pictures of Kingdom Come: "brothers"

The Word for today:
Psalms 133, 134

mark this: Psalm 133
Behold, how good and pleasant it is when brothers dwell in unity!
It is like the precious oil on the head, running down on the beard, on the beard of Aaron, running down on the collar of his robes!
It is like the dew of Hermon, which falls on the mountains of Zion!
For there the LORD has commanded the blessing, life forevermore.

Note: Over the next two days, Stand in the Rain will delve into the realm of biblical typology. Biblical "types" are pictures of Kingdom Come--of the Kingdom of God and, especially, of the King himself. These pictures constitute the most profound and far-ranging prophecies in scripture. They are a picture language which God uses to teach deep spiritual truths to his children.

Today we will look at two brothers--Aaron and Moses. Their relationship illustrates the New Testament church to come.

Tomorrow, we will look closely at the oil that is poured over Aaron's head in Psalm 133. It represents the essential ingredient for a powerful and unified church--the church as it is meant to be.

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Aaron.

According to the genealogy of Exodus 6:14ff., Aaron was one of the two sons of Amram and Jochebed (the other being Moses) and third in line of descent from Levi (Levi-Kohath-Amram-Aaron).

According to Exodus 7:7, he was 3 years older than Moses. Miriam, their sister, was older still, if she is Moses’ unnamed ‘sister’ of Exodus 2:4, 7ff.

Aaron and his descendants are set apart to serve God as priests.

All priests of Israel from Aaron forward were Levites. The tribe of Levi consisted of several clans. Only descendants of Aaron could serve as priests. The rest of the Levites assisted with other religious responsibilities.

Aaron, as Moses' prophet, speaks Moses' word. (Exodus 7:1)

Aaron is a picture of both priest and prophet. He is not Deliverer.
Moses is a picture of prophet and Deliverer/King. He is not Priest.

It is helpful to remember that the prophet speaks "down"--from God to the people.
The priest speaks "up"-- from the people to God.

Because Jesus was priest, prophet, deliverer-savior and King, it takes both Moses and Aaron to convey different aspects of him. It takes all of the "brothers"--and sisters--in the church (body of Christ) to express Christ.

Jesus was one of us when he died on the cross. This Servant, Son of Man, is seen in the gospels of Mark and Luke, respectively. The Jesus of Mark and Luke is foreshadowed by Aaron. He is of the people.

The Jesus of the Second Coming is depicted in the gospels of Matthew and John as King and Son of God, respectively. He was among the people, then was out of their sight--as Moses was. Upon His return, he will dismantle the idolatries and the power structures of man; as Moses did upon his return to Egypt, so Jesus will at his Second Coming.

Pictorially, we think of Moses on the mountain while we think of Aaron on the plain. We see Jesus as both: he is one of us, while He is One with God.

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