Leaves of Gold

A Call To Return To The Teaching Of The Bible

A ministry of Evangelist James A. Nelson   jan23@cox.net

Year III,   No. 5       MAY    2008

 

Master Outline Number Twenty-Eight

 

Taken from  "The Christian Life Bible", Porter L. Barrington

 

Worship

"Worship at the church of your choice" has become a common sign in North America, and believ­ers and unbelievers alike are urged to join in a public service in a specially designed building called a church or synagogue. But is this worship? Can a person who does not believe in Christ join in? No. If we go to the average church, including the average Bible-believing church, we will see a sign, "WORSHIP 11 :00 A.M:' We will find that the main part of the service is a sermon. But is a sermon worship? No, listening to a sermon, or even preaching one, is not worship. It can, should, and often does draw forth worship, but a sermon is not worship.

But what about prayers? Are they not worship? No, most prayers are petitions and are meant to be that. Some prayers are filled with worship, and most good prayers certainly include worship, but a prayer itself is not necessarily worship. Surely the church music-the anthems of the choir and solos, as well as the hearty congregational singing-is worship. Here we are getting closer to worship, espe­cially when the music is addressed to God in adoration. But music itself is not worship. Some of the most beautiful church music is performed and enjoyed by people who make no profession of Chris­tianity at all. Is the collection of tithes and offerings worship? Giving is a good work, and giving back to God some of what He has blessed us with can be an act of worship.

A beautiful example of worship by a former pagan Gentile is recorded in the book of Daniel. Con­sider the words of Nebuchadnezzar, as he worshiped the Most High God, after he came to know Him as his God and Savior: "I, Nebuchadnezzar, lifted my eyes to heaven, and my understanding re­turned to me; and I blessed the Most High and praised and honored Him who lives forever: For His dominion is an everlasting dominion, and His kingdom is from generation to generation. All the in­habitants of the earth are reputed as nothing [compared to His greatness]; He does according to His will in the army of heaven and among the inhabitants of the earth. No one can restrain His hand or say to Him, 'What have You done?' ... Now I, Nebuchadnezzar, praise and extol and honor the King of heaven, all of whose works are truth, and His ways justice. And those who walk in pride He is able to put down" (Dan. 4:34-37).  This is pure worship. He certainly was not preaching; he was not even praying, but was praising the Most High God in worship. His heart was overflowing, bubbling over with a consciousness of the greatness, love, and goodness of the sovereign God.

We also are told to "exalt the LORD our God, and worship at His footstool-He is holy" (Ps. 99:5). Worship exalts God and humbles man; there is no room for pride, arrogance, or hypoc­risy in worship. "God is Spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth" John 4:24).

 

28-A.     Worship: Some Fundamentals (Psalm 29:2)

(1) The Definition of Worship.  The dictionary definition of worship is "...the reverence or veneration tendered a divine being or supernatural power ; respect, admiration, or devotion for an object of esteem".

                A Simpler understanding of worship is in the very root of the English word, which is "worth-ship." In other words, it is the state of gladly recognizing the supreme worth of God. It is not coming to God to get something, as in prayer; it is not evangelizing people to bring them to God; it is not learning the Scriptures; rather it is heartfelt love, appreciation, an adoration of God for who He is and what He has done (Deut. 6:4, 5). One of the best illustrations of pure worship is a loyal dog, who will lie at its master's feet, gazing in adoration and seeking nothing but the privilege of being in his presence. Worship is difficult to define in cold print, because it is an exercise of the heart. As the Scottish lady put it, "It's better felt than telt." The Bible is full of worship, It is a book of worship from cover to cover. The most popular book in the Old Testament, the Psalms, is largely a worship book in poetic form.

(2) The Object of Worship. "For it is written, 'You shall worship the LORD your God, and Him only you shall serve'" (Matt. 4:10). In this quotation from Deuteronomy 6:13 , our Lord rebukes Satan for suggesting that Christ should worship him. The only true object of worship is God. That Jesus Himself received worship and is accorded worship in the book of the Revelation and elsewhere, is further evidence that He is the Son of God and God the Son. The Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit are co-equal and co-eternal, and deserve equal honor in our worship. Anyone less than God, no matter how beloved or revered, should not be worshiped. The worship of angels (a heresy that apparently existed in Colosse), the adoration of Mary or other "saints," the virtual deification of high-ranking church officials, are all completely forbidden by the Word of God. Only one is worthy of worship: our Creator and Redeemer, the one true God, eternally existent as Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.

                In Acts 10:26 Peter refused to let Cornelius kneel before him, uttering a strong rebuke: "Stand up; I myself am also a man." likewise, in the very last chapter of Revelation, the apostle John was so overwhelmed by what he had seen in the visions revealed to him by the angel, that he fell down to worship him. The angel answered, "See that you do not do that. For I am your fellow servant, and of your brethren the prophets, and of those who keep the words of this book. Worship God" (Rev. 22:9). From start to finish the Bible makes it clear that there is only one true Object of worship as concisely summarized by the angel in Revelation 22:9: "Worship God."

28-B. Worship in the Old Testament (Psalm 5:7)-

(1) Worship before the giving of the law. Before God gave the law, with its elaborate instructions on how to worship Him properly, the unit of worship was the family. The father of each family acted as priest. From the time of Adam and Eve, animal sacrifices were made to atone for sin, as well as to worship God, The first use of the word worship in the Bible is in the beloved story of Abraham and Isaac (Gen. 22:1-18). When God spoke to Abraham and told him to offer Isaac as a sacrifice, His instructions were specific:

(a) "Take now your son, your only son Isaac." He was to be the sacrifice.

(b) "And go to the land of Moriah, and offer him there as a burnt offering on one of the mountains of which I shall tell you" (Gen. 22:2)  God chose the site for Abraham to build an altar, and would later provide a sacrifice to take the place of Isaac.

"And Abraham said to his young men, 'Stay here with the donkey, the lad and I will go yonder and worship, and we will come back to you'" (Gen. 22:5; see Point 20"C, "The Offering of Isaac,").

                Not just any person may worship God, but only those who have accepted His provision. The system of animal sacrifice in the Old Testament prefigured the sacrifice of Christ in the New Testament. Not just any method of worship is allowed, but only such as God has prescribed. Even before the giving of the Law it was necessary to present a blood sacrifice; because Cain did not do so, his worship was refused. Old Testament worship was taken up with forms and ceremonies; New Testament worship is concerned with worshiping in spirit and truth (John 4:24, 25). But in both Testaments the basis of worship is the shedding of blood, without which the unforgiven sin separates the would-be worshiper from a holy God.

(2) Worship in the tabernacle. The book of Exodus gives elaborate and intricate instructions on the building of the tabernacle, and the book of Leviticus is equally detailed concerning the sacrifices that were to be offered. While these books can be read as history, their spiritual lesson is missed if they are read in this way only. 1 Corinthians 10:11 tells us that all these things happened for our instruction. Both the tabernacle and the sacrifices are clear types, or illustrations, of Christ. Christ is the rneans by which the worshiper comes to God; without Him there can be no true worship. The colors, the materials, the metals, the arrangement, every detail of Old Testament worship prefigures some attribute of our Lord Jesus. All the sacrifices of Leviticus together picture the great sacrifice of the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world.

                The worshiper in ancient Israel brought his animal to the door of the tabernacle and identified himself with it, but only the priest could officiate at its sacrifice; even the high priest could go through the veil into the Most Holy Place only once a year. In Christianity, however, the veil has been torn apart (Mark 15:38), and any believer-priest may enter the Most Holy Place (1 Pet. 2:9) spiritually, in prayer, through the one Mediator between God and man, the God-Man Christ Jesus (1 Tim. 2:5).

(3) Worship in the temple. Solomon's temple continued the sacrificial system of the tabernacle. But there were differences:

(a) A building is more permanent than a tent, no matter how beautiful and elaborate that tent may be.

(b) The additional beauties of the temple choir's antiphonal hymns, which we learn about in Chronicles and the book of Psalms, surpassed the simpler tabernacle worship.

                The typology of the temple apparently is less specific than that of the tabernacle, but the same sacrificial system was carried on as outlined for the tabernacle, and Christ was portrayed in the temple sacrifices.

                Our Lord Himself spoke of the temple as His "Father's house" (John 2:16) when He threw out the money changers and those who would use religion as a means of monetary gain. (1 Tim. 6:5). He also pointed out that His own body was a temple that would be destroyed through death and yet in three days would rise again (John 2:19-21). The believer-priest of the New Testament era is told that his or her body is also a temple of the Holy Spirit (1 Cor. 3:16). The world is much impressed with Grecian temples and Gothic cathedrals with their high ceilings and beautifully colored windows, but God is more impressed with the humble heart of the believer in whom the Holy Spirit dwells.

 

28C Worship in the New Testament (John 4:23, 24)- The Old Testament ends four hundred years before the New Testament begins, with the temple having been rebuilt and the sacrificial worship system restored. As New Testament times began, this temple had been greatly beautified by Herod. With its gleaming white marble trimmed in real gold, it was one of the wonders of the age, its splendor visible from a distance as the people went up to Jerusalem to worship. This ornate, ritualistic worship continued throughout the New Testament era and only ceased with the destruction of Jerusalem in A.D. 70.

Two other forms of worship, however, are more pertinent to our study of this period:

(1) Worship in the synagogue (Acts 15:21). The word synagogue is simply a Greek word for congregation. Local Jewish congregations had formed when the people of Israel were in exile and therefore had no temple. In the synagogue the Old Testament was taught, especially the Law, services of prayer were also conducted. A group of elders and the ruler or chief of the synagogue led the worship.

                Scripture was read and expounded by men of the congregation; unlike today's modern synagogue in which a rabbi does most of the teaching and work, any man might read or speak in the ancient synagogue. Hence our Lord Himself, though unpopular with the religious leaders, could read and preach in the synagogue both in His home town, Nazareth (Luke 4:16-27), and in His second home base, Capernaum (John 6:59).  Paul and his fellow missionaries were allowed to share their beliefs with the congregation because they were Jewish (Acts 13:14-52).

                Synagogue worship laid the foundation for Christian church worship, since many local synagogues in various countries were easily adapted to Christianity. Even the system of elders was retained (instructions for which may be found in Acts 20; 1 and 2 Timothy; and Titus).

(2) Worship in the church. To the Samaritan woman, who was concerned about which temple of worship was the correct one-her Samaritan temple on Mount Gerizim or the Jewish temple in Jerusalem ­our Lord foretold the then-future Christian dispensation, in which we worship in spirit and truth.

                The Samaritans only accepted the Pentateuch (Genesis-Deuteronomy), rejecting all the rest of the Old Testament. Like cults of the present day, they did not worship in truth. Most of the Jews did possess the truth (except the liberal Sadducees who denied the supernatural and the resurrection), but the Pharisees were so legalistic they did not worship in spirit.

                The major activities of the New Testament church are mentioned in Acts 2:42), such as the "breaking of bread" (the Lord's Supper), a ceremony especially suited to worship in spirit and truth (1 Cor. 11-14). Its elements, reminding the believers of Christ's sacrificial death for them, are comparable to the actual sacrifice of Old Testament lambs and other animals. However, the book of Hebrews emphasizes that the Lord's Supper is not itself a sacrifice, since the ultimate sacrifice has already been made by the Lord Jesus Christ (Heb. 9:28; 10:10); rather it is a memorial to Calvary "in remembrance of Me" (1 Cor. 11:24It is not the Lord's Altar but the Lord's Table.

                Since this service evolved from the yearly Passover, it was only natural that the church worship also continued the practice of hymns and prayers. And just as the Old Testament priest or worshiper sometimes actually ate bread and meat in communal worship, so the Christian believer partakes at the communion service as a sign of fellowship with other believers (1 Cor. 10:17).

The earliest church (Acts 2:46) broke bread daily, but by the end of the book of Acts, weekly communion (on the Lord's Day, to commemorate the Resurrection) seemed to be customary (Acts 20:7).

 

28-D. Worship: Its Importance (Luke 2:13, 14)-"Let all the angels of God worship Him" (Heb. 1 :6). Worship is the paramount activity in heaven among all the angels of God. They looked to Christ and worshiped Him, because the Father said to Him, "Your throne, o God, is forever and ever" (Heb. 1 :8; cf. Ps. 45:6). Jesus is worshiped because He is the only begotten Son of God, and God the Son (John 3:16).

                The truth of Jesus' deity is one of the most profound facts ever revealed by the heavenly Father. When Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea, God the Father sent "a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying: 'Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men!'" (vv. 13, 14). Christ came to His own, but His own did not know Him; so they did not worship Him (John 1:10). But God the Father sent the heavenly host to earth to worship the virgin-born Messiah.

(1) The seraphim know God's worth, and in great joy and ecstasy they cry one to another, "Holy, holy, holy is the LORD of hosts; the whole earth is full of His glory!" (Is. 6:1-3).

(2) The cherubim are always seen in connection with the throne of God. They worship the Lord and guard His throne. They cover the mercy seat in the Most Holy Place in heaven (Heb. 9:1-5); accordingly, God told Moses to make golden cherubim and put them above the mercy seat in the Most Holy Place in the tabernacle (Ex. 25:17-19). They were not to be worshiped (Ex. 20:3-5), but to remind the high priest and the people that all the angels of God worship Him day and night (Rev. 4:8). All the angels of God, as well as mankind, were created to bow down and worship the Creator.

(3) John said, "I heard the voice of many angels around the throne, the living creatures, and the elders; and the number of them was ten thousand times ten thousand, and thousands of thousands" (Rev. 5:8-14). All were engaged in pure worship.

(a) The elders and the living creatures fell down before the Lamb.

(b) They brought the prayers of the saints as a gift to the Lamb.

(c) They sang a new song of praise.

(d) They worshiped the Lamb in word, and then the elders fell down to worship the One who lives forever and ever.

(4) The Tribulation saints will join all the host of heaven and worship the Lamb of God at the end of the Great Tribulation (Rev. 7:9-17).

(5) Just as worship is paramount with the host of heaven, so it must have priority in all our thoughts and plans here on earth, because it is the most important thing we do as believers. Worship must take precedence over prayer, although prayer is vital to Christian growth and power. Worship must take precedence over reading God's Word, unless you are reading Scriptures to motivate worship. Worship must take precedence over music, unless the music is used to enhance worship.

                Worship is an indispensable part of the Christian's life-now and in eternity. Evangelism and Bible teaching, like faith and hope, will cease. Worship, like love, will occupy our hearts forever (1 Cor. 13:8-10).   (These studies will continue next month)

 

Rightly Dividing The Word,  Clarence Larkins

xxv

Christ Our Passover-

                                                     

                Wherever the Bible has gone the story of the night "When the Passover was first observed in Egypt has been told. Wherever a Jew exists on the face of the earth that night is remembered, celebrated and pointed to as the greatest event in their national history. Of its his­torical truthfulness there can be no question. It is the most remarkable instance of Divine intervention recorded in the Scriptures. The Children of Israel from being the honored guests of Pharaoh became his slaves. As slaves they desired freedom, but their struggles for freedom only increased their bondage (Ex. 1: 13-14), and in their despair they called upon God (Ex. 2: 23-25), and God sent a "Deliverer"-MOSES, and through him said to Pharaoh-"Let 'MY PEOPLE' go that they may serve Me." Ex. 8: 1. The Children of Israel were not made for Egypt, nor Egypt for them, they were made for Canaan. God intended that they should drink of the water of Jordan and not of the water of the Nile. While they were born in bondage they were made for LIB­ERTY. God had told Abraham that his seed should be a stranger in a land that was not theirs, where they should be afflicted for 400 years, and afterwards should come out with great substance. Gen. 15: 13-14. When the time for their deliverance and return to Canaan had come, God found it necessary to wean them from Egypt by making their lot in Egypt unendurable. To this end He stirred up the heart of Pharaoh to increase their burdens.

                The deliverance of the Children of Israel from Egypt is a type of the deliverance of the sinner from the bond­age of sin and is well worth our study. Egypt is a type of this present "EVIL WORLD." In Moses' day it pre­sented the best specimen of worldly glory and magnifi­cence that the world has ever seen. In it were gathered the world's wealth, art, and commerce. As seen in its ruins there was nothing lacking in that which would gratify the "Lust of the Flesh," the "Lust of the Eye," and the "Pride of Life." The food of Egypt was not only plentiful, but gross and stimulating. It was com­posed of cucumbers, melons, leeks, onions and garlic. Egypt was also famous for its fish. N urn. 11: 4-5. But Egypt was not to be compared with Canaan for beauty or food, for Canaan was a land of figs and pomegranates, of olive oil and honey, of new corn and wine. Deu. 8: 8-9.

                Pharaoh was a type of "Satan." Egypt was full of idolatry, the very stronghold of Satan, and a "hotbed" of every species of sin. Having Israel in his power Pharaoh tried to make it permanent. That is what Satan tries to do with the sinner. It is Satan's "Taskmasters" who make the sinner sweat in hard bondage.

                Moses was a type of Christ. Notice that God is always "BEFOREHAND" with His salvation. Salva­tion is no "AFTER-THOUGHT" of God's. God was preparing Moses in the Wilderness for the work he was to do in delivering Israel. The quickest way to get relief is "via" the Throne of God. Israel phoned to God, God phoned to Moses. God always knows where the man needed for the occasion is.' In fact, owing to His fore­knowledge, He has him ready. When Moses appeared in Egypt and made his mission known there was trouble. He was looked upon as a "labor agitator," and Pharaoh increased the burdens of the Children of Israel. So Satan makes the way rough for the sinner who desires to get away from him.

                When Pharaoh refused to let the Children of Israel go then God took a hand, and proceeded to bring judg­ments, in the form of "Plagues," upon Egypt. The pur­pose of the "Plagues" was to make Pharaoh and the Egyptians see that the God of Israel was stronger than the "gods" of Egypt. The "Plagues" were 10 in number and distributed over about a year. With the exception of the first and the last they were "Natural Phenomena" common to Egypt, the miraculous thing being that they came and went at the command of God and were of great severity. The "Ten Plagues" were judgments against the "gods" of Egypt.

 (1) "Water into blood," against the Nile, the "Idol River."

(2) "Frogs," against the worship of frogs.

(3) "Lice," against the earth god "Seb" and the priests, who could not officiate when vermin was upon them.

(4) "Flies," against the atmos­phere "Shu," son of "Ra," the SUN-GOD.

(5) "Mur­rain," against the "Sacred Bull"-APIS.

(6) "Boils," against "Sutech" or "Typhon," to whom victims were offered, their ashes being flung to the winds.

(7) "Locusts," against the "Sacred Beetle."

(8) "Hail," against "Shu."

(9) "Darkness," against the "Sun-God" -RA, of whom Pharaoh was believed to be the child.

(10) "Death of the First-Born," against the nation guilty of wholesale infanticide in ordering that all male Hebrew children should be cast into the river Nile. Ex. 1: 22.

                The first 9 Plagues may be divided into 3 groups of 3 Plagues each. In the first two of each group Pharaoh was warned; in the last no warning was given. The first group only affected the comfort of the people, and were universal upon Egyptians and Israelites alike. The sec­ond group affected only the Egyptians, the Children of Israel's cattle were spared for sacrifice. Here property suffered. The third group -fell mainly upon the Egyp­tians, there being no hail in the land of Goshen, and the Children of Israel had light in their dwellings.

EGYPTIAN COMPROMISES

                When Moses and Aaron appeared before Pharaoh they said-"Thus saith the Lord God of Israel, Let my people go, that they may hold a Feast unto me in the Wilderness." And Pharaoh said-"Who is the Lord that I should obey His voice to let Israel go? I know not the Lord, neither will I let Israel go." Ex. 5: 1-2. Then Moses and Aaron demanded that Pharaoh let Israel go a three days' journey into the Wilderness. Pharaoh again refused; and practically said, the service of God is a WASTE OF TIME. He then increased the Children of Israel's burdens. But when after the first 3 Plagues there came the "Plague of Flies" upon the Egyptians only, Pharaoh thought it was time to "compromise," so he sent for Moses and said-"Go ye, sacrifice to your God in the land." Ex. 8: 25.

FIRST COMPROMISE

                Pharaoh would not object to an occasional sacrifice IN THE LAND if that would make the Children of Israel satisfied to remain in Egypt where he could retain his power over them. So Satan does not object to an occasional "spasm" of religious endeavor as long as we still remain in the world. If Pharaoh's advice had been followed the Children of Israel would never have left Egypt. To it Moses replied-"It is not meet so to do; for we shall sacrifice the 'Abomination of the Egyptians' to the Lord our God . . . and they will STONE US." Ex. 8: 26. As we have seen the "Sacred Bull"-APIS, was one of the gods of Egypt, and if the Children of Israel offered sacrifices of "bullocks" to Jehovah "in the land," that would be an "abomination" to the Egyptians, and they would STONE THEM for sacrificing the "Gods of Egypt." This compromise means that a man cannot be a Christian and worship God "in the land" without offending the world. Let him at the next meeting of his club get up and insist on offering a prayer, or engage in some religious exercise, and the members will "stone him" with ridicule. Moses refused to accede to Pharaoh's proposal, and said, "We will go THREE DAYS' JOUR­NEY into the Wilderness, and sacrifice to the Lord our God, as He shall command us" (Ex. 8: 27), and, because the "Plague of Flies" was unendurable, Pharaoh pro­posed a

SECOND COMPROMISE.

"I will let you go, that ye may sacrifice to the Lord your God in the Wilderness; only ye shall not go VERY FAR A WAY." Ex. 8: 28. The lesson is, Stand your ground, do not give in, and Satan will begin to compro­mise. This second proposition or compromise is more dangerous than the first, for Pharaoh knew it would be easy to get Israel back if they did not go very far away. So Satan says-"Yes, become a professing Christian, join the Church, but do not go very far away, observe Lent and other religious seasons, but the rest of the year be back in Egypt (the ·World) enjoying its pleasures." How could the Children of Israel reach Canaan by going only three days' journey into the Wilderness? "Not very far away" is incompatible with a happy Christian life for it means a vacillating life. The Israelites in the Wilderness did not like the manna God gave them. Their taste had been spoiled by eating cucumbers, garlic and onions, and they longed for the old Egyptian diet. When professing Christians no longer take delight in spiritual food it is plain that they long for their old worldly fare, if they have not already been down to Egypt and had a square meal of onions and garlic. Of all the distasteful dishes that can be imagined a mixture of "Manna and Onions" is the worst. An Egyptian dog would turn away from it. When you hear Christians ask-"Is it right or wrong to do this?" you may know that they have been caught in the "NOT VERY FAR AWAY" Com­promise.

THIRD COMPROMISE

                Between the Second and Third Compromise there were the Plagues of Murrain, Boils and Hail. Then Pharaoh's servants said unto him-"How long shall this man M03es be a snare unto us? . . . knowest thou not yet that Egypt is destroyed?" Ex. 10: 7. Then Pharaoh sent for Moses and Aaron and said unto them-"Go, serve the Lord your God, but WHO are they that shall go?" And Moses said-"We will go with our YOUNG, and with our OLD, with our SONS and with our DAUGHTERS, with our FLOCKS and with our HERDS will we go; for we must hold a FEAST UNTO THE LORD." Ex. 10: 9. They needed their flocks and herds for sacrifices. But Pharaoh said-"Not so; go now ye that are MEN." Pharaoh knew that if the men left their loved ones in Egypt it would not be long before they would be back. This Compromise means let the older people become Christians if they want to, but do not force religion on the young. Be a Christian if you want to, but do not force religion on your wife and chil­dren, for it is a personal matter. Let them enjoy their "Egyptian Pleasures" and you show no concern as to their salvation. With the offer of this Compromise Pharaoh drove Moses and Aaron away:. :Then followed  the Plagues of the Locusts and the Darkness. These Plagues were too much for Pharaoh, so he sent again for Moses and offered a

FOURTH COMPROMISE.

                "Go ye, serve the Lord; only let your FLOCKS and HERDS be stayed (remain in Egypt); let your little ones also go with you." Ex. 10: 24. Moses, seeing that Pharaoh was weakening, now demands to be paid for going-"Thou must give us also 'SACRIFICES' and 'BURNT-OFFERINGS,' that we may sacrifice unto the Lord our God. OUR cattle also shall go with us; there shall not an 'HOOF' be left behind; for thereof must we take to serve the Lord our God; and we know not with what we must serve the Lord until we come thither." Ex. 10: 25-26. They knew not what sacrifices would be required, for the "Law of the Sacrifices" was not given until they reached Sinai. This Compromise means be a Christian, give your soul to God, but keep your posses­sions for yourself. If you have paying investments in the world leave them there. Do not sell your "Brewery Stock" or part with those investments that pay large dividends even though it be at the expense of the poor. Many are caught right here. They fail to recognize their STEW ARDSHIP. They invest their money for the purpose of increasing their wealth, while churches and chapels are burdened with debt, and missionary treas­uries are empty, while their "flocks" and "herds" FAT­TEN IN EGYPT. Let them follow Moses' noble ex­ample and say-"Not a 'HOOF' SHALL BE LEFT BEHIND."

                With the rejection of the Fourth Compromise by Moses he was driven out from the presence of Pharaoh, who forbade hjm to see his face again under penalty of death. That closed the "Day of Grace" for Pharaoh. Then followed the Tenth and Last Plague, the "DEATH OF THE FIRST BORN." From what has preceded we see the "Compromises" that the sinner must refuse if he is to escape from the world. Let us now see how he is to be saved from the power of Satan and redeemed by BLOOD.

THE PASSOVER

                God's standard of "Power" in the Old Testament is the EXODUS, but before He could deliver Israel by His "Power," they must be redeemed by BLOOD. "The Passover" is a beautiful illustration of the "Plan of Sal­vation" through Christ. "For even Christ our 'PASS­OVER' is sacrificed for us." 1 Cor. 5: 7. As the blood of the "Passover Lamb" saved Israel, so the BLOOD of the "Lamb of God" saves us. "Ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, . . . but' with the precious BLOOD OF CHRIST, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot." 1 Pet. 1: 18-19.

As the Children of Israel dwelt in the "Land of Goshen," and it was a part of Egypt, they came under the "Doom of Egypt," which was that all the "First Born" should die. To offset this the Children of Israel were commanded to take a lamb, without blemish, of the first year, and kill it, and take of the blood and sprinkle it on the two side posts and lintel of the door of their dwell­ing, and when the Lord saw the blood He would pass over that house on that fateful night, and not destroy the "First Born" sheltered behind that blood-marked door. Ex. 12: 1-28.

                The Passover was to be to Israel the "BEGINNING OF MONTHS." Ex. 12: 2. It was to be the First month of the year to them. A man does not begin to live until he is saved by the "BLOOD OF CHRIST." Until then he is spiritually dead in trespasses and sins. Eph. 2: 1-3. The time spent in the "brick-kilns" of sin, and amid the "flesh-pots" of pleasure, do not count, and must be omitted from the life of the Believer. The Pass­over as a means of salvation was a plan of God's own devising. No man had a hand in it, except to do as God commanded. It was all of GRACE. Redemption is no "AFTER-THOUGHT" of God. It was not something to which He had to resort from force of circumstances. God is always "FORE-HANDED" with His salvation. Jesus was foreordained before the foundation of the world to be the Saviour of men. 1 Pet. 1: 18-20. The Passover consisted of two parts. The "Sacrifice" and the "Feast.

1. THE SACRIFICE.

                The "Sacrifice" was to be a LAMB. Ex. 12: S. An emblem of meekness and purity, such was Jesus. "He was led as a lamb to the slaughter." Isa. 53:7. The lamb was to be young, a male of the first year. -It was to be without blemish. If a spot had been found upon it, it would have been unfit for sacrifice. Jesus was without blemish. He was absolutely sinless. 2 Cor. 5: 21, 1 John 3: 5. He was perfect as a babe at Bethlehem, as a boy at Nazareth, as the "Son of Man." The words of the Father at His Baptism-"This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased" (Matt. 3: 17), had reference to Jesus' life from a boy. Pilate said of Jesus-"I find in Him no fault at all." John 18: 38. And Judas said ­"I have betrayed the innocent blood." Matt. 27: 4. The lamb was to be KILLED. Ex. 12: 6. It was not enough to take a lamb into the house and fondle it, to make a pet of it, to let God see how much they loved the lamb. It was not enough to tie the lamb to the door, where it might be seen by the "Death Angel," it had to be KILLED. We are not saved by the life of Christ, but by HIS DEATH. If Jesus had not DIED upon the Cross there would have been no "RENT VEIL," no "SHED BLOOD," no "OPEN TOMB," no "INTER­CEDING HIGH PRIEST." It is by His "STRIPES" we are healed, not by His example. "His own self bare our sins in His own body on THE TREE." 1 Pet. 2: 24. He did not bear them anywhere else. He did not bear them in the manger, or at the Jordan, or in the Wilderness, or in the Garden of Gethsemane, but on the CROSS.

                But the lamb was not simply to be killed, something had to be done with the BLOOD, and with the FLESH. They were to take the BLOOD and sprinkle it on the two side posts and on the upper door post (lintel) of their dwellings, and they were to EAT the flesh. Ex. 12: 7. The "First Born" was not safe when the blood was simply shed, or even when caught in the basin. It was not enough to "analyze" the blood, the blood had to be used, and they were not left in doubt as to how it was to be used, it was to be sprinkled on the door of their dwelling with a bunch of "Hyssop." Hyssop is a. common plant, and grew everywhere in Egypt. It was not a rare plant that they had to send to some foreign country to get. Hyssop stands for "Faith." Faith is the commonest thing in the world, without it there could be no commercial, social, or domestic relations. None of the blood was to be put on the "threshold" or sprinkled on the floor of the dwelling. It was too costly and too sacred to be trodden under foot. Yet unbelievers, and religious teachers who make light of the "Blood of Christ," are treading under foot the Son of God, and counting His BLOOD as worthless. Heb. 10: 29. It is worthy of note that a "Priest" had' no part in procuring redemption for the Children of Israel. The Passover was not a "Priestly Sacrifice." It was the "HEAD OF THE HOUSE" who killed the lamb and sprinkled its blood on the door.

The blood was a "TOKEN." "When I see the BLOOD, I will pass over you." Ex. 12: 13. It is not a question of "personal worthiness," nor of "good works," nor of "morality," but of the BLOOD. "It is the BLOOD that maketh an atonement for the soul." Lev. 17: 11. The Israelites were not merely in a salvable state, they were SAVED, not partly but completely. If a hair of one of the "First Born" sheltered behind the blood had been touched, it would have proved Jehovahs word void, and the blood of the lamb valueless. It is not necessary for us to see the blood. We may have no assurance as to our salvation, but have we applied the "Blood of Christ to our soul, are we trusting to it, and it alone, for our salvation? If so, all that is necessary is, that GOD sees it.

                Having applied the blood, what next: Go in the house and stay there. Ex. 12: 22. No "First Born" child of Israel was safe outside the house that night until after the "Death Angel" had passed, even though the blood was on the door. Doubtless many made light of the Passover method of salvation, but no one laughed in the morning. Men may mock at the Gospel plan of Salvation, and ignore the BLOOD, but they will not laugh at the Judgment.

2. THE FEAST.

                "Ye shall eat of the FLESH in that night, roast with fire, and unleavened bread; and with bitter herbs, ye shall eat it." Ex. 12: 8-10. They were SAVED by the blood, but it was not enough to kill the lamb and use its blood, they were to FEED ON THE LAMB. Some Christians stop short at being saved by the Blood, and fail to FEED ON THE LAMB. That is why they are not nourished and sustained in their Christian Life. There can be no true fellowship only, as we eat of the Lamb. The lamb was not to be eaten raw, or sodden with water (boiled), but roast with fire. To roast it they had to use a "SPIT." That is, they had to s1.lpport it over the fire by a rod run lengthwise through it, and another rod at right angles through the shoulders to turn it by, thus symbolizing the CROSS. It was on the CROSS that Jesus' body was subject to the "Fire of God's Righteous Wrath" against sin, and we are now to feed by faith on His body by the observance of the Lord's Supper (Matt. 26: 26-30. 1 Cor. 11 : 23-26), and the study of the Word. The trouble to­day is~ that the world is not feeding on the "CRUCI­FIED" Lamb, but on the "LIVING" Lamb. They are trying to follow Christ as an example and not as a SAVIOUR. They are living on the other side of the Cross and not on this side. "Alhat we are to do is not to go back to the living Christ, but to look forward to the "Coming" of the CRUCIFIED and GLORIFIED Christ.

                The Passover Lamb was to be eaten with UN­LEAVENED bread. Ex. 12: 8. Leaven is a symbol of evil and therefore could not be used at such a Feast as that of the Passover, and the Apostle Paul calls on us t6 purge out the old leaven of malice and wickedness. 1 Cor. 5: 7-8.

                They were also to eat the Feast with "Bitter Herbs," symbolical of their previous bondage, and they were to let nothing remain until the morning. They were to forsake sleep to feed oh the lamb, and if any were left over they were to burn it lest it fall into unfit hands or be left behind in their hasty departure. What a beautiful picture we have here. While a terrible hur­.ricane of Divine Judgment was sweeping at midnight over Egypt, destroying the "First Born" in every home unsheltered by the blood, the Children of Israel were FEASTING PEACEFULLY AND JOYFULLY ON ROASTED LAMB.

                They were to eat the Feast with their loins girded, their shoes on their ,feet, and their staff in their hand. Ex. 12: 11. They were to eat it as a people prepared to leave Egypt where death, darkness, and judgment reigned. Their girded loins and sandaled feet declared them a "PILGRIM PEOPLE" ready to set out and walk with God, even though their pilgrimage should lead them through the Red Sea and the Wilderness, for they knew that though the way be tedious and long their destina­tion as a redeemed and separated people was CANAAN, a land flowing with milk and honey. The journey of the Children of Israel from Egypt to Canaan has been called the "Pilgrim's Progress" of the Old Testament, arid beautifully portrays the Pilgrimage of a Christian as out­lined in the New Testament. Everything depends on what we do with the BLOOD. (These studies will continue next  month)

 

 

Evangelist James A. Nelson  (jan23@cox.net) and his wife of 57 years, Janet, are members of the Village Bible Church, Salina, Kansas.  This page is sponsored by David R. Pickett (dr_pickett@hotmail.com) and our Webmaster is Martin Gutzmer (mrgutzmer@gmail.com).