In the context of Samson’s shifting of the gate of Gaza, it is necessary for us as the ecclesia – Body of Christ to correctly recognize the societal circumstances with an elevated view and thus a greater spiritual perspective.
The Correct Spiritual Perspective
We need to elevate our gaze from the secular realm and the environment of impurity as well as evil that has currently intensified globally, in order to oppose it with the right spiritual perspective (cf. Judges 16:1-3).
Judges 16:1-3:
1 One day Samson went to Gaza, where he saw a prostitute. He went in to spend the night with her.
2 The people of Gaza were told, ‘Samson is here!’ So they surrounded the place and lay in wait for him all night at the city gate. They made no move during the night, saying, ‘At dawn we’ll kill him.’
3 But Samson lay there only until the middle of the night. Then he got up and took hold of the doors of the city gate, together with the two posts, and tore them loose, bar and all. He lifted them to his shoulders and carried them to the top of the hill that faces Hebron.
1 One day Samson went to Gaza, where he saw a prostitute. He went in to spend the night with her.
2 The people of Gaza were told, ‘Samson is here!’ So they surrounded the place and lay in wait for him all night at the city gate. They made no move during the night, saying, ‘At dawn we’ll kill him.’
3 But Samson lay there only until the middle of the night. Then he got up and took hold of the doors of the city gate, together with the two posts, and tore them loose, bar and all. He lifted them to his shoulders and carried them to the top of the hill that faces Hebron.
Here it is of great importance that we as the ecclesia are aware of the fact that we are in the spiritual realm of eternity, where Christ is and from which we act (cf. John 17:15-16 i.c.w. Ephesians 2:6; Colossians 3:1).
John 17:15-16:
15 My prayer is not that you take them out of the world but that you protect them from the evil one.
16 They are not of the world, even as I am not of it.
15 My prayer is not that you take them out of the world but that you protect them from the evil one.
16 They are not of the world, even as I am not of it.
Ephesians 2:6:
6 And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus, …
6 And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus, …
Colossians 3:1:
1 Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God.
1 Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God.
This perspective includes recognizing the ripening stage for harvest as well as the approach of Jesus’ redemptive power at this time (cf. Luke 4:35b-c i.c.w. Luke 21:28).
John 4:35b-c:
… 35b-c I tell you, open your eyes and look at the fields! They are ripe for harvest.
… 35b-c I tell you, open your eyes and look at the fields! They are ripe for harvest.
Luke 21:28:
28 When these things begin to take place, stand up and lift up your heads, because your redemption is drawing near.’
28 When these things begin to take place, stand up and lift up your heads, because your redemption is drawing near.’
The Spiritual Harvest and Advancing in Holiness and Righteousness
The process of spiritual harvest, which is a harvest for righteousness and judgment, is accompanied by the work of the angels sent by God, since God is spirit, and their presence is like winds. These are sent by God for those who are to inherit salvation (cf. Matthew 13:39b-43 i.c.w. Revelation 14:15; Hebrews 1:7.14).
Matthew 13:39b:
... 39b The harvest is the end of the age, and the harvesters are angels.
Matthew 13:39b:
... 39b The harvest is the end of the age, and the harvesters are angels.
Revelation 14:15:
15 Then another angel came out of the temple and called in a loud voice to him who was sitting on the cloud, ‘Take your sickle and reap, because the time to reap has come, for the harvest of the earth is ripe.’
15 Then another angel came out of the temple and called in a loud voice to him who was sitting on the cloud, ‘Take your sickle and reap, because the time to reap has come, for the harvest of the earth is ripe.’
Hebrews 1:7.14:
7 In speaking of the angels he says, ‘He makes his angels spirits, and his servants flames of fire.’ …
14 Are not all angels ministering spirits sent to serve those who will inherit salvation?
7 In speaking of the angels he says, ‘He makes his angels spirits, and his servants flames of fire.’ …
14 Are not all angels ministering spirits sent to serve those who will inherit salvation?
In much the same way as Samson the Nazarite and judge of the tribe of Dan proceeded when he moved the gate of harlotry and the plan of murder (Note: the evil plan to remove the righteousness of God) that was in Gaza to a higher place, we as saints should proceed in the Spirit. He was pulling it out of its anchorage at midnight and positioning it on the mountain that was opposite Hebron.
In this, it is important that we move forward in holiness and the righteousness of God in Christ Jesus, to which the life of Samson as a Nazarite and judge indicates.
Through this supernatural displacement of the gate, Samson transformed the gate of harlotry and the plan of murder into the gate of grace to allow people to enter the ‘covenant place or seat of association’. This is what the name of the place ‘Hebron’ means.
Samson’s action at midnight finally blocked the new time cycle of evil and instead ushered in the new time cycle of grace, hope and true love, which in his day was already a harbinger of Jesus’ death on the cross (cf. John 3:16 i.c.w. John 10:9; John 19:16-18).
John 3:16:
16 For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.
16 For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.
John 10:9:
9 I am the gate; whoever enters through me will be saved. They will come in and go out, and find pasture.
9 I am the gate; whoever enters through me will be saved. They will come in and go out, and find pasture.
John 19:16-18:
16 Finally Pilate handed him over to them to be crucified. So the soldiers took charge of Jesus.
17 Carrying his own cross, he went out to the place of the Skull (which in Aramaic is called Golgotha).
18 There they crucified him, and with him two others – one on each side and Jesus in the middle.
16 Finally Pilate handed him over to them to be crucified. So the soldiers took charge of Jesus.
17 Carrying his own cross, he went out to the place of the Skull (which in Aramaic is called Golgotha).
18 There they crucified him, and with him two others – one on each side and Jesus in the middle.
The Higher Quality of God’s Communication and the Gems
The shifting of the gate by Samson can also be seen as an indication to step into a higher spiritual place to better understand the governmental rule of God amid eternity. It is similar to John’s vision when he began to hear Jesus Christ speaking to him from a higher place, which indicates a higher quality within the communication with Christ Jesus (cf. Revelation 4:1-3).
Revelation 4:1-3:
1 After this I looked, and there before me was a door standing open in heaven. And the voice I had first heard speaking to me like a trumpet said, ‘Come up here, and I will show you what must take place after this.’
2 At once I was in the Spirit, and there before me was a throne in heaven with someone sitting on it.
3 And the one who sat there had the appearance of jasper and ruby. A rainbow that shone like an emerald encircled the throne.
1 After this I looked, and there before me was a door standing open in heaven. And the voice I had first heard speaking to me like a trumpet said, ‘Come up here, and I will show you what must take place after this.’
2 At once I was in the Spirit, and there before me was a throne in heaven with someone sitting on it.
3 And the one who sat there had the appearance of jasper and ruby. A rainbow that shone like an emerald encircled the throne.
If we want to understand this way of God’s communication, it is needed that we move into a higher spiritual realm where Christ Jesus is. When we allow our spiritual perspective to be moved to a higher place by the leading of the Holy Spirit, we will hear Christ speak to us in a new way and see Him in a new spiritual facet.
This higher level is associated with the green colour of the emerald, which reveals to us even deeper dimensions of His instruction from the throne.
It takes a closer look at the instruction of the Lord, so that we comprehend the position of the emerald in the breastplate – Choshen of the righteousness of the High Priest. The emerald was arranged as a so-called ‘capstone’ in the first row of the Choshen. This was preceded by the sardius and then the topaz (cf. Exodus 28:17).
Exodus 28:17 (KJV):
17 And thou shalt set in it settings of stones, even four rows of stones: the first row shall be a sardius, a topaz, and a carbuncle [in Hebrew ‘bāräqät’ => emerald]: this shall be the first row.
17 And thou shalt set in it settings of stones, even four rows of stones: the first row shall be a sardius, a topaz, and a carbuncle [in Hebrew ‘bāräqät’ => emerald]: this shall be the first row.
The emerald as the last stone in the first row shows the necessity of the increase of grace (cf. Zechariah 4:7).
Zechariah 4:7:
7 ‘What are you, mighty mountain? Before Zerubbabel you will become level ground. Then he will bring out the capstone to shouts of “God bless it! God bless it!” ’
7 ‘What are you, mighty mountain? Before Zerubbabel you will become level ground. Then he will bring out the capstone to shouts of “God bless it! God bless it!” ’
This capstone acts like the peak of a mountain, showing the mountain in its greatness.
Therefore, it is the power of God’s grace by which the things and plans of the LORD are completed and made known in their greatness, so that every work carried out of our own will finally must submit to the greatness of God’s grace.
Moreover, the first row on the breastplate – Choshen calls us out to dwell in the blood of the Lamb of God and to apply it in life, which relates to the power of forgiveness. Through this we can shine in the fire of God from the inside out, to reveal the power of God, which is like lightning and will be a rewarder to those who seek it in faith (cf. Hebrews 11:6).
Hebrews 11:6:
6 And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him.
6 And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him.
This is because the Hebrew word for ‘sardius/carnelian’ is the word ‘odem’ and derives from the root word ‘’ādam’ which means ‘to dye red, to be red, to be rosy’ (cf. 1 John 1:7).
1 John 1:7:
7 But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, purifies us from all sin.
7 But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, purifies us from all sin.
The word ‘topaz – piṭdāh’ is derived from the Indian (Sanskrit) root word ‘tapas’, which means ‘yellow, fire’ or ‘shine, seek’ (cf. Luke 3:16; Mark 9:49 i.c.w. Psalm 119:105).
Luke 3:16:
16 John answered them all, ‘I baptise you with water. But one who is more powerful than I will come, the straps of whose sandals I am not worthy to untie. He will baptise you with the Holy Spirit and fire.
16 John answered them all, ‘I baptise you with water. But one who is more powerful than I will come, the straps of whose sandals I am not worthy to untie. He will baptise you with the Holy Spirit and fire.
Mark 9:49:
49 Everyone will be salted with fire.
49 Everyone will be salted with fire.
Psalm 119:105:
105 Your word is a lamp for my feet, a light on my path.
105 Your word is a lamp for my feet, a light on my path.
The Hebrew word for ‘emerald’ is ‘bāräqät’ and is derived from the root word ‘bārāq’, which means ‘lightning, flash’. (cf. Ezekiel 1:13 i.c.w. Revelation 4:5; Note: word explanation among others taken from the Elberfelder Study Bible with the word key number: 124*, 6489*,1322, 1326* and the biblical name encyclopaedia by Abraham Meister on ‘topaz’ in the section Gemstones, No. 19).
Ezekiel 1:13:
13 The appearance of the living creatures was like burning coals of fire or like torches. Fire moved back and forth among the creatures; it was bright, and lightning flashed out of it.
13 The appearance of the living creatures was like burning coals of fire or like torches. Fire moved back and forth among the creatures; it was bright, and lightning flashed out of it.
Revelation 4:5:
5 From the throne came flashes of lightning, rumblings and peals of thunder. In front of the throne, seven lamps were blazing. These are the seven spirits of God.
5 From the throne came flashes of lightning, rumblings and peals of thunder. In front of the throne, seven lamps were blazing. These are the seven spirits of God.
Therefore, let the Holy Spirit position us according to His will as living stones in the house of God. By this time we may reveal His will with the fire and power of God from the Lord’s presence as the eternal King (cf. 1 Peter 2:5-10).
1 Peter 2:5-10:
… 5 you also, like living stones, are being built into a spiritual house to be a holy priesthood, offering spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.
6 For in Scripture it says [cf. Isiah 28:16]: ‘See, I lay a stone in Zion, a chosen and precious cornerstone, and the one who trusts in him will never be put to shame.’
7 Now to you who believe, this stone is precious. But to those who do not believe, ‘The stone the builders rejected has become the cornerstone,’8 and, ‘A stone that causes people to stumble and a rock that makes them fall [cf. Psalm 118:22; Isaiah 8:14].’ They stumble because they disobey the message – which is also what they were destined for.
9 But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s special possession, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light.
10 Once you were not a people, but now you are the people of God; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy [Hosea 2:23].
… 5 you also, like living stones, are being built into a spiritual house to be a holy priesthood, offering spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.
6 For in Scripture it says [cf. Isiah 28:16]: ‘See, I lay a stone in Zion, a chosen and precious cornerstone, and the one who trusts in him will never be put to shame.’
7 Now to you who believe, this stone is precious. But to those who do not believe, ‘The stone the builders rejected has become the cornerstone,’8 and, ‘A stone that causes people to stumble and a rock that makes them fall [cf. Psalm 118:22; Isaiah 8:14].’ They stumble because they disobey the message – which is also what they were destined for.
9 But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s special possession, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light.
10 Once you were not a people, but now you are the people of God; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy [Hosea 2:23].
Amen and Amen.
In His Wisdom,
Daniel Glimm
