Nov 28 2011

Living Stones – 1

1 Peter 2:4-10  |  Sermon Notes

fingerofgod

Cut and Uncut Stones

4    As you come to him, the living Stone—rejected by humans but chosen by God and precious to him—

Peter’s use of the stone image should bring many Old Testament images to mind:

  • the precious stones of Havilah, intended to be mined from the Land to glorify the sanctuary [1]
  • the false stones of Babel (they had brick for stone)
  • Jacob’s head on the altar stone, in a deep sleep
  • Jacob’s raising of an altar stone in Bethel: “And this stone which I have set as a pillar shall be God’s house, and of all that You give me I will surely give a tenth to You.”
  • Zipporah’s sharp stone of circumcision
  • Moses enthroned on a stone at the defeat of Amalek
  • Israel’s altars of stone (one stone for each tribe) at Sinai and Carmel
  • The precious stones on the breastplate of the High Priest
  • The tablets of stone carrying the ten words
  • The stones of the “Levitical” house in the city filled with plague
  • The stones of judgment, the ground itself as a witness executing transgressors outside the camp
  • The black and white stones in the ephod

We have two types of stones: uncut stones (altar, judgment – the Law) and cut, or precious, stones (glory and riches – Grace).

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Jun 20 2011

Bowing the Heavens

battleofmidian

What do the Psalms mean when they speak of the Lord “bowing the heavens”?

“Bow thy heavens, O Lord, and come down: touch the mountains, and they shall smoke.” (Psalm 144:5)
He bowed the heavens and came down; thick darkness was under his feet.” (Psalm 18:9)

The language is architectural, based on the original and greatest Temple of them all, the cosmic “house” constructed in Genesis 1.

This post has been slain and resurrected for inclusion in my 2015 book of essays, Inquietude.

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Mar 24 2011

Border Patrol

bridalveilfalls-iancameron

“And thou shalt set bounds unto the people round about, saying,
Take heed to yourselves, that ye go not up into the mount,
or touch the border of it:
whosoever toucheth the mount shall be surely put to death.”
Exodus 19:12

The Bible beats blood and water into us over and over again. Blood is death. Water is resurrection. Blood is the Bridegroom and water is the Bride.

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Oct 12 2010

Infinite Room – 4

mosesonsinai-gerome

Smoke and Mirrors

Instead of being qualified to carry the flaming sword and take dominion over the world,

“You will chase your enemies, and they shall fall by the sword before you.” Leviticus 26:7

he moved outwards into the world, but without access to the mountain of God. Adam was still under the sword. He was outside the fruitful field of Covenant with God, and all other relationships were distorted. His Covenant with his wife, and his delegated Covenant with the Land. Continue reading

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Apr 16 2009

Servanthood Dominion

tabernaclefurniture2

The Tabernacle was not only a “portable Sinai”, the mountain of God laid out across the ground, it was the cruciform Man. We see Jesus, with the Throne of God on His shoulders (the Ark – government), bread and wine in His left hand (the Table - servanthood), the ‘seven stars’ of the Lampstand in His right (dominion), and His feet on the crystal sea (the Laver – resurrection). And He is lifted up “in the air” between heaven and earth (the Altar-Land) as the Mediator Who unites God and man.

As the Ark (Moses), with arms outstretched (Bread – Aaron, and Ruling Lights – Hur), He is the prophet, priest and king Who defeated Greater Amalek at Sinai.

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