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Date: Tue, 19 Mar 1996 08:25:07 +-100
Reply-To: Christian explanation of the Scriptures to Israel
Sender: Christian explanation of the Scriptures to Israel
From: Teus Benschop
Subject: ChrExp, The Scriptures opened, 75 [via LSMTP - see
www.lsoft.com]
To: Multiple recipients of list CHR-EXP
Contents
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1. Leviticus 1:3-9 - The burnt sacrifice
2. Jeremiah 23:16,17 - Own imaginations
3. Revelations 1:12-14 - The Son of man
1. Leviticus 1:3-9 - The burnt sacrifice
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Weekly reading: Leviticus 1:1 - 5:26 (= 6:7, Eng.)
3 If his offering be a burnt sacrifice of the herd, let him offer a
male without blemish: he shall offer it of his own voluntary will at
the door of the tabernacle of the congregation before the LORD.
Here we have the law for a burnt sacrifice. This law is not for the
regular burnt sacrifices, but for the sacrifices that are brought of
one's own voluntary will. Such a voluntary person wished to thank God,
or to ask forgiveness for committed sins. That person voluntarily
brought a sacrifice to the LORD. When he were to bring is unwillingly,
then it wouldn't haven been acceptable for him. The LORD wishes to be
served voluntarily, not grudgingly. The mean people might perhaps
bring not the best of their flock, but here we have a person that
brings a male of his herd, without blemish: an animal of a good value.
Further, he also brings it voluntarily. These things are acceptable
before the LORD.
4 And he shall put his hand upon the head of the burnt offering; and
it shall be accepted for him to make atonement for him.
The person that brings the offer shall put his hand upon the head of
the burnt offering, that is, upon the head of that beast. Why? That is
might be accepted for him. Accepted? For what? To make atonement for
him. The person had sinned, and asked forgiveness. For that reason, he
brings a burnt sacrifice, to make atonement for him. He lays his hand
on the head of the animal, to testify by that, that he consecrated
this offering to the LORD. The person gave this offer to the LORD, and
put it before Him, to be an offering in his own stead. He was the
sinner, and therefore had to die. But now, he gives this beast, that
is might die in his stead. The person that offers hereby asks mercy of
God, that his sins may be forgiven. The acceptance of this offering
through the LORD will make atonement for him. This showed forth the
Messiah, Who was then yet to come. By faith the person looked forward
to the coming Messiah, Who was promised to Israel. The burnt offering
showed forth, and sealed the future atonement, to be made by the
Messiah.
The person that offered was justified freely by God's grace, through
the redemption that would be in Jesus Christ. We know this, because we
live now, and can look back on this great happening. Jesus Christ, the
burnt sacrifice, Whom God has set forth to be a propitiation through
faith in His blood, to declare His righteousness for the remission of
sins that are past, through the forbearance of God. (Rom. 3:24,25). In
Christ Jesus have we redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of
sins, according to the riches of God's grace. (Eph. 1:7). We have in
Jesus the "redemption through His blood, even the forgiveness of
sins", Col 1:14.
5 And he shall kill the bullock before the LORD: and the priests,
Aaron's sons, shall bring the blood, and sprinkle the blood round
about upon the altar that is by the door of the tabernacle of the
congregation.
The bullock was to be killed before the LORD. Since the bullock died
in stead of the person, he could see what would have happened to him,
if his sins were not forgiven. Then not the bullock should be killed,
but the person himself. While the person was looking at this, he might
feel the greatness of his sins. He was worthy of death, but through
God's grace the bullock died in his stead, showing forth the death of
the Messiah, Whose Name is Jesus Christ (as we now know).
6 And he shall flay the burnt offering, and cut it into his pieces.
The bullock should not only be killed, but also be cut into pieces.
Look how great the sin is. Sin causes the bullock to be cut into
pieces, so that the sinner might be released. Look also how great
God's mercy is, to forgive the great and many sins of all believers.
7 And the sons of Aaron the priest shall put fire upon the altar, and
lay the wood in order upon the fire:
8 And the priests, Aaron's sons, shall lay the parts, the head, and
the fat, in order upon the wood that is on the fire which is upon the
altar:
9 But his inwards and his legs shall he wash in water: and the priest
shall burn all on the altar, to be a burnt sacrifice, an offering made
by fire, of a sweet savour unto the LORD.
Further, the beast should be burnt wholly. This fire showed forth
God's wrath against both sin and sinner. God is so angry with sin and
with the sinner, that His anger burns like flames. These flames devour
everything that is sinful. Only through remission of sins, there is a
way of escape for us. The person that offered saw it before his eyes.
The animal was burnt. That beast was burnt in his stead.
We don't have offerings any longer, but we can look back, and read in
the Word, that Jesus was God's sacrifice, the unblemished Lamb, that
died for the sins of all those that are given Him.
2. Jeremiah 23:16,17 - Own imaginations
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Thus saith the LORD of hosts,
Hearken not unto the words of the prophets
that prophesy unto you:
they make you vain:
they speak a vision of their own heart,
and not out of the mouth of the LORD.
They say still unto them that despise me,
The LORD hath said,
Ye shall have peace;
and they say unto every one
that walketh after the imagination of his own heart,
No evil shall come upon you.
There are prophets enough in the world, but are they all true
prophets? Also Israel had prophets enough, but were they all send by
the LORD? Were they true prophets, sent by God, or were they false
ones, sent by Satan? The true prophets speak truth, but the false
prophets speak falsehood (though under the cover and pretext of
truth).
There are prophets, whereof God says: "They make you vain". That is,
they deceive you with false promises. If you rely on them, then it
will come out that you have deceived yourself. Of these prophets, God
also says: "They speak a vision of their own heart, and not out of the
mouth of the LORD". That is, these false prophets speak what they
think up themselves, and not what they receive of God. They speak the
dreams of their heart. They are the foolish prophets, that follow
their own spirit, and have seen nothing. Ezek 13:3. These are the
prophets, when they stand at the pulpit, vomit out all what has come
up in their heart, and in their dreams. A few weeks ago, I heard a
minister say: "When I must prepare my sermon, I don't know what to say
or what to prepare. But when I begin, then I take a paper and a pen,
and begin to write. While writing, there come up something in my mind,
and I can thus finish my preparation. This is my sermon for the next
day." This minister's very own words prove that he is a false prophet.
Because he prophecies what come up in his own heart, without
consulting the Scriptures.
"Thus saith the LORD of hosts: Hearken not unto the words of the
prophets that prophecy unto you. They make you vain. They speak a
vision of their own heart, and not out of the mouth of the LORD." They
speak every dream that comes up in their heart, but the silent about
the truth of God and His Word. These prophets try to please their
listeners. To please them, they have so speak soft things. A thing
these ministers always and ever will avoid, is speaking of the sins of
the congregation. They might lose their listeners, and also their
living! Speak therefore soft things, and suppress the truth, false
prophets!
According to our text, and also according to the present situation in
too many churches, "They say still unto them that despise Me, The LORD
hath said, Ye shall have peace". So, every despiser of God is told
that he will have peace. This is contrary to the truth, of course, but
the false prophets either are blind for the truth, or they wilfully
reject it lest they lose both their listeners, and their living. Many
people despise God. They once a month, or even once a year go to the
church, and when they are there, they listen to the flattering sermon
of their false prophet. ("Glad to see you", instead of "those that
reject God will be judged"). "They say still unto them that despise
me, The LORD has said, You shall have peace".
There are also people that "walk after the imagination of their own
heart". They think that they are good religious people. According to
the imagination of their own heart, they "have never hurt somebody",
"have never stolen", "are always friendly, and help everybody", "never
commit evil", and so on. According to their own hearts, they are good
people, and will finally enter heaven. They never consult the Word,
nor love God, but yet they think that they live good lives. They love
themselves, and their own flesh, but they care not for God, nor for
His Word, nor for His honour. They don't oppose falsehood in doctrine
or life, because they don't love God, and therefore it hinders them
not that the world is full of God's enemies. Their ministers tell them
the same as what the false prophets in our text tell. "And they say
unto every one that walks after the imagination of his own heart: No
evil shall come upon you".
Looking around us, we see and hear the truth of Jesus' words: "And
many false prophets shall rise, and shall deceive many", Matt 24:11.
Therefore this advice is suitable: "Beloved, believe not every spirit,
but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false
prophets are gone out into the world", 1 John 4:1.
3. Revelations 1:12-14 - The Son of man
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12 And I turned to see the voice that spake with me.
And being turned, I saw seven golden candlesticks;
13 And in the midst of the seven candlesticks
one like unto the Son of man,
clothed with a garment down to the foot,
and girt about the paps with a golden girdle.
14 His head and his hairs were white like wool, as white as snow;
and his eyes were as a flame of fire;
John saw the Son of men, standing in the midst of the seven
candlesticks. These candlesticks represent the seven churches which
are in Asia. These seven churches are precious to Christ, the Son of
man. Therefore He stands in their midst. The churches on earth are as
precious unto God, as gold is precious to us. No, the churches are
more precious then anything on earth. God sends His Son to stand in
their midst, to lead and guard them, and to protect them against every
enemy.
John saw the Son of man standing in the midst of the churches. This
Son of man is Jesus Christ. It is said here, that John saw one "like
unto the Son of man". Not "the Son", but "like unto the Son of man".
This is because Christ here appears not in his real person, but in a
vision. John saw one like unto the Son of man. Christ is "clothed with
a garment down to the foot". Such garments were worn by the priests.
Christ is the chief of priests. He is our High priest, serving His
office in heaven, daily praying for His church. John saw in this
vision that Christ was "girt about the paps with a golden girdle".
This girdle show His readiness in executing His office.
The head of Christ, and his hairs, were seen by John as white like
wool, and as white as snow. Jesus' eyes are like flames of fire.
Christ is God, and is knowing all. With His eyes, He pierces through
everything. The thoughts of our inner parts are opened before Him. He
knows, and sees all. His eyes are like flames of fire. He penetrates
through all, even through the thickest darkness. Nothing is hid from
His eyes. The sinner will fall as dead before Him, because there is no
sinner that will stand His penetrating gaze, with eyes like flames of
fire.
Every person stands condemned before this Christ, because nothing is
his from Him. Even our righteousnesses are as filthy rags before Him.
When we have never met this God, then we think that we are righteous.
Through our blindness and ignorance, we think that our deeds are
acceptable before the Lord. But as soon as Christ's eyes pierce
through us, through our hearts and through our minds, then we
instantly see that we are cursed sinners. Everything that seemed to
us, formerly, good and pleasant, shows itself now in its true
filthiness. Even our best works become then abominable in our eyes.
This is the result of having met Jesus' eyes, that are like flames of
fire. "LORD Jesus, come down and draw Thine sword, that it may divide
our inner parts, and cut through all our opposition against Thou". May
God send His Spirit, that we may see the eyes of Jesus Christ, like
flames of fire. Then we see ourselves as we are: valueless in
ourselves; unable to do any spiritual good; cursed sinners;
transgressors standing condemned before God's tribunal; sinners caught
in the act. We then will see ourselves as we are, and our drowsy
blindness will instantly disappear. Let's Christ eyes, like flames of
fire, open also our eyes, that we may see the truth.
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chr-exp@nic.surfnet.nl
"A Christian explanation of the Scriptures to Israel"
Institute Practical Bible-education
Web: http://www.iclnet.org/pub/resources/text/ipb-e/ipbe-home.html
Written by Teus Benschop -- t.benschop@pobox.ruu.nl
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file: /pub/resources/text/ipb-e/so: s-open-075.txt
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