Better is the End of a Thing than the Beginning Thereof [podcast]

The “end of a thing” is the resurrection phase which comes after “the beginning” which is death and burial.

“Surely oppression (injustice) maketh a wise man mad; and a gift (the bribe or “favor” that brings about our suffering) destroyeth the heart. 8 Better is the end of a thing than the beginning thereof: and the patient in spirit is better than the proud in spirit. 9 Be not hasty in thy spirit to be angry: for anger resteth in the bosom of fools.” Ecclesiastes 7:7-9 

To see “the end of a thing”, Heaven, the believer must be “patient” and “endure to the end” with Christ in this season of sufferings.

In this life there are things we will suffer at the hands of wicked men and their oppressive decisions. The LORD instructs us here and elsewhere to be “patient in spirit” and not “proud” and to remember that “anger resteth in the bosom of fools.”

Now that is a dose of some very important divine wisdom which will greatly help us in this life where we’re told that “we must through much tribulation enter into the kingdom of God.” (Acts 14:22)

“Confirming the souls of the disciples, and exhorting them to continue in the faith, and that we must through much tribulation enter into the kingdom of God.” Acts 14:22

Jesus promised:

“In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.” John 16:33

Read the book of 1 Peter concerning Christian suffering.

“In your patience possess ye your souls.” Luke 21:19

Mourning Trumps Merriment in Christ’s Kingdom (Ecclesiastes 7:2-5; James 4:8-10).

Wisdom says to not be angry. No, realize that out of this season of injustice, death, and burial are occurring and resurrection is coming.

“Verily, verily, I say unto you, Except a corn of wheat fall into the ground and die, it abideth alone: but if it die, it bringeth forth much fruit.” John 12:24

“God salvages the individual by liquidating him and then raising him again to newness of life.” A.W. Tozer

Death must always precede resurrection. When this begins to be our first thought,….

The LORD is the Potter and we are His clay (Jeremiah 18:6). The purging, the stripping must occur in each of our lives. Even men like Joseph and Job had to be stripped.

“Know now that God hath overthrown me, and hath compassed me with his net. 7 Behold, I cry out of wrong, but I am not heard: I cry aloud, but there is no judgment. 8 He hath fenced up my way that I cannot pass, and he hath set darkness in my paths. 9 He hath stripped me of my glory, and taken the crown from my head. 10 He hath destroyed me on every side, and I am gone: and mine hope hath he removed like a tree.” Job 19:6-10

In the divine economy, the dead and burial always happen in order to bring about the resurrection (Isaiah 37:31; John 12:23). Such a phenomenon can be observed throughout the Bible, God’s people, and into the future glorious kingdom reign of Christ (Revelation 21, etc.).

“And Joseph called the name of the firstborn Manasseh (to forget): For God, said he, hath made me forget all my toil, and all my father’s house. 52 And the name of the second called he Ephraim (fruitfulness): For God hath caused me to be fruitful in the land of my affliction.” Genesis 41:51-52

In Psalm 105 we see a recounting of the work of God beginning with Abraham and into the life of Joseph and the captivity of His people in Egypt. In verse 37 of this chapter we see the season of resurrection beginning, unfolding…

Ps 105:37—- “He brought them forth also with silver and gold: and there was not one feeble person among their tribes.” 

This was the beginning of the season of resurrection for God’s people after their death and buried in the land of Egypt.

Of this passage FB Meyer writes:

“LED BY A MIGHTY HAND
Psalms 105:31-45
Notice in this enumeration of the plagues that the emphasis in each is laid on God’s direct act. He is the great agent of his own purposes. The tenth plague, Psa_105:36, is followed by the triumphant exodus, when Israel went forth, enriched with treasure and strong for the march. However sad and weary our life may be, it will one day be rich and strong as it goes forth to serve under new and loftier conditions. How good it is to realize that God hath prepared for us things that surpass human thought, and which are proportioned not according to intellect but according to heart; not according to deeds but according to character!”

Psalm 105 continues in enumerating the blessings of the season of resurrection.

“For he remembered his holy promise, and Abraham his servant. 43 And he brought forth his people with joy, and his chosen with gladness: 44 And gave them the lands of the heathen: and they inherited the labour of the people; 45 That they might observe his statutes, and keep his laws. Praise ye the LORD.” Psalms 105:42-45 

Daily Dying and Future Glory

“And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together. 18 For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us. 19 For the earnest expectation of the creature waiteth for the manifestation of the sons of God. 20 For the creature was made subject to vanity, not willingly, but by reason of him who hath subjected the same in hope, 21 Because the creature itself also shall be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the children of God. 22 For we know that the whole creation groaneth and travaileth in pain together until now. 23 And not only they, but ourselves also, which have the firstfruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting for the adoption, to wit, the redemption of our body. 24 For we are saved by hope: but hope that is seen is not hope: for what a man seeth, why doth he yet hope for?” Romans 8:17-24

Israel was unjustly brought into bondage and yet it resulted in their explosive growth (Exodus 1:12) and enrichment with gold and silver as they were raised out of it in the grand exodus…. the season of death brought forth the season of great fruit.

Wasn’t this exactly what happened with Joseph? (Genesis 41:51-52)

And many of these types, the typology in the lives of the patriarchs, prefigured our Savior’s great suffering unto death which brought forth the greatest victory in history… the resurrection of the Son of God!

“Forasmuch then as the children are partakers of flesh and blood, he also himself likewise took part of the same; that through death he might destroy him that had the power of death, that is, the devil; 15 And deliver them who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage.” Hebrews 2:14-15

Jesus defeated death by dying.

During this, Satan towed the bell of his own destruction.

“Which none of the princes of this world knew: for had they known it, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory.” 1 Corinthians 2:8

“And having spoiled principalities and powers, he made a shew of them openly, triumphing over them in it.” Colossians 2:15

At the cross which preceded and yielded the resurrection, Jesus Christ publicly, eternally embarrassingly defeated Satan and his angels.

In the same way, our own death, those seasons of death and burial, are going to yield victory over the enemy, vanquishing his tentacles from our lives.

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