PROPHETIC CHAMBER
When the people of Israel left Egypt, they had been slaves of the Egyptians for a long time (see Exodus 12:40-41).

Exodus 12:40-41:
40 Now the length of time the Israelite people lived in Egypt was 430 years.
41 At the end of the 430 years, to the very day, all the Lord’s divisions left Egypt.

Throughout the generations the Israelites in Egypt were oppressed and Pharaoh commanded them what to do.

The Time of Challenge and the Necessity of the Renewing of the Mind

As followers of Jesus Christ, it is important to understand that times of challenge are not meant to oppress us, but to shape us in our eternal being to become the person whom God already sees in His omniscience (see Psalm 139:16 i.c.w. Jeremiah 1:5).

Psalm 139:16:
16 Your eyes saw my unformed body; all the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be.

Jeremiah 1:5:
5 “Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, before you were born I set you apart; I appointed you as a prophet to the nations.”

The time of the oppression of the people of Israel was part of God's promise plan which ended with the phase of deliverance that was even associated with great prosperity for the people of Israel (see Genesis 15:13-14 i.c.w. Exodus 3:21-22).

Genesis 15:13-14:
13 Then the Lord said to him, “Know for certain that for four hundred years your descendants will be strangers in a country not their own and that they will be enslaved and mistreated there.
14 But I will punish the nation they serve as slaves, and afterward they will come out with great possessions.
 
Exodus 3:21-22:
21 “And I will make the Egyptians favorably disposed toward this people, so that when you leave you will not go empty-handed.
22 Every woman is to ask her neighbor and any woman living in her house for articles of silver and gold and for clothing, which you will put on your sons and daughters. And so you will plunder the Egyptians.”

Since the conscience of the Israelites had been marked by the slavery of Egypt, it was necessary for them to renew their minds according to the promise of God. God navigated them by the guidance of Moses and Aaron by taking them out of the slavery of Egypt.

As a result, each individual Israelite had to learn to live in his new identity as a free person. In addition, the people of Israel became God's possession and a royal priesthood that moved forward in an army structure made up of the twelve tribes of Israel (see Exodus 19:5-6a).

Exodus 19:5-6a:
5 Now if you obey me fully and keep my covenant, then out of all nations you will be my treasured possession. Although the whole earth is mine, 6a you will be for me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation.’ …
 
Every single Israelite was challenged to renew his thoughts or conscience in order to position himself as a free person under the guidance of Moses in the very order of God (see Romans 12:2; Ephesians 4:23 i.c.w. Exodus 13:18b).

Romans 12:2:
2 Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is – his good, pleasing and perfect will.

Ephesians 4:23:
… 23 to be made new in the attitude of your minds; …

Exodus 13:18b (Luther):
… 18b And Israel departed from the land of Egypt in good order.

The Order of God and the Circumcision of the Heart

This divine order required a certain knowledge of every Israelite to be aware of the affiliation of the respective tribe of Israel in order to position themselves accordingly (see Numbers 10:12a.13).

Numbers 10:12a.13 (New Jerusalemer):
12a Then the Israelites departed from the Sinai wilderness, according to the order of departure …
13 So they set out for the first time, as the LORD commanded them by Moses.

The Order of the Twelve Tribes of Israel is as follows:
 
1. Judah
2. Issachar
3. Zebulun
 
4. Ruben
5. Simeon
6. Gad
 
7. Ephraim
8. Manasseh
9. Benjamin
 
10. Dan
11. Asher
12. Naphtali.
 
Since this order of the tribes of Israel is the same three times in the Word of God, and Ecclesiastes 4:12 as well as Matthew 18:16.20 speak of the importance of the threefold, we can presume God's revelatory guidance and order (see Numbers 2:4; Numbers 7:10-83; Numbers 10:11-28).

In order to walk in a new conscience as a follower of Jesus Christ, it is essential to allow the Holy Spirit to circumcise the heart (see Deuteronomy 30:6 i.c.w. Romans 2:29).

Deuteronomy 30:6:
6 The Lord your God will circumcise your hearts and the hearts of your descendants, so that you may love him with all your heart and with all your soul, and live.

Romans 2:29:
29 No, a person is a Jew who is one inwardly; and circumcision is circumcision of the heart, by the Spirit, not by the written code. Such a person’s praise is not from other people, but from God.
 
In this context, I consider the foreskin of the heart as experiences from which one has inferred reality and established a false mindset (note: conclusions based on negative experiences) that prevents one from going deeper into God's promise.
 
After the death of Moses, when the people of Israel were given Joshua as a new leader and were already in the land of promise, circumcision took place on God's behalf in Gilgal. This circumcision was a sign of the cutting off of the reproach of Egypt from the Israelites. This process can be equated with turning away from a false mindset (e.g. slavery and failure; see Joshua 5:7-9).
 
Joshua 5:7-9:
7 So he raised up their sons in their place, and these were the ones Joshua circumcised. They were still uncircumcised because they had not been circumcised on the way.
8 And after the whole nation had been circumcised, they remained where they were in camp until they were healed.
9 Then the Lord said to Joshua, “Today I have rolled away the reproach of Egypt from you.” So the place has been called Gilgal to this day.
 
The circumcision of the heart results that our eyes of the heart emerge and become enlightened. In this way we are able to evaluate spiritually the particular circumstance, persons and environment in which we find ourselves and not according to our own experience, associations or perception (see Ephesians 1:18).
 
Ephesians 1:18:
18 I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in his holy people, …
 
But if we are not ready to renew our conscience, our works will not produce the fruit that God wants to bring forth through us at this time (see Hebrews 9:14).
 
Hebrews 9:14:
14 How much more, then, will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself unblemished to God, cleanse our consciences from acts that lead to death, so that we may serve the living God!
 
If we go only by our own heart and don't surrender to the divine process of the circumcision of the heart, the result will not correspond to the will of God, because the human heart is deceitful (see Jeremiah 17:9).
 
Jeremiah 17:9:
9 The heart is deceitful above all things and beyond cure. Who can understand it?
 
The Ant and the New Beginning
 
In this context the Lord let me see an ant whose body suddenly turned into the number “8”, which is an indication of a “new time” or a “new beginning”.
 
Therefore, I don't consider it any coincidence that the ant is closely connected to the process of circumcision, which brings about a new or broadened view in the heart, as mentioned before. The ant is not a loner, but lives in so-called states.
 
The Hebrew word for “ant” is “nĕmālāh” and its root word refers to circumcision. (note: part excerpt from the Elberfelder Study Bible to the word “ant – nĕmālāh” with the word key number: 5331* and its female root word “nâmal – circumcision” with the word key number 5243 from the Strong's concordance).
 
In this context the ant is an indication of the self-responsible walking in the order of God in diligence and unity, in order to develop wealth at the right time with a correct understanding of the harvest and to walk in the promise of God (see Proverbs 6:6.8 i.c.w. Proverbs 30:25).
 
Proverbs 6:6.8:
6 Go to the ant, you sluggard; consider its ways and be wise! …
… 8 yet it stores its provisions in summer and gathers its food at harvest.
 
Proverbs 30:25:
25 Ants are creatures of little strength, yet they store up their food in the summer; …
 
Even if we as believers in Christ find ourselves in situations that seem challenging to us, it is wise to submit to the hand of God and trust Him in all things. For it is God who gives at the right time honor and therein overview (see 1 Peter 5:6).
 
1 Peter 5:6:
6 Humble yourselves, therefore, under God’s mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time.
 
Amen and Amen.
 
In His Wisdom,
 
Daniel Glimm

PROPHETIC CHAMBER
There are different assignments of saints among God's people.
I would like to share this word dealing with the significance of togetherness with regard to assignment.
 
The Assignment of Togetherness and the Task of the Fire of God
 
The assignment of togetherness is mentioned many times in the Word of God, as, for example, Jesus sent out His disciples by two. We can also find this principle of commissioning by the sending of the 300 foxes by Samson (see Mark 6:7 i.c.w. Judges 15:4-5).
 
Mark 6:7:
7 Calling the Twelve to him, he began to send them out two by two and gave them authority over impure spirits.
 
Judges 15:4-5:
4 So he went out and caught three hundred foxes and tied them tail to tail in pairs. He then fastened a torch to every pair of tails, 5 lit the torches and let the foxes loose in the standing grain of the Philistines. He burned up the shocks and standing grain, together with the vineyards and olive groves.
 
The commissioning of the 300 foxes by Samson reveals that it is important to move forward in the covenant of God and in the fire of the Holy Spirit (see Revelation 4:5).
 
Revelation 4:5:
5 From the throne came flashes of lightning, rumblings and peals of thunder. In front of the throne, seven lamps were blazing. These are the seven spirits of God.
 
It is the task of the fire of God among other things to split in order to bring forth greater revelation and destruction to the field of the enemy by the wisdom of God (see Acts 2:1-4).
 
Acts 2:1-4:
1 When the day of Pentecost came, they were all together in one place.
2 Suddenly a sound like the blowing of a violent wind came from heaven and filled the whole house where they were sitting.
3 They saw what seemed to be tongues of fire that separated and came to rest on each of them.
4 All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit enabled them.
 
The arrangement of Jesus resulted in the twelve disciples becoming six apostolic teams who delivered men from darkness (note: circumstance of oppression).
 
The assignment of the 300 foxes by Samson implied the separation of 300 foxes into 150 fiery teams.
 
The Number “2” and Solitude
 
In this context, the number “2” has a special meaning because it evokes “togetherness” from “solitude”. Furthermore, the number “2” is connected with the firmament that reveals heaven (see Genesis 1:6-8).
 
Genesis 1:6-8:
6 And God said, “Let there be a vault between the waters to separate water from water.”
7 So God made the vault and separated the water under the vault from the water above it. And it was so.
8 God called the vault “sky.” And there was evening, and there was morning – the second day.
 
The divine ‘solitude’ in the form of diversity is transformed by the power of God's assignment into the measure of heavenly ‘togetherness’, which is illustrated by the numbers ‘6’ (note: six apostolic teams) and ‘150’ (note: 150 pairs of fiery foxes).
 
The number 6 is connected with the creation of mankind and the number 150 is related to the increase of the righteousness of God (see Genesis 1:27.31; Genesis 7:24).
 
Genesis 1:27.31:
27 So God created mankind in his own image, in the image of God he created them; male and female he created them. …
31 God saw all that he had made, and it was very good. And there was evening, and there was morning – the sixth day.
 
Genesis 7:24:
24 The waters flooded the earth for a hundred and fifty days.
 
Therefore, this arrangement means the movement of the one new man in the righteousness of God (see Ephesians 2:15).
 
Ephesians 2:15 (New Jewish Testament):
… 15 by destroying in his own body the enmity occasioned by the Torah, with its commands set forth in the form of ordinances. He did this in order to create in union with himself from the two groups (note: Jews and Gentiles) a single new humanity and thus make shalom, …
 
This is a paradox, for now two are united in one, just as the woman was hidden in the nature of the first man. Only through Christ Jesus can togetherness become oneness (see Ephesians 5:31-32).
 
Ephesians 5:31-32:
31 “For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and the two will become one flesh.”
32 This is a profound mystery – but I am talking about Christ and the church.
 
The Importance of Assignment
 
According to the word of God assignments are important.

=> An assignment is a work project, task, or commitment that is first assigned to a person. The assignment may also be delegated for expediency and/or quality development reasons. (see 1 Chronicles 9:23; 1 Chronicles 16:4; 1 Chronicles 23:11).
An assignment serves as a boundary to protect the assigned person in his/her assignment and scope of duties.
Just as the ministry of angels comes only one after the other and has one task after the other, so it is with the assignment of saints.
If someone ignores God’s given assignment, the person gets into trouble that could have been avoided. <= (note: part excerpt from the “Prophet's Dictionary” by Paula A. Price, Ph. D.; page 68)
 
The Apostolic–Prophetic Coalition
 
In connection with the sending of the disciples and foxes as teams by Jesus Christ and Samson, we can also see a reference to the apostolic–prophetic coalition as mentioned in Acts 8:9-11.14-24.
 
Its purpose is to confront false influences in the regions and to eliminate them through the authority of the anointing, which is closely interwoven with the office of the apostle and prophet.
 
Acts 8:9-11.14-24:
9 Now for some time a man named Simon had practiced sorcery in the city and amazed all the people of Samaria. He boasted that he was someone great, 10 and all the people, both high and low, gave him their attention and exclaimed, “This man is rightly called the Great Power of God.”
11 They followed him because he had amazed them for a long time with his sorcery. …
14 When the apostles in Jerusalem heard that Samaria had accepted the word of God, they sent Peter and John to Samaria.
15 When they arrived, they prayed for the new believers there that they might receive the Holy Spirit, 16 because the Holy Spirit had not yet come on any of them; they had simply been baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.
17 Then Peter and John placed their hands on them, and they received the Holy Spirit.
18 When Simon saw that the Spirit was given at the laying on of the apostles’ hands, he offered them money 19 and said, “Give me also this ability so that everyone on whom I lay my hands may receive the Holy Spirit.”
20 Peter answered: “May your money perish with you, because you thought you could buy the gift of God with money!
21 You have no part or share in this ministry, because your heart is not right before God.
22 Repent of this wickedness and pray to the Lord in the hope that he may forgive you for having such a thought in your heart.
23 For I see that you are full of bitterness and captive to sin.”
24 Then Simon answered, “Pray to the Lord for me so that nothing you have said may happen to me.”
 
The concept of an apostolic–prophetic coalition implies an agreement based on the understanding that apostles and prophets unite and collaborate to bring the fullness in terms of quality of God's strength, character and wisdom to the saints. Such cooperations usually evolve from the recognition and connection of leading prophets with apostles they are aligned with (note: by an inner testimony, guidance by the Holy Spirit).
 
As a matter of course, preceding prophets present the apostles for whom their mantles were sent by God to pave the way for them. From Abraham, the prophet who paved the way for Moses the Shaliach (note: type of apostle in the Tenakh – Hebrew Bible) up to John the Baptist, who was sent to prepare the way for Jesus (see Mark 1:3).
 
We can clearly see the pattern of the New Testament, after Philip the Evangelist had evangelized an area, the apostles and prophets stepped in to teach and consolidate new believers in God's truth (see Acts 8:4-24). The initial arrangement of ‘two apostles’ (see Mark 6:7) has been changed to finally form and send even more effective teams for this present time (note: apostle and prophet, after the resurrection of Jesus Christ).
 
The messages of the apostles and prophets are revelations which are supposed to be spread or continued by the three other ministers of the five-fold ministry (note: evangelist, shepherd, teacher) in the church.
 
The ministry of the apostle and the prophet are destined to distribute active revelation received by God and share it with the other three ministers of the five-fold ministry in the church in order to provide an imprint for the whole body of Christ.
 
Each of the three mentioned ministers (note: evangelist, shepherd, teacher) spreads part of the apostolic and prophetic revelations within the ministry according to their mantle and covering.
 
The evangelist uses revelation to convince souls to recognize Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior.
 
The shepherd uses revelation to encourage the flock for attending and being part of the church.
 
The teacher uses revelation to train saints and consolidate them in the kingdom culture of the Lord.
 
However, what all three of these last-mentioned ministers of the five-fold ministry are lacking is the legitimacy of the Lord's immediate consultation in the realm of authority to which apostles and prophets are entitled.
 
This is why they are the first-mentioned ministers, because they are assigned to release God's fresh revelations and instructions for an aligning of saints within the body of Christ.
 
Please note, that herein it is exclusively speaking of the prophet as the calling of a minister, not the general calling of every saint to be prophetic as to prophesy (see 1 Corinthians 14:1 ff.).
 
The Character Types of the Apostle Peter and John
 
It can be helpful to understand the characters of the apostles Peter and John.
 
Peter was called to serve the Jews – those who grew up in institutional religion. The Peter-type apostle seems to be a modern-day apostle who, among other things, is called to teach the body of Christ the biblical way of thinking implying a Jewish mindset, on the basis of Jesus' work of redemption (see Matthew 5:17).
 
Matthew 5:17:
17 “Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them.
 
John was called differently. The John type apostle is a modern-day apostle who can be characterized as a ‘servant of love’. The greatest emphasis in the life of the apostle John was love. This quality of an apostolic father has great influence in the body of Christ. John was also the apostle who received great revelation and deep insight into God's realm of dominion and spiritual processes.
 
This means that Jesus as the head of His body is placing saints under this twofold apostolic fire to send them out with His spirit of wisdom. This enables them to do a dynamic ministry in the body of Christ, leading to unity through the fire of wisdom and love, so that the world recognizes that we are His disciples (see John 13:34-35).
 
John 13:34-35:
34 “A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another.
35 By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.”
 
In order to be assigned by Christ Jesus in togetherness in terms of a team, there is first the relationship with the Heavenly Father in His sonship important, so that the essence of personal learning from the relationship can be brought into the team determined by Jesus.

The assignment doesn't take place according to personal preference or opinion, but exclusively through the assignment of the Holy Spirit.

This principle is revealed by the election of the apostle Matthias, who was chosen by lot instead of Judas and who was required to have been a follower of Jesus and witness of His resurrection (see Acts 1:20-22.24-26).
 
Acts 1:20-22.24-26:
20 “For,” said Peter, “it is written in the Book of Psalms (see Psalm 69:25; Psalm 109:8): “ ‘May his place be deserted; let there be no one to dwell in it,’ and, “ ‘May another take his place of leadership.’
21 Therefore it is necessary to choose one of the men who have been with us the whole time the Lord Jesus was living among us, 22 beginning from John’s baptism to the time when Jesus was taken up from us. For one of these must become a witness with us of his resurrection.” …
24 Then they prayed, “Lord, you know everyone’s heart. Show us which of these two you have chosen 25 to take over this apostolic ministry, which Judas left to go where he belongs.”
26 Then they cast lots, and the lot fell to Matthias; so he was added to the eleven apostles.
 
Amen and Amen.
 
In His Wisdom,
 
Daniel Glimm

PROPHETIC CHAMBER
When God reveals His standard in greater detail, He calls His people to a higher spiritual level, where He currently resides in the Spirit.
 
The Higher Level and the Measure of God
 
This higher spiritual level is connected to the loom of His divine standards, which require more of the believers and, in particular, of the leaders (note: leadership) within His people (see Luke 12:48b).
 
Luke 12:48b:
… 48b From everyone who has been given much, much will be demanded; and from the one who has been entrusted with much, much more will be asked.
 
God's measure is closely connected to His glorious presence.
In connection with this the LORD informed me that His presence as well as His standard never change, no matter whether the people on earth live by it or not (see Isaiah 41:4; Hebrews 13:8).
 
Isaiah 41:4:
4 Who has done this and carried it through, calling forth the generations from the beginning? I, the LORD – with the first of them and with the last – I am he.”
 
Hebrews 13:8:
8 Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.
 
The Eventuation of Gods Presence and His Standards in the Temporal Time
 
Once God has decided to appear as the eternal One with His presence and the related divine standard in our temporal time here on earth, it might have painful consequences, if His people are unwilling to live by it.
 
Samuel, Prophet and Judge
 
In regard to this I was reminded on the time of Samuel, who was called by God as prophet and judge over the people of Israel. He related to them the standards of the LORD OF HOSTS (note: JAHWE-ZEBAOTH), who is enthroned between the cherubim (see 1 Samuel 4:4).
 
1 Samuel 4:4:
4 So the people sent men to Shiloh, and they brought back the ark of the covenant of the LORD Almighty, who is enthroned between the cherubim. And Eli’s two sons, Hophni and Phinehas, were there with the ark of the covenant of God.
 
The Separation between Prophet and Priest
 
There was maladministration in the temple worship, that is, in the house of God in Shiloh (note: means „to rest, place of rest“) at the time of the prophet Samuel. This situation was caused by Hophni and Phinehas, the sons of Eli, who was acting high priest at the time. Eli, the high priest, did not take efficient steps to stop this maladministration (see 1 Samuel 2:12-26; 1 Samuel 3:13), so God chose Samuel to separate the priestly service from that of the prophetic ministry (see 1 Samuel 3:1-21).
 
Up until the time of Samuel, priests also carried the prophetic part and activated it every time the Spirit of God would speak to them. As unholiness increased in the priestly service, God had to separate the prophetic from the priestly duties in order to emphasize the measure of His holiness through His prophets.
 
By this divine separation the LORD established the prophetic institution through the prophet Samuel. It was his duty to establish once again Israels pure worship and to provide protection from any future potential self-indulgence of the priests.
This is why in a way (note: in a healthy way) the ministry of the prophet is “independent”, so that he can be seen as God's “mouth piece”.
 
This separation between priestly and prophetic functions serves primarily to uphold continuity and effectiveness of holiness among the people of God.
 
The life of Samuel is a good example for the current prophetic ministry and the appointed prophets, who are called to the various churches. Samuel was a consecrated man of God, who had been taught and trained in the priestly service by Eli in the house of God. He was in the center of God's revelation (see 1 Samuel 3:3).
 
1 Samuel 3:3:
3 The lamp of God had not yet gone out, and Samuel was lying down in the house of the LORD, where the ark of God was.
 
THE LORD OF HOSTS and the Cherubim
 
The mention of the LORD OF HOSTS, who is enthroned above the cherubim, in the book of Samuel points to the fierce character of God and the standard of His glorious presence. This can be seen in the fact that the cherubim are made completely of gold and they are connected with the ark of God (see Exodus 25:18; 1 Kings 8:6), which represents God's presence among men.
 
Exodus 25:18:
18 And make two cherubim out of hammered gold at the ends of the cover.
 
1 Kings 8:6:
6 The priests then brought the ark of the LORD’S covenant to its place in the inner sanctuary of the temple, the Most Holy Place, and put it beneath the wings of the cherubim.
 
The Cherubim
 
=> The Hebrew name „cherub“ means „glancing appearance, lightening“. The plural of the Hebrew word is „cherubim“, which means “great one, mighty one“.
According to 1 Chronicles 28:18 the cherub is the picture of the divine chariot, which reminds us of Ezekiel 1 and 10, where the cherubim form the living chariot, on which the God of Israel rides (see Psalm 18:11; 2 Samuel 22:11), on which He is enthroned to hold judgment (see Psalm 80:2; 1 Samuel 4:4; 2 Samuel 6:2). <= (note: part excerpt from the „Encyclopedia of Biblical Names“ by Abraham Meister, page 208)
 
Furthermore, the cherubim are set as watchmen over paradise (see Genesis 3:24) and they carry the throne of God (see Psalm 18:11; Ezekiel 10:1; Ezekiel 11:22).
 
Genesis 3:24:
24 After he drove the man out, he placed on the east side of the Garden of Eden cherubim and a flaming sword flashing back and forth to guard the way to the tree of life.
 
Psalm 18:10:
10 He mounted the cherubim and flew; he soared on the wings of the wind.
 
Ezekiel 10:1:
1 I looked, and I saw the likeness of a throne of lapis lazuli above the vault that was over the heads of the cherubim.
 
Ezekiel 11:22:
22 Then the cherubim, with the wheels beside them, spread their wings, and the glory of the God of Israel was above them.
 
Paradise is seen as the place in the supernatural that implies intimate fellowship with God, the Father.
 
God's presence leaves
 
As mentioned before, the sons of Eli were responsible for maladministration in the house of God in Shiloh. As no action was taken to stop this, God decided to lift His presence from Israel for a time by allowing the Philistines to attack His people, resulting in the death of Eli's sons and the theft of the ark of the covenant (note: symbol for the presence and the measure/standard of God) by the Philistines. When Eli heard that the ark of God had been stolen, he also died (see 1 Samuel 4:17-18).
 
1 Samuel 4:17-18:
17 The man who brought the news replied, “Israel fled before the Philistines, and the army has suffered heavy losses. Also your two sons, Hophni and Phinehas, are dead, and the ark of God has been captured.”
18 When he mentioned the ark of God, Eli fell backward off his chair by the side of the gate. His neck was broken and he died, for he was an old man, and he was heavy. He had led Israel forty years.
 
Because God's people in Shiloh did not live according to the standard of God – although the LORD was present among them with His standard – He created upheaval in midst of the place of rest (note: Shiloh). He was aiming to awaken His people, so that they would live in accordance with His divine standard once again.
 
The Ark of the Covenant is stolen
 
The theft of the ark of the covenant by the Philistines didn't present a problem to God, as His presence and standards never change. For the Philistines, who stole the ark of God, this meant that they, too, had the possibility to recognize Him as the God of Israel.
But the Philistines decided to move the presence of God (note: ark of the covenant) to their temple in Aschdod, where they worshiped their God, Dagon (see 1 Samuel 5:2).
 
1 Samuel 5:2:
2 Then they carried the ark into Dagon’s temple and set it beside Dagon.
 
Confrontation by the Presence of God
 
Because the God of Israel is spirit (see John 4:24a) and Dagon was the God worshiped by the Philistines, a confrontation with the dark principality of “Dagon” took place in the supernatural realm, resulting in its judgment by the God of Israel, the LORD OF HOSTS, over night.
 
John 4:24a:
24 God is spirit, …
 
This supernatural confrontation resulted in the falling over of the graven image of Dagon in its temple the next morning, lying face down before the ark of God (see 1 Samuel 5:3).
 
1 Samuel 5:3:
3 When the people of Ashdod rose early the next day, there was Dagon, fallen on his face on the ground before the ark of the LORD! They took Dagon and put him back in his place.
 
Despite this occurrence the Philistines put their idol back in an upright position, causing the God of Israel to judge the dark principality, that they served, yet again over night. The next morning the Philistines found the stature of their deity lying on the ground again, but this time it was broken, with its head (note: planning center of evil) and hands (note: evils ability to act) severed from the body (see 1 Samuel 5:4).
 
1 Samuel 5:4:
4 But the following morning when they rose, there was Dagon, fallen on his face on the ground before the ark of the Lord! His head and hands had been broken off and were lying on the threshold; only his body remained.
 
By this confrontation the God of Israel stated clearly, who is the one true God, and by this He even gave the Philistines the chance to submit under His rule, but – living in accordance to their own ideas – they refused.
 
The Tumors and the Devourer
 
Because the Philistines did not return the ark/presence of God to Israel, but sent it to five different cities (note: Aschdod, Gaza, Aschkelon, Gat, Ekron) instead, all the inhabitants of the respective regions were struck with tumors, and their harvest was destroyed by rats/mice (see 1 Samuel 5:6).
 
1 Samuel 5:6:
6 The LORD’S hand was heavy on the people of Ashdod and its vicinity; he brought devastation on them and afflicted them with tumors.
 
The Return of the Ark of God
 
As a result, the rulers of the Philistines planned to return the ark of God to the people of Israel. Concerning this matter, they asked their priests and diviners for advice on what further actions to take (see 1 Samuel 5:11; 1 Samuel 6:2).
 
1 Samuel 5:11:
11 So they called together all the rulers of the Philistines and said, “Send the ark of the god of Israel away; let it go back to its own place, or it will kill us and our people.” For death had filled the city with panic; God’s hand was very heavy on it.
 
1 Samuel 6:2:
… 2 the Philistines called for the priests and the diviners and said, “What shall we do with the ark of the Lord? Tell us how we should send it back to its place.”
 
The priests and diviners of the Philistines answered, that they shouldn't return the ark of God without a gift in form of a guilt offering.
 
The guilt offering consisted of five golden tumors and five golden rats/mice according to the number of the Philistine rulers. These images of the tumors and rats/mice were meant to acknowledge their aberration before the God of Israel and by this, give Him honor (see 1 Samuel 6:4-5)!
 
1 Samuel 6:4-5:
4 The Philistines asked, “What guilt offering should we send to him?” They replied, “Five gold tumors and five gold rats (note: mice), according to the number of the Philistine rulers, because the same plague has struck both you and your rulers.
5 Make models of the tumors and of the rats that are destroying the country, and give glory to Israel’s god. Perhaps he will lift his hand from you and your gods and your land.
 
It is no coincidence that the Philistines used the number “5” twice as part of their guilt offering, as advised by their priests and diviners, for this points towards the grace of God in heaven and on earth.
 
=> The number „5“ is an operative number. It is counted to the effect of grace that manifests and is implemented through the hand of God in ones life or ministry. The reason is, because everything the LORD does, is freely available and cannot be purchased with worldly currency. It is a gift of grace. <= (note: part excerpt from the „Prophets Dictionary„ by Paula A. Price, Ph. D.; page 221; 222).
 
Consequently, the grace of God is not cheap, but rather it is powerful and instructs us to lead a pure and holy life, and to be God's own, eager to do good works (see Titus 2:11-14).
 
Titus 2:11-14:
11 For the grace of God has appeared that offers salvation to all people.
12 It teaches us to say “No” to ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives in this present age, 13 while we wait for the blessed hope – the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ, 14 who gave himself for us to redeem us from all wickedness and to purify for himself a people that are his very own, eager to do what is good.
 
=> The number „5“ resembles mainly the symbolism of the hand and represents the implementation of a pledge for the LORD. Furthermore, it is also used to describe a sacrificial service.
The number „5“ points to a promise of devotion, which is expressed by power in the hands of someone else (note: clasping someone's hands) to full fill something. The symbolism of the hand characterizes mainly the Tenakh and has been transferred to the New Testament through the apostle Paul in his presentation of the five-fold ministry.
 
In the Tenakh, the tabernacle and the temple already point towards the hand-completion of the New Testament church. The tabernacle had five pillars to support its structure, and the temple had five-sided doorposts in the entrance (see Exodus 26:37; 1 Kings 6:31). Thus the ministries of the office holders, elders and leaders are signified through this (see Ephesians 4:11 i.c.w. Galatians 2:9; Revelation 3:12). <= (note: part excerpt from the „Prophets Dictionary„ by Paula A. Price, Ph. D.; page 221; 222).
 
The New Chariot and the Ark of God
 
In connection with the return of the ark of God the Philistines built a new cart, as advised by their priests and diviners. Two cows that had calved and never been yoked before, were hitched to it. They placed the ark of the covenant of the God of Israel on this new cart and returned it to the people of Israel.
 
Because the cows pulling the cart were nursing, they bleated in pain, as their udders were full of milk. Their bleating became the announcing sound of the return of God's presence to the people of Israel, and it was heard by all the people nearby.
 
It was the ultimate destiny of these two cows to become a burnt offering for the God of Israel in the region of Bet Shemesh (note: house of the sun => house of God's glory)
 
In Bet Shemesh two kinds of worship and reverence for the God of Israel came into one's own, namely the guilt offering of the Philistines and the praise offering of the people of Bet Shemesh (see 1 Samuel 6:12-18).
 
1 Samuel 6:12-18:
12 Then the cows went straight up toward Beth Shemesh, keeping on the road and lowing all the way; they did not turn to the right or to the left. The rulers of the Philistines followed them as far as the border of Beth Shemesh.
13 Now the people of Beth Shemesh were harvesting their wheat in the valley, and when they looked up and saw the ark, they rejoiced at the sight.
14 The cart came to the field of Joshua of Beth Shemesh, and there it stopped beside a large rock. The people chopped up the wood of the cart and sacrificed the cows as a burnt offering to the LORD.
15 The Levites took down the ark of the LORD, together with the chest containing the gold objects, and placed them on the large rock. On that day the people of Beth Shemesh offered burnt offerings and made sacrifices to the LORD.
16 The five rulers of the Philistines saw all this and then returned that same day to Ekron.
17 These are the gold tumors the Philistines sent as a guilt offering to the LORD – one each for Ashdod, Gaza, Ashkelon, Gath and Ekron.
18 And the number of the gold rats was according to the number of Philistine towns belonging to the five rulers – the fortified towns with their country villages. The large rock on which the Levites set the ark of the LORD is a witness to this day in the field of Joshua of Beth Shemesh.
 
Conclusion
 
With this message we can see that God invites or prompts us as His people to live in accordance with His required standards, which entails the compliance (note: emulation) with His instruction, His order and His word.
We need to be aware that God is no respecter of persons, but acts upon His principles and standards (see Romans 2:11).
 
Romans 2:11:
11 For God does not show favoritism.
 
God does not take pleasure in the death of the wicked, for this reason He desires that all people come to the knowledge of the truth (see Ezekiel 33:11a-b i.c.w. 1 Timothy 2:4).
 
Ezekiel 33:11a-b:
11a-b Say to them, ‘As surely as I live, declares the Sovereign LORD, I take no pleasure in the death of the wicked, but rather that they turn from their ways and live. …
 
1 Timothy 2:4:
… 4 who (note: God) wants all people to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth.
 
The way in which God dealt with the Philistines indicates just how gracious He is. God didn't first judge the Philistines, but shook the evil power they were living under.
 
When they didn't want to follow God after His goodness appealed to them, God shook their so-called deity, which was connected to the spiritual realm of that place (see Ephesians 2:2).
 
Ephesians 2:2:
… 2 in which you used to live when you followed the ways of this world and of the ruler of the kingdom of the air, the spirit who is now at work in those who are disobedient.
 
Only when the Philistines didn't take heed of this intervention of the God of Israel, did God begin to shake their bodies (note: personal existence) and economy (note: livelihood).
 
Hereby God demonstrated that He is the only true God, and that everything comes from Him, which was also confirmed by the instruction of the priests and diviners of the Philistines (see Luke 19:40).
 
Luke 19:40:
40 “I tell you,” he replied, “if they keep quiet, the stones will cry out.”
 
Hence we can see that the standard of the God of Israel becomes visible in the place where He dwells with His presence. This might be connected to a shaking, if people make a clear decision not to live according to His standard. Where people live in accordance with His standard, His presence, as well as His blessing increases (note: according to their divinely assigned purpose).
 
Amen and Amen.
 
In His Wisdom,
 
Daniel Glimm
 
Übersetzung: Margit Kelly

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