Mr. M

The apostle Paul gives this testimony to the Ephesian elders: Acts 20: 22 And see, now I go bound in the spirit to Jerusalem, not knowing the things that will happen to me there, 23 except that the Holy Spirit testifies in every city, saying that chains and tribulations await me. 24 But none of these things move me; nor do I count my life dear to myself, so that I may finish my race with joy, and the ministry which I received from the Lord Jesus, to testify to the gospel of the grace of God. Paul is en route to Jerusalem when he stops over in Caesarea at the home of Philip the evangelist, when the prophet Agabus arrives and makes this prophecy: Acts 21: 10 And as we stayed many days, a certain prophet named Agabus came down from Judea. 11 When he had come to us, he took Paul’s belt, bound his own hands and feet, and said, “Thus says the Holy Spirit, ‘So shall the Jews at Jerusalem bind the man who owns this belt, and deliver him into the hands of the Gentiles. Since Paul has already made it clear that he is aware of what awaits him in Jerusalem, what is the predictive value of the prophet’s words? They are directed to the others present. Going deeper into the narrative, we can ask, what is God’s purpose for sending the prophet to speak these words? Consider the reaction of those who heard. 12 Now when we heard these things, both we and those from that place pleaded with him not to go up to Jerusalem. 13 Then Paul answered, What do you mean by weeping and breaking my heart? For I am ready not only to be bound, but also to die at Jerusalem for the name of the Lord Jesus. So now ask yourself, what if Paul had been moved by their entreaties and delayed going to Jerusalem. God could very well send someone else, and Paul’s ministry could have ended in Caesarea. Thankfully, the others recognized his resolve and accepted his words. 14 So when he would not be persuaded, we ceased, saying, The will of the Lord be done. So we can see that God uses the prophet to test the resolve of his servants. This was presented previously in the OT in what I found to be a very sad narrative. The Message of the Man of God 1 Kings 13 1 And behold, a man of God went from Judah to Bethel by the word of the Lord, and Jeroboam stood by the altar to burn incense. 2 Then he cried out against the altar by the word of the Lord, and said, O altar, altar! Thus says the Lord: Behold, a child, Josiah by name, shall be born to the house of David; and on you he shall sacrifice the priests of the high places who burn incense on you, and men’s bones shall be burned on you. 3 And he gave a sign the same day, saying, This is the sign which the Lord has spoken: Surely the altar shall split apart, and the ashes on it shall be poured out. 4 So it came to pass when King Jeroboam heard the saying of the man of God, who cried out against the altar in Bethel, that he stretched out his hand from the altar, saying, Arrest him! Then his hand, which he stretched out toward him, withered, so that he could not pull it back to himself. 5 The altar also was split apart, and the ashes poured out from the altar, according to the sign which the man of God had given by the word of the Lord. 6 Then the king answered and said to the man of God, Please entreat the favor of the Lord your God, and pray for me, that my hand may be restored to me. So the man of God entreated the Lord, and the king’s hand was restored to him, and became as before. 7 Then the king said to the man of God, Come home with me and refresh yourself, and I will give you a reward. 8 But the man of God said to the king, If you were to give me half your house, I would not go in with you; nor would I eat bread nor drink water in this place. 9 For so it was commanded me by the word of the Lord, saying, You shall not eat bread, nor drink water, nor return by the same way you came. 10 So he went another way and did not return by the way he came to Bethel. 11 Now an old prophet dwelt in Bethel, and his sons came and told him all the works that the man of God had done that day in Bethel; they also told their father the words which he had spoken to the king. 12 And their father said to them, which way did he go? For his sons had seen which way the man of God went who came from Judah. 13 Then he said to his sons, Saddle the donkey for me. So they saddled the donkey for him; and he rode on it, 14 and went after the man of God, and found him sitting under an oak. Then he said to him, Are you the man of God who came from Judah? And he said, I am. 15 Then he said to him, Come home with me and eat bread. 16 And he said, I cannot return with you nor go in with you; neither can I eat bread nor drink water with you in this place. 17 For I have been told by the word of the Lord, You shall not eat bread nor drink water there, nor return by going the way you came. 18 He said to him, I too am a prophet as you are, and an angel spoke to me by the word of the Lord, saying, Bring him back with you to your house, so that he may eat bread and drink water. He was lying to him. 19 So he went back with him, and ate bread in his house, and drank water. 20 Now it happened, as they sat at the table, that the word of the Lord came to the prophet who had brought him back; 21 and he cried out to the man of God who came from Judah, saying, Thus says the Lord: Because you have disobeyed the word of the Lord, and have not kept the commandment which the Lord your God commanded you, 22 but you came back, ate bread, and drank water in the place of which the Lord said to you, Eat no bread and drink no water, your corpse shall not come to the tomb of your fathers. 23 So it was, after he had eaten bread and after he had drunk, that he saddled the donkey for him, the prophet whom he had brought back. 24 When he was gone, a lion met him on the road and killed him. And his corpse was thrown on the road, and the donkey stood by it. The lion also stood by the corpse. 25 And there, men passed by and saw the corpse thrown on the road, and the lion standing by the corpse. Then they went and told it in the city where the old prophet dwelt. 26 Now when the prophet who had brought him back from the way heard it, he said, “It is the man of God who was disobedient to the word of the Lord. Therefore the Lord has delivered him to the lion, which has torn him and killed him, according to the word of the Lord which He spoke to him.” 27 And he spoke to his sons, saying, “Saddle the donkey for me.” So they saddled it. 28 Then he went and found his corpse thrown on the road, and the donkey and the lion standing by the corpse. The lion had not eaten the corpse nor torn the donkey. 29 And the prophet took up the corpse of the man of God, laid it on the donkey, and brought it back. So the old prophet came to the city to mourn, and to bury him. Then he laid the corpse in his own tomb; and they mourned over him, saying, “Alas, my brother!”

This stark contrast of worldly activity should provide a reference for ease in comprehending the meaning of sanctification! 1 Thessalonians 4: 3 For this is the will of God, your sanctification: that you should abstain from sexual immorality; 4 that each of you should know how to possess his own vessel in sanctification and honor, 5 not in passion of lust, like the Gentiles who do not know God.

Mark 10:15 Assuredly, I say to you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God as a little child will by no means enter it. Immediately after making this statement, the Lord and His disciples are approached by the rich young ruler, who inquires as to the way to inherit eternal life. Verses 17-22. 23 Then Jesus looked around and said to His disciples, How hard it is for those who have riches to enter the kingdom of God! 24 And the disciples were astonished at His words. But Jesus answered again and said to them, Children, how hard it is for those who trust in riches to enter the kingdom of God! Trust in the way of mammon undermines child-like faith, by which we enter the kingdom. Acts 14: 21 And when they had preached the gospel to that city and made many disciples, they returned to Lystra, Iconium, and Antioch, 22 strengthening the souls of the disciples, exhorting them to continue in the faith, and saying, We must through many tribulations enter the kingdom of God. Tribulations prove the child-like faith to enter the kingdom of God. 1 Peter 1: 6 In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while, if need be, you have been grieved by various trials, 7 that the genuineness of your faith, being much more precious than gold that perishes, though it is tested by fire, may be found to praise, honor, and glory at the revelation of Jesus Christ. The Holy Spirit will lead us to desperate circumstances as necessary to break self-confidence. 2 Corinthians 1:9 Yes, we had the sentence of death in ourselves, that we should not trust in ourselves but in God who raises the dead. One of the biggest failings of a believer is to not acknowledge the work of the Holy Spirit in bringing us to the circumstances that strengthens our bond of trust. Romans 8:28 And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose.

Psalms 121:8 The LORD shall preserve your going out and your coming in: From this time forth, and even forevermore. How would you describe your "going out and your coming in"? Here is an instruction from Leviticus: Leviticus 18: 1 Then the Lord spoke to Moses, saying, 2 Speak to the children of Israel, and say to them: I am the Lord your God. 3 According to the doings of the land of Egypt, where you dwelt, you shall not do; and according to the doings of the land of Canaan, where I am bringing you, you shall not do; nor shall you walk in their ordinances. 4 You shall observe My judgments and keep My ordinances, to walk in them: I am the Lord your God. Christians are said to be brought "out of the world", but what are they brought into? A megachurch environment? A home fellowship? A traditional denomination? Is there a point in common with these instructions? Matthew 23:3 Therefore whatever they tell you to observe, observe and do, but do not do according to their works; for they say, and do not do. The context for this is the Pharisees and Moses seat. But many people enter the faith and into a church only to immediately find fault with the leadership and members of the church. There is no perfect church, because the church is people. It takes faith to abide in where the Lord places. "Look unto the Lord, maker of heaven and earth". "And grow in grace". Were the Israelites not forever ‘coming out’ of Egypt? It is a Memorial of the Torah every seven days! Deuteronomy 5:15 And remember that thou were a slave in the land of Egypt, and that the Lord thy God brought you out thence through a mighty hand and by a stretched out arm: therefore the Lord thy God commanded you to keep the Sabbath. In regards to your going out and coming in, are you in a wilderness trek to "a promised land", or returning to the tents of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob? The "promised land" of course is the age to come: 2 Peter 3:13 Nevertheless we, according to His promise, look for new heavens and a new earth in which righteousness dwells. In this age, we live as "strangers and sojourners". Hebrews 11: 9 By faith he dwelt in the land of promise as in a foreign country, dwelling in tents with Isaac and Jacob, the heirs with him of the same promise; 10 for he waited for the city which has foundations, whose builder and maker is God. 1 Peter 2:11 Beloved, I beg you as sojourners and pilgrims, abstain from fleshly lusts which war against the soul....

Deuteronomy 31: 19 Now therefore, write down this song for yourselves, and teach it to the children of Israel; put it in their mouths, that this song may be a witness for Me against the children of Israel. 20 When I have brought them to the land flowing with milk and honey, of which I swore to their fathers, and they have eaten and filled themselves and grown fat, then they will turn to other gods and serve them; and they will provoke Me and break My covenant. 21 Then it shall be, when many evils and troubles have come upon them, that this song will testify against them as a witness; for it will not be forgotten in the mouths of their descendants, for I know the inclination of their behavior today, even before I have brought them to the land of which I swore to give them. 24 So it was, when Moses had completed writing the words of this law in a book, when they were finished, 25 that Moses commanded the Levites, who bore the ark of the covenant of the Lord, saying: 26 Take this Book of the Law, and put it beside the ark of the covenant of the Lord your God, that it may be there as a witness against you. Joshua Brings Witness Against The Congregation Joshua 24: 19 But Joshua said to the people, You cannot serve the Lord, for He is a holy God. He is a jealous God; He will not forgive your transgressions nor your sins. 20 If you forsake the Lord and serve foreign gods, then He will turn and do you harm and consume you, after He has done you good. 21 And the people said to Joshua, “No, but we will serve the Lord! 22 So Joshua said to the people, You are witnesses against yourselves that you have chosen the Lord for yourselves, to serve Him. And they said, We are Witnesses. The Witness of Samuel 1 Samuel 12: 3 Here I am. Witness against me before the Lord and before His anointed: Whose ox have I taken, or whose donkey have I taken, or whom have I cheated? Whom have I oppressed, or from whose hand have I received any bribe with which to blind my eyes? I will restore it to you. 4 And they said, You have not cheated us or oppressed us, nor have you taken anything from any man’s hand. 5 Then he said to them, The Lord witness against you, and His anointed witness this day, that you have not found anything in my hand. And they answered, We are Witnesses. 6 Then Samuel said to the people, It is the Lord who raised up Moses and Aaron, and who brought your fathers up from the land of Egypt. 7 Now therefore, stand still, that I may reason with you before the Lord concerning all the righteous acts of the Lord which He did to you and your fathers. 14 If you fear the Lord and serve Him and obey His voice, and do not rebel against the commandment of the Lord, then both you and the king who reigns over you will continue following the Lord your God. Covenant With David As A Faithful Witness Psalms 89: 35 Once I have sworn by My holiness; I will not lie to David: 36 His seed shall endure forever and his throne as the sun before Me; 37 It shall be established forever like the moon, Even like the faithful witness in the sky. Selah The Sure Mercies of David Isaiah 55: 3 Incline your ear, and come to Me. Hear, and your soul shall live; And I will make an everlasting covenant with you—The sure mercies of David. 4 Indeed I have given him as a witness to the people, A leader and commander for the people. The witness of the apostle Paul Acts 13: 32 And we declare unto you glad tidings, how that the promise which was made unto the fathers, 33 God hath fulfilled the same unto us their children, in that he hath raised up Jesus again; as it is also written in the second psalm, Thou art my Son, this day have I begotten thee. 34 And as concerning that he raised him up from the dead, now no more to return to corruption, he said on this wise, I will give you the sure mercies of David. The Glory of Yahshua, King of kings, and Lord of Lords Psalms 21: 1 The king shall have joy in Your strength, O Lord; And in Your salvation how greatly shall he rejoice! 2 You have given him his heart’s desire, And have not withheld the request of his lips. Selah 3 For You meet him with the blessings of goodness; You set a crown of pure gold upon his head. 4 He asked life from You, and You gave it to him—Length of days forever and ever. 5 His glory is great in Your salvation; Honor and majesty You have placed upon him. 6 For You have made him most blessed forever; You have made him exceedingly glad with Your presence. 7 For the king trusts in the Lord, And through the mercy of the Most High he shall not be moved.

John 11:40 Jesus said to her, Did I not say to you that if you would believe you would see the glory of God? To be among the elect is to be a witness in the midst of the circumstances that God the Father has so ordained. You are there as necessary to testify on behalf of His Name, and the gospel of His Son, Christ Jesus. Isaiah 43: 10 You are My witnesses, says the Lord, and My servant whom I have chosen, That you may know and believe Me, and understand that I am He. Before Me there was no God formed, nor shall there be after Me. 11 I, even I, am the Lord, and besides Me there is no Savior. 12 I have declared and saved, I have proclaimed, and not foreign among you; Therefore you are My witnesses, says the Lord, that I am God. The faithful receive that glimpse into Glory, witnessed by Peter and James, John and Paul, and even Steven. Acts 7: 55 But he, being full of the Holy Spirit, gazed into heaven and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing at the right hand of God, 56 and said, Look! I see the heavens opened and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God! Steven’s Witness earned him a standing ovation! The apostle John's testimony is true to the Word of Life, found in Christ alone. 1 John 1: 1 That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked upon, and our hands have handled, concerning the Word of life— 2 the life was manifested, and we have seen, and bear witness, and declare to you that eternal life which was with the Father and was manifested to us— There are false teachers who make claims that a statement by one apostolic witness contradicts the testimony of the son of man Christ Jesus. Their efforts are directed towards discrediting the witness of their Acts and letters. This is the working of a reprobate mind. If there is an apparent contradiction, the issue is with human logic and reasoning. We are informed by the mind of Christ and the Spirit of truth, that there is always at least one additional testimony that can be called upon to bring clarity. Isaiah 8:20 To the law and to the testimony! If they do not speak according to this word, it is because there is no light in them. To this end we have been assured and so informed: “By the mouth of two or three witnesses every word shall be established.” 2 Corinthians 13:1 Matthew 18: 15 Moreover if your brother sins against you, go and tell him his fault between you and him alone. If he hears you, you have gained your brother. 16 But if he will not hear, take with you one or two more, that ‘by the mouth of two or three witnesses every word may be established.’ As established in the Law concerning witnesses Deuteronomy 19:15 One witness shall not rise against a man concerning any iniquity or any sin that he commits; by the mouth of two or three witnesses the matter shall be established. You Are My Witnesses Isaiah 44: 6 Thus says the Lord, the King of Israel, and his Redeemer, the Lord of hosts: I am the First and I am the Last. Besides Me there is no God. 7 And who can proclaim as I do? Then let him declare it and set it in order for Me, Since I appointed the ancient people. And the things that are coming and shall come, Let them show these to them. 8 Do not fear, nor be afraid; have I not told you from that time, and declared it? You are My witnesses. Is there a God besides Me? Indeed there is no other Rock; I know not.

Ezekiel 14: 22 Yet behold, there shall be left in it a remnant who will be brought out, sons and daughters; surely they will come out to you, and you will see their ways and their means. Then you will be comforted concerning the disaster that I have brought upon Jerusalem, all that I have brought upon it. 23 And they will comfort you, when you see their ways and their means; and you shall know that I have done nothing without cause that I have done in it, says the Lord God. derek aliylah=ways and means This Word informs us that the remnant will demonstrate a right way of living based on pure intentions from a heart directed by the Lord. Not just the ways that the people accomplish, but also the means by which they fulfill them. When people see their works, they will be comforted that God is still with the people, even in the face of great catastrophe or hardship. The Brenton Septuagint renders this expression ‘their ways and their thoughts’, the emphasis on the reasoning behind the action being expressed. Psalms 99:8 You answered them, O Lord our God: you were a God that forgave them, though You took vengeance of their inventions. Rather than ‘inventions’ for aliylah here , most modern translations state ‘misdeeds’. The Septuagint is translated by Brenton as ‘devices’. Simply punishing deeds without correcting the faulty reasoning behind the acts would accomplish very little. The Lord desires to lead in the right way. 1 Samuel 2:3 Talk no more so very proudly; let no arrogance come from your mouth. For the Lord is the God of knowledge; And by Him aliylah is assessed.

The Blessing of Joseph: Genesis 49:26 The blessings of thy father have prevailed above the blessings of my progenitors unto the utmost bound of the everlasting hills: they shall be on the head of Joseph, and on the crown of the head of him that was separate from his brethren. To be separated for the Lord’s Purpose led Joseph to this conclusion concerning his past experiences Genesis 45: 7 And God sent me before you to preserve a posterity for you in the earth, and to save your lives by a great deliverance. 8 So now it was not you who sent me here, but God… This is to know and to love Him Romans 8:28 And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose. After walking in the Lord’s Purpose, we see His Life forming Christ in us, and this Way of Life in our making convinces us that we were His from the beginning. Galatians 1:15 But when it pleased God, who separated me from my mother’s womb and called me through His grace… He who has saved us has also called us for His Own Purpose 2 Timothy 1:9 Who has saved us and called us with a holy calling, not according to our works, but according to His own purpose and grace which was given to us in Christ Jesus before time began. Our Inheritance obtained in accordance with His Will Ephesians 1:11 In Him also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestined according to the purpose of Him who works all things according to the counsel of His Will. Separated for the Eternal Inheritance of the sons and daughters of God 2 Corinthians 6: 17 Therefore, come out from among them and be separate, says the Lord. Do not touch what is unclean, and I will receive you. 18 I will be a Father to you, and you shall be My sons and daughters, says the Lord Almighty.

A Vivid Description of a Walk of Faith Matthew 6: 25 Therefore I say unto you, Take no thought for your life, what ye shall eat, or what ye shall drink; nor yet for your body, what ye shall put on. Is not the life more than meat, and the body than raiment? 26 Behold the fowls of the air: for they sow not, neither do they reap, nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are ye not much better than they? 27 Which of you by taking thought can add one cubit unto his stature? 28 And why take ye thought for raiment? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow; they toil not, neither do they spin: 29 And yet I say unto you, That even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. 30 Wherefore, if God so clothe the grass of the field, which to day is, and to morrow is cast into the oven, shall he not much more clothe you, O ye of little faith? 31 Therefore take no thought, saying, What shall we eat? or, What shall we drink? or, Wherewithal shall we be clothed? 32 (For after all these things do the Gentiles seek:) for your heavenly Father knows that ye have need of all these things. 33 But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you. 34 Take therefore no thought for the morrow: for the morrow shall take thought for the things of itself. Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof.

Proverbs 30: 7 Two things I request of You (Deprive me not before I die) 8 Remove falsehood and lies far from me; Give me neither poverty nor riches— Feed me with the food allotted to me; 9 Lest I be full and deny You, And say, “Who is the Lord?” Or lest I be poor and steal, And profane the name of my God. At first glance, the wisdom of Agur is to avoid the extremes of poverty and wealth. However, being full and denying the Lord is hardly a description of great prosperity. Simply forgetting to be thankful for our blessings fits the bill. Neither does it take great poverty for someone to turn to stealing. Many wealthy people have experienced a downturn in fortunes and resorted to fraud, embezzlement and other criminal activity to maintain the lavish lifestyle they had grown accustomed. Clearly, this not a condition of the pocketbook, but a spiritual condition of the heart. Hear what the Spirit is saying to the Church. 1 Timothy 6: 6 Now godliness with contentment is a great gain. 7 For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out. 8 And having food and clothing, with these we shall be content. 9 But those who desire to be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and many foolish and harmful lusts which drown men in destruction and perdition. "Remove falsehood and lies far from me" The lies of the enemy are not contradictions, they are subtle modifications that defile the purity of God's Word. Proverbs 30: 5 Every word of God is pure; He is a shield to those who put their trust in Him. 6 Do not add to His words, Lest He rebuke you, and you are found to be a liar. This is the Law... Deuteronomy 4:2 You shall not add to the word which I command you, nor take from it, that you may keep the commandments of the Lord your God which I command you. And this is the final word... Revelation 22: 18 For I testify to everyone who hears the words of the prophecy of this book: If anyone adds to these things, God will add to him the plagues that are written in this book; 19 and if anyone takes away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God shall take away his part from the Book of Life, from the holy city, and the things which are written in this book. "Godliness with contentment" requires trust in His faithful Word Philippians 4: 19 And my God shall supply all your need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus. 20 Now to our God and Father be glory forever and ever. Amen.

Genesis 50:24 And Joseph said unto his brethren, I die: and God will surely visit you, and bring you out of this land unto the land which he swore to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob. 25 And Joseph took an oath of the children of Israel, saying, God will surely visit you, and you shall carry up my bones from hence. [H6485]-pakad=to visit; [H6486]-pekuddah=visitation The Israelites for 400 years in Egypt clung to this prophetic promise from Joseph. This covenant oath between Joseph and the people continued as a memorial and became the words used by God to introduce Moses as their deliverer. The fulfillment of this promise becomes a remembrance of the Lord and is prominent in the narrative. Exodus 3:16 Go and gather the elders of Israel together, and say to them, ‘The Lord God of your fathers, the God of Abraham, of Isaac, and of Jacob, appeared to me, saying, “I have surely visited you and seen what is done to you in Egypt”. Exodus 4:31 So the people believed; and when they heard that the Lord had visited the children of Israel and that He had looked on their affliction, then they bowed their heads and worshiped. Exodus 13:19 And Moses took the bones of Joseph with him, for he had placed the children of Israel under solemn oath, saying, “God will surely visit you, and you shall carry up my bones from here with you.” The Good News in the Old Testament Job 10:12 You have granted me life and favor, and your visitation has preserved my spirit. A deeper comprehension of this word is needed to fully grasp the statement: “your visitation has preserved my spirit”. Pakad appears 90 times in the book we call Numbers, and is the basis for using this title. The first four chapters recall a series of censuses that the Lord commanded Moses and Aaron to take of the Congregation. Numbers 1:2 Take the sum of all the congregation of the children of Israel, after their families, by the house of their fathers, with the number of their names, every male by their polls; 3 From twenty years old and upward, all that are able to go forth to war in Israel: thou and Aaron shall number them by their armies. Verse 2 describes a numerical count “take the sum” and is a head count. “By the polls” literally means “by the skulls”. Verse 3 uses the word pakad, “number them by their armies”. So then what is the relationship between “to visit”, and “to number” when the word pakad appears? The word more accurately means “to make an assessment”; to observe to determine the mental, physical, and spiritual condition. The key here is the phrase “that are able to go forth to war”. More than simply a head count, it is a skills and abilities assessment. And so in Exodus 4:31, “He looked upon affliction”. The visitation is concerned with the state of being. This correct understanding of visitation forms the basis for ministry and fellowship. James 1:27 Pure and undefiled religion before God and the Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their trouble, and to keep oneself unspotted from the world. This verse does not limit ministry to orphans and widows, but to all who are oppressed, with these two as prominent examples from the Law. Visitation also aids in defining the role of leadership within the Congregation. Matthew 24:45 Who then is a faithful and wise servant, whom his lord hath made ruler over his household, to give them meat in due season? Remembering the words of Christ: John 4:32 But he said unto them, I have meat to eat that ye know not of. 34 Jesus saith unto them, My meat is to do the will of him that sent me, and to finish his work. Many translations use “your care”, rather than “your visitation”. This must be clarified to include the understanding that the visitation can result in discipline, and even judgment. For example; Jeremiah 10:15 They are vanity, and the work of errors: in the time of their visitation they shall perish. And so this is found in the New Testament Luke 19:43 For days will come upon you when your enemies will build an embankment around you, surround you and close you in on every side, 4 and level you, and your children within you, to the ground; and they will not leave in you one stone upon another, because “you did not know the time of your visitation.” 1 Peter 2:12 Having your conduct honorable among the Gentiles, that when they speak against you as evildoers, they may, by your good works which they observe, glorify God on the day of visitation.

Joshua 24:31 Israel served the Lord all the days of Joshua, and all the days of the elders who outlived Joshua, who had known all the works of the Lord which He had done for Israel. Before Messiah Yeshua came to earth, this time prior to the falling away in the Judges era would be the Golden Age of Israel as viewed from a heavenly perspective. This is profoundly demonstrated here. Nehemiah 8:17 So the whole assembly of those who had returned from the captivity made booths and sat under the booths; for since the days of Joshua the son of Nun until that day the children of Israel had not done so. And there was very great gladness. This also gives us a unique lesson in faith from an Old Testament narrative. This period stands out by a complete lack of description for the era. One verse! One statement! 2 Corinthians 4:18 For we do not look at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen. For the things which are seen are temporary, but the things which are not seen are eternal. In the absence of a narrative, we have to believe that God’s Word is True, without a testimony for confirmation. For if Israel served the Lord all the days of Joshua, AND all the days of the elders who outlived Joshua, then we must believe that they lived under the blessings promised for them when faithful. Deuteronomy 28: 1 Now it shall come to pass, if you diligently obey the voice of the Lord your God, to observe carefully all His commandments which I command you today, that the Lord your God will set you high above all nations of the earth. 2 And all these blessings shall come upon you and overtake you, because you obey the voice of the Lord your God. Clearly, the people did not abide under the blessings of Deuteronomy 28 long enough to see themselves set over all nations of the earth. However, as a people who served the Lord for a generation, the blessings would have been tangible. Even more so, after using only 14 verses to describe the blessings of a faithful people, Deuteronomy 28 goes on to use over 50 verses to describe the curses to be brought on by disobedience! Surely this generation avoided all of these calamities. By faith, we must believe that life was more bountiful for Israel at this time than any other. Because: Numbers 23:19 God is not a man that He should lie, nor a son of man, that He should repent. Has He said, and will He not do? Or has He spoken, and will He not make it good? What stands out immediately even from this scant information is that even after the leader Joshua passed away, the elders of his generation were able to keep the people walking in the Way of the Lord, without a central figure. We can now contrast this period with the time of the monarchy of Israel. There was no king in Israel, and there was no intention in the heart of God for there ever to be one. When the elders demanded a king from Samuel, he received this word from God; 1 Samuel 8:7 And the Lord said to Samuel, Heed the voice of the people in all that they say to you; for they have not rejected you, but they have rejected Me, that I should not reign over them.

Psalms 77:6 I remember my song in the night; I commune with my own heart and my spirit made diligent search. When Asaph speaks of his song, he is not talking about his favorite tune. The word negenah refers to music played to enter into the prophetic spirit. Asaph was chosen by David to minister in this capacity. 1 Chronicles 25:1 Moreover David and the captains of the host separated to the service of the sons of Asaph and Heman and of Jeduthun who should prophesy with harps, with psalteries and with cymbals. Negenah, a prophetic song, comes from the word nagan, which refers to playing an instrument in tune with the spirit. 1 Samuel 16:23 And it came to pass when the spirit from God was upon Saul that David took a harp and played (nagan) with his hand so that Saul was refreshed and was well and the evil spirit departed from him. Asaph uses two word pairs to bring forth his prophetic word in this psalm: zakar-to remember, and seyach- to commune or meditate, which means here “talk through your situation” in an inner dialog. Seyach is translated differently each time used. Psalm 77:3 I remembered God and was troubled, I complained and my spirit was overwhelmed. Selah. Here seyach is translated as complained in the KJV, other translations use moan and groan, when commune or meditate on God is all that is expressed. He is troubled, and the translation interprets his inner dialog rather than translating the word and allowing the following verses to describe his deliberations. Again, the same word was translated commune in verse 6, used as the main text for this discussion. He then asks a series of questions to God to express his anguish before drawing his conclusions. Psalm 77: 10 And I said this is my infirmity, but I will remember the years of the right hand of the most high. 11 I will remember the works of the Lord, surely I will remember your wonders of old. 12 I will also meditate on all your work and talk of your doings. In verse 12 we find the third occurrence of the word seyach, this time translated talk in the KJV, meditate in most other versions. When he says “I will remember” in verse 11, zakar is used twice and should be read, “I will remember to remember”. Here he expresses the all too common human reaction to trials to forget God’s faithfulness and “stress out”. He then concludes: Psalm 77:13 Your way O God is in the sanctuary (our place of prayer or seyach) who is so great a God as our God? He then finishes the Psalm with a memorial to the Lord’s might. So how does prophetic psalms pertain to us in the church today? What if we don’t play an instrument? Is this strictly the gift of the musicians and worship leaders? On the contrary, the Holy Spirit within you is able to provide the same “song in the night” to anyone seeking God. Paul describes this gift. 1 Corinthians 14: 15 What is it then? I will pray with the spirit and I will pray with the understanding also, I will sing with the spirit and I will sing with the understanding also. He further clarifies his concern for conducting orderly meetings. 26 How is it then brethren? When you come together, every one of you has a psalm, has a doctrine, has a tongue, has a revelation, has an interpretation. Let all things be done unto edification. If a congregation’s worship team is allowed to flow in improvisational prophetic worship, it is easy in this setting to sing in the spirit and be edified. But what about when you are alone in your prayer closet? Do you pray in the spirit and sing in the spirit? You don’t need an instrument, just allow the spirit to move in you the way worship in church moves your spirit, and you will commune with the Lord in the night, and your spirit can make a diligent search. For "the way of the Lord is in the sanctuary".

2 Corinthians 10: 3 For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war according to the flesh. 4 For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty in God for pulling down strongholds, 5 casting down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ. Victorious spiritual warfare must be accomplished in our own minds first, with our motivation to serve the elect. Matthew 7: 3 And why do you look at the speck in your brother’s eye, but do not consider the plank in your own eye? 4 Or how can you say to your brother, ‘Let me remove the speck from your eye’; and look, a plank is in your own eye? 5 Hypocrite! First remove the plank from your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother’s eye. Only then can we apply ourselves to the verse that follows in 2 Corinthians 10: 6 And having a readiness to avenge all disobedience, when your obedience is fulfilled. Philippians 2: 3 Let nothing be done through selfish ambition or conceit, but in lowliness of mind let each esteem others better than himself. 4 Let each of you look out not only for his own interests, but also for the interests of others. 5 Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus.

1 Timothy 2: 3 For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Saviour; 4 Who will have all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth. 5 For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus; 6 Who gave himself a ransom for all, to be testified in due time.

The Lord Makes a Covenant of Faithfulness With His Betrothed Hosea 2: 19 I will betroth you to Me forever; Yes, I will betroth you to Me In righteousness and justice, In loving kindness and mercy; 20 I will betroth you to Me in faithfulness, And you shall know the Lord. By Law, the betrothed must cry out in faithfulness to the beloved Deuteronomy 22: 23 If a young woman who is a virgin is betrothed to a husband, and a man finds her in the city and lies with her, 24 then you shall bring them both out to the gate of that city, and you shall stone them to death with stones, the young woman because she did not cry out in the city, and the man because he humbled his neighbor’s wife; so you shall put away the evil from among you. 25 But if a man finds a betrothed young woman in the countryside, and the man forces her and lies with her, then only the man who lay with her shall die. 26 But you shall do nothing to the young woman; there is in the young woman no sin deserving of death, for just as when a man rises against his neighbor and kills him, even so is this matter. 27 For he found her in the countryside, and the betrothed young woman cried out, but there was no one to save her. The Lord Sows Mercy in the Earth in Response to the Cry of His Betrothed. Hosea 2: 21 It shall come to pass in that day I will answer, says the Lord; I will answer the heavens, and they shall answer the earth. 22 The earth shall answer with grain, with new wine, and with oil; They shall answer "God Will Sow" (Jezreel) 23 Then I will sow her for Myself in the earth, And I will have mercy on her who had not obtained mercy; Then I will say to those who were not My people, You are My people! And they shall say, You are my God! The Spreading of the Gospel is in The Cry for Mercy and Justice From the Betrothed Romans 9: 22 What if God, wanting to show His wrath and to make His power known, endured with much longsuffering the vessels of wrath prepared for destruction, 23 and that He might make known the riches of His glory on the vessels of mercy, which He had prepared beforehand for glory, 24 even us whom He called, not of the Jews only, but also of the Gentiles? 25 As He says also in Hosea: I will call them My people, who were not My people, and her beloved, who was not beloved. 26 And it shall come to pass in the place where it was said to them, You are not My people, There they shall be called sons of the living God. Micah 6:8 He has shown you, O man, what is good; and what does the Lord require of you but to do justice, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God. The Lord’s Covenant of Betrothal: The Door of Hope Micah 2: 14 Therefore, behold, I will allure her, will bring her into the wilderness, and speak comfort to her. 15 I will give her her vineyards from there, and the Valley of Achor as a door of hope. She shall sing there, as in the days of her youth, as in the day when she came up from the land of Egypt. 16 And it shall be, on that day, says the Lord, you will call Me My Husband, and no longer call Me Lord.

In Mark 7:8-13, The Lord condemns the practice of designating personal wealth as korban (a gift) rather than providing parental care, undermining the commandment of God. This Word is in support of the previous statement: Mark 7: 6 He answered and said unto them, Well has Isaiah prophesied of you hypocrites, as it is written, These people honor me with their lips, but their heart is far from me. 7 Howbeit in vain do they worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men. To fully comprehend this, we find that throughout the Law, korban is preceded by the word korab, with the typical translation being "to bring an offering". However, a more literal meaning of korab is "to draw near". The daily offerings [Exodus 29:38-46] were made specifically to sanctify the tabernacle to enable the children of Israel to "draw near" to the presence of the Lord. Exodus 29: 42 This shall be a continual burnt offering throughout your generations at the door of the tabernacle of meeting before the Lord, where I will meet you to speak with you. 43 And there I will meet with the children of Israel, and the tabernacle shall be sanctified by My glory. This condemnation of only drawing near with hypocritical lips but not in heart came upon not only the leaders the Lord is addressing, but also Jerusalem, the city of the great King, fulfilling the word of the prophet against Her: Zephaniah 3:1 Woe to her who is rebellious and polluted, To the oppressing city! 2 She has not obeyed His voice, She has not received corrections; She has not trusted the Lord, She has not drawn near to her God. For this the Lord raised this lamentation: Matthew 23: 37 O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, thou that kill the prophets, and stone them which are sent unto thee, how often would I have gathered thy children together, even as a hen gather her chickens under her wings, and you would not! 38 Behold, your house is left unto you desolate. 39 For I say unto you, You shall not see me henceforth, till you shall say, Blessed is he that comes in the name of the Lord.