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Without the Camp
Scripture Passage:
Hebrews 13:9-16 Attached audio files:
INTRODUCTION: The phrase without the camp (Hebrews 13:11For the bodies of those beasts, whose blood is brought into the sanctuary by the high priest for sin, are burned without the camp.
See All..., 13) refers to the time Israel wandered in the wilderness. To go without the camp meant to step outside the boundaries of the camp of Israel. In the Old Testament, going without the camp was almost always a negative thing. In Hebrews, we see the type fulfilled through grace.
- Old Testament Usage:
- A place of defilement (Numbers 5:2-4 [2] Command the children of Israel, that they put out of the camp every leper, and every one that hath an issue, and whosoever is defiled by the dead:
[3] Both male and female shall ye put out, without the camp shall ye put them; that they defile not their camps, in the midst whereof I dwell.
[4] And the children of Israel did so, and put them out without the camp: as the LORD spake unto Moses, so did the children of Israel.
See All...); those having touched a dead body - A place of isolation (Leviticus 13:46All the days wherein the plague shall be in him he shall be defiled; he is unclean: he shall dwell alone; without the camp shall his habitation be.
See All...); the unclean leper - A place of judgment (Leviticus 24:13-15 [13] And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying,
[14] Bring forth him that hath cursed without the camp; and let all that heard him lay their hands upon his head, and let all the congregation stone him.
[15] And thou shalt speak unto the children of Israel, saying, Whosoever curseth his God shall bear his sin.
See All...); where someone was stoned - A place of refuse (Deuteronomy 23:12-14 [12] Thou shalt have a place also without the camp, whither thou shalt go forth abroad:
[13] And thou shalt have a paddle upon thy weapon; and it shall be, when thou wilt ease thyself abroad, thou shalt dig therewith, and shalt turn back and cover that which cometh from thee:
[14] For the LORD thy God walketh in the midst of thy camp, to deliver thee, and to give up thine enemies before thee; therefore shall thy camp be holy: that he see no unclean thing in thee, and turn away from thee.
See All...); where the toilets were - Application: How We Go Without the Camp: (Note: the camp refers to the majority; to Christianity as a whole)
- Go going further with Christ than the masses have gone (Titus 2:14Who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works.
See All...) - In personal separation
- In holy zeal
- By taking an unpopular stand for the cause of Christ (Romans 12:2And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.
See All...; Luke 6:22Blessed are ye, when men shall hate you, and when they shall separate you from their company, and shall reproach you, and cast out your name as evil, for the Son of man's sake.
See All...) - By standing for something: like the King James Bible or holiness
- By standing against something: like Promise Keepers or the Passion
- By separating from the camp to draw nearer to God (2 Corinthians 2:17For we are not as many, which corrupt the word of God: but as of sincerity, but as of God, in the sight of God speak we in Christ.
See All...) - By refusing to conform
- By refusing to comply with group politics
- By refusing to let others choose your friends
- New Testament: Without the Camp in the Day of Grace (Hebrews 13:8-16 [8] Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and to day, and for ever.
[9] Be not carried about with divers and strange doctrines. For it is a good thing that the heart be established with grace; not with meats, which have not profited them that have been occupied therein.
[10] We have an altar, whereof they have no right to eat which serve the tabernacle.
[11] For the bodies of those beasts, whose blood is brought into the sanctuary by the high priest for sin, are burned without the camp.
[12] Wherefore Jesus also, that he might sanctify the people with his own blood, suffered without the gate.
[13] Let us go forth therefore unto him without the camp, bearing his reproach.
[14] For here have we no continuing city, but we seek one to come.
[15] By him therefore let us offer the sacrifice of praise to God continually, that is, the fruit of our lips giving thanks to his name.
[16] But to do good and to communicate forget not: for with such sacrifices God is well pleased.
See All...) - A Place of Favor (Hebrews 13:9-10 [9] Be not carried about with divers and strange doctrines. For it is a good thing that the heart be established with grace; not with meats, which have not profited them that have been occupied therein.
[10] We have an altar, whereof they have no right to eat which serve the tabernacle.
See All...; Philippians 1:28-30
See All...) - Established with grace (Hebrews 13:9Be not carried about with divers and strange doctrines. For it is a good thing that the heart be established with grace; not with meats, which have not profited them that have been occupied therein.
See All...) - Given by privilege (Hebrews 13:10We have an altar, whereof they have no right to eat which serve the tabernacle.
See All...) - A Place of Fire (Hebrews 13:11For the bodies of those beasts, whose blood is brought into the sanctuary by the high priest for sin, are burned without the camp.
See All...; 1 Peter 1:6-7 [6] Wherein ye greatly rejoice, though now for a season, if need be, ye are in heaviness through manifold temptations: [7] That the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honour and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ:
See All...) - A Place of Forgiveness (Hebrews 13:12Wherefore Jesus also, that he might sanctify the people with his own blood, suffered without the gate.
See All...) - Jesus suffered without the gate
- Jesus shed his own blood
- Jesus sanctified the people
- A Place of Fellowship (Hebrews 13:13Let us go forth therefore unto him without the camp, bearing his reproach.
See All...; Philippians 3:10The mountains saw thee, and they trembled: the overflowing of the water passed by: the deep uttered his voice, and lifted up his hands on high.
See All...) - We go unto Him
- We bear His reproach
- A Place of Faith (Hebrews 13:14For here have we no continuing city, but we seek one to come.
See All...; Hebrews 11:8-10 [8] By faith Abraham, when he was called to go out into a place which he should after receive for an inheritance, obeyed; and he went out, not knowing whither he went. [9] By faith he sojourned in the land of promise, as in a strange country, dwelling in tabernacles with Isaac and Jacob, the heirs with him of the same promise: [10] For he looked for a city which hath foundations, whose builder and maker is God.
See All...) - A Place of Fruit (Hebrews 13:15By him therefore let us offer the sacrifice of praise to God continually, that is, the fruit of our lips giving thanks to his name.
See All...) - The sacrifice of giving praise to God
- The fruit of giving thanks to His name
- A Place of Fulfillment (Hebrews 13:16But to do good and to communicate forget not: for with such sacrifices God is well pleased.
See All...) - Finding our purpose in service
- Living our lives to please God (Colossians 1:10That ye might walk worthy of the Lord unto all pleasing, being fruitful in every good work, and increasing in the knowledge of God;
See All...)
CONCLUSION: Is God calling you to step outside the camp? For salvation? For service or surrender? To stand for the truth of God? Do you need to glory in the privilege of being called without the camp? Would you say today, I Have Decided to Follow Jesus?
Proverbs 27:20
Hell and destruction are never full; so the eyes of man are never satisfied.