[soc.religion.christian] No wool shall come upon them ...

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.