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nd he brought the ark into the tabernacle, and set up the vail of the
covering, and covered the ark of the testimony; as the Lord commanded
Moses. 22 And he put the table in the tent of the
congregation, upon the side of the tabernacle northward, without the vail. 23 And he set the
bread in order upon it before the Lord; as the Lord had
commanded Moses. 24 And he put the candlestick in the tent of
the congregation, over against the table, on the side of the tabernacle
southward. 25 And he lighted the lamps before the Lord;
as the Lord commanded Moses. 26 And he put the
golden altar in the tent of the congregation before the vail: 27 And he burnt
sweet incense thereon; as the Lord commanded Moses. (Ex 40:21-27 (KJV)
The
North Side, or Sides of the North, is generally conceded to be the side
representing the Place of God. Though the Ark of the Covenant, the Mercy Seat,
and the Curtain of the Holy of Holies was on the east side of the Tabernacle in
the Wilderness, this more accurately represents the approach of the King of
Kings at His Coming - bringing in His trail Mercy and Grace. The Tabernacle
faced away from Mount Zion and toward the East away from Law and toward Mercy
and Grace. But on the north side of the Holy of Holies (without the veil) was
the Table containing the Shewbread. This is the Bread of Heaven which is
Christ. On the south side of the same foyer was the table of the Candelabrium
representing also the Light of Christ by means of the Holy Ghost in leading us
to Christ. Before we approached the Altar of the Mercy Seat (behind the
curtain) we must come by way of (between) the Bread and Light of Heaven.
But
the North Side represents the unchanging nature of the fullness of the Godhead.
The archangel, Lucifer, fell from his role as attendant at the Throne of God,
and was cast down as Satan, owing to his ambition and pride to become “like
the Most High” (on the north sides). 12 How art thou
fallen from heaven, O Lucifer, son of the morning! how art thou cut
down to the ground, which didst weaken the nations! 13 For thou hast
said in thine heart, I will ascend into heaven, I will exalt my throne above
the stars of God: I will sit also upon the mount of the congregation, in the
SIDES OF THE NORTH: 14 I will ascend
above the heights of the clouds; I will be like the most High. (Isaiah 14:12-14)
For
many centuries, the North Star, or Polaris, meaning Polar Star, has served as
the celestial body upon which seaman, and even land travelers, have used to
compute their navigation. It is so close to the axis through the polar cap that
it has led many ships and travelers to safe harbor. It is very much a physical
illustration of the Word of God in leading His elect children to safe harbor
beyond the restraints of this worldly existence. The North Star can be considered
an inexact physical representation of God. It has been identified in a variety
of cultures as a source of sure guidance. In Old English, the North Star was
called the “Scip-Steorra” or Ship Star. In the Hindu, the star was
called the Dhruva, meaning fixed or immovable. In the medieval
period, it was referred to as the Stella Maris (Star of the Sea) in 1270
(Bartholomeus Angelicus). An older English name was simply ‘lodestar’ which
meant “Guiding Star.” This latter name was perhaps heavily influenced by the
Old Norse (Leiðarstjarna) and Middle High German, Leitsterne (Leading Star).
Like
the fullness of the Triune Godhead, the North Star is not one star, but three.
Yet it is still one North Star just as the Trinity is One though comprised of
Three Persons. NASA released images taken from the Hubble Telescope that
reveals three members of the Polaris ternary system, all of which are part of
the Ursa Minor constellation. The third star (Polaris B) comprising the North
Star was discovered by William Herschel in 1780.
The
North Star lies in an almost perfect plumb line with the polar axis of the
earth, all other heavenly bodies seem to rotate around it. This fixed position
affords many benefits of navigation. Being the singular star to dominate that
empty space, it is clearly discernible from all other stars. He stretcheth out
the north over the empty place, and hangeth the earth upon nothing. (Job 26:7) God did, indeed,
hang the earth upon nothing as proven by satellite images from deep space.
Man
has always presumed to be, as the failed Lucifer, like God. The greatest of
English writers has Julius Caesar, who in actuality did presume to be God, say:
““I’m as immovable as the northern star, whose stable and stationary quality
has no equal in the sky. The sky shows countless stars. They’re all made of
fire, and each one shines. But only one among all of them remains in a fixed
position. So it is on earth. The world is full of men, and men are flesh and
blood, and they are capable of reason. Yet out of all of them, I know only one
who is unassailable – that is me!” Act 3, Scene 1, Julius Caesar,
by William Shakespeare. How did Caesar fare following that pretentious comment?
He was brutally murdered outside the Roman Senate by men presumed to be
compatriots and friends. Rather than being unchanging, his body molded and was
eaten by worms just as the way of all mankind.
As
our North Star, Jesus Christ is truly unchangeable and immutable. For I am the Lord,
I change not; therefore ye sons of Jacob are not consumed. (Mal
3:6)
and Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and to day, and for ever. (Heb 13:8)
There
is no North Star to compare with the Wisdom and Counsel of the Lord. Just as in
the Wilderness, the Tabernacle faced to the East, so did the early churches
face to the east awaiting the expectant arising of the Sun of Righteousness –
see Malachi 4:2. Just as surely as our own universal Star – the Sun – rotate
around Heaven under the watchful eye of the North Star; so does the SOn of
Righteousness revolve about the perfect Will and purpose of the Triune Godhead.
If
you have lost your way on the rough Road of Life, there is a North Star to
guide you aright. If you learn to know that North Star (which is so easy to
identify, you will know the Way you should go: I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man
cometh unto the Father, but by me. (John
14:6)
The
gate of the Temple at Jerusalem opened directly to the East. Only at the Spring
equinox did the sun rise at precisely 090 degrees from the Temple. This was the
time of Passover, and this orientation symbolized Christ rising as our
Passover. The earthly sun rose precisely into the gate of the Temple at that
time, and the Sun of Righteousness will arise as our Passover in the discretion
of God’s timing. That dimly lit North Star will be transformed into the
brightness of the Sun at His Coming. 19 We have also a
more sure word of prophecy; whereunto ye do well that ye take heed, as unto a
light that shineth in a dark place, until the day dawn, and the day star arise
in your heart. (2 Peter 1:19) Believe it or not,
our own sun is merely an average-sized star. So what makes it so bright and of
great warmth to us? In other words, what makes it a SUN? Betelguese
is 700 times larger than the sun and 1400 times brighter. Five million suns
would fit into Antares. So why does our sun appear so big and bright? It is
because of its nearness to us. What makes the Lord Jesus Christ so warm and of
such brightness to us? It is because of His nearness to us as the brightest
Star in our Heaven. A man that hath friends must shew himself friendly:
and there is a friend that sticketh closer than a brother. (Prov
18:24)
Without
the Word of God as our perfect celestial navigation, it would be impossible to
follow on the course He has ordained for us to walk in. We must study the astronomy of Heaven to know
that Star: 15 Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that
needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth. (2 Tim 2:15)
Our
best Star of Guidance, once we have studied the Chart and Compass of Heaven is
faith: 6 But without faith it is impossible
to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he
is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him. (Heb
11:6)
It is possible to know many Scriptures, and be able to quote them profusely;
but without being combined with FAITH, they will mean little to us.
