The Prophecy of Isaiah - Part 9 Discussion

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Isa 2: 1-5 The Mountain of The LORD'S House Shall Be Established In The Top of The Mountains

Isa 2:1 The word that Isaiah the son of Amoz saw concerning Judah and Jerusalem.
Isa 2:2 And it shall come to pass in the last days, that the mountain of the LORD'S house shall be established in the top of the mountains, and shall be exalted above the hills; and all nations shall flow unto it.
Isa 2:3 And many people shall go and say, Come ye, and let us go up to the mountain of the LORD, to the house of the God of Jacob; and he will teach us of his ways, and we will walk in his paths: for out of Zion shall go forth the law, and the word of the LORD from Jerusalem.
Isa 2:4 And he shall judge among the nations, and shall rebuke many people: and they shall beat their swords into plowshares, and their spears into pruninghooks: nation shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall they learn war any more.
Isa 2:5 O house of Jacob, come ye, and let us walk in the light of the LORD.

These words are always applied by the churches of Babylon to the thousand year reign of "our Lord and His Christ". It is also affirmed that the physical nation of Israel will be ruling over the nations of this earth at that time. I hope in our study today to demonstrate that nothing could be farther from the truth of the scriptures simply because there is a great battle at the end of the thousand year reign, and because Israel will "return to [her] former estate... when Sodom... returns to [her] former estate" and "all Israel [will remain] in... blindness... until the fulness of the Gentiles be come in" (Eze 16:55 and Rom 11:25).

First let's take note of the words of the first verse of this second chapter, and notice how similar they are to the opening words of this prophecy of Isaiah. Here are the first two verses of chapter one:

Isa 1:1 The vision of Isaiah the son of Amoz, which he saw concerning Judah and Jerusalem in the days of Uzziah, Jotham, Ahaz, and Hezekiah, kings of Judah.
Isa 1:2 Hear, O heavens, and give ear, O earth: for the LORD hath spoken, I have nourished and brought up children, and they have rebelled against me.

Compare these words to the first verse of this second chapter:

Isa 2:1 The word that Isaiah the son of Amoz saw concerning Judah and Jerusalem.

Notice that chapter one tells us Isaiah "saw... the vision... concerning Judah and Jerusalem", while chapter two tells us he "saw... the word... concerning Judah and Jerusalem". Applying "the dream is one" principle (Gen 41:26), it is clear that seeing "the vision... concerning Judah and Jerusalem, and seeing "the word... concerning Judah and Jerusalem" are one and the same, and both are telling us what is the word of the Lord concerning Judah and Jerusalem, His people.

Jeremiah's prophecy is addressed to the same audience:

Jer 22:2 And say, Hear the word of the LORD, O king of Judah, that sittest upon the throne of David, thou, and thy servants, and thy people that enter in by these gates:

The admonition is to "Hear the word of the Lord", and in verse 22 of this same chapter is speaking to the same audience, but instead of "O king of Judah... and your people", we see the people of God called 'earth, earth, earth':

Jer 22:29 O earth, earth, earth, hear the word of the LORD.

The 'earth' was raised up out of the waters of the sea on the third day and was placed just a little bit closer to the heavens in that position. That is the position of God's nominal people:

Gen 1:9 And God said, Let the waters under the heaven be gathered together unto one place, and let the dry land appear: and it was so.
Gen 1:10 And God called the dry land Earth; and the gathering together of the waters called he Seas: and God saw that it was good.

When Isaiah tells us he "saw... the Word" of the Lord, what he is telling us is that we are to "hear the word of the Lord" he has been given to 'see' with the eyes of his understanding. That is what the 'vision' Isaiah had, and that is what the 'words he saw' concerning God's people are telling us.

The apostle Paul brings 'the vision' and 'the word' together in these words:

Eph 1:17 That the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give unto you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of him:
Eph 1:18 The eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that ye may know what is the hope of his calling, and what the riches of the glory of his inheritance in the saints,
Eph 1:19 And what is the exceeding greatness of his power to us-ward who believe, according to the working of his mighty power,
Eph 1:20 Which he wrought in Christ, when he raised him from the dead, and set him at his own right hand in the heavenly places,

It is "the eyes of our understanding" which give us to have and to see "the vision" which the Lord wants us to have and to 'see'.

But now we have been blessed to be spoken to not just by prophets like Isaiah, but by God's own Son.

Heb 1:1 God, who formerly spoke in many portions and in many ways to the fathers by the prophets, spoke to us in these last days by a Son,
Heb 1:2 whom he appointed heir of all things, through whom also he made the ages. (ACV)

Through His Son, through Christ, we are given a much clearer 'vision' than with His words that Isaiah was given to see and to share with us. This serves to make this verse of scripture much more meaningful:

Pro 29:18 Where there is no vision, the people perish: but he that keepeth the law, happy is he.

Here we have 'no vision' being contrasted with 'hearing' and being obedient to the Lord's Word, and disobedience is being equated with having no vision leading to the people perishing. He who keeps the Lord's Words has been given vision because the eyes of His understanding have been enlightened to "know what is the hope of his calling, and what the riches of the glory of his inheritance in the saints".

The "word [Isaiah] saw, [and] the vision of Isaiah concerning Judah and Jerusalem" is a type of "the eyes of [our] understanding being enlightened; that [we] may know what is the hope of his calling, and what the riches of the glory of his inheritance in the saints, And what is the exceeding greatness of his power to us-ward who believe, according to the working of his mighty power".

Christ tells us:

Luk 22:29 And I appoint unto you a kingdom, as my Father hath appointed unto me;

King Solomon, the son of King David, received his kingdom from his father just as Christ was "appointed... a kingdom [from His] Father. But where is Christ's kingdom located? Here is the answer to that question:

Luk 17:20 And when he was demanded of the Pharisees, when the kingdom of God should come, he answered them and said, The kingdom of God cometh not with observation:
Luk 17:21 Neither shall they say, Lo here! or, lo there! for, behold, the kingdom of God is within you.

Christ confirms His words here through the pen of the apostle Paul:

Eph 1:17 That the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give unto you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of him:
Eph 1:18 The eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that ye may know what is the hope of his calling, and what the riches of the glory of his inheritance in the saints,
Eph 1:19 And what is the exceeding greatness of his power to us-ward who believe, according to the working of his mighty power,

Christ's "inheritance is... within you... the kingdom of God is within you".
That "great... power" is working at this very moment in "the mountain of the Lord's house" within those in whom the kingdom of God dwells. "The kingdoms of this world" (Rev 11:15), are also within us, and those kingdoms are being subdued at this very moment, in this age within all of those who will be given to rule over the outward kingdoms of this world at the time of the first resurrection and the beginning of the thousand year reign of "our Lord and His Christ" (Rev 11:15).

In the inward sense, our next verse is being fulfilled now, in this age.

Isa 2:2 And it shall come to pass in the last days, that the mountain of the LORD'S house shall be established in the top of the mountains, and shall be exalted above the hills; and all nations shall flow unto it.

As we subdue the nations within us, those 'nations' within will be subdued "according to the working of His mighty power", by which power we are given to "over[come] all the power of the enemy". As has been so graphically demonstrated time and time again, any of us can easily be conquered by the beast, and that beast can take back the very throne of his kingdom which is not rightfully his, and when that happens we will find ourselves outside the gates of the city of God and outside His kingdom. At that point we will have been swallowed up by the earth and destroyed by the serpents and scorpions, which are all the false doctrines and the arrows of the adversary. Whether we overcome the adversary or whether we are overcome by the adversary, and we will experience both as next week's study will demonstrate, God has already written our days in "[His] book" (Psa 139: 16 ASV). As has been graphically illustrated for us time and again, we must be careful never to take our standing with Christ for granted because all we do is all being done "according to the working of His mighty power... after the counsel of His own will", which we are not yet given to know (Eph 1:11)

1Co 10:12 Wherefore let him that thinketh he standeth take heed lest he fall.

We are all first the victims in the Lord's work within us, and then we are all the blessed of these words each in our own appointed time:

Exo 15:12 Thou stretchedst out thy right hand, the earth swallowed them.
Exo 15:13 Thou in thy mercy hast led forth the people which thou hast redeemed: thou hast guided them in thy strength unto thy holy habitation.

Luk 10:19 Behold, I give unto you power to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy: and nothing shall by any means hurt you.

If indeed we are given "power... over all the power of the enemy" and we are granted to remain faithful to the end of this age as one of that "blessed and holy... few [who are] chosen" in this age (Rev 20:6) to be "the very elect" of God, then this next verse will be ours, as those who were faithful to His law and His Word in this age. After our fiery trials in this age we will be given to bestow these blessings upon the "many" at their appointed time:

Isa 2:3 And many people shall go and say, Come ye, and let us go up to the mountain of the LORD, to the house of the God of Jacob; and he will teach us of his ways, and we will walk in his paths: for out of Zion shall go forth the law, and the word of the LORD from Jerusalem.

Notice the stark change in tone from the dire warnings against Jerusalem and Judah as the city that has become a harlot in verses 21-28 of chapter one:

Isa 1:21 How is the faithful city become an harlot! it was full of judgment; righteousness lodged in it; but now murderers.
Isa 1:22 Thy silver is become dross, thy wine mixed with water:
Isa 1:23 Thy princes are rebellious, and companions of thieves: every one loveth gifts, and followeth after rewards: they judge not the fatherless, neither doth the cause of the widow come unto them.
Isa 1:24 Therefore saith the Lord, the LORD of hosts, the mighty One of Israel, Ah, I will ease me of mine adversaries, and avenge me of mine enemies:
Isa 1:25 And I will turn my hand upon thee, and purely purge away thy dross, and take away all thy tin:
Isa 1:26 And I will restore thy judges as at the first, and thy counsellors as at the beginning: afterward thou shalt be called, The city of righteousness, the faithful city.
Isa 1:27 Zion shall be redeemed with judgment, and her converts with righteousness.
Isa 1:28 And the destruction of the transgressors and of the sinners shall be together, and they that forsake the LORD shall be consumed.

The book of Revelation has its foundations in the books of the prophets of the Old Testament. They one and all tell the same three-step story of a nation that was 1) delivered from bondage by God, then 2) became proud and fat and reverted right back to their sins. Then we are told that they, as "types of us", 3) will be judged with a great judgment, and will again become a "righteous [and] faithful city". "Zion shall be redeemed with judgment..."

In Revelation 22 that "law, and... word of the Lord from Jerusalem" is called "a pure river of water of life":

Rev 22:1 And he shewed me a pure river of water of life, clear as crystal, proceeding out of the throne of God and of the Lamb.

Revelation 22 is the product of the judgment of the seven churches of Asia. It is the product of the judgment of Jerusalem and Judah who are those who are redeemed through the three steps of being delivered, falling away in fatness and corruption, and being judged for that corruption, to become "the word of the Lord from Jerusalem... a pure river of water of life".

It is only as "kings and priests" that anyone can "[send] forth the law, and the Word of the Lord from Jerusalem":

Rev 5:10 And hast made us unto our God kings and priests: and we shall reign on the earth.

Rev 20:6 Blessed and holy is he that hath part in the first resurrection: on such the second death hath no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with him a thousand years.

It is manifested that being 'ruled with a rod of iron' is not the same as being judged, because the nations do indeed rise up to do war with Christ and His Christ after the thousand year are expired:

Rev 20:7 And when the thousand years are expired, Satan shall be loosed out of his prison,
Rev 20:8 And shall go out to deceive the nations which are in the four quarters of the earth, Gog and Magog, to gather them together to battle: the number of whom is as the sand of the sea.

If Satan can "gather together... the nations which are in the four quarters of he earth... to battle", then it is manifested that this is not yet the time when it can be said "neither shall they learn war any more."

Isa 2:4 And he shall judge among the nations, and shall rebuke many people: and they shall beat their swords into plowshares, and their spears into pruninghooks: nation shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall they learn war any more.

It will only be after "the thousand years are expired", and all the nations of all time will be raised up from the dead to be "judged... according to their works", that it can be said "He shall judge among many nations and shall rebuke many people... nation shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall they learn war any more".

Judgment is now, first upon the house of God (1Pe 4:17). There is not another 'judgment' until the "great white throne... judgment" which does not take place until after the thousand year reign of Christ. The millennium is not a "time [of] judgment... upon the house of God". Rather it is a time of ruling carnal people "with a rod of iron".

Rev 2:26 And he that overcometh, and keepeth my works unto the end, to him will I give power over the nations:
Rev 2:27 And he shall rule them with a rod of iron; as the vessels of a potter shall they be broken to shivers: even as I received of my Father.

Rev 20:6 Blessed and holy is he that hath part in the first resurrection: on such the second death hath no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with him a thousand years.

This thousand year reign with a rod of iron has nothing in common with Isaiah 2:4 or with what Micah repeats for us here:

Mic 4:3 And he shall judge among many people, and rebuke strong nations afar off; and they shall beat their swords into plowshares, and their spears into pruninghooks: nation shall not lift up a sword against nation, neither shall they learn war any more.

If that is true then when will God bring the physical nation of Israel to repentance for their sins and for rejecting their Savior? God has revealed to us the timing of that event. But like all the doctrines of Babylon, their doctrines simply do not line up with the doctrines of scripture. The churches of Babylon teach that Isa 2:4 and Mic 4:3 are both prophecies of Christ's millennial reign, during which they teach that all physical Israel will be raised up from the dead to be the dominant nation on earth, and that physical Israelites will rule this world during that thousand year reign of Christ on this earth.

But is that what the scriptures teach? No, it most definitely is not what the scriptures teach us! This rather is "when" the scriptures do teach us that "all [physical] Israel shall be saved". We are actually told 'when' that will take place, and 'when' physical Israel will all be brought back 'to [their] former estate':

Eze 16:53 When I shall bring again their captivity, the captivity of Sodom and her daughters, and the captivity of Samaria and her daughters, then will I bring again the captivity of thy [physical Judah and Jerusalem] captives in the midst of them:
Eze 16:54 That thou mayest bear thine own shame, and mayest be confounded in all that thou hast done, in that thou art a comfort unto them.
Eze 16:55 When thy sisters, Sodom and her daughters, shall return to their former estate, and Samaria and her daughters shall return to their former estate, then [and not until then] thou and thy daughters shall return to your former estate.

Christ knew these verses in Ezekiel, and this is how He said the same thing:

Mat 21:42 Jesus saith unto them, Did ye never read in the scriptures, The stone which the builders rejected, the same is become the head of the corner: this is the Lord's doing, and it is marvellous in our eyes?
Mat 21:43 Therefore say I unto you, The kingdom of God shall be taken from you, and given to a nation bringing forth the fruits thereof.

Paul affirms this doctrine in the book of Romans:

Rom 11:7 What then? [Physical] Israel hath not obtained that which he seeketh for; but the election hath obtained it, and the rest were blinded.
Rom 11:8 (According as it is written, God hath given them the spirit of slumber, eyes that they should not see, and ears that they should not hear;) unto this day.

Here is how Paul sums up the timing of the salvation of his "kinsmen according to the flesh", the salvation of all physical Israel (Rom 9:3):

Rom 11:25 For I would not, brethren, that ye should be ignorant of this mystery, lest ye should be wise in your own conceits; that blindness in part is happened to Israel, until the fulness of the Gentiles be come in.

"The fulness of the Gentiles" includes "Sodom... return[ing] to [her] former estate", which Biblical doctrine destroys two of the false doctrines of Babylon. 1) Not only are Sodom and Samaria to be redeemed, but 2) physical Israel will not be redeemed until Sodom and Samaria are also returned to their former estate; "until the fulness of the Gentiles be come in". And that will not be until after "the thousand years are expired".

Rev 20:7 And when the thousand years are expired, Satan shall be loosed out of his prison,
Rev 20:8 And shall go out to deceive the nations which are in the four quarters of the earth, Gog and Magog, to gather them together to battle: the number of whom is as the sand of the sea.
Rev 20:9 And they went up on the breadth of the earth, and compassed the camp of the saints about, and the beloved city: and fire came down from God out of heaven, and devoured them.
Rev 20:10 And the devil that deceived them was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone, where the beast and the false prophet are, and shall be tormented day and night for ever and ever. [eons of the eons]
Rev 20:11 And I saw a great white throne, and him that sat on it, from whose face the earth and the heaven fled away; and there was found no place for them.
Rev 20:12 And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened: and another book was opened, which is the book of life: and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works.
Rev 20:13 And the sea gave up the dead which were in it; and death and hell delivered up the dead which were in them: and they were judged every man according to their works.

As is always the case, the first physical man is destroyed, and through that destruction the new spiritual man is born. The first seed of Abraham, Ishmael, is cast out, and through that casting away, the last seed of Abraham, Isaac, in type becomes the child of promise (Gal 4:28). So it is with Israel. The first physical Israel is "blinded [and] broken off", and through their "cut[ting] off" the true Jew and "the [true] Israel of God" is brought forth. (Rom 11:22)

Gal 6:15 For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision availeth any thing, nor uncircumcision, but a new creature.
Gal 6:16 And as many as walk according to this rule, peace be on them, and mercy, and upon the Israel of God.

But no one can take for granted their citizenship in Israel, because that blessing is given only to those who live lives that bring forth fruits fit for repentance from dead works, and that brings us to the last verse of our study today:

Isa 2:5 O house of Jacob, come ye, and let us walk in the light of the LORD.

Now we know that only "When thy sisters, Sodom and her daughters, shall return to their former estate, and Samaria and her daughters shall return to their former estate, then [and not until then] thou and thy daughters shall return to your former estate."

Galatians 6:16 says "walk according to this rule", and Isaiah 2:5 tells us we must "walk in the light of the Lord". If we are not yet given to bring forth that walk, then it simply has not yet be given us to truly be the "house of Jacob... the Israel of God".

When we read...:

Isa 2:2 And it shall come to pass in the last days, that the mountain of the LORD'S house shall be established in the top of the mountains, and shall be exalted above the hills; and all nations shall flow unto it.

...What we are being told is that the kingdom of God "within" is being placed above, or "in the top of", the kingdoms of this world within us, and the desire to please that kingdom of God is "exalted above" every other physical desire we may have in this life. If "the eyes of our understanding [are] being enlightened" to understand that all of this must happen inwardly first, then we will say, "Yes Lord", when we are beseeched on Christ's behalf: "O house of Jacob, come ye, and let us walk in the light of the LORD." It is only those who have this experience within first, who will be granted to rule and reign over the physical nations of this world during the thousand year reign of "our Lord and His Christ" over the kingdoms of this world (Rev 11:15).

So Isaiah 1 and Isaiah 2 are both saying the same thing to us all. Both chapters, as we will see next week, are speaking to us about the process of being judged, as does all of scripture:

1Co 11:32 But when we are judged, we are chastened of the Lord, that we should not be condemned with the world.

2Ti 3:16 All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: [for judgment]

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 4:18 And if the righteous scarcely be saved, where shall the ungodly and the sinner appear?

Rev 20:6 Blessed and holy is he that hath part in the first resurrection [is judged now, in this age]: on such the second death hath no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with him a thousand years.

It is my prayer that these words apply to everyone who is hearing this study and everyone who may read it.

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Awesome Hands – part 67

“You shall set bounds”

October 22, 2014

Often times we as humans think of rules as oppressive and offensive to our NATURAL sensibilities.

However, there are many examples in scripture of the Lord settings forth His commands and rules so that we DO NOT receive the result of disobeying or ignoring His rules. All the while, the Lord knows that we will carnally always disobey His commands.

As we are going to see in this study, the Lord is going to set bounds upon the Israelites so that they do not die. As with all Old Testament types and shadows, we are hoping the Lord causes us to glean the admonitions we can gain about how to approach Him “on the mount”.

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.

With this continuation of last week’s study, we are going to build upon the premise that the Lord has brought Israel to this point in order to separate those who with “obey His voice” from those that will not obey His voice.

For every single one of those the Lord is working with, and for all of humanity eventually in His timing, we all DISOBEY His voice by design. We can see this happening “from the beginning” of God working with humanity.

Gen 2:16  And the LORD God commanded the man, saying, Of every tree of the garden thou mayest freely eat:
Gen 2:17  But of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, thou shalt not eat of it: for in the day that thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die.

Eve had the lust of the eyes, the lust of the flesh and the pride of life in her before she ever took a bite of the fruit of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil.

Gen 3:3  But of the fruit of the tree which is in the midst of the garden, God hath said, Ye shall not eat of it, neither shall ye touch it, lest ye die.
Gen 3:4  And the serpent said unto the woman, Ye shall not surely die:
Gen 3:5  For God doth know that in the day ye eat thereof, then your eyes shall be opened, and ye shall be as gods, knowing good and evil.
Gen 3:6  And when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was pleasant to the eyes, and a tree to be desired to make one wise, she took of the fruit thereof, and did eat, and gave also unto her husband with her; and he did eat.

The reason they and we are all designed this way is because God has determined this is the best way to accomplish His plan for all of us, yet this seems so contrary to what we naturally think would be the best way of going about this “plan”.

In our carnal hearts and minds, we ask why God would create a creature, hold it to standards it cannot meet, then require it die for not meeting those standards, rules and commandments.

Gen 3:7  And the eyes of them both were opened, and they knew that they were naked; and they sewed fig leaves together, and made themselves aprons.

The Lord’s plan is full of mercy, but we do not understand this initially and until much, much later in our spiritual lives with Him. That is because His ways are above our ways and we are “clothed in figs leaves” when we first start off in His process of salvation.

The “mountain of God” protrudes upward from the earth and so do trees, such as the “tree of life” and the “tree of the knowledge of good and evil”, but they are both still connected to the earth.

I mention the fig tree in connection with this story in Exodus 19 because we are being shown the type and shadow of God having us start off in one position/direction and then taking us in another.

We start off in the garden of Eden, but then we are sent out from the garden and given instructions on how to proceed forth on our way. You can think of this in terms of how the Lord changes our lives to walk according to His will instead of by the statutes of the law of sin working in our members.

Likewise, we now see Israel at the mount of Sinai having been brought through all they have been brought through so that the Lord can now instruct them on how to proceed with “life” and living and not death.

This all happens as we see the first sounding of a trumpet that we find in scripture, but first I want to make a few points about the fig tree and the leaves of it which Adam and eve use to cover themselves.

As far as commandments go, “Thou shall not eat of it” sounds a whole lot like “There shall not an hand touch it, but he shall surely be stoned, or shot through” found in verse 19:13.

In truth, they represent the same thing – what God has commanded.

Jer 8:13  I will surely consume them, saith the LORD: there shall be no grapes on the vine, nor figs on the fig tree, and the leaf shall fade; and the things that I have given them shall pass away from them.

Joe 1:6  For a nation is come up upon my land, strong, and without number, whose teeth are the teeth of a lion, and he hath the cheek teeth of a great lion.
Joe 1:7  He hath laid my vine waste, and barked my fig tree: he hath made it clean bare, and cast it away; the branches thereof are made white.

Hos 9:10  I found Israel like grapes in the wilderness; I saw your fathers as the firstripe in the fig tree at her first time: but they went to Baalpeor, and separated themselves unto that shame; and their abominations were according as they loved.

What is being witnessed to us in Exodus 19 is that the Lord is going to tell Israel the “commands of His voice” (commandments of His Word) knowing that they will disobey them.

This is to setup the separation of the goats from the sheep that I mentioned in the last study.

Just like the Lord tells Adam and Eve NOT to take of the fruit because they will die, the Lord is going to tell Israel what not to do knowing fully that they will disobey Him.

His thoughts are above ours and His ways are past finding out, but we can learn His instruction from these examples.

Rom 11:32  For God hath concluded them all in unbelief, that he might have mercy upon all.
Rom 11:33  O the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! how unsearchable are his judgments, and his ways past finding out!
Rom 11:34  For who hath known the mind of the Lord? or who hath been his counsellor?

Just like Adam and Eve were the beginning of the work the Lord was doing with humanity and they interacted with His commands via “trees” rising into the heavens, Israel is now dealing with His commands via a “mount” rising into the heavens.

Just as the “way” was kept to the tree of life with a flaming sword, the Lord will bring fire upon the mountain to keep His way from being tainted and this is all about the Lord setting the bounds of what we are to do or not.

Figs and fig trees represent the work which the Lord is starting with us, but which does not bare the fruit of the Spirit in us.

“The sound of a trumpet”

All of these events in our lives are signified with the “sound of a trumpet”.

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.

What we are seeing being lived out by the Israelites at this time is that they are being baptized in a sense, from what they knew to be and do, act and feel, to what they are going to now be risen into.

So, we see a process happening with the number three, but we also see the third day mentioned. The third day should signify to us the day of resurrection and this happens as a trumpet is being blown.

How we have all practically lived this out is that we have turning points in our lives where the Lord has made changes in our lives that we know ONLY HE could have made.

Events happen that cause us to be in distresses to call out to Him or we have something happen in our lives which cause us to once again “look unto the mountain of God” with all its thunderings, lightnings and fire. Like Israel, we initially fear all that the quaking mountain is showing us. For those who comfortably dwell in the fire, we find comfort in knowing where to go to “hear the voice of the Lord”.

These are all things that are brought about due to the process of judgment in our lives. That is why the Lord tells Moses to tell the “house of Jacob” to remember what He did to the Egyptians and remember how He bore them on eagles’ wings.

He wants us to recall how He took us in when we bear no fruit at all.

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.

It should be easy to see that “God” is using Moses to typify what Christ’s role is to us as believers. We are welcomed by Moses / Christ to come to the altar of God.

We are a kingdom of priests, a holy nation to God, and He is telling us that He wants us to “hear” the voice of His trumpet in our lives.

The question then is what does the trumpet signify to us? The trumpet signifies that we are going to “meet God”. It signifies that God is preparing for us to “hear His voice”.

This all correlates to us being told WE ARE ABOUT TO DIE, but that does not necessarily mean physical death.

In this story, we are going to see the physical threat of death given to those that would approach the mount and are instructed not to. However, we are being given these types and shadows to tell us what happens to us when we “hear a trumpet”.

How we experience this trumpet in our lives is going to represent resurrection to us, but before one can “rise” forth from resurrection one must “fall” or die.

Rom 6:1  What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound?
Rom 6:2  God forbid. How shall we, that are dead to sin, live any longer therein?
Rom 6:3  Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death?
Rom 6:4  Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life.
Rom 6:5  For if we have been planted together in the likeness of his death, we shall be also in the likeness of his resurrection:

Col 2:11  In whom also ye are circumcised with the circumcision made without hands, in putting off the body of the sins of the flesh by the circumcision of Christ:
Col 2:12  Buried with him in baptism, wherein also ye are risen with him through the faith of the operation of God, who hath raised him from the dead.
Col 2:13  And you, being dead in your sins and the uncircumcision of your flesh, hath he quickened together with him, having forgiven you all trespasses;

In this story of the Israelites, we see that the Lord is transitioning them from one part of their walk with Him to the next more intimate steps of their walk with Him. He is going to change things for them, but the obvious question is why?

I mentioned the fig tree earlier to connect all of this together with Adam and Eve and Jesus Christ.

Jesus was in the garden of Eden when Adam and Eve ate of the fruit in the form of the “tree of life”. The “covering” that was mentioned with Adam and Eve is that they covered themselves with fig leaves. Here in Exodus the Lord instructs the people to wash their clothes before approaching Him, but that represents us putting on Christ Jesus.

In order to bring home the types and shadows of the things the Lord is using me to point out in this study, I am going to mention another time that a fig tree is mentioned in order to try and connect these types together for you.

Mar 11:12  And on the morrow, when they were come from Bethany, he was hungry:
Mar 11:13  And seeing a fig tree afar off having leaves, he came, if haply he might find any thing thereon: and when he came to it, he found nothing but leaves; for the time of figs was not yet.
Mar 11:14  And Jesus answered and said unto it, No man eat fruit of thee hereafter for ever. And his disciples heard it.

Another accounting of this story gives more details:

Mat 21:18  Now in the morning as he returned into the city, he hungered.
Mat 21:19  And when he saw a fig tree in the way, he came to it, and found nothing thereon, but leaves only, and said unto it, Let no fruit grow on thee henceforward for ever. And presently the fig tree withered away.
Mat 21:20  And when the disciples saw it, they marvelled, saying, How soon is the fig tree withered away!
Mat 21:21  Jesus answered and said unto them, Verily I say unto you, If ye have faith, and doubt not, ye shall not only do this which is done to the fig tree, but also if ye shall say unto this mountain, Be thou removed, and be thou cast into the sea; it shall be done.
Mat 21:22  And all things, whatsoever ye shall ask in prayer, believing, ye shall receive.

What then does this story of the fig tree, fig leaves, the garden of Eden and the mountain of God have to do with one another? The answer is Faith, and there is only one True Faith.

It may seem like an odd conclusion, but the Lord wants us to BELIEVE Him and His Words. He wants us to believe that His commandments are for our good and will bring about good, but He always wants to empower us.

How can we be empowered? Listen to Jesus’ words again as this story is told in Mark:

Mar 11:20  And in the morning, as they passed by, they saw the fig tree dried up from the roots.
Mar 11:21  And Peter calling to remembrance saith unto him, Master, behold, the fig tree which thou cursedst is withered away.
Mar 11:22  And Jesus answering saith unto them, Have faith in God.
Mar 11:23  For verily I say unto you, That whosoever shall say unto this mountain, Be thou removed, and be thou cast into the sea; and shall not doubt in his heart, but shall believe that those things which he saith shall come to pass; he shall have whatsoever he saith.
Mar 11:24  Therefore I say unto you, What things soever ye desire, when ye pray, believe that ye receive them, and ye shall have them.
Mar 11:25  And when ye stand praying, forgive, if ye have ought against any: that your Father also which is in heaven may forgive you your trespasses.
Mar 11:26  But if ye do not forgive, neither will your Father which is in heaven forgive your trespasses.

What the Lord wants us all to know with this story in Exodus is that He has a plan. He has a plan that includes you DYING to the things of this world.

When we face the choice of eating of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil we know that eating of its fruits produces DEATH. There is no benefit for the new man from those things which bear no spiritual FRUIT.

That is why Jesus connects Faith with why He cursed the fig tree. The fig tree is you and I when we have no fruit. How can we have fruit at all when the fruit we want is the fruit of the spirit and NOT the fruit which comes and goes seasonally with the tendencies and desires of the flesh?

Mat 21:21  Jesus answered and said unto them, Verily I say unto you, If ye have faith, and doubt not, ye shall not only do this which is done to the fig tree, but also if ye shall say unto this mountain, Be thou removed, and be thou cast into the sea; it shall be done.

When we realize all of this and that the things of this world are going no place fast, we are to believe and “doubt not” that we can tell the fig tree in our lives to wither up and die. Do you believe this?

The faith we are to have is not faith that the work will be ours but that our Father has told us that if we BELIEVE Him, believe He is Faithful to us, then He will work the “death of death” in our lives.

Look at the correlations between what happens at the mount of Sinai and what happens “at the day of pentacost”, the day when “3000” are added to the church.

Luk 21:25  And there shall be signs in the sun, and in the moon, and in the stars; and upon the earth distress of nations, with perplexity; the sea and the waves roaring;
Luk 21:26  Men’s hearts failing them for fear, and for looking after those things which are coming on the earth: for the powers of heaven shall be shaken.
Luk 21:27  And then shall they see the Son of man coming in a cloud with power and great glory.
Luk 21:28  And when these things begin to come to pass, then look up, and lift up your heads; for your redemption draweth nigh.
Luk 21:29  And he spake to them a parable; Behold the fig tree, and all the trees;
Luk 21:30  When they now shoot forth, ye see and know of your own selves that summer is now nigh at hand.
Luk 21:31  So likewise ye, when ye see these things come to pass, know ye that the kingdom of God is nigh at hand.
Luk 21:32  Verily I say unto you, This generation shall not pass away, till all be fulfilled.

“The kingdom of God is at hand” when you see these things come to pass.

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 a “kingdom of priests”, a “holy nation,” and a “peculiar people” the Lord tells us to set ourselves aside for Him, to sanctify ourselves for Him.

When we connect the types and shadows together which have been mentioned today, we will see that the Lord is indeed instructing us that when we “keep His commandments”, we are able to approach Him, but when we do not sanctify ourselves and obey His voice, we will perish.

We keep His commandments by “keeping the Faith” in our daily lives.

Rev 14:10  The same shall drink of the wine of the wrath of God, which is poured out without mixture into the cup of his indignation; and he shall be tormented with fire and brimstone in the presence of the holy angels, and in the presence of the Lamb:
Rev 14:11  And the smoke of their torment ascendeth up for ever and ever: and they have no rest day nor night, who worship the beast and his image, and whosoever receiveth the mark of his name.
Rev 14:12  Here is the patience of the saints: here are they that keep the commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus.
Rev 14:13  And I heard a voice from heaven saying unto me, Write, Blessed are the dead which die in the Lord from henceforth: Yea, saith the Spirit, that they may rest from their labours; and their works do follow them.

Oftentimes I find that it is easy to remember that the patience of saints is to keep the commandments of God, but just as equally important is the second part of that admonition and patience…Keeping the FAITH of Jesus!

Jesus went through a lot, saw a lot, and was persecuted by the flesh He was born into and by the flesh others were born into.

The cold hard Truth of our lives is that we will always be pressed upon on all sides by the cares of this world. We will be tempted into sin by the things we see, think and feel.

However our walk is one to come to the mountain of God, and in that walk, it is He alone who sends that FIERY CLOUD, the lightning, thunder and clashing to let us know He is in control.

With those things we are told we can “look up”, look towards the heavens and:

Mar 11:24  Therefore I say unto you, What things soever ye desire, when ye pray, believe that ye receive them, and ye shall have them.
Mar 11:25  And when ye stand praying, forgive, if ye have ought against any: that your Father also which is in heaven may forgive you your trespasses.
Mar 11:26  But if ye do not forgive, neither will your Father which is in heaven forgive your trespasses.

We are all, all of humanity, in a sinking boat that has no chance of recovery. We are all being caused to do the will of God while in this boat.

What we, as those being separated out by God, need to focus on is that we are being resurrected into newness of life which includes keeping all of this in the forefront of our minds each and every day.

Pray for those who persecute and despitefully use you. Thank the Lord for His mercy in showing and telling you what this life is all about. That is your calling; that is what you have been chosen for, and we must keep the Faith and be filled with it “until the end”.

Audio Links

Awesome Hands – Part 65

“The counsel of God”

September 10, 2014

In chapter 17 of Exodus we read about the first battle that Israel had with the inhabitants of the land.

The Lord fought Egypt for the Israelites when they were brought through the Red Sea, but the first physical battle with the Amalekites, descendants of Esau, was fought by the armies of Israel.

In the study today, we are going to see how physical war and spiritual warfare are reflections of one another and how being a part of a healthy and functioning body is so important to this battle.

Not only do we need a body, but we all need to be connected to the same Head, the same mind in order to succeed in winning.

The title of this study comes from Acts 20, and we are going to attempt to see how the counsel of God is directly connected to this spiritual concept of war.

Act 20:27  For I have not shunned to declare unto you all the counsel of God.

“The Mount of God”

I am going to read a few verses at the start of Exodus 18 to set the foundation for the rest of this study.

Exo 18:1  When Jethro, the priest of Midian, Moses’ father in law, heard of all that God had done for Moses, and for Israel his people, and that the LORD had brought Israel out of Egypt;
Exo 18:2  Then Jethro, Moses’ father in law, took Zipporah, Moses’ wife, after he had sent her back,
Exo 18:3  And her two sons; of which the name of the one was Gershom; for he said, I have been an alien in a strange land:
Exo 18:4  And the name of the other was Eliezer; for the God of my father, said he, was mine help, and delivered me from the sword of Pharaoh:
Exo 18:5  And Jethro, Moses’ father in law, came with his sons and his wife unto Moses into the wilderness, where he encamped at the mount of God:

Everything that is about to transpire in this chapter, the chapter following the battle we just read about with the Amalekites, is going to happen at the mountain of God.

Exo 3:1  Now Moses kept the flock of Jethro his father in law, the priest of Midian: and he led the flock to the backside of the desert, and came to the mountain of God, even to Horeb.

Exo 17:6  Behold, I will stand before thee there upon the rock in Horeb; and thou shalt smite the rock, and there shall come water out of it, that the people may drink. And Moses did so in the sight of the elders of Israel.

The mountain of God is also mount Sinai.

H2722

chôrêb
BDB Definition:
Horeb = “desert”

1) another name for Mount Sinai from which God gave the law to Moses and the Israelites

So, the story we are reading in Exodus 18 takes place at Mount Sinai. The importance of this identifying location is very important to realizing the spiritual admonishments we can gain from this story.

Mount Sinai is where the 10 commandments are given telling us also spiritually that we are to do and keep the commandments of God.

Moses goes on to tell Jethro all that the Lord has done in his life and the life of Israelites thus far.

Exo 18:8  And Moses told his father in law all that the LORD had done unto Pharaoh and to the Egyptians for Israel’s sake, and all the travail that had come upon them by the way, and how the LORD delivered them.
Exo 18:9  And Jethro rejoiced for all the goodness which the LORD had done to Israel, whom he had delivered out of the hand of the Egyptians.
Exo 18:11  Now I know that the LORD is greater than all gods: for in the thing wherein they dealt proudly he was above them.
Exo 18:12  And Jethro, Moses’ father in law, took a burnt offering and sacrifices for God: and Aaron came, and all the elders of Israel, to eat bread with Moses’ father in law before God.

The Lord causes us to witness to others what the Lord has done in our lives, to those He is working with in this age, and they will see that work and rejoice “for all the goodness which the Lord has done”.

This is at this pivotal point in our walk that the Lord reveals to us what our “walking in Faith” is all about.

It is after we have made war with the descendants of Esau, after we have witnessed to others the work of the Lord in our lives, that He then tells us how to live in our new found Faith.

Exo 18:13  And it came to pass on the morrow, that Moses sat to judge the people: and the people stood by Moses from the morning unto the evening.
Exo 18:14  And when Moses’ father in law saw all that he did to the people, he said, What is this thing that thou doest to the people? why sittest thou thyself alone, and all the people stand by thee from morning unto even?
Exo 18:15  And Moses said unto his father in law, Because the people come unto me to enquire of God:
Exo 18:16  When they have a matter, they come unto me; and I judge between one and another, and I do make them know the statutes of God, and his laws.
Exo 18:17  And Moses’ father in law said unto him, The thing that thou doest is not good.
Exo 18:18  Thou wilt surely wear away, both thou, and this people that is with thee: for this thing is too heavy for thee; thou art not able to perform it thyself alone.
Exo 18:19  Hearken now unto my voice, I will give thee counsel, and God shall be with thee: Be thou for the people to God-ward, that thou mayest bring the causes unto God:

“The grace of rulers”

Grace is directly connected to what judges impart to those who are being judged. The judges which are being chosen out in Exodus 18 have some revealing traits.

Exo 18:20  And thou shalt teach them ordinances and laws, and shalt shew them the way wherein they must walk, and the work that they must do.

Judges will know how to do what they have learned. Judges will learn and know ordinances and LAWS, the WAY in which we are to walk, and the WORK that must be done.

How do we know who is “appointed” to this role in the congregation?

Exo 18:21  Moreover thou shalt provide out of all the people able men, such as fear God, men of truth, hating covetousness; and place such over them, to be rulers of thousands, and rulers of hundreds, rulers of fifties, and rulers of tens:

Exo 18:21  Moreover thou shalt provide out of all the people able men, such as fear God, men of truth, hating covetousness; and place such over them, to be rulers of thousands, and rulers of hundreds, rulers of fifties, and rulers of tens:
Exo 18:22  And let them judge the people at all seasons: and it shall be, that every great matter they shall bring unto thee, but every small matter they shall judge: so shall it be easier for thyself, and they shall bear the burden with thee.
Exo 18:23  If thou shalt do this thing, and God command thee so, then thou shalt be able to endure, and all this people shall also go to their place in peace.

“If you do this thing …… you shall be able to endure ……and ALL THESE PEOPLE shall go to their place in peace.”

Psa 133:1  A Song of degrees of David. Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity!

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

Grace is huge in all of our lives, especially our spiritual lives in Jesus Christ. Without it, we would not have salvation and we would all simply perish.

Grace and judgment are so intertwined that they are inseparable. It may not appear that this is Truth, but I am going to challenge that thought with the scriptures and thoughts that are going to be presented now.

Eph 2:8  For by grace (G5485) are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:
Eph 2:9  Not of works, lest any man should boast.
Eph 2:10  For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.

By the grace of God, judges are given to the people.

Grace is simply favor with God.

Luk 1:30  And the angel said unto her, Fear not, Mary: for thou hast found favour (G5485) with God.

Luk 2:52  And Jesus increased in wisdom and stature, and in favour (G5485) with God and man.

Act 2:47  Praising God, and having favour (G5485) with all the people.

And the Lord added to the church daily such as should be saved.

Grace, in the Greek, has a root. That root is G5463.

G5485

charis
khar’-ece

From G5463; graciousness (as gratifying), of manner or act (abstract or concrete; literal, figurative or spiritual; especially the divine influence upon the heart, and its reflection in the life; including gratitude): – acceptable, benefit, favour, gift, grace (-ious), joy liberality, pleasure, thank (-s, -worthy).

G5463
chairō
khah’ee-ro

A primary verb; to be full of “cheer”, that is, calmly happy or well off; impersonal especially as a salutation (on meeting or parting), be well: – farewell, be glad, God speed, greeting, hail, joy (-fully), rejoice.

G5463
chairō
Thayer Definition:

1) to rejoice, be glad
2) to rejoice exceedingly
3) to be well, thrive
4) in salutations, hail!
5) at the beginning of letters: to give one greeting, salute

Part of Speech: verb

A Related Word by Thayer’s/Strong’s Number: a primary verb

Citing in TDNT: 9:359, 1298

Here is an example of the “root” of grace.

Php 2:16  Holding forth the word of life; that I may rejoice in the day of Christ, that I have not run in vain, neither laboured in vain.
Php 2:17  Yea, and if I be offered upon the sacrifice and service of your faith, I joy, and rejoice with you all.
Php 2:18  For the same cause also do ye joy, and rejoice with me.

Now, what does favor and grace have to do with judgment? When we have been shown favor, we glorify God for this work in us and then we proceed to “work out our salvation”.

1Pe 4:16  Yet if any man suffer as a Christian, let him not be ashamed; but let him glorify God on this behalf.
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 4:18  And if the righteous scarcely be saved, where shall the ungodly and the sinner appear?

I want to illustrate why grace is important to judgment and how they are inseparable.

Judgment, as we know from the sum of the Word, comes from the North. With this in mind, I want share a little geography with you all.

Mat 15:29  And Jesus departed from thence, and came nigh unto the sea of Galilee; and went up into a mountain, and sat down there.
Mat 15:30  And great multitudes came unto him, having with them those that were lame, blind, dumb, maimed, and many others, and cast them down at Jesus’ feet; and he healed them:
Mat 15:31  Insomuch that the multitude wondered, when they saw the dumb to speak, the maimed to be whole, the lame to walk, and the blind to see: and they glorified the God of Israel.

The sea of Galilee is north of the dead sea, also known as the salt sea in scripture. The sea of Galilee has a northern inlet of water provided by the Jordan river, and to the south, the Jordan river gives the sea of Galilee an outlet.

From there, the Jordan runs for a long stretch south and dumps into the Dead Sea.

The grace of God comes from His heavenly ways being above our ways, otherwise we would get what wage we were due (wages of sin = death).

His ways are above our ways, and I want you to recognize what judgments Jesus passed on to those who met Him at Galilee. Grace was imparted to the multitudes at Galilee and many glorified God there.

The dead sea is dead because it is being fed from the north but doesn’t feed that water to anything else. It becomes stagnant and lifeless; hence, the name – the Dead Sea.

The way grace is manifest in us is that it comes out of us to others, just as it dwelt in and came forth from Jesus.

When we are shown mercy, we are able to show others this mercy. When we are shown grace, we are able witness to this grace for others to see. Likewise, when judgment produces life in us, we want to share God’s judgments with others.

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.
Heb 4:16  Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.

This is the SAME GRACE Jesus was given, and He was able to JUDGE the words of the devil AGAINST the Word of God.

Luk 2:40  And the child grew, and waxed strong in spirit, filled with wisdom: and the grace of God was upon him.

Joh 1:14  And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.
Joh 1:15  John bare witness of him, and cried, saying, This was he of whom I spake, He that cometh after me is preferred before me: for he was before me.
Joh 1:16  And of his fulness have all we received, and grace for grace.
Joh 1:17  For the law was given by Moses, but grace and truth came by Jesus Christ.

Mat 3:13  Then cometh Jesus from Galilee to Jordan unto John, to be baptized of him.

Jesus was baptized in the Jordan after coming from Galilee, and this is what happened next.

Mat 3:16  And Jesus, when he was baptized, went up straightway out of the water: and, lo, the heavens were opened unto him, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove, and lighting upon him:
Mat 3:17  And lo a voice from heaven, saying, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.

Mat 4:1  Then was Jesus led up of the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted of the devil.

I want to you to imagine that this story we are reading here in Exodus is a parallel to Jesus being led of the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted of the traducer, the devil.

The traducers job is to mix truth with lies and tell you, “this is what the Word of God really says”.

However, in this JUDGMENT trial with the devil, Jesus passed His trial and temptation by speaking the unadulterated Word of God.

After having overcome this trial, Jesus goes on to reveal to us what we are to do as we face a battle or war such as this. We must follow the same pattern.

When a storm or tempest comes up against our sinking ship, we must keep the Faith.

Mat 4:11  Then the devil leaveth him, and, behold, angels came and ministered unto him.

Mat 4:16  The people which sat in darkness saw great light; and to them which sat in the region and shadow of death light is sprung up.
Mat 4:17  From that time Jesus began to preach, and to say, Repent: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.
Mat 4:18  And Jesus, walking by the sea of Galilee, saw two brethren, Simon called Peter, and Andrew his brother, casting a net into the sea: for they were fishers.
Mat 4:19  And he saith unto them, Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men.

When we follow Jesus Christ, we are to do what He commands us. As such, we then become His cloud of great witnesses.

A cloud is made of water, but in a physical sense (and spiritual), water goes through a process of life.

We see water on the earth, the Sun and light heat it up, it evaporates, gathers in the heavens to form clouds, and at times, is used to bring storms to replenish the earth with the life of water.

With this type and shadow in mind, how do judges use water to judge? Here’s a hint …. “Washing of water by the Word”.

Hos 6:1  Come, and let us return unto the LORD: for HE HATH TORN, and he will heal us; HE HATH SMITTEN, and he will bind us up.
Hos 6:2  After two days will he revive us: in the third day he will raise us up, and we shall live in his sight.
Hos 6:3  Then shall we know, if we follow on to know the LORD: his going forth is prepared as the morning; and he shall come unto us as the rain, as the latter and former rain unto the earth.
Hos 6:4  O Ephraim, what shall I do unto thee? O Judah, what shall I do unto thee? for your goodness is as a morning cloud, and as the early dew it goeth away.
Hos 6:5  Therefore have I hewed them by THE PROPHETS; I have slain them by the words of my mouth: and thy judgments are as the light that goeth forth.
Hos 6:6  For I desired mercy, and not sacrifice; and the knowledge of God more than burnt offerings.

Jesus was baptized in the Jordan, which symbolizes our baptism by water, but He then is given the power to go beyond only water baptism.

Mat 3:11  I indeed baptize you with water unto repentance: but he that cometh after me is mightier than I, whose shoes I am not worthy to bear: he shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost, and with fire:

“Knowledge, wisdom, understanding”

With all of that being said, how then does the grace of God have anything to do with judgment which begins at the house of God? God is a consuming fire (Heb 12:29 / Deu 4:24).

Before we can make that concrete connection, let us see how wisdom, understanding and knowledge connect the judgment and grace together.

First let us start with wisdom and understanding in the house of God.

1Ki 3:5  In Gibeon the LORD appeared to Solomon in a dream by night: and God said, Ask what I shall give thee.
1Ki 3:6  And Solomon said, Thou hast shewed unto thy servant David my father great mercy, according as he walked before thee in truth, and in righteousness, and in uprightness of heart with thee; and thou hast kept for him this great kindness, that thou hast given him a son to sit on his throne, as it is this day.
1Ki 3:7  And now, O LORD my God, thou hast made thy servant king instead of David my father: and I am but a little child: I know not how to go out or come in.
1Ki 3:8  And thy servant is in the midst of thy people which thou hast chosen, a great people, that cannot be numbered nor counted for multitude.
1Ki 3:9  Give therefore thy servant an understanding heart to judge thy people, that I may discern between good and bad: for who is able to judge this thy so great a people?
1Ki 3:10  And the speech pleased the Lord, that Solomon had asked this thing.
1Ki 3:11  And God said unto him, Because thou hast asked this thing, and hast not asked for thyself long life; neither hast asked riches for thyself, nor hast asked the life of thine enemies; but hast asked for thyself understanding to discern judgment;
1Ki 3:12  Behold, I have done according to thy words: lo, I have given thee a wise and an understanding heart; so that there was none like thee before thee, neither after thee shall any arise like unto thee.

1Ki 3:28  And all Israel heard of the judgment which the king had judged; and they feared the king: for they saw that the wisdom of God was in him, to do judgment.

1Ki 5:5  And, behold, I purpose to build an house unto the name of the LORD my God, as the LORD spake unto David my father, saying, Thy son, whom I will set upon thy throne in thy room, he shall build an house unto my name.

So, the “house unto the Lord’s name” has wisdom which comes from understanding and produces proper judgment, and of course 1 Ki 5:5 is speaking about Solomon but also in Spirit about Jesus.

Next then, let us seek for knowledge in the house of God.

Psa 119:64  The earth, O LORD, is full of thy mercy: teach me thy statutes.
Psa 119:65  TETH. Thou hast dealt well with thy servant, O LORD, according unto thy word.
Psa 119:66  Teach me good judgment and knowledge: for I have believed thy commandments.
Psa 119:67  Before I was afflicted I went astray: but now have I kept thy word.

Php 1:9  And this I pray, that your love may abound yet more and more in knowledge and in all judgment;
Php 1:10  That ye may approve things that are excellent; that ye may be sincere and without offence till the day of Christ;

Rom 15:14  And I myself also am persuaded of you, my brethren, that ye also are full of goodness, filled with all knowledge, able also to admonish (G3560) one another.

1Th 5:14  Now we exhort you, brethren, warn (G3560) them that are unruly, comfort the feebleminded, support the weak, be patient toward all men.

We can see that knowledge, wisdom and understanding are all connected with proper judgment.

How then are joy and grace connected to judgment?

Pro 21:15  It is joy to the just to do judgment: but destruction shall be to the workers of iniquity.

Col 1:4  Since we heard of your faith in Christ Jesus, and of the love which ye have to all the saints,
Col 1:5  For the hope which is laid up for you in heaven, whereof ye heard before in the word of the truth of the gospel;
Col 1:6  Which is come unto you, as it is in all the world; and bringeth forth fruit, as it doth also in you, since the day ye heard of it, and knew the grace of God in truth:

2Jn 1:1  The elder unto the elect lady and her children, whom I love in the truth; and not I only, but also all they that have known the truth;
2Jn 1:2  For the truth’s sake, which dwelleth in us, and shall be with us for ever.
2Jn 1:3  Grace be with you, mercy, and peace, from God the Father, and from the Lord Jesus Christ, the Son of the Father, in truth and love.
2Jn 1:4  I rejoiced greatly that I found of thy children walking in truth, as we have received a commandment from the Father.
2Jn 1:5  And now I beseech thee, lady, not as though I wrote a new commandment unto thee, but that which we had from the beginning, that we love one another.
2Jn 1:6  And this is love, that we walk after his commandments. This is the commandment, That, as ye have heard from the beginning, ye should walk in it.

Grace, mercy and peace come from God the Father and Jesus Christ in Truth and Love.

How then does that happen?  We walk after His commandments.

What do judges have to do with any of this? How are judges connected to wisdom, understanding, knowledge, truth, love, mercy and grace?

Exo 18:20  And thou shalt teach them ordinances and laws, and shalt shew them the way wherein they must walk, and the work that they must do.
Exo 18:21  Moreover thou shalt provide out of all the people able men, such as fear God, men of truth, hating covetousness; and place such over them, to be rulers of thousands, and rulers of hundreds, rulers of fifties, and rulers of tens:
Exo 18:22  And let them judge the people at all seasons: and it shall be, that every great matter they shall bring unto thee, but every small matter they shall judge: so shall it be easier for thyself, and they shall bear the burden with thee.

Judgment must begin at the house of God. Don’t you know that you are the temple of God and the Spirit of God dwells in you?

I ask you plainly then, are you a judge? Yes, Moses was “practically” picking out judges to judge the physical congregation, but we are ALL being made to know how to judge in the Spirit.

We may not all be given the appointed gift in the body of Christ to judge the “small matters” between one another, but we are still to start judgment at our house, the temple of God of which we are.

When the time comes that we must all collectively pass judgment on a matter, then the Lord will work out that discernment by working in us to know the “good and evil” of the matter.

How is that accomplished in us all?

Eze 43:10  Thou son of man, shew the house to the house of Israel, that they may be ashamed of their iniquities: and LET THEM measure the pattern.
Eze 43:11  And if they be ashamed of all that they have done, shew them the form of the house, and the fashion thereof, and the goings out thereof, and the comings in thereof, and all the forms thereof, and all the ordinances thereof, and all the forms thereof, and all the laws thereof: and write it in their sight, that they may keep the whole form thereof, and all the ordinances thereof, and DO THEM.
Eze 43:12  This is the law of the house; Upon the top of the mountain the whole limit thereof round about shall be most holy. Behold, this is the law of the house.

When we are shown the pattern we must all keep, it is shown to us by comparing spiritual with spiritual, line upon line, here a little and there a little and it is taken from the sum of thy Word.

When any of those of the congregation stray away from the pattern which has been shown to us as “the house” (that would be Jesus Christ), we are to show them the pattern so that they may be ashamed of their iniquities, and they themselves are to MEASURE THE PATTERN for themselves.

This all happens at the mountain of God, by the counsel God gives to His judges.

This is what “righteous judges”, who walk in the scriptural righteousness’ of God, have as instructions to give to the congregation, “that they may do them”.