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Date:         Tue, 26 Mar 1996 08:33:18 +-100
Reply-To: Christian explanation of the Scriptures to Israel
              
Sender: Christian explanation of the Scriptures to Israel
              
From: Teus Benschop 
Subject:      ChrExp, The Scriptures opened, 76
To: Multiple recipients of list CHR-EXP 

Contents
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1. Leviticus 6:9    - The perpetual fire
2. Jeremiah 31:11   - Jacob redeemed
3. Revelations 5:12 - The slain Lamb glorified


1.  Leviticus 6:9 - The perpetual fire
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Weekly reading: Leviticus 6 - 8

Leviticus 6:9

Command  Aaron  and his sons, saying, This is the  law  of  the  burnt
offering:  It is the burnt offering, because of the burning  upon  the
altar  all night unto the morning, and the fire of the altar shall  be
burning in it.

We  read in the law that the fire on the altar should burn always  and
ever.  After  God has lighted the fire in the beginning,  the  priests
should care that the fire burns always, and never goes out. "It is the
burnt  offering, because of the burning upon the altar all night  unto
the  morning". The fire must burn always. "The fire of the altar shall
be burning in it." "The fire upon the altar shall be burning in it; it
shall  not  be  put out: and the priest shall burn wood  on  it  every
morning",  Lev. 6:12. "The fire shall ever be burning upon the  altar;
it shall never go out", Lev. 6:13.

This  fire  on the altar was not kindled by the priests,  but  by  God
Himself.  The first fire upon the altar came from heaven.  "And  there
came a fire out from before the LORD, and consumed upon the altar  the
burnt  offering  and  the fat: which when all  the  people  saw,  they
shouted, and fell on their faces" Lev. 9:24. Of this fire the  priests
should  take care, to keep that up continually. They had  to  toil  in
that  every day. Every morning, they should lay new wood upon it, that
the fire might continue burning.

We have this continual fire as an example before us. Let we always and
ever  feed our holy affections, comparable to this fire. Let  we  take
care  that our fire of love never goes out. This requires toil,  every
morning,  and every day. Let also the fire of our holy affections  not
go  out  in  the  nights, but let it burn always  and  ever.  Let  the
exercise  of our faith and love, of our prayer and praise, be  without
ceasing.

We  know  how  much  we come short of this. We, weak  people,  carnal,
earthly  minded,  always  keep  up the  fire  of  our  affections  for
ourselves, and for all kinds of worldly things, but how is it with our
holy love and zeal? In the most cases, it not only has gone out during
the nights, but also during the days, weeks and months. We forget God,
and spend not much toil in keeping up the fire of love towards God. We
do  all what lays in our might to feed our worldly affections, but who
is  there that spends his labour in loving God, continually? We should
shame ourselves, because our fire has gone out. It is quenched by  the
waters  of  the world. Our pleasures act as rain, that extinguish  the
fire  on the altar. And we forget to supply new wood, to keep  up  the
fire. Who is there that spends much time in meditations about God,  in
reading Scripture to keep the fire burning, and in all other kinds  of
the  service of God? Who is there, that, like Daniel and David,  often
prays? David arose even at night, to pray to God. "At midnight I  will
rise to give thanks unto thee because of thy righteous judgements", Ps
119:62.  Therefore, readers, let we mend our ways,  and  keep  up  the
fire,  from  now on and henceforth. It requires toil, and lazy  people
are unfit for this.

Jesus gave us the example that we always should pray. He Himself spent
much  time  on  the mountain, and elsewhere, to pray to  His  heavenly
Father. We read also of Him that "He spake a parable unto them to this
end,  that men ought always to pray, and not to faint", Luke 18:1.  He
wished to teach us, by this parable, that we should pray always.  Then
God  will  hear.  Let the fire of prayer burn always.  Also  Paul  the
apostle,  repeatedly says that he prayed always  and  ever.  "We  give
thanks  to God and the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, praying always
for  you", Col 1:3. "We give thanks to God always for you all,  making
mention  of you in our prayers", 1 Thess 1:2. "Wherefore also we  pray
always for you,", 2 Thess 1:11. "But we are bound to give thanks alway
to  God for you, brethren beloved of the Lord," 2 Thess 2:13. "I thank
my  God,  making mention of thee always in my prayers," Philemon  1:4.
Paul,  the faithful apostle and preacher of the gospel, kept his  fire
always  burning. Through God's grace he always found  wood  enough  to
keep up his fire of prayer.

The  apostle admonishes us to praise God continually. He compares this
with  the  offerings. "Let us offer the sacrifice  of  praise  to  God
continually,  that  is, the fruit of our lips  giving  thanks  to  his
name", Heb 13:16.

Another apostle, namely Peter, kept up always the fire of his work  in
the service of God. It was his task to teach the people, according  to
the  command given him by Christ Himself. Go to all nations, and teach
them to keep the things I have commanded you, said Jesus. Peter, being
a  faithful apostle, obeyed this command. He was always toiling in the
fire  of  his  calling,  to keep that burning. He  always  taught  the
people, and took care that they would be taught, even after his death.
"Wherefore I will not be negligent to put you always in remembrance of
these  things, though ye know them, and be established in the  present
truth.  Yea,  I think it meet, as long as I am in this tabernacle,  to
stir you up by putting you in remembrance; Knowing that shortly I must
put  off this my tabernacle, even as our Lord Jesus Christ hath shewed
me. Moreover I will endeavour that ye may be able after my decease  to
have these things always in remembrance", 2 Pet 1:12-15.




2.  Jeremiah 31:11 - Jacob redeemed
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For  the  LORD hath redeemed Jacob, and ransomed him from the hand  of
him that was stronger than he.

Once  Israel  was,  because of its sins, driven in  exile.  They  were
driven  off to Babylon. Their enemies, being cruel, killed  them,  and
ill-treated them. But here the prophet says that Jacob is redeemed  by
the LORD. "The LORD has redeemed Jacob, and ransomed him from the hand
of  him that was stronger than he". It is a prophecy. The prophet says
that  Jacob already - is - redeemed, but it was yet to happen. But  he
was so sure thereof, that he not said "Jacob will be redeemed from all
their  enemies that ill-treated them", but he says "Jacob  already  IS
redeemed". The prophet, through faith in God, saw it before him as  if
it  already  had happened. Yes, my people, though you are downcast  at
present,  yet  your redemption is coming. You soon will  be  redeemed,
nay,  you  - are - already redeemed, because so sure is it.  The  LORD
will  not forget you for always, but He will come and ransom you  from
the hand of them that are stronger than you.

"The  LORD  hath  redeemed Jacob". God HAS redeemed Jacob,  though  he
presently is in exile, under the hands of the oppressors. The LORD has
redeemed  his people, that is, surely, Christ will redeem his  people.
It  is so sure that Christ will redeem us, that it is as if it already
has  happened.  Is  there anyone doubting whether God  is  willing  to
redeem  him?  Let me tell you then, with this prophet: "The  LORD  has
redeemed  Jacob",  so why should He not redeem you? Everyone  that  is
heavy  laden, and oppressed by the adversaries, cast down by all kinds
of  adversity, listen: God has redeemed Jacob. God has done  it  then,
and  He  remains the same. Therefore, also in this time He will redeem
His people.

There  were people that were stronger then Jacob, but God has ransomed
him  from their hand. "The LORD hath redeemed Jacob, and ransomed  him
from  the  hand of him that was stronger than he." It may be that  our
enemies  are  stronger then we, but yet the LORD is the  strongest  of
all. Nobody will be able to resist Him. When He comes to redeem Jacob,
then  every  enemy must let his captive go. Maybe that  he  does  this
unwillingly, but yet he will do it, because God is stronger than  him.
If  we  are  caught by the bonds of satan, then God will  deliver  us.
Satan  may keep us captive by his delusions, by his evil thoughts,  by
his  bonds, but God will come, and overthrow all enemies. "Behold, the
Lord  GOD will come with strong hand, and his arm shall rule for him",
Isa 40:10.

Our  LORD  is  Ruler of this world. But there is one that  has  raised
himself  up,  to be the prince of this world. The enemy, who  is  from
this  world,  and will perish together with it, has a  temporal  power
over  all  his  subjects. But as Jesus said, "Now is the judgement  of
this  world:  now  shall the prince of this world be  cast  out",  Joh
12:31.  The prince of this world is stronger then we are, but  yet  he
will  be  cast  out. Not through our own strength, but because  it  is
written: "the LORD hath redeemed Jacob, and ransomed him from the hand
of him that was stronger than he."

Jesus, during his time on earth, everywhere cast out devils. Jesus  is
the  LORD, and is stronger then any adversary. He said "If I cast  out
devils  by  the Spirit of God, then the kingdom of God  is  come  unto
you",  Matthew 12:28. Those devils had taken possession  of  somebody.
Those  devils were stronger then him. But the LORD has ransomed  Jacob
from  the hand of him that was stronger then he. No devil could stand;
as  soon as Jesus spoke His word of power, they fled. They left  their
house, and trembled for the Son of God. They knew that their power was
limited,  because God casts out everybody that thinks he  is  stronger
then God's people.

Christ  spoiled "principalities and powers", and "he made  a  show  of
them openly, triumphing over them", Col 2:15. God redeemed Jacob,  who
was  oppressed by the powers. If then there is anybody that lies under
the power of death, and of sin, and of any other power, let him cry to
his God for help. Let him cry in faith, repent from his sins which are
the  cause of his bondage, and God will come. The Lord will redeem you
from those that are stronger than you.

Let  we  now  listen to David. He prayed a prayer when he was  in  the
cave,  Psalm  142. King Saul persecuted David, which  was  the  reason
David  had to hid himself in the cave. Being persecuted by his  enemy,
David prayed a prayer. He said:
    I cried unto the LORD with my voice;
    with my voice unto the LORD did I make my supplication.
    I poured out my complaint before him;
    I shewed before him my trouble.
But he also knew that God was with him. David trusted in the LORD. Who
else should he trust in?
    When my spirit was overwhelmed within me,
    then thou knewest my path.
    In the way wherein I walked
    have they privily laid a snare for me.
Before  he  went into the cave, and also during his stay  therein,  he
looked for help. But there was none that saved him. He was alone, left
by everybody. Only God was with him (which is enough).
    I looked on my right hand, and beheld,
    but there was no man that would know me:
    refuge failed me;
    no man cared for my soul.
    I cried unto thee, O LORD:
    I said,
    Thou art my refuge and my portion in the land of the living.
When every other refuge failed him, he looked to God for help.
    Attend unto my cry; for I am brought very low:
    deliver me from my persecutors; for they are stronger than I.
Here  you have David's persecutors, who are stronger then he.  But  we
know  that  "the LORD hath redeemed Jacob, and ransomed him  from  the
hand of him that was stronger than he." So, if David's persecutors are
stronger then him, that does not mean that his end is at hand.  Though
our  persecutors may be stronger then us, yet our God is the strongest
of all. And He will deliver us.
    Bring my soul out of prison, that I may praise thy name:
    the righteous shall compass me about;
    for thou shalt deal bountifully with me.




3.  Revelations 5:12 - The slain Lamb glorified
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Worthy  is the Lamb that was slain, to receive power, and riches,  and
wisdom, and strength, and honour, and glory, and blessing.


Worthy  is  the Lamb to receive all what is on earth. He is worthy  to
receive  power, riches, wisdom, strength, honour, glory and  blessing.
Who is this Lamb? Who is this honourable Lamb? It is the Lamb that was
slain.  It is the Lamb of God, given to the world to be slain. "He  is
brought  as  a  lamb to the slaughter", Isa 53:7. This  Lamb  that  is
slain, Who is it? It is our Lord, Jesus Christ. He is the Lamb of God,
given  to the world, to be offered up in its stead. He is slain,  like
the  lambs  of  old were slain to be offered up on the  altar  in  the
tabernacle  and in the temple. However, these lambs of  old  were  not
worthy  to  receive all glory. They also were many, but this  lamb  is
alone.  He  is  worthy to receive all what is on earth. This  Lamb  is
alone,  because  with His one offering, all other  need  of  offerings
ceased.  His worth was so high, that, when He was slain, all offerings
ceased.

The  Lamb,  that  is  Jesus Christ, is worthy  to  receive  power.  He
receives  all power, because He is King of kings. He rules His  church
both on earth and in heaven. He is a mighty King, and dreadful for His
enemies. He not only is worthy to receive power, but also all  riches.
He  is  the  Owner of the earth. The earth, together  with  the  whole
universe,  is  made by Him. He also is worthy to receive  all  wisdom.
There  is  no wisdom, real wisdom on earth, but that what  comes  from
Him.  Christ, being King of kings, should be honoured always and ever.
All  glory  is  due  to Him. He is the blessed Son of  God,  Who  gave
Himself a ransom for His elect.

"And  every creature which is in heaven, and on the earth,  and  under
the earth, and such as are in the sea, and all that are in them, heard
I saying, Blessing, and honour, and glory, and power, be unto him that
sitteth upon the throne, and unto the Lamb for ever and ever. And  the
four  beasts said, Amen. And the four and twenty elders fell down  and
worshipped him that liveth for ever and ever", Rev 5:13,14.

Christ was the Lamb that was slain. He Himself was without sin. Yet He
was  slain. It was not for himself, but for all those that believe and
will believe in Him. He was slain, because the reward of sin is death.
He  poured out His soul into death, not for Himself, but for us,  that
believe  in  Him.  "God  so loved the world, that  he  gave  his  only
begotten  Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish,  but
have  everlasting life", Joh 3:16. This Lamb, God's  beloved  Son,  is
worthy  to  receive  all honour, glory, blessing and  power.  He  gave
Himself to be slain for us. Once having done that, He is exalted  into
the  heavens,  to  be with God. There He receives all glory,  together
with the Father and the Spirit.



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chr-exp@nic.surfnet.nl
"A Christian explanation of the Scriptures to Israel"
Institute Practical Bible-education
Web:  https://christian.net/pub/resources/text/ipb-e/ipbe-home.html
Written by Teus Benschop  --  t.benschop@pobox.ruu.nl
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file: /pub/resources/text/ipb-e/so: s-open-076.txt
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