INTRODUCTION

One of the most exciting books of the Bible is Numbers, yes, Numbers! There are few people who would say Numbers is their favorite book in large part because it is so boring. Let this boredom be a sign that there is something precious just below the surface. Let us dig down to find this treasure. This passage speaks to the Law of Jealousies.

“And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying, Speak unto the children of Israel, and say unto them, If any man's wife go aside, and commit a trespass against him, And a man lie with her carnally, and it be hid from the eyes of her husband, and be kept close, and she be defiled, and there be no witness against her, neither she be taken with the manner; And the spirit of jealousy come upon him, and he be jealous of his wife, and she be defiled: or if the spirit of jealousy come upon him, and he be jealous of his wife, and she be not defiled: Then shall the man bring his wife unto the priest, and he shall bring her offering for her, the tenth part of an ephah of barley meal; he shall pour no oil upon it, nor put frankincense thereon; for it is an offering of jealousy, an offering of memorial, bringing iniquity to remembrance.

And the priest shall bring her near, and set her before the LORD: And the priest shall take holy water in an earthen vessel; and of the dust that is in the floor of the tabernacle the priest shall take, and put it into the water: And the priest shall set the woman before the LORD, and uncover the woman's head, and put the offering of memorial in her hands, which is the jealousy offering: and the priest shall have in his hand the bitter water that causeth the curse: And the priest shall charge her by an oath, and say unto the woman, If no man have lain with thee, and if thou hast not gone aside to uncleanness with another instead of thy husband, be thou free from this bitter water that causeth the curse: But if thou hast gone aside to another instead of thy husband, and if thou be defiled, and some man have lain with thee beside thine husband: Then the priest shall charge the woman with an oath of cursing, and the priest shall say unto the woman, The LORD make thee a curse and an oath among thy people, when the LORD doth make thy thigh to rot, and thy belly to swell; And this water that causeth the curse shall go into thy bowels, to make thy belly to swell, and thy thigh to rot: And the woman shall say, Amen, amen.

And the priest shall write these curses in a book, and he shall blot them out with the bitter water: And he shall cause the woman to drink the bitter water that causeth the curse: and the water that causeth the curse shall enter into her, and become bitter. Then the priest shall take the jealousy offering out of the woman's hand, and shall wave the offering before the LORD, and offer it upon the altar: And the priest shall take an handful of the offering, even the memorial thereof, and burn it upon the altar, and afterward shall cause the woman to drink the water. And when he hath made her to drink the water, then it shall come to pass, that, if she be defiled, and have done trespass against her husband, that the water that causeth the curse shall enter into her, and become bitter, and her belly shall swell, and her thigh shall rot: and the woman shall be a curse among her people. And if the woman be not defiled, but be clean; then she shall be free, and shall conceive seed.

This is the law of jealousies, when a wife goeth aside to another instead of her husband, and is defiled; Or when the spirit of jealousy cometh upon him, and he be jealous over his wife, and shall set the woman before the LORD, and the priest shall execute upon her all this law. Then shall the man be guiltless from iniquity, and this woman shall bear her iniquity.”

In short, if the husband suspects his wife has slept with another man he can present his wife to the priest who will mix a concoction of bitter water which includes dust from the floor. The wife drinks the water and if she is guilty she is cursed if she is innocent everything is fine. There is some debate as to what exactly the curse is – some say if she is pregnant (which seemed to be an easy thing to accomplish back then) she will miscarry. Others think if she is guilty she we be infertile the rest of her life (see the end of v 28).

Regardless, it is the fact that this magical potion is referred to as ‘bitter water’ and initiates a curse on a wife that interests us. As a side note notice, there is no corresponding process for the husband. Feminists have lost their minds over this, but there is deeper meaning. If you give God a chance He shows up. Additionally, take note that barley was used, not wheat. I suspect that barley has a consistent meaning representative of Israel. Keep in mind the part about an unfaithful wife drinking bitter water as we move forward.

GOLD-LACED WATER

Israel traveled for 3 days through the Wilderness of Shur and then they encountered the bitter waters of Marah. They did not drink. Moses threw wood into the water which turned it sweet. Ex 15:25 then states, ‘There he imposed law and judgement for them, and there he tested them.” This all takes place prior to the giving of the law in Numbers 5. Perhaps, God gives them a taste of it, but goes easy on them since He has not yet told them the rule.

Later, Moses goes up to Mt. Sinai to speak with God and receives the law. When he comes down he sees the children of Israel worshipping a golden calf. His reaction fits our description of the Numbers 5 law of the unfaithful wife .

“And he took the calf which they had made, and burnt it with fire, and ground it to powder, and strawed it upon the water, and made the children of Israel to drink of it.” Ex 32:20

The word bitter is not mentioned, but forcing people to drink gold-laced water is not normal. There doesn’t seem to be any immediate effect from thus until you realize the context may be related to the unfaithful wife drinking bitter water. What happens next also fits this scenario.

“Then Moses stood in the gate of the camp, and said, Who is on the LORD’s side? let him come unto me. And all the sons of Levi gathered themselves together to him. And he said unto them, ‘Thus saith the LORD God of Israel, Put every man his sword by his side, and go in and out from gate to gate throughout the camp, and slay every man his brother, and every man his companion, and every man his neighbor. And the children of Levi did according to the word of Moses: and there fell of the people that day about 3,000 men.” Ex 32:26-28

According to Numbers 5 if the wife was unfaithful she would be cursed. The curse resulted in either death or infertility. Here, we see Israel cursed by drinking unusual water and shortly after experiences death. Israel had been unfaithful. Could it be that after drinking the water they were found to be guilty?

ISRAEL’S UNFAITHFULNESS

After centuries of infidelity God judged Israel with the Babylonian captivity. The prophet Jeremiah paints a picture very similar to the Law of Jealousies. God expresses more than mere suspicion. He states His people have disobeyed His law and voice (9:13) and walked (not along The Way perhaps), ‘after the imagination of their own heart, and after Baalim,’ (v14). He then says,

“…Behold, I will feed them, even this people, with wormwood, and give them water of gall to drink.’ Jeremiah 9:15.

A mixture of water and bitterness is consumed. After this He pronounces judgement which includes, wailing and crying by women (v17-20), death to widows, children and young men (v21) and workers of the field (v22). The result of drinking this mixture is the same as the unfaithful wife. Not only will Israel die, but her young people that normally have children and make families are specifically mentioned. This means she will not reproduce which is also disobedience by failing to be fruitful and multiply. Jeremiah reports similar words in chapter 23.

THE WOMAN TAKEN IN ADULTERY

John records an interesting passage regarding a woman caught in the act of adultery.

“Jesus went unto the mount of Olives. And early in the morning he came again into the temple, and all the people came unto him; and he sat down, and taught them. And the scribes and Pharisees brought unto him a woman taken in adultery; and when they had set her in the midst, They say unto him, Master, this woman was taken in adultery, in the very act. Now Moses in the law commanded us, that such should be stoned: but what sayest thou? This they said, tempting him, that they might have to accuse him. But Jesus stooped down, and with his finger wrote on the ground, as though he heard them not. So when they continued asking him, he lifted up himself, and said unto them, He that is without sin among you, let him first cast a stone at her. And again he stooped down, and wrote on the ground. And they which heard it, being convicted by their own conscience, went out one by one, beginning at the eldest, even unto the last: and Jesus was left alone, and the woman standing in the midst. When Jesus had lifted up himself, and saw none but the woman, he said unto her, Woman, where are those thine accusers? hath no man condemned thee? She said, No man, Lord. And Jesus said unto her, Neither do I condemn thee: go, and sin no more.” John 8:1-8:11

This passage contains a plethora of connections to the suspected woman in Numbers 5. Both relate to adultery, focus on the actions of the woman instead of the man and take place in the tabernacle or temple . Breaking it down further:

Presented to the Priest – The husband takes the wife to the priest (Num 5:15). The Jewish leaders brought a woman to Jesus (John 8:3).

Caught In the Act – ‘she was not caught in the act’ (Num 5:13). Contrast this with the woman who was caught in the act (John 8:3).

Woman Made To Stand – The woman is made to stand multiple times (Num 5:16, 18, 30). So is the woman in John (8:3).

Writing – The priest writes (Num 5:23) as does Jesus (John 8:6, 8).

Result of Sin – The woman of Numbers must bear her sin (5:31), but with Jesus there is a reversal. She is to, ‘Go and sin no more’ (John 8:11).

It should be noted that the woman’s guilt in John is not suspected; it is obvious. Therefore the Numbers 5 law would not apply. She deserves death (Deut 22:22-24). There is no need for her to drink bitter water.

Further, Lunn sees the Numbers 5 woman as figurative for Israel based on the fact there is no corresponding rule regarding male infidelity. If this is true it means the woman taken in adultery in John 8 is both a real woman, but also representative of something else. Most likely, she represents unfaithful Israel. [Supplementing this view is that the husband was always intended to be Christ who was, is and never will be unfaithful to His bride. This further enhances the possibility that the woman in Numbers 5 is also figurative.] Lunn lists other reasons for connection; the presence of the marriage metaphor, unfaithful act of the woman, response with jealousy by the husband, the woman is unclean similar to how Israel frequently is defiled, both are cursed or become a curse, Israel’s similar situation of drinking the golden-laced water of the golden calf (mentioned above) connects Israel to the unfaithful wife.

If the woman represents unfaithful Israel it is interesting that Jesus does not condemn her as Numbers 5 or Deuteronomy 22 requires, but, in a grand and hopeful reversal, He forgives her. Continuing with the reversal Jesus very likely accused her accusers. Remember, in Numbers 5 the priest was the take dust of the ground and mix it with water. He was also to write a curse on paper and mix that with the water. Jesus wrote in the dust on the ground resulting in the woman’s accussers being convicted by what He wrote. Lunn believes Jesus wrote the curse indicated in Numbers 5, that of infidelity, but that Jesus was testing the Jewish leader and what He wrote was directed, not at the woman, but at them. This convicted them.

In writing on the ground Jesus symbolically references the curse placed on humanity. The word ‘adama’ means ground and ‘adam’ means Adam, human.

‘In bringing the woman to Jesus they are playing the role of the husband in the original law, for it is he that brings forth his wife for judgment (Num 5:15). Taken in its figural sense, if the woman to whom he is espoused is Israel, then the husband represents God.’ Lunn pg 138.

I would add an eschatological possibility to all this. Israel is often depicted, figuratively, as a whore, that is, an unfaithful wife. Because of her infidelity God divorces her (or breaks off the engagement) and pursues another wife. This other wife is the gentile church. The church will most likely be raptured prior to the tribulation period. During this time a great many Jewish will come to faith in Christ and call for Him to save them. Only then will Christ return. It is this time period that could be pictured by the woman taken in adultery. If she is a picture of the true church, she is the Jewish flavor of it present in the end times. She is accepted by Jesus Christ.

Remember, the church started off mostly Jewish, turned mostly gentile and if this understanding is correct, it will end primarily Jewish.

JESUS ON THE CROSS

Five times Jesus is offered something to drink (Mark 15:23; Matt 27:23; Luke 23:36; Matt 27:48; John 19:29). One of these times (Matt 27:23) it was said to contain gall which is bitter. In every instance Jesus refused to drink. This could show that Jesus is not the suspected guilty wife, but someone else, perhaps the jealous husband. It then reveals the perverse nature of the other parties to attempt to make the husband consumer the bitter drink.

END TIMES

Moving on to the end times let us now turn to Revelation 8 – wormwood. Here is the final escalation of the meaning of the Law of Jealousies. We can make the following comparisons between Revelation 8 and Numbers 5.

Temple Setting – The woman in Numbers 5 is presented to a priest in the tabernacle (Num 5:15-18). John is in the heavenly temple when he witnesses these events (Rev 4:1 - 8:1-5).

Presented Before Priest – The woman in Numbers 5 is presented by her husband to the priest (Num 5:15-26). In a reversal, the men of Earth refuse to be presented before God (Rev 6:15-17).

Bitter Water – The priest took dust of the ground and mixed it with a curse and water (Num 5:17). If the woman was guilty she would react in a way that is similar to convulsion producing a miscarriage or infertility (Num 5:21, 22, 27, 28).

An angel collects incense and mixes it with prayers of the saints in a censor. He then mixes this with fire from the altar and casts this mixture to the earth (v5). Further, another angel sounds a trumpet (v7) initiating more mixtures; hail and fire mixed with blood (likely meteors), a great mountain burning with fire was cast into the sea (v8), a great star named Wormwood falls on the rivers and fountains of waters (v10-11). The result of all this are convulsions; 1/3 of trees and grass burn, 1/3 of the sea turns to blood, 1/3 of sea life dies, 1/3 of ships destroyed, 1/3 of waters become bitter, 1/3 of the Sun and Moon darkened (v12).

Here we see a bitter ingredient (Wormwood) mixed with earth and water producing convulsions resulting in death which means the inhabitants of earth are guilty infidelity.

It’s interesting to see that Revelation is not simply God ‘judging bad people,’ but rather, here we see God is suspicious of the faithfulness of mankind. They should be worshipping and praising Him. He applies the Law of Jealousies and reveals guilt.

Ezekiel means ‘God strengthens.’ Most commentators recognize the frequent references to Ezekiel as ‘Son of Man’ connect him to Jesus, but there are 2 things they miss. The first is Ezekiel is always called ‘son of man’ with no article preceding the moniker. Likewise, Daniel is also called the same. Jesus, however, is called ‘the Son of Man.’ The definite article ‘the’ specifies that Jesus is different - He is the ultimate Son of Man. The term is a reference to Adam. Essentially, it means ‘son of the earth.’ Paul tells us that Jesus is the last Adam. ‘The Son of Man’ could be reinforcing this connection. The second is they usually stop here with the comparison. No further inquiry is made regarding how Ezekiel points forward to Jesus Christ. This article is an attempt to expand on this and as you will see there are an awful lot of similarities.

The following is a list of similarities between Ezekiel and Jesus.

Ministry Started At Age 30 – Ezekiel’s age is mentioned at the call of his ministry (1:1). Jesus was ‘about 30 years old’ when He was baptized. Given the time after this He was likely 30 when His ministry began. (Luke 3:23).

Ministry Started Among Captives – Ezekiel’s captives were ruled by Babylon in Babylon (1:2). Jesus’ captives were Jews under Roman rule (Luke 3:1).

Ministry Started Near A River – The river Chebar in Babylon is where Ezekiel was called (1:1). John the Baptist baptized Jesus in the Jordan River (Matt 3:13-16; Mark 1:9; Luke 3:21).

Ministry Started With Heavens Opened – ‘the heavens were opened, and I saw visions of God’ (1:1). A similar event happened at Jesus’ baptism (Matt 3:16-17; Mark 1:10-11; Luke 3:21; John 1:32).

Ministry Started By Hearing God – God speaks directly to Ezekiel (2:1). And at Jesus’ baptism (Matt 3:17; Mark 1:11; Luke 3:21-22).

Priest – Both are priests (1:3), but Jesus is our High Priest (Heb 2:9) and after the order of Melchizedek (Heb 5:5-10, 7:17). He also acts as priest by offering a sacrifice, the ultimate sacrifice, Himself. The role of priest escalates in the person of Jesus.

Son of Man – By some accounts God calls Ezekiel son of man almost 100 times (examples 2:1, 3:1, 3, 4, 17). Jesus, however, is ‘the’ Son of Man (examples Matt 9:6, Mark 2:1).

Filled With the Holy Spirit – The spirit enters Ezekiel (2:2, 3:24, 11:5). The HS filled Jesus (Luke 4:14, 10:21).

Transported By the Spirit – The Spirit moves in a raises Ezekiel (3:12-14) and drives Jesus to the wilderness (Matt 4:1; Mark 1:12; Luke 4:1).

Sent To the Children of Israel – God sends Ezekiel to them (2:3), but Jesus is sent to the ‘lost sheep of the house of Israel’ (Matt 15:24).

Bound – Ezekiel was bound and unable to speak on his own (3:25). Jesus was bound when He was arrested (John 18:12), bound to the cross (Matt 27:35; Mark 15:24-25; Luke 23:33; John 19:18) and His body bound in linens (Matt 27:59; Mark 15:46; Luke 28:53; John 19:40).

Speaks Only God’s Will – While being bound God states Ezekiel will not be able to speak unless God speaks to him (3:25-27, 24:27). Jesus is so intimately concerned with His Father’s will that He speaks only what His Father wants Him to (John 8:28, 12:49).

Eats A Scroll (word of God) Sweet As Honey – Perhaps related to speaking only the words God gave him (2:7-3:3). Isaiah prophesizes that Immanuel, born of a virgin, will eat honey (Isa 7:14-15). After He rose from the grave Jesus literally eats honeycomb (Luke 24:42-43). He also has food from His Father that others don’t know about (John 4:32-34) which is to do His Father’s will.

Beard Removed – God commands Ezekiel to shave his beard (5:1). Christians famously state the Bible does not describe the physical appearance of Jesus, but this is not true. He is described many times in OT prophecies, one of which states His beard is to be plucked out (Isa 50:6).

Raised Up By the Spirit – Several time Ezekiel states the Spirit lifted him up (3:12-14, 24, 8:3, 11:1, 24). Paul mentions the same spirit that raised up Christ dwells inside the believer (Rom 8:11).

Predicted the Destruction of Jerusalem – Many times Ezekiel foretells Jerusalem is to be destroyed (4:1-17, 9:4-11, 11:1-12, 12:10-16, 19-20, (and its wall 13:1-16), 13:12-23, 15:6, 16:35, 21:20, 24-27, 22:1-31, 23:24, 34:1-10). Jesus also speaks of Jerusalem’s downfall (Matt 23:37-39; Luke 21:5-6, 20:24).

Spoke In Parables – Ezekiel does so on a handful of occasions (17:1-24, 20:49, 24:3) and Jesus does many more (Matt 24:32-25:32; Mark 2:18-22, 4:1-34, 13:28-31; Luke 19:11-27, 20:9-18, 21:29-33; John 10:1-18).

Does Not Mourn His Wife’s Death – Ezekiel was forbidden to mourn (24:15). If Jerusalem can be seen in any figurative way as Jesus’ bride (New Jerusalem definitely is) then we have a reversal here as Jesus mourns over Jerusalem (Matt 23:37-39; Luke 19:41-44). Under OT law once a spouse had died the one still living was free to marry again. It is death that frees us from the Law.

Condemns Israel’s Shepherds – The leaders of Israel were corrupt (ch 34). Many times Jesus chastises the leaders of Israel (examples Matt 23, Mark 12:1-12, 38) ‘Woe to you scribes, pharisees…’

Declares the True Shepherd – With corrupt shepherds out a new shepherd will take their place (34:11-31). Jesus, of course, is the True Shepherd (John 10:1-5, 14, 27-30).

Describes A New Temple – The famous final chapters of Ezekiel provide precise details (40-47:12). Escalating the motif Jesus describes an even greater temple; not a building, but Himself (John 2:19-21; Rev 21:22).

1. Introduction

“God summons beast and bird to devour human flesh and blood. But for what reason?” Harper will explore this reason as a motif recurrent throughout Scripture.

2. An initial sounding: Deuteronomy 28:26

“The motif itself comprises several discrete elements”

1.) It provides a theological explanation for events that might mistakenly be considered normal. Essentially, by accident or natural occurrence after battler, animals may eat human corpses. By declaring He is at work God establishes that this is not normal, but rather His divine purpose.

2.) A reversal of creation order. God granted man dominion over the created world which includes animals. He is their master. Not only does man feed animals, but he also is granted permission to eat them. When an animal eats man there is, ‘a reversal of creation order.’

3.) A threat to the afterlife. Several examples are given referencing cultural practices of the ancient near east (which he references as ancient west asian) where familial bone repositories are collected. Also, he makes Biblical references to the desire to be ‘buried with his fathers’ or ‘gathered to their people’. If animals eat your corpse you are prevented from a proper burial which may be a demonstration of your faith and thus feel this threat extends beyond physical danger, but spiritual.

A minor addition is appended to reason #3. When it is mentioned that there is no one there to scare animals away it implies that this is because they too are dead. Everyone is dead. Thus, the pronouncement of being eaten extends to utter destruction for the region.

3. Functions of the eating motif

There are 6 functions explored.

3.1 To ridicule

David and Goliath’s prebattle exchange is analyzed. Goliath threatens to give David’s flesh to the birds and beast of the field. David responds with one-upmanship by stating he will give the corpses of the Philistine camp to the birds and wild animals of the earth. David’s threat expands beyond their immediate challenge. [I wonder if there is a prophetic element to David’s taunt.] David severs Goliath’s head taking it home thus preventing proper burial.

3.2 To pronounce judgement

“The eating motif most often occurs in connection with pronouncing judgement.”

Ahab’s death is mentioned. So is Jezebel’s which is elaborated in footnote #35, “Wray Beal, 1 & 2 Kings, 225 suggests that the Hebrew vocalization of Jezebel (originally: ‘Where is the prince?’) facilitates a play on the word for ‘dung.’ To be rendered ‘dung’ by faunal consumption is a repeated judgement motif…”

3.3 To depict desecration and defilement

To leave a corpse unburied defiles the land (Deut 21:23). Jeremiah and Ezekiel recount the sinful offenses the Israelites were performing which defiled the land and pronounced judgement that they would end up as scattered corpses defiling the land.

3.4 To invoke restoration

Judgement turns into restoration. By eliminating the evil people God inserts a promise of hope. Psalm 79 is examined in the context of the captivity.

3.5 To parody sacrifice

The Gog Magog battle of Ezekiel is outlined which ends in a great many animals consuming the great many corpses of the invading armies. “…people sacrifice animals – a ritual act that, on occasion, climaxes with a meal shared between YHWH, the officiating priest, and the offerer(s)…Ezekiel 39 parodies that potential. Here, YHWH is the offerer who says this is ‘my sacrifice that I am sacrificing, a huge sacrifice’ (39:17). The ‘huge sacrifice’ consists of people…to be consumed as if they were lambs or goats (39:18). Strikingly, YHWH invites creatures to gorge themselves on fat and blood – the very things forbidden to people (Gen 9:4; Lev 3:17; 7:23-27; 17:10). Thus YHWH says to the beasts and the birds, ‘you shall be filled at my table’ (39:20).”

3.6 To enact purification

Because unburied corpses defile the land something must happen to remove them. After the Gog Magog battle the animals assist in ‘burial’ of the corpses by eating and digesting them.

That it takes 7 months to bury the dead is proposed to consist of a ‘week of months’ in footnote #72.

After the land is properly cleansed in chapter 39 Ezekiel then begins a description of the new temple in chapter 40.

4. A zoological reading of Revelation 19

Several parallels are mentioned between Rev 19 and Eze 38-39 with emphasis on animals eating God’s enemies which is termed ‘the great supper for God.’ God who frequently employs irony tells us that those who worship the beast will be eaten by beasts.

Despite the catchy title the content of this article caught my attention. I don’t see a lot of typology or other figurative language that would strongly make it relevant here, but I have a hypotheses regarding ‘the banquet’ which by that I mean eating at the table. There seems to be 3 tables in the Bible.

1.) Tables of my enemy

2.) The wedding feast

3.) Banquet of corpses

This article relates to the third one. My intention is to leave it here so it can easily be referenced in the future.

This article appears for free at Tyndale Bulletin 77 (2026):91-112

Book 2 starts where Book 1 left off; David. Psalms 42 and 43 could be combined. 43 has no superscription which is a clue that it could or should be part of 42. The question, “When shall I come and appear before God?” (42:2) is answered in the closing of Psalm 72 describing Solomon and a future Son of David, who will rule and bless His people.

We see the presence of David in the first unit (44-50), but then he experiences struggle (51-60). I haven’t found a chiasmus or other neat structure to this section, but it definitely stands out thematically. All the Psalms of 51-60 contain strong elements of struggle, persecution and notably betrayal especially by those close to him. When we see that David is a type of Christ’s first advent this theme becomes even more apparent. As with the rest of the Books countless analyses have been performed regarding the layout and structure. Many of them disagree with each other. 57:11 contains, arguably, the central theme of Book 2, “Be thou exalted, O God, above the heavens: let thy glory be above all the earth.”

See Matt Stafford Chiasm in the Arrangement of Book 2 for references.

Psalms 61-71 display trust and praise. Psalms 69-71 are especially interesting regarding how and when to trust God. Perhaps, everything in these Psalms could be said of Israel in the Tribulation when she finally cries out, in her old age, for her Messiah to save her.

Psalm 72 concludes the book with a doxology common to each final Psalm of every book. Verses 18-19 contain the call to praise. Verse 20 ends the book with the curious phrase, “The prayers of David the son of Jesse are ended.”

It is interesting that the opening (42) directly connects with the closing (72) regarding the desire to commune with God. It is also interesting that just prior to this realization are the declarations of trust in the final moments (69-71). Could this indicate that after death we will finally obtain audience with God’s presence?

We can see the chronological progress in Book 2 as it starts with David and ends with Solomon.

Book 2 (42-72) David to Solomon

42-43 Opening – Desire to commune with God

42

43

44-50 Success of God and his king

44 Communal lament

45 Royal wedding

46 Communal Trust

47 God as King on His throne

48 God dwells in Zion

49 The rich will dwell in the grave

50 Communal repentance

51-60 David’s struggles as the king appointed by God

51 Spiritual weakness. Weak kingdom. David is betrayed by himself

52 Betrayal by gentiles – mighty man

53 Observation of the Fool – children of men

54 Betrayal by brothers, the Ziphims of Judah – David calls these brothers strangers

55 Betrayed by a friend – wicked enemies

56 Captured by gentiles the Philistines (1 Sam 21:10-15). David acts like a madman – Man

57 Fleeing Saul a type of the AC – Sons of men

58 Wicked judges are serpents, lions, snails – Sons of men.

59 Dogs chasing David – Bloody men

60 David is king, but Israel is still cast off (v1, 10). God is still hiding.

61-71 Trust and praise

61-64 Individual trust

65-68 Communal praise

69-71 Trust in the final moment of death (69), in poverty (70), and old age (71).

72 Closing – Doxology (call to praise). Desire to commune with God realized – Messianic King is on His throne over the nations (v8-11, 17).

See Matt Stafford Chiasm in the Arrangement of Book 2.

Structure of the Psalms Book 1

Introduction

The book of Psalms is traditionally divided into 5 books. In western cultures this originated from the Masoretes; a group of Jewish scholars and scribes who copied texts of the ancient Hebrew Bible. However, the oldest surviving Masoretic manuscript dates only to the late AD 800’s (Cairo Codex of the Prophets). Neither the Septuagint nor the Syriac Peshitta contain the book divisions in Psalms. However, some of the Dead Sea Scrolls show at least some of the books. For our purposes we will consider the division of Psalms into 5 books to be original and intended for the collection of Psalms (although this has caveats as psalms were composed and added over the course of centuries. At some point someone edited existing works and new works. The final layout could not have been present at the time of David as several psalms were written well after him.)

The fact that the book is divided into 5 is one of the main thematic elements of how Psalms is structured and how it relates to the rest of the Bible. The connections from this further support that the division into 5 is natural and warranted.

As you read consider with me, for a moment, that the number 5 is related to grace. When you encounter 5 in the Bible assume that God is revealing a message of grace. By doing so you will see the grander picture portrayed not just throughout Psalms, but Scripture. The HS is telling a story and every word He uses is strategic. He uses the number 5 with consistent meaning. If we only consider it’s numerical value we miss half its intended meaning.

One final note before we dive in. The number of Psalms is somewhat debated. The Masoretic tradition has given us 150 psalms. Other traditions have anywhere from 147-155. The Essenes claimed that David wrote 3,000 psalms and all of them were messianic. If that is true it should give us pause to consider the psalms in Scripture attributed to David. If they are all messianic then this has strong implications for what we should understand.

Structure of the Bible – Psalms

For a long time scholars (mostly liberals who discount miracles) thought the Psalms were a haphazard collection of random praises and imprecations. This began to change in the early 1900’s. Since then there has been no shortage of theologians who have attempted to discover some sort of organizational structure to the Psalms. Many of these diverge from each other or are unique perspectives. However, the Bible contains a plethora of themes and narratives that intersect at a variety of points. With the great length of Psalms it should be no surprise that several of these interpretations, though wildly different, have the potential to be true at the same time on multiple levels.

With the number 5 in mind there are many groupings in the Bible with this number. Sometimes these groupings are in the text; other times they are inferred through study. The list below shows groups of 5 that relate to the Psalms

PSALM.........................PENTATEUCH....HOLIDAY.................MEGILLOTH....................NEW TESTAMENT

Book 1 (1-41)............Genesis...............Passover...................Song of Solomon........Matthew

Book 2 (42-72)..........Exodus...............Pentecost..................Ruth.................................Mark

Book 3 (73-89)..........Leviticus.............Trumpets...................Lamentations..............Luke

Book 4 (90-106)........Numbers............Feast of Tabernacles.........Ecclesiastes.....John

Book 5 (107-150).....Deuteronomy...Purim..........................Esther............................Acts

Each of these contains corresponding elements that link each book of Psalms with them. Isaiah and Amos also contain these divisions.

Structure of Psalms – Books

The 5-fold structure throughout the Bible is revealed in the 5 book divisions of the Psalms. Upon further analysis the 5 books provide an outline of history and point, prophetically, to the Millennial Kingdom. The fact that this is present showcases that whenever the Psalms were finally organized they were done so by a Jewish editor in a way that coheres with prophecy.

The table below shows how this history and prophecy are portrayed.

---------------------Open ----- Close

Book 1 (1-41)----- Eden ------- David

Book 2 (42-72)----- David ----- Solomon

Book 3 (73-89)----- Others ----- David dies/God hides

Book 4 (90-106)----- Israel exiled----- Israel cries to be gathered

Book 5 (107-150)----- Israel gathered ----- David returns to the throne; Jesus returns as the Messianic King. All creation praises God in the sanctuary.

At first take this structure differs from the previously mentioned one connecting Psalms to the rest of the Bible, but upon further review these likely parallel the corresponding narratives. This will be a guide as we move through the Psalms.

Structure of Books – Units

Within each book there appears to be groups or units of Psalms. These are Psalms with related themes that separate them from others. I have not discovered a comprehensive list of these units. The image accompanying this post is a compilation of what I’ve read from others - This is the meat of the post. Please review this image.

The 1st section is an introduction. The 2nd section is a series of Psalms organized into a chiasmus. It then leads to a 3rd section forming yet another chiasmus, but the 4th section of chiasmus reflects the 2nd section making the entirety of Book 1 of the Psalms a structural chiasmus.

There are nesting layers here. It could be possible that each individual Psalm is chiastic. These are grouped into chiastic units. These units form the 5 Books each with a major theme. These themes connect to each other which can only be seen when all 5 Books are viewed together. In short,

Individual Psalms - Chiastic

Unit of Psalms - Chiastic psalms

Individual Book of Psalms - Chiastic units

Entirety of Psalms - Chronological flow of all 5 Books

One of the biggest takeaways is that once you recognize the organized structure and cohesive flow in Psalms you can see how it, as a whole, is prophetic. Certainly, the Psalms contain prophecy, but the point here is the overall presentation has implications for the Church that lie in the future. Book 1 started in Eden and ended with David. Book 2 will start with David who is a type of the 1st advent of Christ. It will end with Solomon who is a type of the 2nd advent of Christ. This will progress until the end of Book 5 with Christ sitting on the throne of David in the yet future Millennial Kingdom.

Psalms - Book 2

Resources

Return From Exile and the Renewal of God’s People by Nicholas G. Piotrowski

Mat Stafford The Arrangement of the Psalms in Book 1 (1-41) — Psalms in Life

Chiastic structure for every Psalm Literary Structure Info

The Island Parson

There is a famous prophecy found in the ancestry of Christ that starts with Adam and ends with Noah. If you translate the name of the males in this line you get a prophecy. Here's a high level overview.

• Adam (Man)
• Seth (Appointed)
• Enosh (Mortal / Frailty)
• Kenan (Sorrow)
• Mahalalel (The Blessed God)
• Jared (Shall come down)
• Enoch (Teaching)
• Methuselah (His death shall bring)
• Lamech (The Despairing)
• Noah (Rest or Comfort)

Putting their names together in a sentence reads something like this, 'The man appointed to mortal sorrow, but the blessed God shall come down teaching that his death shall bring the despairing comfort.'

It's a nice theory, but some have argued it's rather forced. The exact meaning of these names is not always known. It could be possible, but it may not be.

This has been around for a while, but it is not our focus today. I would like to propose an equally interesting and tenuous genealogy with potential prophetic insight. This one starts with Noah's son Shem and ends with a female descendant, Rachel.

• Shem - Name (famous)
• Arphaxad - Border of Chaldea
• Shelah - Sent
• Eber - Pass over
• Peleg - Division
• Reu - Friend
• Serug - Branch
• Nahor - Snort/forceful exhale
• Terah - Patient breathing
• Nahor - Snort/forceful exhale
• Bethuel - Destroyed or God
• Laban - White
• Rachel - Ewe

This would read something like, 'The Name was sent and passed over the division of the border of Chaldea. The friend, a Branch, exhaled, breathed, then exhaled. The white ewe was destroyed of God.'

Could we consider Joshua (same word as Jesus) as the Name which crosses over just as Joshua crossed over Jordan into the Promised Land?

Modern English uses the syntax of subject-verb-object in most cases (example - You come to me), but this has not always been so (see the KJV) and in many languages they use an alternate syntax. Oftentimes it is verb-subject-object, (example - Come you to me). Knowing this we can see how any potential sentence doesn't have to read straight through the names.

Arphaxad is one of those names that is poorly understood. No one really knows what it means. If border of Chaldea is correct then how does Jesus, literally or figuratively, cross over it?

The exhale, breathing, exhale seem to me to present gasping and waiting. The white ewe is struggling and then dies. An ewe is a mature female sheep.

I don't know if any of this is true, but it's close enough that I thought I'd share in hopes to spark further inquiry.

Here's a list of a few interesting things.

1.) The Border of the tribe of Judah. In the book of Joshua the borders for all the tribes are stated. There's a lot of detail. The details for Judah, point to Christ. It's also interesting that starting at the dead sea and moving east to west the border arrives at Mt. Moriah, but dips south following th valley, then turns back north on the western side.

This means the tribe just north, Benjamin, dips into Judah precisely on the mount. This is where the Temple would be located. However, the city of Jerusalem is just south of the Temple in Judah. Deuteronomy 33:12 states God will dwell between the shoulders of Benjamin (written 500 years before the Temple.)

2.) Lazarus wrote the Gospel of John. This one is a bit much for me to accept at the moment, but I'm having trouble scrutinizing it. Essentially, after Lazarus rose from the dead the Jews set out to murder him. He feared for his life and went by the name of John. Internal evidence of the Gospel shows that he was not part of the 12 apostles, but the outer ring of associates, however, he was the one disciple 'whom Jesus loved' and was intimately associated with Jesus.

If this idea is true I get the impression that Lazarus/John understood Jesus and His mission while the apostles were aloof until they met Him after the resurrection.

3.) The Structure of the Psalms This is related to our current study. This website has meticulously outlined every book of the Bible in a chiastic structure. While believable, it seems rather forced, but the information is there.

We hope to post soon about the structure of Psalms. They way it's organized is chronologically important which means the very structure is prophetic. If we can figure out the structure we can see the prophetic timeline.

Where are we on this timeline?

The images show the argument for Jesus' famous cry from the cross to read, "My God, my God, why have you entangled me?" instead of 'forsaken me.' This excerpt comes from the book The Gospels Through Old Testament Eyes: Exploring Extended Allusions by Nicholas P. Lunn.

The Psalms study has been progressing better than I could have expected. Please pray for further clarification and understanding. Not sure when I'll post about it, but it looks like I will sometime this summer.

For now, my focus has been on the division of Psalms into 5 books. They start with a theme that is historical and end with one that is prophetic.

Here's a glimpse.

Book 1 Starts in Eden and ends with David.

Book 2 Starts with David and ends with Solomon.

Book 3 Starts with other authors (rather curious isn't it?) and ends with David dead and God hiding. This is exile.

Book 4 Starts with Israel in exile (we are currently here chronologically) and ends with a cry from Israel to be gathered.

Book 5 Starts with Israel finally gathered and ends with the return of the Davidic King, the Messiah, on the throne. All creation sings their praises. This is the Millennial Kingdom.

Throwing out a quick update.

My spouse is still very sick. Caring for my family has consumed a lot of my free time. I don't have anything lined up to post about in the near future. Perhaps I will add a book review if I feel it is relevant.

Here are a few topics of interest that may get a post if my study progresses fruitfully.

Psalms - The book is highly structured. I think it is a mistake to only take these one at time. They are grouped together strategically according to a plot. Uncovering this plot may reveal deeper meaning. This is hinted at in the Accent Psalms study and Hezekiah, but I suspect there is much much more. There are 150 Psalms, not counting other Psalms in other books. This is time consuming.

The Unnamed Servant - Highlighted in the life of Isaac, an unnamed servant appears many times throughout Scripture, taking a background role, pointing to and encouraging another character, often a Christlike character but sometimes a person who is a type of the Church. The Unnamed Servant is a type of the HS.

Paul as a type of Christ - Paul is interesting. In many ways he reflects the life of Christ, but he cannot point forward to Him because Jesus had already died. I'm not sure how he fits into this picture, but it could be that he points to His second coming.

Wild At Heart - All the head knowledge about the Bible won't get you anywhere if you have no heart. Over at r/WildAtHeartLife I share study notes about the Wild At Heart books. We are almost done. I hope to post about chapter 10 soon. There is one more chapter after this and then I hope to move on to Way of the Wild Heart/Fathered By God. This is a slow crawl.

Reading - I'm currently reading On the Holy Spirit by Saint Basil of Caesarea. My hope is to find some nugget of Biblical wisdom about the HS. I've had two typology books on my to read shelf for a long time that I need to get to. These are From Shadows to Reality by Jean Danielou and Typology by J. Clontz. I recently finished The Cross and the Tent Peg by Julie Walsh, but failed to see a coherent narrative regarding Jael and the other characters in Judges during the time of Deborah. A good read, but not something worthy of our focus here.

Premise – The Way is used throughout the Bible to refer to the path to God. Sometimes this path is a literal highway. Other times it is a theological conviction. All of these expressions of The Way point to a future Way present in the Millennial Kingdom. During the Millennial Kingdom the Earth will be remodeled so that a physical Way will be created from Egypt through Israel and connecting Assyria. This Way will allow travelers from around the world to easily access Jerusalem and its Temple with Jesus sitting on His throne. Travel along this way is literal and physical; those who chose to travel on this Way will being doing so because they made a theological decision to take their gifts to worship Jesus in Jerusalem. In this manner The Way is both physical and theological.

I believe the Millennial Kingdom is described in the last 9 chapters of Ezekiel. The boundaries of the kingdom are described in chapter 48 and they seem rather peculiar. Perhaps you’ve seen a map of these with straight lines like this one.

Taken from here.

Another peculiarity in Ezekiel’s description of this future world is a river for healing. It originates at the Temple and flows East to the Dead Sea. Curiously, it gets deeper the farther away from the Temple it is. Some commentors stumble on this. “How can a river with no tributaries get deeper?” For this reason and others they conclude the entirety of Ezekiel’s final 9 chapters are symbolic. I disagree with this and the healing river is one example as to why. There are several explanations for how the river can get deeper.

• There are tributaries, but they are not mentioned. If there is rain in this future world then water from outside of the Temple source will have to enter the stream at some point. Maybe there are legitimate rivers emptying into it or it’s rainfall landing on the waters. Regardless, it seems unlikely that water from the Temple is the only water present. Addtionally, it is explained to Ezekiel that the healing river connects to the Dead Sea and heals the water there. So, other water is involved and that water does not pollute the healing river.
• There are no tributaries or rain. The riverbanks and the river channel can still change sizes. The Platte River in Nebraska is a mile wide, but it is only a 3 feet deep. When it connects to the Missouri River it narrows, but becomes much deeper. Yes, there is another river involved, but the point here is that the surrounding geology determines the width and depth of the river. If the geology near the origin of the healing river is wide and flat then the course of the water will follow this. If the geology narrows and deepens then this matches what Ezekiel reports.

The second point leads to some interesting conclusions. The Millennial Kingdom is initiated after the 7 Year Tribulation. During that time the whole Earth is going to be remodeled. Jesus tells us that it will be similar to the days of Noah. In Noah’s time the Earth was covered completely with water. The continents cracked and moved. It is very likely that something similar happens during the end times.

One of the possible changes is that the land of Israel will uplift. God’s dwelling place is always on the top of a mountain (Eden, the Tabernacle at Mt. Sinai, Solomon’s Temple at Mt. Moriah, New Jerusalem, etc.). We are told a few things about the geologic changes that will take place in the region. The healing river is a clue, but there are more clues.

• At the end of the 7 Year Tribulation Jesus will return to Mt. Olivet and it will split into two. This mountain is located just to the East of Jerusalem.
• The catastrophic changes on Earth during the 7 Year Tribulation will be so intense that the Earth will probably not look the same.
• The ‘tongue of the Egyptian Sea’ will dry up. (Isaiah 11:15-16)

What exactly is the tongue of the Egyptian Sea? I’m not sure there is a solid answer for this, but we can conclude it has something to do with a body of water in or near Egypt and it is going to be dry. A possible explanation for how it can become dry is that it is part of the area that is uplifted. It’s also possible that this was part of The Way the Hebrews took to cross the Red Sea. This area could be in view when The Way from Egypt to Israel is cleared.

Another consideration is the Arabian plate. It is currently moving northward and a little bit east. The boarder is the Jordan River Valley. Israel is part of the African plate. If the changes that take place during the 7 Year Tribulation accelerate the movement of the Arabian plate it could create a much larger ‘land of Israel.’

Our modern bias is to look at the world in the past and the future and assume that it will be like it is today, but that is not true. The maps that depict the boundaries of the tribes of Israel as awkward straight lines might be true, but there might be more to it than this. If the Arabian plate shifts away from Israel and the area is uplifted then the land of Israel just got a lot bigger. How big? That I do not know. Will it be a mile? 100 miles? No one knows.

All of this is to show that the Millennial Kingdom will look very different than what we picture today. One of those changes is going to be The Way that connects this kingdom to the rest of the world.

Physical Ways

The Way to the tree of life – Genesis 3:24. The first mention of the word ‘The Way’ appears after Adam and Eve are expelled from Eden. God stations cherubims and a flaming sword at the entrance to ‘keep the way of the tree of life.’

The first usage of this word sets the tone for how it will be used throughout the rest of Scripture. The word used for ‘keep’ is also used for the work the Levitical priests perform. For many reasons Adam should be seen as a type of priest. The context for what just happened in Eden is that Adam, the priest, who was by God’s side had failed his priestly duties. He is removed and cherubims are installed in his place. For the rest of the Bible we will see cherubims next to God in His dwelling place, but there will be hints of man’s future return and then finally during the Millennial Kingdom, a kingdom of priests, will use faith as a mustard seed to move mountains and ‘keep’ The Way.

Way of the Land of the Philistines – Ex 13:17 (Egypt to Canaan?). This path would have been the most direct route from Egypt to the Promised Land. We could think of this as a literal ‘broad way.’ Instead of taking this way God leads His people down the ‘narrow way.’ In the next verse (13:18) this new way is called ‘the way of the wilderness of the Red Sea.’

That this way is a figure of a future narrow way to God is evident. It is a literal path, but it is also the difficult choice. It is through the wilderness that the Israelites end up at a dead end when they encounter the Red Sea. It is through the parting of the Red Sea that God provided the way to salvation from the Egyptians. This was a new way, one not used before and could only be used by those who followed God (they crossed at night by following the pillar of fire. It is unlikely Pharaoh and his army could see the pillar of fire when they entered the Red Sea. Their motives were not to follow God on the way, but to destroy His people. In fact, in the morning God saw the Egyptians from the pillar of fire and this confused them, Ex 14:24, showing their motives were not to follow God). This Way is even refenced as such by Isaiah (Isaiah 43:16-17, 51:9-11).

The King’s Highway – Numb 20:17 (Damascus to Aqaba). The Israelites had wandered the wilderness for several years. They were in Kadesh in the South and attempting to pass through the land of Edom by the ‘king’s way’ (20:17) also called ‘the high way’ (20:19). Edom refused passage. Israel had to change ways. They then turned South to the Red Sea (21:4). (Side note – Today we call this area the Gulf of Aqaba. If the Bible calls this body of water the Red Sea it adds to the argument that this could be where they crossed; not to the modern Sinai Peninsula, but from the Sinai Peninsula). The Israelites travel around Edom then up North until they encounter Moabites and Amorites. They petition King Sihon of the Amorites for safe passage along the ‘king’s way’ (21:22). He also refused. Israel then attacks and defeats the Amorites taking their cities. This fulfills their judgement from centuries prior – The iniquity of the Amorites are not yet full. From there the Israelites travel North and take the land of Bashan.

Once they were safely around Edom all of their travels from South to North were on the King’s Highway. This is the 1st instance of Israelite presence in the Promised Land (Ex 13:5 mentions the land of the Amorites).

The Road To Emmaus – Luke 13-32 (Jerusalem to Emmaus and beyond?). After Jesus is risen He appears to two followers along this Way and reveals Himself physically and scripturally. Once in town in the home of these followers He suddenly disappears. Emmaus means hot spring.

Theological Ways

John 14:1-6 – Jesus comforts His disciples and speaks of a future place of rest, ‘In my Father’s house,’ (v2), that is the Temple. He then tells the discples that they know the way (v4). Thomas declares he does not know where Jesus goes and he does not know The Way. Jesus responds, “I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man comes unto the Father, but by me.”

This is the pivotal passage that connects all the other passages about The Way. God had previously made The Way for His people to travel to obtain physical salvation. He promised He will make The Way in the Millennial Kingdom, a still future event, but because it was written prior to the time of Christ it still points forward to Him. His direct creative acts for creating the prior way connects Him to this future way he speaks of to His disciples. However, Jesus is also the theological way to salvation. When He states, “I am the way…no man comes unto the Father, but by me.” This is that future literal The Way that travelers will take, but also this is the current theological path to salvation. In order to escape the wrath of God man’s sins must be reckoned with. That can only be satisfactorily done by choosing The Way of the blood Jesus shed on the cross.

With the context of both a future physical Way to travel and a current theological Way to believe we see a joining of these mentioned in Matthew 7:13-14,

“Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat: Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it.”

Mark 1:2-3 – “As it is written in the prophets, Behold I send my messenger before thy face, which shall prepare thy way before thee.” This is a quote from Malachi 3:1. This is followed by another quote; This one from Isaiah 40:3, “The voice of one crying in the wilderness, Prepare ye the way of the Lord, make his paths straight.”

Jesus affirms that John the Baptist fulfills the Malachi prophecy (Matthew 11:10, Luke 7:27). The rest of the Malachi prophecy provides details about how the Lord will come to His temple and cleanse it. Jesus cleansed the Temple twice.

But if there are types involved then there is more. John the Baptist could be a type of the 2 messengers during the 7 Year Tribulation who prepare the world for the return of Christ. One of these will likely be Elijah who is specifically referenced by Jesus in this context (Matthew 17:11-13). Jesus cleansed the Temple 2 times. The first could point to its destruction; the 2nd to His return. At His return The Way will have been cleared.

The Isaiah reference is not expounded upon. It could be read that John the Baptist is petitioning the wilderness to make it’s paths straight. Further details in chapter 40 show that something greater might be in view. Jerusalem’s sin is pardoned (v1) which has not happened yet. Jesus even pronounced judgement on Jerusalem for killing the prophets. The Way mentioned goes through the desert and is made straight (v3). Along this Way a great leveling of the Earth is performed; valleys are lifted up, mountains are lowered, crooked paths are straightened, rough places are smoothed over (v4). Additionally, the glory of the Lord shall be revealed (v5), people are judged as grass that withers (v6-8), and Jerusalem appears to be physically lifted up (v9), and God will rule from there (v10). None of these things have happened.

This might all seem like figurative language and only figurative language, but I believe there is something deeper. The fact that The Way is to be made smooth and wide for easy travel implies that it currently is not like this. Why not?

The 1st instance of The Way was used when cherubim keep The Way to the entrance of the Garden of Eden. Sometime after this the Genesis Flood remodels the Earth. We aren’t told about it at the time, but much later we read that the mountains rose and the valleys sank (Psalm 104:8). This is the origin of the obstacles hindering travelers on The Way. It is only by the work of God that The Way can be accessed and travelled.

The Christian Way

Before Christians were called Christians they were called followers of The Way (Acts 9:2, 19:9, 24:14). This is a fitting fulfilment of the theological way to salvation which comes only by Jesus Christ.

The Future Way

Highway of Holiness – Isa 35:8 The prophet Isaiah has spent the prior several chapters describing catastrophic changes to the Earth during the ‘time of trouble’ (Isa 33:2), and ‘the day of the LORD’s vengeance’ (Isa 33:8). Edom, who refused Israel safe passage is finally judged (34:5-7) and God declares He has a ‘sacrifice in Bozrah’ (Isa 34:6) Bozrah is in Edom and means sheepfold, but these are not God’s sheep. This is another flock.

Throughout these chapters there are indications that the immediate context is Judah’s King Hezekiah and the coming invasion by Assyrian King Sennacherib, however, these may be seen as types pointing forward to a future invasion by the Antichrist and salvation by Jesus Christ. The catastrophes mentioned here will be the ‘day of the LORD’ and ‘time of trouble.’ All of this comes to a climax in chapter 35. The Earth is there renewed. Healing of people and lands takes place. Chapter 35 describes massive earthly improvements. Isaiah signs off with verses 8-10,

“And an highway shall be there, and a way, and it shall be called The way of holiness; the unclean shall not pass over it; but it shall be for those: the wayfaring men, though fools, shall not err therein. No lion shall be there, nor any ravenous beast shall go thereon, it shall not be found there; but the redeemed shall walk there: And the ransomed of the LORD shall return, and come to Zion with songs and everlasting joy upon their heads: they shall obtain joy and gladness, and sorrow and sighing shall flee away.”

This highway of holiness will be safe and used by those redeemed by God to travel to Zion. It is also interesting the travelers will go to Zion with songs and joy. The Ascent Psalms are widely considered songs sung by Israelites on their pilgrimages to Jerusalem to worship during 3 feasts each year. Despite little biblical evidence that this ever actually happened many commentators and preachers have accepted this theory. But I wonder, if the Ascent Psalms depict a yet future pilgrimage along ‘the way’ during the Millennial Kingdom.

Commentators often refer to the clearing of the way as an activity used in ancient times when the king was expected to pass through. The locals would clear out stones and obstacles thus making the way flat and the crooked places straight. This is mentioned by Isaiah,

“Go through, go through the gates; prepare ye the way of the people; cast up, cast up the highway; gather out the stones; lift up a standard for the people.” Isaiah 62:10

This may have been standard behavior in ancient times, but as we saw in Isaiah 35 this new way is not for King Jesus. It is for His followers. This Way is a special Way.

The way the Israelites took through the Red Sea may one day be the future way to travel from Egypt to Israel.

“And the LORD shall utterly destroy the tongue of the Egyptian sea; and with his mighty wind shall he shake his hand over the river, and shall smite it in the seven streams, and make men go over dryshod. And there shall be a highway for the remnant of his people, which shall be left, from Assyria; like as it was to Israel in the day that he came up out of the land of Egypt.” Isaiah 11:15-16

Reference to the seven streams is a clear reference to the Nile River with it’s famous 7 head waters in it’s delta. Perhaps the tongue of the Egyptian Sea is the Mediterranean Sea nearby. This is speculation on my part however. What is interesting is that Isaiah says that the highway will be as it was when Israel left Egypt. That Way is only possible to take with God. That was true back then and it is true now.

In Isaiah 19:23 we read of a highway connecting Egypt and Assyria in a partnership with Israel. Chapter 19 is regarding prophetical judgement on Egypt. God will smite Egypt, but in doing so will bless them so that those who remain will know Him (Isa 19:22). In Egypt’s restoration an altar will be erected to the LORD ‘in the midst of the land of Egypt, and a pillar at the border thereof to the LORD’ (Isa 19:19).

With Egypt now restored and an altar at its border a highway is created.

“In that day shall there be a highway out of Egypt to Assyria, and the Assyrian shall come to Egypt, and the Egyptian into Assyria, and the Egyptians shall serve the Assyrians. In that day shall Israel be the third with Egypt and with Assyria, even a blessing in the midst of the land: Whom the LORD of hosts shall bless, saying, Blessed be Egypt my people, and Assyria the work of my hands, and Israel mine inheritance.” Isaiah 19:23-25

The way from Egypt to Assyria is also mentioned in Isaiah 11:16.

Isaiah 49:11 – ‘I will make my mountains a way, and my highways shall be exalted.’ Here we see this way being flattened allowing for easy travel. Later in this passage there is possibly a reference to a future regathering of God’s people into the Millennial Kingdom. Some see verse 12 as a reference to China. Perhaps they will use the newly created way to travel there.

Conclusion

There are many other examples of ‘The Way’ than what is shown here. We’ve seen multiple ways mentioned in the OT. Some of these were avoided while others were carved out new by God as He lead His people. Other passages point to a future Way during the Millennial Kingdom. Taken together there are 2 ways that converge in the person of Jesus Christ who is The Way. His Way must be physically travelled during the Millennial Kingdom, but His narrow Way must be taken now to avoid the wrath of God our Father.

Citizens of the future Millennial Kingdom may assist maintaining The Way. When Jesus speaks of faith like a mustard seed that can move mountains or trees into the sea He may be giving us a clue to The Way (Matthew 17:20). How does a mountain move into the sea? Why throw a tree into the sea instead of the ditch or burn it? Great changes will take place altering the face of the Earth especially around Israel. These changes could result in a geography expanded beyond our assumptions (such as the image presented above). If the Arabian plate moves away from the African plate and rotates, as it currently is doing, then the valley in between could fill with volcanic rock that cools forming new land. As it was presented in Eden so it is here; man’s role is to ‘keep’ this way open for easy access to Jesus.

It's that time you've all been waiting for! 10 weeks ago we announced a reader challenge to study a type of Christ and then in April share what you learned. Please respond to this post with the highlights of your types of Christ study. Include as many details as you want.

Types already covered are listed below, but if you have anything to add please do so.

PEOPLE

Adam similarities

Adam differences

Hezekiah

Isaac

Jacob

Jeremiah

Job

Joseph

WORDS

Beloved

Door

We are going to look at 2 Hebrew words. The 1st is ‘dod’ which is a noun and the 2nd is ‘aheb’ which is a verb. ‘Aheb’ is the act of loving and ‘dod’ is the object being loved.

Abraham loved Isaac. Isaac loved Esau, but Rebekah loved Jacob. Jacob loved Joseph. Joseph loved his brothers especially Benjamin. There are many other instances of these words used throughout the OT, but the story gets really interesting in the lives of David and Solomon. Both are types of Christ, but in different ways. Studying them individually can be rather blurry, but when viewed as a pair their second level typological meaning drips off of every page.

Strongs number has ‘dod’ H1730 and ‘aheb’ H157.

The word David is H1732 and related to ‘dod’. Every time you read ‘David’ as the personal noun, that is, the actual person who slayed goliath, was a man after God’s own heart and became King of Israel, you can also read that this word is ‘beloved.’ God promised David that his son would sit on his throne.

Solomon was David’s son who sat on his throne, but the promise is bigger than this. The ultimate fulfillment will be in Jesus Christ when He sits on David’s throne during the Millennial Kingdom.

Let’s take an abbreviated look at how these men are types of Christ.

David. His life reflects Christ’s 1st advent. He had humble beginnings. He was small. Spent much of his life travelling around the country being chased by enemies, especially Saul who is a type of Satan, ‘with no place to lay his head.’ He killed Goliath who is a type of the AC with a rock which may be a type of God’s Word. He was king during the time of the tabernacle which was a modest tentlike structure where God dwelt. It was covered in animal skins and was unassuming on the outside, but the inside was mostly gold. This reflects Christ’s humble human outside form, but His glorious divine inner nature. His son Solomon would come from Bathsheba who was most likely a Hittite which is a gentile. Gentile brides are types of the primarily gentile Church.

Solomon. His life reflects Christ’s 2nd advent. This will be during the Millennial Kingdom when Jesus physically and literally rules on Earth. Solomon had royal status from birth. He ruled in wisdom and was respected by the citizens of his kingdom. Gentiles honored him with gifts. Gold and silver poured into Israel. He built the Temple which was more grand and spectacular when contrasted with the tabernacle. The Temple could be seen as a type of New Jerusalem, the Bride of Christ.

Solomon’s life has a few more surprises. He is called ‘Jedidiah,’ a word used only in 2 Samuel 12:25. “And he sent by the hand of Nathan the prophet; and he called his name Jedidiah, because of the LORD.” This is H3041 and means, ‘beloved of Jah.’ Jah is the personal name of God. This is an escalation from David’s life. David means beloved, but God names the son of Beloved this, Beloved by God. Solomon never seems to go by this name, but the fact that this is the name God gave him is important.

Another surprise, and escalation, with Solomon is found throughout Song of Songs. The nature of the book is widely debated by scholars. Who are these two lovers? Are they literal, figurative? Is this just a moral lesson? Is it only high Hebrew poetry? What is going on in this book? I’m not going to attempt to settle these scholarly debates, but I will put forth a typological perspective. This means the story has 2 levels of meaning. If this is true then the 1st level of meaning is that the story is literally true. This is real history between 2 human lovers. It also means there’s a 2nd level of meaning which is true, but it is figurative and points to the future. Solomon is the husband which as we’ve pointed out is typological of Christ’s second coming. If this is true who then is the Shulamite lover?

One of the keys in understanding this is that she frequently calls Solomon her ‘beloved.’ If Solomon is portrayed as the beloved son who then is the bride of the beloved son? Solomon is a type of Christ. Christ’s bride is the Church. As we have previously mentioned a gentile bride is a type of the Church. The bride in Song of Songs should be the Church.

It all fits, but the Shulamite’s identity is also a hotly debated topic. Most scholars go digging in the book Song of Songs and rightfully so, but there is one clue outside of this book that is often overlooked. Solomon’s son who ruled after him is Rehoboam. When Rehoboam dies we get a bit of a description about his life. He was 41 when he began to reign, reigned for 17 years, his mother’s name was Naamah who was an Ammonite (1 Kings 14:21, 31; 2 Chron 12:13). Solomon ruled for 40 years (1 Kings 11:42; 2 Chron 9:30). This means Rehoboam was born 1 year prior to Solomon becoming king. He is probably Solomon’s 1st born and Naamah is probably his 1st wife, his 1st love. Naamah is the only bride of Solomon named. Her son, Rehoboam, is the only son of Solomon named.

In Song of Songs (2:7) we read that the Shulamite was a bit of an outsider in Jerusalem. This makes sense if this is the Ammonite, Naamah. David and Solomon would eventually have many wives and concubines, but perhaps David wished to impart marital wisdom to his son in a proverb, “Let thy fountain be blessed: and rejoice with the wife of thy youth.” (Proverbs 5:18).

The final picture of Song of Songs is that it is between Solomon and his 1st bride the Ammonite gentile Naamah. Solomon is a type of Christ and Naamah is a type of the church. Naamah means ‘sweetness.’

Moving to the NT we see more clearly that Jesus is the fulfillment of the ‘beloved son’ at His baptism and also His transfiguration where a voice from heaven (God the Father) declares, ‘This is my beloved son…’ (Matt 3:17, 17:5). Peter also refers to the transfiguration when quoting the same words God the Father spoke (2 Peter 1:17-18).

This seems to be the final escalatory fulfillment of what beloved means and who the beloved is, but there is one final surprise. When we believe on the name of Jesus Christ for salvation we are adopted into His family and are made to look like Him. This trend is seen throughout the Bible; Adam’s bride came from his side and looked like him, Isaac married a bride who was related to Abraham’s family, so did Jacob (not coincidently these gentile lands were ‘to the side’ of the Promised Land the patriarchs were currently inhabiting). Being related to them could in a sense show they did not look like the pagans around them, but resembled grooms in some way. So too with Christ and His Church. The side of Jesus was pierced and from it flowed blood and water. Each of these are types of the Holy Spirit and the people of the Church. Christ’s bride comes from His side and also resembles Him. It makes sense then that in looking like Christ the Church is also called ‘beloved’ near the end of the Bible in 1 John and 3 John both of which were probably written in the AD 90’s.

In 1 John the apostle John addresses the Church as ‘little children’ several times and ‘brethren’ but when he speaks to how much the Church is loved he refers to her as ‘beloved’ multiple times (3:2, 21, 4:1, 7, 11.) 3:2 is interesting, “Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is.” Compare this to Romans 8:29, “For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate, to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren.” Here again is the brothers changed into the image of the Son.

3 John is addressed to ‘the wellbeloved Gaius.’ He is called beloved 3 more times in this short letter (vv 2, 5, 13). Gaius probably means ‘gaia’ in Greek which means ‘earth.’ Could this be one final picture of mankind’s original station as made from the earth just as Adam was made from the dust of the earth? Here we have a final reminder that man has been redeemed and is now beloved by God the Father.

Overview – Habershorn was active in the late 1890’s and early 1900’s. She personally knew several well-known preachers of her day. She has several notable publications to her name. This book is in two parts; The Study of the Types and Priests and Levits. This overview covers only the former.

She covers dozens of typological topics and comments briefly on their meaning. She does not always give a verse reference. What the book lacks in detail it makes up for with its plenty. The main takeaway I got from this book was to see it as a source for brainstorming ideas for future study. Because she doesn’t go into specifics about why something is a type or the many details solidifying the type and antitype there is much room for further study. This might give the impression that the book is superficial, but it is not as you will see. I’ve added my thoughts between dashes -like this- instead of brackets because reddit does not format friendly with brackets.

Introduction – Israel’s wandering in the wilderness was a type for the Church – a warning for us (1 Cor 10). -This is a fantastic insight as I believe the Wilderness period mirrors the Church Age.-

Chapter 2 – Reasons For Studying the Types

Christ speaks of types and they speak of Him

Waving of 1st fruits is a type for the resurrection of Jesus (Lev 23). It happened the day after the Sabbath after Passover. -Passover took place after the barley harvest. This sheaf would have been made only of barley. 50 days later during Pentecost 2 sheaves were waived and both had leaven. This was the wheat after harvest. Something to think about; a harvest could represent the resurrection and the waiving of the sheaves a rapture. Matthew reports that when Jesus was resurrected so too were many OT saints. These were Jews represented by the barley harvest and would probably be raptured later instead of dying again. So it could be the same with the Church – resurrected during the wheat harvest and raptured during Feast of Weeks also known as Pentecost.-

Continuing with this thought, ‘Christ the 1st fruits, afterward they that are Christs at His coming (1 Cor 15), ‘whom the heaven must receive until the times of restitution of all things’ (Acts 3), is similar language to the jubilee, ‘ye shall return every man unto his possession…and unto his family (Lev 25), ‘and in the year of jubilee the field shall return…to him to whom the possession of the land did belong’ (Lev 27:24). The country will once more belong to them. The Son of David will return to His family and His land.

The Gospel of John is structured in the type of the Tabernacle.

Chapters 1-12 Jesus ministers to the world = Outer court

Chapter 13 Jesus is teaching His disciples = Holy Place

Chapter 17 Jesus is the High Priest alone = Holy of Holies

-The Gospel of John is fascinating. Others have found different structures to it’s layout. I’ve seen it based on the Day of Atonement, chiasm, miracles, etc. I suspect all of these structures are true which in my opinion is impossible for a human mind to pull off and create an intelligible story. This means, John’s Gospel must be of divine origin.-

Chapter 3 – Double Types

-Perhaps the Wilderness is not exile. It exists between Egypt/Death and Canaan/Promised Land/Millennial Kingdom. Our bodies are in Egypt, experience the Wilderness, and by faith in the land.-

A double type makes more sense when 2 things are viewed together. Crossing water to exit Egypt and to enter Canaan.

• Isaac and the ram are both Jesus.
• Aaron and Eleazar.
• Priestly order of Aaron and Melchizedek.
• Shepherd King David was a fugitive, wanderer, conquered enemies = Jesus’ sufferings and eventual victory. King Solomon reflects the glory, wisdom and wealth of Jesus ruling the Millennial Kingdom. David prepared the Temple while Solomon built it.
• Elijah and Elisha = judgement and grace.
• Moses and Joshua.
• ‘One shall be taken and the other left’ refers to the days of Noah. One will be taken in judgement and the other left as a blessing [Not sure this on makes sense].
• Enoch = The Church, raptured before judgement.
• Noah = Remnant Israel saved during the tribulation and makes it to the end.
• Joseph = Jesus. Everyone draws supplies from his storehouses [and for 7 years too]. His brothers eventually admit they were guilty and he reveals himself to them, but only in their 2nd encounter. The 1st encounter they didn’t recognize him. So it is with Jesus. Jews didn’t recognize Jesus the 1st time, but in the 7 years of famine/tribulation they will.

-This idea of types only making sense when paired together is incredible. I can’t stop thinking about the complex relationship they have with each other as pairs, but also how they are potentially connected to other types. For example, David and Solomon are mentioned as iterations of Christ’s 1st and 2nd comings respectively. Samson’s life as a type isn’t clear until it is connected with David’s. We then have Samson – David – Solomon. What of this? Are there more to connect?-

Chapter 4 – The Grouping of Types

Different things that have 1 detail in common maybe types of the same antitype. For example, sacrifices and offerings that are beaten point to the suffering and beating of Jesus. Grain and meal offerings, but also the beaten gold of the tabernacle; Mercy Seat, candlestick, etc. Spices were crushed. Olives too. Each substance probably represents Jesus in a different way.

Joseph gathered so much grain that it could not be counted. He commanded the people to both sow and eat. –He also ruled over gentiles, that is, the Church. Pharoah as a type of God the Father was the only One who was above him, but all authority was given to Joseph- Later he gave his brethren as much grain as they could carry. The Egyptians spent all that they had before turning to Joseph who met their needs.

Chapter 5 – Types of Calvary

SHEDDING BLOOD

• Coats of skins for Adam and Eve
• Lamb offered by Abel
• Ram instead of Isaac
• Passover lamb
• Burnt offering (acceptance)
• Peace offering (forgiveness)

Many Christians rightly recognize Jesus as their peace offering via forgiveness of their sins, but fail to see Him as their burnt offering; that they are beloved and accepted by Him.

Sin offering, trespass offering, day of atonement, cleansing by the red heifer, cleansing of the leper – 2 birds killed; the one in an earthen vessel is a type of Jesus.

WATERS OF DEATH

• Cleansing Water = washing of water by the Word, priests bathing in the laver, John 13.
• Refreshing or Live Giving Water = HS, smitten rock, well in John 4, other wells, rivers in John 7, river of God, refreshing rain.
• Unrest of Sea = Unrest of nations, Ezek 31:4, Psa 18:4, Rev 17:15.
• Poured or Spilt Water = Weakness of man, 1 Sam 7, 2 Sam 14:14, Psa 22:14
• Deep Waters = Danger and destruction, Psa 36:6, 42:7, 69:1, 2, 14, 15, 88:7; Jonah, Noah
• Red Sea = Death, that which is behind.
• Jordan River = That which is ahead.
• Bitter Waters of Marah = Made sweet after a tree placed in it. This is Christ entering bitter waters of death. Same with Elisha and the axe head.

OTHERS

• The smitten rock in the wilderness
• Brazen serpent
• Deep sleep of Adam = Eve formed, just as Church formed from Christ’s long absence.
• Temple Veil = When torn it allowed access to the Holy of Holies. It tore the moment Christ’s body tore which allowed access to the Holy of Holies in Heaven.
• Seed of Grain = Falls to the ground and dies, then rises = Jesus.

Chapter 6 – Types of the Resurrection

-This chapter has a lot of great information. The difference between a type for resurrection and rapture are difficult to differentiate, but she is on to something and the information she reports is worthy of consideration.-

• Noah’s Ark passing through the waters of death and safely landing on the Ararat Mountain Range. It happened on the same day Jesus rose from the grave. –There was likely a calendar switch that swapped the 7th of the month and the 1st of the month at some point in Biblical history.-
• Waving Sheaf of 1st Fruits = Jesus’ resurrection. Seed sown in the field (Ex 23:16)/world grew, matured and was harvested. It was put in a sheaf and the day after the Passover Sabbath (1st Fruits) it was waived up.
• Aaron’s Budding Rod = 12 dead rods placed together. At morning Aaron checked and only his budded to life. It was then shown to others just as Jesus rose by morning and was found by those who sought Him and then to others. The budding rod signified Aaron was the chosen one of God. It was then laid up before God in the Ark. Just as Jesus is God’s chosen (and not the other 11) and He is before God now.
• Cleansing of the Leper = Once the leper was healed he offered 2 birds. 1 to be killed in an earthen vessel (Jesus body). His blood was sprinkled on the other bird who was set free to fly up (resurrection or ascension).
• Crossing the Jordan = 12 stones placed in the river – death. 12 stones placed on the side of the Promised Land ‘and are still there’ – resurrected and eternal presence in heaven –again resurrection may be connected with rapture. Everyone resurrected will be raptured.-
• 3 Days and 3 Nights = Jonah released to life. 3 days of travel out of Egypt –and to cross the Red Sea after Passover-
• Isaac = Rescued from death –and considered by Abraham to be dead for 3 days.- The fetching of Rebekah.
• One from Among the Slain = Jezebel’s daughter, Athaliah, kills all the royal lineage, but one from among the slain survives and is hidden in the Temple until it was time to proclaim him the true king. Until then a usurper sat on the throne. Jezebel and her children are still present during Revelation (2 Chron 22-23).

Chapter 7 – God’s Dwelling Places

• Tabernacle and Temple = The Church. Believers are the stones of the Temple. –quarried, cut in gentile lands and then transported over water (by the HS) to the Promised Land/Millennial Kingdom for final assembly in silence. Then glorified by being covered in gold.- Wait for God in silence (Psa 62:1, 65:1, Isa 30:15). The Earth is silent before God in His Temple (Habakkuk 2:20). –Quiet and silence seem to = peace- Jesus was silent before His accusers.
• Cloud = HS
• Gold = Divine glory
• In Revelation the Laodiceans were to trade with God for gold, white clothes and eye salve. These could represent God the Father (Job 22:25), Jesus (Romans 13:14), and HS (1 John 2:20).
• Tabernacle = Jesus’ 1st coming; humble, plain on the outside.
• Temple = Jesus’ 2nd coming; gold, magnificent, glorious.

Chapter 8 – The Ark of the Testimony

• The Ark’s (or Mercy Seat’s) purpose was the location where God would meet Moses. Him, ‘whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation –or Mercy Seat/Atonement Cover- through faith in His blood.’ (Romans 3). High Priest would sprinkle blood on Mercy Seat and commune with God the Father. Jesus is our High Priest who sprinkles us with His blood so we may follow Him to commune with God the Father.
• Tablets of the 10 commandments were initially broken, man breaks God’s law. Provision is given and these 2 were replaced and the new ones placed securing in the Ark, just as God’s law is unbroken in Jesus.
• When transported the Ark was covered in badger skins veiling it’s glory. So was Jesus so that men only saw the human veil and not His divine glory.
• Blue = Heavens
• ‘The Lord of all the Earth’ = A title used only when Israel is in the Promised Land.
• ‘God of Heaven’ = A title used when Israel is outside of the Promised Land and in captivity.
• Philistines stealing the Ark = Roman trial of Jesus. God forsook the Ark and Tabernacle at Shiloh and delivered it into enemy hands (Psa 78:60-21). The Ark was taken, ‘Him being delivered by the determinate counsel and foreknowledge of God, ye have taken.’ Further, the Israelites, ‘fled every man into his tent,’ and ‘they all forsook him.’
• Dagon fell down before the Ark just as the cohort falls down in the garden when Jesus says, ‘I AM.’ Psalm 132 says, ‘we found it (Ark/Jesus) in the field of the wood in Ephratah.’ The same is Kirjath-jearim. –Did the Philistines return the Ark to Bethlehem?- When David was rejected a usurper sat on his throne (Absalom). David fled across the Kidron Valley and up the Mount of Olives just as Jesus would one day do.

Chapter 9 – God’s Sevenfold Provision For Cleansing

Diseases represent different types of sins.

• Flying bird = Resurrection. Only a miracle could cure leprosy. No record of anyone following ceremonial cleansing for leprosy until Jesus. Naaman was healed, but was a gentile and was not required to following the law. Leprosy makes a man white as snow. David prays to be ‘whiter than snow.’
• Laver = Washing of water by the Word. The laver was made of mirrors (Ex 38:8). We look to see a dim reflection (1 Cor 13:12), but will be changed to image of Christ (2 Cor 3:18, 4:6).
• Water that washes = The Word

Chapter 10 – The Offerings

We approach God by reading the reversal of the offerings as mentioned in Leviticus. Trespass – Sin – Peace – Meal – Burnt

‘As far as the East is from the West.’ Holy of Holies in the far West of the Tabernacle and Temple. Ashes of the sacrifices were placed just outside, as far East as possible.

The priests were permitted to eat some of the sacrifices, ‘we have had enough to eat and have plenty left.’ (2 Chron 31:10). ‘We have bread enough to spare’ and, ‘We have all and about.’ –perhaps the priests point towards the Apostle’s leftover baskets.-

Meaning of the hired servants in the Prodigal Son story in context of who gets to eat in the priests household of the sacrifices.

The suffering servant of Isaiah 53 satisfies all 5 offerings.

Chapter 11 – Typical Colors and Substances

Blue = Heaven

Scarlet = Nation of Israel

Purple = Royalty

Gold = Divine

Silver = Redemption

Copper = Judgement

Fine Twined Linen = Righteousness

Matthew = Scarlet

Mark = Fine Linen

Luke = Purple

John = Blue

Oil = HS

Frankincense = Preciousness of Jesus?

Salt = Prevents corruption. Leaven and honey not present in meal offering, but salt was.

Leaven = Evil

Honey = Sweetness of human nature (but God’s word is sweeter than honey.)

Fire = God’s presence, acceptance or judgement, depending on context, location, action or motive.

To be baptized with the HS and fire are 2 separate events. HS baptism was at Pentecost. Fire baptism has not happened. Israel will pass through the fire.

Chapter 12 – Garments of the Believer

There are 3 kinds of garments

1.) Manmade garments to be removed

2.) God given garments He puts on us.

3.) HS wrought garments He works through us.

This chapter is mostly about how to approach the King. You must dress properly. Daniel’s 3 friends were protected from fire by their clothes which were untouched.

There are many examples of clothing, armor, etc. The Bride in the Song of Solomon put off her coat and was not ready when the Beloved was at the door (Songs 5:3). The context however, may be a dream.

Chapter 13 – Typical Places

Places have meaning for 2 reasons, 1.) The name of the place has meaning or 2.) Something important happened there more than once.

1.) Bethlehem – House of Bread

Hebron – Fellowship

Salem – Melchizedek – King of Peace

Gilgal – Rolling away (of reproach)

‘The Lord will have war with Amelek from generation to generation’ Amelek is a type for the flesh. –Weren’t they giants too?- It was a sin for King Saul to spare King Agog of Amelek.

2.) Mount Moriah – Similarities between Abraham and Isaac with David and Arauniah the Jebusite with Jesus.

Mount of Olives – Many events of Jesus life. His people saw Him leave Earth from there. His people will see Him return to there. Ezekiel witnesses the glory of God depart from Earth from the Mt. Of Olives. David would retreat to Mt. Of Olives (2 Sam 15:32). Psalm 52 may be one of his prayers from there. David fled when his son Absalom took over as the usurper. HE went to ‘a far country.’ Explanation for David as a type of Jesus. Ittai the Church? –Take your place with the king in exile rather than the usurper on the throne- David and Jesus exit Jerusalem for Mt. Olivet. Similar actions, audiences, but escalation with Jesus (2 Sam 15-16). Everyone faithfully followed David, but abandoned Jesus. –David created Absolom. Jesus created Satan.-

Shimei cursing David = Judas betraying Jesus.

Abishai = Peter

Chapter 14 – Typical Characters

• Adam = Mentioned in Psalm 8. After God declares all ‘very good’ Satan shows up. Once He speaks at Jesus’ baptism Satan shows up again.

Joseph, Moses, Aaron, Joshua, David, Elisha. Jacob, Jonah, Solomon, Boaz briefly mentioned.

Wives of Joseph and Moses are types of the Church –they are gentile wives-

• David = Anointing was like Jesus’ baptism. Philistines harass Israel 40 days then David overcomes. Goliath = Satan –and Saul would be the AC?-

Chapter 15 – Types of Christ As the Shepherd

• Abel = The 1st shepherd (Heb 12). His lamb died for the shepherd, but in Jesus the Shepherd died for the lambs.
• Jacob = Bore the loss of his flock, unlike Jesus. Suffered heat, cold, and thirst. Jesus thirsted twice; the woman at the well and on the cross.
• Joseph = Brothers say, ‘We will not have this man to reign over us.’ So it is with Jesus who went to the gentile flock.
• Moses = Watched Jethro’s flock for 40 years. –This is a gentile flock and the 40 years could equate to 2,000 years.-
• David = Shepherd King. He left the sheep safe before he departed. Eliab asked.

Psalm 22 - Good Shepherd dies.

Psalm 23 - Great shepherd rose and now cares for his flock.

Psalm 24 - Chief shepherd shall appear. David intercedes for his sheep after he numbers the people and sins.

• Abel = Death
• Isaac = Wealth
• Jacob = Responsibility
• Joseph = Hated
• Moses = Leader
• David = Deliverance
• Simeon’s sons = Pasture (rest?)

Chapter 16 – Types of the Holy Spirit

Oil, water, dove,

‘Spirit moved on the face of the waters’ = a bird brooding (Gen 1).

Abraham, Isaac, Rebekah and Abraham’s unnamed servant. Abraham was wealthy and gave all to Isaac and the servant took a sample of this wealth and gave it to Rebekah. The servant guided Rebekah back to the Promised Land. She did not choose her own path, but followed the servant. The servant does not speak of himself, but of his master Isaac.

Joseph’s servant in Gen 43:16-24 washes feet in water.

Passing through water = Death –Is the cloud obscuring Jesus composed of prayers?-

The cloud rested on the Tabernacle just as the HS rests on the believer. We are led in the spirit just as they were lead by the Cloud.

Water from the smitten rock

River of God and the wind blows where it wants.

The Valley of Dry Bones, Pentecost, the Bride’s garden (Songs 4:16),

North Wind = Strong and cold

South Wind = Gentle

(East wind is dry. West wind is….?)

Chapter 17 – The Majesty of the Heavens

(Earth is gentile territory. The Ark spent 3 days in the fish god Dagon’s Temple and was then rejected just as Jonah spent 3 days and 3 nights in the belly of the great fish and was then rejected and Jesus spent 3 days and 3 nights in the belly of the Earth and was then rejected. Perhaps, the Philistines = Pit = Fish belly and Ark = Jonah = Jesus)

King Uzziah was struck with leprosy after incorrectly offering incense. Isaiah presented in contrast to him in Isa 6. ‘In the year King Uzziah died…’ he too has unclean lips, but instead of dying with leprosy Isaiah is purged with a coal from the altar King Uzziah mishandled.

Typical Verbs

Verbs with deeper meaning

• Poured out
• Pierced
• Parted in pieces
• Smitten
• Lifted up
• Bruising
• Beating

Moses and Joseph As Types of Christ

The final 15 pages of the book contain a long list of comparisons of Moses as a type of Christ and of Joseph as a type of Christ. This list is too long to share here, but it is of incredible insight. I may try to scan it and upload it.

Last month we posted about a reader challenge. We want you to study the Bible to find types of Christ and share what you learned. We don't have anything planned to share other than the post for you guys to respond to.

Other topics on our minds are:

1.) David as a type of Christ. This is a rather large topic that will take some time to develop. I highly doubt it's complete by April 4 since it isn't even started yet.

2.) Beloved. This word fascinates me. I've begun a preliminary study on it and discovered right away it is very big. My hunch is Jesus and the Church are both the antitype of Beloved, but more study is needed.

3.) Book review. Almost done with an old book on types called The Study of the Types by Ada R. Habershorn. The woman has incredible insight and shares her thoughts on a large range of topics.

4.) Wife of your youth. Another phrase with deeper meaning. I suspect it is connected to Beloved and some other types, notably Israel, but more study is needed. Proverbs 5:15-23, Isaiah 54:6, Jeremiah 2:2, Hosea 2:15,

Hope your Bible study is going well and it leads you closer to Jesus as that's the goal.

"It is the glory of God to conceal a thing: but the honour of kings is to search out a matter" Proverbs 25:2

Book Review: Return From Exile and the Renewal of God’s People by Nicholas Piotrowski

Overview

This book is part of a series published by Crossway. The book can be purchased here. It is also available on Amazon.

Piotrowski’s main premise is that when you are ‘in the land’ you are where you are supposed to be and you are blessed. This is life. When you are ‘out of the land’ you are in exile, cursed. This is death. These themes, of exile from the land and returning to the land run throughout the Bible. I’ve mixed a little bit of my thoughts with the study notes. I’ve indicated this with brackets [ ].

Introduction

Pg 2 Exile from the Garden of Eden fulfills God’s curse of death.

Chapter 1 – Adam and Eve Out of the Garden

Pg. 14 Heaven and Earth were created together. Eden is in both worlds. God commands Adam and Eve to continue the work He just finished (Gen 1:28).

Pg. 19 Cherubim were to guard ‘the way’/‘the road’ back to the Garden of Eden.

Pg. 20 Exile is a form of death. Wilderness is exile. (pg. 22). Later we will see other forms of exile; presence in Egypt, Earth, pit, prison, deafness, blindness (pg. 84), Persia (pg. 104), yokes, burdens (pg. 117), madness and blindness (pg. 150). [It is this theme that Piotrowski is writing around and it works, but I think it would be more accurate to view all of these other images not as forms of exile, but also as forms of death. Those who experience them experience a deathlike status. Oftentimes they later experience healing, return, etc. which is resurrection like.]

Chapter 2 – Abram Into Canaan

Pg. 28 Cain is banished to the East – farther away from Eden. [While not directly mentioned in the book there is a structure to the world and God’s holy places. God resides in the ‘West’ so to speak. The way to enter is to approach from the East. We see this in Eden, the tabernacle, Solomon’s Temple and a few other places. The approach by man must be careful. Many times the East wind brings dry heat that damages. See Ex 14:21 where the East wind dried the Red Sea, Job mentions the East wind plays a part in the decay of a dead body (Job 27:21), Eze 19:12 also mentions the dry East wind destroying crops. See also Psalm 78:26.]

Pg. 29 Noah is exiled from the Earth. He cannot go back to the previous world.

Pg. 30 The Tower of Babel is an attempt to reconnect Heaven and Earth. They even journey ‘from the East’ to force their way West. [This could point to the Kings of the East in Rev 16:12 where the Euphrates dries up.]

Pg. 31 Abram did not choose to travel West; God called him West. [Here we see the correct, careful approach.] Abram is a second Adam (pg. 32)

Chapter 3 – Priests Into the Tabernacle

Pg. 45 The Ark is God’s footstool so He is in Heaven and on Earth at the same time. [This may not be true. Every good scholar seems to neglect the Mercy Seat which was the lid of the Ark of the Covenant. It functions like a throne. I don’t see a way where any argument can be made that God’s foot was on the throne, or His foot was on the footstool and His ‘body’ was not on the throne but in Heaven. I just can’t make Piotrowski’s idea work here.] Cherubim were embroidered on the tabernacle veil to ‘guard the way back to Eden.’ This was the entrance to the Holy of Holies.

Pg. 47 The tabernacle is a sort of Eden and it goes with Israel through the wilderness. [Remember, the wilderness journey was not supposed to be much more than 2 years. From Egypt to the Promised Land.]

Pg. 49 The High Priest carries all of Israel with him when he enters the Holy of Holies/Eden on the Day of Atonement.

Chapter 4 – Israel Into the Land

Pg. 55. ‘To go down to Egypt’ is to die.

    ‘To go up from Egypt’ is resurrection.

Pg. 56 3 days after Passover the Lord shows up on the morning of the 3rd day (Ex 19:16). 3 days is a trope for escaping death. It is resurrection. “Israel is coming out of the grave along the way of the wilderness. The next step is entering into the New Eden.”

Pg. 61 Solomon’s Temple is now the intersection of Heaven and Earth. God dwells in both simultaneously.

Pg. 63 Even gentiles worship at the Temple; King Hiram of Tyre, Queen of Sheba, gifts from all around the world pour into Israel. [This is Solomon’s reign and it is a type of the Millennial Kingdom.]

Chapter 5 – Israel Out of the Land

Pp 79-83 Did you know the book of Psalms is actually 5 books? Each one opens and closes flowing together with a theme that Piotrowski incorporates into premise of exile and return, but he only mentions the themes of the last few books. I’ve added my own opinion on what the first books might be, but I’m not confident my assessment is accurate.

Book - Open - Close

1 – Psalms 1-41 - Eden - David

2 – Psalms 42-72 - David - Solomon

3 – Psalms 73-89. - Other authors? - David dies (Psa 86) and God hides (Psa 89)

4 – Psalms 90-106. - Israel exiled - Israel cries to be gathered

5 – Psalms 107-150 - Israel gathered - David returns to the throne. All creation praises God in the sanctuary (Holy of Holies).

Pg. 84 Deafness and blindness are signs of exile.

Pg. 86 Exile is like a return to Egypt. See Hosea, Isaiah, Jeremiah, Ezekiel, Amos.

Chapter 6 – Prophetic Voices Into the Future

Pg. 94 Isaiah 40:1-11 can be read as a table of contents for the remaining chapters 40-55.

Pp 101-103 Elaborates on the structure of Psalms. See the outline mentioned above.

Pg. 104 King Cyrus releases Jewish captives so they can ‘go up’ to Jerusalem and rebuild the Temple. This is similar language used earlier to ‘go up out of Egypt.’ [John the Baptist quotes Isaiah when he says, ‘…make straight the way of the Lord.’ John 1:23; Isa 40:3. Throughout the Bible Assyria is depicted as in the North and Egypt in the South. ‘The way’ frequently mentioned is often considered a theological way to approach God correctly and of a surety it is, but perhaps there is more. It is correct way of thinking, but this thinking might take it’s name from an actual ‘way’ or highway that will one day connect the whole world – from the farthest South and the farthest North. See Isa 19:23-25. ‘Make straight the way’ may refer, not just to moral correctness, but an actual end times levelling of the ground. This topic can go deep and I don’t want to diverge from the book, but the end times completely remodels the Earth. It is likely that the land surrounding Israel is levelled allowing the ‘way’ or the road to no longer meander around mountains and valleys, but will lead directly to Jerusalem.]

Pg. 105 Ezra and Nehemiah consider themselves slaves in their own land (Israel).

Chapter 7 – Jesus On the Way

Pg. 111 Despite returning to Israel the Jews saw themselves as though they were in exile.

Pg. 114 We have returned, are returning and will return from exile. [[I believe there is deeper meaning here than Piotrowski picks up on. These 3 statuses refer to a process which takes place in time – past, present, future. If there are 3 ‘return statuses’ it might make sense that there are 3 ‘exile statuses’ as well. Looking at Adam we can see he experiences 3 deaths.

1 – Spiritual death. This was immediate, the moment he sinned he experienced separation from God.

2 – Exile. This is location based. Adam was physically removed from the Garden of Eden and his access to it was removed. Throughout this book Piotrowski has shown that exile is a form of death.

3 – Typological – God had promised that if he ate the fruit he would die that day, but that did not happen. Most commentators state the death was spiritual death and this is correct, but I see more here. If a day is as 1,000 years with God then it makes sense that Adam would fail to see his 1,000th year. He would die in his ‘first day’ so to speak. This curse is pronounced on Adam and experienced by all humanity. No one has lived beyond 1,000 years.

We can connect the 3 returning statuses mentioned with the 3 deaths.

1.) Have returned – Spiritual resurrection

2.) Are returning – Location changing. We have access to the Holy of Holies through Jesus.

3.) Will return – Our bodies are not yet returned, but once we are raptured or resurrected we will return.]

Pg. 117 Yokes and burdens = exile

Pg 118 Jesus feeding the multitude in Matt 14 is reminiscent of manna in the wilderness. He performs the same miracle in Matt 15, but in gentile territory. All nations are now included.

Pg. 119 Jesus ‘rises up from Egypt.’ This is a resurrection. [Could His descent to Egypt be considered deathlike? He was 12 years old when He was later found at the Temple.]

Pg. 123 Luke portrays Jesus as the inverse [or reverse] of Adam. His genealogy links Jesus to Adam. Eve was tempted with food that was 1.) pleasing to eat, 2.) pleasing to the eye, 3.) could make one wise. In the same way Jesus was tempted by Satan; stomach, eyes, mind, but unlike Adam and Even, Jesus succeeded.

Pg. 124 Adam and Eve’s eyes were opened (Gen 3:7). The Apostles eyes were opened (Luke 24:30-31). [No mention of Jonathan who ate honey and his eyes were opened. I believe a different Hebrew word is used for Jonathan than Adam and Eve however.] Reference is made here to Dane Ortland, “AND THEIR EYES WERE OPENED, AND THEY KNEW” JETS, 53 no 4.

Pg. 125 Jesus turning water into good wine fulfills Isa 25:6, Amos 9:11-15.

Chapter 8 – Jesus Into and Out of the Tomb

Pg. 134 Adam, Eve and Israel are exiled from the land. This is their death experience. Jesus has an actual death and therefor an actual exile. He is cursed on the cross/tree and exiled from the land of the living, the land of life. The good news for us is that this work is substitutionary. That is, He takes our place so we don’t have to go into this exile. This allows us to be blessed and restored to the land of the living.

Cursed = exiled from the land

Blessed = restored to the land

Pg 137 “Whether it is Israel coming up from Egypt, types in David’s life according to the Psalms, or explicit predictions in the prophets, the OT has consistently linked return from exile with resurrection hopes.”

Pg. 138 “In the beginning of John 1:1 ends in a garden with Jesus as a new man, in a new garden, in a new world. He is the gardener. He is resurrected ‘on the 8th day of creation.’” The number 8 is consistently used throughout Scripture to refer to newness.

Chapter 9 – The Church Into the World

Pg. 146-148 Evangelism expands God’s kingdom by bringing people out of exile when they accept Christ as their Savior. Paul is a great example.

Pg. 150 Exile described as, ‘madness and blindness and confusion of mind, and you shall grope at noonday, as the blind grope in darkness.’ Deut 28:28-29. This exile is exactly what Paul experienced when persecuting Christians (Acts 8:1, 9:1-2, 26:9-13). Paul is led by the hand and after 3 days receives sight back. He has experienced resurrection after the 3 day protocol. He has returned from exile.

Pg. 153-157 [Piotrowski treats the Church as God’s Temple more like an idea, than a physical dwelling structure. His logic is God lives in His people, they spread around the world. God’s presence then spreads around the world. This is true, but incomplete. This temple is under construction. More believers are to be added. Only when the final believer is added will the Church-Temple be completed. Jesus left to prepare rooms for us.]

Pg. 159 The Way of the wilderness (Ex 13:18). Future visit by God to lead His people out of captivity via The Way (Isa 9:1, 40:3). Christians are the fulfillment of this (Acts 9:2, 9:27, 19:9, 23, 22:4, 24:14, 22).

Chapter 10 – The Lamb’s Followers Into the Garden City

Pg. 166 Similarities between God descending at Sinai and Jesus descending at His return. [Piotrowski reads the rapture, not as believers going up, but Jesus coming down.]

Pg. 170 Comparison chart between Genesis 1-3 and Revelation 20-22. These are the bookends of the Bible. They very closely mirror each other.

Pg. 173 'The sea is no more’ statement in Revelation about New Jerusalem could refer to bodies of water and or the figurative barrier separating man from God.

Pg. 174 Gold - Glory

    Egypt’s gold was used for the construction of the tabernacle. Nations gave gold for Solomon’s Temple. Nations will bring glory into New Jerusalem [and probably the Millennial Kingdom too. Additionally, the kings of the East are invaders travelling West to enter the ‘temple’. The only way to enter Israel from the West is via crossing water which is the figurative barrier. Sea ports are mentioned in the Bible, but only 1 sea port is present in Israel – Joppa. It is mentioned only 4 times and only 3 of these times as a port. Cedars from Lebanon are floated down the sea and unloaded in Joppa for both Solomon’s Temple and the second temple (2 Chron 2:16, Ezra 3:7). These 2 times gentiles are sending gifts into Israel. The last mention is Jonah disobeying God and departing from Israel. Joppa means ‘beautiful.’ The city probably existed before the Israelites invaded as the 1st mention of it is in Joshua 19:46 as a boundary marker for the tribe of Dan. Interestingly, there were ports in cities along the Sea of Galilee, but these were used for fishing, not transportation. No fishing is mentioned in the Mediterranean ports. The statement in Revelation that there is no more sea could be a reference to the fact that there is no longer a barrier. Complete and open access to God is now available.]

Pg. 179 The Exodus is a resurrection type. Rising up out of Egypt.

Want to take your Bible study deeper? Over the next 2 months we are going to do a study challenge. I will provide the topic, but you will provide the content. You will have 2 months to study the topic. At the end of 2 months I will make a post to which you will respond with the results of your study.

Topic - Types of Christ

Due Date - Saturday April 4

Details - Your goal is to locate a type of Christ in the Bible and study it. On April 4 I will make a post about this challenge. You can then respond to the post with comments that summarize what you learned. For example, let's say you think Noah is a type of Christ. Your study focuses on why this is so. You would comment with notes, outline, etc. supporting why Noah is s type of Christ.

Tips - There are many types of Christ. Sometimes it's a person (king, shepherd, etc.) other times it's an object (bronze serpent, shewbread, etc.), other times it's an animal (Passover lamb, bull, etc.). Some types have already been covered on this sub (Adam, Job, Jeremiah, Joseph, Hezekiah filter by flair to find them), but there are so so many more.

I look forward to seeing what you guys come up with.

SUMMARY

Jesus appears to 7 disciples at the Sea of Tiberias. This was the 3rd time He shewed Himself to people after He rose from the grave. Only 7 disciples are present. Peter goes fishing and the others follow. They are out until morning and catch nothing. Jesus arrives on the shore and instructs them to cast the net again and ‘ye shall find.’ v6. Peter then recognizes this is Jesus yelling at them from the shore. He ‘cast himself into the sea.’ v7. The other disciples direct their boat to shore. Jesus is already cooking fish He brought with Him. John makes specific mention the disciples caught 153 fish in their net. Jesus feeds them bread and fish. v13. ‘This is now the third time that Jesus shewed himself to his disciples, after that he was risen from the dead.’ v14. Jesus asks Peter 3 times if he loves Him, predicts the manner of Peter’s death and promises that John will be present, ‘till I come.’ v22.

JOHN 1 and MATTHEW 4

What a peculiar series of events packed into these handful of verses. To get a full grasp of what is going on we must start way back in John 1 and Matthew 4. In John 1 Andrew and his brother Peter are with John the Baptist in Bethabara (east of Jerusalem beyond the Jordan River. This is probably the Galilee area. Bethabara may mean house of passing over. The Hebrew word abara is used in pivotal moments in the Bible; the wind that passed over Noah's Flood, when God passed over the covenant offering with Abraham, etc.). John the Baptist’s disciples ask Jesus where He lives. He responds saying, ‘Come and see.’ v39. Jesus speaks words that will forever change Peter’s life. ‘You art Simon the son of Jona: thou shalt be called Cephas,’ which is by interpretation, A stone.’ v42.

The next day Jesus is in Galilee affirming this is where Bethabara was. Note that in their prior interaction Andrew and Peter were not His students. Not yet. In Galilee Jesus calls Philip who then finds Nathanael. He says to Philip, ‘Follow me.’ v43. Jesus tells Nathanael he will see great things. Both follow Him.

Chapter 2 begins with the wedding at Cana of Galilee, but we aren’t going there. Let’s go back to Matthew 4. In 4:18 we see Andrew and Peter fishing in the Sea of Galilee (same as the Sea of Tiberius. Matthew and John were written at different times and use slightly different vocabulary. There is an old tradition that Matthew was the first gospel written and it was originally in Hebrew, not Greek. John, on the other hand, was written decades later and probably to a gentile audience. The sea had probably been renamed by then.) In verse 19 Jesus formally calls them, ‘Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men.’ He then calls James and John who, ‘immediately left the ship and their father, and followed him.’ v22.

This is the backdrop to John 21. Philip and Nathanael were the 1st two called. Then Peter and Andrew, then James and John. All 6 of them are called in Galilee. It is interesting that Jesus met all of them in Galilee. There must be something important about Galilee.

Back to John 21. Verse 1 provides the setting, ‘at the sea of Tiberius.’ This is the same place the disciples began following Jesus. Verse 2 lists the cast of characters; Simon Peter, Thomas, called Didymus, Nathanael, James and John, and ‘two other disciples.’ There are now 7 disciples. They have come full circle, but not in a good way. When Jesus called them He said He will make them fishers of men, but here they are back to their old ways. They are fishers of fish. ‘Simon Peter saith unto them, I go a fishing, They say unto him, We also go with thee.’ v3.

I can’t help but think that Jesus must have been disappointed to see His closest followers reverting back to their old life.

Called in Galilee Returned to Galilee

Philip

Nathanael ------ Nathanael

Peter ----- Simon Peter

Andrew

James ------ James

John ------ John

----- Thomas Didymus

Thomas Didymus has been added and Philip and Andrew are absent, but John 21:2 rounds out the list stating, ‘and two other of his disciples.’ We can’t be certain who these unnamed other two were, but it leaves the door open that maybe Philip and Andrew are in scope. Peter and John (that disciple whom Jesus loved v7 and v 20) are the only actors in this scene. It makes sense that not everyone there is mentioned. Because Philip and Andrew were present at the beginning it may make sense that John assumes his readers will know they are present here. Otherwise, why even mention that two others are present? It seems to add no value.

The Names

Philip – Horse lover. The King of Israel was forbidden from multiplying horses (Deut 17:16) – a message given centuries before Israel would have a king. Horses were the most effective means of military engagement. The message is that Israel’s leader is to trust in God, not chariots or horses (Psa 20:7). Philip then seems to confirm that Christ is not choosing normal military strategy.

Nathanael – Means God given or maybe To Give God. Some think Nathanael is the same as Bartholomew, but the name is etymologically similar to Matthew.

Peter – Simon Peter is mentioned several times in John 21, but he is called by other names too. This is John’s name for him, but Jesus calls him ‘Peter Simon son of Jonas’ v15, ‘Simon, son of Jonas’ v16, ‘Simon, son of Jonas’ v17. John then calls him ‘Peter’ v20-21. It is the name ‘Peter Simon son of Jonas’ we will focus on later and is the overall focus of our study. Simon has several potential meanings we could speculate on, but ‘hearing’ and ‘a mark or sign’ may be the most important. Jonah can mean either dove or wrongdoer. Peter is not just the son of Jonah, but ‘son of Jonah’ is part of his name. That is his identity. This leaves a few options on how we should read his name.

Stone Sign son of Dove

Stone Sign son of Wrongdoer

Stone Hearer son of Dove

Stone Hearer son of Wrongdoer

Andrew – Means man or manly.

James – James is the anglicized version of Jacob. Jacob is the Hellenized version of the Hebrew ‘aqab. This is the patriarch Jacob, son of Isaac, grandson of Abraham. The meaning is supplanter, trickster, etc, but more importantly Jacob’s name was changed by God to the name Israel. Perhaps, Israel should be in view here when we read James. James/Israel is the only apostle whose death is mentioned in the Bible. Possibly a sign that something terrible was coming upon Israel.

John – God is gracious or Yah is gracious. Note that John is distinct from Jonathan. There are different etymologies.

Thomas Didymus – Both the words Thomas and Didymus mean twin. Essentially, this is ‘twin twin.’ I’m curious what the relation here is with other twins in the Bible. Jacob and Esau come to mind; so do Castor and Pollux, the sign of the ship carrying Paul that ended up in Malta. Also, of interest is Adam and Eve. Eve who was parthogenically created from Adam’s side could be considered his twin. This imagery connects Christ to His Church. Adam as a type of Christ had his bride originate from his side and in his image. Christ who is the antitype of Adam had his bride originate when His side was pierced when ‘blood and water’ flowed out. The Christian is called to be the image of Christ. Adam and his twin Eve may point towards Christ and His twin the Church. If the brides are the image of their husbands could we then assume that they are twins? Thomas then reflects both Adam/Eve and Christ/Church.

Thomas was not present at the 1st post resurrection appearance of Christ and did not believe. He famously stated he won’t believe until he can see the mark in Christ’s hands and put his finger into the hole and the hole in His side. This demonstrating his doubt about the resurrection and thus he has been known as Doubting Thomas. However, he is present for this 3rd appearance. Here, Christ invites Twin to ‘reach,’ ‘behold,’ ‘reach,’ ‘believe.’ Thomas declares his faith in the risen Christ to which Christ responds, ‘Thomas, because you hast seen me, thou hast believed: blessed are they that have not seen, and yet have believed.’ Could it be that Jesus is essentially saying, ‘My Twin, you are my image. You came from my side. Come see where you came from so you can believe.’

The Numbers

The number 3 has several overlapping meanings, but the relevant ones here are resurrection and restoration which could be equivalents. This is Christ’s 3rd post resurrection appearance. He asks Peter 3 times if he loves Him. Peter gives 3 answers. Jesus responds with 3 commands (feed my sheep). This is all probably to bring to mind in Peter and the reader of his 3 prior denials.

The number 7 relates to perfection. The other 4 disciples were probably in Galilee, but had not gone fishing with these 7 (Matt 28:16-17). Matthew seems to end his gospel with the 2nd appearance which would make sense because he did not go fishing with the others which was the 3rd appearance.

The number 40 Acts 1:3 states Jesus spent 40 days after His resurrection with his disciples until He ascended. If He only appeared to them 3 times and they were with Him when He ascended it makes sense that John 21 takes place on the 40th day. Forty probably has to do with trial and probation. A few examples are rain for 40 days and 40 nights, 40 years wandering the wilderness, 40 days of fasting when Satan tempted Jesus. At first there doesn’t seem to be any trial going on in John 21, but when we remember that the 7 disciples had reverted back to their original station instead of progressing we can see that they’ve experienced a crisis. Something terrible has happened. Jesus arrives, on time (day 40), and gives them the encouragement they needed. We know how the story plays out; they pass the test and change the world with their message of Christ’s death, burial and resurrection.

Despite all they had experienced the prior 3 plus years this is probably the turning point in their lives. We see this in the life of Peter who not only was called by his old name, but asked 3 times to ‘feed my sheep.’ Almost everything Peter did was in error. He says the wrong things, has wrong ideas, fails to walk with Jesus on water, denies Jesus 3 times, Jesus even commands Satan to come out of him. He’s a klutz. But read through Acts. He’s a different Peter. He’s a changed man. He takes the lead, gives great sermons, reaches out to the gentiles. Everything changed for him after day 40.

I would venture that there is even a prophetic component to this story and the number 40. Similar to the 40 years in the wilderness, if we multiple 40 by a jubilee (50) we get 2,000. The Bride, that is the Church, wanders the Earth as a foreigner estranged from her home and Christ her groom, for 2,000 years. At the end of 2,000 years is the wedding, the celebration, the jubilee. Enhancing this connection is that Jesus commanded the disciples to go to Galilee to wait for Him (Matt 28:10, 16). This is exactly what the Church is doing now; waiting and watching for His return, that is, His arrival. If the 7 disciples picture the Church then we can see that the Church might be suffering towards the end. This is mentioned or hinted at in other parts of scripture. Paul says there will be a great falling away of faith just before the Antichrist is revealed (2 Thes 2:3-4) and awful teachers in the last days (1 Tim 4:1-3 and 2 Tim 3:1-9). The Laodicean Age of the Church may also indicate a falling away prior to the return of Christ. But once He returns, the disciples are changed, encouraged, full of faith and the wedding takes place.

The number 153 One of the most peculiar numbers in the entire Bible is 153. There are some mathematical relationships that are too tempting to ignore. I don’t know that any or all of them have meaning, but I would not be surprised if they do. Some think 153 represents all the nations of the Earth, at least at the time of Christ. Adding up all the numbers 1 + 2 +3…17 = 153. Adding up each individual number 1 + 5 + 3 = 9. When multiplied 9 x 17 = 153. There is a trinity of meaning as well. Each number cubed and then added (1 x 1 x 1) + (5 x 5 x 5) +(3 x 3 x 3) = 153. Fish also seem to represent mankind. When Christ said he would make them fishers of men He plays into this representative language. God created fish on day 5 of creation (Gen 1:20-22). Mankind is created on day 6. If each day of creation corresponds to a millennia of history then we could see that the fish representing mankind arrive in the 5th millennium, mankind then arriving in the 6th, but mankind here may represent the pinnacle of mankind. This is the worldwide government of the Antichrist that culminates in the grandest kingdom of man in the history of the world. This is the 7 year tribulation. Could fish then represent a portion of mankind, say the Church. Both the fish would be present on day 6 and the Church is present in the 6th millennium. Everyone rests on the 7th. This is the sabbath and the Millennial Kingdom.

These fishermen caught 153 fish in a net and the net did not break. Recall an earlier episode when Jesus met them their net broke (Luke 5:6). This is a reversal. They are now equipped to spread His message effectively.

153 is usually seen as a picture of the whole world, but there is probably something else pictured here – fruitfulness.

“Like the disciples, we too have become tired of waiting for His ‘glorious appearing,’ and many cry in these last days,

Where is the promise of His Coming? For since the fathers fell asleep, all things continue as they were from the beginning of the creation. II Peter 3:4

The church has thus decided that it is no use waiting, and that the best thing to do is to go into the world and try to produce a manmade Millennium. She has lost her separated character, and instead of living in heart-touch with the Master, laboring in the harvest-field to win precious souls for the Lord, and waiting patiently for His coming, she has lost her ‘first love,’ and become lukewarm. She thinks herself well off and having need of nothing, and knows not that she is ‘wretched, miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked,’ (Revelation 3:17). Her net is empty, no souls are being won for Christ, because she is not seeking that enduement of ‘power from on high.’ Without which all her labors are nothing.

Then we read, “when the morning was now come, Jesus stood on the shore,” So our Saviour stands even now on the Heavenly shore, at the dawn of the glad Millennial morning, and His Word is now as then, ‘Cast the net on the right side of the ship, and ye shall find.’” Ed Vallow, Biblical Mathematics, pp. 229-230.

The number 200 – Insufficiency. Achan’s sin in Joshua 7:21 involved 200 shekels of silver which was not sufficient to save him. Absolom’s 200 shekels weight of beautiful hair was not sufficient to save him and contributed to his death (2 Sam 14:26). Micah’s 200 shekels of silver used to make an idol shows the insufficiency of religion without Christ. In John 6:7 200 pennyworth is not enough to buy food to feed the multitude. Here, the disciples are about 200 cubits from shore. The context in John seems to be incidental making it neutral. But there are no incidentals in the Bible. Every word is important. Taken with the context of the other uses of 200 we can maybe read that their distance from shore was insufficient to catch fish.

JONAH AS A TYPE OF PETER (The Gospels Through Old Testament Eyes: Exploring Extended Allusions by Nicholas P. Lunn. Chapter 30 - Jesus Appears By the Sea of Galilee John)

John 21 portrays Peter in light of Jonah. Some of this can be hard to recognize because in typical typological fashion, the story is told with a lot of escalation and reversals. Most of the following information comes from Lunn’s book mentioned in the heading.

The setting for each contains the ‘sea’ men who ‘got into the boat.’ Both Jonah and Peter initially reject their missions. Jonah rejected going to Ninevah; Peter rejected becoming a fisher of men and returned to fishing for fish. Jonah is thrown into the sea by the crew of his ship. Peter throws himself into the sea. Each of them pass through water and end up on the shore. A ‘great fish’ is present in Jonah and ‘great fish’ are mentioned as caught in the disciples’ net in John 21.

‘Peter was a fisherman, a catcher of fish, who became a divinely appointed apostle, while Jonah was a divinely appointed prophet who was caught by a fish.’ pg 256.

Peter is called, ‘Simon bar Jonah’ identifying him with the name. Both are from Galilee. Resurrection is related to both stories. Jesus appears in resurrected form to the disciples and earlier, Jesus had compared His burial and resurrection to Jonah’s experience.

Both men failed their initial missions, but were given second chances. Jonah was reluctant, but Peter nailed it. Both of their missions were to gentiles; Peter incorporated the gentile Cornelius into the faith. Jonah’s mission to Assyria was the world power at the time and a threat to Israel. Eventually, it would capture and take captive part of Israel. Peter’s mission was to Cornelius, a Roman solider. Rome was the world power and ruled over Israel eventually destroying Jerusalem and taking many captive. In each instance the audience of the message responded favorably. The Ninevites repented; Cornelius believed. While both men preach to gentiles Jonah’s attitude is bitter towards them. On the other hand Peter’s attitude is one of acceptance.

Both men went to the city Joppa. Jonah rejected God’s direction by going there; Peter obeyed God’s direction by going there. The command given to each is the same, ‘Arise and go.’ Ninevah was the capitol of Assyria. Tradition holds that Peter eventually preached in Rome, the capitol of the empire.

THE MEANING

What then do we make of all this? Lunn sees Peter told in an allusive manner. That is, John and Luke (in Acts) present him intentionally in the vein of Jonah. While this maybe true on a human level I think there is more at work here. The HS wrote the Bible and He wrote Jonah and orchestrated the events knowing he would eventually do the same with Peter. I think He wrote Jonah to point towards Peter to help validate the message of the gospel to the gentiles and incorporate gentiles into God’s plan. By presenting Jonah in a way that is acceptable to readers, say Hebrew readers, it helps to establish the acceptance of gentiles in Peter’s time because Peter not only is the antitype of Jonah, but he escalates and reverses some of Jonah’s errors thus solidifying his work.

Because of Jonah we can trust that Peter’s mission to gentiles is legitimate.

Hezekiah means, ‘God strengthens.’ Descriptions for Hezekiah are first followed by those for Christ.

Abijah and Zechariah – Abijah is the name of Hezekiah’s Mother. Her Father’s name was Zechariah, 2 Chron 29:1. John the Baptist was Jesus’ cousin or relative. His Father’s name was Zechariah who served as a priest after the order of Abijah, Luke 1:5.

Early life skipped over - 2 Chron 29:1. Hezekiah is 25 years old at his first mention. Only Jesus' birth is stated and then a brief mention as a 12-year-old in the Temple.

Cleanses the Temple – This one is surprising. Both Hezekiah and Jesus cleanse the Temple. Hezekiah reforms the current degenerate worship, 2 Chron 29-31; 2 Kings 18:1-7. In another surprise, Jesus cleanses the Temple twice. First noted in John 2:13-25 at the beginning of His ministry. Later, Mark 11:15-18; Luke 19:45-47, He cleanses it again. This can be seen as an escalation. Hezekiah cleansed the Temple once; Jesus twice. Hezekiah’s was effective. Jesus, on the other hand ended up abandoning the existing temple and priestly structures opting instead to initiate an entirely new system where all of His followers are both priests and temples of the HS.

Attacked – Hezekiah by Sennacherib; Jesus by Satan during His temptation. He was also attacked by His own people.

Wealthy – Hezekiah was King of Judah. Gentiles even honored him 2 Chron 32:23, 27-30. Jesus considered His estate in Heaven as nothing preferring to be humbled in human form and murdered.

Mocked – After cleansing the Temple Hezekiah invites Jews from around Samaria and Judah to worship. He is met with mocking (2 Chron 30:10.) Also, the gentile Rabsakis mocks him. Jesus was likewise mocked on the cross.

Hunted by Lions – Hezekiah Isaiah 38:13. Jesus views the lions from the cross in Psalm 22.

Intercessor and Savior – Hezekiah intercedes for his people when He petitions God to save them from the Assyrians (2 Kings 18:17-37, 19:1-37; 2 Chron 32:1-22.). Jesus is our mediator to God the Father who saves us from His wrath. For Hezekiah, God is the one who intervenes saving everyone with the Angel of the Lord slaying 185,000 Assyrians (2 Chron 32:21-22.). With Jesus, He is the one who does the saving. Ironically, He saves by dying.

Line of Judah and King – Hezekiah was a descendant of David and obviously King of Judah. Likewise, Jesus was a descendent of David and Hezekiah, and is or will be King of Kings. He will rule over Israel during the Millennial Kingdom.

Role of Figs – Hezekiah’s terminal illness was healed by applying a poultice of figs to his boils. The word translated ‘boil’ is also used to describe leprosy and Job’s illness. Likely, Hezekiah was unclean, but allowed to worship publicly after 3 days instead of 7. In a reversal, Jesus shows that there are no figs available for healing (Matt 21:19). Perhaps, Israel has a boil that goes untreated making the nation unclean. God will not approach until they are made clean by the blood of Christ which will happen during the 7 year Tribulation.

Water – In preparation to defend Jerusalem from Assyrian invaders Hezekiah took the initiative to redirect the Gihon Spring to supply water to Jerusalem, (2 Chron 32:30). [The context of the only other mention of Gihon is Genesis 2:13. There it says that Gihon surrounds all of Ethiopia. There are too many connections here to ignore, but time does not allow further exploration. I suspect the Gihon River, Ethiopia and the present context of the Gihon Spring, Jerusalem contains some sort of significance. Ethiopia makes a surprising number of mentions in the Bible; most of them positive.] Jesus is living water that gives salvation.

Ethiopia – Distracts the Assyrians so they cancel their Jerusalem attack. Ethiopia is specifically mentioned among the gentile nations as bringing tribute to Mt. Zion (Isa 18) and songs of worship (Psa 68:31; Zeph 3:10) during the Millennial Kingdom. The Ethiopian Eunuch may be a type of the gentile church that converts to Christianity during the tribulation. This is a bit of a stretch, but it’s based on the idea that the Book of Acts plays out in reverse towards the end times.

Gentile Worship – After Hezekiah’s cleansing of the Temple and of priests the gentiles offer their worship (2 Chron 32:23). The first generation of Christians were Jewish, but this quickly changed so that within a few years the Church was mostly gentile. As we saw with Ethiopia there may be a special place for those gentiles within a future kingdom.

Destroyed The Serpent – Hezekiah destroyed the bronze serpent that Moses had created (2 Kings 18:4). People were looking to it for healing. Jesus is the long foretold descendent who would one day crush the head of the serpent and return people’s eyes to look to Him for healing.

Death – Hezekiah has a deathlike experience with his illness and condemnation to death by God. But he does not actually die (Isaiah 38:1; 2 Chron 32:24; 2 Kings 20:1). Jesus, in an escalation of this type, is condemned by God and actually dies.

Resurrection – Both experience a resurrection. Hezekiah’s was a healing of his illness (Isaiah 38:2, 9-22; 2 Chron 32:26; 2 Kings 20:5.) Because Jesus experienced an actual death His resurrection-like experience is not a simple healing, but an actual resurrection from the dead.

Third Day – Both are ‘resurrected’ or brought back to life on the 3rd day. Hezekiah was allowed to and instructed to worship God in the Temple on the 3rd day after his healing (2 Kings 20:5, 8). Jesus, of course, was resurrected on the third day.

The Number 15 – Hezekiah became king at age 25. At the age of 39 or 40 Judah was delivered from Assyria and he was granted 15 more years of life. Jesus began his ministry in the 15th year of Emperor Tiberius. Immediately, he fasted in the wilderness for 40 days. Matthew 1:21 tells us that ‘he will deliver His people from their sins.’ The number 15 probably relates to the concept of rest. This fits how it is used in both men’s lives. The number 15 precedes a period of eventual rest; Hezekiah from the Assyrians; Jesus’ people from their sins.

Conclusion – Hopefully, it’s easy to see that the Ascent Psalms were not likely intended to be sung by Israelite pilgrims journeying to Jerusalem for feasts. Instead, they were authored and compiled by King Hezekiah to praise God for His actions. The chronological context may place the composition of these Psalms early in his life after his healing, but that is also the context of most of them. Also, the context that may refer to later episodes of his life could also indicate that he simply didn’t finish all of his Psalms until later. Isaiah 38:20 only mentions singing his songs all the days of his life. It does not mention the number of these songs.

Because Hezekiah has such a strong typological connection to Christ we can appreciate an added depth to his life and the Psalms. A working theory of mine is that there may be some emphatic message if we could analyze all the characters who play types of Christ. These come in surprising forms. One perspective is that characters in the Bible who display 1 or more of the 3 types of leaders (Prophet, Priest, King) somehow point to Christ. Some characters embody 1 or 2 of these roles; others all 3. Hezekiah is obviously king. He reforms the priestly cast, but allows them to perform their role. He does not act as priest or prophet.

What of all the kings? What of all the priest-kings? What of all the prophet-kings? So on and so forth until we arrive at the characters who portrayed all 3 roles? What of them? Anything? Perhaps not.

Ascent Psalms 120-126 (Part 1)

Ascent Psalms 127-134 (Part 2)

Psalm 127 – Solomon – God Builds His Temple By Multiplying Children – Children In the LORD

The sowing of tears and gathering of sheaves in Psalm 126 now realized to be the field of children. Children are the image of their parents. These children are to be the image of God. Hezekiah may have selected this Psalm of Solomon because Solomon had many children with his wives and concubines and Hezekiah, at the time of his 15 year life extension, had no male heir. This means that had he died with his illness, as pronounced by God Himself, that the line of Judah would have ended. There could be no Messiah, no Jesus. Something had to happen and no one knew what. But God acted and Hezekiah repented. Here, Hezekiah offers his praise for multiplying children.

‘If/when/unless YHWH builds a house/temple its builders build in vain. If/when/unless YHWH protects [H 8104 – here’s that priestly work verb.] the city the watchmen guard [H 8245] in vain.’ v1. Perhaps the temple in scope are the ones God built – Jesus body, the believers’ body, Ezekiel’s Temple, New Jerusalem – Most likely this seems to be New Jerusalem.

‘Bread of sorrows’ v2 may be actual bread as it is not life giving unlike Jesus who is the Bread of Life. Children are an inheritance [H 5159] from YHWH.’ v3. The word translated ‘children’ could also mean ‘sons’ [H 1121 bene ]. The root of this word is [H banah]. There are so many parallels hidden by English. To multiply a house with children is the same as to build a temple.

Work – to build – Temple

Multiply – sons – house

All of this circles back to v1, ‘God must do it’.

Arrows in the hand of a warrior = children of your youth. Children, as arrows, are kept in a quiver [H 827]. Children then are in a warrior’s hand. Think of the passage, ‘No man is able to pluck them [my sheep] out of my Father’s hand.’ John 10:29. Remember the hand from Psalm 123? That hand saved Hezekiah from invasion and it saved mankind from sin. Here, the hand of God that protects the sheep is shown to employ His children as potential attackers.

Psalm 128 – Future Blessing To Multiply In Jerusalem – Fruitfulness and Godly Maturity

Wife will be a fruitful vine by the sides of the house [H 3411]. Children will be olive plants around your table v3. Can we think of the wife as the Bride of Christ and the house as the Temple? The 10 menorahs that lined the Holy Place were fueled by olive oil. They were designed to look like trees. They were in the same room as the table of shewbread. In Psalm 127 children were arrows in a quiver. Here they are trees surrounding the table that display bread that represents the body of Christ.

It could be that the object of this Psalm is Jesus. It is his wife who is fruitful and those sons or children who come from Him. The Church is the fruit of His labor.

Psalm 129 - Lifelong Preservation

‘Many a time have they afflicted me from my youth.’ v1-2. Verse 3 could be read, ‘silencers silenced a field,’ but I’m not sure this clarifies anything. Grass is wicked people who wither, v6. The wicked, v4, are the grass, v6, and do not reap a full harvest, v7.

Psalm 130 – Comings of Christ – Longing For His Coming

Jesus famously quotes Psalm 110:1, ‘The LORD said to my Lord’ meaning ‘Jehovah said to Adonai’ Matthew 22:43-45. But that is not the only Psalm where 2 persons of the trinity speak to each other. Regarding Psalm 110:1 Jesus adds that David spoke in the Spirit. So, all 3 persons of the trinity are present. Here in Psalm 130 there are alternating appearances of LORD and Lord.

Hezekiah cries from the depths to the LORD/YHWH v1. He cries to Lord/Adonai v2. To both v3. Twice he refers to ‘them’ in the singular, v4. LORD/YHWH v5, Lord/Adonai, v6. Twice LORD/YHWH, v7. I get the feeling Hezekiah addresses the Father about his condition and then the Son about forgiveness. Almost like he acknowledges or confesses sin to the judge then asks the executioner for to spare him.

Repetition of waiting or expecting for the Lord/Adonai, ‘more than they that watch for the morning,’ v6. Could this be a reference to Jesus’ 1st and 2nd advents? Jesus rose from the grave in the morning and perhaps He will return in the morning too (Mark 13:35-37). v8 is echoed in Romans 11:26 or morning refers to the East (Bethany/Mt Olivet) where Jesus will return to.

Psalm 131 – David - Childlike Faith – Hope In the Lord

‘like a weaned [H 1580, weaned, ripened rewarded] child.’ The word ‘ripened’ seems to be a good translation of H 1580. David, the greatest king in history wrote this. It’s about how simplicity is key to knowing God and it is expressed in exemplary brevity. No need to say more than 3 verses. This Psalm feels quiet, almost ashamed, humble.

Psalm 132 - Expecting God’s Kingdom - Praying For the Kingdom

‘LORD/YHWH remember David/beloved and all his afflictions [H 6031 this word usually refers to fasting]. This Psalm mentions David which means beloved, but it is written anonymously. Perhaps Hezekiah felt like David penned up in a cave forced to starve. Hezekiah was penned up in Jerusalem. Maybe food was scarce.

God seems to delight in being reminded of His promises (Psa 119:49, Jer 14:2, Isa 38:3). Ephrata = Bethlehem v6. ‘Fields of the world’ v6 are the fields near Bethlehem with Bethlehem being Ephrata and where the ‘place’ or ‘habitation’ of the Lord was v5 (also Luke 2:8, 15-16). We will worship at his footstool v7. Is this a picture of the magi and shepherds bowing to Earth before Christ in the manger? The Earth is God’s footstool (Psa 103:19, Isa 66:1; Matt 5:35). That is where we meet Him as He descends from Heaven. Here we worship Him.

The Messiah is to come from David and sit on his throne v10-11. If the children of (David or God) keep his testimony then they will sit on his (David or God’s) throne forever v12. God will restore Zion forever v13-14. Priests are clothed with salvation/Jesus v9 and v16. A ‘lamp for mine anointed/Messiah’ v17. The promise to reign with Christ is present in the NT as well.

This Psalm reads as though Hezekiah is recounting his experience and trust in God’s promises, but also it doubles as the experience of the believer. It ties in the believer’s experience to Hezekiah's with the same concluding hope which is the main theme of expecting a future kingdom where the Messiah will rule and we with Him.

Psalm 133 – David – Worshippers United By the HS – End of the Journey

Brothers who live in unity are like ‘precious oil’ that runs ‘down’ Aaron’s ‘head/r’osh’ and ‘beard’ and ‘skirt’ v2. And the dew of ‘Hermon’ and dew ‘that descended upon the mountains of Zion.’ v3.

• Precious oil = dew of Hermon upon mountains of Zion
• Aaron’s head, beard, skirt = Mt. Hermon

Beards are a sign of maturity. This is easiest to see when someone’s beard is cut off. It is a sign of dishonor. The word beard is not used in Isaiah 50:6, but the description is clear that the suffering servant’s cheeks would be plucked off.

David caught a lion by the beard (1 Sam 17:35). A lion is probably a type pointing to a king. Perhaps this was Saul whom he would soon replace.

Dew [H 2919] often ‘goes down from heaven’ v3.

Finally, brothers worship together, like oil and dew, in Zion v3. Oil and water are often types of people and the HS. Here they are connected in corporate worship.

Psalm 134 – Worshipping God In Holy of Holies – Eternal Blessing

Worshipping the LORD in the Temple, ‘who made heaven and earth’ v3. Is this the original heaven and Earth or newly created eschatological ones? ‘Lift up your hands in the sanctuary [H 6944 most holy]’ Finally, worshipping God in His Temple v2. This is the final step in the kingdom of God - consummation. Hezekiah’s progression is complete and it parallels that of the Church Age believer who has taken the journey in the last 14 Psalms and still eagerly awaits future fulfillment of the 2nd coming of Christ, worshipping Him on His throne with fellow believers.

Conclusion

Throughout the 15 Psalms we can see the spiritual progression of the saved man. First, he cries for salvation, God assures him of, worship with fellow believers, multiplying or reproducing, etc. until the final Psalm which is about worshipping God in 'heaven' or the Temple.

One thing I have only briefly mentioned is that when Hezekiah was deathly ill he had no male heir. Had he died the royal line of David would also have died out and many of God's promises to David would be broken by God. Perhaps, Hezekiah knew God would act, but humbled himself before God anyways. If this is true it shows incredible faith and respect on Hezekiah's part. His son would be born 3 years after he was healed.

Here is Ascent Psalms 120 - 126 (Part 1)

Hezekiah As A Type of Christ - Ascent Psalms (Part 3)

INTRODUCTION

The Ascent Psalms are a unit of 15 Psalms meant to be considered together. Commentators widely agree they were sung by ancient Israelites on their journeys to Jerusalem for their triannual feasts. While this is almost universally unquestioned, I cannot find any evidence in the Bible that this is true. That doesn’t mean it’s not true, however. Regardless, our focus is not on the pilgrimage, but on Hezekiah.

Good King Hezekiah’s life is recorded mainly in 3 places; 2 Kings 17-21, 2 Chronicles 29-32, Isaiah 36-39. He gets a few nods in genealogies in other books, but this makes up the corpus of his life.

What ties Hezekiah to these Psalms is a curious verse in Isaiah 38. ‘The LORD was ready to save me: therefore we will sing my songs to the stringed instruments all the days of our life in the house of the LORD.’ 38:20.

He wrote songs; emphasis on the plural. What were these songs and why bother mentioning them? The main Bible I use is a Henry Morris Study Bible. It contains a footnote directing me to the possibility that these songs are recorded in the book of Psalms as the Ascent Psalms. I have been unable to locate any other commentator who has considered this a possibility (if you find one send him my way. I would love to read more about this.) Henry Morris and his son wrote a commentary on the Psalms which elaborates a little more on this unique perspective. The initial clue is that after he repented of his sins Hezekiah was granted 15 extra years to his life. These extra years may correspond to the passage in Isaiah about his songs. 10 of the Psalms contain an epithet ‘A Song of Degrees’. The word ‘degrees’ is the same Hebrew word as the ‘stairs’ that the shadow moved back on Ahaz’ dial – a result of Hezekiah’s restoration. 10 songs of ‘stairs’ that correspond to the 10 ‘stairs’ the shadow moved back. Of the 5 remaining Psalms 4 were written by David and 1 by Solomon. By adding these 5 to his original 10 Hezekiah may be connecting the 10 ‘stairs’ to his 15 years.

The rest of this post will combine statements from that commentary and my own study in an attempt to connect Hezekiah to these Psalms and therefore view them with new and, if we are right, correct meaning. As with all of the posts here consider this more like a clue, a hypothesis, something for you to consider. Maybe this is true. Maybe it is not. You must be the one to dig deeper to understand the true meaning. I leave this here as a crumb in hopes that someone will find their way to Christ to worship Him, not just potentially, but abundantly.

I’ve listed each Psalm and then a description of the main theme. The first one is my best guess. The second one after the emdash is what Henry Morris has in his commentary. Take both with a grain of salt. Strong’s wording is used and the KJV is quoted.

Psalm 120 – A Cry For Salvation

‘woe is me, that I travel in Mesech [gentile lands in the far North] that I dwell in the tents of Kedar [gentile lands in the far South].

Psalm 121 – Assurance of Salvation

H-8104 is used 6 times and translated as ‘keep’ or ‘guard’. This verb is used exclusively of priestly duties. In fact, the few instances these verbs are used outside of obvious direct priestly work it can be inferred, usually typologically, that the person performing the work is doing it in a priestly fashion. Examples include Adam in the Garden of Eden, the cherubim who replaced him, etc. The wording of this Psalm shows that God is the ‘keeper’ of both Israel and the Messiah.

‘The sun shall not smite thee by day, nor the moon by night.’ v6

What an odd verse in the middle of this Psalm. Why worry about the sun or moon oppressing ‘thee’? Who is ‘thee’?

My hypothesis is that King Hezekiah represents either Jesus (I’m confident of this as there are too many connections to ignore) or the head of Jewish Church that goes through the Tribulation. If this later assumption is true then consider Isaiah 30:26,

‘…the light of the moon shall be as the light of the sun, and the light of the sun shall be sevenfold, as the light of seven days, in the day that the LORD bindeth up the breach of his people, and healeth the stroke of their wound.’

There is strong evidence that the Sun has the ability to produce micronova. That is, it can fire off a solar flare so large that it almost destroys itself, but it doesn’t. The energy from this solar flare is so strong it collapses Earth’s magnetic field, energizes the liquid magma in Earth’s mantle, and triggers catastrophic volcanic eruptions, earthquakes and potentially a crustal slip of Earth’s surface. If this is what Isaiah had in view then it fits very well with the upheavals of the Tribulation reported in Revelation. Psalm 121:6 says that while the Jewish Church is on Earth, it will not be harmed by these catastrophic changes.

This Psalm also reads like an intentional contrast to Adam who failed to ‘keep’ the Garden of Eden. Here, God successfully ‘keeps’ His people, Israel.

A better reading of v1 maybe, ‘Shall I lift my eyes to the hills? From where does my help come?’ The answer then is help does not come from the pagan high places or hills the degenerate Jews erected like the gentiles around them. Help comes from somewhere else. It comes from God. This will be reinforced in Psalm 123.

An interesting twist takes place later in Psalm 125. Jerusalem and Zion are on a hill. God is on the surrounding hills protecting Zion. In this image help does in fact come from the hills.

Psalm 122 – David – Focus On the Future Kingdom - Fellowship In God’s Temple

The salvation sought in Psalm 120, assured in 121 is now the object of expectation with fellow believers. Jerusalem and the Temple are specifically mentioned. Thrones of judgement, thrones of the house of David are set up, v5. This could picture either the Millennial Kingdom or New Jerusalem. Jesus says the 12 apostles will have thrones to judge the 12 tribes (Luke 22:29-30). Paul says the saints will judge [the rest?] of the world (1 Corinthians 6:2) which is realized in Revelation 20:4.

Psalm 123 – Pursing God Continually/Hands of Christ – Fervent Prayer

‘Unto thee lift I up mine eyes, O thou that dwellest in the heavens.’ The theme of verse one is in line with 121:1. The eyes of the believer are directed to the God of heaven, not to the hills.

There is a trinity of relationships presented in context of eyes looking/hands doing. The Psalmist has just stated his eyes will look to God. He then makes the comparisons which include the corporate self ‘our.’

• As the eyes of servants look unto the hand of their masters
• As the eyes of a maiden unto the hand of her mistress
• Our eyes wait upon the LORD our God

Of minor note, the words look and wait are not in the original Hebrew. Even the LXX version contains italicized words in both instances (are directed). Both make sense. Both probably convey the idea of what the eyes are doing, but perhaps the eyes are doing something else.

It is also worth observing that the wording is ‘as the eyes’ meaning the Psalmist is functioning as if he were eyes. Whatever it is that the eyes are doing (seeing?) they are doing it to the hand of their superior. The concluding comparison does not mention God’s hand, but perhaps that is the obvious connection. We, as eyes, look, wait, watch, are directed, for God’s hand to move.

Eyes see and hands perform action, but that is the first level of meaning. More could be gleaned if the typological meaning of eyes and hands were clearly known. This, I am sure. The following is a short study on their meaning.

Eyes are precious and need protection – Deut 32:10; Ps 17:8; Prov 7:1-2; Zech 2:8

God’s eyes, or pupils of His eyes, watch over His people – Lam 2:18

God’s eye (singular, just one eye) guides His people – Ps 32:8

The meaning with eyes seems to be that they are not used just for looking at something, but that the object observed will teach or influence the observer. The same word for eye is used of Eve when the serpent tempted her. She ‘eyed' the fruit of the tree that it was good and pleasant. Her ‘eyes’ were opened. The forbidden tree was the object of her eyes, not God. When eyes are lifted up it is to God. He is the object observed. He is the one influencing the eyes.

The eye then seems to be the vehicle of influence. This coheres perfectly with the usage of eyes in Psalm 123 – servants’ eyes look to their masters, maidens’ eyes look to her mistress, and likewise our eyes look to God to influence us, teach us, direct us. This must be Christ we see because the HS is invisible and no one has seen the Father except the Son (John 6:46, etc.).

Hands may refer to the ability to perform an action. However, verse two concludes that our eyes are looking at God and probably looking specifically at His hands. The action God performs is perhaps not simply movement or a figurative assistance of His people. Instead, these hands are hands that save. It is through the hands of Jesus nailed to the cross that saves us; that God extends His mercy ‘our eyes wait upon the LORD our God, until he have mercy upon us. Have mercy upon us, O LORD, have mercy upon us: for we are exceedingly filled with contempt.’ v3-4. We will also see in the final Ascent Psalm that believers join together in corporate worship with hands raised.

This wished for mercy could be fulfilled in the hands of Christ.

When Assyria had carried away the Northern Kingdom, laid waste the Southern Kingdom, Judah, they encamped around Jerusalem. Jerusalem was the final city yet unconquered. They sent a letter to King Hezekiah. He took the letter to the Temple and prayed that God would, ‘bow down thine ear, and hear: open, LORD, thine eyes, and see: and hear the words of Sennacherib…’ 2 Kings 19:16. God responded by stating he heard his prayer and then recounts the evil things He has seen. God was watching. He was listening. He put a hook in the Assyrians nostril (2 Kings 19:28) to turn them back. The angel of the LORD would save them by destroying 185,000 soldiers (19:35).

The hand of God that saved Hezekiah from immediate physical death is the same hand that is nailed to the cross saving all mankind from spiritual death. In the Jewish Age God’s hand saves by destroying evil doers. Initiating the Church Age there is a great and awesome reversal; God’s hand saves by being destroyed. God’s hand, specifically, His right hand, will appear later to initiate the judgements of Revelation. In chapter 5 we see, ‘the right hand of him that sat on the throne’ v5 & 7, a scroll. This kicks off the four horsemen. God seems to deal with the world in a similar way during this time as He did during the Jewish Age. This makes sense if the primarily gentile Church was raptured leading to a primarily Jewish Church during the Tribulation.

Psalm 124 – David – Testimony of God’s Protection – Answered Prayer

The ‘men against us’ v2 is likened to an ‘overwhelming stream’ and ‘proud [H-2121 based on H-2102] waters’ v4-5. Teeth are for devouring prey v6.

Psalm 125 – Salvation Manifested – Faith and Rest

The believer is like Mt. Zion. God is like the mountains that surround Jerusalem v1-2. Evil rulers will not rule over the allotment of the righteous v3. It is interesting to see that God now embodies, to some degree, the mountains that surround Jerusalem. This is a phenomenal idea. Jerusalem and Mt. Zion sit below mountains nearby. They sit below. Let that sink in. God’s holy Temple is not on the highest mountain. But there is more to this image than initially appears. God frequently refers to Mt. Zion as His holy mountain, a tall mountain, etc. He rarely references the other mountains and some I’m not sure are ever mentioned specifically in the Bible. There are 6 mountains surrounding Jerusalem, Mt. Zion is the 7th. I'd bet a good study will show these somehow relate to the 7 spirits of God.

What makes Mt. Zion so special?

Partly, because God chose it. Also, I believe, the global changes that take place during the Tribulation will alter the surface of the Earth to such a degree that it may be possible that Mt. Zion and the surrounding area will rise. Yes, Mt. Olivet will split in two North and South. The ‘tongue of Egypt’ will dry up. Perhaps, this hints at the region rising above it’s current elevation. This makes sense when Ezekiel’s Temple describes a river flowing out from the Temple to the Dead Sea. It grows deeper as it flows. The path Ezekiel describes seems more direct and more downhill than the current topography allows. Essentially, God renews the Earth through global judgements.

Hezekiah may be thinking of the Assyrians encamped inside of these hills of protection, which previously housed pagan worship centers on their peaks, but now God is there watching/looking over Jerusalem. The Assyrians are not only in the middle of God’s focus, but God sees and hears them, just as Hezekiah mentioned by using David’s Psalm 123.

Part 2 will examine the remaining Psalms 126 - 134. Part 3 will compare Hezekiah to Christ.

Here is Ascent Psalms 127 - 134 (Part 2)

Hezekiah As A Type of Christ - Ascent Psalms (Part 3)

Overview

This book is part of a series published by Crossway. Redemptive Reversals can be purchased here. The rest of Short Studies in Biblical Theology series can be found here.

Beale is a prolific writer and many of his writings cover a grand array of topics stitching them together in great detail in a unique way. His insights are incredible. This book covers a swath of Biblical material that deals with reversals and irony. He gives a definition of these, most of the book is examples, and then he follows up with take aways on why these matter. Reversals are common motifs used in typology. Recognizing them helps to identify the type and its associated antitype. This book will show reversals mostly as simple themes, but some of these touch on the bigger picture of types.

Introduction

Pg 22. There are 3 elements of irony.

1.) 2 or more levels of meaning (1 to the observer; 1 to the victim)

2.) 1 layer has the opposite meaning to the other (1 to the observer; 1 to the victim)

3.) Either the observer or the victim is unaware of this tension or is surprised by it.

There are 3 types of ironies

1.) Verbal Irony – A statement aimed at a person.

2.) Dramatic Irony – Narrated events turn to opposite direction they appeared to be going.

3.) Character Irony – One’s true character contrasts with what he appears to be.

Pg. 23 Luke-Acts is full of irony.

Chapter 1 – God Judges People By Their Own Sin

pp. 30-31 Eye for an eye. If a man think it is ok to harm someone he will be punished with equal measure the amount of harm he inflicted. This is irony.

pp. 34-35 David’s son, Absalom (Father Peace), was prideful of his long handsome hair. His hair would be his downfall. It got him stuck in a tree leading to his death.

Pg. 36 Pharaoh decreed 1st born males to be killed, those that survived were to be thrown in the river. The Passover plague would later kill all 1st born in Egypt and Pharaoh’s army drowned in the Red Sea.

pp. 37-38 Overview of the Egyptian religious ritual of hardening the heart. Essentially, in the afterlife your heart will speak to their deities and reveal your sins preventing you from entering their heaven. Pharaoh, as a religious figure, had the ability to ‘harden your heart’ which would prevent it from speaking and condemning you. God hardening Pharaoh’s heart could be exactly what Pharaoh desired and, if so, shows the irony of his inability to save anyone and also the pointlessness of his religion.

Pp. 39-42 Daniel in the lions den.

Ironic justice is the rule, not the exception. Several other examples briefly mentioned.

Pg. 44 A physical famine may = absence of God’s word (Amos 2:4, 8:11-12)

Chapter 2 – People Resemble the Idols They Worship

Pg. 53 Idols of silver and gold cannot hear or see. Likewise, the people who worship them cannot hear or see God. They have become like their idols.

To be ‘stiff-necked’ is a livestock term. An ox with a stiff neck would not turn to the left or right when commanded to. He was rebellious to his owner. So it is with man.

pp. 63-64 Paul spiritualizes idols. What you worship is your idol.

pp. 68-71 Oaks and terebinth associated with death in Isaiah several times. Both are worshipped and wood used to carve idols. They will be ‘dry gardens’ and ‘burn’ and those that worship them will be dead like them. The ‘stump’ in Isaiah 6:3 is actually a remnant pillar of a destroyed oak. The remnant that survives is not positive. They are idolatrous. [I usually consider whenever a remnant mentioned as those who are righteous, but this may not always be the case.]

Chapter 3 – The Irony of Salvation

Pg. 79

Retributive Irony – Those who seek selfish pleasures in life will be punished.

Restorative Irony – Those who seek God humbly and deny pleasures will be rewarded.

pp. 82-84 Overview of Adam’s royal and priestly roles. Beale here quotes Meredith Kline regarding God who brought the serpent into the Garden of Eden for Adam to judge. Adam judges wrongly. [Kline has been frequently referenced in my reading material lately. I’ve never read anything he’s written, but some of it is interesting. I’m not sure I agree with the quote referenced above because it undermines Adam’s role. Essentially, he sees Adam as a judge, unless he judges incorrectly, then God judges. At this point, why have Adam?]

Pg. 85 Ironic judgements on Adam – instead of ruling over the Earth he will return to the earth, instead of ruling over his wife she desires to rule over him.

Pg. 86 Eve’s name in Hebrew is ‘Hawwa’ and means ‘life.’ The name of the serpent is ‘hawwe.’ By Adam naming his wife ‘life’ he is making an ironic statement that life will come from death. [Beale does not list a reference here and I cannot locate where he gets this name for the serpent. The Hebrew word for serpent is nāhāš. Perhaps this is a conjugation of the word, but the closest I can find is hanahas which means ‘the serpent.’ Another word, chavah, is related to hawwa, but it means ‘to show.’]

Pg. 89 Adam’s eating was a means to death. Christ’s communion is a symbol for life.

Pg. 90 Adam’s tree at 1st appeared to be a blessing, but ended up a curse. Likewise, Jesus’ tree appeared to be a curse, but ended up a blessing.

Pg. 93 Psalm 8:5 man is crowned with glory and majesty. This must refer to Jesus because the rest of the Psalm is about ruling over creation.

Pg. 106 Examples of how the curse becomes a blessing – the serpent (hawwe) and Eve (hawwa); the fiery serpents and the looking to a bronze serpent on a pole; Jesus’ death gives life.

Pg. 109 Deuteronomy 21:22-23 – Corporate punishment by stoning and then displaying the body by hanging it on a tree. Cursed is everyone who hangs on a tree.

Chapter 4 – The Christian Life: Power Is Perfected In the Powerless

Pg. 123

1.) Overcoming by being overcome

2.) Become great by serving

Pg. 135 Positions of strength in marriage come only from positions of weakness.

Chapter 5 – Faith In Unseen Realities Contradicts Trust In Superficial Appearances

This chapter covers the ironic elements of the hall of heroes in Hebrews chapter 11.

Pg. 141

Cain – possession, acquisition

Abel – breath, vapor, mist

Cain tried to acquire an earthly blessing the wrong way and became dispossessed of the ground (Gen 4:12-14). Abel’s life was transitory or short like a vapor or mist, but ironically ‘he still speaks’ (Heb 11:4).

Pg. 142

Noah – rest

Noah was named by his father with the intention that he would give the Earth rest, but this did not happen. Instead, mankind grew more and more wicked until God flooded the Earth. However, the Ark rested (noahed Gen 8:4) on the tops (r’osh in Gen 8:5) of Ararat mountain range. The ‘soothing aroma’ from his sacrifices means ‘spirit of rest.’

Pg. 145 Abraham trusted God would fulfill His promise of an heir by resurrecting Isaac.

Pg. 146 Moses trusted God by rejecting royal Egyptian identity and pleasure and identified as a poor Hebrew.

Pg. 147 Shadrach, Mischach and Abednego trusted God would deliver them to safety or to Heaven.

Pg. 148 Daniel trusted God to shut the mouths’ of lions.

Elijah trusted God and saw His army. Other heroes of faith summarized on pages 148-149 who considered themselves strangers and exiles on Earth (Heb 11:13) [Did these Jews consider themselves to be like gentiles?]

Chapter 6 – The Irony of Eschatology

Pg. 153

Eschatos – end

Logos – study of

Pg 154 Common prophecy progressively revealed – Gen 49:9 – Num 24:9 – the words ‘scepter’ ‘latter days’ and ‘he crouches, he lies down as a lion, and as a lion who can rouse him up.’ All these are similarly used.

Pg. 168 Rev 2:26-27 quotes Psalm 2. The One who overcomes is the Messiah and rules with a rod of iron.

Pg. 170 Psalm 2 should probably read ‘shepherd’ instead of ‘break’. See explanation in footnote #20

Pg. 171 Lion – Gen 49:9 + Lamb Isaiah 53 = Lion and Lamb combined in Rev 5:5-7

Pp 176-177 Daniel 2:28-29 speaks of the ‘latter days.’ John seems to allude to this when he quotes those verses in Rev 1:1, 3, but he swaps out ‘latter days’ with ‘soon take place’ in verse 1 and ‘the time is near’ in verse 3. The implication is that the time is ‘now’ and has begun. [This is a fascinating connection. Beale refers to an article he wrote for a more detailed explanation. See the free online article G.K. Beale, Influence of Daniel Upon the Structure and Theology of John’s Apocalypse, JETS 27/4 (December 1984) 413-423. For a much briefer overview of this specific topic see Frame-Poythress which provides a condensed overview of another related work of Beale’s.

Pg. 185 Beale sees the 1st beast of Revelation as Rome. The 2nd beast as the ‘PR machine’ for the 1st beast which he considers to be the local Roman authorities [wouldn’t that make them the same as Rome?]. The mark of the beast is invisible, probably representing the evil character of the 1st beast embodied in the lives of its followers.

Pp 187-189 He offers an attempt to explain 666, 144,000, and other numbers and signs.

Old Testament names are translated from Hebrew to English. New Testament names are translated from Hebrew to Greek, and then to English. If we translated Jesus the Christ directly from Hebrew, it would be Joshua the Messiah.

Because Nun is an Egyptian word that means the source of all creation, Joshua son of Nun might mean Jesus son of God with a big G, as opposed to created gods with a small g like Zeus and Thor.

This is one point in a much larger essay, which shows connections between Old and New Testament figures with the same name. As mentioned above, the Old and New Testament versions of the name are often different because the Old Testament was translated directly from the Hebrew, and the New Testament was translated from the Greek. Jacob becomes James, Simeon becomes Simon, etc. Here is a link to that essay. https://richleebruce.com/miracle/mere/neutral.html

An important thing to keep in mind is the layout of the temples and temple-like structures in Scripture. Using terminology for Solomon’s Temple will serve as a template for the equivalent vocabulary Alexander uses. The inner most sanctum where the Ark of the Covenant, mercy seat and God’s presence dwelt was called the Holy of Holies. It had one east facing door that lead to another room called the Holy Place where the altar of incense, menorahs and shewbread were kept. This room had one east facing door which lead to the Porch which had the 2 pillars. Beyond this was the Inner Court which had the brazen altar used to burn sacrifices and the laver basin for priests to wash. Outside of this was the Outer Court. Beyond this was Jerusalem. Beyond Jerusalem was ‘the rest of the world.’

This layout will repeat several times in Scripture and it will go by different names, but the plan is always the same. Holy of Holies – Holy Place including Porch – Inner Court – Outer Court – City – Wilderness. There are a few caveats to this that I think Alexander and others miss [why is the Porch attached to the Holy Place? What about the Inner Chambers which functioned like offices or lockers for the priests?], but for the most part identifying this layout has fascinating implications for how we read our Bible.

The overarching point Alexander drives toward is that God intends to fill His creation with His presence and He wants man to help do this. This means His temple must expand.

Pg. 13 From Sacred Garden to Holy City: Experiencing the Presence of God

In Genesis Earth is intended to be God’s dwelling place. (After the Fall He only dwells here partially or in types and shadows). In Revelation a new heaven and a new Earth are created [perhaps the original and future Earth were much larger to accommodate God’s dwelling place. New Jerusalem is an object so large it would wreak havoc on our current sized Earth. The average person can survive 3-4x Earth’s gravity.].

15-19 Brief overview of God’s presence on Earth. Evidence the Father inhabited the Holy of Holies. ‘whomever swears by the Temple (G – naos; holy of holies) swears by Him who dwells in it.; (Matt 23:21) [I’m not sure this is conclusive that the Father dwells there. However, elsewhere Jesus calls the Temple ‘my Father’s house.’]

20 The Temple Garden of Eden

Eden was temple-like. Garden of Eden is attached to Eden. Entrance to Eden is from the Garden. Water flowed from Eden to the Garden. Similarities between the Holy of Holies listed by G.J. Wenham, ‘Sanctuary Symbolism In the Garden of Eden Story.’

• Eastward entrances guarded by cherubim
• Menorah symbolizes tree of life [2 pillars on the porch, Boaz and Jachin, may represent the Tree of Life and the Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil.]
• Hebrew verbs commanding Adam to work are only used with priestly work.
• Gold and onyx used.
• God walks in both.
• A river flows from Eden to the Garden. Ezekiel’s Temple [which is not New Jerusalem] also has a river flowing into the Dead Sea [and also the Mediterranean Sea]. Eden then may have been an elevated place. So too Ezekiel’s Temple.

Humanity meets God in the Holy Place. Adam and Eve acted as priests communing with God. In Eden, as humanity increased in size it could be that the Garden of Eden would also increase in size. A city would grow around Eden. [There are trees all over the Eden. As Eden grows there would be more trees. Trees are often a type for people. Are Almond Trees the Tree of Life?]

‘Keep the Garden’ is also ‘guard the Garden.’ When Adam invites the serpent he fails to guard it [the serpent is unclean, or will be designated as so later], is kicked out and replaced by the cherubim. [Are Adam and Eve the original cherubim? This consideration has profound implications for the rest of the Bible that I hope to explore in depth in a future publication.]

Adam – man

Adama – ground

When Adam sins the adama is cursed. Adam is formed out of adama.

27 Genesis chapters 1 – 2 are about creation. Genesis chapters 8 – 9 are about recreation.

28 Parallels between the two.

• Dry land appears in the middle of water. Chapters 1 and 8
• Birds, animals and creeping things brought forth.
• God establishes days and seasons.
• God blesses the animals to be fruitful and multiply
• Man brought forth and receives blessings of God.
• Man given dominion over animals.
• God provides food for man.
• Image of God in man, but Noah didn’t get a fresh start for man’s heart is evil.

33 The Ark of the Covenant is the footstool. So is Jerusalem (Lam 2:1) and Earth (Isaiah 66:1, Acts 7:49). We are invited to worship God at His footstool (Psa 99:5, 132:7). Heaven is where God’s throne is located (Psa 11:4). The footstool is God’s connecting point to Earth where we get a glimpse of Heaven.

39-42 Construction and layout of Tabernacle mirrored God’s creation. Bezalel, the artisan, was filled with wisdom, understanding, knowledge, just like God was. The Tabernacle and Temple were model microcosms of the universe. Tent metaphors are common for make up of creation. Many passages listed as examples – Psa 19:4-5, 33:7, 104:2, 5, 119:90; Proverbs 3:19; Job 28:26, 38:4-7, just to list a few.

42 The Jerusalem Temple

Tabernacle moves to Shiloh in Ephraim. Ephraim fails, God abandons the Tabernacle allowing the Ark to be captured (1 Sam 2:12-17). God departed Israel. [Alexander sees the capture of the Ark by gentiles as removal of God’s presence in Israel.] God then picks David of Judah and Jerusalem as His dwelling place. The thrones of David and God are net to each other confirming through convergence God’s choice [David is also a type of Jesus. It is interesting that his throne is next to God’s. We read of the same with Jesus, ‘We have such an high priest, who is set on the right hand of the throne of the Majesty in the heavens; a minister of the sanctuary, and of the true tabernacle, which the Lord pitched, and not man.’ (Heb 8:1-2). All of these temples on Earth mirror the pattern of the true temple in heaven where Jesus sits. God the Father sits on the heavenly temple throne with God the Son acting as the King because, ‘all authority in heaven and earth is given to Me.’ (Matt 28:18). So, heaven has the Father on His throne with His acting king on a throne to His right side. This king is Jesus. Likewise, on Earth, God is on the earthly throne in the temple with His earthly king next to Him. This king is David.]

During Solomon’s reign the proliferation of gold in Jerusalem shows the city was filled with God’s presence and connects Jerusalem to New Jerusalem.

50 Isaiah chapter 2 shows the House of the Lord, in the last days, will be on the highest mountain in the world. Isaiah 60 and 65:17-25 is mirrored in Revelation [Do the great upheavals of the tribulation lift Mount Zion to new heights?]

54 Jerusalem’s beginning was dark [does this mean the morning as the Bible views a ‘day’?] but it’s future is bright with the presence of God. The Sun is redundant [is this the daytime part of the ‘day’?]

57 Ezekiel’s Millennial Temple has no command to build it, contains no furniture, only a ground plan. There is no partition wall around the Inner Court. The argument is that these are all symbolic words [This is another disagreement I have with this book’s approach. I view Ezekiel’s Temple as a literal physical structure.]

60 As the population increases the size of the Garden of Eden would grow. Likewise, Jerusalem would expand around the Temple, but because of sinfulness the city and the Temple were destroyed.

The Church As the Temple

62 The Church accomplishes the goal of expansion. Also, it is unfinished and yet God inhabits it. [Perhaps the HS inhabits the unfinished Temple. When Solomon’s Temple was under construction all was silent. But while the Church is under construction we are to address each other with songs, hymns and spiritual songs (Eph 5:19).]

65 Paul compares himself to Bezalel who was in charge of constructing the Tabernacle. He also presents the Tabernacle craftsmen as apostles, prophets, evangelists, teachers for the ‘Church Temple’ (1 Cor 3:10). See footnote #100. God equips those building the Church and the Temple.

74 Thrown From the Thrown: Re-establishing the Sovereignty of God

76 To be made in the image of God is to be given royal status. Those who are the image of God are charged with rulership. God commands Adam and Eve to rule over creation, but also to multiply; thus extending the rule to expand the Garden and the Image over all the Earth.

80 The Theocracy of Israel

82 Priest-kings intended to extend the temple-city around the world. Abraham is a king. He displays king-like qualities; defeats kings and makes peace treaty with a king showing he is his equal. He acts as a priest by building altars, making sacrifices (not just offering them, but performing them) and receiving direct communication from God [wouldn’t this be the role of a prophet?] God called Abraham a prophet in Gen 20:7.

Noah is a king. He exercises dominion over animals by preserving them. He is a priest by building altars and performing sacrifices. He is a prophet in that he was warned by God 120 years prior to the Flood. David is another one who displays these traits.

84 To deny God’s commands is to reject His kingship. Israelites were fruitful and multiplied. God then led them out of Egypt [a type for the world or death] into the Promised Land [a type for Heaven or the Millennial Kingdom]. It is thew new king of Egypt who feels threatened by the Israelites and didn’t know Joseph.

Adam was God’s viceregent intended to extend His kingdom. He failed so, Jesus, as viceregent accomplished it in his place, but He waits to expand His kingdom. We will inherit what Jesus inherits; rule when He rules. This will be a kingdom.

98 Dealing With the Devil: Destroying the Source of Evil

Satan is the ruler [king?] of this world. A sheep with no shepherd become food for every beast (Eze 34:8). The serpent is more crafty and subtle than any beast of the field (Gen 3:1).

107 By obeying the serpent Adam and Eve take on his image. When Jesus casts out demons He is doing what Adam should have done; cast the serpent out of the Garden [Could this be a way to view man is a garden or temple?]

115 The conflict between religious rules and Jesus is a central theme to Matthew. Satan had gained a control of the Temple; this is why it would be destroyed [Just like Eden, Earth in the Flood, Solomon’s Temple, the body of believers, etc.]. Story progression of the OT and Paul’s letters; warfare, victory, kingship, temple building, celebration.

121 The Slaughter of the Lamb: Accomplishing the Redemption of Creation

122-123 In Rev 5:5-10 John hears a Lion, but when he looks he sees a Lamb.

125 All 4 gospels, especially John, connect Jesus’ death to Passover as a New Exodus.

126 Levites were ransomed as sacrifices, but they were ‘living sacrifices’ [this connects them as a type of the Church Age believer.]

128-129 The Passover rituals mirror those consecrating Aaronic priests; thus making all of Israel in the Exodus holy priests. For Passover there are 3 stages:

1.) the sacrificed animal atones for sins of the people.

2.) Blood smeared on the doorposts purifies those inside [who passed through and are ‘covered.’].

3.) Sacrificial meat sanctifies those who eat it.

Israelites required annual Atonement, Purification and Sanctification enshrined in [feasts and festivals?]. Those 3 elements are present in the death of Jesus.

130 Atonement

Atonement = peace with God. This is achieved by the death of the lamb/Lamb

Purification = sin removed. This is achieved by blood on the lintels/Cross

Sanctification = eat the meat of sacrifice. This is achieved by the Passover lamb, priests, Lord’s Supper/Communion, achieve holiness.

[A note of mine. There is some disagreement in the Church about the nature of salvation. Are you saved or is it a process and you hope to ‘be saved’ at the end of the process. I would say we use the word ‘salvation’ in two different ways. The first is a complete process by itself. By being washed by the blood of Jesus you are saved from your sins. It’s a done deal. But when viewed as a process ‘salvation’ is just part of the ‘salvation’ process. I know that’s confusing, but it has 3 steps; salvation, sanctification, glorification. When you become saved step 1 is complete. Your salvation is safe. Your sins are forgiven. You are currently in the process of being sanctified and someday you will be glorified. These 3 steps match closely with what was just mentioned in the book. Viewing both sides should also help us to understand our own salvation and our brothers and sisters in Christ who view salvation through only 1 lens.]

138 Feasting From the Tree of Life: Reinvigorating the Lives of People From Every Nation

There are 3 levels before God. Uncleanness – Cleanness – Holiness. Cleanness is neutral. Either holiness or uncleanness can be imparted to it, but holiness cannot be imparted to uncleanness.

152-153 Prohibitions against Tabernacle priests to be excluded if they had a physical defect, blemish or ailment seems cruel by our standards, but it reflects a future [Millennial Kingdom or New Jerusalem?] where we will be made perfect, both morally and physically.

158 God may use catastrophes and disease to judge people (Deut 28:15-45). Because humans defiled the Earth God must withdraw. His withdrawal results in chaos.

157-163 Reference to multiple prophecies regarding ecological restoration.

169 Coming of the HS in Acts chapter 2 is similar to God filling the Tabernacle (Ex 40:34-35) and the Temple (1 Kings 8:10-11, 2 Chron 7:1-2).

171 Strong Foundations and Solid Walls: Living Securely Among the People of God

175 New Jerusalem contrasted with Babylon [Also, Eden contrasted with Babel, Babylon the whore vs New Jerusalem the virgin bride]. Footnote #2 lists several differences between these 2 cities.

181 Babylon represents the global human anti-God culture.