Bibledoorajar: Glory Set Aside

When the seeker (priest) looked up in the tabernacle, he saw he was covered by a red covering made from  slaughtered lambs.Thank you Jesus for providing a blood bought covering for me.

"Mild, He lays His glory by,

Born that man no more may die;

Born to raise the sons of earth, Born to give them second birth...

Come. Desire of nations, come,

Fix in us Thy humble home."

Charles Wesley

Merry Christmas.

Bibledoorajar: Glory Enhanced

The cherubim weaved beautifully and with great cunning (skill) into the veil woos the seeker (priest) to vault his thinking of celestial greatness. The cherubim are angels of the highest order and service to God. They live and serve in realms of glory and support His Throne. The fact that God included them in the design of the veil reflects their eternal use and importance to Him. It also reflects their great benevolence toward men. They are amazed at God's plan for mankind and desire to understand it more fully (1 Peter 1:12). Perhaps that is because they worship God day and night and mankind  rarely meets that standard. King David blessed the Lord for the way he created and employed His angels.

Gabriel appeared to Zechariah and announced John's birth. He told Zechariah that he (Gabriel) stood in the presence of God. Later, he appeared to Mary also and told her she would give birth. And, at that birth, many angels came from the realms of glory to herald His birth and to give honor to the salvation plan God had for men. Today, the congregation where I worship sang of those Heavenly hosts that were a part of the glory streaming from Heaven.

                                             Silent night, Holy night
                                             Shepherds quake, at the sight
                                           Glories stream from heaven above
                                            Heavenly hosts sing Hallelujah.
                                             Christ the Savior is born,
                                              Christ the Savior is born.

                                                                       Josef Mohr


Certainly makes my Christmas Merry and my greatest hope is that it does yours too.

             

Bibledoorajar: About Those Colors

     Where have I seen these colors before? That might be what the Hebrew priest (seeker) said to himself  as he pulled back the blue, scarlet and purple veil and stepped within.  As it turns out he would have had to pay attention to them when he saw the High Priest because the garb of Aaron displayed the same colors. And, the same colors were also on the one and only door where the people entered. The door was a hanging of fine linen wrought with beautiful needlework using the same colors in the same order as the veil. However, there is one interesting difference in the needlework between the two. The veil needlework is described as having been intricately embroidered in such a way that cherubim could be seen, whereas the other was varied only. Clearly, God wanted those colors to make an impression to all, but to particularly draw those set aside to serve within. To enter the tent, all must recognize the Door with its royalty colors, but to be a priest in the tabernacle one must recognize not only the royalty colors but also sense the presence of cherubim. It was the glory of God calling men to be seekers and to come close to him. The priests were dressed in white linen so as to be given a symbolic purity and beauty they did not really possess within themselves.  We can see in the story of later Israel that many of their priests were corrupt and, not impressed with the royalty colors and the cherubim,  were not true seekers. They lacked the desire to live as priests of God on earth. The royalty colors and the cherubim ministry did not impress them while they lived among men.
     However, there was One who would come and live among men. He would never forget His role or true dominion and his followers would number many over time.

"I am the Door"       Jesus (John 10:9)

"... seen by angels..."      Timothy speaking of Jesus (1st book 3:16)

"...Great High Priest..." writer of Hebrews speaking of Jesus (4:14)

Jesus, thank You for coming to earth and making it possible for me to be a part of Your royal priesthood. I confess that God exalted You to the highest place following your resurrection. I see Your royalty colors; I sense Your ministering angels, and, I have gladly received my robes of white to offer you praise! Help me (us) remain strong and always committed to Your service.

Bibledoorajar: Blue and Scarlet Make Purple

     Son Of Man
Son of Righteousness
King of the earth
For sinners slain…
              Bless the Lord (Son of Man)
              Lyrics by Tye Tribbett

    As the Hebrew seeker continued to look at the vail, he would see a band of purple above a band of scarlet and both below the blue band. Scarlet is a color often associated with the earth. Even now as we humans look just below the blue heavens, we will see scarlet in the earthly terrain. Earthly kings have often been robed in scarlet, but that was not to be the case for the Jewish King. Failing to receive God who became Man, the Jews provided Him with no robes of scarlet. But as the song above reads, the Son of Man was a king. He was a King for sinners slain.
     Scarlet as a description of sin is now considered an archaic definition of the word. Some of us may remember the book, The Scarlet Letter. In that story, a woman was forced to wear a scarlet A on her forehead so that all would know of her particular sin. The Bible is very familiar with this word scarlet and references both earthiness and terrible sin with it. There is a story in the Bible about a birth in the earthly family line of Jesus. The mother was going to have twins. It was imperative that the firstborn and heir be identified. When a baby stuck out his arm from the womb, the midwife tied a scarlet string around the arm. But the baby drew the arm back into the womb and he arrived second in the birth order. In that way the midwife's earthly efforts were thwarted in favor of God's. He ensured that Pharez, the rightful heir, came first. In another passage, Rahab exhibited her faith by letting down the scarlet cord for the Israeli spies. Perhaps the most noted passage about sin and scarlet, is the Isaiah passage that reports.."though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow."
    A royal colored robe was  scornfully put on The Son of Man at his crucifixion by the soldiers. Matthew calls it scarlet and Mark calls it purple. God knows blue. God knows scarlet and God knows purple. And, he knows the perceptions of men. No secrets. When the colors of blue and scarlet are mixed together one gets purple. All was planned for us to see our Savior with cleansed hearts and to make Him Lord of All.  One day those soldiers will bow their knee to Him.

"Man of Sorrows, what a name..."

                                                                       P.B. Bliss

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?