Gold Associated with Kings and Kingdoms

          In the scriptures often there is a very strong correlation between bible colors and bible subjects.  Gold is both a color and a metal and as both color and metal it is associated with Kings, things pertaining to kings, and kingdoms.  This correlation will be presented in both the color section of this work and in the metal section of this work.

          The first time the word, gold appears in the scriptures is found in Genesis 2:11, 12: "The name of the first is Pison: that is it which compasseth the whole land of Havilah, where there is gold; And the gold of that land is good: there is bdellium and the onyx stone."  According to the law of first occurrence, gold is said to be good.  Gold is both precious (rare) and valuable.  Often throughout history it has been the basis of money exchange.  Also, gold is not easily corruptible.  Gold is a standard by which other things worth is judged. 

          Often, gold points us to King Jesus and to his bride, the church.  According to Rev. 1:5, 6 Christ has made his children both kings and priests: "And from Jesus Christ, who is the faithful witness, and the first begotten of the dead, and the prince of the kings of the earth. Unto him that loved us, and washed us from our sins in his own blood, And hath made us kings and priests unto God and his Father; to him be glory and dominion for ever and ever. Amen." 

          The things that we learn studying the color gold and its corresponding subject of kings and kingdoms often point us to characteristics, qualities, and works of King Jesus and to characteristics, qualities, and works that we should possess as kings and priests unto God. 

          In the next several essays we will examine the following:

Abraham's Gift to Rebecca

When Abraham sent his servant to find a bride for his son Isaac, he sent the servant with gifts for the bride to be:

1. Gen. 24:22 "And it came to pass, as the camels had done drinking, that the man took a golden earring of half a shekel weight, and two bracelets for her hands of ten shekels weight of gold;"
2. Gen. 24:53 "And the servant brought forth jewels of silver, and jewels of gold, and raiment, and gave them to Rebekah: he gave also to her brother and to her mother precious things."

Abraham had been blessed of God and had received precious promises of God that of he and his seed would all kindreds of the earth would be blessed. Also, God promised him that he would be a father of nations and that kings would come out of his loins. Isaac was Abraham's child of promise.

In the matter of taking of a bride for Isaac, there is a parallel in that passage to God taking a bride for his Son. In the types and shadows Isaac is a type of Christ and Rebekah is a type of the church. Abraham is a type of God the Father.

As Rebekah was chosen by the leadership of the Spirit of God, she had to be clothed as a Queen. The fact that she was given earrings of gold and bracelets of gold not only punctuated her beauty, but showed that her husband was a man of great wealth and had great care for his bride that he would clothe her and adorn her with gold, something reserved for the King's bride and for the King's daughters.

Similarly, we are chosen of God to be the sons and daughters of God. He has set us in a relationship to be the chosen bride of Christ. As the bride of Christ we are clothed with the very choicest of garments. We are clothed with the righteousness of our Husband. Further we are adorned with a meek and quiet spirit, which in the sight of God is of great price: 1 Pet. 3:3 "Whose adorning let it not be that outward adorning of plaiting the hair, and of wearing of gold, or of putting on of apparel; 4 But let it be the hidden man of the heart, in that which is not corruptible, even the ornament of a meek and quiet spirit, which is in the sight of God of great price. 5 For after this manner in the old time the holy women also, who trusted in God, adorned themselves, being in subjection unto their own husbands:"

God has blessed as the King's bride to be possessors of great riches. We are richly blessed as the following verses indicate:

1. Rom. 2:4 "Or despisest thou the riches of his goodness and forbearance and longsuffering; not knowing that the goodness of God leadeth thee to repentance?"
2. Rom. 9:23 "And that he might make known the riches of his glory on the vessels of mercy, which he had afore prepared unto glory,"
3. Rom. 11:33 "O the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! how unsearchable are his judgments, and his ways past finding out!"
4. 2 Cor. 8:2 "How that in a great trial of affliction the abundance of their joy and their deep poverty abounded unto the riches of their liberality."
5. Eph. 1:7 "In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace;"
6. Eph. 1:18 "The eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that ye may know what is the hope of his calling, and what the riches of the glory of his inheritance in the saints,"
7. Eph. 2:7 "That in the ages to come he might show the exceeding riches of his grace in his kindness toward us through Christ Jesus."
8. Eph. 3:8 "Unto me, who am less than the least of all saints, is this grace given, that I should preach among the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ;"
9. Eph. 3:16 "That he would grant you, according to the riches of his glory, to be strengthened with might by his Spirit in the inner man;"
10. Phil. 4:19 "But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus."
11. Col. 1:27 "To whom God would make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles; which is Christ in you, the hope of glory:"
12. Col. 2:2 "That their hearts might be comforted, being knit together in love, and unto all riches of the full assurance of understanding, to the acknowledgment of the mystery of God, and of the Father, and of Christ;"
 

Pharaoh's Promotion of Joseph

Gen. 41:39 "And Pharaoh said unto Joseph, Forasmuch as God hath showed thee all this, there is none so discreet and wise as thou art: 40 Thou shalt be over my house, and according unto thy word shall all my people be ruled: only in the throne will I be greater than thou. 41 And Pharaoh said unto Joseph, See, I have set thee over all the land of Egypt. 42 And Pharaoh took off his ring from his hand, and put it upon Joseph's hand, and arrayed him in vestures of fine linen, and put a gold chain about his neck; 43 And he made him to ride in the second chariot which he had; and they cried before him, Bow the knee: and he made him ruler over all the land of Egypt. 44 And Pharaoh said unto Joseph, I am Pharaoh, and without thee shall no man lift up his hand or foot in all the land of Egypt."

There are over a hundred parallels between the life of Joseph and the life of Jesus Christ. In the above scene we have Pharaoh promoting Joseph to be the second ruler in the land of Egypt. Egypt was to be governed by the word of Joseph. In making this promotion Pharaoh placed a gold chain about the neck of Joseph. This is symbolic of making Joseph a ruler or king over the land of Egypt.

Before Joseph became ruler over the land of Egypt several things happened to him:

1. Joseph was Jacob's (his father) favorite son.
2. Jacob had given Joseph a coat of many colors. This coat ended up dipped in the blood of a lamb.
3. Joseph's brethren plotted to kill Joseph, because they envied and hated him.
4. Joseph's brethren sold Joseph into bondage in Egypt.
5. Joseph was put in prison in Egypt even though he had done nothing wrong.
6. Joseph had the gift of prophecy which God had given to him.
7. Joseph was raised up out of prison and brought before Pharaoh and there he was made the second ruler in the land.
8. As the second ruler, Joseph saved his brethren from famine.
9. Joseph provided the best of dwelling places for his brethren in the land of Egypt – the land of Goshen.
10. Joseph ruled over all the land of Egypt.

Now we notice the parallels of Christ's ascension to be king over the Kingdom of God:
1. Christ is the favorite Son of the Father and the only begotten Son:
a. John 1:18 "No man hath seen God at any time; the only begotten Son, which is in the bosom of the Father, he hath declared him.
b. John 3:16 "For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life."
c. John 3:18 "He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God."
d. Heb. 11:17 "By faith Abraham, when he was tried, offered up Isaac: and he that had received the promises offered up his only begotten son."
e. 1 John 4:9 "In this was manifested the love of God toward us, because that God sent his only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through him."

2. Christ was given, not a coat of many colors, but a people out of every nation, people, tongue and kindred: Rev. 7:9 "After this I beheld, and, lo, a great multitude, which no man could number, of all nations, and kindreds, and people, and tongues, stood before the throne, and before the Lamb, clothed with white robes, and palms in their hands; 10 And cried with a loud voice, saying, Salvation to our God which sitteth upon the throne, and unto the Lamb." This people ended up dipped in the blood of the Lamb of God (Jesus Christ).

3. The Jews ended up plotting to kill Jesus because they envied him and hated him:
a. Mark 11:18 "And the scribes and chief priests heard it, and sought how they might destroy him: for they feared him, because all the people was astonished at his doctrine."
b. Mark 14:1 "After two days was the feast of the passover, and of unleavened bread: and the chief priests and the scribes sought how they might take him by craft, and put him to death."
c. Mark 14:11 "And when they heard it, they were glad, and promised to give him money. And he sought how he might conveniently betray him."
d. Luke 22:2 "And the chief priests and scribes sought how they might kill him; for they feared the people."
e. Matt. 27:17 "Therefore when they were gathered together, Pilate said unto them, Whom will ye that I release unto you? Barabbas, or Jesus which is called Christ? 18 For he knew that for envy they had delivered him."
4. Christ was sold for thirty pieces of silver:
a. Mat. 26:15 "And said unto them, What will ye give me, and I will deliver him unto you? And they covenanted with him for thirty pieces of silver."
b. Mat. 27:3 "Then Judas, which had betrayed him, when he saw that he was condemned, repented himself, and brought again the thirty pieces of silver to the chief priests and elders,"
c. Mat. 27:9 "Then was fulfilled that which was spoken by Jeremy the prophet, saying, And they took the thirty pieces of silver, the price of him that was valued, whom they of the children of Israel did value;"
5. Christ was taken from prison and judgment: Isa. 53:8 "He was taken from prison and from judgment: and who shall declare his generation? for he was cut off out of the land of the living: for the transgression of my people was he stricken."
6. Jesus prophesied of many things while walking on earth.
7. God raised up Christ from the dead: Rom. 8:11 "But if the Spirit of him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwell in you, he that raised up Christ from the dead shall also quicken your mortal bodies by his Spirit that dwelleth in you." God, also made Christ to be King: Acts 2:36 "Therefore let all the house of Israel know assuredly, that God hath made that same Jesus, whom ye have crucified, both Lord and Christ."
8. As the Son of God, Christ saved his people from sin:
a. Luke 1:68 "Blessed be the Lord God of Israel; for he hath visited and redeemed his people,"
b. Gal. 3:13 "Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us: for it is written, Cursed is every one that hangeth on a tree:"
c. 1 Pet. 1:18 "Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, from your vain conversation received by tradition from your fathers;"
d. Rev. 5:9 "And they sung a new song, saying, Thou art worthy to take the book, and to open the seals thereof: for thou wast slain, and hast redeemed us to God by thy blood out of every kindred, and tongue, and people, and nation;"
9. Christ has provided the best of dwelling places for his people while they sojourn here in this life – the Kingdom of God: Luke 16:16 "The law and the prophets were until John: since that time the kingdom of God is preached, and every man presseth into it."
10. Christ rules, not only over his church, but over all the earth:
a. Rev. 12:5 "And she brought forth a man child, who was to rule all nations with a rod of iron: and her child was caught up unto God, and to his throne."
b. Rev. 19:15 "And out of his mouth goeth a sharp sword, that with it he should smite the nations: and he shall rule them with a rod of iron: and he treadeth the winepress of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God."
c. Rev. 2:26 "And he that overcometh, and keepeth my works unto the end, to him will I give power over the nations: 27 And he shall rule them with a rod of iron; as the vessels of a potter shall they be broken to shivers: even as I received of my Father."

The King's Tabernacle

             The tabernacle that God had Moses and the children of Israel erect in the wilderness served as the place of the offerings of the High Priest and the priests.  A tabernacle is a temporary dwelling place and here God manifest himself at times to the children of Israel.  It was appropriately called the place of God's abode during that time.

            The curtains of the tabernacle were coupled together by taches of gold: Ex. 26:5 "Fifty loops shalt thou make in the one curtain, and fifty loops shalt thou make in the edge of the curtain that is in the coupling of the second; that the loops may take hold one of another. 6 And thou shalt make fifty taches of gold, and couple the curtains together with the taches: and it shall be one tabernacle." 

            In many ways, the tabernacle in the wilderness was typical of the Lord's church today.  The tabernacle was built under the direction of God.  God gave the pattern to Moses and told him: Ex. 25:8 "And let them make me a sanctuary; that I may dwell among them. 9 According to all that I show thee, after the pattern of the tabernacle, and the pattern of all the instruments thereof, even so shall ye make it."  Truly God was the King giving direction to the children of Israel and they were to follow those directions.  They were not to deviate from them.  The tabernacle was coupled together by the God of Israel. 

            Likewise, Christ, the King, is the builder of His church: Mat. 16:18 "And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it."  This verse should be coupled with Ps. 127:1 "Except the LORD build the house, they labour in vain that build it: except the LORD keep the city, the watchman waketh but in vain."  This teaches us that our King Jesus gives us directions and a pattern for His house (church).  We are to follow the directions and pattern he has given us for the building and worship of His house.  We are not to deviate from it. 

The King's Table

In the scriptures there is a strong correlation between the color or metal, gold, and the subject of kings. Where we find the color or metal, gold, we should be looking for something pertaining to a king.

In the tabernacle in the wilderness that God instructed Moses and the children of Israel to build, there were several pieces of furniture that had gold as either a part of the piece or all of the piece. One such piece of furniture was the table in the Holy Place:

1. Ex. 25:23 "Thou shalt also make a table of shittim wood: two cubits shall be the length thereof, and a cubit the breadth thereof, and a cubit and a half the height thereof. 24 And thou shalt overlay it with pure gold, and make thereto a crown of gold round about. 25 And thou shalt make unto it a border of an hand breadth round about, and thou shalt make a golden crown to the border thereof round about. 26 And thou shalt make for it four rings of gold, and put the rings in the four corners that are on the four feet thereof. 27 Over against the border shall the rings be for places of the staves to bear the table. 28 And thou shalt make the staves of shittim wood, and overlay them with gold, that the table may be borne with them. 29 And thou shalt make the dishes thereof, and spoons thereof, and covers thereof, and bowls thereof, to cover withal: of pure gold shalt thou make them. 30 And thou shalt set upon the table showbread before me alway."

2. Lev. 24:5 "And thou shalt take fine flour, and bake twelve cakes thereof: two tenth deals shall be in one cake. 6 And thou shalt set them in two rows, six on a row, upon the pure table before the LORD. 7 And thou shalt put pure frankincense upon each row, that it may be on the bread for a memorial, even an offering made by fire unto the LORD. 8 Every sabbath he shall set it in order before the LORD continually, being taken from the children of Israel by an everlasting covenant. 9 And it shall be Aaron's and his sons'; and they shall eat it in the holy place: for it is most holy unto him of the offerings of the LORD made by fire by a perpetual statute."

This table in the tabernacle points us to King Jesus' table. This table was called a pure table. Moreover, this table had showbread placed upon it that Aaron and his sons ate thereof in the holy place. The bread was a bread of memorial. The bread was placed in two rows, with six loaves in each row. We will look at the spiritual significance of some of these things later in this article.
King David, after that he ascended to the throne of Israel, inquired whether there was any of the sons of Saul that he might show the kindness of God for Jonathan's sake: 2 Sam. 9:1 "And David said, Is there yet any that is left of the house of Saul, that I may show him kindness for Jonathan's sake? 2 And there was of the house of Saul a servant whose name was Ziba. And when they had called him unto David, the king said unto him, Art thou Ziba? And he said, Thy servant is he. 3 And the king said, Is there not yet any of the house of Saul, that I may show the kindness of God unto him? And Ziba said unto the king, Jonathan hath yet a son, which is lame on his feet. 4 And the king said unto him, Where is he? And Ziba said unto the king, Behold, he is in the house of Machir, the son of Ammiel, in Lodebar. 5 Then king David sent, and fetched him out of the house of Machir, the son of Ammiel, from Lodebar. 6 Now when Mephibosheth, the son of Jonathan, the son of Saul, was come unto David, he fell on his face, and did reverence. And David said, Mephibosheth. And he answered, Behold thy servant! 7 And David said unto him, Fear not: for I will surely show thee kindness for Jonathan thy father's sake, and will restore thee all the land of Saul thy father; and thou shalt eat bread at my table continually."

The word Mephibosheth means "dispeller of shame." He was dwelling in the "house of Machir." The term, "house of Machir" means "house of bondage." Ammiel means "no God." Lodebar means "no pasture." Mephibosheth was one who had been made lame as a result of a fall. He was a dispenser of shame. He was in the house of bondage and without God and had no pasture. He was typical of every child of God before they are born of the Spirit. Before the spiritual birth we were totally depraved as a result of the fall of Adam in the Garden of Eden. We were dispenser of shame according to our depraved nature. We were without God and we had no spiritual pasture.

David bestowed a great blessing upon Mephibosheth in that he restored him all the lands of his father, and gave him the privilege of eating bread at the King's table as one of the King's sons. David, however, did not do this for Mephibosheth's sake, but rather he did it for Jonathan's sake. He showed him the kindness of God for Jonathan's sake.

Likewise, we who are like Mephibosheth are blessed for Christ's sake. We had no virtue of our own. We were totally undeserving of the kindness of God. However, according to a covenant arrangement, we are blessed for Christ's sake. Now we may eat at the King's table: Luke 22:29 "And I appoint unto you a kingdom, as my Father hath appointed unto me; 30 That ye may eat and drink at my table in my kingdom, and sit on thrones judging the twelve tribes of Israel." While this was spoken directly to the twelve apostles, yet when coupled with the following verse it shows us that we also have part of eating with Christ at His table: 1 Cor. 10:21 "Ye cannot drink the cup of the Lord, and the cup of devils: ye cannot be partakers of the Lord's table, and of the table of devils."

Now that we have established that King Jesus has a table and that we have been made partakers of his table, let us go back to the table in the tabernacle in the wilderness. First, this table was a "pure" table. When you eat what the world feeds you, there is nothing pure. It is mixed with perhaps some good things and some poison. In contrast, the Lord's table is pure. You always know what you can expect to find at the Lord's table.

Second, the table in the tabernacle had a crown of gold around it. This points us to the fact that Christ is the king to whom this table belongs and that he reigns over this house. When we go to eat of the Lord's table, we are not going to eat of some man's table. Only the very best will be served at the Lord's table.

Third, this table had twelve loaves arranged in two rows, with six in each row. The bread of this table was arranged six loaves by six loaves. It was six by six or 66. There are 66 books of the Old and New Testaments. When we eat of the Lord's Table, we are eating of the very best of food. We are eating of the food of the scriptures. Further, there was frankincense sprinkled on these six by six loaves. Frankincense signifies the sacrificial atonement of Jesus Christ. The scriptures are a continually testimony of Jesus: John 5:39 "Search the scriptures; for in them ye think ye have eternal life: and they are they which testify of me." The sacrificial atonement of Christ for the elect gives us an extremely sweet savor when we search the scriptures.

Fourth, the table had four rings on the sides with two staves overlaid with gold by which the table was to be carried by the priests. The priests were the sons of the High Priest. Only the sons of the High Priest were allowed to carry the table. Similarly, only the sons of our King and High Priest (Jesus Christ) are allowed to sit and eat at the King's table and only the sons of our High Priest are allowed to carry the gospel of the grace of Christ.

Fifth, the utensils of the table: spoons, bowls, dishes: are all of pure gold. They are the work of the King and belong to the King. We are made partakers of the Lord's table by being born of the Spirit of God. This is God's work. By this miracle of the New Birth we can eat of the Spirit of God and receive the things of the Spirit of God. We are given faith by which we can partake of the Lord's table. By this same faith we eat of the true gospel of Jesus Christ. Our new birth and our faith comes from our King and belongs to our King. These are the utensils by which we eat from the King's table.

Gold Continues