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A Mystery Hidden from the Ages and Generations: How Not to be Bitter Against One’s Wife and How not to Make a Husband Bitter – Part 1

[Study Aired July 15, 20 23]

Col 3:18 Wives, submit yourselves unto your own husbands, as it is fit in the Lord.
Col 3:19 Husbands, love your wives, and be not bitter against them.

In the beautiful account of Jacob lighting eyes upon Rachel for the first time, his response was to spontaneously burst into tears; such was his flood of profound emotions for having found a guaranteed virtuous woman to be his wife; to top off the connection, she was breathtakingly beautiful… besides, she obviously loved tending her father’s sheep in the sensorily arousing outdoors. That exhilarating imagery is enough to make any man nostalgically weep ~ it did Christ, who created all biological and spiritually related emotions that motivate ravishings (Son 4:9-11; Prov 5:19).

Gen 29:1 Then Jacob went on his journey, and came into the land of the people of the east. 
Gen 29:2 And he looked, and behold a well in the field, and, lo, there were three flocks of sheep lying by it; for out of that well they watered the flocks: and a great stone was upon the well’s mouth. 
Gen 29:3 And thither were all the flocks gathered: and they rolled the stone from the well’s mouth, and watered the sheep, and put the stone again upon the well’s mouth in his place. 
Gen 29:4 And Jacob said unto them, My brethren, whence be ye? And they said, Of Haran are we. 
Gen 29:5 And he said unto them, Know ye Laban the son of Nahor? And they said, We know him. 
Gen 29:6 And he said unto them, Is he well? And they said, He is well: and, behold, Rachel his daughter cometh with the sheep. 
Gen 29:7 And he said, Lo, it is yet high day, neither is it time that the cattle should be gathered together: water ye the sheep, and go and feed them.
Gen 29:8 And they said, We cannot, until all the flocks be gathered together, and till they roll the stone from the well’s mouth; then we water the sheep.
Gen 29:9 And while he yet spake with them, Rachel came with her father’s sheep: for she kept them. 
Gen 29:10 And it came to pass, when Jacob saw Rachel the daughter of Laban his mother’s brother, and the sheep of Laban his mother’s brother, that Jacob went near, and rolled the stone from the well’s mouth, and watered the flock of Laban his mother’s brother. 
Gen 29:11 And Jacob kissed Rachel, and lifted up his voice, and wept.

Upon seeing Rachel’s bright-eyed and sunny personality, Jacob’s unabashed howls expressed unspeakable joy and relief that such a beautiful creature existed. His unmasking no doubt cascaded Rachel with rapidly changing and enchanting emotions of surprise, tenderness and reverence, all amplifying the beauty in her face, only to make Jacob wail a little more. I’ll confidently wager that neither slept much that night, them having stayed up late excitedly chatting. Speaking from a man’s point of view, in disbelief, I would have lain brightly awake through the dawn just as Boaz’s commitment was for Ruth. The male-savvy Naomi knew that Boaz wouldn’t rest until his inherently protective masculine duty was performed for the particularly comely, virtuous young woman. 

I encourage you to please read all of Ruth 3 for Boaz’s and Ruth’s beautiful correlations to Jacob and Rachel, both parties individually representing Christ and his Bride.

Playful Shulamite-like poetic intimacy is the most provocative connection for a courting couple, and if continued in marriage, it is a key to supreme happiness. It is an elegant teasing game masterfully controlled and escalated by the fiancée or wife’s feminine charm and subtle delicacies, entrancing her lover. If ever a woman had righteous and powerful rulership over her husband, it is with that method! Jacob, Boaz, Christ and no righteous or unbelieving man could rest with those enviable traits alive in his home.

Of supreme importance, note in Jacob and Rachel’s connections that he meets her in the “field” to the “east”, tending her “Father’s sheep”. Spiritually he represents Christ and Rachel, His Bride, in the “high day” light of Him courting and connecting with her and magnifying her arousal for his plan of salvation, having rolled away the “stone” from the “well’s” mouth, washing her by the word (Eph 5:26) for her to wash the rest of the world for one of the two resurrections. Jacob and Rachel, Boaz and Ruth had outstanding sensual (physical) connections Solomon and the Shulamite epitomised spirituality for Christ and his Bride.

The intrinsic problem is with the connection! Worldly sensual connections are ordained to grow tiresome, particularly for a wife and by the curse. 

Joh 6:63 It is the spirit that quickeneth; the flesh profiteth nothing: the words that I speak unto you, they are spirit, and they are life.
Joh 6:64 But there are some of you that believe not. For Jesus knew from the beginning who they were that believed not, and who should betray him.

All wives (as are husbands spiritually to Christ) are predestined to “betray” their husbands ‘whose hearts are snares and nets, and their hands are bands’ for the pre-marriage guarantee of bedroom intimacy, just as old Israel promised Jehovah, and grow weary.

Ecc 7:26 And I find more bitter than death the woman, whose heart is snares and nets, and her hands as bands: whoso pleaseth God shall escape from her; but the sinner shall be taken by her. 

Christ is a wonderful stumbling block (1Co 1:23); He found relief from bitterness in death to fulfill His dream for us. And so…

“The dream is one”! This study aims to energise wives and husbands with aspirations for a dream marriage. It is hoped to show wives how to attain a connection with their husbands that almost every girl and wife since creation has dreamed of and torn down with her own hands (Pro 14:1). It likewise is hoped to show husbands how to be Christ so that their wives can realize their dreams.

It is only the Bride of Christ who has been electrified by the Shulamite’s God-given daydreaming who understands her past sluggish bedroom intimacies are the direct result of her curse from Eden. It is the staggering reason behind husbands’ bitterness against their wives and our Lord’s (designed) hatred for his first wife.

The heavenly pattern is clearly seen in the order of courtship by our husband, Christ choosing us to be His Bride. Her job, her high calling, is to enthusiastically respond and incite arousal in Him for her more profound conception and resulting mutually exhilarated joy.

Joh 15:16 You have not chosen Me, but I have chosen you and ordained you that you should go and bring forth fruit, and that your fruit should remain; that whatever you shall ask of the Father in My name, He may give it to you.
Joh 15:17 These things I command you, that you love one another.

Col 2:17 For these are a shadow of things to come, but the body is of Christ. 

Following are two verses with tremendous implications for an outstanding marriage. Embedded therein hinges all marital dissonance founded on not having a spiritual connection.

Gen 4:1 And Adam knew [H3045] Eve his wife; and she conceived, and bare Cain, and said, I have gotten a man from the LORD.
Gen 4:2 And she again bare his brother Abel. And Abel was a keeper of sheep, but Cain was a tiller of the ground. 

We don’t necessarily have to look up the word “knew” to understand that Adam and Eve were sensually intimate. Yet, if we don’t, Satan jams a broom handle into the spokes of our marital pushbike, and the alliance goes over the handlebars; and that is precisely what happens to all marriages.

Nothing in that translation says anything about sexual intimacies (except passively h. 2. to know (a person carnally); therefore, if a wife authentically wanted to ‘know’ her husband, she would make it her intimate ‘job’ to discover every minute detail about his mind, inciting his (Christ ~ spiritually) classically designed male body and mind to respond. Traditionally since he (and she) is almost guaranteed not to know ‘the’ Christ, that is where the broom handle is unwittingly employed.

However, let’s see how subtly “knowing” a wife or husband directly relates to spirited bedroom intimacies.

1Co 7:2 Nevertheless, to avoid fornication, let every man have his own wife, and let every woman have her own husband. 
1Co 7:3 Let the husband render unto the wife due benevolence: and likewise also the wife unto the husband. 
1Co 7:4 The wife hath not power of her own body, but the husband: and likewise also the husband hath not power of his own body, but the wife.
1Co 7:5 Defraud ye not one the other, except it be with consent for a time, that ye may give yourselves to fasting and prayer; and come together again, that Satan tempt you not for your incontinency.
1Co 7:6 But I speak this by permission, and not of commandment. 

The Bride’s (a wife’s) ‘job’ is the spiritual application of the highly sensual physical! If she doesn’t daily build her house with ravishing eyes (Son 4:9) to “provoke” her husband to good works (how dumb-easy is the biological application?), she is no different to that other dull woman from Mt. Agar (Gal 4:24-25).

Heb 10:22 Let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience, and our bodies washed with pure water.

Eph 5:25 Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it;
Eph 5:26 That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the [highly spiritually arousing washing] of water by the word.

Continuing…

Heb 10:23 Let us hold fast the profession of our faith without wavering; (for he is faithful that promised;) 
Heb 10:24 And let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works: 
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 10:26 For if we sin wilfully after that we have received the knowledge of the truth, there remaineth no more sacrifice for sins, 
Heb 10:27 But a certain fearful looking for of judgment and fiery indignation, which shall devour the adversaries.

Put simply, a husband’s ‘job’ is to know Christ; a wife’s ‘job’ is to converse submissively and enthusiastically engage him and be washed by the word of God. It is the most biologically and spiritually arousing act not known to mankind other than the Bride! With pounding hearts, it is the discovery of “hidden treasure”.

Mat 13:44 Again, the kingdom of Heaven is like treasure hidden in a field, which when a man has found it, he hides it, and for the joy of it goes and sells all that he has, and buys that field.

I pray that men and women in the Body never regress to our former dismissive unaroused state and buy this field.

The most profoundly satisfying physical marriage relationship anywhere on earth is only found among a very few in the Elect of God, who have all the keys to the kingdom confined to the one outstanding spiritual act of being warmly and deeply kissed by her Lord. That enthusiastic physical interaction between a husband and his wife directly corresponds spiritually to the meaning of a stunning marriage and, ultimately, eternal life with Christ as our inheritance!

Sure, some Babylonian Christians know that mother Eve was given by the Lord to commit her sin and be liable to the inevitable curse, yet, they mostly have no whit why a husband would be guaranteed to be bitter against his wife. Husbands likewise have no whit of understanding the equivalent curse on them for being bitter against their wives! Accordingly, this study hopefully benefits those contemplating marriage and ‘resurrects to life’ those existing marriages, particularly for us all, spiritually.

Mat 16:16 And Simon Peter answered and said, You are the Christ, the Son of the living God. 
Mat 16:17 Jesus answered and said to him, You are blessed, Simon, son of Jonah, for flesh and blood did not reveal it to you, but My Father in Heaven.

Peter represents the Church upon the “little rock” (Petros); he was compared to Christ and the foundation of the Church. The Father only reveals His truth through his Elect.

Mat 16:18 And I also say to you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build My church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it. 
Mat 16:19 And I will give the keys of the kingdom of Heaven to you. [The Elect only] And whatever you may bind on Earth shall occur, having been bound in Heaven, and whatever you may loose on Earth shall occur, having been [already, before the foundation of the world] loosed in Heaven. 

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

Those who have not been given the keys to the kingdom of heaven are those who cannot possibly accept the plain statement here in 1 Corinthians 3 that even “the world (and) death” are ours and that we must all live by every word that proceeds out of the mouth of God, including “yes, even the wicked for the day of evil” (Pro 16:4) in each of us.

Those who have taken away the ‘key of knowledge’ of how to enter into the kingdom of heaven will never agree that “all things are yours” really means “all things ~ the world, death, things present and things to come.” 100% of “all things” are for the Elect alone only in this age; others are not being judged as yet, since the world does not participate in the First Resurrection. Those who refuse this key to the kingdom of heaven also go as far as to hinder those entering the kingdom of heaven. “…Ye have taken away the key of knowledge: ye entered not in yourselves, and them that were entering in ye hindered” (Luk 11:52). Even those sad words are “in me, that is in my flesh.”

Rom 7:18 For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh,) dwelleth no good thing: for to will is present with me; but how to perform that which is good I find not.

The Shulamite has been given all the keys to the Kingdom of Heaven rolled into one master key by her single-eyed focus on her Lord. With bright-eyed devotedness, she actively goes out of her way to spiritually inflame intense desire in her Lord for their mutual ecstasy, eager in measured anticipatory arousals for “when he pleases” (Son 8:4).

Son 4:9 You have ravished My heart, My sister, My spouse; you have ravished My heart with one of your eyes, with one chain of your neck.

The Lord slowly awakened the love of his Bride precisely ‘when he pleased’ at His death on the cross. There is no greater Shulamite awakening and inflaming of her love than today and increasing every day until His return! (Matthew 25 – the Ten Virgins)

The Lord made mature young women, particularly in their bloom of youth, devastatingly alluring to men. Even if some women are not instantly noticeably ravishing, they all have nuances of exquisite intrigue for the particularly attentive male. Almost all women fail to see those fleeting appeals that only a male sees, and even other males cannot see what a particularly discerning male loves in the girl of his watchfulness. She simply goes about being female in the body she was given, mostly innocently oblivious to what arouses males (a blight she inherits from dull-eyed mothers and elder women of influence). She’d be deeply intrigued, for sure, if she knew, yet, wrinkle her pretty nose up to understand its provocation to stare in the mirror to find the source for its amplification and frustrating failure. More likely, she grotesquely exaggerates what she perceives as sexually alluring, believing that ‘in-your-face’ sensual expressions trawl a larger catch for sorting… and she does.

All men and women sit somewhere in the long spectrum of lust that waxes and wanes in unrighteous lust; none are exempt. It is just that within that very broad band lies degrees of every dissolute thought and action imaginable. And by the design of the flesh, both men and women, particularly those ignorant of moral decency, lean toward exhausting their sensual titillations mostly secretly, yet in these end-times, becoming more and more pridefully triumphant.

The Lord made every aspect of feminine energy, those flashes of exquisite beauty that words defy, and the resulting male poetry of a million impassioned expressions for men’s endless fascination and intense focus. It is what mesmerises males to utter frustration of nonattainment, and many mournfully submit to pornography, either mentally or online. More women than those who admit do likewise. As an apparent statistical fact, today, it is hard to believe that women now watch more porn than men,  mostly for female sensuality vastly more than male. Ironic, isn’t it, that both men and women worship the AshterothH6252.

Gen 14:5 And in the fourteenth year Chedorlaomer [Phonetic: ked-or-law-o’-mer] and the kings that were with him came and struck the giants in Ashteroth [ash-ter-oth’ kar-nah’-yim] Karnaim, and the Zuzim [zoo-zeem’] in Ham, and the Emim [ay-meem’] in Shaveh Kiriathaim [shaw-vay’ kir-yaw-thah’-yim],

There are plenty of derivatives of the term, Ashteroth or Ashtaroth, all meaning the worship of the female as a goddess.  You may like to check out this link. Astarte – Ancient Diety

Interestingly, the Ashteroth are of the Nephilim, the giants with which both Israel and we must contend. Fewer giants are ever more outstanding than the worship of women who rule over men. Women’s rulership over men and men’s most willing abdication of headship is the most damning sin of all, since, spiritually, it symbolises our imagined dethroning both the Father and Christ for our godship sitting on His throne (Rev 13, Rev 17, Rev 19).

Yet, the sexual vitality of a woman is the result of her overall feminine dynamism. Should she amplify authentic gentleness, kindness, softness in appearance and voice, peace, joy, temperance, gorgeous hair, her entire body and submissive mind (Gal 5) when devoted non-sexually to all men, she becomes an Esther, hopefully for one man’s unspeakable delight and glory for all the world to ultimately see ~ such is the Shulamite, the Bride, is to Christ.

The one-time protection of women for their purity for monogamous marriage is a cornerstone of a nation’s strength. Today, all focus is a flood of destroying the God-designed dynamism of our beautiful women, whose own hands (mind bogglingly) abet her destruction. Even though the following verse is for spiritual focus, its outward “natural” application today is immensely destructive to the glorious vitality of beautiful femininity.

Rev 12:15 And the serpent cast out of his mouth water as a flood after the woman, that he might cause her to be carried away of the flood.

Today, her demise is in freefall, and tragically she is carried away by the flood of lies. Her beauty is destroyed by her shrill cry demanding respect for her power, strength and independence. No wonder today we have a major Western push for ‘men going their own way’ (MGTOW) since they never wish to be enslaved to that kind of woman ~ Christ didn’t but was.

Women’s feminine energy in the Body of Christ is sanctified, protected and nourished for that one ‘man’ whose teeth (his flocks) rest at noon through the peace that their animated spiritual conversation excites in the full brightness of the Son.

Son 1:7 Tell me, O thou whom my soul loveth, where thou feedest, where thou makest thy flock to rest at noon: for why should I [the Shulamite] be as one that turneth aside by the flocks of thy companions? (More exposition on that verse later)

Nothing is more sexually arousing for a male than those mentioned above delectable female attributes with sparkling eyes authentically and singularly devoted to him at noon. For the spiritually void young man, her endless beauty seems to him melancholically as unattainable as a fictitious Shulamite. Shockingly, she is much closer than he’ll ever know!

Joh 17:15 I pray not that thou shouldest take them [the Bride] out of the world, but that thou shouldest keep them from the evil.
Joh 17:16 They are not of the world, even as I am not of the world. 
Joh 17:17 Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth [by ‘the washing’ of the Lord’s word]

It is understandable, yet a little desolate, that demurely inherent people tend to shift uncomfortably when the sexual “natural” that comes first corresponds to the spiritual. Almost daily, I ask most passionately of our Father to give me Christ’s kisses of deep spiritual understanding to be spiritually aroused and blazingly ‘turned on’, ravished, inflamed for Christ, my [the Body’s] husband and Lord, and for him to instantly delight in the beauty He is creating in me. There shouldn’t be one person in the Body of Christ who doesn’t know what intense sexual arousal feels like. If there is such a person, he is missing the full impact of its spiritual meaning. Does he think Christ figuratively closed his eyes and other spiritual sensories when he designed our incredible body, holding His breath and averting his eyes because it was all just too gross? (Php 2:5-8). It is intensely erotic for a husband whose wife, with unrestrained elegance and skilful planning, blesses him with her mind and body focused on him ~ so, too, is Christ spiritually. Subsequently, all things literally become hers.

Psa 139:13 For thou hast possessed my reins: thou hast covered me in my mother’s womb. 
Psa 139:14 I will praise thee; for I am fearfully and wonderfully made: marvellous are thy works; and that my soul knoweth right well. 
Psa 139:15 My substance was not hid from thee, when I was made in secret, and curiously wrought in the lowest parts of the earth. 
Psa 139:16 Thine eyes did see my substance, yet being unperfect; and in thy book all my members were written, which in continuance were fashioned, when as yet there was none of them. 

1Pe 3:7 Likewise, ye husbands, dwell with them according to knowledge, giving honour unto the wife, as unto the weaker vessel, and as being heirs together of the grace of life; that your prayers be not hindered.

The curse from Eden immediately diverges a wife from her husband for them to be one flesh, body and spirit. When given to honour and submit to her head, a righteous husband, she captures the virtuously arousing nature of her God-given femininity. Her determination to exercise physical and spiritual enchantment in the home and for her husband and family immediately melds her and her husband as one spirit in Christ. That is the most powerful form of rulership she has that is infinitely greater than what her woke feminist kin in Babylon can only jealously lust for and deepen their ugly expressions.

Jud 1:12 These people are filthy minded, and by their shameful and selfish actions they spoil the meals you eat together. They are like clouds blown along by the wind, but never bringing any rain. They are like leafless trees, uprooted and dead, and unable to produce fruit. 
Jud 1:13 Their shameful deeds show up like foam on wild ocean waves. They are like wandering stars forever doomed to the darkest pits of hell.

Let’s explore why and how husbands become bitter against their wives and, if possible, Christ symbolically bitter against both.

The Bride of Christ alone has spiritually been given those keys as soundly understood in the study, the Song of Solomon. The Shulamite in the Song of Solomon was electrified to physically discover her marital ‘resurrection of life’ that her 1,000 sisters in Solomon’s palace could never discover. Even with Solomon’s infinite wisdom, she remained immutably “black” to him in understanding her unsearchable wisdom, reflected in perfectly expressed sensual arousal of an unknown (spiritual) higher plane. He had all the God-given wisdom above all fleshly wisdom, yet vexingly, this Shulamite held the literal (vernacular) ‘holy grail’ for an unspeakably blissful marriage! 

Meanwhile, Solomon’s 1,000 wives remained dead in their ‘perfection’ of beauty above all women in Israel, expecting the King to worship them. With a pout for not understanding why their Lord (Solomon/Christ) would not grovel before their self-acclaimed excellence and allurement, they, including Leah (Jacob’s first wife – greater Israel) and Queen Vashti, fulfill the following verse:

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 clothing; only let us be called by your name, to take away our shame.

An overwhelming fact remains that stunning sexual intimacy between a husband and wife results from outstanding spiritual connections that further cause an already pretty woman to become her heart’s desire, exquisitely ravishing. By the Lord’s design, Leah, Jacob’s (ironically) supplanted wife, couldn’t understand that multiple sexual encounters resulting in many sons weren’t the ultimate criteria for love (Gen 29:31-35); spiritually, neither can the woman from Sinai whom the nominative 99.99% of the world’s men, physically and spiritually marry.

Of course, Queen Vashti was spectacularly put in her place for glorifying herself before all the nobles, princes and nation of Shushan (Persia) by not humbly coming at her Lord’s behest. She was too absorbed in elevating her beauty before the other women of King Ahasuerus’s (Phonetic: ‘akh-ash-vay-roshs’)  palace (Est 1:9). She certainly didn’t need a man, particularly her husband, to have his image symbolically glorified when she could artfully satisfy herself before the entire nation by taking such an outrageous objection to her husband’s bidding. Vashti was a classical feminist. Vashti’s and Israel’s haughty dismissiveness of her husband’s appetite for her tantalising beauty cost her royalty ~ so, too, does it cost the 99.99% of humanity’s majesty who narcissistically worship themselves in Babylonian Christianity. 

1Co 11:7 For a man indeed ought not to have his head covered, because he is the image and glory of God. But the woman is the glory of the man.

All Christian Babylonian women are effectively feminists since they rarely submit to their husbands as unto the Lord (Eph 5:22). The accepted spiritual fact in the Body of Christ is that all men in greater Babylon are spiritual ‘feminists’ since they utterly reject Christ, and subsequently and unwittingly are subject to the greater judgement.

Before Christ’s people were dragged out of Babylon, they subliminally knew something about the other Christ preached was amiss (a Solomon-like vexation for the Shulamite’s blackness and his inability to understand her spirit).

Just as Babylonish wives can’t submit to their Babylonish husbands; similarly, Christ-like wives have grave difficulty submitting to a Babylonish husband, and Christ-like husbands have “bitter” distress connecting to their Babylonian wives, as symbolised by our Lord’s hatred for His first wife’s rejection of His ‘kisses’ (Israel in the wilderness). Even though our Lord designed Israel’s rejection for His deep kisses of His word, all husbands are in lockstep with Christ for the same near-guaranteed experience that leaves them feeling defeated and betrayed. The unspiritual husband is exceedingly troubled by his wife’s dismissiveness of his physical arousal for her. More often, his exasperation plunges his marriage into deeper discord.

God commanded Hosea to marry a known harlot (Hosea 3) to parallel Israel’s harlotry while married to her Lord; for most husbands today, the most insidious off-shoot dynamics of harlotry is his wife’s inherent increasing disdain to be authentically aroused for his love ~ why should she?

Harlotary is traditionally solely financially interested in the transaction and mostly despises her client’s inflamed passion; she has perfected feigning exhilaration, hoping to speed up his zenith while secretly hoping, “Are you finished yet?” She artfully knows that a hint of that expression will extend or kill her client’s fulfillment of the transaction and is the last thing she desires.

Of course, not all harlot’s business (covenant) involves money since a Queen Vashti-like self-glorification in the eyes of the entire nation is superior currency involving tens of thousands of ‘customers’. She is the ultimate capitalist. Indeed, a wife’s rulership over her husband is a damnably damaging act to marriage.

That self-worship is further narrowed down and identified in our physical marriages in the Body of Christ, where the same self-worshiping act can linger and hide physically and, worse, spiritually.

The spiritual Esthers and Shulamites intrinsically know from experience that honouring a husband, not only for his headship but his God-given design, to be easily sensually inflamed will bless her more leisurely arousals. Her entire body is a tactile organ with many more sensory interconnections than her husband’s; they complement his God-given greater gift for spiritual connections and, thus, headship. She teaches her husband to be a skilled ‘harpist’ with her body, lingering on some notes and ingeniously plucking others. She delights in seeing his delight in her sensory beauty, deliberately designed to further enhance her awakening and is a major key to her ultimate joy, the Shulamite no doubt learned from her mother. (Son 8:1-7 – in fact, all of Son!). Her husband is designed to spiritually do likewise to her overwhelming joy. No wonder the Shulamite, with that understanding, fiercely protected her virginity for “when he pleases”!

Of course, our Lord is the master psalmist and musician for our colossal spiritual arousals, deftly timing every essential disturbance for our excitement for Him. Our submission to Him guarantees Him raising a chorus in us of honour.

Pro 15:33 The fear of the LORD is the instruction of wisdom; and before honour is humility. 

1Sa 2:30 Wherefore the LORD God of Israel saith, I said indeed that thy house, and the house of thy father, should walk before me for ever: but now the LORD saith, Be it far from me; for them that honour me I will honour, and they that despise me shall be lightly esteemed.

Our strong delusions in Babylon were mind boggling for the spiritually stimulated mind when we were given to see the cunning plan our Lord had designed for his Elect.

Mar 10:28 Then Peter began to say unto him [Jesus], Lo, we have left all, and have followed thee. 
Mar 10:29 And Jesus answered and said, Verily I say unto you, There is no man that hath left house, or brethren, or sisters, or father, or mother, or wife [regardless of outstanding marital intimacies], or children, or lands, for my sake, and the gospel’s,
Mar 10:30 But he shall receive an hundredfold now in this time [coming age; and maybe now physically for the wise], houses, and brethren, and sisters, and mothers, and children, and lands, with persecutions; and in the world to come eternal life. 
Mar 10:31 But many that are first shall be last; and the last first.

[End of Part 1]

]]> Study of the Book of Kings – 1Ki 11:5-25  “Even so then at this present time also there is a remnant according to the election of grace” https://www.iswasandwillbe.com/study-of-the-book-of-kings-1ki-115-25-even-so-then-at-this-present-time-also-there-is-a-remnant-according-to-the-election-of-grace/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=study-of-the-book-of-kings-1ki-115-25-even-so-then-at-this-present-time-also-there-is-a-remnant-according-to-the-election-of-grace Fri, 18 Mar 2022 22:44:08 +0000 https://www.iswasandwillbe.com/?p=25423

1Ki 11:5-25  “Even so then at this present time also there is a remnant according to the election of grace” (Rom 11:5)

[Study Aired March 17, 2022]

1Ki 11:5  For Solomon went after Ashtoreth the goddess of the Zidonians, and after Milcom the abomination of the Ammonites. 
1Ki 11:6  And Solomon did evil in the sight of the LORD, and went not fully after the LORD, as did David his father. 
1Ki 11:7  Then did Solomon build an high place for Chemosh, the abomination of Moab, in the hill that is before Jerusalem, and for Molech, the abomination of the children of Ammon. 
1Ki 11:8  And likewise did he for all his strange wives, which burnt incense and sacrificed unto their gods. 
1Ki 11:9  And the LORD was angry with Solomon, because his heart was turned from the LORD God of Israel, which had appeared unto him twice, 
1Ki 11:10  And had commanded him concerning this thing, that he should not go after other gods: but he kept not that which the LORD commanded. 
1Ki 11:11  Wherefore the LORD said unto Solomon, Forasmuch as this is done of thee, and thou hast not kept my covenant and my statutes, which I have commanded thee, I will surely rend the kingdom from thee, and will give it to thy servant. 
1Ki 11:12  Notwithstanding in thy days I will not do it for David thy father’s sake: but I will rend it out of the hand of thy son. 
1Ki 11:13  Howbeit I will not rend away all the kingdom; but will give one tribe to thy son for David my servant’s sake, and for Jerusalem’s sake which I have chosen. 
1Ki 11:14  And the LORD stirred up an adversary unto Solomon, Hadad the Edomite: he was of the king’s seed in Edom. 
1Ki 11:15  For it came to pass, when David was in Edom, and Joab the captain of the host was gone up to bury the slain, after he had smitten every male in Edom; 
1Ki 11:16  (For six months did Joab remain there with all Israel, until he had cut off every male in Edom:) 
1Ki 11:17 That Hadad fled, he and certain Edomites of his father’s servants with him, to go into Egypt; Hadad being yet a little child. 
1Ki 11:18  And they arose out of Midian, and came to Paran: and they took men with them out of Paran, and they came to Egypt, unto Pharaoh king of Egypt; which gave him an house, and appointed him victuals, and gave him land. 
1Ki 11:19  And Hadad found great favour in the sight of Pharaoh, so that he gave him to wife the sister of his own wife, the sister of Tahpenes the queen. 
1Ki 11:20  And the sister of Tahpenes bare him Genubath his son, whom Tahpenes weaned in Pharaoh’s house: and Genubath was in Pharaoh’s household among the sons of Pharaoh.
1Ki 11:21  And when Hadad heard in Egypt that David slept with his fathers, and that Joab the captain of the host was dead, Hadad said to Pharaoh, Let me depart, that I may go to mine own country. 
1Ki 11:22  Then Pharaoh said unto him, But what hast thou lacked with me, that, behold, thou seekest to go to thine own country? And he answered, Nothing: howbeit let me go in any wise. 
1Ki 11:23  And God stirred him up another adversary, Rezon the son of Eliadah, which fled from his lord Hadadezer king of Zobah: 
1Ki 11:24  And he gathered men unto him, and became captain over a band, when David slew them of Zobah: and they went to Damascus, and dwelt therein, and reigned in Damascus. 
1Ki 11:25  And he was an adversary to Israel all the days of Solomon, beside the mischief that Hadad did: and he abhorred Israel, and reigned over Syria. 

One of the “exceeding great and precious promises” (2Pe 1:4) that have been given to God’s elect to understand first is the promise found in Ephesians 2:8 which states, “For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God.” In this book of kings, we continue to learn of the process of judgment that is upon God’s people, the Israel of God who are a type of God’s elect (Gal 6:16) who are experiencing a judgment which will ultimately lead to both the northern and southern parts of the nation of Israel being divided and then taken into captivity. That separation of Judah, representing our head Christ, and Israel, typifying the body of Christ, is the two parts, the twain that must be made one through the blood of Christ (Eph 2:13-15).

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

Eph 2:13  But now in Christ Jesus ye who sometimes were far off are made nigh by the blood of Christ. 
Eph 2:14  For he is our peace, who hath made both one, and hath broken down the middle wall of partition between us; 
Eph 2:15  Having abolished in his flesh the enmity, even the law of commandments contained in ordinances; for to make in himself of twain one new man, so making peace;  

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

In our last study we saw how Solomon’s heart was drawn away by “the daughter of Pharaoh, women of the Moabites, Ammonites, Edomites, Zidonians, and Hittites”, typifying our going into Babylon, which we all must do before we are called out of her (2Co 6:17). God causes us to err from His ways as Solomon did (Isa 63:17) and then drags us into captivity, and in time delivers us from ourselves. There is a very large overview of that process of overcoming our Father has given us in the pages of the books of kings and throughout His words that starts with our hearts being hardened from His fear, but then, for a very few in this age, “for thy servants’ sake, the tribes of thine inheritance”, a few return and are saved as a very small remnant whose hearts are being worked with (Isa 1:9, 1Pe 2:9, Jas 1:18, Zep 2:7, Isa 6:10-13, Eze 36:26).

2Co 6:17  Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you, 

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.

Zep 2:7  And the coast shall be for the remnant of the house of Judah; they shall feed thereupon: in the houses of Ashkelon shall they lie down in the evening: for the LORD their God shall visit them, and turn away their captivity.

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.
Isa 6:11  Then said I, Lord, how long? And he answered, Until the cities be wasted without inhabitant, and the houses without man, and the land be utterly desolate, 
Isa 6:12  And the LORD have removed men far away, and there be a great forsaking in the midst of the land. 
Isa 6:13 But yet in it shall be a tenth, and it shall return, and shall be eaten: as a teil tree, and as an oak, whose substance is in them, when they cast their leaves: so the holy seed shall be the substance thereof.

Eze 36:26  A new heart also will I give you, and a new spirit will I put within you: and I will take away the stony heart out of your flesh, and I will give you an heart of flesh. 

It is “through the righteousness of God and our Saviour Jesus Christ” that grace and peace can be multiplied unto us, and so we read: “God forbid that I should glory, save in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom the world is crucified unto me, and I unto the world (Gal 2:20). For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision availeth any thing, nor uncircumcision, but a new creature. And as many as walk according to this rule, peace be on them, and mercy, and upon the Israel of God.” (Gal 6:14-16)

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.

The precious faith of Christ we have obtained is “through the righteousness of God and our Saviour Jesus Christ” (2Pe 1:1), which is the encouraging word that is given to us found in the same context, in this statement: “Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust” (2Pe 1:4).

These promises are realized through the faith of Christ which God gives to a small remnant (Rom 11:5, Mat 13:16, Mat 22:14), a grace found in the LORD’s words given to us even in our studies that cover this 11th chapter alone, about king David who typifies Christ in us as our hope of glory (Col 1:27), a sound pattern found throughout the book of kings and throughout God’s word:

  • 1Ki 11:10-12  And had commanded him concerning this thing, that he should not go after other gods: but he kept not that which the LORD commanded. Wherefore the LORD said unto Solomon, Forasmuch as this is done of thee, and thou hast not kept my covenant and my statutes, which I have commanded thee, I will surely rend the kingdom from thee, and will give it to thy servant. Notwithstanding in thy days I will not do it for David thy father’s sake: but I will rend it out of the hand of thy son. 
  • 1Ki 11:13  Howbeit I will not rend away all the kingdom; but will give one tribe to thy son for David my servant’s sake, and for Jerusalem’s sake which I have chosen [Gal 4:26, Mat 22:14].
  • 1Ki 11:32  (But he shall have one tribe for my servant David’s sake, and for Jerusalem’s sake, the city which I have chosen [Mat 22:14] out of all the tribes of Israel:) 
  • 1Ki 11:34  Howbeit I will not take the whole kingdom out of his hand: but I will make him prince all the days of his life for David my servant’s sake, whom I chose, because he kept my commandments and my statutes: 
  • 1Ki 11:38  And it shall be, if thou wilt hearken unto all that I command thee, and wilt walk in my ways, and do that is right in my sight, to keep my statutes and my commandments, as David my servant did; that I will be with thee, and build thee a sure house, as I built for David, and will give Israel unto thee. 

These things being commanded of Solomon by the LORD “that he should not go after other gods” are written for God’s elect sake to admonish us to fight a good fight of faith as we remain unspotted from the world and visit the fatherless and widow in their affliction in this life (Jas 1:27). God has determined from the foundation of the world who it is that will endure unto the end, and it is those who have the life of Christ within them, represented by king David, that God will build a sure spiritual house (Psa 127:1). Solomon’s house was truly built upon sand for our sakes (1Co 10:11, 2Co 4:15) and it took time for that to be manifested. So when “the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell: and great was the fall of it” (Mat 7:27), it was only after those events of rain and floods and wind that Solomon’s kingdom began to crumble. Many historical events had to unfold to make this manifest for our sakes, including the civil unrest of the nation of Israel, the mounds of idolatrous behavior and evil kings that possessed Jerusalem’s gates, ultimately leading to the captivity of both kingdoms in their appointed time.

The book of kings is not just a history lesson. It is an exposé of what happens to each of us as the man of sin is destroyed by the brightness of Christ’s coming, and there is a great falling away represented by the dividing of the head and body, Israel and Judah, two parts that can only become one again by grace through faith in Christ Jesus (2Th 2:3, Eph 2:14).

2Th 2:3  Let no man deceive you by any means: for that day shall not come, except there come a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition; 

Eph 2:14  For he [Christ Jesus] is our peace, who hath made both one, and hath broken down the middle wall of partition between us;

Solomon and both the northern and southern kingdoms must fall from grace and be taken into captivity. As we have said over and over, all such activity does not declare the end of all things; only the beginning of what God will ultimately do for His elect and eventually in time for the rest of His creation.

2Pe 1:1  Simon Peter, a servant and an apostle of Jesus Christ, to them that have obtained like precious faith with us through the righteousness of God and our Saviour Jesus Christ: 
2Pe 1:2  Grace and peace be multiplied unto you through the knowledge of God, and of Jesus our Lord [Gal 6:16],
2Pe 1:3  According as his divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of him that hath called us to glory and virtue: 
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. 

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.

1Ki 11:5  For Solomon went after Ashtoreth the goddess of the Zidonians, and after Milcom the abomination of the Ammonites. 
1Ki 11:6  And Solomon did evil in the sight of the LORD, and went not fully after the LORD, as did David his father. 
1Ki 11:7  Then did Solomon build an high place for Chemosh, the abomination of Moab, in the hill that is before Jerusalem, and for Molech, the abomination of the children of Ammon. 
1Ki 11:8  And likewise did he for all his strange wives, which burnt incense and sacrificed unto their gods. 
1Ki 11:9  And the LORD was angry with Solomon, because his heart was turned from the LORD God of Israel, which had appeared unto him twice,
1Ki 11:10  And had commanded him concerning this thing, that he should not go after other gods: but he kept not that which the LORD commanded. 

God had commanded Solomon “that he should not go after other gods: but he kept not that which the LORD commanded“, yet Solomon’s words and works would be focused on going after “AshtorethH6253 the goddess of the ZidoniansH6722, and after MilcomH4445 the abomination of the AmmonitesH8251“.

Solomon could not go “fully after the LORD, as did David his father“, and as a result of that lukewarm spirit which God called “evil in the sight of the LORD“, the kingdom of Israel was rent and spued out of God’s mouth (Rev 3:16) showing us that when the head is sick, the body suffers the consequences of that sickness that God caused in Solomon’s life whose heart was in His hands (Isa 1:5, Pro 14:34, Pro 21:1).

Isa 1:5  Why should ye be stricken any more? ye will revolt more and more: the whole head is sick, and the whole heart faint. 

Pro 14:34  Righteousness exalteth a nation: but sin is a reproach to any people. 

Pro 21:1  The king’s heart is in the hand of the LORD, as the rivers of water: he turneth it whithersoever he will. 

Solomon’s spirit was idolatrous, and the building of a “high place for ChemoshH3645, the abomination of Moab, in the hill that is before Jerusalem, and for MolechH4432 H4427, the abomination of the children of Ammon” was an outward expression of that inward idolatrous heart. Chemosh means ‘to subdue’ and that is exactly what was happening to Solomon as he was subdued and seduced by these pagan woman and the gods and idols that they served and worshiped to the point that he was fully embracing these practices and being instructed by their pagan practices (Rom 6:16).

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

This was the case for all of Solomon’s strange wives: he was ChemoshH3645 “subdued” or MolechH4432 H4427 “taking counsel and consulting” with each one of them and these abominable acts were happening before God in “Jerusalem” to remind us that it is God’s people who are the first to come to see the depths of the idolatry that resides in us.

God commanded Solomon something that he was not given to do, and yet the Lord was angry with him: “And the LORD was angry with Solomon, because his heart was turned from the LORD God of Israel” (Isa 63:17). God witnesses to us that we are beasts, and His appearing to Solomon twice is a witness to us that regardless of God’s visitation in our life, without the mind of Christ we will not learn or even recognize our idolatrous ways unless the Lord corrects us (Rom 9:18-24). Coming to Solomon twice establishes this truth that the heart of man is blind and not able to see the day of his visitation (Luk 19:44, Gen 41:32). Solomon’s kingdom, although it had peace for the most part, was eventually shown to be more of a ‘peace, peace when there really was no peace’ kingdom that was not going to stand (Jer 6:14).

Luk 19:44  And shall lay thee even with the ground, and thy children within thee; and they shall not leave in thee one stone upon another; because thou knewest not the time of thy visitation.

Gen 41:32  And for that the dream was doubled unto Pharaoh twice; it is because the thing is established by God, and God will shortly bring it to pass. 

Rom 9:18  Therefore hath he mercy on whom he will have mercy, and whom he will he hardeneth. 
Rom 9:19  Thou wilt say then unto me, Why doth he yet find fault? For who hath resisted his will? 
Rom 9:20  Nay but, O man, who art thou that repliest against God? Shall the thing formed say to him that formed it, Why hast thou made me thus? 
Rom 9:21  Hath not the potter power over the clay, of the same lump to make one vessel unto honour, and another unto dishonour? 
Rom 9:22  What if God, willing to shew his wrath, and to make his power known, endured with much longsuffering the vessels of wrath fitted to destruction: 
Rom 9:23  And that he might make known the riches of his glory on the vessels of mercy, which he had afore prepared unto glory, (Mat 13:16, Luk 10:24).

1Ki 11:11  Wherefore the LORD said unto Solomon, Forasmuch as this is done of thee, and thou hast not kept my covenant and my statutes, which I have commanded thee, I will surely rend the kingdom from thee, and will give it to thy servant. 
1Ki 11:12  Notwithstanding in thy days I will not do it for David thy father’s sake: but I will rend it out of the hand of thy son. 
1Ki 11:13  Howbeit I will not rend away all the kingdom; but will give one tribe to thy son for David my servant’s sake, and for Jerusalem’s sake which I have chosen.

This is the first section of our study where our title (Rom 11:5) becomes the very clear typical message being given to the body of Christ today. God’s purpose of election is going to stand regardless of Solomon’s idolatrous ways. Our time in Babylon, which is represented by this self-serving idolatry of Solomon, does not go unpunished by God. In time God will “rend the kingdom from thee, and will give it to thy servant“, meaning if we are His children with whom He is working in this age, we will be chastened and scourged to see Solomon and his kingdom decrease in us and the kingdom of God increase in us: “Howbeit I will not rend away all the kingdom; but will give one tribe to thy son for David my servant’s sake, and for Jerusalem’s sake which I have chosen“. The kingdom is then given “to thy servant” who we know represents Christ in us who is the servant typified by “David“, who is working in us both to will and to do of God’s good pleasure (Joh 13:14, Mat 23:11, Php 2:12-14). God rends the kingdoms of the world from within us, but not all of them: “I will not rend away all the kingdom“, and that one kingdom which is reserved represents the elect who will rule over the kingdoms of this world (Rev 11:15) and as God’s remnant are typified by this statement: “for Jerusalem’s sake which I have chosen“.

Rom 11:5  Even so then at this present time also there is a remnant according to the election of grace.

Joh 13:14  If I then, your Lord and Master, have washed your feet; ye also ought to wash one another’s feet. 

Mat 23:11  But he that is greatest among you shall be your servant. 

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. 
Php 2:14  Do all things without murmurings and disputings: 

1Ki 11:14  And the LORD stirred up an adversary unto Solomon, Hadad the Edomite: he was of the king’s seed in Edom. 
1Ki 11:15  For it came to pass, when David was in Edom, and Joab the captain of the host was gone up to bury the slain, after he had smitten every male in Edom; 
1Ki 11:16  (For six months did Joab remain there with all Israel, until he had cut off every male in Edom:) 

Twice we are told that every male was cut off in Edom, a witness of the destruction of our sinful nature that is accomplished through God’s holy spirit in our lives. It was one of David’s mighty men, Joab, who was “the captain of the host” who “was gone up to bury the slain, after he had smitten every male in Edom“. To further confirm that these actions of Joab symbolically represent the destruction of the man of sin within us, we are given the length of time which is the number of mankind: “For six months did Joab remain there with all Israel“ the time it took “until he had cut off every male in Edom.

This adversary of Solomon, Hadad, was not one of these males in Edom, but rather “he was of the king’s seed in Edom“, and as we will read he was being reserved of God until the time Israel would be attacked. Joab’s initial victory over Edom is like the parable of the unclean spirit that is gone out of a man, and then after David and Joab die, this king’s son, Hadad, who was “yet a little child“, is now all grown up and bringing many armies up against Solomon. This patient pattern of the devil is by God’s design and reminds us that sin is persistent, and there are stages to overcoming the beast within us that begins with a wounded beast, but that wound gets healed as described in this parable: “Then he saith, I will return into my house from whence I came out; and when he is come, he findeth it empty, swept, and garnished. Then goeth he, and taketh with himself seven other spirits more wicked than himself, [“they took men with them out of Paran, and they came to Egypt, unto Pharaoh king of Egypt”] and they enter in and dwell there: and the last state of that man is worse than the first. Even so shall it be also unto this wicked generation.” Only Christ can bind “the strong man” of Mark 3:27 and give God’s elect the ability to see and confess that we are “this wicked generation” who can now declare that we are more than conquerors through Christ who judges us and brings us to acknowledge our need for deliverance through Him as we acknowledge we are guilty of all the blood of all the prophets (Luk 11:51, Mat 23:30).

Mar 3:27  No man can enter into a strong man’s house, and spoil his goods, except he will first bind the strong man; and then he will spoil his house.

Luk 11:51  From the blood of Abel unto the blood of Zacharias, which perished between the altar and the temple: verily I say unto you, It shall be required of this generation.

Mat 23:30  And say, If we had been in the days of our fathers, we would not have been partakers with them in the blood of the prophets. 

1Ki 11:17 That Hadad fled, he and certain Edomites of his father’s servants with him, to go into Egypt; Hadad being yet a little child. 
1Ki 11:18  And they arose out of Midian, and came to Paran: and they took men with them out of Paran, and they came to Egypt, unto Pharaoh king of Egypt; which gave him an house, and appointed him victuals, and gave him land. 
1Ki 11:19  And Hadad found great favour in the sight of Pharaoh, so that he gave him to wife the sister of his own wife, the sister of Tahpenes the queen. 
1Ki 11:20  And the sister of Tahpenes bare him Genubath his son, whom Tahpenes weaned in Pharaoh’s house: and Genubath was in Pharaoh’s household among the sons of Pharaoh
1Ki 11:21  And when Hadad heard in Egypt that David slept with his fathers, and that Joab the captain of the host was dead, Hadad said to Pharaoh, Let me depart, that I may go to mine own country. 
1Ki 11:22  Then Pharaoh said unto him, But what hast thou lacked with me, that, behold, thou seekest to go to thine own country? And he answered, Nothing: howbeit let me go in any wise.

Just as we are being nourished and built up in the Lord, the adversaries God uses in our lives are also being built up and strengthened to do battle against us in a very prescribed manner that will bring about the exact “skin for skin” measures God has ordained that these evil spirits will accomplish to His glory (Job 2:4-5). This is what this section of scripture is all about. Hadad represents that evil spirit which has found great favor in the sight of Pharaoh, who is a type of Satan, and Hadad, as a result of this great favor, was given “to wife the sister of his own wife, the sister of TahpenesH8472 the queen“. What happens next is “the sister of Tahpenes bare him GenubathH1592 his son, whom Tahpenes weaned in Pharaoh’s house: and Genubath was in Pharaoh’s household among the sons of Pharaoh“, a birth representing the false doctrine and lying spirits of the devil that are going to come up against us as God’s elect (2Ti 3:13). We are not to fear any of these things because God is the one who is letting them manifest for our sakes, for our growth and maturing in Him as we’re given power to overcome the wicked one through Christ (Isa 54:17, Rev 2:10, Num 14:9).

Isa 54:17  No weapon that is formed against thee shall prosper; and every tongue that shall rise against thee in judgment thou shalt condemn. This is the heritage of the servants of the LORD, and their righteousness is of me, saith the LORD. 

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

Num 14:9  Only rebel not ye against the LORD, neither fear ye the people of the land; for they are bread for us: their defence is departed from them, and the LORD is with us: fear them not. 

Notice when Hadad decides to make his move to come up to Jerusalem it is “when Hadad heard in Egypt that David slept with his fathers, and that Joab the captain of the host was dead, Hadad said to Pharaoh, Let me depart, that I may go to mine own country“. Pharaoh, who represents Satan in this instance, asks of Haran this question “Then Pharaoh said unto him, But what hast thou lacked with me, that, behold, thou seekest to go to thine own country? And he answered, Nothing: howbeit let me go in any wise“. It’s true he did lack nothing in Egypt, and so “he answered, Nothing” but regardless, was compelled of God to be sent to do this work, “howbeit let me go in any wise” (1Sa 16:14).

1Ki 11:23  And God stirred him up another adversary, Rezon the son of Eliadah, which fled from his lord Hadadezer king of Zobah: 
1Ki 11:24  And he gathered men unto him, and became captain over a band, when David slew them of Zobah: and they went to Damascus, and dwelt therein, and reigned in Damascus. 
1Ki 11:25  And he was an adversary to Israel all the days of Solomon, beside the mischief that Hadad did: and he abhorred Israel, and reigned over Syria

God is the one who stirred up Haran (Eph 1:11) and God is also the one who “stirred him up another adversary, Rezon the son of Eliadah, which fled from his lord Hadadezer king of Zobah“. Both parties are leaving their ‘lords’ as it were to go to be that power and principality (Eph 6:12) which is going to be used to come up against the world within us, represented by Israel, “And he was an adversary to Israel all the days of Solomon, beside the mischief that Hadad did: and he abhorred Israel, and reigned over Syria.” Satan knows the principle of a three-fold cord, and God causes Rezon to gather “men unto him, and became captain over a band, when David slew them of Zobah: and they went to Damascus, and dwelt therein, and reigned in Damascus.” It is these men and their parties which represent what we must overcome day by day as the body of Christ. There we are more than conquerors who are strengthened through our daily trials and persecutions that are brought about by “an adversary to Israel all the days of Solomon, beside the mischief that Hadad did: and he abhorred Israel, and reigned over Syria.“

One of the principle points we can learn from all these enemies that came up against Solomon is that our calling is one that is “according to the election of grace” and grace or favor is expressed through God sending us the daily trials against which we wrestle. They may appear to be unfolding in a very physical way right before our eyes but we are assured through these stories and God’s word that we are not wrestling against flesh and blood but against powers and principalities (Eph 6:12) which we are told Christ in us is far above (Eph 1:21), and therefore rejoice, and again I say rejoice (Php 4:4), for the Lord is at hand, and we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us (Rom 8:37).

]]> Study of the Book of Kings – 1Ki 11:1-4  “Teach us to number our days, that we may apply our hearts unto wisdom” https://www.iswasandwillbe.com/study-of-the-book-of-kings-1ki-111-4-teach-us-to-number-our-days-that-we-may-apply-our-hearts-unto-wisdom/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=study-of-the-book-of-kings-1ki-111-4-teach-us-to-number-our-days-that-we-may-apply-our-hearts-unto-wisdom Thu, 10 Mar 2022 06:01:12 +0000 https://www.iswasandwillbe.com/?p=25392 https://www.dropbox.com/s/guj9dkuw0nppeft/20220311-Study_TonyC-NumberYourDays.m4a?raw=1

1Ki 11:1-4 “Teach us to number our days, that we may apply our hearts unto wisdom”

[Study Aired March 10, 2022]

1Ki 11:1  But king Solomon loved many strange women, together with the daughter of Pharaoh, women of the Moabites, Ammonites, Edomites, Zidonians, and Hittites; 
1Ki 11:2  Of the nations concerning which the LORD said unto the children of Israel, Ye shall not go in to them, neither shall they come in unto you: for surely they will turn away your heart after their gods: Solomon clave unto these in love. 
1Ki 11:3  And he had seven hundred wives, princesses, and three hundred concubines: and his wives turned away his heart. 
1Ki 11:4  For it came to pass, when Solomon was old, that his wives turned away his heart after other gods: and his heart was not perfect with the LORD his God, as was the heart of David his father. 

With God’s mercy in our life we can apply our hearts unto wisdom and number our days.

Psa 90:12  So teach us to number our days, that we may apply our hearts unto wisdom.

Solomon ruled as king over all Israel for forty years (1Ki 11:42), and in the end it was revealed that he was not given to apply his heart unto wisdom as king David in type and shadow did.

1Ki 11:42  And the time that Solomon reigned in Jerusalem over all Israel was forty years.

1Ki 11:4  For it came to pass, when Solomon was old, that his wives turned away his heart after other gods: and his heart was not perfect with the LORD his God, as was the heart of David his father.

The Godly wisdom was there in Solomon’s life at one point, and we could say in type and shadow that he had “tasted of the heavenly  gift” of Hebrews 6:4, but he was corrupted by his love for “many strange women” (1Ki 11:1) which we know represents churches where false doctrines reside turning our hearts away from the Lord if God allows this. It was these actions that caused Solomon to stop applying his heart to wisdom, unlike David who typifies the elect who are chastened and scourged by a sword that does not depart from his house or our house, which house represents the temple we are (2Sa 12:10, Heb 12:6, 1Co 3:16). Solomon, on the other hand, was brought into this bondage of ungodly relationships by loving the world, represented by “the daughter of Pharaoh, women of the Moabites, Ammonites, Edomites, Zidonians, and Hittites.” (1Jn 2:15-17, Php 3:7-8)

1Ki 11:1  But king Solomon loved many strange women, together with the daughter of Pharaoh, women of the Moabites, Ammonites, Edomites, Zidonians, and Hittites;

1Jn 2:15  Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him. 
1Jn 2:16  For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world. 
1Jn 2:17  And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth for ever.

[“I will be with thee, and build thee a sure house, as I built for David” (1Ki 11:38) is a promise by God whose conditions can only be met through Christ, and so, although a sure physical house was built for Solomon, the spiritual house, the temple of God which was his body, was corrupted by “the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life.” In the positive, Solomon can and does represent the elect during the thousand-year reign who will rule over the riches of mankind’s kingdoms (Rev 11:15), the silver and gold and ivory as well as the ape and peacock of  (1Ki 10:22) that was brought to Solomon from afar. However, in the negative all these physical liberties given to Solomon corrupted him and caused him to forget God’s commands preventing him from continuing in those things which were required of him as king. Thus, he lost sight, at least in type and shadow, of Christ’s words in Luke 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.” This brings to mind what God tells us will naturally happen to all of us unless the Lord continues to keep us humble in this life, and we know these events of Solomon’s life were written for our sakes upon whom the end of the world are come (Deu 8:10-11, 1Co 10:11)].

Php 3:7  But what things were gain to me, those I counted loss for Christ.
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, [Mat 10:39]

[If God gives us the ability to continue in the truth (Joh 8:31-32, Php 2:12-13) and value the eternal words of God more than anything in this life, we will join each other in this comparative statement Paul was inspired to write telling us as the body of Christ we will lose all things, (Rev 2:10)  in order to gain the life of Christ, which cannot happen without going through much tribulation and persecution and fiery trials. Despite all of that affliction and suffering, we will be shown to be more than conquerors through Him (Rom 8:38-39) as a result of being given to endure unto the end (Php 2:13) as we keep our eyes on Christ who promises “I will give thee a crown of life” as a result of our working out our own salvation with fear and trembling as we press toward “the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus” (Php 3:14)]

King David, like Solomon, also reigned forty years (1Ki 2:11) and both time periods represent the much tribulation and many trials [40] that we must endure in order to be in that blessed and holy first resurrection (2Ti 2:12). Solomon can be seen as our old man who must decrease, while David can represent the new man, Christ in us, as our hope of glory whom God promises will increase  and will not deny Himself in that process of overcoming within us (Joh 3:30, 2Ti 2:13).

Joh 3:30  He must increase, but I must decrease. 

2Ti 2:12  If we suffer, we shall also reign with him: if we deny him, he also will deny us: 
2Ti 2:13  If we believe not, yet he abideth faithful [Christ in us (Col 1:27)]: he cannot deny himself. 

It takes both forty years, however, in order to create the new man represented by the number eighty (forty plus forty). This brings us back to Psalm 90:1-13 where we read of “a prayer of Moses the man of God” that explains what God does within those eighty typical years of our life and how he uses forty of them to destroy the man of sin within us, represented by Solomon [40 year reign] and builds up the new man represented by king David [40 year reign].

Psa 90:1  A Prayer of Moses the man of God. Lord, thou hast been our dwelling place in all generations. 

Psa 90:10  The days of our years are threescore years and ten; and if by reason of strength [Php 4:13] they be fourscore years [80 years], yet is their strength labour and sorrow; for it is soon cut off, and we fly away.

When we read this section of scripture (1Ki 11:1-43), if we keep this principle in mind that both David and Solomon are within us, then we will get the message of the books of Kings and every book of the bible that is admonishing the body of Christ to hold fast to our crown and be confident “that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ” (Rev 3:11, Rev 2:10, Php 1:6, Gal 5:1, Php 4:1). Here is that prayer of Moses which in type and shadow reveals the certainty of God’s deliverance in the life of those who have His spirit, that enables us to go through the fiery trials of this life that will refine the gold and silver of God’s word within us.

Psa 90:1  A Prayer of Moses the man of God. Lord, thou hast been our dwelling place in all generations [thinking within] .
Psa 90:2  Before the mountains were brought forth, or ever thou hadst formed the earth and the world, even from everlasting to everlasting, thou art God [Eph 1:4]. 
Psa 90:3  Thou turnest man to destruction; and sayest, Return, ye children of men. 
Psa 90:4  For a thousand years in thy sight are but as yesterday when it is past, and as a watch in the night [2Pe 3:8]. 
Psa 90:5  Thou carriest them away as with a flood; they are as a sleep: in the morning they are like grass which groweth up. 
Psa 90:6  In the morning it flourisheth, and groweth up; in the evening it is cut down, and withereth. 
Psa 90:7  For we are consumed by thine anger, and by thy wrath are we troubled.
Psa 90:8  Thou hast set our iniquities before thee, our secret sins in the light of thy countenance. 
Psa 90:9  For all our days are passed away in thy wrath: we spend our years as a tale that is told.

[All of these verses we’ve read (Psa 90:3-9) are the narrative that leads up to the passage that reveals the new man that is formed through a lifetime of much tribulation]

Psa 90:10  The days of our years are threescore years and ten; and if by reason of strength they be fourscore years [80], yet is their strength labour and sorrow; for it is soon cut off, and we fly away [Job 5:7, Jas 4:14]. 
Psa 90:11  Who knoweth the power of thine anger? even according to thy fear, so is thy wrath [Rom 11:22, Act 10:35, Ecc 12:13]. 
Psa 90:12  So teach us to number our days, that we may apply our hearts unto wisdom [Rom 2:13].
Psa 90:13  Return, O LORD, how long? and let it repent thee concerning thy servants. 
Psa 90:14  O satisfy us early with thy mercy; that we may rejoice and be glad all our days. [Rom 11:5, Rom 11:11, Rom 11:20-26, Rom 11:31-32] 
Psa 90:15  Make us glad according to the days wherein thou hast afflicted us, and the years wherein we have seen evil. 

Rev 3:11  Behold, I come quickly: hold that fast which thou hast, that no man take thy crown. 

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

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

Gal 5:1  Stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free, and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage. 

Php 4:1  Therefore, my brethren dearly beloved and longed for, my joy and crown, so stand fast in the Lord, my dearly beloved.

This section of scripture in the book of Timothy admonishes the body of Christ as to what we should and shouldn’t do in our service to God and will help brighten our understanding of what God is teaching us through this section of 1 Kings where we learn that Solomon’s heart became corrupted by “his wives [who] turned away his heart after other gods” so that he “was not perfect with the LORD his God, as was the heart of David his father.” So we are admonished today to cry out to God as Christ did (Heb 5:7) and fear Him and ask Him to “teach us to number our days, that we may apply our hearts unto wisdom.”

1Ti 6:1  Let as many servants as are under the yoke count their own masters worthy of all honour [Rom12:1], that the name of God and his doctrine be not blasphemed [Php 3:14-15, 1Jn 1:7]. 
1Ti 6:2  And they that have believing masters, let them not despise them, because they are brethren; but rather do them service, because they are faithful and beloved, partakers of the benefit. These things teach and exhort [Christ is our believing master (Joh 13:13-15, Luk 6:46)]. 
1Ti 6:3  If any man teach otherwise, and consent not to wholesome words, even the words of our Lord Jesus Christ, and to the doctrine which is according to godliness; 
1Ti 6:4  He is proud, knowing nothing, but doting about questions and strifes of words, whereof cometh envy, strife, railings, evil surmisings, 
1Ti 6:5  Perverse disputings of men of corrupt minds, and destitute of the truth, supposing that gain is godliness: from such withdraw thyself. 
1Ti 6:6  But godliness with contentment is great gain. 
1Ti 6:7  For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out. 
1Ti 6:8  And having food and raiment let us be therewith content. 
1Ti 6:9  But they that will be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and hurtful lusts, which drown men in destruction and perdition. 
1Ti 6:10  For the love of moneyG5365 G5366 [rich young ruler (Mat 19:21)] is the root [“a” root not “the” root – see most other translations] of all evil: which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows.

[“For it came to pass, when Solomon was old, that his wives turned away his heart after other gods: and his heart was not perfect with the LORD his God, as was the heart of David his father.“]

1Ti 6:11  But thou, O man of God, flee these things; [“Remove far from me vanity and lies: give me neither poverty nor riches” (Pro 30:8)] and follow after righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, meekness [“feed me with food convenient for me” (Pro 30:8)]. 
1Ti 6:12  Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life, whereunto thou art also called, and hast professed a good profession before many witnesses. [flee fornication (1Co 6:18), flee idolatry (1Co 10:14), flee youthful lusts (2Ti 2:22)]
1Ti 6:13  I give thee charge in the sight of God, who quickeneth all things [Joh 6:63, Joh 6:68], and before Christ Jesus, who before Pontius Pilate witnessed a good confession; 
1Ti 6:14  That thou keep this commandment without spot, unrebukeable, until the appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ: 

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, [Rom 6:23] and was heard in that he feared; 

1Ki 11:1  But king Solomon loved many strange women, together with the daughter of Pharaoh, women of the Moabites, Ammonites, Edomites, Zidonians, and Hittites;

God has called His children to overcome all these “strange women” which the wretchedness of our flesh could not begin to overcome except the Lord deliver us (Rom 7:24-25, Joh 8:36), and so we are admonished to flee all these ‘women’ that represent churches: “the daughter of Pharaoh, women of the Moabites, Ammonites, Edomites, Zidonians, and Hittites” knowing that it is Christ in us who is giving us the power to work out our own salvation with fear and trembling as we overcome through Him (Php 2:12-14).

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

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

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. 
Php 2:14  Do all things without murmurings and disputings: 

Together “with the daughter of Pharoah”H6547 (Rev 17:1-5), these women typify the fleshly parts of Babylon within me that must be destroyed by the brightness of Christ’s coming which will destroy (2Th 2:3-7) the part of my heart that is yet being held captive by her lies, as Solomon in type and shadow was experiencing  (2Co 6:17-18).

Rev 17:1  And there came one of the seven angels which had the seven vials, and talked with me, saying unto me, Come hither; I will shew unto thee the judgment of the great whore that sitteth upon many waters: [“the daughter of Pharaoh, women of the Moabites, Ammonites, Edomites, Zidonians, and Hittites“]
Rev 17:2  With whom the kings of the earth have committed fornication, and the inhabitants of the earth have been made drunk with the wine of her fornication.
Rev 17:3  So he carried me away in the spirit into the wilderness: [We all go into Babylon and by God’s grace come out of her (2Co 6:17)] and I saw a woman sit upon a scarlet coloured beast, full of names of blasphemy, having seven heads and ten horns. 
Rev 17:4  And the woman was arrayed in purple and scarlet colour, and decked with gold and precious stones and pearls, having a golden cup in her hand full of abominations and filthiness of her fornication:

[flee fornication (1Co 6:18),  flee idolatry (1Co 10:14),  flee youthful lusts (2Ti 2:22)]

2Co 6:17  Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you,
2Co 6:18  And will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty. 

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

Rev 17:5  And upon her forehead was a name written, MYSTERY, BABYLON THE GREAT, THE MOTHER OF HARLOTS AND ABOMINATIONS OF THE EARTH. 

  • Moabites,H4125  H4124 [spiritually learning the way of the heathen (Jer_10:2) typifies this incestuous spirit of H4124 where we have children with our father the devil’s children while in Babylon]
  • Ammonites,H5984  H5983
  • Edomites,H130  H123
  • Zidonians,H6722  H6721 – H6679 – H6718 [negative use of fishers of men, hunters of men]
  • Hittites;H2850  H2845  H2865 [where God’s spirit is there is liberty (2Co 3:17) but without his spirit we see what the foundation of all these Babylonian woman or churches is founded upon having no stay of bread or water (Isa 3:1, Jas 3:16, 2Ti 4:18)].

H2865 châthath  khaw-thath’

A primitive root; properly to prostrate; hence to break down, either (literally) by violence, or (figuratively) by confusion and fear: – abolish, affright, be (make) afraid, amaze, beat down, discourage, (cause to) dismay, go down, scare, terrify.  Total KJV occurrences: 48

Links to other studies on the spiritual significance of these peoples:

How blessed we are to have God’s love shed abroad in our hearts (Rom 5:5-6, 1Jn 4:17-19) to overcome that confusion and fear, that violence to God’s word in Babylon that while it is abiding in our heavens beats down Christ and discourages us, and dismays us and scares us and terrifies us until the appointed time that God says enough (2Th 2:3, 2Th 2:6).

Rom 5:5  And hope maketh not ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us. 
Rom 5:6  For when we were yet without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly. 

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. 
1Jn 4:19  We love him, because he first loved us. 

2Th 2:3  Let no man deceive you by any means: for that day shall not come, except there come a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition; [when God says enough]

2Th 2:6  And now ye know what withholdeth that he might be revealed in his time.

That man of sin is revealed through the chastening and scourging God gives His children the ability to endure, and it is through that correction, through that suffering, we learn obedience (Heb 12:6, Heb 5:7).

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

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,[Rom_6:23] and was heard in that he feared;

1Ki 11:2  Of the nations concerning which the LORD said unto the children of Israel, Ye shall not go in to them, neither shall they come in unto you: for surely they will turn away your heart after their gods: Solomon clave unto these in love.

In type and shadow, Solomon was not just thinking above what was written (1Co 4:6), which is always the starting point of any of our divergent paths which take us away from God’s word (Jas 1:15, Gen 3:6), but he was getting right in bed with those he ought not have. By these actions he was shedding abroad his perverted sense of what love was in the lives of all these women, committing for our sake spiritual fornication before God to remind us not to lust after these things “as they also lusted” (1Co 10:5-6). Solomon demonstrated how our flesh wants to take occasion with the liberty God gives us, and instead of ‘coming out of her my people’ “Of the nations concerning which the LORD said unto the children of Israel, Ye shall not go in to them, neither shall they come in unto you“, Solomon went in to them and they in unto him resulting in his reaping what God said he would sow if he did this, “Surely they will turn away your heart after their gods: Solomon clave unto these in love.“

1Ki 11:3  And he had seven hundred wives, princesses, and three hundred concubines: and his wives turned away his heart.
1Ki 11:4  For it came to pass, when Solomon was old, that his wives turned away his heart after other gods: and his heart was not perfect with the LORD his God, as was the heart of David his father.

Solomon’s heart was turned away from God, and the numbers in these verses reveal the beastly nature of man that has seven heads and ten horns (Rev 13:1):  “Seven hundred wives” who were “princesses” and “three hundred concubines.” God is showing us through these ordained scenarios of Solomon’s life what we are before God comes in and starts to destroy the man of sin within us, the beast with seven heads and ten horns. Seven hundred wives and three hundred concubines gives us the grand total of our fleshly relationship in Babylon 1000 that must be judged and destroyed by the brightness of Christ’s coming into our heavens (2Pe 3:8).

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

2Pe 3:8  But, beloved, be not ignorant of this one thing, that one day is with the Lord as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day.

Solomon’s actions in this verse (1Ki 11:4) typify someone operating in their flesh and not in the spirit (Gal 5:16-21): “For it came to pass, when Solomon was old, that his wives turned away his heart after other gods: and his heart was not perfect with the LORD his God, as was the heart of David his father.” He was not being portrayed as someone who was fighting the good fight of faith as his father king David had done, whose life typifies the fruits of righteousness that come about as a result of being “a man after mine own heart, which shall fulfil all my will” (1Ti 6:12, Act 13:22, Gal 5:22-26).

Gal 5:16  This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh. 
Gal 5:17  For the flesh lusteth against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh: and these are contrary the one to the other: so that ye cannot do the things that ye would. 

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

Act 13:22  And when he had removed him, he raised up unto them David to be their king; to whom also he gave testimony, and said, I have found David the son of Jesse, a man after mine own heart, which shall fulfil all my will. 

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.

As we get older we can either see our old man perish and our new man thrive (2Co 4:16, Psa 92:13-15), or we can see our old man negatively thrive and whatever relationship we had with Christ fall apart and come short (Eze 18:24, Heb 4:1). That is the major lesson we are to take from the life of Solomon who started off very strong in God’s service but became distracted and took his eyes off of the mark of the prize of the high calling in Christ (1Co 9:24-25, Php 3:14-15). These things “happened unto them for ensamples: and they are written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the world are come” (1Co 10:11).

2Co 4:16  For which cause we faint not; but though our outward man perish, [1Co 15:31] yet the inward man is renewed day by day.

Psa 92:13  Those that be planted in the house of the LORD shall flourish in the courts of our God. 
Psa 92:14  They shall still bring forth fruit in old age; they shall be fat and flourishing; 
Psa 92:15  To shew that the LORD is upright: he is my rock, and there is no unrighteousness in him. 

Eze 18:24  But when the righteous turneth away from his righteousness, and committeth iniquity, and doeth according to all the abominations that the wicked man doeth, shall he live? All his righteousness that he hath done shall not be mentioned: in his trespass that he hath trespassed, and in his sin that he hath sinned, in them shall he die [Rom 6:1-5].

Heb 4:1  Let us therefore fear [Heb 5:7], lest a promise being left us of entering into his rest, any of you should seem to come short of it. 

1Co 9:24  Know ye not that they which run in a race run all, but one receiveth the prize? So run, that ye may obtain. 
1Co 9:25  And every man that striveth for the mastery is temperate in all things [Luk 21:19]. Now they do it to obtain a corruptible crown; but we an incorruptible. 

Php 3:14  I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.
Php 3:15  Let us therefore, as many as be perfect, be thus minded: and if in any thing ye be otherwise minded, God shall reveal even this unto you. 

Solomon, in type and shadow, was not able to handle the truth, as the riches of God’s word were only residing in him superficially and became choked by the cares of this world (Mar 4:3-7). The lesson for God’s people is to pray for a greater sense of urgency as we near the end of this age praying for each other that our faith fail not (Luk 22:32) and that we might receive the blessing of having an “honest and good heart” upon which God can “Teach us to number our days, that we may apply our hearts unto wisdom” (Mar 4:8-9, Luk 8:15).

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

Mar 4:3  Hearken; Behold, there went out a sower to sow: 
Mar 4:4  And it came to pass, as he sowed, some fell by the way side, and the fowls of the air came and devoured it up. 
Mar 4:5  And some fell on stony ground, where it had not much earth; and immediately it sprang up, because it had no depth of earth: 
Mar 4:6  But when the sun was up, it was scorched; and because it had no root, it withered away. 
Mar 4:7  And some fell among thorns, and the thorns grew up, and choked it, and it yielded no fruit. 
Mar 4:8  And other fell on good ground, and did yield fruit that sprang up and increased [1Co 3:6]; and brought forth, some thirty, and some sixty, and some an hundred. 
Mar 4:9  And he said unto them, He that hath ears to hear, let him hear. 

Luk 8:15  But that on the good ground are they, which in an honest and good heart [1Co 2:16], having heard the word, keep it [Rev 1:3], and bring forth fruit with patience [1Co 9:27, Luk 21:19].

]]> Study of the Book of Judges – Jdg 21:1-25 Wives Provided for the Tribe of Benjamin https://www.iswasandwillbe.com/study-of-the-book-of-judges-jdg-211-25-wives-provided-for-the-tribe-of-benjamin/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=study-of-the-book-of-judges-jdg-211-25-wives-provided-for-the-tribe-of-benjamin Mon, 27 Sep 2021 22:35:40 +0000 https://www.iswasandwillbe.com/?p=24432 https://www.dropbox.com/s/cni3ircah4607mg/20210927-Study_AtoB-WivesforBenjamin.m4a?raw=1

Jdg 21:1-25 Wives Provided for the Tribe of Benjamin

[Study Aired September 27, 2021]

Jdg 21:1  Now the men of Israel had sworn in Mizpeh, saying, There shall not any of us give his daughter unto Benjamin to wife. 
Jdg 21:2  And the people came to the house of God, and abode there till even before God, and lifted up their voices, and wept sore; 
Jdg 21:3  And said, O LORD God of Israel, why is this come to pass in Israel, that there should be to day one tribe lacking in Israel? 
Jdg 21:4  And it came to pass on the morrow, that the people rose early, and built there an altar, and offered burnt offerings and peace offerings. 
Jdg 21:5  And the children of Israel said, Who is there among all the tribes of Israel that came not up with the congregation unto the LORD? For they had made a great oath concerning him that came not up to the LORD to Mizpeh, saying, He shall surely be put to death. 
Jdg 21:6  And the children of Israel repented them for Benjamin their brother, and said, There is one tribe cut off from Israel this day. 
Jdg 21:7  How shall we do for wives for them that remain, seeing we have sworn by the LORD that we will not give them of our daughters to wives? 
Jdg 21:8  And they said, What one is there of the tribes of Israel that came not up to Mizpeh to the LORD? And, behold, there came none to the camp from Jabeshgilead to the assembly. 
Jdg 21:9  For the people were numbered, and, behold, there were none of the inhabitants of Jabeshgilead there. 
Jdg 21:10  And the congregation sent thither twelve thousand men of the valiantest, and commanded them, saying, Go and smite the inhabitants of Jabeshgilead with the edge of the sword, with the women and the children. 
Jdg 21:11  And this is the thing that ye shall do, Ye shall utterly destroy every male, and every woman that hath lain by man. 
Jdg 21:12  And they found among the inhabitants of Jabeshgilead four hundred young virgins, that had known no man by lying with any male: and they brought them unto the camp to Shiloh, which is in the land of Canaan. 
Jdg 21:13  And the whole congregation sent some to speak to the children of Benjamin that were in the rock Rimmon, and to call peaceably unto them. 
Jdg 21:14  And Benjamin came again at that time; and they gave them wives which they had saved alive of the women of Jabeshgilead: and yet so they sufficed them not. 
Jdg 21:15  And the people repented them for Benjamin, because that the LORD had made a breach in the tribes of Israel. 
Jdg 21:16  Then the elders of the congregation said, How shall we do for wives for them that remain, seeing the women are destroyed out of Benjamin? 
Jdg 21:17  And they said, There must be an inheritance for them that be escaped of Benjamin, that a tribe be not destroyed out of Israel. 
Jdg 21:18  Howbeit we may not give them wives of our daughters: for the children of Israel have sworn, saying, Cursed be he that giveth a wife to Benjamin. 
Jdg 21:19  Then they said, Behold, there is a feast of the LORD in Shiloh yearly in a place which is on the north side of Bethel, on the east side of the highway that goeth up from Bethel to Shechem, and on the south of Lebonah. 
Jdg 21:20  Therefore they commanded the children of Benjamin, saying, Go and lie in wait in the vineyards; 
Jdg 21:21  And see, and, behold, if the daughters of Shiloh come out to dance in dances, then come ye out of the vineyards, and catch you every man his wife of the daughters of Shiloh, and go to the land of Benjamin. 
Jdg 21:22  And it shall be, when their fathers or their brethren come unto us to complain, that we will say unto them, Be favourable unto them for our sakes: because we reserved not to each man his wife in the war: for ye did not give unto them at this time, that ye should be guilty. 
Jdg 21:23  And the children of Benjamin did so, and took them wives, according to their number, of them that danced, whom they caught: and they went and returned unto their inheritance, and repaired the cities, and dwelt in them. 
Jdg 21:24  And the children of Israel departed thence at that time, every man to his tribe and to his family, and they went out from thence every man to his inheritance.
Jdg 21:25  In those days there was no king in Israel: every man did that which was right in his own eyes.

A key to understanding the spiritual implication of what we are being told in this story is to know what wives represent spiritually. We know that a woman or a wife or a girl signifies the church of the elect or Babylon depending on whether she is a good one or bad one.

Eph 5:23  For the husband is the head of the wife, even as Christ is the head of the church: and he is the saviour of the body.
Eph 5:24  Therefore as the church is subject unto Christ, so let the wives be to their own husbands in every thing.
Eph 5:25  Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it;

This chapter therefore deals with the importance of the church or the house of God in our walk with Christ and how our Lord guides our steps into His house, which is the New Jerusalem, for preservation and growth.

Heb 12:22  But ye are come unto mount Sion, and unto the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to an innumerable company of angels,
Heb 12:23  To the general assembly and church of the firstborn, which are written in heaven, and to God the Judge of all, and to the spirits of just men made perfect,
Heb 12:24  And to Jesus the mediator of the new covenant, and to the blood of sprinkling, that speaketh better things than that of Abel.
Heb 12:25  See that ye refuse not him that speaketh. For if they escaped not who refused him that spake on earth, much more shall not we escape, if we turn away from him that speaketh from heaven:
Heb 12:26  Whose voice then shook the earth: but now he hath promised, saying, Yet once more I shake not the earth only, but also heaven.
Heb 12:27  And this word, Yet once more, signifieth the removing of those things that are shaken, as of things that are made, that those things which cannot be shaken may remain.

In Hebrews 12 verse 25 here, we are admonished not to refuse him that speaks. The “Him that speaks” is Christ through the elect. We are His Christ, and we are speaking now the words of our Lord. So Christ speaking is us speaking.

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

It is in the church that we hear Christ speak through His elect as indicated by what every joint supplies.

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

It will therefore be a tragedy if we do not pay heed to what we are hearing in our fellowship as we are told in verse 25 of Hebrews chapter 12. Verse 26 of Hebrews Chapter 12 affirms to us the fact that it is His words which judge us.

Mat 13:21  Yet hath he not root in himself, but dureth for a while: for when tribulation or persecution ariseth because of the word, by and by he is offended.

With this understanding of who wives represent and their importance, let’s review Judges Chapter 21 starting from verse 1:

Jdg 21:1  Now the men of Israel had sworn in Mizpeh, saying, There shall not any of us give his daughter unto Benjamin to wife.

Marrying an Israelite here is the same as being joined to Babylon in fellowship. So this verse is another way of saying to us that as God’s elect, when we leave Babylon, we are never to return to that system as the Israelites have sworn that they would not give their daughters as wives to the Benjamites who represent the elect.

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.

We, as the elect, leave Babylon to come and build the temple of God which is preparing our bodies as living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to our Lord. That was the mandate given to Nehemiah who represents us and left Babylon to rebuild Jerusalem.

Neh 2:5  And I said unto the king, If it please the king, and if thy servant have found favour in thy sight, that thou wouldest send me unto Judah, unto the city of my fathers’ sepulchres, that I may build it.

Jdg 21:2  And the people came to the house of God, and abode there till even before God, and lifted up their voices, and wept sore;
Jdg 21:3  And said, O LORD God of Israel, why is this come to pass in Israel, that there should be to day one tribe lacking in Israel?

The Israelites coming to the house of God to weep for the tribe of Benjamin is the same as the churches of this world who think that the elect are lost or spiritually dead. That is what it means as they see our dead bodies lie in the street of the great city, Jerusalem.

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

The tribe lacking in the congregation of the Israelites (Babylon) is the elect, which is represented here as the tribe of Benjamin. The many that are called are the congregation of the Israelites, and the few chosen are the elect, which is the tribe of Benjamin missing in Babylon.

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

The Israelites weeping for the Benjamites is the same scenario of what happened to our Lord Jesus when He was carrying His cross to Calvary and the women of Jerusalem wailed and lamented him. This is what our Lord said to the women who represent the churches of this world:

Luk 23:26  And as they led him away, they laid hold upon one Simon, a Cyrenian, coming out of the country, and on him they laid the cross, that he might bear it after Jesus.
Luk 23:27  And there followed him a great company of people, and of women, which also bewailed and lamented him.
Luk 23:28  But Jesus turning unto them said, Daughters of Jerusalem, weep not for me, but weep for yourselves, and for your children.
Luk 23:29  For, behold, the days are coming, in the which they shall say, Blessed are the barren, and the wombs that never bare, and the paps which never gave suck.
Luk 23:30  Then shall they begin to say to the mountains, Fall on us; and to the hills, Cover us.
Luk 23:31  For if they do these things in a green tree, what shall be done in the dry?

The barren or the womb that never bare or the paps which never gave suck refers to the elect who are blessed although the churches of this world or the world see us as barren or a people that are spiritually lost.

Jdg 21:4  And it came to pass on the morrow, that the people rose early, and built there an altar, and offered burnt offerings and peace offerings.
Jdg 21:5  And the children of Israel said, Who is there among all the tribes of Israel that came not up with the congregation unto the LORD? For they had made a great oath concerning him that came not up to the LORD to Mizpeh, saying, He shall surely be put to death.

As indicated earlier, the congregation of the Israelites here represents Babylon. Our exit from Babylon means that we are not present in the congregation of the Israelites. As shown in verse 5, those who are absent from the congregation of the Israelites are surely put to death. This means that our absence from Babylon is a sure sign that we will surely die to the flesh and be raised up as overcomers.

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

Those who will sit on thrones are the elect who have not worshiped the beast nor his image. This means that they have died to the beast or the flesh while they walked here on earth. In other words, they did not join the congregation of the Israelites or Babylon and therefore had to die in this life, which means losing their lives to gain them.

Mat 16:25  For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: and whosoever will lose his life for my sake shall find it.

Jdg 21:6  And the children of Israel repented them for Benjamin their brother, and said, There is one tribe cut off from Israel this day. 

All the hostilities against God’s elect will be repented of one day. Outwardly, this verse is to let us know that one day Babylon will repent for the way they had treated God’s elect. Inwardly, we were all guilty at a certain stage of our walk with Christ for what we had done to God’s messengers. Admitting that we had done wrong is a necessary part of our walk as Christ told us:

Mat 23:34  Wherefore, behold, I send unto you prophets, and wise men, and scribes: and some of them ye shall kill and crucify; and some of them shall ye scourge in your synagogues, and persecute them from city to city:
Mat 23:35  That upon you may come all the righteous blood shed upon the earth, from the blood of righteous Abel unto the blood of Zacharias son of Barachias, whom ye slew between the temple and the altar.
Mat 23:36  Verily I say unto you, All these things shall come upon this generation.

We are all part of this generation upon whom all these things shall come upon. This is suggesting that we are equally guilty for the part we had played in persecuting God’s people and the death of our Lord. We need therefore to repent like the Israelites did of what they had done to the tribe of Benjamin.

Jdg 21:7  How shall we do for wives for them that remain, seeing we have sworn by the LORD that we will not give them of our daughters to wives? 

As indicated in verse 1, the fact that the Israelites had sworn that they will not give their daughters to be wives of the Benjamites is another way of saying that as God’s elect, when we leave Babylon, there is no turning back to any form of fellowship with them. Doing that would mean sharing in their sins.

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.

Jdg 21:8  And they said, What one is there of the tribes of Israel that came not up to Mizpeh to the LORD? And, behold, there came none to the camp from Jabeshgilead to the assembly.
Jdg 21:9  For the people were numbered, and, behold, there were none of the inhabitants of Jabeshgilead there. 
Jdg 21:10  And the congregation sent thither twelve thousand men of the valiantest, and commanded them, saying, Go and smite the inhabitants of Jabeshgilead with the edge of the sword, with the women and the children.
Jdg 21:11  And this is the thing that ye shall do, Ye shall utterly destroy every male, and every woman that hath lain by man.

The inhabitants of Jabesh of Gilead refused to join in the punishment of the Benjamites for which every man or woman was put to death. These inhabitants of Jabesh of Gilead therefore represent the elect as they were judged and, in the process, died. As we had indicated, those who died are those who overcame the old man or the flesh and did not love their lives.

Mat 16:24  Then said Jesus unto his disciples, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me.
Mat 16:25  For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: and whosoever will lose his life for my sake shall find it.

The twelve thousand men of the Israelites who were sent to put to death the men of Jabesh of Gilead symbolize our brothers and sisters in Babylon who persecute God’s elect as shown by the following scriptures:

2Sa 17:1  Moreover Ahithophel said unto Absalom, Let me now choose out twelve thousand men, and I will arise and pursue after David this night:

2Sa 10:6  And when the children of Ammon saw that they stank before David, the children of Ammon sent and hired the Syrians of Bethrehob, and the Syrians of Zoba, twenty thousand footmen, and of king Maacah a thousand men, and of Ishtob twelve thousand men.

Our Lord Jesus was literally persecuted and put to death by the church of His day. Stephen and James all suffered the same fate. Paul and all the disciples suffered a lot from the churches of the Jews. The question is, “Are we exonerated from all these sufferings?” No, we are walking in the same path that they walked. These persecutions and suffering are marked out for us. The end result of all these persecutions and suffering from our brothers and sisters in Babylon is to facilitate the death of the old man in each one of us!!

Jdg 21:12  And they found among the inhabitants of Jabeshgilead four hundred young virgins, that had known no man by lying with any male: and they brought them unto the camp to Shiloh, which is in the land of Canaan.

These four hundred young virgins are the offspring or the work of the men and women of Jabesh of Gilead who died. These men and women of Jabesh of Gilead had nurtured these virgins. That is the work of God’s elect.

Eph 4:11  And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers;
Eph 4:12  For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ:
Eph 4:13  Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ:
Eph 4:14  That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive;
Eph 4:15  But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things, which is the head, even Christ:

The four hundred young virgins represent the whole of the churches or fellowships of God’s elect scattered all over the world. This is the New Jerusalem, which is the mother of us all.

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.

Currently, we are barren but in the fullness of time, we shall have more children than Jerusalem which exists now and is in bondage with her children.

Jdg 21:13  And the whole congregation sent some to speak to the children of Benjamin that were in the rock Rimmon, and to call peaceably unto them.
Jdg 21:14  And Benjamin came again at that time; and they gave them wives which they had saved alive of the women of Jabeshgilead: and yet so they sufficed them not.

Once we leave Babylon, God orders our steps to find a wife or the bride of Christ, which is the church of the first born or the elect. The scripture says that he who finds a wife finds a good thing and obtains favor from the Lord. What favor do we obtain from the Lord if we find a wife? Our coming into fellowship of the elect is the same as finding a wife, and our fellowship is with the Father and our Lord Jesus Christ.

Pro 18:22  Whoso findeth a wife findeth a good thing, and obtaineth favour of the LORD.

1Jn 1:3  That which we have seen and heard declare we unto you, that ye also may have fellowship with us: and truly our fellowship is with the Father, and with his Son Jesus Christ.

It is in the midst of the gathering of the elect that we hear our Lord speak through His Christ which is us. That is what it means by “every joint supplies”. As we are aware, whatever our Lord says does not come back void. It accomplishes that for which it is sent. So the favor we are receiving in finding wives is the hearing of the sure word of the Lord.

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

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

Jdg 21:15  And the people repented them for Benjamin, because that the LORD had made a breach in the tribes of Israel.
Jdg 21:16  Then the elders of the congregation said, How shall we do for wives for them that remain, seeing the women are destroyed out of Benjamin?

In verse 16, the women that were destroyed out of Benjamin constitute Babylon or Jerusalem which now exists and is in bondage with her children. All that relates to Babylon in us must be destroyed through judgment.

Rev 16:19  And the great city was divided into three parts, and the cities of the nations fell: and great Babylon came in remembrance before God, to give unto her the cup of the wine of the fierceness of his wrath.

Jdg 21:17  And they said, There must be an inheritance for them that be escaped of Benjamin, that a tribe be not destroyed out of Israel.
Jdg 21:18  Howbeit we may not give them wives of our daughters: for the children of Israel have sworn, saying, Cursed be he that giveth a wife to Benjamin.

Verse 17 says that there is an inheritance for the Benjamites, and we can see from the conversation of the elders of Israel that this inheritance is tied to finding wives for the tribe of Benjamin. As God’s elect, our inheritance is dependent on finding young virgins who represent the church of the first born. All these examples are to emphasize the importance of fellowshipping with our brothers and sisters. It is through our fellowshipping or the church that our eyes are continually opened to know Christ and to possess our inheritance.

Our fellowshipping is with our Father and our Lord Jesus Christ, and as our Lord takes the bread which is His words and breaks it for us, our eyes are opened, and we come to know Him just like what happened to the two disciples on the road to Emmaus on the resurrection day of our Lord Jesus.

Luk 24:30  And it came to pass, as he sat at meat with them, he took bread, and blessed it, and brake, and gave to them.
Luk 24:31  And their eyes were opened, and they knew him; and he vanished out of their sight.

Jdg 21:19  Then they said, Behold, there is a feast of the LORD in Shiloh yearly in a place which is on the north side of Bethel, on the east side of the highway that goeth up from Bethel to Shechem, and on the south of Lebonah.
Jdg 21:20  Therefore they commanded the children of Benjamin, saying, Go and lie in wait in the vineyards;
Jdg 21:21  And see, and, behold, if the daughters of Shiloh come out to dance in dances, then come ye out of the vineyards, and catch you every man his wife of the daughters of Shiloh, and go to the land of Benjamin.

These verses are to show us how our Lord builds His church through us. Our whole time in Babylon or in the churches of this world is a long feast represented by seven days.

Deu 16:15  Seven days shalt thou keep a solemn feast unto the LORD thy God in the place which the LORD shall choose: because the LORD thy God shall bless thee in all thine increase, and in all the works of thine hands, therefore thou shalt surely rejoice.

During our time in Babylon, our Lord is not impressed by our feasts or our offerings and sacrifices.

Hos 9:1  Rejoice not, O Israel, for joy, as other people: for thou hast gone a whoring from thy God, thou hast loved a reward upon every cornfloor.
Hos 9:2  The floor and the winepress shall not feed them, and the new wine shall fail in her.
Hos 9:3  They shall not dwell in the LORD’S land; but Ephraim shall return to Egypt, and they shall eat unclean things in Assyria.
Hos 9:4  They shall not offer wine offerings to the LORD, neither shall they be pleasing unto him: their sacrifices shall be unto them as the bread of mourners; all that eat thereof shall be polluted: for their bread for their soul shall not come into the house of the LORD.
Hos 9:5  What will ye do in the solemn day, and in the day of the feast of the LORD?

During this period of our walk in Babylon, our Lord lies in wait in His vineyards (His people) for the opportune time to come to us. The virgins who came to dance represent the elect in Babylon who are not even aware that they are called and chosen. As we continue to worship our Lord in the flesh, symbolized by dancing, God comes to us and take us away from our Babylonian captivity to make us His bride. As the story suggests in verse 21, it is not that we go with our Lord willingly. No, we are dragged by the Lord to become His bride.

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

Individually, we are sent to the children of Israel or Babylon to be a conduit for them to come to know the truth.

Eze 2:3  And he said unto me, Son of man, I send thee to the children of Israel, to a rebellious nation that hath rebelled against me: they and their fathers have transgressed against me, even unto this very day.
Eze 2:4  For they are impudent children and stiffhearted. I do send thee unto them; and thou shalt say unto them, Thus saith the Lord GOD.
Eze 2:5  And they, whether they will hear, or whether they will forbear, (for they are a rebellious house,) yet shall know that there hath been a prophet among them.

We therefore lie in wait among God’s elect (Our Lord’s vineyard) for the opportune time to approach them with the word of God. This opportune time is when they come dancing to us. In other words, when they ask us for a reason of the hope that is in us, we must be ready to answer them.

1Pe 3:15  But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts: and be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear:

In God’s time, what we speak to them becomes the catalyst that drags them to the Lord as His bride.

Jdg 21:22  And it shall be, when their fathers or their brethren come unto us to complain, that we will say unto them, Be favourable unto them for our sakes: because we reserved not to each man his wife in the war: for ye did not give unto them at this time, that ye should be guilty. 
Jdg 21:23  And the children of Benjamin did so, and took them wives, according to their number, of them that danced, whom they caught: and they went and returned unto their inheritance, and repaired the cities, and dwelt in them.
Jdg 21:24  And the children of Israel departed thence at that time, every man to his tribe and to his family, and they went out from thence every man to his inheritance.

Our exit from Babylon is without resistance. We are considered as dead spiritually by our Babylonian brothers and sisters, and apart from that we are subject to ridicule and are always being questioned to see whether we will contradict ourselves just to prove that we are fake or to confirm to the Babylonians that we are spiritually dead.

Rev 11:8  And their dead bodies 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.

Our Lord Jesus was also questioned by the spiritual leaders of His day just because He operated outside the Babylonian system and was never in Babylon. He was considered spiritually dead just like us. Let’s look at one of His encounters:

Mat 21:23  And when he was come into the temple, the chief priests and the elders of the people came unto him as he was teaching, and said, By what authority doest thou these things? and who gave thee this authority?
Mat 21:24  And Jesus answered and said unto them, I also will ask you one thing, which if ye tell me, I in like wise will tell you by what authority I do these things.
Mat 21:25  The baptism of John, whence was it? from heaven, or of men? And they reasoned with themselves, saying, If we shall say, From heaven; he will say unto us, Why did ye not then believe him?
Mat 21:26  But if we shall say, Of men; we fear the people; for all hold John as a prophet.
Mat 21:27  And they answered Jesus, and said, We cannot tell. And he said unto them, Neither tell I you by what authority I do these things.

As the scripture says, as he was on this earth, so are we.

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.

What is most important to note is that in verse 24, every man departed to his inheritance. If we are blessed to be part of the elect, then whatever resistance we face in this life, we will possess our inheritance. This is not our work; it is the work of God as demonstrated recently by our brother Tony concerning the building of the temple in Jerusalem in his exposition of 1Kings Chapter 6:1-3. There was no sound of any iron axe or hammer in the building of the temple. The lack of sound means there were no human beings at work. The lord is the builder of our temple and will surely do it!!

Zec 4:6  Then he answered and spake unto me, saying, This is the word of the LORD unto Zerubbabel, saying, Not by might, nor by power, but by my spirit, saith the LORD of hosts.
Zec 4:7  Who art thou, O great mountain? before Zerubbabel thou shalt become a plain: and he shall bring forth the headstone thereof with shoutings, crying, Grace, grace unto it.

Jdg 21:25  In those days there was no king in Israel: every man did that which was right in his own eyes. 

This is the theme that runs through the whole of the Book of Judges. It is to let us know that when Christ has not ascended the throne of our hearts, we are subjected to the dictates of the old man or the flesh and therefore do whatever we want thinking we are serving God. That was what happened to the Israelites during the time of the Judges.  However, if we are blessed to be part of the overcomers, then in the fullness of time, the Lord we are seeking will suddenly come to His temple in our hearts. That will be the period of our judgment to refine us so we can offer sacrifices that please Him.

Mal 3:1  Behold, I will send my messenger, and he shall prepare the way before me: and the Lord, whom ye seek, shall suddenly come to his temple, even the messenger of the covenant, whom ye delight in: behold, he shall come, saith the LORD of hosts.
Mal 3:2  But who may abide the day of his coming? and who shall stand when he appeareth? for he is like a refiner’s fire, and like fullers’ soap:
Mal 3:3  And he shall sit as a refiner and purifier of silver: and he shall purify the sons of Levi, and purge them as gold and silver, that they may offer unto the LORD an offering in righteousness.
Mal 3:4  Then shall the offering of Judah and Jerusalem be pleasant unto the LORD, as in the days of old, and as in former years.
Mal 3:5  And I will come near to you to judgment; and I will be a swift witness against the sorcerers, and against the adulterers, and against false swearers, and against those that oppress the hireling in his wages, the widow, and the fatherless, and that turn aside the stranger from his right, and fear not me, saith the LORD of hosts.

]]> Study of the Book of Esther – Est 1:1-12 The Feast Held in Shushan https://www.iswasandwillbe.com/study-of-the-book-of-esther-est-11-12-the-feast-held-in-shushan/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=study-of-the-book-of-esther-est-11-12-the-feast-held-in-shushan Fri, 12 Jun 2020 19:27:01 +0000 http://www.iswasandwillbe.com/?p=20959 Est 1:1-12 The Feast Held in Shushan
[Study Posted June 12, 2020]

Est 1:1  Now it came to pass in the days of Ahasuerus, (this is Ahasuerus which reigned, from India even unto Ethiopia, over an hundred and seven and twenty provinces:) 
Est 1:2  That in those days, when the king Ahasuerus sat on the throne of his kingdom, which was in Shushan the palace, 
Est 1:3  In the third year of his reign, he made a feast unto all his princes and his servants; the power of Persia and Media, the nobles and princes of the provinces, being before him: 
Est 1:4  When he shewed the riches of his glorious kingdom and the honour of his excellent majesty many days, even an hundred and fourscore days. 
Est 1:5  And when these days were expired, the king made a feast unto all the people that were present in Shushan the palace, both unto great and small, seven days, in the court of the garden of the king’s palace; 
Est 1:6  Where were white, green, and blue, hangings, fastened with cords of fine linen and purple to silver rings and pillars of marble: the beds were of gold and silver, upon a pavement of red, and blue, and white, and black, marble. 
Est 1:7  And they gave them drink in vessels of gold, (the vessels being diverse one from another,) and royal wine in abundance, according to the state of the king. 
Est 1:8  And the drinking was according to the law; none did compel: for so the king had appointed to all the officers of his house, that they should do according to every man’s pleasure. 
Est 1:9  Also Vashti the queen made a feast for the women in the royal house which belonged to king Ahasuerus. 
Est 1:10  On the seventh day, when the heart of the king was merry with wine, he commanded Mehuman, Biztha, Harbona, Bigtha, and Abagtha, Zethar, and Carcas, the seven chamberlains that served in the presence of Ahasuerus the king, 
Est 1:11  To bring Vashti the queen before the king with the crown royal, to shew the people and the princes her beauty: for she was fair to look on. 
Est 1:12  But the queen Vashti refused to come at the king’s commandment by his chamberlains: therefore was the king very wroth, and his anger burned in him. 

In the spiritual context, the book of Esther shows how, through God’s mercy, the elect (represented by Esther) are replacing the many called (represented by Queen Vashti) in every generation as given to us in Romans 11:30–31 and how we are being prepared to become the bride of Christ. It is also a record of the superintending care of divine providence over His chosen people (the elect). The book gives details of how God raises a storm to bring us to our wits’ ends and then causes us to cry to him for deliverance and finally brings us to our safe haven (Psalm 107:25–30). Although God’s name is rarely mentioned in this book, the presence of God is felt throughout the book, and it shows how our God is a God who hides Himself (Isaiah 45:15), and yet he is a God who is nearer to us than we can imagine (Acts 17:27). With this in mind, let’s start our feast by journeying through the book of Esther.

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

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

Isa 45:15  Verily thou art a God that hidest thyself, O God of Israel, the Saviour. 

Act 17:27  That they should seek the Lord, if haply they might feel after him, and find him, though he be not far from every one of us:
Act 17:28  For in him we live, and move, and have our being; as certain also of your own poets have said, For we are also his offspring.

Est 1:1  Now it came to pass in the days of Ahasuerus, (this is Ahasuerus which reigned, from India even unto Ethiopia, over an hundred and seven and twenty provinces:)
Est 1:2  That in those days, when the king Ahasuerus sat on the throne of his kingdom, which was in Shushan the palace,
Est 1:3  In the third year of his reign, he made a feast unto all his princes and his servants; the power of Persia and Media, the nobles and princes of the provinces,being before him: 
Est 1:4  When he shewed the riches of his glorious kingdom and the honour of his excellent majesty many days, even an hundred and fourscore days.

The book of Esther starts with Ahasuerus (Xerxes), King of Persia, holding a feast in Shushan for his nobles, officials and his military leaders of all his provinces. The name Ahasuerus means a mighty man. In the spiritual dimension, he represents God. The name Shushan means Lily. In the bible, the elect is referred to as lily (Hosea 14:5). As indicated in verse 2 where the King sat on his throne in Shushan, it shows that the throne of God is in the elect’s heavens (hearts and minds), so that is where the feast is being held. Feast is about eating and drinking, and it represents how God is enlightening our understanding of the word of God to know Him. Remember that eternal life is all about getting to know God and Jesus (John 17:3), so feasting is equivalent to being given eternal life. This feast represents a period in our lives that our heavens are opened resulting in Jesus being unveiled to us.

Now this feast is being held for only the nobles, officials and the military leaders.  These top rank executives are the elect in every generation who feast on the word of God. This whole feast is to help us appreciate the vastness and the greatness of the King’s kingdom (verse 4).  Paul puts it this way: That our eyes of understanding will be enlightened and that we may know the hope of his calling and what the riches of his glory of his inheritance in the saints and what is the exceeding greatness of his power to us who believe (Eph 1:17–23).

Hos 14:5  I will be as the dew unto Israel: he shall grow as the lily, and cast forth his roots as Lebanon. 

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 1:17  That the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give unto you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of him: 
Eph 1:18  The eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that ye may know what is the hope of his calling, and what the riches of the glory of his inheritance in the saints, 
Eph 1:19  And what is the exceeding greatness of his power to us-ward who believe, according to the working of his mighty power, 
Eph 1:20  Which he wrought in Christ, when he raised him from the dead, and set him at his own right hand in the heavenly places, 
Eph 1:21  Far above all principality, and power, and might, and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this world, but also in that which is to come: 
Eph 1:22  And hath put all things under his feet, and gave him to be the head over all things to the church, 
Eph 1:23  Which is his body, the fulness of him that filleth all in all. 

This feast happened in the third year of the reign of King Ahasuerus. This implies that the feasting (our eyes being enlightened through his words) is our process of spiritual completion through judgment. What this means is that while we are feasting, we are being judged by the fiery words of the Lord. The feast lasted for 180 days. 180 days X 7 is equal to 1260 days, which represents the days that the two witnesses in the book of Revelation prophesied. What this means is that the 180 days represents a certain period in the lives of the elect that our heavens (hearts and minds) are opened to receive the revelation of Christ is completed. In other words, our understanding of the mystery of God is completed.

It is no coincidence that 180 days is 1/7th of the 1260 days of the witness of the two witnesses. Being at the very beginning of the book of Esther demonstrates that this 180 day feast is but the white horse of the six seals of the book  of the revelation of Jesus Christ in His bride. The rest of the book of Esther, and all the trials of the Jews are nothing more than the opening of the other six seals, with the seven trumpets and seven vials which are the seventh seal.

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

Est 1:5  And when these days were expired, the king made a feast unto all the people that were present in Shushan the palace, both unto great and small, seven days, in the court of the garden of the king’s palace; 

This feast will also be held for the whole of the human race for a period of seven days representing the lake-of-fire age (from the second resurrection to the end of the lake of fire). The elect are the first to feast, but that is not the end. The fact that there are those who trusted in God first means there are others to follow. The whole of the human race will also have their feast through the agency of Christ and His Christs. That is the salvation of the human race depicted in several places in the scriptures.

Eph 1:12  That we should be to the praise of his glory, who first trusted in Christ. 

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

Rom 11:32  For God hath concluded them all in unbelief, that he might have mercy upon all. 

1Co 15:22  For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive.

1Ti 2:3  For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Saviour; 
1Ti 2:4  Who will have all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth. 

1Ti 4:9  This is a faithful saying and worthy of all acceptation. 
1Ti 4:10  For therefore we both labour and suffer reproach, because we trust in the living God, who is the Saviour of all men, specially of those that believe. 

1Jn 2:2  And he is the propitiation for our sins: and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world. 

The next three verses talk about details of this feast.

Est 1:6  Where were white, green, and blue, hangings, fastened with cords of fine linen and purple to silver rings and pillars of marble: the beds were of gold and silver, upon a pavement of red, and blue, and white, and black, marble. 
Est 1:7  And they gave them drink in vessels of gold, (the vessels being diverse one from another,) and royal wine in abundance, according to the state of the king. 
Est 1:8  And the drinking was according to the law; none did compel: for so the king had appointed to all the officers of his house, that they should do according to every man’s pleasure. 

This feast is associated with the following colors: white, green, blue, purple, red and black. In the Old Testament, the door of the tent of the tabernacle had the colors blue, purple and scarlet.  These colors together signify part of our walk as we enter through the veil into the presence of God where we are feed by His fiery words resulting in us being clothed with white linen, signifying the righteousness of the saints (Refer to studies on colors on iswasandwillbe website). The colors of the feast also signify that the feast is targeted towards those in whom God’s spirit is working the process of going from red to blue, that is, from the first to the last Adam.

We are the vessels of gold into which the drinks are poured. Just as gold is refined by fire, our faith is being tried with fire as we feast.  This will result in praise, glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed in us. These vessels are diverse one from another. Yes, we are many members in one body, and all members have not the same office. Out of the abundance of the King, we have all received grace for grace!! During this period of the feast, we begin to see the abundant provision our God has made available to us through his precious promises.

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

Rom 12:4  For as we have many members in one body, and all members have not the same office: 
Rom 12:5  So we, being many, are one body in Christ, and every one members one of another. 
Rom 12:6  Having then gifts differing according to the grace that is given to us, whether prophecy, let us prophesy according to the proportion of faith; 

Joh 1:16   From his abundance we have all received one gracious blessing after another. (NLT) 

Eph 3:20  Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us.

2Pe 1:3  According as his divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of him that hath called us to glory and virtue: 
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. 

Est 1:9  Also Vashti the queen made a feast for the women in the royal house which belonged to king Ahasuerus. 

As the elect are feasting, the children of the harlot woman (represented by Vashti) are also feasting. In the case of the elect, this feast brings light to the elect, as we are admonished to pay heed to this sure word of prophecy, which is light shining in darkness until the day star (Jesus) rises in our heart. Regarding the children of Christendom (Vashti), though they are also feasting, the feast is not helping them because the pillar of cloud (Jesus) is seen as a cloud and darkness instead of light. They therefore cannot hear the words of the savior, and so His words have no place in their hearts. The result of this is disobedience as seen in Vashti’s refusal to heed the King’s command. That is where we were sometime back in the past, and it is all of the Lord’s doing as we will see later!!

2Pe 1:19  We have also a more sure word of prophecy; whereunto ye do well that ye take heed, as unto a light that shineth in a dark place, until the day dawn, and the day star arise in your hearts: 

Exo 13:21  And the LORD went before them by day in a pillar of a cloud, to lead them the way; and by night in a pillar of fire, to give them light; to go by day and night: 
Exo 13:22  He took not away the pillar of the cloud by day, nor the pillar of fire by night, from before the people. 

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

Joh 8:31  Then said Jesus to those Jews which believed on him, If ye continue in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed; 

Joh 8:37  I know that ye are Abraham’s seed; but ye seek to kill me, because my word hath no place in you. 

Joh 8:43  Why do ye not understand my speech? even because ye cannot hear my word. 

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. 
Eph 2:4  But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us, 
Eph 2:5  Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;) 

Est 1:10  On the seventh day, when the heart of the king was merry with wine, he commanded Mehuman, Biztha, Harbona, Bigtha, and Abagtha, Zethar, and Carcas, the seven chamberlains that served in the presence of Ahasuerus the king, 
Est 1:11  To bring Vashti the queen before the king with the crown royal, to shew the people and the princes her beauty: for she was fair to look on. 

The seven chamberlains represent the elect from every generation who speak the fiery words. Verse 11 makes us aware of the task of the elect – that is to show Vashti’s beauty to the people and princes present.  That is the task of Jesus – to present us before His glorious presence without fault and with great joy.  That is also our marching orders as Jesus is also sending us.

As it is, unless we are shown our transgression, we will always think that we are feasting with the king even as Vashti was feasting thinking that she was pleasing the king. However, one day our disobedience will be obvious as the king will call us to come and show our beauty, and that is when we will be found wanting on the day every man’s work shall be made manifest!!

Isa 58:1  Cry aloud, spare not, lift up thy voice like a trumpet, and shew my people their transgression, and the house of Jacob their sins. 
Isa 58:2  Yet they seek me daily, and delight to know my ways, as a nation that did righteousness, and forsook not the ordinance of their God: they ask of me the ordinances of justice; they take delight in approaching to God. 

1Co 3:13  Every man’s work shall be made manifest: for the day shall declare it, because it shall be revealed by fire; and the fire shall try every man’s work of what sort it is. 
1Co 3:14  If any man’s work abide which he hath built thereupon, he shall receive a reward. 
1Co 3:15  If any man’s work shall be burned, he shall suffer loss: but he himself shall be saved; yet so as by fire. 

Est 1:12  But the queen Vashti refused to come at the king’s commandment by his chamberlains: therefore was the king very wroth, and his anger burned in him.

Vashti refused to obey the King’s command and therefore incurred the wrath of the King. We all, in our appointed times, have refused the King’s commands and were/are under the wrath of God.

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. 

Rom 1:18  For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who hold the truth in unrighteousness;

Col 3:6  For which things’ sake the wrath of God cometh on the children of disobedience:

ESTHER 1:13 – 22: THEY SHALL DESPISE THEIR HUSBANDS IN THEIR EYES

Est 1:13 Then the king said to the wise men, which knew the times, (for so was the king’s manner toward all that knew law and judgment:
Est 1:14 And the next unto him was Carshena, Shethar, Admatha, Tarshish, Meres, Marsena, and Memucan, the seven princes of Persia and Media, which saw the king’s face, and which sat the first in the kingdom;) 
Est 1:15 What shall we do unto the queen Vashti according to law, because she hath not performed the commandment of the king Ahasuerus by the chamberlains? 
Est 1:16  And Memucan answered before the king and the princes, Vashti the queen hath not done wrong to the king only, but also to all the princes, and to all the people that are in all the provinces of the king Ahasuerus. 
Est 1:17 For this deed of the queen shall come abroad unto all women, so that they shall despise their husbands in their eyes, when it shall be reported, The king Ahasuerus commanded Vashti the queen to be brought in before him, but she came not. 
Est 1:18  Likewise shall the ladies of Persia and Media say this day unto all the king’s princes, which have heard of the deed of the queen. Thus shall there arise too much contempt and wrath. 
Est 1:19  If it please the king, let there go a royal commandment from him, and let it be written among the laws of the Persians and the Medes, that it be not altered, That Vashti come no more before king Ahasuerus; and let the king give her royal estate unto another that is better than she. 
Est 1:20  And when the king’s decree which he shall make shall be published throughout all his empire, (for it is great,) all the wives shall give to their husbands honour, both to great and small. 
Est 1:21  And the saying pleased the king and the princes; and the king did according to the word of Memucan: 
Est 1:22  For he sent letters into all the king’s provinces, into every province according to the writing thereof, and to every people after their language, that every man should bear rule in his own house, and that it should be published according to the language of every people. 

The last session ended with Vashti refusing to obey the King’s command. In our own appointed times, we have disobeyed our Lord Jesus. However, this is all part of the process of coming to know Christ. This disobedience by Vashti prompted the King to speak to his wise men who knew the times.

Est 1:13  Then the king said to the wise men, which knew the times, (for so was the king’s manner toward all that knew law and judgment: 
Est 1:14  And the next unto him was Carshena, Shethar, Admatha, Tarshish, Meres, Marsena, and Memucan, the seven princes of Persia and Media, which saw the king’s face, and which sat the first in the kingdom;)

The wise men here represent God’s elect in every generation who knew the times. Knowing the times as explained here in verse 13 means knowing His law and judgment. That means understanding His words or being given to know the mysteries of the kingdom or having the mind of the Lord. Although knowing His law includes knowing His judgment, judgment is specifically separated here for emphasis. His judgments in our lives are what qualifies us to become his children of righteousness. This is because when his judgments are on our lives (earth), that is when we learn righteousness.  It is therefore imperative that those who are being chosen understand the significance of His judgment in our lives and the fact that we are first to be judged. Verse 13 also talks about the King’s manner toward the elect. The question is: “What is the King’s manner here?” The King’s manner here is that God will do nothing unless He reveals His secret unto His servants the prophets (us).

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. 

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 4:17  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? 

Amo 3:7  Surely the Lord GOD will do nothing, but he revealeth his secret unto his servants the prophets. 

The seven princes of Persia, whose names are mentioned in verse 14, are the elect in every generation. Verse 14 gives us two characteristics of the elect – they see the King’s face, and they are first in the kingdom. In the Book of Revelation, the seven angels stand before God.  These seven angels are the same as the angels of the seven churches which are represented by the seven stars.  These stars are the elect. Since Jesus is on His father’s throne holding the seven stars in his right hand, the elect are therefore always before the King. In other words, they see the King’s face. The elect are also the first in the kingdom, because they were the first to trust in Christ. What this means is that there are others who will trust in Christ later.

Rev 8:2  And I saw the seven angels which stood before God; and to them were given seven trumpets. 

Rev 1:20  The mystery of the seven stars which thou sawest in my right hand, and the seven golden candlesticks. The seven stars are the angels of the seven churches: and the seven candlesticks which thou sawest are the seven churches.

Eph 1:12  That we should be to the praise of his glory, who first trusted in Christ. 

Est 1:15  What shall we do unto the queen Vashti according to law, because she hath not performed the commandment of the king Ahasuerus by the chamberlains?
Est 1:16  And Memucan answered before the king and the princes, Vashti the queen hath not done wrong to the king only, but also to all the princes, and to all the people that are in all the provinces of the king Ahasuerus.
Est 1:17  For this deed of the queen shall come abroad unto all women, so that they shall despise their husbands in their eyes, when it shall be reported, The king Ahasuerus commanded Vashti the queen to be brought in before him, but she came not.
Est 1:18  Likewise shall the ladies of Persia and Media say this day unto all the king’s princes, which have heard of the deed of the queen. Thus shall there arise too much contempt and wrath.

These verses focus on the discussion of the ramifications of Vashti’s (our) disobedience.  Verse 17 shows how we all have despised our husband, Jesus, in our appointed times by disobeying Him. This disobedience is the result of our flawed nature as our desire is against our husband, just as Eve was told when she disobeyed. The disobedience we experienced is all part of the process of knowing Christ as it gives Jesus the occasion to come into our lives to judge us so that we can enter into the temple to worship Him and be ruled by our husband, Jesus. For those who are not destined to overcome in this life, this disobedience is used by the Lord to replace them with the elect as we will see as the story unfolds.

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 (against) thy husband, and he shall rule over thee. 

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 (Vashti and her children) also now not believed, that through your mercy they (Vashti and her children) also may obtain mercy. 
Rom 11:32  For God hath concluded them all in unbelief, that he might have mercy upon all. 

Est 1:19  If it please the king, let there go a royal commandment from him, and let it be written among the laws of the Persians and the Medes, that it be not altered, That Vashti come no more before king Ahasuerus; and let the king give her royal estate unto another that is better than she. 

The consequence of Vashti’s action is that she will not see the King again and that her royal estate will be given to another (replaced by the elect). The question is: What does it mean to be denied the presence of the King (Christ)? Not coming before the King is like being abandoned, just like Israel (Vashti) being neglected as a vineyard by the owner (Christ) for bearing bad fruits in Isaiah 5. In the New Testament, it means being cast into outer darkness where there is weeping and gnashing of teeth. From verse 6 of Isaiah Chapter 5, we get the idea of what it means to see the King no more:

  • We will lay waste (We will not be used by our master)
  • We will not be pruned nor digged (Judgment shall not begin in our house in this age)
  • There shall come up briers and thorns (We will subscribe to false doctrines and lies prevailing in Babylon)
  • The Lord will not command the clouds (His elect) to rain on us (We will not be able to receive or understand the word of God as spoken by His elect)

We all as Vashti, in our appointed times, have gone through this phase of not being able to see the face of the King. But God, who is rich in mercy, has come to quicken us if we are destined to be part of the first resurrection.

Isa 5:1  Now will I sing to my wellbeloved a song of my beloved touching his vineyard. My wellbeloved hath a vineyard in a very fruitful hill: 
Isa 5:2  And he fenced it, and gathered out the stones thereof, and planted it with the choicest vine, and built a tower in the midst of it, and also made a winepress therein: and he looked that it should bring forth grapes, and it brought forth wild grapes. 
Isa 5:3  And now, O inhabitants of Jerusalem, and men of Judah, judge, I pray you, betwixt me and my vineyard. 
Isa 5:4  What could have been done more to my vineyard, that I have not done in it? wherefore, when I looked that it should bring forth grapes, brought it forth wild grapes? 
Isa 5:5  And now go to; I will tell you what I will do to my vineyard: I will take away the hedge thereof, and it shall be eaten up; and break down the wall thereof, and it shall be trodden down: 
Isa 5:6  And I will lay it waste: it shall not be pruned, nor digged; but there shall come up briers and thorns: I will also command the clouds that they rain no rain upon it. 
Isa 5:7  For the vineyard of the LORD of hosts is the house of Israel, and the men of Judah his pleasant plant: and he looked for judgment, but behold oppression; for righteousness, but behold a cry.

Mat 22:13  Then said the king to the servants, Bind him hand and foot, and take him away, and cast him into outer darkness; there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.

Mat 25:30  And cast ye the unprofitable servant into outer darkness: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.

Eph 2:4  But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us, 
Eph 2:5  Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;) 

Est 1:20  And when the king’s decree which he shall make shall be published throughout all his empire, (for it is great,) all the wives shall give to their husbands honour, both to great and small.
Est 1:21  And the saying pleased the king and the princes; and the king did according to the word of Memucan:

At the appointed time during the lake-of-fire age, the King’s decree shall be made known to all humanity so that we all as wives will give honor to our husband Christ. All humanity will come to understand what it means to honor Christ our husband when the fiery words are spoken to them by the elect. This is what it means when the scriptures say that, ‘the LORD said to my Lord, sit at my right hand until I make your enemies your footstool.’ That is, at the fullness of time, every knee shall bow and every tongue shall confess that Jesus is Lord. The Lord has planned all these before the foundation of the world. Currently however, the King’s decree is being published within the elect where the kingdom of God is.  This is what pleases the King, and since we are the princes and have the same mind as Christ, we are also pleased to submit to our husband, Jesus!!!

Mat 22:44  The LORD said unto my Lord, Sit thou on my right hand, till I make thine enemies thy footstool?

Mar 12:36  For David himself said by the Holy Ghost, The LORD said to my Lord, Sit thou on my right hand, till I make thine enemies thy footstool.

Isa 45:23  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.

Rom 14:11  For it is written, As I live, saith the Lord, every knee shall bow to me, and every tongue shall confess to God.

Est 1:22  For he sent letters into all the king’s provinces, into every province according to the writing thereof, and to every people after their language, that every man should bear rule in his own house, and that it should be published according to the language of every people.

In this age, letters are being sent out in every generation and every part of the world since Pentecost, calling all elect to bear rule in their own house. To bear rule in our own house means to overthrow the man of sin from sitting on the throne in our hearts and minds through the brightness of Christ’s coming into our lives. It is the same as Christ sitting on the throne of our hearts and mind. This letter (the fiery words of God) is being published in the language of every people. In other words, to the elect in every part of the world, the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven are being unveiled, and this is what is bringing the brightness of Christ’s coming that destroys the man of sin!! May we pray to be found worthy to be those who bear rule of our own house in this age!!!  In the fullness of time, all men everywhere will bear rule of their own house!!! What a wonderful plan!!!

Act 17:30  And the times of this ignorance (when we did not have letters sent out) God winked at; but now commandeth all men everywhere to repent (In this age, only few will repent).

2Th 2:3  Let no man deceive you by any means: for that day shall not come, except there come a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition; 
2Th 2:4  Who opposeth and exalteth himself above all that is called God, or that is worshipped; so that he as God sitteth in the temple of God, shewing himself that he is God. 
2Th 2:5  Remember ye not, that, when I was yet with you, I told you these things? 
2Th 2:6  And now ye know what withholdeth that he might be revealed in his time. 
2Th 2:7  For the mystery of iniquity doth already work: only he who now letteth will let, until he be taken out of the way. 
2Th 2:8  And then shall that Wicked be revealed, whom the Lord shall consume with the spirit of his mouth, and shall destroy with the brightness of his coming:

Next time, we will focus our studies on Esther, the period of her purification and her selection as wife by the King. That will be Esther Chapter 2.

]]> Teacher’s Choice – “Who Will Hearken and Hear…? – Tony Cullen https://www.iswasandwillbe.com/teachers-choice-who-will-hearken-and-hear-tony-cullen/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=teachers-choice-who-will-hearken-and-hear-tony-cullen Thu, 13 Jun 2019 19:25:36 +0000 http://www.iswasandwillbe.com/?p=18932 Isaiah 42:23 – “Who will hearken and hear for the time to come?”
[Tony Cullen – June 10, 2019]

This study is based on the question posed in Isaiah 42:23 – “Who among you will give ear to this? who will hearken and hear for the time to come?”  We will see how this same question was being asked in the new covenant when it was posed to Christ this way: “Therefore in the resurrection whose wife of them is she? for seven had her to wife” (Luk 20:33).

None but Christ can restore “this is a people robbed and spoiled; they are all of them snared in holes, and they are hid in prison houses: they are for a prey, and none delivereth; for a spoil, and none saith, Restore” of Isaiah 42:22, and in our captivity and blindness of which God has caused the prophet to speak (Isa 63:17, Eze 14:9), we come to see by these stories that prophesy reveals to us (1Pe 1:12) how the Lord makes His strength perfect through our weakness and ultimately reveals to all of mankind how each man in his order will learn “The LORD is well pleased for his righteousness’ sake; he will magnify the law, and make it honourable” (Isa 42:21).

Because I had not hearkened to God’s words, sent to me by His prophets, I had to go into Babylon and then, by the grace of God, be dragged out of ‘her my people’ through years of being reproved by my own iniquities which corrected me (Jer 29:19-32, Jer 2:19). God has been merciful to work with His bride to make her ready, and continues to sanctify us, giving us increase as we overcome the beasts of the field little and by little (Exo 23:30), believing and knowing Christ will make His bride ready, and we will go onto perfection on the third day, overcoming in this life by His power (Luk 13:32, Zec 4:6).

With these verses in mind, we can now look at whom it is God has ordained to “hearken and hear for the time to come” as seen through various parables found in Luke 20:33-38 and Matthew 22:27-33 and scriptures which reveal our Father has appointed a time for Christ to be married to one wife, who will be blessed to have ears to hear and eyes to see in this age (Luk 8:10), being made ready (Rev 19:7) as we “hearken and hear for the time to come” with “a meek and quiet spirit, which is in the sight of God of great price” (1Pe 3:4-7, Eph 5:22-30).

We will also look at the blindness in part which has come upon Israel [the world] for our sakes (2Co 4:15), “the heavens and the earth, which are now, by the same word are kept in store, reserved unto fire against the day of judgment and perdition of ungodly men” (2Pe 3:7) knowing that would be our state and lot except for the grace through faith our Father is mercifully showing to a few in this age, giving us the power through Christ to “receive not testimony from man” (Joh 5:34, 1Jn 4:17).

Christ said, “But I receive not testimony from man: [7 husbands of Matthew 22:28], but these things I say, that ye might be saved” in John 5:34, knowing that not all would be disciples indeed in this age who “receive not testimony from man [‘yet carnal men‘]” (Mat 24:13, 1Jn 4:17). It is those who are blessed to read, hear and keep the sayings of the prophecy in this age who will be saved, and who, like Christ, can say, “But these things I say, that ye might be saved” (what did Christ say – Joh 12:49). It was in the context of marriage that Christ spoke these words, “Ye do err, not knowing the scriptures, nor the power of God,” When we don’t know the power of God in the resurrection, we do err because we have not been raised in heavenly places where we are able to properly discern and divide the word of God (Eph 2:6, Joh 11:25-26, Joh 6:28).

Mat 22:28  Therefore in the resurrection whose wife shall she be of the seven? for they all had her. 
Mat 22:29  Jesus answered and said unto them, Ye do err, not knowing the scriptures, nor the power of God.

Joh 5:34  But I receive not testimony from man: but these things I say, that ye might be saved. 

Joh 11:25  Jesus said unto her, I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live: 
Joh 11:26  And whosoever liveth and believeth in me shall never die. Believest thou this? 

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

Starting with this parable in Luke 20:33-38, we will compare it with Matthew 22:27-33 and John 5:28-47 to show who it is Christ is talking about in Luke 20:34-35 when He says “But they which shall be accounted worthy to obtain that world” [Joh 1:27].

Luk 20:34  And Jesus answering said unto them, The children of this world marry, and are given in marriage: 
Luk 20:35  But they which shall be accounted worthy to obtain that world, and the resurrection from the dead, neither marry, nor are given in marriage:[speaking of the 1st resurrection]

Joh 1:27  He it is, who coming after me is preferred before me, whose shoe’s latchet I am not worthy to unloose.

John 5:28-47 reveals how God blinds us from not being able to enter into life and shows us the accompanying spirit that will always manifest amongst those who cannot live these words in this life (Mat 20:25-27). God’s elect have been ordained from the foundation of the world to “be accounted worthy to obtain that world” by grace through faith, and are now rejoicing in the earnest of the inheritance God has bestowed upon those who are called His sons today (Eph 1:14, 1Jn 3:1).

Luk 20:35  But they which shall be accounted worthy to obtain that world, and the resurrection from the dead, neither marry, nor are given in marriage:

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:

Luk 20:33  Therefore in the resurrection whose wife of them is she? for seven [7 men complete Babylon – 7 nations – and they all had her to wife] had her to wife.
Luk 20:34  And Jesus answering said unto them, The children of this world marry, and are given in marriage: [many wives, many churches]
Luk 20:35  But they which shall be accounted worthy [are called out of Babylon (many harlot wives) and are now the one bride and wife of Christ] to obtain that worldG165, and the resurrection from the dead, neither marry, nor are given in marriage: [God’s elect do not go from church to church any longer and are not given to  marriage because from the foundation of the world we were ordained to be the one wife and bride of Christ who first came out of Babylon (Eph 1:4). Bringing forth much fruit is bringing forth correct doctrine that can be likened unto children, as opposed to the many lies in Babylon that are filled with false doctrine, many false children born of the harlot churches. (Rev 15:8, Rev 9:2)].
Luk 20:36  Neither can they die any more: for they are equal unto the angels; and are the children of God, being the children of the resurrection. [the first resurrection to LIFE we now experience in earnest and one day in the fulness (1Co 13:12)]

1Co 13:12  For now we see through a glass, darkly; but then face to face: now I know in part; but then shall I know even as also I am known.

Gen 4:1  And Adam knew Eve his wife; and she conceived, and bare Cain, and said, I have gotten a man from the LORD. 

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. 

Luk 20:37  Now that the dead are raised, even Moses shewed at the bush [IN TYPE AND SHADOW 1Pe 1:12] when he calleth the Lord the God of Abraham, and the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob. [a type of the elect who go through a process of judgment (3) in order to be made ready as the one wife or bride of Christ  (Rev 19:7)]
Luk 20:38    For he is not a God of the dead [those who have many wives in this life typifying churches with no stay of water or bread of life (Isa 3:1, Joh 6:48)], but of the living: for all live unto him. [We are all going to be saved each man in his order, and all do live unto him, unto God who is working all things according to the counsel of His own will (Eph 1:11, Act 17:28)]

All that are in the graves shall hear his voice, in two separate resurrections as the sum of God’s word shows and these verses are witness (Luk 20:33-38).

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; and they that have done evil, unto the resurrection of damnation.  

Joh 5:33  Ye sent unto John, and he bare witness unto the truth.  
Joh 5:34   But  I receive not testimony from man: [This was a people whom Christ declared “Ye do err, not knowing the scriptures, nor the power of God” and Christ is the resurrection and the power of God to which John was bearing witness (Joh 11:25)] but these things I say, that ye might be saved.  
Joh 5:35    He was a burning and a shining light: and ye were willing for a season to rejoice in his light.  
Joh 5:36    But I have greater witness than that of John: for the works which the Father hath given me to finish [Php 1:6], the same works that I do, bear witness of me, that the Father hath sent me [1Jn 4:17, Joh 20:21].
Joh 5:37   And the Father himself, which hath sent me, hath borne witness of me.  Ye have neither heard his voice at any time, nor seen his shape.  
Joh 5:38   And ye have not his word abiding in you: for whom he hath sent, him ye believe not [Rom 8:9, 1Jn 4:6].
Joh 5:39  Search the scriptures;  for in them ye think ye have eternal life: and they are they which testify of me.  
Joh 5:40    And ye will not come to me, that ye might have life.  
Joh 5:41  I receive not honour from men  [(3Jn 1:9) – I wrote unto the church: but Diotrephes, who loveth to have the preeminence among them, receiveth us not. Christ in us not being received by others (Mat 10:22)]  
Joh 5:42   But I know you, that ye have not the love of God in you.  
Joh 5:43   I am come in my Father’s name, and ye receive me not: if another shall come in his own name, him ye will receive.  
Joh 5:44  How can ye believe, which receive honour one of another, and seek not the honour that cometh from God only?  [2Co 11:30]
Joh 5:45   Do not think that I will accuse you to the Father: there is  one  that accuseth you,  even  Moses, in whom ye trust. [(Php 3:8-9)] 
Joh 5:46   For had ye believed Moses, ye would have believed me: for he wrote of me.  (TYPE AND SHADOW wrote of Christ and His Body Luk 20:37-38, 1Pe 1:12)
Joh 5:47  But if ye believe not his writings, how shall ye believe my words?  

Luk 20:38   For he is not a God of the dead, but of the living: for all live unto him.

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. 

Now regarding who it is that does receive Christ and why some can and others can’t, is explained in this parable of a woman who had seven husbands:

Mat 22:27   And last of all the woman died also.  
Mat 22:28   Therefore in the resurrection whose wife shall she be of the seven? for they all had her.  
Mat 22:29   Jesus answered and said unto them,  Ye do err, not knowing the scriptures, nor the power of God. [Isa 3:1, Joh 6:48]
Mat 22:30  For in the resurrection they neither marry, nor are given in marriage, but are as the angels of God in heaven.[We are those angels of God in earnest today, being raised in heavenly places by “the power of God” (Rev 22:8-9)]  
Mat 22:31  But as touching the resurrection of the dead, have ye not read that which was spoken unto you by God, saying,  
Mat 22:32  I am the God of Abraham, and the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob? God is not the God of the dead, but of the living.  [1Pe 1:12, Rom 4:17]
Mat 22:33  And when the multitude heard this, they were astonished at his doctrine.  

Luk 20:33   Therefore in the resurrection whose wife of them is she? for seven had her to wife.  
Luk 20:34   And Jesus answering said unto them,  The children of this world marry, and are given in marriage:  [symbolically we were in our time given to marriage in Babylon to the many harlot churches, however God’s elect are called out of Babylon in this age as His elect bride who has one husband and are revealed as “they which shall be accounted worthy to obtain that world, and the resurrection from the dead” (Luk 20:35)]
Luk 20:35  But they which shall be accounted worthy to obtain that world, and the resurrection from the dead, neither marry, nor are given in marriage:  
Luk 20:36  Neither can they die any more: for they are equal unto the angels; and are the children of God, being the children of the resurrection.  
Luk 20:37  Now that the dead are raised, even Moses shewed at the bush, when he calleth the Lord the God of Abraham, and the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob.  
Luk 20:38   For he is not a God of the dead, but of the living: for all live unto him. [1Pe 1:12, Rom 4:17] 

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.

Joh 5:29   AndG2532 shall come forthG1607 [G5695]; they that have doneG4160 [G5660] goodG18, untoG1519 the resurrectionG386 of lifeG2222; andG1161 they that have doneG4238 [G5660] evilG5337, untoG1519 the resurrectionG386 of damnationG2920

1Co 15:23   But every man in his own order:  Christ the firstfruits; afterward they that are Christ’s at his coming [1st resurrection].  

1Th 4:15   For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we which are alive  and  remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not prevent[G5348  precede] them which are asleep [1st resurrection].

1Co 15:24   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.  
1Co 15:25   For he must reign, till he hath put all enemies under his feet.  
1Co 15:26  The last enemy  that  shall be destroyed  is death. [“The end” described in these verses (1Co 15:24) is also mirrored in this statement in the book of Revelation (Rev 11:15-19, 1Co 6:3) and represents the thousand year symbolic period when the saints shall rule and reign under Christ. This is the time when the nations will be judged with a rod of iron, a judgment which precedes the second resurrection lake of fire judgment (1Co 15:46, Rev 20:6-15)].

Rev 11:15   And the seventh angel sounded; and there were great voices in heaven, saying, The kingdoms of this world are become the kingdoms of our Lord, and of his Christ; and he shall reign for ever and ever.  
Rev 11:16   And the four and twenty elders, which sat before God on their seats, fell upon their faces, and worshipped God,  
Rev 11:17   Saying, We give thee thanks, O Lord God Almighty, which art, and wast, and art to come; because thou hast taken to thee thy great power, and hast reigned.  
Rev 11:18   And the nations were angry, and thy wrath is come, and the time of the dead, that they should be judged [this is the rod of iron judgment on the dead who are burying the dead in this life. We begin to bring a rod-of-iron judgment upon the world that precedes the lake of fire (1Co 15:46)], and that thou shouldest give reward unto thy servants the prophets, and to the saints, and them that fear thy name, small and great; and shouldest destroy them which destroy the earth.  
Rev 11:19   And the temple of God was opened in heaven, and there was seen in his temple the ark of his testament: and there were lightnings, and voices, and thunderings, and an earthquake, and great hail. [a rod of iron judgement being described that is coming from the elect who represent those “great voices in heaven” of verse 15] 

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.  
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.  [the fire that comes down is real and symbollic of “lightnings, and voices, and thunderings, and an earthquake, and great hail“ that will occur in the lake of fire to wipe away the refuge of lies (Isa 28:17). That hail is like the rod of iron of (Rev 11:15) but this time the deadly wound that was healed in the beast will be once and for all destroyed (1Co 15:26, Rev 20:10)].
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. 

This book (“And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened”) is going to be judged by this book “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” [1Co 6:3, Mat 22:29-30].

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. 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 kings of the earth being spoken of in these verses (Rev 17:1-6) are represented by the seven men who have had this one wife (Luk 20:33, Mat 5:29) and the woman to whom our spiritually carnal flesh is drawn at first is “MYSTERY, BABYLON THE GREAT, THE MOTHER OF HARLOTS AND ABOMINATIONS OF THE EARTH” (Rev 17:5-6).

Rev 17:1  And there came one of the seven angels which had the seven vials, and talked with me, saying unto me, Come hither; I will shew unto thee the judgment of the great whore that sitteth upon many waters: 
Rev 17:2  With whom the kings of the earth have committed fornication, and the inhabitants of the earth have been made drunk with the wine of her fornication. 
Rev 17:3  So he carried me away in the spirit into the wilderness: and I saw a woman sit upon a scarlet coloured beast, full of names of blasphemy, having seven heads and ten horns. 
Rev 17:4  And the woman was arrayed in purple and scarlet colour, and decked with gold and precious stones and pearls, having a golden cup in her hand full of abominations and filthiness of her fornication: 
Rev 17:5  And upon her forehead was a name written, MYSTERY, BABYLON THE GREAT, THE MOTHER OF HARLOTS AND ABOMINATIONS OF THE EARTH. 
Rev 17:6  And I saw the woman drunken with the blood of the saints, and with the blood of the martyrs of Jesus: and when I saw her, I wondered with great admiration. 

Mat 5:30  And if thy right eye offend thee, pluck it out, and cast it from thee: for it is profitable for thee that one of thy members should perish, and not that thy whole body should be cast into hell. 
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. 

When our wife or the one whom we thought was of us (1Jn 2:19) is divorced “for the cause of fornication”, it is speaking of one who symbolically still has several husbands and is still given in marriage. If someone marries her, they are committing adultery because they are marrying her doctrinal position, which is the fornication we are called to put out of our midst by following the steps given to us in God’s word in (Mat 18:15-17).

Mat 18:9  And if thine eye offend thee, pluck it out, and cast it from thee: it is better for thee to enter into life with one eye, rather than having two eyes to be cast into hell fire.

1Co 11:31  For if we would judge ourselves, we should not be judged. 
1Co 11:32  But when we are judged, we are chastened of the Lord, that we should not be condemned with the world. 

]]> Marriage, Part 4 – Wives, Submit Yourselves To Your Own Husbands, As Unto The Lord – Part C https://www.iswasandwillbe.com/marriage-part-4-wives-submit-yourselves-to-your-own-husbands-as-unto-the-lord-part-c/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=marriage-part-4-wives-submit-yourselves-to-your-own-husbands-as-unto-the-lord-part-c Sun, 01 Apr 2018 02:10:16 +0000 http://www.iswasandwillbe.com/?p=15987
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Marriage, Part 4 - Wives, Submit Yourselves To Your Own Husbands, As Unto The Lord - Part C - Discussion

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Marriage Study - Part 4

Wives, Submit Yourselves To Your Own Husbands, As Unto The Lord - Part C

[In today's study, I will be emphasizing that we are all wives, in the sense that the church is the bride of Christ.]

We concluded our last study debunking the false doctrine that "the neck turns the head", which has deluded many wives. That doctrine is the exact same spirit which tells us husbands that we can ignore our wives and by virtue of being their head, we can ignore the Word of God and expect our wives to "submit to us in all things", as if the words "all things" were sufficient to turn the grace of God into lasciviousness. That argument does not work for an ignorant or rebellious wife, neither does it work for an ignorant or rebellious, overbearing and disobedient husband.

The doctrine of "the neck turns the head" is nothing less than the man of sin sitting in the temple of God proclaiming himself as God. That perverse false doctrine tells us that our words of commitment to our Head can be reversed so our flesh can be gratified. Our failure to keep our words of commitment to Christ is a failure to keep our commitment to our spouse - male or female. The scriptures call such mental gymnastics "treachery". Let's make ourselves the recipient of this admonition and not our spouse, but ourselves. If we are given the humility to do that, then these verses will help us to see ourselves as the Lord sees each of us:

Mal 2:10  Have we not all one father? hath not one God created us? why do we deal treacherously every man against his [spouse], by profaning the covenant of our fathers?
Mal 2:11  Judah hath dealt treacherously, and an abomination is committed in Israel and in Jerusalem; for Judah hath profaned the holiness of the LORD which he loved, and hath married the daughter of a strange god.
Mal 2:12  The LORD will cut off the man that doeth this, the master and the scholar, out of the tabernacles of Jacob, and him that offereth an offering unto the LORD of hosts.

We cannot tell our spouse one thing, then do the exact opposite and just expect our spouse to cave in to our lies simply because he or she is our spouse. Our words have to mean something to our spouse. How we treat our spouse is a direct reflection of how we are treating Christ. When our words mean nothing, we are being "treacherous [with] the wife of our youth", and "the Lord will cut off the man that does this", and He will cut off the woman who does this. God leads us all to do this, but He also tells us all "return you children of men" (Psa 90:3).

Mal 2:13  And this have ye done again, covering the altar of the LORD with tears, with weeping, and with crying out, insomuch that he regardeth not the offering any more, or receiveth it with good will at your hand.
Mal 2:14  Yet ye say, Wherefore? Because the LORD hath been witness between thee and the wife of thy youth, against whom thou hast dealt treacherously: yet is she thy companion, and the wife of thy covenant.

We all cry out to our heavenly Father when the burden of our chastening seems to be unbearable. Why would we not expect our spouse to do the same? Do not expect your wife or your husband to tow the mark simply because you are married to the wife of [your] youth. When we tell our mate one thing and then do the exact opposite, and then the Lord brings us into trials and we cry out to Him, He simply cannot receive that prayer with good will from us, and our "prayers are hindered".

1Pe 3:7  Likewise, ye husbands, dwell with them according to knowledge, giving honour unto the wife, as unto the weaker vessel, and as being heirs together of the grace of life; that your prayers be not hindered.

Notice the words "according to knowledge", because we know that our wives are to be the most important thing in our lives next to Christ. A Godly wife knows that her husband is to be the most important person on earth in her life. When I am asked whether people with children by a former marriage should get married, I have always said that ideally the answer is a resounding, NO! Not unless you are willing to place your new wife or your new husband above your children. If you do marry, then your new wife or your new husband is now your number one concern. That must be made clear to your children or your marriage is doomed before it begins. Children are to be secondary to your spouse or your home is simply not in a proper Godly order:

Exo 20:12  Honour thy father and thy mother: that thy days may be long upon the land which the LORD thy God giveth thee.

That Godly order does not change when you marry a spouse with children from another marriage, and the children of such a union should be made aware that the new parent in their life is of the same mind as their original parent, and that they must now honor their new parent and be subject to both of the parents, including the new parent. If that order is not made clear and maintained above all else, there will be no Godly-ordained order in that home. There will be no single mind between that husband and wife. If you are placing your children above your spouse, then ask God for the strength to repent of that ungodly action and apologize to your spouse and explain to your children that you love them dearly, but that they will have to honor and submit to their new parent, and tell your children up front that you will not permit them to come between you and your new spouse. If you cannot do that then do not get married. If you are already married and you find yourself struggling with this situation, then ask God to give you the ability to "dwell with [your spouse] according to knowledge, giving honor unto the [spouse]... as unto the Lord [of whom we are told] the head of Christ is God."

1Co 11:2  Now I praise you, brethren, that ye remember me in all things, and keep the ordinances, as I delivered them to you.
1Co 11:3  But I would have you know, that the head of every man is Christ; and the head of the woman is the man; and the head of Christ is God.

Marriage makes a couple "one flesh". That is not the same with children of whom we are told:

Gen 2:22  And the rib, which the LORD God had taken from man, made he a woman, and brought her unto the man.
Gen 2:23  And Adam said, This is now bone of my bones, and flesh of my flesh: she shall be called Woman, because she was taken out of Man.
Gen 2:24  Therefore shall a man leave his father and his mother, and shall cleave unto his wife: and they shall be one flesh.

If you have children from a previous marriage, then you can very well add children to that list in the sense that your children must come in a distant second to your new wife. If you cannot do that, then do not marry this poor spouse just to satisfy your own 'belly'. Do not ruin the life of your new spouse and your children if you are not willing to maintain the Lord's own Godly order in your home and in your household.

We continue taking in the Lord's mind as He continues to confirm that marriage is meant to "make one... that He might seek a Godly seed".

Mal 2:15  And did not he make one? Yet had he the residue of the spirit. And wherefore one? That he might seek a godly seed. Therefore take heed to your spirit, and let none deal treacherously against the wife of his youth.
Mal 2:16  For the LORD, the God of Israel, saith that he hateth putting away: for one covereth violence with his garment, saith the LORD of hosts: therefore take heed to your spirit, that ye deal not treacherously.

The words "putting away" are a proper translation and are not the words for 'divorce', as so many translations read. "Putting away" is something we do treacherously by ignoring our mate while still being married to that person. When we permit our children to come between us and our spouse, we are dealing treacherously with our spouse. Who is more important to us than Jesus Christ? How we value our spouse is a direct reflection of how we "dwell with [Christ] according to knowledge" (1Pe 3:7). "The Lord, the God of Israel... hates putting away... therefore take heed to your spirit that you deal not treacherously [with your spouse]."

Mal 2:17  Ye have wearied the LORD with your words. Yet ye say, Wherein have we wearied him? When ye say, Every one that doeth evil is good in the sight of the LORD, and he delighteth in them; or, Where is the God of judgment?

How do we "weary [our Lord]"? We weary our spiritual husband when we tell our spouse one thing and then do the exact opposite. We weary our Lord and our prayers are hindered when we use the affirmation of our marriage commitment as an excuse to deal treacherously with our spouse. Why should our spouse believe a word we say when we demonstrate that our word is worthless? We say we know God is sovereign and that He is working all things after the counsel of His own will, and yet we demand that our spouse submit to our own timetable for their repentance and submission. Such a demand is a manifest demonstration that we do not really believe that God is sovereign at all, and we refuse to submit to our own spiritual leader who, we say we believe, is really the one who is working all things after the counsel of His own will.

What are couples to do when both are at fault and neither is capable of the humility required to repent of demanding immediate repentance from our spouse? Overcoming our pride and apologizing for dealing treacherously with our spiritual husband is what we all must do with our physical spouse if we really want to do so to our spiritual husband who is using our spouse to show us our own lack of humility and our own lack of patience with Him.

No part of the body of Christ "turns the head". Here is the only One who does all the 'turning' which is done:

Psa 90:3 Thou turnest man to destruction; and sayest, Return, ye children of men.

When we think we can turn our spouse in any direction, we are believing a demonic doctrine which is subscribed to by far too many wives in this modern Godless era. The flesh of all wives works to get its own way without even knowing it is doing so. The tendency to take the reins of leadership is as natural as breathing for every wife, both natural and spiritual wives. It is the curse of being a wife while yet in a vessel of clay:

Gen 3:16  To the woman he said, "I will greatly increase your labor pains; with pain you will give birth to children. You will want to control your husband, but he will dominate you." (NET)

Regardless of what might be the best English translation, here is a Biblical demonstration of how the curse of Genesis 3:16 operates within a wife:

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

Anyone who believes these are seven altruistic women who just want to help out their poor struggling husband have missed the point completely. These "seven women" typify "the seven churches of Asia" of Revelation 2-3. These women typify us when we want to "eat [our] own bread, and wear [our] own apparel". Because we have left our first love, we dwell where Satan's seat is and want to lord it over the Lord's people, including our spiritual Husband. When we succumb to the desire to lord it over the Lord's flock we are thinking very little of lording ourselves over our spouse. When we become comfortable with the attitude of being the head while acting like our father the devil, we, as men and women, have become nothing more than a harlot who thinks she is rich and increased with goods and in need of nothing, when in reality she is spiritually poor and wretched and miserable and blind and naked.

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:

Solomon prophesied of this harlot wife of Christ many years earlier:

Pro 30:20  Such is the way of an adulterous woman; she eateth, and wipeth her mouth, and saith, I have done no wickedness.

An adulterous wife is the same as a treacherous husband, and our spiritual husband will have no part of either:

Mal 2:14  Yet ye say, Wherefore? Because the LORD hath been witness between thee and the wife of thy youth, against whom thou hast dealt treacherously: yet is she thy companion, and the wife of thy covenant.
Mal 2:15  And did not he make one? Yet had he the residue of the spirit. And wherefore one? That he might seek a godly seed. Therefore take heed to your spirit, and let none deal treacherously against the wife of his youth.
Mal 2:16  For the LORD, the God of Israel, saith that he hateth putting away: for one covereth violence with his garment, saith the LORD of hosts: therefore take heed to your spirit, that ye deal not treacherously.

The NET version is not a literal translation, but it is the only version I could find which catches even a hint of what is being said to Eve and to us all in Gen 3:16. A husband who deals treacherously with his wife is rising up against his spiritual husband, Christ, and Christ tells us how He feels when His wife refuses to be obedient to Him. In doing so He is telling us how the stubborn and rebellious ways of a wife make both Him and our own physical and spiritual husband feel. These are the words of the Lord to you wives who are struggling to overcome your inability to acknowledge that it is the Lord who is giving you your problems with your husband. It is not your husband himself, it is actually the Lord who is working with you and your own rebellion against your spiritual husband (Eph 1:11). But remember, husbands, these words also apply to us as part of the wife of Christ:

Pro 21:19  It is better to dwell in the wilderness, than with a contentious and an angry woman.

Pro 26:21  As coals are to burning coals, and wood to fire; so is a contentious [wo]man to kindle strife.

Pro 27:15  A continual dropping in a very rainy day and a contentious woman are alike.

Pro 21:9  It is better to dwell in a corner of the housetop, than with a brawling woman in a wide house.

This verse is repeated word for word just four chapters later:

Pro 25:24  It is better to dwell in the corner of the housetop, than with a brawling woman and in a wide house.

I would be negligent to fail to acknowledge that the Lord knows that He is asking more of you wives than you of yourselves are capable of giving. The same is true of us husbands as part of the church, the bride of Christ. So Genesis 45:4-8 and Romans 7:17-23 are just as applicable to you wives as they are to all of us husbands:

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

Paul tells us the same thing from a more personal perspective:

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

But there is good news for both husbands and wives because:

Rom 7:25  I thank God through Jesus Christ our Lord. So then with the mind I myself serve the law of God; but with the flesh the law of sin.

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

Marriage is designed to teach both spiritual and physical wives the meaning of these verses of scripture:

Psa 15:1  A Psalm of David. LORD, who shall abide in thy tabernacle? who shall dwell in thy holy hill?
Psa 15:2  [S]he that walketh uprightly, and worketh righteousness, and speaketh the truth in h[er] heart.
Psa 15:3  [S]he that backbiteth not with h[er] tongue, nor doeth evil to h[er husband], nor taketh up a reproach against h[er husband].
Psa 15:4  In whose eyes a vile person is contemned; but [s]he honoureth them that fear the LORD. [S]he that sweareth to h[er] own hurt, and changeth not.

Did verse 4 say "[S]he swares to [h]er own hurt...'? Yes, it does, and of course we know that Christ did tell us "swear not at all" (Mat 5:34).

But He also said:

Mat 5:37  But let your communication be, Yea, yea; Nay, nay: for whatsoever is more than these cometh of evil.

If in your wedding ceremony, you said nothing more than 'I will love you and you alone, till death do us part', then "except for fornication" (Mat 19:9), you are bound by your own words to live by those words "and change not". Yet a frustrated wife's flesh just naturally tells her, "If ever there was a vile person who should be condemned in my eyes, that would be my carnal husband." Indeed there are situations where men are so physically adulterous and physically abusive that physical divorce is in order.

Isa 50:1  Thus saith the LORD, Where is the bill of your mother's divorcement, whom I have put away? or which of my creditors is it to whom I have sold you? Behold, for your iniquities have ye sold yourselves, and for your transgressions is your mother put away.

Christ Himself divorced Israel, and He gives us this admonition:

Mat 19:9  And I say unto you, Whosoever shall put away his wife, except it be for fornication, and shall marry another, committeth adultery: and whoso marrieth her which is put away doth commit adultery.

But notice that this is the 'exception'. The whole point Christ is making is that God wants us to avoid separating. The Lord wants you wives to do all in your power to improve and nourish your marriage just as much as He expects a Godly husband to do so. You wives 'leave [your] first love' also, and you, too, must strive to return to your 'first love'. Do not say, "I will apologize when he apologizes." When it comes to humbling ourselves and repenting of our stubbornness and rebellion and being obedient to our heavenly Father, we are all permitted to be leaders in the implementation of the virtue of humility:

Rev 2:4  Nevertheless I have somewhat against thee, because thou hast left thy first love.
Rev 2:5  Remember therefore from whence thou art fallen, and repent, and do the first works; or else I will come unto thee quickly, and will remove thy candlestick out of his place, except thou repent.

The words "do the first works" have both a physical and a spiritual application as they relate to our discussion of the function of a wife in the marriage relationship. Every married couple needs to think back to the time they were smitten with each other, back to the time when they were experiencing this "first love". "First love" is not referring to your first boyfriend. It is referring primarily to the love you had for Christ when you first covenanted with Him to be your Head, and for you to be His servant, His wife. Submitting to [your] husbands in "every thing" is a physical type of this spiritual reality. This is not me speaking. Those are the very words of the holy spirit. Remember that after giving the Ephesian church all the instructions concerning the marriage relationship and what is the proper place within that relationship of the husband and the wife, the holy spirit tells us how that order operates. I will adapt these verses to fit our focus in this discussion:

Eph 5:28  So ought [wo]men to love their [husband]s as their own bodies. [S]he that loveth h[er husband] loveth h[er]self.
Eph 5:29  For no [wo]man ever yet hated h[er] own flesh; but nourisheth and cherisheth it, even as the Lord the church:
Eph 5:30  For we are members of his body, of his flesh, and of his bones.
Eph 5:31  For this cause shall a [wo]man leave h[er] father and mother, and shall be joined unto h[er husband], and they two shall be one flesh.
Eph 5:32  This is a great mystery: but I speak concerning Christ and the church.

The entire marriage relationship "speak[s] concerning Christ and the church". If you as a wife will not "be [subject] to your husband in all things", then do not mention the name of Christ and claim that you are His, because you are simply saying "Lord, Lord", but you are not doing the things He says. Your ultimate 'husband' asks you this question:

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

A rebellious or unfaithful wife is the same as a treacherous husband. Remember what we read in Malachi 2:

Mal 2:14  Yet ye say, Wherefore? Because the LORD hath been witness between thee and the wife of thy youth, against whom thou hast dealt treacherously: yet is she thy companion, and the wife of thy covenant.
Mal 2:15  And did not he make one? Yet had he the residue of the spirit. And wherefore one? That he might seek a godly seed. Therefore take heed to your spirit, and let none deal treacherously against the wife of his youth.
Mal 2:16  For the LORD, the God of Israel, saith that he hateth putting away: for one covereth violence with his garment, saith the LORD of hosts: therefore take heed to your spirit, that ye deal not treacherously.
Mal 2:17  Ye have wearied the LORD with your words. Yet ye say, Wherein have we wearied him? When ye say, Every one that doeth evil is good in the sight of the LORD, and he delighteth in them; or, Where is the God of judgment?

Do not "weary the Lord with your words" of disdain and derision against "the [husband] of your youth]". The Lord makes it clear that "He hates putting away". He is seeking a Godly seed which "He made one", and when that 'one seed' is not "one [in] mind and... one spirit and... the same judgment", your prayers will be hindered and will not be heard by the spiritual 'husband' you claim to be willing to obey.

1Co 1:10  Now I beseech you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that ye all speak the same thing, and that there be no divisions among you; but that ye be perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgment.

There is no place where those words are more applicable than in marriage. For the sake of our focus today let's address these words to you wives:

1Pe 3:7  Likewise, ye [wive]s, dwell with [your husbands] according to knowledge, giving honour unto [your husband], as unto the [strong]er vessel, and as being heirs together of the grace of life; that your prayers be not hindered.

Having already left your first love you will just naturally say, "But if I let him lead me, he will lead us off a cliff, and we will end up in financial ruin and in bankruptcy." Every wife just naturally knows much better than her husband how the family and business ought to be run. That is the very meaning of "you will want to control your husband". This accusation against your own husband amounts to nothing less than you telling the Lord that He made a big mistake in placing your husband at the head of the family, and that if you submit to him you will manifestly come to financial ruin.

How similar are those thoughts to these words of Christ's wife to Him on the banks of the Red Sea after He had so powerfully brought them out of Egyptian captivity:

Exo 14:10  And when Pharaoh drew nigh, the children of Israel lifted up their eyes, and, behold, the Egyptians marched after them; and they were sore afraid: and the children of Israel cried out unto the LORD.
Exo 14:11  And they said unto Moses, Because there were no graves in Egypt, hast thou taken us away to die in the wilderness? wherefore hast thou dealt thus with us, to carry us forth out of Egypt?
Exo 14:12  Is not this the word that we did tell thee in Egypt, saying, Let us alone, that we may serve the Egyptians? For it had been better for us to serve the Egyptians, than that we should die in the wilderness.

Num 21:5  And the people spake against God, and against Moses, Wherefore have ye brought us up out of Egypt to die in the wilderness? for there is no bread, neither is there any water; and our soul loatheth this light bread.

How quickly we lose our first love! "Against God and against Moses" reveals to us that when you wives speak against your husbands you are speaking against God, who made him your head. This is a story of all of us, but our focus today is on wives, and Israel typifies Christ's wife. This story in Exodus 14 occurred in a matter of just a few days after God had given Moses to perform all those miraculous plagues upon Egypt. It is very shortly after witnessing the death of all the firstborn of Egypt, and yet here is Christ's wife, typifying all wives, accusing him of "taking them away to die in the wilderness". That is exactly what wives tell both the Lord and your husband, who only yesterday was the sweetest, most considerate, most loving and most handsome man in the world.

One moment you are blinded by 'love', and the next minute finances are far more important than submitting to your husband in all things, as unto the Lord.

Let's be clear and acknowledge that "all things" does not mean that wives must follow their husbands into a life of immorality, crime or into heresies and denying or ignoring the Word of God, but that is very seldom the issue when a couple is attempting to restore their marriage. Our marriages are most often destroyed for lack of Godly knowledge:

Hos 4:6  My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge: because thou hast rejected knowledge, I will also reject thee, that thou shalt be no priest to me: seeing thou hast forgotten the law of thy God, I will also forget thy children.

When a husband expects a wife to put him before Christ, then she is required to follow Christ's instructions to us all in Matthew 18.

Mat 18:15  Moreover if thy brother shall trespass against thee, go and tell him his fault between thee and him alone: if he shall hear thee, thou hast gained thy brother.
Mat 18:16  But if he will not hear thee, then take with thee one or two more, that in the mouth of two or three witnesses every word may be established.
Mat 18:17  And if he shall neglect to hear them, tell it unto the church: but if he neglect to hear the church, let him be unto thee as an heathen man and a publican.

These words are the original instructions to seek counseling when needed. They are designed to "win your brother", but they are adapted to winning and saving our marriages.

In no time at all the honeymoon is over. You have "left your first love", and this guy you thought was such a Godly man, a man worthy of your unquestionable dedication just yesterday, is suddenly the most inept, most illogical, most self-centered beast you have every known. All he wants to do is to dominate you and he expects you to be submissive and obedient to him even as he ignores you and your needs. It simply is not right or fair. Now you find yourself wondering why you ever said you would love, honor and obey such a self-centered, narcissistic beast for better or for worse, in sickness and in health, until death do you part.

Look at how much things have turned around in such a short period of time. Just yesterday you loved and admired this same man. Now financial success and security are more important than your affirming words, "Yes, I do". Apparently what you really meant when you said, "Yes, I do", was "as long as I agree with him about how we spend our money." But if you cannot see how it is remotely possible to escape the Egyptians and the Red Sea, then how can your husband or God possibly expect you to blindly follow and submit yourself to this self-centered, narcissistic beast? You are now of the opinion that you are obviously better at business and finances than your husband and if you actually submit to and follow him, you just know that you will both be destroyed by financial disaster, as surely as Israel appears to be trapped between the Egyptians and the Red Sea.

I hope to help you wives to become better and more willing to follow your 'Moses' and let him return to being your head and your leader in spite of how things appear at this moment.  I hope to do this by simply demonstrating for you and reminding you that the Lord has deliberately set you up for failure in your own carnal efforts. You must acknowledge that just as He made your husband wicked for his day of evil, He has also made you wicked for your day of evil, and that it is not in you to direct your own steps. All of this is equally true for your husband, so that in the end the Lord will get the glory for all that is done. He alone can make good come out of evil, light to come out of darkness, and life to come out of death.

So permit me to remind every woman in this fellowship if you claim that you believe the Word of God, you must acknowledge that these verses which I quoted to the men last week, are written to you also:

Psa 90:3  Thou turnest man to destruction; and sayest, Return, ye children of men.

Pro 16:1  The preparations of the heart in man, and the answer of the tongue, is from the LORD. 

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

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

The Lord made me a wicked man for my own "day of evil", and the Lord makes you wives wicked for your day of evil, because this is the simple truth which we all know to be the truth:

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.

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

We all acknowledge all of these verses to be true, but every time you wives refuse to submit to your husband or you lose your patience with your husband, you are showing your family and your friends how hypocritical you really are. You expect the respect, honor, love and consideration from your husband, but you are not showing the same respect, honor, love or consideration toward your own husband. When you lose faith in your husband's headship, you just lost faith in your Lord, who we all know is really the one who 'made [your husband] to err from His ways'. You know your husband is marred in His hand, you know that it is the Lord who has turned your husband to destruction, you know that it is the Lord who has given your husband the answer of his tongue, you know full well that it is the Lord who made your husband wicked for his own day of evil against you. You know that it was the Lord who made your husband incapable of understanding his own ways or directing his own steps, and yet you act as if none of this were true. I pray that every wife who hears or reads the words of this discussion of a woman's function in the marriage relationship will just stop and think how your hypocrisy is blaspheming the name of Christ before your own family and before your friends who are watching every move you make and are wondering why you get so upset with their father while you profess and tell your children and your friends that it is really the Lord Himself who is sending you the trials which He is giving you for your good via your husband.

I want to end this study by showing you just how deliberate the Lord is in sending us our trials, and again, I am doing this in hopes of reminding you wives, and we men, as the wife of Christ, that any trial your husband gives you is not actually your husband's work at all, rather it really is the Lord "work[ing] all things after the counsel of His own will" (Eph 1:11), for your good (Rom 8:28).

We referred to this story above. Here is how the Lord deliberately set Israel up to question His own headship and His leadership:

Exo 13:20  And they took their journey from Succoth, and encamped in Etham, in the edge of the wilderness.
Exo 13:21  And the LORD went before them by day in a pillar of a cloud, to lead them the way; and by night in a pillar of fire, to give them light; to go by day and night:
Exo 13:22  He took not away the pillar of the cloud by day, nor the pillar of fire by night, from before the people.

Israel was not really following Moses at all. As we are told right here, Moses and Israel were following "the Lord [who] went before them by day in a pillar of a cloud, to lead them the way; and by night in a pillar of fire, to give them light; to go by day and night."

Now notice how the Lord deliberately leads His wife into an obviously impossible situation:

Exo 14:1  And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying,
Exo 14:2  Speak unto the children of Israel, that they turn and encamp before Pihahiroth, between Migdol and the sea, over against Baalzephon: before it shall ye encamp by the sea.
Exo 14:3  For Pharaoh will say of the children of Israel, They are entangled in the land, the wilderness hath shut them in.
Exo 14:4  And I will harden Pharaoh's heart, that he shall follow after them; and I will be honoured upon Pharaoh, and upon all his host; that the Egyptians may know that I am the LORD. And they did so.

The Lord set up His own wife to think she would be slaughtered by the Egyptians or else drown in the Red Sea. 'Egypt' is your own flesh. It is designed to destroy you, and that is how the Lord is still using 'Egypt' within us when He makes your husband to do things which try your faith and show you how little faith you have in the Lord Himself or in your physical husband to whom you once affirmed that you would love and honor and obey him until death do you part.

So take heart when your husband appears to be leading you into a boxed canyon of lies, treachery and financial disaster. Submit to your husband "as much as lies within you", and the Lord will honor your submission and your faith in Himself as your spiritual husband  as well as your physical husband.

Lord willing, with the help of your husband, you will begin to win back the love you just yesterday had for each other. The Lord has good thoughts of you and your husband "when you search for [Him] with all you heart" in His time:

Jer 29:11  For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the LORD, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end.
Jer 29:12  Then shall ye call upon me, and ye shall go and pray unto me, and I will hearken unto you.
Jer 29:13  And ye shall seek me, and find me, when ye shall search for me with all your heart.
Jer 29:14  And I will be found of you, saith the LORD: and I will turn away your captivity, and I will gather you from all the nations, and from all the places whither I have driven you, saith the LORD; and I will bring you again into the place whence I caused you to be carried away captive.

As the Lord's Christ, we are given to understand the mysteries of the kingdom of God. We cannot hope, on our own, to ever understand how our sins and the destruction of our sinful old man becomes the fertilizer which produces grapes so large that it takes two men to carry them. That is as impossible for the natural man to understand as light coming out of darkness, good coming out of evil, or life coming out of death. The success of our marriages and our salvation are both miracles of our Lord so "that no flesh can glory in His presence":

1Co 1:27  But God hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise; and God hath chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things which are mighty;
1Co 1:28  And base things of the world, and things which are despised, hath God chosen, yea, and things which are not, to bring to nought things that are:
1Co 1:29  That no flesh should glory in his presence.
1Co 1:30  But of him are ye in Christ Jesus, who of God is made unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption:
1Co 1:31  That, according as it is written, He that glorieth, let him glory in the Lord.

In Summary

Let's review what we have seen in our Manufacturer's handbook concerning what we must know and do if we are to nurture and restore our marriages:

1) Our own personal pride, for both husbands and wives, is our greatest obstacle to restoring and strengthening our marriage.

Psa 10:4  The wicked, through the pride of his countenance, will not seek after God: God is not in all his thoughts.

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

2) Our marriages are being destroyed "for lack of knowledge".

Hos 4:6  My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge: because thou hast rejected knowledge, I will also reject thee, that thou shalt be no priest to me: seeing thou hast forgotten the law of thy God, I will also forget thy children.

3) Husbands tend to be treacherous, while wives tend to be 'against their husbands'. We husbands are treacherous because we give our wives our word that they are "even as Christ" Himself to us, but when circumstances including rebelliousness, slothfulness, and our children, including children from a previous marriage who bring pressure upon our present marriage, all of a sudden, we are far too proud to thank the Lord for the trials He is giving us or, in the case of placing our children above our wife, including children from a previous mate, we are shown that we fear our children, and what they might think of us, more than we fear God and more than we honor our own affirmation to our wife that we will love her "as Christ loves the church". Because of this pressure, and because we do not know the proper priority our wives are to have in our families, "the wife of our covenant" is not at all loved by us husbands "as Christ loved the church". God has used "the wife of our covenant" to demonstrate to us that we have little faith in His leadership, we have perverted priorities, and the wife of our covenant has been proven to be less important to us then are our own personal pride, and less important to us than our children. Our pride is our worst enemy in this whole world, and our children are to be a distant second in a Godly priority "to the wife of our covenant".

Eph 5:25  Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it;

We are not told that we are "made one" with our children. We are told that we are "made one" with our wives.

Mal 2:14  Yet ye say, Wherefore? Because the LORD hath been witness between thee and the wife of thy youth, against whom thou hast dealt treacherously: yet is she thy companion, and the wife of thy covenant.
Mal 2:15  And did not he make one? Yet had he the residue of the spirit. And wherefore one? That he might seek a godly seed. Therefore take heed to your spirit, and let none deal treacherously against the wife of his youth.
Mal 2:16  For the LORD, the God of Israel, saith that he hateth putting away: for one covereth violence with his garment, saith the LORD of hosts: therefore take heed to your spirit, that ye deal not treacherously.

4) We husbands cannot change our wives whom the Lord is using to change us. We husbands know that it is God who is making our wives do what they do, and we know that it is He who is trying us with the antics He gives our wives for that very purpose. The same is true for you wives.

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

5) We husbands know that the trials our wives give us are really given to us by God to show us that we, like Job, see ourselves as more righteous than our wives, and to demonstrate that we blame our wives for their problems when we know that they are nothing more than a tool of our Lord. When we do that, we are not reproving our wives. We are really "reproving... contending with... and condemning" God Himself (Job 40:1-8).

6) We husbands now know that when our actions demonstrate that we think we can make our wives submit to us, we are not 'dwelling with them according to knowledge', and we are blaspheming the name of God among the heathen by proclaiming God as sovereign and at the same time condemning Him for giving us a trial such as our wives are to us. Wives, the same is true for the trials God gives you through your husbands, who are also nothing more than a tool in the Lord's hand.

Rom 2:24  For the name of God is blasphemed among the Gentiles through you, as it is written.
Rom 2:25  For circumcision verily profiteth, if thou keep the law [of Christ]: but if thou be a breaker of the law, thy circumcision is made uncircumcision.

Tit 2:3  The aged women likewise, that they be in behaviour as becometh holiness, not false accusers, not given to much wine, teachers of good things;
Tit 2:4  That they may teach the young women to be sober, to love their husbands, to love their children,
Tit 2:5  To be discreet, chaste, keepers at home, good, obedient to their own husbands, that the word of God be not blasphemed.

7) We husbands of ourselves cannot change ourselves any more than we can change our spouse. The same is true for you wives. But there is a solution, and we must humble ourselves and cry out for help and for mercy to That, the only solution:

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

Php 4:12  I know both how to be abased, and I know how to abound: every where and in all things I am instructed both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need.
Php 4:13  I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.

8) And finally, the best advice we can be given to end this series of admonitions is that we have learned in these studies that perfection comes to us "by little and little... [and only after] "a long time":

Exo 23:30  By little and little I will drive them out from before thee, until thou be increased, and inherit the land.

Deu 7:22  And the LORD thy God will put out those nations before thee by little and little: thou mayest not consume them at once, lest the beasts of the field increase upon thee.

Mat 25:19  After a long time the lord of those servants cometh, and reckoneth with them.

Luk 20:9  Then began he to speak to the people this parable; A certain man planted a vineyard, and let it forth to husbandmen, and went into a far country for a long time.

We know that any trial takes time to endure, and every trial is only a 'trial' because it requires us to wait upon the Lord. It is through such patience that we must be perfected:

Jas 1:2  My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations;
Jas 1:3  Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience.
Jas 1:4  But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing.
Jas 1:5  If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him.

[The next and final part of this series on marriage can be found here.

]]> Evaluating The Word “Head” in Scripture https://www.iswasandwillbe.com/evaluating-the-word-head-in-scripture/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=evaluating-the-word-head-in-scripture Wed, 20 Jul 2016 18:09:42 +0000 http://www.iswasandwillbe.com/?p=12047

Hi Mike,

I just found your website recently (not by chance) and recognize the truth when I read it.  The one thing that I noticed though is that according to my research, you have an incorrect understanding of the meaning of the Greek word kephale.  It only has two meanings in Greek – it means a physical head or origin or source.  The English meaning of being in charge is not a meaning used in Greek.

I have copied an article that was on the internet.

“Revolution Key #2 We Must Change Our Thinking about the Word “Head”

“But,” some will say, “what about the passage that says the husband is the ‘head’ of the wife” (Ephesians 5:21-33)? First of all, we must remember that “head” is a translation of the Greek word kephale, which referred to the physical head on one’s shoulders. The problem is that we have assumed that, like the English word “head,” kephale was used metaphorically to mean “boss” or “leader.” This has been a false and serious assumption.

The Feb. 20, 1981 edition of Christianity Today carried a landmark article by seminary professor, Dr. Berkeley Mickelsen and his wife, Alvera, a professor of Journalism, in which they clearly documented that kephale did not carry such meanings in the ancient world. They demonstrated that, instead, it carried meanings of “origin” and “source.” Since the publication of their groundbreaking article, others have come forth to confirm the findings of the Michelsens. Dr. David Scholer, late Professor of New Testament at Fuller Theological Seminary, says that the information now available concerning the word kephale “supports a new understanding in Christ by which men and women are viewed in a mutually supportive, submissive relationship”. [4]

Paul obviously uses kephale in his discussion of marriage (Ephesians 5:21-33) to undermine the common ancient belief that men and women had evolved from different sources; the man from a superior source and woman from an inferior source. This pagan idea of the separate origins of men and women was a major reason for hostility between the sexes and the man’s justification for the subjugation of the woman.

If Paul had wanted to clearly establish the man as the leader in the marriage, he could have used a word such as archon, which means leader, boss, or ruler. His use of kephale shows that that was not his purpose. He obviously wanted to undermine pagan thinking about the sexes and affirm the Genesis account of creation that woman was taken out of the man with both having a common source. Bone of my bones and flesh of my flesh, as the man says of the woman in Genesis 1:23.

In 5:23, Paul says that the husband is the “head” (kephale) of the wife in the same way that Christ is the “head” kephale of the Church. Noted New Testament scholar, F.F. Bruce, points that when Christ is spoken of as the kephale of the Church, it “suggests the vital union between Christ and the Church, sharers of a common life, which is his own risen life communicated to his people.” [5]

Kephale is, therefore, a word with connotations of intimacy and commitment. As the kephale of the Church, Christ loved (agape) the Church with a selfless love and gave Himself for her (Ephesians 5:25). Husbands are to follow His example in this regard only, for kephale is never used of Christ when His lordship or mastery over the Church is in view.

It thus becomes obvious that Paul’s point in Ephesians 5:21-33 is not about who has authority over whom. His point is about commitment and intimacy in the marriage relationship. His point is about the wife leaving all others and joining herself to her husband; and the husband giving up his own life for the sake of his wife, something unheard of in the ancient world.”

K____

Hi K____,

Thank you for taking the time to share your studies with me. I cut this from the article you quoted:

“Follow His example in this regard only”??? Am I to believe those words of men or these words of God:

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

Here are a couple of verses which make that entire statement manifestly false:

Eph 5:23  For the husband is the head (kephale) of the wife, even as Christ is the head of the church: and he is the saviour of the body.
Eph 5:24  Therefore as the church is subject unto Christ, so let the wives be to their own husbands in every thing. 

That is the word of God, and this is what you have given me to contradict the truth that a wife should be subject to her husband in everything:

This is nothing more than the fruit of the effects of the modern feminist movement upon the churches of this world, and upon the women in those churches who simply will not be subject to their husbands as unto Christ in anything.

That “landmark article by professor, Dr. Berkeley Mickelsen and his wife, Alvera, a professor of Journalism,” is not “Revolution Key #2″, rather what it really is, is simply ‘Rebellion Key #2” against the plain simple Word of God :

Eph 5:22 Wives, submit yourselves unto your own husbands, as unto the Lord.

The very fact the above scripture tells wives to submit to their own husbands lets us know that husband and wife are not just joined as “origin” and “source”, but as head and submissive mate into one body, which each part fulfills the functions for which God has designed them.

Eph 5:24  Therefore as the church is subject unto Christ, so let the wives be to their own husbands in every thing.

It is my prayer that you are sincerely seeking only the mind of Christ who is “subject unto God” just as wives are to be to their husbands:

1Co 11:3  But I would have you know, that the head [kephale] of every man is Christ; and the head [kephale] of the woman is the man; and the head [kephale] of Christ is God.

1Co 15:28  And when all things shall be subdued unto him, then shall the Son also himself be subject [Greek: hupotasso] unto him [God the Father] that put all things under [hupotasso] him [Christ], that God may be all in all.

The Greek word translated ‘be subject’, and ‘put… under’ here in 1Co 15:28 is pivotal to understanding the significance of the word ‘head’ translated from the Greek word ‘kephale‘. This Greek word translated as ‘subject unto Him’ here in 1Co 15:28 is the same word translated ‘subject unto Christ’ in Eph 5:24. Here is that word, and here is what that word means:

G5293
ὑποτάσσω
hupotassō
hoop-ot-as’-so

From G5259 and G5021; to subordinate; reflexively to obey: – be under obedience (obedient), put under, subdue unto, (be, make) subject (to, unto), be (put) in subjection (to, under), submit self unto.

Here now are all the places this word appears in the New Testament:

G5293
ὑποτάσσω
hupotassō

Total KJV Occurrences: 49

subject, 14
Luk_2:51, Luk_10:17, Luk_10:20, Rom_8:7, Rom_8:20, Rom_13:1, Rom_13:5, 1Co_14:32, 1Co_15:28, Eph_5:24, Tit_3:1, 1Pe_2:18, 1Pe_3:22, 1Pe_5:5

put, 9
1Co_15:27-28 (4), Eph_1:22, Heb_2:5, Heb_2:8 (3)

subjection, 6
Heb_2:5, Heb_12:8-9 (3), 1Pe_3:1, 1Pe_3:5

submit, 6
1Co_16:16, Eph_5:22, Col_3:18, Jam_4:7, 1Pe_2:13, 1Pe_5:5

under, 4
1Co_14:34, 1Co_15:27-28 (2), Heb_2:8

made, 2
Rom_8:20, 1Pe_3:22

obedient, 2
Tit_2:5, Tit_2:9

obedience, 1
1Co_14:34

subdue, 1
Phi_3:21

subdued, 1
1Co_15:28

subjected, 1
Rom_8:20

submitted, 1
Rom_10:3

submitting, 1
Eph_5:21

Here is one of these verses which describes quite well the author of this article you are quoting to me:

Rom 10:3  For they being ignorant of God’s righteousness, and going about to establish their own righteousness, have not submitted [Greek: hupotassō – same word for what wives are to do to their husbands in Eph 5:22] themselves unto the righteousness of God.

When sincerely seeking to know the mind of God it is much better to read every entry for a word than to take the biased words of so-called scholars. That is true when seeking to know what is the mind of God concerning any word of scripture.

So look up and read all those entries and then write me back, and tell me “the information now available concerning the word kephale “supports a new understanding in Christ by which men and women are viewed in a mutually supportive, submissive relationship”.[4]”

It is true that a couple should be a “mutually supportive [and] submissive relationship”. But saying that does not deal with the subject of headship at all. There will always be times when a couple has differences of judgment. Should we buy the house?; Which house or car should we buy?; How do we discipline the children?; How do we handle our finances? etc. Many women are married to unbelieving husbands who have no interest in the Word of God, but are basically good men, and the same is true for men who are married to unbelieving wives. In every case the wife is to “be subject to their own husbands in all things”, except when a husband requires his wife to disobey God, in which case she must again, submit (hupotasso) to the scriptures:

Act 5:29  Then Peter and the other apostles answered and said, We ought to obey God rather than men.

I am going to close by quoting one more of the verses which contain this Greek word, hupotasso, which demonstrates the absurdity of claiming the use by Paul of the word ‘kephale‘ for ‘head’ proves he was simply saying that husbands and wives should have a “mutually supportive relationship”.

Here is that verse:

Luk 10:17  And the seventy returned again with joy, saying, Lord, even the devils are subject [hupotasso] unto us through thy name.

Devils are no more ‘mutually supportive’ of Christ’s apostles than Dr. Berkeley Mickelsen and his wife, Alvera, are of the Word of God. This couple is speaking out of a carnal mind which “is not subject [hupotasso] unto the law of God neither can be”.

Rom 8:7  Because the carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject [Greek: hupotasso] to the law of God, neither indeed can be. 

So while it is true that Paul “could have used a word such as archon, which means leader, boss, or ruler”, it is manifestly untrue that “His use of kephale shows that that was not his purpose”. What absolute nonsense in light of how the devils are subject (Greek: hupotasso) unto Christ and in light of all the other entries for that word ‘hupotasso‘ in the New Testament.

It is my prayer the Lord will humble you to accept His Word over the carnal reasonings of some so-called experts who simply do not “tremble at [God’s] Word”, as I most definitely do, Lord willing.

Be subject to your husband, and enjoy and reap the benefits of obedience to the words of God.

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

Isa 66:2 For all those things hath mine hand made, and all those things have been, saith the LORD: but to this man will I look, even to him that is poor and of a contrite spirit, and trembleth at my word.

If you  have not yet done so be sure to read: The Head of Christ Is God

In service to Christ and His Words,

Mike

Hi K____,

I am gratified that you were granted to consider the scriptures and that you were granted to place scripture above degrees bequeathed by men. The apostles of our Lord were considered to be “ignorant and unlearned” by the scholars of their day, but even those scholars had to “take notice they had been with Jesus”.

I am also happy that you are able to read and appreciate the revelation of Jesus Christ, and to see that it is addressed to you and me as what must be “read, heard, and kept” by all who are given eyes to see and ears to hear that verse of scripture, and all the following verses.

I am sorry to hear you are widowed, nevertheless you are still Christ’s bride, and He it was who inspired Paul’s words for us all to be subject to our husband as unto the Lord. So my advice is still applicable to you.

2Co 11:2 For I am jealous over you with godly jealousy: for I have espoused you to one husband, that I may present you as a chaste virgin to Christ.
2Co 11:3 But I fear, lest by any means, as the serpent beguiled Eve through his subtilty, so your minds should be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ.

Your brother who is also the bride of Christ,

Mike

]]> Foundational Themes in Genesis – Study 73 https://www.iswasandwillbe.com/foundational-themes-in-genesis-study-73/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=foundational-themes-in-genesis-study-73 Thu, 27 Nov 2014 17:06:38 +0000 http://www.iswasandwillbe.com/?p=8601 Foundational Themes in Genesis – Study 73

(Key verses: Gen 25:1-11)

Abraham is revealed to us in the scriptures as one of the main examples of what the faith of Christ causes in those few who are first called out to receive the spiritual inheritance – the “eklektos” are called out of the “klētos” (2Co 6:17; Rev 18:4):

Mat 22:14 For many are called [Greek: “klētos”], but few are chosen [Greek: eklektos].

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.

Abraham lived about thirty-eight years after the death of Sarah, and although his body was deemed as dead when Isaac was born, it seems that Isaac’s birth brought new zest for life in Abraham (Gen 17:17; Gen 21:5; Gen 23:1; Rom 4:19). The faith of Christ in us revitalises us as His indwelling spirit enable us “to present [our] bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is [our] reasonable service (Isa 26:19; Rom 12:1):

Rom 8:11 But if the Spirit of him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwell in you, he that raised up Christ from the dead shall also quicken your mortal bodies by his Spirit that dwelleth in you.
Rom 8:12 Therefore, brethren, we are debtors, not to the flesh, to live after the flesh.

Another woman in the life of Abraham is mentioned in Genesis 25 for the first time after the death of Sarah and the marriage of Isaac:

Gen 25:1 Then again Abraham took a wife, and her name was Keturah.

Not much is known or written about Keturah directly in the scriptures, but through the sum of God’s word, we could form a picture of what Keturah typified (Psa 119:160). She is described as a concubine of Abraham in the scriptures by whom he fathered six sons, seven grandsons and three great-grandsons (Gen 25:6):

1Ch 1:32 Now the sons of Keturah, Abraham’s concubine: she bare Zimran, and Jokshan, and Medan, and Midian, and Ishbak, and Shuah. And the sons of Jokshan; Sheba, and Dedan.

Gen 25:2 And she bare him Zimran, and Jokshan, and Medan, and Midian, and Ishbak, and Shuah.
Gen 25:3 And Jokshan begat Sheba, and Dedan. And the sons of Dedan were Asshurim, and Letushim, and Leummim.
Gen 25:4 And the sons of Midian; Ephah, and Epher, and Hanoch, and Abida, and Eldaah. All these were the children of Keturah.

Gen 25:6 But unto the sons of the concubines, which Abraham had, Abraham gave gifts….

That Keturah is called a concubine explains her position in relation to Sarah in Abraham’s heart. The theme of concubines appears regularly in the Old Testament and is connected to ordinary men as well as kings (Gen 4:19; Exo 21:10; Jdg 8:30-31; Jdg 19:1-30; 2Sa 3:7; 2Sa 5:13; 2Sa 16:21-22; Est 2:14; Son 6:8; Dan 5:2). In this part of the foundational theme of faith, we will briefly discuss this tradition of concubines and also its spiritual application in our own lives. In relation to this theme, we will also look at how Abraham protected his inheritance in Isaac from his offspring by the concubines in his life. The faith of Christ, which comes via the Word of God, empowers God’s true elect to clearly distinguish between the spirit of God and the spirit of this world (Rom 10:17):

Heb 4:12 MKJV For the Word of God is living and powerful and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the dividing apart of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.

God’s will for any marriage from the beginning was that of a union between one man and one woman reflecting the union between the Father and His Son (Gen 1:27; Mat 19:4-6; 1Co 11:3; Eph 5:22-33; 1Ti 3:2):

Gen 2:24 Therefore shall a man leave his father and his mother, and shall cleave unto his wife: and they shall be one flesh.

Nevertheless, mankind was made subject to vanity with a heart that was hardened from the hand of the Potter. This creature, like the whole physical creation, is also being marred or made in ruin and in constant decay, physically and mentally, “by reason of Him” – but it is also given a hope of new spirit or eternal life (2Ti 3:13):

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,

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

God has one perfect plan for humanity by which He works His will to first establish a marred vessel of clay through which He will bring forth a new creation “as seemed good to the potter to make it” as new life comes through death (Joh 3:3; Joh 5:24; Joh 12:24; Rom 5:12-21; 1Co 15:22-28). This hardened heart in mankind is indeed God’s work, and through this stony heart of flesh we naturally do not fear God, as He also causes us to err from His righteous ways (Eze 36:26):

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.

This erring process is also seen in the acquisition of multiple spouses as we all indulge in intimate unfulfilling physical attachments. This desire for multiple spouses all started right in the beginning, even through the generational line of Cain, the firstborn son of Adam and Eve, exposing the condition of the first Adam’s heart:

Gen 4:17 And Cain knew his wife; and she conceived, and bare Enoch: and he builded a city, and called the name of the city, after the name of his son, Enoch.
Gen 4:18 And unto Enoch was born Irad: and Irad begat Mehujael: and Mehujael begat Methusael: and Methusael begat Lamech.
Gen 4:19 And Lamech took unto him two wives: the name of the one was Adah, and the name of the other Zillah.

During our time under the rulership of death and darkness, God’s elect also follow this concubine spirit, even as the king after God’s own heart, David, also typifies in his lust for another man’s wife (2Sa 11:1-5; Eph 2:2-3). We also naturally point the finger to others when we cannot see our own condition, and our own sin will find us out, as David indeed discovered (Num 32:23; Pro 6:12-15; Pro 20:6; Hos 4:4; Mat 7:1-5). Think about the son of Gideon, Abimelech, whom he fathered from one of his concubines in Shechem, and how much pain and death Abimelech brought to the family of Gideon (Jdg 8:30-31; Jdg 9). God actually reveals that He is the One who causes all these things as He sends all evil spirits also, for our painful learning and to fulfill His purposes (Heb 12:9; Jdg 9:23; 1Sa 16:14; 2Sa 12:7-8). God controls our hearts and brings the circumstances which our carnal lusts desire, although God Himself never tempts anyone:

Jas 1:13 Let no man say when he is tempted, I am tempted of God: for God cannot be tempted with evil, neither tempteth he any man:
Jas 1:14 But every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed.

God uses His evil creations and agencies to test us, and in those trials the deepest hidden evils in our bottomless pit (our carnal heart) are brought to the surface for our information, not His (Gen 1:2; Gen 50:19-20; Pro 16:4; Deu 8:2; Psa 103:14). King David’s son with Bathsheba, Solomon, also had to learn this about his own carnal heart’s deceitful desires to also have multiple wives and concubines and why that happened:

1Ki 11:1 But king Solomon loved many strange women, together with the daughter of Pharaoh, women of the Moabites, Ammonites, Edomites, Zidonians, and Hittites;
1Ki 11:2 Of the nations concerning which the LORD said unto the children of Israel, Ye shall not go in to them, neither shall they come in unto you: for surely they will turn away your heart after their gods: Solomon clave unto these in love.
1Ki 11:3 And he had seven hundred wives, princesses, and three hundred concubines: and his wives turned away his heart.
1Ki 11:4 For it came to pass, when Solomon was old, that his wives turned away his heart after other gods: and his heart was not perfect with the LORD his God, as was the heart of David his father.

God’s laws reveal our hearts as we will do exactly what proceeds out of His mouth – both the restrictions and afterwards the right things (Rom 7:7-9; Mat 4:4). In the scriptures concubines are also seen as slaves of the master and his true primary wife, and they also fulfill roles of bringing forth an offspring if the wife is barren, as was in the case of Sarah. All humans are first made barren of the spirit life of God, and in that sense we all are given concubines to bring forth an offspring after the flesh to reveal our natural unfaithfulness:

Gen 16:1 Now Sarai Abram’s wife bare him no children: and she had an handmaid, an Egyptian, whose name was Hagar.
Gen 16:2 And Sarai said unto Abram, Behold now, the LORD hath restrained me from bearing: I pray thee, go in unto my maid; it may be that I may obtain children by her. And Abram hearkened to the voice of Sarai.
Gen 16:3 And Sarai Abram’s wife took Hagar her maid the Egyptian, after Abram had dwelt ten years in the land of Canaan, and gave her to her husband Abram to be his wife.
Gen 16:4 And he went in unto Hagar, and she conceived: and when she saw that she had conceived, her mistress was despised in her eyes.

It is important to note that the concubine should be seen as an extension of the primary wife of the husband. She is intimately attached to the wife as the concubine must also report to the primary wife as ordained by the husband:

Gen 16:5 And Sarai said unto Abram, My wrong be upon thee: I have given my maid into thy bosom; and when she saw that she had conceived, I was despised in her eyes: the LORD judge between me and thee.
Gen 16:6 But Abram said unto Sarai, Behold, thy maid is in thy hand; do to her as it pleaseth thee. And when Sarai dealt hardly with her, she fled from her face.

Jesus is the Father’s primary or preeminent creation, and the Father ordained that all in this creation come through Him and must report to Him (Col 1:15; Rev 1:8; Rev 1:11; Rev 3:14; Rom 14:10; 2Co 5:10; Php 2:9-11). Jesus attached Himself intimately to this physical creation through which He also works His grace and truth (Joh 1:1-4; Rom 11:36; 2Co 5:21; Heb 2:14-18):

Joh 1:14 And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.

If the concubine bears children, it must be done “upon [the] knees” of the primary wife, which is an expression pointing again to this intimate unity between the primary wife and the concubine, but it also emphasizes the submission of the concubine to the primary wife. The children which the concubine bears are also reckoned as belonging to the primary wife:

Gen 30:1 And when Rachel saw that she bare Jacob no children, Rachel envied her sister; and said unto Jacob, Give me children, or else I die.
Gen 30:2 And Jacob’s anger was kindled against Rachel: and he said, Am I in God’s stead, who hath withheld from thee the fruit of the womb?
Gen 30:3 And she said, Behold my maid Bilhah, go in unto her; and she shall bear upon my knees, that I may also have children by her.

No other man shall have marriage privileges with her except the man with whom she is in union (Exo 21:7-10; Jdg 19:1-3; Jdg 20:4). No other party could interfere in this union because it was seen as a type of marriage. We know this also because one of Jacob’s sons, His eldest, Reuben, did wrong to sleep with his father’s concubine, Bilhah:

Gen 35:22 And it came to pass, when Israel dwelt in that land, that Reuben went and lay with Bilhah his father’s concubine: and Israel heard it. Now the sons of Jacob were twelve.

Gen 49:3 Reuben, thou art my firstborn, my might, and the beginning of my strength, the excellency of dignity, and the excellency of power:
Gen 49:4 Unstable as water, thou shalt not excel; because thou wentest up to thy father’s bed; then defiledst thou it: he went up to my couch.

The sons which a man also fathered through another woman besides his primary wife, and this includes concubines, were also seen as his heirs, but not on the same level as the sons born from the true primary wife (Deu 21:15-17). This we also see in the case of Abraham, firstly in terms of Ishmael, Abraham’s son from Hagar. Ishmael was not even permitted to live in the same house as Isaac:

Gen 21:10 Wherefore she said unto Abraham, Cast out this bondwoman and her son: for the son of this bondwoman shall not be heir with my son, even with Isaac.

The true sons of God in Christ do not share the same spiritual house as the world (Heb 3:6; 2Jn 1:10; 1Pe 2:5; 1Pe 4:17). This is also seen in how Abraham distributed His inheritance among his offspring from these different women he was involved with. The six sons of Keturah, for example, could not inherit in the same manner as Isaac:

Gen 25:5 And Abraham gave all that he had unto Isaac.
Gen 25:6a But unto the sons of the concubines, which Abraham had, Abraham gave gifts….

Isaac was the son born “by promise” as he was a type of Christ and those belonging to His house (Gal 3:16; Gal 3:29). The Father gave to Jesus the fullness of His “house”:

Col 1:19 For it pleased the Father that in him should all fulness dwell.

Joh 16:15 All things that the Father hath are mine: therefore said I, that he shall take of mine, and shall shew it unto you.

Jesus promised this inheritance, the fullness of God’s spirit, also to all, but first to His elected church who are keeping His Word and are faithful to it until the end (Joh 14:1-4; Mat 24:13; Mar 13:13). Jesus is not providing the spiritual needs of the world at this stage, but only the spiritual needs of His church, even now in downpayment form (Eph 1:13-14):

Joh 17:9 I pray for them: I pray not for the world, but for them which thou hast given me; for they are thine.
Joh 17:10 And all mine are thine, and thine are mine; and I am glorified in them.

To protect this spiritual inheritance, we are strongly admonished not to throw our pearls before the swine (Mat 7:6). Abraham helps us to see how this is also done when he did a few things with his inheritance and his offspring. Everything he had he gave to Isaac, the son born through his true, primary wife, Sarah. To the other sons of his concubines he dealt differently in this respect:

Gen 24:6 But unto the sons of the concubines, which Abraham had, Abraham gave gifts, and sent them away from Isaac his son, while he yet lived, eastward, unto the east country.

Firstly, Abraham gave only gifts to his sons from his concubines. As Isaac was the apple of Abraham’s eye, so God shows us that He also distinguishes among, and surely has favorites among His children, to the dismay and disgust of His enemies:

Rom 9:7 Neither, because they [physical Israel] are the seed of Abraham, are they all children: but, In Isaac shall thy seed be called.
Rom 9:8 That is, They which are the children of the flesh, these are not the children of God: but the children of the promise are counted for the seed.

The true children of God are only those He has chosen to be in Christ, as typified by Isaac. All in the first Adam are indeed God’s offspring because He made them of one blood and gave gifts to all men to serve one another in the natural:

Act 17:26 And He has made all nations of men of one blood to dwell on all the face of the earth, ordaining fore-appointed seasons and boundaries of their dwelling,
Act 17:27 to seek the Lord, if perhaps they might feel after Him and find Him, though indeed He is not far from each one of us.
Act 17:28 For in Him we live and move and have our being, as also certain of your own poets have said, For we are also His offspring.

Every day we see how carnal man rather boasts and is puffed up in his display of these natural gifts from God, claiming these gifts after his own abilities and efforts. Natural man uses his talents and gifts for selfish purposes (to get rich and to control others) and to elevate himself above others. Jealousy and competitiveness rule the natural heart, and it can be openly seen in behavioural patterns. The same spirit is seen in the application of the spiritual gifts of God, even in those who are being called by God to walk in a closer relationship with Him through Christ Jesus. There is still ignorance for the reasons these gifts are given. The gifts of the spirit, which also include ministries and the operations of faith, hope and love, are given to “every man” to serve the body of Christ here in the now, in humility (Joh 13:3-17; 1Co 12:28; 1Co 13:13; 2Jn 5:1-2):

1Co 12:1 Now concerning spiritual gifts, brethren, I would not have you ignorant.
1Co 12:2 Ye know that ye were Gentiles, carried away unto these dumb idols, even as ye were led.
1Co 12:3 Wherefore I give you to understand, that no man speaking by the Spirit of God calleth Jesus accursed: and that no man can say that Jesus is the Lord, but by the Holy Ghost.
1Co 12:4 Now there are diversities of gifts, but the same Spirit.
1Co 12:5 And there are differences of administrations, but the same Lord.
1Co 12:6 And there are diversities of operations, but it is the same God which worketh all in all.
1Co 12:7 But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to every man to profit withal.

Within this application of these spiritual gifts, the concubine spirit of carnality is revealed to us, from which we need to separate (2Co 6:17). This carnal application of the gifts of the spirit of God was also witnessed by the apostle Paul in the church in Corinth. The church in Corinth was enriched in speech and knowledge of Christ and His Word, and they had all these gifts of the spirit of God (1Co 1:5-7). However, this offspring of God only applied the gifts to an outward carnal show as they had no proof of growth or maturing in the fruit of the spirit in their own lives (Gal 5:22-23). The outward demonstration of spiritual gifts is determined and valued by the inward maturity of the fruit of the spirit within that person – the character of the Father (Joh 15:8). Jesus described this spiritual principle as follows:

Mat 23:26 Thou blind Pharisee, cleanse first that which is within the cup and platter, that the outside of them may be clean also.

A proof of this is found in the following rebuke by Paul that they could only see Christ as the crucified one. They could not see themselves following Christ in that respect, being humbled by taking up their own cross (Mat 10:38-39):

1Co 2:1 And I, brothers, when I came to you, did not come with excellency of speech or of wisdom, declaring to you the testimony of God.
1Co 2:2 For I determined not to know anything among you except Jesus Christ and Him crucified.

Paul’s preaching to them to take up their own cross was openly viewed as foolishness as they indulged in haughtiness and lusts of the flesh in full view of the world (1Co 5:1-2; 1Co 5:11; 1Co 6:6; 1Co 6:15; 1Co 8:1; 1Co 10:12; 1Co 12:1):

1Co 1:18 For the preaching of the cross is foolishness to those being lost, but to us being saved, it is the power of God.

Other fleshly signs which further witnessed to their spiritual immaturity included the strife and divisions in them and among the congregation. Not only did they individually follow certain leaders and acknowledge them only, they also had contentions and competitions among each other, which is typical of the concubine spirit:

1Co 1:10 Now I beseech you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that ye all speak the same thing, and that there be no divisions among you; but that ye be perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgment.
1Co 1:11 For it hath been declared unto me of you, my brethren, by them which are of the house of Chloe, that there are contentions among you.

1Co 3:1 And I, brothers, could not speak to you as to spiritual ones, but as to fleshly, as to babes in Christ.
1Co 3:2 I have fed you with milk and not with solid food, for you were not yet able to bear it; nor are you able even now.
1Co 3:3 For you are yet carnal. For in that there is among you envyings and strife and divisions, are you not carnal, and do you not walk according to men?
1Co 3:4 For while one says, I am of Paul; and another, I am of Apollos; are you not carnal?

This is why Abraham protected his inheritance in Isaac. Let’s read verse 6 of Genesis 24 again:

Gen 24:6 But unto the sons of the concubines, which Abraham had, Abraham gave gifts, and sent them away from Isaac his son, while he yet lived, eastward, unto the east country [Hebrew: “erets” = land, earth, wilderness].

Abraham brought separation between Isaac and the children of the concubine. They were sent eastward, in the direction of the land of the Chaldees or Babylon from where he came. He knows what is going on there – he lived there for many years. We learn from Abraham that we need to take heed of ourselves to firstly judge inwardly (and also separate ourselves from those who openly show their carnal intentions) before our own dogs turn on us and rend us (Mat 7:1-6). This condition and behaviour is what the concubine also represents spiritually. She is not the true wife, and she despises the true wife. In this process, she overcompensates and exalts herself, which brings the disdain and rejection from the true wife, which the concubine then deems as unloving. The example of Sarah and Hagar is repeated here:

Gen 16:4 And he went in unto Hagar, and she conceived: and when she saw that she had conceived, her mistress was despised in her eyes.

Gen 16:6 But Abram said unto Sarai, Behold, thy maid is in thy hand; do to her as it pleaseth thee. And when Sarai dealt hardly with her, she fled from her face.

Those with the concubine spirit are under the illusion that they are better than others while they are merely walking “according to men” and their standards (1Co 3:3; 2Co 10:12). These are also seen in the sons of the concubine who are puffed up by their own way of engaging with these gifts of God and not by what is written in God’s Word. This Paul also found out when the Corinthians even compared and questioned Paul’s apostolic ministry as a chosen vessel of God:

1Co 4:6 And these things, brethren, I have in a figure transferred to myself and to Apollos for your sakes; that ye might learn in us not to think of men above that which is written, that no one of you be puffed up for one against another.

Through Isaac, however, the true example of sonship is given to us. Abraham prepared Isaac, his son “by promise”, to handle his inheritance according to the commandments of God, and this decision to trust all to Isaac brought peace to Abraham because of his faith in God’s provisions (Gal 3:6-9):

Gen 25:7 And these are the days of the years of Abraham’s life which he lived, an hundred threescore and fifteen years.
Gen 25:8 Then Abraham gave up the ghost, and died in a good old age, an old man, and full of years; and was gathered to his people [with those who are dead and in the grave (Ecc 9:5-6; Ecc 3:19; 1Co 15:22a)].
Gen 25:9 And his sons Isaac and Ishmael buried him in the cave of Machpelah, in the field of Ephron the son of Zohar the Hittite, which is before Mamre;
Gen 25:10 The field which Abraham purchased of the sons of Heth: there was Abraham buried, and Sarah his wife.

Isaac went to live by the well of Lahairoi, which means “the well of the Living One seeing me” because Isaac knew that God was the One whom he must please and obey above all else, as taught to him by his father Abraham. God is the only ‘Well of living waters’ from whom true spirit life and spiritual insight comes, as we are being separated from the concubine and her sons (Luk 8:17; Act 17:28; 2Co 6:17; Eph 1:3-12; Heb 4:12-13; Rev 18:4).

Gen 25:11 And it came to pass after the death of Abraham, that God blessed his son Isaac; and Isaac dwelt by the well Lahairoi.

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

Ecclesiastes 1:1-11 All Is Vanity
Gathered Unto His People
What Is The Fate of The Dead?
How to Discern an Idol of The Heart
Gifts, Ministeries and Operations

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