Psalm 133-L a Stassel

8/9/2019 Psalm 133-L a Stassel

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Provisions for Brethren to Dwell Together in

Unity

Psalm 133

by L. A. Stassel

http://www.biblecentre.org

Preface

Psalm 133 begins with an exclamation:

Behol!" how goo! an! how pleasant it is for brethren to !well together in #nity$

The psalm en!s with a promise:

... %or there the &'(D comman!e! the blessing" even life for evermore.

The beginning an! en!ing of the psalm are familiar to #s. The beginning is something we

hope for. The en! is earnestly !esire!. B#t the center of this psalm hol!s the )ey for

#n!erstan!ing the provisions for the practical en*oyment of both the exclamation an! the

promise. +itho#t an #n!erstan!ing of the provisions an! con!itions for the blessing of brethren !welling together" we cannot experience the blesse!ness of this promise.

,n o#r time there are many attempts to create or !evelop #nities. -c#menical efforts try toshow #nity. any people" with a great show that loo)s so won!erf#l" enth#siastically participate in s#ch events. The o#twar! appearance an! experience awes an! excites

them" b#t a closer loo) at the associations an! practices of the participants ca#se some"

who o#t of a p#re heart want to be faithf#l to their &or!" to ref#se to enter into s#ch

associations.

maller #nities may also be !evelope! base! on frien!ships" family" b#siness or other

relationships. ,n many of s#ch #nities" script#ral principles are compromise! for the sa)e

of the #nity. These compromises often ca#se the brea)!own of the #nity as the

consciences of the members of that #nity are affecte! an! expresse!.

,n both large an! small #nities" those who are not free to contin#e as part of that #nity are

often excl#!e! in #npleasant ways. The excl#sion may come from one si!e or the other"

b#t either way" the res#lts are #s#ally !isastro#s to the #nity.

B#t Psalm 133 hol!s the )ey to #n!erstan!ing what tr#e #nity is. 0erse begins with:



It is likethe precio#s ointment #pon the hea!" that ran !own #pon the bear!" even

2arons bear!: that went !own to the s)irts of his garments.

0erse 3 contin#es:

As the !ew of 4ermon" an! as the !ew that !escen!e! #pon the mo#ntains of 5ion...

&ets ta)e a loo) at the precio#s ointment an! the path it too) r#nning !own over the hea!

an! garments of 2aron" the high priest. &ets also loo) at the !ew an! fin! it to be the

!ew of heaven to refresh an! challenge o#r hearts. +e will fin! treas#res well worth

o#r contemplation.

ay it be o#r m#t#al !esire that we whom o#r &or! calls 4is brethren may !well

together in #nity while we await 4is coming for #s$ ,f this is to be so" we m#st

#n!erstan! the provisions in or!er to maintain the principles we learn from the s#b*ect

before #s.

The Precious Ointment

,f we are to #n!erstan! what Psalm 133 has in store for #s regar!ing brethren !welling

together in #nity" it may be well to begin" as !oes the Psalm" with the Precio#s 'intment.The Psalmist says:

Behol!" how goo! an! pleasant it is for brethren to !well together in #nity$ It is like the

Precious Ointment ...

-xo!#s 36:733 recor!s the &or!s instr#ctions to oses for its composition an! #se.

The five ingre!ients were of the best 8#ality an! re8#ire! consi!erable expen!it#res oftime an! money to prepare. The form#la was exact an! was not to be compromise!.

-xact weights an! vol#mes were specifie!. They were to be compo#n!e! after the art of

the apothecary. The tabernacle an! all the items in it were to be anointe! with this precio#s ointment for consecration to the &or!. 2aron an! his sons were to be anointe!

an! consecrate! to minister to the &or! in the priests office. 9ever was it to be po#re! on

mans flesh" an! it was never to be !#plicate!. The Precio#s 'intment was for the &or!$The five principal best; ingre!ients were:

Pure Myrrh.This is a fragrant g#m gathere! from the leaves of the cistus or roc) rose;.

yrrh is !istille! as tears that har!en on the leaves an! form into a bitter aromatic resin.

These may be gathere! an! melte! to form a clear li8#i!" an! separate! from anyimp#rities that may have been gathere! with it. 'nly the p#re li8#i! <9D; myrrh was to

be #se!.

Cinnamon.The bar) of the cinnamon tree is remove! from the tree" !rie! an! pow!ere!.

Calamus.The calamus odoratus is a ree! that grows in ,n!ia" 2rabia an! &ebanon. The

ree!s are gathere!" !rie! an! po#n!e! to form a val#able ingre!ient for rich perf#mes.



Cassia.This is prepare! by gathering" !rying an! po#n!ing the bar) of an aromatic plant

resembling cinnamon.

Oil Olive. 'live oil is prepare! from olives an! is #se! as the carrier for the above spices.,t is a type of the 4oly pirit" containing all the rich fragrances that spea) of =hrist. ,t

carries these fragrances of =hrist over all who are anointe! an! to those who are nearby.

%rom the !escriptions of the above ingre!ients" it is easy to see that each re8#ire! m#ch

care an! wor) to pro!#ce it. =areless or cas#al in!ivi!#als !i! not prepare them. 'nly the best co#l! be #se! for this Precio#s 'intment or 4oly 2nointing 'il.

(eferences to These ,ngre!ients in cript#re:

Myrrh

Two wor!s are #se! for yrrh in the 'l! Testament. +e will #se trongs =oncor!ance

an! its n#mbering system to i!entify the wor!s. The first one" #se! in many translations"is fo#n! in >enesis 3?:@ an! A3:11. This wor! is 316 that is a form of 3C?A which

means" to wrap. 'ne example of 3C?A is in 1 am#el 1: where Davi! receive! theswor! of >oliath which ha! been wrapped in a cloth behin! the epho!.

Strong’s 31!

<osephs brothers sol! him to a company of ,shmaelites coming from >ilea! en ro#te to

-gypt. They were carrying spices" balm an! myrrh. ome of the brothers trie! to placatetheir consciences" choosing to sell him instea! of slaying him. They wo#l! profit from the

twenty pieces of silver. The comm#nication sent to their father in the form of a robe

!ippe! in bloo! prompte! their father to concl#!e that an evil beast ha! !evo#re! him.eanwhile <oseph ha! gone wrappe! with the myrrh an! spices of the ,shmaelites to-gypt. +as it his fragrance that attracte! Potiphar to p#rchase him

Between >enesis 3? an! A1 we see great testing. <oseph ha! many trials in -gypt" b#t the

&or! was with him an! prospere! him. 4e was p#re" honest an! faithf#l E a real servant.D#ring the vario#s !iffic#lt experiences with their !eep personal exercises" the &or! was

preparing him for greater things. %inally he was exalte! as lor! in -gypt next to Pharaoh

an! was the savio#r of that whole inhabite! part of the worl!.

<#!ah" who ha! s#ggeste! the sale" was bro#ght to shame. Fears of prosperity en!e! an!

a great famine began. 4#nger bro#ght the brothers to -gypt where they were recogniGe! E even if #n)nown to them. 2fter conversations with <oseph an! a three7!ay

imprisonment" their consciences !eeply bothere! them" ca#sing them to associate past

actions against <oseph with their present !istress. 9ot )nowing they were tal)ing to their brother" they voice! their !istress. Upon hearing their confessions" <oseph t#rne! from

them to weep privately. 4e then comman!e! to fill their sac)s" ret#rn their money an!

hol! imeon #ntil they ret#rne! with their yo#nger brother" Ben*amin. 2fter f#rther !eep



exercises an! h#nger" with no other sol#tion possible" they ret#rne! again to -gypt. B#t

something special was ta)en with them this time E myrrh.

,t wo#l! not have been a fitting for <osephs brothers to bring myrrh on their first visit.4#nger an! a !esire for the goo! life may have been motives. B#t the experiences in

-gypt" their fathers !istress an! !eepening h#nger 7 with no way o#t 7 force! them toret#rn. 'n this ret#rn their father re8#este! that they carry a little honey" spices" myrrh"

n#ts an! almon!s along with !o#ble money" an! he allowe! them to ta)e their brotherBen*amin to meet the great r#ler in -gypt. %ather ha! been hoping for the safe ret#rn of

all with imeon" Ben*amin an! some foo!. +ith Ben*amin" the myrrh an! other things"

they stoo! before <oseph. 'n this trip" after some more !eep experiences" they werere#nite! with <oseph. They still co#l!nt !well with him in #nity" b#t there was progress

in establishing new an! far better relationships.

Strong’s "###

+e will now loo) at a wor! trongs 4666 ; that is #se! twice in the 9ew Testament9T;. +e will fin! two important references to myrrh in connection with o#r &or! <es#s.

,n atthew :11 we fin! wise men coming from the east loo)ing for 4im. +hen they

came into the ho#se they saw the yo#ng =hil! with ary 4is mother" an! fell !own an!

worshippe! 4im. +hen they ha! opene! their treas#res" they presente! #nto 4im gifts:gol!" fran)incense an! myrrh. These men were wise to see) the &or! <es#s" fin! 4im"

worship 4im an! present to 4im things that expresse! their appreciation of who 4e was$

The next reference is <ohn 1:3C7A.

2fter this came <oseph of 2rimathea... also 9ico!em#s... an! bro#ght a mixt#re ofmyrrh an! aloes abo#t an h#n!re! po#n! weight" an! too) the bo!y of <es#s" an! wo#n!it in linen clothes with the spices" as the manner of the <ews was to b#ry.

The shepher!s fo#n! the Babe wrappe! in swa!!ling clothes" lying in a manger. +ise

men ha! bro#ght gol!" fran)incense an! myrrh to o#r &or! when 4e was a yo#ng chil!.2fter 4is !eath on the cross" <oseph of 2rimathea with 9ico!em#s left 4is bo!y in the

tomb" wrappe! in linen clothes with myrrh an! aloes. ,n between were the !eep

experiences 4e passe! thro#gh.

<osephs life an! !eep experiences with his brethren an! his trials in -gypt were sha!ows

of o#r &or!s !eep experiences. <oseph ha! been wrappe! with the myrrh on the roa!going to -gypt. 4e ha! s#ch a fragrant life E fragrant to both >o! an! men$ B#t the

great pain an! s#ffering of o#r &or! pro!#ce! a fragrance that is #ni8#e above all others$

+ise men also women an! chil!ren; can still bring myrrh to 4im as we contemplate 4islife an! !eath. '#r &or! also feels !eeply o#r trials an! !iffic#lties. ,t is important for #s

to go thro#gh them with 4im. =omm#nion with 4im thro#gh all the !eep experiences of

life will pro!#ce a sweet fragrance of 4im. +e will soon reign with 4im in 4is appointe!



time an! place" b#t it is here in this worl! where we can associate with 4im an! gather

o#r myrrh for 4im. 2s it is presente! to 4im" we along with others may en*oy the aroma$

+e may then be a sweet savo#r of =hrist =or. :1@; as followers of >o!. +e will alsoen*oy 4is aroma as !ear chil!ren" wal)ing in love" as =hrist has love! #s an! has given

4imself for #s an offering an! a sacrifice to >o! for a sweet smelling savo#r -ph. @:17

;. +hat provisions for #nifying con!itions$

Strong’s "$%3

9ow we move on to the other most common 'l! Testament wor! for myrrhEtrongs

A?@3. ,t means !istilling in !rops an! comes from trongs ACA3" which is translate! as

bitter" move! with choler" grieve!" provo)e an! vex. 2n example of ACA3 is in >enesisA:3. oses blesses the tribe of <oseph with the wor!s:

The archers have sorely grieved him...

The first #se of trongs A?@3 is in -xo!#s 36 as the first ingre!ient of the Precio#s'intment. 2ll the !eep feelings an! affection of 4im for 4is people 7 an! those of 4is

people for 4im 7 are imbe!!e! in this wor!. +e shall see some of this as we trace itthro#gh the cript#res.

The next reference is in -sther :1. -sther lost her father an! mother early in life an!

ha! been raise! by her #ncle or!ecai. 9ow she was ta)en from him for a year of

p#rification before being presente! to the )ing. The first six months of p#rification was to be with the oil of myrrh. Those were very !iffic#lt experiences for her. ,solation from

or!ecai an! the rigo#rs of being immerse! in the p#rification process with the bitter oil

of myrrh wo#l! pro!#ce a mar)e! change in her. &oo)ing bac) she co#l! see mainly

sorrows. ,t wo#l! be better to loo) ahea! to better an! more #sef#l !ays. The oil of myrrhwo#l! separate her from the past an! prepare her for the f#t#re. %or #s" too" better !ays lie

ahea! 7 the best !ays 7 eternity with o#r &or!$ B#t first" the bitter !ays of preparation.

Psalm A@:1""? an! C show #s progression in appreciation of the Hing.

y heart is in!iting a goo! matterI , spea) of the things which , have ma!e to#ching the

)ing: my tong#e is the pen of a rea!y writer. Tho# art fairer than the chil!ren of men:

grace is po#re! into Thy lips: therefore >o! has blesse! Thee for ever...Tho# hast love!

righteo#sness an! hatest wic)e!ness: therefore Thy >o!" hath anointe! Thee with the oilof gla!ness above Thy fellows. 2ll Thy garments smell of myrrh" an! aloes" an! cassia"

o#t of the ivory palaces whereby they have ma!e Thee gla!.

=ontemplation of the Hing !raws o#t the affections of the heart. (egar!less of the

!iffic#lties" the heart is occ#pie! with 4im. +hat a great occ#pation$ This will bring #sinto agreement with others who are also occ#pie! with 4im. 4ow #nifying this is$

a!ly" there is a false #se of myrrh an! cinnamon. ,n Proverbs ?:?7? we learn of the

ways of the flattering se!#ctress. 0erse 1? lists the fragrances. 4ow sa! that the



fragrances which sho#l! be reserve! for most noble things are !egra!e!. 4ow m#ch of

that is fo#n! to!ay$ That which sho#l! be only for o#r &or! is #se! to l#re away so#ls to

the !etriment of the !eceive!. The worl! with its all#rements has !ivi!e! o#r hearts"see)ing to l#re #s away from 4im. ay we be so occ#pie! with 4im that nothing will be

able to !istract #s$

The ong of olomon contains the most references to the myrrh. This sho#l! not s#rprise

#s since it is a boo) that !eals with the !eep affections between a bri!egroom an! bri!e.

,n their comm#nion in ong of olomon 1 the bri!e says in verse 13:

2 b#n!le of myrrh is my well7belove! #nto meI he shall lie all night betwixt my

breasts.

,t was her great !elight to be with him an! to hol! him close in her embrace an!

affections. This comm#nion contin#es in chapter 3 where she says in verse J:

+ho is this that cometh o#t of the wil!erness li)e pillars of smo)e perf#me! with myrrh

an! fran)incense" with all the pow!ers of the merchant

Then in chapter A the bri!egroom spea)s" saying in verse J:

Until the !ay brea)" an! the sha!ows flee away" , will get me to the mo#ntain of myrrh"

an! to the hill of fran)incense.

=o#l! it be that the mo#ntain of myrrh wo#l! spea) of o#r &or!s s#fferings 4ow

great 4is s#fferings$ +hat a mo#ntain that is$ 4e says that 4e will be at that mo#ntain

an! 4is bri!e is invite! to *oin 4im there. ho#l! we !isappoint 4im &ets come every&or!s Day with others to meet 4im there to contemplate 4im in 4is s#fferings. &ets

come often in o#r hearts to en*oy 4is company in private$ 4e is thereI we can always fin!

4im$ B#t 4e goes on to spea) of the hill of fran)incense. =o#l! this spea) of what we"

li)e the wise men" wo#l! bring along with the gol! an! myrrh +e cannot bring verym#ch to 4im. B#t 4e calls it a hill$ ,t is significant$ 4e invites #s to meet 4im with what

we have to bring. +e !o not have a !escription of what fran)incense is E who can

!escribe worship that comes from o#r hearts; +ise men bro#ght it$ ,s it not worshipthat 4e will appreciate an! commen! as we meet 4im there with o#r offerings for 4im

,n =hapter @:1 we fin! the Bri!egroom in 4is gar!en she was calle! a gar!en in A:1$;

with 4is bri!e an! frien!s. 4e ha! gathere! 4is myrrh$ 4e ha! provi!e! the honeycombwith the honey" the wine an! the mil)" an! all were invite! to eat an! !rin) ab#n!antly.+hat a place of happy #nity with 4im in the mi!st" an! all en*oying 4is provisions$

+o#l! that this was always so$ B#t" sa!ly" the chapter contin#es. The bri!e ha! gone

home" bathe! an! ha! gone to be!. B#t 4e came an! calle!. he ma!e exc#ses. 4e p#this han! in thro#gh the hole in the !oor an! her heart move! for 4im. +hen she went to

the !oor the han!les !rippe! with the myrrh" the sweet smelling myrrh. +ith her han!

also !ripping with myrrh" she opens the !oor to fin! 4im gone. +hat a !isappointment$



B#t her heart ha! been !eeply affecte! an! there wo#l! be no satisfaction witho#t 4im.

o she goes loo)ing for 4im. -ven with the myrrh on her han!s" she !i! not thin) of the

o#ntain of yrrh or the 4ill of %ran)incense" so she went abo#t the streets. That wasnot a goo! place for her. The watchmen fo#n! her an! smote her. 'thers wo#l! as) her

abo#t her Belove!" so she began to !escribe 4im in most elegant terms from hea! to toe.

ost !escriptions of 4im are from hea! to toe" with those of man from the sole of hisfoot to the crown of his hea!. ee ,sa. 1:J an! am. 1A:@.; 'cc#pation with 4im

bro#ght her bac) into comm#nion with 4im an! on into happy fellowship with 4im an!

4is frien!s. Brethren !welling together in #nity$

Strong’s "##

ar) 1@:3 says:

2n! they gave 4im to !rin) wine mingle! with myrrhI b#t 4e receive! it not.

2fter 4is trial before Pilate" o#r &or! ha! been sco#rge! an! sent to be cr#cifie!. 4e ha! been crowne! with a crown of thorns" moc)e! with the p#rple robe an! bro#ght to

>olgotha. 2t >olgotha 4e ha! been offere! wine mingle! with myrrh. 4e wo#l! notreceive it. This was not an act of worship" b#t of scorn. 4e was very thirsty an! 4is bo!y

!ehy!rate!" b#t 4e wo#l! not receive that. ,n no way wo#l! 4e allow anything to !etract

from the f#ll weight of the pain 4e m#st en!#re as the in7bearer.

Strong’s "##$

The final #ses of the wor! myrrh come in (evelation 1:11 an! :C. The name myrna is a

>ree) wor! for myrrh. myrna was a s#ffering assembly. They were enco#rage! by the

message from the 'ne who became !ea! an! is alive. any ha! been martyre!I othersha! s#ffere! terrible things. o the wor! from the 'ne who ha! !ie! an! rose again wastheir comfort. They ha! been faithf#l #nto !eath. 9ow" they co#l! loo) beyon! !eath to

4im who overcame. +hat a path of faithf#lness to their &or!$ +al)ing in that path with

4im an! other faithf#l ones is the path of #nity. B#t it is to be a path in total separation to4im an! from the worl! an! those who wal) in worl!ly ways.

Lessons from the Myrrh

yrrh is associate! with the !eep feelings arising from heart7wrenching experiences in

the !iffic#lt things in life. >o! often allows #s to pass thro#gh s#ch !iffic#lt times.

Diffic#lt times are meant to ma)e #s p#re" fragrant an! #sef#l for 4im in service toothers. +e will see more of this as we contin#e o#r s#b*ect.

Cinnamon& Calamus an' Cassia

These ingre!ients of the Precio#s 'intment are not as often mentione! in cript#re" as is

the myrrh. 2ll are mentione! in -xo!#s 36:3 as ingre!ients of the holy anointing oil. 2ll



are from the plant or bar) of the plant that is !rie! an! p#lveriGe!. This is a painf#l

process an! completely changes the appearance an! #sef#lness of the material.

=innamon is the secon! ingre!ient in the holy anointing oil. ,t is also mentione! in thenegative way referre! to with myrrh see above in Prov. ?:1?;I an! as one of the pro!#cts"

along with calam#s" of the Bri!es gar!en in ong of olomon A:1A. The one reference inthe 9ew Testament is in (evelation 1C:11713 where it is one of the items of merchan!ise

that no one will b#y after the *#!gment of Babylon.

=alam#s is the thir! ingre!ient of the holy anointing oil. ,t is mentione! in -Ge)iel ?:1

as a pro!#ct in the mar)et before Tyres bea#ty was remove!.

=assia is the fo#rth ingre!ient specifie! in the precio#s ointment" an! it is mentione!

along with myrrh in Psalm A@:C as one of the fragrances of the Hings garments. eecomments above #n!er myrrh.

Oil Olive

P#re olive oil was #se! as the f#el for the oil lamps in the tabernacle -x. ?:6;. ,t wasthe so#rce of energy for the light. ,n -xo!#s 36:A it is the carrying agent for the

fragrances of myrrh" cinnamon" calam#s an! cassia. ,t is easy to see how the oil is a type

of the 4oly pirit who is o#r spirit#al so#rce of energy as 4e ta)es the things of =hristan! ma)es them goo! to #s. 4e also carries all the fragrances of =hrist for o#r spirit#al

en*oyment as 4e ca#ses them to flow !own to an! on #s.

2ll believers are one in =hrist" b#t if we are to en*oy that #nity we m#st be in a proper

con!ition for that Precio#s 'intment to flow !own over #s. +e m#st neither grieve nor

8#ench the 4oly pirit if we are to properly en*oy 4is wor).

The Precious Ointment ()on The *ea' An' +unning

,o-n

Psalm 133:1 is an exclamation$

Behol!" how goo! an! pleasant it is for brethren to !well together in #nity$

To explain what this means the psalmist goes on to say in verse :

It is like the precious ointment upon the head, that ran down upon the beard, even

Aaron’s beard: that went down to the skirts of his garments

+e have seen the Precio#s 'intment as a holy composition of spices carrie! in olive oil.The myrrh is associate! with the !eep feelings arising from heart7wrenching experiences

in the !iffic#lt things of life. The cinnamon" calam#s an! cassia are all pro!#cts from the

bar) of a tree or from a plant that were gro#n! to a very fine pow!er. This painf#l process



pro!#ces rich fragrances. 2ll spea) of the s#fferings of o#r &or! an! to a lesser !egree of

o#r !eep experiences with 4im in lifes pathway. The olive oil" a type of the 4oly pirit"

is the carrier an! energy for the s#spension" flow an! release of the precio#s fragrances of =hrist.

,n an attempt to #n!erstan! how this ill#strates brethren !welling together in #nity" wewill trace the flow of that Precio#s 'intment !own over 2arons hea!" bear! an!

garments. ince we wish to follow the flow of the Precio#s 'intment" we m#st start at thetop of 2arons hea!. -xo!#s C gives the instr#ctions for the garments of the priests.

Topmost on the forehea! of the high priest was the holy crown -x. C:3J;. ,t was

compose! of a plate of p#re gol! engrave! li)e the engravings of a signet with the wor!s:4'&,9- T' T4- &'(D. P#re gol! is a type of the intrinsic holiness an! !ivinity

of >o!. The high priest who wore that crown was to be acting #n!er the control of the

'ne whom that crown represente!. ,t was to be alwa!s on his forehea!. 4e ha!

responsibility for the holy things of >o!. The wor!s 4'&,9- T' T4- &'(D co#l!

never be covere! or erase!. They were permanently on !isplay. -verything offere! an!!one in the presence of the high priest was to be in line with the &or!s holy re8#irements

an! or!er.

The holy crown was p#t on a bl#e lace. Bl#e is the colo#r of the s)y an! spea)s ofheavenly things. '#r &or! <es#s =hrist came !own from heaven to bring >o!s tho#ghts

an! plans to #s. 4e was that lace of bl#e$ The holy crown an! the lace of bl#e were to be

set at the forefront of the mitre or bonnet of the high priest. The mitre was to be ma!e offine linen v. 3;. The fine linen was p#re an! white with no blemishes in it. 2arons hea!

was to be enclose! in this p#re white mitre. 2ll that transpire! in his tho#ghts was to be

in the p#re character of what that mitre represente!.

+hen the Precio#s 'intment was po#re! on the hea! as in Psalm 133:" how !i! the flow begin The first point of contact was with the holy crown. The holy anointing oil with all

its ingre!ients representing the fragrances of =hrist first came #pon this holy crown. 2ll

is holy an! precio#s here. There was neither !efilement nor inconsistency. ,t then flowe!!own over the lace of bl#e. Tho#ghts of heaven$ Tho#ghts of the 'ne who came from

heaven to reveal >o!s tho#ghts an! plans to #s$ That Precio#s 'intment flowe! over

4im as the lace of bl#e an! over the p#re white mitre. '#r >reat 4igh Priest has only p#re tho#ghts. 4e )new no sinI 4e !i! no sin" an! there was no sin in 4im.

4ow won!erf#l was the flow of the Precio#s 'intment before it ever reache! 2arons

bear!$ 4ow important this is in brethren !welling together in #nity$ %rom the first sin in

the >ar!en of -!en" there has been blame an! see!s of !is#nity. '#r &or! came to ma)e#s one in 4imself. ,f we are to en*oy the #nity 4e has provi!e!" we m#st be in the proper

con!itions for it to be realiGe!. There is nothing of mans !oing in this #nity. '#r &or! is

the so#rce. The 4oly pirit 7 carrying all 4is fragrances 7 alone can provi!e the energyfor this #nity as this Precio#s 'intment flows over #s.



2aron m#st have ha! a f#ll bear!. The bear! ha! grown from within 2aron as he serve!

as high priest. That which came from within him an! co#l! be seen by others m#st come

#n!er the effect of that Precio#s 'intment. -xo!#s 36:3 gave clear an! #nmista)ableinstr#ction that the holy anointing oil was never to be po#re! on mans flesh. -ven

2arons bear! as it grew while he serve! the &or! an! 4is people m#st be sanctifie! an!

consecrate! by this Precio#s 'intment if there was to be proper #nity among the peopleof >o!.

The Precio#s 'intment )ept flowing !own. 2s it flowe!" it wo#l! fall on the two onyx

stones on the sho#l!ers of the epho!. ee -xo!#s C:J71A. The epho! was ma!e of gol!"

bl#e" p#rple" scarlet an! fine linen. >ol! is a type of the !ivine righteo#sness of o#r &or!<es#s =hrist. Bl#e spea)s of heavenly things. P#rple stan!s for royalty. carlet points #s

to the 'ne who sai!: B#t , am a worm an! no man. 4e she! 4is bloo! to ta)e away the

sin of the worl!. 2ll the scarlet things were !ye! from the pigment from the !ea! re!maggot worm. The fine linen spea)s of 4is righteo#sness given to 4is saints for their

garments. The white onyx stones each ha! six of the names of the twelve tribes of the

chil!ren of ,srael engrave! in them. The names were engrave! permanently" in the samemanner" as was the inscription 4'&,9- T' T4- &'(D in the holy crown. They

were set in soc)ets of gol! in the sho#l!ers of the epho!. There they were borne before

the &or! an! maintaine! in strength as typifie! by the sho#l!ers of the high priest. 2

gir!le ma!e of the same materials hel! the epho! in place.

The Precio#s 'intment wo#l! then flow !own to the breastplate vv. 1@7;. ,n the

breastplate was fo#n! the Urim an! Th#mmim which stan! for the lights an!

perfections of =hrist. These were #se! to !etermine the &or!s will in !iffic#lt sit#ations.

ee -Gra :J3 an! 9ehemiah ?:J@. 'n the front of the breastplate were the twelve precio#s stones" each bearing the name of one of the tribes of the chil!ren of ,srael. These

were affectionately borne on 2arons heart in precise or!er of fo#r rows with threestones each; over the Urim an! Th#mmim lights an! perfections; of the &or!. +hat a!isplay of #nity as the Precio#s 'intment flowe! over them$

'ver all these vestments was the robe of bl#e. The hole in the top with its special bin!ing

allowe! it to be p#t on over the high priests hea!. 2t the base on the hem were gol!en

bells alternating with bl#e" p#rple an! scarlet pomegranates. The pomegranates representfr#itf#lness" an! the gol!en bells wo#l! ma)e harmonio#s so#n!s as the high priest

move! abo#t !oing his !#ties.

The Precio#s 'intment containe! all the fragrances associate! with o#r &or!s !eep

innermost feelings" as well as o#r !eep feelings as we have gone with 4im thro#gh themost !iffic#lt times of o#r lives. The gathering" c#tting" !rying an! p#lveriGing times

have been so painf#l" yet they have yiel!e! the sweetest fragrances. These" carrie! in the

olive oil" a type of the 4oly pirit" form the Precio#s 'intment. This Precio#s 'intmentis s#ch a val#able so#rce of blessing for #s as we consi!er o#r &or!" o#r tr#e 4igh Priest"

an! how all spea)s of 4im" 4is person an! 4is wor).



%or #s to really be in the goo! of brethren !welling in #nity" we m#st be in the goo! of

o#r position in =hrist. +e m#st have appreciate! 4is s#fferings an! have been willing to

s#ffer with 4im. The Precio#s 'intment po#re! over 4is hea! with all 4is holy"heavenly an! p#re tho#ghts; r#nning !own over 4is bear! once pl#c)e! o#t" b#t thro#gh

which 4is face now shines; reaches to #s. +e fin! o#rselves borne #pon 4is sho#l!ers

an! #pon 4is heart with all 4is strength an! affections. +hat a place to be with all therest of 4is own$ +hat a place to !well together in #nity$

B#t" sa!ly" we have often been ta)en #p with other things an! the practical en*oyment of

the #nity has been marre!. +e have been occ#pie! with things of this worl!. The politics

an! social affairs of this worl! have shape! o#r thin)ing an! affecte! o#r actions. The+or! of >o! has lost its place in o#r min!s an! heart7affections. The pleas#res an!

affairs of this worl! have ta)en o#r time an! energies. +e have become associate! with

worl!ly people an! things" an! when we try to assimilate them into the =hristian circles"conf#sion res#lts. There seems to be a lac) of spirit#al power to !isting#ish between the

things of o#r &or! an! those of the worl!. +e may try to resolve iss#es by applying

worl!ly techni8#es to spirit#al matters" b#t the res#lt is #s#ally fr#stration. cript#resmay be improperly applie! or receive! beca#se of the col! con!ition of o#r hearts. These

things ten! to !ivi!e brethren.

,t is comforting to )now that there is a way to ret#rn. B#t the way is not in any of the

pro#! ways we may have been following. ,t is in h#mbling o#rselves before o#r &or! an!each other. +e m#st separate o#rselves #nto 4im an! that may well necessitate separation

from what we may have consi!ere! nice people an! things. The !eep experiences with

o#r &or! an! each other" with hearts willing to !epen! on 4im" can lea! #s to appreciate

the Precio#s 'intment. Then when con!itions are right" it will flow !own over #s as weconscio#sly see o#r place in o#r >reat 4igh Priest. 4ere we will fin! goo! an! precio#s

times of brethren !welling together in #nity.

The ,e- Of *eaven

Behol!" how goo! an! pleasant it is for brethren to !well together in #nity... as the !ewof 4ermon an! as the !ew that !escen!e! #pon the mo#ntains of 5ion: for there the &or!

comman!e! the blessing" even life for evermore Psa. 133:1"3;.

Dew" when promise! in cript#re" is an ass#rance of >o!s blessing to man on earth.+hen withhel!" it is a form of *#!gment. ,f we wish to #n!erstan! the con!itions of the

blessings of brethren !welling together in #nity" it will be helpf#l to appreciate the

characteristics of !ew.

<ehovah as)e! <ob many har! 8#estions in <ob 3C to A1. 2mong them were 8#estionsabo#t the rain an! the !ew" the hoary white; frost an! the ice. ee <ob 3C:@736. ome of

those 8#estions were:

4ath the rain a father



+ho hath begotten the !rops of the !ew

'#t of whose womb came the ice

The hoary frost of heaven" +ho hath gen!ere! it

These are not normal 8#estions for #s. B#t they are 8#estions well worth consi!eringsince <ehovah as)e! them. They can be answere! as we #n!erstan! how the !ew is

forme!.

ormation of the ,e-

The formation of the !ew of heaven begins the !ay before the !ew appears. ,t begins with

the s#n shining brightly !#ring the !ay. +hen the s#n shines on the earth it sen!s

tremen!o#s 8#antities of energy to the earth. That energy warms things on earth. '#r cars

an! many other things get warm7even hot in the s#nshine. This heat is pro!#ce! by the

absorption of energy from the s#n.

2s the energy po#rs forth on the earth" something else happens to prevent #s from

b#rning #p. +ater evaporates" absorbing most of this energy. -ach liter of water absorbsabo#t J6 calories act#ally )ilogram calories" b#t we call them calories for o#r !iets$; to

change it from li8#i! at room temperat#re; to vapor. Billions of liters of water evaporate

each !ay. (emember" we only nee! some "666 calories each !ay to live$ ,magine how

m#ch energy is absorbe! to )eep #s comfortable here. +hat a won!erf#l an! wise=reator" who has so !esigne! this intricate system$

There is a balance between the amo#nt of li8#i! an! evaporate! water on the earth. There

is a limit on the amo#nt of water that can be hel! in the air E with warm air being able tohol! more than col! air. D#ring the !ay when the s#n shines brightly" the air warms an! isable to hol! s#bstantial amo#nts of evaporate! water.

2fter s#nset" the energy that came from the s#n in the !aytime leaves the earth by

ra!iation. 2ct#ally there is ra!iation away from the earth !#ring the !ay as well" b#t therate of s#pply from the s#n overri!es the amo#nt leaving.; This pro!#ces what the

weatherman calls ra!iational cooling. 2s air cools it can hol! less water an! the

sat#ration point is calle! the !ew point. +hen the !ew point is reache! in the cooling

process the excess evaporate! water hel! in the air con!enses an! forms !ew. Dew willform on any item that is s#fficiently cooler than the s#rro#n!ing air" an! it generally

forms on the ob*ects from which the s#ns energy ha! been store! an! *#st release!.These cool ob*ects are the points of attraction for the !ew formation. This is a very gentlean! !elicate process an! is the way >o! begets each !rop of the !ew.

ormation of +ain& /ce an' *oar rost

ost of the extraction of the evaporate! water from the air ta)es place #n!er more !rasticcon!itions. +e will not consi!er the technical aspects of the formation of rain except to



say that there are tremen!o#s energies involve!. &i8#i! water contains less energy than

evaporate! water" so in the process of changing the evaporate! water bac) to li8#i!" this

energy m#st be #se! somewhere. This energy transfer pro!#ces win!" lightning" hail" etc.This is >o!s way of f#lfilling -cclesiastes 1:? which tells #s:

2ll the rivers r#n into the seaI yet the sea is not f#llI #nto the place from whence therivers come" thither they ret#rn again.

>o! is the %ather of every rain!rop. The energy for each !rop has come from 4im. 4ehas provi!e! that energy an! controlle! its release to form each !rop to accomplish 4is

gran! !esign$

4ow can we explain ice coming from a womb 2 womb is a nice warm place. -ach of #s

was forme! in one$ =an ice come from s#ch a place ,f so" how 4ow is the ice forme!,ce contains m#ch less energy than li8#i! water. 2s energy leaves" things get col!er.

+ater freeGes at 6 !egrees =elsi#s 3 !egrees %ahrenheit;. B#t we m#st remember where

the energy came from in or!er that it might leave. ,t came from the s#n. >o! sent it to #s.4e sen!s it an! he prepare! the way for it to leave. 2ll is in 4is control. 2ll is for the

!isplay of 4is love an! care for #s. The ice has come from 4is womb$ ee trongs

6. +omb may also be translate! bosom or bo!y.;

Then" there is the hoary white; frost of heaven that those of #s who live in col! climatesfin! on o#r car win!ows on some col! mornings. +e may !espise it as we clear it from

o#r win!ows or shiver while we wait for the !efroster to wor). B#t it really is a blessing

from the &or!" so that we !o not freeGe to !eath as energy leaves the earth. %rost is froGen!rops of !ew. >o! has gen!ere! each of those col! crystals that spar)le in the s#nshine$

4e has sent them for #s to en*oy$

+ater is" therefore" >o!s great shoc) absorber in that it absorbs an! hol!s tremen!o#s

8#antities of energy !#ring the heating cycle" then gives bac) that energy as things cool.+e wo#l! literally b#rn #p !#ring the !ay an! freeGe soli! !#ring the night if it were not

for the shoc) absorber that is constantly storing an! releasing energy.

Con'itions A'verse to ,e- ormation

9ow" lets ret#rn to tho#ghts of the !ew. Di! yo# notice that there is m#ch !ew on some

mornings an! little or none on others +hy There are several reasons.

Dew is absent or minimal after a clo#!y !ay the !ay before. The s#n ha! been shining *#st li)e all other !ays" b#t the clo#!s between the s#n an! the earth ha! !issipate! an!absorbe! the rays of energy. The flow of energy ha! been !isr#pte!. The energy was not

able to fall !irectly on the ob*ects on the earth. They remaine! cool that !ay. +hen the

night came there was not m#ch energy to ra!iate bac). They co#l! not cool !owns#fficiently at night to be attractive to !ew formation. o there was no !ew on them that

night.



Dew is also absent or minimal after a clo#!y night. The s#n may have shown brightly the

!ay before an! warme! things nicely !#ring the !ay" b#t evening an! night clo#!s have

interfere! with the release of the ra!iating energy. ,t co#l! not escape. #ch of it was bo#nce! bac) or absorbe! by the s#spen!e! li8#i! !rops of the clo#!s in the air above"

hence" no !ew.

+in! con!itions also affect the !ew. D#ring a win!y !ay the air r#shing by ob*ects on

earth )eeps them cool by ta)ing m#ch of the energy with it. -nergy is robbe! by thewin!. +in! )eeps things agitate!. 2t night the win! ta)es the ra!iating energy an! warms

the ob*ects that release the energy. The 8#iet !elicate process of !ew formation is

interr#pte!. There is little or no !ew after a win!y !ay or a win!y night.

Lessons from the ,e-

4armony among brethren is a !elicate thing. -li*ah !i! not hear the &or! in the great an!

strong win!" the earth8#a)e or the fire" b#t in the still" small voice 1 Hi. 1:1171;. The

blessing of the !ew of heaven is to be receive! an! en*oye! in very peacef#l con!itions.

%irst" we m#st be in the proper con!ition to receive !ivine energy from o#r &or! who is

the #n of righteo#sness al. A:;. There sho#l! be no clo#!s between 4im an! #s. <#st

as the clo#!s are near the earth" the problem with o#r clo#!s will be that we allow thingsto veil 4im from #s. 4is energy is always available an! 4is !esire is to warm o#r hearts

with 4is love. ay we not allow clo#!s between 4im an! #s in o#r personal lives$

Then" we m#st live witho#t reproach in this worl!. This will mean that we live livesm#ch !ifferent than many abo#t #s. There sho#l! be no clo#!s that hin!er the !ivine

flow of energy from #s. +e live in a very !ar) worl!" b#t that is precisely the place for

the heaviest !ew to form. +e are chil!ren of light an! are to let o#r lights so shine beforemen that they may glorify o#r &or!. >o! wants #s to be an #nclo#!e! con!#ctor of 4isenergy to all the nee!y abo#t #s.

9o !ew is forme! #nless the energy receive! is ra!iate! bac). ,f we only ta)e in the

!ivine blessings" there will be no !ew. 4aving o#r hearts warme! is not eno#gh. +e m#st

ra!iate that love to others who !esperately nee! it. They are all abo#t #s in the !ar)ness.'pport#nities abo#n!" b#t we m#st leave o#r comfort Gones an! go into the col!" !ar)

night" ra!iating the love of >o!. erving o#r &or! by serving others allows the !ew of

heaven to form on #s. Brethren wor)ing together to reach the lost an! !ying fin!themselves in a won!erf#lly #niting process.

<#st as water is >o!s great shoc) absorber" so >o! !esires #s to be part of 4is great

plan for this worl!. The whole worl! is #n!er 4is *#!gment" an! 4is wrath abi!es on

each lost person <ohn 3:3J;. The energy of 4is wrath is far more than that of the s#n$B#t o#r &or! <es#s =hrist came an! absorbe! the energy of that wrath on the cross for

all who have believe! on 4im. 4is wor) there is s#fficient to meet the nee! of all. 4is

s#pply of living water is s#fficient for #s as we labo#r for an! with 4im" an! it iss#fficient for every person who will see) it. +e are privilege! to en*oy as m#ch of the



energy of 4is love as we wish" b#t for #s to experience the blessing of the !ew of heaven

we m#st ra!iate this energy o#t into the col!" !ar) worl!. omeone ra!iate! it to #s an!"

than)f#lly" many still !o;" so we sho#l! be part of the process of ra!iating to others. <es#sstoo! an! crie!:

,f any man thirst" let him come #nto e an! !rin). 4e that believeth on e" as thescript#re hath sai!" o#t of his belly sho#l! flow rivers of living water <ohn ?:3?73C;.

4e !esires #s to be part of this won!erf#l process of reaching the thirsty so#ls.

B#t the !ew of heaven is forme! in 8#ietness. ,t is so well recor!e! in ,saiah 36:1@"

,n ret#rning an! rest shall ye be save!I in 8#ietness an! confi!ence shall be yo#r

strength.

ay we not be li)e those of ,saiahs time who ref#se! an! went their own way in their

own strength to their conf#sion an! !estr#ction. ay we rather be li)e the little girl whowhile playing with her toys" loo)e! #p at her mother sitting nearby. he sat there 8#ietly a

few moments" then left her toys an! climbe! #p in her mothers lap. other as)e! what

she wante!. he replie!:

9othing" , *#st want to sit here an! loo) at yo# an! love yo#$

'h" that we may leave o#r toys an! *#st sit in contemplation of o#r &or! an! 8#ietlyen*oy 4is love$ &ets *#st let 4im love #s an! then love 4im in ret#rn. This 7 with 4is

+or! before #s an! o#r hearts overflowing bac) to 4im in worship 7 is the i!eal set of

con!itions for the formation of the !ew of heaven in o#r lives. 2s we 8#ietly sit in 4is

presence to en*oy 4is tho#ghts an! absorb 4is energy" we will feel 4is heart throb" an!then perhaps even #nconscio#sly; ra!iate 4is love 8#ietly to o#r brethren an! the many

lost ones abo#t #s. 4ow won!erf#lly #nifying this is$

Dew" in cript#re" when promise! spea)s of the blessings of >o! for man on earth. ,t isnot mentione! in the 9ew Testament beca#se a heavenly people are in view. ,t will not be

nee!e! in heaven. B#t it is s#ch a provision of blessing as we travel this !esolate

wil!erness enro#te$

irst Mention of ,e- in Scri)ture

,saac in blessing his sons promise! both of them that >o! wo#l! give them of the !ew ofheaven an! the fatness of the earth >en. ?:C"3;. B#t both were not given the same blessing. %or <acob" the !ew of heaven came before the fatness of the earth" b#t the

blessings were reverse! for -sa#. +hat !ifference wo#l! this ma)e

<acob was to be the father of >o!s earthly people. They were to have a special

relationship with their >o!. >o! wo#l! provi!e for them in special ways. The !ew ofheaven wo#l! be one of these special blessings. These blessings wo#l! come from >o!



4imself" so it was calle! the !ew of heaven. +hile they were obe!ient an! followe!

their >o!" the !ew wo#l! be in plentif#l s#pply. The fatness of the earth wo#l! follow

with their earthly blessings.

Poor -sa# was promise! these blessings in reverse or!er. -arthly things wo#l! be first for

him. &oo) at his !escen!ents an! relatives to!ay. The fatness of the earth has generally been their lot. +here are all the oil wells being fo#ght over to!ay -sa#s !escen!ents

have been blesse! with the fatness of the earth" b#t how miserable has been their lot withall their wars an! fighting. The !ew of heaven has also fallen #pon them" b#t they have

har!ly notice!.

Unfort#nately" ,srael has little appreciate! the !ew of heaven. ,n spite of >o!s many blessings to them" there seems to be little appreciation shown to 4im. They seem to )eep

trying to enter into their blessings on their own. They will )eep trying" b#t will not

s#ccee! on their own. The time is coming when they shall be in #tter !efeat. B#t that is

not the en! of the story for them. +hen all seems most hopeless an! they in their !espair

t#rn to the &or! with all their hearts" 4e will p#t a new heart in them. 4e will then bringthem into the blessings 4e has been hol!ing in store for them. 'nly then will they come

into an! appreciate the blessings of the !ew of heaven.

The Manna on the ,e-

,n the morning the !ew lay ro#n! abo#t the host. 2n! when the !ew that lay was gone

#p" behol!" #pon the face of the wil!erness there lay a small ro#n! thing" as small as thehoar frost on the gro#n!. 2n! when the chil!ren of ,srael saw it" they sai! one to another"

K,t is manna... -x. 1J:13b to 1@ an! following;.

%or forty years >o! fe! 4is people with manna$ +hat a marvelo#s provision$ +ho co#l!have imagine! s#ch a thing$ Their foo! came with the !ew of heaven$

+here !i! they fin! this won!erf#l foo! 9ot in the camp. +hy not (emember" >o!

ha! given them a pillar of clo#! which stoo! between them an! the -gyptians in -xo!#s

1A:176. ,t was to be their sha!e thro#gho#t their !esert *o#rney. 2t night it was a pillar

of fire. This pillar of clo#! by !ay an! pillar of fire by night was a won!erf#l comfort tothem in provi!ing sha!e by !ay" pl#s heat an! light by night. B#t their foo! was not to be

fo#n! #n!er it. The con!itions #n!er the clo#! an! pillar of fire were not favo#rable for

the !ew of heaven. The s#n co#l! not po#r forth its energy there. B#t all aro#n! the clo#!the con!itions were #nimpe!e!. There the earth co#l! ta)e the f#ll force of the s#n !#ring

the !ay an! the energy was free to go bac) !#ring the night. These were the i!ealcon!itions for the formation of the !ew of heaven. 2n! this was the place where >o! provi!e! the foo! for 4is people. 4is people co#l! not provi!e their own foo!. They

m#st go o#t from themselves to 4is appointe! place. B#t it was not far away E *#st

o#tsi!e an! ro#n! abo#t the camp. -ach morning" except the abbath" they were togather their foo!. B#t they m#st !o so before the s#n got hot an! it !isappeare! for that

!ay.



4ow f#ll of lessons is this for #s as we see) to !well together as brethren in #nity$ '#r

place is to !well together in #nity #n!er 4is clo#! an! pillar of fire. 4e has calle! #s to a

most won!erf#l place in the family of >o!. 'h" that we appreciate" ever more an! more"what has been !one for #s to re!eem #s from the worl! -gypt; an! to provi!e so

s#mpt#o#sly for #s on o#r way to heaven$ ,srael ha! been physically separate! from the

worl!ly infl#ences of -gypt. ,n the wil!erness there was a place for them provi!e! bytheir >o!; to !well together in #nity. There was no lac) of foo!" with manna every

morning an! 8#ails every evening. +e too live in a wil!erness an! there is a place for #s

to be separate! to o#r &or! an! from the worl!. '#r foo! is not from o#rselves. +e are to

go forth #nto 4im witho#t the camp" bearing 4is reproach 4eb. 13:13;.

4e" o#r &iving Brea!" will provi!e o#r foo! there. This foo! bro#ght into o#r !wellings

an! feaste! #pon will #nite #s in 4im$

2re we willing to leave o#r nice warm an! comfortable places an! go o#t ro#n! abo#t

the camp to in!ivi!#ally gather o#r manna for o#rselves an! for o#r families +e !onot nee! to get wet with the !ew" b#t we m#st be there *#st after the !ew goes #p. +e

m#st not be far remove! from what >o! has !one the !ay before an! !#ring the night.

Divine energy has come an! gone" b#t precio#s foo! has been left behin! for #s to gather.

There is a time prescribe! by the &or! for #s to gather o#r manna. '#r &or! <es#s" o#r brea! who came !own from heaven <ohn J;" is not only >o!s foo! b#t o#rs as well. 2re

we spen!ing that necessary time gathering from 4im each morning 2re we fee!ing on

4im with o#r families thro#gho#t the !ay 2ny lac) here will be a so#rce ofcomplaining" starting in o#r families an! sprea!ing thro#gho#t the company of believers.

a!ly" the chil!ren of ,srael still carrie! the things of -gypt in their hearts" an! their

m#rm#rings ca#se! m#ch !is#nity among them. 2n! are not the things we bring fromthis worl! the so#rces of o#r !is#nity a!ly" it is so$

My S)eech Shall ,istill As the ,e-

These were among the final wor!s of oses" the man of >o!" an! are recor!e! for #s in

De#teronomy 3:. oses ha! been s#ch a won!erf#l servant of >o!$ 4e was one withwhom >o! co#l! spea) face to face.

4e ha! come to learn his own heart" the heart of the people" an! more importantly" >o!s

heart. 4ow often he plea!e! with >o! for 4is people. 9ow" at the en! of his life" he

compose! le! by the pirit of >o!; a song for >o!s people. The song they sang on the ban)s of the (e! ea seems to have been largely forgotten. 9ow they were abo#t to go

into the Promise! &an! an! oses was abo#t to leave them. trong warnings were in

or!er for the m#rm#ring an! !isobe!ient company. +hat co#l! be the best way to presentthese warnings 4e compose! the song$ B#t he !i! not begin with the warnings: he

began with an invitation to heaven an! earth to hear the wor!s of his mo#th$ The wor!s

that he #se! were not or!inary wor!s E they were p#re wor!s of instr#ction !octrine;



that wo#l! fall as rain maybe heavy at times;" b#t they were also gentle wor!s. 4is

speech wo#l!

!istill as the !ew an! as the small rain #pon the ten!er herb an! as showers #pon thegrass because he wo#l! p#blish the name of the &or!" an! ascribe greatness #nto o#r

>o!.

4e wo#l! teach the people to sing that

4e is the (oc)" 4is wor! is perfect: for all 4is ways are *#!gment: a >o! of tr#th an!

witho#t ini8#ity" *#st an! right is 4e.

The people ha! been following oses" b#t <osh#a wo#l! be their new lea!er. &ea!ers

co#l! fail. oses ha!. 4is fail#re ha! painf#l conse8#ences. 4e ha! once spo)en ba!ly

an! calle! >o!s people rebels 9#m. :16;. 4e ha! not set apart >o! before the eyes

of the people" an! he ha! been !enie! the privilege of bringing >o!s people into the

Promise! &an!. -ven the mee)est man in all the earth 9#m. 1:3; ha! #se! har! wor!s" b#t now at the en! of his life his speech co#l! !istill as the !ew. +hat might this mean

The !istillation process normally ta)es place in a close! environment where the pro!#ctto be !istille! is p#t into a container an! heate! to evaporate it. 2bove the boiling li8#i!

will be a cool con!enser to catch the f#mes an! t#rn them bac) to li8#i!. This !istillate is

then channelle! into a clean container. The imp#rities are left behin! in the boiling

container. Us#ally the evaporate! li8#i! is invisible an! only becomes visible again aftercon!ensation. This process re8#ires being in the heat an! col! with energy given an!

ta)en away. oses ha! experience! this both physically an! spirit#ally as he le! sheep

an! then >o!s people.

These experiences ma!e oses a wiser an! more #sef#l lea!er. Twice oses ha! beenforty !ays alone with >o! at o#nt inai. 4e ha! been o#t of the sight of the people.

9ow he was ol! an! wo#l! soon be gone. B#t he ha! learne! to p#blish the name of the

&or! an! to ascribe greatness to his >o!. 4e co#l! reco#nt >o!s ways with 4is people"remin!ing them of 4is blessings. 4e co#l! then challenge them. This was !one with a

song they wo#l! learn. ,t then co#l! be rehearse! in their min!s an! s#ng by their lips.

9o longer co#l! they see his shining face" b#t the !istille! p#re wor!s wo#l! linger on E an! they still !o to!ay$

2re not >o!s ways with #s m#ch li)e 4is ways with oses %ew of #s wo#l! have

!esire! oses !iffic#lt *ob of lea!ing >o!s people. oses forty years of learning in the best schools in -gypt were followe! by forty years of special training" lea!ing sheep an!raising his family. 2t eighty he was calle! to conten! with Pharaoh for the !eliverance of

the chil!ren of ,srael. Then there were all the experiences of the wil!erness where oses

ha! been in the heat an! in the col!.

ometimes we feel li)e we have been in similar circ#mstances. 'ften we feel li)e waterspilt on the gro#n!" which cannot be gathere! #p again am. 1A:1A;. an cannot



gather the water #p again" b#t >o! can an! !oes. 4e !oes it by evaporation$ 4e may

choose to evaporate #s" ma)ing #s invisible as 4e wor)s in o#r lives" so 4e can

con!ense #s in 4is time" way an! place. +hile that process may not be a comfortableone" it may well be 4is way of richest blessing for #s. &ets be willing to be in 4is han!s$

&ets allow 4im to apply the heat an! the col! in 4is own way for o#r goo!. This is often

4is way to p#rify #s" an! what seems so painf#l to #s is 4is way of removing #s fromwhat wo#l! !efile #s. The psalmist in Psalm 11 fo#n! this to be so in his life. 4e sai!:

Before , was afflicte!" , went astray: b#t now , have )ept Thy wor! v. J?;. ,t was goo!

for me that , have been afflicte!I that , might learn Thy stat#tes v. ?1;. , )now" ' &or!"

that Thy *#!gments are right" an! that Tho# in faithf#lness hast afflicte! me v. ?@;. , amafflicte! very m#chI 8#ic)en me" ' &or! accor!ing to Thy wor! v. 16?;.

These afflictions !eliver #s from o#r own ways to prepare #s for tr#e #nity.

0ose)h’s lessing

Both <acob an! oses ascribe special blessings to <oseph" the one who was separate from

his brethren >en. A:J; or separate! from his brethren De#t. 33:1;.

+hile the !ew is not specifically mentione! in >enesis A" the con!itions are right for it

to be incl#!e! in the blessings <acob gave. ,ncl#!e! in the blessing was:

...the 2lmighty" who shall bless thee with blessings of heaven above" blessings of the!eep that lieth #n!er" blessings of the breasts" an! of the womb... they shall be on the

hea! of <oseph an! on the crown of the hea! of him that was separate from his brethren.

The !ew is specifically mentione! in De#teronomy 33:1371J an! following. Part of the blessing of oses was:

2n! of <oseph he sai!" Blesse! of the &or! be his lan!" for the precio#s things of

heaven" for the !ew" an! for the !eep that co#cheth beneath" an! for the precio#s things

bro#ght forth by the s#n" an! for the precio#s things p#t forth by the moon" an! for thechief things of the ancient mo#ntains" an! for the precio#s things of the lasting hills" an!

for the precio#s things of the earth an! f#llness thereof an! for the goo! will of 4im that

!welt in the b#sh: let the blessing come #pon the hea! of <oseph" an! #pon the top of the

hea! of him that was separate! from his brethren.

<osephs life ha! been very !iffic#lt b#t greatly blesse! of the &or!. 9ow" there was aspecial blessing left for his !escen!ents. <oseph ha! been re*ecte! by his brethren an!

sol! into -gypt. The early years in -gypt were also very !iffic#lt. 4e was pl#nge! !eep

into the fires of affliction. 4e ha! been o#t of sight 7 evaporate! 7 from his home an!family. 4e ha! been an #n)nown in -gypt. B#t he ha! never been o#t of sight or

#n)nown to >o!. These !iffic#lt experiences were stepping stones in his preparation for

greater service. 4is !reams wo#l! be f#lfille! thro#gh !eep personal trage!ies. 4e co#l!



become visible to his family again in another place an! be the so#rce of blessing to them

an! the whole worl!.

B#t how can we reconcile the fact of <osephs twice emphasiGe! separation from his brethren with o#r consi!eration of #nity in Psalm 133

eparation ha!nt been the choice of <oseph or his father. <oseph an! his father <acob ha!

a very close relationship an! they share! their concern for <osephs brothers.

Unfort#nately" the brothers were involve! with improper things" an! <oseph infaithf#lness to his father ha! to report to him their evil ways. These reports" along with

his !reams an! fathers favo#ritism" ca#se! his brethren to hate him. ,n spite of <osephs

care an! concern for his brethren" they plotte! an! fo#n! a way to get ri! of him. Themessage sent home to father in the form of a coat !ippe! in bloo! prompte! <acob to

believe some wil! beast ha! )ille! his son.

,t was not possible for brethren to !well together in #nity with s#ch !ifferent lifestyles

an! goals. B#t <osephs brothers wishe! to go their own ways even tho#gh they were not#nite! in their willf#l ways. 2s we rea! their history we see many problems between

them. B#t they were 8#ite #nite! in wanting to get ri! of <oseph. 4is honesty an!

#prightness" along with his !reams an! special place of affection with father" seeme! to

be too m#ch for them. o the excl#sion comes from their si!e.

imilar things happen to!ay. any !ear brethren wish to go on a wi!er pathway an! feel

free to associate with other goo! people or fine =hristians or ca#ses. any seem to

be enth#siastically involve! with all )in!s of =hristian activities an! see no problemswith s#ch associations. 2fter all" they say" +ell all be together in heaven. 'ther

brethren see improper things going on in an! with these associations an! feel convicte!

before their &or! abo#t them. o there are separations" some initiate! by both si!es ofthe iss#es. =hoices m#st be ma!e. ometimes they are force!.

<oseph ha! been force! into separation. B#t he !i! not wish it to contin#e in!efinitely.

Before he became visible to his brethren again" it was necessary for their consciences to

be properly exercise!" b#t he wo#l! provi!e for all their nee!s. Their money was not

important to him. ,t was the con!ition of hearts that mattere! most. 2fter he was reveale!to his brethren" he !i! all in his power to restore the #nity" b#t it seems that his brethren

never tr#ste! him f#lly. 4e wept over their #nwillingness to be f#lly reconcile!.

B#t the blessing came on the top of the hea! of him who was separate! from his brethren.

eparation to o#r &or! m#st come first. 2s we follow 4im an! call on 4im o#t of a p#reheart" we will fin! others who also !o so. ,n the !egree in which we follow o#r &or! with

a p#re heart" we can en*oy the fellowship of others li)ewise !oing so. ,t is so that all tr#e

believers will be in heaven" b#t the wrong associations an! attit#!es of this scene will bethen *#!ge! an! remove!. +e will en*oy that perfect #nity then$

Lessons from 2i'eon



The &or! ha! tol! >i!eon that he was to save ,srael o#t of the han! of the i!ianites

<#!g. J;. >i!eon seems to have been timi! an! !i! not want to procee! on his own. 4e

ha! been tol! to !estroy the altar of Baal an! b#il! an altar to the &or! an! offer hisfathers secon! b#lloc) on that altar. 4e was obe!ient" b#t with ten of his servants !i! the

*ob at night. ,n >i!eons !esire to )now ass#re!ly that >o! was to #se him to save ,srael"

he as)s >o! to !o some very !iffic#lt things for him. 2s , loo) at what he as)e!" these !onot seem to me to be re8#ests of a !o#bter" b#t of a serio#s see)er of the min! of >o!.

%irst he sai!:

Behol!" , will p#t a fleece on the floorI an! if there be !ew on the fleece only" an! it be

!ry #pon all the earth besi!e" then shall , )now that Tho# wilt save ,srael by mine han! asTho# hast sai!.

>i!eon was an o#t!oorsman. 4e )new that !ew forme! on some things" b#t not others

an! that there was more or less !ew on vario#s ob*ects.

Things with high heat capacity collect more !ew. %or example" an a#tomobile has a high

heat capacity an! as we all )now when sitting in the s#n can get very hot insi!e beca#seits s#rface gets hot. +oolen garments especially light colo#re! ones; !o not get hot E in

fact they are ins#lators. 9ow" when >i!eon as)s something of >o!" why not ma)e the

re8#est !iffic#lt 2fter all" >o! is able to !o what seems impossible to #s. >i!eon )newthat in his own strength he co#l! not !eliver ,srael. Deliverance ha! to come from >o!.

o" too" m#st his ass#rance come from >o!. >o! was very willing to show >i!eon that

4e co#l! !o the !iffic#lt things re8#este!.

>i!eon arose early the next morning" loo)ing for >o!s answer. 4e gathere! the fleece

together an! it was f#ll of water" b#t there was no !ew anywhere else. To see howab#n!antly >o! answere!" he wr#ng the water o#t of the fleece an! fo#n! a bowl f#ll of

water$ This was a won!erf#l answer. Those of #s who have left garments o#tsi!eovernight may have fo#n! them !amp in the morning" b#t there was not a bowl f#ll of

water in them from the !ew. 2n! if they were !amp" there was m#ch more !ew on other

things$

>i!eon !esire! a!!itional ass#rance an! as)e! for the opposite set of circ#mstances forthe next morning. 4e wante! to prove with the fleece that >o! co#l! )eep the fleece !ry

an! that there wo#l! be !ew on all the gro#n!. >o! answere! exactly as >i!eon

re8#este!. o >i!eon went on to prepare a company for the battle.

+hy is this story recor!e! for #s ,n a!!ition to the interesting story" there are lessons for #s. >o! certainly !oes want 4is own to be ass#re! that 4e is lea!ing them. B#t , believe

4e gave this lesson to be a bea#tif#l type of o#r &or! <es#s =hrist$

(emember" we have sai! that the !ew is a type of the blessing of >o! for 4is people on

earth. +hen o#r &or! <es#s came" was it not !ry all aro#n! 4e came as a root o#t of !rygro#n! ,sa. @3:;" b#t the blessing of >o! was on 4im$ >o! co#l! say from heaven that



4e was 4is well belove! on an! that >o! was well please! with 4im. +herever 4e

went" 4e carrie! blessings from >o!. 4e !emonstrate! this with 4is miracles an!

gracio#s wor!s an! !ee!s. 4e was the !ew of heaven$

4is pathway le! him thro#gh this worl! an! on to the cross. There 4e was ma!e a c#rse

when 4e too) o#r sins #pon 4imself. There the !ew was wr#ng from 4im. 4e crie! o#t:, thirst.

B#t now the !ew is on all the gro#n!. That gro#n! which was c#rse! by sin can nowreceive the blessing of >o!$ -veryone can now receive the L!ew of heaven$M The goo!

news of the gospel is available to all. Those who accept it come into the blessing of >o!.

The blessing is for #s now here on earth an! will contin#e thro#gho#t the ages ofeternity$

+hy !i! >i!eon fin! a bowl f#ll of water in the fleece ay , s#ggest that >o! wo#l!

give him *#st what he nee!e! for that moment Di! he nee! a !rin) Di! he nee! water

for cleansing +hatever his nee! was" there was *#st eno#gh for him. >i!eon ha! his bowl f#ll that morning$ +e may come often to 4im an! we can always fin! o#r bowl f#ll

to meet o#r nee!$

ebucha'ne44ar

The !ew of heaven !i! not only affect the ,sraelites" b#t the nations were also infl#ence!

by it. 9eb#cha!neGGar was a great )ing in Babylon. +e have in Daniel the 2ramaic term

for the !ew of heaven.

Daniel" 4ananiah" ishael an! 2sariah ha! been faithf#l servants in his )ing!om. 2fter

their time of prayer" Daniel ha! reveale! a forgotten !ream to the )ing an! provi!e! theinterpretation. B#t the )ing contin#e! on in pri!e. Daniels frien!s passe! thro#gh the

f#rnace after wal)ing in it with a fo#rth person the on of >o!" Dan. 3:@;. ,n spite of brief ac)nowle!gments that the >o! of the 4ebrew servants was the tr#e >o!"

9eb#cha!neGGar contin#e! on in his pri!e. o >o! sent him another !ream" which only

Daniel co#l! interpret. +hen Daniel hear! the !ream he was very astonishe! an! wishe!

the interpretation of the !ream for the enemies of the )ing. 2fter twelve months of f#rther pri!ef#l living" the interpretation came to pass.

Hing 9eb#cha!neGGar lost his min! an! was !riven from among men. 4is )ing!om

!eparte! from him an! he live! with the wil! beasts of the earth. 4e ate grass li)e the

oxen an! his bo!y was wet with the !ew of heaven #ntil he wo#l! )now that the ost4igh r#le! in the )ing!om of men an! gave power to whomsoever 4e wo#l!. even

years later he lifte! #p his eyes to heaven an! recogniGe! who >o! was. 4is

#n!erstan!ing ret#rne! to him an! he blesse! the ost 4igh" praising an! hono#ring 4imwhose !ominion was an everlasting !ominion with 4is )ing!om passing from generation

to generation. 4e was restore! to his position as )ing. Then he co#l!



praise an! extol an! hono#r the Hing of heaven" all whose wor)s are tr#th an! 4is ways

*#!gmentI an! that those who wal) in pri!e 4e is able to abase Dan. A:3?;.

Pri!e is a !rea!f#l thing. 9eb#cha!neGGars pri!e was his !ownfall. >o! !ealt !rasticallywith him. ,t was not possible for him to contin#e to lea! the )ing!om. There co#l! be no

#nity in the )ing!om with s#ch a pro#! man at the top. Pri!e an! self7see)ing are great!estroyers of #nity among brethren.

B#t experiences alone with >o!" #n!er the effects of the !ew of heaven" change! this)ing. Being warme! by the s#n an! chille! in the night so that he co#l! be wet with the

!ew of heaven" an! seven years in the school of >o! ha! its effect. &#x#ry an! ease are

not goo! for #s. 4ar!ship an! privation alone with the &or! are m#ch better for #s. +elive in &ao!icean times an! say especially with o#r attit#!es an! actions; that we are

rich" an! increase! with goo!s" an! have nee! of nothing. ,nstea!" we are the wretche!

an! the miserable" poor" an! blin! an! na)e!. 9eb#cha!neGGar became a change! man.

'#r !iffic#lt times alone with >o! can also change #s$ &ets not !espise the !ew of

heaven an! its lessons for #s$

Three egative +eferences

+e have sai! that whenever the !ew was promise! it represente! the blessing of >o! formen on earth. +e will observe that when it is withhel!" a c#rse was prono#nce!.

The first negative example comes in am#el 1:1. Davi! laments the !eath of a#l an!

<onathan. 4e says:

Fe mo#ntains of >ilboa" let there be no !ew" neither let there be rain" #pon yo#" nor

fiel!s of offeringsI for there the shiel! of the mighty is vilely cast away" the shiel! ofa#l" as tho#gh he ha! not been anointe! with oil.

a#l ha! consi!ere! Davi! his enemy" b#t Davi! never reciprocate! the tho#ght. Davi!

ha! been very content to !well with a#l to help him an! the people of ,srael in any way possible. B#t a#ls *ealo#sy an! pri!e ca#se! him to !espise Davi! an! treat him ba!ly.

Davi! trie! to overcome evil with goo!. a#l an! <onathan were )ille!" an! Davi!

prono#nce! a c#rse on the place of their !eath. 4e lamente! for a#l an! <onathan.

The secon! negative example is fo#n! in 1 Hings 1?:1.

2n! -li*ah the Tishbite" who was of the inhabitants of >ilea!" sai! #nto 2hab" 2s the&or! >o! of ,srael liveth" before whom , stan!" there shall not be !ew nor rain these

years" b#t accor!ing to my wor!.

2hab was an evil )ing an! le! the people of ,srael in evil ways. There wo#l! be three an!one half years of famine with no !ew or rain. Disobe!ience to >o! brings 4is people into

sa! con!itions. -ven )ing 2hab an! his servant were !ivi!e!" going separate ways

loo)ing for foo! for animals. >o!s faithf#l ones were secretly care! for" b#t the vast



ma*ority of the chil!ren of ,srael were left to fare however they co#l!. +hat a lac) of

practical #nity among brethren$

4aggai 1:16 is the thir! negative example. The people of ,srael ha! been occ#pie! with b#il!ing their own ho#ses. The &or!s ho#se ha! been neglecte!. ,n >o!s *#!gment" 4e

says:

Therefore the heaven over yo# is staye! from the !ew" an! the earth is staye! from her

fr#it.

elf7see)ing is a !angero#s thing. This is not con!#cive to brethren !welling in #nity. The&or!s wor! to #s by 4aggai is: =onsi!er yo#r ways. Do not the same wor!s spea)

vol#mes to the hearts of any exercise! before o#r &or!

Closing Comments About The Lives Of 0ose)h An' Our

Lor'Myrrh

<oseph experience! !eeply both the bitterness of the myrrh an! the blessings of the !ew

of heaven. Both of these precio#s sets of lessons are !evelope! in his life in the school of

>o! with his brethren an! in the worl! of his time. 4e )new what it was to be re*ecte! by

his brethren" to overcome evil with goo!" b#t to still not be f#lly tr#ste!. ,n all he is awon!erf#l type of o#r &or! an! is a rich role mo!el for each of #s to follow.

+e have alrea!y notice! <osephs relationship with his father an! his brethren before

their separation. ,n spite of )nown an! felt animosity" <oseph wo#l! be faithf#l in !oinghis fathers bi!!ing" an! he was rea!y an! willing to go to see) the welfare of his brethren. 4e is li)e o#r blesse! &or! who

came #nto 4is own" b#t 4is own receive! 4im notM <ohn 1:11;.

Both were re*ecte! an! sol!. They co#l! not wal) together with their brethren. There

co#l! be no #nity beca#se of the !ifferent ways an! lifestyles. Both were hate! for their#pright livesI that pro!#ce! hatre! in the hearts of their brethren. The re*ections of both

came from those whom they love! so !early an! for whom they !esire! the very best.

Both live! #pright lives in spite of the false acc#sations an! contin#e! to see) the welfare

of their brethren an! were willing to forgive" even witho#t forgiveness being re8#este!.-vil was overcome with goo!. Blessings were ren!ere! in place of moc)ery an! c#rsing.

<oseph was strippe! of his bea#tif#l robe an! wrappe! in the myrrh train that too)

him to -gypt >en. 3?:@7?;. 4e felt so very !eeply the re*ection of his brethren. &ater"his brethren a!mitte! their g#ilt concerning their brother" in that they saw the ang#ish of

his so#l when he beso#ght them" b#t they wo#l! not hear A:1;. 4e !eeply felt the

bitterness of the myrrh" b#t he carrie! the fragrance to others. >o! was with him an!



ma!e all that he !i! to prosper 3:3;. +hile he !eeply felt the afflictions" he )ept them

insi!e rolling them on his >o!;" so that on the o#tsi!e he co#l! be so #sef#l to an!

tr#ste! by others in the new strange lan!. -ven in the new lan!" there were severetestings" b#t he remaine! faithf#l to his >o! an! to those whom he serve!. +e rea! of no

attempt to ret#rn evil to any.

'#r blesse! &or! veile! 4is glory" entering this worl! #n!er the poorest of

circ#mstances. +e fin! 4im wrappe! in swa!!ling clothes" lying in a manger. 4e was#n)nown by most !#ring the first thirty years of 4is life. +hen 4e !i! ma)e 4imself

)nown to 4is brethren the vast ma*ority re*ecte! 4im. 4is goo! !ee!s were ascribe! to

evil powers. 0ery few b#t how precio#s they were to 4im; bro#ght myrrh to 4im asnote! above. The Psalms an! Prophets are f#ll of expressions of the ang#ish of 4is heart.

The ong of ongs !escribe 4is appreciation of the myrrh with its bitterness an!

fragrance. Fet 4e willingly as)e! for forgiveness for 4is enemies an! even to!ay is stillwillingly receiving all who have grievo#sly sinne! against 4im when they come in

repentance to 4im" as)ing for 4is mercy. 'n the cross 4e exha#ste! the wrath of >o! for

sins. Two of 4is own wrappe! 4is bo!y in linen" with myrrh an! aloes" an! lai! 4im inthe new tomb. B#t 4e rose from the !ea! an! is now ascen!e! to the right han! of the

%ather. 9ow there is won!erf#l blessing for all who accept 4im as avio#r.

The !ay is coming when ,srael will come to the en! of herself. 2fter the soon7coming

terrible persec#tion befalls her" she will in absol#te !esperation call on 4im whom shehas long re*ecte!. he will then be restore! to 4im. The bitterness of 4is myrrh will be

replace! by its fragrance$

Se)aration an' (nity

4ow can we reconcile separation an! #nity Tr#e #nity is not possible witho#t separation.eparation has two aspects: separation to >o! an! separation from the worl!. The or!er

m#st first be separation to >o! before there can be effective separation from the worl!.The saints in Thessalonica t#rne! to >o! from i!ols 1 Thess. 1:;.

<oseph an! his brothers were brothers before an! after the separation. %amily ties were

not change!. B#t practical relationship ties were greatly affecte! when the brothers live!

#ngo!ly lives an! sol! him to the ,shmaelites. ,t was impossible for <oseph an! his brethren to wal) together in their !iverging pathways. 4is personal integrity an! !evotion

to his father prevente! that. 2s painf#l as it was" he co#l! not remain #nite! with them in

their evil ways. -xc#ses wo#l! not wor). -vil co#l! not be *#stifie!. B#t he was not the

one to forcibly brea) the tie to his brothers. (ather" his brothers were convicte! by his#prightness in contrast to their ways" so they re*ecte! an! sol! him.

'#r &or!s own" too" re*ecte! 4im. '#r &or! was holy" harmless" #n!efile! an! separate

from sinners 4eb. ?:J;. 4e was wholly separate! to >o!. +hile 4e was the %rien! ofsinners" 4e was never a parta)er of any of their evil ways. +hen they ref#se! to come to

4im an! re*ecte! 4im" they fo#n! themselves separate! from 4im. ,n their animosity

they wo#l! cry: 2way with 4im$



<oseph is a type of o#r &or!. Both were separate! first to >o!. ,t was this separation that

prece!e! the other. 9ow" any real #nity for followers of >o! m#st be on the basis of

separation to >o! first. 'f necessity" this will force the worl! to excl#!e #s. The principlewas first !emonstrate! by

=ain who was of the wic)e! one" who slew his brother beca#se his wor)s were evil an!2bels righteo#s 1 <ohn 3:1;.

The worl! will hate #s for the same reasons if we are faithf#l to o#r &or! v. 13;.

B#t it is not only from the worl! that hatre! can be manifeste!. ,n <ames A:A we learn thatfrien!ship with the worl! is enmity with >o! an! that whosoever will be a frien! of the

worl! is the enemy of >o!. The company we )eep affects #s as believers. <#st &ot

vexe! his righteo#s so#l with the filthy conversation of the wic)e! Pet. :C;.

Believers are affecte! by contacts in this worl!. 2n! this affects relationships with other believers. 2 carnal believer may well be #ncomfortable with one who really in sincerity

wishes to follow the &or!. &ot chose what he tho#ght was the best for himself. ,t is not to

be #nexpecte! that s#ch a carnal one will act in #nbecoming ways" as !i! &ot" <osephs brothers an! others.

Both <acob an! oses were inspire! to prono#nce a special blessing #pon <osephs

!escen!ents beca#se of his faithf#lness" an! also to emphasiGe his separation from his

brethren.

<acob calls <oseph a fr#itf#l bo#gh" even a fr#itf#l bo#gh by a well whose branches r#n

over the wall >en. A:7J;.

4e was li)e the go!ly man in Psalm 1. 4e carrie! blessing wherever he went E even

o#tsi!e the wall of ,srael to the -gyptians an! others.

2rchers ha! sorely grieve! him" an! shot at him" an! hate! him. 4e ha! been the ob*ectof most cr#el hatre!. B#t his bow abo!e in strength" an! the arms of his han!s were

ma!e strong by the han!s of the mighty >o! of <acobI from thence is the shepher!" the

stone of ,srael:; -ven by the >o! of thy father" who shall help theeI an! by the 2lmighty"

who shall bless thee with blessings of heaven above" blessings of the !eep that lieth#n!er" blessings of the breasts an! of the womb: The blessings of thy father hath

prevaile! above the blessings of my progenitors #nto the #tmost bo#n! of the everlastinghills: they shall be on the hea! of <oseph" an! on the crown of the hea! of him that wasseparate from his brethren.

4is !evotion to his >o! ma!e him fit for the blessings of >o! on the crown of his hea!

E li)e the Precio#s 'intment po#re! later on the crown of 2aron the high priest.

oses wor!s of <oseph are recor!e! in De#teronomy 33:1371?.



2n! of <oseph he sai!" Blesse! of the &or! be his lan!" for the precio#s things of

heaven" for the !ew" an! for the !eep that co#cheth beneath" an! for the precio#s fr#its

bro#ght forth by the s#n" an! for the precio#s things p#t forth by the moon" an! for thechief things of the ancient mo#ntains" an! for the precio#s things of the lasting hills" an!

for the precio#s things of the earth an! the f#llness thereof" an! for the goo! will of him

that !welt in the b#sh: let the blessing come #pon the hea! of <oseph" an! #pon the top ofthe hea! of him that was separate! from his brethren. 4is glory is li)e the firstling of his

b#lloc)" an! his horns are li)e the horns of #nicorns: with them he shall p#sh the people

together to the en!s of the earth: an! they are the ten tho#san!s of -phraim an! they arethe tho#san!s of anasseh.

The ,e-

<oseph ha! ta)en the heat an! the col!. Both the s#n an! moon ha! shone on him. 4e ha! been able to receive an! pass on the precio#s things of heaven from each. 4e ha!

receive! !ivine energy from his >o! an! ra!iate! that energy bac) to family an! stranger"

to prisoner an! Pharaoh. 4e co#l! reveal the precio#s things of heaven that were hi!!enfrom others. There ha! been no clo#!s between him an! his >o! or those abo#t him.

4e never seeme! in a h#rry. 4e went on 8#ietly an! patiently ta)ing both heat an! col! 7

goo! times an! ba! 7 as from his &or!. (egar!less of how his brethren an! others; meant

things" he co#l! say:

>o! meant it for goo!" to bring to pass as it is this !ay" to save m#ch people alive.

<oseph was the )ey to #nity in every place where >o! place! him E wherever he was the

recogniGe! go!ly lea!er an! finally lor! over all -gypt >en. A@:C7;. >o!ly lea!ers li)e

<oseph are nee!e! to!ay. +hile they are very few" o#r &or! has provi!e! those nee!e!.

B#t lea!ers are not lea!ers witho#t followers. 2s we all follow the 2#thor an! %inisher of o#r faith" we will recogniGe those lea!ers 4e has set #p. oses" the mee)est man in all

the earth" was s#ch a great lea!er. &ets not loo) for flamboyant lea!ers with great charm"or those who claim a#thority" b#t rather for those who are 8#ietly following o#r &or!"

teaching 4is wor! an! watching over o#r so#ls as those who m#st give acco#nt to 4im

4eb. 13:?"1? <9D;.

9ow the >o! of peace" that bro#ght again from the !ea!" o#r &or! <es#s" that greathepher! of the sheep" thro#gh the bloo! of the everlasting covenant" ma)e yo# perfect in

every goo! wor) to !o 4is will" wor)ing in yo# that which is well pleasing in 4is sight"

thro#gh <es#s =hristI to whom be glory for ever an! ever. 2men 4eb. 13:671;.

The !ay is coming when o#r &or! will be recogniGe! as &or! of lor!s an! Hing of )ings"an! all will be in tr#e #nity an! harmony. ,t is not so yet in this worl!. B#t these

con!itions can alrea!y be present in the hearts of those who give 4im 4is place of

a#thority in their lives.

(n'erstan'ing Psalm 13351 an' 3b



The precio#s ointment" its flow !own over the high priest" an! the !ew of heaven on

4ermon lofty; an! the mo#ntains of 5ion s#nny; give #s practical instr#ctions for

proper con!itions for 4is richest blessings to be po#re! o#t on 4is brethren to !welltogether in tr#e #nity now an! forever.

'#r &or! has ma!e all who tr#st 4im as avio#r brethren. +e have come from manynationalities an! c#lt#res. B#t the wor! for brethren in verse 1 provi!es for won!erf#l

#nity in spite of s#ch !iverse bac)gro#n!s. +e have come from the vario#s bac)gro#n!sto o#r avio#r an! &or!" an! it is 4e who has ma!e #s one in 4imself. 2s we foc#s on

4im an! 4is glory" we all will learn 4is ways an! will be conforme! to 4is li)eness

=or. 3:1C;.

The wor! dwell has the tho#ght of sitting !own 8#ietly an! remaining together. Tho#ghts

in the wor! incl#!e being settle!" abi!ing together as in a marriage. This implies a

contin#o#s an! permanent relationship that begins here in this worl! an! contin#es

thro#gho#t eternity$

The term together in #nity implies being #nite! or *oine!; into one #nit. ,n <ohn 1? o#r

&or! praye! for this #nity to be maintaine! between or among; 4is own. >o! maintains

this #nity even tho#gh man has faile! in !isplaying o#twar! #nity.; 4e was leaving 4is

own in a worl! that ha! been an! wo#l! contin#e to be at enmity to 4im. 4e !esire! thatwe wo#l! be )ept from this worl! an! its ways. 2s 4is own wo#l! be separate! from the

worl! they wo#l! be hate!. 4e praye! for #s in this worl! an! as)e! for #s to be )ept

from the evil one an! that we wo#l! be sanctifie! set apart; by the tr#th >o!s +or!;.,n!ivi!#als who follow the ways of this worl! will bring problems that affect the

practical #nity of >o!s people. &ea!ers are especially charge! to be faithf#l in this. ee

Timothy :1@I 3:1AI Tit#s 1:I :17"?7C. 2s we wal) together in #nity we will be well

pleasing to o#r &or! an! answer to 4is !esire for #s. +e will then be a testimony to theworl! that we are 4is$

Behol!" how goo! an! how pleasant it is for brethren to !well together in #nity$

ay we even now be in the goo! of both the exclamation an! the promise E

for there the &'(D comman!e! the blessing" even life for evermore.

" A #tassel

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Psalm 133-L a Stassel