Transitioning ...Part 2A

As we continue our look into transitioning, the moving from one position to the next, as the “cloud” of His presence moves, let’s again return to Haggai.

Haggai was considered to be one of the most accurate of the Old Covenant prophets. He stood in the midst of people who had all been deceived. All of Israel had come to the same conclusion; that it was time to build their own houses. They had bowed to a spirit of fear, that had all but quenched the accurate moving of Gods purpose; the rebuilding of the Temple of God.

The importance and significance of this scenario; the rebuilding of the Temple, should cause us all to take a serious look at ourselves and our ministry focus.

Now all these things happened unto them for ensamples: and they are written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the world are come.
1 Corinthians 10:11 (KJV)

Paul is giving us apostolic insight into the purpose and use, of the Old Covenant scriptures and their implication to the “end time” church. He tells us that “all these things happened unto them for ensamples”. The word 'ensamples' is the Greek word tupos and relates the idea of a metal stamping. Something that is to be indelibly imprinted or molded to provide for a lasting impression. The purpose of this stamp or scar is to be a model for imitation or an instance for warning. What is to be understood about this word 'tupos' is that it’s root word tupto, means to pummel with a stick or a bastinado, not just once, but repeatedly. A bastinado is a beating specifically upon the soles of the feet.

The apostolic insight that Paul is releasing, is that the things that are revealed within the Old Testament scriptures are for the changing of the steps of those that are to be the “end time” Church.

Take this concept of the bastinado and apply it to the technology that we examined about the “sheep” in the last chapter. As we discovered about sheep, they specifically are a forward moving creature. They are not designed to move backwards, nor are they to be “free-willed” in their movements. They are to be free-grazing creatures, but they are to be led by one who knows their destination and purpose. It has been said that the shepherd would break the legs of a “wayward” sheep, as a means of correction. Could this be insight to the trials of one who has erred? One who has “strayed from orthodoxy or piety” as is revealed in James 5:20?

Let him know, that he which converteth the sinner from the error of his way shall save a soul from death, and shall hide a multitude of sins.
James 5:20 (KJV)

Ye have sown much, and bring in little; ye eat, but ye have not enough; ye drink, but ye are not filled with drink; ye clothe you, but there is none warm; and he that earneth wages earneth wages to put it into a bag with holes. Haggai 1:6 (KJV)

In the last chapter we examined the issue concerning sowing and not reaping. The New Testament example was the man at the pool of Bethesda in John 5.

Lets now move on to the concept of “food”. Haggai informed the wayward nation that they were in a place of famine. They had food, but it was never enough to satisfy their desire. They had all that they wanted, but it didn’t provide the nourishment for their souls. The word 'enough' used here is the Hebrew word sobah. Sobah is a word that means satiety which is the condition of being full or gratified beyond the point of satisfaction. They could have had all that they wanted but, it still wouldn’t provide the relief.

It may be easier to comprehend this “eating disorder” in the natural realm, than in it’s spiritual application, but lets examine a time of famine in the scriptures and see how it may relate to us today.

And it came to pass after this, that Benhadad king of Syria gathered all his host, and went up, and besieged Samaria. And there was a great famine in Samaria: and, behold, they besieged it, until an ass's head was sold for fourscore pieces of silver, and the fourth part of a cab of dove's dung for five pieces of silver. 2 Kings 6:24-25 (KJV)

This scripture tells of a great famine that had come upon the people of Israel while they were in Samaria. It can be said that Samaria was not the chosen place for the people of God. It is a place that is synonymous with disobedience, rebellion, idol worship and deception. The first mention of Samaria in scripture is in 1 Kings 13. It is in reference to the disobedient prophet who was slain by the lion for “returning down the same path” he had been commanded not to return by. [Remember the “sheep”] It should also be noted that he had been told not to eat nor drink there either. [1Kings 13:17]

What had occurred that cause him to be deceived into disobedience? Another man, a prophet, had heard of his doings and told him that “an angel spoke unto him by the word of the LORD”, [1Kings 13:18] for him to come unto him and eat and drink water. But the angel lied!

“Jesus answered and said unto them, Take heed that no man deceive you.” Matt 24:4

The history of Samaria begins in scripture in 1 Kings 16:21. The Nation of Israel had been split into two parts. The Northern and the Southern kingdoms with Tibni as the King of the South and Omri as King of the North.

Tibni makes reference to stalks of grain as they have been chopped in threshing and used for fodder, the feeding of livestock. But what is curious about Tibni is that at it’s root, is the word banah, and it means to build, repair or to set up surely.

Omri on the other hand means heaping , but comes from a root that means to “heap up chastisement and to make merchandise of”. One speaks of building something and the other speaks of controlling for their own purpose.

An interesting play on words takes place at the transition of the divided kingdom into one Nation:

But the people that followed Omri prevailed against the people that followed Tibni the son of Ginath: so Tibni died, and Omri reigned.
1 Kings 16:22 (KJV)

Tibni Died! The building ceased! Samaria was built by Omri on a high hill commanding the major N-S route through Palestine. He spent six years on the construction of his new capital. The building was continued by Ahab, who built a temple to the Sidonian god Baal-Melqart for Jezebel, and he expanded and beautified the palace. During Ahab's reign, Ben-Hadad of Aram unsuccessfully assaulted Samaria. It was during this period that the great famine, mentioned in 2 Kings 6:24, occured.

During this famine a donkeys head and a measure of doves dung were considered to be delicacies. In our natural mind, not so appealing, but what are the spiritual implications.

In a time of spiritual famine, the recommended diet of the Word is neglected, for things that may be thought to satisfy. In this scenario “donkeys head” became a desired staple. What is donkeys head? Junk food! The definition of ass’s head comes from a root that means to boil up; hence to ferment with scum. It represents a people feeding on that which is not healthy for natural spiritual growth. And because of the shear size of the beasts head, you think that your getting more from it than you really are. When in fact, your getting nothing beneficial from it. Brain matter from a dumb and sometimes rebellious animal. Zero spiritual growth. It can be seasoned to your liking, but does it provide the nourishment that your soul desires? Is that the type of food that the Father desires His sheep to eat?

The second delicacy listed is “doves dung”. Simply put, that is what the dove leaves when it flies away. This represents feeding upon “past” present truths. They are still truths, but are they relevant truths to the kairos that you are in. It would be like preaching a salvation message to a house full of mature Christians.

You could tickle their fancy with the delivery and appease their imaginations with visions of the streets of gold, but where is the nourishment. The dove has moved on! The cloud has moved to a new position of enlightenment, but your stuck in the poop that has been left behind!

We are sheep. We are meant to be continually moving forward to greener pastures in the kingdom of God.

In 722 BC, Samaria fell to the Assyrians after a three-year siege, bringing to an end Israel's existence as an independent nation. Its people were deported, after which the city was rebuilt and placed under an Assyrian governor. In Nehemiah's time, its Persian governor was Sanballat, who with Tobiah opposed the rebuilding of Jerusalem's walls as is spoken of in Nehemiah 2:10. Hence the tie in to Haggai.

But what is the tie in to us in the New Covenant and with the focus on transitioning to the next move of God?

He [Jesus] left Judaea, and departed again into Galilee. And he must go through Samaria. Then cometh he to a city of Samaria, which is called Sychar, near to the parcel of ground that Jacob gave to his son Joseph.
John 4:3-5

Now as we have studied in past lessons, Jesus only did what pleased the Father. And according to the “oral law”, Jews were forbidden to have any business with the Samaritans. But here we have Jesus purposing to go through Samaria. As the “Christ” he could have easily “translated” himself through it or around it but “he must go through Samaria”. The phrase 'must go' is the Greek word dierchomai, and it means to traverse through, but can also mean to pierce through. Could there have been a greater purpose to Jesus’ passing through this “forbidden” region? Could there have been something that needed to be pierced through in order for the Fathers purpose to come to pass?

The name 'Samaria' means a watch-station. A place that is hedged about as with thorns to either guard or to protect something. It also has the implications of a taking heed to ones self, to be circumspect, to lay wait for something. Could this be an insight to those who dwelt in that region. That they were laying wait for something? Could this be what was meant by the woman at the well when she said; “I know that Messiah cometh, which is called Christ: when he is come, he will tell us all things”. [John 4:25] Could this have been telling us that she was “laying wait” for something, literally waiting for that which was to come?

Another interesting word is 'Sychar'. Lets examine this a little closer.
Sychar is the Greek word for a place known as Shekar in the Hebrew. In the Hebrew tongue it means an intoxicant and it comes from a root word that means to become tipsy; in a qualified sense, it means to be satiated with a stimulating drink or influence: to be filled with drink / influence abundantly. Could this be telling us that there is a sheltered place for self examination in which can satisfy us abundantly?

Now here’s the picture; Jesus’ disciples have gone off for the easily obtainable food [donkeys head?]. Jesus, on the other hand, sits and waits on the well. The word 'well' used here is the Greek word pege, which means something setup or set in a place with the purpose of gushing plumply. A fountain, as a source, or a supply of water, blood or enjoyment, but not necessarily the original spring.

Notice that the disciples are oriented toward the fleshly, but Jesus is at the source of the stimulating influence? And it just so happens, that source is in a place where the religious leaders of that day saw as taboo. This scenario almost parallels the one with Martha and Mary. Martha was busy doing all that she thought had to be done (getting the food), while Mary sat at Jesus' feet. Mary got the better part! But take note that Jesus was wearied from the journey, but in His right mind He knew that he had to connect with (sit on) his source of joy! But it didn’t have to be the original spring! He didn’t have to return to where the Father was to be refilled. The Father prepared a place for him in this realm where he could be satisfied abundantly.

And what was that place? Accurately fulfilling the Fathers purpose.
And upon this came his disciples, and marvelled that he talked with the woman: yet no man said, What seekest thou? or, Why talkest thou with her? John 4:27 (KJV)

Notice that when the disciples returned they didn’t even inquire what was transpiring, even though they perceived that something must have happened. They were still focused on the flesh. They then began to try and convince Jesus to eat something, but once again he rattles them with His response;

But he said unto them, I have meat to eat that ye know not of. John 4:32

Jesus begins to release a picture of the technology of transition hidden here. He tells them that by walking in the anointing of his particular calling, it satisfies completely. It is a place where burnout cannot occur because though he may weary, the Father will always provide a source that will flow abundantly, when you are accurately moving in His purpose.

TO BE CONTINUED...