<aside> <img src="https://prod-files-secure.s3.us-west-2.amazonaws.com/49de0235-e8bc-4eca-bf20-2a9d6d267a02/ab8efb25-be9c-43e2-bf23-5395613f5a5f/IMAGE_2024-02-23_213600.jpg" alt="https://prod-files-secure.s3.us-west-2.amazonaws.com/49de0235-e8bc-4eca-bf20-2a9d6d267a02/ab8efb25-be9c-43e2-bf23-5395613f5a5f/IMAGE_2024-02-23_213600.jpg" width="40px" /> (2.) ALTAR - prophetic significance of eleeos- to rescue or deliver from sin, to expel weakness from the body - man of peace, interventionist; each offering or sacrifice was made of the blood of bulls or goats, lambs or birds depending the occasion and purpose whether to ask for forgiveness, to give thanks for answered prayer or any number of personal reasons why a worshipper might draw near in holy communion. Without the shedding of blood there is no remission of sin, and each offering is a meal (transposed in the NT to the holy communion, love feast, breaking of bread, etc) is offered up as a song of praise together with the smoke rising upward in reverent awe and appropriate expectation of answer. The full significance of the altar of whole burnt sacrifice will be seen only in the atoning sacrifice of Christ on the cross and the subsequent release of mercy and forgiveness. It is here that we experience God’s love and learn to pass it on.
</aside>
Redeeming the eleemosynary genius (ELE, rescue) - The ability to feel for the hurting and remove the pain. The driving force to rescue the fallen, rebuild boundaries broken by violence, neglect or carelessness. The messianic who by masterful intervention takes back what was lost or on the verge of defeat and wins for the team by a flat refusal to give up or back down.
“The drive or urge to meet needs and take care of difficulties, distress and /or deficiencies in people, systems or situations. Individuals will seek to address, alleviate or ameliorate the pain, suffering, handicap, limitation or inability that is present in a person, situation or context.” (Samuel, Moen)
Blindspot of the ELE when the eleemosynary gift “gets in the way” of what the Lord wants done - lying (ψεύδεσθε) - debunking the myth of unconditional love (self-deceived narcissism, hyper-grace, unlimited atonement, irresistible grace, once saved always saved, and related misconceptions) in the theology and praxis of the grace of God.
In the context of 1 Cor 14:26, the rescue component of the eleemosynary genius can be seen as the act of bringing a hymn to the congregation. This isn't just about singing a song, but about using the hymn to address, alleviate, or ameliorate the pain, suffering, handicap, limitation, or inability that is present in a person, situation, or context. The hymn, therefore, becomes a means of rescue, a way to rebuild boundaries broken by violence, neglect, or carelessness. It's an intervention that takes back what was lost or on the verge of defeat and wins for the team by a flat refusal to give up or back down.
Similarly, the hymn serves as a platform for communal engagement and individual reflection. As the congregation comes together in song, the collective voice creates a sense of unity and shared purpose. On a personal level, the act of singing allows individuals to express their emotions, affirm their faith, and experience moments of transcendence. The hymn, therefore, is not merely a part of the worship service; it is a dynamic and transformative element that enriches the worship experience.
Making melody in your heart, as mentioned in Ephesians 5:19, can be seen as a form of internal worship, an act of giving thanks and honoring God in the depth of our being. This personal, heartfelt worship can be mapped to the Fire Altar in the Tabernacle of Moses, which was a central place for presenting offerings to God.
Just as the Fire Altar was a place where the physical offerings of God's people were transformed into a sweet-smelling fragrance through fire, the act of making melody in our hearts can be viewed as offering up our innermost thoughts, feelings, and desires to God. As we do this, our 'heart melodies' are transformed by the 'fire' of God's presence, becoming a pleasing and acceptable offering to Him.
Therefore, the Fire Altar serves as a powerful symbol of both communal and individual worship. It reminds us that, while God is pleased with our public expressions of worship, He also desires our worship to be a personal and intimate experience, a 'melody' that is continually made in the 'altar' of our hearts.
Establishing prayer altars across the city where the fires of intercession are burning by day and by night is a powerful way to create a continuous stream of prayer and worship. These altars, much like the Fire Altar in the Tabernacle of Moses, become central points where offerings of prayer and intercession are lifted up to God.
As intercessors gather at these altars to pray, they are like the priests in the tabernacle who kept the fire burning on the altar continually, as commanded in Leviticus 6:13. The continuous fire on the altar was a sign of God's presence and a reminder of the need for constant worship and dependence on Him.
Therefore, these city-wide prayer altars create a powerful, unbroken chain of intercession that can bring transformation to the city. They serve as a reminder of our call to be a house of prayer for all nations, and they create a space where the body of Christ can unite in prayer for the city, the nation, and the world.
