Sunday, October 2, 2011

Burning the MIDNIGHT Oil! -1 of 3

The word MIDNIGHT, in Hebrew khaw-tsoth', means 'middle point from the root 'khaw-tsaw' ' meaning 'to divide, cut in two, cut short, live half (of one's life)'. This brings certain Scriptures to mind.

God 'divided Israel and Egypt at MIDNIGHT choosing only the firstborn protected by the blood of the Lamb. It was at MIDNIGHT when two women had each delivered a child - and one woman's child died when she rolled on him during the night. This woman then stole the other woman's child and King Solomon [king of peace], to decide who the 'real Mother' of the living child was, ordered the child to be 'cut in two'. The real Mother, gave up her child to spare him. And what of Israel's dilemma today.

Judges 16: it was at MIDNIGHT that Samson [like the sun] took the
doors of the gate of the city and the two posts, (the place where you would find the blood) and carried them on his shoulders to HEBRON [association (friendship or also witchcraft, black magic)]. Samson was a son of Manoah [rest], a Nazarite from his Mother's womb, who went down to Timnath [portion] and desired a Philistine [immigrant] wife. There he took her and held a seven day feast posing a riddle to his new Philistine relatives. He told no one the answer to his riddle, not even his Father, but on the seventh day he told his wife who then told her people. In order for Samson to fulfill his promised reward for solving the riddle, the Spirit of the Lord came on him and he went down to Ashkelon [the fire of infamy / the weighing place] and slew thirty men, retrieved their spoil and gave it to the Philistines. At that point Samson's anger was kindled and his marriage - cut short - his wife was given to his companion whom he had 'used as friend'. When we consider Israel today, is this history worth pondering?

In the Bible's eighth book Ruth, we meet Elimelech [my God is king] who is married to Naomi [my delight (is in her] who has two sons Mahlon [sick] and Chilion [coming to a complete end; destroyed]. But again at MIDNIGHT, Ruth [friend], a Moabite [from father: what father?] who had married Naomi's son, either Mahlon or Chilion who came to his end, Ruth, now a widow, lay at Boaz [fleetness] feet - the Kinsman Redeemer - that she should be taken in marriage. Israel has a 'Kinsman Redeemer', her Messiah Jesus Christ. As a nation she suffers with the 'sickness' of the world, but is not yet 'completely destroyed'. She will lay at the feet of her Kinsman Redeemer and ask to be taken in marriage.

The first time we see the word MIDNIGHT is in Exodus 11:4
[Exodus: Beyt / wife relationship, chapter 11: Kaf / having the power to suppress evil].

MIDNIGHT is mentioned in connection with the 10th plague of 'death of the firstborn' who do not have the 'blood of the Lamb' prominently on their door post when the angel of death passes over. This just before Israel's deliverance from the bondage of Egypt.


MIDNIGHT
khaw-tsoth'

.................... t.....................w.........................c...........................x
.................CROSS............... NAIL.................. FISH HOOK................. CHUPPA
.................FAITH........ UPRIGHT MAN ........ RIGHTEOUS ONE........ CONSUMMATE LIFE
.................FAITH........ CONNECTED to... TOTAL CONSCIOUSNESS........... LOVE LIFE
..............IDENTITY........ CONNECTED................ CHAOS.................. PHYSICAL LIFE

Exodus 11
4 Then Moses said, "Thus says the LORD:
.. "About MIDNIGHT I will go out into the midst of Egypt;
5 and all the firstborn in the land of Egypt shall die,
.. from the firstborn of Pharaoh who sits on his throne,
.. even to the firstborn of the female servant who is
.. behind the handmill, and all the firstborn of the animals.
6 Then there shall be a great cry throughout all the land of Egypt,
.. such as was not like it before, nor shall be like it again. But against
.. none of the children of Israel shall a dog move its tongue, against man
.. or beast, that you may know that the LORD does make a difference
.. between the Egyptians and Israel.

Keep in mind that Galatians 4 calls the 'Jerusalem that now is - the Egyptian handmaid Hagar [flight] - who is in bondage with her children.
Revelation 11:8 refers to Jerusalem as 'spiritual Egypt'.

In Matthew 24, Jesus prophesies the destruction of the temple. He marks the 'signs of the times': false Messiah's promising Israel deliverance, wars and rumors of wars, famines, pestilences, and earthquakes in various places, these just the beginning before being delivered to 'tribulation'. But when the 'abomination of desolation is seen 'standing in the Holy Place', then GREAT TRIBULATION breaks out.


Matthew 24
20 And pray that your flight may not be in winter or on the Sabbath.
21 For then there will be great tribulation, such as has not been since
... the beginning of the world until this time, no, nor ever shall be.
22 And unless those days were shortened, no flesh would be saved;
... but for the elect's sake those days will be shortened
.

The blowing of the trumpets - Rosh ha Shanah is a fall / winter feast culminating in a High Sabbath, the HOLIEST day of the year - Yom Kippur, the Day of Atonement.

Jesus continues with the parable of the fig tree - when it puts forth leaves - the time is NEAR. As with Samson, and his riddle, only the Father knows - [Selah] - [but then Samson did tell his wife] - - And then He says this:

Matthew 24
36 But of that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels of heaven,
.... but My Father only.
37 But as the days of Noah were, so also will the coming of the Son of Man be.
38 For as in the days before the flood, they were eating and drinking,
.... marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noah entered the ark,
39 and did not know until the flood came and took them all away,
.... so also will the coming of the Son of Man be.
40 Then two men will be in the field: one will be taken and the other left.
41 Two women will be grinding at the mill:
.... one will be taken and the other left.
42 Watch therefore, for you do not know what hour your Lord is coming.
43 But know this, that if the master of the house had known what hour
.... the thief would come, he would have watched and not allowed his
.... house to be broken into.
44 Therefore you also
be ready, for the Son of Man is coming
.... at an hour you do not expect.

In Exodus 12:29 it 'comes to pass' that God does smite the firstborn at 'midnight', who do not have the blood of the lamb on their doorpost / door lintel. The Hebrew word for midnight is used in conjunction with 'lah'-yil' meaning 'night' as opposed to 'day'.

MIDNIGHT / NIGHT
'lah'-yil'

..................................l............................y..........................l
............................... STAFF..................... HAND...................... STAFF
........................... DISCIPLESHIP ...... SERVANT / WILL of GOD ........ TEACH
.......................... DISCIPLESHIP ........ GRASPING GOD'S WILL.......... HEART



  1. night
  2. metaph. the time when work ceases
    1. the time of death
    2. the time for deeds of sin and shame
    3. the time of moral stupidity and darkness
    4. the time when the weary and also the drunken give themselves up to slumber

In the book of Job, in the 'middle of the night' - MIDNIGHT - the people are shaken and pass away. Job, by his name, is the 'hated / persecuted' one. In chapter 34 [a number associated with wife / relationship], Job is undergoing a 'time of trouble' and now Elihu [He is my God] proclaims God's justice.

Elihu Proclaims God's Justice
God Cannot Be Unjust

.. 1 Elihu further answered and said:
.. 2 Hear my words, you wise men;
......Give ear to me, you who have knowledge.
.. 3 For the ear tests words
......As the palate tastes food.
.. 4 Let us choose justice for ourselves;
......Let us know among ourselves what is good.
.. 5 For Job has said, "I am righteous,
......But God has taken away my justice;
.. 6 Should I lie concerning my right?
......My wound is incurable, though I am without transgression.'
.. 7 What man is like Job,
......Who drinks scorn like water,
.. 8 Who goes in company with the workers of iniquity,
......And walks with wicked men?
.. 9 For he has said, "It profits a man nothing
......That he should delight in God.'
.10 Therefore listen to me, you men of understanding:
...... Far be it from God to do wickedness,
...... And from the Almighty to commit iniquity.
..11 For He repays man according to his work,
......And makes man to find a reward according to his way.
.12 Surely God will never do wickedly,
......Nor will the Almighty pervert justice.
.13 Who gave Him charge over the earth?
......Or who appointed Him over the whole world?
.14 If He should set His heart on it,
......If He should gather to Himself His Spirit and His breath,
.15 All flesh would perish together,
......And man would return to dust.
.16 If you have understanding, hear this;
......Listen to the sound of my words:
.17 Should one who hates justice govern?
......Will you condemn Him who is most just?
.18 Is it fitting to say to a king, "You are worthless,'
......And to nobles, "You are wicked'?
.19 Yet He is not partial to princes,
......Nor does He regard the rich more than the poor;
......For they are all the work of His hands.
.20 In a moment they die, in the middle of the night [midnight];
......The people are shaken and pass away;
......The mighty are taken away without a hand.
.21 For His eyes are on the ways of man,
......And He sees all his steps.
.22 There is no darkness nor shadow of death
......Where the workers of iniquity may hide themselves.
.23 For He need not further consider a man,
......That he should go before God in judgment.
.24 He breaks in pieces mighty men without inquiry,
......And sets others in their place.
.25 Therefore He knows their works;
......He overthrows them in the night,
......And they are crushed.
.26 He strikes them as wicked men
......In the open sight of others,
.27 Because they turned back from Him,
......And would not consider any of His ways,
.28 So that they caused the cry of the poor to come to Him;
......For He hears the cry of the afflicted.
.29 When He gives quietness, who then can make trouble?
......And when He hides His face, who then can see Him,
......Whether it is against a nation or a man alone?
.30 That the hypocrite should not reign,
......Lest the people be ensnared.
.31 For has anyone said to God,
......I have borne chastening;
......I will offend no more;
.32 Teach me what I do not see;
......If I have done iniquity, I will do no more'?
.33 Should He repay it according to your terms,
......Just because you disavow it?
......You must choose, and not I;
......Therefore speak what you know.
.34 Men of understanding say to me,
......Wise men who listen to me:
.35 Job speaks without knowledge,
......His words are without wisdom.'
.36 Oh, that Job were tried to the utmost,
......Because his answers are like those of wicked men!
.37 For he adds rebellion to his sin;
......He claps his hands among us,
......And multiplies his words against God."

And following in Psalms 119, an alphabetic chapter, MIDNIGHT is again seen in the context of 'consummate marital relationship'. The verse is CHETH [Chuppa / Consummate life], but CHETH is also translated as 'sons of terror', in regard to Abraham by the field to bury his wife 'Sarah'. Sarah is as Jerusalem, the 'mother of us all'. And now as the sons of terror are separated from the sons of light, thanksgiving is offered.

57 You are my portion, O LORD;
.... I have said that I would keep Your words.
58 I entreated Your favor with my whole heart;
.... Be merciful to me according to Your word.
59 I thought about my ways,
.... And turned my feet to Your testimonies.
60 I made haste, and did not delay
.... To keep Your commandments.
61 The cords of the wicked have bound me,
.... But I have not forgotten Your law.
62 At midnight I will rise to give thanks to You,
.... Because of Your righteous judgments.
63 I am a companion of all who fear You,
.... And of those who keep Your precepts.
64 The earth, O LORD, is full of Your mercy;
.... Teach me Your statutes.

To be continued with Matthew 25 tells of 'ten virgins' -
five wise and five foolish waiting for the bridegroom:

Selah

Shalom!

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