Monday 12 March 2012

A Meeting place in the wilderness

Does your wilderness experience  bring you closer to the Father in Heaven.

Have you had times when your in a wilderness and wonder were Heavenly father is ?

Have you wondered about the pillar of cloud by day and the fire by night ?


The following article is to show by scripture, the way into the presence of God (Yahuwah) and the elements of the tabernacle of Moses how believers can relate to them today. 

As there are many references to the name of God, YHWH, (Yahuwah which I favour) Yahweh Yehovah and so on I will also call him Father in this article

Tabernacle of Moses  Southern Israel
Moses was given plans by The Father to build a tabernacle were he could meet with the tribes through the priests and determine there times ahead. 

Hebrew meaning = Mishkan   
This is where I will meet with you 

The tabernacle would be a picture of Messiah

Exodus 25:8-10
King James Version (KJV)
 8And let them make me a sanctuary; that I may dwell among them.
 9According to all that I shew thee, after the pattern of the tabernacle, and the pattern of all the instruments thereof, even so shall ye make it.

Looking at this Sanctuary from the outside would have been a common occurrence for the twelve tribes of Israel who were camped outside in well organized camps  3 tribes to each of the four main compass points. Numbers chapter 2 describes in detail not addressed in this article
The outer court panels
They would generally see just the white canvas wall with posts in between numbering 50 around the whole compound, signifying inside was righteousness
and every time the camp was moving The tribe of Issachar would be the carries of all the tabernacle canvas thus for their meaning would be carries of righteous  and a strong jawboned donkey crouching between two saddlebag's

Fire and Cloud

The other site from a tent outside would be the pillar of cloud by day and fire by night Ex 13:21

when it was lifted it was time to move

consider the time in Egypt for 400 yrs as slaves enjoying Egyptian customs and
being oppressed  to conform to that way of life.. Then Moses returns to tell Pharaoh to let my people go from bondage. So through the red sea into the wilderness to have Egypt washed away could have been quite quick, but because of their moaning and the fear of entering into what they saw was the land of the Giants and the like ended up on a forty year wandering with laws to help keep them from wanting to go back to the old ways.

When we come out of the World and into a remote place with God it can be that there he speaks to you. Midbar is Hebrew word for wilderness or desert and also means speech.

To Hear his voice, so we can enter into that presence by observing this protocol
is set within the tabernacle and its principles of how to meet with him.

The pattern of entering into the place, started when given to Moses were he saw the image as well as receiving instruction, It was set out and given for the people to come and bring sacrifices and praise to the sanctuary and the priest would go in to the holiest and meet with Yahuwah on behalf of the people who was considered without sin.

This was a pattern of a tabernacle of meeting between man and god that now since messiahs arrival on earth, we can enter in much the same way. 

Today we can enter into his presence spiritually by the same way in that we thank him, praise him, submit our mind will and emotions to him and then enter into an act of worship from this comes humility as we bow and see what he has for his people and how we then respond.

When the tribes were outside as in the days of temple worship they would sing songs to god on the way into the sanctuary.

Outer Court  (Body) Thanksgiving  30

Brazen Alter (thanksgiving) Blood
during the wilderness years it would probably be songs of thanksgiving to being released from the bondage's of Egypt.

still they would come with there sins imperfections into the tabernacle with there offerings to be burnt this was an expression of their gratefulness to Father.

Exodus 27

 1And thou shalt make an altar of shittim wood, five cubits long, and five cubits broad; the altar shall be foursquare: and the height thereof shall be three cubits.
 2And thou shalt make the horns of it upon the four corners thereof: his horns shall be of the same: and thou shalt overlay it with brass.
 3And thou shalt make his pans to receive his ashes, and his shovels, and his basons, and his fleshhooks, and his firepans: all the vessels thereof thou shalt make of brass.
 4And thou shalt make for it a grate of network of brass; and upon the net shalt thou make four brasen rings in the four corners thereof.
 5And thou shalt put it under the compass of the altar beneath, that the net may be even to the midst of the altar.
 6And thou shalt make staves for the altar, staves of shittim wood, and overlay them with brass.

Today his people are required to present there body with there sin first and thank him in song and in deed, thanking him for what he has done.
   
This area in the believers life represents  the Blood, what it does, how it makes you righteous  the redemption bought for a price. 

The blood cleanses us from Sin. Sanctifying us unto The Heavenly father

This is very much an outer court activity with potentially 30 fold consequences for all that we present in our body 

Heb 13 15By him therefore let us offer the sacrifice of praise to God continually, that is, the fruit of our lips giving thanks to his name.
 16But to do good and to communicate forget not: for with such sacrifices God is well pleased.                                        

just before the inner court was the bronze laver used to wash you hands after the blood of sacrifice   today for believers it is representative of the washing of the word in our lives allowing the word of God to cleanse from the defilement of the world.


Ex 30: 18Thou shalt also make a laver of brass, and his foot also of brass, to wash withal: and thou shalt put it between the tabernacle of the congregation and the altar, and thou shalt put water therein.
 19For Aaron and his sons shall wash their hands and their feet thereat:
 20When they go into the tabernacle of the congregation, they shall wash with water, that they die not; or when they come near to the altar to minister, to burn offering made by fire unto the LORD:
 21So they shall wash their hands and their feet, that they die not: and it shall be a statute for ever to them, even to him and to his seed throughout their generations.
 
Bronze Laver (The Word)
The water used here was pure and would be like a mirror so you could see your self before entering the inner court
made of bronze (judgement by the word ) 
made of the looking glasses of the women (the word to be a reflection of your life as in a mirror)


The scriptures declare many times itself as soap cleansing power
psalm 119: 9   taking heed according to thy word  
washing the body to make it acceptable should he holy and without blemish

Here you can rest, refresh and reflect

It is Written

In the beginning was the word and the word was with God and the word become flesh and dwelt amongst us.

Two aspects to the word the living word and the written word  both one and the same  seen also as Rhema and Logos

The words of the messiah are spirit,  and are in red in some bibles 
 
Today when you sing the psalms and the scriptures it is singing the word developing your self for powerful praise.

Summary so far the blood cleanses on the inside from Sin, and the Word cleanses us from the outside defilement of Life  e.g sin of rebellion wickedness etc.
Today looking for positive image's we should see from the mirror is of righteousness in him, a new creation,  your a new man not the old man which is now redeemed and cleansed. 

Then the priest would enter  into the inner court  today we are preparing ourselves to praise him with all our mind will and emotions submitting them for his priestly guidance.





Holy place also called the Inner court (Soul) Praise 60


The inner court entrance seen with the colour's of red and blue with 5 pillars at the entrance.
The priest having seen the sacrifices of the people then would enter the holy place on behalf of the people



Exodus 39
details the dress for the Priest Aaron In this picture, the priest is over the altar of incense which is a symbol of are joy our our heart cry to convey what it is we are beseeching earnestly for (Praying).

Here the priest with his urim and thummim on this breastplate of 12 stones representing the twelve tribes of Israel
 
 Ex 39 1And of the blue, and purple, and scarlet, they made cloths of service, to do service in the holy place, and made the holy garments for Aaron; as the LORD commanded Moses.
 2And he made the ephod of gold, blue, and purple, and scarlet, and fine twined linen.
 3And they did beat the gold into thin plates, and cut it into wires, to work it in the blue, and in the purple, and in the scarlet, and in the fine linen, with cunning work.
 4They made shoulder pieces for it, to couple it together: by the two edges was it coupled together.
 5And the curious girdle of his ephod, that was upon it, was of the same, according to the work thereof; of gold, blue, and purple, and scarlet, and fine twined linen; as the LORD commanded Moses.
 6And they wrought onyx stones inclosed in ouches of gold, graven, as signets are graven, with the names of the children of Israel.
 7And he put them on the shoulders of the ephod, that they should be stones for a memorial to the children of Israel; as the LORD commanded Moses.

 keeping this abridged


10And they set in it four rows of stones: the first row was a sardius, a topaz, and a carbuncle: this was the first row.
 11And the second row, an emerald, a sapphire, and a diamond.
 12And the third row, a ligure, an agate, and an amethyst.
 13And the fourth row, a beryl, an onyx, and a jasper: they were inclosed in ouches of gold in their in-closings.
 14And the stones were according to the names of the children of Israel, twelve, according to their names, like the engravings of a signet, every one with his name, according to the twelve tribes.

The above was to show how the priest was the guide for Israel and was the intermediary between the tribes and Yahweh.

Ex 28: 29And Aaron shall bear the names of the children of Israel in the breastplate of judgment upon his heart, when he goeth in unto the holy place, for a memorial before the LORD continually.
 30And thou shalt put in the breastplate of judgment the Urim and the Thummim; and they shall be upon Aaron's heart, when he goeth in before the LORD: and Aaron shall bear the judgment of the children of Israel upon his heart before the LORD continually.

Today the high priest made a way by renting the veil that we would all become part of the royal priesthood in him we could enter in with right attitude as we walk in holiness,  be holy as I am holy    
 
Holy Place

Table of Shewbread  (Will)
Altar of Incense (Emotions)
Once inside the Holy Place (inner court) the priest would ensure the coals were alight in the altar of incense the 12 loaves of bread on the table of Shew bread  and the seven branch menorah was lit. 
Menorah (Mind)



Menorah oil cup ( Mind)
The Menorah also referred to as the Golden Candlestick  represents the illumination of the inner court. On a human level this represents the believers Mind within his Soul and how we will submit by the renewing of our mind to praising God and learning from him by the various ways he would reveal himself to us.   Today this is in part the call to be a prophetic people to gain wisdom understanding council strength Knowledge also to seek the spirit with reverence or awe.

Renewing the mind in association with our will becomes a powerful action when in the attitude of Praise


The Table Of Shew Bread  Not my will but thine, The bread strengthens the heart of men  here it is for each of the tribes to be represented in the Holy place.
Shew Bread


























With a covering of Frankincense (adding this spice for worship) and the  Shew bread means bread of the face (or presence) and god's face is continually looking upon the will of his people.  This bread made with ground flour contrite and smooth after getting the lumps and bumps out made into form that's much like father wants to mold our will, baked and in the fire.  So we will sing praises  as we make the decision that allow us to get closer to God also consider confession, forgiveness and repentance  being an act of your will a decision that you make.

Psalm 9:1 I will praise thee, O LORD, with my whole heart; I will shew forth all thy marvelous works.

 The following scriptures would become a progression from this tabernacle to the Tabernacle of David where the eventual introduction of music and singing much like we experience today in praise to worship 
1 CH 9:32And other of their brethren, of the sons of the Kohathites, were over the shew-bread, to prepare it every sabbath.
 33And these are the singers, chief of the fathers of the Levites, who remaining in the chambers were free: for they were employed in that work day and night.

The altar of incense  was a movable object  and represents our emotion and attitude of how we when we earnestly beseech the Lord for his best in our lives it can also be moved around the tabernacle as a sweet incense unto the lord.

This is part of the transition of moving into that place of worship holiest of all having presented your soul in the holy place before  meeting with the father.

Exodus 40:5 And thou shalt set the altar of gold for the incense before the ark of the testimony, and put the hanging of the door to the tabernacle.

Lev 16:12 And he shall take a censer full of burning coals of fire from off the altar before the LORD, and his hands full of sweet incense beaten small, and bring it within the vail:




Beaten small is like checking your emotions which ever way we are exhibiting them and humbling ourselves before entering in.

Our prayers come as a sweet aroma and as we enter into the Holiest of All  through the vail into the place were the Ark of The covenant resides.

After submitting your will and renewing your mind your then ready to move as the altar moves from praise into that place of worship. 

Holiest of All   Worship  (spirit)   100

Worthship or Worship more commonly pronounced today principally means to give great honour in Hebrew is definition is shachah to bow down stoop in reverence especially in the attitude of the heart.

As you enter the inner sanctuary the ark of the covenant greets you, the Priest would go in with a bell attached to his garment and a rope around his ankle, should he enter here with sin      not atoned or accounted for and he would be struck dead and the other Levites helpers would pull him out from the presence of God. Whether during the night which was seen from all around with a pillar of fire or during the day where the cloud would protect from the glory.


Today the death for believers has been paid for and the vail rent and the access to god is in submission of our soul to his spirit  connecting our own humans spirit to that Of the Holy Spirit  (Ruach Hakodesh) when you become made a new creature  your alive 



Heb 9 3And after the second veil, the tabernacle which is called the Holiest of all;
 4Which had the golden censer, and the ark of the covenant overlaid round about with gold, wherein was the golden pot that had manna, and Aaron's rod that budded, and the tables of the covenant;



Hebrews 9:8 The Holy Ghost this signifying, that the way into the holiest of all was not yet made manifest, while as the first tabernacle was yet standing:
The ark house the tablets containing the ten laws Aaron's budded rod and a pot of manna  ultimate law (tables of the covenant), authority and provision  covered by gold (purity)  but made of shittim wood hard gnarled and much like us as we come with our humanness.  

Heb 9 5And over it the cherubim s of glory shadowing the mercyseat; of which we cannot now speak particularly.
 6Now when these things were thus ordained, the priests went always into the first tabernacle, accomplishing the service of God.
 7But into the second went the high priest alone once every year, not without blood, which he offered for himself, and for the errors of the people:
 8The Holy Ghost this signifying, that the way into the holiest of all was not yet made manifest, while as the first tabernacle was yet standing:
 9Which was a figure for the time then present, in which were offered both gifts and sacrifices, that could not make him that did the service perfect, as pertaining to the conscience;
 10Which stood only in meats and drinks, and divers washings, and carnal ordinances, imposed on them until the time of reformation.


As we come in to the fathers presence we have written on our hearts his laws and commands as the word become flesh and dwelt amongst us so to did he put these laws of stone into a heart of flesh (did your heart not burn when he was walking and speaking with us on the road to Emmaus) and so to receive at his table the things that he provides for us to keep us on our destiny showing us the authority as a believer and how we should exercise it.

The various provisions to keep us holy through out our lives, Manna provided for 40 years in the wilderness a generation's time span, faithfully he provides throughout our life. 

The Cherubim covers the Ark also they cover the way with a flaming sword to the Garden of Eden. When you move in your life and in your acts of solemn worship in the holiest place of all, it maybe your secret place with him or within a meeting or dream's and visions, devotion time in the word or in prayer, where the still small voice comes with revelation.

Worship can be seen in what you do when you come into the presence.

Having received here after preparing yourself in the outer and inner court  your life starts to move into a hundred fold aspects as you give you will receive.  where to from here.
As you go into your field or your garden your life and destiny becomes clearer in that you start to see the kingdom clearer and you meet people in that field on that mountain who are good for you to network or bind together with or indeed need the relationship with to build for eternity and not just for the temporal existence that we feel is over when we shed the Body.  


 Ex16: 33And Moses said unto Aaron, Take a pot, and put an omer full of manna therein, and lay it up before the LORD, to be kept for your generations.
 34As the LORD commanded Moses, so Aaron laid it up before the Testimony, to be kept.
 35And the children of Israel did eat manna forty years, until they came to a land inhabited; they did eat manna, until they came unto the borders of the land of Canaan.
Rev 12:11And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony

Tabernacle in the wilderness


Finally 

The wilderness need not be a place of desolation, My travels into Judea, Sinai, Jordan and Israel's Negev were fascinating places of solitude, silence and yet you can hear him speak and see many things that remind you of a creator and his dealings with his people during the time of the Israelite wanderings. Such has a small hand or a ring of cloud, looking like an open heaven, such has I saw over Kadesh Barnea, 

Lawrence of Arabia commented, that he felt the desert was a "clean place".

The times we spend alone or with others in this place can be some of the most enriching times you will have in your time with the father.  Thanking him for what we have, considering it joy that sometimes we suffer trial but realizing it hones our character. Praising him that he is the one to give reverence and awe too forgetting not his benefits as we remain in that relationship with him and his people, loving those who our outside whilst there is redemption available.  

Remember the account of John the Baptist's life, having spent time in the Judean wilderness and some accounts say he may have spent time in Qumran were some Levites and Essenes were based on the edge of the dead sea. 

He came saying "I am the voice of one crying in the wilderness, prepare the way of the Lord"

A forerunner to the coming messiah 

We praise him for who he is and not what he does for us, we express that in our thanks giving but once we submit ourselves fully we can begin the next step of our walk with the things we need to fulfill his plan in our lives.

Worship is a lifestyle and an attitude of heart it is should be seen in us by our time in Gods presence and how we reflect that in the outworking of our lives. 

At times we will see provision, healing and prosperity, success, wealth, well being and relationship building from glory to glory.

Draw near to god and he will draw near to you especially in the wilderness.




References
Pictures 2010 by Roger
reference Bible KJV

Temple in Jerusalem