“Musical Instruments in the Bible” Part 5 – Wind [Shofar=Cornet/Trumpet – Part 1]

[Study Aired October 12, 2023]

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Excerpt from https://www.biblestudy.org/bible-study-by-topic/musical-instruments.html:

Hebrew: Shofar
KJV Name: Cornet / Trumpet
Strong’s: #H7782

References: Exo 19:16, Exo 19:19, Exo 20:18, Lev 25:9, Jos 6:4-20, Jdg 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 (Psa 98:6, 1Ch 15:28, 2Ch 15:14, Hos 5:8). The shofar and trumpet, according to the 1906 Jewish Encyclopedia, are two distinct instruments as delineated in Psalm 98:6 and 1 Chronicles 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 that 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 (Psa 81:3), warned of approaching danger, and signaled the death of nobility.

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This week we will look at Part One on the Shofar, H7782 the [cornet or trumpet], and then conclude the wind instruments section of our study with the Ugab [the organ] in the following weeks, Lord willing. [Shofar (Cornet or Trumpet) and the Ugab (Organ)].

The first mention of the Shofar (of its 72 times being mentioned in the KJV) is in Exodus 19:16. This chapter is very revealing as to what the spiritual significance of the Shofar is for God’s people today. I’d like to start the study of the Shofar by looking at Exodus chapter 19, which will give us a good idea of what it symbolizes for the body of Christ, before looking at other instances where this Strong’s number is used, which we will do next week.

The different stages in our life, where we are progressing in our walk out of Babylon, are paralleled with the journeys of Israel out of the wilderness, and give us hope that we can endure to the end through Christ if we are blessed to hear His voice (Mar 12:29) and obey His commandments in this life (Psa 18:44, Deu 30:1-2). 

Mar 12:29  And Jesus answered him, The first of all the commandments is, Hear, O Israel; The Lord our God is one Lord:
Mar 12:30  And thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind, and with all thy strength: this is the first commandment.
Mar 12:31  And the second is like, namely this, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. There is none other commandment greater than these.

Psa 18:44 At the hearing of the ear they listen to me; the sons of foreigners shall bow down to me. (LITV)

Deu 30:1  And it shall come to pass, when all these things are come upon thee, the blessing and the curse, which I have set before thee, and thou shalt call them to mind among all the nations, whither the LORD thy God hath driven thee,
Deu 30:2  And shalt return unto the LORD thy God, and shalt obey his voice according to all that I command thee this day, thou and thy children, with all thine heart, and with all thy soul; 

It is one thing to be delivered from a place of bondage and another to then have the Lord begin to work within you to perfect, establish, strengthen and settle you (1Pe 5:10-11). This section of Exodus 19 starts a journey for Israel out of Egypt typifying overcoming the wood, hay and stubble of this life (1Co 3:12-13), but it is only in verse sixteen where we first hear of the Shofar being used, which symbolizes not just hearing the word of God but the start of a deeper and more profound judgment which all the journeys of Israel typify for our sakes (1Pe 1:11-12). 

1Pe 5:10  But the God of all grace, who hath called us unto his eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after that ye have suffered a while, make you perfect, stablish, strengthen, settle you.
1Pe 5:11  To him be glory and dominion for ever and ever. Amen. 

1Co 3:12  Now if any man build upon this foundation gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, stubble; 
1Co 3:13  Every man’s work shall be made manifest: for the day shall declare it, because it shall be revealed by fire; and the fire shall try every man’s work of what sort it is.

1Pe 1:11  Searching what, or what manner of time the Spirit of Christ which was in them did signify, when it testified beforehand the sufferings of Christ, and the glory that should follow. 
1Pe 1:12  Unto whom it was revealed, that not unto themselves, but unto us they did minister the things, which are now reported unto you by them that have preached the gospel unto you with the Holy Ghost sent down from heaven; which things the angels desire to look into. 

This 19th chapter reveals how God’s Hand was working in the lives of the nation of Israel, typifying for us today how He is working within the body of Christ as we are dragged to Him by the power of God’s holy spirit (Joh 6:44).  For an in-depth study on this chapter in Exodus, please see Ato’s excellent study on Chapter 19 here: Exodus 19:1-25 I Bore you on Eagles’ Wings and Brought you unto Myself.

For today, we will use this chapter to expound upon the significance of the Shofar, and although the first mention of the word Shofar is in verse 16, we will read the whole chapter to lay the groundwork for the message about this instrument, starting with verse 1:

Exo 19:1  In the third month, when the children of Israel were gone forth out of the land of Egypt, the same day came they into the wilderness of Sinai.

Arriving at Sinai from Egypt in the third month symbolizes the early stages of the process of judgment [#3] required in our sojourn to start to ‘come out of her my people’ so that we may be accepted by God (2Co 6:17). Then we are worked with through a lifetime of deeper, more purifying, foundation-laying judgment by His hand that will make up the purified “gold, silver, [and] precious stones” within the body of Christ (Mat 21:44, 1Co 3:12, Mal 3:17).

Exo 19:2  For they were departed from Rephidim, and were come to the desert of Sinai, and had pitched in the wilderness; and there Israel camped before the mount.
Exo 19:3  And Moses went up unto God, and the LORD called unto him out of the mountain, saying, Thus shalt thou say to the house of Jacob, and tell the children of Israel;

Moses is a type of Christ, Who comes into our life as we come out of Egypt, bringing the message of salvation typified by what Moses says to the children of Israel by God’s command (Joh 12:49, Joh 20:21, Joh 3:17-18, Oba 1:21).

Joh 20:21  Then said Jesus to them again, Peace be unto you: as my Father hath sent me, even so send I you.

Joh 3:17  For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.
Joh 3:18  He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.

Oba 1:21  And saviours shall come up on mount Zion to judge the mount of Esau; and the kingdom shall be the LORD’S.

Exo 19:4  Ye have seen what I did unto the Egyptians, and how I bare you on eagles’ wings, and brought you unto myself.
Exo 19:5  Now therefore, if ye will obey my voice indeed [typifying a disciple indeed who continues in the word (Joh 8:31-32, 1Jn 5:2-3)], and keep my covenant, then ye shall be a peculiar treasure unto me above all people: for all the earth is mine: [typifying the peculiar and treasured people God’s people become today with the hope of glory within us (1Pe 2:9) as a treasure in earthen vessels (2Co 4:7)]

This thought of deliverance from Egypt via eagles’ wings, where Israel endured many a great fight of affliction and then was given deliverance through the wilderness as a nation through belief in God, is the typical experience given to Israel for the elect’s sake and is explained in these verses (Rom 5:10, Heb 3:7-19).

Rom 5:10  For if, when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, [Passover – coming out of Egypt with the blood on the doorposts] much more, being reconciled, we shall be saved by his life. 

Heb 3:7  Wherefore (as the Holy Ghost saith, To day if ye will hear his voice [represented by the Shofar],
Heb 3:8  Harden not your hearts, as in the provocation, in the day of temptation in the wilderness: 
Heb 3:9  When your fathers tempted me, proved me, and saw my works forty years. 
Heb 3:10  Wherefore I was grieved with that generation, and said, They do alway err in their heart; and they have not known my ways.
Heb 3:11  So I sware in my wrath, They shall not enter into my rest.) 
Heb 3:12  Take heed, brethren, lest there be in any of you an evil heart of unbelief, in departing from the living God.
Heb 3:13  But exhort one another daily, while it is called To day; lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin. [Mat 24:12-13]
Heb 3:14  For we are made partakers of Christ, if we hold the beginning of our confidence stedfast unto the end; [Heb 10:35, Php 3:3, Php 2:12-13, Col 1:27]
Heb 3:15  While it is said, To day if ye will hear his voice [represented by the Shofar], harden not your hearts, as in the provocation. 
Heb 3:16  For some, when they had heard, did provoke: [symbolizing those who are not permitted to continue on to perfection (Heb 6:3-6)] howbeit not all that came out of Egypt by Moses. 
Heb 3:17  But with whom was he grieved forty years? was it not with them that had sinned, whose carcases fell in the wilderness? 
Heb 3:18  And to whom sware he that they should not enter into his rest, but to them that believed not? 
Heb 3:19  So we see that they could not enter in because of unbelief [Joh 6:28-29].

Exo 19:6  And ye shall be unto me a kingdom of priests, and an holy nation. These are the words which thou shalt speak unto the children of Israel.
Exo 19:7  And Moses came and called for the elders of the people, and laid before their faces all these words which the LORD commanded him.
Exo 19:8  And all the people answered together, and said, All that the LORD hath spoken we will do. And Moses returned the words of the people unto the LORD.

These verses further demonstrate what God’s intention has always been for the spiritual Israel of God (Gal 6:16). The first man Adam is also typified by the nation of Israel claiming “All that the LORD hath spoken we will do”, but in the end the majority could not truly hear or follow through, and ended up rebelling in the wilderness, as per the counsel of God’s will (Mat 22:14, Eph 1:11). Only Christ in us (Rom 8:9) as our hope of glory (Col 1:27) can truly hear and make that obedience to God’s word possible as we are received by God via His chastening and scourging grace, not despising that process but bringing forth fruit meet for repentance through it (Heb 12:6-7, Mat 3:8).

Exo 19:9  And the LORD said unto Moses, Lo, I come unto thee in a thick cloud, that the people may hear when I speak with thee, and believe thee for ever. And Moses told the words of the people unto the LORD.

While in these earthen vessels, we see through a glass darkly, a thick cloud, making it possible for us to know God in part through the resurrected Christ (1Co 13:12). Moses typifies Christ bringing that message of hope to and through the body of Christ, a message that says in time all the world will also hear “and believe thee for ever” (1Co 15:22).

Exo 19:10  And the LORD said unto Moses, Go unto the people, and sanctify them to day and to morrow, and let them wash their clothes,
Exo 19:11  And be ready against the third day: for the third day the LORD will come down in the sight of all the people upon mount Sinai.

We have already been told that Israel has left Egypt on the third day. Now Moses, again as a type of Christ, is told by God to go and introduce this need to “sanctify them to day and to morrow, and let them wash their clothes.” That washing also symbolizes the early stages of being washed by the word of God, more specifically via these carnal ordinances which should serve to show us that no amount of works (“let them wash their clothes” Isa 4:1, Isa 64:6) can sanctify us in the same way God’s judgments upon us do (Heb 9:10-14). 

Heb 9:10  Which stood only in meats and drinks, and divers washings, and carnal ordinances, imposed on them until the time of reformation.
Heb 9:11  But Christ being come an high priest of good things to come, by a greater and more perfect tabernacle, not made with hands, that is to say, not of this building; 
Heb 9:12  Neither by the blood of goats and calves, but by his own blood he entered in once into the holy place, having obtained eternal redemption for us.
Heb 9:13  For if the blood of bulls and of goats, and the ashes of an heifer sprinkling the unclean, sanctifieth to the purifying of the flesh:
Heb 9:14  How much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without spot to God, purge your conscience from dead works to serve the living God?

At the start of our sojourn we need these “divers washings, and carnal ordinances” that act as a schoolmaster making us “ready against the third day.” What happens on the third day with Israel is symbolic of what happens to the body of Christ “at that day” (Joh 14:20) when we begin to believe by being given eyes that see and ears that hear (Mat 13:16-17, 1Co 15:46), with judgment upon the house of God which we are (1Pe 4:17, Rev 8:13). 

1Co 15:46  Howbeit that was not first which is spiritual, but that which is natural; and afterward that which is spiritual.

Rev 8:13  And I beheld, and heard an angel flying through the midst of heaven, saying with a loud voice, Woe, woe, woe, to the inhabiters of the earth by reason of the other voices of the trumpet of the three angels, which are yet to sound!

Exo 19:12  And thou shalt set bounds unto the people round about, saying, Take heed to yourselves, that ye go not up into the mount, or touch the border of it: whosoever toucheth the mount shall be surely put to death: 
Exo 19:13  There shall not an hand touch it, but he shall surely be stoned, or shot through; whether it be beast or man, it shall not live: when the trumpet^H3104 soundeth long, they shall come up to the mount. 

This verse typifies the truth that no man can come to the Son unless the Father draws him (Joh 6:44). When we go beyond the bounds God sets for us, it is akin to leaving our first estate (Jud 1:6) or trying to take the kingdom by force (Mat 11:12), despising God’s goodness that leads us to repentance (Rom 2:4), symbolized by this other wind instrument, the trumpet^H3104, used to tell Israel when to “come up to the mount.” We either hear and obey the sound of the trumpet, or we hear it and despise it by not taking heed to the message the messenger of the Lord brings. God is the one who knows our hearts which must continue to be examined as we die daily when we hear the silver trumpet [the trumpetH3104 “Christ’s voice”] that calls us to action, to “come up to the mount” (Rom 8:14-16, Psa 120:1, Jas 4:7). This trumpet sounds long as a shadow of the truth that the message of salvation has sounded long for those who hear that message and take heed, a message that was revealed in the old covenant and is able to make us wise unto salvation, with its “here a little, there a little…precept upon precept…old and new wine…breadth, and length, and depth, and height” message (2Ti 3:15, Eph 3:18).

H3104 yôbêl    yôbêl yo-bale’, yo-bale’

Apparently from H2986; the blast of a horn (from its continuous sound); specifically the signal of the silver trumpets; hence the instrument itself and the festival thus introduced: – jubile, ram’s horn, trumpet.

Total KJV occurrences: 27

Exo 19:14  And Moses went down from the mount unto the people, and sanctified the people; and they washed their clothes.
Exo 19:15  And he said unto the people, Be ready against the third day: come not at your wives.

Moses now goes down to the people and sanctifies them by giving the message from the Lord that they need to wash their clothes. The men are told to “come not at your wives” with the need to have their attention on the matter at hand, which is God’s judgment in their lives, preparing for this time of spiritual battle (2Sa 11:11) toward spiritual purity (Jas 4:8).

2Sa 11:11  And Uriah said unto David, The ark, and Israel, and Judah, abide in tents; and my lord Joab, and the servants of my lord, are encamped in the open fields; shall I then go into mine house, to eat and to drink, and to lie with my wife? as thou livest, and as thy soul liveth, I will not do this thing. 

Jas 4:8  Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you. Cleanse your hands, ye sinners; and purify your hearts, ye double minded.

Exo 19:16  And it came to pass on the third day in the morning, that there were thunders and lightnings, and a thick cloud upon the mount, and the voice of the trumpet^H7782 exceeding loud; so that all the people that was in the camp trembled.

So all the previous verses lead up to this dramatic moment and first mention of the shofar symbolizing the fearful event of falling into the hands of the Lord “on the third day in the morning” when we begin to be crushed under the stone by way of His judgments which are a fearful thing to fall into (Mat 21:44, Heb 10:31). Those judgments are explained with these words “that there were thunders and lightnings, and a thick cloud upon the mount, and the voice of the trumpet^H7782 exceeding loud; so that all the people that was in the camp trembled” (Rev 8:5-6). The trumpet that soundeth long and is exceeding loud also reminds us that in the day God’s judgments fill the earth during the reign of the saints, this same long and loud message will be given by God’s hand via the body of Christ (Rev 18:6, Eph 3:10).

Rev 8:5  And the angel took the censer, and filled it with fire of the altar, and cast it into the earth: and there were voices, and thunderings, and lightnings, and an earthquake. 
Rev 8:6  And the seven angels which had the seven trumpets prepared themselves to sound. 

Rev 18:6  Reward her even as she rewarded you, and double unto her double according to her works: in the cup which she hath filled fill to her double.

Eph 3:10  To the intent that now unto the principalities and powers in heavenly places might be known by the church the manifold wisdom of God,

Exo 19:17  And Moses brought forth the people out of the camp to meet with God; and they stood at the nether part^H8482 of the mount.

It is only when we see ourselves as the chief of sinners and guilty of all, in the lowermost area, in the pit, and in need of judgment, that we become blessed to experience God’s judgment upon us, which is what the next two verses begin to discuss (Exo 19:18-19). He takes us out of that pit once He brings us to see our “poor, and blind, and naked” state in these marred vessels of clay (Rev 3:17, Joh 9:41, Luk 15:17). It is only in this position of taking the lower seat, symbolized by “the nether part of the mount” (Luk 14:10), that we can be lifted out of “an horrible pit” (Psa 40:2-3).

“nether part” H8482  tachtı̂y  takh-tee’

From H8478; lowermost; as noun (feminine plural) the depths (figuratively a pit, the womb): – low (parts, -er, -er parts, -est), nether (part).  Total KJV occurrences: 19

Rev 3:17  Because thou sayest, I am rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing; and knowest not that thou art wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked:

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.

Psa 40:2  He brought me up also out of an horrible pit, out of the miry clay, and set my feet upon a rock, and established my goings.
Psa 40:3  And he hath put a new song in my mouth, even praise unto our God: many shall see it, and fear, and shall trust in the LORD.

Exo 19:18  And mount Sinai was altogether on a smoke, because the LORD descended upon it in fire: and the smoke thereof ascended as the smoke of a furnace, and the whole mount quaked greatly.
Exo 19:19  And when the voice of the trumpet^H7782 sounded long, and waxed louder and louder, Moses spake, and God answered him by a voice.

Our God is a consuming fire (Heb 12:29), and our Lord Yahweh, who is our Olam Father, comes into our lives and consumes all that can be consumed, as He descends from heaven creating a contrite and broken heart (Isa 66:2). This can only happen when “mount Sinai [is] altogether on a smoke, because the LORD descended upon it in fire: and the smoke thereof ascended as the smoke of a furnace, and the whole mount quaked greatly.” The long and waxing louder and louder message of the gospel is the truth that, if we continue in it, will set us free (Joh 8:31-32), otherwise we will wax worse and worse. God has called the elect to see and hear the gospel with spiritual eyes and ears that should be persuaded by Christ’s voice in their leaders, as Israel should have been (but could not, by God’s will) with Moses (Heb 13:17, 1Co 14:37).

Heb 13:17 Be persuaded by your leaders, and be deferring to them, for they are vigilant for the sake of your souls, as having to render an account, that they may be doing this with joy, and not with groaning, for this is disadvantageous for you.” [CLV]

1Co 14:37  If any man think himself to be a prophet, or spiritual, let him acknowledge that the things that I write unto you are the commandments of the Lord. 

Exo 19:20  And the LORD came down upon mount Sinai, on the top of the mount: and the LORD called Moses up to the top of the mount; and Moses went up.
Exo 19:21  And the LORD said unto Moses, Go down, charge the people, lest they break through unto the LORD to gaze, and many of them perish.
Exo 19:22  And let the priests also, which come near to the LORD, sanctify themselves, lest the LORD break forth upon them. 

Moses represents those who are called by the Lord and raised in heavenly places (Eph 2:6) “to the top of the mount” where Moses receives the instruction of the Lord telling him to go down and “charge the people, lest they break through unto the LORD to gaze, and many of them perish.” The people represent the yet unconverted world who cannot see the Lord from the perspective Moses has and therefore cannot eat at the Lord’s table at which Moses symbolizes eating in this story (Heb 13:10-12). Breaking through would be like touching the ark, which would bring immediate death to anyone who did (1Ch 13:9). Then we learn that before the priests come near to the LORD, they also must “sanctify themselves, lest the LORD break forth upon them.” This sanctifying of “the priests also, which [do] come near to the LORD” represents the necessary purification process that is akin to being called but not chosen of God. It is however impossible for these priests to come near at this time, as we see in our next couple of verses below (Exo 19:23-24). That closeness to God is reserved for the elect, symbolized by Moses and Aaron who typify those who are purified first in this life, that being Christ and His Christ (Mal 3:3, 1Jn 3:2-3).

Mal 3:3  And he shall sit as a refiner and purifier of silver: and he shall purify the sons of Levi, and purge them as gold and silver, that they may offer unto the LORD an offering in righteousness.

[It is Aaron’s sons who typify those who will come up on mount Zion to judge the mount of Esau (Oba 1:21, 1Co 6:3). Aaron’s sons represent the elect who will be used to “purify the sons of Levi” the priests who were not allowed to go up on the mount at that time, the sons of Levi (Exo 19:24)]

1Jn 3:2  Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is. 
1Jn 3:3  And every man that hath this hope in him purifieth himself, even as he is pure.

Exo 19:23  And Moses said unto the LORD, The people cannot come up to mount Sinai: for thou chargedst us, saying, Set bounds about the mount, and sanctify it.
Exo 19:24  And the LORD said unto him, Away, get thee down, and thou shalt come up, thou, and Aaron with thee: but let not the priests and the people break through to come up unto the LORD, lest he break forth upon them. 
Exo 19:25  So Moses went down unto the people, and spake unto them. 

The sanctification process (Joh 17:17) the elect endure in this life through the seven last plagues (Rev 15:8) is what these verses represent (Exo 19:23-25). It is only Moses and Aaron who represent Christ and His body who can come up to the LORD. The rest are warned, including the priests! Then “Moses went down unto the people, and spake unto them”, telling the people of this time, in type and shadow, that many are called, but few are chosen (Mat 22:14), the few being represented by Moses and Aaron.

Conclusion

We have only looked at the first two entries of the word ‘Shophar’ [H7782] and learned that this instrument’s sound represents the powerful voice of God (Psa 29:4-9). 

H7782 shôphâr    shôphâr 
sho-far’, sho-far’

From H8231 in the original sense of incising; a cornet (as giving a clear sound) or curved horn: – cornet, trumpet.

Total KJV occurrences: 72

Psa 29:4  The voice of the LORD is powerful; the voice of the LORD is full of majesty. 
Psa 29:5  The voice of the LORD breaketh the cedars; yea, the LORD breaketh the cedars of Lebanon. 
Psa 29:6  He maketh them also to skip like a calf; Lebanon and Sirion like a young unicorn. 
Psa 29:7  The voice of the LORD divideth the flames of fire. 
Psa 29:8  The voice of the LORD shaketh the wilderness; the LORD shaketh the wilderness of Kadesh. 
Psa 29:9  The voice of the LORD maketh the hinds to calve, and discovereth the forests: and in his temple doth every one speak of his glory. 

The power God gives the elect to speak the truth in love (1Co 2:5, Eph 4:15) can only be found in those who are having their power taken away by dying daily (Mat 10:39, 1Co 15:31). That power we have in our flesh is represented by the curved horn of the Shofar, which would traditionally be taken from a ram or a goat. Taking away a beast’s horns takes away their power, and this is the principle point in the lives of those who are called to lose their lives, their power and their own righteousnesses, so that the life of Christ can be manifest through these broken and contrite earthen vessels whom He is shaping to house the spirit of God (Col 1:27, Rom 8:29). Just as the shofar has the breath breathed through it, symbolizing the spirit of God, the words of God, so, too, does the life of Christ that comes into our hearts and minds as our earthly wisdom decreases as we die daily and He increases within us (Joh 3:30). The spirit of God [the wind, the breath] blows through the shofar that is held by the priest symbolizing how Christ gives us a far greater power in this life (Jos 6:16, 1Jn 4:4). He makes it possible for us to fight a good fight of faith to obtain eternal life as we overcome the earthly powers and principalities to which we die to daily, powers we see being manifest in the hearts and minds of mankind continually (Luk 6:45, 1Ti 6:12, Eph 6:12, Eph 1:21-23, Heb 7:26).

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, 
Eph 1:23  Which is his body, the fulness of him that filleth all in all. 

Heb 7:26  For such an high priest became us, who is holy, harmless, undefiled, separate from sinners, and made higher than the heavens; 

Next week we will continue to look at some more entries of the word Shofar^H7782 to further understand what the spiritual significance of this instrument is for God’s people today.

– Original: שׁפר שׁופר
– Transliteration: Showphar
– Phonetic: sho-far’
– Definition: 

1. horn, ram’s horn 

– Origin: from H8231 in the original sense of incising
– TWOT entry: 2449c
– Part(s) of speech: Noun Masculine 
– Strong’s: From H8231 in the original sense of incising; a cornet (as giving a clear sound) or curved horn: – cornet trumpet. 

Total KJV Occurrences: 72 

• cornet, 3

 1Ch_15:28; Psa_98:6; Hos_5:8 

• cornets, 1

 2Ch_15:14 

• trumpet, 48

 Exo_19:16; Exo_19:19; Exo_20:18; Lev_25:9(2); Jos_6:5; Jos_6:20; Jdg_3:27; Jdg_6:34; Jdg_7:16; Jdg_7:18; 1Sa_13:3; 2Sa_2:28; 2Sa_6:15; 2Sa_15:10; 2Sa_18:16; 2Sa_20:1; 2Sa_20:22; 1Ki_1:34; 1Ki_1:39; 1Ki_1:41; Neh_4:18; Neh_4:20; Job_39:24; Psa_47:5; Psa_81:3; Psa_150:3; Isa_18:3; Isa_27:13; Isa_58:1; Jer_4:5; Jer_4:19; Jer_4:21; Jer_6:1; Jer_6:17; Jer_42:14; Jer_51:27; Eze_33:3; Eze_33:4; Eze_33:5; Eze_33:6; Hos_8:1; Joe_2:1; Joe_2:15; Amo_2:2; Amo_3:6; Zep_1:16; Zec_9:14 

• trumpets, 20

 Jos_6:4(2); Jos_6:6; Jos_6:8(2); Jos_6:9(2); Jos_6:13(3); Jos_6:16; Jos_6:20; Jdg_7:8; Jdg_7:18; Jdg_7:19; Jdg_7:20(2); Jdg_7:22; 2Ki_9:13; Job_39:25 

[Study Aired August 1, 2022]

Exo 19:1  In the third month, when the children of Israel were gone forth out of the land of Egypt, the same day came they into the wilderness of Sinai. 
Exo 19:2  For they were departed from Rephidim, and were come to the desert of Sinai, and had pitched in the wilderness; and there Israel camped before the mount. 
Exo 19:3  And Moses went up unto God, and the LORD called unto him out of the mountain, saying, Thus shalt thou say to the house of Jacob, and tell the children of Israel; 
Exo 19:4  Ye have seen what I did unto the Egyptians, and how I bare you on eagles’ wings, and brought you unto myself. 
Exo 19:5  Now therefore, if ye will obey my voice indeed, and keep my covenant, then ye shall be a peculiar treasure unto me above all people: for all the earth is mine: 
Exo 19:6  And ye shall be unto me a kingdom of priests, and an holy nation. These are the words which thou shalt speak unto the children of Israel. 
Exo 19:7  And Moses came and called for the elders of the people, and laid before their faces all these words which the LORD commanded him. 
Exo 19:8  And all the people answered together, and said, All that the LORD hath spoken we will do. And Moses returned the words of the people unto the LORD. 
Exo 19:9  And the LORD said unto Moses, Lo, I come unto thee in a thick cloud, that the people may hear when I speak with thee, and believe thee for ever. And Moses told the words of the people unto the LORD. 
Exo 19:10  And the LORD said unto Moses, Go unto the people, and sanctify them to day and to morrow, and let them wash their clothes, 
Exo 19:11  And be ready against the third day: for the third day the LORD will come down in the sight of all the people upon mount Sinai. 
Exo 19:12  And thou shalt set bounds unto the people round about, saying, Take heed to yourselves, that ye go not up into the mount, or touch the border of it: whosoever toucheth the mount shall be surely put to death: 
Exo 19:13  There shall not an hand touch it, but he shall surely be stoned, or shot through; whether it be beast or man, it shall not live: when the trumpet soundeth long, they shall come up to the mount. 
Exo 19:14  And Moses went down from the mount unto the people, and sanctified the people; and they washed their clothes. 
Exo 19:15  And he said unto the people, Be ready against the third day: come not at your wives. 
Exo 19:16  And it came to pass on the third day in the morning, that there were thunders and lightnings, and a thick cloud upon the mount, and the voice of the trumpet exceeding loud; so that all the people that was in the camp trembled. 
Exo 19:17  And Moses brought forth the people out of the camp to meet with God; and they stood at the nether part of the mount. 
Exo 19:18  And mount Sinai was altogether on a smoke, because the LORD descended upon it in fire: and the smoke thereof ascended as the smoke of a furnace, and the whole mount quaked greatly. 
Exo 19:19  And when the voice of the trumpet sounded long, and waxed louder and louder, Moses spake, and God answered him by a voice. 
Exo 19:20  And the LORD came down upon mount Sinai, on the top of the mount: and the LORD called Moses up to the top of the mount; and Moses went up. 
Exo 19:21  And the LORD said unto Moses, Go down, charge the people, lest they break through unto the LORD to gaze, and many of them perish. 
Exo 19:22  And let the priests also, which come near to the LORD, sanctify themselves, lest the LORD break forth upon them. 
Exo 19:23  And Moses said unto the LORD, The people cannot come up to mount Sinai: for thou chargedst us, saying, Set bounds about the mount, and sanctify it. 
Exo 19:24  And the LORD said unto him, Away, get thee down, and thou shalt come up, thou, and Aaron with thee: but let not the priests and the people break through to come up unto the LORD, lest he break forth upon them. 
Exo 19:25  So Moses went down unto the people, and spake unto them. 

Exodus chapter 19 is about the preparation needed to meet the Lord as the people of Israel encamped near Mount Sinai. Our walk in Christ here on this earth is exemplified by the journey taken by the people of Israel when they left Egypt. They experienced hunger at a certain point in their journey, and later they also were without water. These are all part of the process the Lord takes us through to become mature sons. This process of maturity through judgment is symbolized by three days. 

Luk 13:32  And he said unto them, Go ye, and tell that fox, Behold, I cast out devils, and I do cures to day and to morrow, and the third day I shall be perfected.

Today’s study reveals what is required of us in order to meet the Lord. Internally, meeting the Lord means the Lord coming to us to judge us. This happens when we come to see that we are the beast!! That is when the Lord comes with His brightness to destroy the wicked one within us so that we learn righteousness.

2Th 2:7  For the mystery of iniquity doth already work: only he who now letteth will let, until he be taken out of the way. 
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:

Ecc 3:18  I said in mine heart concerning the estate of the sons of men, that God might manifest them, and that they might see that they themselves are beasts.

Outwardly, meeting the Lord will occur when the kingdoms of this world become the kingdom of our Lord and of His Christ. That is when the purchased possession shall be redeemed.

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

Exo 19:1  In the third month, when the children of Israel were gone forth out of the land of Egypt, the same day came they into the wilderness of Sinai. 
Exo 19:2  For they were departed from Rephidim, and were come to the desert of Sinai, and had pitched in the wilderness; and there Israel camped before the mount.

It was in the third month that the people of Israel reached Mount Sinai after departing from Egypt. The number three means the process of spiritual completion or maturity through judgment.  The coming of the people of Israel to Mount Sinai was for the express purpose of meeting the Lord. Thus, our spiritual perfection will occur when we meet the Lord at the turn of a new age. As our Lord is, so are we. The Lord Jesus Christ was perfected when He resurrected from the dead. The first resurrection will result in the perfection of the saints.

1Co 13:9  For we know in part, and we prophesy in part. 
1Co 13:10  But when that which is perfect is come, then that which is in part shall be done away. 

Rev 1:7  Behold, he cometh with clouds; and every eye shall see him, and they also which pierced him: and all kindreds of the earth shall wail because of him. Even so, Amen. 

Inwardly, our meeting of the Lord at Mount Sinai is when He comes with His judgment to destroy the old man or the flesh.

Exo 19:3  And Moses went up unto God, and the LORD called unto him out of the mountain, saying, Thus shalt thou say to the house of Jacob, and tell the children of Israel; 
Exo 19:4  Ye have seen what I did unto the Egyptians, and how I bare you on eagles’ wings, and brought you unto myself.

It is when our eyes of understanding are enlightened, and our ears hear the words of the Lord, which is symbolized by Moses meeting the Lord on the mountain, that we begin to see how the Lord has been with us all along as He carried us on eagles’ wings to Himself. Eagles are very powerful birds that have great strength and are very caring parents. They protect their young with a high nest. Both parents bring food to the eaglets and teach them to fly. If an eaglet struggles in flight, a parent will swoop under the young bird and carry them, so they don’t fall.

Here in verse 4, the Lord compared His strength and power and His caring to that of an eagle. We may feel frail, powerless and not cared for in this life, but the good news is that our Lord’s strength and power is what is carrying us in this life to Himself – not ourselves. Are you weary? Are you weak and frail? Are you going through health or financial challenges that there is no end in sight? Receive the strength and power of the Lord in the name of Jesus!! May the Lord help you to lift up your eyes from your circumstances and look up to the hills, from whence comes your help!! He will bear you on eagles’ wings and bring you to Himself, Amen!

Psa 121:1  A Song of degrees. I will lift up mine eyes unto the hills, from whence cometh my help. 
Psa 121:2  My help cometh from the LORD, which made heaven and earth. 
Psa 121:3  He will not suffer thy foot to be moved: he that keepeth thee will not slumber. 
Psa 121:4  Behold, he that keepeth Israel shall neither slumber nor sleep. 

Isa 40:26  Lift up your eyes on high, and behold who hath created these things, that bringeth out their host by number: he calleth them all by names by the greatness of his might, for that he is strong in power; not one faileth. 
Isa 40:27  Why sayest thou, O Jacob, and speakest, O Israel, My way is hid from the LORD, and my judgment is passed over from my God? 
Isa 40:28  Hast thou not known? hast thou not heard, that the everlasting God, the LORD, the Creator of the ends of the earth, fainteth not, neither is weary? there is no searching of his understanding. 
Isa 40:29  He giveth power to the faint; and to them that have no might he increaseth strength. 
Isa 40:30  Even the youths shall faint and be weary, and the young men shall utterly fall: 
Isa 40:31  But they that wait upon the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint.

Who are those who wait upon the Lord? They are those who have come to realize that of themselves they can do nothing and therefore focus on the mercies of the Lord. They are the ones the Lord will carry on eagles’ wings. That is when we can run and not be weary, walk and not faint!!

Psa 123:2  Behold, as the eyes of servants look unto the hand of their masters, and as the eyes of a maiden unto the hand of her mistress; so our eyes wait upon the LORD our God, until that he have mercy upon us.

Exo 19:5  Now therefore, if ye will obey my voice indeed, and keep my covenant, then ye shall be a peculiar treasure unto me above all people: for all the earth is mine: 
Exo 19:6  And ye shall be unto me a kingdom of priests, and an holy nation. These are the words which thou shalt speak unto the children of Israel.

Being called and chosen is what qualifies us to become a peculiar treasure of the Lord above all people. How do we know that we are His peculiar treasure? When our eyes see and our ears hear, then we are blessed to be part of His peculiar treasure. The tribulation we all go through is all part of the process of possessing the kingdom of God or becoming part of His peculiar treasure. Being His peculiar treasure is the same as being a kingdom of priests and a holy nation. Our obedience will have to be complete to possess the kingdom of God. This is not the work of man. It is the work of God, and we have confidence that He who has started with us, will see to its completion!!

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. 

Php 1:6  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:

Exo 19:7  And Moses came and called for the elders of the people, and laid before their faces all these words which the LORD commanded him. 
Exo 19:8  And all the people answered together, and said, All that the LORD hath spoken we will do. And Moses returned the words of the people unto the LORD.

When we start our walk with the Lord, we think we can obey the Lord by our own strength. This is all because of the false doctrine of us possessing our own will in our heavens. The Israelites also taught that to obey is within their means and so they unanimously told Moses that they will do all that the Lord commands. Let’s see what the Lord think about this assertion:

Deu 5:27  Go thou near, and hear all that the LORD our God shall say: and speak thou unto us all that the LORD our God shall speak unto thee; and we will hear it, and do it.
Deu 5:28  And the LORD heard the voice of your words, when ye spake unto me; and the LORD said unto me, I have heard the voice of the words of this people, which they have spoken unto thee: they have well said all that they have spoken.
Deu 5:29  O that there were such an heart in them, that they would fear me, and keep all my commandments always, that it might be well with them, and with their children for ever!

As we can see, in the eyes of the Lord, we do not have what it takes to obey Him. Our hardened hearts must be softened by His judgments before we can obey His voice.

Isa 26:8  Yea, in the way of thy judgments, O LORD, have we waited for thee; the desire of our soul is to thy name, and to the remembrance of thee. 
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.

Psa 119:67  Before I was afflicted I went astray: but now have I kept thy word.

Exo 19:9  And the LORD said unto Moses, Lo, I come unto thee in a thick cloud, that the people may hear when I speak with thee, and believe thee forever. And Moses told the words of the people unto the LORD. 

His coming to us in a thick cloud means Jesus coming to us is through His elect who are symbolized by the thick cloud of witnesses. In this dispensation, it is through us, His elect, that the Lord speaks to His people since we are Jesus whom the world is persecuting.

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,

Heb 1:1  God, who at sundry times and in divers manners spake in time past unto the fathers by the prophets, 
Heb 1:2  Hath in these last days spoken unto us by his Son, whom he hath appointed heir of all things, by whom also he made the worlds; 

Act 9:4  And he fell to the earth, and heard a voice saying unto him, Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me? 
Act 9:5  And he said, Who art thou, Lord? And the Lord said, I am Jesus whom thou persecutest: it is hard for thee to kick against the pricks.

Exo 19:10  And the LORD said unto Moses, Go unto the people, and sanctify them to day and to morrow, and let them wash their clothes,
Exo 19:11  And be ready against the third day: for the third day the LORD will come down in the sight of all the people upon mount Sinai.

As we have indicated in previous studies, Moses represents Christ. It is the Lord who comes to us with the spirit of His mouth (His words) to sanctify us with His judgments. Sanctification means to be cleansed or purified. Jesus Christ is our sanctification.

1Co 1:30  But of him are ye in Christ Jesus, who of God is made unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption:

The whole process of being sanctified takes a symbolic three days. The first two days indicated here in verse 10 as today and tomorrow refer to our sanctification through judgment while we live in this tent of flesh. The third day is when we are perfected as we meet Christ face to face just as the Israelites were being sanctified to meet Christ on Mount Sinai on the third day. 

Luk 13:32  And he said unto them, Go ye, and tell that fox, Behold, I cast out devils, and I do cures today and tomorrow, and the third day I shall be perfected. 

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: 

Washing our clothes in verse 10 is the same as making them white in the blood of the Lamb, which means being sanctified through Christ.

Rev 7:13  And one of the elders answered, saying unto me, What are these which are arrayed in white robes? and whence came they? 
Rev 7:14  And I said unto him, Sir, thou knowest. And he said to me, These are they which came out of great tribulation, and have washed their robes, and made them white in the blood of the Lamb.
Rev 7:15  Therefore are they before the throne of God, and serve him day and night in his temple: and he that sitteth on the throne shall dwell among them. 

Rev 22:14  Blessed are those who wash their robes, so that they may have the right to the tree of life and that they may enter the city by the gates.

As indicated, it is on the third day that we shall be perfected as we meet the Lord. This is what Paul said about this:

1Co 13:9  For we know in part, and we prophesy in part. 
1Co 13:10  But when that which is perfect is come, then that which is in part shall be done away. 
1Co 13:11  When I was a child, I spake as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child: but when I became a man, I put away childish things. 
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.

Exo 19:12  And thou shalt set bounds unto the people round about, saying, Take heed to yourselves, that ye go not up into the mount, or touch the border of it: whosoever toucheth the mount shall be surely put to death: 
Exo 19:13  There shall not an hand touch it, but he shall surely be stoned, or shot through; whether it be beast or man, it shall not live: when the trumpet soundeth long, they shall come up to the mount. 

To understand why the Israelites were forbidden to go up the Mount and to touch the border of it except Moses, we need to know what the people of Israel represent and what Moses represents in these verses. On a negative note, the people of Israel represent Babylon, the mother of harlots. Moses on a positive note stands for the elect. It is the elect that have access to the Mountain of God or the presence of the Lord. Our brothers and sisters in Babylon are forbidden to go up the mountain of God or even to touch it. The reason they cannot come before the Lord or touch anything Holy is that they have been carried away by false doctrines, thus making them unable to eat at the altar.

Heb 13:9  Be not carried about with divers and strange doctrines. For it is a good thing that the heart be established with grace; not with meats, which have not profited them that have been occupied therein. 
Heb 13:10  We have an altar, whereof they have no right to eat which serve the tabernacle.

The attempt by our brothers and sisters in Babylon to come to the Lord, signified by the Israelites trying to come up the Mount, or touch it is met with death. This mountain of God represents the Lord’s dwelling which is our body. To come up the mountain or to touch the mountain is to touch us and therefore Christ who is the word. To Moses (the elect), the experience of meeting the Lord brings him to know the Lord through His words. To our brothers and sisters in Babylon, the experience of meeting the Lord (His words) brings darkness which brings them into spiritual death.

Exo 14:19  And the angel of God, which went before the camp of Israel, removed and went behind them; and the pillar of the cloud went from before their face, and stood behind them: 
Exo 14:20  And it came between the camp of the Egyptians and the camp of Israel; and it was a cloud and darkness to them, but it gave light by night to these: so that the one came not near the other all the night.

Exo 19:14  And Moses went down from the mount unto the people, and sanctified the people; and they washed their clothes. 
Exo 19:15  And he said unto the people, Be ready against the third day: come not at your wives.

As we indicated earlier, Moses coming down to sanctify the people is Christ coming to us with His judgment to teach us righteousness as we wait for our perfection on the third day. In the twinkle of an eye, we shall be raised incorruptible from the dead. 

1Co 15:52  In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed.
1Co 15:53  For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality. 
1Co 15:54  So when this corruptible shall have put on incorruption, and this mortal shall have put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written, Death is swallowed up in victory.

In verse 15, we are told that as part of sanctification, the people of Israel must not come at their wives. This is another way of saying that if we are to be sanctified, then we must leave Babylon, symbolized by wives. In other words, we must have no union with Babylon.

1Co 6:16  What? know ye not that he which is joined to an harlot is one body? for two, saith he, shall be one flesh. 
1Co 6:17  But he that is joined unto the Lord is one spirit. 

Rev 18:4  And I heard another voice from heaven, saying, Come out of her, my people, that ye be not partakers of her sins, and that ye receive not of her plagues.

Pro 7:10  And, behold, there met him a woman with the attire of an harlot, and subtil of heart. 

Pro 7:17  I have perfumed my bed with myrrh, aloes, and cinnamon. 

Pro 7:18  Come, let us take our fill of love until the morning: let us solace ourselves with loves. 

Pro 7:21  With her much fair speech she caused him to yield, with the flattering of her lips she forced him. 
Pro 7:22  He goeth after her straightway, as an ox goeth to the slaughter, or as a fool to the correction of the stocks; 
Pro 7:23  Till a dart strike through his liver; as a bird hasteth to the snare, and knoweth not that it is for his life.

Exo 19:16  And it came to pass on the third day in the morning, that there were thunders and lightnings, and a thick cloud upon the mount, and the voice of the trumpet exceeding loud; so that all the people that was in the camp trembled. 
Exo 19:17  And Moses brought forth the people out of the camp to meet with God; and they stood at the nether part of the mount.

Outwardly, the third day is when we redeem the purchased possession. That is when we shall be raised incorruptible.

1Co 15:42  So also is the resurrection of the dead. It is sown in corruption; it is raised in incorruption:
1Co 15:43  It is sown in dishonour; it is raised in glory: it is sown in weakness; it is raised in power: 
1Co 15:44  It is sown a natural body; it is raised a spiritual body. There is a natural body, and there is a spiritual body.

Here is what Apostle John has to say about this:

1Jn 3:2  Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is.
1Jn 3:3  And every man that hath this hope in him purifieth himself, even as he is pure.

Inwardly, meeting the Lord is when He comes with His judgments to destroy all that is within us that resists Christ from establishing His kingdom within us. As we are aware, thunder and lightning are all indications of His judgment of our old man or the beast within.

Exo 19:18  And mount Sinai was altogether on a smoke, because the LORD descended upon it in fire: and the smoke thereof ascended as the smoke of a furnace, and the whole mount quaked greatly. 

Smoke is an indication of burning by fire. As the scriptures say, every man’s work shall be burnt. However, in this age, it is the elect that are being judged. All that is hay, stubble and wood shall be burned out of our lives when the Lord comes to us. As indicated, Mount Sinai represents figuratively the habitation of God which is our body. In order for Christ to come and live in His temple, it must be cleansed, and the smoke is an indication of the burning that is going on in our lives as we are being judged.

1Co 3:11  For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ. 
1Co 3:12  Now if any man build upon this foundation gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, stubble; 
1Co 3:13  Every man’s work shall be made manifest: for the day shall declare it, because it shall be revealed by fire; and the fire shall try every man’s work of what sort it is. 
1Co 3:14  If any man’s work abide which he hath built thereupon, he shall receive a reward. 
1Co 3:15  If any man’s work shall be burned, he shall suffer loss: but he himself shall be saved; yet so as by fire. 
1Co 3:16  Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you?

Exo 19:19  And when the voice of the trumpet sounded long, and waxed louder and louder, Moses spake, and God answered him by a voice. 
Exo 19:20  And the LORD came down upon mount Sinai, on the top of the mount: and the LORD called Moses up to the top of the mount; and Moses went up. 

When the Lord comes to us with His judgment, one significant result is that we end up hearing the voice of the Shepherd clearly as we come to understand more of the mysteries of the kingdom of God. This is what it means when the Israelites heard the voice of the trumpet sound louder and louder. As we are aware, the voice of the trumpet is the voice of Christ or His words.

Rev 1:10  I was in the Spirit on the Lord’s day, and heard behind me a great voice, as of a trumpet,
Rev 1:11  Saying, I am Alpha and Omega, the first and the last: and, What thou seest, write in a book, and send it unto the seven churches which are in Asia; unto Ephesus, and unto Smyrna, and unto Pergamos, and unto Thyatira, and unto Sardis, and unto Philadelphia, and unto Laodicea.

Outwardly, when we meet Him face to face we shall know Him fully.

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.

Exo 19:21  And the LORD said unto Moses, Go down, charge the people, lest they break through unto the LORD to gaze, and many of them perish. 
Exo 19:22  And let the priests also, which come near to the LORD, sanctify themselves, lest the LORD break forth upon them. 
Exo 19:23  And Moses said unto the LORD, The people cannot come up to mount Sinai: for thou chargedst us, saying, Set bounds about the mount, and sanctify it. 
Exo 19:24  And the LORD said unto him, Away, get thee down, and thou shalt come up, thou, and Aaron with thee: but let not the priests and the people break through to come up unto the LORD, lest he break forth upon them. 
Exo 19:25  So Moses went down unto the people, and spake unto them.

As we have observed earlier, the camp of the Israelites represents Babylon while Moses and Aaron represent the elect. This is made clear when the word of the Lord in Hebrews compared the camp of Babylon to that of the general assembly of the firstborn as follows:

Heb 12:18  For ye are not come unto the mount that might be touched, and that burned with fire, nor unto blackness, and darkness, and tempest,
Heb 12:19  And the sound of a trumpet, and the voice of words; which voice they that heard intreated that the word should not be spoken to them any more: 
Heb 12:20  (For they could not endure that which was commanded, And if so much as a beast touch the mountain, it shall be stoned, or thrust through with a dart: 
Heb 12:21  And so terrible was the sight, that Moses said, I exceedingly fear and quake:) 
Heb 12:22  But ye are come unto mount Sion, and unto the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to an innumerable company of angels,
Heb 12:23  To the general assembly and church of the firstborn, which are written in heaven, and to God the Judge of all, and to the spirits of just men made perfect,
Heb 12:24  And to Jesus the mediator of the new covenant, and to the blood of sprinkling, that speaketh better things than that of Abel. 
Heb 12:25  See that ye refuse not him that speaketh. For if they escaped not who refused him that spake on earth, much more shall not we escape, if we turn away from him that speaketh from heaven:

We thank the Lord for delivering us from Babylon and bringing us to the church of the firstborn. May He grant us the grace to know Him more as we go through the fiery trials marked out for us. Amen!!

Heb 8:1-6 “Now of the Things Which we have Spoken This is the Sum” – Part 1

[Study Aired November 12, 2020]

Heb 8:1  Now of the things which we have spoken this is the sum: We have such an high priest, who is set on the right hand of the throne of the Majesty in the heavens; 
Heb 8:2  A minister of the sanctuary, and of the true tabernacle, which the Lord pitched, and not man.
Heb 8:3  For every high priest is ordained to offer gifts and sacrifices: wherefore it is of necessity that this man have somewhat also to offer. 
Heb 8:4  For if he were on earth, he should not be a priest, seeing that there are priests that offer gifts according to the law: 
Heb 8:5  Who serve unto the example and shadow of heavenly things, as Moses was admonished of God when he was about to make the tabernacle: for, See, saith he, that thou make all things according to the pattern shewed to thee in the mount. 
Heb 8:6  But now hath he obtained a more excellent ministry, by how much also he is the mediator of a better covenant, which was established upon better promises. 

Chapter eight of Hebrews is truly a synopsis of many of the main points that have already been written in the first few chapters of Hebrews as it states “Now of the things which we have spoken, this is the sum“, just as Peter states plainly that it is important to revisit “these things, though ye know them, and be established in the present truth” (2Pe 1:12).

2Pe 1:12  Wherefore I will not be negligent to put you always in remembrance of these things, though ye know them, and be established in the present truth.

Reviewing and understanding what makes up our High Priest “who is set on the right hand of the throne of the Majesty in the heavens” is a daily discovery that comes about by dying daily (1Co 15:31) and keeping under ourselves (1Co 9:27). 2Peter 1:1-11 discusses the fruit of the spirit that can be ours if God does in fact put His law “in their inward parts, and write it in their hearts; and will be their God, and they shall be my people” of Jeremiah 31:33).

2Pe 1:4  Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust.
2Pe 1:5  And beside this, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue; and to virtue knowledge;
2Pe 1:6  And to knowledge temperance; and to temperance patience; and to patience godliness;
2Pe 1:7  And to godliness brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness charity.
2Pe 1:8  For if these things be in you, and abound, they make you that ye shall neither be barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Here is what God is manifesting in the lives of those whom He is saving in this life through our Lord who is the “minister of the sanctuary, and of the true tabernacle, which the Lord pitched, and not man” (1Co 3:16), and this salvation is unfolding as grace and peace are multiplied unto us “through the righteousness of God and our Saviour Jesus Christ” (2Pe 1:1).

2Pe 1:1  Simon Peter, a servant and an apostle of Jesus Christ, to them that have obtained like precious faith with us through^G1722 the righteousness of God and our Saviour Jesus Christ:
2Pe 1:2  Grace and peace be multiplied unto you through^G1722 the knowledge of God, and of Jesus our Lord,
2Pe 1:3  According as his divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness, through^G1722 the knowledge of him that hath called us to glory and virtue: (Joh 7:3)
2Pe 1:4  Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust (Heb 8:6).
2Pe 1:5  And beside this, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue; and to virtue knowledge;
2Pe 1:6  And to knowledge temperance; and to temperance patience; and to patience godliness;
2Pe 1:7  And to godliness brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness charity. [These verses in 2Peter 1:4-10 can be summarized with Titus 3:8].

Tit 3:8  This is a faithful saying, and these things I will that thou affirm constantly, (2Pe 1:12) that they which have believed in God might be careful to maintain good works. These things are good and profitable unto men.

2Pe 1:8  For if these things be in you, and abound, they make you that ye shall neither be barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.
2Pe 1:9  But he that lacketh these things is blind, and cannot see afar off, and hath forgotten that he was purged from his old sins.
2Pe 1:10  Wherefore the rather, brethren, give diligence to make your calling and election sure: for if ye do these things, ye shall never fall:
2Pe 1:11  For so an entrance shall be ministered unto you abundantly (Joh 10:10, Psa 90:12) into the everlasting kingdom of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.

God is accomplishing these works in Christ or through Christ, and they were determined to be done from the foundation of the world (Eph 1:4) through God’s elect who will be brought unto perfection on the third day (Luk 13:32). The works don’t perfect us; the works give evidence that we are being perfected, and the tree that is bringing forth this fruit that God is giving the increase too gives us hope (Luk 6:43-44, 1Ti 6:19) to continue on in His service believing that day will come when we will go unto perfection in a moment and in the twinkling of an eye (1Co 15:52).

This many-membered body which makes up the bride of Christ (Rom 12:5, 1Co 12:12, Rev 19:7) is being built up through^G1722 our High Priest who is the author and finisher of our faith (Heb 12:2). Christ is the one who is building the fitly framed temple that we are becoming which will enable God’s people to overcome the world through that gift of faith (Psa 127:1, Eph 2:20-22, Eph 4:13-16, 1Jn 5:4).

Rom 12:5  So we, being many, are one body in Christ, and every one members one of another.

1Co 12:12  For as the body is one, and hath many members, and all the members of that one body, being many, are one body: so also is Christ.

Rev 19:7  Let us be glad and rejoice, and give honour to him: for the marriage of the Lamb is come, and his wife hath made herself ready.

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.

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.

Eph 4:13  Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ:
Eph 4:14  That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive;
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.

1Jn 5:4  For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world: and this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith.

This chapter of Hebrews, as with all of God’s word, has been written to give us incentive to overcome and to realize the certainty of that victory to which God has called us through Christ as we “grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ” (2Pe 3:18) and learn to rest in Him as we continue to cast all our cares upon the One who is able “to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by him, seeing he ever liveth to make intercession for them” (Heb 7:25).

2Pe 3:18  But grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and for ever. Amen.

Heb 7:25  Wherefore he is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by him, seeing he ever liveth to make intercession for them.

Heb 8:1  Now of the things which we have spoken this is the sum: We have such an high priest, who is set on the right hand of the throne of the Majesty in the heavens; 

On that day (Joh 14:20) you will know that this statement in Hebrews 8:1 is speaking about what is happening right now in the heavens of those who have Christ abiding in them (Col 1:27) making it possible for us to be raised in heavenly places with Him “who is set on the right hand of the throne of the Majesty in the heavens” (Eph 2:6).

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:

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

This message of knowing him “who is set on the right hand of the throne of the Majesty in the heavens” is the primary message that God is revealing through the book of Hebrews unto those who believe (Joh 6:28-29), and Christ is our hope of salvation (Col 1:27). The summation of this hope-filled relationship we have with our Father and high priest Jesus Christ is condensed in this chapter that starts off by saying “Now of the things which we have spoken this is the sum“.

Joh 6:28  Then said they unto him, What shall we do, that we might work the works of God?
Joh 6:29  Jesus answered and said unto them, This is the work of God, that ye believe on him whom he hath sent.

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.

God is the one who is making His son known in our heavens so that we can believe in him and do the works that he did and even greater works than what Christ did. Those greater works involve being sent to spiritually heal those whom God drags to Christ in us (Joh 14:12, Joh 20:21, Psa 107:20, Joh 6:44).

Joh 14:12  Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me, the works that I do shall he do also; and greater works than these shall he do; because I go unto my Father.

Joh 20:21  Then said Jesus to them again, Peace be unto you: as my Father hath sent me, even so send I you.

Psa 107:20  He sent his word, and healed them, and delivered them from their destructions.

Joh 6:44  No man can come to me, except the Father which hath sent me draw him: and I will raise him up at the last day.

Heb 8:2  A minister of the sanctuary, and of the true tabernacle, which the Lord pitched, and not man.

Clearly Christ is the “minister of the sanctuary, and of the true tabernacle“, our high priest who is “…holy, harmless, undefiled, separate from sinners, and made higher than the heavens; who needeth not daily”…”to offer up sacrifice”…   “for this he did once, when he offered up himself” (Heb 7:26-27 from last week’s study).

That “true tabernacle” is not the pitching of a tent which symbolically means our lives here, being temporary abodes that God is able to settle us in and make us spiritually comfortable in after we suffer awhile as Christ did before us (Lev 23:40-42, Heb 4:15, 1Pe 4:1, Isa 33:14-15, 1Co 10:13).

Lev 23:40  And ye shall take you on the first day the boughs of goodly trees, branches of palm trees, and the boughs of thick trees, and willows of the brook; and ye shall rejoice before the LORD your God seven days [Php 4:4].

Lev 23:41  And ye shall keep it a feast unto the LORD seven days in the year. It shall be a statute for ever in your generations: ye shall celebrate it in the seventh month.
Lev 23:42  Ye shall dwell in booths seven days; all that are Israelites born shall dwell in booths:

Heb 4:15  For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin.

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;

Isa 33:14  The sinners in Zion are afraid; fearfulness hath surprised the hypocrites. Who among us shall dwell with the devouring fire? who among us shall dwell with everlasting burnings?
Isa 33:15  He that walketh righteously, and speaketh uprightly; he that despiseth the gain of oppressions, that shaketh his hands from holding of bribes, that stoppeth his ears from hearing of blood, and shutteth his eyes from seeing evil;

1Co 10:13  There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it.

It is only those who are tried in the fire of God’s word through this life (1Pe 4:17, 1Pe 1:7, 1Pe 4:1) whose hearts will truly be changed so that we can spiritually come to know and be as our Lord (1Jn 4:17) who possesses all these spiritual traits of “He that walketh righteously, and speaketh uprightly; he that despiseth the gain of oppressions, that shaketh his hands from holding of bribes, that stoppeth his ears from hearing of blood, and shutteth his eyes from seeing evil.”

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?

1Pe 1:7  That the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honour and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ:

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

Christ is supplying all our needs both physically and spiritually (Php 4:19) as a many-membered body, and Paul’s trade of being a tentmaker expresses this sentiment of working out your own salvation with fear and trembling while knowing that Christ is the one working in you, not just for you but for the building up of the other tents, or many members, that comprise the temple of God (Php 2:12-13, Act 18:3, Php 4:16-20).

Php 4:19  But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus.

Php 2:12  Wherefore, my beloved, as ye have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling [pitch your tent (Joh 5:8) and bear the burden of others who are doing the same (Gal 6:2)].
Php 2:13  For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure.

Act 18:3  And because he was of the same craft, he abode with them, and wrought: for by their occupation they were tentmakers.

Php 4:16  For even in Thessalonica ye sent once and again unto my necessity.
Php 4:17  Not because I desire a gift: but I desire fruit that may abound to your account.
Php 4:18  But I have all, and abound: I am full, having received of Epaphroditus the things which were sent from you, an odour of a sweet smell, a sacrifice acceptable, wellpleasing to God.

These temporary structures that were called sukkahs or sukkot in the old covenant were constructed by the Israelites for the feast of tabernacles and remind us that we brought nothing into this life and can take nothing with us (1Ti 6:7). What we do take with us through this life, Lord willing, is the mind of Christ which resides in that tent which represents these earthen vessels (2Co 4:7) as He ministers to us as our high priest with “differences of administrations, but the same Lord” and diversities of operations”, but it is the same God which worketh all in all” (1Co 12:4-14, Col 1:12-14). These good and perfect gifts were given from the Father of lights from above (Jas 1:17) and are ministered by Christ (1Co 8:6) so that we can all come into the same unity of the faith via the one who has determined to build us together “for an habitation of God through the Spirit” (Eph 2:20-22).

Col 1:12  Giving thanks unto the Father, which hath made us meet to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light:
Col 1:13  Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son:
Col 1:14  In whom we have redemption through his blood, even the forgiveness of sins:

Jas 1:17  Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning.

1Co 8:6  But to us there is but one God, the Father, of whom are all things, and we in him; and one Lord Jesus Christ, by whom are all things, and we by him.

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^G1722 the Spirit.

Heb 8:3  For every high priest is ordained to offer gifts and sacrifices: wherefore it is of necessity that this man have somewhat also to offer. 
Heb 8:4  For if he were on earth, he should not be a priest, seeing that there are priests that offer gifts according to the law:

The physical reveals the spiritual (Rom 1:20), and these high priests who were “ordained to offer gifts and sacrifices” in the flesh are types of what Christ would offer to His body in our heavens and not on earth “wherefore it is of necessity that this man have somewhat also to offer” is speaking of what Christ can and will offer to those who have been ordained to have the faith of God which will be tried and tested so we can go unto perfection.

If “he were on earth” then we would yet know Christ after the flesh (2Co 5:16) and would still be found in our righteousness, which is what these “priests that offer gifts according to the law” symbolize for us today. As noted in the last couple of studies, Christ could not be a priest according to the law of Moses …and neither could we.

God willing, our life is presented as a living sacrifice worshiping God in spirit and truth “in the heavens” “and of the true tabernacle which the Lord pitched and not man.” That time is come [in every age since Pentecost] for all who are being dragged to Christ “today” in these temporary vessels of clay which are being judged first (Rom 12:1, Joh 4:23-24, Joh 6:44, Mat 22:14, 1Pe 4:17).

2Co 5:16  Wherefore henceforth know we no man after the flesh: yea, though we have known Christ after the flesh, yet now henceforth know we him no more.

Joh 4:23  But the hour cometh, and now is, when the true worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth: for the Father seeketh such to worship him.
Joh 4:24  God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth.

Heb 8:5  Who serve unto the example and shadow of heavenly things, as Moses was admonished of God when he was about to make the tabernacle: for, See, saith he, that thou make all things according to the pattern shewed to thee in the mount. 

These high priests were “the example and shadow of heavenly things” and Mose’s “when he was about to make the tabernacle: for, See, saith he, that thou make all things according to the pattern shewed to thee in the mount.“

There it is: examples, shadows, and pattern. In other words, not the reality that they were all pointing to, Jesus Christ (Col 2:17).

Col 2:17  Which are a shadow of things to come; but the body is of Christ.

To use a modern day example, we currently have a new building going up that is south facing from where we live, and you can be sure that blueprints are being constantly reviewed and analyzed to see that the building is going up according to the pattern that is on those prints. Our blueprints are the word of God (1Jn 4:6-7), and it is incumbent upon us that we “make all things according to the pattern shewed to thee in the mount” knowing that the mount represents the things that are above and found in Christ, meaning His righteousness, His building of the temple, and not our own righteousness that deviates from the truth and naturally wants to lean unto our own understanding (Pro 3:5-6).

1Jn 4:6  We are of God: he that knoweth God heareth us; he that is not of God heareth not us. Hereby know we the spirit of truth, and the spirit of error.
1Jn 4:7  Beloved, let us love one another: for love is of God; and every one that loveth is born of God, and knoweth God.

Pro 3:5  Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding.

Pro 3:6  In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.

God is witnessing through the weak of the world that He can make his strength perfect through us and build up this holy temple to his glory and honour, and that is the great privilege and honour that has been given to very few in this life, and something for which we are to strive, not by our might or power but by the power that God will either give us or not give us (Zec 4:6, Rev 11:3, Rom 11:22, Rom 2:4).

Zec 4:6  Then he answered and spake unto me, saying, This is the word of the LORD unto Zerubbabel, saying, Not by might, nor by power, but by my spirit, saith the LORD of hosts.

Rev 11:3  And I will give power unto my two witnesses, and they shall prophesy a thousand two hundred and threescore days, clothed in sackcloth.

Rom 11:22  Behold therefore the goodness and severity of God: on them which fell, severity; but toward thee, goodness, if thou continue in his goodness: otherwise thou also shalt be cut off.

Rom 2:4  Or despisest thou the riches of his goodness and forbearance and longsuffering; not knowing that the goodness [1Jn 4:17-18] of God leadeth thee to repentance?

Christ is the spiritual architect of this building called the body of Christ of which  we are all members, who are all being judged and worked with so that we can be fitly framed together to the glory of God (Heb 12:2, Php 1:6).

Heb 12:2  Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.

Php 1:6  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:

Heb 8:6  But now hath he obtained a more excellent ministry, by how much also he is the mediator of a better covenant, which was established upon better promises. 

What replaces these high priests who were “the example and shadow of heavenly things” (1Pe 1:12, 1Co 10:11) is a “more excellent ministry” that Christ will mediate so that this “better covenant” which was founded upon “better promises” can be realized in those whose heavens are being cleansed today (Heb 9:23) as we lay hold of those promises which are exceedingly great and precious for that very reason (1Ti 6:12, 2Pe 1:4).

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:

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.

2Pe 1:4  Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust.

God can give us the confidence that we need to be more than conquerors through Christ as our heavens are cleansed and our conscience (1Jn 3:20) is freed from the slavery that sin brings (Joh 8:36) as we’re given the power to endure (Php 4:13) until the end and be made ready as those saviours who will come up on Mount Zion to do the work that God has ordained from the foundation of the world for us to do (Rom 8:38-39, Oba 1:21).

1Jn 3:20  For if our heart condemn us, God is greater than our heart, and knoweth all things.

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

Php 4:13  I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.

Rom 8:38  For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come,
Rom 8:39  Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Oba 1:21  And saviours shall come up on mount Zion to judge the mount of Esau; and the kingdom shall be the LORD’S.

Awesome Hands – part 142

“The descending river”

October 19, 2018

It’s no secret that we are sinning machines. What does often stay secret is just how much the Lord has planned for those He calls “His people” or “my people”, and how the start of those people are meant to bring in the rest of humanity verses the “nations of the world”. These groups are both internal spiritually and external to us physically.

This is a process that has been set in motion since the beginning of creation, and our study today is going to show an aspect of that truth by showing us ourselves in the Israelites by type and shadow.

Our verses for consideration today are found in two chapters of Deuteronomy. These are the next mentioning’s of the word “yad” or hand in Hebrew, and the timing of the Lord could not be more spot on for why these verses have come about right now.

Deu 8:17  And thou say in thine heart, My power and the might of mine hand hath gotten me this wealth.

Deu 9:26  I prayed therefore unto the LORD, and said, O Lord GOD, destroy not thy people and thine inheritance, which thou hast redeemed through thy greatness, which thou hast brought forth out of Egypt with a mighty hand.

There is a lot happening around these verses, so we are going to dive into the context of these verses and see what the Lord has prepared for us in these types and shadows of ourselves.

In our first verse example, we see an arrogant spirit dwelling in the hearts and minds of those who think they have power of themselves. Any wealth we gain, whether in the flesh or in the Spirit is all gifted to us by the Lord.

Here is the fuller story:

Deu 8:1  All the commandments which I command thee this day shall ye observe to do, that ye may live, and multiply, and go in and possess the land which the LORD sware unto your fathers.
Deu 8:2  And thou shalt remember all the way which the LORD thy God led thee these forty years in the wilderness, to humble thee, and to prove thee, to know what was in thine heart, whether thou wouldest keep his commandments, or no.
Deu 8:3  And he humbled thee, and suffered thee to hunger, and fed thee with manna, which thou knewest not, neither did thy fathers know; that he might make thee know that man doth not live by bread only, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of the LORD doth man live.
Deu 8:4  Thy raiment waxed not old upon thee, neither did thy foot swell, these forty years.
Deu 8:5  Thou shalt also consider in thine heart, that, as a man chasteneth his son, so the LORD thy God chasteneth thee.
Deu 8:6  Therefore thou shalt keep the commandments of the LORD thy God, to walk in his ways, and to fear him.
Deu 8:7  For the LORD thy God bringeth thee into a good land, a land of brooks of water, of fountains and depths that spring out of valleys and hills;
Deu 8:8  A land of wheat, and barley, and vines, and fig trees, and pomegranates; a land of oil olive, and honey;
Deu 8:9  A land wherein thou shalt eat bread without scarceness, thou shalt not lack any thing in it; a land whose stones are iron, and out of whose hills thou mayest dig brass.
Deu 8:10  When thou hast eaten and art full, then thou shalt bless the LORD thy God for the good land which he hath given thee.

There is a lot being said here, but I thought it was all important enough to include so that we can set the stage for what we are being told will happen to us when we have the heart and mindset that we see in verse 8:17:

Deu 8:17  And thou say in thine heart, My power and the might of mine hand hath gotten me this wealth.

It was the Lord your God who led you “all the way” (Deut 8:2) including leading us to, into and through the wilderness.

This whole experience is for a purpose and we are told, as the children of God, that it is to “… humble thee, to prove thee and to know what was in your heart…. to see if we will keep the commandments of the Lord or not…. (Deut 8:2).

If we are paying attention here, then we will see a very profound statement being made, and it is later used to refute satan’s attempts to tempt Jesus by trying to use the Word of God against Jesus.

Deu 8:3  And he humbled thee, and suffered thee to hunger, and fed thee with manna, which thou knewest not, neither did thy fathers know; that he might make thee know that man doth not live by bread only, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of the LORD doth man live.

The “manna” in the wilderness experience, which we just read, was given and was caused by the Lord so that He can “humble, prove, chasten and show us what is in our heart”.

This manna is to show that we live by every word the proceeds out of the mouth of the Lord, but it is important to ask ourselves how this “manna from heaven” can achieve “showing that we live by every word”.

The manna itself was proof that we not ONLY need physical sustenance, but we MUST have the Lord intervening in our lives if we are to survive the wilderness experience.

Manna is given during the wilderness experience, but we know from the New Testament that the Lord tells us He is the “bread from heaven” and that the Israelites here did not partake of that bread at that time.

Joh 6:31  Our fathers did eat manna in the desert; as it is written, He gave them bread from heaven to eat.
Joh 6:32  Then Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Moses gave you not that bread from heaven; but my Father giveth you the true bread from heaven.
Joh 6:33  For the bread of God is he which cometh down from heaven, and giveth life unto the world.
Joh 6:34  Then said they unto him, Lord, evermore give us this bread.

Now, why would the Pharisees tell Christ, by quoting scripture, that they were given bread from heaven to eat, if it weren’t true? Does scripture say this happened?

Well, it just so happens that the Pharisees WERE quoting scripture to Christ! This is very important to understand if we are going to get anything out of this study which applies to us. Quoting and knowing scripture is not enough, it is the application of it that matters.

Here is where and what the Pharisees quoted when they said boldly, “as it is written”:

Exo 16:4  Then said the LORD unto Moses, Behold, I will rain bread from heaven for you; and the people shall go out and gather a certain rate every day, that I may prove them, whether they will walk in my law, or no.

Neh 9:13  Thou camest down also upon mount Sinai, and spakest with them from heaven, and gavest them right judgments, and true laws, good statutes and commandments:
Neh 9:14  And madest known unto them thy holy sabbath, and commandedst them precepts, statutes, and laws, by the hand of Moses thy servant:
Neh 9:15  And gavest them bread from heaven for their hunger, and broughtest forth water for them out of the rock for their thirst, and promisedst them that they should go in to possess the land which thou hadst sworn to give them.

Listen closely to linkage that Jesus makes to “bread from heaven” and what He tells satan when satan tempts Jesus “in the wilderness”:

Luk 4:1  And Jesus being full of the Holy Ghost returned from Jordan, and was led by the Spirit into the wilderness,
Luk 4:2  Being forty days tempted of the devil. And in those days he did eat nothing: and when they were ended, he afterward hungered.
Luk 4:3  And the devil said unto him, If thou be the Son of God, command this stone that it be made bread.
Luk 4:4  And Jesus answered him, saying, It is written, That man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word of God.

Is it possible that the religious leaders of the day, the Pharisees, simply were quoting scripture but had no idea, spiritually, what they were talking about? Well, that is abundantly apparent by Jesus Christ’s own admission.

Notice that it was when Moses was 40 days and nights, NOT eating or drinking, on the mount when the “stones” were crafted by God. “He humbled thee, and suffered thee to hunger, and fed thee with manna” is saying more than is at first realized, just is Jesus’ response to this situation.

Not eating for 40 days and nights is not only speaking physically.

Moses was on the mount, which is the story where our next mentioning of the word yad is at in chapter 9 of Deuteronomy. To set the foundation of connecting these two stories together, I will read the first part of Deut since the actual verse with the word “hand” in it, is found later in verse 26.

Deu 9:1  Hear, O Israel: Thou art to pass over Jordan this day, to go in to possess nations greater and mightier than thyself, cities great and fenced up to heaven,
Deu 9:2  A people great and tall, the children of the Anakims, whom thou knowest, and of whom thou hast heard say, Who can stand before the children of Anak!
Deu 9:3  Understand therefore this day, that the LORD thy God is he which goeth over before thee; as a consuming fire he shall destroy them, and he shall bring them down before thy face: so shalt thou drive them out, and destroy them quickly, as the LORD hath said unto thee.

As the people of God, we witness the fire of God, with Him BEING a consuming fire, bring down the “nations”, “cities” and “the great and tall Anakims.

“Understand therefore THIS DAY” what you are witnessing being attested to. When we see this happen, our heart and our understanding of these events had better be correct so that we have the proper remembrance of these events and the “day” in which they happen.

Deu 9:4  Speak not thou in thine heart, after that the LORD thy God hath cast them out from before thee, saying, For my righteousness the LORD hath brought me in to possess this land: but for the wickedness of these nations the LORD doth drive them out from before thee.
Deu 9:5  NOT FOR THY RIGHTEOUSNESS, or for the uprightness of thine heart, dost thou go to possess their land: but for the wickedness of these nations the LORD thy God doth drive them out from before thee, and that he may perform the word which the LORD sware unto thy fathers, Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.
Deu 9:6  Understand therefore, that the LORD thy God giveth thee not this good land to possess it for thy righteousness; for thou art a stiffnecked people.
Deu 9:7  Remember, and forget not, how thou provokedst the LORD thy God to wrath in the wilderness: from the day that thou didst depart out of the land of Egypt, until ye came unto this place, ye have been rebellious against the LORD.

So, we must take heed to remember and DO NOT FORGET that we have provoked the Lord to wrath while in the wilderness, but we were NOT destroyed at that time.

Here is where we will start to see the connection between stone, bread and “bread from heaven”.

Continuing in verse 9:8 we read:

Deu 9:8  Also in Horeb ye provoked the LORD to wrath, so that the LORD was angry with you to have destroyed you.
Deu 9:9  When I was gone up into the mount to receive the tables of stone, even the tables of the covenant which the LORD made with you, then I abode in the mount forty days and forty nights, I neither did eat bread nor drink water:
Deu 9:10  And the LORD delivered unto me two tables of stone written with the finger of God; and on them was written according to all the words, which the LORD spake with you in the mount out of the MIDST OF THE FIRE in the day of the assembly.
Deu 9:11  And it came to pass at the end of forty days and forty nights, that the LORD gave me the two tables of stone, even the tables of the covenant.
Deu 9:12  And the LORD said unto me, Arise, get thee down quickly from hence; for thy people which thou hast brought forth out of Egypt have corrupted themselves; they are quickly turned aside out of the way which I commanded them; they have made them a molten image.

A “molten image” implies fire was used. Indeed, the gold given to them while in Egypt, is what was melted and re-shaped to be something that became a god to them and they worshipped that god.

Even Aaron did so, and he was the provider of this image worship since he formed the golden calf. However, we know from all over scripture that the IMAGE of something is not THE something it is an image of. In other words, this golden calf was nothing even though it was being worshipped as a god.

If you bear with me a little while, I hope that something profound will happen with you. I hope that you will look at a mirror and see Christ looking back at you and not only your own reflection.

I want you all to examine yourselves against what I am about to present to you in the context of this study. I’d like you to hear and read what I am saying and writing, and then weigh yourselves against it, because it is vitally important that we understand what living by the Word of God means for us, and everyone else.

It is when talking about “manna from heaven”, bread which “your fathers DID NOT EAT”, that Jesus Christ gives us a foundational doctrine to LIVE BY.

Joh 6:48  I am that bread of life.
Joh 6:49  Your fathers did eat manna in the wilderness, and are dead.
Joh 6:50  This is the bread which cometh down from heaven, that a man may eat thereof, and not die.
Joh 6:51  I am the living bread which came down from heaven: if any man eat of this bread, he shall live for ever: and the bread that I will give is my flesh, which I will give for the life of the world.
Joh 6:52  The Jews therefore strove among themselves, saying, How can this man give us his flesh to eat?
Joh 6:53  Then Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Except ye eat the flesh of the Son of man, and drink his blood, ye have no life in you.
Joh 6:54  Whoso eateth my flesh, and drinketh my blood, hath eternal life; and I will raise him up at the last day.
Joh 6:55  For my flesh is meat indeed, and my blood is drink indeed.
Joh 6:56  He that eateth my flesh, and drinketh my blood, dwelleth in me, and I in him.
Joh 6:57  As the living Father hath sent me, and I live by the Father: so he that eateth me, even he shall live by me.
Joh 6:58  This is that bread which CAME DOWN from heaven: not as your fathers did eat manna, and are dead: he that eateth of this bread shall live for ever.

It is after speaking these words, that we learn that FLESH PROFITS NOTHING, but it is the SPOKEN WORDS that are SPIRIT and LIFE.
Jesus just told us to EAT THE FLESH OF THE SON OF MAN and then we are told by Him that FLESH profits NOTHING!

Yet, we MUST eat HIS FLESH!

Joh 6:60  Many therefore of his disciples, when they had heard this, said, This is an hard saying; who can hear it?

I’ve been hearing a lot lately about “dark” sayings and “hard sayings”. Here is one of those hard sayings that once heard, is either believed or those that hear it “go back and walk no more with Christ”.

Joh 6:61  When Jesus knew in himself that HIS DISCIPLES murmured at it, he said unto them, Doth this offend you?
Joh 6:62  What and if ye shall see the Son of man ascend up where he was before?
Joh 6:63  It is the spirit that quickeneth; the flesh profiteth nothing: the words that I speak unto you, THEY ARE SPIRIT, and THEY ARE LIFE.
Joh 6:64  But there are some of you that believe not. For Jesus knew from the beginning who they were that believed not, and who should betray him.
Joh 6:65  And he said, Therefore said I unto you, that no man can come unto me, except it were given unto him of my Father.
Joh 6:66  From that time many of his disciples went back, and walked no more with him.

Now ask yourself what could offend so many that they turned their back on Christ? Here is the Son of man and the Son of God walking and talking with them, but He tells them something so hard for them to believe and accept that they walk no longer with Him over it.

So that it is easily brought into remembrance, here is what I said earlier:

Deu 8:3  And he humbled thee, and suffered thee to hunger, and fed thee with manna, which thou knewest not, neither did thy fathers know; that he might make thee know that man doth not live by bread only, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of the LORD doth man live.

The “manna” in the wilderness experience, which we just read, was given and was caused by the Lord so that He can “humble, prove, chasten and show us what is in our heart”.

Is this any different for Jesus Christ?

Let us let Him answer that so that we are not wondering.

Luk 4:1  And Jesus being full of the Holy Ghost returned from Jordan, and was led by the Spirit into the wilderness,
Luk 4:2  Being forty days tempted of the devil. And in those days he did eat nothing: and when they were ended, he afterward hungered.
Luk 4:3  And the devil said unto him, If thou be the Son of God, command this stone that it be made bread.
Luk 4:4  And Jesus answered him, saying, It is written, That man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word of God.

It is obvious that the devil tempted Jesus with bread, but it is always assumed that this was simply just PHYSICAL BREAD. After all, the devil tells Jesus to prove who He is by TURNING STONE INTO LIFE! The devil uses different words “stone into bread” but that is what those things represent … something dead and something alive.

Jesus’ answer is profound. Jesus does not say we don’t live by bread. He says we don’t live by bread alone or only.

When you take this and combine it with “every word of God”, then you can see what we LIVE BY.

We have to have both PHYSICAL and SPIRITUAL in order to live. It is true that that one leads to death, but it is THROUGH DEATH that LIFE and “much fruit” happens.

Joh 12:23  And Jesus answered them, saying, The hour is come, that the Son of man should be glorified.
Joh 12:24  Verily, verily, I say unto you, Except a corn of wheat fall into the ground and die, it abideth alone: but if it die, it bringeth forth much fruit.
Joh 12:25  He that loveth his life shall lose it; and he that hateth his life in this world shall keep it unto life eternal.
Joh 12:26  If any man serve me, let him follow me; and where I am, there shall also my servant be: if any man serve me, him will my Father honour.

It stands then, that we must follow Jesus on the Way that He is and the Way He showed us. Along that Way, He was LED into the WILDERNESS.

Now, do I need to be led by the Spirit into a PHYSICAL wilderness in order to be led into the wilderness to be tempted? Jesus was led into a physical wilderness, and He just said I need to follow Him.

So, do I need to do this physically or is there something else being said like was expounded upon in the example of Jesus Christ saying that the Pharisees didn’t eat manna from heaven?

Here it is again very briefly:

Joh 6:31  Our fathers did eat manna in the desert; as it is written, He gave them bread from heaven to eat.
Joh 6:32  Then Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Moses gave you not that bread from heaven; but my Father giveth you the true bread from heaven.

There is bread which is physical bread and then there is true bread.  Both feed the belly, and both are needed, but one is one which we will gain LIFE ETERNAL BY, and that is the “EVERY WORD bread”.

Joh 6:48  I am that bread of life.
Deu 8:3  And he humbled thee, and suffered thee to hunger, and fed thee with manna, which thou knewest not, neither did thy fathers know; that he might make thee know that man doth not live by bread only, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of the LORD doth man live.

Jesus Christ is the bread of life which who is also called the Word of God. I do not have to live the same event for that event to be spiritually the same in my life. I do not need to be physically placed on a cross in order to follow Christ to the cross, just as I do not need to physically eat Jesus Christ’s flesh in order to eat His flesh.

Deu 8:17  And thou say in thine heart, My power and the might of mine hand hath gotten me this wealth.

Indeed, flesh profits nothing, but the FLESH OF CHRIST PROFITS us LIFE! There is no contradiction.

Here is what happens when Moses prays for his brother Aaron and for the nation of Israel:

Deu 9:13  Furthermore the LORD spake unto me, saying, I have seen this people, and, behold, it is a stiffnecked people:
Deu 9:14  Let me alone, that I may destroy them, and blot out their name from under heaven: and I will make of thee a nation mightier and greater than they.
Deu 9:15  So I turned and came down from the mount, and the mount burned with fire: and the two tables of the covenant were in my two hands.
Deu 9:16  And I looked, and, behold, ye had sinned against the LORD your God, and had made you a molten calf: ye had turned aside quickly out of the way which the LORD had commanded you.
Deu 9:17  And I took the two tables, and cast them out of my two hands, and brake them before your eyes.

First, Moses sees their sin and brings the laws and judgments of God and casts them out of his hands and brakes them so that all can see. This shows us that Moses is telling the Israelites what they have done.

They have turned the time that they were not being directed by Moses into a time of creating a golden calf, and then they worshipped it.

Deu 9:18  And I fell down before the LORD, as at the first, forty days and forty nights: I did neither eat bread, nor drink water, because of all your sins which ye sinned, in doing wickedly in the sight of the LORD, to provoke him to anger.
Deu 9:19  For I was afraid of the anger and hot displeasure, wherewith the LORD was wroth against you to destroy you. But the LORD hearkened unto me at that time also.
Deu 9:20  And the LORD was very angry with Aaron to have destroyed him: and I prayed for Aaron also the same time.
Deu 9:21  And I took your sin, the calf which ye had made, and burnt it with fire, and stamped it, and ground it very small, even until it was as small as dust: and I cast the dust thereof into the brook that descended out of the mount.

I titled this talk “The descending river” based on this verse. The gold in the golden calf goes through the fire TWICE.

One time the fire is used to heat the gold so that it can be shapened into “a golden calf to be worshipped”, and the other time the fire is used so that it can take that same gold and BURN IT to be stamped, ground very small as dust and CAST into the RIVER that DESCENDS out of the mount.

When the gold of God is used improperly, it must be cast into the fire, stamped and ground very small as dust, and CAST into the WATERS which DESCEND from the mount of Fire.

As a result of these actions of the Israelites worshiping this golden calf, and having the first two tables of stone destroyed, a new set of stones is created and placed in the ark.

In other words, the judgments of God are now placed on the INSIDE of us, where the cup can be cleaned from the inside, since it is from OUT of our hearts that we are deceived.

I am going to end this study with asking everyone to always look inside and judge what you find there. It is not what is on the surface that matters, but what is on the inside.

The Israelites looked on the mount and saw the fire there and that Moses had not returned. They looked on the outside and FEARED, which led them to creating a false idol.

The things within us are what lead to sin, and we need to always be ready to judge everything we think and believe against the Word of God.