(08/04/2017) The Wages of Disobedience

Fresco showing King David, the Ark of the Covenant, and Uzzah
Paul Troger (1698-1762) - Altenburg Abbey

Today, focus is on the demand that ministry and sacred practice always be in obedience to divine instruction and law.  Those agreeing to serve GOD are to carry out and express eternal purposes and the will of one who is immutable and unchanging.  The process of GOD goes forward as a way that has met many challenges, has been tested and tried, and has repeatedly prevailed above temporal emotions and good intentions.  True ministry to GOD derives from ones endowment of the inseparable aspects of divine spirit.  Obedience to GOD, therefore, is an act of being (we say, existence) and the performance of sovereign will in place of self-expression.  Incarnation, being joined to divinity, and unity with the Creator are to appear and be made manifest through obedience.  The fighter at “Yahoo! Answers” who uses the ID “The Buy Bull” (Level 2 with 564 points, a member since May 13, 2016) posted the following:


Did you know God kills the Good Samaritan?

(2 Samuel 6:6-7) And when they came to Nachon's threshingfloor, Uzzah put forth his hand to the ark of God, and took hold of it; for the oxen shook it. And the anger of the Lord was kindled against Uzzah; and God smote him there for his error; and there he died by the ark of God.


THE GOLDEN ARROW:  When a righteous man turneth away from his righteousness, and committeth iniquity, and dieth in them; for his iniquity that he hath done shall he die.  Again, when the wicked man turneth away from his wickedness that he hath committed, and doeth that which is lawful and right, he shall save his soul alive.  Because he considereth, and turneth away from all his transgressions that he hath committed, he shall surely live, he shall not die.  Yet saith the house of Israel, The way of the Lord is not equal. O house of Israel, are not my ways equal? are not your ways unequal?  Therefore I will judge you, O house of Israel, every one according to his ways, saith the Lord GOD. Repent, and turn yourselves from all your transgressions; so iniquity shall not be your ruin.  Cast away from you all your transgressions, whereby ye have transgressed; and make you a new heart and a new spirit:  for why will ye die, O house of Israel?  For I have no pleasure in the death of him that dieth, saith the Lord GOD:  wherefore turn yourselves, and live ye.  (Ezekiel 18:  26-32, King James Version, KJV)


THE DOUBLE DAGGER:  David, Goliath and GOD (05/26/2017); Divine Law Expresses Love (05/10/2017); Presumption Is Never Helping (05/23/2016); Priesthood and The Cross (03/20/2016); Ark of the Covenant? (03/17/2015); Guilt and Ignorance? (12/04/2014); Joined To Christ Through Faith (12/05/2014)  

“The Buy Bull”, the death of Uzzah resulted from many errors concerning the holy things.  The Ark of the Covenant was never to be touched directly by human hands.  The Levites, appointed as the 1st born of every animal, family, and household would not be destroyed on the altar; instead, they were to serve the Priests of the Tabernacle as “living sacrifices.”  Poles were attached that were to be used in lifting and moving the Ark whenever the 12 tribes grouped as the camp(s) of Israel would journey; and the Levites were to carry the Ark on their shoulders.  The use of carts to move the Ark was introduced by the Philistines, and that also resulted in the death of many.

Christian believers recognize that many important accounts appear in the Scriptures that speak to sins of ignorance and errors in the holy things.  Included are the account of Joshua and Achan at Jericho, and the reports of Nadab and Abihu (sons of Aaron, the High Priest), the rebellion of Korah and other Levites who wanted to offer incense like the Priests, and the lessons on Hophni and Phinehas (sons of Eli, the High Priest).  Only those of the priesthood are authorized to make atonement, or offer animal sacrifices and blood.  Only true prophets (and anointed apostles) are to be acknowledged as spokespersons sent from both GOD and mankind.

Because, to obey is to put aside ones own will, and to perform the will of another, to obey is one of the highest expressions of love and unselfish giving.  Obedience to divine law and the sovereign will of GOD appears on the earth through the character, makeup, and substance of created beings and living creatures.  Fresh endowments from the makeup of GOD are to indwell the living.  Included are faith, forbearance, holiness, joy, lovingkindness, restraint, wisdom, and wrath against sin.  The awareness and self-will are to display the “oneness without sameness” among the persons of full divinity (we say, the GODhead) whereby the living may be spoken of as vessels of divine seed, children of GOD, and joint-heirs with Jesus Christ.  Consider again the following:

(1.)  Leviticus 5:  17, King James Version (KJV):  17 And if a soul sin, and commit any of these things which are forbidden to be done by the commandments of the LORD; though he wist it not, yet is he guilty, and shall bear his iniquity.

(2.)  1st Chronicles 15:  2, KJV:  2 Then David said, None ought to carry the ark of God but the Levites:  for them hath the LORD chosen to carry the ark of God, and to minister unto him for ever.

(3.) 1st Chronicles 15:  11-13, KJV:  11 And David called for Zadok and Abiathar the priests, and for the Levites, for Uriel, Asaiah, and Joel, Shemaiah, and Eliel, and Amminadab,  12 And said unto them, Ye are the chief of the fathers of the Levites:  sanctify yourselves, both ye and your brethren, that ye may bring up the ark of the LORD God of Israel unto the place that I have prepared for it.  13 For because ye did it not at the first, the LORD our God made a breach upon us, for that we sought him not after the due order.

There is far more to be said, correctly examined, and spiritually apprehended.  (For example, (4.)  Romans 6:  16-23, KJV:  16 Know ye not, that to whom ye yield yourselves servants to obey, his servants ye are to whom ye obey; whether of sin unto death, or of obedience unto righteousness?  17 But God be thanked, that ye were the servants of sin, but ye have obeyed from the heart that form of doctrine which was delivered you.  18 Being then made free from sin, ye became the servants of righteousness.  19 I speak after the manner of men because of the infirmity of your flesh:  for as ye have yielded your members servants to uncleanness and to iniquity unto iniquity; even so now yield your members servants to righteousness unto holiness.  20 For when ye were the servants of sin, ye were free from righteousness.  21 What fruit had ye then in those things whereof ye are now ashamed? for the end of those things is death.  22 But now being made free from sin, and become servants to God, ye have your fruit unto holiness, and the end everlasting life.  23 For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.)  Even so, I trust this fragment will be useful.  Be it unto you according to your faith.

THE BLACK PHOENIX
Washington, DC