1Ki 1:10-12  “The LORD liveth, that hath redeemed my soul out of all distress”

(Safety within the counsel of God’s kingdom)

[Study Aired May 27, 2021]

1Ki 1:10  But Nathan the prophet, and Benaiah, and the mighty men, and Solomon his brother, he called not. 
1Ki 1:11  Wherefore Nathan spake unto Bathsheba the mother of Solomon, saying, Hast thou not heard that Adonijah the son of Haggith doth reign, and David our lord knoweth it not? 
1Ki 1:12  Now therefore come, let me, I pray thee, give thee counsel, that thou mayest save thine own life, and the life of thy son Solomon.

This section of 1st Kings shows God’s elect, through the type and shadow experiences within King David’s kingdom, how God ministers or redeems our souls out of all distress through the multitude of counsellors whom He causes to bring safely to His kingdom within us (Luk 17:21), which counsel preserves us unto the saving of our souls. We are those vessels God uses for each other so that the gates of hell won’t prevail against us (Mat 16:18), and each joint has a part in that preservation process to which we have been called in this age as His elect remnant (Mat 9:17, Gen 32:30, Heb 10:39, 2Co 3:18, 1Co 13:12, Eph 4:16, Rom 11:5).

Mat 9:17  Neither do men put new wine into old bottles: else the bottles break, and the wine runneth out, and the bottles perish: but they put new wine into new bottles, and both are  preserved. [Psa 119:160 (CLV), Joh 6:68, 1Co 12:12, Rom 12:5]

Gen 32:30  And Jacob called the name of the place Peniel^H6439: for I have seen God face to face, and my life is preserved.

Heb 10:39  But we are not of them who draw back unto perdition; but of them that believe to the saving of the soul.

2Co 3:18  But we all, with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same

2Co 3:18 Now we all, with uncovered face, mirroring the Lord’s glory, are being transformed into the same (CLV)

1Co 13:12  For now we see through a glass, darkly; but then face to face: now I know in part; but then shall I know even as also I am known.

Eph 4:16  From whom the whole body fitly joined together and compacted by that which every joint supplieth, according to the effectual working in the measure of every part, maketh increase of the body unto the edifying of itself in love.

Rom 11:5  Even so then at this present time also there is a remnant according to the election of grace.

H6439 penû’êl  penı̂y’êl  pen-oo-ale’, pen-ee-ale’
From H6437 and H410; face of God; Penuel or Peniel, a place East of Jordan; also (as Penuel) the name of two Israelites: – Peniel, Penuel.

Interesting to note: the pineal gland and the pituitary gland are found in the middle of the brain and are very protected as such. The similarity of the word peniel and penial are not what is in view here but rather the fact that God’s elect are protected and at the center of God’s plan of the salvation of all that comes about as a result of the spiritual growth growth He grants through the church, just as in the physical realm the pineal and pituitary glands afford.

Gen 32:30  And Jacob called the name of the place Peniel^H6439: for I have seen God face to face, and my life is preserved.

1Co 3:6  I have planted, Apollos watered; but God gave the increase.

The brain is comprised of two distinct hemispheres connected by fibers. The pineal gland is located in the middle of the brain, in between the two hemispheres. The pineal gland contains mainly pinealocytes, which are cells that produce the hormone melatonin; and glial cells, which are a particular type of brain cells that support neurons (the cells that transmit information to other cells). [Pineal gland calcification and Defective Sense of Direction]

Of people with impaired pineal glands found that damage to this gland is associated with declines in the sense of direction. This suggests that the pineal gland may play a largely unrecognized role in spatial navigation. [Some verses to consider: Jer 18:4, Pro 14:12, Rom 8:9, Rom 8:14-15]

The pituitary gland is a gland that protrudes from a part of the brain called the hypothalamus. The hypothalamus is linked to a wide range of hormonal functions, including growth and thyroid function.

(Taken from this medical journal: Medical News Today/articles/319882)

Spiritually, God’s elect are protected as we are being dragged or directed to Christ and face Him (Joh 6:44, Luk 22:31) face to face as we go from glory to glory so we can grow through an increase that comes from God Who abides in us through Christ (1Co 3:6, Joh 14:20, Col 1:27).

1Co 3:6  I have planted, Apollos watered; [pineal gland typical of this] but God gave the increase  [pituitary typical of this].

Joh 14:20  At that day ye shall know that I am in my Father, and ye in me, and I in you.

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: [Rom 8:9]

The pituitary gland is therefore situated where it is to teach us this lesson in the physical realm, which reveals the spiritual reality (Rom 1:20) of where growth originates and how it is we are blessed when we are facing our Judge, who is in the north, and we then mature and grow in this life (Eph 2:6, Rev 4:6, 1Pe 4:17, Eze 26:7, Jer 50:9, Isa 26:9).

Eph 2:6  And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus:

Rev 4:6  And before the throne there was a sea of glass like unto crystal: and in the midst of the throne [in the midst like the pituitary gland], and round about the throne, were four beasts full of eyes before and behind. [God’s elect]

1Pe 4:17  For the time is come that judgment must begin at the house of God: and if it first begin at us, what shall the end be of them that obey not the gospel of God?

Eze 26:7  For thus saith the Lord GOD; Behold, I will bring upon Tyrus Nebuchadrezzar king of Babylon [come out of her my people through judgment], a king of kings, from the north, [Psa 17:13] with horses, and with chariots, and with horsemen, and companies, and much people.

Jer 50:9  For, lo, I will raise and cause to come up against  Babylon an assembly of great nations from the north country: and they shall set themselves in array against her; from thence she shall be taken: their arrows shall be as of a mighty expert man; none shall return in vain [Isa 55:10-11].

Isa 26:9  With my soul have I desired thee in the night; yea, with my spirit within me will I seek thee early: for when thy judgments are in the earth, the inhabitants of the world will learn righteousness.

The safety that is found within the counsel of God’s kingdom is being formed within the body as we grow and mature as the body of Christ through that judgment which causes us to die daily and no longer be conformed to this world but rather transformed by the renewing of our minds (1Pe 4:17, 1Jn 4:17, Rom 12:1-2).

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.

That is the life-long endeavor to which we have been called, and God promises to provide all the love and support we need in order to endure unto the end as His kind of first fruits which He has purposed to mature first in this age (Jas 1:18, 1Pe 2:9).

Jas 1:18  Of his own will begat he us with the word of truth, that we should be a kind of firstfruits of his creatures.

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:

1Ki 1:10  But Nathan the prophet, and Benaiah, and the mighty men, and Solomon his brother, he called not.

When we look at the names of those with whom Adonijah would not confer, we get a sense of how he was truly being exalted in his own flesh and did not see the need to go to “Nathan^H5416 the prophet” whose name means “giver” and that word is taken from H5414 meaning “to give, to put, to set” also, “bestow, grant, permit, ascribe, employ, devote, consecrate, dedicate.” These definitions tell us who Nathan was as a man of God who was not going to allow this self-exalted would-be king Adonijah – who represents our carnal flesh – to exalt himself (Mat 23:12, Pro 11:11, Pro 28:7).

Mat 23:12  And whosoever shall exalt himself shall be abased; and he that shall humble himself shall be exalted.

Pro 11:11  By the blessing of the upright the city is exalted: but it is overthrown by the mouth of the wicked.

Pro 28:7  Whoso keepeth the law is a wise son: but he that is a companion of riotous men shameth his father.

H5416nâthân naw-thawn’
From H5414; given; Nathan, the name of five Israelites: – Nathan.

H5414 nâthan naw-than’
A primitive root; to give, used with great latitude of application (put, make, etc.): – add, apply, appoint, ascribe, assign, X avenge, X be ([healed]), bestow, bring (forth, hither), cast, cause, charge, come, commit consider, count, + cry, deliver (up), direct, distribute do, X doubtless, X without fail, fasten, frame, X get, give (forth, over, up), grant, hang (up), X have, X indeed, lay (unto charge, up), (give) leave, lend, let (out), + lie, lift up, make, + O that, occupy, offer, ordain, pay, perform, place, pour, print, X pull, put (forth), recompense, render, requite, restore, send (out), set (forth), shew, shoot forth (up). + sing, + slander, strike, [sub-] mit, suffer, X surely, X take, thrust, trade, turn, utter, + weep, X willingly, + withdraw, + would (to) God, yield.

Adonijah also did not call on “Benaiah^H1141, and the mighty men, and Solomon his brother, he called not“.

Benaiah was one of David’s mighty warriors which in itself is a symbol of someone who is faith-filled and wanting to fight a good fight of faith, having no guile within him. Benaiah^H1141 means “Jehovah has built”. God has built this typical dedicated house (Psa 127:1) as opposed to Adonijah^H138 [“my lord is Jehovah”] whose name claims the name of Jehovah but denies Him in works (Isa 4:1).

Isa 4:1  And in that day seven women shall take hold of one man, saying, We will eat our own bread, and wear our own apparel: only let us be called by thy name, to take away our reproach.

“The mighty men, and Solomon his brother” were the two other groups that “he called not“. As mentioned, Benaiah was one of those mighty men, along with another undetermined number of mighty men who are a shadow of the safety that we find in the multitude of wise counsellors, who are only seeking the will of God (Pro 11:14, Pro 24:6).

Pro 11:14  Where no counsel is, the people fall: but in the multitude of counsellors there is safety.

Pro 24:6  For by wise counsel thou shalt make thy war: and in multitude of counsellors there is safety.

Not seeking counsel from “Solomon^H8010 his brother” is the last straw in this breakdown and insurrection that was taking place in Israel, and rejecting the counsel of the king is a type of rejecting the counsel of Christ, Who is our wisdom (Job 12:13, 1Ki 4:29-30).

Job 12:13  With him is wisdom and strength, he hath counsel and understanding.

1Ki 4:29  And God gave Solomon wisdom and understanding exceeding much, and largeness of heart, even as the sand that is on the sea shore.
1Ki 4:30  And Solomon’s wisdom excelled the wisdom of all the children of the east country, and all the wisdom of Egypt.

1Ki 1:11  Wherefore Nathan spake unto Bathsheba the mother of Solomon, saying, Hast thou not heard that Adonijah the son of Haggith doth reign, and David our lord knoweth it not?

“Wherefore“, because of what Nathan knew Adonijah was doing, he “spake unto Bathsheba^H1339 the mother of Solomon“. Bathsheba, whose name means “daughter of an oath“, representing the body of Christ and the positive example of the oath or promise that there would be a remnant that would descend from line of David with Bathsheba and not from “Adonijah, the son of Haggith^H2294“.

Haggith – H2294 Feminine of H2291; festive; Chaggith, a wife of David: – Haggith.

H2291 From H2287; festive; Chaggi, an Israelite; also (patronymically) a Chaggite, or descendant of the same: – Haggi, Haggites.

H2287  BDB Definition: to hold a feast, hold a festival, make pilgrimage, keep a pilgrim-feast, celebrate, dance 1Sa 30:16, stagger  Psa 107:27

Bathseba – H1339 bath-shebabath-sheh’-bah
From H1323 and H7651 (in the sense of H7650); daughter of an oath; BathSheba, the mother of Solomon: – Bath-sheba.

The oath that Bathsheba’s name means is a type and shadow of the promise that there would be an elect seed which would become the true kings and priests to rule under Christ, typified by Solomon and the generations that would follow him (Rom 11:15, Mat 1:1, Mat 1:6, Mat 1:16-17).

Rom 11:5  Even so then at this present time also there is a remnant according to the election of grace.

Mat 1:1  The book of the generation of Jesus Christ, the son of David, the son of Abraham.

Mat 1:6  And Jesse begat David the king; and David the king begat Solomon of her that had been the wife of Urias;^H223 [Jehovah (Yahweh) is my light (flame)]

Mat 1:16  And Jacob begat Joseph the husband of Mary, of whom was born Jesus, who is called Christ.
Mat 1:17  So all the generations from Abraham to David  are fourteen generations; and from David until the carrying away into Babylon are fourteen generations; and from the carrying away into Babylon unto Christ are fourteen generations.

(Notice the number 3 that represents the process of spiritual completion, 1+4=5 meaning grace through faith and 6+3 for judgment, explaining what happens within those spiritual generations of Christ’s body 3X14=42).

It is very instructive to note that “Nathan spake unto Bathsheba the mother of Solomon” with the intention of preserving that line towards kingship, which typifies the small remnant that is preserved through the ages to the glory of God (Mat 1:17), and it was Nathan the prophet who was also used by God to go to King David to once again preserve  in type and shadow the spiritual lineage of King David – by going to his brother and telling him his transgression between him and David alone (Mat 18:15, Gen 39:9, Mat 25:45, 2Sa 12:7, Psa 51:1). These actions are connected to that parable of the generations of Christ who are preserved through judgment.

2Sa 12:7  And Nathan said to David, Thou art  the man. Thus saith the LORD God of Israel, I anointed thee king over Israel, and I delivered thee out of the hand of Saul;

Psa 51:1  To the chief Musician, A Psalm of David, when Nathan the prophet came unto him, after he had gone in to Bathsheba. Have mercy upon me, O God, according to thy lovingkindness: according unto the multitude of thy tender mercies blot out my transgressions.

We read that “Adonijah the son of Haggith^H2294 doth reign, and David our lord knoweth it not?“. This statement is a parable for our learning to remind us that this spirit called “Haggith^H2294, whose name means festive”, lies at the doors of our hearts and wants to ‘eat, drink and be merry for tomorrow we die’ (1Co 15:31-32). Then, “David our lord knoweth it not?” is a shadow of our negligence when we neglect so great a salvation by not stirring up God’s spirit within us through prayer (Heb 2:3), prayer that would keep us as alert watchmen at the door of God’s kingdom within us (Mat 26:41). We just can’t make war with the beast unless God sends Nathan the prophet who typifies God’s holy spirit that comes to us and leads us to repentance (Rom 2:4, Joh 8:36). Like king David, “old and  stricken in years” (of verse 1 from last week), we are not as the old man aware of all the goings on about us both within and outside our kingdom. However, by grace through faith (Eph 2:8, 1Jn 5:4), we can be more than conquerors through Christ (Rom 8:37) as we awaken to the reality of our calling (Mat 25:6-7, Rom 13:11) and realize the continual need to fight a good fight of faith (1Ti 6:12).

1Co 15:31  I protest by your rejoicing which I have in Christ Jesus our Lord, I die daily.
1Co 15:32  If after the manner of men I have fought with beasts at Ephesus, what advantageth it me, if the dead rise not? [right now in earnest (Eph 2:6)] let us eat and drink; for to morrow we die.

Heb 2:3  How shall we escape, if we neglect so great salvation; which at the first began to be spoken by the Lord, and was confirmed unto us by them that heard him;

Mat 26:41  Watch and pray, that ye enter not into temptation: the spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.

Mat 25:6  And at midnight there was a cry made, Behold, the bridegroom cometh; go ye out to meet him.
Mat 25:7  Then all those virgins arose, and trimmed their lamps [Rom 13:11].

Rom 13:11  And that, knowing the time, that now it is high time to awake out of sleep: for now is our salvation nearer than when we believed.

1Ti 6:12  Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life, whereunto thou art also called, and hast professed a good profession before many witnesses [Rev 3:11, Psa 146:3].

1Ki 1:12  Now therefore come, let me, I pray thee, give thee counsel, that thou mayest save thine own life, and the life of thy son Solomon.

This last verse of our study is at the heart of the matter regarding what it means to find safety within the counsel of God’s kingdom, “that thou mayest save thine own life, and the life of thy son Solomon“. Christ is our life (Rom 14:8,  Gal 2:20) and the knowledge and wisdom He gives us through His body is to be greatly treasured and is not to be compared to anything we could desire on this earth seeing it is the words of eternal life (Pro 1:5, Php 4:6-7, Pro 1:23-31, Php 3:8)

Pro 1:5  A wise man will hear, and will increase learning; and a man of understanding shall attain unto wise counsels:

Php 4:6  Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God.
Php 4:7  And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.

Pro 1:23  Turn you at my reproof: behold, I will pour out my spirit unto you, I will make known my words unto you [Joh 10:27, Luk 12:32, 1Jn 4:4-6, Mat 13:9, Mat 13:16].
Pro 1:24  Because I have called, and ye refused; I have stretched out my hand, and no man regarded;
Pro 1:25  But ye have set at nought all my counsel, and would none of my reproof: [Rom 2:4]
Pro 1:26  I also will laugh at your calamity; I will mock when your fear cometh;
Pro 1:27  When your fear cometh as desolation, and your destruction cometh as a whirlwind; when distress and anguish cometh upon you.
Pro 1:28  Then shall they call upon me, but I will not answer; they shall seek me early, but they shall not find me [Mat 25:11-13]:
Pro 1:29  For that they hated knowledge, and did not choose the fear of the LORD [Luk 12:5]:
Pro 1:30  They would none of my counsel: they despised all my reproof [Pro 6:23].
Pro 1:31  Therefore shall they eat of the fruit of their own way, and be filled with their own devices [Php 3:9].

If we say, “We see” our sins will remain (Joh 9:41), but if we acknowledge that we don’t know as we should know (1Co 8:2) then we can thank God for taking the guile out of our hearts that would have us thinking we don’t continually need to have our every plan in this life committed unto our loving Father (1Pe 4:19, Php 4:6-7) Who only wants to direct us by still waters where we can grow and flourish in Christ (Psa 23:1-3).

Joh 9:41  Jesus said unto them, If ye were blind, ye should have no sin: but now ye say, We see; therefore your sin remaineth.

1Co 8:2  And if any man think that he knoweth any thing, he knoweth nothing yet as he ought to know.

Psa 23:1  A Psalm of David. The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want.
Psa 23:2  He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters.
Psa 23:3  He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name’s sake.

If God will grant us such a humble and contrite heart as a gift from him (Isa 66:2), then we will be able to heed the admonition being given to us that says “Now therefore come, let me, I pray thee, give thee counsel, that thou mayest save thine own life, and the life of thy son Solomon” (Joh 6:68).

We will be restored by those living waters He gives to those whom He is judging in this age and leading to repentance in order to make the bride ready (Rev 19:7, Php 2:12-13) at the expense of all who are not given the power to continue and endure until the end (typified by Adonijah and expressed in type and shadow in this parable in Matthew 25:8-10).

Next week, Lord willing, we will look at the order David establishes through the wise counsel which was given him through those whom the Lord brought to him and that he received with ears to hear (1Jn 4:6).

Audio Links

Awesome Hands – part 113

“The women … did spin with their hands”

March 17, 2017

Repentance and comfort were the topics of last study, and as we learned, they are closely linked together. In our study this week, we are going to connect these two things with what we do after we have gone through the repentance process.

It is important for us to learn how to proceed, biblically speaking, because we know that there will be many times during our lives that repentance will be needed. It is during these times that we need to know what to do next in order to act on the repentance of which we have just been a part.

As we learned last week, repentance brings us comfort, but after we are comforted we need to go about the work of the Lord, or we will again fall into our old ways of the old man which lead us into needing to repent of those works once again.

Mar 2:17  When Jesus heard it, he saith unto them, They that are whole have no need of the physician, but they that are sick: I came not to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.

Act 11:18  When they heard these things, they held their peace, and glorified God, saying, Then hath God also to the Gentiles granted repentance unto life.

Rom 2:1  Therefore thou art inexcusable, O man, whosoever thou art that judgest: for wherein thou judgest another, thou condemnest thyself; for thou that judgest doest the same things.
Rom 2:2  But we are sure that the judgment of God is according to truth against them which commit such things.
Rom 2:3  And thinkest thou this, O man, that judgest them which do such things, and doest the same, that thou shalt escape the judgment of God?
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 7:10  For godly sorrow worketh repentance to salvation not to be repented of: but the sorrow of the world worketh death.

2Pe 3:9  The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.

After repentance to salvation and repentance unto life come to us, what is our purpose, and how to we go about achieving that purpose?

In our study today, we are going to cover these questions in the context of the next mentioning of “yad” or “hands” in scripture. Our verses for consideration today at found in Exodus 35.

At the beginning of this chapter we learn what the commandments of keeping the Sabbath holy are, and then we learn this about the building up of the tabernacle.

Exo 35:4  And Moses spake unto all the congregation of the children of Israel, saying, This is the thing which the LORD commanded, saying,
Exo 35:5  Take ye from among you an offering unto the LORD: whosoever is of a willing heart, let him bring it, an offering of the LORD; gold, and silver, and brass,
Exo 35:6  And blue, and purple, and scarlet, and fine linen, and goats’ hair,
Exo 35:7  And rams’ skins dyed red, and badgers’ skins, and shittim wood,
Exo 35:8  And oil for the light, and spices for anointing oil, and for the sweet incense,
Exo 35:9  And onyx stones, and stones to be set for the ephod, and for the breastplate.
Exo 35:10  And every wise hearted among you shall come, and make all that the LORD hath commanded;

We have actually covered these verses previously in the Awesome Hands series, and I encourage you to search for those studies on IWWB if you are unfamiliar with them. For now, we are going to read some of the results of the children of Israel obeying the commandments of the Lord.

The important thing to start is that this all pertains to the building up of the tabernacle. Much like the children of God could not repent while they were in Egypt, since they were slaves to the Egyptians, we cannot have godly repentance until the Lord brings it to our attention that we NEED repentance in order to proceed in our walks with Him.

In Exodus 35:25-29 we will see how we are to proceed AFTER having repented of those things needing repentance. Again, this is a continuous process for whenever repentance is needed, since repent is a VERB, and after this verb has happened we must take action to build up the tabernacle of God, “whom temple you are”.

Zec 6:15  And they that are far off shall come and build in the temple of the LORD, and ye shall know that the LORD of hosts hath sent me unto you. And this shall come to pass, if ye will diligently obey the voice of the LORD your God.

1Co 3:16  Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you?

Rev 11:19  And the temple of God was opened in heaven, and there was seen in his temple the ark of his testament: and there were lightnings, and voices, and thunderings, and an earthquake, and great hail.

Yes, indeed, the temple of God is OPENED in HEAVEN, and within His temple, within us, is His ark of His testament. How do we go about building up this temple?

Exo 35:25  And all the women that were wise hearted did spin with their hands, and brought that which they had spun, both of blue, and of purple, and of scarlet, and of fine linen.
Exo 35:26  And all the women whose heart stirred them up in wisdom spun goats’ hair.
Exo 35:27  And the rulers brought onyx stones, and stones to be set, for the ephod, and for the breastplate;
Exo 35:28  And spice, and oil for the light, and for the anointing oil, and for the sweet incense.
Exo 35:29  The children of Israel brought a willing offering unto the LORD, every man and woman, whose heart made them willing to bring for all manner of work, which the LORD had commanded to be made by the hand of Moses.

“Whose heart made them willing.” It sometimes feels a bit repetitive to add the disclaimer that we fully know and understand that the Lord is working ALL THINGS after the counsel of His own will, yet because we never know who our audience is, we must always make sure to communicate this Truth when speaking about things “we need to do” or things we “ought to be doing”.

Nevertheless, the Lord stirred up the hearts of the children of Israel to DO “all manner of work” for the building of the tabernacle.

So, how do we reconcile the two ideas that the Lord works it all, but we need to take on the work of the tabernacle of the Lord in order to achieve actually doing something that will be used in His temple?

“Don’t you know that you are the temple of God and the spirit of God DWELLS in you”? Are you alone the temple of God, or is there MORE to it than ‘me, myself and I’? Of course, there is more to it, and that brings us to our next variation on the Hebrew word “yad”.

Exo 36:1  Then wrought Bezaleel and Aholiab, and every wise hearted man, in whom the LORD put wisdom and understanding to know how to work all manner of work for the service of the sanctuary, according to all that the LORD had commanded.

Exo 36:6  And Moses gave commandment, and they caused it to be proclaimed throughout the camp, saying, Let neither man nor woman make any more work for the offering of the sanctuary. So the people were restrained from bringing.
Exo 36:7  For the stuff they had was sufficient for all the work to make it, and too much.

Exo 36:20  And he made boards for the tabernacle of shittim wood, standing up.
Exo 36:21  The length of a board was ten cubits, and the breadth of a board one cubit and a half.
Exodus 36:22  One board had two tenons (H3027), equally distant one from another: thus did he make for all the boards of the tabernacle.
Exodus 36:23  And he made boards for the tabernacle; twenty boards for the south side southward:

I am going to introduce a concept that may seem foreign to you at first, but once it rings true to your heart and mind, it should be one of those things not easily forgotten.

You’ll notice that the boards of the tabernacle were made out of wood. These boards are connected together by tenons, or hands, and if you are wondering what “works” the Lord puts into our hands to achieve the work of the tabernacle, then you must consider that the boards “made of wood” are connected together to form the skeleton of the tabernacle.

Exo 35:29  The children of Israel brought a willing offering unto the LORD, every man and woman, whose heart made them willing to bring for all manner of work, which the LORD had commanded to be made by the hand of Moses.

The Lord has commanded that Moses, who is a type of God in Jesus Christ, make these things happen “with his hands”. The “things that are made” are then made by the Lord “putting wisdom and understanding to know how to work all manner of work for the service of the sanctuary” into the hearts of all the people who fashion all the items of the tabernacle to be “fitly joined together.”

I did a study a long while back named, “Fitly Joined Together”. At the time I did that study I conceptionally knew of the things I am speaking on today, but it hadn’t yet been revealed to me just how connected the “boards of the tabernacle” are by the “tenons” the Lord build into them.

Still, here is how we move PAST repentance and LIVE the thankfulness that comes with having received comfort from the process of repentance:

Eph 4:15  But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things, which is the head, even Christ:
Eph 4:16  From whom the whole body fitly joined together and compacted by that which every joint supplieth, according to the effectual working in the measure of every part, maketh increase of the body unto the edifying of itself in love.
Eph 4:17  This I say therefore, and testify in the Lord, that ye henceforth walk not as other Gentiles walk, in the vanity of their mind,
Eph 4:18  Having the understanding darkened, being alienated from the life of God through the ignorance that is in them, because of the blindness of their heart:
Eph 4:19  Who being past feeling have given themselves over unto lasciviousness, to work all uncleanness with greediness.
Eph 4:20  But ye have not so learned Christ;
Eph 4:21  If so be that ye have heard him, and have been taught by him, as the truth is in Jesus:
Eph 4:22  That ye put off concerning the former conversation the old man, which is corrupt according to the deceitful lusts;
Eph 4:23  And be RENEWED in the spirit of your mind;
Eph 4:24  And that ye put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness.

Now comes the time of examination so that we can walk in the words that we just read. Knowing that the Lord works all things, how then do WE take part in this?

Is your mind renewed? Does it need renewing? Then look around to your left and right to the other boards that are connected to you, and SEE the TEMPLE of God as it is.

Eph 4:25  Wherefore putting away lying, speak every man truth with his neighbour: for we are members one of another.
Eph 4:26  Be ye angry, and sin not: let not the sun go down upon your wrath:
Eph 4:27  Neither give place to the devil.

I know this seems so simplistic and that creator of the universe and all therein could not have simplified our lives down to these simple concepts, but I will counter that argument with asking if you have ever actually TRIED to do these things.

Truly, they are IMPOSSIBLE to achieve without the Lord doing them in us and He does them in us AS we call out for Him to create in us the new man’s mind in order to achieve these things in our lives.

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

We keep the unity of the spirit in the bond of peace by realizing that we are all in this together. It seems so cliché, but it really is something we need to know deep within our hearts and minds.

Eph 2:19  Now therefore ye are no more strangers and foreigners, but fellowcitizens with the saints, and of the household of God;
Eph 2:20  And are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone;
Eph 2:21  In whom all the building fitly framed together groweth unto an holy temple in the Lord:
Eph 2:22  In whom ye also are builded together for an habitation of God through the Spirit.

We are built together for a habitation of God, and I dare say that a one-board home isn’t much of a place that can be inhabited.

I seem to have been given this “unity message” for a long time now in this series, but the more and more I study, the more I learn that the Lord would have His sheep gather together under His wing and NOT maintain a mind that we are separate.

Given everything I have said, that also means that we do not need to feel guilty when we are not able to stay in constant contact with one another or with ALL the members of the body that we know about.

In fact, back when these scriptures were written, it could have very well been many years before communication happened between various members, if at all. Sometimes, letters were sent to churches that have never seen those who wrote the letters.

However, the connecting glue that binds us all together is the Spirit that dwells in us all.

1Co 5:3  For I verily, as absent in body, but present in spirit, have judged already, as though I were present, concerning him that hath so done this deed,
1Co 5:4  In the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, when ye are gathered together, and my spirit, with the power of our Lord Jesus Christ,

If Paul can be present in Spirit to judge a Corinthian fornicator, then we, too, can be together in Spirit to partake of the judgments of God in the lives of His saints. We witness this “correcting judgment” each and every time we communicate with one another.

I hope that gives us all comfort.

Hi Mike,

The Law paper was a profound work which brought tears to my eyes at the end when you pointed out in this passage – “Who in the days of his flesh, when he had offered up prayers and supplications with strong crying and tears unto him that was able to save him through [ NOT FROM] death, and was heard in that he feared”. First time I truly understood why Christ had to be sacrificed. Before that I always wondered was there no other way? It seemed so brutal. But there was no other way for him nor for us as the necessity of us being dead in him.
Took my short walk this morning, 4 or 5 blocks total is pushing the envelope, and as I started walking I was thinking about the perfect law of love and a car came by with love written on it in white on the back window, most likely from a wedding over the weekend, but a witness to me that the path I am on is the right one. Again Mike thank you.
Are you familiar with woodworking? When you make a piece of furniture, especially a complex one, as you go along you dry fit the pieces together to make sure everything is square and in order. Just before you glue the piece together, you dry fit the whole piece together to make sure it fits. I have approached the Word of God like this, and your teachings give me more than a glimmer of hope that I am near the point where all the pieces fit together and the whole thing can be glued together for what you say is fitly framed together.

Eph 2:21 In whom all the building fitly framed together groweth unto an holy temple in the Lord:
Eph 2:22 In whom ye also are builded together for an habitation of God through the Spirit.

I am somewhat compulsive when it comes to finishing a piece of furniture, and that same compulsiveness displays itself with the Word of the Lord. Of which I am sure you are a slave to also.
Thanks for your great effort in clarifying the word of the Lord. I am fighting much in my day- to- day life, and my mental capacities are not as strong as I would like, but I realized and have been realizing that through grace my weakness allows his strength and his Spirit to move through me for the praise of his glory.

Thanks Brother,
L____

Hi L____,
I am very pleased that you were edified by the paper on the law.
I am in the business of remodeling homes and repairing damage. I am by no stretch of the imagination a cabinet man, but the principles of cabinetry you discuss in this letter apply in every walk of life. Everything simply must be “fitly joined together” for our bodies to be a proper temple of God’s holy spirit. I do much framing in my line of work, so I certainly identify with this verse of scripture which you quoted:
Eph 2:20  And are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner [ stone];
Eph 2:21  In whom all the building fitly framed together groweth unto an holy temple in the Lord:
Eph 2:22  In whom ye also are builded together for an habitation of God through the Spirit.
If we need to be “fitly framed together” in order to “grow unto an holy temple in the Lord” as a church, it follows that our doctrines and our understanding of those doctrines need the same cohesion in Christ.
Col 1:17  And he is before all things, and by him all things consist.
Col 1:18  And he is the head of the body, the church: who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead; that in all things he might have the preeminence.
So Christ really is sovereign and all of our trials are actually Him working His work in our lives bringing us to know the Truth, which truth He is.
Gen 45:4  And Joseph said unto his brethren, Come near to me, I pray you. And they came near. And he said, I [ am] Joseph your brother, whom ye sold into Egypt.
Gen 45:5  Now therefore be not grieved, nor angry with yourselves, that ye sold me hither: for God did send me before you to preserve life.
Gen 45:6  For these two years [ hath] the famine [ been] in the land: and yet [ there are] five years, in the which [ there shall] neither [ be] earing nor harvest.
Gen 45:7  And God sent me before you to preserve you a posterity in the earth, and to save your lives by a great deliverance.
Gen 45:8  So now it was not you that sent me hither, but God: and he hath made me a father to Pharaoh, and lord of all his house, and a ruler throughout all the land of Egypt.
Joh 8:32  And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.
Never allow the Adversary to convince you that you cannot “know the Truth. An important part of that ‘Truth’ is that God in sovereign in “all things.”
Eph 1:11  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:
Twice Joseph requires that his brothers give an account for their actions, saying, “You sold me into Egypt,” and yet he does not hold them responsible or accountable, saying, “It was not you, but God that sent me here.” God really is sovereign over every detail of life, and that explains why the word ‘responsibility” is nowhere to be found in scripture. There is a world of difference between giving an account and being accountable or responsible. Just like Joseph’s brothers, we will all “give an account” of what God has caused us to do, but we will never be given the credit of causing anything to happen. Knowing and accepting that truth is a load off of our shoulders.
Pro 20:24  Man’s goings are of the LORD; how can a man then understand his own way?

Rom 9:16  So then it is not of him that willeth, nor of him that runneth, but of God that sheweth mercy.
Rom 9:17  For the scripture saith unto Pharaoh, Even for this same purpose have I raised thee up, that I might shew my power in thee, and that my name might be declared throughout all the earth.
Rom 9:18  Therefore hath he mercy on whom he will have mercy, and whom he will he hardeneth.

I am so pleased that you are coming to see that it is our weakness that makes God’s strength so obvious. God’s grace works through both faith an gratitude. Both are nothing more or less than gifts from God:
Eph 2:8  For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: [ it is] the gift of God:
2Co 4:15  For all things are for your sakes, that the abundant grace might through the thanksgiving of many redound to the glory of God.

God bless your predestined journey in His will and His work,

Your brother in Christ,
Mike