1. Joshua’s Altar

White Altars of Joshua

Thou shalt build the altar of the LORD thy God of whole stones: and thou shalt offer burnt offerings thereon unto the LORD thy God: Deuteronomy 27:6

The problems faced by governments throughout the ages have always been the same problems. The chosen solutions either alleviate the problem or they compound it. The same precepts that applied to God and man thousands of years ago apply today. The daily choice is ours. The solution is within our reach.

Moses chose to be a servant of the people rather than their ruler. Joshua was his servant. Joshua was told to build an altar when he crossed the Jordan. There were conditions placed upon Joshua’s altar of stones.

“And it shall be on the day when ye shall pass over Jordan unto the land which the LORD thy God giveth thee, that thou shalt set thee up great stones, and plaister them with plaister:” Deuteronomy 27:2

The stones were to be plastered white. This whitewash was made by burning bones to make lime plaster. This is symbolic of being clothed in white linen or the white stones mentioned in Revelation 2:17. These white stones were representative of men of good character, tested by fire and pure of heart.

“And thou shalt write upon them all the words of this law, when thou art passed over, that thou mayest go in unto the land which the LORD thy God giveth thee, a land that floweth with milk and honey; as the LORD God of thy fathers hath promised thee.” Deuteronomy 27:3

They were also to have the law written upon them before they passed over the Jordan. Does anyone really imagine that the God of the universe cares whether you cover stones with plaster or write words on them? Or is there a message in these rituals?

God makes it clear throughout the Bible that he wishes to make a covenant with men by writing His laws upon their hearts and minds, not upon dead stone. These stones and altars were an external reminder of the precepts of God. In some ways, they better understood the practical necessities of the day than the learned seminarians and their professors do today.

The altars were instruments of sacrifice and part of a system of trust and liberty used by the government of Israel according to the character of or in the name of God the Father. The Hebrew word for “offer” is korban [qorban Nbrq]. Scholars debate whether that the word korban has the idea of gift at the center of its meaning. Their conclusions are based on the facts that korban is from the word qarab [brq], which is also translated “offer”, but means “come” or “draw near”. True giving in charity does draw us near to the character or name of God. More than anything else, charity includes, in its operation, both love and hope with the byproduct of faith, which is also a gift from God.

“And now abideth faith, hope, charity, these three; but the greatest of these [is] charity.” 1 Corinthians 13:13

It is not the shape or dimension of the altar or the etching upon it, but the act of freely giving that consecrates the stones of man’s altars. God’s stone altars are made of living flesh, of men, who have His law written upon their hearts and upon their minds.

“Ye also, as lively stones, are built up a spiritual house, an holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God by Jesus Christ.” 1 Peter 2:5

If you are to build an altar of living stone, it should be built in the fashion laid down from the beginning, precept upon precept. The stones should not be hewn by the regulations of men, but left free to give and be given to by faith, hope, and charity; choosing daily under the law of liberty to consume our bread or charitably cast it upon the waters of mankind. This is nurturing to the soul of men and allows God’s Spirit of love to move in us concurrently.

“I have shewed you all things, how that so labouring ye ought to support the weak, and to remember the words of the Lord Jesus, how he said, It is more blessed to give than to receive.” Acts 20:35

Joshua would not rule over the people and made it clear that he and his house would serve the Lord. This was leadership not a rulership or exercising authority. The altars constructed were not regulated by a top-down authority, but by the freewill choice of the people. These altars acted as the left hand of God’s government of liberty and freedom. The people chose to whom and how they were to make their offerings under the guidelines of the few hundred statutes of Moses.

The nation would remain strong and united as the people remained strong in the character of God, being remade daily in the image of God by their voluntary sacrifice. They were bound under this system of love and brotherhood, unlike the other nations who were bound together by compulsion, intimidation, control, power, and subjugating regulations of other men. As long as the people accepted their responsibilities and loved their neighbor as themselves, in faith, hope, and charity, according to the name of God, the nation remained indivisible and invincible.

If the people called for a central government and compelled their neighbor to contribute to their favorite project or charity, then they were going against the precepts of God and His kingdom and they would soon be serving the gods to whom they had applied.

“And if it seem evil unto you to serve the LORD, choose you this day whom ye will serve; whether the gods which your fathers served that [were] on the other side of the flood, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land ye dwell: but as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD.” Joshua 24:15

Moses, Joshua, and even Gideon kept repeating this common theme of God’s people, which is contrary to tyrants, despots, and social democracies. They would not covet their neighbors’ goods nor rule over the people.

“And Gideon said unto them, I will not rule over you, neither shall my son rule over you: the LORD shall rule over you.” Judges 8:23

Footnotes:

Table of Contents

of the book Thy Kingdom Comes

Peace be to this house,

The Prologue of the book Thy Kingdom Comes
http://www.hisholychurch.org/media/books/TKC/TKCa1-0Prologue.php

1. The Kingdom of God of the book Thy Kingdom Comes

     Is Righteousness of the book Thy Kingdom Comes
http://www.hisholychurch.org/media/books/TKC/TKCa1-1IsRighteousness.php

     A Man as King of the book Thy Kingdom Comes
http://www.hisholychurch.org/media/books/TKC/TKCa1-2AManasKing.php

 

2. Abraham Uncivilized of the book Thy Kingdom Comes

     The City State of the book Thy Kingdom Comes
http://www.hisholychurch.org/media/books/TKC/TKCb2-1TheCityState.php

     Two kingdoms/ The Merchants of Men of the book Thy Kingdom Comes
http://www.hisholychurch.org/media/books/TKC/TKCb2-2MerchantsofMen.php

      The Hindu Connection of the book Thy Kingdom Comes
http://www.hisholychurch.org/media/books/TKC/TKCb2-3HinduConnection.php

     Abraham and the Legend, The Prodigal Son
     Our king and our god? of the book Thy Kingdom Comes
http://www.hisholychurch.org/media/books/TKC/TKCb2-4Legend.php

     The Code of Abraham of the book Thy Kingdom Comes
http://www.hisholychurch.org/media/books/TKC/TKCb2-5code.php

     Abraham and the Family of the book Thy Kingdom Comes
http://www.hisholychurch.org/media/books/TKC/TKCb2-6Family.php

 

3. The Altar of Abraham of the book Thy Kingdom Comes

     Moses and the Altars of the book Thy Kingdom Comes
http://www.hisholychurch.org/media/books/TKC/TKCc3-1AltarsofClay.php

     The Altar of Sin of the book Thy Kingdom Comes
http://www.hisholychurch.org/media/books/TKC/TKCc3-2Sin.php

     Sacrifice of the book Thy Kingdom Comes
http://www.hisholychurch.org/media/books/TKC/TKCc3-3Sophistry.php

 

4. Moses, Moses of the book Thy Kingdom Comes

     The Civil State of the book Thy Kingdom Comes
http://www.hisholychurch.org/media/books/TKC/TKCd4-1CivilState.php

     Gods Many of the book Thy Kingdom Comes
http://www.hisholychurch.org/media/books/TKC/TKCd4-2godsmany.php

     No Kings of the book Thy Kingdom Comes
http://www.hisholychurch.org/media/books/TKC/TKCd4-3NoKings.php

     Servant Priests of a Nation of the book Thy Kingdom Comes
http://www.hisholychurch.org/media/books/TKC/TKCd4-4Servants.php

 

5. Joshua’s Altar of the book Thy Kingdom Comes

    White Altars of Joshua
     King over us of the book Thy Kingdom Comes
http://www.hisholychurch.org/media/books/TKC/TKCe5-1WhiteAltars.php

     Adultery of a Nation of the book Thy Kingdom Comes
http://www.hisholychurch.org/media/books/TKC/TKCe5-2Adultery.php

     Fear, Faith and Foolishness of the book Thy Kingdom Comes
http://www.hisholychurch.org/media/books/TKC/TKCe5-3RearFaith.php

 

6. The World of the book Thy Kingdom Comes

    Of Rome and Judea of the book Thy Kingdom Comes
http://www.hisholychurch.org/media/books/TKC/TKCf6-1Rome.php

     The Remarkable History of Israel of the book Thy Kingdom Comes
http://www.hisholychurch.org/media/books/TKC/TKCf6-2Israel.php

     Rome the Believer of the book Thy Kingdom Comes
     The Commander in chiefs
http://www.hisholychurch.org/media/books/TKC/TKCf6-3RomeBeliever.php

     A Father’s offer of the book Thy Kingdom Comes
http://www.hisholychurch.org/media/books/TKC/TKCf6-4TheOffer.php

     The Hasmonean Appeal of the book Thy Kingdom Comes
     Socialization of Rome
http://www.hisholychurch.org/media/books/TKC/TKCf6-5SocialAppeal.php

     The Love of kings of the book Thy Kingdom Comes
http://www.hisholychurch.org/media/books/TKC/TKCf6-6LovingKings.php

 

7. Factions at the Altar of the book Thy Kingdom Comes

     The Pharisees and The Sadducees of the book Thy Kingdom Comes
http://www.hisholychurch.org/media/books/TKC/TKCg7-1Factions.php

     The Essenes of the book Thy Kingdom Comes
     The Healers of a Nation
http://www.hisholychurch.org/media/books/TKC/TKCg7-2Essene.php

 

8. A King is Born of the book Thy Kingdom Comes

     A King is Born of the book Thy Kingdom Comes
http://www.hisholychurch.org/media/books/TKC/TKCh8-1KingBorn.php

     What is redemption? of the book Thy Kingdom Comes
http://www.hisholychurch.org/media/books/TKC/TKCh8-2Redemption.php

     Kingdom in Turmoil of the book Thy Kingdom Comes
http://www.hisholychurch.org/media/books/TKC/TKCh8-3Turmoil.php

     The New Deal of the book Thy Kingdom Comes
http://www.hisholychurch.org/media/books/TKC/TKCh8-4NewDeal.php

 

9. Temples and Churches of the book Thy Kingdom Comes

     The Church
http://www.hisholychurch.org/media/books/TKC/TKCi9-1TemplesandChurches.php

     Investing in Diana of the book Thy Kingdom Comes
http://www.hisholychurch.org/media/books/TKC/TKCi9-2InvestinDiana.php

     One Father of the book Thy Kingdom Comes
http://www.hisholychurch.org/media/books/TKC/TKCi9-3OurFather.php

     Arts of the Temples of the book Thy Kingdom Comes
http://www.hisholychurch.org/media/books/TKC/TKCi9-4TempleArts.php

     The Temple of Satan of the book Thy Kingdom Comes
http://www.hisholychurch.org/media/books/TKC/TKCi9-5SatansTemple.php

     The Royal Treasury of the book Thy Kingdom Comes
http://www.hisholychurch.org/media/books/TKC/TKCi9-6RoyalTreasury.php

10. Two Paths of the book Thy Kingdom Comes

     God’s dominion from the Beginning of the book Thy Kingdom Comes
     The revenue of the wicked
http://www.hisholychurch.org/media/books/TKC/TKCj10-1Paths.php

     Beams in our eyes of the book Thy Kingdom Comes
     Removing the Beam
http://www.hisholychurch.org/media/books/TKC/TKCj10-2Beams.php

     These two Kingdoms of the book Thy Kingdom Comes
http://www.hisholychurch.org/media/books/TKC/TKCj10-3TwoKingdoms.php

    Faith is actions of the book Thy Kingdom Comes
http://www.hisholychurch.org/media/books/TKC/TKCj10-4Action.php

     The kingdom appointed to Liberty of the book Thy Kingdom Comes
http://www.hisholychurch.org/media/books/TKC/TKCj10-5AppointedLiberty.php

 

11. Where is the kingdom of the book Thy Kingdom Comes

    The kingdom comes of the book Thy Kingdom Comes
http://www.hisholychurch.org/media/books/TKC/TKCk11-1Kingdom.php

    Eating in the kingdom of the book Thy Kingdom Comes
http://www.hisholychurch.org/media/books/TKC/TKCk11-2Eating.php

    Washing in the kingdom of the book Thy Kingdom Comes
http://www.hisholychurch.org/media/books/TKC/TKCk11-3Washing.php

     Where is the Church? of the book Thy Kingdom Comes
http://www.hisholychurch.org/media/books/TKC/TKCk11-4Where.php

     We are all kings of the book Thy Kingdom Comes
http://www.hisholychurch.org/media/books/TKC/TKCk11-5AllKings.php

 

12. Apostasy of the book Thy Kingdom Comes

     The Ship of State of the book Thy Kingdom Comes
http://www.hisholychurch.org/media/books/TKC/TKCl12-1Ship.php

     The Allurement of Wolves of the book Thy Kingdom Comes
http://www.hisholychurch.org/media/books/TKC/TKCl12-2Wolves.php

     The Church of the book Thy Kingdom Comes
http://www.hisholychurch.org/media/books/TKC/TKCl12-3Church.php

     The Separate Church
http://www.hisholychurch.org/media/books/TKC/TKCl12-4Separate.php

13. The Kingdom of Heaven of the book Thy Kingdom Comes

    The State of the Nation of the book Thy Kingdom Comes
http://www.hisholychurch.org/media/books/TKC/TKCm13-1Heaven.php

    Seeking the kingdom, The Law of God of the book Thy Kingdom Comes
http://www.hisholychurch.org/media/books/TKC/TKCm13-2SeekLaw.php

    What does the Kingdom look like? of the book Thy Kingdom Comes
http://www.hisholychurch.org/media/books/TKC/TKCm13-3looks.php

    Assembling a congregation of the book Thy Kingdom Comes
    Where to start seeking the kingdom of God
http://www.hisholychurch.org/media/books/TKC/TKCm13-4Start.php

Appendix of the book Thy Kingdom Comes

    Appendix 1. Kingdom of Heaven and God of the book Thy Kingdom Comes
http://www.hisholychurch.org/media/books/TKC/TKCn-1Appendix.php

    Appendix 2. The things He says of the book Thy Kingdom Comes
http://www.hisholychurch.org/media/books/TKC/TKCn-2AppenSaid.php

     Appendix 3. What is Worship? of the book Thy Kingdom Comes
http://www.hisholychurch.org/media/books/TKC/TKCn-3AppenWorship.php

     Appendix 4. Who are the Nicolaitans? of the book Thy Kingdom Comes
http://www.hisholychurch.org/media/books/TKC/TKCn-4AppenNicolaitan.php

     Appendix 5. Who is a god? of the book Thy Kingdom Comes
http://www.hisholychurch.org/media/books/TKC/TKCn-5Appengods.php

     Appendix 6. Oaths and Swearing of the book Thy Kingdom Comes
http://www.hisholychurch.org/media/books/TKC/TKCn-6AppenOaths.php

    The Cover of the book, Thy Kingdom Comes
The Elixir of Love.
http://www.hisholychurch.org/media/books/TKC/tkczzwa.php

     About the Author of the book Thy Kingdom Comes
http://www.hisholychurch.org/media/books/TKC/tkczzwb.php

 

Other publications:
The Covenants of the gods
The Free Church Report