Nativity Of Jerusalem!

NATIVITY OF JERUSALEM!

Just 4 words (and then, a 5th!);
1 cut: 2 wash: 3 salt: 4 swaddle: - and then; 5 LIVE!.

Of course, the one word that gives it all away is "swaddle". Everybody knows that refers to a baby! So, let's take a look at that word. In the Nativity of Jesus (Lk 2:7), Dr. Luke uses a typically medical term; the Greek word "spargano" (to "swathe"), meaning a bandage. But the word "swathe" is an Anglo Saxon term = "as much grass as is mown in a single stroke of a scythe". This word was derived from a "low" German word "swade" = scythe; hence, to slice & bandage.

But to get really technical as to birthing practices in ancient times we need to go to Ezekiel chapter 16. The whole chapter is devoted to God's own description of the nativity and birth of Jerusalem.

"And as for thy nativity, in the day thou wast born thy navel was not cut (1), neither wast thou washed (2) in water to supple thee; thou wast not salted (3) at all, nor swaddled (4) at all. None eye pitied thee, to do any of these things unto thee, (obviously an unwanted, abandoned castaway), to have compassion upon thee; but thou wast cast out in the open field, [an abortion!] to the lothing of thy person, in the day that thou wast born. And when I (God speaking here) passed by thee, and saw thee polluted in thine own blood, I said unto thee when thou wast in thy blood, 'LIVE' (5!); yea, I said unto thee when thou wast in thy ["polluted"] blood, 'LIVE!'"-Ezk 16:4-6KJV

Wow! That's quite a story, huh? Who cut? Who washed? Who salted? Who swaddled? And ultimately, Who said "LIVE!"? God Himself did!

But that's just the beginning. He goes on to remind Jerusalem (His daughter) of her adoption, adornment and her abandoning God.

But how did it all begin? Cut; wash; salt; 'bind-up"; & then LIVE!? There's a process here somewhere!

1-"Cut" = repentance (circumcision-"death"-of -old-flesh):
2-"Wash" = baptism into New-Life (Re-Creation In-Christ):
3-"Salted" = humbled with the seasoning "fire" of trial by proof of the Spirit ("not by power or might, but by My Spirit" - or, as Jesus said "salted with fire"-Mk 9:49):
4-"Swaddled" = bound up & healed or "loosed" by the Truth of the Word of the Spirit - set free in the Liberty of Christ to grow & "Prosper-in-the Lord": so that we might...
5-"LIVE" = share and have that "abundant LIFE" Jesus promised while fruitfully abiding in Him unto the Praise, Honor and Glory of our heavenly Father (who loved us, and Bought us back from our own "polluted blood" by/with the Pure, Innocent and Righteous Blood of His Only Begotten Son, Jesus Christ).

Here is God's process of adoption! Would we, then, object to a "cut" and "salt" in our "wound" if it meant Life with God?

Jerusalem did resent God, and then rejected His Son. We must never forget the "past" God has "written" to show us the "future" which is His "Way". Our Path is Clear; IN CHRIST!

Repent or Resent [God]; Humble or Stumble [over God!] Listen to the last Words of the Book of Hosea; a Book I have taken the liberty {in my own Bibles} of "subtitling", "REPENT or RESENT [God]; or, HUMBLE or STUMBLE! [over god!]".

"Whoever is wise, let him understand these things; whoever is discerning, let him know them; for the ways of the Lord are right, and the upright WALK in them, but transgressors STUMBLE in them!"-Hos 14:9RSV