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JUDGES 1 - PART 38

June 20, 2016

Welcome to Searching The Scriptures! This is Part 38 in the Book of Judges, and we are continuing our investigation of Judges 1, starting from verses 22-26, where we read,

Judges 1:22-26

“And the house of Joseph, they also went up against Bethel [“the house of God”]: and the LORD [was] with them. {23} And the house of Joseph sent to descry [“search”or “spy”] Bethel. (Now the name of the city before [was] Luz.) {24} And the spies saw a man come forth out of the city, and they said unto him, Shew us, we pray thee, the entrance into the city [mabow’:H3996], and we will shew thee mercy. {25} And when he shewed them the entrance into the city [mabow’:H3996], they smote the city with the edge of the sword; but they let go the man and all his family. {26} And the man went into the land of the Hittites, and built a city, and called the name thereof Luz: which [is] the name thereof unto this day.”

In the historical setting, this passage of the man and his family reminds us of the account of Rahab and her family who were the only ones spared in the city of Jericho - a portrait of judgment descending upon the churches and denominations, after 13,000 years of history, at the start of the Great Tribulation. This took place on May 21,1988, when God abandoned all the institutional churches worldwide and without exception, so that salvation was no longer accesible through that divine organism any longer. Salvation was still possible in the world -  outside of any institutional church - until May 21, 2011, which marked the end of the Great Commission, and the completion of God’s salvation program,and judgment transitioned to the world at large. 

Spiritually speaking this is a historical parable relating to judgment coming upon “the house (bayith:H1004) of God (’El:H410) - the meaning of the compound Hebrew word, Bethel (Beyth-’El:H1008). Notice that “the LORD was with them” [i.e., “the house of Joseph”] in this endeavor. Like Rahab and her family, this unnamed man and his family were spared from complete destruction, which fell upon all the other unsuspecting residents - “they smote the city with the edge of the sword.” Let’s consider one very revealing word in this account which supports the idea that this is a representation of  “the end of the church age” (which lasted 1955 years). That word is the term mabow’ (H3996). 

Them The Entrance Into The City

This word appears 24 times in the following ways: “going down” (6x), “entry” (5x), “come” (3x), “entrance” (3x), “enter” (2x), “in” (2x), “west” (1x), “westward” (1x), and once as a variant. We are interested specifically in the two phrases that this word is found in Judges 1:24-25, 

“And the spies saw a man come forth out of the city, and they said unto him, Shew us, we pray thee, the entrance into the city [mabow’:H3996], and we will shew thee mercy. {25} And when he shewed them the entrance into the city [mabow’:H3996], they smote the city with the edge of the sword; but they let go the man and all his family.”

The reason I have chosen to focus on this particular word is because of its usage - not merely as an entry point - but as it relates spiritually to the “setting of the sun,” which is exceedingly important when we search out what the Bible indicates regarding its Gospel dimension.  Please keep in mind that Bethel which is being attacked -  means “the house of God.”

For example we see how this word, “unto the going down” (of the sun) in verse 1 of  Psalm 50:1-7 occurs in the context of God judging - typified by fire - His corporate people, as if in a tribunal and testifying against them. He is doing so in the presence of His “witnesses” - “the heavens and the earth” which He spoke into existence by His Word at the onset of Creation: 

[A Psalm of Asaph.] The mighty God, [even] the LORD, hath spoken, and called the earth from the rising of the sun unto the going down [mabow’:H3996] thereof. {2} Out of Zion, the perfection of beauty, God hath shined. {3} Our God shall come, and shall not keep silence: a fire shall devour before him, and it shall be very tempestuous round about him. {4} He shall call to the heavens from above, and to the earth, that he may judge his people. {5} Gather my saints together unto me; those that have made a covenant with me by sacrifice. {6} And the heavens shall declare his righteousness: for God [is] judge himself. Selah.  {7} Hear, O my people, and I will speak; O Israel, and I will testify against thee: I [am] God, [even] thy God.”

Likewise in Psalm 104:19-23, we find this same word rendered, “his going down”: “He appointed the moon [typifying the Word of God] for seasons: the sun knoweth his going down. [mabow’:H3996] {20} Thou makest darkness, and it is night: wherein all the beasts of the forest do creep [forth]. {21} The young lions roar after their prey, and seek their meat from God. {22} The sun ariseth, they gather themselves together, and lay them down in their dens. {23} Man goeth forth unto his work and to his labour until the evening.” [`ereb:H6153]

The term, “until the evening” (`ereb:H6153) is a time marker that signals the cessation of work, as Jesus clearly set forth in John 9:4,

“I must work the works of him that sent me, while it is day: the night [nyx:G3571] cometh, when no man can work.”

I do want to emphasize one point having to do with the “sun” (in the sky) - which is a spiritual representation of Christ as these next passages illustrate - that when the “sun” goes down, “Man” (representing Christ as He does all the work of salvation) is no longer able to work because it is spiritual night time. So, excuse my digression as we consider these important passages:

In Revelation 1:16 we read: “And he [Christ] had in his right hand seven stars: and out of his mouth went a sharp twoedged sword: and his countenance [was] as the sun [helios:G2246] shineth in his strength.”

In this majestic passage, God is painting “word pictures” of the Lord Jesus Christ – amongst which His “countenance” or face is described metaphorically as “the sun shineth in his strength.” A reverse portrayal of the Lord Jesus  appears in Psalm 19:4b-5, in which the “sun” is referred to as a “bridegroom” and as a “strong man” or “mighty man,” as it is sometimes rendered:

“In them hath he set a tabernacle for the sun [shemesh:H8121], {5} Which [is ] as a bridegroom [chathan:H2860] coming out of his chamber, [and] rejoiceth as a strong man [gibbowr:H1368] to run a race.”  

Incidentally, both of these terms – “bridegroom” and “strong man” – point to Christ, and are found in Isaiah 62:5 and Isaiah 9:6 respectively,

“For [as] a young man marrieth a virgin, [so] shall thy sons marry thee: and [as] the bridegroom [chathan:H2860] rejoiceth over the bride, [so] shall thy God rejoice over thee.”

“For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty [gibbowr:H1368] God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.”

A similar depiction of Christ as the “sun” is also found in Matthew 17:1-2, 

“And after six days Jesus taketh Peter, James, and John his brother, and bringeth them up into an high mountain apart, {2} And was transfigured before them: and his face did shine as the sun [helios:G2246], and his raiment was white as the light.”

Another portrait of Christ (Jehovah) as “a sun” is seen in Psalm 84:11, 

“For the LORD God [is] a sun [shemesh:H8121] and shield: the LORD will give grace and glory: no good [thing] will he withhold from them that walk uprightly.”

Let’s continue our examination of this notable word, “the entrance” or “going down” [mabow’:H3996] (of the sun) in some other key citations:

In Proverbs 8:3, the entire chapter is devoted to “Wisdom” (personifying the Lord Jesus Christ), and please note how the entry way into the city is described by three different nouns - “the gates,” “at the entry,” and “at the coming” - which is this term, mabow’ (H3996) that we are examining:

 “She crieth at the gates [sha`ar:H8179], at the entry [peh:H6310] of the city, at the coming [mabow’:H3996] in at the doors.”

Each of these entry points typify the Lord Jesus Christ, Who is the only “Door” or “Gate,” which allows access into the Heavenly City, which is the Kingdom of God. As its predecessor, Old Testament Israel, the New Testament church age symbolized this Kingdom, as the external or outward representation on earth.You will recall Jesus’ words in John 10:1-2, 7, and 9 concerning Himself:

“Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that entereth not by the door [thyra:G2374] into the sheepfold, but climbeth up some other way, the same is a thief and a robber. {2} But he that entereth in by the door [thyra:G2374] is the shepherd of the sheep. ... {7} Then said Jesus unto them again, Verily, verily, I say unto you, I am the door [thyra:G2374]  of the sheep. ... {9} I am the door [thyra:G2374]: by me if any man enter in, he shall be saved, and shall go in and out, and find pasture.”

Another usage of this word mabow’(H3996) is found in verse 32 of Ezekiel 33:30-32, in which it is rendered as “cometh,” and notice God’s assessment of the heart attitude of His corporate people:

“Also, thou son of man, the children of thy people still are talking against thee by the walls and in the doors of the houses, and speak one to another, every one to his brother, saying, Come, I pray you, and hear what is the word that cometh forth from the LORD. ... {32} And they come unto thee as the people cometh, [mabow’:H3996] and they sit before thee [as] my people, and they hear thy words, but they will not do them: for with their mouth they shew much love, [but] their heart goeth after their covetousness. {33} And, lo, thou [art] unto them as a very lovely song of one that hath a pleasant voice, and can play well on an instrument: for they hear thy words, but they do them not.”

Ezekiel 44:5-9 further elaborates this theme of disobedience, and translates this term as “the entering in”: “And the LORD said unto me, Son of man, mark well, and behold with thine eyes, and hear with thine ears all that I say unto thee concerning all the ordinances of the house of the LORD, and all the laws thereof; and mark well the entering in [mabow’:H3996] of the house, with every going forth of the sanctuary. {6} And thou shalt say to the rebellious, [even] to the house of Israel, Thus saith the Lord GOD; O ye house of Israel, let it suffice you of all your abominations, {7} In that ye have brought [into my sanctuary] strangers, uncircumcised in heart, and uncircumcised in flesh, to be in my sanctuary, to pollute it, [even] my house, when ye offer my bread, the fat and the blood, and they have broken my covenant because of all your abominations. {8} And ye have not kept the charge of mine holy things: but ye have set keepers of my charge in my sanctuary for yourselves. {9} Thus saith the Lord GOD; No stranger, uncircumcised in heart, nor uncircumcised in flesh, shall enter into my sanctuary, of any stranger that [is] among the children of Israel.”

Judges 1:27-36

In Judges 1:27-36 one sees the pattern of disobedience, as Israel subjugated the varios heathen nations, yet did not destroy them utterly as God had stipulated in no uncertain terms:

“Neither did Manasseh drive out [the inhabitants of] Bethshean and her towns, nor Taanach and her towns, nor the inhabitants of Dor and her towns, nor the inhabitants of Ibleam and her towns, nor the inhabitants of Megiddo and her towns: but the Canaanites would dwell in that land. {28} And it came to pass, when Israel was strong, that they put the Canaanites to tribute, and did not utterly drive them out. {29} Neither did Ephraim drive out the Canaanites that dwelt in Gezer; but the Canaanites dwelt in Gezer among them. {30} Neither did Zebulun drive out the inhabitants of Kitron, nor the inhabitants of Nahalol; but the Canaanites dwelt among them, and became tributaries. {31} Neither did Asher drive out the inhabitants of Accho, nor the inhabitants of Zidon, nor of Ahlab, nor of Achzib, nor of Helbah, nor of Aphik, nor of Rehob: {32} But the Asherites dwelt among the Canaanites, the inhabitants of the land: for they did not drive them out. {33} Neither did Naphtali drive out the inhabitants of Bethshemesh, nor the inhabitants of Bethanath; but he dwelt among the Canaanites, the inhabitants of the land: nevertheless the inhabitants of Bethshemesh and of Bethanath became tributaries unto them. {34} And the Amorites forced the children of Dan into the mountain: for they would not suffer them to come down to the valley: {35} But the Amorites would dwell in mount Heres in Aijalon, and in Shaalbim: yet the hand of the house of Joseph prevailed, so that they became tributaries. {36} And the coast of the Amorites [was] from the going up to Akrabbim, from the rock, and upward.”

I want to take a closer look at the word, “tribute/tributaries/levy/discomfited/taskmasters” (mac:H4522)  in verses 28, 30, 33, and 35, however I’m afraid that wil have to wait until our next lesson, Lord willing.

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JUDGES 1 - PART 39

June 22, 2016

Welcome to Searching The Scriptures! This is Part 39 in the Book of Judges, and we are continuing our investigation of Judges 1, starting from verse 27-36, where we read,

“Neither did Manasseh drive out [yarash:H3423] [the inhabitants of] Bethshean and her towns, nor Taanach and her towns, nor the inhabitants of Dor and her towns, nor the inhabitants of Ibleam and her towns, nor the inhabitants of Megiddo and her towns: but the Canaanites would dwell in that land. {28} And it came to pass, when Israel was strong, that they put the Canaanites to tribute [mac:H4522], and did not utterly [yarash:H3423]  drive them out. [yarash:H3423]  {29} Neither did Ephraim drive out [yarash:H3423]the Canaanites that dwelt in Gezer; but the Canaanites dwelt in Gezer among them. {30} Neither did Zebulun drive out [yarash:H3423] the inhabitants of Kitron, nor the inhabitants of Nahalol; but the Canaanites dwelt among them, and became tributaries. [mac:H4522] {31} Neither did Asher drive out [yarash:H3423]the inhabitants of Accho, nor the inhabitants of Zidon, nor of Ahlab, nor of Achzib, nor of Helbah, nor of Aphik, nor of Rehob: {32} But the Asherites dwelt among the Canaanites, the inhabitants of the land: for they did not drive them out. [yarash:H3423] {33} Neither did Naphtali drive out [yarash:H3423] the inhabitants of Bethshemesh, nor the inhabitants of Bethanath; but he dwelt among the Canaanites, the inhabitants of the land: nevertheless the inhabitants of Bethshemesh and of Bethanath became tributaries [mac:H4522], unto them. {34} And the Amorites forced the children of Dan into the mountain: for they would not suffer them to come down to the valley: {35} But the Amorites would dwell in mount Heres in Aijalon, and in Shaalbim: yet the hand of the house of Joseph prevailed, so that they became tributaries. [mac:H4522] {36} And the coast of the Amorites [was] from the going up to Akrabbim, from the rock, and upward.”

Judges 1:27-36

Over and over again we see the failure of Israel to root out the inhabitants of the land as God had warned them, for instance, in Numbers 33:52-53 and 55, where this word “drive out” (yarash:H3423) is repeated four times:

“Then ye shall drive out [yarash:H3423] all the inhabitants of the land from before you, and destroy all their pictures, and destroy all their molten images, and quite pluck down all their high places: {53} And ye shall dispossess [yarash:H3423] [the inhabitants] of the land, and dwell therein: for I have given you the land to possess [yarash:H3423] it. ... {55} But if ye will not drive out [yarash:H3423] the inhabitants of the land from before you; then it shall come to pass, that those which ye let remain of them [shall be] pricks in your eyes, and thorns in your sides, and shall vex you in the land wherein ye dwell.”

As I mentioned at the close of our last study, today I want to take a closer look at this term rendered “tribute/tributaries/levy/discomfited” and “taskmasters” (mac:H4522) which appears  in verses 28, 30, 33, and 35; then we can consider the word “drive out” (yarash:H3423) more closely. We notice that rather than driving out the inhabitants completely, Israel only succeeded in subjugating them.

In Exodus 1:11 it is rendered as “over them taskmasters,” which was the plight God allowed the Israelites to endure for 400 years:  “Therefore they [the Egyptians] did set over them taskmasters [mac:H4522] to afflict them with their burdens. And they built for Pharaoh treasure cities, Pithom and Raamses.”

In verse 11 of Deuteronomy 20:10-18, God very specifically had warned the Israelites that if they encountered a group of people from “a far country” - such as the Gibeonites who sued for peace with Israel - they were to not destroy them, but rather to make them their servants; (the Gibeonites spiritually typify the elect): 

“When thou comest nigh unto a city to fight against it, then proclaim peace unto it. {11} And it shall be, if it make thee answer of peace, and open unto thee, then it shall be, [that] all the people [that is] found therein shall be tributaries [mac:H4522] unto thee, and they shall serve thee. {12} And if it will make no peace with thee, but will make war against thee, then thou shalt besiege it: {13} And when the LORD thy God hath delivered it into thine hands, thou shalt smite every male thereof with the edge of the sword: {14} But the women, and the little ones, and the cattle, and all that is in the city, [even] all the spoil thereof, shalt thou take unto thyself; and thou shalt eat the spoil of thine enemies, which the LORD thy God hath given thee. {15} Thus shalt thou do unto all the cities [which are] very far off from thee, which [are] not of the cities of these nations. {16} But of the cities of these people, which the LORD thy God doth give thee [for] an inheritance, thou shalt save alive nothing that breatheth: {17} But thou shalt utterly destroy them; [namely], the Hittites, and the Amorites, the Canaanites, and the Perizzites, the Hivites, and the Jebusites; as the LORD thy God hath commanded thee: {18} That they teach you not to do after all their abominations, which they have done unto their gods; so should ye sin against the LORD your God.” 

This word also appears in verse 1 of  Lamentations 1:1-11, which sadly typifies the end of the New Testament institutional churches and denominations: “How doth the city sit solitary, [that was] full of people! [how] is she become as a widow! she [that was] great among the nations, [and] princess among the provinces, [how] is she become tributary! [mac:H4522] {2} She weepeth sore in the night, and her tears [are] on her cheeks: among all her lovers she hath none to comfort [her]: all her friends have dealt treacherously with her, they are become her enemies. {3} Judah is gone into captivity because of affliction, and because of great servitude: she dwelleth among the heathen, she findeth no rest: all her persecutors overtook her between the straits. {4} The ways of Zion do mourn, because none come to the solemn feasts: all her gates are desolate: her priests sigh, her virgins are afflicted, and she [is] in bitterness. {5} Her adversaries are the chief, her enemies prosper; for the LORD hath afflicted her for the multitude of her transgressions: her children are gone into captivity before the enemy. {6} And from the daughter of Zion all her beauty is departed: her princes are become like harts [that] find no pasture, and they are gone without strength before the pursuer. {7} Jerusalem remembered in the days of her affliction and of her miseries all her pleasant things that she had in the days of old, when her people fell into the hand of the enemy, and none did help her: the adversaries saw her, [and] did mock at her sabbaths. {8} Jerusalem hath grievously sinned; therefore she is removed: all that honoured her despise her, because they have seen her nakedness: yea, she sigheth, and turneth backward. {9} Her filthiness [is] in her skirts; she remembereth not her last end; therefore she came down wonderfully: she had no comforter. O LORD, behold my affliction: for the enemy hath magnified [himself]. {10} The adversary hath spread out his hand upon all her pleasant things: for she hath seen [that] the heathen entered into her sanctuary, whom thou didst command [that] they should not enter into thy congregation. {11} All her people sigh, they seek bread; they have given their pleasant things for meat to relieve the soul: see, O LORD, and consider; for I am become vile.

Did Not Drive Out

Let’s now investigate this word “drive out” (yarash:H3423). This term surfaces 12 times in Judges 1 alone!  It is used 232 times in a variety of ways: “possess” (116x), “possess out (46x), “inherit” (21x), “heir” (10x), “possession” (6x), “succeed” (5x), “dispossess” (4x), “poverty” (3x), “drive” (2x), “enjoy” (2x), “poor” (2x), “expelled” (2x), “utterly” (2x), and 11 times in other ways. 

In Genesis 15:7-8, it is used in the opposite way of “drive out,” because it is referring to the Kingdom of God, which only the elect will inherit: “And he said unto him, I [am] the LORD that brought thee out of Ur of the Chaldees, to give thee this land to inherit [yarash:H3423] it. {8} And he said, Lord GOD, whereby shall I know that I shall inherit it?” [yarash:H3423]

Similarly in Genesis 21:10, Sarah speaking under divine inspiration, foresees the distinction that God Himself has established regarding between the true believers and the non-elect: “Wherefore she said unto Abraham, Cast out this bondwoman and her son: for the son of this bondwoman shall not be heir [yarash:H3423] with my son, [even] with Isaac.”

Likewise the spiritual blessing that all genuine Christians receive is reiterated in Genesis 22:17, “That in blessing I will bless thee, and in multiplying I will multiply thy seed as the stars of the heaven, and as the sand which [is] upon the sea shore; and thy seed shall possess [yarash:H3423] the gate of his enemies;”

In Exodus 15:9 this same word is rendered as “shall destroy” revealing the heart attitude of Pharaoh Thutmosis III (a spiritual representation of Satan) with regards to Israel - “ The enemy (Pharaoh and the Egyptians) said, I will pursue, I will overtake, I will divide the spoil; my lust shall be satisfied upon them; I will draw my sword, my hand shall destroy [yarash:H3423] them.”

Deuteronomy 9:3-6 emphasizes God’s reasons for allowing Israel to “drive out” the inhabitants of Canaan so His corporate people could “possess” this physical land, which is how this term is rendered in this passage; keep in mind that “the land” in view represents the eternal inheritance of the Body or Bride of Christ: 

“Understand therefore this day, that the LORD thy God [is] he which goeth over before thee; [as] a consuming fire he shall destroy them, and he shall bring them down before thy face: so shalt thou drive them out, [yarash:H3423] and destroy them quickly, as the LORD hath said unto thee. {4} Speak not thou in thine heart, after that the LORD thy God hath cast them out from before thee, saying, For my righteousness the LORD hath brought me in to possess [yarash:H3423] this land: but for the wickedness of these nations the LORD doth drive them out [yarash:H3423] from before thee. {5} Not for thy righteousness, or for the uprightness of thine heart, dost thou go to possess [yarash:H3423] their land: but for the wickedness of these nations the LORD thy God doth drive them out [yarash:H3423] from before thee, and that he may perform the word which the LORD sware unto thy fathers, Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. {6} Understand therefore, that the LORD thy God giveth thee not this good land to possess [yarash:H3423] it for thy righteousness; for thou [art] a stiffnecked people.”

This same term appears in verse 7 of 1 Samuel 2:1-7, where it is rendered, “maketh poor” in Hannah’s heartfelt prayer that she utttered under divine inspiration: “And Hannah prayed, and said, My heart rejoiceth in the LORD, mine horn is exalted in the LORD: my mouth is enlarged over mine enemies; because I rejoice in thy salvation. {2} [There is] none holy as the LORD: for [there is] none beside thee: neither [is there] any rock like our God. {3} Talk no more so exceeding proudly; let [not] arrogancy come out of your mouth: for the LORD [is] a God of knowledge, and by him actions are weighed. {4} The bows of the mighty men [are] broken, and they that stumbled are girded with strength. {5} [They that were] full have hired out themselves for bread; and [they that were] hungry ceased: so that the barren hath born seven; and she that hath many children is waxed feeble. {6} The LORD killeth, and maketh alive: he bringeth down to the grave, and bringeth up. {7} The LORD maketh poor, [yarash:H3423] and maketh rich: he bringeth low, and lifteth up. {8} He raiseth up the poor out of the dust, [and] lifteth up the beggar from the dunghill, to set [them] among princes, and to make them inherit the throne of glory: for the pillars of the earth [are] the LORD'S, and he hath set the world upon them. {9} He will keep the feet of his saints, and the wicked shall be silent in darkness; for by strength shall no man prevail. {10} The adversaries of the LORD shall be broken to pieces; out of heaven shall he thunder upon them: the LORD shall judge the ends of the earth; and he shall give strength unto his king, and exalt the horn of his anointed.”

This word is also contained  in verses 11-12 of Ezra’s prayer in Ezra 9:9-15, where it is translated as “possess,” and “leave [it] for an inheritance”: “Which thou hast commanded by thy servants the prophets, saying, The land, unto which ye go to possess [yarash:H3423] it, is an unclean land with the filthiness of the people of the lands, with their abominations, which have filled it from one end to another with their uncleanness. 12 Now therefore give not your daughters unto their sons, neither take their daughters unto your sons, nor seek their peace or their wealth for ever: that ye may be strong, and eat the good of the land, and leave [it] for an inheritance [yarash:H3423] to your children for ever.”

We are not surprised that this term is found in all these prayers which “rehearse the righteous acts of the LORD” (Exodus 17:4; Judges 5:11), which Israel was commanded to do, and this is also a fitting note to bring to a close today’s lesson, and Judges chapter one as well. Lord willing, our next study will be Judges 2 - Part 1.

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