ALL ABOUT YOU: GIDEON – CHAPTER 50

FROM STABLE TO TOMB; FROM ROCK TO ROCK

09-26-04

THE PROPHECY (REMEMBER THE SIX WATERPOTS OF STONE: John 2)

(Ezek 36:25-27)  Then will I sprinkle clean water upon you, and ye shall be clean: from all your filthiness, and from all your idols, will I cleanse you. A new heart also will I give you, and a new spirit will I put within you: and I will take away the stony heart out of your flesh, and I will give you an heart of flesh. And I will put my spirit within you, and cause you to walk in my statutes, and ye shall keep my judgments, and do them.

1.       (John 1:14)  And the Word was made 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.

THE TABERNACLE AND THE ARK (TYPES AND SHADOWS)

(Exo 25:8-10)  And let them make me a sanctuary [a consecrated thing or place: chapel, hallowed part, holy place]; that I may dwell among them. According to all that I show thee, after the pattern [form, likeness, similitude] of the tabernacle [i.e. the Heavenly Tabernacle], and the pattern of all the instruments thereof, even so shall ye make it. And they shall make an ark of shittim wood: two cubits and a half shall be the length thereof, and a cubit and a half the breadth [width] thereof, and a cubit and a half the height thereof.

1.       tabernacle = Heb: a residence (includ. a shepherd's hut, the lair of animals, fig. the grave [like our body]; also the Temple); spec. the Tabernacle:--dwelleth, dwelling (place), habitation, tabernacle, tent.

2.       lair = Dict: 1. the den or resting place of a wild beast. 2. a place in which to lie or rest; a bed.

3.       ark = Heb: (in the sense of gathering); a box:--ark, chest, coffin.

4.       Commentary = The ark of the covenant contained the two tables of testimony, the golden pot of manna, and Aaron’s rod that budded.

THE FIRST CAVE

(Luke 2:7-14)  And she [Mary = Heb: rebellious, bitter] brought forth her firstborn son, and wrapped him in swaddling clothes [to strap or wrap with strips], and laid him in a manger; because there was no room for them in the inn. And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they were sore afraid. And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord. And this shall be a sign unto you [an indication, espec. supernatural:--miracle, sign, token, wonder]; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger. And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying, Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.

1.       manger =  Dict: 1. a box or trough, as in a stable, from which horses or cattle eat. [der. Latin: chew].

2.       manger = Nelson’s Illustrated Bible Dict: a feeding-trough, crib or open box in a stable designed to hold fodder for livestock. /// inn = Joseph and Mary were turned away by the innkeeper at Bethlehem, requiring them to seek refuge in a nearby cave where the Son of God was born (Luke 2:7).

3.       The Nelson Study Bible (commentary) = The manger was probably a feeding-trough for animals. Jesus was probably born in a stable or in a cave that served as one.

 

(Mat 2:9-12)  When they [“wise men from the east” Mat 2:1] had heard the king [Herod: “hero”; heroic /// a view: appearance, fashion, shape, sight], they departed; and, lo, the star, which they saw in the east, went before them, till it came and stood over where the young child was [i.e. less than two years old: Mat 2:16]. When they saw the star, they rejoiced with exceeding great joy. And when they were come into the house, they saw the young child with Mary his mother, and fell down, and worshipped him: and when they had opened their treasures, they presented unto him gifts; gold [head gifts], and frankincense [speaking gifts], and myrrh [touch gifts]. And being warned of God in a dream that they should not return to Herod, they departed into their own country another way.

1.       (1 Cor 12:1)  Now concerning spiritual gifts, brethren, I would not have you ignorant. /// (1 Cor 12:4)  Now there are diversities of gifts, but the same Spirit.

2.       Most Holy Place = gold (head gifts): wisdom, knowledge, discerning – God the Father

3.       Holy Place = frankincense (speaking gifts): tongues, interpretation, prophecy – God the Son

4.       Courtyard = myrrh (touch gifts): faith, healing, miracles – God the Holy Ghost

THE MERCY SEAT

(Exo 25:17-19)  And thou shalt make a mercy seat [a lid (used only of the cover of the sacred Ark)] of pure gold [symbol of the purity of God]: two cubits and a half shall be the length thereof, and a cubit and a half the breadth thereof. And thou shalt make two cherubims [angels] of gold, of beaten work shalt thou make them, in the two ends of the mercy seat. And make one cherub on the one end, and the other cherub on the other end: even of the mercy seat shall ye make the cherubims on the two ends thereof.

 THE LAST CAVE

(John 20:11-13)  But Mary [“Magdalene, out of whom he had cast seven devils.” Mark 16:9] stood without [outside] at the sepulchre weeping: and as she wept, she stooped down, and looked into the sepulchre, And seeth two angels in white [“shining garments” Luke 24:4: purity, righteousness] sitting, the one at the head, and the other at the feet, where the body of Jesus had lain. And they say unto her, Woman, why  weepest thou? She saith unto them, Because they have taken away my Lord, and I know not where they have laid him.

1.       sepulchre = Gk: a remembrance, i.e. cenotaph (place of interment):--grave, sepulchre, tomb.

 HIS RESURRECTION IN US, IN THE TOMB OF US, IN THE WATERPOTS OF STONE

(Rom 8:17-19)  And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together. For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us. For the earnest expectation of the creature waiteth for the manifestation of the sons of God.

1.       revealed = Gk: to take off the cover, i.e. disclosed

2.       (2 Cor 5:1)  For we know that if our earthly house of this tabernacle were dissolved, we have a building [structure] of God, an house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens.

(2 Th 1:7-12)  And to you who are troubled rest with us, when the Lord Jesus shall be revealed from heaven with his mighty angels, In flaming fire taking vengeance on them that know not God, and that obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ: Who shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord, and from the glory of his power; When he shall come to be glorified in his saints, and to be admired in all them that believe (because our testimony among you was believed) in that day. Wherefore also we pray always for you, that our God would count you worthy of this calling, and fulfil all the good pleasure of his goodness, and the work of faith with power: That the name of our Lord Jesus Christ may be glorified in you, and ye in him, according to the grace of our God and the Lord Jesus Christ.

Amen

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