Bereansearching Bible Studies

The Perfect High Priest

Hebrews 5:1, “¶For every high priest taken from among men is ordained for men in things [pertaining] to God, that he may offer both gifts and sacrifices for sins.“

This verse is very similar to what we will subsequently read in Hebrews 8:3, “¶For every high priest is ordained to offer gifts and sacrifices: wherefore [it is] of necessity that this man have somewhat also to offer.” The point being (reading down a little further to Hebrews 8:4-6) that the earthly priests are still only men who “serve unto the example and shadow of heavenly things,” whereas Jesus “obtained a more excellent ministry, by how much also he is the mediator of a better covenant, which was established upon better promises.”

Hebrews 5:2, “Who can have compassion on the ignorant, and on them that are out of the way; for that he himself also is compassed with infirmity.”

The earthly priests understood (just as Jesus understands) that they themselves needed compassion for their own sins, just as other men require compassion due to their ignorance and for being “out of the way”. (and we should remember that Jesus is The Way)

Hebrews 5:3, “And by reason hereof he ought, as for the people, so also for himself, to offer for sins.”

Therefore the priests in the Old Testament had to not only offer sacrifices for the sins of others, but also for themselves for their own sins, as we read in Leviticus 4:3, “If the priest that is anointed do sin according to the sin of the people; then let him bring for his sin, which he hath sinned, a young bullock without blemish unto the LORD for a sin offering.” (the rest of the priest’s steps can be found reading further in Leviticus 4:4-12)

Hebrews 5:4, “And no man taketh this honour unto himself, but he that is called of God, as [was] Aaron.”

John 3:27, tells us, “¶John (the Baptist) answered and said, A man can receive nothing, except it be given him from heaven.” and regarding Aaron, he was indeed called of God as we read where God told Mose the following in Exodus 28:1, “¶And take thou unto thee Aaron thy brother, and his sons with him, from among the children of Israel, that he may minister unto me in the priest’s office, [even] Aaron, Nadaband Abihu, Eleazar and Ithamar, Aaron’s sons.“

No man can claim a right to the priesthood, it has to be bestowed by God according to God’s Will Alone or as some would say, “it is a calling”.

Think of what Paul wrote to Timothy in 1 Timothy 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.“

or, in 2 Peter 1:3, “According as his divine power hath given unto us all things that [pertain] unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of him that hath called us to glory and virtue:”

Hebrews 5:5, “¶So also Christ glorified not himself to be made an high priest; but he that said unto him, Thou art my Son, to day have I begotten thee.“

Jesus was bestowed the mantle of High Priest by God the Father. This is just as Jesus said in John 8:54, “¶Jesus answered, If I honour myself, my honour is nothing: it is my Father that honoureth me; of whom ye say, that he is your God:”

The latter part of the verse hearkens us back to Psalm 2:7, “I will declare the decree: the LORD hath said unto me, Thou [art] my Son; this day have I begotten thee.“

And we should also remember, Proverbs 27:2(a), “Let another man praise thee, and not thine own mouth;“

John 7:16, “¶Jesus answered them, and said, My doctrine is not mine, but his that sent me. If any man will do his will, he shall know of the doctrine, whether it be of God, or [whether] I speak of myself. He that speaketh of himself seeketh his own glory: but he that seeketh his glory that sent him, the same is true, and no unrighteousness is in him.“

Hebrews 5:6, “¶As he saith also in another [place], Thou [art] a priest forever after the order of Melchisedec.“

This verse hearkens us back to Psalm 110:4, “The LORD hath sworn, and will not repent, Thou [art a] priest for ever after the order of Melchizedek.” The point being that Jesus is not a “Levite” because Jesus is of the tribe of Judah, and God is saying that Jesus has a higher ordination, one that is patterned after Melchizedek (Abraham’s priest, who was before Levi was even born…and that is addressed more clearly in Hebrews 7:9&10).

We should take a moment to remember who Melchizedek was. Melchizedek, in the original Hebrew, is מַלְכִּי־צֶדֶק (malkî-ṣeḏeq)^H4442, which means (“King of Righteousness”). Melchizedek was also the “king of Salem” (Jerusalem), and “priest of the most high God.” Genesis 14:18 as we read in “¶And Melchizedek king of Salem brought forth bread and wine: and he [was] the priest of the most high God.” Who else brought forth “bread and wine”? Jesus in the “Last Supper” brought forth bread and wine to establish the communion between Himself and His Church, as a representation in remembrance of His sacrificed Body and Blood as we read in 1 Corinthians 11:23-26 (see also Matthew 26:26-28, and Luke 22:19&20).

We should also remember that Melchizedek was no ordinary “man” as we read in Hebrews 7:3, “Without father, without mother, without descent, having neither beginning of days, nor end of life; but made like unto the Son of God; abideth a priest continually.” Melchizedek could also be called a “theophany“, as he is an example of how God can be manifested in bodily form to serve God’s purpose to point us to the Person and Work of the Lord Jesus Christ.

And we know that Jesus is our High Priest Forever! (We will take an even closer look at Melchizedek later in our study of Hebrews chapter 7.)

Hebrews 5:7, “Who in the days of his flesh, when he had offered up prayers and supplications with strong crying and tears unto him that was able to save him from death, and was heard in that he feared;

Psalm 22:1, “¶[[To the chief Musician upon Aijeleth Shahar, A Psalm of David.]] My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me? [why art thou so] far from helping me, [and from] the words of my roaring? O my God, I cry in the daytime, but thou hearest not; and in the night season, and am not silent.” which points us to Jesus on the cross in Matthew 27:46, “And about the ninth hour Jesus cried with a loud voice, saying, Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani? that is to say, My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?“

Matthew 26:38&39, “Then saith he unto them, My soul is exceeding sorrowful, even unto death: tarry ye here, and watch with me. ¶And he went a little further, and fell on his face, and prayed, saying, O my Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me: nevertheless not as I will, but as thou [wilt].” and…

Mark 14:32-36, “¶And they came to a place which was named Gethsemane: and he saith to his disciples, Sit ye here, while I shall pray. And he taketh with him Peter and James and John, and began to be sore amazed (ἐκθαμβέω (ekthambeō)^G1568 “terrified” or “astonished”), and to be very heavy; And saith unto them, My soul is exceeding sorrowful unto death: tarry ye here, and watch. ¶ And he went forward a little, and fell on the ground, and prayed that, if it were possible, the hour might pass from him. And he said, Abba, Father, all things [are] possible unto thee; take away this cup from me: nevertheless not whatI will, but what thou  wilt.”

And yes, God the Father could have saved Jesus from death as we read in Matthew 26:53&54, “Thinkest thou that I cannot now pray to my Father, and he shall presently give me more than twelve legions of angels? But how then shall the scriptures be fulfilled, that thus it must be?“

John 12:27, “¶Now is my soul troubled; and what shall I say? Father, save me from this hour: but for this cause came I unto this hour.“

Hebrews 5:8, “Though he were a Son, yet learned he obedience by the things which he suffered;“

Philippians 2:8, “And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.“

Hebrews 5:9, “And being made perfect τελειόω (teleioō)^G5048,  he became the author of eternal salvation unto all them that obey him;“

Hebrews 12:2, “Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of [our] faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.“

Paul wrote in Romans 1:16, “For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek.”

2 Timothy 2:10, “Therefore I endure all things for the elect’s sakes, that they may also obtain the salvation which is in Christ Jesus with eternal glory.“

Revelation 19:1, “And after these things I heard a great voice of much people in heaven, saying, Alleluia; Salvation, and glory, and honour, and power, unto the Lord our God:“

Hebrews 5:10, “Called of God an high priest after the order of Melchisedec.“

This is a reiteration of verse 6 and another prelude to chapter 7.

Hebrews 5:11, “Of whom we have many things to say, and hard to be uttered, seeing ye are dull of hearing.“

In John 16:12, Jesus said “¶ I have yet many things to say unto you, but ye cannot bear them now.” and made it clear that the Holy Spirit would provide the means of understanding as we read in John 16:13-15.

We are also reminded of Peter describing Paul’s letters (epistles) and other scriptures, which ultimately relates to all of God’s Word in 2 Peter 3:16, “As also in all [his] epistles, speaking in them of these things; in which are some things hard to be understood, which they that are unlearned and unstable wrest, as [they do] also the other scriptures, unto their own destruction.“

This brings to mind what we read in Matthew 13:15, “For this people’s heart is waxed gross, and [their] ears are dull of hearing, and their eyes they have closed; lest at any time they should see with [their] eyes, and hear with [their] ears, and should understand with [their] heart, and should be converted, and I should heal them.” For more on this, please see: “The Hearing Ear and Seeing Eye“.

Nonetheless, while Paul is admonishing the Hebrews, Paul does not give up hope…

Hebrews 5:12, “¶For when for the time ye ought to be teachers, ye have need that one teach you again which [be] the first principles of the oracles of God; and are become such as have need of milk, and not of strong meat.“

1 Corinthians 3:1&2, “¶And I, brethren, could not speak unto you as unto spiritual, but as unto carnal, [even] as unto babes in Christ. I have fed you with milk, and not with meat: for hitherto ye were not able [to bear it], neither yet now are ye able.” Note that being a “babe in Christ” is to be the same as carnal and NOT Spiritual. That is saying that they were not yet believers (see below).

Regarding the “oracles of God”, please see Chapter 6.

Hebrews 5:13, “For every one that useth milk [is] unskilful in the word of righteousness: for he is a babe.“

The key here is that Paul is admonishing the Hebrews to be grounded and settled in the Truth and be mature in the Word (be of full age, hence “saved”)…He wants them to know The Word, Jesus, and not just the word, the scriptures.

Colossians 1:23, “If ye continue in the faith grounded and settled, and[ be] not moved away from the hope of the gospel, which ye have heard, [and] which was preached to every creature which is under heaven; whereof I Paul am made a minister;“

Ephesians 4:14, “That we [henceforth] be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, [and] cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive;“

Isaiah 28:9, “Whom shall he teach knowledge? and whom shall he make to understand doctrine? [them that are] weaned from the milk, [and] drawn from the breasts.“

1 Peter 2:2, “As newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of the word, that ye may grow thereby:“

Hebrews 5:14, “But strong meat belongeth to them that are of full age (τέλειος (teleios))^G5046, [even] those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil.“

A mature believer will not believe a lie. They will not be “tossed to a fro” “with every wind of doctrine“. The believer will have discernment by the Spirit of Truth* to know the Truth versus what is said by purveyors of false gospels that will only lead to death and Hell.

Romans 8:1-14 makes clear the difference between the saved (the believers, who are Spiritually minded) and the unsaved (the unbelievers, who are carnally/fleshly minded).

“¶[There is] therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit. For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death. For what the law could not do, in that it was weak through the flesh, God sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, and for sin, condemned sin in the flesh: That the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit. For they that are after the flesh do mind the things of the flesh; but they that are after the Spirit the things of the Spirit.For to be carnally minded [is] death; but to be spiritually minded [is] life and peace. Because the carnal mind [is] enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be. So then they that are in the flesh cannot please God. ¶But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you. Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his. And if Christ [be] in you, the body [is] dead because of sin; but the Spirit [is] life because of righteousness. But if the Spirit of him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwell in you, he that raised up Christ from the dead shall also quicken your mortal bodies by his Spirit that dwelleth in you.¶Therefore, brethren, we are debtors, not to the flesh, to live after the flesh. For if ye live after the flesh, ye shall die: but if ye through the Spirit do mortify the deeds of the body, ye shall live. For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God.“

We must have the Spirit of God, The Holy Spirit, to no longer be babes (unsaved in the congregation). And to be mature, or of “Full Age” is also to be considered “Perfect” as we next read.

1 Corinthians 2:6, “¶Howbeit we speak wisdom among them that are perfect (τέλειος (teleios))^G5046: yet not the wisdom of this world, nor of the princes of this world, that come to nought:“

Jesus said in Matthew 5:48, “Be ye therefore perfect (τέλειος (teleios))^G5046, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect (τέλειος (teleios)) ^G5046.

1 Corinthians 14:20, “Brethren, be not children in understanding: howbeit in malice be ye children, but in understanding be men (τέλειος (teleios)) ^G5046.

Colossians 1:28, (Paul discussing Jesus Christ) “Whom we preach, warning every man, and teaching everyman in all wisdom; that we may present every man perfect (τέλειος (teleios))^G5046 in Christ Jesus:”

Isaiah 7:14, “Therefore the Lord himself shall give you a sign; Behold, a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel. Butter and honey shall he eat, that he may know to refuse the evil, and choose the good. For before the child shall know to refuse the evil, and choose the good, the land that thou abhorrest shall be forsaken of both her kings.“

1 Thessalonians 5:21, “Prove all things; hold fast that which is good.“

1 Corinthians 2:13&14, “¶Which things also we speak, not in the words which man’s wisdom teacheth, but which the Holy Ghost teacheth; comparing spiritual things with spiritual. But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know [them], because they are spiritually discerned.“

And finally, we should all be like the Bereans in Acts 17:10, who “…searched the scriptures daily, whether those things were so.”

*The Spirit of Truth

John 14:16&17, “And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever; [Even] the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him: but ye know him; for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you.

John 15:26, “But when the Comforter is come, whom I will send unto you from the Father, [even] the Spirit of truth, which proceedeth from the Father, he shall testify of me:

John 16:13, “Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, [that] shall he speak: and he will shew you things to come.

1 John 4:6, “We are of God: he that knoweth God heareth us; he that is not of God heareth not us. Hereby know we the spirit of truth, and the spirit of error.”

1 John 5:6, “This is he that came by water and blood, [even] Jesus Christ; not by water only, but by water and blood. And it is the Spirit that beareth witness, because the Spirit is truth.“

Introduction

Hebrews Chapter 4 reviews and revisits issues raised in Chapter 3. It reminds us, once again, that the vast majority of the Israelites perished in the wilderness for unbelief and never entered the Promised Land (only two individuals who left Egypt, Joshua and Caleb, entered in across the River Jordan). Chapter 4 makes it clear that, likewise, unbelievers will not enter into Heaven because, although they may have heard “The Word”, they did not have faith in “The Word”, Who Is Jesus. The Word of God is not to be taken lightly!

The Chapter can be divided into four parts:

1. The meaning and promise of “rest” from an eternal perspective, which unbelievers cannot enter and which was “Typified” first by God’s resting on the seventh day, then by the Land of Canaan, of which the reality is eternity with God in Heaven. (verses 1-11)
2. The Word of God is a double-edged sword that can both make alive and kill. (verses 12 &13)
3. Jesus Is the believers’ “Great High Priest.” (verses 14&15…which provide a segue to chapter 5)
4. The believers can boldly petition God for mercy and grace in time of need. (verse 16)

The Promise of An Eternal Rest with God

Hebrews 4:1, “¶Let us therefore fear, lest, a promise being left [us] of entering into his rest, any of you should seem to come short of it.“

This is describing a cautious fear and a watchfulness over our own faith in Him. 2 Corinthians 13:5, “¶Examine yourselves, whether ye be in the faith; prove your own selves. Know ye not your own selves, how that Jesus Christ is in you, except ye be reprobates?” 2 Peter 1:10, “¶Wherefore the rather, brethren, give diligence to make your calling and election sure: for if ye do these things, ye shall never fall:“

The promise of rest, which we have in Jesus, is twofold:

1. There is a present rest that we have in Christ Jesus. Matthew 11:28, “Come unto me, all [ye] that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.” Hebrews 4:10, “For he that is entered into his rest, he also hath ceased from his own works, as God [did] from his.” The Believers are free from the fear of death, and from the yoke of ceremonialism and works. We rest I Jesus’ Love, Righteousness, and in His Work.
2. There is the future eternal rest in Heaven. When the believers enter into that rest they will be forever free from all temptation, fear, doubt, and sin. Revelation 21:1-4, “¶And I saw a new heaven and a new earth: for the first heaven and the first earth were passed away; and there was no more sea. And I John saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. And I heard a great voice out of heaven saying, Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and he will dwell with them, and they shall be his people, and God himself shall be with them, [and] be their God. And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away.“

With so much at stake we must follow in the footsteps of the Apostle Paul and his statement of seeking the Lord Jesus in saving faith in Philippians 3:7-14, “¶But what things were gain to me, those I counted loss for Christ. Yea doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them [but] dung, that I may win Christ, And be found in him, not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith: That I may know him, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, being made conformable unto his death; If by any means I might attain unto the resurrection of the dead. Not as though I had already attained, either were already perfect: but I follow after, if that I may apprehend that for which also I am apprehended of Christ Jesus. Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but [this] one thing [I do], forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.” “Attained” is “Obtaining”, and it is NOT “coming short.”

But what about the meaning of “coming short“? A number of self-reinforcing verses in Hebrews come to mind…

Hebrews 2:3, “How shall we escape, if we neglect so great salvation; which at the first began to be spoken by the Lord, and was confirmed unto us by them that heard [him]; and 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.” and Hebrews 4:14 “¶Seeing then that we have a great high priest, that is passed into the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast [our] profession.” and Hebrews 10:23, “Let us hold fast the profession of [our] faith without wavering; (for he [is] faithful that promised;)” and also Hebrews 12:15, “Looking diligently lest any man fail of the grace of God; lest any root of bitterness springing up trouble [you], and thereby many be defiled;“

Hebrews 4:2, “For unto us was the gospel preached, as well as unto them: but the word preached did not profit them, not being mixed with faith in them that heard [it].”

The Gospel of Salvation by Jesus Christ Alone has been made clear in the New Testament. That Salvation is by Grace not works, through His Deity, His Perfect Obedience, His Substitutionary Atonement, His Resurrection, and His Loving Intercession for the Saints. But is was also taught to the Israelites by Type, Promise, Sacrifice, and other Examples. But it did them no good without faith and trust in God as Abraham their “father” did exhibit.

This point, that the same gospel that we know in the New Testament was also PREACHED to National Israel in the Old Testament, is extremely important. There were NEVER two different dispensations!

It should also be noted that the word “mixed” is translated from the Greek word, συγκεράννυμι (sygkerannymi)^G4786, which also means “united together“.

Romans 10:17, “So then faith [cometh] by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.” but bear in mind that according to In Proverbs 20:12 we are told something that is extremely important. “The hearing ear, and the seeing eye, the Lord hath made even both of them.” Only God gives the hearers “ears to hear.” For more on the implication of Proverbs 20:12, Please see this post.

Also regarding “faith”, we should remember these two verses:

1. Hebrews 12:2, “Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of [our] faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.“
2. Hebrews 11:6, “But without faith [it is] impossible to please [him]: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and [that] he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.“

Also we should also remember what we read in Revelation 1:3, “Blessed [is] he that readeth, and they that hear the words of this prophecy, and keep those things which are written therein: for the time [is] at hand.” We are to 1) READ, 2) HEAR, and 3) KEEP the Words of God!

Hebrews 4:3, “For we which have believed do enter into rest, as he said, As I have sworn in my wrath, if they shall enter into my rest: although the works were finished from the foundation of the world.“

This once again hearkens the hearer back to Psalm 95:7-11, “For he [is] our God; and we [are] the people of his pasture, and the sheep of his hand. To day if ye will hear his voice, Harden not your heart, as in the provocation, [and] as [in] the day of temptation in the wilderness: When your fathers tempted me, proved me, and saw my work. Forty years long was I grieved with [this] generation, and said, It [is] a people that do err in their heart, and they have not known my ways. Unto whom I sware in my wrath that they should not enter into my rest.“

Remember that when a person is truly saved, they find rest and peace from working for their Salvation, but rather rely entirely on The Lord of the Sabbath, Jesus Christ to have done all the work for them as we read in Romans 5:1, “¶Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ:“and Romans 8:1, “¶[There is] therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.” as well as:

Romans 8:33, “Who shall lay any thing to the charge of God’s elect? [It is] God that justifieth. Who [is] he that condemneth? [It is] Christ that died, yea rather, that is risen again, who is even at the right hand of God, who also maketh intercession for us. Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? [shall] tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword?” (Please read on to Romans 8:38)

And just to reiterate, Jesus Christ is the Lord of the Sabbath, our Rest!

1. Matthew 12:8, “For the Son of man is Lord even of the sabbath day.“
2. Mar 2:27&28, “And he (Jesus) said unto them, The sabbath was made for man, and not man for the sabbath: Therefore the Son of man is Lord also of the sabbath.“
3. Luke 6:5, “And he said unto them, That the Son of man is Lord also of the sabbath.“

Going forward in Hebrews 4, we are provided an understanding of the true eternal rest that the believers have in Jesus by discounting all the other “rest” mentioned in the Old Testament Scriptures.

Hebrews 4:4, “For he spake in a certain place of the seventh [day] on this wise, And God did rest the seventh day from all his works.”

Exodus 20:11, “For [in] six days the LORD made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that in them [is], and rested the seventh day: wherefore the LORD blessed the sabbath day, and hallowed it.”

The believers’ rest that they now enjoy in Christ is not the “rest ” of God following the six days of creation. The rest that God has in view is the eternal rest that is in salvation.

Hebrews 4:5, “And in this [place] again, If they shall enter into my rest.”

(See above in Verse 4:3 and earlier in Hebrews 3:11)

The point here is that the rest in view was that temporal rest in the temporal land of Canaan, which was only a “Type” of the eternal rest with God in Heaven.

Hebrews 4:6, “¶Seeing therefore it remaineth that some must enter therein, and they to whom it was first preached entered not in because of unbelief:“

This is a reiteration of Hebrews 3:19, “So we see that they could not enter in because of unbelief.“

Because of Israel’s unbelief they did not enter into Canaan, but instead only wandered in the wilderness for 40 years and they all (apart from only Joshua and Caleb) perished as a result of their unbelief.

The believers’ rest in Christ is not the “rest” of Israel’s entering into the Land of Canaan, which was only an earthly and temporal rest, but, again, that rest most certainly did “typify” the believers’ eternal rest with God in Heaven.

Hebrews 4:7, “Again, he limiteth a certain day, saying in David, To day, after so long a time; as it is said, To day if ye will hear his voice, harden not your hearts.”

Again we are pointed back to Psalm 95:7&8, “For he [is] our God; and we [are] the people of his pasture, and the sheep of his hand. To day if ye will hear his voice, Harden not your heart, as in the provocation, [and] as [in] the day of temptation in the wilderness:“

God has set a “certain day” when His people would enter in to that eternal rest. It is the Gospel Dispensation. Not the “rest” provided in a temporal “type”, but provided in reality for eternity.

2 Corinthians 6:2, “(For he saith, I have heard thee in a time accepted, and in the day of salvation have I succoured thee: behold, now [is] the accepted time; behold, now [is] the day of salvation.)“

The reality and not the “Type” will manifest itself when Jesus returns on Judgment Day.

The Final Eternal Rest is in Heaven with Jesus

Hebrews 4:8, “¶For if Jesus had given them rest, then would he not afterward have spoken of another day.“

IF the intent all along was that God would provide only a temporal earthly rest, then God would not have promised another day. That day that is yet to come.

Hebrews 4:9, “There remaineth therefore a rest to the people of God.”

Rest here comes from the original Greek word κατάπαυσις (katapausis)^G2663 which means “rest” or “resting place”.

The original Hebrew word that is translated in the Old Testament as “rest” is שַׁבָּתוֹן (šabāṯôn)^H7677 from which שַׁבָּת (šabāṯ)^H7676 (“Sabbath“) is derived , hence it is speaking of a “day of rest” that is yet to come for the people of God, the believers.

But, interestingly, another Hebrew word for rest is Noah נֹחַ (nōaḥ) ^H5146, whose means “Rest” or “Consolation“. We also know from Genesis 5:29 that Noah is identified with “comfort“, “And he called his name Noah נֹחַ (nōaḥ)^H5146, saying, This [same] shall comfort נָחַם (nāḥam)^H5162 us concerning our work and toil of our hands, because of the ground which the LORD hath cursed.” This word for “comfort” נָחַם (nāḥam)  ^H5162 , which is used here to pertain to Noah, is also the root word from which the prophet Nahum (נַחוּם (naḥûm) ^H5151 is derived. Please see this post on Nahum.

Hebrews 4:10, “For he that is entered into his rest, he also hath ceased from his own works, as God [did] from his.“

Every true believer hath ceased from his own works of righteousness, and from the burdensome works of the law, as God through Christ has ceased from His works of creation and redemption. Remembering also what we read in Ephesians 1:19, “And what [is] the exceeding greatness of his power to us-ward who believe, according to the working of his mighty power, Which he wrought in Christ, when he raised him from the dead, and set [him] at his own right hand in the heavenly [places], Far above all principality, and power, and might, and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this world, but also in that which is to come:“

Hebrews 4:11, “¶Let us labour therefore to enter into that rest, lest any man fall after the same example of unbelief.“

In this verse, the word that translated from the Greek for “unbelief” is ἀπείθεια (apeitheia)^G543, which can also be translated as “disobedience” or “obstinance“. The warning here is that everyone should be diligent to heed the Word of God, or otherwise end up like those who died in the wilderness due to unbelief. This again brings us to remembrance of what we read in Hebrews 3:16-18, “¶For some, when they had heard, did provoke: howbeit not all that came out of Egypt by Moses. But with whom was he grieved forty years? [was it] not with them that had sinned, whose carcases fell in the wilderness? And to whom sware he that they should not enter into his rest, but to them that believed not?“

In Numbers 14:11 we see where God explains to Moses his frustration with the people of Israel, “¶And the LORD said unto Moses, How long will this people provoke me? and how long will it be ere they believe me, for all the signs which I have shewed among them?“

Philippians 2:12&13, “¶Wherefore, my beloved, as ye have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out (κατεργάζομαι (katergazomai) ^G2716  your own salvation with fear and trembling. For it is God which worketh (ἐνεργέω (energeō))^G1754 in you both to will and to do of [his] good pleasure.“

God Sees All, and His Word, the Bible, is the ONLY Book That “Reads the Reader” (Moreover, Jesus is the Word Incarnate!)

Hebrews 4:12, “For the word of God [is] quick (alive), 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.”

The word “quick” is an old English word for “alive”. The Word of God is indeed Alive! the Bible is a Living Book proclaiming the believers’ living Redeemer. Jesus Is Alive, and He now sits on the Throne in Heaven at The Father’s Right Hand. This is also entirely consistent with what we read in 1 Peter 1:23-25, “Being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the word of God, which liveth and abideth for ever.For all flesh [is] as grass, and all the glory of man as the flower of grass. The grass withereth, and the flower thereof falleth away: But the word of the Lord endureth for ever. And this is the word which by the gospel is preached unto you.“

The Word of God is Powerful!

In the original Greek, the word “powerful” is the word ἐνεργής (energēs)^G1756 which means “active” and “effectual” (and “powerful”) from which we get the word “energy“, but which has as its root word, ἔργον (ergon)^G2041, which means to “work“.

Psalm 29:4 tells us that, “The voice of the LORD [is] powerful;  the voice of the LORD [is] full of majesty.” The word that is translated as “powerful” is from the original Hebrew is כֹּחַ (kōaḥ)^H3581, which is most often translated as “strength” (58x) “power” (47x) and “might” (7x). In Jeremiah 51:15, we see that Jesus, Who is the Word of God is powerful and Who also is the Creator, “He hath made the earth by his power, ^H3581 he hath established the world by his wisdom, and hath stretched out the heaven by his understanding.” Also in Exodus 15:6, “Thy right hand, O LORD, is become glorious in power: ^H3581 thy right hand, O LORD, hath dashed in pieces the enemy.”

The Word of God Is A Sharp Sword!

Isaiah 49:2, “And he hath made my mouth like a sharp sword; in the shadow of his hand hath he hid me, and made me a polished shaft; in his quiver hath he hid me;” (See also Psalm 45:1-7)

Ephesians 6:17, “And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God:” and Revelation 19:21, “And the remnant were slain with the sword of him that sat upon the horse, which [sword] proceeded out of his mouth: and all the fowls were filled with their flesh.“

And going back to Psalm 138:4, “All the kings of the earth shall praise thee, O LORD, when they hear the words of thy mouth.“

And we should also remember that Jesus said in Matthew 10:34, “Think not that I am come to send peace on earth: I came not to send peace, but a sword.” (Note: the verses that immediately follow provide the explanation of what this involves… Matthew 10:35-39, “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. And a man’s foes [shall be] they of his own household. He that loveth father or mother more than me is notworthy of me: and he that loveth son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me. And he that taketh not his cross, and followeth after me, is not worthy of me. He that findeth his life shall lose it: and he that loseth his life for my sake shall find it.“

The Word of God Is Also a “Twoedged” Sword!

Psalm 149:6, “[Let] the high [praises] of God [be] in their mouth, and a twoedged sword in their hand;“

Revelation 1:16, “And he had in his right hand seven stars: and out of his mouth went a sharp twoedged sword: and his countenance [was] as the sun shineth in his strength.”

Revelation 2:12, “And to the angel of the church in Pergamos write; These things saith he which hath the sharp sword with two edges;“

And without understanding, the fool, who hearkens to a false gospel, will be smitten by another twoedged sword as we read in Proverbs 5:1-5, “¶My son, attend unto my wisdom, [and] bow thine ear to my understanding: That thou mayest regard discretion, and [that] thy lips may keep knowledge. For the lips of a strange woman drop [as] an honeycomb, and her mouth [is] smoother than oil: But her end is bitter as wormwood, sharp as a twoedged sword. Her feet go down to death; her steps take hold on hell.“

But why is the “Word of God” specifically identified with a“twoedged” sword?  It is because the Word of God brings both life and death, both salvation or condemnation, “comfort” and “vengeance” (see: https://bereansearching.com/2022/07/20/a-christian-perspective-on-the-book-of-nahum-comfort-and-consolation/) .  We read in 2 Corinthians 2:14-17, “Now thanks be unto God, which always causeth us to triumph in Christ, and maketh manifest the savour of his knowledge by us in every place. For we are unto God a sweet savour of Christ, in them that are saved, and in them that perish:To the one we are the savour of death unto death; and to the other the savour of life unto life. And who [is] sufficient for these things? For we are not as many, which corrupt the word of God: but as of sincerity, but as of God, in the sight of God speak we in Christ.“

Other verses that address the Word of God include Psalm 147:15, “He sendeth forth his commandment [upon] earth: his word runneth very swiftly.” and Jeremiah 23:29, “[Is] not my word like as a fire? saith the LORD; and like a hammer [that] breaketh the rock in pieces?

Finally please let us all remember what Jesus said in John 12:48, “He that rejecteth me, and receiveth not my words, hath one that judgeth him: the word that I have spoken, the same shall judge him in the last day.”

And let’s not forget that Barak (בָּרָק (bārāq)^H1300), interestingly enough, not only means “lightning“, but also “glittering sword.”  A comprehensive study on Barak and his role as a “Type” of the Lord Jesus Christ Who will bring Judgment on Judgment Day can be found in this study of Judges 4&5.

The Word of God is Piercing

The Word of God is piercing and can find Its way anywhere. Although the soul and spirit are invisible and the joints and the marrow are covered and hid as well, so penetrating is the Divine Word of God that it can reach the most hidden and secrets things of men and women. It is a discerner of the thought and intents of the heart. God knows the hearts of all and will make it all manifest all that is hidden therein by His Word.Luke 16:15, “And he said unto them, Ye are they which justify yourselves before men; but God knoweth your hearts: for that which is highly esteemed among men is abomination in the sight of God.“

God is Omniscient and Nothing is Hid from God’s Eyes. 

Hebrews 4:13, “Neither is there any creature that is not manifest in his sight: but all things [are] naked and opened unto the eyes of him with whom we have to do.“

Job 26:6, “Hell [is] naked before him, and destruction hath no covering.“

Job 34:21, “For his eyes [are] upon the ways of man, and he seeth all his goings.“

2 Chronicles 16:9a, “For the eyes of the LORD run to and fro throughout the whole earth, to shew himself strong in the behalf of [them]whose heart [is] perfect toward him….”

Psalm 44:21, “Shall not God search this out? for he knoweth the secrets of the heart.“

Psalm 90:8, “Thou hast set our iniquities before thee, our secret [sins] in the light of thy countenance.”

Psalm 139:7, (Note: there are several pertinent verses in Psalm 139) “Whither shall I go from thy spirit? or whither shall I flee from thy presence?“

Psalm 139:16, “Thine eyes did see my substance, yet being unperfect;and in thy book all [my members] were written, [which] in continuance were fashioned, when [as yet there was] none of them.“

Psalm 139:23&24, “Search me, O God, and know my heart: try me, and know my thoughts: And see if [there be any] wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.“

Proverbs 5:21, “For the ways of man [are] before the eyes of the LORD, and he pondereth all his goings.”

Proverbs 15:3, “The eyes of the LORD [are] in every place, beholding the evil and the good.”

Jeremiah 16:17, “For mine eyes [are] upon all their ways: they are not hid from my face, neither is their iniquity hid from mine eyes.“

Jeremiah 23:23, “[Am] I a God at hand, saith the LORD, and not a God afar off? Can any hide himself in secret places that I shall not see him? saith the LORD. Do not I fill heaven and earth? saith the LORD.“

Zechariah 4:10, “For who hath despised the day of small things? for they shall rejoice, and shall see the plummet in the hand of Zerubbabel [with] those seven; they are the eyes of the LORD, which run to and fro through the whole earth.“

Mark 4:22, “For there is nothing hid, which shall not be manifested; neither was any thing kept secret, but that it should come abroad.” (see also Matthew 10:26, Luke 8:17, and Luke 12:20)

We can also see that when The Word is faithfully preached, and effectuates salvation, it will result in the what we read in 1 Corinthians 14:25, “And thus are the secrets of his heart made manifest; and so falling down on [his] face he will worship God, and report that God is in you of a truth.“

Jesus Our High Priest in Heaven

Hebrews 4:14, “¶Seeing then that we have a great high priest, that is passed into the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast [our] profession.“

Regarding the “great high priest“, we are pointed forward to Hebrews chapter 7 that describes the Christ “Figure” or “Type” established in “Melchisedec, king of Salem“, in which we first find in Hebrews 5:6 &10, and later in Hebrews 6:20, “Whither the forerunner is for us entered, [even] Jesus, made an high priest for ever after the order of Melchisedec.” and Hebrews 7:26, “¶For such an high priest became us, [who is] holy, harmless, undefiled, separate from sinners, and made higher than the heavens;“

It is extremely important for the reader to be aware that “Melchizedek” is from the original Hebrew, מַלְכִּי־צֶדֶק (malkî-ṣeḏeq)^H4442, which means “King of Righteousness“. This is another evidence that Melchizedek was a “Theophany” which means “a visible manifestation of God” having taken the form of a man.

For background on Melchisedec/Melchizedek, Genesis 14:18, “And Melchizedek king of Salem brought forth bread and wine: and he [was] the priest of the most high God.” Psalm 110:4, “The LORD hath sworn, and will not repent, Thou [art] a priest for ever after the order of Melchizedek.” There is more to say about Melchizedek in Hebrews Chapter 5.

Holding Fast

With regard to holding fast, this is similar to Hebrews 10:23, “Let us hold fast the profession of [our] faith without wavering; (for he [is] faithful that promised;)” and also 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.“

Other verses that we should remember concerning the words “hold fast“:

1 Thessalonians 5:21, “Prove all things; hold fast that which is good.”

2 Timothy 1:13, “Hold fast the form of sound words, which thou hast heard of me, in faith and love which is in Christ Jesus.“

Revelation 2:25, “But that which ye have [already] hold fast till I come.

Revelation 3:3, “Remember therefore how thou hast received and heard, and hold fast, and repent. If therefore thou shalt not watch, I will come on thee as a thief, and thou shalt not know what hour I will come upon thee.“

Hebrews 4:15, “For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as [we are, yet] without sin.”

Isaiah 53:3, “He (Jesus) is despised and rejected of men; a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief: and we hid as it were [our] faces from him; he was despised, and we esteemed him not.“

Luke 22:28, “¶Ye are they which have continued with me in my temptations.”

These two verses are also explained in more detail later in Hebrews 9:12, “Neither by the blood of goats and calves, but by his own blood he entered in once into the holy place, having obtained eternal redemption [for us]. For if the blood of bulls and of goats, and the ashes of an heifer sprinkling the unclean, sanctifieth to the purifying of the flesh:” and also Hebrews 9:24-28.

Without Sin

2 Corinthians 5:21, “For he hath made him [to be] sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.”

1 Peter 2:22, “Who did no sin, neither was guile found in his mouth:“

1 John 3:5, “And ye know that he was manifested to take away our sins; and in him is no sin.“

Hebrews 4:16, “Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.“

Ephesians 2:18, “For through him we both have access by one Spirit unto the Father. ¶Now therefore ye are no more strangers and foreigners, but fellow citizens with the saints, and of the household of God;

We should also remember that Queen Esther displayed such boldness in Esther Chapter 5 in Esther 5:1-3.

Psalm 45 is another synopsis of Jesus coming on the clouds of Glory as KING of KINGS and LORD of LORDS (1 Timothy 6:15, Rev 17:14, Rev 19:16)  coming conquering and to conquer (Revelation 6:2) with a “sword” and “arrows” on Judgment Day (the first seven verses) and they Jesus coming to meet His Bride (Revelation 21:2), the Queen, the Eternal Church, to take Her to Heaven with Him (the last ten verses). This Psalm, to a large degree, mirrors what we find also in Solomon’s Song. The following is only a small portion of what can be gleaned from Pslam 45

Psalm 45:1-7 “¶ [[To the chief Musician upon Shoshannim, for the sons of Korah, Maschil, A Song of loves.]] My heart is inditing a good matter: I speak of the things which I have made touching the king: my tongue [is] the pen of a ready writer. Thou art fairer than the children of men: grace is poured into thy lips: therefore God hath blessed thee for ever. Gird thy sword (חֶרֶב (ḥereḇ)^H2719) upon thy thigh, O [most] mighty, with thy glory and thy majesty. And in thy majesty ride prosperously because of truth and meekness [and]righteousness; and thy right hand shall teach thee terrible things. Thine arrows (חֵץ (ḥēṣ)) ^H2671 [are] sharp in the heart of the king’s enemies; [whereby] the people fall under thee. Thy throne, O God, [is] for ever and ever: the sceptre of thy kingdom [is] a right sceptre. Thou lovest righteousness, and hatest wickedness: therefore God, thy God, hath anointed thee with the oil of gladness above thy fellows.”

Psalm 45:8-17, “All thy garments [smell] of myrrh, and aloes, [and] cassia, out of the ivory palaces, whereby they have made thee glad. Kings’ daughters [were] among thy honourable women: upon thy right hand did stand the queen in gold of Ophir. Hearken, O daughter, and consider, and incline thine ear; forget also thine own people, and thy father’s house; So shall the king greatly desire thy beauty: for he [is] thy Lord; and worship thou him. And the daughter of Tyre [shall be there] with a gift; [even] the rich among the people shall intreat thy favour. The king’s daughter [is] all glorious within: her clothing [is] of wrought gold. She shall be brought unto the king in raiment of needlework: the virgins her companions that follow her shall be brought unto thee. With gladness and rejoicing shall they be brought: they shall enter into the king’s palace. Instead of thy fathers shall be thy children, whom thou mayest make princes in all the earth.“

Another note: The use of the word “myrrh” (מֹר (mōr)) ^H4753 is particularly noteworthy as it points to Jesus and His Sacrificial Death and Atonement. Solomon’s Song 1:13 “A bundle of myrrh [is] my well beloved unto me; he shall lie all night betwixt my breasts” and 

Matthew 2:11, “And when they were come into the house, they saw the young child with Mary his mother, and fell down, and worshipped him: and when they had opened their treasures, they presented unto him gifts; gold, and frankincense, and myrrh.” and 

John 19:39, “And there came also Nicodemus, which at the first came to Jesus by night, and brought a mixture of myrrh and aloes, about an hundred pound [weight].”

Introduction

God prefigures Judgment Day in many ways, in many verses, throughout the entire Bible from beginning to end. Some are explicit, and some are more veiled, as we find in the Historical Parable of Judges Chapters 4&5. There, God uses a man named “Barak”, which, in the original Hebrew tongue, means both “Lightning” and “Glittering Sword“, to destroy the enemies of Israel (the Canaanites) in the Valley of Megiddo. Barak is used to “typify”, or “prefigure”, the Lord Jesus Christ when Jesus will come with all of His Saints to destroy the world and all of creation on Judgment Day.

Lightning, Swords, and Arrows Are Terms Used Together to Point to Judgment Day

When we search the Bible we can see that there is a clear connection with Jesus, Being God’s Word, and His association with bringing judgment in the form of “Lightning” (בָּרָק (bārāq)^H1300), a “Sword” (חֶרֶב (ḥereḇ)^H2719), and “Arrows” (חֵץ (ḥēṣ) ^H2671), such as we see in Zechariah 9:14, “And the LORD shall be seen over them, and his arrow (חֵץ (ḥēṣ) ^H2671) shall go forth as the lightning (בָּרָק (bārāq)^H1300): and the Lord GOD shall blow the trumpet, and shall go with whirlwinds of the south.” Also please note the particular and unmistakable harmony of these three additional verses that also tie “lightning” with “arrows“, or weapons of warfare like the “sword” (or sometimes “spear“(חֲנִית (ḥănîṯ))^H2595), to bring destruction, hence judgment, and in particular, JUDGMENT DAY! (and please also note that the phrase mentioned above in Zechariah 9:14, “the Lord GOD shall blow the trumpet“, unequivocally also points to Judgment Day as we read in 1 Corinthians 15:52, “In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed.“)

Habakkuk 3:11, “The sun [and] moon stood still in their habitation: at the light of thine arrows (חֵץ (ḥēṣ) ^H2671)  they went, [and] at the shining of thy glittering. (בָּרָק (bārāq))^H1300 spear (חֲנִית (ḥănîṯ))^H2595.

And note the consistency between the Psalm of David as found in 2 Samuel 22:15, “And he sent out arrows (חֵץ (ḥēṣ) ^H2671), and scattered them; lightning (בָּרָק (bārāq))^H1300), and discomfited them.” with what is written in Psalm 18:14, “Yea, he sent out his arrows (חֵץ (ḥēṣ) ^H2671), and scattered them; and he shot out lightnings (בָּרָק (bārāq))^H1300), and discomfited them.”

Psalm 21:12, “Therefore shalt thou make them turn their back, [when] thou shalt make ready [thine arrows] upon thy strings against the face of them.” Please note that the preceding verses make clear that the context is Judgment Day: Psalm 21:9-11, “Thou shalt make them as a fiery oven in the time of thine anger: the LORD shall swallow them up in his wrath, and the fire shall devour them. Their fruit shalt thou destroy from the earth, and their seed from among the children of men. For they intended evil against thee: they imagined a mischievous device, [which] they are not able [to perform].”

Psalm 64:7, “But God shall shoot at them [with] an arrow (חֵץ (ḥēṣ) ^H2671); suddenly shall they be wounded.“

Psalm 77:17, “The clouds poured out water: the skies sent out a sound: thine arrows (חָצָץ (ḥāṣāṣ)^H2687 also went abroad.” (Note that in this case, the Hebrew word that is translated into English can also be translated as “gravel” or “stones”…and in the context of this particular verse, evidently “hailstones”, which are also used in the Bible in the course of God bringing His Judgment, as we find in Revelation 16:21).

Psalm 144:6, “Cast forth lightning (בָּרָק (bārāq)^H1300,) and scatter them: shoot out thine arrows (חֵץ (ḥēṣ) ^H2671), and destroy them.“ 

Interestingly, Psalm 78:48 referring back to God’s plagues upon the Egyptians in Exodus, “He gave up their cattle also to the hail, and their flocks to hot thunderbolts.” The word that is translated as hot thunderbolts is רֶשֶׁף (rešep̄)^H7565, which is translated in the King James Bible in the following manner: coals (2x), burning coals (1x), burning heat (1x), spark (1x), arrow (1x), hot thunderbolt (1x). So it would seem that lightning and arrows are intertwined in yet even another, more subtle, manner with respect to the execution of God’s Judgment.

The verse just preceding the one above, Psalm 144:5, makes clear to us that God is unequivocally describing Judgment Day, “Bow thy heavens, O LORD, and come down: touch the mountains, and they shall smoke.” Judgment Day is the Day when the elements will melt with fervent heat and the earth will dissolve, and the heavens will be rolled back as a scroll, as we read in 2 Peter 3:10, 2 Peter 3:12, Isaiah 64:1&2, Amos 9:13, Nahum 1:5, Isaiah 34:4, Revelation 6:14, and Matthew 24:35. Therefore all those people in the world who are counted by God as His enemies will be destroyed, just like the Canaanites in the Valley of Megiddo, but, even worse, they will all be sent to eternal Hell. 

Psalm 45 is another synopsis of Jesus coming on the clouds of Glory as KING of KINGS and LORD of LORDS (1 Timothy 6:15, Rev 17:14, Rev 19:16)  coming conquering and to conquer (Revelation 6:2) with a “sword” and “arrows” on Judgment Day (the first seven verses) and they Jesus coming to meet His Bride (Revelation 21:2), the Queen, the Eternal Church, to take Her to Heaven with Him (the last ten verses). This Psalm, to a large degree, mirrors what we find also in Solomon’s Song.

Psalm 45:1-7 “¶ [[To the chief Musician upon Shoshannim, for the sons of Korah, Maschil, A Song of loves.]] My heart is inditing a good matter: I speak of the things which I have made touching the king: my tongue [is] the pen of a ready writer. Thou art fairer than the children of men: grace is poured into thy lips: therefore God hath blessed thee for ever. Gird thy sword (חֶרֶב (ḥereḇ)^H2719) upon thy thigh, O [most] mighty, with thy glory and thy majesty. And in thy majesty ride prosperously because of truth and meekness [and]righteousness; and thy right hand shall teach thee terrible things. Thine arrows (חֵץ (ḥēṣ)) ^H2671 [are] sharp in the heart of the king’s enemies; [whereby] the people fall under thee. Thy throne, O God, [is] for ever and ever: the sceptre of thy kingdom [is] a right sceptre. Thou lovest righteousness, and hatest wickedness: therefore God, thy God, hath anointed thee with the oil of gladness above thy fellows.”

Salvation is also in View for the Saints (Typified by National Israel)

Earlier we saw the Judgment of God on Judgment Day foretold in  Zechariah 9:14, but then there is the promise of simultaneous salvation of His people, the Saints…Zechariah 9:15-17, “The LORD of hosts shall defend them; and they shall devour, and subdue with sling stones; and they shall drink, [and] make a noise as through wine; and they shall be filled like bowls, [and] as the corners of the altar. And the LORD their God shall save them in that day as the flock of his people: for they [shall be as] the stones of a crown, lifted up as an ensign upon his land. For how great [is] his goodness, and how great [is] his beauty! corn shall make the young men cheerful, and new wine the maids.“

God uses “Lightning/Lightnings” to Describe Jesus and His Second, and FINAL, Coming in the New Testament

Remember how, in Matthew 24:27, we read where Jesus Christ tells us directly that His coming on Judgment Day will appear as lightning, “For as the lightning cometh out of the east, and shineth even unto the west; so shall also the coming of the Son of man be.” Note the harmony with Psalm 77:18, “The voice of thy thunder was in the heaven: the lightnings (בָּרָק (bārāq))^H1300 lightened the world: the earth trembled and shook.”  Clearly this points to Jesus being both the Light of the world and the Judge of the world.

Again, note the harmony with what is provided in 2 Samuel 22:8, “Then the earth shook and trembled; the foundations of heaven moved and shook, because he (God) was wroth.” and in 2 Samuel 22:14, “The LORD thundered from heaven, and the most High uttered his voice.“

In Matthew 28:3, describing “the angel of the Lord descended from heaven”, we read that, “His countenance was like lightning, and his raiment white as snow:“ Luke 17:24, “For as the lightning, that lighteneth out of the one [part] under heaven, shineth unto the other [part] under heaven; so shall also the Son of man be in his day.”

Revelation 4:5, “And out of the throne proceeded lightnings and thunderings and voices: and [there were] seven lamps of fire burning before the throne, which are the seven Spirits of God.“

Revelation 8:5, “And the angel took the censer, and filled it with fire of the altar, and cast [it] into the earth: and there were voices, and thunderings, and lightnings, and an earthquake.”

Revelation 11:19, “And the temple of God was opened in heaven, and there was seen in his temple the ark of his testament: and there were lightnings, and voices, and thunderings, and an earthquake, and great hail.”

Revelation 16:18, “And there were voices, and thunders, and lightnings; and there was a great earthquake, such as was not since men were upon the earth, so mighty an earthquake, [and] so great.

Finally, back in Deuteronomy 32:41, the same word Hebrew word “barak” is alternatively translated as “glittering sword”, “If I whet my glittering sword (בָּרָק bārāq)^H1300, and mine hand take hold on judgment; I will render vengeance נָקָם (nāqām)^H5359 to mine enemies, and will reward them that hate me.”  We this also in Job 20:25, where God has just outlined what will happen to the wicked and the hypocrites of the world on Judgment Day, “It is drawn, and cometh out of the body; yea, the glittering sword (בָּרָק (bārāq)^H1300cometh out of his gall: terrors [are] upon him.”  

Note also the similarity with the above given the military armor context of Isaiah 59:17, “For he put on righteousness as a breastplate, and an helmet of salvation upon his head; and he put on the garments of vengeance נָקָם (nāqām)^H5359 [for] clothing, and was clad with zeal as a cloke. According to [their] deeds, accordingly he will repay, furyto his adversaries, recompence to his enemies; to the islands he will repay recompence.“

This is all describing Jesus on Judgment Day!

More verses to ponder:

Job 38:35 “Canst thou send lightnings (בָּרָק (bārāq)^H1300), that they may go, and say unto thee, Here we [are]?“

Job 19:29, “Be ye afraid of the sword (חֶרֶב (ḥereḇ))^H2719: for wrath [bringeth] the punishments of the sword (חֶרֶב (ḥereḇ)^H2719), that ye may know [there is] a judgment.“

Isaiah 34:5&6 “For my sword (חֶרֶב (ḥereḇ))^H2719 shall be bathed in heaven: behold, it shall come down upon Idumea, and upon the people of my curse, to judgment. The sword (חֶרֶב (ḥereḇ))^H2719 of the LORD is filled with blood, it is made fat with fatness, and with the blood of lambs and goats, with the fat of the kidneys of rams: for the LORD hath a sacrifice in Bozrah, and a great slaughter in the land of Idumea.“

Ezekiel 21:28 “And thou, son of man, prophesy and say, Thus saith the Lord GOD concerning the Ammonites, and concerning their reproach; even say thou, The sword (חֶרֶב (ḥereḇ))^H2719, the sword (חֶרֶב (ḥereḇ))^H2719 [is] drawn: for the slaughter [it is] furbished, to consume because of the glittering (בָּרָק (bārāq)^H1300):” 

Nahum 3:3, “The horseman lifteth up both the bright sword and the glittering (בָּרָק bārāq))^H1300 spear: and [there is] a multitude of slain, and a great number of carcases; and [there is] none end of [their] corpses; they stumble upon their corpses:“

Habakkuk 3:11 “The sun [and] moon stood still in their habitation: at the light of thine arrows (חֵץ (ḥēṣ) ^H2671)  they went, [and] at the shining of thy glittering (בָּרָק (bārāq))^H1300 spear.

The Word of God Is A Sword Out of the Mouth of Jesus!

Ephesians 6:17, “And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God:” and  Revelation 19:21, “And the remnant were slain with the sword of him that sat upon the horse, which [sword] proceeded out of his mouth: and all the fowls were filled with their flesh.“

Isaiah 49:1-3, “¶ Listen, O isles, unto me; and hearken, ye people, from far; The LORD hath called me from the womb; from the bowels of my mother hath he made mention of my name. And he hath made my mouth like a sharp sword (חֶרֶב (ḥereḇ))^H2719 ; in the shadow of his hand hath he hid me, and made me a polished shaft (חֵץ (ḥēṣ) ^H2671); in his quiver hath he hid me; And said unto me, Thou [art] my servant, O Israel, in whom I will be glorified.“(See also Psalm 45:1-7)

The Word of God Is Also a Sharp “Twoedged” Sword!

Finally, what do we know about the Word of God in relationship to a “Sword”. 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.” And please note how “the Word” is figuratively protruding out of the Mouth of Jesus in Revelation 1:16, “And he had in his right hand seven stars: and out of his mouth went a sharp twoedged sword: and his countenance [was] as the sun shineth in his strength.” (Note how this relates directly back to Isaiah 49:2)

But why is the “Word of God” specifically identified with a “twoedged” sword?  It is because the Word of God brings both life and death, both salvation or condemnation, “comfort” and “vengeance” (see: https://bereansearching.com/2022/07/20/a-christian-perspective-on-the-book-of-nahum-comfort-and-consolation/) .  We read in 2 Corinthians 2:14-17, “Now thanks be unto God, which always causeth us to triumph in Christ, and maketh manifest the savour of his knowledge by us in every place. For we are unto God a sweet savour of Christ, in them that are saved, and in them that perish:To the one we are the savour of death unto death; and to the other the savour of life unto life. And who [is] sufficient for these things? For we are not as many, which corrupt the word of God: but as of sincerity, but as of God, in the sight of God speak we in Christ.“

Conclusion

When we consider that all of the above verses are talking about Judgment Day, we must conclude that not only does “Barak” clearly and irrefutably represent Jesus Christ, but Barak also represents Jesus Christ as Both The Judge, and The Means of Judgment coming on Judgment Day! 

Some other verses come to mind that support this last statement.  First in Psalm 7:11-13 we read, “God judgeth the righteous, and God is angry [with the wicked] every day. If he turn not, he will whet his sword (חֶרֶב (ḥereḇ)^H2719; he hath bent his bow, and made it ready. He hath also prepared for him the instruments of death; he ordaineth his arrows (חֵץ (ḥēṣ)) ^H2671against the persecutors.” It is very difficult to begin to understand the might of God’s wrath against the wicked, against God’s enemies, on Judgment Day.  But that Sword of Truth is Jesus, and He told us that His Word is what will bring judgment on Judgment Day as we read in John 12:48, “He that rejecteth me, and receiveth not my words, hath one that judgeth him: the word that I have spoken, the same shall judge him in the last day.”