Dan 11:28-45  Be ye not troubled – Part 5

[Study Aired June 6, 2024]

Dan 11:28  Then shall he return into his land with great riches; and his heart shall be against the holy covenant; and he shall do exploits, and return to his own land. 
Dan 11:29  At the time appointed he shall return, and come toward the south; but it shall not be as the former, or as the latter. 
Dan 11:30  For the ships of Chittim shall come against him: therefore he shall be grieved, and return, and have indignation against the holy covenant: so shall he do; he shall even return, and have intelligence with them that forsake the holy covenant. 
Dan 11:31  And arms shall stand on his part, and they shall pollute the sanctuary of strength, and shall take away the daily sacrifice, and they shall place the abomination that maketh desolate. 
Dan 11:32  And such as do wickedly against the covenant shall he corrupt by flatteries: but the people that do know their God shall be strong, and do exploits. 
Dan 11:33  And they that understand among the people shall instruct many: yet they shall fall by the sword, and by flame, by captivity, and by spoil, many days. 
Dan 11:34  Now when they shall fall, they shall be holpen with a little help: but many shall cleave to them with flatteries. 
Dan 11:35  And some of them of understanding shall fall, to try them, and to purge, and to make them white, even to the time of the end: because it is yet for a time appointed. 
Dan 11:36  And the king shall do according to his will; and he shall exalt himself, and magnify himself above every god, and shall speak marvellous things against the God of gods, and shall prosper till the indignation be accomplished: for that that is determined shall be done. 
Dan 11:37  Neither shall he regard the God of his fathers, nor the desire of women, nor regard any god: for he shall magnify himself above all. 
Dan 11:38  But in his estate shall he honour the God of forces: and a god whom his fathers knew not shall he honour with gold, and silver, and with precious stones, and pleasant things. 
Dan 11:39  Thus shall he do in the most strong holds with a strange god, whom he shall acknowledge and increase with glory: and he shall cause them to rule over many, and shall divide the land for gain.
Dan 11:40  And at the time of the end shall the king of the south push at him: and the king of the north shall come against him like a whirlwind, with chariots, and with horsemen, and with many ships; and he shall enter into the countries, and shall overflow and pass over. 
Dan 11:41  He shall enter also into the glorious land, and many countries shall be overthrown: but these shall escape out of his hand, even Edom, and Moab, and the chief of the children of Ammon. 
Dan 11:42  He shall stretch forth his hand also upon the countries: and the land of Egypt shall not escape.
Dan 11:43  But he shall have power over the treasures of gold and of silver, and over all the precious things of Egypt: and the Libyans and the Ethiopians shall be at his steps. 
Dan 11:44  But tidings out of the east and out of the north shall trouble him: therefore he shall go forth with great fury to destroy, and utterly to make away many. 
Dan 11:45  And he shall plant the tabernacles of his palace between the seas in the glorious holy mountain; yet he shall come to his end, and none shall help him. 

This last section we’re going to look at in chapter 11 reveals more historical events, which are spiritual types that point to the spiritual reality of those events being shown in the lives of those who are being judged in this life (1Pe 4:17). We will remain spiritually blinded and lost if we continue to put these verses off onto someone else and not apply them to our own life that must be miraculously convicted of our own self-righteous man of perdition who continues to want to abide on the throne of our hearts and must be kept under subjection as we die daily (Joh 9:41, 1Co 9:26-27, 1Co 15:31).

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

1Co 9:26  I therefore so run, not as uncertainly; so fight I, not as one that beateth the air:
1Co 9:27  But I keep under my body, and bring it into subjection: lest that by any means, when I have preached to others, I myself should be a castaway.

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

Below are a couple of excerpts from the historian I’ve been using that will make it very clear how the religious masses look at prophesy with an outward approach that does not incriminate us personally, as we naturally point to the vileness in others, the classic Adam and Eve approach to dealing with God’s revelation that should be convicting us that there is nothing good within me (Gen 3:11-13, Mar 10:18, Joh 5:30).

Gen 3:11  And he said, Who told thee that thou wast naked? Hast thou eaten of the tree, whereof I commanded thee that thou shouldest not eat?
Gen 3:12  And the man said, The woman whom thou gavest to be with me, she gave me of the tree, and I did eat.
Gen 3:13  And the LORD God said unto the woman, What is this that thou hast done? And the woman said, The serpent beguiled me, and I did eat.

Mar 10:18  And Jesus said unto him, Why callest thou me good? there is none good but one, that is, God.

Joh 5:30  I can of mine own self do nothing: as I hear, I judge: and my judgment is just; because I seek not mine own will, but the will of the Father which hath sent me.

Excerpt pointing to the Antichrist who is thought of as being one specific man:

He shall exalt and magnify himself above every god: (Dan 11:36) The angel explained to Daniel that this king would blaspheme God and exalt himself until the wrath has been accomplished and what has been determined shall be done.
Above every god: (Dan 11:36) Here we shift from what was fulfilled in the Ptolemies and the Selucids to what will be fulfilled in the Antichrist, the final world dictator. Daniel was told that this revelation pertained to the latter days (Daniel 10:14), and Daniel 11:36 begins to look more towards this final world dictator, who is sort of a “last days Antiochus Epiphanes.” [the author is using the NKJV]

Dan 11:36  And the king shall do according to his will; and he shall exalt himself, and magnify himself above every god, and shall speak marvellous things against the God of gods, and shall prosper till the indignation be accomplished: for that that is determined shall be done. 

In this section of scripture, God’s judgment upon the body of Christ is represented by “the wrath has been accomplished and what has been determined shall be done.”  It is the antiChrist in each one of us that needs to be destroyed by the brightness of Christ’s coming (1Jn 2:18, 1Jn 2:22, 1Jn 4:3, 2Jn 1:7), and what that brightness does is rip the self-righteous veil off our own hearts that cannot see that all of mankind’s violent and sinful history is a declaration of what is naturally within us and unable to be overcome unless the Lord tears down that marred vessel and makes it anew by the brightness of His coming into our heavens (Jer 18:4, 2Th 2:8).

2Jn 1:7  For many deceivers are entered into the world, who confess not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh. This is a deceiver and an antichrist.

The world is not antiChrist for not believing that Christ entered into this world in His flesh, because many do believe this, including Muslims. However, it is the height of blasphemy to tell anyone that you are Christ’s body and that He has entered into you as the Son of God (Col 1:27, Rom 8:9, Eph 5:30). Christ is our forerunner as one who was rejected by men for the truth’s sake, and as He is, so are we in this world (Joh 8:58-59, Joh 10:31-36, 1Jn 4:17)

Jer 18:4  And the vessel that he made of clay was marred in the hand of the potter: so he made it again another vessel, as seemed good to the potter to make it.

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

Joh 8:58  Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Before Abraham was, I am.
Joh 8:59  Then took they up stones to cast at him: but Jesus hid himself, and went out of the temple, going through the midst of them, and so passed by.

By God’s grace we will continue to “Look to yourselves, that we lose not those things which we have wrought, but that we receive a full reward” (2Jn 1:8), not denying the Son who is within us and being blessed to abide in Christ so that we can know the Father as well (1Jn 2:23-24, Joh 14:20-21).

1Jn 2:23  Whosoever denieth the Son, the same hath not the Father: (but) he that acknowledgeth the Son hath the Father also [Mat 10:32-33].
1Jn 2:24  Let that therefore abide in you, which ye have heard from the beginning. If that which ye have heard from the beginning shall remain in you, ye also shall continue in the Son, and in the Father.

Christ is in His people cleansing the temple of our beastly nature that wants to hold onto our former belief in free will which could never be driven out of us except it be through His chastening grace upon those few who are being received by God in this age (Joh 2:15-17, Heb 12:6).

Dan 11:28  Then shall he return into his land with great riches; and his heart shall be against the holy covenant; and he shall do exploits, and return to his own land. 
Dan 11:29  At the time appointed he shall return, and come toward the south; but it shall not be as the former, or as the latter. 
Dan 11:30  For the ships of Chittim shall come against him: therefore he shall be grieved, and return, and have indignation against the holy covenant: so shall he do; he shall even return, and have intelligence with them that forsake the holy covenant. 
Dan 11:31  And arms shall stand on his part, and they shall pollute the sanctuary of strength, and shall take away the daily sacrifice, and they shall place the abomination that maketh desolate. 

We understand that the vile person being talked about here represents Antiochus Epiphanes, who is a type of the man of perdition on the throne of our hearts, and as we saw in the previous verses he was in battle against the king of the south who had a very great army (Dan 11:25-27), and yet he did not prevail, meaning the king of the south. This symbolizes how God purposes for us to overcome and sweep the house clean [Antiochus Epiphanes’ victory], only to then “return into his land with great riches; and his heart shall be against the holy covenant; and he shall do exploits, and return to his own land” which is what he does but in the final analysis we read “he shall plant the tabernacles of his palace between the seas in the glorious holy mountain; yet he shall come to his end, and none shall help him” (Dan 11:45). These events in the life of Antiochus Epiphanes parallel very well with these words of Christ (Mat 12:43-45). This section of Antiochus Epiphanes’ life reminds us that we are that wicked generation who lose our first love, and the last state of our life is worse than the first for a period of time when we come out of Babylon, represented by the dry places where we seek spiritual rest but find none.

Mat 12:43  When the unclean spirit is gone out of a man, [victory over king of the south] he walketh through dry places [Isa 3:1], seeking rest, and findeth none.
Mat 12:44  Then he saith, I will return into my house from whence I came out; and when he is come, he findeth it empty, swept, and garnished [“he shall do exploits, and return to his own land“].
Mat 12:45  Then goeth he, and taketh with himself seven other spirits more wicked than himself, and they enter in and dwell there: and the last state of that man is worse than the first. Even so shall it be also unto this wicked generation [“yet he shall come to his end, and none shall help him“]. 

“At the time appointed he shall return, and come toward the south; but it shall not be as the former, or as the latter” – This verse reminds us that there is an appointed time for all things that God orchestrates for our maturing, and God knows when it is time for us to go into exile and when to come out of it.

“The ships of Chittim shall come against him” – The city of Chittim is mentioned six times in the old covenant in these following verses (Num 24:24, Isa 23:1, Isa 23:12, Jer 2:10, Eze 27:6, Dan 11:30), the number of man, and in particular speak of those who are gentile in spirit, meaning unbelieving. The ships of Tyre and the ships of Chittim represent that period in our life when we were those merchants on the sea plying the waters of Babylon, walking contrary to the Lord (Act 27:4, Lev 26:21), of which must all be destroyed within us.

H3794 kittı̂y    kittı̂yı̂y kit-tee’, kit-tee-ee’   Patrial from an unused name denoting Cyprus (only in the plural); a Kittite or Cypriote; hence an islander in general, that is, the Greeks or Romans on the shores opposite Palestine: – Chittim, Kittim.  Total KJV occurrences: 8

BDB – Definition: Chittim or Kittim = bruisers

Num 24:24   And ships shall come from the coast of Chittim, and shall afflict Asshur, and shall afflict Eber, and he also shall perish for ever. 

Isa 23:1  The burden of Tyre. Howl, ye ships of Tarshish; for it is laid waste, so that there is no house, no entering in: from the land of Chittim it is revealed to them.

Isa 23:12  And he said, Thou shalt no more rejoice, O thou oppressed virgin, daughter of Zidon: arise, pass over to Chittim; there also shalt thou have no rest.

Act 27:4  And when we had launched from thence, we sailed under Cyprus, because the winds were contrary. 

Lev 26:21  And if ye walk contrary unto me, and will not hearken unto me; I will bring seven times more plagues upon you according to your sins.

“And arms shall stand on his part, and they shall pollute the sanctuary of strength, and shall take away the daily sacrifice, and they shall place the abomination that maketh desolate” – Now we come to this section about the abomination of desolation being placed in the temple (1Co 3:16), and it is an abomination in God’s eyes at this point because we think that we stand by our own power, and this is what pollutes the sanctuary of God when we take credit for anything, whether it be good or evil unfolding in our lives.

Dan 11:32  And such as do wickedly against the covenant shall he corrupt by flatteries: but the people that do know their God shall be strong, and do exploits. 
Dan 11:33  And they that understand among the people shall instruct many: yet they shall fall by the sword, and by flame, by captivity, and by spoil, many days. 
Dan 11:34  Now when they shall fall, they shall be holpen with a little help: but many shall cleave to them with flatteries. 
Dan 11:35  And some of them of understanding shall fall, to try them, and to purge, and to make them white, even to the time of the end: because it is yet for a time appointed. 

As discussed last week, when we are of the mindset to go along to get along and don’t try the spirits whether they are of God, we become one with and subject to that spirit that we coexist with through flatteries (Rom 6:16-18). This is the ecumenical spirit of the churches today that do not obey the voice of Christ but rather let church doctrine trump their thinking in every instance.

Rom 6:16  Know ye not, that to whom ye yield yourselves servants to obey, his servants ye are to whom ye obey; whether of sin unto death, or of obedience unto righteousness? 

The only way to overcome that spirit is to see through it by the grace of God and so the very next verses of Romans (Rom 6:17-18) explain to us how it is possible that “they that understand among the people shall instruct many: yet they shall fall by the sword, and by flame, by captivity, and by spoil, many days.“

Rom 6:17  But God be thanked, that ye were the servants of sin, but ye have obeyed from the heart that form of doctrine which was delivered you. 
Rom 6:18  Being then made free from sin, ye became the servants of righteousness.

Our old man is going to fall by the sword if we are being dragged to Christ (Joh 6:44, 2Sa 12:10), and the word of God is a flaming sword that turns every way keeping the way of the tree of life (Gen 3:24). That judgment upon us by the sword of God’s word takes our old man into captivity, spoiling us, which is another way of saying we are purged and made white through Christ, “And some of them of understanding shall fall, to try them, and to purge, and to make them white, even to the time of the end: because it is yet for a time appointed.“

Dan 11:36  And the king shall do according to his will; and he shall exalt himself, and magnify himself above every god, and shall speak marvellous things against the God of gods, and shall prosper till the indignation be accomplished: for that that is determined shall be done.

Without God’s spirit within us, we will not see the glorious message of the destruction of the man of sin within us in this verse (Dan 11:36) that tells us the natural status of all the world that has been deceived (2Co 4:4) and how we must prosper in that spirit “till the indignation be accomplished: for that that is determined shall be done.” The historian we have been reading concludes, as does the majority of Babylon, that Antiochus must have an end-time fulfillment in some final world dictator who is going to come and wreak havoc. Of course this is great news for Satan as he continues to unknowingly reside in the hearts and minds of humanity who are only looking outside themselves for a supposed man of perdition.

The Antichrist: the end times Antiochus Epiphanes.
(Daniel 11:36) The willful king: a shift to a future fulfillment.

Then the king shall do according to his own will: he shall exalt and magnify himself above every god, shall speak blasphemies against the God of gods, and shall prosper till the wrath has been accomplished; for what has been determined shall be done.

He shall exalt and magnify himself above every god: The angel explained to Daniel that this king would blaspheme God and exalt himself until the wrath has been accomplished and what has been determined shall be done.
Above every god: Here we shift from what was fulfilled in the Ptolemies and the Selucids to what will be fulfilled in the Antichrist, the final world dictator. Daniel was told that this revelation pertained to the latter days (Daniel 10:14), and Daniel 11:36 begins to look more towards this final world dictator, who is sort of a “last days Antiochus Epiphanes.”
We know that everything about this prophecy was not fulfilled during the career of Antiochus Epiphanes. Jesus specifically said the realabomination of desolation was still in the future (Matthew 24:15). The Apostle Paul paraphrased Daniel 11:36 in reference to the coming Antichrist: Let no one deceive you by any means; for that Day will not come unless the falling away comes first, and the man of sin is revealed, the son of perdition, who opposes and exalts himself above all that is called God or that is worshiped, so that he sits as God in the temple of God, showing himself that he is God (2 Thessalonians 2:3-4).
Antiochus Epiphanes is important, but mostly as a historical preview of the Antichrist. This is why so much space is given to describing the career of one evil man — because he prefigures the ultimate evil man. Antiochus Epiphanes is the “trailer” released well before the Antichrist, who is like the “feature.”
He shall exalt and magnify himself above every god: Antiochus Epiphanes certainly did this in the general sense that all sinners oppose God. Yet he remained loyal to the Greek religious tradition, which revered the entire Olympian pantheon. Antiochus Epiphanes put a statue of Zeus in the temple, not of himself. This statement will be far more precisely fulfilled in the Antichrist, who sits as God in the temple of God, showing himself that he is God (2 Thessalonians 2:4).
Shall prosper till the wrath has been accomplished: Antichrist will do much damage, but he is on a short chain and will only work into God’s plan. God’s purpose will be accomplished.

Dan 11:37  Neither shall he regard the God of his fathers, nor the desire of women, nor regard any god: for he shall magnify himself above all. 
Dan 11:38  But in his estate shall he honour the God of forces: and a god whom his fathers knew not shall he honour with gold, and silver, and with precious stones, and pleasant things. 
Dan 11:39  Thus shall he do in the most strong holds with a strange god, whom he shall acknowledge and increase with glory: and he shall cause them to rule over many, and shall divide the land for gain.

We are still talking about the man of perdition within us, and the descriptive words given in these verses define how we lived out our former conversation (Eph 2:3) when we were subject to the god of this world and did not have Him who is within us (1Jn 4:4) overcoming Satan, “But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us, Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;) And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus: ” (1Jn 4:4, Eph 2:4-6). 

1Jn 4:4  Ye are of God, little children, and have overcome them: because greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world.

When we were of our father the devil, we had no regard for God and were without desire for women representing churches. Even if we were in some Babylonian church, our inability to eat his bread and wear his apparel and only want His name (Isa 4:1) is what we are looking at in this verse, “Neither shall he regard the God of his fathers, nor the desire of women.” We also have no regard for the scriptures of old, “Neither shall he regard the God of his fathers“, that are able to make us wise unto salvation (2Ti 3:15), because there is only one god and that is ourselves at this point as we put ourselves above all others, “for he shall magnify himself above all.“

The beast gets his power from the dragon (Rev 13:4) so unbeknownst to us in that state of mind where we put ourselves above God, it is all happening as a result of Satan’s spirit that is dominating us at this point in our life. Our subjectivity to Babylon is our worship of the beast who gets his power from Satan making us slaves to sin (Joh 8:34-35) who honor the “God of forces” which should be a small “g”, giving of our wealth, of mind and time and energy, represented by the gold, silver and precious stones, “But in his estate shall he honour the God of forces: and a god whom his fathers knew not shall he honour with gold, and silver, and with precious stones, and pleasant things.“

Babylon will fall in time, but for now we read of Satan’s empire that provides fleshly strongholds [“many wonderful works“] for the man of perdition who is given increase, like God does to the elect but in the negative sense of keeping people in the bondage of sin via the glory Satan promises, along with power to rule and divide and conquer the land which is our bodies, but all for personal gain. This is the sense of what we’re reading in this verse, “Thus shall he do in the most strong holds with a strange god, whom he shall acknowledge and increase with glory: and he shall cause them to rule over many, and shall divide the land for gain.“

(Daniel 11:37-39) The character and authority of the “willful king.”

He shall regard neither the God of his fathers nor the desire of women, nor regard any god; for he shall exalt himself above them all. But in their place he shall honor a god of fortresses; and a god which his fathers did not know he shall honor with gold and silver, with precious stones and pleasant things. Thus he shall act against the strongest fortresses with a foreign god, which he shall acknowledge, and advance its glory; and he shall cause them to rule over many, and divide the land for gain.

He shall regard neither the God of his fathers nor the desire of women: Based on this, some Bible scholars believe that the Antichrist will be of Jewish descent, and perhaps will also be a homosexual. These things may not be popularly known about the man, but they may be true nonetheless.
But many commentators believe that the desire of womenrefers to Jesus, in that all women desired the honor of bearing the Messiah and understanding “desire” as it is used in Haggai 2:7. Seeing the desire of women as Jesus makes most sense in light of the flow of context.
He shall honor a god of fortresses: The Antichrist will take and hold power with military might and the shrewd use of great riches.

Dan 11:40  And at the time of the end shall the king of the south push at him: and the king of the north shall come against him like a whirlwind, with chariots, and with horsemen, and with many ships; and he shall enter into the countries, and shall overflow and pass over.
Dan 11:41  He shall enter also into the glorious land, and many countries shall be overthrown: but these shall escape out of his hand, even Edom, and Moab, and the chief of the children of Ammon.

These last verses which talk about Antiochus Epiphanes are once again describing the spiritual struggle we must go through with the man of perdition on the throne of our hearts, and we are reminded that, as we near the end of this age, the god of this world will have great wrath (Rev 12:12) and consequently so will evil men wax worse and worse (2Ti 3:11-13). The spiritual struggles within us are typified by this verse, “And at the time of the end shall the king of the south push at him: and the king of the north shall come against him like a whirlwind, with chariots, and with horsemen, and with many ships; and he shall enter into the countries, and shall overflow and pass over” (Mat 24:6-15).

2Ti 3:11  Persecutions, afflictions, which came unto me at Antioch, at Iconium, at Lystra; [process of judgment upon the body of Christ represented by Antioch,  Iconium, and Lystra] what persecutions I endured: but out of them all the Lord delivered me. 
2Ti 3:12  Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution. 
2Ti 3:13  But evil men and seducers shall wax worse and worse, deceiving, and being deceived. 

Mat 24:6  And ye shall hear of wars and rumours of wars: see that ye be not troubled: for all these things must come to pass, but the end is not yet.
Mat 24:7  For nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom: and there shall be famines, and pestilences, and earthquakes, in divers places.
Mat 24:8  All these are the beginning of sorrows.
Mat 24:9  Then shall they deliver you up to be afflicted, and shall kill you: and ye shall be hated of all nations for my name’s sake.
Mat 24:10  And then shall many be offended, and shall betray one another, and shall hate one another.
Mat 24:11  And many false prophets shall rise, and shall deceive many.
Mat 24:12  And because iniquity shall abound, the love of many shall wax cold.
Mat 24:13  But he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved. 
Mat 24:14  And this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations; and then shall the end come.
Mat 24:15  When ye therefore shall see the abomination of desolation, spoken of by Daniel the prophet, stand in the holy place, (whoso readeth, let him understand:)

Whoever will escape out the hand of the adversary has already been written, and Satan’s primary target is the elect as the accuser of the brethren so, “He shall enter also into the glorious land, and many countries shall be overthrown: (Mat 22:14, Heb 6:4-6,Mat 24:24) but these shall escape out of his hand, even Edom, and Moab, and the chief of the children of Ammon.” This statement reminds us that there are a few in their flesh who will be saved, and that salvation will be a narrow escape (1Pe 4:18). Who escapes in this life are those who go through a process of judgment in their flesh, typified by these three groups: “Edom, and Moab, and the chief of the children of Ammon.“

(Daniel 11:40-45) The final conflict.

At the time of the end the king of the South shall attack him; and the king of the North shall come against him like a whirlwind, with chariots, horsemen, and with many ships; and he shall enter the countries, overwhelm them, and pass through. He shall also enter the Glorious Land, and many countries shall be overthrown; but these shall escape from his hand: Edom, Moab, and the prominent people of Ammon. He shall stretch out his hand against the countries, and the land of Egypt shall not escape. He shall have power over the treasures of gold and silver, and over all the precious things of Egypt; also the Libyans and Ethiopians shall follow at his heels. But news from the east and the north shall trouble him; therefore he shall go out with great fury to destroy and annihilate many. And he shall plant the tents of his palace between the seas and the glorious holy mountain; yet he shall come to his end, and no one will help him.

At the time of the end: The angel described to Daniel a confederation of kings coming against this great leader, with a battle in and near the Holy Land.
King of the South shall attack him; and the king of the North shall come against him like a whirlwind: Prophetically speaking, a precise identification of peoples mentioned is difficult. The king of the Southmay be Egypt or represent the Arab community. The king of the North may be the Antichrist’s domain (as the “new Antiochus Epiphanes”) or it may be Russia.
The precise points may be cloudy, but the general idea is clear. The end will be marked by great conflict, culminating in the world’s armies gathering in the Promised Land to do final battle.

Yet he shall come to his end, and no one will help him: In the end there is no hope for the Antichrist or for any of his followers.

Dan 11:42  He shall stretch forth his hand also upon the countries: and the land of Egypt shall not escape.
Dan 11:43  But he shall have power over the treasures of gold and of silver, and over all the precious things of Egypt: and the Libyans and the Ethiopians shall be at his steps. 
Dan 11:44  But tidings out of the east and out of the north shall trouble him: therefore he shall go forth with great fury to destroy, and utterly to make away many. 
Dan 11:45  And he shall plant the tabernacles of his palace between the seas in the glorious holy mountain; yet he shall come to his end, and none shall help him.

These last verses talk about what leads up to the final fall of Babylon, and what becomes very evident at the end of the age is found in Revelation 17:16; “the ten horns which thou sawest upon the beast, these shall hate the whore, and shall make her desolate and naked, and shall eat her flesh, and burn her with fire.”

Antiochus has power and stretches forth his hand “upon the countries: and the land of Egypt shall not escape.” This describes the power the beast will have over all the corrupt treasures of Babylon and how it will be, over a course of time, that these judgements [3] will be executed upon the harlot, “the precious things of Egypt: and the Libyans and the Ethiopians shall be at his steps“, meaning they will be controlled by the beastly man of sin.

These are the typical events that unfold and set the stage for “tidings out of the east and out of the north shall trouble him: therefore he shall go forth with great fury to destroy, and utterly to make away many.” Those tidings represent the imminent return of Christ and His Christ that trouble the man of perdition. The east represents where Christ comes from (Mat 24:27), and the north tells us that He is coming with judgment on his mind, which will be executed through the church (Rev 12:5, Rev 2:27).

Mat 24:27  For as the lightning cometh out of the east, and shineth even unto the west; so shall also the coming of the Son of man be.

Rev 12:5  And she brought forth a man child, who was to rule all nations with a rod of iron: and her child was caught up unto God, and to his throne. 

Rev 2:27  And he shall rule them with a rod of iron; as the vessels of a potter shall they be broken to shivers: even as I received of my Father.

Now we come to the glorious twelfth chapter of Daniel that points to how Christ will make the bride ready (Rev 21:2) through the strength of God’s power (Joh 17:12, Joh 10:28-29), preparing us to be kings and priests who will be raised incorruptible, “In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump” (1Co 15:52).

Rev 21:2  And I John saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband.

Joh 17:12  While I was with them in the world, I kept them in thy name: those that thou gavest me I have kept, and none of them is lost, but the son of perdition; that the scripture might be fulfilled.

Joh 10:28  And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand.
Joh 10:29  My Father, which gave them me, is greater than all; and no man is able to pluck them out of my Father’s hand.

1Co 15:52  In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed.

Dan 11:1-4  Be ye not troubled – Part 1

[Study Aired May 9, 2024]

Dan 11:1  Also I in the first year of Darius the Mede, even I, stood to confirm and to strengthen him. 
Dan 11:2  And now will I shew thee the truth. Behold, there shall stand up yet three kings in Persia; and the fourth shall be far richer than they all: and by his strength through his riches he shall stir up all against the realm of Grecia. 
Dan 11:3  And a mighty king shall stand up, that shall rule with great dominion, and do according to his will. 
Dan 11:4  And when he shall stand up, his kingdom shall be broken, and shall be divided toward the four winds of heaven; and not to his posterity, nor according to his dominion which he ruled: for his kingdom shall be plucked up, even for others beside those. 

The question asked of Daniel in Daniel 10:17, “How can the servant of this my lord talk with this my lord? for as for me, straightway there remained no strength in me, neither is there breath left in me“, was written for the elect’s benefit to remind us that unless the Lord builds our spiritual house we will remain in our sins and not overcome (Psa 127:1, Joh 8:24), however if the son of man sets us free we will be free indeed and have the spiritual strength through Christ, via God’s spirit, to be able to work out our own salvation with fear and trembling. It takes His strength and His spirit, typified by the breath of life, in order for us to fulfill God’s will on this earth (Rom 12:2) as it is done in heaven (Joh 8:36,  Joh 8:31-32, Php 2:12-13). 

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

The answer to Daniel’s question, “How can the servant of this my lord talk with this my lord?” (Dan 10:17), is to be given the gift of the holy spirit (Rom 8:9, Eph 2:8), typified by what we read when Daniel is strengthened by an angel, a messenger, and in particular by the words that were spoken to him (Dan 10:18-21, Joh 6:63). 

Dan 10:19  And said, O man greatly beloved, fear not: peace be unto thee, be strong, yea, be strong. And when he had spoken unto me, I was strengthened, and said, Let my lord speak; for thou hast strengthened me. 

Joh 6:63  It is the spirit that quickeneth; the flesh profiteth nothing: the words that I speak unto you, they are spirit, and they are life.

As we will see later in this 11th chapter of Daniel, many people do exploits (Rev13:13) in the churches of Babylon (Dan 11:28, Dan 11:32, Jas 1:22-25, Mat 24:46-47, Rom 2:13, Rom 12:1-2). However, it will only be a small remnant who is given to understand that the physical exploits of Babylon are for the elect’s sake (2Co 4:15), and typify for us the spiritual exploits God is accomplishing within the few who are having their eyes and ears open spiritually in this age (Mat 24:24, Joh 5:20, Joh 5:36, Joh 14:12, 1Jn 4:17)

Dan 11:28  Then shall he return into his land with great riches; and his heart shall be against the holy covenant; and he shall do exploits, and return to his own land. [evil doing, works in the flesh that draw attention to the beast’s power who asks the question in the second resurrection, “Haven’t we done many wonderful works?”]

Dan 11:32  And such as do wickedly against the covenant shall he corrupt by flatteries [more works of the flesh that are as filthy rags to God (Isa64:6)]: but the people that do know their God shall be strong, and do exploits [righteous exploits through Christ (Gal 2:20)].

Jas 1:22  But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves. 
Jas 1:23  For if any be a hearer of the word, and not a doer, he is like unto a man beholding his natural face in a glass: 
Jas 1:24  For he beholdeth himself, and goeth his way, and straightway forgetteth what manner of man he was. 
Jas 1:25  But whoso looketh into the perfect law of liberty, and continueth [Joh 8:31-32] therein, he being not a forgetful hearer, but a doer of the work, this man shall be blessed in his deed.

Mat 24:46  Blessed is that servant, whom his lord when he cometh shall find so doing.
Mat 24:47  Verily I say unto you, That he shall make him ruler over all his goods.

Rom 2:13  (For not the hearers of the law are just before God, but the doers of the law shall be justified. 

Joh 5:20  For the Father loveth the Son, and sheweth him all things that himself doeth: and he will shew him greater works than these, that ye may marvel.

Joh 5:36  But I have greater witness than that of John: for the works which the Father hath given me to finish, the same works that I do, bear witness of me, that the Father hath sent me [Joh 20:21].

Joh 14:12  Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me, the works that I do shall he do also [1Jn 4:17]; and greater works than these shall he do; because I go unto my Father [Joh 16:7].

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 [having God’s spirit within us (Rom 8:9, Joh 14:20)].

By God’s grace we can now look at this chapter and continue to be mindful of the truths which these seemingly enigmatic prophecies hide, being “sealed with seven seals” that can only be opened and understood by the faith of Christ within us, Who makes it possible for us to be doers of the words and not hearers only (Rev 5:1-5, Php 2:12-13). Without the faith of Christ, our natural tendency will be to get fixated on the natural events and see only the historical element of the prophecies, losing out on the riches God has hidden for the elect to unearth in this life (Pro 25:2).

Rev 5:1  And I saw in the right hand of him that sat on the throne a book written within and on the backside, sealed with seven seals.
Rev 5:2  And I saw a strong angel proclaiming with a loud voice, Who is worthy to open the book, and to loose the seals thereof? 
Rev 5:3  And no man in heaven, nor in earth, neither under the earth, was able to open the book, neither to look thereon. 
Rev 5:4  And I wept much, because no man was found worthy to open and to read the book, neither to look thereon. 
Rev 5:5  And one of the elders saith unto me, Weep not: [“be ye not troubled“] behold, the Lion of the tribe of Juda, the Root of David, hath prevailed to open the book, and to loose the seven seals thereof. 

Pro 25:2  It is the glory of God to conceal a thing: but the honour of kings is to search out a matter.

Dan 11:1  Also I in the first year of Darius the Mede, even I, stood to confirm and to strengthen him.

God sends His angel [Christ] to Daniel to strengthen him in chapter 10 (Dan 10:17-18), and as such he was able to be shown the things that were “noted in the scripture of truth” (Dan 10:21). These verses of chapter 11 confirm to the church God’s faithfulness in what He has started in the body of Christ through our Lord who is the author and finisher of our faith by whom we can endure all things (Php 4:13).

Dan 10:17  For how can the servant of this my lord talk with this my lord? for as for me, straightway there remained no strength in me, neither is there breath left in me. 
Dan 10:18  Then there came again and touched me one like the appearance of a man, and he strengthened me, 

Dan 10:21  But I will shew thee that which is noted in the scripture of truth: [typifying Rev 1:3] and there is none that holdeth with me in these things, but Michael your prince. 

The body of Christ is strengthened when we can be among the many joints of His body that confirm the truth of our communion in the Lord (Eph 4:16, 1Co 10:16, 2Co 1:4) and how it is through much tribulation that we will inherit the kingdom of God (Act 14:22). 

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

1Co 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?

2Co 1:4  Who comforteth us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort them which are in any trouble, by the comfort wherewith we ourselves are comforted of God. 

Act 14:22  Confirming the souls of the disciples, and exhorting them to continue in the faith, and that we must through much tribulation enter into the kingdom of God.

What we are going to read in chapter 11 is once again connected to the day of the Lord that is at hand in the lives of those who are being judged in this age (1Pe 4:17), and that point is signified by it being “in the first year of Darius the Mede.“

Dan 11:2  And now will I shew thee the truth. Behold, there shall stand up yet three kings in Persia; and the fourth shall be far richer than they all: and by his strength through his riches he shall stir up all against the realm of Grecia.

Persia and Grecia have their positions on the statue of Nebuchadnezzar’s dream in chapter 2 of Daniel, and then those sections of the statue are further explained for us in chapter 7 of Daniel. When going over chapter 2 and 7 of Daniel, we looked at the spiritual significance of these two kingdoms for God’s elect, and we are shown in this second verse of Daniel 11 (Dan 11:2) that the three kings of Persia signify a process of judgment upon those kingdoms within us which must be destroyed. It is when the beast of Persia is whole, symbolized by “the fourth [king] shall be far richer” that this empire is determined by God’s counsel to be on its way out (Eph 1:11). Pride comes before a fall, and having the riches of this world can make us very easily proud, and yet if God is working with us, He will conquer that pride of life within us, with the “realm of Grecia” that will conquer “Persia.“

These four sections of the statue of Daniel found in chapter 2 represent kings and the kingdoms these kings rule, typifying for us the powers and principalities we must wrestle against in our heavens (Eph 6:12) through a life-long process that God has ordained will create the necessary spiritual battles which we need in order to go onto perfection on the third day (Luk 13:32). We are very much and unknowingly a kingdom divided against ourselves that can’t stand at first (Mar 3:24), which Christ is destroying little by little (Exo 23:30) so that we can become a fitly framed temple of God. This unity is all being accomplished by the grace through faith process that God is working out in His workmanship which we are through Christ (Eph 2:8-10).

Mar 3:24  And if a kingdom be divided against itself, that kingdom cannot stand.

Dan 2:37  Thou, O king, art a king of kings: [Babylonian empire] for the God of heaven hath given thee a kingdom, power, and strength, and glory. 

Dan 7:3  And four great beasts came up from the sea, diverse one from another.
Dan 7:4  The first was like a lion, and had eagle’s wings: [Babylonian empire] I beheld till the wings thereof were plucked, and it was lifted up from the earth, and made stand upon the feet as a man, and a man’s heart was given to it. 

Dan 2:39  And after thee shall arise another kingdom inferior to thee [Persia], and another third kingdom of brass [Grecia], which shall bear rule over all the earth. 

Dan 7:5  And behold another beast, a second, like to a bear [Persia], and it raised up itself on one side, and it had three ribs in the mouth of it between the teeth of it: and they said thus unto it, Arise, devour much flesh.
Dan 7:6  After this I beheld, and lo another, like a leopard [Grecia], which had upon the back of it four wings of a fowl; the beast had also four heads; and dominion was given to it. 

The fourth kingdom that is strong as iron of Daniel 2:40 is the composite beast of Revelation 13:1-9.

Dan 2:40  And the fourth kingdom shall be strong as iron: forasmuch as iron breaketh in pieces and subdueth all things: and as iron that breaketh all these, shall it break in pieces and bruise. 

Rev 13:1  And I stood upon the sand of the sea, and saw a beast rise up out of the sea, having seven heads and ten horns, and upon his horns ten crowns, and upon his heads the name of blasphemy. 
Rev 13:2  And the beast which I saw was like unto a leopard, and his feet were as the feet of a bear, and his mouth as the mouth of a lion: and the dragon gave him his power, and his seat, and great authority.
Rev 13:3  And I saw one of his heads as it were wounded to death; and his deadly wound was healed: and all the world wondered after the beast.

All the empires of mankind will eventually fall because of the natural state of disunity in man’s heart, which God has created within the marred vessel which the first Adam is (Jer 18:4). Every carnal empire with its way ‘that seems right to man, leads to death’ (Pro 14:12) and used by God to teach us an eternal principle of how mankind can only be united through the mind of Christ, the second Adam (1Co 1:12-29).

1Co 1:12  Now this I say, that every one of you saith, I am of Paul; and I of Apollos; and I of Cephas; and I of Christ. 
1Co 1:13  Is Christ divided? was Paul crucified for you? or were ye baptized in the name of Paul? 
1Co 1:14  I thank God that I baptized none of you, but Crispus and Gaius;
1Co 1:15  Lest any should say that I had baptized in mine own name. 
1Co 1:16  And I baptized also the household of Stephanas: besides, I know not whether I baptized any other. 
1Co 1:17  For Christ sent me not to baptize, but to preach the gospel: not with wisdom of words, lest the cross of Christ should be made of none effect.
1Co 1:18  For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the power of God. 
1Co 1:19  For it is written, I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, and will bring to nothing the understanding of the prudent. 
1Co 1:20  Where is the wise? where is the scribe? where is the disputer of this world? hath not God made foolish the wisdom of this world? 
1Co 1:21  For after that in the wisdom of God the world by wisdom knew not God, it pleased God by the foolishness of preaching to save them that believe.
1Co 1:22  For the Jews require a sign, and the Greeks seek after wisdom:
1Co 1:23  But we preach Christ crucified [Gal 2:20], unto the Jews a stumblingblock, and unto the Greeks foolishness;
1Co 1:24  But unto them which are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God, and the wisdom of God. 
1Co 1:25  Because the foolishness of God is wiser than men;[“God hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise” (vs 27)] and the weakness of God is stronger than men. 
1Co 1:26  For ye see your calling, brethren, how that not many wise men after the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble, are called:
1Co 1:27  But God hath chosen the foolish things [Rom 11:18, Rom 3:27] of the world to confound the wise; and God hath chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things which are mighty;
1Co 1:28  And base things of the world, and things which are despised, hath God chosen, yea, and things which are not, to bring to nought things that are: 
1Co 1:29 That no flesh should glory in his presence.

Dan 11:3  And a mighty king shall stand up, that shall rule with great dominion, and do according to his will. 
Dan 11:4  And when he shall stand up, his kingdom shall be broken, and shall be divided toward the four winds of heaven; and not to his posterity, nor according to his dominion which he ruled: for his kingdom shall be plucked up, even for others beside those.

By many historical accounts this mighty king who shall “stand up” is speaking of Alexander the great, but the spiritual lesson for us is that Grecia does not fall all at once within us, but when it does begin to happen, the terminology God uses are these words, “his kingdom shall be broken, and shall be divided toward the four winds of heaven.” This dividing of Grecia to the four winds is accomplished by the hand of God, and it is a weakening of this part of the beast on the statue of Daniel chapter 2 expressed this way, “and not to his posterity, nor according to his dominion which he ruled: for his kingdom shall be plucked up, even for others beside those“, and sets the stage “even for others beside those” to come in and rule. This is another starting point of sorts of the many great battles and wars God will work according to the counsel of His own will (Eph 1:11) to teach God’s elect of His sovereign hand throughout history and, more importantly, in our heavens as Christ wages war against the adversary we must overcome as we work out our own salvation with fear and trembling, knowing that it is Christ who is working in us both to will and to do of God’s good pleasure (Php 2:12-13).

Who comes in and follows the Grecian empire is the Persian empire, and the Roman Empire, and Christ the stone made without hands who is going to destroy the Roman empire within us, and by extension, every other corrupt power and principality [empires, kings] trying to gain rule over our heavens. Christ’s victorious life conquered all of humanity, every empire, and every king, down to this last empire of Rome (Rom 4:17) symbolized by the basest of all the empires that is represented by the feet of the statue of Nebuchadnezzar’s dream (Dan 2:34). 

Christ’s death (Heb 2:14) bruised the head of the serpent, as do the elect when we die daily (Gen 3:14-15, Isa 53:5), and the serpent bruised the heel of Christ’s body, the seed of the woman, the church. This allegory is typified for us with the stone [Christ] that hits the basest empire, Rome, in the prophecy in Daniel chapter 2 [the statue] (Dan 2:34), which is an example of God speaking of things that are not as though they were (Rom 4:17). In time, all nations within mankind will be judged and redeemed through Christ and His Christ. God’s elect must be bruised first in this life (Col 1:24) in order to be partakers of that rulership under Christ in the future (2Ti 2:12), and as we overcome all the nations within us of Nebuchadnezzar’s dream by dying daily, the man of perdition will be destroyed by the brightness of Christ’s coming into our lives. Christ will not deny himself that victory in the lives of those whom He is the author and finisher of their faith (2Th 2:8, 2Ti 2:13-15, Heb 12:2). The prodigal son in his lowest state represents this basest of kingdoms, the Roman Empire that is hit by a stone on “iron mixed with miry clay, they shall mingle themselves with the seed of men [seed of the serpent (Joh 8:44)]: but they shall not cleave one to another, even as iron is not mixed with clay” (Dan 2:43).

Heb 2:14  Forasmuch then as the children are partakers of flesh and blood, he also himself likewise took part of the same; that through death he might destroy him that had the power of death, that is, the devil; 

2Ti 2:13  If we believe not, yet he abideth faithful: he cannot deny himself. 

It is all well and good to identify Adam’s descendants comprised of all these empires and kings and their wars, but to stop there is just a history lesson. With that said we can identify many parts of this section of Daniel in history with natural events that will precede spiritual lessons to those who are given eyes to see and ears to hear what those lessons are. God tells us that all of these prophecies’ primary function was not to give us a historical timeline [humanity’s prophetic scaffolding], but were written down to reveal something about the end of the ages that have come upon those who are being judged in this life (1Co 10:11, 1Pe 1:12, 1Pe 4:17). Our goal should therefore be to glean as many spiritual lessons as God will permit through these very troublesome events of war between empires that typify the spiritual warfare that God has called us to be refined by in the Potter’s hand (Eph 6:12).

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. 

1Pe 1:12  Unto whom it was revealed, that not unto themselves, but unto us they did minister the things, which are now reported unto you by them that have preached the gospel unto you with the Holy Ghost sent down from heaven; which things the angels desire to look into. 

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

Here is a pretty concise semi-historical explanation of Daniel chapter 11 that Microsoft Bing generated by asking the question “explain chapter 11 of Daniel.” God is preparing the world for the future teachers who will, in an instant, be able to explain the truth of God, and because God’s judgments will be in the earth, His manifest knowledge will proceed forth from the elect, and the world will learn of His righteousness.

“Chapter 11 of the Book of Daniel is a highly detailed and complex prophecy concerning the future events affecting the Jewish people. This chapter outlines a series of conflicts between the “king of the North” and the “king of the South,” which many scholars interpret as historical events that occurred between the Ptolemaic Kingdom of Egypt (the South) and the Seleucid Empire in Syria (the North). The prophecy extends from the time of Persian rule to the end of times.

The chapter begins with a prediction of the rise and fall of Persian kings and the emergence of Alexander the Great, whose empire would be divided after his death. It then describes a long series of wars and political maneuvers between the northern and southern kingdoms, including marriages, alliances, betrayals, and battles. The prophecy is noted for its detail and accuracy regarding historical events, leading some to suggest it was written after the fact, though traditional belief holds that it was written by Daniel in the 6th century BCE as a genuine prophecy.

The latter part of the chapter shifts to a future “time of the end,” describing a ruler who will do as he pleases, exalt himself, and oppose God, which many interpret as a reference to the Antichrist figure in Christian eschatology.

The text is considered by many to be one of the most detailed prophecies in the Bible, providing insights not only into the historical events of the Near East but also into the ultimate triumph of God’s kingdom.”  * End Quote *

Next week, Lord willing, we will start to break down the remaining verses of this chapter of Daniel that, like all of God’s word, is “profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness”. We are going to hear of a lot of wars and rumors of wars, and learn of many nations that have risen against nations, of which Christ tells us represent our spiritual battles in our heavens that He tells us not to be troubled over (Mar 13:7-8, Luk 12:32).

2Ti 3:16  All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:
2Ti 3:17  That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works.

Mar 13:7  And when ye shall hear of wars and rumours of wars, be ye not troubled: for such things must needs be; but the end shall not be yet.
Mar 13:8  For nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom: and there shall be earthquakes in divers places, and there shall be famines and troubles: these are the beginnings of sorrows.

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

[Study Aired February 9, 2023]

2Ki 18:13  Now in the fourteenth year of king Hezekiah did Sennacherib king of Assyria come up against all the fenced cities of Judah, and took them. 
2Ki 18:14  And Hezekiah king of Judah sent to the king of Assyria to Lachish, saying, I have offended; return from me: that which thou puttest on me will I bear. And the king of Assyria appointed unto Hezekiah king of Judah three hundred talents of silver and thirty talents of gold. 
2Ki 18:15  And Hezekiah gave him all the silver that was found in the house of the LORD, and in the treasures of the king’s house. 
2Ki 18:16  At that time did Hezekiah cut off the gold from the doors of the temple of the LORD, and from the pillars which Hezekiah king of Judah had overlaid, and gave it to the king of Assyria. 
2Ki 18:17  And the king of Assyria sent Tartan and Rabsaris and Rabshakeh from Lachish to king Hezekiah with a great host against Jerusalem. And they went up and came to Jerusalem. And when they were come up, they came and stood by the conduit of the upper pool, which is in the highway of the fuller’s field. 
2Ki 18:18  And when they had called to the king, there came out to them Eliakim the son of Hilkiah, which was over the household, and Shebna the scribe, and Joah the son of Asaph the recorder.

Last week we were introduced to King Hezekiah who “did what was right in the eyes of the Lord as David his father had done” who had faith in the Lord, the God of Israel, “so that there was no one like him among all the kings of Judah who were before him.“

In this study we are looking at 2 Kings 18:13-18, which is focused on “Sennacherib king of Assyria” who came up against all the fenced cities of Judah and took them, putting Hezekiah in a position where he sought peace with Sennacherib by giving him gold and silver from the temple of God, which actions only emboldened Sennacherib to further want to overtake the nation of Judah in war. Hezekiah turned to the Lord for deliverance with a humble and contrite heart that sought and hoped in the Lord in times of trouble. 

In this section of the study we will also look at how Hezekiah, who as a type of the elect  comes to learn that you cannot make concessions with this world and expect that your trials will somehow be circumvented as a result of those actions.

Hezekiah’s lapse in good judgment regarding giving of the temple’s silver and gold to Sennacherib brought a curse on the nation of Judah and demonstrates for us that regardless of how zealous we are for the LORD, as Hezekiah was, we still make mistakes and fall seven times in this life (Pro 24:16). No matter who we are, we come short of the glory of God until God is glorified in us through the spirit He gives to those who can then obey Him (Rom 3:23, 2Co 3:18, Act 5:32). The obedience is accomplished by Christ, and the giving of the holy spirit from God is what makes it possible for us to fulfill His will (Php 2:12-13).

Rom 3:23  For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God; 

2Co 3:18  But we all, with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord.

Act 5:32  And we are his witnesses of these things; and so is also the Holy Ghost, whom God hath given to them that obey him [Rom 5:5]. 

Php 2:12  Wherefore, my beloved, as ye have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling. 
Php 2:13  For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure.

God must help us remember that the greatest enemy we have is within ourselves, comprised of the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, the pride of life, everything that is found in the world that we are not to love, either in ourselves or in this perverse generation in which we live. We love our neighbor as ourselves, but we don’t love the world that is going to pass and is passing first within the body of Christ (1Co 10:11)  which is being judged now (1Pe 4:17). We are in the world but not of it (Joh 17:15), and while we are in these earthen marred vessels, we are told to do good to all men, especially to them of the household of faith  (1Jn 2:16, Php 2:15, Gal 6:10). 

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 [1Jn 2:16] are come.

1Jn 2:16  For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world.

Php 2:15  That ye may be blameless and harmless, the sons of God, without rebuke, in the midst of a crooked and perverse nation, among whom ye shine as lights in the world;

Gal 6:10  As we have therefore opportunity, let us do good unto all men, especially unto them who are of the household of faith.

Thanks be to God that all these things within us (1Jn 2:16) that make up the ‘wretched man that I am’ (Rom 7:24) can be subdued and overcome through Christ little and by little as we stay in the light as He is in the light and have fellowship with one another (1Jn 1:7, Heb 10:25). The effect of this relationship or communion (1Co 10:16) that we have is that, in time, our ways will please the LORD more and more as we go from glory to glory (2Co 3:18) and he will make those enemies to be at peace within us through the dominion we have over them (Rom 6:14, Pro 16:7, Rom 6:14).

Rom 6:14  For sin shall not have dominion over you: for ye are not under the law, but under grace.

Christ had outward enemies His whole life (Mat 2:12) and especially at the end of His life (Luk 24:7), so the outward application of having your enemies be at peace with you of Proverb 16:7 is not contradicted by the statement ‘you shall be hated by all men’ (Mat 10:22); it’s just that if our ways please God, He will stay the hand of the enemy to His glory, softening our enemies’ hearts as he did Pharaoh so they are at peace with us, until such a time God allows that hatred of man to be manifested outwardly as was the case with Christ and His body. All events work according to the counsel of His own will, including the strength He gives us to endure the attacks of the adversary. Another example of peace that is no peace at all is the thousand-year reign that ends in worldwide rebellion against the camp of the saints (Act 4:27-28, Rev 20:8).

1Jn 1:7  But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin.

1Co 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?

Pro 16:7  When a man’s ways please the LORD, he maketh even his enemies to be at peace with him.

2Ki 18:13 now in the fourteenth year of king (strengthened by Jehovah)Hezekiah did (the destroyed thorn)Sennacherib king of (plain)Assyria come up against all the fenced cities of (praised)Judah, and took them. [PNBkjv]
2Ki 18:14  Then Hezekiah king of Judah sent a message to the king of Assyria at Lachish. Hezekiah said, “I have done wrong. Leave me {alone}. Then I will pay anything you want. [ERV]

God uses king Sennacherib to teach Hezekiah a deep lesson about how to make war against our enemies, of which Sennacherib is one, and as his name suggests, “the destroyed thorn” he typifies for God’s elect today is a thorn in our flesh who is going to be destroyed to the glory of God through Hezekiah, “strengthened by Jehovah.”

It is in Hezekiah’s fourteenth year of rule that this siege takes place against Judah which was used to bring Hezekiah to see that God is faithful to His elect of whom Hezekiah is a type. Fourteen is a number associated with the generations of Christ (Mat 1:17) as well as the passover (Lev 23:5). and this story typifies for the elect how we come to see that our strength is found in trusting in Christ who is our passover lamb (1Co 5:7). We are of the generation who have no confidence in the flesh, and our strength comes from being buried into Christ’s death (Num 29:13, 15, 17, 20, 23, 26, 29, 32). Hezekiah is a type of the elect who is going to learn this truth of God’s faithfulness in battle beginning in the fourteenth year of his reign.

At this point in the story, Hezekiah is in a weakened position and tries to appease his enemy by giving the king of Assyria “three hundred talents of silver and thirty talents of gold.” These actions of Hezekiah remind us that we are not to cast our pearls before swine and hope beyond hope that we can conquer our enemies within us by these physical means of silver and gold that point to a negative example of the process of judgment [300 silver – 30 talents of gold] that will be of no effect on the unbelieving Sennacherib. Hezekiah’s actions were like trying to pay off the school bully in hopes that his heart would change and he would just go away. Of course, the leopard cannot change his spots and king Sennacherib does not go away (Jer 13:23).

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.

So not only did Hezekiah waste that silver and gold, but then Sennacherib turns around and tramples on Hezekiah just like the proverb says our enemies will do when we trust in ourselves to figure out how to make war against the beast within us (Mat 7:6, Rev 13:4). Thankfully, and by the grace of God, after these events Hezekiah was brought to his senses and zealously turned to the Lord to overcome his enemies (Rom 8:28-29, 2Co 7:11). 

Mat 7:6 give not that which is holy unto the dogs, neither cast ye your pearls before swine, lest they trample them under their feet, and turn again and rend you. 

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? 

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

2Ki 18:15  And Hezekiah gave him all the silver that was found in the house of the LORD, and in the treasures of the king’s house. 
2Ki 18:16  At that time did Hezekiah cut off the gold from the doors of the temple of the LORD, and from the pillars which Hezekiah king of Judah had overlaid, and gave it to the king of Assyria.

This situation with Hezekiah is akin to our lack of fidelity with the word of God when we first come into the knowledge of the truth, and we are so ready to give “all the silver that was found in the house of the LORD, and in the treasures of the king’s house” thinking this will surely appease those who are against us. Eventually and little by little we become more wise and able to know how to walk “in the midst of wolves” being  “wise as serpents, and harmless as doves” (Mat 10:16).

There is a parallel with Peter zealously cutting off the ear of the servant Malchus (Joh 18:10), and this story with Hezekiah who “cut off the gold from the doors of the temple of the LORD, and from the pillars which Hezekiah king of Judah had overlaid“, symbolizing how such actions take away access to (‘cutting off’) the door [Christ]. The pillar without the gold is like a pillar of salt that does not have the savour of Christ’s righteousness (gold). Hezekiah was flagrantly using the gold and silver to bribe his enemy instead of trusting that God would deliver him. This proverb comes to mind (Pro 23:23):

Pro 23:23  Buy the truth, and sell it not; also wisdom, and instruction, and understanding.

2Ki 18:17 and the king of (plain)Assyria sent (release the dragon)Tartan and (chief eunuch)Rabsaris and (chief cup bearer)Rabshakeh from (man’s walk)Lachish to king (strengthened by Jehovah)Hezekiah with a great host against (founded in peace)Jerusalem. And they went up and came to (founded in peace)Jerusalem. And when they were come up, they came and stood by the conduit of the upper pool, which is in the highway of the fuller’s field. [PNBkjv]

It is going to be in our most severe trials of life that God will reveal where we have been placing our hope, and this event of the king of Assyria sending “Tartan and Rabsaris and Rabshakeh from Lachish to king Hezekiah with a great host against Jerusalem” is typical of what God’s elect must go through (1Co 3:13-15, Heb 12:7). 

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.

Heb 12:7  If ye endure chastening, God dealeth with you as with sons; for what son is he whom the father chasteneth not?

God uses Satan as His sword (Psa 17:13) to accomplish His purpose, trying our faith, which is what the process of judgment produces in the lives of those who are granted to endure that judgment until the end, resulting in tried faith that is precious to God (1Pe 1:6-7, Php 4:13, Mat 24:11-14, Rev 2:10, Psa 116:15). 

1Pe 1:6  Wherein ye greatly rejoice, though now for a season, if need be, ye are in heaviness through manifold temptations: 
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:

Rev 2:10  Fear none of those things which thou shalt suffer: behold, the devil shall cast some of you into prison, that ye may be tried; and ye shall have tribulation ten days: be thou faithful unto death, and I will give thee a crown of life.

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

The three men who the king of Assyria sends up against Hezekiah represent that process of judgment [3] that is upon the body of Christ today (1Pe 4:17) [1-Tartan and 2-Rabsaris and 3-Rabshakeh] and the only way we can endure that judgment until the end is to be “kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation ready to be revealed in the last time (1Pe 1:5 1Co 10:11)”. 

Tartan as we read earlier means “release the dragon” and is a type of the events that happen to “the whole world” who will be attacked by Satan by way of “three unclean spirits like frogs” (Rev 16:13) that will not overcome the elect who are “kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation ready to be revealed in “the last time” (1Pe 1:5).

1Pe 1:5  Who are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.

The ‘last time’ for us may be the season we draw our last breath or when we are changed in a moment and the twinkling of an eye in the first resurrection, Lord willing. Having “done all” by the faith of Christ, we will be able to withstand these attacks of the devil (Mat 24:24) prior to being changed into spirit beings in that blessed and holy first resurrection. Verse 15 of  Revelation 16:1-15 and verse 13 of Ephesians 6:13 are saying the same thing to us regarding being made ready of the Lord as the bride of Christ (Rev 19:7-9).

Rev 16:15  Behold, I come as a thief. Blessed is he that watcheth, and keepeth his garments, lest he walk naked, and they see his shame.

Eph 6:13  Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, [“keepeth his garments“] that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, [“the last time“] and having done all, to stand.

Rev 19:7  Let us be glad and rejoice, and give honour to him: for the marriage of the Lamb is come, and his wife hath made herself ready. 
Rev 19:8  And to her was granted that she should be arrayed in fine linen, [“keepeth his garments“] clean and white: for the fine linen is the righteousness of saints. 
Rev 19:9  And he saith unto me, Write, Blessed are they which are called unto the marriage supper of the Lamb. And he saith unto me, These are the true sayings of God.

Rabsaris is the second man mentioned, and his name means “chief eunuch” meaning Satan comes up against the church with the chief rulers who have no spiritual seed or truth in them that can produce life [spiritual eunuchs] (Act 4:27-28). 

Act 4:27  For of a truth against thy holy child Jesus, whom thou hast anointed, both Herod, and Pontius Pilate, with the Gentiles, and the people of Israel, were gathered together, 
Act 4:28  For to do whatsoever thy hand and thy counsel determined before to be done [Eph 1:11, Rom 8:28].

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:

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.

The last man mentioned is Rabshakeh, which means “chief cupbearer” symbolizing Mystery Babylon who bears a cup that is full of abominations and filthiness of her fornication of Revelation 17:4:

Rev 17:4  And the woman was arrayed in purple and scarlet colour, and decked with gold and precious stones and pearls, having a golden cup in her hand full of abominations and filthiness of her fornication:

When these three men come up against Hezekiah, or against Jerusalem, we are told “they came and stood by the conduit of the upper pool, which is in the highway of the fuller’s field.“

This location is significant as it symbolizes the place where a narrow escape against the powers and principalities of this world will be granted to the body of Christ, seeing it is connected to the prophecy of the birth of Christ (Isa 7:3-14).  Being as we are as He is in this world (1Jn 4:17), it is also a prophecy of the first resurrection (our birth), that blessed event given to the remnant who will be scarcely saved by His power.

Isa 7:3  Then said the LORD unto Isaiah, Go forth now to meet Ahaz, thou, and Shearjashub thy son, at the end of the conduit of the upper pool in the highway of the fuller’s field;
Isa 7:4  And say unto him, Take heed, and be quiet; fear not, neither be fainthearted for the two tails of these smoking firebrands, for the fierce anger of Rezin with Syria, and of the son of Remaliah.
Isa 7:5  Because Syria, Ephraim, and the son of Remaliah, have taken evil counsel against thee, saying,
Isa 7:6  Let us go up against Judah, and vex it, and let us make a breach therein for us, and set a king in the midst of it, even the son of Tabeal:
Isa 7:7  Thus saith the Lord GOD, It shall not stand, neither shall it come to pass.
Isa 7:8  For the head of Syria is Damascus, and the head of Damascus is Rezin; and within threescore and five years shall Ephraim be broken, that it be not a people.
Isa 7:9  And the head of Ephraim is Samaria, and the head of Samaria is Remaliah’s son. If ye will not believe, surely ye shall not be established. 
Isa 7:10  Moreover the LORD spake again unto Ahaz, saying, 
Isa 7:11  Ask thee a sign of the LORD thy God; ask it either in the depth, or in the height above.
Isa 7:12  But Ahaz said, I will not ask, neither will I tempt the LORD.
Isa 7:13  And he said, Hear ye now, O house of David; Is it a small thing for you to weary men, but will ye weary my God also? 
Isa 7:14  Therefore the Lord himself shall give you a sign; Behold, a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel.

The physical waters that flow into the beloved city are symbolic of how the man of perdition that sits upon the throne of God on our hearts is destroyed by the brightness of His coming from east to west with living waters (2Th 2:8, Mat 24:27), from Gihon to the west side of the city of David (1Co 10:13, Luk 12:32, 1Pe 4:18, Isa 7:3-15,  2Ch 32:30). 

Easton’s Bible Dictionary: A water-course or channel (Job 38:25). The “conduit of the upper pool” (Isa 7:3) was formed by Hezekiah for the purpose of conveying the waters from the upper pool in the valley of Gihon to the west side of the city of David (2Ki 18:17;  2Ki 20:20; 2Ch 32:30).

Gihon, H1521 = bursting forth
one of the four rivers of the Garden of Eden
a spring near Jerusalem where the anointing and proclaiming of Solomon as king took place

Strong’s: From H1518; stream; Gichon a river of Paradise; also a valley (or pool) near Jerusalem: – Gihon. 

Total KJV Occurrences: 6 
Gihon, 6
Gen_2:13; 1Ki_1:33; 1Ki_1:38; 1Ki_1:45; 2Ch_32:30; 2Ch_33:14

David H1732 = beloved
youngest son of Jesse and second king of Israel

Strong’s: From the same as H1730; loving; David the youngest son of Jesse: – David.

Total KJV Occurrences: 1074 

This section of Kings we are studying encourages us to hope in what God has promised He will do in the body of Christ with those living waters He is giving us (Rom 5:5), showing us that we are more than conquerors through Christ, who is our hope of glory within (Col 1:27), and there is no weapon which has been formed that can overtake the elect (Isa 54:16-17), although the devil will be given to try to do so (Mat 24:24), as demonstrated in the type and shadow attacks that took place on Jerusalem in the days of king Hezekiah. This is all written to remind us that we will be more than conquerors through those many diverse temptations and much tribulation the Lord has promised us (Jas 1:2-5, Act 14:22).

Rom 5:5  And hope maketh not ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us.

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:

Jas 1:4  But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing [2Th 1:4].

2Ki 18:18  And when they had called to the king, there came out to them (god establishes)Eliakim the son of (Jehovah’s portion)Hilkiah, which was over the household, and (grown)Shebna the scribe, and (Jehovah is his brother)Joah the son of (collector)Asaph the recorder.

This last verse we’ll look at speaks to the witness God’s elect will give to this world. When these three men Tartan (release the dragon) and Rabsaris (chief eunuch) and Rabshakeh (chief cupbearer) come up against Jerusalem, they call for king Hezekiah, and three men are sent out to give a report on behalf of the king.

Those three men’s names represent something significant for us as well, in the positive use of the process of judgment: 

When God judges us, “Eliakim–god establishes“, it is for the purpose of perfecting us on the third day and establishing and settling us so that, no matter what storms come our way, we will be able to stand (1Pe 5:10, Mat 7:25).

The second is “Shebna the scribe–grown” reminding us that it is through the process of judgment that we grow as God gives the increase or growth in our life (1Co 3:6). 

The third one is “Joah–Jehovah is his brother“, that reminds us that Christ is our brother and high priest who watches over us through our entire life of judgment of which he is the author and finisher of (Php 1:6).

Next week, Lord willing, will look at the third part of the chapter (2Ki 18:19-37), which is focused on how Sennacherib used Rabshakeh, who was a field commander, to send messages to Hezekiah and his foot soldiers to undermine their confidence in what Hezekiah could do in war against Assyria with the God of Israel as his helper and hope.

The question “In what are you placing your hope” is revealed to God’s elect by reflecting on this story of a king who, through the tribulation of his life, was made strong in battle bringing him to eventually see that the battle is the Lord’s (1Sa 17:47). This story is yet another demonstration of how faithful our Lord is to see us through every trial in this life and every tribulation we must go through (1Co 10:13) in order to inherit the kingdom of God (Act 14:22).

1Sa 17:47  And all this assembly shall know that the LORD saveth not with sword and spear: for the battle is the LORD’S, and he will give you into our hands.

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, [“we must go through“] that ye may be able to bear it.

Act 14:22  Confirming^G1991 the souls of the disciples, and exhorting them to continue in the faith, and that we must through much tribulation enter into the kingdom of God.

–Confirming^G1991  Episterizo
to establish besides, strengthen more
to render more firm, confirm
– Strong’s: From G1909 and G4741; to support further that is reestablish: – confirm strengthen.

Total KJV Occurrences: 4 
confirmed, 1
 Act_15:32

confirming, 2
Act_14:22; Act_15:41

strengthening, 1
Act_18:23

Jdg 16:1-16 Samson saw a Harlot and Went in Unto Her

[Study Aired July 26, 2021]

Jdg 16:1  Then went Samson to Gaza, and saw there an harlot, and went in unto her. 
Jdg 16:2  And it was told the Gazites, saying, Samson is come hither. And they compassed him in, and laid wait for him all night in the gate of the city, and were quiet all the night, saying, In the morning, when it is day, we shall kill him. 
Jdg 16:3  And Samson lay till midnight, and arose at midnight, and took the doors of the gate of the city, and the two posts, and went away with them, bar and all, and put them upon his shoulders, and carried them up to the top of an hill that is before Hebron. 
Jdg 16:4  And it came to pass afterward, that he loved a woman in the valley of Sorek, whose name was Delilah. 
Jdg 16:5  And the lords of the Philistines came up unto her, and said unto her, Entice him, and see wherein his great strength lieth, and by what means we may prevail against him, that we may bind him to afflict him: and we will give thee every one of us eleven hundred pieces of silver. 
Jdg 16:6  And Delilah said to Samson, Tell me, I pray thee, wherein thy great strength lieth, and wherewith thou mightest be bound to afflict thee. 
Jdg 16:7  And Samson said unto her, If they bind me with seven green withs that were never dried, then shall I be weak, and be as another man. 
Jdg 16:8  Then the lords of the Philistines brought up to her seven green withs which had not been dried, and she bound him with them. 
Jdg 16:9  Now there were men lying in wait, abiding with her in the chamber. And she said unto him, The Philistines be upon thee, Samson. And he brake the withs, as a thread of tow is broken when it toucheth the fire. So his strength was not known. 
Jdg 16:10  And Delilah said unto Samson, Behold, thou hast mocked me, and told me lies: now tell me, I pray thee, wherewith thou mightest be bound. 
Jdg 16:11  And he said unto her, If they bind me fast with new ropes that never were occupied, then shall I be weak, and be as another man. 
Jdg 16:12  Delilah therefore took new ropes, and bound him therewith, and said unto him, The Philistines be upon thee, Samson. And there were liers in wait abiding in the chamber. And he brake them from off his arms like a thread. 
Jdg 16:13  And Delilah said unto Samson, Hitherto thou hast mocked me, and told me lies: tell me wherewith thou mightest be bound. And he said unto her, If thou weavest the seven locks of my head with the web. 
Jdg 16:14  And she fastened it with the pin, and said unto him, The Philistines be upon thee, Samson. And he awaked out of his sleep, and went away with the pin of the beam, and with the web. 
Jdg 16:15  And she said unto him, How canst thou say, I love thee, when thine heart is not with me? thou hast mocked me these three times, and hast not told me wherein thy great strength lieth. 
Jdg 16:16  And it came to pass, when she pressed him daily with her words, and urged him, so that his soul was vexed unto death; 

Chapter 16 of Judges tells us about how we end up becoming impoverished in Babylon.  We become blind as our eyes are removed. Thus, our ability to understand the word of God is taken away from us at the end of our Babylonian captivity. Our deplorable situation in Babylon is described in Psalm 137 as follows:

Psa 137:1  By the rivers of Babylon, there we sat down, yea, we wept, when we remembered Zion.
Psa 137:2  We hanged our harps upon the willows in the midst thereof.
Psa 137:3  For there they that carried us away captive required of us a song; and they that wasted us required of us mirth, saying, Sing us one of the songs of Zion.
Psa 137:4  How shall we sing the LORD’S song in a strange land?
Psa 137:5  If I forget thee, O Jerusalem, let my right hand forget her cunning.

We need to note that it is as we sit by the rivers of Babylon that we end up weeping when we remember our first love in Zion. The rivers here are the great swelling words of man’s wisdom which we receive during our time in Babylon. This is what makes us worse off at the end of our Babylonian journey.  Not being able to sing the Lord’s song in a strange land means we cannot please God when we are under the church system of this world (Babylon).

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.

Jdg 16:1  Then went Samson to Gaza, and saw there an harlot, and went in unto her. 

Like Samson, who was taken in by a harlot, all of us become enchanted when we set our eyes on the harlot during the part of our walk with Christ when we are carnal. As indicated in our previous review, the disciples were also charmed by the harlot when they pointed Jesus to the beauty of the buildings of the temple in Jerusalem.

Mat 24:1  And Jesus went out, and departed from the temple: and his disciples came to him for to shew him the buildings of the temple.
Mat 24:2  And Jesus said unto them, See ye not all these things? verily I say unto you, There shall not be left here one stone upon another, that shall not be thrown down.

Gaza means ‘strong’ according to Strong’s dictionary. So here we are being told that the attraction to this harlot which is Babylon is very strong and will definitely sweep us off our feet since our flesh dominates us (symbolized by the Philistines dominating the Israelites during that time).

Just as in the natural, where most men cannot resist the invitation of a very beautiful woman under the cover of darkness, so it in the spirit that when we are ruled by darkness, we just cannot resist the pull of the harlot woman.

Pro 7:9  In the twilight, in the evening, in the black and dark night:
Pro 7:10  And, behold, there met him a woman with the attire of an harlot, and subtil of heart.
Pro 7:11  (She is loud and stubborn; her feet abide not in her house:
Pro 7:12  Now is she without, now in the streets, and lieth in wait at every corner.)
Pro 7:13  So she caught him, and kissed him, and with an impudent face said unto him,
Pro 7:14  I have peace offerings with me; this day have I payed my vows.
Pro 7:15  Therefore came I forth to meet thee, diligently to seek thy face, and I have found thee.
Pro 7:16  I have decked my bed with coverings of tapestry, with carved works, with fine linen of Egypt.
Pro 7:17  I have perfumed my bed with myrrh, aloes, and cinnamon.
Pro 7:18  Come, let us take our fill of love until the morning: let us solace ourselves with loves.
Pro 7:19  For the goodman is not at home, he is gone a long journey:
Pro 7:20  He hath taken a bag of money with him, and will come home at the day appointed.
Pro 7:21  With her much fair speech she caused him to yield, with the flattering of her lips she forced him.
Pro 7:22  He goeth after her straightway, as an ox goeth to the slaughter, or as a fool to the correction of the stocks;
Pro 7:23  Till a dart strike through his liver; as a bird hasteth to the snare, and knoweth not that it is for his life.
Pro 7:24  Hearken unto me now therefore, O ye children, and attend to the words of my mouth.
Pro 7:25  Let not thine heart decline to her ways, go not astray in her paths.
Pro 7:26  For she hath cast down many wounded: yea, many strong men have been slain by her.

It is only when we are carried away in the spirit (our eyes begin to see and our ears begin to hear) that we come to see who this woman arrayed in purple and scarlet color really is – that is, she is a harlot, and we wonder with great admiration.

Rev 17:3  So he carried me away in the spirit into the wilderness: and I saw a woman sit upon a scarlet coloured beast, full of names of blasphemy, having seven heads and ten horns. 
Rev 17:4  And the woman was arrayed in purple and scarlet colour, and decked with gold and precious stones and pearls, having a golden cup in her hand full of abominations and filthiness of her fornication:
Rev 17:5  And upon her forehead was a name written, MYSTERY, BABYLON THE GREAT, THE MOTHER OF HARLOTS AND ABOMINATIONS OF THE EARTH.
Rev 17:6  And I saw the woman drunken with the blood of the saints, and with the blood of the martyrs of Jesus: and when I saw her, I wondered with great admiration.
Rev 17:7  And the angel said unto me, Wherefore didst thou marvel? I will tell thee the mystery of the woman, and of the beast that carrieth her, which hath the seven heads and ten horns.

Jdg 16:2 And it was told the Gazites, saying, Samson is come hither. And they compassed him in, and laid wait for him all night in the gate of the city, and were quiet all the night, saying, In the morning, when it is day, we shall kill him.

These Gazites are men of Philistines who symbolically represent our flesh which dominates us during the dark periods of our lives. What we are being told here is that during our time in Babylon, when we were with the harlot, we did not see our flesh as the enemy as they lie in wait during the night of our lives. No wonder the church does not regard the flesh as the main enemy of our progress in Christ but rather focuses on the devil outside.

These Gazites decided to lie in wait until the morning comes when they planned to kill Samson. This means that it is when Christ begins to shine His lights on us (morning) that we see the pull of the flesh being so strong and dragging us to bondage again with the ultimate aim of spiritually putting us to death.

Rom 7:10  And the commandment [the revelation of Christ], which was ordained to life, I found to be unto death [judgment].
Rom 7:11  For sin [the flesh or the Gazites], taking occasion by the commandment, deceived me, and by it slew me [the process of dying].
Rom 7:12  Wherefore the law is holy, and the commandment holy, and just, and good.
Rom 7:13  Was then that which is good made death unto me? God forbid. But sin, that it might appear sin, working death in me by that which is good; that sin by the commandment might become exceeding sinful.

Jdg 16:3  And Samson lay till midnight, and arose at midnight, and took the doors of the gate of the city, and the two posts, and went away with them, bar and all, and put them upon his shoulders, and carried them up to the top of an hill that is before Hebron. 

It is during our experience of evil in Babylon that the Lord comes to us to shine His glorious light on us. That is when we start our journey out of Babylon. Unfortunately, when leave Babylon, we carry a lot of garbage (doctrines forming idols of the heart) from Babylon, symbolized by the carrying of the doors of the gate of the city of Gaza by Samson on his shoulders to the top of the hill near Hebron. Hebron means ‘seat of association’ or ‘company’. So we can say that we carry these idols of the heart with us to the company of the saints or the gathering of the first born.

That was what happened to Jacob when the Lord shone His light on him to leave Babylon where he was serving under Laban. His wife Rachel stole the images that were her father’s. This means that Jacob’s flesh (wife) grasped at the idols in Babylon and would not let them go as they journeyed to Canaan.

Gen 31:17  Then Jacob rose up, and set his sons and his wives upon camels;
Gen 31:18  And he carried away all his cattle, and all his goods which he had gotten, the cattle of his getting, which he had gotten in Padanaram, for to go to Isaac his father in the land of Canaan.
Gen 31:19  And Laban went to shear his sheep: and Rachel had stolen the images that were her father’s.

Gen 31:34  Now Rachel had taken the images, and put them in the camel’s furniture, and sat upon them. And Laban searched all the tent, but found them not.

The dying of Rachel near Bethel therefore signified the dying of Jacob’s flesh with all the idols of the heart. Her dying near Bethel means that it is in the house of God (which is the meaning of Bethel) that we die to all that we have taken from Babylon. The death of Rachel was through childbirth, which was the judgment pronounced by the Lord upon Eve when she sinned in the Garden of Eden. So it is through judgment that we gradually let go of all that belongs to Babylon in us.

Gen 35:16  And they journeyed from Bethel; and there was but a little way to come to Ephrath: and Rachel travailed, and she had hard labour.
Gen 35:17  And it came to pass, when she was in hard labour, that the midwife said unto her, Fear not; thou shalt have this son also.
Gen 35:18  And it came to pass, as her soul was in departing, (for she died) that she called his name Benoni: but his father called him Benjamin.
Gen 35:19  And Rachel died, and was buried in the way to Ephrath, which is Bethlehem.

Gen 3:16  Unto the woman he said, I will greatly multiply thy sorrow and thy conception; in sorrow thou shalt bring forth children; and thy desire shall be to thy husband, and he shall rule over thee.

Rev 16:17  And the seventh angel poured out his vial into the air; and there came a great voice out of the temple of heaven, from the throne, saying, It is done.
Rev 16:18  And there were voices, and thunders, and lightnings; and there was a great earthquake, such as was not since men were upon the earth, so mighty an earthquake, and so great.
Rev 16:19  And the great city was divided into three parts, and the cities of the nations fell: and great Babylon came in remembrance before God, to give unto her the cup of the wine of the fierceness of his wrath.

Jdg 16:4  And it came to pass afterward, that he loved a woman in the valley of Sorek, whose name was Delilah. 

When we are dominated by the flesh, we will always be attracted to the Jerusalem which is – that is Delilah. Samson’s attraction to Delilah was the result of being under the dominance of the Philistines which represent his flesh. The name Delilah means ‘languishing’ which is the same as deteriorating. So our time in Babylon is the period of our deterioration which is part of the experience of evil marked out for us as His elect. This deterioration is the result of the famine of the word of God, the sword and the noisome beast which rules us in Babylon. These are all part of the four sore judgments of God which we experience in Babylon.

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.

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?

Jdg 16:5  And the lords of the Philistines came up unto her, and said unto her, Entice him, and see wherein his great strength lieth, and by what means we may prevail against him, that we may bind him to afflict him: and we will give thee every one of us eleven hundred pieces of silver.
Jdg 16:6  And Delilah said to Samson, Tell me, I pray thee, wherein thy great strength lieth, and wherewith thou mightest be bound to afflict thee.

The Lords of the Philistines represent an aspect of our old man who loves to bear the name of Christ but wants to wear his own clothes and eat his own food. This Babylon in us poses a strong opposition to our growth in Christ. These verses reveal to us that the experience of evil we face in Babylon is directed toward the destruction of our strengths so that we are destroyed by the flesh. According to the word of God, our strength comes from our relationship with the Lord. Thus, our experience of evil in Babylon is to destroy our relationship with Christ.

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

Psa 28:7  The LORD is my strength and my shield; my heart trusted in him, and I am helped: therefore my heart greatly rejoiceth; and with my song will I praise him.

Exo 15:2  The LORD is my strength and song, and he is become my salvation: he is my God, and I will prepare him an habitation; my father’s God, and I will exalt him.

Isa 40:29  He giveth power to the faint; and to them that have no might he increaseth strength.

The fact that the Lords of the Philistines promised Delilah eleven hundred pieces of silver is to let us know that our motivation in Babylon pertains to what we eat, drink and wear.

Mat 6:31  Therefore take no thought, saying, What shall we eat? or, What shall we drink? or, Wherewithal shall we be clothed?
Mat 6:32  (For after all these things do the Gentiles seek:) for your heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of all these things.
Mat 6:33  But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.

In essence, what we aim at in Babylon is money, and our love for money is the root of all the evil we experience. We therefore pierce ourselves with many sorrows.

1Ti 6:5  Perverse disputings of men of corrupt minds, and destitute of the truth, supposing that gain is godliness: from such withdraw thyself.
1Ti 6:6  But godliness with contentment is great gain.
1Ti 6:7  For we brought nothing intothis world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out.
1Ti 6:8  And having food and raiment let us be therewith content.
1Ti 6:9  But they that will be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and hurtful lusts, which drown men in destruction and perdition.
1Ti 6:10  For the love of money is the root of all evil: which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows.

Jdg 16:7  And Samson said unto her, If they bind me with seven green withs that were never dried, then shall I be weak, and be as another man. 
Jdg 16:8  Then the lords of the Philistines brought up to her seven green withs which had not been dried, and she bound him with them. 
Jdg 16:9  Now there were men lying in wait, abiding with her in the chamber. And she said unto him, The Philistines be upon thee, Samson. And he brake the withs, as a thread of tow is broken when it toucheth the fire. So his strength was not known.

The deplorable situation in which we find ourselves in Babylon as we near the end of our experience of evil does not happen in a day. It is a gradual deterioration of our relationship with Christ as we go through Babylon. In a similar way, our growth in the knowledge of Christ is also a gradual process as shown in Ezekiel as follows:

Eze 47:1  Afterward he brought me again unto the door of the house; and, behold, waters issued out from under the threshold of the house eastward: for the forefront of the house stood toward the east, and the waters came down from under from the right side of the house, at the south side of the altar.
Eze 47:2  Then brought he me out of the way of the gate northward, and led me about the way without unto the utter gate by the way that looketh eastward; and, behold, there ran out waters on the right side.
Eze 47:3  And when the man that had the line in his hand went forth eastward, he measured a thousand cubits, and he brought me through the waters; the waters were to the ankles.
Eze 47:4  Again he measured a thousand, and brought me through the waters; the waters were to the knees. Again he measured a thousand, and brought me through; the waters were to the loins.
Eze 47:5  Afterward he measured a thousand; and it was a river that I could not pass over: for the waters were risen, waters to swim in, a river that could not be passed over.

We are ensnared by the words of our mouth. In other words, in Babylon we get bounded by what we hear, and it does not happen all of a sudden – it is a process.

Pro 6:2  if you are snared in the words of your mouth, caught in the words of your mouth,
Pro 6:3  then do this, my son, and save yourself, for you have come into the hand of your neighbor: go, hasten, and plead urgently with your neighbor.

Samson’s engagement with Delilah where he was bound on several occasions is an indication of what happens to us in Babylon. In verse 7 to 9 of Judges Chapter 16, we are told that Samson was bound by seven green withs which have not been dried. According to Strong, withs means overhanging ropes and by implication excess or exceeding. So what we are being told here is that in Babylon, we are bound completely by all that we hear from our leaders (Lords of the Philistines) who go beyond (exceed) what is written. The fact that the withs must not be dried means that there may be some water or nuggets of truth in what they say, but these truths are polluted by words which are beyond what is written.

1Co 4:6  I have applied all these things to myself and Apollos for your benefit, brothers, that you may learn by us not to go beyond what is written, that none of you may be puffed up in favor of one against another.

Because we are not aware of our situation in relation to our flesh ruling us and the fact that we do have answers to some of our prayers, we think we are in good standing with God and are free from any bondage. Samson felt that way, too, especially when he is able to break his bonds. We all thought that we sit as a queen and shall never see suffering.

Rev 18:7  As she glorified herself and lived in luxury, so give her a like measure of torment and mourning, since in her heart she says, ‘I sit as a queen, I am no widow, and mourning I shall never see.’

Jdg 16:10  And Delilah said unto Samson, Behold, thou hast mocked me, and told me lies: now tell me, I pray thee, wherewith thou mightest be bound.
Jdg 16:11  And he said unto her, If they bind me fast with new ropes that never were occupied, then shall I be weak, and be as another man. 
Jdg 16:12  Delilah therefore took new ropes, and bound him therewith, and said unto him, The Philistines be upon thee, Samson. And there were liers in wait abiding in the chamber. And he brake them from off his arms like a thread.

The second level of binding by Delilah, and supported by the Philistines, relates to Samson being bound by new ropes which have never been used or tested. This binding by new ropes represents words that are spoken in Babylon that have not been tested by the words of God. Because we are not able to test the spirit to know if they are of God while we are in Babylon, we just accept whatever is spoken.  The consequence of this is that we imbibe lies which strengthen the idols of our hearts and make it difficult to know Christ. Thus, we are like Samson who is bound by new ropes.

1Jn 4:1  Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, for many false prophets have gone out into the world.

Jdg 16:13  And Delilah said unto Samson, Hitherto thou hast mocked me, and told me lies: tell me wherewith thou mightest be bound. And he said unto her, If thou weavest the seven locks of my head with the web.
Jdg 16:14  And she fastened it with the pin, and said unto him, The Philistines be upon thee, Samson. And he awaked out of his sleep, and went away with the pin of the beam, and with the web.

The third way which destroys our relationship with Christ and makes us an easy prey for the enemy while in Babylon is when we do not value our election as a prized possession. The hair of a Nazarite is what separates him from other Israelites. It is therefore a sign of their separation or election. Thus, the hair of a Nazarite is sacred and is not something to be toyed with, but we see Samson making Delilah weave a web with his hair and fasten it with a pin.

Num 6:2  Speak unto the children of Israel, and say unto them, When either man or woman shall separate themselves to vow a vow of a Nazarite, to separate themselves unto the LORD:

Num 6:5  All the days of the vow of his separation there shall no razor come upon his head: until the days be fulfilled, in the which he separateth himself unto the LORD, he shall be holy, and shall let the locks of the hair of his head grow.

Samson’s lack of recognition of the sacredness of his hair by allowing Delilah to toy with it means that Samson did not value his election.

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.

We all did not appreciate our election while in Babylon, but God, in His great mercies, comes to us to turn us around to focus on the ultimate prize.

Eph 2:3  Among whom also we all had our conversation in times past in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind; and were by nature the children of wrath, even as others.
Eph 2:4  But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us,
Eph 2:5  Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;)
Eph 2:6  And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus:

Jdg 16:15  And she said unto him, How canst thou say, I love thee, when thine heart is not with me? thou hast mocked me these three times, and hast not told me wherein thy great strength lieth.
Jdg 16:16  And it came to pass, when she pressed him daily with her words, and urged him, so that his soul was vexed unto death;

Our time in Babylon is a period that we are overcome by the strange woman, represented here by Delilah who draws us to the path of hell, resulting in being slain by her. Being slain by her means we become spiritually dead – destroys our relationship with Christ who is the source of our strength!! That was what happened to Samson when he walked the path of Delilah.

Pro 2:16  To deliver thee from the strange woman, even from the stranger which flattereth with her words;
Pro 2:17  Which forsaketh the guide of her youth, and forgetteth the covenant of her God.
Pro 2:18  For her house inclineth unto death, and her paths unto the dead.
Pro 2:19  None that go unto her return again, neither take they hold of the paths of life.

Pro 7:24  Hearken unto me now therefore, O ye children, and attend to the words of my mouth.
Pro 7:25  Let not thine heart decline to her ways, go not astray in her paths.
Pro 7:26  For she hath cast down many wounded: yea, many strong men have been slain by her.
Pro 7:27  Her house is the way to hell, going down to the chambers of death.

Verse 15 and 16 focus on the words that are spoken by the harlot woman. Such words spoken by the harlot woman are like cancer that eats our resistance away and before we realize it, we are spiritually dead!! That was what happened to Samson. The incessant words of Delilah ate away his devotion to the Lord and became an easy prey for the enemy to slain him. That was what happened to us in Babylon. The incessant words of the church system destroy our relationship with Christ and therefore we become spiritually dead!!

Pro 5:1  My son, attend unto my wisdom, and bow thine ear to my understanding:
Pro 5:2  That thou mayest regard discretion, and that thy lips may keep knowledge.
Pro 5:3  For the lips of a strange woman drop as an honeycomb, and her mouth is smoother than oil:
Pro 5:4  But her end is bitter as wormwood, sharp as a twoedged sword.
Pro 5:5  Her feet go down to death; her steps take hold on hell.
Pro 5:6  Lest thou shouldest ponder the path of life, her ways are moveable, that thou canst not know them.
Pro 5:7  Hear me now therefore, O ye children, and depart not from the words of my mouth.
Pro 5:8  Remove thy way far from her, and come not nigh the door of her house:
Pro 5:9  Lest thou give thine honour unto others, and thy years unto the cruel:
Pro 5:10  Lest strangers be filled with thy wealth; and thy labours be in the house of a stranger;

All these experiences of evil that we experience in Babylon are to bring us to a point where we are humbled as we come to realize that, indeed, we are the greatest sinners!! That is when our God of mercies comes into our lives to turn us around so that the mercies we have received will be administered to the whole of humanity in an age to come!!

Ecc 1:13  And I gave my heart to seek and search out by wisdom concerning all which is done under the heavens. It is a sad task God has given to the sons of men to be humbled by it. (MKJV)

Rom 11:30  For as ye in times past have not believed God, yet have now obtained mercy through their unbelief:
Rom 11:31  Even so have these also now not believed, that through your mercy they also may obtain mercy.
Rom 11:32  For God hath concluded them all in unbelief, that he might have mercy upon all.

May our Lord help us all to be delivered from all that belongs to Babylon in us so we will be the administrators of His mercies to the human race at the fullness of time!! Amen!!

[Study Aired December 12, 2019]

“Then shall that Wicked be revealed, whom the Lord shall consume”  2Th 2:8

Psa 139:19  Surely thou wilt slay the wicked, O God: depart from me therefore, ye bloody men. 
Psa 139:20  For they speak against thee wickedly, and thine enemies take thy name in vain. 
Psa 139:21  Do not I hate them, O LORD, that hate thee? and am not I grieved with those that rise up against thee? 
Psa 139:22  I hate them with perfect hatred: I count them mine enemies. 
Psa 139:23  Search me, O God, and know my heart: try me, and know my thoughts:
Psa 139:24  And see if there be any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.

As we look back on this Psalm 139 study, we see how the very first verse confirms  for us how God is searching us out with these words: “O LORD, thou hast searched me, and known me” (Psa 139:1). The same searching out is being told of Adam and Eve, who were flushed out of the garden where they thought they could hide from God, as Adam reasoned this way in his flesh: “I heard thy voice in the garden, and I was afraid, because I was naked; and I hid myself”. Those words were really a prophecy of what all flesh would naturally do in our marred condition that is enmity against God and not able to obey the voice of our Creator because of our marred, sinful, or naked, condition (Gen 3:9, Isa 63:17, Rom 9:20-21).

The rest of the Psalm elaborates and expands on how God is going to deal with this marred vessel of clay He made this way to demonstrate His power, which is made perfect in weakness, power that is revealed to so very few at first, and shown unto babes because this “seemed good” according to the mind of our Father as confirmed by these verses and stated in this verse in Jeremiah: “so he made it again another vessel, as seemed good to the potter to make it”.

2Co 12:9  And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.

Mat 11:25  At that time Jesus answered and said, I thank thee, O Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because thou hast hid these things from the wise and prudent, and hast revealed them unto babes.
Mat 11:26  Even so, Father: for so it seemed good in thy sight.

Jer 18:4  And the vessel that he made of clay was marred in the hand of the potter: so he made it again another vessel, as seemed good to the potter to make it.

Job 8:7  Though thy beginning was small, yet thy latter end should greatly increase.

Ecc 7:8  Better is the end of a thing than the beginning thereof: and the patient in spirit is better than the proud in spirit.

Job 42:12  So the LORD blessed the latter end of Job more than his beginning: for he had fourteen thousand sheep, and six thousand camels, and a thousand yoke of oxen, and a thousand she asses.

The word of God, as we’ve discussed, is written in such a way it appears that, not only can we hide from God, but we can also choose to sin of our own volition, outside of any influence from the master Potter who created all things and is before all things and working all things according to the counsel “of his own will”. This way of thinking is the way that seemed good to the vessel of clay and leads to death, as opposed to the “for so it seemed good in thy sight” ways of our Father (Eph 1:11, Pro 14:12, Pro 16:25).

The carnal mind that naturally opposes God is not unpredictably doing what God did not intend it to do in being against the spirit of God, even as God’s spirit was meant to be against the spirit of man, as God had always intended (Gal 5:16, Rom 8:7, Rom 8:13). The carnal mind and all of our actions, as Adam in the garden, has never been hidden from God, not even nearly, and so we started this Psalm by observing how God sees Adam, and by extension how He sees all of His creation made to glorify God as a marred piece of clay IN His hand (Joh 9:3), that consists by Him and is before Him just as all His creation is “And he is before all things, and by him all things consist” Col 1:17.

Psalm 139 is a section of scripture that helps us appreciate the grandeur of our great God, who alone can be described with such words as omniscient, omnipotent and omnipresent, words that help us understand this verse: “And he is before all things, and by him all things consist” (Col 1:17).

All of the natural creation that God is before, and all that consists by him, is what is used to reveal the spiritual workmanship He is accomplishing as light comes out of darkness (Rom 1:20, Hos 11:1).

The “any creature” spoken of in Hebrews 4:13 is speaking of all the inward creatures of the sea and on the earth and in the heavens representing everything within the first Adam and everything that God’s omnipotent hand is leading and holding (Gen 2:19), stated this way: “there shall thy hand lead me, and thy right hand shall hold me” of Psalm 139:10 reminding us God is working all things “after the counsel of his own will” in an arena where “neither is there any creature that is not manifest in his sight: but all things are naked and opened unto the eyes of him with whom we have to do” (Eph 1:11, Heb 4:13).

The third section of this study from last week subtitled “Fear not, thou worm Jacob“, describes how God sees the church, the body of Christ, who are this weak earthen vessel (1Co 1:26) and the first who trusted in Christ (Eph 1:12). We are being fashioned and formed by our loving Father into this new creation that is going through this metamorphosis or process of maturation prophesied in the words: “O earth, earth, earth, hear the word of the LORD“ (Jer 22:29). That three times hearing of the word “earth” is a symbol of the process of spiritual completion through judgment that God’s elect are experiencing first (1Jn 5:14-15, 1Pe 4:17) as we “grow in grace, and in the knowledge” of Christ (2Pe 3:18 ) in advance of the rest of His creation who are spoken of as “and other sheep I have, which are not of this fold” (Joh 10:16). That other fold does not presently hear the voice of the true shepherd, and within their pasture there is no stay of bread or water, meaning they are not being saved by grace through faith, which is required in order to hear the voice of the true Shepherd, and is a miraculous gift that has been given to the elect in this age (1Jn 4:6 to hear, to see and believe are all saying the same thing Php 1:29, Isa 3:1, Eph 2:8).

Heb 11:6  and without faith it is impossible to be well-pleasing unto him; for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that seek after him.

1Jn 4:6  We are of God: he that knoweth God heareth us; he that is not of God heareth not us. Hereby know we the spirit of truth, and the spirit of error.

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;

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,

The fourth and final section of our study of Psalm 139 is aptly subtitled “then shall that Wicked be revealed, whom the Lord shall consume” of (2Th 2:8), as it looks at how we must have a “perfect hatred” toward our old man of sin, “thou worm Jacob”, who has to be brought into subjection day by day as we die daily (1Co 15:31). We learn to keep under our body by mortifying the deeds of the flesh (1Co 9:27, 1Ti 6:12, Rom 8:13) so that we can live the rest of our lives fulfilling the will of God as we come out of Babylon, by not acting out on the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes and the pride of life which was the corrupt spiritual fuel of our former conversation or walk that we had while we were in the world.

1Co 9:27  But I keep under my body, and bring it into subjection: lest that by any means, when I have preached to others, I myself should be a castaway.

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

Rom 8:13  For if ye live after the flesh, ye shall die: but if ye through the Spirit do mortify the deeds of the body, ye shall live.

Joh 17:16  They are not of the world, even as I am not of the world.
Joh 17:17  Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth.

Psa 139:19  Surely thou wilt slay the wicked, O God: depart from me therefore, ye bloody men.

The bloody men being spoken about in Exodus 4:25 and 1 Kings 2:9-10 are two characters who were types of God’s elect, and so God is making it very plain to those who have eyes to see that there really is none as blind as His servant, who sees no need to circumcise his son, in Moses’ case, and the other being king David who sees the need to take physical vengeance on all his enemies even to his last breath (Isa 42:19).

Exo 4:25  Then Zipporah took a sharp stone, and cut off the foreskin of her son, and cast it at his feet, and said, Surely a bloody husband art thou to me.

1Ki 2:9  Now therefore hold him not guiltless: for thou art a wise man, and knowest what thou oughtest to do unto him; but his hoar head bring thou down to the grave with blood.
1Ki 2:10  So David slept with his fathers, and was buried in the city of David.

Isa 42:19  Who is blind, but my servant? or deaf, as my messenger that I sent? who is blind as he that is perfect, and blind as the LORD’S servant?

In the positive view of these stories, it is good that Zipporah, who represents the church, circumcised the child, which is a type of being born again; and David, relentlessly wanting vengeance on his enemies until his last breath and even beyond. These accounts reminds us we should fight sin in our members until our last breath and set our spiritual house in order to the glory of God, revealing our convictions by leaving a witness or laying up a testimony that will one day be recalled by others in their day of visitation (1Pe 3:16, 1Pe 2:12).

It is only through the grace of God which destroys our old man of sin, “surely thou wilt slay the wicked, O God“, that we can overcome this bloody man who is guilty of the blood of Christ (Mat 27:25, Act 4:26-28). Now we cry out “depart from me therefore, ye bloody men” and understand the way that bloody man within can depart is by not having the sword of God depart from our house (2Sa 12:10, Joh 17:16-17).

Act 4:26  The kings of the earth stood up, and the rulers were gathered together against the Lord, and against his Christ.
Act 4:27  For of a truth against thy holy child Jesus, whom thou hast anointed, both Herod, and Pontius Pilate, with the Gentiles, and the people of Israel, were gathered together,
Act 4:28  For to do whatsoever thy hand and thy counsel determined before to be done.

2Sa 12:10  Now therefore the sword shall never depart from thine house; because thou hast despised me, and hast taken the wife of Uriah the Hittite to be thy wife.

Joh 17:16  They are not of the world, even as I am not of the world.
Joh 17:17  Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth.

Psa 139:20  For they speak against thee wickedly, and thine enemies take thy name in vain. 

Everyone who names the name of Christ is to depart from iniquity (2Ti 2:19), even as we are hated by all men for His name’s sake and are thought of as being “strange that ye run not with them to the same excess of riot, speaking evil of you” (Mat 10:22, 1Pe 4:3-4).

It is the spirit of God which bears witness that we are His children in this life, and that spirit convicts us of all which needs to be cleansed from the temple of God which we are, through a lifelong process of driving those beasts out of the temple little by little (Deu 7:22). Our actions also witness to the world around us of the work that God is doing in this age within His children who are being received through the chastening and scourging that the whip Christ used in the temple typifies (Rom 8:16, Joh 2:15).

There is an inward and an outward application to: “For they speak against thee wickedly, and thine enemies take thy name in vain“, and that carnal fleshly mind of man is what hates the new creation, a nature that cannot be overcome within (Rev 13:4) except for the grace and faith of Christ that destroys that old man of sin (Eph 2:8).

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? [Who is able to drive him out of the temple that we are?]

It is in the heavens of our hearts and minds that this great spiritual warfare is taking place (Eph 6:12), and where Christ tells us our vain flesh can easily be sifted by Satan and devoured (Luk 22:31, 1Pe 5:8) if not for the faith God gives us through Christ (Luk 22:32, 1Pe 5:9) so we can be more than conquerors through Him in this life (Rom 8:37).

Psa 139:21  Do not I hate them, O LORD, that hate thee? and am not I grieved with those that rise up against thee? 

We are grieved when our old man rises up against us and are easily beset until we are not (Heb 12:1-2). We hate the sins we commit that are against God, “Do not I hate them, O LORD, that hate thee?“, and are grieved for those paths that are not yet made straight because we are not yet prepared by the Lord (Mar 1:3).

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

Mar 1:3  The voice of one crying in the wilderness, Prepare ye the way of the Lord, make his paths straight.

Our hope lies in the promise that God knows exactly where Adam-in-us is at all times and that He will prepare a way for us in the wilderness of our hearts and minds, and the bride will be made ready after we go through all we must go through to go unto perfection on the third day (Rev 19:7-8, Joh 11:4, Luk 13:32).

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

Joh 11:4  When Jesus heard that, he said, This sickness is not unto death, but for the glory of God, that the Son of God might be glorified thereby.

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

Psa 139:22  I hate them with perfect hatred: I count them mine enemies. 

This perfect hatred starts off with the strong desire that God alone can give us to be eaten up for the zeal of the temple (Joh 2:17, 1Co 3:16), and will conclude with the elect going onto perfection on the third day (Luk 13:32) because of the destruction of the man of sin, who is being destroyed by the brightness of His coming (2Th 2:8), which tells us where and for what reason this “perfect hatred” must be in our heavens that comes from God (Jas 1:17).

Joh 2:17  And his disciples remembered that it was written, The zeal of thine house hath eaten me up.

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

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

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

That perfect gift from heaven God gives his children in this age is the ability to go unto perfection on the third day as we drink the cup of suffering daily which Christ enables us to endure (Php 4:13) preparing us to be kings and priests through a life-time of much tribulation (2Ti 2:12, Mat 20:23, Act 14:22).

We “count them mine enemies” that speak things contrary to sound doctrine and that do not demonstrate a pattern of sound words (2Ti 1:13). First and foremost, this man is the man I have to overcome within my own heavens by keeping my body in subjection to Christ, which is done by keeping under myself and holding fast to the words of life we’ve been given (1Co 9:27).

2Ti 1:13  Hold fast the form of sound words, which thou hast heard of me, in faith and love which is in Christ Jesus.

1Co 9:27  But I keep under my body, and bring it into subjection: lest that by any means, when I have preached to others, I myself should be a castaway.

It is with that mindset of self-examination (2Co 13:5) that we will be able to be watchmen in the house of God who look well to the flock by looking well to ourselves, always being ready to defend and hold fast to God’s word once it has been established in our own hearts (1Th 5:21).

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?
2Co 13:6  But I trust that ye shall know that we are not reprobates.

1Th 5:21  Prove all things; hold fast that which is good.

By not despising the correction that is part of the process every son has to endure in order to be cleansed of sin, we can zealously hold fast to Christ and His body and overcome. It is the trial of our faith that grafts us deeply into the body of Christ so we can be nourished by the vine and provide comfort to others through the comfort we receive through the process of being grafted more deeply into the vine (Rom 2:6-7, Heb 12:5, 2Co 7:11, 2Co 1:4-5).

Rom 2:6  Who will render to every man according to his deeds:
Rom 2:7  To them [To them who are going through this process of being judged today (1Pe 4:17)] who by patient continuance in well doing seek for glory and honour and immortality, eternal life: [Luk_21:19].

Heb 12:5  And ye have forgotten the exhortation which speaketh unto you as unto children, My son, despise not thou the chastening of the Lord, nor faint when thou art rebuked of him:

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

2Co 1:4  Who comforteth us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort them which are in any trouble, by the comfort wherewith we ourselves are comforted of God.
2Co 1:5  For as the sufferings of Christ abound in us, so our consolation also aboundeth by Christ. [Col 1:24]

It is very revealing to see how many times the holy spirit inspired the use of the word “hold fast” or the equivalent thought, reminding us how easily we can walk away from that perfect law of liberty, “Jesus Christ” (Gal 6:2), and forget what we’ve already known. Here are just a few examples to this point.

1Pe 3:15  But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts: and be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear: [hold fast].
1Pe 3:16  Having a good conscience; that, whereas they speak evil of you, as of evildoers, they may be ashamed that falsely accuse your good conversation in Christ.

1Th 5:21  Prove all things; hold fast that which is good.

2Ti 3:14  But continue thou in the things which thou hast learned and hast been assured of [hold fast], knowing of whom thou hast learned them;

Act 17:11  These were more noble than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness of mind, and searched the scriptures daily, whether those things were so [hold fast].

Heb 10:23  Let us hold fast the profession of our faith without wavering; (for he is faithful that promised;)

[1 – wavering at first (Jas 1:6), 2 – precious trial of faith (1Pe 1:7), 3 – sea of glass (Rev 15:2)]

2Th 2:15  Therefore, brethren, stand fast, and hold the traditions which ye have been taught, whether by word, or our epistle. [hold fast]

Psa 139:23  Search me, O God, and know my heart: try me, and know my thoughts:
Psa 139:24  And see if there be any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.

My thoughts are not God’s thoughts, and my ways are not God’s ways, says the Lord (Isa 55:8-9), but if He tries me, the Lord will know my thoughts and a conversion will happen that will bring about the mind of Christ which the initial natural man could never understand (1Co 2:14-16).

1Co 2:14  But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.
1Co 2:15  But he that is spiritual judgeth all things, yet he himself is judged of no man.
1Co 2:16  For who hath known the mind of the Lord, that he may instruct him? But we have the mind of Christ.

It will be by our being dragged to Christ that we will be purified by the light of God’s word which convicts us of those things that need to be repented, if we are being worked with in this age (Joh 6:44). Nothing and no one can prevent that process from unfolding if it has been written in our books from the foundation of the world to be so (1Jn 1:7, Eph 1:4).

To be led into “the way everlasting” is to overcome the “wicked way in me“, and that is a life-long process of overcoming and dying daily which can only happen by the Lord who can “search me” and “know my heart” and “try me” and “my thoughts” because nothing is hidden from him and all things are before him “and he is the head of the body, the church: who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead; that in all things he might have the preeminence” including having preeminence in bringing God’s elect to give an accounting of our sins so that we can become those saviours who will then be used to ask Adam once again, “Where are you” (Gen 3:9), which is another way of saying, “Give me an accounting of your actions” which is exactly what Adam did right after Christ asked him, “Where are you?” (Col 1:17-18, Oba 1:21, Ecc 12:14, Gen 3:10)

It is only by the grace and faith of Christ that this dragging can occur (Joh 6:44), and the reason God does this for His children today is to show us the ways that need to be made straight within us so He can “lead me in the way everlasting.“

The entire construct of God’s word from the old covenant to the new covenant is a work of God’s hand demonstrating His power, His omnipotence and His ability to take that marred vessel of clay and turn it into something new. It is the best of the best who are sacrificed for us, that is what God’s word tells us; John the baptist, for example, of whom the least in the kingdom is greater than him (Mat 11:11).

How humbling to know, and how reassuring at the same time, to see God making His strength perfect through the weak of the world. We could have been anyone else, but God called us to be who we are, called to this blessing (1Pe 3:9) that is fulfilled in the suffering of Christ, the communion into which we are called that nourishes each other so that we can endure unto the end (1Pe 2:21, 1Co 10:16, 2Th 2:14).

1Pe 3:9  Not rendering evil for evil, or railing for railing: but contrariwise blessing; knowing that ye are thereunto called, that ye should inherit a blessing.

1Pe 2:21  For even hereunto were ye called: because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that ye should follow his steps:

1Co 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?

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

We are called His bride (Rev 19:7), His body (Col 1:24), a kind of first fruits, His inheritance in the saints (Jas 1:18), the apple of His eye (Zec 2:8), and many other such things to remind us of how precious these jewels are whom God has predetermined from the foundation of the world (Mal 3:17). These promises have all been stated so we can say with full assurance, “Thine eyes did see mine unformed substance; and in thy book they were all written.“

Part 2: “I go to prepare a place for you” Joh 14:2

Last week’s title is in this week’s verses, however, all that led up to verse 15, which states “Blessed is the people that know the joyful sound“, describes in large part God’s faithfulness to His first fruits in maturing them in this age and establishing them so that they can know the joyful sound:

Psa 89:14 Justice and judgment are the habitation of thy throne: mercy and truth shall go before thy face.
Psa 89:15 Blessed is the people that know the joyful sound: they shall walk, O LORD, in the light of thy countenance.
Psa 89:16 In thy name shall they rejoice all the day: and in thy righteousness shall they be exalted.
Psa 89:17 For thou art the glory of their strength: and in thy favour our horn shall be exalted.
Psa 89:18 For the LORD is our defence; and the Holy One of Israel is our king.
Psa 89:19 Then thou spakest in vision to thy holy one, and saidst, I have laid help upon one that is mighty; I have exalted one chosen out of the people.
Psa 89:20 I have found David my servant; with my holy oil have I anointed him:
Psa 89:21 With whom my hand shall be established: mine arm also shall strengthen him.
Psa 89:22 The enemy shall not exact upon him; nor the son of wickedness afflict him.
Psa 89:23 And I will beat down his foes before his face, and plague them that hate him.

Verse 15 goes on to say “they shall walk, O LORD, in the light of thy countenance” which is a type and shadow experience that Israel of old had in advance of Christ’s body the church, which experiences this light inwardly (Rom 8:9, Mat 11:11, Exo 34:35, 2Co 3:10, 2Co 3:18). Israel of old did experience walking in “the light of thy countenance” (Exo 13:21, 1Ti 3:15-16) which is a shadow of this deeper relationship of knowing God and His son Jesus Christ inwardly where the Kingdom of God is (Col 1:27, Luk 17:21)

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

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

The certainty of our Father’s love expressed in the workmanship of His hands is what these verses foreshadow (verses 1 to 14 from last week) as they lead up to verse 15.

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.

Psa 89:1 Maschil of Ethan the Ezrahite. I will sing of the mercies of the LORD for ever: with my mouth will I make known thy faithfulness to all generations.
Psa 89:2 For I have said, Mercy shall be built up for ever: thy faithfulness shalt thou establish in the very heavens.
Psa 89:3 I have made a covenant with my chosen, I have sworn unto David my servant,
Psa 89:4 Thy seed will I establish for ever, and build up thy throne to all generations. Selah.
Psa 89:5 And the heavens shall praise thy wonders, O LORD: thy faithfulness also in the congregation of the saints.
Psa 89:6 For who in the heaven can be compared unto the LORD? who among the sons of the mighty can be likened unto the LORD?
Psa 89:7 God is greatly to be feared in the assembly of the saints, and to be had in reverence of all them that are about him.
Psa 89:8 O LORD God of hosts, who is a strong LORD like unto thee? or to thy faithfulness round about thee?
Psa 89:9 Thou rulest the raging of the sea: when the waves thereof arise, thou stillest them.
Psa 89:10 Thou hast broken Rahab in pieces, as one that is slain; thou hast scattered thine enemies with thy strong arm.
Psa 89:11 The heavens are thine, the earth also is thine: as for the world and the fulness thereof, thou hast founded them.
Psa 89:12 The north and the south thou hast created them: Tabor and Hermon shall rejoice in thy name.
Psa 89:13 Thou hast a mighty arm: strong is thy hand, and high is thy right hand.

Joh 14:2-3 is another condensed way of saying the same certainty of our Father’s love, where our Lord reminds us:

Joh 14:2 In my Father’s house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you.
Joh 14:3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also.

This Psalm truly expresses how God’s desire, his zeal, is to build up the house of God which is the kingdom of God that is prepared of my Father. He demonstrates how this is done with verses such as “thy faithfulness shalt thou establish in the very heavens”. He establishes His faithfulness in His people for this very purpose of bringing “justice and judgment are the habitation of thy throne: [so] mercy and truth shall go before thy face” to all the world. This process of being established of the Lord that we are called unto requires that we endure together as seeing him who is invisible (Heb 11:27), as we learn to bear each other’s burden and remind each other of the absolute hope that we have in the promises which have been given that are exceedingly great and precious, to the end that they can give us hope and vision of things that are not yet seen in their fullness but will one day be seen by each of us face to face.

Psa 69:9 For the zeal of thine house hath eaten me up; and the reproaches of them that reproached thee are fallen upon me.

Joh 4:23 But the hour cometh, and now is, when the true worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth: for the Father seeketh such to worship him.

Mat 25:34 Then shall the King say unto them on his right hand, Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world:

Mat 20:23 And he saith unto them, Ye shall drink indeed of my cup, and be baptized with the baptism that I am baptized with: but to sit on my right hand, and on my left, is not mine to give, but it shall be given to them for whom it is prepared of my Father.

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.

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

1Co 13:12 For now we see through a glass, darkly [the glass being the corruption that is in the world through lust (1Jn 2:16)]; but then face to face: now I know in part; but then shall I know even as also I am known.

The positive meaning of glass is found in this verse:

Rev 15:2 And I saw as it were a sea of glass mingled with fire: and them that had gotten the victory over the beast, and over his image, and over his mark, and over the number of his name, stand on the sea of glass, having the harps of God.

To “know the joyful sound” is to hear the voice of the true Shepherd as we are led of the spirit which guides and strengthens us to be able (Rom 8:14) to love our enemies (Rom 5:5) whose deceived state is used to try and test the heart of the elect more and more as we near the end of this age (2Ti 3:13-14), just as it was with Christ (1Jn 4:17).

I’ve underlined some of the ways that evil men will be used to try us, and there is always inward application to God’s word:

Luk 6:27 But I say unto you which hear, Love your enemies, do good to them which hate you,
Luk 6:28 Bless them that curse you, and pray for them which despitefully use you.
Luk 6:29 And unto him that smiteth thee on the one cheek offer also the other; and him that taketh away thy cloke forbid not to take thy coat also.
Luk 6:30 Give to every man that asketh of thee; and of him that taketh away thy goods ask them not again.
Luk 6:31 And as ye would that men should do to you, do ye also to them likewise.
Luk 6:32 For if ye love them which love you, what thank have ye? for sinners also love those that love them.
Luk 6:33 And if ye do good to them which do good to you, what thank have ye? for sinners also do even the same.

Joh 10:27 My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me:
Joh 10:28 And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand.

As God’s elect we are strongly tested within ourselves at first to forgive ourselves for all the shameful things we’ve done in ignorance against Christ when our “former conversation” has us being an enemy of the cross. In order to understand how great God’s mercy is and how we can extend it to others genuinely from a pure heart, we must come to fully understand how indebted we are to God which is what our Father is in the process of doing in the lives of His sons today, even allowing us to completely fall (seven times, and then receive and understand His goodness that is being extended to our carnal hearts that are being moved and softened to ask forgiveness.

Php 3:18 (For many walk, of whom I have told you often, and now tell you even weeping, that they are the enemies of the cross of Christ:

Pro 24:16 For a just man falleth seven times, and riseth up again: but the wicked shall fall into mischief.

Mat 18:27 Then the lord of that servant was moved with compassion, and loosed him, and forgave him the debt.

Mat 18:32 Then his lord, after that he had called him, said unto him, O thou wicked servant, I forgave thee all that debt, because thou desiredst me:
Mat 18:33 Shouldest not thou also have had compassion on thy fellowservant, even as I had pity on thee?

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?

When we don’t extend the same mercy to others that God has extended to us, we are in effect despising the riches of his goodness, and one of the great historical types and shadows of this spirit in God’s word is with Jonah the prophet:

Jon 4:6 And the LORD God prepared a gourd, and made it to come up over Jonah, that it might be a shadow over his head, to deliver him from his grief. So Jonah was exceeding glad of the gourd.
Jon 4:7 But God prepared a worm when the morning rose the next day, and it smote the gourd that it withered.
Jon 4:8 And it came to pass, when the sun did arise, that God prepared a vehement east wind; and the sun beat upon the head of Jonah, that he fainted, and wished in himself to die, and said, It is better for me to die than to live.
Jon 4:9 And God said to Jonah, Doest thou well to be angry for the gourd? And he said, I do well to be angry, even unto death.
Jon 4:10 Then said the LORD, Thou hast had pity on the gourd, for the which thou hast not laboured, neither madest it grow; which came up in a night, and perished in a night:

This misconstrued spirit of not understanding that God wants all the world to be encouraged and saved, as Moses declared in type and shadow is also explained in another light with the story of those who come in at the eleventh hour where we see ourselves accepting God’s forgiveness toward our enormous debt but we are yet bitter toward our enemies or those who we feel are indebted to us. In this type and shadow example, the Ninevites who have not had to bear “the burden and heat of the day” as far as Jonah was concerned, are a people to whom he is not ready to extend mercy.

Num 11:29 And Moses said unto him, Enviest thou for my sake? would God that all the LORD’S people were prophets, and that the LORD would put his spirit upon them!

Act 2:17 And it shall come to pass in the last days, saith God, I will pour out of my Spirit upon all flesh: and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, and your young men shall see visions, and your old men shall dream dreams:

Mat 20:12 Saying, These last have wrought but one hour, and thou hast made them equal unto us, which have borne the burden and heat of the day.

Mat 18:32 Then his lord, after that he had called him, said unto him, O thou wicked servant, I forgave thee all that debt, because thou desiredst me:
Mat 18:33 Shouldest not thou also have had compassion on thy fellowservant, even as I had pity on thee?

As God’s keepers of the vineyard (Luk 19:13), the proper spirit is to rejoice in the harvest that is coming in right now ‘is, was and will be’ (Joh 4:35) and to be thankful that we have been instrumental in helping lay a foundation for that which is yet to come as well, all by the grace and faith of Christ. God is bringing us to appreciate the enormity of Christ’s sacrifice and how it is connected to our fellowship (1Co 10:16 “The burden and heat of the day” as we learn to bear each other’s burdens and so fulfill the law of Christ (Gal 6:2). We do need to ask God to help us keep out or burn out any resentment or spirit of bitterness that we have toward anyone, which is what is required to be His sons in this age (Heb 12:15).

Mat 5:43 Ye have heard that it hath been said, Thou shalt love thy neighbour, and hate thine enemy.
Mat 5:44 But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you;
Mat 5:45 That ye may be the children of your Father which is in heaven: for he maketh his sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust.
Mat 5:46 For if ye love them which love you, what reward have ye? do not even the publicans the same?
Mat 5:47 And if ye salute your brethren only, what do ye more than others? do not even the publicans so?
Mat 5:48 Be ye therefore perfect^G5046, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect.

G5046  teleios  tel’-i-os

From G5056; complete (in various applications of labor, growth, mental and moral character, etc.); neuter (as noun, with G3588) completeness: – of full age, man, perfect.

Rom 10:4 For Christ is the end^G5056 of the law for righteousness to every one that believeth.

G5056  telos  tel’-os

From a primary word τέλλω tellō (to set out for a definite point or goal); properly the point aimed at as a limit, that is, (by implication) the conclusion of an act or state (termination [literally, figuratively or indefinitely], result [immediate, ultimate or prophetic], purpose); specifically an impost or levy (as paid): – + continual, custom, end (-ing), finally, uttermost. Compare G5411.

Our understanding and gratitude and rejoicing are all getting deeper because we know that it is His stripes and the stripes placed on the church, His body, that are going to and are bringing healing to all the nations within, and in due time to all the world (Col 1:24, Luk 17:15). The gourd destroyed by the worm in the book of Jonah is a shadow of the Lord taking away our creature comforts that hinder us so He can provide the spiritual comfort that these physical things only foreshadow. God provides for all our needs but His primary goal is to bring us to understand the everlasting comfort that comes in knowing and believing in His promises which are filled with hope that save us.

Luk 19:13 And he called his ten servants, and delivered them ten pounds, and said unto them, Occupy till I come. (Mat 24:13)

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

Rom 8:24 For we are saved by hope: but hope that is seen is not hope: for what a man seeth, why doth he yet hope for?

The end result of hearing and receiving “the joyful sound” of His voice is believing and doing the work of God which is connected, part and parcel, with our being able to pray for our enemies and love those whom God uses to falsely accuse our Lord and His Christ (of which we are all guilty at first). Being a doer of the word to this degree is the evidence that we are His sons being granted to love not our own life unto death while we simultaneously love those who God uses to try us in this age. If our life is still something we’ve not been given to lay down completely, then the love of God within us will wax cold in the heat of the battle separating the court from the temple.

Joh 6:29 Jesus answered and said unto them, This is the work of God, that ye believe on him whom he hath sent.

Rom 2:13 (For not the hearers of the law are just before God, but the doers of the law shall be justified.

Act 4:27 For of a truth against thy holy child Jesus, whom thou hast anointed, both Herod, and Pontius Pilate, with the Gentiles, and the people of Israel, were gathered together,

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.

Mat 24:12 And because iniquity shall abound, the love of many shall wax cold.

Mat 22:14 For many are called, but few are chosen.

If, on the other hand, we are given to lay down our life and love our enemies in this age (and love not our own life which in the flesh is just naturally enmity against the spirit), that love will not just manifest in our turning the other cheek, but we will also extend our life out to those who hate us as we have opportunity. Once again God will reassure us by those actions that Christ is working in us both to will and to do of His good pleasure, demonstrating that we are not of this warring world that exacts vengeance on its enemy and does not obey the commandments of God while resisting evil.

Mat 5:38 Ye have heard that it hath been said, An eye for an eye, and a tooth for a tooth:
Mat 5:39 But I say unto you, That ye resist not evil: but whosoever shall smite thee on thy right cheek, turn to him the other also.
Mat 5:40 And if any man will sue thee at the law, and take away thy coat, let him have thy cloke also.

Gal 6:10 As we have therefore opportunity, let us do good unto all men, especially unto them who are of the household of faith.

Mat 5:41 And whosoever shall compel thee to go a mile, go with him twain.

Luk 6:29 And unto him that smiteth thee on the one cheek offer also the other; and him that taketh away thy cloke forbid not to take thy coat also.

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

1Ti 6:19 Laying up in store for themselves a good foundation against the time to come, that they may lay hold on eternal life.

Php 2:13 For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure.

It may appear that people have a form of “peace, peace” [false witness of Christ] in their hearts, but God’s elect know better that ‘there is none good’ and that the heart of man is deceitful and desperately wicked above all things, and that given the right circumstances and without the help of the holy spirit, we can find ourselves denying Christ just as Peter did, with as much bravissimo as the flesh can muster (Mat 26:33) . We are judged in advance of the world so that we can help the world navigate out of that place of darkness that goes in a self-righteous direction that seems right unto itself, wanting to exact our own vengeance and make things right by our own might and hand. That carnal gentile place is where we all start without Christ as our saviour and shepherd to guide us in the living way (Rom 12:19, Pro 14:12).

Because we experience God’s judgment and justice in this age, we can come to know how indebted we are to our Lord, to be filled with a desire to only want to be His servants, which is another way of saying we have been given to hear “the joyful sound” of the true gospel that is full of mercy, and will conclude in the redemption of all mankind (1Co 15:22).

Psa 89:14 Justice and judgment are the habitation of thy throne: mercy and truth shall go before thy face.
Psa 89:15 Blessed is the people that know the joyful sound: they shall walk, O LORD, in the light of thy countenance.
Psa 89:16 In thy name shall they rejoice all the day: and in thy righteousness shall they be exalted.

We are God’s habitation or inheritance (Rom 8:17, Gal 3:29) where we find ourselves being justly judged of our King (1Pe 4:17), and being given to bind mercy and truth about our neck as we grow in grace and knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ (Pro 3:3, 2Pe 3:18).

To live and move and have our being in Christ is just the beginning, and it takes a miracle to be convinced that not only do we live and move and have our being within Him (Act 17:28), but ultimately this experience of living and moving in the flesh is leading to that time when the indwelling of the holy spirit is going to give us the power to be more than conquerors through Christ. Moses’ countenance, his skin shone, is a type and shadow of having the holy spirit within us (Exo 34:35, Rom 8:9, Rom 8:37). People overcame many physical obstacles in the old covenant in the flesh, but no one has ever overcome one single sin without Christ giving us the victory to do so (Joh 8:36, 2Co 3:18). Neither has anyone been able to grow in the grace and knowledge of Christ that brings us to be mature sons in him, except by being given the holy spirit of God that guides us into all truth and makes a way where there appears to be none in the flesh. That way is the narrow way that is found in our hope of glory Jesus Christ (Joh 16:13, Isa 43:16, Col 1:27).

“Justice and judgment” will go before His face as God grants His elect to be those who are first blessed to see Him face to face (1Co 13:12) so that we may be a city set on a hill for the rest of world to come to understand as being His face (Oba 1:21).

The same thing which we are hated by all the world for keeping, is the very thing that brings us to rejoice in the Lord all the day, and again I say rejoice (Mar 13:13, Php 4:4).

We thank God and rejoice in His truth of which we are growing in grace and knowledge, but we are also “exalted” by God when He gives us the ability to be more than conquerors through our Lord who is exalted within His people through a process of “justice and judgment” that was predestined for “thy people” from the foundation of the world.

Rom 8:30 Moreover whom he did predestinate, them he also called: and whom he called, them he also justified: and whom he justified, them he also glorified.
Rom 8:31 What shall we then say to these things? If God be for us, who can be against us?

Psa 89:17 For thou art the glory of their strength: and in thy favour our horn shall be exalted.
Psa 89:18 For the LORD is our defence; and the Holy One of Israel is our king.

Verse 17 confirms that our going from glory to glory (2Co 3:18) is only possible via Christ through whom we can endure all things.

It takes God’s favor or grace for our horn (power – strength) to be exalted (Php 4:13).

It also takes the Lord staying the hand of Satan in order for verse 17 to be fulfilled, and in that way God is our defense, protecting us as our King against evil and keeping us in this relationship of holiness through “the Holy One of Israel”(1Pe 1:16, 1Jn 4:17).

Because we are in a day of judgment that is upon us, we can be made holy and have a boldness that allows us to continue to come before the throne of His grace to “obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need” (Heb 4:16).

Psa 89:19 Then thou spakest in vision to thy holy one, and saidst, I have laid help upon one that is mighty; I have exalted one chosen out of the people.

The vision or dream is one, and God has placed this vision upon our hearts, the weak of the world, who understand they are mighty in the Lord (Php 4:13). We are exalted because God has exalted us for the purpose that the world will learn that God does what he wants to do with the sons of men to bring to nought things that are via the things which are despised (1Co 1:28, Dan 4:32).

Psa 89:20 I have found David my servant; with my holy oil have I anointed him:
Psa 89:21 With whom my hand shall be established: mine arm also shall strengthen him.

David, in type and shadow, is the accepted and anointed Christ (God’s elect). He (David) was anointed with the “holy oil” which represents a relationship with God via the inspiration of God through this anointing (Joh 16:3). The spirit moved David and the men of old just like oil on water moves about and stays atop the water. God’s elect today have this same anointing, with the difference being that we are being bruised and filling up what is behind of the afflictions of Christ (Col 1:24), which is what is required for his oil to be emulsified and ministered within us as it was upon the Samaritan who was bruised and beaten (again type and shadow), which beating represents God’s elect being rejected by the world but received of God into a place of comfort (the inn or Abraham’s/Christ’s bosom where all that we need will be provided (Php 4:19).

If God be for us, who can be against us (Rom 8:31) is what comes to mind when I read that “mine arm shall strengthen him” to demonstrate that his power, shall be established through His people.

When our Lord tells us that He has “found David”, the underlying idea is what ‘shall be established’. A quick look at the Strong’s number for that word translated as ‘found’ in verse 20 shows us that this Strong’s number H4672 precedes numbers H4673 through 4680:

found^H4672:   mâtsâ’ maw-tsaw’   A primitive root;

properly to come forth to, that is, appear or exist; transitively to attain, that is, find or acquire; figuratively to occur, meet or be present: – + be able, befall, being, catch, X certainly (cause to) come (on, to, to hand), deliver, be enough (cause to) find (-ing, occasion, out), get (hold upon), X have (here), be here, hit, be left, light (up-) on, meet (with), X occasion serve, (be) present, ready, speed, suffice, take hold on.

H4673   matstsâb   mats-tsawb’   From H5324; a fixed spot; figuratively an office, a military post: – garrison, station, place where … stood.

H4674   mûtstsâb   moots-tsawb’   From H5324;
a station, that is, military post: – mount.

H4675 matstsâbâh mitstsâbâh mats-tsaw-baw’, mits-tsaw-baw’
Feminine of H4673; a military guard: – army, garrison

H4676   matstsêbâh   mats-tsay-baw’
Feminine (causative) participle of H5324; something stationed, that is, a column or (memorial stone); by analogy an idol: – garrison, (standing) image, pillar

H4678 matstsebeth   mats-tseh’-beth
From H5324; something stationary, that is, a monumental stone; also the stock of a tree: – pillar, substance.

H4679   metsad metsâd metsâdâh   mets-ad’, mets-awd’, mets-aw-daw’
From H6679; a fastness (as a covert of ambush): – castle, fort, (strong) hold, munition.

H4680   mâtsâh   maw-tsaw’
A primitive root; to suck out; by implication to drain, to squeeze out: – suck, wring (out).

God allows a harlot to ride a beast in our heavens for so many years (Rev 17:3, Rev 17:16) until the time comes that the contrast is made to demonstrate to us what true holiness is, and it can only be when his hand is “established” in our lives (always through that wringing out or just judgment), and his arm strengthens us to endure all things that we can truly live with the confidence of the next verse.

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.

Heb 12:6 For whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth, and scourgeth every son whom he receiveth.

1Th 3:13 To the end he may stablish your hearts unblameable in holiness before God, even our Father, at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ with all his saints.

1Pe 5:11 To him be glory and dominion for ever and ever. Amen.

Psa 89:22 The enemy shall not exact upon him; nor the son of wickedness afflict him.

The day comes when the enemy no longer has to “exact upon him” or “afflict him” as prophesied in this verse in revelation and confirmed in Ephesians (Eph 2:8).

Rev 9:10 And they had tails like unto scorpions, and there were stings in their tails: and their power was to hurt men five months.

That day does not come to its fullness until the sins of the Amorites are fulfilled (Gen 15:16) and I receive a sufficient amount of stripes by which I will learn obedience by those things which I suffer for, just as our Lord did (Heb 5:8). Christ did not suffer for foolishness sake, but we as the second loaf of the wave offering or the second dove that is set free into the field will suffer both for righteousness sake and for foolishness sake which is symbolized by the bread being baked with leaven (sin in the lump that needs to be deactivated through fiery trials 1Pe 4:12) as we grow and mature in our desire to “keep the feast, not with old leaven” (Lev 14:7).

Lev 23:17 Ye shall bring out of your habitations two wave loaves of two tenth deals: they shall be of fine flour; they shall be baken with leaven; they are the firstfruits unto the LORD.

1Co 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.

Psa 89:23 And I will beat down his foes before his face, and plague them that hate him.

I’ll just state the obvious now for God’s people, because I know that we know that God is primarily beating down the foes within us right before our face, and plaguing those parts of us within which are not yet coming down to the feast so to speak (Zec 14:17).

So there is an is, was and will be component to Isa 3:1 where God withholds from us the rain, and if Christ is in us as our hope of glory, we will get very thirsty like the woman at the well and start asking for the living waters through Christ (Joh 4:10).

Next week we will look at the next series of verses which demonstrate God’s faithfulness to His people to create a hunger and thirst in our life to want to keep all His statutes and to be pleasing in His sight always (Psa 119:2, Psa 19:14)

Sometime ago we talked about how God is flushing Adam in us out of the garden as stated in Genesis 3:9.

[see Part 1 of Psalm 51].

He calls both Adam and Eve (because they are one in purpose and corrupt spirit) out of the garden. Adam represents ‘another Jesus’ leading Eve who represents the church in the wilderness, which must come out of this garden where we hide from our Lord, and is brought into giving an accounting of our actions unto the Lord (Rom 14:11, Php 2:11).

This cleansing process of being dragged to Christ to give an accounting is God’s goodness to Israel (of verse 1) and is the way in which He creates a new heart within His people in this age (Eze 36:26). Everything prior to pentecost that looks like this accounting is only a type and shadow of the true dragging to our Lord that leads to deep repentance and fruit being borne (Mat 3:8).

We will now look at how the process of being dragged to Christ is one that has the aim of completely humbling the first man Adam within us, bringing us to understand that we are the workmanship of His hands being formed for His purpose, which is to make us fishers of men who will be able to apply this same merciful process that we are so blessed to be enduring today (Joh 6:44, Mat 4:19).

The elect will narrowly escape (1Co 3:15), as scripture declares, and that escape from a physical perspective will feel very narrow; but from God’s perspective, who has declared the end from the beginning, this escape is certain (Heb 12:2, Php 4:13) and accomplishes exactly what God deems needful and necessary for us to become compassionate and merciful kings and priests of God, who come to learn, deeply and personally, of His working within our hearts. It is an exercise for both personal deliverance and collective deliverance that can only unfold because of the grace and faith being given to God’s elect today in advance of all the rest of the world.

These following verses speak very powerfully of where God brings us all so that we know that it is Him alone who can create within us a “clean heart” which is formed through fiery trials that bring us to cry out unto our deliverer:

Mat 8:24 And, behold, there arose a great tempest in the sea, insomuch that the ship was covered with the waves: but he was asleep.
Mat 8:25 And his disciples came to him, and awoke him, saying, Lord, save us: we perish.
Mat 8:26 And he saith unto them, Why are ye fearful, O ye of little faith? Then he arose, and rebuked the winds and the sea; and there was a great calm.
Mat 8:27 But the men marvelled, saying, What manner of man is this, that even the winds and the sea obey him!

Psa 107:23 They that go down to the sea in ships, that do business in great waters;
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!

Psa 73:13 Verily I have cleansed my heart in vain, and washed my hands in innocency.
Psa 73:14 For all the day long have I been plagued, and chastened every morning.
Psa 73:15 If I say, I will speak thus; behold, I should offend against the generation of thy children.
Psa 73:16 When I thought to know this, it was too painful for me;

Here is the great conflict which we all face at first when we come into the knowledge of the true God. We look at our families and friends and former church members who we know and love and want with all our hearts to receive the word grafted into their hearts as the Lord is doing with us (Rom 11:19, Jas 1:21). After witnessing and being rejected, we struggle with the fact that we know something so great and profound and have suffered for being plagued and chastened “every morning” and yet this generation of “thy children” doesn’t care what we have to say.

Eventually God brings a balance into our hearts where we realize that this is “the day of small things” (Zec 4:10) and that we are not to despise their blindness or their inability to receive the witness that God brings to them through us (2Co 4:4, Joh 9:3). They are serving us in their unbelief, and we are recognizing the incredible privilege that has been given to us: to be grafted in as ‘the generation of thy children’ in the positive sense of the word, and not as the generation of children that we used to be part of when we walked after our former conversation (Eph 4:22). God is dealing with our conceit (Rom 11:25) and making us see that the dragging and converting are His alone to do, and yet when He deems that we have tried fishing long enough by our own power, then we hear our Master tell us where and when and how to cast the net as true fishers of men, which is what He has always been working toward in each of our lives (Joh 21:6, Mat 4:19).

With all this mind it truly is “too painful^H5999 for me” at the start. A look at how this H5999 is translated elsewhere tells us clearly why that is: H5999 = grievance, grievousness, iniquity, labor, mischief, miserable, misery, pain, painful, perverseness, sorrow, toil, travail, trouble, wearisome, wickedness.

So we do understand that it is by tried faith that these trials exercise in us that we will come to a place where we “Rejoice in the Lord alway: and again I say, Rejoice” (Php 4:4) for the wondrous works that the Lord is working in each of our lives to prepare us to be saviours or fishers of men of this world.

Psa 73:17 Until I went into the sanctuary of God; then understood I their end.
Psa 73:18 Surely thou didst set them in slippery places: thou castedst them down into destruction.
Psa 73:19 How are they brought into desolation, as in a moment! they are utterly consumed with terrors.
Psa 73:20 As a dream when one awaketh; so, O Lord, when thou awakest, thou shalt despise their image.

This is the turning point for ‘Asaph’ [see last week’s study and reflection on verse 1 at Psalm 73:1-13] as we recognize that there is an end to all flesh and that God has set the ungodly in “slippery places” (H2513: flattery, smooth things: Psa 12:3) that casts them down from their ‘high places’ to destruction (the ‘day of the Lord’: Zep 1:15, 2Ti 3:1, Luk 21:20).

When our old man is destroyed, we are “brought into desolation, as in a moment! they are utterly consumed with terrors” like Saul of Tarsus that we are (Act 9:6).

The waking from the dream spoken of in verse 20 is a dream that is one, and one that we must live and experience. So we have the parable of the wise and foolish virgins of whom we are both in our appointed time (Mat 25:2). All idols, the lusts and pride and greed and violence and highmindedness and so on – the first heaven and the first earth (Rev 21:1) – will pass away like dreams do once we awaken (Rev 20:5), and all shall be judged that is “despised” (Num 15:31, Rev 20:13-14).

Psa 73:21 Thus my heart was grieved, and I was pricked in my reins.
Psa 73:22 So foolish was I, and ignorant: I was as a beast before thee.

When we are being brought to our wits’ end, we need to be mindful that such a brother or sister is going to have a heart that is “grieved” just as ours has been and will be. We will feel “pricked in my reins” because of the foolish and ignorant way that the Lord has allowed us to carry on before Him, even as a brute beast [for more insight on the “Behemoth” of Job 40 – see http://www.iswasandwillbe.com/job_40_15_24/ ].

We truly do need to anoint each other through our walk and reassure each other when we do fall and come back with a repentant and contrite heart. If we don’t afford this mercy to others, God will not afford it to us (Mat 5:7, Jas 2:13).

Psa 73:23 Nevertheless I am continually with thee: thou hast holden me by my right hand.
Psa 73:24 Thou shalt guide me with thy counsel, and afterward receive me to glory.
Psa 73:25 Whom have I in heaven but thee? and there is none upon earth that I desire beside thee.

After God brings us back to our senses through judgment, we feel held up by God – or as the Psalmist says, “thou hast holden me by my right hand”. God’s right hand produces the fruits brought out in this verse.

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

We are reminded again of the importance of seeking wise counsel through the church, the body of Christ, as we go from glory to glory, being received to that glory which God gives to those in whom He is making a clean heart in this generation.

“Where will we go then” the Psalmist says – “you have the words of eternal life” – or “Whom have I in heaven but thee? and there is none upon earth that I desire beside thee?”

Psa 73:26 My flesh and my heart faileth: but God is the strength of my heart, and my portion for ever.
Psa 73:27 For, lo, they that are far from thee shall perish: thou hast destroyed all them that go a whoring from thee.
Psa 73:28 But it is good for me to draw near to God: I have put my trust in the Lord GOD, that I may declare all thy works.

My heart fails, and that is exactly the point of this whole study. Our hearts fail “but God is the strength of my heart, and my portion for ever“, and He is going to show the world how He can cleanse the bride of Christ and make her ready as He demonstrates to all of Israel [the world] how truly good He is to those who are of a clean heart.

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

Psa 73:1 A Psalm of Asaph. Truly God is good to Israel, even to such as are of a clean heart.

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

God has blessed us to see that He is destroying that part of us that “go a whoring from thee”, and that when we draw near to Him and put our trust in “the Lord God”, we will not only overcome and be able to resist the adversary but also be more than conquerors through him [kings and priests in the making] because He who is in us is greater than he who is in the world (1Jn 4:4).

Jas 4:7 Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.

1Jn 4:4 Ye are of God, little children, and have overcome them: because greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world.

In time we will “declare all thy works”, and the world will discern and understand “Truly God is good to Israel [the Israel of God], even to such as are of a clean heart”.

Mal 3:18 Then shall ye return, and discern between the righteous and the wicked, between him that serveth God and him that serveth him not.

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The Virtuous Body of Christ - Part 7 Discussion

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“The virtuous body of Christ” - Part 7

April 17, 2016

with Steven Crook

 

Mar 4:26  And he said, So is the kingdom of God, as if a man should cast seed into the ground;
Mar 4:27  And should sleep, and rise night and day, and the seed should spring and grow up, he knoweth not how.
Mar 4:28  For the earth bringeth forth fruit of herself; first the blade, then the ear, after that the full corn in the ear.
Mar 4:29  But when the fruit is brought forth, immediately he putteth in the sickle, because the harvest is come.

Good or bad, we always want the harvest of the earth. Physically, it is required for us to live or die if we don’t have it and this is equally as true spiritually. Whether the beasts of the planet partake of the earth and then we use them for sustenance or if we grow crops for our food needs, we benefit from the “fruit” brought forth from the earth.

In our study today, we are going to consider verses 15-18 of Proverbs 31 and how they connect to the kingdom of God of which we are all being trained as kings and priests to rule in.

Today we find ourselves continuing to be admonished by the story of the virtuous woman as told in Proverbs 31.
In verses 15-18 we are told this about the wondrous lady and her qualities by our mother who tells us they are valuable to us as a husband and king.

Pro 31:15  She riseth also while it is yet night, and giveth meat to her household, and a portion to her maidens.
Pro 31:16  She considereth a field, and buyeth it: with the fruit of her hands she planteth a vineyard.
Pro 31:17  She girdeth her loins with strength, and strengtheneth her arms.
Pro 31:18  She perceiveth that her merchandise is good: her candle goeth not out by night.

The first quality found in the verses for today comes from the virtuous woman who is ready to work.

Notice, she does not wait for the morning when everyone else arises but she rises earlier than them to provide for the needs of her home. It is also implied that she must be wealthy because she has maidens which are given a portion as well.

She arises while it is yet night to do these tasks. So then we must consider the timing of her actions and who they benefit. They benefit her but also her household since she is obviously a part of her own household.

Here is what the night represents to us scripturally:

Gen 1:5  And God called the light Day, and the darkness he called Night. And the evening and the morning were the first day.

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.

Job 17:11  My days are past, my purposes are broken off, even the thoughts of my heart.
Job 17:12  They (THE THOUGHTS OF THE HEART) change the night into day: the light is short because of darkness.
Job 17:13  If I wait, the grave is mine house: I have made my bed in the darkness.
Job 17:14  I have said to corruption, Thou art my father: to the worm, Thou art my mother, and my sister.

Psa 104:20  Thou makest darkness, and it is night: wherein all the beasts of the forest do creep forth.

Psa 139:11  If I say, Surely the darkness shall cover me; even the night shall be light about me.
Psa 139:12  Yea, the darkness hideth not from thee; but the night shineth as the day: the darkness and the light are both alike to thee.

Rom 13:10  Love worketh no ill to his neighbour: therefore love is the fulfilling of the law.
Rom 13:11  And that, knowing the time, that now it is high time to awake out of sleep: for now is our salvation nearer than when we believed.
Rom 13:12  The night is far spent, the day is at hand: let us therefore cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armour of light.2
Rom 13:13  Let us walk honestly, as in the day; not in rioting and drunkenness, not in chambering and wantonness, not in strife and envying.

1Th 5:3  For when they shall say, Peace and safety; then sudden destruction cometh upon them, as travail upon a woman with child; and they shall not escape.
1Th 5:4  But ye, brethren, are not in darkness, that that day should overtake you as a thief.
1Th 5:5  Ye are all the children of light, and the children of the day: we are not of the night, nor of darkness.
1Th 5:6  Therefore let us not sleep, as do others; but let us watch and be sober.
1Th 5:7  For they that sleep sleep in the night; and they that be drunken are drunken in the night.
1Th 5:8  But let us, who are of the day, be sober, putting on the breastplate of faith and love; and for an helmet, the hope of salvation.
1Th 5:9  For God hath not appointed us to wrath, but to obtain salvation by our Lord Jesus Christ,

I attempted to use scripture to tell a story there about our transition from night to day. Light was brought forth from darkness just as we are brought forth from night, darkness and death into day, light and life.

In fact, the way darkness is revealed is by bring light to it from WITHIN it. There are many examples I could use, but there is one that is an example that comes from a recent exchange I read on the mailing list this week.

Gen 19:1  And there came two angels to Sodom at even; and Lot sat in the gate of Sodom: and Lot seeing them rose up to meet them; and he bowed himself with his face toward the ground;
Gen 19:2  And he said, Behold now, my lords, turn in, I pray you, into your servant's house, and tarry all night, and wash your feet, and ye shall rise up early, and go on your ways. And they said, Nay; but we will abide in the street all night.
Gen 19:3  And he pressed upon them greatly; and they turned in unto him, and entered into his house; and he made them a feast, and did bake unleavened bread, and they did eat.
Gen 19:4  But before they lay down, the men of the city, even the men of Sodom, compassed the house round, both old and young, all the people from every quarter:
Gen 19:5  And they called unto Lot, and said unto him, Where are the men which came in to thee this night? bring them out unto us, that we may know them.
Gen 19:6  And Lot went out at the door unto them, and shut the door after him,
Gen 19:7  And said, I pray you, BRETHREN, do not so wickedly.

There is a lot that is being said in this story but I am only going to point out applicable parts to our verses today. Notice it is evening when the angels of the Lord come to Sodom. Lot petitions them to stay with him all night but then the men of the city, who Lot references as BRETHREN, come to “do wickedness” to Lot’s guests.

Lot was a watchmen of the gate who knew what would happen to these men and no doubt tried to prevent this by welcoming them in to his home. With all of

Lot’s actions, it was the angels who ended up saving Lot in several ways. The angels saved Lot from the mobs by blinding them and then saved Lot from the LIGHT which would be brought upon Sodom and Gomorrah.

Gen 19:10  But the men put forth their hand, and pulled Lot into the house to them, and shut to the door.
Gen 19:11  And they smote the men that were at the door of the house with blindness, both small and great: so that they wearied themselves to find the door.

And a few verses later:

Gen 19:22  Haste thee, escape thither; for I cannot do any thing till thou be come thither. Therefore the name of the city was called Zoar.
Gen 19:23  The sun was risen upon the earth when Lot entered into Zoar.
Gen 19:24  Then the LORD rained upon Sodom and upon Gomorrah brimstone and fire from the LORD out of heaven;
Gen 19:25  And he overthrew those cities, and all the plain, and all the inhabitants of the cities, and that which grew upon the ground.

The angels of the Lord saved Lot and his family thereby showing us a type of the Passover. This was given to us in that they ate unleavened bread.

I also want you to notice that it was FIRE, which produces a large amount of LIGHT, which was called down from heaven form those which were WITHIN the city while it was DARK. Light was brought forth from darkness in this type and shadow and points us to those that are used, while it is night, to bring about the light of the Word of God.

1Th 5:6  Therefore let us not sleep, as do others; but let us watch and be sober.

Since we are talking about the traits of a virtuous woman we should consider this personality trait that she is who rises early to get to work and in this case it is for the work of the Lord. While other sleep she is providing for her household.

The fruit of our hands

Our next verse points us to why we want to be diligent. We mentioned in our last study that this virtuous woman seeks wool and flax and willingly works with her hands. Well, now we will see that she is benefitted by the work of her hands due to the increase that is gained.

Pro 31:16  She considereth a field, and buyeth it: with the fruit of her hands she planteth a vineyard.

First she considers a field and then buys it. There is an obvious spiritual connection to what this field is and what is IN this field.

Mat 13:37  He answered and said unto them, He that soweth the good seed is the Son of man;
Mat 13:38  The field is the world; the good seed are the children of the kingdom; but the tares are the children of the wicked one;
Mat 13:39  The enemy that sowed them is the devil; the harvest is the end of the world; and the reapers are the angels.

I started this study off by reading from Mark 4. In Mark 4, the earth is mentioned along with seed and harvest of the kingdom.

Let us now connect this with the vineyard and a great treasure.

Deu 28:12  The LORD shall open unto thee his good treasure, the heaven to give the rain unto thy land in his season, and to bless all the work of thine hand: and thou shalt lend unto many nations, and thou shalt not borrow.

Pro 15:6  In the house of the righteous is much treasure: but in the revenues of the wicked is trouble.

Mat 12:35  A good man out of the good treasure of the heart bringeth forth good things: and an evil man out of the evil treasure bringeth forth evil things.

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

Mat 13:52  Then said he unto them, Therefore every scribe which is instructed unto the kingdom of heaven is like unto a man that is an householder, which bringeth forth out of his treasure things new and old.

Mat 6:21  For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.

Luk 5:37  And no man putteth new wine into old bottles; else the new wine will burst the bottles, and be spilled, and the bottles shall perish.
Luk 5:38  But new wine must be put into new bottles; and both are preserved.
Luk 5:39  No man also having drunk old wine straightway desireth new: for he saith, The old is better.

I have continuously stated that WE are, and anyone who God knows of, the body of Christ. We are the virtuous wife that Christ seeks. Christ means anointed. So anyone that is anointed is seeking this virtuous wife but what tells us that we are to ONLY SEEK this wife external to us?

In other words, the kingdom of God is WITHIN you!
If it hasn’t been realized yet, the wine that comes from vineyards, has just been PURCHASED by this virtuous woman but her currency is the blood of Jesus Christ.

The wine is DOCTRINE. That is why you see and immediate issue of doctrine being posed by the Pharisees right after Jesus speaks about the old and new wine being put in old and new bottles.

Luk 6:1  And it came to pass on the second sabbath after the first, that he went through the corn fields; and his disciples plucked the ears of corn, and did eat, rubbing them in their hands.
Luk 6:2  And certain of the Pharisees said unto them, Why do ye that which is not lawful to do on the sabbath days?

Once you realise that you are standing on solid ground, a ROCK so to speak, then you are able to GIRD yourself with this strength.

Your legs are the most powerful muscle groups in your body as far as power goes. The thing that supports your walk is STRENGTH from your legs. Likewise, the thing that supports the STRENGTH of your work is YOUR ARMS.

Why do I mention your WALK and WORKS?

Pro 31:17  She girdeth H2296 her loins with strength, and strengtheneth her arms.

When we gird ourselves, we are places the girdle on our hips and legs around about the area of our waist.

H2296
châgar
BDB Definition:
1) to gird, gird on, gird oneself, put on a belt

Jdg 3:16  But Ehud made him a dagger which had two edges, of a cubit length; and he did gird it under his raiment upon his right thigh.

1Sa 25:13  And David said unto his men, Gird ye on every man his sword. And they girded on every man his sword; and David also girded on his sword: and there went up after David about four hundred men; and two hundred abode by the stuff.

Since we are considering what this strength might be, and we know from scripture that our strength IS THE LORD, it is good for us to know the Lord Himself is covered in strength who then becomes our very covering.

Psa 93:1  The LORD reigneth, he is clothed with majesty; the LORD is clothed with strength, wherewith he hath girded himself: the world also is stablished, that it cannot be moved.

Having all this understanding, wisdom and knowledge helps us as this virtuous body of Christ to know that what we have is truly valuable.

Pro 31:18  She perceiveth that her merchandise is good: her candle goeth not out by night.

We covered in the last study that the merchandise that we have is not from Babylon the great whore who has fallen but from the Lord. Merchandise is something that by definition must be purchased.

However, that purchasing process started because our Husband purchased us with His blood. Then, he gives us a crown as His queen along with a robe and ring which all give us very standing and power.

When we realize all that we have been freely given, it will cause our light to never go out.

In the tabernacle, the Lord commanded that a golden candlestick of oil and light burn day and night.

This is the same Light that must be lit so that the fire of the Word of God burns brightly within us.

Exo 38:21  This is the sum of the tabernacle, even of the tabernacle of testimony, as it was counted, according to the commandment of Moses, for the service of the Levites, by the hand of Ithamar, son to Aaron the priest.

Rev 15:1  And I saw another sign in heaven, great and marvellous, seven angels having the seven last plagues; for in them is filled up the wrath of God.
Rev 15:2  And I saw as it were a sea of glass mingled with fire: and them that had gotten the victory over the beast, and over his image, and over his mark, and over the number of his name, stand on the sea of glass, having the harps of God.
Rev 15:3  And they sing the song of Moses the servant of God, and the song of the Lamb, saying, Great and marvellous are thy works, Lord God Almighty; just and true are thy ways, thou King of saints.
Rev 15:4  Who shall not fear thee, O Lord, and glorify thy name? for thou only art holy: for all nations shall come and worship before thee; for thy judgments are made manifest.
Rev 15:5  And after that I looked, and, behold, the temple of the tabernacle of the testimony in heaven was opened:
Rev 15:6  And the seven angels came out of the temple, having the seven plagues, clothed in pure and white linen, and having their breasts girded with golden girdles.

When we combine the concepts that the husband and wife are one with Jesus Christ and His bride being One, then we can conclude that when we arise in the night to take care of the needs of our household, we are doing so for the household of God.

When we purchase the WORLD, which we are, we do so with the blood of Christ and then we search WITHIN it to find the Light the burns there because this is where our Husband is and because we are concerned with the household and kingdom of God, we are ALWAYS conscious that our friends, family and enemies will all have this Light in them in the Lord’s timing.

This realization will help us keep focused on knowing that all is of the Lord and we are always seeking to work diligently for the kingdom.  None of us are perfect and we definitely have seasons which produce more work than others, but we should not let that discourage us from realizing just how much our Husband loves His wife.

(Key verses: Gen 32:1-32)

Under the theme of sanctification through servanthood, the life of Jacob is one of the examples given to typify how God works this process to set His elect apart to bring them to be truthful servants to Him and His people (Exo 28:41; Exo 29:44; Joh 17:17; Eph 5:27; Col 3:24; Rom 12:1; 1Th 1:3-5). We meet Jacob in the scriptures as a deceiver and manipulator, and with this carnal frame of mind, Jacob was not ready as yet to be of service to God and His people. Jacob manipulated Esau out of the rights of the firstborn and also received the blessing of the inheritance of the firstborn from his father Isaac through evil scheming with the help of his mother, Rebekah (Gen 25:29-34; Gen 27:6-29). Taking possession of the inheritance is a trying and painful process, as Jacob also discovered. He had to leave Canaan to flee from Esau who wanted to kill him, and Jacob lived in Haran in Mesopotamia where he worked for his uncle Laban for 20 years for his two daughters, Leah and Rachel, and also to establish his own flock (Gen 27:42-45; Gen 31:4-7; Gen 30:25-43). Jacob again had to flee, this time from Laban to cross over the river Euphrates to get back into the land which God promised to Abraham and his offspring, even to Jacob (Gen 15:18; Deu 11:24):

Gen 31:3 And the LORD said unto Jacob, Return unto the land of thy fathers, and to thy kindred; and I will be with thee.

Gen 31:20 And Jacob stole away unawares to Laban the Syrian, in that he told him not that he fled.
Gen 31:21 So he fled with all that he had; and he rose up, and passed over the river, and set his face toward the mount Gilead.

Laban then pursued after Jacob and his family in the hope of retrieving his household gods and to convince Jacob and his wives to return to Haran. Laban overtook them in the mount of Gilead, but he was unsuccessful in finding his gods and convincing them to return to Haran. Here in mount Gilead, Laban and Jacob eventually made a covenant not to attack each other (Gen 31:22-55). Jacob was still on the east side of the river Jordan where he is preparing to be confronted by His twin brother, Esau. Before this meeting God knew that Jacob needed special encouragement:

Gen 32:1 And Jacob went on his way, and the angels of God met him.
Gen 32:2 And when Jacob saw them, he said, This is God’s host: and he called the name of that place Mahanaim [meaning “two camps” or “two hosts”].

This place called “Mahanaim” has the number two linked to it which spiritually relates to being a witness, as Jacob received this assurance that God’s army will be there for him as he was preparing to meet with Esau:

Gen 32:3 And Jacob sent messengers before him to Esau his brother unto the land of Seir, the country of Edom.
Gen 32:4 And he commanded them, saying, Thus shall ye speak unto my lord Esau; Thy servant Jacob saith thus, I have sojourned with Laban, and stayed there until now:
Gen 32:5 And I have oxen, and asses, flocks, and menservants, and womenservants: and I have sent to tell my lord, that I may find grace in thy sight.

The reference to Esau as lord indicates Jacob’s carnal idea of being at the mercy of Esau even when he already knew God made him lord over Esau. This is just also to indicate how fleshly thoughts will always bring doubt in our minds, which is the inward battle we all must endure. These doubts in Jacob were further fuelled by the message that came from Esau. Esau was already on his way to meet Jacob with a small army of men:

Gen 32:6 And the messengers returned to Jacob, saying, We came to thy brother Esau, and also he cometh to meet thee, and four hundred men with him.

Naturally when the flesh’s doubts are confirmed by bad news, it goes into a panic and stress mode which usually activates the natural mind to strategize its own way to protect itself. This is what Jacob always did in the past, as he was usually successful in manipulating the outcome of things, or so he and all natural minds believe:

Gen 32:7 Then Jacob was greatly afraid and distressed: and he divided the people that was with him, and the flocks, and herds, and the camels, into two bands;
Gen 32:8 And said, If Esau come to the one company, and smite it, then the other company which is left shall escape.

This time Jacob also remembered the words of God to him as he is learning to lean and depend on God’s provision more and more. Jacob now turns to God in prayer. Prayer is the spiritual instrument God designed for us to use at all times to confess our total dependence on Him for everything and in every situation (1Th 5:17). Prayer also helps us to grow in our faith in Him, as the flesh and all its solutions are taken out of the equation through prayer. All our battles are in essence spiritual and take place in our heavens, which relates to the way we think about things (Rom 12:2; Eph 6:12-18). Jacob is also learning to use the Word of God in prayer as a powerful weapon in spiritual warfare (2Co 10:3-5):

Gen 32:9 And Jacob said, O God of my father Abraham, and God of my father Isaac, the LORD which saidst unto me, Return unto thy country, and to thy kindred, and I will deal well with thee:
Gen 32:10 I am not worthy of the least of all the mercies, and of all the truth, which thou hast shewed unto thy servant; for with my staff I passed over this Jordan; and now I am become two bands.
Gen 32:11 Deliver me, I pray thee, from the hand of my brother, from the hand of Esau: for I fear him, lest he will come and smite me, and the mother with the children.
Gen 32:12 And thou saidst, I will surely do thee good, and make thy seed as the sand of the sea, which cannot be numbered for multitude.

What comfort and peace fills the most fearful and tormented heart when God brings His word and His full armour to our attention, even in our hearts and minds! Perfect love for God’s word is what the fear of God is about when we place His Word above all else and do His commandments with all our hearts (2Co 13:11; 1Jn 4:17-18; 1Jn 5:2-4). This is how we destroy all fear of men as physical Israel was also instructed to always take heed to (Deu 20:1-4; Mat 10:28):

Deu 10:12 And now, Israel, what doth the LORD thy God require of thee, but to fear the LORD thy God, to walk in all his ways, and to
love him, and to serve the LORD thy God with all thy heart and with all thy soul.

In physical terms Jacob also knew that he and the men with him were no match for Esau and his four hundred men. It was Jesus who said that we must sit down and consult how to rather negotiate conditions of peace than to go to war with obvious limited benefits for us:

Luk 14:31 Or what king, going to make war against another king, sitteth not down first, and consulteth whether he be able with ten thousand to meet him that cometh against him with twenty thousand?
Luk 14:32 Or else, while the other is yet a great way off, he sendeth an ambassage, and desireth conditions of peace.

This is what Jacob will do in the form of gifts he will present to Esau to hopefully avoid a confrontation and to cover for his previous transgressions against his twin brother:

Gen 32:13 And he lodged there that same night; and took of that which came to his hand a present for Esau his brother;
Gen 32:14 Two hundred she goats, and twenty he goats, two hundred ewes, and twenty rams,
Gen 32:15 Thirty milch camels with their colts, forty kine, and ten bulls, twenty she asses, and ten foals.
Gen 32:16 And he delivered them into the hand of his servants, every drove by themselves; and said unto his servants, Pass over before me, and put a space betwixt drove and drove.
Gen 32:17 And he commanded the foremost, saying, When Esau my brother meeteth thee, and asketh thee, saying, Whose art thou? and whither goest thou? and whose are these before thee?
Gen 32:18 Then thou shalt say, They be thy servant Jacob’s; it is a present sent unto my lord Esau: and, behold, also he is behind us.
Gen 32:19 And so commanded he the second, and the third, and all that followed the droves, saying, On this manner shall ye speak unto Esau, when ye find him.
Gen 32:20 And say ye moreover, Behold, thy servant Jacob is behind us. For he said, I will appease him with the present that goeth before me, and afterward I will see his face; peradventure he will accept of me.

Jacob sent his family across the Jabbok River that night:

Gen 32:21 So went the present over before him: and himself lodged that night in the company.
Gen 32:22 And he rose up that night, and took his two wives, and his two womenservants, and his eleven sons, and passed over the ford Jabbok [Hebrew: “yabbôq” = emptying/depopulate].
Gen 32:23 And he took them, and sent them over the brook, and sent over that he had.

The word “Jabbok” in Hebrew has to do with emptying or depopulation – reducing the numbers. This also links to the number mentioned here, the number eleven, which spiritually indicates the disintegration of the flesh, spiritually represented by the number ten. It ties in with our theme of sanctification, as this also symbolizes what is happening in Jacob’s life even as he is facing his beastly nature alone. God is taking His elect through this process of getting purged from a life which was occupied with so much darkness and many evils, as per the hand of the Potter (Gen 1:2; Psa 51:5; Jer 18:4; Rom 8:20; 2Ti 2:21). All of this is attained through the process of bearing our own cross (Mat 10:38-39):

Gal 6:3 For if a man think himself to be something, when he is nothing, he deceiveth himself.
Gal 6:4 But let every man prove his own work, and then shall he have rejoicing in himself alone, and not in another.
Gal 6:5 For every man shall bear his own burden.

Jacob needed to be alone as this is actually how each one of us will encounter separation and the crucifixion of our own flesh – it remains a very personal experience with the help of Christ (1Co 15:31; Gal 2:20). It is in this time of personal judgment when Jacob was wrestling with a man, who was the Lord Himself as He appeared in the form of a man:

Gen 32:24 And Jacob was left alone; and there wrestled a man [Hebrew: “‘ı̂ysh” – contraction of “ĕnôsh” which is a mortal being – this links to the Hebrew root word “ânash” which means being frail and feeble] with him until the breaking of the day.

Jesus appeared several times in the Old Testament in human form before his incarnation through Mary, and in all these instances He was a spiritual being who materialized for the sake of those to whom He appeared (Gen 16:7-13; Gen 18:1-33; Jos 5:13-15; Jdg 6:11-25; Jdg 13:3-6). When the Lord appeared as a man to Jacob, He could not prevail against Jacob:

Gen 32:25 And when he saw that he prevailed not against him…

Why could the Lord in this case not prevail against Jacob? In this interesting and strange event written down for our learning, we meet the Lord for the first time as the One who associates with our physical weaknesses and feebleness. This is how the apostle Paul also described this association of Jesus with His creation:

Php 2:5 Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus:
Php 2:6 Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God:
Php 2:7 But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men:
Php 2:8 And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.

The “form of a servant” is also what connects the Lord to what Jacob was typified as. Jesus indeed took on Him the nature of the seed of Abraham and his offspring, even in service to His human generation in Adam (Mat 20:25-28):

Heb 2:16 For verily he [Christ] took not on him the nature of angels; but he took on him the seed of Abraham.
Heb 2:17 Wherefore in all things it behoved him to be made like unto his brethren, that he might be a merciful and faithful high priest in things pertaining to God, to make reconciliation for the sins of the people.
Heb 2:18 For in that he himself hath suffered being tempted, he is able to succour them that are tempted.

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.

Jesus associates with our suffering because through Him we learn that it is through suffering, even at the hand of our own brethren as ordained by the Father, that we learn obedience to become mature in spirit (Heb 12:5-17):

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.

Heb 5:7 Who in the days of his flesh, when he had offered up prayers and supplications with strong crying and tears unto him that was able to save him from death, and was heard in that he feared;
Heb 5:8 Though he were a Son, yet learned he obedience by the things which he suffered;
Heb 5:9 And being made perfect, he became the author of eternal salvation unto all them that obey him;

It was in the garden of Gethsemane where Jesus separated or was withdrawn “a stone’s cast” from His disciples to face His fleshly fear alone:

Luk 22:40 And when he was at the place, he said unto them, Pray that ye enter not into temptation.
Luk 22:41 And he was withdrawn from them about a stone’s cast, and kneeled down, and prayed,

Jesus was 100% human and went through every temptation we encounter (Heb 2:18; Heb 4:15). He is referred to almost twice as many times as the son of man rather than the son of God, though He associates with both these descriptions. The New Testament scriptures according to the King James translation uses the term “son of man” as referring to Jesus a total of 87 times (in Matthew 30 times, in Mark 14 times, in Luke 26 times, in John 11 times, in Acts 2 times, in Romans 1 time, in Hebrews 1 time, in Revelation 2 times). The term “son of God”, referring to Jesus, is mentioned in the King James a total of 46 times (in Matthew 8 times, in Mark 3 times, in Luke 6 times, in John 10 times, in Acts 2 times, in Romans 2 times, in 2 Corinthians 1 time, in Galatians 1 time, in Ephesians 1 time, in Hebrews 4 times, in 1John 7 times, in Revelation 1 time). Jesus is the God of this creation as appointed by the Father, but He is also intimately connected to our flesh in the first Adam:

Rev 1:17 And when I [John] saw him, I fell at his feet as dead. And he laid his right hand upon me, saying unto me, Fear not; I am the first and the last:

When Jesus was facing the physical death of the cross, His flesh and natural mind wanted another way than the way of the Father, like all of us will do at our appointed time. There is a time where we are to wrestle alone with this flesh when we need a God who knows what we are going through. This God is Jesus who went through the same agony we all have to face:

Luk 22:42 Saying, Father, if thou be willing, remove this cup from me: nevertheless not my will, but thine, be done.
Luk 22:43 And there appeared an angel unto him from heaven, strengthening him.
Luk 22:44 And being in an agony he prayed more earnestly: and his sweat was as it were great drops of blood falling down to the ground.
Luk 22:45 And when he rose up from prayer, and was come to his disciples, he found them sleeping for sorrow,
Luk 22:46 And said unto them, Why sleep ye? rise and pray, lest ye enter into temptation.

Jacob at this time of trial at his Jabbok river experience is wrestling with this Son of man. The Lord will indeed prevail in the end as we all will be touched on “the hollow of [our] thigh” to put it “out of joint”:

Gen 32:25 And when he saw that he prevailed not against him, he touched the hollow of his thigh; and the hollow of Jacob’s thigh was out of joint, as he wrestled with him.

As we know the thigh relates to power as this is the most powerful part of the human body to bring about movement and action (Rom 1:20; Gen 32:25; Eze 24:4). The strongest, longest and heaviest bone in the body is also located in the thigh (called the femur). The thigh is also the place where a sword was attached, as indicated in the scriptures (Jdg 3:16; Son 3:8):

Psa 45:3 Gird thy sword upon thy thigh, O most mighty, with thy glory and thy majesty.

The name of Christ is also written on His thigh showing authority and power:

Rev 19:16 And he hath on his vesture and on his thigh a name written, KING OF KINGS, AND LORD OF LORDS.

Abraham wanted his servant to make a vow by keeping his hand under Abraham’s thigh:

Gen 24:2 And Abraham said unto his eldest servant of his house, that ruled over all that he had, Put, I pray thee, thy hand under my thigh:
Gen 24:3 And I will make thee swear by the LORD, the God of heaven, and the God of the earth, that thou shalt not take a wife unto my son of the daughters of the Canaanites, among whom I dwell:

This all helps us to see that the thigh relates to the aspects of might, glory, majesty, authority, power and the rightful legal position to operate from. Like Jacob, we will all be brought to humiliation to bear the reproach of what we have done in our youth or immature state, even our foolish dependence on the delusional strength of our first man Adam (Jer 31:19; Eze 21:12). This is when we are driven to our wits’ end to witness that our earthly strength and words have failed us, and we will repent of our ideas, God willing (Psa 107:23-31). In this we learn that God’s will and all His ways always work together for the spiritual good of us:

Rom 8:26 Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities: for we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered.
Rom 8:27 And he that searcheth the hearts knoweth what is the mind of the Spirit, because he maketh intercession for the saints according to the will of God.
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.

It is only when we are driven to come face to face with our fleshly weakness and hollowness that we discover that we naturally do not have what it takes to make war with the earthly beast outside and inside:

2Co 10:3 For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war after the flesh:

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?

It is indeed the Lamb of God in us who will overcome this earthly beast (Ecc 3:18; Rev 13:18; Rev 17:7-14; 2Th 2:3-8). The elect of God will be the first to see why all these trials in their lives were necessary as their own sea comes to rest within this war in our heavens:

Rev 15:2 And I saw as it were a sea of glass mingled with fire: and them that had gotten the victory over the beast, and over his image, and over his mark, and over the number of his name, stand on the sea of glass, having the harps of God.

This is when we, like the apostle Paul, can understand that the joy of the Lord is our strength as we then know that the power and strength is of God alone:

2Co 12:10 Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for Christ’s sake: for when I am weak, then am I strong.

This is the barrier, symbolized by the Jabbok River, we all need to cross as we, like Jacob and Job among all the other earthly types, will learn within this wrestling and contending with the Lord that He knows of what frame we are (Job 40:2; Gen 2:7; Gen 3:19; Psa 103:14). Here we learn that He is our strength and our blessing in every aspect of our lives, especially in the darkest times we will face before the day breaks within. This new day is the birth of the new man with a new name as we are also given the authority and dominion over our inward fleshly nations “by little and little” (Exo 23:30; Deu 7:22; Rom 6:13-14):

Gen 32:26 And he said, Let me go, for the day breaketh. And he said, I will not let thee go, except thou bless me.
Gen 32:27 And he said unto him, What is thy name? And he said, Jacob.
Gen 32:28 And he said, Thy name shall be called no more Jacob, but Israel: for as a prince hast thou power with God and with men, and hast prevailed.

Jacob’s name means “heel catcher” or “supplanter” because that is the way he came out of the womb of his natural mother, Rebekah, when he was holding onto the heel of his twin brother, Esau. As we know and read in the scriptures, a name relates to the nature of that person, and this old nature of Jacob is now being supplanted by God. This all relates to the fact that the new man in Christ will progressively supplant the old man Adam in all at the appointed time. The name Israel means “a prince hast thou power with God and with men, and hast prevailed”:

Gen 32:29 And Jacob asked him, and said, Tell me, I pray thee, thy name. And he said, Wherefore is it that thou dost ask after my name? And he blessed him there.
Gen 32:30 And Jacob called the name of the place Peniel [Hebrew: “penû’êl”/“penı̂y’êl” = the face of God or facing God]: for I have seen God face to face, and my life is preserved.

To see Christ face to face is to see ourselves first as the marred and weak vessel of clay which He created and subjected to vanity, which He will form again into a new vessel of spirit as He had planned before the creation of this world (Isa 46:10; Jer 18:4; Rom 8:20 Rev 1:1-3; Mat 4:4). We can only face our own beast with the new man Christ in us when we bear the marks of Christ in our own bodies. This is the grace of God when we can count it all joy to even endure all the trials He ordained for us and only after that we can enter into His temple (Rev 15:8):

Gal 6:17 From henceforth let no man trouble me: for I bear in my body the marks of the Lord Jesus.
Gal 6:18 Brethren, the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit. Amen.

Facing God is to submit to His rulership as we also acknowledge that all our steps are directed by God even as the Sun of Righteousness rises up on them with spiritual healing in his wings (Pro 20:24; Jer 10:23):

Gal 6:16 And as many as walk according to this rule, peace be on them, and mercy, and upon the Israel of God.

Mal 4:2 But unto you that fear my name shall the Sun of righteousness arise with healing in his wings; and ye shall go forth, and grow up as calves of the stall.

Although our earthly body decays and all our worldly interests are losing their grip on us, a new life is birthed in us as we are raised with Christ so that “mortality might be swallowed up of life”, even now as a downpayment of that spirit life of Christ in us (2Co 5:1-4; 2Co 5:16-17; Rom 6:3-6; Eph 1:13-14):

Gen 32:31 And as he passed over Penuel [Hebrew: “penû’êl”/“penı̂y’êl” = the face of God] the sun rose upon him, and he halted [Hebrew: “tsâla” – limp] upon his thigh.
Gen 32:32 Therefore the children of Israel eat not of the sinew which shrank, which is upon the hollow of the thigh, unto this day: because he touched the hollow of Jacob’s thigh in the sinew that shrank.

———-

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

Numbers – 2
The Way of a Godly Soldier
Spiritual Bodies Materializing
If A Spiritual Body Materializes, Does It Become Sin?
Christ Made Sin
The Meaning of Names Being Changed
Numbers in Scripture

(Key verses: Gen 12:5-8 Gen 13:1-4; Gen 13:14-18; Gen 22:1-19)

In the fourth part of our discussions on the foundational theme of faith, we will touch on another important aspect of the gift of the faith of Christ and its development and application in us (Eph 2:2-9; Php 3:9). The faith of Christ comes through many examples and types in the Old Testament, although all of them “died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them afar off” (Hebrews 11). Through the life and journeys of Abraham, the faith of this man is given by God as the prime example for us to learn (Rom 1:20). From his initial city of Ur in the Chaldees to the cave of Machpelah in Canaan, Abraham’s life is “written for our learning”, and we truly live by these words in our appointed time (Gen 11:26-Gen 25:10; 1Co 10:11; Rom 15:4; Mat 4:4):

Rom 4:16 Therefore it is of faith, that it might be by grace; to the end the promise might be sure to all the seed; not to that only which is of the law, but to that also which is of the faith of Abraham; who is the father of us all.

Gal 2:16 Knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law, but by the faith of Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Jesus Christ, that we might be justified by the faith of Christ, and not by the works of the law: for by the works of the law shall no flesh be justified.

We meet Abram (only later called Abraham) in the scriptures as a man with a tent – revealing his sojourning heart and mind:

Heb 11:8 (MKJV) By faith Abraham obeyed when he was called to go out into a place which he was afterward going to receive for an inheritance. And he went out, not knowing where he went.
Heb 11:9 By faith he lived in the land of promise as a stranger, dwelling in tents with Isaac and Jacob, the heirs of the same promise with him.
Heb 11:10 For he looked for a city which has foundations, whose builder and maker is God.

Besides his tent, Abram was also fond of an altar – revealing his attitude toward sacrifice in order to obey God. The first time the word “altar” is mentioned in the scriptures is after the global flood in Noah’s days:

Gen 8:20 And Noah builded an altar [Hebrew: “mizbêach”] unto the LORD; and took of every clean beast, and of every clean fowl, and offered burnt offerings on the altar.

The word “altar” is translated from the Hebrew word “mizbêach” which comes from the root word “zâbach” which means “to slaughter an animal”. The shedding of the blood or the life of an animal was instituted by God right in the beginning when an animal had to be slaughtered to cover the nakedness or sin of Adam and Eve (Gen 2:25; Gen 3:21). God made it very clear from the beginning that He will always have respect if we follow His examples and commandments in all things, even when we bring an offering to Him. This example was very important for Abel, the second born of Adam and Eve, which cost him his earthly life:

Gen 4:2 And she again bare his brother Abel. And Abel was a keeper of sheep, but Cain was a tiller of the ground.
Gen 4:3 And in process of time it came to pass, that Cain brought of the fruit of the ground an offering unto the LORD.
Gen 4:4 And Abel, he also brought of the firstlings of his flock and of the fat thereof. And the LORD had respect unto Abel and to his offering:
Gen 4:5 But unto Cain and to his offering he had not respect. And Cain was very wroth, and his countenance fell.

Abel was the type of Christ, the second Adam, who came to set the example for us of how we will also be enabled by Him to follow Him and take up our own cross and lose our own earthly life. This is the true altar of God at which few can eat in this age (1Co 15:45; Gal 2:20):

Mat 10:38 And he who does not take up his cross and follow Me is not worthy of Me.
Mat 10:39 He who finds his life shall lose it. And he who loses his life for My sake shall find it.

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

Without the shedding of blood or the giving up of a life, there is no remission or redemption from sin (Heb 9:22-23; Rom 8:20-23). The word “altar” appeared eleven times in the book of Genesis, and five times Abram was mentioned in connection with an altar. Five is indeed the number of grace through faith in the Scriptures, and these altars of Abram connect the chastening grace of God with our growth in faith:

Heb 12:6 For whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth [Greek: “paideuō”], and scourgeth [flogs] every son whom he receiveth.
Heb 12:7 If ye endure chastening, God dealeth with you as with sons; for what son is he whom the father chasteneth [Greek: “paideuō”] not?

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

God is not abusive, as some want to perceive Him when He ignores human political correctness – God punishes and corrects every spiritual son He receives for their good, even as He works our time of slavery and captivity under sin and spiritual delusion (Ecc 3:1-11; Eph 1:11; 2Th 2:11):

Jer 24:5 Thus saith the LORD, the God of Israel; Like these good figs, so will I acknowledge them that are carried away captive of Judah, whom I have sent out of this place into the land of the Chaldeans for their good.

The first time Abram encountered an altar was immediately after he entered Canaan:

Gen 12:5 And Abram took Sarai his wife, and Lot his brother’s son, and all their substance that they had gathered, and the souls that they had gotten in Haran; and they went forth to go into the land of Canaan; and into the land of Canaan they came.
Gen 12:6 And Abram passed through the land unto the place of Sichem [Hebrew: shekem = ridge or the shoulder], unto the plain [Hebrew: “êlôn” = strength/oak] of Moreh. And the Canaanite was then in the land.
Gen 12:7 And the LORD appeared unto Abram, and said, Unto thy seed will I give this land: and there builded he an altar unto the LORD, who appeared unto him.

The place where Abraham first stopped has much significance for us in our walk of faith. The name of the place, namely “Sichem” (also known as Shechem in the scriptures), relates to a ridge or the shoulder of a person or animal (the upper part of the back). We know the expression “to put shoulder to the wheel” because the shoulder is the place of strength where something is placed when we want to carry it or when a task is to be performed. There are also many examples in scripture which confirm this symbol (Gen 9:23; Gen 21:14; Gen 24:15; Gen 24:45; Exo 28:12; Num 7:9; Isa 9:4; Isa 10:27; Isa 14:25; Jer 28:13-14; Isa 30:6; Mat 11:29-30; Luk 15:5; Act 15:10)

Isa 9:6 For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.

Mat 23:4 For they bind heavy burdens and grievous to be borne, and lay them on men’s shoulders; but they themselves will not move them with one of their fingers.

This is also the first time when Sichem (Shechem) is mentioned in the scriptures, and in the very same verse the Canaanite is also mentioned. The Canaanite was the burden Abram and his offspring, physical Israel, were to carry. This is also spiritually applicable to those who are given the faith of Christ in every age. This is how the apostle Paul describes these Canaanites in our own land – our flesh:

Rom 7:18 For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh,) dwelleth no good thing: for to will is present with me; but how to perform that which is good I find not.
Rom 7:19 For the good that I would I do not: but the evil which I would not, that I do.
Rom 7:20 Now if I do that I would not, it is no more I that do it, but sin that dwelleth in me.
Rom 7:21 I find then a law, that, when I would do good, evil is present with me.
Rom 7:22 For I delight in the law of God after the inward man:
Rom 7:23 But I see another law in my members, warring against the law of my mind, and bringing me into captivity to the law of sin which is in my members.

Abram is showing us what we need to do when we can see these Canaanites in our members and the purpose why God placed them there. Abram built “an altar unto the LORD, who appeared unto him.” Paul also found the same answer:

Rom 7:24 O wretched man that I am! who shall deliver me from the body of this death?
Rom 7:25 I thank God through Jesus Christ our Lord. So then with the mind I myself serve the law of God; but with the flesh the law of sin.

The word “plain” in Genesis 12:6 is “êlôn” in Hebrew, which refers also to an oak tree. Our first tree of death (our old Adam) is to be cut off to make place for the tree of life – the last Adam, Jesus Christ (1Co 15:45-50). It is indeed via this spiritual tree of life that we are redeemed from the curse of this body of death! (Gal 3:13). The word “êlôn” is connected to the Hebrew word “ayil” which means strength. The symbol of the oak tree is to indicate strength – Abram needed God’s strength to deal with the powerful Canaanites in the land. This is what the altar of God brings to us – spiritual strength and life. When we know that we are weak, we give up on our own ideas and solutions as many servants of God, including the apostle Paul, also found it to be the best answer to all of life’s problems (Exo 15:2; 1Sa 30:6; 2Ch 16:9; Psa 84:5; Isa 40:31):

2Co 12:9 And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.
2Co 12:10 Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for Christ’s sake: for when I am weak, then am I strong.

Again the chastening grace of God is linked to our growth of faith. Sichem is connected to the plains or the oak of Moreh. The word “Moreh” means archer or teacher. The altar is the place of sacrifice where we learn to rely on the Word of God and nothing else (Psa 27:11; Psa 32:8; Psa 86:11; Psa 119:33):

Psa 45:3 Gird thy sword upon thy thigh, O most mighty, with thy glory and thy majesty.
Psa 45:4 And in thy majesty ride prosperously because of truth and meekness and righteousness; and thy right hand shall teach thee terrible things.
Psa 45:5 Thine arrows are sharp in the heart of the king’s enemies; whereby the people fall under thee.

Psa 25:12 What man is he that feareth the LORD? him shall he teach in the way that he shall choose.

The second time Abram encountered an altar was when he moved from Sichem to a mountain between Bethel, which was in the west of this mountain, and Hai on the east:

Gen 12:8 And he removed from thence unto a mountain on the east of Bethel, and pitched his tent, having Bethel on the west, and Hai on the east: and there he builded an altar unto the LORD, and called upon the name of the LORD.

The word “removed” is translated from the Hebrew word “âthaq” which indicates growth or maturing, even as we get physically weaker. As we live from every word from God’s mouth, we are always diligent in our awareness that our faith can only grow through much tribulation and the fading of our fleshly crutches and attachments (Mat 4:4; Act 14:22; 2Co 5:1-7). A mountain in the scriptures always represents either our own natural mind’s haughtiness or the doctrine and mind of Christ. Abram again shows his dependence on the mountain of the Lord – God’s way of doing things (Isa 2:2-3; Mic 4:2; Zec 8:3; Oba 1:21). Bethel links to this mountain of the Lord as it means “house of God” while Hai (or Ai) means “heap of ruins” which again relates to our old man, Adam. Our first tabernacle is indeed a “high place” of clay and dung which is in a marred condition from the start as from the hand of the Potter (Gen 2:7; Eze 16; Psa 51:5; Jer 18:4; Rom 8:20). This is what we encounter in our journey from east to west, even as we typically come from the worldly camp outside and enter through the eastern entrance of the tabernacle or temple through the courtyard with all its copper implements (the best of the flesh). Only after all of that can we enter and be seated in the temple proper with all its gold and purity (the doctrine of Christ):

Heb 10:19 Having therefore, brethren, boldness to enter into the holiest by the blood of Jesus,
Heb 10:20 By a new and living way, which he hath consecrated for us, through the veil, that is to say, his flesh;
Heb 10:21 And having an high priest over the house of God;
Heb 10:22 Let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience, and our bodies washed with pure water.
Heb 10:23 Let us hold fast the profession of our faith without wavering; (for he is faithful that promised;)

A famine in the land of Canaan caused Abram and his family to move south, and they eventually ended up in Egypt (Gen 12:9-10). Egypt is spiritually the place where flesh rules supreme and is domineered by its lusts and pride (Exo 1-20; 1Jn 2:16). It is there we compromise the Godly standards and we increase with earthly goods, even as Abraham and his family wanted to save their lives from the famine in Canaan, and their faith in God’s provision faltered (Gen 12:11-16). It is in Egypt and Babylon where there is no place for an altar that pleases God, even as Abram’s old Babylonian lifestyle and riches caused lukewarmness (Jos 24:2; Rev 3:17):

Gen 13:2 And Abram was very rich in cattle, in silver, and in gold.

Through God’s humiliating judgment of his fleshly attitudes, Abram was forced by the rebuke and correction of the heathen Pharaoh to move back to the promised land (Gen 12:17-20). God will use the world to correct us and show us the way back because even the wicked are a servant of God (1Ch 29:11; Job 1:6-12;2:1-8; Pro 16:4; Jer 2:19:Jer 25:9; Jer 27:6; Isa 44:28):

Psa 17:13 Arise, O LORD, disappoint him, cast him down: deliver my soul from the wicked, which is thy sword:
Psa 17:14 From men which are thy hand, O LORD, from men of the world, which have their portion in this life, and whose belly thou fillest with thy hid treasure: they are full of children, and leave the rest of their substance to their babes.

It is then that we, like Abram, return from our backslidings to the same altar of the Lord we left in Canaan:

Gen 13:1 And Abram went up out of Egypt, he, and his wife, and all that he had, and Lot with him, into the south.
Gen 13:2 And Abram was very rich in cattle, in silver, and in gold.
Gen 13:3 And he went on his journeys from the south even to Bethel, unto the place where his tent had been at the beginning, between Bethel and Hai;
Gen 13:4 Unto the place of the altar, which he had made there at the first: and there Abram called on the name of the LORD.

As soon as Abram and his family were back in Canaan, the altar of the Lord is back in its proper place. Abram returned to the same altar in the mountain between Bethel and Hai. This is the time when we start to accept the inevitable destruction of our flesh and all its attachments. It is spiritually the reinstatement of the deadly wound to one of the seven heads of the beast, which is now working the complete destruction process to all seven heads of this beast (which we are). Our growth in faith reveals the inward application of God’s work to strengthen our faith to overcome the influence and roles of Egypt and Babylon, the spiritual harlot, which ruled our lives (Rev 12:1-17; Rev 17:9; 1Jn 5:4):

Rev 13:1 And I stood upon the sand of the sea, and saw a beast rise up out of the sea, having seven heads and ten horns, and upon his horns ten crowns, and upon his heads the name of blasphemy.

Rev 17:3 So he carried me away in the spirit into the wilderness: and I saw a woman sit upon a scarlet coloured beast, full of names of blasphemy, having seven heads and ten horns.

It is at this time that the separation with Lot follows (Gen 13:5-18). While Lot lifted up his eyes to behold “all the plain of Jordan”, God told Abram to lift up his eyes in all directions, even far beyond the earthly glamour with its hidden limitations which our natural perception cannot see. After this separation from Lot, we see the fourth time an altar is mentioned in Abram’s life:

Gen 13:14 And the LORD said unto Abram, after that Lot was separated from him, Lift up now thine eyes, and look from the place where thou art northward, and southward, and eastward, and westward:
Gen 13:15 For all the land which thou seest, to thee will I give it, and to thy seed for ever.
Gen 13:16 And I will make thy seed as the dust of the earth: so that if a man can number the dust of the earth, then shall thy seed also be numbered.
Gen 13:17 Arise, walk through the land in the length of it and in the breadth of it; for I will give it unto thee.
Gen 13:18 Then Abram removed his tent, and came and dwelt in the plain of Mamre, which is in Hebron, and built there an altar unto the LORD.

God’s elect are given to be “full of eyes” to see behind the veil of flesh, even as it is torn progressively as the faith develops through the separation of the Lots in our lives (Job 16:9; Psa 7:2; Hos 6:1). When our faith is developed to see that God is indeed the most powerful lion of Judah who devours all flesh, we will walk in obedience and the fear of God. Abraham “removed his tent, and came and dwelt in the plain of Mamre, which is Hebron, and built there an altar unto the Lord.” The name “Mamre” means vigor or strength. Our growing faith in God gives us the vigor and strength to overcome increasingly. Mamre links with Hebron which means ‘company’. Our vigor and strength come from our fellowship with Christ and His church as we receive the love of God for His body here on earth (Heb 10:19-25; 1Co 12-13). While Lot endeavoured to be relevant and a ruler in Sodom, Abram focused on God and his family. God promised a seed through whom “all the nations of the earth [will] be blessed”, referring physically to Isaac, and his offspring, who is a type of Christ and His elect (Gen 22:18; Gen 28:14; Rom 4:13; Gal 3:16; Gal 3:29). This all prepared Abram for his ultimate test of faith – the call of God to sacrifice this very seed, his son Isaac. This is the fifth time an altar is connected with Abram:

Gen 22:1 And it came to pass after these things, that God did tempt [Hebrew: nâsâh] Abraham, and said unto him, Abraham: and he said, Behold, here I am.
Gen 22:2 And he said, Take now thy son, thine only son Isaac, whom thou lovest, and get thee into the land of Moriah; and offer him there for a burnt offering upon one of the mountains which I will tell thee of.

Those who know their election accept that the faith they are given needs testing and trials. The word “tempt” there in verse 1 of Genesis 22 comes from the Hebrew word “nâsâh”, which means ‘test’.  Here is the Apostolic Bible Polyglot (an English version of the Greek Septuagint Old Testament) of the same verse:

Gen 22:1 (ABP+) And^G2532 it came to pass^G1096 after^{G3326 G3588} these words,^{G4487 G3778 G3588} God^G2316 tested^{G3985 G3588} Abraham,^G* and^G2532 said^G2036 to him,^G1473 Abraham,^G* Abraham.^G* And^G2532 he said,^G2036 Behold,^G2400 it is I.^G1473

Strong’s number for the word “tested” here is G3985 which is the word “peirazō”. Here is the same “peirazō” in the New Testament version of this same event in Abram’s life:

Heb 11:17 By faith Abraham, when he was tried [Greek: “peirazō”], offered up Isaac: and he that had received the promises offered up his only begotten son.

So the word “tempted” is actually related to the word “tried” or “tested”, and it all links to what trials are about, especially the trial of faith which is something we learn to count all joy when we are in these severe trials:

Heb 11:36 And others had trial [Greek: “peira” = the root word of “peirazō”] of cruel mockings and scourgings, yea, moreover of bonds and imprisonment.

Jas 1:2 My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations [Greek: peirasmos = from “peirazō”];
Jas 1:3 Knowing this, that the trying [Greek: “dokimion”] of your faith worketh patience.

1Pe 1:7 That the trial [Greek: “dokimion”] 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.

It is all the same concept, but it is also important to note that God Himself does not tempt anyone (Jas 1:13). Our stronger faith improves our spiritual perspectives, and here we have a clear indication how God “tempts”:

2Sa 24:1 And again the anger of the LORD was kindled against Israel, and he moved David against them to say, Go, number Israel and Judah.

1Ch 21:1 And Satan stood up against Israel, and provoked David to number Israel.

Now we are able to receive this truth that God created all evil and all evil spirits for the very purpose to bring trials and eventual destruction to the flesh (Pro 16:4):

Isa 45:7 I form the light, and create darkness: I make peace, and create evil: I the LORD do all these things.

Isa 54:16 Behold, I have created the smith that bloweth the coals in the fire, and that bringeth forth an instrument for his work; and I have created the waster to destroy.

It is because of the darkness, which we experience first, that we can learn what light is. We are first put through an experience of evil (flesh) to be humbled to learn what good or spirit (God) is all about (Gen 1:2; Ecc 1:13). Right from the beginning God used Satan, the old subtle serpent, and all evil spirits in this regard (Gen 3:1; Job 1:12; Job 2:6-7). Abram was moved by God to build an altar “to offer [Isaac] there for a burnt offering”:

Gen 22:9 And they came to the place which God had told him of; and Abraham built an altar there, and laid the wood in order, and bound Isaac his son, and laid him on the altar upon the wood.

God never intended for Abram to sacrifice Isaac, as human sacrifice is not part of God’s commandments ever (Jer 7:30-31). Some claim that the judge, Jephthah, sacrificed his daughter as a burned offering because of a vow he made to God (Jdg 11:30-40). That is not true as the vow he made was that she “knew no man” and that she will remain a virgin all her life. Jephthah himself was rejected by his own family but chosen by God to lead Israel into victory against the Ammonites, the very offspring of Lot from his younger daughter (Gen 19:30-38). This example of Jephthah and his daughter give us a beautiful type of the elect of God who “bewail [their] virginity” with tears of joy with a sacrifice in the mountain of the Lord. The elect of God are committed to perform their vows to God and not commit any whoredom with the world and its false doctrines (Rev 14:1-5; Mat 25:9-10; Act 21:9). Our flesh shall not have an offspring in spirit – only through the spirit and work of God in us that we can bring forth spiritual fruit. Abraham’s heart already offered Isaac knowing God is able to bring him back to life to fulfill His promise to Abraham. The new heart or renewed mind (through the faith and works of Christ) is where true spiritual sacrifices are made from which our daily actions or “reasonable service” can be judged (Rom 12:1-2):

Jas 2:21 Was not Abraham our father justified by works, when he had offered Isaac his son upon the altar?
Jas 2:22 Seest thou how faith wrought with his works, and by works was faith made perfect?
Jas 2:23 And the scripture was fulfilled which saith, Abraham believed God, and it was imputed unto him for righteousness: and he was called the Friend of God.
Jas 2:24 Ye see then how that by works a man is justified, and not by faith only.

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

Fight
Grace versus Works
Numbers in Scripture
Being Tempted versus Being Tested
Who is the Tempter?
Did Jepthah Commit Human Sacrifice?