Psalm 119:9 – Beth

Psalm 119

BETH

(Psalm 119:9)

BETH. Wherewithal shall a young man cleanse his way? by taking heed thereto according to thy word. (Psalm 119:9)

BETH — HOUSE

BETHEL — HOUSE OF GOD — <Beyth-‘El>

‘EL BETHEL — GOD OF THE HOUSE OF GOD — <‘El Beyth-‘El>

    In Aleph  (the first letter of the Hebrew alphabet, and the first eight verses of Psalm 119) we learned that we must keep God’s commandments, and keep His precepts, and keep His statutes. This encompasses the whole Word of God. In Beth the Holy Spirit takes us into His house, and when we enter into His house we ask the Spirit of God, Wherewithal shall a young man cleanse his way? It becomes a two-way conversation with the Spirit of God.

   In Psalm 119:9 we enter into His chamber as the Spirit of God uses the power of divine detail to woe us to the heart of the Almighty God. The next section of eight verses begins with the second letter of the Hebrew alphabet — BETH. In Beth we see a house in Psalm 119 that God has built. We remember that Beth or Bethel (which is the house of God) is a good place to listen for the voice of God. So many forget that God’s Word is His voice. God’s Word is His mind dealing with the children of men bringing them to Himself by drawing them with both the written and the Living Word Jesus Christ by the Spirit of God.

And Jacob went out from Beersheba, and went toward Haran. (Genesis 28:10)

And he lighted upon a certain place, and tarried there all night, because the sun was set; and he took of the stones of that place, and put them for his pillows, and lay down in that place to sleep. (Genesis 28:11)

And he dreamed, and behold a ladder set up on the earth, and the top of it reached to heaven: and behold the angels of God ascending and descending on it. (Genesis 28:12)

And, behold, the LORD stood above it, and said, I am the LORD God of Abraham thy father, and the God of Isaac: the land whereon thou liest, to thee will I give it, and to thy seed; (Genesis 28:13)

And thy seed shall be as the dust of the earth, and thou shalt spread abroad to the west, and to the east, and to the north, and to the south: and in thee and in thy seed shall all the families of the earth be blessed. (Genesis 28:14)

And, behold, I am with thee, and will keep thee in all places whither thou goest, and will bring thee again into this land; for I will not leave thee, until I have done that which I have spoken to thee of. (Genesis 28:15)

And Jacob awaked out of his sleep, and he said, Surely the LORD is in this place; and I knew it not. (Genesis 28:16)

And he was afraid, and said, How dreadful is this place! this is none other but the house of God, and this is the gate of heaven. (Genesis 28:17)

And Jacob rose up early in the morning, and took the stone that he had put for his pillows, and set it up for a pillar, and poured oil upon the top of it. (Genesis 28:18)

And he called the name of that place Bethel: but the name of that city was called Luz at the first. (Genesis 28:19)

    The first time that Jacob used the title Bethel was because he heard the voice of God, the very words spoken by the divine Creator of heaven and earth. As we enter into this divine sanctuary of the Spirit of God He allows the heart, the soul, and the spirit to ask the question, Wherewithal shall a young man cleanse his way?

   We wait for an answer from the voice of God, and God answers directly: by taking heed thereto according to thy word. The mind is being led of the Spirit of God through the Word of God. In Aleph (à) we had direct statements given about God’s Word. His Word was divided by the law of the Lord, by His testimony, by His precepts, by His statutes, by His commandments, and by His righteous judgment. This prepares us (in the Word of God) to enter into God’s house, and to be in the presence of God, and not mankind. Psalm 119 was given to draw the heart into the deepest part of God’s sanctuary, His house, that He might reveal Himself as God of the house — ‘el Bethel. 

   When Jacob was returning to his inheritance, God once again led Jacob into His house only this time it was Peniel. And Jacob called the name of the place Peniel: for I have seen God face to face, and my life is preserved. (Genesis 32:30) There was no physical house at this location. Jacob was led into the parameters of the spiritual house of God that is not made by hands or dominated by man. Later at Bethel it became el Bethel. As Jacob mused at Peniel on the God of the house the voice of God again spoke, and after the intense physical encounter between God and Jacob God gave Jacob a new name. Jacob’s new name became ‘Israel a prince with God.’ And he said, Thy name shall be called no more Jacob, but Israel: for as a prince hast thou power with God and with men, and hast prevailed. (Genesis 32:28) Jacob went into the sanctuary as the supplanter and came out of the house of God as Israel, a prince with God. Here we see the direct transforming power of the Living Word of God. God revealed Himself and Jacob became a new creature, a new man. God once again performed His miracle of creation, transforming Jacob into His servant, and built in Jacob a nation that He would call Israel.

   The Living Word (sent by the Spirit of God) leads the saint today into that very same house. We as, the children of God, stand before el Bethel – God of the house of God. This is a reality in Hebrews 3:6, But Christ as a son over his own house; whose house are we, if we hold fast the confidence and the rejoicing of the hope firm unto the end. The redeemed recognize the God of the house — that it is the Son of God. As they become part of His body, they are also part of this divine spiritual house where the voice of God can be heard. We dwell within the borders of the Spirit’s sanctuary; therefore, we can lift up our voices and proclaim — ‘el Bethel — God of the house of God. This removes mankind from the divine sanctuary and only allows those who are born again to enter into this chamber of truth.

BETH

Wherewithal shall a young man cleanse his way?

by taking heed thereto according to thy word.

   He is the God of His people, and in Beth (verse 9 of Psalm 119) He answers the first of our questions, and by the whisper of the Spirit of God we receive our answer from God Himself. We listen with the heart’s ear, and the Spirit speaks to us by taking heed thereto according to thy word. For the redeemed, the Word of God MUST be the voice of God. It must originate and be preserved by God Himself. He is the beginning of His own Word. He is the power of His own Word. By this power He spoke the world into existence. He created mankind, and through His determinate counsels He has enacted and fulfilled His entire plan of redemption for God was in Christ reconciling the world unto Himself.

The Cross — The Timeline of God — The Center Point of All Time

   In one divine action He brought the past world to the present world and drew the future world into the fullness of time when Christ gave Himself on the cross at Calvary. Years ago, many years ago, preachers and Bible authorities would always refer to the cross as the timeline of God, for here at the cross of Christ, all time was drawn together in its finished work of redemption. I remind you that from the cross, those who were there at the foot of the cross listened to the voice of God in all its power when Christ declared, It is finished. In John 19:30 this phrase is documented, When Jesus therefore had received the vinegar, he said, It is finished: and he bowed his head, and gave up the ghost. Here we have the divine truth, the divine power from the very voice of God Himself in Jesus Christ. The words ‘It is finished’ is only mentioned one time by the Lord Jesus for God will not repeat this final act of mercy for Adam’s race. These words ‘It is finished’ could be considered the three most powerful words ever spoken, and even today, He upholds these words by the Word of His power, (Hebrews 1:3) Who being the brightness of his glory, and the express image of his person, and upholding all things by the word of his power, when he had by himself purged our sins, sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high;

   Why does the world try to malign, and to destroy, and even lie about the Word of God? Because in the very deep subconsciousness of the spirit, soul and heart of Adam God stirs the iniquity of Adam and condemns Adam’s enmity and iniquity against his Creator. This is why the world tries so hard to rip the Word of God out of the universe so that there is no way for mankind to correct his path, and to approach the Almighty God. The anger of mankind against the Word of God is like the venom of the serpent that they follow.

The Word of God

The Power – The Cleansing Force – The Emancipation of the Soul

   In BETH we have something that is precious, God is not dealing with the world at large, but dealing with His own — the redeemed of God. The newborn babe in Christ desires the sincere milk of the Word that he may grow thereby cries out in the sanctuary — how shall a young man cleanse his way? Then once again we hear the whisper of the Spirit of God that the Word of God is a cleaning force, that the Word of God is the power of direction, that the Word of God is the emancipation for the enslaved soul. These are the very words of the Lord Jesus Christ – Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me. (John 14:6) This is the voice of God the Son declaring His own preeminence in the redemption of the souls of men. This divine recorded statement from the lips of the Lord Jesus, from the lips of God, in the written Word of God was directed by the Spirit of God.

   The present evil world does not understand the condemnation that is against them. In the sufferings of Christ, on the cross of Calvary, we have liberty for the redeemed for they are removed from the world of sin because of the Lord’s death on Calvary. He has put away Adam, sin and death by His own death. He has liberated us by the power of His resurrection, and the power of His eternal life. Who is made, not after the law of a carnal commandment, but after the power of an endless life. (Hebrews 7:16) However, this is only part of the gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ for in the sufferings of Christ the evil world was put under condemnation. The evil world was judged in the sufferings of Christ, and the present evil world is not a friend of Christ, and it is not a friend of this writer. This contradicts the false teaching of the world church, and denominationalism. What a big word for such an empty vessel. Denominationalism is an ‘ism’ that denies the power of God and the faith of the Lord Jesus Christ. It is run completely by the spirit of man in Adam and has no place for the Lord Jesus Christ in their house.

BETH – The Connection of the Seed

   In Psalm 119 ‘BETH’ magnifies the house, and magnifies the Word, the voice of God. BETH connects us to Jacob and connects us to all of Israel for we have become beneficiaries of the promises that were given to Abraham for the Lord Jesus is the true seed of promise. Now to Abraham and his seed were the promises made. He saith not, And to seeds, as of many; but as of one, And to thy seed, which is Christ. (Galatians 3:16) The divine seed passed through Jacob, passed through Israel, and was manifested in the flesh in the fullness of time —this was the Lord Jesus Christ.

The Waters Seen in the Old Testament

— The Wells of the Water of Salvation —

— The Fountain of Living Waters —

Therefore with joy shall ye draw water out of the wells of salvation. (Isaiah 12:3)

For my people have committed two evils; they have forsaken me the fountain of living waters, and hewed them out cisterns, broken cisterns, that can hold no water. (Jeremiah 2:13)

O LORD, the hope of Israel, all that forsake thee shall be ashamed, and they that depart from me shall be written in the earth, because they have forsaken the LORD, the fountain of living waters. (Jeremiah 17:13)

The Waters Seen in the New Testament

The Well Sitter — The Giver of Water

The Source of Life —The Fountainhead

He left Judaea, and departed again into Galilee. (John 4:3)

And he must needs go through Samaria. (John 4:4)

Then cometh he to a city of Samaria, which is called Sychar, near to the parcel of ground that Jacob gave to his son Joseph. (John 4:5)

Now Jacob’s well was there. Jesus therefore, being wearied with his journey, sat thus on the well: and it was about the sixth hour. (John 4:6)

There cometh a woman of Samaria to draw water: Jesus saith unto her, Give me to drink. (John 4:7)

(For his disciples were gone away unto the city to buy meat.) (John 4:8)

Then saith the woman of Samaria unto him, How is it that thou, being a Jew, askest drink of me, which am a woman of Samaria? for the Jews have no dealings with the Samaritans. (John 4:9)

Jesus answered and said unto her, If thou knewest the gift of God, and who it is that saith to thee, Give me to drink; thou wouldest have asked of him, and he would have given thee living water. (John 4:10)

The woman saith unto him, Sir, thou hast nothing to draw with, and the well is deep: from whence then hast thou that living water?(John 4:11)

Art thou greater than our father Jacob, which gave us the well, and drank thereof himself, and his children, and his cattle? (John 4:12)

Jesus answered and said unto her, Whosoever drinketh of this water shall thirst again: (John 4:13)

But whosoever drinketh of the water that I shall give him shall never thirst; but the water that I shall give him shall be in him a well of water springing up into everlasting life. (John 4:14)

The woman saith unto him, Sir, give me this water, that I thirst not, neither come hither to draw. (John 4:15)

Jesus saith unto her, Go, call thy husband, and come hither. (John 4:16)

The woman answered and said, I have no husband. Jesus said unto her, Thou hast well said, I have no husband: (John 4:17)

For thou hast had five husbands; and he whom thou now hast is not thy husband: in that saidst thou truly. (John 4:18)

The woman saith unto him, Sir, I perceive that thou art a prophet. (John 4:19)

Our fathers worshipped in this mountain; and ye say, that in Jerusalem is the place where men ought to worship. (John 4:20)

Jesus saith unto her, Woman, believe me, the hour cometh, when ye shall neither in this mountain, nor yet at Jerusalem, worship the Father. (John 4:21)

Ye worship ye know not what: we know what we worship: for salvation is of the Jews. (John 4:22)

But the hour cometh, and now is, when the true worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth: for the Father seeketh such to worship him. (John 4:23)

God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth. (John 4:24)

The woman saith unto him, I know that Messias cometh, which is called Christ: when he is come, he will tell us all things. (John 4:25)

Jesus saith unto her, I that speak unto thee am he. (John 4:26)

The woman then left her waterpot, and went her way into the city, and saith to the men, (John 4:28)

Come, see a man, which told me all things that ever I did: is not this the Christ? (John 4:29)

And he must needs go through Samaria. (John 4:4)

Then cometh he to a city of Samaria, which is called Sychar, near to the parcel of ground that Jacob gave to his son Joseph. (John 4:5)

Now Jacob’s well was there. Jesus therefore, being wearied with his journey, sat thus on the well: and it was about the sixth hour. (John 4:6)

   In Jacob we have the voice of God, the Living voice of God that verified to Jacob the promises of God and transformed Jacob (the supplanter) to Israel. The wonder of this is verified in the gospel of John, Chapter 4. So much attention is paid to the woman at the well, and little attention is paid to the surroundings and He who sat upon Jacob’s well. The woman asked a question of the Lord, Art thou greater than our father Jacob, which gave us the well, and drank thereof himself, and his children, and his cattle? (John 4:12) The answer was in the voice of God, Jesus Christ, the Living Word, never having met this woman recites her immoral history, and much more.

  He sealed Jacobs well as the Rock of Israel and replaced the water of the well with living water through His Spirit. A water springs up within her, thus, the result is that she could not wait to tell everyone about Him, her cry was, Come, see a man, which told me all things that ever I did: is not this the Christ? (John 4:29) He told her all about herself, and there was nothing hid from her conscience. The woman saith unto him, Sir, I perceive that thou art a prophet. (John 4:19) Surprisingly, this Samaritan knew of the coming Messiah, and realized that this was the Christ of God. This was all because of the power of the Living Word, the voice of God upon Jacob’s well. Could it be any plainer? She was cleansed by the Living Word. The voice of God had given her freedom from her sin. The Living Word of God had done something that no one else could do, He gave her life everlasting. Consider Hebrews 4:12, For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart. If anyone gave this description as a device of destruction men would fear and tremble. God gives the description of the Word of God to show mankind the eternal power of His Word. The description of His Word proclaims the very voice of God, and this should open the eyes of the seeker to the voice of the Almighty.

   As Jacob listened to the voice, God wrestled with him to transform him to Israel. So, at the voice of God the woman of Samaria was transformed from sinner to righteousness, from death to life in the Living Word — who is Jesus Christ. With this Living Word within her, she could not wait to tell the men of the city of Sychar the authenticity of His Word. His Word was so direct and powerful that she could only exclaim, Is not this the Christ? Here we have the supernatural power of the Son of God transforming the heart, soul and spirit according to His Word — dividing the bone from the sinew, dividing the flesh from the spirit, and translating her into a kingdom that the natural man cannot understand, and will never see.

And he must needs go through Samaria 

   He must keep His appointment, the appointment of God’s determinate counsel. Once again, we see the sure wheel of God’s government and His determinate counsel turning in both the physical world and the supernatural world reaching into the confines of mankind, reaching into the kingdom of sin, and through the new birth bringing a child of righteousness into the supernatural, and into the spiritual world of God.

   There is a wonder in the smallest word in the Word of God, the smallest phrase, the smallest sentence, the smallest paragraph, the smallest chapter, and the smallest book. For all these words expand to the full volume of the Word of God. God expands the mind with His Spirit, and His wisdom. Think of all the thoughts that this woman must have had regarding this stranger sitting on Jacob’s well. Not one drop of natural water could pass by the Rock of Israel. He was there to replace the natural with the spiritual. Living water would flow through Him at Jacob’s well. He is the Rock, his work is perfect: for all his ways are judgment: a God of truth and without iniquity, just and right is he. (Deuteronomy 32:4)

   We see the transformation of life everlasting for Christ is the God of the living and not the dead. He is the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. He is the Life that is everlasting. He is the Water that will never perish. In the natural sense, man without water will perish, and become dust; however, without Christ man will perish without Life.

   It is important to enter into the world of the psalmist here – by taking heed there unto according to thy word, how direct in the case of the woman. It is not only the voice, but the Person who is the Word of God, and who holds everlasting life – the Lord Jesus Christ. He spoke to her in absolute gentleness, although revealing her sin there is a kindness in His voice — not the condemnation that the Pharisees displayed for the woman who was caught in adultery. But He ministers through His Word to show His love and compassion for a sinner brought into grace through His mighty power. She could leave free from condemnation. She was free of guilt because of the revelation of her guilt, and because of her guilt she received from Almighty God the revelation of grace through the Lord Jesus Christ.

   John Chapter 4 remains a mystery to most, and yet, so much is revealed in this Chapter concerning the history of the Jews. In verse 4 we read, And he must needs go through Samaria. Here we have His ministry to the ten cast off tribes of Jacob. These were the ten tribes who had rebelled against Rehoboam and fulfilled the prophecy that was given to Solomon because of his sin of idolatry.

And the high places that were before Jerusalem, which were on the right hand of the mount of corruption, which Solomon the king of Israel had builded for Ashtoreth the abomination of the Zidonians, and for Chemosh the abomination of the Moabites, and for Milcom the abomination of the children of Ammon, did the king defile. (2 Kings 23:13) (Read the studies on king Josiah).

For it came to pass, when Solomon was old, that his wives turned away his heart after other gods: and his heart was not perfect with the LORD his God, as was the heart of David his father.(1 Kings 11:4)

For Solomon went after Ashtoreth the goddess of the Zidonians, and after Milcom the abomination of the Ammonites. (1 Kings 11:5)

And Solomon did evil in the sight of the LORD, and went not fully after the LORD, as did David his father. (1 Kings 11:6)

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. (1 Kings 11:7)

And likewise did he for all his strange wives, which burnt incense and sacrificed unto their gods. (1 Kings 11:8)

And the LORD was angry with Solomon, because his heart was turned from the LORD God of Israel, which had appeared unto him twice, (1 Kings 11:9)

And had commanded him concerning this thing, that he should not go after other gods: but he kept not that which the LORD commanded. (1 Kings 11:10)

Wherefore the LORD said unto Solomon, Forasmuch as this is done of thee, and thou hast not kept my covenant and my statutes, which I have commanded thee, I will surely rend the kingdom from thee, and will give it to thy servant. (1 Kings 11:11)

Notwithstanding in thy days I will not do it for David thy father’s sake: but I will rend it out of the hand of thy son. (1 Kings 11:12)

Howbeit I will not rend away all the kingdom; but will give one tribe to thy son for David my servant’s sake, and for Jerusalem’s sake which I have chosen. (1 Kings 11:13)

   This shows us the beginning of the area called Samaria. Under Omri (one of the kings of the ten tribes) he purchased a plot of land from Shemer.

In the thirty and first year of Asa king of Judah began Omri to reign over Israel, twelve years: six years reigned he in Tirzah. (1 Kings 16:23)

And he bought the hill Samaria of Shemer for two talents of silver, and built on the hill, and called the name of the city which he built, after the name of Shemer, owner of the hill, Samaria. (1 Kings 16:24)

    Omri established the area of Samaria; however, during the reign of Ahab, Samaria became the capital of the ten tribes. The city of Samaria contained Ahab’s elaborate palace, and also a tremendous temple dedicated to Baal. We are painting a picture of a place, and of the people of Samaria through the Word of God. Omri purchased the land; however, Ahab developed this land in all wickedness. The city embraced all the idolatrous rites of Baal, and all the evilness of the children of the Zidonians for Jezebel (Ahab’s wife) was a Zidonian princess. This is what God records in His Word about these two Baal worshipers.

And Ahab the son of Omri did evil in the sight of the LORD above all that were before him. (1 Kings 16:30)

And it came to pass, as if it had been a light thing for him to walk in the sins of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, that he took to wife Jezebel the daughter of Ethbaal king of the Zidonians, and went and served Baal, and worshipped him. (1 Kings 16:31)

And he reared up an altar for Baal in the house of Baal, which he had built in Samaria. (1 Kings 16:32)

And Ahab made a grove; and Ahab did more to provoke the LORD God of Israel to anger than all the kings of Israel that were before him. (1 Kings 16:33)

   Jezebel, the Zidonian princess, stirred up the spirit of Ahab to worship Baal, and to go against the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. This presents to us the sin of Samaria in the days of the kings of Israel, and for his sin they were severely judged. Over the course of many enemy invasions, the Israelites were taken into captivity. These ten tribes were scattered into the conquering nations by the Assyrians; consequently, these ten tribes became known as the ten lost tribes of Israel. The nations who conquered these ten tribes brought other conquered people from other nations into the area of Samaria to annihilate the ten tribes through forced assimilation so that Israel (the ten tribes) would never rise again in united power, and through this mixing of peoples, languages, customs and religions Israel’s heritage and history would be destroyed. (This forced, so called peaceably, invasion is the same strategy that the corrupt governments use today to destroy their own nations in order to maintain control and power over their citizens to keep them from uniting under a nationalistic binding heritage).

   It would be almost impossible for a Jew, at the time of the Lord’s ministry in the area of Samaria, to trace any form of genealogy back to Abraham. This enhances the words ‘he must needs go through Samaria.’ It is not up to the Jew now at this point to find God, it is now up to the Lord Jesus to find and to deliver His people. He did this by sitting upon the well of Jacob. Once again, He revealed Himself as the Rock of Israel. Even though all the promises to Abraham will be fulfilled at a later date, it is here in Samaria that He will not forget His people and works supernaturally to present to them the well of Living Water in Himself. For even then (before His crucifixion) many in the area of Samaria and in the city of Sychar believed in Him. Also note that it was about the sixth hour, the time of mankind, the last hour for mankind, the last hour for grace before the ingathering of all the tribes of Israel, Judah, and Benjamin. and it was about the sixth hour. (John 4:6) God the Holy Spirit is in the details. In His second advent He will gather ALL the ten tribes, and He will place them into His land with both Judah and Benjamin. And the sons of Jacob will be united together, and they will worship the God of the house of God – el Bethel, the Lord Jesus Christ.

Now Jacob’s well was there

   We should also consider that Jacob’s well was in the parcel of ground that he gave to his son Joseph, the son that wore the coat of many colors to identify Joseph as the first born of Rachel, as the heir of all that Jacob possessed. We see the movement of the divine hand in the true heir of all things, the Creator of all things coming to the well of Jacob in the parcel of ground that Jacob gave to Joseph. We have such confirmation of the Lord’s heirship, and His creatorial power, in Hebrews 1:2. Hath in these last days spoken unto us by his Son, whom he hath appointed heir of all things, by whom also he made the worlds. We see three things concerning the Person of the Lord Jesus upon the well, and in the inheritance of Joseph:

   1) He reveals Himself as the Rock of Israel not with natural water, but with the water of eternal life springing up within Him to give to as many who would believe on Him.

   2) We see the true Heir of all things. Part of His inheritance is the divine celebration of the entire nation of Israel being restored unto Him in His second advent.

   3) We see, symbolically, the gathering in of the lost tribes of Jacob, and the Lord’s desire to draw them unto Himself.

   The Almighty dedicated an entire book to the waywardness of Israel, and the ten tribes. It is the book of Hosea, there Israel is portrayed as an adulterous woman or wife who has cast off Jehovah for idolatrous lovers. Hosea Chapter 1 verses 2 and 3.

The beginning of the word of the LORD by Hosea. And the LORD said to Hosea, Go, take unto thee a wife of whoredoms and children of whoredoms: for the land hath committed great whoredom, departing from the LORD. (Hosea 1:2)

So he went and took Gomer the daughter of Diblaim; which conceived, and bare him a son. (Hosea 1:3)

   The book of Hosea connects us to the adulterous woman that the Lord met at Jacob’s well. Both the idolatry and the whoredoms of Israel are exposed, but in His grace, He ministers grace to the woman at the well, and she is filled with Living Water from the Rock of Israel. This transformation of the woman is a type of the great transformation that will take place in the Lord’s second advent when He will put His law and His words into the hearts of all Israelites in the new covenant that He will make with Israel. The water that flows from the throne of God is a reminder that it is God Himself who is the Life of all His redeemed.

For the Lamb which is in the midst of the throne shall feed them, and shall lead them unto living fountains of waters: and God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes. (Revelation 7:17)

And he shewed me a pure river of water of life, clear as crystal, proceeding out of the throne of God and of the Lamb. (Revelation 22:1)

   In this wonderful transformation of the nation of Israel, all eyes will be opened, every heart will exclaim, Is not this the Christ, the Son of the living God? Have we not expanded our view of the Living Word (who is the Lord Jesus Christ) through His written Word, or may I say ‘the voice of God.’

   Psalm 119:9 has now expanded, and we have heard the voice of the Spirit, our hearts have seen more, and the spirit of the believer is able to enter into the sanctuary of God and proclaim that he (the redeemed) is in the house of the God of the house of God in the Lord Jesus Christ.

   In a further study of John Chapter 4 we see the two elements of worship by mankind: one is the false witness of idolatry that denies the Almighty God, this is the false god that the Samaritans worshiped. This was the remnant of Baal. The Lord removed the worship of Baal, and at the same time He referred to Jerusalem as the place of the true worshipers of God. Then Jerusalem, even though salvation was of the Jew, is temporarily put aside, and the true worshipers of God will worship the Lord Jesus in Spirit and in Truth. The true Headstone of Israel will be the God that the true believer will worship as Jacob worshiped; thus, we see our Lord Jesus Christ as the very Rock and Pillar of our salvation. The Lord Jesus brought new life to Jacob, and this new life came from the Person of the God of Bethel.

   We remember (in the book of Corinthians) that the true Rock of Israel followed the nation as they wandered through the wilderness and gave them life giving water. Now He had come to cap the well of Jacob and embrace the whole world with His saving grace. Now Jacob’s well was there. Jesus therefore, being wearied with his journey, sat thus on the well: and it was about the sixth hour. (John 4:6) In the confines of the true house of God, the true believer worships the Lord Jesus in Spirit and in Truth. In John 14:6 it was the Lord Jesus Himself who proclaimed the path to God, the path to the Father HAS to come THROUGH HIM. He is the combination of the WAY, the TRUTH, and the LIFE. And only through the Son of God can one worship God in the house of the Son of God. He proclaimed this of Himself in John Chapter 4, thus, bringing us back to the eternal Word which is Christ Himself.

   The desire of the eternal Spirit of God is that we learn of Christ for the truth is IN Jesus. If so be that ye have heard him, and have been taught by him, as the truth is in Jesus. (Ephesians 4:21) Therefore, your spirit, your soul your heart meets Jesus at the well of life. He was/is the eternal Word before He spoke the first word of creation. He was already Heir of all things according to Hebrews 1:2. And He, as the Heir and the Son of the Father, spoke with His own voice the worlds into existence. The Lord Jesus Christ was the beginning and the power of all the words of God. The supernatural now became the Creator of all things. He created and is upholding all His creation by the word of His power. Who being the brightness of his glory, and the express image of his person, and upholding all things by the word of his power, when he had by himself purged our sins, sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high. (Hebrews 1:3) All things, seen and unseen, would come forth from the voice of God in Jesus Christ.

HE IS ‘EL- BETHEL 

   He is God of His own house. Consequently, we, as the children of God, dwell in this house, which is His body, not made with hands, but formed by the Spirit of God. We have become part of His spiritual house that cannot be destroyed. This house is in the eternal Being of God, and within Him dwells ALL grace and truth. The wording in Ephesians Chapter 4 is not the truth IS Jesus, but the Word of the Spirit is this: the TRUTH is IN Jesus, yesterday, today and forever. We are part of Him through the eternal Spirit (according to God’s Word) which is the Word of His power, and this Word is settled within Jesus Christ in heaven above at the right hand of God. Has the Spirit of God expanded your thoughts about the Almighty God? This is His purpose and will that though the Word of God we will learn more of our Savior and the truth is IN Jesus.

   Again, we enter into ‘el-bethel and we listen to His voice, we enter into the Spirit’s sanctuary of the Word. Every word has been given to draw us, and to show us the marvel of our divine Creator who is Jesus Christ. Every Word is to teach us of His divine Person. We are to take heed when we study the Word of God. We need to listen to His voice as He draws us up and gives us the picture of His beloved Son. There are times while reading the Word of God that the Spirit will say to our hearts, our souls, and to our spirits, stop here, and listen to the voice of God. And there we cry out because God has put His Word into our hearts to combat the evil world around us, and the sin that does so easily beset us. In verse 11 of Psalm 119 we cry out again, Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee. All sin is against the Almighty, for all sin is in opposition to His divine nature and against His divine righteousness. It is the enmity of the sin in Adam that keeps us (the natural man) separated from the Almighty God. In the new birth Adam is removed, and God works supernaturally and draws out of the sinful world those children who believe on Him and enter into His house. Every child of God is a part of a new creation that submits to the power of God and God’s holy Word. The Holy Spirit shows us that we are not born of blood, or the will of the flesh, or the will of man, but we are born by the supernatural work of the Christ of the cross. It is at the cross that Christ removed the transgressor, He removed Adam and replaced him with a new man in His divine Being. Christ Jesus is the Head of His Body; thus, the eternal Church is supernatural. Jesus Christ is the God of His house that contains His supernatural people. (Hebrews Chapter 3)

   This makes us a people who are not of this world. We have been translated into the Kingdom of God’s dear Son. We worship the Head of the Church, who is Jesus Christ. There is no man between us and Christ. He has given us free access to His house, and to His Person. There are no walls to separate us from our God, but only the revelation of the Lord Jesus Christ to each and every heart of each and every believer. He and He alone is our God; for all the fullness of the Godhead bodily dwells in Him.

For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him: (Colossians 1:16)

For in him dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily. (Colossians 2:9)

   This eternal power is displayed by the changing of the soul, spirit and heart of His redeemed, and giving them His Spirit, which can never be removed from the new being in Jesus Christ. Romans Chapter 8 reveals the Spirit of Christ within us, and the very power of His eternal Spirit. The new birth is all supernatural, for God has created in us a new being, a new people, and a people who worships Him in Spirit and in Truth.

   We belong to a spiritual world that is separated from the natural world; however, the natural world does not want to let us go; therefore, the natural world has formed all types and diverse forms of religions and denominations to draw us back into their world of sin and death. What freedom do they offer? Do they offer freedom from sin? Do they offer freedom from death? Why do those who participate in their religions have such insecurities, and declare that their eternal destiny is but chance? And why do they have so many divisions that deceive, and all they offer is death, and not life in Jesus Christ. It is only He who has the power of an endless life. (Hebrews 7:16) How do I know this? by taking heed thereto according to thy word.

Ye worship ye know not what

   The Lord acknowledged that the Samaritans were worshipers of a god, but not the true God of heaven and earth. He explained to the woman that they worshiped they knew not what. This is what we have before us today, a knowledge of worship, but not true worship nor the knowledge of God. For in endless towns and cities in this present evil world, they worship a God that they know not of. This is confirmed in the book of the Revelation of Jesus Christ, as the Lord declared to the church of the Laodiceans that they were a vacillating church without the truth. They were a visible church who knew not Christ. They were not members of the unseen Church of the Lord Jesus Christ. You (the redeemed) are a spiritual being that has been created by God. You are no longer only a physical being, just as you are neither Jew nor Greek, or Samaritan, you are neither male nor female, you have become a completely new creation by the divine Creator of all things. You are a complete spiritual being in Jesus Christ, and you are separated from the world of Adam to a Kingdom which is in Christ Jesus our Lord. Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son. You have taken on a new man which is created BY and IN Jesus Christ. (Colossians 1:13)

Wherefore remember, that ye being in time past Gentiles in the flesh, who are called Uncircumcision by that which is called the Circumcision in the flesh made by hands; (Ephesian 2:11)

That at that time ye were without Christ, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers from the covenants of promise, having no hope, and without God in the world: (Ephesian 2:12)

But now in Christ Jesus ye who sometimes were far off are made nigh by the blood of Christ. (Ephesian 2:13)

For he is our peace, who hath made both one, and hath broken down the middle wall of partition between us; (Ephesian 2:14)

Having abolished in his flesh the enmity, even the law of commandments contained in ordinances; for to make in himself of twain one new man, so making peace; (Ephesian 2:15)

   Adam and sin are no longer our sovereigns because Christ has taken both Adam and sin and nailed them to His cross. The creation of His new people is not of the world, but to fill the heavenly Jerusalem which is above.

But ye are come unto mount Sion, and unto the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to an innumerable company of angels, (Hebrews 12:22)

To the general assembly and church of the firstborn, which are written in heaven, and to God the Judge of all, and to the spirits of just men made perfect, (Hebrews 12:23)

And to Jesus the mediator of the new covenant, and to the blood of sprinkling, that speaketh better things than that of Abel. (Hebrews 12:24)

   We have come to a holy mount not made with hands. There is no building or structure, but a spiritual kingdom of the living God, the new Jerusalem, the heavenly city of our God, and we are secure in this city by the blood of God’s dear Son that speaketh better things than the blood of Abel. As Abel was the first to walk by faith, Christ is the last to minister faith to all who believe on Him. A Christian cannot be separated from the Word of God. For the Living Word is written on every heart of the children of God. When we enter into His sanctuary, the Spirit of God will answer every question to the soul, the spirit, and to the heart of every child of God. When we enter into the Spirit’s chamber (which is the Word of God) and we ask that question that so many (who have gone before) have asked, Wherewithal shall a young man cleanse his ways? The Spirit of God is faithful and answers — by taking heed thereonto according to thy word. Amen.

© Copyright 2019, Michael Haigh

Article may be used, but not for gain. Freely ye have received, freely give.

All Scripture references are from the  King James Bible. (KJB)