Christ in all the scriptures REMISSION

 Christ in all the scriptures

Year of Jubilee-- Remission...all debts cancelled  Leviticus 25

Imagine you are in debt, and have been unable to pay it back, then the year of Jubilee is sounded by the blowing of trumpets.  All is well, for by Divine decree all debts are cancelled, you can make a fresh start!  Wouldn't that be something special in the present economic climate?  For example they say that a debt of £3.7 billion is owed to the electric providers in the wake of Covid-19, and the surge in price of electricity.  Were this to be the case in the Jubilee, this debt would be cancelled! (as well as every other debt!).  Debt is a reality of modern life; it may come through mismanagement of finances; or through circumstances beyond our control; or through the greed of the service providers with their interest charges and increase in prices.  What a blessing to know that every debt is cancelled every 50 years! This is what God decreed for Israel.

"Ye shall hallow the fiftieth year, and proclaim liberty throughout all the land unto all the inhabitants thereof: it shall be a jubilee unto you; and ye shall return every man unto his possession, and ye shall return every man unto his family"- Leviticus 25v10.

A cursory reading of the chapter will reveal that this was a proclamation of liberty from all debt, from slavery, and the restitution of all property and possessions lost in the previous 50 years.  This was God resetting the economy and giving everyone a fresh start.  In the enactment of this there was to be no arguments, simply to obey the edict from above.  In this matter the Lord states, "ye shall not oppress one another"-25v14, v17.  Again, what was said, to curtail natural tendencies, "If thy brother be waxen poor, and fallen in decay with thee, then thou shalt relieve him..."-25v35.  Again, "...ye shall not rule one over another with rigour"-25v46, v53.  God initiated a time of rich generosity of spirit, on the basis that the land was HIS (25v23), and everything in it was HIS as a consequence.  This was His wonderful way of redressing imbalance in Jewish society.  What a difference it would be if the present world was run according to the Divine thoughts!

Yet, in a spiritual sense it is so!!  Jesus declared in His home town of Nazareth the suspension of Divine judgment on the world and the introduction of the "ACCEPTABLE YEAR OF THE LORD" (the Spiritual year of Jubilee)-Luke 4v19/20.  Paul described this dispensation of God as the "dispensation of the grace of God (Ephesians 3v2), and "the day of salvation" (2nd Corinthians 6v2).  He said, "Behold now is the accepted time; behold now is the day of salvation".  Twice over the word BEHOLD...look intently, grasp the meaning of this, stop everything else you are doing and understand this"!  The day of vengeance of God on the world has been suspended and God has opened the day of grace.  this day has now run its course for nigh on 2000 years!  It will end sometime, and His wrath will begin, but right now the mercy of God is proclaimed.  In this first aspect we look at the DEBTS THAT ARE BEING CANCELLED from above right now.  Just as monetary debts in Israel were cancelled in the year of Jubilee, so in the present the moral debts of every believing soul are being cancelled.

To understand this we must understand that every sin we commit is a debt we owe to God, and that debt we can never repay.  There are three words used in the bible, sin, iniquity, and transgression, all of which occur multiple times, and all of which have afflicted all human beings.  Taking the first of these, SINS, they are shortcomings, failures, debts, we have before our Maker-refer Romans 3v23, "For all have sinned, and COME SHORT of the glory of God".  These are debts we owe to God, debts we cannot pay...we were created to worship Him, in the language of the first and great commandment, "Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind-Matthew 22v37.  This debt has been cancelled, as it has been paid in full by our Redeemer, and all we have to do is BELIEVE!  Another has paid our debt to God, and He has proclaimed the time of Jubilee across the whole world for 2000 years, and it is still in force.  Believe, before it closes, and the day of vengeance begins.  Be careful, this is not a mental assent to a doctrine, this is a heart belief in the word of the living God.  It is not about attending a church, or about doing good things to make up for the bad.  It is about believing God to the exclusion of all else and allowing Him into your life.  This happened to me in October1966 and I have never looked back, and have been blessed as a result.  This is a world wide proclamation, just as the Jubilee was for all the land and for all the inhabitants thereof.  Here is the word of the living God available to all right now if they will believe: it is my greatest joy to be able to share this with you.

BEHOLD

"Blotting out the handwriting of ordinances, that was against us, which was contrary to us, and took it out of the way, nailing it to His cross"  Colossians 2v14

"In whom we have redemption through His (Christ's) blood, the forgiveness of sins according to the riches of His grace"  Ephesians 1v7

"Be it known unto you therefore, men and brethren, that through this man is preached unto you the forgiveness of sins: and by Him all that believe are justified from all things, from which ye could not be justified by the law of Moses"  Acts 13v28-29

"For this is my blood of the New Testament (Covenant) which is shed for many for the remission of sins"  Matthew 26v28

"To give knowledge of salvation unto His people by the remission of their sins"  Luke 1v77

"And that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in His name among all nations, beginning at Jerusalem"  Luke 24v47

"And to Him give all the prophets witness, that through His name whosoever believeth in Him shall receive remission of sins"  Acts 10v43

Remission is the cancellation of all your sins in the records of heaven.  God forgives and pardons all sins, past, present and future.  He removes the guilt and the penalty due to your sins.  The offender is treated as though the sins had never been committed, as they were answered in Christ.  This is what God is doing today; it takes only a few seconds to deal with the greatest need of your soul.

GOD'S COVENANT

"Their sins and their iniquities will I remember no more"  Hebrews 10v17 (quotation from Jeremiah 31v34).

We are living in the biblical year of Jubilee!  Let us rejoice together.     

Christ in all the scriptures REST

 Christ in all the scriptures

REST   Leviticus 25

The year of Jubilee  The day of Salvation  The Accepted Time

We established before that the year of Jubilee in Israel was symbolic of God's salvation, and we look now at the first correlation, describing the wonderful features of God's rest.

God instructed Israel to sow and reap the land for six years, and every seventh year, the land must be rested.  "Six years shalt thou sow thy field, and six years shalt thou prune thy vineyard, and gather in the fruit thereof; but in the seventh year shall be a sabbath of rest unto the land, a Sabbath for the Lord..."-Leviticus 25v3-4.  Work six years and rest every seventh year, this was the commandment of the Lord.  Then after seven sabbaths of rest, every 50th year was to be a year of rest for everyone.  This was to be hallowed, and liberty proclaimed throughout the land-Leviticus 25v10.  Basing our thoughts on the fact that the year of Jubilee was a picture of God's salvation, we can say that the first principle of the Jubilee was rest.  God decreed that the land would rest every seventh year, and every 50th year the whole nation would rest.  In His wisdom He knew the need for rest for both land and people.  What a tremendous experience for everyone to have a year of rest every 50th year.  Any loss of produce, the Lord would make up Himself.  This pattern of living was good for the land and good for the people.  In this time of rest the people were to recover health and material losses during the period, and bask in the exceptional bounty of their God-Leviticus 25v8-50.  During this joyful year, there is no anxiety about provisions, no physical effort to reap the harvest, bodily rest and soul rest was the lovely outcome.

Thus the year of Jubilee focuses on the principle of rest, a very necessary aspect of life, both physical and spiritual.  To understand the power of this, we take knowledge of the condition of man without God.   Isaiah 57v20 says, "But the wicked (the lawless-not subject to the law of God) are like the troubled sea when it cannot rest, whose waters cast up mire and dirt".  What a vivid picture of man without God-subject to restlessness, producing random filth.  God knows this is what sin has done to mankind-refer Proverbs 4v16.  People living with endless problems, not knowing where to turn, beset with disillusionment, doubt and even despair.  Jesus called out to such people in their struggle, "Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.  Take my yoke upon you and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls.  For my yoke is easy, my burden is light"-Matthew 11v28-30.  Rest is part of God's salvation in Christ.  It does not suggest the absence of burdens, but it does mean the Majesty of heaven walking along with you step by step in life.  God's rest is facing the struggles of life with the help of God, something that many have already experienced.  This comes with salvation when you come to Jesus!  Peter wrote, "Casting all your care upon Him for He careth for you"-1st Peter 5v7. With God's real help you can face all problems in life, as Paul said, who faced many a struggle, "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me"-Philippians 4v13.  It is rest from anxiety, from fear and uncertainty; it is rest from the past, certainty for the future, and help for the present.  God's rest is declared in scripture, and is the blessing of all who trust Him.

Exodus 33v14, "And He (the Lord) said my presence shall go with thee, and I will give thee rest".

1st Kings 8v56, "Blessed be the Lord who hath given rest unto His people Israel, according to all that He promised: there hath not failed one word of all His good promise, which He promised by the hand of Moses His servant".

1st Chronicles 23v25, "For David said, the Lord God of Israel hath given rest unto His people, that they may dwell in Jerusalem forever".

Isaiah 63v14, "As a beast goeth down into the valley, the spirit of the Lord causeth him to rest: so didst thou lead thy people, to make thyself a glorious name".

Ezekiel 34v15, "I will feed my flock, and I will cause them to lie down (rest) saith the Lord God".

Matthew 11v28-30 (already quoted), Jesus said "I will give you rest....and ye shall find rest unto your souls".

No more anxiety, no more doubt, no more fear, just rest in the Lord!

Hebrews chapter 4 expands on God's salvation being rest to the believer:                                Entry into this rest is not by works but by faith in Christ-3v19, 4v1-10.  Entry into it involves hearing the word of the living God in your soul.  God rested on a finished work-Genesis 2 and Hebrews 4.  To be in the good of God's rest we must have faith in the finished work of Christ, which is the major theme of the letter to Hebrews.

For forgiveness for sins that are past, for the prospect of freedom from sin in the future, for blessed Divine help in the present, WE REST IN GOD!

This is the first cameo from the year of Jubilee, and we rejoice in Christ Jesus

Christ in all the scriptures Year of Jubilee

 Christ in all the scriptures

The year of Jubilee   Leviticus 25

"And thou shalt number seven sabbaths of years unto thee, seven times seven years; and the space of the seven sabbaths of rest shall be unto thee forty and nine years.  Then thou shalt call the trumpet of the jubilee to sound, on the tenth day of thee seventh month, in the day of atonement shall ye make the trumpet sound throughout all your land.  And ye shall hallow the fiftieth year, and proclaim liberty throughout all the land, unto all the inhabitants thereof: it shall be a jubilee unto you: ; and ye shall return every man unto his possession, and ye shall return every man unto his family"-Leviticus 25v8-10.

This was GOD'S ECONOMY, this was God's decree as to how a nation should be run, that every 50 years the economy would be reset, and a fresh start was made by all.  This ensured that no one became too rich, or too poor, that everyone dwelt within the rich provision of the Almighty, that He was praised for His goodness, and all were blessed in His generosity.  The salient features were as follows: In the year of Jubilee...

EVERY DEBT WAS CANCELLED

EVERY PRISONER WAS RELEASED

EVERY SLAVE WAS FREED

EVERY POSSESSION LOST WAS RETURNED TO ITS ORIGINAL OWNER

These commands of God are found in the narrative in chapter 25v8-50.   What would modern politicians make of this??!!  The scandal of USURY (exorbitant interest charged on goods and services supplied), leading to the ever widening gap between rich and poor is contrary to the mind of God, and, indeed, is forbidden in His word.  The transgressors will need to account for this in the judgment.  All this results in the enrichment of the few, and the impoverishment of the many, not what God intended at all.  Worse still, God is omitted from the calculations, with the result that He withdraws blessing, resulting in severe economic problems for the world, such as we have now, not to mention the greed that leads to global conflict.                                                                                                               

God's way is always better than man's way, and, until we heed Him, we shall never progress. We can study this wonderful provision of an all wise God under a number of headings:                                                                                                                                REST, REMISSION, RELEASE, RECONCILIATION, RESTORATION, REDEMPTION.  All amazing concepts, only truly possible with the help of our marvellous Creator.  We are all utterly dependent on Him for our daily food and clothing.  He is a Faithful Creator, and it is high time this world started heeding Him.  He knows us better than we know ourselves, and He knows what is good for us.

There is little doubt that this year of Jubilee accorded to Israel is wonderfully symbolic of God's salvation, and we will take our time to consider the blessings within it.  Enough for now to say it was a time of great joy in the nation, and mutual respect, a time of co-operation, and satisfaction for all. 

Fast forward to the New Testament in Luke chapter 4v16-22, when Jesus returned to His home town of Nazareth.  It is certain that this was the year of Jubilee in Israel, for Jesus made a remarkable claim, during His sermon, quoting from the Messianic prophecy of Isaiah (chapter 61v1-3).  The Jubilee required every man to return to his family (Leviticus 25v10).  This He did, and in the sermon He said at the close of the reading, "...To preach the acceptable year of the Lord...and He closed the book...and began to say unto them, "This day is this scripture fulfilled in your ears".  The acceptable year of the Lord is a reference to the year of Jubilee, and He was here marking an important dispensational change in God's dealings with the world.  So Luke 4 is the New Testament version of Leviticus 25.   Jesus closed the book in the middle of a prophetic verse, thus making a bold statement.  What follows the acceptable year of the Lord is "the day of vengeance of our God".  He was here proclaiming that the day of vengeance was suspended while the Year of Jubilee was in force!  He said, "This day is this scripture fulfilled in your ears".  What is the message? that God's day of grace, the fulfilment of the Jubilee, has been ushered in and judgment to come has been suspended until the dispensation of grace has run its course.  This surely is the high point of God's dealing with mankind.  At the announcement of Christ in Luke 4, and, supported by numerous scriptures, we are now living in the greatest time ever afforded to this world.   Paul wrote in 2nd Corinthians 6 of "the time accepted"-verse 2, "I have heard thee in a time accepted, and in the day of salvation have I succoured thee: behold now is the accepted time; behold now is the day of salvation".   We are now living in the New Testament equivalent of the year of Jubilee in Israel.  We can now apply the various features of that tremendous year to the saints of God today.

Christ in all the scriptures Holy, Holy, Holy!

 Christ in all the scriptures

Holy, Holy, Holy!  Leviticus 24

Across the entire chapter could be written the acclamation of the Seraphim to the thrice holy God, "Holy, Holy, Holy, is the Lord God of hosts: the whole earth is full of His glory"-Isaiah 6v3.  In chapter 24v1-4 the holy oil for the lampstand; v5-9 the holy bread for the table; v10-23 the holy name of the Lord which all were to revere in deed as well as in word.

In the Holy place we note that it was "pure olive oil beaten for the light"-v2; the light was from the "pure lampstand"-v4.  It was the "pure table" for the bread, and it was "pure frankincense" poured upon it-v6-7.  At the outer camp we could write across the verses, "Hallowed be thy name".

HOLY OIL FOR THE LAMPSTAND-24v1-4       "Command the children of Israel, that they bring unto thee pure oil olive beaten for the light, to cause the lamps to burn continually".  The oil is interpreted as the Holy Spirit (Zechariah 4v1-6.  Placed, as it is, at the outset of the chapter, the lesson is obvious-the work of God is dependent on the operation of the Spirit of God.  This is true in all generations, whatever the work being done, it must be in the power of the Spirit, as was said to Zechariah, "not by might, nor by power, but by my Spirit saith the Lord".   The people were to supply it, this makes the need to always act in the Spirit, very personal.  It must be pure (unmixed with foreign matter), beaten (ultimately the fruit would be crushed but the initial beating of the olives produced the purest oil)  Its purpose was to enable the lamps to burn continually; the light of God must never go out.  The pure oil of the Spirit enables the light to burn continually.  Every day, of every month of every year, over the centuries, the light of God shines, both on the godless world, and in the hearts of His people.  In Divine patience, amidst much mocking and criticism, and rejection (beaten oil), the Spirit calls incessantly, calling sinners to repentance (refer Paul in Romans 10v21 "All day long, I have stretched out my hands unto a disobedient and gainsaying people".  Believers should also be aware of the role of the Spirit in their lives and service for God, in their conversion to Christ (Ephesians 1v13); in the giving of gifts (1st Corinthians 12v4; in their practical unity (Ephesians 4v3-4); in their prayer life (Romans 8v26-27; and in our eventual translation to heaven (Romans 8v11).  Even with us He is like the beaten oil, for we can grieve Him, and we can quench Him in the course of His work.  He never complains, He never ceases, the light burns continually!  He shines light on the beautiful lampstand. the revelation of Christ as the light of the world.  "He is the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth Him not, neither knoweth Him..."-John 14v17.  To those who know Him, "He shall glorify me, for He shall receive of mine, and shall show it unto you"-John 16v14.  This is the pure testimony of the Spirit in unceasing light. 

Aaron the High Priest controlled the lighting of the lamps.  Jesus, our great High Priest, oversees the burning of the lamps.  Revelation chapters 2/3 describes the seven churches of Asia as the "seven golden lampstands"-Rev. 1v20, 2v1.  In Rev. 1v12-13 we see that Christ walks in the midst of the seven lampstands.  Just as Jesus declared He was the light of the world, He also said the disciples were the light of the world (Matthew 5v14).  The seven churches of Asia were the light of God in that region.  Jesus oversees the work, He "walks in the midst, checking the oil, trimming the wicks to enable the light to shine continually.  There was even one church (Ephesus where He threatened to remove the lampstand for it was no longer reflecting Him.  Churches today take note!   The lamps were to be burning brightly "from the evening until the morning", that is through all the hours of darkness.  Scriptures are clear that this world is in moral darkness, it is blinded by the deception of Satan.  They cannot see the light, except through us, and we are called to shine in our words and our works-Philippians 2v15 "That ye might be blameless, and harmless, the sons of God without rebuke, among whom ye shine as lights in the world".  Jesus in Matthew 5v16, "Let your light so shine before men that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven".

HOLY BREAD FOR THE TABLE    As much as the oil for the lamps speaks of testimony, the bread for the table speaks of fellowship.  Note the superlative language describing the table of the Lord: fine flour used for the bread, flour without lumps or impurities: two tenth deals in every cake of bread ( a tenth deal is an omer, one tenth of an ephah-being the largest commercial weight for transportation.  In Exodus 16v16, when collecting the manna for their daily portion, the Lord said "for every man an omer")  Each bread cake consisted of two tenth deals so the thought is of a generous portion.  Twelve cakes had to be baken, representing the twelve tribes, thus ALL the people of God!  They were set in two rows of six, symbolising  man in fellowship with one another, and with God.  They were placed upon the pure table, designed meticulously by God, and constructed with equal precision by men.  Pure frankincense was to be poured upon each row as a memorial before the Lord of the perfection of Christ (whom the bread symbolises-refer John 6 and 1st Corinthians 10).  Every seven days on the sabbath the bread was to be refreshed, and the bread which had been the food of God for seven days was shared among all the officiating priests.  We could summarise it like this:  The fineness of the flour-the purity of Christ; the fulness of the portions-the generosity of the people in returning to God a little of His bounty; the fellowship of the redeemed-the unity of all God's people (a truth that has been cast aside in modern times with all our schisms and divisions); the fragrance of the frankincense-the delight brought to the heart of God by the perfect manhood of Christ; the freshness of the bread-the constant renewal of fellowship, nothing stale in priestly service for God!  This is the theme of the Corinthian epistles from beginning to end-the sacred fellowship of God with His people:

"God is faithful, by whom ye were called unto the fellowship of His Son, Jesus Christ our Lor1st Corinthians 1v9.

"The bread which we break, is it not the communion of the body of Christ? For we, being many are one bread and one body: for we are all partakers of that one bread"-1st Corinthians 10v16-17.

"The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Ghost, be with you all.  Amen"-2nd Corinthians 13v14.

THE HOLY NAME OF GOD   In the Holy Place, next to the Holy of Holies, where only the eye of God can see, and the officiating priests, all is light and beauty; all is provided, and there is order, and fragrance, and purity, and unity, and dignity.  But the view from the outside camp is altogether different.  There is strife in the camp, and blasphemy, and cursing, and disorder, and confusion, and, ultimately Divine judgment.  How close to reality this is of humanity who can corrupt even the most sacred of privileges.  Privilege and responsibility are at odds.  The sanctuary of God is tarnished with external commotion.

The problem started in one man who was the child of unequal yoke-"the son of an Israelitish woman, whose father was an Egyptian"-24v10.  This man who had travelled with the children of Israel from Egypt, must have been part of the "mixed multitude" who left Egypt at the Passover.  These were not pure Israelites, and, possibly had never come under the protection of the Passover, due to idolatrous Egyptians being opposed to Israel, and considered sheep and lambs to be an abomination.  Nevertheless, the Lord allowed their presence in the camp for the sake of family connections.  This is similar to the "wheat and the tares" in Matthew 13, where the injunction was "Let both grow together until the time of harvest".  The reality is that in any community of God's people there may be some who are not the Lord's, but they are among us through other associations.  It is not for us to determine the spiritual standing of anyone, only the Lord knows that, and He will deal with it in time.  In this instance, the reality came sooner, and this person blasphemed and cursed the name of the Lord in the camp of Israel.  This is a direct breach of the third commandment (Exodus 20v7) and was punishable by stoning (Leviticus 24v16).  The sanctity of the name of the Lord must be preserved in the congregation.  A shocked community had to participate in the stoning of an individual at the command of the Lord.  This is hard, as the ultimate punishment, but God's people must revere the name of God.  

Additionally they must revere human life, for man was made in the image of God, and to kill another person is punishable by death at the command of the Lord.  The fact that the laws of the land are at odds with this does not alter the Divine injunction which is unmistakeable "He that killeth any man shall surely be put to death"-Leviticus 23v17.  This is repeated in verse 21, there is no doubt about the mind of the Lord on murder.

Again there is to be reverence for other people's persons and property (v18-22).  "And he that killeth a beast shall make it good, beast for beast.  And if a man cause a blemish in his neighbour: as he has done, so shall it be done unto him; breach for breach, eye for eye, tooth for tooth: as he hath caused a blemish in a man, so shall it be done unto him again...ye shall have one manner of law, as well for the stranger, as for one of your own country: for I am the Lord your God".

 Sanctity to the name of the Lord; sanctity to the life of men made in the image of God; sanctity to their beasts for livelihood; sanctity to their persons and property.  This is the thrust of the chapter, and where things are unjust, restitution must be made.  Sanctity to His Holy name also involves respect to His creatures in every way.  James wrote that it is folly to bless God and curse men.  Our attitude to our fellow man may reflect our attitude to the Lord.

Deep thought must be given as to what holiness means to me, if I am truly to serve Him.  In the Holy place we see the blessings God has given us.  My prayer must be, "Lord, help me to adorn the doctrine of God our Saviour in all things".    

Christ in all the scriptures Leviticus 24

 Christ in all the scriptures

Privilege and Responsibility  Leviticus 24

Sandwiched, as it is, between two of the classic chapters of the Old Testament, at first reading chapter 24 seems out of place; however, on reflection, it is this apparent deviation from the flow of revelation that makes it very special.   In chapter 23, the Holy Spirit has treated us to the delight of God's appointed times, from the Passover to the Tabernacles, outlining God's panoramic plan of salvation.  In chapter 25 we shall experience the thrill of the year of Jubilee in which all the consequences of loss and failure will be reversed, and great liberty will be proclaimed.  In the meantime, in chapter 24, from these heady heights, He brings us back down to issues of practical importance, that these wonderful blessings of God should issue in holiness of living for all concerned.  His ways are higher than our ways, and His thoughts higher than ours, as Isaiah the prophet states, and there is much we can learn from this chapter, while revelling in the wonderful works of God.  He does the same in the New Testament epistles, where doctrinal presentation is followed by hard practice, as in Ephesians 1-3, followed by 4-6; and Colossians 1-2, then 3-4.  There are many other examples and God wants us to translate the doctrinal riches into practical living.  So what can we learn from Lev. 24?

The Spirit takes us immediately into the holy place (24v1-9), where all is pure and in order to the Divine satisfaction; then we are taken to the outside camp (24v10-23), where there are many things imperfect, and characterised by disorder.  It is a picture of the ongoing tension between doctrine and practice, between standing and state, between privilege and responsibility.  What God has planned for His people will, in eternity, be fulfilled to perfection; until then, in this life, there will always be imperfections that need to be dealt with.  This is the message of Leviticus 24, between God's perfect plan and its glorious outcome.  An instance of this is found in Numbers 24v1-5, when the Spirit of God came upon the false prophet Balaam.  From a distance he saw the camp of Israel spread out in the wilderness, and what He saw was the Divine estimate of the glorious spectacle, "He hath said, which heard the words of God, which saw the vision of the Almighty, falling into a trance, but having his eyes open: HOW GOODLY ARE THY TENTS O JACOB, AND THY TABERNACLES, O ISRAEL!"  This was God's view of things, yet, in the surrounding narrative, on the ground, and from the human point of view, it was somewhat different.  They were murmuring for the lack of water, they challenged the authority of Moses and Aaron, who both reacted badly (chapter 20).  They hankered back for the things of Egypt, and the Lord sent fiery serpents among them (chapter 21).  In the land of Moab where they dwelt at the time, they committed adultery in mass with the Moabites and incurred the displeasure of the Lord (chapter 25).  Yet, through the eyes of a false prophet (chapter 24) they were seen in perfection.  The Lord sees beyond their imperfections to the eternal state when all will be perfect.  This is still how it is, but there is a word of warning here, and that is, we should not be making excuse for imperfections, but deal with them as they arise.  We are in a position of great privilege, as we see in v1-9; but we must act responsibly to put right the things that are wrong in our midst (v10-23).  Those of us who have received such bounty from heaven above, should be concerned with the honour and holiness of God.  This chapter is a deliberate interjection by the Spirit of God.  It is all too common these days, for the "last days scenario" to be used as an excuse for failure.  Repeated excuses like, "we are in the last days, what can we expect"?  The Lord expects us to put wrongs right, to continually strive for perfection.  A reading of the second half of Ephesians 4 will make this abundantly clear, and this refers to every believer and every church.  Anything less is unworthy of the Majesty of heaven

In the oil olive, we have the light of God in Christ shining continually in the darkness of this world (v1-4).

In the bread for the table we have the fellowship of all God's people refreshed on a regular basis (v5-9)

In the outside camp we have the honour and sanctity of God preserved as He continues to dwell among them, even with their failures (v10-23).

These are the three sections of the chapter, which we can now consider in detail.

 

Christ in all the scriptures The feast of tabernacles

 Christ in all the scriptures

Sukkot...the feast of tabernacles  Leviticus 23v33-44

Scripture references:  Numbers 29v12-34; Deuteronomy 16v13-15; Zechariah 14v16-19; John 7v2v8v10-14,v37-39.

We come now to the final feast of the calendar year in Israel, the feast of tabernacles, or Sukkot as it is officially known.  This was a most solemn occasion, yet a supremely joyous one, when everyone in Israel celebrated the gracious and hallowed provision of God.  This took place following the repentance of all Israel, and prior to the "eighth day" the sabbath of rest.  Commencing on the fifteenth day of the seventh month (Tishri), and lasting seven days, the procedure for each day is recorded in Numbers 29v12-34.  What is detailed there is the every day sacrifices and offerings to the Lord.  We recall that the seven feasts are actually appointed times of the Lord, where He sets out the important time marks for His people in their association with Him.  They were the feasts of the Lord, not of Israel or any other people.  They all have prophetic implications beyond the chosen nation, and relate directly to Christ.  The first four are fulfilled in the first advent of Christ; the final three are yet to be fulfilled, as they will be in Christ, and relate to His second advent.  Beginning with the sounding of trumpets for the completion of the Church (harvest), and the regathering of Israel; then the spiritual awakening of Israel to the acknowledgement of Christ as Messiah; now culminating in the tabernacle of God dwelling among them.

Sukkot comes from Succoth, the place where they first encamped following their deliverance from Egypt (Exodus 12v37-51).  Succoth means booths or tents (temporary dwelling places).  They were pilgrims on a journey and this was their mode of living until they entered the promised land.  The symbolism of the tabernacle, however, was much more than just a dwelling place, it symbolised God dwelling with people on the basis of sacrifice.  The visible representation of the invisible God with them was the pillar of cloud by day, and the pillar of fire by night-Exodus 25v8, "Let them make me a sanctuary that I may dwell (tabernacle) among them".   Thus the feast of tabernacles was a commemoration of Divine deliverance from Egypt's bondage.  They were never to be allowed to forget this amazing release from 430 years of slavery.  This feast was one of three mandatory feasts;  to perpetuity, all males in Israel must travel to Jerusalem for the feast.  We see it in John chapter 7, when Jesus proclaimed Himself to be the provider of living water to all the thirsty, on the last great day of the feast; we see it even in Zechariah 14, when in the great millennial kingdom of Christ, it will be mandatory for all nations to attend the feast of tabernacles at Jerusalem every year at the same time (15th day of the seventh month), failure to do which will result in severe Divine sanctions.  We ponder the character of such an event that all must attend, from Israel and from all nations of the earth, for this will continue through 1000years!

The festival of tabernacles is a reminder that GOD IS WITH US.

It was to be a statute forever in all generations of the nation (Leviticus 23v41).  The New Testament commences with the birth of Emmanuel (God with us-Matthew 1v23).  The same gospel ends in chapter 28v20 with the promise from the all powerful Christ to be with the disciples "even unto the end of the age"-this in the context of teaching all nations of the earth.  The last book of the New Testament declares "The tabernacle of God is with men, and He will dwell with them, and they shall be His people, and God Himself shall be with them, and be their God"-Revelation 21v3.

It is a declaration of absolute PEACE AND SECURITY.  No one opts to dwell in tents under the threat of invasion from their enemies.  Israel, as a nation, has suffered more opposition and persecution in their history.  They are surrounded by and swamped by numbers who wish their extermination.  Yet, here they are celebrating the festival of tabernacles in absolute peace, with not an enemy in sight.  It is this peace and security that rile the confederation of Gog (the northern kingdom and its allies( to attack them in the future, "Thou shalt ascend and come like a storm, thou shalt be like a cloud to cover the land, thou, and all thy bands, and many people with thee...and thou shalt say, I will go up to the land of unwalled villages, I will go to them that are at rest, that dwell safely, all of them dwelling without walls, and having neither bars or gates"-Ezekiel 38v9-11.  The marauding northern kingdom, led by Russia, will invade Israel.  There was no need for walls or bars or gates, and the only protection they needed was the knowledge that the Lord of heaven declared "I am against thee, O , Gog, the chief prince of Meshech and Tubal..."-Ezekiel 39v1.  The prophecy says that the enemies of God's people will be annihilated-the KJV says that one sixth of their armies will be spared, but most other versions suggest complete annihilation).  More than that, the nations of those who take part in this atrocity will suffer the immediate judgment of God.  This is the protection, the security, the peace, the rest of those who are the Lord's, and this will be fulfilled in due time.  And what shall we say about the great eternity to come, when all God's people shall be at rest.  We can enter into now, for Jesus said, "I will give you rest...and ye shall find rest for your souls"-Matthew 11v28-29.  He is also the "Prince of peace"-who will bring all wars to an end, and rule in righteousness (Isaiah 9v6).

It will be a time of great rejoicing and celebration in Israel   "Ye shall rejoice before the Lord your God seven days.  And ye shall keep it a feast unto the Lord seven days in the year.  It shall be a statute forever in your generations: ye shall celebrate it in the seventh month" (Lev.23v40-41).  They had great cause for celebration, for deliverance from centuries of slavery in Egypt; for protection from their enemies which were many; for His gracious provision in the full harvest; for His gift of the promised land (those who oppose this fact, in the present day, need to realise this is God's decree promised over more than 3500 years ago, and who can fight against God?).  Above all the rejoicing and celebration is for the spiritual blessings granted to them in the symbolism of the offerings, that were engaged for each of the seven days of festivities.  These are recorded in Numbers 29v12-34: on the first day a burnt offering consisting of 13 young bullocks, 2 rams, and 14 lambs of the first year, without blemish; also a grain offering, and a sin offering...", and so on each day until the seventh day.  All these offerings symbolise the one offering of Christ in its different aspects. Who can compute the numberless spiritual blessings that come to all believers through the one offering of Christ-cause for rejoicing and celebration indeed!  All through seven days there was a memorial of the rich meaning of the burnt offering and the grain offering and the offering for sin, and the drink offerings.  What God has done for Israel and all of us in Christ will never be forgotten!

All this before the eighth day of sabbath rest, pointing to the eternal state, when there will be rest and peace forever with God and His people in blest union and communion forever.  The fourth verse of Horatius Bonar's hymn seems relevant:

"We thank thee for the hope, so glad and sure and clear;                                                            It holds the drooping spirit up                                                                                                Till the long dawn appear                                                                                                          Fair hope with what a sunshine does it cheer                                                                            Our roughest path on earth, our dreariest desert here".

Christ in all the scriptures Day of Atonement

 Christ in all the scriptures

The day of atonement...Israel's repentance  Leviticus 23v26-32

Scripture references: Leviticus 16v1-34; 23v26-32. 

Set on the tenth day of the seventh month (Tishri), the day of atonement (Yom Kippur) was one of the most important days in Israel's calendar.  It was the defining moment of their entire year, a most holy day, when all in Israel engaged in soul searching and repentance.  "Also on the tenth day of this seventh month there shall be a day of atonement: it shall be a holy convocation unto you...".  Twice over the Lord said, "Ye shall afflict your souls"-23v27,v32.  Also twice over they were commanded to do no work-23v28, v31.  From the evening of the ninth day of the month, "from even unto even", they were to do no manner of work and they were to search their souls and confess their sins.  For this entire period there were to be no distractions from the exercise of afflicting themselves before God.  The word used is ana which is variously rendered afflict, humbled, forced, troubled in the Hebrew scriptures.  It means to browbeat oneself, looking inward rather than what would be the normal practice of looking around, pointing the finger of blame.  This was deep self-judgment in the presence of a holy and all-knowing God.  No work could be done on that day which would distract them from the affliction of their souls.  Throughout the year, offerings were made, confession of sins engaged, but, at the beginning of a new year, reflections were made on unconfessed sins, which would not be tolerated by the Holy One.  The day of atonement was the time when every scintilla of sin (the tiniest trace of sin) in all its forms was put away from the camp of Israel.

We have already seen from Leviticus 16, that the Day of Atonement involved the removal from the congregation of all their sins and all their transgressions and all their iniquities, and all their uncleanness, involving the whole camp, and every individual household within it-16v6, v9,v11, v16, v19, v21,v22,v30,v32-34.  We must project this further into the present and the future, for without that all this will be meaningless to us.  There is an historic ritual which applied to Israel only; there is also a prophetic fulfilment which involves the entire world,  Someone has said that "God's plan for Israel is God's cosmic plan for the whole world", and N/T scripture supports that. 

The feasts of Passover and Unleavened Bread...cited in 1st Corinthians 5

The feast of Firstfruits...1st Corinthians 15v20-23

The feast of Pentecost...Acts 2

Th feast of trumpets...1st Corinthians 15v52 and 1st Thessalonians 4v16

The Day of Atonement...Hebrews 9v24-28

The feast of Tabernacles...Revelation 21v1-7

These. and other scriptures, proclaim the fact that the feasts of the Lord have relevance in the present time, and outline God's prophetic plans for the whole world.  Thus we are able to interpret scriptures in light of that panoramic principle.

We note that the Day of Atonement took place after the completion of harvest and the sounding of the trumpet to mark the occasion.  Thus the future affliction of Israel will take place after the Church has been taken home to heaven at the return of Jesus and the sounding of the trumpet.  The trumpet will sound not only to translate the Church, but to commence the process of regathering Israel from all the nations of earth into which they have been scattered.  This is cited by Matthew in 24v31, "And He shall send His angels with a great sound of a trumpet, and they shall gather His elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other".  Note, only after the sounding of trumpets (plural) will the final Day of Atonement for Israel (His elect) take place.  This will be during the time known in scripture as the Great Tribulation (Matthew 24v21; Daniel 12v1).  It is also called the Day of the Lord (Jehovah), when Almighty God establishes His claim on the godless world- (Revelation 11v15).  Another description of these last days is "The time of Jacob's trouble"-Jeremiah 30v7.  God will introduce severe persecution to Israel to bring them to repentance in the last days.  This will be the culmination of the Day of Atonement.   Every vestige of sin will be removed.  By far the greatest sin of Israel is rejection of Christ the Messiah.  He said as much in John 16v9-when the Holy Spirit comes, said Jesus, "He will convict the world of sin because they believe not on me".  This is the ultimate sin, of which Israel, at large, are guilty.  Rejection of Christ as Messiah is also the greatest sin of the Gentile world.  Only when they repent (change their mind) of that will the true Israel be saved-Romans 11v26-27, "And so all Israel will be saved: as it is written, there shall come out of Zion the deliverer, and shall turn asway ungodliness from Jacob.  For this is my covenant unto them, when I shall take away their sins".  This is the language of the Day of Atonement.

We can see a direct parallel in Hebrews chapter 9 with Leviticus 16 and relate it to Christ, which is the whole purpose of these studies.  Back then, the High Priest appeared on three distinct occasions: there are also three appearings of Christ recorded in Hebrews 9v24-28.

1) Aaron appeared in humble garb before the people with the sacrifice for His own sins and that of the people.  In Hebrews 9v26 "...but now once (for all) in the end of the world (the completion of the ages) hath He appeared to put away sin by the sacrifice of Himself".   Christ came into this world, divested Himself of the garments of glory, and became Himself the sacrifice for sins.  He had no sins of His own, and was the sacrifice for all.

2) Aaron then appeared in the presence of God with the blood of the slain animal, for God's approval for their cleansing.  In Hebrews 9v24 it says, "For Christ is not entered into holy places made with hands, which are the figures of the true; but into heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God for us".

3) Aaron appeared a second time from the presence of God to the people.  Only then did they know that their sins were removed and God was content.  Hebrews 9v28, "So Christ was once offered to bear the sins of many: and unto them that look for Him shall He appear the second time without sin unto salvation".

The parallel is so graphic it cannot be ignored

I encourage all readers to study Hebrews 9v24-28 in more depth.  There is a past, present and future-interesting panoramic view of the work of Christ.  Then there are three different words used for "appearing"; would be interested to hear your thoughts on that.  There is a powerful "As...so" parallelism from v27-28.  Thoughts?

This graphic link from O/T to N/T serves to declare the homogeneous nature of scripture, and enables us to enjoy the truth that Christ is at the very centre of the Divine plan.