The Word became flesh which underpins the generation of Jesus Christ is as distinct as Jesus Christ is from Jesus of Nazareth. The word of God Person specific so the Son is "Jesus Christ the same yesterday, today and forever." (He.13:8) God sent the word and healed them, the Psalm quote we find from his life. So his 'miracles' are fulfillment of the will of his Father. Word of God called and Joseph heard and served as a father to Jesus. Faith made Abraham relate to him as David.
"And I say unto you, That many shall come from the east and west, and shall sit down with Abraham, and Isaac, and Jacob, in the kingdom of heaven./But the children of the kingdom shall be cast out into outer darkness: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth."(Matt.8:11-12)Significant is the context for this quote is the great faith which was demonstrated by a Roman centurion. Where the nation of Israel could not, he showed the truth inward parts carried the call. God fashioned all hearts alike and he tries their hearts. the Gentiles and Jews alike. It is thus we address the generation of Jesus Christ in terms of faith and it connects with the blessings on whosoever believes in him who he sent. This is the work of God.( John 6:28-29)
Jesus called Matthew or Levi and he readily followed. Modestly he refrains making mention of the feast that followed while St Luke tells us, "And Levi made him a great feast in his own house: and there was a great company of publicans and of others that sat down with them." ( Luke 5:29)
But Matthew records of all the saints redeemed from the earth attending the great banquet while those who rejected among them the nation of Israel cast out into outer darkness. (8:12) Significant is the Parable of the Great Banquet recorded by him."The kingdom of heaven is like unto a certain king, which made a marriage for his son."(Matt.22:2)
Joseph settling down at Nazareth so "He shall be called a Nazarene," speaks of the generation of the son of Man.(2:23)
Those who let public opinion run their lives were loathe to look at the glass of liberty, instead they loved the praise of men. What were these Jews, whited sepulchers. Parables were meant to separate hypocrites from the sincere.
"And in them is fulfilled the prophecy of Esaias, which saith, By hearing ye shall hear, and shall not understand; and seeing ye shall see, and shall not perceive:/For this people's heart is waxed gross, and their ears are dull of hearing, and their eyes they have closed; lest at any time they should see with their eyes and hear with their ears, and should understand with their heart, and should be converted, and I should heal them./But blessed are your eyes, for they see: and your ears, for they hear."(13:14-16)
The Gospel begins with the Generation of Jesus Christ and ends with "lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world. Amen."(Matt.28:20) Joseph was just man because he would set up a holy family, and he stood in place of God the Father 'which art in heaven."
"Then Joseph her husband, being a just man, and not willing to make her a public example, was minded to put her away privily."
Joseph and Mary were related. Joseph in marrying her was coming to face a bogey, 'the ways of the world', in which traditions of the fathers are a brute weight especially over a man of his humble trade and circumstances. "What shall others say' is a bogey Satan has used to turn away the weak and silly minds from doing the right thing. Going against them meant he would be socially ostracized and his family subject to calumny at every turn. Despite of it the word of God qualifies him a just man. We are told why.
"Then Joseph. did as the angel of the Lord had bidden him, and took unto him his wife:/And knew her not till she had brought forth her firstborn son: and he called his name Jesus."(vv.24-25)
He believed the word spoken "of the Lord by the prophet." The word becoming flesh' the virgin aspect of it can only be settled by faith. St Paul was a 'virgin' on that account. He was called and separated from the womb and when the call came, "immediately I conferred not with flesh and blood:"(Gal.1:16). Similarly was Mary who had never known a man and she carried the promise of the eternal word (Ps.119:89). She was willing to face the consequences.Joseph being raised from sleep did as the angel of the Lord ad bidden him. He waited meaning he let his faith work perfectly.
St Matthew in narrating this reveals the self-same kindred spirit as Joseph had. In beginning with the generation of Jesus Christ (1:1) he confesses the irresistible force of the word of God. "He (Jesus) saw a man, named Matthew, sitting at the receipt of custom: and he saith unto him, Follow me. And he arose, and followed him."(9:9) The Parable of the Sower speaks as much as of the world as a field as his heart was seeded with the light of the knowledge in the face of Jesus Christ.
"And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name Jesus: for he shall save his people from their sins."(v.21)
Here we have two names which distinguish as we ascribe deity and humanity to the Word becoming flesh.
In this context we do not find God naming Adam. In the Lucan genealogy Adam is qualified as the son of God.("Adam, which was the son of God"- Luke 3:38) The angel who appeared to Mary informs on the other hand of her child, "which shall be born of thee shall be called the Son of God"- Luke 1:35) One is a son because of the breath of God making him a living soul. The other signifies the Fellowship of God with Man on the basis of the Father Son relationship. This is consequential as far as salvation Plan for man is concerned. "Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved."(Ac.4:12)
In vv.22-23 we have another name, "That it might be fulfilled which was spoken of the Lord by the prophet, saying,/ Behold, a virgin shall be with child, and shall bring forth a son, and they shall call his name Emmanuel, which being interpreted is, God with us." God with us is synonymous with Word which is the constitution or Law of the kingdom of God. Knowledge of the glory of God is tied up Jesus Christ. In his prayer he remarks of the glory, "O Father, glorify thou me with thine own self with the glory which I had with thee before the world was."( John 17:5)
"For God, who commanded the light to shine out of darkness, hath shined in our hearts, to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ." What does the face indicate? God named the firmament heaven (Ge.1:8) so heaven declares the glory (Ps.19:1) indicates a face to which the Magi could read as well as any man by faith would know the will of his Father. God showed only 'back parts' to Moses, meaning through the Law of Moses.
"Now the birth of Jesus Christ was on this wise: When as his mother Mary was espoused to Joseph, before they came together, she was found with child of the Holy Ghost."
"Now the birth of Jesus was on this wise,"
So begins St Mathew and the Spirit in narrating it tells us a few essential points. God is a Spirit so as 'the only begotten' Son, he embodies the Law. It is intended as the instruction in righteousness so biology of natural man is out of place. So is his rational faculties. "But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned."(1 Co.2:14).
Worshiping God in Spirit and truth we make faith the lingua franca because the mystery of his will is not something you may go out and purchase by anything that you may possess as a natural man. St Paul refers to his Will as a mystery so the word becoming flesh and what enables man who is dead in sin to be born in the Spirit can only be understood by faith./"the mystery of his will, according to his good pleasure which he hath purposed in himself."(Ep.1:9-11)
"God sent his word, and healed them, and delivered them from their destructions." This was sent forth even before the worlds began. By Law of the Spirit Jesus did not do anything outside and he finger of God is what faith signifies. "But if I with the finger of God cast out devils, no doubt the kingdom of God is come upon you."( Luke 11:20) The Spirit overshadowing explains 'the virgin' birth. "Then said Mary unto the angel, How shall this be, seeing I know not a man?/And the angel answered and said unto her, The Holy Ghost shall come upon thee, and the power of the Highest shall overshadow thee: therefore also that holy thing which shall be born of thee shall be called the Son of God."( Luke 1:34-35)
"So all the generations from Abraham to David are fourteen generations; and from David until the carrying away into Babylon are fourteen generations; and from the carrying away into Babylon unto Christ are fourteen generations."
Here we have earthly events and names of persons graded into generations.
Narrative mode of the Spirit in setting the deity and humanity of Jesus Christ on a single yard stick uses numbers which is user-friendly. It is in the sense mathematics is a human invention so it is convenient to set births deaths of man rise and fall of nations against the Law of the Spirit. Jesus Christ as the fulfillment of the Law accordingly is made manifest in the fulness of time. The Spirit tags the Son by a command number Three. We shall look at three examples which hold relation to the Son. "David was thirty years old when he began to reign, and he reigned forty years."(2 Sa.5:4) 2)"And Joseph was thirty years old when he stood before Pharaoh king of Egypt"(Ge.41:46) and "And Jesus himself began to be about thirty years of age, being (as was supposed) the son of Joseph, which was the son of Heli,"( Luke 3:23). Lives of men in 3x10 set them graded within frame of reference to God the Son. This Law of Gradation groups men events places in terms of the Son. This connection makes heaven and the earth on the same pge and on a single yardstick. Carrying away into Babylon unto Christ, from Abraham and from David are events given in 14 generations. 14x3 =42. In the Revelation we have the beast set in terms of the generation of Jesus Christ. "And power was given unto him to continue forty and two months."(Re.13:5). What is the significance of 42? It refers to the earthly ministry of Jesus Christ. The beast shall be called to account as those children of Belial whom Elisha cursed."And there came forth two she bears out of the wood, and tare forty and two children of them."(2 Ki.2:24)
"And Josias begat Jechonias and his brethren, about the time they were carried away to Babylon."
What role does a curse play in the genealogy in the generation of Jesus Christ?
Jermiah records it, "Thus saith the Lord, Write ye this man childless, a man that shall not prosper in his days: for no man of his seed shall prosper, sitting upon the throne of David, and ruling any more in Judah." (Je.22:28-30) He was an ancestor of Joseph, the husband of Mary. The Spirit gives us the difference between Jesus, the son of David and the son of Abraham. This is the difference between the humanity and the deity of Jesus. When Jesus avoided being taken by some who wanted to proclaim him as the king he was true to his calling. "My kingdom is not of this world." ( John 18:36)
He came to the world to be a curse for us. "Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us: for it is written, Cursed is every one that hangeth on a tree." (Gal.3:13) Deity of Jesus suffered ignominy of death on a cross but from his resurrection he sent a clear signal that he is the Redeemer. (Jesus cursing the fig tree must be explained in not recognizing that he was without sin and was blessed of his Son.)
The generation of Jesus is based upon faith (the man) the Word (the Law) and the word became flesh. In studying Gospels for that matter the Bible without applying the three creates heresy. His religion,-'faith with works' works because he denies himself , takes up his cross and follows Jesus Christ. Abiding in Christ is life everlasting.
"And Judas begat Phares and Zara of Thamar; and Phares begat Esrom; and Esrom begat Aram;"
In order to understand the relationship of the twins in the generation of Jesus Christ we shall compare the birth of Jacob and Esau.
Jacob and Phares are deemed as heirs of promise, of blessings that God held out to Abraham.(Ge.12:3). 'All families of the earth' must be set in context of the sayings of Jesus."But many that are first shall be last; and the last shall be first."(Matt.19:30) and "So the last shall be first, and the first last: for many be called, but few chosen."(Matt.20:16) Between these two the text gives each its own thrust. Israel was cast out though they were the first. The overcomer, indicating those who followed Jesus,"Ye also shall sit upon twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel."(19:28). Following chapter is about a Parable of the Laborers in the Vineyard which is about the generation of Jesus Christ. They were hired at an agreed charge so soul establishes their generation and only 'in the regeneration when the Son of man shall sit in the throne of his glory' who are chosen and who are worthy of everlasting life shall be settled. "For my name's sake, shall receive an hundredfold, and shall inherit everlasting life," Hundredfold says it all, and let us check this verse, "Then said Jesus unto his disciples, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me."(Matt.16:24) it is those,'Let him deny himself those who take up cross and those who follow him" Period.
Phares and Zara were twins. Zara showed as Jacob showed in an earlier instance a clear indication even while in his mother's womb. The scarlet thread upon his hand now creates its own passage, predestination as the touchstone of the generation of Jesus Christ distinct from that of genealogy.
"And afterward came out his brother, that had the scarlet thread upon his hand: and his name was called Zarah."(Ge.38:30)
"And seeing the multitudes, he went up into a mountain: and when he was set, his disciples came unto him."(v.1) St Matthew sets Jesus in the backdrop of a mount which is significant as the traditional names are besides the point. Similarly his transfiguration is set against 'an high mountain.' Luke sets Jesus differently, "And he came down with them, and stood in the plain,",- and his sermon more or less follows the same doctrine that he brought from his Father.( Luke 6:17) St Matthew chose to give the backdrop in terms of the stone, "Therefore thus saith the Lord God, Behold, I lay in Zion for a foundation a stone, a tried stone, a precious corner stone, a sure foundation."(Is.28:16). The House that Wisdom built and the seven pillars thereof, casts ints shadow into the narrative. Zion, the stone is a symbol. He references the generation of Jesus with allusions so we have besides Isaiah (1:22-23),another from Zechariah,"All this was done, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophet, saying,/Tell ye the daughter of Sion, Behold, thy King cometh unto thee, meek, and sitting upon an ass, and a colt the foal of an ass." (Matt.21:4-5)
Of all the Gospel writers, Matthew's use of the Hebrew Bible is the most extensive. His Gospel contains approximately 124 quotations and allusions. Of which we take the Generation of Jesus Christ in the context of Zion.
St Peter qualifies the mount of transfiguration as 'the holy mount'(2 Pe.1:18). This mount was sanctified or set apart for the generation of Jesus Christ.
Coming back to the Genesis account it marks the seventh day. The terms we have examined in terms of the Abstract such as day, the pillar refer to the fulfillment and it is a command number used by the Spirit to refer the generation of heavens. It is thus the stone serves as a symbol more so in the manner St Matthew uses it in the gospel.
Without abiding in Jesus Christ by faith his deity would mean little and it like the man looking his natural face in a glass (Jas.1:23-25) Faith with works denote the glory of his deity being impressed therein, 'this man shall be blessed in his deed.' His works cannot seen separate from 'the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.' In short faith establishes every believer as a representative of the generation of Jesus Christ.
Adoption of Seth in place of Abel is how the Spirit has worked out the holy family. This was evident in the genealogy of Adam and we have this Pauline quote,"For if by one man's offence death reigned by one; much more they which receive abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness shall reign in life by one, Jesus Christ."(Ro.5:17) This is the gift of righteousness we find in the life of Abraham. "And he believed in the Lord; and he counted it to him for righteousness."(Ge.15:6) God blessed Abraham, "And in thee shall all families of the earth be blessed." (Ge.12:3)
Where was this blessing first stated? "And God blessed them," (Ge.1:28) God blessed Adam and Eve who represent the Son and the church, his bride. For this reason the Spirit sets him as the last Adam, to establish Jesus Christ as the redeemer for all the families of the earth. It is clearly a heresy to speak of limited salvation as it is to delink faith from works.
We shall see in terms of symbolism how St Matthew has dealt with generation of Jesus Christ in another post.
"The book of the generation of Jesus Christ, the son of David, the son of Abraham." We shall study the Gospel in terms of the deity and humanity of Jesus Christ, beginning with the version of St Matt. Many Bible scholars have noted the Jewish upbringing because of which he uses kingdom of heaven rather than mentioning the name 'God.' They have got it only correct partly. St Matthew begins with the generation unlike other three gospels for the simple reason that it makes connection with generations of heavens in Ge.2:4 "These are the generations of the heavens and of the earth when they were created, in the day that the Lord God made the earth and the heavens,"
The seven days in the Abstract that precedes are generations and are compared to seven pillars leading us to the new heavens and the new earth in Re.21:1 The Word is clear, "The earth abides forever" because it speaks of the generation of Jesus Christ where it pleased God that all his fulness should in him dwell. It is how we need interpret He.11:3 He framed the worlds by his word so the fulness of God the invisible aspects of the Father is mirrored in the earth. The earth abides forever because it is the inheritance of children of light for whom Jesus Christ is the firstborn of all creation. So new heaven and the new earth is applied exclusively in terms of the just. "The just shall live faith." This we see from the life of Abraham. "By faith he sojourned in the land of promise, as in a strange country, dwelling in tabernacles with Isaac and Jacob, the heirs with him of the same promise:/For he looked for a city which hath foundations, whose builder and maker is God."(He.11:9-10)
"And God blessed the seventh day, and sanctified it: because that in it he had rested from all his work which God created and made." Ge.2:3) God rested because he blessed man in the sixth 'day' so we may say Abraham was counted righteous because of his faith and had adopted him in his Son. (Ep.1:3)
Matt.1:1 "The book of the generation of Jesus Christ, the son of David, the son of Abraham." Matthew 1:1
The Spirit introduces Jesus as the son of David as well as the son of Abraham. Deity of Jesus Christ is on the basis of faith so whosoever believed in the Son is adopted into the fellowship of God with Man. While according to the flesh Jesus came out of the loins of David. Representational aspect of persons is thus worked into the narrative. Envy and hatred of the patriarchs against their sibling makes Joseph as a stand-in for Jesus. In dilating upon the sufferings the Spirit makes such representations irrefutable on the basis of selfsame suffering children of light shall face in their time and place. Joseph's brethren sold him so did Judas Iscariot, his master. it is the generation of Jesus where whosoever believes in him and receives his as Savior fulfills the condition of his Father. He is part of his generation.
"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./For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved."( John 3:15-17)
Life and everlasting life are as distinct as his generation from which he was cut off the land of the living. "He was taken from prison and from judgment: and who shall declare his generation? for he was cut off out of the land of the living."(Is.53:8)
Then Saul took three thousand chosen men out of all Israel, and went to seek David and his men upon the rocks of the wild goats.
Saul beginning well is now showing himself an imbecile. He chosen men cannot be wiser than he is while God in choosing Gideon's army required only those who would obey. In olden days when smallpox and polio stalked the land vaccination proved a cure and the world took it without a murmur. Why global anti-vaxx movement now, and where does it come from? Satan of course. For man who tweaks with truth to create contextual truth stones of division is a stone of stumbling to break the neck of fools.
Progress was for them the bottle imp and they cant get it back into its bottle. It is thus the world is at present all for conjuring up the Father of all lies.So we see the wicked becoming worse, deceiving and being deceived. How unreal is the Instagram look, nevertheless we see someone has given mentally fragile youth an underhand swipe.
"And it came to pass, when Saul was returned from following the Philistines, that it was told him, saying, Behold, David is in the wilderness of Engedi(v.1)".
'And David went up from thence, and dwelt in strong holds at Engedi.'(23:29)
En-gedi means 'kid's well which is a wilderness and must be like being led by the Lord in a wilderness which is the world. Psalm 23 celebrates the still waters ('He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters'-v.2. ) as against the sea which is restless throwing up mire and dirt.
For the love-bitten bride it is the intimacy so we have seen,"My beloved is unto me as a cluster of camphire in the vineyards of Engedi (The song.1:14)". Abiding in Jesus Christ the vine we abound in bearing fruits. The place suited David in his present predicament. There were caverns that sheltered him from Saul, which served him as 'strongholds.' Literally meant geography of the terrain suited him and his band. 'En-gedi was situated near to the western coast of theDead Sea, not far from Jeshimon'. In spiritual terms it is the pavilion where our heart has laid open a royal highway to God.
'In my Father's house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you.( John 14:2)' The word of God is eternal and has already gone out of his mouth meaning it is the will of God that His children shall be secure under His wings. Jesus laments for Jerusalem and rightly so since their disbelief denied what was eternally open for them.(Matt.23:30) Jesus Christ the same etc.,(He.13:8) means just that. When David asked of the Lord,"saying, Shall I go and smite these Philistines? And theLordsaid unto David, Go, and smite the Philistines, and save Keilah(23:2)". The will of God is clear. There were dotted lines which had to connected and it is how faith is followed by works. David trusting in the promise wins victory of the Philistines.
Here in the text God sets the Philistines to save David from being caught. The pandemic, heat domes, wildfires tornadoes and supply chain bottlenecks, economic downturns are God's way of scattering the smile off the face of superpowers whose words and actions do not match. Either nations gather with God or scatter all that they arrogantly reserved for themselves. The stone of divisions is a warning for them.
Selahammahlekoth means the rock of divisions and king Saul looking for David went in all direction about the wilderness but with no success. If God be for us who can be against us? The Spiritual rock which was Christ is a refuge for saints redeemed from the earth, whose strivings without God is vain. In the many heresies that plague the Christian world we have similarly rock of divisions which are as Prophet Jeremiah says,"They have healed also the hurt of the daughter of my people slightly, saying, Peace, peace; when there is no peace(Je.6:14)".
"But there came a messenger unto Saul, saying, Haste thee, and come; for the Philistines have invaded the land./Wherefore Saul returned from pursuing after David, and went against the Philistines: therefore they called that place Selahammahlekoth.29And David went up from thence, and dwelt in strong holds at Engedi."
As we trace the career paths of King Saul and younger David we see the truth of Jesus' words,"He that is not with me is against me; and he that gathereth not with me scattereth abroad(Matt.12:30)".Saul in his rage and hatred would stand athwart God's will, and when failed would only add to his hatred towards his rival. Unclean spirits of envy, malice and vanity merely scattered whatever standing he had in God''s sight. He whined for safety of his kingdom "That all of you have conspired against me, and there is none that sheweth me that my son hath made a league with the son of Jesse, and there is none of you that is sorry for me, or sheweth unto me that my son hath stirred up my servant against me, to lie in wait, as at this day?(22:8)" That was his 'big lie' moment and it led to the slaughter of the priests. What does Saul who was anointed,- God gave him a new Spirit, become? Now he is King Saul the whiner.
King Saul hearing that David won a victory against the Philistians at Keilah,"And Saul called all the people together to war, to go down to Keilah, to besiege David and his men." He slipped out before he could and goes to Ziph. Before he could be betrayed he runs off to yet another,-wilderness of Maon; In v.26 he is surrounded so God steps in. "And Saul went on this side of the mountain, and David and his men on that side of the mountain: and David made haste to get away for fear of Saul; for Saul and his men compassed David and his men round about to take them."
"And David said unto Ahimelech the priest, The king hath commanded me a business, and hath said unto me, Let no man know any thing of the business whereabout I send thee, and what I have commanded thee: and I have appointed my servants to such and such a place(21:1-2)". This would consequently cost the lives of 85 priests including that of Ahimelech.
When Jesus was brought before Pilate,"Pilate therefore said unto him, Art thou a king then? Jesus answered, Thou sayest that I am a king. To this end was I born, and for this cause came I into the world, that I should bear witness unto the truth. Every one that is of the truth heareth my voice( John 18:37)".
Jesus spoke truth since he being the truth he could not have denied anymore than his Father who as the verse says"he cannot deny himself(2 Ti.2:13b)".
David was 'a man after my heart' the Scripture bears testimony but he was forbidden to build a house for God."But the word of the LORD came to me, saying, Thou hast shed blood abundantly, and hast made great wars: thou shalt not build an house unto my name, because thou hast shed much blood upon the earth in my sight(1 Chr.22:8)". Needless blood of the priests also must be included therein.
"But if I say thus unto the young man, Behold, the arrows are beyond thee; go thy way: for theLordhath sent thee away./And as touching the matter which thou and I have spoken of, behold, theLordbe between thee and me for ever."(20:22-23).
Covenant between soul of man and God is eternal as the Word is eternal. Jesus warns,"And fear not them which kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul: but rather fear him which is able to destroy both soul and body in hell(Matt.10:28). To this St Paul refers in his epistle,"For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ; that every one may receive the things done in his body, according to that he hath done, whether it be good or bad.(2 Co.5:10)" This terror is all too real for man so his fear for death is understood but not all are alike. A soul is prudent since is animated by the breath of God and a fool cares little for what he cannot handle or see for himself. "A prudent man foreseeth the evil, and hideth himself; but the simple pass on, and are punished(Pr.27:12)". .Jonathan well knew what David shall become. In their covenant we have Jonathan signifies the role of a soul David is a stand-in for Jesus Christ. For this reason the Spirit narrates their pact for our spiritual edification, and when Jonathan speaks, 'Behold, theLordbe between thee and me for ever' it is a cue for us to approach it in spiritual terms.
Young David had to grow spiritually since Samuel had anointed him his every move had to be in accordance with the will of God. We do not see him consulting him as he did in the case of the Philistines. In his flight from Saul while in Nob he went to Ahimelech, the priest. "And Ahimelech was afraid at the meeting of David, and said unto him, Why art thou alone, and no man with thee?" Ahimelech's fear was a gut-feeling which shows how we have apprehension and it is how our soul primes us up. David's reply was not true.
Finally a distinction between soul and the inner man may be relevant here. God made Adam a living soul which signifies the truth written in inward parts is alive:as a live wire and is ready to catch divine fire. When you hear the word of God it does something to you that you cannot miss it.(Ro.10:17).
Faith is what you follow up with works. Thus Abraham steps out of his comfort zone to a place God has promised to give. He believed therefore it was counted to him for righteousness. Soul of man is His presence which for saints who are led by him have Father's name in their foreheads which are different from man who is carnal. His heart is not entirely perfect before him. For those who have received Jesus Christ as their Savior has a helper, the indwelling Spirit.. When St Paul prays,'That he would grant you, according to the riches of his glory, to be strengthened with might by his Spirit in the inner man(Ep.3:16)' it is of a different quality. So he warns,'And grieve not the holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption(Ep.4:30-32)'. Inner man of child of God has hope for the risen Christ promises,"To him that overcometh will I give to eat of the hidden manna, and will give him a white stone, and in the stone a new name written, which no man knoweth saving he that receivethit(Re.2:17;Is.62:2)".
On the other hand soul of a wicked man is trash."The tongue of the just is as choice silver: the heart of the wicked is little worth(Pr.10:20)".
"Then they told David, saying, Behold, the Philistines fight against Keilah, and they rob the threshingfloors./Therefore David enquired of theLord, saying, Shall I go and smite these Philistines? And theLordsaid unto David, Go, and smite the Philistines, and save Keilah./ And David's men said unto him, Behold, we be afraid here in Judah: how much more then if we come to Keilah against the armies of the Philistines?/Then David enquired of theLordyet again. And theLordanswered him and said, Arise, go down to Keilah; for I will deliver the Philistines into thine hand."(vv.1-4)
''Therefore David enquired of theLord,' While David was holed up in the cave of Adullam he heard the Philistines robbing Israel of their harvest. He enquired of the Lord what he ought to do. Had he enquired of the Lord before going to Ahimelech the priest in Nob it would have spared lot of bloodshed. He came a long way spiritually. From the stone Ezel to Adullam soul of man is creating its own back up system as bees store up honey in hives. This is what the Spirit wants us to know.
Earlier Jonathan brought him vital information while he was waiting for it. We shall refer the passage 20:18-22)."Then Jonathan said to David, To morrow is the new moon: and thou shalt be missed, because thy seat will be empty./And when thou hast stayed three days, then thou shalt go down quickly, and come to the place where thou didst hide thyself when the business was in hand, and shalt remain by the stone Ezel".
The message from Jonathan was clear 'The Lord hath sent thee away." David fleeing from Saul has found refuge in the cave of Adullam and the place traces the manner his soul being spiritually fortified. We covered the significance of the three arrows shot by Jonathan and while we are considering the role of the soul of man we shall mention the Psalm of David composed while he was Adullam,"Yea, in the shadow of thy wings will I make my refuge,..."
Secondly Doeg carrying the tale of David being sheltered by Ahimelech in Nob to King Saul is what man who shall resort in order to rise in career. It is what body is capable of doing.
Thirdly how David changed his behavior in front of Achish the king of Gath, whether it is reaction to lying or psychological condition is a matter left to the soul.
Thus body spirit and soul pose questions for man who would explain everything by approaching the word of God by literalism The Spirit employed the episode of Jonathan shooting arrows is clearly meant for a child of God for instruction. In all the three areas how Jesus handled we shall see in another post.
"And David said unto Abiathar, I knew it that day, when Doeg the Edomite was there, that he would surely tell Saul: I have occasioned the death of all the persons of thy father's house./Abide thou with me, fear not: for he that seeketh my life seeketh thy life: but with me thou shalt be in safeguard."
David is here referring to a certain knowledge which is supplied by the soul and validated by the Holy Spirit. :And he who searches our heartsknows the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedesfor God's people in accordance with the will of God(Ro.8:26-27-NIV). The Spirit shall do only in accordance with the will of God while soul signifies the presence of God in man. In the covenant confirmed by David and Jonathan we have the role of soul which for a child of God is in context of Jesus Christ Light of the knowledge is for the glory of God."For God, who commanded the light to shine out of darkness, hath shined in our hearts, to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ./But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellency of the power may be of God, and not of us(2 Co.4:6-7)". Knowledge therefore has to be for the glory of God and it is in context of Jesus Christ. In the Holy Cuty of God the tabernacle ofGod is with man and Zion is its heart and it is stand-in for the soul of Christ the Head.
How soul works with a child of God we shall see in specific case of David who did not exactly tell the truth to Ahimelech, the priest while in Nob(21:1-2). How it led to the slaughter of 85 priests (22:18) no man may be able to explain anymore than the manner the doctrine of Balaam corrupted Israelites without ever speaking to them. It is between the Spirit and the soul. The spirit of man communicates with spirit of another.
How soul relates to a child of God can be explained by this verse,"He that dwelleth in the secret place of the most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty(Ps.91:1). The spiritual space of heart has truth correspondingly as eternal word is settled in heavens for His creation. It is brought out by the Spirit in the manner Jonathan promises David to intimate what his father's real intentions are. In vv19-20 Jonathan has a confidante, a young lad with artillery to go between them. David was to come to the appointed place,"and come to the place where thou didst hide thyself when the business was in hand, and shalt remain by the stone Ezel./And I will shoot three arrows on the side thereof, as though I shot at a mark."
The manner Jonathan directed the lad was his cue."But if I say thus unto the young man, Behold, the arrows are beyond thee; go thy way: for theLordhath sent thee away./And as touching the matter which thou and I have spoken of, behold, theLordbe between thee and me for ever(vv.22-23). Significant is the usage of 'forever'. A believer who is led by the indwelling Spirit is the son of the Most High. 'He shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty' forever.
In our times when Evangelicals think of activism they mean they are positioned to judge those whose lifestyles are different. They are like the young lad ignorant of how soul can take care of child of God, without busybodies coming between. "But the lad knew not any thing: only Jonathan and David knew the matter./And Jonathan gave his artillery unto his lad, and said unto him, Go, carry them to the city(vv.39-40).
"And Jonathan caused David to swear again, because he loved him: for he loved him as he loved his own soul(v.17).
The covenant that Jonathan and David enter into concerns two houses, of Jonathan and David respectively, soul of each being knit as one. The Spirit has set them signifying the role of the soul of man which is a presence establishing truth written in his inward parts. There is no excuse the rich fool in the Parable did nothing to be rich towards God. Now Jonathan has precognition as to the role David was to play. He is also aware that his father had lost it all.'And theLordbe with thee, as he hath been with my father'.
In the min-max narrative mode every covenant a believer makes with Jesus Christ and accepting him as the Savior Lord conforms to the covenant of God made with the Son.(Ps.2:7-8). As discussed in the post titled School of Prophets a prophet is appointed by God and when he spoke of judgment it was valid for specific as well as for the Final judgment. The reason is simple: the eternal word is settled in heaven.(Ps.119:89) and it applies specifically to Jesus Christ.For thetestimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy.(Re.19:10-NKJV) " For this reason prophets from Abraham ('for he is a prophet'-Ge.20:7)to John ( Luke 16:16) are like series regardless of time and place takes us to the Day of the Lord. "He shall call to the heavens from above, and to the earth, that he may judge his people./Gather my saints together unto me; those that have made a covenant with me by sacrifice(Ps.50:4-5)".
Jonathan is a stand-in for soul to which David signifies the Son. In eternity the body of Christ the church has only one Law and,- Zion is the soul of New Jerusalem; and Psalm of Asaph sings,'Out of Zion, the perfection of beauty, God hath shined(Ps.50:2; Is.2:3).
In the Parable of the Rich Fool he addresses his soul and it is his other self, sum total of his worth in a figurative sense . This soul is different from inner man. If soul is as true with a carnal man, so with a spiritual man. His soul is the presence and it is in this sense the Spirit has built up the relationship of David and Jonathan. First from the parable,"And I will say to my soul, Soul, thou hast much goods laid up for many years; take thine ease, eat, drink, and be merry.But God said unto him, Thou fool, this night thy soul shall be required of thee: then whose shall those things be, which thou hast provided? ( Luke 12:19-20)."With death who shall collect all that he stored? Not he that is for sure. He knew how to make wealth but when his soul proved to be worthless we need understand soul of a carnal man is worthless signifying it was only as good as his body had his being. Eyes are the window of one soul which is only the sound and fury one can perceive,- but does it add up? Such was the rich fool as the Bard would say, and he told a story as long as he walked with his heavy tread of wealth, but it was a tale at the end signifying nothing.
And David fled from Naioth in Ramah, and came and said before Jonathan, What have I done? what is mine iniquity? and what is my sin before thy father, that he seeketh my life?/2And he said unto him, God forbid; thou shalt not die.".
Jonathan was certain that his father shall not do anything without first telling him. It helps us recall the words of Jesus,""Truly, truly, I say to you, the Son can do nothing of his own accord, but only what he sees the Father doing. For whatever the Father does, that the Son does likewise( John 5:19)". When we speak of Christ living in us by faith our soul is that presence and it strengthens our our inner man every time we do things in obedience to his words so our soul is his presence irradiating inner man. It is like the face of Moses (Ex.34:29).
The nation of Israel in their apostasy, 'perpetual backsliding' shall not escape the cup of fury reserved for them. Nations that have similarly made mammon their god shall drink it. No escape. It is what we can gather from vv26-29. "For, lo, I begin to bring evil on the city which is called by my name, and should ye be utterly unpunished? Ye shall not be unpunished: for I will call for a sword upon all the inhabitants of the earth, saith theLordof hosts(v.29). Jesus Christ while teaching his disciples had revealed nations shall fight one another. It is what we see in v.32."Thus saith theLordof hosts, Behold, evil shall go forth from nation to nation, and a great whirlwind shall be raised up from the coasts of the earth". All these whirlwinds are in relation to the emblem of whirlwind set for the nations that forget the commands of righteous God. Recent news of migrants in custody being denied potable water is not racially charged responses but insults hurled at God who is their maker. (2019)
"For thus saith theLordGod of Israel unto me; Take the wine cup of this fury at my hand, and cause all the nations, to whom I send thee, to drink it./And they shall drink, and be moved, and be mad, because of the sword that I will send among them./Then took I the cup at theLord's hand, and made all the nations to drink, unto whom theLordhad sent me:"(vv.14-17)
What it is to be a sign? It is set by God and in this chapter we see God has set the prophet as a sign. What he does with wine cup of God's fury is as though it is effected though these places are at the far corners of the earth. When God set Ezekiel as a watchman (Ez.4) he was to lie and the number of days had significance as lying on the right side. In such a position his sign was different from what preceded. He bore the sin of Judah and as such its significance also varied,'I have assigned you 40 days, a day for each year'. It is God who sets signs and it is all valid as the Spirit creates emblem (part of heavenly realities as in the manner 'the lamb slain before the worlds began' is set to indicate Salvation Plan of God) and in the Book of Jeremiah we have it in the whirlwind."For, behold, theLordwill come with fire, and with his chariots like a whirlwind, to render his anger with fury, and his rebuke with flames of fire (Is.66:15-16)".
Here lesson that we can learn is the role of man is on which realities of heaven and the earth are calibrated. It is for the glory of God. Thus great prophets like Elijah and Elisha would pray and achieved results."The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much (Jas.5:13-16). What is the secret? Jesus explained it as finger of God with which he cast out demons and healed the sick. It signified a righteous man is one whose faith is hitched upon the creative faith so all glory and honor due to God is reinstated. Instead when prosperity theology debases faith for accumulating wealth one can imagine how antichrist has stepped in the breach of God and man. The nation of Israel in their apostasy, 'perpetual backsliding' shall not escape the cup of fury reserved for them. Nations that have similarly made mammon their god shall drink it. No escape. It is what we can gather from vv26-29. ""For, lo, I begin to bring evil on the city which is called by my name."
Thus whosoever allows himself to be the point where reality of the heaven and of the earth meet in him is a mediator, and by law of gradation reckoned as having Jesus Christ as the firstborn of all creation. Joseph Moses, the prophets were all forerunners of Jesus Christ and so are children of God whose faith squarely is in tune with God who sent his only begotten Son for salvation of mankind. Our faith is a seed sown in us by God. When God breathed into the nostrils of Adam whatever may be known of God also became a faculty and faith that comes by hearing the word of God.(Ro.10:17) Faith must be articulated. "Itisnot in heaven, that thou shouldest say, Who shall go up for us to heaven, and bring it unto us, that we may hear it, and do it...But the message is very near you, in your mouth and in your heart, so that you may follow it.? (De.10:12-14)"
"In the beginning of the reign of Jehoiakim the son of Josiah king of Judah came this word from theLord, saying,/Thus saith theLord; Stand in the court of theLord's house, and speak unto all the cities of Judah, which come to worship in theLord's house, all the words that I command thee to speak unto them; diminish not a word:"(26 Je.1-2)
The Word became flesh which underpins the generation of Jesus Christ is as distinct as Jesus Christ is from Jesus of Nazareth. The word of God Person specific so the Son is "Jesus Christ the same yesterday, today and forever." (He.13:8) God sent the word and healed them, the Psalm quote we find from his life. So his 'miracles' are fulfillment of the will of his Father. Word of God called and Joseph heard and served as a father to Jesus. Faith made Abraham relate to him as David.
"And I say unto you, That many shall come from the east and west, and shall sit down with Abraham, and Isaac, and Jacob, in the kingdom of heaven./But the children of the kingdom shall be cast out into outer darkness: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth."(Matt.8:11-12)Significant is the context for this quote is the great faith which was demonstrated by a Roman centurion. Where the nation of Israel could not, he showed the truth inward parts carried the call. God fashioned all hearts alike and he tries their hearts. the Gentiles and Jews alike. It is thus we address the generation of Jesus Christ in terms of faith and it connects with the blessings on whosoever believes in him who he sent. This is the work of God.( John 6:28-29)
Jesus called Matthew or Levi and he readily followed. Modestly he refrains making mention of the feast that followed while St Luke tells us, "And Levi made him a great feast in his own house: and there was a great company of publicans and of others that sat down with them." ( Luke 5:29)
But Matthew records of all the saints redeemed from the earth attending the great banquet while those who rejected among them the nation of Israel cast out into outer darkness. (8:12) Significant is the Parable of the Great Banquet recorded by him."The kingdom of heaven is like unto a certain king, which made a marriage for his son."(Matt.22:2)
Joseph settling down at Nazareth so "He shall be called a Nazarene," speaks of the generation of the son of Man.(2:23)
Those who let public opinion run their lives were loathe to look at the glass of liberty, instead they loved the praise of men. What were these Jews, whited sepulchers. Parables were meant to separate hypocrites from the sincere.
"And in them is fulfilled the prophecy of Esaias, which saith, By hearing ye shall hear, and shall not understand; and seeing ye shall see, and shall not perceive:/For this people's heart is waxed gross, and their ears are dull of hearing, and their eyes they have closed; lest at any time they should see with their eyes and hear with their ears, and should understand with their heart, and should be converted, and I should heal them./But blessed are your eyes, for they see: and your ears, for they hear."(13:14-16)
The Gospel begins with the Generation of Jesus Christ and ends with "lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world. Amen."(Matt.28:20) Joseph was just man because he would set up a holy family, and he stood in place of God the Father 'which art in heaven."
"Then Joseph her husband, being a just man, and not willing to make her a public example, was minded to put her away privily."
Joseph and Mary were related. Joseph in marrying her was coming to face a bogey, 'the ways of the world', in which traditions of the fathers are a brute weight especially over a man of his humble trade and circumstances. "What shall others say' is a bogey Satan has used to turn away the weak and silly minds from doing the right thing. Going against them meant he would be socially ostracized and his family subject to calumny at every turn. Despite of it the word of God qualifies him a just man. We are told why.
"Then Joseph. did as the angel of the Lord had bidden him, and took unto him his wife:/And knew her not till she had brought forth her firstborn son: and he called his name Jesus."(vv.24-25)
He believed the word spoken "of the Lord by the prophet." The word becoming flesh' the virgin aspect of it can only be settled by faith. St Paul was a 'virgin' on that account. He was called and separated from the womb and when the call came, "immediately I conferred not with flesh and blood:"(Gal.1:16). Similarly was Mary who had never known a man and she carried the promise of the eternal word (Ps.119:89). She was willing to face the consequences.Joseph being raised from sleep did as the angel of the Lord ad bidden him. He waited meaning he let his faith work perfectly.
St Matthew in narrating this reveals the self-same kindred spirit as Joseph had. In beginning with the generation of Jesus Christ (1:1) he confesses the irresistible force of the word of God. "He (Jesus) saw a man, named Matthew, sitting at the receipt of custom: and he saith unto him, Follow me. And he arose, and followed him."(9:9) The Parable of the Sower speaks as much as of the world as a field as his heart was seeded with the light of the knowledge in the face of Jesus Christ.
[Comment Removed]
"And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name Jesus: for he shall save his people from their sins."(v.21)
Here we have two names which distinguish as we ascribe deity and humanity to the Word becoming flesh.
In this context we do not find God naming Adam. In the Lucan genealogy Adam is qualified as the son of God.("Adam, which was the son of God"- Luke 3:38) The angel who appeared to Mary informs on the other hand of her child, "which shall be born of thee shall be called the Son of God"- Luke 1:35) One is a son because of the breath of God making him a living soul. The other signifies the Fellowship of God with Man on the basis of the Father Son relationship. This is consequential as far as salvation Plan for man is concerned. "Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved."(Ac.4:12)
In vv.22-23 we have another name, "That it might be fulfilled which was spoken of the Lord by the prophet, saying,/ Behold, a virgin shall be with child, and shall bring forth a son, and they shall call his name Emmanuel, which being interpreted is, God with us." God with us is synonymous with Word which is the constitution or Law of the kingdom of God. Knowledge of the glory of God is tied up Jesus Christ. In his prayer he remarks of the glory, "O Father, glorify thou me with thine own self with the glory which I had with thee before the world was."( John 17:5)
"For God, who commanded the light to shine out of darkness, hath shined in our hearts, to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ." What does the face indicate? God named the firmament heaven (Ge.1:8) so heaven declares the glory (Ps.19:1) indicates a face to which the Magi could read as well as any man by faith would know the will of his Father. God showed only 'back parts' to Moses, meaning through the Law of Moses.
"Now the birth of Jesus Christ was on this wise: When as his mother Mary was espoused to Joseph, before they came together, she was found with child of the Holy Ghost."
"Now the birth of Jesus was on this wise,"
So begins St Mathew and the Spirit in narrating it tells us a few essential points. God is a Spirit so as 'the only begotten' Son, he embodies the Law. It is intended as the instruction in righteousness so biology of natural man is out of place. So is his rational faculties. "But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned."(1 Co.2:14).
Worshiping God in Spirit and truth we make faith the lingua franca because the mystery of his will is not something you may go out and purchase by anything that you may possess as a natural man. St Paul refers to his Will as a mystery so the word becoming flesh and what enables man who is dead in sin to be born in the Spirit can only be understood by faith./"the mystery of his will, according to his good pleasure which he hath purposed in himself."(Ep.1:9-11)
"God sent his word, and healed them, and delivered them from their destructions." This was sent forth even before the worlds began. By Law of the Spirit Jesus did not do anything outside and he finger of God is what faith signifies. "But if I with the finger of God cast out devils, no doubt the kingdom of God is come upon you."( Luke 11:20) The Spirit overshadowing explains 'the virgin' birth. "Then said Mary unto the angel, How shall this be, seeing I know not a man?/And the angel answered and said unto her, The Holy Ghost shall come upon thee, and the power of the Highest shall overshadow thee: therefore also that holy thing which shall be born of thee shall be called the Son of God."( Luke 1:34-35)
"So all the generations from Abraham to David are fourteen generations; and from David until the carrying away into Babylon are fourteen generations; and from the carrying away into Babylon unto Christ are fourteen generations."
Here we have earthly events and names of persons graded into generations.
Narrative mode of the Spirit in setting the deity and humanity of Jesus Christ on a single yard stick uses numbers which is user-friendly. It is in the sense mathematics is a human invention so it is convenient to set births deaths of man rise and fall of nations against the Law of the Spirit. Jesus Christ as the fulfillment of the Law accordingly is made manifest in the fulness of time. The Spirit tags the Son by a command number Three. We shall look at three examples which hold relation to the Son. "David was thirty years old when he began to reign, and he reigned forty years."(2 Sa.5:4) 2)"And Joseph was thirty years old when he stood before Pharaoh king of Egypt"(Ge.41:46) and "And Jesus himself began to be about thirty years of age, being (as was supposed) the son of Joseph, which was the son of Heli,"( Luke 3:23). Lives of men in 3x10 set them graded within frame of reference to God the Son. This Law of Gradation groups men events places in terms of the Son. This connection makes heaven and the earth on the same pge and on a single yardstick. Carrying away into Babylon unto Christ, from Abraham and from David are events given in 14 generations. 14x3 =42. In the Revelation we have the beast set in terms of the generation of Jesus Christ. "And power was given unto him to continue forty and two months."(Re.13:5). What is the significance of 42? It refers to the earthly ministry of Jesus Christ. The beast shall be called to account as those children of Belial whom Elisha cursed."And there came forth two she bears out of the wood, and tare forty and two children of them."(2 Ki.2:24)
"And Josias begat Jechonias and his brethren, about the time they were carried away to Babylon."
What role does a curse play in the genealogy in the generation of Jesus Christ?
Jermiah records it, "Thus saith the Lord, Write ye this man childless, a man that shall not prosper in his days: for no man of his seed shall prosper, sitting upon the throne of David, and ruling any more in Judah." (Je.22:28-30) He was an ancestor of Joseph, the husband of Mary. The Spirit gives us the difference between Jesus, the son of David and the son of Abraham. This is the difference between the humanity and the deity of Jesus. When Jesus avoided being taken by some who wanted to proclaim him as the king he was true to his calling. "My kingdom is not of this world." ( John 18:36)
He came to the world to be a curse for us. "Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us: for it is written, Cursed is every one that hangeth on a tree." (Gal.3:13) Deity of Jesus suffered ignominy of death on a cross but from his resurrection he sent a clear signal that he is the Redeemer. (Jesus cursing the fig tree must be explained in not recognizing that he was without sin and was blessed of his Son.)
The generation of Jesus is based upon faith (the man) the Word (the Law) and the word became flesh. In studying Gospels for that matter the Bible without applying the three creates heresy. His religion,-'faith with works' works because he denies himself , takes up his cross and follows Jesus Christ. Abiding in Christ is life everlasting.
"And Judas begat Phares and Zara of Thamar; and Phares begat Esrom; and Esrom begat Aram;"
In order to understand the relationship of the twins in the generation of Jesus Christ we shall compare the birth of Jacob and Esau.
Jacob and Phares are deemed as heirs of promise, of blessings that God held out to Abraham.(Ge.12:3). 'All families of the earth' must be set in context of the sayings of Jesus."But many that are first shall be last; and the last shall be first."(Matt.19:30) and "So the last shall be first, and the first last: for many be called, but few chosen."(Matt.20:16) Between these two the text gives each its own thrust. Israel was cast out though they were the first. The overcomer, indicating those who followed Jesus,"Ye also shall sit upon twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel."(19:28). Following chapter is about a Parable of the Laborers in the Vineyard which is about the generation of Jesus Christ. They were hired at an agreed charge so soul establishes their generation and only 'in the regeneration when the Son of man shall sit in the throne of his glory' who are chosen and who are worthy of everlasting life shall be settled. "For my name's sake, shall receive an hundredfold, and shall inherit everlasting life," Hundredfold says it all, and let us check this verse, "Then said Jesus unto his disciples, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me."(Matt.16:24) it is those,'Let him deny himself those who take up cross and those who follow him" Period.
Phares and Zara were twins. Zara showed as Jacob showed in an earlier instance a clear indication even while in his mother's womb. The scarlet thread upon his hand now creates its own passage, predestination as the touchstone of the generation of Jesus Christ distinct from that of genealogy.
"And afterward came out his brother, that had the scarlet thread upon his hand: and his name was called Zarah."(Ge.38:30)
"And seeing the multitudes, he went up into a mountain: and when he was set, his disciples came unto him."(v.1) St Matthew sets Jesus in the backdrop of a mount which is significant as the traditional names are besides the point. Similarly his transfiguration is set against 'an high mountain.' Luke sets Jesus differently, "And he came down with them, and stood in the plain,",- and his sermon more or less follows the same doctrine that he brought from his Father.( Luke 6:17) St Matthew chose to give the backdrop in terms of the stone, "Therefore thus saith the Lord God, Behold, I lay in Zion for a foundation a stone, a tried stone, a precious corner stone, a sure foundation."(Is.28:16). The House that Wisdom built and the seven pillars thereof, casts ints shadow into the narrative. Zion, the stone is a symbol. He references the generation of Jesus with allusions so we have besides Isaiah (1:22-23),another from Zechariah,"All this was done, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophet, saying,/Tell ye the daughter of Sion, Behold, thy King cometh unto thee, meek, and sitting upon an ass, and a colt the foal of an ass." (Matt.21:4-5)
Of all the Gospel writers, Matthew's use of the Hebrew Bible is the most extensive. His Gospel contains approximately 124 quotations and allusions. Of which we take the Generation of Jesus Christ in the context of Zion.
St Peter qualifies the mount of transfiguration as 'the holy mount'(2 Pe.1:18). This mount was sanctified or set apart for the generation of Jesus Christ.
Coming back to the Genesis account it marks the seventh day. The terms we have examined in terms of the Abstract such as day, the pillar refer to the fulfillment and it is a command number used by the Spirit to refer the generation of heavens. It is thus the stone serves as a symbol more so in the manner St Matthew uses it in the gospel.
Without abiding in Jesus Christ by faith his deity would mean little and it like the man looking his natural face in a glass (Jas.1:23-25) Faith with works denote the glory of his deity being impressed therein, 'this man shall be blessed in his deed.' His works cannot seen separate from 'the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.' In short faith establishes every believer as a representative of the generation of Jesus Christ.
Adoption of Seth in place of Abel is how the Spirit has worked out the holy family. This was evident in the genealogy of Adam and we have this Pauline quote,"For if by one man's offence death reigned by one; much more they which receive abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness shall reign in life by one, Jesus Christ."(Ro.5:17) This is the gift of righteousness we find in the life of Abraham. "And he believed in the Lord; and he counted it to him for righteousness."(Ge.15:6) God blessed Abraham, "And in thee shall all families of the earth be blessed." (Ge.12:3)
Where was this blessing first stated? "And God blessed them," (Ge.1:28) God blessed Adam and Eve who represent the Son and the church, his bride. For this reason the Spirit sets him as the last Adam, to establish Jesus Christ as the redeemer for all the families of the earth. It is clearly a heresy to speak of limited salvation as it is to delink faith from works.
We shall see in terms of symbolism how St Matthew has dealt with generation of Jesus Christ in another post.
"The book of the generation of Jesus Christ, the son of David, the son of Abraham." We shall study the Gospel in terms of the deity and humanity of Jesus Christ, beginning with the version of St Matt. Many Bible scholars have noted the Jewish upbringing because of which he uses kingdom of heaven rather than mentioning the name 'God.' They have got it only correct partly. St Matthew begins with the generation unlike other three gospels for the simple reason that it makes connection with generations of heavens in Ge.2:4 "These are the generations of the heavens and of the earth when they were created, in the day that the Lord God made the earth and the heavens,"
The seven days in the Abstract that precedes are generations and are compared to seven pillars leading us to the new heavens and the new earth in Re.21:1 The Word is clear, "The earth abides forever" because it speaks of the generation of Jesus Christ where it pleased God that all his fulness should in him dwell. It is how we need interpret He.11:3 He framed the worlds by his word so the fulness of God the invisible aspects of the Father is mirrored in the earth. The earth abides forever because it is the inheritance of children of light for whom Jesus Christ is the firstborn of all creation. So new heaven and the new earth is applied exclusively in terms of the just. "The just shall live faith." This we see from the life of Abraham. "By faith he sojourned in the land of promise, as in a strange country, dwelling in tabernacles with Isaac and Jacob, the heirs with him of the same promise:/For he looked for a city which hath foundations, whose builder and maker is God."(He.11:9-10)
"And God blessed the seventh day, and sanctified it: because that in it he had rested from all his work which God created and made." Ge.2:3) God rested because he blessed man in the sixth 'day' so we may say Abraham was counted righteous because of his faith and had adopted him in his Son. (Ep.1:3)
The Spirit introduces Jesus as the son of David as well as the son of Abraham. Deity of Jesus Christ is on the basis of faith so whosoever believed in the Son is adopted into the fellowship of God with Man. While according to the flesh Jesus came out of the loins of David. Representational aspect of persons is thus worked into the narrative. Envy and hatred of the patriarchs against their sibling makes Joseph as a stand-in for Jesus. In dilating upon the sufferings the Spirit makes such representations irrefutable on the basis of selfsame suffering children of light shall face in their time and place. Joseph's brethren sold him so did Judas Iscariot, his master. it is the generation of Jesus where whosoever believes in him and receives his as Savior fulfills the condition of his Father. He is part of his generation.
"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./For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved."( John 3:15-17)
Life and everlasting life are as distinct as his generation from which he was cut off the land of the living. "He was taken from prison and from judgment: and who shall declare his generation? for he was cut off out of the land of the living."(Is.53:8)
[Comment Removed]
Then Saul took three thousand chosen men out of all Israel, and went to seek David and his men upon the rocks of the wild goats.
Saul beginning well is now showing himself an imbecile. He chosen men cannot be wiser than he is while God in choosing Gideon's army required only those who would obey. In olden days when smallpox and polio stalked the land vaccination proved a cure and the world took it without a murmur. Why global anti-vaxx movement now, and where does it come from? Satan of course. For man who tweaks with truth to create contextual truth stones of division is a stone of stumbling to break the neck of fools.
Progress was for them the bottle imp and they cant get it back into its bottle. It is thus the world is at present all for conjuring up the Father of all lies.So we see the wicked becoming worse, deceiving and being deceived. How unreal is the Instagram look, nevertheless we see someone has given mentally fragile youth an underhand swipe.
"And it came to pass, when Saul was returned from following the Philistines, that it was told him, saying, Behold, David is in the wilderness of Engedi(v.1)".
'And David went up from thence, and dwelt in strong holds at Engedi.'(23:29)
En-gedi means 'kid's well which is a wilderness and must be like being led by the Lord in a wilderness which is the world. Psalm 23 celebrates the still waters ('He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters'-v.2. ) as against the sea which is restless throwing up mire and dirt.
For the love-bitten bride it is the intimacy so we have seen,"My beloved is unto me as a cluster of camphire in the vineyards of Engedi (The song.1:14)". Abiding in Jesus Christ the vine we abound in bearing fruits. The place suited David in his present predicament. There were caverns that sheltered him from Saul, which served him as 'strongholds.' Literally meant geography of the terrain suited him and his band. 'En-gedi was situated near to the western coast of theDead Sea, not far from Jeshimon'. In spiritual terms it is the pavilion where our heart has laid open a royal highway to God.
'In my Father's house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you.( John 14:2)' The word of God is eternal and has already gone out of his mouth meaning it is the will of God that His children shall be secure under His wings. Jesus laments for Jerusalem and rightly so since their disbelief denied what was eternally open for them.(Matt.23:30) Jesus Christ the same etc.,(He.13:8) means just that. When David asked of the Lord,"saying, Shall I go and smite these Philistines? And theLordsaid unto David, Go, and smite the Philistines, and save Keilah(23:2)". The will of God is clear. There were dotted lines which had to connected and it is how faith is followed by works. David trusting in the promise wins victory of the Philistines.
Here in the text God sets the Philistines to save David from being caught. The pandemic, heat domes, wildfires tornadoes and supply chain bottlenecks, economic downturns are God's way of scattering the smile off the face of superpowers whose words and actions do not match. Either nations gather with God or scatter all that they arrogantly reserved for themselves. The stone of divisions is a warning for them.
Selahammahlekoth means the rock of divisions and king Saul looking for David went in all direction about the wilderness but with no success. If God be for us who can be against us? The Spiritual rock which was Christ is a refuge for saints redeemed from the earth, whose strivings without God is vain. In the many heresies that plague the Christian world we have similarly rock of divisions which are as Prophet Jeremiah says,"They have healed also the hurt of the daughter of my people slightly, saying, Peace, peace; when there is no peace(Je.6:14)".
"But there came a messenger unto Saul, saying, Haste thee, and come; for the Philistines have invaded the land./Wherefore Saul returned from pursuing after David, and went against the Philistines: therefore they called that place Selahammahlekoth.29And David went up from thence, and dwelt in strong holds at Engedi."
As we trace the career paths of King Saul and younger David we see the truth of Jesus' words,"He that is not with me is against me; and he that gathereth not with me scattereth abroad(Matt.12:30)".Saul in his rage and hatred would stand athwart God's will, and when failed would only add to his hatred towards his rival. Unclean spirits of envy, malice and vanity merely scattered whatever standing he had in God''s sight. He whined for safety of his kingdom "That all of you have conspired against me, and there is none that sheweth me that my son hath made a league with the son of Jesse, and there is none of you that is sorry for me, or sheweth unto me that my son hath stirred up my servant against me, to lie in wait, as at this day?(22:8)" That was his 'big lie' moment and it led to the slaughter of the priests. What does Saul who was anointed,- God gave him a new Spirit, become? Now he is King Saul the whiner.
King Saul hearing that David won a victory against the Philistians at Keilah,"And Saul called all the people together to war, to go down to Keilah, to besiege David and his men." He slipped out before he could and goes to Ziph. Before he could be betrayed he runs off to yet another,-wilderness of Maon; In v.26 he is surrounded so God steps in. "And Saul went on this side of the mountain, and David and his men on that side of the mountain: and David made haste to get away for fear of Saul; for Saul and his men compassed David and his men round about to take them."
"And David said unto Ahimelech the priest, The king hath commanded me a business, and hath said unto me, Let no man know any thing of the business whereabout I send thee, and what I have commanded thee: and I have appointed my servants to such and such a place(21:1-2)". This would consequently cost the lives of 85 priests including that of Ahimelech.
When Jesus was brought before Pilate,"Pilate therefore said unto him, Art thou a king then? Jesus answered, Thou sayest that I am a king. To this end was I born, and for this cause came I into the world, that I should bear witness unto the truth. Every one that is of the truth heareth my voice( John 18:37)".
Jesus spoke truth since he being the truth he could not have denied anymore than his Father who as the verse says"he cannot deny himself(2 Ti.2:13b)".
David was 'a man after my heart' the Scripture bears testimony but he was forbidden to build a house for God."But the word of the LORD came to me, saying, Thou hast shed blood abundantly, and hast made great wars: thou shalt not build an house unto my name, because thou hast shed much blood upon the earth in my sight(1 Chr.22:8)". Needless blood of the priests also must be included therein.
"But if I say thus unto the young man, Behold, the arrows are beyond thee; go thy way: for theLordhath sent thee away./And as touching the matter which thou and I have spoken of, behold, theLordbe between thee and me for ever."(20:22-23).
Covenant between soul of man and God is eternal as the Word is eternal. Jesus warns,"And fear not them which kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul: but rather fear him which is able to destroy both soul and body in hell(Matt.10:28). To this St Paul refers in his epistle,"For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ; that every one may receive the things done in his body, according to that he hath done, whether it be good or bad.(2 Co.5:10)" This terror is all too real for man so his fear for death is understood but not all are alike. A soul is prudent since is animated by the breath of God and a fool cares little for what he cannot handle or see for himself. "A prudent man foreseeth the evil, and hideth himself; but the simple pass on, and are punished(Pr.27:12)". .Jonathan well knew what David shall become. In their covenant we have Jonathan signifies the role of a soul David is a stand-in for Jesus Christ. For this reason the Spirit narrates their pact for our spiritual edification, and when Jonathan speaks, 'Behold, theLordbe between thee and me for ever' it is a cue for us to approach it in spiritual terms.
Young David had to grow spiritually since Samuel had anointed him his every move had to be in accordance with the will of God. We do not see him consulting him as he did in the case of the Philistines. In his flight from Saul while in Nob he went to Ahimelech, the priest. "And Ahimelech was afraid at the meeting of David, and said unto him, Why art thou alone, and no man with thee?" Ahimelech's fear was a gut-feeling which shows how we have apprehension and it is how our soul primes us up. David's reply was not true.
Finally a distinction between soul and the inner man may be relevant here. God made Adam a living soul which signifies the truth written in inward parts is alive:as a live wire and is ready to catch divine fire. When you hear the word of God it does something to you that you cannot miss it.(Ro.10:17).
Faith is what you follow up with works. Thus Abraham steps out of his comfort zone to a place God has promised to give. He believed therefore it was counted to him for righteousness. Soul of man is His presence which for saints who are led by him have Father's name in their foreheads which are different from man who is carnal. His heart is not entirely perfect before him. For those who have received Jesus Christ as their Savior has a helper, the indwelling Spirit.. When St Paul prays,'That he would grant you, according to the riches of his glory, to be strengthened with might by his Spirit in the inner man(Ep.3:16)' it is of a different quality. So he warns,'And grieve not the holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption(Ep.4:30-32)'. Inner man of child of God has hope for the risen Christ promises,"To him that overcometh will I give to eat of the hidden manna, and will give him a white stone, and in the stone a new name written, which no man knoweth saving he that receivethit(Re.2:17;Is.62:2)".
On the other hand soul of a wicked man is trash."The tongue of the just is as choice silver: the heart of the wicked is little worth(Pr.10:20)".
"Then they told David, saying, Behold, the Philistines fight against Keilah, and they rob the threshingfloors./Therefore David enquired of theLord, saying, Shall I go and smite these Philistines? And theLordsaid unto David, Go, and smite the Philistines, and save Keilah./ And David's men said unto him, Behold, we be afraid here in Judah: how much more then if we come to Keilah against the armies of the Philistines?/Then David enquired of theLordyet again. And theLordanswered him and said, Arise, go down to Keilah; for I will deliver the Philistines into thine hand."(vv.1-4)
''Therefore David enquired of theLord,' While David was holed up in the cave of Adullam he heard the Philistines robbing Israel of their harvest. He enquired of the Lord what he ought to do. Had he enquired of the Lord before going to Ahimelech the priest in Nob it would have spared lot of bloodshed. He came a long way spiritually. From the stone Ezel to Adullam soul of man is creating its own back up system as bees store up honey in hives. This is what the Spirit wants us to know.
Earlier Jonathan brought him vital information while he was waiting for it. We shall refer the passage 20:18-22)."Then Jonathan said to David, To morrow is the new moon: and thou shalt be missed, because thy seat will be empty./And when thou hast stayed three days, then thou shalt go down quickly, and come to the place where thou didst hide thyself when the business was in hand, and shalt remain by the stone Ezel".
The message from Jonathan was clear 'The Lord hath sent thee away." David fleeing from Saul has found refuge in the cave of Adullam and the place traces the manner his soul being spiritually fortified. We covered the significance of the three arrows shot by Jonathan and while we are considering the role of the soul of man we shall mention the Psalm of David composed while he was Adullam,"Yea, in the shadow of thy wings will I make my refuge,..."
Secondly Doeg carrying the tale of David being sheltered by Ahimelech in Nob to King Saul is what man who shall resort in order to rise in career. It is what body is capable of doing.
Thirdly how David changed his behavior in front of Achish the king of Gath, whether it is reaction to lying or psychological condition is a matter left to the soul.
Thus body spirit and soul pose questions for man who would explain everything by approaching the word of God by literalism The Spirit employed the episode of Jonathan shooting arrows is clearly meant for a child of God for instruction. In all the three areas how Jesus handled we shall see in another post.
"And David said unto Abiathar, I knew it that day, when Doeg the Edomite was there, that he would surely tell Saul: I have occasioned the death of all the persons of thy father's house./Abide thou with me, fear not: for he that seeketh my life seeketh thy life: but with me thou shalt be in safeguard."
David is here referring to a certain knowledge which is supplied by the soul and validated by the Holy Spirit. :And he who searches our heartsknows the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedesfor God's people in accordance with the will of God(Ro.8:26-27-NIV). The Spirit shall do only in accordance with the will of God while soul signifies the presence of God in man. In the covenant confirmed by David and Jonathan we have the role of soul which for a child of God is in context of Jesus Christ Light of the knowledge is for the glory of God."For God, who commanded the light to shine out of darkness, hath shined in our hearts, to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ./But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellency of the power may be of God, and not of us(2 Co.4:6-7)". Knowledge therefore has to be for the glory of God and it is in context of Jesus Christ. In the Holy Cuty of God the tabernacle ofGod is with man and Zion is its heart and it is stand-in for the soul of Christ the Head.
How soul works with a child of God we shall see in specific case of David who did not exactly tell the truth to Ahimelech, the priest while in Nob(21:1-2). How it led to the slaughter of 85 priests (22:18) no man may be able to explain anymore than the manner the doctrine of Balaam corrupted Israelites without ever speaking to them. It is between the Spirit and the soul. The spirit of man communicates with spirit of another.
How soul relates to a child of God can be explained by this verse,"He that dwelleth in the secret place of the most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty(Ps.91:1). The spiritual space of heart has truth correspondingly as eternal word is settled in heavens for His creation. It is brought out by the Spirit in the manner Jonathan promises David to intimate what his father's real intentions are. In vv19-20 Jonathan has a confidante, a young lad with artillery to go between them. David was to come to the appointed place,"and come to the place where thou didst hide thyself when the business was in hand, and shalt remain by the stone Ezel./And I will shoot three arrows on the side thereof, as though I shot at a mark."
The manner Jonathan directed the lad was his cue."But if I say thus unto the young man, Behold, the arrows are beyond thee; go thy way: for theLordhath sent thee away./And as touching the matter which thou and I have spoken of, behold, theLordbe between thee and me for ever(vv.22-23). Significant is the usage of 'forever'. A believer who is led by the indwelling Spirit is the son of the Most High. 'He shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty' forever.
In our times when Evangelicals think of activism they mean they are positioned to judge those whose lifestyles are different. They are like the young lad ignorant of how soul can take care of child of God, without busybodies coming between. "But the lad knew not any thing: only Jonathan and David knew the matter./And Jonathan gave his artillery unto his lad, and said unto him, Go, carry them to the city(vv.39-40).
vv.14-17
"And Jonathan caused David to swear again, because he loved him: for he loved him as he loved his own soul(v.17).
The covenant that Jonathan and David enter into concerns two houses, of Jonathan and David respectively, soul of each being knit as one. The Spirit has set them signifying the role of the soul of man which is a presence establishing truth written in his inward parts. There is no excuse the rich fool in the Parable did nothing to be rich towards God. Now Jonathan has precognition as to the role David was to play. He is also aware that his father had lost it all.'And theLordbe with thee, as he hath been with my father'.
In the min-max narrative mode every covenant a believer makes with Jesus Christ and accepting him as the Savior Lord conforms to the covenant of God made with the Son.(Ps.2:7-8). As discussed in the post titled School of Prophets a prophet is appointed by God and when he spoke of judgment it was valid for specific as well as for the Final judgment. The reason is simple: the eternal word is settled in heaven.(Ps.119:89) and it applies specifically to Jesus Christ.For thetestimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy.(Re.19:10-NKJV) " For this reason prophets from Abraham ('for he is a prophet'-Ge.20:7)to John ( Luke 16:16) are like series regardless of time and place takes us to the Day of the Lord. "He shall call to the heavens from above, and to the earth, that he may judge his people./Gather my saints together unto me; those that have made a covenant with me by sacrifice(Ps.50:4-5)".
Jonathan is a stand-in for soul to which David signifies the Son. In eternity the body of Christ the church has only one Law and,- Zion is the soul of New Jerusalem; and Psalm of Asaph sings,'Out of Zion, the perfection of beauty, God hath shined(Ps.50:2; Is.2:3).
In the Parable of the Rich Fool he addresses his soul and it is his other self, sum total of his worth in a figurative sense . This soul is different from inner man. If soul is as true with a carnal man, so with a spiritual man. His soul is the presence and it is in this sense the Spirit has built up the relationship of David and Jonathan. First from the parable,"And I will say to my soul, Soul, thou hast much goods laid up for many years; take thine ease, eat, drink, and be merry.But God said unto him, Thou fool, this night thy soul shall be required of thee: then whose shall those things be, which thou hast provided? ( Luke 12:19-20)."With death who shall collect all that he stored? Not he that is for sure. He knew how to make wealth but when his soul proved to be worthless we need understand soul of a carnal man is worthless signifying it was only as good as his body had his being. Eyes are the window of one soul which is only the sound and fury one can perceive,- but does it add up? Such was the rich fool as the Bard would say, and he told a story as long as he walked with his heavy tread of wealth, but it was a tale at the end signifying nothing.
And David fled from Naioth in Ramah, and came and said before Jonathan, What have I done? what is mine iniquity? and what is my sin before thy father, that he seeketh my life?/2And he said unto him, God forbid; thou shalt not die.".
Jonathan was certain that his father shall not do anything without first telling him. It helps us recall the words of Jesus,""Truly, truly, I say to you, the Son can do nothing of his own accord, but only what he sees the Father doing. For whatever the Father does, that the Son does likewise( John 5:19)". When we speak of Christ living in us by faith our soul is that presence and it strengthens our our inner man every time we do things in obedience to his words so our soul is his presence irradiating inner man. It is like the face of Moses (Ex.34:29).
The nation of Israel in their apostasy, 'perpetual backsliding' shall not escape the cup of fury reserved for them. Nations that have similarly made mammon their god shall drink it. No escape. It is what we can gather from vv26-29. "For, lo, I begin to bring evil on the city which is called by my name, and should ye be utterly unpunished? Ye shall not be unpunished: for I will call for a sword upon all the inhabitants of the earth, saith theLordof hosts(v.29). Jesus Christ while teaching his disciples had revealed nations shall fight one another. It is what we see in v.32."Thus saith theLordof hosts, Behold, evil shall go forth from nation to nation, and a great whirlwind shall be raised up from the coasts of the earth". All these whirlwinds are in relation to the emblem of whirlwind set for the nations that forget the commands of righteous God. Recent news of migrants in custody being denied potable water is not racially charged responses but insults hurled at God who is their maker. (2019)
"For thus saith theLordGod of Israel unto me; Take the wine cup of this fury at my hand, and cause all the nations, to whom I send thee, to drink it./And they shall drink, and be moved, and be mad, because of the sword that I will send among them./Then took I the cup at theLord's hand, and made all the nations to drink, unto whom theLordhad sent me:"(vv.14-17)
What it is to be a sign? It is set by God and in this chapter we see God has set the prophet as a sign. What he does with wine cup of God's fury is as though it is effected though these places are at the far corners of the earth. When God set Ezekiel as a watchman (Ez.4) he was to lie and the number of days had significance as lying on the right side. In such a position his sign was different from what preceded. He bore the sin of Judah and as such its significance also varied,'I have assigned you 40 days, a day for each year'. It is God who sets signs and it is all valid as the Spirit creates emblem (part of heavenly realities as in the manner 'the lamb slain before the worlds began' is set to indicate Salvation Plan of God) and in the Book of Jeremiah we have it in the whirlwind."For, behold, theLordwill come with fire, and with his chariots like a whirlwind, to render his anger with fury, and his rebuke with flames of fire (Is.66:15-16)".
Here lesson that we can learn is the role of man is on which realities of heaven and the earth are calibrated. It is for the glory of God. Thus great prophets like Elijah and Elisha would pray and achieved results."The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much (Jas.5:13-16). What is the secret? Jesus explained it as finger of God with which he cast out demons and healed the sick. It signified a righteous man is one whose faith is hitched upon the creative faith so all glory and honor due to God is reinstated. Instead when prosperity theology debases faith for accumulating wealth one can imagine how antichrist has stepped in the breach of God and man. The nation of Israel in their apostasy, 'perpetual backsliding' shall not escape the cup of fury reserved for them. Nations that have similarly made mammon their god shall drink it. No escape. It is what we can gather from vv26-29. ""For, lo, I begin to bring evil on the city which is called by my name."
Thus whosoever allows himself to be the point where reality of the heaven and of the earth meet in him is a mediator, and by law of gradation reckoned as having Jesus Christ as the firstborn of all creation. Joseph Moses, the prophets were all forerunners of Jesus Christ and so are children of God whose faith squarely is in tune with God who sent his only begotten Son for salvation of mankind. Our faith is a seed sown in us by God. When God breathed into the nostrils of Adam whatever may be known of God also became a faculty and faith that comes by hearing the word of God.(Ro.10:17) Faith must be articulated. "Itisnot in heaven, that thou shouldest say, Who shall go up for us to heaven, and bring it unto us, that we may hear it, and do it...But the message is very near you, in your mouth and in your heart, so that you may follow it.? (De.10:12-14)"
"In the beginning of the reign of Jehoiakim the son of Josiah king of Judah came this word from theLord, saying,/Thus saith theLord; Stand in the court of theLord's house, and speak unto all the cities of Judah, which come to worship in theLord's house, all the words that I command thee to speak unto them; diminish not a word:"(26 Je.1-2)
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