Numbers 6-7:89
The passage delinates the Nazarite vow. The vow of a special commitment to serve the Lord , being called to a separation to the Lord that calls for the exclusion of things such as grapes, wine, strong drink, and long hair which the NT clearly indicates ( 1 Cor 11) is given to woman for a glory , but on a man is a shame. Long hair speaks of submission; the wine , strong drink , grapes and the vine , those things which are appropriate to nature but the call of separation excludes them. Think of the Nazarite call in the light of Christ and all of the figures explode with portentious wonder. Ps 40 "Lo I come in the volume of the book it is written of me to do thy will Oh my God!" This applies to the Christian in application as well.
Christ concluded his Nazariteship in manhood, completing the work that the Father gave him to do ( JN 17)and gave all the glory to God in his death, resurrection and ascension to the Father.
Numbers 6
The Nazirite
1 The LORD said to Moses, 2 "Speak to the Israelites and say to them: 'If a man or woman wants to make a special vow, a vow of separation to the LORD as a Nazirite, 3 he must abstain from wine and other fermented drink and must not drink vinegar made from wine or from other fermented drink. He must not drink grape juice or eat grapes or raisins. 4 As long as he is a Nazirite, he must not eat anything that comes from the grapevine, not even the seeds or skins.
5 " 'During the entire period of his vow of separation no razor may be used on his head. He must be holy until the period of his separation to the LORD is over; he must let the hair of his head grow long. 6 Throughout the period of his separation to the LORD he must not go near a dead body. 7 Even if his own father or mother or brother or sister dies, he must not make himself ceremonially unclean on account of them, because the symbol of his separation to God is on his head. 8 Throughout the period of his separation he is consecrated to the LORD.
9 " 'If someone dies suddenly in his presence, thus defiling the hair he has dedicated, he must shave his head on the day of his cleansing—the seventh day. 10 Then on the eighth day he must bring two doves or two young pigeons to the priest at the entrance to the Tent of Meeting. 11 The priest is to offer one as a sin offering and the other as a burnt offering to make atonement for him because he sinned by being in the presence of the dead body. That same day he is to consecrate his head. 12 He must dedicate himself to the LORD for the period of his separation and must bring a year-old male lamb as a guilt offering. The previous days do not count, because he became defiled during his separation.
13 " 'Now this is the law for the Nazirite when the period of his separation is over. He is to be brought to the entrance to the Tent of Meeting. 14 There he is to present his offerings to the LORD : a year-old male lamb without defect for a burnt offering, a year-old ewe lamb without defect for a sin offering, a ram without defect for a fellowship offering, [a] 15 together with their grain offerings and drink offerings, and a basket of bread made without yeast—cakes made of fine flour mixed with oil, and wafers spread with oil.
16 " 'The priest is to present them before the LORD and make the sin offering and the burnt offering. 17 He is to present the basket of unleavened bread and is to sacrifice the ram as a fellowship offering to the LORD, together with its grain offering and drink offering.
18 " 'Then at the entrance to the Tent of Meeting, the Nazirite must shave off the hair that he dedicated. He is to take the hair and put it in the fire that is under the sacrifice of the fellowship offering.
19 " 'After the Nazirite has shaved off the hair of his dedication, the priest is to place in his hands a boiled shoulder of the ram, and a cake and a wafer from the basket, both made without yeast. 20 The priest shall then wave them before the LORD as a wave offering; they are holy and belong to the priest, together with the breast that was waved and the thigh that was presented. After that, the Nazirite may drink wine.
21 " 'This is the law of the Nazirite who vows his offering to the LORD in accordance with his separation, in addition to whatever else he can afford. He must fulfill the vow he has made, according to the law of the Nazirite.' "
The Priestly Blessing
This is a profoundly significant point. The blessing of the children of Israel follows the deliniation of the nazarite vow! How essential is the separation to the Lord in the life of the christian, and how perfect is the life , death, resrrrection, ascension, and Glory of Christ! This is completely fulfilled in the nazarite. Note there are 3 blessings, one for each person of the trinity!
22 The LORD said to Moses, 23 "Tell Aaron and his sons, 'This is how you are to bless the Israelites. Say to them:
24 " ' "The LORD bless you
and keep you;
25 the LORD make his face shine upon you
and be gracious to you;
26 the LORD turn his face toward you
and give you peace." '
27 "So they will put my name on the Israelites, and I will bless them."
Numbers 7
Offerings at the Dedication of the Tabernacle
1 When Moses finished setting up the tabernacle, he anointed it and consecrated it and all its furnishings. He also anointed and consecrated the altar and all its utensils. 2 Then the leaders of Israel, the heads of families who were the tribal leaders in charge of those who were counted, made offerings. 3 They brought as their gifts before the LORD six covered carts and twelve oxen—an ox from each leader and a cart from every two. These they presented before the tabernacle.
4 The LORD said to Moses, 5 "Accept these from them, that they may be used in the work at the Tent of Meeting. Give them to the Levites as each man's work requires."
6 So Moses took the carts and oxen and gave them to the Levites. 7 He gave two carts and four oxen to the Gershonites, as their work required, 8 and he gave four carts and eight oxen to the Merarites, as their work required. They were all under the direction of Ithamar son of Aaron, the priest. 9 But Moses did not give any to the Kohathites, because they were to carry on their shoulders the holy things, for which they were responsible.
10 When the altar was anointed, the leaders brought their offerings for its dedication and presented them before the altar. 11 For the LORD had said to Moses, "Each day one leader is to bring his offering for the dedication of the altar."
12 The one who brought his offering on the first day was Nahshon son of Amminadab of the tribe of Judah.
13 His offering was one silver plate weighing a hundred and thirty shekels, [b] and one silver sprinkling bowl weighing seventy shekels, [c] both according to the sanctuary shekel, each filled with fine flour mixed with oil as a grain offering; 14 one gold dish weighing ten shekels, [d] filled with incense; 15 one young bull, one ram and one male lamb a year old, for a burnt offering; 16 one male goat for a sin offering; 17 and two oxen, five rams, five male goats and five male lambs a year old, to be sacrificed as a fellowship offering. [e] This was the offering of Nahshon son of Amminadab.
18 On the second day Nethanel son of Zuar, the leader of Issachar, brought his offering.
19 The offering he brought was one silver plate weighing a hundred and thirty shekels, and one silver sprinkling bowl weighing seventy shekels, both according to the sanctuary shekel, each filled with fine flour mixed with oil as a grain offering; 20 one gold dish weighing ten shekels, filled with incense; 21 one young bull, one ram and one male lamb a year old, for a burnt offering; 22 one male goat for a sin offering; 23 and two oxen, five rams, five male goats and five male lambs a year old, to be sacrificed as a fellowship offering. This was the offering of Nethanel son of Zuar.
24 On the third day, Eliab son of Helon, the leader of the people of Zebulun, brought his offering.
25 His offering was one silver plate weighing a hundred and thirty shekels, and one silver sprinkling bowl weighing seventy shekels, both according to the sanctuary shekel, each filled with fine flour mixed with oil as a grain offering; 26 one gold dish weighing ten shekels, filled with incense; 27 one young bull, one ram and one male lamb a year old, for a burnt offering; 28 one male goat for a sin offering; 29 and two oxen, five rams, five male goats and five male lambs a year old, to be sacrificed as a fellowship offering. This was the offering of Eliab son of Helon.
30 On the fourth day Elizur son of Shedeur, the leader of the people of Reuben, brought his offering.
31 His offering was one silver plate weighing a hundred and thirty shekels, and one silver sprinkling bowl weighing seventy shekels, both according to the sanctuary shekel, each filled with fine flour mixed with oil as a grain offering; 32 one gold dish weighing ten shekels, filled with incense; 33 one young bull, one ram and one male lamb a year old, for a burnt offering; 34 one male goat for a sin offering; 35 and two oxen, five rams, five male goats and five male lambs a year old, to be sacrificed as a fellowship offering. This was the offering of Elizur son of Shedeur.
36 On the fifth day Shelumiel son of Zurishaddai, the leader of the people of Simeon, brought his offering.
37 His offering was one silver plate weighing a hundred and thirty shekels, and one silver sprinkling bowl weighing seventy shekels, both according to the sanctuary shekel, each filled with fine flour mixed with oil as a grain offering; 38 one gold dish weighing ten shekels, filled with incense; 39 one young bull, one ram and one male lamb a year old, for a burnt offering; 40 one male goat for a sin offering; 41 and two oxen, five rams, five male goats and five male lambs a year old, to be sacrificed as a fellowship offering. This was the offering of Shelumiel son of Zurishaddai.
42 On the sixth day Eliasaph son of Deuel, the leader of the people of Gad, brought his offering.
43 His offering was one silver plate weighing a hundred and thirty shekels, and one silver sprinkling bowl weighing seventy shekels, both according to the sanctuary shekel, each filled with fine flour mixed with oil as a grain offering; 44 one gold dish weighing ten shekels, filled with incense; 45 one young bull, one ram and one male lamb a year old, for a burnt offering; 46 one male goat for a sin offering; 47 and two oxen, five rams, five male goats and five male lambs a year old, to be sacrificed as a fellowship offering. This was the offering of Eliasaph son of Deuel.
48 On the seventh day Elishama son of Ammihud, the leader of the people of Ephraim, brought his offering.
49 His offering was one silver plate weighing a hundred and thirty shekels, and one silver sprinkling bowl weighing seventy shekels, both according to the sanctuary shekel, each filled with fine flour mixed with oil as a grain offering; 50 one gold dish weighing ten shekels, filled with incense; 51 one young bull, one ram and one male lamb a year old, for a burnt offering; 52 one male goat for a sin offering; 53 and two oxen, five rams, five male goats and five male lambs a year old, to be sacrificed as a fellowship offering. This was the offering of Elishama son of Ammihud.
54 On the eighth day Gamaliel son of Pedahzur, the leader of the people of Manasseh, brought his offering.
55 His offering was one silver plate weighing a hundred and thirty shekels, and one silver sprinkling bowl weighing seventy shekels, both according to the sanctuary shekel, each filled with fine flour mixed with oil as a grain offering; 56 one gold dish weighing ten shekels, filled with incense; 57 one young bull, one ram and one male lamb a year old, for a burnt offering; 58 one male goat for a sin offering; 59 and two oxen, five rams, five male goats and five male lambs a year old, to be sacrificed as a fellowship offering. This was the offering of Gamaliel son of Pedahzur.
60 On the ninth day Abidan son of Gideoni, the leader of the people of Benjamin, brought his offering.
61 His offering was one silver plate weighing a hundred and thirty shekels, and one silver sprinkling bowl weighing seventy shekels, both according to the sanctuary shekel, each filled with fine flour mixed with oil as a grain offering; 62 one gold dish weighing ten shekels, filled with incense; 63 one young bull, one ram and one male lamb a year old, for a burnt offering; 64 one male goat for a sin offering; 65 and two oxen, five rams, five male goats and five male lambs a year old, to be sacrificed as a fellowship offering. This was the offering of Abidan son of Gideoni.
66 On the tenth day Ahiezer son of Ammishaddai, the leader of the people of Dan, brought his offering.
67 His offering was one silver plate weighing a hundred and thirty shekels, and one silver sprinkling bowl weighing seventy shekels, both according to the sanctuary shekel, each filled with fine flour mixed with oil as a grain offering; 68 one gold dish weighing ten shekels, filled with incense; 69 one young bull, one ram and one male lamb a year old, for a burnt offering; 70 one male goat for a sin offering; 71 and two oxen, five rams, five male goats and five male lambs a year old, to be sacrificed as a fellowship offering. This was the offering of Ahiezer son of Ammishaddai.
72 On the eleventh day Pagiel son of Ocran, the leader of the people of Asher, brought his offering.
73 His offering was one silver plate weighing a hundred and thirty shekels, and one silver sprinkling bowl weighing seventy shekels, both according to the sanctuary shekel, each filled with fine flour mixed with oil as a grain offering; 74 one gold dish weighing ten shekels, filled with incense; 75 one young bull, one ram and one male lamb a year old, for a burnt offering; 76 one male goat for a sin offering; 77 and two oxen, five rams, five male goats and five male lambs a year old, to be sacrificed as a fellowship offering. This was the offering of Pagiel son of Ocran.
78 On the twelfth day Ahira son of Enan, the leader of the people of Naphtali, brought his offering.
79 His offering was one silver plate weighing a hundred and thirty shekels, and one silver sprinkling bowl weighing seventy shekels, both according to the sanctuary shekel, each filled with fine flour mixed with oil as a grain offering; 80 one gold dish weighing ten shekels, filled with incense; 81 one young bull, one ram and one male lamb a year old, for a burnt offering; 82 one male goat for a sin offering; 83 and two oxen, five rams, five male goats and five male lambs a year old, to be sacrificed as a fellowship offering. This was the offering of Ahira son of Enan.
84 These were the offerings of the Israelite leaders for the dedication of the altar when it was anointed: twelve silver plates, twelve silver sprinkling bowls and twelve gold dishes. 85 Each silver plate weighed a hundred and thirty shekels, and each sprinkling bowl seventy shekels. Altogether, the silver dishes weighed two thousand four hundred shekels, [f] according to the sanctuary shekel. 86 The twelve gold dishes filled with incense weighed ten shekels each, according to the sanctuary shekel. Altogether, the gold dishes weighed a hundred and twenty shekels. [g] 87 The total number of animals for the burnt offering came to twelve young bulls, twelve rams and twelve male lambs a year old, together with their grain offering. Twelve male goats were used for the sin offering. 88 The total number of animals for the sacrifice of the fellowship offering came to twenty-four oxen, sixty rams, sixty male goats and sixty male lambs a year old. These were the offerings for the dedication of the altar after it was anointed.
89 When Moses entered the Tent of Meeting to speak with the LORD, he heard the voice speaking to him from between the two cherubim above the atonement cover on the ark of the Testimony. And he spoke with him.
Footnotes:
1. Numbers 6:14 Traditionally peace offering ; also in verses 17 and 18
2. Numbers 7:13 That is, about 3 1/4 pounds (about 1.5 kilograms also elsewhere in this chapter
3. Numbers 7:13 That is, about 1 3/4 pounds (about 0.8 kilogram also elsewhere in this chapter
4. Numbers 7:14 That is, about 4 ounces (about 110 grams also elsewhere in this chapter
5. Numbers 7:17 Traditionally peace offering ; also elsewhere in this chapter
6. Numbers 7:85 That is, about 60 pounds (about 28 kilograms)
7. Numbers 7:86 That is, about 3 pounds (about 1.4 kilograms)
New International Version (NIV)
Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984 by International Bible Society
[NIV at IBS] [International Bible Society] [NIV at Zondervan] [Zondervan]
Mark 12:38-13:13
Tuesday, November 13, 2007
नज़रिते वो
Numbers 6-7:89
The passage delinates the Nazarite vow. The vow of a special commitment to serve the Lord , being called to a separation to the Lord that calls for the exclusion of things such as grapes, wine, strong drink, and long hair which the NT clearly indicates ( 1 Cor 11) is given to woman for a glory , but on a man is a shame. Long hair speaks of submission; the wine , strong drink , grapes and the vine , those things which are appropriate to nature but the call of separation excludes them. Think of the Nazarite call in the light of Christ and all of the figures explode with portentious wonder. Ps 40 "Lo I come in the volume of the book it is written of me to do thy will Oh my God!" This applies to the Christian in application as well.
Christ concluded his Nazariteship in manhood, completing the work that the Father gave him to do ( JN 17)and gave all the glory to God in his death, resurrection and ascension to the Father.
Numbers 6
The Nazirite
1 The LORD said to Moses, 2 "Speak to the Israelites and say to them: 'If a man or woman wants to make a special vow, a vow of separation to the LORD as a Nazirite, 3 he must abstain from wine and other fermented drink and must not drink vinegar made from wine or from other fermented drink. He must not drink grape juice or eat grapes or raisins. 4 As long as he is a Nazirite, he must not eat anything that comes from the grapevine, not even the seeds or skins.
5 " 'During the entire period of his vow of separation no razor may be used on his head. He must be holy until the period of his separation to the LORD is over; he must let the hair of his head grow long. 6 Throughout the period of his separation to the LORD he must not go near a dead body. 7 Even if his own father or mother or brother or sister dies, he must not make himself ceremonially unclean on account of them, because the symbol of his separation to God is on his head. 8 Throughout the period of his separation he is consecrated to the LORD.
9 " 'If someone dies suddenly in his presence, thus defiling the hair he has dedicated, he must shave his head on the day of his cleansing—the seventh day. 10 Then on the eighth day he must bring two doves or two young pigeons to the priest at the entrance to the Tent of Meeting. 11 The priest is to offer one as a sin offering and the other as a burnt offering to make atonement for him because he sinned by being in the presence of the dead body. That same day he is to consecrate his head. 12 He must dedicate himself to the LORD for the period of his separation and must bring a year-old male lamb as a guilt offering. The previous days do not count, because he became defiled during his separation.
13 " 'Now this is the law for the Nazirite when the period of his separation is over. He is to be brought to the entrance to the Tent of Meeting. 14 There he is to present his offerings to the LORD : a year-old male lamb without defect for a burnt offering, a year-old ewe lamb without defect for a sin offering, a ram without defect for a fellowship offering, [a] 15 together with their grain offerings and drink offerings, and a basket of bread made without yeast—cakes made of fine flour mixed with oil, and wafers spread with oil.
16 " 'The priest is to present them before the LORD and make the sin offering and the burnt offering. 17 He is to present the basket of unleavened bread and is to sacrifice the ram as a fellowship offering to the LORD, together with its grain offering and drink offering.
18 " 'Then at the entrance to the Tent of Meeting, the Nazirite must shave off the hair that he dedicated. He is to take the hair and put it in the fire that is under the sacrifice of the fellowship offering.
19 " 'After the Nazirite has shaved off the hair of his dedication, the priest is to place in his hands a boiled shoulder of the ram, and a cake and a wafer from the basket, both made without yeast. 20 The priest shall then wave them before the LORD as a wave offering; they are holy and belong to the priest, together with the breast that was waved and the thigh that was presented. After that, the Nazirite may drink wine.
21 " 'This is the law of the Nazirite who vows his offering to the LORD in accordance with his separation, in addition to whatever else he can afford. He must fulfill the vow he has made, according to the law of the Nazirite.' "
The Priestly Blessing
This is a profoundly significant point. The blessing of the children of Israel follows the deliniation of the nazarite vow! How essential is the separation to the Lord in the life of the christian, and how perfect is the life , death, resrrrection, ascension, and Glory of Christ! This is completely fulfilled in the nazarite. Note there are 3 blessings, one for each person of the trinity!
22 The LORD said to Moses, 23 "Tell Aaron and his sons, 'This is how you are to bless the Israelites. Say to them:
24 " ' "The LORD bless you
and keep you;
25 the LORD make his face shine upon you
and be gracious to you;
26 the LORD turn his face toward you
and give you peace." '
27 "So they will put my name on the Israelites, and I will bless them."
Numbers 7
Offerings at the Dedication of the Tabernacle
1 When Moses finished setting up the tabernacle, he anointed it and consecrated it and all its furnishings. He also anointed and consecrated the altar and all its utensils. 2 Then the leaders of Israel, the heads of families who were the tribal leaders in charge of those who were counted, made offerings. 3 They brought as their gifts before the LORD six covered carts and twelve oxen—an ox from each leader and a cart from every two. These they presented before the tabernacle.
4 The LORD said to Moses, 5 "Accept these from them, that they may be used in the work at the Tent of Meeting. Give them to the Levites as each man's work requires."
6 So Moses took the carts and oxen and gave them to the Levites. 7 He gave two carts and four oxen to the Gershonites, as their work required, 8 and he gave four carts and eight oxen to the Merarites, as their work required. They were all under the direction of Ithamar son of Aaron, the priest. 9 But Moses did not give any to the Kohathites, because they were to carry on their shoulders the holy things, for which they were responsible.
10 When the altar was anointed, the leaders brought their offerings for its dedication and presented them before the altar. 11 For the LORD had said to Moses, "Each day one leader is to bring his offering for the dedication of the altar."
12 The one who brought his offering on the first day was Nahshon son of Amminadab of the tribe of Judah.
13 His offering was one silver plate weighing a hundred and thirty shekels, [b] and one silver sprinkling bowl weighing seventy shekels, [c] both according to the sanctuary shekel, each filled with fine flour mixed with oil as a grain offering; 14 one gold dish weighing ten shekels, [d] filled with incense; 15 one young bull, one ram and one male lamb a year old, for a burnt offering; 16 one male goat for a sin offering; 17 and two oxen, five rams, five male goats and five male lambs a year old, to be sacrificed as a fellowship offering. [e] This was the offering of Nahshon son of Amminadab.
18 On the second day Nethanel son of Zuar, the leader of Issachar, brought his offering.
19 The offering he brought was one silver plate weighing a hundred and thirty shekels, and one silver sprinkling bowl weighing seventy shekels, both according to the sanctuary shekel, each filled with fine flour mixed with oil as a grain offering; 20 one gold dish weighing ten shekels, filled with incense; 21 one young bull, one ram and one male lamb a year old, for a burnt offering; 22 one male goat for a sin offering; 23 and two oxen, five rams, five male goats and five male lambs a year old, to be sacrificed as a fellowship offering. This was the offering of Nethanel son of Zuar.
24 On the third day, Eliab son of Helon, the leader of the people of Zebulun, brought his offering.
25 His offering was one silver plate weighing a hundred and thirty shekels, and one silver sprinkling bowl weighing seventy shekels, both according to the sanctuary shekel, each filled with fine flour mixed with oil as a grain offering; 26 one gold dish weighing ten shekels, filled with incense; 27 one young bull, one ram and one male lamb a year old, for a burnt offering; 28 one male goat for a sin offering; 29 and two oxen, five rams, five male goats and five male lambs a year old, to be sacrificed as a fellowship offering. This was the offering of Eliab son of Helon.
30 On the fourth day Elizur son of Shedeur, the leader of the people of Reuben, brought his offering.
31 His offering was one silver plate weighing a hundred and thirty shekels, and one silver sprinkling bowl weighing seventy shekels, both according to the sanctuary shekel, each filled with fine flour mixed with oil as a grain offering; 32 one gold dish weighing ten shekels, filled with incense; 33 one young bull, one ram and one male lamb a year old, for a burnt offering; 34 one male goat for a sin offering; 35 and two oxen, five rams, five male goats and five male lambs a year old, to be sacrificed as a fellowship offering. This was the offering of Elizur son of Shedeur.
36 On the fifth day Shelumiel son of Zurishaddai, the leader of the people of Simeon, brought his offering.
37 His offering was one silver plate weighing a hundred and thirty shekels, and one silver sprinkling bowl weighing seventy shekels, both according to the sanctuary shekel, each filled with fine flour mixed with oil as a grain offering; 38 one gold dish weighing ten shekels, filled with incense; 39 one young bull, one ram and one male lamb a year old, for a burnt offering; 40 one male goat for a sin offering; 41 and two oxen, five rams, five male goats and five male lambs a year old, to be sacrificed as a fellowship offering. This was the offering of Shelumiel son of Zurishaddai.
42 On the sixth day Eliasaph son of Deuel, the leader of the people of Gad, brought his offering.
43 His offering was one silver plate weighing a hundred and thirty shekels, and one silver sprinkling bowl weighing seventy shekels, both according to the sanctuary shekel, each filled with fine flour mixed with oil as a grain offering; 44 one gold dish weighing ten shekels, filled with incense; 45 one young bull, one ram and one male lamb a year old, for a burnt offering; 46 one male goat for a sin offering; 47 and two oxen, five rams, five male goats and five male lambs a year old, to be sacrificed as a fellowship offering. This was the offering of Eliasaph son of Deuel.
48 On the seventh day Elishama son of Ammihud, the leader of the people of Ephraim, brought his offering.
49 His offering was one silver plate weighing a hundred and thirty shekels, and one silver sprinkling bowl weighing seventy shekels, both according to the sanctuary shekel, each filled with fine flour mixed with oil as a grain offering; 50 one gold dish weighing ten shekels, filled with incense; 51 one young bull, one ram and one male lamb a year old, for a burnt offering; 52 one male goat for a sin offering; 53 and two oxen, five rams, five male goats and five male lambs a year old, to be sacrificed as a fellowship offering. This was the offering of Elishama son of Ammihud.
54 On the eighth day Gamaliel son of Pedahzur, the leader of the people of Manasseh, brought his offering.
55 His offering was one silver plate weighing a hundred and thirty shekels, and one silver sprinkling bowl weighing seventy shekels, both according to the sanctuary shekel, each filled with fine flour mixed with oil as a grain offering; 56 one gold dish weighing ten shekels, filled with incense; 57 one young bull, one ram and one male lamb a year old, for a burnt offering; 58 one male goat for a sin offering; 59 and two oxen, five rams, five male goats and five male lambs a year old, to be sacrificed as a fellowship offering. This was the offering of Gamaliel son of Pedahzur.
60 On the ninth day Abidan son of Gideoni, the leader of the people of Benjamin, brought his offering.
61 His offering was one silver plate weighing a hundred and thirty shekels, and one silver sprinkling bowl weighing seventy shekels, both according to the sanctuary shekel, each filled with fine flour mixed with oil as a grain offering; 62 one gold dish weighing ten shekels, filled with incense; 63 one young bull, one ram and one male lamb a year old, for a burnt offering; 64 one male goat for a sin offering; 65 and two oxen, five rams, five male goats and five male lambs a year old, to be sacrificed as a fellowship offering. This was the offering of Abidan son of Gideoni.
66 On the tenth day Ahiezer son of Ammishaddai, the leader of the people of Dan, brought his offering.
67 His offering was one silver plate weighing a hundred and thirty shekels, and one silver sprinkling bowl weighing seventy shekels, both according to the sanctuary shekel, each filled with fine flour mixed with oil as a grain offering; 68 one gold dish weighing ten shekels, filled with incense; 69 one young bull, one ram and one male lamb a year old, for a burnt offering; 70 one male goat for a sin offering; 71 and two oxen, five rams, five male goats and five male lambs a year old, to be sacrificed as a fellowship offering. This was the offering of Ahiezer son of Ammishaddai.
72 On the eleventh day Pagiel son of Ocran, the leader of the people of Asher, brought his offering.
73 His offering was one silver plate weighing a hundred and thirty shekels, and one silver sprinkling bowl weighing seventy shekels, both according to the sanctuary shekel, each filled with fine flour mixed with oil as a grain offering; 74 one gold dish weighing ten shekels, filled with incense; 75 one young bull, one ram and one male lamb a year old, for a burnt offering; 76 one male goat for a sin offering; 77 and two oxen, five rams, five male goats and five male lambs a year old, to be sacrificed as a fellowship offering. This was the offering of Pagiel son of Ocran.
78 On the twelfth day Ahira son of Enan, the leader of the people of Naphtali, brought his offering.
79 His offering was one silver plate weighing a hundred and thirty shekels, and one silver sprinkling bowl weighing seventy shekels, both according to the sanctuary shekel, each filled with fine flour mixed with oil as a grain offering; 80 one gold dish weighing ten shekels, filled with incense; 81 one young bull, one ram and one male lamb a year old, for a burnt offering; 82 one male goat for a sin offering; 83 and two oxen, five rams, five male goats and five male lambs a year old, to be sacrificed as a fellowship offering. This was the offering of Ahira son of Enan.
84 These were the offerings of the Israelite leaders for the dedication of the altar when it was anointed: twelve silver plates, twelve silver sprinkling bowls and twelve gold dishes. 85 Each silver plate weighed a hundred and thirty shekels, and each sprinkling bowl seventy shekels. Altogether, the silver dishes weighed two thousand four hundred shekels, [f] according to the sanctuary shekel. 86 The twelve gold dishes filled with incense weighed ten shekels each, according to the sanctuary shekel. Altogether, the gold dishes weighed a hundred and twenty shekels. [g] 87 The total number of animals for the burnt offering came to twelve young bulls, twelve rams and twelve male lambs a year old, together with their grain offering. Twelve male goats were used for the sin offering. 88 The total number of animals for the sacrifice of the fellowship offering came to twenty-four oxen, sixty rams, sixty male goats and sixty male lambs a year old. These were the offerings for the dedication of the altar after it was anointed.
89 When Moses entered the Tent of Meeting to speak with the LORD, he heard the voice speaking to him from between the two cherubim above the atonement cover on the ark of the Testimony. And he spoke with him.
Footnotes:
1. Numbers 6:14 Traditionally peace offering ; also in verses 17 and 18
2. Numbers 7:13 That is, about 3 1/4 pounds (about 1.5 kilograms also elsewhere in this chapter
3. Numbers 7:13 That is, about 1 3/4 pounds (about 0.8 kilogram also elsewhere in this chapter
4. Numbers 7:14 That is, about 4 ounces (about 110 grams also elsewhere in this chapter
5. Numbers 7:17 Traditionally peace offering ; also elsewhere in this chapter
6. Numbers 7:85 That is, about 60 pounds (about 28 kilograms)
7. Numbers 7:86 That is, about 3 pounds (about 1.4 kilograms)
New International Version (NIV)
Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984 by International Bible Society
[NIV at IBS] [International Bible Society] [NIV at Zondervan] [Zondervan]
Mark 12:38-13:13
The passage delinates the Nazarite vow. The vow of a special commitment to serve the Lord , being called to a separation to the Lord that calls for the exclusion of things such as grapes, wine, strong drink, and long hair which the NT clearly indicates ( 1 Cor 11) is given to woman for a glory , but on a man is a shame. Long hair speaks of submission; the wine , strong drink , grapes and the vine , those things which are appropriate to nature but the call of separation excludes them. Think of the Nazarite call in the light of Christ and all of the figures explode with portentious wonder. Ps 40 "Lo I come in the volume of the book it is written of me to do thy will Oh my God!" This applies to the Christian in application as well.
Christ concluded his Nazariteship in manhood, completing the work that the Father gave him to do ( JN 17)and gave all the glory to God in his death, resurrection and ascension to the Father.
Numbers 6
The Nazirite
1 The LORD said to Moses, 2 "Speak to the Israelites and say to them: 'If a man or woman wants to make a special vow, a vow of separation to the LORD as a Nazirite, 3 he must abstain from wine and other fermented drink and must not drink vinegar made from wine or from other fermented drink. He must not drink grape juice or eat grapes or raisins. 4 As long as he is a Nazirite, he must not eat anything that comes from the grapevine, not even the seeds or skins.
5 " 'During the entire period of his vow of separation no razor may be used on his head. He must be holy until the period of his separation to the LORD is over; he must let the hair of his head grow long. 6 Throughout the period of his separation to the LORD he must not go near a dead body. 7 Even if his own father or mother or brother or sister dies, he must not make himself ceremonially unclean on account of them, because the symbol of his separation to God is on his head. 8 Throughout the period of his separation he is consecrated to the LORD.
9 " 'If someone dies suddenly in his presence, thus defiling the hair he has dedicated, he must shave his head on the day of his cleansing—the seventh day. 10 Then on the eighth day he must bring two doves or two young pigeons to the priest at the entrance to the Tent of Meeting. 11 The priest is to offer one as a sin offering and the other as a burnt offering to make atonement for him because he sinned by being in the presence of the dead body. That same day he is to consecrate his head. 12 He must dedicate himself to the LORD for the period of his separation and must bring a year-old male lamb as a guilt offering. The previous days do not count, because he became defiled during his separation.
13 " 'Now this is the law for the Nazirite when the period of his separation is over. He is to be brought to the entrance to the Tent of Meeting. 14 There he is to present his offerings to the LORD : a year-old male lamb without defect for a burnt offering, a year-old ewe lamb without defect for a sin offering, a ram without defect for a fellowship offering, [a] 15 together with their grain offerings and drink offerings, and a basket of bread made without yeast—cakes made of fine flour mixed with oil, and wafers spread with oil.
16 " 'The priest is to present them before the LORD and make the sin offering and the burnt offering. 17 He is to present the basket of unleavened bread and is to sacrifice the ram as a fellowship offering to the LORD, together with its grain offering and drink offering.
18 " 'Then at the entrance to the Tent of Meeting, the Nazirite must shave off the hair that he dedicated. He is to take the hair and put it in the fire that is under the sacrifice of the fellowship offering.
19 " 'After the Nazirite has shaved off the hair of his dedication, the priest is to place in his hands a boiled shoulder of the ram, and a cake and a wafer from the basket, both made without yeast. 20 The priest shall then wave them before the LORD as a wave offering; they are holy and belong to the priest, together with the breast that was waved and the thigh that was presented. After that, the Nazirite may drink wine.
21 " 'This is the law of the Nazirite who vows his offering to the LORD in accordance with his separation, in addition to whatever else he can afford. He must fulfill the vow he has made, according to the law of the Nazirite.' "
The Priestly Blessing
This is a profoundly significant point. The blessing of the children of Israel follows the deliniation of the nazarite vow! How essential is the separation to the Lord in the life of the christian, and how perfect is the life , death, resrrrection, ascension, and Glory of Christ! This is completely fulfilled in the nazarite. Note there are 3 blessings, one for each person of the trinity!
22 The LORD said to Moses, 23 "Tell Aaron and his sons, 'This is how you are to bless the Israelites. Say to them:
24 " ' "The LORD bless you
and keep you;
25 the LORD make his face shine upon you
and be gracious to you;
26 the LORD turn his face toward you
and give you peace." '
27 "So they will put my name on the Israelites, and I will bless them."
Numbers 7
Offerings at the Dedication of the Tabernacle
1 When Moses finished setting up the tabernacle, he anointed it and consecrated it and all its furnishings. He also anointed and consecrated the altar and all its utensils. 2 Then the leaders of Israel, the heads of families who were the tribal leaders in charge of those who were counted, made offerings. 3 They brought as their gifts before the LORD six covered carts and twelve oxen—an ox from each leader and a cart from every two. These they presented before the tabernacle.
4 The LORD said to Moses, 5 "Accept these from them, that they may be used in the work at the Tent of Meeting. Give them to the Levites as each man's work requires."
6 So Moses took the carts and oxen and gave them to the Levites. 7 He gave two carts and four oxen to the Gershonites, as their work required, 8 and he gave four carts and eight oxen to the Merarites, as their work required. They were all under the direction of Ithamar son of Aaron, the priest. 9 But Moses did not give any to the Kohathites, because they were to carry on their shoulders the holy things, for which they were responsible.
10 When the altar was anointed, the leaders brought their offerings for its dedication and presented them before the altar. 11 For the LORD had said to Moses, "Each day one leader is to bring his offering for the dedication of the altar."
12 The one who brought his offering on the first day was Nahshon son of Amminadab of the tribe of Judah.
13 His offering was one silver plate weighing a hundred and thirty shekels, [b] and one silver sprinkling bowl weighing seventy shekels, [c] both according to the sanctuary shekel, each filled with fine flour mixed with oil as a grain offering; 14 one gold dish weighing ten shekels, [d] filled with incense; 15 one young bull, one ram and one male lamb a year old, for a burnt offering; 16 one male goat for a sin offering; 17 and two oxen, five rams, five male goats and five male lambs a year old, to be sacrificed as a fellowship offering. [e] This was the offering of Nahshon son of Amminadab.
18 On the second day Nethanel son of Zuar, the leader of Issachar, brought his offering.
19 The offering he brought was one silver plate weighing a hundred and thirty shekels, and one silver sprinkling bowl weighing seventy shekels, both according to the sanctuary shekel, each filled with fine flour mixed with oil as a grain offering; 20 one gold dish weighing ten shekels, filled with incense; 21 one young bull, one ram and one male lamb a year old, for a burnt offering; 22 one male goat for a sin offering; 23 and two oxen, five rams, five male goats and five male lambs a year old, to be sacrificed as a fellowship offering. This was the offering of Nethanel son of Zuar.
24 On the third day, Eliab son of Helon, the leader of the people of Zebulun, brought his offering.
25 His offering was one silver plate weighing a hundred and thirty shekels, and one silver sprinkling bowl weighing seventy shekels, both according to the sanctuary shekel, each filled with fine flour mixed with oil as a grain offering; 26 one gold dish weighing ten shekels, filled with incense; 27 one young bull, one ram and one male lamb a year old, for a burnt offering; 28 one male goat for a sin offering; 29 and two oxen, five rams, five male goats and five male lambs a year old, to be sacrificed as a fellowship offering. This was the offering of Eliab son of Helon.
30 On the fourth day Elizur son of Shedeur, the leader of the people of Reuben, brought his offering.
31 His offering was one silver plate weighing a hundred and thirty shekels, and one silver sprinkling bowl weighing seventy shekels, both according to the sanctuary shekel, each filled with fine flour mixed with oil as a grain offering; 32 one gold dish weighing ten shekels, filled with incense; 33 one young bull, one ram and one male lamb a year old, for a burnt offering; 34 one male goat for a sin offering; 35 and two oxen, five rams, five male goats and five male lambs a year old, to be sacrificed as a fellowship offering. This was the offering of Elizur son of Shedeur.
36 On the fifth day Shelumiel son of Zurishaddai, the leader of the people of Simeon, brought his offering.
37 His offering was one silver plate weighing a hundred and thirty shekels, and one silver sprinkling bowl weighing seventy shekels, both according to the sanctuary shekel, each filled with fine flour mixed with oil as a grain offering; 38 one gold dish weighing ten shekels, filled with incense; 39 one young bull, one ram and one male lamb a year old, for a burnt offering; 40 one male goat for a sin offering; 41 and two oxen, five rams, five male goats and five male lambs a year old, to be sacrificed as a fellowship offering. This was the offering of Shelumiel son of Zurishaddai.
42 On the sixth day Eliasaph son of Deuel, the leader of the people of Gad, brought his offering.
43 His offering was one silver plate weighing a hundred and thirty shekels, and one silver sprinkling bowl weighing seventy shekels, both according to the sanctuary shekel, each filled with fine flour mixed with oil as a grain offering; 44 one gold dish weighing ten shekels, filled with incense; 45 one young bull, one ram and one male lamb a year old, for a burnt offering; 46 one male goat for a sin offering; 47 and two oxen, five rams, five male goats and five male lambs a year old, to be sacrificed as a fellowship offering. This was the offering of Eliasaph son of Deuel.
48 On the seventh day Elishama son of Ammihud, the leader of the people of Ephraim, brought his offering.
49 His offering was one silver plate weighing a hundred and thirty shekels, and one silver sprinkling bowl weighing seventy shekels, both according to the sanctuary shekel, each filled with fine flour mixed with oil as a grain offering; 50 one gold dish weighing ten shekels, filled with incense; 51 one young bull, one ram and one male lamb a year old, for a burnt offering; 52 one male goat for a sin offering; 53 and two oxen, five rams, five male goats and five male lambs a year old, to be sacrificed as a fellowship offering. This was the offering of Elishama son of Ammihud.
54 On the eighth day Gamaliel son of Pedahzur, the leader of the people of Manasseh, brought his offering.
55 His offering was one silver plate weighing a hundred and thirty shekels, and one silver sprinkling bowl weighing seventy shekels, both according to the sanctuary shekel, each filled with fine flour mixed with oil as a grain offering; 56 one gold dish weighing ten shekels, filled with incense; 57 one young bull, one ram and one male lamb a year old, for a burnt offering; 58 one male goat for a sin offering; 59 and two oxen, five rams, five male goats and five male lambs a year old, to be sacrificed as a fellowship offering. This was the offering of Gamaliel son of Pedahzur.
60 On the ninth day Abidan son of Gideoni, the leader of the people of Benjamin, brought his offering.
61 His offering was one silver plate weighing a hundred and thirty shekels, and one silver sprinkling bowl weighing seventy shekels, both according to the sanctuary shekel, each filled with fine flour mixed with oil as a grain offering; 62 one gold dish weighing ten shekels, filled with incense; 63 one young bull, one ram and one male lamb a year old, for a burnt offering; 64 one male goat for a sin offering; 65 and two oxen, five rams, five male goats and five male lambs a year old, to be sacrificed as a fellowship offering. This was the offering of Abidan son of Gideoni.
66 On the tenth day Ahiezer son of Ammishaddai, the leader of the people of Dan, brought his offering.
67 His offering was one silver plate weighing a hundred and thirty shekels, and one silver sprinkling bowl weighing seventy shekels, both according to the sanctuary shekel, each filled with fine flour mixed with oil as a grain offering; 68 one gold dish weighing ten shekels, filled with incense; 69 one young bull, one ram and one male lamb a year old, for a burnt offering; 70 one male goat for a sin offering; 71 and two oxen, five rams, five male goats and five male lambs a year old, to be sacrificed as a fellowship offering. This was the offering of Ahiezer son of Ammishaddai.
72 On the eleventh day Pagiel son of Ocran, the leader of the people of Asher, brought his offering.
73 His offering was one silver plate weighing a hundred and thirty shekels, and one silver sprinkling bowl weighing seventy shekels, both according to the sanctuary shekel, each filled with fine flour mixed with oil as a grain offering; 74 one gold dish weighing ten shekels, filled with incense; 75 one young bull, one ram and one male lamb a year old, for a burnt offering; 76 one male goat for a sin offering; 77 and two oxen, five rams, five male goats and five male lambs a year old, to be sacrificed as a fellowship offering. This was the offering of Pagiel son of Ocran.
78 On the twelfth day Ahira son of Enan, the leader of the people of Naphtali, brought his offering.
79 His offering was one silver plate weighing a hundred and thirty shekels, and one silver sprinkling bowl weighing seventy shekels, both according to the sanctuary shekel, each filled with fine flour mixed with oil as a grain offering; 80 one gold dish weighing ten shekels, filled with incense; 81 one young bull, one ram and one male lamb a year old, for a burnt offering; 82 one male goat for a sin offering; 83 and two oxen, five rams, five male goats and five male lambs a year old, to be sacrificed as a fellowship offering. This was the offering of Ahira son of Enan.
84 These were the offerings of the Israelite leaders for the dedication of the altar when it was anointed: twelve silver plates, twelve silver sprinkling bowls and twelve gold dishes. 85 Each silver plate weighed a hundred and thirty shekels, and each sprinkling bowl seventy shekels. Altogether, the silver dishes weighed two thousand four hundred shekels, [f] according to the sanctuary shekel. 86 The twelve gold dishes filled with incense weighed ten shekels each, according to the sanctuary shekel. Altogether, the gold dishes weighed a hundred and twenty shekels. [g] 87 The total number of animals for the burnt offering came to twelve young bulls, twelve rams and twelve male lambs a year old, together with their grain offering. Twelve male goats were used for the sin offering. 88 The total number of animals for the sacrifice of the fellowship offering came to twenty-four oxen, sixty rams, sixty male goats and sixty male lambs a year old. These were the offerings for the dedication of the altar after it was anointed.
89 When Moses entered the Tent of Meeting to speak with the LORD, he heard the voice speaking to him from between the two cherubim above the atonement cover on the ark of the Testimony. And he spoke with him.
Footnotes:
1. Numbers 6:14 Traditionally peace offering ; also in verses 17 and 18
2. Numbers 7:13 That is, about 3 1/4 pounds (about 1.5 kilograms also elsewhere in this chapter
3. Numbers 7:13 That is, about 1 3/4 pounds (about 0.8 kilogram also elsewhere in this chapter
4. Numbers 7:14 That is, about 4 ounces (about 110 grams also elsewhere in this chapter
5. Numbers 7:17 Traditionally peace offering ; also elsewhere in this chapter
6. Numbers 7:85 That is, about 60 pounds (about 28 kilograms)
7. Numbers 7:86 That is, about 3 pounds (about 1.4 kilograms)
New International Version (NIV)
Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984 by International Bible Society
[NIV at IBS] [International Bible Society] [NIV at Zondervan] [Zondervan]
Mark 12:38-13:13
Thursday, November 08, 2007
Monday, October 15, 2007
Tuesday, October 09, 2007
Sunday, October 07, 2007
Jacob
Jacob's wanderings, a picture of Israel watched over but an outcast
Jacob becomes now the picture of cast-out and wandering Israel, heir of the promises, watched over, but an outcast. The wanderings of Abraham were in the land of promise; those of Jacob, out of it: two things very different one from another. God, indeed, was with Jacob, and never left him but Abraham walked with God: in the realisation of His presence he built his altar. Jacob had no altar; he was not in the place of promise. For such a path takes us out of communion. Although God in His faithfulness be with us, we are not with Him. However, so soon as he bows to the chastisement -- destitute, and with his staff, and a stone for his pillow, God reveals Himself to him, and assures to him all the promises, not in the full revelation of communion, but in a dream. And here all the promises are renewed, but with a notable difference from all before; for now the promise of the blessings to the nations is to him and his seed; for here we are in connection with Israel and the blessing of the earth. Thus it is not merely the one seed, Christ; but the seed of Israel in possession of the land -- the millennial possession of the earth.
But another promise was added, a precious and important one, that, outcast and a wanderer as he was, God would keep him in all places whither he went, and bring him back to the land, and fulfil all without fail, not leaving him till he had accomplished all. God was above; Jacob, the object of promise and blessing, of the earth; but earth was all under the providential control of heaven; and the angels had Jacob for their care, ascended and descended, accomplishing the will of God*. Awoke up, Jacob binds himself to Jehovah as his God -- for Jehovah stood at the top of the ladder; and thus He became, prophetically, the God of a restored Israel, with whom, though far from heaven, was the house of God on earth in connection with heaven. It was a legal though just vow, and all prophetic. He is now a stranger, and in many things represents Christ afflicted in the affliction of His people.
* Christ is the object in John; the ladder is merely to connect the scene.
Tuesday, August 28, 2007
Glories of the person of Christ
Mingled Glories Edward Dennett Mingled Glories
Edward Dennett
The divine and human glories of our blessed Lord are mingled and displayed in His name Jesus. By "mingled" we simply mean that the character of the Person of Christ is such that all that He is as God and as man is told out in His name and in His work. This will be clearly seen by considering the meaning of the name Jesus. As may be seen from Hebrews 4:8, Jesus is the Greek form of Joshua, or Jehoshua, which signifies "Jehovah is Salvation," or "whose salvation is Jehovah." There is therefore ample justification for the common observation that the name Jesus means Jehovah the Saviour.
What a subject for contemplation and adoration is brought before our souls in this Child born into the world of lowly parentage in man's esteem, yet divinely declared to be Jesus, Jehovah the Saviour, "for He shall save His people from their sins" (Matthew 1:21). It is the miracle of miracles, and for that very reason the revelation of the heart of God, when looked back upon in the light of the purpose of His coming into the midst of men.
How nice to end the readings this morning with this thought!
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Wednesday, August 22, 2007
Glories of the person of Christ
Mingled Glories Edward Dennett Mingled Glories
Edward Dennett
The divine and human glories of our blessed Lord are mingled and displayed in His name Jesus. By "mingled" we simply mean that the character of the Person of Christ is such that all that He is as God and as man is told out in His name and in His work. This will be clearly seen by considering the meaning of the name Jesus. As may be seen from Hebrews 4:8, Jesus is the Greek form of Joshua, or Jehoshua, which signifies "Jehovah is Salvation," or "whose salvation is Jehovah." There is therefore ample justification for the common observation that the name Jesus means Jehovah the Saviour.
What a subject for contemplation and adoration is brought before our souls in this Child born into the world of lowly parentage in man's esteem, yet divinely declared to be Jesus, Jehovah the Saviour, "for He shall save His people from their sins" (Matthew 1:21). It is the miracle of miracles, and for that very reason the revelation of the heart of God, when looked back upon in the light of the purpose of His coming into the midst of men.
How nice to end the readings this morning with this thought!
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Women silence in the Church
BibleGateway.com - Passage Lookup: Job 4:1-7:21;1corinthians 14:18-40;psalm 37:30-40;proverbs 21:27;
34 Let your[c] women keep silent in the churches, for they are not permitted to speak; but they are to be submissive, as the law also says. 35 And if they want to learn something, let them ask their own husbands at home; for it is shameful for women to speak in church.
The language of the Scripture is very plain, the failure is in obediance and the importation of the worlds thinking into the Church.
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Job -- teach me and I will be quiet
BibleGateway.com - Passage Lookup: Job 4:1-7:21;1corinthians 14:18-40;psalm 37:30-40;proverbs 21:27
"Teach me, and I will be quiet;
show me where I have been wrong.
25 How painful are honest words!
But what do your arguments prove?
Job seems to be honest here, his responce is to Eliphaz,but underneath there lies a spirit, of self righteousness that is at the root of what God sought to expose.
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Reading in Job
BibleGateway.com - Passage Lookup: Job 4:1-7:21;1corinthians 14:18-40;psalm 37:30-40;proverbs 21:27;
17(O) 'Can mortal man be in the right before[b] God?
Can a man be pure before his Maker?
What a tremendous question. The apostle Paul states in Romans , there is none righteous no not one. That All have sinned and come short of the glory of God, being justified freely by his grace thru the redemption that is in Christ Jesus
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Friday, August 10, 2007
D.A. Carson and biblical faithfulness
Enjoying God Ministries
“At what point does an ‘orthodoxy’ that is more ‘generous’ than God’s become heterodoxy? Not for a moment do I want a vote cast in favor of the narrow-minded, whining, fault-finding, picky, sectarianism with which Christianity has sometimes been afflicted. Rather, what is called for is biblical fidelity. One can be biblically unfaithful by being much narrower than Scripture; one can be biblically unfaithful by being much broader than Scripture. Both sides call it faithfulness; both sides are seriously mistaken. How can we know? By returning to Scripture, again and again, and refusing to be uncomfortable with the categories that God himself has given us, but seeking to learn and digest and believe and obey the whole counsel of God, as far as we see it, without flinching, without faddishness” (208).
Reading a reviewo fhe emerging church by D.A. Carson, I appreciated the above quote from Carson's ministry on galatians
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Wednesday, June 13, 2007
Titanic now took water on; folks stared in unbelief;
TITANIC
“If thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt
believe in thine heart that God hath raised Him from the dead, thou
shalt be saved.” (Romans 10:9).
TITANIC! Mighty ship of pride; the glory of the sea;
Invincible to ocean waves; O come and sail with me.
Gilded in grandest splendor known, for no expense was spared;
And she would sail the ocean blue—for all events prepared.
The “unsinkable” Titanic, invulnerable, they said;
And through the mighty ocean way she proudly, swiftly sped.
’Twas Captain Smith’s last ocean voyage, an honor great indeed;
And people from all walks of life wished all tIheir friends Godspeed.
“God, Himself couldn’t sink this ship!” some proudly did proclaim;
Then while some partied, others slept; an iceberg made its claim.
How could a bit of ice, my friend, pierce through that steel hull?
Ah, this grand ship regarded not the elements at all!
Titanic now took water on; folks stared in unbelief;
And others played on at their games, but party time was brief.
The lifeboats soon began to fill; women and children first;
And others scoffed at all the fuss, but there was little mirth.
The screams, the cries, the tears, the grief; young, old, the poor, the rich
Now scurried for a lifeboat berth; hundreds in vain did search!
The lifeboats, some but partly filled, moved from the ship away;
As gradually Titanic sunk with souls to watery grave!
Not one who joined that glorious ship knew of his awful end;
Few dreamed a problem there could be for ship so great, so grand.
Reminds me, friend, that you and I are on a journey too;
And many have not given a thought that they face dangers true.
For where, when the great trump shall sound, and time shall be no more,
Where will you spend eternity? On heaven’s happy shore?
Yes life for you, my friend, shall end, and you your God must meet;
And only those now saved by Christ in heaven shall have a seat.
Now confess Jesus Christ as Lord; He’ll cleanse you from all sin;
His mercy take, His peace receive; He calls—now come to Him!
C.H.K., Dec. ’97
Friday, March 16, 2007
Priesthood in Hebrews
Hebrews 5, 6.
We will read now to Hebrews 5: 10; and from there until the close of Hebrews 6 we may observe that the apostle turns aside to a parenthetic warning. He is full of that style; and our style with one another is full of it. Such little breaks and interruptions in a discourse are always grateful to us.
In the first ten verses of chapter 5 a most weighty matter is introduced to our thoughts. In the first verse we get a general abstract thought of priesthood. It is that thing which serves men in their relationships to God. Then the character of service is presented to us — "That he may offer both gifts and sacrifices for sins"; that is, that He may conduct both eucharistic services and penitential or expiatory services before God. He stands to conduct our interest with God in whatever form. He is "taken from among men" that He, may have compassion on the ignorant and on them that are out of the way. He is not, taken from among angels, therefore we read in Timothy, "the man Christ Jesus." God in ordaining a Priest for us has chosen One who can have compassion. We find at the close of Hebrews 7 that the Lord Jesus was separate from infirmity. But the priest here was one who by reason of infirmity could sympathise. The Lord Jesus had to learn how to sympathise, as well as to learn obedience by the things which He suffered.
Under the Old Testament scriptures two persons are distinctly set in the office of the priesthood — Aaron in Leviticus 8 and 9, and Phinehas in Numbers 25. The difference between them was this: Aaron was simply called into the priesthood; Phinehas acquired a title to it.
When we come to the Lord Jesus we find that both these, Aaron and Phinehas, are seen in Him. He was "called of God, as was Aaron." Aaron was a mere called priest. The priesthood of Numbers 25. stands in contrast with Aaron's. Phinehas was not called, as was Aaron, but he acquired his title. How did he do this? He made an atonement for Israel in the day of their great breach, touching the daughters of Baal-Peor and enabled the Lord to look with satisfaction again at His erring camp. Phinehas stood forward to avenge the quarrel of righteousness and to make atonement for the sin of the people. "And the Lord spake unto Moses, saying, Phinehas ... hath turned my wrath away from the children of Israel ...
Wherefore say, Behold I give unto him my covenant of peace ... even the covenant of an everlasting priesthood." Nothing can be finer than this. You could not have a more magnificent light in which to read the Christ of God than in that act of Phinehas. Aaron was never in this way entitled to a covenant of peace. So you have these two Old Testament lights in which to read the priesthood of the Lord Jesus.* He was the true Aaron and the true Phinehas.
*Melchisedec was a third. (Heb. 7)
Tuesday, January 16, 2007
Genesis 32:13-34:31 Jacob wrestling
Genesis 32:13-34:31
I think that the context shows that this is one of the Christotheophanies , the OT manifestation of the Son of God in angelic form. The name being "wonderfu", Jacob calls it Peniel, to reduce it to mere angelic intervention is a loss for reveling in the glorious person of the Eternal Son of God, God manifest in the flesh who in prophetic language said --my delights were with the Sons of Men!
I think that the context shows that this is one of the Christotheophanies , the OT manifestation of the Son of God in angelic form. The name being "wonderfu", Jacob calls it Peniel, to reduce it to mere angelic intervention is a loss for reveling in the glorious person of the Eternal Son of God, God manifest in the flesh who in prophetic language said --my delights were with the Sons of Men!
Sunday, January 07, 2007
64 Reasons The Rapture Of The Church Is Not The Second Coming Of Christ To Reign On Earth
Those who do not believe in the biblical doctrine of the Rapture of the Church, usually argue that there is only one Coming or return of Christ to the earth to judge the nations. Some hold that this One Coming is simply for taking the believers home to heaven, with a judgment to follow.
Those who hold to the Rapture of the Church are far more careful to observe what the Bible says in context. They can observe the simple fact that there is a difference between up and down. Believers go up to meet Christ in the air. The Second Coming is indeed truly a “coming” of the Lord down to the earth physically to establish the millennial kingdom promised to the Old Testament prophets.
Below is a list of verses and points, as shown in the Bible, highlighting the difference between the Rapture and the Second Coming of the Lord to reign on earth. Some wonder why there is a heated discussion about this issue. It is important for the following reasons:
-
First, if the Rapture truly is in Scripture, that is enough to make it important. In other words, every doctrine the Lord has given us has a purpose and is important, simply because He has given it to us!
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The Rapture is called the Blessed Hope. It promises redemption from the terrible seven year Tribulation so detailed in the book of Revelation.
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Generally speaking, those who deny the Rapture of the Church interpret the Bible in a “spiritualized” or “allegorical” way. They also fail to consider “contexts.” They deny certain passages of Scripture in the normal sense. By letting the Bible speak plainly in its teachings to us, we honor the Lord. We take His Word at face value!
Some general rules to note:
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Rapture passages are addressed to believers in the body of Christ. They are verses that speak of going directly back or up to the Lord in heaven.
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Second Coming passages have to do with the Lord coming down to earth to bless Israel, judge the nations, and rule the earth with a scepter of iron!
Comparison Of Rapture And Second Coming Verses:
| Rapture: | Christ prepares a place for us and takes us back to heaven. “I will come again and receive you to Myself” (John 14:1-3). |
| Second Coming: | Coming to reign and rule in Jerusalem, Christ’s feet touch upon the Mt. of Olives. “In that day His feet will stand on the Mount of Olives, which is in front of Jerusalem on the east; and the Mount will split in its middle” (Zech. 14:4). |
| Rapture: | Christ prepares a place in heaven. “I go to prepare a place for you” (John 14:2). |
| Second Coming: | Christ becomes a ruling king on earth. “The Lord will be king over all the earth” (Zech. 14:9). |
| Rapture: | The Church is with the Lord in heaven. “Where I am, there you may be also” (John 14:3). |
| Second Coming: | The Jewish people are with their king on earth. “And people will live in [Jerusalem], and there will be no more curse, for Jerusalem will dwell in security” (Zech. 14:11). |
| Rapture: | Announced by the trumpet of God (1 Thess. 4:16). |
| Second Coming: | Announced simply by a great trumpet (but not called the trumpet of God) (Matt. 24:31). |
| Rapture: | Those “in Christ” are gathered “to meet the Lord in the air” (1 Thess. 4:17). |
| Second Coming: | The “elect” gathered (of Jews and the nations) (Matt. 24:31) to come before the king on His earthly throne (Matt. 25:31). |
| Rapture: | The Lord descends from heaven with a shout (1 Thess. 4:16). |
| Second Coming: | The Lord does not shout (Scripture gives no indication of such). |
| Rapture: | The voice of the archangel is heard (1 Thess. 4:16). |
| Second Coming: | Many angels sound a great trumpet but their voices are not heard (Matt. 24:31). |
| Rapture: | No sign given for His coming. |
| Second Coming: | A sign is given (Matt. 24:30). |
| Rapture: | Called the Lord Jesus Christ (1 Thess. 5:9). |
| Second Coming: | Called the Son of Man. A distinct messianic term used to describe the earthly Davidic king who shall reign in Jerusalem (Matt. 24:30). |
| Rapture: | Comforting words for the Church. The Church will not mourn. “Comfort one another with these words” (1 Thess. 4:18). |
| Second Coming: | The nation of Israel will mourn. “Those who pierced Him will mourn” (Rev. 1;7). |
| Rapture: | The Scriptures do not indicate that the lost of the world will see His Rapture coming. |
| Second Coming: | The entire world will see the Son of Man coming. “All the tribes of the earth will mourn, and they will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of the sky” (Matt. 24:30). |
| Rapture: | The Church saints (those in Christ) will be caught up alive “to be together (with the resurrected Church saints) in the clouds” (1 Thess. 4:17). |
| Second Coming: | The Messiah, the Son of Man, comes with the clouds (Matt. 24:30) to gather the elect to the place of His earthly throne (25:31). |
| Rapture: | Christ’s power is not necessarily displayed openly to the world. |
| Second Coming: | He comes “with power and great glory” as the Son of Man to rule on earth (Matt. 24:31). |
| Rapture: | Called the Day of Christ (Phil. 1:6, 10; 2:16). Day of blessing for the believer. |
| Second Coming: | Called the Day of the Lord (1 Thess. 5:2). Day of judgment for the world, “When they (the world) says ‘Peace and Safety!’ then destruction comes upon them” (v. 3). |
| Rapture: | The Day of the Lord. “That day should not overtake you like a thief” (1 Thess. 5:5). |
| Second Coming: | The Day of the Lord. “Shall come [on them, the world] like a thief” (1 Thess. 5:2). |
| | |
| Rapture: | Believers in this Church age will be Raptured out of the Tribulation because they are sons of light, sons of the day (1 Thess. 5:5). |
| Second Coming: | Unbelievers left behind to face the Tribulation (the Day of the Lord) because they are of the night, of the darkness (1 Thess. 5:5). |
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| Rapture: | Believers will be Raptured because they are not destined for wrath (1 Thess. 5:9). |
| Second Coming: | Unbelievers will face the Day of the Lord because (implied) they are destined for wrath (1 Thess. 5:9). |
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| Rapture: | The Dead “in Christ” are raised (1 Thess. 4:16). |
| Second Coming: | No mention of the Dead “in Christ” being raised. |
| | |
| Rapture: | The Rapture takes place with no mention of the issue of sin. |
| Second Coming: | The Second Coming of Christ to judge because of the wickedness of the world. |
| | |
| Rapture: | No mention of Christ coming to rule on earth. |
| Second Coming: | Mentions that He comes to establish His earthly kingdom (Matt. 25:31-34). |
| | |
| Rapture: | No mention of believers “inheriting the kingdom prepared for you” (Matt. 25:34). |
| Second Coming: | The righteous “inherit the kingdom” (Matt. 25:34). |
| | |
| Rapture: | Christ does not do battle with His enemies at the Rapture. |
| Second Coming: | Christ does battle with His enemies at His Second Coming (Rev. 19:17-21). |
| | |
| Rapture: | Christ does not come to earth as a conquering warrior. |
| Second Coming: | He comes to earth as a conquering warrior (Rev. 19:11-16). |
| | |
| Rapture: | He comes as the Head of the Church. |
| Second Coming: | He comes as “King of Kings and Lord of Lords” (Rev. 19:16). |
| | |
| Rapture: | No earthly reign takes place. |
| Second Coming: | He reigns for a thousand years (Rev. 20:1-5). |
| Rapture: | Those Raptured resurrected are taken up to meet the Lord in the clouds (1 Thess. 4:17). |
| Second Coming: | Those in the resurrection at the beginning of the thousand year kingdom, “will be priests of God and of Christ and will reign with Him for a thousand years” (Rev. 20:6). |
| Rapture: | When the resurrected Church saints, and we the living Church saints, all together are taken up in the clouds, it is said “we shall always be with the Lord” (1 Thess. 4:17). Therefore, when Jesus comes to reign on earth for one thousand years, the Church Age saints will return with Him. |
| Second Coming: | Those resurrected at the beginning of the one thousand year reign are apparently those who died during the great Tribulation (Rev. 20:6). |
| Rapture: | Resurrection and Rapture only for “those in Christ.” |
| Second Coming: | A resurrection for Old Testament saints, that takes place after the “time of distress” (the Tribulation) (Dan. 12:1-2). |
| Rapture: | The unsaved people of the nations are unaffected and unchanged at the Rapture. |
| Second Coming: | The nations are judged and/or blessed when the Messiah comes to reign. |
| Rapture: | The nation of Israel is left unchanged when the Rapture takes place. |
| Second Coming: | The nation of Israel is gathered, judged, and the righteous Jews inter kingdom blessing. |
| Rapture: | No herald goes before to announce the Rapture. |
| Second Coming: | Elijah comes to announce the coming of the Messiah (Mal. 4:5). |
| Rapture: | Can happen at any moment. |
| Second Coming: | Comes at the end of the seven year Tribulation. |
| Rapture: | Not before revealed that Paul had to reveal (1 Thess. 4:13). That’s why Paul says he must tell believers about the Rapture so that they would not be ignorant of the fact. |
| Second Coming: | Throughly revealed in Old Testament promises and by Christ in the Gospels. |
| Rapture: | Called a “mystery,” something not before revealed (1 Cor. 15:51). |
| Second Coming: | The Second Coming is a well known fact taught throughout the Old Testament prophets. |
| Rapture: | Believers are changed (1 Cor. 15:51). |
| Second Coming: | Believers are not said to be changed, that is, those who believed during the Tribulation and are alive to enter the kingdom when the Messiah comes. |
| Rapture: | Before the Rapture, the believers are called those “in Christ” (1 Thess. 4:16). |
| Second Coming: | Those believing who are in the Tribulation (Rev. 6-19) are not called “Church saints” nor “those in Christ.” |
| Rapture: | Before the Rapture, the believers are called those “in Christ” (1 Thess. 4:16). |
| Second Coming: | Both Jew and Gentile who enter the kingdom in their natural body are never called “the Church” nor “those in Christ.” |
| Rapture: | When the Rapture takes place those in Christ are “changed, in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye” (1 Cor. 15:51-52). |
| Second Coming: | Though the Second Coming happens quickly, the event is still pictured as something that unfolds over (even) a short period of time. A sign in heaven is given, an earthly gathering takes place, both Jews and Gentile mourn at His coming, He steps onto the Mt. of Olives, He enters the city of Jerusalem. |
| Rapture: | When the Rapture and/or the resurrection of “those in Christ” takes place, the believer is given “the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ” over the issue of death (1 Cor. 15:57). |
| Second Coming: | When the Second Coming takes place, Christ comes as the victorious king and general. Following the kingdom and the Great White Throne Judgment, certainly all saints of all the ages past are given eternal life. But this is not mentioned as such at the Second Coming. |
| Rapture: | The exhortation to look for “the glorious appearing” of Christ for His own, the Church (Titus 2:13) loses its significance if the Tribulation must first intervene. Church believers, then, should look for signs. But they are not told to. |
| Rapture: | Creation is unchanged. |
| Second Coming: | Creation is changed by the blessings of the kingdom (Isa. 65:25). “The wolf and the lamb shall graze together, and the lion shall eat straw like the ox, … They shall do no evil or harm in all My holy mountain, says the Lord.” |
| Rapture: | At the time of the Rapture, or before, there is no indication that the Church saints will see the antichrist or the “power, signs, and false wonders” of Satan (2 Thess. 2:8-9). |
| Second Coming: | After the Rapture and sometime before the Second Coming of Christ, the antichrist will “display himself as being God” in the temple (2 Thess. 2:4; 8-9). |
| Rapture: | The Rapture is not the Day of the Lord which holds terror for the world. |
| Second Coming: | The Day of the Lord is a terrible event that the believers in the Church do not fear. “Do not be quickly shaken from your composure or be disturbed … to the effect that the day of the Lord has come” (2 Thess. 2:1-2). |
| Rapture: | The “coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and our gathering together to Him” is not the Second Coming (2 Thess. 2:1). |
| Second Coming: | The Day of the Lord is “a coming” to earth, not our being gathered to heaven (2 Thess. 2:2). |
| Rapture: | Christ is not said to destroy the antichrist “with the breath of His mouth and bring to an end by the appearance of His coming (2 Thess. 2:8). |
| Second Coming: | Christ destroys the antichrist at His coming (2 Thess. 2:8). |
| Rapture: | The Rapture is not called the Second Coming. |
| Second Coming: | This is virtually called the Second Coming in Hebrews 9:28. Christ “shall appear a “Second time” for salvation without reference to sin, to those who eagerly await Him. |
| Rapture: | In the Rapture “we” are “caught up” into the clouds (1 Thess. 4:17). “Caught up” in Greek means to suddenly “snatch, jerk away, remove quickly.” |
| Second Coming: | This is not said of the Second Coming. |
| Rapture: | For those who are now looking for the Rapture, a hope is given and causes a moral purification (1 John 3:2-3). |
| Second Coming: | This is not said of those looking for the Second Coming, though that is a glorious event in itself! |
Proofs of the Imminency of the Rapture
Imminency means that Paul taught that the Rapture could happen at any time to those to whom he was writing. The key to Rapture passages is Paul’s use of “we, you, us.” In other words believers now are to look for this catching away! (Sometimes these pronouns are not in the English Bible versions but they are implied in the grammar of the verbs Paul uses.)
The “you, we, us” passages addressed to the body of Christ, the Church saints
John 14:1-3
I go to prepare a place for you.
I will receive you to Myself.
Where I am, there you may be also.
James 5:7-9
[You] strengthen your hearts, for the coming of the Lord is at hand.
[You] behold, the judge is standing right at the door.
1 Thess. 1:9-10
You wait for His Son from heaven.
Jesus, who delivers us from the wrath to come.
1 Thess. 2:17-19
You [our hope], in the presence of our Lord Jesus at His coming.
1 Thess. 3:13
That [He may] establish your hearts … before our God and Father at the coming of our Lord Jesus with all His saints.
1 Thess. 4:13-18
We who are alive, and remain until the coming of the Lord, shall not precede those who have fallen asleep.
We who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds. We shall always be with the Lord.
You comfort one another with these words.
1 Thess. 5:1-11
You are not in darkness, that the day [of the Lord] should overtake you like a thief.
You are all sons of light and sons of day.
We are not of night nor of darkness.
But since we are of the day, let us be sober.
God has not destined us for wrath, but for obtaining salvation (deliverance) through our Lord Jesus Christ.
1 Thess. 5:23
May the Lord sanctify you … without blame at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.
2 Thess. 2:1-2
With regard to the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and our gathering together to Him.
[You] be not quickly shaken … to the effect that the day of the Lord has come.
1 Tim. 6:14
You keep the commandment … until the appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ.
1 Cor. 15:51-52
We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed.
The dead in Christ will be raised imperishable, and we shall be changed.
Phil. 3:20-21
Our citizenship is in heaven.
We eagerly wait for a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ.
[Christ] will transform the body of our humble state (or humiliated body).
Titus 2:13
[We are] looking for the blessed hope and the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior, Christ Jesus.
1 John 2:28
We may have confidence and not shrink away from Him in shame at His coming.
1 John 3:2-3
We know that, when He appears, we shall be like Him, because we shall see Him just as He is.
Everyone who has this hope fixed on Him purifies himself, just as He is pure.
A Key Passage: 1 Thessalonians 1:9-10
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The Thessalonian church was “serving” and “waiting for God’s Son from heaven.” (They were not just serving; they were not just waiting! They were doing both!)
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“Jesus who ‘rescues’ us away from the wrath (that is certainly) coming” (Greek)
http://www.tyndale.edu/dirn/articles/reasons.html
Friday, January 05, 2007
Zechariah thoughts on his ministry
Introduction
This prophet is one of the more compelling prophets in the OT. The ministry that he brings is that which attaches the hearts of a people that have returned from Babylon under the government of God, the 70 years (Jer 25) have been served and a remnant returned. Their hearts grew complacent and they turned to the cares of their own lives and neglected the calling of God. How like so many of us! The apostle Paul wrote to the Phillipians that none care with genuine feeling how they got on (Phil 2:20). The ministry of Haggai was preceeding and contemporary with the utterances and prepared the hearts ground fertile for the reception of the ministry of Zechariah of hope , grace and Messianic glory.
All scripture is quoted using The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. Copyright © 2001
Chapter 1
1 In the eighth month, in the second year of Darius, the word of the Lord came to the prophet Zechariah, the son of Berechiah, son of Iddo, saying,
The dating here is in the 2nd of the 4 kingdoms of Daniel 2, and the seat of governmental authority remains in the hands of the gentiles , we are in the "Times of the gentiles" . There is little said about Zechariah, the prophecy is 518 BC. he is of the priestly line and is both then prophet and priest.
2 The Lord was very angry with your fathers.
3 Therefore say to them, Thus declares the Lord of hosts: Return to me, says the Lord of hosts, and I will return to you, says the Lord of hosts.
4 Do not be like your fathers, to whom the former prophets cried out, Thus says the Lord of hosts, Return from your evil ways and from your evil deeds. But they did not hear or pay attention to me, declares the Lord.
5 Your fathers, where are they? And the prophets, do they live forever?
6 But my words and my statutes, which I commanded my servants the prophets, did they not overtake your fathers? So they repented and said, As the Lord of hosts purposed to deal with us for our ways and deeds, so has he dealt with us.
The history of the failure of the people is brought to bear on their conciences. How gracious our God is! Return to me and i will return to you How the Lord longs for each of his own to repent and do the first works, Rev 2. One of the things that strikes me as I read this is the appeal to the conciences of the hearers, that like Jehovah Elohim in the garden calling to Adam, we have here the pleading of a God who desperately desires to have his own intimately with himself. The heart of the Lord , is demonstrated to all who would hear the voice of him that speaks to the churches , as Judah , back to their land in weakness, were restord but not in the power of the millennium. They prided themselves on the Fathers, Jehovah said where were they , the prophets-- do they live forever? But the Lord proper points them and us to that which will never fail -- the Word of God that liveth and abideth forever. 1 Peter 1. The apostle Paul said the to Ephesian elders "I commend you to God and to the word of his grace" Acts 20. How appeals to Godly brethren, their writings , their ministry fall to the ground in the presence of the living powerful Word of God! How many times have brethren in Christ spent hours of precious time, citing men of past generations, seeking to apply “ principles” from Brother ___ ministry to the matter weighing on the conciences of the gathering rather than the Word of God. Do we think we are better than Israel? How powerfully the opening words of this ministry strike at our hearts!
Why the Lord of Hosts? The title has to do with the redemptive power of the Lord. He has dealt with the nation according to the relationship that springs out in redemption. The evaluation of the state of that nation springs from the role of redeemer.
7 On the twenty-fourth day of the eleventh month, which is the month of Shebat, in the second year of Darius, the word of the Lord came to the prophet Zechariah, the son of Berechiah, son of Iddo, saying,
1st vision that Zechariah saw, his linage but the vision comes at night, he is privy to it , it is his burden to bring it to his brethren.
8 I saw in the night, and behold, a man riding on a red horse! He was standing among the myrtle trees in the glen, and behind him were red, sorrel, and white horses.
9 Then I said, What are these, my lord? The angel who talked with me said to me, I will show you what they are.
10 So the man who was standing among the myrtle trees answered, These are they whom the Lord has sent to patrol the earth.
11 And they answered the angel of the Lord who was standing among the myrtle trees, and said, We have patrolled the earth, and behold, all the earth remains at rest.
The importance of recognizing the working of the powers of the unseen world is unquestioned. ( cmp Dan 10) The comment that the earth is at rest is striking. In the presence of the energies of the nations, the angelic representation in the riders of the horses. God could say the earth is at rest! He who works all things by the counsel of his own will, who the nations are a drop in the bucket, can say that the earth is at rest. Imagine the mind and heart of Zechariah! The sovereignty of God is clearly in view. That all of us could have God’s long view!
This prophet is one of the more compelling prophets in the OT. The ministry that he brings is that which attaches the hearts of a people that have returned from Babylon under the government of God, the 70 years (Jer 25) have been served and a remnant returned. Their hearts grew complacent and they turned to the cares of their own lives and neglected the calling of God. How like so many of us! The apostle Paul wrote to the Phillipians that none care with genuine feeling how they got on (Phil 2:20). The ministry of Haggai was preceeding and contemporary with the utterances and prepared the hearts ground fertile for the reception of the ministry of Zechariah of hope , grace and Messianic glory.
All scripture is quoted using The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. Copyright © 2001
Chapter 1
1 In the eighth month, in the second year of Darius, the word of the Lord came to the prophet Zechariah, the son of Berechiah, son of Iddo, saying,
The dating here is in the 2nd of the 4 kingdoms of Daniel 2, and the seat of governmental authority remains in the hands of the gentiles , we are in the "Times of the gentiles" . There is little said about Zechariah, the prophecy is 518 BC. he is of the priestly line and is both then prophet and priest.
2 The Lord was very angry with your fathers.
3 Therefore say to them, Thus declares the Lord of hosts: Return to me, says the Lord of hosts, and I will return to you, says the Lord of hosts.
4 Do not be like your fathers, to whom the former prophets cried out, Thus says the Lord of hosts, Return from your evil ways and from your evil deeds. But they did not hear or pay attention to me, declares the Lord.
5 Your fathers, where are they? And the prophets, do they live forever?
6 But my words and my statutes, which I commanded my servants the prophets, did they not overtake your fathers? So they repented and said, As the Lord of hosts purposed to deal with us for our ways and deeds, so has he dealt with us.
The history of the failure of the people is brought to bear on their conciences. How gracious our God is! Return to me and i will return to you How the Lord longs for each of his own to repent and do the first works, Rev 2. One of the things that strikes me as I read this is the appeal to the conciences of the hearers, that like Jehovah Elohim in the garden calling to Adam, we have here the pleading of a God who desperately desires to have his own intimately with himself. The heart of the Lord , is demonstrated to all who would hear the voice of him that speaks to the churches , as Judah , back to their land in weakness, were restord but not in the power of the millennium. They prided themselves on the Fathers, Jehovah said where were they , the prophets-- do they live forever? But the Lord proper points them and us to that which will never fail -- the Word of God that liveth and abideth forever. 1 Peter 1. The apostle Paul said the to Ephesian elders "I commend you to God and to the word of his grace" Acts 20. How appeals to Godly brethren, their writings , their ministry fall to the ground in the presence of the living powerful Word of God! How many times have brethren in Christ spent hours of precious time, citing men of past generations, seeking to apply “ principles” from Brother ___ ministry to the matter weighing on the conciences of the gathering rather than the Word of God. Do we think we are better than Israel? How powerfully the opening words of this ministry strike at our hearts!
Why the Lord of Hosts? The title has to do with the redemptive power of the Lord. He has dealt with the nation according to the relationship that springs out in redemption. The evaluation of the state of that nation springs from the role of redeemer.
7 On the twenty-fourth day of the eleventh month, which is the month of Shebat, in the second year of Darius, the word of the Lord came to the prophet Zechariah, the son of Berechiah, son of Iddo, saying,
1st vision that Zechariah saw, his linage but the vision comes at night, he is privy to it , it is his burden to bring it to his brethren.
8 I saw in the night, and behold, a man riding on a red horse! He was standing among the myrtle trees in the glen, and behind him were red, sorrel, and white horses.
9 Then I said, What are these, my lord? The angel who talked with me said to me, I will show you what they are.
10 So the man who was standing among the myrtle trees answered, These are they whom the Lord has sent to patrol the earth.
11 And they answered the angel of the Lord who was standing among the myrtle trees, and said, We have patrolled the earth, and behold, all the earth remains at rest.
William Kelly wrote
“And they answered the angel of Jehovah that stood among the myrtle trees, and said, We have walked to and fro through the earth, and, behold, all the earth sitteth still, and is at rest." I think that "red" is used symbolically as a sign of devotedness to God, whether in judgment, or in grace as in the rams' skins dyed red of the tabernacle, but even these founded on judgment. He who was on the red horse had been on the Lord's behalf the executor of His judgment, and was now using Persia as His instrument for so dealing and thus favouring the Jews. This was the second of the world powers, and two more were to follow as we see here. It would seem that the symbols here are rather of the angels whom Jehovah employs to overrule than of the kingdoms themselves which follow separately; and it is clear moreover that we have the connection of these powers with the history of the ancient people, but that people now in a strikingly abnormal state. We must remember that all through the last three prophets they are never owned as the people of God. This is of much importance. They are destined to be blessed and exalted more than ever as the people of God, but meanwhile they are seen out of national relationship with God. "They shall be my people," but they are not.
Such was and is then their state. Not that God ceased to care for them: the raising up of these post-captivity prophets, and above all the mission of the Messiah, prove the contrary.” http://www.stempublishing.com/authors/kelly/1Oldtest/zecharia.html
Also in the Consise Bible Dictionary states.
“The first vision is in Zech. 1: 7-17. A man, the angel of Jehovah, on a red horse (the horse is a symbol of the energy of God's providential government in the earth) stands in the shade among the myrtle trees, and there were other horses, red, speckled, and white, as symbols of God's agency in the government of the earth: cf. Zech. 6: 5. "The powers that be are ordained of God" and were used by Him. If the 'red' horse signifies Persia (having the same colour as the horse of the angel, possibly because Persia was at that time ruling and was favouring God's people), doubtless the 'speckled' and the 'white' point to the two nations that were to succeed — the Greek and the Roman. All were under the control of God. Babylon is not seen here: it had received its punishment.”
http://www.stempublishing.com/dictionary/818_839.html
Zech. 1: 7-17. This may be called "the vision of the horses among the myrtle-trees." The first of these horses had a rider on it, the others were in the rear, and, as far as we learn, were without riders.* The prophet asks the angel that waited on him what this meant. The rider upon the foremost horse tells him that these unridden horses were the agents of the Lord's pleasure in the earth. The unridden horses, the representatives of the Gentiles, then speak and say that the whole earth was still and at rest; that is, just as they would have it. For such, surely, was the mind of the nations of the earth, whom God had set up upon the degradation and fall of Jerusalem. So would they have it — their exaltation upon the ruin of God's people. *They are without riders, I believe, in order to represent the senseless, brutish force which marked the Gentiles, unguided as they were by the Spirit of God. The first horse was ridden by a man, a symbol of the divine energy that ruled the fortunes of Israel. It was "the angel of the Lord" that was the rider.
http://www.stempublishing.com/authors/bellett/MINORP11.html
The importance of recognizing the working of the powers of the unseen world is unquestioned. ( cmp Dan 10) The comment that the earth is at rest is striking. In the presence of the energies of the nations, the angelic representation in the riders of the horses. God could say the earth is at rest! He who works all things by the counsel of his own will, who the nations are a drop in the bucket, can say that the earth is at rest. Imagine the mind and heart of Zechariah! The sovereignty of God is clearly in view. That all of us could have God’s long view!
Thursday, January 04, 2007
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