Three related points.
First, examine Psalm 118:22:
"The stone which the builders rejected
Has become the chief corner stone."
This is a messianic prophecy. So it is interesting to note that even within our walls, our rejection of Jesus is pretty much futile. He is victorious regardless of our stance (which side of the wall we are on).
Second, examine Joshua 6:26:
"Cursed before the LORD is the man who rises up and builds this city Jericho; with the loss of his firstborn he shall lay its foundation, and with the loss of his youngest son he shall set up its gates."
We can elude his grace (why would we want to), but in doing so, we subject ourselves to the wrath of the father.
Third, examine Proverbs 25:28:
"Like a city that is broken into and without walls Is a man who has no control over his spirit."
This verse tells us that the idea of stones and walls is pertinent on a personal level. Strongholds come tumbling down, but these fortresses are often within us. Moreover, it is only when Christians "take the land" in themselves that the Church can "take the land" in our world.
Saturday 17 July 2010
Saturday 10 July 2010
Walls, Cornerstones and Foundations
Another thing about walls. In my last post(s), I described how our delineation of boundaries (and the concomittant construction of barriers such as walls) demarcate our moral commitments; in essence, when we build a wall, we are forced to consider and announce its purpose. The purpose of a wall is to include and embrace certain forces or aspects, and conversely to exclude and repudiate others. So when we build a wall, we are making a claim as to who we serve, and by what law we direct our actions.
I would further posit that the importance of the 'cornerstone' in scripture is symbolic of this decision. What do we place as our cornerstone of our walls? And similiarly, what do we select as the keystone of our gateways? Examine Isaiah 28:
15 You boast, "We have entered into a covenant with death,
with the grave [b] we have made an agreement.
When an overwhelming scourge sweeps by,
it cannot touch us,
for we have made a lie our refuge
and falsehood [c] our hiding place."
16 So this is what the Sovereign LORD says:
"See, I lay a stone in Zion,
a tested stone,
a precious cornerstone for a sure foundation;
the one who trusts will never be dismayed.
17 I will make justice the measuring line
and righteousness the plumb line;
hail will sweep away your refuge, the lie,
and water will overflow your hiding place.
18 Your covenant with death will be annulled;
your agreement with the grave will not stand.
When the overwhelming scourge sweeps by,
you will be beaten down by it.
19 As often as it comes it will carry you away;
morning after morning, by day and by night,
it will sweep through."
Notice how God decrees that by laying Christ as the cornerstone of the New Jerusalem, justice and righteousness are built into the foundations (verse 17) and nothing can stand in the way of those principles: the city must conform to its foundations.
What are the implications for us, now that Christ is the cornerstone? Examine 1 Peter 2:
4As you come to him, the living Stone—rejected by men but chosen by God and precious to him— 5you also, like living stones, are being built into a spiritual house to be a holy priesthood, offering spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ. 6For in Scripture it says:
"See, I lay a stone in Zion,
a chosen and precious cornerstone,
and the one who trusts in him
will never be put to shame."[a] 7Now to you who believe, this stone is precious. But to those who do not believe,
"The stone the builders rejected
has become the capstone,[b]"[c] 8and,
"A stone that causes men to stumble
and a rock that makes them fall."[d] They stumble because they disobey the message—which is also what they were destined for.
9But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people belonging to God, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light. 10Once you were not a people, but now you are the people of God; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy.
11Dear friends, I urge you, as aliens and strangers in the world, to abstain from sinful desires, which war against your soul. 12Live such good lives among the pagans that, though they accuse you of doing wrong, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day he visits us.
This relates intimately with my posts on Priesthood. Once we have accepted Christ as the cornstone of our lives, we receive His blessing but are also bound by His laws. The stone does not move - the choice that we face is whether to hide behind the stone, or trip over it.
Notice that the novelty of Christ is that He is the cornstone WITHIN us - not simply in a geographical location or a racial group. That is why we live "among Pagans" and "as aliens" - because we are scattered everywhere! His Holy Spirit is just that - it is a spirit, which can be in many places at once. We each carry around our own "Ark of the Covenant", and each reside in our own "Temple". How? Because our Kingdom is not of this world.
I leave you with a few passages from Revelation 21, pertaining to the New Jerusalem that are relevant to this discussion:
18The wall was made of jasper, and the city of pure gold, as pure as glass. 19The foundations of the city walls were decorated with every kind of precious stone...22I did not see a temple in the city, because the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb are its temple. 23The city does not need the sun or the moon to shine on it, for the glory of God gives it light, and the Lamb is its lamp. 24The nations will walk by its light, and the kings of the earth will bring their splendor into it. 25On no day will its gates ever be shut, for there will be no night there. 26The glory and honor of the nations will be brought into it. 27Nothing impure will ever enter it, nor will anyone who does what is shameful or deceitful, but only those whose names are written in the Lamb's book of life.
I would further posit that the importance of the 'cornerstone' in scripture is symbolic of this decision. What do we place as our cornerstone of our walls? And similiarly, what do we select as the keystone of our gateways? Examine Isaiah 28:
15 You boast, "We have entered into a covenant with death,
with the grave [b] we have made an agreement.
When an overwhelming scourge sweeps by,
it cannot touch us,
for we have made a lie our refuge
and falsehood [c] our hiding place."
16 So this is what the Sovereign LORD says:
"See, I lay a stone in Zion,
a tested stone,
a precious cornerstone for a sure foundation;
the one who trusts will never be dismayed.
17 I will make justice the measuring line
and righteousness the plumb line;
hail will sweep away your refuge, the lie,
and water will overflow your hiding place.
18 Your covenant with death will be annulled;
your agreement with the grave will not stand.
When the overwhelming scourge sweeps by,
you will be beaten down by it.
19 As often as it comes it will carry you away;
morning after morning, by day and by night,
it will sweep through."
Notice how God decrees that by laying Christ as the cornerstone of the New Jerusalem, justice and righteousness are built into the foundations (verse 17) and nothing can stand in the way of those principles: the city must conform to its foundations.
What are the implications for us, now that Christ is the cornerstone? Examine 1 Peter 2:
4As you come to him, the living Stone—rejected by men but chosen by God and precious to him— 5you also, like living stones, are being built into a spiritual house to be a holy priesthood, offering spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ. 6For in Scripture it says:
"See, I lay a stone in Zion,
a chosen and precious cornerstone,
and the one who trusts in him
will never be put to shame."[a] 7Now to you who believe, this stone is precious. But to those who do not believe,
"The stone the builders rejected
has become the capstone,[b]"[c] 8and,
"A stone that causes men to stumble
and a rock that makes them fall."[d] They stumble because they disobey the message—which is also what they were destined for.
9But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people belonging to God, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light. 10Once you were not a people, but now you are the people of God; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy.
11Dear friends, I urge you, as aliens and strangers in the world, to abstain from sinful desires, which war against your soul. 12Live such good lives among the pagans that, though they accuse you of doing wrong, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day he visits us.
This relates intimately with my posts on Priesthood. Once we have accepted Christ as the cornstone of our lives, we receive His blessing but are also bound by His laws. The stone does not move - the choice that we face is whether to hide behind the stone, or trip over it.
Notice that the novelty of Christ is that He is the cornstone WITHIN us - not simply in a geographical location or a racial group. That is why we live "among Pagans" and "as aliens" - because we are scattered everywhere! His Holy Spirit is just that - it is a spirit, which can be in many places at once. We each carry around our own "Ark of the Covenant", and each reside in our own "Temple". How? Because our Kingdom is not of this world.
I leave you with a few passages from Revelation 21, pertaining to the New Jerusalem that are relevant to this discussion:
18The wall was made of jasper, and the city of pure gold, as pure as glass. 19The foundations of the city walls were decorated with every kind of precious stone...22I did not see a temple in the city, because the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb are its temple. 23The city does not need the sun or the moon to shine on it, for the glory of God gives it light, and the Lamb is its lamp. 24The nations will walk by its light, and the kings of the earth will bring their splendor into it. 25On no day will its gates ever be shut, for there will be no night there. 26The glory and honor of the nations will be brought into it. 27Nothing impure will ever enter it, nor will anyone who does what is shameful or deceitful, but only those whose names are written in the Lamb's book of life.
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