Exodus 19-40 - Overview

Mon Jan 5 11:14:35 PST 2009

"*TWO ARE BETTER THAN ONE" MINISTRIES*

*Jim & Marie Watt*

*Tel: 253.874.4265 -- Email: jmbetter at gmail.com*

*Web: www.2rbetter.org*

   * EXODUS 19-40 - LAW OF THE COVENANT - T0601R - OVERVIEW - 2008-12-31*

 *1. 19:8 (19-20) THE MORAL LAW: ITS COMMANDMENTS. "And all the people
answered together, and said, All that Jehovah has spoken we will do. And
Moses reported the words of the people unto Jehovah." *O that Israel had had
a heart to have continued in this response! Grant O Father, that this
Kingdom principle may be manifested in us both inwardly and outwardly.
*Hallowed
be your :name.*

 *2. 23:32-33 (21-23) THE SOCIAL LIFE: ITS JUDGMENTS. "You shall make no
covenant with them, nor with their gods. 33 They shall not dwell in your
land, lest they make you sin against me; for if you serve their gods, it
will surely be a snare unto you." *Here You spell our Your will, Father. We
as New Covenant believers would walk in Your will. *Your :kingdom come.*

 *3. 24:12 (24) THE RELIGIOUS LIFE: ITS ORDINANCES. "And Jehovah said unto
Moses, Come up to me into the mount, and be there: and I will give you the
tables of stone, and the law and the commandments, which I have written,
that you may teach them." *These Your words, are spiritual bread, Father! *Your
:will be done, As in heaven, so on earth.*

 *4. 28:29 (25-31) THE TABERNACLE: ITS PLAN. "And Aaron shall bear the names
of the children of Israel in the breastplate of judgment upon his heart,
when he goes in unto the holy place, for a memorial before Jehovah
continually." *Yes Father, and we bear before You as a memorial the names of
our clans and households, that you might forgive their sins and bring
salvation. *Our :daily :bread Give us this day.*

 *5. 34:10 (32-34) THE TABERNACLE: ITS DELAY. "And he said, Behold, I make a
covenant: before all your people I will do marvels, such as have not been
wrought in all the earth, nor in any nation; and all the people among which
you are shall see the work of Jehovah; for it is a terrible thing that I do
with you." *Yes Father, and You will put Jesus the Messiah as our armor upon
us! *And forgive us our :debts, As we also have forgiven our :debtors.*

 *6. 39:6-7 (35:1-39:31) THE TABERNACLE: ITS COMPLETION. "And they worked
the onyx stones, enclosed in settings of gold, graven with the engravings of
a signet, according to the names of the children of Israel. 7 And he put
them on the shoulder-pieces of the ephod, to be stones of memorial for the
children of Israel; as Jehovah commanded Moses." *In the strength of the
shoulders of Your Son, Father, You bear our names. *And bring us not into
temptation.*

 *7. 40:14-15 (39:32-40:38) THE TABERNACLE: ITS CONFIRMATION. "And you shall
bring his sons, and put coats upon them; 15 and you shall anoint them, as
you did anoint their father, that they may minister unto me in the priest's
office: and their anointing shall be to them for an everlasting priesthood
throughout their generations." *Your Kingdom is an everlasting Kingdom,
Father, and so is Your Power and Glory also. *But deliver us from the evil
one.*

 *NOTE:* The headings of the above 7 sections are from J. Sidlow Baxter's
"Explore the Book." He has since gone to be with the Lord, but his 66 book
summaries in his text are rewarding to go through.

 The Ten Commandments are called "the Covenant" of God on the behalf of
Israel. To understand "Covenant" from both God's point of view and its
historical usage by ancient empires, is one that is quite different than
that held by our Western Civilization. We have lost *much* in the
intervening millenia. It is not too difficult to catch up on this however.
E. W. Kenyon's "The Blood Covenant" provides a quick catch-up.

 But the "Tabernacle" as recounted in chapters 25-40 - is one of the most
rewarding of studies. In 1944 as a sailor in the Navy, God introduced me to
the value of this subject through Lee Ellenwood of California. He came to
Port Alberni and Victoria BC to present the practical truths of this study.
I can't recall a lecture that he did not draw a diagram of the Tabernacle on
a blackboard.

 He depicted the "Outer Court" with the Brazen Altar and the Laver as an
illustration of the human body. Jesus on the Altar of Calvary provided full
Atonement for the human race, counteracting Adam's sin, and bringing us back
in reconciliation with God through His Redemptive Act. In Romans 12:1-2, the
Holy Spirit through Paul shows us our appropriate response! At the Laver
through water baptism we present our bodies a "living sacrifice" unto God,
our spiritual or reasonable service.

 The Holy Place represents our soul. Here 3 more pieces of furniture set
forth the ongoingness of God's purposes on our behalf. At the Menorah or
7-fold Candlestick, the Holy Spirit brings to believers the 9 gifts of the
Spirit (tongues and interpretation = prophecy according to 1 Corinthians
14). At the "Table of Bread of His Presence," we learn to feed on Jesus, the
Living Word. There too we drink of the Spirit because of Jesus' blood, which
is at the same Table through the wine. But at the Table of Incense, our
Praise, Prayers and Intercession rises to God as sweet Incense. We are now
60-fold believers, having first graduated from the Outer Court as 30-fold
ones.

 But God's fullness of purpose on our behalf is to bring us through the
Riven Veil into the Holy of Holies, where God dwells above the Ark of the
Covenant and the Mercy Seat, between the Cherubim. Here our spirit becomes
intimately one with our Triune God. Here God's heart desire finds
fulfillment. Here He is able to bring many sons unto glory, Hebrews 2:10
(2:5-18) - *"For it became him, for whom are :all things, and through whom
are :all things, in bringing many sons unto glory, to perfect the author of
their :salvation through sufferings." *Here we become 100-fold Christians.
Here like Rees Howells, Oswald Chambers, George Muller, H. A. Baker, and
many more men and women - we become those *"possessed"* by the Holy Spirit.
And how many reach *this* place most pleasing to God? Not too many,
according to the 4 mentioned above. But - this place *is* available and open
to all of us.

 For a High School graduation treat, our grade 12 class of the Alberni
District High School of Port Alberni set out to climb Mt. Arrowsmith just
east of town, at some 6200 foot altitude. Half dropped out 2/3 way up. More
further on. Four arrived at the last 200 feet. One made it to the top!

 Unfortunately, this is an all-too-true picture of our Christian pilgrimage.
But here is where our "spirit" becomes one with the Spirit of God. Here we
enter into the true "Rest" God desires for us. He has made it all available
- but it is our responsibility and privilege to press in and obtain. *"And
from the days of John the Baptist unto now the kingdom of the heavens
suffers violence, **and men of violence take it by force."* Matthew 11:12
(11:7-19). Read "Rees Howells, Intercessor" by Norman P. Grubb to see the
trauma and travail that ushers us into this 3rd stage of *possession* by the
Holy Spirit.

- Jim Watt

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