CHAPTER 8
THE PURPOSE
And we know that all things work together for good to
them that love God, to them who are the called
according to His purpose.
Touching on our covenant relationship with God in the last
chapter, introduced "The Purpose" of Romans 8:28 and the
revelation of another mystery of the Holy Spirit as He makes
intercession for us. Understanding "Purpose" would be impossible
without first seeing how Romans 8:28 relates to the covenant in
which we live as Bible Believers.
ACCORDING DEFINED
The word "according" found in our text - "According to His
purpose" - is found over three hundred times throughout the
New Testament. It is used twenty-nine different ways by the King
James translators: (After, against, toward, touching, into,
among, over, particularly, and respect), to name a few. Any of
these words could easily substitute and be quite functional. I
prefer: "to them who are the called into His purpose" because of,
as we will see shortly, its relationship to prayer. A simple
interpretation of "according" would be: (to them who are the
called in agreement' or "those in harmony with His purpose). We
who are the called are those living in agreement/harmony with His
purpose - will, and it is thus for which the Holy Spirit makes
intercession.
PURPOSE DEFINED
Paul, under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, uses a
rather unique Greek word for "purpose" in Romans 8:28. It is the
word for "shewbread" or "showbread." This particular Greek word
is translated eleven times in the New Testament. Eight times it
is rendered "purpose," and the remaining three as "showbread."
Before looking at some of the passages where this word is used,
it would be wise to have a clear understanding of just exactly
what "showbread" was and how it was used.
THE TABERNACLE
The tabernacle was a mobile house of worship. God gave
complete instructions to Moses with exact measurements, implement
and furniture construction, and how the priests were to conduct
themselves in and around the tabernacle.1 The tabernacle was
compartmentalized into three areas of worship; each serving a
different ceremonial function. The otter court was for the
offering of public sacrifices by the ministering priests for
Israel. A laver for washing was also located in this outer court
which the priests employed before entering the Holy Place.2
The inner court, called the Holy Place, housed three pieces
of golden furniture. The candlestick, a seven bowl candelabra
fueled with oil, was made of pure gold and was tended twice daily
to insure it burned continuously.3 The altar of incense also
was placed in the inner room of the tabernacle and was located
directly in front of the ark of the covenant; separated by the
thick vail.4 It was made of wood and covered with gold but was
smaller in dimensions than the showbread table.5 I will return
to the table of showbread which also sat in this inner court
momentarily. The ark of the covenant, referred to as the "mercy
seat," was behind the vail,6 and was likewise made of wood
overlaid with gold.7 It was the only article of furniture which
was placed in the "Most Holy Place,"8 and this area was entered
by the high priest only once each year to atone for the sins of
the nation of Israel.
Many compare these three compartments - areas of worship -
to the body, soul, and spirit of the boron again Believer.9 The
outer court is the body; the place where we meet publicly and
interface with the world. The outer court - the body - is where
we confess our covenant with God and make known His mighty works
through our praise.
The inner court - the Holy Place - is the soul and the place
where we meet with God mentally and intellectually. It is within
this inner court we fellowship with Him; offering our prayers of
sweet smelling incense and sharing intimately with the help of
the Holy Spirit who illuminates our prayers with His perfect
nature as God. It is here we commune with our sovereign Lord.
Finally there is the "Most Holy Place." This is where God
resides. He holds the covenant and His word thus comes from this
Holy of Holies. Keep in mind that the tablets which were given
to Moses by God, upon which the ten commandments were written,
were stored within the ark of the covenant; the mercy seat. No
man passed beyond the vail to the hidden place of worship except
for the high priest and then only once a year. Our Lord Christ,
however, by His vicarious death upon the cross and subsequent
bodily resurrection, caused the vail to be rent,10 from top to
bottom; exposing the Most Holy Place for all eternity for those
confessing Him as Lord.
TABLE OF SHOWBREAD
The table of showbread was a simple box made of shittim wood
and over laid with gold. It measured thirty-six inches in
length, eighteen inches in width, and twenty-seven inches in
height.11 Additionally, a "crown" of gold bordered the top of
the box, about nine inches in height; the breath of a man's hand,
to prevent the bread from falling from the table.12 The bread
was to be before the Lord always and was replaced each
sabbath.13 It was baked with fine flower, placed in two rows
upon the table, and was eaten by the levitical priests as they
ministered in the Holy Place.14
SYMBOLISM
The entire tabernacle was symbolic of that which was to come
- Christ. The woods overlaid with gold represented the Holiness
and deity of Christ who took upon Himself humanity. The altar of
incense spoke of the prayers of God's people. The candlestick
with its seven lights symbolized the illuminating power of the
Holy Spirit as those prayers were offered. The mercy seat, of
course, depicted God the Father who reigns as Sovereign Lord.
The tablets of stone within the mercy seat represented God's
eternal unbreakable Word. The blood of the sacrifices
represented the blood of the Lamb of God which would be shed for
the sins of the world. The clothing of the priests, the
different sacrificial offerings, the precious gyms, and even the
various colors; gold, silver, purple, scarlet, white, red, blue,
employed in construction all spoke of various aspects of the
nature and character of God the Father, Christ, and the
Holy Spirit in relationship to man.
The table of showbread was unique in its representation. In
Leviticus, it is called the "bread of God," and those who were in
Levitical servitude were known as those who handled God's bread.
Bread spoke of that which was common and necessary without which
man could not live. The "breaking of bread" spoke of friendship,
fellowship, intimacy, and most importantly; covenant. The
showbread was to be perpetually before the Lord; an act of
continuous fellowship with the Heavenly Father. The priests,
however, were the only ones allowed such direct and intimate
fellowship for they were the chosen representatives to negotiate
covenant with God.
One day Satan tempted our Lord by trying to get Him to turn
stones into bread. King Jesus confessed, however, "man shall not
live by bread alone but by every word which proceeds out of the
mouth of God."15 He later succeeded in, not only confounding,
but angering the Jews, when he confessed "He was the bread of God
which came down from Heaven."16 The Jews recognized
immediately His claim and, of course, reacted adversely. Our
Lord was confessing Himself to be God's fellowship with man; that
which was to be eaten, enjoyed, and would provide eternal
provision. Indeed, Jesus said exactly that: "I am the bread of
life: he that comes to me shall never hunger."17 In short,
Jesus proclaimed to be God's bread; the showbread, which was
perpetually before the Lord that man might fellowship with God.
If we add to this our Lord's finished work upon the cross, His
shed blood, the offering of His own body, His sinless life, the
renting of the vail in the temple revealing God to the world, and
His bodily resurrection, we would thus gain a deep appreciation
of Paul's usage of the word "showbread" in Romans 8:28.
ADDITIONAL CLARIFICATION
Paul was taken by ship to Rome to appear before Caesar.
Acts 27 describes his aquatic journey and subsequent ship wreck.
The word "purpose" appears in Luke's account of this journey:
And when the south wind blew softly, supposing that
they had obtained their purpose, loosing thence, they
sailed close by Crete.18
This is a most unusual usage of the word "showbread" but if
considered carefully, the choice of wording is inspiring. The
sailors had supposed they had gained favorable wind because the
winds blew softly. This time of year in this ocean region was
often violent and unpredictable. Paul even warned them not to
sail but they ignored his Holy Spirit leading; sailing right into
a violent storm, and lost, not only all their valuable cargo, but
the ship as well.
A word which could be properly substituted for
"purpose/showbread" in this text is (approval) or (favor).
"Supposing that they had obtained approvaL..." Their assumption
was based upon soft winds which later proved nearly fatal. They,
in fact, had actually obtained "approval," or "favor;" not to
depart, but rather to stay, as Paul prophesied. They chose to
ignore the Word of God, and consequently suffered great loss.
In writing to Pastor Timothy, Paul said:
But you have fully known my doctrine, manner of life -
conduct - purpose, faith, longsuffering, charity,
patience, persecutions, afflictions.19
Here we discover Paul's usage of "purpose" in context with what
he is clearly describing as his personal character. If the
preceding nine verses are examined, it is easily seen that Paul
was warning Christians of those who will come against the church
in the last days and the deceptive "character" they will
manifest. He even named "Jannes" and "Jambres" as two who
withstood Moses as he attempted to govern the nation of
Israel.20 To all such, Paul contrasted his Scriptural and
personal character and used "purpose/showbread" to demonstrate
the polarization of characters; his verses the world's.
Finally, Paul again uses the word "purpose" in a remarkably
similar verse to Romans 8:28 in this same epistle to Timothy:
Who has saved us, and called us with a holy calling,
not according to our works, but according to His own
purpose and grace, which was given us in Christ Jesus
before the world began.21
This clearly identifies the interpretation of "purpose" because
Paul is making direct reference to the "nature" of God. Indeed,
it could thus be rendered: "according to the nature and grace of
God." Since Paul is making reference to the saving power of God
the Father through His eternal Son Jesus, there can be no doubt
to Paul's usage of "purpose" as that aspect of God's nature which
saves to the uttermost.
ACCORDING TO PURPOSE
The word "His" in Romans 8:28 was supplied by the King James
translators for clarification and appears in italics. This was a
wise choice, since we have just seen that Paul again makes a
similar statement in his letter to Timothy. It is indeed God's
"purpose," or "approval," or "character," or "nature" to work all
things together for good to them that are in love covenant with
Him. In short, it is God's favor and grace by which He makes
Himself available to us and He does so through prayer. Comparing
this with the knowledge that the showbread was that which was
perpetually before the Lord, representative of eternal
fellowship, we should now be able to acknowledge the ministry of
Holy partnership with God's Spirit as we sit and sup with Him
through prayer. Let's take another step in examining the
"nature" - true character - of His "purpose/showbread."
CONTACT
Quite simply, the table of showbread was a point of
perpetual contact with God for the ministering priests. It was
at this table they meant with the Almighty and shared the
covenant meal each and every time they ate. As they reached out
to partake of the "Bread of God," they were making personal
contact with Him in behalf of all of Israel. Additionally, the
table was only twenty-seven inches high; necessitating a kneeling
posture. Such humility and reverence when one prays certainly
demonstrates reverence.
We, too, need to maintain personal contact with our Heavenly
Father through intimate prayer. Often the busy Christian
forsakes time with the Lord and thus the relationship suffers.
We need always to make contact through prayer and partnership
with the Holy Spirit makes this possible.
COMMUNION
The table of showbread is the Old Testament counterpart of
New Testament communion, I.E. The Lord's table. It is symbolic
of the shed blood - the wine or grape juice - and the bread - His
body. Our Lord established this communion, of course, before
going to the cross and commanded it be practiced until He
returns. It speaks of intimacy, as did the table of showbread,
only now the born again Believer needs no representation to stand
before God in his behalf; Jesus is that High Priest.
We have three zones, areas, of personal communication.
First there is the social zone; the radius of several feet. This
zone is passive contact with those about us with which we may
pass, for example, on the street. The second zone is personal.
We experience this zone when discoursing, whether standing or
sitting, with someone in close proximity. Finally there is the
intimate zone; one of personal contact. This is the fellowship
which we share with our Heavenly Father at the table of showbread
- the table of communion.
The dictionary defines "to commune" as: (The sharing of
mutual interests, thoughts, and possessions). Such certainly
falls into the area of exchange when cutting, confirming, and
completing covenant. The communion table we share with our Lord
in today's New Testament day is representative of the covenant
meal we share when we pray.
CONFER
As we have already seen in this study, the two words "makes
intercession" is used twice by Paul in Romans 8:26 and (27). In
verse (26), it simply means the Holy Spirit makes, or creates,
prayers for us. He does so, not only because we do not always
know how to pray, but because it is His nature. The second
reference to "makes intercession" in verse (27) is rendered (to
confer). Again referring to a dictionary definition, we find "to
confer" means: (to converse, to compare views, to consult).
Such is our fellowship with God as we pray. Most have little, if
any, problem accepting prayer as conversing with God. We
likewise accept prayer as spiritual consultation. Most, however,
find it impossible to believe that prayer involves (comparing
views, sharing interests, or the exchange of views). If you
believe that God is only interested in telling, commanding,
proclaiming, chastising, or reprimanding; you will find spiritual
intimacy absolutely impossible. God is interested in His own and
prayer - sitting at the table of showbread - and having covenant
communion with Him, involves exchanging our thoughts for His.
CONFORMITY
When the priests shared the covenant showbread in the inner
court; the Holy Place, they, as an act of submission and
humility, were conforming to the will of God. If they did not do
so, they would not be fulfilling their responsibilities as
ministering mediators for the children of Israel. It is not
accidental that Paul makes reference to the "will of God" in
Romans 8:27: "because the Holy Spirit makes intercession for the
saints according to the will of God." He, the Holy Spirit,
brings us by partnership utilization, to the table of prayer
that we might conform to the will - covenant - of God.
"To what are we conforming?" Besides conforming to God's
will, we are, as we will see in our next chapter, conforming to
the image of His Son Jesus. This conformity is accomplished by
sharing fellowship with God through prayer. Again, the
Holy Spirit is our "Help" to cause such intimacy to occur.
CONFIRMATION
The table of showbread was also a "confirmation" table. The
ministering priests took the bread of God and consumed it as an
act of confirming the covenant. This simple act of faithfulness
demonstrated personal belief and recognition of God. Not to
partake would indicate a lack of faith that God indeed desired
intimacy with His own people.
Another aspect of the showbread and its consumption, reveals
God's desire to be "friends" with His own. Here we need to
recall the covenant which God made with Abraham. As God the
Father made covenant with Abraham, He promised him a son. This,
of course, was impossible, humanly speaking, since both Abraham
and Sarah were beyond child baring years. Nevertheless, the
Scriptures confirm that Abraham believed God and it was counted
to him for righteousness.22 We, likewise, are incapable of
spiritual birth without sovereign intervention.23 The Father
also provided us with a "Son" - His only begotten Son - in order
that His covenant might be confirmed. Because of Abraham's
belief and acceptance of covenant with God, he became known as
the "friend of God."24 Eating at the table of showbread
confirms friendship with our Heavenly Father as well as our
belief in Him as our covenant Lord.
COMMITMENT
The levitical priests were committed to serving both God and
Israel as mediators. They demonstrated their commitment by
lighting the lamps, replacing and eating the showbread, burning
the incense, and offering sacrifice. Commitment is first verbal;
then verified by action. In short, faithfulness. Coming to the
table of prayer - showbread - today shows our faithfulness to God
as the one who keeps His covenant with His people. Without
commitment, there can be no covenant relationship. Without the
priests coming faithfully to the table of showbread set
continually before the Lord, God would be unable to move in their
behalf.
SUMMATION
My Dad's oldest brother was born in 1901 and lived with us
the last few years of his life. Since my grandfather - my Dad
and uncle's father - died when my uncle was but a teen, he, my
uncle, felt obligated to drop from school in order to take on
the responsibility of tending their Kansas farm and raising the
family. Such afforded him great opportunity for learning and he
quickly became a jack of all trades.
I recall he told me, after retiring, that he installed a
fence around most of his single acre of property. He simply
sighted on an object in the distance and from that point of
reference, began sinking fence posts. Such line of sight skill
had been obtained from plowing fields with nothing more than a
distant tree for reference.
Following the installation of his fence, a young neighbor
began admiring the improved attractiveness my uncle's fence gave
his home and decided to do the same. He purchased all the
necessary materials and began sinking fence posts. His lack of
experience, however, provided a fence uneven, lop sided, and
crooked. After recognizing failure, and seeing my uncle seated
on his front porch, he strolled across the road and congratulated
my uncle for doing such a nice job on his fence. He finally,
somewhat sheepishly, asked if my uncle would mind helping him
redo his fence since, he, the neighbor, had done such a poor job.
My uncle, of course, obliged.
The Christian needs a point of reference, a point of
contact, in their relationshipwith God. The table of showbread -
prayer - is the contact. Like my uncle sighting on a tree in
the distance, we, too, sight on a tree - the cross of Calvary.
Often, however, circumstances make it difficult, even impossible
to sight properly. The Holy Spirit, on the other hand, never has
any problem sighting - making contact - with the Heavenly Father.
Simply beginning to pray allows the Holy Spirit to engage
covenant with God in our behalf.
Prayer is where, and when, we experience spiritual intimacy
with our Lord as we share the covenant meal. I am convinced that
most of us do not take time to share, commune, with our Lord
because it means "intimacy." Such requires time, personal
association, closeness, and friendship. Intimacy implies that
which is private and innermost. Although most confess that such
is exactly what they seek in their relationship with God, it
cannot be so; for if it were, they would commune with God. The
problem is fear! We simply are afraid that God is going to find
something within us which He does not like. The Holy Spirit has
been sent to guide and parallel our intimacy with God but He
cannot do so, of course, unless we begin to commune - eat the
showbread - with God. Fear is not of God and should be ignored.
Once seated at the prayer table, the Holy Spirit can immediately
begin to intercede in our behalf.
As my uncle's neighbor needed help, so we, those in
fellowship with God, need someone to help; "for we know not what
we should pray for as we ought." The Holy Spirit offer such help
as we sit at the communion table with our Lord and confers with
Him concerning His will for our lives. Confess how you feel it,
see it, perceive it, wish it. As you do so, you will discover
the mystery of the Holy Spirit at work in your behalf as He
"makes intercession for the saints according to the will of God."
Then listen.
Often we think we can do it alone, without assistance,
because to do otherwise is a sign of weakness. Such is the case
as we kneel at the table of showbread. It is a sign of humility,
submission, and dependency. Such an attitude is exactly what our
Lord is seeking as we sup with Him. To place ourselves in such a
position is a sign of conformity to His will and Word. In short,
it is obedience. There is a side benefit to such submission; we
are able to thus resist the Devil, and he must flee from our
presence.25
As my uncle's neighbor confessed his inability to duplicate
my uncle's fence installation, he was also asking, and showing,
friendship. Literally, he was showing willingness to confirm
what he could not do alone and because of friendship with my
uncle, he requested help. Thus, sitting down to a covenant meal
of showbread with God our Father is confirmation of personal
friendship with the only one able to help us. It means we are
willing to live by covenant.
Finally, the fence itself demonstrates commitment; It sets
boundaries. This is exactly what prayer does for us. We begin,
through prayer, to set boundaries in our relationship with God
for the purpose of keeping certain things in and out. This
provides security as well as offering permission for God to begin
working in our life. In another words, it allows God an area in
which to work. Without such commitment, the Sower simply must go
everywhere broadcasting the seed with no prier soil preparation.
Prayer affords God opportunity toprepare the ground for planting.
THE HOLY SPIRIT
Romans 8:28 is certainly a mystery if interpreted without
the knowledge of the table of showbread. If, on the other hand,
we acknowledge the holy partnership we have with God's
Holy Spirit when we set at bread, then we can "know that all
things work together" for our benefit, since we are the "called"
of God. Furthermore, seated at the table of showbread with our
Lord reveals covenant friendship; we are those that "love God" -
have established friendship through covenant. The Holy Spirit
confirms this relationship each time we sup with our Heavenly
Father in covenant prayer.26 True satisfaction can be gained
when we pray, therefore, because the Holy Spirit insures our
prayers harmonize with His purpose - showbread - which nourishes
and fills us that we might never hunger again. One must choose
to sit and dine with Him, however, if intimate fellowship is to
be experienced. Thus, learn to pray in the Spirit.
____________________
FOOTNOTES FOR CHAPTER 8
1 Exod. 25-Exod. 40
2 Exod. 40:7
3 Exod. 25:31-39
4 Exod. 40:5
5 Exod. 30:1-10
6 Exod. 40:2-3
7 Exod. 25:10-22
8 Exod. 40:2-3
9 I Thess. 5:23
10 Matt. 27:51
11 Exod. 25:23
12 Exod. 25:24-25
13 Exod. 25:30
14 Lev. 24:6-9
15 Matt. 4:4
16 John 6:32-33
17 John 6:35
18 Acts 27:13
19 II Tim. 3:10-11
20 II Tim. 3:8
21 II Tim. 1:9
22 Gen. 15:6 & Rom. 4:3
23 John 3:3-8
24 Jam. 2:23
25 Jam. 4:7-8
26 Rom. 8:16-17
End Of Chapter 8
PRAYING IN THE SPIRIT
BY
PHIL SCOVELL
Copyright 1989/2004
By Phil Scovell
All Rights Reserved
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