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Date: Tue, 26 Mar 1996 08:33:18 +-100
Reply-To: Christian explanation of the Scriptures to Israel
Sender: Christian explanation of the Scriptures to Israel
From: Teus Benschop
Subject: ChrExp, The Scriptures opened, 76
To: Multiple recipients of list CHR-EXP
Contents
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1. Leviticus 6:9 - The perpetual fire
2. Jeremiah 31:11 - Jacob redeemed
3. Revelations 5:12 - The slain Lamb glorified
1. Leviticus 6:9 - The perpetual fire
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Weekly reading: Leviticus 6 - 8
Leviticus 6:9
Command Aaron and his sons, saying, This is the law of the burnt
offering: It is the burnt offering, because of the burning upon the
altar all night unto the morning, and the fire of the altar shall be
burning in it.
We read in the law that the fire on the altar should burn always and
ever. After God has lighted the fire in the beginning, the priests
should care that the fire burns always, and never goes out. "It is the
burnt offering, because of the burning upon the altar all night unto
the morning". The fire must burn always. "The fire of the altar shall
be burning in it." "The fire upon the altar shall be burning in it; it
shall not be put out: and the priest shall burn wood on it every
morning", Lev. 6:12. "The fire shall ever be burning upon the altar;
it shall never go out", Lev. 6:13.
This fire on the altar was not kindled by the priests, but by God
Himself. The first fire upon the altar came from heaven. "And there
came a fire out from before the LORD, and consumed upon the altar the
burnt offering and the fat: which when all the people saw, they
shouted, and fell on their faces" Lev. 9:24. Of this fire the priests
should take care, to keep that up continually. They had to toil in
that every day. Every morning, they should lay new wood upon it, that
the fire might continue burning.
We have this continual fire as an example before us. Let we always and
ever feed our holy affections, comparable to this fire. Let we take
care that our fire of love never goes out. This requires toil, every
morning, and every day. Let also the fire of our holy affections not
go out in the nights, but let it burn always and ever. Let the
exercise of our faith and love, of our prayer and praise, be without
ceasing.
We know how much we come short of this. We, weak people, carnal,
earthly minded, always keep up the fire of our affections for
ourselves, and for all kinds of worldly things, but how is it with our
holy love and zeal? In the most cases, it not only has gone out during
the nights, but also during the days, weeks and months. We forget God,
and spend not much toil in keeping up the fire of love towards God. We
do all what lays in our might to feed our worldly affections, but who
is there that spends his labour in loving God, continually? We should
shame ourselves, because our fire has gone out. It is quenched by the
waters of the world. Our pleasures act as rain, that extinguish the
fire on the altar. And we forget to supply new wood, to keep up the
fire. Who is there that spends much time in meditations about God, in
reading Scripture to keep the fire burning, and in all other kinds of
the service of God? Who is there, that, like Daniel and David, often
prays? David arose even at night, to pray to God. "At midnight I will
rise to give thanks unto thee because of thy righteous judgements", Ps
119:62. Therefore, readers, let we mend our ways, and keep up the
fire, from now on and henceforth. It requires toil, and lazy people
are unfit for this.
Jesus gave us the example that we always should pray. He Himself spent
much time on the mountain, and elsewhere, to pray to His heavenly
Father. We read also of Him that "He spake a parable unto them to this
end, that men ought always to pray, and not to faint", Luke 18:1. He
wished to teach us, by this parable, that we should pray always. Then
God will hear. Let the fire of prayer burn always. Also Paul the
apostle, repeatedly says that he prayed always and ever. "We give
thanks to God and the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, praying always
for you", Col 1:3. "We give thanks to God always for you all, making
mention of you in our prayers", 1 Thess 1:2. "Wherefore also we pray
always for you,", 2 Thess 1:11. "But we are bound to give thanks alway
to God for you, brethren beloved of the Lord," 2 Thess 2:13. "I thank
my God, making mention of thee always in my prayers," Philemon 1:4.
Paul, the faithful apostle and preacher of the gospel, kept his fire
always burning. Through God's grace he always found wood enough to
keep up his fire of prayer.
The apostle admonishes us to praise God continually. He compares this
with the offerings. "Let us offer the sacrifice of praise to God
continually, that is, the fruit of our lips giving thanks to his
name", Heb 13:16.
Another apostle, namely Peter, kept up always the fire of his work in
the service of God. It was his task to teach the people, according to
the command given him by Christ Himself. Go to all nations, and teach
them to keep the things I have commanded you, said Jesus. Peter, being
a faithful apostle, obeyed this command. He was always toiling in the
fire of his calling, to keep that burning. He always taught the
people, and took care that they would be taught, even after his death.
"Wherefore I will not be negligent to put you always in remembrance of
these things, though ye know them, and be established in the present
truth. Yea, I think it meet, as long as I am in this tabernacle, to
stir you up by putting you in remembrance; Knowing that shortly I must
put off this my tabernacle, even as our Lord Jesus Christ hath shewed
me. Moreover I will endeavour that ye may be able after my decease to
have these things always in remembrance", 2 Pet 1:12-15.
2. Jeremiah 31:11 - Jacob redeemed
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For the LORD hath redeemed Jacob, and ransomed him from the hand of
him that was stronger than he.
Once Israel was, because of its sins, driven in exile. They were
driven off to Babylon. Their enemies, being cruel, killed them, and
ill-treated them. But here the prophet says that Jacob is redeemed by
the LORD. "The LORD has redeemed Jacob, and ransomed him from the hand
of him that was stronger than he". It is a prophecy. The prophet says
that Jacob already - is - redeemed, but it was yet to happen. But he
was so sure thereof, that he not said "Jacob will be redeemed from all
their enemies that ill-treated them", but he says "Jacob already IS
redeemed". The prophet, through faith in God, saw it before him as if
it already had happened. Yes, my people, though you are downcast at
present, yet your redemption is coming. You soon will be redeemed,
nay, you - are - already redeemed, because so sure is it. The LORD
will not forget you for always, but He will come and ransom you from
the hand of them that are stronger than you.
"The LORD hath redeemed Jacob". God HAS redeemed Jacob, though he
presently is in exile, under the hands of the oppressors. The LORD has
redeemed his people, that is, surely, Christ will redeem his people.
It is so sure that Christ will redeem us, that it is as if it already
has happened. Is there anyone doubting whether God is willing to
redeem him? Let me tell you then, with this prophet: "The LORD has
redeemed Jacob", so why should He not redeem you? Everyone that is
heavy laden, and oppressed by the adversaries, cast down by all kinds
of adversity, listen: God has redeemed Jacob. God has done it then,
and He remains the same. Therefore, also in this time He will redeem
His people.
There were people that were stronger then Jacob, but God has ransomed
him from their hand. "The LORD hath redeemed Jacob, and ransomed him
from the hand of him that was stronger than he." It may be that our
enemies are stronger then we, but yet the LORD is the strongest of
all. Nobody will be able to resist Him. When He comes to redeem Jacob,
then every enemy must let his captive go. Maybe that he does this
unwillingly, but yet he will do it, because God is stronger than him.
If we are caught by the bonds of satan, then God will deliver us.
Satan may keep us captive by his delusions, by his evil thoughts, by
his bonds, but God will come, and overthrow all enemies. "Behold, the
Lord GOD will come with strong hand, and his arm shall rule for him",
Isa 40:10.
Our LORD is Ruler of this world. But there is one that has raised
himself up, to be the prince of this world. The enemy, who is from
this world, and will perish together with it, has a temporal power
over all his subjects. But as Jesus said, "Now is the judgement of
this world: now shall the prince of this world be cast out", Joh
12:31. The prince of this world is stronger then we are, but yet he
will be cast out. Not through our own strength, but because it is
written: "the LORD hath redeemed Jacob, and ransomed him from the hand
of him that was stronger than he."
Jesus, during his time on earth, everywhere cast out devils. Jesus is
the LORD, and is stronger then any adversary. He said "If I cast out
devils by the Spirit of God, then the kingdom of God is come unto
you", Matthew 12:28. Those devils had taken possession of somebody.
Those devils were stronger then him. But the LORD has ransomed Jacob
from the hand of him that was stronger then he. No devil could stand;
as soon as Jesus spoke His word of power, they fled. They left their
house, and trembled for the Son of God. They knew that their power was
limited, because God casts out everybody that thinks he is stronger
then God's people.
Christ spoiled "principalities and powers", and "he made a show of
them openly, triumphing over them", Col 2:15. God redeemed Jacob, who
was oppressed by the powers. If then there is anybody that lies under
the power of death, and of sin, and of any other power, let him cry to
his God for help. Let him cry in faith, repent from his sins which are
the cause of his bondage, and God will come. The Lord will redeem you
from those that are stronger than you.
Let we now listen to David. He prayed a prayer when he was in the
cave, Psalm 142. King Saul persecuted David, which was the reason
David had to hid himself in the cave. Being persecuted by his enemy,
David prayed a prayer. He said:
I cried unto the LORD with my voice;
with my voice unto the LORD did I make my supplication.
I poured out my complaint before him;
I shewed before him my trouble.
But he also knew that God was with him. David trusted in the LORD. Who
else should he trust in?
When my spirit was overwhelmed within me,
then thou knewest my path.
In the way wherein I walked
have they privily laid a snare for me.
Before he went into the cave, and also during his stay therein, he
looked for help. But there was none that saved him. He was alone, left
by everybody. Only God was with him (which is enough).
I looked on my right hand, and beheld,
but there was no man that would know me:
refuge failed me;
no man cared for my soul.
I cried unto thee, O LORD:
I said,
Thou art my refuge and my portion in the land of the living.
When every other refuge failed him, he looked to God for help.
Attend unto my cry; for I am brought very low:
deliver me from my persecutors; for they are stronger than I.
Here you have David's persecutors, who are stronger then he. But we
know that "the LORD hath redeemed Jacob, and ransomed him from the
hand of him that was stronger than he." So, if David's persecutors are
stronger then him, that does not mean that his end is at hand. Though
our persecutors may be stronger then us, yet our God is the strongest
of all. And He will deliver us.
Bring my soul out of prison, that I may praise thy name:
the righteous shall compass me about;
for thou shalt deal bountifully with me.
3. Revelations 5:12 - The slain Lamb glorified
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Worthy is the Lamb that was slain, to receive power, and riches, and
wisdom, and strength, and honour, and glory, and blessing.
Worthy is the Lamb to receive all what is on earth. He is worthy to
receive power, riches, wisdom, strength, honour, glory and blessing.
Who is this Lamb? Who is this honourable Lamb? It is the Lamb that was
slain. It is the Lamb of God, given to the world to be slain. "He is
brought as a lamb to the slaughter", Isa 53:7. This Lamb that is
slain, Who is it? It is our Lord, Jesus Christ. He is the Lamb of God,
given to the world, to be offered up in its stead. He is slain, like
the lambs of old were slain to be offered up on the altar in the
tabernacle and in the temple. However, these lambs of old were not
worthy to receive all glory. They also were many, but this lamb is
alone. He is worthy to receive all what is on earth. This Lamb is
alone, because with His one offering, all other need of offerings
ceased. His worth was so high, that, when He was slain, all offerings
ceased.
The Lamb, that is Jesus Christ, is worthy to receive power. He
receives all power, because He is King of kings. He rules His church
both on earth and in heaven. He is a mighty King, and dreadful for His
enemies. He not only is worthy to receive power, but also all riches.
He is the Owner of the earth. The earth, together with the whole
universe, is made by Him. He also is worthy to receive all wisdom.
There is no wisdom, real wisdom on earth, but that what comes from
Him. Christ, being King of kings, should be honoured always and ever.
All glory is due to Him. He is the blessed Son of God, Who gave
Himself a ransom for His elect.
"And every creature which is in heaven, and on the earth, and under
the earth, and such as are in the sea, and all that are in them, heard
I saying, Blessing, and honour, and glory, and power, be unto him that
sitteth upon the throne, and unto the Lamb for ever and ever. And the
four beasts said, Amen. And the four and twenty elders fell down and
worshipped him that liveth for ever and ever", Rev 5:13,14.
Christ was the Lamb that was slain. He Himself was without sin. Yet He
was slain. It was not for himself, but for all those that believe and
will believe in Him. He was slain, because the reward of sin is death.
He poured out His soul into death, not for Himself, but for us, that
believe in Him. "God so loved the world, that he gave his only
begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but
have everlasting life", Joh 3:16. This Lamb, God's beloved Son, is
worthy to receive all honour, glory, blessing and power. He gave
Himself to be slain for us. Once having done that, He is exalted into
the heavens, to be with God. There He receives all glory, together
with the Father and the Spirit.
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chr-exp@nic.surfnet.nl
"A Christian explanation of the Scriptures to Israel"
Institute Practical Bible-education
Web: http://www.iclnet.org/pub/resources/text/ipb-e/ipbe-home.html
Written by Teus Benschop -- t.benschop@pobox.ruu.nl
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file: /pub/resources/text/ipb-e/so: s-open-076.txt
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