Today we speak of Kings “cut off” from the people they ruled. The scriptures use the words “cut off” to describe someone who has been separated from their people. This event was often from the circumstances of sin. Three of Israel’s Kings experienced a time of being “cut off.”
GOD CHOSE DAVID
The people of Israel had their way with a King like the other nations. Now, as Saul’s reign grows to a close, it is going to be God’s turn to choose a righteous King to rule over Israel. This man hiding in the wilderness was a man after God’s own heart. His name was David. God has been preparing David for this moment of becoming the King of Israel throughout his whole life.
This kingship wasn’t just about David though. It was about someone much more important than David. It was about Our Messiah, Yeshua. Through the coming rule of David, God is going to bring a Savior to Israel and the world. He will be The King of All Kings.
THE HISTORY OF HISTORY
At the time of the creation, who could have known the outcome of all of this history? Only God. It is God who sees the end from the beginning. He alone has the ability to write stories before they actually happen.
Yet, the whole time the history of Israel unraveled, the stories of the lives of Israel’s Kings, (including Saul, David and The Messiah,) were shining down from the sky. You could see them hiding in the constellation of Capricorn.
KINGS WHO WERE “CUT-OFF” FROM THE PEOPLE
We know it is in the early Fall of each year when Capricorn graces the night skies over En-gedi. En-gedi means “fountain of the young goat or kid.” These words have an unused root of “gadah” which means “cut-off.”
In his running from Saul, we see David is “cut-off” from being with his people. He is having to hide. David is outcast from the kingdom which he loves so much.
If you remember our lesson from a few weeks ago, we spoke of these same words in a different way. We saw how David “cut off” a portion of the robe of King Saul. They both were in the caves where David and his men were hiding in the stronghold of En-gedi. The scriptures speak of Saul seeking David and his men upon the rocks of the wild goats.
We can discern a pattern here. The pattern shows David “cut off.” Then we see a transition which changes to Saul becoming “cut off.” As we continue this story we will notice more times which refer to Saul being “cut-off.” There will also be more examples in the story of David being “cut-off.” Watch for them as we go because they are significant.
THE KINGS “CUT OFF”
What do you think happened when Jesus was hanging upon a cross for our sins? God is too holy to look upon all of the weight of the sin Messiah took up for us. The King of all Kings experienced the agony of a common man as he died on a cross. For three days and nights Yeshua experienced becoming “cut off” from the land of the living.
All of the above ties in with the fulfillment of The Day of Atonement. The writings of the Torah explain that the goat of the atonement is “for the people.” It was the head of the goat where the people laid their hands and transferred their sins. The head of a goat with the sins of the people placed upon it is the symbolic picture of substitutional sacrifice.
Next, the tail of a fish is a metaphor which refers to the children of Israel. We know Capricorn’s sign has the head of a goat and the tail of a fish.
OUR ATONEMENT
We will discuss this head of the fish more in next week’s lesson. However, I wish for you to understand that The Lord’s goat was “cut-off” from the land of the living. This goat was symbolic of our sin-bearer, Jesus Christ The Messiah. He is the atonement for all sin.
This was a prophesy by the prophet Daniel. Daniel 9:26-27 reads ” And after the sixty-two weeks Messiah shall be cut off, but not for Himself but for the people and he shall confirm a covenant with many for one week; but in the middle of the week, He shall bring an end to sacrifice and offering.
NEW COVENANT CONFIRMED IN THE SKY
The above verse speaks of the new covenant. It was in the middle of the 70th week of this prophesy of Daniel that Jesus was “cut-off” from the land of the living for the transgressions of the people. At that moment the veil of the Temple ripped open. This signified an end to sacrifice and offering for sin.
The head of a goat and the tail of a fish symbolize Capricorn. In Latin Capri (caper) means “he goat.” Corn is the same as “grain.” The sign of Virgo (the virgin) holds a grain of wheat which represents the seed of Abraham. The Lord said this would happen. He promised the seed of Abraham would be as many “as the stars of heaven.”
LOOKING AT THE STARS
Capricorn shows a goat offered as a sin offering. The offering is for the seed of Abraham. The Seed of Abraham the tail of the fish. Messiah, symbolized by the goat (capri), is also the corn. He is the grain of wheat that fell into the ground and died to produce a glorious harvest of ripening grain in God’s final harvest.
Keep looking up; there is more of this story coming next week.