The Two Temples
(A Christian Workbook)
Section 2: Chapter 7 – A Settled place: Commitment
s we close
our series, a brief review reveals to us that we have studied a variety of
concepts, some more closely related to each other than others. Throughout, however,
the common thread has been that they who believe in the Creator and His Son are
called to be a special people, the “very elect,” as the Scriptures describe
them. Individually, they know the Almighty, they know themselves, they are
aware of the laws of the universe as they relate to humanity. They are aware of
the balance between faith and works, and they have eyes to see themselves and
others in the true light of Heaven. They are free of unnecessary sickness,
healthy in both body and mind, and they rest in the perfect promises of Christ.
As a
people, the very elect are grounded in a common truth. They have found
forgiveness for their sins, and walk the path of sanctification – finding, and
helping others find, unclean areas to put away so that they may be ready to
face the Judgment with courage and joy. They speak pure words of love and
encouragement, but they are not afraid to rebuke sin when it appears. Their
lives are in agreement with the truth as it is in Yahshua, and with each other,
and as a result they are united into the final, ultimate weapon for the Gospel:
The Sword of Michael on the earth. (Hebrews 4:11, 12)
The
Bible contains a hymn of rejoicing from one who has found this blessed estate.
The “Song of Degrees of David” reads:
“I was glad when they said unto me, ‘Let us go into the house of Yahweh.’ Our
feet shall stand within thy gates, O Jerusalem. Jerusalem is builded as a city
that is compact together, whither the tribes go up, the tribes of Yahweh, unto
the testimony of Israel, to give thanks unto the name of Yahweh; for there are
set thrones of judgment, the thrones of the house of David. Pray for the peace
of Jerusalem: they shall prosper that love thee. Peace be within thy walls, and
prosperity within thy palaces. For my brethren and companions’ sakes, I will
now say, ‘Peace be within thee. Because of the house of Yahweh our Almighty One
I will seek thy good.’” (Psalm 122: 1-9)
Jerusalem,
or “The City of Peace,” is “a city that is compact together,” which uses a form
of the Hebrew word chabar, and means literally, “a city that is united.”
This glorious song extols the joy of true fellowship, and this wonderful
experience is the real power of a people. The Scriptures speak to our Creator
saying, “But thou art holy, O thou that inhabitest the praises of Israel.”
(Psalm 22:3) A temple that does not contain the presence of the Holy One is no
true temple. A temple, therefore, that is not united in praise has not yet
become what it is to become, “for the joy of Yahweh is [our] strength.”
(Nehemiah 8:10)
Now,
men may erect tents for temporary dwellings. In the wilderness, as Moses led
the Israelites to the promised land, they had a “tent of meeting,” and a
tabernacle for Yah’s dwelling that could be disassembled for travel. Yet in the
land to which Abraham was going, a more permanent structure was intended.
Indeed, the temple at Jerusalem was to have stood forever, and this is a
pattern of the plan that the Almighty has for His Spiritual Temple, His
believers in these last days. Christ says to us, “Him that overcometh will I
make a pillar in the temple of my God, and he shall go no more out: and I will
write upon him the name of my God, and the name of the city of my God, which is
‘New Jerusalem,’ which cometh down out of heaven from my God: and I will write
upon him my new name.” (Revelation 3:12)
What
lasting good is a house that falls apart? But this Spiritual House will not
fall. It is built on a sure foundation, the Word of Yah, of which we are told,
“the Word of Yah endureth for ever. And this is the Word which by the Gospel is
preached unto you.” (1 Peter 1:25) We seek this permanent dwelling, an
everlasting kingdom, a perpetual estate. By faith, we have it.
When
Solomon built the Temple to Yahweh, which we have seen as a pattern for the
Spirit Temple of believers, he said these words, “I have surely built thee an
house to dwell in, a settled place for thee to abide in for ever.” (1 Kings
8:13) Our testimony is nothing less than this. The last chapter of the first
section was about the principles of rest. It was about the spirit of the
Sabbath commandment, and finding that perfect peace of body, mind and soul that
enables one to endure all things for the sake of the Gospel. Here we see the
fulfillment of that principle as a people – and that principle is known as
Commitment.
Marriages
are joyful occasions. Weddings in both ancient and modern times are events for
rejoicing that often last many days. In marriage the physical world closely
touches the divine, for just as the Father and Son are one, and just as the
believer and the Godhead are to be brought into harmony through the operation
of grace, so we read of marriage that two distinct beings become “one flesh”
(Genesis 2:24) in an illustration of how distinct beings may be considered
“one.”
But the
illustration does not end there. Marriage was, and is, to be a permanent
covenant. Although the permissive allowance for divorce was abused in some ways
by the ones to whom it was given, the Creator has never left us in doubt as to
His purpose and desire for the uniting of His people: “And this have ye done
again: covering the altar of Yahweh with tears, with weeping, and with crying
out, insomuch that He regardeth not the offering any more, or receiveth it with
good will at your hand. Yet ye say, ‘Wherefore?’ [Why?] Because Yahweh hath
been witness between thee and the wife of thy youth, against whom thou hast
dealt treacherously: yet is she thy companion, and the wife of thy covenant.
For Yahweh, the Almighty of Israel, saith that He hateth putting away
[divorce]; ‘For one covereth violence with his garment,’ saith Yahweh of hosts,
‘therefore take heed to your spirit, that ye deal not treacherously.’” (Malachi
2:13, 14, 16)
Similarly,
uniting with a congregation of the believers who teach the truth is no less
solemn an affair. Paul tells the Church, “I have espoused you to one Husband,
that I may present you as a chaste virgin to Christ.” (2 Corinthians 11:2) Acts
2, as we have examined before, had a people in harmony with one another, and
for this chapter we note the significance of the wording that “they continued
stedfastly in the apostles’ doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of
bread, and in prayers.” (Acts 2:42) They were committed; their Spirit Temple
was resting in “a settled place.”
An
example of the benefits of commitment is given to us in the chronicles of the
life of a Hebrew king. The history of King Jehoshaphat is one of the most
detailed accounts we have in the Scriptures, perhaps second in length and depth
only to that of David and Solomon. He ruled the southern region of Judah after
his father Asa, who was less than faithful to the name of Yahweh. (2 Chronicles
16:1–3) Jehoshaphat was more steadfast in his confidence, however, and it was
said of him, “Yahweh was with Jehoshaphat, because he walked in the first ways
of his father David, and sought not unto Ba’alim, but sought to the Almighty
One of his father, and walked in His commandments, and not after the doings of
Israel.” (verses 17:3, 4)
Yet in
spite of his faith, Jehoshaphat was not perfect in his understanding of Yah’s
will. When Ahab, the wicked king of Northern Israel was attacked by heathen
forces, Jehoshaphat stood with him at RamothGilead, against the word of
Michaiah the prophet of the Almighty. (2 Chronicles 18:27, 28) After the
battle, during which the northern king died, we follow the record of
Jehoshaphat, who had miraculously escaped with his life. “And Jehoshaphat the
king of Judah returned to his house in peace to Jerusalem. And Jehu the son of
Hanani the seer went out to meet him, and said to king Jehoshaphat, ‘Shouldest
thou help the ungodly, and love them that hate Yahweh? Therefore is wrath upon
thee from before Yahweh. Nevertheless there are good things found in thee, in
that thou hast taken away the groves out of the land, and hast prepared thine
heart to seek the Almighty.’” (1 Chronicles 19:1-3)
It is
apparent that the king took this rebuke to heart, for he renewed his commitment
to the way of the Creator. “And Jehoshaphat dwelt at Jerusalem: and he went out
again through the people from Beersheba to mount Ephraim, and brought them back
unto Yahweh the Almighty of their fathers. And he set judges in the land
throughout all the fenced cities of Judah, city by city, and said to the
judges, ‘Take heed what ye do: for ye judge not for man, but for Yahweh, who is
with you in the judgment. Wherefore now let the fear of Yahweh be upon you;
take heed and do it, for there is no iniquity with Yahweh our Almighty, nor
respect of persons, nor taking of gifts.” (verses 4-7) These and many like
reforms did he make in his land. “And he charged them, saying, ‘Thus shall ye
do in the fear of Yahweh, faithfully, and with a perfect heart.’” (verse 9)
This
newfound commitment to the Holy One of Israel was soon to be tested, for in the
very next chapter we read that “It came to pass after this also, that the
children of Moab, and the children of Ammon, and with them other beside the
Ammonites, came against Jehoshaphat to battle.” (2 Chronicles 20:1)
But
what did Jehoshaphat do, with at least three powerful kingdoms in confederacy
against him? Did he go to the Northern Kingdom that he had so recently
assisted? Did he rely on the intercession of idols, or the strength of even his
own armies? No; rather we are told this of faithful Jehoshaphat: “And
Jehoshaphat feared, and set himself to seek Yahweh, and proclaimed a fast
throughout all Judah. And Judah gathered themselves together, to ask help of
Yahweh; even out of all the cities of Judah they came to seek Yahweh.” (2
Chronicles 20:3, 4)
The
king had learned true commitment to the covenant of the Creator. He turned to
Him for help in time of need, and that confidence was not misplaced. “And all
Judah stood before Yahweh, with their little ones, their wives, and their
children. Then upon Jahaziel the son of Zechariah, the son of Benaiah, the son
of Jeiel, the son of Mattaniah, a Levite of the sons of Asaph, came the Spirit
of Yah in the midst of the congregation; And he said, ‘Hearken ye, all Judah,
and ye inhabitants of Jerusalem, and thou king Jehoshaphat, Thus saith Yahweh
unto you: Be not afraid nor dismayed by reason of this great multitude; for the
battle is not yours, but the Almighty’s. To morrow go ye down against them:
behold, they come up by the cliff of Ziz; and ye shall find them at the end of
the brook, before the wilderness of Jeruel. Ye shall not need to fight in this
battle: set yourselves, stand ye still, and see the salvation of Yahweh with
you, O Judah and Jerusalem: fear not, nor be dismayed; to morrow go out against
them: for Yahweh will be with you.’ And Jehoshaphat bowed his head with his
face to the ground: and all Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem fell before
Yahweh, worshipping Yahweh.” (2 Chronicles 20:13-18)
We read
that Judah was indeed spared from having to fight their own battle, for Yah did
the work for them, sending confusion into the ranks of the enemy. It is
written, “And when they began to sing and to praise, Yahweh set ambushments
against the children of Ammon, Moab, and mount Seir, which were come against
Judah; and they were smitten. For the children of Ammon and Moab stood up
against the inhabitants of mount Seir, utterly to slay and destroy them: and
when they had made an end of the inhabitants of Seir, every one helped to
destroy another. And when Judah came toward the watch tower in the wilderness,
they looked unto the multitude, and behold, they were dead bodies fallen to the
earth, and none escaped. And they came to Jerusalem with psalteries and harps
and trumpets unto the house of Yahweh. So the realm of Jehoshaphat was quiet:
for his Elohim gave him rest round about.” (verses 22-24, 28, 30)
Commitment
to the cause of Yah, consistency in faith, these lead to the rest, to the
settled place in which the Temple of Yah will stand forever. Remaining
steadfast in Christ is key to surviving the time of trouble at the end, when
the battle cannot be fought and won by mortal beings. Abiding in the Son keeps
us on the path to life, for “Whosoever abideth in Him sinneth not.” (1 John
3:6a)
This is
necessary for maintaining the walk of faith. The Savior requires total
commitment from His people – not for His sake, but for ours. “Then said Yahshua
unto His disciples, ‘If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and
take up his cross, and follow me.” (Matthew 16:24) The devotion we have to the
Almighty allows nothing to be placed in a higher place, the very first
commandment being, “Thou shalt have no other gods before me [i.e., in my
presence].” (Exodus 20:2) The Son echoed this sentiment, saying, “He that
loveth father or mother more than me is not worthy of me: and he that loveth
son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me. He that is not with me is
against me; and he that gathereth not with me scattereth abroad.” (Matthew
10:37, 12:30) There is a commandment to respect one’s parents, of course, and
we are told that “if any provide not for his own, and specially for those of
his own house, he hath denied the faith, and is worse than an infidel.” (1 Timothy
5:8) Yet these commitments, while binding, must be understood as being
secondary to the divine faithfulness into which we are being led, and into
which we are inspired to invite others.
The
Scriptures counsel us, “Let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of
faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience, and our bodies
washed with pure water. Let us hold fast the profession of our faith without
wavering (for He is faithful that promised), and let us consider one another to
provoke unto love and to good works; not forsaking the assembling of ourselves
together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the
more, as ye see the day approaching.” (Hebrews 10:22–25) Here we see that the
commitment to Yah and to Christ is not restricted only to what is called the
“vertical direction.” The commitment that springs forth from Agape extends also
to our fellow believers.
We
notice that in the New Testament mind, as expressed in the words of the Bible
writers, the idea of commitment and fellowship were not separated. The
assembling of themselves together was an outward expression of their inward
commitment to Yah, their desire was to be a holy, unified nation of priests,
proclaiming the day of salvation to mankind. This desire has never changed. The
people of Yah have always had a “stone of witness,” entering into covenant with
their brethren to walk together in agreement with the principles and Laws of
the Most High. When the Israelites had come out of exile in Babylon, those who
returned to Jerusalem to rebuild the Temple of Yah pledged themselves to the
Creator and said, “Behold, we are servants this day, and for the land that thou
gavest unto our fathers to eat the fruit thereof and the good thereof, behold,
we are servants in it; and because of all this we make a sure covenant, and
write it; and our princes, Levites, and priests, seal unto it.” (Nehemiah 9:36,
38)
Modern
believers are sealed into covenant by the Holy Spirit. Some have said that the
Holy Spirit IS the Seal of Yah. This is not quite accurate. The two Scriptures
that address this topic say that we are sealed with the Spirit,
(Ephesians 1:13) and by the Spirit, (Ephesians 4:30) but the Spirit and
the Seal itself are two different things. Paul tells us that Yah “hath also
sealed us, and given the earnest of the Spirit in our hearts.” (2 Corinthians
1:22) The Spirit is what is sealed within us, but the Seal is that commitment,
made freely and lovingly, that we have with Him, and with our fellow saints. We
“seal unto” the covenant we make with our Father, and with our brethren, to
stand together as a unified body against the darkness that spreads over the
world.
This
commitment that does not waver is what allows us to perform those miracles the
Creator has in store for us, “For verily I say unto you, That whosoever shall
say unto this mountain, ‘Be thou removed, and be thou cast into the sea,’ and
shall not doubt in his heart, but shall believe that those things which he
saith shall come to pass; he shall have whatsoever he saith.” (Mark 11:23)
Individual faith as well as corporate faith is required for the Spirit Temple
to stand.
We
notice that people are saved as individuals, but they are sealed
as Tribes; and this is worthy of study. “And I saw another angel ascending from
the east, having the seal of the living God: and he cried with a loud voice to
the four angels, to whom it was given to hurt the earth and the sea, saying,
‘Hurt not the earth, neither the sea, nor the trees, till we have sealed the servants
of our God in their foreheads.’ And I heard the number of them which were
sealed: and there were sealed an hundred and forty and four thousand of all the
tribes of the children of Israel. Of the tribe of Judah were sealed twelve
thousand. Of the tribe of Reuben were sealed twelve thousand. Of the tribe of
Gad were sealed twelve thousand…” (Revelation 7:2–5)
It is
when the people of the Holy One are gathered together in unity and faith, and
when they are committed with all their hearts to the “ministry of the saints,”
(1 Corinthians 16:15) then the Church will have power to turn hearts to Yah,
and to prepare the way for the Son of Man. None need fall short of this grand
objective, only let all rest in the promise that Yah will accomplish the work He
has begun within us individually and as a people. When those with the Spirit in
their hearts (as individual Temples of Yah in the body) join themselves to each
other in the Covenant as sure as matrimony, then the corporate Temple of Yah in
the Spirit will shine into the darkness a light that will never go dim. In that
day when the believer is Sealed, the prayer that the Messiah taught us to pray
will come to pass: “Thy Kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as it is in
Heaven.” (Matthew 6:10)
Quotations:
Yah desires an unwavering trust from His people:
“God’s promises to us are so rich, so full, that we need never hesitate or
doubt; we need never waver or backslide. In view of the encouragements that are
found all through the Word of God, we have no right to be gloomy or
despondent.” [The Later Elmshaven Years 1905-1915, page 376]
“Let
opposition arise, let bigotry and intolerance again bear sway, let persecution
be kindled, and the half-hearted and hypocritical will waver and yield the
faith; but the true Christian will stand firm as a rock, his faith stronger,
his hope brighter than in days of prosperity.” [Last Day Events, page
181]
“Lift
up the standard, beginning with full surrender and continuing in the simplicity
of obedience to all the Lord’s commandments, according to His special
directions. None of the important things specified in His Word are to be
neglected.” [This Day with God, page 128]
Commitment
is necessary for individual Christians:
“The beginning of yielding to temptation is in the sin of permitting the mind
to waver, to be inconsistent in your trust in God. The wicked one is ever
watching for a chance to misrepresent God and to attract the mind to that which
is forbidden.” [Mind, Character, and Personality Volume 1, page 31]
“I am
instructed that every believer must watch unto prayer, lest he fail in the
Christian life battle. Every soul must daily seek the Lord with full purpose of
heart, morning, noon, and night, and let the mind dwell upon the Word of God,
to understand His requirements.” [This Day with God, page 128]
“The
precious graces of the Holy Spirit are not developed in a moment. Courage,
fortitude, meekness, faith, unwavering trust in God’s power to save, are
acquired by the experience of years. By a life of holy endeavor and firm
adherence to the right the children of God are to seal their destiny.” [In
Heavenly Places, page 159]
Commitment
is necessary for the Body of Christ:
“In every age the Lord has had His watchmen, who have borne a faithful
testimony to the generation in which they lived. These sentinels gave the
message of warning; and when they were called to lay off their armor, others
took up the work. God brought these witnesses into covenant relation with
Himself, uniting the church on earth with the church in heaven. He has sent
forth His angels to minister to His church, and the gates of hell have not been
able to prevail against His people.” [The Faith I Live By, page 281]
“There
will be an army of steadfast believers who will stand as firm as a rock through
the last test.” [Last Day Events, page 211]
“The
covenant of agreement in church membership is that each member would walk in
the footsteps of Christ, that all will take His yoke upon them, and learn of Him
who is meek and lowly in heart. Doing this, “Ye shall,” saith the dear Saviour,
“find rest unto your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.”
(Matt. 11:29, 30)” [Lift Him Up, page 295]
“When
professing Christians are united as one,--one with Christ in God,--they are
representatives of the church of the Firstborn. Unity should ever be the
element of preservation in the Christian church. Men and women are united in
church capacity by a most solemn covenant with God to obey his Word, and to unite
in an effort to strengthen the faith of one another.” [Advent Review and
Sabbath Herald, January 6, 1903]
The
Gospel is a Sealing Message to prepare us for the Judgment, and then for
Heaven:
“Just as soon as the people of God are sealed in their foreheads – it is not
any seal or mark that can be seen, but a settling into the truth, both
intellectually and spiritually, so they cannot be moved – just as soon as God’s
people are sealed and prepared for the shaking, it will come.” [Manuscript
Releases Volume One, page 249]
“The
time has come when we must expect the Lord to do great things for us. Our
efforts must not flag or weaken. We are to grow in grace and in a knowledge of
the Lord. Before the work is closed up and the sealing of God’s people is
finished, we shall have the outpouring of the Spirit of God. Angels from heaven
will be in our midst. I want you and all your family to have a part in this
closing work. The present is the fitting-up time for heaven, when we each must
walk in full obedience to all the commandments of God.” [Manuscript Releases
Volume Two, page 43]
“The
work is soon to close. The members of the church militant who have proved
faithful will become the church triumphant. In reviewing our past history,
having traveled over every step of advance to our present standing, I can say,
Praise God! As I see what God has wrought, I am filled with astonishment and
with confidence in Christ as Leader. We have nothing to fear for the future,
except as we shall forget the way the Lord has led us, and his teaching in our
past history. We are now a strong people, if we will put our trust in the Lord;
for we are handling the mighty truths of the word of God. We have everything to
be thankful for. If we walk in the light as it shines upon us from the living
oracles of God, we shall have large responsibilities, corresponding to the
great light given us of God. We have many duties to perform, because we have
been made the depositories of sacred truth to be given to the world in all its
beauty and glory. We are debtors to God to use every advantage he has entrusted
to us to beautify the truth of holiness of character, and to send the message
of warning, and of comfort, of hope and love, to those who are in the darkness
of error and sin.” [General Conference Daily Bulletin, January 29, 1893]
Questions:
1) Do I understand that everyone is committed to something?
2) What
are the things to which I am committed?
3) Do I
believe that Yah always answers my prayers?
4) Do I
have confidence that I am able to do anything the Almighty asks me to do?
5) Am I
ever tempted to fear what Yah might ask me to do, or to give up?
6) Do I
study the Word to learn what Yah wants for MY life?
7) Is
my “faith” separate from my “religion?” That is to say, do I see a difference between
what I do and what I claim to believe?
8) Am I
committed to helping other people?
9)
Would others be able to say of me that I am a person who lives up to my
responsibilities?
10) Am
I as committed to Christ as intimately as I would be/am to a marriage?
11) Am
I as committed to His Body (the Church) as intimately as I would be/am to a
marriage?
12)
What have been the fruits of my commitment to Christ and His people?
Exercise:
After contemplating and, if possible, discussing with others the above
questions, find a verse or passage of the Bible that gives a promise or an
answer for each.
