And I will bring the third part through the fire, and will refine them as silver is refined, and will try them as gold is tried: they shall call on my name, and I will hear them: I will say, It is my people: and they shall say, The LORD is my God.
As seen in the previous post, the word above, in Zechariah 13:9, rendered “try” and “tried” is the Hebrew word bachan, meaning “to test (especially metals); generally and figuratively, to investigate:–examine, prove, tempt, try (trial).”
This trial: testing words, weighing intentions against outcomes: reason and order against confusion and agitation, begin with hearing the LORD, as defined in Job. When Job heard God’s words (through Elihu), as His word, from the whirlwind (His Almighty Spirit) scattering away all other voices, he SEES it’s His presence manifested (from heaven into which he was caught up (harpazo), plucked (natsal), from the fires).
Job 5
17 Behold, happy is the man whom God corrects [from ignorance of Him, into understanding: from darkness and death, into light and life]: therefore despise not thou the chastening of the Almighty:
18 For he makes sore, and binds up: he wounds, and his hands make whole.
19 He shall deliver you [natsal – “as a brand plucked {natsal} from the fire”] in six troubles [tsarah – the tribulation]: yea, in seven [when you are caught up from the fires into the LORD’s presence and full understanding] there shall no evil touch you.
20 In famine [when the word of God isn’t heard and the world is covered with the shadow of death] he shall redeem thee from death [by sending His word, this word of God]: and in war from the power of the sword [because the LORD of Hosts is a man of war].
21 Thou shalt be hid from the scourge of the tongue [which are the machines of men’s war]: neither shalt thou be afraid of destruction when it comes.
Job 27
8 For what is the hope of the hypocrite, though he hath gained, when God taketh away his soul?
9 Will God hear his cry when trouble [tsarah – this tribulation] comes upon him?
10 Will he delight himself in the Almighty? will he always call upon God?
11 I will teach you by the hand of God: that which is with the Almighty will I not conceal.
12 Behold, all ye yourselves have seen it; why then are ye thus altogether vain?
13 This is the portion of a wicked man with God, and the heritage of oppressors, which they shall receive of the Almighty.
Job 34
1 Furthermore Elihu [he is God speaking] answered and said,
2 Hear my words, O you wise men; and give ear unto me, you that have knowledge.
3 For the ear tries [bachan] words, as the mouth tastes meat.
4 Let us choose to us judgment: let us know among ourselves what is good.
16 If now you have understanding, hear this: hearken to the voice of my words [because they are God speaking].
17 Shall even he that hates right govern? and will you condemn him [God] that is most just?
18 Is it fit to say to a king [Brandon], You are wicked? and to princes [the misleaders in power], You are ungodly?
19 How much less to him that accepts not the persons of princes, nor regards the rich more than the poor? for they all are the work of his hands.
20 In a moment shall they die, and the people shall be troubled at midnight [when darkness, total ignorance, covers the earth, when the delusional, the insane, are in power and there is no rational thought], and pass away: and the mighty shall be taken away without hand.
21 For his eyes are upon the ways of man, and he sees all his goings.
22 There is no darkness, nor shadow of death, where the workers of iniquity may hide themselves.
Hebrews 12
22 But you [my friends] are come unto mount Zion, and unto the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to an innumerable company of angels,
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,
24 And to Jesus [Jehovah’s Salvation in the flesh, in I and the children the LORD has given me, our one body which is for signs and wonders to His nation and for the healing of the nations] the mediator of the new covenant, and to the blood of sprinkling [this word of God he long-suffers to give, hoping all will repent and be corrected], that speaks better things [on the earth] than that of Abel.
25 See that ye refuse not him that speaks. For if they escaped not who refused him that spoke on earth, much more shall not we escape, if we turn away from him that speaks from heaven:
26 Whose voice then shook the earth: but now he hath promised, saying, Yet once more I shake not the earth only, but also heaven.
27 And this word, Yet once more, signifies the removing of those things that are shaken, as of things that are made, that those things which cannot be shaken may remain.
28 Wherefore we receiving a kingdom which cannot be moved, let us have grace, whereby we may serve God acceptably with reverence and godly fear:
29 For our God is a consuming fire.
Job 42
1 Then Job answered the Lord, and said,
2 I know that you can do every thing, and that no thought can be withholden from you.
3 [You said to me,] “Who is he that hides counsel without knowledge?” therefore have I uttered that I understood not; things too wonderful for me, which I knew not.
4 [You said to me.] “Hear, I beseech you, and I will speak: I will demand of thee, and declare thou unto me.”
5 I have heard of thee by the hearing of the ear: but now mine eye SEES you [now I understand, these words are your presence manifested correcting us into salvation by listening and following Your directions].
6 Wherefore I abhor myself, and repent in dust and ashes [from where You shall recreate man].
Daniel 12
1 And at that time shall Michael [Who is like God, with His understanding risen in us] stand up, the great prince which stands for the children of thy people: and there shall be a time of trouble [tsarah – tribulation], such as never was since there was a nation even to that same time: and at that time thy people shall be delivered, every one that shall be found written in the book.
2 And many of them that sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake, some to everlasting life, and some to shame and everlasting contempt.
3 And they that be wise shall shine as the brightness of the firmament; and they that turn many to righteousness as the stars forever and ever.
4 But thou, O Daniel [judgment of God], shut up the words, and seal the book, even to the time of the end [that has now come]: many shall run to and fro [diligently seeking God], and knowledge shall be increased [now when the book is opened].
In today’s post we must, by faith, see it is the LORD’s “visiting” us, manifesting His presence in His begotten (declared – made so by/of His word) son, the investigator through who He reveals (uncovers in correction, into all) truth.
Hebrews 11
1 Now faith is the substance of things [God with us] hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.
2 For by it the elders obtained a good report.
3 Through faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God, so that things which are seen were not made of things which do appear.
4 By faith Abel offered unto God a more excellent sacrifice than Cain, by which he obtained witness that he was righteous, God testifying of his gifts: and by it he being dead yet speaks.
5 By faith Enoch was translated that he should not see death; and was not found, because God had translated him: for before his translation he had this testimony, that he pleased God.
6 But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that comes to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.
7 By faith Noah, being warned of God of things not seen as yet, moved with fear, prepared an ark to the saving of his house; by the which he condemned the world, and became heir of the righteousness which is by faith.
Jude 1
14 And Enoch also, the seventh from Adam, prophesied of these, saying, Behold, the LORD comes with ten thousands of his saints,
15 To execute judgment upon all, and to convince all that are ungodly among them of all their ungodly deeds which they have ungodly committed, and of all their hard speeches which ungodly sinners have spoken against him.
16 These are murmurers, complainers, walking after their own lusts; and their mouth speaks great swelling words, having men’s persons in admiration because of advantage.
17 But, beloved, remember you the words which were spoken before of the apostles of our LORD Jesus Christ;
18 How that they told you there should be mockers [empaiktes – scoffers, false teachers] in the last time, who should walk after their own ungodly lusts.
19 These be they who separate themselves, sensual, having not the Spirit.
20 But you, beloved, building up yourselves on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Ghost,
21 Keep yourselves in the love of God, looking for the mercy of our LORD Jesus Christ unto eternal life.
22 And of some have compassion, making a difference:
23 And others save with fear, pulling [harpazo – caught up] them out of the fire; hating even the garment spotted by the flesh [by those who perish by denying the LORD has come in the flesh].
24 Now unto him that is able to keep you from falling, and to present you faultless before the presence of his glory with exceeding joy,
25 To the only wise God our Savior, be glory and majesty, dominion and power, both now and ever. Amen.
Hebrews 1
1 God, who at sundry times and in divers manners [in different times and in many different parts] spoke in time past unto the fathers by the prophets,
2 Has in these last days spoken unto us by his Son, whom he has appointed heir of all things, by whom also he made the worlds;
3 Who being the brightness of his glory, and the express image of his person, and upholding [phero – as in phosphoros in 2 Peter 1:19 below] all things by the word [carried the full load of the light] of his power, when he had by himself purged our sins, sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high [until now when He again stands with us]:
4 Being made so much better than the angels, as he has by inheritance obtained a more excellent name than they.
5 For unto which of the angels [those to whom he has given His messages in parts] said he at any time, You are my Son, this day have I begotten you? And again, I will be to him a Father, and he shall be to me a Son?
6 And again, when he brings in the first-begotten into the world, he says, And let all the angels of God worship him [let all their partial messages witness to His glory and presence, as we stand].
7 And of the angels he says, Who makes his angels [messengers] spirits, and his ministers a flame of fire.
8 But unto the Son he says, Your throne, O God, is forever and ever: a scepter of righteousness [His correct reading and speaking the Fathers word, as intended when delivered] is the scepter of your kingdom.
9 You have loved righteousness, and hated iniquity [those who’ve twisted and perverted God’s truth, and now all truth, and led the world into self-destruction]; therefore God, even your God, has anointed you with the [endless supply of oil, as if God’s word from Elijah] oil of gladness above your fellows.
10 And, You, LORD, in the beginning have laid the foundation of the earth; and the heavens are the works of your hands:
11 They shall perish; but you remain; and they all shall wax old as does a garment;
12 And as a vesture shall you fold them up, and they shall be changed: but you are the same, and your years shall not fail.
13 But to which of the angels [to which of His messenger] said he at any time, Sit on my right hand [where My power is shown, as rays of light coming from it], until I make your enemies your footstool [until they realize, this is Teman and Paran, the place of the Theophany, when all things are brought together and plainly seen {understood – brought into the light}]?
14 Are they not all ministering spirits, sent forth [with this word] to minister for them who shall be heirs of salvation?
Hebrews 2
1 Therefore we ought to give the more earnest heed to the things which we have heard, lest at any time we should let them slip.
2 For if the word spoken by angels was steadfast, and every transgression and disobedience received a just recompense of reward;
3 How shall we escape, if we neglect so great salvation; which at the first began to be spoken by the LORD, and was confirmed unto us by them that heard him;
4 God also bearing them witness, both with signs and wonders, and with divers miracles, and gifts of the Holy Ghost, according to his own will?
5 For unto the angels has he not put in subjection the world to come, whereof we speak.
6 But one in a certain place testified, saying, What is man, that you are mindful of him? or the son of man that you visit him?
7 You made him a little lower than the angels; you crowned him with glory and honor, and did set him over the works of your hands:
8 You have put all things in subjection under his feet. For in that he put all in subjection under him, he left nothing that is not put under him. But now we see not yet all things put under him [while darkness, ignorance, remains in power over the corrupt heaven and earth].
The word “visit” in verse 6 above, is episkeptomai, meaning “to inspect, i.e. (by implication) to select; by extension, to go to see, relieve:–look out, visit.” It’s from words (skapto & skepasma) that speak of digging into what is covered, even into hell, the belly (chasma) of the earth.
In Luke 1:68 & 78, the LORD unknown, as the Holy Ghost in Zechariah, speaking of John, the LORD in Him coming unknown, “visiting” his people as the day-spring, the first light into the darkness (before the sun {son} appears), calling all to repentance.
Luke 1
67 And his father Zachariah [those who remembers Jehovah, whose voices returns and they, as ministering spirits sent to the heirs of salvation, speak the word God gives them] was filled with the Holy Ghost, and prophesied, saying,
68 Blessed be the LORD God of Israel; for he has visited [episkeptomai] and redeemed his people,
69 And has raised up a horn of salvation for us in the house of his servant David;
70 As he spoke by the mouth of his holy prophets, which have been since the world began:
71 That we should be saved from our enemies, and from the hand of all that hate us;
72 To perform the mercy promised to our fathers, and to remember his holy covenant;
73 The oath which he swore to our father Abraham,
74 That he would grant unto us, that we being delivered out of the hand of our enemies might serve him without fear,
75 In holiness and righteousness before him, all the days of our life.
76 And you, child, shall be called the prophet of the Highest: for you shall go before the face of the LORD to prepare his ways;
77 To give knowledge of salvation unto his people by the remission of their sins,
78 Through the tender mercy of our God; whereby the dayspring from on high has visited [episkeptomai] us,
79 To give light to them that sit in darkness and in the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the way of peace.
The word rendered “dayspring” is the ten times used Greek word anatole, meaning “a rising of light, i.e. dawn (figuratively); by implication, the east (also in plural):–dayspring, east, rising.”
Matthew uses the word (anatole) five times, all rendered “east,” speaking of (John, the LORD in Him unknown) from where comes the wise men (wisdom), and then where the star is seen that leads them to the LORD. He (Matthew) later uses it (in Matthew 24:27) of when everyone is (now) telling people where to find the LORD, and He instead comes in the cloud (where understanding {wisdom} has been held since it left the earth) as light from the “east.”
2 Peter 1
16 For we have not followed cunningly devised fables, when we made known unto you the power and coming of our LORD Jesus Christ, but were eyewitnesses of his majesty.
17 For he received from God the Father honor and glory, when there came such a voice to him from the excellent glory, “This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased. [Hear Him!]”
18 And this voice which came from heaven [the place of full understanding] we heard, when we were with him in the holy mount [when He took our mind up where He is].
19 We have also a more sure word of prophecy; whereunto you do well that you take heed, as unto a light [understanding] that shines [is given, which is the love {agape – charity} of God] in a dark place, until the day dawn, and the day star [phosphoros – light-bearer] arise in your hearts [in your mind, giving you the same mind of Christ]:
20 Knowing this first, that no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation [these words are meant for the LORD’s interpretation, when He decides it’s time to give it manifesting His presence].
21 For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God [Timothy is the only person in the new testament called “man of God”] spoke as they were moved by the Holy Ghost [the LORD in them, unknown to the world, working and speaking].
2 Peter 2
1 But there were false prophets also among the people, even as there shall be false teachers among you, who privily [secretly, from their own imaginations, create lies] shall bring in damnable [apoleia – that cause them and those who follow their ways to perish] heresies [hairesis], even denying the LORD [despotes – the master, the ruler the LORD has chosen over all the earth] that bought them, and bring upon themselves swift destruction [apoleia – perdition].
2 And many shall follow their pernicious [aploeia – the ways that lead to their own destruction] ways; by reason of whom the way of truth shall be evil spoken of [as it is this day].
3 And through covetousness shall they with feigned [fraudulent] words make merchandise of you: whose judgment now of a long time lingers not, and their damnation [apoleia – perishing, perdition] slumbers not.
2 Peter 3
3 Knowing this first, that there shall come in the last days scoffers [mockers – empaiktes, fasle teachers], walking after their own lusts,
4 And saying, Where is the promise of his coming? for since the fathers fell asleep, all things continue as they were from the beginning of the creation.
5 For this they willingly are ignorant of, that by the word of God [this same word of God] the heavens were of old, and the earth standing out of the water and in the water:
6 Whereby the world that then was, being overflowed with water, perished:
7 But the heavens and the earth, which are now, by the same word are kept in store, reserved unto fire against the day of judgment and perdition [apoleia] of ungodly men.
8 But, beloved, be not ignorant of this one thing, that one day is with the LORD as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day.
9 The LORD is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.
10 But the day of the LORD will come as a thief in the night [unknown, in the ignorance of men]; in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements [stoicheion – the corrupt foundational ideas and ways of men] shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up.
Matthew 24
24 For there shall arise false Christs, and false prophets, and shall show great signs and wonders; insomuch that, if it were possible, they shall deceive the very elect.
25 Behold, I have told you before.
26 Wherefore if they shall say unto you, Behold, he is in the desert; go not forth: behold, he is in the secret chambers; believe it not.
27 For as the lightning comes [as the day dawn] out of the east [anatole], and shines [when the sun rises] even unto the west; so shall also the coming of the Son of man be [shining understanding upon all who come out of the corrupt houses, to receive the light that gives life to the world].
28 For wheresoever the carcass is [the dead body of Christ – found to be the Church], there will the eagles be gathered together [who have been strengthened and have risen into heaven, the place of full understanding, with Him].
29 Immediately after the tribulation [when understanding has come] of those days shall the sun be darkened [the churches seen to be without it – without understanding], and the moon shall not give her light [civil governments reflect no understanding], and the stars shall [as the dead in the churches realized they have been and are without understanding] fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens shall be shaken:
30 And then shall appear the sign [as the Father, the one star, in who only in this understanding and light] 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 [from where understanding has been reserved for this time and purpose] of heaven with power and great glory.
31 And he shall send his angels [as ministers to the heirs of salvation] with a great sound of a trumpet, and they shall gather together his elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other.
32 Now learn a parable of the fig tree [this nation of God]; When his branch is yet tender, and put forth leaves [which are for the healing of the nations], you know that summer is nigh:
33 So likewise you, when you shall see all these things, know that it is near, even at the doors.
34 Truly I say unto you, This generation shall not pass, till all these things be fulfilled.
35 Heaven and earth shall pass away, but my words shall not pass away.
36 But of that day and hour knows no man, no, not the angels of heaven, but my Father only. [Do you understand I am the only one who knows now is the time? Do you see Him yet?]
The quote in Hebrews 2:6 is from Psalms 8:4 where the Hebrew word rendered “visit” is paqad, meaning “to visit (with friendly or hostile intent); by analogy, to oversee, muster, charge, care for, miss, deposit, etc.”
Psalms 8
1 O LORD, our LORD, how excellent is your name in all the earth! who have set your glory above the heavens.
2 Out of the mouth of babes and sucklings have you ordained strength because of your enemies, that you might still the enemy and the avenger.
3 When I consider your heavens, the work of your fingers, the moon and the stars, which you have ordained;
4 What is man, that you are mindful of him? and the son of man, that you visit [paqad] him?
5 For you have made him a little lower than the angels, and have crowned him with glory and honor.
6 You made him to have dominion over the works of your hands; you have put all things under his feet:
7 All sheep and oxen, yea, and the beasts of the field;
8 The fowl of the air, and the fish of the sea, and whatsoever passes through the paths of the seas.
9 O LORD our LORD, how excellent is your name in all the earth!
Jeremiah 9
1 Oh that my head were waters, and mine eyes a fountain of tears, that I might weep day and night for the slain of the daughter of my people!
2 Oh that I had in the wilderness a lodging place of wayfaring men; that I might leave my people, and go from them! for they be all adulterers, an assembly of treacherous men.
3 And they bend their tongues like their bow for lies: but they are not valiant for the truth upon the earth; for they proceed from evil to evil, and they know not me, says the LORD.
4 Take you heed every one of his neighbor, and trust you not in any brother: for every brother will utterly supplant, and every neighbor will walk with slanders.
5 And they will deceive every one his neighbor, and will not speak the truth: they have taught their tongue to speak lies, and weary themselves to commit iniquity.
6 Your habitation is in the midst of deceit; through deceit they refuse to know me, says the LORD.
7 Therefore thus says the LORD of hosts, Behold, I will melt them, and try [bachan] them; for how shall I do for the daughter of my people?
8 Their tongue is as an arrow shot out; it speaks deceit: one speaks peaceably to his neighbor with his mouth, but in heart he lays his wait.
9 Shall I not visit [paqad] them for these things? says the LORD: shall not my soul be avenged on such a nation as this?
10 For the mountains will I take up a weeping and wailing, and for the habitations of the wilderness a lamentation, because they are burned up, so that none can pass through them; neither can men hear the voice of the cattle; both the fowl of the heavens and the beast are fled; they are gone.
11 And I will make Jerusalem heaps, and a den of dragons; and I will make the cities of Judah desolate, without an inhabitant.
12 Who is the wise man, that may understand this? and who is he to whom the mouth of the LORD has spoken, that he may declare it, for what the land perishes and is burned up like a wilderness, that none passes through?
13 And the LORD says, Because they have forsaken my law which I set before them, and have not obeyed my voice, neither walked therein;
14 But have walked after the imagination of their own heart, and after Baalim [the false gods of this world – men who put themselves in God’s place and blind the world to His presence and truth], which their fathers taught them:
15 Therefore thus says 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.
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.
17 Thus says the LORD of hosts, Consider you, and call for the mourning women, that they may come; and send for cunning women, that they may come:
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.
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.
20 Yet hear the word of the LORD, O you women, and let your ear receive the word of his mouth, and teach your daughters wailing, and every one her neighbor lamentation.
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.
22 Speak, Thus says the LORD, Even the carcasses of men shall fall as dung upon the open field, and as the handful after the harvestman, and none shall gather them.
23 Thus says 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:
24 But let him that glories glory in this, that he understands and knows me, that I am the LORD which exercise lovingkindness, judgment, and righteousness, in the earth: for in these things I delight, says the LORD.
25 Behold, the days come, says the LORD, that I will punish [paqad – visit and punish] all them which [think they] are circumcised with the uncircumcised [covered in flesh and as dung upon the earth];
26 Egypt [the oppressors], and Judah [this corrupt crop of leaders], and Edom [enemies mixed among us claiming they are our brethren and countrymen at peace with us, while their words are machine of their war against us destroying us], and the children of Ammon [who scatter God’s people], and Moab [whose mouths are the gate of hell], 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.
Jeremiah 46
3 Order you the buckler and shield, and draw near to battle.
4 Harness the horses; and get up, you horsemen, and stand forth with your helmets; furbish the spears, and put on the brigandines.
5 Wherefore have I seen them dismayed and turned away back? and their mighty ones are beaten down, and are fled apace, and look not back: for fear was round about, says the LORD.
6 Let not the swift flee away, nor the mighty man escape; they shall stumble, and fall toward the north by the river Euphrates.
7 Who is this that comes up as a flood, whose waters are moved as the rivers?
8 Egypt rises up like a flood, and his waters are moved like the rivers; and he says, I will go up, and will cover the earth; I will destroy the city and the inhabitants thereof.
9 Come up, you horses; and rage, you chariots; and let the mighty men come forth; the Ethiopians and the Libyans, that handle the shield; and the Lydians, that handle and bend the bow.
10 For this is the day of the LORD God of hosts, a day of vengeance, that he may avenge him of his adversaries: and the sword shall devour, and it shall be satiate and made drunk with their blood: for the LORD God of hosts has a sacrifice in the north country by the river Euphrates.
11 Go up into Gilead, and take balm, O virgin, the daughter of Egypt: in vain shall you use many medicines; for you shall not be cured.
12 The nations have heard of your shame, and your cry has filled the land: for the mighty man has stumbled against the mighty, and they are fallen both together.
13 The word that the LORD spoke to Jeremiah the prophet, how Nebuchadrezzar king of Babylon [the lies of the false prophets that cause the now mass delusion that covers the world in insanity] should come and smite the land of Egypt [of the oppressors].
14 Declare you in Egypt [this land of oppression], and publish in Migdol [the towers from which they fire their machines of war, their poisonous words], and publish in Noph [among their powers, the mighty to deceive] and in Tahpanhes [who show no pity]: say you, Stand fast, and prepare you; for the sword shall devour round about you.
15 Why are your valiant men swept away? they stood not, because the LORD did drive them.
16 He made many to fall, yea, one fell upon another: and they said, Arise, and let us go again to our own people, and to the land of our nativity, from the oppressing sword.
17 They did cry there, Pharaoh king of Egypt [the house of the oppressors] is but a noise [sha’own – whose words flood against us, rushing as machines of war against us]; he has passed the time appointed [mow’ed – used only one other time in Jeremiah, rendered “appointed time,” as the LORD speaks of creatures knowing theirs, but His people not knowing His judgment. He says it’s when His people refuse to turn from their wickedness, while saying they’re wise and His law is with them].
18 As I live, says the King, whose name is the LORD of hosts, Surely as Tabor is among the mountains, and as Carmel by the sea, so shall he come.
19 O you daughter dwelling in Egypt [in oppression], furnish yourself to go into captivity: for Noph [the powers of oppression] shall be waste and desolate without an inhabitant.
20 Egypt is like a very fair heifer, but destruction comes; it comes out of the north [the darkness – from their own ignorance].
21 Also her hired men are in the midst of her like fatted bullocks; for they also are turned back, and are fled away together: they did not stand, because the day of their calamity was come upon them, and the time of their visitation [pquddah – from paqad, and punishment].
22 The voice thereof shall go like a serpent [the voice of the son of man, raised as Moses lifted the serpent in the wilderness]; for they shall march with an army, and come against her with axes, as hewers of wood [as was Gideon of Midian and her kings].
23 They shall cut down her forest, says the LORD, though it cannot be searched; because they are more than the grasshoppers, and are innumerable.
24 The daughter of Egypt [the oppressors] shall be confounded [confused and insane in mass delusion ]; she shall be delivered into the hand of the people of the north [of who they are ignorant].
25 The LORD of hosts, the God of Israel, says; Behold, I will punish [paqad] the multitude of No, and Pharaoh, and Egypt, with their gods, and their kings; even Pharaoh, and all them that trust in him:
26 And I will deliver them into the hand of those that seek their lives, and into the hand of Nebuchadrezzar king of Babylon [the lies of the false prophets and false teachers that have brought insanity on all who listen to and follow them], and into the hand of his servants: and afterward it shall be inhabited, as in the days of old [before all language was confounded, before the fall of man], says the LORD.
27 But fear not you, O my servant Jacob, and be not dismayed, O Israel: for, behold, I will save you from afar off, and your seed from the land of their captivity; and Jacob shall return, and be in rest and at ease, and none shall make him afraid.
28 Fear you not, O Jacob my servant, says the LORD: for I am with you; for I will make a full end of all the nations whither I have driven you: but I will not make a full end of you, but correct you in measure; yet will I not leave you wholly unpunished.
Psalms 17
1 Hear the right, O LORD, attend unto my cry, give ear unto my prayer, that goes not out of feigned lips.
2 Let my sentence come forth from your presence; let your eyes behold the things that are equal.
3 You have proved [bachan] mine heart; you have visited [paqad] me in the night; you have tried [tsaraph – refined] me, and shall find nothing; I am purposed that my mouth shall not transgress.
4 Concerning the works of men, by the word of your lips I have kept me from the paths of the destroyer.
5 Hold up my goings in your paths, that my footsteps slip not.
6 I have called upon you, for you will hear me, O God: incline your ear unto me, and hear my speech.
7 Show your marvelous lovingkindness, O you that saves by your right hand them which put their trust in you from those that rise up against them.
8 Keep me as the apple of the eye, hide me under the shadow of your wings,
9 From the wicked that oppress me, from my deadly enemies, who compass me about.
10 They are enclosed in their own fat: with their mouth they speak proudly.
11 They have now compassed us in our steps: they have set their eyes bowing down to the earth;
12 Like as a lion that is greedy of his prey, and as it were a young lion lurking in secret places.
13 Arise, O LORD, disappoint him, cast him down: deliver my soul from the wicked, which is your sword:
14 From men which are your hand, O LORD, from men of the world, which have their portion in this life, and whose belly you fill with your hid treasure: they are full of children, and leave the rest of their substance to their babes.
15 As for me, I will behold your face in righteousness: I shall be satisfied, when I awake, with your likeness.
Psalms 18
1 I will love you, O LORD, my strength.
2 The LORD is my rock, and my fortress, and my deliverer; my God, my strength, in whom I will trust; my buckler, and the horn of my salvation, and my high tower.
3 I will call upon the LORD, who is worthy to be praised: so shall I be saved from mine enemies.
4 The sorrows of death compassed me, and the floods of ungodly men made me afraid.
5 The sorrows of hell compassed me about: the snares of death prevented me.
6 In my distress I called upon the LORD, and cried unto my God: he heard my voice out of his temple, and my cry came before him, even into his ears.
7 Then the earth shook and trembled; the foundations also of the hills moved and were shaken, because he was wroth.
8 There went up a smoke out of his nostrils, and fire out of his mouth devoured: coals were kindled by it.
9 He bowed the heavens also, and came down: and darkness was under his feet.
10 And he rode upon a cherub, and did fly: yea, he did fly upon the wings of the wind.
11 He made darkness his secret place; his pavilion round about him were dark waters and thick clouds of the skies.
12 At the brightness that was before him his thick clouds passed, hail stones and coals of fire.
13 The LORD also thundered in the heavens, and the Highest gave his voice; hail stones and coals of fire.
14 Yea, he sent out his arrows, and scattered them; and he shot out lightnings, and discomfited them.
15 Then the channels of waters were seen, and the foundations of the world were discovered at your rebuke, O LORD, at the blast of the breath of your nostrils.
16 He sent from above, he took me, he drew me out of many waters.
17 He delivered me from my strong enemy, and from them which hated me: for they were too strong for me.
18 They prevented me in the day of my calamity: but the LORD was my stay.
19 He brought me forth also into a large place; he delivered me, because he delighted in me.
20 The LORD rewarded me according to my righteousness; according to the cleanness of my hands has he recompensed me.
21 For I have kept the ways of the LORD, and have not wickedly departed from my God.
22 For all his judgments were before me, and I did not put away his statutes from me.
23 I was also upright before him, and I kept myself from mine iniquity.
24 Therefore has the LORD recompensed me according to my righteousness, according to the cleanness of my hands in his eyesight.
25 With the merciful you will show yourself merciful; with an upright man you will show yourself upright;
26 With the pure you will show yourself pure; and with the froward you will show yourself froward.
27 For you will save the afflicted people; but will bring down high looks.
28 For you will light my candle: the LORD my God will enlighten my darkness.
29 For by you I have run through a troop; and by my God have I leaped over a wall.
30 As for God, his way is perfect: the word of the LORD is tried [tsaraph – are the refining in the fire]: he is a buckler to all those that trust in him.
31 For who is God save the LORD? or who is a rock save our God?
32 It is God that girds me with strength, and makes my way perfect.
33 He makes my feet like hinds’ feet, and sets me upon my high places.
34 He teaches my hands to war, so that a bow of steel is broken by mine arms.
35 You have also given me the shield of your salvation: and your right hand has holden me up, and your gentleness has made me great.
36 You have enlarged my steps under me, that my feet did not slip.
37 I have pursued mine enemies, and overtaken them: neither did I turn again till they were consumed.
38 I have wounded them that they were not able to rise: they are fallen under my feet.
39 For you have girded me with strength unto the battle: you have subdued under me those that rose up against me.
40 You have also given me the necks of mine enemies; that I might destroy them that hate me.
41 They cried, but there was none to save them: even unto the LORD, but he answered them not.
42 Then did I beat them small as the dust before the wind: I did cast them out as the dirt in the streets.
43 You have delivered me from the strivings of the people; and you have made me the head of the heathen: a people whom I have not known shall serve me.
44 As soon as they hear of me, they shall obey me: the strangers shall submit themselves unto me.
45 The strangers shall fade away, and be afraid out of their close places.
46 The LORD lives; and blessed be my rock; and let the God of my salvation be exalted.
47 It is God that avenged me, and subdued the people under me.
48 He delivers me [Timothy, His beloved son, the son of David] from mine enemies: yea, you lifts me up above those that rise up against me: you have delivered me from the violent man. [as spoken of by Zachariah, above in Luke 1:68 thru 71]
49 Therefore will I give thanks unto you, O LORD, among the heathen, and sing praises unto your name.
50 Great deliverance gives he to his king; and shows mercy to his anointed, to David, and to his seed for evermore.
