Judah, Issachar and Zebulun
The names of the twelve tribes of Israel were engraved on the twelve stones of the breastplate in their marching order. This order had also to be maintained whenever they halted and camped on their journeyings from Egypt to Canaan. This was the order: the tribes of Judah, Issachar and Zebulun had to camp on the east side; Reuben, Simeon and Gad on the south; Ephraim, Manasseh and Benjamin on the west; Dan, Asher and Naphtali on the north (Num.2). This order was never to be changed and it revealed the order of 12 spiritual experiences necessary for us if we are to be very near to the heart of God. You may remember that the names on the onyx stones were in the order of their birth (Ex.28: 9, 10). Now for their marching and camping God has changed the natural order. He was showing that He was not governed by any human qualifications. Man looks at the outward appearance but God looks at the heart (1 Sam. 16: 7).
The Lord sent Samuel the prophet to find a man in the place of Saul. Jesse brought before him Eliab his eldest son. Samuel looked at his height and his countenance and said that he was fit to be the king. But God said, "Don't be deceived by outward appearance. He is not my choice and I cannot use him." Jesse brought all his sons one after another to Samuel, and the Lord said that they were not His choice. When finally David came before Samuel, the Lord asked Samuel to anoint David. Thus you may be deceived by outward appearances. You may also deceive others by your words, by your face and appearance. Others may admire you and say "What a fine Christian! What a kind man! How devoted he is!" But in your house you are a different person, full of temper and wickedness.
God was saying that we should come into His divine order and into His heavenly plan to become precious. As we are inwardly transformed and willing to be in His heavenly plan, we are brought near to His heart. God was saying in a simple way, "You are very precious unto Me and I want you to be near to My heart that I may love you freely and love you for eternity and pour into you My fullness."
We have to face many trials and temptations in our lives which the enemy tries to use, to keep us away from God, and very often He succeeds. So God had graciously made adequate provision for us to overcome the enemy's devices and draw nearer to the Lord. These twelve experiences signified by the twelve stones of the breastplate will help us to keep near to the heart of God. Through them we shall understand His grace, love, peace, joy, longsuffering, patience, gentleness, goodness, faith and meekness.
Judah: On the first stone in the first row was written the name of the tribe of Judah. Judah means "Praise." As the children of Israel started marching, Judah had to take the foremost place and lead the others. In our lives also praise and worship must take the first place and we must learn how to worship and praise Him at all times. This is the foremost spiritual experience that we should have.
When we are born again our first desire is to have Bible knowledge. We think that by having more Bible knowledge, we grow more spiritual. It does not matter how many books we read or how many degrees we have, nobody grows spiritually by Bible knowledge alone. It is by learning how to thank Him, praise Him, adore Him and magnify Him always for everything, we grow spiritually. Before you begin the day, spend a few minutes in pure worship without any request or supplication. Say to Him, "Lord, I come unto Thee and into Thy presence just to be with Thee, to feel Thy presence, to hear Thy voice and to see Thy glory and beauty." When you feel His presence, worship Him because He is the King of kings; praise Him for his mercy, kindness, love and grace; thank Him for every trouble. Thank Him for your hard life and do not feel sorry for it because God cannot make a mistake, for whatever He permits in your life is for a purpose. So for every thing we must thank God (Phil. 4:6). Even though our Lord may keep us in any difficult situation, in sickness, or in poverty or in trouble of any kind, we can still praise Him, adore Him and magnify Him, because all things are allowed by Him for a purpose. The more we worship Him, the more we grow.
Praise and worship are the secret of victory. Once a great army came to fight against Judah. The people were filled with fear at the very sight of the enemy's strength. But God sent to' them His prophet who foretold that Judah would be victorious in the battle. The people -believed his word and marched to the battle singing praises unto God (2 Chron. 20:21-22). Without any fighting on their part, their enemies were destroyed. In the same way, if we know how to worship, magnify and exalt the Lord in all circumstances of life, we shall be able to put to nought very easily all the attacks of the enemy against us. Many people try to defeat the enemy by their Bible knowledge, or by fasting, or by long prayers. They will soon find out that such means do not avail against the enemy, and they themselves will be defeated. Thus the first stone teaches us the first spiritual lesson of defeating the enemy through praising and worshipping the Lord in spirit and in truth (John 4:24; Ps.34:1-3; 89: 1; 104:33; 105: 5).
Issachar: the second stone was found the name "Issachar" which means "God is my reward", or hire or wages (Gen. 30:18). This name teaches us not to seek any earthly reward nor look for any man's favor. Whether you do an act of kindness to anybody, or whether you do a job in the house of God, do it without expecting a reward from any man because our Lord Himself is your reward. Do all things as unto the Lord (Col.3:23).
There are some school teachers who work very, very hard one week before inspection. The rooms are kept very tidy and clean. The students are taught nicely and when they are questioned by the Inspector, the children answer correctly. The Inspector will be impressed greatly and pay compliments to the teachers and to the school administration. But after the inspection, things are left to themselves, the school becomes untidy and the children are not taught well. They do all things for the school Inspector.
There are some people who pray for a long time in meetings and hardly three minutes at home. Some do things to please men and there is no reward for them. Do every job lovingly, faithfully and sincerely either in the office or in God's house. Learn to be faithful even in small things (Luke 16:10). Whatever we do or say let it be only unto Him and for His name's sake. This is the second experience. The first experience-worship and then comes the longing to do all things faithfully. This also will draw us nearer to God.
Zebulun: On the third stone in the first row was the name of the tribe of Zebulun and this signifies the third spiritual experience that will help us to draw nearer to the Lord. Zebulun means "Dwelling" (Gen. 30:20). My heart and my body must become His dwelling place. My home must become His dwelling place and my church must be His dwelling place. They go together. The same lesson was seen in our consideration of the blue robe. If we want to build the house of God, first of all our bodies must become the temple of God (1 Cor.3: 16,17). Here is a very solemn warning. If we want to take our share in the building of the house of God, we must keep our bodies clean and holy, fit to be God's dwelling place. We must keep our life and every part of our body clean. Then the Holy Spirit can work in us and live in us freely. Otherwise He cannot accept our labors. Every time we defile ourselves by thought, word or deed, we can claim His precious blood for cleansing. Thus we can keep our whole body clean, pure and unspotted for His use.
In the same way our house must be His dwelling place. We read about a house in John Chapter 12. It is an outstanding house, a happy home where the Lord Jesus could live. Although there were many homes in Jerusalem, the Lord Jesus never stayed overnight there. He went back in the evening either to Bethany or to the mount of Olives. By His continual presence that home became a happy home. There the Lord Jesus Christ had become the living Head, not in word but in actual practice. The presence of Lazarus at the home in Bethany, as we read in John 12, speaks of the power of resurrection. We have to know as a family, how to claim the Power of the resurrection. The food speaks of the Word of God which we enjoy through fellowship. Martha speaks of joyful and loving service without murmuring and jealousy, and Mary speaks of full devotion, thanksgiving and praise. It is with all these we have a happy home where the Lord Jesus can live. So, for a happy home we require five things. The headship and the kingship of the Lord Jesus Christ, the power of the resurrection for our earthly trials; the Word of God for our daily meditation and guidance, joyful service to others, whether they are rich or poor, love for all in humility and devotion under all circumstances.
In the same way we can build the Church of God by recognition of the headship of the Lord Jesus Christ, by the power of the resurrection, by the Word of God given with power and authority, by serving and helping others, and by learning to worship together. It is by all these the Church becomes God's dwelling place. As we take our share in building the dwelling place of God, we shall experience God's presence very near to us.
Every believer has a part or share in the building of the house of God. When our bodies become the temple of God, He will tell us automatically how to serve Him and others. Then the heavenly plan is revealed to us for the heavenly Church, in which every believer has a share. Many believers go to the Church, the house of God, only for sermons or for singing or for some other purpose but very few go for His service, to minister unto Him. We can find out by prayer, what service He requires of us. Pray, "Lord, do you want me to help anybody in need; or comfort anybody in sorrow and discouragement? If so, Lord, give me Thy thought and Thy message for somebody in weakness and poverty, sickness or discouragement." Thus we can take our share in the building of this dwelling place for God.
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