In Exodus
the Ten Commandments
are called
the tablets of the Testimony;
the commandments
testify of God
in two ways (32:15):
the Ten Commandments
are called
the tablets of the Testimony;
the commandments
testify of God
in two ways (32:15):
First,
they testify
that God
is the unique God.
they testify
that God
is the unique God.
Second, they testify
that God
is a God of
love, light, holiness, and righteousness.
that God
is a God of
love, light, holiness, and righteousness.
The law and its ordinances
were decreed by God
in 20:1—23:19;
then,
in 24:12
God called Moses up
to the top of the mountain
to give him
the tablets of the law, the Testimony:
were decreed by God
in 20:1—23:19;
then,
in 24:12
God called Moses up
to the top of the mountain
to give him
the tablets of the law, the Testimony:
As the word of God
and the testimony, the expression, of God,
the law
is a type of Christ
as God’s Word and God’s testimony, God’s expression.
and the testimony, the expression, of God,
the law
is a type of Christ
as God’s Word and God’s testimony, God’s expression.
Christ is
the reality of the law
as the testimony of God;
the testimony of God
signifies Christ, the embodiment of God,
as the living portrait
of what God is.
the reality of the law
as the testimony of God;
the testimony of God
signifies Christ, the embodiment of God,
as the living portrait
of what God is.
The reality of keeping the law
is to live God and express God;
such a living,
a living in the eternal economy of God,
is the living of a God-man,
a life of continually exercising the spirit
to deny the self
and be crucified to live Christ,
who is God’s testimony,
by the bountiful supply
of the Spirit of Jesus Christ
for the enlarged and expanded expression of God.
is to live God and express God;
such a living,
a living in the eternal economy of God,
is the living of a God-man,
a life of continually exercising the spirit
to deny the self
and be crucified to live Christ,
who is God’s testimony,
by the bountiful supply
of the Spirit of Jesus Christ
for the enlarged and expanded expression of God.
Even before the decree of the law
was completed,
the people broke
at least the first three commandments
of the law
by falling into the sin of idolatry;
the shattering of the tablets of the Testimony
indicates that before the children of Israel
received the law,
they had already broken
the law and the covenant of the law:
was completed,
the people broke
at least the first three commandments
of the law
by falling into the sin of idolatry;
the shattering of the tablets of the Testimony
indicates that before the children of Israel
received the law,
they had already broken
the law and the covenant of the law:
Man’s replacing of God with idols
causes man
to be unable to keep God’s commandments.
causes man
to be unable to keep God’s commandments.
An idol in our heart
is anything within us
that we love more than the Lord
and that replaces the Lord
in our life,
corrupting us
and bringing in many sinful things.
is anything within us
that we love more than the Lord
and that replaces the Lord
in our life,
corrupting us
and bringing in many sinful things.
Those who set up idols
in their hearts
are estranged from the Lord
through their idols;
all who have idols
within them
yet seek God
in an outward way
cannot find Him.
in their hearts
are estranged from the Lord
through their idols;
all who have idols
within them
yet seek God
in an outward way
cannot find Him.
After the children of Israel
worshipped the golden calf,
Moses moved to a place
outside the camp,
where everyone
who sought the Lord
went to meet with him,
for both the Lord’s presence and speaking
were there:
worshipped the golden calf,
Moses moved to a place
outside the camp,
where everyone
who sought the Lord
went to meet with him,
for both the Lord’s presence and speaking
were there:
We need to see
and be warned
by the principle of the golden-calf idol,
an idol made by God’s redeemed people
to make them
an idolatrous camp:
and be warned
by the principle of the golden-calf idol,
an idol made by God’s redeemed people
to make them
an idolatrous camp:
The gold earrings
were worn by the people
for self-beautification;
this indicates
that self-beautification
leads to idolatry.
were worn by the people
for self-beautification;
this indicates
that self-beautification
leads to idolatry.
Furthermore,
the gold in the earrings
was given to the children of Israel by God
before their exodus from Egypt.
the gold in the earrings
was given to the children of Israel by God
before their exodus from Egypt.
However,
before the gold
could be used for God’s purpose,
it was usurped by Satan
and used by God’s people
to make an idol.
before the gold
could be used for God’s purpose,
it was usurped by Satan
and used by God’s people
to make an idol.
Hence,
idolatry is
Satan’s usurping
and man’s abusing
of what God
has given for His purpose,
in order to make it a waste;
it is our abusing
what God has given us
and not using God’s gifts,
both material and spiritual,
for God’s purpose.
idolatry is
Satan’s usurping
and man’s abusing
of what God
has given for His purpose,
in order to make it a waste;
it is our abusing
what God has given us
and not using God’s gifts,
both material and spiritual,
for God’s purpose.
The golden calf
was not a pagan idol,
for it was made by Aaron,
a genuine high priest
appointed by God;
furthermore,
Aaron made the calf
in the name of Jehovah
and took the lead
to worship the idol
in the way of
presenting offerings to God
and worshipping God.
was not a pagan idol,
for it was made by Aaron,
a genuine high priest
appointed by God;
furthermore,
Aaron made the calf
in the name of Jehovah
and took the lead
to worship the idol
in the way of
presenting offerings to God
and worshipping God.
Thus, God’s redeemed people
worshipped an idol
in the name of Jehovah their God
and in the way
ordained by God.
worshipped an idol
in the name of Jehovah their God
and in the way
ordained by God.
With idolatry
there is
the pretense of worshipping the true God,
and there is
mixture in the worship of God.
there is
the pretense of worshipping the true God,
and there is
mixture in the worship of God.
A calf is
not for labor
but for eating
and therefore signifies enjoyment;
after the golden calf was made,
the people ate, drank,
and rose up to play
in front of it.
not for labor
but for eating
and therefore signifies enjoyment;
after the golden calf was made,
the people ate, drank,
and rose up to play
in front of it.
This picture
indicates that the children of Israel
worshipped what they enjoyed;
their worshipping of the golden calf
was an amusement and an entertainment,
indicating that amusement and entertainment
were their idol.
indicates that the children of Israel
worshipped what they enjoyed;
their worshipping of the golden calf
was an amusement and an entertainment,
indicating that amusement and entertainment
were their idol.
What we care for
is the presence of the Lord;
in His presence
is fullness of joy.
is the presence of the Lord;
in His presence
is fullness of joy.
Because Moses realized
that the Lord’s presence
would no longer be
in the midst of the people,
he removed his tent
and pitched it
some distance from the camp;
his tent then
became the tent of God:
that the Lord’s presence
would no longer be
in the midst of the people,
he removed his tent
and pitched it
some distance from the camp;
his tent then
became the tent of God:
The camp
signifies a religious people,
who belong to the Lord in name
but who, in actuality, worship idols,
worshipping something
and seeking something
other than the Lord Himself.
signifies a religious people,
who belong to the Lord in name
but who, in actuality, worship idols,
worshipping something
and seeking something
other than the Lord Himself.
In the history of God’s people,
the camp
may be seen
in three periods:
the camp
may be seen
in three periods:
The camp was first the children of Israel
after they worshipped the golden calf.
after they worshipped the golden calf.
The Jewish religion
became the camp
at the time of
the Lord’s living on the earth.
became the camp
at the time of
the Lord’s living on the earth.
Later,
the church changed in nature
from being a tent
to being a camp,
a religious system, religious Babylon,
comprising a group of religious people
belonging to the Lord in name
and honoring the Lord with their mouth
but having their hearts set
on something other than the Lord.
the church changed in nature
from being a tent
to being a camp,
a religious system, religious Babylon,
comprising a group of religious people
belonging to the Lord in name
and honoring the Lord with their mouth
but having their hearts set
on something other than the Lord.
After Moses removed his tent
and separated it from the idolatrous camp,
the Lord spoke to him face to face,
just as a man speaks to his companion:
and separated it from the idolatrous camp,
the Lord spoke to him face to face,
just as a man speaks to his companion:
God and Moses
were companions, associates, partners,
involved in the same career
and having a common interest
in a great enterprise.
were companions, associates, partners,
involved in the same career
and having a common interest
in a great enterprise.
Because Moses
was intimate with God,
he was a person
who knew God’s heart,
who was according to God’s heart,
and who could touch God’s heart;
thus, he
had God’s presence
to a full extent.
was intimate with God,
he was a person
who knew God’s heart,
who was according to God’s heart,
and who could touch God’s heart;
thus, he
had God’s presence
to a full extent.
We need to enter within the veil
and go outside the idolatrous camp
to have
the closest and most intimate relationship
with the Lord
so that we
can be persons
who share a common interest with God
and who can be used by Him
to carry out His enterprise on earth.
and go outside the idolatrous camp
to have
the closest and most intimate relationship
with the Lord
so that we
can be persons
who share a common interest with God
and who can be used by Him
to carry out His enterprise on earth.
All those
who are seeking the Lord
have to go outside the camp
and go forth
unto Him
at the tent.
who are seeking the Lord
have to go outside the camp
and go forth
unto Him
at the tent.
The goal and ultimate conclusion
of the book of Hebrews
are that we
would enter within the veil
and go outside the camp:
of the book of Hebrews
are that we
would enter within the veil
and go outside the camp:
To enter within the veil
means to enter into the Holy of Holies,
where the Lord is enthroned in glory,
and to go outside the camp
means to come out of religion,
whence the Lord
was cast out
in rejection:
means to enter into the Holy of Holies,
where the Lord is enthroned in glory,
and to go outside the camp
means to come out of religion,
whence the Lord
was cast out
in rejection:
The camp signifies
the organization of religion,
which is earthly and human.
the organization of religion,
which is earthly and human.
Every religion
is a human organization
and an earthly realm
that keeps people away
from God’s economy.
is a human organization
and an earthly realm
that keeps people away
from God’s economy.
We must be
in our spirit,
where, experientially speaking,
the practical Holy of Holies
is today,
and outside religion,
where the practical camp
is today:
in our spirit,
where, experientially speaking,
the practical Holy of Holies
is today,
and outside religion,
where the practical camp
is today:
The more we are in our spirit,
enjoying the heavenly Christ,
the more we will come
outside the camp of religion,
following the suffering Jesus.
enjoying the heavenly Christ,
the more we will come
outside the camp of religion,
following the suffering Jesus.
The more we remain in our spirit
to contact the heavenly Christ,
who is in glory,
the more we will go forth
outside the camp of religion
unto the lowly Jesus
to suffer with Him.
to contact the heavenly Christ,
who is in glory,
the more we will go forth
outside the camp of religion
unto the lowly Jesus
to suffer with Him.
The genuine New Testament ministry
brings us
into the enjoyment of Christ
in our spirit,
within the veil,
and strengthens us
to follow Jesus
outside the camp
in the fellowship of His sufferings
for the sake of His Body:
brings us
into the enjoyment of Christ
in our spirit,
within the veil,
and strengthens us
to follow Jesus
outside the camp
in the fellowship of His sufferings
for the sake of His Body:
Within the veil
we participate in
the ministry of the heavenly Christ
that we may be equipped
to minister Him
to the thirsty spirits
outside the camp.
we participate in
the ministry of the heavenly Christ
that we may be equipped
to minister Him
to the thirsty spirits
outside the camp.
By entering within the veil
and going outside the camp,
we are perfected in every good work
for the doing of the will of God,
who does in us
that which is well pleasing
in His sight.
and going outside the camp,
we are perfected in every good work
for the doing of the will of God,
who does in us
that which is well pleasing
in His sight.
To enter within the veil
is to get into our spirit;
when we turn to our spirit
and exercise it,
we enter within the veil:
is to get into our spirit;
when we turn to our spirit
and exercise it,
we enter within the veil:
We have to exercise,
to use,
to employ,
our spirit
by fanning our spirit into flame,
setting our mind on the spirit,
and discerning our spirit
from our soul.
to use,
to employ,
our spirit
by fanning our spirit into flame,
setting our mind on the spirit,
and discerning our spirit
from our soul.
We must exercise our spirit
that we may enter within the veil
to have direct contact
with the heavenly Christ, the man in the glory,
beholding Him
to be transfused and infused with Him
so that we
may become
His corporate reproduction.
that we may enter within the veil
to have direct contact
with the heavenly Christ, the man in the glory,
beholding Him
to be transfused and infused with Him
so that we
may become
His corporate reproduction.
To be within the veil
is to be in the Holy of Holies,
in a realm
where we partake of Christ
and enjoy Him
as the hidden manna,
the budding rod,
and the law of life,
issuing in God’s corporate expression
for the fulfillment
of His eternal purpose.
is to be in the Holy of Holies,
in a realm
where we partake of Christ
and enjoy Him
as the hidden manna,
the budding rod,
and the law of life,
issuing in God’s corporate expression
for the fulfillment
of His eternal purpose.
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7 replies on “Going outside the Idolatrous Camp and Entering within the Veil”
Prophecy note, 4 September 2016
As the word of God
and the testimony, the expression, of God,
the law
is a type of Christ
as God’s Word
and God’s testimony, God’s expression.
Christ is
the reality of the law
as the testimony of God;
the testimony of God
signifies
Christ, the embodiment of God,
as the living portrait
of what God is.
The reality of keeping the law
is to live God and express God;
such a living,
a living in the eternal economy of God,
is the living of a God-man,
a life of continually exercising the spirit
to deny the self
and be crucified to live Christ,
who is God’s testimony,
by the bountiful supply
of the Spirit of Jesus Christ
for the enlarged and expanded expression of God.
Man’s replacing of God with idols
causes man
to be unable
to keep God’s commandments.
An idol in our heart
is anything within us
that we love
more than the Lord
and that replaces the Lord
in our life,
corrupting us
and bringing in many sinful things.
Those who set up idols
in their hearts
are estranged from the Lord
through their idols;
all who have idols
within them
yet seek God
in an outward way
cannot find Him.
After the children of Israel
worshipped the golden calf,
Moses moved to a place
outside the camp,
where everyone
who sought the Lord
went to meet with him,
for both the Lord’s presence and speaking
were there:
We need to see
and be warned
by the principle of
the golden-calf idol,
an idol made by God’s redeemed people
to make them
an idolatrous camp:
The gold earrings
were worn by the people
for self-beautification;
this indicates
that self-beautification
leads to idolatry.
Before the gold
could be used for God’s purpose,
it was usurped by Satan
and used by God’s people
to make an idol.
Hence,
idolatry is
Satan’s usurping
and man’s abusing
of what God
has given
for His purpose,
in order to make it a waste;
it is our abusing
what God has given us
and not using God’s gifts,
both material and spiritual,
for God’s purpose.
The golden calf
was not a pagan idol,
for it was made by
Aaron, a genuine high priest
appointed by God;
furthermore,
Aaron made the calf
in the name of Jehovah
and took the lead
to worship the idol
in the way of
presenting offerings to God
and worshipping God.
Thus, God’s redeemed people
worshipped an idol
in the name of Jehovah their God
and in the way
ordained by God.
With idolatry
there is
the pretense of worshipping the true God,
and there is
mixture in the worship of God.
A calf is
not for labor
but for eating
and therefore signifies enjoyment;
after the golden calf was made,
the people ate, drank,
and rose up to play
in front of it.
This picture
indicates that the children of Israel
worshipped what they enjoyed;
their worshipping of the golden calf
was an amusement and an entertainment,
indicating that amusement and entertainment
were their idol.
What we care for
is the presence of the Lord;
in His presence
is fullness of joy.
Because Moses realized
that the Lord’s presence
would no longer be
in the midst of the people,
he removed his tent
and pitched it
some distance from the camp;
his tent then
became the tent of God:
The camp
signifies a religious people,
who belong to the Lord in name
but who, in actuality, worship idols,
worshipping something
and seeking something
other than the Lord Himself.
In the history of God’s people,
the camp
may be seen
in three periods:
The camp
was first the children of Israel
after they worshipped the golden calf.
The Jewish religion
became the camp
at the time of
the Lord’s living on the earth.
Later,
the church
changed in nature
from being a tent
to being a camp,
a religious system, religious Babylon,
comprising a group of religious people
belonging to the Lord in name
and honoring the Lord with their mouth
but having their hearts
set on something
other than the Lord.
After Moses removed his tent
and separated it
from the idolatrous camp,
the Lord spoke to him
face to face,
just as a man
speaks to his companion:
God and Moses
were companions, associates, partners,
involved in the same career
and having a common interest
in a great enterprise.
Because Moses
was intimate with God,
he was a person
who knew God’s heart,
who was according to God’s heart,
and who could touch God’s heart;
thus, he
had God’s presence
to a full extent.
We need to enter
within the veil
and go
outside the idolatrous camp
to have
the closest and most intimate relationship
with the Lord
so that we
can be persons
who share
a common interest
with God
and who can be used
by Him
to carry out
His enterprise on earth.
All those
who are seeking the Lord
have to go
outside the camp
and go forth
unto Him
at the tent.
The goal and ultimate conclusion
of the book of Hebrews
are that we
would enter within the veil
and go outside the camp:
To enter within the veil
means to enter
into the Holy of Holies,
where the Lord
is enthroned in glory,
and to go outside the camp
means to come
out of religion,
whence the Lord
was cast out
in rejection:
The camp signifies
the organization of religion,
which is earthly and human.
Every religion
is a human organization
and an earthly realm
that keeps people away
from God’s economy.
We must be
in our spirit,
where, experientially speaking,
the practical Holy of Holies
is today,
and outside religion,
where the practical camp
is today:
The more
we are in our spirit,
enjoying the heavenly Christ,
the more
we will come
outside the camp of religion,
following the suffering Jesus.
The more
we remain in our spirit
to contact the heavenly Christ,
who is in glory,
the more
we will go forth
outside the camp of religion
unto the lowly Jesus
to suffer with Him.
The genuine New Testament ministry
brings us
into the enjoyment of Christ
in our spirit,
within the veil,
and strengthens us
to follow Jesus
outside the camp
in the fellowship of His sufferings
for the sake of His Body:
Within the veil
we participate in
the ministry of the heavenly Christ
that we
may be equipped
to minister Him
to the thirsty spirits
outside the camp.
By entering
within the veil
and going
outside the camp,
we are perfected
in every good work
for the doing of
the will of God,
who does in us
that which is well pleasing
in His sight.
To enter
within the veil
is to get into our spirit;
when we
turn to our spirit
and exercise it,
we enter
within the veil:
We have to exercise,
to use,
to employ,
our spirit
by fanning our spirit
into flame,
setting our mind
on the spirit,
and discerning our spirit
from our soul.
We must exercise our spirit
that we
may enter
within the veil
to have direct contact
with the heavenly Christ,
the man in the glory,
beholding Him
to be transfused and infused
with Him
so that we
may become
His corporate reproduction.
To be within the veil
is to be in the Holy of Holies,
in a realm
where we
partake of Christ
and enjoy Him
as the hidden manna,
the budding rod,
and the law of life,
issuing in God’s corporate expression
for the fulfillment
of His eternal purpose.
Day 6
Let us come forward to
the Holy of Holies
with a true heart
in full assurance of faith…
For the word of God
is living
and operative
and sharper than any two-edged sword,
and piercing even to
the dividing of soul and spirit…
Let us therefore come forward
with boldness
to the throne of grace
that we
may receive mercy
and find grace
for timely help.
we are in our spirit
enjoying the heavenly Christ,
the more
we shall be outside religion
following the suffering Jesus.
To be in our spirit
to enjoy the glorified Christ
enables us
to come outside religion
to follow the rejected Jesus.
The more
we contact
the heavenly Christ
in His glory
in our spirit,
the more
we shall go to the lowly Jesus
in His suffering outside religion.
To contact Christ in the heavens,
enjoying His glorification,
energizes us
to take
the narrow pathway of the cross
on the earth
and to bear His reproach.
The book of Hebrews
first gives us
a clear vision of
the heavenly Christ
and the heavenly Holy of Holies,
and then it shows us
how to walk
the pathway of the cross
on the earth,
that is, to go forth unto Jesus
outside the camp, outside religion,
bearing His reproach.
To go forth unto Jesus
outside the camp,
bearing His reproach,
is to take
the pathway of the cross.
we must get into our spirit.
To be within the veil
is to be in our spirit,
and to be outside the camp
is to be outside anything religious.
We must not remain
in any camp
but get into our spirit.
the key to experiencing Christ
—our spirit
which is joined to the Holy of Holies.
…The Lord Jesus Christ
is with our spirit.
Grace
is with our spirit.
…The Holy of Holies,
God’s economy,
and even the fulfillment of God’s economy
are all related to our spirit.
What we need today
is to enter within the veil
by getting into the spirit.
just one thing
—the dispensation of the Triune God
into our being
that we
might be transformed
and built together
as His corporate expression
and that we
might terminate this age
and usher in the kingdom.
This can only be accomplished
by our entering within the veil
to experience
the Ark of God’s testimony
with the hidden manna,
the budding rod,
and the law of life.
By experiencing these things,
we are infused, empowered, strengthened,
and enabled to go outside of every camp.
by getting into our spirit,
we taste the sweetness of the heavenly Christ
that we
may be enabled
to go outside the camp,
forsaking the earth and its love.
As we stay within the veil,
we also have our spirit
filled with the glory of the heavenly Christ
that our heart
may be freed from
the possession of the earth’s enjoyment
outside the camp.
Furthermore,
within the veil
we behold the glorified Christ
that we
may be attracted
to follow the suffering Jesus
outside the camp.
Beholding His countenance in heaven
enables us
to trace His footsteps on earth.
As we enter within the veil,
we are infused with resurrection power
that we may be empowered
to walk the pathway of the cross
outside the camp.
We also participate
in the ministry of the heavenly Christ
that we
may be equipped
to minister Him
to the thirsty spirits
outside the camp.
Here
we enjoy the Lord’s best
that we
may be enriched
to meet the needs of people
outside the camp.
“Now the God of peace,
He who brought up
from the dead
our Lord Jesus,
the great Shepherd of the sheep,
in the blood of an eternal covenant,
perfect you
in every good work
for the doing of His will,
doing in us
that which is well pleasing
in His sight
through Jesus Christ;
to Him
be the glory
forever and ever.
Amen.”
By entering within the veil
and going outside the camp
we are perfected
in every good work.
In this way
God is doing in us
that which is well pleasing
in His sight
through Jesus Christ.
Day 5
Which we have
as an anchor of the soul,
both secure and firm
and which enters within the veil,
where the Forerunner, Jesus,
has entered for us,
having become forever a High Priest
according to the order of Melchizedek.
Let us therefore go forth unto Him
outside the camp,
bearing His reproach.
took the lead
to pass through the stormy sea
and enter the heavenly haven
to be the High Priest for us
according to the order of Melchizedek.
As such a Forerunner,
He is the Captain of our salvation.
As the Forerunner,
He has cut the way to glory,
and as the Captain,
He has entered
into glory,
into the Holy of Holies
within the veil.
In order to enter
into the Holy of Holies
within the veil,
the Lord Jesus
fled everything.
He fled His mother.
He fled His brothers.
He fled Judaism
and entered within the veil.
Here we are not told
that Jesus entered into the heavens,
but that He entered “within the veil.”
He entered
into the presence of God.
He fled everything
to enter
into the presence of God
within the veil,
where we anchor our hope
with full assurance.
…Let us flee
into our spirit
and into the church life.
Let us flee
into the veil,
into the Holy of Holies.
is covered by two things
—entering within the veil
and going outside the camp.
We must enter within the veil
and go outside the camp.
…To be within the veil
is to be in the Holy of Holies,
in a realm
where we partake of Christ
and enjoy
the hidden manna,
the budding rod,
and the law of life
which issues in God’s corporate expression.
This is
the fulfillment of God’s eternal purpose.
and in typology
the camp signifies
the organization of religion,
which is human and earthly.
To go outside the camp
means to go
outside the human organization of religion.
While the camp
signifies the human organization,
the city
signifies the earthly realm.
In the book of Hebrews,
both the gate and the camp
signify the Jewish religion
with its two aspects,
the earthly and the human.
Judaism is
both earthly and human.
Every religion
is both a human organization
and an earthly realm
which keeps people
away from God’s economy.
and only then
can we go outside the camp.
Everyone who has gone
outside the camp
has first experienced
what is within the veil.
Perhaps
when you began to come
to the meetings of the church,
you were
not yet outside the camp.
You were
simply coming within the veil
to have a taste.
But that taste
attracted you,
caught you,
and supplied you
with the energy
to go outside the camp.
No one
has first gone
outside the camp
and then entered within the veil.
Although the Lord Jesus
first went outside the gate
and then entered within the veil,
it is
exactly the opposite with us.
In other words,
first
we enter into the Holy of Holies,
where we are strengthened and encouraged
to go outside the camp,
and then
we go
out of the organization of religion.
The more
we enter within the veil,
the more
we go outside the camp.
by exercising our spirit.
As we have seen,
our spirit
is joined
to the heavenly Holy of Holies.
When we turn to our spirit
and exercise it,
we enter within the veil.
Here
we participate in
the heavenly ministry of the heavenly Christ.
Here
we are saturated and permeated
with all the divine riches
that make us
the corporate reproduction
of the firstborn Son of God
for His expression.
Here
we receive grace
and are strengthened
to go outside the camp
and follow Him
on the pathway of the cross.
is to enter
into the Holy of Holies
where the Lord
is enthroned in glory,
and to go outside the camp
is to come out of religion,
whence the Lord
was cast out
in rejection.
This signifies
that we
must be in our spirit,
where, experientially speaking,
the practical Holy of Holies
is today,
and outside religion,
where the practical camp
is today.
Day 4
Now Moses
would take the tent
and pitch it
outside the camp,
some distance from the camp;
and he called it
the tent of meeting.
And everyone
who sought Jehovah
went out
to the tent of meeting,
which was
outside the camp.
And Jehovah
would speak to Moses
face to face,
just as a man
speaks to his companion…
And He said,
My presence
shall go with you…
made and worshipped the golden calf,
the people of Israel
as a whole
were the unique realm and circle
related to the Lord’s presence.
But after they
made and worshipped the golden calf,
a separation
came into being.
…The tent in Exodus 33:7
refers to the tent of Moses.
Before this time
the tent of Moses
was always within the camp
because the presence of the Lord
was in the midst of
the people of Israel.
But because Moses realized
that the Lord’s presence
would no longer be
in the midst of the people,
he removed his tent,
which then became
the tent of God,
and pitched it
outside the camp.
This means
that there was a separation
between the tent where God was
and the camp.
there was
not only the presence of the Lord
but also the fellowship of the Lord.
Exodus 33:11
is the first verse
in the Scriptures
that says the Lord
spoke to Moses
face to face,
just as a man
speaks to his companion.
signifies a group of people,
in particular, a religious people,
who are not faithful to the Lord.
They name
the name of the Lord,
but in fact
they worship idols.
was on the earth
there was a separation
between the Jewish people, the camp,
and the Lord Himself, the real tabernacle.
…From this separation
the church
came into being,
for after His forsaking
of the house of Israel,
He turned to another people.
The church is
the tabernacle, or temple, of God.
However,
after a certain period of time,
the church
changed in nature
from being the tent
to being a camp.
This means
that the church
degraded to become Christianity.
In principle,
Christianity as a religious system
comprises a group of religious people,
belonging to the Lord in name
and honoring the Lord with their mouth but having their hearts
set on something
other than the Lord.
…According to the history of the church,
those who really sought the Lord
had to leave organized Christianity,
that is,
leave the camp
and go forth unto the Lord
outside the camp.
the camp
may be seen
in at least three periods.
The camp was first
the children of Israel
after they
worshipped the idol
in Exodus 32.
They had the name
of belonging to the Lord
but in reality
they worshipped something else
and hence became a religious camp
among whom
it was impossible
to have the Lord’s presence.
Second,
the Jews in Judaism, the Jewish religion,
became the camp
at the time of
the Lord’s living on the earth.
They also were
a religious group,
claiming the name of the Lord
but worshipping
something other than the Lord.
Later,
Christianity also
became the camp,
taking the name of the Lord
but not worshipping the Lord
in spirit and reality.
…All those
who are seeking the Lord
have to go outside the camp
and go forth
unto Him
at the tent.
he was with God
…Moses knew
that God
wanted this people
to be His own,
that He
wanted to take them
for His bride.
…He knew God’s heart,
and he knew the way
to approach Him
concerning His people.
were partners
in a great enterprise.
They were both involved
in the same “career.”
Moses and the Lord
were not only intimate friends;
they were
associates, partners, companions.
…As a companion of God,
Moses
had an intimate relationship
with Him
and knew
what was on His heart.
Day 3
Neither become idolaters,
as some of them did;
as it is written,
“The people sat down
to eat and drink,
and stood up
to play.”
They have quickly turned aside
from the way
which I commanded them.
They have made
for themselves
a molten calf,
and they have worshipped it
and have sacrificed to it
and said,
This is your god,
O Israel,
who brought you up
out of the land of Egypt!
were worn by the people
for self-beautification.
This indicates
that self-beautification
leads to idolatry.
Furthermore,
the gold in the earrings
was given to the children of Israel
by God
before their exodus from Egypt
and was to be used
for the building of the tabernacle.
However,
before the gold
could be used for God’s purpose,
it was usurped by Satan
and used by God’s people
to make an idol.
Hence,
idolatry is
Satan’s usurping
and man’s abusing of
what God has given
for His purpose,
in order to make it a waste.
was not a pagan idol,
for it was made by Aaron,
a genuine high priest
appointed by God.
Furthermore,
Aaron made the calf
in the name of Jehovah
and took the lead
to worship the idol
in the way of
presenting offerings to God
and worshipping God.
Thus, God’s redeemed people
worshipped an idol
in the name of Jehovah their God
and in the way
ordained by God.
This was
a pretense
and a subtle mixture
in the worship of God.
in the New Testament,
idolatry is
the main source of
division and fornication.
The golden calf idol
caused a division
among the children of Israel.
Actually,
division is
spiritual fornication.
Idolatry and fornication
always go together.
not for labor
but for eating
and therefore signifies enjoyment.
After the golden calf
was made,
the people ate, drank,
and rose up
to play in front of it.
This picture indicates
that the children of Israel
worshipped what they enjoyed.
Their worshipping of the gold calf
was an amusement and an entertainment,
indicating that amusement and entertainment
were their idol.
was different from
the pagan worship of idols.
The golden calf
was worshipped
by a redeemed people
in the name of the Lord their Redeemer.
After the golden calf
was made,
the people declared
that it was the Lord
who had brought them
out of the land of Egypt.
This indicates
that they worshipped an idol
in the name of Jehovah their God.
…They offered to the idol
the kind of offerings
that they should have offered to God.
This is
a shameful mixture.
is that wealth and treasures
—gifts from God,
both material and spiritual—
are not properly used
for God’s purpose.
the making of the golden calf
was a matter of
abusing God’s gifts.
…Because God
miraculously subdued the Egyptians,
they gave gold
to the children of Israel.
God’s intention
was that the gold given to the children of Israel
would be used
for the building up
of His tabernacle.
The worship of the golden calf
was a kind of
amusement and entertainment.
…“The people
sat down to eat and drink
and rose up to play” [Exo. 32:6].
When Moses and Joshua
came down from the mountain,
they heard…singing,
and they “saw…the dancing” (vv. 18-19).
…We should be warned by this
not to have meetings
for the purpose of
our amusement and entertainment.
Yes,
we have
the enjoyment of the Lord,
but this is
not a form of entertainment.
need to be careful,
for even in the local churches
it is possible
for us
to make golden calves.
We all
need to see
the principle of the golden-calf idol
and be warned by it.
Day 2
And as soon as he
drew near to the camp,
he saw the calf and the dancing;
and Moses’ anger burned,
and he threw the tablets
out of his hands
and shattered them
at the foot of the mountain.
Son of man,
these men
have set up their idols
in their hearts
and have put
the stumbling block of their iniquity
before their faces.
Should I be inquired of
at all
by them?
was completed,
the people broke
at least the first three commandments of the law
by falling into the sin of idolatry.
Man’s replacing of God with idols
causes man
to be unable
to keep God’s commandments.
indicates that before the children of Israel
had received the law,
they had already broken
the law and the covenant of the law.
is anything within us
that we love more than the Lord
and that replaces the Lord
in our life.
Those who set up idols
in their hearts
are estranged from the Lord
through their idols.
All who have idols within them
yet seek God
in an outward way
cannot find Him.
we come to
the breaking of the law.
Why is it
that we human beings
cannot keep the law,
but break it instead?
The answer to this question
involves an important principle.
The principle here
is that we break the law
because we have idols.
Everyone has his own idol.
There is
no need
for us
deliberately to try to break
the law of God.
As long as we
have an idol,
the first three commandments of the law
are already broken.
The first three commandments
are related to
not having any other god,
not making images,
and not using the Lord’s name
in vain.
These commandments
are all related to God.
The fourth commandment
concerns the Sabbath,
and the last six commandments
involve our relationships with others.
The first three commandments
are broken by everyone
who has an idol.
because we have idols.
If we have God
and allow no idols
to replace Him,
the very God
whom we enjoy
will become to us the ability
to keep His commandments.
As a result,
we shall keep
the law of God.
is implied by the fact
that the people
did not make an image of Moses,
or one of a horse or other work animal.
Instead,
they made
a golden calf.
A calf
is not for labor
but for enjoyment,
in particular,
for eating.
Both in the Old Testament
and in the New,
a calf
was used to feed guests.
In Genesis 18
Abraham
had a fattened calf
prepared for his guests,
and in the parable
in Luke 15
the father
had the fattened calf killed
when the prodigal son
came home.
A calf, therefore,
signifies enjoyment.
The ones
who beautified themselves in Exodus 32
liked enjoyment.
Enjoyment was
their idol.
Likewise,
many people today
worship a calf;
that is,
they worship
their enjoyment.
of the significance of the calf
is confirmed by 32:6:
“And they rose up early
on the next day
and offered burnt offerings
and brought peace offerings;
and the people
sat down
to eat and drink
and rose up
to play.”
After the golden calf
was made,
the people ate, drank, and played.
C. A. Coates says
that they sported.
On the weekends
many people in this country
care only for eating, drinking, and sporting.
Moses heard
the sound of singing,
and according to verse 19,
he “saw
the calf and the dancing.”
Along with the eating, drinking, and sporting,
the people
were singing and dancing.
All this took place
in front of the golden calf.
The picture here
indicates that the calf
signifies enjoyment
and that the children of Israel
were worshipping
what they enjoyed.
Day 1
Then Moses
…went down
from the mountain
with the two tablets of the Testimony
in his hand…
I am Jehovah your God,
who brought you
out of the land of Egypt,
out of the slave house;
you shall have
no other gods
before Me.
the Ten Commandments
are called
the tablets of the Testimony.
The Ten Commandments were
not merely a law
given by God
to test the people of Israel
but were
the testimony of God Himself.
The commandments
testify of God
in two ways.
First,
they testify
that God is
the unique God.
Besides Him
there is
no God.
Only He Himself
is the God
who created
the heavens and the earth.
Second,
they testify of
the nature of God.
God is
a God of holiness
and a God of justice and righteousness.
He is
a holy God
and a righteous God.
Therefore,
His people
have to conduct themselves
in a way
that corresponds to
the nature of God.
These are
the two primary matters
that are testified
by the Ten Commandments.
Exodus 32 records
that before the Ten Commandments
had been brought down
from Mount Sinai
by Moses,
the entire company of the children of Israel
made a golden calf
under the leadership of Aaron.
They worshipped
the golden calf,
and in doing so
they broke
the first aspect of the testimony of the law,
that is,
that God is the unique God.
had been called out
by God
to bear His testimony
to all creation,
especially to the angels,
to the rulers and authorities
in the heavenlies,
to testify
that God is
the very unique God
and that God is
a God of holiness and righteousness.
However,
these people
broke God’s testament
and put it aside.
Exodus 32:6 says,
“The people
sat down
to eat and drink
and rose up
to play.”
They even danced
before the calf.
In this way
they also broke
the second aspect of the law,
that is,
that God is
a God of holiness and righteousness.
What they did
was contrary to
and could never correspond with
God’s holiness and righteousness.
On the one hand,
they made the idol,
and on the other hand,
they defiled themselves.
They sinned
by making and worshipping
a graven image
and by conducting themselves
contrary to God’s nature.
Thus,
in the eyes of the Lord
and in the eyes of Moses as well,
they broke
the whole testimony.
Moses considered
that there was
no need
to keep
the two tablets of the Testimony.
It was
not merely Moses
who broke the tablets
at the foot of the mountain;
tt was
the people of Israel
who had broken the testimony already.
The Lord’s testimony
had been thrown away
and broken.
What Moses did
was to let the people of Israel know
that they had absolutely broken
the Lord’s testimony.
They had broken
the entire law.
is God’s word
(in Exo. 34:28
the Ten Commandments,
the main contents of the law,
are called “the ten words”…).
As such,
the law is
God’s testimony,
God’s expression,
a revelation of God
to His people.
…The law of God
reveals God’s attributes,
showing that He
is jealous, holy, loving,
righteous, truthful, and pure.
As the word of God
and the testimony, the expression, of God,
the law is
a type of Christ
as God’s Word
and God’s testimony, God’s expression.
The reality of
keeping the law
is to live God
and express God.
Such a living,
a living in the eternal economy of God,
is the living of a God-man,
a life of continually denying the self
and being crucified to live Christ,
who is God’s testimony,
by the bountiful supply
of the Spirit of Jesus Christ
for the enlarged and expanded expression of God.
the reality of the law
as the testimony of God.
The testimony of God
signifies
Christ, the embodiment of God,
as the living portrait
of what God is.