We normally see the Magi at the manger in the Christmas story, but is that when they actually came? Believe it or not, Scripture tells us a different story. If you’ve been following previous posts, you already know Christ was likely born on Shavuot, and, if Rick Larson’s work is accurate, in June of 2 BC. Other work he has done has shown that the Magi visited Mary and the baby on December 25, 2 BC. One could argue whether that was serendipitous or divinely appointed. Either way, it’s still very cool! That would make Christ around 6 months of age. Does that line up with scripture? Let’s see.

The Bible tells us the Magi arrived at a house and saw the child (a different word than for infant; Mt 2:11). So, what Larson has discovered about Christ’s birth, and what we have discovered about the prophetic meanings behind Rosh Hashanah and Shavuot, seem to line up perfectly with what Matthew tells us. The Magi found a child, not an infant when they visited Mary in the house. I just find that exciting!

How did the house come into the picture? If Mary and Joseph were just there until they could get back to Nazareth, then why were they in a house? Well, people at this time in history almost routinely stayed with relatives when they visited. This was the custom at this time. It was the expected thing to do. Also, Mary would be considered unclean for a time as she gave birth and for some time afterward. By being unclean, what she would touch would become unclean, so Joseph likely found shelter at Migdal Eder, the watchtower of the flock, so she could have the baby without contaminating a crowded house. Then, once her purification was over, she could come back to the house and be welcomed and well taken care of. And this is likely where the Magi, the Wise Men, found Jesus: in the house of one of the relatives of Joseph where Mary and Joseph were temporarily staying. I just love how all of this comes together and makes such perfect sense.

The next piece is why did Herod kill all boys two years of age and younger? If you recall from previous posts, the Magi began to see the signs in the heavens even before Christ’s conception. If you recall, his conception between Mary and the Holy Spirit occurred on Rosh Hashanah when Israel would ask God to remember his covenant with his people (and when Jupiter, the king planet, converged with Venus, the mother planet). Nine months later, Jesus was born on Shavuot (the feast which has held many paradigm shifts which God has orchestrated). Six months after his birth, the Magi show up.

When Herod asked the Magi when they began to see these signs in the heavens (Mt 2:7), he couldn’t be sure how old the baby had become when these men from the east showed up at his doorstep. He just knew that the time from when they started seeing these signs until their arrival was almost two years. Therefore, just to be sure, he had all boy babies two years and younger killed. Better safe than sorry, as they say—at least to his way of thinking. It seems unconscionable to us, but this was not the first act of lunacy this Herod had done in his lifetime.

So, it was all timed perfectly. The meaning in the stars so these Magi could understand, the meaning in the Jewish festivals so the Jews could understand, the recording in scripture so we could understand—these events and their timing were all planned from the very beginning of time. Can you grasp that? Can you see why Christmas is such a magical time of the year? So, why in December? There are many reasons and although part of it deals with a pagan holiday, I hope you can see there is more underlying this magical story than just that. The Magi came to Christ in December. The Winter solstice, very near Christmas, is the shortest day of the year—the longest night. Christ, the light of the world, came and the darkness started to recede. Isn’t that what he does for us individually as well? He brings us light and the darkness within us recedes as his light takes over!

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Visit Books & Words to Inspire by Randy C. Dockens

Joseph had to return to Bethlehem to get registered for the taxation which was being implemented (Lk 2:1-3). He was from the lineage of King David, and Bethlehem was David’s hometown (Lk 2:4-5). With Mary being pregnant and on the journey with him, it took longer than normal to travel from Nazareth to Bethlehem. Yet, there were so many people traveling for this same issue, the roads were likely safer than they ever were previously. Yet, it took a lot out on Mary.

Joseph knew he at least didn’t have to worry about a place to stay. Or he didn’t think he would. He knew of a close relative who still lived in Bethlehem and would be more than willing to allow them to stay there. After all, this was the custom of the day. But Joseph was shocked when he arrived in this usually small, quaint, and slow-moving town just outside Jerusalem. It had never been more crowded and was literally bursting at its seams. He wondered if he would have trouble getting a welcome after all.

He found his relative’s house and knocked. Joseph was now filled with apprehension. His cousin opened the door. He had a haggard look on his face, but it turned into a smile when he saw Joseph. The two of them embraced. Joseph stepped aside to introduce Mary as his wife, but his cousin’s face went from a smile to a frown once he saw the evidence of her pregnancy. His cousin’s wife did the same, but then quickly recovered and invited them in. His cousin’s house was already full of people, yet room was made for Mary to lie down and recover from her long trip. After seeing everyone and talking for a while, his cousin invited Joseph to join him outside. His cousin explained that at any other time, Joseph and Mary would be welcomed in his home, but Mary’s pregnancy complicated things. Joseph nodded because he knew that as well. The guest room was already full of additional relatives (Lk 2:7). There was just no place for Mary to have her baby. Joseph knew it wasn’t only about privacy, which very few people ever had, but Mary would be considered unclean for at least a month after the baby would be born (Lv 12:1-4). Anything and anyone she touched during this time would also be unclean (Lv 15:19-23). This was just an untenable situation in such a crowded house. Joseph assured his cousin he understood and would find other arrangements before the baby would be born. His cousin asked him to hurry because it looked like it would happen any day now.

Looking for a place proved more difficult than Joseph thought. Because all the houses were so crowded, most could not bring their animals into their home at night as normal. Therefore, even the outside areas for animals were filled to capacity, and some people had to stay all night outside with the animals to prevent robbers from taking them or them wandering off in the middle of the night. Finding a place to have a baby proved extremely difficult. Joseph began looking outside the main town area itself. He found a shelter at Migdal Eder, the watchtower of the flock (Mi 4:8). The fields around Bethlehem were the places where the priest shepherds watched over the temple flock. There were special requirements for sheep being offered as a temple sacrifice and these shepherds took extra diligence to ensure these sheep were without blemish for sacrifice. Midgal Eder was a place where they ensured the lambs born were protected and where they inspected them. They would wrap each newborn lamb in cloths to help calm the animal and place it in a special manger so they could inspect the animal for any blemish. The cloths also protected the animal so it wouldn’t do any damage to itself as the shepherd inspected it.

The time of birthing sheep had recently ended, so there was no competition for using the shelter at Migdal Eder (Mi 4:8). While not ideal by our standards, I’m sure Joseph considered it almost ideal, and he likely felt fortunate. It was a place still in Bethlehem, so relatives were close by if needed. Likely some of them helped with the baby’s delivery. The watchtower was almost abandoned that time of year, although it likely contained supplies for the shepherds and likely a donkey or two for hauling supplies. It may have had other animals for various needs: milk, carrying cargo, and maybe even food. It provided a quiet place for Mary to have her baby and would be a place to stay until her uncleanness was over. Afterward, she could be welcomed back into the crowded house. Then everyone would ooh and aah over the infant.

Once the cramping started, Joseph led Mary out to Midgal Eder on their donkey. Likely a few of the women went with him. It was now June, the time of Shavuot—a Jewish holiday which represented paradigm shifts and the inclusion of non-Israelites: Israel as a nation was born this day (Ex 19), both Rahab and Ruth, both Gentiles, were accepted into Judaism on this day (Js 5-6; Ru 1-4), now Christ, the one born for the salvation of the entire world was being born on this day. In days to come, it would be when the Holy Spirit would be given (Ac 2) and the Church, both Jew and Gentile who put their belief in what Christ did for them on the cross, was established. Yes, this was a date of many paradigm changes.

Joseph thought back on the things Mary had told him. The angel Gabriel had appeared to her in the sixth month (Lk 1:26), just before Rosh Hashanah which occurred on the first day of the seventh month (Lv 23:23-25). He now understood this was the time of the baby’s conception by the Holy Spirit (Lk 1:35). Thanks to the Jewish leaders adding Adar II to their calendar, this Shavuot was now nine months later. The baby was conceived on Rosh Hashanah when all of Israel asked God to remember his covenant with his chosen nation. Now, the baby was being born on Shavuot when God instituted paradigm changes and when Gentiles were accepted. He was now being born at Midgal Eder where the sheep born to be temple sacrifices were born—where they were wrapped in swaddling cloths and placed in the manger for inspection. Joseph looked at this one born on this Jewish holiday. Did he recognize all the symbolism God had bestowed on this special day? Did the shepherds? They were the ones who provided lambs and goats for temple sacrifice. Now, this baby was lying in their special manager wrapped in cloths they used to swaddle newborn lambs so they could inspect them for any blemishes. Did they understand the significance? Do we?

After the baby was born, Joseph wanted to get back to Nazareth, but knew he needed to wait until the baby was older and stronger. His cousin insisted he stay with them a few months until the baby and mother could travel. When the time of purification was over, Joseph took Mary to the temple in Jerusalem to offer her offering of purification (Lk 2:22-24; Lv 12:6-7). This is where they met Simon and Anna who prophesied about Jesus (Lk 2:22-38). They then returned to the house in Bethlehem where they were staying. When Jesus was about six months old, they were visited by the Magi who gave the child gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh (Mt 2:1-12). These men told Mary and Joseph all they had seen and heard. An angel appeared to Joseph to have him take Mary and Jesus to Egypt (Mt 2:13) so he would not get killed by Herod’s order to kill all infants two years old and younger (Mt 2:16). Once Herod died, Joseph came back to Israel with Mary and Jesus, and took them to Nazareth (Mt 2:19-23).

While this is not the usual Christmas story, it seems to align more closely with scripture and with what the Jewish holidays represented. These Jewish holidays which God instituted with Israel back in Leviticus when he first formed their nation have many purposes. A significant purpose is their prophetic significance. Jesus’ conception and birth are two of them. Isn’t it interesting how God coordinates so much, and we take so much of it for granted? The Bible is full of such wonderment if we only look. May we be more attentive to what God is doing in our lives as we embark on the coming year.

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Visit Books & Words to Inspire by Randy C. Dockens

We all know Christ was born on Christmas, right? Well, that’s when we celebrate his birth, but chances are, this was not his actual birth date. When was it? Let’s see if we can discover.

Rick Larson has done a lot of research about the star of Bethlehem. There are several significant points of time we need to consider:

1.      When did the sign in the sky first appear? It seems to have been in September of 3 BC near the time of Rosh Hashanah when the king planet (Jupiter) came into a conjunction with the king star (Regulus). Yet, over the next few months, it did this three times—all within Leo (the lion constellation). In other words, Jupiter went into retrograde motion three times over a period of a few months. The lion has always been a symbol of the tribe of Judah.

2.      In June of 2 BC, Jupiter had a conjunction with Venus (the mother planet) within Virgo (the virgin constellation).

3.      Then on December 25, 2 BC, the planet Jupiter went into retrograde motion and seemed to stand over the town of Bethlehem. This was when the Magi visited Mary and Joseph to see the king who had been born.

Before we go further, we also need to understand something about the Feast of Israel which occurred around September and June and what they represented:

1.      Feast of Weeks (Pentecost; Shavuot): This is a feast about paradigm changes. Israel became a chosen nation before God when they stood around Mount Sinai on Shavuot (Ex 24:1-8). The incorporation of Rahab and Ruth (both Gentiles) into the nation of Israel occurred on or near Shavuot (Js 6:25; Ru 4:13). This is what the two loaves (Lv 23:17) made on this feast, both containing leaven, represented: the inclusion of everyone into God’s plan. This was a mystery to Israel until Shavuot in Acts 2 when the Holy Spirit was given, and the birth of the Church began. This was the mystery to which Paul referred and of which he preached (Ep 3:6).

2.      Feast of Trumpets (Rosh Hashanah): This was a feast to request God to remember his covenant with the nation of Israel (Lv 23:24). You see, Yom Kippur would soon come where they would be judged. They, just as we, had no righteousness on their own. Therefore, they needed God’s mercy and requested he remember his covenant where they would be his people forever. We have evidence of this when Solomon dedicated his temple (2Ch 5:3, 7:8-10), when the altar of the temple was rebuilt (Er 3:1, 6), and when the wall of Jerusalem was completed (Ne 8:1-2).

3.      Feast of Tabernacles (Sukkot): This feast was to represent God dwelling with his people. Yet, this is more representative of Christ’s second coming than his first. We’ll revisit this later.

So, what can we put together from all these pieces of information? We see that the New Testament opens with the birth of Christ. The time from Malachi to Christ’s birth has often been referred to as the Four Hundred Years of Silence. God remembered his covenant with his chosen people Israel, and did so in a big way. God appeared to Mary and stated she would have a child. If Larson is right, Christ’s conception occurred in September of 3 BC, on Rosh Hashanah. From what we have seen about this feast, it would be consistent with God remembering his covenant.

Nine months later puts us into June. What occurred around this time period? Well, Shavuot is typically around this time, but Shavuot is not typically nine months from Rosh Hashanah. From Tishri 1 of 3 BC (Rosh Hashanah) to Sivan 6 (Shavuot) would typically be just a little over eight months (243 days)—not quite enough time for a normal gestation period (average time: 280 days). Yet, something interesting happened this year. In 3 BC an extra month, Adar II, was added to the Jewish calendar. This was periodically added to realign the Jewish feasts with the seasons of the year since the Jewish calendar was a lunar calendar, not a solar calendar. Adding this extra month allowed the two calendars to realign. This added 29 more days to the time between these two feasts. Now, the time between the two feasts was 272 days—very close to the average normal gestation period. After all, it’s an average, with some babies born a little earlier and some born a little later. It seems appropriate he could come a little early. After all, he had an important job to fulfill! This would mean Christ’s conception was likely on September 10th of 3 BC, and his birth was likely on June 8th of 2 BC (although, some say June 2nd). The angels appeared to the Shepherds at Midgal Eder, the Watchtower of the Flock, to announce Christ’s birth. These Shepherds who watched over the sheep for sacrifice were trained in rabbinical law of the requirements for sacrifice and had to ensure all lambs were without blemish. The angels appeared to them to let them know their job was now obsolete. The sacrificial lamb for which they had long awaited was now lying in their manger wrapped in the swaddling cloths they use to wrap newborn lambs to keep them calm for their inspection to ensure they were without blemish.

Therefore, what Rick Larson has discovered in the stars seems to align with these Jewish feasts and the meaning behind them. I just think that is fascinating. Yet, I know many feel Christ was born on Sukkot. After all, isn’t that what his prophesied name, Immanuel (Is 7:14; Mt 1:23), was supposed to mean: God with us? Yet, although Christ did offer his kingdom upon his first coming (Mt 4:17), that was rejected (Mt 16:21). In addition, Matthew records the angel Gabriel stated to name him Jesus (Mt 1:21), meaning, “he will save his people from their sins,” which is what he did by paying our sin debt, fulfilling the mystery of how the whole world would get incorporated into his Kingdom, and setting the stage for the time when he will come again and truly dwell with his people as the King of kings (Rv 17:14, 19:16).

There is one other supportive piece of information which this timing seems to support. Why was Jesus brought to the temple when he was twelve rather than being the normal thirteen years of age? According to the Mishnah, even in the first century, thirteen was the age of questioning in the Commandments for a male. It seems this is what was going on and he amazed them all in his answers to their questions (Lk 2:47). If he had been born on Sukkot, he would have been almost fourteen years of age when he visited the temple at that Passover. Yet, Scripture reports he was twelve (Lk 2:42), because his birthday would have been just a couple of months later.

Isn’t it amazing how Scripture and events go together like hand in glove? God is not a God of accidents. He has a purposeful plan. It helps to also know he has a purposeful plan for us as well. Are you listening to what he has planned for you? More than likely, it will be pretty special.

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Visit Books & Words to Inspire by Randy C. Dockens

A baby, a stable, shepherds, wise men, and animals—is there an alternative view to the birth of Christ? Well, yes and no. Don’t you love it when someone gives you such an answer? But it’s the truth. Tradition and reality don’t always jive in all details. So, let’s take a closer look at the Christmas story.

First, the birth place: Bethlehem. Back in the first century, this was not a booming town. Even when the prophecy was given by Micah (Mi 5:2), it was not a booming town. It is only about six miles south of Jerusalem and was not a city where many people traveled since it wasn’t on a major Roman road of the day. Besides, even if someone was on such a road, would they stay in Bethlehem when Jerusalem was so close? In addition, the custom of the day was for family to stay with family—not in an inn or other places of abode. Inns were more common in large cities, like Jerusalem, and perhaps on major thoroughfares, as travelers would not have close relatives nearby, because they had not arrived at their final destination where family likely were located. In addition, the word used here was more typically used for a spare room (Lk 22:11) rather than a separate lodging (Lk 11:22) which uses a different word for such. Also, Bethlehem was a shepherding community and not one where travelers would frequently travel through. For someone to go to a place like Bethlehem, they had to be wanting to go there—not passing through. Therefore, the need for an inn was very low, and the number of visitors an innkeeper would get would likely be too low to make it profitable. The fields around Bethlehem were where the flocks for temple worship were kept and raised. This is a critical point for us to consider later.

When did Mary and Joseph arrive in Bethlehem? Most movies and plays about this story have them arriving while Mary is delivering, and Joseph is desperate to find a place—any place—anywhere. But is that what scripture is really telling us? Luke tells us that Joseph and Mary went to Bethlehem and “while they were there” she had her baby (Lk 2:6). This doesn’t sound like this was an immediate need or crisis. So, where were they? Well, since Joseph was of the lineage of David, he had to travel to his ancestor David’s birthplace, i.e., Bethlehem. Therefore, he would have relatives there. As we just pointed out, relatives stayed with relatives. Let’s not put our social mores on this concept. Often, we would gladly stay in an inn than with relatives, but this was not the case in this culture. It was a privilege and honor, as well as a duty, to take care of visiting relatives, no matter the occasion. So, if they were with relatives, where did the stable, animals, shepherds, etc. come into the story? Let’s consider that.

Because of the need for so many people to come to Bethlehem because of the tax registration, Bethlehem became crowded—very crowded. Joseph and Mary were only one couple among hundreds to thousands who had to return. People’s homes were very crowded and filled to capacity. Mary and Joseph were very welcome to stay until she was ready to deliver. It may sound cold to us today, but Mary would not have been welcomed to have her baby in a house filled with so many people. This is for two major reasons. One, there was no privacy. Second, she would be considered unclean for up to a week (Lv 15:19-23). But it is even more complicated as this passage tells us. Everything she touches, everyone she touches, becomes unclean. That is a problem in a house filled with so many people. The logistics to have Mary there as she gives birth and for the week after becomes untenable. Joseph must find a solution. Where could Joseph take Mary where she could be taken care of in such a crowded place where there wasn’t an inn? Think about it, even if there was an inn, would an innkeeper want a delivery in his inn where his room, of which he would likely have few, would become unclean? It would be a big burden to get everything clean again. Certain things would have to be washed, some scrubbed, and some destroyed (Lv 15:12). So, as you can see, this was quite the dilemma for Joseph and Mary due to the customs and social mores of their day.

So, where could Joseph find a secluded place that would not be a burden to others, yet would be comfortable for Mary to have her child? Migdal Eder. You see, God knew this all those years ago and had Micah prophesy of this (Mi 4:8). Joseph likely didn’t even know he was fulfilling prophecy. He was just looking for a logical, viable, and satisfactory solution to their need. You see, because Bethlehem was not only a shepherding community, but it was also a special shepherding community. The shepherds here were not regular shepherds but were trained for how to raise sheep for the purpose of them being used as a sacrifice at the temple. Not just any animal could become a sacrifice. It had to be without blemish. Do you realize how hard it is to have an unblemished animal in the wild? All sorts of things could happen to the animal. These shepherds had to ensure nothing happened to these animals. It wasn’t just taking care of them, mending their injuries, and making them acceptable for human use. No, it was raised to another whole level. If the animal was injured, they were no longer acceptable for sacrifice, even if the animal recovered. It was now considered blemished. So, in order to ensure things went well with the sheep birthing process, a special place was made for the sheep to have their lambs. This was at Migdal Eder, the watchtower of the flock (Mi 4:8; Gn 35:21). They built a place here. Maybe it was a cave or some type of shelter for both the shepherds, their supplies, and likely other animals they would need to take supplies from Bethlehem or from Jerusalem to this shelter for them to use as they watched after the sheep. When the lambs were being prepared for sacrifice, they would swaddle them to prevent the lambs from hurting themselves. They would then place them in the manger there made especially for this purpose to calm the animal so it could more easily be inspected for any blemishes. Because of these lambs’ special religious nature, nothing was taken for chance. All was a very methodical process to ensure each and every animal was without blemish (Ex 12:5). They tried to remove all obstacles that would cause or induce injury.

Are you starting to see the symbolism here? Do you now see why swaddling was a significant sign? All babies were wrapped in swaddling clothes—that was their custom. Yet, only one was wrapped in swaddling cloth normally used for lambs born to become a sacrifice. And only one was wrapped in swaddling cloth, lying in the manger at Midgal Eder. The angel’s announcement was very specific and not vague at all. This was a significant sign, and one I am sure was not lost on these shepherds. This also explains why angels appeared to these shepherds—because they were not ordinary shepherds, but the ones taking care of sheep for sacrifice. The angels were basically stating that their jobs were now complete. The lamb they were waiting for had come. He was in their shelter, their stable, their manger, wrapped in swaddling clothes for special lambs born at Midgal Eder. This lamb was not just for a special sacrifice for someone’s sin debt, but for payment for the sins of the entire world.

I hope this helps you see that Biblical prophecy is there for a reason and while the Christmas story may seem bizarre to us today, it was a very specific sign to the people of their day. It was prophesied and fulfilled exactly as prophesied. Nothing is an accident with our God!

Next time, we’ll look at some other aspects of the Christmas story.

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Visit Books & Words to Inspire by Randy C. Dockens

We just can’t have a Christmas play without angels appearing to shepherds, can we? Why is that? Angels appeared to these shepherds to announce the birth of Christ (Lk 2:8-9). The prophet Micah stated the Messiah’s first coming would be announced at Migdal Eder, the watchtower of the flock (Mi 4:8) which is just a mile or so outside the city of Bethlehem, the place of the Messiah’s prophesied birth (Mi 5:2). However, this was not a common watchtower, but the watchtower used by the shepherds who tended the sheep for the temple sacrifices. Plus, these were not just ordinary shepherds, but were trained in rabbinical teachings for what type of animals were needed for sacrifice. Just any lamb would not do. These special shepherds cared for special sheep. The lambs were watched from birth and raised with utmost care because they were to be utilized as the national Passover lamb or other designated sacrifices. They had to be certified as healthy and be without blemish to qualify for their use as such a sacrifice. The pregnant sheep was brought to the tower, so the lamb’s birth could be overseen and to ensure nothing happen to the lamb which would mar it. The newborn lambs were even wrapped in swaddling clothes to keep them still and to prevent them from hurting themselves. The code for sacrificial animals was strict and so utmost care was taken to ensure their wellbeing.

As you can see, there is much symbolism here. The Messiah was born at or near the place where Passover lambs were born and cared for. And we later see that Christ was presented on the tenth day of the first month at the time Passover lambs were sequestered to ensure they were without blemish before they were sacrificed, and he was then sacrificed on the cross on the fourteenth day of the first month, i.e., Passover. So, it was very apropos that Christ was born here.

An angel appeared to these special shepherds near Migdal Elder and told them of Christ’s birth at Bethlehem (Lk 2:8-11). The angel then announced that the sign to them of the fulfillment of his announcement would be that they would find the baby wrapped in swaddling clothes and lying in a manger (Lk 2:12). That is, just what they did for newborn lambs destined for sacrifice. Then there were a host of angels who appeared and praised God stating, “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men” (Lk 2:13-14). God was pleased to give this gift to mankind.

You see, God does nothing in a haphazard way. He has a purpose for everything, and, usually, not just a single purpose. He truly is God of the impossible and miraculous.

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Visit Books & Words to Inspire by Randy C. Dockens

As Christians, we celebrate the virgin birth of Christ at Christmas. Have you ever stopped to think how important that really is? It’s important from both a human prophecy point of view as well as from a spiritual salvation point of view. As we saw in the previous post, the coming Messiah was supposed to be a descendant of Adam (Gn 3:15), Abraham (Gn 17:19), Isaac (Nu 24:17), Jacob (Gn 49:10), Judah (Is 11:10), and David (Jr 23:5-6). And we see this from the genealogy provided in Matthew Chapter 1. Yet, we also see something else. Something unexpected. Scripture also states that the coming Messiah was not only to be a descendant of David but be an heir to David’s throne (Is 9:7).

Now here is where the conundrum occurs. Joseph was indeed a descendant of David and of Solomon through whom the throne passed (Mt 1:6). Yet, a descendent of Solomon, and part of the royal lineage, was Jeconiah (Mt 1:11) about whom God made a special, earth-shattering, announcement through the prophet Jeremiah (Jr 22:24-30). He stated that none of his descendants would sit on the throne of David in Judah. Did you catch that? No descendant of Jeconiah would sit on the throne. But wait, the promised Messiah was to sit on David’s throne in Jerusalem which is in Judah. How can this be resolved?

Joseph was of the lineage of Jeconiah and, therefore, of the royal lineage, but this would all fall apart unless Jesus was not his son. If Jesus was the biological son of Joseph, his reign would fall under this curse. So, how could he be a descendant of David, have a legitimate right to the throne, and not be a descendant of Jeconiah? It seems God had it all figured out. Mary, Joseph’s betrothed, was also a descendant of David through another son, Nathan (Lk 3:31). Since Mary was Christ’s biological mother, this made him a descendant of King David. Joseph was an heir to the throne of David. He claimed Jesus as his own child (Mt 1: 24; Lk 2:5), although he was actually born of the Holy Spirit (Mt 1:18). Since Joseph claimed Jesus as his own son, even though he wasn’t, this made him a legitimate son of Joseph and an heir to the throne without being a descendant of Jeconiah.

This narrowed the field considerably of who could really be the Messiah. Not only did he have to fulfil all the prophecies we mentioned in the previous post, but he had to fulfill this convoluted prophecy. Only by his virgin birth could such a prophecy be fulfilled. It was the only way for all the prophecy to be fulfilled exactly as stated. And, of course, the spiritual side of this is enormous. Who else could fulfill the need for one to pay the price for mankind’s sins except one who could identify with being human while being God. Blood was needed to pay for the justice God demanded, and only the blood of Christ was holy enough (both in purity and uniqueness) to pay that for everyone.

Now the hard work has been done. It wasn’t easy, and it wasn’t free for the one who secured the payment. Yet, it is free for us if we only ask, believe, and accept this one, this perfect one, this unique one, as the hope for our eternal future. The Christmas season is upon us. Will you make this a special one for you as well?

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Visit Books & Words to Inspire by Randy C. Dockens

There is actually a lot of prophecy concerning Christ’s first coming to the earth. One can debate one or a few, but as the number of prophecies and their fulfillment grows, one must take a mental pause and really think about this. Could one person really fulfill all these prophecies? I think the odds are very low.

As we start toward the holiday season, I think this is an appropriate time to really look and see what Scripture says about his first coming. I have listed several of them below. Take a look.

Prophecy                                                                                                              Fulfillment

Did you count them? I have listed 70 of them, but this is not an all-inclusive list. Do you really think one person could fulfill all of these and manipulate his life and those of others to make them happen? No, no one could do that. After all, many of them were outside his control.

So what do we do with this? I would encourage you to go over this list again, look up the verses, and research this for yourself. Maybe what you’ve been thinking was not quite as accurate as you thought. And, if all of these turned out to be true, then the rest of scripture would also be true. He came once. He’s coming a second time. Will you be ready?

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Visit Books & Words to Inspire by Randy C. Dockens

Many feel Biblical prophecy is too controversial and so is not worth studying. Yet, when one looks at Biblical prophecy, there are basically three types of prophecy: 1) things which were supposed to happen immediately [e.g., the prophet Micaiah prophesied against Ahab stating he would die that day in battle (1Ki 22:28); Elijah prophesied of no rain for three years (1Ki 17:1)]; 2) short term prophecy which was to happen relatively soon [e.g., captivity of Israel (Is 8:1-10, Ho 9:1-17; captivity of Judah (Jr 25:1-14)], and 3) long term prophecy which was to happen in the distant future [e.g., reign of Messiah (Is 9:6-7; 60:1-22)]. Also, a prophecy could have a combination of any of these. The reason for this is the understanding of the purpose of Biblical prophecy.

All prophecy had an immediate meaning and purpose for the people of the day in which it was given. Prophecy was never given for prophecy sake. It was never simply to let those who lived in later years to know what was going to happen. While we can certainly benefit from this information which was provided, we must remember that prophecy was first and foremost about changing people’s hearts. God has a future for both individuals and for kingdoms and wants us to be a part of his designed future. Therefore, he has given us glimpses of what that future might be like. Yet, his main goal was to change the hearts of people to respond to him in the right way.

The main purpose of prophecy also answers the question to our post. Prophecy becomes controversial when one tries to view it differently than its original intent. In almost every case where a prophecy of doom was given, it was followed with a prophecy of hope. The hope was usually of a future event. That is why we can be assured these are tangible future prophetic events: for the simple reason they were to instill hope. If hope is not tangible, it is not hope. How can one inspire someone on allegory? It is impossible. Only the promise of tangible events can inspire hope. For example, God showed Ezekiel he was removing his Spirit from the temple before it was to be taken and destroyed by the Babylonians (Ek 10-11). Of course, Ezekiel wanted to know if and when God would return. Therefore, God gave Ezekiel specific details of a new temple which would come where he would dwell with his people (Ez 40-43). If this had been allegory, this would not have produced the hope for which Ezekiel sought.

In order to understand prophecy which is not provided chronologically, there are a few things we must keep in mind. We have already covered one important one: the events are tangible. In addition, one prophecy cannot contradict another. While not provided in chronological order, we can place them in chronological order if we keep the following additional things in mind. First, they all refer or involve the nation of Israel. Second, their fulfillment will follow the pattern of those already fulfilled. For example, the prophetic significance of the feasts of Israel not yet fulfilled (Rosh Hashanah, Yom Kippur, Sukkot) will follow the same pattern as those already fulfilled (e.g., Pesach/Matzah/Bikkurim: death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ; Shavuot: gift of the Holy Spirit to all believers, both Jew and Gentile). Third, the prophecy in the New Testament will not contradict the prophecy in the Old Testament. As all ancient Jews knew, the culmination of prophecy was the dwelling of their Messiah with his people forever. Therefore, these prophecies will have a chronological order to them with a Jewish basis but will have tangential benefits for Gentiles as well.

This is also why God included the Sabbath as part of the feasts he mentioned in Leviticus 23 and why he concluded the feasts with Jubilee. As it was in the beginning so will it be in the end. God started with perfection and will end with the same. And the good part is that he has prepared a way for all of us to be a part of his eternal perfection. Isn’t that wonderful. Isn’t God good?

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Visit Books & Words to Inspire by Randy C. Dockens

We have looked at several aspects of sin, so now let’s talk about a solution for it. From what we have discovered in the previous posts, what does it all mean for us? Here are a few points to remember:

·       God’s word can be counted on. It is plausible. It is true. It is truth.

·       God is tangible; God is mysterious; God is unique

·       God cannot love you more.

·       God cannot love you less.

·       God is love; God is justice – both in their purest forms

·       We cannot by-pass his justice to receive his love

·       There is a reason he is Trinity – it is necessary for our salvation

God’s love came to us via justice, not to replace it or as a substitute or it: “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life” (Jn 3:16). Some think this is exclusionary, but in reality, it is all inclusive. Yet, it requires a choice. Just because it is available doesn’t mean it is imputed. It is imputed freely only if you accept it.

In our first post, we talked about the Magic Zone and how it requires us to get out of our own Comfort Zone before we can reach it. Yet, the Magic Zone is available to all. You just have to get a little uncomfortable to achieve it. So, how do we get to the Magic Zone? Think about the following:

·       Our best is less than God’s requirement of perfection

·       Our pride yields Rebellion – we cannot please God and we will not reach out to God on our own

·       The Holy Spirit draws us to God

·       Acceptance leads to security through the Holy Spirit

·       Our imperfection is then clothed with Christ’s perfection

·       Our submission leads to obedience

·       Our obedience leads to transforming our minds in alignment with the mind of Christ

·       Being in sync with Christ takes us to the Magic Zone

We can become Christians without ever reaching this Magic Zone. Yet, we can choose to get there by choosing to develop the mind of Christ and look at sin as he does. This is how we begin to have a compassion for others and can look beyond their acts of sin to see them as an individual of worth. After all, we are all sinners. Yet, we all have worth in his sight. We need to see others as he does, realizing they can do nothing but sin without the Holy Spirit drawing them. We need to pray that we can develop the mind of Christ and pray that the Holy Spirit will work in the lives of those we talk to, so he will draw them unto himself. What about you? Are you in the Magic Zone? Do you want to be in the Magic Zone? You can, you know. A big sacrifice was made to make it easy for you. The hard part is already done. All you must do now is just accept it by faith. What does that mean. Just believe it. Trust in it. Your eternity depends upon it.

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Visit Books & Words to Inspire by Randy C. Dockens

Some balk at God being Trinity and say it’s impossible. But stop and think about it. If you can understand God, would he be God?

Yet, he reveals himself in nature and is at the very heart of matter itself. Science is not truth but helps us to point to truth. If what we can understand—or don’t understand—in nature can be believed, then why can’t we believe in God?

Quantum physics is what some call “weird science” because it doesn’t perform as most of the laws of nature perform. Subatomic particles do strange things, yet we still believe in them. I bring this up constantly, because it shows that we can believe God and who he is because the nature of his character is embedded in each atom of the universe.

When I was in school, we were taught that an atom was the basic building block of matter: composed of protons, neutrons, and electrons. Yet, we now know that even an atom is much more complex. If we could look closer at the atom’s nucleus, we would see that protons and neutrons are composed of smaller particles, called quarks.

A proton is composed of 2-up quarks and 1-down quark. A neutron is composed of 2-down quarks and 1-up quark. The issue with protons, as you may remember, is that they are positively charged. What happens when you put two positive sides of a magnet together? They repel each other. Well, that is exactly what these protons do, but they don’t fly apart. Why? There are gluons which bind the quarks together inside both protons and neutrons and even between protons and neutrons. This makes the nucleus a very stable environment. The force of attraction by the gluons overcome the repulsion force of the protons against each other. This is known as the “strong force.”

OK, you may be thinking, but where does God come into the picture? Well, science has discovered that while there are three quarks in a proton and neutron, they cannot be viewed independently. While they are independent particles, they cannot be separated. This is where the “weird science” comes into play. Normally, when two objects get farther and farther away, there is less attraction between them. Not so here. If you try to pull two quarks apart, the binding force increases the farther apart they get.

We had mentioned in a previous post that God is both pure love and pure justice. These could not exist together in one being without compromise. Yet, because God is Trinity, they can exist together. Sort of like the quarks in protons or neutrons. God’s love and God’s justice are held together by the Holy Spirit, like the properties of the gluon. The Holy Spirit allows them to exist in their pure form, but never apart.

Just as quarks cannot exist separately, neither can God the Father and God the Son. Christ stated that if you have seen me, you have seen the Father (Jn 14:9), and I and the Father are one (Jn 10:30). He wasn’t bragging. He was stating a fact and we can now observe such in the very heart of matter itself.

Also, the Holy Spirit, the gluon, binds us to God and we can never be separated from Him once he draws us to himself. We are bound with the strong force of the cosmic gluon, the Holy Spirit—we cannot be pulled apart from him. Therefore, the Holy Spirit (the third part of the Trinity) binds God the Father (first part of the Trinity) to God the Son (the second part of the Trinity) and never allows them to be experienced separately. He also binds us to God and never lets us go as well. Therefore, we have the fingerprint of God within the very heart of matter itself.

The Bible does tell us that, one day, God’s justice will reign. Colossians states that Christ holds all things together (Cl 1:16-17). Yet what he has created will one day be destroyed and recreated. Peter tells us that the earth will be destroyed with fervent heat (2Pt 3:7).

I think these two are related back to the gluons we just talked about. It is the gluons which hold all matter together. If God was to have the gluons fail, what would happen? What I didn’t mention was that inside the protons and neutrons is like a firestorm. It is not placid and quiet. There is massive energy that is being contained. Once the containment, the gluon, is removed, all matter would be destroyed in a brilliant fireball explosion.

God stated he will then create anew. He will reinstate the gluons and all matter will be stable again. To me, science and Scripture, do go hand in hand.

Our sin problem could only be taken care of by someone like our God who is uniquely qualified to take care of it for us since we cannot do it on our own. See, that is a God of love. Justice? Yes, he is that as well, but he if first and foremost a God of love. Experiencing justice is our choice. God cannot deny who he is, but he can, and has, made a way of escape. Now, it is up to us. Are you ready to take that step of faith? I truly hope you are.

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Visit Books & Words to Inspire by Randy C. Dockens

So far, we have seen the seriousness of sin and how all sin has a commonality. Yet, that leaves us feeling rather hopeless. So, where is the hope through all of this? Let’s see what Scripture tells us.

God told Israel the following: “Israel, put your hope in the Lord, for with the Lord is unfailing love and with him is full redemption. He himself will redeem Israel from all their sins” (Ps 130:7-8). He also stated, “I the Lord do not change. So you, the descendants of Jacob, are not destroyed” (Ml 3:6). God made many promises to Israel. Malachi states that God is not taking revenge because God keeps his promises. God is faithful-even if we are not.

This theme continues into the New Testament: “And he [Christ] died for all, that those who live should no longer live for themselves but for him who died for them and was raised again” (2Co 5:15). Our allegiance is only in one of two places. While we may still struggle after becoming a Christian, our allegiance must change to be toward Christ and to please him.

Is this starting to sound very complicated? Coming to God should be easy. We make it complicated. Because of our way of looking at sin, we feel we need to “do better” before we come to God, someone who is perfect. Yet, God says, “No.” We come as we are. We believe we are a sinner. We believe Christ came into this world and paid the penalty for all sin—our sin. We trust in Him for our eternal future and no longer in ourselves—our “goodness”, or what we can do. Because we can never achieve perfection—His requirement—we can only depend upon Him and not ourselves.

Yet, becoming a Christian does not change the struggle within us. It does give us the ability and the courage to win against that struggle, along with a guarantee of a blessed future. The difficulty comes from our unwillingness to let go, our unwillingness to really see sin for what sin truly is, our unwillingness to accept and see sin as God has defined it. It goes back to what we stated before. Our “sin” is not as bad as someone else’s. We see their sin as worse because we don’t have an issue with it. If we have an issue, then it can’t be that bad or else we wouldn’t have a problem with it.

Our reasoning becomes flawed. For example, if we are living with someone, but someone else commits adultery, we think their sin is worse. After all, they had already made a commitment with something and broke that trust. I’m just “trying it out” to see if I want to make a commitment. Therefore, if I bail, it’s not so bad. After all, I never married so I don’t have to feel guilty about not making that commitment. Yet, from God’s perspective, one sin is just as black as another. It all starts from the heart willing to be disobedient. The heart comes first and the deed second.

Another problem is that we haven’t really stopped to understand God and his character. We say God is holy, but there are two aspects to being holy. One is what we traditionally think of as being pure and righteous. However, the other part is that He is set apart, He is unique, one of a kind. He is Three-in-One. Why is He like this? Well, for one, it makes Him the perfect relationship builder. The parts that we have come to know as God the Son and God the Holy Spirit are part of God the Father as a whole. The Gospel of John states in John 1 that “the Word became flesh.” In other words, the part of God who communicates to man became man. This is the part of the Trinity which has always communicated God’s will to mankind. In the Old Testament, we call this the pre-incarnate appearance of Christ, the Messiah, the One who was to come. Therefore, this pre-incarnate form of God is most likely the one who walked and talked with Adam and Eve in the garden.

Just as Christ communicated physically with mankind, the Holy Spirit communicates spiritually with mankind. In the Old Testament, this was on an as-needed basis. However, today, God has promised that all who accept Him are indwelled with the Holy Spirit so we can have that communication always. Therefore, the Trinity is the most efficient relationship builder ever. No wonder God designed mankind to be relational beings; God Himself is a relational being.

But more than that, it allows him to be pure love and pure justice and still reside in one being. Our salvation is dependent upon God being Trinity. It could not have happened any other way. God had to remain 100% God while becoming 100% human. God being Trinity allowed that.

I know the concept of Trinity is a hard concept but hold that thought and we’ll explore it further next time. Not only is it the source of our hope, but the concept is also so important God put the concept in the very heart of nature itself. I hope you join us next time to further explore. What an awesome God we serve!

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Visit Books & Words to Inspire by Randy C. Dockens

There are a whole host of sins we could enumerate and list, but let’s talk about the commonality of all sins. To do that, let’s just take one as an example—perhaps one not too controversial. Let’s look at disobedience.

Disobedience: can that really be so egregious? Everyone does it, so can it really be that bad? Don’t worry. I’m not trying to take you down a guilt trip, but to make a point that I think is really important.

So, let’s go all the way back to the first disobedience: And the LORD God commanded the man [Adam], saying, “You may surely eat of every tree of the garden, but of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil you shall not eat, for in the day that you eat of it you shall surely die” (Gn 2:16-17).

First, let’s not try and make their disobedience worse than our disobedience. There is no grading system for disobedience. One disobedience is not worse than another. The Bible states, “Therefore, just as sin came into the world through one man [Adam], and death through sin, and so death spread to all men because all sinned” (Ro 5:12). Was there something special about this particular fruit which God told Adam and Eve not to eat? The Bible doesn’t say, but probably not. This was a test of obedience, not about protecting a special type of fruit endued with special powers. Yet, this one act became so much more. Why? This was the first sin to be committed, and one was all it took.

What was at the root of disobedience? Pride. This is the opposite of humility. Humility leads to obedience. Pride leads to disobedience: “In his pride, the wicked man does not seek him; in all his thoughts, there is no room for God” (Ps 10:4). In addition, disobedience equates to rebellion. That sounds rather drastic, I know. Could it be true? Well, what was God’s picture of Adam’s disobedience?

God offered Adam a theocratic rule. Adam rejected it. He put himself before God and lost his kingdom. How do we know this? “Again, the devil took him [Jesus] to a very high mountain and showed him all the kingdoms of the world and their glory. And he said to him, ‘All these I will give you, if you will fall down and worship me’” (Mt 4:7-8). Jesus didn’t say Satan was wrong to offer such to him. He just stated one should worship God only. Thereby, God equated Adam’s disobedience to an act of rebellion against Him. So, you see, it was certainly egregious in God’s eyes.

What is rebellion? It is an act of putting into practice what is already in one’s heart. Rebellion comes from disobedience which comes from pride.

Adam’s sin was a heart problem. And, really, all sin is a heart problem. The Bible is pretty clear on this fact:

·       Impure sacrifices equated to disobedience/rebellion – (Am 5:21)

·       Murder equated to anger in one’s heart (Mt 5:21-22)

·       Adultery equated to lust in one’s heart (Mt 5:28).

If you make a list of any number of sins, I think you would have to agree that what is common to all, and what is at the root of each, is pride.

Pride is a heart condition. The Bible is clear on this as well. It states, “There is a way that appears to be right, but in the end, it leads to death” (Pr 14:12). Without the Holy Spirit leading us, we cannot judge our actions properly: “The mind governed by the flesh is hostile to God; it does not submit to God’s law, nor can it do so. Those who are in the realm of the flesh cannot please God” (Ro 8:7-8).

We cannot come to God on our own. Pleasing him or trying to change on our own is impossible. True, long-lasting change can only occur after we come to Him: “And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him” (Hb 11:6). We can’t put the cart before the horse. We can’t change or please God before we accept what He has done for us: “The heart is deceitful above all things and beyond cure. Who can understand it?” (Jr 17:9); “Jesus answered, ‘No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws them, and I will raise them up at the last day’” (Jn 6:44); “When he [Holy Spirit] comes, he will prove the world to be in the wrong about sin and righteousness and judgment” (Jn 16:9).

Our hope of change is impossible unless we yield to the pull and encouragement of the Holy Spirit who leads us to Christ and accept, through faith, that his death and resurrection is the hope for our future – we rely upon what He did for us and not on our own merit: “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here!” (2Co 5:17). Being different is a result from, and expectation of, the Holy Spirit guiding us: “What shall we say, then? Shall we go on sinning so that grace may increase? By no means! We are those who have died to sin; how can we live in it any longer? For we know that our old self was crucified with him so that the body ruled by sin might be done away with, that we should no longer be slaves to sin—because anyone who has died has been set free from sin” (Ro 6:1, 6-7).

Our lasting change can only come about after the Holy Spirit indwells us. He begins to change our desire. Internal changes manifest themselves in outward changes: “So, then I myself in my mind am a slave to God’s law, but in my sinful nature a slave to the law of sin” (Ro 7:25b).

Even after becoming a Christian, there is a struggle to keep God’s standard.: “The person with the Spirit makes judgments about all things, but such a person is not subject to merely human judgments, for, “Who has known the mind of the Lord so as to instruct him?” But we have the mind of Christ” (1Co 2:15-16).

So, all this talk makes our situation seem almost hopeless, doesn’t it? Well, it is if we try to solve it on our own. Next time, we’ll look at hope and how important that is for us. Can hope be tangible? Stay tuned, and we’ll find out together.

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Visit Books & Words to Inspire by Randy C. Dockens

Sin is a topic that makes many people uncomfortable. It makes me uncomfortable. But it is necessary.

We all have a comfort zone. It’s where we feel at home – safe. Yet, more times than not, that is not where we need to be. We crave for our lives to be magical; yet, the “magic” is rarely in our comfort zone. So, we must deal with the “Un-comfort zone.” We must pass through this to get to the “magic zone.” Both Christians and non-Christians can be in the comfort zone. They can both even be in the Un-comfort zone. But they both must deal with an issue in this “Un-comfort zone.” And that issue is sin.

But before we can deal with the issue of sin and our sin problem, we must deal with our definition of sin. Often, our definition of sin prevents us from dealing with our sin problem. It can also prevent us from understanding the concept of sin itself. Not only that, it prevents us from entering the “magic zone.”

What is sin? One definition states: an immoral act considered to be a transgression against divine law.

At first glance, it looks to be a decent definition. Right? Yet, there are two issues with this definition. One is the world ‘considered.’ This implies someone is regarding an act to be against divine law. What if someone else deems it not to be? Second, is the word ‘immoral.’ Who is determining a certain act is immoral? On what grounds? This definition gets us into conflict with each other. I deem something is immoral and regard it an act against divine law. You deem the same act not immoral and, therefore, not against divine law. Does that sound familiar to us today?

Here is another definition. This is the Bible’s definition: Anything God states is against his nature.

Now, who is making the judgment call? God. This is not talking about an ‘act,’ but about the essence of God. Therefore, it is a more abstract concept than just an act. As humans, we have a tough time with that definition. We turn things into an act – it’s easier to quantitate in our minds. Yet, it then makes us become judgmental.

I’m not going to make a list as I don’t want us to get off topic. Yet, there are a number recorded in the Bible. It’s not so much about what the act is, but the way we see sin. If I were to rattle off a list to you, some would likely stand out to you to be more serious to you than others. We tend to cling to the first definition of sin I mentioned. Some acts of sin we see as more “sinful” that others. Why is that?

Well, the sin you personally don’t have an issue with, you will likely consider more “sinful.” That’s because that sin is not an issue in your life. Therefore, consciously, or unconsciously, you think, how could anyone yield to such a sin?

We need to realize that everyone is working on something. None of us is perfect, and we each have different weaknesses that Satan constantly uses to try and bring us down. His tactics use ignorance, guilt, consequences, or even a combination of these. So, how do we overcome this tendency to quantitate sin and rank different acts on a scale of “not so bad,” to “heinous?”

Again, either consciously or unconsciously, we compare ourselves to each other. If you appear blacker than I do, then I can feel better about myself. Maybe, you even convince yourself that the issue you are struggling with isn’t even a sin at all. If accepted by society, then why worry about it? But, if we compare ourselves to the true standard, then the differences between the two go away. We realize that one of us is just as far from the mark as the other. If the standard is pure white, why argue whether onyx or obsidian is darker?

God has a pretty black and white view of sin. Why? When perfection is the standard, anything less is just not good enough. It’s a pass-fail scenario. In that case, if the standard is 100, it doesn’t matter if you made 99 or 50, you still fall short. Until we view sin as God sees sin, then we will never fully understand from what we have been saved.

Is it better to be saved from drug addiction or be saved when very young and never have to go through such hard times? Of course, you would say not having to go through such rough times is better. Yet, who becomes more appreciative? Only when you see sin from God’s perspective can you see that your “not so bad” sin is just as black as one’s “heinous” sin. Only then can you really appreciate what God has saved you from.

All sin has something in common. That’s what we’ll talk about next time. Until then, think about how you can see the world from God’s perspective. It may just change your life. Think about it. What did you discover?

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Visit Books & Words to Inspire by Randy C. Dockens

In our last post, we talked about the drink offering, how it was instituted, and how it was used in the various types of sacrifices mentioned in Leviticus. This time, we will talk more about this interesting type of offering.

In Leviticus, we see this offering pointed toward God’s completion of what these sacrifices in Leviticus pointed toward. Matthew, in the New Testament, tells us, “And he took a cup, and when he had given thanks, he gave it to them, saying, ‘Drink from it, all of you. This is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins” (Mt 26:27). Christ’s blood was a drink offering, meaning it was a completion of something which had been started earlier. His death was the completion of what the sacrifices in Leviticus pointed toward—i.e., the payment for mankind’s sin.

There is another interesting application for the drink offering. It was utilized in the fulfillment of a Nazarite vow (Nu 6:1-21). A Nazarite was a man or woman who separated themselves for a period of time from certain food and drink (did not drink wine or eat grapes), from dead bodies (even family members), and did not cut their hair. During this time of separation, they were considered holy to the Lord. When their vow was over, they brought their burnt offering, meal offering, peace offering, and drink offering to the tabernacle. His/her hair was shaved and offered with the peace offering. The shoulder of the peace offering and the cakes of the meal offering were waved before the Lord. Then, and only then, could the individual drink wine again.

This aspect of separation unto the Lord is also taught to us in the New Testament. God calls us to be separate: “…we are the temple of the living God; as God said, ‘I will make my dwelling among them and walk among them, and I will be their God, and they shall be my people. Therefore, go out from their midst, and be separate from them,’ says the Lord, ‘and touch no unclean thing; then I will welcome you, and I will be a father to you, and you shall be sons and daughters to me,’ says the Lord Almighty” (2Co 6:16-18). The separation is to be from all earthly joy (the fruit of the vine), from sin and the result of sin (dead bodies), and is to last for our entire life here upon earth. The allowing of the hair to grow uncut speaks of subjection to the Lord (c.f. 1 Cor.11:2-16); thus, we are to be separated unto God. This again points to completion: after the period of separate, fellowship is restored.

The drink offering was also used in most feasts Israel held, as it was used whenever burnt, meal, and/or peace offerings were made (Nu 29). In Lv 23, three feats were called out specifically: First Fruit, Pentecost (Shavuot), Tabernacles (Sukkot). Each of these feasts pointed to a fulfillment or a completion of what God would do in Israel’s future.

Here is a table that shows how all the offerings were used in relation to each other and in relation to the various types of sacrifices and feasts:

As we have seen, all these sacrifices point to our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ and the feasts point to future fulfillments of what Christ has done for us or will do for us in our future. While the following adage is simplistic, it is really true: The Old Testament is the New Testament concealed; the New Testament is the Old Testament revealed. It is a testament to the continuity of the Bible and how it is a very dynamic book and not just a collection of stories. Isn’t our God marvelous?!

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Visit Books & Words to Inspire by Randy C. Dockens

The drink offering is not one of the offerings mentioned in the first seven chapters of Leviticus where the other offerings are provided. It is mentioned in the twenty-eighth chapter of Numbers where God specified which offerings God required to be offered to him. This gives us the first clue as to what this offering is about. Lv 1-7 is about these offerings from man’s viewpoint. Nu 28 is about these offerings from God’s viewpoint. This offering must represent something from God’s perspective.

First, let’s go over some of the characteristics of this offering. It was made of strong wine (Nu 28:7). It was not to be diluted, which speaks of the purity and perfection of the offering, as well as of its preciousness (costlier than what was normally drank). All of it was poured out on the sacrifice: lamb (1/4 hin: ~2 pt); ram (1/3 hin: ~2½ pt); bull (1/2 hin: ~3¾ pt). From scripture, we find that wine is a symbol of joy for both man and God (Jd 9:13; Ps 104:15). It was to be instituted only after they dwelt in the Promised Land (Nu 15:1), and it was only offered with the “sweet savor” offerings (Nu 15:1-16): burnt offering, meal offering, peace offering. It was not used with a sin offering or guilt offering

Yet, this is not the first mention of the drink offering. It is first mentioned in relation to Jacob after his name was changed to Israel (Gn 35:14). When Jacob first left home and came to Bethel (Luz), he vowed: “If God will be with me and will keep me in this way that I go, and will give me bread to eat and clothing to wear, so that I come again to my father’s house in peace, then the Lord shall be my God and this stone, which I have set up for a pillar, shall be God’s house. And of all that you give me I will give a full tenth to you.” It is believed that Jacob’s life is prophetic of the time period called Jacob’s Trouble: Jacob had trials and turmoil, but God brought him back to his home, and to Bethel, in peace with Laban (his father-in-law), peace with Esau (his brother), and peace with God. This would seem to represent and symbolize the Millennium, or the Messiah’s future earthly kingdom here on earth. It was only after the completion did the drink offering get made.

Therefore, the drink offering deals with completion. It shows God’s joy for providing for the completion needed to reconcile mankind back to Himself:

Burnt offering – reconciliation of man’s sinful state – God provided

Meal (Grain) offering – our worship of Christ’s sinless life – God provided

Peace offering – our fellowship with God through Christ – God provided

Drink offering – representing the joy of God in providing for us

It was instituted only after God completed their journey into their Promised Land.

Their journey is a symbol of sanctification. The Israelites entering their Promised Land is a symbol of us one day entering the Messiah’s Millennial Kingdom (i.e., Christ’s 1000-year reign on the earth once he returns).

The drink offering was instituted as a symbol of completion and pointed to a future completion. This was done by God who takes joy in doing this for us.

Next time, we will look further at the drink offering and further at its symbolism. Stay tuned!

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Visit Books & Words to Inspire by Randy C. Dockens

We saw previously that the guilt offering had both a vertical as well as a horizontal application. We find something similar in the New Testament as well: “So if you are offering your gift at the altar and there remember that your brother has something against you, leave your gift there before the altar and go. First be reconciled to your brother, and then come and offer your gift” (Mt 5:23-24). You see, the guilt offering absolved the offender of all legal and moral debt. At the same time, the guilt offering restored favor to both God and to one’s fellow man.

The act of the guilt offering here in Leviticus is reiterated in other parts of scripture in how God wants us to handle guilt. The Bible states that our conscience must be correctly trained: acts done out of love leads to a good conscience (1Tm 1:3, 5); studying God’s word will help one know good from evil (Hb 5:11-12).

Of course, not all our sins will be known to us. How does that happen? Remember, sin is anything God deems as such. Therefore, one could sin out of ignorance. God knew that, and so God instituted a sacrifice for this. Since Christ’s sacrifice of himself was for all sin, then we can rest assured that Christ solves this for us as well. Confession is better than denial: confession through faith cleanses us (1Jn 1:9). When restitution is possible, we should do so. Restitution is what uniquely distinguished the guilt offering from the sin offering. Restitution brings healing and cancels the legal and moral debt on the horizontal level between one human being and another.

We need to learn this lesson and leave the guilt behind us. When all has been offered, what else is there to do? The moral and legal debt is paid. What more can one do? Nothing. Continuing to carry around guilt as baggage is not faith and violated the holiness of the guilt offering and the atonement of the priest. The same is true for us today.

Jesus Christ, our sin offering, is the eternal solution to our guilt: “Yet it was the will of the Lord to crush him; he has put him to grief; when his soul makes an offering for guilt, he shall see his offspring; he shall prolong his days; the will of the Lord shall prosper in his hand. Out of the anguish of his soul he shall see and be satisfied; by his knowledge shall the righteous one, my servant, make many to be accounted righteous, and he shall bear their iniquities” (Is 53:10-11).

The moral and legal debt is cancelled, but there is more: “And by that will we have been sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all. And every priest stands daily at his service, offering repeatedly the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins, but when Christ had offered for all time a single sacrifice for sins, he sat down at the right hand of God, waiting from that time until his enemies should be made a footstool for his feet. For by a single offering he has perfected for all time those who are being sanctified. And the Holy Spirit also bears witness to us; for after saying, ‘This is the covenant that I will make with them after those days, declares the Lord: I will put my laws on their hearts, and write them on their minds,’ then he adds, ‘I will remember their sins and their lawless deeds no more.’ Where there is forgiveness of these, there is no longer any offering for sin” (Hb 10:10-18).

We often state that Christ took care of our sin problem. Yet, we need to remember that he also took care of our guilt problem as well. Doesn’t that make you want to rejoice and serve him with an even greater grateful heart? Leave it to God to think of everything. What a mighty God we serve!

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Visit Books & Words to Inspire by Randy C. Dockens

“The guilt offering is just like the sin offering; there is one law for them” (Lv 7:7) Although the offering was the same, the purpose was different. The sin offering restored one’s standing with God; the guilt offering did that, but also restored one’s standing with the one whom was sinned against. It was made for a specific sin (Lv 5:15-19).

If any of God’s commandments were broken, once a person realized it, he had to offer a guilt offering: “He shall also make restitution for what he has done amiss in the holy thing and shall add a fifth to it and give it to the priest. And the priest shall make atonement for him with the ram of the guilt offering, and he shall be forgiven” (Lv 5:16). So, it seems the sacrifice was measured monetarily, and the offender added one-fifth its value, in shekels, to it and gave that to the priest.

Then, examples of sins against one’s neighbor were provided. If anyone committed extortion or deception through deceiving his neighbor in a matter of deposit or security, robbing his neighbor, or finding something lost and lies about it, the offender had to restore what was taken and add one-fifth (20%) of its value (Lv 6:1-5). He then brought his guilt offering (ram without blemish – or its equivalent) to the priest. This made atonement for him, and he was then forgiven (Lv 6:6-7).

The guilt offering absolved the offender of all legal and moral debt, and it restored one’s favor to both God and to one’s fellow man. It seems God is always vertical as well as horizontal focused. Our relationship to Him is important, but so is our relationship to each other important to Him. He therefore expects us to consider both important as well.

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Visit Books & Words to Inspire by Randy C. Dockens

The sin offering brings up an important question: what is sin? I think God defined it for the Israelites: “If a person sins unintentionally in any of the things which the LORD has commanded not to be done, and commits any of them…” (Lv 4:1; emphasis mine). And, since God does not change (Ml 3:6), it is still God’s definition. While this definition may not sit well with us today, it is the definition God himself put on it. Sin is anything God has commanded not to be done. It doesn’t matter if we can rationalize it. God’s definition still stands. Also, we see that sin may be either ignorant or willful; active or passive. This means we can sin even when we don’t intend to. Ignorance was not punished, but revelation of one’s ignorance required action.

Why was this so important to God? Sin results in defilement. God stated there were sins which Israel committed which were said to defile the people, the land, and even the dwelling place of God: sexual immorality (Lv 18:24-30); bloodshed (Nu 35:29-34); occult practices (Lv 19:31; 20:6); infant sacrifice (Lv 20:1-5); divorce (Jr 3:1); false worship (Jr 16:18). These are things we still commit today. We may have tweaked them and made them more sophisticated, but we still commit them. God still sees them as sin.

Sin is exceedingly costly. The people had to sacrifice their livelihood and be dependent upon God for their survival. Bob Deffinbaugh, Community Bible Chapel, Richardson, TX, made the following statement: “When you think of what it would cost an Israelite who wished to maintain his walk with God, it would have been a religion almost too costly to be able to afford. No wonder God promised to prosper this people greatly!” If this practice of worship was still in existence today, would people even dare obey it?

The only solution for the guilt of sin was blood atonement. Sin led to guilt which led to blood sacrifice. By offering fat and sprinkling blood and then destroying the rest, God made it clear it was the blood that made atonement. The death of Christ, who died once and for all, has made atonement for man’s sin, and assures forgiveness.

Ignorance is not bliss. Bob Deffinbaugh also stated the following, “The Israelites were held accountable for the sins they committed ignorantly. Many contemporary Christians seem to think that if they don’t study their Bibles, if they don’t familiarize themselves with the standards and principles God has given in the Bible, they will not be responsible for their sins committed in ignorance. Not so! The Sin Offering strongly suggests that we had better become careful students of the revealed Word of God, for it is disobedience to His word that constitutes sin.” And as was already stated, we don’t define sin, God does.

So, what’s the answer? What is our hope? Christ is our answer. “But when Christ came as high priest of the good things that are now already here, he went through the greater and more perfect tabernacle that is not made with human hands, that is to say, is not a part of this creation. He did not enter by means of the blood of goats and calves; but he entered the Most Holy Place once for all by his own blood, thus obtaining eternal redemption. The blood of goats and bulls and the ashes of a heifer sprinkled on those who are ceremonially unclean sanctify them so that they are outwardly clean. How much more, then, will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself unblemished to God, cleanse our consciences from acts that lead to death, so that we may serve the living God!” (Hb 9:11-14).

In addition, Peter tells us the following: “Therefore, with minds that are alert and fully sober, set your hope on the grace to be brought to you when Jesus Christ is revealed at his coming. As obedient children, do not conform to the evil desires you had when you lived in ignorance. But just as he who called you is holy, so be holy in all you do; for it is written: ‘Be holy, because I am holy.’ Since you call on a Father who judges each person’s work impartially, live out your time as foreigners here in reverent fear. For you know that it was not with perishable things such as silver or gold that you were redeemed form the empty way of life handed down to you from your ancestors, but with this previous blood of Christ, a lamb without blemish or defect. He was chosen before the creation of the world but was revealed in these last times for your sake. Through him you believe in God, who raised him from the dead and glorified them, and so your faith and hope are in God” (1Pt 1:13-21).

Although God hates sin, he loves us. That is why he paved the way for us. He did for us what we could not do for ourselves. We just have to accept. Will you? Take that leap of faith. Your only regret will only be why you didn’t do it even earlier.

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Visit Books & Words to Inspire by Randy C. Dockens

I guess it’s pretty self-explanatory what a sin offering was for. Yet, since everyone sins, everyone’s sin had to be atoned for—including the priests. This offering was made when one sinned unintentionally, and it was made for a specific sin.

When priests unintentionally sinned, it brought guilt to all the people. When such occurred, the priest was to bring a young bull without blemish (Lv 4:3-12). A bull was one of the more expensive and precious livestock. The priest would lay his hands on the animal for atonement and then slaughter it. The blood of the bull was sprinkled before the veil in the Holy Place of the tabernacle. Blood was then placed on the horns of the Altar of Incense, and the remainder of the blood was poured at the base of the Brazen Altar outside the tabernacle. The fat of the animal was then offered on the Brazen Altar. The remainder of the animal was taken outside the camp to the ash heap and burned to ashes on a wood fire. This was symbolic of how sins were dealt with by God. The sin was symbolically transferred to a valuable animal whose blood atoned for their relationship to God, for their prayers to God, and then offered to God. Once the animal was completely consumed, nothing of the sin was left remaining.

When the congregation sinned unintentionally, they, too, were to bring a young bull without blemish (Lv 4:13-21). The elders (one from each of the twelve clans or tribes) would lay their hands on the head of the animal for atonement and then slaughter it. Again, this shows how they were intimately involved with the sacrifice. The blood of the bull was sprinkled before the veil in the Holy Place of the tabernacle and placed on the horns of the Altar of Incense. The remainder of the blood was poured at the base of the Brazen Altar, the fat offered, and the remainder of the animal taken outside the camp to the ash heap and burned to ashes on a wood fire.

When a leader of the people sinned unintentionally, he would bring a male goat without defect (Lv 4:22-26). He would lay his hands on the head of animal for atonement and then slaughter it himself. The priest would then place the blood on the horns of the Brazen Altar while the remainder of the blood was poured at its base. The fat of the animal was offered. Both the priest and his male family members could eat the remainder within the courtyard of the tabernacle.

When a member of the community sinned unintentionally, they would bring either a female goat or female lamb without defect (Lv 4:27-35). They would lay their hands on the head of animal for atonement and then slaughter it themselves. The priest would place blood on the horns of the Brazen Altar, the remainder of the blood poured at its base, and the fat offered on the Brazen Altar. The priest and his male family members could eat the remainder within the courtyard of the tabernacle.

So, what happened with the sin was not unintentional? The sin not forgiven (Lv 5:1). Also, if someone did not speak up about what they knew about someone accused, they would be held responsible, and a sin offering would not be accepted. A defiant sin was not forgiven, and they would lose their inheritance (Nu 15:27-31).

There were several sins mentioned that would be forgiven (Lv 5:2-4): realizing one unknowingly touched something unclean, or someone thoughtlessly took an oath. They had to confess their specific sin (Lv 5:5). Once the sin was recognized, specific requirements were dictated (Lv 5:6-13). The offender was to bring either a female lamb or goat, or, if they were poor, they were to bring two doves or two pigeons: one for a sin offering; the other for a burnt offering. The sin offering was made first (the head of the bird was wrung from its neck, blood splattered against the side of the Brazen Altar; the remainder drained at the base of the Brazen Altar). The other bird was offered as a burnt offering as previously described. If they could afford neither of these types of offerings, they were to bring one-tenth ephah (3½ lbs) of the finest flour (this required extreme effort on their part to make flour this fine). It could not contain olive oil or incense. The memorial part was offered on the altar; the rest of the offering belonged to the priest.

Some interesting facts were then provided about this type of offering (Lv 6:24-30). Whatever touched the flesh of the sacrifice became holy. Blood on any garment had to be washed in the sanctuary area. A clay pot cooking the meat had to be destroyed. A bronze pot cooking the meat had to be scoured and rinsed with water. As previously noted, only the flesh from the sin offering which did not require blood to be sprinkled in the Holy Place could be eaten by the priest; otherwise, the rest of the sacrifice had to be taken outside the camp and burned to ashes.

In summary, the sin offering was to be made for a specific sin and had to be made as soon as possible once the sin was identified. This type of offering was made only for sins which were unintentional. The offering made for sin which caused the congregation to sin was treated differently from the offering made for one’s individual sin, and the one making the offering received none of the sacrifice for consumption.

That brings us to the real question: what was the purpose of all of this? Stay tuned for the next post which will address this question and then explore what it means for us today.

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Visit Books & Words to Inspire by Randy C. Dockens

Although God supplied a lot of detail about the peace offering, this type of offering was not something totally new to the Israelites. The people had been making such offerings before. We find the people were making these types of sacrifices in open fields (Lv 17:5), they made such offerings to goat idols (Lv 17:7), and even to a golden calf (Ex 32:4-6). The penalty imposed by God of one losing their inheritance was to make the people stop this practice and bring these sacrifices instead to God as a peace, or fellowship, offering (Lv 17:5, 9). God wanted to redirect their devotion to him.

It is not known how early such a sacrifice was offered. Yet, the sacrifice of Cain and Abel may have been a peace, or fellowship, offering: “…and Abel also brought of the firstborn of his flock and of their fat portions” (Gn 4:4). This was the part of the animal also offered to God as a peace offering.

Why did God institute this type of sacrifice and its penalty? He was breaking a chain of wrongdoing and re-establishing a new meaning to the sacrifices they were making. He wanted their worship, praise, and fellowship. Therefore, he instituted that no meal of meat could be made without turning it into a peace offering. It would then help the people remember that all they have comes from him and that God alone is their sustainer.

So, what does that mean for us today? This type of sacrifice pointed toward the one to come who would become our peace offering. Christ is our peace offering. How do we know this? The peace offering established a bond between the one making the offering and God. The meal was offered and eaten in God’s presence—to fellowship with him. It became a way for the Israelites to realize that God’s favor rested on them.

Ep 2:13-18: “But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ. For he himself is our peace, who has made us both one and has broken down in the flesh the dividing wall of hostility by abolishing the law of commandments expressed in ordinances, that he might create in himself one new man in place of the two, so making peace, and might reconcile us both to God in one body through the cross, thereby killing the hostility. And he came and preached peace to you who were far off and peace to those who were near. For through him we both have access in one Spirit to the Father.”

The meal represents intimacy with those you share a meal with. God was offering that to Israel and is offering that to us today. How awesome that the God of the universe wants to have such an intimate connection with us. Do you crave that level of intimacy with him? He’s offering it to you. You just have to accept it. Christ is the way. Just speak to him. He’s there.

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Visit Books & Words to Inspire by Randy C. Dockens