1 Samuel 14:1–23 Jonathan Defeats the Philistines

[Study Aired April 6, 2026]

Our study for today looks at the faith and courage of Jonathan in attacking the guard post of the Philistines with his armor-bearer. Through faith in the Lord and courage, they were able to overcome the Philistines. 

Jos 1:6  Be strong and of a good courage: for unto this people shalt thou divide for an inheritance the land, which I sware unto their fathers to give them. 

This victory set the stage for Saul and his forces of six hundred men who had remained with him, together with the other Israelites who had fled the impending battle with the Philistines, to join Jonathan to fight and gain the victory over the Philistines.

To be able to understand the spiritual significance of today’s study, we need to look at the previous study to understand the context. As we saw in the previous study, it was only Saul and Jonathan, among the people of Israel, who were equipped to fight the Philistines. At that time, all the people of Israel did not have swords or spears to engage the Philistines in a battle, as they were deprived by the Philistines from possessing such weapons of war. 

1Sa 13:19  Now there was no smith found throughout all the land of Israel: for the Philistines said, Lest the Hebrews make them swords or spears:
1Sa 13:20  But all the Israelites went down to the Philistines, to sharpen every man his share, and his coulter, and his axe, and his mattock. 
1Sa 13:21  Yet they had a file for the mattocks, and for the coulters, and for the forks, and for the axes, and to sharpen the goads. 
1Sa 13:22 So it came to pass in the day of battle, that there was neither sword nor spear found in the hand of any of the people that were with Saul and Jonathan: but with Saul and with Jonathan his son was there found. 

The smith in these verses above, represents the Lord’s elect or what every joint supplies in the body of Christ. The fact that there was no one in Israel with sword or spear except Saul and Jonathan, implies that the people of Israel at that time signify the church system of this world or Babylon, where we were not given the truth of the Lord’s word, to fight our flesh or the Philistines in our lives. 

Eph 4:16  From whom the whole body fitly joined together and compacted by that which every joint supplieth, according to the effectual working in the measure of every part, maketh increase of the body unto the edifying of itself in love. 

Saul and Jonathan therefore denote our time in the churches of this world or Babylon as the Lord’s elect. It is in Babylon that we cannot sing the Lord’s song in a strange land, which means that we cannot worship the Lord acceptably during our time in Babylon as we do not have the truth of the word to combat our flesh. 

Psa 137:3  For there they that carried us away captive required of us a song; and they that wasted us required of us mirth, saying, Sing us one of the songs of Zion. 
Psa 137:4  How shall we sing the LORD’S song in a strange land?

Our situation in Babylon was such that it was impossible to have the weapons (the truth of the Lord’s word) needed to battle our flesh or the Philistines. This was because we were ruled by our flesh when we were in Babylon, and this dominion shows itself in the love of the world.

Mat 13:22  He also that received seed among the thorns is he that heareth the word; and the care of this world, and the deceitfulness of riches, choke the word, and he becometh unfruitful.  

Jonathan’s Courageous Act

1Sa 14:1  Now it came to pass upon a day, that Jonathan the son of Saul said unto the young man that bare his armour, Come, and let us go over to the Philistines’ garrison, that is on the other side. But he told not his father.   

As indicated, Jonathan signifies the Lord’s elect while we were in the churches of this world or Babylon. It is important to note that while we were in Babylon, we did win some victories over the flesh or the Philistines as we see Jonathan ready to engage the Philistines. The armor-bearer denotes all those whom the Lord brings our way to help or encourage us with our walk with Christ. Saul, Jonathan’s father, being the king of Israel, here signifies the leadership of the church system of this world. Remember that Saul in the previous chapter, was rejected by the Lord for not waiting for Samuel as he chose to offer the burnt offering, which was the prerogative of Samuel, a priest of the Lord. 

1Sa 13:13  And Samuel said to Saul, Thou hast done foolishly: thou hast not kept the commandment of the LORD thy God, which he commanded thee: for now would the LORD have established thy kingdom upon Israel forever. 
1Sa 13:14 But now thy kingdom shall not continue: the LORD hath sought him a man after his own heart, and the LORD hath commanded him to be captain over his people, because thou hast not kept that which the LORD commanded thee. 

Jonathan not telling Saul about his decision to attack the garrison of the Philistines is to let us know that the victories over the flesh that we won in Babylon were not because of the leadership of the church system of this world, but because of the leadings of the Lord, since He had chosen us in Him before the foundation of this world. 

Eph 1:4  According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love:
Eph 1:5  Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will, 
Eph 1:6 To the praise of the glory of his grace, wherein he hath made us accepted in the beloved.

1Sa 14:2  And Saul tarried in the uttermost part of Gibeah under a pomegranate tree which is in Migron: and the people that were with him were about six hundred men; 
1Sa 14:3 And Ahiah, the son of Ahitub, Ichabod’s brother, the son of Phinehas, the son of Eli, the LORD’S priest in Shiloh, wearing an ephod. And the people knew not that Jonathan was gone. 

The six hundred men with Saul in verse 2 represent the Lord’s elect. We must remember that initially, the number of those who assembled to fight the Philistines were three thousand.

1Sa 13:2  Saul chose him three thousand men of Israel; whereof two thousand were with Saul in Michmash and in mount Bethel, and a thousand were with Jonathan in Gibeah of Benjamin: and the rest of the people he sent every man to his tent. 

However, many left because of the fear of the Philistines, and only six hundred remained. Those who left felt that they could not win the war with our flesh.

Jdg 18:11  And there went from thence of the family of the Danites, out of Zorah and out of Eshtaol, six hundred men appointed with weapons of war. 

1Sa 27:2  And David arose, and he passed over with the six hundred men that were with him unto Achish, the son of Maoch, king of Gath. 

It is instructive to note that the six hundred men were with Saul at Gibeah, which means ‘hill.’ As we have indicated in many previous studies, hills or mountains, on a positive note, represent a church. The fact that Saul and the six hundred men tarried at Migron, which means ‘precipice’, which is a steep or overhanging rock such as a high cliff. Migron, therefore, spiritually signifies a dangerous, perilous, or highly unstable situation, which is the description of the church system of this world or Babylon. Therefore, what we are being told is that we, at a certain point of our walk with Christ, were in Babylon. It is here in Babylon that we started engaging the flesh or the Philistines. 

The mention of Ahiab of the descendant of Eli, wearing an ephod as a priest, with the company of Saul and the six hundred men in verse 3, is to emphasize the point that the Lord’s elect, represented by the six hundred men, were in Babylonian captivity where the law of Moses still prevailed. As we are aware, it is when faith comes that we are no longer under the schoolmaster of the law of Moses which is still being practiced in the church system of this world.

Gal 3:23  But before faith came, we were kept under the law, shut up unto the faith which should afterwards be revealed.
Gal 3:24  Wherefore the law was our schoolmaster to bring us unto Christ, that we might be justified by faith.
Gal 3:25 But after that faith is come, we are no longer under a schoolmaster.

The fact that the people did not know that Jonathan was gone to confront the Philistines in verse 3, is to let us know that the church system of this world is not aware of the fact that the Lord has a special people or His elect, represented by Jonathan, who are overcoming the flesh in this age. 

Rom 11:4  But what saith the answer of God unto him? I have reserved to myself seven thousand men, who have not bowed the knee to the image of Baal.
Rom 11:5  Even so then at this present time also there is a remnant according to the election of grace.

1Sa 14:4  And between the passages, by which Jonathan sought to go over unto the Philistines’ garrison, there was a sharp rock on the one side, and a sharp rock on the other side: and the name of the one was Bozez, and the name of the other Seneh. 
1Sa 14:5 The forefront of the one was situate northward over against Michmash, and the other southward over against Gibeah. 

In order to confront or wage war successfully with our flesh, we need to overcome two things – the sharp rock on one side called Bozez and another sharp rock on the other side called Seneh. Bozez means ‘shining’ or ‘surpassing white.’ In the negative context, the color white means ‘leprous.’ 

2Ki 5:27  The leprosy therefore of Naaman shall cleave unto thee, and unto thy seed forever. And he went out from his presence a leper as white as snow. 

Our flesh cannot inherit the kingdom of the Lord, and therefore when we are under the domain of our flesh, it is like having an incurable disease of leprosy, which makes our skin or flesh as white as snow. The first thing Jonathan did was to overcome this mentality that we cannot win the war against our flesh. 

Rev 13:4  And they worshipped the dragon which gave power unto the beast: and they worshipped the beast, saying, Who is like unto the beast? who is able to make war with him?   

The name of the other sharp rock was Seneh which means ‘thorny’, which spiritually signifies false doctrines. Our flesh is empowered by the false doctrines in our hearts and minds. If we are to wage a successful war with our flesh, then the false doctrines in our heavens must be removed. The more the false doctrines in our heavens are removed, the more successful we become in our engagement with the flesh. 

Eze 2:6  And thou, son of man, be not afraid of them, neither be afraid of their the sharp rock at words, though briers and thorns be with thee, and thou dost dwell among scorpions: be not afraid of their words, nor be dismayed at their looks, though they be a rebellious house.

In verse 5, we are told that the sharp rock called Bozez was facing Michmash which means ‘hidden.’ This shows us that the leprous state of our flesh is hidden to many. The other rock, Seneh, facing Gibeah which means ‘hill’ shows us that it is in the church of the Lord’s elect that the false doctrines in our heavens are destroyed through what every joint supplies.

1Sa 14:6  And Jonathan said to the young man that bare his armour, Come, and let us go over unto the garrison of these uncircumcised: it may be that the LORD will work for us: for there is no restraint to the LORD to save by many or by few. 
1Sa 14:7  And his armourbearer said unto him, Do all that is in thine heart: turn thee; behold, I am with thee according to thy heart. 

It is instructive in verse 6, to note that Jonathan referred to the Philistines as uncircumcised. This is to show us that when we are under the control of our flesh, then we are spiritually uncircumcised. Jonathan’s statement that there is no restraint to the Lord to save by many or by few is to assure us that no matter the circumstance in which we find ourselves, the Lord is able to do exceedingly beyond what we can think or imagine. 

Eph 3:20  Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us,
Eph 3:21  Unto him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus throughout all ages, world without end. Amen.

As indicated earlier, the armor-bearer represents our brothers and sisters whom the Lord brings our way to help us with our walk with Christ. The armor-bearer’s statement in verse 7 that Jonathan should do all that is in his heart and that he was very supportive of Jonathan’s actions is to let us know how we are to encourage our brothers and sisters to reach for the prize of the Lord’s higher calling. Some of our brothers and sisters are given that gift of encouraging us to strive for mastery. In the Bible, Barnabas, whose name means ‘son of encouragement’, was very instrumental in helping establish Paul’s ministry – he welcomed Paul when other disciples were afraid of him and advocated for him. He encouraged John Mark after he failed in his missionary journey, showing a commitment to picking others up. He was a generous man, selling his field and bringing the money to the church.

Act 4:36  And Joses, who by the apostles was surnamed Barnabas, (which is, being interpreted, The son of consolation,) a Levite, and of the country of Cyprus, 
Act 4:37  Having land, sold it, and brought the money, and laid it at the apostles’ feet. 

1Sa 14:8  Then said Jonathan, Behold, we will pass over unto these men, and we will discover ourselves unto them. 
1Sa 14:9  If they say thus unto us, Tarry until we come to you; then we will stand still in our place, and will not go up unto them. 
1Sa 14:10  But if they say thus, Come up unto us; then we will go up: for the LORD hath delivered them into our hand: and this shall be a sign unto us. 
1Sa 14:11  And both of them discovered themselves unto the garrison of the Philistines: and the Philistines said, Behold, the Hebrews come forth out of the holes where they had hid themselves. 
1Sa 14:12  And the men of the garrison answered Jonathan and his armourbearer, and said, Come up to us, and we will shew you a thing. And Jonathan said unto his armourbearer, Come up after me: for the LORD hath delivered them into the hand of Israel. 

These verses show us how we are to deal with our flesh denoted here as the Philistines. If we are to wait for our flesh to come to us, that means the flesh gradually is losing its hold on us over time as we continue to worship the Lord, we may never become the overcomers that we dream of. Many in the church system of this world think that by continuing doing good, the flesh just disappears. 

If we are to win the war against our flesh, then we must take the fight to our flesh, just as Jonathan realized that the Lord’s will was for him to engage the flesh (the Philistines) and that it is through this fight that victory is won. This does not mean that we have the strength of our own to win the war against the flesh. It is all the work of the Lord to make us overcomers over the flesh. However, we must constantly weigh our thoughts and motives in the light of the Lord’s word to see if we are falling short as we continue to cry to the Lord to change us. The Lord’s tool of destroying our flesh is through His judgment of our flesh. 

Psa 139:23  Search me, O God, and know my heart: try me, and know my thoughts: 
Psa 139:24  And see if there be any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.

Isa 26:8  Yea, in the way of thy judgments, O LORD, have we waited for thee; the desire of our soul is to thy name, and to the remembrance of thee.
Isa 26:9  With my soul have I desired thee in the night; yea, with my spirit within me will I seek thee early: for when thy judgments are in the earth, the inhabitants of the world will learn righteousness.

1Sa 14:13  And Jonathan climbed up upon his hands and upon his feet, and his armourbearer after him: and they fell before Jonathan; and his armourbearer slew after him. 
1Sa 14:14  And that first slaughter, which Jonathan and his armourbearer made, was about twenty men, within as it were an half acre of land, which a yoke of oxen might plow.
1Sa 14:15  And there was trembling in the host, in the field, and among all the people: the garrison, and the spoilers, they also trembled, and the earth quaked: so it was a very great trembling.  

In verse 13, Jonathan and his armor-bearer climbed up the precipice with their hands and feet to confront the Philistines. Climbing up with our hands and feet means that the word of the Lord becomes a lamp to our feet and a light unto our path. In other words, we begin to order our lives according to the word of the Lord such that it permeates our walk with Christ (our feet) and the works of our hands (our hands).  

Psa 119:105  NUN. Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path.  

As shown in verse 13, the Philistines fell before Jonathan and his armor bearer’s drawn sword to slay them. This emphasizes the fact that our victory over the flesh is not by our strength. It is the work of the Lord as He judges us, such that our walk with Him and the works of our hands are in line with His word. 

Psa 91:9  Because thou hast made the LORD, which is my refuge, even the most High, thy habitation; 
Psa 91:10  There shall no evil befall thee, neither shall any plague come nigh thy dwelling. 
Psa 91:11  For he shall give his angels charge over thee, to keep thee in all thy ways. 
Psa 91:12  They shall bear thee up in their hands, lest thou dash thy foot against a stone.

It is insightful to note that the first slaughter by Jonathan and his armor bearer against the Philistines consisted of twenty men in verse 14. This brings us to the negative application of the number twenty. In the negative sense, the number twenty means ‘being prepared for judgment.’ Our initial victory over the flesh is the Lord preparing us for His judgment to subdue our flesh as He causes our exit from Babylon. 

Gen 18:31 And he said, Behold now, I have taken upon me to speak unto the Lord: Peradventure there shall be twenty found there. And he said, I will not destroy it for twenty’s sake.

The first strike by Jonathan and his armor bearer was within half an acre of land. In biblical times, an “acre” was not a fixed size but represented the amount of land a yoke of oxen could plow in one day. Half an acre therefore indicates a very small space. Killing twenty-armed men in such a restricted space therefore highlights the miraculous nature of our victory over the flesh. The sight of so many bodies in such a small area caused the rest of the Philistine army to believe they were being attacked by a much larger force, leading to massive panic as shown in verse 15. This implies that our initial victories over certain areas of our walk with Christ, makes it easier for us to win further victories over the flesh. On the other hand, when we are defeated, it empowers our flesh to overcome us. A Bible verse which supports this assertion is as follows:

1Sa 17:37  And David said, “The LORD who delivered me from the paw of the lion and from the paw of the bear will deliver me from the hand of this Philistine.” And Saul said to David, “Go, and the LORD be with you!” 

1Sa 14:16  And the watchmen of Saul in Gibeah of Benjamin looked; and, behold, the multitude melted away, and they went on beating down one another.
1Sa 14:17  Then said Saul unto the people that were with him, Number now, and see who is gone from us. And when they had numbered, behold, Jonathan and his armourbearer were not there.

The fact that the camp noticed that Jonathan and His armorbearer were absent and that they may have been responsible for the confusion among the Philistines is to let us know that in the fullness of time, our brothers and sisters in the church system of this world together with the whole of humanity will come to appreciate the victory that the Lord has wrought on our behalf as His elect. It is during this time that they will all come to know that their salvation is dependent upon our victory.

Oba 1:21  And saviours shall come up on mount Zion to judge the mount of Esau; and the kingdom shall be the LORD’S. 

Rom 8:19  For the earnest expectation of the creature waiteth for the manifestation of the sons of God. 
Rom 8:20  For the creature was made subject to vanity, not willingly, but by reason of him who hath subjected the same in hope, 
Rom 8:21  Because the creature itself also shall be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the children of God.  

1Sa 14:18  And Saul said unto Ahiah, Bring hither the ark of God. For the ark of God was at that time with the children of Israel. 
1Sa 14:19  And it came to pass, while Saul talked unto the priest, that the noise that was in the host of the Philistines went on and increased: and Saul said unto the priest, Withdraw thine hand.

A better translation of verse 19 is as follows:

1Sa 14:19 Saul was talking to Ahijah the priest waiting for advice from God. But the noise and confusion in the Philistine camp was growing and growing. Saul was becoming impatient. Finally, he said to Ahijah the priest, “That’s enough. Put your hand down and stop praying.” (ERV) 

1 Sa 14:19 As Saul was speaking to the priest, the confusion in the Philistine camp kept getting worse, so Saul said to him, “There’s no time to consult the LORD!” (GNB) 

When the church system of this world or Babylon come to see who really are the overcomers or the sons of the Lord, they will abandoned their way of worship as symbolized by Saul telling Ahiah, the priest in verse 19, to stop praying.  

1Sa 14:20  And Saul and all the people that were with him assembled themselves, and they came to the battle: and, behold, every man’s sword was against his fellow, and there was a very great discomfiture. 
1Sa 14:21  Moreover the Hebrews that were with the Philistines before that time, which went up with them into the camp from the country round about, even they also turned to be with the Israelites that were with Saul and Jonathan. 
1Sa 14:22  Likewise all the men of Israel which had hid themselves in mount Ephraim, when they heard that the Philistines fled, even they also followed hard after them in the battle. 
1Sa 14:23  So the LORD saved Israel that day: and the battle passed over unto Bethaven.

Every man’s sword being against his fellow in the camp of the Philistines is to show us that the battle against our flesh is the work of the Lord who brought confusion among the Philistines to slaughter one another. In this battle against our flesh, we are to stand still and see the salvation of the Lord as He destroys our flesh through the sufferings that we go through.

Exo 14:13  And Moses said unto the people, Fear ye not, stand still, and see the salvation of the LORD, which he will shew to you today: for the Egyptians whom ye have seen today, ye shall see them again no more forever. 
Exo 14:14  The LORD shall fight for you, and ye shall hold your peace.

Saul and the six hundred men with him, together with all the men of Israel which had hid themselves from the Philistines, joined the battle as they followed after the Philistines when they realized that the Philistines were fleeing. This is to let us know that in the fullness of time, during the lake of fire age, all humanity will have victory over the flesh, being led to victory by the overcomers in this age, the Lord’s elect, which are symbolized by Jonathan and his armourbearer. The elect are the saviors who will come and judge mount Esau or the people of the world, to bring salvation to all humanity.  

Oba 1:21  And saviours shall come up on mount Zion to judge the mount of Esau; and the kingdom shall be the LORD’S. 

The battle being passed over to Bethaven is to let us know that the church system of this world or Babylon, will be the last on the line to be saved from their flesh or carnal mind. This is because Bethaven, which means ‘house of vanity’, represents the church system of this world or Babylon. 

Eze 16:55  When thy sisters, Sodom and her daughters, shall return to their former estate, and Samaria and her daughters shall return to their former estate, then thou and thy daughters shall return to your former estate.  

We thank the Lord for this privilege to overcome the flesh in this age. Amen!!

Ezekiel 25:1-17 The Judgment of Ammon, Moab, Edom and Philistia

[Study Aired July 29, 2024]

Introduction

Our study for today is based on the nations which surround the people of Israel in Canaan. These nations were sworn enemies of Israel, and the fact that four were mentioned signifies that these countries represent the whole of the enemies of Israel. In this study, we shall come to know what these nations represent spiritually and their judgment by the Lord.

The study also focuses on the Lord accusing each of these four nations of their hatred for the people of Israel and the end result of the Lord’s judgment of these nations. 

The Judgment of the Ammonites

Eze 25:1  The word of the LORD came again unto me, saying, 
Eze 25:2  Son of man, set thy face against the Ammonites, and prophesy against them; 
Eze 25:3  And say unto the Ammonites, Hear the word of the Lord GOD; Thus saith the Lord GOD; Because thou saidst, Aha, against my sanctuary, when it was profaned; and against the land of Israel, when it was desolate; and against the house of Judah, when they went into captivity; 
Eze 25:4  Behold, therefore I will deliver thee to the men of the east for a possession, and they shall set their palaces in thee, and make their dwellings in thee: they shall eat thy fruit, and they shall drink thy milk.

The Ammonites were descendants of Lot through the incestuous relation of Lot and his daughter. Lot was the nephew of Abraham, and therefore the Ammonites are fleshly related to the people of Israel.

Gen 19:36  Thus were both the daughters of Lot with child by their father. 
Gen 19:37  And the firstborn bare a son, and called his name Moab: the same is the father of the Moabites unto this day. 
Gen 19:38 And the younger, she also bare a son, and called his name Benammi: the same is the father of the children of Ammon unto this day.

The Ammonites therefore represent our flesh or the old man of the Lord’s elect. The reason the Lord was judging the Ammonites is stated in verse 3. They were glad when the sanctuary of the Lord was dishonored, the land of Israel was ruined and when the nation of Judah went into exile. As we are aware, it is our enemy who rejoices in our misfortune. The Bible speaks of our enemy being the devil who gives his power to our flesh or old man or the beast within us. That is to say that it acts through our flesh or old man. 

Rev 13:4  And they worshipped the dragon which gave power unto the beast: and they worshipped the beast, saying, Who is like unto the beast? who is able to make war with him? 
Rev 13:5  And there was given unto him a mouth speaking great things and blasphemies; and power was given unto him to continue forty and two months. 
Rev 13:6  And he opened his mouth in blasphemy against God, to blaspheme his name, and his tabernacle, and them that dwell in heaven. 
Rev 13:7  And it was given unto him to make war with the saints, and to overcome them: and power was given him over all kindreds, and tongues, and nations. 
Rev 13:8 And all that dwell upon the earth shall worship him, whose names are not written in the book of life of the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world.

As described above, the beast within us or our old man or flesh is always blaspheming against our Lord. It is therefore at variance with our Lord Jesus Christ and His elect. That is why the mind governed by the flesh is hostile to God and things of the spirit.

Rom 8:5  For those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit set their minds on the things of the Spirit. 
Rom 8:6  For to set the mind on the flesh is death, but to set the mind on the Spirit is life and peace.
Rom 8:7  For the mind that is set on the flesh is hostile to God, for it does not submit to God’s law; indeed, it cannot.
Rom 8:8  Those who are in the flesh cannot please God. 
Rom 8:9 You, however, are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if in fact the Spirit of God dwells in you. Anyone who does not have the Spirit of Christ does not belong to him. (ESV) 

Gal 5:16  This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh. 
Gal 5:17  For the flesh lusteth against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh: and these are contrary the one to the other: so that ye cannot do the things that ye would.
Gal 5:18 But if ye be led of the Spirit, ye are not under the law.

Our victory over the flesh is through walking in the spirit. In order to transition from being a carnally-minded person to a spiritually-minded being, which is pleasing to the Lord, there is the need for us to be judged by the Lord. In verse 4, the Lord told Ezekiel that He will deliver the Ammonites to the men of the east for a possession. In the Book of Job, he is described as the greatest of the men of the east because of his riches. These physical riches signify spiritual riches of the men of the east. On a positive note therefore, the men of the east symbolize the Lord’s elect with our Lord Jesus Christ symbolized by Job as the greatest man of the east. This is also confirmed by the fact that the east is where the sun, which represents our Lord Jesus Christ, rises. We, the Lord’s elect, are the first to taste of the rising of the sun or our Lord Jesus Christ in our lives in this age. 

Job 1:1  There was a man in the land of Uz, whose name was Job; and that man was perfect and upright, and one that feared God, and eschewed evil. 
Job 1:2  And there were born unto him seven sons and three daughters. 
Job 1:3 His substance also was seven thousand sheep, and three thousand camels, and five hundred yoke of oxen, and five hundred she asses, and a very great household; so that this man was the greatest of all the men of the east.

Mat 2:1  Now when Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judaea in the days of Herod the king, behold, there came wise men from the east to Jerusalem,

It is the Lord’s elect to whom the Lord has given possession of the old man or the flesh. This possession is described in verse 4 as setting their palaces in her and making their dwelling place in her. However, this possession is a process that takes a lifetime. It is through possessing our bodies or overcoming our flesh that we can offer a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God. 

Rom 12:1  I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. 
Rom 12:2 And 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.

This possession or overcoming is actually accomplished by the birth and growth of the new man as the old man or the flesh dies daily through the Lord’s judgment. 

Eph 4:24  And that ye put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness.

Col 3:10 And have put on the new man, which is renewed in knowledge after the image of him that created him:

In verse 4, we are also told that the men of the east shall eat the fruit of the Ammonites and shall drink her milk. The fruit and the milk of the Ammonites refer to the labors of our flesh. This implies that our labors shall not be in vain but shall assist us in achieving the purpose of Christ in our lives. This is the same as Terah, Abraham’s father, assisting Abraham in fulfilling the Lord’s purpose by taking him from Ur of the Chaldees to Haran, close to the promised land. 

Isa 60:1  Arise, shine; for thy light is come, and the glory of the LORD is risen upon thee. 

Isa 60:5 Then thou shalt see, and flow together, and thine heart shall fear, and be enlarged; because the abundance of the sea shall be converted unto thee, the forces of the Gentiles shall come unto thee.

Gen 11:31  And Terah took Abram his son, and Lot the son of Haran his son’s son, and Sarai his daughter in law, his son Abram’s wife; and they went forth with them from Ur of the Chaldees, to go into the land of Canaan; and they came unto Haran, and dwelt there. 
Gen 11:32 And the days of Terah were two hundred and five years: and Terah died in Haran. 

Eze 25:5  And I will make Rabbah a stable for camels, and the Ammonites a couching place for flocks: and ye shall know that I am the LORD. 

In verse 5, the Lord said that He shall make Rabbah, which was the capital city of the Ammonites, located east of the Jordan, a stable for camels. This is the same as making the Ammonites a couching place or a resting place for flocks. On a positive note, a city in the Bible can mean a church as shown in the following:

Rev 21:10  And he carried me away in the spirit to a great and high mountain, and shewed me that great city, the holy Jerusalem, descending out of heaven from God, 

Rev 14:8  And there followed another angel, saying, Babylon is fallen, is fallen, that great city, because she made all nations drink of the wine of the wrath of her fornication.

According to Strong’s Dictionary, Rabbah means ‘great.’ A camel is a beast that is used to carry heavy burdens in the desert, and a stable is a habitation of flocks or pasture. This statement of Rabbah being a stable for camels is the same as the Ammonites being a couching place or rest for flocks. What the Lord is telling us in verse 5 is that He is gathering us together to give us rest from the burdens of this world and also to feed us His words (pastures). It is as we get to know His words that we come to know Him. 

Mat 11:28  Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. 
Mat 11:29  Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. 
Mat 11:30 For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light. 

Eze 25:6  For thus saith the Lord GOD; Because thou hast clapped thine hands, and stamped with the feet, and rejoiced in heart with all thy despite against the land of Israel; 
Eze 25:7  Behold, therefore I will stretch out mine hand upon thee, and will deliver thee for a spoil to the heathen; and I will cut thee off from the people, and I will cause thee to perish out of the countries: I will destroy thee; and thou shalt know that I am the LORD. 

The Ammonites clapped their hands and stamped their feet as they rejoiced for the misfortune that had happened to the people of Israel. This shows us that they really hated the Israelites. As indicated, the Ammonites represent our flesh or the old man who is at enmity with the new man in the lives of the Lord’s elect. Verse 7 shows us the end result of the Lord’s judgment of our old man or flesh. The judgment of the Lord is symbolized in verse 7 as the stretching out of the hand of the Lord upon us.

1Pe 4:17  For the time is come that judgment must begin at the house of God: and if it first begin at us, what shall the end be of them that obey not the gospel of God? 
1Pe 4:18  And if the righteous scarcely be saved, where shall the ungodly and the sinner appear? 
1Pe 4:19 Wherefore let them that suffer according to the will of God commit the keeping of their souls to him in well doing, as unto a faithful Creator.  

As a result of the Lord’s judgment, our old man is delivered for a spoil to the heathen as shown in verse 7. A spoil refers to the booty or plunder or the precious possession of those who are defeated in battle. During the Biblical times, the spoil served as the reward for victory won during a battle. This implies that the old man being delivered as a spoil for the heathen means that as the Lord’s elect, we shall surely win the victory over our old man or flesh through the Lord’s judgment. 

Gen 49:27  Benjamin (representing the Lord’s elect) shall ravin as a wolf: in the morning he shall devour the prey, and at night he shall divide the spoil.

Num 31:53  (For the men of war had taken spoil, every man for himself.)

Jer 30:16  Therefore all they that devour thee shall be devoured; and all thine adversaries, every one of them, shall go into captivity; and they that spoil thee shall be a spoil, and all that prey upon thee will I give for a prey.

The Lord causing the Ammonites to perish and be destroyed out of the countries in verse 7 is to show us the defeat of the old man through the agency of the Lord’s judgment. It is through this victory over the flesh, which is a process, that we come to know the Lord.

Rev 12:11  And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony; and they loved not their lives unto the death. 

Loving not our lives unto death means that as the Lord’s elect, He has caused us to be prepared to go through the fiery trials, or the evil experience given to us by Him, in order to inherit the promise. It is another way of saying that because of the joy that is set before us, we despise the sufferings that are marked for us.

Heb 12:2 Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God. 

The Judgment of Moab and Seir

Eze 25:8  Thus saith the Lord GOD; Because that Moab and Seir do say, Behold, the house of Judah is like unto all the heathen; 
Eze 25:9  Therefore, behold, I will open the side of Moab from the cities, from his cities which are on his frontiers, the glory of the country, Bethjeshimoth, Baalmeon, and Kiriathaim, 

The Moabites were descendants of Lot, Abraham’s nephew, through an incestuous union with his elder daughter. They were therefore fleshly related to the people of Israel and therefore represent our flesh or our old man, just as the Ammonites also signify our flesh. Seir or Mount Seir are the alternative names of the mountainous tract in Palestine occupied by the descendants of Esau, who was the elder brother of Jacob. We can therefore also say that Seir is our flesh or our old man.

In verse 8, we are told that the Lord coming to judge the Moabites and the people from Seir was because they said that there is no difference between the house of Judah and the heathen. This accusation by the Moabites and people from Seir is justified as the house of Judah who represents us, the Lord’s elect, since we had not lived up to the standard of the Lord at a certain point of our walk with Christ when we were in Babylon. Thus, we were just like the heathen.

2Ki 17:13  Yet the LORD testified against Israel, and against Judah, by all the prophets, and by all the seers, saying, Turn ye from your evil ways, and keep my commandments and my statutes, according to all the law which I commanded your fathers, and which I sent to you by my servants the prophets. 
2Ki 17:14  Notwithstanding they would not hear, but hardened their necks, like to the neck of their fathers, that did not believe in the LORD their God. 
2Ki 17:15 And they rejected his statutes, and his covenant that he made with their fathers, and his testimonies which he testified against them; and they followed vanity, and became vain, and went after the heathen that were round about them, concerning whom the LORD had charged them, that they should not do like them.

Spiritually, the assertion by the Moabites and the people from Seir that we are just like the heathen implies that when we are under the control of the old man or the flesh, who is set in his ways, we cannot bring about the change that comes with knowing Christ. We are just like the heathen or our brothers and sisters in Babylon who think that no one can overcome the beast or the flesh within us.

Rev 13:4  And they worshipped the dragon which gave power unto the beast: and they worshipped the beast, saying, Who is like unto the beast? Who is able to make war with him? 

In order to live a life worthy of the Lord, our old man, represented here by the Moabites and the people from Seir, must be destroyed through judgment to pave the way for our lives to be controlled by the new man after the image of Christ.

In verse 9, the Lord is saying that as a result of the Lord’s elect being no different from the people of the world, He is going to open up the cities that protect the borders of Moab. These cities were three, and they are Bethjeshimoth, Baalmeon and Kiriathaim. As we have said earlier in this study, cities represent churches. The names of these cities therefore give us insight into the fact that the role of the churches of this world or Babylon is to protect the old man or the flesh within us represented here by Moab. Bethjeshimoth means ‘house of desolation’ or ‘desert.’ This house of desolation is Babylon or the physical churches of this world whose false teachings preserve our old man instead of destroying it.  Baalmeon signifies the ‘lord of the habitation’ which means that Babylon is actually worshiping our old man, who is the lord of the habitation. Kiriathaim means ‘two cities’, and it signifies that the churches are witnesses against one another that they are not serving the interest of Christ, our Lord, but that of the flesh.

Rev 2:9  I know thy works, and tribulation, and poverty, (but thou art rich) and I know the blasphemy of them which say they are Jews, and are not, but are the synagogue of Satan. 

The Lord opening up these cities implies that the Lord will show us, His elect, what Babylon is all about. This revelation is given to the Lord’s elect who walk in the spirit and not according to the flesh. The fact that these cities are three implies that it is through the process of spiritual maturity through judgment that we come to see who Babylon really is.

Rev 17:3  So he carried me away in the spirit into the wilderness: and I saw a woman sit upon a scarlet coloured beast, full of names of blasphemy, having seven heads and ten horns. 
Rev 17:4  And the woman was arrayed in purple and scarlet colour, and decked with gold and precious stones and pearls, having a golden cup in her hand full of abominations and filthiness of her fornication: 
Rev 17:5 And upon her forehead was a name written, MYSTERY, BABYLON THE GREAT, THE MOTHER OF HARLOTS AND ABOMINATIONS OF THE EARTH.

Eze 25:10  Unto the men of the east with the Ammonites, and will give them in possession, that the Ammonites may not be remembered among the nations. 
Eze 25:11 And I will execute judgments upon Moab; and they shall know that I am the LORD. 

Again, in verse 10 the Lord is saying that He will hand over the Moabites together with the Ammonites to the men from the east. As we have indicated earlier, the men from the east represent the Lord’s elect who are given to possess our old man or flesh. The Ammonites not being remembered among the nations implies that our old man shall be completely destroyed in our lives. In verse 11, we are made aware that it is through the judgment of the Lord upon our old man (Moab) that we come to know who the Lord is. 

Jer 24:7  And I will give them an heart to know me, that I am the LORD: and they shall be my people, and I will be their God: for they shall return unto me with their whole heart.

Eze 6:10 And they shall know that I am the LORD, and that I have not said in vain that I would do this evil unto them.

The Judgment of Edom

Eze 25:12  Thus saith the Lord GOD; Because that Edom hath dealt against the house of Judah by taking vengeance, and hath greatly offended, and revenged himself upon them; 
Eze 25:13  Therefore thus saith the Lord GOD; I will also stretch out mine hand upon Edom, and will cut off man and beast from it; and I will make it desolate from Teman; and they of Dedan shall fall by the sword. 
Eze 25:14 And I will lay my vengeance upon Edom by the hand of my people Israel: and they shall do in Edom according to mine anger and according to my fury; and they shall know my vengeance, saith the Lord GOD.

The people from Edom were descendants of Esau, Jacob’s twin brother. The Edomites therefore represent our flesh or our old man. We know from the word of the Lord that vengeance belongs to the Lord. That is to say, as the Lord’s elect, we should not take vengeance on our enemies. 

Psa 94:1  O LORD God, to whom vengeance belongeth; O God, to whom vengeance belongeth, shew thyself. 
Psa 94:2 Lift up thyself, thou judge of the earth: render a reward to the proud. 

Heb 10:30  For we know him that hath said, Vengeance belongeth unto me, I will recompense, saith the Lord. And again, The Lord shall judge his people.

As shown in verse 12, the sins of the Edomites were that they took vengeance on the Lord’s people, which was the prerogative of the Lord alone. In this sense, the Edomites were taking the place of the Lord to avenge His people. Any time we are meting out vengeance to someone, we are taking the place of our Lord. This is what the man of sin within us or our flesh does when we are under its control as he thinks of himself as God sitting in our temple or the throne of our hearts and mind. 

2Th 2:3  Let no man deceive you by any means: for that day shall not come, except there comes a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition;
2Th 2:4  Who opposeth and exalteth himself above all that is called God, or that is worshipped; so that he as God sitteth in the temple of God, shewing himself that he is God. 
2Th 2:5 Remember ye not, that, when I was yet with you, I told you these things? 

The Lord stretching out His hands on Edom in verse 13 means the Lord coming to judge the man of sin or our old man with the spirit of His mouth and His brightness. Cutting off the man and the beast from Edom signifies the destruction of the old man through the Lord’s judgment. In verse 13, we are also told that the Lord shall make desolate Edom, from Teman to Dedan. The Edomites settled in the mountainous region of Seir. The word Teman means ‘from’ and Dedan signifies ‘low country.’ Thus, making desolate Edom from Teman to Dedan means the Lord will destroy the Edomites from their mountainous region to the low country in South Arabia. In other words, the Lord will do a thorough work of destruction of our old man through His judgment.

Rom 9:28  The Lord will carry out his sentence on the land, completely and decisively.” (GW)

The instrument of the Lord’s judgment in this case is the sword. The negative application of the use of the sword refers to false doctrines or bitter words spoken against us. 

2Ti 2:17  And their word will eat as doth a canker: of whom is Hymenaeus and Philetus; 
2Ti 2:18  Who concerning the truth have erred, saying that the resurrection is past already; and overthrow the faith of some.   

Psa 64:2  Hide me from the secret counsel of the wicked; from the insurrection of the workers of iniquity: 
Psa 64:3  Who whet their tongue like a sword, and bend their bows to shoot their arrows, even bitter words:

In verse 14, the Lord is saying that He will take vengeance upon Edom using the people of Israel as His instrument of judgment. In other words, the Lord will judge the old man of every elect in this age. This judgment is the evil experience we are going through in this life with the Lord coming with His brightness and spirit of His mouth.

2Th 2:6  And now ye know what withholdeth that he might be revealed in his time. 
2Th 2:7  For the mystery of iniquity doth already work: only he who now letteth will let, until he be taken out of the way. 
2Th 2:8 And then shall that Wicked be revealed, whom the Lord shall consume with the spirit of his mouth, and shall destroy with the brightness of his coming:

The Judgment of Philistia

Eze 25:15  Thus saith the Lord GOD; Because the Philistines have dealt by revenge, and have taken vengeance with a despiteful heart, to destroy it for the old hatred; 
Eze 25:16  Therefore thus saith the Lord GOD; Behold, I will stretch out mine hand upon the Philistines, and I will cut off the Cherethims, and destroy the remnant of the sea coast. 
Eze 25:17 And I will execute great vengeance upon them with furious rebukes; and they shall know that I am the LORD, when I shall lay my vengeance upon them. 

The Philistines dwelt on the southern coast of Canaan and consisted of a confederation of city-states generally referred to as Philistia. They were sworn enemies of the people of Israel and had engaged Israel in battles, notably, Samson’s slaying of a thousand Philistines and David’s fight with the Philistine’s giant, Goliath. Initially, the Philistines had the upper hand over Israel, but over time, the Israelites became stronger and a dominant force in Canaan. Just like us, our flesh dominated us for a certain period of our lives until Christ came to us. Being the enemies of Israel, it is no wonder that in verse 15, the Philistines had taken revenge with a despiteful heart derived from hatred of the Lord’s people. The Philistines therefore represent our old man or our flesh that sits in our temple claiming himself to be God. 

2Th 2:4  Who opposeth and exalteth himself above all that is called God, or that is worshipped; so that he as God sitteth in the temple of God, shewing himself that he is God. 

As indicated earlier, the Lord stretching forth His hands upon the Philistines (verse 15) means the Lord coming to judge our old man. As shown in verse 16, the Lord’s judgment shall result in the cutting off of the Cherethims and the destruction of the remnant of the sea coast. The word “Cherethims” means ‘executioners’ or ‘killers’. It therefore refers to our flesh or old man that gradually puts us to death. The remnant of the sea coast also refers to our flesh. This implies that the cutting off of the Cherethims and the destruction of the remnant of the sea coast signifies the destroying of our flesh or our old man. In verse 17, the Lord is assuring us that He shall execute vengeance upon the Philistines with furious rebukes. That means that the Lord shall judge our old man with the spirit of His mouth or His fiery words. It is through judgment that we come to know the Lord.

2Th 2:8 And then shall that Wicked (our old man) be revealed, whom the Lord shall consume with the spirit of his mouth, and shall destroy with the brightness of his coming:

May the Lord continue the work He has started in us to bring it to completion in the fullness of time. Amen!!

Zec 9:1-17  The burden of the word of the LORD in the land of Hadrach, and Damascus

[Study Aired July 27, 2023]

Zec 9:1  The burden of the word of the LORD in the land of Hadrach, and Damascus shall be the rest thereof: when the eyes of man, as of all the tribes of Israel, shall be toward the LORD. 
Zec 9:2  And Hamath also shall border thereby; Tyrus, and Zidon, though it be very wise.
Zec 9:3  And Tyrus did build herself a strong hold, and heaped up silver as the dust, and fine gold as the mire of the streets. 
Zec 9:4  Behold, the Lord will cast her out, and he will smite her power in the sea; and she shall be devoured with fire. 
Zec 9:5  Ashkelon shall see it, and fear; Gaza also shall see it, and be very sorrowful, and Ekron; for her expectation shall be ashamed; and the king shall perish from Gaza, and Ashkelon shall not be inhabited. 
Zec 9:6  And a bastard shall dwell in Ashdod, and I will cut off the pride of the Philistines. 
Zec 9:7  And I will take away his blood out of his mouth, and his abominations from between his teeth: but he that remaineth, even he, shall be for our God, and he shall be as a governor in Judah, and Ekron as a Jebusite. 
Zec 9:8  And I will encamp about mine house because of the army, because of him that passeth by, and because of him that returneth: and no oppressor shall pass through them any more: for now have I seen with mine eyes. 
Zec 9:9  Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion; shout, O daughter of Jerusalem: behold, thy King cometh unto thee: he is just, and having salvation; lowly, and riding upon an ass, and upon a colt the foal of an ass.
Zec 9:10  And I will cut off the chariot from Ephraim, and the horse from Jerusalem, and the battle bow shall be cut off: and he shall speak peace unto the heathen: and his dominion shall be from sea even to sea, and from the river even to the ends of the earth. 
Zec 9:11  As for thee also, by the blood of thy covenant I have sent forth thy prisoners out of the pit wherein is no water. 
Zec 9:12  Turn you to the strong hold, ye prisoners of hope: even to day do I declare that I will render double unto thee; 
Zec 9:13  When I have bent Judah for me, filled the bow with Ephraim, and raised up thy sons, O Zion, against thy sons, O Greece, and made thee as the sword of a mighty man.
Zec 9:14  And the LORD shall be seen over them, and his arrow shall go forth as the lightning: and the Lord GOD shall blow the trumpet, and shall go with whirlwinds of the south.
Zec 9:15  The LORD of hosts shall defend them; and they shall devour, and subdue with sling stones; and they shall drink, and make a noise as through wine; and they shall be filled like bowls, and as the corners of the altar.
Zec 9:16  And the LORD their God shall save them in that day as the flock of his people: for they shall be as the stones of a crown, lifted up as an ensign upon his land. 
Zec 9:17  For how great is his goodness, and how great is his beauty! corn shall make the young men cheerful, and new wine the maids.

The first verse of this ninth chapter of Zechariah sets the stage for a prophecy that declares all the world will be judged by God through the church which will be an ensign upon the land revealing God’s goodness and beauty to all the earth, making the world rejoice in the word of hope the elect will bring (Rev 2:26-29). 

Rev 2:26  And he that overcometh, and keepeth my works unto the end, to him will I give power over the nations:
Rev 2:27  And he shall rule them with a rod of iron; as the vessels of a potter shall they be broken to shivers: even as I received of my Father.
Rev 2:28  And I will give him the morning star.
Rev 2:29  He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches.

This judgment over the nations which are given to the elect is what “The burden^H4853 of the word of the LORD in the land of Hadrach, and Damascus shall be the rest thereof: when the eyes of man, as of all the tribes of Israel, shall be toward the LORD” represents, and is a prophecy of the judgment of all the world symbolized by this statement, “as of all the tribes of Israel.“

H4853
Burden
maśśâ’ mas-saw’

From H5375; a burden; specifically tribute, or (abstractly) porterage; figuratively an utterance, chiefly a doom, especially singing; mental, desire: – burden, carry away, prophecy, X they set, song, tribute.

It is a physical and mental burden to have our old man judged in this age (1Pe 4:12, 1Pe 4:17), but it is also a joyful burden (2Co 7:4) knowing that the present suffering we are enduring cannot compare to the glory that will be revealed in the first resurrection, and so we look to the joy that is set before us through Christ who gives us that vision through the church (Rom 8:17-18, Heb 12:2, Pro 29:18).

2Co 7:4  Great is my boldness of speech toward you, great is my glorying of you: I am filled with comfort, I am exceeding joyful in all our tribulation [Act 14:22]

Rom 8:17  And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together.
Rom 8:18  For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us.

This chapter of Zechariah talks about the judgements that will come upon Babylon through the church expressed as “the burden^H4853 of the word of the LORD“. That same expression can be found in Isaiah 19:1-25 where Egypt, representing all the world, will be judged by the LORD who will “rideth upon a swift cloud [God’s elect the great cloud of witness  (Heb 12:1)], and shall come into Egypt: and the idols of Egypt shall be moved at his presence, and the heart of Egypt shall melt in the midst of it”.

Isa 19:1  The burden^H4853 of Egypt. Behold, the LORD rideth upon a swift cloud, and shall come into Egypt: and the idols of Egypt shall be moved at his presence, and the heart of Egypt shall melt in the midst of it. 

This chapter of Zechariah is about God’s indignation against the nations of the world and how He will judge all men with a mighty stretched out arm (Exo 15:16, Isa 34:1-6).

Exo 15:16  Fear and dread shall fall upon them; by the greatness of thine arm they shall be as still as a stone; till thy people pass over, O LORD, till the people pass over, which thou hast purchased. [God’s elect being connected to the passover lamb (1Co 6:19-20, Rom 8:36, Col 1:24)]

Isa 34:1  Come near, ye nations, to hear; and hearken, ye people: let the earth hear, and all that is therein; the world, and all things that come forth of it. 
Isa 34:2  For the indignation of the LORD is upon all nations, and his fury upon all their armies: he hath utterly destroyed them, he hath delivered them to the slaughter.
Isa 34:3  Their slain also shall be cast out, and their stink shall come up out of their carcases, and the mountains shall be melted with their blood.
Isa 34:4  And all the host of heaven shall be dissolved, and the heavens shall be rolled together as a scroll: and all their host shall fall down, as the leaf falleth off from the vine, and as a falling fig from the fig tree [Rev 6:12-13].
Isa 34:5  For my sword shall be bathed in heaven: behold, it shall come down upon Idumea^H123, and upon the people of my curse, to judgment.
Isa 34:6  The sword of the LORD is filled with blood, it is made fat with fatness, and with the blood of lambs and goats, with the fat of the kidneys of rams: for the LORD hath a sacrifice in Bozrah, and a great slaughter in the land of Idumea^H123. [Rev 14:18-20]

H123
‘ĕdôm    ‘ĕdôm
ed-ome’, ed-ome’

From H122; red (see Gen 25:25); Edom, the elder twin-brother of Jacob; hence the region (Idumaea) occupied by him: – Edom, Edomites, Idumea.

When God’s judgments are in the earth, men will learn righteousness (Isa 26:9), so although these verses we have read speak of some very hard things that will happen unto the world at the hand of God via the elect, the end result will bring healing. This time in Christ’s life found in Mark 3:1-14 is a parable of what God’s elect will experience during the thousand-year reign, being like him in the earth (1Jn 4:17). The twelve disciples, who are sent forth by Christ to preach, are typical of the foundational [12] body of Christ that will be sent forth to preach to all the world during the thousand-year reign of the saints. Right down to the smallest detail, there are parallels to be drawn from this section of the gospel of Mark and the ninth chapter of Zechariah, which we will look at before we get into the actual verses of the study.

Mar 3:1  And he entered again into the synagogue; and there was a man there which had a withered hand [a withered hand in the synagogue represents our inability in Babylon to sow the word of God correctly].
Mar 3:2  And they watched him, whether he would heal him on the sabbath day; that they might accuse him.
Mar 3:3  And he saith unto the man which had the withered hand, Stand forth.
Mar 3:4  And he saith unto them, Is it lawful to do good on the sabbath days, or to do evil? to save life, or to kill? But they held their peace. 
Mar 3:5  And when he had looked round about on them with anger, being grieved for the hardness of their hearts, he saith unto the man, Stretch forth thine hand. And he stretched it out: and his hand was restored whole as the other.
Mar 3:6  And the Pharisees went forth, and straightway took counsel with the Herodians against him, how they might destroy him [All of the physical healing during the reign of the saints does not prevent the events of Revelation 20:8  from transpiring, showing there was no spiritual healing taking place, no conversion].
Mar 3:7  But Jesus withdrew himself with his disciples to the sea: and a great multitude from Galilee followed him, and from Judaea, 
Mar 3:8  And from Jerusalem, and from Idumaea, and from beyond Jordan; and they about Tyre and Sidon, a great multitude, when they had heard what great things he did, came unto him. 
Mar 3:9  And he spake to his disciples, that a small ship should wait on him because of the multitude, lest they should throng him. 
Mar 3:10  For he had healed many; insomuch that they pressed upon him for to touch him, as many as had plagues.
Mar 3:11  And unclean spirits, when they saw him, fell down before him, and cried, saying, Thou art the Son of God.
Mar 3:12  And he straitly charged them that they should not make him known.
Mar 3:13  And he goeth up into a mountain, and calleth unto him whom he would: and they came unto him. 
Mar 3:14  And he ordained twelve, that they should be with him, and that he might send them forth to preach, 
Mar 3:15  And to have power to heal sicknesses, and to cast out devils:

Zec 9:1  The burden of the word of the LORD in the land of Hadrach, and Damascus shall be the rest thereof: when the eyes of man, as of all the tribes of Israel, shall be toward the LORD.

The judgment upon Hadrach (the country) and Damascus (the capital city), by way of the word of God which judges us, symbolizes what will happen to all men in time who will be dragged to Christ “when the eyes of man, as of all the tribes of Israel, shall be toward the LORD” (Joh 6:44). 

Joh 6:44  No man can come to me, except the Father which hath sent me draw him: and I will raise him up at the last day.

All the world will labor to enter into that rest, “the rest thereof” each man in his own order (1Co 15:21-24). Being before Christ and believing because we have been dragged there by the Father requires that we continue in that relationship if we are going to grow unto maturity, as we are dragged to Christ to that “private place” [Hadrach], the hidden idols of our Adamic hearts’ “sack of blood” [Damascus] that are revealed and repented of in this age, Lord willing (Joh 8:31-32, Jas 1:18-20, 1Jn 1:7). That dragging for us today as the body of Christ (Joh 6:44) burns up the idols of our Adamic hearts typified by the names Hadrach^H2317 and Damascus^H1834.

Zec 9:1 The burden of the Word of I was, I am, I will be against the land of private place^H2317 Hadrach BDB definition =”dwelling”, and its resting place, sack of blood^H1834 Damascus BDB definition = “silent is the sackcloth weaver” , (when the eye of man, and all the tribes of he will rule with God shall be toward I was, I am, I will be), [PNB-YLT-1]

Joh 8:31  Then said Jesus to those Jews which believed on him, If ye continue in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed;
Joh 8:32  And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.

Jas 1:18  Of his own will begat he us with the word of truth, that we should be a kind of firstfruits of his creatures.
Jas 1:19  Wherefore, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath: 
Jas 1:20  For the wrath of man worketh not the righteousness of God.

Zec 9:2  And Hamath also shall border thereby; Tyrus, and Zidon, though it be very wise.
Zec 9:3  And Tyrus did build herself a strong hold, and heaped up silver as the dust, and fine gold as the mire of the streets. 

These next verses discuss the condition of man’s heart and the idols of the heart that will be destroyed by the body of Christ bringing great fear upon all the world, and they parallel very well with the story of Ananias and Sapphira (Act 5:1-11). 

The verses start off by describing cities that represent the strongholds of our flesh [Hamath^H2574 BDB=”walled”; PNB=wall of anger], the deceitful and desperately wicked heart (Jer 17:9) that is proud and “very wise” having built itself upon the negative rock [Tyrus^H6865 BDB=”a rock”; PNB=strength ] thinking we are complete and fulfilled in our self-sufficiency not having need of Christ’s words. Man’s wisdom is not the power of God, but God allows mankind to dwell in a place that creates a false sense of security where strongholds are laid up, “Tyrus did build herself a strong hold“; and riches of the flesh are accumulated through our industriousness [Zidon^H6721 BDB = “hunting”; PNB=hunting place] and “heaped up as silver as the dust” along with “fine gold as the mire of the streets.” “Dust and mire” – that’s the conclusion Paul comes to regarding the wisdom of man versus the power of God which is revealed in the true gospel of Jesus Christ (Php 3:8, Rom 1:16-17).

Php 3:8 and  Yea doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but dung, that I may win Christ, 

This is the mindset that is needed to win Christ that Paul is describing for us and the fruit of that mindset is then described in Philippians 3:9.

Php 3:9  And be found in him, not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith: 

Rom 1:16  For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek. 
Rom 1:17  For therein is the righteousness of God revealed from faith to faith: as it is written, The just shall live by faith.

Zec 9:4  Behold, the Lord will cast her out, and he will smite her power in the sea; and she shall be devoured with fire. 
Zec 9:5  Ashkelon shall see it, and fear; Gaza also shall see it, and be very sorrowful, and Ekron; for her expectation shall be ashamed; and the king shall perish from Gaza, and Ashkelon shall not be inhabited. 
Zec 9:6  And a bastard shall dwell in Ashdod, and I will cut off the pride of the Philistines.

Tyrus is being discussed now, which is the Phoenician way of saying the port city of Tyre. These verses are talking about the judgment of mankind at this time, and God uses the port city of Tyrus as a type of Babylon that must be judged by the saints and will be during their reign with Christ (Rev 8:9, Rev 18:17, Rev 18:19). 

Etymology blurb:

The predominant form in Classical Greek was Týros (Τύρος), which was first seen in the works of Herodotus but may have been adopted considerably earlier. It gave rise to Latin Tyrus, which entered English during the Middle English period as Tyre. The demonym for Tyre is Tyrian, and the inhabitants are Tyrians.

Rev 8:9  And the third part of the creatures which were in the sea, and had life, died; and the third part of the ships were destroyed. 

Rev 18:17  For in one hour so great riches is come to nought. And every shipmaster, and all the company in ships, and sailors, and as many as trade by sea, stood afar off, 

Rev 18:19  And they cast dust on their heads, and cried, weeping and wailing, saying, Alas, alas, that great city, wherein were made rich all that had ships in the sea by reason of her costliness! for in one hour is she made desolate.

The “Lord will cast her out, and he will smite her power in the sea; and she shall be devoured with fire“, tells us that it is with the word of God that man’s false sense of power will be taken away, “in the sea“, meaning in our flesh and amongst all the rest of humanity that we trade with and exchange our ideas, all based on the lie that we have free moral agency.

What this judgment causes is fear and sorrow and torment, described with these words, “Ashkelon shall see it, and fear; Gaza also shall see it, and be very sorrowful, and Ekron; for her expectation shall be ashamed; and the king shall perish from Gaza, and Ashkelon shall not be inhabited.“

This thought of “Ashkelon^{H831 BDB = the fire of infamy}: I shall be weighed“ and “Gaza^{H5804 BDB = “the strong”}” seeing this judgment unfold on Tyrus, and fearing, reminds us of this verse previously mentioned (Rev 18:19). The king perishing from Gaza, “the king shall perish from Gaza“, is symbolic language meaning that mankind is being shown we are not the masters of our own destinies, our own kings with ten crowns (Rev 13:1), and so the king of kings in our hearts [small k], with its lie of free moral agency, has to die. Ashkelon, which means ‘the weighing place’, will consider these events and see an end coming to its self-willed enterprising mind, all happening in thirds, meaning a process of judgment that must occur to rid mankind of these idols, as mentioned in Revelation 8:9. Men’s ideas about themselves, in other words, are no longer going to thrive and flourish: “Ashkelon shall not be inhabited.” So, it is a bastard^H4464  who dwells in Ashdod^{H795, H7703} at this point, seeing that the legitimacy of mankind’s ‘Jewishness’ has been exposed (Deu 23:2, Rev 3:9).

H795
Ashdod ‘ashdôd
ash-dode’

From H7703; ravager; Ashdod, a place in Palestine: – Ashdod.

H7703
shâdad
shaw-dad’

A primitive root; properly to be burly, that is, (figuratively) powerful (passively impregnable); by implication to ravage: – dead, destroy (-er), oppress, robber, spoil (-er), X utterly, (lay) waste.

H4464
Bastard
mamzêr mam-zare’

From an unused root mian. to alienate; a mongrel, that is, born of a Jewish father and a heathen mother: – bastard.

Deu 23:2  A bastard shall not enter into the congregation of the LORD; even to his tenth generation shall he not enter into the congregation of the LORD. 

Rev 3:9  Behold, I will make them of the synagogue of Satan, which say they are Jews, and are not, but do lie; behold, I will make them to come and worship before thy feet, and to know that I have loved thee.

Zec 9:7  And I will take away his blood out of his mouth, and his abominations from between his teeth: but he that remaineth, even he, shall be for our God, and he shall be as a governor in Judah, and Ekron as a Jebusite. 

Still speaking of Tyre, we are told that God will “take away his blood out of his mouth, and his abominations from between his teeth“, symbols of ‘another Jesus’ based upon our own understanding of Christ. Taking away our Adamic blood is what is required to understand the precious blood of Christ (1Pe 1:19). The abomination between our teeth is the man of perdition who sits on the throne of our hearts and represents our self-willed spirits that reject God’s sovereignty at first. So, God taking away “his blood out of his mouth, and his abominations from between his teeth” is a good thing and something that requires a process of judgment (Luk 21:19-20, 2Th 2:8, Mat 24:15, Lev 7:18). 

Then we’re told, “but he that remaineth, even he, shall be for our God, and he shall be as a governor in Judah, and Ekron as a Jebusite.” There will be no conversion during the thousand-year reign of the saints, but this verse shows us that there will be different levels of comprehension with the unconverted masses and even those who will befriend the elect acting as governors^H441 in Judah [typifying the elect], and Ekron^H6138, as a Jebusite^{H2983, H2982}.

governorsH441 
BDB: 1. tame, docile 
friend, intimate
3. chief

Strong’s:  From H502; familiar; a friend also gentle; hence a bullock (as being tame; applied although masculine to a cow); and so a chieftain (as notable like neat cattle): – captain duke (chief) friend governor guide ox.

Ekron H6138
BDB: Ekron = emigration or torn up by the roots 
the most northerly of the 5 principal cities of the Philistines; located in the lowlands of Judah and later given to Dan.
Strong’s: From H6131; eradication;

H6131: A primitive root; to pluck up (especially by the roots); specifically to hamstring; figuratively to exterminate: – dig down hough pluck up root up.

Jebusite H2983 
BDB: descendants of Jebus 
Strong’s: Patrial from H2982

H2982: BDB = threshing place ; Strongs = trodden that is threshing place;

Zec 9:6  The people in Ashdod will not even know who their real fathers are. I will completely destroy the proud Philistine people.
Zec 9:7  They will no longer eat meat with the blood still in it or any other forbidden food. Any Philistine left living will become a part of my people—they will be just one more family group in Judah. The people of Ekron will become a part of my people, just like the Jebusite people did (1Ch 11:4; 1Ki 9:19-22). I will protect my country. (ERV)

1Ch 11:4  And David and all Israel went to Jerusalem, which is Jebus; where the Jebusites were, the inhabitants of the land. 

1Ki 9:19  And all the cities of store that Solomon had, and cities for his chariots, and cities for his horsemen, and that which Solomon desired to build in Jerusalem, and in Lebanon, and in all the land of his dominion.
1Ki 9:20  And all the people that were left of the Amorites, Hittites, Perizzites, Hivites, and Jebusites, which were not of the children of Israel, 
1Ki 9:21  Their children that were left after them in the land, whom the children of Israel also were not able utterly to destroy, upon those did Solomon levy a tribute of bondservice (forced labour / slaves / servants) unto this day.

Mary was not converted, nor were any of Christ’s disciples at the point where He was on the cross. However, there was a closeness they had with Him that others did not share, and Mary’s heart was threshed and pierced at seeing her beloved son dying in such a horrific manner (Luk 2:35). This should give us hope for those who are yet  unconverted in our midst, still blessed to have known Christ within the body of Christ (Gal 2:20). 

Zec 9:8  And I will encamp about mine house because of the army, because of him that passeth by, and because of him that returneth: and no oppressor shall pass through them any more: for now have I seen with mine eyes. 

Now the reality is in front of the world, God is dwelling on earth with His saints in the person of Jesus Christ, “I will encamp about mine house” where His bride “encamps about” to protect the holy city (Mat 26:53) so that “the exactor shall not pass over them furthermore” (CLV). “No oppressor shall pass through them any more: for now have I seen with mine eyes” (Rev 21:26-27) is another way of saying we will see him face to face in that day, when we are spirit beings who cannot be oppressed by the world. The natural precedes the spiritual in that regard as well, knowing that all those who are raised up as spirits in the second resurrection will not be able to oppress the elect but will be judged by the saints (1Co 13:12, 1Co 6:3, Mat 22:29-30).

Mat 26:53  Thinkest thou that I cannot now pray to my Father, and he shall presently give me more than twelve legions of angels?

Rev 21:26  And they shall bring the glory and honour of the nations into it. 
Rev 21:27  And there shall in no wise enter into it any thing that defileth, neither whatsoever worketh abomination, or maketh a lie: but they which are written in the Lamb’s book of life. 

1Co 6:3  Know ye not that we shall judge angels? how much more things that pertain to this life? 

Mat 22:29  Jesus answered and said unto them, Ye do err, not knowing the scriptures, nor the power of God. 
Mat 22:30  For in the resurrection they neither marry, nor are given in marriage, but are as the angels of God in heaven.

Zec 9:9  Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion; shout, O daughter of Jerusalem: behold, thy King cometh unto thee: he is just, and having salvation; lowly, and riding upon an ass, and upon a colt the foal of an ass.

This verse is commonly thought of as a prophecy that points to the time when Christ makes His triumphal entry into Jerusalem, and it is, but that moment in Christ’s life was also typical of His coming into the life of the elect, who are typified as Jerusalem (Gal 4:26) and now have taken on the perfected mind of Christ in the first resurrection and are glad and rejoicing for this loving relationship we have with our husband (Rev 19:7). We are glad and rejoicing and are also called the “daughter of Zion” and the “daughter of Jerusalem” throughout the scriptures. In light of the thousand-year reign though, we can also see this declaration spoken to ‘the other sheep not of this fold’ (Joh 10:16), the rest of humanity who are going to be saved and told, “Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion; shout, O daughter of Jerusalem: behold, thy King cometh unto thee” (Oba 1:21, Psa 127:3, Psa 113:9, Isa 54:1-5)

Psa 127:3  Lo, children are an heritage of the LORD: and the fruit of the womb is his reward.

Rev 19:7  Let us be glad and rejoice, and give honour to him: for the marriage of the Lamb is come, and his wife hath made herself ready.

Psa 113:9  He maketh the barren woman to keep house, and to be a joyful mother of children. Praise ye the LORD.

With Christ being our head, the elect are like Him and are represented by “a colt the foal of an ass“, the tamed beast Christ controls and rides triumphantly into Jerusalem above, where we are raised in heavenly places (Eph 2:6). Because the Lord has guided our lives in this age, and we have been led by God’s spirit (Rom 8:14-16), we have been crushed and have suffered, making it possible for us to become that meek bride, being made ready to rule and reign under Christ (1Pe 3:4, Pro 18:22). 

1Pe 3:4  But let it be the hidden man of the heart, in that which is not corruptible, even the ornament of a meek and quiet spirit, which is in the sight of God of great price. 

Pro 18:22  Whoso findeth a wife findeth a good thing, and obtaineth favour of the LORD. 

That crushing of the elect is directed by the King of Kings and Lord of Lords who is “riding upon an ass, and upon a colt the foal of an ass” that is going over the tree branches and clothes (Mat 21:8) which represent the elect whose lives have been lost and cut down and crushed under the stone, Jesus Christ (Mat 21:44), as a glorious witness of His power and might that is able to finish this work of salvation (Zec 4:6, Psa 149:4, Luk 12:32) within the elect as His kind of first fruits (Jas 1:18).

Psa 149:4  For the LORD taketh pleasure in his people: he will beautify the meek with salvation. 

Luk 12:32  Fear not, little flock; for it is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom.

Zec 9:10  And I will cut off the chariot from Ephraim, and the horse from Jerusalem, and the battle bow shall be cut off: and he shall speak peace unto the heathen: and his dominion shall be from sea even to sea, and from the river even to the ends of the earth. 

This verse contrasts with Christ “riding upon an ass, and upon a colt the foal of an ass“ showing us the need for judgment in the earth in order for the world to learn of His righteousness. God will take away the power of the nations, symbolized by these words, “I will cut off the chariot from Ephraim, and the horse from Jerusalem, and the battle bow shall be cut off.“

There will be no area of the world where Christ’s and His Christ’s influence will not be felt and implemented, declared here saying, “and his dominion shall be from sea even to sea, and from the river even to the ends of the earth.”

Zec 9:11  As for thee also, by the blood of thy covenant I have sent forth thy prisoners out of the pit wherein is no water. 
Zec 9:12  Turn you to the strong hold, ye prisoners of hope: even to day do I declare that I will render double unto thee; 

These two verses are talking about God’s elect today who are being given hope in His word that tells us because of our communion with Christ (1Co 10:16), He will, at the appointed time, send “forth thy prisoners out of the pit wherein is no water”, which has both an inward application and a dispensational one as well. We are told today to “Turn you to the strong hold, ye prisoners of hope” as we look to Christ as our hope of glory within who can deliver us from our wretched flesh. We are hoping in those things which are not seen, by the faith of Christ (Col 1:27, Rom 7:24, Heb 11:1). He declares to His elect even today the double blessing which will be given to those who endure until the end and overcome by God’s power in this life “even to day do I declare that I will render double unto thee.“

Zec 9:13  When I have bent Judah for me, filled the bow with Ephraim, and raised up thy sons, O Zion, against thy sons, O Greece, and made thee as the sword of a mighty man.
Zec 9:14  And the LORD shall be seen over them, and his arrow shall go forth as the lightning: and the Lord GOD shall blow the trumpet, and shall go with whirlwinds of the south.

These verses show us that God is preparing us for the battles that have been ordained for us to go through, battles that belong to the Lord (1Sa 17:47) but are executed through His bow, “When I have bent Judah for me, filled the bow with Ephraim, and raised up thy sons, O Zion, against thy sons, O Greece, and made thee as the sword of a mighty man.” The spirit of Christ in God’s elect is against the fleshly carnal heart of man, to which is what this section of the verse is referring, “and raised up thy sons, O Zion, against thy sons, O Greece [representing carnal, gentile flesh, which is what all flesh is in God’s eyes], and made thee [God’s elect] as the sword of a mighty man.“

1Sa 17:47  And all this assembly shall know that the LORD saveth not with sword and spear: for the battle is the LORD’S, and he will give you into our hands. 

The world will see this work of judgment unfolding upon them through the elect, which is what we are being told here, “And the LORD shall be seen over them, and his arrow shall go forth as the lightning: and the Lord GOD shall blow the trumpet, and shall go with whirlwinds of the south.” The arrows represent His word that will go forth from our lips as lightning. All God’s elect do will be directed and guided by Christ, who will “blow the trumpet, and shall go with whirlwinds of the south“, meaning we will take our lead from Christ. Coming from the south means we will go forth with the prosperity of His word in our quiver to do His bidding on the earth (Psa 127:3-5).

Psa 127:3  Lo, children are an heritage of the LORD: and the fruit of the womb is his reward.
Psa 127:4  As arrows are in the hand of a mighty man; so are children of the youth. 
Psa 127:5  Happy is the man that hath his quiver full of them: they shall not be ashamed, but they shall speak with the enemies in the gate.

Zec 9:15  The LORD of hosts shall defend them; and they shall devour, and subdue with sling stones; and they shall drink, and make a noise as through wine; and they shall be filled like bowls, and as the corners of the altar.

The imagery in this verse describes the certainty of God’s judgments that will prevail throughout the earth. He will defend us and win our battles for us, and the giants in the land at that time will be slain, which was typified by King David slaying Goliath. “The LORD of hosts shall defend them; and they shall devour, and subdue with sling stones” (1Sa 17:49-50).

This will be a great time of rejoicing for the bride of Christ as we see the loving protection and mighty arm of our saviour taking us into battle and giving us victory at every turn. That is why it says, “and they shall drink, and make a noise as through wine.“ We shall be “filled like bowls and as the corners of the altar“, representing the complete power of judgment that will go forth from the body of Christ. The corners of the altar are where there are horns representing that power of God working in our lives. Today that power is made known to us as we die daily being, bound to the altar by the grace-through-faith relationship we have with our Lord (Psa 118:27).

Zec 9:16  And the LORD their God shall save them in that day as the flock of his people: for they shall be as the stones of a crown, lifted up as an ensign upon his land. 
Zec 9:17  For how great is his goodness, and how great is his beauty! corn shall make the young men cheerful, and new wine the maids.

Again, some reassuring verses that remind us of God’s love toward the bride of Christ and the little flock who will be an ensign unto all the earth, “for they shall be as the stones of a crown, lifted up as an ensign upon his land” (Mal 3:17).

How great is God’s goodness toward us, and how great is His beauty, indeed! Our joy will be in living lives that have learned throughout our lifetime of overcoming that it is more blessed to give than to receive (Rev 4:8, Act 20:35), having been prepared as the bride of Christ for that service to all the world. That service is what this verse foreshadows, “For how great is his goodness, and how great is his beauty! corn shall make the young men cheerful, and new wine the maids.” We will have the privilege of giving the world the truth, represented by “corn shall make the young men cheerful, and new wine the maids.”

Rev 4:8  And the four beasts had each of them six wings about him; and they were full of eyes within: and they rest not day and night, saying, Holy, holy, holy, Lord God Almighty, which was, and is, and is to come. 
Rev 4:9  And when those beasts give glory and honour and thanks to him that sat on the throne, who liveth for ever and ever, 
Rev 4:10  The four and twenty elders fall down before him that sat on the throne, and worship him that liveth for ever and ever, and cast their crowns before the throne, saying,
Rev 4:11  Thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honour and power: for thou hast created all things, and for thy pleasure they are and were created.

Gospels In Harmony

Matthew 22:1-14 The Parable of the Wedding Feast

[Study Aired June 22, 2021]

Mat 22:1-14 And Jesus answered and spake unto them again by parables, and said, The kingdom of heaven is like unto a certain king, which made a marriage for his son, And sent forth his servants to call them that were bidden to the wedding: and they would not come. Again, he sent forth other servants, saying, Tell them which are bidden, Behold, I have prepared my dinner: my oxen and my fatlings are killed, and all things are ready: come unto the marriage. But they made light of it, and went their ways, one to his farm, another to his merchandise: And the remnant took his servants, and entreated them spitefully, and slew them. But when the king heard thereof, he was wroth: and he sent forth his armies, and destroyed those murderers, and burned up their city. Then saith he to his servants, The wedding is ready, but they which were bidden were not worthy. Go ye therefore into the highways, and as many as ye shall find, bid to the marriage. So those servants went out into the highways, and gathered together all as many as they found, both bad and good: and the wedding was furnished with guests. And when the king came in to see the guests, he saw there a man which had not on a wedding garment: And he saith unto him, Friend, how camest thou in hither not having a wedding garment? And he was speechless. Then said the king to the servants, Bind him hand and foot, and take him away, and cast him into outer darkness; there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth. For many are called, but few are chosen.

In our last studies Christ spoke in parables condemning the chief priests and Pharisees. In today’s study Christ continues this condemnation. This parable gives us more information concerning the kingdom of heaven. As we all know, the kingdom is within each of us, and these parables explain what and how Christ is working out our salvation. 

Luk 17:20 And when he was demanded of the Pharisees, when the kingdom of God should come, he answered them and said, The kingdom of God cometh not with observation: Neither shall they say, Lo here! or, lo there! for, behold, the kingdom of God is within you.

Php 2:12-13 Wherefore, my beloved, as ye have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling. For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure.

Here are our first three verses under review. 

Mat 22:1 And Jesus answered and spake unto them again by parables, and said,
Mat 22:2 The kingdom of heaven is like unto a certain king, which made a marriage for his son,
Mat 22:3 And sent forth his servants to call them that were bidden to the wedding: and they would not come.

Here is the interpretation of this parable for those that have eyes to see.

Luk 10:21-24 In that hour Jesus rejoiced in spirit, and said, I thank thee, O Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that thou hast hid these things from the wise and prudent, and hast revealed them unto babes: even so, Father; for so it seemed good in thy sight. All things are delivered to me of my Father: and no man knoweth who the Son is, but the Father; and who the Father is, but the Son, and he to whom the Son will reveal him. And he turned him unto his disciples, and said privately, Blessed are the eyes which see the things that ye see: For I tell you, that many prophets and kings have desired to see those things which ye see, and have not seen them; and to hear those things which ye hear, and have not heard them.

The wedding is being prepared for the Lamb of God, Christ, and his bride.

Joh 1:36 And looking upon Jesus as he walked, he saith, Be hold the Lamb of God!

Rev 19:6-9 And I heard as it were the voice of a great multitude, and as the voice of many waters, and as the voice of mighty thunderings, saying, Alleluia: for the Lord God omnipotent reigneth. Let us be glad and rejoice, and give honour to him: for the marriage of the Lamb is come, and his wife hath made herself ready. And to her was granted that she should be arrayed in fine linen, clean and white: for the fine linen is the righteousness of saints. And he saith unto me, Write, Blessed are they which are called unto the marriage supper of the Lamb. And he saith unto me, These are the true sayings of God.

Israel is the first to be invited to the wedding, and the servants are the prophets.

Jer 7:1-3 The word that came to Jeremiah from the LORD, saying, Stand in the gate of the LORD’S house, and proclaim there this word, and say, Hear the word of the LORD, all ye of Judah, that enter in at these gates to worship the LORD. Thus saith the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel, Amend your ways and your doings, and I will cause you to dwell in this place.

Jer 7:25-26 Since the day that your fathers came forth out of the land of Egypt unto this day I have even sent unto you all my servants the prophets, daily rising up early and sending them: Yet they hearkened not unto me, nor inclined their ear, but hardened their neck: they did worse than their fathers.

The wedding is our salvation.

Rom 11:11 I say then, Have they stumbled that they should fall? God forbid: but rather through their fall salvation is come unto the Gentiles, for to provoke them to jealousy.

A certain king is the Father, God, and he is having a wedding feast (process of salvation) for his son (Jesus Christ). He sends his servants (the prophets) to invite their friends and relatives, (the house of Judah and Israel), to the marriage of his son and his bride (the elect) being held in the kingdom of heaven (our hearts and minds). Here is the link to Mike’s study What and Where is Heaven? which explains that the kingdom of heaven is our hearts and minds.

Here are the next verses.

Mat 22:4 Again, he sent forth other servants, saying, Tell them which are bidden, Behold, I have prepared my dinner: my oxen and my fatlings are killed, and all things are ready: come unto the marriage.
Mat 22:5 But they made light of it, and went their ways, one to his farm, another to his merchandise:
Mat 22:6 And the remnant took his servants, and entreated them spitefully, and slew them.

Those first invited would not listen and refused to come to the wedding, not listening to the first servants sent, so he sent more servants (disciples) to convince them to come to the wedding. The oxen and fatlings are killed (the sacrifice) and all things are ready. Again they would not come and killed the servants sent to them.

Zep 1:7 Hold thy peace at the presence of the Lord GOD: for the day of the LORD is at hand: for the LORD hath prepared a sacrifice, he hath bid his guests.

Mat 10:5-8 These twelve Jesus sent forth, and commanded them, saying, Go not into the way of the Gentiles, and into any city of the Samaritans enter ye not: But go rather to the lost sheep of the house of Israel. And as ye go, preach, saying, The kingdom of heaven is at hand.Heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, raise the dead, cast out devils: freely ye have received, freely give.

Act 7:52-60 Which of the prophets have not your fathers persecuted? and they have slain them which shewed before of the coming of the Just One; of whom ye have been now the betrayers and murderers: Who have received the law by the disposition of angels, and have not kept it. When they heard these things, they were cut to the heart, and they gnashed on him with their teeth. But he, being full of the Holy Ghost, looked up stedfastly into heaven, and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing on the right hand of God, And said, Behold, I see the heavens opened, and the Son of man standing on the right hand of God. Then they cried out with a loud voice, and stopped their ears, and ran upon him with one accord, And cast him out of the city, and stoned him: and the witnesses laid down their clothes at a young man’s feet, whose name was Saul. And they stoned Stephen, calling upon God, and saying, Lord Jesus, receive my spirit. And he kneeled down, and cried with a loud voice, Lord, lay not this sin to their charge. And when he had said this, he fell asleep.

Continuing with the parable:

Mat 22:7 But when the king heard thereof, he was wroth: and he sent forth his armies, and destroyed those murderers, and burned up their city.

So Israel is destroyed because of their disobedience and the prophecies of Deuteronomy 28:15-68 and Revelation 19:11-16 are fulfilled.

Deu 28:15-16 But it shall come to pass, if thou wilt not hearken unto the voice of the LORD thy God, to observe to do all his commandments and his statutes which I command thee this day; that all these curses shall come upon thee, and overtake thee: Cursed shalt thou be in the city, and cursed shalt thou be in the field.

Deu 28:20 The LORD shall send upon thee cursing, vexation, and rebuke, in all that thou settest thine hand unto for to do, until thou be destroyed, and until thou perish quickly; because of the wickedness of thy doings, whereby thou hast forsaken me.

Deu 28:63 And it shall come to pass, that as the LORD rejoiced over you to do you good, and to multiply you; so the LORD will rejoice over you to destroy you, and to bring you to nought; and ye shall be plucked from off the land whither thou goest to possess it.

Rev 19:11-16 And I saw heaven opened, and behold a white horse; and he that sat upon him was called Faithful and True, and in righteousness he doth judge and make war. His eyes were as a flame of fire, and on his head were many crowns; and he had a name written, that no man knew, but he himself. And he was clothed with a vesture dipped in blood: and his name is called The Word of God. And the armies which were in heaven followed him upon white horses, clothed in fine linen, white and clean. And out of his mouth goeth a sharp sword, that with it he should smite the nations: and he shall rule them with a rod of iron: and he treadeth the winepress of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God. And he hath on his vesture and on his thigh a name written, KING OF KINGS, AND LORD OF LORDS.

Desiring to have guests at the wedding, the King sends his servants out once again. This time they are charged to bring guests, no matter what.

Mat 22:8 Then saith he to his servants, The wedding is ready, but they which were bidden were not worthy.
Mat 22:9 Go ye therefore into the highways, and as many as ye shall find, bid to the marriage.
Mat 22:10 So those servants went out into the highways, and gathered together all as many as they found, both bad and good: and the wedding was furnished with guests.

The first guests invited were found not worthy of enjoying the wedding feast. The servants found guests, but notice they are both bad and good. This is explained by another parable.

Mat 13:24-30 Another parable put he forth unto them, saying, The kingdom of heaven is likened unto a man which sowed good seed in his field: But while men slept, his enemy came and sowed tares among the wheat, and went his way. But when the blade was sprung up, and brought forth fruit, then appeared the tares also. So the servants of the householder came and said unto him, Sir, didst not thou sow good seed in thy field? from whence then hath it tares? He said unto them, An enemy hath done this. The servants said unto him, Wilt thou then that we go and gather them up? But he said, Nay; lest while ye gather up the tares, ye root up also the wheat with them. Let both grow together until the harvest: and in the time of harvest I will say to the reapers, Gather ye together first the tares, and bind them in bundles to burn them: but gather the wheat into my barn.

Let’s continue the parable:

Mat 22:11 And when the king came in to see the guests, he saw there a man which had not on a wedding garment:
Mat 22:12 And he saith unto him, Friend, how camest thou in hither not having a wedding garment? And he was speechless.
Mat 22:13 Then said the king to the servants, Bind him hand and foot, and take him away, and cast him into outer darkness; there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.
Mat 22:14 For many are called, but few are chosen.

The King called one of the guests ‘friend’. Who else is called friend?

Mat 20:8-16 So when even was come, the lord of the vineyard saith unto his steward, Call the labourers, and give them their hire, beginning from the last unto the first. And when they came that were hired about the eleventh hour, they received every man a penny. But when the first came, they supposed that they should have received more; and they likewise received every man a penny. And when they had received it, they murmured against the goodman of the house, Saying, These last have wrought but one hour, and thou hast made them equal unto us, which have borne the burden and heat of the day. But he answered one of them, and said, Friend, I do thee no wrong: didst not thou agree with me for a penny? Take that thine is, and go thy way: I will give unto this last, even as unto thee. Is it not lawful for me to do what I will with mine own? Is thine eye evil, because I am good? So the last shall be first, and the first last: for many be called, but few chosen.

Mat 26:47-50 And while he yet spake, lo, Judas, one of the twelve, came, and with him a great multitude with swords and staves, from the chief priests and elders of the people. Now he that betrayed him gave them a sign, saying, Whomsoever I shall kiss, that same is he: hold him fast. And forthwith he came to Jesus, and said, Hail, master; and kissed him. And Jesus said unto him, Friend, wherefore art thou come? Then came they, and laid hands on Jesus, and took him.

This friend is not wearing a wedding garment, and garments represent righteousness.

Rev 19:8 And to her was granted that she should be arrayed in fine linen, clean and white: for the fine linen is the righteousness of saints.

This friend is wearing a garment not fit for a wedding. This friend is our old man.

Isa 4:1 And in that day seven women shall take hold of one man, saying, We will eat our own bread, and wear our own apparel: only let us be called by thy name, to take away our reproach.

Because of the lack of wearing the proper garment, this friend is cast into outer darkness. What is not wearing the proper garment? It is disobedience. Another parable shows us this.

Luk 6:46-49 And why call ye me, Lord, Lord, and do not the things which I say? Whosoever cometh to me, and heareth my sayings, and doeth them, I will shew you to whom he is like: He is like a man which built an house, and digged deep, and laid the foundation on a rock: and when the flood arose, the stream beat vehemently upon that house, and could not shake it: for it was founded upon a rock. But he that heareth, and doeth not, is like a man that without a foundation built an house upon the earth; against which the stream did beat vehemently, and immediately it fell; and the ruin of that house was great.

As with the last few parables in our studies, those who were listening to this parable perceived Christ was speaking of them. These parables are warning us that we must examine ourselves and understand that this parable is speaking about the kingdom of heaven within each of us. The false doctrines of the world within us must be cast into outer darkness.

All parables are telling us that there is a war happening within each of us. God is sending his servants, those who have Christ in them, to do battle against the false doctrines within us. There is a specific process God has put in place to overcome the enemy. That enemy is death, and victory is life.

The process begins by being a self-righteous lump of clay that denies God and will not accept His invitation. God then sends His prophets to warn us of our self-righteousnesses. Next, He sends the elect to show us the truth, Jesus Christ. Christ then sends the comforter, the spirit of truth, in earnest, to start dragging us to Himself. We at first still deny him, but if we continue in His word, we shall be His disciples indeed. The Son has been given the elect to complete the process of salvation through the thousand-year reign, and finally the war will end in the lake of fire where death will be swallowed up in victory. Lord willing, we all will endure until the end.

Isa 25:8-9 He will swallow up death in victory; and the Lord GOD will wipe away tears from off all faces; and the rebuke of his people shall he take away from off all the earth: for the LORD hath spoken it. And it shall be said in that day, Lo, this is our God; we have waited for him, and he will save us: this is the LORD; we have waited for him, we will be glad and rejoice in his salvation.

1Co 15:50-54 Now this I say, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God; neither doth corruption inherit incorruption. Behold, I shew you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed. For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality. So when this corruptible shall have put on incorruption, and this mortal shall have put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written, Death is swallowed up in victory.

I will end our study with the following.

2Co 13:1-14 This is the third time I am coming to you. In the mouth of two or three witnesses shall every word be established. I told you before, and foretell you, as if I were present, the second time; and being absent now I write to them which heretofore have sinned, and to all other, that, if I come again, I will not spare: Since ye seek a proof of Christ speaking in me, which to you-ward is not weak, but is mighty in you. For though he was crucified through weakness, yet he liveth by the power of God. For we also are weak in him, but we shall live with him by the power of God toward you. Examine yourselves, whether ye be in the faith; prove your own selves. Know ye not your own selves, how that Jesus Christ is in you, except ye be reprobates? But I trust that ye shall know that we are not reprobates. Now I pray to God that ye do no evil; not that we should appear approved, but that ye should do that which is honest, though we be as reprobates. For we can do nothing against the truth, but for the truth. For we are glad, when we are weak, and ye are strong: and this also we wish, even your perfection. Therefore I write these things being absent, lest being present I should use sharpness, according to the power which the Lord hath given me to edification, and not to destruction. Finally, brethren, farewell. Be perfect, be of good comfort, be of one mind, live in peace; and the God of love and peace shall be with you. Greet one another with an holy kiss. All the saints salute you. The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Ghost, be with you all. Amen. 

[Study Aired May 23, 2021]

Jer 9:13  And the LORD saith, Because they have forsaken my law which I set before them, and have not obeyed my voice, neither walked therein;
Jer 9:14  But have walked after the imagination of their own heart, and after Baalim, which their fathers taught them:
Jer 9:15  Therefore thus saith the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel; Behold, I will feed them, even this people, with wormwood, and give them water of gall to drink.
Jer 9:16  I will scatter them also among the heathen, whom neither they nor their fathers have known: and I will send a sword after them, till I have consumed them.
Jer 9:17  Thus saith the LORD of hosts, Consider ye, and call for the mourning women, that they may come; and send for cunning women, that they may come:
Jer 9:18  And let them make haste, and take up a wailing for us, that our eyes may run down with tears, and our eyelids gush out with waters.
Jer 9:19  For a voice of wailing is heard out of Zion, How are we spoiled! we are greatly confounded, because we have forsaken the land, because our dwellings have cast us out.
Jer 9:20  Yet hear the word of the LORD, O ye women, and let your ear receive the word of his mouth, and teach your daughters wailing, and every one her neighbour lamentation.
Jer 9:21  For death is come up into our windows,  and is entered into our palaces, to cut off the children from without, and the young men from the streets.
Jer 9:22  Speak, Thus saith the LORD, Even the carcases of men shall fall as dung upon the open field, and as the handful after the harvestman, and none shall gather them.
Jer 9:23  Thus saith the LORD, Let not the wise  man glory in his wisdom, neither let the mighty  man glory in his might, let not the rich  man glory in his riches:
Jer 9:24  But let him that glorieth glory in this, that he understandeth and knoweth me, that I am the LORD which exercise lovingkindness, judgment, and righteousness, in the earth: for in these things I delight, saith the LORD.
Jer 9:25  Behold, the days come, saith the LORD, that I will punish all them which are circumcised with the uncircumcised;
Jer 9:26  Egypt, and Judah, and Edom, and the children of Ammon, and Moab, and all that are in the utmost corners, that dwell in the wilderness: for all these nations  are uncircumcised, and all the house of Israel  are uncircumcised in the heart.

The title of our study is taken from:

Jer 9:24  But let him that glorieth glory in this, that he understandeth and knoweth me, that I am the LORD which exercise lovingkindness, judgment, and righteousness, in the earth: for in these things I delight, saith the LORD.

Knowing Christ and His Father is life eternal, and that ‘knowledge’ is not the immature ‘knowledge’ which puffs us up and leads us to become self-righteous and look down on others whom we deem to be less knowledgeable about God than we are.

Joh 17:3  And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent.

This ‘knowledge of God’ brings us to appreciate His “lovingkindness, judgment and righteousness”. Our soul’s desire becomes a hunger and thirst to know the judgments of our old man revealed in the prophets Isaiah, Jeremiah and all the other prophets who speak of “that day” the day of our judgment. The Truth is that when we come to know our Lord, we will be grateful we have been given to understand the need for His judgments, and we will see that His judgments are “His goodness… His lovingkindness, and His righteousness”. All His words are Truth, and His justice and judgments endure through every generation:

Psa 119:160   The sum of Thy word is truth, And to the age is every judgment of Thy righteousness! (YLT)

It is His judgment to first give us an experience of evil and then to use that experience to give Him the “occasion” He is seeking against our old man to judge him and to humble and destroy him.

Ecc 1:13 I applied my heart to inquiring and exploring by wisdom concerning all that is done under the heavens: it is an experience of evil Elohim has given to the sons of humanity to humble them by it. (CLV)

2Pe 2:12  But these, as natural brute beasts, made to be taken and destroyed, speak evil of the things that they understand not; and shall utterly perish in their own corruption;

Jer 9:13  And the LORD saith, Because they have forsaken my law which I set before them, and have not obeyed my voice, neither walked therein;

‘We forsake the Lord’s law and do not obey His voice’ by the design the Lord has laid out for us in Ecclesiastes 1:13. It is because the Lord “has given… [us] an experience of evil” that He is now humbling us “because [we] have forsaken [His] law, and have not obeyed [His] voice”, meaning His commandments and His doctrines.

Jer 9:14  But have walked after the imagination of their own heart, and after Baalim, which their fathers taught them:

“The imagination of [the] heart of our old man is the same as the imagination of the hearts of our fathers who also followed all the traditions and customs of Baalim, including the days, months times and years which Baalim, “the god of this world” uses to keep us spiritually blinded and in darkness:

2Co 4:3  But if our gospel be hid, it is hid to them that are lost:
2Co 4:4  In whom the god of this world [Greek: ‘aion’, age] hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them.

God’s own people preferred the pagan holidays of their neighbors to the holy days the Lord had commanded them to observe. In His “reformation” Christ broke both the weekly sabbath (Mat 12:1-8, Joh 5:18) and the annual holy days (Joh 7:1-9). Then through the apostle Paul we are admonished against keeping any “days, months, times and years”:

Gal 4:10  Ye observe days, and months, and times, and years.
Gal 4:11  I am afraid of you, lest I have bestowed upon you labour in vain.

For those who can receive it, birthdays and anniversaries are “days” which are traditionally kept by pagan nations. It is instructive that not one birthday of any patriarch or prophet or apostle, including the birthday of Christ, is given us in scripture. In insisting on keeping these traditions of men, we have truly forsaken the Lord’s law, walked after our own heart, and after Baalim as our fathers have taught us’ (Jer 9:13-14).

The Lord has given Satan the power to keep our old man and this world blinded until the time of our judgment.

Jer 9:15  Therefore thus saith the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel; Behold, I will feed them, even this people, with wormwood, and give them water of gall to drink.

This statement concerning the Lord giving us “wormwood and the water of gall to drink” is taken from these verses in Deuteronomy:

Deu 29:14  Neither with you only do I make this covenant and this oath;
Deu 29:15  But with him that standeth here with us this day before the LORD our God, and also with him that  is not here with us this day:
Deu 29:16  (For ye know how we have dwelt in the land of Egypt; and how we came through the nations which ye passed by;
Deu 29:17  And ye have seen their abominations, and their idols, wood and stone, silver and gold, which were among them:)
Deu 29:18  Lest there should be among you man, or woman, or family, or tribe, whose heart turneth away this day from the LORD our God, to go and serve the gods of these nations; lest there should be among you a root that beareth gall and wormwood;
Deu 29:19  And it come to pass, when he heareth the words of this curse, that he bless himself in his heart, saying, I shall have peace, though I walk in the imagination of mine heart, to add drunkenness to thirst:
Deu 29:20  The LORD will not spare him, but then the anger of the LORD and his jealousy shall smoke against that man, and all the curses that are written in this book shall lie upon him, and the LORD shall blot out his name from under heaven.

The words and doctrines of the great whore are likened to “bitter… wormwood”:

Pro 5:1  My son, attend unto my wisdom, and  bow thine ear to my understanding:
Pro 5:2  That thou mayest regard discretion, and that thy lips may keep knowledge.
Pro 5:3  For the lips of a strange woman drop as an honeycomb, and her mouth is smoother than oil:
Pro 5:4  But her end is bitter as wormwood, sharp as a twoedged sword.
Pro 5:5  Her feet go down to death; her steps take hold on hell.
Pro 5:6  Lest thou shouldest ponder the path of life, her ways are moveable, that thou canst not know them.

All of this is the foundation for these words in the book of Revelation:

Rev 8:10  And the third angel sounded, and there fell a great star from heaven, burning as it were a lamp, and it fell upon the third part of the rivers, and upon the fountains of waters;
Rev 8:11  And the name of the star is called Wormwood:  and the third part of the waters became wormwood; and many men died of the waters, because they were made bitter.

For those with ‘eyes that see’, “the third part” reveals that this is all a part of the process of judging and destroying our own old man:  The Number Three

Jer 9:16  I will scatter them also among the heathen, whom neither they nor their fathers have known: and I will send a sword after them, till I have consumed them.
Jer 9:17  Thus saith the LORD of hosts, Consider ye, and call for the mourning women, that they may come; and send for cunning women, that they may come:
Jer 9:18  And let them make haste, and take up a wailing for us, that our eyes may run down with tears, and our eyelids gush out with waters.
Jer 9:19 For a voice of wailing is heard out of Zion, How are we spoiled! we are greatly confounded, because we have forsaken the land, because our dwellings have cast us out.

“Our dwellings have cast us out” is a reference to this fact:

Eze 2:6  And thou, son of man, be not afraid of them, neither be afraid of their words, though briers and thorns  be with thee, and thou dost dwell among scorpions: be not afraid of their words, nor be dismayed at their looks, though they be a rebellious house.

Dwelling with ‘briers, thorns and scorpions’ is living with all the lying false doctrines of “their words”.

Here is the New Testament version of this part of our judgment:

Rev 15:1  And I saw another sign in heaven, great and marvellous, seven angels having the seven last plagues; for in them is filled up the wrath of God.
Rev 15:2  And I saw as it were a sea of glass mingled with fire: and them that had gotten the victory over the beast, and over his image, and over his mark, and over the number of his name, stand on the sea of glass, having the harps of God.
Rev 15:3  And they sing the song of Moses the servant of God, and the song of the Lamb, saying, Great and marvellous are thy works, Lord God Almighty; just and true are thy ways, thou King of saints.
Rev 15:4  Who shall not fear thee, O Lord, and glorify thy name? for thou only art holy: for all nations shall come and worship before thee; for thy judgments are made manifest.
Rev 15:5  And after that I looked, and, behold, the temple of the tabernacle of the testimony in heaven was opened:
Rev 15:6  And the seven angels came out of the temple, having the seven plagues, clothed in pure and white linen, and having their breasts girded with golden girdles.
Rev 15:7  And one of the four beasts gave unto the seven angels seven golden vials full of the wrath of God, who liveth for ever and ever.
Rev 15:8  And the temple was filled with smoke from the glory of God, and from his power; and no man was able to enter into the temple, till the seven plagues of the seven angels were fulfilled.

In Revelation chapters 14 and 16 we are told that this “wrath of God” is poured out on the great whore, Babylon the Great, within us. That is why we are told, “No man was able to enter into the temple [in heaven – vs 5], till the seven plagues of the seven angels were fulfilled [within our lives].” This part of our “experience of evil” is described as “Babylon is fallen” in Revelation 14, 16, and 18. It is also called “the patience of the saints and they that keep the commandments of God and the faith of Jesus”:

Rev 14:6  And I saw another angel fly in the midst of heaven, having the everlasting gospel to preach unto them that dwell on the earth, and to every nation, and kindred, and tongue, and people,
Rev 14:7  Saying with a loud voice, Fear God, and give glory to him; for the hour of his judgment is come: and worship him that made heaven, and earth, and the sea, and the fountains of waters.
Rev 14:8  And there followed another angel, saying, Babylon is fallen, is fallen, that great city, because she made all nations drink of the wine of the wrath of her fornication.
Rev 14:9  And the third angel followed them, saying with a loud voice, If any man worship the beast and his image, and receive  his mark in his forehead, or in his hand,
Rev 14:10  The same shall drink of the wine of the wrath of God, which is poured out without mixture into the cup of his indignation; and he shall be tormented with fire and brimstone in the presence of the holy angels, and in the presence of the Lamb:
Rev 14:11  And the smoke of their torment ascendeth up for ever and ever: and they have no rest day nor night, who worship the beast and his image, and whosoever receiveth the mark of his name.
Rev 14:12  Here is the patience of the saints: here are they that keep the commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus.

Just what percentage of mankind “worship the beast and his image, and… receive the mark of his name”? The scriptures make the answer to that question super clear in the previous chapter:

Rev 13:16  And he causeth all, both small and great, rich and poor, free and bond, to receive a mark in their right hand, or in their foreheads:

“All, both small and great, rich and poor, free and bond” is triple explicit. This mark is common to all of mankind, “small and great, rich and poor, free and bond.”

Being “tormented with fire and brimstone in the presence of the holy angels and in the presence of the Lamb” is called being brought to one’s “wits’ end” in Psalms 107:

Psa 107:10  Such as sit in darkness and in the shadow of death, being bound in affliction and iron;
Psa 107:11  Because they rebelled against the words of God, and contemned the counsel of the most High:
Psa 107:12  Therefore he brought down their heart with labour; they fell down, and there was none to help.
Psa 107:13  Then they cried unto the LORD in their trouble, and he saved them out of their distresses.
Psa 107:14  He brought them out of darkness and the shadow of death, and brake their bands in sunder.
Psa 107:15  Oh that men would praise the LORD for his goodness, and for his wonderful works to the children of men!
Psa 107:25  For he [the Lord] commandeth, and raiseth the stormy wind, which lifteth up the waves thereof.
Psa 107:26  They mount up to the heaven, they go down again to the depths: their soul is melted because of trouble.
Psa 107:27  They reel to and fro, and stagger like a drunken man, and are at their wits’ end.
Psa 107:28  Then they cry unto the LORD in their trouble, and he bringeth them out of their distresses.
Psa 107:29  He maketh the storm a calm, so that the waves thereof are still.
Psa 107:30  Then are they glad because they be quiet; so he bringeth them unto their desired haven.
Psa 107:31  Oh that men would praise the LORD for his goodness, and for his wonderful works to the children of men!

When the scripture uses the word ‘then’ it behooves us to acknowledge that it means ‘not until then’. We do not “cry unto the Lord in our trouble” until “He brings down our heart with labor and there is no one [but Him to] help” us.

We do not “Cry unto the Lord in our trouble” until “He raises the stormy wind and lifts up the waves thereof [and we] are at [our] wits’ end.” Only “then [do we] cry unto the Lord in our trouble” and He brings [us] out of [our] troubles, calms our seas, and brings us to our desired haven. Truly it really is only “the goodness of God that brings us to repentance” and still we tire of hearing of His wonderful judgments and “His goodness to the children of men”:

Isa 26:8  Yea, in the way of thy judgments, O LORD, have we waited for thee; the desire of our soul  is to thy name, and to the remembrance of thee [and “the way of your judgments”].
Isa 26:9  With my soul have I desired thee in the night; yea, with my spirit within me will I seek thee early: for when thy judgments are in the earth, the inhabitants of the world will learn righteousness.

Several years back, when we were just part way through our series of studies in the book of Revelation, in exasperation my son blurted out… “I am so tired of the book of Revelation. Can’t we go on to something else?” There is no doubt that he was simply saying what he and others thought. It is obvious in hindsight that he had not yet been brought to his wits’ end and “[his] soul [did not yet] desire the way of [the Lord’s] judgments”. That day has not yet come to him, but whenever that day does come, it will be “the Lord’s goodness… bring[ing him] to [his] wits’ end… [and bringing  him] to repentance”:

Rom 2:4  Or despisest thou the riches of his goodness and forbearance and longsuffering; not knowing that the goodness of God [His judgments] leadeth thee to repentance?

Jer 9:20  Yet hear the word of the LORD, O ye women, and let your ear receive the word of his mouth, and teach your daughters wailing, and every one her neighbour lamentation.

Those who tire of hearing about the Lord’s judgments always have some more ‘glorious riches’ they want to give to the body of Christ. How few it is who can say with Isaiah:

Isa 26:8  Yea, in the way of thy judgments, O LORD, have we waited for thee; the desire of our soul  is to thy name, and to the remembrance of thee.
Isa 26:9  With my soul have I desired thee in the night; yea, with my spirit within me will I seek thee early: for when thy judgments are in the earth, the inhabitants of the world will learn righteousness.

The “women” of verse 20 are you and me if we are the Lord’s elect: “…Hear the word of the LORD, O ye women, and let your ear receive the word of his mouth, and teach your daughters wailing, and every one her neighbour lamentation.”

Our doctrines are our children… our daughters. It is only the Lord’s elect who want to “teach [our] daughters wailing” and our “neighbor lamentation”. The harlot and the world she rules have much more exciting things to do and to teach, and it all appeals to our ‘belly’… our physical and our mental and emotional desires.

Rom 16:17  Now I beseech you, brethren, mark them which cause divisions and offences contrary to the doctrine which ye have learned; and avoid them.
Rom 16:18  For they that are such serve not our Lord Jesus Christ, but their own belly; and by good words and fair speeches deceive the hearts of the simple.

We should not want to be “simple”. Being ‘simple’ is the opposite of being ‘wise’:

Psa 19:7  The law of the LORD is perfect, converting the soul: the testimony of the LORD is sure,  making wise the simple.

Pro 21:11  When the scorner is punished, the simple is made wise: and when the wise is instructed, he receiveth knowledge.

This is reaffirmed in our next verse:

Jer 9:21  For death is come up into our windows,  and is entered into our palaces, to cut off the children from without, and the young men from the streets.

Again, our false doctrines, which are the self-righteous “children [and] young men… children of the kingdom [of our old man]”, will be “cut off” by the “wormwood and… gall” which the Lord gives us to drink. The positive application of “the children of the kingdom” is the pure doctrine of Christ within us. As is always the case, “the children of the kingdom” has both a negative and a positive application in scripture:

Mat 8:12  But the children of the kingdom [with their false doctrines] shall be cast out into outer darkness: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.

Mat 13:38  The field is the world; the good seed [the doctrines of Christ] are the children of the kingdom; but the tares [false doctrines of Babylon] are the children of the wicked one;

Jer 9:22  Speak, Thus saith the LORD, Even the carcases of men shall fall as dung upon the open field, and as the handful after the harvestman, and none shall gather them.
Jer 9:23  Thus saith the LORD, Let not the wise  man glory in his wisdom, neither let the mighty  man glory in his might, let not the rich man  glory in his riches:

There is no quarter given to the mother of harlots. She and her children are “the wise men, the mighty men, and the rich men” of this world. Their carcasses will “fall as dung upon the open field.”

We who have moved beyond the milk doctrines, including the doctrine of age-lasting judgment, have done so because we have been given to appreciate that being “crucified with Christ” is a good thing. We are going beyond the milk doctrines because we know the product of judgment, and we know that “all things… life… death… the world… things present and things to come” are all ours, and our eyes are on the product of the Lord’s judgments in our lives. That ‘product’ is the unadulterated knowledge of God and Jesus Christ whom He has sent. That knowledge is life eternal:

Joh 17:1  These words spake Jesus, and lifted up his eyes to heaven, and said, Father, the hour is come; glorify thy Son, that thy Son also may glorify thee:
Joh 17:2  As thou hast given him power over all flesh, that he should give eternal life to as many as thou hast given him.
Joh 17:3  And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent.
Joh 17:4  I have glorified thee on the earth: I have finished the work which thou gavest me to do.
Joh 17:5  And now, O Father, glorify thou me with thine own self with the glory which I had with thee before the world [G2889: kosmos] was.
Joh 17:6  I have manifested thy name unto the men which thou gavest me out of the world: thine they were, and thou gavest them me; and they have kept thy word.
Joh 17:7  Now they have known that all things whatsoever thou hast given me are of thee.
Joh 17:8  For I have given unto them the words which thou gavest me; and they have received them, and have known surely that I came out from thee, and they have believed that thou didst send me. [“Calling those things that be not as though they were” (Mar 16:14; Rom 4:17)]
Joh 17:9  I pray for them: I pray not for the world, but for them which thou hast given me; for they are thine.

Jesus came into this world for judgment, but He is not at this time judging this world. Judgment “begins at us”, and then the Lord through us will judge this world for a thousand years, and then we will be the judges of the great white throne judgment:

Joh 9:39  And Jesus said, For judgment I am come into this world, that they which see not might see; and that they which see might be made blind.
Joh 9:40  And some of the Pharisees which were with him heard these words, and said unto him, Are we blind also?
Joh 9:41  Jesus said unto them, If ye were blind, ye should have no sin: but now ye say, We see;  therefore your sin remaineth.

Christ “came into the world… for judgment”, but He did not come to judge this world at this time:

Joh 12:47  And if any man hear my words, and believe not, I judge him not: for I came not to judge the world, but to save the world.
Joh 12:48  He that rejecteth me, and receiveth not my words, hath one that judgeth him: the word that I have spoken, the same shall judge him in the last day [The great white throne judgment, Rev 20:11].

Very few are honored with being judged in this age. It will be so few that when asked about “the sign of [His] coming” these were Christ’s words as they relate to the number of believers at that time:

Mat 24:37  But as the days of Noe  were, so shall also the coming of the Son of man be.

Luk 17:32  Remember Lot’s wife.

Luk 18:8  I tell you that he will avenge them speedily. Nevertheless when the Son of man cometh, shall he find faith on the earth?

Christ had earlier told His disciples this concerning the parable of the wedding supper at the beginning of the thousand-year reign and those who would be given a part in that “marriage supper” also known as “the first resurrection” (Rev 19:7 and 20:6).

Mat 22:14  For many are called, but few  are chosen.

Jer 9:24  But let him that glorieth glory in this, that he understandeth and knoweth me, that I am the LORD which exercise lovingkindness, judgment, and righteousness, in the earth: for in these things I delight, saith the LORD.

We are saved “by grace through faith”, and both are a gift from God. From beginning to end it is all His workings:

Eph 2:6  And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus:
Eph 2:7  That in the ages to come he might shew the exceeding riches of his grace in his kindness toward us through Christ Jesus.
Eph 2:8  For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:
Eph 2:9  Not of [our] works, lest any man should boast.
Eph 2:10  For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.

“His grace in His kindness” is His chastening and scourging which bring us to repentance.

Tit 2:11  For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men,
Tit 2:12  Teaching [G3811: paideuo, chastening] us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world;

Heb 12:5  And ye have forgotten the exhortation which speaketh unto you as unto children, My son, despise not thou the chastening of the Lord, nor faint when thou art rebuked of him:
Heb 12:6  For whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth, and scourgeth every son whom he receiveth.
Heb 12:7  If ye endure chastening, God dealeth with you as with sons; for what son is he whom the father chasteneth not?

As our brother Tony pointed out in his first study in 1^st Kings:

1Ki 1:5  Then Adonijah the son of Haggith exalted himself, saying, I will be king: and he prepared him chariots and horsemen, and fifty men to run before him.
1Ki 1:6  And his father had not displeased him at any time in saying, Why hast thou done so? and he also  was a very goodly man; and his mother  bare him after Absalom.

King David had promised Bathsheba that her son Solomon would become king, but Adonijah simply took it upon himself to usurp the throne of his father, and his father failed to discipline him for his presumptuous actions. It was all done, and it is written down, for our admonition, demonstrating what confusion and strife is born of a lack of chastening and scourging from a loving father. That is not our loving heavenly Father’s mode of operation. Our heavenly Father is a vigilant, diligent Father who never takes a break from watching over and disciplining us for our good:

Psa 121:1  A Song of degrees. I will lift up mine eyes unto the hills, from whence cometh my help.
Psa 121:2  My help cometh from the LORD, which made heaven and earth.
Psa 121:3  He will not suffer thy foot to be moved: he that keepeth thee will not slumber.
Psa 121:4  Behold, he that keepeth Israel shall neither slumber nor sleep.

Jer 9:25  Behold, the days come, saith the LORD, that I will punish all them which are circumcised with the uncircumcised;
Jer 9:26  Egypt, and Judah, and Edom, and the children of Ammon, and Moab, and all that are in the utmost corners, that dwell in the wilderness: for all these nations  are uncircumcised, and all the house of Israel are uncircumcised in the heart.

These last two verses are foundational to Paul’s revolutionary proclamation:

Rom 2:26  Therefore if the uncircumcision keep the righteousness of the law, shall not his uncircumcision be counted for circumcision?
Rom 2:27  And shall not uncircumcision which is by nature, if it fulfil the law, judge thee, who by the letter and circumcision dost transgress the law?
Rom 2:28  For he is not a Jew, which is one outwardly; neither is that circumcision, which is outward in the flesh:
Rom 2:29  But he is a Jew, which is one inwardly; and circumcision is that of the heart, in the spirit, and not in the letter; whose praise is not of men, but of God.

The holy spirit has blinded the eyes of most Babylonian churches to these words. Having been in Babylon for decades I also simply could not see what is and what is “not a Jew”, and I certainly could not see how it was possible “by the letter and circumcision…[to] transgress the law.”

“Egypt, and Judah, and Edom, and the children of Ammon, and Moab, and all that are in the utmost corners,  that dwell in the wilderness: for all these nations are uncircumcised, and all the house of Israel are uncircumcised in the heart.” Therefore “He is not a Jew which is one outwardly, but he is a Jew which is one inwardly”.

Babylon is “in the wilderness”, and that is where we all are until we “come out of her…”:

Rev 17:3  So he carried me away in the spirit  into the wilderness: and I saw a woman sit upon a scarlet coloured beast, full of names of blasphemy, having seven heads and ten horns.

Rev 18:4  And I heard another voice from heaven, saying,  Come out of her, my people, that ye be not partakers of her sins, and that ye receive not of her plagues.
Rev 18:5  For her sins have reached unto heaven, and God hath remembered her iniquities.

The Lord was merciful, and He began chastening and scourging me and dragging me out of Babylon. As He did so He began to give me eyes that could see and ears that could hear “the mysteries of the kingdom of God”. So it is with every one of us if indeed the Lord loves us.

Mat 13:10  And the disciples came, and said unto him, Why speakest thou unto them in parables?
Mat 13:11  He answered and said unto them, Because it is given unto you to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it is not given.
Mat 13:12  For whosoever hath, to him shall be given, and he shall have more abundance: but whosoever hath not, from him shall be taken away even that he hath.
Mat 13:16  But blessed are your eyes, for they see: and your ears, for they hear.
Mat 13:17  For verily I say unto you, That many prophets and righteous men have desired to see those things which ye see, and have not seen them; and to hear those things which ye hear, and have not heard them.

That is our study for today. We will begin chapter 10 next week:

Jer 10:1  Hear ye the word which the LORD speaketh unto you, O house of Israel:
Jer 10:2  Thus saith the LORD, Learn not the way of the heathen, and be not dismayed at the signs of heaven; for the heathen are dismayed at them.
Jer 10:3  For the customs of the people are vain: for one cutteth a tree out of the forest, the work of the hands of the workman, with the axe.
Jer 10:4  They deck it with silver and with gold; they fasten it with nails and with hammers, that it move not.
Jer 10:5  They are upright as the palm tree, but speak not: they must needs be borne, because they cannot go. Be not afraid of them; for they cannot do evil, neither also is it in them to do good.
Jer 10:6  Forasmuch as there is none like unto thee, O LORD; thou art great, and thy name is great in might.
Jer 10:7  Who would not fear thee, O King of nations? for to thee doth it appertain: forasmuch as among all the wise men of the nations, and in all their kingdoms, there is none like unto thee.
Jer 10:8  But they are altogether brutish and foolish: the stock is a doctrine of vanities.
Jer 10:9  Silver spread into plates is brought from Tarshish, and gold from Uphaz, the work of the workman, and of the hands of the founder: blue and purple is their clothing: they are all the work of cunning men.
Jer 10:10  But the LORD is the true God, he is the living God, and an everlasting king: at his wrath the earth shall tremble, and the nations shall not be able to abide his indignation.
Jer 10:11  Thus shall ye say unto them, The gods that have not made the heavens and the earth, even they shall perish from the earth, and from under these heavens.
Jer 10:12  He hath made the earth by his power, he hath established the world by his wisdom, and hath stretched out the heavens by his discretion.
Jer 10:13  When he uttereth his voice, there is a multitude of waters in the heavens, and he causeth the vapours to ascend from the ends of the earth; he maketh lightnings with rain, and bringeth forth the wind out of his treasures.

Jdg 3:12 -31  The Lord Raised Them up a Deliverer, Ehud

[Study Aired March 8, 2021]

Jdg 3:12  And the children of Israel did evil again in the sight of the LORD: and the LORD strengthened Eglon the king of Moab against Israel, because they had done evil in the sight of the LORD. 
Jdg 3:13  And he gathered unto him the children of Ammon and Amalek, and went and smote Israel, and possessed the city of palm trees. 
Jdg 3:14  So the children of Israel served Eglon the king of Moab eighteen years. 
Jdg 3:15  But when the children of Israel cried unto the LORD, the LORD raised them up a deliverer, Ehud the son of Gera, a Benjamite, a man lefthanded: and by him the children of Israel sent a present unto Eglon the king of Moab. 
Jdg 3:16  But Ehud made him a dagger which had two edges, of a cubit length; and he did gird it under his raiment upon his right thigh. 
Jdg 3:17  And he brought the present unto Eglon king of Moab: and Eglon was a very fat man. 
Jdg 3:18  And when he had made an end to offer the present, he sent away the people that bare the present. 
Jdg 3:19  But he himself turned again from the quarries that were by Gilgal, and said, I have a secret errand unto thee, O king: who said, Keep silence. And all that stood by him went out from him. 
Jdg 3:20  And Ehud came unto him; and he was sitting in a summer parlour, which he had for himself alone. And Ehud said, I have a message from God unto thee. And he arose out of his seat. 
Jdg 3:21  And Ehud put forth his left hand, and took the dagger from his right thigh, and thrust it into his belly: 
Jdg 3:22  And the haft also went in after the blade; and the fat closed upon the blade, so that he could not draw the dagger out of his belly; and the dirt came out. 
Jdg 3:23  Then Ehud went forth through the porch, and shut the doors of the parlour upon him, and locked them. 
Jdg 3:24  When he was gone out, his servants came; and when they saw that, behold, the doors of the parlour were locked, they said, Surely he covereth his feet in his summer chamber. 
Jdg 3:25  And they tarried till they were ashamed: and, behold, he opened not the doors of the parlour; therefore they took a key, and opened them: and, behold, their lord was fallen down dead on the earth. 
Jdg 3:26  And Ehud escaped while they tarried, and passed beyond the quarries, and escaped unto Seirath. 
Jdg 3:27  And it came to pass, when he was come, that he blew a trumpet in the mountain of Ephraim, and the children of Israel went down with him from the mount, and he before them. 
Jdg 3:28  And he said unto them, Follow after me: for the LORD hath delivered your enemies the Moabites into your hand. And they went down after him, and took the fords of Jordan toward Moab, and suffered not a man to pass over. 
Jdg 3:29  And they slew of Moab at that time about ten thousand men, all lusty, and all men of valour; and there escaped not a man. 
Jdg 3:30  So Moab was subdued that day under the hand of Israel. And the land had rest fourscore years. 
Jdg 3:31  And after him was Shamgar the son of Anath, which slew of the Philistines six hundred men with an ox goad: and he also delivered Israel. 

As shown in the review of verse 11, the rest that the Israelites had under various judges is a period where the enemies are restrained from attacking Israel. This rest is therefore absence of war.  It is therefore physical and is not the spiritual rest for God’s people that we are looking forward to. This spiritual rest is ceasing from our own works. That is, coming to see that it is not what we do by our own strength that matters, but what God does through us (His handiworks) is what is important. So then, our rest in Him does not depend on human will or exertion, but of God who shows mercy.

Heb 4:8  For if Jesus had given them rest, then would he not afterward have spoken of another day.
Heb 4:9  There remaineth therefore a rest to the people of God.
Heb 4:10  For he that is entered into his rest, he also hath ceased from his own works, as God did from his.
Heb 4:11  Let us labour therefore to enter into that rest, lest any man fall after the same example of unbelief.

Rom 9:16  So then it depends not on human will or exertion, but on God, who has mercy. (ESV)

Jdg 3:12  And the children of Israel did evil again in the sight of the LORD: and the LORD strengthened Eglon the king of Moab against Israel, because they had done evil in the sight of the LORD. 
Jdg 3:13  And he gathered unto him the children of Ammon and Amalek, and went and smote Israel, and possessed the city of palm trees. 

As indicated in the last review, the forty years of rest with Othniel as judge (verses 9–11) is not a period to be clothed with the Lord’s righteousness as the Israelites’ raiment never waxed old meaning they had their own standard of righteousness which is the law.  It was therefore just a matter of time for the Israelites to be under bondage to sin again. In this case, they were oppressed by the Moabites who were descendants of Lot’s son Moab. So the Moabites were fleshly related to the Israelites. This is to confirm to us that the enemy we are dealing with is our own flesh.

The enemies possessed the city of palm trees which was Jericho. Jericho was the first city that the Israelites possessed when they crossed the Jordan River. So the Israelites being dispossessed of the city of palm trees is another way of saying that we end up going back to our vomit at certain stages of our walk with Christ. Peter gave us the synopsis of how we end up going back to our vomit. It all starts when we pay more attention to the great swelling words of vanity perpetuated by our leaders in Babylon than the true word of God. As a result, we are lured through the lusts of the flesh to follow the way of Balaam who loved the wages of unrighteousness and therefore we end up becoming entangled in sins which we had escaped.

Deu 34:3  And the south, and the plain of the valley of Jericho, the city of palm trees, unto Zoar.

2Pe 2:18  For when they speak great swelling words of vanity, they allure through the lusts of the flesh, through much wantonness, those that were clean escaped from them who live in error.
2Pe 2:19  While they promise them liberty, they themselves are the servants of corruption: for of whom a man is overcome, of the same is he brought in bondage.
2Pe 2:20  For if after they have escaped the pollutions of the world through the knowledge of the Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, they are again entangled therein, and overcome, the latter end is worse with them than the beginning.
2Pe 2:21  For it had been better for them not to have known the way of righteousness, than, after they have known it, to turn from the holy commandment delivered unto them.
2Pe 2:22  But it is happened unto them according to the true proverb, The dog is turned to his own vomit again; and the sow that was washed to her wallowing in the mire.

Jdg 3:14  So the children of Israel served Eglon the king of Moab eighteen years. 

In verse 14, the Israelites served Eglon, the king of the Moabites for eighteen years. This is insightful as the number eighteen signifies a period in our lives when we are under satanic oppression resulting in us being powerless before the enemies within and wallowing in our own vomit. Remember that there was a woman in Jesus’ time who had the spirit of infirmity for eighteen years. Surprisingly, it was Jesus who saw her and came to her aid. In like manner, Jesus sees our situations and will not leave us alone to be oppressed by our enemies if we are destined to overcome them.

Jdg 10:8  And that year they vexed and oppressed the children of Israel: eighteen years, all the children of Israel that were on the other side Jordan in the land of the Amorites, which is in Gilead.

Luk 13:10  And he was teaching in one of the synagogues on the sabbath.
Luk 13:11  And, behold, there was a woman which had a spirit of infirmity eighteen years, and was bowed together, and could in no wise lift up herself.
Luk 13:12  And when Jesus saw her, he called her to him, and said unto her, Woman, thou art loosed from thine infirmity.
Luk 13:13  And he laid his hands on her: and immediately she was made straight, and glorified God.

Luk 13:16  And ought not this woman, being a daughter of Abraham, whom Satan hath bound, lo, these eighteen years, be loosed from this bond on the sabbath day?

Jdg 3:15  But when the children of Israel cried unto the LORD, the LORD raised them up a deliverer, Ehud the son of Gera, a Benjamite, a man lefthanded: and by him the children of Israel sent a present unto Eglon the king of Moab. 

God is in the business of raising His elect to lift us out of our bondage in every generation. In this particular case, God raised Ehud to deliver His people from servitude under Eglon the King of Moab. The name Ehud means union. So Ehud represents our union with Christ. Ehud was a Benjamite, which emphasizes the fact that he is God’s elect. On a positive note, the tribe of Benjamin is another symbol of God’s elect as demonstrated by the fact that Benjamin was given food five times more than his brothers and was loved dearly by his father Jacob – more than his other brothers except Joseph.

Gen 43:34  And he took and sent messes unto them from before him: but Benjamin’s mess was five times so much as any of theirs. And they drank, and were merry with him.

Another characteristic of Ehud was that he was left-handed. Two places in the Book of Judges (Judges 3:15 and Judges 20:16) succinctly take note of the extraordinary left-handed abilities of the tribe of Benjamin. This characteristic of the tribe of Benjamin is significant and symbolic. We can understand what the left hand stands for in Genesis 48:18, where Jacob was blessing the children of Joseph, but chose to place his left hand on the eldest and the right hand on the younger grandson. What Joseph said there was very insightful.

Gen 48:17  And when Joseph saw that his father laid his right hand upon the head of Ephraim, it displeased him: and he held up his father’s hand, to remove it from Ephraim’s head unto Manasseh’s head.
Gen 48:18  And Joseph said unto his father, Not so, my father: for this is the firstborn; put thy right hand upon his head.

What these verses mean is that the right hand corresponds to being first born and therefore being privileged with the birthright or double portion. The flip side of this is that the left hand represents those without the birthright. So Ehud being left-handed means that he was not to be called and chosen to lead Israel, but God chooses the stupid things of this world to confound the wise. In our case, we were aliens from the commonwealth of Israel (because we were “left-handed” and therefore do not have any birthright) but by the grace of God, we who were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ!!

Eph 2:12  That at that time ye were without Christ, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers from the covenants of promise, having no hope, and without God in the world:
Eph 2:13  But now in Christ Jesus ye who sometimes were far off are made nigh by the blood of Christ.
Eph 2:14  For he is our peace, who hath made both one, and hath broken down the middle wall of partition between us;
Eph 2:15  Having abolished in his flesh the enmity, even the law of commandments contained in ordinances; for to make in himself of twain one new man, so making peace;

1Co 1:26  For ye see your calling, brethren, how that not many wise men after the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble, are called:
1Co 1:27  But God hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise; and God hath chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things which are mighty;
1Co 1:28  And base things of the world, and things which are despised, hath God chosen, yea, and things which are not, to bring to nought things that are:
1Co 1:29  That no flesh should glory in his presence.

A key feature of those who are Benjamites and left-handed is that they can sling stones at a hair’s breadth.

Jdg 20:16  Among all this people [the Benjamites] there were seven hundred chosen men lefthanded; every one could sling stones at an hair breadth, and not miss.

The seven hundred left-handed Benjamites represent the elect in every generation. The stone we are slinging is Christ who is the word of God, and by this we are able to subdue the enemies within as stated in Zechariah 9:15. To sling stones at hair’s breadth means to be able to handle the word of God such that one can divide the soul and the spirit and of the joints and marrow, and be able to discern the thoughts and intents of one’s heart.

Zec 9:15  The LORD of hosts shall defend them; and they shall devour, and subdue with sling stones; and they shall drink, and make a noise as through wine; and they shall be filled like bowls, and as the corners of the altar.

Heb 4:12  For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.

Verse 15 says that the Israelites sent a present to their tormentor Eglon, king of Moab, by Ehud. The sending of the present to Eglon signifies that we have accepted our status as servants of the flesh. Since they sent it through Ehud, and Ehud means union, it means that at some point in our lives, we accept to live in union with the flesh.  In other words, we are saying like people of the world, that there is no way we can make war against the beast. Remember that when Jacob was going to see Esau, he sent a present to him first, and when he met him, he bowed seven times and referred to himself as a servant of Esau. This is to show us how we bow down completely to the flesh in our lives at a certain stage of our walk.

Jdg 3:16  But Ehud made him a dagger which had two edges, of a cubit length; and he did gird it under his raiment upon his right thigh. 

The dagger represents the word of God. Hiding the dagger under his raiment is another way of saying that the preparation of God’s elect through the revelation of Jesus is done in secret, but our righteousness (represented by our raiment) is what must be seen by all. Nobody lights a candle and puts it under a bushel. The making of our mouth into a sharpened sword is done in the shadow of God’s hand as He hides us. For when it pleased the Lord to separate Paul for the gospel, Paul went to Arabia to prepare. However, later his deeds (righteousness) became known to all the churches.

Eph 6:17  And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God:

Isa 49:2 in He made my mouth like a sharpened sword, the shadow of his hand he hid me; he made me into a polished arrow and concealed me in his quiver.

Gal 1:15  But when it pleased God, who separated me from my mother’s womb, and called me by his grace,
Gal 1:16  To reveal his Son in me, that I might preach him among the heathen; immediately I conferred not with flesh and blood:
Gal 1:17  Neither went I up to Jerusalem to them which were apostles before me; but I went into Arabia, and returned again unto Damascus.

Mat 5:14  Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid.
Mat 5:15  Neither do men light a candle, and put it under a bushel, but on a candlestick; and it giveth light unto all that are in the house.
Mat 5:16  Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.

Jdg 3:17  And he brought the present unto Eglon king of Moab: and Eglon was a very fat man. 
Jdg 3:18  And when he had made an end to offer the present, he sent away the people that bare the present. 
Jdg 3:19  But he himself turned again from the quarries that were by Gilgal, and said, I have a secret errand unto thee, O king: who said, Keep silence. And all that stood by him went out from him. 

After bringing a present to Eglon, Ehud sent his fellow Israelites away and returned to carry out his personal vendetta. This is to affirm to us that the enemy is within and not outward. If it is outward, then others can join us to get the victory, but since the enemy is within, we cannot beckon others to fight our battles for us, but must depend on God to help us win the war within.  This is what Ehud did.

Jdg 3:20  And Ehud came unto him; and he was sitting in a summer parlour, which he had for himself alone. And Ehud said, I have a message from God unto thee. And he arose out of his seat. 
Jdg 3:21  And Ehud put forth his left hand, and took the dagger from his right thigh, and thrust it into his belly: 

In the absence of everybody except Eglon, Ehud thrust his dagger into Eglon’s belly. The thrusting of the dagger into the belly is of significance. Paul makes it clear through the spirit that those whose God is their belly are mindful of things of the earth. So it is the word of God (dagger) which puts to death our “belly” which stands for our earthly mindset and desires which become our God.

Php 3:19  Whose end is destruction, whose God is their belly, and whose glory is in their shame, who mind earthly things.

Rom 16:17  Now I beseech you, brethren, mark them which cause divisions and offences contrary to the doctrine which ye have learned; and avoid them.
Rom 16:18  For they that are such serve not our Lord Jesus Christ, but their own belly; and by good words and fair speeches deceive the hearts of the simple.

Jdg 3:22  And the haft also went in after the blade; and the fat closed upon the blade, so that he could not draw the dagger out of his belly; and the dirt came out. 

Here in verse 22, we are told that all the handle of the dagger went inside Eglon’s stomach,and the fat closed over the blade so that Ehud could not pull the sword out of his belly. This means that it is the whole counsel of God’s word that puts to death the enemy within. The dagger being covered by fat so that it cannot be pulled out is another way of saying that when the word of God is sent from the mouth of an elect, it will not return back void but will accomplish that for which it is sent. In this scenario we are dealing with, Ehud was able to put Eglon, the King of the Moabites to death. So will we also put to death our fleshly desires and mindset through the word of God. But it takes the whole counsel of God’s word to accomplish that!!

Act 20:27  for I did not shrink from declaring to you the whole counsel of God.

Isa 55:10  “For as the rain and the snow come down from heaven and do not return there but water the earth, making it bring forth and sprout, giving seed to the sower and bread to the eater,
Isa 55:11  so shall my word be that goes out from my mouth; it shall not return to me empty, but it shall accomplish that which I purpose, and shall succeed in the thing for which I sent it.

Jdg 3:23  Then Ehud went forth through the porch, and shut the doors of the parlour upon him, and locked them. 

Verse 23 says that Ehud shut the doors when he put the dagger into Eglon’s stomach. The defeat of the enemy is done in “closed doors.”  It is a personal victory that must be wrought before people see it later in our lives. In other words, the war must be won within before it becomes outward. For example, before David fought Goliath, nobody knew that David had killed a lion and a bear before. He won the victory within before it became outward with the killing of Goliath.

1Sa 17:26  And David said to the men who stood by him, “What shall be done for the man who kills this Philistine and takes away the reproach from Israel? For who is this uncircumcised Philistine, that he should defy the armies of the living God?”

1Sa 17:32  And David said to Saul, “Let no man’s heart fail because of him. Your servant will go and fight with this Philistine.”
1Sa 17:33  And Saul said to David, “You are not able to go against this Philistine to fight with him, for you are but a youth, and he has been a man of war from his youth.”
1Sa 17:34  But David said to Saul, “Your servant used to keep sheep for his father. And when there came a lion, or a bear, and took a lamb from the flock,
1Sa 17:35  I went after him and struck him and delivered it out of his mouth. And if he arose against me, I caught him by his beard and struck him and killed him.
1Sa 17:36  Your servant has struck down both lions and bears, and this uncircumcised Philistine shall be like one of them, for he has defied the armies of the living God.”
1Sa 17:37  And David said, “The LORD who delivered me from the paw of the lion and from the paw of the bear will deliver me from the hand of this Philistine.” And Saul said to David, “Go, and the LORD be with you!”

Jdg 3:24  When he was gone out, his servants came; and when they saw that, behold, the doors of the parlour were locked, they said, Surely he covereth his feet in his summer chamber. 
Jdg 3:25  And they tarried till they were ashamed: and, behold, he opened not the doors of the parlour; therefore they took a key, and opened them: and, behold, their lord was fallen down dead on the earth. 

The defeat of the enemy is an internal process which takes a lifetime. We all must be first servants of Eglon for awhile before we realize that our evil lord (the old man) has fallen down dead on the earth (within our members). It takes time for this victory to become outward, that is, for people to know that we are dead to sin. At the right time, our internal victories will become outward – for a city set on a hill cannot be hidden and men do not light a candle and put it under a bushel.

Mat 5:14  Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid.
Mat 5:15  Neither do men light a candle, and put it under a bushel, but on a candlestick; and it giveth light unto all that are in the house.
Mat 5:16  Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.

Jdg 3:26  And Ehud escaped while they tarried, and passed beyond the quarries, and escaped unto Seirath. 

Verse 26 says that Ehud was able to escape during the period that the servants waited to open the door. This is to assure us that in tarrying to overcome the flesh, God will always provide a way of escape for every temptation we encounter so that we can bear it and win the war.

1Co 10:13  There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it.

Jdg 3:27  And it came to pass, when he was come, that he blew a trumpet in the mountain of Ephraim, and the children of Israel went down with him from the mount, and he before them. 

In verse 27, Ehud blew a trumpet.  The question is, “What does it mean to blow the trumpet?” In the Bible, the blowing of a trumpet is a symbol to signify an alarm of war, a call to assemble or a command to march. In this particular case, the blowing of the trumpet was about gathering together and a call to war against the Moabites. As an elect, one of our functions is to blow the trumpet to remind our brothers and sisters of this war against the flesh (Moabites). This war is not fought on an individual basis in the sense that we need each other for encouragement, supply of equipment (the word of God), etc.  Our gathering together is for every joint to supply us the needed weapon (the word of God) to defeat our flesh in this war.

Num 10:1  And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying,
Num 10:2  Make thee two trumpets of silver; of a whole piece shalt thou make them: that thou mayest use them for the calling of the assembly, and for the journeying of the camps.

Num 10:9  And if ye go to war in your land against the enemy that oppresseth you, then ye shall blow an alarm with the trumpets; and ye shall be remembered before the LORD your God, and ye shall be saved from your enemies.

Eph 4:16  From whom the whole body fitly joined together and compacted by that which every joint supplieth, according to the effectual working in the measure of every part, maketh increase of the body unto the edifying of itself in love.

Jdg 3:28  And he said unto them, Follow after me: for the LORD hath delivered your enemies the Moabites into your hand. And they went down after him, and took the fords of Jordan toward Moab, and suffered not a man to pass over. 

The outcome of this war against the flesh is that we would be victorious. God has assured us of this victory against the flesh over and over in His words, just as Ehud assured the Israelites of victory against the Moabites. Jesus said that he has overcome the world (the flesh and all its desires). Jesus did not tell us this so that we will just rejoice with Him of His conquest.  He made this statement for us to know that we will also overcome the world. Knowing the outcome is for our benefit.  If we are not certain of victory we would be discouraged along the way and will come to the conclusion that perhaps we are not expected to win this war just as the whole world thinks nobody can fight this beast within us and win. Once we know what is ahead of us in terms of our victory against the flesh, then we will have hope and nobody hopes for what is seen already. For when we hope for what is not seen, we wait for it with patience. We need to be patient in order to win this war against the flesh.

Joh 16:33  These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.

Rev 13:4  And they worshipped the dragon which gave power unto the beast: and they worshipped the beast, saying, Who is like unto the beast? who is able to make war with him?

Rom 8:24  For we are saved by hope: but hope that is seen is not hope: for what a man seeth, why doth he yet hope for?
Rom 8:25  But if we hope for that we see not, then do we with patience wait for it.

Another aspect of verse 28 which is important to note is that the Israelites took possession of the fords of Jordan towards Moab, and as a result the men of Moab could not cross the river into Israel. The fords is where the Moabites cross the river Jordan to Israel. Spiritually speaking the fords represent the doctrines of Christ which causes us as Moabites (carnal Christians) to cross over to become an Israel of God. The Israelites taking possession of the ford spiritually means having the mind of Christ. Having the very mind of Christ and knowing His ways are symbolized by the high walls of the New Jerusalem which prevents fleshly desires and pursuit from entering.

Isa 55:8 For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the LORD.
Isa 55:9 For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts.

Rev 21:12  And had a wall great and high, and had twelve gates, and at the gates twelve angels, and names written thereon, which are the names of the twelve tribes of the children of Israel:

Rev 21:27  And there shall in no wise enter into it any thing that defileth, neither whatsoever worketh abomination, or maketh a lie: but they which are written in the Lamb’s book of life.

Jdg 3:29  And they slew of Moab at that time about ten thousand men, all lusty, and all men of valour; and there escaped not a man.

Moabites represent the flesh and so does the number 10,000 (10x10x10) which consists of multiples of ten. So here we are left with no doubt about the enemy we are fighting – the flesh or the beast within.

Here in verse 29, we are shown the characteristics of those who are able to defeat the flesh – they must be lusty and men of valour. According to Strong, the word lusty means to shine by becoming oily.

Lusty
shâman
shaw-man’

A primitive root; to shine, that is, (by analogy) be (causatively make) oily or gross: – become (make, wax) fat.

Valour also means strength as shown below:

Valour
chayil
khah’-yil

From H2342; probably a force, whether of men, means or other resources; an army, wealth, virtue, valor, strength: – able, activity, (+) army, band of men (soldiers), company, (great) forces, goods, host, might, power, riches, strength, strong, substance, train, (+) valiant (-ly), valour, virtuous (-ly), war, worthy (-ily).

So in order to be able to defeat the flesh, we must shine by being oily and being men of strength. Being men of strength is like soldiers who are well equipped for battle. To shine by being oily reminds me of when we dwell together in unity.  That is having one mind and speaking the same thing. The scriptures liken this to the anointing on Aaron’s head that drips down to the skirts of his garment. Having unity is having the same mind, and this mind or this oily nature represents the doctrines of Christ which are able to bring us the victory.

1Co 1:10  Now I beseech you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that ye all speak the same thing, and that there be no divisions among you; but that ye be perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgment. 

Psa 133:1  A Song of degrees of David. Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity! 
Psa 133:2  It is like the precious ointment upon the head, that ran down upon the beard, even Aaron’s beard: that went down to the skirts of his garments; 
Psa 133:3  As the dew of Hermon, and as the dew that descended upon the mountains of Zion: for there the LORD commanded the blessing, even life for evermore. 

The Bible says that God is our strength. In other words, when we are in him as He is in us, then we are dwelling in the secret place of the Most High, and therefore we are abiding under the shadow of the almighty. That is when God becomes our refuge and strength and so we will not be swept away by any evil within or without.

Joh 14:20  At that day ye shall know that I am in my Father, and ye in me, and I in you.

Psa 46:1  To the chief Musician for the sons of Korah, A Song upon Alamoth. God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.

Psa 81:1  To the chief Musician upon Gittith, A Psalm of Asaph. Sing aloud unto God our strength: make a joyful noise unto the God of Jacob.

Jer 16:19  O LORD, my strength, and my fortress, and my refuge in the day of affliction, the Gentiles shall come unto thee from the ends of the earth, and shall say, Surely our fathers have inherited lies, vanity, and things wherein there is no profit.

Psa 91:1  He that dwelleth in the secret place of the most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty. 
Psa 91:2  I will say of the LORD, He is my refuge and my fortress: my God; in him will I trust. 

Psa 91:9  Because thou hast made the LORD, which is my refuge, even the most High, thy habitation; 
Psa 91:10  There shall no evil befall thee, neither shall any plague come nigh thy dwelling. 
Psa 91:11  For he shall give his angels charge over thee, to keep thee in all thy ways. 
Psa 91:12  They shall bear thee up in their hands, lest thou dash thy foot against a stone. 
Psa 91:13  Thou shalt tread upon the lion and adder: the young lion and the dragon shalt thou trample under feet. 

Jdg 3:30  So Moab was subdued that day under the hand of Israel. And the land had rest fourscore years. 

The land has rest for a period of eighty (fourscore) years after the defeat of the Moabites. The eighty years tell us what that period of rest was all about. It is a period when we cannot discern between good and evil as we are not adept at handling the word of God to discern our thoughts and intents of our hearts. It is all because we have not been given eyes to see and ears to hear. This is to bring us to a point when we realize that we are a burden to our king, Jesus. Being a burden to Jesus is the same as saying that we are the worst of sinners!!

2Sa 19:35  I am this day fourscore years old: and can I discern between good and evil? can thy servant taste what I eat or what I drink? can I hear any more the voice of singing men and singing women? wherefore then should thy servant be yet a burden unto my lord the king?

Heb 4:12  For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart. 

On a positive note, however, it is a period during which we come to realize that our natural fleshly strength is failing and is nearing its death, and therefore we need to depend wholly on Christ to deliver us from our enemies.

Psa 90:10  The days of our years are threescore years and ten; and if by reason of strength they be fourscore years, yet is their strength labour and sorrow; for it is soon cut off, and we fly away.

Jdg 3:31  And after him was Shamgar the son of Anath, which slew of the Philistines six hundred men with an ox goad: and he also delivered Israel. 

In this verse, God raised Shamgar as a judge who used an ox goad to defeat the Philistines. The name Shamgar means a sword, which in spiritual terms is the word of God. We know that Christ is the word of God and so Shamgar here represents the Lord Jesus. An ox goad is a traditional farming implement which is a spiked stick which is used to discomfort oxen so as to stimulate an action or drive the oxen to their destination. So what this verse means is that Jesus Christ our Lord uses ox goad (to discomfort us) to drag us to himself to deliver us from our enemies. The ox goad is to be likened to God’s judgment which put to death the enemies or the beast within signified by 600 philistines.  Remember that 600 = 6 X 10. The number 6 represents mankind and the number 10 is about the flesh and so all these wars being waged by the Israelites in the Book of judges or anywhere in the word of God are spiritually about the war within.

Joh 6:44  No man can come to me, except the Father which hath sent me draw (drag) him: and I will raise him up at the last day. 

As indicated, the Book of Judges is about Israel’s cycles of defeat by their enemies and their deliverance through the judges God raised. In studying this Book, we have to pay attention to the details of each cycle of defeat because they provide us with what we need to win this war against the flesh.

[Study Posted January 19, 2021]

Jdg 1:16  And the children of the Kenite, Moses’ father in law, went up out of the city of palm trees with the children of Judah into the wilderness of Judah, which lieth in the south of Arad; and they went and dwelt among the people. 
Jdg 1:17  And Judah went with Simeon his brother, and they slew the Canaanites that inhabited Zephath, and utterly destroyed it. And the name of the city was called Hormah. 
Jdg 1:18  Also Judah took Gaza with the coast thereof, and Askelon with the coast thereof, and Ekron with the coast thereof. 
Jdg 1:19  And the LORD was with Judah; and he drave out the inhabitants of the mountain; but could not drive out the inhabitants of the valley, because they had chariots of iron. 
Jdg 1:20  And they gave Hebron unto Caleb, as Moses said: and he expelled thence the three sons of Anak. 
Jdg 1:21  And the children of Benjamin did not drive out the Jebusites that inhabited Jerusalem; but the Jebusites dwell with the children of Benjamin in Jerusalem unto this day. 
Jdg 1:22  And the house of Joseph, they also went up against Bethel: and the LORD was with them. 
Jdg 1:23  And the house of Joseph sent to descry Bethel. (Now the name of the city before was Luz.) 
Jdg 1:24  And the spies saw a man come forth out of the city, and they said unto him, Shew us, we pray thee, the entrance into the city, and we will shew thee mercy. 
Jdg 1:25  And when he shewed them the entrance into the city, they smote the city with the edge of the sword; but they let go the man and all his family. 
Jdg 1:26  And the man went into the land of the Hittites, and built a city, and called the name thereof Luz: which is the name thereof unto this day. 
Jdg 1:27  Neither did Manasseh drive out the inhabitants of Bethshean and her towns, nor Taanach and her towns, nor the inhabitants of Dor and her towns, nor the inhabitants of Ibleam and her towns, nor the inhabitants of Megiddo and her towns: but the Canaanites would dwell in that land. 
Jdg 1:28  And it came to pass, when Israel was strong, that they put the Canaanites to tribute, and did not utterly drive them out. 
Jdg 1:29  Neither did Ephraim drive out the Canaanites that dwelt in Gezer; but the Canaanites dwelt in Gezer among them. 
Jdg 1:30  Neither did Zebulun drive out the inhabitants of Kitron, nor the inhabitants of Nahalol; but the Canaanites dwelt among them, and became tributaries. 
Jdg 1:31  Neither did Asher drive out the inhabitants of Accho, nor the inhabitants of Zidon, nor of Ahlab, nor of Achzib, nor of Helbah, nor of Aphik, nor of Rehob: 
Jdg 1:32  But the Asherites dwelt among the Canaanites, the inhabitants of the land: for they did not drive them out. 
Jdg 1:33  Neither did Naphtali drive out the inhabitants of Bethshemesh, nor the inhabitants of Bethanath; but he dwelt among the Canaanites, the inhabitants of the land: nevertheless the inhabitants of Bethshemesh and of Bethanath became tributaries unto them. 
Jdg 1:34  And the Amorites forced the children of Dan into the mountain: for they would not suffer them to come down to the valley: 
Jdg 1:35  But the Amorites would dwell in mount Heres in Aijalon, and in Shaalbim: yet the hand of the house of Joseph prevailed, so that they became tributaries. 
Jdg 1:36  And the coast of the Amorites was from the going up to Akrabbim, from the rock, and upward. 

In the last study, we looked at how the tribe of Judah fought against Jerusalem, took it and set the city on fire. This speaks of our deliverance from the Jerusalem within us, which represents Jerusalem which now is (the false doctrines which we have imbibed during our time in Babylon under the leadership of this mystery woman) and is in bondage with her children.

Gal 4:22  For it is written, that Abraham had two sons, the one by a bondmaid, the other by a freewoman.
Gal 4:23  But he who was of the bondwoman was born after the flesh; but he of the freewoman was by promise.
Gal 4:24  Which things are an allegory: for these are the two covenants; the one from the mount Sinai, which gendereth to bondage, which is Agar.
Gal 4:25  For this Agar is mount Sinai in Arabia, and answereth to Jerusalem which now is, and is in bondage with her children.
Gal 4:26  But Jerusalem which is above is free, which is the mother of us all.

We also reviewed how Caleb gave his daughter as a wife to Othniel (a type of the elect) for defeating Kirjathsepher and through the wife Othniel was given upper and the nether springs. This shows how when we get into the right fellowship (Jerusalem which is above), our understanding of the scriptures is deepened through God giving gifts to men.

Eph 4:7  But unto every one of us is given grace according to the measure of the gift of Christ.
Eph 4:8  Wherefore he saith, When he ascended up on high, he led captivity captive, and gave gifts unto men.
Eph 4:9  (Now that he ascended, what is it but that he also descended first into the lower parts of the earth?
Eph 4:10  He that descended is the same also that ascended up far above all heavens, that he might fill all things.)
Eph 4:11  And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers;
Eph 4:12  For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ:

In spite of our progress so far, there are wars to be won in order for us to possess our land – offering our body as a living sacrifice to God.

Jdg 1:16  And the children of the Kenite, Moses’ father in law, went up out of the city of palm trees with the children of Judah into the wilderness of Judah, which lieth in the south of Arad; and they went and dwelt among the people. 

The Kenites, the tribe of Moses’ father-in-law, were a nomadic tribe which dwelt in Canaan during the time of Abraham (Gen 15:19). This tribe became integrated with the children of Israel as they journeyed from Egypt.  In Numbers 10:29-32 Moses wanted to rely on the insight of Hobab (Moses’ brother-in-law), since he knew the terrain, but God did not want the Israelites to depend on the arm of the flesh. It is surprising that the Kenites would leave the city of Palm trees and go into the wilderness of Arad with Judah.

In the scriptures, palm trees are likened to the elect or Christ, and Arad means wild ass. Thus, the Kenites left Christ to become a wild ass roaming in the wilderness.  This speaks of us at a certain point in our walk when we do not want to pay heed to sound doctrine (Christ) but rather follow after the dictates of the flesh as the man of sin is sitting in the temple of God and calling himself God (the abomination of desolation).

Psa 92:12  The righteous shall flourish like the palm tree: he shall grow like a cedar in Lebanon.

2Ti 4:3  For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears;
2Ti 4:4  And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables.

2Th 2:3  Let no man deceive you by any means: for that day shall not come, except there come a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition;
2Th 2:4  Who opposeth and exalteth himself above all that is called God, or that is worshipped; so that he as God sitteth in the temple of God, shewing himself that he is God.

Jdg 1:17  And Judah went with Simeon his brother, and they slew the Canaanites that inhabited Zephath, and utterly destroyed it. And the name of the city was called Hormah. 
Jdg 1:18  Also Judah took Gaza with the coast thereof, and Askelon with the coast thereof, and Ekron with the coast thereof. 

As we continue to offer our true worship to the Lord by offering our bodies as living sacrifices (Rom 12:1-2), which represents Judah, our praise, the Lord will continue to defeat the enemy within on our behalf. The city of Zephath (formerly called Hormah meaning destruction) is near the border of Edom which speaks of our flesh.

The defeat of the flesh is in stages. As indicated earlier, God picks the low-hanging fruits for us before we are finally ushered into serious battles. After the defeat of Zephath, Judah went ahead and defeated three of the principal cities of the Philistines which represents a more challenging enemy. Gaza means stronghold, so here we are dealing with sin that easily besets us and the false doctrines which have become our idols. Judah took over these Philistine cities for a brief period, but later these cities reverted to the control of the Philistines. This struggle against the flesh is for a lifetime. But one day, we will have the ultimate victory as the dragon will prevail not, neither will his place be found in our heavens.

Rev 12:7  And there was war in heaven: Michael and his angels fought against the dragon; and the dragon fought and his angels,
Rev 12:8  And prevailed not; neither was their place found any more in heaven.

Jdg 1:19  And the LORD was with Judah; and he drave out the inhabitants of the mountain; but could not drive out the inhabitants of the valley, because they had chariots of iron. 
Jdg 1:20  And they gave Hebron unto Caleb, as Moses said: and he expelled thence the three sons of Anak. 
Jdg 1:21  And the children of Benjamin did not drive out the Jebusites that inhabited Jerusalem; but the Jebusites dwell with the children of Benjamin in Jerusalem unto this day. 

Although Judah had been successful in defeating the inhabitants of the mountain, they could not defeat those in the valley because they had chariots of iron. In the Book of Revelation, out of the bottomless pit of our flesh came the locusts whose breastplates were made of iron and the sound of their wings was as the sound of chariots of many horses rushing to battle. So the inhabitants of Canaan with chariots of iron represents the doctrines that we have imbibed which were propagated by the Babylonian messengers (the scorpions) which dominate our mind and have become strong barriers that prevent the word of God to easily break through to renew our minds.  This is because these doctrines are like “iron chariots”.

Rev 9:9 And they had breastplates like breastplates of iron, and the noise of their wings was like the noise of many chariots with horses rushing into battle.

God knows our frame, and therefore He leads us to war from one level to another such that with every temptation He makes a way for us. At the right time we will be able to defeat the enemy with chariots of iron as God demonstrated later when the people of Israel defeated Sisera with nine-hundred chariots of iron. We need patience in this walk, and patience here is just obeying God and having faith that He who has started this good work (the defeat of the enemy within) will bring it to completion!!

1Co 10:13  There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it.

Jdg 4:13  And Sisera gathered together all his chariots, even nine hundred chariots of iron, and all the people that were with him, from Harosheth of the Gentiles unto the river of Kishon.
Jdg 4:14  And Deborah said unto Barak, Up; for this is the day in which the LORD hath delivered Sisera into thine hand: is not the LORD gone out before thee? So Barak went down from mount Tabor, and ten thousand men after him.
Jdg 4:15  And the LORD discomfited Sisera, and all his chariots, and all his host, with the edge of the sword before Barak; so that Sisera lighted down off his chariot, and fled away on his feet.

Heb 10:36  For ye have need of patience, that, after ye have done the will of God, ye might receive the promise.

Rev 14:12  Here is the patience of the saints: here are they that keep the commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus.

One problem with our walk is that sometimes we become too comfortable with the flesh as Abraham didn’t want Ishmael to go. Our victory is in relentless pursuit – that is, our desire to have our heavens cleansed and to be separated completely from Babylonian influences. The children of Benjamin were comfortable living with the Jebusites in Jerusalem however, and this became a snare to them. In spite of our desire to have our heavens cleansed, there are certain aspects of our lives that we find it difficult to let go just like the Israelies being comfortable living with the Jebusites. This is the picture of Jerusalem today. No wonder it is in bondage with her children.

Rev 18:4  And I heard another voice from heaven, saying, Come out of her, my people, that ye be not partakers of her sins, and that ye receive not of her plagues.

2Co 6:14  Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness?
2Co 6:15  And what concord hath Christ with Belial? or what part hath he that believeth with an infidel?
2Co 6:16  And what agreement hath the temple of God with idols? for ye are the temple of the living God; as God hath said, I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people.
2Co 6:17  Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you,
2Co 6:18  And will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty.

At this point in time of our study, Judah is now waging war against much stronger opposition – enemies on the hills, giants from the descendants of Anak, etc. The cleansing of our heavens is a long drawn-out war which proceeds in stages, but our confidence is in the fact that He who has started this good work will see to its completion.

Php 1:6  Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ:

Jdg 1:22  And the house of Joseph, they also went up against Bethel: and the LORD was with them. 

The meaning of Joseph is “may he add”, and Bethel means the house of God. According to Genesis 28:17, the house of God is also the gate of heaven. So what the verse means is that we need to add to our conquest the gate of heaven, which is the house of God.

Gen 28:17  And he was afraid, and said, How dreadful is this place! this is none other but the house of God, and this is the gate of heaven.

“Gate” represents an entrance so the gate of heaven is the entrance to our heart and mind. This war being waged by the house of Joseph to defeat Bethel is our war to add to our possession the gate of our heaven, which will help us to screen everything that enters our heart and mind. Possessing the gate of our heart and mind will help us focus on whatsoever is lovely, of good report, etc., and not allow evil thoughts to permeate our heavens!

Php 4:8  Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.

From another perspective, this gate of heaven can be looked at as the entrance to the Word which is Christ.

Psa 119:130  The entrance of thy words giveth light; it giveth understanding unto the simple.

Thus, our war against Bethel is a war against the stumbling block of our iniquities which prevent us from understanding the word of God. This is demonstrated in the Book of Ezekiel.

Eze 14:1  Then came certain of the elders of Israel unto me, and sat before me.
Eze 14:2  And the word of the LORD came unto me, saying,
Eze 14:3  Son of man, these men have set up their idols in their heart, and put the stumblingblock of their iniquity before their face: should I be enquired of at all by them?
Eze 14:4  Therefore speak unto them, and say unto them, Thus saith the Lord GOD; Every man of the house of Israel that setteth up his idols in his heart, and putteth the stumblingblock of his iniquity before his face, and cometh to the prophet; I the LORD will answer him that cometh according to the multitude of his idols;

Jdg 1:23  And the house of Joseph sent to descry Bethel. (Now the name of the city before was Luz.) 
Jdg 1:24  And the spies saw a man come forth out of the city, and they said unto him, Shew us, we pray thee, the entrance into the city, and we will shew thee mercy. 

This war is so important that the house of Joseph sent spies to have a feel of what they are up against, and they could not locate the entrance to the city until they got help. The entrance to the word that brings understanding is not by human effort. It is not of him that willeth, nor of him that runneth, but of God that showeth mercy. Our understanding of the word of God is only through the mercies of God. It is not through our wisdom to discern or anything else. If we are called and chosen, then at the set time, God will open our eyes to see and our ears to hear.

Psa 136:1  O give thanks unto the LORD; for he is good: for his mercy endureth for ever.
Psa 136:2  O give thanks unto the God of gods: for his mercy endureth for ever.
Psa 136:3  O give thanks to the Lord of lords: for his mercy endureth for ever.
Psa 136:4  To him who alone doeth great wonders: for his mercy endureth for ever.

God in His mercy will send us the men – the elect, just as the spies saw a man who showed the house of Joseph the gate of the city which signifies the entrance to His words which brings illumination. During the time of the apostles, God took a man (Philip) to the desert to explain the scriptures to an Ethiopian Eunuch.  Peter was sent to Cornelius, and Ananias was sent to Paul to open his eyes to see!! Today God, through His Christs, is showing us the entrance to His Words!!

Jdg 1:25  And when he shewed them the entrance into the city, they smote the city with the edge of the sword; but they let go the man and all his family. 
Jdg 1:26  And the man went into the land of the Hittites, and built a city, and called the name thereof Luz: which is the name thereof unto this day. 

Getting to understand the Word and putting it in practice liberates us from the shackles of false idols, doctrines, etc. It gives us victory gradually over the flesh!! It must be noted that the man and his family were protected and set free during the war against Bethel. God preserves us in the midst of the raging storms in our lives. God’s modus operandi is not to whisk us away from trouble (as those in Babylon who believe in rapture states) but to keep us in the midst of trouble.

The inability of the Israelites to drive the enemies from the land

Jdg 1:27  Neither did Manasseh drive out the inhabitants of Bethshean and her towns, nor Taanach and her towns, nor the inhabitants of Dor and her towns, nor the inhabitants of Ibleam and her towns, nor the inhabitants of Megiddo and her towns: but the Canaanites would dwell in that land. 
Jdg 1:28  And it came to pass, when Israel was strong, that they put the Canaanites to tribute, and did not utterly drive them out. 
Jdg 1:29  Neither did Ephraim drive out the Canaanites that dwelt in Gezer; but the Canaanites dwelt in Gezer among them. 
Jdg 1:30  Neither did Zebulun drive out the inhabitants of Kitron, nor the inhabitants of Nahalol; but the Canaanites dwelt among them, and became tributaries. 
Jdg 1:31  Neither did Asher drive out the inhabitants of Accho, nor the inhabitants of Zidon, nor of Ahlab, nor of Achzib, nor of Helbah, nor of Aphik, nor of Rehob: 
Jdg 1:32  But the Asherites dwelt among the Canaanites, the inhabitants of the land: for they did not drive them out. 
Jdg 1:33  Neither did Naphtali drive out the inhabitants of Bethshemesh, nor the inhabitants of Bethanath; but he dwelt among the Canaanites, the inhabitants of the land: nevertheless the inhabitants of Bethshemesh and of Bethanath became tributaries unto them. 
Jdg 1:34  And the Amorites forced the children of Dan into the mountain: for they would not suffer them to come down to the valley: 
Jdg 1:35  But the Amorites would dwell in mount Heres in Aijalon, and in Shaalbim: yet the hand of the house of Joseph prevailed, so that they became tributaries. 
Jdg 1:36  And the coast of the Amorites was from the going up to Akrabbim, from the rock, and upward. 

This part of the Chapter relates to the inability of the Israelites to drive out the enemies from the Promised Land. A look at the commentary by F.B. Meyer in e-sword summarizes the whole study for today as follows:

“The conquest of Canaan was very partial. Israel dwelled among the ancient inhabitants of the land, much as the Normans did among the Anglo-Saxons, whom they found in England, and the mixture of the two peoples was the beginning of moral degeneracy and decline in the chosen race. Wherever there was the old-time faith in God, as in the case of Caleb, the land was cleared of the Canaanite; but where God was out, the Canaanite was in.

So it is in the life of the soul. It is intended that the whole should be yielded to Christ, that no evil passion should reign, that no besetting sin should enthrall. But how often Christian people give up the fight! They say that the old Adam is too strong for them, and settle down to a joint-occupation. Let us not yield to reasoning like this! The Lion of Judah can break every chain. By faith in Him we can be more than conquerors! The Holy Spirit strives with the flesh, so that we may not do as otherwise we would. Only give Him the right of way! Sin shall not reign in your mortal body!” [End of quote]

In many ways, Meyer’s commentary really hit the nail on the head. However, it makes it look like we call the shots! We must understand that the Israelites inability to rid the land of their enemies is caused by the Lord who was seeking an occasion to judge them so that at the end, sin will not reign in the land. The conquest of the land is a long process!! It is not a one-time conquest. It is for a lifetime.

Spiritually, the Promised Land, Canaan, represents the Kingdom of God within. Since John the Baptist, this kingdom of God has suffered much violence but with Christ, we will be the violent that takes this kingdom by force. In Genesis the land promised is described as including the territories occupied by ten nations.

Gen 15:18  In the same day the LORD made a covenant with Abram, saying, Unto thy seed have I given this land, from the river of Egypt unto the great river, the river Euphrates:
Gen 15:19  The Kenites, and the Kenizzites, and the Kadmonites,
Gen 15:20  And the Hittites, and the Perizzites, and the Rephaims,
Gen 15:21  And the Amorites, and the Canaanites, and the Girgashites, and the Jebusites.

The number of tribes listed is ten, which represents our flesh and their false doctrines. So what occupies this land and prevents the growth of the kingdom of God within us is our own flesh. Salvation therefore is being delivered from our flesh which is our old man and it is through this process that we have victory over sin.

The common reason for the Israelites’ inability to drive out the land is stated in this verse:

Jdg 1:28  And it came to pass, when Israel was strong, that they put the Canaanites to tribute, and did not utterly drive them out. 

The Israelites had the resources to drive them out of the land but they chose to live with them and put them to forced labor. In other words, they profited from the Canaanites. That is always the mentality of the carnal mind just as the Israelites were put under forced labor by the Egyptians representing the world. So this is a worldly mentality.

Jdg 1:30  Neither did Zebulun drive out the inhabitants of Kitron, nor the inhabitants of Nahalol; but the Canaanites dwelt among them, and became tributaries. 

Jdg 1:33  Neither did Naphtali drive out the inhabitants of Bethshemesh, nor the inhabitants of Bethanath; but he dwelt among the Canaanites, the inhabitants of the land: nevertheless the inhabitants of Bethshemesh and of Bethanath became tributaries unto them. 
Jdg 1:34  And the Amorites forced the children of Dan into the mountain: for they would not suffer them to come down to the valley: 
Jdg 1:35  But the Amorites would dwell in mount Heres in Aijalon, and in Shaalbim: yet the hand of the house of Joseph prevailed, so that they became tributaries. 

The verses here are to show us that it was not only one tribe that failed to drive out the Canaanites but the whole tribe of Israel. Almost all of them put the Canaanites to forced labor as shown in the verses above. As a result of this co-habitation, the Israelites became ensnared by another Jesus which the Canaanites worshipped. As a result, their mind became darkened, and so the Lord took away from Israel (Babylon) the whole stay of bread which is the word of God. By putting them to forced labor, the Israelites were enjoying the pleasures of sin, and therefore they did not want the Canaanites to go. In our quest to cleanse our temple of all that offends, we have to be ruthless in making sure that no stone is left unturned. All that offends must be put to death!! We must have no room for the pleasures of sin as demonstrated by Moses who chose to suffer instead.

2Co 11:4  For if he that cometh preacheth another Jesus, whom we have not preached, or if ye receive another spirit, which ye have not received, or another gospel, which ye have not accepted, ye might well bear with him.

Isa 3:1  For, behold, the Lord, the LORD of hosts, doth take away from Jerusalem and from Judah the stay and the staff, the whole stay of bread, and the whole stay of water,

Heb 11:24  By faith Moses, when he was come to years, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh’s daughter;
Heb 11:25  Choosing rather to suffer affliction with the people of God, than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season;

When we look at our current situation, we are all in different stages of this battle against the flesh. We have at certain times of our lives enjoyed the pleasures of sin, and as a result, the enemies within had held us in bondage. This is the picture of the people of God that runs through the Book of Judges. However, God in His mercy will not leave us in that state.  He raised up judges to deliver His people from the enemies during the time of the judges and will do the same for us. These judges are a type of our Lord’s elect who motivate us to win this war against the flesh by speaking the fiery word which is able to save us from our enemies.

Jdg 2:16  Nevertheless the LORD raised up judges, which delivered them out of the hand of those that spoiled them.

According to Strong’s definition of judges, it means to pronounce a sentence for or against.

shâphaṭ
shaw-fat’
A primitive root; to judge, that is, pronounce sentence (for or against); by implication to vindicate or punish; by extension to govern; passively to litigate (literally or figuratively): – + avenge, X that condemn, contend, defend, execute (judgment), (be a) judge (-ment), X needs, plead, reason, rule.

So at God’s appointed time, He will pronounce sentence against our foes within. In other words, He will send his word to heal us and deliver us from being destroyed by our coexistence with the strong enemies within. We should not therefore be frustrated when we fall. God will use these failures to judge us and bring us to an expected end. Victory is coming!!

Psa 107:20  He sent his word, and healed them, and delivered them from their destructions.
Psa 107:21  Oh that men would praise the LORD for his goodness, and for his wonderful works to the children of men!

Let us therefore come with supplication before our Lord to ask Him to help us in this war to overcome the enemies within. For we of ourselves cannot win this war!! But our help is in the name of the Lord who made heaven and earth. For He that keepeth us shall not slumber nor sleep!! He will come in at the right time with the brightness of His coming to defeat on our behalf the giants on our land with the spirit of his mouth!!

2Th 2:8  And then shall that Wicked be revealed, whom the Lord shall consume with the spirit of his mouth, and shall destroy with the brightness of his coming:

Psa 124:8  Our help is in the name of the LORD, who made heaven and earth.

Psa 121:1  A Song of degrees. I will lift up mine eyes unto the hills, from whence cometh my help.
Psa 121:2  My help cometh from the LORD, which made heaven and earth.
Psa 121:3  He will not suffer thy foot to be moved: he that keepeth thee will not slumber.
Psa 121:4  Behold, he that keepeth Israel shall neither slumber nor sleep.
Psa 121:5  The LORD is thy keeper: the LORD is thy shade upon thy right hand.
Psa 121:6  The sun shall not smite thee by day, nor the moon by night.
Psa 121:7  The LORD shall preserve thee from all evil: he shall preserve thy soul.
Psa 121:8  The LORD shall preserve thy going out and thy coming in from this time forth, and even for evermore.

[Next study in this series is here.

[Study Posted January 1, 2021]

Jdg 1:1  Now after the death of Joshua it came to pass, that the children of Israel asked the LORD, saying, Who shall go up for us against the Canaanites first, to fight against them? 
Jdg 1:2  And the LORD said, Judah shall go up: behold, I have delivered the land into his hand. 
Jdg 1:3  And Judah said unto Simeon his brother, Come up with me into my lot, that we may fight against the Canaanites; and I likewise will go with thee into thy lot. So Simeon went with him. 
Jdg 1:4  And Judah went up; and the LORD delivered the Canaanites and the Perizzites into their hand: and they slew of them in Bezek ten thousand men. 
Jdg 1:5  And they found Adonibezek in Bezek: and they fought against him, and they slew the Canaanites and the Perizzites.
Jdg 1:6  But Adonibezek fled; and they pursued after him, and caught him, and cut off his thumbs and his great toes. 
Jdg 1:7  And Adonibezek said, Threescore and ten kings, having their thumbs and their great toes cut off, gathered their meat under my table: as I have done, so God hath requited me. And they brought him to Jerusalem, and there he died. 
Jdg 1:8  Now the children of Judah had fought against Jerusalem, and had taken it, and smitten it with the edge of the sword, and set the city on fire. 
Jdg 1:9  And afterward the children of Judah went down to fight against the Canaanites, that dwelt in the mountain, and in the south, and in the valley. 
Jdg 1:10  And Judah went against the Canaanites that dwelt in Hebron: (now the name of Hebron before was Kirjatharba:) and they slew Sheshai, and Ahiman, and Talmai. 
Jdg 1:11  And from thence he went against the inhabitants of Debir: and the name of Debir before was Kirjathsepher: 
Jdg 1:12  And Caleb said, He that smiteth Kirjathsepher, and taketh it, to him will I give Achsah my daughter to wife. 
Jdg 1:13  And Othniel the son of Kenaz, Caleb’s younger brother, took it: and he gave him Achsah his daughter to wife. 
Jdg 1:14  And it came to pass, when she came to him, that she moved him to ask of her father a field: and she lighted from off her ass; and Caleb said unto her, What wilt thou? 
Jdg 1:15  And she said unto him, Give me a blessing: for thou hast given me a south land; give me also springs of water. And Caleb gave her the upper springs and the nether springs. 

Introduction to the Book of Judges

There is no indication as to who wrote the book of Judges, but Jewish tradition names the prophet Samuel as the author. What is most important is that the Book of Judges is the fiery words of the Lord! Judges were leaders God raised up during the time when there were no kings in Israel to rescue His people. The time period of the Judges therefore stretches from the period after the death of Joshua until Saul was made king of Israel.

We are not going to look at the Book of Judges from the letter – the historical facts. That will be a waste of time for everybody! We are going to focus on the spiritual aspect and how it applies to our personal lives, for the spirit gives life but the letter killeth!

Joh 6:63  It is the spirit that quickeneth; the flesh profiteth nothing: the words that I speak unto you, they are spirit, and they are life.

2Co 3:6  Who also hath made us able ministers of the new testament; not of the letter, but of the spirit: for the letter killeth, but the spirit giveth life.

We can learn a lot from the Book of Judges as it relates to the war in our heavens. There is this recurring phrase in Judges, “In those days there was no king in Israel: every man did that which was right in his own eyes” (Judges 21:25).  This recurring phrase indicates how, when the beast is in the driving seat (on the throne) in our lives, we tend to do what is right in our own eyes and in this way provide the necessary fuel for our own judgment.

Rev 12:7  And there was war in heaven: Michael and his angels fought against the dragon; and the dragon fought and his angels,
Rev 12:8  And prevailed not; neither was their place found any more in heaven.

Jdg 21:25  In those days there was no king in Israel: every man did that which was right in his own eyes.

Jer 2:19  Thine own wickedness shall correct thee, and thy backslidings shall reprove thee: know therefore and see that it is an evil thing and bitter, that thou hast forsaken the LORD thy God, and that my fear is not in thee, saith the Lord GOD of hosts.

1Pe 4:17  For the time is come that judgment must begin at the house of God: and if it first begin at us, what shall the end be of them that obey not the gospel of God?

After going through the wilderness experience when we were under bondage to Babylonian principles and doctrines, God in His mercy sent from above a deliverer in the form of Joshua (representing Christ) to draw us out of many waters (Psa 18:6). The many waters here refers to the sea of our lives which is the flesh. It is Jesus who has dragged us to cross the Jordan and to begin the overcoming process. To this end, we have had initial victories in the land of our minds (the defeat of Jericho, Ai, etc.), but there is still more work to be done to rid the land (our body) of the giants (the Cananites, Perizzites, Philistines, Medianites, etc.). This war to overcome these giants is what Paul described in Corinthians and Ephesians (For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places).

Psa 18:16  He sent from above, he took me, he drew me out of many waters.

2Co 10:3  For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war after the flesh:
2Co 10:4  (For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds;)
2Co 10:5  Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ;

Rom 12:1  I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.
Rom 12:2  And 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.

After crossing the Jordan, the stage is now set for the continuation of the conquest after the death of Joshua.

Jdg 1:1  Now after the death of Joshua it came to pass, that the children of Israel asked the LORD, saying, Who shall go up for us against the Canaanites first, to fight against them? 

The book of Judges starts with the death of Joshua. The name Joshua means “The Lord is Salvation”. Thus, the death of Joshua signifies the death of Jesus, who is our Lord and salvation. Without the death of Jesus, there is no victory over sin. As He was here on this earth, so are we. We, his elect, must also die to the old man to fill up that which is behind the afflictions of Christ. Where there is death, there is victory!

Rom 6:4  Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life.
Rom 6:5  For if we have been planted together in the likeness of his death, we shall be also in the likeness of his resurrection:
Rom 6:6  Knowing this, that our old man is crucified with him, that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin.
Rom 6:7  For he that is dead is freed from sin.
Rom 6:8  Now if we be dead with Christ, we believe that we shall also live with him:
Rom 6:9  Knowing that Christ being raised from the dead dieth no more; death hath no more dominion over him.
Rom 6:10  For in that he died, he died unto sin once: but in that he liveth, he liveth unto God.
Rom 6:11  Likewise reckon ye also yourselves to be dead indeed unto sin, but alive unto God through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Joh 12:24  Verily, verily, I say unto you, Except a corn of wheat fall into the ground and die, it abideth alone: but if it die, it bringeth forth much fruit.

1Jn 4:17  Herein is our love made perfect, that we may have boldness in the day of judgment: because as he is, so are we in this world.

Col 1:24  Who now rejoice in my sufferings for you, and fill up that which is behind of the afflictions of Christ in my flesh for his body’s sake, which is the church:

One of the questions that is often posed is, “How do we wage this war against the flesh?”  This is what the Israelites wanted to know when they posed the question, “Who shall go up for us against the Canaanites first?”  The Israelites wanted to know how they could sustain the initial victory they wrought. This is the Lord’s answer:

Jdg 1:2  And the LORD said, Judah shall go up: behold, I have delivered the land into his hand. 

To understand what this verse means and its implications for our lives, we need to go to the story of Jacob’s wife Leah.

Gen 29:31  And when the LORD saw that Leah was hated, he opened her womb: but Rachel was barren.
Gen 29:32  And Leah conceived, and bare a son, and she called his name Reuben: for she said, Surely the LORD hath looked upon my affliction; now therefore my husband will love me.
Gen 29:33  And she conceived again, and bare a son; and said, Because the LORD hath heard that I was hated, he hath therefore given me this son also: and she called his name Simeon.
Gen 29:34  And she conceived again, and bare a son; and said, Now this time will my husband be joined unto me, because I have born him three sons: therefore was his name called Levi.
Gen 29:35  And she conceived again, and bare a son: and she said, Now will I praise the LORD: therefore she called his name Judah; and left bearing.

So God in essence is telling us that the campaign against the giants of our land begins with praising the Lord, which is the meaning of the name Judah. Praising the Lord is part of our worship. What is most important is that when Leah realized that it was time to praise the Lord, she stopped bearing. This is insightful in the sense that it means that it is not our labor, works or effort that will bring about the victory as Leah initially thought. Victory over the flesh is the work of the Lord alone!

Rom 9:16  So then it is not of him that willeth, nor of him that runneth, but of God that sheweth mercy.

Heb 4:9  There remaineth therefore a rest to the people of God.
Heb 4:10  For he that is entered into his rest, he also hath ceased from his own works, as God did from his.
Heb 4:11  Let us labour therefore to enter into that rest, lest any man fall after the same example of unbelief.

During the time we were so engrossed in orthodoxy (the Babylonian system), we invested so much in praising the Lord thinking that will unleash the power of God in our lives. I remember sometimes we held night vigils just singing and thanking the Lord using all kinds of musical instruments but devoid of the fiery Word which is able to burn the chaff in our lives. We forgot that praising God is a form of our worship to God which must be done in truth and in spirit. We were only focusing on the physical way of praising God by singing songs of praise and thanking God.

Joh 4:22  Ye worship ye know not what: we know what we worship: for salvation is of the Jews.
Joh 4:23  But the hour cometh, and now is, when the true worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth: for the Father seeketh such to worship him.
Joh 4:24  God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth.

What the scriptures tell us about true worship is this:

Rom 12:1  I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship.
Rom 12:2  Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect. (ESV)

Our spiritual worship is presenting our bodies as a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God and not conforming to this world but being renewed in our minds. That is our praise (Judah)!!  Our battle against the flesh (our land) is when we stop conforming to the world and begin to renew our minds with the word of God. That is the beginning of the process of presenting our bodies as living sacrifice. That signals our Judah taking the lead to battle the giants in our land!!

Psa 119:164  Seven times a day do I praise thee because of thy righteous judgments.

The number seven means complete. Our complete praise should embrace both the good times and the “bad” times (God’s righteous judgment) because all things will work for our good!

Psa 107:15  Oh that men would praise the LORD for his goodness, and for his wonderful works to the children of men!

The wonderful works mentioned here relates to how God raises the stormy winds (righteous judgment) to bring us to our wits’ end in our lives and then delivers us.

Psa 107:23  They that go down to the sea in ships, that do business in great waters;
Psa 107:24  These see the works of the LORD, and his wonders in the deep.
Psa 107:25  For he commandeth, and raiseth the stormy wind, which lifteth up the waves thereof.
Psa 107:26  They mount up to the heaven, they go down again to the depths: their soul is melted because of trouble.
Psa 107:27  They reel to and fro, and stagger like a drunken man, and are at their wits’ end.
Psa 107:28  Then they cry unto the LORD in their trouble, and he bringeth them out of their distresses.
Psa 107:29  He maketh the storm a calm, so that the waves thereof are still.
Psa 107:30  Then are they glad because they be quiet; so he bringeth them unto their desired haven.
Psa 107:31  Oh that men would praise the LORD for his goodness, and for his wonderful works to the children of men!

It is when we get a better understanding of the sovereignty of God that we can understand why we should praise Him at all times. If we know He is at the center of everything happening to us (both good and bad), we will praise Him in difficult times knowing our faith is being tried to work out patience in us. This is what will deliver the land into our hands (Jdg 1:2).

Jas 1:2  My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations;
Jas 1:3  Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience.
Jas 1:4  But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing.
Jas 1:5  If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him.

Jdg 1:3  And Judah said unto Simeon his brother, Come up with me into my lot, that we may fight against the Canaanites; and I likewise will go with thee into thy lot. So Simeon went with him. 

Just as Judah needed Simeon, we also need each other. This war is not going to be won by us walking alone. We need each other for encouragement, edification and comfort and also to provoke one another to love and good works so that we can defeat the enemies. We need to stand with each other in prayer and in the sharing of the word. Simeon means ‘God hears’. So Judah beckoning Simeon to join him can mean that God hears our praise. This should give us more comfort.

1Co 14:3  But he that prophesieth speaketh unto men to edification, and exhortation, and comfort.

Heb 10:24  And let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works:
Heb 10:25  Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching.

What day do we see approaching? The day of the Lord, which is judgment, and the coming of the Lord to take His residence in our heavens.

1Pe 4:17  For the time is come that judgment must begin at the house of God: and if it first begin at us, what shall the end be of them that obey not the gospel of God?

Jdg 1:4  And Judah went up; and the LORD delivered the Canaanites and the Perizzites into their hand: and they slew of them in Bezek ten thousand men. 
Jdg 1:5  And they found Adonibezek in Bezek: and they fought against him, and they slew the Canaanites and the Perizzites.

Immediately the Lord gave His word, and Judah took the lead in the conquest. Obedience to the word is essential if we are to have victory.

2Co 10:6  And having in a readiness to revenge all disobedience, when your obedience is fulfilled.

Luk 11:28  But he said, Yea rather, blessed are they that hear the word of God, and keep it.

The Canaanites and the Perizzites were defeated in Bezek. It is very insightful to note that ten thousand men were defeated at Bezek.  Ten thousand consist of multiples of 10 which signify the flesh. Bezek means ‘lightening’. So what this verse is telling us is that certain aspects of our flesh are defeated within the twinkle of an eye as we heed the voice of the Lord, thankful in every circumstance and not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together. According to Strong, the word Canaanites by implication means a peddler (H3669). One of the enemies that are cleaned from our heavens as we begin to worship God in truth and in spirit is our peddling mentality. Paul said:

2Co 2:17 Unlike so many, we do not peddle the word of God for profit. On the contrary, in Christ we speak before God with sincerity, as those sent from God. (NIV)

Jdg 1:5  And they found Adonibezek in Bezek: and they fought against him, and they slew the Canaanites and the Perizzites. 
Jdg 1:6  But Adonibezek fled; and they pursued after him, and caught him, and cut off his thumbs and his great toes. 
Jdg 1:7  And Adonibezek said, Threescore and ten kings, having their thumbs and their great toes cut off, gathered their meat under my table: as I have done, so God hath requited me. And they brought him to Jerusalem, and there he died. 

In spite of the victory wrought in Bezek, Adonibezek managed to escape. Adonibezek means Lord of Bezek. This means we are dealing with a higher level of the enemy within us who has been successful in defeating us over and over again in time past as Adonibezek recounted how he had incapacitated threescore and ten kings.  Three score and ten means seventy which is 10 times 7. Ten signifies the flesh and seven indicates completeness. This shows how our flesh has succumbed completely to the dictates of the enemy (Adonibezek) in times past. As the Lord continues to give us victory we should be relentless in our desire for the enemy to be removed from our heavens. The fact that we have experienced defeat several times does not mean the strategy of worshiping God in spirit through the surrendering of our bodies as living sacrifices does not work or that victory will never come. As God deals with us to make our obedience complete through judgments, we will surely catch up with Adonibezek, defeat him and finally remove him from our heavens.

Pro 24:16  For a just man falleth seven times, and riseth up again: but the wicked shall fall into mischief.

Psa 37:23  The steps of a good man are ordered by the LORD: and he delighteth in his way.
Psa 37:24  Though he fall, he shall not be utterly cast down: for the LORD upholdeth him with his hand.

It is discerning to know that it was when Adonibezek was brought to Jerusalem that he died. We think because our carnal nature has been dealt a blow and been incapacitated, we are free from its dictates. Sometimes, however, the flesh resurfaces, and until we bring the enemy to Jerusalem to die (death of the old man), we may have these intermittent carnal influences.

Jerusalem here is used in a positive sense to refer to our gathering together. When we come to the heavenly Jerusalem (our brothers and sisters who are worshiping God in spirit and truth), an innumerable company of angels, the general assembly and the church of the first born, that is when the enemy will finally be defeated. It is in this heavenly Jerusalem that we hear the voice of the Lord speaking of better things that will ultimately bring about our salvation.

Rev 13:3  And I saw one of his heads as it were wounded to death; and his deadly wound was healed: and all the world wondered after the beast.

Heb 12:22  But ye are come unto mount Sion, and unto the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to an innumerable company of angels,
Heb 12:23  To the general assembly and church of the firstborn, which are written in heaven, and to God the Judge of all, and to the spirits of just men made perfect,
Heb 12:24  And to Jesus the mediator of the new covenant, and to the blood of sprinkling, that speaketh better things than that of Abel.

Eph 6:12  For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.

Jdg 1:8  Now the children of Judah had fought against Jerusalem, and had taken it, and smitten it with the edge of the sword, and set the city on fire. 

The Jerusalem being talked about here in verse 8 is this Agar which is Mount Sinai in Arabia and answereth to Jerusalem which now is, and is in bondage with her children. We can only “defeat” this Jerusalem (Babylonian system of false doctrines) with the edge of the sword, which is the word of the Lord. As we come to this heavenly Jerusalem of our brothers and sisters worshiping God in truth and in spirit, we will hear the voice of the true shepherd, and this will hasten our deliverance from orthodoxy and eventually we will be completely separated from its influence. Note that Judah after capturing Jerusalem, set it on fire. The Babylonian system and its false doctrines must be burned out of us with the fire of the word of God. This is not a one-day victory. It is a long process.

Gal 4:22  For it is written, that Abraham had two sons, the one by a bondmaid, the other by a freewoman.
Gal 4:23  But he who was of the bondwoman was born after the flesh; but he of the freewoman was by promise.
Gal 4:24  Which things are an allegory: for these are the two covenants; the one from the mount Sinai, which gendereth to bondage, which is Agar.
Gal 4:25  For this Agar is mount Sinai in Arabia, and answereth to Jerusalem which now is, and is in bondage with her children.
Gal 4:26  But Jerusalem which is above is free, which is the mother of us all.
Gal 4:27  For it is written, Rejoice, thou barren that bearest not; break forth and cry, thou that travailest not: for the desolate hath many more children than she which hath an husband.
Gal 4:28  Now we, brethren, as Isaac was, are the children of promise.
Gal 4:29  But as then he that was born after the flesh persecuted him that was born after the Spirit, even so it is now.
Gal 4:30  Nevertheless what saith the scripture? Cast out the bondwoman and her son: for the son of the bondwoman shall not be heir with the son of the freewoman.
Gal 4:31  So then, brethren, we are not children of the bondwoman, but of the free.

Jdg 1:9  And afterward the children of Judah went down to fight against the Canaanites, that dwelt in the mountain, and in the south, and in the valley. 
Jdg 1:10  And Judah went against the Canaanites that dwelt in Hebron: (now the name of Hebron before was Kirjatharba:) and they slew Sheshai, and Ahiman, and Talmai.

This war we are waging is on levels. God leads us to have victories over the enemies within which are easy to deal with before we are brought to fight stronger enemies. Paul said there are principalities and powers, rulers of the darkness of this world and spiritual wickedness in high places (Eph 6:12). The reason God does not lead us to fight stronger enemies early is that we may end up going back to the world (Egypt) when we encounter intense battles early.

Exo 13:17  And it came to pass, when Pharaoh had let the people go, that God led them not through the way of the land of the Philistines, although that was near; for God said, Lest peradventure the people repent when they see war, and they return to Egypt:

After the defeat of the Canaanites, Perizzites and Jerusalem, Judah began to fight the Canaanites that dwelt in the mountains and the valleys. These are much stronger than the enemies initially encountered. Among the Canaanites in Hebron were the giants (Sheshai, Ahiman and Talmai), but God granted them victory. The giants in the land represent the false doctrines which have become our idols and the sins that easily beset us. When David slew Goliath a type of the giants in the land, he used a sling and a stone to do that.

1Sa 17:50  So David prevailed over the Philistine with a sling and with a stone, and smote the Philistine, and slew him; but there was no sword in the hand of David.

To understand the spiritual meaning of the sling and the stone as tools for defeating the giants, let’s turn to this scripture:

Pro 26:8  As he that bindeth a stone in a sling, so is he that giveth honour to a fool.

A sling is only useful if a stone can easily be catapulted. Constraining a stone in a sling in the biblical sense means giving honour to a fool. The flip side of this verse will therefore mean that we give honour to the wise – Jesus (remember the scriptures are focused on Christ who is the only wise God, our savior) with a sling and a freely moving stone just as David used a sling and a stone. Thus, giving honour to the Lord is what David used to defeat Goliath, the giant. What does it mean to honour God?

Jud 1:25 To the only wise God our Saviour, glory and majesty, dominion and power, both now and ever. Amen.

Isa 58:13 If thou turn away thy foot from the sabbath, doing thy pleasure on my holy day; and call the sabbath a delight, the holy of the LORD, honourable; and shalt honour him, not doing thine own ways, nor finding thine own pleasure, nor speaking thine own words: 

We honour God by obeying him and not speaking our own words, not finding our own pleasure and not focusing on our own ways.  That is what will ensure our victory over the giants in our land just as David defeated Goliath.

Jdg 1:11  And from thence he went against the inhabitants of Debir: and the name of Debir before was Kirjathsepher: 
Jdg 1:12  And Caleb said, He that smiteth Kirjathsepher, and taketh it, to him will I give Achsah my daughter to wife.
Jdg 1:13  And Othniel the son of Kenaz, Caleb’s younger brother, took it: and he gave him Achsah his daughter to wife. 
Jdg 1:14  And it came to pass, when she came to him, that she moved him to ask of her father a field: and she lighted from off her ass; and Caleb said unto her, What wilt thou? 
Jdg 1:15  And she said unto him, Give me a blessing: for thou hast given me a south land; give me also springs of water. And Caleb gave her the upper springs and the nether springs. 

In Joshua 15:15-19, the same story is recounted of how Caleb offered his daughter to Othniel for defeating the city of Debir. The repetition implies there are significant lessons to be learned. There are several accounts of how the Israelites defeated Debir in the bible.

Jos 10:38  And Joshua returned, and all Israel with him, to Debir; and fought against it:
Jos 10:39  And he took it, and the king thereof, and all the cities thereof; and they smote them with the edge of the sword, and utterly destroyed all the souls that were therein; he left none remaining: as he had done to Hebron, so he did to Debir, and to the king thereof; as he had done also to Libnah, and to her king.
Jos 11:21  And at that time came Joshua, and cut off the Anakims from the mountains, from Hebron, from Debir, from Anab, and from all the mountains of Judah, and from all the mountains of Israel: Joshua destroyed them utterly with their cities.

Some of the Anakims (giants) lived in Debir. This town Debir was defeated by Joshua earlier. However, it is likely that it came under the Canaanites rule again as a result of Israel’s sins against God.  That is what Peter describes as dogs going back to their vomit. In any case, it has to be defeated again by Othniel who is a kind of God’s elect.

2Pe 2:20  For if after they have escaped the pollutions of the world through the knowledge of the Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, they are again entangled therein, and overcome, the latter end is worse with them than the beginning.
2Pe 2:21  For it had been better for them not to have known the way of righteousness, than, after they have known it, to turn from the holy commandment delivered unto them.
2Pe 2:22  But it is happened unto them according to the true proverb, The dog is turned to his own vomit again; and the sow that was washed to her wallowing in the mire.

Othniel was offered an incentive of marrying Achsah, Caleb’s daughter, if he was able to defeat Debir. As God guides us to die daily to the flesh, we will be provided with the virtuous wife represented by Achsah (the bride of Christ who is the true church) who will bring about the upper springs and the nether springs. The upper and nether springs represents the full counsel of God’s words. In other words, when we come into the heavenly Jerusalem, the true bride of Christ, we will be endowed with the counsel of God as we feast on His words.

Pro 18:22 Whoso findeth a wife findeth a good thing, and obtaineth favor of the LORD.

Act 20:27  For I have not shunned to declare unto you all the counsel of God.

The favor here in Proverbs 18:22 is for your eyes to be opened to know the mysteries of the Kingdom of heaven as we find the true church (wife). This was the incentive for Othniel (a type of elect) as he waged war against Debir (the enemies within).

Pro 31:10  Who can find a virtuous woman? for her price is far above rubies.

Pro 31:26  She openeth her mouth with wisdom; and in her tongue is the law of kindness.

The virtuous woman here is the New Jerusalem, and the law of kindness represents the law of the spirit of life which sets us free from the law of sin and death which we were subject to when we did not know the Lord.

If the Lord permits, we will continue next week to end Chapter 1 of Judges.

[Next study in this series is here.]

[Study Posted September 7, 2020]

Est 6:1  On that night could not the king sleep, and he commanded to bring the book of records of the chronicles; and they were read before the king. 
Est 6:2  And it was found written, that Mordecai had told of Bigthana and Teresh, two of the king’s chamberlains, the keepers of the door, who sought to lay hand on the king Ahasuerus. 
Est 6:3  And the king said, What honour and dignity hath been done to Mordecai for this? Then said the king’s servants that ministered unto him, There is nothing done for him. 
Est 6:4  And the king said, Who is in the court? Now Haman was come into the outward court of the king’s house, to speak unto the king to hang Mordecai on the gallows that he had prepared for him.
Est 6:5  And the king’s servants said unto him, Behold, Haman standeth in the court. And the king said, Let him come in. 
Est 6:6  So Haman came in. And the king said unto him, What shall be done unto the man whom the king delighteth to honour? Now Haman thought in his heart, To whom would the king delight to do honour more than to myself? 
Est 6:7  And Haman answered the king, For the man whom the king delighteth to honour, 
Est 6:8  Let the royal apparel be brought which the king useth to wear, and the horse that the king rideth upon, and the crown royal which is set upon his head: 
Est 6:9  And let this apparel and horse be delivered to the hand of one of the king’s most noble princes, that they may array the man withal whom the king delighteth to honour, and bring him on horseback through the street of the city, and proclaim before him, Thus shall it be done to the man whom the king delighteth to honour. 
Est 6:10  Then the king said to Haman, Make haste, and take the apparel and the horse, as thou hast said, and do even so to Mordecai the Jew, that sitteth at the king’s gate: let nothing fail of all that thou hast spoken. 
Est 6:11  Then took Haman the apparel and the horse, and arrayed Mordecai, and brought him on horseback through the street of the city, and proclaimed before him, Thus shall it be done unto the man whom the king delighteth to honour. 
Est 6:12  And Mordecai came again to the king’s gate. But Haman hasted to his house mourning, and having his head covered. 
Est 6:13  And Haman told Zeresh his wife and all his friends every thing that had befallen him. Then said his wise men and Zeresh his wife unto him, If Mordecai be of the seed of the Jews, before whom thou hast begun to fall, thou shalt not prevail against him, but shalt surely fall before him. 
Est 6:14  And while they were yet talking with him, came the king’s chamberlains, and hasted to bring Haman unto the banquet that Esther had prepared. 

Chapter 5 deals with how Esther appeared before the King on the third day to request a feast with the King and Haman. As indicated, this feast is not the marriage supper of the lamb but rather the supper of the great God, which represents the invitation of fowls of the air to feast on our flesh. Esther was shown mercy which is accompanied by rulership which God has appointed for those who are shown mercy or overcome. Chapter 6, which we are reviewing today, is about what lies ahead of those who overcome. Let’s therefore take a look at the details of these passages of scriptures and how they relate to our walk with Christ.

Est 6:1  On that night could not the king sleep, and he commanded to bring the book of records of the chronicles; and they were read before the king. 
Est 6:2  And it was found written, that Mordecai had told of Bigthana and Teresh, two of the king’s chamberlains, the keepers of the door, who sought to lay hand on the king Ahasuerus. 
Est 6:3  And the king said, What honour and dignity hath been done to Mordecai for this? Then said the king’s servants that ministered unto him, There is nothing done for him. 

These verses remind us of Isaiah 63:9, which says that in all our suffering, he also suffered and that he personally came to our rescue. The night before Haman was going to ask the King to hang Mordecai, the King could not sleep and asked for the books of records to be read to him. It was through this reading that the King remembered that he had not rewarded Mordecai for revealing the plot to assassinate the King.  The King came to the rescue of Mordecai but not before Mordecai has been brought to his wits’ end.

These verses also assure us that God is a rewarder and that He never forgets the good works which He works through us!! Hebrews 11:6 says that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek him.

Isaiah 63:9: In all their suffering he also suffered, and he personally rescued them. In his love and mercy he redeemed them. He lifted them up and carried them through all the years. (NLT)

Heb 4:14  Seeing then that we have a great high priest, that is passed into the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our profession.
Heb 4:15  For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin.
Heb 4:16  Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.

Heb 11:6  But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.

Est 6:4  And the king said, Who is in the court? Now Haman was come into the outward court of the king’s house, to speak unto the king to hang Mordecai on the gallows that he had prepared for him. 
Est 6:5  And the king’s servants said unto him, Behold, Haman standeth in the court. And the king said, Let him come in. 
Est 6:6  So Haman came in. And the king said unto him, What shall be done unto the man whom the king delighteth to honour? Now Haman thought in his heart, To whom would the king delight to do honour more than to myself? 

Our moments of destruction will turn out to be our salvation. Just when we feel that we have lost the battle is when God makes us realize that our salvation is nearer than when we first believed. From our carnal perspective, we may think that the decision by the King to reward Mordecai and the arrival of Haman at the court of the King to demand the head of Mordecai is coincidence or by chance. However, from the word of God, we know there are no coincidence in life. It shows the extent of God’s involvement in every little detail of our lives. God orchestrates every action of all human race, both good and evil. This story confirms to us that our steps are really ordered or planned – whether it is leading us to do evil, just like Haman, or to do good. We should therefore be encouraged by this that whatever our circumstances are, God is in perfect control and it will turn out for our good!!

The fact that Haman thought that if there should be any person that deserves to be honoured it should be him, makes us aware that the beast within us thinks that having favor with God is the result of our own effort, or what we call the free will.  This is the mindset we used to have when we were in Babylon as we glory in our works and our integrity, just as Job thought that he was righteous.  We were just like the Pharisee who was praying thinking he was more righteous than the publican. So the work of God in our lives is to give us an experience of evil as we walk through this earth so that we will be humbled (come to the realization that we are the greatest sinners) before Him.

Pro 20:24  Man’s goings are of the LORD; how can a man then understand his own way? 

Pro 16:4  The LORD hath made all things for himself: yea, even the wicked for the day of evil. 

Pro 16:1  The preparations of the heart in man, and the answer of the tongue, is from the LORD. 

Luk 18:9  And he spake this parable unto certain which trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and despised others:
Luk 18:10  Two men went up into the temple to pray; the one a Pharisee, and the other a publican.
Luk 18:11  The Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself, God, I thank thee, that I am not as other men are, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even as this publican.
Luk 18:12  I fast twice in the week, I give tithes of all that I possess.
Luk 18:13  And the publican, standing afar off, would not lift up so much as his eyes unto heaven, but smote upon his breast, saying, God be merciful to me a sinner.

Ecc 1:13  And I gave my heart to seek and search out by wisdom concerning all things that are done under heaven: this sore travail (evil experience) hath God given to the sons of man to be exercised (humble) therewith. 

Est 6:7  And Haman answered the king, For the man whom the king delighteth to honour, 
Est 6:8  Let the royal apparel be brought which the king useth to wear, and the horse that the king rideth upon, and the crown royal which is set upon his head: 
Est 6:9  And let this apparel and horse be delivered to the hand of one of the king’s most noble princes, that they may array the man withal whom the king delighteth to honour, and bring him on horseback through the street of the city, and proclaim before him, Thus shall it be done to the man whom the king delighteth to honour.
Est 6:10  Then the king said to Haman, Make haste, and take the apparel and the horse, as thou hast said, and do even so to Mordecai the Jew, that sitteth at the king’s gate: let nothing fail of all that thou hast spoken. 
Est 6:11  Then took Haman the apparel and the horse, and arrayed Mordecai, and brought him on horseback through the street of the city, and proclaimed before him, Thus shall it be done unto the man whom the king delighteth to honour. 

As shown in the scriptures, our God is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him. As we grow gradually in the things of God, we need our understanding to be enlightened so that we come to appreciate what is the hope of our calling and the riches of the glory of His inheritance in us. In other words, what we should expect when we overcome.  This is very important, as our Lord Jesus was motivated by the joy set out before Him, and therefore He endured the cross, despising the shame. In the same manner, we, too, must know the joy that is set before us to motivate us to fight this fight of faith. Verses 7–9 help us catch a glimpse of what lies in wait for us as we go through our struggles daily. Let’s list them:

Number 1:  We will receive be arrayed in a royal apparel if the King delights in us. Apparel or clothing is used to cover our nakedness (our sins). It is God’s righteousness that covers our nakedness (sinful nature). So, apparel represents God’s righteousness from a positive perspective. In Genesis, when Adam and Eve sinned, they sewed fig leaves to cover themselves when they realized they were naked (sinful). When they heard the voice of the Lord in the garden of Eden, they hid themselves, and when God asked why they were hiding, Adam said that it was because he was naked, even though he was wearing fig leaves as clothes. This means that our human endeavor cannot bring us God’s righteousness. We will always be naked before him. In the end, God clothed both Adam and Eve. It is God’s righteousness that matters. This is to emphasize the fact that the apparel the King wears here represents God giving us His righteousness as He delights in us. The royal nature of the apparel means that we are being made righteous to rule.

Gen 3:7  And the eyes of them both were opened, and they knew that they were naked; and they sewed fig leaves together, and made themselves aprons. 
Gen 3:8  And they heard the voice of the LORD God walking in the garden in the cool of the day: and Adam and his wife hid themselves from the presence of the LORD God amongst the trees of the garden. 
Gen 3:9  And the LORD God called unto Adam, and said unto him, Where art thou? 
Gen 3:10  And he said, I heard thy voice in the garden, and I was afraid, because I was naked; and I hid myself. 

Jer 23:6  In his days Judah shall be saved, and Israel shall dwell safely: and this is his name whereby he shall be called, THE LORD OUR RIGHTEOUSNESS. 

Number 2: The one that the King delights in (the elect) is expected to ride a horse upon which the King rides.  In this case, the elect is expected to ride the horse through the streets of the city. The use of a horse and the riding through the streets of the city suggest that we have come out of a war and that we have been victorious. In other words, we are taking a victory lap as we see frequently in the Olympics when athletes go round the tracks celebrating their victory. In our case, we are celebrating the victory over the beast within (the flesh). All the wars Israel fought spiritually signify the fight against the flesh.  Paul calls it the good fight of faith. In Galatians 5:17, Paul further describes this war as the flesh lusting against the Spirit and the Spirit against the flesh. These two are contrary against each other so that we cannot do the things that we would.

Proverbs 21:31 The horse is made ready for the day of battle, but victory rests with the LORD. (NIV)

Gal 5:17  For the flesh lusteth against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh: and these are contrary the one to the other: so that ye cannot do the things that ye would. 

The question is when do we celebrate our victory? If we are blessed to be part of the first resurrection, then that is when we will celebrate our victory as the kingdoms of this world become the kingdoms of our Lord and of His Christ (His elect). Revelation 19:11–15 describes our victory as follows:

Rev 19:11  And I saw heaven opened, and behold a white horse; and he that sat upon him was called Faithful and True, and in righteousness he doth judge and make war. 
Rev 19:12  His eyes were as a flame of fire, and on his head were many crowns; and he had a name written, that no man knew, but he himself. 
Rev 19:13  And he was clothed with a vesture dipped in blood: and his name is called The Word of God. 
Rev 19:14  And the armies which were in heaven followed him upon white horses, clothed in fine linen, white and clean. 
Rev 19:15  And out of his mouth goeth a sharp sword, that with it he should smite the nations: and he shall rule them with a rod of iron: and he treadeth the winepress of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God. 

Number 3: The third honor for those that the king delights in is that they shall receive a royal crown upon their heads. This royal crown is also called the crown of life or the crown of righteousness.  Being crowned suggests that those who prevail will rule over the nations during the period when the kingdom of this world becomes the kingdom of our Lord and of His Christ.

Jas 1:12  Blessed is the man that endureth temptation: for when he is tried, he shall receive the crown of life, which the Lord hath promised to them that love him.

Rev 2:10  Fear none of those things which thou shalt suffer: behold, the devil shall cast some of you into prison, that ye may be tried; and ye shall have tribulation ten days: be thou faithful unto death, and I will give thee a crown of life.

2Ti 4:8  Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing.

It is worth noting that it is the King’s most noble princes (the elect), represented by Haman as one of the King’s leading princes, that decorated Mordecai and paraded him in the streets of the city.  In this case, Haman here represents the elect which is a positive application. What this means is that it is through the agency of the elect that we learn to win this war of the flesh and to be clothed with Christ’s righteousness. The prophesying (the preaching) of the elect is to edify us (build us up), encourage us to reach for the mark of His higher calling and to comfort us in our trials. This is all done with the objective of us being part of those in whom the King delights so that we can receive the prize at the end of our journey here on this earth.

1Co 14:3  But he that prophesieth speaketh unto men to edification, and exhortation, and comfort. 

Est 6:12  And Mordecai came again to the king’s gate. But Haman hasted to his house mourning, and having his head covered. 
Est 6:13  And Haman told Zeresh his wife and all his friends every thing that had befallen him. Then said his wise men and Zeresh his wife unto him, If Mordecai be of the seed of the Jews, before whom thou hast begun to fall, thou shalt not prevail against him, but shalt surely fall before him. 

The mourning of Haman (the beast within) means that his death is near.  As our eyes are being enlightened and we are going through trials marked out for us, our old man within has started his journey of death, and the new man is increasing in strength. Haman’s wise men and Zeresh, Haman’s wife gave Haman advice that as long as we are spiritual Jews, Haman (the beast within) will surely die! It means that once we have started dying daily, the old man will surely die!! In other words, as long as we have started seeing victories over the flesh in certain areas of our lives, we will surely win the war. He who has started the good work in us is able to bring it to completion.

Php 1:6  Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ: 

Est 6:14  And while they were yet talking with him, came the king’s chamberlains, and hasted to bring Haman unto the banquet that Esther had prepared. 

As indicated in the review of Esther chapter 5, this banquet that the King’s chamberlain hastened to bring Haman, is not the marriage supper of the lamb which is strictly for those who overcome (Haman will not be there). It is the supper of the great God as revealed in Revelation 19:17-18 where all the fowls that fly in the midst of our heavens, represented by Haman, are invited to come and eat our flesh (our old man) which will consequently result in the death of our old man (Haman) and the birth of a new man created after the image of Christ.

This feasting, or banqueting, is the opening of our eyes to understand exponentially the word of God. Thus, this banquet is when the truth of God’s words destroys our attachment to the things of the world signified by the flesh.

Rev 19:7  Let us be glad and rejoice, and give honour to him: for the marriage of the Lamb is come, and his wife hath made herself ready. 
Rev 19:8  And to her was granted that she should be arrayed in fine linen, clean and white: for the fine linen is the righteousness of saints. 

Rev 19:17  And I saw an angel standing in the sun; and he cried with a loud voice, saying to all the fowls that fly in the midst of heaven, Come and gather yourselves together unto the supper of the great God; 
Rev 19:18  That ye may eat the flesh of kings, and the flesh of captains, and the flesh of mighty men, and the flesh of horses, and of them that sit on them, and the flesh of all men, both free and bond, both small and great. 

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Isa 57:15-21 I Dwell… With Him… That Is of a Contrite and Humble Spirit

Isa 57:15  For thus saith the high and lofty One that inhabiteth eternity, whose name is Holy; I dwell in the high and holy place, with him also that is of a contrite and humble spirit, to revive the spirit of the humble, and to revive the heart of the contrite ones.  
Isa 57:16  For I will not contend for ever, neither will I be always wroth: for the spirit should fail before me, and the souls which I have made.  
Isa 57:17  For the iniquity of his covetousness was I wroth, and smote him: I hid me, and was wroth, and he went on frowardly in the way of his heart.  
Isa 57:18  I have seen his ways, and will heal him: I will lead him also, and restore comforts unto him and to his mourners.  
Isa 57:19  I create the fruit of the lips; Peace, peace to him that is far off, and to him that is near, saith the LORD; and I will heal him.  
Isa 57:20  But the wicked are like the troubled sea, when it cannot rest, whose waters cast up mire and dirt.  
Isa 57:21  There is no peace, saith my God, to the wicked. 

Before we begin our study of today’s verses, let’s review the final two verses of last week’s study:

Isa 57:13  When thou criest, let thy companies deliver thee; but the wind shall carry them all away; vanity shall take them: but he that putteth his trust in me shall possess the land, and shall inherit my holy mountain; 
Isa 57:14  And shall say, Cast ye up, cast ye up, prepare the way, take up the stumblingblock out of the way of my people. 

In those two verses, our old man’s infidelity and the curses of his adulterous ways are contrasted with the blessings that come upon our new man who “puts his trust in [the Lord]”. Our new man, as the bride of Christ, is faithful to her Husband and prepares His way before His coming. 

Our study today continues with this thought beginning with our Husband, Christ, revealing to us just how close to us He is:

Isa 57:15  For thus saith the high and lofty One that inhabiteth eternity, whose name is Holy; I dwell in the high and holy place, with him also that is of a contrite and humble spirit, to revive the spirit of the humble, and to revive the heart of the contrite ones. 

The Lord “inhabits eternity”. This word ‘eternity’ is the Hebrew word H5703, ‘ad’. It has the same meaning of the Hebrew word ‘olam’ and, as is the habit of the writers of the Old Testament to state the same thing twice, we find the phrase “olam and ad” translated into English as “for ever and ever”:

Exo 15:18  The LORD shall reign for ever [H5769: olam] and ever [H5703: ad]. 

Psa 9:5  Thou hast rebuked the heathen, thou hast destroyed the wicked, thou hast put out their name for ever [H5769: olam] and ever [H5703: ad]. 

Psa 10:16  The LORD is King for ever [H5769: olam] and ever [H5703: ad]: the heathen are perished out of his land.

Psa 45:17  I will make thy name to be remembered in all generations: therefore shall the people praise thee for ever [H5769: olam] and ever [H5703: ad].

What we are being told in Isaiah 57:15 is that the Lord is working all things, during these times of the ages, “after the counsel of His own will”. The Greek phrase for this statement is “chronos aionios”… times “aionios”. Here is how the Lord “inhabits eternity (Hebrew: ‘ad’ H5703):

Dan 4:17  This matter is by the decree of the watchers, and the demand by the word of the holy ones: to the intent that the living may know that the most High ruleth in the kingdom of men, and giveth it to whomsoever he will, and setteth up over it the basest of men.

2Ti 1:9  Who hath saved us, and called us with an holy calling, not according to our works, but according to his own purpose and grace, which was given us in Christ Jesus before the world  [G166: aionios] began, [G5550: chronos, ‘times’…Before chronos aionios]

Eph 1:11  In whom also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestinated according to the purpose of him who worketh all things after the counsel of his own will:

The phrase ‘chronos aionios’ is repeated in:

Tit 1:2  In hope of eternal life, which God, that cannot lie, promised before the world [G166:aionios] began, [G5550: chronos, ‘times’…Before chronos aionios];

Where does God dwell?

Now let’s examine closely this statement: “I dwell in the high and holy place, with him also that is of a contrite and humble spirit.” These words are the foundation of this New Testament revelation:

Rom 8:9  But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you. Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his.

1Co 3:16  Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you? 
1Co 3:17  If any man defile the temple of God, him shall God destroy; for the temple of God is holy, which temple ye are.

The ‘holy place’ is within the temple, and you and I are that “temple of God” where Christ and His Father “dwell”. This is not Paul’s doctrine; it is the doctrine of Christ which He made clear back here in Isaiah 57. Paul repeats this revelation in:

2Co 6:16  And what agreement hath the temple of God with idols? for ye are the temple of the living God; as God hath said, I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people. 

And in:

2Ti 1:14  That good thing which was committed unto thee keep by the Holy Ghost which dwelleth in us.

This verse, Isaiah 57:15, also reveals that the heavens are within us. If indeed “Ye are the temple of God”,and if indeed the Lord “dwell[s] in the high and holy place”, and since we are told in:

Psa 11:4  The LORD is in his holy temple, the LORD’S throne is in heaven: his eyes behold, his eyelids try, the children of men.

What other conclusion can we draw but that “the heavens… His holy temple, the Lord’s throne” is the spiritual realm where the Lord dwells within our hearts and minds and therefore the Lord “dwell[s] in the high and holy place, with him also that is of a contrite and humble spirit”?

Now we can understand how Paul could say, boldly and with great authority:

Eph 2:6  And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus: 
Eph 2:7  That in the ages to come he might shew the exceeding riches of his grace in his kindness toward us through Christ Jesus.

Heb 9:23  It was therefore necessary that the patterns of things in the heavens should be purified with these; but the heavenly things themselves with better sacrifices than these.  
Heb 9:24  For Christ is not entered into the holy places made with hands, which are the figures of the true; but into heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God for us:

Where exactly is “heaven itself”? Where do Christ and His Father dwell?

Joh 14:23  Jesus answered and said unto him, If a man love me, he will keep my words: and my Father will love him, and we will come unto him, and make our abode with him.

 On the other hand, the Lord’s wrath could very easily destroy us:

Psa 2:12  Kiss the Son, lest he be angry, and ye perish from the way, when his wrath is kindled but a little. Blessed are all they that put their trust in him.

Isa 13:5  They come from a far country, from the end of heaven, even the LORD, and the weapons of his indignation, to destroy the whole land. 

Isa 13:9  Behold, the day of the LORD cometh, cruel both with wrath and fierce anger, to lay the land desolate: and he shall destroy the sinners thereof out of it.

This “evil spirit from the Lord”, which had paralyzed the whole world, has “come… from a far country, from the end of heaven” and has terrorized all men inwardly, but He has predestined that only His elect will understand that they are being judged through His wrath in this age:

1Pe 4:17  For the time is come that judgment must begin at the house of God: and if it first begin at us, what shall the end be of them that obey not the gospel of God? 
1Pe 4:18  And if the righteous scarcely be saved, where shall the ungodly and the sinner appear? 
1Pe 4:19  Wherefore let them that suffer according to the will of God commit the keeping of their souls to him in well doing, as unto a faithful Creator.

If we “commit the keeping of our soul to [God] in well doing”, then we have been given the faith to believe these words:

Isa 57:16  For I will not contend for ever, neither will I be always wroth: for the spirit should fail before me, and the souls which I have made. 

If the Lord’s wrath was not limited, “no flesh would be saved alive. But for the elect’s sake those days shall be shortened [in] this present time.” Look at and consider what we are twice told:

Mat 24:21  For then shall be great tribulation, such as was not since the beginning of the world to this time, no, nor ever shall be. 
Mat 24:22  And except those days should be shortened, there should no flesh be saved: but for the elect’s sake those days shall be shortened.

Mar 13:19  For in those days shall be affliction, such as was not from the beginning of the creation which God created unto this time, neither shall be. 
Mar 13:20  And except that the Lord had shortened those days, no flesh should be saved: but for the elect’s sake, whom he hath chosen, he hath shortened the days.

Revelation 9 reveals that the torment of that day will make us wish we were dead:

Rev 9:3  And there came out of the smoke [of the “bottomless pit”] locusts upon the earth: and unto them was given power, as the scorpions of the earth have power. 
Rev 9:4  And it was commanded them that they should not hurt the grass of the earth, neither any green thing, neither any tree; but only those men which have not the seal of God in their foreheads. 
Rev 9:5  And to them it was given that they should not kill them, but that they should be tormented five months: and their torment was as the torment of a scorpion, when he striketh a man. 
Rev 9:6  And in those days shall men seek death, and shall not find it; and shall desire to die, and death shall flee from them. 

The words “tribulation, such as was not since the beginning of the world to this time, no, nor ever shall be” here in Matthew and Mark, are referring to the same trials mentioned in Revelation 14:6-12 and all the seven last plagues filling up the Lord’s wrath, alluded to in Revelation 15 and then enumerated in the entire 16th chapter of Revelation:

Rev 14:6  And I saw another angel fly in the midst of heaven, having the everlasting gospel to preach unto them that dwell on the earth, and to every nation, and kindred, and tongue, and people,
Rev 14:7  Saying with a loud voice, Fear God, and give glory to him; for the hour of his judgment is come: and worship him that made heaven, and earth, and the sea, and the fountains of waters.
Rev 14:8  And there followed another angel, saying, Babylon is fallen, is fallen, that great city, because she made all nations drink of the wine of the wrath of her fornication. 
Rev 14:9  And the third angel followed them, saying with a loud voice, If any man worship the beast and his image, and receive his mark in his forehead, or in his hand, 
Rev 14:10  The same shall drink of the wine of the wrath of God, which is poured out without mixture into the cup of his indignation; and he shall be tormented with fire and brimstone in the presence of the holy angels, and in the presence of the Lamb: 
Rev 14:11  And the smoke of their torment ascendeth up for ever and ever: and they have no rest day nor night, who worship the beast and his image, and whosoever receiveth the mark of his name. 
Rev 14:12  Here is the patience of the saints: here are they that keep the commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus.

Rev 15:1  And I saw another sign in heaven, great and marvellous, seven angels having the seven last plagues; for in them is filled up the wrath of God.

These words in Matthew 24 and in here in Revelation 14 refer to “the saints… that keep the commandments of God and the faith of Jesus” in every generation. They applied to the generation in which Christ was in an “earthen vessel” 2,000 years ago, as well as “this generation”:

Mat 24:33  So likewise ye, when ye shall see all these things, know that it is near, even at the doors. 
Mat 24:34  Verily I say unto you, This generation shall not pass, till all these things be fulfilled.

Babylon tells us that the statement in 1Thessalonians 5:9 which tells us… “we are not appointed unto wrath, but unto salvation”  means that we will never ever experience the Lord’s wrath: 

1Th 5:9  For God hath not appointed us to wrath, but to obtain salvation by our Lord Jesus Christ,

Nothing is further from the Truth. This statement does not in any way contradict this fact:

Rev 15:7  And one of the four beasts gave unto the seven angels seven golden vials full of the wrath of God, who liveth for ever and ever. 
Rev 15:8  And the temple was filled with smoke from the glory of God, and from his power; and no man was able to enter into the temple, till the seven plagues of the seven angels were fulfilled.

Here is the Lord’s ominous warning to all who think they can somehow avoid “keeping the sayings of the prophecy of [Rev 16]” (Rev 1:3):

Jer 25:15  For thus saith the LORD God of Israel unto me; Take the wine cup of this fury at my hand, and cause all the nations, to whom I send thee, to drink it. 
Jer 25:16  And they shall drink, and be moved, and be mad, because of the sword that I will send among them. 
Jer 25:17  Then took I the cup at the LORD’S hand, and made all the nations to drink, unto whom the LORD had sent me: 
Jer 25:18  To wit, Jerusalem, and the cities of Judah, and the kings thereof, and the princes thereof, to make them a desolation, an astonishment, an hissing, and a curse; as it is this day; 
Jer 25:19  Pharaoh king of Egypt, and his servants, and his princes, and all his people; 
Jer 25:20  And all the mingled people, and all the kings of the land of Uz, and all the kings of the land of the Philistines, and Ashkelon, and Azzah, and Ekron, and the remnant of Ashdod,
Jer 25:21  Edom, and Moab, and the children of Ammon,
Jer 25:22  And all the kings of Tyrus, and all the kings of Zidon, and the kings of the isles which are beyond the sea, 
Jer 25:23  Dedan, and Tema, and Buz, and all that are in the utmost corners, 
Jer 25:24  And all the kings of Arabia, and all the kings of the mingled people that dwell in the desert, 
Jer 25:25  And all the kings of Zimri, and all the kings of Elam, and all the kings of the Medes,
Jer 25:26  And all the kings of the north, far and near, one with another, and all the kingdoms of the world, which are upon the face of the earth: and the king of Sheshach shall drink after them. 
Jer 25:27  Therefore thou shalt say unto them, Thus saith the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel; Drink ye, and be drunken, and spue, and fall, and rise no more, because of the sword which I will send among you. 
Jer 25:28  And it shall be, if they refuse to take the cup at thine hand to drink, then shalt thou say unto them, Thus saith the LORD of hosts; Ye shall certainly drink. 
Jer 25:29  For, lo, I begin to bring evil on the city which is called by my name, and should ye be utterly unpunished? Ye shall not be unpunished: for I will call for a sword upon all the inhabitants of the earth, saith the LORD of hosts.

“No man is able to enter into the temple, till the seven plagues of the seven angels are fulfilled”, and yet we are told:

1Co 3:16  Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you?

“The scriptures cannot be broken”, and the Word of God does not contradict itself when it is properly understood.

Joh 10:35  If he called them gods, unto whom the word of God came, and the scripture cannot be broken;

Therefore, the meaning of “not appointed to wrath”, in light of the fact that “no man can enter the temple till the seven plagues… which fill up the wrath of God… is fulfilled”, is that Christ delivers us out of His wrath… not that we never experience the seven plagues of the seven angels. In like manner when we read:

Rev 20:4  And I saw thrones, and they sat upon them, and judgment was given unto them: and I saw the souls of them that were beheaded for the witness of Jesus, and for the word of God, and which had not worshipped the beast, neither his image, neither had received his mark upon their foreheads, or in their hands; and they lived and reigned with Christ a thousand years.

Not receiving the mark of the beast does not mean we have never received his mark, number, and name, and ‘not being appointed to wrath’ does not mean we never experienced His wrath.

This is the truth about the mark, number and name of the beast as it relates to all mankind:

Rev 13:16  And he causeth all, both small and great, rich and poor, free and bond, to receive a mark in their right hand, or in their foreheads:

There is no one who has ever lived who does not fit into at least one of those six categories. Everyone is either small or great, rich or poor, free or bond, and He causes all… to receive His mark.

The fact is that the number of the beast “is the number of mankind”, and it is only those who overcome his mark, number and name who stand with Christ on the sea of glass mingled with fire:

1Jn 2:13  I write unto you, fathers, because ye have known him that is from the beginning. I write unto you, young men, because ye have overcome the wicked one. I write unto you, little children, because ye have known the Father. 
1Jn 2:14  I have written unto you, fathers, because ye have known him that is from the beginning. I have written unto you, young men, because ye are strong, and the word of God abideth in you, and ye have overcome the wicked one.

Rev 13:18 Here is wisdom. Let him who has a mind calculate the number of the wild beast, for it is the number of mankind [Greek: ‘anthropos’], and its number is six hundred sixty-six. (CLV)

All the promises to all the churches of Revelation 2-3 are offered only to “he that overcomes…”:

Rev 2:7  He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches; To him that overcometh will I give to eat of the tree of life, which is in the midst of the paradise of God. 

Rev 2:11  He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches; He that overcometh shall not be hurt of the second death. 

Rev 2:17  He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches; To him that overcometh will I give to eat of the hidden manna, and will give him a white stone, and in the stone a new name written, which no man knoweth saving he that receiveth it. 

Rev 2:26  And he that overcometh, and keepeth my works unto the end, to him will I give power over the nations: 

Rev 3:5  He that overcometh, the same shall be clothed in white raiment; and I will not blot out his name out of the book of life, but I will confess his name before my Father, and before his angels. 

Rev 3:12  Him that overcometh will I make a pillar in the temple of my God, and he shall go no more out: and I will write upon him the name of my God, and the name of the city of my God, which is new Jerusalem, which cometh down out of heaven from my God: and I will write upon him my new name. 

This promise is repeated in the 21st chapter:

Rev  21:7  He that overcometh shall inherit all things; and I will be his God, and he shall be my son. 

Revelation 15 tells us what Isaiah is telling us. The Lord’s wrath does not last forever, and those who experience His wrath, in “this present time” (Rom 8:18), stand on a “sea of glass, mingled with fire”:

Rev 15:2  And I saw as it were a sea of glass mingled with fire: and them that had gotten the victory over the beast, and over his image, and over his mark, and over the number of his name, stand on the sea of glass, having the harps of God.

It is “a sea of glass” because “the sand of the sea”, from which we all “rise up”, has been “mingled with fire” and has now been purified by fire and is become “glass”.

Rev 13:1  And I stood upon the sand of the sea, and saw a beast rise up out of the sea, having seven heads and ten horns, and upon his horns ten crowns, and upon his heads the name of blasphemy.

Now we will no longer be tossed about by every wind of doctrine, because through the fire of His Word we are settled and stablished in Christ and His doctrine:

Col 1:23  If ye continue in the faith grounded and settled, and be not moved away from the hope of the gospel, which ye have heard, and which was preached to every creature which is under heaven; whereof I Paul am made a minister;

Col 2:7  Rooted and built up in him, and stablished in the faith, as ye have been taught, abounding therein with thanksgiving.

Some few are given by the purging, fiery Word of God to “overcome the wicked one” in this life. Some few are given by the power of Christ within them to “fulfill the seven plagues of the seven angels” in this life. When that is accomplished, Christ and His fiery Word remains right here with us to keep purging us to cause us to bear even more fruit. 

Joh 15:1  I am the true vine, and my Father is the husbandman. 
Joh 15:2  Every branch in me that beareth not fruit he taketh away: and every branch that beareth fruit, he purgeth it, that it may bring forth more fruit. 
Joh 15:3  Now ye are clean through the word which I have spoken unto you. 
Joh 15:4  Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in me.

However, there is no more “hurt” from the fire of the Lord’s Words because we have come to be at one with Christ and His doctrines. 

Shadrach, Meshech, and Abednego typify us when we “are crucified with Christ, [and] yet live” (Gal 2:20).

Dan 3:25  He answered and said, Lo, I see four men loose, walking in the midst of the fire, and they have no hurt; and the form of the fourth is like the Son of God.

If Christ is living His life within us, then like Him, we now say “Not my will but thine be done” (Mat 26:39). None of this changes the fact that we are all born as this ‘beast’. There are no exceptions, other than Christ who even Himself was “made sin” (2Co 5:21)

Psa 51:5  Behold, I was shapen in iniquity; and in sin did my mother conceive me.

Ecc 3:18  I said in mine heart concerning the estate of the sons of men, that God might manifest them, and that they might see that they themselves are beasts.

It is only those who “get the victory over the beast, and over his image, and over his mark and over the number of his name, in this life, who stand on the sea of glass…” of Revelation 15:1-2:

Rev 15:1  And I saw another sign in heaven, great and marvellous, seven angels having the seven last plagues; for in them is filled up the wrath of God. 
Rev 15:2  And I saw as it were a sea of glass mingled with fire: and them that had gotten the victory over the beast, and over his image, and over his mark, and over the number of his name, stand on the sea of glass, having the harps of God.

What we are being told, both here in Isaiah and in the book of the Revelation, is that the Lord first pours out the seven bowls which “fill up His wrath” upon His elect, who, through this “great tribulation”, are being prepared to administer the same earthquakes, fiery trials and much tribulation upon all the rest of mankind at the great white throne judgment. The “great white throne… judgment” is just that; it is ‘judgment’, and this is the fruit of all the Lord’s chastening grace upon all of His children:

Isa 26:8  Yea, in the way of thy judgments, O LORD, have we waited for thee; the desire of our soul is to thy name, and to the remembrance of thee. 
Isa 26:9  With my soul have I desired thee in the night; yea, with my spirit within me will I seek thee early: for when thy judgments are in the earth, the inhabitants of the world will learn righteousness.

All the Lord’s judgments make “the inhabitants of the world [to] learn righteousness”. That is true for the “judgment [which is now on] the house of God”, and it is true of the “great white throne judgment”. The doctrine of eternal torment denies this Truth:

1Co 11:32  But when we are judged, we are chastened of the Lord, that we should not be condemned with the world.

The “condemned with the world” are to be condemned to the great white throne judgment, which is simply being condemned to a later chastening judgment. God’s judgments always chasten us for the purpose of bringing us to Himself. His judgments are never simply for the purpose of torment with no end and no purpose in sight. ‘Chastening’ is the very function of grace. Both ‘grace’ and the judgments of God are designed to cause us to forsake ungodliness and worldly lusts, and to live godly lives in this present age/aion, this present time, “in this present world”:

Tit 2:11  For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men, 
Tit 2:12  Teaching [G3811, paideuo, chastening], us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world;

There are no exceptions to the Lord’s chastening grace. He will lose no man, and death will not claim one soul:

1Co 15:54  So when this corruptible shall have put on incorruption, and this mortal shall have put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written, Death is swallowed up in victory. 
1Co 15:55  O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory?

Even the flesh of our Lord “who knew no sin” is judged and found unfit for the kingdom of God:

1Co 15:50  Now this I say, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God; neither doth corruption inherit incorruption.

Yes, this principle applies even to the flesh and blood of Jesus Christ. For that reason, we are told:

2Co 5:16  Wherefore henceforth know we no man after the flesh: yea, though we have known Christ after the flesh, yet now henceforth know we him no more [“after the flesh”]. 
2Co 5:17  Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.

“He made Him to be sin, who knew no sin” so He could die for our sins, and so we could be judged with Him in “this present time… this present age… this present world… die with Christ… for His body’s sake, which is the church”:

Rom 6:3  Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death? 
Rom 6:4  Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life.

2Co 5:21  For the man who knew no sin was made sin on our behalf, so that we might become the righteousness of God in him. (ACV)

Col 1:24  Who now rejoice in my sufferings for you, and fill up that which is behind of the afflictions of Christ in my flesh for his body’s sake, which is the church:

Gal 2:20  I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.

Christ did all of this for us while we were yet in our sins:

Eph 2:1  And you hath he quickened, who were dead in trespasses and sins;
Eph 2:2  Wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience:
Eph 2:3  Among whom also we all had our conversation in times past in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind; and were by nature the children of wrath, even as others.
Eph 2:4  But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us,
Eph 2:5  Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;)

That is the message of our next verse:

Isa 57:17  For the iniquity of his covetousness was I wroth, and smote him: I hid me, and was wroth, and he went on frowardly in the way of his heart. 

“His covetousness” is speaking of our covetousness, “and he went on forwardly in the way of his heart” is also speaking of us continuing in our own sins, returning to our own vomit and to our own wallow in the mire. It is a repetition of the words of last week’s study in this same chapter condemning our self–willed adulterous ways:

Isa 57:9  And thou wentest to the king with ointment, and didst increase thy perfumes, and didst send thy messengers far off, and didst debase thyself even unto hell. 
Isa 57:10  Thou art wearied in the greatness of thy way; yet saidst thou not, There is no hope: thou hast found the life of thine hand; therefore thou wast not grieved.

We all ‘lose our first love… we suffer that woman Jezebel to teach us… we tolerate the Nicolaitans who lord it over us as the Lord’s flock, and we think we are rich and increased with goods and in need of nothing, while the truth is that we are spiritually wretched, miserable, poor, blind and naked’ (Rev 2-3).

Rev 3:17  Because thou sayest, I am rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing; and knowest not that thou art wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked: 
Rev 3:18  I counsel thee to buy of me gold tried in the fire, that thou mayest be rich; and white raiment, that thou mayest be clothed, and that the shame of thy nakedness do not appear; and anoint thine eyes with eyesalve, that thou mayest see. 
Rev 3:19  As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten: be zealous therefore, and repent.

It is because the Lord does love us that He is putting us through all our trials in this age… in this present time… this age/aion, and not in the great white throne judgment, lake of fire… second death.  All of our sins provide the Lord with the occasion He is seeking to pour out His wrath upon the kingdom of our old man, “the throne of the beast”, which He must pour out upon the kingdom of our old man, “the beast” within us, before we can enter into His temple. Let’s notice closely how we are dragged of the Lord to our “wits’ end” before the Lord brings us “into His rest” and into “[our] desired haven” into Christ:

Psa 107:25  For he commandeth, and raiseth the stormy wind, which lifteth up the waves thereof. 
Psa 107:26  They mount up to the heaven, they go down again to the depths: their soul is melted because of trouble. 
Psa 107:27  They reel to and fro, and stagger like a drunken man, and are at their wits’ end. 
Psa 107:28  Then they cry unto the LORD in their trouble, and he bringeth them out of their distresses. 
Psa 107:29  He maketh the storm a calm, so that the waves thereof are still. 
Psa 107:30  Then are they glad because they be quiet; so he bringeth them unto their desired haven. 
Psa 107:31  Oh that men would praise the LORD for his goodness, and for his wonderful works to the children of men! 
Psa 107:32  Let them exalt him also in the congregation of the people, and praise him in the assembly of the elders.

It is given to very few indeed to be able to receive and live out the Lord’s judgments upon the kingdom of our old man in “this present time”, and this is what is promised to those chosen few:

Isa 57:18  I have seen his ways, and will heal him: I will lead him also, and restore comforts unto him and to his mourners.

The Lord’s way throughout scripture is to use the few to deliver the many, as He used Noah, as He used Abraham to save Lot and all of Sodom, as He used Moses and Aaron to deliver Israel from Egypt, as He used Gideon’s 300 men to deliver Israel from Midian, and as He is using Christ and His Christ to drag all men to Himself. 

Another Biblical principle is that the Lord rejects the first old man, and He always accepts the later new man. This principle is demonstrated with the first man Adam, who is being replaced by “the last Adam”. Cain is replaced by Abel and then Seth, who typify Christ and His Christ. Leah is first, but Rachel is beloved, Ishmael is first, but Isaac is preferred. Jacob supplants Esau, and David supplants King Saul. It all points to the replacing of the first man, Adam, with “the Last Adam”, Christ. It all serves to establish this principle: 

Mat 20:16  So the last shall be first, and the first last: for many be called, but few chosen.

Mat 22:14  For many are called, but few are chosen.

Rom 8:18  For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time [the great tribulation… the fiery trials, and the seven last plagues] are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us. 
Rom 8:19  For the earnest expectation of the creature [the many] waiteth for the manifestation of the sons of God [the “few… chosen”, Greek: elecktos… the few elect].

From Genesis to Revelation, ‘the seed of the woman’ is preferred and protected over ‘the seed of the serpent’. Throughout the scriptures it is the seed of the serpent who bruises the heel of the seed of the woman. Cain kills Abel, who is replaced by Seth. Pharaoh kills the man–child of Israel, King Saul seeks to kill David, and Christ is killed by His own people, and He is now in His Christ, His church, which is filling up what is lacking of His afflictions:

(Col 1:24)  Who now rejoice in my sufferings for you, and fill up that which is behind of the afflictions of Christ in my flesh for his body’s sake, which is the church:

It is through “the afflictions of the Christ” that the ‘manifest… sons of God’ are birthed. It is out of the darkness of this world they are called. It is out of their own sins they are all delivered, and their sins are the sins of the whole world. 

So, we are told of the Lord’s elect:

Isa 57:18  I have seen his ways, and will heal him: I will lead him also, and restore comforts unto him and to his mourners. 

“[Our] ways” certainly need to be “healed” because:

Isa 53:6  All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the LORD hath laid on him the iniquity of us all.

Why is the Lord so merciful? It certainly is true that “God is love…”:

Zep 3:17  The LORD thy God in the midst of thee is mighty; he will save, he will rejoice over thee with joy; he will rest in his love, he will joy over thee with singing.

1Jn 4:8  He that loveth not knoweth not God; for God is love.

1Jn 4:16  And we have known and believed the love that God hath to us. God is love; and he that dwelleth in love dwelleth in God, and God in him.

There is much more to our salvation than simply being loved of God. There can be no love where there is no justice, and God is also a just God:

Deu 32:4  He is the Rock, his work is perfect: for all his ways are judgment: a God of truth and without iniquity, just and right is he.

Isa 45:21  Tell ye, and bring them near; yea, let them take counsel together: who hath declared this from ancient time? who hath told it from that time? have not I the LORD? and there is no God else beside me; a just God and a Saviour; there is none beside me.

There is no justice in creating corrupt creatures of flesh and blood and failing to provide means by which such banished creatures “be not expelled from Him”.

2Sa 14:14  For we must needs die, and are as water spilt on the ground, which cannot be gathered up again; neither doth God respect any person: yet doth he devise means, that his banished be not expelled from him.

1Co 15:50  Now this I say, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God; neither doth corruption inherit incorruption.

It was the Lord Himself who created “the first man Adam” as a “marred… vessel of clay”.

Jer 18:4  And the vessel that he made of clay was marred in the hand of the potter: so he made it again another vessel, as seemed good to the potter to make it.

Every verb in that verse is in the Qal stem. What that means is that it is stated without regard to any tense. In other words, it is all a process which is presently taking place, and will continue taking place until the aions have performed their service of bringing the whole creation into perfection with God being made “all in all”:

1Co 15:28  And when all things shall be subdued unto him, then shall the Son also himself be subject unto him that put all things under him, that God may be all in all.

It is the Lord Himself who has “created evil”, and He wants us to know that His sovereignty extends over both the good and the evil:

Isa 45:6  That they may know from the rising of the sun, and from the west, that there is none beside me. I am the LORD, and there is none else. 
Isa 45:7  I form the light, and create darkness: I make peace, and create evil: I the LORD do all these things.

That is the message of our next verse:

Isa 57:19  I create the fruit of the lips; Peace, peace to him that is far off, and to him that is near, saith the LORD; and I will heal him. 

“I create the fruit of the lips…” is the same as:

  Pro 16:1  The preparations of the heart in man, and the answer of the tongue, is from the LORD.

Since  “the preparations of [our] hearts… is from the Lord”, it follows that of course “[He also] knows our thoughts”:

Psa 139:23  Search me, O God, and know my heart: try me, and know my thoughts:

Isa 66:18  For I know their works and their thoughts: it shall come, that I will gather all nations and tongues; and they shall come, and see my glory. 

Mat 12:25  And Jesus knew their thoughts, and said unto them, Every kingdom divided against itself is brought to desolation; and every city or house divided against itself shall not stand:

The Lord declares, “Peace, peace to him that is far off, and to him that is near” because the “marred… vessel of clay” was deliberately “marred in the hand of The Potter” for the very purpose of destroying that marred vessel and making it again; a new spiritual vessel having neither spot nor wrinkle:

Eph 5:27  That he might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish.

Isa 57:20  But the wicked are like the troubled sea, when it cannot rest, whose waters cast up mire and dirt. 
Isa 57:21  There is no peace, saith my God, to the wicked.

“The wicked” are the “marred… vessel of clay… [our] old… first man Adam… made to be taken and destroyed”:

2Pe 2:12  But these, as natural brute beasts, made to be taken and destroyed, speak evil of the things that they understand not; and shall utterly perish in their own corruption;

Then the principle of 1Co 15:46 replaces our corruptible old man, our “marred… vessel of clay”, with a new spotless spiritual vessel so the Lord can declare… “Peace, peace to him that is far off, and to him that is near, saith the LORD; and I will heal him”. 

1Co 15:46  Howbeit that was not first which is spiritual, but that which is natural; and afterward that which is spiritual.

That is our study for today. We will begin chapter 58 in our next study where we will learn what is a true fast, the fast which the Lord has ordained.

Isa 58:1  Cry aloud, spare not, lift up thy voice like a trumpet, and shew my people their transgression, and the house of Jacob their sins. 
Isa 58:2  Yet they seek me daily, and delight to know my ways, as a nation that did righteousness, and forsook not the ordinance of their God: they ask of me the ordinances of justice; they take delight in approaching to God. 
Isa 58:3  Wherefore have we fasted, say they, and thou seest not? wherefore have we afflicted our soul, and thou takest no knowledge? Behold, in the day of your fast ye find pleasure, and exact all your labours. 
Isa 58:4  Behold, ye fast for strife and debate, and to smite with the fist of wickedness: ye shall not fast as ye do this day, to make your voice to be heard on high. 
Isa 58:5  Is it such a fast that I have chosen? a day for a man to afflict his soul? is it to bow down his head as a bulrush, and to spread sackcloth and ashes under him? wilt thou call this a fast, and an acceptable day to the LORD? 
Isa 58:6  Is not this the fast that I have chosen? to loose the bands of wickedness, to undo the heavy burdens, and to let the oppressed go free, and that ye break every yoke? 
Isa 58:7  Is it not to deal thy bread to the hungry, and that thou bring the poor that are cast out to thy house? when thou seest the naked, that thou cover him; and that thou hide not thyself from thine own flesh?