The Rôle of VIRTUE in Business (Deut 8:18)
The Rôle of VIRTUE, in business conducted and projects built” ‘by My Spirit,’ says the LORD, ‘NOT (carnally) by Might, nor by Power” (Ezra 5:2; Zech 4:6; Rom 8:6,7; 2 Peter 1:3,5,10,11).
Dive with us into Deut 8:17,18 (the principal Word to business) to see what the Hebrew reveals in verse 18, in the words: “koach la’asot chai’l,” which were spoken by the One “Who “called us by and to His own Glory and VIRTUE (moral excellence)” (2 Peter 1:3).
We’re going to discover that the right perspective to have of business is that every day we’re given breath to engage in what we believe is our life’s work (Mk 13:34: Eph 1:11), is a step towards being brought to “the unity of the faith” through “the knowledge of the Son of God, to be a perfect man in the measure of the STATURE of the FULLNESS of (God in) Christ (the Messiah)…” (Job 8:20-22; Ps 101; Eph 3:19; 4:11-14), ESPECIALLY in BUSINESS.
This is the promise of Ps 90:17 and Rom 3:31 in the words: “And let the beauty and delightfulness and favour of YHWH be upon us. Confirm and establish the work of our hands – yes, the work of our hands LORD, please establish it”; and “Do we then by faith make the Law of no effect (in the lives of the redeemed), overthrow it and make it a dead letter? Certainly NOT! On the contrary, we confirm and establish and uphold the Law” (confirmed by Jn 14:15,21-24; Rom 2:13; 7:22,25; 8:4; James 1:22-25; 2:8-26; 1 Jn 2:3-6).
Immersion in study of the laws of the Kingdom from Genesis to Revelation (Ps 119; Matt 5:19; 13:44,45,52), which includes the Masterbuilder’s wisdom, understanding and knowledge which is from above (Ps 127:1; Prov 3:19-21; 24:3,4; James 1:5-7,22-25; 3:17,18) to master living “in but not OF the world,” in commerce, is vitally necessary because that which is called the knowledge of the world will be found more often than not to make men CUNNING, not GOOD.’
The revolutionary truth, is that instead of business being a daily eight hour plus DETOUR and exemption from serious spirituality, it’s actually intended to be the greatest CONSISTENT DEMONSTRATION of ‘Applied Faith,’ to the Gospel’s call to “live and walk in the Spirit” (Gal 5:25), to REVEAL the righteousness of God in action (Ps 106:3; Rom 1:17; 15:16-18).
A little thought will persuade you that OF our experience of life in the range of activity that generally occupies us during a sample week, our VOCATIONS and all they demand of us are the most intensive and extensive challenge to the application of Biblical principle
Just as Adam was given care of Eden, we are engraved in the Palm of God’s Hand, to CARE for and be exemplary STEWARDS of the entire resource-base of Creation, not just of the Earth, His Footstool (so watch out Elon Musk), and everything DERIVED from it by application of health, imagination, insight, knowledge, reasoning & experience, enthusiasm, physical and emotional energy and effort, time and money.
We speak about “getting down to business,” and about pursuing closures of deals and expediting plans and their strategies, as “the business end of things,” but the term “business” isn’t breathed even once, anywhere in the Scriptures, except by convention, not by translation from the original tongues.
Beware of words that name, because descriptors are satan’s last refuge of deceit, the malevolent political chicanery of the coinage of ‘Palestine’ (Palestina of the Plishtim of the Plain of Philistia) being amongst the most profoundly damaging instances, to belief in the truth, by the occult art of dissimulation, as a “hiding place” of truth (truth smothered by the camouflage of cognitive conditioning revising the world’s perception of history) (Is 28:16,17)
‘Business’ is no different.
That noun’s etymology (linguistic origination) is Old English ‘bisiģnis,’ from ‘bisiģ’ (feminine) which means ‘busy,’ to which -ness was added as a suffix.
But ‘bisigness’ USED TO mean ‘solicitude,’ a noble, compassionate term, the state of being solicitous (implying complaisance, the inclination/willingness and desire to help) meaning, as a matter of principle (i.e. under compunction), to show regard (interest or concern) and considerateness by being anxious/alarmed and concerned about something or someone.
One of the greatest examples in Scripture would be Ps 122:6-9 where “Shaalu shalom Yerushalayim'” in verse six literally means “Enquire after the well-being of Jerusalem.”
Only a shadow of these properties of probity, unselfishness and consolation in that Old English word, have survived the passage of time, in today’s common colloquial useage of the word.
Now, generally, the meaning ascribed to ‘business,’ though primarily with commercial connotations, includes anything ‘marked by activity,’ in which one is more or less ‘constantly and fully occupied’ (on any day of the week, the true Sabbath being almost universally disregarded, and the false sabbath no more than an extension of the Babylonian business week), ‘actively pursuing an occupational interest’ whether lay or professional.
The focus on organizational ethos, perks, efficiency, speed, worldly business doctrine and operating philosophies, competitive advantage at almost all costs, profit maximization vis a vis market share penetration, self-actualization (self-made success) and arising from that, to greater or lesser extent, economic fame, with only some socially responsible sacrifice budgeted, for the common good, skewed more and more by man-pleasing WOKE- agenda-sensitivities now a pressing consideration to hold one’s relative market position, are all markers of ‘business’ in our proud, materialistic covetousness- and idolatry-prone twenty first century’s race between the desperate urgency of Biblical education (to avoid being brainwashed by the hectic, internet- enabled rush for carnal head-knowledge), and utter disaster as the wages of sin (Dan 12:4; 2 Thess 1:8-10; 1 Peter 4:17-19; Rev 6-19).
Much of which is cultural absorption of Babylonian principles and concepts which to the un-anointed, aren’t OBVIOUSLY the OPPOSITE of what being “led by the Spirit” to “walk after (i.e. in the Way of) the Spirit,” entails (Lk 20:21; Rom 8:4-14; Gal 5:24,25), the core tenet of which being WAITING on and for, and Hearing God (Prov 8:32-36; Matt 17:5; Acts 3:22,23) meaning that “he that believeth shall NOT MAKE HASTE,” or we conduct ‘business’ after the flesh, not with the mind of Christ through direction and empowerment by the Spirit (Rom 8:1,9,14).
As the months go by and the birthpains of the millennial age begin to bite, many will be forced by humbling circumstances to start pealing away the layers of encrustation of their minds by prejudice and error inherited by tradition and peddled with great sophistication as necessary for success, to turn from disobedience to the wisdom of Rev 3:10 to find Divine protection and assurance (Jer 16:19; Lk 1:17; 1 Tim 6:11-14; Heb 5:11-14; 6:1-11).
Running the spiritual race to win the crown of righteousness (2 Tim 4:3-8), “remembering the Name of the LORD our God” (Deut 8:18; 1 Cor 9:24-27), isn’t even close to the worldly definitions of goal-setting and executing priorities as most do, “trusting in chariots and horses” on the broad path (Ps 20:5-8; Matt 7:13,14).
Isaiah 28:16-18
King James Version
16 Therefore thus saith the Lord God, Behold, I lay in Zion for a foundation a Stone, a tried Stone, a precious corner Stone (Gen 49:24; 1 Peter 2:1-11), a sure foundation: he that believeth shall NOT MAKE HASTE
17 Judgment also will I lay to the line, and righteousness to the plummet: and the hail shall SWEEP AWAY THE REFUGE OF LIES, and the waters shall overflow the HIDING PLACE
18 And your COVENANT WITH DEATH shall be DISANNULLED, and your AGREEMENT WITH HELL shall not stand…”
You’ll notice how by operating by the Spirit, by waiting on and for God, Isaac was led to create PHENOMENAL wealth (“an hundred-fold” – Gen 26:12-14), to further establish the promises made to Abraham and his seed (Gen 12:1-7; Rom 15:8), to establish the law of inheritance (cut in the blood covenant God made with Abraham – Gen 15:7-21; Ps 105:8-11) in the eyes of the nations (e.g. Abimelech in Gen 26:3,4,11,16,26-33, king of the Philistines whose territory, the coastal plain of Philistia, is modern- day Gaza which belongs to Judah – Zeph 2:4-7).
This is the ulterior motive/purpose of our call to obedience to the Spirit, in Acts 5:32 & Rom 3:31.
We’re not to be about solely creating wealth in our workaday business life, but by doing it in such a way (His way, according to “THE Way if YHWH” that made Abraham very rich – Gen 13:2; 18:18,19; 24:34,35) that it ADVERTISES the ways, means, well-being, provision and obligations of the COVENANT (Heb 13:20,21; 3 Jn 2), to help prepare the world for the epic rollover from satan’s hegemony, to Y’shua-Jesus’ PHYSICAL Reign on Earth as the Greater David and Solomon, with Israel glorified as the reinstated Royal hub (“former/’first’ royal dominion” – Is 46:13; Micah 4:8; Lk 1:32,33; 2:32; Acts 1:6,7) of the Hebrew commonwealth of YHWH (Ps 57:13), for global government of the nations from Jerusalem, as Hebrew Capital of the age to come (HaBirah ha’Ivrit shel ha’olam haBa) (Is 9:6,7; Micah 4:1-8; 7:8-20; Mk 11:10; Eph 2:11,12; Rev 11:15).
.
We’ve all received grace through the Great Apostleship of Christ, to be “obedient to the faith” in ALL we think say and do (Rom 1:5).
Business STEMS from the dominion mandate in Gen 1:26, and as we submit to walk “the paths of righteousness” (Ps 23:3) to be conformed back to the image of the Living God our Creator-Redeemer-Sanctifier, by learning and living life according to the pattern of “the Way” which Jesus showed us, to be cleansed and sanctified by His Holiness en route to our finish line (Lk 20:21; Rom 8:29; 1 Cor 9:24-27; 2 Tim 2:5; 4:3-8; 1 Jn 2:3-6), business has the potential to significantly affect the extent and pace of redemption of the entire Creation, from its bondage to corruption by defilement by mankind’s sin (Rom 8:4-14,18-22).
Jews, who are called to spearhead ‘the repair of the world’ (tikkun ha olam) are God’s greatest demonstration of His commercial gifting, and within THEIR prayer tradition (which has become ours as their co-heirs, “cleaving to the House of Jacob” – Is 14:1; Rom 11) is a prayer (below) which describes the potential catalytic rôle of those who have “the power to get wealth” :
“Through repentance, may I be cleansed and sanctified through Your Holiness from on high, (my soul purified from any uncleanliness, to serve You in truth and righteousness), so that through me, through decisions and actions true to Your covenant (Rom 3:31; Heb 13:20,21) and worthy of a vessel of honour (Rom 9:21; 2 Tim 3:20,21), there may flow a rich stream of regeneration and renewal through ALL WORLDS You have made (Matt 19:28; Acts 3:21; Heb 1:1-3; 11:3), to rectify Your WHOLE CREATION from dross and defect, for all things to be imbued with Your sublime Holiness (set apartness for glory) through the “everlasting righteousness” of which we are Your witness nation” (Ps 104:30; Is 44:1-8; Dan 9:26; Lk 1:33; 1 Jn 3:7).
ANY business decision which is CONTRARY to and which DIMINISHES the wisdom of the liberating precepts of “the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus” which underpins the “everlasting covenant” (Ps 119:45; Matt 5:19; James 1:22-25; Heb 13:20,21), is morally reprehensible and anti-Christ, because WORLDLY CONDUCT of business originates in pride and the love of money, in satan’s commerce and mismanagement of his fiduciary responsibilities, in heaven (Is 13:12-17; Ezek 28:13-19).
Business becomes covetousness very easily.
When we DISREGARD THE LAW OF TRUTH by corrupting and holding the holiness of the covenant in contempt, thereby “profaning the holiness of the LORD,” as in the past (Mal 2:5-12; Heb 10:26-39), we bring shame upon the very brick and mortar (“for the stone shall cry out from the wall”) and timber of our own homes (“and the beam out of the timber shall answer”), making all we own “a proverb and a byword” to the LORD and others (Hab 2:6,9-11).
It’s significant that so many references to breaches of private homes by breach of covenant, occur in the Prophets (e.g. Jer 9:19; Amos 3:6-15; 6:8-11; Nahum 2:6; Zeph 3:7).
It’s as if God has made the report-back to Himself by and from the houses we call home, the decisive test of our spiritual condition, like the soil of Sodom and Gomorrah that cried out to God for deliverance from the sins of sodomy, pride and selfishness (Gen 18:20,21; Rom 8:21,22).
Our homes are meant to be oases of righteousness that minister (serve) delight, contentment, security and peace to us, not cesspools of uncleanness and idolatry that CONDEMN us.
Science says matter has intelligence and memory. What worldliness we entertain and pick up and bring home as contamination of our spirits, souls and bodies (undoing 1 Thess 5:23), doesn’t go unnoticed!
The WORST POSSIBLE thing we could say “in our hearts” about our achievements, would be:
“…MY power and the might of MY hand hath gotten ME this wealth” (Deut 8:17)
We know what trouble king Nebuchadnezzar brought upon himself when he did just that, a form of idolatry
30 The king spake, and said, ‘Is not this great Babylon, that I have built for the house of the kingdom by the might of MY power, and for the honour of MY majesty?
31 While the word was in the king’s mouth, there fell a voice from heaven, saying, ‘O king Nebuchadnezzar, to thee it is spoken; The kingdom is departed from thee’
32 And they shall drive thee from men, and thy dwelling shall be with the beasts of the field: they shall make thee to eat grass as oxen, and seven times shall pass over thee, UNTIL YOU ACKNOWLEDGE that the Most High rules in the kingdom of men, and giveth it to whomsoever HE will”
(Dan 4:30,31)
The BIBLICAL fathers of the faith, whose humility and integrity our God commends and commemorates, were wise to that self-reliant, self-appraising, solipsistic, prideful human fault – the revolting culture of ‘me and mine.’
Abraham (a Gentile Iraqi who was already a Hebrew by responding to the call as “Abram,” as are we, by crossing over from death to life – Gen 14:13; Jn 5:24; Gal 3:29) and his Hebrew seed Isaac and Jacob, were highly favoured, iconic entrepreneurs, amongst many other superlative firstborn abilities in their anointed gift sets as in “to every man according to their SEVERAL ability” (Matt 25:15,29).
Their giftedness would become known as the product of the ‘mishpat bachor,’ the irrevocable anointing of the consecrated true heir to the birthright of the firstborn male,” which is a double-portion of grace for “excellency of dignity and excellency of power” (Gen 49:3) which distinguishes the House of Jacob to this day as the remnant elect nation of Ex 19:5-8; Lk 1:33, the natural branches whose unique order- and purpose-in-election is irrevocable, and agsinst whom we are not to boast, on account of God’s love for their fathers (Rom 11:18,29-31).
Few of us were ever told that Abraham is the pioneer of “the Way of the LORD” (Gen 18:18,19; 26:5) the detail of which Jesus, the Seed of Abraham (Gal 3:16) ‘filled to the full’ (refined by amplification) (Matt 5:17-20) on original instructions from His Father through Abraham (Gen 18:18,19).
No coincidence therefore that “the one faith” into which we have been adopted amongst Jacob (Gen 28:14; Is 29:22-24; Lk 1:33; Rom 11; Eph 2:11,12,19), is more accurately defined as the Messianic Nazarene Way (Acts 24:5,14), than as Christ-ianity.
So the three fathers’ curiously wonderful economic dominion, each under very different circumstances, was no accident, but a reward for “walking before God” to “be perfect” by keeping covenant, to sanctify the Name of the One God, as the pattern for us (Gen 15:1; 17:1; Deut 4:39; Matt 5:19,48; 6:9,10).
In other words, the combination of faith in YHWH, and the VIRTUE of the fathers whose promises of inheritance of the nations and of the Universe as a Hebrew reality (Is 54:3; Matt 19:28-30), Jesus was sent to confirm (Rom 15:8), are the BASIS of their extraordinary testimony which included economic dominion (Gen 1:26).
The Gospels teach us that there are times when it will be prudent to be “as SHREWD as a serpent and HARMLESS (and by implication, as INNOCENT and GENTLE) as a dove” or, for that matter, a lamb, since Jesus’ essential quality of gentleness, we’re told, was evident to all (Matt 10:16).
This seems like an extreme contradiction in terms.
Not necessarily.
The ‘shrewdness’ of YHWH is in an entirely different class.
Matthew 10:16,24,25 and Lk 6:40 which call us higher to be “as our Master,” alert us to the need to always rely exclusively on Divinely INSPIRED, usually counter-intuitive direction (at the risk of our thought process seeming stupid to the world), so that “the Cross of Christ should NOT be deprived of its force and emptied of its power and nullified and made of NO EFFECT,” because “wisdom from above” RELEASES the power of God to “destroy the wisdom of the wise, the learning of the learned, the sophistry of philosophers, the cleverness of the clever, and bring to nothing, the discernment and understanding of the logician and debater (and worldly business genius)” BECAUSE to create testimony for Himself, “God makes foolish the wisdom of this world” by demonstrating that what SEEMS to be the “weakness” and “foolishness of God,” is certain to “confound the wisdom of men” and eclipse their mortal strength (1 Cor 1:17-30).
Deut 8:5,6,16-18 sheds light on what His expectations are of a businessman, namely, unswerving conscientious living for righteousness (Ps 15:1-5; 106:3; Acts 10:35; Rom 6:12-22; 15:16-8; 1 Peter 2:24), to be holy, under the guidance of the HOLY Spirit in the timeless moral law (Job 22:21-27; Rom 2:13; 3:31; 8:4-14; 1 Cor 7:19; Heb 12:14,28; 1 Peter 1:13-17; 2 Jn vs 5&6).
Instinctively, we ought to know that in that maxim about the serpent and the dove, SHREWDNESS/cunning must be GOVERNED and therefore justified BY THE CRITERION OF HARMLESSNESS (as in “do thy neighbour no harm”) if we’re not to be tripped up by “friendship with the world” by TAKING, rather than petitioning God to provide His way, in His timing (James 4:2-5), or we “fail grace” by not remaining innocent (Heb 12:14,15), by not reflecting the heart, mind and therefore the image of Christ (1 Cor 2:16; Rom 8:29).
It’s all to easy to CONFUSE and EXCUSE presumption, as bearing one’s cross (Matt 16:24-27).
It’s impossible to fulfil “the call to glory and VIRTUE” (2 Peter 1:3) by meeting the Biblical test of virtue, without the patience and longsuffering needed to remain in the joy of the LORD in a state of thanksgiving (Eph 5:20; 1 Thess 5:16-18; Heb 13:16) when our knowledge of the everlasting covenant quickened by the Spirit (Heb 13:20,21) points to circumstances requiring that we FORBEAR, and DEFER PERSONAL GRATIFICATION to serve a higher good, hence the axiom: “An inheritance may be gotten hastily at the beginning (or, an inheritance gained early), but the end thereof shall NOT BE BLESSED” (Prov 20:21).
This goes hand-in-hand with the judgment of God on the matter, that instititutionalized competition (any form of structural rivalry such as markets are, for those who don’t know how to relate to and sanctify them, by their being unredeemed, in and of the world) is demonic (James 3:13-16), reflecting the economic philosophy and practices of Mammon (1 Tim 6:3-19).
Gain is not equivalent to Godliness unless we “strive for masteries” of Godliness, with CONTENTMENT (1 Tim 6:5,6; 2 Tim 2:5 & Heb 13:5), which requires considerable faith and patience to maintain integrity by “holding to the covenant” (Is 56:6).
Overtly competing for market share is covetousness.
But if one is led by the Spirit in the vision and ways of God, to fulfil our personalized purpose- in-predestination in the commanded work received from the Son of Man as our vocation (Matt 25:14,15,23; Mk 13:34,35; Rom 8:4-14; Eph 1:11; 3:20), a business need never PERCEIVE itself as having competitors and act as if it itself were a competitor, because daily, early, Spirit-led prayer and guidance (waiting on God “more than watchmen wait for the morning” to receive the “certain rate” of spiritual manna at daybreak/sunrise – Ex 16:4-23; Prov 8:32-36; Is 50:4,5) will carve out success and a living BY THE SPIRIT, and NOT by carnal power and by might (Zech 4:6).
Few of us have even BEGUN to tap into the great grace described by that promise.
There should never be a ‘fight’ for market share through perception of others as adversaries in a culture of suspicion and espionage.
That would hardly be conducive to loving one’s neighbour as oneself and “preferring others” and “looking out for the well-being and prosperity of others” (without anxiety, knowing that a man reaps what he sows); and without that, we vitiate the promises and relapse into “the ways of the Gentiles”
We have a choice: “prosper in the world” (Ps 73:12), operating in worldly paradigms, or prosper through steady application of the covenant (constancy in the commandments – ), to “put on the new man which after God (God’s own image) is created in righteousness and true holiness” (Rom 8:29; Eph 4:23,24), to be in but not of the world, to attract the favour reserved for true sons who’ve paid the price (Lk 14:27,33; Heb 12).
There’s no reward for supplanting Biblical tradition.
YHWH’s economy is extremely time-sensitive, because in the roots of the Hebrew New Covenant with which the Gospel must agree (Jer 31:31-34; Acts 17:11; 24:14), responsibility is given in particular to firstborn male believers, to lead the community in “the Way of the LORD” as Abraham (who knew the original and only Sabbath) did (Gen 18:18,19), for Israel and their commonwealth to keep the Almighty’s Own Appointments Holy (Ex 23:12-17).
God’s ‘Sabbatical economy’ (‘kalkalah ha Shabbat ha mechabedet’ – the Biblical economy of Zion which is bounded/bookended by the perpetual, sanctified and blessed Genesis 2:2,3 Sabbaths, NOT Roman/Protestant Sunday counterfeits) in which Israel flourishes from Sat-Friday mid afternoon as the pre-eminent start-up economy, from the Biblical first day of the week to the sixth day of the week, carries the overflow of the incomparable blessing (Is 58:14) which is upon the Fourth Commandment (Ex 20:8-11; 31:13,16; Is 56:6; 58:13,14; 66:22-24; Mk 2:27,28; Heb 4:1-11).
So look at the following gem, hidden in the Bible’s most powerful statement about ANY FORM OF ENTERPRISE:
“But thou shalt remember the LORD thy God, for it is HE Who giveth thee power/s (ability, insight, access, creativity, holy inventive power/witty wisdom – Prov 8:12; 10:22) to get wealth VIRTUOUSLY (chai’l being a compound noun binding the concept of virtue to tangible wealth and visa versa, which is why Hebrew teaching is so deep and very compact)” : in Hebrew, virtuous holy power (Koach Kadosh) to get wealth is “Koach Kadosh la’asot CHAI’L”
Chai’l is the same Hebrew word used to describe the ideal, righteous, enterprising wife and mother (a type of the wife of the Lamb) in the prophetic eulogy in Prov 31:10-29 spoken over the mother by her admiring and loving husband, in the seventh day-Sabbath eve dinner liturgy, the untransferable, unchangeable Sabbath of the Fourth Commandment (Ex 20:8-11) that the church arrogantly abandoned by betraying the Word and the Apostles by following Rome’s counterfeit on “the first day of the (official Biblical working) week,” the result of Rome’s influence by Hellenism which is offended by the depths, purity and clarifying power of Biblical Hebrew tradition symbolized by the Shabbat covenant sign (Ex 31:13; Acts 16:20,21; 2 Thess 2:15).
Friday evening-Saturday evening according to Genesis (“there was evening, and morning…” because God’s days are not measured from midnight to midnight as pagan culture has done) forever being the TRUE Sabbath “made for man(kind)” (Mk 2:27,28) INDEPENDENTLY of the Jewish people, before there was a Judah-ite (Jews descended from Abraham’s grandson Jacob’s son Judah) as so much as a twinkle in Abraham’s eye!
The unique sanctity and double-portion of shalom-shalom of the foreordained, DESIGNATED Shabbat, makes it the antithesis of slavery to sin and therefore, the blessed, true 24 hr Intermission of the Biblical weeks, the EXACT SEVENTH on which our Maker refreshed HIMSELF, for it to be our first imitation of God (Eph 5:1,10; Heb 4:1-11), as the everlasting sign of our sanctification by the Father, for preservation in the Son (Jude vs 1) as a covenant in its own right WITHIN the “everlasting covenant” (Ex 31:13,16; Is 56:6; Heb 13:20,21).
See how Shabbat is conspicuously singled out in Is 56:6-8 a prophecy to the endtime church in general and to believers from the nations in particular:
“Also the sons of the stranger (i.e. foreigners as in Jn 10:16; Eph 2:11,12,19) that join themselves to YHWH, to serve Him and to love the Name of the LORD, to be His servants, every one who KEEPETH the Sabbath (Is 58:13,14; 66:22-24; Matt 12:8) from polluting it, AND who takes hold of My covenant (Heb 8:8-12; 13:20,21)…”
So Shabbat is not just WITHIN “the everlasting covenant” as a whole, but due to the singular pedigree of its unique sanctity as the cornerstone legacy-precept through which all the promises made to Abraham (whom Malki Tzedek most likely blessed on Shabbat – Gen 14:18-20) will be fulfilled (Is 58:14; Gal 3:16) as it perpetually orders the Divine procession of time (Ex 31:16), it is the ‘holy hinge’ within the MARRIAGE COVENANT of Ten Words, together with the related Fifth Commandment (Lev 19:1-3; Eph 6:1-3), where Shabbat, the greatest “covenant of promise” – Is 58:14, is implied, from Eph 2:12.
Shabbat which, incidentally, is the ordinance providing statutory protection for the earth (Is 24:5), is given to man (Mk 2:27,28) to MARVEL at the distinction between Creation-from-nothing on Shabbat and creation-from-something, as He blesses HIS Sun-Frid post- and pre-Sabbatical working week to empower those who keep HIS Shabbat intact and holy, with the Holy KOACH (see definition above and below) to be creatively industrious in BY FAR the most significant ways, in the UNLIMITED promise of Deut 8:18; Is 58:13,14.
For what purpose in particular?
To remind us from Is 33:20/Lam 1:1-5/Matt 5:35; 12:8 that “Jerusalem (“the Princess of the Provinces”), the City of OUR Solemnities,” YHWH’s Splendour, the Dwelling Place of Right(eousness)” (Ps 137:5,6; Is 1:26-27; Zech 2:12; 8:2,3,8) that weekly demonstrates Shabbat by TOTAL LOCKDOWN OF ITS ECONOMY according to the commandment, to meet the two chief requirements for the Messiah to enter His City on His white stallion (Jer 17:19-27; Neh 13:15-22; Matt 12:50; 23:39; Rev 19:11-13), is a challenge to the ENTIRE WORLD and its CAPITALS to anticipate Sunday being CANCELLED as a sabbath, and forever relegated to nothing more than the head (Yom Rishon) of the working week (Is 66:22-24), for despising God’s rulings.
Neither will it ever again be be coined as ‘our (weekly) Resurrection day’ which is yet another Gentile fiction, since the covenant ordains only an official ANNUAL rememberance of the Resurrection, on the “Feast of Firstfruits” (Bikkurim) which falls during the seven days of the Passover Feast of Unleavened Bread which Jesus has commanded us to keep, through Paul’s Gospel which was endorsed by James, Peter and John (Gal 2; 1 Cor 5:7,8)
If there are those who STILL wonder why such an issue is being made of Shabbat in the context of Deut 8:18, it’s because reform (repair of breach – Is 58:12-14) must precede lasting revival since disobedience never goes unnoticed because breach of the economic ban which is the CORE of the commandment pollutes the holiest of commandments (Ex 20:8-11; Is 56:6 KJV; Jer 17; Neh 13), and because the Fouth Commandment wasn’t broken even by Jesus’s closest handmaidens, even in His death, despite the best intentions (Lk 23:54-56; 24:1), because it is the ‘threshold covenant’ (Ex 31:16; Matt 12:8) that provides the first answer to Ps 42:2,4 (to settle which church is serving the truth, to avoid falling into apostasy), which tests our loyalty to God and our commitment to sanctification by the Spirit by belief of the truth (2 Thess 2:13-15).
It should be the first decision after baptism (which secures our adoption), to set one’s course on the NARROW path, for “full assurance of hope, to the end” (Matt 7:13-27; Heb 6:11).
Wilfully ignorant breach of Shabbat is breach of ALL Ten Commandments because they’re given AS ONE, “in commandmenT,” for the REDEEMED to be fully obedient (Ex 34:27,28,32; Matt 5:19; 28:20; Rom 3:31; 2 Jn vs 5&6; James 2:8-12).
We’d be making a fatal mistake if we imagine that the Sabbath issue is inconsequential.
Breach is an invitation to be “cut off” for “not continuing in the LORD’s kindness,” by boasting against the covenant and Israel its chief steward (Jer 31:31-34; Rom 9:4,5; 11:18,22,29).
The Father is DEFERRING judgment to allow us ample time for repentance and course-correction (Is 42:14; 48:9; 57:11; 2 Peter 3:9-18) so we are not destroyed.
The reality is that God is ‘giving all things on collateral.’ He is extending credit like a shopkeeper. He will call in the debt. Though our certificate of debt (record of wrongs; bill of charges) was nailed to the Cross, again “going out of the Way” by falling back under the power of sin (Rom 3:12; 1 Cor 6:12; Gal 2:17,18) exposes us anew to sanction by the curse of the law of sin and death.
God keeps a perfect record of our deeds and ultimately, when the Books that determine whether our names remain forever in the Book of Life, are opened (1 Jn 2:3-6,17; Rev 3:2-6; 20:12), we will have to pay the price because “our sin,” which is transgression of the law, “WILL find us out” (Nu 32:23).
Unlike Israel (historically held to the highest moral standards – Nu 14:22-37; Acts 5:1-11), because WE from the nations are not punished IMMEDIATELY for our misdeeds, we who don’t put fear of sin before wisdom, may be tempted to believe that that grace is justifying our UNSOUND doctrine
DISPUTING the Word and holding truth in CONTEMPT, is always REBELLION (1 Sam 15:22,23), the surest way to subvert one’s own soul and impose one’s own limitations (Ps 78:8,40,41; 107:11).
If you’re still sceptical, look up Tuesday in any reputable dictionary with historical depth, and it will be defined as the THIRD day of the week. Even a child could put two and two together!
Facts argue their own rebuttal.
There can therefore be no doubt that Shabbat is a ‘logical necessity,’ meaning a truth that will outlast its naysayers, because Sunday, the ADVERSARY’s trumped-up OPPOSITE of Shabbat, is inconceivable if one has truly set one’s heart and mind on historical accuracy and doctrinal purity.
“A false interpretation will inevitably betray itself” (Trench)
As the first Biblical mention of holiness AND the first commandment for mankind (not just Israel) framed in Scripture (Gen 2:2,3), Shabbat, the jewel of the moral law as the ‘Prologue’ to God’s perpetual Holy Convocations, is the locomotive of highest national attainments, as PER CAPITA Jewish economics proves
Despite its relatively tiny size, not much larger than New Jersey, and its population (9m) not much bigger than New York City (8,5m), Israel has become a global technological and entrepreneurial powerhouse. The recent Bloomberg Innovation Index, an annual ranking of countries that measures performance in research and development, technology education, patents and other marks of technological prowess, listed Israel at #5 in the world.
On a per capita basis, Israel’s economy – which produced some $500 billion last year – grew 4.4% versus an OECD average of 2.6%.
That, of course, is all due to God’s mercy and grace (Is 42:14,15; 48:9; 57:11), not due to their own righteousness (Rom 10:1-3), and for their sake, Israel’s remarkable success must not lull them into deadly complacency, because their rejection of their Messiah and their wandering away from many of the righteous laws by which they are yet to be known as a wise nation (Deut 4:5-8; Is 2:2-4), will soon bring the worst ever “time of Jacob’s trouble” upon them (Jer 30; Dan 12; Zech 9-14; Matt 24; Lk 21), to “vex” them until they believe the Report (Is 28:19; 53:1-6 KJV) that the Lamb of Is 53 (verses 8-11) is their Incarnate God and Saviour, as it is written in Is 7:13,14; 45:17-25, and expounded more fully in Phil 2:6-15 & Titus 2:11-14 in their own New Covenant writings (Jer 31:31-34).
Since, as YHWH’s Personal Testimony-in-Chief as Creator-Redeemer (Ex 20:8-11; Deut 5:12-15), the covenant of SHABBAT is the PORTAL (Ps 25:10,14) to the deepest understanding of the Everlasting Gospel (Rev 14:6,7,12), Everlasting Salvation (Is 45:17-25), the Everlasting Covenant (Heb 13:20,21) AND the Everlasting Kingdom (2 Peter 1:11), it is indisputably the crown of the moral theme running throughout Scripture, continuing unbroken into the millennial age and beyond, on the New Earth (Is 66:22-24).
So we dare not defile ourselves and Creation (Is 24:5; 1 Cor 3:17; 7:19) by condoning continuing attempts to justify “changing the ordinance” to nullify THIS covenant, by the PRESUMPTION that Sunday is acceptable to the Legislator of the Sinai marriage covenant as a SUBSTITUTE or RIVAL sabbath – our “LawGiver and Judge” being Pre-Incarnate Jesus, “the Shepherd and (Cotner)Stone of Israel” (Gen 49:24) Who shadowed (followed) Israel in the wilderness as the spiritual Rock from which they drank (1 Cor 10:1-4).
Speaking of which, it was MORAL POWER, not brute force, that raised Jesus for our justification (Rom 4:25)
Moral power is defined by VIRTUE, which defines true and faithful sons who worship in Spirit and in Truth (Heb 12)
The Purity of uncompromised morality PROJECTS power (Mk 5:30; Lk 6:19; 8:46).
Impeccable character can’t BUT raise the dead.
Those who did so yet weren’t yet as pure as the Master (1 Jn 3:3,4), had to have purity imputed to them by grace, to do so, in the hope that they would continue in “the Way” of Holiness, having their character steadily refined to become perfect, to be “as the Master” (Matt 5:48; Lk 6:40)
Business is not a separate specie of sonship. Christian morality and ethics aren’t compartmentalized. Righteousness is as universal and absolute as Truth itself, which is why they are matched (Zech 8:8).
Moral power is likewise available to dignify and raise up formidable, magnanimous Christian business-people who devote themselves to learning the Fear of God (Deut 4:10; 5:29; 7:9-15; 13:4; Ps 34:11) by learning the qualities of virtue (uprightness/righteousness, purity, honour, fairness, justness, honesty, probity, integrity, goodness, scrupulous, trustworthy, unsullied, blameless) from study of “precept by precept” (Is 28:9-12; Matt 5:19; Rom 3:20b,31; 1 Cor 7:19; 11:1,2; 2 Thess 2:15), to release the fruits of the Spirit by UNLEARNING “the way/s of the heathen/Gentiles” (Jer 10:2), to remain undefiled by sin, to obtain irrefutable testimony to establish God’s covenant which He swore to the fathers Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, so that by learning to keep “the Way of YHWH,” “He may bring upon ABRAHAM that which He hath spoken of (prophesied over) him.”
Boadly speaking, that vast prospective blessing is prophecy that we from the nations will indeed become “heirs of the world” amongst the House of Jacob, Abraham’s dynasty in which Jesus emerged in the house of David, to rule the House of Jacob forever on the Throne of David He will soon restore to Jerusalem (Gen 18:18,19; Deut 8:18; Ps 119:1,38,45; Is 9:6,7; 28:9-12; 33:6; Mk 11:10; Lk 1:32,33; Rom 1:3,4; 3:20b,31; 4:13-16; Rev 14:6,7,12).
The vocational gifting and cognitive capacities and leanings granted, for each of us to be so different (1 Cor 4:7), to make a difference, find provision, and ‘get ahead’ economically, is justified (like life itself) only if we renew the spirit of our minds to conduct life and our economic activity VIRTUOUSLY, to vindicate and “establish” the greatness and beauty of the holiness of the “everlasting covenant,” as the only way to navigate life, to receive the crown of righteousness and the crown of life (Ps 119:17,53,77; Matt 7:13-27; Rom 12:1,2; Eph 4:23,24; 2 Tim 4:3-8; Heb 13:20,21).
The Passion of Christ for US, is meant to be translated into zeal (passion) on OUR part to “count the cost” of bearing our crosses, in pursuit of perfection of holiness (= set apartness by obedience to precept – Rom 2:13,26; 6:12-22; 8:4-14; 2 Cor 7:1), through the knowledge and application of “the Way” of the Kingdom of which Jesus is the Cornerstone as the Living Torah (=Instruction/Word), or we have neither HEARD and nor “SEEN,” nor LOVE or KNOW Him (Job 42:5; Matt 7:21-24; 17:5; Lk 6:40; Jn 5:24; 6:40; Acts 3:20,21; 21:20; Rom 3:31; 1 Jn 3:3-10; 5:2&3
If we miss this, we miss the architecture of the complete plan of redemption, namely :
Because YHWH created the entire Universe for the House of Jacob/Israel (Is 54:3; 55:5; Lk 1:33; Rom 9-11), its progenitor – righteous, law-abiding, covenant-keeping Abraham (Gen 18:18,19; 26:5), has been made the FULCRUM, in Christ, of the ENTIRE plan for redemption of humanity and the universe, which is why we’re defined as his seed (Gal 3:29).
All we’re being asked to do in the love of God (Mk 12:28-34; 1 Jn 5:2&3) to fulfil our duty to keep “the Way” (Eccl 12:13; Ps 103:17,18; Gen 18:19; Lk 12:47-53; 17:7-10), is therefore ultimately for the sake of the FOUNDING fathers of the faith, whom He loves (Deut 4:37-39; Rom 11:29), not ‘the church fathers’ who’ve done so much to lead the enlarged House of Jacob (Lk 1:33, Rom 11) into apostasy, through Rome.
So the challenge is to search out the PRECEPTS (not just the promises), to keep the SCRIPTURAL identikit of VIRTUE before our eyes as the plumbline for a chaste virgin bride, for God’s laws to be written on our hearts by Holy Spirit, to make them the apple of our eye, just as they are to Jesus our LawGiver and Judge (Ps 40:7,8; Prov 7:1-3; Jn 5:28,29; 2 Cor 11:2; Col 1:21-23,28,29; Heb 8:8-12; 10:16; James 1:22-25; 2:7-26).
