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January 12, 2017

The Ashes of a Red Heifer

(Numbers 19)

Old Testament Parables

Many of the parables of Jesus were stories and He included details that may or may not apply to the overall meaning. But in the Old Testament, in God’s instructions to His people, He included specific details that all have significance – the type of material used, color, time sequence, etc. If these details weren’t important, He would not have specified them. Those who have spent some time studying the Sanctuary and its services are well aware of the significance of details. These are acted parables with deep meaning.

The significance of the Jewish economy is not yet fully comprehended. Truths vast and profound are shadowed forth in its rites and symbols. The gospel is the key that unlocks its mysteries. Through a knowledge of the plan of redemption, its truths are opened to the understanding. Far more than we do, it is our privilege to understand these wonderful themes. We are to comprehend the deep things of God. Angels desire to look into the truths that are revealed to the people who with contrite hearts are searching the word of God, and praying for greater lengths and breadths and depths and heights of the knowledge which He alone can give. Christ’s Object Lessons, p. 133

Cleansing by the Ashes of a Red Heifer

There were many things that God said would contaminate His Covenant People, making them “unclean” – leprosy, body fluids, animal carcasses, menstruation, etc. The most serious of the contaminants was contact with human death in any form – body, bones, or grave. For this particular situation, He provided a unique cleansing process.

The people were to bring a perfect red heifer that had never worked under a yoke. She would be killed outside the camp in front of the Priest. He would collect some of her blood, take it to the Tabernacle, and sprinkle it with his finger toward the entrance. Another man would burn the whole carcass along with some cedar wood, hyssop, and red cloth that the Priest would throw into the fire. After doing this the Priest would bathe and wash his clothes but would remain unclean until evening. The one who burned the heifer would do the same. Another who was pure would collect the ashes, store them carefully for later use, then wash his clothes, and be unclean until evening.

When needed for purifying, the ashes were put in a container, fresh water was added, and a “clean” person would dip hyssop in this water/ash mixture and sprinkle any person or object that was considered unclean on the 3rd day and the 7th day after the contaminating incident. This assistant, after doing this, would wash his clothes and himself and be unclean until evening. Anyone who touched the purifying water, or any person or object that had contact with the one who needed this cleansing process, was also unclean until evening.

This ritual was required for anyone that had direct contact with human death and anything that was in the home of one who died, including the tent and any open containers. The person (or object) who had any of this type of contact and was not purified in the prescribed way contaminated the Tabernacle of God and would be excommunicated. The unclean person (or object) must be sprinkled with the purifying water on the 3rd and the 7th day, then wash himself and his clothes, and remain unclean until the evening of the 7th day. If he did not receive the first sprinkling on the 3rd day, he could not be cleansed at all.

Gospel Symbolism:

There are many details in this description that have significance. We will look at a few of them.

Death is a symbol of sin and its final result. (Romans 6:23; James 1:15) Since animals are not “sinners” – they have no conscience and their minds are not corrupted by rebellion, fear, hatred, and other attitudes toward God as humans are – contact with an animal carcass merely made a person unclean until evening and did not require an extensive cleansing ritual. (Leviticus 11:24-40) But humans are sinners. We have all those evil attitudes and tendencies, inherited and cultivated. Interaction among sinners perpetuates and enhances the problem. We have a conscience that needs thorough cleansing. God needs to go through a much more extensive purification process to deal with human sinfulness than to purify the sin-sick world of nature. (Romans 8:22)

A soul corrupted by sin is represented by the figure of a dead body in a state of putrefaction. All the washings and sprinklings enjoined in the ceremonial law were lessons in parables, teaching the necessity of a work of regeneration in the inward heart for the purification of the soul dead in trespasses and sins, and also the necessity of the sanctifying power of the Holy Spirit. The Review and Herald 12-19-07

The animal that was used for this purpose was very carefully chosen: a heifer (a young cow), totally red (no color variation), with no defects, and never used for work in a yoke. (Numbers 19:2) In several ways this animal represents Jesus, the One who was sacrificed to cleanse our conscience.

For if the blood of bulls and of goats, and the ashes of an heifer sprinkling the unclean, sanctifieth to the purifying of the flesh: How much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without spot to God, purge your conscience from dead works to serve the living God? Hebrews 9:13, 14

The choice of a red cow is unique. In Egypt, the cow was held sacred as the symbol of the goddess Isis. A red bull was sacrificed annually to the evil god Typhon. God wanted to avoid similarities to that system so He specified a red cow. A cow, being larger than a sheep or goat, was a much more valuable sacrifice. Jesus Christ, the Son of God, was the most valuable sacrifice that could ever be offered.

Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, from your vain conversation received by tradition from your fathers; But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot: 1 Peter 1:18, 19

Red is a symbol of human-ness. In fact, the Hebrew word used here for red is adom and is very similar to adam, the name given to the first man, and adamah, meaning soil or earth, from which Adam was made. Jesus became a human of the same nature as we are.

Forasmuch then as the children are partakers of flesh and blood, he also himself likewise took part of the same; that through death he might destroy him that had the power of death, that is, the devil; And deliver them who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage. For verily he took not on him the nature of angels; but he took on him the seed of Abraham. Wherefore in all things it behoved him to be made like unto his brethren, that he might be a merciful and faithful high priest in things pertaining to God, to make reconciliation for the sins of the people. For in that he himself hath suffered being tempted, he is able to succour them that are tempted. Hebrews 2:14-18

Sacrificial animals were always to be physically perfect, the very best quality. God even specified that they should be of a good temperament. Jesus, though He took on human nature with its weaknesses and problems after 4000 years of deterioration, was still perfect in all the characteristics that matter to God.

Thou shalt not sacrifice unto the LORD thy God any bullock, or sheep, wherein is blemish, or any evilfavouredness: for that is an abomination unto the LORD thy God. Deuteronomy 17:1

Jesus accepted humanity when the race had been weakened by four thousand years of sin. Like every child of Adam He accepted the results of the working of the great law of heredity. What these results were is shown in the history of His earthly ancestors. He came with such a heredity to share our sorrows and temptations, and to give us the example of a sinless life. The Desire of Ages, p. 48

For such an high priest became us, who is holy, harmless, undefiled, separate from sinners, and made higher than the heavens; Hebrews 7:26

There was in Him nothing that responded to Satan’s sophistry. He did not consent to sin. Not even by a thought did He yield to temptation. The Desire of Ages, p. 123

The animal was killed and burned outside the camp. (Numbers 19:3-6) This procedure was specified only for the most significant sacrifices of the Israelites – a sin offering for the whole congregation or for a Priest as the representative of the whole congregation (Leviticus 4:12, 21), the sin offerings on the Day of Atonement (Leviticus 16:27), and the sin offerings for the Priests’ dedication (Leviticus 8, 9). Sin offerings for individuals were burned on the Altar of Burnt Offering in the Courtyard of the Tabernacle. Jesus suffered and died for the sins of the whole world outside of Heaven (where the “real” Temple is) and outside of Jerusalem (where the “model” Temple was). He was the greatest, most comprehensive sacrifice in the universe.

For the bodies of those beasts, whose blood is brought into the sanctuary by the high priest for sin, are burned without the camp. Wherefore Jesus also, that he might sanctify the people with his own blood, suffered without the gate. Hebrews 13:11, 12

The ashes of the Red Heifer were stored in a clean place outside the camp and were available whenever someone needed the cleansing. (Numbers 19:9) The provision was made before it was needed. The Plan of Salvation was in place before there was sin.

Who verily was foreordained before the foundation of the world, but was manifest in these last times for you, 1 Peter 1:20

And all that dwell upon the earth shall worship him, whose names are not written in the book of life of the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world. Revelation 13:8

It was not necessary to repeat the burning for each incident; the supply of ashes was adequate for multiple applications. Jesus died once for all time, an infinite source of cleansing. We can come for cleansing at any time and receive it instantly.

Who needeth not daily, as those high priests, to offer up sacrifice, first for his own sins, and then for the people’s: for this he did once, when he offered up himself. Hebrews 7:27

Neither by the blood of goats and calves, but by his own blood he entered in once into the holy place, having obtained eternal redemption for us. Hebrews 9:12

For then must he often have suffered since the foundation of the world: but now once in the end of the world hath he appeared to put away sin by the sacrifice of himself. . . . 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. Hebrews 9:26, 28

By the which will we are sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all. Hebrews 10:10

This provision was available for Jews and foreigners. (Numbers 19:10) Jesus died for anyone and everyone.

For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. John 3:16

Where there is neither Greek nor Jew, circumcision nor uncircumcision, Barbarian, Scythian, bond nor free: but Christ is all, and in all. Colossians 3:11

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

Someone who had contact with death and did not receive this purification defiled the Tabernacle and would be “cut off,” a very serious sentence. (Numbers 19:13, 20) We are not totally isolated and independent from the rest of the universe. Our sinfulness on this earth corrupts the Heavenly Sanctuary.

And he said unto me, Unto two thousand and three hundred days; then shall the sanctuary be cleansed. Daniel 8:14

Each individual needs to take the initiative to receive the cleansing that is available. If he neglects it, he suffers the consequences.

For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord. Romans 6:23

Therefore we ought to give the more earnest heed to the things which we have heard, lest at any time we should let them slip. For if the word spoken by angels was stedfast, and every transgression and disobedience received a just recompence of reward; How shall we escape, if we neglect so great salvation; which at the first began to be spoken by the Lord, and was confirmed unto us by them that heard him; Hebrews 2:1-3

Anyone who touched anything the unclean person had touched was unclean until evening. (Numbers 19:22) The human race inherited sinfulness and death from Adam and Eve. Contact with our sinful, worldly environment affects us. We may not perceive it any more than we can perceive the pathogens that are excreted from a corpse, but sin goes around like an infectious disease. We need daily, continual cleansing.

But of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, thou shalt not eat of it: for in the day that thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die. Genesis 2:17

Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned: Romans 5:12

Then said Haggai, If one that is unclean by a dead body touch any of these, shall it be unclean? And the priests answered and said, It shall be unclean. Then answered Haggai, and said, So is this people, and so is this nation before me, saith the LORD; and so is every work of their hands; and that which they offer there is unclean. Haggai 2:13, 14

January 12, 2017

The Nazarite Vow

In Numbers 6:1-21, God gave guidelines for those who wished to dedicate themselves to Him in a special way. It is quite possible that this was something that was already familiar to the people and God was merely showing His approval of it and giving the specifics of how He wanted it done. Joseph is spoken of as being naziyr (separate, a Nazarite) though our English translations do not show that.

The blessings of thy father have prevailed above the blessings of my progenitors unto the utmost bound of the everlasting hills: they shall be on the head of Joseph, and on the crown of the head of him that was separate from his brethren. Genesis 49:26

The Hebrew word naziyr (which is translated “Nazarite”) and its related forms (nazar, nezer) portray several concepts that were part of the significance of being a Nazarite. Here are some samples of other verses where these words are found that give us an idea of their meanings:

naziyr–

That which groweth of its own accord of thy harvest thou shalt not reap, neither gather the grapes of thy vine undressed: for it is a year of rest unto the land. Leviticus 25:5

God claimed ultimate ownership of all the land. For six years the “tenants” (those who “owned” the land) would cultivate it and harvest its produce for their personal needs and profit, but in the seventh year, when the land was allowed to rest, it was left untended, the grapevines were unpruned (“undressed”). Its produce that year was dedicated to God for His purposes and He gave it freely to all – the “owners,” their servants, the poor, the animals. (vv. 6, 7) The Nazarite dedicated himself totally to God for His purposes.

nazar–

For every one of the house of Israel, or of the stranger that sojourneth in Israel, which separateth himselffrom me, and setteth up his idols in his heart, and putteth the stumblingblock of his iniquity before his face, and cometh to a prophet to enquire of him concerning me; I the LORD will answer him by myself: Ezekiel 14:7

This verse speaks of a person who separates from God and turns to others. The Nazarite separated himself from others and turned wholeheartedly to God.

nezer–

And they made the plate of the holy crown of pure gold, and wrote upon it a writing, like to the engravings of a signet, HOLINESS TO THE LORD. Exodus 39:30

Neither shall he go out of the sanctuary, nor profane the sanctuary of his God; for the crown of the anointing oil of his God is upon him: I am the LORD. Leviticus 21:12

The High Priest was “crowned” with anointing oil and the golden Crown of Holiness to show that his head (his thoughts, plans, etc.) belonged to God. The Nazarite wore his uncut hair as a “crown” to show that his head belonged to God.

Another word that deserves notice is used in the introduction to the Nazarite specifications.

. . . When either man or woman shall separate themselves to vow a vow of a Nazarite, to separate themselves unto the LORD: (v. 2)

The word “separate” in this verse is interesting when we look at the original Hebrew word (pala) which it comes from. In the majority of places where this particular Hebrew word occurs, it is referring to a wonderful, marvelous thing that God does.

And I will stretch out my hand, and smite Egypt with all my wonders which I will do in the midst thereof: and after that he will let you go. Exodus 3:20

And he said, Behold, I make a covenant: before all thy people I will do marvels, such as have not been done in all the earth, nor in any nation: and all the people among which thou art shall see the work of the LORD: for it is a terrible thing that I will do with thee. Exodus 34:10

So Manoah took a kid with a meat offering, and offered it upon a rock unto the LORD: and the angel did wondrously; and Manoah and his wife looked on. Judges 13:19

As it is used in this verse (Numbers 6:2) it may not be describing a marvelous thing but surely an extraordinary or unique thing – to choose to make the vow of a Nazarite. In Numbers 6, God was making special provision for (and possibly inviting) those who wished to show special devotion to Him and live their life totally for sacred purposes. This was not the ordinary life; it was extraordinary and unique. We have record of three who were Nazarites for their whole lives – Samson, Samuel, and John the Baptist. It appears that Paul took a short-term Nazarite vow (Acts 18:18). Jesus was a Nazarene (a resident of Nazareth) but not a Nazarite.

In our modern world, we seem to have a rather narrow and warped view of what it means to be a really dedicated Christian. When we see someone who is very zealous, who wants to do everything possible to live a pious life, who wants to spend their time in total service to God, who does some “unique” things out of their deep convictions, avoiding certain things or doing certain other things that are different from the “normal” Christian, we call them a “fanatic” or a “legalist.” But what does God think of them??? I would like to propose that He considers them modern “Nazarites” and appreciates their dedication and fervor.

This reminds me of an incident recorded in Numbers 11. Moses was feeling stressed because of the heavy responsibility he carried for the leadership of 2 million complaining people. God came to him and said He would lighten his burden by dividing the responsibility among 70 other leaders. When the chosen men came together at the Tabernacle, God put His Spirit on them and they prophesied. Two of the 70, Eldad and Medad, did not come to the Tabernacle but received God’s Spirit anyway and prophesied in the camp. Someone came running to Moses with the news and when Joshua heard it, he told Moses, “You need to stop this.” But Moses responded, “I wish all of God’s people were prophets.”

Another incident that comes to mind in relation to this is recorded for us in Matthew 11 and Luke 7 where Jesus commented on the people’s response to the life and ministry of John the Baptist as compared to His own. They considered John to be much too conservative (and crazy) and Jesus too liberal.

But wisdom is justified of all her children. Luke 7:35

When we see a modern “Nazarite,” would it not be more appropriate to respect them for their deep spirituality and wish that all of God’s people were that dedicated than to condemn and shun them for being odd, strange, crazy, a “fanatic,” a “legalist?”

To take the vow of a Nazarite was not a matter to be taken lightly. There was a cost involved; there were restrictions, and consequences for mistakes. It was a very solemn thing and, though the guidelines given in the Law did not specify a time limit, later rabbinical rules stated that it should not be for less than 30 days. To permit the vow to be taken for very short periods would diminish its solemnity and estimation. It was an honorable thing and God encouraged it, but it was not easy. A Nazarite even had to struggle against peer pressure at times when fellow Jews would tempt him to break his vow.

And I raised up of your sons for prophets, and of your young men for Nazarites. Is it not even thus, O ye children of Israel? saith the LORD. But ye gave the Nazarites wine to drink; and commanded the prophets, saying, Prophesy not. Amos 2:11, 12

A Nazarite could not use any grape products: fresh, dried (raisins), juice, wine, etc. (Numbers 6:3, 4)

Grapes seem to symbolize luxury, abundance, affluence, delight (Numbers 13:23-27; Deuteronomy 32:14). Wine and other alcoholic drinks are mind-altering and symbolize excess and intensity of emotion and/or fleshly lusts (Proverbs 20:1; Ephesians 5:18; Revelation 14:8, 10; 16:19; 18:3).

The Nazarite was saying, “I purposely choose a plain, simple life, giving up luxury and pleasure, for the purpose of being fully dedicated to God. I choose to preserve my mind and body in the best condition possible, untainted by any substance that might interfere, so that I can focus more clearly on God’s will and way.”

Daniel and his 3 friends did something similar in refusing what the king provided (Daniel 1). In Jeremiah 35 we have the story of a group of people called Rechabites who were in some ways similar to Nazarites. Their ancestor, Jonadab, the son of Rechab, had commanded them over 200 years earlier to never drink wine, nor own property, nor cultivate crops. They had followed that command faithfully, and God held them up to the rest of Judah as an example of faithfulness. There are still remnants of this group of people living in the Middle East in Iraq and Yemen. In the early 1800’s, Dr. Joseph Wolff spent some time among a group of Rechabites. (see The Great Controversy, p. 362)

Whether therefore ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God. 1 Corinthians 10:31

God is still looking for people who will vow to follow Him faithfully regardless of what they may or may not have of this world’s goods or pleasures. In this time in history, the 21st century, we are surrounded and bombarded by all kinds of things that are hazards to our physical life and our spiritual life: harmful substances in our air and food and water, temptations to indulge the appetites of our mind and body, etc., etc. We need to purpose in our heart, like Daniel and the Rechabites, that we will do all we can to keep our minds and hearts and bodies pure and clean so that we can focus on being truly and completely God’s.

Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour: 1 Peter 5:8

And that, knowing the time, that now it is high time to awake out of sleep: for now is our salvation nearer than when we believed. The night is far spent, the day is at hand: let us therefore cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armour of light. Let us walk honestly, as in the day; not in rioting and drunkenness, not in chambering and wantonness, not in strife and envying. But put ye on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make not provision for the flesh, to fulfil the lusts thereof. Romans 13:11-14

That ye may be blameless and harmless, the sons of God, without rebuke, in the midst of a crooked and perverse nation, among whom ye shine as lights in the world; Philippians 2:15

The Nazarite would not cut his hair during the time of his vow and at the end would cut it all off and give it to God as part of his offering. (Numbers 6:5, 18)

Abundant and luxurious hair was to some extent a symbol of strength and beauty (2 Samuel 14:25-26). Baldness was considered a blemish (2 Kings 2:23; Isaiah 3:24). The High Priest’s golden crown with “HOLINESS TO THE LORD” engraved on it was a nezer (Exodus 28:36; 29:6). During the time of his vow, the Nazarite’s hair would be longer than normal. After the end of the vow, he would be bald for a while. His uncut hair was an outward symbol of his total dedication to God in holiness. His hair, his nezer, was an indication of his spiritual state.

The Nazarite was saying, “I choose to be unique for God, consecrating all my powers and abilities to Him. I am willing to appear different from others by wearing this visible sign of my complete dedication to God.”

Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind, and with all thy strength: this is the first commandment. Mark 12:30

And I looked, and, lo, a Lamb stood on the mount Sion, and with him an hundred forty and four thousand, having his Father’s name written in their foreheads. Revelation 14:1

God is looking for those who are willing to be visibly different. There is so much pressure to conform to the standards of the culture we live in, but God calls us to a higher standard. He doesn’t want us to be just like everyone else, “lukewarm” like our environment. Nor does He expect us to be odd or strange merely for the sake of being unique, but to be willing to be different when righteousness requires it.

But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light: 1 Peter 2:9

We believe it wrong to differ from others, unless it be necessary to differ in order to be right. The Health Reformer, August 1, 1868

We as a people do not believe it our duty to go out of the world to be out of the fashion. If we have a neat, plain, modest, and comfortable plan of dress, and worldlings choose to dress as we do, shall we change this mode of dress in order to be different from the world? No, we should not be odd or singular in our dress for the sake of differing from the world, lest they despise us for so doing. Christians are the light of the world, the salt of the earth. Their dress should be neat and modest, their conversation chaste and heavenly, and their deportment blameless. Counsels on Health, p. 604

The Nazarite was to have no contact with death, even to the point of not attending the funeral of a family member. If someone died suddenly next to him (a situation beyond his control), his consecrated head was contaminated and he had to start over with his vow. (Numbers 6:6-12) This should not be thought of as a punishment for an infraction, but rather a provision for maintaining quality standards.

My little children, these things write I unto you, that ye sin not. And if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous: And he is the propitiation for our sins: and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world. 1 John 2:1, 2

God cannot condone persistently willful sin in those who claim to be His covenant people. A Nazarite had control over what he ate (no grape products), over the length of his hair (to be uncut), and over who he associated with (no contact with death). A deviation from his vow in any of these areas was a choice and disqualified him; but sudden, unexpected death next to him was not his choice. It could be remedied and his vow renewed.

Death was a symbol of sin and any Israelite, regardless of their status, was contaminated by contact with human death (war, funeral attendance, etc.) and needed to be purified by the ritual involving the ashes of the red heifer. (see Numbers 19) A Priest was allowed to attend the funeral of a close family member but not of any other person (Leviticus 21:1-3). The High Priest was not allowed to attend any funeral (Leviticus 21:10, 11). With this in mind, we could say that the consecration of a Nazarite was in some sense comparable to that of the High Priest and possibly even to a higher degree since the High Priest was chosen because of his family lineage whereas a Nazarite consecrated himself to this restricted life by personal choice.

God wanted to use the Nazarites to spur the people on to deeper dedication and remind them of their high calling. They were to be an example of purity, good health, and vigor like Daniel and the other 3 young Hebrews whose diet was pulse and water.

Her Nazarites were purer than snow, they were whiter than milk, they were more ruddy in body than rubies, their polishing was of sapphire: Lamentations 4:7

Now therefore, if ye will obey my voice indeed, and keep my covenant, then ye shall be a peculiar treasure unto me above all people: for all the earth is mine: And ye shall be unto me a kingdom of priests, and an holy nation. These are the words which thou shalt speak unto the children of Israel. Exodus 19:5, 6

As I contemplate what it meant to take the vow of a Nazarite, a “Separated One,” I am reminded of what Jesus said in regard to being one of His followers: “Count the cost; then make your decision and don’t deviate from it.”

If any man come to me, and hate not his father, and mother, and wife, and children, and brethren, and sisters, yea, and his own life also, he cannot be my disciple. And whosoever doth not bear his cross, and come after me, cannot be my disciple. For which of you, intending to build a tower, sitteth not down first, and counteth the cost, whether he have sufficient to finish it? Lest haply, after he hath laid the foundation, and is not able to finish it, all that behold it begin to mock him, Saying, This man began to build, and was not able to finish. Or what king, going to make war against another king, sitteth not down first, and consulteth whether he be able with ten thousand to meet him that cometh against him with twenty thousand? Or else, while the other is yet a great way off, he sendeth an ambassage, and desireth conditions of peace. So likewise, whosoever he be of you that forsaketh not all that he hath, he cannot be my disciple. Luke 14:26-33

A vow might be made when a person was requesting or had experienced some special intervention by God. (Jacob – Genesis 28:20-22; Jephthah – Judges 11:30-31) Many people today make “vows” to God when they are under dire circumstances and or have great needs (“O God, if you . . . , I will . . . .”) and when the crisis has passed, they forget what they said. Let us be careful what we promise to God. He does not take it lightly.

When thou vowest a vow unto God, defer not to pay it; for he hath no pleasure in fools: pay that which thou hast vowed. Better is it that thou shouldest not vow, than that thou shouldest vow and not pay. Ecclesiastes 5:4, 5

I find it very interesting that right after God gave His guidelines for those who wanted to dedicate themselves to Him in this unique and extraordinary way by taking the Nazarite vow, He Himself gave a blessing to be pronounced on His people.

And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying, Speak unto Aaron and unto his sons, saying, On this wise ye shall bless the children of Israel, saying unto them, The LORD bless thee, and keep thee: The LORD make his face shine upon thee, and be gracious unto thee: The LORD lift up his countenance upon thee, and give thee peace. And they shall put my name upon the children of Israel; and I will bless them. Numbers 6:22-27

Do you want a special blessing from God?

Consecrate yourself to God in the morning; make this your very first work. Let your prayer be, “Take me, O Lord, as wholly Thine. I lay all my plans at Thy feet. Use me today in Thy service. Abide with me, and let all my work be wrought in Thee.” This is a daily matter. Each morning consecrate yourself to God for that day. Surrender all your plans to Him, to be carried out or given up as His providence shall indicate. Thus day by day you may be giving your life into the hands of God, and thus your life will be molded more and more after the life of Christ. Steps to Christ, p. 70

These guidelines regarding the Nazarite Vow are another Statute that helps clarify and reinforce the Ten Commandments, specifically the Third Commandment. Stated in this context, it could read, “Thou shalt not take the name of Nazarite in vain, for the Lord will not hold him guiltless who calls himself a Nazarite but does not live up to the qualifications.”

A thought to ponder:

The Nazarite Vow bears similarities to the qualifications of the 144,000 given in Revelation 14:1-5.

January 12, 2017January 18, 2017

What are the Statutes and Judgments?

The terms “statutes” and “judgments” may have been forgotten by most Bible students but they are not totally outdated and unfamiliar terms. Our entire modern legal system is based on the laws that have been passed by our legislative bodies and recorded in our Statute Books. Judgments are the decisions handed down by our judicial system. When God chose Israel as His Covenant People, He did not give the people responsibility to formulate their own government system. They were to live under a theocracy, with God Himself as their Sovereign and Lawgiver. He established the Statutes and Judgments that they were to follow. Please remember that what is so often called the “Law of Moses” was not Moses’ invention in any way. It all came from God. Moses was merely the channel God used to pass it on to the people.

These are the statutes and judgments and laws, which the LORD made between him and the children of Israel in mount Sinai by the hand of Moses. Leviticus 26:46

The Statutes and Judgments were a part of the Covenant and were to be carefully obeyed. We are also admonished to keep them.

The words of Moses to Israel, concerning the statutes and judgments of the Lord, are also the word of God to us; he says: “Keep therefore and do them; for this is your wisdom and your understanding in the sight of the nations, which shall hear all these statutes, and say, Surely this great nation is a wise and understanding people. For what nation is there so great, who hath God so nigh unto them, as the Lord our God is in all things that we call upon him for? And what nation is there so great, that hath statutes and judgments so righteous as all this law, which I set before you this day? Signs of the Times, March 21, 1895

Remember ye the law of Moses my servant, which I commanded unto him in Horeb for all Israel, with the statutes and judgments. Malachi 4:4

But do we even know what the Statutes and Judgments are? What did God expect of His people then and what does He expect now? Some of the specifics may not apply to us in the 21st century but God’s principles always apply. Let us have a look at a few examples:

Respect for parents–

And he that smiteth his father, or his mother, shall be surely put to death. Exodus 21:15

And he that curseth his father, or his mother, shall surely be put to death. Exodus 21:17

If a man have a stubborn and rebellious son, which will not obey the voice of his father, or the voice of his mother, and that, when they have chastened him, will not hearken unto them: Then shall his father and his mother lay hold on him, and bring him out unto the elders of his city, and unto the gate of his place; And they shall say unto the elders of his city, This our son is stubborn and rebellious, he will not obey our voice; he is a glutton, and a drunkard. And all the men of his city shall stone him with stones, that he die: so shalt thou put evil away from among you; and all Israel shall hear, and fear. Deuteronomy 21:18-21

We don’t pass the death sentence on the “terrible two’s” or “rebellious teens” but this shows us how important it is to God for children to respect and obey their parents.

Homosexuality–

Thou shalt not lie with mankind, as with womankind: it is abomination. Leviticus 18:22

If a man also lie with mankind, as he lieth with a woman, both of them have committed an abomination: they shall surely be put to death; their blood shall be upon them. Leviticus 20:13

There is nothing vague about how God views homosexuality.

Lost and Found–

Thou shalt not see thy brother’s ox or his sheep go astray, and hide thyself from them: thou shalt in any case bring them again unto thy brother. And if thy brother be not nigh unto thee, or if thou know him not, then thou shalt bring it unto thine own house, and it shall be with thee until thy brother seek after it, and thou shalt restore it to him again. In like manner shalt thou do with his ass; and so shalt thou do with his raiment; and with all lost thing of thy brother’s, which he hath lost, and thou hast found, shalt thou do likewise: thou mayest not hide thyself. Deuteronomy 22:1-3

“Finders, keepers; losers, weepers” is against biblical principles.

Generosity–

If there be among you a poor man of one of thy brethren within any of thy gates in thy land which the LORD thy God giveth thee, thou shalt not harden thine heart, nor shut thine hand from thy poor brother: But thou shalt open thine hand wide unto him, and shalt surely lend him sufficient for his need, in that which he wanteth. Beware that there be not a thought in thy wicked heart, saying, The seventh year, the year of release, is at hand; and thine eye be evil against thy poor brother, and thou givest him naught; and he cry unto the LORD against thee, and it be sin unto thee. Thou shalt surely give him, and thine heart shall not be grieved when thou givest unto him: because that for this thing the LORD thy God shall bless thee in all thy works, and in all that thou puttest thine hand unto. For the poor shall never cease out of the land: therefore I command thee, saying, Thou shalt open thine hand wide unto thy brother, to thy poor, and to thy needy, in thy land. Deuteronomy 15:7-11

God commands generosity.

Paying employees–

Thou shalt not oppress a hired servant that is poor and needy, whether he be of thy brethren, or of thy strangers that are in thy land within thy gates: At his day thou shalt give him his hire, neither shall the sun go down upon it; for he is poor, and setteth his heart upon it: lest he cry against thee unto the LORD, and it be sin unto thee. Deuteronomy 24:14, 15

Pay workers promptly.

Charging interest–

If thou lend money to any of my people that is poor by thee, thou shalt not be to him as a usurer, neither shalt thou lay upon him usury. Exodus 22:25

And if thy brother be waxen poor, and fallen in decay with thee; then thou shalt relieve him: yea, though he be a stranger (traveler), or a sojourner (temporary guest); that he may live with thee. Take thou no usury of him, or increase: but fear thy God; that thy brother may live with thee. Thou shalt not give him thy money upon usury, nor lend him thy victuals for increase. Leviticus 25:35-37

Thou shalt not lend upon usury to thy brother; usury of money, usury of victuals, usury of any thing that is lent upon usury: Unto a stranger (foreigner) thou mayest lend upon usury; but unto thy brother thou shalt not lend upon usury: that the LORD thy God may bless thee in all that thou settest thine hand to in the land whither thou goest to possess it. Deuteronomy 23:19, 20

Don’t charge interest on anything lent to a fellow Christian or to any poor person.

Home education–

And ye shall teach them your children, speaking of them when thou sittest in thine house, and when thou walkest by the way, when thou liest down, and when thou risest up. And thou shalt write them upon the door posts of thine house, and upon thy gates: Deuteronomy 11:19, 20

Home education of children is a biblical injunction.

Consuming blood–

It shall be a perpetual statute for your generations throughout all your dwellings, that ye eat neither fat nor blood. Leviticus 3:17

There is probably no meat available through grocery stores or restaurants that has had all the blood drained out.

Clean / unclean animals–

Speak unto the children of Israel, saying, These are the beasts which ye shall eat among all the beasts that are on the earth. Whatsoever parteth the hoof, and is clovenfooted, and cheweth the cud, among the beasts, that shall ye eat. Leviticus 11:2, 3

Only certain herbivores are considered clean.

Clean / unclean birds–

And these are they which ye shall have in abomination among the fowls; they shall not be eaten, they are an abomination: the eagle, and the ossifrage, and the ospray, and the vulture, and the kite after his kind; every raven after his kind; and the owl, and the night hawk, and the cuckow, and the hawk after his kind, and the little owl, and the cormorant, and the great owl, and the swan, and the pelican, and the gier eagle, and the stork, the heron after her kind, and the lapwing, and the bat. Leviticus 11:13-19

There are no birds specified as being clean to eat. The ones that are mentioned here as being unclean are all birds of prey or scavengers. Any similar birds would be unclean. There are some birds we can assume are clean. God provided quail as food, and turtledoves and pigeons were allowed as sacrificial birds. They are primarily seed-eaters. Chickens and turkeys raised commercially are fed mostly grains but may be fed “animal by-products” as a protein supplement. Wild ducks and geese are omnivores.

Male / female clothing differences–

The woman shall not wear that which pertaineth unto a man, neither shall a man put on a woman’s garment: for all that do so are abomination unto the LORD thy God. Deuteronomy 22:5

There is far too much blurring of the distinctions between male and female clothing.

Appointments with God–

Six days thou shalt do thy work, and on the seventh day thou shalt rest: that thine ox and thine ass may rest, and the son of thy handmaid, and the stranger, may be refreshed. And in all things that I have said unto you be circumspect: and make no mention of the name of other gods, neither let it be heard out of thy mouth. Three times thou shalt keep a feast unto me in the year. Thou shalt keep the feast of unleavened bread: (thou shalt eat unleavened bread seven days, as I commanded thee, in the time appointed of the month Abib; for in it thou camest out from Egypt: and none shall appear before me empty:) And the feast of harvest, the firstfruits of thy labors, which thou hast sown in the field: and the feast of ingathering, which is in the end of the year, when thou hast gathered in thy labors out of the field. Three times in the year all thy males shall appear before the Lord GOD. Exodus 23:12-17

Exodus 21 to 23–

The Lord gave many other statutes or judgments, which were to be strictly obeyed. These are recorded in the twenty-first, twenty-second, and twenty-third chapters of Exodus. Sermons and Talks, Vol. 2, p. 187

The minds of the people, blinded and debased by slavery and heathenism, were not prepared to appreciate fully the far-reaching principles of God’s ten precepts. That the obligations of the Decalogue might be more fully understood and enforced, additional precepts were given, illustrating and applying the principles of the Ten Commandments. These laws were called judgments, both because they were framed in infinite wisdom and equity and because the magistrates were to give judgment according to them. Unlike the Ten Commandments, they were delivered privately to Moses, who was to communicate them to the people.

The first of these laws related to servants. In ancient times criminals were sometimes sold into slavery by the judges; in some cases, debtors were sold by their creditors; and poverty even led persons to sell themselves or their children. But a Hebrew could not be sold as a slave for life. His term of service was limited to six years; on the seventh he was to be set at liberty.

Manstealing, deliberate murder, and rebellion against parental authority were to be punished with death. The holding of slaves not of Israelitish birth was permitted, but their life and person were strictly guarded. The murderer of a slave was to be punished; an injury inflicted upon one by his master, though no more than the loss of a tooth, entitled him to his freedom.

The Israelites had lately been servants themselves, and now that they were to have servants under them, they were to beware of indulging the spirit of cruelty and exaction from which they had suffered under their Egyptian taskmasters. The memory of their own bitter servitude should enable them to put themselves in the servant’s place, leading them to be kind and compassionate, to deal with others as they would wish to be dealt with.

The rights of widows and orphans were especially guarded, and a tender regard for their helpless condition was enjoined. “If thou afflict them in any wise,” the Lord declared, “and they cry at all unto Me, I will surely hear their cry; and My wrath shall wax hot, and I will kill you with the sword; and your wives shall be widows, and your children fatherless.” Aliens who united themselves with Israel were to be protected from wrong or oppression. “Thou shalt not oppress a stranger: for ye know the heart of a stranger, seeing ye were strangers in the land of Egypt.”

The taking of usury from the poor was forbidden. A poor man’s raiment or blanket taken as a pledge, must be restored to him at nightfall. He who was guilty of theft was required to restore double. Respect for magistrates and rulers was enjoined, and judges were warned against perverting judgment, aiding a false cause, or receiving bribes. Calumny and slander were prohibited, and acts of kindness enjoined, even toward personal enemies.

Again the people were reminded of the sacred obligation of the Sabbath. Yearly feasts were appointed, at which all the men of the nation were to assemble before the Lord, bringing to Him their offerings of gratitude and the first fruits of His bounties. The object of all these regulations was stated: they proceeded from no exercise of mere arbitrary sovereignty; all were given for the good of Israel. The Lord said, “Ye shall be holy men unto Me” – worthy to be acknowledged by a holy God.

These laws were to be recorded by Moses, and carefully treasured as the foundation of the national law, and, with the ten precepts which they were given to illustrate, the condition of the fulfillment of God’s promises to Israel. Patriarchs and Prophets, p. 310, 311

The light given me is that we are to study more than we do the instruction given to Moses by God after He had proclaimed the law from Sinai. The ten commandments were spoken by God Himself, and were then written on tables of stone, to be preserved till the judgment should take place. After the giving of the law, God gave Moses specifications regarding the law. These specifications are plain and explicit. No one need make a mistake.

In the day of judgment we shall be asked whether we have lived in harmony with these specifications. It is because we do not carry out these specifications in all our dealings, in our institutions, our families, and in our individual lives, at all times, and in all places, that we do not make greater advancement. It is by the directions that God has given that we shall be judged at the last day. . . . We do not make enough of Deuteronomy and Exodus. Australasian Union Conference Record, March 25, 1907

January 12, 2017

The Refuge

Elishama stood paralyzed for a moment. “That sounded strange. What happened?” . . . The day had begun with the usual call to worship at the Sanctuary. He had returned to his house and kissed his young bride goodbye for the day. He whistled as he walked toward the stand of pines on the hill side. He planned to fell a couple of trees for his carpentry work. He had recently received some much needed orders for furniture. How glad he was for those orders to help with their expenses. Tirzah could have more supplies for cooking again.

Elishama chose a good, straight tree and set his ax to work. With sweat dripping in his eyes and a good collection of chips scattered around him, he paused to survey the tree just before he would give it the last strokes to bring it down. There were some others working in the woods around him and he shouted loudly to warn them. Then the last few swings of the ax and CRASH! But in that crash of splintering branches, Elishama heard another sound that sent a chill down his neck. What was that? He stood frozen for an instant trying to think and then shook his head to clear his mind. He ran along the length of the tree until he came to the crown of large branches at the very top. There, his quick glance caught something that forced a gasp from his tight throat. There was a leg sticking out from under that tangle of branches. Someone was pinned under the tree.

In panic and with almost super-human strength, Elishama threw the tree off to the side and uncovered a crumpled body lying very still. Blood was spattered on the grass and puddling in little pools. The man’s head had apparently been the first target hit as the tree fell. Elishama grabbed the man’s wrist. No pulse. He touched his neck to feel for a pulse there. Nothing. There was no gentle rise and fall of the chest to indicate some thread of life. The face was pale, the eyes staring. There was no response to anything Elishama did. The man was dead. Elishama knelt there for a moment in stunned silence. His mind reeled. Who was this man? Where was he from? Hadn’t he heard the warning shout? What should be done now? Should he try to find someone to . . . ? No, there might be a close relative around somewhere–the avenger. That word broke through Elishama’s questions like a shock wave and the realization of his situation made his head spin. He jumped up. He suddenly knew what he had to do. His own life was at risk now. Quickly, he grabbed up his ax and fled the awful scene. He had to tell Tirzah what had happened and then run to the refuge before the avenger found him.

He hurried down the hill, along the road, through the gate, down the street toward home. Bursting through the door, he grabbed his wife and held her close for a moment. Tirzah was surprised by his forceful action. “What is the matter, Elishama?” she asked. Quickly he related the terrible tale of what had happened. “Did anyone see it?” was her next query. “I don’t know. There were other people in the forest working, but not very close. He was probably with that other party. I can’t understand why I didn’t see him before it happened or why he didn’t hear my shout when the tree was coming down. But I need to hurry to the city of refuge at Hebron as quickly as I can. I am glad it’s only about half a day’s journey from here. No telling how soon action will be taken.”

Quickly he kissed her and grabbed a few supplies for his journey. “Please come and see me often,” she heard as he headed out the door and was gone. Tirzah just stood and stared as the door banged shut. What would happen now? Would he ever be able to come back home? “Oh, Yahweh. Please see to it that justice is done for us.”

Though this story did not actually occur, it illustrates a very fascinating arrangement set up by God long ago – the Cities of Refuge. This system, given like an acted parable, presents a wonderful picture of the Gospel. Let’s explore this vein in the Mine of Truth and try to understand the meaning for God’s people in all time as it illustrates various aspects of the great Plan of Salvation?

The Jewish economy is not yet fully comprehended by men to-day. Truths vast and profound are contained in Old Testament history. The gospel is its interpreter, the key which unlocks its mysteries. The plan of redemption is unfolding these truths to the understanding. . . . There are still treasures to be searched for. Let the shaft which has begun to work the mine of truth sink deep, and it will yield rich and precious treasures. 1888 Mtl. p. 1689

The Cities of Refuge

Of the moral crimes mentioned in the Ten Commandments, killing another human being is probably considered the most heinous. It has such terrible, irreversible results. But, unlike most sins, manslaughter may be unintentional and so God created a system that would bring about justice. We can find the specifics in Exodus 21:12-14, Numbers 35:6, 9-34, Deuteronomy 19:1-13, and Joshua 20:1-9. Here is the plan in a nutshell:

Of the 48 cities given to the Levites, 6 were designated as Cities of Refuge, where anyone who had killed another person could flee and receive protection until it was determined whether the killing was done maliciously or accidentally. If the deed was found to be premeditated murder, according to the testimony of several witnesses, the murderer was handed over to “the avenger,” a close relative of the victim, whose responsibility it was to kill the murderer. If it was determined that the killing was accidental, the perpetrator was given a place to live in the City of Refuge where he was legally protected from the avenger. He could not leave the City of Refuge for any reason until after the death of the High Priest, at which time he was free to return to his home. If he left the City of Refuge before the High Priest died, he forfeited that protection and the avenger was allowed to kill him if he found him.

Here are some verses that summarize how this arrangement illustrates the Gospel. Next time we will begin a deeper look into this great Old Testament parable of the Kingdom.

He that smiteth a man, so that he die, shall be surely put to death. Exodus 21:12

For the wages of sin is death; . . . Romans 6:23

And if a man lie not in wait, but God deliver him into his hand; then I will appoint thee a place whither he shall flee. Exodus 21:13

. . . but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord. Romans 6:23

But if a man come presumptuously upon his neighbor, to slay him with guile; thou shalt take him from mine altar, that he may die. Exodus 21:14

For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved. He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God. John 3:16-18

The system of Jewish economy was the gospel in figure, a presentation of Christianity which was to be developed as fast as the minds of the people could comprehend spiritual light. Satan ever seeks to make obscure the truths that are plain, and Christ ever seeks to open the mind to comprehend every essential truth concerning the salvation of fallen man. To this day there are still aspects of truth which are dimly seen, connections that are not understood, and farreaching depths in the law of God that are uncomprehended. Review and Herald, 11-28-93

God instructed Moses and Joshua to designate Cities of Refuge to ensure justice in cases of manslaughter and murder. We, the human race, have collectively and individually done a similar terrible thing – we have committed murder and high treason in our rebellion against the Ruler of the Universe and have done all sorts of other evil things against Him and against each other. But He has been merciful in not destroying us immediately in vengeance. Instead, He is giving us an opportunity to individually show whether we are truly criminals at heart and will persist in the rebellion, or whether we have done it “unwittingly,” “through ignorance,” and are truly repentant. Let us take a closer look at the great parable of the Cities of Refuge to uncover more of God’s wonderful grace.

One of the most significant points that God stated as the purpose for the Cities of Refuge was to provide protection for someone who had killed another unintentionally, by a fatal accident. (see Exodus 21:13; Numbers 35:11, 15, 22, 23; Deuteronomy 19:4-6; Joshua 20:3, 5) This is the only moral crime that had this provision. Breaking any other of the Ten Commandments would almost surely be intentional – idolatry, Sabbath-breaking, adultery, stealing, lying, etc. are not done accidentally. In the case of theft, restitution was required. But a life taken cannot be restored or replaced or substituted, and the nearest relatives and friends of the one slain would be hot on the trail of the killer for vengeance. In this provision of refuge, God was laying down the principle that the killer did not deserve death if his act was not malicious.

In the great drama of God’s dealings with evil, we see Him applying this principle in a marvelous way. Lucifer and his cohorts rebelled against God with full knowledge of what they were doing. Since they had lived in His very presence and knew Him very well, there was no excuse for their actions; they could not plead that what they did was an accident. Because they are confirmed criminals, they are on “death row” (2 Peter 2:4) and will be turned over to the “avenger” at the end. Humans on the other hand, were deceived into joining the rebellion, and God has mercifully given us a time of probation to show our true character, our true intentions. There are several passages in the New Testament that speak of this:

Then said Jesus, Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do. Luke 23:34

But ye denied the Holy One and the Just, and desired a murderer to be granted unto you; and killed the Prince of life, whom God hath raised from the dead; whereof we are witnesses. And his name through faith in his name hath made this man strong, whom ye see and know: yea, the faith which is by him hath given him this perfect soundness in the presence of you all. And now, brethren, I wot that through ignorance ye did it, as did also your rulers. Acts 3:14-17

Which none of the princes of this world knew: for had they known it, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory. 1 Corinthians 2:8

God wants humans to be fully informed of the issues in the Great Controversy between good and evil so that we can make an intelligent choice as to where we stand. One of the reasons for Jesus’ death on the cross was to show humanity the full extent of our crime – we wanted God dead; we killed His Son. Is that what you wanted or was it “in ignorance?”

The cross is a revelation to our dull senses of the pain that, from its very inception, sin has brought to the heart of God. Education, p. 263

There was always an investigation and court hearing that followed a serious incident like this where witnesses were called forward to testify in the case. God specified that at least two witnesses were required to convict a murderer. (Numbers 35:30) God’s system of justice is always fair and righteous.

Who shall lay any thing to the charge of God’s elect? It is God that justifieth. Who is he that condemneth? It is Christ that died, yea rather, that is risen again, who is even at the right hand of God, who also maketh intercession for us. Romans 8:33, 34

And I heard a loud voice saying in heaven, Now is come salvation, and strength, and the kingdom of our God, and the power of his Christ: for the accuser of our brethren is cast down, which accused them before our God day and night. Revelation 12:10

If the killer was able to evade the avenger and escape to the City of Refuge, he would be protected. But if the investigation that followed revealed that he had malicious intentions and that his act was premeditated, his legal protection was removed. (Exodus 21:12, 14; Deuteronomy 19:11, 12) He was put out of the City of Refuge as a murderer and handed over to the avenger.

For if we sin willfully after that we have received the knowledge of the truth, there remaineth no more sacrifice for sins, but a certain fearful looking for of judgment and fiery indignation, which shall devour the adversaries. He that despised Moses’ law died without mercy under two or three witnesses: Hebrews 10:26-28

It is significant to note that the Cities of Refuge were not just randomly chosen from among the cities of Israel, or that protection was granted in any and every city. God specified that there were to be six cities selected from the 48 cities of the Levites. (Numbers 35:6) The Levites were God’s chosen Temple workers. The Priests, the descendants of Aaron, were among them. Protection was not provided just anywhere – only in the places God chose, with His Priests.

Our God is gracious and merciful and offers sinners protection from the consequences of our crime but that protection does not come on our terms; it is not based on what we happen to choose. There is refuge and protection only in Christ, our Priest, our High Priest.

Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved. Acts 4:12

But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name: John 1:12

If the investigation of the incident revealed that the fugitive was not malicious, he was required to remain in the City of Refuge in order to continue receiving legal protection. (Numbers 35:25-28, 32) He was not just free to go where he chose, not even to go home for a visit with his family. If he left the Refuge, he had no protection from the Avenger.

This shows us the importance of remaining in Christ, consciously abiding in Him at all times. Our salvation is not just a one-time finished event that releases us to do as we please afterward.

Wherein God, willing more abundantly to shew unto the heirs of promise the immutability of his counsel, confirmed it by an oath: That by two immutable things, in which it was impossible for God to lie, we might have a strong consolation, who have fled for refuge to lay hold upon the hope set before us: which hope we have as an anchor of the soul, both sure and stedfast, and which entereth into that within the veil; whither the forerunner is for us entered, even Jesus, made an high priest for ever after the order of Melchisedec. Hebrews 6:17-20

There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit. Romans 8:1

Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new. 2 Corinthians 5:17

But what things were gain to me, those I counted loss for Christ. Yea doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but dung, that I may win Christ, and be found in him, not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith: Philippians 3:7-9

For it is impossible for those who were once enlightened, and have tasted of the heavenly gift, and were made partakers of the Holy Ghost, and have tasted the good word of God, and the powers of the world to come, if they shall fall away, to renew them again unto repentance; seeing they crucify to themselves the Son of God afresh, and put him to an open shame. Hebrews 6:4-6

We must maintain our connection, our consecration, our commitment to Him continually.

We have other examples where protection was promised but with the strict requirement that the person must not go out of the refuge:

Passover–

Then Moses called for all the elders of Israel, and said unto them, Draw out and take you a lamb according to your families, and kill the passover. And ye shall take a bunch of hyssop, and dip it in the blood that is in the basin, and strike the lintel and the two side posts with the blood that is in the basin; and none of you shall go out at the door of his house until the morning. For the LORD will pass through to smite the Egyptians; and when he seeth the blood upon the lintel, and on the two side posts, the LORD will pass over the door, and will not suffer the destroyer to come in unto your houses to smite you. Exodus 12:21-23

Rahab–

And the (two spies) said unto (Rahab), We will be blameless of this thine oath which thou hast made us swear. Behold, when we come into the land, thou shalt bind this line of scarlet thread in the window which thou didst let us down by: and thou shalt bring thy father, and thy mother, and thy brethren, and all thy father’s household, home unto thee. And it shall be, that whosoever shall go out of the doors of thy house into the street, his blood shall be upon his head, and we will be guiltless: and whosoever shall be with thee in the house, his blood shall be on our head, if any hand be upon him. Joshua 2:17-19

One of the significant words that appears in the Statutes regarding the Cities of Refuge is the word “whosoever.” God had the Israelites establish this system with the express purpose of providing protection and justice for anyone who needed it, regardless of who they were or where they came from. (Numbers 35:15; Joshua 20:9) God does not play favorites to the exclusion of others. He chose the Israelites as His special people, the ones He lavished His attention and blessings on, the nation that received His oracles.

What advantage then hath the Jew? or what profit is there of circumcision? Much every way: chiefly, because that unto them were committed the oracles of God. Romans 3:1, 2

But He did not exclude others; the Gospel is for everyone, salvation is for “whosoever.” God is the originator of Equal Opportunity.

That whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have eternal life. For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. John 3:15, 16

Moreover concerning a stranger, that is not of thy people Israel, but cometh out of a far country for thy name’s sake; (For they shall hear of thy great name, and of thy strong hand, and of thy stretched out arm;) when he shall come and pray toward this house; Hear thou in heaven thy dwelling place, and do according to all that the stranger calleth to thee for: that all people of the earth may know thy name, to fear thee, as do thy people Israel; and that they may know that this house, which I have builded, is called by thy name. 1 Kings 8:41-43

Also the sons of the stranger, that join themselves to the LORD, to serve him, and to love the name of the LORD, to be his servants, every one that keepeth the sabbath from polluting it, and taketh hold of my covenant; Even them will I bring to my holy mountain, and make them joyful in my house of prayer: their burnt offerings and their sacrifices shall be accepted upon mine altar; for mine house shall be called an house of prayer for all people. Isaiah 56:6, 7

Look unto me, and be ye saved, all the ends of the earth: for I am God, and there is none else. Isaiah 45:22

Then Peter opened his mouth, and said, Of a truth I perceive that God is no respecter of persons: But in every nation he that feareth him, and worketh righteousness, is accepted with him. Acts 10:34, 35

For the Scripture saith, Whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed. For there is no difference between the Jew and the Greek: for the same Lord over all is rich unto all that call upon him. For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved. Romans 10:11-13

Another point that God emphasized was that the Cities of Refuge were to be easily accessible. There were to be three on each side of the Jordan River, spaced so as to be somewhat equally distributed throughout the territory, and the routes to them were to be made as efficient as possible. (Numbers 35:14; Deuteronomy 19:3)

It was the duty of the Senate to repair the roads that led to the cities of refuge annually, and remove every obstruction. No hillock was left, no river over which there was not a bridge; and the road was at least 32 cubits broad. At cross-roads there were posts bearing the words Refuge, Refuge, to guide the fugitive in his flight. (from Albert Barnes’ Notes on the Bible, commentary on Deuteronomy 19:3)

God wants salvation to be as accessible as possible to anyone who realizes their need. He encourages and helps all who want to come to Him. He has done everything He could possibly do and provided all the resources necessary so that we can be saved from eternal destruction. It rests with us to accept what He has done and avail ourselves of His provisions.

And I will bring the blind by a way that they knew not; I will lead them in paths that they have not known: I will make darkness light before them, and crooked things straight. These things will I do unto them, and not forsake them. Isaiah 42:16

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, and my burden is light. Matthew 11:28-30

That they should seek the Lord, if haply they might feel after him, and find him, though he be not far from every one of us: Acts 17:27

But the righteousness which is of faith speaketh on this wise, Say not in thine heart, Who shall ascend into heaven? (that is, to bring Christ down from above:) or, Who shall descend into the deep? (that is, to bring up Christ again from the dead.) But what saith it? The word is nigh thee, even in thy mouth, and in thy heart: that is, the word of faith, which we preach; Romans 10:6-8

Wherefore lift up the hands which hang down, and the feeble knees; And make straight paths for your feet, lest that which is lame be turned out of the way; but let it rather be healed. Hebrews 12:12, 13

The fugitive on his way to the Refuge was in a race against death. He could not take a bunch of stuff with him. We need to be aware that our earthly stuff and our old human nature can be a diversion, an impediment, an obstacle that will keep us from getting to our Refuge.

Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience (endurance) the race that is set before us, Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God. Hebrews 12:1, 2

Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat: Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it. Matthew 7:13, 14

When a person showed up at the gate of the City of Refuge asking for protection, the elders would take him in on a provisional basis, to protect him temporarily. It was very likely that the Avenger and other relatives or friends of the victim were hot on his trail. Possibly elders from the home town were along to help carry out justice. The elders from the City of Refuge, Levites, would immediately conduct a preliminary investigation to determine whether or not his act of killing was malicious or accidental. If it was totally obvious that it was malicious and / or premeditated, he was handed over to the Avenger to be killed. If there was any question about his motives, a thorough investigation was conducted and a trial was held in the city where the incident happened. It was only after this trial by the “congregation” (his acquaintances) that he was given permanent protection or faced vengeance. (Numbers 35:12, 24, 25; Joshua 20:4-6)

These provisions indicate how God does things in His system of justice. We are told in many places that God has a time when He will judge everyone by Jesus; but we are also told that His people, the saints, will be intimately involved in that process, similar to a jury of peers.

And Jesus said unto them, Verily I say unto you, That ye which have followed me, in the regeneration when the Son of man shall sit in the throne of his glory, ye also shall sit upon twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel. Matthew 19:28

And I appoint unto you a kingdom, as my Father hath appointed unto me; That ye may eat and drink at my table in my kingdom, and sit on thrones judging the twelve tribes of Israel. Luke 22:29, 30

Do ye not know that the saints shall judge the world? and if the world shall be judged by you, are ye unworthy to judge the smallest matters? Know ye not that we shall judge angels? how much more things that pertain to this life? 1 Corinthians 6:2, 3

The Avenger, who was required by God’s Law to kill the murderer (Numbers 35:19, 31; Deuteronomy 19:11-13), was a near relative – father, brother, uncle, cousin, or other near relative. This was a unique role that was quite common in ancient times. This person, called a goel, or kinsman-redeemer, was also the one who redeemed someone that had gone into slavery because of poverty, etc.; or, like Boaz in the case of Naomi and Ruth, redeemed property that had been lost because of poverty, etc.; and / or raised up children in the name of a deceased relative. The ancient Hebrew meaning of the word gives the idea of bringing back around to the rightful position. In the case of murder, justice and equity could only be restored when the guilt of innocent blood was balanced by revenge on the perpetrator. In very ancient times, before there were systems of national law, this concept would often lead to family or tribal feuds, where one murder was “balanced” by another and another. Here, God was establishing a national code of justice that settled matters once and for all with no ongoing feuds.

As the Avenger had the legal right and responsibility to kill the murderer, God reserves the right and responsibility to fill the role of the Avenger for all the evil that has been committed in this world, whether it was done directly to Him or indirectly through the persecution of His people. He cannot be charged with injustice when He has fulfilled His duty.

For our transgressions are multiplied before thee, and our sins testify against us: for our transgressions are with us; and as for our iniquities, we know them; In transgressing and lying against the LORD, and departing away from our God, speaking oppression and revolt, conceiving and uttering from the heart words of falsehood. And judgment is turned away backward, and justice standeth afar off: for truth is fallen in the street, and equity cannot enter. Yea, truth faileth; and he that departeth from evil maketh himself a prey: and the LORD saw it, and it displeased him that there was no judgment. And he saw that there was no man, and wondered that there was no intercessor: therefore his arm brought salvation unto him; and his righteousness, it sustained him. For he put on righteousness as a breastplate, and a helmet of salvation upon his head; and he put on the garments of vengeance for clothing, and was clad with zeal as a cloak. According to their deeds, accordingly he will repay, fury to his adversaries, recompense to his enemies; to the islands he will repay recompense. Isaiah 59:12-18

For we know him that hath said, Vengeance belongeth unto me, I will recompense, saith the Lord. And again, The Lord shall judge his people. It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God. Hebrews 10:30, 31

And when he had opened the fifth seal, I saw under the altar the souls of them that were slain for the word of God, and for the testimony which they held: And they cried with a loud voice, saying, How long, O Lord, holy and true, dost thou not judge and avenge our blood on them that dwell on the earth? Revelation 6:9, 10

And the nations were angry, and thy wrath is come, and the time of the dead, that they should be judged, and that thou shouldest give reward unto thy servants the prophets, and to the saints, and them that fear thy name, small and great; and shouldest destroy them which destroy the earth. Revelation 11:18

He that leadeth into captivity shall go into captivity: he that killeth with the sword must be killed with the sword. Here is the patience and the faith of the saints. Revelation 13:10

It is fascinating to note that the slayer who had been acquitted of the murder charge was not just free to return to his former home immediately. (Numbers 35:25, 28, 32; Joshua 20:6) He was considered innocent of the crime, but he was not totally free. He was required to stay in the City of Refuge until the High Priest died. He was risking his life if he left. There were six Cities of Refuge but the High Priest probably did not live in any of them. He most likely lived in Shiloh where the Tabernacle was and then moved to Jerusalem when Solomon built the Temple. As long as he lived, the slayer had protection in the City of Refuge only; when he died, there was legal protection anywhere. At that point in time, the slayer was reinstated to his former status as if he had never committed any crime.

Whither the forerunner is for us entered, even Jesus, made an high priest for ever after the order of Melchisedec. Hebrews 6:20

By so much was Jesus made a surety of a better testament. And they truly were many priests, because they were not suffered to continue by reason of death: But this man, because he continueth ever, hath an unchangeable priesthood. Wherefore he is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by him, seeing he ever liveth to make intercession for them. Hebrews 7:22-25

And this is the record, that God hath given to us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. He that hath the Son hath life: and he that hath not the Son of God hath not life. 1 John 5:11, 12

In some ways, the Book of Life is like a City of Refuge. Just as any slayer, innocent or guilty, Jew or foreigner, could find refuge in the City, so anyone who comes to Christ can be registered in the Book of Life. But this is apparently only on a temporary, provisional basis. There is a time when the names in that Book (and other Books) are reviewed and some will be removed to suffer retribution. This shows us that a person is not necessarily saved eternally just because they accept Christ at some point in their life.

And I entreat thee also, true yokefellow, help those women which labored with me in the gospel, with Clement also, and with other my fellow laborers, whose names are in the book of life. Philippians 4:3

And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened: and another book was opened, which is the book of life: and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works. Revelation 20:12

He that overcometh, the same shall be clothed in white raiment; and I will not blot out his name out of the book of life, but I will confess his name before my Father, and before his angels. Revelation 3:5

And there shall in no wise enter into it any thing that defileth, neither whatsoever worketh abomination, or maketh a lie: but they which are written in the Lamb’s book of life. Revelation 21:27

And all that dwell upon the earth shall worship him, whose names are not written in the book of life of the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world. Revelation 13:8

And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire. Revelation 20:15

God told His people that He wanted to live among them. The guilt of murder “defiled the land” and He would not tolerate that. (Genesis 4:9-11; Numbers 35:33, 34; Deuteronomy 19:10, 13) That is why He goes through a total purification process at the end of the world – judgment, eradication of all sin and sinners, creation of new earth and heavens – before He comes to live with us and be our God for eternity.

And I saw a new heaven and a new earth: for the first heaven and the first earth were passed away; and there was no more sea. And I John saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. And I heard a great voice out of heaven saying, 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. Revelation 21:1-3

I want to encourage each of you to ponder this and other Old Testament “parables” to discover the rich treasury of Gospel truth that can be found there.

Those who have been diligently working in the mines of God’s Word, and have discovered the precious ore in the rich veins of truth, in the divine mysteries that have been hidden for ages, will exalt the Lord Jesus, the Source of all truth, by revealing in their characters the sanctifying power of what they believe. Jesus and His grace must be enshrined in the inner sanctuary of the soul. Then He will be revealed in words, in prayer, in exhortation, in the presentation of sacred truth. God’s Amazing Grace, p. 186

January 12, 2017

Feast of Tabernacles / Feast of Ingathering / Sukkot

(Lev. 23:33-44; Num. 29:12-40; Deut. 16:13-15)

History:

Beginning on the fifteenth day of the seventh month and continuing for eight days to the twenty-second of the month was the Feast of Tabernacles. All Israelite men were again required to attend. Both the first and the eighth days were celebrated as Sabbaths, with the eighth day being the especially “great day of the feast.” (John 7:37) There were special ceremonies and sacrifices each of the eight days, and the whole nation spent the week “camped out” in small, temporary shelters, sukkah, made from the branches of certain of the local trees. They had finished all their harvesting by this time (grain in the spring, fruit during the summer and fall) and, with the completion of the Day of Atonement, they were renewed in God’s special favor for another year.

Significance to the Jews:

This was the Jews’ favorite Festival, truly a celebration, a time of thanksgiving. It was a reminder of the past when they had wandered in the wilderness, living in sukkah (tents), continually moving from one place to another. God had been leading them, they were His people during the whole time, but they didn’t have a place to really call home until they arrived in the Promised Land. It was a celebration of the present blessings of God as it came at the end of their agricultural year, when all their harvesting was completed. He specifically reminded them to include the less fortunate as they celebrated with their abundance: the foreigners, orphans, and widows, along with the Levites who didn’t own any land and depended on the rest of the nation for their support. This Festival also pointed forward to the time when all the great promises of God would be fulfilled in the future Kingdom of Glory.

There are various events in the history of the Jews that happened in the seventh month during the Feast of Tabernacles. One of the more significant ones is the dedication of Solomon’s Temple. (2 Chronicles 5-7) A time of great revival and celebration occurred during the time Nehemiah and Ezra were leading out in the rebuilding of Jerusalem. In the seventh month, the people requested that the Law should be read and explained to them. When they realized that God wanted them to keep the Feast of Booths (Tabernacles), they gladly entered into the festive spirit of the occasion. (Nehemiah 8)

Another situation that involved this Festival but is a very dark blot on the history of Israel occurred when Jeroboam was rising to power immediately after the rebellion of the ten tribes. He realized that when the time of the great Feast of Tabernacles arrived, his people might return to Jerusalem to participate with Judah in the celebration and be drawn back to allegiance to Rehoboam. To prevent this, he set up two idols and established a substitute Feast on the fifteenth day of the eighth month so his people would stay at home. God was very displeased and sent a prophet to rebuke him for creating a substitute “which he had devised of his own heart.” (1 Kings 12:25 – 13:6)

The number seven is often used in the Bible as a symbol of completeness and perfection; eight seems to be a symbol of new beginnings. The Priests were consecrated for seven days and on the eighth day began their ministry. (Leviticus 8, 9) A recovered leper was in a cleansing period, kept out of his home, for seven days; then with the final cleansing on the eighth day, he could return to his former home. (Leviticus 14) For other types of uncleanness, there was a similar protocol. (Leviticus 15) A baby boy was circumcised on the eighth day. (Leviticus 12:2, 3) A new-born animal was acceptable as a sacrifice when it was eight days old. (Leviticus 22:27) We will be in this world for six thousand years, the seventh we will spend in heaven, the eighth millenium we will begin living in God’s new creation. (Revelation 21)

Significance to us:

The Festival of Tabernacles is a symbol of a temporary life in this world: this world is not our permanent home (John 15:19; 17:14-16; 2 Corinthians 4:18; Hebrews 11:9, 10, 13-16); what we anticipate in the future is infinitely better than what we have now (1 Corinthians 2:9; 15:51-54; 2 Corinthians 5:1-4); someday we will live with God in His Glorious Eternal Kingdom (John 14:1-3; Revelation 21:1-4).

We need to be reminded (especially in America) that, even though we are relatively comfortable here in this world, we are only here for a little while. Regardless of what we have now, regardless of what happens to us now, it is pretty insignificant in comparison to what God has in the future for us (Matthew 6:19-21; Romans 8:16-18, 21).

The Festival of Tabernacles remains as a type and symbol of Jesus’ Second Coming and the Celebration when everything is completed. After the warnings of the Trumpets and the final judgment and cleansing of the Atonement, when earth’s harvest is done, God’s people will settle down to live with Him forever and truly celebrate His goodness (Matthew 13:24-30; 37-43 (especially verse 43); Revelation 14:15-20; 21:3).

The Feast of Tabernacles was not only commemorative but typical. It not only pointed back to the wilderness sojourn, but, as the feast of harvest, it celebrated the ingathering of the fruits of the earth, and pointed forward to the great day of final ingathering, when the Lord of the harvest shall send forth His reapers to gather the tares together in bundles for the fire, and to gather the wheat into His garner. . . . And every voice in the whole universe will unite in joyful praise to God. Says the revelator, “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 honor, and glory, and power, be unto Him that sitteth upon the throne, and unto the Lamb forever and ever.” Revelation 5:13. Patriarchs and Prophets, p. 541

The slaying of the Passover lamb was a shadow of the death of Christ. . . . Like the wave sheaf, which was the first ripe grain gathered before the harvest, Christ is the first fruits of that immortal harvest of redeemed ones that at the future resurrection shall be gathered into the garner of God.

These types were fulfilled, not only as to the event, but as to the time. On the fourteenth day of the first Jewish month, the very day and month on which for fifteen long centuries the Passover lamb had been slain, Christ, having eaten the Passover with His disciples, instituted that feast which was to commemorate His own death as “the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world.” That same night He was taken by wicked hands to be crucified and slain. And as the antitype of the wave sheaf our Lord was raised from the dead on the third day, “the first fruits of them that slept,” a sample of all the resurrected just, whose “vile body” shall be changed, and “fashioned like unto His glorious body.” Verse 20; Philippians 3:21.

In like manner the types which relate to the second advent (the fall Feasts) must be fulfilled at the time pointed out in the symbolic service. The Great Controversy, p. 399

With those who lived at a distance from the tabernacle, more than a month of every year must have been occupied in attendance upon these holy convocations. The Lord saw that these gatherings were necessary for the spiritual life of His people. They needed to turn away from their worldly cares, to commune with God, and to contemplate unseen realities.

If the children of Israel needed the benefit of these holy convocations in their time, how much more do we need them in these last days of peril and conflict! And if the people of the world then needed the light which God had committed to His church, how much more do they need it now! Testimonies for the Church, Vol. 6, p. 40

At these yearly assemblies the hearts of old and young would be encouraged in the service of God, while the association of the people from the different quarters of the land would strengthen the ties that bound them to God and to one another. Well would it be for the people of God at the present time to have a Feast of Tabernacles – a joyous commemoration of the blessings of God to them. As the children of Israel celebrated the deliverance that God had wrought for their fathers, and His miraculous preservation of them during their journeyings from Egypt, so should we gratefully call to mind the various ways He has devised for bringing us out from the world, and from the darkness of error, into the precious light of His grace and truth. Patriarchs and Prophets, p. 540

January 12, 2017

Day of Atonement / Yom Kippur

(Leviticus 16:1-34; 23:26-32; Numbers 29:7-11)

History:

On the tenth day of the seventh month was the most solemn day of the year for the Israelites – the Day of Atonement. It was one of the seven special Festival Sabbaths which were kept in addition to the weekly Sabbath, but it was singled out as being a day in which to do “no manner of work” which is similar to the specification for the weekly Sabbath. God designed it to be a solemn day in which the people were told to afflict their souls or be “cut off” from among the people.

The services began on this day after the High Priest had washed himself and exchanged his usual specially designed and colorful garments for the pure white linen garment similar to what the common priests wore. The High Priest is the only one mentioned as officiating on this day. There were several burnt offerings and sin offerings made on this day, each signifying that God is holy, that sin is a barrier between man and God and must be atoned for, and that pardon and holiness are granted through the death of a substitute. The offerings on the Day of Atonement seem to have been divided into three groups. There was the usual continual burnt offering, sacrificed every morning and evening, consisting of a lamb with its prescribed food and drink offerings. Next the High Priest sacrificed a young bull, a ram, and seven lambs as a burnt offering, and a kid goat as a sin offering for himself and the priesthood, to atone for their sins and transfer their guilt to the Sanctuary. Finally, he offered the sacrifices unique to the Day of Atonement. Of these, the first was a young bull as a sin offering for himself and the priesthood and the second was a kid goat as a sin offering for the congregation. This goat had been chosen by lot from two that had been brought to the door of the Tabernacle. It was known as the Lord’s goat; the other goat was Azazel, the goat sent away, the Scapegoat.

The High Priest took a censer full of hot coals and a handful of incense into the Most Holy Place, placed the incense on the coals in the censer, and left it burning in front of the Ark of the Covenant so that the sweet-smelling cloud of smoke covered the Mercy Seat of the Ark. He returned to the Court, sacrificed the young bull, brought some of its blood into the Most Holy Place, and sprinkled it on the Mercy Seat and in front of it. He again returned to the Court and, after sacrificing the Lord’s goat, he took some of its blood and did the same as with the blood of the bull. When he had completed this final ritual in the Most Holy Place (and retrieved the censer, though it is not mentioned), the High Priest cleansed the Holy Place and the Altar of Burnt Offering with the blood of the bull and goat. He then laid his hands on the head of the live Scapegoat and confessed all the sins of all the Israelites, and a man specially chosen led the goat away to be released and die in the wilderness. The High Priest took off the white linen garments, washed himself, and put on his regular beautiful garments before offering a final Burnt Offering for himself and the people. The man who had led away the Scapegoat also washed himself before returning to the camp. Finally, the remains of the sacrificial animals – skin, flesh, etc. – were removed from the camp and burned. The man chosen for this job also washed himself before returning to the camp.

Significance to the Jews:

This was the day of final verdicts when God took care of the sin problem in the Israelite nation. The sin and guilt that had been symbolically transferred to the Sanctuary through the blood of a sin offering and “stored” there were cleaned out and disposed of through the blood of the animals in the various rituals performed on this day. Sins that had been confessed, repented, and atoned for prior to this time were the only ones cleansed, and the person could rejoice in God’s mercy for another year. If someone had not done this, his sins defiled the Sanctuary but were not carried away by the scapegoat. The person himself would still bear that guilt; he was condemned and faced God’s retribution; he was “cut off from among his people” (Leviticus 23:29; Numbers 15:30, 31).

Significance to us:

The Day of Atonement is a symbol of Christ’s work on our behalf: Jesus is our High Priest (Hebrews 4:14-16); He exchanged His heavenly glory for ordinary human-ness (Isaiah 53:2); His blood represents pardon, freedom from sin (Hebrews 9:22); He is the single Ultimate Sacrifice, taking care of all aspects of the sin problem (Hebrews 10:14); He is the only one who can do this for us (John 14:6; Acts 4:12; 1 Timothy 2:5); He entered God’s presence with His blood to make an atonement for us (Hebrews 9:24); when He returns from God’s presence, He will be clothed in His heavenly glory again (Matthew 24:30; Revelation 19:11-16).

There are some very serious messages that come from the symbolism of the Day of Atonement. God does not just overlook sin in our lives; it separates us from Him (Isaiah 59:2); it defiles us and our environment (Numbers 35:33; Isaiah 24:5); His power and holiness destroys sinful humans (Exodus 33:20; Deuteronomy 4:24); He is very merciful and willing to forgive our sin, but He does not just ignore it (Exodus 34:6, 7); we need to admit our sin issues and accept the sacrifice of His Lamb to take away our sin (John 1:29; 1 John 1:9); if we sin willfully and rebelliously and don’t repent, there is no sacrifice that can save us (Hebrews 10:26-31). There is a time of final verdicts coming and we are all summoned to that court hearing (2 Corinthians 5:10; 2 Timothy 4:1; Revelation 20:11-15). God will not allow anyone to enter His eternal Kingdom who is not pure and holy like He is (1 Peter 1:15, 16; Revelation 21:27; 22:11, 12).

In contemplating what happened on the Day of Atonement, the question arises, Why is there a multi-stage process in the expiation of sin – from sinner to High Priest to Tabernacle to Scapegoat to oblivion? Why is sin not totally gone after the initial Sin Offering that the sinner brings? A partial answer can be found in Ezekiel 33. There God explained that if a wicked man turns from his wickedness, it will not be remembered and held against him, and he will live; but if a righteous man turns from his righteousness, it will not be remembered to be credited to him and he will die for his sin. There are only two ways to go in life – the way of wickedness to destruction and the way of righteousness to life. If a person is on the way of righteousness and occasionally stumbles into sin but gets up and continues in the way of righteousness, he will be saved. If he turns away from the way of righteousness, he will die. If a wicked person occasionally “stumbles” and does something “good” but continues in the way of wickedness afterward, he will die; but if he turns from it, God will give him life. Each person is given the freedom to change direction at any time along the way.

God is gracious in giving us probationary time to make our final decision rather than judging us immediately for our ups and downs along the way. He bears our iniquity, forgiving us temporarily, until the Investigative Judgment when those written in the Book of Life are judged and either retained there or blotted out. (Revelation 3:5) All that a person does is held on record to verify the trend and direction of their life:

. . . and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works. (Revelation 20:12)

Whichever way the person is going when their life ends and the record is closed determines God’s final verdict – GUILTY or PARDONED. God tells us,

When I shall say to the righteous, that he shall surely live; if he trust to his own righteousness, and commit iniquity, all his righteousnesses shall not be remembered; but for his iniquity that he hath committed, he shall die for it. Ezekiel 33:13

God was planning to pardon him but he turned, he changed his direction in life, and God’s final verdict will have to be GUILTY. Then, all the sin that had been transferred off the person will be put back on, he will again bear his iniquity, and die in it.

But, When I say unto the wicked, Thou shalt surely die; if he turn from his sin, and do that which is lawful and right; If the wicked restore the pledge, give again that he had robbed, walk in the statutes of life, without committing iniquity; he shall surely live, he shall not die. Ezekiel 33:14, 15

The verdict in this case is PARDONED.

None of his sins that he hath committed shall be mentioned unto him: he hath done that which is lawful and right; he shall surely live. Ezekiel 33:16

If the person has decided to walk in the way of righteousness and the evidence on record verifies that, all the former sins and mistakes will be cleaned out and disposed of permanently. Fortunately, God’s infinite wisdom and knowledge of all the most intimate workings of our minds and hearts allow Him to make accurate assessments of all cases.

For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart. Hebrews 4:12

Another part of the answer to the question of why this is a multi-stage process involves the concept that the Sanctuary is symbolic of a person. God wants to dwell in us but sin defiles or pollutes us and needs to be cleansed out of our whole being. This is not a simple matter of mere forgiveness. Forgiveness is a necessary first step but God cannot stop there. Our whole nature, physical and spiritual, is corrupted by sin and must be purified. We are sinners to the very core and the work that Jesus began at Calvary and will finish in the near future is designed to totally purify us, to go beyond wiping our record clean to that miraculous process of taking sin completely out of our nature so we have no more desire for it. We will have a new, sinless nature when the Heavenly Day of Atonement is finished.

For if the blood of bulls and of goats, and the ashes of a heifer sprinkling the unclean, sanctifieth to the purifying of the flesh: How much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without spot to God, purge your conscience from dead works to serve the living God? Hebrews 9:13, 14

Please do not forget the very significant command by God that the people were to afflict their souls on that day. The High Priest did not afflict his soul on behalf of the people. They must each be involved in the experience. We cannot stand idly by and merely observe Jesus taking care of our sin problem. We must participate personally in this cleansing process so that He can purify us.

Each of us has a case pending in the court of heaven. We are individually to be judged according to the deeds done in the body. In the typical service, when the work of atonement was performed by the high priest in the most holy place of the earthly sanctuary, the people were required to afflict their souls before God, and confess their sins, that they might be atoned for and blotted out. Will any less be required of us in this antitypical day of atonement, when Christ in the Sanctuary above is pleading in behalf of his people, and the final, irrevocable decision is to be pronounced upon every case? Review and Herald, 03-22-87

The Hebrew Legal System:

There are some very interesting facets of the Hebrew legal system that are worth noting in relation to the Day of Atonement. It is possible that God had His hand in developing these aspects of the system to illustrate His ways. Under Hebrew law, there were no lawyers to either prosecute or defend. The witnesses of the crime acted as prosecutors and the judges were the defenders. The arguments in the case were to begin with the defense by the judges. It was a maxim of the Jews that “the Sanhedrin was to save, not to destroy life.” One very unique rule was that, regardless of the number of judges involved in a trial, they were not to arrive at a unanimous guilty verdict because that would show that the accused had no defender in the court. Anyone who was known to be an enemy of the accused could not serve as a judge in his case. (Vance Ferrell, The Fabulous First Centuries of Christianity, pp. 154-168)

This illustrates how God’s system works. Jesus is our Advocate, not as a lawyer presenting a case to a reluctant judge, but as one of the Judges who is sympathetic to our case and is very willing to pardon us. (Exodus 34:6, 7; Matthew 12:31) Our Judges are not very sympathetic to our accuser. (Zechariah 3:1-5; Revelation 12:10) God wants to save rather than destroy people. (1 Timothy 2:4; 2 Peter 3:9) God is our friend. (John 3:16; 16:27; 1 John 4:10) If God is for us, who can be against us? (Romans 8:31-39)

Praise God that His justice and mercy are perfectly balanced in His righteousness. And we can thank Him for the great, final Day of Atonement when everything will be set right, when the Heavenly Sanctuary will be cleansed, when our old, corrupt natures will be purified, and sin will be gone from the universe forever. The nearness of that time of final verdicts behooves us to “afflict our souls” and make sure that we are right with God today.

Search me, O God, and know my heart: try me, and know my thoughts: And see if there be any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting. Psalm 139:23, 24

But let a man examine himself, . . . For if we would judge ourselves, we should not be judged. 1 Corinthians 11:28, 31

Wherefore the rather, brethren, give diligence to make your calling and election sure: for if ye do these things, ye shall never fall: For so an entrance shall be ministered unto you abundantly into the everlasting kingdom of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. 2 Peter 1:10, 11

. . . behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation. 2 Corinthians 6:2

January 12, 2017

Festival of Trumpets / Rosh Hashanah

(Leviticus 23:23-25; Numbers 29:1-6)

History:

On the first day of the seventh month, on the day of the New Moon, a Sabbath was proclaimed and each individual Jew sounded a special great blast on a shofar, or ram’s horn trumpet, as a warning reminder that the annual judgment time had come and ten days later would be the time of final verdicts, the Day of Atonement. Most of the Festivals were celebrated with great rejoicing in commemorating or anticipating God’s blessings, but this Festival was a call to get serious and repent. It signaled the beginning of the “Ten Days of Repentance” or “Ten Days of Awe.”

Significance to the Jews:

This Festival was known in Biblical times as Yom Teruah, “Day of Blowing”; it is known today as Rosh Hashanah, the New Year. This may seem a bit confusing since it comes in the seventh month. The Jews actually observe two different calendar years at the same time. One is their religious calendar which begins in the Spring with Passover in the first month and continues with the months numbered the way God gave them to Moses. The other calendar was adopted while the Jews were in captivity in Babylon. It uses Babylonian names for the months, rather than numbering them, and starts the year in the fall with the first month, Tishri, corresponding to the Jews’ seventh month. Since the Feast of Trumpets occurs on the first day of Tishri, the Jews began calling it Rosh Hashanah (meaning “Head of the Year”) rather than Yom Teruah. In a certain sense, it does come at a transition between years – it is the end of one agricultural year and the beginning of the next since the fruit harvest is completed by this time and the next crop year is started afterward with field preparation, grain planting, vine dressing, tree pruning, etc., each coming in their appropriate order.

In Biblical times, the blowing of the shofar was usually a signal of something serious – a warning of enemies approaching, a call to war, a call for assembly, etc. The Jewish concept of this solemn time was that God spent the days following the blowing of the trumpets reviewing the record books that He had kept for each individual throughout the year, and then gave His final verdict on the Day of Atonement. Each individual must examine his own life and make sure that his personal sins were thoroughly repented of and properly dealt with by offering a perfect female kid goat or lamb as a sacrifice. When the priest had properly applied its blood and burned its fat, the sin was atoned for and the person was forgiven. Symbolically, the purity of the sacrificed victim was transferred to the person and the defilement of the sin was transferred to the sanctuary where it was “stored” until the Day of Atonement. If someone had not repented in this way, he would be “cut off from among his people.”

Moses Maimonides, a Jewish philosopher, wrote regarding Rosh Hashanah: “Awake, O you sleepers, awake from your sleep! Search your deeds and turn in repentance, O you who forget the truth in the vanities of time and go astray all the year after vanity and folly that neither profit nor save–remember your Creator! Look at your souls, and better your ways and actions. Let every one of you abandon his evil ways and his wicked thoughts and return to God so that He may have mercy upon you.” (quoted by Samuele Bacchiocchi in God’s Festivals in Scripture and History, p. 57)

Significance to us:

The Festival of Trumpets is a symbol of a pending personal “court hearing”: there is a time of judgment coming for each individual (2 Corinthians 5:10); the final verdict will be based on the records God has kept of each person’s life (Revelation 3:5; 20:12); God doesn’t want anyone to be “cut off” from Him (John 3:16); each one needs to confess and repent ahead of time so He can clear their record (Psalm 139:23, 24; 1 Corinthians 11:31; Colossians 2:14; 1 John 1:9); Jesus is our High Priest in the Heavenly Sanctuary, our personal Advocate (Hebrews 2:17; 4:14-16; 1 John 2:1).

God is very merciful and gracious and has a forgiving attitude but He will not acquit those who persist in their sinful ways (Exodus 34:6, 7) Sin in our lives is not a minor issue, especially if we neglect or refuse to give it up and turn away from it. We need to do some serious introspection, ask God to apply some of His eye salve so we can see ourselves the way we really are (Revelation 3:18), acknowledge the sinful issues in our lives (thoughts, attitudes, actions) and then repent, turn away from those things, get them out of our lives, and let God deal with them. He wants to save us from our sin problem and has made every provision for that to happen, but He can’t take sin out of our lives if we don’t recognize it and bring it to Him. We need to come to Jesus with a humble attitude and ask Him to do that for us (Psalm 51) so that we can receive the blessings that come from being right with God. (Psalm 32:1, 2)

The Festival of Trumpets is a type of the seven trumpets of Revelation 8-11 which are also a warning of impending judgment. (Joel 2:1; Zephaniah 1:14-16) When we look at them from the historical perspective, they were a warning that the judgment of the dead was pending. They will be repeated in the near future just prior to the judgment of the living. Since they are to be a warning of final events, they need to be given to the generation that will experience those events.

Solemn events before us are yet to transpire. Trumpet after trumpet is to be sounded, vial after vial poured out one after another upon the inhabitants of the earth. Last Day Events, p. 23

It is interesting to note that the first four trumpets affect the earth, the sea, the rivers and fountains, and the heavens. These are the parts of creation that are specifically mentioned in the First Angel’s Message and in the Sabbath Commandment. The plagues God sent on Egypt were directed against the various parts of creation that the Egyptians worshiped. Nature worship has taken many forms in our modern times and God will use these trumpet-plagues to warn these worshipers.

Another interesting parallel involving trumpets is the seven days of trumpet-blowing by the Israelites prior to the fall of Jericho. The seven trumpets of Revelation come before the fall of Babylon.

January 12, 2017January 12, 2017

Feast of Weeks / Pentecost

(Exodus 23:14-17; Leviticus 3:15-21; Numbers 28:26-31; Deuteronomy 16:9-12)

History:

On the sixteenth day of the first month, the Israelites were to begin counting seven full weeks (49 days) to the Feast of Harvest. The day after the seventh week (the 50th day) was the day they were to celebrate the end of their grain harvest by bringing two loaves of leavened bread made from the newly harvested wheat crop to be waved before the Lord. This day, known as Shavuot (a Hebrew word meaning “weeks”) or Pentecost (a Greek word meaning “fiftieth”), was celebrated as a Sabbath and was the second of the three festivals when all males were required to be in Jerusalem.

Significance to the Jews:

Pentecost has two traditional themes for the Jews. The first is the completed grain harvest for which they brought the first product of that harvest, two loaves baked with leaven, to be waved before the Lord. The second theme developed and became popular after the temple was destroyed in A.D. 70 and the Jews were separated from their land and dispersed among the nations. Harvest was no longer a significant event in their lives and Pentecost became a feast of covenant renewal commemorating the day that, according to Jewish tradition, the Law, or Torah, was given at Mount Sinai. There is no concrete evidence that this happened exactly fifty days after leaving Egypt, but it can be easily inferred from the record in Exodus 19. Passover was a celebration of physical redemption and liberation in coming out of Egypt; Pentecost became a celebration of spiritual redemption and renewal. Since these two festivals were symbolically linked together, the people were reminded that man does not experience complete freedom by physical liberation alone; true freedom is found in making a covenant with God to live for Him.

Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful. But his delight is in the law of the LORD; and in his law doth he meditate day and night. And he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that bringeth forth his fruit in his season; his leaf also shall not wither; and whatsoever he doeth shall prosper. The ungodly are not so: but are like the chaff which the wind driveth away. Therefore the ungodly shall not stand in the judgment, nor sinners in the congregation of the righteous. For the LORD knoweth the way of the righteous: but the way of the ungodly shall perish. Psalm 1:1-6

Significance to us:

The well-known Day of Pentecost in the New Testament (Acts 2) occurred 50 days after Jesus rose from the grave. It was at the time of the Jewish Feast of Harvest, when once again Jerusalem was filled with those who were required to attend this Festival. The Holy Spirit was given then, at the birth of the Christian church, as a kind of Firstfruits (Romans 8:23), an initial sample, of the power that would be granted later, in an even greater outpouring, just before God’s final Harvest. It was also an earnest (2 Corinthians 1:22; 5:5; Ephesians 1:14), a pledge of the wonderful inheritance that would be granted then. The covenant we make with God to honor Him and live by His Law is not complete (and in fact is impossible for us to keep perfectly) without the power of His Spirit.

When the Law was spoken by God on Mount Sinai, there was an awesome demonstration of His power and glory as the mountain shook and fire flashed out (Exodus 19:16-18). When His Spirit was given in Jerusalem, on Mount Zion, there was a great wind, and fire again flashed on His people (Acts 2:2, 3).

Jesus had ascended to heaven to be honored at the right hand of God and receive all power (Matthew 28:18) and to be inaugurated into His new position as our Great High Priest in the heavenly sanctuary (Hebrews 8:1, 2). He granted the Holy Spirit as a token of His new position (Acts 2:33) and gave spiritual gifts to his ambassadors to help them accomplish their work for Him (1 Corinthians 12-14; Ephesians 4:8-13).

Pentecost is a time to contemplate the work that God did at that time and the greater work He wants to do in our time, in us personally and through us, to bring His harvest to completion. The Spirit nurtures His “crop” to maturity (Joel 2:23-29; Galatians 5:22, 23); the Spirit enables / empowers His workers (Luke 24:49; John 14:15-36; Acts 1:4-8); the Spirit is absolutely essential to enable His people to live by His Law (Psalm 51:10; Jeremiah 31:33, 34; Ezekiel 36:26; John 3:5-8); there will be a great harvest at the end (Revelation 7:9; 14:15, 16).

Pentecost is also a reminder of the importance of God’s Law, the true way to life (Leviticus 18:1-5; Deuteronomy 30:15-20; Revelation 22:14). It is very interesting to notice that the Hebrew word for God’s Law – Torah (Strong’s # H8451) – is related to the word for former rain – moreh (Strong’s # H4175) – which is found in Joel 2:23.

Are you looking forward to God’s Great Harvest? Are you preparing for it? Pentecost is a reminder of how to prepare – allow God to implant His Law and His Spirit into your life.

January 12, 2017January 18, 2017

Firstfruits / Wave Sheaf

(Leviticus 23:9-14)

History:

This Festival was instituted after the Israelites were established in Canaan and were about to begin their harvest. On the sixteenth day of the first month (the second day of the Feast of Unleavened Bread) they were to bring a sample of their crop, a handful of barley stalks, for the priest to wave before the Lord. They were not supposed to actually begin their harvest until this had been done.

Significance to the Jews:

At this season of the year, the grain harvest was about to begin with barley typically being the earliest crop. This ritual was to remind the people that it was the great Creator God who blessed them with a harvest, and they were to acknowledge this before they started, bringing Him the firstfruits of their harvest. The wave sheaf invoked a blessing on the entire harvest.

Significance to us:

The Festival of Firstfruits is a symbol of our acknowledgment of dependence and thankfulness for God’s blessing. We should honor Him with our first and best, and acknowledge His gracious provision.

But thou shalt remember the LORD thy God: for it is he that giveth thee power to get wealth, that he may establish his covenant which he swore unto thy fathers, as it is this day. Deuteronomy 8:18

Every man also to whom God hath given riches and wealth, and hath given him power to eat thereof, and to take his portion, and to rejoice in his labor; this is the gift of God. Ecclesiastes 5:19

I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing. John 15:5

Many in this modern society are not very closely associated with grain harvesting, so that experience is somewhat removed from their thinking; but it is good to acknowledge that everything we have and are is a gift from God.

The Festival of Firstfruits / Wave Sheaf is also a symbol of God’s harvest of the earth: Jesus rose from the grave on the day the Wave Sheaf was to be presented in the temple. He is the Firstfruits–

But now is Christ risen from the dead, and become the firstfruits of them that slept. . . . Christ the firstfruits; afterward they that are Christ’s at his coming. 1 Corinthians 15:20, 23

Some were resurrected and went with Him to heaven as Firstfruits.–

And the graves were opened; and many bodies of the saints which slept arose, And came out of the graves after his resurrection, and went into the holy city, and appeared unto many. Matthew 27:52, 53

Wherefore he saith, When he ascended up on high, he led captivity captive, and gave gifts unto men. Ephesians 4:8

The 144,000 are considered Firstfruits–

These are they which were not defiled with women; for they are virgins. These are they which follow the Lamb whithersoever he goeth. These were redeemed from among men, being the firstfruits unto God and to the Lamb. Revelation 14:4

There is a greater, more abundant, final harvest of God’s people coming–

After this I beheld, and, lo, a great multitude, which no man could number, of all nations, and kindreds, and people, and tongues, stood before the throne, and before the Lamb, clothed with white robes, and palms in their hands; Revelation 7:9

And another angel came out of the temple, crying with a loud voice to him that sat on the cloud, Thrust in thy sickle, and reap: for the time is come for thee to reap; for the harvest of the earth is ripe. And he that sat on the cloud thrust in his sickle on the earth; and the earth was reaped. Revelation 14:15, 16

January 10, 2017

Unleavened Bread

(Exodus 12:15-20; 23:14-17; Leviticus 23:6-8; Numbers 28:17-25; Deuteronomy 16:3-8)

History:

The day after Passover began the week-long Feast of Unleavened Bread, with both the fifteenth day and the twenty-first day of the first month celebrated as Sabbaths. During this time, from sundown on the fourteenth to sundown on the twenty-first, no leaven was to be anywhere in an Israelite home and they were to eat only unleavened bread. This was one of the three Festivals during the year when all males were to come together before God in Jerusalem.

Significance to the Jews:

When the Israelites left Egypt, they were in a hurry and couldn’t wait for their bread to rise before it was baked, so they ate it without leavening, as quick flatbread. It is quite possible that it took them a week to arrive at and cross the Red Sea, finally leaving the last physical traces of Egyptian bondage behind them – the Pharaoh and his army lying dead on the seashore. After that, they no longer needed to be in a hurry. The Feast of Unleavened Bread reminded them of this experience. Leaven is also used in scripture as a symbol of sin and, as they were supposed to get rid of all traces of leaven for that week, they were to put sin away from their lives.

Significance to us:

The Festival of Unleavened Bread is a symbol of the purifying process that God wants to do in our lives. Leaven is a symbol of sin and its many manifestations:

false teachings–

Then Jesus said unto them, Take heed and beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and of the Sadducees. Matthew 16:6

And he charged them, saying, Take heed, beware of the leaven of the Pharisees, and of the leaven of Herod. Mark 8:15

hypocrisy–

In the mean time, when there were gathered together an innumerable multitude of people, insomuch that they trod one upon another, he began to say unto his disciples first of all, Beware ye of the leaven of the Pharisees, which is hypocrisy. Luke 12:1

malice and wickedness–

Purge out therefore the old leaven, that ye may be a new lump, as ye are unleavened. For even Christ our passover is sacrificed for us: Therefore let us keep the feast, not with old leaven, neither with the leaven of malice and wickedness; but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth. 1 Corinthians 5:7, 8

Even though the Israelites were delivered physically from Egypt, they still had Egypt in their hearts and wanted to return on several occasions. God has delivered us from the tyranny of Satan and sin. Will we allow Him to free us from the urge to return?