“The Spiritual Significance of Directions”

North, South, East and West

[Study Originally Aired January 7, 2025
Revised and re-recorded January 28, 2025]

Introduction: Understanding Direction in Scripture

In our pursuit of spiritual understanding, we must begin with Jesus’s foundational teaching that “the kingdom of God is within you” (Luke 17:20). This truth transforms our study of directional references in Scripture from mere geographical indicators to profound spiritual realities. When God established physical directions in creation, He provided patterns that would reveal spiritual truth, for “the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made” (Romans 1:20).

God deliberately established directional patterns from the beginning of creation. This pattern became physically visible when “God made two great lights; the greater light to rule the day, and the lesser light to rule the night” (Genesis 1:16). By setting the sun to rise in the east and set in the west each day, God created an enduring natural cycle that would teach spiritual truth. The prophet Malachi captured this teaching purpose: ”For from the rising of the sun even unto the going down of the same my name shall be great among the Gentiles” (Malachi 1:11). Through this daily journey of light, we learn how divine revelation progresses to completion in our lives.

To understand these spiritual patterns, we must rely not on natural reasoning but on divine wisdom. Paul emphasizes this necessity: “the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned” (1 Corinthians 2:14). As Jesus taught, “the words that I speak unto you, they are spirit, and they are life” (John 6:63). Therefore, we must approach directional references in Scripture seeking their spiritual significance.

The Divine Pattern: Israel’s Tribal Arrangement

God’s arrangement of Israel’s tribes around the tabernacle provides our first complete picture of how directions reveal spiritual truth. This wasn’t random positioning but deliberate placement teaching eternal principles. Each tribe’s location carried specific spiritual meaning that would illuminate God’s working in our lives.

On the east side, God positioned Judah: “On the east side toward the rising of the sun shall they of the standard of the camp of Judah pitch throughout their armies” (Numbers 2:3). Through Judah would come Christ, “the Lion of the tribe of Judah” (Revelation 5:5). This eastern placement established that direction’s connection with divine revelation, just as natural light first appears in the east.

The south side belonged to Reuben: “On the south side shall be the standard of the camp of Reuben” (Numbers 2:10). As Jacob’s firstborn who lost his birthright through sin, Reuben’s position revealed how the south represents progressive testing and judgment in our lives. His story shows how God uses circumstances to reveal and deal with what lies within us.

Continuing with the tribal arrangement, God placed Ephraim on the west side: “On the west side shall be the standard of the camp of Ephraim” (Numbers 2:18). Ephraim had received a blessing of multiplication from Jacob: “his seed shall become a multitude of nations” (Genesis 48:19). This western position reveals how God brings His work to completion and fullness, just as the sun completes its daily journey in the west.

Finally, the tribe of Dan occupied the north: “The camp of Dan shall be on the north side” (Numbers 2:25). The name Dan means “judge,” establishing the north’s connection with God’s judgment and authority. This positioning teaches us how God’s authority works in our lives through judgment to accomplish His purpose.

The Language of Direction: Hebrew and Greek Insights

The original Hebrew and Greek words for directions provide deeper insight into their spiritual significance. Each directional term carries meaning that illuminates how God uses these patterns to accomplish His purpose in our lives.

The Hebrew word for north, tsaphon (צָפוֹן), derives from a root meaning ”to hide or treasure up. ” God reveals this connection through Solomon’s instruction to ”lay up (tsaphan) my commandments with thee” (Proverbs 7:1). Just as precious things are carefully stored until the right moment, so God’s judgments from the north are released according to His perfect timing. The Greek equivalent, borrhas (βορρᾶς), relates to strength and hardness, reinforcing the north’s connection to God’s unmovable authority and judgment.

The south’s Hebrew designation, negeb (נֶגֶב), literally means ”to be parched” or ”dry, ” referring to desert regions. This parching process pictures how God uses testing to reveal what lies within us, as seen powerfully when Christ was ”led up of the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted of the devil” (Matthew 4:1). After forty days in this desert testing, angels came and ministered to Him, showing how God’s testing ultimately brings refreshing. The Greek term notos (νότος) reinforces this pattern – connecting to moisture and rain, it reveals how testing leads to spiritual renewal, fulfilling the prophet’s words: ”For as the rain cometh down, and the snow from heaven, and returneth not thither, but watereth the earth, and maketh it bring forth and bud” (Isaiah 55:10)

In Hebrew, east is mizrach (מִזְרָח), from zarach meaning “to rise or shine forth.” The Greek anatole (ἀνατολή) carries the same meaning of rising or dawning. Both terms connect directly to sunrise, reinforcing how God’s revelation dawns progressively in our lives, as “the path of the just is as the shining light, that shineth more and more unto the perfect day” (Proverbs 4:18).

The Hebrew ma’arab (מַעֲרָב) for west comes from a root meaning “to grow dark,” referring to sunset. Similarly, the Greek dusme (δυσμή) means “a setting.” Rather than suggesting negative darkness, these terms speak of completion – just as each day finds completion at sunset, God brings each aspect of His work to its appointed conclusion.

These linguistic foundations reveal how God embedded spiritual meaning even in the basic terms for direction. As we study how Scripture uses these terms, their root meanings enrich our understanding of God’s working in our lives. This aligns with Solomon’s observation that “a word fitly spoken is like apples of gold in pictures of silver” (Proverbs 25:11).

The North in Scripture: A Place of God’s Judgment and Authority

Scripture develops the north’s spiritual significance far beyond Dan’s initial placement. Job provides foundational insight when he declares, “He stretcheth out the north over the empty place, and hangeth the earth upon nothing” (Job 26:7), connecting the north with God’s absolute authority over creation. The Psalmist reinforces this, declaring “Beautiful for situation, the joy of the whole earth, is mount Zion, on the sides of the north, the city of the great King” (Psalm 48:2), linking the north specifically with God’s kingship and throne of judgment.

The prophet Ezekiel deepens this understanding through his dramatic vision: “a whirlwind came out of the north, a great cloud, and a fire infolding itself, and a brightness was about it” (Ezekiel 1:4). This appearance from the north preceded God revealing His throne and glory, showing how experiencing God’s judgment prepares us for deeper revelation of His nature.

Through Jeremiah, God reveals how He uses northern powers as instruments of His judgment: “Out of the north an evil shall break forth upon all the inhabitants of the land. For, lo, I will call all the families of the kingdoms of the north, saith the LORD; and they shall set every one his throne at the entering of the gates of Jerusalem” (Jeremiah 1:14-15). Yet this judgment serves His redemptive purpose, for He promises restoration through this same direction: “In those days the house of Judah shall walk with the house of Israel, and they shall come together out of the land of the north to the land that I have given for an inheritance unto your fathers” (Jeremiah 3:18).

Isaiah illuminates the north’s significance when recording the king of Babylon’s proud boast: “I will sit also upon the mount of the congregation, in the sides of the north: I will ascend above the heights of the clouds; I will be like the most High” (Isaiah 14:13-14). This reveals the north as the place of highest authority – a position belonging to God alone. As Isaiah further declares, “I am the LORD, and there is none else… I form the light, and create darkness: I make peace, and create evil: I the LORD do all these things” (Isaiah 45:6-7). Through this authority, God works all things according to His will, establishing His kingdom within us.

The South: A Direction of God’s Progressive Judgment

Building on the north’s establishment of judgment, the south reveals how God’s judgment progresses to accomplish His purpose. This progression begins with Reuben’s placement on the south side of the tabernacle. Just as Reuben’s position changed through testing, the south represents how God’s judgments work progressively to transform us.

Just as He told Satan regarding Job, ”Behold, all that he hath is in thy power; only upon himself put not forth thine hand’‘ (Job 1:12), every testing from the south operates within His set boundaries. The progression of these tests follows His perfect timing, for ”to everything there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven” (Ecclesiastes 3:1)

Job provides a key witness to how God uses the south for progressive testing: “Out of the south cometh the whirlwind: and cold out of the north” (Job 37:9). This verse reveals how both directions serve God’s purpose – the north establishing judgment and the south advancing that work. The progression through the south appears powerfully in Ezekiel’s prophecy when God commands him with threefold emphasis: “Son of man, set thy face toward the south, and drop thy word toward the south, and prophesy against the forest of the south field” (Ezekiel 20:46). This repetition emphasizes the progressive nature of God’s work through this direction.

The Psalmist captures the transformative nature of God’s southern working when he prays, “Turn again our captivity, O LORD, as the streams in the south“ (Psalm 126:4). These streams in the south speak to how God’s judgments flow progressively, bringing transformation as they advance. The context reveals the joyful outcome of this work: “When the LORD turned again the captivity of Zion, we were like them that dream. Then was our mouth filled with laughter, and our tongue with singing” (Psalm 126:1-2).

North and South: The Progression of Judgement

The distinction between the north’s judgment and south’s testing is crucial. North’s judgment establishes God’s authority, like when God told Job from the whirlwind, ”Who is this that darkeneth counsel by words without knowledge?” (Job 38:2). This judgment firmly establishes God’s sovereign rule.

South’s testing, by contrast, works progressively to reveal and purge what opposes God’s life within us. This appears when God tested Abraham: ”And it came to pass after these things, that God did test Abraham” (Genesis 22:1). Testing reveals what lies within, as Moses explained to Israel: ”to humble thee, and to prove thee, to know what was in thine heart, whether thou wouldest keep his commandments, or no” (Deuteronomy 8:2).

Both judgment and testing serve God’s purpose, but in different ways. Judgment establishes His authority and right to rule, while testing progressively reveals and removes what opposes His life. As Isaiah declared, ”when thy judgments are in the earth, the inhabitants of the world will learn righteousness” (Isaiah 26:9).

North and South: The Boundaries of Judgment 

Unlike east and west which continue without end, both north and south reach definite boundaries. This natural pattern reveals important truth about God’s judgments and testing. As David observed, ”As far as the east is from the west, so far hath he removed our transgressions from us” (Psalm 103:12). Significantly, David did not say ”as far as north from south, ” because those distances are measurable and finite.

The finite nature of the north and south appears clearly in creation. Traveling north, one eventually reaches the pole and can go no further – any continued movement becomes southward. The same limitation occurs when traveling south. This natural boundary reminds us that God’s judgments and testing serve specific purposes and have appointed ends. As the prophet Isaiah declared, ”In measure, when it shooteth forth, thou wilt debate with it: he stayeth his rough wind in the day of the east wind” (Isaiah 27:8).

This truth brings comfort during times of judgment and testing. Job learned this when God appeared to him from the whirlwind, revealing that even his intense trials had prescribed limits. The Lord reminded him, ”Hitherto shalt thou come, but no further: and here shall thy proud waves be stayed” (Job 38:11). Just as God sets bounds for the sea, He sets boundaries for every judgment and testing.

The finite nature of judgment appears again when God promises restoration: ”For the Lord shall not cast off for ever: But though he cause grief, yet will he have compassion according to the multitude of his mercies” (Lamentations 3:31-32). All judgment serves His purpose of transformation, leading to the prophet’s confidence: ”The Lord doesn’t enjoy sending grief or pain.” (Lamentations 3:33 CEV)

The East: The Direction of God’s Glory and Light

The east holds special significance as the direction from which God’s glory and revelation proceed. As mentioned earlier this pattern begins in creation itself when God said “And God made two great lights; the greater light to rule the day, and the lesser light to rule the night: he made the stars also.” (Genesis 1:16). He established the sun’s daily rise in the east as an enduring pattern teaching how spiritual light and understanding come to His people. After creating man, “the LORD God planted a garden eastward in Eden” (Genesis 2:8), and when man sinned, God placed cherubim “at the east of the garden of Eden” (Genesis 3:24), establishing the east as both the direction of divine glory and the way back to God’s presence.

Ezekiel witnessed this connection dramatically when “the glory of the God of Israel came from the way of the east: and his voice was like a noise of many waters: and the earth shined with his glory” (Ezekiel 43:2). This appearance carried such power that “the earth shined with his glory,” showing how divine revelation illuminates everything it touches. When Israel’s disobedience caused God’s glory to depart from the temple, it moved eastward in stages, “Then the glory of the LORD departed from off the threshold of the house, and stood over the cherubims. And the cherubims lifted up their wings, and mounted up from the earth in my sight: when they went out, the wheels also were beside them, and every one stood at the door of the east gate of the LORD’S house; and the glory of the God of Israel was over them above.” (Ezekiel 10:18-19), yet God promised restoration would come from the same direction, as the prophet later saw the glory return “from the way of the east“ (Ezekiel 43:4).

This pattern of revelation from the east finds its ultimate fulfillment in Christ, for “in him was life; and the life was the light of men” (John 1:4). The wise men declared, “We have seen his star in the east“ (Matthew 2:2), following this light to find Him who would later declare “I am the light of the world” (John 8:12). This connects the east’s natural light with Christ as the source of all spiritual illumination.

The east’s association with God’s glory reminds us that even divine revelation serves His sovereign purpose. When the Psalmist declares, “For promotion cometh neither from the east, nor from the west, nor from the south. But God is the judge” (Psalm 75:6-7), he emphasizes that all true advancement comes from God alone, not from any direction or means.

The West: Completing God’s Work and Gathering His People

The west in Scripture reveals how God brings His work to completion and gathers His people. Just as the sun completes its daily journey in the west, this direction teaches us about the fulfillment of God’s purposes. This completion pattern begins with Ephraim’s placement on the west side of the tabernacle. Through Ephraim’s blessing of multiplication and fruitfulness, the west reveals how God’s work reaches its full increase.

The west’s completion pattern demonstrates God’s sovereign control over every work’s fulfillment. Nothing reaches completion except according to His purpose and timing, for ”In whom also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestinated according to the purpose of him who worketh all things after the counsel of his own will” (Ephesians 1:11).

The west’s connection to completion appears powerfully in God’s promise to Joshua about the Promised Land: “Every place that the sole of your foot shall tread upon, that have I given unto you, as I said unto Moses. From the wilderness and this Lebanon even unto the great river, the river Euphrates, all the land of the Hittites, and unto the great sea toward the going down of the sun, shall be your coast” (Joshua 1:3-4). This western boundary, marked by the setting sun, represented the full extent of their inheritance.

The Psalms connect the west to the completion of God’s praise and glory: “From the rising of the sun unto the going down of the same the LORD’s name is to be praised” (Psalm 113:3). This shows how God’s work extends throughout the whole earth, from beginning (east) to completion (west). Similarly, Isaiah declares “So shall they fear the name of the LORD from the west, and his glory from the rising of the sun” (Isaiah 59:19), revealing how God’s glory fills the entire earth as His work reaches completion.

Christ particularly connects the west to the gathering and completion of His work: “For as the lightning cometh out of the east, and shineth even unto the west; so shall also the coming of the Son of man be” (Matthew 24:27). This gathering work culminates in His promise that “many shall come from the east and west, and shall sit down with Abraham, and Isaac, and Jacob, in the kingdom of heaven” (Matthew 8:11). The progression from east to west in these verses shows how God’s revelation leads to completed gathering.

The Unified Working of All Directions

Understanding how these directions work together reveals the completeness of God’s purpose. We see this comprehensive pattern first in God’s promise to Abraham: “And the LORD said unto Abram… Lift up now thine eyes, and look from the place where thou art northward, and southward, and eastward, and westward: For all the land which thou seest, to thee will I give it, and to thy seed forever” (Genesis 13:14-15). This all-encompassing view represented not just physical territory but the fullness of God’s spiritual promise.

Isaiah reveals how these directions serve God’s gathering purpose: “Fear not: for I am with thee: I will bring thy seed from the east, and gather thee from the west; I will say to the north, Give up; and to the south, Keep not back: bring my sons from far, and my daughters from the ends of the earth” (Isaiah 43:5-6). Each direction receives specific commands that reveal its role in God’s complete work – the north must “give up,” showing release of judgment; the south must “keep not back,” allowing progression of judgment; while east brings forth “thy seed” and west completes the “gathering”.

The prophet Ezekiel witnessed this comprehensive working through the four living creatures: “As for the likeness of their faces, they four had the face of a man, and the face of a lion on the right side: and they four had the face of an ox on the left side; they four also had the face of an eagle” (Ezekiel 1:10). These four faces, looking toward the four directions, show how God’s authority extends everywhere. Their movement according to God’s spirit – “And they went every one straight forward: whither the spirit was to go, they went” (Ezekiel 1:12) – reveals how all directions serve His sovereign purpose.

Practical Application of Directional Truth

Understanding these directional patterns transforms how we view and respond to every circumstance in our spiritual journey. Each direction reveals specific aspects of God’s work in us, helping us cooperate with rather than resist His purpose.

When facing judgment from the north, we recognize God establishing His authority in our lives. Rather than resisting these experiences, we can submit like Job who declared “He knoweth the way that I take: when he hath tried me, I shall come forth as gold” (Job 23:10). This understanding helps us yield to God’s establishing work, knowing His judgment serves His perfect purpose.

The south’s progressive testing reveals God’s transformative work advancing in our lives. Like the Psalmist, we learn to pray “Search me, O God, and know my heart: try me, and know my thoughts: And see if there be any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting” (Psalm 139:23-24). God’s testing process accelerates our spiritual growth as each trial reveals and purges what opposes His life within us.

When divine revelation comes from the east, it brings increasing light and understanding to transform our walk with God. The prophet captured this progressive illumination: “Then shall thy light break forth as the morning, and thine health shall spring forth speedily: and thy righteousness shall go before thee; the glory of the LORD shall be thy rereward” (Isaiah 58:8). As Hosea declares, “Then shall we know, if we follow on to know the LORD: his going forth is prepared as the morning” (Hosea 6:3). Each new day presents fresh opportunities for increased spiritual understanding.

The west reminds us that God will complete what He has begun, bringing every aspect of His work to its appointed conclusion. Paul expressed this certainty: “Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ” (Philippians 1:6). When circumstances seem to hinder or delay God’s purpose, the west’s completion pattern encourages our faith to trust His perfect timing.

These directional workings ultimately point to internal spiritual realities, fulfilling Christ’s declaration that “the kingdom of God is within you” (Luke 17:20). The north’s judgment works within to establish God’s authority in our hearts. The south’s progression moves us through internal testing that reveals and purges what opposes God’s life. The east’s light illuminates our understanding of spiritual truth. The west’s gathering brings all these workings to completion in our experience.

This internal working aligns perfectly with God’s promise through Ezekiel: “A new heart also will I give you, and a new spirit will I put within you: and I will take away the stony heart out of your flesh, and I will give you an heart of flesh. And I will put my spirit within you, and cause you to walk in my statutes, and ye shall keep my judgments, and do them” (Ezekiel 36:26-27). Each direction serves this transformative purpose as God works to conform us to Christ’s image.

Conclusion: The Perfect Pattern

These directional patterns ultimately reveal the perfection of God’s working in every aspect of our lives. From the north’s establishment of divine authority through the south’s progressive testing, from the east’s revelation to the west’s completion, each direction serves God’s purpose of conforming us to Christ’s image.

The prophetic visions of both Daniel and Ezekiel reveal how God orchestrates all powers and movements according to His directional purposes. Daniel’s vision of the ram pushing westward, northward, and southward demonstrated how God uses even earthly kingdoms to accomplish His purpose of judgment (north), testing (south), and moving toward completion (west). Notably, the ram’s inability to push eastward aligns with our understanding that God alone brings revelation and glory from the east.

Together, these prophetic visions reveal how God maintains absolute control over all directional movements in creation. Whether through spiritual beings or earthly powers, every directional movement serves His sovereign purpose, for ”all the inhabitants of the earth are reputed as nothing: and he doeth according to his will in the army of heaven, and among the inhabitants of the earth: and none can stay his hand” (Daniel 4:35).

This comprehensive understanding brings peace amidst life’s various circumstances. Whether facing judgment, testing, revelation, or completion, we recognize each experience as part of God’s perfect pattern. As Paul declared, ”we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose” (Romans 8:28).

May this understanding of Scripture’s directional patterns deepen our walk with God and strengthen our faith in His sovereign working. For truly, ”of him, and through him, and to him, are all things: to whom be glory forever. Amen” (Romans 11:36)

Ezekiel 43:1–27 The Glory of the Lord Fills the Temple

[Study Aired January 13, 2025]

INTRODUCTION

Today’s study is about the Lord coming with His glory to fill His temple. As we already know, our bodies are the temple of the Lord and therefore today’s review shows us how the Lord comes to take residence in our hearts and minds.

1Co 3:16  Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you?
1Co 3:17 If any man defile the temple of God, him shall God destroy; for the temple of God is holy, which temple ye are.

1Co 6:19  What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own?
1Co 6:20 For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God’s.

If we are to understand today’s study, then we need to know what the glory of the Lord means. The first time the glory of the Lord appeared in the Bible was in Exodus chapter 16, when the people of Israel thought that Moses and Aaron had brought them into the wilderness to kill them because of the lack of food and water. They forgot about the Lord’s mighty deliverance from their captivity in Egypt and therefore grumbled against Moses and Aaron who represent the Lord’s elect. It is against this background that the Lord appeared to the people of Israel in the cloud as follows:

Exo 16:10  And it came to pass, as Aaron spake unto the whole congregation of the children of Israel, that they looked toward the wilderness, and, behold, the glory of the LORD appeared in the cloud.
Exo 16:11  And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying,

We know from the word of the Lord that the cloud represents the Lord’s elect.

Heb 12:1  Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us,

We can therefore say that the glory of the Lord appears in His elect.

Exo 40:34  Then a cloud covered the tent of the congregation, and the glory of the LORD filled the tabernacle.

Exo 24:16  And the glory of the LORD abode upon mount Sinai, and the cloud covered it six days: and the seventh day he called unto Moses out of the midst of the cloud.

The fact that the cloud covered mount Sinai for six days is to show us that the cloud represent the Lord’s elect since the number six is the number of man. What we also need to understand is that anytime there is the glory of the Lord in the cloud, there is the speaking of the Lord. This glory of the Lord is therefore being able to hear the voice of the true shepherd or our Lord Jesus Christ from the midst of the fire.

Deu 5:24  And ye said, Behold, the LORD our God hath shewed us his glory and his greatness, and we have heard his voice out of the midst of the fire: we have seen this day that God doth talk with man, and he liveth.

From the midst of the fire signifies that seeing the glory of the Lord also means being judged. At the end of the day, this is what the glory of the Lord does to us, His elect:

1Sa 2:8  He raiseth up the poor out of the dust, and lifteth up the beggar from the dunghill, to set them among princes, and to make them inherit the throne of glory: for the pillars of the earth are the LORD’S, and he hath set the world upon them.

The glory of the Lord is therefore His works in us His elect, first, and later, in another age, the rest of all humanity.

Psa 104:31  The glory of the LORD shall endure forever: the LORD shall rejoice in his works.

Isa 4:5  And the LORD will create upon every dwelling place of mount Zion, and upon her assemblies, a cloud and smoke by day, and the shining of a flaming fire by night: for upon all the glory shall be a defence.

Hab 2:14  For the earth shall be filled with the knowledge of the glory of the LORD, as the waters cover the sea.

The works of the Lord is preparing His temple, which is our bodies for Him to dwell in. The study for today which deals with the glory of the Lord filling the temple is therefore about the works of the Lord in making His elect’s hearts and minds habitable for Him to dwell in.

In the Book of Isaiah, the Lord filling His temple is preparing the way of the Lord in the wilderness. It is also the same as making straight in the desert a highway for our God. The way in the wilderness and the highway in the desert are His judgement as He comes with the spirit of His mouth and His brightness to us in our spiritual poverty (wilderness or desert). This way in the wilderness or a highway in the desert that the Lord prepares in our hearts and minds for Him to live in, is what the glory of the Lord is about. The glory is therefore His works of preparing us for a place to live in.

Isa 40:3  The voice of him that crieth in the wilderness, Prepare ye the way of the LORD, make straight in the desert a highway for our God.
Isa 40:4  Every valley shall be exalted, and every mountain and hill shall be made low: and the crooked shall be made straight, and the rough places plain:
Isa 40:5 And the glory of the LORD shall be revealed, and all flesh shall see it together: for the mouth of the LORD hath spoken it.

Php 2:10  That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth;
Php 2:11 And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

2Th 2:14  Whereunto he called you by our gospel, to the obtaining of the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Today’s study is therefore about how the Lord comes to take residence in our hearts and minds. Specifically, it is about the glory of the Lord as He comes to fill His temple, the measurement of the altar and the offerings.

Col 1:27  To whom God would make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles; which is Christ in you, the hope of glory:

The Glory of the Lord Fills the Temple

Eze 43:1  Afterward he brought me to the gate, even the gate that looketh toward the east: 
Eze 43:2  And, behold, the glory of the God of Israel came from the way of the east: and his voice was like a noise of many waters: and the earth shined with his glory. 
Eze 43:3  And it was according to the appearance of the vision which I saw, even according to the vision that I saw when I came to destroy the city: and the visions were like the vision that I saw by the river Chebar; and I fell upon my face. 
Eze 43:4 And the glory of the LORD came into the house by the way of the gate whose prospect is toward the east. 

Verses 1 and 2 show us that the glory of the Lord came from the way of the east. The east is where the sun rises in our lives. This implies the beginning of our walk with the Lord as the sun represents the Lord Jesus Christ. Our walk with the Lord starts with our lives in Babylon or the physical churches of this world before the Lord comes with the spirit of His mouth and His brightness to drag us to Himself. It is instructive to note that the first time the word “east” is used in the Bible, it has to do with the river that flows east towards Assyria (Babylon) with the river becoming the Euphrates. The next use of the word “east” has to do with the judgement we must go through because of our sins in order to assess the tree of life which represents Christ.

Gen 2:14  And the name of the third river is Hiddekel: that is it which goeth toward the east of Assyria. And the fourth river is Euphrates.

Gen 3:24 So he drove out the man; and he placed at the east of the garden of Eden Cherubims, and a flaming sword which turned every way, to keep the way of the tree of life.

As indicated in the introduction portion of this study, the glory of the Lord is His work towards making us His habitation. It is while we are in Babylon that the Lord comes to us with His words and His judgement to cause the rising of the sun, or Christ, in our lives. The Lord’s coming with His brightness is His illumination of His words so that we can unmistakenly hear His voice as the noise of many waters. That is when our earthen vessels shines with His glory (verse 2).

In verse 3, we are reminded that the appearance of this vision is similar to the one Ezekiel had when the Lord came to destroy the city, when he had the vision by the river Chebar. This is to let us know that the vision of the glory of the Lord coming from the way of the east is for the Lord to destroy, in this case, our old man or flesh through His judgement. This destruction also includes the false doctrines, symbolized by the river Chebar, which we believed in when we were in Babylon.

Again, we are prompted to know in verse 4 that the glory of the Lord coming into the house is by way of the east. That is to say that the Lord’s work of coming to dwell in us entails the judgement of our flesh.

1Pe 4:1  Forasmuch then as Christ hath suffered for us in the flesh, arm yourselves likewise with the same mind: for he that hath suffered in the flesh hath ceased from sin;
1Pe 4:2  That he no longer should live the rest of his time in the flesh to the lusts of men, but to the will of God.

Eze 43:5  So the spirit took me up, and brought me into the inner court; and, behold, the glory of the LORD filled the house. 
Eze 43:6  And I heard him speaking unto me out of the house; and the man stood by me. 
Eze 43:7  And he said unto me, Son of man, the place of my throne, and the place of the soles of my feet, where I will dwell in the midst of the children of Israel forever, and my holy name, shall the house of Israel no more defile, neither they, nor their kings, by their whoredom, nor by the carcases of their kings in their high places. 

The glory of the Lord filling the house in verse 5 is to show us the end result of the works of the Lord in our lives, which is, Christ in you, the hope of glory.

Col 1:27  To whom God would make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles; which is Christ in you, the hope of glory:

When the temple was built by king Solomon and was dedicated, the temple was filled with a cloud as the glory of the Lord occupied the building. As a result, the priests could not minister.

1Ki 8:10  And it came to pass, when the priests were come out of the holy place, that the cloud filled the house of the LORD,
1Ki 8:11 So that the priests could not stand to minister because of the cloud: for the glory of the LORD had filled the house of the LORD.

As we have shown earlier, the glory of the Lord comes in a cloud. The cloud filling the temple is the glory of the Lord filling the temple. The fact that the priests could not minister when the Lord takes residence in our hearts and minds, means that we do no work. That is to say that we rest in Him, or cease from our own strivings, as the Lord does His works in us.

Heb 4:9  There remaineth therefore a rest to the people of God.
Heb 4:10  For he that is entered into his rest, he also hath ceased from his own works, as God did from his.
Heb 4:11 Let us labour therefore to enter into that rest, lest any man fall after the same example of unbelief.

The man standing beside Ezekiel while he hears someone speaking to Him from inside the temple in verse 6 is our Lord Jesus Christ. It is His voice that comes out of the temple to assure Ezekiel in verse 7 that it is within the temple, or our hearts and minds that His throne is, and the resting place for His feet. The Lord also assured Ezekiel that no longer will the people of Israel and their kings dishonor His holy name by acting like prostitutes, nor will they dishonor it with the dead bodies of their kings.  The people of Israel here represent the Lord’s elect. No longer acting like a harlot means that we shall not be under the sway of the harlot woman who signifies Babylon or the physical churches of this world. The Lord cleansing and establishing His throne in our hearts and minds is the same as we dwelling in the sacred place of the most high and abiding under the shadow of the Almighty.

Psa 91:1  He that dwelleth in the secret place of the most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty.
Psa 91:2  I will say of the LORD, He is my refuge and my fortress: my God; in him will I trust.
Psa 91:3  Surely he shall deliver thee from the snare of the fowler, and from the noisome pestilence.
Psa 91:4  He shall cover thee with his feathers, and under his wings shalt thou trust: his truth shall be thy shield and buckler.
Psa 91:5  Thou shalt not be afraid for the terror by night; nor for the arrow that flieth by day;
Psa 91:6  Nor for the pestilence that walketh in darkness; nor for the destruction that wasteth at noonday.
Psa 91:7 A thousand shall fall at thy side, and ten thousand at thy right hand; but it shall not come nigh thee.

In verse 7, we are also told that when the Lord establishes His throne within the people of Israel, they shall not dishonor it with the dead bodies of their kings in their high places. The high places represent the place of worship of their gods. The kings here are the kings of the earth or the leaders of Babylon who had led us astray during our sojourn in Babylon with their false doctrines. When the Lord opens our eyes to see and ears to hear, we come to see these messengers as spiritually dead. Adhering to any doctrine of these false messengers means defiling our temple with the dead bodies or carcasses of these kings.

Rev 17:2  With whom the kings of the earth have committed fornication, and the inhabitants of the earth have been made drunk with the wine of her (the harlot) fornication.

Rev 16:14  For they are the spirits of devils, working miracles, which go forth unto the kings of the earth and of the whole world, to gather them to the battle of that great day of God Almighty.

2Co 11:13  For such are false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into the apostles of Christ.
2Co 11:14  And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light.
2Co 11:15 Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers also be transformed as the ministers of righteousness; whose end shall be according to their works.

Eze 43:8  In their setting of their threshold by my thresholds, and their post by my posts, and the wall between me and them, they have even defiled my holy name by their abominations that they have committed: wherefore I have consumed them in mine anger. 
Eze 43:9  Now let them put away their whoredom, and the carcasses of their kings, far from me, and I will dwell in the midst of them forever. 
Eze 43:10  Thou son of man, shew the house to the house of Israel, that they may be ashamed of their iniquities: and let them measure the pattern. 

Putting their doorway by the Lord’s doorway and their doorpost by the Lord’s doorpost such that there is only a wall that separates the Lord from our brothers and sisters in Babylon in verse 8 means that the entry to serving the Lord is similar for Jerusalem which is above and that which is in bondage. The only difference between them is a wall. This wall or difference is that the worship of the Lord leads to bondage for those who serve under Jerusalem which is in bondage, while that of Jerusalem which is above leads to liberty in Christ.

Gal 4:22  For it is written, that Abraham had two sons, the one by a bondmaid, the other by a freewoman.
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.
Gal 4:25  For this Agar is mount Sinai in Arabia, and answereth to Jerusalem which now is, and is in bondage with her children.
Gal 4:26  But Jerusalem which is above is free, which is the mother of us all.
Gal 4:27  For it is written, Rejoice, thou barren that bearest not; break forth and cry, thou that travailest not: for the desolate hath many more children than she which hath an husband.
Gal 4:28 Now we, brethren, as Isaac was, are the children of promise.

As stated in verse 8, the worship which leads to bondage incurs the wrath of the Lord as He comes with His judgement to consume our flesh. We, His elect, start our walk with the Lord incurring the wrath of the Lord and therefore are judged, before we are given the liberty in Christ which serves as a wall separating us from our adulterous way of worship.

Here in verse 9, we are shown that the work of the Lord is to take away our whoredom far from Him and also put away the carcasses of our kings. As we have shown earlier, the carcasses of the kings represent the false doctrines propagated by the false messengers of Christ parading as angels of light. The putting away of these is the requirement for the indwelling of Christ in us.

In verse 10, the Lord told Ezekiel, a symbol of the elect to show the temple to the people of Israel for them to be ashamed of their iniquities. Showing the temple to the Lord’s elect means measuring the temple pattern. It is therefore imperative that we come to see the pattern that was shown Moses on the mount so that we can know how the Lord builds His temple within us.

Exo 25:9  According to all that I shew thee, after the pattern of the tabernacle, and the pattern of all the instruments thereof, even so shall ye make it.

Exo 25:40  And look that thou make them after their pattern, which was shewed thee in the mount.

Eze 43:11  And if they be ashamed of all that they have done, shew them the form of the house, and the fashion thereof, and the goings out thereof, and the comings in thereof, and all the forms thereof, and all the ordinances thereof, and all the forms thereof, and all the laws thereof: and write it in their sight, that they may keep the whole form thereof, and all the ordinances thereof, and do them. 
Eze 43:12 This is the law of the house; Upon the top of the mountain the whole limit thereof round about shall be most holy. Behold, this is the law of the house. 

Verse 11 is saying that we have to be ashamed of what we have done in terms of our whorish behavior to our husband Christ before we are given to know how the Lord builds His temple within us. According to verse 11, coming to know how the Lord builds His temple within us entails understanding the design of the temple, its arrangements, its exits and entrances – its entire design. It also means knowing about all its rules and regulations. We come to know the rules and regulations of the temple through studying the word of the Lord.

2Ti 2:15  Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.

In verse 12, we are told that the law of the house is that the whole area on the top of the mountain all around must be holy. This whole area on the top of the mountain all around refers to our hearts and minds which must be cleansed to become holy.

1Pe 1:14  As obedient children, not fashioning yourselves according to the former lusts in your ignorance:
1Pe 1:15  But as he which hath called you is holy, so be ye holy in all manner of conversation;
1Pe 1:16 Because it is written, Be ye holy; for I am holy.

The Altar of Sacrifice

Eze 43:13  And these are the measures of the altar after the cubits: The cubit is a cubit and an hand breadth; even the bottom shall be a cubit, and the breadth a cubit, and the border thereof by the edge thereof round about shall be a span: and this shall be the higher place of the altar. 
Eze 43:14  And from the bottom upon the ground even to the lower settle shall be two cubits, and the breadth one cubit; and from the lesser settle even to the greater settle shall be four cubits, and the breadth one cubit. 
Eze 43:15  So the altar shall be four cubits; and from the altar and upward shall be four horns. 
Eze 43:16  And the altar shall be twelve cubits long, twelve broad, square in the four squares thereof. 
Eze 43:17  And the settle shall be fourteen cubits long and fourteen broad in the four squares thereof; and the border about it shall be half a cubit; and the bottom thereof shall be a cubit about; and his stairs shall look toward the east. 

The altar is where our sacrifices are burnt. Spiritually, the altar represents our hearts and minds which are purified through the Lord’s judgement such that we can offer our bodies as living sacrifice to the Lord.

Rom 12:1  I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.
Rom 12:2 And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.

We are told that the measurements of the altar are in cubits and that the cubit used in the sanctuary is different from the normal cubit used for everyday measurements. The cubits in the sanctuary is the normal cubit plus a handbreadth. The handbreadth is approximately 4 inches. This is to show us that the standard applied by the Lord to His elect, who represent His temple are higher than the standard applied to Babylon and the world. The verses below show us that the Lord’s standards for us are far higher than that of the world including Babylon.

1Jn 2:15  Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him.
1Jn 2:16  For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world.
1Jn 2:17 And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth forever.

The base of the altar was a cubit and a cubit wide. All around the edge of the altar was a rim measuring about one span. The number one signifies unity. Thus, the Lord is enjoining all His elect, to have the mind of Christ.

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 height of the altar is as follows: from the base on the ground to the lower ledge was two cubits high, and from the lower ledge to the upper ledge was four cubits high and a cubit wide.

The two cubits height from the base on the ground to the lower ledge signifies that the Lord is preparing us to serve as His witnesses.

2Co 13:1  This is the third time I am coming to you. In the mouth of two or three witnesses shall every word be established.

The height from the lower ledge to the upper ledge being four cubits and one cubit in width means that it is the whole of the Lord’s elect (the significance of the number four) that the Lord is requiring us to have one mind and therefore serve as His witnesses.

The place where the sacrifices were to be burnt shall be four cubits and there were four horns above it. As indicated the four cubits show us that what is being discussed here pertains to the whole of the Lord’s elect. Horns signify strength as shown in the following verse:

1Sa 2:10  The adversaries of the LORD shall be broken to pieces; out of heaven shall he thunder upon them: the LORD shall judge the ends of the earth; and he shall give strength unto his king, and exalt the horn of his anointed.

The four horns therefore means that the whole of the strength of the Lord’s elect is in our oneness or unity. That is when we can serve as witnesses of Christ.

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.

In verse 16, we are told that the altar hearth or fireplace shall be twelve cubits long by twelve cubits wide. This implies that it is a square. The number twelve is the number of Christ. The fireplace represents our judgement and therefore what we are being told is that the judgement of the Lord is to make us like Christ. The fact that the altar fireplace is a square is to let us know that no matter where we are coming from in terms of our background, we must all go through the Lord’s judgement to makes us like Christ. In verse 17, the upper ledge being a square affirms to us that we all go through the same experience to become like Christ.

Ecc 9:2  All things come alike to all: there is one event to the righteous, and to the wicked; to the good and to the clean, and to the unclean; to him that sacrificeth, and to him that sacrificeth not: as is the good, so is the sinner; and he that sweareth, as he that feareth an oath.

The upper ledge was fourteen cubits long and fourteen cubits wide. The number fourteen means spiritual progression. The judgement we face is all to help us progress spiritually. It is instructive to note that the steps to the altar faced east. This is to let us know that the rising of the sun or the Lord in our lives is through the Lord’s judgement.

2Pe 1:19  We have also a more sure word of prophecy; whereunto ye do well that ye take heed, as unto a light that shineth in a dark place, until the day dawn, and the day star arise in your hearts:

The Offerings

Eze 43:18  And he said unto me, Son of man, thus saith the Lord GOD; These are the ordinances of the altar in the day when they shall make it, to offer burnt offerings thereon, and to sprinkle blood thereon. 
Eze 43:19  And thou shalt give to the priests the Levites that be of the seed of Zadok, which approach unto me, to minister unto me, saith the Lord GOD, a young bullock for a sin offering. 
Eze 43:20  And thou shalt take of the blood thereof, and put it on the four horns of it, and on the four corners of the settle, and upon the border round about: thus shalt thou cleanse and purge it. 
Eze 43:21 Thou shalt take the bullock also of the sin offering, and he shall burn it in the appointed place of the house, without the sanctuary.
Eze 43:22  And on the second day thou shalt offer a kid of the goats without blemish for a sin offering; and they shall cleanse the altar, as they did cleanse it with the bullock. 

These verses deal with the cleansing of the altar. As indicated earlier, the altar is our hearts and minds and so these verses show us what the Lord has done for the cleansing of our hearts and minds. In verse 18, we are informed that the altar is for the offering of burnt offerings and the sprinkling of blood. The burnt offerings signifies the destruction of the flesh through fire, and the sprinkling of blood is the blood of Christ which was shed for our sins. The priests from the seed of Zadok, which symbolize the Lord’s elect, are the only ones permitted to approach the Lord and minister to Him. The young bullock for our sin offering represents our Lord Jesus Christ who was offered for our sins. The bullock being young is in reference to our Lord Jesus Christ who was offered at a very young age for our sins.

Heb 10:4  For it is not possible that the blood of bulls and of goats should take away sins.
Heb 10:5  Wherefore when he cometh into the world, he saith, Sacrifice and offering thou wouldest not, but a body hast thou prepared me:
Heb 10:6  In burnt offerings and sacrifices for sin thou hast had no pleasure.
Heb 10:7  Then said I, Lo, I come (in the volume of the book it is written of me,) to do thy will, O God.
Heb 10:8  Above when he said, Sacrifice and offering and burnt offerings and offering for sin thou wouldest not, neither hadst pleasure therein; which are offered by the law;
Heb 10:9 Then said he, Lo, I come to do thy will, O God. He taketh away the first, that he may establish the second.

2 Corinthians 5:21: For God made Christ, who never sinned, to be the offering for our sin, so that we could be made right with God through Christ.

In Verse 20, Ezekiel was to take some of the bull’s blood, and put it on the altar’s four horns, on the four corners of the ledge, and on the rim all the way around the altar. This is to cleanse and purge the altar of sin. The spiritual reality of this verse is shown in the following:

Heb 9:21  Moreover he sprinkled with blood both the tabernacle, and all the vessels of the ministry.
Heb 9:22  And almost all things are by the law purged with blood; and without shedding of blood is no remission.
Heb 9:23 It was therefore necessary that the patterns of things in the heavens should be purified with these; but the heavenly things themselves with better sacrifices than these.
Heb 9:24  For Christ is not entered into the holy places made with hands, which are the figures of the true; but into heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God for us:

In other words, the purification of our hearts and minds is the heavenly things themselves in Hebrew 11:23 and it is there that the Lord is cleansing us with His blood.

The body of the bullock for the sin offering must be burnt outside the sanctuary. This shows us how our Lord died outside the gate of Jerusalem to sanctify us with His blood. As Christ is, so are we. We must also go forth outside the camp of Babylon to suffer or be judged for the destruction of our flesh, for the sake of Christ.

Heb 13:10  We have an altar, whereof they have no right to eat which serve the tabernacle.
Heb 13:11  For the bodies of those beasts, whose blood is brought into the sanctuary by the high priest for sin, are burned without the camp.
Heb 13:12  Wherefore Jesus also, that he might sanctify the people with his own blood, suffered without the gate.
Heb 13:13 Let us go forth therefore unto him without the camp, bearing his reproach.

Verse 22 tells us of the sacrifice of a kid of the goats without blemish for a sin offering. Again, the kid of the goats without blemish is our Lord Jesus Christ whose blood cleanses our hearts and minds.

Eze 43:23  When thou hast made an end of cleansing it, thou shalt offer a young bullock without blemish, and a ram out of the flock without blemish. 
Eze 43:24  And thou shalt offer them before the LORD, and the priests shall cast salt upon them, and they shall offer them up for a burnt offering unto the LORD. 
Eze 43:25  Seven days shalt thou prepare every day a goat for a sin offering: they shall also prepare a young bullock, and a ram out of the flock, without blemish. 
Eze 43:26  Seven days shall they purge the altar and purify it; and they shall consecrate themselves. 
Eze 43:27  And when these days are expired, it shall be, that upon the eighth day, and so forward, the priests shall make your burnt offerings upon the altar, and your peace offerings; and I will accept you, saith the Lord GOD. 

Verses 23 to 26 show us the repetitive nature of the sacrifice as part of the law of Moses. Seven days of these sacrifice means the complete period of our walk in the churches of this world or Babylon, when we were under the law of Moses.

Heb 9:25  Nor yet that he should offer himself often, as the high priest entereth into the holy place every year with blood of others;
Heb 9:26 For then must he often have suffered since the foundation of the world: but now once in the end of the world hath he appeared to put away sin by the sacrifice of himself.

The eighth day represents new beginnings where we had left behind the law of Moses and are now operating under the law of the spirit of life which sets us free from the law of sin and death (law of Moses). During this period as priests of the Lord, we are to make burnt offerings upon the altar and peace offerings. As stated earlier, the burnt offering results in the destruction of the flesh. However, the peace offering is the only offering in which all three parties partake of the offering; God gets His share, the priest gets his part, and the offerer gets his part to share with “anyone who is clean”. In verse 27, we are informed that it is through the burnt offerings and the peace offerings that we are accepted by the Lord. It is as our flesh proceeds to die through the judgement of the Lord (burnt offering) and we are partaking of the word of the Lord (peace offering) that we are accepted by the Lord.

We thank the Lord for His mercy towards us, to be accepted by the Lord in this age. Amen!!

“Journey Through the Kingdom to God’s Throne” – Part 3

The Temple Mount and Courts: Ascending to God’s Presence
Through Judgement and Revelation

[Study Aired Nov 19, 2024]

Introduction

In our previous studies, we traced the spiritual journey of drawing near to God’s presence, beginning at the gates of Jerusalem: “Our feet shall stand within thy gates, O Jerusalem” (Psalm 122:2). These gates revealed Christ as the only true entrance: “I am the door: by me if any man enter in, he shall be saved” (John 10:9). This journey emphasized the narrow way leading to life: “Strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it” (Matthew 7:14).

Through these gates, we explored a progression of transformation, each step revealing Christ’s work within us: “He which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ” (Philippians 1:6). This ascent follows the psalmist’s declaration: “They go from strength to strength, every one of them in Zion appeareth before God” (Psalm 84:7).

In this study, we advance from the city gates to the Temple Mount and its courts, uncovering deeper spiritual truths. These physical structures represent the stages of spiritual ascent: from foundational purification to higher revelation. Each step draws us closer to God, transforming us “into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord” (2 Corinthians 3:18).

The Temple Mount: Foundation of Ascent

The Temple Mount, located in Jerusalem, holds profound spiritual significance both in its historical context and in its symbolism for our spiritual journey. It is first mentioned in Scripture as the site where Abraham’s faith was tested when God asked him to offer his son Isaac: “And he said, Take now thy son, thine only son Isaac, whom thou lovest, and get thee into the land of Moriah; and offer him there for a burnt offering upon one of the mountains which I will tell thee of” (Genesis 22:2). This ultimate act of obedience foreshadowed Christ’s sacrifice and established Mount Moriah as a place of revelation and communion with God.

A Place of Elevation

When Solomon built the temple, he chose this same mount for its construction: “Then Solomon began to build the house of the LORD at Jerusalem in mount Moriah, where the LORD appeared unto David his father” (2 Chronicles 3:1). Its elevation above the city reflects the principle of drawing closer to God through spiritual ascent. As Isaiah declared: “O Zion, that bringest good tidings, get thee up into the high mountain” (Isaiah 40:9). This elevation also calls believers to rise above the distractions and impurities of the world, as Paul exhorts: “Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth” (Colossians 3:2).

The physical height of the Temple Mount symbolizes the spiritual truth that approaching God requires a higher perspective. It asks us to leave behind worldly concerns and ascend toward His presence, as reflected in the psalmist’s question: “Who shall ascend into the hill of the LORD? or who shall stand in his holy place?” (Psalm 24:3). The answer reveals that only those with clean hands and pure hearts — qualities that only Christ can produce in us — are prepared for such communion: “He that hath clean hands, and a pure heart; who hath not lifted up his soul unto vanity, nor sworn deceitfully” (Psalm 24:4).

Separation and Sanctification

The elevation of the Temple Mount not only reflects physical separation from the rest of the city but also teaches the spiritual principle of sanctification. God calls His people to be distinct: “Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing” (2 Corinthians 6:17). This separation is not isolation, but a life set apart for God’s purposes. Jesus exemplified this in His prayer for His disciples: “I pray not that thou shouldest take them out of the world, but that thou shouldest keep them from the evil” (John 17:15).

As believers, we are called to live lives of holiness that reflect our position as a “city set on a hill” (Matthew 5:14). The Mount’s elevation teaches that those who seek higher revelation must walk in greater obedience and purity, for “Blessed are the pure in heart: for they shall see God” (Matthew 5:8).

Christ as the Foundation

The massive foundation stones of the Temple Mount serve as a powerful symbol of Christ, the cornerstone of our faith: “For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ” (1 Corinthians 3:11). These stones were carefully hewn and prepared before being placed, reflecting God’s work in shaping His people through judgment and refinement. Solomon’s command regarding these stones echoes this preparation: “And the king commanded, and they brought great stones, costly stones, and hewed stones, to lay the foundation of the house” (1 Kings 5:17).

This preparation mirrors God’s work in believers, as Paul describes: “In whom all the building fitly framed together groweth unto an holy temple in the Lord” (Ephesians 2:21). Each stone represents a life shaped by God’s hand, fitting perfectly into His spiritual house. The Mount’s foundation stones also speak to the enduring strength and stability that Christ provides, for “Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and today, and forever” (Hebrews 13:8).

Unity and Equality in Christ

The level platform created by the Temple Mount’s massive foundation stones symbolizes the unity and equality believers have in Christ. Regardless of background, all are brought to the same spiritual level through His work: “There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female: for ye are all one in Christ Jesus” (Galatians 3:28). This leveling process humbles the proud and exalts the lowly: “Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and he shall lift you up” (James 4:10).

Orientation Toward Revelation

The Temple Mount’s careful orientation, with the temple facing east, carries profound spiritual significance. Eastward orientation often symbolizes anticipation of God’s glory and the dawning of new revelation. Ezekiel foresaw this when he described God’s glory approaching from the east: “And, behold, the glory of the God of Israel came from the way of the east” (Ezekiel 43:2). This vision connects with the promise of Christ’s return and the increasing clarity of revelation for those who seek Him: “When he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth” (John 16:13).

The eastward focus also ties to Christ as the rising Sun of Righteousness: “But unto you that fear my name shall the Sun of righteousness arise with healing in his wings” (Malachi 4:2). As we ascend spiritually, we are called to orient our lives toward His light, seeking His guidance and revelation: “Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path” (Psalm 119:105).

The Great Court: Initial Cleansing and Revelation

The Great Court, also called the Outer Court, represents the initial stage of drawing near to God. It was the largest area of the temple complex, designed to accommodate multitudes, symbolizing the inclusive nature of God’s call to salvation: “Who will have all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth” (1 Timothy 2:4). Yet, while God desires all to approach Him, entering the deeper courts requires a process of cleansing and spiritual refinement.

A Place of Sacrifice: The Brazen Altar

At the heart of the Great Court stood the brazen altar, constructed of brass, a material that represents judgment. This was the site of animal sacrifices, where offerings were consumed by fire as a foreshadowing of Christ’s ultimate sacrifice: “But this man, after he had offered one sacrifice for sins forever, sat down on the right hand of God” (Hebrews 10:12). The altar teaches that our first approach to God is not based on our works but on the beginning work of Christ: “By the which will we are sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all” (Hebrews 10:10).

The perpetual fire on the altar symbolizes the ongoing work of God’s judgment and refinement in our lives: “The fire shall ever be burning upon the altar; it shall never go out” (Leviticus 6:13). This continual fire reflects the process of sanctification, where believers are purified through trials that reveal and remove impurities: “That the trial of your faith… might be found unto praise and honour and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ” (1 Peter 1:7). These trials teach us reliance on God, who purifies us as gold is refined in fire: “He shall sit as a refiner and purifier of silver. And he will purify the sons of Levi, and refine them as gold and silver. And they shall offer to LORD offerings in righteousness.” (Malachi 3:3).

Cleansing Through the Brazen Laver

Beyond the altar stood the brazen laver, a large basin made of brass and filled with water. Priests were required to wash at the laver before ministering: “When they go into the tabernacle of the congregation, they shall wash with water, that they die not” (Exodus 30:20). This washing represents the cleansing power of God’s Word, which purifies our hearts and minds: “That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word” (Ephesians 5:26).

Positioned between the altar and the tabernacle, the laver shows that deeper revelation and service to God follow the acceptance of Christ’s sacrifice. This ongoing cleansing is essential for spiritual growth, as David prayed: “Wash me throughly from mine iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin” (Psalm 51:2). Just as the priests could not approach God without washing, believers must continually examine themselves to ensure they are walking in purity: “Let a man examine himself, and so let him eat of that bread, and drink of that cup” (1 Corinthians 11:28).

The laver’s location teaches that cleansing is not a one-time event but a continuous process, preparing us to draw nearer to God. This principle aligns with the psalmist’s declaration: “The entrance of thy words giveth light; it giveth understanding unto the simple” (Psalm 119:130). As we allow God’s Word to reveal and correct our shortcomings, we are transformed into vessels fit for His service.

Symbolism of Hewn Stones and Cedar Beams

The Great Court’s construction included rows of hewn stones and cedar beams: “And the great court round about was with three rows of hewed stones, and a row of cedar beams” (1 Kings 7:12). The hewn stones, shaped with precision, symbolize the believer’s transformation through God’s judgment: “As the clay is in the potter’s hand, so are ye in mine hand” (Jeremiah 18:6). These stones, like the foundation stones of the Temple Mount, were prepared before being placed, reflecting the refining process God performs in our lives.

The cedar beams atop these stones represent strength that comes through humility. While cedar often symbolizes pride and loftiness—“The cedars of Lebanon, that are high and lifted up” (Isaiah 2:13)—it must first be broken before it can be used in God’s house: “The voice of the LORD breaketh the cedars; yea, the LORD breaketh the cedars of Lebanon” (Psalm 29:5). This breaking process aligns with James’s teaching: “God resisteth the proud, but giveth grace unto the humble” (James 4:6). Together, the hewn stones and broken cedar beams illustrate the balance of humility and strength needed for spiritual growth.

Exposure to Natural Elements

The Great Court was open to the natural elements—sun, rain, and wind—reflecting the believer’s early spiritual experiences, where external circumstances still greatly influence their walk with God. This exposure symbolizes the trials and challenges faced by those beginning their journey of faith. Yet even in these early stages, God provides stability and protection, as depicted by the covered areas supported by pillars around the court: “Wisdom hath builded her house, she hath hewn out her seven pillars” (Proverbs 9:1).

The pillars also represent God’s enduring support for His people, as seen in His promise to overcomers: “Him that overcometh will I make a pillar in the temple of my God” (Revelation 3:12). These structures remind us that while we may be exposed to the elements, God is our refuge and strength: “For thou hast been a shelter for me, and a strong tower from the enemy” (Psalm 61:3).

Purging Worldly Influences

The Great Court also accommodated activities such as buying and selling, which Jesus later cleansed: “Take these things hence; make not my Father’s house an house of merchandise” (John 2:16). This act of purging underscores the need to remove worldly distractions from our approach to God. Paul exhorts believers to separate the precious from the vile: “If a man therefore purge himself from these, he shall be a vessel unto honour, sanctified, and meet for the master’s use” (2 Timothy 2:21).

The purging of worldly influences is a key part of our preparation to serve God, as David prayed: “Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me” (Psalm 51:10). This cleansing brings greater joy and understanding, enabling us to draw nearer to God with pure motives: “Restore unto me the joy of thy salvation; and uphold me with thy free spirit” (Psalm 51:12).

The Inner Court: Drawing Nearer Through Greater Judgment

The Inner Court represents a deeper stage of spiritual communion, marked by greater purification and revelation. Unlike the Great Court, which was accessible to all Israelites, the Inner Court was restricted to the priests, emphasizing the principle of greater separation for those who draw nearer to God. This deeper level of access requires not only outward cleansing but inward transformation, as Isaiah declared: “Be ye clean, that bear the vessels of the LORD” (Isaiah 52:11).

Restricted Access and Spiritual Separation

The restricted access to the Inner Court highlights the spiritual principle of sanctification, where greater intimacy with God requires greater holiness. Paul wrote, “Having therefore these promises, dearly beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God” (2 Corinthians 7:1). This purification is not merely external but a deep, inward work of judgment that refines and prepares the believer for closer fellowship with God.

The distinction between those permitted in the Great Court and those allowed in the Inner Court symbolizes the call to priesthood, a role that involves not only privilege but also accountability. Believers are called to this spiritual priesthood through Christ: “Ye also, as lively stones, are built up a spiritual house, an holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God by Jesus Christ” (1 Peter 2:5).

Spiritual Ascent Through Judgment

The elevation of the Inner Court above the Great Court required ascending steps, a clear picture of spiritual ascent through judgment. “My soul is among lions: and I lie even among them that are set on fire, even the sons of men, whose teeth are spears and arrows, and their tongue a sharp sword. Be thou exalted, O God, above the heavens; let thy glory be above all the earth.” (Psalms 57:4-5). This ascent reflects the believer’s call to rise above earthly concerns and seek the things of God: “If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God” (Colossians 3:1).

Spiritual ascent requires a willingness to endure God’s refining process. Just as Moses ascended Mount Sinai to receive God’s law, believers are invited to draw closer to God, even as He works to purify their hearts. God’s invitation to Moses reflects this calling: “Come up to me into the mount, and be there: and I will give thee tables of stone, and a law, and commandments which I have written; that thou mayest teach them” (Exodus 24:12). This ascent brings not only revelation but also the warning to live according to God’s word.

Priestly Service: Duties and Preparation

The Inner Court was the place of daily service for the priests, including preparing sacrifices, maintaining the altar, and ensuring the temple was in order. These duties required diligence and discernment, reflecting the call for believers to grow in their understanding of God’s word: “Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth” (2 Timothy 2:15).

The preparation of sacrifices and the careful inspection of offerings for blemishes symbolize the believer’s call to offer themselves as living sacrifices to God: “I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service” (Romans 12:1). This service requires attention to spiritual purity and readiness, as Paul instructed Timothy: “Meditate upon these things; give thyself wholly to them; that thy profiting may appear to all” (1 Timothy 4:15).

The priests’ work also involved the constant upkeep of the altar and temple, a reminder that spiritual growth requires ongoing effort. Just as the priests tended to the temple, believers must continually nurture their relationship with God through prayer, study, and obedience: “But grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ” (2 Peter 3:18).

Drawing Closer to God’s Presence

The Inner Court’s proximity to the temple building symbolizes the privilege and availability of drawing nearer to God’s presence. This nearness brings greater revelation, as David expressed: “For a day in thy courts is better than a thousand. I had rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my God, than to dwell in the tents of wickedness” (Psalm 84:10). Even the lowest position near God’s presence surpasses any worldly honor.

With this nearness, however, comes increased accountability. Jesus taught: “Unto whomsoever much is given, of him shall be much required” (Luke 12:48). Believers who draw closer to God are entrusted with greater understanding and are called to live lives that reflect His holiness: “Be ye holy; for I am holy” (1 Peter 1:16). This deeper communion with God is accompanied by the privilege of knowing His heart, as the psalmist declared: “The secret of the LORD is with them that fear him; and he will shew them his covenant” (Psalm 25:14).

The refining work that takes place in the Inner Court leads to transformation, as Paul described: “But we all, with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord” (2 Corinthians 3:18). This transformation prepares believers for even deeper communion with God, as they progress toward the Most Holy Place.

Conclusion: A Journey of Transformation

The journey through the courts of the Temple Mount represents a progressive path of drawing nearer to God, one that requires judgment, purification, and spiritual ascent. Each stage—from the Temple mount to the Great Court to the Inner Court—teaches essential principles for those seeking deeper communion with Him.

The Great Court: Beginning the Journey

In the Great Court, we learn that the first step toward God is through sacrifice and cleansing. The brazen altar reminds us that Christ’s sacrifice is the foundation of our salvation: “For by one offering he hath perfected forever them that are sanctified” (Hebrews 10:14). Here, we acknowledge our need for His atonement and embrace the process of sanctification, symbolized by the perpetual fire and the washing at the laver.

This outermost court also reflects the believer’s early spiritual experiences, where external influences still affect their walk with God. Through the trials and cleansing represented in this court, we begin to separate from worldly distractions, preparing to enter a closer relationship with Him: “Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean: wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow” (Psalm 51:7).

The Inner Court: Drawing Closer

Progressing to the Inner Court symbolizes a deeper commitment to God’s purposes. This stage requires greater separation, as represented by the restricted access granted only to priests. It calls for a higher level of purity and readiness, reflecting the truth that those who are drawn closer to God must also endure greater judgment: “Every branch in me that beareth fruit, he purgeth it, that it may bring forth more fruit” (John 15:2).

The duties of the priests in the Inner Court point to the spiritual discernment and preparation required for deeper service. This preparation refines us, teaching us to “offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God by Jesus Christ” (1 Peter 2:5). Here, we experience the transformation that comes from proximity to God’s presence, being changed “from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord” (2 Corinthians 3:18).

Ascending Toward the Holy

Both courts point to the ultimate goal of the believer’s journey: entering the Most Holy Place, where God’s presence dwells. The progression from the Great Court to the Inner Court mirrors the believer’s spiritual ascent, moving from initial cleansing to a deeper, more intimate communion with God. This journey is not merely one of physical location but of the heart, as the psalmist declared: “Blessed is the man whose strength is in thee; in whose heart are the ways of them. Who passing through the valley of Baca make it a well; the rain also filleth the pools. They go from strength to strength, every one of them in Zion appeareth before God” (Psalm 84:5-7).

The courts teach us that each stage of this journey requires greater surrender, humility, and reliance on God’s grace. The sacrifices, washing, and acts of service all point to the necessity of transformation, as we are conformed to the image of Christ: “And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God” (Romans 12:2).

A Call to Prepare for His Presence

The Temple Mount’s physical courts serve as a shadow of spiritual truths, reminding us that approaching God requires preparation and holiness. The writer of Hebrews captures this reality: “Follow peace with all men, and holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord” (Hebrews 12:14). Each step closer to God demands not only greater obedience but also greater reliance on His Spirit to guide and transform us: “For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure” (Philippians 2:13).

As we reflect on this journey, we see that the courts are not merely destinations but stages of relationship with God. They remind us that the path to Him is one of constant growth, requiring us to leave behind the distractions of the world and press toward the mark for the prize of His calling: “I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus” (Philippians 3:14).

Looking Ahead: The Temple Building

Our journey does not end here. Beyond the courts lies the sanctuary itself—the temple building, with its three sections: the Porch, the Holy Place, and the Most Holy Place. Each section reveals deeper revelations of Christ and His work in us. As we move toward the Most Holy Place, we will examine the golden furnishings, the veil, and the ark of the covenant, all of which point to the ultimate fulfillment of God’s plan in Christ.

Join us in our next study as we continue this journey into “the Holiest of all” (Hebrews 9:8), exploring the riches of God’s presence and the transformative power of His Spirit.

“Musical Instruments in the Bible” Part 3 – Wind – [Hatsotserah=Trumpet]

[Study Aired September 28, 2023]

In this week’s study we will look at another wind instrument called the Hatsotserah, which is a trumpet. Below is the Strong’s number for this word and the verses that you will find it in.

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Hebrew: Hatsotserah
KJV Name: Trumpet
Strong’s: #H2689
References: Num10:2-10, 31:6, 2Kings 11:14, 12:13, 1Chronicles 13:8, 15:24, 28, 16:6, 42, 2Chronicles 5:12-13, 13:12, etc.

The hatsotserah, a different musical instrument than the shofar, is mentioned 29 times in the Hebrew Old Testament. Hatsotserahs were trumpets that were straight, narrow and quite long (possibly .9 meters or 2.9 feet). They were constructed out of silver (Num 10:1-2) or gold, had a flared end and produced a high shrill tone.

This type of trumpet was used to signal the Israelites, when they wandered the wilderness for forty years, to assemble and break camp (Num 10:5). It was an important part of temple worship (1Ch 15:28, 2Ch 15:14) and considered one of the sacred utensils (2Ki 12:13, Num 31:6). The hatsotserah was blown on New Moons and other festive occasions as well as at the temple’s daily offerings (2Ki 11:14, Hos 5:8, Psa 98:6).

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I’ll start our study off with the first time that the word Hatsotserah is used in the bible which is found in Numbers 10:2-10, and look at the surrounding verses that will bring out the spiritual meaning of what the Hatsotserah trumpet signifies for the body of Christ today.

Num 10:2  Make thee two trumpets^H2689 of silver; of a whole piece shalt thou make them: that thou mayest use them for the calling of the assembly, and for the journeying of the camps.
Num 10:3  And when they shall blow with them, all the assembly shall assemble themselves to thee at the door of the tabernacle of the congregation. 
Num 10:4  And if they blow but with one trumpet, then the princes, which are heads of the thousands of Israel, shall gather themselves unto thee.
Num 10:5  When ye blow an alarm, then the camps that lie on the east parts shall go forward. 
Num 10:6  When ye blow an alarm the second time, then the camps that lie on the south side shall take their journey: they shall blow an alarm for their journeys. 
Num 10:7  But when the congregation is to be gathered together, ye shall blow, but ye shall not sound an alarm.
Num 10:8  And the sons of Aaron, the priests, shall blow with the trumpets; and they shall be to you for an ordinance for ever throughout your generations. 
Num 10:9  And if ye go to war in your land against the enemy that oppresseth you, then ye shall blow an alarm with the trumpets; and ye shall be remembered before the LORD your God, and ye shall be saved from your enemies. 
Num 10:10  Also in the day of your gladness, and in your solemn days, and in the beginnings of your months, ye shall blow with the trumpets over your burnt offerings, and over the sacrifices of your peace offerings; that they may be to you for a memorial before your God: I am the LORD your God.

These last words in Numbers 10:10 (“I am the LORD your God”) are what these previous verses are all pointing to as we learn that Christ is ‘the LORD your God.’ Christ is the true witness in our lives, the two silver trumpets [witness] that become such in the lives of God’s elect as a result of their being able to hear the voice of the true Shepherd and be led by the spirit of God (Rom 8:14). When we clearly hear the sound of the trumpet of Christ’s voice (1Co 14:8, Joh 10:27), we are hearing the message of being judged in this age (1Pe 4:17). That judgment produces direction in our lives that glorifies God and gives us victory over our enemies in the land which represents our bodies (Num 10:3-10). In Numbers 10:8 we learn that it is Aaron’s sons, representing the elect, who blow the trumpets telling the congregation to “assemble themselves to thee at the door of the tabernacle of the congregation” (Num 10:3). Being ‘assembled at the door’ is typical of coming before Christ as our high priest Who is the door (Joh 10:9, Rev 3:20).

Num 10:10  Also in the day of your gladness, and in your solemn days, and in the beginnings of your months, ye shall blow with the trumpets over your burnt offerings, and over the sacrifices of your peace offerings; that they may be to you for a memorial before your God: I am the LORD your God.

1Co 14:8  For if the trumpet give an uncertain sound, who shall prepare himself to the battle? 

Joh 10:27  My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me:

Joh 10:9  I am the door: by me if any man enter in, he shall be saved, and shall go in and out, and find pasture.

Rev 3:20  Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me [Joh 6:44].

When we are blessed to hear the voice of the true Shepherd and not despise His leading us to repentance (Rom 2:4), then we see that we are connected to the whole body, “a whole piece shalt thou make them” (Num 10:2), and our repentance (“make thee two trumpets of silver“) to which God leads us makes us zealous for the congregation (2Co 7:11, Rom 10:10) to provoke each other to love and good works, which is what these words signify “that thou mayest use them for the calling of the assembly, and for the journeying of the camps.”

Rom 2:4  Or despisest thou the riches of his goodness and forbearance and longsuffering; not knowing that the goodness of God leadeth thee to repentance? 

2Co 7:11  For behold this selfsame thing, that ye sorrowed after a godly sort, what carefulness it wrought in you, yea, what clearing of yourselves, yea, what indignation, yea, what fear, yea, what vehement desire, yea, what zeal, yea, what revenge! In all things ye have approved yourselves to be clear in this matter. 

Rom 10:10  For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation [silver trumpets are blown].

This ‘journeying of the camps’ of those who are hearing the trumpets blown by Aaron’s sons is all symbolic language representing how God’s elect are to be led by the spirit of God today (Rom 8:14-16) in order to overcome in this age. When we mortify the deeds of the flesh and bring our bodies into subjection to Christ (Rom 12:1), we are fulfilling the typical example of those actions in this verse, “And if they blow but with one trumpet, then the princes, which are heads of the thousands of Israel, shall gather themselves unto thee” (1Jn 2:15-17). 

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.
Rom 8:16  The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God: 

1Jn 2:15  Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him.
1Jn 2:16  For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world.
1Jn 2:17  And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth for ever.

The enemy that oppresses us in our land represents the powers and principalities that we fight against (Eph 6:12) that only Christ is far higher than and able to overcome (Eph 1:21-22). All Israel needed to do was “blow an alarm with the trumpets; and ye shall be remembered before the LORD your God, and ye shall be saved from your enemies”, telling us that all we need to do is confess our faults, represented by the blowing of the silver trumpets (Rom 10:10), then we will be remembered by the Lord “and ye shall be saved from your enemies” (Num 10:4, Num 10:9, Lev 26:40-42, Psa 32:5, Joh 8:36). 

Eph 6:12  For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.

Eph 1:21  Far above all principality, and power, and might, and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this world, but also in that which is to come:
Eph 1:22  And hath put all things under his feet, and gave him to be the head over all things to the church, [Joh 8:36]
Eph 1:23  Which is his body, the fulness of him that filleth all in all. 

Lev 26:40  If they shall confess their iniquity, and the iniquity of their fathers, with their trespass which they trespassed against me, and that also they have walked contrary unto me; 
Lev 26:41  And that I also have walked contrary unto them, and have brought them into the land of their enemies; if then their uncircumcised hearts be humbled, and they then accept of the punishment of their iniquity:
Lev 26:42  Then will I remember my covenant with Jacob, and also my covenant with Isaac, and also my covenant with Abraham will I remember; and I will remember the land. 

Psa 32:5  I acknowledged my sin unto thee, and mine iniquity have I not hid. I said, I will confess my transgressions unto the LORD; and thou forgavest the iniquity of my sin. Selah. 

Joh 8:36  If the Son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed.

The heads of thousands [10x10x10=1000] (Num 10:4) represent the leadership roles God has ordained in the body of Christ in order to help bring the entire body of Christ, typified by the camp of Israel, into subjection to Him “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” (Eph 4:13). This happens through a lifelong process of having our life judged (10X10X10=1000)

In Numbers 10:5 the movement of the camp is from the east part that shall go forward, and this is mentioned first as our spiritual journey or sojourn begins on the right foot when Christ the morning star is rising in our hearts and shining forth from the east to the west as He works in us both to will and to do of God’s good pleasure (Rev 22:16, Rev 2:28, Mat 24:27, Php 2:12-13). 

Then in Numbers 10:6 we read of the alarm being blown a second time to tell the camps in the south to take their journeys. Moving from the south is not possible without the first alarm being blown that tells the camp from the east to move forward. Israel moved in many directions as a congregation, but the point being shown here is for our edification. The Israel of God (Gal 6:16) moving forward and overcoming in this life is accomplished by our being judged by God who is going to destroy the man of perdition on the throne of our hearts so we take our direction from Christ and not operate in our flesh (2Th 2:8, Tit 2:12, Eph 2:8). When we are in subjection to our head, we are able to go where the Lord directs us. 

2Th 2:8  And then shall that Wicked be revealed, whom the Lord shall consume with the spirit of his mouth, and shall destroy with the brightness of his coming: 

Tit 2:12  Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world;

Eph 2:8  For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:

These two verses (Num 10:5-6) discuss the only way we can move forward spiritually in this life, represented by the south that only moves after that symbolic judgment begins as the eastern camp which moves forward after hearing the silver trumpet.

Num 10:5  When ye blow an alarm, then the camps that lie on the east parts shall go forward. 
Num 10:6  When ye blow an alarm the second time, then the camps that lie on the south side shall take their journey: they shall blow an alarm for their journeys.

When all the congregation is gathered together, a trumpet is blown, but no alarm is mentioned being blown in Numbers 10:7, telling us that although we wrestle not against flesh and blood but against powers and principalities, there must be times when we are not in the thick of the battle but given rest and prepared together as a congregation of saints to prepare for future battles. Every conference I’ve ever gone to has refreshed the body of Christ and been followed by some large to great trial or series of trials. Lord willing, this refreshing of the saints that is coming up in November in Mobile, AL will be more great preparation for ruling over the kingdoms of this world (Rev 11:15). That time will come soon enough and God will not tarry (Heb 10:37-38) whether this is the season it occurs or not, and then the saints will begin to fulfill the role spoken of in Numbers 10:4.

2Co 7:11  For behold this selfsame thing, that ye sorrowed after a godly sort, what carefulness it wrought in you, yea, what clearing of yourselves, yea, what indignation, yea, what fear, yea, what vehement desire, yea, what zeal, yea, what revenge! In all things ye have approved yourselves to be clear in this matter. 

Rom 10:10  For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.

Heb 10:37  For yet a little while, and he that shall come will come, and will not tarry. 
Heb 10:38  Now the just shall live by faith: but if any man draw back, my soul shall have no pleasure in him. 

Num 10:4  And if they blow but with one trumpet, then the princes, which are heads of the thousands of Israel, shall gather themselves unto thee.

Getting back to the instruments themselves, these beaten-out long and straight silver instruments which were blown to tell the camp of Israel that they needed to move, represent the elect who have been worked with by God’s grace and through the faith of Jesus Christ (Tit 2:12, Heb 12:38, Eph 2:8), and the message we blow is the same as John the Baptist; to make straight the ways of the Lord (Joh 1:23). The message is loud and clear and with the flared end of the trumpet the sound is further amplified, typifying how the gospel will be preached far and wide to all nations as a witness, then shall the end come. It is first clearly and properly heard, however, only in the hearts and minds of those whom God has ordained to have eyes that see and ears that hear in this generation (Mat 24:14, Mat 13:16).

Joh 1:23  He said, I am the voice of one crying in the wilderness, Make straight the way of the Lord, as said the prophet Esaias.

Num 10:2  Make thee two trumpetsH2689 of silver; of a whole piece shalt thou make them: that thou mayest use them for the calling of the assembly, and for the journeying of the camps. 

Mat 24:14  And this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations; and then shall the end come.

Mat 13:16  But blessed are your eyes, for they see: and your ears, for they hear.

In verse ten we see more of an example of how the silver trumpets, the Hatsotserah, are incorporated in our walk with the Lord:

Num 10:10  Also in the day of your gladness, and in your solemn days, and in the beginnings of your months, ye shall blow with the trumpets over your burnt offerings, and over the sacrifices of your peace offerings; that they may be to you for a memorial before your God: I am the LORD your God.

We see here that there are also festive occasions connected with the trumpet, where we are brought into remembrance of God’s great deliverance from the enemies within our lands, which we have seen represent the bondage sin brings. This liberty God gives us through Christ is “the day of your gladness” and spoken of as being “in your solemn days”H4150  reminding us that there is a season for all things, “a time to laugh; a time to mourn, and a time to dance” (Ecc 3:4). It is also “in the beginningsH7218 of your months” that the trumpet is blown, showing us that when we come into this relationship with our Father and Christ and one another it is a lifelong journey which has a beginning, middle and end through and unto which we pray we will all be able to endure (Mat 24:12-13). 

“Solemn days” H4150
mô‛êd    mô‛êd    mô‛âdâh
mo-ade’, mo-ade’, mo-aw-daw’
From H3259; properly an appointment, that is, a fixed time or season; specifically a festival; conventionally a year; by implication, an assembly (as convened for a definite purpose); technically the congregation; by extension, the place of meeting; also a signal (as appointed beforehand): – appointed (sign, time), (place of, solemn) assembly, congregation, (set, solemn) feast, (appointed, due) season, solemn (-ity), synagogue, (set) time (appointed).

Total KJV occurrences: 223

“Beginnings” H7218 rô’sh roshe

From an unused root apparently meaning to shake; the head (as most easily shaken), whether literally or figuratively (in many applications, of place, time, rank, etc.): – band, beginning, captain, chapiter, chief (-est place, man, things), company, end, X every [man], excellent, first, forefront, ([be-]) head, height, (on) high (-est part, [priest]), X lead, X poor, principal, ruler, sum, top.

Total KJV occurrences: 598

Ecc 3:4  A time to weep, and a time to laugh; a time to mourn, and a time to dance; 

Mat 24:12  And because iniquity shall abound, the love of many shall wax cold.
Mat 24:13  But he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved.

We “blow with the trumpets over your burnt offerings, and over the sacrifices of your peace offerings”, actions that bring us into remembrance of how our Sovereign God and Father has given us the life of Christ through His spirit so we can be nourished by the burnt offerings and peace offerings which Christ and His Christ represent. That rich life of Christ within us, Who is our sufficiency (2Co 3:5), comes to us through a lifetime of overcoming and confessing our faults symbolized by the blowing of the silver trumpets over these offerings, both burnt and peace (Rom 10:10). 

Num 10:10  Also in the day of your gladness, and in your solemn days, and in the beginnings of your months, ye shall blow with the trumpets over your burnt offerings, and over the sacrifices of your peace offerings; that they may be to you for a memorial before your God: I am the LORD your God.

2Co 3:5  Not that we are sufficient of ourselves to think any thing as of ourselves; but our sufficiency is of God; 

Rom 10:10  For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation [silver trumpets are blown].

Next week, Lord willing, we will look at the next two wind instruments, the Kehren which is a Cornet and the Mashroqiy which is a flute. The following week I plan to look at the Shofar which is called a Cornet or Trumpet in modern language.

Hebrew: Kehren
KJV Name: Cornet
Strong’s: #H7162
References: Daniel 3:5, 7, 10, 15

This musical instrument, found only in the book of Daniel, was commonly used in the court of Babylon’s King Nebuchadnezzar. According to Clarke’s Commentary, it was a horn that could make a deep and hollow sound as well as one that was piercing.

The cornet, along with other instruments, was used by Nebuchadnezzar at the dedication of a huge golden statue in his likeness. The statue was 60 cubits (at least 87.5 feet or 26.7 meters) tall by six cubits (8.75 feet or 2.67 meters) wide.

Babylon’s officials, as well as the people, were commanded to bow down and worship the image when they heard the instruments play (Daniel 3:3 – 5). All those refusing to do so would be put to death in a fiery furnace. Daniel’s three friends, who rejected this idolatry, were thrown into this fiery trial of their faith but were miraculously saved by God (Daniel 3).

Hebrew: Mashroqiy
KJV Name: Flute
Strong’s: #H4953
References: Daniel 3:5, 7, 10, 15

This instrument is found only in Daniel in the KJV. It, along with others, were used by Babylonian King Nebuchadnezzar to signal when those he ruled over were to worship a huge golden statue made in his likeness. The mashroqiy may have been the Chaldean name for a flute with two reeds. Tyndale’s Dictionary and the ISBE believe it was similar to Pan’s pipe.

Hebrew: Shofar
KJV Name: Cornet / Trumpet
Strong’s: #H7782
References: Exodus 19:16, 19, 20:18, Leviticus 25:9, Joshua 6:4 – 20, Judges 3:27, etc.

The Hebrew word shofar is recorded 72 times in the Hebrew Old Testament, all of which are mistranslated in the KJV. It is erroneously called a trumpet 68 times and a cornet 4 times (Psalm 98:6, 1Chronicles 15:28, 2Chronicles 15:14, Hosea 5:8). The shofar and trumpet, according to the 1906 Jewish Encyclopedia, are two distinct instruments as delineated in Psalm 98:6 and 1Chronicles 15:28.

The shofar is mentioned more than any other musical instrument in the Bible. It is the only instrument that survives in its original form and is still used in modern Jewish liturgy. It was usually made from the curved horn of a ram or goat. Shofars announced the New Moons and Sabbaths (Psalm 81:3), warned of approaching danger, and signaled the death of nobility.

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Awesome Hands – part 97

“East to west”

February 24, 2016

We’ve been studying the various items of the tabernacle with great interest in learning the various hidden meanings behind each item. We know that the tabernacle represents Jesus Christ, and because we are a part of His body, we know that we have representation in the tabernacle as well.

In the study today, we are going to again look at various details which can easily be read quickly and overlooked but hold significant value to those who are “looking over a field and find a treasure of great price”.

Mat 13:44  Again, the kingdom of heaven is like unto treasure hid in a field; the which when a man hath found, he hideth, and for joy thereof goeth and selleth all that he hath, and buyeth that field.

I hope these studies add to your joy in finding “a hid treasure in a field”.

Joh 17:12  While I was with them in the world, I kept them in thy name: those that thou gavest me I have kept, and none of them is lost, but the son of perdition; that the scripture might be fulfilled.
Joh 17:13  And now come I to thee; and these things I speak in the world, that they might have my joy fulfilled in themselves.
Joh 17:14  I have given them thy word; and the world hath hated them, because they are not of the world, even as I am not of the world.

The tenons of God

The first verses we are going to cover in this study are found in Exodus 26:15-17.

Exo 26:15  And thou shalt make boards for the tabernacle of shittim wood standing up.
Exo 26:16  Ten cubits shall be the length of a board, and a cubit and a half shall be the breadth of one board.
Exo 26:17  Two tenons shall there be in one board, set in order one against another: thus shalt thou make for all the boards of the tabernacle.

The first noticeable attribute of this acacia boards is that they are 15 feet long by 27 inches wide if a cubit is accepted as being 18 inches in size. This is generally the accepted measurement used so we will stick with that.

The other noticeable thing of note is those these trees would be fastened together with tenons, 2 per board. Remember, the covering of the tabernacle would be laying on the top and sides of this frame. So, there are framed sections connected together with one another via tenons.

As I briefly mentioned at the end of the study last week, these tenons are almost exclusively translated as hand or hands. This is the same “yad” that started this entire series being created, pun intended

H3027
yâd
Total KJV Occurrences: 1536
hand, 1088
hands, 275

This word “yad” is translated 1363 times as yad and the remaining 173 times are a lot of different words in English. So, the word is obviously inspired to be translated as hand or hands.

Yes, the “tenons/hands” which must be twice on each board are commanded by the Lord. The placement of the tenons would correspond with the silver sockets that we will be talking about in a few minutes.

I likened this at conclusion of the last study to the wings of the cherubim being in contact with one another:

Eze 1:8  And they had the hands of a man under their wings on their four sides; and they four had their faces and their wings.
Eze 1:9  Their wings were joined one to another; they turned not when they went; they went every one straight forward.

The Lord wants us to be connected. Being that these boards are acacia wood with hands connecting them, we might start to get the idea that the Lord is trying to reveal something to us.

So, how are we all connected?

Many times you will hear us pray for one another and either sympathize or empathize with one another over the topic of the prayer request, but what connects us together in such a way that we care to pray for one another.

The obvious connecting is the Lord, but what is this connection so strong. Could it have to do with our origins and what so I mean by asking that question?

Exo 26:18  And thou shalt make the boards for the tabernacle, twenty boards on the south side southward.
Exo 26:19  And thou shalt make forty sockets of silver under the twenty boards; two sockets under one board for his two tenons, and two sockets under another board for his two tenons.
Exo 26:20  And for the second side of the tabernacle on the north side there shall be twenty boards:
Exo 26:21  And their forty sockets of silver; two sockets under one board, and two sockets under another board.
Exo 26:22  And for the sides of the tabernacle westward thou shalt make six boards.

Could it be that the dragging process, the process of the Lord dragging us to Himself, has us all being dragged in the same direction, and because of that dragging, we are able to understand the process we are going through individually?

The verses I just read above are the first examples in this tabernacles focused series of studies where we see direction or orientation being mentioned about the way the tabernacle must face. Yes, indeed even the direction is very important to the Lord!

What we have just been told in these verses is where the entrance to the tabernacle comes from, and that entrance is from the east. Why is that important?

As far as direction is concerned, the west is where the Father is. It is the direction we are heading. The Sun rises in the east and sets in the west and Jesus is the Sun of righteousness.

Depending on the direction we are heading, we are either moving towards God or away from Him spiritually speaking. We are either moving towards His throne in the heavens or we are moving away from it.

The tabernacle embodies this spiritual principle, and we can see the start of this principle at the very beginning of mankind’s interactions with the Lord.

Gen 3:22  And the LORD God said, Behold, the man is become as one of us, to know good and evil: and now, lest he put forth his hand, and take also of the tree of life, and eat, and live for ever:
Gen 3:23  Therefore the LORD God sent him forth from the garden of Eden, to till the ground from whence he was taken.
Gen 3:24  So he drove out the man; and he placed at the east of the garden of Eden Cherubims, and a flaming sword which turned every way, to keep the way of the tree of life.

The entrance to the garden of Eden, which was guarded by a flaming sword, was on the east side.

What we really see is the dynamic and spiritual principle of two men being dealt with in scripture, and we ALL have these two men in our lives and walks.

Even after Adam and Eve were kicked out of Eden, we see a progression of moving away from God of the old man typified in Cain.

Gen 4:16  And Cain went out from the presence of the LORD, and dwelt in the land of Nod, on the east of Eden.

When Abram and Lot’s shepherds disputed over the land for their flocks, Lot separated from Abram and choose what he thought was best for his flesh and the wellbeing of his house.
Lot went to the east away from Abram, a man of faith.

Gen 13:7  And there was a strife between the herdmen of Abram’s cattle and the herdmen of Lot’s cattle: and the Canaanite and the Perizzite dwelled then in the land.
Gen 13:8  And Abram said unto Lot, Let there be no strife, I pray thee, between me and thee, and between my herdmen and thy herdmen; for we be brethren.
Gen 13:9  Is not the whole land before thee? separate thyself, I pray thee, from me: if thou wilt take the left hand, then I will go to the right; or if thou depart to the right hand, then I will go to the left.
Gen 13:10  And Lot lifted up his eyes, and beheld all the plain of Jordan, that it was well watered every where, before the LORD destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah, even as the garden of the LORD, like the land of Egypt, as thou comest unto Zoar.
Gen 13:11  Then Lot chose him all the plain of Jordan; and Lot journeyed east: and they separated themselves the one from the other.
Gen 13:12  Abram dwelled in the land of Canaan, and Lot dwelled in the cities of the plain, and pitched his tent toward Sodom.

When we all start off our dragging process we desire to please the flesh and to please the Lord. We do not want there to be strife between the two. The Lord has worked out this same dynamic over and over in all of our lives.

Indeed, even after we are spiritually given a new name, like Abram being named Abraham, we still desperately try to find a balance between doing what we need to do in and for the flesh and doing what God commands us to do. We all struggle with this battle of naturally versus spiritual, old man versus new man, US versus GOD. How does that end for the flesh? Sodom and Gomorrah are consumed in fire.

What does this have to do with the tabernacle?

The entrance to the outer court was in the east. This is the concordant literal version.

Exo 27:9 (CLV)  You will make the court of the tabernacle: for the edge of the Negev southward the slung-sheets for the court shall be of corded cambric, a hundred cubits length for the one edge,
Exo 27:10  with its twenty columns and their twenty copper sockets, the hooks of the columns and their connections of silver;”
Exo 27:11  and so for the north edge, in the length of the court the slung-sheets shall be a hundred cubits long with its twenty columns and their twenty copper sockets, the hooks of the columns and their connections of silver.
Exo 27:12  For the width of the court for the seaward edge, the slung-sheets shall be fifty cubits with their ten columns and their ten sockets.
Exo 27:13  The width of the court for the eastward edge toward the sunrise shall be fifty cubits.
Exo 27:14  Fifteen cubits of slung-sheets shall be for one flank, with their three columns and their three sockets,
Exo 27:15  and for the second flank fifteen cubits of slung-sheets with their three columns and their three sockets.
Exo 27:16  For the gate of the court shall be a portiere of twenty cubits of blue, purple, double-dipped crimson and corded cambric, a handiwork of embroidery with their four columns and their four sockets.

The entrance to the outer court, in order for anyone to approach the throne of God, is from the east. As we get through the fine linen curtain gate of blue, purple and red we move on to and through the tabernacle through the EAST side if the inner tabernacle eventually ending all the up at the throne of God… the furthest point in the west setup of the tabernacle.

Notice there is a similar pattern to the inner court in that there is a fine linen veil that must be passed through but it is residing on 5 pillars, whereas the outside east only had four pillars.

Exo 26:23  And two boards shalt thou make for the corners of the tabernacle in the two sides.
Exo 26:24  And they shall be coupled together beneath, and they shall be coupled together above the head of it unto one ring: thus shall it be for them both; they shall be for the two corners.
Exo 26:25  And they shall be eight boards, and their sockets of silver, sixteen sockets; two sockets under one board, and two sockets under another board.
Exo 26:26  And thou shalt make bars of shittim wood; five for the boards of the one side of the tabernacle,
Exo 26:27  And five bars for the boards of the other side of the tabernacle, and five bars for the boards of the side of the tabernacle, for the two sides westward.
Exo 26:28  And the middle bar in the midst of the boards shall reach from end to end.
Exo 26:29  And thou shalt overlay the boards with gold, and make their rings of gold for places for the bars: and thou shalt overlay the bars with gold.
Exo 26:30  And thou shalt rear up the tabernacle according to the fashion thereof which was shewed thee in the mount.
Exo 26:31  And thou shalt make a vail of blue, and purple, and scarlet, and fine twined linen of cunning work: with cherubims shall it be made:

Now we have bars introduced which helped support the boards from the outside. These bars are overlaid with gold and run horizontally. The 2 upper and 2 lower bars come from the ends and meet in the middle, but the middle bar runs from end to end. The entrance again is from the east.

So, what does this tell us about the detail of the tabernacle for which God tells us we are a part of?

If the Lord has gone through all the details of this tabernacle in order to show you that He cares about the details, then we should have the same concept transfer to our minds when we consider that the Lord takes just as much care when dealing with the details of our tabernacle in the flesh AND SPIRIT.

When we meditate on all various items in the tabernacle, and even the direction of the tabernacle the Lord has created, we should start to understand just how important we are as the TEMPLE of the LIVING God, the church of the Living God!

It is so easy to think that the Lord isn’t “with us” or that He is somehow punishing us for something we done wrong to Him in the flesh and in sin, but the Truth is that we are a BLESSED people among all those who are living.

We know the Lord is the one who has caused His decrees to come forth to us FORM the thundering and lightning on the cloud of Mt. Sinai. We are privy that the Lord will SOMEHOW bring good about from the evils we face in the trials and tribulations we endure. That is a huge blessing that the rest of the world simply does not have.

Rev 4:5  And OUT OF THE THRONE proceeded lightnings and thunderings and voices: and there were seven lamps of fire burning before the throne, which are the seven Spirits of God.

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.
Exo 20:20  And Moses said unto the people, FEAR NOT: for God is come to prove you, and that his fear may be before your faces, that ye sin not.
Exo 20:21  And the people stood afar off, and MOSES DREW NEAR UNTO THE THICK DARKNESSWHERE GOD WAS.
Exo 20:22  And the LORD said unto Moses, Thus thou shalt say unto the children of Israel, Ye have seen that I have talked with you FROM HEAVEN.

Naturally speaking, we all want to FLEE from the lightning and thunder but that is the WORST thing for our new man. See, LIGHT comes FROM DARKNESS. As we put on the mind of Christ, we move toward “the darkness” because the Light is HIDDEN within. What looks very unappealing on the outside has tremendous wealth buried within. This is the beauty of the tabernacle that the Lord has made.

Like the empty field which has treasure hid in it, we too should cry out to the Lord for a fleshly heart that wants to “sell all of the old man” to “purchase the new man within”.

Mat 13:44  Again, the kingdom of heaven is like unto treasure hid in a field; the which when a man hath found, he hideth, and for joy thereof goeth and selleth all that he hath, and buyeth that field.

Jesus says He is the door, He is the gate. He is the Light of the world. Draw near to Him and He will draw near to you as you move closer and closer to the throne within the tabernacle.

Joh 10:9  I am the door: by me if any man enter in, he shall be saved, and shall go in and out, and find pasture.

Joh 9:5  As long as I am in the world, I am the light of the world.

Joh 12:46  I am come a light into the world, that whosoever believeth on me should not abide in darkness.

1Pe 2:9  But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light:
1Pe 2:10  Which in time past were not a people, but are now the people of God: which had not obtained mercy, but now have obtained mercy.

Mat 10:27  What I tell you in darkness, that SPEAK YE IN LIGHT: and what ye hear in the ear, that preach ye upon the housetops.

Mat 5:14  Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid.
Mat 5:15  Neither do men light a candle, and put it under a bushel, but on a candlestick; and it giveth light unto all that are in the house.
Mat 5:16  Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.

(Key verses: Gen 11:1-9)

[Study Posted July 18, 2014]

Genesis 11 is a very significant chapter in the Bible because it highlights once more the one and only division with which the elect of God are concerned – that of the division of darkness and light (Gen 1:1-5; Joh 1:1-14). This division contrasts two totally opposing mindsets that God has instituted by which all in the first Adam will live (Mat 4:4). The first nine verses of the chapter summarise the fatal flaws and marred condition of the mind of our natural man which relates to the darkness God created (Isa 45:7; Jer 18:4). This is the ‘world order’ under which all mankind are subjected, even “by reason of Him who subjected [them all] in hope” of a new spiritual ‘world order’ in Christ (Rom 8:20). The rest of Genesis chapter 11 focuses on the offspring of one of Noah’s sons, namely Shem, and sets the stage of the true new ‘world order’ of the Lord and His Christ which comes through faith and obedience to His commandments. This latter ‘order’ is what all the Scriptures focus on when those with the mind of the Lord can see God’s perfect plan for humanity typified by one man and the faith he was given. That man is Abraham, who is a type of Christ and the faith which will please the Father by which “all will be blessed” (Gen 12:1-3). Through the mind of the Lord “the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God” is unveiled in all its splendour and beauty (1Co 2:10; 1Co 2:15-16):

Rom 11:33 O the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! how unsearchable are his judgments, and his ways past finding out!
Rom 11:34 For who hath known the mind of the Lord? or who hath been his counsellor?
Rom 11:35 Or who hath first given to him, and it shall be recompensed unto him again? Rom 11:36 For of him, and through him, and to him, are all things: to whom be glory for ever. Amen.

The theme of the natural or carnal mind’s religious ambitions to reach or impress God on its own terms comes to us within these first nine verses of Genesis Chapter 11. Here we have a summary of the modus operandi of the first Adam and what his generation is all about from the beginning as worked by God to fulfill His purposes and His will at all times (Eph 1:11). The first verse gives us the context and unified mind (“one language” or “one speech”) of all generations of mankind on the earth from the creation of the first Adam up until that point in time. All earthly nations really come from “one blood” and that spiritually refers to our carnal life and way of being (Act 17:26):

Gen 11:1 And the whole earth was of one language, and of one speech.

No one in the first Adam can escape the evil and darkness God has created in the natural mind with all its selfish lusts, pride and ambitions which is of the “old world [order]” and “not of [the holy spirit of] God” (Gen 2:7; Isa 45:7; Jer 18:4; 1Jn 2:16; 2Pe 2:5). Before God confounded the one language of mankind, they all lived in the east in the land of Shinar which also helps us to see the physical and religious origins of mankind since the global flood:

Gen 11:2 And it came to pass, as they journeyed from the east, that they found a plain in the land of Shinar; and they dwelt there.

The concept “east” links here with the land of Shinar, which is called the “country of two rivers”, an ancient name which associates to the physical region of Babylonia or Chaldea. Some translations have it that mankind first moved eastward, which also connects beautifully with the rebellion naturally present in man’s religious mind-set. Mankind by nature rebels against God’s commandment and His ways of doing things (Rom 7:15-24).

Gen 11:2  (ASV) And it came to pass, as they journeyed east, that they found a plain in the land of Shinar; and they dwelt there.

Gen 11:2  (JPS) And it came to pass, as they journeyed east, that they found a plain in the land of Shinar; and they dwelt there.

Gen 11:2  (RV) And it came to pass, as they journeyed east, that they found a plain in the land of Shinar; and they dwelt there.

From an earthy perspective the sun rises in the east, and in that way God teaches mankind how the spiritual light comes into our lives (Rom 1:20). The entrance into the tabernacle in the wilderness and the temple in Jerusalem were facing east, and that is how we all come into our own spiritual understanding of God’s ways. However, man’s ways are always in the opposite direction. The land of Shinar is later known as Babylon in Scripture, and that typifies the spiritual domain of all mankind in the sea of flesh with all its “peoples, and multitudes, and nations, and tongues” (Joh 3:6; Rev 17:15). Babylon is that all-encompassing controlling system of mankind under which our flesh resides – the old spiritual ‘world order’ with its centralised carnal mind. This is the very subtle and evil ruler in our lives which entices us to boast with the treasures and talents of our natural house and then captures us in complete slavery and spiritual bondage:

2Ki 20:14 Then came Isaiah the prophet unto king Hezekiah, and said unto him, What said these men? and from whence came they unto thee? And Hezekiah said, They are come from a far country, even from Babylon.
2Ki 20:15 And he said, What have they seen in thine house? And Hezekiah answered, All the things that are in mine house have they seen: there is nothing among my treasures that I have not shewed them.
2Ki 20:16 And Isaiah said unto Hezekiah, Hear the word of the LORD.
2Ki 2017 Behold, the days come, that all that is in thine house, and that which thy fathers have laid up in store unto this day, shall be carried into Babylon: nothing shall be left, saith the LORD.

There is, of course, a physical application within the ‘world order’ here on earth through very influential people and families who are regulating various aspects of human society in general today. God is laughing at those who are propagating the foolish idea that mankind can actually have things in their control, but this gives others a valid reason and purpose in life to expose the so-called ‘illuminati’ (the enlightened few) and other such manipulating forces behind human society (Psa 2:1-12). The natural mind, and its vivid imagination, loves these kinds of secret organizations which keep many busy since the people found a plain or valley in the land of Shinar. Whether we are informed or uninformed about these very interesting distractions, the Scriptures are quite clear that all kingdoms and rulership on earth are God-ordained delegated control to which we all must submit (Heb 13:17). These words of Daniel to Nebuchadnezzar are God’s fiery words for our man of sin under these delegated rulers in every generation. Spiritual Babylon will be judged to its complete destruction in us eventually through the severe trials sent by God and only in that judgment will anyone be persuaded to be fearful of God and not to resist any “ordinance of man for the Lord’s sake” (Mat 5:39; 1Pe 2:13; Heb 13:17):

Dan 4:25 (ERV) King Nebuchadnezzar, you will be forced to go away from people. You will live among the wild animals. You will eat grass like cattle, and you will become wet with dew. Seven seasons will pass, and then you will learn this lesson. You will learn God Most High rules over human kingdoms and gives them to whoever he wants.

Dan 4:32 And they shall drive thee from men, and thy dwelling shall be with the beasts of the field: they shall make thee to eat grass as oxen, and seven times shall pass over thee, until thou know that the most High ruleth in the kingdom of men, and giveth it to whomsoever he will.

When we do not recognise God’s provisions, we devise our twisted inventions, as per God’s design and plan. This is what we do when we are under the delegated controls of the Babylonian rulers in our own land of Shinar which reflects our own natural religious attitudes towards God:

Gen 11:3  And they said one to another, Go to, let us make brick, and burn them throughly. And they had brick for stone, and slime had they for morter.

The residents in the land of Shinar for the first time (according to the Scriptures) used bricks in the place of stones as a building material. The Hebrew word for bricks here “lebênâh” which comes from the word “lâban” which means “white”. Here is the word “lebênâh” in another verse to show us what God thinks of man-made religious altars of white bricks:

Isa 65:3 A people that provoketh me to anger continually to my face; that sacrificeth in gardens [behind a false covering or protection], and burneth incense upon altars of brick [Hebrew: “lebênâh“].

Even if we take our self-made bricks through the fire and “burn them throughly” as the people in the land of Shinar did, it cannot produce love and obedience to God. This is when our earthly king (typified by King Saul) wants to do the work of the priest and prophet long before its time (1Sa 15:20-31; Jer 7:29-31). Even when we do things with “a zeal of God, but not according to knowledge” of what true love is, we really believe we are doing all for the glory of God (Rom 10:2; Mat 7:21-23; Isa 4:1; Act 8:3; Act 9:1-2):

1Co 13:1 Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, and have not charity, I am become as sounding brass, or a tinkling cymbal.
1Co 13:2 And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries, and all knowledge; and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, and have not charity, I am nothing.
1Co 13:3 And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, and have not charity, it profiteth me nothing.

All man-made things, like our religious altars of white bricks behind an outward facade or “form of godliness”, are surely not good in God’s eyes (2Ti 3:1-7). The white of the flesh is pointing to our own righteousness which is always a stinking cloth to a truly holy and righteous God:

Isa 64:6 But we are all as an unclean thing, and all our righteousnesses are as filthy rags; and we all do fade as a leaf; and our iniquities, like the wind, have taken us away.

These white bricks connect closely with an illness in “the skin of [the] flesh” which we all suffer from in the generation of Adam:

Lev 13:1 And the LORD spake unto Moses and Aaron, saying,
Lev 13:2 When a man shall have in the skin of his flesh a rising, a scab, or bright spot, and it be in the skin of his flesh like the plague of leprosy; then he shall be brought unto Aaron the priest, or unto one of his sons the priests:
Lev 13:3 And the priest shall look on the plague in the skin of the flesh: and when the hair in the plague is turned white, and the plague in sight be deeper than the skin of his flesh, it is a plague of leprosy: and the priest shall look on him, and pronounce him unclean.

And ….

Lev 13:10 And the priest shall see him: and, behold, if the rising be white in the skin, and it have turned the hair white, and there be quick raw flesh in the rising;
Lev 13:11 It is an old leprosy in the skin of his flesh, and the priest shall pronounce him unclean, and shall not shut him up: for he is unclean.

The white hair and the rising of flesh is our covering of our own nakedness which is not of the spirit of God (1Jn 2:16):

Isa 30:1 Woe to the rebellious children, saith the LORD, that take counsel, but not of me; and that cover with a covering, but not of my spirit, that they may add sin to sin.

The same applies to the slime these people in the land of Shinar used in the place of mortar. All this shows how we provoke God to anger continually and “add sin to sin”. This is our religious invention of brick and mortar to make things understandable to our carnal mind and ‘getting our head around’ spiritual things of God when it is impossible for our natural mind to even understand God’s works in the earth:

1Co 2:14 But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.

Joh 3:12 If I have told you earthly things, and ye believe not, how shall ye believe, if I tell you of heavenly things?

All man’s efforts are coming from a religious or twisted spiritual conviction even when we do not know that or can see our own marred condition as from the Potter’s hand – “sin through ignorance” (Lev 2:2; 4:13; 4:27; 5:15; Num 15:27; Psa 51:5; Jer 18:4; Rom 8:20):

Gen 11:4 And they said, Go to, let us build us a city and a tower, whose top may reach unto heaven; and let us make us a name, lest we be scattered abroad upon the face of the whole earth.

In our ignorance we also think we can impress God with our own works. The reason why people in the land of Shinar were motivated to build this city with its tower was to make “a name” for them in heaven! We want to get to spiritual glory via the short-cuts and short circuiting the process, not via the God-ordained process of overcoming “the whole earth” in a slow and progressive manner (Exo 23:30; Act 14:22; 1Pe 4:12; Rev 15:8). Then we are somehow bewildered and amazed when God says He does not know us and rejects our good name. “The more things change, the more they stay the same” is a very true saying for those who still maintain that flesh can be perfected and live happily ever after (1Co 15:50). This is the heart of our own old fool – our natural man:

Psa 14:1 To the chief Musician, A Psalm of David. The fool hath said in his heart, There is no God. They are corrupt, they have done abominable works, there is none that doeth good.
Psa 14:2 The LORD looked down from heaven upon the children of men, to see if there were any that did understand, and seek God.
Psa 14:3 They are all gone aside, they are all together become filthy: there is none that doeth good, no, not one.
Psa 14:4 Have all the workers of iniquity no knowledge? who eat up my people as they eat bread, and call not upon the LORD.

These people in the land of Shinar quickly forgot what happened before the global flood and simply continued on their evil ways. Human beings are shown here to have very short memories when it comes to the Word of God and His commandments. People in general can remember many earthly things and write millions of books full of words concerning their own knowledge, but the true knowledge or science of God is soon forgotten:

Psa 127:1  A Song of degrees for Solomon. Except the LORD build the house, they labour in vain that build it: except the LORD keep the city, the watchman waketh but in vain.
Psa 127:2  It is vain for you to rise up early, to sit up late, to eat the bread of sorrows: for so he giveth his beloved sleep.

God commanded Adam (initially), and then also Noah and his sons, to fill the earth and subdue it (Gen 1:28; Gen 9:1), but the building of cities and towers took precedence in creating memorials or something to be known for. Even since Cain, the first born, the very seed of the serpent is in us (Gen 3:15; Joh 8:44):

Gen 4:16 And Cain went out from the presence of the LORD, and dwelt in the land of Nod, on the east of Eden.
Gen 4:17 And Cain knew his wife; and she conceived, and bare Enoch: and he builded a city, and called the name of the city, after the name of his son, Enoch.

Man’s actions come from his thoughts, and Scripture is clear that they are not even his own inventions. Everything is “of the Lord”, and that includes every spirit that appears first to us in the form of words and concepts in our minds (Rom 11:34; 1Jn 4:1-6; Joh 6:63; Psa 139:1-4; Heb 12:9). Our thoughts are our spiritual heavens created by God, for there He works all things after His will and as a man thinks, so is he (Gen 1:1):

Pro 23:7 For as he thinketh in his heart, so is he: Eat and drink, saith he to thee; but his heart is not with thee.

Pro 16:1 The preparations of the heart in man, and the answer of the tongue, is from the LORD.

Psa 115:16 The heaven, even the heavens, are the LORD’S: but the earth hath he given to the children of men.

Man’s perceptions of God are that of a distant God, and that is how God wants the natural mind to see Him…removed and uninvolved. So the Scriptures reveal God in that way to the natural mind:

Gen 11:5 And the LORD came down to see the city and the tower, which the children of men builded.

It is always interesting to see how our own natural religious mind wants to inform God of things God actually already knows. The carnal mind has this irresistible desire to inform others of its own knowledge. Naturally we never want to be seen as ignorant and stupid. We created cities and towers of libraries (physical and virtual) filled with information, and then we want to educate the uninformed in our haughty and earthy philanthropic spirit. Artificial divisions of human society based on false evolutionary premises rule the natural mind. Our ‘first world’ mind-set also wants to do its bit to reach the poor and barbaric in the underdeveloped (‘second world’) and undeveloped (‘third world’) societies – and how the tower of religious mind-set get further elevation from these good deeds! Then we want God to come down and see and esteem our good works – and He appears initially exactly the way we want to see Him until “the day when the towers fall” (Psa 18:25-26; Isa 30:25). That is when we can see that God indeed loves a cheerful giver and those who can help others with the same Christ-like humble spirit of those of the mature believers in Macedonia (2Co 9:1-9):

Gen 11:6 And the LORD said, Behold, the people is one, and they have all one language; and this they begin to do: and now nothing will be restrained from them, which they have imagined to do.
Gen 11:7 Go to, let us go down, and there confound their language, that they may not understand one another’s speech.
Gen 11:8 So the LORD scattered them abroad from thence upon the face of all the earth: and they left off to build the city.

God divided the earthly nations along language lines – not different outward features, racial and other outward features, as some propose. However, this one fractured city of mankind is never going to be completed because it is designed to end in ruin – man is God’s “son of perdition” (2Th 2:3). Babel is the symbol of all man’s splintered efforts to be successful and “of renown”, even in its unified opposition to the one mind of God (Psa 2:1-2; Num 16:1-35):

Gen 11:9 Therefore is the name of it called Babel; because the LORD did there confound the language of all the earth: and from thence did the LORD scatter them abroad upon the face of all the earth.

Babel is always the religious city with its self-righteous tower that exposes man’s heavens and also the greatness and wisdom of God in working all things for His purposes. In the effort to build a strong safe city with its haughty pride and earthly lusts, we see our own lusts for the power we are convinced comes through taking control. Confusion is still the overall language of the world. Some actually want others to believe they know what is going on and have answers to the multifaceted conundrum of human society! The United Nations, the World Trade Organization, the World Bank, and NATO are still relevant in our own time to see the confusion and futility of man’s efforts. If we just take time to see our own confusion, we soon come to the sobering realization that we do not even have enough time or ability to sort out our own confusion!!! This is what the mind of Christ, with its new spirit language, reveals to us with its true comfort and peace – a really “strange tongue” which the spirit of God brings. With God’s mind we can see that everything is 100% under control, and everything will be done on earth as it is in heaven. God fattens our old man in its own delusions and pride to supply the wood for the fire “in a day of slaughter” which is coming at its appointed time (Luk 15:22-24).

Jas 5:5 Ye have lived in pleasure on the earth, and been wanton; ye have nourished your hearts, as in a day of slaughter.

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Detailed studies and emails relating to these foundational themes in Scripture are available on the www.iswasandwillbe.com website, including these topics and links:

Who Is My Brother?

The Spiritual Significance Of Colors In Scripture (The Color White) – Part 1

The Seven Last Plagues 2006

Revelation 17:1-6