Government

When we think about government today, we think about political parties, political platforms, candidates, campaigns, debates, elections and so on. However, that is not the government that God has ordained and formed for His people. This week's Sabbath reading from Deuteronomy chapters 17 through 20 is titled Shoftim, meaning "Judges". Our first glimpse of the government of God is in Deut. 16:18: "You shall appoint judges (sapat - to judge, govern, vindicate, punish, execute judgment, decide a controversy, contend, defend, plead) and officers (satar - ruler, officer, to write, a scribe, a magistrate) in all your gates, which the LORD your God gives you, according to your tribes, and they shall judge the (aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega, identity of Christ - see Rev. 1:8, Rev. 21:6, Rev. 22:13) people with just (sedeq/sadak - righteousness, righteously, equity, prosperity, deliverance, liberation, welfare, felicity, rectitude, straightness/righteous in conduct and character, justice, cleansed, vindicate from wrongs, save, make righteous, turn to righteousness, to be or to do justly, a just cause, to purge oneself) judgment." As we can see, God's government is not formed based upon personality, popularity, wealth or powerful connections of individuals, but upon Godly character and righteousness. The LORD includes this concept in His name "Just Judge" (Ex. 34:6-5), and His government reflects His name. Just judgment is not only about punishing the guilty, as we often think of it as being, but it is also about pleading the just cause, vindicating the unjustly accused, and the equitable settling of disagreements or controversies. The operation of this kind of government brings forth specific results according to the above meanings of the Hebrew words: make righteous, turn to righteousness, to be cleansed or purged (of unrighteousness), deliverance, liberation, welfare, and felicity or happiness. This is how the LORD wants His aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega people governed. The LORD went on to say of His government: "You shall not pervert justice; you shall not show partiality, nor take a bribe, for a bribe blinds the eyes of the wise and twists the words of the righteous. You shall follow what is altogether just, that you may live and inherit the (aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega) land which the LORD your God is giving you." (Deut. 16:19-20). Previously in Leviticus, the LORD commanded His people in a similar way: "You shall do no injustice in judgment. You shall not be partial to the poor, nor honor the person of the mighty. In righteousness you shall judge your neighbor." (Lev. 19:15). Both the people and the land connected to the Messiah to come, the aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega Jesus, are to be governed in this manner. As we will see, this government IS and WILL BE established. At this time, Moses continued to bring the Word of the LORD regarding His government for His aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega people. The third member of this government is the priest. We have learned previously that the role of the priest is to minister before the LORD in His house, the Tabernacle, by tho furnishings that represent the person of Christ. The priest also receives the offerings to the LORD from His people, and ministers the Blood Atonement for the sins of the people. Now we see the government appointment of the priest: "If a matter arises which is too hard for you to judge...then you shall arise and go up to the place which the LORD your God chooses. And you shall come to the priests, the Levites, and to the judge there in those days and inquire of them; they shall pronounce upon you the (aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega) sentence (dabar - word, thing, matter, utterance, commandment, speak, promise, commune, warn, sing, put to flight) of judgment. You shall do according to the sentence (dabar [see previously] + pe/pa'a - mouth, opening, blowing/scatter to the edges, break into pieces, blow away) which they pronounce upon you in that place where the LORD chooses. And you shall be careful to do all that they order you." (Deut. 17:8-10). What an awesome anointing of the dabar Word in the pe mouth of the government of God! The governments created by men are a pale imitation of this "just judgment" that flows from the government of God among His people. The fourth appointed member of this government of God for His people is the prophet. The Word of the LORD came to Moses for God's people: "The LORD your God will raise up for you a Prophet like me from your midst, from your brethren. Him you shall hear...And the LORD said to me...and will put My words in His mouth, and He shall speak to them all that I command Him. And it shall be that whoever will not hear My words, which He speaks in My name, I will require it of him. But the prophet who presumes to speak a word in My name, which I have not commanded him to speak, or who speaks in the name of other gods, that prophet shall die." (Deut. 18:15-20). The LORD conceded that His people had asked that the LORD not speak directly to them, because His voice and presence were too overpowering for them (v. 16). Therefore the LORD would speak to His people through the Prophet. The prophet of God is bound (by life or death) to the faithful and true (see Rev. 19:11) declaration of what the LORD has said to His people. The LORD also prophesied to Moses that there would be a fifth member of His government in the future: "When you come to the land which the LORD your God is giving you, and possess it and dwell in it, and say, 'I will set a king over me like all the nations that are around me,' you shall surely set a king over you whom the LORD your God chooses; one from among your brethren you shall set as king over you; you may not set a foreigner over you, who is not your brother." (Deut. 17:14-15). This prophecy indeed came to pass many generations later (see 1 Sam. 8:4, 7, 19-21). But not so fast! There are a few requirements that are necessary to be a king in the government of God. The king is not to multiply horses (warhorses, chariot horses) to himself, or cause God's people to return to Egypt in order to do so. He is not to multiply wives to himself, nor silver and gold. Both of these can compromise a king and corrupt him, causing his heart to turn away from God and God's people (v. 16-17). As soon as the king ascends to the throne, he is to make a (aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega) copy for himself of the Law in the Book of Moses. He is to read this personal copy all the days of his life so that he lives in the reverent fear of the LORD. By not only studying, but also observing the Word of God, it will cause his heart not to be lifted above his brethren. It will also bring him a kingdom and life of longevity. (v. 18-20). In God's government, a king is NOT above his brethren, but humble in the authority which God has given him. Again, the rule of earthly kings throughout history has fallen far short of the righteous standards of the government of God. The rest of the people of God also play an important role in His government of justice. They are called to be witnesses so that justice may be able to prevail. Moses delivered the Word of the LORD regarding witnesses: "One witness (ed/ud - witness, testimony, evidence, recorder/solemnly, testify, charge, affirm, restore, relieve, return, exhort or enjoin solemnly, stand upright) shall not rise against a man concerning any iniquity or any sin that he commits; by the mouth of two or three witnesses the matter shall be established." (Deut. 19:15). A witness not only may testify or bring an accusation against another, but a witness could restore and relieve someone who had been wrongfully accused. The Hebrew letters in the word ed, or witness, are ayin and daleth. The individual meaning of each letter can combine together to mean "the door, path or entrance to seeing and understanding". So important is the value of an upright witness, that the LORD very specifically condemns a false witness: "If a false witness rises against any man to testify against him of wrongdoing, then both men in the controversy shall stand before the LORD, before the priests and the judges who serve in those days. And the judges shall make careful inquiry, and indeed, if the witness is a false witness, who has testified falsely against his brother, then you shall do to him as he thought to have done to his brother; so you shall put away the evil from among you...Your eye shall not pity: life shall be for life, eye for eye, tooth for tooth, hand for hand, and foot for foot." (v. 16-21). In Prov. 6:16-19, the LORD listed a false witness as one of the six things that He hates (sane - hate, enemy, foe, hateful, hatred of God, persons or wisdom, utterly odious). The greatest enemy of God is also a false witness, the Dragon, the Devil, Satan (Rev. 12:10). One of the weapons used to cast down this accuser was the word of the witnesses' testimony, in addition to the blood of the Lamb, and the fact that the witnesses did not love their own lives more than the truth (Rev. 12:11, see also Rev. 6:9-10). We live in times of accusation, some of it false. The people of God need to be very careful of the accusations and testimony that come out of our mouths, because there is a curse upon the false witness. We are to witness only the truth in God's government for justice's sake, not allowing our likes or dislikes to pervert the truthfulness of our witness. God is a Just Judge. What hppens when the government of God, as described above, becomes corrupted by the sins of His people? Two prophets addressed the judgment of God against His own government on earth, His government of princes, judges, prophets and priests from among His own people, are mentioned in this passage regarding the judgment of the LORD: "Woe to her who is rebellious and polluted, to the oppressing city!...'Therefore wait for Me', says the LORD, 'Until the day I rise...to pour on them My indignation, all my fierce anger; All the earth shall be devoured with the fire of My jealousy." (Zeph. 3:1-8, excerpt). The LORD's appointed government became an oppressive city. It became a symbol of oppression instead of justice throughout the whole earth. After this devastation brought by the LORD, He would restore a humble and worshipping people and pure language in the earth (v. 9-13). Another prophet, Ezekiel, also brought the Word of the LORD concerning His government that had been corrupted. There is corruption from the prophets, priests, and princes down to the people (Ezek. 22:23-29). Although the LORD sought even a single person who would intercede against this horrible descent of His government, He couldn't find anyone (v. 30): "Therefore I have poured out My indignation on them; I have consumed them with the fire of My wrath; and I have recompensed their deeds on their own heads,' says the LORD." (v. 31). The judgment comes, not because of the sins of the terrible heathen out there, but because His people have corrupted His government. However, the story of the LORD's government of judge, king, priest, prophet and witnessing people does not end here. We have an awesome, saving prophecy from God regarding it: "For unto us a Child is born, unto us a Son is given; And the government will be upon His shoulder (sekem/sakam - shoulder, upper part of the back, the shoulder as a place for taking up a burden/to rise up early in the morning). And His name will be called Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Of the increase of His government and peace there will be no end, upon the throne of David and over His kingdom, to order it and establish it with judgment and justice from that time forward, even forever. The zeal of the LORD of hosts will perform this." (Isa. 9:6-7). In another reading portion from this Sabbath titled Shoftim, or "Judges", the prophet Jeremiah wrote: "Behold, the days are coming', says the LORD, 'That I will raise to David a Branch of righteousness; A King shall reign and prosper, and execute judgment and righteousness in the earth. In His days, Judah will be saved, and Israel will dwell safely; Now this is His name by which He will be called: THE LORD OUR RIGHTEOUSNESS." (Jer. 23:5-6). Again in another Sabbath reading portion from Isaiah: "Listen to Me, My people; And give ear to Me, O My nation: For law will proceed from Me, and I will make My justice rest as a light of the peoples. My righteousness is near, My salvation has gone forth, and My arms (zerowa/zara - arm, forearm, shoulder, strength, stretched out arms/sowing seed, yielding seed, pregnant) will judge the peoples; The coastlands will wait upon Me, and on My arm they will trust." (Isa. 51:4-5). According to the prophets above, the representative parts of the government of God: the Judge, the Officer, the King, the Priest, the Prophet, the truthful Witness (Rev. 1:5), will be all in One. He is the Messiah, Jesus, who will return to rule the nations. We will return with Him as kings and priests (Rev. 1:4-6, Rev. 5:10, 1 Pet. 2:9-10). The government of God rules in the earth through Christ in us, as it rules in heaven. We should understand the importance of His government since we are a part of it by our inclusion in, and oneness with Jesus Christ, who carries the government of His Father upon His shoulder. This Sabbath is the first Sabbath of the month of Elul. We prapare ourselves during this month, in prayer and repentance by the Holy Spirit, for the fall Feasts next month. These upcoming Feasts are the Feasts that prophesy the return of Christ, and His establishment of God's government in the earth (Zech. 14:16, 20). If you would like to know more about God's government, and our part in it, you can pray with me: "Heavenly Father, You will not leave Your people and the earth in injustice and unrighteousness. You have brought forth the Branch of David, the Messiah, Jesus, to govern the earth. You have called Your people to be part of Your government in Christ. Forgive me, Lord, when I have placed my hope and trust in the governments of men, rather than the government of God. I pray for our earthly governments, but I am determined to look and speak for Your government. Teach me so that I may be a true witness of it in the earth. Fill me with Your Spirit so that I can stand uprightly for the justice of Your Word. Let Your government rule on earth as it rules in heaven, that all may be reconciled together into one in Your Son. I ask this in Jesus' name. AMEN."

Prophets

"Of this salvation the prophets have inquired and searched carefully, who prophesied of the grace that would come to you, searching what, or what manner of time, the Spirit of Christ who was in them was indicating when He testified beforehand the sufferings of Christ and the glories that would follow. To them it was revealed that, not to themselves, but to us they were ministering the things which now have been reported to you through those who have preached the gospel to you by the Holy Spirit sent from heaven- things which angels desire to look into."   1 Pet. 1:10-12
When I read the verses above the other day, I couldn't help but consider the prophets of God.
As I consider the prophets of scripture, I wonder what it was like to see and hear by the Spirit of Prophecy, which is the living Word, the person of Jesus. Though He was not yet born in the flesh, Jesus showed the prophets things concerning Himself that caused the prophets to search and search, trying to see more deeply into what they were being shown. They searched the words of the prophets who had come before them to find out more. They were shown such an awesome mystery, that even the angels didn't know the details, though they desired to know.
Among other things, they were shown a suffering savior, who through the sufferings of His own body and soul, provided salvation, atonement, healing, redemption, restoration and resurrection to all men who would accept Him. Death itself would be defeated by the Savior. Not all who read these prophecies, including kings and religious leaders, accepted them, and that sad fact continues today. 
The prophets saw that the resulting glory of the Savior's victory would be so great, that even new heavens and a new earth would be generated from it. These prophets were told and saw incredible things by the Lord. With being shown all of these amazing things, according to the verse from 1 Peter above, they were also shown that they would not see the manifestation of these things in their own lifetime, but were to prophesy them for the sake of some generation to come, not knowing how long that might be. They saw the miracle of salvation, but it was not to be for them at that time. It could only be for them in hope and faith. Can we even imagine how the prophets felt about that? And yet the  prophets prophesied it for our sakes. When we desire something, we want to know from the Lord, "When, God, when?" How would we feel if we knew that what we were praying for, what we deeply needed and desired, would surely manifest, but not for generations to come? Would that knowledge change the enthusiasm and hope in our prayers?
We who believe God want as many eyes and ears as possible to see and hear the message we bring. One person recently told me that they knew how it felt to prophesy, but no one would hear or believe. It could be that this person spoke from a place of frustration. It's true that human ears need to hear what the prophet is saying, but the prophets were at their greatest when it was just them and God.
The prophets of scripture not only prophesied to both hearing and unhearing human ears, but were called to prophesy when there were no ears at all to hear. They prophesied from caves (1 Sam. 24:10, 1 Ki. 18:4, 1 Ki. 19:9, 13, Ps. 142:1, Jn. 11:38), from a valley of dry bones (Ez. 37:1), from pits (Jer. 18:18, 20), from inside the belly of a great fish (Jonah 1:17, 2:1), from a den of lions (Dan. 16:16), from an island of exile (Rev. 1:9), from a prison cell (Gen. 39:20, Isa. 53:8, Acts 16:23-24, 1 Pet. 3:19), from a wilderness (Mt. 4:1, 11:7), from a sheepfold (Amos 1:1), from a battle (Judges 4:8-9). They were commanded to prophesy through horrible marriages (Hos. 1:2), through the children they conceived (Isa. 8:3-4, 1 Sam. 4:20-22), through the dung they cooked over (Ez. 4:12, 15), by what side of their body they lay upon (Ez. 4:3-8), by the clothes they wore, or didn't wear (Isa. 20:2-4, Mt. 3:4), by wearing animal yokes (Jer. 27:1-2), by the strange food they ate (Mk. 1:6). Yet they continued to prophesy for our sake. I received my salvation from the words of the prophet Isaiah (Isa. 53) spoken 750 years before the birth of Christ. Isaiah saw Him, and described Him to me in the words of his book.
Has the Church ignored, neglected and misused this precious spiritual gift of the prophet who has been sent today to equip us, and edify us with the knowledge of Jesus Christ? What about the other gifts set among us for the Lord's purpose: apostles, evangelists, pastors, and teachers (Eph. 4:11-13)? Have we had a lack of understanding regarding their divine purpose to us, the Church? It's very possible that we have consumed them on our flesh, with our fleshly needs and demands, rather than to have understood that the purpose and goal of the Lord was for us to grow in the unity of faith, and into the perfect man, with the stature of the fullness of Christ. As a result, we have become a Church of stunted growth, and disunity.
As I read the verses in 1 Pet. 1:10-12, it gave me a lot of food for thought.

Our Father has sent us prophets.

"Prophesy"
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lG7SVAWNyg0

"Song of Ezekiel"
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bi3R3Ork7VM

"Days of Elijah"
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FjxNhMV9yg8