Bibledoorajar: Beyond the Blue

    "There is, beyond the azure blue, a God, concealed from human sight..."

A.W. Dickus, Our God, He is Alive

"Blue skies and rainbows and sunbeams from heaven"

Chorus by Garrett Boon

     When I traveled with a group and did ministry in Israel, some of our group ministered in a church in the desert. Its' floors were covered with colorful rugs and its' spaces were divided by beautiful hanging rugs. Sitting in the open area surrounded by hangings,  one did not have to wonder what was concealed behind all those colorful rugs. Behind them was the most unobstructed view of God's blue heavens I have ever seen (yes, you Texans, even better).

     When the Hebrew seeker entered the tabernacle, he could see that various hangings divided and made the space. As he came in through the one and only entrance he was standing in the Outer Court. He could first see the various vessels which were designed to allow Hebrews to be called in righteousness. But as he looked beyond, he could see a vail. It was made of pure white linen cloth and it partitioned off an area which he understood to be God's space. The pure vail had three bands of color on it. The first was a band of blue, the second purple, and the third was scarlet. This vail with its bands of color is mentioned many times in the book of Exodus but the description and the order of the colors never varies. The blue is always preeminent on the pure linen. It was designed to remind the seeker that beyond his cleansing place was the Preeminent One From Above who had taken steps so that he might be able to be near to Him.
     When the apostle John was old, he had a vision and got to see beyond the blue. He is a witness of its' glory and one day we will see it too along with all the events John says will take place.

"There is a God, He is Alive

in Him we live and we survive;

From dust our God created man,

He is our God, the great I AM."

A.W. Dicus

"Jesus is well and alive today
He makes His home in my heart"
Chorus by Garrett Boon

   "After this I looked, and, behold, a door was opened in heaven..."

                                                                                         Revelation 4:1

Bibledoorajar: What's Your Privileged Responsibility?

1. " and you shall be to me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation.' These are the words that you shall speak to the people of Israel.” Exodus 19:6  

   
   

   2. "But you are a chosen race who serve as priests for the Kingdom."  1 Peter 2:92.
   

   
   

      3. "Better is one day in your courts than a thousand elsewhere; I would rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my God than dwell in the tents of wickedness."  Psalms 84:10

   
   

        4. "For as in one body we have many members, and the members do not all have the same function, so we, though many, are one body in Christ, and individually members one of another. Having gifts that differ according to the grace given to us, let us use them...." Romans 12: 4-7

   
   

   There was and always will be two things for priests to remember. The first is to realize how privileged it is to be chosen for His purposes. The second is that kings and priests have privileged position but with purpose. Priests offer up sacrifices and proclaim the praises of God. It is a way of life. According to Romans, New Testament priests serve Him from our hearts by offering our lives as a living sacrifice. Old Testament priests had to strive to accomplish a lack of defilement by making sure they visited all the vessels in the tabernacle in order to be ceremoniously clean, but New Testament priests have been made holy in the sight of the Father once and for all through the shed blood of Jesus. We are privileged; we are chosen to live holy lives. 

   
   

   The question before every Christian is how am I carrying out my privileged responsibilities in the kingdom? In the Old Testament, the tribe of Levi supplied the tabernacle. They were responsible for making sure the people had an appropriate place to bring their offerings and sacrifices. Levi had three sons that divided the tribe. They were Gershon, Kohath, and Merari. Each family was committed to a charge and burden. The Merarites watched over and carried all the framework of the building, raising pillars up with sockets of silver and brass. The framework for we Christians can be found in Jesus. Because of Him, our word and work can be spread abroad just as in the days of Merari.  The Gershonites were responsible for the care of the curtains, hangings and coverings while the Kohathites were responsible for the holy vessels.  The coverings were a royally pleasing display for the eyes leading the Israelite to think of the Father and their relationship to Him.  As New Testament priests look fully on the face of Jesus, the things of God and our relationship become clear. As the Kohathites carefully placed the different vessels so that Israel might have access to God, so the glories of the work and sacrifice of Jesus bring us close to God.  The ministries of each of us is distinct and may look different from another, but the privilege and the chosen aspect is something they we all have in common. And, the commitment to our charge is ever present so that praise for the wonderful love of God and His Son can go forth.

   
   Is commitment to spiritual privilege still your choice?

   
   

Bibledoorajar: A Right Place for His Presence

God had called His people in righteousness and He was now ready to erect a tabernacle where He could be in their midst. His place of abode in the tabernacle on earth was to be designed as His place of abode in Heaven. Moses was given explicit directions for its' erection and its' furnishings including their placement. Every artisan was gifted of God in order that its' completion would be in accord with His will and every Israeli who had any responsibilities with it were given explicit instructions.  Six articles were to be placed in the tabernacle. They were: 1)Ark of the Covenant with the mercy seat atop, 2) Golden Candlestick (Menorah), 3) Altar of Incense, 4)Table of Shewbread, 5) Brazen laver, 6) brazen altar.

     Moses took the Covenant and placed it within the Ark. Poles were placed through rings on the ark and the mercy seat placed on top. He brought the ark into the tabernacle and hung up the veil of the covering to partition off the ark. This placed the ark behind the veil and within the Holy of Holies section of the Tabernacle. To the north side of the tabernacle outside the veil Moses placed the table of shewbread and placed bread upon it. To the south he put the golden candlestick (menorah) and he lit all of its' lamps.  He placed the altar of incense in front of the veil and burned sweet incense on it. This placement completed the Holy Placc of the Tabernacle. At the entrance door just inside the tabernacle Moses placed the altar of burnt offering and offered a burnt offering and a grain offering. And just beyond toward the Holy Place, he placed the laver for washing. Looking down upon the placement of the articles from above one sees the shape of a cross. The law, the festivals, and now the tabernacle were reminders to the sabbath breakers that they served a God who was both holy and merciful. Demands to use these events and articles in the Tabernacle were specific in order that they might be made righteous. It was good, but the joy of it is in the revelation of the truth of the Messiah, the Son of God, who would come and bring full grace and truth. Look at the articles again forming the cross in the tabernacle:

           Brazen altar with its' fire: Judgement of the living and dead will be accomplished by Jesus

Brazen laver with its' cleansing wter: Jesus is the living water that leads to eternal life

Altar of incense: Prayers of saints mediated by Jesus alone

Candlestick with its' light: Jesus is the light of the world

Table of shewbread with its; 12 loaves: Jesus is the Bread of Life

Ark of the Covenant with its' tablets of stone (Law of God):  Jesus is the Word made flesh

Praise God for the plan He gave the Israelites. The ones that sought Him knew of His Goodness and Mercy. Do you?