When the LORD commands me to speak out against those now in control of His church(es) and nation(s), those sitting it the seats of power as if they are God, those opposing His message, His gospel of peace, they instead preaching their own ideas and creations while saying, “God says,” I have agreed to deliver it as it is delivered to me, regardless of my opinion or my not yet fully seeing it. In doing I keep the charge He has though me worthy to entrust/deposit in me, and in my keeping it I am assured He will work out, in His time, the appearing (epiphany) of it as light into a darkened world, in the form of judging by showing who are the quick and who are the dead.
The Hebrew word for this type of “charge” is mishmereth; the feminine form of the word mishmar, meaning to set as a guard, figuratively therefore meaning, deposited under/into the charge of, to be used or observed as an example. Its root is in the word shamar, meaning to hedge about, as a means to guard, protecting and attending to.
The first use of the word is in Genesis 26:5, rendered “charge,” and speaking of Abraham keeping his charge, and obeying the voice of the LORD. It is the LORD telling Isaac so he will understand that by His obedience to the voice of the LORD, keeping the same charge, which had now been trusted/deposited in him, the LORD would bring to completion the promise made to Abraham.
The next time the word appears is in Exodus 12:6, rendered “you shall keep it,” as the LORD tells of the Lamb that is to be taken from among the sheep and the goats, and on the fourteenth day of the first month the whole assembly of the congregation of Israel shall kill it. This is has been accomplished, and we have eaten of the flesh; it still remains that we must mark our houses, striking the two side posts and the lintel with the blood. This is the blood shed, passing over us, delivering us by the message on/in the door of the houses of our bondage we must leave behind.
Exodus 12
1 And the LORD spoke unto Moses and Aaron in the land of Egypt saying,
2 This month shall be unto you the beginning of months: it shall be the first month of the year to you.
3 Speak you unto all the congregation of Israel, saying, In the tenth day of this month they shall take to them every man a lamb, according to the house of their fathers, a lamb for an house:
4 And if the household be too little for the lamb, let him and his neighbor next unto his house take it according to the number of the souls; every man according to his eating shall make your count for the lamb.
5 Your lamb shall be without blemish, a male of the first year: you shall take it out from the sheep, or from the goats:
6 And you shall keep it up until the fourteenth day of the same month: and the whole assembly of the congregation of Israel shall kill it in the evening.
7 And they shall take of the blood, and strike it on the two side posts and on the upper door post of the houses, wherein they shall eat it.
8 And they shall eat the flesh in that night, roast with fire, and unleavened bread; and with bitter herbs they shall eat it.
This takes us to the next use of the word mishmereth when it appears four times in Exodus 16, each time translated “to be kept” telling of the manna to be kept as testimony that the LORD provided bread from heaven in the wilderness. We are told of the whole congregation calling it manna: the word meaning, we know not what it is.
Exodus 16:15 And when the children of Israel saw it, they said one to another, It is manna: for they did not comprehend what it was. And Moses said unto them, This is the bread which the LORD has given you to eat.
We need to remember our previous discussion of Ezekiel 44 and the “bread” the prince will sit in the doorway eating before the LORD when he reenters the house. Here it must also be noted what is offered in departing the house is the best of the flock, and unleavened bread (no corruption mixed in.) When we read in Ezekiel of the abominations being offered we are told of them as the worst of the flock, and (bringing them near to the LORD) these detestable things are the bread put forth saying it’s the LORD’s. The word mishmereth is used five times in Ezekiel 44, translated “charge,” to tell of this as these abominable shepherds, who are offering their leavened (corrupted) bread, not keeping the LORD’s charge. The way back through, into our rest, is by keeping the charge and offering the uncorrupted best.
Ezekiel 44
1 Then he brought me back the way of the gate of the outward sanctuary which looks toward the east; and it was shut.
2 Then said the LORD unto me; This gate shall be shut, it shall not be opened, and no man shall enter in by it; because the LORD, the God of Israel, has entered in by it, therefore it shall be shut.
3 It is for the prince; the prince, he shall sit in it to eat bread before the LORD; he shall enter by the way of the porch of that gate, and shall go out by the way of the same.
4 Then brought he me the way of the north gate before the house: and I looked, and, behold, the glory of the LORD filled the house of the LORD: and I fell upon my face.
5 And the LORD said unto me, Son of man, mark well, and behold with your eyes, and hear with your ears all that I say unto you concerning all the ordinances of the house of the LORD, and all the laws thereof; and mark well the entering in of the house, with every going forth of the sanctuary.
6 And you shall say to the rebellious, even to the house of Israel, Thus says the LORD God; O you house of Israel, let it suffice you of all your abominations,
7 In that you have brought into my sanctuary strangers, uncircumcised in heart, and uncircumcised in flesh, to be in my sanctuary, to pollute it, even my house, when you offer my bread, the fat and the blood, and they have broken my covenant because of all your abominations.
8 And you have not kept the charge of mine holy things: but you have set keepers of my charge in my sanctuary for yourselves.
9 Thus says the LORD God; No stranger, uncircumcised in heart, nor uncircumcised in flesh, shall enter into my sanctuary, of any stranger that is among the children of Israel.
10 And the Levites that are gone away far from me, when Israel went astray, which went astray away from me after their idols; they shall even bear their iniquity.
11 Yet they shall be ministers in my sanctuary, having charge at the gates of the house, and ministering to the house: they shall slay the burnt offering and the sacrifice for the people, and they shall stand before them to minister unto them.
12 Because they ministered unto them before their idols, and caused the house of Israel to fall into iniquity; therefore have I lifted up mine hand against them, says the LORD God, and they shall bear their iniquity.
13 And they shall not come near unto me, to do the office of a priest unto me, nor to come near to any of my holy things, in the most holy place: but they shall bear their shame, and their abominations which they have committed.
14 But I will make them keepers of the charge of the house, for all the service thereof, and for all that shall be done therein.
15 But the priests the Levites, the sons of Zadok [the righteous], that kept the charge of my sanctuary when the children of Israel went astray from me, they shall come near to me to minister unto me, and they shall stand before me to offer unto me the fat and the blood, says the LORD God:
16 They shall enter into my sanctuary, and they shall come near to my table, to minister unto me, and they shall keep my charge.
Here is the heart of the matter, which can also be seen in all the resent titles of these posts: the escape into Jerusalem is found in keeping the charge.
This takes us to the Greek equivalent of mishmereth, diamarturomai, literally having the same exact meaning as stated above.
The first of the fifteen uses of diamarturomai is in Luke 16:28, and its context is today before our eyes and the eyes of the world proven true. There it is rendered “testify” as the rich man is urging Abraham to send one from the dead to testify to his brothers so they won’t also end up in self-inflicted torment. The request is to send one to “charge” his brothers to keep what has been committed to them – which they are now proven to reject and refuse (see the previous post for greater context.)
As we have previously discussed, Lazarus is Eleazar (God will protect) and represents the true priesthood/shepherds keeping the flock of God. Therefore we see the rich man as those feeding themselves from the choicest parts of the flock, while offering (bringing near) to God their corrupt scum and detestable abominations. They extort claiming there is a blessing in it, and they bless no one except themselves – depart from me you workers of iniquity, I don’t know you.
Luke 16
20 And there was a certain beggar named Lazarus, which was laid at his gate, full of sores,
21 And desiring to be fed with the crumbs which fell from the rich man’s table: moreover the dogs came and licked his sores.
22 And it came to pass, that the beggar died, and was carried by the angels into Abraham’s bosom: the rich man also died, and was buried;
23 And in hell he lift up his eyes, being in torments, and seeing Abraham afar off, and Lazarus in his bosom.
24 And he cried and said, Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus, that he may dip the tip of his finger in water, and cool my tongue; for I am tormented in this flame.
25 But Abraham said, Son, remember that you in your lifetime received your good things, and likewise Lazarus evil things: but now he is comforted, and you are tormented.
26 And beside all this, between us and you there is a great gulf fixed: so that they which would pass from hence to you cannot; neither can they pass to us, that would come from thence.
27 Then he said, I pray you therefore, father, that you would send him to my father’s house:
28 For I have five brethren; that he may testify unto them, lest they also come into this place of torment.
29 Abraham said unto him, They have Moses and the prophets; let them hear them.
30 And he said, Nay, father Abraham: but if one went unto them from the dead, they will repent.
31 And he said unto him, If they hear not Moses and the prophets, neither will they be persuaded, though one rose from among the dead.
The same logic is found in 2 Corinthians 11 and our discussion of it in the previous post. The good shepherds in the time when the house is corrupted find themselves being opposed by the wolves in sheep’s clothing: the rich men who are the thieves and robbers feeding themselves from the choicest part of the flock. They find themselves poor and maligned; possessing the mind of Christ that surpasses in value all the riches of the world, also being chargeable to no man, freely preaching the gospel of truth and peace.
2 Corinthians 11
1 Would to God you could bear with me a little in my folly: and indeed bear with me.
2 For I am jealous over you with godly jealousy: for I have espoused you to one husband, that I may present you as a chaste virgin to Christ.
3 But I fear, lest by any means, as the serpent beguiled Eve through his subtlety, so your minds should be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ.
4 For if he that comes preaches another Jesus, whom we have not preached, or if you receive another spirit, which you have not received, or another gospel, which you have not accepted, you might well bear with him.
5 For I suppose I was not a whit behind the very chiefest apostles.
6 But though I be rude in speech, yet not in knowledge; but we have been thoroughly made manifest among you in all things.
7 Have I committed an offence in abasing myself that you might be exalted, because I have preached to you the gospel of God freely?
8 I robbed other churches, taking wages of them, to do you service.
9 And when I was present with you, and wanted, I was chargeable to no man: for that which was lacking to me the brethren which came from Macedonia supplied: and in all things I have kept myself from being burdensome unto you, and so will I keep myself.
10 As the truth of Christ is in me, no man shall stop me of this boasting in the regions of Achaia.
11 Wherefore? because I love you not? God knows.
12 But what I do, that I will do, that I may cut off occasion from them which desire occasion; that wherein they glory, they may be found even as we.
13 For such are false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into the apostles of Christ.
14 And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light.
15 Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers also be transformed as the ministers of righteousness; whose end shall be according to their works.
16 I say again, let no man think me a fool; if otherwise, yet as a fool receive me, that I may boast myself a little [as do all the false lights the world so willingly listens to and is taken into bondage by – possessed by another spirit, by another gospel.]
The next use of diamarturomai is in Acts 2:40, translated “testify” to tell of the beginning, escaping a generation that had become totally corrupted, and entering general assembly of the first born from the dead, the kingdom of heavenly Jerusalem.
Acts 2
29 Men and brethren, let me freely speak unto you of the patriarch David, that he is both dead and buried, and his sepulcher is with us unto this day.
30 Therefore being a prophet, and knowing that God had sworn with an oath to him, that of the fruit of his loins, according to the flesh, he would raise up Christ to sit on his throne;
31 He seeing this before [afar off] spoke of the resurrection of Christ, that his soul was not left in hell, neither his flesh did see corruption.
32 This Jesus has God raised up, whereof we all are witnesses.
33 Therefore being by the right hand of God exalted, and having received of the Father the promise of the Holy Ghost, he has shed forth this, which you now see and hear.
34 For David is not ascended into the heavens: but he said himself, The LORD said unto my LORD, Sit you on my right hand,
35 Until I make your foes your footstool.
36 Therefore let all the house of Israel know assuredly, that God has made the same Jesus, whom you have crucified, both LORD and Christ.
37 Now when they heard this, they were pricked in their heart, and said unto Peter and to the rest of the apostles, Men and brethren, what shall we do?
38 Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.
39 For the promise is unto you, and to your children, and to all that are afar off, even as many as the LORD our God shall call.
40 And with many other words did he testify and exhort, saying, Save yourselves from this untoward generation.
41 Then they that gladly received his word were baptized: and the same day there were added unto them about three thousand souls.
42 And they continued steadfastly in the apostles’ doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers.
43 And fear came upon every soul: and many wonders and signs were done by the apostles.
44 And all that believed were together, and had all things common;
45 And sold their possessions and goods, and parted them to all men, as every man had need.
46 And they, continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, did eat their meat with gladness and singleness of heart,
47 Praising God, and having favor with all the people. And the LORD added to the church daily such as should be saved.
Acts 2 above and the passage prior speak quoting from Psalms 16, which is telling of the path into life, and out of death.
Psalms 16
1 Preserve me, O God: for in you do I put my trust.
2 O my soul, you have said unto the LORD, You are my LORD: my goodness extends not to you;
3 But to the saints that are in the earth, and to the excellent, in whom is all my delight.
4 Their sorrows shall be multiplied that hasten after another god: their drink offerings of blood will I not offer, nor take up their names into my lips.
5 The LORD is the portion of mine inheritance and of my cup: you maintain my lot.
6 The lines are fallen unto me in pleasant places; yea, I have a goodly heritage.
7 I will bless the LORD, who has given me counsel: my reins also instruct me in the night seasons.
8 I have set the LORD always before me: because he is at my right hand, I shall not be moved.
9 Therefore my heart is glad, and my glory rejoices: my flesh also shall rest in hope.
10 For you will not leave my soul in hell; neither will you suffer your Holy One to see corruption.
11 You will show me the path of life: in your presence is fullness of joy; at your right hand there are pleasures for evermore.
The word diamarturomai is used in 1 Thessalonians 4:6, rendered “testified,” in the chapter we know tells of the LORD coming with those risen from among the dead: the sleeping purged back to life.
1 Thessalonians 4
6 That no man go beyond and defraud his brother in any matter: because that the LORD is the avenger of all such, as we also have forewarned you and testified.
7 For God has not called us unto uncleanness, but unto holiness.
8 He therefore that despises, despises not man, but God, who has also given unto us his holy Spirit.
9 But as touching brotherly love [philadelphia] you need not that I write unto you: for you yourselves are taught of God to love one another.
The next three uses of the word are as “charge” in telling Timothy of the charge he was given, to teach men that would themselves faithfully teach others.
2 Timothy 2
1 You therefore, my son, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus.
2 And the things that you have heard of me among many witnesses, the same commit you to faithful men, who shall be able to teach others also.
3 You therefore endure hardness, as a good soldier of Jesus Christ.
4 No man that wars entangles himself with the affairs of this life; that he may please him who has chosen him to be a soldier.
5 And if a man also strive for masteries, yet is he not crowned, except he strive lawfully.
6 The husbandman that labors must be first partaker of the fruits.
7 Consider what I say; and the LORD give you understanding in all things.
8 Remember that Jesus Christ of the seed of David was raised from the dead according to my gospel:
9 Wherein I suffer trouble, as an evil doer, even unto bonds; but the word of God is not bound.
10 Therefore I endure all things for the elect’s sakes, that they may also obtain the salvation which is in Christ Jesus with eternal glory.
11 It is a faithful saying: For if we be dead with him, we shall also live with him:
12 If we suffer, we shall also reign with him: if we deny him, he also will deny us:
13 If we believe not, yet he abides faithful: he cannot deny himself.
14 Of these things put them in remembrance, charging them before the LORD that they strive not about words to no profit, but to the subverting of the hearers.
15 Study to show yourself approved unto God, a workman that needs not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.
2 Timothy 4
1 I charge you therefore before God, and the LORD Jesus Christ, who shall judge the quick and the dead at his appearing [epiphany] and his kingdom;
2 Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all long suffering and doctrine.
3 For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears;
4 And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables.
5 But watch you in all things, endure afflictions, do the work of an evangelist, make full proof of your ministry.
6 For I am now ready to be offered, and the time of my departure is at hand.
7 I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith:
8 Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the LORD, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing [epiphany].
