“The first man is of the earth, earthy:
the second man is the Lord from heaven” Part 3

(Pro 20:21-26)

[Study Aired October 23, 2025]

Pro 20:21 An inheritance may be gotten hastily at the beginning; but the end thereof shall not be blessed.
Pro 20:22 Say not thou, I will recompense evil; but wait on the LORD, and he shall save thee.
Pro 20:23 Divers weights are an abomination unto the LORD; and a false balance is not good.
Pro 20:24 Man’s goings are of the LORD; how can a man then understand his own way?
Pro 20:25 It is a snare to the man who devoureth that which is holy, and after vows to make enquiry.
Pro 20:26  A wise king scattereth the wicked, and bringeth the wheel over them.

Keeping with our theme of “The first man is of the earth, earthy: [and] the second man is the Lord from heaven”, we’ll look at the next  6 verses of Proverbs chapter 20 with the thought of how we naturally, as the first man Adam, seek out an earthly inheritance at first for our flesh.

[Esau’s 12 princes represent the foundation of man’s fleshly endeavors (Gen 17:20), and the seventy souls that come out of the loins of Jacob represent all the elect (1Pe 1:12, 1Co 10:11) who are established in the earth much later than Esau (Exo 1:5). God tells us the first to be established will be last and the last will be first (Mat 20:16)].

If God is working in our hearts and minds, our perspective changes by God’s grace and the faith of Christ regarding what is truly needful and necessary to be pursuing in this life (Php 3:8-11, Mat 6:33).

Php 3:8  Yea doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but dung, that I may win Christ,
Php 3:9  And be found in him, not having mine own righteousness (Gen 17:20), which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith: (Exo 1:5)
Php 3:10  That I may know him, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, being made conformable unto his death;
Php 3:11  If by any means I might attain unto the resurrection of the dead.

We have need of patience to possess our souls as we wait on the Lord to lead and guide us in spiritual battle (Luk 21:19, Psa 27:14), where He faithfully provides for our continual sojourn of dying daily (Col 1:27, Php 1:6, Joh 18:9).

Psa 27:14  Wait on the LORD: be of good courage, and he shall strengthen thine heart: wait, I say, on the LORD.

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: [He will daily clothe us for battle if it is His will that we ask, seek, and knock for the things that we need Mat 6:33, Eph 6:10-18]

Joh 18:9  That the saying might be fulfilled, which he spake, Of them which thou gavest me have I lost none.

Every believer has received a precious inheritance from the Lord — not of silver or gold (1Pe 1:18-21), but of spiritual riches, divine promises, and a calling to live as heirs of God and joint-heirs with Christ (Rom 8:17-18, Heb 11:25-27, Php 3:13-14).

1Pe 1:18  Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, from your vain conversation received by tradition from your fathers;
1Pe 1:19  But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot:
1Pe 1:20  Who verily was foreordained before the foundation of the world, but was manifest in these last times for you,
1Pe 1:21  Who by him do believe in God, that raised him up from the dead, and gave him glory; that your faith and hope might be in God.

Rom 8:17  And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together.
Rom 8:18  For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us.

Heb 11:25  Choosing rather to suffer affliction with the people of God, than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season;
Heb 11:26  Esteeming the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures in Egypt:(Php 3:8-15) for he had respect unto the recompence of the reward.
Heb 11:27  By faith he forsook Egypt, not fearing the wrath of the king: for he endured, as seeing him who is invisible.

God’s word shows us how we are to protect that inheritance and not let any man take our crown, especially the man we see in the mirror every day (Rev 3:11). That crown represents the spiritual gold that God’s word is, that is now no longer wrapped around the idol of our hearts, but rather is placed on our head which is where our thoughts are miraculously brought into subjection unto God so that we can glorify him in these earthen vessels that possess such a great treasure (2Co 4:7).

Our resisting against the devil regarding the thorns and briars that represent false doctrines, is the life-long goal of God’s people (Mat 24:13), and it is the trial of our faith that is precious unto God as they will burn up the lies of the devil [thorns and briars] represented by the platted crown on Christ’s head. As those lies are destroyed the purified gold needed [word of God] to fashion a crown of life for His children is accomplished through the fiery trials of this life (Heb 12:2-4, Mat 27:29, 1Pe 1:7, 1Pe 4:12).

Heb 12:4  Ye have not yet resisted unto blood, striving against sin. [thorns and briars]

Mat 27:29  And when they had platted a crown of thorns, they put it upon his head, and a reed in his right hand: and they bowed the knee before him, and mocked him, saying, Hail, King of the Jews!

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:

In this study, we’ll look at what must be done to not neglect, or trade away [Esau’s birthright] our inheritance, and pray the God of all grace will be merciful to us to not let us squander this high calling by carelessness, pride or compromise (1Pe 5:10).

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.

Pro 20:21  An inheritance may be gotten hastily at the beginning; but the end thereof shall not be blessed.

Esau’s inheritance was forfeited for a bowl of red pottage that symbolizes our pursuit of fleshly endeavors, with immature perceptions of God’s word that are not meat but an altar of pottage, “An inheritance may be gotten hastily at the beginning”, where we are looking to hastily take the immediate reward that in the end will not be blessed, as opposed to living a lifetime of sacrifices that will culminate in the seven last plagues being poured out upon the kingdom of our old man, so that we can enter into the temple of God and inherit eternal life (Rom 12:1-2, Rev 15:8).

This judgement which is upon the body of Christ (1Pe 4:17) strengthens us in the Lord so that we do not fear the consequence of what others may say of our position of being on the cross, as we carry that weight by the life of Christ within us, through whom we can present ourselves a living sacrifice to God and endure all things at the altar which is the cross, where we eat the life of Christ as opposed to pottage (Mat 10:38-39 ,  Heb 11:25-26, Heb 13:10, Joh 6:53).

Mat 10:38  And he that taketh not his cross, and followeth after me, is not worthy of me.
Mat 10:39  He that findeth his life shall lose it: and he that loseth his life for my sake shall find it.

Heb 11:25  Choosing rather to suffer affliction with the people of God, than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season;
Heb 11:26  Esteeming the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures in Egypt: for he had respect unto the recompence of the reward.

Heb 13:10  We have an altar, whereof they have no right to eat which serve the tabernacle.

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.

Pro 20:22  Say not thou, I will recompense evil; but wait on the LORD, and he shall save thee.

Part of protecting our inheritance is accomplished by trusting the Lord to defend and vindicate us, rather than acting in the flesh (Rom 12:19).

Rom 12:19  Dearly beloved, avenge not yourselves, but rather give place unto wrath: for it is written, Vengeance is mine; I will repay, saith the Lord.
Rom 12:20  Therefore if thine enemy hunger, feed him; if he thirst, give him drink: for in so doing thou shalt heap coals of fire on his head (Mat 5:44, Luk 6:27, Luk 6:35).
Rom 12:21  Be not overcome of evil, but overcome evil with good.

“Wait on the LORD, and he shall save thee” (2Th 3:3-5), is something God’s elect can accomplish through Christ alone (Psa 27:14, Psa 37:34, Pro 20:22), and while we wait we are told to pray for our enemies and those who falsely accuse us (Mat 5:10-12) and the LORD will strengthen our hearts with His word (Psa 104:15). We are to “Follow peace with all men, and holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord” (Heb 12:14), and when we forgive others’ sins, God will forgive ours and we will continue to be blessed to perceive His presence and guidance in our lives via the holy spirit (Rom 8:14, Mat 6:12-13).

2Th 3:3  But the Lord is faithful, who shall stablish you, and keep you from evil.
2Th 3:4  And we have confidence in the Lord touching you, that ye both do and will do the things which we command you.
2Th 3:5  And the Lord direct your hearts into the love of God, and into the patient waiting for Christ.

Psa 27:14  Wait on the LORD: be of good courage, and he shall strengthen thine heart: (Psa 104:15) wait, I say, on the LORD.

Psa 37:34  Wait on the LORD, and keep his way, and he shall exalt thee to inherit the land: when the wicked are cut off, thou shalt see it.

Pro 20:22  Say not thou, I will recompense evil; but wait on the LORD, and he shall save thee.

Mat 5:10  Blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness’ sake: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
Mat 5:11  Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake.
Mat 5:12  Rejoice, and be exceeding glad: for great is your reward in heaven: for so persecuted they the prophets which were before you.

Psa 104:15  And wine that maketh glad the heart of man, and oil to make his face to shine, and bread which strengtheneth man’s heart.

Pro 20:23  Divers weights are an abomination unto the LORD; and a false balance is not good.

The literal meaning of this proverb heralds back to ancient marketplaces where economic deceit was used to take advantage of the unsuspecting public. The lesson for God’s elect is that dishonesty and deceit with the word of God corrupt the spiritual life, whereas not thinking above what is written (1Co 4:6) preserves the purity of our inheritance, where double standards will destroy it. In (Amo 8:4-7) we read:

Amo 8:4  Hear this, O ye that swallow up the needy, even to make the poor of the land to fail,
Amo 8:5  Saying, When will the new moon be gone, that we may sell corn? and the sabbath, that we may set forth wheat, making the ephah small, and the shekel great, and falsifying the balances by deceit? [this symbolizing the corrupting of the word of God to make merchandise of the brethren (2Co 2:17)]

2Co 2:17  For we are not as many, which corrupt the word of God: but as of sincerity, but as of God, in the sight of God speak we in Christ.

Amo 8:6  That we may buy the poor for silver [10 second sinner’s prayer], and the needy for a pair of shoes; [another gospel shod on the feet of Babylon (Eph 6:15, 2Co 11:4)] yea, and sell the refuseH4651 of the wheat? [a falling off that is chaff (Isa 3:1)]

Eph 6:15  And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace;

2Co 11:4  For if he that cometh preacheth another Jesus, whom we have not preached, or if ye receive another spirit, which ye have not received, or another gospel, which ye have not accepted, ye might well bear with him.

Isa 3:1  For, behold, the Lord, the LORD of hosts, doth take away from Jerusalem and from Judah the stay and the staff, the whole stay of bread, and the whole stay of water,

Amo 8:7  The LORD hath sworn by the excellency of Jacob, Surely I will never forget any of their works [Mat 12:36].

Mat 12:36  But I say unto you, That every idle word that men shall speak, they shall give account thereof in the day of judgment.

Pro 20:24  Man’s goings are of the LORD; how can a man then understand his own way?

Joseph typifies God’s elect who are the first to trust in the Eternal God and who will explain one day to all the world that “Man’s goings are of the LORD; how can a man then understand his own way?”. No one verse seems to more perfectly explain this point then (Gen 50:19-20). The way that seems right to man, our understanding of the path to salvation in other words, leads to death for our first man Adam whose self-righteous spirit can only be destroyed by the brightness of Christ’s coming into our lives, which is the only way the elect could have ever inherited an inheritance or double portion in this life (Pro 14:12, Php 3:9, 2Th 2:8).

Gen 50:19  And Joseph said unto them, Fear not: for am I in the place of God?
Gen 50:20  But as for you, ye thought evil against me; but God meant it unto good, to bring to pass, as it is this day, to save much people alive.

Joseph, in type and shadow, was saying don’t fear me, “Fear not: for am I in the place of God?” but rather, “fear him which is able to destroy both soul and body in hell” (Mat 10:28). “The way” God will destroy “both soul and body in hell” is explained in the very next verse that reads, “Are not two sparrows sold for a farthing? and one of them shall not fall on the ground without your Father”.

There are two doves in (Lev 14:6-7), one that represents Christ who dies for us, and the other that represents the elect who are kept alive and loosed into the open field, a story that parallels with the two sparrows spoken of in (Mat 10:29). These two birds, in both instances, symbolize the means that God has devised to redeem all of His creation (2Sa 14:14).

Mat 10:28  And fear not them which kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul: but rather fear him which is able to destroy both soul and body in hell.
Mat 10:29  Are not two sparrows sold for a farthing? and one of them shall not fall on the ground without your Father.

Lev 14:6  As for the living bird, he shall take it, and the cedar wood, and the scarlet, and the hyssop, and shall dip them and the living bird in the blood of the bird that was killed over the running water:

Lev 14:7  And he shall sprinkle upon him that is to be cleansed from the leprosy seven times, and shall pronounce him clean, and shall let the living bird loose into the open field.

2Sa 14:14  For we must needs die, and are as water spilt on the ground, which cannot be gathered up again; neither doth God respect any person: yet doth he devise means, that his banished be not expelled from him.

Pro 20:25  It is a snare to the man who devoureth that which is holy, and after vows to make enquiry.

This verse is explained by the actions of Esau that represents our first man Adam who must be destroyed by the brightness of Christ coming into our heavens to give us the strength to stop making these wrong decisions, being hypocritical in our flesh, which we will be until we’re not, by God’s grace (Rom 7:24-25, Rom 8:37).

Gen 25:28  And Isaac loved Esau, because he did eat of his venison: but Rebekah loved Jacob.
Gen 25:29  And Jacob sod pottage: and Esau came from the field, and he was faint:
Gen 25:30  And Esau said to Jacob, Feed me, I pray thee, with that same red pottage; for I am faint: therefore was his name called Edom.
Gen 25:31  And Jacob said, Sell me this day thy birthright.
Gen 25:32  And Esau said, Behold, I am at the point to die: and what profit shall this birthright do to me?
Gen 25:33  And Jacob said, Swear to me this day; and he sware unto him: and he sold his birthright unto Jacob.

Heb 12:15  Looking diligently lest any man fail of the grace of God; lest any root of bitterness springing up trouble you, and thereby many be defiled;
Heb 12:16  Lest there be any fornicator, or profane person, as Esau, who for one morsel of meat sold his birthright.
Heb 12:17  For ye know how that afterward, when he would have inherited the blessing, he was rejected: for he found no place of repentance, though he sought it carefully with tears.

Pro 20:26  A wise king scattereth the wicked, and bringeth the wheel over them.

Christ is the “wise king” that we fall on at first, and if we are blessed to continue in the truth, we will be crushed under the stone to powder (Mat 21:44), which is what “bringeth the wheel over them” typifies.

Mat 21:44  And whosoever shall fall on this stone shall be broken: but on whomsoever it shall fall, it will grind him to powder.

Spiritually, we guard our inheritance by allowing God’s wisdom to expose and remove sin from our lives, which can only be accomplish through [dia G1223] the resurrected life of Christ within us (Col 1:27, Joh 8:36).

Rolling away the physical stone that covers the sepulchre of Christ represents no longer knowing Christ after the flesh (2Co 5:16). Now we know the spiritual wheel, Jesus Christ and Christ in his Christ (Eze 1:16), who cannot be held by the grave (Mat 28:2-4, Act 2:24, 1Jn 4:17) and is now building the church through judgement in our heavens that crushes us to powder, like a millstone that can easily crush a grain of wheat.

Eze 1:16  The appearance of the wheels and their work was like unto the colour of a beryl: and they four had one likeness: and their appearance and their work was as it were a wheel in the middle of a wheel [Christ and His Christ].

Mat 28:2  And, behold, there was a great earthquake: for the angel of the Lord descended from heaven, and came and rolled back the stone from the door, and sat upon it.
Mat 28:3  His countenance was like lightning, and his raiment white as snow: [“lightning” = judgement (1Co 6:3), and “raiment white as snow” = righteousness of the saints (Rev 19:8)]
Mat 28:4  And for fear of him the keepers did shake, and became as dead men.

Act 2:24  Whom God hath raised up, having loosed the pains of death: because it was not possible that he should be holden of it.

The stone that covered the tomb of Christ was a physical representation of Christ, who brings life through the destruction of the man of perdition within us who will be crushed and destroyed by the coming of his brightness into our heavens. If we are granted to die daily and be buried with him in baptism (the tomb), we will be raised with him in the end (Rom 6:3-5).

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: (both in the earnest of this resurrection (Eph 2:6) and one day in the fulness of this event in the first resurrection (1Co 15:52))

The angel that moved that stone represents the elect who are used of God to pour out the seven last vials that crush us under the stone, which represents the words of God that Christ administers to the body of Christ in this age through the church (Eph 3:10).

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,

The great earthquake in this verse (Mat 28:2) represents God’s judgement and “The angel of the Lord descended from heaven”, reminds us that our strength comes from God above through Christ, who gives us the power to roll the stone back. The angel “came and rolled back the stone from the door, and sat upon it” symbolizing what Christ told Peter, “And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter [angel], and upon this rock [Christ] I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it. “ (Mat 16:18).

Mat 28:2  And, behold, there was a great earthquake: for the angel of the Lord descended from heaven, and came and rolled back the stone from the door, and sat upon it.

Our “wise king”, Jesus Christ, does indeed “scattereth the wicked” within each of us, “and bringeth the wheel over” each one of us in this age, if we are His.

Next week, Lord willing, we will look at the last four verses of this twentieth chapter of Proverbs.

[Posted September 5, 2024]

I hope you are doing fine, Mike?

I used to think that I understood this passage until recently when it started looking fuzzy to me.

Mat 21:44 “And whosoever shall fall on this stone shall be broken: but on whomsoever it shall fall, it will grind him to powder,”

At what stage of our walk did we fall and got broken and when exactly did that Stone (Christ) grind us to powder?

In other word, when do we migrate from being broken to being grounded to powder.

Your brother that is full of appreciation for what you are doing for the body of Christ.

M____

Hi, M___

Thank you for your question concerning when we fall and are broken on Christ, versus when He falls on us and crushes us to powder. The parable of the tenants of the Lord’s vineyard which precedes this verse explains when we fall on Christ and when he falls on us.

The parable begins by depicting us as the Lord’s husbandmen who have fallen on him and have been broken and entrusted with the care of the Lord’s vineyard:

Mat 21:33  Hear another parable: There was a certain householder, which planted a vineyard, and hedged it round about, and digged a winepress in it, and built a tower, and let it out to husbandmen, and went into a far country:

Those who are given ears to hear what the spirit says to the churches will acknowledge that we all gladly serve the Lord when we first ‘fall on Christ’ and begin working in His vineyard. But we also know that the words of this parable admonish each of us that we will “lose our first love” at some point while we wait for our Lord’s appearing:

Mat 21:34  And when the time of the fruit drew near, he sent his servants to the husbandmen, that they might receive the fruits of it.

“The time of the fruit” is that period of our lives after we have made a profession of Christ and we lose our first love and begin acting like “children of disobedience… children of “our father the devil” instead of our heavenly Father.

Mat 21:35  And the husbandmen took his servants, and beat one, and killed another, and stoned another.
Mat 21:36  Again, he sent other servants more than the first: and they did unto them likewise.
Mat 21:37  But last of all he sent unto them his son, saying, They will reverence my son.
Mat 21:38  But when the husbandmen saw the son, they said among themselves, This is the heir; come, let us kill him, and let us seize on his inheritance.
Mat 21:39  And they caught him, and cast him out of the vineyard, and slew him.

As these verses apply to us they demonstrate who we are and what we are doing spiritually when we lose our first love and become a healthy beast after having received a deadly wound. There is also an application of these verses to those who have received the holy spirit, tasted the heavenly gift, and the good life to come and are still caused to blaspheme the holy spirit and teach doctrines of demons and find no place of repentance in this age:

Mat 21:40  When the lord therefore of the vineyard cometh, what will he do unto those husbandmen?
Mat 21:41  They say unto him, He will miserably destroy those wicked men, and will let out his vineyard unto other husbandmen, which shall render him the fruits in their seasons.

For the elect “those husbandmen” refers to our old man who the Lord destroys with the brightness of His coming to reclaim His rightful throne on our hearts and minds. For those who are not given place for repentance in this age, the destruction of their old man will be the lake of fire.

Whether in this present time, or in the lake of fire, we will experience a time when “this Rock will fall on us and grind us to powder” because that is the only sacrifice the Lord will accept:

Lev 2:1  And when any will offer a meat offering unto the LORD, his offering shall be of fine flour; and he shall pour oil upon it, and put frankincense thereon:

Lev 6:20  This is the offering of Aaron and of his sons, which they shall offer unto the LORD in the day when he is anointed; the tenth part of an ephah of fine flour for a meat offering perpetual, half of it in the morning, and half thereof at night.

We are all ‘builders who reject Christ’ before we become builders who are ground to fine powder and accept the Lord’s correction and scourgings with gratitude.

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.

The vineyard which was given to the workers signifies the kingdom of God within each of us, and we are expected to bring forth fruit meet for repentance especially after we have been ground to powder by the stone cut out of the mountain without hands:

Mat 21:44  And whosoever shall fall on this stone shall be broken: but on whomsoever it shall fall, it will grind him to powder.

We are all the proud Pharisee before we become the repentant publican:

Mat 21:45  And when the chief priests and Pharisees had heard his parables, they perceived that he spake of them.
Mat 21:46  But when they sought to lay hands on him, they feared the multitude, because they took him for a prophet.

I hope this helps you to better understand what Christ meant by:

Mat 24:34  Verily I say unto you, This generation shall not pass, till all these things be fulfilled.
Mat 24:35  Heaven and earth shall pass away, but my words shall not pass away.

In other words, these words have both an application to this present time for you and me as well as the judgment of the great white throne.

Your brother who wants to be finely ground in this present time,

Mike

Dan 6:1-28 And They Brought Daniel, and Cast Him into the Den of Lions

[Study Aired December 20, 2021]

Dan 6:1  It pleased Darius to set over the kingdom an hundred and twenty princes, which should be over the whole kingdom; 
Dan 6:2  And over these three presidents; of whom Daniel was first: that the princes might give accounts unto them, and the king should have no damage. 
Dan 6:3  Then this Daniel was preferred above the presidents and princes, because an excellent spirit was in him; and the king thought to set him over the whole realm. 
Dan 6:4  Then the presidents and princes sought to find occasion against Daniel concerning the kingdom; but they could find none occasion nor fault; forasmuch as he was faithful, neither was there any error or fault found in him. 
Dan 6:5  Then said these men, We shall not find any occasion against this Daniel, except we find it against him concerning the law of his God. 
Dan 6:6  Then these presidents and princes assembled together to the king, and said thus unto him, King Darius, live for ever. 
Dan 6:7  All the presidents of the kingdom, the governors, and the princes, the counsellors, and the captains, have consulted together to establish a royal statute, and to make a firm decree, that whosoever shall ask a petition of any God or man for thirty days, save of thee, O king, he shall be cast into the den of lions. 
Dan 6:8  Now, O king, establish the decree, and sign the writing, that it be not changed, according to the law of the Medes and Persians, which altereth not. 
Dan 6:9  Wherefore king Darius signed the writing and the decree. 
Dan 6:10  Now when Daniel knew that the writing was signed, he went into his house; and his windows being open in his chamber toward Jerusalem, he kneeled upon his knees three times a day, and prayed, and gave thanks before his God, as he did aforetime. 
Dan 6:11  Then these men assembled, and found Daniel praying and making supplication before his God. 
Dan 6:12  Then they came near, and spake before the king concerning the king’s decree; Hast thou not signed a decree, that every man that shall ask a petition of any God or man within thirty days, save of thee, O king, shall be cast into the den of lions? The king answered and said, The thing is true, according to the law of the Medes and Persians, which altereth not. 
Dan 6:13  Then answered they and said before the king, That Daniel, which is of the children of the captivity of Judah, regardeth not thee, O king, nor the decree that thou hast signed, but maketh his petition three times a day. 
Dan 6:14  Then the king, when he heard these words, was sore displeased with himself, and set his heart on Daniel to deliver him: and he laboured till the going down of the sun to deliver him. 
Dan 6:15  Then these men assembled unto the king, and said unto the king, Know, O king, that the law of the Medes and Persians is, That no decree nor statute which the king establisheth may be changed. 
Dan 6:16  Then the king commanded, and they brought Daniel, and cast him into the den of lions. Now the king spake and said unto Daniel, Thy God whom thou servest continually, he will deliver thee. 
Dan 6:17  And a stone was brought, and laid upon the mouth of the den; and the king sealed it with his own signet, and with the signet of his lords; that the purpose might not be changed concerning Daniel. 
Dan 6:18  Then the king went to his palace, and passed the night fasting: neither were instruments of musick brought before him: and his sleep went from him. 
Dan 6:19  Then the king arose very early in the morning, and went in haste unto the den of lions. 
Dan 6:20  And when he came to the den, he cried with a lamentable voice unto Daniel: and the king spake and said to Daniel, O Daniel, servant of the living God, is thy God, whom thou servest continually, able to deliver thee from the lions? 
Dan 6:21  Then said Daniel unto the king, O king, live for ever. 
Dan 6:22  My God hath sent his angel, and hath shut the lions’ mouths, that they have not hurt me: forasmuch as before him innocency was found in me; and also before thee, O king, have I done no hurt. 
Dan 6:23  Then was the king exceeding glad for him, and commanded that they should take Daniel up out of the den. So Daniel was taken up out of the den, and no manner of hurt was found upon him, because he believed in his God. 
Dan 6:24  And the king commanded, and they brought those men which had accused Daniel, and they cast them into the den of lions, them, their children, and their wives; and the lions had the mastery of them, and brake all their bones in pieces or ever they came at the bottom of the den. 
Dan 6:25  Then king Darius wrote unto all people, nations, and languages, that dwell in all the earth; Peace be multiplied unto you. 
Dan 6:26  I make a decree, That in every dominion of my kingdom men tremble and fear before the God of Daniel: for he is the living God, and stedfast forever, and his kingdom that which shall not be destroyed, and his dominion shall be even unto the end. 
Dan 6:27  He delivereth and rescueth, and he worketh signs and wonders in heaven and in earth, who hath delivered Daniel from the power of the lions. 
Dan 6:28  So this Daniel prospered in the reign of Darius, and in the reign of Cyrus the Persian. 

This chapter focuses on the need for the Lord’s chosen or elect to be cast into the den of lions and the mighty hand of the Lord to deliver us in our affliction so that nothing shall by any means hurt us.

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. 
Luk 10:20  Notwithstanding in this rejoice not, that the spirits are subject unto you; but rather rejoice, because your names are written in heaven.

Dan 6:1  It pleased Darius to set over the kingdom an hundred and twenty princes, which should be over the whole kingdom; 

Darius here represents our Lord Jesus Christ, and both the princes and the number one hundred and twenty, signify the elect.

Act 1:15  And in those days Peter stood up in the midst of the disciples, and said, (the number of names together were about an hundred and twenty,)

The number one hundred and twenty also signifies the time in our lives when our strength has failed, and we are able to rest in the Lord. This means that the elect are those who have no confidence in the flesh and are relying on the Lord.

Deu 31:2  And he said unto them, I am an hundred and twenty years old this day; I can no more go out and come in: also the LORD hath said unto me, Thou shalt not go over this Jordan.

This verse is telling us that presently it is the Lord’s pleasure to set us up (the new man) to rule over the kingdom of the nations within. In the fullness of time, however, our Lord Jesus will set us over the kingdoms of this world.

Luk 12:32  Fear not, little flock; for it is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom.

Rev 11:15  And the seventh angel sounded; and there were great voices in heaven, saying, The kingdoms of this world are become the kingdoms of our Lord, and of his Christ; and he shall reign for ever and ever.

Dan 6:2  And over these three presidents; of whom Daniel was first: that the princes might give accounts unto them, and the king should have no damage.
Dan 6:3  Then this Daniel was preferred above the presidents and princes, because an excellent spirit was in him; and the king thought to set him over the whole realm.

The three presidents signify the Lord Jesus Christ and His two witnesses, who represent His bride. So, as His elect, we are both the princes and presidents with Jesus as the preferred above the presidents and princes to whom we are to give account. The fact that there are three presidents is to let us know that it is through judgment, or the furnace of affliction, that we are chosen to reign with Christ.

Isa 48:10  Behold, I have refined thee, but not with silver; I have chosen thee in the furnace of affliction.

In verse 3, Daniel represents the Lord whom God has set over the whole of His realm and is preferred above us (presidents and princes) because He has an excellent spirit.

Rom 8:29  For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren.

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;
Heb 1:4  Being made so much better than the angels, as he hath by inheritance obtained a more excellent name than they.

Heb 1:8  But unto the Son he saith, Thy throne, O God, is for ever and ever: a sceptre of righteousness is the sceptre of thy kingdom.
Heb 1:9  Thou hast loved righteousness, and hated iniquity; therefore God, even thy God, hath anointed thee with the oil of gladness above thy fellows.

Within us the new man has an excellent spirit and is preferred above the old man to reign within us.

Eph 4:24  And that ye put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness.

Outwardly, verse 3 is saying that at the end of this age, we shall be preferred, just like Daniel, above the presidents and princes of this world as our king Jesus will set us over the kingdoms of this world.

Rom 8:19  For the earnest expectation of the creature waiteth for the manifestation of the sons of God.

Dan 6:4  Then the presidents and princes sought to find occasion against Daniel concerning the kingdom; but they could find none occasion nor fault; forasmuch as he was faithful, neither was there any error or fault found in him.
Dan 6:5  Then said these men, We shall not find any occasion against this Daniel, except we find it against him concerning the law of his God.

In a negative context, the presidents and princes represent the heathen and the kings of the earth. The kings of the earth are the leaders of Babylon, the churches of this world. Remember that earth symbolizes the people of God who do not hear the words of the Lord and therefore represents Babylon.

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

As the Lord said, in this world we shall be hated by men (heathens and our brothers and sisters in Babylon). The evil scheming of the presidents and princes against Daniel, as depicted by verses 4 and 5, is therefore the same as the following:

Psa 2:1  Why do the heathen rage, and the people imagine a vain thing?
Psa 2:2  The kings of the earth set themselves, and the rulers take counsel together, against the LORD, and against his anointed, saying,
Psa 2:3  Let us break their bands asunder, and cast away their cords from us.
Psa 2:4  He that sitteth in the heavens shall laugh: the Lord shall have them in derision.
Psa 2:5  Then shall he speak unto them in his wrath, and vex them in his sore displeasure.
Psa 2:6  Yet have I set my king upon my holy hill of Zion.
Psa 2:7  I will declare the decree: the LORD hath said unto me, Thou art my Son; this day have I begotten thee.
Psa 2:8  Ask of me, and I shall give thee the heathen for thine inheritance, and the uttermost parts of the earth for thy possession.

Dan 6:6  Then these presidents and princes assembled together to the king, and said thus unto him, King Darius, live for ever. 
Dan 6:7  All the presidents of the kingdom, the governors, and the princes, the counsellors, and the captains, have consulted together to establish a royal statute, and to make a firm decree, that whosoever shall ask a petition of any God or man for thirty days, save of thee, O king, he shall be cast into the den of lions.
Dan 6:8  Now, O king, establish the decree, and sign the writing, that it be not changed, according to the law of the Medes and Persians, which altereth not.
Dan 6:9  Wherefore king Darius signed the writing and the decree.

As our Lord prophesied, we shall be hated by men. This conspiracy against Daniel, who represents the Lord’s anointed, by the presidents, princes, governors, counsellors and the captains is an example of being hated by men, and it is written here for our admonition.

1Co 10:11  Now all these things happened unto them for ensamples: and they are written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the world are come.

The decree signed by the king says that anyone who petitions any God or man for thirty days apart from the king should be put in the lions’ den. To understand the significance of this decree, we need to know what thirty days and the den of lions stand for. Thirty days or years symbolize the time that we become mature to be enrolled in the service of our Lord. It is also the time that our new man within rules us or dominates us.

Num 4:3  From thirty years old and upward even until fifty years old, all that enter into the host, to do the work in the tabernacle of the congregation.

Num 4:23  From thirty years old and upward until fifty years old shalt thou number them; all that enter in to perform the service, to do the work in the tabernacle of the congregation.

Gen 41:46  And Joseph was thirty years old when he stood before Pharaoh king of Egypt. And Joseph went out from the presence of Pharaoh, and went throughout all the land of Egypt.

2Sa 5:4  David was thirty years old when he began to reign, and he reigned forty years.

The den of lions represents the noisome beast which is one of God’s four sore judgments.

Eze 14:21  For thus saith the Lord GOD; How much more when I send my four sore judgments upon Jerusalem, the sword, and the famine, and the noisome beast, and the pestilence, to cut off from it man and beast?

Noisome means evil, and so we have evil beasts as one of God’s judgments. As we are aware, we are this evil beast. This evil beast kills by the sword and must be killed by the sword. The sword is the word of God, so these evil beasts represent the propagators of the word of God in Babylon whose words make us worse off or kill us spiritually.

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.

Rev 13:4  And they worshipped the dragon which gave power unto the beast: and they worshipped the beast, saying, Who is like unto the beast? who is able to make war with him?
Rev 13:5  And there was given unto him a mouth speaking great things and blasphemies; and power was given unto him to continue forty and two months.
Rev 13:6  And he opened his mouth in blasphemy against God, to blaspheme his name, and his tabernacle, and them that dwell in heaven.
Rev 13:7  And it was given unto him to make war with the saints, and to overcome them: and power was given him over all kindreds, and tongues, and nations.
Rev 13:8  And all that dwell upon the earth shall worship him, whose names are not written in the book of life of the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world.
Rev 13:9  If any man have an ear, let him hear.
Rev 13:10  He that leadeth into captivity shall go into captivity: he that killeth with the sword must be killed with the sword. Here is the patience and the faith of the saints.

The following verses show what happens to us when we are given to evil beasts or cast unto the den of lions:

2Pe 2:12  But these, as natural brute beasts, made to be taken and destroyed, speak evil of the things that they understand not; and shall utterly perish in their own corruption;
2Pe 2:13  And shall receive the reward of unrighteousness, as they that count it pleasure to riot in the day time. Spots they are and blemishes, sporting themselves with their own deceivings while they feast with you;
2Pe 2:14  Having eyes full of adultery, and that cannot cease from sin; beguiling unstable souls: an heart they have exercised with covetous practices; cursed children:
2Pe 2:15  Which have forsaken the right way, and are gone astray, following the way of Balaam the son of Bosor, who loved the wages of unrighteousness;
2Pe 2:16  But was rebuked for his iniquity: the dumb ass speaking with man’s voice forbad the madness of the prophet.
2Pe 2:17  These are wells without water, clouds that are carried with a tempest; to whom the mist of darkness is reserved for ever.
2Pe 2:18  For when they speak great swelling words of vanity, they allure through the lusts of the flesh, through much wantonness, those that were clean escaped from them who live in error.
2Pe 2:19  While they promise them liberty, they themselves are the servants of corruption: for of whom a man is overcome, of the same is he brought in bondage.
2Pe 2:20  For if after they have escaped the pollutions of the world through the knowledge of the Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, they are again entangled therein, and overcome, the latter end is worse with them than the beginning.
2Pe 2:21  For it had been better for them not to have known the way of righteousness, than, after they have known it, to turn from the holy commandment delivered unto them.
2Pe 2:22  But it is happened unto them according to the true proverb, The dog is turned to his own vomit again; and the sow that was washed to her wallowing in the mire.

In summary, this is what we are being told in Daniel chapter 6 verses 6 to 9:  It is written in the books of every elect that before we become mature to perform service in the house of our Lord, represented by thirty days, we are required to petition only the king (Christ) and not any other god. If we flout this rule, then it provides the occasion the Lord is seeking to judge us by giving us over to the dictates of evil beasts (being cast into a den of lions) where we become worse off than when we started.

Dan 6:10  Now when Daniel knew that the writing was signed, he went into his house; and his windows being open in his chamber toward Jerusalem, he kneeled upon his knees three times a day, and prayed, and gave thanks before his God, as he did aforetime. 
Dan 6:11  Then these men assembled, and found Daniel praying and making supplication before his God.
Dan 6:12  Then they came near, and spake before the king concerning the king’s decree; Hast thou not signed a decree, that every man that shall ask a petition of any God or man within thirty days, save of thee, O king, shall be cast into the den of lions? The king answered and said, The thing is true, according to the law of the Medes and Persians, which altereth not. 
Dan 6:13  Then answered they and said before the king, That Daniel, which is of the children of the captivity of Judah, regardeth not thee, O king, nor the decree that thou hast signed, but maketh his petition three times a day.

These verses show us that Daniel flouted the law that requires that no man petition any God except the king who represents Christ. Even though Daniel willfully flouted this rule, we know from the scriptures that we do not choose to do anything in this world of our own volition, and all our actions are of the Lord.

Jer 10:23  O LORD, I know that the way of man is not in himself: it is not in man that walketh to direct his steps.

This means that it is the Lord who caused Daniel to go against the law so that Daniel can be put into the den of lions to serve as an example for all elect that we can mature (represented by thirty days), only when we go through 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?

There is no exception to the rule. All must be judged once we go against the law of the Lord.

Jer 49:12  For thus saith the LORD; Behold, they whose judgment was not to drink of the cup have assuredly drunken; and art thou he that shall altogether go unpunished? thou shalt not go unpunished, but thou shalt surely drink of it.

As the law states, we are only to petition the Lord Jesus (symbolized by the king) during the days of our immaturity. However, we end up petitioning other gods instead of Christ. In the case of Daniel, just for the fact that he did not petition God through Christ, he is also guilty. In this sense, all the Old Testament prophets and men of God did not petition God through Christ and therefore are all guilty and therefore need to be judged before they can be perfected.

Heb 11:39  And these all [Old Testament men of God], having obtained a good report through faith, received not the promise:
Heb 11:40  God having provided some better thing for us, that they without us should not be made perfect.

Dan 6:14  Then the king, when he heard these words, was sore displeased with himself, and set his heart on Daniel to deliver him: and he laboured till the going down of the sun to deliver him.
Dan 6:15  Then these men assembled unto the king, and said unto the king, Know, O king, that the law of the Medes and Persians is, That no decree nor statute which the king establisheth may be changed. 
Dan 6:16  Then the king commanded, and they brought Daniel, and cast him into the den of lions. Now the king spake and said unto Daniel, Thy God whom thou servest continually, he will deliver thee.

These verses are to show us that our Lord feels our pain and all that we go through. He does not leave us alone to suffer.

Psa 103:13  As a father shows compassion to his children, so the LORD shows compassion to those who fear him.
Psa 103:14  For he knows our frame; he remembers that we are dust.

Heb 4:14  Seeing then that we have a great high priest, that is passed into the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our profession.
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.

Daniel being thrown in the den of lions means that he experienced God’s judgment just like the Lord Jesus, who never sinned, was judged for our sakes.

Dan 6:17  And a stone was brought, and laid upon the mouth of the den; and the king sealed it with his own signet, and with the signet of his lords; that the purpose might not be changed concerning Daniel. 

On a positive note, a stone represents Christ and His Christ or elect.

Psa 118:22  The stone which the builders refused is become the head stone of the corner.

1Pe 2:5  Ye also, as lively stones, are built up a spiritual house, an holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God by Jesus Christ.
1Pe 2:6  Wherefore also it is contained in the scripture, Behold, I lay in Sion a chief corner stone, elect, precious: and he that believeth on him shall not be confounded.
1Pe 2:7  Unto you therefore which believe he is precious: but unto them which be disobedient, the stone which the builders disallowed, the same is made the head of the corner,

A stone, in a negative context, signifies all that resists Christ in our lives. This is demonstrated by Pharoah and his chariots being cast into the sea like a stone. Within us, this stone represents the beast that resists Christ in our lives.

Exo 15:4  Pharaoh’s chariots and his host hath he cast into the sea: his chosen captains also are drowned in the Red sea.
Exo 15:5  The depths have covered them: they sank into the bottom as a stone.
Exo 15:16  Fear and dread shall fall upon them; by the greatness of thine arm they shall be as still as a stone; till thy people pass over, O LORD, till the people pass over, which thou hast purchased.

So what verse 17 is inferring is that as long as the beast is alive in our lives which are represented by the stone laid at the mouth of the lions’ den, we shall undergo judgment (the lions’ den). It is when the stone is moved away, that is, when the old man is incapacitated, that our judgment ceases.

Dan 6:18  Then the king went to his palace, and passed the night fasting: neither were instruments of musick brought before him: and his sleep went from him. 

This verse is re-emphasizing the point we have already made that our Lord feels our pain in all that we go through.

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.

Dan 6:19  Then the king arose very early in the morning, and went in haste unto the den of lions. 
Dan 6:20  And when he came to the den, he cried with a lamentable voice unto Daniel: and the king spake and said to Daniel, O Daniel, servant of the living God, is thy God, whom thou servest continually, able to deliver thee from the lions? 
Dan 6:21  Then said Daniel unto the king, O king, live for ever. 
Dan 6:22  My God hath sent his angel, and hath shut the lions’ mouths, that they have not hurt me: forasmuch as before him innocency was found in me; and also before thee, O king, have I done no hurt.

Daniel’s response to the king that God had sent His angels to shut the lions’ mouth and that they have not hurt him is another way of saying that with every temptation, our Lord provides a way of escape so that we can bear it.

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.

In verse 22, Daniel told the king that he was innocent and that before the king, he had not hurt him. Does it mean that Daniel is trusting in his self-righteousness as Job did? No, we need to know the condition under which Daniel made this statement. Daniel had gone through many trials from his tender age when he was whisked away from his parents and Jerusalem to a foreign land. We must also understand that Daniel spoke these words of innocence after judgment (lions’ den) and not before. This means that our judgment makes us innocent before God and that we do not keep on hurting our Lord by our way of life. It is another way of saying that our judgment yields righteousness.

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.

Dan 6:23  Then was the king exceeding glad for him, and commanded that they should take Daniel up out of the den. So Daniel was taken up out of the den, and no manner of hurt was found upon him, because he believed in his God.

Our judgment is not to hurt us. Rather, it benefits us by making us the beloved of the Lord as we live by His words. It is when we learn righteousness that our Lord will command our judgement to cease.

1Pe 4:12  Beloved, think it not strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened unto you:
1Pe 4:13  But rejoice, inasmuch as ye are partakers of Christ’s sufferings; that, when his glory shall be revealed, ye may be glad also with exceeding joy.

Dan 6:24  And the king commanded, and they brought those men which had accused Daniel, and they cast them into the den of lions, them, their children, and their wives; and the lions had the mastery of them, and brake all their bones in pieces or ever they came at the bottom of the den. 

On one hand, our judgment is achieving salvation for us. On the other hand, the suffering of those who are not given to know the mind of Christ in this life hardens their heart and makes them worse off or sends them into more darkness. It is just like the word of God. To us, we are getting more understanding, and to others, it is sending them into more darkness.

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. 

Dan 6:25  Then king Darius wrote unto all people, nations, and languages, that dwell in all the earth; Peace be multiplied unto you. 
Dan 6:26  I make a decree, That in every dominion of my kingdom men tremble and fear before the God of Daniel: for he is the living God, and stedfast forever, and his kingdom that which shall not be destroyed, and his dominion shall be even unto the end. 

The decree has already gone out throughout the world that we were created to be to the praise of His glory and that men should tremble and fear the Lord. However, the sum of the Lord’s words makes us know that in this life, it is only a few He is causing to tremble and fear Him. In the fullness of time, all humanity will tremble and fear the Lord.

Rev 7:9  After this I beheld, and, lo, a great multitude, which no man could number, of all nations, and kindreds, and people, and tongues, stood before the throne, and before the Lamb, clothed with white robes, and palms in their hands;
Rev 7:10  And cried with a loud voice, saying, Salvation to our God which sitteth upon the throne, and unto the Lamb.
Rev 7:11  And all the angels stood round about the throne, and about the elders and the four beasts, and fell before the throne on their faces, and worshipped God, 
Rev 7:12  Saying, Amen: Blessing, and glory, and wisdom, and thanksgiving, and honour, and power, and might, be unto our God for ever and ever. Amen. 
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.

Dan 6:27  He delivereth and rescueth, and he worketh signs and wonders in heaven and in earth, who hath delivered Daniel from the power of the lions. 

The Lord working signs and wonders relates to taking us through His judgment to purify us and bring us into our safe haven.

Psa 107:24  These see the works of the LORD, and his wonders in the deep.
Psa 107:25  For he commandeth, and raiseth the stormy wind, which lifteth up the waves thereof.
Psa 107:26  They mount up to the heaven, they go down again to the depths: their soul is melted because of trouble.
Psa 107:27  They reel to and fro, and stagger like a drunken man, and are at their wits’ end.
Psa 107:28  Then they cry unto the LORD in their trouble, and he bringeth them out of their distresses.
Psa 107:29  He maketh the storm a calm, so that the waves thereof are still.
Psa 107:30  Then are they glad because they be quiet; so he bringeth them unto their desired haven.
Psa 107:31  Oh that men would praise the LORD for his goodness, and for his wonderful works to the children of men!

Dan 6:28  So this Daniel prospered in the reign of Darius, and in the reign of Cyrus the Persian.

The name Darius means ‘lord’, and it refers to several kings of Media and Persia. Cyrus, on the other hand, means ‘possess thou the furnace’. Therefore, this verse is another way of telling us that all things work together for the good of our Lord’s elect, who are represented here by Daniel.

Rom 8:28  And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.

What we are being told in verse 28 is that irrespective of those ruling over us or changes in our environment, it is the hand of the Lord at work and will finally work things out for our good. Possessing the furnace is being prepared to suffer for the sake of Christ. Paul gave us an example of what it means to be prepared to suffer for Christ by making the following statement in his speech to the elders at Ephesus:

Act 20:22  And now, behold, I go bound in the spirit unto Jerusalem, not knowing the things that shall befall me there:
Act 20:23  Save that the Holy Ghost witnesseth in every city, saying that bonds and afflictions abide me.
Act 20:24  But none of these things move me, neither count I my life dear unto myself, so that I might finish my course with joy, and the ministry, which I have received of the Lord Jesus, to testify the gospel of the grace of God.

May the Lord give us the strength to say, like Paul, that none of these things (our afflictions) move us. Amen!!

Jer 13:1-14 I Will Fill all the Inhabitants of this Land With Drunkenness

[Study Aired July 11, 2021]

Jer 13:1  Thus saith the LORD unto me, Go and get thee a linen girdle, and put it upon thy loins, and put it not in water.
Jer 13:2  So I got a girdle according to the word of the LORD, and put it on my loins.
Jer 13:3  And the word of the LORD came unto me the second time, saying,
Jer 13:4  Take the girdle that thou hast got, which is upon thy loins, and arise, go to Euphrates, and hide it there in a hole of the rock.
Jer 13:5  So I went, and hid it by Euphrates, as the LORD commanded me.
Jer 13:6  And it came to pass after many days, that the LORD said unto me, Arise, go to Euphrates, and take the girdle from thence, which I commanded thee to hide there.
Jer 13:7  Then I went to Euphrates, and digged, and took the girdle from the place where I had hid it: and, behold, the girdle was marred, it was profitable for nothing.
Jer 13:8  Then the word of the LORD came unto me, saying,
Jer 13:9  Thus saith the LORD, After this manner will I mar the pride of Judah, and the great pride of Jerusalem.
Jer 13:10  This evil people, which refuse to hear my words, which walk in the imagination of their heart, and walk after other gods, to serve them, and to worship them, shall even be as this girdle, which is good for nothing.
Jer 13:11  For as the girdle cleaveth to the loins of a man, so have I caused to cleave unto me the whole house of Israel and the whole house of Judah, saith the LORD; that they might be unto me for a people, and for a name, and for a praise, and for a glory: but they would not hear.
Jer 13:12  Therefore thou shalt speak unto them this word; Thus saith the LORD God of Israel, Every bottle shall be filled with wine: and they shall say unto thee, Do we not certainly know that every bottle shall be filled with wine?
Jer 13:13  Then shalt thou say unto them, Thus saith the LORD, Behold, I will fill all the inhabitants of this land, even the kings that sit upon David’s throne, and the priests, and the prophets, and all the inhabitants of Jerusalem, with drunkenness.
Jer 13:14  And I will dash them one against another, even the fathers and the sons together, saith the LORD: I will not pity, nor spare, nor have mercy, but destroy them.

In this study we are presented with an unwashed linen girdle which Jeremiah is commanded to wrap around his own loins and wear on a two-hundred mile journey to the Euphrates River. Then he is commanded to take it off and “hide it in a hole of the rock”.

Jer 13:1  Thus saith the LORD unto me, Go and get thee a linen girdle, and put it upon thy loins, and put it not in water.
Jer 13:2  So I got a girdle according to the word of the LORD, and put it on my loins.
Jer 13:3  And the word of the LORD came unto me the second time, saying,
Jer 13:4  Take the girdle that thou hast got, which is upon thy loins, and arise, go to Euphrates, and hide it there in a hole of the rock.
Jer 13:5  So I went, and hid it by Euphrates, as the LORD commanded me.

Going to the Euphrates signifies how soon we leave our first love and are carried away into the arms of the great Babylonian harlot to serve “another Jesus [and] another gospel”.

2Co 11:4  For if he that cometh preacheth another Jesus, whom we have not preached, or if ye receive another spirit, which ye have not received, or another gospel, which ye have not accepted, ye might well bear with him.

Gal 1:6  I marvel that ye are so soon removed from him that called you into the grace of Christ unto another gospel:
Gal 1:7  Which is not another; but there be some that trouble you, and would pervert the gospel of Christ.
Gal 1:8  But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed.
Gal 1:9  As we said before, so say I now again, If any man preach any other gospel unto you than that ye have received, let him be accursed.

The Euphrates River signifies Babylon which was built on that river.

Psa 137:1  By the rivers of Babylon [the Euphrates], there we sat down, yea, we wept, when we remembered Zion.

Then, “after many days” the Lord gives Jeremiah further instructions:

Jer 13:6  And it came to pass after many days, that the LORD said unto me, Arise, go to Euphrates, and take the girdle from thence, which I commanded thee to hide there.

“After many days” signifies the prophesied “seventy years” we all spend in Babylon:

Jer 25:8  Therefore thus saith the LORD of hosts; Because ye have not heard my words,
Jer 25:9  Behold, I will send and take all the families of the north, saith the LORD, and Nebuchadrezzar the king of Babylon, my servant, and will bring them against this land, and against the inhabitants thereof, and against all these nations round about, and will utterly destroy them, and make them an astonishment, and an hissing, and perpetual desolations.
Jer 25:10  Moreover I will take from them the voice of mirth, and the voice of gladness, the voice of the bridegroom, and the voice of the bride, the sound of the millstones, and the light of the candle.
Jer 25:11  And this whole land shall be a desolation, and an astonishment; and these nations shall serve the king of Babylon seventy years.

Seventy years signifies the time needed to ‘fulfill the sins of the Amorites’ in our lives in accord with the Lord’s predetermined plan for each of us:

Gen 15:16  But in the fourth generation they shall come hither again: for the iniquity of the Amorites is not yet full.

“The iniquity of the Amorites is not yet full” reveals the principle of God’s sovereignty being worked out in all things, including our iniquities:

Pro 16:4  The LORD hath made all things for himself: yea, even the wicked for the day of evil.

Eph 1:11  In whom also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestinated according to the purpose of him who worketh all things after the counsel of his own will:

Our time in Babylon corrupts us to the point that we are of no use to the Lord:

Jer 13:7  Then I went to Euphrates, and digged, and took the girdle from the place where I had hid it: and, behold, the girdle was marred, it was profitable for nothing.

The Lord’s instructions to Jeremiah… “take the girdle from thence, which I commanded thee to hide there” is the same as telling John to “measure the temple and them that worship therein”:

Rev 11:1  And there was given me a reed like unto a rod: and the angel stood, saying, Rise, and measure the temple of God, and the altar, and them that worship therein.

When Jeremiah inspected the girdle, he discovers “the girdle was marred, it was profitable for nothing.”

That is the same message we are given in 1 Corinthians 3 where we are told that “every man”, including the Lord’s “very elect”, must come to see himself as “chief…of…sinners” and as this unwashed linen girdle which has spent “many days” in Babylon and is now “profitable for nothing”.

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?
1Co 3:17  If any man defile the temple of God, him shall God destroy; for the temple of God is holy, which temple ye are.

We are all profitable for nothing until the seven plagues of the seven angels have been fulfilled in our lives. It is those seven plagues which burn up our old man and replace him with our new converted man. This is all in the aorist tense and is a process which is taking place throughout this present time.

Rev 15:7  And one of the four beasts gave unto the seven angels seven golden vials full of the wrath of God, who liveth for ever and ever.
Rev 15:8  And the temple was filled with smoke from the glory of God, and from his power; and no man was able to enter into the temple, till the seven plagues of the seven angels were fulfilled.

Rom 8:18  For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time [the seven last plagues] are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us.

Just like all the apostles, we all first contend with our Lord.  We all deny and forsake Him before He strengthens us to overcome our fears and die daily with Him:

Mat 16:21  From that time forth began Jesus to shew unto his disciples, how that he must go unto Jerusalem, and suffer many things of the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and be raised again the third day.
Mat 16:22  Then Peter took him, and began to rebuke him, saying, Be it far from thee, Lord: this shall not be unto thee.
Mat 16:23  But he turned, and said unto Peter, Get thee behind me, Satan: thou art an offence unto me: for thou savourest not the things that be of God, but those that be of men.

Mark adds that Christ “looked on His disciples” as He rebuked Peter, knowing that Peter was speaking for them all:

Mar 8:31  And he began to teach them, that the Son of man must suffer many things, and be rejected of the elders, and of the chief priests, and scribes, and be killed, and after three days rise again.
Mar 8:32  And he spake that saying openly. And Peter took him, and began to rebuke him.
Mar 8:33  But when he had turned about and looked on his disciples, he rebuked Peter, saying, Get thee behind me, Satan: for thou savourest not the things that be of God, but the things that be of men.

Peter and all the apostles could think nothing other than what they all thought at that moment. They had no knowledge of the need for their Messiah to die for them, even though it is right there in Isaiah:

Isa 53:6  All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the LORD hath laid on him the iniquity of us all.
Isa 53:7  He was oppressed, and he was afflicted, yet he opened not his mouth: he is brought as a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before her shearers is dumb, so he openeth not his mouth.
Isa 53:8  He was taken from prison and from judgment: and who shall declare his generation? for he was cut off out of the land of the living: for the transgression of my people was he stricken.
Isa 53:9  And he made his grave with the wicked, and with the rich in his death; because he had done no violence, neither was any deceit in his mouth.
Isa 53:10  Yet it pleased the LORD to bruise him; he hath put him to grief: when thou shalt make his soul an offering for sin, he shall see his seed, he shall prolong his days, and the pleasure of the LORD shall prosper in his hand.
Isa 53:11  He shall see of the travail of his soul, and shall be satisfied: by his knowledge shall my righteous servant justify many; for he shall bear their iniquities.
Isa 53:12  Therefore will I divide him a portion with the great, and he shall divide the spoil with the strong [with His elect]; because he hath poured out his soul unto death: and he was numbered with the transgressors; and he bare the sin of many, and made intercession for the transgressors.

The apostles were just as blind without the holy spirit as all of us were also blind during those years we spent in Babylon as a ‘marred, profitable for nothing girdle’. But even this “marred…unprofitable” condition is not our doing. According to the Lord’s own words, it is He who is ‘marring the pride of Judah and the great pride of Jerusalem.’

Jer 13:8  Then the word of the LORD came unto me, saying,
Jer 13:9  Thus saith the LORD, After this manner will I mar the pride of Judah, and the great pride of Jerusalem.

It is the Lord Himself who makes us “marred… profitable for nothing” and gives us ‘ears that cannot hear and eyes that cannot see these mysteries of His kingdom’. The Lord comes right out and tells us that He first makes us “marred” in His hand:

Jer 18:4  And the vessel that he made [Hebrew: Qal stem, ‘is making’] of clay was marred in the hand of the potter: so he made [Hebrew: Qal stem. ‘is making’] it again another vessel, as seemed good to the potter to make it.
Jer 18:5  Then the word of the LORD came to me, saying,
Jer 18:6  O house of Israel, cannot I do with you as this potter? saith the LORD. Behold, as the clay is in the potter’s hand, so are ye in mine hand, O house of Israel.

The Potter’s house represents “this present time” for the Lord’s elect. Our flesh is signified by this worthless girdle.

Jer 13:10  This evil people, which refuse to hear my words, which walk in the imagination of their heart, and walk after other gods, to serve them, and to worship them, shall even be as this girdle, which is good for nothing.

Isaiah explains why we ‘walk in the imagination of our own hearts and why we serve other gods’:

Isa 63:17  O LORD, why hast thou made us to err from thy ways, and hardened our heart from thy fear? Return for thy servants’ sake, the tribes of thine inheritance.

The apostle Paul had read these words, and he knew that when the Lord hardens our hearts, we are powerless to fear Him as we ought to:

Rom 9:15  For he saith to Moses, I will have mercy on whom I will have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I will have compassion.
Rom 9:16  So then it is not of him that willeth, nor of him that runneth, but of God that sheweth mercy.
Rom 9:17  For the scripture saith unto Pharaoh, Even for this same purpose have I raised thee up, that I might shew my power in thee, and that my name might be declared throughout all the earth.
Rom 9:18  Therefore hath he mercy on whom he will have mercy, and whom he will he hardeneth.

We are all given a hardened heart at the appointed time even after we come to the Lord with a pure heart. We all “leave [our] first love” and become as “profitable for nothing” as this unwashed girdle, and it is all a work of the Lord’s counsel and His hand:

Jer 13:11  For as the girdle cleaveth to the loins of a man, so have I caused to cleave unto me the whole house of Israel and the whole house of Judah, saith the LORD; that they might be unto me for a people, and for a name, and for a praise, and for a glory: but they would not hear.

This girdle typifies us as the Lord’s own people who have rejected Him. The “girdle” is worn around the loins to signify how the Lord has caused us to cleave to Him even as we become so unwashed that we are filthy. We think that our own bread and our own apparel are better than His bread and apparel. We certainly do not see ourselves as an unwashed girdle… profitable for nothing, but we still want His name.

Isa 4:1  And in that day seven women [the seven churches of Asia, the complete apostasy of the church, (2Ti 1:15, Rev 1:4)] shall take hold of one man, saying, We will eat our own bread, and wear our own apparel: only let us be called by thy name, to take away our reproach.

When the Lord “causes [us] to cleave unto [Him]… that [we] might be unto [Him] for a people and for a name and for a praise and for a glory”, there is nothing that we or anyone can do to resist His will:

Jer 18:5  Then the word of the LORD came to me, saying,
Jer 18:6  O house of Israel, cannot I do with you as this potter? saith the LORD. Behold, as the clay is in the potter’s hand, so are ye in mine hand, O house of Israel.

“But they would not hear” tells us that when the Lord blinds us and takes away our ability to hear His voice, He miraculously causes us to see only what we want to see. Our deaf state is not of our own doing. We are given eyes that cannot see, and we are given ears that cannot hear, to the point that we cannot come to God unless He drags us to Himself:

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

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.

In this deaf and blind condition, we become incapable of discerning the wine of His wrath from the wine He drinks with us in His kingdom:

Jer 25:15  For thus saith the LORD God of Israel unto me; Take the wine cup of this fury at my hand, and cause all the nations, to whom I send thee, to drink it.
Jer 25:16  And they shall drink, and be moved, and be mad, because of the sword that I will send among them.
Jer 25:17  Then took I the cup at the LORD’S hand, and made all the nations to drink, unto whom the LORD had sent me:
Jer 25:18  To wit, Jerusalem, and the cities of Judah, and the kings thereof, and the princes thereof, to make them a desolation, an astonishment, an hissing, and a curse; as it is this day;

Mat 26:29  But I say unto you, I will not drink henceforth of this fruit of the vine, until that day when I drink it new with you in my Father’s kingdom.

We simply do not see that it is the Lord’s own people who are the first to drink of the wine of His wrath, and we actually believe He simply would never discipline His own house. All we are given to see are all the promises and blessings of His grace and His favor. Such was the affliction of the apostles themselves, and such is our own affliction before we are given to see how grace functions. They were not yet given to understand that “grace… chastens us to forsake ungodliness” (Tit 2:11-12), and they, typifying us, could not yet see that ‘whom the Lord loves He chastens and scourges every son He receives’ (Heb 12:6).

Tit 2:11  For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men,
Tit 2:12  Teaching [Greek G3811: paideuo, chastens] us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world;

Heb 12:6  For whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth [Greek G3811: paideuo, chastens], and scourgeth every son whom he receiveth.

So in our blinded and drunken condition when we read that the Lord will fill every bottle with wine, all we can see or think of is the wine of His blessing, and not the wine of His judgments, which make us reel to and fro as a drunken man (Psa 107:27). We cannot receive or accept the judgments of His chastening grace:

Jer 13:12  Therefore thou shalt speak unto them this word; Thus saith the LORD God of Israel, Every bottle shall be filled with wine: and they shall say unto thee, Do we not certainly know that every bottle shall be filled with wine?

When we tell the Lord, “Do we not certainly know that every bottle shall be filled with wine?” we are telling Him what He must do.

A personal witness to the depth of this blindness is how I myself once understood this next verse many years ago as a Pentecostal:

Isa 45:11  Thus saith the LORD, the Holy One of Israel, and his Maker, Ask me of things to come concerning my sons, and concerning the work of my hands command ye me.

We literally wore that verse out foolishly proclaiming that God has endowed us with the ability to ‘command him concerning the work of His hands’. It is humiliating just thinking back on such utter ignorance! Here are a few of the verses which preceded verse 11:

Isa 45:5  I am the LORD, and there is none else, there is no God beside me: I girded thee, though thou hast not known me:
Isa 45:6  That they may know from the rising of the sun, and from the west, that there is none beside me.  I am the LORD, and there is none else.
Isa 45:7  I form the light, and create darkness: I make peace,  and create evil: I the LORD do all these things.

That places an entirely different perspective to a verse which is actually asking in sarcasm, “… concerning the work of My hands command ye me”?? Just read the next verse, and the point becomes super clear to anyone who is not blinded by God Himself:

Isa 45:8  Drop down, ye heavens, from above, and let the skies pour down righteousness: let the earth open, and let them bring forth salvation, and let righteousness spring up together; I the LORD have created it.
Isa 45:9  Woe unto him that striveth with his Maker! Let the potsherd strive with the potsherds of the earth.  Shall the clay say to him that fashioneth it, What makest thou? or thy work, He hath no hands? [“Command ye me concerning the work of my hands??”]

It is the Lord who ‘brings forth salvation’. We do not command the Lord to bring forth salvation. It certainly is not the potsherds whom ‘the Lord makes to err from His ways and hardens their hearts from His fear’ (Isa 63:17).

At His appointed time the Lord gives us to know exactly what an experience of evil He is working within us, making us completely spiritually drunk on and abusive of His words:

Jer 13:13  Then shalt thou say unto them, Thus saith the LORD, Behold, I will fill all the inhabitants of this land, even the kings that sit upon David’s throne, and the priests, and the prophets, and all the inhabitants of Jerusalem, with drunkenness.

When we tell the Lord, “Do we not certainly know that every bottle shall be filled with wine”, we are putting ourselves in the driver’s seat just like Job and the self-righteous Pharisee.

Job “knew of a certainty that every bottle was filled with wine.” He didn’t need the Lord to tell him the obvious. He was brimming over with integrity and righteousness, and he wants us all to know it:

Let’s look at Job’s estimation of himself:

Job 29:1  Moreover Job continued his parable, and said,
Job 29:2  Oh that I were as in months past, as in the days when God preserved me;
Job 29:3  When his candle shined upon my head, and when by his light I walked through darkness;
Job 29:4  As I was in the days of my youth, when the secret of God was upon my tabernacle;
Job 29:5  When the Almighty was yet with me, when my children were about me;
Job 29:6  When I washed my steps with butter, and the rock poured me out rivers of oil;
Job 29:7  When I went out to the gate through the city, when I prepared my seat in the street!
Job 29:8  The young men saw me, and hid themselves: and the aged arose, and stood up.
Job 29:9  The princes refrained talking, and laid their hand on their mouth.
Job 29:10  The nobles held their peace, and their tongue cleaved to the roof of their mouth.
Job 29:11  When the ear heard me, then it blessed me; and when the eye saw me, it gave witness to me:
Job 29:12  Because I delivered the poor that cried, and the fatherless, and him that had none to help him.
Job 29:13  The blessing of him that was ready to perish came upon me: and I caused the widow’s heart to sing for joy.
Job 29:14  I put on righteousness, and it clothed me: my judgment was as a robe and a diadem.
Job 29:15  I was eyes to the blind, and feet was I to the lame.
Job 29:16  I was a father to the poor: and the cause which I knew not I searched out.
Job 29:17  And I brake the jaws of the wicked, and plucked the spoil out of his teeth.
Job 29:18  Then I said, I shall die in my nest, and I shall multiply my days as the sand.
Job 29:19  My root was spread out by the waters, and the dew lay all night upon my branch.
Job 29:20  My glory was fresh in me, and my bow was renewed in my hand.
Job 29:21  Unto me men gave ear, and waited, and kept silence at my counsel.
Job 29:22  After my words they spake not again; and my speech dropped upon them.
Job 29:23  And they waited for me as for the rain; and they opened their mouth wide as for the latter rain.
Job 29:24  If I laughed on them, they believed it not; and the light of my countenance they cast not down.
Job 29:25  I chose out their way, and sat chief, and dwelt as a king in the army, as one that comforteth the mourners.

This 29^th chapter of Job describes us when we believe in the false doctrine of free will. We claim that we believe God is sovereign, but we go on to take credit for all He does with us.

Two chapters earlier Job had already made clear to his three friends and to the Lord just how much he thought of Himself:

Job 27:4  My lips shall not speak wickedness, nor my tongue utter deceit.
Job 27:5  God forbid that I should justify you: till I die I will not remove mine integrity from me.
Job 27:6  My righteousness I hold fast, and will not let it go: my heart shall not reproach me so long as I live.
Job 27:7  Let mine enemy be as the wicked, and he that riseth up against me as the unrighteous.

Those are all the words of a spiritual drunk who is abusing the words of the Lord to make them glorify himself instead of his Creator. At this stage of our “experience of evil” (Ecc 1:13) we are worshiping and serving ourselves instead of our Creator, who has made us to be what we are:

Ecc 1:13 I applied my heart to inquiring and exploring by wisdom concerning all that is done under the heavens: it is an experience of evil Elohim has given to the sons of humanity to humble them by it. (CLV)

Rom 1:25  Who changed the truth of God into a lie, and worshipped and served the creature more than the Creator, who is blessed for ever. Amen.

When we twist and “wrest” the Lord’s words to make them say “smooth things”, things which we want to hear, when we avoid and omit all His judgments, then we are spiritual drunkards who are abusing the word of God just as surely as a physical and literal wino abuses and is made drunk with wine:

Pro 26:9  As a thorn goeth up into the hand of a drunkard, so is a parable in the mouth of fools.

Isa 30:10  Which say to the seers, See not; and to the prophets, Prophesy not unto us right things, speak unto us smooth things, prophesy deceits:
Isa 30:11  Get you out of the way, turn aside out of the path, cause the Holy One of Israel to cease from before us.

Isa 30:8  Now go, write it before them in a table, and note it in a book, that it may be for the time to come for ever and ever:
Isa 30:9  That this is a rebellious people, lying children, children that will not hear the law of the LORD:

Isa 24:20  The earth shall reel to and fro like a drunkard, and shall be removed like a cottage; and the transgression thereof shall be heavy upon it; and it shall fall, and not rise again.

A drunkard is so detached from reality that he does not feel the pain of a thorn in his hand. In the same way he cannot discern the Lord’s wrath against his sinful ways. He may be numb to the pain, but the thorn has still pierced him.

Isa 42:23  Who among you will give ear to this? who will hearken and hear for the time to come?
Isa 42:24  Who gave Jacob for a spoil, and Israel to the robbers? did not the LORD, he against whom we have sinned? for they would not walk in his ways, neither were they obedient unto his law.
Isa 42:25  Therefore he hath poured upon him the fury of his anger, and the strength of battle: and it hath set him on fire round about, yet he knew not; and it burned him, yet he laid it not to heart.

1Co 5:11  But now I have written unto you not to keep company, if any man that is called a brother be a fornicator, or covetous, or an idolater, or a railer, or a drunkard, or an extortioner; with such an one no not to eat.

Our drunkenness is a condition which the Lord places upon us when we abuse the gift of His ‘wine’. In the scriptures ‘wine’ typifies “His Word”:

Hos 2:9  Therefore will I return, and take away my corn in the time thereof, and my wine in the season thereof, and will recover my wool and my flax given to cover her nakedness.

In the New Testament “[the Lord’s] wine” is called ‘[His] blood in the New Testament’:

Luk 22:20  Likewise also the cup after supper, saying, This cup is the new testament in my blood, which is shed for you.

Christ also tells us that He will not drink of the cup until He does so “new with you” in His kingdom:

Mat 26:29  But I say unto you, I will not drink henceforth of this fruit of the vine, until that day when I drink it new with you in my Father’s kingdom.

He tells us that this kingdom of heaven “is within [us]” (Luk 17:20-21).

That inward kingdom arrived on this earth in down-payment “earnest” form on the day of Pentecost as recorded in Acts 2:

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.

Act 2:1  And when the day of Pentecost was fully come, they were all with one accord in one place.
Act 2:2  And suddenly there came a sound from heaven as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting.
Act 2:3  And there appeared unto them cloven tongues like as of fire, and it sat upon each of them.
Act 2:4  And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.

So, we are all first spiritual drunkards before the kingdom of God comes to dwell within us. It is then that we ‘drink His wine new with Him in His kingdom within us’ and are no longer drunkards:

Act 2:15  For these are not drunken, as ye suppose, seeing it is but the third hour of the day.

Yes, these verses of Jeremiah 13 do indeed tell us that “We have sinned [and we are] evil people, which refuse to hear [the Lord’s] words, who walk in the imagination of [our] heart and walk after other gods, to serve them, and to worship them”, but nowhere is our hardened heart or our errors attributed to us. Nowhere in scripture is any of this ever once attributed to our own will. Plural pronouns like ‘they’, ‘them’, and ‘their’, simply reveal who is performing an action. They do not reveal why ‘they’ do what ‘they’ do. The story of Joseph and the evil done to him by his ten brothers reveals why Adam and Eve ate of the forbidden fruit, why Cain killed Abel and why we all do things we don’t want to do. Here is that revelation:

Gen 45:4  And Joseph said unto his brethren, Come near to me, I pray you. And they came near. And he said, I am Joseph your brother, whom ye sold into Egypt.
Gen 45:5  Now therefore be not grieved, nor angry with yourselves, that ye sold me hither: for God did send me before you to preserve life.
Gen 45:6  For these two years hath the famine been in the land: and yet there are five years, in the which there shall neither be earing nor harvest.
Gen 45:7  And God sent me before you to preserve you a posterity in the earth, and to save your lives by a great deliverance.
Gen 45:8  So now it was not you that sent me hither, but God: and he hath made me a father to Pharaoh, and lord of all his house, and a ruler throughout all the land of Egypt.

In the same manner we are simply told by the Lord, here in Jeremiah that we are evil, we walk after the imagination of our own hearts, we walk after other gods to serve and worship them, and we are told that we are as this filthy, rotting, linen girdle, which is profitable for nothing. We are even told that our lives, including ‘erring from his ways and having a hardened heart’, are all “His workmanship” and not our own:

Isa 63:17  O LORD, why hast thou made us to err from thy ways, and hardened our heart from thy fear?  Return for thy servants’ sake, the tribes of thine inheritance.

When we finally do “return” it is once again a work He performs within us.

Eph 2:8  For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:
Eph 2:9  Not of [our] 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.

We are not the work of our own hands, and we certainly are not the result of our own fabled free will:

Rom 9:15  For he saith to Moses, I will have mercy on whom I will have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I will have compassion.
Rom 9:16  So then it is not of him that willeth, nor of him that runneth, but of God that sheweth mercy.
Rom 9:17  For the scripture saith unto Pharaoh, Even for this same purpose have I raised thee up, that I might shew my power in thee, and that my name might be declared throughout all the earth.
Rom 9:18  Therefore hath he mercy on whom he will have mercy, and whom he will he hardeneth.
Rom 9:19  Thou wilt say then unto me, Why doth he yet find fault? For who hath resisted his will?

The answer to that question is found in:

2Ch 20:5  And Jehoshaphat stood in the congregation of Judah and Jerusalem, in the house of the LORD, before the new court,
2Ch 20:6  And said, O LORD God of our fathers, art not thou God in heaven? And rulest not thou over all the kingdoms of the heathen? And in thine hand is there not power and might, so that none is able to withstand thee?

The Lord wants us to know beyond any shadow of a doubt He is in charge of all things, and He has declared, “Flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God.” He also wants us to understand that these corruptible bodies will be replaced with new incorruptible spiritual bodies:

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.
1Co 15:45  And so it is written, The first man Adam was made a living soul; the last Adam was made a quickening spirit.
1Co 15:46  Howbeit that was not first which is spiritual, but that which is natural; and afterward that which is spiritual.
1Co 15:47  The first man is of the earth, earthy: the second man is the Lord from heaven.
1Co 15:48  As is the earthy, such are they also that are earthy: and as is the heavenly, such are they also that are heavenly.
1Co 15:49  And as we have borne the image of the earthy, we shall also bear the image of the heavenly.
1Co 15:50  Now this I say, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God; neither doth corruption inherit incorruption.

This brings us to our last verse in this study:

Jer 13:14  And I will dash them one against another, even the fathers and the sons together, saith the LORD: I will not pity, nor spare, nor have mercy, but destroy them.

These words are part of the foundation for this prophecy of our Lord:

Mat 10:34  Think not that I am come to send peace on earth: I came not to send peace, but a sword.
Mat 10:35  For I am come to set a man at variance against his father, and the daughter against her mother, and the daughter in law against her mother in law.
Mat 10:36  And a man’s foes shall be they of his own household.
Mat 10:37  He that loveth father or mother more than me is not worthy of me: and he that loveth son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me.
Mat 10:38  And he that taketh not his cross, and followeth after me, is not worthy of me.
Mat 10:39  He that findeth his life shall lose it: and he that loseth his life for my sake shall find it.

That is the meaning of “dashing one against another… the father and the son together.”

When we read “I will not pity, nor spare, nor have mercy, but destroy them” we must bear in mind that all plural pronouns must be applied personally if we are to benefit from the words of scripture. It is my own old man the Lord is intent upon destroying and replacing with a new incorruptible “spiritual body” and granting to be a king and a priest who will reign with Christ a thousand years before judging angels and all men of all time in the lake of fire:

Rev 20:4  And I saw thrones, and they sat upon them, and judgment was given unto them: and I saw the souls of them that were beheaded for the witness of Jesus, and for the word of God, and which had not worshipped the beast, neither his image, neither had received his mark upon their foreheads, or in their hands; and they lived and reigned with Christ a thousand years.
Rev 20:5  But the rest of the dead lived not again until the thousand years were finished. This is the first resurrection.
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.

That is our study for today, and here are our verses for next week:

Jer 13:15  Hear ye, and give ear; be not proud: for the LORD hath spoken.
Jer 13:16  Give glory to the LORD your God, before he cause darkness, and before your feet stumble upon the dark mountains, and, while ye look for light, he turn it into the shadow of death, and make it gross darkness.
Jer 13:17  But if ye will not hear it, my soul shall weep in secret places for your pride; and mine eye shall weep sore, and run down with tears, because the LORD’S flock is carried away captive.
Jer 13:18  Say unto the king and to the queen, Humble yourselves, sit down: for your principalities shall come down, even the crown of your glory.
Jer 13:19  The cities of the south shall be shut up, and none shall open them: Judah shall be carried away captive all of it, it shall be wholly carried away captive.
Jer 13:20  Lift up your eyes, and behold them that come from the north: where is the flock that was given thee, thy beautiful flock?
Jer 13:21  What wilt thou say when he shall punish thee? for thou hast taught them to be captains, and as chief over thee: shall not sorrows take thee, as a woman in travail?
Jer 13:22  And if thou say in thine heart, Wherefore come these things upon me? For the greatness of thine iniquity are thy skirts discovered, and thy heels made bare.
Jer 13:23  Can the Ethiopian change his skin, or the leopard his spots? then may ye also do good, that are accustomed to do evil.
Jer 13:24  Therefore will I scatter them as the stubble that passeth away by the wind of the wilderness.
Jer 13:25  This is thy lot, the portion of thy measures from me, saith the LORD; because thou hast forgotten me, and trusted in falsehood.
Jer 13:26  Therefore will I discover thy skirts upon thy face, that thy shame may appear.
Jer 13:27  I have seen thine adulteries, and thy neighings, the lewdness of thy whoredom, and thine abominations on the hills in the fields. Woe unto thee, O Jerusalem! wilt thou not be made clean? when shall it once be?

Heb 9:18-28 “It is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment” -Part 6

[Study Aired December 31, 2020]

Heb 9:18  Whereupon neither the first testament was dedicated without blood. 
Heb 9:19  For when Moses had spoken every precept to all the people according to the law, he took the blood of calves and of goats, with water, and scarlet wool, and hyssop, and sprinkled both the book, and all the people, 
Heb 9:20  Saying, This is the blood of the testament which God hath enjoined unto you. 
Heb 9:21  Moreover he sprinkled with blood both the tabernacle, and all the vessels of the ministry. 
Heb 9:22  And almost all things are by the law purged with blood; and without shedding of blood is no remission. 
Heb 9:23  It was therefore necessary that the patterns of things in the heavens should be purified with these; but the heavenly things themselves with better sacrifices than these. 
Heb 9:24  For Christ is not entered into the holy places made with hands, which are the figures of the true; but into heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God for us: 
Heb 9:25  Nor yet that he should offer himself often, as the high priest entereth into the holy place every year with blood of others; 
Heb 9:26  For then must he often have suffered since the foundation of the world: but now once in the end of the world hath he appeared to put away sin by the sacrifice of himself. 
Heb 9:27  And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment: 
Heb 9:28  So Christ was once offered to bear the sins of many; and unto them that look for him shall he appear the second time without sin unto salvation. 

The following verses in Luke 23:34-37 reveal how the carnal mind does not understand that Christ’s flesh had to die (Heb 2:14) in order to then bring judgment into the world which would begin at the house of God (Heb 9:27, 1Ti 2:5-6, 1Pe 4:17).

Luk 23:34  Then said Jesus, Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do. And they parted^G1266 his raiment, and cast lots.
Luk 23:35  And the people stood beholding. And the rulers also with them derided him, saying, He saved others; let him save himself, if he be Christ, the chosen of God [Mat 22:14].
Luk 23:36  And the soldiers also mocked him, coming to him, and offering him vinegar
Luk 23:37  And saying, If thou be the king of the Jews, save thyself.

G1266
parted
diamerizō dee-am-er-id’-zo
From G1223 and G3307; to partition thoroughly (literally in distribution, figuratively in dissension): – cloven, divide, part.

Heb 9:27  And as it is appointed unto men once to die [each man in his own order at an appointed time], but after this the judgment:

1Ti 2:5  For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus;
1Ti 2:6  Who gave himself a ransom for all, to be testified in due time [Heb 9:16 Christ and his Christ (Rev 11:3)].

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? [Rev 11:3, Heb 9:16, 2Co 4:10]

Christ suffered in his flesh as a man so that he could be a mediator between God and man, and tell the body of Christ that we have been called to suffer so we can reign with Him as saviours who will judge the world or mediate as part of God’s government (Php 1:29, 2Ti 2:12, Oba 1:21, 1Co 6:3).

Php 1:29  For unto you it is given in the behalf of Christ, not only to believe on him, but also to suffer for his sake;

2Ti 2:11  It is a faithful saying: For if we be dead with him, we shall also live with him:
2Ti 2:12  If we suffer, we shall also reign with him: if we deny him, he also will deny us:

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.

1Co 6:3  Know ye not that we shall judge angels? how much more things that pertain to this life?

The timing of the words of our Lord are always significant as they are in this verse: “Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do” even while He was being derided by the rulers that were with the crowd, and soldiers who were mocking him, coming to Him and offering Him vinegar, and saying, “If thou be the king of the Jews, save thyself”. [a parable for us, soldiers here telling Christ preserve your flesh with this vinegar…]

Christ had been greatly humbled in His flesh and abased by this bruising He was enduring, and it is in our broken state, as Christ was, that we learn obedience by the things that we suffer (Heb 5:8). This most extreme circumstance on the cross was the climactic conclusion of Christ’s lifetime of learning obedience by the things He suffered as He witnessed to us the power of God that was able to deliver Him (Heb 5:8, 2Co 4:10, Rev 11:3, Rom 5:10, Heb 7:25). This is what pleased the Father so His power could be demonstrated through the lamb of God (Isa 53:10). This is how the God of all comfort was making a way for us through Christ to be able to be armed with his His mind in our hour of temptation and fiery trials so that we can now comfort others with the same comfort that we are comforted with (Rom 5:10, 2Co 1:4).

Just prior this happening: “And the people stood beholding. And the rulers also with them derided him, saying, He saved others.” Christ said, “Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do” then “they parted^G1266 his raiment, and cast lots.”

While we are yet carnal in our thinking, we don’t know how to distribute the garments of Christ which represent His righteousness, as Joseph did in the correct manner to his brothers. God’s favour was upon Benjamin who represents the elect in this instance, being shown grace from Joseph who represents Christ, given 300 pieces of silver (the riches of his goodness expressed through this process of repentance that silver represents 3×100 – Rom 2:4) and five changes of raiment which represent God’s grace that is given to God’s elect in order to be received of the Father (Rev 19:8, Gen 45:22, Heb 12:6).

Rev 19:8  And to her was granted that she should be arrayed in fine linen, clean and white: for the fine linen is the righteousness of saints.

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

We are anything but righteous (Rom 3:10) as we “cast lots” within ourselves, thinking we are in control of this situation and demanding that Christ take control and “save himself, if he be Christ, the chosen of God.” Although we have this hope of glory within, we need to learn something about ourselves from this crowd and not demand anything of God, but say rather, “Lord willing we will do this or that” (Jas 4:15, Mat 5:33-37). Those unrighteous actions of the crowd against Christ were forgiven by our Lord as He recognized that all things were working according to the counsel of God’s will, including the casting of the lots that represents mankind’s lots which are cast into the lap without knowing “the whole disposing thereof is of the LORD” (Pro 16:33, Eph 1:11).

Rom 3:10  As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one:

Pro 16:33  The lot is cast into the lap; but the whole disposing thereof is of the LORD.

Eph 1:11  In whom also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestinated according to the purpose of him who worketh all things after the counsel of his own will:

Christ was being chastened and scourged for our sakes in order for us to be able to be received, and this section of scripture in Luke 23:34-37 brings to light the fact God knows our hearts and how we are going to dispose and reject Christ and His Christ. This is “marvellous in our eyes” because we know that this rejection from the world of our Lord was written for our sakes and ordained of God (Act 4:26-28) to remind us how we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us (Joh 15:13). Nothing can separate us from that love of God (Joh 18:9) which causes us to love our enemies, pray for those who falsely accuse us, and not resist evil (Psa 118:22, Joh 15:13-14, Rom 8:35-37, Mat 5:38-48).

Psa 118:22  The stone which the builders refused is become the head stone of the corner.
Psa 118:23  This is the LORD’S doing; it is marvellous in our eyes.

Joh 15:13  Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.
Joh 15:14  Ye are my friends, if ye do whatsoever I command you.

Rom 8:35  Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword?
Rom 8:36  As it is written, For thy sake we are killed all the day long; we are accounted as sheep for the slaughter.
Rom 8:37  Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us.

Heb 9:18  Whereupon neither the first testament was dedicated without blood. 
Heb 9:19  For when Moses had spoken every precept to all the people according to the law, he took the blood of calves and of goats, with water, and scarlet wool, and hyssop, and sprinkled both the book, and all the people,

The outward actions of Moses typify what God’s elect will do during the thousand-year reign when the world will be as full of the knowledge of God as the oceans are with water (Hab 2:14). Instead of “the blood of calves and of goats, with water, and scarlet wool, and hyssop, and sprinkled both the book, and all the people“, the elect with be used to water and plant God’s word for a period of time that is symbolized by the words ‘a thousand-year reign’ (Rev 20:6). The statement “Whereupon neither the first testament was dedicated without blood” is typical of the word that we will share with an unconverted world. God sees the whole lump as being holy and in need of going through a process, baptized with water, and then with fire (Rom 11:16, Mat 3:11, Joh 3:5).

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

Twice (witness) we see the phrase “all the people” in verse 19, which represents all of mankind that needs to be baptized with water and then with the spirit (Joh 3:5-6).

Joh 3:5  Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God.
Joh 3:6  That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.

This witness is reiterated with the first half saying the same thing as the last half of this same verse:

First, we see that “Moses had spoken every precept to all the people according to the law” akin to “the earth” being “filled with the knowledge of the glory of the LORD, as the waters cover the sea” (Hab 2:14).

The second half: “he took the blood of calves and of goats, with water, and scarlet wool, and hyssop, and sprinkled both the book, and all the people“, is another symbol of the washing of the word that is only understood with outward ordinances until the holy spirit is given to the church so we can then identify all these things as something that Christ is doing within us (Isa 26:9, Jer 22:29, Joh 4:25).

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. [God’s judgements will be in the earth through the thousand years but will only be received on the surface of the sea; “cover the sea” (Hab 2:14)]

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

Joh 4:25  The woman saith unto him, I know that Messias cometh, which is called Christ: when he is come, he will tell us all things.

In other words, Moses speaking to all the people foreshadows the Father speaking of the true witness, Jesus Christ, who represents all these sacrifices offered in Hebrews 9:19 (Mat 3:17).

Heb 9:20  Saying, This is the blood of the testament which God hath enjoined unto you. 
Heb 9:21  Moreover he sprinkled with blood both the tabernacle, and all the vessels of the ministry. 
Heb 9:22  And almost all things are by the law purged with blood; and without shedding of blood is no remission.

What Moses told and did for the congregation is again typical of what God will do with all the world – each man in their appointed time. What Moses said was, “This is the blood of the testament which God hath enjoined unto you,” and what he did was “sprinkled with blood both the tabernacle, and all the vessels of the ministry.” That blood typifies the life of Christ in us which enjoins us unto God and His son. That is what Moses stated, and we know that word will not return void because it is God’s word (Isa 55:11). It does not return void and will accomplish what God has ordained it to do, which is to sprinkle “the tabernacle” that we are, seven times, (Lev 4:15-17, Lev 14:51) and all the “vessels of the ministry”, meaning the words of God are also going through a purifying process within the earthen vessels we are (Psa 12:6).

Isa 55:11  So shall my word be that goeth forth out of my mouth: it shall not return unto me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it.

Lev 4:15  And the elders of the congregation shall lay their hands upon the head of the bullock before the LORD: and the bullock shall be killed before the LORD.
Lev 4:16  And the priest that is anointed shall bring of the bullock’s blood to the tabernacle of the congregation:
Lev 4:17  And the priest shall dip his finger in some of the blood, and sprinkle it seven times before the LORD, even before the vail.

Lev 14:51  And he shall take the cedar wood, and the hyssop, and the scarlet, and the living bird, and dip them in the blood of the slain bird, and in the running water, and sprinkle the house seven times:

Psa 12:6  The words of the LORD are pure words: as silver tried in a furnace of earth, [2Co 4:7] purified seven times.
Psa 12:7  Thou shalt keep them, O LORD, thou shalt preserve them from this generation for ever [1Ti 2:15].

1Ti 2:15  Notwithstanding she shall be saved in childbearing, if they continue in faith and charity and holiness with sobriety.

(God’s elect are this woman or church being preserved, or purified through the process of judgment – 9 months pregnant, and it is by continuing in “faith and charity and holiness with sobriety” by abiding in God’s word (Joh 8:31-32) that the manchild will come to maturation in the blessed and holy first resurrection.)

Again, “almost all things are by the law purged with blood”, meaning the word of God sanctifies us (Joh 17:17); but these early types of that sanctification also represent how the law of Moses required blood to be sprinkled only on the outside of “both the tabernacle, and all the vessels of the ministry“. Those services of the priest along with those who came to sacrifice in the temple was their way of dedicating their life unto God. This ceremonial way of serving God is what reserves the world until judgment. One day all that was done by those priests and the rich young rulers of the world (Luk 18:21-23) will be understood, when grace abounds through God’s holy spirit and the law convicts them of their need for a living sacrifice and saviour, Jesus Christ  (Rom 12:1, Heb 12:1-2).

Rom 12:1  I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.

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, [this is the meaning of “purged with blood” for God’s elect today and is accomplished  when we look unto Jesus]
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.

The law that makes sin evident (Rom 5:20-21) is typified by the outward action of sprinkling blood on “both the tabernacle, and all the vessels of the ministry“, and just as those actions demonstrate, we can have the word of God in our midst or sprinkled on our tabernacle, but it requires the miracle of God’s goodness to convict our hearts of what that blood should mean to us (Rom 2:4, 1Pe 1:18-20).

Rom 5:20  Moreover the law entered, that the offence might abound. But where sin abounded, grace did much more abound:
Rom 5:21  That as sin hath reigned unto death, even so might grace reign through righteousness unto eternal life by Jesus Christ our Lord.

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

1Pe 1:18  Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, from your vain conversation received by tradition from your fathers;
1Pe 1:19  But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot:
1Pe 1:20  Who verily was foreordained before the foundation of the world, but was manifest in these last times for you,

Our Adamic blood is shed when we die daily and are baptized into the death of Christ, typified by all the blood that was spilt of those beasts and sprinkled on the tabernacle and vessels. “Without shedding of blood is no remission” [our remission comes from Christ’s blood being poured out, His word which sanctifies us (Joh 17:17) as we are baptized into his death (Rom 6:1-3)]. We may read Hebrews 9:22 and think of Christ’s blood that is being shed for the remission of sins, and that is true, but it is also Christ’s body that is being shed for the remission of sins if we have the life of Christ in us (Rom 8:9, 1Jn 4:17, Col 1:24, Col 1:27).

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.

Rom 8:9  But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you. Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his.

Col 1:24  Who now rejoice in my sufferings for you, and fill up that which is behind of the afflictions of Christ in my flesh for his body’s sake, which is the church:

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:

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: 

God has mercifully given us all these patterns in the old covenant (1Co 10:11, 1Pe 1:12) that reveal in type and shadow how our minds, or our heavens, “should be purified with these”.

The “heavenly things themselves” are speaking of the body of Christ who are blessed to have the reality that all these shadows point to Jesus Christ in our heavens. He is the better sacrifice in our heavens who gives us the power to lay down our lives at the altar which is the cross, where we present ourselves through Christ, who makes it possible for us to be raised in heavenly places (Eph 2:6, Joh 14:20) as a “better sacrifice than these” being accepted in the beloved” (Rom 12:1, Eph 1:6, 1Jn 4:17).

Rom 12:1  I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.

Eph 1:6  To the praise of the glory of his grace, wherein he hath made us accepted in the beloved.

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.

To further drive this point home, the holy spirit inspired this section of scripture to say: “For Christ is not entered into the holy places made with hands“, meaning it does not take a brick and mortar church to come to know God, neither does it require the work of some mans hands, but rather God working in “heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God for us“. Being found with our own righteousness is just building another church in our minds that is independent of the body of Christ, which is the church (Php 3:9, Col 1:27).

Php 3:9  And be found in him, not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith:

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

“The figures of the true” are important inasmuch as they point to the reality of our Lord who is the one who can purge our minds of sin and set us free (Joh 8:36) as He enters into our heavens to do away with a lifetime of idolatrous worship of God (Mar 7:7-8) that is a result of having the man of perdition on the throne of our hearts (2Th 2:8). Christ tears down the old temple so we can see the new temple emerge (Joh 2:19). That new temple is a holy place where we can worship in spirit and in truth (Joh 4:24) and it is on that foundation, that can only be built by Christ (Psa 127:1), that we can “work out your own salvation with fear and trembling. For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure.” (Php 2:12-13).

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

Mar 7:7  Howbeit in vain do they worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men.
Mar 7:8  For laying aside the commandment of God, ye hold the tradition of men, as the washing of pots and cups: and many other such like things ye do.

Joh 4:24  God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth.

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

More contrast is drawn with these verses to show us how there is no rest in the types and shadows. They only typify the rest that we can have in the Lord through labours that are being accomplished by our high priest who is working in us both to will and to do of His good pleasure (Heb 4:11, Php 2:13). These priests of old “entereth into the holy place every year with blood of others“, but Christ’s sacrifice was sufficient for the sins of the world and so we are told that this happened “once in the end of the world hath he appeared to put away sin by the sacrifice of himself“. If we don’t see ourselves connected to this sacrifice, then the words “the end of the world” will have no significance to us. On the other hand, if we are a living sacrifice, dying daily and being baptized into Christ’s death, then we understand that this sacrifice is for us now, and occurring in an ongoing (aorist) manner in the lives of those who are being judged and having their “world” within judged, which brings about its “end” (1Jn 2:16-17, 1Jn 4:17) to “put away sin“.

The idea of being saviours is connected with the sacrifice of our lives which belong to God as we  believe and suffer for His name’s sake today (Php 1:29, Act 9:16, Mat 10:22), in order to share in bringing the entire world into a relationship of holiness with our Father, Christ and His body. “The end of the world” has come upon us for that reason, as God’s kind of first fruits (1Co 10:11, Jas 1:18).

1Co 10:11  Now all these things happened unto them for ensamples: and they are written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the world are come.

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

Heb 9:27  And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment: 
Heb 9:28  So Christ was once offered to bear the sins of many; and unto them that look for him shall he appear the second time without sin unto salvation. 

Saying we are ‘dying daily’ today (1Co 15:31), or “dying you shall die” (Gen 2:17 [LITV]) or “once to die” of Hebrews 9:27 is all saying the same thing)

“It is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment” is referring to the blessed few who are entering into the house of mourning where we are learning that it is more precious in God’s sight to die daily to self today (Ecc 7:2, Psa 116:15). In losing our life for Christ’s sake (Mat 10:39-40), we are finding life now that is abundant (Joh 10:10) which Life will be used to nourish the rest of God’s creation who, for the time being, are eating and drinking and giving in marriage, for tomorrow in the second resurrection, they will die to self, but not today (1Co 15:32, Luk 12:19).

Heb 9:27  And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment:

1Co 15:31  I protest by your rejoicing which I have in Christ Jesus our Lord, I die daily.

Ecc 7:2  It is better to go to the house of mourning, than to go to the house of feasting: for that is the end of all men; and the living will lay it to his heart.

Psa 116:15  Precious in the sight of the LORD is the death of his saints.

Mat 10:39  He that findeth his life shall lose it: and he that loseth his life for my sake shall find it.
Mat 10:40  He that receiveth you receiveth me, and he that receiveth me receiveth him that sent me.

1Co 15:32  If after the manner of men I have fought with beasts at Ephesus, what advantageth it me, if the dead rise not? let us eat and drink; for to morrow we die [Gal 3:1-4, Php 3:9].

Luk 12:19  And I will say to my soul, Soul, thou hast much goods laid up for many years; take thine ease, eat, drink, and be merry [1Ti 6:12].

“So Christ was once offered to bear the sins of many; and unto them that look for him shall he appear the second time without sin unto salvation“, and God’s elect are being dragged to Christ (Joh 6:44) and believe and understand that He has appeared to us now in this earnest relationship (Eph 1:14) which we have, and has appeared this second time “without sin unto salvation” [He first appeared in sinful flesh]. That is good news for those who can receive it, because it confirms that we are being saved and can believe that salvation can only come through Christ alone who “was once offered to bear the sins of many” (Eph 1:4).

Eph 1:4  According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love:

Christ can and does bear our burdens and takes away the sin that can so easily beset us (Heb 12:1), as we are taken by the hand of a fit man (Christ – Lev 16:21) and carried through this life, filling up what is behind of the afflictions of Christ for His body’s sake which is the church (Col 1:24). Christ is now appearing within us, and we are bearing each other’s burdens and so fulfilling the law of Christ (Gal 6:2), which is not the law of Moses that only pointed to this living sacrifice which we are now becoming by the grace and faith that God has granted His elect in this age (Eph 2:8). This is God’s elect’s appointed time to die daily as we are judged (1Pe 4:17, 2Co 13:5).

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?

2Co 13:5  Examine yourselves, whether ye be in the faith; prove your own selves. Know ye not your own selves, how that Jesus Christ is in you, except ye be reprobates?

“From a strangers hand”

September 15, 2017

Getting exciting news from someone seems to pull us into the excitement ourselves. Likewise, hearing of sad or bad news tends to bring us down as well.

I’ve often wondered how the “good news” is considered good when most of humanity is doomed to spend their eternity in hell, according to mainstream Christianity.

I myself used to think of the good news as being good because this was the information that someone needed in order to escape the fiery doom awaiting them at their physical death.

Since I have matured in my understanding of scripture, I of course have learned that this fiery hellhole simply does not exist in the ways that a majority of professed Christians believe, but I have also learned that “taking someone else’s word for it”, and then applying it to my own walk with God, is simply just becoming an accomplice to ignorance of scripture.

We are going to look at this concept of “taking someone else’s word for it”, in our study today, and examine how the Lord tells us to handle this mindset in His temple.

Leviticus 22:24  Ye shall not offer unto the LORD that which is bruised, or crushed, or broken, or cut; neither shall ye make any offering thereof in your land.
Leviticus 22:25  Neither from a stranger’s hand shall ye offer the bread of your God of any of these; because their corruption is in them, and blemishes be in them: they shall not be accepted for you.

In our last study, we looked out how the Lord does not accept anything that has a blemish of any sort. We also saw that a son of Aaron could not fulfill the office of the priesthood if he were brokenhanded or broken footed. You could partake of the “bread of God”, but you could not serve it at the altar.

With our verses today, we read that we cannot offer the bread of God from a strangers hand because of the corruption that is in them. Since we are not offering physical sacrifices today, as the priests of God, what does this mean for us spiritually? How do we offer spiritual bread or not?

I purposely used the doctrine of hell and hellfire earlier to help explain this concept.
Most babes in Christ believe in the doctrine of salvation from hell and punishment. Hence, the altar call is very popular. Even if most Christians disagree on details of this doctrine, and they do, the overall concept is the same. Be saved or burn!

So, as a new babe in Christ, and after becoming a member of a various denomination, I could easily start propagating the doctrine of hellfire. This is the spiritual equivalent of taking from a strangers hand and offering the bread of your God. What then is the “bread” of God spiritually speaking? We will just touch the surface of this with this study.

In order to connect this idea with scripture, we will read a few examples of this.

Luke 4:3  And the devil said unto him, If thou be the Son of God, command this stone that it be made bread.
Luke 4:4  And Jesus answered him, saying, It is written, That man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word of God.

John 1:1  In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.
John 1:2  The same was in the beginning with God.

Who is the Word of God?

John 6:33  For the bread of God is he which cometh down from heaven, and giveth life unto the world.

We shall not live by bread of God alone but also by His Word. That seem interesting. Why did the devil challenge Jesus to turn a “stone” into bread? What can stones represent?

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

1 Peter 2:7  Unto you therefore which believe he is precious: but unto them which be disobedient, the stone which the builders disallowed, the same is made the head of the corner,
1 Peter 2:8  And a stone of stumbling, and a rock of offence, even to them WHICH STUMBLE AT THE WORD, being disobedient: whereunto also they were appointed.
1 Peter 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:

Matthew 7:8  For every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened.
Matthew 7:9  Or what man is there of you, whom if his son ask bread, will he give him a stone?

Matthew 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?
Matthew 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.
Matthew 21:44  And whosoever shall fall on this stone shall be broken: but on whomsoever it shall fall, it will grind him to powder.

Luke 19:38  Saying, Blessed be the King that cometh in the name of the Lord: peace in heaven, and glory in the highest.
Luke 19:39  And some of the Pharisees from among the multitude said unto him, Master, rebuke thy disciples.
Luke 19:40  And he answered and said unto them, I tell you that, if these should hold their peace, the stones would immediately cry out.

There is a big difference on us falling on the stone and becoming broken versus the Stone falling on us and grinding us to powder. See, something broken can be mended in most cases. Something ground to powder is changed altogether.

Someone healed physically will still die, as was seen with the miraculous healings performed by Jesus. However, “greater things than these” will we do.

From the verses we just read, we can see that Jesus is the bread of God, the Word of God and the chief corner stone of the temple of God.

Where then do we fit in as His disciples indeed, as His friends and as His kings and priests in spirit?

John 6:33  For the bread of God is he which cometh down from heaven, and giveth life unto the world.
John 6:34  Then said they unto him, Lord, evermore give us this bread.
John 6:35  And Jesus said unto them, I am the bread of life: he that cometh to me shall never hunger; and he that believeth on me shall never thirst.
John 6:36  But I said unto you, That ye also have seen me, and believe not.

John 6:48  I am that bread of life.

John 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.

Wait, it gets even better for us!

Acts 2:46  And they, continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, did eat their meat with gladness and singleness of heart,

1 Corinthians 5:8  Therefore let us keep the feast, not with old leaven, neither with the leaven of malice and wickedness; but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth.

1 Corinthians 10:16  The cup of blessing which we bless, is it not the communion of the blood of Christ? The bread which we break, is it not the communion of the body of Christ?
1 Corinthians 10:17  For we being many are one bread, and one body: for we are all partakers of that one bread.
1 Corinthians 10:18  Behold Israel after the flesh: are not they which eat of the sacrifices partakers of the altar?

We then can conclude that we are one bread, one word and part of the one Temple of God which has various stones making the one temple.

Why have I taken the time read these familiar and various verses? Once we know what the bread is and that we are A PART of that bread, then we can then understand why it is we are commanded NOT to offer the bread of God from the hand of a stranger.

The bread of God that is being spoken of physically in Leviticus 22 was prepared, handled and ministered by the priests of God. Likewise, the sacrifices were brought and dealt with in various ways by the priests.

Therefore, as priests offering sacrifices to God upon His altar, how can we take the bread of God from a strangers hand who has NO RIGHT to EAT of that altar?

I used the example of hell fire earlier to prove this point. How can I say I am a priest of God, handling the things of His temple and altar, and then proclaim things from the Word of God that I have ONLY HEARD others tell me about?

How can I claim that a doctrine is true or false if I have only HEARD it from the mouth of another without also doing the work of CONFIRMING it to be so?

Hebrews 13:9  BE NOT CARRIED ABOUT WITH DIVERS AND STRANGE DOCTRINE. 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.
Hebrews 13:10  We have an altar, whereof they have no right to eat which serve the tabernacle.

Look at how bread is mentioned in these next verses as it pertains to WORK.

2 Corinthians 9:6  But this I say, He which soweth sparingly shall reap also sparingly; and he which soweth bountifully shall reap also bountifully.
2 Corinthians 9:7  Every man according as he purposeth in his heart, so let him give; not grudgingly, or of necessity: for God loveth a cheerful giver.
2 Corinthians 9:8  And God is able to make all grace abound toward you; that ye, always having all sufficiency in all things, may abound to every good work:
2 Corinthians 9:9  (As it is written, He hath dispersed abroad; he hath given to the poor: his righteousness remaineth for ever.
2 Corinthians 9:10  Now he that ministereth seed to the sower both minister bread for your food, and multiply your seed sown, and increase the fruits of your righteousness;)

I dare say, that while this is speaking about physical “bread for your food”, there is a much more important BREAD that feeds my SPIRIT! The seed sown is for the INCREASING of the FRUITS of the SPIRIT of GOD.

2 Thessalonians 3:6  Now we command you, brethren, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that ye withdraw yourselves from every brother that walketh disorderly, and not after the tradition which he received of us.
2 Thessalonians 3:7  For yourselves know how ye ought to follow us: for we behaved not ourselves disorderly among you;
2 Thessalonians 3:8  Neither did we eat any man’s bread for nought; but wrought with labour and travail night and day, that we might not be chargeable to any of you:
2 Thessalonians 3:9  Not because we have not power, but to make ourselves an ensample unto you to follow us.
2 Thessalonians 3:10  For even when we were with you, this we commanded you, that if any would not work, neither should he eat.

Again, these verses of course are speaking about laboring so that we are not chargeable to anyone or a burden, but it is not and CANNOT be only speaking about PHYSICAL things. It is inspired by the Holy Spirit of God to convey to us that we are to WALK ORDERLY after the tradition we have been TAUGHT.

We eat the SAME BREAD Christ offered, of which He is, and He is the Word of God. Those that stumble at the chief corner stone are those who waver and are blown around with DIVERS DOCTRINES.

These are the same doctrines, or bread, that we are NOT to offer or sacrifice to God. Now, apply the verses in Leviticus that we started with today, to yourself inwardly. Try the spirits within this study, and which are also within you to see if these verses apply to us today.

Leviticus 22:24  Ye shall not offer unto the LORD that which is bruised, or crushed, or broken, or cut; neither shall ye make any offering thereof in your land.
Leviticus 22:25  Neither from a stranger’s hand shall ye offer the bread of your God of any of these; because their corruption is in them, and blemishes be in them: they shall not be accepted for you.

If we are being told to offer only the bread of God back to God, then it must be bread which is prepared in His temple by His priests. Then, it is sacrificed to God.

Practically speaking, this is simply us learning of the bread of life, the Word of God and then sowing that in our hearts and minds so that it can bring forth fruit.

How can we do this? We must WORK OUT our own salvation with fear and trembling knowing that it is God who both wills and does it all within His temple.

It is acknowledging that the things we learn are not SMOOTH things to hear, but are necessary for the STONE to fall and crush us to powder.

It is acknowledging that we are loved by our Father, but with that love comes chastening grace which TEACHES us Godliness.

Lastly, it is a terrible road to travel to compare ourselves among ourselves when it comes to looking on others and the “perceived” work that is being worked. Yes, we can perceive fruits of the Spirit in one another, but COMPARING ourselves and what the Lord is doing with us, to others in the body of Christ, is fallacy at its best.

We are ONE BREAD and therefore we are all being formed into what is needed for the ONE BODY, and we certainly will not look the same in the shaping of being created into functioning parts of a healthy body.