For Our Admonition Part 13
“Sanctification of the Promised Land”
Key Verses: Judges 3:16 – 3:30
This is the second part of the story of Judge Ehud (See FOA Part 12 Here). Ehud was raised up by the Lord to deliver Israel from the Moabite coalition with the Ammonites and Amalekites. The promised land, the kingdom of God within us has been invaded and it is going to take the raising of one willing to be a warrior for God to bring freedom back to Israel.
2Co 3:17 For the Lord is the Spirit, and wherever the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom.
With ears to hear and eyes to see, the first coming of Christ raises us up a judge to give us power over our enemies and begin the many tribulations and wars we must live out inwardly.
Act 2:30 Therefore being a prophet, and knowing that God had sworn with an oath to him, that of the fruit of his loins, according to the flesh, he would raise up Christ to sit on his throne;
Those wars all originate from our flesh and its marred carnal nature.
Jas 4:1 From whence come wars and fightings among you? come they not hence, even of your lusts that war in your members?
We ended last week with verse 21 and Ehud thrusting the dagger into the belly of King Eglon. Let’s backtrack some before we go further into the details of how this heathen king, representing our carnal mind and all the inherent fleshly lusts is vanquished from the Promised Land within us.
Jdg 3:16 But Ehud made him a dagger which had two edges, of a cubit length; and he did gird it under his raiment upon his right thigh.
Jdg 3:17 And he brought the present unto Eglon king of Moab: and Eglon was a very fat man.
Jdg 3:18 And when he had made an end to offer the present, he sent away the people that bare the present.
Jdg 3:19 But he himself turned again from the quarries that were by Gilgal, and said, I have a secret errand unto thee, O king: who said, Keep silence. And all that stood by him went out from him.
Jdg 3:20 And Ehud came unto him; and he was sitting in a summer parlour, which he had for himself alone. And Ehud said, I have a message from God unto thee. And he arose out of his seat.
Jdg 3:21 And Ehud put forth his left hand, and took the dagger from his right thigh, and thrust it into his belly:
Jdg 3:22 And the haft also went in after the blade; and the fat closed upon the blade so that he could not draw the dagger out of his belly; and the dirt came out.
With Moabites in the promised land, there will not be the peace and freedom that only Christ ruling the land brings. This story is a parable of the spiritual warfare we are waging in the kingdom of God within us. There are lessons to be learned here (1Co 10:6, 11) as the Israel of God (the Body of Christ) strives to cleanse the land and sanctify the temple of God which temple we are (1Co 3:16). Our old man who is of his father the devil (Joh 8:44) loves to eat the things of the flesh (i.e. dust – Gen 3:14) and is a very fat man.
Fat in the positive relates to the health of an animal and that is always given to the Lord. Being strong in spirit is being fat in spirit but that requires us to be weak in the flesh and humbled by the word working judgment within us.
Psa 92:12 The righteous shall flourish like the palm tree: he shall grow like a cedar in Lebanon.
Psa 92:14 They shall still bring forth fruit in old age; they shall be fat and flourishing;
Fat in the negative is our following false doctrines, worshipping our beast and claiming God’s work as our work. This is stealing the Lord’s glory and making ourselves as gods and is how we spiritually become a very fat man like King Eglon. The God of the Moabites is Chemosh which means “to subdue” and specifically symbolizing putting us back into bondage to our carnal mind and flesh nature.
Rev 13:11 And I beheld another beast coming up out of the earth; and he had two horns like a lamb, and he spake as a dragon.
Rev 13:12 And he exerciseth all the power of the first beast before him, and causeth the earth and them which dwell therein to worship the first beast, whose deadly wound was healed.
Solomon like us make the mistake of not separating from the world and allowing a strange woman and her 200 million carnal lies (Rev 9:16) to come into the land. This is putting the beast that is a King Eglon back on the throne.
1Ki 11:7 Then did Solomon build an high place for Chemosh, the abomination of Moab, in the hill that is before Jerusalem, and for Molech, the abomination of the children of Ammon.
1Ki 11:8 And likewise did he for all his strange wives, which burnt incense and sacrificed unto their gods.
Our spiritual fat, the increase given of the Lord, is always to be given back by being burned on the altar which is our sacrificed life and reasonable service (Lev 1:5-8, Rom 12:1). It is the wicked within us, the enemies of our own house, our carnal mind that are the enemies of God.
Psa 17:9 From the wicked that oppress me, from my deadly enemies, who compass me about.
Psa 17:10 They are inclosed in their own fat: with their mouth they speak proudly.
Php 3:18 (For many walk, of whom I have told you often, and now tell you even weeping, that they are the enemies of the cross of Christ:
Php 3:19 Whose end is destruction, whose God is their belly, and whose glory is in their shame, who mind earthly things.)
Laying up treasures for ourselves (Luk 12:21) will lead us to forsake the Lord and install Eglon on the throne of our deceitful hearts.
Deu 32:15 But Jeshurun waxed fat, and kicked: thou art waxen fat, thou art grown thick, thou art covered with fatness; then he forsook God which made him, and lightly esteemed the Rock of his salvation.
Judge Ehud comes to confront Eglon bearing a present from the people of Israel. This present is an offering [H4503] meaning a sacrifice to this heathen king. This is a representation of us bowing down to the wisdom that the world teaches and not standing on the Word. After being brought into the marvelous light, we are to leave that darkness behind and have no fellowship with those dead works within and without.
2Co 6:15 And what concord hath Christ with Belial? or what part hath he that believeth with an infidel?
An appointed end comes to every man (is, was and will be) when we end the giving of sacrifices to the Moabite King that has invaded the land. This requires us to repent and turn away from the god of Chemosh and then confront the Moabite king. In this story, the KJV translators used the word “quarries” for the Hebrew word [H6756] that is otherwise always translated as graven, stone or carved image. To judge righteously we are turning away from the lies and idols of heart that first ensnare us in lukewarmness and unbelief. Quarries which are deep pits where the stone is mined fits the story especially when we think of the bottomless pit that is the sea of all flesh. These deep seated carnal lies keep us from seeing the truth by blotting out the true doctrines of Jesus Christ. Eglon whose names means “bullock” is our fat and puffed up man of sin who is our beast and the offspring of Satan. As the king of our inward rock quarry, the Moabite will find lie (locusts) after lie (locusts) to keep the new man (Israel) in bondage.
Rev 9:10 And they (the locusts) had tails like unto scorpions, and there were stings in their tails: and their power was to hurt men five months.
Rev 9:11 And they had a king over them, which is the angel of the bottomless pit, whose name in the Hebrew tongue is Abaddon, but in the Greek tongue hath his name Apollyon.
The secret errand [H1697] of Ehud is to thrust the word of God into to the belly of our beast. It is the Word which is judging us and destroying the king of Moab and all the Moabites from the land in our day of the Lord. The greatest secret that nobody understands until it begins to happen is the revealing of this secret.
Col 1:26 Even the mystery which hath been hid from ages and from generations, but now is made manifest to his saints:
Col 1:27 To whom God would make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery (secret) among the Gentiles; which is Christ (The WORD of GOD) in you, the hope of glory:
This all takes place in the parlor [H5944], another symbol for the upper room and the heavens where the battle for control of our mind is taking place. The fact it is also labeled a summer parlor [H4747] indicates it is judgment time (i.e. hot, fiery, a furnace of affliction) on the house of God. A summer parlor is where one cools off and seeks to get away from the heat of summer which is spiritually the judgment and wrath of God on the old man. The Lord will find us when judgment time is come and there is no place our old man can hide. When the fiery sword or dagger comes to our belly (flesh), it comes suddenly and there is no escape.
1Th 5:2 For yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so cometh as a thief in the night.
1Th 5:3 For when they shall say, Peace and safety; then sudden destruction cometh upon them, as travail upon a woman with child; and they shall not escape.
Jdg 3:21 And Ehud put forth his left hand, and took the dagger from his right thigh, and thrust it into his belly:
Jdg 3:22 And the haft also went in after the blade; and the fat closed upon the blade so that he could not draw the dagger out of his belly; and the dirt came out.
We covered the significance of using our left hand putting both the right and left to work to overcome our enemies. The two-edged dagger here is the Hebrew word for sword [H2719] which in the positive is the Word of God that destroys God’s enemies within us by bringing judgment. We also discussed the viciousness and renown fighting abilities of Benjamites last study. We will focus on the gory details that follow as we look for further admonition and edification on applying this parable to our own lives and walk. The Lord is giving us this gory detail for a reason.
Ehud thrust in the dagger with such force it went clean into Eglon’s belly even enclosing over the handle such that the dagger could not be drawn back out. This exemplifies the viciousness we are to take in warring against our flesh and destroying our inward enemies. Eze 7:4 And mine eye shall not spare thee, neither will I have pity: but I will recompense thy ways upon thee, and thine abominations shall be in the midst of thee: and ye shall know that I am the LORD.
Mat 24:2 And Jesus said unto them, See ye not all these things? verily I say unto you, There shall not be left here one stone upon another, that shall not be thrown down.
To progress towards salvation, we have to be unwavering in our faith. The whole counsel of God must be proclaimed and obeyed.
Act 20:27 For I have not shunned to declare unto you all the counsel of God.
Psa 119:160 The sum of thy word is truth; And every one of thy righteous ordinances endureth for ever.
Luk 9:62 But Jesus said unto him, No man, having put his hand to the plow, and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God.
The Word of God in our bellies will bring out all the dirt and everything that defiles the temple of God. The cleaning of the inside of our cup, the will of God, has commenced when the word is implanted into our bellies.
1Th 4:3 For this is the will of God, even your sanctification, that ye should abstain from fornication:
Mat 15:18 But those things which proceed out of the mouth come forth from the heart; and they defile the man.
Luk 12:2 For there is nothing covered, that shall not be revealed; neither hid, that shall not be known.
The second part of our study will cover what happens after the Moabite King has been killed. Ehud took some additional actions that are instructive to our walk.
Jdg 3:23 Then Ehud went forth through the porch, and shut the doors of the parlour upon him, and locked them.
Jdg 3:24 When he was gone out, his servants came; and when they saw that, behold, the doors of the parlour were locked, they said, Surely he covereth his feet in his summer chamber.
Jdg 3:25 And they tarried till they were ashamed: and, behold, he opened not the doors of the parlour; therefore they took a key, and opened them: and, behold, their lord was fallen down dead on the earth.
Jdg 3:26 And Ehud escaped while they tarried, and passed beyond the quarries, and escaped unto Seirath.
Remember that Eglon was not in Moab. The Moabites are invaders (carnal fleshly lies) from across the Jordan River that have entered and our possessing the city of palm trees. The Moabite king dwelling within us (Israel) is a mixed multitude mindset who spews out both blessings and cursing out of our mouth (Jam 3:10-11). The Moabites must be locked out.
Neh 13:1 On that day they read in the book of Moses in the audience of the people; and therein was found written, that the Ammonite and the Moabite should not come into the congregation of God for ever;
Neh 13:2 Because they met not the children of Israel with bread and with water, but hired Balaam against them, that he should curse them: howbeit our God turned the curse into a blessing.
Neh 13:3 Now it came to pass, when they had heard the law, that they separated from Israel all the mixed multitude.
Locking the doors to our upper chamber is guarding our gates. Taking carnal thoughts captive that exalt themselves against Jesus Christ is a lifelong good fight of faith.
1Jn 5:20 And we know that the Son of God is come, and hath given us understanding, that we may know him that is true, and we are in him that is true, even in his Son Jesus Christ. This is the true God, and eternal life.
1Jn 5:21 Little children, keep yourselves from idols. Amen.
Opening or closing a door spiritually also speaks to opening or closing one’s understanding of the things of the spirit. Those doors are locked or opened only by the Lord.
Rev 3:7 And to the angel of the church in Philadelphia write; These things saith he that is holy, he that is true, he that hath the key of David, he that openeth, and no man shutteth; and shutteth, and no man openeth;
It is by binding and loosing, locking and unlocking doors of understanding that the Lord confounds the wisdom of the wise. The Moabites are without understanding (locked out) to the strange act of the Lord in exposing and destroying the man of sin sitting in the temple. A time comes after much torment that the door is opened only to discover their king is dead.
Jdg 3:25 And they tarried [H2342] till they were ashamed: and, behold, he opened not the doors of the parlour; therefore they took a key, and opened them: and, behold, their lord was fallen down dead on the earth.
The word for “tarried” [H2342] in Jdg 3:25 is better expressed as pained or confounded. Such is the torment of our old man as we endure being shown the shame of our nakedness when the judge is in our upper chamber. As we abide with the judges of the world to come who are the angels of the Lord and this very Body of Christ that are speaking words of fire in our last days.
Jer 30:23 Behold, the whirlwind of the LORD goeth forth with fury, a continuing whirlwind: it shall fall with pain [H2342] upon the head of the wicked.
A well known NT witness of the torment and pain to the carnal mind within us.
Rev 14:10 The same shall drink of the wine of the wrath of God, which is poured out without mixture into the cup of his indignation; and he shall be tormented with fire and brimstone in the presence of the holy angels,(the Judge) and in the presence of the Lamb:
After a while, we are able to look behind us and the Lord unlocks the door so that we are given the understanding that our old man of sin, the King of Moab is dying and is dead and no longer the one leading us.
Gal 2:20 I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me.
This, of course, is an “is, was and will “ (i.e. a daily) process as the Moabites are always lurking nearby to the promised land as our own flesh and blood. Escaping thru the midst we like Ehud we are able to move on and get beyond the false gods (our beast) we set up in our heavens that are the god of the Moabites and Ammonites (Chemosh and Molech).
1Ti 6:11 But thou, O man of God, flee these things; and follow after righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, meekness.
1Ti 6:12 Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life, whereunto thou art also called, and hast professed a good profession before many witnesses.
The story concludes with Ehud escaping and seeking refuge with the children of Israel (aka the Body of Christ) in the high places of truth.
Jdg 3:26 And Ehud escaped while they tarried, and passed beyond the quarries, and escaped unto Seirath.
Jdg 3:27 And it came to pass, when he was come, that he blew a trumpet in the mountain of Ephraim, and the children of Israel went down with him from the mount, and he before them.
Jdg 3:28 And he said unto them, Follow after me: for the LORD hath delivered your enemies the Moabites into your hand. And they went down after him, and took the fords of Jordan toward Moab, and suffered not a man to pass over.
Jdg 3:29 And they slew of Moab at that time about ten thousand men, all lusty, and all men of valour; and there escaped not a man.
Jdg 3:30 So Moab was subdued that day under the hand of Israel. And the land had rest fourscore years.
Blowing a trumpet in the mountain of Ephraim (means double fruit – i.e. good works) is leading our maturing mindset back into war (judgment) with the Moabites to finish off this enemy that has been delivered into our hand. This applies to what we do inwardly in our own heavens but also to those who hear the words and the testimony of Jesus Christ in us.
1Ti 4:16 Take heed unto thyself, and unto the doctrine; continue in them: for in doing this thou shalt both save thyself, and them that hear thee.
Christ will in due time subdue the Moabites that surround the land within us. That will come when they are measured (judged) by the plumbline that is in is working righteousness.
2Sa 8:2 And (David) he smote Moab, and measured them with a line, casting them down to the ground; even with two lines measured he to put to death, and with one full line to keep alive. And so the Moabites became David’s servants, and brought gifts.
It will take the rest of our lives to keep the land cleansed of the Moabites. Living in these clay vessels ensures this enemy is always just around the corner. Therefore, the entryways into the promised land are to always be guarded. Carnal thoughts (Moabites) are to be immediately captured and killed.
2Ki 3:24 And when they came to the camp of Israel, the Israelites rose up and smote the Moabites, so that they fled before them: but they went forward smiting the Moabites, even in their country.
A NT witness of this no mercy policy against the carnal thoughts is this admonition.
2Co 10:3 For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war after the flesh:
2Co 10:4 (For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds;)
2Co 10:5 Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ;
The fords of the river towards Moab were taken and controlled by Israel. Henceforth for a season (Ecc 3:1), no Moabites could enter into the land. This is our battle that is being waged in heaven against our own flesh.
Pro 4:23 Keep thy heart with all diligence; for out of it are the issues of life.
Eph 5:11 And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather reprove them.
It is a common number of 10,000 when speaking about the destruction of the enemies of Israel (2Ch 25:11, Jdg 1:4, Lev 26:8, etc). This number is derived using 10 to the 4th power as the number four symbolizes the whole of whatever is the subject under discussion. The number 10,000 symbolizes the destruction of all (the whole) flesh and is found by multiplying the number 10 that symbolizes the perfection of the flesh four times (10 x 10 x 10 x 10). Flesh I s not good (Mar 3:18) and is never good enough to enter the kingdom of God (1Co 15:50). It was created to be destroyed and by that process, a new vessel come forth.
Jer 18:4 And the vessel that he made of clay was marred in the hand of the potter: so he made it again another vessel, as seemed good to the potter to make it.
We will in due time slay 10,000 (carnal lies/lusts) Moabites who will first make us unhealthy (fat in the negative) and keep us wise in our own eyes. No carnal lie can stand in the presence of the Truth. This is how we put 10,000 Moabites to flight and can quickly cleanse the land.
1Jn 2:21 I have not written unto you because ye know not the truth, but because ye know it, and that no lie is of the truth.
Luk 10:17 And the seventy returned again with joy, saying, Lord, even the devils are subject unto us through thy name.
There is an entire 47 verse chapter of Jeremiah 48 devoted to the judgment of the nation of Moab. The end will be the destruction of Moab as a new earth and a new heaven is made in our day of the Lord. Cutting to the chase here is how it will end in the appointed time.
Jer 48:46 Woe be unto thee, O Moab! the people of Chemosh perisheth: for thy sons are taken captives, and thy daughters captives.
Jer 48:47 Yet will I bring again the captivity of Moab in the latter days, saith the LORD. Thus far is the judgment of Moab.
The story ends with Moab being subdued and the promised land returning unto rest for 80 years.
Jdg 3:30 So Moab was subdued that day under the hand of Israel. And the land had rest fourscore years.
Entering into the rest of Christ requires us to work out our own salvation, making war in our heavens and taking the Moabites (our carnal thoughts and lusts) captive to the His commandments. The war will both be outward with those we interact with but it will principally and always be applied inwardly as we are to be ready for battle every single day.
Mat 10:34 Think not that I am come to send peace on earth: I came not to send peace, but a sword.
Mat 10:35 For I am come to set a man at variance against his father, and the daughter against her mother, and the daughter in law against her mother in law.
Mat 10:36 And a man’s foes shall be they of his own household.
We must endure these hardships and daily battles with the Moabites nations. We will lose some battles just as Israel did but we will win the war if we endure and keep on getting right back up when we do fail.
2Ti 2:3 You therefore must endure hardship as a good soldier of Jesus Christ.
2Ti 2:4 No one engaged in warfare entangles himself with the affairs of this life, that he may please him who enlisted him as a soldier.
Being strong in the Lord requires us to engage in spiritual warfare using both hands like Ehud the Benjamite. We must wage war against the Moabite nations and the fleshly lusts that wage war against our soul.
1Pe 2:11 Dearly beloved, I beseech you as strangers and pilgrims, abstain from fleshly lusts, which war against the soul;