Windsor, Connecticut, USA
January 29, 2010
http://www.proclaiminghisname.org
Jesus is on Our Side on God's Scales of Justice!
In reading through the minor prophets, and seeing the Lord's disturbance over idolatry and iniquity transformed into judgement, my heart is always eager to catch those refreshing wells of mercy found in this scorching terrain of the exasperation of the Almighty.
This morning, I came to one that has been celebrated in song, and the backdrop for many times of jubilation in the dance in the Lord's presence.
Sing, O daughter of Zion; shout, O Israel; be glad and rejoice with all the heart, O daughter of Jerusalem. 15 The LORD hath taken away thy judgments, he hath cast out thine enemy: the king of Israel, even the LORD, is in the midst of thee: thou shalt not see evil any more. 16 In that day it shall be said to Jerusalem, Fear thou not: and to Zion, Let not thine hands be slack. 17 The LORD thy God in the midst of thee is mighty; he will save, he will rejoice over thee with joy; he will rest in his love, he will joy over thee with singing. Zephaniah 3:14-17
It has been one of the "ways of God" to bring judgment upon a nation through the cruel oppression or aggressive advancing sword of an enemy. For confirmation of this, see for one example, the history of the Assyrians in being used as the "rod of God's wrath" in Isaiah 10.
But when God intervenes with mercy, as Zephaniah declares, He takes away judgment, and casts out the enemy. God's judgments are His servants, or instruments to bring us unto righteousness. When God sees a heart turning toward righteousness, He will step in to stop that enemy that was being used as his instrument to chasten us.
God has planted within our souls a relentless capacity to hope in God's over-riding mercy and compassion, even though we've got gnawing doubts because we know how miserably we fail the Lord. We never fully and completely rise to God's holy standards that would make us truly worthy of His pronouncements of favor which with one fell swoop establishes us in His righteousness, restores our peace, rekindles our joy and eviscerates the enemy and all his evil works against us.
Yes, God has created us as beings who hope in His mercy, and because He is a benevolent God, He doesn't leave us prone to the heartsick condition of "hope deferred". See Proverbs 13:12
God eternally satisfied the heart's cry for mercy as well as His own need for justice, by the work of the atonement.
When Jesus became the supreme sacrifice for sin, He truly became the mediator between God and men. He "made up the difference". Jesus was the only One worthy, the only One who could bring balance to our side of God's "scale of justice" which pronounces us worthy to be the "Israel of God". God's mercy came at a great price. But in paying that price, He brought us to the position of equality with God in righteousness!
For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him. 2 Corinthians 5:21
God steps in and intervenes to throw out judgments against us, and casts out our enemies because when the matters which hold us in bondage to the wrath of God come up for review, He sees that sins have been covered (atonement), and penalties have been paid in full! When God's mercy fails, it means He has come to a resolve that the Cross no longer has any merit with Him! But God's mercy will NEVER fail because in the very midst of the throne, there is a "Lamb slain". This is the eternal reminder of the Cross of Jesus Christ, and how it's the eternal filter of heaven! Right in the middle of His throne is the Lamb slain!
6 And I beheld, and, lo, in the midst of the throne and of the four beasts, and in the midst of the elders, stood a Lamb as it had been slain, having seven horns and seven eyes, which are the seven Spirits of God sent forth into all the earth. Revelation 5:6
When you get a revelation of this scriptural illustration of heaven penned under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, and you see that it was the Lamb slain (in other words, the Cross of Jesus Christ eternally speaks to God in the heavens) who very presently possesses the 7 horns, which speaks of ALL authority and ALL power (7 is the number of fullness, of completion) and 7 eyes, which speaks of TOTAL wisdom, knowledge, and understanding---the very perception of God, Himself, then you come to the understanding that ALL is perceived by God through the sacrifice of Calvary. The "slain Lamb" always draws attention back to the Cross.
Prophetic authority in fullness is filtered through the Cross. It does not circumvent the Cross. It doesn't get to turn a blind eye to the "Lamb as it had been slain". Anyone who has TRULY been in the throne room of God has seen the Cross because it's there!
If you go to the throne room of God, and get a word from Him, right in the midst of the throne is the Lamb "as it had been" or "in the same manner" as it had been slain, which is on the Cross. If you hear a word from the Lord, regarding judgment, and it is delayed, it's because of the close proximity between the throne and the Cross. The cross is not only NEAR the throne, it's in the midst of it! And if you get a word from God regarding judgment, when you see the Lamb slain, your heart will weep, and your head will be a fountain of tears and His intercession working through you will stay God's hand.
So, if it is from the perspective of Calvary that God sends forth His Spirit or that the 7 spirits of God are sent forth into all the earth then....
IT IS NO WONDER THAT JUDGMENT IS DELAYED!
The Cross is God's crossroads of judgment and mercy, the place where they eternally intersect.
So the 7 spirits of God are sent forth from the midst of the throne to act as God's emissaries of His mercy, not of His wrath and judgment which are already placed on the Lamb.
Now in Revelation 4 , we see a picture of His throne in more detail with the same 4 beasts , and the 7 lamps of fire which are the 7 spirits of God with a rainbow about His throne, a symbol of His mercy.
2 And immediately I was in the spirit: and, behold, a throne was set in heaven, and one sat on the throne. 3 And he that sat was to look upon like a jasper and a sardine stone: and there was a rainbow round about the throne, in sight like unto an emerald. 4 And round about the throne were four and twenty seats: and upon the seats I saw four and twenty elders sitting, clothed in white raiment; and they had on their heads crowns of gold. 5 And out of the throne proceeded lightnings and thunderings and voices: and there were seven lamps of fire burning before the throne, which are the seven Spirits of God. 6 And before the throne there was a sea of glass like unto crystal: and in the midst of the throne, and round about the throne, were four beasts full of eyes before and behind. 7 And the first beast was like a lion, and the second beast like a calf, and the third beast had a face as a man, and the fourth beast was like a flying eagle. Rev. 4:2-7
Now, I'm going to digress here a little bit, but this is so powerful, I know you'll forgive me for doing so!
And what a symbol that "rainbow of His mercy" is! I've studied a little bit about the emerald, of the beryl family of stones. The beryl is one stone that comes in all the colors of the rainbow, and it's amazing that the "emerald", or the green stone, which is the center arch of the rainbow is what's highlighted in this scripture! Lord, what do you wish to reveal to us through this particular distinction in the scripture? There are 3 colors above it, and 3 colors below it. And God picked the middle color as that which would be magnified to the eyes of John on the isle of Patmos. Maybe God wants us to pay attention to what's central to His heart. I also considered that the emerald was one of the stones on the ephod/breastplate of the high priest.
5 And thou shalt make the breastplate of judgment with cunning work; after the work of the ephod thou shalt make it; of gold, of blue, and of purple, and of scarlet, and of fine twined linen, shalt thou make it. 16 Foursquare it shall be being doubled; a span shall be the length thereof, and a span shall be the breadth thereof. 17 And thou shalt set in it settings of stones, even four rows of stones: the first row shall be a sardius, a topaz, and a carbuncle: this shall be the first row. 18 And the second row shall be an emerald, a sapphire, and a diamond. 19 And the third row a ligure, an agate, and an amethyst. 20 And the fourth row a beryl, and an onyx, and a jasper: they shall be set in gold in their inclosings.
But do you know what else I found as I did a little Bible Study? The gems represent the 12 tribes of Israel placed over the heart of the high priest on the breastplate over his garment. Precious stones also represent the 12 apostles (the foundations) in Revelation 21, and each gem very specifically corresponds to one of the Sons of Israel, and one of the Apostles of the Lamb.
In the Old Testament, the Law, the emerald relates to Judah, and in the New Testament, Grace, the emerald relates to John! So, when John was experiencing the revelation of the Lord Jesus Christ on the Isle of Patmos, and he was seeing such frightful and mysterious things that could only be understood by the Spirit of God, when he saw that "emerald" in the rainbow, I believe this was not only a testimony of the mercy of God for us, but it was very specifically a prophetic vision for John himself that God's grace and mercy would be his personal portion! Glory to His Name!
Friend, when God uses you or speaks to you or gives you dreams and visions, He will not leave you without a portion for yourself to encourage you and strengthen you!
Now, back to more about this "Lamb as it had been slain" in the midst of the throne:
In the fullness of scripture, we find whenever there is something of spiritual significance on earth, there is always a heavenly model to it, something in the "unseen realm" which is being duplicated, or replicated.
Before Moses built the tabernacle, he saw the heavenly model.
5 Who serve unto the example and shadow of heavenly things, as Moses was admonished of God when he was about to make the tabernacle: for, See, saith he, that thou make all things according to the pattern shewed to thee in the mount. Hebrews 8:5
The book of Ezekiel aptly describes a scene which depicts a heavenly model of the earthly Eden. This was the place of the casting down of Lucifer. To see what he forfeited because of pride and rebellion is shockingly amazing in it's reality. He was a being closest to God.
11 Moreover the word of the LORD came unto me, saying, 12 Son of man, take up a lamentation upon the king of Tyrus, and say unto him, Thus saith the Lord GOD; Thou sealest up the sum, full of wisdom, and perfect in beauty. 13 Thou hast been in Eden the garden of God; every precious stone was thy covering, the sardius, topaz, and the diamond, the beryl, the onyx, and the jasper, the sapphire, the emerald, and the carbuncle, and gold: the workmanship of thy tabrets and of thy pipes was prepared in thee in the day that thou wast created. 14 Thou art the anointed cherub that covereth; and I have set thee so: thou wast upon the holy mountain of God; thou hast walked up and down in the midst of the stones of fire. 15 Thou wast perfect in thy ways from the day that thou wast created, till iniquity was found in thee. 16 By the multitude of thy merchandise they have filled the midst of thee with violence, and thou hast sinned: therefore I will cast thee as profane out of the mountain of God: and I will destroy thee, O covering cherub, from the midst of the stones of fire. 17 Thine heart was lifted up because of thy beauty, thou hast corrupted thy wisdom by reason of thy brightness: I will cast thee to the ground, I will lay thee before kings, that they may behold thee. 18 Thou hast defiled thy sanctuaries by the multitude of thine iniquities, by the iniquity of thy traffick; therefore will I bring forth a fire from the midst of thee, it shall devour thee, and I will bring thee to ashes upon the earth in the sight of all them that behold thee. 19 All they that know thee among the people shall be astonished at thee: thou shalt be a terror, and never shalt thou be any more. Ezekiel 28:11-19
On the isle of Patmos, John was given to see the heavenly location of the Cross, as Moses was given to see the tabernacle, and and Ezekiel was given to see the garden of Eden in heaven.
John saw the Lamb slain, but not just "the Lamb slain", but the Lamb, "as it had been slain", and how was He slain? On the cross. And the Bible says it was all seen "in the midst of the throne." Revelation 5:6.
John is the beloved disciple who declared that if we sin, we have an advocate with the Father. These weren't just cheap words of grace! John actually SAW that advocate, "the Lamb as it had been slain"!
My little children, these things write I unto you, that ye sin not. And if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous: 2 And he is the propitiation for our sins: and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world. 1 John 2:1,2
Read this scripture in fullness of context, though, and see how the same anointing, the very breath of God, that rested up Zephaniah to declare a heavenly Father encouraging His children to sing because He had taken away their judgments, and then singing Himself in the midst of His people again appears in this 1st chapter of the beloved John to find it's fulfillment in an expression of joy and fellowship with the Heavenly Father because of sins forgiven!
¶That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked upon, and our hands have handled, of the Word of life; 2 (For the life was manifested, and we have seen it, and bear witness, and shew unto you that eternal life, which was with the Father, and was manifested unto us;) 3 That which we have seen and heard declare we unto you, that ye also may have fellowship with us: and truly our fellowship is with the Father, and with his Son Jesus Christ. 4 And these things write we unto you, that your joy may be full. 1 John 1:1-4
The LORD thy God in the midst of thee is mighty; he will save, he will rejoice over thee with joy; he will rest in his love, he will joy over thee with singing. Zephaniah 3:14-17
Thank you, Lord Jesus, for the Lamb of God which taketh away the sins of the world!
Thank you, Lord Jesus, that you have given us such a wonderful salvation, and purchased us not with corruptible things such as silver or gold, but with your blood You've redeemed us! We remember that though there are many sons You are calling to glory, there is only ONE Lamb, only ONE who is worthy of our worship, our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ.
Amen and Amen! Worthy is the Lamb! Amen! All glory to our Lord Jesus Christ! Amen!