In this
prophetic picture of the Bride, we recall that the City of Samaria had
been under siege by the army of the Syrians, resulting in a great
famine in the City. But notice who is outside the
City:
And there were four
leprous men at the entering in of the gate: and they said one to
another, Why sit we here until we die? (2 Kings 7:3) So
we see that outside the City gates were four leprous men.
These would normally get their sustenance from the City, except now
there was a famine. After weighing their chances of survival,
they went out to investigate the camp of the enemy - the Syrians:
And
when these lepers came to the uttermost part of the camp, they went
into one tent, and did eat and drink, and carried thence silver, and
gold, and raiment, and went and hid it; and came again, and entered
into another tent, and carried thence also, and went and hid
it. (2 Kings 7:8) When
the lepers came to the camp, there were no soldiers present, for they
had all fled. What they found was food and drink, silver, gold, and
raiment.
Then they said one
to another, We do not well: this day is a day of good tidings, and we
hold our peace: if we tarry till the morning light, some mischief will
come upon us: now therefore come, that we may go and tell the king's
household. (2 Kings 7:9)
So
they came and called unto the porter of the city: and they told them,
saying, We came to the camp of the Syrians, and, behold, there was no
man there, neither voice of man, but horses tied, and asses tied, and
the tents as they were. (2 Kings 7:10)
And
he called the porters; and they told it to the king's house
within. (2 Kings 7:11) Beloved,
the above passages tell a very revealing, prophetic story of the
Bride. Let us elaborate.
The City of
Samaria is highly prophetic, in many ways, of the "Believing World" of
today - those that make up the "Household of the King." We
all realize the Jews do not have dealings with Samaria.
Likewise the Samaritans worshipped at Gerizim, at the mount of
"Blessings," yet they regarded not the rest of the Testimony of the
other Mountain.
The name Samaria,
Strong's number <08111>, comes from
<08104> - which means "keep, observe, watch, watchmen"
- and implies those that are keeping/watching over the Word of
Scriptures. The City-Congregation of today, however, has
become a mixed-multitude, having mixed Truth with the error of
"Doctrines of Men."
In the eyes
of many that are still
captive within the commercial City-Congregation, those among the Bride
Company are considered as "Lepers" and "Outcasts," and are to be kept
out of the Camp - outside the gates of the City-Congregation.
Likewise,
those doctrines that do not agree with those of the City-Congregation
are considered the "camp of the enemy" and are strictly off-limits to
all those of the City.
At some point, however, each
one of the Leper-Bride Company will wander into the "enemy" camp - the
"enemy" of traditional doctrine. For these Bride-Candidates
are now searching the Scriptures on their own, and they are finding
what they have never tasted of before: the prophetic, living Word of
Yahuweh.
Notice next what the lepers
found. This is exactly a picture of what the Bride has
found. The lepers found "meat and drink indeed" - of feeding
on the Body and Blood of Messiah, in keeping Passover. They
found the "raiment" of Wedding Garments - of allowing "Messiah in you"
to keep his own Commandments, and to walk daily in the Everlasting
Covenant.
Indeed, the Bride Company had found the
"silver" of redemption by His blood, and the "gold" that results from
trials and testings brought by Yahuweh, to refine and to
purify. Yes, they had found a "great spoil" - a treasure:
I
rejoice at thy word, as one that findeth great
spoil. (Psalms 119:162) It
was not long, however, before the lepers realized that they would be in
big trouble with the King, if they did not go back to tell the King's
household of all the riches they had found.
Likewise,
the Bride knows that unless she passes on this great treasure to the
King's household, she herself will be in trouble with the King, and
that the great famine of the Word would continue in the
City-Congregation of the King's Household.
Thus we
see one more Bride scenario. The outcast Bride has wandered
into Seeking the Scriptures on her own; she has found great treasure,
and has hidden this treasure for herself - is herself
preparing for the Wedding - but she must pass along what
she has found to the Household of the King. For she perceives
that the Famine is great, and there are yet many needing what she has
found.
|