Latest Entries »

For ONE Missing Sheep

Filed Under: Restoration by admin — 1 Comment
August 29, 2010

Now all the tax collectors and the sinners were coming near Him to listen to Him.  Both the Pharisees and the scribes began to grumble, saying, “This man receives sinners and eats with them.”  So He told them this parable, saying, “What man among you, if he has a hundred sheep and has lost one of them, does not leave the ninety-nine in the open pasture and go after the one which is lost until he finds it?  When he has found it, he lays it on his shoulders, rejoicing.  And when he comes home, he call together his friends and his neighbors, saying to them, “Rejoice with me, for I have found my sheep which was lost!”  I tell you that in the same way, there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who need no repentance.”  Luke 15:1-7, New American Standard Bible

          All of the Savior’s questions deserve careful consideration and an answer.  And what IS the answer to His question?  First, we should note that the question implies that there IS a man among them who will go and search for his lost sheep, or His question would have been:  IS there a man among you…  If you have spiritual eyes to see, Jesus the Good Shepherd is that man!

          Secondly, notice that the blame for the missing sheep is laid upon the man, not upon the sheep.  It is not the dumb sheep who has gone and gotten himself lost; instead, it is the man who has lost his sheep!  However, we do not wish to offend any Arminians, and so we will agree that the sheep used his free will to wander off, although admittedly the passage does not say so.  All the passage says is that the sheep “is lost.”  But we wish to emphasize that the Good Shepherd has a will, also–a greater will, a driving will, a sacrificial will, one that will not rest until the missing sheep is found!  Praise you, Lord!

          At this point it is very important to note that the Good Shepherd in our parable leaves 99 sheep in the open pasture.  These 99 have what they need:  safety, fellowship, and food–all that is attendant to open pasture.  We must ask, Why does the missing sheep not come to the pasture?  Surely it is because the missing sheep does not know the way!  Perhaps it is academic because in any event the Good Shepherd is not waiting to be accompanied by a delegation from the 99 sheep to go and find the lost one.

          Notice also that the parable makes it clear that the last missing sheep will be found, for the Savior uses “when” and not “if”.  In our view, this passage is about the restoration of all things by our Messiah who wills that all men be saved, and who will not “rest” until it is accomplished!

          And what happens when the missing sheep is found?  Some preachers have said that the shepherd will sometimes break the leg of the wayward sheep to increase its dependence upon the shepherd.  We do not see that in this passage, nor have we experienced it in our own life.  Rather, it is our experience that the lost sheep is delighted to be carried in the loving arms of the Good Shepherd who is rejoicing over the nearness of the missing sheep, and we bless the Lord for this sweet time of togetherness!  After the repentance, let the fellowship begin!

          During David’s reign, God moved him to seek out the descendants of Jonathan, to fulfill the covenant he had made with Jonathan pertaining to when he, David, would become king. (1 Samuel 18:3, 1 Samuel 23:18)  In the beautiful story of Mephibosheth, Jonathan’s son, we see a fore-shadowing and type of how the Son of David would treat the missing sheep.  We pick up the story in 2 Samuel 9.

The king (David) said, “Is there not yet anyone of the house of Saul to whom I may show the kindness of God?”  And Ziba said to the king, “There is still a son of Jonathan who is crippled in both feet.”  So the king said to him, “Where is he?”  And Ziba said to the king, “Behold, he is in the house of Machir the son of Ammiel in Lo-Debar.”  Then King David sent and brought him from the house of Machir the son of Ammiel, from Lo-Debar.  2 Samuel 9:3-5, New American Standard Bible

           Jonathan made this covenant with David because, as the scripture says, he loved David “with his own life.”  One cannot help but notice the similarity with Jesus, who has loved us all with His own life!   It is in David, however, the shepherd/king sets the prophetic pattern.  Notice that he seeks to show the kindness of God to the house of his enemy.  It is the kindness of God that leads to repentance, according to Romans 2:4.  Although David the king would be justified in bringing judgment upon the descendants of his enemy, that is NOT the kindness of God!  And how does God treat His enemies?  In exactly the same way He has taught us to treat our enemies in Matthew 5:44:  Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, so that you may be sons of your father who is in heaven…  For this fulfills the entire law of God, in one statement:  You shall love your neighbor as yourself. 

          In fact, it is the expectation that the king will exact retribution and judgment upon Saul’s house that causes all of Saul’s servants to flee in terror.  Mephibosheth, who was just a small child of five at the time, had no say whatsoever in the matter.  It was NOT Mephibosheth that fled in terror, but others upon whom in the providence of God he depended.  In their haste to flee the wrath of the king, Mephibosheth was dropped on his head, resulting in paralysis in both feet.  (2 Samuel 4:4)  All his life, he has lived in fear of the wrath of the king whom he has been told to fear.  But do you notice that even if he wanted to, Mephibosheth is unable to come to the king; instead he must be brought, for he is crippled in both feet! 

          Mephibosheth, as a missing sheep, is separated from the king who desires to show him the kindness of God.  The shepherd/king takes the initiative to locate him and says, “Where is he?”  And it  is here, that we find the indisputable evidence of the foreshadowing.  Mephibosheth is in Lo-Debar, which being translated means “no pasture” or “without pasture” (Strong’s Concordance H3810).  Mephibosheth is not in the open pasture; instead, he is lost in “no pasture” living out his days under the mistaken understanding, given to him by others, that the king desires only his death. 

          Finally, when brought to the king’s presence, he is given food from the king’s own table and his inheritance is restored.  Thus we see that there is rejoicing by the missing sheep AND by his shepherd.  We candidly do not see vengence, retribution or destruction in these verses; rather, we see a cause for great praise for the shepherd/king who loved us with his life, and who has sought us out and carried us, each and individually, upon his shoulders with rejoicing and fellowship to the inheritance we thought had long ago been taken from us forever.

Blessed are you, O Lord.  Our wonderful God, you are the king of forever!  Blessing, honor, glory and power belongs to you for the ages, for you have not rested until you have found the last missing sheep, whom you have loved just as much as the first missing sheep.  There is no one like you, Lord!

Comment

Simon Says

Filed Under: Love of God by Jamie — Comments Off on Simon Says
August 19, 2010

“Bless those who persecute you; bless and curse not….Never pay back evil for evil to anyone…..Never take your own revenge, beloved, but leave room for the wrath of God, for it is written,  ” ‘Vengeance is Mine, I will repay,’ says the Lord. ‘ But if your enemy is hungry, feed him, and if he is thirsty, give him a drink; for in so doing you will heap burning coals upon his head.’ ” Do not be overcome by evil but overcome evil with good.

Romans 12: 14, 17, 19-21

Jesus makes it very clear that we, as God’s children, are to be like and imitate our perfect Father in heaven.  God wants to manifest Himself in us and show His character through us.  He never tells US to behave in a way that He does not behave.  So when Jesus commands us to “love our enemies, and pray for those who persecute us”, as Paul echoes in Romans, He is telling us that HE loves His enemies, unconditionally, without fail or end, keeping no record of wrongs done against Him. 

So then, how is it that God can put people into hell-eternal torture-for the wrongs against Him? I would say that eternal torture is repaying evil for the evil of man’s sins.  How can WE be commanded to bless and not curse, and overcome evil with good, if God is not doing the same?  This is surely not the imitation Jesus instructed. 

No, God has every intention of repaying, and overcoming, the evil of man with His good, ie, His love, which is the strongest force in the universe.  When Paul says “in so doing, you will heap burning coals on his head”, he is not saying that in a sick, sinister way, as though this passive aggressive behavior of giving to those who are hungry and thirsty really “gives them what they deserve.”  No, what he meant was that your kindness to them will be the good that overcomes their evil:  In that day in time, when someone was poor, they often needed to be given coals to start their own fire to cook with, keep warm, etc.  And the poor man or woman would carry these coals in a basket on his/her head, back to their own home.  It was an act of generousity to give your own coals to someone in need. 

So what about the “wrath” “revenge” and “vengeance” of God?  First of all, the word wrath simply means “passion,” literally “passionate snorting.”  Imagine someone that really loves you watching you do something very harmful to yourself.  They are intensely disturbed by your behavior and might say something like “Oh no, come on! Don’t do that!”  Their displeasure is due to the harm you are doing to yourself, not to them.  They are passionate about your wellbeing and want you to stop behaving in this harmful way, and will take drastic measures to get you back in line.

This is God’s behavior towards those in sin.  His displeasure arises from the harm we are doing to ourselves, not to Him, and He is adamant that we change.  His love for us compels Him to action.  But does His love move Him to torture His enemies?  No, He overcomes his enemies with his love.  “It is the kindness of God that leads to repentence.”  You see, God is the enemy of no one-He has no malice toward any human being, only love.  However, HE has plenty of enemies-plenty of people that hate him, deny Him, and/or ignore Him.  So his “revenge” and His “vengeance” are surely not eternal torture.  Paul IMMEDIATELY explains, after telling us to leave room for GOD to judge people, that in the meantime, we are to show them kindness beyond human terms-to give to them, to go the extra mile with them, in order to show them just how kind our God is.

So when God says to bless and not curse, He does the same.  We do as He does, so that we may be like Him. Jesus said “Be perfect, therefore, just as your heavenly Father is perfect.”  Indeed, His love is perfect, and never fails.

Comment

Nebuchadnezzar, A Picture of Restoration

Filed Under: Restoration by Jamie — 2 Comments
July 27, 2010

“Immediately the word concerning Nebuchadnezzar was fulfilled; and he was driven away from mankind and began eating grass like cattle, and his body was drenched with the dew of heaven until his hair had grown like eagles’ feathers and his nails like birds’ claws.  “But at the end of that period, I, Nebuchadnezzar, raised my eyes toward heaven and my reason returned to me, and I blessed the Most High and praised and honored Him who lives forever;
         For His dominion is an everlasting dominion,
         And His kingdom endures from generation to generation. 
    All the inhabitants of the earth are accounted as nothing,
         But He does according to His will in the host of heaven
         And among the inhabitants of earth;
         And no one can ward off His hand
         Or say to Him, ‘What have You done?’

 “At that time my reason returned to me and my majesty and splendor were restored to me for the glory of my kingdom, and my counselors and my nobles began seeking me out; so I was reestablished in my sovereignty, and surpassing greatness was added to me.

 “Now I, Nebuchadnezzar, praise, exalt and honor the King of heaven, for all His works are true and His ways just, and He is able to humble those who walk in pride.”

Daniel 4:33-37

“…that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.” 

Philippians 2:10-11

Nebuchadnezzar, king of Babylon, went from the height of power, to the depths of depravity, overnight.  In his proud state, he said essentially, “I am my own god. I need no other.” God forewarned him of the discipline to come should he remain in that proud state, but after 12 months, he continued in his arrogance.  So God gave him up to depravity, and he became like an animal.  He “died,” in a sense.  In that humbled state, God disciplined him. The Bible says that period was 7 “times”, whether it was seven years or months, we do not know, but the number 7 in the Bible represents perfection.  God was perfectly disciplining Nebuchadnezzar.  He knew just what was necessary to bring the king to a point of recognizing his own need for God. 

And what happens? The king says at the end of that time he lifted his eyes to heaven, and worshipped the King of heaven, acknowledging that God was God, to be praised and adored.  At that time, God restores Nebuchadnezzar to a place that was BETTER than the power and position he had before!  He “resurrects” him from the dead into a new man, with a new heart.  And look what Nebuchadnezzar says about it: “God is able to humble those who walk in pride.”

So what do we see here? We see a picture of how God can and does bring a man to love and fear Him, but not out of coercion.  He disciplines (and its not pleasant), but perfectly, and in love.  And so the king CHOOSES to love and follow God. Not because God beat him into submission, but because he had a repentant heart and genuine love for God.  Somehow, God is able to turn a heart with love to love Him back, and yet it does not violate the man’s voluntary decision or choice to love God.  Philippians tells us that every human being is going to bow and acknowledge Jesus as Lord.  But does God want people bowing to Him grudgingly, or out of fear, or under His hand forcing them to do so? Does that bring glory to God? No, God wants glory and acknowledgment from those who love Him.  He wants worshippers who worship Him in spirit and in TRUTH-who truly love Him.  THAT brings Him glory.  And He gets the most glory-all the glory-when everyone is bowing out of love. 

So God can take a life-one full of arrogance and pride and God-lessness, and He is ABLE to humble that man so that the man, of his own choice, acknowledges God.  Nebuchadnezzar himself says that God is just in doing so-ALL his ways are just.  God does only that which is good, and discipline for restoration and regeneration is the heart of our Father.  His discipline is always to bring us closer to, not further from, Him.  He wants to restore us, but He first has to correct us.  But then He makes us better than we were before!

So if someone dies in this life, and they do not acknowledge Jesus as King and Savior, they are not lost forever.  Our God is the God who searches for the one lost sheep, the one lost coin, waits for the one lone prodigal son.  He will have to correct and discipline that person, but one day, they too, of their own choosing, will in love and faith say “God, YOU are God. I am not.  I need You, there is no other.” 

And so one day, it will be as Jesus says in Revelation: He will make ALL things new.  All will be new creations in Christ Jesus.

Comment

What is God’s Will?

Filed Under: Love of God, Restoration by Jamie — Comments Off on What is God’s Will?
July 19, 2010

“I exhort therefore, that, first of all, supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks, be made for all men; for kings, and for all that are in authority; that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and honesty. For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Saviour; who will have all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth. For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus; who gave himself a ransom for all, to be testified in due time.” 1 Timothy 2: 1-6

Many times we wonder “What is God’s will?” We ask this question at many levels, and in many circumstances. However, at the largest, and frankly most important level, we ask the question “What is God’s will for mankind?” This text gives tremendous insight into the heart and will of God.

In verse 1, Paul exhorts (strongly urges) us that we should pray with requests (supplications), we should intercede, and we should give thanks for ALL men. He goes on in verse 3 to tell us why he is so strongly urging us to do this:  because it is good and acceptable to God our Saviour.  God is not only pleased when we pray for all men, but He accepts those prayers.  Verse 4 tells us why this is good to God:  because He WILL have ALL men to be saved and to come unto a knowledge of the truth.  THERE IT IS: THE WILL OF GOD FOR MANKIND.  God will have all men to be saved.  Job 42:2 says “I know that Thou can do all things, and that no purpose of Thine can be thwarted.”  God is pleased with prayers and supplications for all because He LOVES all and plans to save all! And His love never fails, which is why we can give thanks for all, because, in God’s timing, ALL will come to a knowledge of the truth.

But to make sure that we are clear on how all men will be saved, and what that “truth” is that he is referring to, Paul explains: there is one God (not many gods) and one mediator between man and God-Jesus Christ.  Jesus Himself said “I am THE way, THE truth, and the Life. NO one comes to the Father BUT BY ME.”  There are not multiple ways to be saved. ONLY through the mediation of Jesus Christ on a man’s behalf can the man be saved.  Paul ends his explanation by stating Christ’s authority to do this: He gave Himself as a ransom for all. He paid for (ransomed, with His own life) all people, and thus can-and will- save all people. 

 “But,” you may say, “we know this isn’t true because not everyone is saved (know the truth, ie, Jesus, and His role of Savior) before they die.”  But Paul addresses that too, at the end of verse 6: He writes, “to be testified in due time.”  To testify means to make declaration and/or solemn affirmation.  The phrase “in due time” tells us that it is yet to come, BUT that a time will come when this mediation and ransoming of all by Jesus is affirmed, and all men will know this truth.  This will happen in the ages to come. …and while that is a discussion for another post, the GOOD NEWS that the angels spoke of to the shepherds in the field is that God has GOOD will and peace toward ALL men.  And that is indeed Good News.

Comment

Notes on Hate

Filed Under: Love of God by admin — Comments Off on Notes on Hate
July 11, 2010

…for Jacob I loved, but Esau I hated.  Malachi 1:3

          The Hebrew word used in Malachi 1:3 for “hated” is sane (Strong’s Concordance H8130).  It can also mean “unloved” and “shunned’.  But in Romans, where Paul quoted Malachi, the Greek word is consistently used as “hate”, having no shades or alternative meanings.

          Yet, we know from other usages of the word, that a relative comparison is intended, and therefore the word is used for purposes of emphasis.  In other words, when “hate” is used in a comparative sense, the meaning is intended to emphasize that the compared item is all the more to be desired.  Here are some examples of how “hate” is used to create a comparison:

No man can love two masters, either he will hate the one and cling to the other… Matthew 6:24 (and Luke 16:13)

Unless you love me and hate your wife… Luke 14:26

          We know a relative comparison is intended in the above verses, because of 1 John 3:15, where the verse is clearly not a comparison:

He who hates his brother is a murderer….

          Can God even remotely be called a “murderer” because He has “hated” Esau?  No.  Again, not understanding God’s nature has resulted in a false witness against the Lord by the translation.  This is a most grievous accusation, one worthy of the Devil.  If God can be equated to a murderer, then He certainly cannot be a fair judge, not to speak of a thrice-holy one.  But He alone is holy, and it is precisely for this reason that we know that He does not hate in an absolute sense.  Consequently, a better translation is:  Jacob I have loved, but Esau I have shunned.  We should also consider 1 John 2:11. 

But whoever hates his brother is in the darkness and walks around in the darkness; he does not know where he is going, because the darkness has blinded him.   1 John 2:11

          Is God in the darkness, and has darkness “blinded His eyes”?  The point in all of this is that God does not “hate”.  God is love, and His love is perfect.  It was His love, not just of those who love Him, not just of those who are claimed to be His “elect”, but of the whole world (including those who do not love Him, and even “hate” Him) that led Him to give His only Son, that whosoever believed into Him would have everlasting life.

          The Hebrew word, sane, is used many times in the Old Testament, and is often referred to by preachers in preaching about things God supposedly “hates”.  The idea is:  you better be afraid of God, because you are doing things He hates.  But where do those things come from?  Are they not a part of the universe created by God?  It is important to note that God hates no part of His creation–no part and no person, and dear reader that most definitely includes you.  He has spoken over all of creation:  It is good.  Nevertheless, some will surely say, “God must hate evil.”  Again, where does evil come from?  Has not God made all things?  You may disagree, and we apologize if we have offended your beliefs, but Isaiah said God has made evil.

I form the light, and create darkness: I make peace, and create evil: I the LORD do all these things.  Isaiah 45:7 King James Version

          Here is some advice.  The next time you hear or read about something God “hates”, plug in the word “shuns” and see if it makes more sense.  God has no reason to hate; to Him, hatred is another tool which He has created, like sin, evil, calamity and even death.  The purpose of these tools is to draw men to Christ Jesus.  And because He is extraordinarily skillful with His tools (not to mention, all-powerful), He will indeed draw all men to the Saviour.

          Getting back to Esau, the shunned one, Esau and all those like him are included in the comprehensive plan of God.  Esau was a prophetic type, as well as a living and historic individual.  He fulfilled a role by his life that was predetermined by Father, before either he or Jacob had been born and had done a single thing good or bad.  Read the rest of what Paul said after quoting the Malachi verse above.  He strongly refutes any notion that God was in the slightest unfair to Esau.

What shall we say then?  There is no injustice with God, is there? May it never be!  For He says to Moses, “I will have mercy on whom I have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I have compassion.”  So then it does not depend on the man who wills or the man who runs, but on God who has mercy.   For the Scripture says to Pharaoh, “For this very purpose I raised you up, to demonstrate my power in you, and that my Name might be proclaimed throughout the whole earth.”   So then He has mercy on whom He desires, and He hardens whom He desires.  You will say to me then, “Why does He still find fault? For who resists His will?”  On the contrary, who are you, O man, who answers back to God? The thing molded will not say to the molder, “Why did you make me like this,” will it?  Or does not the potter have a right over the clay, to make from the same lump one vessel for honorable use and another for common use?  Romans 9:14-21

          Please note carefully the reason God has given in these verses as to the actions He has taken with not only Esau, but also later with Pharoah:  that my Name might be proclaimed throughout the whole earth!  That name, dear reader, is Yeshua, or Jesus, the Name above every name.  The modern Church loves to deride Esau, not to mention Pharoah, but they are unaware that Esau will ultimately be given a place of honor for the part he has played in proclaiming the Name throughout the whole earth.  How easily Father is accused of hatred, with no thought of what John said about those who hate, and with no thought of our sovereign Lord’s purpose for every life He has created!

Beloved, let us love one another, for love is from God; and everyone who loves is born of God and knows God.  The one who does not love does not know God, for God is love. 1 John 4:7-8

Blessed are you, O Lord!  Our loving Father, you are a wonderful God!  So wise, fair and wonderful in all your dealings with mankind, you have treated us much better than we deserve.  The only thing in creation that no one can get too much of is your never-failing love.  Fill us, please Father, with your love and may hatred of any kind be banished from our beings as Jesus’ very love exudes from us. Thank you, Father!

Comment

Notes on Reuben’s Disqualification

Filed Under: God's Laws/Teachings by admin — Comments Off on Notes on Reuben’s Disqualification
July 11, 2010

 Now there were twelve sons of Jacob–the sons of Leah:  Reuben, Jacob’s firstborn, then Simeon and Levi and Judah and Issachar and Zebulun; the sons of Rachel:  Joseph and Benjamin; and the sons of Bilhah, Rachel’s maid: Dan and Naphtali; and the sons of Zilpah, Leah’s maid:  Gad and Asher.  These are the sons of Jacob who were born to him in Paddan-Aram.  Genesis 35:22 NASB

          It is important to note that Jacob had twelve sons, not just one.  These twelve sons and their descendants properly make up the twelve tribes of Israel.  In modern times attention is given to only one tribe, the tribe of Judah, properly known as Judahites, often shortened to “Jews”.  The national name of Israel would properly belong to Reuben, the firstborn of Israel, who would have inherited the birthright and with it the national name.  However, as we shall see, Reuben lost the privilege of inheriting the birthright; instead, it was given to Rachel’s grandsons, Ephraim and Manasseh, the sons of Joseph.  The descendants of Ephraim and Manasseh have the legal right to the national name of “Israel”.  No other tribe or group of tribes may usurp this birthright.  The name “Israel” was given to Jacob, and he alone had the right to give it to whom he wanted, and he did so.  Along with the right to the use of the name, the birthright included the blessing of great prosperity.

The angel who has redeemed me from all evil, bless the lads (Ephraim and Manasseh); and may my name live on in them, and the names of my fathers Abraham and Isaac, and may they grow into a multitude in the midst of the earth.  Genesis 48:16

          We may be certain that the descendants of Ephraim and Manasseh have indeed grown into a multitude, and are alive and well in the midst of the earth as Jacob prophesied.  The same is true for the other tribes of Israel.  Although at present they may be unaware of their posterity, God knows each and every one.  In Isaiah 49, Isaiah recounted how the Lord honored him by using him to regather the northern tribes after their captivity to Assyria, and to be a light to the nations so that God’s salvation would “reach to the end of the earth.”  In doing this, Isaiah would become a type of Messiah Jesus who will in time fulfill the prophecy completely.  In fact, in answer to Zion’s specific complaint that “the Lord has forgotten me”, YHWH replied a woman will forget her nursing child and fail to have compassion upon him, but the names of His people He will never forget.

Can a woman forget her nursing child and have no compassion on the son of her womb?  Even these may forget, but I will not forget you.  Behold, I have inscribed you on the palms of My hands; your walls are continually before Me.  Isaiah 49:15-16 NASB

          Dear reader, the God who has named every star in the universe has no problem keeping track of a few billion people and their ancestries; in fact, He has no problem keeping track of many billion people and their ancestries!  To put it bluntly:  the “lost tribes” of Israel are not lost at all.

          So, what happened to Reuben?   The story is not very long and what we have is not good.  Jacob was quite a bit older than Rachel when Laban, Rachel’s and Leah’s father, tricked Jacob into marrying Leah, the oldest daughter.  In fact, Leah and Rachel were quite young when they were given in marriage to Jacob.  Bilhah and Zilpah, the servant girls of Leah and Rachel, were even younger and were perhaps even children at the time of the marriages of Leah and Rachel.  As the servant girls grew older, they became concubines or slave-wives of Jacob, also.  We believe, therefore, that Leah’s oldest son, Reuben, and Bilhah were close in age.  We don’t know who instigated what, but here’s what happened:

It came about while Israel was dwelling in that land, that Reuben went and lay with Bilhah his father’s concubine, and Israel heard of it.  Genesis 35:22

Now the sons of Reuben the firstborn of Israel (for he was the firstborn, but because he defiled his father’s bed, his birthright was given to the sons of Joseph the son of Israel; so that he is not enrolled in the genealogy according to the birthright.  Though Judah prevailed over his brothers, and from him came the Leader, yet the birthright belonged to Joseph),…  1 Chronicles 5:1

          Clearly the right of rulership, the kingship dominion or what may be called “the scepter”, belongs to a Descendant of Judah (His name is Jesus), yet the birthright belonged to Joseph.  In his last days, Jacob (now re-named “Israel” by the angel with whom he wrestled) spoke directly to Reuben about his sin.

Reuben, you are my firstborn, my might and the beginning of my strength, preeminent in dignity and preeminent in power.  Uncontrolled as water, you shall not have preeminence, because you went up to your father’s bed; then you defiled it–he went up to my couch.  Genesis 39:3-4

          The Hebrew word for “defiled” in the passage is chalal (Strong’s Concordance H2490).  According to Spiro Zodhiates, “The core meaning of this root and its history in cognate languages is rather uncertain.  There are eighty-three uses of this word and its derivatives.”  (emphasis added)  The NASB translated it “defiled” (and the King James Version used “defiledst”).  The Schocken Bible uses “defile” in one instance and “profane” in another.  Young’s Literal Translation uses “polluted”.  According to Strong’s Concordance, here are some other uses and meanings:  to be wounded (as in, pierced), to play the flute, to desecrate or to be desecrated, to enjoy, to be killed, to begin or to proceed or to initiate, to eat as a common thing, and to prostitute.

          We believe the last usage comes the closest:  Reuben prostituted Bilpah, thus violating the marriage covenant and the father/son relationship in one fell action.  According to Leviticus 20:11, the penalty for Reuben’s and Bilpah’s sin was death, “their bloodguiltyness is upon them.”  Of course, at the time, this law had not yet been given to Moses.  Nevertheless, it was a scandalous action, and one for which Jacob no doubt sought wisdom from the Lord as to how to respond.  In mercy, Jacob did not apply a death penalty, but determined that Reuben was disqualified from being the preeminent tribe and receiving the double portion (Genesis 48:22) and all that went with the birthright.

          Here is why it matters:  Reuben laid down the prophetic pattern for the modern Church that has prostituted Judah in Father’s bed.  Judah has gone back in to Father’s house to recreate a Jewish state after being sent out for its adulteries in 70 C.E.  but has done so without ending its hostility against the Lord and yet refusing to obey Him.  Leviticus 26:21  Until it ceases its hostilities, Judah cannot return without polluting the land.  Jeremiah wrote of this:

God says, “If a husband divorces his wife and she goes from him and belongs to another man, will he still return to her?  Will not that land be completely polluted?”  Jeremiah 3:1

          Much could be said about all that Judah’s re-entry into the land entails, but it is beyond the scope of this post.  We instead refer you to The Struggle for the Birthright, by Dr. Stephen Jones.  Suffice it to say, Judah was sent out in precisely the same way as was Israel and the judgment was declared by Ezekiel 23:30-35, particularly verse 31:  You have walked in the way of your sister (Israel); therefore I will give her cup (of judgment) into your hand. 

          The descendants of Ephraim and Manasseh, the sons of Joseph, are widely viewed as the principal settlors of the United States and Great Britain, respectively.  One would be hard pressed to find any two nations on earth who have enjoyed such prosperity as have these two.  In the period of time preceding the Balfour Declaration, and certainly after the United Nations Resolution 183 partitioning Palestine and in the years since, no two nations have been more responsible for Judah’s re-entry into the land of Israel than the United States and Great Britain.  Although the zionists have the lion’s share of responsibility for the situation in the present day, the modern Church has been a stalwart ally, sending great sums of money to support the occupation, turning a blind eye to the injustices perpetrated upon the Palestinians whose land, lives and treasure were taken by force.  At the very least, one would have to admit a continuous and unintermittent double standard employed by the United States when dealing with the Jewish state vis-a-vis its neighbors in every direction, not one bit of it in obedience to the commands and teachings of Christ Jesus.

          In brief, because the Church has committed the same offence as Reuben, the United States and Great Britain will be disqualified from the birthright, and it will be taken from them and, we believe, returned to the rightful heir, the King of Judah, Jesus the Messiah.  In this way, the kingdom will be re-united with the King.  But it must all be accomplished according to the law of God who is absolutely impartial.  This judgment has already commenced with the current financial crisis, and will continue until it is accomplished.

Blessed are you, O Lord.  For there is no partiality with you, and your commandments are holy and righteous and good.  You always use your law lawfully and according to perfect wisdom!  Thank you for your mercy displayed in all your judgments.  Blessed are you because you always fill our hearts with songs of deliverance.  Please deliver us from the iniquitous roads upon which we travel so thoughtlessly.  Thank you for the honor that you have given to our King, the firstborn of all creation, the birthright and the name–Israel.

Comment

The Martyrdom of Ralph

Filed Under: God's Laws/Teachings, Restoration by admin — Comments Off on The Martyrdom of Ralph
July 3, 2010

          Our post is an addition to Notes on Leprosy and the Second Coming.  It is dedicated to our brother, Ralph, who was delivered into the presence of the Father, holy and blameless, with mighty shouts of everlasting joy on Father’s Day, June 20, 2010.  Praise you, Lord!

           According to all that I grant you to see, the pattern of the Dwelling and the pattern of all its implements, thus are you to make it.  Exodus 25:9

          While Moses was on the mountain, YHWH/Jesus showed him activities in the heavenlies which were to serve as patterns for the same activities upon earth.  The verse in Exodus 25:9 in particular relates to the construction of the tabernacle, but we do not believe it is unreasonable to conclude that the teachings and instructions of the various temple activities, including the sacrifices, were patterned upon God’s activities in the heavenlies and even in the earth.  Thus, each sacrifice is a foreshadow, an image, an incomplete picture of the reality of God’s doings.  It is important to understand that the ritual on earth was always intended to be an emulation of what God has done and is doing in the heavens and in the earth.  Unfortunately, none of the Hebrews except One, consistently said what He heard His Father saying, and consistently did what He saw His Father doing.  That Hebrew’s name, of course, is Jesus.

          Accordingly, when a leper was healed, the ritual sacrifice involving the two doves not only represented the circumstances of the person individually involved, it also bore witness of something comparable that God is doing as a witness in the earth.  And so we come to the martyrdom of Ralph.

          Those who knew Ralph must decide for themselves what happened to him; this decision will be made according to the individual’s particular belief in the sovereignty of God.  From a human standpoint, Ralph was 56 years of age, had been under a controlled weight loss program under a doctor’s supervision, and was feeling great.  He and a friend were cycling in a Texas coastal resort town, when the friend heard Ralph say “Passing out!” and looked around to see him go over the handlebars of his bicycle.  Although he was wearing a cycling helmet, he somehow sustained a bloody head injury in the fall.  The friend found no pulse when he got to Ralph seconds later and was unable to revive him using CPR.

          We do not believe Ralph’s passing was an accident, nor do we believe it was a matter of his choice.  Many have said, “He would not have chosen this for his family” and they are correct.  Either it was a “bad hap”, or God is the One responsible.  God accepts full responsibility at all times.

          We believe the Lord’s words when He said, “(E)veryone who lives and believes in Me will never die.”  John 11:26  And we believe Paul’s words, that when one is absent from the body, he is at home with the Lord.  2 Corinthians 5:8.  Not even a sparrow falls from the tree apart from the watchful eyes of Father, and Ralph was worth far more than many sparrows!  Therefore, we believe Ralph had concluded his race and crossed the finish line without disqualification, receiving an incorruptible crown of life.  Simply stated, Ralph was called.  The meaning of the Hebrew name for the book of Leviticus, quoted below, is taken from its first few words:  Now He called.  Ralph was carried instantaneously from this realm into realms of everlasting light.  This much we believe by the word of the Lord, but while in prayer, we asked, “Lord, what is up with the head wound?”  Father replied simply, “See the two doves!”

YHWH spoke to Moses, saying:  This is to be the Instruction for the one-with-zara’at (translated “leprosy”), on the day of his being-purified:  he is to be brought to the priest.  The priest is to go outside the camp; when the priest looks, and here: the affliction of zara’at (leprosy) has healed on the one-with-zara’at (leprosy), the priest is to command that they take for the one-to-be-purified two birds, live, pure, and wood of cedar and scarlet of the worm and hyssop.  Then the priest is to command that they slay the one bird in an earthen vessel, (held) above living water, and the live bird–he is to take it, and the cedar wood, and the scarlet of the worm and the hyssop, and is to dip them and the live bird in the blood of the slain bird, (held) above living water.  Then he is to sprinkle (it) over the one-to-be-purified of zara’at seven times, declaring-him-pure, and is to send-out the live bird into the open field.  Leviticus 14:1-7 Schocken Bible
          The Greek word for “witness” in the New Testament is marturia (Strong’s Concordance G3141) from which we derive our English word for “martyr”.  It is the same word used in Revelation 20:4–And I saw the souls of those who had been beheaded because of their testimony (marturia) of Jesus and because of the word of God…  When one gives one’s life, voluntarily or involuntarily, as a witness for something, one can be called a martyr.  One does not take the honor to himself, but receives it when he is called by God.  Hebrews 5:4  The use of such a word is not to be taken or given lightly and it should always arrest our attention.  Such is the case in the matter at hand.
 
          Once the roles of the participants are identified, the pattern becomes clear and the witness is established.  First, the priest goes outside the camp and looks, and observes that the leprous man is healed.  The priest in this pattern is our high priest forever, Christ Jesus (Hebrews 7-8) and he has gone outside the heavenly camp to observe that the formerly leprous man is no longer leprous.  The two doves in the case at hand are Ralph and our sister, his wife.  The first dove “in an earthen vessel” is realized by a man who contains the treasure of living water in his heart, as Paul says.  2 Corinthians 4:7  The slaying of the first dove was by an injury to the head, since this is the only way to get blood in sufficient quantity in which to dip the remaining dove.  Leviticus 1:15  Thus, to fulfill the type, it was necessary that Ralph injure his head as he fell, no small feat considering he was wearing a helmet designed to prevent that very thing.
 
          His blood is symbolic of his life, because the “life of the flesh is in the blood.”  Leviticus 17:11  Our sister was certainly thoroughly immersed in Ralph’s life.  The live bird, too, is held above the living water, illustrating that our two doves contain the same treasure of salvation.  Our live dove is sent out into the open field, meaning the world.  For in the parable of the sower, we have learned from the Savior that “the field is the world.”  Matthew 13:38  Our live dove carries the testimony that the formerly leprous man has been healed.  Notice that he is declared to be pure.  This is a legal declaration that the man in question is no longer obligated under the law to comply with all the rules and regulations attendant with leprosy–but the main point is:  he is now welcomed back into the camp, whereas before he was excluded and was thus an outcast.  Leviticus 14:8  
 
          Our last participant remains to be identified.  Who is this “man” whose leprosy has been healed, and is now declared pure and welcome to return to the heavenly camp?  Recall that the “leprosy” is symbolic of a very curable condition:  not a skin condition, but in reality a sin condition. This symbolizes the wonderful good news that mankind is now conciliated to God, and the doors of heaven are open–that which separated man from God, which caused him to be an outcast from the fellowship of the redeemed, which excluded him from partaking of the divine life, has been removed by the blood of Jesus.
 
          Because this is a legal matter, we may be certain that one or more individuals in Ralph’s life and realm of influence will be adjudicated pure.  However, we have no revelation as to who it may be.  Furthermore, on a larger level, the “man” can be representative of mankind in general, whose trespasses are no longer being counted against them because of the death that Christ died for all.  2 Corinthian 5:19  In this respect, Ralph has joined in a great cloud of witnesses (martus,  Strong’s Concordance G3144) who continue to bear witness that exactly as in Adam all die, in just the exact same manner in Christ all will be made alive.  1 Corinthians 15:22 
 
          Way to go, brother!
 
          Blessed are You, O Lord, our wonderful God, for You have done all things according to the pattern shown on the mountain.  Your ways are just and true and You have given to faithful men the privilege of bearing witness of your beautiful ways. 
Comment

Notes on God’s Four Feasts

Filed Under: God's Laws/Teachings, The Harvests by admin — Comments Off on Notes on God’s Four Feasts
June 26, 2010

           The books of Moses set forth the torah (teachings or instructions) on God’s first three feasts. Christ Jesus reserved to Himself the privilege of teaching about the fourth feast. It is the summing up and consummation, the suntelia, of the other three feasts.

          YHWH/Jesus through Moses gave specific instructions that all the people would gather at the place “where I choose to place my name” three times each year for the indefinite future (olam–translated “forever”). (In those days, He had not yet chosen Jerusalem as the location for the observances.)  Those occasions corresponded to the barley and wheat harvests, and the grape harvest.  They signify God’s plan for all of mankind, individually and corporately.

          The first feast is Passover, called in Hebrew “Pesach” and corresponds with the barley harvest. Spiritually it signifies justification, or more simply put being born anew, or born again. You may accurately equate this with infancy in humans. The pattern for this feast was set down in Egypt.

          Somewhat later in the spring, occurring 50 days later is Pentecost, called in Hebrew “Shavuot” or Feast of Weeks. The second feast corresponds with the wheat harvest and spiritually signifies sanctification, or more simply put, learning to hear and distinguish the voice of God the father, Christ Jesus the son, and the Lord Holy Spirit, (for all indeed are speaking), and most importantly learning to obey the voice one hears.

          The pattern for this second feast was set down at Mount Sinai, when everyone heard YHWH/Jesus speak in their own language, and convey to them His instructions called the Ten Commandments. This equates to the time of childhood and teenage years in humans.

          Have you ever noticed how everyone wants a savior, but no one really wants a lord? But in every life the time comes to leave infancy behind, and begin to learn the rules.    Thus Samuel explained to Saul, to obey (Pentecost) is better than sacrifice (Passover).  1 Samuel 15:22

          The third feast was celebrated after the end of spring, through the long summer, and into the early fall at the end of the growing season and corresponds to the grape harvest. It is called Tabernacles, or in Hebrew “Sukkot”, and spiritually signifies glorification, or simply stated, receiving new, incorruptible bodies for believers who have achieved mature sonship.

          It equates to the time when a young adult no longer obeys because of the threat of punishment or even correction, but responds in love and agreement. Every parent looks forward to this maturity in their children, and God the father is no exception. At this point a father can trust a son to speak and act for him, because the son knows the father’s mind.

          Have you ever noticed how everyone wants to be an overcomer, but no one wants to be given adverse circumstances to have to overcome? As soon as difficulties come, the prayers of the saints begin to bombard God for alleviation, as though God was napping and unaware of the struggle of his much loved child.

          The Holy Spirit wants us to learn that real maturity comes in agreeing with God about these hard times, thanking him, rather than questioning, Why? Why? Why?      And so the Holy Spirit signifies that to obey is better than sacrifice, but to agree is better than to obey. 

          The tabernacles period of life is also the time when the father decides it is time for his mature son or daughter to be married!

          Thus we come to the fourth feast, the wedding feast, also referred to as the Lord’s Supper, or Communion. It should first be observed that the Lord Jesus wants barley and wheat bread, and wine for His supper table.

          Each of the feasts, including Communion, is a foreshadow, an illustration, an incomplete preview of a reality that is soon to be experienced. We know this because Paul specifically said so in Colossians 2:17.  Observance of Communion is symbolic on several levels.  Let us consider that symbolism.

The Lord Jesus, in the night in which He was given up, took bread; and when he had given thanks, He broke it and said, “ This is my body, which is for you; do this in remembrance of Me.  “In the same way, He took the cup also after supper, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood; do this as often as you drink it, in remembrance of me.” For as often as you eat this bread and drink the cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until he comes.  1 Corinthians 11: 23-26

 But I say to you, I will not drink of this fruit of the vine from now on until that day when I drink it new with you in My Father’s Kingdom.  Matthew 26:29

           During most Communion services, the emphasis, the songs, the spoken word, and all the attention is usually given to the Lord’s death (Passover) and it is not wrong to do so.  But did you notice that the proclamation of His death will not continue forever?  Did you observe the word “until”? Do you not see that the Apostle is pointing to another time, a coming time?

             … proclaim the Lord’s death until he comes.

          The coming time is the time of fulfillment of the illustration, the reality. It is the wedding supper of the Lamb of God. The Lord Jesus has told us to “remember” Him– yes, remember Him at Passover, but remember Him also at the wedding feast.

            … until that day when I drink it new with you in My Father’s Kingdom.

          On “that day”, the day He comes to drink the fruit of the vine with us, we will no longer be proclaiming His death, but instead, we will be proclaiming the arrival of He and His Father’s Kingdom.  In other words, there is an aspect of Jesus’ coming again that makes proclaiming His death, not unimportant, but less important.  And it has to do with drinking “it new with you in My Father’s Kingdom.”

          The Greek word for “new” in Matthew 26:29 is kainos (Strong’s Concordance G2537).  A second Greek word that is also translated “new” is neos (Strong’s Concordance G3501), but the Lord did not use that word.  Although there is some disagreement among scholars whether kainos can mean “fresh, newly-made”, which is the undisputed meaning of neos, there is no disagreement that kainos also means “qualitatively better”—new and improved, as we might say.  (In other words, kainos can be used either way, but neos cannot.)

          Accordingly, we interpret the Lord’s words as:  I will not drink this fruit (grapes) of the vine from now on until that day when I drink it in a new and improved way with you in My Father’s Kingdom.  He does not simply say it will be wine fresh and newly-made (neos), but rather it will be fresh and newly-made and new and improved and qualitatively better (kainos). 

          For this wedding feast, the fulfillment of the foreshadow which we call the Lord’s Supper, or Communion, the Lord intends to have many guests.  Those guests will be recently harvested “grapes” whose worship will be new and improved because of the arrival of the Kingdom of God and of his Christ.  Although the Lord’s Passover will always be important, the wedding feast and the arrival of the Kingdom (not to mention all the wedding guests) will be more important.  What a day of rejoicing that will be!

          Blessed are you, O Lord.  Our wonderful God, you are the king of forever, and you have set the seasons according to your own pleasing, and with wisdom.  How wise and beautiful you are.

Comment

Notes on Leprosy and the Second Coming

Filed Under: Restoration by admin — Comments Off on Notes on Leprosy and the Second Coming
June 5, 2010

Now, at His descending from the mountain, vast throngs follow Him.  And lo! a leper, coming to Him, worshiped Him, saying, “Lord, if Thou shouldst be willing, Thou canst cleanse me!”  And, stretching out His hand, He touches him, saying, “I am willing!  Be cleansed!”  And immediately, cleansed is his leprosy.  And Jesus is saying to him, “See that you may tell it to no one, but go away; show yourself to the priest and bring the (approach) present which Moses bids, for a testimony to them.”…yet the sons of the kingdom will be cast into outer darkness.  There will be lamentation and gnashing of teeth.   Matthew 8:1-4, 12 Concordant Version

          See this familiar story with new eyes, and consider its prophetic implications.  We have used the Concordant Literal New Testament to purposefully take the text out of the past tense used by most other translators.  The Lord Spirit wants us to understand there is much more here than merely the story of one man’s healing; that is, another wonderful prophecy of the restoration of all things when the Lord Jesus takes up His throne in His kingdom.

          Before we launch into the prophecy, a word or two about leprosy is in order.  First, it is entirely likely that the disease known to modernity as leprosy is not the disease referred to in Torah, or referred to by the Savior.  Here is what the Jewish Encyclopedia (1906) has to say about it:

In the Septuagint “ẓara’at” is translated by “lepra.” It is reasonable to assume that the Hebrews attached the same meaning to “ẓara’at” that the Greeks did to “lepra,” which is derived from “lepros” (= “rough” or “scaly”). According to the medical writings of Ægineta, Ætius, Actuarius, Oribasus, and others, lepra was uniformly regarded as a circular, superficial, scaly eruption of the skin; in other words, their lepra was the psoriasis of modern times. There is absolutely nothing in the Greek description of lepra that suggests even in a remote manner the modern leprosy…The confusion and obscurity that have enveloped this subject for centuries have resulted from the use of different terms in successive ages to designate the same disease, and from the total change in the meaning and application of the word “lepra.”
 
          We make this point because the law given to Moses dealt with a prophetic sacrifice to be made after the afflicted person was cured, and modern leprosy is incurable.  If a person were never cured of the skin disease referred to in Hebrew as “zara’at”, there would be no physical or prophetic purpose to the wonderful offering Moses commanded.  That leads us to the second point:  what is translated “leprosy” is symbolic of a condition that is very curable!  That is the whole point of the offering Moses commanded!  And, as we shall see, the point of the healing of the leprous man in Matthew 8.  “Leprosy” is symbolic of sin, that condition in man that causes him to miss the mark, fall short of the ethical and lawful ideal, and to commit offenses against God.  (This word for “sin” in Greek is hamartano, and is to be distinguished from hamartia, which refers to legal offence.)
 
          We apologize if this post has become technical–hang in there, dear reader, it will be worth it!
 
YHWH spoke to Moses, saying:  This is to be the Instruction for the one-with-zara’at, on the day of his being-purified:  he is to be brought to the priest.  The priest is to go outside the camp; when the priest looks, and here: the affliction of zara’at has healed on the one-with-zara’at, the priest is to command that they take for the one-to-be-purified two birds, live, pure, and wood of cedar and scarlet of the worm and hyssop.  Then the priest is to command that they slay the one bird in an earthen vessel, (held) above living water, and the live bird–he is to take it, and the cedar wood, and the scarlet of the worm and the hyssop, and is to dip them and the live bird in the blood of the slain bird, (held) above living water.  Then he is to sprinkle (it) over the one-to-be-purified of zara’at seven times, declaring-him-pure, and is to send-out the live bird into the open field.  Leviticus 14:1-7 Schocken Bible
 
          Notice here the person with leprosy/sin is the “one-to-be-purified”.  One may note initially that the purification follows after the “healing”; which we may equate to realizing one’s condition without Christ.  How is the “purification” accomplished?  By taking one live bird, slaying the bird (not as in other ritual slayings of birds elsewhere in Leviticus, but by a different and unique method) in an earthen vessel, as Christ Jesus took on himself an earthen vessel (see 2 Corinthians 4:7) and was slain by a different and unique method.  Notice also the Hebrew expression for running water:  “living water”.  Do you not recall how the Lord said, “If you knew the gift of God, and who it is who says to you:  Give me a drink, you would have asked Him, and He would have given you living water.” (John 4:10) and “He who believes in Me, as the scripture said, from his innermost being will flow rivers of living water.” (John 7:38)?  Living water is always synonymous with purification; both point to the saving work of Jesus the Christ!
 
          We are indebted to Dr. Stephen Jones, who has taught with much clarity on these two birds.  The first bird is a picture of Jesus, who was slain “in an earthen vessel”; the second bird is also a picture of Jesus, who in His second work is released alive “into the open field”, which we now know is the world.  (See Matthew 13:38) In His second coming, He will be “clothed with a robe dipped in blood.” (Revelation 19:13; see also Exodus 37:31, relating to His second work as a “son” of Joseph.)  On an individual level, the one-being-purified is now free from the law of sin and death represented by the leprosy/sin, and is now free to serve the law of the spirit of life in Christ Jesus. On the worldwide level, the “release” of the “second bird” will bring with Himself freedom from sin and purification for the entire world!
 
          At His descending from the mountain (of the Lord, in heaven) vast throngs follow Him, says our text.  Dear reader, have you not heard the slanderous accusation, usually uttered by one exasperated over what is perceived to be the excessive immorality of unbelievers in the world, that Jesus will return in anger and judgment, slaying those who do not receive Him with a sword coming out of His mouth?  (See Revelation 19:15)  Suppose, however, that the sword coming out of His mouth brings repentance, instead of physical death.  This is the true meaning of the verse, as can easily be seen by Hosea 6:5-6.  The true purpose of the sword?  To bring about mercy, which the Lord delights in–if physical death were intended, the Lord would have said: “I delight in sacrifice, not mercy.”   Because mercy is preferred over sacrifice, we may be certain that the purpose of the sword in the mouth of the Lord Jesus is not to kill.  Mercy always triumphs over judgment.
 
          The leper in Matthew 8, representative of these vast throngs following Jesus, comes in worship to Him, having heard the slanderous accusation to which we refer, and says, “If You are willing…”   God never has been willing, is not now willing, and never will be willing that any should perish, “but for all to come to repentance.”  (2 Peter 3:9)  Accordingly, Jesus does what He sees Father doing, and says, “I am willing; be cleansed.”  And once again we see that all who call upon the name of the Lord will be saved, for his leprosy/sin is immediately cured. 
 
          In that day, great throngs of people will follow Jesus, aware of their leprosy/sin and will realize that only He has the words of life.  In humble repentance they will understand, as all eventually do, that they deserve the judgment that the Church for centuries has been threatening them with.  But in worship they will exclaim that He can heal them if He is willing–and He will, because He is willing. 
 
          The purpose of the offering of the two doves was to illustrate the marvelous truth that Jesus the Christ will not only satisfy the penalty for the legal offence (hamartia), He will also remove the sin condition to which we have been referring (hamartano).  However, because the Church as a whole has neither heard the voice of Father, nor understood His mind, nor cared for His Instructions, it has accused Father and Son of false attitudes and actions.  As sons of the Kingdom of God, the followers of Jesus should have told the world that He would at all times be willing to cleanse them, and that in fact one day cleansing would come to all.  But instead it promoted fear, lawlessness, denominationalism, and exclusion.  Because of unbelief, they will have no part in the first resurrection, and when the Church comes to realize this, there will be great lamentation and gnashing of teeth:  precisely the exact measure of judgment that the Church measured to others.  
Do not judge, lest you may be judged, for with what judgment you are judging, shall you be judged, and with what measure you are measuring, shall it be measured to you.   Matthew 7:1
 
          The “outer darkness” spoken of by the Lord, we believe, is the earthly realm and not the spiritual realm where the attainers of the first resurrection will minister to the Lord Jesus in the “linen garments” spoken of by Ezekiel 44:15-19, referring to the glorified body.  In the earthly realm, those who attain to the first resurrection will put on “woolen garments”, meaning a physical body when ministering.  There will be great sadness when the Church realizes what was available to it, and what was lost because of unbelief.  We do not say that such a person’s salvation will be lost; just that they will have to await the second resurrection to receive their glorified body.  Much more could be said about these resurrections, but the point for now is that once again, the Lord’s words are justified.
 
Blessed are You, O Lord.  Come, thou fount of every blessing, give us this Living Water, and purify us from the sin condition by filling us with Yourself.
Comment

Notes on Broken Religion and the Days of Ruth

Filed Under: Love of God by admin — Comments Off on Notes on Broken Religion and the Days of Ruth
May 16, 2010

Speaking very personally, we regret to announce:  Our religion is broken. 

Do not persuade me to leave you, or go back and not follow you.  For wherever you go, I will go, and wherever you live, I will live.  Your people will be my people, and your Elohim will be my Elohim.  Where you die, I will die, and there I will be buried.  May YHWH do to me, and even more, if anything but death separates you and me.  Ruth 1:16-17

          In the days of the judging, there was a famine in the land (of Israel).  We add this note parenthetically, because in these days there is a famine in America also–not a famine of food and water, but a famine of hearing the word of God (Amos 9:11).  There was a man whose name was Elimelech, and whose wife’s name was Naomi.  They were both Ephrathites from Bethlehem (which means, in Hebrew, “House of Bread”).  The irony of the comparison is hopefully not lost:  in our land of plenty, we are yet starving to hear the word of God.  Elimelech and Naomi decided to leave the land of Israel during the famine for the land of Moab, in hopes of finding better fortune.  Their two sons, Mahlon and Chilion married Moabite women–Orpah and Ruth.  In the ensuing years, Elimelech died, then both of the sons died, leaving Naomi and her two daughters in law alone and, in those days, without a source of income short of prostitution.

          Then, Naomi hears that there is food again back in Israel, and so decides to go back.  Before leaving she tries to persuade her daughters in law to rejoin their Moabite people and the Moabite god (who isn’t mentioned by name), and remarry.  But Ruth is having none of it.  In her 10 years of marriage into Naomi’s family she has seen something, albeit imperfectly modeled and followed.  That is, the Hebrews worship a living God, not a man-made image or carving, and not a god like the one she learned about as a child growing up.   

          To summarize, Ruth is setting out for a country to which she has never been.  She knows no one there except Naomi.  Naomi’s prospects are none too bright as a widow, nor are Ruth’s prospects since she is a widow also.  The law of the kinsman-redeemer is not known to have been applied regularly (Deuteronomy 25:5), but in any event Elimelech and Naomi have been gone many years.  Moreover, Naomi is not a particularly optimistic type of person, for we see that as soon as she arrived and everyone said, “Can this be Naomi?”, Naomi replied, “Don’t call me Naomi.  Call me Mara (which means ‘Bitter’), for the Almighty has made me very bitter.”  Not exactly the most attractive attitude, to go with being completely broke. 

          Perhaps Ruth could remarry and settle into a nice, secure life worshipping the unnamed Moabite god.  Anything would be better than heading into the unknown with “the bitter one”, right?  Maybe not, if one’s religion is broken, if one knows that what one has heard all one’s life is just wrong–and that the truth is found in the living God, Naomi’s God.  Naomi may be bitter, but her God is not.  Ruth has learned that although His ways are mysterious and often painful, Naomi’s God is Ruth’s only hope.  She has no hope in the Moabite god, and we believe she knows that following that way will end worse than mere starvation–the doom of empty religion following a false god.

          Many can identify with Ruth and Naomi/Mara in a number of ways.  Some have come to the conclusion after a traumatic event, such as the loss of a loved one, a catastrophic accident or illness, or a situation where fervent prayers were not answered affirmatively, that the religious training of their childhood simply failed, or at least appeared to fail.  Essentially, God was asked to do something on the basis of an understanding derived from religious training and God said, “No.”  We have defined this situation as your religion being “broken.”  And if you have identified with Naomi, dear reader, and been tempted to become bitter, we urge you instead to identify with Ruth.  Both faced very similar circumstances, but Ruth’s inward response was different. 

          Thus we come to Ruth’s beautiful sililoquy.  To fully appreciate what she says to Naomi, one can merely substitute another Ephrathite in place of Naomi:  Yeshua haMashiach, known to most as Jesus, Ruth’s descendant (Micah 5:2, Matthew 1:5).   It is eminently reasonable to ask, “Why would Jesus ever try to persuade anyone not to leave Him or to go back and not follow Him, as in the first lines quoted above?”  Isn’t it Jesus’ life mission to get as many people as possible to follow after His Elohim?  Yes and no.  If you are “well”, that is, your religion works for you–may we ask, What need do you have of Jesus, or of His God?  But if you are not “well”, that is, your religion is broken, then you will say to Him:  “Wherever You go, I will go; wherever You live, there I will live.  Your Elohim will be my Elohim.  Nothing will separate us.  For I have seen life without You, and that way is only death.  Only You have the words of life.”

          Only the sick have need of a physician.  If your religion works, dear reader, we are happy for you.

          Permit us to point out that He has the advantage of being able to skillfully engineer, that is, arrange, all things.  May we also point out that He has arranged the events of life specifically to bring you to the same confession as Ruth:  I don’t care where You go, I’m going there with You. 

          He has caused your religion to fail, specifically so that you will find Him.  When your religion is broken, only Jesus the Christ offers any hope–not your doctrines, not your creeds, not your beliefs, not your understanding, and not even your will.  Cling to Him, don’t let anything but death separate you from him.  For He has promised that neither death nor life can separate us from the love that is in Christ Jesus.

Blessed are you, O Lord our God, the king of forever, for because you were lifted up, you will drag all men to yourself.  Thank you for breaking our religion.  Only you have the words of life.  Baruch ‘ata.

Comment