Proverbs 26 “To know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge”

Part 3  (Pro 26:6-12)

[Study Aired February 26, 2026]

Pro 26:6  He that sendeth a message by the hand of a fool cutteth off the feet, and drinketh damage.
Pro 26:7  The legs of the lame are not equal: so is a parable in the mouth of fools.
Pro 26:8  As he that bindeth a stone in a sling, so is he that giveth honour to a fool.
Pro 26:9  As a thorn goeth up into the hand of a drunkard, so is a parable in the mouth of fools.
Pro 26:10  The great God that formed all things both rewardeth the fool, and rewardeth transgressors.
Pro 26:11  As a dog returneth to his vomit, so a fool returneth to his folly.
Pro 26:12  Seest thou a man wise in his own conceit? there is more hope of a fool than of him.

Did you notice every verse in our study has the word fool in it, seven times mentioned. Flesh has to see itself for what it is, corruptible foolish flesh that thinks it sees when in reality we are blind without Christ opening our eyes and giving us eyes to see and ears to hear (Joh 9:41, 1Co 3:18, Mat 13:16).

The word fool is mentioned 41 times in the proverbs and 69 times in the entire bible. Fools, with the s, is mentioned 19 times in the proverbs and 42 times in the entire bible. Foolish is meFntioned 13 times in proverbs, and 52 times in the entire bible.

The book of Proverbs corners the market on the subject of a fool, fools, or foolish with a total of 73 entries of those three words as opposed to 90 entries of those three words in the rest of the books of the bible.

The first mention of the word fool is in (1Sa 26:21) where Saul who typifies our flesh is brought to see how he, we, have “erred exceedingly” (Rom 2:4, 1Sa 26:21). David who is a type of Christ brings Saul to see that he is powerless, taking away his sword, and the cruse of water, that belong to him, two symbols of the word of God (Isa 3:1,  results in this Isa 4:1). David does not want to destroy Saul, just as Christ does not want to destroy His anointed, but rather show them that they are powerless, wretched, miserable, poor and blind without Him in their lives (Rev 3:17). This story with the first use of the word fool in it was written for our sakes (1Co 10:11), and unfolded as it did to show us how God is dealing with our own foolish flesh by the sharp two edged sword of God’s word, and the water of the word by which we are washed. It is after we confess our faults that a blessing is pronounced upon us as was the case with Saul who after this encounter with David blessed him and declared that David would prevail, another way of saying our wretchedness will be overcome by Christ in our lives, and we will be more than conquers through him (Rom 7:24-25).

Before we start this section of proverbs, let’s look at some of the verses that lead up to the first use of the word fool in the bible:

1Sa 26:8  Then said Abishai to David, God hath delivered thine enemy into thine hand this day: now therefore let me smite him, I pray thee, with the spear even to the earth at once, and I will not smite him the second time.
1Sa 26:9  And David said to Abishai, Destroy him not: for who can stretch forth his hand against the LORD’S anointed, and be guiltless?

David’s mercy and grace is contrasted with Abishai who represents the spirit of Moses, the old covenant eye for and eye and tooth for a tooth approach discussed in (Mat 5:37-41). Going on…

1Sa 26:10  David said furthermore, As the LORD liveth, the LORD shall smite him; or his day shall come to die; or he shall descend into battle, and perish. [Rom 14:4, Rom 12:19]
1Sa 26:11  The LORD forbid that I should stretch forth mine hand against the LORD’S anointed: but, I pray thee, take thou now the spear that is at his bolster, and the cruse of water, and let us go.
1Sa 26:12  So David took the spear and the cruse of water from Saul’s bolster (Isa 3:1, Isa 4:1); and they gat them away, and no man saw it, nor knew it, neither awaked: for they were all asleep; because a deep sleep from the LORD was fallen upon them.[the deep sleep is symbolic of the whole world being deceived at this time by Satan (2Co 4:4, Rev 12:9)]
1Sa 26:13  Then David went over to the other side, and stood on the top of an hill afar off; a great space being between them: [The great gulf between our flesh and Christ being symbolized by these actions of David on the other side (Luk 16:26)]

Luk 16:26  And beside all this, between us and you there is a great gulf fixed: so that they which would pass from hence to you cannot; neither can they pass to us, that would come from thence.

1Sa 26:15  And David said to Abner, Art not thou a valiant man? and who is like to thee in Israel? wherefore then hast thou not kept thy lord the king? for there came one of the people in to destroy the king thy lord.
1Sa 26:16  This thing is not good that thou hast done. As the LORD liveth, ye are worthy to die, because ye have not kept your master, the LORD’S anointed. And now see where the king’s spear is, and the cruse of water that was at his bolster.
1Sa 26:17  And Saul knew David’s voice, and said, Is this thy voice, my son David? And David said, It is my voice, my lord, O king.

Saul recognizing the voice of David typifies him hearing the voice of the true shepherd Jesus Christ (Joh 10:27-28). There are those who have been in our midst typified by Saul who “have tasted of the heavenly gift, and were made partakers of the Holy Ghost, And have tasted the good word of God, and the powers of the world to come”, only then to fall away as God’s rejected anointed (Heb 6:4-6). In the final analysis, we are being shown Saul will hear the voice of Christ typified by David in the lake of fire, and will know that God worked everything according to the counsel of His own will, taking away the king’s spear and the cruse of water, as He has done with the whole world (Eph 1:11, Isa 3:1, Isa 4:1).

David called Saul God’s anointed, and did not assume that he would be rejected, which is the lesson for each of us to receive each other as Christ, and let God sort out the details of each life in His time as David went on to say in the last part of this chapter (1Sa 26:18-25). A fool as we are seeing is someone who is operating in their flesh as Saul was, and it takes Christ typified by David to bring us to understand  that God is working all things according to the counsel of His own will (Eph 1:11). Saul repented of his wanting to destroy David at this point, and that was what mattered, and David acknowledged by His words and actions that he understood that Saul’s life was a work of the Lord for his sake.

1Sa 26:18  And he said, Wherefore doth my lord thus pursue after his servant? for what have I done? or what evil is in mine hand?(Gal 5:17) [This question typifies Christ convicting us of our sins, which lie at the door of our heart and want to rule over us but will not if Christ is our stronghold in this life (Rom 2:4-6, Gen 4:7, Rom 8:37)]

Rom 2:6  Who will render to every man according to his deeds: “1Sa 26:10  David said furthermore, As the LORD liveth, the LORD shall smite him; or his day shall come to die; or he shall descend into battle, and perish.”

1Sa 26:19  Now therefore, I pray thee, let my lord the king hear the words of his servant. If the LORD have stirred thee up against me, let him accept an offering: but if they be the children of men, cursed be they before the LORD; for they have driven me out this day from abiding in the inheritance of the LORD, saying, Go, serve other gods.
1Sa 26:20  Now therefore, let not my blood fall to the earth before the face of the LORD: for the king of Israel is come out to seek a flea, as when one doth hunt a partridge in the mountains.

David typifies God’s elect [the few small hidden like a flea or partridge that Saul seeks out, like Saul of Tarsus also sought out in the new covenant (Act 9:1-2)] who are accepted in the beloved (Eph 1:5-6), “let him accept an offering” and love our enemies, and heap coals on their heads as he was doing with Saul in this instance (Rom 12:19-21).

Rom 12:19  Dearly beloved, avenge not yourselves, but rather give place unto wrath: for it is written, Vengeance is mine; I will repay, saith the Lord.

1Sa 26:21  Then said Saul, I have sinned: return, my son David: for I will no more do thee harm, because my soul was precious in thine eyes [you loved your enemy (Mat 5:45-45)] this day: behold, I have played the fool, and have erred exceedingly.
1Sa 26:22  And David answered and said, Behold the king’s spear! and let one of the young men come over and fetch it.
1Sa 26:23  The LORD render to every man his righteousness and his faithfulness: for the LORD delivered thee into my hand to day, but I would not stretch forth mine hand against the LORD’S anointed.
1Sa 26:24  And, behold, as thy life was much set by this day in mine eyes, so let my life be much set by in the eyes of the LORD, and let him deliver me out of all tribulation. [because we love our enemies, God comforts us through all our tribulations in this life 2Co 1:2-4]
1Sa 26:25  Then Saul said to David, Blessed be thou, my son David: thou shalt both do great things, and also shalt still prevail. So David went on his way, and Saul returned to his place.

[David going on his way symbolizes our continuing in the Lord, and Saul returning to his place symbolizes our flesh that we continue to need to overcome the rest of our lives]

Christ’s love toward His bride transcends knowledge, and is filled with mercy and will make us more than conquerors through Him (Psa 20:1-9). David as a type of the elect was given power over the enemy, his flesh, represented by king Saul (Rom 8:37).

Pro 26:6  He that sendeth a message by the hand of a fool cutteth off the feet, and drinketh damage.

In the story we just looked at it is David who was sent not as a fool but as a wise man, typifying Christ who brings warning to our flesh, typified by Saul. When we lean unto our own understanding and are not led of the holy spirit (Rom 8:14-16) we cut off our feet, and drink damage, meaning the words we speak do not nourish because they come from our own broken cistern (Jer 2:13), our own carnal reasoning and not from the well spring of life Jesus Christ our hope of glory within who represents the positive cistern from where living waters can flow (Joh 4:14, Pro 5:15, Rev 7:17, Joh 7:38)

Jer 2:13  For my people have committed two evils; they have forsaken me the fountain of living waters, and hewed them out cisterns, broken cisterns, that can hold no water.

Joh 7:37  In the last day, that great day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried, saying, If any man thirst, let him come unto me, and drink.[Php 4:6-7]
Joh 7:38  He that believeth on me, as the scripture hath said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water.

Pro 26:7  The legs of the lame are not equal: so is a parable in the mouth of fools.

The legs not being equal represents our walk our way of life. So even if the words are correct in our mouth if they are not being spoken in love God says that those words are coming from one whose legs are lame, not equal, nullifying the parable that is coming from the mouth of a fool. Why do you call me Lord Lord and don’t do the things that I say is having unequal legs (Luk 6:46). The unequal leg represents those times of hypocrisy in our flesh that God is able to burn out of us through His chastening grace (Rom 2:21-24).

Luk 6:46  And why call ye me, Lord, Lord, and do not the things which I say?

Pro 26:8  As he that bindeth a stone in a sling, so is he that giveth honour to a fool.

A sling was used as a weapon in the ancient world and if the stone was not bound when it was launched it would be an effective weapon, a metaphor for us today of using the word of God rightly in order to slay Goliath in our heavens (1Sa 17:48-51). Killing Goliath twice is a witness that this battle against our inward giants can only be accomplished through the true witness Jesus Christ within us (Rev 3:14, 1Sa 17:47).

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.
1Sa 17:48  And it came to pass, when the Philistine arose, and came and drew nigh to meet David, that David hasted, and ran toward the army to meet the Philistine.
1Sa 17:49  And David put his hand in his bag, and took thence a stone, and slang it, and smote the Philistine in his forehead, that the stone sunk into his forehead; and he fell upon his face to the earth.
1Sa 17:50  So David prevailed over the Philistine with a sling and with a stone, and smote the Philistine, and slew him; but there was no sword in the hand of David.
1Sa 17:51  Therefore David ran, and stood upon the Philistine, and took his sword, and drew it out of the sheath thereof, and slew him, and cut off his head therewith. And when the Philistines saw their champion was dead, they fled.

Rev 3:14  And unto the angel of the church of the Laodiceans write; These things saith the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the beginning of the creation of God;

If the stone is bound in a sling it won’t launch, and it may backfire and injure the person using the weapon, another metaphor telling us that if we are unskilled in using the word, we are as a babe (Heb 5:13), unskillful not having had our senses exercised yet to discern good and evil (Heb 5:14). God permitting we will grow unto maturity by the increase that He alone can give (Heb 6:1-3, 1Co 3:6).

Heb 5:14  But strong meat belongeth to them that are of full age, even those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil.

Heb 6:3  And this will we do, if God permit.

Giving honour to a fool can be likened unto laying hands on a novice who is yet a babe and not skillful in the word. Doing this can backfire like the bound stone in the sling and injure the body of Christ, or just simply stunt the growth of the church (1Ti 5:22).

1Ti 5:22  Lay hands suddenly on no man, neither be partaker of other men’s sins: keep thyself pure.

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

Thorns and briars as we know represent false doctrine (Isa 27:4, Gen 3:18), and when a fool who is likened unto a spiritual drunkard takes God’s word and wraps it around the idol of their heart [a stone bound in sling], that word becomes a thorn or briar that causes damage to the one holding on to the lie “a thorn goeth up into the hand of a drunkard”. As such they can bring spiritual damage to themselves and also to the one who receives the lie and does not try the spirits whether it is of the Lord or not (1Jn 4:1).

A beautiful and comforting reminder is written for us of what God will do with all the thorns and briars in our lives (Isa 27:1-6).

Isa 27:3  I the LORD do keep it; I will water it every moment: lest any hurt it, I will keep it night and day.
Isa 27:4  Fury is not in me: who would set the briers and thorns against me in battle? I would go through them, I would burn them together.(Jer 5:14)
Isa 27:5  Or let him take hold of my strength, that he may make peace with me; and he shall make peace with me.(Php 4:6-7)
Isa 27:6  He shall cause them that come of Jacob to take root: Israel shall blossom and bud, and fill the face of the world with fruit. [the elect symbolized by Aaron’s rod that budded will bring salvation to all the world (Num 17:8, Oba 1:21)]

Pro 26:10  The great God that formed all things both rewardeth the fool, and rewardeth transgressors.

Pro 26:10 Much travails forth all the more, Yet the hire of the stupid person and his hirer shall pass away.”[CLV]
Pro 26:10 [As] an archer who wounds all, so is he who hires a fool, and he who hires those who pass by.[ACV]

God formed the fool and the transgressor, who is naturally within us as was the case with Adam and Eve, and needs to be destroyed (Isa 45:7 , Gen 3:6).

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

Gen 3:6 And when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was pleasant to the eyes, and a tree to be desired to make one wise, she took of the fruit thereof, and did eat, and gave also unto her husband with her; and he did eat.

Rewarding a fool^H3684 and a transgressor^H5674 is the same thing, and in the Hebrew language we see this witness happening all the time in scripture, where an idea is repeated twice. The word transgressor here means ones who passes over, or crosses over, or goes over, and that is what manifests in the fool when he crosses the path of a harlot and does not flee fornication (problem Pro 6:1-35 , solution Pro 7:1-27).

God’s elect have been blessed to escape like a bird from the fowler’s snare (Psa 124:7) and don’t pass near her gates any longer, or cross over toward the spiritual house of ill repute one could say. God uses the odious sin of fornication that should not be once named amongst us (Eph 5:3) to show us His great disdain for the harlot churches of this world. It is in our simple unconverted easily manipulated, less than carnal babe state that we are easily seduced by the false doctrines of the harlot. We have to go into her to come out!(2Co 6:17)

Eph 5:3 But fornication, and all uncleanness, or greed, shall not even be named among you as befits the sanctified,

Pro 7:8 Passing through the street near her corner; and he went the way to her house,

1Co 6:17 But he that is joined unto the Lord is one spirit.
1Co 6:18 Flee fornication. Every sin that a man doeth is without the body; but he that committeth fornication sinneth against his own body.
1Co 6:19 What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own?
1Co 6:20 For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God’s.

H3684  kesı̂yl   kes-eel’   fool
From H3688; properly fat, that is, (figuratively) stupid or silly: – fool (-ish).
Total KJV occurrences: 70

H5674  ‛âbar   transgressors
BDB Definition:
1) to pass over or by or through, alienate, bring, carry, do away, take, take away, transgress
1a) (Qal)
1a1) to pass over, cross, cross over, pass over, march over, overflow, go over
1a2) to pass beyond
1a3) to pass through, traverse
1a3a) passers-through (participle)
1a3b) to pass through (the parts of victim in covenant)
1a4) to pass along, pass by, overtake and pass, sweep by
1a4a) passer-by (participle)
1a4b) to be past, be over
1a5) to pass on, go on, pass on before, go in advance of, pass along, travel, advance
1a6) to pass away
1a6a) to emigrate, leave (one’s territory) [Jud 1:6]
1a6b) to vanish
1a6c) to perish, cease to exist
1a6d) to become invalid, become obsolete (of law, decree)
1a6e) to be alienated, pass into other hands
1b) (Niphal) to be crossed
1c) (Piel) to impregnate, cause to cross
1d) (Hiphil)
1d1) to cause to pass over, cause to bring over, cause to cross over, make over to, dedicate, devote
1d2) to cause to pass through
1d3) to cause to pass by or beyond or under, let pass by
1d4) to cause to pass away, cause to take away
1e) (Hithpael) to pass over
Part of Speech: verb
A Related Word by BDB/Strong’s Number: a primitive root

Pro 26:11  As a dog returneth to his vomit, so a fool returneth to his folly.

There is that stage in our walk where we come to see that we are powerless over sin, and cannot overcome being in bondage to sin (Eph 2:1-6).

Eph 2:1  And you hath he quickened, who were dead in trespasses and sins;
Eph 2:2  Wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience:
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.

Even if we are remorseful for the sin in our life and seem to gain temporary relief from the slavery were in, God uses these most discouraging times of our life to remind us that it is only Christ who can set us free from sin (Rom 8:28), and if he does we will not repeat those patterns any longer being made freed from these sinful patterns by the son of God (Joh 8:31-36).

Joh 8:34  Jesus answered them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Whosoever committeth sin is the servant of sin.
Joh 8:35  And the servant abideth not in the house for ever: but the Son abideth ever.
Joh 8:36  If the Son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed.

Pro 26:12  Seest thou a man wise in his own conceit? there is more hope of a fool than of him.

Here is an example of a man who is wise in his own conceit “We be Abraham’s seed, and were never in bondage to any man: how sayest thou, Ye shall be made free?” (Rom 11:18-27). That is the self righteous spirit that wants to rule over our heavens and can only be overcome by the righteousness of Christ being found within us (Php 3:6-9, Gal 2:16, Gal 3:3-5, 1Jn 5:4-5, 2Co 1:24).

Rom 11:25  For I would not, brethren, that ye should be ignorant of this mystery, lest ye should be wise in your own conceits; that blindness in part is happened to Israel, until the fulness of the Gentiles be come in.
Rom 11:26  And so all Israel shall be saved: as it is written, There shall come out of Sion the Deliverer, and shall turn away ungodliness from Jacob:(Joh 8:36)
Rom 11:27  For this is my covenant unto them, when I shall take away their sins.

Php 3:8  Yea doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but dung, that I may win Christ,
Php 3:9  And be found in him, not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith:

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.

Gal 3:3  Are ye so foolish? having begun in the Spirit, are ye now made perfect by the flesh?
Gal 3:4  Have ye suffered so many things in vain? if it be yet in vain.
Gal 3:5  He therefore that ministereth to you the Spirit, and worketh miracles among you, doeth he it by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith?

1Jn 5:4  For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world: and this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith.
1Jn 5:5  Who is he that overcometh the world, but he that believeth that Jesus is the Son of God?

2Co 1:24  Not for that we have dominion over your faith, but are helpers of your joy: for by faith ye stand.

The Book of Romans – Part 30, Fulfilling the Law Through Love

[Study Aired April 23, 2024]

Rom 13:8 Owe no man any thing, but to love one another: for he that loveth  another hath fulfilled the law.
Rom 13:9 For this, Thou shalt not commit adultery, Thou shalt not kill, Thou shalt  not steal, Thou shalt not bear false witness, Thou shalt not covet; and if there be  any other commandment, it is briefly comprehended in this saying, namely, Thou  shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.
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 me, that now it is high me 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.
Rom 13:13 Let us walk honestly, as in the day; not in riong and drunkenness, not  in chambering and wantonness, not in strife and envying.
Rom 13:14 But put ye on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make not provision for the  flesh, to fulfil the lusts thereof.

In Romans 13: 8-14, Paul ventures into the essence of Christian living, emphasizing the centrality of love in fulfilling God’s law. He begins by urging us to love one another, asserting that love encompasses all of God’s commandments. Listing  specific directives, like avoiding adultery, killing, falsehoods and covetousness, Paul emphasizes that these are all encompassed in the overarching principle of loving our neighbors as ourselves. Love, he contends, inherently refrains from causing harm to others. Urging vigilance, Paul underscores the urgency of awakening from spiritual slumber, likening the time to the fading darkness of night and the imminent arrival of dawn. He encourages believers to cast off the works of darkness and embrace the virtues symbolized by the armor of light.

Furthermore, Paul warns against indulging in behaviors like excessive revelry, drunkenness, promiscuity and discord, advocating instead for a lifestyle characterized by integrity and a rejection of selfish desires. He exhorts believers to emulate Jesus Christ and resist the allure of gratifying sinful inclinations. These verses serve as a compelling reminder of the transformative power of love and the necessity for us to live authentically in anticipation of Christ’s return.

What is love?

John 15:13 Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.

1 Corinthians 13:4-7 Charity (love) suffereth long, and is kind; charity (love) envieth not; charity (love) vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up, Doth not behave itself unseemly, seeketh not her own, is not easily provoked, thinketh no evil; (love)  Rejoiceth not in iniquity, but (love) rejoiceth in the truth; (love) Beareth all things, (love) believeth all things, (love) hopeth all things, (love) endureth all things.

1 John 3:18 My little children, let us not love in word, neither in tongue; but in deed and in truth.

1 John 4:8 He that loveth not knoweth not God; for God is love.

1 John 4:18-19 There is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth out fear: because fear hath torment. He that feareth is not made perfect in love. We love him, because he first loved us.

These verses emphasize the qualities and actions of love. Love is patient and kind, not envious or boastful. It doesn’t behave rudely or selfishly and isn’t easily angered or resentful. Love rejoices in truth, bears all things, believes, hopes and endures.  It’s not merely expressed in words but in actions and truthfulness. Those who don’t love don’t understand God, for God is love. Perfect love removes fear, as fear involves torment. We love because God loved us first, exemplifying the essence of  love.

God’s love toward us meets all the above standards.

Unconditional Love: God’s love is unconditional and not based on our merit or actions. Romans 5:8 says, “But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.” This verse highlights that God’s love extends to us even in our brokenness and sinfulness.

Everlasting Love: God’s love is everlasting and unchanging. Jeremiah 31:3 declares, “The LORD hath appeared of old unto me, saying, Yea, I have loved thee with an everlasting love: therefore with lovingkindness have I drawn thee.” This verse assures us that God’s love for us endures forever.

Self-Sacrificial Love: God’s love is demonstrated through sacrificial actions. John 3:16 famously states, “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.” God’s ultimate act of love was sending Jesus to die for our sins, showing the depth of His sacrificial love for humanity.

Personal Love: God’s love is personal and individualized. Psalm 139:17-18 says, “How precious also are thy thoughts unto me, O God! how great is the sum of them! If I should count them, they are more in number than the sand: when I awake, I am still with thee.” God’s love is intimately concerned with each person, knowing them intimately and caring for them deeply.

Transformative Love: God’s love has the power to transform lives. 1 John 4:16 states, “And we have known and believed the love that God hath to us. God is love; and he that dwelleth in love dwelleth in God, and God in him.” When we experience and embrace God’s love, it changes us from the inside out, enabling us to love others as He loves us.

Our goal is to continually “walk in love.” This is a daily challenge and will take a lifetime to complete. Day by day, Lord willing, we will overcome everything that is against love within us. There is only one way this can be achieved.

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

Eph 5:1-21 Be ye therefore followers of God, as dear children; And walk in love, as Christ also hath loved us, and hath given himself for us an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweetsmelling savour. But fornication, and all uncleanness,  or covetousness, let it not be once named among you, as becometh saints; Neither filthiness, nor foolish talking, nor jesting, which are not convenient: but rather giving of thanks. For this ye know, that no whoremonger, nor unclean person, nor covetous man, who is an idolater, hath any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God. Let no man deceive you with vain words: for because of these things cometh the wrath of God upon the children of disobedience. Be not ye therefore partakers with them. For ye were sometimes darkness, but now are ye light in the Lord: walk as children of light: (For the fruit of the Spirit is in all goodness and righteousness and truth;) Proving what is acceptable unto the Lord. And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather reprove them. For it is a shame even to speak of those things which are done of them in secret. But all things that are reproved are made manifest by the light: for whatsoever doth make manifest is light. Wherefore he saith, Awake thou that sleepest, and arise from the dead, and Christ shall give thee light. See then that ye walk circumspectly, not as fools, but as wise, Redeeming the time, because the days are evil. Wherefore be ye not unwise, but understanding what the will of the Lord is. And be not drunk  with wine, wherein is excess; but be filled with the Spirit; Speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart  to the Lord; Giving thanks always for all things unto God and the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ; Submitting yourselves one to another in the fear of God.

The Book of Romans, Part 23 – Continuing Down the Romans Road to Salvation

[Study Aired December 26, 2023]

Rom 10:1 Brethren, my heart’s desire and prayer to God for Israel is, that they might be saved.
Rom 10:2 For I bear them record that they have a zeal of God, but not according to knowledge. 
Rom 10:3 For they being ignorant of God’s righteousness, and going about to establish their own righteousness, have not submitted themselves unto the righteousness of God. 
Rom 10:4 For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to every one that believeth. 
Rom 10:5 For Moses describeth the righteousness which is of the law, That the man which doeth those things shall live by them. 
Rom 10:6 But the righteousness which is of faith speaketh on this wise, Say not in thine heart, Who shall ascend into heaven? (that is, to bring Christ down from above:) 
Rom 10:7 Or, Who shall descend into the deep? (that is, to bring up Christ again from the dead.)
Rom 10:8 But what saith it? The word is nigh thee, even in thy mouth, and in thy heart: that is, the word of faith, which we preach; 
Rom 10:9 That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. 
Rom 10:10 For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. 
Rom 10:11 For the scripture saith, Whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed. 
Rom 10:12  For there is no difference between the Jew and the Greek: for the same Lord over all is rich unto all that call upon him. 
Rom 10:13  For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved. 

As we continue our study of Romans in chapter 10, it is crucial to frame our review within the broader context of the relationship between Christ’s teachings, as articulated especially in Matthew chapter 5, and the reflections of Paul in Romans 1-9. Christ addresses the essence of the law, emphasizing its continuity and fulfillment through His arrival. This sets the stage for a shift from a mere physical adherence to the law towards a deeper, spiritual worship. Paul, in his writings in Romans 1-9, lays the groundwork by unraveling the universal predicament of mankind’s sinfulness and the insufficiency of observance of the law of Moses for justification. Both Christ and Paul converge on the theme of righteousness exceeding mere external compliance and underscore the transformative power of faith, paving the way for a spiritual understanding of worship that transcends ritualistic traditions.

Against this backdrop, Romans chapter 10 emerges as a pivotal segment in Paul’s discourse. This chapter serves as a bridge between the foundational principles established in the preceding chapters and the practical implications of faith in Christ. In Romans 10, we witness Paul delving into the significance of faith in salvation and the proclamation of the Gospel. As we review the verses of this chapter, it is essential to discern how Paul’s teachings align with Christ’s call for an inward transformation and the surpassing righteousness that comes through faith. Together, Matthew 5 and Romans 1-9 provide a comprehensive framework for understanding the profound shifts that underscore the transition from a legalistic, physical worship to a spiritual worship grounded in the redemptive work of Christ.

The following is a comparison between Christ’s teachings and Paul’s teachings.

The Purpose of the Law and Fulfillment

Matthew 5:17-18 Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfill. For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled. 

Rom 2:12-16 For as many as have sinned without law shall also perish without law: and as many as have sinned in the law shall be judged by the law; (For not the hearers of the law are just before God, but the doers of the law shall be justified. For when the Gentiles, which have not the law, do by nature the things contained in the law, these, having not the law, are a law unto themselves: Which shew the work of the law written in their hearts, their conscience also bearing witness, and their thoughts the mean while accusing or else excusing one another;) In the day when God shall judge the secrets of men by Jesus Christ according to my gospel.

Gal 3:21-25 Is the law then against the promises of God? God forbid: for if there had been a law given which could have given life, verily righteousness should have been by the law. But the scripture hath concluded all under sin, that the promise by faith of Jesus Christ might be given to them that believe. But before faith came, we were kept under the law, shut up unto the faith which should afterwards be revealed. Wherefore the law was our schoolmaster to bring us unto Christ, that we might be justified by faith. But after that faith is come, we are no longer under a schoolmaster.

How is the law fulfilled?

Rom 13:8-10 Owe no man any thing, but to love one another: for he that loveth another hath fulfilled the law. For this, Thou shalt not commit adultery, Thou shalt not kill, Thou shalt not steal, Thou shalt not bear false witness, Thou shalt not covet; and if there be any other commandment, it is briefly comprehended in this saying, namely, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. Love worketh no ill to his neighbour: therefore love is the fulfilling of the law.

Gal 5:14 For all the law is fulfilled in one word, even in this; Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.

Jas 2:8-10 If ye fulfil the royal law according to the scripture, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself, ye do well: But if ye have respect to persons, ye commit sin, and are convinced of the law as transgressors. For whosoever shall keep the whole law, and yet offend in one point, he is guilty of all.

Internal Righteousness

Matthew 5:20 For I say unto you, That except your righteousness shall exceed the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, ye shall in no case enter into the kingdom of heaven.

Romans 3:22 Even the righteousness of God which is by faith of Jesus Christ unto all and upon all them that believe: for there is no difference.

Circumcision of the Heart

Matthew 5:8 Blessed are the pure in heart: for they shall see God.

Romans 2:29 But he is a Jew, which is one inwardly; and circumcision is that of the heart, in the spirit, and not in the letter; whose praise is not of men, but of God.

The Universality of Sin

Psa 53:1-3 To the chief Musician upon Mahalath, Maschil, A Psalm of David. The fool hath said in his heart, There is no God. Corrupt are they, and have done abominable iniquity: there is none that doeth good. God looked down from heaven upon the children of men, to see if there were any that did understand, that did seek God. Every one of them is gone back: they are altogether become filthy; there is none that doeth good, no, not one.

Mat 9:11-13 And when the Pharisees saw it, they said unto his disciples, Why eateth your Master with publicans and sinners? But when Jesus heard that, he said unto them, They that be whole need not a physician, but they that are sick. But go ye and learn what that meaneth, I will have mercy, and not sacrifice: for I am not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.

Romans 3:23 For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God.

Transformation of the Heart

Matthew 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;

Rom 5:8-10 But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. Much more then, being now justified by his blood, we shall be saved from wrath through him. For if, when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, being reconciled, we shall be saved by his life.

The Call to Perfection and Holiness

Matthew 5:48 Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect.

Romans 6:19 I speak after the manner of men because of the infirmity of your flesh: for as ye have yielded your members servants to uncleanness and to iniquity unto iniquity; even so now yield your members servants to righteousness unto holiness.

In Jesus’ teachings, a recurring theme emerges, emphasizing not the nullification but the fulfillment of God’s laws. This aligns with Paul’s insights in Romans, where he conveys the concept of judgment, asserting that everyone, irrespective of their familiarity with God’s laws, will face judgment. This means it’s not just about understanding God’s laws, but actually putting them into action. This idea matches with what Jesus talks about when He discusses doing what is right. Moreover, when Jesus talks about nurturing a pure heart, this goes along with Paul’s discussion on the necessity of an internal spiritual transformation, indicating a complete change within our inner man. Both narratives underscore that authentic righteousness surpasses external adherence to rules and necessitates a genuine transformation of the heart. Paul’s assertion that faith in Jesus is crucial for alignment with God parallels with Jesus’s commentary of excelling in following God’s laws. These narratives converge on a central message of living out faith, prompting a change in both heart and conduct. The call for perfection by Jesus and Paul’s encouragement to pursue righteousness and holiness through faith, collectively point toward a changing pattern — a transition from adherence to a physical law to an embrace of a spiritual law. Lastly, the all-encompassing theme of love, particularly for those who may not reciprocate it, underscores a unified lesson on faith, virtue, and compassion, implying a profound transformation from a law rooted in physical observance to one grounded in a spiritual understanding.

Rom 10:1 Brethren, my heart’s desire and prayer to God for Israel is, that they might be saved.
Rom 10:2 For I bear them record that they have a zeal of God, but not according to knowledge.
Rom 10:3 For they being ignorant of God’s righteousness, and going about to establish their own righteousness, have not submitted themselves unto the righteousness of God.
Rom 10:4 For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to every one that believeth.

Paul is restating his hope for his “kinsmen in the flesh”. He knows that in the ages to come they will be saved but he desires them to repent of the old and accept the new now if the Lord wills.

Rom 9:3-5 For I could wish that myself were accursed from Christ for my brethren, my kinsmen according to the flesh: Who are Israelites; to whom pertaineth the adoption, and the glory, and the covenants, and the giving of the law, and the service of God, and the promises; Whose are the fathers, and of whom as concerning the flesh Christ came, who is over all, God blessed for ever. Amen.

Rom 10:5 For Moses describeth the righteousness which is of the law, That the man which doeth those things shall live by them. 
Rom 10:6 But the righteousness which is of faith speaketh on this wise, Say not in thine heart, Who shall ascend into heaven? (that is, to bring Christ down from above:) 
Rom 10:7 Or, Who shall descend into the deep? (that is, to bring up Christ again from the dead.)
Rom 10:8 But what saith it? The word is nigh thee, even in thy mouth, and in thy heart: that is, the word of faith, which we preach; 
Rom 10:9 That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. 
Rom 10:10 For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.
Rom 10:11 For the scripture saith, Whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed.

Who shall ascend up to heaven? Who shall descend into the deep? We do not have to go anywhere to find Christ. If you are Christ’s, then He is dwelling within you.

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

Rom 10:12 For there is no difference between the Jew and the Greek: for the same Lord over all is rich unto all that call upon him.

There is no difference between the Jew and the Greek according to the flesh. We are all sinners and must be changed in order to enter into the kingdom of God.

Romans 3:23 For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God.

Joh 3:3-8 Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God. Nicodemus saith unto him, How can a man be born when he is old? can he enter the second time into his mother’s womb, and be born? Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God. That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again. The wind bloweth where it listeth, and thou hearest the sound thereof, but canst not tell whence it cometh, and whither it goeth: so is every one that is born of the Spirit.

Rom 10:13 For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved. 

Going back to an earlier study in Romans discussing the doctrine of “The Romans’ Road”. We now have seen all the verses involved in this doctrine. Here are the verses.

Romans 3:23 For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God.

Romans 6:23 For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Romans 5:8 But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.

Romans 10:9-10 That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.

Romans 10:13 For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.

All we have to do is call upon the name of the Lord, and we shall be saved. Of course, I speak as a fool if you take this in the literal sense. What is “calling upon the name of the Lord?” Our way of life is how we call upon the name of the Lord. Christ in us will cause us to walk differently than the rest of mankind. We will lay down our lives for each other, which is the ultimate sacrifice. The trouble with this doctrine is they truly do not believe that everyone will call upon the Lord and be saved. The scriptures say differently.

Isa 45:23-25 I have sworn by myself, the word is gone out of my mouth in righteousness, and shall not return, That unto me every knee shall bow, every tongue shall swear. Surely, shall one say, in the LORD have I righteousness and strength: even to him shall men come; and all that are incensed against him shall be ashamed. In the LORD shall all the seed of Israel be justified, and shall glory.

As we know this is all done in its proper order.

Rom 1:16 For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek.

Rom 2:9-11 Tribulation and anguish, upon every soul of man that doeth evil, of the Jew first, and also of the Gentile; But glory, honour, and peace, to every man that worketh good, to the Jew first, and also to the Gentile: For there is no respect of persons with God.

1Co 15:20-26 But now is Christ risen from the dead, and become the firstfruits of them that slept. For since by man came death, by man came also the resurrection of the dead. For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive. But every man in his own order: Christ the firstfruits; afterward they that are Christ’s at his coming. Then cometh the end, when he shall have delivered up the kingdom to God, even the Father; when he shall have put down all rule and all authority and power. For he must reign, till he hath put all enemies under his feet. The last enemy that shall be destroyed is death.

Exo 22:16-31 Laws Regarding Social Justice

[Study Aired September 5, 2022]

Exo 22:16  And if a man entice a maid that is not betrothed, and lie with her, he shall surely endow her to be his wife.
Exo 22:17  If her father utterly refuse to give her unto him, he shall pay money according to the dowry of virgins.
Exo 22:18  Thou shalt not suffer a witch to live.
Exo 22:19  Whosoever lieth with a beast shall surely be put to death.
Exo 22:20  He that sacrificeth unto any god, save unto the LORD only, he shall be utterly destroyed.
Exo 22:21  Thou shalt neither vex a stranger, nor oppress him: for ye were strangers in the land of Egypt.
Exo 22:22  Ye shall not afflict any widow, or fatherless child.
Exo 22:23  If thou afflict them in any wise, and they cry at all unto me, I will surely hear their cry;
Exo 22:24  And my wrath shall wax hot, and I will kill you with the sword; and your wives shall be widows, and your children fatherless.
Exo 22:25  If thou lend money to any of my people that is poor by thee, thou shalt not be to him as an usurer, neither shalt thou lay upon him usury. 
Exo 22:26  If thou at all take thy neighbour’s raiment to pledge, thou shalt deliver it unto him by that the sun goeth down:
Exo 22:27  For that is his covering only, it is his raiment for his skin: wherein shall he sleep? and it shall come to pass, when he crieth unto me, that I will hear; for I am gracious.
Exo 22:28  Thou shalt not revile the gods, nor curse the ruler of thy people. 
Exo 22:29  Thou shalt not delay to offer the first of thy ripe fruits, and of thy liquors: the firstborn of thy sons shalt thou give unto me. 
Exo 22:30  Likewise shalt thou do with thine oxen, and with thy sheep: seven days it shall be with his dam; on the eighth day thou shalt give it me. 
Exo 22:31  And ye shall be holy men unto me: neither shall ye eat any flesh that is torn of beasts in the field; ye shall cast it to the dogs.

The second part of Exodus chapter 22 focuses on social justice laws of Moses. It deals with various issues, such as lying with a maid who is not betrothed to a man, not entertaining the practice of witches, lying with a beast, treatment of a stranger, widow or the fatherless child, not charging interest when lending to the Lord’s people and setting apart the first fruit, first born ox or sheep and the firstborn son for the Lord.  These supposed carnal laws have deep spiritual truth about how we are to live as His elect with our brothers and sisters. As our eyes are being enlightened to know the mysteries of the kingdom of God, we come to appreciate the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God.

Rom 11:33  O the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! how unsearchable are his judgments, and his ways past finding out!
Rom 11:34  For who hath known the mind of the Lord? or who hath been his counsellor? 
Rom 11:35  Or who hath first given to him, and it shall be recompensed unto him again?
Rom 11:36  For of him, and through him, and to him, are all things: to whom be glory for ever. Amen.

Exo 22:16  And if a man entice a maid that is not betrothed, and lie with her, he shall surely endow her to be his wife. 

When Israel left Egypt, they were like a maid who was yet to be betrothed to the Lord Jesus. However, they were seduced and therefore ended up engaging in sexual immorality with the daughters of Moab.

Num 25:1  And Israel abode in Shittim, and the people began to commit whoredom with the daughters of Moab. 
Num 25:2  And they called the people unto the sacrifices of their gods: and the people did eat, and bowed down to their gods.
Num 25:3  And Israel joined himself unto Baalpeor: and the anger of the LORD was kindled against Israel.

Our story is not any different from that of the Israelites. As destined to be maids of Christ, we were all seduced first by the enemy, the devil, before we were rescued by the Lord to become the true maids of Christ. The man who seduced a maid in verse 16 is the devil. As a result, we all come under the rule of the devil. In other words, we become his wife and therefore, one flesh with the devil. Being one flesh means that we share in his carnality.

1Co 6:15  Do you not know that your bodies are members of Christ? Shall I then take the members of Christ and make them members of a prostitute? Never!
1Co 6:16  Or do you not know that he who is joined to a prostitute becomes one body with her? For, as it is written, “The two will become one flesh.” 
1Co 6:17  But he who is joined to the Lord becomes one spirit with him.

Mat 19:5  and said, ‘Therefore a man shall leave his father and his mother and hold fast to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh’?

Joh 8:44  You are of your father the devil, and your will is to do your father’s desires. He was a murderer from the beginning, and does not stand in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks out of his own character, for he is a liar and the father of lies.

The statement in verse 16 that “he shall surely endow her” means the man must pay the bride-price for her. This is another way of saying that the devil has sold his whole life to make the maid his wife (one flesh) by deception. That is why we are admonished to be sober-minded and watchful.

1Pe 5:8  Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour. 

Rev 12:9  And the great dragon was thrown down, that ancient serpent, who is called the devil and Satan, the deceiver of the whole world—he was thrown down to the earth, and his angels were thrown down with him.

Exo 22:17  If her father utterly refuse to give her unto him, he shall pay money according to the dowry of virgins.

The father here is the Lord Jesus Christ who utterly refuses to give His bride, the church of the firstborn, to the devil. As indicated in verse 17, the devil is therefore required to pay the bride-price. However, the devil has nothing to offer. Therefore, the Lord paid with His life to set us free from the devil. In the fullness of time, the Lord will also refuse to give our brothers and sisters in Babylon to the devil as his wife as the Lord’s sacrificial offering (bride-price) will also be available to all humanity including the devil himself.

Isa 59:15  Yea, truth faileth; and he that departeth from evil maketh himself a prey: and the LORD saw it, and it displeased him that there was no judgment. 
Isa 59:16  And he saw that there was no man, and wondered that there was no intercessor: therefore his arm brought salvation unto him; and his righteousness, it sustained him.

Exo 22:18  Thou shalt not suffer a witch to live.

A witch is a sorceress. In the Bible, rebellion against the Lord is the same as practicing witchcraft. In this sense, we were all sorceresses or witches who are not permitted to live, as we have rebelled against the Lord at a certain period of our lives. As a result, we are required to die. This death here is the death of our old man through the Lord’s judgement.

1Sa 15:23  For rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft, and stubbornness is as iniquity and idolatry. Because thou hast rejected the word of the LORD, he hath also rejected thee from being king.

Exo 22:19  Whosoever lieth with a beast shall surely be put to death. 

As we are aware, we are all beasts. Lying with a beast here means being of one flesh with the beast which implies being under the control of the beast and therefore having the same nature of a beast. The beast here is the same as the old man or the flesh. If we are to inherit the kingdom of the Lord, then our old man or the flesh within us that dominates us must be put to death. It is through this death that we become overcomers of the flesh and therefore destined to avoid the second death which is the lake of fire.

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

1Co 6:15  Do you not know that your bodies are members of Christ? Shall I then take the members of Christ and make them members of a prostitute? Never! 
1Co 6:16  Or do you not know that he who is joined to a prostitute becomes one body with her? For, as it is written, “The two will become one flesh.” 

Rev 2:11  He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches; He that overcometh shall not be hurt of the second death.

Exo 22:20  He that sacrificeth unto any god, save unto the LORD only, he shall be utterly destroyed.

Sacrificing to any god is the sin of idolatry, which is the same as being stubborn as shown below:

1Sa 15:23  For rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft, and stubbornness is as iniquity and idolatry. Because thou hast rejected the word of the LORD, he hath also rejected thee from being king.

What this means is that we have all been idolators at a certain point of our walk where, in our stubbornness, we refused to submit to Christ. We are therefore to be utterly destroyed. This means that our old man or the flesh must be completely put to death in our lives. The judgment we are facing in this life is designed by the Lord to put to death the sinful deeds of the flesh.

Isa 26:8  Yea, in the way of thy judgments, O LORD, have we waited for thee; the desire of our soul is to thy name, and to the remembrance of thee. 
Isa 26:9  With my soul have I desired thee in the night; yea, with my spirit within me will I seek thee early: for when thy judgments are in the earth, the inhabitants of the world will learn righteousness. 

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

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

Exo 22:21  Thou shalt neither vex a stranger, nor oppress him: for ye were strangers in the land of Egypt.

The question is, “What does a stranger signify spiritually?” The following verses show us who is a stranger in this world:

Heb 11:8  By faith Abraham, when he was called to go out into a place which he should after receive for an inheritance, obeyed; and he went out, not knowing whither he went. 
Heb 11:9  By faith he sojourned in the land of promise, as in a strange country, dwelling in tabernacles with Isaac and Jacob, the heirs with him of the same promise:
Heb 11:10  For he looked for a city which hath foundations, whose builder and maker is God.
Heb 11:11  Through faith also Sara herself received strength to conceive seed, and was delivered of a child when she was past age, because she judged him faithful who had promised.
Heb 11:12  Therefore sprang there even of one, and him as good as dead, so many as the stars of the sky in multitude, and as the sand which is by the sea shore innumerable.
Heb 11:13  These all died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them afar off, and were persuaded of them, and embraced them, and confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth.

The verses above show us that the elect are strangers in this world. We are therefore to make sure that we do not oppress or vex the members of the church of the firstborn as we are all strangers in this world. To oppress means to keep under subjection and hardship, especially the unjust exercise of authority. As the body of Christ, none of us must exercise unjust authority over one another since we are all strangers in this world and children of God. The whole church system of this world is characterized by pastors keeping under subjection the people of God. This is what the Lord Jesus has to say about this:

Mat 20:25  But Jesus called them unto him, and said, Ye know that the princes of the Gentiles exercise dominion over them, and they that are great exercise authority upon them.
Mat 20:26  But it shall not be so among you: but whosoever will be great among you, let him be your minister;
Mat 20:27  And whosoever will be chief among you, let him be your servant:
Mat 20:28  Even as the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many.

Paul, Peter and Solomon also said the following regarding this matter:

2Co 1:24  Not for that we have dominion over your faith, but are helpers of your joy: for by faith ye stand.

1Pe 5:3  Neither as being lords over God’s heritage, but being ensamples to the flock.

Ecc 8:9  All this have I seen, and applied my heart unto every work that is done under the sun: there is a time wherein one man ruleth over another to his own hurt.

To vex means to make someone feel annoyed, frustrated or worried. When our message focuses on what we are required to do without bringing forth the enabling power of the Lord to assist us to do what He wants, we become frustrated or worried since we see that we do not have the capacity to do what is required. Our time in Babylon was characterized by frustration because we thought that everything depended on us. One of the verses which has been abused is that of working out our salvation with fear and trembling in Philippians 2:12. We were always mentioning this without knowing that it is the Lord who does the work in the next verse.

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.

Exo 22:22  Ye shall not afflict any widow, or fatherless child.
Exo 22:23  If thou afflict them in any wise, and they cry at all unto me, I will surely hear their cry;

A widow or a fatherless child are the same in the spiritual sense. On a positive note, a widow represents the church of the elect who in this world is a desolate woman who trusts in God and continues in prayer and supplication night and day. This woman is contrasted with another woman who has glorified herself and lives deliciously and says that she is no widow and shall not see sorrow.

1Ti 5:5  Now she that is a widow indeed, and desolate, trusteth in God, and continueth in supplications and prayers night and day.

Rev 18:7  How much she hath glorified herself, and lived deliciously, so much torment and sorrow give her: for she saith in her heart, I sit a queen, and am no widow, and shall see no sorrow.

This assertion of who a widow is, is affirmed by the fact that Jerusalem which is above is also described as having no husband and desolate. The adjective “desolate” is also what is used to describe the widow in 1 Timothy 5:5.

Gal 4:26  But Jerusalem which is above is free, which is the mother of us all.
Gal 4:27  For it is written, Rejoice, thou barren that bearest not; break forth and cry, thou that travailest not: for the desolate hath many more children than she which hath an husband.

1Ti 5:5  Now she that is a widow indeed, and desolate, trusteth in God, and continueth in supplications and prayers night and day.

If we do anything to hurt a member of the body of Christ, we are hurting the church or the widow and invariably hurting our Lord Jesus Christ.

Act 9:3  And as he journeyed, he came near Damascus: and suddenly there shined round about him a light from heaven:
Act 9:4  And he fell to the earth, and heard a voice saying unto him, Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me?
Act 9:5  And he said, Who art thou, Lord? And the Lord said, I am Jesus whom thou persecutest: it is hard for thee to kick against the pricks.

Verse 23 says that the Lord hears us when we come to Him in our affliction. That is another way of saying that when we are being tempted and we cry to the Lord, He will always provide a way out such that we can bear the temptation.

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

Exo 22:24  And my wrath shall wax hot, and I will kill you with the sword; and your wives shall be widows, and your children fatherless. 

All of us in our time have afflicted or hurt the Lord’s elect when we resisted those who brought the truth of the word of the Lord to us. In doing so, we were actually hurting Christ and as a result, He has come into our lives to deal with us in His wrath with the fire from His mouth which is the sword or words.

Rev 11:5  And if any man will hurt them, fire proceedeth out of their mouth, and devoureth their enemies: and if any man will hurt them, he must in this manner be killed.

As stated in verse 24, the result of dealing with our old man or flesh is that our wives become widows and our children become fatherless. As indicated earlier, widows represent the church of the elect when viewed from a positive perspective. Thus, our wives becoming widows means that through the Lord’s chastening, we become part of the church of the firstborn. Children are the result of the union between a husband and a wife. They represent our works whether under Christ or the devil. In time past, we were basically the wives of the devil as we were one flesh with him. Our dead works were the result of our union with the devil. The Lord making our children fatherless is another way of saying that our dead works under the devil are destroyed. These dead works are the works of the flesh which are as follows:

Gal 5:19  Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness, 
Gal 5:20  Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies, 
Gal 5:21  Envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God.
Gal 5:22  But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, 
Gal 5:23  Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law. 
Gal 5:24  And they that are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts.

Heb 9:14  How much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without spot to God, purge your conscience from dead works to serve the living God?

Exo 22:25  If thou lend money to any of my people that is poor by thee, thou shalt not be to him as an usurer, neither shalt thou lay upon him usury. 

The heavenly resources that the Lord has given to us, which refer to His words, are such that we must also be prepared to minister His words to our brothers and sisters. However, we are not to charge interest (usury) on what we give to our brothers and sisters. In other words, we are not to benefit financially from the heavenly resources of His words that we make available to others. This is because, freely we have received and freely must we give.

Deu 15:6  For the LORD thy God blesseth thee, as he promised thee: and thou shalt lend unto many nations, but thou shalt not borrow; and thou shalt reign over many nations, but they shall not reign over thee.

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.

Deu 23:19  Thou shalt not lend upon usury to thy brother; usury of money, usury of victuals, usury of any thing that is lent upon usury:
Deu 23:20  Unto a stranger thou mayest lend upon usury; but unto thy brother thou shalt not lend upon usury: that the LORD thy God may bless thee in all that thou settest thine hand to in the land whither thou goest to possess it.

Mat 10:8  Heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, raise the dead, cast out devils: freely ye have received, freely give. 

Exo 22:26  If thou at all take thy neighbour’s raiment to pledge, thou shalt deliver it unto him by that the sun goeth down: 
Exo 22:27  For that is his covering only, it is his raiment for his skin: wherein shall he sleep? and it shall come to pass, when he crieth unto me, that I will hear; for I am gracious.

We are to avoid exposing the nakedness of our brothers and sisters as much as possible when they are not able to use the heavenly resources of His words committed to them. The statement “thou shall deliver it unto him by that the sun goes down” in verse 26 is another way of saying that love covers over the multitude of sins. This pleases the Lord who hears their cry.

1Pe 4:8  And above all things have fervent charity among yourselves: for charity shall cover the multitude of sins.

Exo 22:28  Thou shalt not revile the gods, nor curse the ruler of thy people. 

We are not to revile God and curse the ruler of our people. The reason that we are not to curse the ruler of our people is that they are ordained by the Lord and therefore, criticizing them means criticizing God.

Rom 13:1  Let every soul be subject unto the higher powers. For there is no power but of God: the powers that be are ordained of God.
Rom 13:2  Whosoever therefore resisteth the power, resisteth the ordinance of God: and they that resist shall receive to themselves damnation. 
Rom 13:3  For rulers are not a terror to good works, but to the evil. Wilt thou then not be afraid of the power? do that which is good, and thou shalt have praise of the same: 
Rom 13:4  For he is the minister of God to thee for good. But if thou do that which is evil, be afraid; for he beareth not the sword in vain: for he is the minister of God, a revenger to execute wrath upon him that doeth evil. 
Rom 13:5  Wherefore ye must needs be subject, not only for wrath, but also for conscience sake.

Exo 22:29  Thou shalt not delay to offer the first of thy ripe fruits, and of thy liquors: the firstborn of thy sons shalt thou give unto me.

We, His elect, are the first of humanity to be presented to God as ripe fruits. Being ripe means that the bride of Christ is ready to be offered as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God. Although verse 29 is cast in the sense that it depends on us not to delay our presentation before God, we know that our timings are all ordained by the Lord. This means that the Lord is the one who will not delay in offering us as a living sacrifice to God. The liquor from the ripe fruits represents the product from the winepress of the grapes. The liquor therefore speaks of our judgement which produces righteousness. The elect are also the firstborn sons who are dedicated to the Lord.

Rom 12:1  I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship.
Rom 12:2  Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect. 

Rev 14:17  Then another angel came out of the temple in heaven, and he too had a sharp sickle. 
Rev 14:18  And another angel came out from the altar, the angel who has authority over the fire, and he called with a loud voice to the one who had the sharp sickle, “Put in your sickle and gather the clusters from the vine of the earth, for its grapes are ripe.” 
Rev 14:19  So the angel swung his sickle across the earth and gathered the grape harvest of the earth and threw it into the great winepress of the wrath of God. 
Rev 14:20  And the winepress was trodden outside the city, and blood flowed from the winepress, as high as a horse’s bridle, for 1,600 stadia.

Exo 22:30  Likewise shalt thou do with thine oxen, and with thy sheep: seven days it shall be with his dam; on the eighth day thou shalt give it me.

As we have indicated several times, we are the beast represented in verse 30 as the oxen and sheep. A more understandable version of Exodus 22:30 is as follows:

Exo 22:30  You shall do the same with your oxen and with your sheep: seven days it shall be with its mother; on the eighth day you shall give it to me. 

Our mother in verse 30 is Jerusalem which is and is in bondage with her children. The seven days refer to the complete period of our lives when we were in Babylonian captivity. The number eight signifies a new beginning, and therefore being presented to God on the eighth day means that after our exit from Babylon, we begin our new walk with Christ as we are dedicated to the Lord. That is the period that our light has come, and the glory of the Lord is risen upon us.

Isa 60:1  Arise, shine, for your light has come, and the glory of the LORD has risen upon you.
Isa 60:2  For behold, darkness shall cover the earth, and thick darkness the peoples; but the LORD will arise upon you, and his glory will be seen upon you. 
Isa 60:3  And nations shall come to your light, and kings to the brightness of your rising. 
Isa 60:4  Lift up your eyes all around, and see; they all gather together, they come to you; your sons shall come from afar, and your daughters shall be carried on the hip. 
Isa 60:5  Then you shall see and be radiant; your heart shall thrill and exult, because the abundance of the sea shall be turned to you, the wealth of the nations shall come to you.

Exo 22:31  And ye shall be holy men unto me: neither shall ye eat any flesh that is torn of beasts in the field; ye shall cast it to the dogs.

As the elect of the Lord, we are to be offered to God as holy, without any blemish. What is required of us to maintain our holiness is to avoid eating flesh torn by beasts in the field. We know that the field represents the world, and so the beasts here signify those who are not given to know Christ.  The flesh that is torn by the beasts of the field symbolizes the false doctrines and the wisdom and traditions of men which are perpetrated by our brothers and sisters in Babylon. These false doctrines serve as food for the dogs which signify the assembly of the wicked or evil workers as shown in the following verses:

Psa 22:16  For dogs have compassed me: the assembly of the wicked have inclosed me: they pierced my hands and my feet.

Php 3:2  Beware of dogs, beware of evil workers, beware of the concision. 

May the Lord deliver us from false doctrines in our heavens and guide us to know more of His truth which is able to save us!! Amen!!

[Study Aired January 20, 2022]

1Ki 8:54  And it was so, that when Solomon had made an end of praying all this prayer and supplication unto the LORD, he arose from before the altar of the LORD, from kneeling on his knees with his hands spread up to heaven. 
1Ki 8:55  And he stood, and blessed all the congregation of Israel with a loud voice, saying, 
1Ki 8:56  Blessed be the LORD, that hath given rest unto his people Israel, according to all that he promised: there hath not failed one word of all his good promise, which he promised by the hand of Moses his servant. 
1Ki 8:57  The LORD our God be with us, as he was with our fathers: let him not leave us, nor forsake us: 
1Ki 8:58  That he may incline our hearts unto him, to walk in all his ways, and to keep his commandments, and his statutes, and his judgments, which he commanded our fathers. 
1Ki 8:59  And let these my words, wherewith I have made supplication before the LORD, be nigh unto the LORD our God day and night, that he maintain the cause of his servant, and the cause of his people Israel at all times, as the matter shall require: 
1Ki 8:60  That all the people of the earth may know that the LORD is God, and that there is none else.

These last two verses of our previous study (1Ki 8:52-53) set the stage for the verses that follow in this study.

1Ki 8:52  That thine eyes may be open unto the supplication of thy servant, and unto the supplication of thy people Israel, to hearken unto them in all that they call for unto thee.
1Ki 8:53  For thou didst separate them from among all the people of the earth, to be thine inheritance, as thou spakest by the hand of Moses thy servant, when thou broughtest our fathers out of Egypt, O Lord GOD.

The prayer being made to God was to be “open unto the supplication of thy servant, and unto the supplication of thy people Israel, to hearken unto them in all that they call for unto thee”. “Thy servant” is Solomon who represents Christ, and “thy people Israel” represents the body of Christ the Israel of God (Gal 6:16).

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

When we look at the following verses in 1Kings 8:52-53, we can be assured of who it is speaking to and should be blessed by the message of hope God wants us to see as it applies to the elect of God today (1Co 10:11, 1Pe 1:12).

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.

This section of Kings deeply assures us of Christ’s role as the one who intercedes on our behalf today, and it is after the temple is built and dedicated — which temple is a type of Christ’s body which has died and gone onto perfection (Joh 2:19) — that the assurance is given to the elect represented by the nation of Israel of how Solomon (Solomon, a type of Christ) is going to intercede and go before the Lord and confess before all the congregation, with his hands spread out to heaven, of how God is faithful (Deu 7:9).

Joh 2:19  Jesus answered and said unto them, Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up.

Deu 7:9  Know therefore that the LORD thy God, he is God, the faithful God, which keepeth covenant and mercy with them that love him and keep his commandments to a thousand generations; 

The verses we’ll look at in this study are very instructive and encouraging regarding how God was inspiring all these events for our sakes to confirm in our hearts today that if Christ could be raised from the earth, typified by Solomon who “arose from before the altar of the LORD, from kneeling on his knees with his hands spread up to heaven“, how much more will we be saved with our high priest who is now resurrected and become our hope of glory within (Rom 5:10, Col 1:27-29). That hope is clearly expressed by both the words and works (in type and shadow: Joh 14:11) of Solomon which poured forth on behalf of all of the nation of Israel [who symbolize God’s elect in this case]. Solomon’s prayer was for Israel and typical of those who were going to receive the word of God in this age and believe in God (Joh 17:9, Joh 17:20).

Rom 5:10  For if, when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, being reconciled, we shall be saved by his life.

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: 
Col 1:28  Whom we preach, warning every man, and teaching every man in all wisdom; that we may present every man perfect in Christ Jesus: 
Col 1:29  Whereunto I also labour, striving according to his working, which worketh in me mightily. 

Joh 14:11  Believe me that I am in the Father, and the Father in me: or else believe me for the very works’ sake.

Joh 17:20  Neither pray I for these alone, but for them also which shall believe on me through their word;
Joh 17:21  That they all may be one; as thou, Father, art in me, and I in thee, that they also may be one in us: that the world may believe that thou hast sent me [1Ki 8:60].

1Ki 8:60  That all the people of the earth may know that the LORD is God, and that there is none else.

1Ki 8:54  And it was so, that when Solomon had made an end of praying all this prayer and supplication unto the LORD, he arose from before the altar of the LORD, from kneeling on his knees with his hands spread up to heaven.

Arising from “the altar of the LORD” after making “an end of praying all this prayer and supplication unto the LORD” where Solomon was “kneeling on his knees with his hands spread up to heaven” is all symbolic language of what Christ did as our high priest and wave offering while He was in His flesh (Heb 5:7-8, Exo 29:21-25).

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; 

Exo 29:21  And thou shalt take of the blood that is upon the altar, and of the anointing oil, and sprinkle it upon Aaron, and upon his garments, and upon his sons, and upon the garments of his sons with him: and he shall be hallowed, and his garments, and his sons, and his sons‘ garments with him [This verse (Exo 29:21) is speaking of Christ and His body the church being sanctified (Col 1:24, Rev 19:8)].

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

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. 

Exo 29:22  Also thou shalt take of the ram the fat and the rump, and the fat that covereth the inwards, and the caul above the liver, and the two kidneys, and the fat that is upon them, and the right shoulder; for it is a ram of consecration^H4394  [Exo 28:30, Mal 3:17]:

Exo 28:30  And thou shalt put in the breastplate of judgment the Urim and the Thummim; and they shall be upon Aaron’s heart, when he goeth in before the LORD: and Aaron shall bear the judgment of the children of Israel upon his heart before the LORD continually.

Mal 3:17  And they shall be mine, saith the LORD of hosts, in that day when I make up my jewels; and I will spare them, as a man spareth his own son that serveth him. 

consecration: H4394  millû’  mil-loo’  From H4390; a fulfilling (only in plural), that is, (literally) a setting (of gems), or (technically) consecration (also concretely a dedicatory sacrifice): – consecration, be set.
Total KJV occurrences: 15

Exo 29:23  And one loaf of bread, and one cake of oiled bread, and one wafer out of the basket of the unleavened bread that is before the LORD:
Exo 29:24  And thou shalt put all in the hands of Aaron, [Heb 5:7] and in the hands of his sons; [Col 1:24] and shalt wave them for a wave offering before the LORD.
Exo 29:25  And thou shalt receive them of their hands, and burn them upon the altar for a burnt offering, for a sweet savour before the LORD: it is an offering made by fire unto the LORD [Col 1:24, 1Pe 4:12, 1Pe 4:17].

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.

1Ki 8:55  And he stood, and blessed all the congregation of Israel with a loud voice, saying, 
1Ki 8:56  Blessed be the LORD, that hath given rest unto his people Israel, according to all that he promised: there hath not failed one word of all his good promise, which he promised by the hand of Moses his servant.

It is “with a loud voice” that we will hear the Lord after we have done all and stand (Eph 6:13-19), and it is from this position in Christ that we can bless “all the congregation of Israel” meaning all the body of Christ and ultimately all the world. The blessing God has given His people as typified by Solomon’s blessing of the congregation of Israel is to enter into the “rest” of Christ stated this way: “Blessed be the LORD, that hath given rest unto his people Israel” (Heb 4:11-12). 

Eph 6:13  Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.
Eph 6:14  Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness; 
Eph 6:15  And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace; 
Eph 6:16  Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked. 
Eph 6:17  And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God: 
Eph 6:18  Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints; 
Eph 6:19  And for me, that utterance may be given unto me, that I may open my mouth boldly, to make known the mystery of the gospel, 

Heb 4:11  Let us labour therefore to enter into that rest, lest any man fall after the same example of unbelief. 
Heb 4:12  For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.

When we know and believe the exceedingly great and precious promises that God has made, and believe that he will carry them out for us, then we will see the meaning of this typical language in this section of Kings that explains that very reality that we have in Christ: “there hath not failed one word of all his good promise, which he promised by the hand of Moses his servant“. A promise from God would not be exceedingly great and precious unless the One promising something to us could fulfill every part of that promise, which God, who cannot lie, has promised and announced to us through Christ who is also typified by Moses in verse 56 of our study tonight, who will do this (Heb 6:18, 2Pe 1:4, Php 2:12-13).

Heb 6:18  That by two immutable things, in which it was impossible for God to lie, we might have a strong consolation, who have fled for refuge to lay hold upon the hope set before us:

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. 

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. 

1Ki 8:57  The LORD our God be with us, as he was with our fathers: let him not leave us, nor forsake us:
1Ki 8:58  That he may incline our hearts unto him, to walk in all his ways, and to keep his commandments, and his statutes, and his judgments, which he commanded our fathers. 

To what end we have this relationship with God and Christ is described in John 17:3 where we learn that the Lord does not leave us if we are granted to abide in the truth or words of eternal life (Joh 6:68), keeping “his commandments, and his statutes, and his judgments, which he commanded our fathers“. The goal is to not be conformed to this world but transformed by the renewing of our minds that we “may incline our hearts unto him” and lean not unto our own understanding (Rom 12:2, Pro 3:3-7).

Joh 17:3  And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent.

Joh 6:68  Then Simon Peter answered him, Lord, to whom shall we go? thou hast the words of eternal life. 

Rom 12:2  And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.

Pro 3:3  Let not mercy and truth forsake thee: bind them about thy neck; write them upon the table of thine heart: 
Pro 3:4  So shalt thou find favour and good understanding in the sight of God and man. 
Pro 3:5  Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. 
Pro 3:6  In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths. 
Pro 3:7  Be not wise in thine own eyes: fear the LORD, and depart from evil. 

1Ki 8:59  And let these my words, wherewith I have made supplication before the LORD, be nigh unto the LORD our God day and night, that he maintain the cause of his servant, and the cause of his people Israel at all times, as the matter shall require: 
1Ki 8:60  That all the people of the earth may know that the LORD is God, and that there is none else. 

As we saw from the beginning of the study, the prayer being made to God was to be “open unto the supplication of thy servant, and unto the supplication of thy people Israel, to hearken unto them in all that they call for unto thee”. “Thy servant” is Solomon who represents Christ, and “thy people Israel” represents the body of Christ the Israel of God (Gal 6:16), and this request was made in these verses in (1Ki 8:52-53).

This leads us into our last two verses which remind us that God is showing His faithfulness through us and not the other way around. The request of Solomon is a type and shadow of this prayer of Christ that was made for Peter who represents God’s elect (Luk 22:32). It is with that fervent prayer of Christ that our Father in heaven will “maintain the cause of his servant, and the cause of his people Israel at all times, as the matter shall require“, knowing that it is Christ who intercedes for us and fulfills God’s will that we would otherwise not be able to accomplish (Php 2:12-13).

Luk 22:32  But I have prayed for thee, that thy faith fail not: and when thou art converted, strengthen thy brethren.

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 and Christ are abiding in his people who are blessed to keep His words (Rev 1:3, Joh 14:20-23), and He is with us “day and night” as we are His workmanship which He is making into the image of Christ by forming the light within us and creating the darkness and making peace and raising storms or creating evil within us. All these things the LORD does so that one day “all the people of the earth may know that the LORD is God, and that there is none else” (Isa 45:7).

Rev 1:3  Blessed is he that readeth, and they that hear the words of this prophecy, and keep those things which are written therein: for the time is at hand. 

Joh 14:20  At that day ye shall know that I am in my Father, and ye in me, and I in you.
Joh 14:21  He that hath my commandments, and keepeth them, he it is that loveth me: and he that loveth me shall be loved of my Father, and I will love him, and will manifest myself to him. 
Joh 14:22  Judas saith unto him, not Iscariot, Lord, how is it that thou wilt manifest thyself unto us, and not unto the world? 
Joh 14:23  Jesus answered and said unto him, If a man love me, he will keep my words: and my Father will love him, and we will come unto him, and make our abode with him.

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

Gospels In Harmony – The Washing of the Disciples’ Feet

Mat 26:20-21, Mar 14:17-18, Luk 22:14-30, Joh 13:2-17

[Study Aired October 26, 2021]

Mat 26:20a Now when the even was come, 
Luk 22:14 And when the hour was come, he sat down, and the twelve apostles with him.
Luk 22:15 And he said unto them, With desire I have desired to eat this passover with you before I suffer:
Luk 22:16 For I say unto you, I will not any more eat thereof, until it be fulfilled in the kingdom of God.
Luk 22:24 And there was also a strife among them, which of them should be accounted the greatest.
Luk 22:25 And he said unto them, The kings of the Gentiles exercise lordship over them; and they that exercise authority upon them are called benefactors.
Luk 22:26 But ye shall not be so: but he that is greatest among you, let him be as the younger; and he that is chief, as he that doth serve.
Luk 22:27 For whether is greater, he that sitteth at meat, or he that serveth? is not he that sitteth at meat? but I am among you as he that serveth.
Luk 22:28 Ye are they which have continued with me in my temptations.
Luk 22:29 And I appoint unto you a kingdom, as my Father hath appointed unto me;
Luk 22:30 That ye may eat and drink at my table in my kingdom, and sit on thrones judging the twelve tribes of Israel.
Joh 13:2 (Rotherham) And, supper, being in progress, the adversary, having already thrust into the heart of Judas son of Simon Iscariot, that he should deliver him up,
Joh 13:3 Jesus knowing that, all things, the Father had given unto him, into his hands, and that, from God, he had come, and, unto God, he was going, 
Joh 13:4 rouseth himself out of the supper, and layeth aside his garments, and taking a linen cloth, girded himself. 
Joh 13:5 Next, he poureth water into the wash-basin, and began to be washing the feet of the disciples, and to be wiping them with the linen cloth wherewith he was girded. 
Joh 13:6 So he cometh unto Simon Peter. He saith unto him—Lord, dost, thou, wash my feet? 
Joh 13:7 Jesus answered, and said unto him—What, I, am doing, thou, knowest not, as yet; howbeit, thou shalt got to know, hereafter. 
Joh 13:8 Peter saith unto him—In nowise shalt thou, ever, wash my feet. Jesus answered him—If I wash thee not, thou hast no part with me. 
Joh 13:9 Simon Peter saith unto him—Lord! not my feet only, but my hands also, and my head. 
Joh 13:10 Jesus saith unto him—He that hath bathed himself, hath no need save as to the feet to get washed; but is pure, as a whole. And, ye, are, pure, but not ye, all. 
Joh 13:11 For he know the man that was delivering him up; therefore, said he—Not ye all, are pure. (Rotherham)
Joh 13:12 So after he had washed their feet, and had taken his garments, and was set down again, he said unto them, Know ye what I have done to you?
Joh 13:13 Ye call me Master and Lord: and ye say well; for so I am.
Joh 13:14 If I then, your Lord and Master, have washed your feet; ye also ought to wash one another’s feet.
Joh 13:15 For I have given you an example, that ye should do as I have done to you.
Joh 13:16 Verily, verily, I say unto you, The servant is not greater than his lord; neither he that is sent greater than he that sent him.
Joh 13:17 If ye know these things, happy are ye if ye do them.

Our last study was about the preparation of the feast being a type and shadow of our time in Babylon when the Lord begins to prepare our hearts and minds to become a living sacrifice.

Rom 12:1-2 I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.

This study will show us a division must take place in order for us to share in the Lord’s supper. We will see that the passover is for all the chosen, but the Lord’s supper is for those that do not betray the Lord and keep his commandments and continue in his word.

Mat 26:20a Now when the even was come, 
Luk 22:14 And when the hour was come, he sat down, and the twelve apostles with him.
Luk 22:15 And he said unto them, With desire I have desired to eat this passover with you before I suffer:
Luk 22:16 For I say unto you, I will not any more eat thereof, until it be fulfilled in the kingdom of God.

Christ is laying the foundation of our process to the entrance of the kingdom of God. Suffering is His example we all must follow. Before we suffer with Christ, we go through several stages. These stages take place before even receiving the holy spirit. Some of these stages are strife, betrayal, denial, and then finally we receive the spirit. After receiving the spirit, the beginning of our true sufferings starts so that we can fill up that which is ‘behind of the afflictions of Christ’.

Col 1:21-29 And you, that were sometime alienated and enemies in your mind by wicked works, yet now hath he reconciled In the body of his flesh through death, to present you holy and unblameable and unreproveable in his sight: If ye continue in the faith grounded and settled, and be not moved away from the hope of the gospel, which ye have heard, and which was preached to every creature which is under heaven; whereof I Paul am made a minister; Who now rejoice in my sufferings for you, and fill up that which is behind of the afflictions of Christ in my flesh for his body’s sake, which is the church: Whereof I am made a minister, according to the dispensation of God which is given to me for you, to fulfil the word of God; Even the mystery which hath been hid from ages and from generations, but now is made manifest to his saints: 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: Whom we preach, warning every man, and teaching every man in all wisdom; that we may present every man perfect in Christ Jesus: Whereunto I also labour, striving according to his working, which worketh in me mightily.

Here is the stage of strife.

Luk 22:24 And there was also a strife among them, which of them should be accounted the greatest.

Being carnally minded we desire to be the greatest or consider others to be greater than they actually are, causing division within the church. We do not understand that those that are the least esteemed in the ways of the world are the greatest in God’s eyes.

Rom 12:16 Be of the same mind one toward another. Mind not high things, but condescend to men of low estate. Be not wise in your own conceits.

Here is what Christ has to say to those that strive with each other in the church.

Luk 22:25 And he said unto them, The kings of the Gentiles exercise lordship over them; and they that exercise authority upon them are called benefactors.
Luk 22:26 But ye shall not be so: but he that is greatest among you, let him be as the younger; and he that is chief, as he that doth serve.
Luk 22:27 For whether is greater, he that sitteth at meat, or he that serveth? is not he that sitteth at meat? but I am among you as he that serveth.
Luk 22:28 Ye are they which have continued with me in my temptations.
Luk 22:29 And I appoint unto you a kingdom, as my Father hath appointed unto me;
Luk 22:30 That ye may eat and drink at my table in my kingdom, and sit on thrones judging the twelve tribes of Israel.

We are to be servants of the body. God has gifted everyone with something. Every member is important, and there are different functions of the members.

1Co 12:20-31 But now are they many members, yet but one body. And the eye cannot say unto the hand, I have no need of thee: nor again the head to the feet, I have no need of you. Nay, much more those members of the body, which seem to be more feeble, are necessary: And those members of the body, which we think to be less honourable, upon these we bestow more abundant honour; and our uncomely parts have more abundant comeliness. For our comely parts have no need: but God hath tempered the body together, having given more abundant honour to that part which lacked: That there should be no schism in the body; but that the members should have the same care one for another. And whether one member suffer, all the members suffer with it; or one member be honoured, all the members rejoice with it. Now ye are the body of Christ, and members in particular. And God hath set some in the church, first apostles, secondarily prophets, thirdly teachers, after that miracles, then gifts of healings, helps, governments, diversities of tongues. Are all apostles? are all prophets? are all teachers? are all workers of miracles? Have all the gifts of healing? do all speak with tongues? do all interpret? But covet earnestly the best gifts: and yet shew I unto you a more excellent way.

Christ now shows another example of what must take place while eating the Lord’s supper. I have used the Rotherham translation because the KJV shows this happening after supper, but many other translations have this happening during the supper before the breaking of bread. Of course, we care more about the spiritual significance of the message than the order, but it does seem to make sense to be presented in this order.

Joh 13:2 (Rotherham) And, supper, being in progress, the adversary, having already thrust into the heart of Judas son of Simon Iscariot, that he should deliver him up,
Joh 13:3 Jesus knowing that, all things, the Father had given unto him, into his hands, and that, from God, he had come, and, unto God, he was going, 
Joh 13:4 rouseth himself out of the supper, and layeth aside his garments, and taking a linen cloth, girded himself. 
Joh 13:5 Next, he poureth water into the wash-basin, and began to be washing the feet of the disciples, and to be wiping them with the linen cloth wherewith he was girded. 
Joh 13:6 So he cometh unto Simon Peter. He saith unto him—Lord, dost, thou, wash my feet? 
Joh 13:7 Jesus answered, and said unto him—What, I, am doing, thou, knowest not, as yet; howbeit, thou shalt got to know, hereafter. 
Joh 13:8 Peter saith unto him—In nowise shalt thou, ever, wash my feet. Jesus answered him—If I wash thee not, thou hast no part with me. 
Joh 13:9 Simon Peter saith unto him—Lord! not my feet only, but my hands also, and my head. 
Joh 13:10 Jesus saith unto him—He that hath bathed himself, hath no need save as to the feet to get washed; but is pure, as a whole. And, ye, are, pure, but not ye, all. 
Joh 13:11 For he know the man that was delivering him up; therefore, said he—Not ye all, are pure. (Rotherham)

Christ must bathe our feet so that we can be completely clean and free of sin. Feet represent our walk, and our walk represents our way of life and must be purified.

Lev 16:26 And he that let go the goat for the scapegoat shall wash his clothes, and bathe his flesh in water, and afterward come into the camp.

Psa 15:1-2 A Psalm of David. LORD, who shall abide in thy tabernacle? who shall dwell in thy holy hill? He that walketh uprightly, and worketh righteousness, and speaketh the truth in his heart.

1Jn 1:5-8 This then is the message which we have heard of him, and declare unto you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all. If we say that we have fellowship with him, and walk in darkness, we lie, and do not the truth: 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. If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. 

The water Christ is using to clean our feet is the word.

Eph 5:26-27 That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word, That he might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish.

Christ now explains why he is washing their feet.

Joh 13:12 So after he had washed their feet, and had taken his garments, and was set down again, he said unto them, Know ye what I have done to you?
Joh 13:13 Ye call me Master and Lord: and ye say well; for so I am.
Joh 13:14 If I then, your Lord and Master, have washed your feet; ye also ought to wash one another’s feet.
Joh 13:15 For I have given you an example, that ye should do as I have done to you.
Joh 13:16 Verily, verily, I say unto you, The servant is not greater than his lord; neither he that is sent greater than he that sent him.
Joh 13:17 If ye know these things, happy are ye if ye do them.

So we are to do this with each other. That is the purpose of our gatherings. We share the knowledge and understanding Christ has given us, and therefore we are cleansed by the washing of the water of the word.

Jer 13:15-27 Your Principalities Shall Come Down, Even the Crown of Your Glory

[Study Aired July 18, 2021]

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

The first verse of our study gives us the Lord’s instructions. His instructions reveal what He desires that we do:

Jer 13:15  Hear ye, and give ear; be not proud: for the LORD hath spoken.

The Lord’s desire for us is that we humble ourselves as little children and do the things He tells us to do:

Mat 18:3  And said, Verily I say unto you, Except ye be converted, and become as little children, ye shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven.
Mat 18:4  Whosoever therefore shall humble himself  as this little child, the same is greatest in the kingdom of  heaven.

Our pride in our fabled free will is a foundation of sand which insures the destruction of our old man:

Luk 6:46  And why call ye me, Lord, Lord, and do not the things which I say?
Luk 6:47  Whosoever cometh to me, and heareth my sayings, and doeth them, I will shew you to whom he is like:
Luk 6:48  He is like a man which built an house, and digged deep, and laid the foundation on a rock: and when the flood arose, the stream beat vehemently upon that house, and could not shake it: for it was founded upon a rock.
Luk 6:49  But he that heareth, and doeth not, is like a man that without a foundation built an house upon the earth; against which the stream did beat vehemently, and immediately it fell; and the ruin of that house was great.

The message of scripture from Genesis to Revelation is that, by the Lord’s design, corruptible flesh and blood is “made subject to vanity”, made subject to “the law of sin” which the Lord Himself has placed within our  members.

Rom 8:20  For the creature was made  subject to vanity, not willingly, but by reason of him who hath subjected the same in hope,

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.

Cain was very proud and was jealous of the appreciation the Lord had shown for Abel’s obedience. The “law of sin in [his] members” led him to believe that if he killed Abel, then the Lord would have to accept his disobedience. It was at this point that the Lord revealed to Cain that he would be forced to acknowledge that “sin is at the door”. What the whole Babylonian Christian church has no ability to perceive is that the Lord then tells Cain that in the end, he will be given dominion over the law of sin in his members:

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.
Gen 4:6  And the LORD said unto Cain, Why art thou wroth? and why is thy countenance fallen?
Gen 4:7  If thou doest well, shalt thou not be accepted? and if thou doest not well, sin lieth at the door. And unto thee shall be his desire, and thou shalt rule over him.

As we have pointed out, the Hebrew word translated as ‘unto’ here in Gen 4:7 and in Genesis 3:16 is H413, ‘el’, and is better translated ‘against’, as it is properly translated in the very next verse:

Gen 4:8  And Cain talked with Abel his brother: and it came to pass, when they were in the field, that Cain rose up against [G413: ‘el’] Abel his brother, and slew him.

Eve’s curse for eating the forbidden fruit was to be given a desire to not please her husband.  “Your desire shall be to your husband and he shall rule over you” is not saying that Eve will just naturally desire to please her husband. Instead, it was quite the opposite. It was the same curse we have all been given as to how we relate to our spiritual husband, Christ (2Co 11:2). Eve’s curse was the curse of being against her husband:

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 [H413: ‘el’, against] thy husband, and he shall rule over thee.

Notice closely that in both cases Eve and Cain are promised that in the end they would be victorious over “the law of sin in [their] members”. Eve is promised that in time her husband would rule over her, and Cain is told that in time he would rule over sin in his life.

The message of the scriptures is:

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

The Truth of scripture is:

1Co 15:50  Now this I say, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God; neither doth corruption inherit incorruption.

What 1^st Corinthians 15:50 reveals to us is that flesh and blood were never designed to inherit the kingdom of God. Flesh was designed to have an experience of evil and to be humbled and destroyed by that experience of evil.

Adam and Eve did not become sinners by eating of the forbidden fruit. Rather, they ate of the forbidden fruit because they “were made subject to vanity, not willingly but by reason of Him who subjected [them to vanity] in hope”. In other words, Adam and Eve became sinners because they were composed of corruptible flesh with “the law of sin” already in their members (Rom 7:23)

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.

Rom 8:20  For the creature was made subject to vanity, not willingly, but by reason of him who hath subjected the same in hope,

This study is just another repetition of that message of the Lord’s Words. It is a sad, yet an expedient Truth, that the words of this chapter are addressed to “the Lord’s flock”. “The Lord’s flock is carried away captive” (Jer 13:17) because they would ‘not hear’.

Jer 13:15  Hear ye, and give ear; be not proud: for the LORD hath spoken.

This may sound like a longing and pleading of the Lord, and indeed that is exactly what it is. However, there is something more to the Lord’s desires than our wistful desires, and this is the big difference:

Job 23:13  But he is in one mind, and who can turn him? and what his soul desireth, even that he doeth.

What does the Lord “desire [for] His flock”, and in His time for all of mankind? This is what He “will have”:

1Ti 2:4  Who will have all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth.

However, Job 23:13 tells us that if indeed 1^st Timothy 2:4 were to mean that the Lord desires for “all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the Truth”, then that is what He will do, and all the slanderous false doctrines to the contrary will not change the Truth that what He desires even that He does, and His desire is to save all men.

Every historical Christian denomination will tell you that what 1^st Timothy 2:4 means is that God ‘desires for all of us to be saved’ and to come unto the knowledge of the Truth, but because we have free will, most of mankind will choose to disobey God and will choose to be cast into the lake of fire, which they believe is a literal hell with literal eternal flames of fire.

Our Lord and His Father are no such monsters, however, and while He is indeed giving us an experience of evil, He is doing so because He is “seeking an occasion against” the law of sin and death which He has placed within [our] members”:

Rom 7:15  For that which I do I allow not: for what I would, that do I not; but what I hate, that do I.
Rom 7:16  If then I do that which I would not, I consent unto the law that it is good.
Rom 7:17  Now then it is no more I that do it, but sin that dwelleth in me.
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.

“The law of sin which is in [our] members” is the “captivity” into which it is expedient that “the Lord’s flock is carried away captive”. It is for this reason that we are exhorted:

Jer 13:16  Give glory to the LORD your God, before he cause darkness, and before your feet stumble upon the dark mountains, and, while ye look for light, he turn it into the shadow of death,  and make it gross darkness.

Whether we “give glory to the Lord [in] this present time” is simply a work of the Lord which has nothing to do with what we will of ourselves to do or will of ourselves not to be done because:

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

That statement is a simple constant Biblical Truth which we will do well to see, hear, and believe.

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

The words of Romans 7 are worked out within the lives of every one of the Lord’s elect. We want to do good and please the Lord, but what we want to do is not what we end up doing. We “give glory to the Lord”, but we “find… a law that when [we] would do good, evil is present with [us]”, and our feet stumble upon the mountains and principalities of darkness which are within us:

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 [the “law of sin in (our) members” (Rom 7:23)].

When the Lord says ‘if’, He is not guessing what might happen. He is not wondering whether we will “hear it”. He already knows quite well that He has given us eyes that cannot see and ears that cannot hear:

Jer 13:17  But if ye will not hear it, my soul shall weep in secret places for your pride; and mine eye shall weep sore, and run down with tears, because the LORD’S flock is carried away captive.
Jer 13:18  Say unto the king and to the queen, Humble yourselves, sit down: for your principalities shall come down, even the crown of your glory.

“The king” signifies our old man, and “the queen” is Babylon the great within us:

Rev 18:7  How much she hath glorified herself, and lived deliciously, so much torment and sorrow give her: for she saith in her heart, I sit a queen, and am no widow, and shall see no sorrow.

Here is what God already knows about our sight and our ability to hear:

Rom 11:8  (According as it is written, God hath given them the spirit of slumber, eyes that they should not see, and ears that they should not hear;) unto this day.

These words are quoted out of the prophet Isaiah, who preceded Jeremiah by about 70 years:

Isa 6:8  Also I heard the voice of the Lord, saying, Whom shall I send, and who will go for us? Then said I, Here am  I; send me.
Isa 6:9  And he said, Go, and tell this people, Hear ye indeed, but understand not; and see ye indeed, but perceive not.
Isa 6:10  Make the heart of this people fat, and make their ears heavy, and shut their eyes; lest they see with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and understand with their heart, and convert, and be healed.

Isaiah in turn is simply repeating what the Lord had told Moses many years prior to this prophecy:

Deu 29:4  Yet the LORD hath not given you an heart to perceive, and eyes to see, and ears to hear, unto this day.

Paul’s statement in Romans 11:8 is in accord with Christ’s words in:

Mat 13:10  And the disciples came, and said unto him, Why speakest thou unto them in parables?
Mat 13:11  He answered and said unto them, Because it is given unto you to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it is not given.
Mat 13:12  For whosoever hath, to him shall be given, and he shall have more abundance: but whosoever hath not, from him shall be taken away even that he hath.
Mat 13:13  Therefore speak I to them in parables: because they seeing see not; and hearing they hear not, neither do they understand.
Mat 13:14  And in them is fulfilled the prophecy of Esaias, which saith, By hearing ye shall hear, and shall not understand; and seeing ye shall see, and shall not perceive:
Mat 13:15  For this people’s heart is waxed gross, and their ears are dull of hearing, and their eyes they have closed; lest at any time they should see with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and should understand with their heart, and should be converted, and I should heal them.

When we read the words “If they will not hear” the Lord is not telling us that He has no idea what His creatures might do. Rather, He is prophesying exactly what He made us do to give Himself an occasion to judge and destroy our corruptible old man:

Jer 13:19  The cities of the south shall be shut up, and none shall open them: Judah shall be carried away captive all of it, it shall be wholly carried away captive.

“The cities of the south” signify our attachment to this world. Egypt lies to the south of Israel, and Egypt signifies the rebellious world of sin out of which we must all come. This world which is enslaved to ‘the law of sin’ is who we just naturally are by the Lord’s design.

This is what the Lord told us in of ourselves in:

Isa 30:1  Woe to the rebellious children, saith the LORD, that take counsel, but not of me; and that cover with a covering, but not of my spirit, that they may add sin to sin:
Isa 30:2  That walk to go down into Egypt, and have not asked at my mouth; to strengthen themselves in the strength of Pharaoh, and to trust in the shadow of Egypt!
Isa 30:3  Therefore shall the strength of Pharaoh be your shame, and the trust in the shadow of Egypt your confusion.
Isa 30:4  For his princes were at Zoan, and his ambassadors came to Hanes.
Isa 30:5  They were all ashamed of a people that could not profit them, nor be an help nor profit, but a shame, and also a reproach.
Isa 30:6  The burden of the beasts of the south: into the land of trouble and anguish, from whence come  the young and old lion, the viper and fiery flying serpent, they will carry their riches upon the shoulders of young asses, and their treasures upon the bunches of camels, to a people that shall not profit them.
Isa 30:7  For the Egyptians shall help in vain, and to no purpose: therefore have I cried concerning this, Their strength is to sit still.

Pharaoh signifies our old man, the beast within each of us, and he certainly is our shame.  “His princes” are the princes of the Lord’s people who trust in their own flesh, their own beast, instead of their spiritual husband. Our ‘beast’ receives his power from the great red dragon.

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.

Much of our lives are spent as “beasts of the south” living a life of “trouble and anguish” under the dominion of “a roaring lion seeking whom he may devour”. Even after the Lord’s chastening begins to do its work within us, we return to Egypt for safety and solace. This rebellious act gives the Lord the occasion He is seeking to continue His work of purifying us of our pride in our rebellion:

Jer 13:20  Lift up your eyes, and behold them that come from the north: where is the flock that was given thee, thy beautiful flock?
Jer 13:21  What wilt thou say when he shall punish thee? for thou hast taught them to be captains, and as chief over thee: shall not sorrows take thee, as a woman in travail?

Look at what the Lord is telling us about ourselves through what He did with ancient Israel. He had delivered Israel from Egypt with many miracles and with great power. He totally destroyed Egypt in the process of delivering His people:

Exo 10:7  And Pharaoh’s servants said unto him, How long shall this man be a snare unto us? let the men go, that they may serve the LORD their God: knowest thou not yet that Egypt is destroyed?

Deu 11:4  And what he did unto the army of Egypt, unto their horses, and to their chariots; how he made the water of the Red sea to overflow them as they pursued after you, and how the LORD hath destroyed them unto this day;

As “types of us” (1Co 10:6 CLV), after being delivered out of Egypt, Israel goes back to Egypt to seek deliverance from the armies of Assyria and Babylon.

Isa 30:1  Woe to the rebellious children, saith the LORD, that take counsel, but not of me; and that cover with a covering, but not of my spirit, that they may add sin to sin:
Isa 30:2  That walk to go down into Egypt, and have not asked at my mouth; to strengthen themselves in the strength of Pharaoh, and to trust in the shadow of Egypt!
Isa 30:3  Therefore shall the strength of Pharaoh be your shame, and the trust in the shadow of Egypt your  confusion.

Who among us has not attempted to fit back into the world even after the Lord showed us that we must come out of the world? We all go from Egypt, through all the trials of the wilderness, where the carcass of our old man begins to die. Christ within us strengthens our new man, typified by those of Israel who were under twenty years of age when Israel came out of Egypt:

Num 32:11  Surely none of the men that came up out of Egypt, from twenty years old and upward, shall see the land which I sware unto Abraham, unto Isaac, and unto Jacob; because they have not wholly followed me:

Every step Israel took typifies some part of our walk and our own “experience of evil” (Ecc 1:13 CLV):

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

1Co 10:11  Now all these things happened unto them for ensamples [Greek: ‘tupos’, types of us (vs 6 CLV)]: and they are written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the world are come.

We must realize that entering the promised land is not entering into “the redemption of the purchased possession”.

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

There are many giants and enemies within the land of promise who must be subdued and conquered before that blessed day of “the redemption of the purchased possession”. The Lord has ordained that we begin entering the land of promise before we are carried away into Babylon by the Assyrians and the Chaldeans. Both Nineveh and Babylon were Chaldeans. It was the same people who carried away both the northern tribes and Judah. In that sense, both were carried away into Babylon, and both typify different stages of our own apostasy. Such is the depth of the rebellious pride and stubbornness of the Lord’s very elect. It is all a work of God who works all things after the counsel of His own will. Nevertheless, that stubborn, self-righteousness, and self will is so deep and strong within us that we are helpless to deliver ourselves from it until we are brought to cry out to the Lord:

Rom 7:24  O wretched man that I am! who shall deliver me from the body of this death?

The words of this prophecy of Jeremiah are the revelation of what the Lord has ordained we must endure before we are brought to cry out those words to the Lord in our desperation. The Lord has ordained that we are all typified by Job who made it clear that he certainly did not see himself as deserving of the trials the Lord had placed upon him. Job, typifying each of us, right in the middle of being judged of the Lord, accused the Lord of “taking away [his] judgment”.

Job 27:2  As God liveth, who hath taken away my judgment; and the Almighty, who hath vexed my soul;

Elihu, speaking for the Lord, reminded Job of those words:

Job 34:1  Furthermore Elihu answered and said,
Job 34:2  Hear my words, O ye wise men; and give ear unto me, ye that have knowledge.
Job 34:3  For the ear trieth words, as the mouth tasteth meat.
Job 34:4  Let us choose to us judgment: let us know among ourselves what is good.
Job 34:5  For Job hath said, I am righteous: and God hath taken away my judgment.
Job 34:6  Should I lie against my right? my wound  is incurable without transgression.
Job 34:7  What man is like Job, who drinketh up scorning like water?
Job 34:8  Which goeth in company with the workers of iniquity, and walketh with wicked men.
Job 34:9  For he hath said, It profiteth a man nothing that he should delight himself with God.

By proclaiming his own righteousness, Job was “in the company of the workers of iniquity”, all the while thinking and saying to himself:

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

We all do just what Job did when we wonder why the Lord’s judgments are so severe upon the kingdom of our self-righteous old man, and we presumptuously contend with, reprove and condemn our own Maker:

Jer 13:22  And if thou say in thine heart, Wherefore come these things upon me? For the greatness of thine iniquity [our self-righteousness] are thy skirts discovered, and thy heels made bare.

It is our nature to play down our self-righteous rebellion and condemn the Lord for His judgments against our rebellion. The reason we do so is that we do not yet see the depth of the law of sin within our members:

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.

The Lord is in the process of bringing us to see just how evil He has made us to be:

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

Our flesh is flesh, and we must come to see that it will always be just that:

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.

This, therefore, is the fate of our carnal-minded old man:

Jer 13:24  Therefore will I scatter them as the stubble that passeth away by the wind of the wilderness.
Jer 13:25  This is thy lot, the portion of thy measures from me, saith the LORD; because thou hast forgotten me, and trusted in falsehood.

It is our trust in falsehood which emboldens us to contend with, reprove and condemn of Lord. We see ourselves as righteous “and in need of nothing”. We see ourselves as spiritually healthy and without the need of a physician. Physicians are for the weak and sickly who are somewhere far below us. We see ourselves as superior to others who are lazy, weak, and sickly and in need of a doctor:

Luk 18:11  The Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself, God, I thank thee, that I am not as other men are, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even as this publican.

This Pharisee is like each of us when we ask the same question both Job and King David asked while enduring their own judgment:

Psa 73:3  For I was envious at the foolish,  when I saw the prosperity of the wicked.
Psa 73:4  For there are no bands in their death: but their strength is firm.
Psa 73:5  They are not in trouble as other men; neither are they plagued like  other men [The Lord’s elect].
Psa 73:6  Therefore pride compasseth them about as a chain; violence covereth them as a garment.
Psa 73:7  Their eyes stand out with fatness: they have more than heart could wish.
Psa 73:8  They are corrupt, and speak wickedly concerning oppression: they speak loftily.
Psa 73:9  They set their mouth against the heavens, and their tongue walketh through the earth.
Psa 73:10  Therefore his people return hither: and waters of a full cup are wrung out to them.
Psa 73:11  And they [His people] say, How doth God know? and is there knowledge in the most High?

It is because of that contentious, self-righteous spirit within us that we must yet have our own shame revealed to us:

Jer 13:26  Therefore will I discover thy skirts upon thy face, that thy shame may appear.
Jer 13:27  I have seen thine adulteries, and thy neighings, the lewdness of thy whoredom,  and thine abominations on the hills in the fields. Woe unto thee, O Jerusalem! wilt thou not be made clean? when shall it once be?

Christ is building His church, and it will be “made clean”:

Mat 16:18  “Now I also say to you, that you are Peter [“a stone”], and on this solid rock I will build my Assembly [or Church], and [the] gates of the realm of the dead [Greek: hades] will not prevail against it. (ALT)

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.

“The righteousness of saints” is not a natural condition. It is a supernatural condition which is achieved only through the fiery trials of our judgment in this present time:

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

Remember, the word ‘if’ coming from our Lord is a prophecy of what He is working in us. Our suffering with Him is predestined, and it is not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us who are His firstfruit bride who will bring forth much more fruit:

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

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

When we fall for the falsehood of “substitutionary atonement” instead of the Biblical doctrine of us as “his body… filling up in [our own] bodies that which is behind of the afflictions of the Christ for His body’s sake, which is the church”… when we believe the lie that Christ’s death on the cross means that we do not need to die with Him, we distance ourselves from Him and His suffering, and we are robbing ourselves of the glory of the calling we are given:

Php 3:10  That I may know him, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, being made conformable unto his death;
Php 3:11  If by any means I might attain unto the resurrection of the dead.

Christ did not die for us so we would not have to die. The insidious false doctrine of a “substitutionary atonement” has been used by the Lord to blind the eyes of “the multitudes” (Mat 13:2 and 10-11) to “the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven” which teach that we are to “present our bodies as a living sacrifice (Rom 12:1), [to] die daily [and be] crucified with Christ” (1Co 15:31 and Gal 2:20). It is Christ Himself who tells us in no uncertain terms:

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

His Father sent Him into the world to be the savior of this world, and He sees us as being Himself who must fill up that which is lacking of His afflictions for His body’s sake, which is the church:

Joh 3:17  For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.

Mat 25:40  And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me.

Act 22:7  And I fell unto the ground, and heard a voice saying unto me, Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me?
Act 22:8  And I answered, Who art thou, Lord? And he said unto me, I am Jesus of Nazareth, whom thou persecutest.

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

“As He is, so are we in this world”:

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

1Jn 4:17  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.

God sent His Son into this world that the world through Him might be saved. His Son has sent us ‘as His Father has sent Him’ that through Him within us this world might be saved, and what He desires even that He does; performing the thing that is appointed for me.

Job 23:13  But he is in one mind, and who can turn him? and what his soul desireth, even that he doeth.
Job 23:14  For he performeth the thing that is appointed for me: and many such things are with him.

“The thing that is appointed for [us]” as [the Lord’s elect] is to show to all of mankind, the same mercy the Lord has shown toward us through “His wonderful works to the children of men.” Those wonderful works are the fiery trials of Psalm 107 and Revelation 16, which are the unfathomable “way of His judgments”:

Isa 26:8  Yea, in the way of thy judgments, O LORD, have we waited for thee; the desire of our soul is to thy name, and to the remembrance of thee.
Isa 26:9  With my soul have I desired thee in the night; yea, with my spirit within me will I seek thee early: for when thy judgments are in the earth, the inhabitants of the world will learn righteousness.

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.

That is our calling, and there are very few who can receive it in this present time.

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

That completes our study for this week, and these are the verses for our next study in Jeremiah 14:

Jer 14:1  The word of the LORD that came to Jeremiah concerning the dearth.
Jer 14:2  Judah mourneth, and the gates thereof languish; they are black unto the ground; and the cry of Jerusalem is gone up.
Jer 14:3  And their nobles have sent their little ones to the waters: they came to the pits, and found no water; they returned with their vessels empty; they were ashamed and confounded, and covered their heads.
Jer 14:4  Because the ground is chapt, for there was no rain in the earth, the plowmen were ashamed, they covered their heads.
Jer 14:5  Yea, the hind also calved in the field, and forsook it, because there was no grass.
Jer 14:6  And the wild asses did stand in the high places, they snuffed up the wind like dragons; their eyes did fail, because there was no grass.
Jer 14:7  O LORD, though our iniquities testify against us, do thou it for thy name’s sake: for our backslidings are many; we have sinned against thee.
Jer 14:8  O the hope of Israel, the saviour thereof in time of trouble, why shouldest thou be as a stranger in the land, and as a wayfaring man that turneth aside to tarry for a night?
Jer 14:9  Why shouldest thou be as a man astonied, as a mighty man that cannot save? yet thou, O LORD, art in the midst of us, and we are called by thy name; leave us not.
Jer 14:10  Thus saith the LORD unto this people, Thus have they loved to wander, they have not refrained their feet, therefore the LORD doth not accept them; he will now remember their iniquity, and visit their sins.
Jer 14:11  Then said the LORD unto me, Pray not for this people for their good.
Jer 14:12  When they fast, I will not hear their cry; and when they offer burnt offering and an oblation, I will not accept them: but I will consume them by the sword, and by the famine, and by the pestilence.

Heb 13:11-25 “Obey Them That Have the Rule Over You, and Submit Yourselves”

[Study Aired May 13, 2021]

Heb 13:11   For the bodies of those beasts, whose blood is brought into the sanctuary by the high priest for sin, are burned without the camp.
Heb 13:12  Wherefore Jesus also, that he might sanctify the people with his own blood, suffered without the gate.
Heb 13:13  Let us go forth therefore unto him without the camp, bearing his reproach.
Heb 13:14  For here have we no continuing city, but we seek one to come.
Heb 13:15  By him therefore let us offer the sacrifice of praise to God continually, that is, the fruit of our lips giving thanks to his name.
Heb 13:16  But to do good and to communicate forget not: for with such sacrifices God is well pleased.
Heb 13:17  Obey them that have the rule over you, and submit yourselves: for they watch for your souls, as they that must give account, that they may do it with joy, and not with grief: for that is unprofitable for you.
Heb 13:18  Pray for us: for we trust we have a good conscience, in all things willing to live honestly.
Heb 13:19  But I beseech you the rather to do this, that I may be restored to you the sooner.
Heb 13:20  Now the God of peace, that brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus, that great shepherd of the sheep, through the blood of the everlasting covenant,
Heb 13:21  Make you perfect in every good work to do his will, working in you that which is wellpleasing in his sight, through Jesus Christ; to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen.
Heb 13:22  And I beseech you, brethren, suffer the word of exhortation: for I have written a letter unto you in few words.
Heb 13:23  Know ye that our brother Timothy is set at liberty; with whom, if he come shortly, I will see you.
Heb 13:24  Salute all them that have the rule over you, and all the saints. They of Italy salute you.
Heb 13:25  Grace be with you all. Amen.

This section of Hebrews reveals to us how we can avoid being “carried about with divers and strange doctrines” (Heb 13:9), and one of the main points that will be made over and again to prevent this from happening is our being persuaded (Heb 13:17) of our need to remember them that have the rule over us, mentioned three times in just this one chapter of Hebrews (Heb 13:7, Heb 13:17, Heb 13:24).

The scriptures we will look at in this study show us the sound pattern God has given us, which is realized through judgment upon our sinful flesh (1Pe 4:17, 1Jn 4:17).

When we go outside the camp with Christ (Heb 13:13) we are doing so in order to cease from sinning, living^{G980[G5658 = aorist]} the rest of our time in this flesh not to the lusts of men, but to the will of God where there is no condemnation in Christ because we no longer walk^{G4043 [G5723 = present (today)]} after the flesh but in the spirit (1Pe 4:1-3, Rom 8:1-2). When we obey them that have the rule over us and follow each other as we follow Christ, we are in fact setting our “affection on things above (Eph 2:6), not on things on the earth” knowing and being persuaded that “your life is hid with Christ in God” which is what it means to have eternal life which we now have in earnest (Col 3:2-3, Joh 17:3, the world’s earnest expectation – Rom 8:19, the body of Christ’s earnest of our inheritance – Eph 1:14).

Our Father in heaven is likened to a husbandman (Jas 5:7-8). and the fruit that is first manifested in the lives of God’s elect is what He is producing, which will result in our being able to “walk in wisdom toward them that are without, redeeming the time” (Col 4:5-6). We are walking in wisdom when we “obey them that have the rule over you, and submit yourselves”, and the fruit of that spiritual endeavour is described for us as well in 1Thessalonians 5:16-18.

Jas 5:7 Be patient therefore, brethren, unto the coming of the Lord. Behold, the husbandman waiteth for the precious fruit of the earth, and hath long patience for it, until he receive the early and latter rain.
Jas 5:8  Be ye also patient[Luk_21:19]; stablish your hearts [1Pe 5:10, 1Pe 4:12] :for the coming of the Lord draweth nigh.

Col 4:5  Walk in wisdom toward them that are without, redeeming the time.
Col 4:6  Let your speech be alway with grace, seasoned with salt, that ye may know how ye ought to answer every man.

1Th 5:16  Rejoice evermore.
1Th 5:17  Pray without ceasing.
1Th 5:18  In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.

Heb 13:11  For the bodies of those beasts, whose blood is brought into the sanctuary by the high priest for sin, are burned without the camp.

What of these beasts whose bodies are brought into the sanctuary by the priest for sin? What does this represent, and why must this be burned “without (outside) the camp“?

These beasts represent us, and the knowledge of who we are as beasts does not come about unless the Lord makes that knowledge manifest (Ecc 3:18).

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

The manifold wisdom of God which makes it possible for us to come to know God and Jesus Christ (Joh 17:3) is being made known or manifest through the church (Eph 3:10, Rom 1:19, 2Co 2:14) and no man can come unto Christ the High Priest who is in the temple that we are (1Co 3:16, Col 1:27), unless the Father drags us there (Joh 6:44).

Joh 17:3  And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent.

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

Rom 1:19  Because that which may be known of God is manifest in them; for God hath shewed it unto them [“by the church”].

2Co 2:14  Now thanks be unto God, which always causeth us to triumph in Christ, and maketh manifest the savour of his knowledge by us in every place.

Joh 6:44 No man can come to me, except the Father which hath sent me draw^{G1670 = “drag” [G5661 = aorist]} him: and I will raise him up at the last day.

This dragging process is being talked about when it says “whose blood is brought into the sanctuary by the high priest for sin“. It is our Adamic sinful flesh that is on trial, and we are all guilty of all and therefore, like our Lord, we are “burned without the camp” as we overcome through Christ being nourished by the very living sacrifice we have become through Him (Lev 4:1-21, Heb 13:13, Rom 12:1, Gal 2:20).

Lev 4:3  If the priest that is anointed do sin according to the sin of the people; then let him bring for his sin, which he hath sinned, a young bullock without blemish unto the LORD for a sin offering.

[The anointed priest in this instance is the elect, and the bullock represents Christ who is the sin offering.]

…Lev 4:5-7  And the priest that is anointed shall take of the bullock’s blood, and bring it to the tabernacle of the congregation: And the priest shall dip his finger in the blood, and sprinkle of the blood seven times before the LORD, before the vail of the sanctuary. And the priest shall put some of the blood upon the horns of the altar of sweet incense before the LORD, which is in the tabernacle of the congregation; and shall pour all the blood of the bullock at the bottom of the altar of the burnt offering, which is at the door of the tabernacle of the congregation.

…Lev 4:11-12  And the skin of the bullock, and all his flesh, with his head, and with his legs, and his inwards, and his dung, even the whole bullock shall he carry forth without the camp unto a clean place, where the ashes are poured out, and burn him on the wood with fire: where the ashes are poured out shall he be burnt.

Lev 4:13  And if the whole congregation of Israel sin through ignorance [Rom_3:23], and the thing be hid from the eyes of the assembly, and they have done somewhat against any of the commandments of the LORD concerning things which should not be done, and are guilty;
Lev 4:14  When the sin, which they have sinned against it, is known, then the congregation shall offer a young bullock for the sin, and bring him before the tabernacle of the congregation.

[The young bullock represents Christ, who is sacrificed for the sins of the whole congregation, representing all the worldJoh_3:16]

Lev 4:15  And the elders of the congregation shall lay their hands upon the head of the bullock before the LORD: and the bullock shall be killed before the LORD.
Lev 4:16  And the priest that is anointed shall bring of the bullock’s blood to the tabernacle of the congregation:
Lev 4:17  And the priest shall dip his finger in some of the blood, and sprinkle it seven times before the LORD, even before the vail.
Lev 4:18  And he shall put some of the blood upon the horns of the altar which is before the LORD, that is in the tabernacle of the congregation, and shall pour out all the blood at the bottom of the altar of the burnt offering, which is at the door of the tabernacle of the congregation.
Lev 4:19  And he shall take all his fat from him, and burn it upon the altar.
Lev 4:20  And he shall do with the bullock as he did with the bullock for a sin offering, so shall he do with this: and the priest shall make an atonement for them, and it shall be forgiven them.
Lev 4:21  And he shall carry forth the bullock without the camp, and burn him as he burned the first bullock: it is a sin offering for the congregation.
Heb 13:13  Let us go forth therefore unto him without the camp, bearing his reproach. [Col 1:24]

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

Gal 2:20  I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me. [We lay down our lives for each other (Joh 15:13), 1Jn 3:16)]

Heb 13:12  Wherefore Jesus also, that he might sanctify the people with his own blood, suffered without the gate.
Heb 13:13  Let us go forth therefore unto him without the camp, bearing his reproach.

Suffering “without the gate” or being “burned without the camp” are the same thing, and it represents our coming out of the knowledge of this world, the wisdom of men, as we begin to live by the power of God (1Co 2:5, Pro 9:10, Luk 12:5) that tells us we must lose our life in order to gain it (Mat 10:39) and suffer “without the gate” with Christ who is represented by the bullock that is burned outside the camp (Pro 24:7, Col 1:24, Exo 29:14). Christ “gave himself for [us]” so we could live the rest of our lives “by the faith of the Son of God”, and that is what happens when we die daily and are “born of God”(Gal 2:20, 1Jn 5:4).

1Co 2:5  That your faith should not stand in the wisdom of men, but in the power of God.

Pro 9:10  The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom: and the knowledge of the holy is understanding.

Luk 12:5  But I will forewarn you whom ye shall fear: Fear him, which after he hath killed hath power to cast into hell; yea, I say unto you, Fear him.
Pro 24:7  Wisdom is too high for a fool: he openeth not his mouth in the gate.

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

Exo 29:14  But the flesh of the bullock, and his skin, and his dung, shalt thou burn with fire without the camp: it is a sin offering.

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

The rich young ruler does not want to give up his knowledge, his own righteousness, by going outside the camp with Christ by selling all he has so he can then obtain the true riches and wisdom that comes with suffering, with the people of God who are being “born again” (Mat 19:21, Luk 13:32, Heb 11:25-27, Joh 3:3, Luk 17:21).

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

That “strait gate” God’s elect are blessed to enter into and are heading toward is described for us in this parable of Christ found in Luke 13:22-33. Christ has to direct and control the foal of an ass in order for it, the beast, to enter into the gate, which again represents the wisdom of Christ toward which He directs us by giving us eyes to see and ears to hear (Mat 13:11). Otherwise we would continue to be ever searching and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth (Mat 21:5, Joh 12:14-16, 2Ti 3:7).

Luk 13:22  And he went through the cities and villages, teaching, and journeying toward Jerusalem.

[Regarding God’s sovereignty, we are told we are journeying toward a city (Heb 11:10), which in the elect’s case is the city called “Jerusalem above, the mother of us all” (Jas 4:13-15, Heb 6:3, Gal 4:26]

Luk 13:23  Then said one unto him, Lord, are there few that be saved? And he said unto them,
Luk 13:24  Strive to enter in at the strait gate: for many, I say unto you, will seek to enter in, and shall not be able [Mat 22:14].
Luk 13:25  When once the master of the house is risen up, and hath shut to the door, and ye begin to stand without, and to knock at the door, saying, Lord, Lord, open unto us; and he shall answer and say unto you, I know you not whence ye are:
Luk 13:26  Then shall ye begin to say, We have eaten and drunk in thy presence [Isa_4:1], and thou hast taught in our streets.
Luk 13:27  But he shall say, I tell you, I know you not whence ye are; depart from me, all ye workers of iniquity. [Php 3:9]
Luk 13:28  There shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth, when ye shall see Abraham, and Isaac, and Jacob, and all the prophets, in the kingdom of God, and you yourselves thrust out.

[‘When the world finally sees the spiritual completion through judgment (3) 1Pe 4:17) that God’s elect have gone through, represented by this parable of three men “Abraham, and Isaac, and Jacob“, there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.’]

Luk 13:29  And they shall come from the east, and from the west, and from the north, and from the south, and shall sit down in the kingdom of God.
Luk 13:30  And, behold, there are last which shall be first, and there are first which shall be last. [Mat 22:14]
Luk 13:31  The same day there came certain of the Pharisees, saying unto him, Get thee out, and depart hence: for Herod will kill thee [Luk_12:5].
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.
Luk 13:33  Nevertheless I must walk to day, and to morrow, and the day following: for it cannot be that a prophet perish out of Jerusalem. [Gal 4:26]

[We cannot die daily unless we are blessed to be bound to the altar (Psa 118:27) pursuing our dying daily relationship with Christ (1Co 15:31) as we journey toward Jerusalem which is above (Gal 4:26) through Christ (Php 2:12-13) being blessed to be raised in this heavenly place where we must perish or die daily outside the camp or the gate.]

Heb 13:14  For here have we no continuing city, but we seek one to come.
Heb 13:15  By him therefore let us offer the sacrifice of praise to God continually, that is, the fruit of our lips giving thanks to his name.
Heb 13:16  But to do good and to communicate forget not: for with such sacrifices God is well pleased.

We have so much to be thankful for when we can believe in the faithfulness of the one to whom we have committed our souls (1Pe 4:19) who tells us that “here have we no continuing city, but we seek one to come” (Heb 11:10, Psa 127:1). We are finding that “one to come” through Christ “by him” being accepted in him (Eph 1:6).

1Pe 4:19  Wherefore let them that suffer according to the will of God commit the keeping of their souls to him in well doing, as unto a faithful Creator.

Heb 11:10  For he looked for a city which hath foundations, whose builder and maker is God.

Psa 127:1  A Song of degrees for Solomon. Except the LORD build the house, they labour in vain that build it: except the LORD keep the city, the watchman waketh but in vain.

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

How much praise, how much thankfulness should be on our lips? The answer is: “therefore let us offer the sacrifice of praise to God continually, that is, the fruit of our lips giving thanks to his name” as also confirmed with these verses: (1Th 5:16-18).

1Th 5:16  Rejoice evermore.
1Th 5:17  Pray without ceasing.
1Th 5:18  In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.
1Th 5:19  Quench not the Spirit.
1Th 5:20  Despise not prophesyings.
1Th 5:21  Prove all things; hold fast that which is good.

The context is relevant here in 1Thessalonians 5:16-18, reminding us that when we are not continually thankful, we will in fact quench God’s spirit within, but if God is working with us it will be through judgment that we will learn to appreciate more and more the fruit which this judgment brings about as we pass from death to life and grow in our ability through Christ to love and encourage each other as a healthy joint in Christ’s body (1Jn 3:14, Eph 4:16).

Luk 17:13  And they lifted up their voices, and said, Jesus, Master, have mercy on us.
Luk 17:14  And when he saw them, he said unto them, Go shew yourselves unto the priests. And it came to pass, that, as they went, they were cleansed.
Luk 17:15  And one of them, when he saw that he was healed, turned back, and with a loud voice glorified God,
Luk 17:16  And fell down on his face at his feet, giving him thanks: and he was a Samaritan.
Luk 17:17  And Jesus answering said, Were there not ten cleansed? but where are the nine?
Luk 17:18  There are not found that returned to give glory to God, save this stranger.
Luk 17:19  And he said unto him, Arise, go thy way: thy faith hath made thee whole [1Jn 5:4].

Heb 13:17  Obey them that have the rule over you, and submit yourselves: for they watch for your souls, as they that must give account, that they may do it with joy, and not with grief: for that is unprofitable for you.

It is important to understand in these last few verses of the book of Hebrews what is being told to us when we are commanded to “Obey them that have the rule over you, and submit yourselves“.

We all must give an accounting to God today if we are His elect, and those who are in leadership positions are to look well to themselves and to the flock “over the which the Holy Ghost hath made you overseers, to feed the church of God” (Act 20:28).

Act 20:28  Take heed therefore unto yourselves, and to all the flock, over the which the Holy Ghost hath made you overseers, to feed the church of God, which he hath purchased with his own blood.

That looking well to ourselves is accompanied with the knowledge that “we shall receive the greater condemnation” or judgment so that we can properly call ourselves leaders not just in name but by being a tree that is known by the fruit of our life (Mat 7:16, 1Ti 3:1-7) that God’s judgment upon us will bring about (Jas 3:1, Joh 15:1-8).

Jas 3:1  My brethren, be not many masters, knowing that we shall receive the greater condemnation^G2917.

Joh 15:1  I am the true vine, and my Father is the husbandman.
Joh 15:2  Every branch in me that beareth not fruit he taketh away: and every branch that beareth fruit, he purgeth it, that it may bring forth more fruit [Heb 12:6].
Joh 15:3  Now ye are clean through the word which I have spoken unto you.
Joh 15:4  Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in me.
Joh 15:5  I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing [1Co_3:14].
Joh 15:6  If a man abide not in me, he is cast forth as a branch, and is withered; and men gather them, and cast them into the fire, and they are burned [1Co_3:15].
Joh 15:7  If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you.
Joh 15:8  Herein is my Father glorified, that ye bear much fruit; so shall ye be my disciples.

That word condemnation^G2917 in James 3:1 is the same Strong’s number found in Romans 2:2-3 translated as “judgment”.

Jas 3:1  My brethren, be not many masters, knowing that we shall receive the greater condemnation^G2917.

Rom 2:2  But we are sure that the judgment^G2917 of God is according to truth against them which commit such things.
Rom 2:3  And thinkest thou this, O man, that judgest them which do such things, and doest the same, that thou shalt escape the judgment^G2917 of God?

G2917
krima
kree’-mah
From G2919; a decision (the function or the effect, for or against [“crime”]): – avenge, condemned, condemnation, damnation, + go to law, judgment.

As long as we do not despise “his goodness and forbearance and longsuffering; not knowing that the goodness of God leadeth thee to repentance”, we will be blessed by that process of judgment which is upon all of us so that our love may be made perfect (1Pe 4:17, 1Jn 4:17-18).

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

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.
1Jn 4:18  There is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth out fear: because fear hath torment. He that feareth is not made perfect in love.

God’s leaders are held to a very high standard as “they watch for your souls, as they that must give account [of both themselves and the little flock], that they may do it with joy, and not with grief: for that is unprofitable for you“. We should have joy in our hearts, and that joy of the Lord is our strength which we pray will never leave us (Neh 8:10, Php 4:4).

Neh 8:10  Then he said unto them, Go your way, eat the fat, and drink the sweet, and send portions unto them for whom nothing is prepared: for this day is holy unto our Lord: neither be ye sorry; for the joy of the LORD is your strength.

Php 4:4  Rejoice in the Lord alway: and again I say, Rejoice.

They are helpers of your joy (2Co 1:24) and should always want to bring that good report to our Father which brings great joy as we labour in the word that does not perish, and see the fruit of that labour reflected in the desire of our family to want to walk in the truth (3Jn 1:4). So with this all in mind, let’s look at the meaning of the words obey^G3982 and submit^G5226 in this verse:

Heb 13:17  Obey^G3982 them that have the rule over you, and submit^G5226 yourselves: for they watch for your souls, as they that must give account, that they may do it with joy, and not with grief: for that is unprofitable for you.

“obey” G3982
peithō
pi’-tho
A primary verb; to convince (by argument, true or false); by analogy to pacify or conciliate (by other fair means); reflexively or passively to assent (to evidence or authority), to rely (by inward certainty): – agree, assure, believe, have confidence(Php_1:6), be (wax) content, make friend, obey, persuade, trust, yield.

Php 1:6 Being confident^G3982 [“obey^G3982“] of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ:

Heb 10:35  Cast not away therefore your confidence, which hath great recompence of reward.
Heb 10:36  For ye have need of patience, that, after ye have done the will of God, ye might receive the promise.

“submit” G5226
hupeikō
hoop-i’-ko
From G5259 and εἴκω eikō (to yield, be “weak”); to surrender: – submit self.

Heb 13:7  Remember them which have the rule over ^G2233,[esteem^G2233 1Th 5:13] you who have spoken unto you the word of God: whose faith follow, considering the end of their conversation.

“Them which have the rule over”^G2233 hēgeomai hayg-eh’-om-ahee Middle voice of a (presumed) strengthened form of G71; to lead, that is, command (with official authority); figuratively to deem, that is, consider: – account, (be) chief, count, esteem (1Th 5:13), governor, judge, have the rule over, suppose, think.

Heb 13:24  Salute all them that have the rule over you^G2233, and all the saints. They of Italy salute you.

1Th 5:13  And to esteem^G2233 them very highly in love for their work’s sake [Php 2:12-13, 1Co 11:1, 2Co 1:24]. And be at peace among yourselves.

Php 2:12  Wherefore, my beloved, as ye have always obeyed^G5219 [hupakouō hoop-ak-oo’-o = to listen, to harken] 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.

1Co 11:1  Be ye followers of me, even as I also am of Christ.

2Co 1:24  Not for that we have dominion over your faith, but are helpers of your joy: for by faith ye stand [Rom 3:27, 1Co 3:6, Eph 2:8, 1Jn 5:4, 1Co 3:5].

There is safety in a multitude of counsellors (Pro 11:14) and the spiritual battles we fight in this life are established with wise counsel as that counsel helps us make sense of the process of maturing that we are all going through so we can go on to perfection by being stablished, strengthened and settled by God through Christ (Pro 20:18, 1Pe 5:10).

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

Eph 2:8  For by grace are ye saved through faith; [Gal 2:20] and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:

Being persuaded of someone and finding safety in a multitude of counsellors means that we are trying the spirits upon the word of God (1Jn 4:1-6). God will reveal His mind through our obedience to that word (Act 15:28), which is what it means to be led by the spirit of God that convicts us that we are His sons. (1Co 14:37-40, 1Co 2:16, Rom 8:14-16).

1Jn 4:1  Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world.
1Jn 4:2  Hereby know ye the Spirit of God: Every spirit that confesseth that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is of God:
1Jn 4:3  And every spirit that confesseth not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is not of God: and this is that spirit of antichrist, whereof ye have heard that it should come; and even now already is it in the world.
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 [Col_1:27 , Exo_29:14].
1Jn 4:5  They are of the world: therefore speak they of the world, and the world heareth them.
1Jn 4:6  We are of God: he that knoweth God heareth us; he that is not of God heareth^{G191=akouō ak-oo’-o} not us. Hereby know we the spirit of truth, and the spirit of error.

G191
akouō
ak-oo’-o
A primary verb; to hear (in various senses): – give (in the) audience (of), come (to the ears), ([shall]) hear (-er, -ken), be noised, be reported, understand. [Php 2:12 Wherefore, my beloved, as ye have always obeyedG5219 hupakouō hoop-ak-oo’-o From G5259 and G191; to hear under]

Act 15:28  For it seemed good to the Holy Ghost, and to us [‘the multitude and consensus‘], to lay upon you no greater burden than these necessary things;

1Co 14:35  And if they will learn any thing, let them ask their husbands at home: for it is a shame for women to speak in the church [Rom_1:20].
1Co 14:36  What? came the word of God out from you? or came it unto you only?
1Co 14:37  If any man think himself to be a prophet, or spiritual, let him acknowledge that the things that I write unto you are the commandments of the Lord.
1Co 14:38  But if any man be ignorant, let him be ignorant.
1Co 14:39 Wherefore, brethren, covet to prophesy, and forbid not to speak with tongues [1Co 14:3].
1Co 14:40  Let all things be done decently and in order.

1Co 2:16  For who hath known the mind of the Lord, that he may instruct him? But we have the mind of Christ. [‘a mind that does things decently and in order‘]

Rom 8:14  For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God.
Rom 8:15  For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father.
Rom 8:16  The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God: [“For it seemed good to the Holy Ghost, and to us” (Act 15:28)]

All that we just read is how we “walk in the truth” of 3John 1:4.

3Jn 1:3  For I rejoiced greatly, when the brethren came and testified of the truth that is in thee, even as thou walkest in the truth.
3Jn 1:4  I have no greater joy than to hear that my children walk in truth.

Heb 13:18 Pray for us: for we trust we have a good conscience, in all things willing to live honestly.

We all need each other’s prayers, but Paul in this instance in regards to maintaining “a good conscience, in all things willing to live honestly“, asked the brethren to “pray for us“, the elders, just like Christ prayed for Peter who He knew Satan wanted to sift like wheat (Luk 22:31-32, Mat 26:31). When we don’t “obey them that have the rule over you”, we are in essence smiting the shepherd “and the sheep of the flock shall be scattered abroad”, so we need to obey that commandment to pray for one another that we can be healed (Jas 5:16).

Luk 22:31  And the Lord said, Simon, Simon, behold, Satan hath desired to have you, that he may sift you as wheat:
Luk 22:32  But I have prayed for thee, that thy faith fail not: and when thou art converted, strengthen thy brethren.

Jas 5:16  Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much.

We are all weak and have infirmities and God is making his strength perfect through that weakness (2Co 12:9), and it is by the fervent continual prayers of the righteous that we are all held up. When we pray for our leaders, we are in effect praying that the Lord will not let their faith fail so that they may continue to do the work of strengthening the brethren: “when thou art converted, strengthen thy brethren” (Jas 5:16).

Those prayers are needed “for we trust we have a good conscience, in all things willing to live honestly” (Mat 26:41). We want to continue to trust Him by putting off our flesh as we help each other bear the burdens of this life which we need in order to keep us humble and under our body (1Co 9:26-27).

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.

Heb 13:19 But I beseech you the rather to do this, that I may be restored to you the sooner.

Paul goes on to say what he believes these prayers will accomplish, by simply saying: “But I beseech you the rather to do this, that I may be restored to you the sooner“.

His desire was to “be restored to you the sooner” just as we desire the coming together of the saints every chance the Lord provides. So we should continue to pray that God will make a way for that to happen (Mal 3:16, Heb 10:25).

Mal 3:16  Then they that feared the LORD spake often one to another: and the LORD hearkened, and heard it, and a book of remembrance was written before him for them that feared the LORD, and that thought upon his name.

Heb 10:25  Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching.

Heb 13:20 Now the God of peace, that brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus, that great shepherd of the sheep, through the blood of the everlasting covenant,
Heb 13:21 Make you perfect in every good work to do his will, working in you that which is wellpleasing in his sight, through Jesus Christ; to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen.

These closing statements and blessings of God’s apostle Paul pronounced upon the church of his day is being pronounced in our lives right now through Christ who is “the same yesterday, and to day, and for ever” (Heb 13:8).

What more reassuring words could be uttered that remind us of Romans 5:10-11 by stating how great God’s power is that will accomplish what He has ordained from the foundation of the world by saying, “Now the God of peace, that brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus, that great shepherd of the sheep, through the blood of the everlasting covenant make you perfect in every good work to do his will, (Php 2:12-13) working in you that which is wellpleasing in his sight, through Jesus Christ; to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen.“

Rom 5:10  For if, when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, being reconciled, we shall be saved by his life.
Rom 5:11  And not only so, but we also joy in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom we have now received the atonement.

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.

Heb 13:22 And I beseech you, brethren, suffer the word of exhortation: for I have written a letter unto you in few words.
Heb 13:23 Know ye that our brother Timothy is set at liberty; with whom, if he come shortly, I will see you.

This final salutation in this book of Hebrews is a confirmation of Christ’s words to possess our souls patiently found in Luke 21:19 as Paul beseeches us to “suffer the word of exhortation” because in doing this we will be blessed to hear those words of encouragement and exhortation which help us understand our liberty in Christ (2Co 3:17, Joh 6:63).

Luk 21:19  In your patience possess ye your souls.

2Co 3:17  Now the Lord is that Spirit: and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty.

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.

Paul knew “Yet in the church I had rather speak five words with my understanding, that by my voice I might teach others also, than ten thousand words in an unknown tongue”. This is the good fight of faith to which we are all called, and Paul was reminding the church to know those who labour among you by saying of Timothy, who was like a son unto Paul, “Know ye that our brother Timothy is set at liberty; with whom, if he come shortly, I will see you“. That liberty came about by Timothy learning from Paul, having the humility to be teachable like a son to a father, suffering “the word of exhortation” (Php 2:22, 1Ti 1:2).

Php 2:22  But ye know the proof of him, that, as a son with the father, he hath served with me in the gospel.

1Ti 1:2  Unto Timothy, my own son in the faith: Grace, mercy, and peace, from God our Father and Jesus Christ our Lord.

Heb 13:24 Salute all them that have the rule over you, and all the saints. They of Italy salute you.
Heb 13:25 Grace be with you all. Amen.

Finally, going back to the title in this study, “obey them that have the rule over you, and submit yourselves“, we are again reminded of the same admonition with these similar words “Salute all them that have the rule over you, and all the saints. They of Italy salute you.“

God’s favour or “Grace” will truly be upon us if we can be blessed to learn to “Obey them that have the rule over you, and submit [ourselves]“.

Grace be with you all. Amen.

[Study Aired March 31, 2020]

Luk 16:14 And the Pharisees also, who were covetous, heard all these things: and they derided him. 
Luk 16:15 And he said unto them, Ye are they which justify yourselves before men; but God knoweth your hearts: for that which is highly esteemed among men is abomination in the sight of God.
Luk 16:16 The law and the prophets were until John: since that time the kingdom of God is preached, and every man presseth into it.
Luk 16:17 And it is easier for heaven and earth to pass, than one tittle of the law to fail. 
Luk 16:18 Whosoever putteth away his wife, and marrieth another, committeth adultery: and whosoever marrieth her that is put away from her husband committeth adultery. 

Our first two verses are dealing with the Pharisees and their covetousness. 

Luk 16:14 And the Pharisees also, who were covetous, heard all these things: and they derided him. 
Luk 16:15 And he said unto them, Ye are they which justify yourselves before men; but God knoweth your hearts: for that which is highly esteemed among men is abomination in the sight of God. 

The prophets have been warning Israel of this for generations. 

Isa 56:10 His watchmen are blind: they are all ignorant, they are all dumb dogs, they cannot bark; sleeping, lying down, loving to slumber. 
Isa 56:11 Yea, they are greedy dogs which can never have enough, and they are shepherds that cannot understand: they all look to their own way, every one for his gain, from his quarter. 

Jer 8:10 Therefore will I give their wives unto others, and their fields to them that shall inherit them: for everyone from the least even unto the greatest is given to covetousness, from the prophet even unto the priest everyone dealeth falsely. 

Eze 22:25 There is a conspiracy of her prophets in the midst thereof, like a roaring lion ravening the prey; they have devoured souls; they have taken the treasure and precious things; they have made her many widows in the midst thereof.
Eze 22:26 Her priests have violated my law, and have profaned mine holy things: they have put no difference between the holy and profane, neither have they shewed difference between the unclean and the clean, and have hid their eyes from my sabbaths, and I am profaned among them. 

Each of us has been like these Pharisees in our walk. If our heart is not moved to be changed, we will miss our reward, as demonstrated in the parable of the “Rich Fool”. 

Luk 12:15 And he said unto them, Take heed, and beware of covetousness: for a man’s life consisteth not in the abundance of the things which he possesseth. 
Luk 12:16 And he spake a parable unto them, saying, The ground of a certain rich man brought forth plentifully: 
Luk 12:17 And he thought within himself, saying, What shall I do, because I have no room where to bestow my fruits? 
Luk 12:18 And he said, This will I do: I will pull down my barns, and build greater; and there will I bestow all my fruits and my goods. 
Luk 12:19 And I will say to my soul, Soul, thou hast much goods laid up for many years; take thine ease, eat, drink, and be merry. 
Luk 12:20 But God said unto him, Thou fool, this night thy soul shall be required of thee: then whose shall those things be, which thou hast provided? 
Luk 12:21 So is he that layeth up treasure for himself, and is not rich toward God. 

What did the Pharisees treasure? What did they covet most? This brings us to our next verse. 

Luk 16:16 The law and the prophets were until John: since that time the kingdom of God is preached, and every man presseth into it. 

The Pharisees coveted the law and the prophets. These were their doctrines and way of life. Of course, they were not able to keep the law. 

Joh 7:19 Did not Moses give you the law, and yet none of you keepeth the law? Why go ye about to kill me? 

Gal 6:13 For neither they themselves who are circumcised keep the law; but desire to have you circumcised, that they may glory in your flesh. 

Christ came to fulfill the law and the prophets and to change the law. The Pharisees did not want this to happen. 

Mat 5:17 Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfil. 
Mat 5:18 For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled. 

Luk 24:44 And he said unto them, These are the words which I spake unto you, while I was yet with you, that all things must be fulfilled, which were written in the law of Moses, and in the prophets, and in the psalms, concerning me. 

Mat 5:27 Ye have heard that it was said by them of old time, Thou shalt not commit adultery: 
Mat 5:28 But I say unto you, That whosoever looketh on a woman to lust after her hath committed adultery with her already in his heart. 

Mat 5:31 It hath been said, Whosoever shall put away his wife, let him give her a writing of divorcement: 
Mat 5:32 But I say unto you, That whosoever shall put away his wife, saving for the cause of fornication, causeth her to commit adultery: and whosoever shall marry her that is divorced committeth adultery. 

The Pharisees hated Him for this. 

Luk 19:47 And he taught daily in the temple. But the chief priests and the scribes and the chief of the people sought to destroy him, 
Luk 19:48 And could not find what they might do: for all the people were very attentive to hear him. 

Joh 5:18 Therefore the Jews sought the more to kill him, because he not only had broken the sabbath, but said also that God was his Father, making himself equal with God. 

Back to the verse we see there is a continuation into something different. 

Luk 16:16 The law and the prophets were until John: since that time the kingdom of God is preached, and every man presseth into it. 

The ASV translation puts it this way. 

Luk 16:16 The law and the prophets were until John: from that time the gospel of the kingdom of God is preached, and every man entereth violently into it. 

As you know, these parables are all dealing with the kingdom of God, and this is within each of us. 

Luk 17:20 And being asked by the Pharisees, when the kingdom of God cometh, he answered them and said, The kingdom of God cometh not with observation: neither shall they say, Lo, here! or, There! for lo, the kingdom of God is within you. 

Every man enters the kingdom violently. 

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

Joh 12:30 Jesus answered and said, This voice came not because of me, but for your sakes. Now is the judgment of this world: now shall the prince of this world be cast out. And I, if I be lifted up from the earth, will draw all men unto me. 

Continuing with the next verse we see that the law will not fail until it has completed what it was designed to do. 

Luk 16:17 And it is easier for heaven and earth to pass, than one tittle of the law to fail. 

Mat 5:17 Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfil. 
Mat 5:18 For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled. 
Mat 5:19 Whosoever therefore shall break one of these least commandments, and shall teach men so, he shall be called the least in the kingdom of heaven: but whosoever shall do and teach them, the same shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven. 
Mat 5:20 For I say unto you, That except your righteousness shall exceed the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, ye shall in no case enter into the kingdom of heaven. 

“That except your righteousness exceed that of the scribes and Pharisees, you cannot enter into the kingdom of heaven.” Here is Christ’s explanation to this teaching in the last verse of the study. 

Luk 16:18 Whosoever putteth away his wife, and marrieth another, committeth adultery: and whosoever marrieth her that is put away from her husband committeth adultery.

The wife represents the church, in this case Babylon, the great whore, and until we divorce this wife, we cannot enter the kingdom of heaven. Putting away is not enough. 

Deu 24:1 When a man hath taken a wife, and married her, and it come to pass that she find no favour in his eyes, because he hath found some uncleanness in her: then let him write her a bill of divorcement, and give it in her hand, and send her out of his house. 

If we do not completely divorce this wife, we are committing spiritual adultery. 

Just as in the days of Christ, the Pharisees of today’s “Christianity” have their own laws. Just yesterday we were among them. The following is a list of the “Christian” treasures which they covet. This list came from the online source below. https://www.equip.org/bible_answers/what-is-essential-christian-doctrine/ 

The essential tenets of the Christian faith are: Deity of Christ Original sin Canon Trinity Resurrection Incarnation New creation Eschatology 

We must be careful to not commit spiritual adultery and must divorce the above doctrines and all idols of the heart. Day by day we are dying to these things by the renewing of our minds. 

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

Rom 12:1 I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. 
Rom 12:2 And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God. 

Eph 4:17 This I say therefore, and testify in the Lord, that ye henceforth walk not as other Gentiles walk, in the vanity of their mind, 
Eph 4:18 Having the understanding darkened, being alienated from the life of God through the ignorance that is in them, because of the blindness of their heart: 
Eph 4:19 Who being past feeling have given themselves over unto lasciviousness, to work all uncleanness with greediness.
Eph 4:20 But ye have not so learned Christ; 
Eph 4:21 If so be that ye have heard him, and have been taught by him, as the truth is in Jesus: 
Eph 4:22 That ye put off concerning the former conversation the old man, which is corrupt according to the deceitful lusts; 
Eph 4:23 And be renewed in the spirit of your mind; 
Eph 4:24 And that ye put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness. 

The Prophecy of Isaiah - Part 10 Discussion

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Isa 2:6-14 Enter Into The Rock

Isa 2:6 Therefore thou hast forsaken thy people the house of Jacob, because they be replenished from the east, and are soothsayers like the Philistines, and they please themselves in the children of strangers.
Isa 2:7 Their land also is full of silver and gold, neither is there any end of their treasures; their land is also full of horses, neither is there any end of their chariots:
Isa 2:8 Their land also is full of idols; they worship the work of their own hands, that which their own fingers have made:
Isa 2:9 And the mean man boweth down, and the great man humbleth himself: therefore forgive them not.
Isa 2:10 Enter into the rock, and hide thee in the dust, for fear of the LORD, and for the glory of his majesty.
Isa 2:11 The lofty looks of man shall be humbled, and the haughtiness of men shall be bowed down, and the LORD alone shall be exalted in that day.
Isa 2:12 For the day of the LORD of hosts shall be upon every one that is proud and lofty, and upon every one that is lifted up; and he shall be brought low:
Isa 2:13 And upon all the cedars of Lebanon, that are high and lifted up, and upon all the oaks of Bashan,
Isa 2:14 And upon all the high mountains, and upon all the hills that are lifted up,

Our study today will demonstrate that it is God who leads us into temptation, and it is He who brings us out. We will see that this was His plan from "before the world began" (2Ti 1:9 and Tit 1:2) and that He is carrying out this plan in every life (Ecc 9:2), "each in his own order" (1Co 15:23). It is this knowledge which will explain the abrupt change in tone between the last week's study and this week's study.

The first five verses of this chapter are in stark contrast in tone, and in time, to the entire first chapter of Isaiah. Both chapters are addressed to the same audience, to the Lord's own people. Of course all men are the Lord's creation, and thereby they belong to Him, but scripture is not intended to be understood by all men at this time, as Matthew 13 and Ephesians 1 make clear concerning the difference between those who "are not given to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven" in this age, and those who are given "eyes that see... and ... ears that hear" in this age, and who are given to be those "who first trusted in Christ":

Mat 13:10 And the disciples came, and said unto him, Why speakest thou unto them in parables?
Mat 13:11 He answered and said unto them, Because it is given unto you to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it is not given.

Mat 13:16 But blessed are your eyes, for they see: and your ears, for they hear.
Mat 13:17 For verily I say unto you, That many prophets and righteous men have desired to see those things which ye see, and have not seen them; and to hear those things which ye hear, and have not heard them.

Eph 1:4 According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love:
Eph 1:5 Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will,
Eph 1:6 To the praise of the glory of his grace, wherein he hath made us accepted in the beloved.
Eph 1:7 In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace;
Eph 1:8 Wherein he hath abounded toward us in all wisdom and prudence;
Eph 1:9 Having made known unto us the mystery of his will, according to his good pleasure which he hath purposed in himself:
Eph 1:10 That in the dispensation of the fulness of times he might gather together in one all things in Christ, both which are in heaven, and which are on earth; even in him:
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:
Eph 1:12 That we should be to the praise of his glory, who first trusted in Christ.

Paul says "In whom we have redemption". So we must ask, "is that not referring to all who will be given life in Adam (1Co 15:22)?" The answer is an unequivocal, No, it is not! We know this is so, because he qualifies all these personal pronouns with "We... who first trusted in Christ", and he tells us we were chosen in Christ "before the foundation of the world [to be] those who fist trusted in Christ" . He is not at this place in scripture speaking of or to 'all in Adam'.

Verse 10 is speaking of 'all in Adam as well as all the heavenly realm:

Eph 1:10 That in the dispensation of the fulness of times he might gather together in one all things in Christ, both which are in heaven, and which are on earth; even in him:

This next verse is the "we" of Ephesians 1, and this is who Isaiah also is addressing in this age:

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

Those who first "enter into the Rock.. for the fear of the Lord " are those to whom it is given to be those for whom "judgment must first begin" (1Pe 4:17), those who are the first to be "given to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven" and who were "chosen in Him before the foundation of the world... to be the firstfruits unto God and the lamb" (Rev 14:4). These are "the firstfruits unto God and the Lamb" (Rev 14:4). But they are nowhere ever called 'the only fruits". This first harvest is said to be "few", and these few are called those who "first trusted in Christ". It will be these "few... who first trusted in Christ [who will] have part in the... blessed and holy... first resurrection" (Rev 20:6).

Just as the phrase "the first resurrection" necessitates a later resurrection at the "great white throne judgment", so also does the phrase "the firstfruits" necessitate a later harvest of "all in Adam" (1Co 15:22), at that same later "great white throne... judgment". Those who are resurrected at this later, great, white throne judgment are those who are raised to what the King James calls the "resurrection of damnation".

Joh 5:28 Marvel not at this: for the hour is coming, in the which all that are in the graves shall hear his voice,
Joh 5:29 And shall come forth; they that have done good, unto the resurrection of life ["the first resurrection"]; and they that have done evil, unto the resurrection of damnation [resurrection of condemnation, not "damnation'].

The 'condemnation' is the same condemnation under which our own old man, our own "first man Adam", is condemned:

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

But contrary to what the daughters of the great harlot teach about how easy it is to become a faithful disciple of Christ and to appear in that blessed and holy first resurrection, the truth is the exact opposite, that it is only through "much tribulation that we must enter into the kingdom 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.

The message of our study is that we must all, each in our own time, first be the children of that great whore, who are "not given... to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven... because you have forsaken you children" (Isa 2:6). Only after we have spent a symbolic 'seventy years' being completely deceived by the great harlot, then we must all "come out of her" (Rev 18:4) before we can truly "enter into the Rock... for the fear of the Lord (Isa 2:10)". All these words are addressed to us, and they are "for [our] sakes" (1Co 3:22), nevertheless it is those to whom it is "not given... to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven" in this age who comprise the harlot herself. This is the harlot of whom Isaiah 1 and all but the first five verses of chapter two tell us we must "come out" (Rev 18:4):

Jer 29:10 For thus saith the LORD, That after seventy years be accomplished at Babylon I will visit you, and perform my good word toward you, in causing you to return to this place.

1Co 3:21 Therefore let no man glory in men. For all things are yours;
1Co 3:22 Whether Paul, or Apollos, or Cephas, or the world, or life, or death, or things present, or things to come; all are yours;

2Co 4:15 For all things are for your sakes, that the abundant grace might through the thanksgiving of many redound to the glory of God.

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

Look at the message and tone of Isaiah 1:

Isa 1:1 The vision of Isaiah the son of Amoz, which he saw concerning Judah and Jerusalem in the days of Uzziah, Jotham, Ahaz, and Hezekiah, kings of Judah.
Isa 1:2 Hear, O heavens, and give ear, O earth: for the LORD hath spoken, I have nourished and brought up children, and they have rebelled against me.
Isa 1:3 The ox knoweth his owner, and the ass his master's crib: but Israel doth not know, my people doth not consider.
Isa 1:4 Ah sinful nation, a people laden with iniquity, a seed of evildoers, children that are corrupters: they have forsaken the LORD, they have provoked the Holy One of Israel unto anger, they are gone away backward ["because you have forsaken your people..." Isa 2:6]

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

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

Verse 10 tells us "Judah and Jerusalem" are the same as "Sodom and Gomorrah", and verse 21 tells us Judah and Jerusalem are the great harlot of Revelation 17 and 18. That "great harlot" is God's own people who "have rebelled against [Him]". (Isa 1:2)

Now we can understand what is the reason for the stark change in tone in verse 6, from the first five verses of chapter 2, which we covered in last week's study. Going from chapter 1, informing us of our rebellious and whorish ways which we all are given to live through as we live out our symbolic seventy years in Babylon, where we believe and claim to be His people, chapter 2 jumps way ahead to "the last days" and begins with a very different tone:

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

It is only the "few... firstfruits, [the] overcomers" who live out and experience Isa 2:1-5 inwardly in this age. These verses do have an inward application at this time, but that application is only lived out in this time in God's elect few.

Now let's go to the rest of this chapter beginning with verse 6, the first of the 9 verses we will be covering in today's study, and ask ourselves why the sudden and dramatic change of tone:

Now let's read verses 5 and 6 together and see if we can make any sense of why we have this incredible change of tone between these two verses:

Isa 2:5 O house of Jacob, come ye, and let us walk in the light of the LORD.
Isa 2:6 Therefore thou hast forsaken thy people the house of Jacob, because they be replenished from the east, and are soothsayers like the Philistines, and they please themselves in the children of strangers.

Taken by themselves these verses appear to say "Let us walk in the light of the Lord. Therefore you have forsaken your people the house of Jacob..." and that appears completely incoherent.

God does not forsake His people because they walk in the light of the Lord. According to Christ Himself to "walk in the light of the Lord" is to "follow [the Lord]":

Joh 8:12 Then spake Jesus again unto them, saying, I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life.

If we follow Christ, why then, are we being told "Therefore you have forsaken your people..." That appears to be completely contradictory... 'Follow Christ... therefore Christ has forsaken [His] people the house of Israel'???

There are two reasons why that appears so impossible to understand. The first is that, as is so often the case, it is not properly translated, and the second reason is that we are forgetting that the first five verses concern themselves with what will "come to pass in the last days", while verse 6 is bringing us back to the necessary process which God uses to get us each to our "last days".

Let's read it again:

Isa 2:1 The word that Isaiah the son of Amoz saw concerning Judah and Jerusalem.
Isa 2:2 And it shall come to pass in the last days, that the mountain of the LORD'S house shall be established in the top of the mountains, and shall be exalted above the hills; and all nations shall flow unto it.

So if we want to understand why there is such an abrupt change in tone from verse 5 to verse 6, we must keep in mind first, that the work of God in His creation is through the process of judgment He is working in all men to judge and to destroy the kingdom of the carnal, rebellious, beastly man of sin, the first man Adam, the old man within all of us. Then secondly, when we discover that the word translated as "therefore" is the exact same word translated as "because" in this very same verse, then these two verses begin to make much more spiritual sense to those who know something of that spiritual process known as God's chastening judgment:

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

1Co 11:32 But when we are judged, we are chastened of the Lord, that we should not be condemned [to a later judgment] with the world.

With the necessity of that chastening process in mind, notice that the word "therefore", the first word of verse 6, has the exact same Strong's number as the word translated "because" in this very same verse. Here is this verse with all of its Strong's numbers:

Isa 2:6 Therefore^H3588 thou hast forsaken^H5203 thy people^H5971 the house^H1004 of Jacob^H3290, because^H3588 they be replenished^H4390 from the east^{H4480 H6924}, and are soothsayers^H6049 like the Philistines^H6430, and they please themselves^H5606 in the children^H3206 of strangers^H5237.

So how is this Hebrew word most commonly translated? Here is where it appears in the Old Testament, and the various ways it is translated in the order of the most common to the least common:

H3588
כּי
kı̂y
Total KJV Occurrences: 1120
because, 460; when, 245; if, 166; surely, 58; though, 48; yet, 15; save, 14; how, 11; yea, 10; except, 9; seeing, 9; although, 8; even, 7; nevertheless, 5; whereas, 5; much, 4
assuredly, 3; else, 3; now, 3; than, 3; until, 3; while, 3; forasmuch, 2; so, 2; then, 2; therefore, 2; unless, 2; whether, 2; certainly, 1; doubtless, 1; either, 1; inasmuch, 1; more, 1; rightly, 1; since, 1; thus, 1; till, 1; truly, 1; truth, 1; what, 1; wherefore, 1; which, 1; whom, 1; whose, 1

The English word 'because' is by far the most common translation for this Hebrew word 'kiy'. Of the 1120 times this Hebrew word appears in the Old Testament, it is translated as 'therefore' only two other times. Now 'therefore' and 'because' are not that different in meaning. So let's replace 'therefore' with 'because', and let's replace 'because' with 'therefore' remembering that the first five verses "concern... the Lord's house... in the last days", and let's see what verses 5 and 6 reveal to us when this change is made:

To get the proper understanding of what the holy spirit is telling us, I will read the first five verses along with verse 6:

Isa 2:1 The word that Isaiah the son of Amoz saw concerning Judah and Jerusalem.
Isa 2:2 And it shall come to pass in the last days, that the mountain of the LORD'S house shall be established in the top of the mountains, and shall be exalted above the hills; and all nations shall flow unto it.
Isa 2:3 And many people shall go and say, Come ye, and let us go up to the mountain of the LORD, to the house of the God of Jacob; and he will teach us of his ways, and we will walk in his paths: for out of Zion shall go forth the law, and the word of the LORD from Jerusalem.
Isa 2:4 And he shall judge among the nations, and shall rebuke many people: and they shall beat their swords into plowshares, and their spears into pruninghooks: nation shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall they learn war any more.
Isa 2:5 O house of Jacob, come ye, and let us walk in the light of the LORD.
Isa 2:6 [Because] thou hast forsaken thy people the house of Jacob, [therefore] they be replenished from the east, and are soothsayers like the Philistines, and they please themselves in the children of strangers.

While the word 'because' may seem little different from the word 'therefore' to those who are given to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven, the word 'because', which is the proper translation for the Hebrew word 'kiy', connects that which comes to pass in the last days to what the Lord Himself must first do in the lives of His people before they can be prepared to "come out of [Babylon]. What God must do before He can bring His people out of Babylon is to "forsake your people the house of Jacob", turn them over to a cruel task master, replenish them from the east, and make them soothsayers like the Philistines. He must send them as slaves into Babylon to serve a symbolic 70 years in the deceitful lies of that apostate, adulterous system. It is He who is ruling in the kingdoms of men and in the lives of all men who live in those kingdoms, and it is He who makes His own people to err and who hardens their hearts from His fear. That is why that change of tone is there, and that is exactly what these verses reveal:

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

Dan 4:17 This matter is by the decree of the watchers, and the demand by the word of the holy ones: to the intent that the living may know that the most High ruleth in the kingdom of men, and giveth it to whomsoever he will, and setteth up over it the basest of men.

The future is no mystery to God. He foretold exactly how long Israel would serve Babylon, exactly what would be the fruit of that curse upon His people, and exactly what would become of their oppressors when they had served their purpose.

Jer 25:11 And this whole land shall be a desolation, and an astonishment; and these nations shall serve the king of Babylon seventy years.
Jer 25:12 And it shall come to pass, when seventy years are accomplished, that I will punish the king of Babylon, and that nation, saith the LORD, for their iniquity, and the land of the Chaldeans, and will make it perpetual [Hebrew: olawm - age] desolations.

Jer 29:10 For thus saith the LORD, That after seventy years be accomplished at Babylon I will visit you, and perform my good word toward you, in causing you to return to this place.

Dan 9:2 In the first year of his reign I Daniel understood by books the number of the years, whereof the word of the LORD came to Jeremiah the prophet, that he would accomplish seventy years in the desolations of Jerusalem.

It is Jer 29:10 which explains what God tells us in verse 6 of Isaiah 2. The "good word[s] toward you" of the first five verses of chapter 2 can only come to pass after '[He] forsakes [His] people the house of Israel', sends them to Babylon for seventy years, and only then can the Lord can call them out of Babylon to walk in the light of the Lord.'

Isa 2:5 O house of Jacob, come ye, and let us walk in the light of the LORD.
Isa 2:6 Because thou hast forsaken thy people the house of Jacob, therefore they be replenished from the east, and are soothsayers like the Philistines, and they please themselves in the children of strangers.

In other words, it is all being worked by God for Himself after the counsel of His own will:

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

Eph 1:7 In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace;
Eph 1:8 Wherein he hath abounded toward us in all wisdom and prudence;
Eph 1:9 Having made known unto us the mystery of his will, according to his good pleasure which he hath purposed in himself:
Eph 1:10 That in the dispensation of the fulness of times he might gather together in one all things in Christ, both which are in heaven, and which are on earth; even in him:
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:
Eph 1:12 That we should be to the praise of his glory, who first trusted in Christ.

Now we will return to the judgment we must endure before we can truly walk in the light of the Lord and establish the Lord's house in the top of the mountains of our lives (Isa 2:2).

And where do we get all of this silver and gold and treasures with which Babylon is so full? Here is where it originates:

Eze 16:17 Thou hast also taken thy fair jewels of my gold and of my silver, which I had given thee, and madest to thyself images of men, and didst commit whoredom with them,

Rev 18:12 The [spiritual] merchandise of gold, and silver, and precious stones, and of pearls, and fine linen, and purple, and silk, and scarlet, and all thyine wood, and all manner vessels of ivory, and all manner vessels of most precious wood, and of brass, and iron, and marble, [in spiritual Babylon].

It is with God's own word that we make false doctrines that accord with our own deceived minds, and it is with His own word, symbolized in this verse by gold and silver, that we make to ourselves our "idols of the heart" (Eze 14:1-9). In that deceived state, 'olawm', an age, becomes 'perpetual', and in the Greek, the word 'aion', an age, becomes 'eternity'.

But as the next two verses of Ezekiel 16 reveal, we only want God's name to justify our shameful actions even as we insist on wearing our own garments and eating our own food, both of which we took from Him and now use to prostitute ourselves to our own shame, in which shameful works we glory as did Sodom.

Eze 16:18 And tookest thy broidered garments, and coveredst them [our idols of our hearts]: and thou hast set mine oil and mine incense before them [wresting the scriptures, 2Pe 3:16].
Eze 16:19 My meat also which I gave thee, fine flour, and oil, and honey, wherewith I fed thee [the Word of God], thou hast even set it before them for a sweet savour: and thus it was, saith the Lord GOD.

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 [keep our false doctrines]: only let us be called by thy name, to take away our reproach.

Isa 3:9 The shew of their countenance doth witness against them; and they declare their sin as Sodom, they hide it not. Woe unto their soul! for they have rewarded evil unto themselves.

Where do we get the chariots in which we trust while living in our deceit? Here is the source of all of our supposed great strength as we live the life of a whore:

Isa 31:1 Woe to them that go down to Egypt for help; and stay on horses, and trust in chariots, because they are many; and in horsemen, because they are very strong; but they look not unto the Holy One of Israel, neither seek the LORD!

'Egypt' typifies this world which lives in rebellion against the laws of God. That is the source of our strength while we, too, live in rebellion to the Words of Christ. But Egypt will sadly disappoint us:

Isa 36:6 Lo, thou trustest in the staff of this broken reed, on Egypt; whereon if a man lean, it will go into his hand, and pierce it: so is Pharaoh king of Egypt to all that trust in him.

In the spiritual realm we trust in our own idols of our hearts, and in the physical realm we trust in our own physical strength and physical weapons of war. Both are of no value when the iniquities of our lives and our nation are fulfilled, and our day of judgment has arrived:

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

The next verse fits right in with all the idols we make for ourselves at this time "[because God] has forsaken [His] people".

Isa 2:6 [Because] thou hast forsaken thy people the house of Jacob, because they be replenished from the east, and are soothsayers like the Philistines, and they please themselves in the children of strangers.

The mark of God and the mark of the beast are both 'in our right hand and in our foreheads':

Deu 6:8 And thou shalt bind them [God's commandments] for a sign upon thine hand, and they shall be as frontlets between thine eyes.

Rev 13:16 And he causeth all, both small and great, rich and poor, free and bond, to receive a mark in their right hand, or in their foreheads:

"The work of [our] own hands, that which [our] own fingers have made" refers particularly to the idols of our hearts, which we place ahead of and before the words of Christ and His Father. The "land" is our individual lives, and at this time in our lives we have very little or no time or thought for the words of Christ and His Father simply "because [God] has foresaken [His] people" at this time in our experience. It is the same "one event" in the process of being judged, which is to be experienced by all men of all time (Ecc 9:2).

Every facet of our lives, everything great and small, is given over to bowing down before the dominion of sin in our lives at this time in our experience. We live these words inwardly, and we are watching this take place outwardly and dispensationally as we witness the decline of our society and our nation and the entire world in which we live. It is only at the point of the full bloom of the self-destructive nature of the kingdom of our old man that our loving heavenly Father admonishes us:

Saul of Tarsus is a Biblical type of each of us and also of the outward, dispensational application of these words. At a young age he had arisen within the harlot system of His day to the position of being given the charge of overseeing the persecution of the body of Christ.

Act 7:58 And cast him [Stephen] out of the city, and stoned him: and the witnesses laid down their clothes at a young man's feet, whose name was Saul.

But Saul was zealous to serve his harlot mother, to the extent that he desired from the high priest letters authorizing him to bind Christians outside Israel in Damascus and bring them back to Jerusalem to be judged.

Act 9:1 And Saul, yet breathing out threatenings and slaughter against the disciples of the Lord, went unto the high priest,
Act 9:2 And desired of him letters to Damascus to the synagogues, that if he found any of this way, whether they were men or women, he might bring them bound unto Jerusalem.

Even though Saul is a Pharisee, he is now allied with, and at the zenith of his zeal for the worship of his obsolete, false god, the corrupt Jerusalem Sanhedrin, whose leaders, the high priests, were Sadducees, who did not even believe in a resurrection, nor angels, nor spirits.

Mar 12:18 Then come unto him the Sadducees, which say there is no resurrection; and they asked him, saying,

Act 23:8 For the Sadducees say that there is no resurrection, neither angel, nor spirit: but the Pharisees confess both.

Just like the churches today, the one thing that unites them is their hatred for Christ and His Christ, and they are intent on putting their dead bodies in the street of the 'great city, where also our Lord was crucified':

Rev 11:8 And their dead bodies shall lie in the street of the great city, which spiritually is called Sodom and Egypt (Isa 1:10 and 21), where also our Lord was crucified.

But it is just at this point of the apparent victory of the beast over the Christ of Christ, when we are all brought by God to our wits' end, that the fear of God strikes our hearts and we cry out to the rocks to fall on us and hide us from the face of the Judge of all men. This is the point where we want to "enter into the Rock for fear of the Lord and for the glory of His majesty":

Here is how that all worked out in the life of Saul of Tarsus:

Act 9:3 And as he journeyed, he came near Damascus: and suddenly there shined round about him a light from heaven:
Act 9:4 And he fell to the earth, and heard a voice saying unto him, Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me?
Act 9:5 And he said, Who art thou, Lord? And the Lord said, I am Jesus whom thou persecutest: it is hard for thee to kick against the pricks.
Act 9:6 And he trembling and astonished said, Lord, what wilt thou have me to do? And the Lord said unto him, Arise, and go into the city, and it shall be told thee what thou must do.

This "fear of God" takes place within us spiritually, but it will also come over the whole world when 'the iniquities of the Amorites' are fulfilled on an international scale at the time of the manifestation of the sons of God. This is all foreshadowed by the fear which God struck into the hearts of all the nations which He gave over to Israel when they came up out of Egypt:

Jos 2:9 And she [Rahab the harlot] said unto the men, I know that the LORD hath given you the land, and that your terror is fallen upon us, and that all the inhabitants of the land faint because of you.
Jos 2:10 For we have heard how the LORD dried up the water of the Red sea for you, when ye came out of Egypt; and what ye did unto the two kings of the Amorites, that were on the other side Jordan, Sihon and Og, whom ye utterly destroyed.
Jos 2:11 And as soon as we had heard these things, our hearts did melt, neither did there remain any more courage in any man, because of you: for the LORD your God, he is God in heaven above, and in earth beneath.

That is what happened to Saul of Tarsus on the road to Damascus. Here is that same experience as it is described for us in the book of the Revelation of Jesus Christ and it is lived out in our lives:

Rev 6:15 And the kings of the earth, and the great men, and the rich men, and the chief captains, and the mighty men, and every bondman, and every free man, hid themselves in the dens and in the rocks of the mountains;
Rev 6:16 And said to the mountains and rocks, Fall on us, and hide us from the face of him that sitteth on the throne, and from the wrath of the Lamb:
Rev 6:17 For the great day of his wrath is come; and who shall be able to stand? [Isa 2:10]

Rev 11:8 And their dead bodies [of the two witnesses] shall lie in the street of the great city, which spiritually is called Sodom and Egypt, where also our Lord was crucified.
Rev 11:9 And they of the people and kindreds and tongues and nations shall see their dead bodies three days and an half, and shall not suffer their dead bodies to be put in graves.
Rev 11:10 And they that dwell upon the earth shall rejoice over them, and make merry, and shall send gifts one to another; because these two prophets tormented them that dwelt on the earth.
Rev 11:11 And after three days and an half the Spirit of life from God entered into them, and they stood upon their feet; and great fear fell upon them which saw them.
Rev 11:12 And they heard a great voice from heaven saying unto them, Come up hither. And they ascended up to heaven in a cloud; and their enemies beheld them.

This horrifying experience is not unique to Saul of Tarsus. While our experience may not be as immediate or as dramatic as that of Saul, it is still the same "one event [common] to all" (Ecc 9:2), and this is the product of what happened to Saul of Tarsus, and this is the product of God's wonderful works in all the children of men (Psa 107:21-31).

The phrases "that day, [and] the day of the Lord" are always speaking of the day of His judgments upon His people. That is why He must first "forsake His people", humble them, instill His fear within us all and bring us "to [our] wits' end" (Psa 107:27), and then place within us His kingdom [Luk 17:20-21]. It is at that point in our walk the mountain of the Lord's house will begin to be placed in the top of the mountains to rule all nations with a rod of iron. Then when the thousand years are expired, we are given to judge all the messengers, all the angels of Satan, in the lake of fire.

1Co 6:2 Do ye not know that the saints shall judge the world? and if the world shall be judged by you, are ye unworthy to judge the smallest matters?
1Co 6:3 Know ye not that we shall judge angels? how much more things that pertain to this life?

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

Rev 20:7 And when the thousand years are expired, Satan shall be loosed out of his prison,
Rev 20:8 And shall go out to deceive the nations which are in the four quarters of the earth, Gog and Magog, to gather them together to battle: the number of whom is as the sand of the sea.
Rev 20:9 And they went up on the breadth of the earth, and compassed the camp of the saints about, and the beloved city: and fire came down from God out of heaven, and devoured them.
Rev 20:10 And the devil that deceived them was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone, where the beast and the false prophet are, and shall be tormented day and night for ever and ever.
Rev 20:11 And I saw a great white throne, and him that sat on it, from whose face the earth and the heaven fled away; and there was found no place for them.
Rev 20:12 And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened: and another book was opened, which is the book of life: and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works. ["We shall judge angels"]
Rev 20:13 And the sea gave up the dead which were in it; and death and hell delivered up the dead which were in them: and they were judged every man according to their works.
Rev 20:14 And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire [the destruction of "the last enemy... death" 1Co 15:26]. This is the second death.
Rev 20:15 And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire. [The second death, the lake of fire, is the destruction of death].

This "great white throne judgment, [which is] the lake of fire" is not a bad thing for mankind. This is the very foundation of the beginning of the process of the salvation of all men to bring them to learn and to live righteous lives:

Psa 119:67 Before I was afflicted [judged] I went astray: but now [that your judgments are in the earth] have I kept thy word.

Psa 119:71 It is good for me that I have been afflicted [judged]; that I might learn thy statutes.

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