ROBERT@kontu.utu.fi (Robert W. Johnson) (11/05/90)
No wool shall come upon them, while they minister in the gates of the inner court, and within ... they shall not gird themselves with anything that causeth sweat. Ezekiel 44.17 f. The command is surprising, but the explanation makes sense. Those who minister in this visionary temple shall not wear wool but linen, because in these future conditions of service, no work that causes perspiration will be acceptable to the Lord. What does this tell us? The symbolism takes us back, I think, to genesis 3 and man's fall. Because of it the curse rested on the ground, which therefore ceased to yield fruit without man's effort, and Adam was told: "In the sweat of thy face shalt thou eat bread." The work of the Lord today is not like that, but partakes of the effortless character of the coming age. Or it should, for it should be marked by the blessing of God. Only when that is withheld does fleshly effort become necessary. Please bear with me when I say that spiritual work is God's work, and when God works, man does not need to expend so much effort that he perspires over it. ----- Robert W. Johnson Computer center, The University of Turku, Turku Finland robert@kontu.utu.fi (InterNet) robert@firien.bitnet (BITNET) The preceeding is my opinion and may not express the opinion of my employer and furthermore has nothing to do with my employment.