THE FIRST PART: A BIRD’S-EYE VIEW OF THE OLD TESTAMENT
From Moses to Samuel
Message Seven
Deuteronomy (1)
Scripture Reading: Deut. 8:7-9; Acts 26:18; Col. 1:12; 2:2-7, 9; 1 Cor. 15:45; 2 Cor. 3:17; Gal. 3:14; Exo. 3:8; Eph. 3:8; Phil. 3:8, 12; Num. 26:65; 32:11-12
I. The riches of the good land in Deuteronomy 8:7-9 typify the unsearchable riches of Christ in different aspects as the bountiful supply to His believers in His Spirit—Eph. 3:8; Phil. 1:19: (2009 FTTA-Fall, msg. 13)
A. The good land, the land of Canaan, is a full, complete, and consummate type of the all-inclusive Christ, who is the embodiment of the Triune God realized as the all-inclusive life-giving Spirit, as the inheritance allotted to God’s people for their enjoyment—Deut. 8:7-9; Acts 26:18; Col. 1:12; 2:2-7, 9; 1 Cor. 15:45; 2 Cor. 3:17; Gal. 3:14. (2009 FTTA-Fall, msg. 13)
B. The good land typifies Christ in His unlimited spaciousness—Exo. 3:8. (2009 FTTA-Fall, msg. 13)
C. The high, mountainous land of Canaan typifies the resurrected and ascended Christ—Christ in His ascendancy—Deut. 32:13; Ezek. 34:13-16; 20:40-42; Eph. 2:6; Col. 3:1. (2009 FTTA-Fall, msg. 13)
D. The waterbrooks, springs, and fountains signify Christ as the flowing Spirit, and the valleys and mountains signify the different kinds of environments in which we may experience Christ—Deut. 8:7; John 4:14; 7:37-39; Rev. 22:1; 2 Cor. 6:8-10. (2009 FTTA-Fall, msg. 13)
E. Wheat typifies the incarnated Christ, who was crucified and buried to multiply Himself—Deut. 8:8; John 12:24. (2009 FTTA-Fall, msg. 13)
F. Barley, being the first-ripe grain, points to the resurrected Christ as the firstfruits—Deut. 8:8; 2 Sam. 21:9; 1 Cor. 15:20. (2009 FTTA-Fall, msg. 13)
G. Vines typify the Christ who sacrificed Himself to produce wine to cheer God and man—Deut. 8:8; Judg. 9:13; Matt. 9:17. (2009 FTTA-Fall, msg. 13)
H. The fig tree speaks of the sweetness and satisfaction of Christ as the life supply—Deut. 8:8; Judg. 9:11. (2009 FTTA-Fall, msg. 13)
I. The pomegranates signify the fullness, the abundance and beauty, and the expression of the riches of Christ as life—Deut. 8:8; Exo. 28:33-34; 1 Kings 7:18-20; S. S. 4:3b, 13. (2009 FTTA-Fall, msg. 13)
J. The bread signifies Christ as the bread of life—Deut. 8:9; John 6:35, 48. (2009 FTTA-Fall, msg. 13)
K. The olive tree typifies Christ as the One who was filled with the Spirit and anointed with the Spirit—Deut. 8:8; Luke 4:1; Heb. 1:9. (2009 FTTA-Fall, msg. 13)
L. Olive oil typifies the Holy Spirit, by whom we walk to honor God and whom we minister to honor man—Deut. 8:8; Judg. 9:9; Gal. 5:16, 25; 2 Cor. 3:6, 8. (2009 FTTA-Fall, msg. 13)
M. Milk and honey speak forth the goodness and sweetness of Christ—Deut. 6:3; Exo. 3:8. (2009 FTTA-Fall, msg. 13)
N. Stones signify Christ as material for building God’s dwelling place—Deut. 8:9; Isa. 28:16; Zech. 4:7; 1 Pet. 2:4. (2009 FTTA-Fall, msg. 13)
O. The iron and copper are for making weapons and typify our spiritual warfare by which we fight the enemy—Deut. 8:9; 2 Cor. 10:4; Eph. 6:10-20. (2009 FTTA-Fall, msg. 13)
P. Iron also signifies Christ’s ruling authority and copper, Christ’s judging power—Matt. 28:18; Rev. 19:15; 1:15. (2009 FTTA-Fall, msg. 13)
Q. The mountains from which copper is mined signify Christ’s resurrection and ascension—Deut. 8:9; Eph. 4:8. (2009 FTTA-Fall, msg. 13)
II. God’s goal in His economy is not merely to redeem His people and save them from the world, typified by Egypt, but to bring them into Christ, typified by the good land, that they possess Him and enjoy Him in His unsearchable riches—Exo. 3:8; Eph. 3:8: (2009 FTTA-Fall, msg. 13)
A. By enjoying the riches of the land, the children of Israel were able to build up the temple and the city of Jerusalem to establish God’s kingdom on earth. (2009 FTTA-Fall, msg. 13)
B. By enjoying the unsearchable riches of Christ, the believers in Christ are built up to be Christ’s Body, the church, which is Christ’s fullness, His expression, and which is also the habitation of God and the kingdom of God—1:22-23; 2:21-22; 1 Tim. 3:15; Matt. 16:18-19; Rom. 14:17. (2009 FTTA-Fall, msg. 13)
C. Ultimately, God’s habitation and God’s kingdom will consummate in the New Jerusalem in eternity for the fulfillment of God’s eternal economy—Rev. 21:1-3, 22; 22:1, 3. (2009 FTTA-Fall, msg. 13)
III. As the good land, Christ is ready to be possessed by His believers, but there is the need for those who are ready to take Him, possess Him, experience Him, and enjoy Him in His all-inclusiveness—Deut. 1:21; Num. 14:6-9, 24; Josh. 1:3: (2009 FTTA-Fall, msg. 13)
A. Satan, the enemy of God, has been doing whatever he can to keep us from enjoying the all-inclusive Christ as the good land—Col. 2:8, 18: (2009 FTTA-Fall, msg. 13)
B. Evil forces are veiling the all-inclusiveness of Christ from God’s people; thus, there is an exceedingly real spiritual warfare in which we must engage—2 Cor. 10:3-4; Eph. 6:10-12; 1 Tim. 6:12a; 2 Tim. 2:3-4. (2009 FTTA-Fall, msg. 13)
IV. Because very few Christians are like Paul in pursuing the all-inclusive Christ, God needs the overcomers, today’s Joshuas and Calebs who will fight to take possession of the land—Phil. 3:8, 12; Num. 26:65; 32:11-12. (2009 FTTA-Fall, msg. 13)