Why this image? Scripture contains many genres: history, law, poetry, letters, prophecy, just to name a few. Understanding scripture in these ways is important. The historic, poetic, and other senses of scripture can teach us much about God. Still the full meaning of every scripture is only found in the person of Christ. This is…
Category: Old Testament
Visions of Glory
When Ezekiel first sees the glory of the Lord, it is not associated with any temple. This is unique, for the other two visions of God’s glory involve temples: the earthly temple, the temple judged for Israel’s sins, and the new temple, wherein all things are restored and brought to fullness. But in chapter one,…
Wonderful Things in Your Law
In this post, I’d like to feature one of my booklets, “Wonderful Things in Your Law.” This booklet began with questions: How did Jesus fulfill the law? What does it mean for the law to be fulfilled? These were things I grasped with my heart but had never reasoned out. The need to reason them…
More than Perfect (Part 2)
Continued from “More than Perfect (Part 1)“ There are many dimensions to this story. In one dimension, Job pictures Jesus. Jesus was handed over to the devil and suffered immensely (Luke 22:53; John 13:27). Much of what Job says can be placed in the mouth of Jesus and reflects what Jesus felt as He writhed…
More than Pefect (Part 1)
Job was someone the Lord Himself described as “a man of perfect integrity” (Job 1:8). That’s high praise…sort of. Why do I say “sort of”? Because the book of Job is largely about the fact that God wanted something more than perfect integrity for His servant. For many of us, perfect integrity is the…
Harvest and Completion (Tabernacles Part 3)
Tabernacles, we mentioned, celebrated the maturing and harvesting of the whole crop. Often, the idea of harvest is associated with evangelism, “reaping” souls for the kingdom of God. But evangelism is probably more like scattering seed and conversion like seed sprouting. No one harvests seeds or sprouts. Only mature plants bearing grain or fruit are…
The Camp of Co-heirs (Tabernacles Part 2)
After leaving Egypt, God commanded that Israel’s tabernacles be arranged in a particular way (Num. 2). The Lord’s Tabernacle was in the center of the camp. Three tribes of Israel camped to the east of the Tent of Meeting (the most populous); three to the west (the least populous); three to the north and south…
Camp of the True Vine (Tabernacles Part 1)
From the 15th through the 22nd of the seventh month, the Israelites were to celebrate the Feast of Tabernacles or Booths (Lev. 23:34). Throughout this feast, the Israelites were to live in tent-like structures called tabernacles or booths. This served as a reminder that the Lord had His people dwell in booths after He brought…
True Fasting (The Day of Atonement Part 4)
Drawing by Patrick Murphy http://inspiredsketch.blogspot.com/ As mentioned, people were to practice self-denial or fast throughout the Day of Atonement (Lev. 23:32). This appointed fast is discussed in Isaiah 58. Through Isaiah, God communicates the spirit of the fast on the Day of Atonement: “Is not this the kind of fasting I have chosen: to loose the…
Beyond Eden (The Day of Atonement Part 3)
After the fall, man was sent out of Eden, away from God’s presence. God posted cherubim and a flaming sword to guard the way to the tree of life (Gen. 3:23). Cherubim were also embroidered into the veil barring the way to the Most Holy Place in the tent of meeting (Ex. 26:31). Christ (as…
The Voice of One 