My Walk With God, and Testimony to God's Power

"THE HARVEST HAS BEGUN"

2/18/2021

"THE HARVEST HAS BEGUN" AUDIO BLOG
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Last night, God gave me a vision of masses of hands in the air, moving about, no faces, just hands. And, then later, the words, "The Harvest Has Begun." Both of these were, again, only snapshots. I will have to write a blog soon on why I think God only gives me snapshots, but for now, let's see if we can decipher what He wanted me to know. First of all, the hands in the air, moving about, could be celebration, or weeping and gnashing of teeth, or, more likely, both.

He first led me to the Book of Isaiah this morning, so I must start there. Most of my blogs in "Walk With God" are along the same lines: God will not overlook sin; judgment; and, repentance.

This blog, however, and the last one, "The Angels are Here," are more about seedtime and harvest, and reaping what we sow. The time is at hand.

Isaiah 9:6-21

6 "For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.

7 Of the increase of his government and peace there shall be no end, upon the throne of David, and upon his kingdom, to order it, and to establish it with judgment and with justice from henceforth even for ever. The zeal of the LORD of hosts will perform this.

8 The Lord sent a word into Jacob, and it hath lighted upon Israel.

9 And all the people shall know, even Ephraim and the inhabitant of Samaria, that say in the pride and stoutness of heart,

10 The bricks are fallen down, but we will build with hewn stones: the sycomores are cut down, but we will change them into cedars.

11 Therefore the LORD shall set up the adversaries of Rezin against him, and join his enemies together;

12 The Syrians before, and the Philistines behind; and they shall devour Israel with open mouth. For all this his anger is not turned away, but his hand is stretched out still.

13 For the people turn not unto him that smites them, neither do they seek the LORD of hosts.

14 Therefore the LORD will cut off from Israel head and tail, branch and rush, in one day.

15 The ancient and honorable, he is the head; and the prophet that teaches lies, he is the tail.

16 For the leaders of this people cause them to err; and they that are led of them are destroyed.

17 Therefore the LORD shall have no joy in their young men, neither shall have mercy on their fatherless and widows: for every one is an hypocrite and an evildoer, and every mouth speaks folly. For all this his anger is not turned away, but his hand is stretched out still.

18 For wickedness burns as the fire: it shall devour the briers and thorns, and shall kindle in the thickets of the forest, and they shall mount up like the lifting up of smoke.

19 Through the wrath of the LORD of hosts is the land darkened, and the people shall be as the fuel of the fire: no man shall spare his brother.

20 And he shall snatch on the right hand, and be hungry; and he shall eat on the left hand, and they shall not be satisfied: they shall eat every man the flesh of his own arm:

21 Manasseh, Ephraim; and Ephraim, Manasseh: and they together shall be against Judah. For all this his anger is not turned away, but his hand is stretched out still."

Isaiah 10:1-34

1 "Woe unto them that decree unrighteous decrees, and that write grievousness which they have prescribed;

2 To turn aside the needy from judgment, and to take away the right from the poor of my people, that widows may be their prey, and that they may rob the fatherless!

3 And what will ye do in the day of visitation, and in the desolation which shall come from far? to whom will ye flee for help? and where will ye leave your glory?

4 Without me they shall bow down under the prisoners, and they shall fall under the slain. For all this his anger is not turned away, but his hand is stretched out still.

5 O Assyrian, the rod of mine anger, and the staff in their hand is mine indignation.

6 I will send him against an hypocritical nation, and against the people of my wrath will I give him a charge, to take the spoil, and to take the prey, and to tread them down like the mire of the streets.

7 Howbeit he means not so, neither doth his heart think so; but it is in his heart to destroy and cut off nations not a few.

8 For he saith, Are not my princes altogether kings?

9 Is not Calno as Carchemish? is not Hamath as Arpad? is not Samaria as Damascus?

10 As my hand hath found the kingdoms of the idols, and whose graven images did excel them of Jerusalem and of Samaria;

11 Shall I not, as I have done unto Samaria and her idols, so do to Jerusalem and her idols?

12 Wherefore it shall come to pass, that when the Lord hath performed his whole work upon mount Zion and on Jerusalem, I will punish the fruit of the stout heart of the king of Assyria, and the glory of his high looks.

13 For he saith, By the strength of my hand I have done it, and by my wisdom; for I am prudent: and I have removed the bounds of the people, and have robbed their treasures, and I have put down the inhabitants like a valiant man:

14 And my hand hath found as a nest the riches of the people: and as one gathereth eggs that are left, have I gathered all the earth; and there was none that moved the wing, or opened the mouth, or peeped.

15 Shall the axe boast itself against him that hews therewith? or shall the saw magnify itself against him that shakes it? as if the rod should shake itself against them that lift it up, or as if the staff should lift up itself, as if it were no wood.

16 Therefore shall the Lord, the Lord of hosts, send among his fat ones leanness; and under his glory he shall kindle a burning like the burning of a fire.

17 And the light of Israel shall be for a fire, and his Holy One for a flame: and it shall burn and devour his thorns and his briers in one day;

18 And shall consume the glory of his forest, and of his fruitful field, both soul and body: and they shall be as when a standard-bearer faints.

19 And the rest of the trees of his forest shall be few, that a child may write them.

20 And it shall come to pass in that day, that the remnant of Israel, and such as are escaped of the house of Jacob, shall no more again stay upon him that smote them; but shall stay upon the Lord, the Holy One of Israel, in truth.

21 The remnant shall return, even the remnant of Jacob, unto the mighty God.

22 For though thy people Israel be as the sand of the sea, yet a remnant of them shall return: the consumption decreed shall overflow with righteousness.

Wesley's Notes on Isaiah 10:22: A remnant - Or, a remnant only. The consumption - The destruction of Israel was already decreed by the fixed counsel of God, and therefore must needs be executed, and like a deluge overflow them. Righteousness - With justice, and yet with clemency, inasmuch as he has spared a considerable remnant of them, when he might have destroyed them utterly.

23 For the Lord GOD of hosts shall make a consumption, even determined, in the midst of all the land.

24 Therefore thus saith the Lord GOD of hosts, O my people that dwellest in Zion, be not afraid of the Assyrian: he shall smite thee with a rod, and shall lift up his staff against thee, after the manner of Egypt.

25 For yet a very little while, and the indignation shall cease, and mine anger in their destruction.

26 And the Lord of hosts shall stir up a scourge for him according to the slaughter of Midian at the rock of Oreb: and as his rod was upon the sea, so shall he lift it up after the manner of Egypt.

27 And it shall come to pass in that day, that his burden shall be taken away from off thy shoulder, and his yoke from off thy neck, and the yoke shall be destroyed because of the anointing.

28 He is come to Aiath, he is passed to Migron; at Michmash he hath laid up his carriages:

29 They are gone over the passage: they have taken up their lodging at Geba; Ramah is afraid; Gibeah of Saul is fled.

30 Lift up thy voice, O daughter of Gallim: cause it to be heard unto Laish, O poor Anathoth.

31 Madmenah is removed; the inhabitants of Gebim gather themselves to flee.

32 As yet shall he remain at Nob that day: he shall shake his hand against the mount of the daughter of Zion, the hill of Jerusalem.

33 Behold, the Lord, the LORD of hosts, shall lop the bough with terror: and the high ones of stature shall be hewn down, and the haughty shall be humbled.

34 And he shall cut down the thickets of the forest with iron, and Lebanon shall fall by a mighty one."

Isaiah 10:20-34 Commentary by Matthew Henry, 1710, at KingJamesBibleOnline.com.

"By our afflictions we may learn not to make creatures our confidence. Those only can with comfort stay upon God, who return to him in truth, not in pretense and profession only. God will justly bring this wasting away on a provoking people, but will graciously set bounds to it. It is against the mind and will of God that his people, whatever happens, should give way to fear. God's anger against his people is but for a moment; and when that is turned from us, we need not fear the fury of man. The rod with which he corrected his people, shall not only be laid aside, but thrown into the fire.

To encourage God's people, the prophet puts them in mind of what God had formerly done against the enemies of his church. God's people shall be delivered from the Assyrians. Some think it looks to the deliverance of the Jews out of their captivity; and further yet, to the redemption of believers from the tyranny of sin and Satan. And this, "because of the anointing;" for his people Israel's sake, the believers among them that had received the unction [anointing] of Divine grace. And for the sake of the Messiah, the Anointed of God.

Verses 28-34 are a prophetical description of Sennacherib's march towards Jerusalem, when he threatened to destroy that city. Then the Lord, in whom Hezekiah trusted, cut down his army like the hewing of a forest.

Let us apply what is here written, to like matters in other ages of the church of Christ. Because of the anointing of our great Redeemer, the yoke of every antichrist must be broken from off his church: and if our souls partake of the unction [anointing] of the Holy Spirit, complete and eternal deliverances will be secured to us."

So, what does all of this mean, and what does it have to do with "The Harvest Has Begun"? Well, plenty. He that sows iniquity or trouble will reap a harvest of woe or trouble. In other words, "The Harvest Has Begun," and we will reap what we have sown. Galatians 6:7 "Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man sows, that shall he also reap."

Proverbs 22:7-9 ERV

7 "The rich rule over the poor. The one who borrows is a slave to the one who lends.

8 Those who spread trouble will harvest trouble. In the end, they will be destroyed for the trouble they caused.

9 Generous people will be blessed, because they share their food with the poor."

God says, in Genesis 8:22, "While the earth remains, seedtime and harvest, and cold and heat, and summer and winter, and day and night shall not cease."

Gill's Expedition of the Entire Bible at
biblehub.com/commentaries/genesis/8-22.htm

"Seedtime and harvest," in a mystic, Spiritual or supernatural (Godly) sense, denotes the continuance of the church of God in the world, as long as it endures, and its various changes or variations and revolutions. Sometimes, it is a time of sowing the precious seed of the Word; and sometimes it is an harvest, a gathering of souls into it. Sometimes, it is a winter season with it, and all things seem withered and dead; and at other times it is summer, and all things look smiling and cheerful. Sometimes, it is in a state of coldness and indifference, and at other times exposed to the heat of persecution, and more warm and zealous usually then. Sometimes, it is night with it, and sometimes day, and so it is like to be, until that state takes place described in Revelation 7:16.

Luke 6:38 "Give, and it shall be given unto you; good measure, pressed down, and shaken together, and running over, shall men give into your bosom. For with the same measure that ye mete withal it shall be measured to you again."

Good OR bad.

Luke 10:1-2 "After these things the LORD appointed other seventy also, and sent them two and two before his face into every city and place, whither he himself would come. Therefore said he unto them, The harvest truly is great, but the laborers are few: pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest, that he would send forth laborers into his harvest."

And, finally, 1 Corinthians 15:52 "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."

His children, believers, who have been dead in Jesus Christ, are being [harvested] raised incorruptible, and being changed ... forever.

"But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ." 1 Corinthians 15:57

And on the reverse side of the coin, Romans 1:28 “And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a reprobate mind, to do those things which are not convenient;” And it will be that much harder, if not impossible, to turn back to Jesus and be healed.

"Change your hearts! And show by the way you live that you have changed." Matthew 3:8

Hallelujah! Praise God!

Our Prayer for You Today:

"Now the God of peace, that brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus, that great shepherd of the sheep, through the blood of the everlasting covenant,

Make you perfect in every good work to do his will, working in you that which is well-pleasing in his sight, through Jesus Christ; to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen." Hebrews 13:20-21

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"THE ANGELS ARE HERE!"

2/9/2021

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"THE ANGELS ARE HERE" AUDIO BLOG
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I woke up, in the wee hours (we don't have a clock in the bedroom, so I don't know exactly), maybe between 3:00 am to 5:00 am. My husband said something to me, and I said, "The Angels are Here." We went back to sleep. The next morning, I was at my computer, reading Scripture, and I remembered my exclamation last night, "The Angels are Here!"

I prayed for God to give me guidance on what Scripture He wanted me to refer to regarding "The Angels are Here!" And right away, the first Scripture I was directed to was Jeremiah 4.

Following is a comprehensive breakdown from bible-studys.org:

Jeremiah Chapter 4:1-4:

1 "If thou wilt return, O Israel, saith the LORD, return unto me: and if thou wilt put away thine abominations out of my sight, then shalt thou not remove.

2 And thou shalt swear, The LORD liveth, in truth, in judgment, and in righteousness; and the nations shall bless themselves in him, and in him shall they glory.

3 For thus saith the LORD to the men of Judah and Jerusalem, Break up your fallow ground, and sow not among thorns.

4 Circumcise yourselves to the LORD, and take away the foreskins of your heart, ye men of Judah and inhabitants of Jerusalem: lest my fury come forth like fire, and burn that none can quench it, because of the evil of your doings."

These verses conclude the message begun at Jeremiah 3:6: "The LORD said also unto me in the days of Josiah the king, Hast thou seen that which backsliding Israel hath done? she is gone up upon every high mountain and under every green tree, and there hath played the harlot."

In Jeremiah 4:3, we see an admonition to weed out totally their present practices and “break up” their “fallow ground,” or clear the field of weeds, and then “sow” or plant the new seeds of spiritual fruitfulness for God.

This has been God's message to me for the last year. We must turn back to God wholly and fully, in the full meaning of His Word, without lukewarmness, and without political correctness. God will not be politically correct when He comes to punish the sinners. We will see His full fury and recompense.

The path to heaven is narrow and difficult to follow for a reason. Few will find it. But the path to hell is wide, and many will find it.

"Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat: Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it." Matthew 7:13-14

And, following is a thorough examination of each verse in Jeremiah 4, which God led me to this morning to fulfill His message to me that "The Angels Are Here":

Jeremiah 4:1 "If thou wilt return, O Israel, says the LORD, return unto me: and if thou wilt put away thine abominations out of my sight, then shalt thou not remove."

"Abominations": Literally, things of shame, the idols which Israel had worshipped.

"Then shalt thou not remove": We see again, an offer from God to forgive them and start them all over. God will not take them back until they give up their idols. Repent! When they give up their idols, or turn away from sin, God will welcome them back.

And, Verse 2:

Jeremiah 4:2 "And thou shalt swear, The LORD lives, in truth, in judgment, and in righteousness; and the nations shall bless themselves in him, and in him shall they glory."

God’s covenant with Abraham had stressed that all peoples would be blessed through him, but Judah’s disobedience had prevented them from being the instrument of God’s blessing.

This is speaking of the promise God made to Abraham, that all the nations would be blessed through Him. There was only one condition: They must follow God with all their heart. Look at the following Scripture for insight into what God expected from them.

Romans 10:9 "That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved." It is not enough to just believe in your heart. You must confess with your mouth.

Examining Verse 3:

Jeremiah 4:3 "For thus says the LORD to the men of Judah and Jerusalem, Break up your fallow ground, and sow not among thorns."

“Break up your fallow ground": Jeremiah appealed for a spiritual turnabout from sinful, wasteful lives. He pictured this as the plowing of ground, formerly hard and unproductive due to weeds, in order to make it useful for sowing.

Hear the Parable of the Sower, planting seeds, in Matthew 13:18-23:

18 "Hear ye therefore the parable of the sower.

19 When any one hears the word of the kingdom, and understands it not, then cometh the wicked one, and catches away that which was sown in his heart. This is he which received seed by the way side.

20 But he that received the seed into stony places, the same is he that hears the word, and anon with joy receives it;

21 Yet hath he not root in himself, but endures for a while: for when tribulation or persecution arises because of the word, by and by he is offended.

22 He also that received seed among the thorns is he that hears the word; and the care of this world, and the deceitfulness of riches, choke the word, and he becomes unfruitful.

23 But he that received seed into the good ground is he that hears the word, and understands it; which also bears fruit, and brings forth, some an hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty."

Continuing with Jeremiah 4:3, the word "fallow" in means freshly plowed, or to prepare the heart, or repent, turn away from sin, and then plant the seed of the Word. The heart unprepared, without repentance, will not receive the seed of the Word. It will be choked out with the cares of the world and the sins of the flesh.

And,

Jeremiah 4:4 "Circumcise yourselves to the LORD, and take away the foreskins of your heart, ye men of Judah and inhabitants of Jerusalem: lest my fury come forth like fire, and burn that none can quench it, because of the evil of your doings."

“Circumcise”: It was also a symbol of the need for the heart to be cleansed from sin’s deadly disease. The really essential surgery needed to happen on the inside, where God calls for taking away fleshly things that keep the heart from being spiritually devoted to Him and from true faith in Him and His will.

As Apostle Paul said in Romans 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."

Jeremiah later expanded on this idea:

Jeremiah 31:31-34

31 "Behold, the days come, saith the LORD:::

, that I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel, and with the house of Judah:

32 "Not according to the covenant that I made with their fathers in the day that I took them by the hand to bring them out of the land of Egypt; which my covenant they brake, although I was an husband unto them, saith the LORD:

33 But this shall be the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel; After those days, saith the LORD, I will put my law in their inward parts, and write it in their hearts; and will be their God, and they shall be my people.

34 And they shall teach no more every man his neighbour, and every man his brother, saying, Know the LORD: for they shall all know me, from the least of them unto the greatest of them, saith the LORD: for I will forgive their iniquity, and I will remember their sin no more."

God selected the reproductive organ, as in surgical circumcision, as the location of the symbol for man’s need of cleansing for sin, because it is the instrument most indicative of his depravity, for by sexual sin, he reproduces generations of sinners.

Jeremiah said, “Circumcise yourselves to the Lord”, then added the more graphic phrase, “take away the foreskins of your heart.” This is the kind of internal, spiritual operation that only God can do.

We find in the Scripture above that God is not satisfied with just the formality of circumcision, but wanted the heart of the people to be pure. If they do not learn to follow God with all their heart, He will destroy them.

1 Samuel 12:24 "Only fear the LORD, and serve him in truth with all your heart; for consider how great things he hath done for you."

Jeremiah 4:5-8: God instructed Jeremiah to declare “for I will bring evil from the north” and destruction would come. The invasion might take the form of a foreign army, but the driving force would be “the fierce anger of the LORD.”

The rest of the Jeremiah 4 contains a new message emphasizing the proclamation of God’s judgment. The sounding of the “trumpet” was a well-known sign of danger in the ancient Near East (Hosea 5:8; 8:1; Joel 2:1) or Amos 3:6  "Shall a trumpet be blown in the city, and the people not be afraid? shall there be evil in a city, and the LORD hath not done it?"

The sounding of the trumpet could also mark a time of national, and personal, self-examination as shown in Joel 2:15-17

15 "Blow the trumpet in Zion, sanctify a fast, call a solemn assembly:

16 Gather the people, sanctify the congregation, assemble the elders, gather the children, and those that suck the breasts: let the bridegroom go forth of his chamber, and the bride out of her closet.

17 Let the priests, the ministers of the Lord, weep between the porch and the altar, and let them say, Spare thy people, O Lord, and give not thine heritage to reproach, that the heathen should rule over them: wherefore should they say among the people, Where is their God?"

Moving on to  Jeremiah 4:5 "Declare ye in Judah, and publish in Jerusalem; and say, Blow ye the trumpet in the land: cry, gather together, and say, Assemble yourselves, and let us go into the defensed cities."

The Lord directs the prophet to lay before the people a view of their destruction as near at hand. Who calls upon some persons as a sort of heralds, to publish and declare in the land of Judea and Jerusalem what follows.

"Blow ye the trumpet in the land": As an alarm of an approaching enemy, and of an invasion by him and of danger from him. And this was to be done, not in order to gather together, and put themselves in a posture of defense to meet the enemy and give him battle, but to get together that were in the fields, and in country villages, and hide themselves from him.

"Cry, gather together, and say": Or cry with a full mouth, with a loud voice, that all might hear, which shows imminent danger.

"Assemble yourselves and let us go into the defensed cities": Such as Jerusalem, and others, where they might think themselves safe and secure.

Matthew 24:16 "Then let them which be in Judaea flee into the mountains:"

This declaration to God was to be throughout their land. The blowing of the trumpet was for two things. It gathered them for worship or for war.

Jeremiah 4:6-7: “Evil from the north”: This evil is Babylon’s army which would invade from that direction. The “lion” on the prowl fit Babylon because of its conquering power, and Babylon was symbolized by the winged lions guarding its royal court. Many details in Jeremiah 4 graphically depict warriors in conquest.

Breaking down Verse 6:

Jeremiah 4:6 "Set up the standard toward Zion: retire, stay not: for I will bring evil from the north, and a great destruction."

Not on the tower of Zion, but on some high place pointing to Zion, and directing the country people to flee thither for safety. For the setting up of the standard here is not for enlisting of soldiers in order to fight, but as a sign of danger, and a direction where to flee from it.

"Retire": Gather yourselves together in order to flee. Though some render it, "be ye strengthened"; take heart, and play the man. But this does not seem so agreeable to the context.

"Stay not": Or, "stand not." Stand not in the place ye are in, but move from it in all haste, because of present danger.

"For I will bring evil from the north”: From Babylon, as some have interpreted, which lay north to the land of Israel. And so designs the captivity Judah should be brought into there.

"And a great destruction" or, "breach," which the Babylonians should make on the inhabitants of Judea and Jerusalem.

The standard was to be raised pointing to Jerusalem or the church. The standard must be raised by God's people for others to follow. The road into Jerusalem that the enemy would come on, led to the north.

And, Verse 7:

Jeremiah 4:7 "The lion is come up from his thicket, and the destroyer of the Gentiles is on his way; he is gone forth from his place to make thy land desolate; and thy cities shall be laid waste, without an inhabitant."

The descending judgment of Babylon is described as a “lion” coming up from his “thicket.”

The near interpretation is Nebuchadnezzar coming against them. Gentiles here, possibly means nations. The thicket could be hell, or place of destruction. Notice also where he came from. It was from his place. The land to be made desolate is Israel.

Moving on to Verse 8:

Jeremiah 4:8 "For this gird you with sackcloth, lament and howl: for the fierce anger of the LORD is not turned back from us."

“Sackcloth” was the traditional attire of grief and repentance. The sackcloth here is the garment of mourning. When the LORD is angry with His people, He will allow the enemy to attack them. God controls Satan the same as He controls everyone else. God can stop him at any time.

And, Verse 9:

Jeremiah 4:9 "And it shall come to pass at that day, saith the LORD, that the heart of the king shall perish, and the heart of the princes; and the priests shall be astonished, and the prophets shall wonder."

Meaning, when Nebuchadnezzar should come up from Babylon into the land of Judea, and lay waste the cities thereof, and besiege Jerusalem.

"That the heart of the king shall perish": Meaning Zedekiah king of Judah, who should be in the utmost fright and consternation, not knowing what to do, being devoid both of wisdom and courage. “And Zedekiah the king said unto Jeremiah, I am afraid of the Jews that are fallen to the Chaldeans, lest they deliver me into their hand, and they mock me.”  Jeremiah 38:19

"And the heart of the princes": Who being seized with the same panic, and at their wits' end, would not be able to give any advice and counsel to the king. So that the people would have no help from the king and his nobles, in whom they put their confidence.

"And the priests shall be astonished": The idolatrous priests, whose service would now cease, and whose idols would not save them.

"And the prophets shall wonder": Also, false prophets, who prophesied peace, and now they shall see it was a lie they prophesied, since sudden destruction now comes upon them.

In a situation like this, the king has no more protection than the people. In many cases he has less. These heathen people will not respect the office of the priest either. God will allow this because He is angry with His people.

Verse 10:

Jeremiah 4:10 "Then said I, Ah, LORD GOD! surely thou hast greatly deceived this people and Jerusalem, saying, Ye shall have peace; whereas the sword reaches unto the soul."

Many suggestions have been given as to the meaning of this difficult verse. One theory builds upon a textual variant found in a few ancient manuscripts that reads “said they” for “said I,” attributing the words to Judah’s false leaders. Some lay great stress on Jeremiah’s exhausted emotions. Perhaps it is best to see the verse as an expression of Jeremiah’s realization that God, in His sovereign wisdom, was allowing Judah and Jerusalem to use their own destiny by believing their own lies, even though He continued to urge their repentance.

Jeremiah 4:14-18

14 "O Jerusalem, wash thine heart from wickedness, that thou mayest be saved. How long shall thy vain thoughts lodge within thee?

15 For a voice declares from Dan, and publishes affliction from mount Ephraim.

16 Make ye mention to the nations; behold, publish against Jerusalem, that watchers come from a far country, and give out their voice against the cities of Judah.

17 As keepers of a field, are they against her round about; because she hath been rebellious against me, saith the Lord.

18 Thy way and thy doings have procured these things unto thee; this is thy wickedness, because it is bitter, because it reaches unto thine heart."

Breaking down Verse 10: “Surely thou hast greatly deceived this people”:

Let's look at Habakkuk 1:12-17

12 "Art thou not from everlasting, O LORD my God, mine Holy One? we shall not die. O LORD, thou hast ordained them for judgment; and, O mighty God, thou hast established them for correction.

13 Thou art of purer eyes than to behold evil, and canst not look on iniquity: wherefore look thou upon them that deal treacherously, and hold thy tongue when the wicked devours the man that is more righteous than he?

14 And makes men as the fishes of the sea, as the creeping things, that have no ruler over them?

15 They take up all of them with the angle, they catch them in their net, and gather them in their drag: therefore they rejoice and are glad.

16 Therefore they sacrifice unto their net, and burn incense unto their drag; because by them their portion is fat, and their meat plenteous.

17 Shall they therefore empty their net, and not spare continually to slay the nations?"

Like Habakkuk, Jeremiah was horrified at these words of judgment, contrasting the prevailing hope of peace. God is sometimes described as if doing a thing He merely permits, such as allowing false prophets, who delude themselves, to also deceive a sinful people into thinking peace would follow. God sees how people insist on their delusions, and lets it happen.

Jeremiah was not happy with his role, offering “peace” to the people while God was setting events in motion that would send them into exile. In the face of humanity’s persistent rebellion, God has determined that humans will be without excuse when judgment comes.

"For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who hold the truth in unrighteousness;" Romans 1:18

God had promised there would be peace in Jerusalem. The problem is that God did not mean that very day, but a time in the future. It is as if Jeremiah was questioning God's intentions here. Men will try to bring peace to this region, but there will be no true peace until the King of Peace comes to the earth and establishes His kingdom. Then, there will be peace in Jerusalem.

Moving on to Verse 11:

Jeremiah 4:11 "At that time shall it be said to this people and to Jerusalem, A dry wind of the high places in the wilderness toward the daughter of my people, not to fan, nor to cleanse,"

Though the revelation of the certainty of Judah's ruin forces from Jeremiah a cry of despair, yet it is but for a moment. He immediately returns to the delivery of God's message.

"A dry wind": Literally, A clear wind, which probably meant the Samum, a dry parching east wind blowing from the Arabian Desert, before which vegetation withers, and human life becomes intolerable.

"Not to fan": The Syrian farmers make great use of the wind for separating the chaff from the grain: but when the Samum blows, labor becomes impossible. It is not for use, but for destruction.

The Jews are like a hot wind that brings no blessing. This wind is not the wind of the Holy Spirit. This wind does not cleanse or bless. The wind of the Spirit comes from an unknown place and brings blessings. In verse 11, the wind comes from the mountain where the false gods were worshipped.

Next, Jeremiah 4:12 "Even a full wind from those places shall come unto me: now also will I give sentence against them."

"From those places: Rather, "a wind fuller (that is, more impetuous), than those winds" which fan the corn.

"Unto me," "for Me": as My [God's] instrument for executing My [His] purpose.

"Sentence": Judgments against them. Jeremiah 1:16 "And I will utter my judgments against them touching all their wickedness, who have forsaken me, and have burned incense unto other gods, and worshipped the works of their own hands." This is an ill wind that brings no good, for God is the One who brings judgment against them.

And, Verse 13:

Jeremiah 4:13 "Behold, he shall come up as clouds, and his chariots shall be as a whirlwind: his horses are swifter than eagles. Woe unto us! for we are spoiled."

This verse notes the vast number, or the suddenness, of them.

Let's also look at Isaiah 60:1-3 for insight:

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

2 For, behold, the darkness shall cover the earth, and gross darkness the people: but the LORD shall arise upon thee, and his glory shall be seen upon thee.

3 And the Gentiles shall come to thy light, and kings to the brightness of thy rising."

And, Hebrews 12:1 "Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us,"

When not expected, clouds often rising all of a sudden, and overspreading the whole face of the heavens. Or rather, the great speed and swiftness with which Nebuchadnezzar shall march against them.

Isaiah 19:1 "The burden 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," or, as described by the swiftness of eagles in Jeremiah 48:8, "And the spoiler shall come upon every city, and no city shall escape: the valley also shall perish, and the plain shall be destroyed, as the Lord hath spoken."

And, continuing to breakdown Verse 13:

"His chariots shall be as a whirlwind": Which besides the swiftness notes also the confusion and amazement that they will cause.

"And the LORD discomfited [confused] 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." Judges 4:15

"Woe unto us! for we are spoiled": The dreadful apprehensions that the people have of their woeful condition, or possibly the words of the prophet lamenting their misery.

Babylon does come against these people and overcomes them. We must remember that God brings this as judgment against His people. In the next few Scriptures, we will see God's power in the wind, or the whirlwind, and the elements in general.

Nahum 1:3 "The LORD is slow to anger, and great in power, and will not at all acquit the wicked: the LORD hath his way in the whirlwind and in the storm, and the clouds are the dust of his feet."

Matthew 24:30 "And then shall appear the sign of the Son of man in heaven: and then shall all the tribes of the earth mourn, and they shall see the Son of man coming in the clouds of heaven with power and great glory."

Daniel 7:2 "Daniel spake and said, I saw in my vision by night, and, behold, the four winds of the heaven strove upon the great sea."

Job 38:35 "Canst thou send lightnings, that they may go and say unto thee, Here we are?"

We can see from this, that it is God who controls the elements of the earth.

Moving on to Verse 14:

Jeremiah 4:14 "O Jerusalem, wash thine heart from wickedness, that thou mayest be saved. How long shall thy vain thoughts lodge within thee?"

“Wash”: Jeremiah continued to appeal for a dealing with sin so that national destruction might be averted while there was still time to repent.

"Destruction upon destruction is cried; for the whole land is spoiled: suddenly are my tents spoiled, and my curtains in a moment." Jeremiah 4:20 (compare Jeremiah 7 and 26).

Jeremiah cries out to Jerusalem to repent and be saved. It is as if he is saying, why can't you see why this trouble is coming? They imagine a vain thing. They appear to be caught up in their own values, overlooking the needs of others.

God wants man to be saved so badly, that He sent His only Son to save us. Man has a part in his own salvation. He must wash in the blood of the precious Lamb.

And, Verse 15:

Jeremiah 4:15 "For a voice declares from Dan, and publishes affliction from mount Ephraim."

"Affliction": From a root signifying worthlessness, it is used both for wickedness and for misery. Thus, the "iniquity" of Judah proves also to be her "affliction," as being the cause of the ruin inflicted by the enemy.

It appears the enemy comes by the land of Dan and mount Ephraim. The affliction had already begun.

And next, Verse 16:

Jeremiah 4:16 "Make ye mention to the nations; behold, publish against Jerusalem, that watchers come from a far country, and give out their voice against the cities of Judah."

These are either the nations in Judea, or these words are a proclamation, summoning in the nations by the Chaldeans, as it were, in pursuance of a commission from God, to bring great armies together against Jerusalem. Or they are the prophets turning away from Judah, as despairing of doing any good upon them, and calling for the nations to execute God’s sentence.

"Watchers": Military watchers, i.e. the Chaldean soldiers, that shall so carefully and watchfully encompass Jerusalem, that none shall escape. Possibly a metaphor from hunters, that in hunting their prey lay wait at every passage, that the game may not escape.

Also see, 2 Kings 25:4-5

4 "And the city was broken up, and all the men of war fled by night by the way of the gate between two walls, which is by the king's garden: (now the Chaldees were against the city round about:) and the king went the way toward the plain.

5 And the army of the Chaldees pursued after the king, and overtook him in the plains of Jericho: and all his army were scattered from him."

And, continuing with Verse 16:

"Give out their voice": They will proclaim war against them, or a shout, either encouraging soldiers to the battle, or triumphing after the victory. Or the outcries that they will make, such as the Turks now make in their onsets.

"The young lions roared upon him, and yelled, and they made his land waste: his cities are burned without inhabitant." Jeremiah 2:15

All of the countries surrounding Judah are to take notice of the fact of the attack against Judah. God allows them to speak evil about Judah, because He is angry with them. The Babylonians may be performing the physical battle, but it is really God who has come against Judah. He is using Babylon for His purpose.

And, next, Verse 17:

Jeremiah 4:17 "As keepers of a field, are they against her round about; because she hath been rebellious against me, saith the LORD."

As those that are set to watch a field, in which are fruit and corn of any sort, that thieves and robbers, and wild beasts, may not enter to waste and destroy, and are placed on all sides for that purpose. So the Chaldeans were round about Jerusalem, that none could make their escape out of it.

2 Kings 25:4 "And the city was broken up, and all the men of war fled by night by the way of the gate between two walls, which is by the king's garden: (now the Chaldees were against the city round about:) and the king went the way toward the plain."

Next,

"Because she hath been rebellious against me, saith the LORD": It was not without reason that the LORD suffered the Chaldeans to come against Jerusalem, besiege and take it. The inhabitants of Jerusalem had rebelled against him, their King and their God. And, therefore, he delivers them up into the hands of another lord, a cruel one. They had provoked him to anger with their sins, and caused him to stir up his wrath against them in this way. Rebellion against a prince, or against a parent, is a provoking sin.

1 Samuel 15:23 "For rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft, and stubbornness is as iniquity and idolatry. Because thou hast rejected the word of the LORD, he hath also rejected thee from being king."

They have surrounded her as the keepers of the field do. They rebelled against God, and God brought this punishment on them.

Next, Verse 18:

Jeremiah 4:18 "Thy way and thy doings have procured these things unto thee; this is thy wickedness, because it is bitter, because it reaches unto thine heart."

The way in which they walked, which was an evil one, and the actions which they committed, their idolatries, backslidings and rebellions, before spoken of in this and the preceding chapter, were the cause of this siege, and those calamities coming upon them. They had none to blame but themselves. It was their own sinful ways and works which brought this ruin and destruction on them.

"This is thy wickedness," The fruit of thy wickedness; or, "this thy calamity": That is, is owing to these things; so the word is rendered in Psalm 141:5 "Let the righteous smite me; it shall be a kindness: and let him reprove me; it shall be an excellent oil, which shall not break my head: for yet my prayer also shall be in their calamities."

"Because it is bitter": Jeremiah 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."

Not sin but the punishment of it. The calamity before mentioned, which was hard and heavy, and grievous to be borne, and yet very just, it was by way of retaliation. "They had bitterly provoked the Lord," as the word may be rendered in the preceding verse, and now he sends them a bitter calamity and a heavy judgment.

"Because it reaches unto thine heart": Into the midst of them and utterly destroyed them. The two last clauses may be rendered, "though it is bitter, though it reaches unto thine heart," though it is such a sore distress, and such an utter destruction, yet it was to be ascribed to nothing else but their own sins and transgressions.

Their own sin brought this evil upon them. They were wicked and their bondage will be bitter. They have displeased God.

In, Jeremiah Verses 19 - 22, Jeremiah had pain in his “heart” because there was nothing he could do to avert the coming disaster. God also laments the condition of the people who are “foolish” in the face of His judgment.

Examinining Verse 19 more closely,

Jeremiah 4:19 "My bowels, my bowels! I am pained at my very heart; my heart makes a noise in me; I cannot hold my peace, because thou hast heard, O my soul, the sound of the trumpet, the alarm of war."

Here begins the woeful complaint of, and the great trouble the prophet was in, upon the consideration of these things, crying out as one even under great pain and torment. Doubling his words for want of vent, thereby expressing the excess of his sorrow, which in words was inexpressible.

"I am pained at my very heart": In Hebrew, the walls of my heart, or my heartstrings that surrounded and encompassed my heart, are ready to break. He may possibly allude to their encompassing the walls of Jerusalem. Or the proper meaning is, my heart is ready to break, makes a noise, is disturbed within me, I can have no rest nor quiet within.

Next, "Because thou hast heard, O my soul, the sound of the trumpet": i.e., I have heard in the spirit of prophecy. It is as certain as if I now heard the trumpet sounding, and “the alarm of war” beating up or coming. This is a cry of the fearful. If this is Jeremiah speaking, it is because the pains of his people are his pains. The trumpet has blown, and it is time for war.

And, Verse 20:

Jeremiah 4:20 "Destruction upon destruction is cried; for the whole land is spoiled: suddenly are my tents spoiled, and my curtains in a moment."

Or, "breach upon breach." As soon as one affliction is over, another comes on. And upon the news of one calamity, tidings are brought of another, as in Job's case. It signifies, that distress and troubles would come thick and fast, and that there would be no end of them, until there was an utter destruction, as this phrase signifies, and the following words show.

"Suddenly are my tents spoiled, and my curtains in a moment": Meaning, either the armies of his people, which dwelt in tents, and were destroyed at once, or the cities, towns and habitations of his countrymen, which he compares to tents, as being easily beat down or overthrown. And the prophet seems to intimate that this destruction would reach to Anathoth, where his tent, cottage and curtains were. So sudden destruction sometimes comes, when men are crying “Peace, peace” - "For when they shall say, Peace and safety; then sudden destruction cometh upon them, as travail upon a woman with child; and they shall not escape." 1 Thessalonians 5:3

Even the tent dwellers are taken and spoiled. This is a destruction brought on by God. It is a terrible destruction.

And, Verse 21:

Jeremiah 4:21 "How long shall I see the standard, and hear the sound of the trumpet?"

The “standard,” as in Jeremiah 4:6 "Set up the standard toward Zion: retire, stay not: for I will bring evil from the north, and a great destruction," is the alarm signal given to the fugitives. The “trumpet” sounds to give the alarm, and quicken their flight to the defensed city. The prophet sees no end to the miseries of the coming war.

"And hear the sound of the trumpet?" Either of the watchmen giving notice of danger and summoning to battle, or of the enemy preparing to attack, 1Corinthian 14:8 "For if the trumpet give an uncertain sound, who shall prepare himself to the battle?"

The standard bearer is usually the last one to fall, because if one falls another takes it up. Before this battle is over, there will be no standard bearer or trumpet blower.

Next, Jeremiah 4:22 "For my people is foolish, they have not known me; they are sottish children, and they have none understanding: they are wise to do evil, but to do good they have no knowledge."

“Wise to do evil”: Israelites were wise or clever in doing evil but were dull in knowing to do the good, i.e., God’s Will. Paul, applying the principle but turning it to the positive, wanted the believers at Rome to be wise to do good but unlearned in the skill of doing evil.

"For your obedience is come abroad unto all men. I am glad therefore on your behalf: but yet I would have you wise unto that which is good, and simple concerning evil." Roman 16:19

The word "sottish" means silly or fool. These are children who have made foolish decisions. They have chosen dumb idols (Satan, fake news, politicians, Hollywood, etc.) over the true God. They have gone out of their way to sin. These are a people whose understanding is darkened. They had the Light of the world but chose darkness over Light.

In Jeremiah 4:23-26: Having warned of the winds of destruction Jeremiah 4:11-13, Jeremiah gives a prediction of the awesome extent of that coming event Jeremiah 4:23-31. That disaster is described in terms of a gigantic cosmic and terrestrial cataclysm. The words without form and void are used of the original conditions at Creation Genesis 1:2. Therefore, some have suggested that Jeremiah is actually describing the early earth in terms of the effects of a primeval judgment, and, accordingly, emphasizes strongly the severity of Judah’s coming judgment for sin.

And, Jeremiah 4:23 "I beheld the earth, and, lo, it was without form, and void; and the heavens, and they had no light."

“Without form”: Jeremiah may be borrowing the language, but the description in its context is not of creation, but of judgment on the land of Israel and its cities. The invader left it desolate of the previous form and void of inhabitants due to slaying and flight.

"I beheld, and, lo, there was no man, and all the birds of the heavens were fled." Jeremiah 4:25

And, Jeremiah 4:24 "I beheld the mountains, and, lo, they trembled, and all the hills moved lightly."

He proceeds in his figurative elegancies. Behold how the mountains of Judea tremble! a like expression. As if the very senseless creatures were astonished at the greatness of God’s anger, and he mentions these as being the most stable part of the earth, yet shake before him.

"All the hills moved lightly": As easily as if they were some very light matter, or as dust or feathers in a whirlwind. Or these may be said to tremble and move by reason of the multitudes of trampling and prancing horses and chariots furiously passing over them.

Jeremiah 4:25 "I beheld, and, lo, there was no man, and all the birds of the heavens were fled."

No people dwelling in it. The land was without inhabitants, they were either killed with the sword, or taken and carried captive into Babylon, or fled into Egypt and other countries.

"And all the birds of the heavens were fled": At the sound of the trumpet, the alarm of war, at the blackness of the heavens, filled with smoke, at the barrenness of the earth, there being no seed sown. And the earth, as at the first creation, having no herb, nor trees bearing fruit, and so no food for birds, and, therefore, they went elsewhere, both wild and tame.

There had been a habitation, but there had been a total destruction of that habitation. Who they were, and why they were destroyed, is none of our business. If God had wanted us to know, He would have told us.

Jeremiah 4:26 "I beheld, and, lo, the fruitful place was a wilderness, and all the cities thereof were broken down at the presence of the LORD, and by his fierce anger."

Jeremiah often uses the “wilderness” to represent God’s judgment. This speaks of total desolation brought on by God. The place that had brought forth fruit is now a wilderness. We see the reason is the anger of the LORD.

Verses 27-29: The Lord added a note of hope in the phrase “yet will I not make a full end.” He had “purposed” both judgment and the remnant who would survive to carry on His plan for His people.

Jeremiah 4:27 "For thus hath the LORD said, The whole land shall be desolate; yet will I not make a full end."

What follows is an explanation and confirmation of the above vision the prophet had.

"The whole land shall be desolate": As he had seen. It should not be manured, ploughed and sown, or bring forth fruit; and should be without inhabitants, at least have very few.

"Yet I will not make a full end": There should be some inhabitants, who, with those that should hereafter return from captivity, would repopulate it, rebuild the temple, and restore it to its pristine form and order. Both as to things natural, civil and ecclesiastical. But though a full end of them, as a church and people, was not to be made now by the Chaldeans. Yet, it would be, as it has been done by the Romans, in the times of Vespasian and Hadrian (in A.D. 70) when Jerusalem was destroyed and the Jews were scattered.

This earth that was null and void shall live again. God will apply the Light of the world, and it will live. It is the Light that brings life.

Jeremiah 4:28 "For this shall the earth mourn, and the heavens above be black: because I have spoken it, I have purposed it, and will not repent, neither will I turn back from it."

That is, for the full end that will be made hereafter, though not now. The earth may be said to mourn when the inhabitants of it do. Or when it is destroyed, and is become desolate, when it is uncultivated and uninhabited.

"And the heavens above be black": With thick clouds, and storms and tempests; in allusion to mourners, that are clothed with black. These figures, of the earth's mourning, and the heavens being clothed in black, denote the horribleness of that dispensation, when there would be an utter destruction of the Jewish nation, church and civil government, of which Daniel prophesies. Daniel 9:27

"Because I have spoken it": In my word. In the Scriptures of the Old Testament, by Moses and the prophets.

"I have purposed it": Or I have thought of it, in my counsel. It was a thing deliberately devised and determined, and therefore can never be frustrated or made void.

"And will not repent": Will not turn away from it, or change, what was purposed and predicted.

"Neither will I turn back from it": Revoke or retract it; it shall surely come to pass. The Jews, upon their return from the Babylonian captivity, and afterwards, might flatter themselves that a full end would not be made of them, because it was not then done. And therefore, these several strong expressions are used, to confirm and assure them of it: for the word of God cannot fail, his counsel shall stand. He is not a man, that he should lie or repent; he will do all his pleasure.

This is a time of no Light. The blackness symbolizes mourning. God is Truth, when He speaks, it happens.

And onto Jeremiah 4:29 "The whole city shall flee for the noise of the horsemen and bowmen; they shall go into thickets, and climb up upon the rocks: every city shall be forsaken, and not a man dwell therein."

The inhabitants of all ranks and qualities shall seek to escape the fury of this Chaldean army.

"They shall go into thickets, and climb up upon the rocks": Such a consternation there shall be upon them that they shall run into every hole to hide themselves. The Hebrew is abim, the clouds, possibly alluding to dark places on the tops of hills. Reaching as it were to the clouds, or among the cloudy shades of trees and groves that usually grew there. The LXX render it caves, and so the rocks for shelter, or the clefts, caves, and hiding-places in the rocks.

"Every city shall be forsaken, and not a man dwell therein": There shall be an utter desolation, their cities quite forsaken, not any to inhabit them.

This is a terrible time of fear. The fear is so great that they flee from the onslaught, and run to the caves for help. No one is left in the cities.

Verses 30-31: Jeremiah returns to the personification of Judah and Jerusalem as a “woman,” first as a prostitute, and then as a woman enduring labor pangs alone, and deserted by all.

Jeremiah 4:30 "And when thou art spoiled, what wilt thou do? Though thou clothe thyself with crimson, though thou deck thee with ornaments of gold, though thou rents thy face with painting, in vain shalt thou make thyself fair; thy lovers will despise thee, they will seek thy life."

Or, "O thou spoiled", wasted, and undone creature, how wilt thou help thyself? By what means do you think you can be delivered? It suggests that her ruin was inevitable; that she could not be recovered from it by herself, or any other.

"Though thou clothest thyself with crimson": And so look like some rich and noble person; hoping thereby to find mercy, and to have quarter given and kindness shown.

"Though thou deckest thee with ornaments of gold": As a person of high and princely dignity. Or rather all this is to be understood of the manner of harlots, who dress rich and grand, in order to allure men; since it follows:

"Though thou rentest thy face with painting": Or, eyes; which painting dilates as Jezebel did. See, 2 Kings 9:30

"In vain shalt thou make thyself fair": So as to be loved and admired: far from it.

"Thy lovers will despise thee": As an old harlot is despised by her former gallants, notwithstanding all her dressing and painting. Yea, their love is often turned into hatred and abhorrence, as would be the case here.

"They will seek thy life": To take it away. So far would there be from being any ground of expectations of help and deliverance from them.

All of the beautiful clothing and jewelry will not make them beautiful to God. We see that the ones they have thought of as lovers, will be of no help at all. This adulterous people who were the wife of God, are now abandoned.

And, finally, Jeremiah 4:31 "For I have heard a voice as of a woman in travail, and the anguish as of her that brings forth her first child, the voice of the daughter of Zion, that bewails herself, that spreads her hands, saying, Woe is me now! for my soul is wearied because of murderers."

So, the distress of the Jews, at the time of their destruction, is compared to the sorrows of a woman in travail. And a word, that signifies that is used to express it. See, Matthew 24:8

"And the anguish as of her that bringeth forth her first child": Whose time is more difficult, her pains sharper, her anguish greater, and having less experience, the more impatient.

"The voice of the daughter of Zion, that bewails herself": Her unhappy condition, and miserable circumstances.

"That spreads her hands": As persons in distress do, and particularly women in travail.

Saying: "Woe is me now, for my soul is wearied because of murderers": These abounded under the second temple, and was the reason, the Jews say, of the Sanhedrim removing from their usual place in the temple. And why they ceased from the beheading of the red heifer.

This appears to be speaking of the physical house of Israel, who is destroyed. The first child is generally speaking of physical Israel. Zion can be the church or Jerusalem. She is crying because of the murderous destruction of her children. The woe is for the loss.

So, in conclusion, and to bring together my message that "The Angels are Here," let us read Psalm 34:1-22:

But, first, Psalm 34:7, "The angel of the Lord encamps round about them that fear him, and delivers them." And, Ecclesiastes 12:13, "Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God, and keep his commandments: for this is the whole duty of man."

Now, Psalm 34:1-22

1 "I will bless the LORD at all times: his praise shall continually be in my mouth.

2 My soul shall make her boast in the LORD: the humble shall hear thereof, and be glad.

3 O magnify the LORD with me, and let us exalt his name together.

4 I sought the LORD, and he heard me, and delivered me from all my fears.

5 They looked unto him, and were lightened: and their faces were not ashamed.

6 This poor man cried, and the LORD heard him, and saved him out of all his troubles.

7 The angel of the LORD encamps round about them that fear him, and delivers them.

8 O taste and see that the LORD is good: blessed is the man that trusts in him.

9 O fear the LORD, ye his saints: for there is no want to them that fear him.

10 The young lions do lack, and suffer hunger: but they that seek the LORD shall not want any good thing.

11 Come, ye children, hearken unto me: I will teach you the fear of the LORD.

12 What man is he that desires life, and loves many days, that he may see good?

13 Keep thy tongue from evil, and thy lips from speaking guile.

14 Depart from evil, and do good; seek peace, and pursue it.

15 The eyes of the LORD are upon the righteous, and his ears are open unto their cry.

16 The face of the LORD is against them that do evil, to cut off the remembrance of them from the earth.

17 The righteous cry, and the LORD hears, and delivers them out of all their troubles.

18 The LORD is nigh unto them that are of a broken heart; and saves such as be of a contrite spirit.

19 Many are the afflictions of the righteous: but the LORD delivers him out of them all.

20 He keeps all his bones: not one of them is broken.

21 Evil shall slay the wicked: and they that hate the righteous shall be desolate.

22 The LORD redeems the soul of his servants: and none of them that trust in him shall be desolate."

As we can see, God keeps pushing me to spread the word: He will not overlook sin!

"For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord." Romans 6:23

So, while He wants us to know that His judgment is coming, His goal or plan is always to save as many of His children as possible. And, He has sent His angels, and they are here now to protect His children, the ones who fear Him, and deliver them from evil and from God's fury at those who refuse His Son, Jesus Christ, and His Word.

Psalm 34:7, "The angel of the Lord encamps round about them that fear him, and delivers them."

Do you fear God? You should! He commands it!

Ecclesiastes 12:13, "Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God, and keep his commandments: for this is the whole duty of man."

Repent, turn away from sin, turn back to God and be healed. Hallelujah! Praise God! Amen!

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BREASTPLATE OF JUDGMENT

2/6/2021

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In follow-up to my blog yesterday titled, "BREASTPLATE OF RIGHTEOUSNESS," God stressed or emphasized to me this morning, JUDGMENT! He put Scripture on my heart this morning, but, first, let's revisit the Breastplate of Righteousness from yesterday, or the Breastplate of Judgment.

Following is a quote from www.biblestudytools.com, titled "BREASTPLATE OF THE HIGH PRIEST" or BREASTPLATE OF JUDGMENT:

"The Hebrew word choshen, rendered in the King James Version "breastplate," means really a "pouch" or "bag." The references to it are found exclusively in the Priestly Code Exodus 25:7; 28; 29:5; 35:9,27; Leviticus 8:8. The descriptions of its composition and particularly the directions with regard to wearing it are exceedingly obscure. According to Ezra 2:63 and Nehemiah 7:65 the Urim and Thummim, which were called in the priestly pouch, were lost during the Babylonian exile. The actual pouch was a "span in length and a span in breadth," i.e. about 9 inch square. It was made, like the ephod, of "gold, of blue, and purple, and scarlet, and fine twined linen" Exodus 28:15. In it were twelve precious stones, in rows of four, representing the twelve tribes of Israel. Apparently the pouch had two rings (perhaps four) through which passed two gold chains by which it was fastened to the ephod supplied for the purpose with ouches or clasps. The pouch was worn by the high priest over his heart when he entered the "holy place" "for a memorial before Yahweh." The presence of the high priest, the representative of the people, with the names of the separate tribes on his person, brought each tribe before the notice of Yahweh and thereby directed His attention to them. The full designation was choshen mishpaT, "pouch of judgment" or "decision." It was the distinctive symbol of the priest in his capacity as the giver of oracles. As already suggested the priestly pouch contained the Urim and Thummim which were probably precious stones used as lots in giving decisions.

In all probability the restored text of 1 Samuel 14:41 preserves the true custom. On one side stood Saul and Jonathan, and the people on the other side. If the result was Urim, Saul and Jonathan would be the guilty parties. If the result was Thummim, the guilt would fasten on the people." - T. Lewis END QUOTE

THIS is pretty powerful! By atonement and holy rituals decreed by God, the High Priest [Aaron] is bringing all of the sins of man before God for cleansing and mercy.

Judgment is coming, and God will not overlook sin. The Bible tells us, "It is a terrible thing to face punishment from the living God." Hebrews 10:31

Hebrews 10:26-31 ERV

26 "If we decide to continue sinning after we have learned the truth, then there is no other sacrifice that will take away sins.

27 If we continue sinning, all that is left for us is a fearful time of waiting for the judgment and the angry fire that will destroy those who live against God.

28 Whoever refused to obey the Law of Moses was found guilty from the testimony given by two or three witnesses. Such people were not forgiven. They were killed.

29 So think how much more punishment people deserve who show their hate for the Son of God—people who show they have no respect for the blood sacrifice that began the new agreement and once made them holy or who insult the Spirit of God’s grace.

30 We know that God said, 'I will punish people for the wrongs they do; I will repay them.' And he also said, 'The Lord will judge his people.'

31 It is a terrible thing to face punishment from the living God."

Hebrews 10:35-39 ERV

35 "So don’t lose the courage that you had in the past. Your courage will be rewarded richly.

36 You must be patient. After you have done what God wants, you will get what he promised you.

37 He says,

'Very soon now, the one who is coming
    will come and will not be late.

38 The person who is right with me
    will live by trusting in me.

But I will not be pleased with the one
    who turns back in fear.'

39 But we are not those who turn back and are lost. No, we are the people who have faith and are saved."

"Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen." Hebrews 11:1

“The fear of man brings a snare: but whoso putts his trust in the LORD shall be safe.” Proverbs 29:25

"Remember therefore from whence thou art fallen, and repent, and do the first works; or else I will come unto thee quickly, and will remove thy candlestick out of his place, except thou repent." Revelation 2:5

I have said before, we have been in a Spiritual War, but, also, that God won, as he always does, when it is His Will, and like the Egyptians at the red sea, the time is at hand for God's judgment upon many people.

"And what he did unto the army of Egypt, unto their horses, and to their chariots; how he made the water of the Red sea to overflow them as they pursued after you, and how the LORD hath destroyed them unto this day;" Deuteronomy 11:4

JUDGMENT IS NIGH, BUT "THE END IS NOT YET"

"And you will hear of wars and rumors of wars. See that you are not alarmed, for this must take place, but the end is not yet." Matthew 24:6

WAKE UP! WAKE UP! WAKE UP!

2 Thessalonians 2:8-12

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

9 Even him, whose coming is after the working of Satan with all power and signs and lying wonders,

10 And with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish; because they received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved.

11 And for this cause God shall send them strong delusion, that they should believe a lie:

12 That they all might be damned who believed not the truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness.”

And, Revelation 3:3

"Remember, then, what you received and heard. Keep it, and repent. If you will not wake up, I will come like a thief, and you will not know at what hour I will come against you."

TURN AWAY FROM SIN, TURN TO GOD, AND BE HEALED!

HALLELUJAH! PRAISE GOD! AMEN!

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BREASTPLATE OF RIGHTEOUSNESS

2/4/2021

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"BREASTPLATE OF RIGHTEOUSNESS" AUDIO BLOG
(or read only below)

God gave me two more "snapshots" last night: the Breastplate of Judgment (see pic above), and a single image of a big, bold lightning bolt. I should start out by saying that in the day before this, I prayed for God to give me understanding of His timeline for the events He has put on my heart in recent weeks.

So, let's break down last night's snapshots. What is the Breastplate of Judgment?

"And Aaron [the High Priest] shall bear the names of the children of Israel in the breastplate of judgment upon his heart, when he goes in unto the holy place, for a memorial before the Lord continually." Exodus 28:29

The twelve gems on the breastplate were engraved with the names of the twelve tribes of Israel, one name onto each stone, according to God's specific instructions in the Bible.

"And the stones were according to the names of the children of Israel, twelve, according to their names, like the engravings of a signet, every one with his name, according to the twelve tribes." Exodus 39:14

The High Priest (Aaron) only wore these sacred holy garments in the Holy of Holies in the Temple, where was also kept God's ark of the covenant, with the mercy seat. Common man was not allowed into the Holy of Holies. God gave specific instructions about the holy garments, and the temple rituals, in Exodus. Aaron, the High Priest, would come in the temple, into the Holy of Holies, before the LORD, the ark of the covenant, the mercy seat, wearing the breastplate, and other garments, as instructed by God.

We can see from Exodus 28:29 (above) that the LORD specifically instructed that "Aaron shall bear the names of the children of Israel in the breastplate of judgment upon his heart . . ." We know from Scripture that God put much emphasis on our hearts,

"I the LORD search the heart, I try the reins, even to give every man according to his ways, and according to the fruit of his doings." Jeremiah 17:10

"A new heart also will I give you, and a new spirit will I put within you: and I will take away the stony heart out of your flesh, and I will give you an heart of flesh." Ezekiel 36:26

"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." Hebrews 4:12 God's Word is a "discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart." Wow!

"Blessed are the pure in heart: for they shall see God." Matthew 5:8

The Breastplate of Judgment, which was to be worn over the heart, with the twelve tribes of Israel, engraved one on each gem, represented all of the sins of man, God's chosen people, the twelve tribes of Israel. By atonement and holy rituals decreed by God, Aaron is bringing all of the sins of man before God for cleansing and mercy.

As the High Priests of the Old Testament wore the Breastplate of Judgment in the Holy of Holies, for atonement, forgiveness and mercy from God for our sins, now, by the New Testament, the new covenant from God, through the blood sacrifice of Jesus Christ, His only begotten son, God forgives our sins, and gives US the armor to wear, instead of the High Priests, the full armor of God, including a Breastplate of Righteousness, for protection from the "wiles of the devil." Righteousness definition: "Morally upright, without guilt or sin." "Without guilt or sin," because we are made whole and perfect through Jesus Christ.

Ephesians 6:11-17 (The Whole Armor of God)

11 "Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.

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.

13 Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.

14 Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness;

15 And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace;

16 Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked.

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

So, now, moving onto the lightning snapshot God gave me last night, and then we will tie the two together. What does the Bible say about God and lightning?

Zechariah 9:8-9,14-17

8 "I will protect my country. I will not let enemy armies pass through it. I will not let them hurt my people anymore. With my own eyes I have seen how much my people have suffered.

9 People of Zion, rejoice! People of Jerusalem, shout with joy! Look, your king is coming to you! He is the good king who won the victory, but he is humble. He is riding on a donkey, on a young donkey born from a work animal.

14 The Lord will appear to them, and he will shoot his arrows like lightning. The Lord God will blow the trumpet, and the army will rush forward like a desert dust storm.

15 The Lord All-Powerful will protect them. The soldiers will use rocks and slings to defeat the enemy. They will spill the blood of their enemies. It will flow like wine. It will be like the blood that is thrown on the corners of the altar!

16 At that time the Lord their God will save his people like a shepherd saves his sheep. They will be very precious to him. They will be like sparkling jewels in his land.

17 Everything will be good and beautiful! There will be a wonderful crop, but it will not be just the food and wine. It will be all the young men and women!"

AND JUST TO REPEAT THAT: (REPEAT numbers 14 through 17)

HALLELUJAH! PRAISE GOD! AMEN!

Now, we know that God controls the weather, and that He likes to use it to prove indisputably that He is the "Great, I AM." After all, He makes it clear to Job that the very lightning we see in the sky reports to Him, God. "Can thou send lightnings, that they may go and say unto thee, Here we are?" Job 38:35

God has been putting a lot on my heart in recent weeks. Although it may feel like nothing is happening at this moment, I believe GOD showed me, in the two snapshots, the Breastplate of Judgment, and the lightning bolt, that we must always remember to, now more than ever,

"Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour:" 1 Peter 5:8

OR,

"But I fear, lest by any means, as the serpent beguiled Eve through his subtilty, so your minds should be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ" 2 Corinthians 11:3

FOR,

"He that committeth sin is of the devil; for the devil sinneth from the beginning. . ." 1 John 3:8

So, we must "Put on the whole armour of God that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil." (see Ephesians 6:11-17), and,

“Wait on the LORD: be of good courage, and he shall strengthen thine heart: wait, I say, on the LORD.” Psalm 27:14

There will be much weeping and gnashing of teeth for people who refused the Good News of God.

"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 [good news] of God?" 1 Peter 4:17

But, for God's children, we will not fear the evildoers,

Psalm 37:1-6

1 "Fret not thyself because of evildoers, neither be thou envious against the workers of iniquity.

2 For they shall soon be cut down like the grass, and wither as the green herb.

3 Trust in the Lord, and do good; so shalt thou dwell in the land, and verily thou shalt be fed.

4 Delight thyself also in the Lord: and he shall give thee the desires of thine heart.

5 Commit thy way unto the Lord; trust also in him; and he shall bring it to pass.

6 And he shall bring forth thy righteousness as the light, and thy judgment as the noonday."

And, as God's children,

7 "He shall not be afraid of evil tidings: his heart is fixed, trusting in the Lord.

8 His heart is established, he shall not be afraid, until he see his desire upon his enemies.

9 He hath dispersed, he hath given to the poor; his righteousness endures forever; his horn shall be exalted with honour.

10 The wicked shall see it, and be grieved; he shall gnash with his teeth, and melt away: the desire of the wicked shall perish."
Psalm 112:7-10

And, if we remain steadfast in our faith until God's event is finished, we shall reap from our fruits an hundredfold, sixty or thirty.

“But he that received seed into the good ground is he that heareth the word, and understandeth it; which also beareth fruit, and bringeth forth, some an hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty.” Matthew 13:23

Hallelujah! Praise God! Amen!

"O give thanks unto the LORD; for he is good: for his mercy endureth for ever." Psalm 118:29

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Melanie

Faithful and humble servant to our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.

With our physical eyes, we SEE the lights of the world.

With our spiritual eye, we ARE the light of the world.

And will never again be in darkness! Amen.

MY WALK WITH GOD

"But even the very hairs of your head
are all numbered . . ." Luke 12:7

"THE HARVEST HAS BEGUN"

"THE HARVEST HAS BEGUN" AUDIO BLOG
(or read only below)

"THE ANGELS ARE HERE!"

"THE ANGELS ARE HERE" AUDIO BLOG
(or read only below)

BREASTPLATE OF JUDGMENT

BREASTPLATE OF RIGHTEOUSNESS

"BREASTPLATE OF RIGHTEOUSNESS" AUDIO BLOG
(or read only below)

Melanie

Archives

Categories

MY WALK WITH GOD"But even the very hairs of your headare all numbered . . ." Luke 12:7

"THE HARVEST HAS BEGUN"

"THE HARVEST HAS BEGUN" AUDIO BLOG(or read only below)

"THE ANGELS ARE HERE!"

"THE ANGELS ARE HERE" AUDIO BLOG(or read only below)

BREASTPLATE OF JUDGMENT

BREASTPLATE OF RIGHTEOUSNESS

"BREASTPLATE OF RIGHTEOUSNESS" AUDIO BLOG(or read only below)

Melanie

Archives

Categories

MY WALK WITH GOD

"But even the very hairs of your head
are all numbered . . ." Luke 12:7

"THE HARVEST HAS BEGUN" AUDIO BLOG
(or read only below)

"THE ANGELS ARE HERE" AUDIO BLOG
(or read only below)

"BREASTPLATE OF RIGHTEOUSNESS" AUDIO BLOG
(or read only below)