---

Quick Return Home Page

 

            "The sceptre shall not depart from Judah, nor a lawgiver from between his feet, until Shiloh Come;  and unto Him shall the gathering of the people be. Binding His foal unto the vine, and His ass's colt unto the choice vine; He washed His garments in wine and His clothes in the blood of grapes." (Genesis 49:10-11).

             Tucked into this prophetic word spoken so long ago we have the promise of the transition from the Vine (law of the first covenant) into the CHOICE VINE (the new covenant). Furthermore, it is centered in this One who fulfills the term " Shiloh."
             A careful study of the Word, and God's purposes for mankind, we find that God's purpose is not, as often supposed, to take us all to heaven, so that we might escape hell. Rather, Paul makes it clear, God has purposed-- "That in the dispensation of the fullness of times He might gather together in one all things in Christ, both which are in heaven, and which are on earth; even in Him" (Ephesians 1:10).
             Phillips translates this: "For God has allowed us to know the secret of His plan, and it is this: He purposes in His sovereign will that all human history shall be consummated in Christ, that every thing that exists in Heaven or earth shall find its perfection and fulfillment in Him."
             Watchman Nee wrote: "The work of God in time is to sum up all things in Christ -to leave no loose ends of any kind - to have nothing out of harmony in His universe."
             And Paul writes that this is, "According to a plan of the ages which He made in the anointed Jesus our Lord. In Whom we have our freedom of speech and introduction with assurance through the faith of Him." (Ephesians 3:11-12, Rotherham).
             Hebrews 11:3, Amplified, "By faith we understand that the worlds (during the successive ages) were framed - fashioned, put in order and equipped for their intended purpose - by the Word of God."
             The ages have been fitted for a purpose, and I assure you, God has a purpose for the ages. He has measured out the exact amount of time for the accomplishment of His purpose, and He is never too early, never too late. For this we read, "But when the fullness of time was come, God sent forth His Son..." (Galatians 4:4).
            SHILOH COMES, and "unto Him shall the gathering of the people be." For they "Shall find their perfection and fulfillment in Him." In Him alone shall they be satisfied. Praise His name!
             We often quote the verse, "For the vision is yet for an appointed time, but at the end it shall speak, and not lie: though it tarry, wait for it; because it will surely come, it will not tarry." (Habakkuk 2:3). And we often feel that we are just "marking time," waiting for the vision to come, i.e. be fulfilled. It seems to us to tarry and tarry. But again I assure you that IN GOD there is no lost motion, no wasted time, no mundane existence that He is not in control of, that He has not fitted into His purpose. No matter how much you have struggled in it: through it, with it, even though you cannot see what God is doing in a given situation, nevertheless we can say with full assurance that---

             From the moment that you read, "In the beginning God created... And the Spirit of God moved (fluttered, brooded) upon the face of the waters..." (Genesis 1:1-2), until you read, "Behold, I make all things new..." (Revelation 21:5), God's Spirit has been actively, continuously brooding over His creation to bring forth that which He purposed-- a people in His image, for His pleasure, with whom He shall fellowship in sweet communion. It is toward this goal, that Jesus said, "My Father worketh hitherto, and I work." (John 5:17). And though we read that our Lord has "Overcome, and am set down with My Father in His throne," (Revelation 3:21), nevertheless it is not an idle waiting-- for "HE MUST REIGN, till He hath put all enemies under His feet." (1 Corinthians 15:25). It is IN HIM that we see the GLORIOUS WORKING of the plan of the ages, and the guarantee of total victory as the successive ages run their course.
             And so we understand that God has fitted the ages for an outworking of His purpose. An age is a specific span of time ordained by God for the fulfillment of a specific segment of His purpose. Each age is joined to the following one in succession until the whole is accomplished. We are now in a TRANSITION TIME and the overlap of two ages-- going from the "church" age, with its CALLING OUT from the world, from man's religions, etc. to be joined unto Him who is our Life, and thus going into the "kingdom " age-- with the manifest RULE of God, as His Lordship is realized in our hearts.
             Furthermore, this is not accomplished in one grand sweep over all creation, but it begins with a FIRSTFRUITS and then will expand through the ages to come. "For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive. But every man in his own order." (1 Corinthians 15:22-23). The specific purpose of the CHURCH AGE is the calling out of this first fruits. Afterwards the succeeding ages will unfold their workings till in Christ all are made alive.
             Leaving one realm to proceed into another is never easy. It requires the travail of birth pangs, and the leaving of those things which are behind, to press into those things which are before. Therefore Jesus said, "No man also seweth a piece of new cloth on an old garment: else the new piece that filled it up taketh away from the old, and the rent is made worse. And no man putteth new wine into old bottles: else the new wine doth burst the bottles, and the wine is spilled, and the bottles will be marred: but new wine must be put into new bottles." (Mark 2:21-22).
             Many find it very difficult to let go of the old, to embrace the new. So they endeavor to sew their new little piece of revelation into the old cloth of yesteryear's dogma. But all they succeed in doing is causing the rent to become worse, and the pain and suffering is increased, rather than diminished, as they had hoped. Compromise does not bring peace when you try to join the old with the new, it but adds to the confusion.
             Example: The Levitical order of the priesthood must give way to the new order of Melchizedek. Yet it is amazing how many would like to pick and choose little pieces of the new and just work them into the old order-- they desire the life of the new, but they want to cling to the form and ritual of the old. But it never works to pour new wine into old wineskins, they will burst-- break apart under the strain of such duality.
            Jesus beautifully bridged the two ages of His time. He healed the leper, and sent him to the priests, "to offer the gift that Moses commanded, for a testimony unto them." (Matthew 8:4). Imagine! He who came with the GOSPEL OF THE KINGDOM, and who so gloriously demonstrated its power and LIFE, healing the leper, yet sent the man to fulfill the old order according to the commandment of Moses. Yet full well He knew the times and seasons which were upon men, and that IN HIM the transition would be made from the old into the new. Before Calvary there would be accommodation for the old order, but after Calvary and the resurrection, it would all be raised to a higher dimension of life. THE CROSS became the bridge-- requiring death to the old, in order to walk in the life of the new."
             "But if I with the finger of God cast out devils, no doubt the kingdom of God is come upon you." (Luke 11:20). How near the kingdom of God had come unto them-- for the KING of the kingdom was in their midst. Yet the transition could not be fully made into the new until He had blazed out the way, by His cross, for truly HE IS "The way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by Me." (John 14:6).
             As He FULFILLED THE OLD, He also taught them the new, and we read many times, "It hath been said... but I say unto you..." (Matthew 5:31-32). After the old order way it was said like this-- but according to the NEW ORDER WAY it shall be so different-- of a far higher realm. They had long heard the old, as it "hath been said. "But never a man spake like this Man when He taught them of the NEW. "And they were astonished at His doctrine: for He taught them as One that had authority, and not as the scribes." (Mark 1:22).
            The old order was a way of living by exterior commandments. HIS was a way of living out of the heart, of the spirit. One was a way of external observance, the other was a living out of a STATE OF BEING. The religious people hated Him, because He demonstrated anew order-- so OTHER than what the Pharisees taught. It totally upset their self-righteousness.
             Paul was an extension of this new dimension teaching, saying, "For in Jesus Christ neither circumcision availeth any thing, nor uncircumcision; but faith which worketh by love." And again, "For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision availeth any thing, nor uncircumcision, but a new creature." (Galatians 5:6, and 6:15).
            Only the NEW CREATION REALM knows about the "faith which worketh by love." For the old order was based not on love, but the works of man wrought by duty, to DO-- or else! Man could rigidly obey the law without love, simply because it was so required in order to obtain its certain blessings. But the new order which flows out of the SPIRIT, in love, in faith, takes no record of its doing, for it is the very nature of love to freely give.
             No wonder it is so difficult for man to make the transition from the old into the new. And THANK GOD He sent His Son to become that way for us. "Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion; shout, O daughter of Jerusalem: behold, thy King cometh unto thee: He is just, and having salvation; lowly, and riding upon an ass, and upon a colt the foal of an ass." (Zechariah 9:9).
             He came, our King, "having salvation." Interesting that the margin reference indicates the Hebrew to read, "saving Himself." It indicates that the PROCESS WAS FIRST WROUGHT IN HIMSELF! "Who in the days of His flesh, when He had offered up prayers and supplications with strong crying and tears unto Him that was able to save Him from death, and was heard in that He feared; And being made perfect, He became the Author of eternal salvation. (Hebrews 5:7,9). Thus we see that in HIS COMING WITH SALVATION He first experienced the outworking IN HIMSELF, and then He became the Author of life for all mankind.
             "And He saw that there was no man, and wondered that there was no intercessor: therefore His arm brought salvation unto Him; and His righteousness, it sustained Him. For He put on righteousness as a breastplate, and an helmet of salvation upon His head; and He put on the garments of vengeance for clothing, and was clad with zeal as a cloak." (Isaiah 59:16-17).
             There was none else-- no man, no intercessor capable of standing in the gap, bringing salvation to creation. No one else had the power to CHANGE DISPENSATIONS and lead us from the old into the new. Men will try to reform and re-structure the old, make it more eye-pleasing, give it a "new look" but it is always the same underneath. No man is able to institute a totally NEW ORDER, especially one that is dealing with the inner nature of man-- literally introducing a new creation species. So He came, the Son of God, Son of man, and laid out that transition process. SAVING HIMSELF--saved through His awful sufferings, becoming triumphant over all His enemies. "His righteousness, it sustained Him." Holiness personified! Not only did His righteousness bring Him through, but it becomes the FOUNDATION for all of the new creation-- to "Be ye holy; for I am holy." (1 Peter 1:16).
             No wonder HE is the Mediator of the New Covenant. In Himself He experienced all the throes of transition-- for He "was in all points tempted (tested) like as we are, yet without sin." (Hebrews 4:15). In ways far beyond our understanding, He experienced to the full the depths of sorrow-- "Surely He hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows: yet we did esteem Him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted. But He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon Him; and with His stripes we are healed." (Isaiah 53:4-5). Thus did He, "by the grace of God taste death for every man." (Hebrews 2:9). And then He was "declared to be the Son of God with power, according to the spirit of holiness, by the resurrection from the dead." (Romans 1:4). Rising triumphant, to become the AUTHOR OF SALVATION-- to bring every man into this same glorious dimension of life.
             "Then sent Jesus two disciples, Saying unto them, Go into the village over against you, and straightway ye shall find an ass tied, and a colt with her: loose them, and bring them unto Me. And if any man say ought unto you, ye shall say, The Lord hath need of them; and straightway he will send them." (Matthew 21:1-3).
             Find both the mother ass and the colt with her, and say that "The Lord hath need of THEM." For there must needs be a fulfillment of that prophetic Word, "Binding his foal unto the vine, and his ass's colt unto the choice vine." (Genesis 49:11).
             "All this was done, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophet, saying, Tell ye the daughter of Sion, Behold, thy King cometh unto thee, meek, and sitting upon an ass, and a colt the foal of an ass." (Matthew 21:4-5).
             So the disciples did as they were bidden, "And brought the ass, and the colt, and put on them their clothes, and they set Him thereon." (verse 7). Significant that this word "thereon" is plural, for they spread their garments on them both, and HE RODE THEM BOTH.
             Matthew's Gospel is written from the KINGDOM perspective. And here we have the King of kings riding upon these beasts of burden-- fully identifying Himself with groaning creation. Yet the symbolism is terrific. For we note that these people spread their garments upon the animals-- these who lived under the order of the first covenant, the law-- and all of their covering, i.e. righteousness was defined by the law. And HE SAT DOWN ON IT! He rode out the old covenant, He fulfilled all its type and shadow. He did not fight it, He did not condemn it, He just RODE IT OUT-- brought it to its conclusion IN HIMSELF. But He also placed His feet on the NEW. The foal that was running alongside, not yet ready to bear the full load, for the time of the first covenant had not yet fully ended-- thus Jesus sat on THE OLD, but HIS FEET-- HIS WALK WAS ON-- IN THE NEW that He came to establish. In Him "Shiloh" had come!
             "The sceptre shall not depart from Judah, nor a lawgiver from between his feet, until; Shiloh come," and unto Him shall the gathering of the people be." (Genesis 49:10).
             Ferrar Fenton: "till Peace arrive, and the nations obey Him."
             Truly HE IS OUR PEACE, in Him Peace had come to man. Even as the angelic messengers had declared, "Glory to God in the highest, and on earth PEACE, good will toward men."
             Young's Literal: "till His SEED come, and His is the obedience of the people."
            He is that SEED through whom "shall all nations be blessed." (Galatians 3:8). He is the SEED of the new creation, into whose image we shall be conformed, and of whose nature we shall be partakers.
             You speak of a new covenant Spirit, "Now the Lord is that Spirit: and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty." (2 Corinthians 3:17). You speak of a new covenant generation, He is the Seed of that generation. You speak of new covenant security, He is that security and Peace of that covenant. You speak of a new covenant name, it is because we are joined to Him that we receive such blessings. HE IS THE SHILOH! He is the Center and Focal point of the new life. That is why it is stated, "Unto Him shall the gathering of the people be." For it is ALL IN HIM. "In Him all fullness is pleased to dwell." (Colossians 1:19).
             "Binding His foal unto the Vine, and His ass's colt unto the choice vine;..." Herein we have a beautiful expression for both the First and the Second covenants. And blood covenants they are! In the first covenant we have the blood of the animal sacrifices, but in the second covenant we have the BLOOD OF CHRIST, spoken of in Hebrews 13:20 as "the blood of the everlasting covenant."
             Next we note this word "binding" from the Hebrew "asar" meaning: to yoke, fasten, set in array, and, make ready. Israel was yoked to the first covenant, having taken their vows at Mt. Sinai. "And Moses came and told the people all the words of the Lord, and all the judgments: and all the people answered with one voice, and said, All the words which the Lord hath said will we do." (Exodus 24:3). The vow was made, the commitment to obey, and HIS LAW  WAS UPON THEM. It was a covenant that was in force until death. This Paul brings out, using the marriage vow as an illustration. "For the woman which hath an husband is bound by the law to her husband so long as he liveth; but if the husband be dead, she is loosed from the law of her husband. - Wherefore, my brethren, ye also are become dead to the law by the body of Christ; that ye should be married to another, even to Him who is raised from the dead, that we should bring forth fruit unto God." (Romans 7:2,4). God, Jehovah was in Christ, and in that death on the Cross ended the BINDING of the old covenant.
            Herein is a marvelous thing-- for while this DEATH at Calvary ended the old union, it also opened up the way for a NEW UNION, and a NEW COVENANT. "And for this cause He is the mediator of the new testament, that by means of death, for the redemption of the transgressions that were under the first testament, they which are called might receive the promise of eternal inheritance. For where a testament is, there must also of necessity be the death of the testator. For a testament is of force after men are dead: otherwise it is of no strength at all while the testator liveth." (Hebrews 9: 15-17).
             No wonder it was such a cataclysmic event at Calvary. No wonder hell raged and the earth trembled. HE who came riding on the ass, binding to the vine, became "The end of the law for righteousness to every one that believeth." (Romans 10:4). IN HIM we have the conclusion of that whole dispensation. And then by His death He also ratified the NEW TESTAMENT-- placing it in force, and so now IN HIM we see all the love, grace, mercy, victory of the new covenant. And now He BINDS US UNTO THE CHOICE VINE. "For it is in Him that all the fullness of Deity continues to live embodied, and THROUGH UNION WITH HIM you too are filled with it." (Colossians 2:9-10, Williams).
            Thus again we see the WISDOM OF GOD, and the POWER OF GOD, as the death throes of the old, also become the birth-pangs of the new, to the glory and praise of His grace. Thus He said to His disciples. "This cup is the New Testament in My blood, which is shed for you." (Luke 22:20). For HE IS the CHOICE VINE! Even as He said, "I am the Vine, ye are the branches." (John 15:5). And JOINED TO HIM we partake, not of the old vine of the first covenant, but the glorious reality of that CHOICE NEW COVENANT. Bless His holy name!
             Once more ancient Israel becomes an illustrative parable for the truth. Isaiah 5:1-7 gives the record, and we will comment as we go: "Now will I sing to my well-beloved a song of my Beloved touching His vineyard. My well-beloved hath a vineyard in a very fruitful hill." (vers.1).
             Interesting phrase-- "a very fruitful hill:" for it comes from the Hebrew wording that literally means: the horn of the son of oil. The "horn" bespoke of that which was higher than any other part of the animal, and thus bespoke of a "raised position." While the words "son of oil" are a Hebraism denoting fertility, olive oil being most esteemed and valuable.
             These "sons of oil" are spoken of in Deuteronomy 7:6. "For thou art an holy people unto the Lord thy God: the Lord thy God hath chosen thee to be a special people unto Himself, above all people that are upon the face of the earth." Thus they were raised up to be the HORN, a people above all nations. Furthermore, "He suffered no man to do them wrong: yea, He reproved kings for their sakes; Saying, Touch not Mine anointed, and do My prophets no harm." (Psalm 105:14-15). Thus qualifying them as sons of oil, His anointed people. Yes, they are only the first covenant vine, but they were His people, and He was in a covenant relationship with them, therefore He carefully watched over them.
             "And He fenced it, and gathered out the stones thereof, and planted it with the choicest vine, and built a tower in the midst of it, and also made a winepress therein: and He looked that it should bring forth grapes, and it brought forth wild grapes." (verse 2).
             Such is the record of ancient Israel! WILD GRAPES! Filled with rebellion, going their own way, serving idols, rejecting and stoning the prophets, etc. so when He looked for good fruit, He found it not. So what was He to do?
             "And now go to; I will tell you what I will do to My vineyard: I will take away the hedge thereof, and it shall be eaten up; and break down the wall thereof, and it shall be trodden down: And I will lay it waste: it shall not be pruned, nor digged; but there shall come up briers and thorns: I will also command the clouds that they rain no rain upon it. For the vineyard of the Lord of hosts is the house of Israel, and the men of Judah His pleasant plant: and He looked for judgment, but behold oppression; for righteousness, but behold a cry." (Isaiah 5:5-7).
             So Israel was scattered among the nations, the walls were broken down, the people were trampled underfoot-- discipline and purging were the order of the day. But God had a PLAN that was being fulfilled, "For God hath concluded them all in unbelief, that He might have mercy upon all." (Romans 11:33). And having shut them all up in unbelief, ( a real death process ), then He sent His Son to become the SEED of a new creation order. He "visits the nations, to take out of them a people for His name." (Acts 15:14). He draws to Himself "a remnant according to the election of grace." (Romans 11:5). And HE BINDS THEM UNTO THE CHOICE VINE, into a new covenant relationship with Himself.
             Already mentioned is that one of the meanings for the Hebrew word "asar/binding" is: to yoke. Jesus said, "Take MY YOKE upon you, and learn of Me." (Matthew 11:29). Come and be BOUND UNTO ME, embrace Me, and learn of Me-- of the reality of the new covenant established by My grace!
             Due to the negative programming by religious systems, many have come to view "the yoke" as a burden, and because they already have more cares upon their shoulders than they want, they say "don't yoke me with any more." But actually, a YOKE is just the opposite-- it is not an additional burden, it is GIVEN TO LIGHTEN THE LOAD, making it far easier to pull, than any other way. His yoke is AN INSTRUMENT OF MERCY.
             The general burden of natural life itself all must carry. To some it is weariness, failures, tragedies, struggle, pain. But HIS SOLUTION IS-- "carry it as I do! Take My yoke, Learn of Me, and you will find it easy, fits right upon the shoulder, therefore My burden is light."
             We have freely ridden the first ass, i.e. the first covenant, with all of its works, labors, wearisome toil. We have followed all the rituals and ceremonies, but we have not been able to produce that "peaceable fruit of righteousness" which He desired. Indeed, we have seen far more "wild grapes" than "good grapes." Now we desire to be BOUND TO THE CHOICE VINE, to walk out-- to have our feet IN THE NEW. "Therefore we are buried with Him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life." (Romans 6:4).
             "He washed His garments in wine and His clothes in the blood of grapes."  (Genesis 49:11). "Wherefore art thou red in Thine apparel, and Thy garments like him that treadeth in the wine vat? I have trodden the winepress alone; and of the people there was none with Me." (Isaiah 63:2-3).
             Yes, in the initial outworking HE WAS ALONE, blazing out the path wherein we could follow. But now He calls us to Himself, that we might "know Him, and the power of His resurrection, and the fellowship of His sufferings, being made conformable unto His death." (Philippians 3:10).
             There is an essential identification with HIS CROSS and His death, wherein we experientially share with Him a "dying out" to the old, that we might embrace the new. No more to "fight" the old order, no more to rail upon it, condemn it, etc. but we come to TERMS OF PEACE, and with Him, able to RIDE OUT THE OLD, while we place out feet upon (INTO) the new. There are those who have become utterly weary of the old order, but they continue to fight it, resist it, or, as in the case of some, to heal it if they could. But there is an inworking of His cross which frees us from all the bondages of the old, and we are able to let it go its way as Father ordained it to go, while our heart, and vision are placed upon that new CHOICE VINE of His fullness of life...
             "The cup of blessing which we bless, is it not the communion of the blood of Christ? The bread which we break, is it not the communion of the body of Christ?" (1 Corinthians 10:16).
             What communion, what sharing together, what participation to be realized as we enter into "the fellowship of His sufferings, and are made conformable to His death. " And yet this was the very route that the Father ordained for the Son, to bring an end to the old order, and to birth the new. And likewise shall it so work IN US-- suffering, and death to self, etc. will certainly bring an end to all of our self-righteousness of the old covenant. It brings an end to the works of the flesh, and the struggle to be like Him. Now, having died to the old, we realize there is nought that we can do to rise up in the life of the new-- it will be totally the outflow of HIS LIFE. "I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave Himself for me." (Galatians 2:20).
             What love is revealed when HE came to dwell among men, and RIDE OUT the old covenant to its conclusion, fulfilling all of the righteousness of the Law. But then He went on to promise, "I say unto you, I will not drink henceforth of this fruit of the vine, until that day when I drink it new with you in My Father's kingdom." (Matthew 26:29). Truly, He drank (shared) with us, that we might now DRINK WITH HIM-- share in the glorious reality of the NEW VINE, the CHOICE VINE of the new covenant.
            Yes, we desire to DRINK THE NEW now, and many have taken their first sip, and been richly blessed, but when they could not walk in its fullness, they have returned to the old order and tried by works to bring the new into manifestation. Ah, the method and system of the old will never serve to produce the new. It is totally GOD ALL THE WAY! It is IN CHRIST, our Shiloh, our Peace, our Seed, that we find blessed reality.
            Praise God, HE has bound us unto the choice vine, and no more shall we be satisfied with anything less than its fullness. With all our heart we reach out to EMBRACE HIM, even though it means embracing His cross, before we enjoy the power of His resurrection. We welcome HIS YOKE UPON US, for it is away of life, of peace, of joy, and yes, of REST. We can cease from our own works, and enter into His rest, because HE is the CHOICE VINE of the new covenant, and He is the Finisher of our faith!

---

Back to Top of Page Exit to Introduction  Return to Whispers of the New Covenant
  Back to Prinzing Book List