Title: The Song of Ascent to the Temple
Contents
There are two songs in the Bible. The first song is when Moses, a faithful servant, was leading the children of Israel out of Egypt, saying, “Miriam the prophet, Aaron’s sister, took the trumpet in her hand, and all the women followed her, holding the trumpet and dancing. And he answered and said, “Praise the Lord, for he is exalted and glorious, for he has thrown his horse and his rider into the sea.” (Exodus 15:20-21) As it is written, “the grace of redemption,” which was released from the slavery of sin, did it. This song is the song we sing now that we have received redemption, the forgiveness of sins, through the faithful Son Christ Jesus, whom he raised for us.
The second song is, “In the first year of Cyrus king of Persia, the Lord moved the heart of Cyrus king of Persia to fulfill the word spoken by Jeremiah. The LORD, the God of God, has given me all the nations of the world, and he has commanded me to build a house in Jerusalem, Judah. All those who are among you who are his people, let them go, for the LORD your God may be with you.” This is Zion's song, a new song, that is sung when the prisoners of Zion are delivered. This is a song to be sung by those who stand with the Lamb on Mount Zion, those who belong to God and the Lamb. This is the “song of going up to the temple” of those who are united with the Lord in the body of the temple.
The Bible clearly prophesies about these two things. It is written, “But behold, the days are coming, saith the LORD, when the LORD lives, who brought the children of Israel out of the land of Egypt, and no longer swears by the LORD, who brought the children of Israel out of the land of the north and out of all their exiles. And I will bring them into the land that I gave to their fathers” (Jeremiah 16:14-15) and again, “Therefore, saith the Lord, behold the days are coming, when they will no longer bring the children of Israel out of the land of Egypt. I will swear by the LORD, who did not live by the LORD, but who brought the children of Israel out of the land of the north, out of all the outcasts, and they will dwell in his own land” (Jeremiah 23:7-8). You did.
This is a confirmation over and over again that God will not change and that He will surely accomplish it. Therefore, those who have only the first song and do not have the second song, [the song of going up to the temple], have no true rest in their hearts.
From the slavery of sin, all peoples under the world were set free. This is because the blood of one man's obedience took away all the sins of the world. It is written, “Now that these have been forgiven, there is no more offering for sins” (Hebrews 10:18), and “He is the propitiation for our sins, and not only for ours, but also for the sins of the whole world” (1 John). 2:2) and testifies. Therefore, it would be foolish to boast of redemption, or forgiveness of sins. This is because there is no one who has not received it. It is written, There is nothing to boast except in Jesus Christ and Him crucified. If I have received it all, mine cannot exist separately. Therefore, it is written, “Who has set you apart? What do you have that you did not receive? If you have received it, why do you boast, as if you did not receive it?” (1 Corinthians 4:7).
Therefore, the gospel, the Atonement, belongs to everyone. But faith is not for everyone. But faith is not a “point” but a “way”. So there is a beginning and there is an end. It is written, “In the gospel, the righteousness of God is revealed, from faith to faith, as it is written, The righteous will live by faith.” (Romans 1:17) Faith is the gospel of “redemption, the forgiveness of sins” It is the path from belief in faith to faith “to the end of the faith, even to the salvation of the soul.”
What you need to be careful about is, “You originally knew all things, but I want to remind you again that the Lord delivered the people out of Egypt and later destroyed the unbelievers” (Jude 1:5). If you have only faith first, who saved you from . . . and do not have faith after “who brought you out of the northern land and all the nations where you were driven out,” you will surely perish.
Therefore, this faith that the Lord groaned beforehand, "...but will you find faith in the world when the Son of Man comes?..." (Luke 18:8) This faith is "after faith", that is, "by faith."
God awaits “the end of faith,” that is, the salvation of souls. This is like waiting for the fruit to be harvested, rather than waiting for the seed that the farmer sowed. This is because the kingdom of heaven will be received by the nation's fruit-bearing people. As it is written, “Therefore, my beloved, always obey, not only in my presence, but much more now in my absence, work out your salvation with fear and trembling” (Philippians 2:12).
Therefore, the song that God desires is not a song of escaping from sin, but rather waiting for those who will sing the glory of God with the Lamb as a [song of going up to the temple], a new song whose physical body becomes spiritual. Those who will sing this new song are not those who had the previous faith, that is, the faith of atonement, but those who had the later faith, that is, the faith that saves souls.
It is already prophesied in the Psalms, "[Song of Ascension to the Temple] It was as if we were dreaming when the LORD delivered the captivity of Zion, then our mouths were full of laughter, and our tongues were full of praise. For we are glad that you have done great things for the Lord. O Lord, turn our captivity like the streams of the south” (Psalm 126:1-4), “He who has entered his rest is God. He rests from his work as he rests from his own work. Therefore, let us strive to enter that rest, lest anyone fall from the same example of disobedience” (Hebrews 4:10-11).
But we still have the remnant sufferings of Christ, as He said, “Return our captivity as the brooks of the south.” Therefore, it is like saying, “Let us make every effort to enter that rest.”
Therefore, it is written, “For we have this hope, like the anchor of the soul, strong and secure, entering within the veil, through which Jesus, who had gone before, entered for us as a high priest forever after the order of Melchizedek” (Hebrews 6: 19-20) The way he entered is the one that cannot be entered without passing through the veil. Regarding this, the Bible records, “The way is a new and living way that he opened for us through the veil, which is his flesh” (Hebrews 10:20).
Therefore, unless the veil, that is, the flesh, is torn with him, you cannot enter with him in the new living path, that is, the veil. This work is not done by “belief before”, but by “belief after.”
Therefore, now we are continuing to lay the groundwork only with “the ritual of the flesh,” just as it was prophesied, “It is impossible to perfect the conscience, these things must be the rituals of the flesh, along with eating and drinking and various washings.”
But if God permits it, the perfect thing will be done. It is written, “Therefore, let us not forsake the basics of the Christian way and lay the groundwork again for repentance of dead works, faith in God, baptisms, laying on of hands, resurrection of the dead, and eternal judgment, but let us go to perfection. We will do this” (Hebrews 6:1-3).
But, “I will no longer swear by the living Lord who brought the children of Israel out of the land of Egypt, but I will swear by the Lord who brought the children of Israel out of the land of the north and out of all the countries from which they were driven out.” You will fulfill your promise. Therefore, it is written, “The Lord will fulfill his word on the earth, and he will complete and put an end to it” (Romans 9:28).
We who are saved on that day will sing a “new song” with the Lamb among the perfect. Those who have already entered his rest...
“Behold, these things come and come to pass, saith the Sovereign Lord, for this is the day of which I spoke” (Ezekiel 39:8). Amen, Lord, thank you.
little brother kim yoon-goo