Category Archives: Bible Study

The Ark – Mercy Seat

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The Ark of the Covenant, which represents God, was made of three parts: the Mercy Seat, the Ark or Box, and the Poles. I have seen the Mercy Seat is a type of the Father, the Ark or Box being Jesus, and the Poles representing the Holy Spirit. These echo 2 Corinthians 13:14 – The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Ghost, be with you all. Amen. (KJV)

Christians, our triune God is still a mystery. Yes, He has given us His Spirit and His Word but there are still things about Him we do not know. Isaiah 45:15 says that He is a God who hides Himself. Jesus gave us hope of knowing Him when He said, “if you have seen Me you have seen the Father”. I do wish that the writer of Hebrews 9:5 would have taken the time to explain the Mercy Seat. With all of that said I will share some things that are plain to see and some that we do not know about the Mercy Seat that I think represents the Father.

Moses got to see the real Ark and Tabernacle while he was in Heaven. The instructions he wrote for the Ark’s construction and purpose are in Exodus 25:10-23. The iconic Mercy Seat or Atonement Cover starts with verse 17. The sixth side of the Ark of the Testimony or Mercy Seat was two and a half cubits long by a cubit and a half wide. It sat within the crown that was made around the Box or Ark, which would have kept it from sliding off. It had two Cherubim as part of the top whose wings spread out over the Cover and those wings touched. God promised Moses that He would meet with him there. Not much or just enough information? The artwork through the ages has kept the basics but added embellishments to suit the artist and the times. As I said a mystery.

My Questions

  • How much gold was used for the base and the angels?
  • How thick was the base?
  • How tall and wide were the angels?
  • Were the wings horizontal or vertical to the base? (More on that idea later.)
  • How high were the wings off of the base?
  • How wide were the wings and how much did they touch?

This is where God would meet with Moses. What if, one set of wings were vertical and the other set were horizontal, they would form a seat or chair. Given the size of the lid and guessing with the angels, it would be a good size seating area with a low back.

Purpose

It is easy to get lost on what we don’t know, but the purpose of the Mercy Seat is a major topic.

1. Between the Cherubim and above the rest of the Ark is where God wanted to meet with Moses, His man of the hour.

2. Leviticus 16:2 shows another ceremony, that speaks about what did Jesus after His ascension into Heaven. This is where the Priest would sprinkle the blood on the Day of Atonement.

3. As the Cover for the Ark, it covered or hid the Tablets of the Law. They were the first things put inside the Ark and they were the only things that remained at the last mention of any contents. A pot of manna and Aaron’s rod were also put in there, but they seem to have disappeared. That is a mystery.

The Father “covered” these three items as they were “held” by Jesus. My original question of this study was-did they represent reminders of rebellion or did God show Himself as a giver of good things in the middle of our problems. Personally, I have not decided on that problem as I can see both in our great God.   

No, I have not covered all of the types and shadows of the Ark. I thought the Mercy Seat of the Ark would be the last post in this series, but I was given several other ideas.

The Cross

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This study about the Cross started simply enough, I mean it is a central object in my faith, so of course I knew all about it. Types and shadows and many illustrations from sermons should qualify me as knowledgeable. Well, I was not as good as I thought. I will focus on the wooden implement and not the religious and doctrinal aspects of the cross.

This needs to be said. Jesus was betrayed and condemned by the religious leaders of His day (the Sanhedrin). The political rulers punished Jesus with a beating and allowed Him to be mocked. He was then sentenced to death by hanging on the cross (Rome did this to non-Romains). He had to carry His cross out of the city and be nailed to it and hung on it. He did this for me.

Old Testament Examples

  • Genesis 40:19 – Pharoah was going to kill his servant and hang him on a pole.
  • Joshua 8:29 – The king of Ai was put on a tree and left until the end of the day. He was removed because of Deuteronomy 21:23. A person hung on a tree was under a curse and had to be buried so as not to defile the land.
  • Ezra 6:11 – This is King Darius agreeing with King Cyrus about pulling a beam from the house of anyone that changes the decree to build the Temple of God and have them impaled on it.
  • Esther 5:14 – A hanging tree is a good rendering of gallows. I believe the seventy-five-foot height was more about making a statement than torturing or killing the man.

I have read that these hangings and impaling were for public display of the body after they had been killed and not for the actual killing as the Romains did to Jesus.

A Lot of Words

Atzei, etz, nace, bad, xylon, and stauros are Hebrew and Greek words that deal with wooden things in the Bible.

Genesis 22:6 is the wood (atzei) for the sacrifice being carried by Isaac to Mount Moriah. This word is related to etz, #H6086 in the Strong’s. Etz is a tree or wood and is first used for the trees in the Garden and is the main word for a tree or wood in the Scriptures. The picture of Isaac is a type of Jesus carrying the Cross to the place of sacrifice.

Exodus 15:25 is Hashem showing Moses a “piece of etz” to throw into a pool to make it drinkable. Yes, there are many legends about that etz, none of which can be confirmed in Scripture. I will agree it is a picture of Jesus. I have heard good sermons describing it as a type of the Cross, so I will leave this one up to you. Be a Berean and study this one out.

Exodus 25:14 is part of the instructions for building the Ark and the Tabernacle. The two poles that were part of the Ark and used to carry it are called staves (KJV) or poles. The word here is bad #H905 and it refers to a “branch of a tree”. Since they are part of the Ark, I do not think they represent the Cross, but the Holy Spirit.   

Numbers 21:9 definitely is a picture of Jesus on the Cross. This is the story of the brass serpent on a pole. The word nace #H5251 is frequently used for a military standard or banner, or a flag or sail. The idea of a standard really would be a picture of a crosspiece on the Cross.

In the New Testament, the word for cross is stauros. (Please see the websites listed below.) From historical sources, it is described as a pole with no crosspiece of any kind. Wow, that would mess up a lot of great sermons.

Yes, I started looking for early Christian art that depicted the Passion. There really is not that much early art that shows a cross (1st to 3rd century). The Restless Pilgrim post is graffiti that is mocking someone that worshipped Jesus, but it does show a human figure on a cross with a crosspiece and a footrest. The other picture was a royal seal of Emperor Constantine. He had a traditional Christian cross on it (It was in a movie about Rome) and it was made in the late 300’s before his death. I have also heard that when the early Christians “lifted holy hands” they were making themselves into the shape of the Cross.

Paul in Galatians

Galatians 3:13 restates Deuteronomy 21:23 which says if you are hung on a tree/pole (xylon) you are cursed. But in 6:14 he will only boast in the cross (stauros) of our Lord Jesus Christ. Like the Tree in the Garden, it carried a good and a bad message.

My thoughts-I believe the Romains took torture to a whole new level with their use of the cross. So, it does not really matter if Jesus’ hands were straight up or splayed out on a crosspiece, they made sure it was horrible. (I do think there was a crosspiece.)

Could a Greek word (stauros) have been “recycled” for a Romain device? Americans do it all the time. That would have allowed for the upright to stay in the ground and the condemned just to carry the crosspiece.

That Romain cross, like a tree, was planted in the ground and held Jesus between Heaven and Earth. He was nailed to that wood, and it became my Tree of Life. The Cross held the most important piece of fruit to ever hang from a tree; make sure you are found in Him.

What’s the earliest depiction of the crucifixion? – Restless Pilgrim

Stauros – Wikipedia

σταυρός | billmounce.com

The Bride of the Lamb

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I hitched the Bride of the Lamb to Daughter Zion and Eve in my last post, and I noticed something about the parables that Jesus told about weddings. This is unusual for me to do; I am going to list the references. The parables are the same in Mark, Luke, and Matthew, so I will list just Matthew.

  • Matthew 22
  • Matthew 25
  • John 3:29
  • 2 Corinthians 11:2 
  • Revelations 19:6-9
  • Revelations 21:2 and 9
  • Revelations 22:17

In Matthew, the parables are part of what I call the Sermons on Two Mounts. Matthew 22 is on the Temple Mount and is in response to the Pharisees and Sadducees challenging Jesus’ authority. They knew these parables were about them and they were trying to arrest Him. This wedding banquet parable talks about burning the city. That happened with the Babylonians and would happen again with the Romans. (It is a legend that those two destructions happened on the same day.) 22:11-14 is a passage that intrigues me. The leaders challenged Jesus again with a question about marriage, they did not like His answer.

Matthew 25 is on the Mount of Olives and is told to just His disciples. I believe this one has more to do with the Church/Bride that is about to be born on Pentecost. This parable also has a group of people who were not ready for the coming of the bridegroom.

These two parables come after Palm Sunday. This ride into the city mirrors David’s ride into Jerusalem after the death of Absolom. In the big picture of Jesus’ mission, this was when He came to pay the brides-price for us (His death on the cross). The actions of the King/Father and those of the bridegroom are what are highlighted. Yes, the Virgins had to be ready for the coming of the groom. This reflects the wedding practices of the Hebrews at that time. It should also speak to us now. The father and the bridegroom controlled the wedding, and the bride had to make herself ready. John 3:29 is John the Baptist speaking to another aspect of the bride and groom relationship and how his “Elijah relationship” worked with Jesus.

Okay. This study has surprised me with the strange fact the Bride of Christ and the Bride of the Lamb are not in any major translation (well at least I could not find them). It is a given that we belong to Christ (2 Corinthians 11:2) and He is the bridegroom, and the Church will be His bride, Revelations 19:6-9 makes that connection clear. The other references in Revelations bring us back to a Daughter Zion picture with the New Jerusalem being cast as the bride and being shown off as such. The lavish gates of heaven and the gemstone foundations speak very much to a Hebrew bride being dressed in her jewels and riches. Please do not forget the righteous deeds we are to put on so we can be ready to meet Him.

The fact that the angels use “the Lamb” instead of Christ or Messiah has my attention. It seems that I do not think enough about Jesus being the Lamb.  

Why would the parables in the Gospels focus more on the bridegroom and his actions than on the bride?

Daughter Zion – Observations and Questions

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My study on Daughter Zion has pushed my “tent flaps” out and left me with a lot of questions because of my observations. This post is not going to answer many questions and there may not be a lot of question marks. To join me in this idea you have to know that I am trying to view this from the perspective of a holy righteous God.

Zion – This term has added several meanings since David captured the town he wanted to be his headquarters. It has grown to represent Jerusalem, the Hebrew people, and heaven itself. The town or at least the area is connected with Melchizedek, the priest of The Most High God that met Abraham with refreshments. The poetic nature of the prophets and our God has added the term Daughter of Jerusalem with it in several prophecies.

Daughter

The word daughter has been used hundreds of times in the Bible (NIV), especially in our Old Testament. The phrase “sons and daughters” makes up roughly half of those. Daughter Zion is used about thirty times (NIV). Daughter Jerusalem is used about six times; starting with Isaiah and going to Zachariah. Song of Solomon uses “daughters of Jerusalem” several times, but I think that is really a call to the women in the city.

This noun, this title, and the object of a father’s love have caused me to do a lot of reflection. To view Daughter Zion correctly you need to leave man’s emotions behind and see her through God’s eyes. The Father is very serious about His Daughter and has a plan for Her; unfortunately, She had other ideas.

Who/When – This will be very general.

  • David was the first to use the phrase, Daughter Zion.
  • God’s Girl next appears in Isaiah and Micah. The Assyrians are “messing” with His daughter, and She is losing focus.
  • Zephaniah is the next prophet to tell Her to sing (3:14). Assyria is the major enemy.
  • Jeremiah and his songs of Lamentations talk about Her many times. The Babylonians are the oppressors, but She has developed Her own problems.
  • Zechariah talks about Her three times. 9:9 is the last mention in the Old Testament, but Matthew and John repeat the promise in the New Testament.

Eve, Daughter Zion, Bride of the Lamb – Observations lead to questions, but answers require diligence and study. These three “women” came from a man and in Scripture are tied to him.

  • Eve came from Adam’s side and then the Father finished forming her.
  • Daughter Zion is a part of Israel that is associated with David.
  • The Bride of the Lamb is being formed because of the blood of Jesus. Why did I use Lamb and not Christ? Much to my surprise the “bride of Christ” is not in Scripture. Revelations 19:6-9 and 22:17 does have the Lamb getting married. This is a “mystery” but given the number of “marriage” parables Jesus used in explaining His Kingdom, it should not be a surprise.

Yes, I have questions from comparing these three “women” but more study is required. Eve and Daughter Zion were/are important, both made mistakes and also had promises given to them. O Church of Jesus, who will be the Bride of the Lamb, we do not want to make their mistakes.

General Observations about Daughter Zion

  1. She is associated with mounts, gates, walls, and other structures. So, on one level, She is a city.
  2. She starts off well.
  3. Micah and Jeremiah have Her in trouble with Babylon dragging Her away.
  4. Zechariah promises a comeback because the Messiah will return to Her.
  5. Daughter ________ is a term that has held some surprises. (See the first post.) Some enemies have been giving that term! With that said, I believe that Daughter Zion is a term of affection and shows the depth of love that the Father has for His daughter(s).

Your Turn – There was a Daughter Babylon, a Daughter Judah, a Daughter Jerusalem, and a Daughter Zion; why was there no daughter Samaria?

Daughter Zion Part 2

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In Part 2 of Daughter Zion, I am looking at important passages that refer to her. I will direct you to books of the Bible, and specific chapters, and highlight some verses that seem important.

The first mention of Zion in Scripture is 2 Samuel 5:7. This is part of the story about David taking the Jebusite town that would become his capital. From Genesis, this is the area where Melchizedek met Abraham as he returned from rescuing Lot. I will list some facts about Zion because every website stresses or says something different.

  • Zion may mean citadel or fortress.
  • It does refer to the small section of Jerusalem that was the City of David.
  • The term was expanded to mean all of Jerusalem.
  • It was extended further to include all of Judah and Israel.
  • Christians refer to it as the heavenly city.
  • Are any of these better than the others? No. Just realize that the term will change depending on who wrote the information.

Psalm 9:14 is the first use of Daughter Zion and Zechariah 9:9 is the last reference to her in the Old Testament. (Zechariah is quoted again twice in the New Testament.) Both verses tell us to praise and rejoice and refer to gates. Zechariah 9 is about the coming king (Jesus). It has much to say about Israel’s neighbors, which in Zechariah’s time were still causing problems with the rebuilding of the Temple and Jerusalem. Psalms 9 and 10 may have been acrostic and set to the tune “The Death of the Son”. Verse 7 of Psalm 9 is about the Lord reigning forever with righteousness and justice.

Micah 1:13 O thou inhabitant of Lachish, bind the chariot to the swift beast: she is the beginning of the sin to the daughter of Zion: for the transgressions of Israel were found in thee. (KJV)

Micah is a contemporary of Isaiah, Hosea, Amos, and Jonah. Their messages carry many of the same warnings and good promises, present and future. Micah 1 does not mince words about Samaria and Jerusalem, God is not pleased. It also talks about many places. I believe you need to look at the meanings of these names to make sense of this section. Lachish means “invincible”. It was a major fortified city in Judah, south of Jerusalem, and was attacked by Assyria and captured. The “chariots and fast horses” seem to refer to them needing to flee from Assyria. It was also a center for ironworking in Israel. I think that the iron-hard invincible attitude is the “beginning of sin” that God is talking about. It was the pavement for Jeroboam to make golden calves, select his own priest, and make Bethel a center of worship for the northern kingdom. Most of the mentions of Lachish in the Bible are in Joshua and Isaiah and are connected to war and fighting.

Micah 4 has three different aspects of Daughter Zion. 1. Verses 6-8 are positive because the Lord will rule from her, and things will be restored. 2. Verses 9-10 have her going to Babylon as a captive (this is more than 100 years before it happens). 3. Verses 11-13 where she will be an aggressor and break nations to pieces.

Daughter (of) Jerusalem – This is a good place to add her to the study. She appears in Micah and in other passages. She is often mentioned with Daughter Zion. It may be a way of emphasizing the same thing in a different way, but Hebrew literature will repeat itself for effect. In Micah 1:5 Jerusalem is singled out from Judah as a specific problem, so it could be the Spirit is alerting us to two different entities in the same country.

Lamentations 2 is a chapter that has many versions of “Daughter”. Jeremiah writes about Zion but also Daughter-Zion, Judah, Jerusalem, and Virgin Daughter Zion. A very important addition in this chapter is who is being lamented for. There are dwellings, strongholds, palaces, princes, kings, elders, my people, and children and infants. It also seems that the speaker changes several times in the chapter (which is normal). This chapter will need its own post as there is a lot of info in it.

I will end with Isaiah 66:8. It does not mention daughter but it is clear who it is speaking about and sounds like Micah 4.

Who hath heard such a thing? who hath seen such things? Shall the earth be made to bring forth in one day? or shall a nation be born at once? for as soon as Zion travailed, she brought forth her children. (KJV)

Please read Lamentation 2 and see if “the Church” and “the Bride of Christ” could be exchanged for the daughters in this chapter.