a little strength, and hast kept my word, and hast not denied my name(Re.3:8)".
Cherubim above and the ark with the end of staves is what the risen Christ signifies for a believer. This cannot be seen by the world and the ungodly. Christ as a Paraclete in heaven pleads our case with the Father as the indwelling Spirit with God.
To sum: Our fellowship with Christ Jesus goes beyond our bodily circumstances. "For we know that if our earthly house of this tabernacle were dissolved, we have a building of God, an house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens(2 Co.5:1)".
"And the priests brought in the ark of the covenant of theLordunto his place, into the oracle of the house, to the most holy place, even under the wings of the cherubims./For the cherubims spread forth their two wings over the place of the ark, and the cherubims covered the ark and the staves thereof above./And they drew out the staves, that the ends of the staves were seen out in the holy place before the oracle, and they were not seen without: and there they are unto this day(vv.6-8).
'Unto this day' The Spirit in using the curious expression which we have come across earlier is applied to a house historically is past. The house of God beginning with the tabernacle in the wilderness is modeled after a pattern existing forever in heaven. "According to all that I shew thee, after the pattern of the tabernacle, and the pattern of all the instruments thereof, even so shall ye make it (Ex.25:9)". What were the significance of the two pillars in the porch but it led the eye of the believer to the pillars within? To him the promise of the Son is "Him that overcometh will I make a pillar in the temple of my God."(Re.3:12). Church of God is foreshadowed by the church of Philadelphia. every overcomer is part of this pillar.
The divine Will has never been changed and it is a decree to which what opinion man may have is irrelevant. The Son is the heir of all things to which a day has been appointed. Consequently when He says,'This day have begotten thee', it is to him the day belongs."I will declare the decree: theLordhath said unto me, Thou art my Son; this day have I begotten thee(Ps.2:7). There is an emblem 'the slain Lamb before the worlds began' and it is established as the Law. Thus pattern of things have been set into the constitution and events are set in motion, which shall never return to God in void. This pattern is what God showed Moses. He told him,"And let them make me a sanctuary; that I may dwell among them(25:8)".
The church at Philadelphia was to overcome their circumstance in times of peace or in times of tribulation. "Because thou hast kept the word of my patience, I also will keep thee from the hour of temptation, which shall come upon all the world, to try them that dwell upon the earth(Re.3:19)" The churches at the time of St John were going through persecution and it helps us to understand the great tribulation that has more to do with our times. The Spirit is setting down for believer wherever they are, of what are we confronted with. Synagogue of satan is the seat of heresies and the so-called church hobnobbing with the beast and anti-Christ are signs of our times. So the church of Philadelphia is a generic name for the remnant of holy seed. Remember what God told Elijah who was disheartened that he was left to himself."Yet I have left me seven thousand in Israel, all the knees which have not bowed unto Baal, and every mouth which hath not kissed him". (1 Ki.19:18)
Every child of God has a ministry, of shining as lights in this untoward generation, and also has received gifts. Power and Wisdom are blessings from God freely distributed so wherever man makes proper use are giving glory to God. 'The earth and the fulness thereof are the Lord's.' God called out Bezalel son of Uri for His service and in the case of Temple of Solomon we find God had chosen Hiram or Huram "And king Solomon sent and fetched Hiram out of Tyre./He was a widow's son of the tribe of Naphtali, and his father was a man of Tyre, a worker in brass: and he was filled with wisdom, and understanding, and cunning to work all works in brass. And he came to king Solomon, and wrought all his work(vv.13-14)".
It is unfaithful servant who would bury his talent in a hole in the ground.
"And he set up the pillars in the porch of the temple: and he set up the right pillar, and called the name thereof Jachin: and he set up the left pillar, and called the name thereof Boaz./ And upon the top of the pillars was lily work: so was the work of the pillars finished."
In a traditional story How important is the name of a pillar in the porch when focus of the narrative is about the temple of God? Jachin has a meaning,'he that strengthens makes steadfast. The other pillar was called Boaz, which is also strength and resonates with Boaz of the Book of Ruth. These two pillars taken together gives us the concrete image of this verse, "And now, brethren, I commend you to God, and to the word of his grace, which is able to build you up, and to give you an inheritance among all them which are sanctified."(Ac.20:32). Every believer approaches God in faith and these witnesses testify the word of his grace as well as the inheritance promised to him. Those two witnesses slain by the beast before Jerusalem (Re.11:8) Let us examine the words, "And when they shall have finished their testimony," gives us the time period. God shuts the church age so word of grace is a rarity, ("I will make a man more precious than fine gold; even a man than the golden wedge of Ophir."-Is.13:12)
We came across seven pillars of Wisdom in the context of the Abstract in Ge.1. The two witnesses refers to all witnesses preaching the gospel in the world of the Spirit and in earth, the agency of the Spirit of Christ and these foorm two pillars.
The church at Philadelphia was to overcome their circumstance in times of peace or in times of tribulation. "Because thou hast kept the word of my patience, I also will keep thee from the hour of temptation, which shall come upon all the world, to try them that dwell upon the earth(Re.3:19)" The churches at the time of St John were going through persecution and it helps us to understand the great tribulation.
What are these streams? Each heart of a believer is connected to this river of time, and being hid in heavenly places, are sated by it. It helps us to fortify our hearts with faith and by grace we do not complain as Israel did of the fleshpots of Egypt.
The river of water of life sets the world of the Spirit and the world of the body on this side of the bank so every heart of the believer draws to the city which has foundations whose Maker and builder is God. It is also the House of prayer for all nations. The tree of life sets every believer that has dug deeper to be nourished by the water as tree of righteousness whose leaves do not wither away. Ps.1:2-3). It serves as a emblem for Christ as the last Adam. No more curse no more tears. "I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the ending, saith the Lord, which is, and which was, and which is to come, the Almighty(Re.1:8).
How significant is the manner the timber was brought to build the temple of Solomon? The Spirit does not give such extraneous details unless for a reason. King Solomon had arranged with King Hiram of Tyre to bring the forest of Lebanon all cut to size ready to instal in the king's house. "My servants shall bring them down from Lebanon unto the sea: and I will convey them by sea in floats unto the place that thou shalt appoint me, and will cause them to be discharged there, and thou shalt receive them: and thou shalt accomplish my desire, in giving food for my household./ So Hiram gave Solomon cedar trees and fir trees according to all his desire(5:9-10)". The sea has its own spiritual significance as 'the place appointed.' The sea denotes us who were dead in sins' and we are to approach the throne of grace and not unto the high places where Israelites went whoring after. Path is cut out since Jesus Christ is the way. We follow after his steps.