Brushed By God

This guest post was graciously written by Bruce Beal, Elder at Vineyard Christian Fellowship Phoenix, M.Div. MSL

When we look at prophetic art, it is obvious that there are two components: revelation and art.   Revelation has to do with what God speaks, and art has to do with man’s creative nature.  God’s revelation is first of all, about Himself, and the first thing we know about God is that He is a creative God according to Genesis 1:1.   The works of His hands are amazing, beautiful, and that which can be studied without limit.  They are the original works of art and have inspired man throughout history.

We also know from Scripture that God speaks through His creation.  The heavens are telling of the glory of God.  In this amazing beautiful creation, God speaks about himself (Psalm 19, NIV).   Day after day they pour forth speech.  The “words have gone to the ends of the world,” David says in verse four.  Such general revelation is clear enough to bring condemnation on those who do not accept Him according to the Apostle Paul in Romans 1.  What we understand is that the artistic works of God speak to mankind in a clear and unequivocal way.

We also understand from Genesis 1 that people are made in God’s image.   This creative activity reflects the image of God as the Artistic One.  It would be difficult for most believers to deny that the great works of art are an expression of this in our world.  They communicate in a different way.   I like, from an emotional standpoint, an alternate reading in Psalm 19:3 as reflecting the communication of the great works of art:  they have no speech, there are no words, no sound is heard from them.  It is clear from his writings in the Psalms, that King David was an artist.   His works are different from that of the Apostle Paul’s writings which speak to the mind.  David’s speak to the spirit.   Both are vital, but the communication is different.

The question therefore is not is there prophetic art;  the question is rather, is revelation artistic? The answer is a resounding yes.  Not only is God’s general revelation artistic, so also is His activity in in establishing a place of worship on earth.  In the Old Testament, the tabernacle – the place that God filled with His presence – was the place to worship God.   Exodus 35:31 tells us that those who designed the tabernacle were filled with God’s Spirit to do so.   The instructions given by God were such that it communicated the truth about who God is:  holy and righteous.  That righteousness of God could only be satisfied by the sacrifice of a Lamb, pure and spotless.  God was speaking without speech, without words, and without sounds.   At the same time, in Exodus chapters 35 and 36, God filled Bezalel and Oholiab with His Spirit to make His tabernacle a place of beauty and wonder.  This aspect was not lost on Solomon when he built the first temple.

The impartation and anointing of the Holy Spirit is given to bring God’s message without words and without sounds.  Bezalel and Oholiab are examples of this.  But we also know from 2 Chronicles 1:6 that the elements of the tabernacle, which were designed by the Spirit-filled artisans, were used to manifest God’s presence.  Solomon went to the bronze altar to meet with God, and God spoke to him as a result.  It is specifically pointed out that the object constructed by a Spirit-filled artisan was used by Solomon to inquire of the Lord, and God answers him in an amazing way.

Click here for Part Two.