Christ in all the scriptures The Table of Shewbread

 Christ in all the scriptures

The Table of Shewbread

"Thou shalt also make a table of shittim (acacia) wood; two cubits shall be the length thereof, and a cubit the breadth thereof, and a cubit and a half the height thereof...and thou shalt set upon the table shewbread before me always"-readings, Exodus 25v23-30; Leviticus 24v5-9.

This is the first reference to the table in scripture, and so determines its meaning all the way through.  Note should be made of the word "also", which links the table closely with the ark and mercy seat.  In chapter 30 the laver is similarly closely linked in this way to the golden altar of incense-30v18.  We can discuss the meaning of that in time; for now we note the close link between the table and the ark.   There is another strong link, if we consider the "flow" of scripture.  Concerning the mercy seat, God said "There will I commune with thee...of all things that I shall give thee in commandment unto the children of Israel".   Immediately, He says, "Thou shalt also make a table..." giving us a clue to the connection.  The table represents communion between God and man, a fact which is stated all over scripture.  In the ark we have pardon for sins; in the table we have provision for service.  In the ark there is forgiveness; in the table there is fellowship.  The table is at the same level as both the brazen altar grating, and the mercy seat of gold.  Our fellowship with God is commensurate with the sacrifice of Christ and also God's declaration of it!  God is indicating that He wants to have fellowship with those who are declared righteous in Christ.  Paul takes up the theme which straddles his letters to the Corinthian church:

"God is faithful, by whom ye were called unto the fellowship of His Son Jesus Christ our Lord"-1st Corinthians 1v9; "The cup of blessing which we bless, is it not the communion of the blood of Christ?  The bread which we break, is it not the communion of the body of Christ?"-1st Corinthians 10v16; "The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Ghost, be with you all.  Amen"-2nd Corinthians 13v14.

Communion with the Godhead, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit in Christ!

We also note that the thought of communion is portrayed in the table by the following:

The number 2 is prevalent on the table, the number of witness/fellowship.  2 cubits long-25v23; 2 crowns, one on the outer rim, a second surrounding the loaves-25v24-25; 2 rows of bread-Leviticus 24v6; 2 tenth deals (omers) for the breadcakes-Leviticus 24v5.

The hand breadth between the golden borders-Exodus 25v25, scripture speaks of "the right hands of fellowship"-Galatians 2v9.

We note the Divine nature of this fellowship: The number 1, for the unity of the Godhead, is portrayed in the breadth of 1 cubit.  The dishes, and spoons, and bowls, and covers, are all of pure gold, suggesting Deity.  The concept that God can commune with men is as awesome as it is wonderful, but this is what the table means!  The shewbread is called the "bread of faces", Whatever our imperfections, the perfection of Christ is continually before Him.  

The fellowship is with Christ glorified, as in the crown of gold, and the twelve cakes of bread, represent all the twelve tribes, that is all the people of God in modern terms.  The breadcakes speak of Christ in His perfection-fine flour of two tenth deals with bowls of frankincense, Leviticus 24v5-7, a life of perfect texture, with incense continually emitting its fragrance to God.  In Him, also the people of God are exalted as in the border crown of gold around the bread.  There is plenty of evidence for this exaltation in scripture, as we are designated "a kingdom of priests"-Revelation 1v6; and we shall reign with Him-Revelation 20v4. 

The table and the shewbread was continually before the Lord, and the priests, operating in the Holy Place, changed the bread every seven days.  The priests shared the bread amongst themselves each week.  We note that all believers today serve God as priests, and so this holy service applies to all of us.  For those who wish to limit the participation in public communion to those of their own particular sect, a note of caution is advised.  Even the priests who were disqualified from operating in holy service, partook of the bread by eating "the bread of his God"-Leviticus 21v21-22; those with blemishes were not allowed to offer bread, but they were allowed to partake of it.  The only reason anyone should be debarred from the fellowship is because of serious blemish, whether moral or doctrinal.  Sectarian differences are not necessarily grounds for excluding God's people from the communion.  By the same token, all who come nigh to God in worship, should be clean in their lives, a matter that will arise again and again in the narrative-Leviticus 10v3.  The principle of fellowship is established by Paul in 1st Corinthians 10v17, to a congregation that was far from perfect, "For we being many are one bread, and one body: for we are all partakers of that one bread".   All who are in Christ (that is apart from the one excommunicated on moral grounds) are partakers, as they draw nigh to worship Him.  Exclusion of some on minor differences of practice is not in the mind of the Lord, and we become guilty of ungodly discrimination.  Any such differences can be addressed separately, they are not grounds for excommunication, a practice that is arrogant in the extreme, and unlawfully divides the body of Christ.  This practise is no better than the Corinthian error of 1st Corinthians 11, where some were dividing along social lines, the rich separating from the poor, and "not discerning the Lord's body".  Today the separation is along sectarian lines.  The sanctity of the Lord's worship must be preserved, but not on the basis of human rules.  It is the LORDS TABLE, not the table of men whoever they may be.  Present divisions of thinking and practise do NOT reflect the table of the Lord, and sully what should be a most sacred weekly occasion.  

In God's house, and at God's table, He sets the conditions of fellowship, not men.  It is evident that God's desire and disposition is to commune with all His people.  We have no mandate to refuse fellowship except in extreme cases, which are clearly spelt out; neither do we have the ability to discern a person's standing before God.  We leave the last word to the Apostle John, "That which we have seen and heard declare we unto you, that ye also may have fellowship with us: and truly our fellowship is with the Father, and with His Son Jesus Christ"-1st John 1v3.   

 

Christ in all the scriptures The Ark of the Covenant part 7

 Christ in all the scriptures

The Ark of the Covenant part 7

The ARK OF THE TESTIMONY

"And thou shalt put into the ark the testimony that I shall give thee"    Exodus 25v16; "And thou shalt put the mercy seat above upon the ark: and in the ark thou shalt put the testimony that I shall give thee"   Exodus 25v21; "And he took and put the testimony into the ark..."  Exodus 40v20; "And after the second veil, the tabernacle which is called the Holiest of all; which had the golden censer, and the ark of the covenant overlaid round about with gold, wherein the golden pot that had manna, and Aaron's rod that budded, and the tables of the covenant; and over it the cherubims of glory overshadowing the mercy seat..." Heb. 9v4-5. 

Here and there, in scripture, we find reference to the contents of the Ark.  These are evidently symbolic of things close to the heart of God, and attention should be given to them.  Taking all references, there are three contents of the Ark: the tables of stone, the golden pot of manna, and the rod of Aaron.   Arguments persist as to whether the last two named were inside the ark or placed beside it.  However no provision is made separately for how these items are to be conveyed during numerous journeys, and it is likely they were kept inside.  Ultimately, only the tables of stone were in the ark when it rested in the temple, according to 1st Kings 8v9.  When the nation entered the land the manna ceased, and by then the Aaronic priesthood was fully accepted.  These three represented important events in the pilgrim nation; the giving of the law-God's righteous standard; the golden pot-God's care and provision all through the wilderness journey; Aaron's rod that bore fruit-God's authority over them.  In these three, the sin of idolatry, the sin of discontentment, and the sin of rebellion were all covered, and in Christ every deficiency is made good.

The tablets of stone   This is the decalogue (the ten commandments) given to Moses in Sinai, but which were broken because of the gross idolatry and immorality of the people.  A second set was given to Moses, written by the finger of God on stone, and these were unbroken and preserved in the ark.  What is the meaning of this?  Israel, as a sample of humanity, broke the law; Christ as the second man fulfilled the law.  The decalogue represented the character of God-Exodus 32v16 "And the tables were the work of God, and the writing was the writing of God graven upon the tables"; they were a testimony to the nature and character of God.  The decalogue declares God, what He thinks, and what He is, and what He demands.  No less than 33 times is the word testimony used to describe the Ark.  Indeed, the entire tabernacle is said to be a testimony of God, it was called "the tabernacle of the testimony"-Ex.38v21 and others.  Paul wrote in Romans 7v12 that "the law is holy, and the commandment holy and just and good."  There is nothing deficient about the law, which portrays the perfection of God, and given to us to regulate society for the good of all.   Exodus 20 itemises it as God's demands on us and our response, in three ways: our attitude to Him, to our earthly parents, and to every human being with whom we are in contact.  Singular devotion and reverence to God; honour to parents; and respect to everyone in our thoughts as well as deeds.  In reality, none of us has reached that level, and so we have all come short of His standard.  Only One fulfilled the law to the letter, and so the perfection of God is exonerated in Christ.  The extent to which He did it is revealed in fulfilment of even the jot and tittle of the law-Matthew 5v17-18.  The jot is the smallest letter, the tittle is the tiny inflection that gives a letter emphasis; so not only did Christ fulfil the terms of the law, He fulfilled the very spirit of the law.  The perfection of God was displayed in Christ, and the righteous demands of God are satisfied in an unbroken law.

The golden pot of manna  God rained manna from heaven to nourish His people, during all the 40 years of the wilderness pilgrimage.  Symbolically, He preserved in the ark a golden pot, containing one omer of manna (one man's portion for a day) as a guarantee of His provision until their final destination.  When the manna came down each day, it would degrade if left beyond midday.  The golden pot preserved in the ark ensured constant fresh provision.  For us, Jesus is the living bread, readily available at all times, as is expounded in John chapter 6.

Aaron's rod that budded   The narrative of this is recorded in Numbers 16-17.  The event was a mutiny in the camp against the leadership of Moses and Aaron.  This was no small uprising, instigated by Korah, and involving 250 princes of the people, men who were well known in the camp.  The logic went like this "...all the congregation are holy, every one of them, wherefore then lift ye yourselves above the congregation of the Lord?"  Nobody can argue with the first statement-each of God's people have equal standing before the Lord.  However the second does not follow, for God has appointed leaders as it has pleased Him, and Israel must accept their appointment.  The rest of the narrative reveals how serious this rebellion was.  This was a challenge to God's authority in the congregation.  They were ordered to take one rod for every tribe, the names of the tribe to be written on each and the name of Aaron on the rod of Levi.  Only the rod of Aaron budded, a miraculous sign from God that Aaron was the choice of God as the High Priest in the congregation.  The rod that budded (Aaron's rod) was placed in the ark as a continual reminder that God is Lord in the camp and He chooses the leaders.  The New Testament is replete with this, and the following is a reminder to all of us who rules in the house of God.

1st Corinthians 12v4-5 "Now there are diversities of gifts, but the same Spirit.  And there are differences of administrations but the same Lord.  And there are diversities of operations but it is the same God which worketh all in all".

1st Corinthians 12v18 "But now hath God set the members every one of them in the body as it has pleased Him."

1st Corinthians 12v28 "And God hath set some in the church, first apostles, secondarily prophets, thirdly teachers, after that..."

Ephesians 4v11-12 "And He (Christ) gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some evangelists, and some, pastors and teachers; for the perfecting of the saints, for the work of ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ."

1st Timothy chapter 3 cites suitably qualified overseers and deacons to regulate behaviour in the house of God, church of the living God.  Other portions, like Heb. 13, Titus 1, and 1st Peter  5 indicate a structure which is appointed by God for the good order of the whole.  There are no longer apostles to appoint leaders, all who put themselves forward as overseers, today, are self- appointed, and as such need to observe both their fitness and ability for the work.  God rules in His house and these matters are best left to Him.  Opposition to leaders may be opposition to God, so care must be taken.  

In Christ, God's honour is preserved; His people are nourished; His authority is established. 

He is the perfect testimony of God! 

Christ in all the scriptures The Ark part 6

 Christ in all the scriptures

The Ark of the Covenant part 6

INFINITE MERCY

"And thou shalt make a mercy seat of pure gold: two cubits and a half shall be the length thereof, and a cubit and a half the breadth thereof.  And thou shalt make two cherubims of gold, of beaten work shalt thou make them, in the two ends of the mercy seat"-Exodus 25v17-18.   (Read on to v22)

A solid lid of gold, adorned with golden cherubims, seated perfectly atop the Ark.  The material value is enormous, especially considering its history, and its worldwide fame.  At auction. if  such were organised, it would break all records.  Even the acclaimed filmmaker, Steven Spielberg, promoted its worth in the "Raiders of the lost Ark".  Its spiritual value, however, is beyond computation in earthly terms.

The Ark is symbolic, as we have seen, of the Person of Christ; the Mercy Seat of His Work.  The two are never separated, the one being indispensable to the other.  His majestic person gives eternal value to His work. 

The seat of gold represents Divine Mercy: the cherubims represent Divine Righteousness.

Mercy is one of God's attributes declared in scripture: Exodus 20v6 "Showing mercy to thousands of them that love me and keep my commandments"; Psalm 103v8 |"The Lord is merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and plenteous in mercy"; Psalm 136 "His mercy endureth forever" is cited in all 26 verses, as well as multiple times elsewhere.  The bible reveals saving mercy-Titus 3v5, Romans 9v16; forgiving mercy-Psalm 86v5, Isaiah 55v7,Micah 7v18; restraining mercy-Lamentations 3v22-23, and many other aspects.  God is full of mercy, and dispenses it abundantly, as He invites us near.

The Cherubims represent God's righteousness, His standard of holiness required to live in His presence.  The first mention is in Genesis 3v24, at the time of the Fall.  "So He drove out the man: and placed at the east of the garden of Eden, Cherubims, and a flaming sword which turned every way, to keep the way of the tree of life".  The message is clear, that no sin or sinners will be allowed in His presence.  This is repeated at the end of the bible-Rev. 21v27.  The flaming sword, in the hands of the Cherubim, TURNED EVERY WAY to prevent any ingress of sin in the paradise of God.  

Together, in the mercy seat, we see INFLEXIBLE RIGHTEOUSNESS and INFINITE MERCY.  Both of these are polar opposites, yet they are ONE, beaten out of one mass of gold-Exodus 37v7.  How can the Holy God commune with sinful man?  This is the ultimate question, that is only answered in Christ!  Human logic reasons it is impossible, but not with God.  Further, we note that there is no flaming sword on the Cherubims; that they are in perfect harmony, looking toward each other; that their gaze is toward the mercy seat; that their wings are spread on high, indicating ecstatic delight and satisfaction, as well as protection of the sacred vessel.  Instead of driving man out, they are being invited in!  "There I will meet with thee, there I will commune with thee, from above the mercy seat, from between the two cherubims which are upon the Ark of testimony, of all that I will give thee in commandment unto the children of Israel"-Ex. 25v22.  Scripture declares the outcome, the greatest truth ever told, so far as we are concerned.

God can be JUST (inflexible righteousness) AND THE JUSTIFIER (infinite mercy) of him which believeth in Jesus"-Romans 3v26.  Psalm 85v10 "Mercy and truth are MET TOGETHER; righteousness and peace have kissed".  Psalm 89v14 "Justice and judgment are before thy throne: mercy and truth shall go before thy face".  Isaiah 32v17 "And the work of righteousness shall be peace; and the effect of righteousness quietness and assurance forever".  

What made it possible is the blood of the animal (symbolic of the precious blood of Christ) sprinkled upon the mercy seat, and seven times before the mercy seat-Leviticus 16v14 "And he shall take of the blood of the bullock, and sprinkle it with his finger upon the mercy seat eastward, and before the mercy seat shall he sprinkle of the blood with his finger seven times".  Refer Leviticus 4v5-6; Hebrews 10v4-14.  The blood was sprinkled upon the mercy seat once-once was enough for God; it was sprinkled seven times before the mercy seat to include all of us.  Time and again it is recorded that God "dwells between the Cherubims".  This is His place of rest; this is where we can meet Him; this is where we commune with Him, this most sacred of all places.  This is the Holy of holies!  This is our eternal home.

God's righteousness and God's mercy meet together in Christ.  In Him God can reveal His goodness, without compromising anything of His glory.  Romans 3v24-25 says "Christ Jesus: whom God has set forth (brought into public view-no longer behind the veil) a propitiation (same thought, mercy seat) through faith in His blood, to declare His righteousness for the remission of sins that are past, through the forbearance of God; to declare at this time His righteousness: that He may be just and the justifier of him which believeth in Jesus".  This is the Propitiatory (the mercy seat), the meeting place with God, now publicly declared.  He (Christ) is the Propitiation for our sins, and not for ours only, but also for the whole world"-1st John 2v2.  God has declared, there is enough in the sacrifice of Christ to reconcile the whole world, but it must be received by faith.  There is remission of sins for all who believe.  It is the most important declaration ever made.

Christ in all the scriptures The Ark of the Covenant part 5

 Christ in all the scriptures

The Ark of the Covenant part 5

INTANGIBLE HOLINESS

"And thou shalt cast four rings of gold for it, and put them in the four corners thereof; and two rings shall be in the side of it, and two rings in the other side of it.  And thou shalt make staves of shittim wood, and overlay them with gold.  And thou shalt put the staves into the rings by the sides of the Ark, that the Ark may be borne with them.  The staves shall be in the rings of the Ark; they shall not be taken from it"-Exodus 25v12-15.

In reconciling us, God still remains apart (not aloof) from us, and steps are taken to present His holiness.  The camp of Israel had to maintain constant movement to retain pilgrim character, as they could not settle in a wilderness.  They were described as "strangers and pilgrims", as some put it, strangers away from home, pilgrims on their way home.  These journeys involved moving the tabernacle, and strict rules applied in the movements.  This pilgrim character is emphasised by the staves of wood and gold kept permanently in place on the Ark.  They were not to be moved, they had to be ready to journey at the call of God.  Only the descendants of Kohath could convey the Ark in its journeys, and even they could not touch it on pain of death-Numbers 3-4.  The sons of Kohath, the second son of Levi were chosen to serve in "the most holy things"-4v4; they were not to touch any holy thing, which were covered and secured in the staves-4v5-15.  The handling of sacred vessels demanded due reverence and care-4v16-20.  Those, whom God has chosen, today, to handle holy things, should do so with similar reverence.  God remains God, and we remain men, albeit in fellowship with God.  Our nearness to God should not result in familiarity, rather in due reverence toward Him.  When Jesus sent Mary with a message to His brethren (note the nearness), He also distinguished His own relationship from ours to God-"...go to my brethren, and say unto them, I ascend unto My Father, and your Father; and to My God and your God"-John 20v17.    

The awesome holiness of God is known by angels who live in His presence-Isaiah 6 and others.  By stooping to save men, His holiness is not compromised in any way.  In Christ, He can be "JUST and the JUSTIFIER of every one who believes in Jesus".  There is, however, a danger of becoming complacent, even irreverent in handling the things of God, as Paul remonstrates in Romans 6.  We can only truly understand the holiness of God when it is placed against the background of ungodly men, as it was in the days of the prophet Samuel, among the Philistines, and, as it will be in the great tribulation in the kingdom of the Beast.  

Israel came under discipline, and lost in battle to their enemies-1st Samuel chapter 4-(30,000 of their army were slain.)   God will not tolerate perpetual sin amongst His people.  As a result the Ark of God was taken, and remained in the hands of the Philistines, and was ultimately lost to Israel for many years.  During this time we learn the effects of this on infidels.

The Philistines placed the Ark of God beside the statue of their god Dagon-1st Samuel 5v3-9.  The statue fell twice and the people were smitten with emerods (tumours, probably bleeding piles) over a wide area.  The Ark of God, containing an unbroken law, placed beside idolatry, results in Divine judgment.  Those who did not die, were diseased bodily, and lived in terror of the God of Israel.  This lasted for 7 months and they sent it away from their cities.  Gath, Ashdod, and Ekron all suffered the same fate. The narrative reveals they were a religious people in their own way, but they were in awe of the "Ark of the God of Israel".  They even shewed respect to it by offering a trespass offering, providing a new cart, and by the men of the lords of the Philistines conveyed it to neighbours.

The Ark came to rest in a field of Beth-Shemesh (which means house of the sun), another idolatrous, religious people, who treated the Ark as common and looked into it in curiosity, thus exposing themselves to the unbroken law of God.  The result was disastrous, and 50,080 men died of their population.  The cry went up "Who is able to stand before this holy Lord God? and to whom shall He go up from us?" 

They called for the men of Kirjath-Jearim, who came and removed it to a secluded place on a hill where it rested for 20 years, and was tended by the priesthood.  When King David finally removed the Ark to Jerusalem, the chronology suggests the Ark was 60 years away, during which time Israel were persecuted, and there was a national lament for the Ark.  There was a sense of emptiness in Israel.  A nation, called of God, without the presence of God for all that time.  

Many of these Old Testament stories are ridiculed as having no relevance to modern times.  Yet what happened in the Middle East will happen again on a global scale, when the Ark of God is exposed to a godless, rebellious world.  Revelation 11v19 declares "And the temple of God was opened in heaven, and there was seen in His temple the ark of His covenant: and there were lightnings and voices, and thunderings, and an earthquake and great hail."  The Ark therefore is associated with wrath, as it will be opened to the world in a day yet future.  God will have the final say in the affairs of this world.

"The temple of the tabernacle of the testimony in heaven was opened: and the seven angels came out of the temple, having the seven plagues, clothed in pure and white linen, and having their breasts girded with golden girdles.  And one of the four living creatures gave unto the seven angels SEVEN golden VIALS full of the wrath of God, who liveth for ever and ever"-Revelation 15v5-7.  These are called the SEVEN LAST PLAGUES in verse1, which shall fall on the earth, and bring all rebellion to an end.  

The only response to this is to "flee from the wrath to come" and accept God's mercy in the present.  At this point we come to the infinite resources of mercy offered in Christ as the only alternative to wrath.  

Christ in all the scriptures The Ark of the Covenant part 4

 Christ in all the scriptures 

The Ark of the Covenant part 4

INIMITABLE MAJESTY

"...and thou shalt make upon it a crown of gold round about."   Exodus 25v11

This is repeated for the Table and for the Golden Altar-Exodus 25v24, and 30v3.  What we have here is GLORIFIED HUMANITY in the person of Jesus Christ.  What was envisaged from the creation (Genesis 1v26-namely man in dominion), and what seemed improbable after the fall, is now a reality in Christ.  Bear in mind that the tabernacle is a "pattern of things in the heavens"; it is God's view of things, the only view that matters, and should become our view.  In creation, God decreed that man would be in dominion, and in Christ that is now a fact.  This reality will become universally visible in time, but God has "set His King on His holy hill of Zion"-Psalm 2v6, this despite appearances to the contrary.  This is dealt with in detail in Hebrews 2v5-10.  Notice the context is "the world to come".  Reference is made to Job 7v17, and Psalm 8, the subject is the dominion of man.  That this will happen is not in question, but it is "NOT YET".  V9 says "...But we see Jesus...crowned with glory and honour..."-note Jesus, His name as man.  The KJV translation is clumsy here, and others seem to present it better.  The point is that Jesus, who became lower than angels for the salvation of men, is now crowned with glory and honour, having completed the work, thus fulfilling the type.  Suffering always precedes glory, so the NIV and Ellicott translations are more accurate.  The world to come will be ruled by man, in the person of Jesus, who humbled Himself for our sake.

 But we do see Jesus, who was made lower than the angels for a little while, now crowned with glory and honour because he suffered death, so that by the grace of God he might taste death for everyone-NIV

Ellicott's commentary; Rather, But we see Him who has been made a little lower than angels, Jesus, because of the suffering of death crowned with glory and honour. 

It is not visible yet, but it is a reality in heaven right now that Jesus is King in waiting, and such a King that has never been, and will never cease to reign.  These are the words of scripture:

Crowned with glory and with honour

Glory is the moral excellence of God, outwardly displayed; Honour is the universal acknowledgement by all in unequivocal acclaim.

Isaiah 52v13 "Behold my servant shall prosper; "He shall be exalted, and extolled and be very high".

Mark 16v19 "He was received up into heaven, and sat on the right hand of God".

Luke 22v69 "Hereafter shall the Son of man sit on the right hand of the power of God".

Acts 2v32-33 "This Jesus hath God raised up, whereof we are all witnesses.  Therefore being by the right hand of God exalted, and having received of the Father the promise of the Holy Spirit, He hath shed forth this, which ye now see and hear."

Acts 2v36 "God hath made that same Jesus, whom ye crucified, both Lord and Christ."

Acts 5v31 "Him hath God exalted with His right hand, a Prince and a Saviour, for to give repentance to Israel, and forgiveness of sins".  

Romans 5v21 "That as sin hath reigned unto death, even so might grace reign through righteousness unto eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord".

Ephesians 1v202-23 "And hath put all things under His feet, and gave Him (who is-understood) head over all things to the Church which is His body the fulness of Him that filleth all in all".

Ephesians 4v10 "He that descended is the same also that ascended up far above all things that He might fill all things".

Philippians 2v9 "Wherefore God also has highly exalted Him, and given Him a name which is above every name...". 

1st Peter 3v22 "Who is gone into heaven, and is on the right hand of God; angels and authorities and powers being made subject unto Him".   

Revelation 5v12 "Worthy is the Lamb that was slain to receive power, and riches, and wisdom, and strength, and honour, and blessing".

These and thousands of other references proclaim the inimitable majesty of Christ.  He is "King of kings and Lord of lords".  Kingdoms rise and fall, but His is everlasting-2nd Samuel 7v13; Daniel 7v14-18.  Kings have reigned over many provinces, but His is universal and He shall reign from sea to sea, and from the river to the ends of the earth-Psalm 72v8.  His word will be Law, and nations will be drawn to Him-Isaiah 2v1-5.  The letter to Hebrews presents a manifold picture of His present glory, covering many different aspects of spiritual life.

Heb. 1v13-14  He is seated on the right hand of power, and sends angels to serve and protect His people;  Heb. 4v14-16 He is on the throne of grace to hear our prayers and cries for help as a compassionate High Priest; Heb. 6v19-20 In heaven He is the anchor of the soul, and our hope for the future; Heb. 8v1-2 He is on the throne of the Majesty in the heavens who serves for us as a minister of the Sanctuary before God; Heb. 9v11-28 In heaven He deals with the guilt of our sins, purging our consciences, enabling us to worship truly; Heb. 12v1-3 He is set down at the right hand of the throne of God and is our example of suffering before we enter into glory.  

The crown of gold secures the mercy seat, enthroning God's righteousness that saves us.  Grace reigns on the throne of heaven, and raises Christ's work to the supreme judicial level.

Christ in all the scriptures The Ark of the Covenant part 3

 Christ in all the scriptures

The Ark of the Covenant part 3

INSCRUTABLE MYSTERY

"...two cubits and a half shall be the length thereof, and a cubit and a half the breadth thereof, and a cubit and a half the height thereof" Exodus 25v10; 37v1.

The repetition of the half measure is interesting.  We learn that the Ark was exactly half the dimensions of the Brazen Altar-Exodus 27v1, so the half measure has very definite meaning.  In our terms the Ark was 45x27x27 inches and suggests that God is very precise in His design. Measurement, part measurement, and absence of measurement are all significant.  There is indication elsewhere, as the Bible is its own interpreter.  It has been said that "the HALF of anything is the HEART of anything"-source unknown; however the thought has merit, and there is a story in 1st Kings 10v1-9 which helps.   The very wealthy Queen of Sheba travelled 1500 miles to visit King Solomon, as she had heard glowing reports about his Kingdom.  She didn't quite believe what she heard, that anyone could be so wise and rich and powerful, so she journeyed with her train, laden with gifts, to see for herself.  The narrative puts it thus "...and when she was come to Solomon, she communed with him of all that was in her heart.  And Solomon told her all her questions: there was not one thing hid from the king that he told her not.  And when the queen of Sheba had seen all Solomon's wisdom, and the house that he had built, and the meat of his table, and the sitting of his servants, and the attendance of his ministers, and their apparel, and the cupbearers, and his ascent by which he went up unto the house of the Lord; there was no more spirit in her.  And she said unto the king, it was a true report, that I heard in mine own land of thy acts and thy wisdom.  Howbeit I believed not the words until I came, and mine eyes had seen it: and behold THE HALF WAS NOT TOLD ME, thy wisdom and prosperity exceedeth the fame which I heard.  Happy are thy men, happy are thy servants, which stand continually before thee, and that hear thy wisdom.  Blessed be the Lord thy God, which delighteth in thee, to set thee on the throne of Israel: because the Lord loved Israel for ever, therefore He made thee king, to do judgment and justice"-1st Kings 10v1-9. 

What she saw was far greater the what she heard.  The half was not told her. Solomon was even greater, beyond her greatest imagination.  This story was mentioned by Jesus in Matthew 12v42, in the context of Himself as greater than Solomon.  Thus the half measure points to Christ; that, what we have heard is only a part of the glory we will see with our eyes in a coming day.  It speaks of the glory of Christ beyond anything we have heard or can imagine.  It proclaims the inscrutable mystery of Christ.  We know a lot about Him, but there is much more to know.  Our situation is much like that of the Queen of Sheba (that is apart from her obvious wealth and power!)  She was a Gentile; she came from afar; she had only heard of the glory of Solomon, didn't fully believe what she heard, until she saw him.  When she came, she proclaimed he had exceeded her expectations.  Jesus pronounced a blessing on those, like ourselves, who have not seen, yet have believed.  However we shall not fully know Him until we see Him in glory-1st John 3v2.  A greater than Solomon is our Saviour, by how much more are we dim as to the glories of Christ?

The scriptures bristle with the superlative glories of Christ, and the constant reminder is of what is yet to come, and this is the message of the Spirit in this cameo of Christ.

John 20v30-31 "And many other signs truly did Jesus in the presence of His disciples, which are not written in this book: but these are written that ye might believe that Jesus is the Christ the Son of God; and that believing ye might have life through His name". 

Scholars estimate that of the 3+years of the public ministry of Christ, no more than 2 months are recorded in the four Gospels, there is much more to come.  Is this the "hidden manna" of Revelation 2v17?

John 21v25 "And there are many other things which Jesus did, the which if they be written every one, I suppose the world itself could not contain the books that should be written".

He is too big for the world, He is big enough for me!  He is the INSCRUTABLE and INEXHAUSTIBLE Christ, and He is our Saviour.

Psalm 78v19 "Thy way is in the sea, and thy path in the great waters, and thy footsteps are not known".   The sea leaves no track, there is no searching of His understanding, as Job said, "Canst thou by searching find out God"?

Romans 11v33, His judgments are unsearchable, and His ways past finding out!!

Ephesians 3v8 The gospel we preach contain "the unsearchable riches of Christ|".

Colossians 2v3 "In whom are hid all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge".  They are HID in Him.  Any true knowledge we have is from Himself, the fountain source of all wisdom.  Only He can reveal God-Matthew 11v27, and there are conditions for that.  When we see Him, we shall all proclaim, the half was not told us!  Scriptures, however encourage us to know Him more and more.  We are enjoined to "grow in grace and in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ"; to "increase in the knowledge of God",  The American author W.C, Martin 1864-1914 caught the mood of this:

1 To Jesus every day I find my heart is closer drawn,
He's fairer than the glory of the gold and purple dawn;
He's all my fancy pictures in its fairest dreams, and more,
Each day He grows still sweeter than He was the day before.

Refrain:
The half cannot be fancied, this side the golden shore;
O there He'll be still sweeter than He ever was before.

2 His glory broke upon me when I saw Him from afar,
He's fairer than the lily, brighter than the morning star;
He fills and satisfies my longing spirit o'er and o'er,
Each day He grows still sweeter than He was the day before. [Refrain]

3 My heart is sometimes heavy but he comes with sweet relief,
He folds me to His bosom when I droop with blighting grief;
I love the Christ who all my burdens in His body bore,
Each day He grows still sweeter than He was the day before. [Refrain]

Christ in all the scriptures Ark of the Covenant part 2

 Christ in all the scriptures  

Ark of the Covenant part 2

INCORRUPTIBLE HUMANITY                 IRREFUTABLE DEITY

"And they shall make an ark of shittim wood...and thou shalt overlay it with pure gold, within and without shalt thou overlay it..."   Exodus 25v10-11.

Shittim wood (acacia), not just any wood; pure gold, not just any gold.  The Acacia thorn tree is the tree of the desert.  It grows and flourishes where no other tree does.  It is the hardest, most durable wood, impenetrable by the environment of sand, birds, insects, or the burning desert sun.  It is the most perfect illustration of the Humanity of Christ.

Pure gold, the most valuable commodity on earth, refined to a standard beyond the normal, distinguished from ordinary gold (which is valuable enough).  Gold miners inform us that it takes the crushing of three tons of rock to produce, on average, one ounce of unrefined gold.  What an apt picture of something so very special to describe the Deity of Christ.

These are the material constituents of the Ark. presenting to us the GOD-MAN, the most unique person in all existence, "God manifest in flesh", combining perfect Humanity with absolute Deity.  This brings us to the bedrock of the doctrine of God, the very essence of Christianity, for the reality of who He is gives value to the wonder of what He has done.  This is what separates Christianity from all other religions.   This is the Rock on which all world religions perish.  Only Christ is God and Man in perfect harmony.  Any deviation from this constitutes any religion/group/individual as infidels.  The epistles of John makes this clear, the dividing line between profession and reality is in attitude to the unique Humanity and Deity of Christ.  Fundamental error in this regard raised its head in the first century A.D, and John refuted it, as we must refute it in our generation.

"Who is a liar but he that denieth that Jesus is the Christ?  He is antichrist that denieth the Father and the Son"-1st John2v22   Denial of His Deity is the hallmark of all world religions, including many that appear to be Christian.

"Every spirit that confesseth not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is not of God"-1st John 4v3

Denial of Christ as God, or as Man, is in conflict with revealed scripture, at the most fundamental level.  Christianity is that He is both God and Man, and only this truth can save us from our fallen condition.  He is God, and He is Man, and He alone dealt with the human problem, by becoming one of us.  The most fundamental truth is depicted here in the Ark.

Incorruptible Humanity    As has been said, "He was truly man, but not merely man".   He came into the world by incarnation, not by generation, therefore He was sinless; "...that holy thing which shall be born of thee shall be called the Son of God"-Luke 1v35; "...that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Ghost"-Matthew 1v20; "...holy, harmless, undefiled, separate from sinners"-Hebrews 7v26.  Peter said "He did no sin"; Paul said "He knew no sin"; John said "In Him is no sin".  The writer to the Hebrews said "He was in all points tempted as we are, yet without sin (sin apart)".

Perfect humanity, untainted by the sin of the world in which He lived and moved.  He said as He moved to the end "The prince of this world cometh and HATH NOTHING IN ME"-John 14v30.  Every other man had succumbed to Satan in some way, but not Christ.  When He died, it was said of Him, "...through the eternal Spirit, offered Himself without spot to God"-Hebrews 9v14.

Irrefutable Deity   The wood was to be overlaid with pure gold within and without.  Internally and externally, in thought and deed, emotionally and morally, He was God.  John spells it out at the beginning of his gospel-He existed before all creation; He was distinct in the Godhead yet one in counsel with them; He was, in all attributes, God; He created all things in existence, and is the source of all life, John 1v1-4.  

In every New Testament epistle, bar one, He is proclaimed, from the outset, to be God, commencing at Romans 1v7, "God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ": again in 1st Cor. 1v3; 2nd Cor. 1v2; Galatians 1v1; Eph. 1v1; Phil. 1v2; Col. 1v2; 1st Thess. 1v2; 2nd Thess. 1v2; 1st Timothy 1v2; 2nd Timothy 1v2; Titus 1v4; Phil. 1v3; Heb. 1v1-3; James 1v1; 1st Peter 1v1-2; 2nd Peter 1v2; 1st John 1v3; 2nd John v3; Jude 1v1-2; Rev. 1v4.  In essence, in attributes, in counsels, in status He is God.

He is not two separate personalities, sometimes God, other times human.  He is at all times God and man in all situations and forever.  

When the babe of Bethlehem was cradled in His mother's arms, He cradled the universe by the word of His power (Heb. 1v3).  He was the child born, and He was the Son given, who will rule the universe in eternal harmony (Isaiah 9v6-7).  Fasting in the wilderness, in bodily weakness, He dismissed the tempter Satan from His presence (Matthew 4v10-11).   Weary with His journey at Sychar's well, He offered living water to the woman of Samaria.  Sleeping, exhausted in the boat on the Sea of Galilee, He arose to rebuke the storm, making a great calm (Mark 4v37-39).   Weeping at the grave of Lazarus, at the sorrow death brought to all, He stood and confronted it, commanding Lazarus to come forth (John 11v33-44).  He washed the disciples feet in deep humility (John 13v3-17); He will subject all under His feet without exception (1st Cor. 15v27-28; Eph. 1v22; Hebrews 1v13).  In extreme bodily pain on the cross, He pronounced salvation to the malefactor beside Him, (Luke 23v39-43).   On the cross He cried "I thirst", then with Divine command He dismissed His spirit to enter into death.  He is God, He is Man, at all times and in every situation.  He is the Lamb freshly slain, He is the Lion of Judah.  He humbled Himself to become a servant, He will reign supreme as King of kings, and Lord of lords.  

Only as God could He save humanity; only as Man could He die to save us.  "Verily God, yet become truly human", as the hymn says.  In the words of the hymn by Graham Kendrick, "This is our God, the Servant King; He calls us now to follow Him; to bring our lives as a daily offering. of worship to the Servant King".

Consider how the four gospels, proclaiming His worth, have been put together to describe Him:  Matthew/Mark....The King who is also a Servant!  Luke/Acts...The man who is also God!  This is the TRUTH, there is no other!  There is nothing else in all history that can ever compare to this!

Christ in all the scriptures The Ark of the Covenant part 1

 Christ in all the scriptures

The Ark of the Covenant   part 1 

Exodus 25v10-22; 1st Samuel 4v4; 2nd Samuel 6v2; 1st Chronicles 13v6.

Also known as the Ark of the Testimony: both terms refer to the same item; in the first, the emphasis is on God's mercy, His agreement with His people; the second on God's assurance of judgment on those who despise His law.  The testimony (the law) is enshrined on the tablets of stone within the Ark-Ex. 25v16; 31v18.  This aspect is emphasised in Revelation 14v19 and 15v5 when the law of God will be exposed to the godless world.   Other names are; the Ark of God; the Ark of the testimony of the Lord of all the earth, and a few other like descriptions  The Ark is the first mentioned of the component parts of the tabernacle.  Therefore it is of prime importance.  The Ark with its Mercy Seat represent the throne of God in the midst of His people as will become clear in the study.  

Consider the Ark as an INDISPENSIBLE NECESSITY.  This is the message of the Ark, that the whole structure is all about the Ark and the One it symbolises.  It is the fundamental entity around which everything else is built.  Without it, all the rest is meaningless as is clear from the unfolding revelation.

1. The Ark is the first mentioned of the component parts of the tabernacle.
2. It was the only vessel not replaced when they moved into the temple-2nd Chronicles 5v7.  Everything else was renewed, the Ark was installed untouched-you do not alter perfection!  Thus it is unique in the House of God.
3. It was always covered.  As it stood in the sanctuary the veil covered it from the Holy place and the same veil covered it on the journeys.  It was untouched by human hand for the staves were never removed in situ or in transit.
4. There was limited access to it-only Moses by invitation to receive commandments, and Aaron once a year on the day of atonement.
5. The Ark was their infallible guide on the wilderness journeys, leading them through desert tracks.  In their processions the Ark was always at the head.
6. The Ark was the symbol of God's presence, and glory among them.  1st Samuel 4v4 says that when the Ark was taken |"the glory departed".  What made Israel any different from other religious gatherings?  The shekinah cloud, the glory of God, symbolising His presence.  He is "The God that dwells between the cherubims"-1st Chronicles3v6; 2nd Kings 19v15; Isaiah 37v16.  It is called the place of His rest in the midst of His people-2nd Chronicles 6v41.
7. The Ark was their ultimate protection as they journeyed through hostile territory.  The Ark with its visible cloud of glory (fire by night and cloud by day) struck fear in the hearts of their would be enemies.

The Tabernacle was nothing without the Ark.  In modern times the Church is nothing without Christ.  1st Samuel 7v2 reveals that the Ark was absent from the temple for 20 years, at which time it is recorded "All the house of Israel lamented after the Lord".  History shows that the Lord departed from Saul, because of disobedience; from Samson, because of immorality; from Israel in Ezekiel 1-11, because of idolatry.  In Revelation 2, the Lord threatened to remove the lampstand, rendering it a Christless church, because of loveless orthodoxy.  At Laodicea, the Lord was outside the door of the church because of rank materialism.  A church is just an empty shell without the vital presence of the Lord in truth. Gatherings which do not honour Christ as Lord, are nothing more than social clubs. 

Christ in all the scriptures Exodus 25

 Christ in all the scriptures

Exodus 25

"God with us"

"Let them make me a sanctuary, that I may dwell among them"        Exodus 25v8 

Will the infinite dwell with the finite? Will the Almighty dwell with frail mortal man? Will the Holy One dwell with the unholy?  Centuries ago, Socrates, the Greek philosopher, reputedly, wrote to his contemporary Plato, saying, "I suppose Deity may be able to forgive sinful humanity; but I have no idea how!"  How did it enter the head of Moses, that man could dwell with God, and that God could dwell with man, when he sang with the children of Israel, "The Lord is my strength and song, and He is become my salvation: He is my God, and I will prepare Him an habitation; my father's God, and I will exalt Him-Exodus 15v2.   God's reply was astonishing, that Moses was to build a sanctuary, a holy place where He could dwell with His redeemed people.  We take it for granted, in these days of shallow religion, but it is a thing of wonder that God wants to dwell with us.  The Psalmist David put it into words when he wrote, "Lord, who shall abide in thy tabernacle? who shall dwell in thy holy hill?  He that walketh uprightly, and worketh righteousness, and speaketh truth in his heart.  He that backbiteth not with his tongue, nor doeth evil to his neighbour, nor taketh up reproach against his neighbour..."-Psalm 15v1-3.  A summary of the Psalm would be personal sinlessness; neighbourly goodness; hatred of evil; integrity of intention; honesty in business.  The bible declares there is no such person in existence, so how can we dwell with God?  The God who dwells on high, who dwells in light unapproachable, who is surrounded by worshipping angels who have never sinned, the God before whom the very heavens are unclean in His sight; the God who expelled angels (even the highest angel) who sinned; the Almighty God, who is the "blessed and only potentate", King of all who reign as kings, Lord of all who take the title lord, wants to dwell with puny man.

Yet it is actually true!

First chapter of the first book of the bible-Matthew 1v23 "Behold, a virgin shall be with child, and shall bring forth a son, and they shall call His name Emmanuel, which being interpreted is, God with us".

Last chapter of Matthew (28v20-in the context of supreme authority in all heaven and earth), "lo, I am with you always, unto the end of the world (age).  Amen.  The phrase is more accurately rendered "I am with you every single day from now until the completion of the age".

First chapter of John's writings, John chapter 1v14, "And the Word became flesh, and dwelt (tabernacled-pitched His tent) among us, (and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father) full of grace and truth".

Last of John's writings and last book of the bible, Revelation 21v3, "Behold, 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".

Astonishing as it is, it is wonderfully true that God will dwell with men.  Lest we should minimise this in any way, He built into the design and construction of the tabernacle such features of humanity, that they unmistakeable.  Consider the following:

1. The dimensions are in cubits, which are the length of the tip of the elbow to the tip of the longest finger of an average working man-the measure of humanity!
2. The tabernacle has three compartments, the Holy of Holies; the Holy place, and the Courtyard.  Man is also tri-partite, spirit, soul, and body.
3. The outer curtain, and also the gate of entrance is 5 cubits high, taller than most men; indeed the number 5 is a common measure, as many other dimensions are multiples or a division of 5.  Humanity has five fingers, and five toes, and possesses five major senses.
4. The measurement of the pure linen curtain, surrounding the tabernacle, is 280 cubits.  The gestation period in the womb is 280 days in a normal birth.
5. There are 46 boards, standing on silver sockets, apart from the two corner boards.  Modern science tells us that there are 46 chromosomes in every cell of the human body-23 from the father, and 23 from the mother.
6. The embroidered colours on the fine linen tabernacle-blue, purple, scarlet, and gold, correspond precisely to the arterial colours in the human body.  It is said that the main arteries in the heart are golden in appearance.

The clear intention of God is evident, He will dwell with men, the highest form of earthly creation; man, made in the image of God, tarnished by the fall, redeemed at great cost, delivered, secured sanctified to live a life of indescribable glory.  Angels will call us their fellow servants, God will be our God, sin will be no more, everything will be new forever and forever and forever.  Only in Jesus is this possible, and the tabernacle, in its totality and its detail, proclaims His glories.  The curtains, the coverings, the boards, the vessels, the pillars, the utensils, the priesthood, and the priestly service, all utter His glory, and God has given us vivid pictures of the One who has reconciled us to Himself.  

There are three spheres in which this intimate fellowship between God and man is seen.  In each case the word temple (inner temple-sacred shrine) is used in the New Testament.

In the universal Church, the body of Christ, Ephesians 2v21-22, "In whom all the building, fitly framed together, groweth unto an holy temple in the Lord: in whom ye also are builded together for an habitation of God through the Spirit". 

In the local church, 1st Corinthians 3v16, "Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you?"

In the individual believers body, 1st Corinthians 6v19, "What, know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost, which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own, for ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body and in your spirit which are God's".

High privilege indeed, conferred on redeemed, fallen humanity; with it comes solemn responsibility.  From the point of conversion to the unending ages of eternity, He is with us.  He is with us personally and corporately; He is with us in Christ.  He is not with us in our sin and rebellion.  There may be periods of withdrawal as happened to Israel, and also in the Church.  Such withdrawal will only be temporary and remedial.  Reverential fear of the Lord is the way forward until we reach perfection in our eternal home.  Let it not be that "ICHABOD"-"the glory is departed" is written over our generation; let us hold fast, and stand firm, until the day dawn, and the shadows flee away.