Throughout the Scriptures God uses the metaphor of describing men as trees. One of the most famous examples occurs in Daniel 4 where in a vision God compares King Nebuchadnezzar to a great tree, a tree the king describes like this,

¹⁰ The visions of my head as I lay in bed were these: I saw, and behold, a tree in the midst of the earth, and its height was great. ¹¹ The tree grew and became strong, and its top reached to heaven, and it was visible to the end of the whole earth. ¹² Its leaves were beautiful and its fruit abundant, and in it was food for all. The beasts of the field found shade under it, and the birds of the heavens lived in its branches, and all flesh was fed from it.  (Daniel 4:10-12, ESV)

This metaphor described the greatness and glory of Nebuchadnezzar’s kingdom according to the prophet Daniel’s interpretation,

²⁰ The tree you saw, which grew and became strong, so that its top reached to heaven, and it was visible to the end of the whole earth, ²¹ whose leaves were beautiful and its fruit abundant, and in which was food for all, under which beasts of the field found shade, and in whose branches the birds of the heavens lived— ²² it is you, O king, who have grown and become strong. Your greatness has grown and reaches to heaven, and your dominion to the ends of the earth. (Daniel 4:20-22)

Nebuchadnezzar, however, lived in pride, luxury, and sin. The rest of his vision concerned how God planned to deal with this. Continuing to interpret his dream, Daniel said,

²³ And because the king saw a watcher, a holy one, coming down from heaven and saying, ‘Chop down the tree and destroy it, but leave the stump of its roots in the earth, bound with a band of iron and bronze, in the tender grass of the field, and let him be wet with the dew of heaven, and let his portion be with the beasts of the field, till seven periods of time pass over him,’ ²⁴ this is the interpretation, O king: It is a decree of the Most High, which has come upon my lord the king, ²⁵ that you shall be driven from among men, and your dwelling shall be with the beasts of the field. You shall be made to eat grass like an ox, and you shall be wet with the dew of heaven, and seven periods of time shall pass over you, tillyou know that the Most High rules the kingdom of men and gives it to whom he will. ²⁶ And as it was commanded to leave the stump of the roots of the tree, your kingdom shall be confirmed for you from the time that you know that Heaven rules. ²⁷ Therefore, O king, let my counsel be acceptable to you: break off your sins by practicing righteousness, and your iniquities by showing mercy to the oppressed, that there may perhaps be a lengthening of your prosperity.” (Daniel 4:23-27)

Nebuchadnezzar did not immediately repent, though, and twelve months later God fulfilled his vision. He stripped him of his kingdom and cast him into the fields of beasts (the outer darkness) until he learned to acknowledge God and to repent of his sins. Finally, at the end of “seven periods of time” (the fullness of time needed to accomplish God’s work in him), he did repent. Then God restored his kingdom to him. When this restoration occurred Nebuchadnezzar proclaimed,

³⁴ At the end of the days I, Nebuchadnezzar, lifted my eyes to heaven, and my reason returned to me, and I blessed the Most High, and praised and honored him who lives forever,

³⁶ At the same time my reason returned to me, and for the glory of my kingdom, my majesty and splendor returned to me. My counselors and my lords sought me, and I was established in my kingdom, and still more greatness was added to me. ³⁷ Now I, Nebuchadnezzar, praise and extol and honor the King of heaven, for all his works are right and his ways are just; and those who walk in pride he is able to humble. (Daniel 4:34-37)

Like every story in Scripture this one too tells us a parable, a prophetic truth that relates to all men. The most basic meaning of the parable is this. All men are as trees before God and each tree has its own particular dominion given to it by him. At the very least each one of us must be responsible for ourselves. Beyond that most people usually become responsible for others, like a spouse and children. Others then go on to build businesses and become responsible for employees of that business. And yet still others come into authority over whole populations as leaders in government, like Nebuchadnezzar himself. Ultimately each one of us must acknowledge God as the true source and master of our dominions and, according to that acknowledgment, treat those who come under our dominion. If we do not, then God will discipline us (cut down our tree, leaving us a mere stump in the land) until we do acknowledge it and treat others as we should. This is that particular truth which John taught as he came baptizing just before Jesus revealed himself.

⁷ But when he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees coming to his baptism, he said to them, “You brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the wrath to come? ⁸ Bear fruit in keeping with repentance. ⁹ And do not presume to say to yourselves, ‘We have Abraham as our father,’ for I tell you, God is able from these stones to raise up children for Abraham.¹⁰ Even now the axe is laid to the root of the trees. Every tree therefore that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. (Matthew 3:7-10)

Daniel’s parable and John’s preaching thus show that God compares men to trees in the Scripture. And, like all good trees, men should produce good fruit. Both stories also reveal that the first fruit that every true follower of God and of Jesus Christ will produce is the fruit of repentance.

We saw in yesterday’s post that God established one law to be observed by natural born Israelites and aliens from other nations which wanted to become part of God’s chosen nation. God referred to his one law as follows:

And when a stranger shall sojourn with thee, and will keep the passover to the LORD, let all his males be circumcised, and then let him come near and keep it; and he shall be as one that is born in the land: for no uncircumcised person shall eat thereof. One law shall be to him that is homeborn, and unto the stranger that sojourneth among you. (Exodus 12:48-49 KJV)

God purposed to teach his people several things from this one law. The basic principles he wanted to establish were the following:

1) First, God established that he is a holy God and that he may not be approached by anyone stained with the filthiness of the sins of the flesh. First, in order to teach this principle, he commanded Moses to build a tabernacle. The tabernacle itself was built in three sections, and outer court where the general public of Israel could offer their sacrifices, a “holy place” behind a veil which only priests could enter into in order to minister to God, and a “most holy place” behind a second veil symbolizing actual identification with and perfection before God. Concerning this tabernacle Hebrews says,

Now even the first covenant had regulations for worship and an earthly place of holiness. 2 For a tent was prepared, the first section, in which were the lampstand and the table and the bread of the Presence. It is called the Holy Place. 3 Behind the second curtain was a second section called the Most Holy Place, 4 having the golden altar of incense and the ark of the covenant covered on all sides with gold, in which was a golden urn holding the manna, and Aaron’s staff that budded, and the tablets of the covenant. 5 Above it were the cherubim of glory overshadowing the mercy seat. Of these things we cannot now speak in detail.

6 These preparations having thus been made, the priests go regularly into the first section, performing their ritual duties, 7 but into the second only the high priest goes, and he but once a year, and not without taking blood, which he offers for himself and for the unintentional sins of the people. 8 By this the Holy Spirit indicates that the way into the holy places is not yet opened as long as the first section is still standing 9 (which is symbolic for the present age). According to this arrangement, gifts and sacrifices are offered that cannot perfect the conscience of the worshiper, 10 but deal only with food and drink and various washings, regulations for the body imposed until the time of reformation.

2) Second, the one law established a system of sacrifices which prophetically portrayed five different spiritual goals and potential realities. God gave instructions concerning these five specific and different types of sacrifices in Leviticus 1-5.

a) The fifth offering, the one introduced in Leviticus chapter five, is the first one we apprehend in our approach to God. It is the “trespass” offering one makes because he is ashamed of his sins. It is the offering of repentance for sin. This is the first thing that person does when he comes to true faith in Jesus Christ as Savior.

b) Leviticus chapter four deals with the “sin offering,” and offering made for having committed “unintentional” sins. The fact that a sin offering was made, however, implies that the offeror had recently come into a knowledge of his sin. This speaks of the ongoing nature of our relationship with God. “To whom much is given much is required.” (Luke 12:48) As a believer continues his journey with God he will come to understand more of God’s truth. With truth comes accountability. Mature believers are responsible for greater holiness before God than the babe in Christ.

c) The peace, the grain, and the burnt offerings, those offering commanded in Leviticus 3, 2, and 1 all teach about God’s sovereignty. God requires us to obey Him, yet He wants us to do so willingly and not under compulsion. The idea of willing obedience presents us with another one of the great tensions or mysteries of Scripture, man’s free will versus God’s sovereignty. This also brings us to the distinction between the Old and New Covenants. Under Moses’ law, or the Old Covenant, strict obedience to God’s Law established fellowship with God. This covenant failed and history proves that man cannot obey God from his own strength. On the other hand, the New Covenant teaches that fellowship with God, by faith in Jesus Christ, brings us into obedience to Him. God Himself, sovereignly by His Spirit, moves us to believe in and obey Him. At this time, however, even under the New Covenant we cannot perfectly obey God. We still live in carnal bodies of flesh.

The third altar sacrifice is the “peace offering” and was offered as “food, an offering made by fire for a sweet aroma” to God. (Lev. 3:16) This offering corresponds to a believer’s trusting walk with God in the assurance of faith that he stands clean before God. Having repented of all known intentional and unintentional sins, as represented by the trespass and sin offerings, he now walks in peace with God. Leviticus 7:11-21 reveals that the peace offering was offered for “thanksgiving,” (vs. 12), or as a “vow or voluntary offering.” (vs. 16). Davidwrites, “I will freely sacrifice to You; I will praise Your Name, O Lord, for it is good.” (Psalm 54:6) Hebrews proclaims, “Therefore by Him let us continually offer the sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of our lips, giving thanks to His name.” (Heb 13:15) The peace offering foretells true praise and worship of God, offered thankfully and voluntarily by His own people. The peace offering also speaks of the purpose, or goal, of true worship, which is to convey our love to our Beloved.

d) Moses announced the grain offering second in Leviticus, but this is now the fourth offering we will study. The grain offering represented both a voluntary and a mandatory offering. The firstfruits aspect of the offering, Lev. 2:12-16, had to be offered by each Israelite according to Exodus 23:19 and 34:26. Other grain offerings could be made as freewill offerings. These were made by free choice, not compulsion. The grain offering, therefore, speaks of voluntary obedience to God. It means that we desire the ways of God from our heart! When the grain offering was offered voluntarily, not like a tithe or a tax, it became a “sweet aroma to the Lord.” (Lev. 2:2). This conveys the preciousness in God’s sight of the one who willingly lays down his life for his God in a life of joyful obedience. However, the mandatory firstfruits offering “shall not be burned on the altar for a sweet aroma.” (Lev. 2:12) Mandatory obedience does not bring the same reward or render the same “flavor” as willing obedience. This is one lesson of law versus grace, the Old Covenant versus the New Covenant. “And the law is not of faith, but `the man who does them shall live by them.’” (Gal. 3:4) Does the life of grace, then, nullify the law? Paul asked this same question and answered emphatically, “Not at all! Rather, we uphold the law.” (Romans 3:31) The law is holy and good, says Paul. It is an instructor that teaches us the ways of God and leads us to Christ. (Gal. 3:24)

When we must obey a strict set of rules to please God, we find ourselves under law, but this is not bad or evil. It simply is not the best way. One of the purposes of the law is to train us to want to live God’s way. It is when we voluntarily obey God because we love Him and His ways that we fully live by grace and faith. This was as true in Old Testament days as it is in New Testament times. This ability to voluntarily obey, however, comes from the Holy Spirit. Grace describes life by the Spirit of God and comprises a major theme of Paul’s books. Before we believed in Jesus as our Savior, we possessed no power to serve God. We owned no independent desire to obey Him. After we believed in Him and received the “earnest” of the Holy Spirit, however, we held within us the seed of the power to obey Him. The problem then became one of exercising our own will to obey Him by and through His power in us. God desires that which indwells our spirit, the Holy Spirit, to affect our souls (mind, will, and emotions). The voluntary nature of the grain offering represents a transition in the Christian life from mandatory obedience to Gods Law to voluntary obedience. Here we learn that we obey Him because we desire to obey Him. Ultimately this desire even comes from God and evidences His sovereignty over us because it originates from the Spirit within us. Now we find that we want to obey Him because our will aligns with His. We come to know His ways as right, full of peace, and the best way to live.

This also illustrates the difference between the Old and New Covenants. Under the Old Covenant we approach God and can only fellowship with Him by obeying His commands. In
the New Covenant we obtain fellowship with God by faith in Jesus Christ. Then He gives us His gift of the Holy Spirit which enables us to begin to obey His commands. In other words, obedience does not bring fellowship, but fellowship brings obedience. Even so, God still requires our wills to become molded to His. In essence our “free will” becomes His will and
ultimately we will only do what we see our Father doing. This is the mystery of sanctification and growing in Godliness.

e) Moses first expounds the burnt offering in Leviticus 1. The burnt offering was the only offering wherein fire consumed the entire body of the sacrificial beast. Nothing remained to be eaten. The burnt offering represents an offering for God’s consumption alone, but Psalm 50 makes it clear that God is not really concerned about eating cattle and sheep. The Law is prophetic and so is every single offering God required.

 “If his offering is a burnt offering from the herd, he shall offer a male without blemish. He shall bring it to the entrance of the tent of meeting, that he may be accepted before the Lord. 4 He shall lay his hand on the head of the burnt offering, and it shall be accepted for him to make atonement for him. 5 Then he shall kill the bull before the Lord, and Aaron’s sons the priests shall bring the blood and throw the blood against the sides of the altar that is at the entrance of the tent of meeting. 6 Then he shall flay the burnt offering and cut it into pieces, 7 and the sons of Aaron the priest shall put fire on the altar and arrange wood on the fire. 8 And Aaron’s sons the priests shall arrange the pieces, the head, and the fat, on the wood that is on the fire on the altar; 9 but its entrails and its legs he shall wash with water. And the priest shall burn all of it on the altar, as a burnt offering, a food offering[a] with a pleasing aroma to the Lord. (Leviticus 1:3-9)

Believers presented this offering “at the entrance to the Tent of Meeting” because it specifically represented Jesus Christ. Jesus is, was, and always will be our only way into the tabernacle of God. The fact that the offeror “lay his hand on the head of the burnt offering” symbolized the transfer of the offeror’s sin to Christ and Christ’s atonement to the sinner. This offering also made a “sweet aroma” to God because of the voluntary nature of Christ’s sacrifice that it represented. This offering does not represent our initial salvation, but instead denotes the goal of our faith which is conformity to the image of Christ. We reach this goal only through faith in Christ’s atonement and the gift of the Holy Spirit working out His salvation through us. We must never lose sight of this truth.

The burnt offering represents total identification with Christ. It is a picture of offering ourselves as living sacrifices to God, of voluntarily giving up our lives (souls) in this world so that we may gain a better a resurrection. (to be continued…)

[Jesus] answered and said, Every plant, which my heavenly Father hath not planted, shall be rooted up. (Matthew 5:13)

Did you know that the Bible calls those who believe in Jesus “plantings” or “branches” of the LORD? When Jesus began his ministry he told the Jews that he fulfilled the following prophecy from Isaiah:

The Spirit of the Lord GOD is upon me; because the LORD hath anointed me to preach good tidings unto the meek; he hath sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to them that are bound; To proclaim the acceptable year of the LORD, and the day of vengeance of our God; to comfort all that mourn; (Isaiah 61:1-2 KJV)

How many of us then go to Isaiah to find out exactly what else he prophesied concerning this majestic One who fulfilled it? For the next verses describe us, we believers who will obey and walk in our God’s ways. The reason why Jesus came to earth, says Isaiah, was

To appoint unto them that mourn in Zion, to give unto them beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness; that they might be called trees of righteousness, the planting of the LORD, that he might be glorified. And they shall build the old wastes, they shall raise up the former desolations, and they shall repair the waste cities, the desolations of many generations. And strangers shall stand and feed your flocks, and the sons of the alien shall be your plowmen and your vinedressers. But ye shall be named the Priests of the LORD: men shall call you the Ministers of our God: ye shall eat the riches of the Gentiles, and in their glory shall ye boast yourselves. For your shame ye shall have double; and for confusion they shall rejoice in their portion: therefore in their land they shall possess the double: everlasting joy shall be unto them. For I the LORD love judgment, I hate robbery for burnt offering; and I will direct their work in truth, and I will make an everlasting covenant with them. And their seed shall be known among the Gentiles, and their offspring among the people: all that see them shall acknowledge them, that they are the seed which the LORD hath blessed. I will greatly rejoice in the LORD, my soul shall be joyful in my God; for he hath clothed me with the garments of salvation, he hath covered me with the robe of righteousness, as a bridegroom decketh himself with ornaments, and as a bride adorneth herself with her jewels. For as the earth bringeth forth her bud, and as the garden causeth the things that are sown in it to spring forth; so the Lord GOD will cause righteousness and praise to spring forth before all the nations. (Isaiah 61:3-11 KJV)

So, consider yourself. Are you a “planting of the LORD?” Concerning this Paul said, “Examine yourselves, whether ye be in the faith; prove your own selves. Know ye not your own selves, how that Jesus Christ is in you, except ye be reprobates?” (2 Corinthians 13:5 KJV) Now, having tested yourself and having determined that you are in fact a planting of the LORD, ask now whether you are “a tree of righteousness.” Only trees of righteousness bear fruit worthy of Christ’s Kingdom. Jesus said,

“Either make the tree good and its fruit good, or make the tree bad and its fruit bad, for the tree is known by its fruit. 34 You brood of vipers! How can you speak good, when you are evil? For out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks. 35 The good person out of his good treasure brings forth good, and the evil person out of his evil treasure brings forth evil. 36 I tell you, on the day of judgment people will give account for every careless word they speak, 37 for by your words you will be justified, and by your words you will be condemned.” (Matthew 12:33-37, ESV)

These words place responsibility upon each one of us. It is easy to say, “I am of a sinful nature and will always sin. I cannot be perfect.” It is hard to say, “I am of a sinful nature, but I will exercise my will in order to keep my flesh from sinning.” Paul said, “I beat my body and make it my slave.” Does your body enslave you, or do you enslave it? Of course I long for the glorification of my flesh so that I will no longer be subject to the vanities and weaknesses of it, but I cannot allow myself to become enslaved by it. One of Jesus’ most well known parables, the parable of the seeds, deals with these very issues. Consider it afresh in this light.

And he spake many things unto them in parables, saying, Behold, a sower went forth to sow; And when he sowed, some seeds fell by the way side, and the fowls came and devoured them up: Some fell upon stony places, where they had not much earth: and forthwith they sprung up, because they had no deepness of earth: And when the sun was up, they were scorched; and because they had no root, they withered away. And some fell among thorns; and the thorns sprung up, and choked them: But other fell into good ground, and brought forth fruit, some an hundredfold, some sixtyfold, some thirtyfold. Who hath ears to hear, let him hear. (Matthew 13:3-9 KJV)

And what does the parable mean? Jesus explained,

Hear ye therefore the parable of the sower. When any one heareth the word of the kingdom, and understandeth it not, then cometh the wicked one, and catcheth away that which was sown in his heart. This is he which received seed by the way side. But he that received the seed into stony places, the same is he that heareth the word, and anon with joy receiveth it; Yet hath he not root in himself, but dureth for a while: for when tribulation or persecution ariseth because of the word, by and by he is offended. He also that received seed among the thorns is he that heareth the word; and the care of this world, and the deceitfulness of riches, choke the word, and he becometh unfruitful. But he that received seed into the good ground is he that heareth the word, and understandeth it; which also beareth fruit, and bringeth forth, some an hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty. (Matthew 13:18-23 KJV)

Perhaps you have heard the word of the kingdom, but never understood it until now. You did not realize that YOU, yes YOU, were the seed that Jesus spoke about here. You did not realize that YOU were to become a “planting of the LORD” and that YOU were to bring forth the fruit of righteousness. The wicked one had been successful in blinding you to that truth. Now, though, you begin to see. Now you can begin to establish roots of faith which will draw upon the water of life (Jesus), and bear fruit to eternal life.

Or, perhaps YOU once walked in the way of the truth, the narrow road toward the Kingdom. But, tribulation or persecution came. Your wife or husband committed adultery and divorced you, you were fired from your job for your faith, etc. In fact life became so difficult after you came to faith that you became offended by the teachings of faith. Consequently your spiritual roots shriveled up and you became as if you were dead grass instead of a living tree. But now, suddenly, faith stirs again, just as “dead” grass stirs after long periods of drought when the rains come again. Now your roots too will begin to grow as you draw upon living water and begin to bear the fruit of righteousness.

And then there are YOU who once walked in the power of the Spirit, but fell into the cares of this world and sinned by indulging in the lusts of the flesh, the lusts of the eyes, or the pride of your life, whatever form that pride took. Some of you divorced the wife of your youth as you continued to pursue your “ministry” for the LORD. You had not realized that you a poor, pitiful, blind, and naked until now. But now you know that your lusts and proud fornications have utterly entangled your roots and choked the Word of God from becoming fruitful in your life. Even YOU, YOU who knew better, YOU who fell away from the truth (but still believed you were walking in truth), yes even YOU can repent and return to your first love.

God calls each one of us to become trees of righteousness. Even now, even before the great glorification for which we long, we should be bearing fruit. Let your roots grow deep into the Water of Life and before long, just as prophesied, you will begin to bear fruit, even a new crop each month!

And he shewed me a pure river of water of life, clear as crystal, proceeding out of the throne of God and of the Lamb. In the midst of the street of it, and on either side of the river, was there the tree of life, which bare twelve manner of fruits, and yielded her fruit every month: and the leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations. (Revelation 22:1-2 KJV)

As we continue to wait upon Jesus establishing his kingdom, let us rest in peace in his loving arms.

The third song of ascent begins,

I rejoiced in those who said to me,
“Let us go to the house[b] of Yahweh.”

Now we have reached the third step of ascent. Now we begin to gain a glimpse of what God calls us to. All of us rejoice when we first repent of our sins and believe in Jesus as our Savior. Most of us believe at that time that heaven is surely ours because most of the Church erroneously believes that once a person believes he immediately becomes the “Bride of Christ” and will automatically be raptured into the presence of God at some point in the future.  The question presented here, though, is will we take the step toward the “House of God” or not? Will we continue to ascend into the actual presence of God, or will we return like a dog to our vomit (to the ways of the world)?

I have a sense that I may not be able to finish writing about these songs of ascent before something occurs which prevents me. I want to encourage all you readers to purchase the English Standard Version “Classic Reference Bible” this week so that you can continue studying and taking these steps of ascent in faith. This particular Bible has the best references I have ever seen. They do not always take me to the place I think I should go, but often they take me to verses which add light to the one at hand. Such is the case with the references given to Psalm 122:1. First it takes us to Isaiah 2:3. This passage reads,

It shall come to pass in the latter days
that the mountain of the house of the Lord
shall be established as the highest of the mountains,
and shall be lifted up above the hills;
and all the nations shall flow to it,
3 and many peoples shall come, and say:
“Come, let us go up to the mountain of the Lord,
to the house of the God of Jacob,
that he may teach us his ways
and that we may walk in his paths.”
For out of Zion shall go the law,[a]
and the word of the Lord from Jerusalem.
4 He shall judge between the nations,
and shall decide disputes for many peoples;
and they shall beat their swords into plowshares,
and their spears into pruning hooks;
nation shall not lift up sword against nation,
neither shall they learn war anymore.
5 O house of Jacob,
come, let us walk
in the light of the Lord. (Isaiah 2:2-5, ESV)

Isaiah’s prophesy deals with the “latter days,” these days. It concerns the “mountain of the house of the LORD,” the mountain you and I now climb as we ascend into God’s presence. The ESV’s second reference is to Micah 4:2 which is an exact quote of this passage from Isaiah. These passages tell us that the house of the LORD is a “mountain.” Yesterday I suggested that that mountain is Mount Zion which is also called Jerusalem. The Book of Revelation reveals that its name is actually “New Jerusalem” and is a spiritual city rather than a natural one.

The Book of Hebrews also sheds light on this “house” saying,

Therefore, holy brothers,[a] you who share in a heavenly calling, consider Jesus, the apostle and high priest of our confession, 2 who was faithful to him who appointed him, just as Moses also was faithful in all God’s[b] house. 3 For Jesus has been counted worthy of more glory than Moses—as much more glory as the builder of a house has more honor than the house itself. 4 (For every house is built by someone, but the builder of all things is God.) 5 Now Moses was faithful in all God’s house as a servant, to testify to the things that were to be spoken later, 6 but Christ is faithful over God’s house as a son. And we are his house if indeed we hold fast our confidence and our boasting in our hope.[c] (Hebrews 3:1-6 ESV)

To take this third step we must identify with Christ and his Father in that we ourselves belong to the same house, the same family. We must see ourselves as having been created in his image and as now being conformed to his perfect stature. To take this third step we must move beyond the elementary doctrines of Jesus Christ and embrace the teaching about righteousness. Remember the words of John,

28 And now, little children, abide in him, so that when he appears we may have confidence and not shrink from him in shame at his coming. 29 If you know that he is righteous, you may be sure that everyone who practices righteousness has been born of him.

3 See what kind of love the Father has given to us, that we should be called children of God; and so we are. The reason why the world does not know us is that it did not know him. 2 Beloved, we are God’s children now, and what we will be has not yet appeared; but we know that when he appears[f] we shall be like him, because we shall see him as he is. 3 And everyone who thus hopes in him purifies himself as he is pure. (1 John 2:28-3:3, ESV)

This third step is the critical step for this is the necessary step of moving on into the maturity of a son of God. Thirty five years of walking with God has taught me that most Christians never take this step. When you take this step you will begin to be called “legalistic” or “judgmental.” This step is the step of separation, the step out of Mystery Babylon and truly toward God’s House, New Jerusalem. Thus the Psalmist declares, ² Our feet are standing within your gates, O Jerusalem—

It is at this point that God begins to reveal Jerusalem (spiritual Jerusalem, New Jerusalem) to us, saying,

³ Jerusalem that is built
as a city that is joined together,
⁴ where the tribes go up,
the tribes of Yah^[c] as a testimony for Israel,
to give thanks to the name of Yahweh.
⁵ For there the thrones sit^[d] for judgment,
thrones of David’s house.
⁶ Pray^[e] for the peace of Jerusalem:
“May those who love you be at ease.
⁷ May peace be within your walls,
security within your palaces.”
⁸ For the sake of my brothers and my friends,
I will say, “Peace be within you.”
⁹ For the sake of the house^[f] of Yahweh our God,
I will seek your good. (Psalm 122, Lexham English Bible)

The first two steps in our ascent to finally behold our God demand that we revisit the very foundations of our Christianity. We must examine ourselves without guile and hypocrisy and repent of our sins. And we must continue walking by and in faith in God. The third step takes us beyond the elementary doctrines of Christ to consider the very goal of our salvation, the city we sojourn toward, New Jerusalem.

When most people consider this psalm they think of the old city of Jerusalem in the Middle East. When they read verse six they mechanically pray that God will bring perpetual peace to that besieged carnal city. There was a time, the time when God still dwelt in ancient Israel, when this prayer did apply to natural, old Jerusalem. That time is long past. Today this prayer, like the entire 122nd psalm, concerns New Jerusalem. Today we choose: do we remain in man’s city of Babylon or do we take the third step, separating ourselves from Babylon and climbing up toward our new house, our new city, New Jerusalem?

Psalm 120, the first song of ascent into the presence of God, teaches us that we must repent of our sins before we can ever see his face. This also is the first elementary truth of the eternal Gospel of God preached both to and by Moses and to and by the first Christians. See Hebrews 4:2 and 6:1. We cannot repent unless we know, really know, that we stand as unclean beasts before God. God considers us unclean because we sin, we miss his mark of perfect holiness. If we deny that we sin, then the truth dwells not within us. If we confess our sins, then God is faithful and just to forgive us our sins because his son, Jesus Christ, died for our sins. When we acknowledge our sins, then we may take the second step, the step that will absolve us of our sins. The second song of ascent thus says,

I believe the songs of ascent deal with preparing God’s people to ascend into his presence just as Moses ascended into the mountain burning with fire. But, why is this the first of these songs? What is it about Psalm 120 which demands that it be placed first among the steps into the presence of God?

As I thought about this I noticed that the psalm which precedes Psalm 120 sings the praises of God’s Law for 176 verses. Psalm 119 is the longest psalm and includes profound insights into the grace and loveliness of God’s Law. Anyone who has not yet learned to love God’s Law will not be able to begin the ascent into his presence we must now begin. Again, if you do not already love his law then you cannot begin to ascend into God’s presence. In that case you should read the series on Psalm 119 which you can find by clicking here.

But even if you do love God’s Law you realize that you fail abysmally to obey it. That is what Psalm 120 is all about. This first song of ascent deals with understanding your personal condition, a qualification for continuing the climb up the ladder to God’s throne.

The psalm begins, saying,

In my distress I called to the Lord,
    and he answered me.
² Deliver me, O Lord,
    from lying lips,
    from a deceitful tongue.

Until reading this psalm yesterday I had always believed that the psalmist was praying and asking God to deliver him from the lying lips and deceitful tongues which constantly assaulted him. Interestingly, my wife had also seen these verses the same way. This morning she asked me why this was the first song of ascent and as I began to explain it to her I told her that I now believed that verse deals with our lips and tongues, my lips, my tongue. She said, “When I read this verse this morning that’s the way I read it too. Until then I had always read this as applying to other people.”

So, the first key to understand this song, the first necessary requirement for ascending the ladder into God’s presence, is to rightly judge ourselves, to take the plank out of our own eyes. Although I want to walk perfectly in truth my lips and tongue still do not perfectly obey my inmost desire. Therefore, in my distress at my continuing imperfection I cry out to the LORD, and he answers me,

What shall be given to you,
    ^(B)and what more shall be done to you,
    you deceitful tongue? (Psalm 120:3)

And I say, “I don’t know LORD. You know.” And he says,

^(C)A warrior’s ^(D)sharp arrows,
    with glowing ^(E)coals of the broom tree!

“What is that, LORD, I ask.”

“Search the Scriptures and find out,” he replies.

So I found the reference to the warrior’s sharp arrows in Psalm 45, a glorious song the Bride of Christ, God’s overcomers, sings to her King, her God, her Mighty One. The Bride says,

In your majesty ^(I)ride out victoriously
    for the cause of truth and meekness and righteousness;
    let your right hand teach you ^(J)awesome deeds!
⁵ Your arrows are sharp
    in the heart of the king’s enemies;
    the peoples fall under you. (Ps. 45:4-5)

Psalm 119 is all about understanding and coming to love this King’s truth, meekness, and righteousness. Yet, we all continue to fail miserably in walking in those ways. In that sense, even though we believe in Jesus, we (our flesh and carnal souls) remain enemies of God. And so this King-Warrior shoots his arrows into our hearts in order to change our hearts, to make them like his pure and perfect heart. Job said,

For the arrows of the Almighty are within me, the poison whereof drinketh up my spirit: the terrors of God do set themselves in array against me. (Job 6:4 KJV)

Job knew that God ordered all things that came to him. Although we may chaff at the judgments of God against us we must remember that he disciplines the son which he loves. So, the arrows of God represent his disciplines in the life of the one who would go up the steps to see him as he is. But, what if we actually do see God? Yes, what then? Shall we die as Isaiah feared when he saw the Almighty? This is why he provides the coals of the broom tree as well as his arrows. Isaiah says,

In the year that ^(A)King Uzziah died I ^(B)saw the Lord sitting upon a throne, high and lifted up; and the train^[a] of his robe filled the temple. ² Above him stood the seraphim. Each had^(C)six wings: with two he covered his face, and with two he covered his feet, and with two he flew. ³ And one called to another and said:

⁴ And ^(F)the foundations of the thresholds shook at the voice of him who called, and ^(G)the house was filled with smoke. ⁵ And I said: “Woe is me! ^(H)For I am lost; ^(I)for I am a man of unclean lips, and I dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips; for my eyes have seen the^(J)King, the Lord of hosts!”

⁶ Then one of the seraphim flew to me, having in his hand a burning coal that he had taken with tongs from the altar. ⁷ And he ^(K)touched my mouth and said: “Behold, this has touched your lips; your guilt is taken away, and your sin atoned for.” (Isaiah 6:1-7)

Isaiah correctly saw himself. He knew he was unworthy to see God and to stand in his presence. Thus he bemoans his carnal self, his unclean lips. He realizes that he and all he dwells with cannot dwell with God in their current condition. Neither can we, and we must realize this. We must desire the baptism of fire which burning coals upon our lips represents. Isaiah describes it further, saying,

This is our first step of ascent, understanding our present personal carnal, sinful condition, and the condition of an entire world which can never come into the presence of God.  Until we understand this and take this first step we can never ascend unto his throne.

There are fifteen psalms of ascent in Scripture, Psalms 120 through 134. There are now fifteen days until the Feast of Trumpets, Rosh Hashanah. Many of us expect the LORD to do a mighty work on or about this date, September 16-17, 2012. I just happened to read a psalm today, Psalm 130, and suddenly got a feeling that these songs were important for us to read and assimilate in the coming days. It just seemed like a “now” word from God to me. Then I thought, “I wonder if this is one of the psalms of ascent?” I looked and it was.  Then I thought, “we who diligently wait for Him are waiting to ascend to him, to see his face, to be like him. I bet these psalms are important for us right now.”

I felt the importance for us as I read verses 3 and 4 from Psalm 130 today. They say,

In Psalm 15 David describes the attributes of God’s overcomers, the ones whom he considers to be “perfect” in the earth. He says,

Among all doctrines the doctrine of perfection seems to be the most difficult one for Christians to grasp. Most Christians believe (because most preachers preach) that people become perfect as soon as they believe in Jesus for salvation. If this was true, then most of the Bible would not have had to be written and, in fact, it would be a great waste of time for anyone to study it beyond the book of Exodus in the Old Testament, or beyond Mark in the New. The entire Gospel would consist only of Jesus dying for our sins. Clearly, this does represent the entire gospel in the eyes of many churches because they preach the basic salvation message every Sunday and never move on to the meat of God’s word or expect their congregation to actually be practicing righteousness.

The doctrine of perfection remains difficult to teach because most Christians dismiss the main New Testament book which teaches it, the Book of Hebrews, and most people do not understand that they attend churches or are the type of Christians which Christ rebukes in his seven letters in Revelation 2 and 3. I have written hundreds and hundreds of pages attempting to explain this doctrine on this web site, so I do not intend to say it all again here. But, I will point out a few Scriptures which should make this idea clear to anyone with eyes to see and ears to hear.

First, the doctrine of perfection is also called “the teaching about righteousness” in Hebrews 5:11-14. The writer tells us there that only the mature Christians accept this doctrine. Do a search for “teaching about righteousness” on this site for much more information. Second, the book of Hebrews gives five serious warnings to Christians about losing their inheritance because of lack of faith, because of unbelief. The strongest warning, I believe, is the following:

³² But recall the former days when, after ^(AX)you were enlightened, you endured^(AY)a hard struggle with sufferings, ³³ sometimes being ^(AZ)publicly exposed to reproach and affliction, and sometimes being partners with those so treated.³⁴ For ^(BA)you had compassion on those in prison, and ^(BB)you joyfully accepted the plundering of your property, since you knew that you yourselves had ^(BC)a better possession and an abiding one. ³⁵ Therefore do not throw away your confidence, which has ^(BD)a great reward. ³⁶ For ^(BE)you have need of endurance, so that^(BF)when you have done the will of God you may ^(BG)receive what is promised.³⁷ For,

³⁹ But we are not of those who shrink back and are destroyed, but of those who have faith and preserve their souls. (Hebrews 10:32-39, ESV)

Notice that this passage speaks to “enlightened” people who suffered for their faith. Observe that they wait for “the coming one” which, according to this book, is Jesus. These people, like us, wait for the second coming of Christ. Also see that if these people want to be counted as “righteous” then they must live “by faith.” Finally, accept the truth, really believe, that if any of them (us) “shrink back” from faith, then he (we) will be “destroyed.”

Jesus describes aspects of this destruction in his letters to the seven churches in Revelation 2 and 3. Christians who do not overcome, who do not live by faith in him, will have their names removed from the Book of Life (Rev. 3:5) and will suffer the second death and have their part in the Lake of Fire (Rev. 2:11, 21:8). Most Christians simply reject this idea immediately because they believe that only those who never confessed Christ will “go to hell.” First, hell is not the lake of fire; second, the Bible teaches that even some of those who have confessed Christ will go to hell and/or the lake of fire.

I believe that the Lake of Fire refers to forced submission to the rule of God through his overcomers who wield a rod of iron. They are the only ones who submit during their lives to the baptism of fire which God requires in order to overcome the world and the world’s ruler, Satan. They embrace the following Scripture:

¹³ Hear, you who are far off, what I have done;
    and you who are near, acknowledge my might.
¹⁴ The sinners in Zion are afraid;
    trembling has seized the godless:
^(O)“Who among us can dwell ^(P)with the consuming fire?
    Who among us can dwell with everlasting burnings?”
^15 (Q)He who walks righteously and speaks uprightly,
    who despises the gain of oppressions,
who shakes his hands, lest they hold a bribe,
    who stops his ears from hearing of bloodshed
    ^(R)and shuts his eyes from looking on evil,
¹⁶ he will dwell on the heights;
    his place of defense will be the fortresses of rocks;
    ^(S)his bread will be given him; his water will be sure. (Isaiah 33:13-16)

Here Isaiah says almost exactly what David does in Psalm 15, but he adds a little to it. Putting the two passages together we see that one can only rest in God’s tent (tabernacle) and live on his holy mountain if he can dwell with the consuming fire and with everlasting burnings. This describes the one who has offered his life as a living sacrifice to God. He is not perfect by virtue of good works done by his flesh; he is perfect by faith in the living God who died for his sins and rose again so that his brothers (us) could have eternal life. Because they voluntarily offer their lives to this fiery God, they also willingly choose to walk in his ways. Much of the Bible explains God’s ways, but both David and Isaiah tell us a few of them in these two parallel passages:

1. practice righteousness – begin to understand and do God’s will; when you fail by sinning then repent and try again to be perfect;
2. speak the truth from your heart – don’t lie to yourself about your goodness or intentions; make up your mind to speak truth both to yourself and to others; a great sign of these times is that everyone loves a lie – we have a particular leader in these days who does one thing, but says another, and yet many believe the lie he says instead of the truth of what he actually did! Only people who lie to their own hearts can do this;
3. Keep your tongue from slander – don’t gossip! Don’t talk about people unless it builds them up or helps them in some way; speak the truth in love;
4. Never do harm to others – we can harm others in a multitude of ways; God speaks in principles. Do not do anything purposefully that you know harms someone else;
5. Do not seek to discredit neighbors – do not put someone else down in order to exalt yourself; be humble;
6. Look with scorn on the vile – do not look at the vile; do not watch their pornography or their violent and blasphemous movies.  Isaiah says that the person who can dwell with God must “stop his ears from hearing of bloodshed” and must “shut his eyes from looking on evil.” How much bloodshed and evil do we look at or listen to as we watch the latest news or as we entertain ourselves with movies? We must learn to scorn, abhor, and detest that which is vile. Again how often do we laugh at the crude joke told by a family member, a co-worker, or a friend? Turn away from the vile. Instead,
7. Honor those who fear Adonai – yes, honor those who fear the LORD!
8. Hold to an oath, no matter the cost – let your word bind you; honor your word no matter the cost;
9. Refuse usury when you lend money – do not charge interest when you loan someone money; if you run a business and someone owes you money, do not charge them interest (you may charge them a re-billing fee to cover your own costs, but don’t charge interest!); this separates the people of God from the money-lenders;
10. Refuse a bribe to damage the innocent – never, never, never take anything of value as payment for doing harm to someone. Bribery is so rampant in government, business, and our courts today that the entire system upon which our society was built has been destroyed. No one can trust anyone to actually honor their word and do what is right these days. In keeping with the times the U.S. Supreme Court recently ruled that lying is constitutionally protected freedom of speech! (Also, I can tell you from 23 years of experience as a lawyer that perjury, lying under oath, is never prosecuted except for a reason dealing politics or a bribe. Look at the Trayvon Martin case as an example of the politically correct application)

David gives us ten principles in Psalm 15 for walking in perfection. God’s overcomer embraces every one of them. He may not perfectly walk in them, but he wants to. He desires the rest that only God can give and he wants to live on God’s holy mountain. He, like Moses, sees the smoking mountain bathed in God’s fire, and he willingly walks up. He has determined to dwell with the consuming fire and the everlasting burnings.