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The house of God

5th May 2008, hej,mgh

 

2) The figurative orspiritual 'house'

The apostle Peter makes an analogy, saying the followers of Christ are part of or living 'stones' in a 'house' for God.

You .., as lively stones, are built up a spiritual house, an holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God by Jesus Christ. (1Peter2:5)

But this is not a New Testament idea. Yahweh has had a spiritual house for a long time. Yahweh says,

My servant Moses is not so, who is faithful in all mine house. (Numbers 12:7)

The house of Israel in the time of Moses was the spiritual 'house', or family, of Yahweh. They, the people, were Yahweh's 'house'. Moses knows this, and in the song of victory over the Egyptians says,

Yahweh is my strength and song, and he is become my salvation: he is my Mighty Ones, and I will prepare him an habitation; my father's Mighty ones, and I will exalt him. (Exodus 15:2)

Preparing the “habitation” is the same as to “exalt” Yahweh. This was said before the plans for the tabernacle were given. This was not about a physical building!

You in your mercy have led forth the people which you have redeemed: you have guided them in your strength unto your holy habitation. (Exodus15:13)

Moses says that the people who are redeemed are guided into Yahweh's habitation, or 'house'. Peter was saying nothing new. Yahweh had in the people of Israel a spiritual 'house'. We note that Yahweh caused them to after this time to build him a tabernacle. This is the record.

This shall be a continual burnt offering throughout your generations at the door of the tabernacle of the congregation before Yahweh: where I will meet you, to speak there unto you. And there I will meet with the children of Israel, and shall be sanctified by my glory. And I will sanctify the tabernacle of the congregation, and the altar:... And I will dwell among the children of Israel, and will be their God. And they shall know that I am Yahweh their Elohim, that brought them forth out of the land of Egypt, that I may dwell among them: I am Yahweh their Elohim. (Exodus 29:42-46)

This clarifies that the tabernacle, the physical house was a place to meet, while dwelling among the people who were his holy people, set apart, or sanctified by His glory, who were his spiritual 'house'.

Yahweh had for most of the years from this time until Peter both a spiritual house and a physical house.

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