"...God has concealed truth in the symbolic use of created things. It is the honor of believers, as kings and priests unto God, to search these truths out."
- Both quotes are from Kevin J. Conner
Proverbs 25:2 says - "It is the glory of God to conceal a thing: but the honour of kings is to search out a matter."
In other words, it is God's privilege to "conceal" or hide things, but the privilege of "kings" to "search out," investigate, and discover them. Said another way, it is God's right to "conceal" the word, and the right of "kings" to "search it out."
How does this apply to you and me?
Revelation 1:6 and 5:10 lets us know that we are "kings" when it says - "And hath made us kings and priests unto God and His Father; to Him be glory and dominion for ever and ever. Amen." "And hast made us unto our God kings and priests: and we shall reign on the earth."
And, in line with Proverbs 25:2, Deuteronomy 29:29 adds this thought - "The secret things belong unto the LORD our God: but those things which are revealed belong unto us and to our children for ever, that we may do all the words of this law."
God "conceals" many things. He does so in order to bring about a greater dependence and more childlike relationship on our part. He does so to protect us from needless pain and fear. But He also "conceals" or hides things from us to excite us to a more nobler and strenuous search after truth.
The Preacher's Homiletic Commentary said this in comment - "...there is much that is hidden that will be revealed to the diligent seeker. If it is God's prerogative and a part of His divine plan to conceal much from man, it is His purpose and desire to reveal much to him if he will only seek after it...While then, it is God's prerogative to determine what He will reveal to man, it is man's glory and duty to be ever seeking to know more of God's ways and works."
So, as "kings and priests," you are expected by God to press further and further into all knowledge - discovering depths (allowed by God) of which you had no idea before.
From the start, allow me to ask you, how knowledgeable are you of the "language of the symbol"? Did you know that "God has concealed truth in the symbolic use of created things" and that "it is the honor of believers, as kings and priests unto God, to search these truths out"?
In his book entitled, Interpreting The Symbols and Types, Kevin J. Conner offered this explanation - "According to Webster's Dictionary, the word 'symbol' is made up of two Greek words: 'syn" meaning 'together,' and 'ballein' meaning 'to throw.' It means literally 'thrown together,' and denotes an object used to represent something abstract: an emblem using one thing to stand for or represent another."
In his book, Mr. Conner listed eight (8) basic categories of "symbols" in Scripture: "objects, creatures, actions, numbers, names, colors, directions, and places." (pg. 8)
While using this list, in our new study, entitled "Symbols," as "kings and priests unto God," we are going to "search out this matter" and see what truths we can glean.
In this particular Bible message, we will start with "Symbolic Objects" and examine four in particular to see what truths God is conveying and how they apply to our lives at this time.
1. Cake Not Turned
Hosea 7:8 says - "...Ephraim is a cake not turned."
The cake to which the Prophet Hosea likened Ephraim was the - uggah - a circular, thin pancake to which the scorching heat was applied on one side at a time. The Easterners would bake their bread on the ground - covering it with embers and turning it every ten (10) minutes to bake it through without burning it. If it remained long unturned, it would burn on one side, while it continued unbaked or doughy on the other side.
The picture presented here is a flat loaf not turned over...a half-baked cake...a ruined cake of bread scorched on one side and raw on the other side.
This apt image used by the Prophet was meant to depict a character that is full of inconsistencies. It was meant to show the total worthlessness of Ephraim. At this time, they were attempting to be worshippers of Jehovah while adopting the idolatries of the neighboring nations. They feared the LORD and served their own gods. They halted between two opinions. They were neither hot nor cold in their love and commitment to Jehovah. Consequently, they were good for nothing - as far as influence goes.
David described them well in Psalm 106:35-36 when he said - "But were mingled among the heathen, and learned their works. And they served their idols: which were a snare unto them."
Sad but true - such are too many so-called Christians today. They cannot decide between Jesus and the world. Their "walk with God" is marked by a unity of hypocrisy and godliness - outward performance and inward lukewarmness. They reject any preaching or teaching on repentance or the "turning" from sin and a compromising lifestyle. They sit week after week in the various churches - never "being turned over" from their selfish, sinful ways. Hence, they can be likened to Ephraim - "a cake not turned" - which results in being good for nothing - having no influence on the world around them.
2. My Rock
Psalm 18:2 says - "The LORD is my Rock..."
3. A Strong Tower
Proverbs 18:10 says - "The name of the LORD is a strong tower..."
As a "Rock," Jesus is to be the One - the Only One - on Whom the saints build their hopes of eternal life and happiness. He is to be the Object of their most implicit and reliable trust. Hence, He is to be the One - the Only One - to Whom they run to for salvation, shelter, safety, supply, support, or divine refreshment.
The "name of the LORD" - Ha-Shem in Hebrew - stands for Jehovah Himself. It signifies all that He is in Himself. It is a Biblical expression for the whole character of God as He has made Himself known to us. It includes His titles, attributes, and manifested perfections which are the strength and security of His people and on which men rely.
His "name" is to be our "strong tower" in the time of trouble. It is to be the first place where we take sanctuary when we are pursued by our enemies. It is to be the place where we take rest when we are weary from the battle.
Yet, the opposite seems to be true for many in the Church. When in trouble, they lean on the "arm of the flesh." They look to the "world" (which the Bible clearly implies is "sinking sand") for answers, support, comfort, or hope. They lean on the "natural" rather than the supernatural. They trust in themselves - what they have and what they can do to remedy the situation - rather than look to the Lord Jesus. They depend on their church attendance or good works to bring them into favor with God - rather than solely placing their faith in Jesus (as the Son of God) and what He did on Calvary's Cross.
This is their sad commentary - when all else fails, they then look to the "Rock" or run into the "name of the LORD" as their "strong tower."
4. A Lamp & A Light
Psalm 119:105 says - "Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path."
The Expositor, 1864 edition, made an interesting observation when it said - "What we all want is not to see wonders that daze us, and to be rapt in ecstatic visions and splendours, but a little light on the dark and troubled path we have to tread, a lamp that will burn steadfastly and helpfully over the work we have to do."
What is being said here is this - do not read the Bible looking for some great revelation that will lift you up in pride above your peers. Simply read it as a guide to "lead you home" through the encircling doom and night of this evil, wicked, and adulterous generation.
Never forget that you are surrounded by darkness, stumbling blocks, dangers, obstacles, precipices, etc. The only way to bypass all of these is to fill your mind, heart, and life with the "light" of God's Word.
Knowing that the Word of God is a "lamp" for our guidance, how is it that so many take so little time to read or study it? And knowing that it shows us the way wherein we should go, both night and day (in times of adversity or prosperity), how is it that it is neglected by so many? And knowing that the Word as a "lamp" or "light" offers direction for the whole course of life and every particular action thereof, how is it so casually regarded by so many?
Is it because the "many" have joined the "darkness" of this world and do not realize how "dark" and dangerous this world has truly become?
Satan, the "god of this world," has his "instruments" to entice, seduce, deceive, mislead, or turn you off the path of life onto the path of destruction. How will you be able to identify them unless you have the "light" of God's Word to show them up for who and what they really are?
Are you aware of the fact that the Word of God is set in opposition to all human counsel...that what the world judges right is often crooked and perverse in the judgment of God...that you cannot be guided by God's Word unless you first renounce the wisdom of the flesh...and that unless the Word enlightens your path, your whole life is enveloped in darkness and obscurity and you cannot help but miserably wander from the right way?
The Word is a clear light in the right way, and a clear light on the wrong way.
Oh, how desperately we need this "lamp" or "light" of God!
How knowledgeable are you of the "language of the symbol"?
As a "king and priest unto God," are you willing to "search out this matter"?
Don't forget! It is your privilege!
May God Bless His Word,
Connie
No weapon that is formed against thee shall prosper; and every tongue that shall rise against thee in judgment thou shalt condemn. (Isaiah 54:17)
© COPYRIGHT Connie Giordano - All Rights Reserved