September 2003

HINDS’ FEET IN HIGH PLACES

Part 7

“He makes my feet like hinds’ feet,
and sets me on my high places!”

(2 Sa 22:34)

           The first time “high places” appears in Scripture, it is a warning from God to His people, “I will chastise you seven times for your sins and...I WILL DESTROY YOUR HIGH PLACES!! I will cut down your images, cast your carcasses on the carcasses of your idols, and My soul will abhor you!” (Lev 26:28,30) The next use of “high places” shows one means of divine destruction, “FIRE went out from Heshbon [Heb 2809 “reckoning, imputing, accountability”]! This FLAME that went out from the dwelling place of Sihon [Heb 5511 “tempestuous, wiping away”] devoured Ar [Heb 6144 “fortified city”] of Moab [Heb 4124 “Lot’s incestuous son”] along with all of the LORDS OF THE HIGH PLACES of Arnon [Heb 769 “shouters of triumph”]!” (Nu 21:28)
            The Bible makes mention of two kinds of “fire”: one is God’s Holy Fire, while the other is man’s unholy fire! To the vexation and chagrin of scientists, fire is the chemical element for which there is no symbol, and which cannot be broken down into components. The Dict defines the word, fire, as “The phenomenon of combustion manifested in light, flame and heat! It is also one of the four elements of alchemy- the other three being air, water, and earth.” Alchemy, is then defined: “A means of indefinitely prolonging life; and a power or process by which something common is transformed into something precious!” God withholds from man the mysterious nature of fire because it denotes life- even His Own! It is written, “God IS a consuming F-I-R-E!” (Dt 4:24) Since God created earth- as well as the man of earth- from His Fiery Being, it is clear that FIRE IS THE BASIC ELEMENT OF LIFE! Of course the Fire of God is spiritual, and man’s fire is natural, but the principle remains the same. The breath of God is described in Isa 30:33,

“*Tophet- a place of burning and abomination- is already laid out;
It was long ago prepared for the (idol-) king; yes, and for (the god)
Molech it is made ready; its pyre made deep and large with fire and
much wood. THE BREATH OF THE LORD, LIKE A STREAM
OF **BRIMSTONE, KINDLES IT!” [*Tophet is considered a
type for hell; but we see here it is fueled by the fiery Breath of God
as a place of ultimate destruction of men’s idols and false gods! The
word, Tophet, (Heb 8611) means, “smiting”, which is a term used in
Godly correction. Molech (Heb 4432) means, “Ascend to a throne,
induct into royalty, to reign, take counsel, or set up a king!” This is
what the man of sin has done in the hearts of all carnal-minded men!

            **This is the same “brimstone” that rained down on Sodom and Gomorrah in Ge 19:24. This fiery brimstone bespeaks of God’s righteous judgment. The meanings of the names of these two cities tell the story: for Sodom (Heb 5467) is defined: “To scorch or be burned (as a volcanic region)”; and Gomorrah (Heb 6017) means: “A ruined heap; to chastise (as if with piling blows); to gather grain, bind sheaves, or make merchandise of.” God only deals harshly with injustice and rebellion against His Will, which is the ongoing outgrowth of the carnal-mind! But let us remember, “God only chastens those whom He loves!” (Heb 12:6) He says in Rev 3:19, “As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten! Be zealous, therefore, and repent!” The Lord’s fiery Love radiates to the endless extremities of His boundless Being; but carnal minds perceives this “fire-breathing being” as a DRAGON (or devil); while spiritual minds discern this fiery nature as the merciful, life-giving, tenderhearted Father that He is!
            The earth reflects the nature of its Creator with a fiery core that irradiates its interior; whose fixed dimensions require an outer fire of a blazing sun to warm its surface! Man’s inner core is his fiery breath that God breathed into his nostrils, which is love that warms his inward parts. But God shut up that love in “an evil heart of unbelief” (Heb 3:12) until His Mercy releases it!! (Ro 11:32) The fleshly constraints imposed on man’s love keep it locked inside to serve only self! Man warms himself with the fire of his own passion, but that fire requires fuel to keep it burning! Isa 9:10 says, “The people shall be the fuel of the fire!” Indeed, “The tree of the field is man’s life!” (Dt 20:19) After Jesus healed the blind man, the redeemed one said, “I see men as walking trees!” (Mk 8:24) Man’s unbelief transforms his eyes of understanding from a mirror that reflects God’s fiery image working within his heart, to a window that can only see the outward appearance of a fallen creation! This disheartening lack of divine vision is only offset by the warming reminder of God’s Presence in the natural sun that shines on his outer surface. However, earth’s fire- like natural man’s love- is intrinsically destructive, and tends toward death; which holds a constant frightening foreboding of its power! Contrastly, God’s Fire of perfect love is spiritual and intrinsically creative, and tends toward Life! Both expressions of love are forceful, but thankfully, only the Love of God is eternal!

[TO BE CONTINUED]