Mt. Moriah

Jewish/Hebrew peoples believe Mt. Moriah to be the spot of the creation of man. 

From my last post, we know Isaac was offered on Mt. Moriah, as a precurser to the sacrifice of Jesus Christ. 

God told David to build the temple on Mt. Moriah.

In 2Sam 24:24, David bought the threshing floor (and oxen) from Araunah, a Jebusite, for 30 shekels of silver.  I find it interesting that threshing was the act of sifting chaf from wheat.

In 1Cron 21:24, David buys the entire site of Mt. Moriah for six hundred shekels of gold.  The threshing floor was part of Mt. Moriah.

* In a beautiful gesture, both times, David refuses to take the threshing floor or Mt. Moriah as a gift.  He proclaims he will not offer anything to God that does not come with a price to him.  Do any of us feel this way today?  This had to be one reason that David had God's heart.  (He was being repentant for a foolish act that caused 70,000 men to die of a plague.)

David built an alter on Mt Moriah and eventually the City of David surrounded that spot.  This former City of David is now Jerusalem.

On this spot, Solomon built the first temple inside which was the Holy of Holies.  (Heb: Kadosh Hakado Shin)

The temple was later destroyed and rebuilt then replaced with a mosque which stands over the former Holy of Holies, the point of creation and the spot where the Arc of God's Covenant was placed. 

It is the place God has chosen for Himself to manifest His glory.  Rev. 21:3




Looking from the South, the Temple Mount towers over the Southern Ridge  the City of David. (Note: the large building in the top center of the illustration.)  It's high elevation, on "the sides of the north", signifies its greater holiness and suitability for the location of God’s Temple, where Israel’s sacrifices would all be offered.  (The utmost point, top right in illus, is a monument to Calvary.)  In the foreground of the above illustration is the Kidron Valley.
 
Ps 48:2,  Zaphon is the higher area behind the temple; the north side of the temple.  This Psalm talks of the power of this city because God has chosen it for His dwelling place, in the Holy of Holies and in the millennium. The writers of this Psalm, Sons of Korah (temple Priests), considered themselves keepers ("gatekeepers")of secrets of God.

Isa 14:13-14,  “For thou hast said in thine heart, I will ascend into heaven, I will exalt my throne above the stars of God (2^nd Heaven); I will also sit upon the mount of the congregation, in the sides of the north: I will ascend above the heights of the clouds (1^st Heaven); I will be like the most high.  This is Lucifer talking but tells us where God will make His home - on Mt. Zion ("mt. of congregation") in the sides of the north (holy of holies) - with man.


Isa 14:13,  Zaphon refers to the north quarter of the city; ie: sides of the north.  Northern point of the city is the temple, northern area of the temple is the Holy of Holies.

Ezek 38:6,  Beth Togarmah means "House of Togarmah".   Togarmah is a son of Gomer, son of Japheth, son of Noah, Gen 10:3.  Japheth is the son that went north after the flood.


* The north wall of Jerusalem, behind the temple, is referred to as the "sides of the north".  It is the highest elevation, second only to Calvary, in Jerusalem.

Clear as mud?  I have always been curious about the phrase, "sides of the north".  Now, I have a location: northern most part of the Temple Mount in Jerusalem; the Holy of Holies.  This is to be God's dwelling place for the universe for all eternity.  Mt. Moriah, Heb: "Chosen of The Lord".
Amen

Sign on the west wall of the temple.

Genesis 22

All Christians are aware that Abraham was asked by God to offer his beloved son, Isaac, as a sacrifice.  (Yes, he was asked.  In original Hebrew text God actually says, "Please".  Abraham did not have to do this and neither did God - or Jesus.)  This is a foretelling of the sacrifice our Heavenly Father made with  His beloved son, Jesus.   

Gen 22, gives us the story of Abraham, a parallel for God in this case, who is offering his son for a sacrifice - a type of the Christ.  In these passages, Isaac says "Father" (as Jesus called from the cross) and Abraham says "Here I Am" (as God answers us who believe in His son.)  The incident takes place on Mt. Moriah.  Moriah in Hebrew translates, "The Lord Is My Teacher".  This story is, no only a great lesson for Abraham, but for us.


Calvary is the highest point of Jerusalem and can be seen from where Abraham obeyed God by preparing to take the life of his only son.  If we were to stand on Mt. Moriah and look north across the northern Kidron Valley we would see Calvary.
This is a great story that deepens with translation:

> V.1: This is a test.  God tests all of us from time to time.  God called and Abraham answered, "Here I Am".  First point: This is an example of what each of us should do - answer God when He calls us to do something.  Second point: Abraham is pointed out in this verse as a parallel of God by saying "I Am" - God's name given to Moses.

The word "tested" is from the Hebrew word meaning "high above".  God raised Abraham (high above other men) by constantly testing him over and over.   Again, Moriah means "The Lord Is My Teacher."

> V.2:  God asks Abraham to sacrifice his only son, whom he loves.  God loved His only son, Jesus, but was willing to sacrifice Him for His love for us.  * Isaac had an older brother, Ishmael.  God did not recognize Ishmael as Abraham's son at this point.  Why?  Because Ishmael was born from the impatient efforts of Sarah and Abraham; rather than waiting on God for the promised son, Isaac.  Isaac was given by God through Sarah, Abraham's wife, whom he loved.

Mt. Moriah was the highest point in, what became, the City of David (Jerusalem).  Be sure to read my next posting about this fascinating spot.

> V. 3:  Shows Abraham being obedient the very first thing in the day.  
* This is the first time in the Bible that the words "love" and "worship" are mentioned; they are mentioned together.  Worship is love; we are to love to worship.

> V. 4:  It took 3 days to get to Mt. Moriah.  Interesting:  Christ was dead 3 days before resurrection.  There were three hours of darkness after Jesus died.  Peter denied Jesus 3 times, there were 3 crosses, etc, etc.  Three is a very important number as there are 3 beings in the God Head.

>  V.5:  Abraham had such faith in God that he told his servants, "we will come back to you".  He was confident his son would be spared.  Jesus was spared to return to His everlasting life when raised from the dead.  Was Abraham in possession of this knowledge through foresight?  Or . . did he just have faith in God to resurrect his son to fulfill the initial promise ?

>  V.6:  The wood for the fire was placed on the back of Isaac; Christ carried the wooden cross on his back, up Mt. Calvary.  

> V.7:  In conversation, Isaac calls Abraham, "Father" and Abraham answers, "Yes, my son".  Here is conversation between the Father and the Son, a parallel reference to God and Jesus.  Isaac notices there is no lamb for sacrifice.  Most commentaries suggest that Isaac was not a boy but, rather, a young man.  One commentary (From Oxford Church in England) speculates he could have been as old as 33.  This is very interesting considering that Christ was said to be that age when he was crucified.  Heb 11:17 - 19

>  V.8:  Abraham told Isaac, "God Himself will provide the lamb", referring to Jesus, our sacrificial lamb.  We see no evidence that Isaac argued here.  This shows me that Isaac had faith in similar quantity to his father, Abraham.

> V.9:  Abraham following through with what God told him to do, in full confidence that God would save this young man he had promised would populate nations.  He believed the original promise God made in Gen 15:5.

> V.10:  Abraham was prepared to follow through with the sacrifice.  Regarding faith: you have to take the first step and show God your faith.  Moses stepped into the red sea BEFORE the waters parted.

> V.11:  Here is his reward for obedience, at the last minute.  God spared Isaac.
* To Abraham, Isaac had died when God spoke in verse 2, because he decided then to obey God. Thus he received him back ‘raised’ from the dead on the 3rd day, just like Jesus!

> V.12:  Abraham "feared God" - trusted, reverenced God.   God LOVED the world to sacrifice His son, His only son, whom He loved.

>  V.13:  The ram that God provided to Abraham was perfect, without blemish, just as Jesus was perfect.  The ram was caught in the bush by it's horns so there was not blemish on the animal.

> V.14:  Abraham named the place, "God Will Be Seen" (original text).  This is fascinating in light of the history of Mt. Moriah. (Be sure to read my next blog.)  There is revelation going on with Abraham.  God is allowing him a glimpse of the future.  Jn 8:56   Calvary can be seen from Mt. Moriah.

> V.15 & 16:  This Angel of The Lord is none other than Jesus Himself.  This fact is substantiated by the act of "swearing by Himself".

> V.17 & 18:  God reminds Abraham of His original blessing in Gen 15:5, that He will keep that promise for the faith, trust and obedience Abraham has shown.

As inheritors of the promises of Abraham, we, as Christians, can be just as sure of God's love and care for us.     

Isn't the Bible fascinating?  So much in every word.  We need only to Seek and Find.
Amen

Scars On My Soul

Without Jesus, we will always want.

We are created with a space inside us that cannot be filled by anything else.  That's how we are made - our physical and chemical make up.  When we give ourselves to the acceptance of Jesus life and death on that cross, God plants a seed of His Spirit in that spot.  We can water and feed that seed or let it dry up.  

In this world today there are so many people are hurting, wandering and searching for whatever will fill that empty space.  Some look for other people to fill that space:  a spouse or a friend.  Some turn to drugs or alcohol.  Even shopping, gambling, sex, video games, pornography, social media, a social life, career, stock market, a hobby, exercise or any other hollow thing.  A hollow thing cannot fill space.  By hollow, I mean without substance or meaning; self consuming.

I can think back on so many years of "stupid".   I believe my stupidity came mostly from anger.  I was angry about my sexual abuse as a child.  I felt dirty; like I had a huge secret - a dirty monster secret.  I was ashamed.  (Shame is a huge factor with sexual abuse; especially in children.)  There was this idea of hiding the dirty monster secret out of shame.  You dare not let anyone know.  Don't tell.  Don't discuss it with anyone.  This monster hung around in the corner of every room; always present and accusing.

There were times I would find myself in a situation where I felt comfortable with a friend or in a group and I would just mention the abuse.  Inevitably, the first question from anyone was, "Why didn't you tell someone?"  Never ask an abused child or person that question!  It is condemning.  It places blame on the wrong person.  This child or person already feels condemned, dirty, guilty and ashamed.  (You cannot relate if you have not been there.)  These feelings in me turned to anger.  I was angry toward men.  At the same time, I wanted a man to love me - to make up for the missing father.  

There was a step father in the house because my father had left.  A child takes things personal.  His leaving left me feeling unwanted and confused over what I had done to drive him away.   When my father lived with us, he doted on me.  There was now an empty spot in our family that needed filled.  The relationship between a girl and her father is unique to nothing else.  It can set the stage for relationships with men the rest of her life.  I was not complete without that relationship; the doting man.  My child's mind turned assigned blame to my mother.

A feeling of "empty" dominated my life.  I tried to fill it with relationships - one after another.  I was confused, seeking that illusive "something" to fill that empty spot inside me.  I was so desperate that I put a sign on my back that read, "Kick me!".  This sign could only be seen by men who wanted to take advantage of women for their own selfish agenda.  This went on for years; until my mid thirties.  

I tried group therapy; Oh, that was fun! - NOT!  Therapy can be a good thing.  I was in a community group of self pity.  I tried drinking and bar hopping.  There was that long list of relationships that just added to the dirty feeling.  Anger surfaced in various ways: drinking, teasing, independence, rebellion, a loud and dominating personality.  I had a pastor tell me that he knew I was hurting because of how loud I laughed; I tried to hard to be happy.  

Let me say here that I have secrets.  Things I never told my mother, things I will not tell my husband.  My closest friends would not know how to understand.  If you do not deal with your secrets, they will make you sick.  I was sick emotionally and the physical aspects are now surfacing as a delayed reaction.  The seeds of illness have now grown into full maturity through high blood pressure, blood sugar and various allergies through a compromised immune system.

My worldly options were exhausted.  I tried everything I could to run headlong over a cliff (so to speak).

When I was sitting with a loaded gun in my hand, God spoke through a whisper from somewhere deep inside me.  

I returned to childhood teachings of my mother and, in gut wrenching prostration, returned to church.  I was the prodigal daughter coming home to the spiritual Father that I can always count on.  This Father never leaves me, forgave me, made me whole, listens to me, heals me, gave me hope and tenderly loves me forever.  He knows ALL my secrets but can't see them.  He sees me through the blood that Christ shed - as a pure and holy child of His, redeemed.  He has made me a princess daughter in His Kingdom forever.  I am the righteousness of God through His first born son, Jesus.  

I have scars on my soul.  The scabs and pain are gone.  My life is changed forever.  Life is full.  There is no more "empty" inside.  I am filled with warm, sincere desires to love, share, help, teach and to be with God, my Father, in this life and the next.  
Amen