(02/26/2016) Curses, Tithes and The Cross

More is shared, today, on the curses in Scripture lifted by the work of Jesus Christ upon the cross.  Those who claim the ministry of Jesus denied the sacred history of Israel must surely be ignorant of the various curses incurred from GOD that include Moses denied setting foot within the Promised Land, and the house of David rejected by the 10 tribes that established a kingdom under Jeroboam the son of Nebat (who caused Israel to sin through worship of the golden calf at both Bethel and Dan).  Many see captivity and exile as having been curses.  Restoration and repair of the covenant of Moses should come into view at the cross as well as acknowledgment of Jesus as the heir for a new covenant in his blood replacing Solomon (who supported the idolatry of his many wives).  Because the anointing of David by Samuel the Prophet included that he would serve as king, judge, high priest and prophet, and that he wore a sacred ephod and commanded the courses for service within the Tabernacle—and even called GOD, “father”—the establishment of a permanent house for GOD (we say, Temple) appears as part of the inheritance granted to one that would come from his loins.  However, David acquired a name as a “bloody man.”  Consider the following from Scripture, and the points presented below:

Genesis 4:  11, King James Version (KJV):  11 And now art thou cursed from the earth, which hath opened her mouth to receive thy brother’s blood from thy hand;

1st Chronicles 22:  7-9, KJV:  7 And David said to Solomon, My son, as for me, it was in my mind to build an house unto the name of the LORD my God:  8 But the word of the LORD came to me, saying, Thou hast shed blood abundantly, and hast made great wars:  thou shalt not build an house unto my name, because thou hast shed much blood upon the earth in my sight.  9 Behold, a son shall be born to thee, who shall be a man of rest; and I will give him rest from all his enemies round about:  for his name shall be Solomon, and I will give peace and quietness unto Israel in his days.

Numbers 35:  33, KJV:  33 So ye shall not pollute the land wherein ye are:  for blood it defileth the land:  and the land cannot be cleansed of the blood that is shed therein, but by the blood of him that shed it.

Ezekiel 22:  4,  KJV:  4 Thou art become guilty in thy blood that thou hast shed; and hast defiled thyself in thine idols which thou hast made; and thou hast caused thy days to draw near, and art come even unto thy years: therefore have I made thee a reproach unto the heathen, and a mocking to all countries.

Amos 9:  10-12, KJV:  10 All the sinners of my people shall die by the sword, which say, The evil shall not overtake nor prevent us.  11 In that day will I raise up the tabernacle of David that is fallen, and close up the breaches thereof; and I will raise up his ruins, and I will build it as in the days of old:  12 That they may possess the remnant of Edom, and of all the heathen, which are called by my name, saith the LORD that doeth this.

Colossians 1:  19-21, KJV:  19 For it pleased the Father that in him should all fulness dwell;  20 And, having made peace through the blood of his cross, by him to reconcile all things unto himself; by him, I say, whether they be things in earth, or things in heaven.  21 And you, that were sometime alienated and enemies in your mind by wicked works, yet now hath he reconciled

Jesus would be “the man of rest” (we also say, prince of peace) from the House of David.


THE GOLDEN ARROW:  Now is the judgment of this world:  now shall the prince of this world be cast out.  And I, if I be lifted up from the earth, will draw all men unto me.  This he said, signifying what death he should die.  The people answered him, We have heard out of the law that Christ abideth for ever:  and how sayest thou, The Son of man must be lifted up? who is this Son of man?  Then Jesus said unto them, Yet a little while is the light with you. Walk while ye have the light, lest darkness come upon you:  for he that walketh in darkness knoweth not whither he goeth.  While ye have light, believe in the light, that ye may be the children of light. These things spake Jesus, and departed, and did hide himself from them.  (John 12:  31-36, KJV)


THE DOUBLE DAGGER:  Draped Upon The Cross? (02/22/2016); Solomon Punished For Sins Of David? (08/28/2015); Christ the Son of David? (06/12/2015); The House Ye Build Unto Me? (07/31/2014); Errors of King Solomon? (06/13/2013); Salvation for Atheists? (06/14/2013)


THE BATTLE AXE:  The Cross Broke Every Curse? (02/25/2016)—(5.)  Simply being in covenant does not establish salvation.  In the same way family fortunes, honor, prestige, and reputation are stabilized and passed on from generation to generation, covenant and curses are transmitted through inheritance; and salvation may begin or be ended as an aspect of ones family life and heritage.  Because an infant does not have prerogative regarding baptism and circumcision, or the peculiar benefits and protection that are placed upon his life by being entered into covenant (we also may say, a framework of law), formal events for voluntary confirmation of faith and public confession of commitment are held that include bar mitzvah and first communion.

(6.)  Covenants with divinity establish direction for life experience by declaring and detailing standards and terms for continuing exchange and interaction.  Repeated violations by those within covenant have underscored the need for divine salvation that could be inclusive and permanent.  Like covenants, curses pertain to the living, and their future offspring as conditions for their existence and life experience.  Along with the closeness and strength of relationships and their benefits, eternal life and judgment also are placed in the balance.

(7.)  The earth is the Lord’s and the fullness thereof.  For those in covenant who had left Egypt with Moses, the tithe was more than a peculiar portion (10%) of ones goods and produce.  In the same way, Pharaoh ruled as a god claiming ownership of the land, livestock, and people of Egypt, the true GOD revealed himself having ownership of the firstborn of all, and the entire earth.  Thus, the return to GOD of a tithe was more than simply an acknowledgment of duty through inheritance that resulted from the oath of Jacob, who became Israel in his relationship with divinity.  The tithe was not a payment or a reward so much as an holy offering, a divine indulgence, and a spirit process acknowledging the ownership of GOD.  Christian believers also are to understand that Levi offered tithes while yet unborn, and still in the loins of Abraham.  Clearly, then, the biblical tithe is revealed as an aspect of communication and spirit expression, not process that is carnal, material, monetary, or social.

Even so, there is far more to be said, understood, and spiritually apprehended.  (For example, (8.)  As a new creation, the church of Jesus Christ is not a copy of things from ancient times, nor a device to repeat the prayers and praises of our forefathers.  Yet, given that GOD is a spirit who is immortal, invisible, and unchanging, many of the patterns established earlier are continued because we acknowledge that same GOD, today.  With this in view, tithes are in no way a portion of what we possess that is to be given to GOD.  Rather, tithes are what belong to GOD, and are to be acknowledged and restored as a prerequisite for our ongoing use of things belonging to divinity.)  I trust this fragment will be useful.  Be it unto you according to your faith.

THE BLACK PHOENIX
Washington, DC