Our Father gives us a beautiful prophecy in Ezekiel 37:27, speaking about His people Israel:
"My tabernacle also shall be with them; indeed I shall be their God, and they shall be My people."
Ezekiel goes on to prophesy that God's Tabernacle in the midst of His people will be a testimony to all of the nations.
The LORD may be talking about a physical building, but I think He means so much more. The language used is so much more powerful than any physical building. The language is about a deeply spiritual relationship. The word "tabernacle" in Hebrew means a dwelling place. The root meaning of the word is "to lie down, to take rest, to lie down intimately". It is the place where the Pillar of Fire, and the Pillar of Smoke came down to touch the earth. It is a place of coverings and curtains. It is like the Father is taking His people into the inner most chamber, and closing the curtains around it, so He and His people may rest together in intimacy.
The term "people" in the above verse from Ezekiel means kinsmen, but its root meaning is "to dim, to darken, to eclipse". It means to shut, to close, to hide, to conceal, to be hidden. Again, the very word carries a meaning of closeness and intimacy. If we look at the word "tabernacle" in the Greek language, we can get an even more detailed picture:
In Rev. 21:3, our Father gives us the fulfillment of the prophecy from Ezekiel above:
"And I heard a loud voice from heaven saying, "Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and He will dwell with them, and they shall be His people. God Himself will be with them and be their God."
Verse 4 goes on to say, "And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes; there shall be no more death, nor sorrow, nor crying. There shall be no more pain, for the former things have passed away."
The main meaning of "Tabernacle" in the Greek deals with a covering, made of green boughs, skins, or other material. One root meaning talks about a household of vessels and utensils, domestic gear, chosen instruments, etc. The other root meaning of tabernacle is very interesting, and echoes the Hebrew root of darkness: it means shadow, shade, densest darkness, a shadow image cast by an object, and representing that object, which is an express likeness, the very image of that object. The Father talks to us about that special, secret place in His presence created by the "shadow of His wings". Mary, in Luke 1:35, is told by the Angel that "the power of the Highest shall overshadow thee", meaning to throw a shadow upon, to envelope in a shadow. People even lay the sick out on the streets in Acts 5:15, that the "shadow of Peter passing by might overshadow some of them." So the darkness associated with the concept of the tabernacle is really a very special place with God.
So the picture created by the above meanings, and roots is of a very intimate relationship, an intimate place. Our Father covers His people and casts His shadow upon His people. That shadow is the exact copy of His likeness. In this place of intimacy and rest, pain, sorrow and death cannot exist. The Father touches His people and personally wipes the tears from each eye. Though the verse from Revelation may be interpreted to mean a time in the future, the spiritual truth is in the "now", in each life given into the Father's hands.
As this is written, it is the middle of the Feast of Tabernacles. This is a joyous feast, or appointment with God. It celebrates the great harvest, or in-gathering. It lasts for seven days, but on the eighth day of the feast, Shemini Atzeret, the focus changes. The feast of many in celebration becomes a moment in time when the Bridegroom goes into the wedding chamber with His bride, and the door is closed. It becomes a time and place of darkness, shadows, and intimacy. A place for Jesus and His Bride, a place for the Father and His people, for the Father and the Son are One. In that place, we are to join that Oneness and intimacy.
Come into the chamber, and close the curtains, for the Father desires to tabernacle with His people.
Our Father is a Tabernacle.
"Psalm 23"
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BnKvXxGlJLI
"Cover Me"
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w1JrNwImnw0
There are so many scriptures that call God's people to repentance. The call is not even to the unbelieving, ungodly, worldly unsaved, but to God's own people. We sometimes get diverted seeing the sin in the world around us, that we forget the call to repentance is to us. It is one of the Father's ways of "delivering us from evil", delivering us from the plots of the enemy, delivering us from His own righteous judgment. It is a privilege and a mercy from a loving God.
"Create in me a clean heart, O God,
And renew a steadfast spirit within me." Psalm 51:10
From 2 Chron. 7:13-14, we read this familiar passage:
"When I shut up heaven and there is no rain, or command the locusts to devour the land, or send pestilence among My people, if My people who are called by My name will humble themselves, and pray and seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin and heal their land."
A whole nation can be healed and forgiven from the act of repentance of God's own people. Awesome!
In Joel 2:12-14, again, God urges His people to repent:
"Now, therefore, says the LORD, "Turn to Me with all your heart, with fasting, with weeping, and with mourning." So rend your heart, and not your garments; Return to the LORD your God, for He is gracious and merciful, slow to anger, and of great kindness; and He relents from doing harm. Who knows if He will turn and relent, and leave a blessing behind Him- A grain offering and a drink offering for the LORD your God?"
The repentance of God's people causes God to relent from doing harm, and leave a blessing behind instead. Awesome!
Again from Psalm 51, God desires a repentant heart, a rent heart:
"The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit,
A broken and a contrite heart-
These, O God, You will not despise."
There is another example from Ex. 34:6-10:
"And the LORD passed before him (Moses) and proclaimed.
"The LORD, the LORD God, merciful and gracious, longsuffering, and abounding in goodness and truth, keeping mercy for thousands, forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin, by no means clearing the guilty, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children and the children's children to the third and the fourth generation."
So Moses made haste and bowed his head toward the earth, and worshipped. Then he said, "If now I have found grace in Your sight, O Lord, let my Lord I pray, go among us, even though we are a stiff-necked people; and pardon our iniquity and our sin, and take us as Your inheritance."
As Moses made this repentance before the LORD, the LORD changed a nation:
"And He said: "Behold, I make a covenant. Before all your people I will do marvels such as have not been done in all the earth, nor in any nation; and all the people among whom you are shall see the work of the LORD. For it is an awesome thing that I will do with you..."
He will make a covenant.
He will do marvels that have never been done in any nation.
All the people around us will see the work of the LORD.
He will do an awesome thing with us.
One man's repentance would cause the LORD to do marvels and wonders and works - awesome things.
Awesome!
Our Father wants to do awesome things.
"Our God is Awesome!"
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tz8BgLSC24E
Galatians 5:22-23 lists the Fruit of the Holy Spirit. love, joy, peace, long-suffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control.
The word "fruit" here in the Greek is beautiful. It means the fruit of the trees, vines and fields, the fruit of one's loins, an effect, a result, an advantage, profit, praises presented to God as a thanks offering. The root meanings of the word, though, are interesting as well. The first root means to seize, claim for one's self eagerly. The second root meaning is to take for oneself, to prefer, to choose, to choose by vote, to elect for office.
Those root meanings tell me that this Fruit is something that I choose. I must make the choice to incorporate this fruit into my character. This fruit makes the difference between the liberty of the Spirit, and the bondage of the law of sin and death (Gal. 5:18). This fruit of the Spirit, by its nature, is a fulfillment of the purpose of the law which is to love thy neighbor as thyself (Gal.5:14).
The breakthrough and the victory that breaks bondage and transforms into liberty is contained in this spiritual fruit. We look sometimes desperately for the victory over the enemy that oppresses us. Sometimes that victory is not from the outside, but is birthed from the inside of each one of us. Maybe the victory finally comes when we choose to change ourselves. Perhaps this is the very victory we are looking for. Gal. 5:13 says that we have been called to liberty.
Jesus had a choice of victories, of liberties. Pilate said to Him "Don't you know that I have the power to crucify you, and to release you?", when Jesus stopped speaking with him. Right there is an opportunity for deliverance from the enemy, yet Jesus didn't take it. Jesus answered "You wouldn't have this power unless it had been given to you from above." I am paraphrasing this conversation from Jn. 19:10-11. Jesus did not take this opportunity for this particular victory or deliverance.
In another part of scripture, Mt. 26:47-54, when Judas and the armed crowd came from the chief priests and elders to arrest Jesus when He was with His disciples, one of the disciples tried to rescue Jesus with violence, cutting off the ear of one in the throng. Jesus refused this deliverance and victory by telling that disciple to put away his sword. Jesus said "...do you think that I cannot now pray to My Father, and He will provide Me with more than twelve legions of angels?" Jesus did not see escape in the form of the sword, or even angelic warriors.
Jesus did not take these opportunities of escape, these rather short-lived opportunities of deliverance. Both offers would have delivered Him from a very tight spot. That deliverance might have been temporary at best, and this was also not the victory the Father was looking for. While the enemy throng of this day might be evaded, there will be one to replace it the next day, and the day after that. No, the victory had to come from another place. Jesus chose that path-the path for which He had been purposed by His Father. That path would produce, not temporary relief, but everlasting victory and relief. It would produce liberty not just for Jesus, but for all. The victory came from a choice within Jesus. It was the choice of obedience (Phil. 2:8). Jesus asked the question in Jn. 18:11, "... the cup which my Father hath given me, shall I not drink it?"
Sometimes, we think relief and breakthrough must come as quickly as possible, and we look for it in other people, in money solutions, wherever we can find it, because the place we are at is unbearable. We think our crisis will be solved with a certain amount of money, or the right attorney, the right idea, the right person, or even the point of the sword. But sometimes that relief and breakthrough must start from within us. This is where the battle begins and ends-flesh versus spirit. The victory must come from the place of the Fruit of the Spirit, against which there is no law. Perhaps the real victory, the real liberty, is in the place of love, joy, peace, long-suffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. In this place, nothing the enemy does will profit.
Our Father has called us to liberty.
"Where the Spirit of the Lord is"
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KMWICrct5ek
"Break Every Chain"
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-pD2zIuiC2g
Exodus 34:29-35 tells us that when Moses went onto the mountain to hear from the LORD, he returned to the camp of the Israelites unaware that the skin of his face glowed from being in the presence of the glory of God. At first, the people, and even his brother, Aaron, were frightened by this very strange sight, and afraid to come near him. As Moses called to them and spoke to them, they came back to him and listened as he told them about his communication with God. After this event, Moses began to wear a veil, but would take the veil off to go before the Lord. After the Israelites saw on each occasion of his visitation with the LORD that Moses' skin glowed, he would then put the veil back on. Scripture doesn't tell us that God instructed Moses to do this. Many say he did this because the glory of God on his skin frightened the people, or that the people didn't want to see this glory of God. But the verses tell us that Moses wouldn't put the veil on each time until after the people saw him and listened to him from his meetings with God. So why did Moses veil himself at all?
The Apostle Paul reveals this mystery in 2 Cor. 3:7-18. Paul says that Moses covered his face because the people could not stand to look at end of what was passing away, the glory which was passing away (v.7). What would remain after this passing away is the ministry of the Spirit, possessing far greater glory. "For if what is passing away was glorious, what remains is much more glorious." (v.11). The glory of the Law written on tablets was never meant to be the completeness of the revelation of God. The revelation was to continue unto the revealing of the Messiah, who fulfills the Law, and the Spirit. "How will the ministry of the Spirit not be more glorious? For if the ministry of condemnation had glory, the ministry of righteousness exceeds more in glory." (v. 8-9) Those who refuse the continuing revelation are said to be wearing the same veil that Moses wore (v.14-15) - the veil that is meant to conceal the glory that is passing away. In fact, whether Jew or Greek, although Paul is speaking of the Israelite here, once we have placed this veil over our faces, only Jesus can remove it (v.14). Jesus provided the entrance through the veil, even His own flesh, to make the way by His blood to enter into the Holiest so that we might enter after Him (Heb. 10:19-20). Once the veil is in place however, we become "closed" to the glory of new revelation. It is a veil of separation, and not in a good way.
Even as Jesus was crucified, the veil of the Temple of God in Jerusalem was ripped open. But what did God's people do? They sewed the veil closed again. Are we saying that God's Word passes away, or becomes "old"? No, ALL scripture edifies, instructs, and corrects us. Neither do the Word contradict itself. However, we are expected to daily be ready to receive the new glories, the new mercies of God that are continually revealed through the Living Word - Jesus. No, the LORD "changeth not", but His mercies are new every morning (Lam. 3:21-24).
Even the manna from heaven, meant to supply the daily bread of the people of God as they traveled through the wilderness, though supernatural, could not be kept until the next day. Each day, the new manna had to be collected in the morning and eaten that same day. If the Israelites tried to keep the manna for the next day, it became worm-filled. The glory of the manna faded, and new manna was required. "Give us this day our daily bread." This was the prayer that Jesus taught. Each day has a provision from God to us: not only a physical provision, but a spiritual provision as well.
In fact, 2 Cor. 3 says that we can only be transformed into the same image of the Lord, from glory to glory, if we are willing to come before Him with an "open face", unveiled (v.18). The phrase "from glory to glory" in this verse indicates a progression in transformation, not trying to hide the glory that is passing away, but reaching for the new glory that our Father has for us each day. We are expected to go deeper, to go higher, to go closer, in our knowledge of Him. When we hold on to the glory that is passing away, it is because of our spiritual pride, a pride of revelation. As we hold to old revelation, the spiritual veil falls into place, and we are unable to receive the new, unless Jesus removes that veil from us. In the Body of Christ, separation, rather than unity is created by those veils of fading glory. From those revelations whose glory is passing away, traditions have formed, and doctrines have been set in place. "This is what the Lord revealed to us and we will not be moved from it!" But the Lord has something new to show us. Wouldn't you like to see what it is? That previous revelation was for our edification and glory yesterday. Father has new glory for us today, but we must come before Him with an open, unveiled face.
Our Father calls us to come before Him unveiled.
Special thanks to F.B. and G.S. for their thoughtful contributions that helped with this entry.
"Through The Veil"
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gz39eYoIxTA
Jesus was asked a question in Mark 12:28-31. The question was, "Which is the first commandment of all?". Jesus answered saying, "Hear, O Israel, the LORD our God, the LORD is one." This response is known as the Shema, found in Deut. 6:4-5. The word "shema" comes from a word that means "to hear, listen to, obey, understand, give heed, yield to, cause to be heard". The scripture in both Deut. 6 and in Mark 12, goes on to say, "You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your strength." Jesus taught that these scriptures were the most important commandment of all.
It is not surprising that scripture also prophesies that in the end times, an event will occur that will be the breaking of these most important commandments before the eyes of mankind. This event is foretold in 2 Thess. 2:3-5:
"Let no one deceive you by any means; for that Day will not come (the Day of the coming of the Lord Jesus Christ again) unless the falling away comes first, and the man of sin is revealed, the son of perdition, who opposes and exalts himself above all that is called God or that is worshipped, so that he sits as God in the temple of God, showing himself that he is God. Do you not remember that when I was still with you I told you these things?"
We live in a time of the falling away from that foremost commandment as taught by Jesus. We are not "hearing and obeying and yielding" to the knowledge proclaimed by our Father that the LORD is one, and He is to be loved with our whole being - not just worshipped, but loved. The scene is set for the son of perdition to declare himself to be God, because that commanded love of our Father has grown cold (Mt. 24:12). This command is not even to all mankind. This foremost command is to the people of God- "Hear O Israel". We cannot point to the world and condemn them for breaking this commandment. This commandment is about the relationship that our Father expects to have with us - His own people. Once we step away from this commandment, once we distance ourselves from it, and refuse to yield to it, we set ourselves up to be deceived. We usher onto the world stage that one who will bring untold horror to the earth.
We may deny it, and we may say that this command is to Israel, and the Church is still obedient to the commanded love, but this would be incorrect. In Rev. 2 and 3, the resurrected Jesus reveals to His apostle the condition of the heart of His Church. One church is told "...you have left your first love." (Rev. 2:4). Another church is told "...because you are lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will vomit you out of My mouth." (Rev. 3:16). To each of the seven churches He commands "He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches." - SHEMA, hear, understand, obey.
Another great indicator that the love for our Father has grown cold is revealed by the commandment that Jesus says in Mark 12 is second in importance, but like the first: "You shall love your neighbor as yourself. There is no other commandment greater than these." No one can deny that our love for our neighbor is lukewarm at best, and certainly not as great as our love of ourselves. Even the most "religious" among us cannot deny that. We have become isolated and distant from our neighbor. If we are not walking out the second most important command, it is because we are not walking in the first most important command. Without that love for our LORD, Who is one, we cannot and will not love our neighbor.
SHEMA Israel, SHEMA Church:
Our Father, His Son, and His Holy Spirit are One, and we shall love them with our whole life, with everything within us. AMEN.
"Shema Israel"
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=82JbnMWKtSE
The Apostle Paul told of a situation that had come upon him in 2 Cor. 12:7-9, that he was suffering mightily from a physical, or spiritual attack. The attack was severe enough that he called it a "thorn", a pointed stake, something used in impaling, in his flesh. He said it was a messenger of Satan sent to "buffet", or beat him. He did not say specifically what this attack was, but Apostle Paul said he begged the Lord three times to relieve him of this suffering. In answer to Paul's prayer and beseeching, the Lord gave Paul a revelation. We sometimes make the mistake of thinking of this answer from the Lord somewhat religiously, as some sort of weak comfort. This is the answer the Lord gave to Paul:
"My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness."
Paul concluded "Therefore most gladly I will rather boast in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me."
Not only did he say he would rejoice in those infirmities, but that he would MOST gladly do so, so great was the revelation of grace that he received.
What was the meaning of grace that was revealed to Paul, that he found so powerful?
The first mention of "grace" in scripture is found in Gen. 6:8. The inhabitants of the earth had grown so evil and perverse, that the LORD regretted that He had made man. He had resolved to destroy man and all living creatures from the earth in order to stop the evil that man had become. But something caused the LORD to refrain from this judgment of utter destruction:
"But Noah found grace in the eyes of the LORD."
Grace, in many scriptures from the Torah, is mentioned in connection with the LORD's eyes, or sight. When the LORD looked upon Noah, He saw something. What the LORD saw, reflected something of Himself that was still left in this sole man. The word "grace" in Hebrew means "favor, charm, elegance, acceptance, pleasant, precious, good will." The root word that it comes from means "to decline, to incline, encamp, bend down, pitch a tent, dwell, defend, inhabit, rested." Noah's name means "rest" as well. The word "grace" also refers to wherever the Tabernacle of God was pitched. "Grace" is the dwelling place, the tabernacle of God. When God looked to and fro among men, He saw His tabernacle or dwelling place when He looked at Noah. Grace is God's dwelling place.
Grace is also the fullness of Christ:
"And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth. And of His fullness, we have all received, and grace for grace." John 1:14, 16
The Word dwelt among us. God dwelling among us in His tabernacle. One of the meanings of the word "grace" is "to dwell". Verse 16 tells us that the fullness of Christ IS grace, for the Father dwells fully in Him. And we, also have received this fullness according to verse 16.
If we look back again at 2 Cor. 12:9, the Lord tells Apostle Paul that His grace is sufficient for him. In English, the word "sufficient" means "meeting the need of, as much as is needed, enough to meet the needs of a situation, and from the Latin root:" legally satisfying".
So why is Paul, instead of being mournful over the circumstance that has tortured him, now thankful? It is the very need itself that has caused His Father to answer with His grace. If the need were not present, the grace would not have to answer. It is the same situation as the scripture in Rom. 5:20-21:
"...where sin abounded, grace abounded much more, so that as sin reigned in death, even so grace might reign through righteousness to eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord."
The need created by sin, caused God to answer, or cover the need, with grace, embodied in His Son. As it turns out, the remedy, grace, exceeds in every way, the need that it was created to answer. In Greek, the word "sufficient" used to describe grace in 2 Cor. 12:9 is defined as "to be possessed of unfailing strength, to be satisfied, to be contented, to raise up, to elevate, to lift up, to remove, to carry off, to cause to cease". The sufficiency of grace fills with "unfailing strength". The only unfailing strength that exists is the very strength of God, Himself. All other natural strength can reach a point of failure, but not this kind of divine, supernatural strength.
A wonderful example of the answering power of grace is found in Zech. 4:6-7:
"This is the word of the LORD to Zerubbabel: "Not by might, nor by power, but by My Spirit", says the LORD of hosts. "Who are you, O great mountain? Before Zerubbabel you shall become a plain! And he shall bring forth the capstone (headstone) with shouts of "Grace, grace to it!"
The mountain of obstacle that stood before Zerubbabel to defeat him, even though it is described as being great, would be torn down, and the headstone that comes from it would be like the setting stone, or central building stone at the top of an arch, the stone that holds the arch together. By the overcoming power, sufficiency and unfailing strength of "Grace", that which was obstructing has become the supporting strength upon which to build.
No wonder Paul's grief and burden was transformed in his spirit into joy and thanksgiving by the blessing of the revelation of "grace".
Our Father is Grace.
"Amazing Grace (My Chains Are Gone)"
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jbe7OruLk8I
The Tabernacle and the Temples of God given to us in scripture all are a type and shadow of many spiritual truths. Much can be learned from the study of these places, and it would be a study that could take years.
The imagery of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit is very much a part of these places of sacrifice and worship. It would take pages and books to write all the things that are revealed to us by a study of the tabernacle and the temples of God. For the purpose of this entry, I would like to look at the reflection of the believer in Christ that can be found in the Temple. What is reflected about each of us by the temples of God?
Scripture tells us that we believers are the temple of the Holy Spirit, the temple of the living God (1 Cor. 6:19-20, 2 Cor. 6:16), because Christ dwells in us. This is not a temple made by human hands, but a temple built out of living stones, us, as we contain the presence of Jesus.
There are certain items that were given by King David and the people of Israel for the building of the Temple. If these items express a spiritual truth about us, we should look into it. The listing of materials is in 1 Chron. 29:1-2. When God was teaching Israel about the contents of His Temple, what wonderful things He was prophesying about us! These are the items listed to be used in the Temple:
Gold- pure, brilliant, precious, splendor in Hebrew.
As we contain Christ, we are to be pure in heart, and spirit, full of His glory and splendor.
"And the glory which You gave Me, I have given them, that they may be one just as We are one."
Jn. 17:22
The brilliance of gold shines from us as we have been commanded to be the light of the world (Mt. 5:14).
Like gold, we have attained a precious faith through the righteousness of God in Christ (2 Pet. 1:1).
When we are tested by our Father, we are refined and come forth as pure gold (Job 23:10).
We are exhorted to be pure in thoughts, word, and deed, as we are pure n faith. The purer gold is, the more luster and value it has. When I lived in the beautiful state of Arizona, I had the opportunity to pan for gold. If you have ever panned for gold in a river or stream, you know that the luster, even from the smallest flake of gold, stands out in the pan taking your breath away. You know when you see it, that it is unmistakeably gold. As we reflect Christ in us, we walk in that beautiful luster. Imagine how that luster would stand out in a world of darkened understanding.
Silver- Unlike gold, silver is a white color. Silver was more often used for making coins through history. The Hebrew word for silver means "to long for, or to be longed for". It is a symbol of redemption. It is the money used to redeem something lost. We are to be spiritual silver. Instead of being something used for exchange in this world, we represent the fact that there was a cost to redeem us. We were bought with the price of Jesus' blood:
"For you were bought at a price; therefore glorify God in your body and in your spirit, which are God's" and "You were bought at a price; do not become slaves of men." (1 Cor. 6:20, 7:23)
Every time we shine as silver, we show how we long for the ways of God, and that He longs for us. Many traditional Jewish brides were and are adorned with silver, and Jesus tells the parable of a woman who loses a silver coin that was part of her bridal jewelry (Lk. 15:8-10), and how she rejoiced with all of her friends when she found it again. Jesus said this is the same with repentance in the Kingdom of God.
Bronze- In Hebrew, bronze has a meaning "to shine". Its root meaning deals with a bell, and ringing. Bronze is connected therefore, with a sound, and it is a sound that all humans recognize. The ringing sound of a bell, travels over long distances, and draws the attention of a community to listen. Its sounding has a significance, whether it be to call, to warn, to celebrate, to mourn, to alert to a time, and it is difficult to ignore (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WpOQwvMY3wo). All believers should be a bell sounding in their communities. We should be sounding in the background of everyday life, calling, alerting, celebrating, warning, reminding of the time.
Iron- Iron refers to strength. Iron rubbed against iron sharpens. In this case, a believer's strength is not their own, but comes from the presence of the LORD as part of our life. He strengthens us to withstand and overcome. He strengthens us to endure. Iron combined with Him becomes steel in the furnace of testing. Iron is associated with warfare, and as all believers know, spiritual warfare is part of our calling. And our greatest spiritual weapon is our endurance. Our faith is of iron in strength, not because it is our faith, but because it is the faith of the Son of God (Gal. 2:20).
Believer it or not, the word "iron" in Hebrew also refers to the choicest of olive trees. Olive trees are not only valued for their abundant fruit, but for their valuable oil that comes forth in the press. Olive trees can endure, and live to very old age. They can withstand difficult conditions. As believers, we must have the same character as the olive tree, and produce the same abundant fruit and oil of anointing.
Wood- The source of wood is a tree: a Tree of Life, a tree of the Kingdom of God, a fruitful tree, a shade tree, an evergreen tree. Wood is used as a building material. Wood is used as fuel for fire. We are to fuel a spiritual fire that burns in the hearts of men, the salvation of God. A tree is also used as a place of death: a gallows, a crucifix. Our lives end at a tree, the cross, and begin at the same tree. It is death to our flesh, but life to our spirit. The root meaning of "wood" in Hebrew, is to shut, like a door, to make firm. In the Temple of the Holy Spirit, we are in the image of Christ, a door. Many will enter the Kingdom of God through us. Once entered, the door is shut to all of the tools, schemes and lies of the devil. The door is shut, even as the bridegroom and the bride celebrate their marriage together (Mt. 25:10). The door is the place where the lovers of Christ are identified. It is the place of separation between those who are known, and those who are not known (Lk. 13:25-27). The door is the place where Jesus first approaches a person's heart and knocks. We are to be that place in a person's life, where Jesus is able to knock for the first or last time.
Onyx Stones- Onyx is a stone that is named for a whitish color, and refers to being "blanched". Blanching is a process of whitening, even as our souls are whitened as we are purified and perfected. Onyx is unique also because of the striped effect that exists across the stone. All forms of this mineral, even though they may vary in color, have that striping effect to some degree. The stripes of Christ from His suffering have an effect upon us, not just on the surface, but a deep effect that scores to the inward part of us (Isa. 53:5, 1 Pet. 2:24, Prov. 20:30). We carry the effects of His stripes in our lives, to be clearly seen by others. His stripes identify us, even as onyx stones are identified by their striping.
Stones to be set- These stones are stones that are set in place. They refer to the installation of the order of the priesthood. They also refer to abundance. We, as stones to be set, do not go in and out of the temple. We are set in order, and remain to serve God. Those who remain and are steadfast are a firm and fixed supply to the temple. Many of us go in and out of the church we attend as if it is our choice where and how we serve and worship. God has fixed us, and we need to remain constant where He has set us. He has set us there for a reason. We will not be removed.
Glistening Stones of Various Colors- This is an amazing description of us. Stones of various colors woven together as a weaver, or embroiderer would use variegated threads to create a whole. These stones were used to decorate the walls and floors. They glistened and reflected light. We should be so closely woven together as believers that we do not know where one ends and another begins, working together to create a whole. The Body of Christ is described as being "knitted together". The weaving or knitting together is the same as God describes regarding the forming of the embryo in the womb. This whole reflects and glistens with light, made up of many different colors. How beautiful.
All Kinds of Precious Stones- Those who are the Temple of the Holy Spirit are precious and costly. It cost the blood of our Father's only begotten Son to redeem us. We are precious in His sight. These stones are splendid, costly, glorious in the eyes of our Father. He esteems us and holds us most dear (Ps. 72:14). The meaning also refers to one of a quiet spirit. The world clamors with discord, but the Temple of the Holy Spirit is a haven of peace, quiet before the LORD to hear His voice, and in worship, with the sound of musical harmony.
Marble Slabs in Abundance- Marble here is the word "alabaster". In the natural, marble is a white stone, highly polished and porous. It is smooth and cool to the touch. In believers, to be that smooth, white stone, is to be a cool refuge in times of fiery trial. The coolness comes from our faith. We absorb the faith of the Son of God through every pore of our spirit, as marble absorbs. We need to make sure, that as porous beings, we do not absorb the stains of this world. The artist, Michelangelo, would search the marbles of the quarry looking for a piece that was as purely white as possible. It was from such a piece of marble that he sculpted his beautiful "Pieta", Mary holding the crucified Christ across her lap (see link below). But the alabaster I think of was the alabaster used in worship. A certain woman, who was a sinner, in gratitude to Jesus, came to a house where He was dining. She approached Him, broke open an alabaster box, and anointed Him with precious oils (Mt. 26:7, Lk. 7:37). One account mentions spikenard as the precious oil contained by the alabaster box. Spikenard was the essence that was used at the Incense Altar of the Temple. It was known as "HaKetoret", The Incense. We are the alabaster that contains the precious, costly, anointing oil of the Holy Spirit. We are the perfume that rises to God through our prayers, and deep spiritual worship.
We are the Temple of the Holy Spirit. We are the House of God. We are to reflect the qualities of the precious items mentioned above, used to build and beautify the Temple. We are the Living Stones that house the Presence of God.
Our Father fills the Temple.
"The Pieta"
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IkS96E7gfFI
"Sanctuary"
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AxB9VH3cCN4
