The Whistling Vicuna

But in the fourth generation they shall come hither again: for the iniquity of the Amorites is not yet full.

            This verse, number 16, sits towards the end of chapter16 of Genesis. Abram had questioned God about an heir and God “brought him forth abroad and said, Look now toward heaven, and tell the stars, if thou be able to number them: and he said unto him, So shall thy seed be.” God further states that He would give that land for an inheritance. Abram asks for a proof of the promises and God directs Abram to make a sacrifice. God puts Abram into a deep sleep and gives him a vision.

            13 And he said unto Abram, Know of a surety that thy seed shall be a stranger in a land that is not theirs, and shall serve them; and they shall afflict them four hundred years; 14 And also that nation, whom they shall serve, will I judge: and afterward shall they come out with great substance. 15 And thou shalt go to thy fathers in peace; thou shalt be buried in a good old age.

            How often do we, in times of trouble or stress, think that the “bad” things that happen to us are our fault? We think that we’ve done something terribly wrong to “deserve” the “punishment” we’re going through. The above verse illustrates how oftimes it’s nothing we’ve done, but are “suffering the consequences of other people’s wrongdoing.

            I’m sure it was not a pleasant thing for the Israelites to go through, four hundred years of slavery. But look what they received for it. They were fed, clothed, allowed to become a nation millions strong, protected from wars, learned trades. They learned how to live in cities instead of being nomads. They did lack freedom. But when freedom came they attained even greater glory. They got a very present God, a country, a temple, and a way of life unequaled in history.

            Hard things have a way of taking us unawares. That’s one of the reasons they are hard. The Christian has to know that God will deliver from hard times. Stay prayed up, stay read up, and keep your chin up. God has a plan and sometimes waits until the iniquity of the Amorites is full.

This is NOT original with me – I wish it was. If I knew who to give credit to, I would.

    Lawrence Livermore Laboratories has discovered the heaviest element yet known to science.  The new element, Governmentium (Gv), has one neutron, 25 assistant neutrons, 88 deputy neutrons, and 198 assistant deputy neutrons, giving it an atomic mass of 312.

    These 312 particles are held together by forces called morons, which are surrounded by vast quantities of lepton-like particles called peons.

    Since Governmentium has no electrons, it is inert; however, it can be detected, because it impedes every reaction with which it comes into contact.  A tiny amount of Governmentium can cause a reaction that would normally take less than a second, to take from four days to four years to complete.

    Governmentium has a normal half-life of 2-6 years.  It does not decay, but instead undergoes a reorganization in which a portion of the assistant neutrons and deputy neutrons exchange places.  In fact, Governmentium’s mass will actually increase over time, since each reorganization will cause more morons to become neutrons, forming isodopes.  This characteristic of moron promotion leads some scientists to believe that Governmentium is formed whenever morons reach a critical concentration. This hypothetical quantity is referred to as critical morass.

    When catalyzed with money, Governmentium becomes Administratium, an element that radiates just as much energy as Governmentium since it has half as many peons but twice as many morons.

Freedom, Liberty, and Independence. These are words captivating to the mind and soul. These are ideals to which men and Mankind have striven since Adam’s fall. God’s word, the bible, is rife with freedom, with the yearning of His people for a more perfect redemption than fallen man offers. Yet in this created world there stands a watch fire to Freedom, a license to Liberty, and the very incentive to Independence.

            Two hundred and thirty-three years ago, God caused men to execute an instrument of exemption from Tyranny, the “Declaration of Independence.”   

 “Freedom” implies a liberation

“Liberty” implies an ability – is the fruit of freedom

“Independence” implies self-governance – responsibility

 A question, How much of a slave are you willing to be? Another, How much slavery is too much? What then is slavery? It is when your labor and the fruits thereof no longer belong to yourself, but are taken from you by another. When you are free your labor and the fruits thereof benefit YOU and those whom YOU choose to benefit.

 Freedom begins when one says, “I will no longer pay for your failure.”

Liberty begins when one says, “You will no longer pay for my failure.”

Independence begins when one no longer thinks in terms of “payment”, but does think in terms of accountability.

 Refusing the labels of the oppressor, “bigot! racist!”, saying no to the tyranny of limiting words, “un-American!, Mob!”, is the mark of the freeman. Look the name-caller in the eye and say, “No”. To argue with him is to validate his bluff and lend credence to what he says. Refuse the label.

Feast   1 a : an elaborate meal often accompanied by a ceremony or entertainment : banquet   b : something that gives unusual or abundant pleasure   2 : a periodic religious observance commemorating an event or honoring a deity, person, or thing

 CHAG              pronounced khag or khawg   used 51 times    Ex. 10:9

                   From chagag, a festival, or a victim therefore: – (solemn) feast (day), sacrifice, solemnity

CHAGAG        pronounced khaw-gag’   used 4 times    Ex. 5:1

                   From a primitive root meaning to move in a circle, i.e. specifically, to march in a sacred procession, to observe a festival, by implication, to be giddy or dizzy: celebrate, dance, (keep, hold) a (solemn) feast (holiday), reel to and fro

 MISHTEH        pronounced mish-teh’   used 21 times    Gen. 19:3

                    Drink; by implication drinking (the act) also (by implication), a banquet or (generally) feast:-banquet, drank, drink, feast ([-ed], ing).

 Other words used for feast are, LECHEM  (lech’-em) means food (for man or beast), MOWED (mo-ade’) properly, an appointment, i.e. a fixed time or season, specifically, a festival.

 The word CHAG is the one used in Leviticus 23 for listing the FEASTS. It is used in conjunction with MIQRA  (mik-raw’), or holy convocations. Leviticus 23:37 says “These are the feasts of the LORD, which ye shall proclaim to be holy convocations, to offer an offering made by fire unto the LORD, a burnt offering, a sacrifice, and drink offerings, everything upon his day.”

 The Feasts instituted by God are:

Passover

Pentecost

Trumpets

Atonement

Tabernacles

 Old Testament Meaning

            Passover God’s freeing of Israel from bondage in Egypt    Ex.12

                            The death of all the firstborn of Egypt

            Pentecost God’s harvest    Lev.23

            Trumpets God’s gathering   Num. 10

            Atonement God’s mercy    Lev.16

            Tabernacles God’s dwelling among men    Lev.23:34

 

 New Testament Meaning

            Passover God giving his life for believers   John 3:16

                            Unbelievers dying in their sins   John 3:18

            Pentecost God’s firstfruits   Acts 2:1-4, Jas. 1:14

            Trumpets God’s jubilant calling home of the saints   ICor.15:52

                            Judgment upon the world    Rev. 8:2, 7, 8, 10, 12, vs.9:1, 13, vs. 10:7, vs.                                   11:15 

            Atonement God’s forgiveness    Rom.5:10-15, 19

            Tabernacles God’s dwelling in men    Acts 2:4, vs. 4:31, vs. 9:17, ICor.6:19, Eph. 5:18

 

 Feast of Passover

 Egypt = world

Lamb = Jesus

Blood = covering/life

Leaven = sin

Israel = church

 

     Exodus 12:1-20

   We find the feast of the Passover described first in the book of Exodus, chapter twelve, where it is called the “Feast of Unleavened Bread” (vs. 17). In vs. 11 it is called the LORD’s Passover. As a rule both terms are used when mentioning or describing this feast. (Exodus 12:8 & 17, Mark 14:12) Passover describes the action of God when He passed over the Israelite houses which had had the blood of the lamb stricken on the two side posts and the upper door post on them. It is a week and a half long feast beginning on the tenth day of the first month of the Jewish sacred calendar, and ending on the twenty-first day.

     The lamb was to be chosen on the tenth day of the month, (vs.3) and as with all sacrifices to the LORD, was to be without blemish. The lamb is a symbol of Jesus Christ as the Lamb of God (John 1:29, Rev. 5:6-8, 12-13), and the blood was shed and applied only once (Rom. 6:8-10, Heb.7:26-27 10:10-12, I Peter 3:18), at the first Passover in Egypt. Subsequent Passovers were a memorial to the first one and should be regarded like the current Lord’s Supper, again, a memorial. The lamb was to be killed on the fourteenth day of the month and was to be eaten in one sitting. It should also be remembered that the Old Testament day started at sundown. (Gen. 1:5, 8, 13, 19, 23, 31, vs., 2:1-2)

    The eating of unleavened bread describes the action of the Israelite in obeying the command of God. Unleavened bread was to be eaten for seven days during the feast, hence the name Feast of Unleavened Bread. No leaven (yeast, soda, etc.) was to even be found in the tents (and later the houses) of the Israelites. Leaven is representative of sin; hence, not partaking of leaven is not partaking of sin. (Matt. 16:6, 11, also Mark 8:15, and Luke 12:1)

    The Israelites were also to eat bitter herbs. The Bitter herbs were representative of the bitterness of bondage. Some say the bitter herbs were lettuces, endives and kales, though in some modern Seders, green onions dipped in vinegar and salt are used. This is reminiscent of the Israelites lamenting and complaining about the lack of flesh to eat in Num.11:4-5. This displeased the LORD greatly, vs. 6-10.

 

 The Feast of Pentecost

Two wave loaves with leaven = #1 Jewish saints   #2 Gentile saints

   Pentecost means fiftieth. In the case of the Feast of Pentecost it was to be fifty days after the final wave offering of the Passover. It was to celebrate the harvest. (Lev. 23:15-16) The feast was to last only one day.  There was to be a burnt offering, a meal offering, and a drink offering (vs. 18) a sin offering, (vs. 19a) a peace offering, (vs 19b) and a wave offering. (vs. 20) In fact, all of the different types of offerings except the trespass offering were to be offered at the Feast of Tabernacles.

    The Feast of Tabernacles was to start after the Israelites, God’s chosen people, had gone into the land. (Lev. 23:9-10) The feast was to commemorate the harvest. In the New Testament, Pentecost shows the empowered church of Jesus going into the world and collecting the “harvest” of God’s called people. (Acts 1:8) That same day 3000 people were added to the church. (Acts 2:41) Jesus stayed with and showed Himself to His people for forty days after his resurrection, then was taken up into Heaven. Forty seems to be a number of preparation and completion. It rained upon the earth forty days and nights when God brought the flood. (Gen. 7:12) Moses was before God forty days twice. (Ex. 24:18 & Ex. 34:28) The spies spied out the land for forty days. (Num. 13:25) The Israelites wandered for forty years. (Num. 14:34) Jesus spent forty days in the wilderness fasting and being tempted for forty days. (Mt. 4:2, Mk 1:13 and Lu. 4:2)

    Ten days after Jesus rose was the Pentecost. God had prepared not only the apostles and disciples but the men dwelling in Jerusalem for the feast. Much is spoken about the “tongues” being spoken by the disciples, but little or no mention is made of the ones “dwelling in Jerusalem Jews, devout men, out of every nation under heaven. (Acts 2:5) God’s preparation of them is seen in verse 6-8. The lesson is clear. God speaks through His word, His bible. He prepares us, His called, to hear His word. To those not called (vs. 13) His word is not understood. The words can be read, but unless God has drawn one to the Son, they are just words on a page, not the Word of God.

     It is proper and right for God’s people to celebrate together in fellowship, to feast with each other, and to invite others to as a witness to God’s care and mercy to his church. (Lu. 14:13, 15-24)

 The Feast of Trumpets

 Trumpets in the Old Testament

Trumpets were blown for; assembly, alarm, journeying, war, days of gladness and days of solemnity, and over burnt offerings and peace offerings.

Trumpets were sounded as a memorial to God (Num. 10:1-10)

 There are four words in the Old Testament that are used for trumpet or trumpets.

They are;

   CHATSOTS(e)RAH   Trumpet(er)

   YOWBEL (yo-bale)    A silver trumpet, or the sound of it

   SHOPHAR                  Typically a rams horn or a curved horn

   TAQA’                         To blow a trumpet

 The Feast of Trumpets is a fall feast commencing on the first day of the seventh month of the Jewish sacred calendar, Tishri. This year, 2009, it begins at sundown on September eighteenth   and lasts only the one day, until evening on the nineteenth. Lev.23:24-25 describes the feast as a sabbath and a memorial. The feast precludes the Day of Atonement on the tenth day of the month and the Festival of Booths on the fifteenth. The memorial Feast of Trumpets is to call to remembrance God’s mercy in bringing His chosen people out of the land of Egypt. It is also a call to remember God’s caring for the Israelites during the forty years wandering. The month, Tishri, is also the month which begins the Jewish civil year, and has become a time of celebration. There was to be a special offering made by fire (burnt offering) in addition to the regular sabbath day offerings

    II Kings 11:1-21 picture or type of the revelation

   This passage in the Old Testament can be used to show a relationship between the Old and New Testaments and to show the importance of trumpets in civil and religious causes.

 There are two words that are related used in the New Testament for trumpet or trumpets.

They are;

   SALPIZO (sal-pidzo)  Used only in Mt.6:2  To sound a blast

   SALPIGX (sal-pinx)    All other uses in the New Testament

 Trumpets in the New Testament

Trumpets were abused in Jesus’ day (Mt. 6:2)

For the calling (assembly) of the saints (I Cor. 15:52)

To describe the voice of God (Heb. 12:19 sub-reference Ex. 19:16, Rev. 1:10, Rev 4:10)

To initiate the seven Trumpet Judgments (Rev. 8, 9, & 11)

The Feast of Trumpets ultimately commemorates the ascension of Jesus Christ as Lord of all (Rev. 11:15)

     The Feast of Trumpets is not mentioned in the New Testament. The significance of trumpets is really brought out in the Book of the Revelation of John. The trumpets sound the judgment of God upon the earth until finally the seventh Trumpet sounds the triumph of God and Jesus receiving back the kingdoms of the world (kosmos).