Numbers 7:1-89  Offerings at the Tabernacle’s Consecration

[Study Aired June 12, 2023]

Introduction

Today’s study focuses on the setting up of the tabernacle of the congregation and the offerings of the people of Israel. Therefore, it continues with the requirements needed to become a strong formidable army of the Lord such that we are victorious in every endeavor. Spiritually, today’s study touches on three key aspects needed as the Lord’s elect – the coming of the Lord to dwell in us, our offerings to the Lord and our communication with the Lord (prayer). Throughout the Old Testament, the habitation of the Lord was not with men, although they have the presence of the Lord in the physical tabernacle of the congregation. It was after the sacrificial offering of Christ’s life that He paved the way for God to dwell in man.

Hag 1:9  You looked for much, and behold, it came to little. And when you brought it home, I blew it away. Why? declares the LORD of hosts. Because of my house that lies in ruins, while each of you busies himself with his own house.
Hag 1:10  Therefore the heavens above you have withheld the dew, and the earth has withheld its produce. 
Hag 1:11  And I have called for a drought on the land and the hills, on the grain, the new wine, the oil, on what the ground brings forth, on man and beast, and on all their labors.” (ESV)

The verses above (Haggai 1:9-11) describe the sorrowful state we found ourselves in, just like the Old Testament period before Christ came to dwell in us. If the headquarters of an army lies in ruin, as the verses in Haggai describe, the army does not have any form of communication to guide those in the frontline of battle to know what to do to defeat the enemy. In addition, they do not have the support from headquarters in terms of food supplies, ammunition, and personnel reinforcement to engage the enemy they are fighting. The army’s ultimate defeat is therefore imminent. The story of the High Priest Eli’s sons who died in battle with several Israelites is a typical example of how we get defeated by the flesh when Christ’s habitation within us is in ruin or defiled.

1Sa 4:1  And the word of Samuel came to all Israel. Now Israel went out to battle against the Philistines. They encamped at Ebenezer, and the Philistines encamped at Aphek. 
1Sa 4:2  The Philistines drew up in line against Israel, and when the battle spread, Israel was defeated before the Philistines, who killed about four thousand men on the field of battle. 
1Sa 4:3  And when the people came to the camp, the elders of Israel said, “Why has the LORD defeated us today before the Philistines? Let us bring the ark of the covenant of the LORD here from Shiloh, that it may come among us and save us from the power of our enemies.” 
1Sa 4:4  So the people sent to Shiloh and brought from there the ark of the covenant of the LORD of hosts, who is enthroned on the cherubim. And the two sons of Eli, Hophni and Phinehas, were there with the ark of the covenant of God. 
1Sa 4:5  As soon as the ark of the covenant of the LORD came into the camp, all Israel gave a mighty shout, so that the earth resounded. 
1Sa 4:6  And when the Philistines heard the noise of the shouting, they said, “What does this great shouting in the camp of the Hebrews mean?” And when they learned that the ark of the LORD had come to the camp, 
1Sa 4:7  the Philistines were afraid, for they said, “A god has come into the camp.” And they said, “Woe to us! For nothing like this has happened before.
1Sa 4:8  Woe to us! Who can deliver us from the power of these mighty gods? These are the gods who struck the Egyptians with every sort of plague in the wilderness. 
1Sa 4:9  Take courage, and be men, O Philistines, lest you become slaves to the Hebrews as they have been to you; be men and fight.” 
1Sa 4:10  So the Philistines fought, and Israel was defeated, and they fled, every man to his home. And there was a very great slaughter, for thirty thousand foot soldiers of Israel fell. 
1Sa 4:11  And the ark of God was captured, and the two sons of Eli, Hophni and Phinehas, died. 

The defeat of the Israelites was long overdue as a result of the sons of Eli’s sons who defiled the habitation of the Lord. 

1Sa 2:22  Now Eli was very old, and heard all that his sons did unto all Israel; and how they lay with the women that assembled at the door of the tabernacle of the congregation. 

The Philistines here refer to our flesh. Our lives in Babylon were characterized by defeat upon defeat as a result of the defilement of the Lord’s habitation within us.

1Co 3:16  Do you not know that you are God’s temple and that God’s Spirit dwells in you? 
1Co 3:17  If anyone destroys God’s temple, God will destroy him. For God’s temple is holy, and you are that temple. (ESV)

It is when Christ comes to us to make our bodies His dwelling place, that is when we can offer a sacrifice pleasing to Him.  As indicated, today’s study focuses on the setting up of the tabernacle of the congregation and the subsequent offerings by the people of Israel. The sacrifices were offered by the twelve tribes of Israel in twelve days. Since the sacrifice for each day is the same, today’s study will highlight the sacrifice for only the first day. 

Num 7:1  And it came to pass on the day that Moses had fully set up the tabernacle, and had anointed it, and sanctified it, and all the instruments thereof, both the altar and all the vessels thereof, and had anointed them, and sanctified them; 

The setting up of the tabernacle typifies Christ coming to us to set up His dwelling place within us – our bodies. This is not a one-time event in our lives, but a process that takes place during our stay here on earth beginning from Christ coming to us. 

1Co 3:16  Do you not know that you are God’s temple and that God’s Spirit dwells in you? 
1Co 3:17  If anyone destroys God’s temple, God will destroy him. For God’s temple is holy, and you are that temple. (ESV)

1Co 6:19  Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, whom you have from God? You are not your own, 
1Co 6:20  for you were bought with a price. So glorify God in your body.

The setting up of the tabernacle or the temple of God within us is the beginning of the process of the Lord gathering together in one all things in Christ, both that which are in heaven and on earth.

Eph 1:10  That in the dispensation of the fulness of times he might gather together in one all things in Christ, both which are in heaven, and which are on earth; even in him:

It is significant to note that it was Moses who set up the tabernacle. What this implies is that it is only within the elect, signified by Moses, that the Lord is setting up His dwelling place in this age. 

Mal 3:1  Behold, I will send my messenger, and he shall prepare the way before me: and the Lord, whom ye seek, shall suddenly come to his temple, even the messenger of the covenant, whom ye delight in: behold, he shall come, saith the LORD of hosts. 

In another perspective, Moses represents the Lord Jesus Christ. In this regard, we can say that it is the Lord alone who can set up our bodies as the temple of God. It is not of man’s will or what we can do, but it is God’s election. In other words, coming to serve the Lord does not originate from man. 

Rom 9:15  For he saith to Moses, I will have mercy on whom I will have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I will have compassion.
Rom 9:16  So then it is not of him that willeth, nor of him that runneth, but of God that sheweth mercy.

Moses anointing the tabernacle in verse 1 is the sending of the Holy Spirit within us as a deposit guarantee. As we are aware, the promise of the Holy Spirit is to guide us into the truth of the word of the Lord. In other words, the Holy Spirit helps us to understand the manual (the word of the Lord) for maintaining the tabernacle or the temple of the Lord within us. 

Eph 1:13  In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise, 
Eph 1:14  Which is the earnest of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, unto the praise of his glory.

Joh 16:13  Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will shew you things to come. 
Joh 16:14  He shall glorify me: for he shall receive of mine, and shall shew it unto you. 
Joh 16:15  All things that the Father hath are mine: therefore said I, that he shall take of mine, and shall shew it unto you.

In verse 1, Moses also sanctified the tabernacle and all the instruments and vessels within it. Sanctification means to be set apart for special use or purpose. It also means declaring something holy, and being holy implies the process of being freed from sin or purified. What this means is that those in whom Christ is setting up the temple of God within are being purified or freed from sin. As we have learned in all our studies, being purified or freed from sin is through the judgment of our old man by the Lord.  Christ coming to us to set up His tabernacle within us is through judgment so that we can learn righteousness.

2Th 2:7  For the mystery of lawlessness is already at work. Only he who now restrains it will do so until he is out of the way. 
2Th 2:8  And then the lawless one will be revealed, whom the Lord Jesus will kill with the breath of his mouth and bring to nothing by the appearance of his coming.

Isa 26:8  In the path of your judgments, O LORD, we wait for you; your name and remembrance are the desire of our soul. 
Isa 26:9  My soul yearns for you in the night; my spirit within me earnestly seeks you. For when your judgments are in the earth, the inhabitants of the world learn righteousness.

Num 7:2  That the princes of Israel, heads of the house of their fathers, who were the princes of the tribes, and were over them that were numbered, offered:

The princes of Israel and the heads of the house of their fathers, who were princes of the tribes, represent the elect. Remember that we are a royal priesthood and therefore princes of the Lord our King.

1Pe 2:9  But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light. (ESV) 

It is after the Lord comes to us to establish His tabernacle within us that we are judged, and it is by the judgment process that we become sanctified for the Lord. It is through this process of sanctification that we can offer sacrifice pleasing to the Lord. The sequence of events ordered by the Lord is as follows: First the Lord comes to us to set up His temple. This is followed by the process of sanctification, which involves judgment of our old man. It is then that we can offer ourselves as a sacrifice pleasing to the Lord. This is demonstrated clearly in the following verses of Malachi.

Mal 3:1  “Behold, I send my messenger, and he will prepare the way before me. And the Lord whom you seek will suddenly come to his temple; and the messenger of the covenant in whom you delight, behold, he is coming, says the LORD of hosts.
Mal 3:2  But who can endure the day of his coming, and who can stand when he appears? For he is like a refiner’s fire and like fullers’ soap. 
Mal 3:3  He will sit as a refiner and purifier of silver, and he will purify the sons of Levi and refine them like gold and silver, and they will bring offerings in righteousness to the LORD. 
Mal 3:4  Then the offering of Judah and Jerusalem will be pleasing to the LORD as in the days of old and as in former years. 
Mal 3:5  “Then I will draw near to you for judgment. I will be a swift witness against the sorcerers, against the adulterers, against those who swear falsely, against those who oppress the hired worker in his wages, the widow and the fatherless, against those who thrust aside the sojourner, and do not fear me, says the LORD of hosts.

Num 7:3  And they brought their offering before the LORD, six covered wagons, and twelve oxen; a wagon for two of the princes, and for each one an ox: and they brought them before the tabernacle. 

The offering the leaders of Israel brought included six covered wagons and the twelve oxen were for the transportation of the tabernacle and the altar in the wilderness.  Spiritually, the six covered wagons represent the Lord’s elect, as the number six signifies mankind. As His elect, we are the ones carrying Christ with us wherever we go here on earth. We can therefore see that without the tabernacle or Christ dwelling in us, we do not have anything to carry as wagons to others. The wagons being covered means that many people will not recognize that we are carrying Christ with us unless the wagons are uncovered. This is because we do not carry ourselves as ordained ministers of Christ as our brothers and sisters in Babylon do. We shall be revealed or uncovered in the fullness of time when the kingdoms of this world become the kingdom of our Lord and of His Christ. This is Paul’s view of the Lord’s messengers in this age who are covered:

1Co 4:9  For I think that God has exhibited us apostles as last of all, like men sentenced to death, because we have become a spectacle to the world, to angels, and to men. 
1Co 4:10  We are fools for Christ’s sake, but you are wise in Christ. We are weak, but you are strong. You are held in honor, but we in disrepute. 
1Co 4:11  To the present hour we hunger and thirst, we are poorly dressed and buffeted and homeless, 
1Co 4:12  and we labor, working with our own hands. When reviled, we bless; when persecuted, we endure; 
1Co 4:13  when slandered, we entreat. We have become, and are still, like the scum of the world, the refuse of all things.(ESV) 

The fact that every two princes donated a wagon is to show us that we are to serve as witnesses of Christ wherever we go. 

Act 1:8  But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.” 

The twelve oxen which were offered by each leader represent Christ, who was offered for our sake and for the whole of mankind to serve as the foundation for the building of the temple of God within us.  

1Co 3:10  According to the grace of God given to me, like a skilled master builder I laid a foundation, and someone else is building upon it. Let each one take care how he builds upon it. 
1Co 3:11  For no one can lay a foundation other than that which is laid, which is Jesus Christ. 

Num 7:4  And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying, 
Num 7:5  Take it of them, that they may be to do the service of the tabernacle of the congregation; and thou shalt give them unto the Levites, to every man according to his service. 
Num 7:6  And Moses took the wagons and the oxen, and gave them unto the Levites. 
Num 7:7  Two wagons and four oxen he gave unto the sons of Gershon, according to their service: 
Num 7:8  And four wagons and eight oxen he gave unto the sons of Merari, according unto their service, under the hand of Ithamar the son of Aaron the priest. 
Num 7:9  But unto the sons of Kohath he gave none: because the service of the sanctuary belonging unto them was that they should bear upon their shoulders. 
Num 7:10  And the princes offered for dedicating of the altar in the day that it was anointed, even the princes offered their offering before the altar. 

The fact that the Lord told Moses to accept the offering is to let us know that as we offer our bodies as living sacrifices to the Lord, it is acceptable and pleasing to Him. 

Rom 12:1  I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship. 
Rom 12:2  Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect. 

The giving of the offerings to the Levites is to show us the Lord’s intent in taking care of us who work in His vineyard to make our work easier. It is significant to note that the Kohath were not given any of the offerings for the simple reason that they were charged with the service of the holy things that had to be carried on their shoulders. The Holy things cannot be borne by oxen-driven wagons as shown by the Lord in the example of David bringing the ark to Jerusalem. 

2Sa 6:1  David again gathered all the chosen men of Israel, thirty thousand. 
2Sa 6:2  And David arose and went with all the people who were with him from Baale-judah to bring up from there the ark of God, which is called by the name of the LORD of hosts who sits enthroned on the cherubim. 
2Sa 6:3  And they carried the ark of God on a new cart and brought it out of the house of Abinadab, which was on the hill. And Uzzah and Ahio, the sons of Abinadab, were driving the new cart, 
2Sa 6:4  with the ark of God, and Ahio went before the ark.
2Sa 6:5  And David and all the house of Israel were celebrating before the LORD, with songs and lyres and harps and tambourines and castanets and cymbals.
2Sa 6:6  And when they came to the threshing floor of Nacon, Uzzah put out his hand to the ark of God and took hold of it, for the oxen stumbled. 
2Sa 6:7  And the anger of the LORD was kindled against Uzzah, and God struck him down there because of his error, and he died there beside the ark of God.

We know that oxen are beasts. What the Lord is teaching us is that as long as the beast within us is dominating or driving us, there is no way that we can carry Christ and His words. It is when Christ comes to us that the beast in us is dealt with and therefore, we can bear the Holy things of God. 

Ecc 3:18  I said in my heart with regard to the children of man that God is testing them that they may see that they themselves are but beasts.

It is insightful to note that all the Levites except the Kohath were given wagons to transport the tabernacle. The things that are transported by the wagons are not the Holy things. These Levites who are given wagons and oxen represent Babylon who carry Christ (the gospel) on beast-dominated bodies. Since they do not carry the Holy things, there is no way that what they preach will make one holy. We, the elect, in this case represent the Kohath who bear the Holy things on our shoulders – not on oxen-driven wagons.

Part 2

The rest of the chapter deals with the offering by the twelve leaders – an offering by a leader each day. The offering by each leader is the same. The only difference is the day on which it was offered. The different days of offerings by the leaders of Israel show us that some of us become mature early, while others mature later to offer their sacrifice. It also shows us how each generation of elect is offering their bodies as a sacrifice to the Lord. Although the Lord has given us various talents or gifts, what we all offer to the Lord, in view of His mercies towards us, is our bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to the Lord. Offering our bodies as living sacrifices entails not conforming to the standards of this world but being transformed by the renewing of our minds to know what the Lord requires of us. Since our offerings are the same, the reward by the Lord is also the same for every elect. 

Num 7:11  And the LORD said unto Moses, They shall offer their offering, each prince on his day, for the dedicating of the altar. 
Num 7:12  And he that offered his offering the first day was Nahshon the son of Amminadab, of the tribe of Judah: 
Num 7:13  And his offering was one silver charger, the weight thereof was an hundred and thirty shekels, one silver bowl of seventy shekels, after the shekel of the sanctuary; both of them were full of fine flour mingled with oil for a meat offering: 
Num 7:14  One spoon of ten shekels of gold, full of incense: 
Num 7:15  One young bullock, one ram, one lamb of the first year, for a burnt offering: 
Num 7:16  One kid of the goats for a sin offering: 
Num 7:17  And for a sacrifice of peace offerings, two oxen, five rams, five he goats, five lambs of the first year: this was the offering of Nahshon the son of Amminadab.

The first two items offered were a silver plate weighing 130 shekels and a silver sprinkling bowl weighing 70 shekels. These silver vessels were filled full of the finest flour mixed with olive oil as a grain offering. Silver is a desired precious commodity. Since these vessels are to be used in the house of God, they represent the elect whom the Lord has redeemed with His precious blood. These vessels must be filled full of fine flour mingled with oil. This means that as the Lord’s chosen vessels, we must be filled full of His words which are spirit. In other words, we must understand the spiritual interpretation of the word of the Lord. 

Joh 6:63  It is the spirit that quickeneth; the flesh profiteth nothing: the words that I speak unto you, they are spirit, and they are life.

Gen 45:22  To all of them he gave each man changes of raiment; but to Benjamin he gave three hundred pieces of silver, and five changes of raiment.

The fact that the silver plate weighs 130 shekels signifies that we must pass through the process of judgment to mature (significance of the number 3) as vessels worthy to be used in the house of God. As the Lord’s redeemed vessels, we must all be united with one in mind and speaking the same thing (significance the number 1).

1Co 1:10  Now I beseech you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that ye all speak the same thing, and that there be no divisions among you; but that ye be perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgment.

The second item offered was a gold dish weighing 10 shekels which was filled with incense. The 10 shekels means that it is the fullness of our flesh that brings the Lord to drag us to judgment so we can become vessels of gold in the house of the Lord. That is when we can offer prayers as incense to the Lord. 

Job 23:10  But he knoweth the way that I take: when he hath tried me, I shall come forth as gold.

Rev 8:3  And another angel came and stood at the altar, having a golden censer; and there was given unto him much incense, that he should offer it with the prayers of all saints upon the golden altar which was before the throne.
Rev 8:4  And the smoke of the incense, which came with the prayers of the saints, ascended up before God out of the angel’s hand.

The third items offered were a young bull, one ram and one male lamb for a burnt offering. Jesus is the young bull, the ram and the male lamb who was offered for the sins of the elect and the rest of the world. 

Joh 1:29  The next day John seeth Jesus coming unto him, and saith, Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world.

The fourth item was one male goat for a sin offering. We, His elect, are the male goat that was set free in the wilderness as part of our sin offering.

Lev 16:21  And Aaron shall lay both his hands upon the head of the live goat, and confess over him all the iniquities of the children of Israel, and all their transgressions in all their sins, putting them upon the head of the goat, and shall send him away by the hand of a fit man into the wilderness:
Lev 16:22  And the goat shall bear upon him all their iniquities unto a land not inhabited: and he shall let go the goat in the wilderness.

The last set of items mentioned were the two oxen, five male goats and five male lambs of the first year. These are to be sacrificed as a fellowship offering to the Lord. As the Lord has sacrificed His life for us, we must also be prepared to lay down our lives as a living sacrifice to the Lord. The number five of the goats and lambs is to suggest that it is with grace through faith that we can offer ourselves as living sacrifices to the Lord. The two oxen imply that we are witnesses of Christ in this world.

Act 1:8  But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.

The rest of the chapter narrates the offerings from the second day to the end of the twelfth day. Since the offerings are the same each day, and we have explained the significance of the various items offered, we shall only provide the Bible verses here.

Num 7:18  On the second day Nethaneel the son of Zuar, prince of Issachar, did offer: 
Num 7:19  He offered for his offering one silver charger, the weight whereof was an hundred and thirty shekels, one silver bowl of seventy shekels, after the shekel of the sanctuary; both of them full of fine flour mingled with oil for a meat offering: 
Num 7:20  One spoon of gold of ten shekels, full of incense: 
Num 7:21  One young bullock, one ram, one lamb of the first year, for a burnt offering:
Num 7:22  One kid of the goats for a sin offering: 
Num 7:23  And for a sacrifice of peace offerings, two oxen, five rams, five he goats, five lambs of the first year: this was the offering of Nethaneel the son of Zuar.
Num 7:24  On the third day Eliab the son of Helon, prince of the children of Zebulun, did offer: 
Num 7:25  His offering was one silver charger, the weight whereof was an hundred and thirty shekels, one silver bowl of seventy shekels, after the shekel of the sanctuary; both of them full of fine flour mingled with oil for a meat offering: 
Num 7:26  One golden spoon of ten shekels, full of incense: 
Num 7:27  One young bullock, one ram, one lamb of the first year, for a burnt offering:
Num 7:28  One kid of the goats for a sin offering: 
Num 7:29  And for a sacrifice of peace offerings, two oxen, five rams, five he goats, five lambs of the first year: this was the offering of Eliab the son of Helon.
Num 7:30  On the fourth day Elizur the son of Shedeur, prince of the children of Reuben, did offer: 
Num 7:31  His offering was one silver charger of the weight of an hundred and thirty shekels, one silver bowl of seventy shekels, after the shekel of the sanctuary; both of them full of fine flour mingled with oil for a meat offering:
Num 7:32  One golden spoon of ten shekels, full of incense: 
Num 7:33  One young bullock, one ram, one lamb of the first year, for a burnt offering:
Num 7:34  One kid of the goats for a sin offering: 
Num 7:35  And for a sacrifice of peace offerings, two oxen, five rams, five he goats, five lambs of the first year: this was the offering of Elizur the son of Shedeur.
Num 7:36  On the fifth day Shelumiel the son of Zurishaddai, prince of the children of Simeon, did offer:
Num 7:37  His offering was one silver charger, the weight whereof was an hundred and thirty shekels, one silver bowl of seventy shekels, after the shekel of the sanctuary; both of them full of fine flour mingled with oil for a meat offering: 
Num 7:38  One golden spoon of ten shekels, full of incense: 
Num 7:39  One young bullock, one ram, one lamb of the first year, for a burnt offering:
Num 7:40  One kid of the goats for a sin offering: 
Num 7:41  And for a sacrifice of peace offerings, two oxen, five rams, five he goats, five lambs of the first year: this was the offering of Shelumiel the son of Zurishaddai.
Num 7:42  On the sixth day Eliasaph the son of Deuel, prince of the children of Gad, offered:
Num 7:43  His offering was one silver charger of the weight of an hundred and thirty shekels, a silver bowl of seventy shekels, after the shekel of the sanctuary; both of them full of fine flour mingled with oil for a meat offering:
Num 7:44  One golden spoon of ten shekels, full of incense: 
Num 7:45  One young bullock, one ram, one lamb of the first year, for a burnt offering:
Num 7:46  One kid of the goats for a sin offering: 
Num 7:47  And for a sacrifice of peace offerings, two oxen, five rams, five he goats, five lambs of the first year: this was the offering of Eliasaph the son of Deuel.
Num 7:48  On the seventh day Elishama the son of Ammihud, prince of the children of Ephraim, offered:
Num 7:49  His offering was one silver charger, the weight whereof was an hundred and thirty shekels, one silver bowl of seventy shekels, after the shekel of the sanctuary; both of them full of fine flour mingled with oil for a meat offering:
Num 7:50  One golden spoon of ten shekels, full of incense: 
Num 7:51  One young bullock, one ram, one lamb of the first year, for a burnt offering:
Num 7:52  One kid of the goats for a sin offering: 
Num 7:53  And for a sacrifice of peace offerings, two oxen, five rams, five he goats, five lambs of the first year: this was the offering of Elishama the son of Ammihud. 
Num 7:54  On the eighth day offered Gamaliel the son of Pedahzur, prince of the children of Manasseh: 
Num 7:55  His offering was one silver charger of the weight of an hundred and thirty shekels, one silver bowl of seventy shekels, after the shekel of the sanctuary; both of them full of fine flour mingled with oil for a meat offering: 
Num 7:56  One golden spoon of ten shekels, full of incense: 
Num 7:57  One young bullock, one ram, one lamb of the first year, for a burnt offering:
Num 7:58  One kid of the goats for a sin offering: 
Num 7:59  And for a sacrifice of peace offerings, two oxen, five rams, five he goats, five lambs of the first year: this was the offering of Gamaliel the son of Pedahzur.
Num 7:60  On the ninth day Abidan the son of Gideoni, prince of the children of Benjamin, offered:
Num 7:61  His offering was one silver charger, the weight whereof was an hundred and thirty shekels, one silver bowl of seventy shekels, after the shekel of the sanctuary; both of them full of fine flour mingled with oil for a meat offering: 
Num 7:62  One golden spoon of ten shekels, full of incense: 
Num 7:63  One young bullock, one ram, one lamb of the first year, for a burnt offering:
Num 7:64  One kid of the goats for a sin offering: 
Num 7:65  And for a sacrifice of peace offerings, two oxen, five rams, five he goats, five lambs of the first year: this was the offering of Abidan the son of Gideoni.
Num 7:66  On the tenth day Ahiezer the son of Ammishaddai, prince of the children of Dan, offered:
Num 7:67  His offering was one silver charger, the weight whereof was an hundred and thirty shekels, one silver bowl of seventy shekels, after the shekel of the sanctuary; both of them full of fine flour mingled with oil for a meat offering: 
Num 7:68  One golden spoon of ten shekels, full of incense: 
Num 7:69  One young bullock, one ram, one lamb of the first year, for a burnt offering: 
Num 7:70  One kid of the goats for a sin offering: 
Num 7:71  And for a sacrifice of peace offerings, two oxen, five rams, five he goats, five lambs of the first year: this was the offering of Ahiezer the son of Ammishaddai. 
Num 7:72  On the eleventh day Pagiel the son of Ocran, prince of the children of Asher, offered:
Num 7:73  His offering was one silver charger, the weight whereof was an hundred and thirty shekels, one silver bowl of seventy shekels, after the shekel of the sanctuary; both of them full of fine flour mingled with oil for a meat offering: 
Num 7:74  One golden spoon of ten shekels, full of incense: 
Num 7:75  One young bullock, one ram, one lamb of the first year, for a burnt offering:
Num 7:76  One kid of the goats for a sin offering: 
Num 7:77  And for a sacrifice of peace offerings, two oxen, five rams, five he goats, five lambs of the first year: this was the offering of Pagiel the son of Ocran.
Num 7:78  On the twelfth day Ahira the son of Enan, prince of the children of Naphtali, offered:
Num 7:79  His offering was one silver charger, the weight whereof was an hundred and thirty shekels, one silver bowl of seventy shekels, after the shekel of the sanctuary; both of them full of fine flour mingled with oil for a meat offering: 
Num 7:80  One golden spoon of ten shekels, full of incense: 
Num 7:81  One young bullock, one ram, one lamb of the first year, for a burnt offering:
Num 7:82  One kid of the goats for a sin offering: 
Num 7:83  And for a sacrifice of peace offerings, two oxen, five rams, five he goats, five lambs of the first year: this was the offering of Ahira the son of Enan.
Num 7:84  This was the dedication of the altar, in the day when it was anointed, by the princes of Israel: twelve chargers of silver, twelve silver bowls, twelve spoons of gold: 
Num 7:85  Each charger of silver weighing an hundred and thirty shekels, each bowl seventy: all the silver vessels weighed two thousand and four hundred shekels, after the shekel of the sanctuary:
Num 7:86  The golden spoons were twelve, full of incense, weighing ten shekels apiece, after the shekel of the sanctuary: all the gold of the spoons was an hundred and twenty shekels.
Num 7:87  All the oxen for the burnt offering were twelve bullocks, the rams twelve, the lambs of the first year twelve, with their meat offering: and the kids of the goats for sin offering twelve. 
Num 7:88  And all the oxen for the sacrifice of the peace offerings were twenty and four bullocks, the rams sixty, the he goats sixty, the lambs of the first year sixty. This was the dedication of the altar, after that it was anointed.  
Num 7:89  And when Moses was gone into the tabernacle of the congregation to speak with him, then he heard the voice of one speaking unto him from off the mercy seat that was upon the ark of testimony, from between the two cherubims: and he spake unto him. 

Verse 89 says that Moses heard the voice of the Lord within the veil, specifically, between the two cherubims. As we offer ourselves as living sacrifices to the Lord, we shall hear the voice of the Lord clearly as we walk with Him. Amen!!

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Awesome Hands – part 124

The congregation shall go forward

November 3, 2017

As was seen with our last study, chapter 26 of Leviticus is pretty heavy material for our old man. There are many blessings and “punishments” given by the Lord especially for those that serve Him.

In our study today, we are going to see that along with blessings and punishments from the Lord, we are all, each and every one of us, given a job in His holy temple, for His kingdom and for His service.

The congregation shall go forward

We are going to cover several verses in this study which cover the next mentioning of the Hebrew word H3027 “yad”, and the three verses today go well together for the theme of this study.
The verses we will be covering are Numbers 2:17, 3:3 and 4:28.

Num 2:16  All that were numbered in the camp of Reuben were an hundred thousand and fifty and one thousand and four hundred and fifty, throughout their armies. And they shall set forth in the second rank.
Num 2:17  Then the tabernacle of the congregation shall set forward with the camp of the Levites in the midst of the camp: as they encamp, so shall they set forward, every man in his place ^H3027 by their standards.

In verse 2:17 the word in English used as 'place' is yad. Most translations have this word translated as 'place'. There are only a handful of times this Hebrew word is translated as 'place', so we will look at those seven times.

Deu 2:37  Only unto the land of the children of Ammon thou camest not, nor unto any place of the river Jabbok, nor unto the cities in the mountains, nor unto whatsoever the LORD our God forbad us.

1Sa 15:12  And when Samuel rose early to meet Saul in the morning, it was told Samuel, saying, Saul came to Carmel, and, behold, he set him up a place, and is gone about, and passed on, and gone down to Gilgal.

2Sa 18:18  Now Absalom in his lifetime had taken and reared up for himself a pillar, which is in the king's dale: for he said, I have no son to keep my name in remembrance: and he called the pillar after his own name: and it is called unto this day, Absalom's place.

Isa 56:5  Even unto them will I give in mine house and within my walls a place and a name better than of sons and of daughters: I will give them an everlasting name, that shall not be cut off.

Jer 6:3  The shepherds with their flocks shall come unto her; they shall pitch their tents against her round about; they shall feed every one in his place.

Eze 21:19  Also, thou son of man, appoint thee two ways, that the sword of the king of Babylon may come: both twain shall come forth out of one land: and choose thou a place, choose it at the head of the way to the city.

When we look at our original verse in Numbers 2:17, the CEV translation gives us a hint as to why this same Hebrew word translated mostly 'hand' or 'hands' is used now as “place”.

Num 2:17  Marching behind Reuben will be the Levites, arranged in groups, just as they are camped. They will carry the sacred tent and their own banners.

So the Levites “carry” the sacred tent and their own banners. We use our hands a lot when we carry things. However, that is only a hint as to the meaning, so what else are we being told?

Isa 56:5  Even unto them will I give in mine house and within my walls a place/hand and a name better than of sons and of daughters: I will give them an everlasting name, that shall not be cut off.

I have listed Isaiah 56:5 here again, but this time I have inserted 'hand' as another way to read it. With the verse now saying 'hand', it starts to become a slightly different meaning than when you read it as “place”.

“Will I give in mine house and within my walls a place and a name”

“Will I give in mine house and within my walls a hand and a name”

What am I getting at? As we will see with the other two times that 'hand' is mentioned within Numbers and within this study’s context, having a place or a hand in the holy temple is VERY important indeed, but it may not mean what it seems to mean initially.

Our next mentioning of the H3027 is Numbers 3:3.

Num 3:3  These are the names of the sons of Aaron, the priests which were anointed, whom he consecrated^H3027 to minister in the priest's office.

We have covered H3027 in the past as it pertains to “consecration,” so I will not go into depth with this study. However, this is a similar example of “yad” being used slightly differently than most of the time in scripture.

Review the Awesome Hands part 109 for a deeper dive into this translation as “consecrated”, but for this present study the connotation is that it means “to fill the hand”. Once your hand is filled, or consecrated, you are able to minister to the Lord in His temple.

So, the Lord will “give us a hand” or a place in His temple. He will fill our hands with what is needed to do the work of the tabernacle, so what is the next and last connection to Numbers 4:28 that is contained in our study today?

Num 4:28  This is the service of the families of the sons of Gershon in the tabernacle of the congregation: and their charge shall be under the hand of Ithamar the son of Aaron the priest.

Num 4:28  This^H2063 is the service^H5656 of the families^H4940 of the sons^H1121 of Gershon^H1649 in the tabernacle^H168 of the congregation:^H4150 and their charge^H4931 shall be under the hand^H3027 of Ithamar^H385 the son^H1121 of Aaron^H175 the priest.^H3548

To understand the connection of these three verses found in Numbers, we are going to need to look at little deeper into the context and background of Numbers 4.

The situation about which we are reading in Numbers 4 is dealing with the assignments that the Lord gave Moses and Aaron to give to the Levites. Each of the sons of Levi was given job roles that were to be distributed to the males in their families.

You might be thinking that we do not want to compare ourselves to the Levites since we are being trained as kings and priests, but we all can take away very valuable lessons on being a Levite and the services they perform for the tabernacle. Indeed, we must first be a Levite in spirit before the Lord creates in us the ability and calling to be a king and a priest. We all start off as Levites when we are called to be saints.

Num 4:1  And the LORD spake unto Moses and unto Aaron, saying,
Num 4:2  Take the sum of the sons of Kohath from among the sons of Levi, after their families, by the house of their fathers,
Num 4:3  From thirty years old and upward even until fifty years old, all that enter into the host, to do the work in the tabernacle of the congregation.
Num 4:4  This shall be the service of the sons of Kohath in the tabernacle of the congregation, about the most holy things:

The first thing to note is that the men being used for these services were to be between the ages of 30 and 50. This means to you were in service to the tabernacle for 20 years. Additionally, we read in Numbers 8:24 that the age is stated as starting at 25.

Num 8:23  And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying,
Num 8:24  This is it that belongeth unto the Levites: from twenty and five years old and upward they shall go in to wait upon the service of the tabernacle of the congregation:
Num 8:25  And from the age of fifty years they shall cease waiting upon the service thereof, and shall serve no more:
Num 8:26  But shall minister with their brethren in the tabernacle of the congregation, to keep the charge, and shall do no service. Thus shalt thou do unto the Levites touching their charge.

From the vast majority of the various commentaries that I have read, this difference in five years was supposed to indicate that an apprenticeship took place for five years leading up to full service of their tabernacle.

Initially, I was thinking that this seems like a long time to learn your job before actually starting your job until I realized just how important it was to do it right. After all, in many cases doing it wrong could end in certain death.

Even if we do not consider this viewpoint, we still must accept that the age to start was 25 or 30 years old. However, the end of your service was at the age of 50. You could continue to go to the sanctuary and perform in different offices from time to time “to keep the charge”, but you were generally retired.

Num 8:25  And from the age of fifty years they shall cease waiting upon the service thereof, and shall serve no more:
Num 8:26  But shall minister with their brethren in the tabernacle of the congregation, to keep the charge, and shall do no service. Thus shalt thou do unto the Levites touching their charge.

The Lord has enabled those among us to serve Him until our capacities no longer allow this to happen. I am sure we have all seen or witnessed someone who was well beyond the years of being vigorous in serving the Lord. This simply comes with age and has been provided acknowledgement by the Lord.

Of course, this is the old testament law, and the new testament law of Christ is a bit different.

This is a good thing because the law was ministry of death and of condemnation!

2Co 3:6  Who also hath made us able ministers of the new testament; not of the letter, but of the spirit: for the letter killeth, but the spirit giveth life.
2Co 3:7  But if the ministration of death, written and engraven in stones, was glorious, so that the children of Israel could not stedfastly behold the face of Moses for the glory of his countenance; which glory was to be done away:
2Co 3:8  How shall not the ministration of the spirit be rather glorious?
2Co 3:9  For if the ministration of condemnation be glory, much more doth the ministration of righteousness exceed in glory.

The law worked wrath.

Rom 4:14  For if they which are of the law be heirs, faith is made void, and the promise made of none effect:
Rom 4:15  Because the law worketh wrath: for where no law is, there is no transgression.

It was a law of bondage and fear.

Rom 8:14  For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God.
Rom 8:15  For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father.

The law “gendered to bondage”, and it was an unbearable yoke.

Gal 4:23  But he who was of the bondwoman was born after the flesh; but he of the freewoman was by promise.
Gal 4:24  Which things are an allegory: for these are the two covenants; the one from the mount Sinai, which gendereth to bondage, which is Agar.

Act 15:10  Now therefore why tempt ye God, to put a yoke upon the neck of the disciples, which neither our fathers nor we were able to bear?
Act 15:11  But we believe that through the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ we shall be saved, even as they.

Yes, the law was full of fear, condemnation and wrath. Within the context of this study I ask, which of the Levites chose to be born to Kohath, Gershon or Merari?

Indeed, none of them willingly chose this birth; yet, when they were 25 to 30 years old they were indebted to serve the tabernacle.

Still, the Lord allowed and caused the entire situation with the nation of Israel so they could draw near to the Lord as a whole via the tabernacle and the services therein and in which He made His presence known.

Yet, the conditions that the Levites faced were quite burdensome. The priests were commanded to not cut off the tribe of Levi, which was quite small in comparison to the others, so that they didn’t die. They were told to make sure the Levites didn’t approach the holy things by appointing them to their service and burden.

Num 4:17  And the LORD spake unto Moses and unto Aaron, saying,
Num 4:18  Cut ye not off the tribe of the families of the Kohathites from among the Levites:
Num 4:19  But thus do unto them, that they may live, and not die, when they approach unto the most holy things: Aaron and his sons shall go in, and appoint them every one to his service and to his burden:
Num 4:20  But they shall not go in to see when the holy things are covered, lest they die.

For lack of time, I will not read all of Numbers 4 here, but there were very strict rules on what the Levites and the priests themselves could do as it pertained to serving the tabernacle. Even the high priest would die if he didn’t go in once and only once a year to the holy of holies.

What are our comparison and lessons to take away from this study of start of the of book of Numbers?

Jesus Christ has torn the veil (Mat 27:51, Mar 15:38). These old testament laws are abolished because we have received the spirit of adoption, and we have been called and chosen to go into the holy of holies.

We still must worship God the Father with reverence and godly fear.

Heb 12:27  And this word, Yet once more, signifieth the removing of those things that are shaken, as of things that are made, that those things which cannot be shaken may remain.
Heb 12:28  Wherefore we receiving a kingdom which cannot be moved, let us have grace, whereby we may serve God acceptably with reverence and godly fear:
Heb 12:29  For our God is a consuming fire.

Most importantly, we must realize that if the Lord took the time to have it completed and recorded that there would be a certain number of men from Kohath, Gershon or Merari to serve His physical tabernacle, how much important is it to realize that we have all been called and chosen to be SERVANTS to His SPIRITUAL TEMPLE?

Eph 4:1  I therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you that ye walk worthy of the vocation wherewith ye are called,
Eph 4:2  With all lowliness and meekness, with longsuffering, forbearing one another in love;
Eph 4:3  Endeavouring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.
Eph 4:4  There is one body, and one Spirit, even as ye are called in one hope of your calling;

Eph 4:11  And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers;
Eph 4:12  For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ:
Eph 4:13  Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ:

If we read 1 Corinthians 12, there is no other conclusion that can honestly be made than the conclusion that the Lord has one body with many VERY important members, all having very special spiritual gifts.

Each of these families of the tribe of Levi was assigned different services in the tabernacle, but Kohath was given the honor and duty to carry things on their shoulders… mainly the holy things of the temple that they could neither touch nor look upon or they would die. Does that mean that the servants from the families of Gershon and Merari didn’t have very important jobs as well?

Of course, they had important jobs! This tabernacle was torn down and built up again every time Israel moved. If one of these families had gone on strike, the whole of Israel would have been put on hold.

Had one of these families decided their job wasn’t that important, or certainly not as important as the next family over, then the whole of Israel would have paid for their actions.

If these things were considerations for the “law for a lawless and disobedient people,” how much more consideration we must give to our own roles and service to the spiritually temple of the Living God!

Jer 33:22  As the host of heaven cannot be numbered, neither the sand of the sea measured: so will I multiply the seed of David my servant, and the Levites that minister unto me.

If there are innumerable Levites doing the service of the tabernacle, how much more consideration we must give to the jobs that the Lord has given us as the kings and priests we are being raised to be in His kingdom!

I hope this study has briefly touched upon the importance that each of us are to the calling and choosing the Lord has called us to.

Without each of us realizing our roles in the body of Christ, and then performing our services faithfully, the entire church is put in a holding pattern. Find your calling, and do whatever it is that the Lord has called you to do to His eternal glory.

Psa 87:1 A Psalm or Song for the sons of Korah. His foundation is in the holy mountains.
Psa 87:2 The LORD loveth the gates of Zion more than all the dwellings of Jacob.
Psa 87:3 Glorious things are spoken of thee, O city of God. Selah.
Psa 87:4 I will make mention of Rahab and Babylon to them that know me: behold Philistia, and Tyre, with Ethiopia; this man was born there.
Psa 87:5 And of Zion it shall be said, This and that man was born in her: and the highest himself shall establish her.
Psa 87:6 The LORD shall count, when he writeth up the people, that this man was born there. Selah.
Psa 87:7 As well the singers as the players on instruments shall be there: all my springs are in thee.

This week’s title reflects what God’s people are blessed to develop in their lives so that they can become “His foundation is in the holy mountains” spoken of in verse one.

In verse 2 we see Jacob as representing the elect who God loves (Mal 1:2, Rom 9:13), and has been/is being made the apple of His eye (Psa 17:8, Zec 2:8). Jacob or the elect are the “gate” that will lead to the salvation of the rest of the world (Oba 1:21) and God has set His love on us as a kind of first fruits so that this can be accomplished (Rom 11:16, Deu 18:4, Jas 1:18).

It is Zion whom God loves more than “all the dwellings of Jacob”, where these ‘dwellings’ represent the world out of which God’s people are called (Rev 18:4, Act 16:18, Eph 6:12). To confirm this point of where we all come from, God makes mention of “Rahab and Babylon” and of “Philistia, and Tyre, with Ethiopia”, where we are born and originate.

From start to finish, this Psalm talks about the glorious work of the church, the body of Christ (Col 1:24), and how this “city of God” (Gal 4:26, Mat 5:14) will shine brightly for all the world to see, and it will give the world great pause “Selah” to stop and look and discern what God has done and how His righteousness was formed in this city (Mal 3:18, Jon 4:11, Eze 44:23, Mat 25:32).

One of the hardest lessons we have to learn, and the world will learn, is that God is the only one who can “establish her” (“her” being Zion). She is clothed in fine linen or the righteousness of the saints that God forms within “her”/us, through the purifying process that has been granted His people (Rev 19:8).

In this study we will look more closely at that purifying process and how our merciful Father brings us to a place of “rejoicing in hope; [and being] patient in tribulation; [and] continuing instant in prayer” (our title and Rom 12:12).

The “righteousness of the saints” is formed by the Master Potter, and here are some verses before we start our study that remind us of what it takes to form the “righteousness of the saints” which is “of the saints”.

First, let us look at how God has declared that “the kingdom and dominion, and the greatness of the kingdom under the whole heaven, shall be given to the people of the saints ” who are a many membered body (1Co 12:12), who have come to greatly fear and reverence God through this life which humbles us under His mighty hand (Psa 10:17, Jas 4:10).

Dan 7:27 And the kingdom and dominion, and the greatness of the kingdom under the whole heaven, shall be given to the people of the saints of the most High, whose kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, and all dominions shall serve and obey him.

Psa 89:7 God is greatly to be feared in the assembly of the saints, and to be had in reverence of all them that are about him.

And here are more of the healthy signs of God working in His people, in the church, in the body “of the saints”:

Mat 27:52 And the graves were opened; and many bodies of the saints which slept arose, (dying daily to be raised in heavenly places 1Co 15:31, Eph 2:6).

1Co 14:33 For God is not the author of confusion, but of peace, as in all churches of the saints.

1Co 16:15 I beseech you, brethren, (ye know the house of Stephanas, that it is the firstfruits of Achaia, and that they have addicted themselves to the ministry of the saints,)

2Co 9:12 For the administration of this service not only supplieth the want of the saints, but is abundant also by many thanksgivings unto God;

Eph 4:12 For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ: (2Pe 3:18).

Col 1:12 Giving thanks unto the Father, which hath made us meet to be (Eph 1:11) partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light: (2Ti 2:21, Rev 19:7).

Phm 1:7 For we have great joy and consolation in thy love, because the bowels of the saints are refreshed by thee, brother (Php 2:1-2).

Rev 8:4 And the smoke of the incense, which came with the prayers of the saints, ascended up before God out of the angel’s hand (1Th 5:17).

Rev 13:10 He that leadeth into captivity shall go into captivity: he that killeth with the sword must be killed with the sword. Here is the patience and the faith of the saints.

Rev 14:12 Here is the patience of the saints: here are they that keep the commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus (Rom 12:12).

Rev 17:6 And I saw the woman drunken with the blood of the saints, and with the blood of the martyrs of Jesus: and when I saw her, I wondered with great admiration. [our blood, which is the word of God that is typified by the precious blood of Christ (1Pe 1:19), is being sanctified (Joh 17:17) as we are purified in this life of much tribulation, whereas Babylon — where we come from and are coming out of — is unstable and drunk on that “blood of the martyrs of Jesus” because all she can do at this time is wrap His words around the idols of her heart. We are sacrificed for the world and our witness of martyrdom of the true gospel of Jesus Christ which tells us to lay down our life is what makes the woman, the churches of this world, the woman drunken with the blood (Rev 11:3)].

Rev 20:9 And they went up on the breadth of the earth, and compassed the camp of the saints about, and the beloved city: and fire came down from God out of heaven, and devoured them. [the end result of the witness of the saints is spoken of in this verse where the camp is compassed Rev 20:9, and is also mentioned in this parallel verse found in (Rev 11:7).

Psa 87:1 A Psalm or Song for the sons of Korah. His foundation is in the holy mountains.

Our prayer for his saints is that we can continue to rejoice always in the Lord and know that it is through Christ that we can be “rejoicing in hope; patient in tribulation; continuing instant in prayer” (of Rom 12:12 and our title), and again I say rejoice as Paul says.

Php 4:4 Rejoice in the Lord alway: and again I say, Rejoice.
Php 4:5 Let your moderation be known unto all men. The Lord is at hand.
Php 4:6 Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God.

Straight away we are reminded that this song is a “song for the sons of Korah” which is where we come from, and where we must die and go into the earth (Num 16:1-3, Num 16:4-16, Num 16:17-34) in order to come out and become that holy seed that will become “His foundation in the holy moutains”.

I’ve separated these verses of Numbers 16 to show three distinct parts that demonstrate in the end that the world (within and without) does not want to be swallowed up by the earth as stated in (Num 16:34), which parallels (Exo 20:18-19):

Num 16:34 And all Israel that were round about them fled at the cry of them: for they said, Lest the earth swallow us up also.

Exo 20:18 And all the people saw the thunderings, and the lightnings, and the noise of the trumpet, and the mountain smoking: and when the people saw it, they removed, and stood afar off.
Exo 20:19 And they said unto Moses, Speak thou with us, and we will hear: but let not God speak with us, lest we die [In other words, we would rather remain under the law for the lawless (1Ti 1:9) than have to die daily and go on to perfection via the law of Christ (Gal 6:2)] (this is what keeps the world in that drunken spiritual state we talked about earlier)].

In the first three verses of Numbers 16 the heart of man is being revealed which is the wrong and faulty foundation that we all start off on and must be destroyed as this story will go on to demonstrate:

Num 16:1 Now Korah, the son of Izhar, the son of Kohath, the son of Levi, and Dathan and Abiram, the sons of Eliab, and On, the son of Peleth, sons of Reuben, took men:
Num 16:2 And they rose up before Moses, with certain of the children of Israel, two hundred and fifty princes of the assembly, famous in the congregation, men of renown:
Num 16:3 And they gathered themselves together against Moses and against Aaron, and said unto them, Ye take too much upon you, seeing all the congregation are holy, every one of them, and the LORD is among them: wherefore then [why then] lift ye up yourselves above the congregation (Rev 12:5, Eph 2:6) of the LORD?

The answer to that type and shadow question, is that it is the Lord who raises us up for their sakes, and the patience and the faith of the saints is what is needed to endure until the end through Jesus Christ. It is in that raised up position that we can continue to be “Rejoicing in hope; patient in tribulation; continuing instant in prayer”.

The next verses are critical to helping us understand what it is that makes the events that are unfolding in Moses’ life as a type and shadow of that which is “of the saints”, and that is stated in verse 28 where Moses says “Hereby ye shall know that the LORD hath sent me to do all these works”: Hereby we know that we are of the Lord because we believe that we must live by every word of God and go into the ‘earth, earth, earth’ of (Jer 22:29) like Korah and then, by the grace and faith of Jesus Christ, “come out of her my people” (Eph 2:8).

Num 16:28 And Moses said, Hereby ye shall know that the LORD hath sent me to do all these works; for I have not done them of mine own mind.
Num 16:29 If these men die the common death of all men, or if they be visited after the visitation of all men; then the LORD hath not sent me.
Num 16:30 But if the LORD make a new thing, and the earth open her mouth, and swallow them up, with all that appertain unto them, and they go down quick into the pit; then ye shall understand that these men have provoked the LORD.
Num 16:31 And it came to pass, as he had made an end of speaking all these words, that the ground clave asunder that was under them:
Num 16:32 And the earth opened her mouth, and swallowed them up, and their houses, and all the men that appertained unto Korah, and all their goods.
Num 16:33 They, and all that appertained to them, went down alive into the pit, and the earth closed upon them: and they perished from among the congregation.

The third section of Numbers chapter 16 parallels what we talked about in our last study where two distinct groups are discussed in the parable of the ten virgins. God shows us that there is a separation taking place between the congregation and Korah, Dathan, and Abiram in this instance (Num 16:24), and the imagery and use of censers is used to make this point evident regarding the parable of the ten virgins.

There is judgment that leads to death, and there is judgment that leads to life, and God shows us through all these stories that it is not enough to have the words of life as honey in the mouth (Eze 3:3-5), or coals (Isa 6:6) just sitting in that censer not kindled, rather they must be heated, burning and destroying everything that breathes within us which is contrary to sound doctrine. The heated coals are the same as the bitterness that must be in the belly of all of God’s people to give us those bowels of mercy which unite us with the same mind of Christ (Rev 10:10, Php 2:1).

Num 16:17 And take every man his censer, and put incense in them, and bring ye before the LORD every man his censer, two hundred and fifty censers; thou also, and Aaron, each of you his censer.
Num 16:18 And they took every man his censer, and put fire in them, and laid incense thereon, and stood in the door of the tabernacle of the congregation with Moses and Aaron.
Num 16:19 And Korah gathered all the congregation against them unto the door of the tabernacle of the congregation: and the glory of the LORD appeared unto all the congregation.
Num 16:20 And the LORD spake unto Moses and unto Aaron, saying,
Num 16:21 Separate yourselves from among this congregation, that I may consume them in a moment.
Num 16:22 And they fell upon their faces, and said, O God, the God of the spirits of all flesh, shall one man sin, and wilt thou be wroth with all the congregation?
Num 16:23 And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying,
Num 16:24 Speak unto the congregation, saying, Get you up from about the tabernacle of Korah, Dathan, and Abiram.
Num 16:25 And Moses rose up and went unto Dathan and Abiram; and the elders of Israel followed him.
Num 16:26 And he spake unto the congregation, saying, Depart, I pray you, from the tents of these wicked men, and touch nothing of theirs, lest ye be consumed in all their sins.
Num 16:27 So they gat up from the tabernacle of Korah, Dathan, and Abiram, on every side: and Dathan and Abiram came out, and stood in the door of their tents, and their wives, and their sons, and their little children.
Num 16:28 And Moses said, Hereby ye shall know that the LORD hath sent me to do all these works (1Co 11:19); for I have not done them of mine own mind.
Num 16:29 If these men die the common death of all men, or if they be visited after the visitation of all men; then the LORD hath not sent me. (to die the common death is to die in our sins (Joh 8:24), and to die the death to which God calls the elect is to come out of the earth, earth, earth by dying daily – Jer 22:29, 1Co 15:31).
Num 16:30 But if the LORD make a new thing, and the earth open her mouth, and swallow them up, with all that appertain unto them, and they go down quick into the pit; then ye shall understand that these men have provoked the LORD. (The “new thing” is the day of our visitation; the judgment that comes upon all those with whom the Lord is working in this age – Luk 19:44.)
Num 16:31 And it came to pass, as he had made an end of speaking all these words, that the ground clave asunder that was under them:
Num 16:32 And the earth opened her mouth, and swallowed them up, and their houses, and all the men that appertained unto Korah, and all their goods.
Num 16:33 They, and all that appertained to them, went down alive into the pit, and the earth closed upon them: and they perished from among the congregation.
Num 16:34 And all Israel that were round about them fled at the cry of them: for they said, Lest the earth swallow us up also.

Psa 87:2 The LORD loveth the gates of Zion more than all the dwellings of Jacob.

I took some time with verse 1 to demonstrate what God is doing to create a foundation through the body of Christ that is a hidden foundation from the world and one that will one day manifest to all the world in a moment and in the twinkling of an eye (1Co 15:52, Isa 66:8, Oba 1:21).

The fear of the Lord is something God is developing within us, and if He loves us in this age (Rom 9:13), we will inevitably be experiencing that love in the form of chastening and scourging (Heb 12:6, Heb 6:4-9). It is that chastening and scourging which keeps us on the narrow path of knowing that it is His righteousness alone which can accomplish the work within us and does build the true foundation which is being laid for all the world with Christ as the chief cornerstone (Eph 2:20).

We read in Ezekiel (Eze 18:24) the witness to the verses in Hebrews 6:4-9 that are there for God’s people to be admonished and to heed in this age. Again, if God loves us, He is seeing to it we are drinking that cup of judgment of which we must be partakers if we are going to go on to perfection on the third day (Eze 18:24 in them shall he die the common death we spoke of Joh 8:24, Pro 24:16, Luk 13:32).

Eze 18:24 But when the righteous turneth away from his righteousness, and committeth iniquity, and doeth according to all the abominations that the wicked man doeth, shall he live? All his righteousness that he hath done shall not be mentioned: in his trespass that he hath trespassed, and in his sin that he hath sinned, in them shall he die.

Heb 6:4 For it is impossible for those who were once enlightened, and have tasted of the heavenly gift, and were made partakers of the Holy Ghost,
Heb 6:5 And have tasted the good word of God, and the powers of the world to come,
Heb 6:6 If they shall fall away, to renew them again unto repentance; seeing they crucify to themselves the Son of God afresh, and put him to an open shame.
Heb 6:7 For the earth which drinketh in the rain that cometh oft upon it, and bringeth forth herbs meet for them by whom it is dressed, receiveth blessing from God:
Heb 6:8 But that which beareth thorns and briers is rejected, and is nigh unto cursing; whose end is to be burned.
Heb 6:9 But, beloved, we are persuaded better things of you, and things that accompany salvation, though we thus speak.

Psa 87:3 Glorious things are spoken of thee, O city of God. Selah.

This is a humbling declaration of what God is able to do through His people as we go from glory to glory as His city set on a hill (2Co 3:18 ASV, Mat 5:14).

2Co 3:16 But whensoever it shall turn to the Lord, the veil is taken away.
2Co 3:17 Now the Lord is the Spirit: and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty.
2Co 3:18 But we all, with unveiled face beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are transformed into the same image from glory to glory, even as from the Lord the Spirit. (ASV)

Mat 5:14 Ye are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hid.

Having faces which are unveiled is symbolic language that tells us we no longer establish our own righteousness through the law, but rather through Jesus Christ (Rom 10:3, 1Ti 1:9, Gal 6:2).

Psa 87:4 I will make mention of Rahab and Babylon to them that know me: behold Philistia, and Tyre, with Ethiopia; this man was born there.

In this verse we are reminded from where we come and how it is by the grace of God that we are born there and then able to come out of her my people [Rahab-Babylon-Philistia-Tyre-Ethiopia] and endure until the end as the “not many noble” brethren, the weak of the world (2Co 6:17, 1Co 1:26) God uses to show that this is a work which is being accomplished, all to the glory of God (Rom 11:36) who is working all things according to the counsel of His will (Eph 1:11).

Rahab^H7294 (Jos 2:1-4). We are hidden in Babylon who is likened to a harlot while we are in the court, and God does not forget her kindnesses (Heb 11:31). The two men who spy the land represent Christ or the two witnesses or Joshua and Caleb, and the dream is one (Gen 41:25), as we all must go into Babylon to come out of her, which represents the world of sin within our members, that Christ himself had to come out of and why we are told that God’s son comes out of Egypt (1Jn 4:17, Hos 11:1).

1Jn 4:17 Herein is love made perfect with us, that we may have boldness in the day of judgment; because as he is, even so are we in this world.

Hos 11:1 When Israel was a child, then I loved him, and called my son out of Egypt.

Babylon^H894 We must go into Babylon to ‘come out of her my people’, and Babylon represents the world which we come out of (2Co 6:17).

Philistia^H6429 (Isa 14:29). We are being told in Isa 14:29 that God is going to raise seraphim (Rev 4:8) out of those who start off with Satan being their father.

Isa 14:29 Rejoice not thou, whole Palestina, because the rod of him that smote thee is broken: for out of the serpent’s root shall come forth a cockatrice, and his fruit shall be a fiery flying serpent.

Rev 4:8 And the four living creatures, having each one of them six wings, are full of eyes round about and within: and they have no rest day and night, saying, Holy, holy, holy, is the Lord God, the Almighty, who was and who is and who is to come.

Tyre^H6865 (Zec 9:3-4) Tyre is where we become rich in the word but cannot properly discern the true gospel, as we make merchandise of our brothers at this time, buying and selling the truth as we try to make disciples by our own power in the sea of humanity, not truly fishers of men yet. We live out the parable of the rich young ruler in Tyre who cannot sell all that he thinks he has and come and follow Christ (Rev 18:11-13, Mat 19:21).

Ethiopia^H3568 Cush – (Gen 10:8, Isa 11:11)

Gen 10:8 And Cush begat Nimrod: he began to be a mighty one in the earth.

Isa 11:11 And it shall come to pass in that day, that the Lord will set his hand again the second time to recover the remnant of his people (Jdg 1:12), that shall remain, from Assyria, and from Egypt, and from Pathros, and from Cush, and from Elam, and from Shinar, and from Hamath, and from the islands of the sea.

Ethiopia is connected to Egypt which is connected to Babylon, and Isaiah is a token or sign against Egypt and Ethiopia, walking three years naked and barefoot, who witnessed to the fact that God saw Egypt and Ethiopia as being spiritually unclothed.

In Isa 11:11 we are reminded of the process that we all must go through to be twice plucked up^H3568 (Jdg 1:12) before we can truly come to know the true gospel of Jesus Christ.

Isa 20:3 And the LORD said, Like as my servant Isaiah hath walked naked and barefoot three years for a sign and wonder upon Egypt and upon Ethiopia;

Isa 20:5 And they shall be afraid and ashamed of Ethiopia their expectation, and of Egypt their glory.

Psa 87:5 And of Zion it shall be said, This and that man was born in her: and the highest himself shall establish her.

Psa 87:5 Yea, of Zion it shall be said, This one and that one was born^H3205 in her; And the Most High himself will establish her. (ASV)

We are chosen in Christ before the foundation of the world, that we should be a little flock that is holy and without blemish before him in love (Eph 1:4, Luk 12:32). God has already determined that we be “born in her”, “Zion”, and boasting therefore is excluded by the law of faith which makes what God has determined possible (Rom 3:27, Heb 12:2). It is “the Highest Himself [who] shall establish (Exo 23:20, Gen 41:32, Isa 62:7, 1Ch 16:30) her”.

“Born^H3205 in her” is used 526 times in the KJV with that sense of being born or begotten, and is also very significantly noted three times as “midwife” in Gen 35:17, Gen 38:28 and Exo 1:16.

We understand the “travail” as painful, again confirming that it is not without the hope found in the title of our study (Rom 12:12) and so many other verses that are meant to coach and encourage us along that narrow Way (Joh 16:21).

Psa 87:6 The LORD shall count, when he writeth up^H3789 the people, that this man was born there. Selah.

All our days are numbered or counted and written in His book (Psa 139:16), and “he writeth up^H3789 the people” and is doing this to witness to the world the workmanship of His hands (Eph 2:10).

Here are some verses that describe what God has written up for His people:

Job 13:26 For thou writest^H3789 bitter things against me, and makest me to possess the iniquities of my youth.

Deu 31:22 Moses therefore wrote^H3789 this song the same day, and taught it the children of Israel.

Hab 2:2 And the LORD answered me, and said, Write^H3789 the vision, and make it plain upon tables, that he may run that readeth it.

Pro 7:3 Bind them upon thy fingers, write^H3789 them upon the table of thine heart.

Jer 31:33 But this shall be the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel; After those days, saith the LORD, I will put my law in their inward parts, and write^H3789 it in their hearts; and will be their God, and they shall be my people.

Psa 87:7 As well the singers as the players on instruments shall be there: all my springs^H4599 are in thee.

God reassures us that this body is well equipped with each joint supplying what is needed to accomplish the work that He has set before us (Eph 4:16). There are “singers as the players on instruments” and that speaks of a mindset of rejoicing and being thankful for this high calling in the Lord (Php 3:14).

The “springs”^H4599 that God calls us to are spoken of in type and shadow in the old covenant as the fountains^H4599 of the deep that are broken up in (Gen 7:11), as we are bruised and broken for the world so that it can become as it was in the days of Noah, with the entire earth being flooded by those springs or fountains (Mat 24:37, Hab 2:14) that will bring forth the living waters that will fill the earth and be a starting point of baptism just as the Israelites of old came under the cloud of witness, or like John the baptist who baptized with water and then the Lord with fire (Heb 12:1, 1Co 10:2).

H4599
– Definition:
1. spring
– Origin: from H5869 as a denominative in the sense of a spring) – TWOT entry: 1613a
– Part(s) of speech: Noun Masculine
– Strong’s: From H5869 (as a denominative in the sense of a spring); a fountain (also collectively) figuratively a source (of satisfaction): – fountain spring well.

Total KJV Occurrences: 23

•fountain, 9
Lev_11:36; Jos_15:9; Psa_74:15; Psa_114:8; Pro_25:26; Son_4:12; Son_4:15; Hos_13:15; Joe_3:18

•fountains, 7
Gen_7:11; Gen_8:2; 1Ki_18:5; 2Ch_32:4; Pro_5:16; Pro_8:24; Isa_41:18

•springs, 2
Psa_87:7; Psa_104:10

•well, 2
Jos_18:15; Psa_84:6

•wells, 3
2Ki_3:19; 2Ki_3:25; Isa_12:3

The world will once again come under that cloud of witness which will rule with a rod of iron (Rev 2:27); a people who will be prepared through that experience for the great white throne judgment in the lake of fire that will save all mankind (Rev 20:15, 1Co 15:22)…

Isa 12:3 … Rom_12:12
Therefore with joy shall ye draw water out of the wells^H4599 of salvation. Rejoicing in hope; patient in tribulation; continuing instant in prayer…

[Questions or comments can be directed to the author at anthocul@sympatico.ca]