"You were the anointed cherub who covers; I established you; You were on the holy mountain of God; You were perfect in your ways from the day you were created, Till iniquity was found in you." (~Ez 28:14-15)

"How you are fallen from heaven, O Lucifer, son of the morning! For you have said in your heart: 'I will ascend into heaven, I will exalt my throne above the stars of God; I will be like the Most High.'" (~Isa 14:12-14)

"For it is not an enemy who reproaches me; nor is it one who hates me who has magnified himself against me; But it was you, a man my equal, My companion and my acquaintance. (~Ps 55:12-14)

"For I desire mercy and not sacrifice, And the knowledge of God more than burnt offerings. But...they transgressed the covenant; they dealt treacherously with Me." (~Hos 6:6-7)

Treason (same as treachery) is a violation of allegiance toward one's sovereign, betrayal by consciously and purposely acting to aid the enemy. Also a willful betrayal of fidelity, trust or confidence.

How did Lucifer commit treason against God? First of all we must understand what the original relationship was between God and Lucifer. Lucifer was the "anointed cherub who covers." What does that mean?

In Ex 25:9 God charges Moses to make all the items for worship "according to all that I show you, that is, the pattern of the taberna- cle and..all its furnishings, just so you shall make it." The immediately following verses describe in detail the construction of the Ark of Testimony. The writer of Hebrews indicates that the PATTERN was a "copy and shadow of heavenly things." (Heb 8:5)

Into the ark was placed the Ten Commandments. The Law. God's Holy standard. That which condemned. That which showed man's inadequacy. That which resulted in death. (Rom 7:7-12)

On top of the ark was the Mercy Seat. There, God promised "I will meet with you, and I will speak with you from above the mercy seat." (Ex 25:22) The term "mercy" indicates God's compassion, clemency, kindness, forgiveness. Where the Law was the holy standard that resulted in austere separation, the Mercy Seat indicates Love, Gentleness, Intimacy.

As a covering over this Haven of Intimacy with God were the cheru- bim and their outstretched, intertwined wings. THIS was Lucifer's ORIGINAL FUNCTION as he was created to glorify God! As God the Father, Son and Holy Spirit communed over the Mercy Seat; there was Lucifer, "light-bearer," or "shining one." If a person could imagine for a moment the God-head as the Painting, the focus of the art; Lucifer was the "frame." INCONCEIVABLY AMAZING!!!

Lucifer had a place of total trust. Why do you suppose Satan is so familiar with God's plans? He was RIGHT THERE when they were made. Thus, the psalmist could messianically proclaim of the one who had betrayed that loyalty, "Even my own familiar friend in whom I trusted, who ate my bread, has lifted up his heel against me." (Ps 41:9)

What was Lucifer's betrayal? "I will be like the Most High!" In spite of his honored position...It's not enough to be JUST the "frame." I want to be the "picture." PRIDE!

There are two other relationships that parallel this original relationship between God and Lucifer. Christ and the Church. And the earthly example of that, the marriage relationship of Husband and Wife.

Jesus said, "No longer do I call you servants; but I have called you friends, for all things that I heard from My Father I have made known to you." (Jn 15:15) He talks further of the interconnected rela- tionship of the vine and branches. He prays to the Father that we (the Church) would be "ONE" with Him; just like He is with the Father. Ultimately this results in the ability to "come boldly to the throne of grace." The Mercy Seat between the cherubim.

As if we needed yet another example; God has "bent over backwards" to MAKE SURE WE UNDERSTAND what His desire is for His relationship with His children. He designed the marriage relationship. Of all human relationships, marriage is the closest; transcending even filial bonds and sibling relationships.

"For we are members of His body, of His flesh and of His bones..for this reason a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh..This is a great mystery, but I speak concerning Christ and the church."(~Eph 5:30-32)

Ruth said to Boaz "take your maidservant under your wing for you are a redeemer." (Ruth 3:9) "He brought me to the banqueting house, and his banner over me was love." (SS 2:4) These are all types, or figures, of that place of intimacy above the Mercy Seat, under and between the covering wings of the cherubim.

The fact that the divorce rate is of epidemic proportions is an indication of Satan's activity. As Satan worshipers gather for "prayer" meetings, one of the highest priorities on their prayer lists is for the break-up of marriages. Some of them even make it their "ministry" to go about breaking up marriages or "helping" people to become divorced. In this way he effectively keeps slapping God in the face with his own rebellion. From Oprah to New Age, the worshipers "rejoice" when yet another marriage has ended up in divorce.

When Israel rebelled against God by turning to idols, God repeat- edly referred to it as "adultery." (Jer 3:8) This is because God views His relationship with His own as a marriage. Full of intimacy. Charac- terizing commitment, loyalty, trust.

Furthermore, the act of turning away from God is TREASONOUS! "Surely, as a wife treacherously departs from her husband, So have you dealt treacherously with Me, O house of Israel," says the Lord. (Jer 3:20)

When a spouse secretly schemes and runs off with a lover he/she has committed treason of the worst kind. Not only have they betrayed trust, but they mock God and His mandate. The "pattern and shadow" of things in heaven. The parallel to the heavenly relationship of the God- head. The representation of Christ's intimate relationship with His "friends"...the Church. His Bride!

BELIEVERS ARE OFTEN GUILTY OF TREASON AGAINST GOD! Jesus said, "If you keep My commandments, you will abide in My love." (Jn 15:10) How often do we willfully disobey? How often do we have priorities OTHER THAN God? How often do we worship Satan? When we follow Satan we par- ticipate in his treachery. With whom is our allegiance? REMEMBER...Satan is now God's enemy!

Israel said, "All that the Lord may say...we will hear and do it." God responded, "Oh that they had such a HEART in them." (Deut 5:29)

In the O.T. if a divorce occurred, and the wife married another, she was not allowed to return to the first husband. Yet, as God likens Israel's rebellion to a wife "playing the harlot with many lovers" He reaches out in love, "Yet return to Me." (Jer 3:1)

"I have no pleasure in the death of the wicked, but that the wicked turn from his way and live. Turn, turn from your evil ways" For why should you die..?" (Ez 33:11)

Amen!