The Seal (Ephesians 1:13)

EPHESIANS 1:13 says we were "...sealed with that Holy Spirit of promise..."

SEAL

The English word "seal" is from the Greek word (sphragizo),[4972, Strong's] which is from the Greek word (phrasso), [5420,Strong's ], meaning, "to fence" in or "inclose"; to "block (something) up", or figuratively, "to silence".

AUTHORIZATION

Once something was "sealed", it was closed up; kept safe; so that no one could open it without the authorization of the person or persons, who had sealed it, and it was protected, under their authority.

SIGNATURE

There have been seals found at least 3000 B.C., in the Middle East, in the shape of small spools, that were used for the equivalent of a written signature. Seals started out as "roll seals" in Mesopotamia, where images and shapes were cut into cylinders, which were then rolled over soft clay, to leave the impression of the figure (seal) on the document, or material that was now "sealed".

COMMERCIAL & LEGAL

Seals were most common in the commercial and legal sphere, where the seal insured that a shipment was authentic; from the person, whose seal was left impressed on the product being shipped; and was protected by their seal, under their authority, until it was safely delivered to the recipient.

AUTHORITY

The seals eventually became a signet or ring, that represented the authority and power of the individual who possessed it, and more than anything else, designated ownership and authority.

A prime example of this is Pharaoh giving Joseph his ring, which gave him the same authority as Pharaoh.

GENESIS 41:42-43, "And Pharaoh took off his ring from his hand, and put it upon Joseph's hand, and arrayed him in vestures of fine linen, and put a gold chain about his neck; and made him ride in the second chariot which he had; and they cried before him, 'Bow the knee!': and he made him ruler over all the land of Egypt".

MORDECAI

Similarly, in the story of Esther, "...the king took off his ring, which he had taken from Haman, and gave it to Mordecai..." (Esther 8:2).

HIS WILL

Whatever bore the seal of the king, was law, and meant that the act of sealing was endorsed by, and bore the authority of the king; representing his will.

ESTHER 8:8, "Write ye also concerning the Jews, as it pleases you, in the king's name, and seal it with the king's ring; for the writing which is written in the king's name, and sealed with the king's ring, may no man reverse"

JEZEBEL

Even Jezebel, when she conspired to have Naboth murdered, "...wrote letters in Ahab's name, and sealed them with his seal, and sent the letters to the elders and to the nobles..." (1 Kings 21:8).

SEAL of the KING

Whoever possessed the seal of the king, also possessed his authority and power to enact law and enforce what was already written. In fact, one of the ways Antiochus Epiphanes appointed his friend Philip as regent over his kingdom, was to hand over his seal to him (D.N.., Vol.3, p.498).

HISTORICALLY

Historically, in some cases, individuals would have their seal broken, prior to their death, to prevent fraudulent use, or even have the seal buried with them.

SEALING

"Sealing" was a part of everyday life, marking ownership on animals; objects; and people, especially slaves. We would now commonly refer to it, especially in an agricultural industry, to "branding" cattle, for example.

BRANDING

"Branding" is common place, even today, in another sense, in the commercial industry, in all forms of marketing, with logos and trademarks, and numerous identifiable images, from the "golden arches" of MacDonalds to the infinite sports franchise T-shirts; emblems; hats; and other easily identifiable brands, or logos, that represent a certain company or product.

POSITIVE IMAGES

What is interesting in the scripture, is that we have been "...sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise..." (Eph.1:13). This presents several very positive images.

PROTECTED & SECURE

1) We are protected and secure, under the seal of our Father, His valuable possession; not of this world, "...for our citizenship is in heaven..." (Phil.3:20), and we foreigners, with no permanent home on earth (Heb.11:13), until we reach our final destination.

BELONG to HIM

2) We bear His mark and His image, easily identifiable for all to see, that we belong to Him, and are His purchased possession. [Caesar could put his image and inscription on coins, but we have been stamped and bear the image of the One to whom we belong] (Matt.22:15-22).

OFFICIAL POSITION

3) We not only are sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise, but He is part of our possession, and we His, so that we walk in the authority and official position and power, of the King, who has given us His seal, of the Holy Spirit, to enact His will, in His kingdom, so that whatever we bind on earth shall be bound in heaven; and whatever we loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven (Matt.16:19).

You are God's Best, and God's Best is Yours