The Numbers in Numbers

So often we are tempted to brush over the sections of scripture that seem to have no meaning.  After all, is there really a reason for all of the begats? Why yes, in fact there is. How about all the numbers in Numbers?  Yes, there is a reason, and it is actually quite amazing!

In the second chapter of Numbers, the Lord gives instruction for how the tribes are to camp in the wilderness.  They are told to camp in military style using the tabernacle as the center, they are to set up as follows:

On the east side were the tribes of Judah, Issachar and Zebulun. “All who were numbered according to their armies of the forces with Judah, one hundred and eighty-six thousand four hundred (186,400) – these shall break camp first.” Numbers 2:9

On the south side were the tribes of Reuben, Simeon, and Gad. “All who were numbered according to their armies of the forces with Reuben, one hundred and fifty-one thousand four hundred and fifty (151,450) – they shall be second to break camp.” Numbers 2:16

On the west side were the tribes of Ephraim, Manasseh, and Benjamin. “All who were numbered according to their armies of the forces with Ephraim, one hundred and eight thousand one hundred (108,100) – they shall be the third to break camp.” Numbers 2:24

On the north side were the tribes of Dan, Asher, and Naphtali. “All who were numbered of the forces with Dan, one hundred and fifty-seven thousand six hundred (157,600) – they shall break camp last, with their standards.” Numbers 2:31

Zzzzz…snore…zzzz…

No wake up! Check this out!

Military style meant that they were to organize in rows and columns. Take a really close look at the numbers! What this:

If each block in the following grids equal 1,000 and they are 10 across from the center, the entire camp would look like this:

Do you see it? It’s a CROSS!!

From the perspective of God on the throne of heaven, when He looked down on the children of Israel wandering in the desert, He saw a cross. Not only did He see a cross, but squarely in the center of it lay the tabernacle. The center of the tabernacle was the Holy of Holies containing the Mercy Seat, the place of His manifest presence, the place where He met with them.  He met with them on the cross!

The Afikomen

You are going to LOVE this one…

As the generations passed from the first exodus Passover, the Jews continued to celebrate as they had been told.  However, some traditions were added and changed a bit.  Of particular beauty to us, as believers is the Afikomen. 

I first read of this in Marv Rosenthal’s “The Feasts of the Lord,” a rich book, full of beautiful illustrations and spiritual meat.  Mr. Rosenthal has a very interesting personal history, but important for our study here is his Jewish heritage and lifelong study.  He knows whereof he speaks.

In his discussion of the Afikomen, we are introduced in a small unassuming paragraph that simply states that during the preparation for the Passover meal, 3 matzahs are placed in a specially embroidered bag with 3 pockets called the matzah tash. As a reminder, the matzah is unleavened bread. When it is prepared, no yeast is added and therefore stays flat. In order for it not to bubble in the baking process, it is PIERCED!

So, there are 3 unleavened matzahs in a special bag on the table at the beginning of the seder.  Early in the meal, something amazing happens. Listen carefully to the description Mr. Rosenthal provides:

“Next, the leader removes the middle matzah from the linen bag to break it in half. Half is replaced, and half is carefully wrapped in a linen napkin and hidden away in the house while the children cover their eyes. It reappears later in the service to illustrate a very important truth.” (page 56)

Let me repeat that in case you missed it… the middle matzah (Father, SON, and Holy Spirit, perhaps?), the unleavened (sinless, as leaven is biblically symbolic of sin) and PIERCED bread is broken, wrapped in linen and hidden away!!

But wait! There’s more!

“After the meal, the children are sent out to find the broken half-matzah that was wrapped and hidden away. It is known as the Afikomen. The children search high and low with great excitement for they know that the one who finds it will receive a reward. From a remote corner of the house, shouts of delight announce that the desired treasure has been discovered. Rabbinic law requires that a small piece of the Afikomen be broken off and eaten by everyone present at the service as a reminder of the Passover Lamb.”

The afikomen, the pierced, unleavened bread is broken (death), wrapped in linen and hidden away (burial), and brought back (resurrection).

Ok, now hold on to your socks. 

We are reminded of the Lord’s words that night, “He broke the bread, gave it to His disciple’s and said, ‘Take and eat, this is my body.’” (Mat 26:26) He also said, “Most assuredly, I say to you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink His blood, you have no life in you.” (John 6:53).

In 70 AD, the Roman armies destroyed the temple in Jerusalem, thereby ending the sacrificial system. According to Mr. Rosenthal, “Rabbinic tradition holds that the afikomen now represents the lamb, and therefore everyone must eat of it.”!!!

No really, there’s MORE!

When the children find the afikomen, they all proclaim the word “Afikomen!” However, it is the only non-Hebrew word in the Seder. It is Greek. It means – “I CAME.”

Is that not the most amazing thing EVER?! It’s right there in the Passover, “I came!” How much plainer can He make it? He IS the afikomen! GLORY to God!

He makes many more interesting observations regarding the afikomen, one in particular is that “Moroccan Jews save a piece of the afikomen for use when traveling at sea throughout the year. They believe that if a piece of the afikomen is tossed into the stormy waves, it will still the waters.” (page 61)

Beauty in the Exodus - Introduction Part 2

In my research for some of the upcoming pages on the Tabernacle, I found a section in one of my books on Christ in the Passover as we were discussing yesterday. The book is called, “Seeing Christ in the Tabernacle,” by Ervin N. Hersberger.

From his writing, we may add the following pictures of Christ to the Passover:

·        God specified the hour they were to kill the lamb. It was to be between the hours of 3:00 and 6:00 in the afternoon. This would put it at the same time of day when our Lord breathed His last on the cross.

·        “For the blood to be shed and displayed in the vessel was not enough, it had to be applied…The Blood of Christ, shed for all men, avails nothing except for believers who appropriate its cleansing power by faith.” (page 85)

·        The Israelites were instructed to prepare the lamb without adding water to it. This is most interesting:

“The lamb of course typified Christ, and with the cookware of that day the flesh could not be cooked without adding water. Christ shall not be watered down, nothing added to Him, and nothing taken away. The head, legs and purtenance were not to be eaten, but the lamb was to be roasted whole, emphasizing that Christ is to be appropriated in His entirety: nothing added nor removed.” (page 85)

·        Finally, they were not leave any part of the lamb until morning.  To which Hersberger responds thus:

“All that was not eaten was to be burned before morning. Typifying Christ, the lamb was holy. ‘Give not that which is holy unto the dogs’ (Mt. 7:6). ‘Neither wilt thou suffer thine Holy one to see corruption’ (Ps 16:106). Those verses tell us why everything that was not eaten should be burned. Nothing should be left for the dogs, nor permitted to decay.  The body of Christ saw no corruption in the grave.” (Page 85)

Do you see how dazzlingly beautiful He is? In one single act, the initiation of the Passover, He gave us so many powerful analogies of the Christ, His Beloved Son. It is like holding a gem in your hand. You turn it over and around and hold it up to the light at different angles to see the magnificent facets all shimmering distinctly yet unified in one jewel.

Isn’t He AWEsome!? Simply breath-taking! Divine!

Beauty in the Exodus - Introduction

Every morning my children and I have been reading from a children’s version of the Bible. Currently we are studying the Exodus of the Israelites from Egypt. 

As I experience it again, I am reminded of the fascinating symbolism captured in the account.  I absolutely love how God hid Jesus in plain sight in the elements of the Passover and the Tabernacle.

Beth Moore does a most amazing examination of the Tabernacle in the study “A Woman’s Heart God’s Dwelling Place.” It is definitely my favorite of her studies, and that says a lot. It gave me a depth of insight into the mind of God I never knew existed.  It would give me no greater pleasure than to share it here and hope that you are as fascinated and enthralled with it as I have been.

Allow me to whet your appetite…

Before the Israelites are led out of Egypt into the wilderness, they are instructed to participate in the first Passover.  During their preparation, they are told to sacrifice an unblemished lamb, precisely large enough for the family – no more, no less.  They are to take the blood of the lamb in a bowl and using a bundle of hyssop, they are to mark the top of the door frame and the two side posts.

Two things are fascinating to me. First, they are to use hyssop.  Traditionally, hyssop was used as a cleanser because of its bleaching properties; hence, “Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean; Wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow,” in Psalm 51:7. How divine of our Lord to show us plainly the cleansing power of the blood when it is applied.

Second, as Beth points out in “Stepping Up, the Psalms of the Ascents,” when the blood was applied with the hyssop to the top of the door frame, it would undoubtedly have dripped straight down to the floor. When it was applied to the side posts, it would by human nature have been applied at about the same height on either side.  If you follow the path, up and down and side to side, it makes… A CROSS!

We are told from the time we accept Jesus that we have passed over from death to life, but do we truly understand? Do we see the spiritual truth that is spelled out in this Old Testament physical reality? There is a cross of the blood of the Lamb on the doorframe applied by faith, which, when seen in the heavenlies, death passes over! If you have the cross of blood on the doorpost of your heart spiritual death will pass by you. We are saved from spiritual death by the blood of the Lamb who gave Himself to be our sacrifice.

Wait until you hear about the afikomen!  It will astonish you, I promise! It is overwhelming in its richness…

Until tomorrow, Lord willing!

Te-Bow or Not Te-Bow, That is the Question

There has been considerable debate recently on the comment boards from even within the Christian community. There are those who believe Tim Tebow is a hero for boldly standing for Christ and giving the glory to God for his successes. And then there are those who believe he is a hypocrite and should be obeying Jesus’ command to go into your closet to pray.

True enough, Christ did say not to go out and pray on the street in order to be seen by men, and that when you pray in private your Father in heaven sees and rewards you openly.  Yet one must ask, is this reference being used in context, and is there also biblical support for an opposing position?

First, let’s examine the excerpt to which these believers are pointing.

^“5Also when you pray, you must not be like the hypocrites, for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the corners of the streets, that they may be seen by people. Truly I tell you, they have their reward in full already.

    ⁶But when you pray, go into your [most] private room, and, closing the door, pray to your Father, Who is in secret; and your Father, Who sees in secret, will reward you in the open.” Matthew 6:5-6

We can see clearly when these scriptures are read completely and in context, Jesus is speaking against the practice of praying on the street corners with the intent of being seen by others. It is unmistakably a matter of the heart.  We are told that they have already received the reward which they sought, specifically, the admiration of men rather than approval or blessing from God.

Now, to what scripture may we look to build a divergent argument?  Perhaps we could look again to the words of Jesus in Matthew:

^“15 Nor do they light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house. ¹⁶ Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven.” Matthew 5:15-16

And again the words of Jesus in John:

“¹⁴ And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of Man be lifted up, ¹⁵ that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life.” John 3:14-15

Jesus is telling us in both of these passages that the light of Christ must be held up plainly for all to see.  We should not hide it from the world, but rather let it be seen in order for Him to be believed. 

John 3:14 refers to Moses lifting up the serpent in the desert.  Let’s consider this story from during the exodus.  The story is actually recorded in Numbers:

“⁸ Then the LORD said to Moses, “Make a fiery serpent, and set it on a pole; and it shall be that everyone who is bitten, when he looks at it, shall live.” ⁹ So Moses made a bronze serpent, and put it on a pole; and so it was, if a serpent had bitten anyone, when he looked at the bronze serpent, he lived.” Numbers 21:8-9

Once again we see a physical representation in the Old Testament of a spiritual Truth in the New Testament.  In the Old Testament, the people were perishing. They were experiencing physical death as a result of their sin. Moses was to make a serpent and lift it up on a pole.  Anyone who was perishing could look up to it and be saved.  Did you catch that? If anyone was perishing in their sin, they could look up and see the (serpent) and be saved.

Christ said in the John account that He like the serpent of Moses needed to be lifted up so that those who were perishing could see Him and be saved.

We must hold Him up for others to see. The serpent didn’t do anyone any good on the ground, it had to be lifted up to be seen.

The Matthew account tells us to let our light shine before men. Well, our light is Christ. How can the light be seen unless we put it up on a stand?

But part of the verse says, “that they…may glorify your Father who is in heaven.”  Ah hah. Now we see the difference: If your intention is to be seen by men, then go to your closet. If your intention is for God to be glorified, then let your light be seen.  It is entirely dependent upon the heart of the person doing the deed, be it praying or giving alms, etc.

Every time Tim Tebow is interviewed he gives glory to God. Therefore, it seems pretty clear for which purpose he does what he does.  However, no one knows his heart except for the Father and Tim, and the Father knows it even better than Tim does.

Personally, I love to see any public figure openly praising God. Carry on, I say. Bravo!

A "Shout out"

Thank you so much for your continued reading. I appreciate everyone who comes here to read my ramblings.

I am amazed and humbled that there are some following this blog in Russia and Germany as well as the United States and Puerto Rico!

I pray that God is being glorified through these writings and I pray they are an encouragement to you.  I know they are growing me and I am truly enjoying this experience.

God bless you!

(P.s. Feel free to share your comments. I'd love to hear from you too.  I kind of feel like I'm talking to myself in here. :)

A Lesson Learned Through...Football?

In all of life’s crazy situations I don’t understand, I try to find Biblical precedent to help me make sense of it.  This evening is no exception.

Throughout this football season, winning streak of Tim Tebow has been extraordinary.  Even those who are not football fans cannot help but be amazed at his accomplishments.  I have not closely followed the season, however I have read articles concerning his practice of “te-Bow-ing” to give God the glory after each touchdown; a practice which has garnished either intense admiration or extreme contempt, but very little in between.  Specifically, I have watched the comment boards, wherein I have been astounded by the vitriol of those opposed to his passion on the field.

As a former witch, I was only mildly surprised to read in the news on Friday that a coven of Wiccans in Salem, Massachusetts was planning to hold a ritual on Saturday beginning at noon time to cast a spell over the game.  They were going to cast a spell on Tim Tebow, because they are not “like that.” They are “good” witches. Instead, they insisted they were going to send good energy to Brady to help him break Tebow’s winning streak.

It reminded me for all the world of the Bible stories in which magicians had set themselves up against the Lord, such as Elijah and the prophets or Pharoah and his magicians.  As in Elijah, those belonging to God, call upon Him to show Himself strong in a seemingly untenable situation.  And so, I prayed for two days for the Lord to show Himself in a mighty way and put these witches to shame and shut the mouths of those who had spoken against our Sovereign King on the comment boards. 

I am intensely jealous for His good name.  When others speak badly of Him it hurts my soul! I cried out with all that was within me for this. And I believed that He is able and that He would. 

Moses cried out to Him in Numbers chapter 14. In that passage, the Lord is about to strike all of the Israelites dead except for Moses and Aaron. But Moses prays on behalf of the people saying, because the Lord had taken them out of Egypt in such a way all of the surrounding peoples were aware the Israelites were God’s chosen people, if He struck them down now, all the people watching would say God was not able to finish what He had started. So, Moses prayed that the Lord would show Himself mighty in order to show that He is able and not be put to shame before them.

Having this and other Biblical precedent, I prayed the Lord would put the witches to shame and show His glory to those who had besmirched His name, so His good name would not be put to shame.

As I watched the game I knew in my soul He could perform any miracle He wanted on that field.  He could part those men just like he parted the Red Sea or the Jordon River. As the points racked up in favor of the Patriots, I knew that even in the fourth quarter God could win it.  I reminded myself that quite often the Lord puts us in positions where it seems all is lost in order to show us victory is not our own, therefore He receives all the glory as it is due Him.

In the end, the Broncos lost 42 to 10.  I was numb.

Please understand, I don’t care about football. It matters not to me who makes it to the Super Bowl. I really have no affinity for any team. If it had not been for the challenge to God brought by these boastful witches, I would not care nor even be aware there was a game tonight.  But I had prayed and believed.  And then I was confused.

And so, I prayed for wisdom and understanding. 

 “Why Lord?! Why didn’t you show them the You that I know? How are they supposed to quiet their critics when You didn’t reveal Yourself?  You promised that we who believe in You would not be put to shame and now the shameful comments will seem unbearable! Now what are we to say?  If you had, so many could have come to believe in You.”

My heart was wrenched. I felt sick in my stomach.

I began to think about my children. Often they don’t understand my decisions because they don’t have all of the facts. They don’t see the bigger picture. “I still believe Lord. I know that You could, but in Your infinite wisdom there are circumstances I don’t understand. Can You please tell me why? Help me understand.”

When I had finally come to the end of my tantrum, there was only silence. And then…

“Now you understand how the disciples felt when My Son breathed His last.  He could have called down legions of angels.  He did not.  He could have spoken a single word and killed them all. He did not. He saw the big picture. His victory came through supposed defeat. Will You please just trust Me?”

And then I was reminded, “Blessed are those who believe without seeing.”

Please understand, I was not seeking a sign in order to believe. I still believe even without one. I was praying for the Lord to show off for His glory. But we are called to faith even when it seems futile, otherwise it’s not faith.

“NOW FAITH is the assurance (the confirmation, the title deed) of the things [we] hope for, being the proof of things [we] do not see and the conviction of their reality [faith perceiving as real fact what is not revealed to the senses].” Hebrews 11:1

The very definition of faith requires that we believe without seeing proof.  And for Abraham, his faith was accounted to him for righteousness.

So, just as I believe without seeing, any who come to Christ must also believe without such proof.

God will be more glorified by people coming to believe in Christ without His grand intervention in a football game; He is more glorified by the faith of His believers than He is beaten down by the mocking of His skeptics.

Although the Broncos did not win, let alone win in grand style, I have learned a valuable lesson.  His ways are not my ways. His ways are higher than my ways. His ways are unfathomable. But, He is able.

To God be the glory forever! AMEN!

A Sobering Lesson in Obedience

Did you know that the Word of God tells us that we are responsible for the souls of those with whom God instructs us to share the gospel and we don’t? What a sobering thought. If the Lord is leading you to share the gospel with someone and you disobey, you will be held accountable.

Consider:

“⁴Then whoever hears the sound of the trumpet and does not take warning, and the sword comes and takes him away, his blood shall be upon his own head.     ⁵He heard the sound of the trumpet and did not take warning; his blood shall be upon himself. But he who takes warning shall save his life.     ⁶But if the watchman sees the sword coming and does not blow the trumpet and the people are not warned, and the sword comes and takes any one of them, he is taken away in and for his perversity and iniquity, but his blood will I require at the watchman's hand.“ Eze 33:4-6

“¹⁷Son of man, I have made you a watchman to the house of Israel; therefore hear the word at My mouth and give them warning from Me.     ¹⁸If I say to the wicked, You shall surely die, and you do not give him warning or speak to warn the wicked to turn from his wicked way, to save his life, the same wicked man shall die in his iniquity, but his blood will I require at your hand.     ¹⁹Yet if you warn the wicked and he turn not from his wickedness or from his wicked way, he shall die in his iniquity, but you have delivered yourself.” Eze 3:17-19

“But,” you may say, “I am not a watchman.”

Consider:

“That you are not [consciously] falling behind or lacking in any special spiritual endowment or Christian grace [the reception of which is due to the power of divine grace operating in your souls by the Holy Spirit], while you wait and watch [constantly living in hope] for the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and [His] being made visible to all.” 1 Cor 1:7

^“17And take the helmet of salvation and the sword that the Spirit wields, which is the Word of God.     ¹⁸Pray at all times (on every occasion, in every season) in the Spirit, with all [manner of] prayer and entreaty. To that end keep alert and watch with strong purpose and perseverance, interceding in behalf of all the saints (God's consecrated people).     ¹⁹And [pray] also for me, that [freedom of] utterance may be given me, that I may open my mouth to proclaim boldly the mystery of the good news (the Gospel),” Eph 6:17-19

“So call to mind the lessons you received and heard; continually lay them to heart and obey them, and repent. In case you will not rouse yourselves and keep awake and watch, I will come upon you like a thief, and you will not know or suspect at what hour I will come.” Rev 3:3

We are called to watch for His coming, and as in the passages in Ezra, we are called to warn others of His coming.  We are called to speak to warn the wicked to turn from his wicked way and to save his life.

Several years ago as a relatively new Christian, I went with a fellow Christian to visit at a nursing home, and we were to have a ministry meeting following a Bible study with the residents. At the end of the study, one of the senior ladies, whose salvation was questionable, asked my friend to take her for a walk (she was wheel-chair bound) around the grounds before he left. As we were to have a meeting, he declined. The Lord prompted me, “You take her.” “I can’t Lord, You see I have this very important meeting and people are waiting for me, blah, blah, blah.”

The following Tuesday evening when we returned, I learned she had had a stroke and was unconscious in the ICU.  Further, she had suffered the stroke early on Wednesday of the week before.  The next Tuesday, sadly, I learned that she had passed away.

The Tuesday evening she had asked the Christians simply to take her for a stroll was the last opportunity she had to hear and receive the gospel. The Lord had compelled me to take her, but I was much too busy with my important ministry work; too busy doing what I wanted to do for the Lord to consider doing what He was telling me to do for Him.

According to the Ezra passage, I will be held accountable, not only for my disobedient rebellion, but also I will answer for her soul.

It was a sobering lesson. When the Lord compels, obey. You will never regret being obedient, but you may regret a disobedience. I pray that mine did not cost that woman her eternal life.

“¹⁷So faith comes by hearing [what is told], and what is heard comes by the preaching [of the message that came from the lips] of Christ (the Messiah Himself).” Romans 10:17

She could have heard it, but I was silent.

   

I am Mephibosheth

How like Mephibosheth we all are. As a reminder:

^“1 Now David said, “Is there still anyone who is left of the house of Saul, that I may show him kindness for Jonathan’s sake?”

² And there was a servant of the house of Saul whose name was Ziba. So when they had called him to David, the king said to him, “Are you Ziba?” He said, “At your service!”

³ Then the king said, “Is there not still someone 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 lame in his feet.” ⁴ So the king said to him, “Where is he?” And Ziba said to the king, “Indeed he is in the house of Machir the son of Ammiel, in Lo Debar.” ⁵ Then King David sent and brought him out of the house of Machir the son of Ammiel, from Lo Debar.

⁶ Now when Mephibosheth the son of Jonathan, the son of Saul, had come to David, he fell on his face and prostrated himself. Then David said, “Mephibosheth?” And he answered, “Here is your servant!”
⁷ So David said to him, “Do not fear, for I will surely show you kindness for Jonathan your father’s sake, and will restore to you all the land of Saul your grandfather; and you shall eat bread at my table continually.” ⁸ Then he bowed himself, and said, “What is your servant, that you should look upon such a dead dog as I?”

⁹ And the king called to Ziba, Saul’s servant, and said to him, “I have given to your master’s son all that belonged to Saul and to all his house. ¹⁰ You therefore, and your sons and your servants, shall work the land for him, and you shall bring in the harvest, that your master’s son may have food to eat. But Mephibosheth your master’s son shall eat bread at my table always.” Now Ziba had fifteen sons and twenty servants.

¹¹ Then Ziba said to the king, “According to all that my lord the king has commanded his servant, so will your servant do.” “As for Mephibosheth,” said the king, “he shall eat at my table like one of the king’s sons.”

¹² Mephibosheth had a young son whose name was Micha. And all who dwelt in the house of Ziba were servants of Mephibosheth. ¹³ So Mephibosheth dwelt in Jerusalem, for he ate continually at the king’s table. And he was lame in both his feet.” (2 Sam 9)

Once again we see in the Old Testament, an outward example of inward truth. We can draw a spiritual lesson from a physical situation.  Let’s assume God would be represented by King David, Jonathan represents Christ, and Mephibosheth you and I.

We would read it similar to this (similar, but I’m not trying to make doctrine here):

And God said, “Is there anyone left to whom I may show kindness for the sake of my Son?”

“There is still  _____ (fill in your name), a sinner who could not walk in your precepts without stumbling.” And God asks, “Where is she?”  (Such a tender question.)

 “(Cindy)? She is living in Sin, outside of the Kingdom, stuck in a pit of despair and destruction.”

And God sent and brought her out.

Now when (Cindy) came before God, she fell on her face and prostrated herself. Then God said, “Cindy?”
And she answered, “Here is your servant!”

So God said to her, “Do not fear, for I will surely show you kindness for Jesus’ sake, and will restore to you the inheritance that satan has stolen; and you shall eat bread at my table continually.”

Then she bowed herself, and said, “What is your servant, that you should look upon me who am dead in my sin?”

Whereupon, He blessed her with an inheritance which she did not deserve.  Then, He proclaimed that she was to eat at His table, as one of His dearly loved sons!  So Cindy dwelt in the New Jerusalem, for she ate continually at the king’s table. And she was a lame sinner who found it hard to walk in His Way and not stumble.”

Through King David, we see the kindness and generosity of a loving God. Through Jonathan we see a picture of Christ. This type is seen in other stories of Jonathan as well. And through Mephibosheth we see a picture of man; entirely undeserving outcasts to whom the Lord shows His undeserved grace and mercy and loving-kindness.

However, may the comparison end there as later in the book of 2 Samuel, Mephibosheth believes he should be entitled to the entire kingdom during a battle from which he believes David will not return. Instead of being content with the restoration of his inheritance, he covets the entire kingdom.

As Beth Moore points out in “A Heart Like His,” we see several virtues of God through King David in this section of scripture:

·         His loving-kindness – He was looking for someone to whom he could show kindness.

·         His initiation of the relationship – He first pursues us.

·         His complete acceptance – He even loves the stumbling sinner.

·         His calming spirit – “Do not fear…”

·         His delight in restoration – He removed Mephibosheth’s shame of living in exile and poverty.

·         His desire for another son – although he already had many sons at his table he was willing to accept another.

May we always remember that it is God who pursued Mephibosheth (us), God who restored Mephibosheth, and God who satisfied the hunger and thirst of Mephibosheth.  He does this because of who He is.

From "If You Want to Walk on Water, You've Got to Get Out of the Boat"

A quote from my FAVORITE book (ok, I have a lot of favorites, but really; this one is awesome) “If You Want to Walk on Water, You’ve Got to Get Out of the Boat,:” by John Ortberg: 

“There is a consistent pattern in Scripture of what happens in a life that God wants to use or improve:

... 

– There is always a changed life. Those who say yes to God’s call don’t walk the walk perfectly – not by a long shot. But because they say yes to God, they learn and grow even from their failures.  And they become part of his actions to redeem the world. 

Those who say no are changed too. They become a little harder, a little more resistant to his calling a little more likely to say no the next time. Whatever the decision, it always chages a life – and it changes the world that little life touches.”

So, how about you? Do you want to walk on water? Then get out of the boat!

Are Your Garments Spotless?

Have you been to Jesus for the cleansing pow’r?
Are you washed in the blood of the Lamb?
Are you fully trusting in His grace this hour?
Are you washed in the blood of the Lamb?

Refrain:
Are you washed in the blood,
In the soul-cleansing blood of the Lamb?
Are your garments spotless? Are they white as snow?
Are you washed in the blood of the Lamb?

Are you walking daily by the Savior’s side?
Are you washed in the blood of the Lamb?
Do you rest each moment in the Crucified?
Are you washed in the blood of the Lamb?

When the Bridegroom cometh will your robes be white?
Are you washed in the blood of the Lamb?
Will your soul be ready for the mansions bright,
And be washed in the blood of the Lamb?

Lay aside the garments that are stained with sin,
And be washed in the blood of the Lamb;
There’s a fountain flowing for the soul unclean,
Oh, be washed in the blood of the Lamb!

            Elisha A. Hoffman, 1878

Wow! Such a clear reference to the “right clothing” offered through Christ.

In addition to the symbolism alluding to righteousness, we also see bold references to the cleansing power of the blood of the Lamb; another facet of the gem that is God’s Word.  Once again, from Genesis to Revelation the message of God does not change. Our God is Faithful and unchanging.

The cleansing power of the blood is fascinating to me as well. Ok, it’s ALL fascinating, but…(see next post “The Soul Cleansing Power of the Blood.” Tomorrow, Lord willing.)

Clothing Fit for the King - Part 2

There are several more scriptures that refer to righteousness in terms of clothing. For example, “Consider the lilies of the field how they grow…Now if God so clothes the grass of the field which today is, and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will He not much more clothe you?” Matthew 6:28. Yes, it is meant literally, God will literally provide us clothing, but He is also speaking spiritually as Jesus follows it by saying “Seek first the kingdom of God and His RIGHTEOUSNESS (His right clothing) and all these things shall be added to you.” Beautiful?!

We are also instructed by Paul to “Strip yourselves of your former nature…and put on the new nature (the regenerate self) created in God’s image, [Godlike] in true RIGHTEOUSNESS and holiness.” Ephesians 4:22,24.

In 2 Corinthians 5 we find, “. ² For in this we groan, earnestly desiring to be clothed with our habitation which is from heaven, ³ if indeed, having been clothed, we shall not be found naked.”

I LOVE this one:

¹⁰ I will greatly rejoice in the LORD,     My soul shall be joyful in my God;
      For He has clothed me with the garments of salvation,
      He has covered me with the robe of righteousness,
      As a bridegroom decks himself with ornaments,
      And as a bride adorns herself with her jewels. Is 61:10

And finally, 9 times the book of Rev refers to white robes or garments of the saints. “In verse 11 (of chapter 6) it is revealed that the white robes given unto every one of the martyrs are symbolic of righteousness.” Walvoord, John F. The Revlation of Jesus Christ. Chicago: Moody Press, 1966.

From Genesis to Revelation, God is reminding us that we are to be clothed in righteousness, in clean white robes.  And, when we fall and soil our garments, we have a Great High Priest whose blood can cleanse our unrighteousness.

But that is a subject for another day…Perhaps tomorrow? Lord willing! J

Clothing Fit for the King

In “Great Truths From God’s Word – Old Testament Survey,” Dr. Harold Willmington tells us that the word righteousness literally means “right clothing.” When first I read that, I thought it was a bit odd. It made no sense to me. But think about it…

In Matthew 22 we read the parable of the Wedding Feast.  In it Jesus describes the king who had arranged a marriage and invited certain guests. The guests all asked to be excused for one reason or another. Finally, the king told the servants to go out to the highways and byways and bring in anyone who would come so that his courts would be filled.

That seems as though it should be the end of the parable, yet Christ continues saying, “¹¹ “But when the king came in to see the guests, he saw a man there who did not have on a wedding garment. ¹² So he said to him, ‘Friend, how did you come in here without a wedding garment?’ And he was speechless. ¹³ Then the king said to the servants, ‘Bind him hand and foot, take him away, and cast him into outer darkness; there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.’ ¹⁴ “For many are called, but few are chosen.” Matthew 22:11-14.

That seems a bit rash, however, custom of the day was that the host of a wedding feast provided the garment for the guests. As Jesus tells us, “this is what the kingdom of heaven is like…” Ergo, the King of Kings has provided for us the “right clothing,” or the righteousness to be worn at the wedding feast of the Lamb! GLORY to GOD!

There are MANY references to the right clothing of God. Once you have this reference in your mind, each time you see righteousness think right clothing and prepare to be amazed!

Two more stand out to me…

The first is in the book of 1 Samuel.  In Chapter 18, David and Jonathan take an oath of friendship. They use the ancient custom of exchanging clothing as a symbol of their covenant. As Beth Moore describes in her study “A Heart Like His,” imagine, if you will, David standing there in Jonathan’s royal robes. He probably felt very regal; after all he had already been told he would be king. He may have felt as though he deserved to wear them, until he looked at Jonathan wearing his smelly, dirty shepherd’s garb.  What a picture of Christ, He took our smelly sin stained clothing in exchange for His royal wedding robes!!!  Can you IMAGINE!? Selah!

The second comes from the book of Revelation. To the church of Sardis, the Dead Church, Jesus writes, “You have a few names even in Sardis who have not defiled their garments; and they shall walk with Me in white, for they are worthy. ⁵ He who overcomes shall be clothed in white garments.”(Rev 3:4-5)

Do you see? When we believe, we are given His royal clothes to seal the covenant! We are given His righteousness! We are responsible until then to not soil our garments. We are given His righteousness and are not to tarnish it. If we do, we should immediately confess and repent in order to not wear our unrighteousness. 

Further, In Rev 3:18, He tells the church of Laodicea, “I counsel you to buy from Me gold refined in the fire, that you may be rich; and white garments, that you may be clothed, that the shame of your nakedness may not be revealed; and anoint your eyes with eye salve, that you may see.” If we are not clothed in His righteousness, we stand naked before Him. Remember Adam and Eve? The first thing they noticed when they sinned is that they were naked, and they were ashamed.  They needed the right clothing that only God could provide and only by the shedding of innocent blood. In order to cover our spiritual nakedness, Christ shed His blood on the cross to provide for us the covenant of righteousness, without which we cannot attend the Wedding Feast of the Lamb.

Isn’t He amazing?

But wait! There’s more… tune in tomorrow!