Author: wordofgod

Today (again) a bit about the origin of man, and with it we understand the rising, fall and rising again of humanity. We find the concept defined in scripture several times as our being cognitive of where we came from as a necessity for understanding where we are going. The ending is the re-cognition of the first state and thereby the reestablishment of it.

In Hebrews 11:15 the writer tells of all the “great witnesses” who came before as examples of seeing our common future destination and their possibly not arriving there due to not understanding their origin. The verse says, “And truly, if they had been mindful of that country from whence they came out, they might have had opportunity to have returned.”

The word “mindful” above is from the Greek word mnemoneuo. Of the twenty-one times it is used nineteen are as the word “remember.”

Here is the Strong’s Greek Dictionary definition: Strong’s #3421: mnemoneuo (pronounced mnay-mon-yoo’-o) from a derivative of 3420 [memory or memorial]; to exercise memory, i.e. recollect; by implication, to punish; also to rehearse:–make mention; be mindful, remember.

(Stay with me and it will all come together.)

In Exodus 3:14 & 15 the LORD first tells Moses His name as I AM. (And yes we have studied it numerous times and we know all the implications of the name.) The point we are going to examine is the LORD then saying this name is a “memorial unto all generations.”

Exodus 3
14 And God said unto Moses, I AM That I AM: and He said, This shall you say unto the children of Israel, I AM has sent me unto you.
15 And God said moreover unto Moses, This shall you say unto the children of Israel, the LORD God of your fathers, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob, hath sent me unto you: this is My name for ever, and this is My memorial unto all generations.

The Lord Jesus defines himself as “I AM” in John 8:55, and in the verses prior He tells of knowing from where He has come, and where He is going. In verse 42 He says, “I proceeded forth and came from God; neither came I of myself, but He sent me.” The chapter centers on those rejecting His words doing so because they didn’t understand where he had come from, and thereby were showing they were the product of some other origin (and therefor some other destination – darkness).

This goes back to the description given in Chapter 1.

John 1
1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.
2 The same was in the beginning with God.
3 All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made.
4 In him was life; and the life was the light of men.
5 And the light shines in darkness; and the darkness comprehended it not.

10 He was in the world, and the world was made by him, and the world knew him not.
11 He came unto his own, and his own received him not.
12 But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name:
13 Which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.
14 And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.

This takes us to the destination as the beginning. John 8:51 Truly, truly, I say unto you, If a man keep my saying, he shall never see death.

John 3
7 Marvel not that I said unto thee, You must be born again.
8 The wind blows where it is directed, and you hear the sound thereof, but can not tell whence it comes, and whither it goes: so is every one that is born of the Spirit.
9 Nicodemus answered and said unto him, How can these things be?
10 Jesus answered and said unto him, Are you a master of Israel, and know not these things?
11 Truly, truly, I say unto you, We speak that we do know, and testify that we have seen; and you receive not our witness.
12 If I have told you earthly things, and you believe not, how shall you believe, if I tell you of heavenly things?
13 And no man hath ascended up to heaven, but he that came down from heaven, even the Son of man which is in heaven.
14 And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of man be lifted up:
15 That whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have eternal life.
16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believes in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.
17 For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.
18 He that believes on him is not condemned: but he that believes not is condemned already, because he has not believed in the NAME of the only begotten Son of God.
19 And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil.
20 For every one that does evil hates the light, neither cometh to the light, lest his deeds should be reproved.
21 But he that doeth truth comes to the light, that his deeds may be made manifest, that they are wrought in God.

This is telling of the grave having no victory over those that hear the words of life and keep (do) them. The other words are the lies (the creations of men) and these worshiped as idols. The degrading away from the original truth of our origin is the corruption spoken in 1 Corinthians 15 as it tells of our resurrection from the fall. The quote in verse 55 is from Hosea 13:14, “I will ransom them from the power of the grave; I will redeem them from death: O death, I will be thy plagues; O grave, I will be thy destruction: repentance shall be hid from mine eyes.”

Our destination and origin are one in the same. We are told of them in Hebrews 12 as it says: ” 22 But ye 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 the mediator of the new covenant, and to the blood of sprinkling, that speaks better things 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.”

Here is Hosea 14 followed by 1 Corinthians 15.

Hosea 14
14 O Israel, return unto the LORD your God; for you have fallen by your iniquity.
2 Take with you words, and turn to the LORD: say unto him, Take away all iniquity, and receive us graciously: so will we render the calves of our lips.
3 Asshur shall not save us; we will not ride upon horses: neither will we say any more to the work of our hands, You are our gods: for in thee the fatherless finds mercy.
4 I will heal their backsliding, I will love them freely: for my anger is turned away from him.
5 I will be as the dew unto Israel: he shall grow as the lily, and cast forth his roots as Lebanon.
6 His branches shall spread, and his beauty shall be as the olive tree, and his smell as Lebanon.
7 They that dwell under his shadow shall return; they shall revive as the corn, and grow as the vine: the scent thereof shall be as the wine of Lebanon.
8 Ephraim shall say, What have I to do any more with idols? I have heard him, and observed him: I am like a green fir tree. From me is thy fruit found.
9 Who is wise, and he shall understand these things? prudent, and he shall know them? for the ways of the LORD are right, and the just shall walk in them: but the transgressors shall fall therein.

1 Corinthians 15
1 Moreover, brethren, I declare unto you the gospel which I preached unto you, which also ye have received, and wherein ye stand;
2 By which also ye are saved, if ye keep in memory what I preached unto you, unless ye have believed in vain.
3 For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures;
4 And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures:
5 And that he was seen of Cephas, then of the twelve:
6 After that, he was seen of above five hundred brethren at once; of whom the greater part remain unto this present, but some are fallen asleep.
7 After that, he was seen of James; then of all the apostles.
8 And last of all he was seen of me also, as of one born out of due time.
9 For I am the least of the apostles, that am not meet to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God.
10 But by the grace of God I am what I am: and his grace which was bestowed upon me was not in vain; but I labored more abundantly than they all: yet not I, but the grace of God which was with me.
11 Therefore whether it were I or they, so we preach, and so ye believed.
12 Now if Christ be preached that he rose from the dead, how say some among you that there is no resurrection of the dead?
13 But if there be no resurrection of the dead, then is Christ not risen:
14 And if Christ be not risen, then is our preaching vain, and your faith is also vain.
15 Yea, and we are found false witnesses of God; because we have testified of God that he raised up Christ: whom he raised not up, if so be that the dead rise not.
16 For if the dead rise not, then is not Christ raised:
17 And if Christ be not raised, your faith is vain; ye are yet in your sins.
18 Then they also which are fallen asleep in Christ are perished.
19 If in this life only we have hope in Christ, we are of all men most miserable.
20 But now is Christ risen from the dead, and become the first-fruits of them that slept.
21 For since by man came death, by man came also the resurrection of the dead.
22 For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive.
23 But every man in his own order: Christ the first-fruits; afterward they that are Christ’s at his coming.
24 Then cometh the end, when he shall have delivered up the kingdom to God, even the Father; when he shall have put down all rule and all authority and power.
25 For he must reign, till he hath put all enemies under his feet.
26 The last enemy that shall be destroyed is death.
27 For he hath put all things under his feet. But when he says all things are put under him, it is manifest that he is excepted, which did put all things under him.
28 And when all things shall be subdued unto him, then shall the Son also himself be subject unto him that put all things under him, that God may be all in all.
29 Else what shall they do which are baptized for the dead, if the dead rise not at all? why are they then baptized for the dead?
30 And why stand we in jeopardy every hour?
31 I protest by your rejoicing which I have in Christ Jesus our Lord, I die daily.
32 If after the manner of men I have fought with beasts at Ephesus, what advantages it me, if the dead rise not? let us eat and drink; for to morrow we die.
33 Be not deceived: evil communications corrupt good manners.
34 Awake to righteousness, and sin not; for some have not the knowledge of God: I speak this to your shame.
35 But some man will say, How are the dead raised up? and with what body do they come?
36 Thou fool, that which thou sows is not quickened, except it die:
37 And that which thou sows, thou sows not that body that shall be, but bare grain, it may chance of wheat, or of some other grain:
38 But God gives it a body as it hath pleased him, and to every seed his own body.
39 All flesh is not the same flesh: but there is one kind of flesh of men, another flesh of beasts, another of fishes, and another of birds.
40 There are also celestial bodies, and bodies terrestrial: but the glory of the celestial is one, and the glory of the terrestrial is another.
41 There is one glory of the sun, and another glory of the moon, and another glory of the stars: for one star differes from another star in glory.
42 So also is the resurrection of the dead. It is sown in corruption; it is raised in incorruption:
43 It is sown in dishonor; it is raised in glory: it is sown in weakness; it is raised in power:
44 It is sown a natural body; it is raised a spiritual body. There is a natural body, and there is a spiritual body.
45 And so it is written, The first man Adam was made a living soul; the last Adam was made a quickening spirit.
46 Howbeit that was not first which is spiritual, but that which is natural; and afterward that which is spiritual.
47 The first man is of the earth, earthy; the second man is the Lord from heaven.
48 As is the earthy, such are they also that are earthy: and as is the heavenly, such are they also that are heavenly.
49 And as we have borne the image of the earthy, we shall also bear the image of the heavenly.
50 Now this I say, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God; neither doth corruption inherit incorruption.
51 Behold, I show you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed,
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.
53 For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality.
54 So when this corruptible shall have put on incorruption, and this mortal shall have put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written, Death is swallowed up in victory.
55 O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory?
56 The sting of death is sin; and the strength of sin is the law.
57 But thanks be to God, which gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.
58 Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye steadfast, unmovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labor is not in vain in the Lord.

Let’s once again talk about the word apocalypse and its true meaning. The unlearned use the word to represent events ending the world, when in fact the meaning is an enlightenment of a world being destroyed by the darkness of untruth. The world we live in has become dominated by reversed definitions or right and wrong and good an evil, and of people determining these by their own actions. People first define themselves as good or evil, right or wrong, and then any act by them is defined by their self-perception. The end the enlightenment brings is in establishing a fixed standard outside of any individual’s self-ideal. (The idea is one of our original national foundations as a nation of laws not of men. This embodies the premise that we do not judge based in who the person is, but rather our laws are applied equally no matter the person. This aspect and the destruction of all standards can be seen at the root of so many societal (pop culture) matters of our day. If a person thinks he or she is something, deserving of some special privilege, present day judgment is based on what the person thinks in their own mind, usually altered from what reality, society and tradition would define as normal. This person having altered reality is defined as a victim if truth and reality is presented, with the presenter of it being the evil one and the one altering reality (altering an objective standard) as the good.)

I don’t really care what people living in a world of altered reality think about my presenting truth. My obligation as a human being is to bear the reproach of those that whish to stay in their own darkness, and the obligation is to unwaveringly present truth as it is, and to do it with my only intention to help those that wish to may come out of the darkness into the light.

Those in darkness, this altered reality without any objective standards, will define me as evil for presenting this opinion. They will define those living in realism as the delusional and uninformed. They will define their own judgment, which has descended into the darkest and coldest hearted insanity, as loving and moral, while they act it out in violence of action and effect.

This brings us back to the light as I have defined it many times, as defined to me by my Father (God). The light is in understanding peace and civilization are only found in mutual security in life, liberty and property (estate). The counterfeit is the spurious claim it can be found by any one group depriving any other of these basic rights, and doing it as means to grant them some other right that only exists in their altered state of malleable standards and self-centered reality. I am speaking to all equally (as in a fixed law equally applied).

This is the message of Jesus Christ, and Him as the Ark of the Testament (the Word of God) upon which is balanced all the law and prophets. Luke 2:32 records the LORD entering the world as “A Light to lighten the gentiles, and the Glory of Thy people Israel.”

In recent posts we have examined the idea of the Glory of the LORD being when we as a people of God have emptied ourselves of self, and are filled with the mind and message of the LORD. His Glory is then seen in/through us as we advance His message of peace and civilization (pour it out of us into others, as it was done to us).

The Greek word translated “to lighten” in Luke 2:32 above is, apocalypse (apokalupsis – to disclose, or literally to remove a cover – from something that exists but has been covered (overshadowed by darkness)). The word “gentiles” is ethnos, meaning the nations. In this we see the Glory of God is seen in His people, and this message of the way to peace and civilization is then disclosed to the nations (the people not knowing Him or the way).

The fullness of understand this is found in Isaiah 42:6 where Luke is quoting from as he tells of the Light and the enlightenment. In the words that follow in verse 7 we read it is, “To open the blind eyes, to bring out the prisoners from the prison, and them that sit in darkness out of the prison house.”

Isaiah 42
1 Behold my servant, whom I uphold; mine elect, in whom my soul delights; I have put my spirit upon him: he shall bring forth judgment to the Gentiles.
2 He shall not cry, nor lift up, nor cause his voice to be heard in the street.
3 A bruised reed shall he not break, and the smoking flax shall he not quench: he shall bring forth judgment unto truth.
4 He shall not fail nor be discouraged, till he have set judgment in the earth: and the isles shall wait for his law.
5 Thus says God the Lord, he that created the heavens, and stretched them out; he that spread forth the earth, and that which cometh out of it; he that gives breath unto the people upon it, and spirit to them that walk therein:
6 I the Lord have called thee in righteousness, and will hold thine hand, and will keep thee, and give thee for a covenant of the people, for a light of the Gentiles;
7 To open the blind eyes, to bring out the prisoners from the prison, and them that sit in darkness out of the prison house.
8 I am the Lord: that is my name: and my glory will I not give to another, neither my praise to graven images.
9 Behold, the former things are come to pass, and new things do I declare: before they spring forth I tell you of them.
10 Sing unto the Lord a new song, and his praise from the end of the earth, you that go down to the sea, and all that is therein; the isles, and the inhabitants thereof.
11 Let the wilderness and the cities thereof lift up their voice, the villages that Kedar doth inhabit: let the inhabitants of the rock sing, let them shout from the top of the mountains.
12 Let them give glory unto the Lord, and declare his praise in the islands.
13 The Lord shall go forth as a mighty man, he shall stir up jealousy like a man of war: he shall cry, yea, roar; he shall prevail against his enemies.
14 I have long time held my peace; I have been still, and refrained myself: now will I cry like a travailing woman; I will destroy and devour at once.
15 I will make waste mountains and hills, and dry up all their herbs; and I will make the rivers islands, and I will dry up the pools.
16 And I will bring the blind by a way that they knew not; I will lead them in paths that they have not known: I will make darkness light before them, and crooked things straight. These things will I do unto them, and not forsake them.
17 They shall be turned back, they shall be greatly ashamed, that trust in graven images, that say to the molten images, You are our gods.
18 Hear, you deaf; and look, you blind, that you may see.
19 Who is blind, but my servant? or deaf, as my messenger that I sent? who is blind as he that is perfect, and blind as the Lord’s servant?
20 Seeing many things, but you observes not; opening the ears, but he hears not.
21 The Lord is well pleased for his righteousness’ sake; he will magnify the law, and make it honorable.
22 But this is a people robbed and spoiled; they are all of them snared in holes, and they are hid in prison houses: they are for a prey, and none delivers; for a spoil, and none says, Restore.
23 Who among you will give ear to this? who will hearken and hear for the time to come?
24 Who gave Jacob for a spoil, and Israel to the robbers? did not the Lord, he against whom we have sinned? for they would not walk in his ways, neither were they obedient unto his law.
25 Therefore he hath poured upon him the fury of his anger, and the strength of battle: and it hath set him on fire round about, yet he knew not; and it burned him, yet he laid it not to heart.

Philippians 2
1 If there be therefore any consolation in Christ, if any comfort of love, if any fellowship of the Spirit, if any bowels and mercies,
2 Fulfill you my joy, that you be likeminded, having the same love, being of one accord, of one mind.
3 Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory; but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves.
4 Look not every man on his own things, but every man also on the things of others.
5 Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus:
6 Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God:
7 But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men:
8 And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.
9 Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name:
10 That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth;
11 And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
12 Wherefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling.
13 For it is God which works in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure.
14 Do all things without murmurings and disputings:
15 That you may be blameless and harmless, the sons of God, without rebuke, in the midst of a crooked and perverse nation, among whom you shine as lights in the world;
16 Holding forth the word of life; that I may rejoice in the day of Christ, that I have not run in vain, neither labored in vain.
17 Yea, and if I be offered upon the sacrifice and service of your faith, I joy, and rejoice with you all.
18 For the same cause also do you joy, and rejoice with me.
19 But I trust in the Lord Jesus to send Timothy shortly unto you, that I also may be of good comfort, when I know your state.
20 For I have no man likeminded, who will naturally care for your state.
21 For all seek their own, not the things which are Jesus Christ’s.
22 But you know the proof of him, that, as a son with the father, he hath served with me in the gospel.

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 stedfast, and every transgression and disobedience received a just recompence 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 hath 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 art 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 didst set him over the works of thy 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.
9 But we see Jesus, who was made a little lower than the angels for the suffering of death, crowned with glory and honor; that he by the grace of God should taste death for every man.
10 For it became him, for whom are all things, and by whom are all things, in bringing many sons unto glory, to make the captain of their salvation perfect through sufferings.
11 For both he that sanctifies and they who are sanctified are all of one: for which cause he is not ashamed to call them brethren,
12 Saying, I will declare thy name unto my brethren, in the midst of the church will I sing praise unto thee.
13 And again, I will put my trust in him. And again, Behold I and the children which God hath given me.
14 Forasmuch then as the children are partakers of flesh and blood, he also himself likewise took part of the same; that through death he might destroy him that had the power of death, that is, the devil;
15 And deliver them who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage.
16 For truly he took not on him the nature of angels; but he took on him the seed of Abraham.
17 Wherefore in all things it behooved him to be made like unto his brethren, that he might be a merciful and faithful high priest in things pertaining to God, to make reconciliation for the sins of the people.
18 For in that he himself hath suffered being tempted, he is able to secure [help] them that are tempted.

The underlying theories in the economic systems of trade policy and climate change are similarly flawed in premises, in neither being able to predict the future or acknowledge the present. My point today is more to introduce a better rationale to explain the need for altering trade policy than to dispute the hoax of climate change, but in doing we may achieve a deeper understanding of each.

To begin with the word economy is from the Greek word oikonomia, literally meaning house law. The basic idea is defining how things move through an interconnected system. The word itself is a compound word from oikos, meaning house or family, and nomos, meaning distribution of food to people or grain to animals, and the principles of distribution. Therefore we see economy meaning the basic principles of how thing naturally move through a system, and the effects of the movement.

Let’s begin with the idea of nature as the most basic way systems interact, the underlying complexity, and then the attempts to control them. The first natural principle (law) in economic systems is the lack of something in one area will be followed by something rushing in to fill it. In each of these there is an attempt to find equilibrium but in the rush to fill there is also an undulation proportionate to the volume of the lack and the related speed of filling. (Supply and demand, or pressure systems.)

The problem is in thinking effects and intervention can be fully modeled with any degree of certainty. These system’s interactions themselves have been proven to be ever creating their own influences with the only certainty being their unpredictability. This is the heart of the matter – human intervention in the attempt to control or alter the natural courses can do little outside the short term because the first natural law will always eventually overcome and introduce the unpredictable. In addition this natural interaction occurs in real time and human intervention to force equilibrium into the system requires correctly predicting the future. Based on the evidence of history, mostly all human experience proves this an impossibility due to misdiagnosing the problem and following with a solution never able to achieve the desired effect.

In other words, in order to effect an economy, controlling or eliminate its natural cycles, one must predict the future effects by understanding what is occurring in the present and acting in a way to alter it in a desired direction. The fruitless misdiagnoses is by intention in our time mislabeling (PC) problems to insure any proposed solution is misdirect and therefore never able to solve the actual dilemma.

The intellect of man enables him with the capacity to see in the abstract and overcome his environment. The problem comes as his animal nature causes him to fail at it due to immediate lust (uncontrollable desire), and the pride induced ignorance that subdues his ability to change when needed.

This brings us to trade policy and failure of current conservative theories of free trade. When economists argue the theory of unrestricted foreign trade markets they seem to always refer to Milton Friedman’s analogy of how markets stabilize. It says that trade imbalances will always stabilize because they will always result in the selling country accumulating an overabundance of the buyer’s currency. This overabundance will then always cause their currency to lose value as the try to exchange it (buyer’s currency) for their own currency. This is said to then make their goods less competitive and therefore will cause a shift toward favoring the original buyer.

Let’s shift for a minute to understand US economic policy. We operate on a system called Keynesian Economic. It says that our economic output is proportionate to the amount of liquidity (cash available for use) in the economy. The US as policy intervenes (centrally controls) in this aspect of the economy by controlling the amount of cash available through setting (manipulating) interest rates. The policy makers for purely political reasons decided the natural fluctuations in the economy were too wide and they speculated that by controlling growth through interest rates they could keep the economy on a steady line of stable growth (seems to have been around 3.5% yearly growth in GDP).

I speculate that the political calculation was this: the central planners (democrat socialists and progressives) saw the economic swings as political liabilities and a threat to their ideas of a socialist utopia. It seemed that each time one of these larger natural economic down-turns occurred the people of the US would turn to electing republicans, who back then were considered to have alternative economic ideas (like lower taxes and reduced government frivolous spending) that would more likely  lead to recovery. The flat line growth would eliminate the need for these other ideas counter to socialism. In their eyes it was the cure to the one major problem with socialism (it always runs out of other people’s money) and would be an endless supply toward utopia.

The failure we experience in 2008 was in great part atributable to thinking there was a never ending supply of money, the resulting bubble, and incorrect action by the central planners. As they tried to slow the economic exuberance by raising rates (reducing the cash supply to slow growth) they also failed to see or acknowledge the bubble. The bubble bursting caused a reduction in available cash at the same time as the effects of the Fed policy was kicking in to reduce it. The end was a liquidity crisis, and the resulting loss of almost half the world’s wealth in the form of loss of equity.

We may look at this again later but the point for now is in seeing how central planners can never see future events and when policy is so heavily reliant on correctly doing so there will always inevitably be catastrophic consequence. These are only exacerbated by refusal to abandon the policy and allow the system to naturally recover no matter the pain involved.

Our trade policy assumes imbalances will always naturally correct while ignoring the fact that central planners are manipulating the system to insure it doesn’t. (Free markets aren’t the problem. The problem is intervention by central planners and their intermixing of socialist controls.) One of the other first principles of economy (house law) is everyone’s first priority is their own house, and this law itself demands it be so. (This is why every time the dollar gets weak as a result of over abundance in China they devalue their currency to offset the decline and prop up the dollar. A strong dollar gives them and all our trading partners an advantage over domestic products. It is also why they dislike QE (Quantitative Easing – printing money to add to the supply not the value) because it devalues the US dollar.)

Let’s get back to our national economic principles and the underlying premise that economic growth is directly controlled by the amount of liquidity in the economy (cash available for use). Let’s also admit that by the Fed lowering interest rates and leaving them at near zero it has been trying to make cash more available. Let us also admit that in the face of this failing they then resorted to printing money (QE), which has also proven a failure to achieve reviving the economy and growth.

This begs the question why did these fail. First of all the solution did nothing to put “usable” cash into the economy. The infused cash first went to replace the lost equity of the largest financial institution, and then regulators also mandated the bank increase their liquidity reserves. These both rather than increasing cash in the economy instead sidelined it and thereby further reducing it.

Another major unspoken reason for a lack of cash is the trade imbalance. Using China as the example, if we are buying 300 billion dollars a year more from China than we are selling them and they are devaluing the Yuan so they can keep our dollars, that is taking 300 billion in cash out of the economy per year and further stifling our economic growth. This is on its face and according to Friedman’s economic arguments seem counter to orthodoxy. The truth is it is in China’s self interest (their house first) to keep our dollars and keep the dollar’s value high. In keeping our dollars (out of our economy) they depress economic growth and the ensuing and continued recession keeps the demand for lower priced goods (imports) high, while the strong dollar help perpetuate the status quo.
Open markets are the right’s version of the theoretical superior idea that has failed miserably in the practical application because it refuses to acknowledge human ingenuity to subvert it, and it refuses to alter policy in the response to the reality.

What is the fastest way to get usable cash back into OUR economy? Tax cuts!

The solution to our economic problems is to cut taxes, reduce the liquidity requirements of the banks, and the Fed should raise interest rates (accept the fact of the accompanying inflation and market decline). Prices and wages will rise, and the economy with run fee and swing wildly. This is the consequence of what we have wrought. A truly free market will eventually find its natural level again with stability and the natural fluxuations of a healthy economy.

We should put America first in monetary policy, trade, immigration, and national defense. For those wanting to stick with the failed policies of the past – vote for the Establishment. They are more than willing to wrongly prognosticate as long as it keeps them in power and control, even if the end is a loss of treasure and country.

Paid for by TimD2016 – Tim D’Annunzio for Congress

Continuing with the concept of the sword of the LORD being the Word of God. In the past few posts we have seen this as the ax incorrectly thinking itself the power that wields it, and later as the decisive dividing or the word as what shows where the power resides. (See the past several posts.) Today again a deeper look into Isaiah 10 and its further concurrence with these ideas when it tells us in verse 26 of this being the LORD stirring us, “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.”

Midian and Oreb are referring to Judges 7 when Gideon first set the Midianites to flight and then called the people to finish the Midianite prince Oreb. Oreb here is telling, by its literal meaning, of an overshadowing, as in covering the true power. We see what is overshadowed when we refer back to the words of the LORD Gideon is commanded (by understanding a DREAM) to speak in putting Midian to flight.

Judges 7
15 And it was so, when Gideon heard the telling of the dream, and the interpretation thereof, that he worshipped, and returned into the host of Israel, and said, Arise; for the LORD hath delivered into your hand the host of Midian.
16 And he divided the three hundred men into three companies, and he put a trumpet in every man’s hand, with empty pitchers, and lamps within the pitchers.
17 And he said unto them, Look on me, and do likewise: and, behold, when I come to the outside of the camp, it shall be that, as I do, so shall ye do.
18 When I blow with a trumpet, I and all that are with me, then blow ye the trumpets also on every side of all the camp, and say, The sword of the LORD, and of Gideon.
19 So Gideon, and the hundred men that were with him, came unto the outside of the camp in the beginning of the middle watch; and they had but newly set the watch: and they blew the trumpets, and brake the pitchers that were in their hands.
20 And the three companies blew the trumpets, and brake the pitchers, and held the lamps in their left hands, and the trumpets in their right hands to blow withal: and they cried, “The sword of the LORD, and of Gideon.”

When the people later come out to the battle they are told to bring water. It is worth noting, the people with Gideon had been intentionally reduced to a small band then divided into three groups. They had been reduced so that the LORD could show Himself as the power, and in doing what they may not have understood became those who set the Midianites to flight. They then banding together and called all the people (of mount Ephraim) to join in the final pursuit. (Sounds political to me.)

The word in Isaiah 10:26 then tell of this being in the manner of Egypt, and as the rod upon the waters. This is telling of Moses lifting us his rod as the LORD commanded him and dividing the waters so the people could cross over what appeared to be uncrossable (from humanity’s death into life). The Egyptians seeking to follow were consumed and the divided water come together in a decisive end.

See the previous posts, specifically 2 Timothy 2 (18 Who concerning the truth have erred, saying that the resurrection is past already; and overthrow the faith of some.), And Romans 9:(17), “For the scripture says unto Pharaoh, Even for this same purpose have I raised thee up, that I might show my power in thee, and that my name might be declared throughout all the earth.”

2 Peter 1
11 For so an entrance shall be ministered unto you abundantly into the everlasting kingdom of our LORD and Savior Jesus Christ.
12 Wherefore I will not be negligent to put you always in remembrance of these things, though ye know them, and be established in the present truth.
13 Yea, I think it meet, as long as I am in this tabernacle, to stir you up by putting you in remembrance;
14 Knowing that shortly I must put off this my tabernacle, even as our LORD Jesus Christ hath showed me.
15 Moreover I will endeavor that ye may be able after my decease to have these things always in remembrance.
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.
18 And this voice which came from heaven we heard, when we were with him in the holy mount.
19 We have also a more sure word of prophecy; whereunto ye do well that ye take heed, as unto a light that shines in a dark place, until the day dawn, and the day star arise in your hearts:
20 Knowing this first, that no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation.
21 For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spoke as they were moved by the Holy Ghost.

This vision of he LORD is what John saw when he wrote in Revelation 1:16, “and out of his mouth went a sharp two-edged sword: and his countenance was as the sun shining in his strength.”

Exodus 15
1 Then sang Moses and the children of Israel this song unto the LORD, and spoke, saying, I will sing unto the LORD, for he hath triumphed gloriously: the horse and his rider hath he thrown into the sea.
2 The LORD is my strength and song, and he is become my salvation: he is my God, and I will prepare him an habitation; my father’s God, and I will exalt him.
3 The LORD is a man of war: the LORD is his name.
4 Pharaoh’s chariots and his host hath he cast into the sea: his chosen captains also are drowned in the Red sea.
5 The depths have covered them: they sank into the bottom as a stone.
6 Your right hand, O LORD, is become glorious in power: your right hand, O LORD, hath dashed in pieces the enemy.
7 And in the greatness of your excellency you have overthrown them that rose up against thee: you sent forth your wrath, which consumed them as stubble.
8 And with the blast of your nostrils the waters were gathered together, the floods stood upright as an heap, and the depths were congealed in the heart of the sea.
9 The enemy said, I will pursue, I will overtake, I will divide the spoil; my lust shall be satisfied upon them; I will draw my sword, my hand shall destroy them.
10 You didst blow with your wind, the sea covered them: they sank as lead in the mighty waters.
11 Who is like unto thee, O LORD, among the gods? who is like thee, glorious in holiness, fearful in praises, doing wonders?
12 You stretched out your right hand, the earth swallowed them.
13 You in your mercy have led forth the people which you have redeemed: you have guided them in your strength unto your holy habitation.
14 The people shall hear, and be afraid: sorrow shall take hold on the inhabitants of Palestina.
15 Then the dukes of Edom shall be amazed; the mighty men of Moab, trembling shall take hold upon them; all the inhabitants of Canaan shall melt away.
16 Fear and dread shall fall upon them; by the greatness of yourarm they shall be as still as a stone; till your people pass over, O LORD, till the people pass over, which you have purchased.
17 You shalt bring them in, and plant them in the mountain of your inheritance, in the place, O LORD, which you have made for thee to dwell in, in the Sanctuary, O LORD, which your hands have established.
18 The LORD shall reign for ever and ever.
19 For the horse of Pharaoh went in with his chariots and with his horsemen into the sea, and the LORD brought again the waters of the sea upon them; but the children of Israel went on dry land in the midst of the sea.
20 And Miriam the prophetess, the sister of Aaron, took a timbrel in her hand; and all the women went out after her with timbrels and with dances.
21 And Miriam answered them, Sing ye to the LORD, for he hath triumphed gloriously; the horse and his rider hath he thrown into the sea.
22 So Moses brought Israel from the Red sea, and they went out into the wilderness of Shur; and they went three days in the wilderness, and found no water.
23 And when they came to Marah, they could not drink of the waters of Marah, for they were bitter: therefore the name of it was called Marah.
24 And the people murmured against Moses, saying, What shall we drink?
25 And he cried unto the LORD; and the LORD showed him a tree, which when he had cast into the waters, the waters were made sweet: there he made for them a statute and an ordinance, and there he proved them,
26 And said, If you wilt diligently hearken to the voice of the LORD your God, and wilt do that which is right in his sight, and wilt give ear to his commandments, and keep all his statutes, I will put none of these diseases upon thee, which I have brought upon the Egyptians: for I am the LORD that heals thee.
27 And they came to Elim, where were twelve wells of water, and threescore and ten palm trees: and they encamped there by the waters.

Revelation 19
1 And after these things I heard a great voice of much people in heaven, saying, Alleluia; Salvation, and glory, and honor, and power, unto the Lord our God:
2 For true and righteous are his judgments: for he hath judged the great whore, which did corrupt the earth with her fornication, and hath avenged the blood of his servants at her hand.
3 And again they said, Alleluia And her smoke rose up for ever and ever.
4 And the four and twenty elders and the four beasts fell down and worshipped God that sat on the throne, saying, Amen; Alleluia.
5 And a voice came out of the throne, saying, Praise our God, all ye his servants, and ye that fear him, both small and great.
6 And I heard as it were the voice of a great multitude, and as the voice of many waters, and as the voice of mighty thunderings, saying, Alleluia: for the Lord God omnipotent reigns.
7 Let us be glad and rejoice, and give honor to him: for the marriage of the Lamb is come, and his wife hath made herself ready.
8 And to her was granted that she should be arrayed in fine linen, clean and white: for the fine linen is the righteousness of saints.
9 And he said unto me, Write, Blessed are they which are called unto the marriage supper of the Lamb. And he said unto me, These are the true sayings of God.
10 And I fell at his feet to worship him. And he said unto me, See you do it not: I am your fellowservant, and of your brethren that have the testimony of Jesus: worship God: for the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy.
11 And I saw heaven opened, and behold a white horse; and he that sat upon him was called Faithful and True, and in righteousness he doth judge and make war.
12 His eyes were as a flame of fire, and on his head were many crowns; and he had a name written, that no man knew, but he himself.
13 And he was clothed with a vesture dipped in blood: and his name is called The Word of God.
14 And the armies which were in heaven followed him upon white horses, clothed in fine linen, white and clean.
15 And out of his mouth goed a sharp sword, that with it he should smite the nations: and he shall rule them with a rod of iron: and he treads the winepress of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God.
16 And he hath on his vesture and on his thigh a name written, King Of Kings, And Lord Of Lords.
17 And I saw an angel standing in the sun; and he cried with a loud voice, saying to all the fowls that fly in the midst of heaven, Come and gather yourselves together unto the supper of the great God;
18 That ye may eat the flesh of kings, and the flesh of captains, and the flesh of mighty men, and the flesh of horses, and of them that sit on them, and the flesh of all men, both free and bond, both small and great.
19 And I saw the beast, and the kings of the earth, and their armies, gathered together to make war against him that sat on the horse, and against his army.
20 And the beast was taken, and with him the false prophet that wrought miracles before him, with which he deceived them that had received the mark of the beast, and them that worshipped his image. These both were cast alive into a lake of fire burning with brimstone.
21 And the remnant were slain with the sword of him that sat upon the horse, which sword proceeded out of his mouth: and all the fowls were filled with their flesh.

Continuing with the topic of the ax thinking itself the power that wields it, and today a deeper look into the common phrase that first appears in Isaiah 10:22 & 23 and is quoted in Romans 9:27 & 28.

Isaiah 10 is also where the quote appears, “Shall the axe boast itself against him that hews therewith?” As we saw yesterday this is speaking of one thinking himself the authority when in fact he is merely the tool in the hand of power. We understand this as those in control of the machine and process thinking themself so because of their position, and being in authority having license to act in any way suiting their need (to keep power and control over the process). As we have also recently examined, we now see it as situational ethics infesting all of their body politic as those in need of using the tactic and machines they once condemned.

Isaiah 10:22 & 23 are speaking of a remnant that will return to the LORD. It tells of it as a consumption. This consumption is a full end. The word “decreed” is from a Hebrew word meaning a sharp cut, as in a decisive ending (sharpened to a fine edge or point). The same Hebrew word is translated “determined” in verse 23 in telling of it coming from the Lord GOD of hosts (the armies of heaven).

2 Kings 6
16 And he answered, Fear not: for they that be with us are more than they that be with them.
17 And Elisha prayed, and said, Lord, I pray you, open his eyes, that he may see. And the Lord opened the eyes of the young man; and he saw: and, behold, the mountain was full of horses and chariots of fire round about Elisha.
18 And when they came down to him, Elisha prayed unto the Lord, and said, Smite this people, I pray thee, with blindness. And he smote them with blindness according to the word of Elisha.

Isaiah 10
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.
23 For the Lord GOD of hosts shall make a consumption, even determined, in the midst of all the land.

The Hebrew word killayown is the word translated as “consumption” in verse 22, and is only used one other time. It appears in Deuteronomy 28:65 to tell of “failing” eyes (blindness). We are told in prior verses that this blindness comes because the people have rejected the Covenant and therefor only a remnant remains. Deuteronomy 28:62 And you shall be left few in number, whereas you were as the stars of heaven for multitude; because you would not obey the voice of the LORD your God.

The blindness is telling of being in this state and not even seeing it because of a self-induced condition. Because of who is listened to and more so because of Whose voice is rejected.

When Isaiah 10:22 & 23 are quoted in Romans 9:27 & 28 it tells of the LORD’s making short work upon the earth and that He will cut it short. The Greek word translates “cut short” and “short” is suntemno. It is a compound word from sun & temno (tomoteros), and is only used these two times. The word in these verses translated “work” is logos, and is more contextually correct when translated “word.” In this we see it once again joined, as it should be, to instruction coming from the LORD. The use of the Greek word’s temno (in it full form tomoteros) tells us this exact meaning when we see it in its only use. It is translates as “sharper” in Hebrews 4:12 in telling of the word of God being “shaper” than any two edged sword.

There is another one time used Greek word that tells us how we acquire power (authority) to wield the shape sword of the LORD. The word is orthotomeo. Here is the Strong’s Greek Dictionary definition: Strong’s #3718: orthotomeo (pronounced or-thot-om-eh’-o) from a compound of 3717 and the base of 5114, to make a straight cut, i.e. (figuratively) to dissect (expound) correctly (the divine message):–rightly divide.
It is from the words orthos, to rise up, as if a mountain lifting itself above the plain, and the word tomoteros. It is used in 2 Timothy 2:15 to tell of “rightly dividing” the word.

2 Timothy 2
1 Thou therefore, my son, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus.
2 And the things that thou hast heard of me among many witnesses, the same commit thou to faithful men, who shall be able to teach others also.
3 Thou therefore endure hardness, as a good soldier of Jesus Christ.
4 No man that wars entangles himself with the affairs of this life; that he may please him who hath chosen him to be a soldier.
5 And if a man also strive for masteries, yet is he not crowned, except he strive lawfully.
6 The husbandman that labors must be first partaker of the fruits.
7 Consider what I say; and the Lord give thee understanding in all things.
8 Remember that Jesus Christ of the seed of David was raised from the dead according to my gospel:
9 Wherein I suffer trouble, as an evil doer, even unto bonds; but the word of God is not bound.
10 Therefore I endure all things for the elect’s sakes, that they may also obtain the salvation which is in Christ Jesus with eternal glory.
11 It is a faithful saying: For if we be dead with him, we shall also live with him:
12 If we suffer, we shall also reign with him: if we deny him, he also will deny us:
13 If we believe not, yet he abides faithful: he cannot deny himself.
14 Of these things put them in remembrance, charging them before the Lord that they strive not about words to no profit, but to the subverting of the hearers.
15 Study to show thyself approved unto God, a workman that needs not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.
16 But shun profane and vain babblings: for they will increase unto more ungodliness.
17 And their word will eat as doth a canker: of whom is Hymenaeus and Philetus;
18 Who concerning the truth have erred, saying that the resurrection is past already; and overthrow the faith of some.
19 Nevertheless the foundation of God stands sure, having this seal, The Lord knows them that are his. And, let every one that names the name of Christ depart from iniquity.
20 But in a great house there are not only vessels of gold and of silver, but also of wood and of earth; and some to honor, and some to dishonor.
21 If a man therefore purge himself from these, he shall be a vessel unto honor, sanctified, and meet for the master’s use, and prepared unto every good work.
22 Flee also youthful lusts: but follow righteousness, faith, charity, peace, with them that call on the Lord out of a pure heart.
23 But foolish and unlearned questions avoid, knowing that they do produce strife.
24 And the servant of the Lord must not strive; but be gentle unto all men, apt to teach, patient,
25 In meekness instructing those that oppose themselves; if God peradventure will give them repentance to the acknowledging of the truth;
26 And that they may recover themselves out of the snare of the devil, who are taken captive by him at his will.

Isaiah 10 and Romans 9 are in yesterday’s post and should be read for full understanding. I also suggest reading Deuteronomy 28. Understand all of these posts are meant as one cohesive manifesto.

Hebrews 4
1 Let us therefore fear, lest, a promise being left us of entering into his rest, any of you should seem to come short of it.
2 For unto us was the gospel preached, as well as unto them: but the word preached did not profit them, not being mixed with faith in them that heard it.
3 For we which have believed do enter into rest, as he said, As I have sworn in my wrath, if they shall enter into my rest: although the works were finished from the foundation of the world.
4 For he spoke in a certain place of the seventh day on this wise, And God did rest the seventh day from all his works.
5 And in this place again, If they shall enter into my rest.
6 Seeing therefore it remains that some must enter therein, and they to whom it was first preached entered not in because of unbelief:
7 Again, he limits a certain day, saying in David, To day, after so long a time; as it is said, To day if you will hear his voice, harden not your hearts.
8 For if Jesus had given them rest, then would he not afterward have spoken of another day.
9 There remains therefore a rest to the people of God.
10 For he that is entered into his rest, he also hath ceased from his own works, as God did from his.
11 Let us labor therefore to enter into that rest, lest any man fall after the same example of unbelief.
12 For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any two edged 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.
13 Neither is there any creature that is not manifest in his sight: but all things are naked and opened unto the eyes of him with whom we have to do.
14 Seeing then that we have a great high priest, that is passed into the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our profession.
15 For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin.
16 Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.

Ezekiel 5
1 And you, son of man, take you a sharp knife, take you a barber’s razor, and cause it to pass upon your head and upon thy beard: then take you balances to weigh, and divide the hair.
2 You shall burn with fire a third part in the midst of the city, when the days of the siege are fulfilled: and you shall take a third part, and smite about it with a knife: and a third part you shall scatter in the wind; and I will draw out a sword after them.
3 You shall also take thereof a few in number, and bind them in thy skirts.
4 Then take of them again, and cast them into the midst of the fire, and burn them in the fire; for thereof shall a fire come forth into all the house of Israel.
5 Thus says the Lord GOD; This is Jerusalem: I have set it in the midst of the nations and countries that are round about her.
6 And she hath changed my judgments into wickedness more than the nations, and my statutes more than the countries that are round about her: for they have refused my judgments and my statutes, they have not walked in them.
7 Therefore thus says the Lord GOD; Because you multiplied more than the nations that are round about you, and have not walked in my statutes, neither have kept my judgments, neither have done according to the judgments of the nations that are round about you;
8 Therefore thus says the Lord GOD; Behold, I, even I, am against you, and will execute judgments in the midst of you in the sight of the nations.
9 And I will do in you that which I have not done, and whereunto I will not do any more the like, because of all your abominations.
10 Therefore the fathers shall eat the sons in the midst of you, and the sons shall eat their fathers; and I will execute judgments in you, and the whole remnant of you will I scatter into all the winds.
11 Wherefore, as I live, says the Lord GOD; Surely, because you hast defiled my sanctuary with all thy detestable things, and with all your abominations, therefore will I also diminish you; neither shall mine eye spare, neither will I have any pity.
12 A third part of you shall die with the pestilence, and with famine shall they be consumed in the midst of you: and a third part shall fall by the sword round about you; and I will scatter a third part into all the winds, and I will draw out a sword after them.
13 Thus shall mine anger be accomplished, and I will cause my fury to rest upon them, and I will be comforted: and they shall know that I the Lord have spoken it in my zeal, when I have accomplished my fury in them.
14 Moreover I will make you waste, and a reproach among the nations that are round about you, in the sight of all that pass by.
15 So it shall be a reproach and a taunt, an instruction and an astonishment unto the nations that are round about you, when I shall execute judgments in you in anger and in fury and in furious rebukes. I the Lord have spoken it.
16 When I shall send upon them the evil arrows of famine, which shall be for their destruction, and which I will send to destroy you: and I will increase the famine upon you, and will break your staff of bread:
17 So will I send upon you famine and evil beasts, and they shall bereave you: and pestilence and blood shall pass through you; and I will bring the sword upon you. I the Lord have spoken it.

Psalm 95
1 O come, let us sing unto the LORD: let us make a joyful noise to the Rock of our salvation.
2 Let us come before his presence with thanksgiving, and make a joyful noise unto him with psalms.
3 For the LORD is a great God, and a great King above all gods.
4 In his hand are the deep places of the earth: the strength of the hills is his also.
5 The sea is his, and he made it: and his hands formed the dry land.
6 O come, let us worship and bow down: let us kneel before the Lord our maker.
7 For he is our God; and we are the people of his pasture, and the sheep of his hand. To day if you will hear his voice,
8 Harden not your heart, as in the provocation, and as in the day of temptation in the wilderness:
9 When your fathers tempted me, proved me, and saw my work.
10 Forty years long was I grieved with this generation, and said, It is a people that do err in their heart, and they have not known my ways:
11 Unto whom I swore in my wrath that they should not enter into my rest.

Romans 10
26 And it shall come to pass, that in the place where it was said unto them, Ye are not my people; there shall they be called the children of the living God.
27 Isaiah also cries concerning Israel, Though the number of the children of Israel be as the sand of the sea, a remnant shall be saved:
28 For he will finish the work, and cut it short in righteousness: because a short work will the Lord make upon the earth.
29 And as Isaiah said before, Except the Lord of Sabaoth had left us a seed, we had been as Sodoma, and been made like unto Gomorrha.
30 What shall we say then? That the Gentiles, which followed not after righteousness, have attained to righteousness, even the righteousness which is of faith.
31 But Israel, which followed after the law of righteousness, hath not attained to the law of righteousness.
32 Wherefore? Because they sought it not by faith, but as it were by the works of the law. For they stumbled at that stumblingstone;
33 As it is written, Behold, I lay in Zion a stumblingstone and rock of offence: and whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed.

Continuing a deeper look into what we are told by the LORD of His wonderful work of repairing what man has brought to destruction and chaos. (I looked and understood the earth had become void and worthless, and the darkness of man (left to his degenerate thoughts) had destroyed all truthful discourse. And there was no light and no man.) In previous posts we have looked at two of the three times the Hebrew phrase tohuw bohuw is used to describe the earth becoming without form, and void, and without any lights in the heavens. We saw it as the beginning state of creation in Genesis 1, and the description of the earth due to the fallen minds of the men inhabiting it, as written in Jeremiah 4 (verse 23 containing the phrase).

To have a full understanding of what follows it will help if you have read previous posts where the foundation of understanding has been set forth and credentialed.

The third time the phrase is used is in Isaiah 34:11 where it is translated as the words “confusion” and “emptiness.” In this description we see the same portrayal of the condition we have seen in the other creation accounts. Here the “without form, and void” is translated as being measured by the state of “confusion, and the stones of emptiness.” As we have learned in previous examinations these are the darkened lights of heaven no longer shining and reflection in God’s intended form of governments (church and civil kingdom reign – Zion). In the description we also see the earth without man and this in direct relation to the above and humanity’s fallen mind.

Isaiah 34 (I will paste the full chapter at the end)
8 For it is the day of the LORD’s vengeance, and the year of recompenses for the controversy of Zion.
9 And the streams thereof shall be turned into pitch, and the dust thereof into brimstone, and the land thereof shall become burning pitch.
10 It shall not be quenched night nor day; the smoke thereof shall go up for ever: from generation to generation it shall lie waste; none shall pass through it for ever and ever.
11 But the cormorant and the bittern shall possess it; the owl also and the raven shall dwell in it: and he shall stretch out upon it the line of confusion, and the stones of emptiness.
12 They shall call the nobles thereof to the kingdom, but none shall be there, and all her princes shall be nothing.
13 And thorns shall come up in her palaces, nettles and brambles in the fortresses thereof: and it shall be an habitation of dragons, and a court for owls.

As with the other accounts, as this condition covers the earth the LORD enters into creation with His new work (good advice) of repair the damage, and making all things new for those who will hear Him. This is the LORD coming in the clouds of heaven as great light rising in a new day. It is what we see in the following chapter as the LORD comes in His glory. In verse 3 we read, “Strengthen you the weak hands, and confirm the feeble knees.” The call is to see this and believe in the power of the LORD no matter what your natural eyes are telling you. The wording here alludes to the spies who were sent in to spy out the Promised Land. If you remember, they saw it with their natural eyes and therefor lacked understanding the Almighty was with them as the LORD of the Armies of Heaven.

We are given a greater understanding when the Isaiah 35:3 is quoted in Hebrews 12:12 as we are being told of the correction that comes from the LORD. There it is spoken of it in the context of our being corrected (repaired) as God’s children. The chapter goes on the tell us this is what brings us to our destination: “22 But you 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 the mediator of the new covenant, and to the blood of sprinkling, that speaks better things than that of Abel. 25 See that you 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 has promised, saying, Yet once more I shake not the earth only, but also heaven.”

Here are the full chapters:

Isaiah 34 King James Version (KJV)
1 Come near, you nations, to hear; and hearken, you people: let the earth hear, and all that is therein; the world, and all things that come forth of it.
2 For the indignation of the LORD is upon all nations, and his fury upon all their armies: he has utterly destroyed them, he has delivered them to the slaughter.
3 Their slain also shall be cast out, and their stink shall come up out of their carcasses, and the mountains shall be melted with their blood.
4 And all the host of heaven shall be dissolved, and the heavens shall be rolled together as a scroll: and all their host shall fall down, as the leaf falls off from the vine, and as a falling fig from the fig tree.
5 For my sword shall be bathed in heaven: behold, it shall come down upon Idumea [those refusing correction and thereby rejecting the Promise], and upon the people of my curse, to judgment.
6 The sword of the LORD is filled with blood, it is made fat with fatness, and with the blood of lambs and goats, with the fat of the kidneys of rams: for the LORD has a sacrifice in Bozrah [sheepfold], and a great slaughter in the land of Idumea.
7 And the unicorns shall come down with them, and the bullocks with the bulls; and their land shall be soaked with blood, and their dust made fat with fatness.
8 For it is the day of the LORD’s vengeance, and the year of recompenses for the controversy of Zion.
9 And the streams thereof shall be turned into pitch, and the dust thereof into brimstone, and the land thereof shall become burning pitch.
10 It shall not be quenched night nor day; the smoke thereof shall go up for ever: from generation to generation it shall lie waste; none shall pass through it for ever and ever.
11 But the cormorant and the bittern shall possess it; the owl also and the raven shall dwell in it: and he shall stretch out upon it the line of confusion, and the stones of emptiness.
12 They shall call the nobles thereof to the kingdom, but none shall be there, and all her princes shall be nothing.
13 And thorns shall come up in her palaces, nettles and brambles in the fortresses thereof: and it shall be an habitation of dragons, and a court for owls.
14 The wild beasts of the desert shall also meet with the wild beasts of the island, and the satyr shall cry to his fellow; the screech owl also shall rest there, and find for herself a place of rest.
15 There shall the great owl make her nest, and lay, and hatch, and gather under her shadow: there shall the vultures also be gathered, every one with her mate.
16 Seek you out of the book of the LORD, and read: no one of these shall fail, none shall want her mate: for my mouth it has commanded, and his spirit it has gathered them.
17 And he has cast the lot for them, and his hand has divided it unto them by line: they shall possess it for ever, from generation to generation shall they dwell therein.

Isaiah 35 King James Version (KJV)
1 The wilderness and the solitary place shall be glad for them; and the desert shall rejoice, and blossom as the rose.
2 It shall blossom abundantly, and rejoice even with joy and singing: the glory of Lebanon shall be given unto it, the excellency of Carmel and Sharon, they shall see the glory of the LORD, and the excellency of our God.
3 Strengthen you the weak hands, and confirm the feeble knees.
4 Say to them that are of a fearful heart, Be strong, fear not: behold, your God will come with vengeance, even God with a recompense; he will come and save you.
5 Then the eyes of the blind shall be opened, and the ears of the deaf shall be unstopped.
6 Then shall the lame man leap as an hart, and the tongue of the dumb sing: for in the wilderness shall waters break out, and streams in the desert.
7 And the parched ground shall become a pool, and the thirsty land springs of water: in the habitation of dragons, where each lay, shall be grass with reeds and rushes.
8 And an highway shall be there, and a way, and it shall be called The way of holiness; the unclean shall not pass over it; but it shall be for those: the wayfaring men, though fools, shall not err therein.
9 No lion shall be there, nor any ravenous beast shall go up thereon, it shall not be found there; but the redeemed shall walk there:
10 And the ransomed of the LORD shall return, and come to Zion with songs and everlasting joy upon their heads: they shall obtain joy and gladness, and sorrow and sighing shall flee away.

Hebrews 12 King James Version (KJV)
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,
2 Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.
3 For consider him that endured such contradiction of sinners against himself, lest you be wearied and faint in your minds.
4 You have not yet resisted unto blood, striving against sin.
5 And you have forgotten the exhortation which speaks unto you as unto children, My son, despise not thou the chastening of the LORD, nor faint when thou art rebuked of him:
6 For whom the LORD loves he chastens, and scourges every son whom he receives.
7 If you endure chastening, God deals with you as with sons; for what son is he whom the father chastens not?
8 But if you be without chastisement, whereof all are partakers, then are you illegitimate, and not sons.
9 Furthermore we have had fathers of our flesh which corrected us, and we gave them reverence: shall we not much rather be in subjection unto the Father of spirits, and live?
10 For they verily for a few days chastened us after their own pleasure; but he for our profit, that we might be partakers of his holiness.
11 Now no chastening for the present seems to be joyous, but grievous: nevertheless afterward it yields the peaceable fruit of righteousness unto them which are exercised thereby.
12 Wherefore lift up the hands which hang down, and the feeble knees;
13 And make straight paths for your feet, lest that which is lame be turned out of the way; but let it rather be healed.
14 Follow peace with all men, and holiness, without which no man shall see the LORD:
15 Looking diligently lest any man fail of the grace of God; lest any root of bitterness springing up trouble you, and thereby many be defiled;
16 Lest there be any fornicator, or profane person, as Esau, who for one morsel of meat sold his birthright.
17 For you know how that afterward, when he would have inherited the blessing, he was rejected: for he found no place of repentance, though he sought it carefully with tears.
18 For you are not come unto the mount that might be touched, and that burned with fire, nor unto blackness, and darkness, and tempest,
19 And the sound of a trumpet, and the voice of words; which voice they that heard entreated that the word should not be spoken to them any more:
20 (For they could not endure that which was commanded, And if so much as a beast touch the mountain, it shall be stoned, or thrust through with a dart:
21 And so terrible was the sight, that Moses said, I exceedingly fear and quake:)
22 But you 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 the mediator of the new covenant, and to the blood of sprinkling, that speaks better things than that of Abel.
25 See that you 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 has 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.

Today a deeper look into what we are told by the LORD as He begins His wonderful work of correcting what man has brought to destruction and chaos. And I looked and understood the earth had become void and worthless, and the darkness of man (left to his degenerate thoughts) had destroyed all truthful discourse.

Over the past several posts we have examined Jeremiah 33 and Jehovah’s promises of bringing order again to the chaos man created. To preface these explanations let’s first understand who Jehovah is. The name means self-existent, but more than that it means self-generating. In other words this mean He relies on nothing outside of Himself to bring Himself into manifestation and this in what ever way He determines suitable to the situation. This is why the name Jehovah so often appears hyphenated with a situational modifier. In other words, Jehovah-Shalom is the LORD our Peace, Jehovah-Tsidkenu is the LORD our Righteousness, Jehovah-Saboath is the LORD of Hosts (angelic armies), and so on. All of these are the LORD as our Maker and the Creator of all things.

In Jeremiah 33:1 the LORD speaks through/to Jeremiah, Jeremiah meaning Jehovah rising, as in manifesting himself into a situation, as in making man understand it is He intervening in the affairs of man as the faithful Creator (maintainer of the Covenant). In the next two verses we read, “2 Thus says the LORD the maker thereof, the LORD that formed it, to establish it; the LORD is his name; 3 Call unto me, and I will answer you, and show you great and mighty things, which you know not.” Herein we see the LORD defining Himself as The Creator of All thing and also defining His methods (good advice) of correcting it, as in returning it to newness.

This declaration of Creation is a direct reference to Jeremiah 4:23 where the Hebrew phrase tohuw bohuw (tohu va-bohu) appears. In Jeremiah 4 it is used to describe the earth when it has become without form, void, and the heavens are without lights. We are told of the cause in the verse prior, “For My people is foolish, they have not known Me; they are foolish children, and they have none understanding: they are wise to do evil, but to do good they have no knowledge.”

Just prior we are told of the destruction of the land and the war that was being waged against God’s people. None would sound the trumpet to tell the people they are under attack and to join the battle to repel the enemy. There are many who are sounding the alarm but they are calling to their own war, and rather than to be joined with the LORD they are joined in rebellion against Him.

Another (of three) time the Hebrew words tohuw bohuw are used is in the creation story in Genesis 1. It is telling of the same condition of the earth. There as in Jeremiah 4 it is telling of the earth becoming “without form, and void,” and with no lights in heaven. In both these cases the LORD speaks into existence the new creation that follows. This beginning of creation is what he LORD Jesus tells us about when He speaks of the coming of the Son of man as Light breaking the horizon as the darkness ends as the new day springs forth (Matthew 24:27).

Friends, Romans 13:11 And that, knowing the time, that now it is high time to awake out of sleep: for now is our salvation nearer than when we believed. 12 The night is far spent, the day is at hand: let us therefore cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armor of light.

Following are the two chapters and 2 Peter 3. Jeremiah 33 is from the post several days ago titled, I Know My Redeemer Lives, and He Shall Stand Upon the Earth. The word there I have translated as “promised” is the same Hebrew word translated as “saith (says)” and “said” when the LORD GOD speaks creation into existence. That is what Jeremiah 33 is telling of. This is what I am telling you of now, today.

Jeremiah 4 King James Version (KJV)
1 If you will return, O Israel, says the LORD, return unto me: and if you will put away your abominations out of my sight, then shall you not remove.
2 And you shall 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.
3 For thus said 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, you 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.
5 Declare you in Judah, and publish in Jerusalem; and say, Blow you the trumpet in the land: cry, gather together, and say, Assemble yourselves, and let us go into the defensed cities.
6 Set up the standard toward Zion: retire, stay not: for I will bring evil from the north, and a great destruction.
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.
8 For this gird you with sackcloth, lament and howl: for the fierce anger of the LORD is not turned back from us.
9 And it shall come to pass at that day, says 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.
10 Then said I, Ah, LORD God! surely you have greatly deceived this people and Jerusalem, saying, You shall have peace; whereas the sword reaches unto the soul.
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,
12 Even a full wind from those places shall come unto me: now also will I give sentence against them.
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.
14 O Jerusalem, wash your heart from wickedness, that you may be saved. How long shall thy vain thoughts lodge within you?
15 For a voice declares from Dan, and publishes affliction from mount Ephraim.
16 Make you 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, says the LORD.
18 Thy way and thy doings have procured these things unto you; this is thy wickedness, because it is bitter, because it reaches unto your heart.
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 you have heard, O my soul, the sound of the trumpet, the alarm of war.
20 Destruction upon destruction is cried; for the whole land is spoiled: suddenly are my tents spoiled, and my curtains in a moment.
21 How long shall I see the standard, and hear the sound of the trumpet?
22 For my people is foolish, they have not known me; they are foolish children, and they have none understanding: they are wise to do evil, but to do good they have no knowledge.
23 I beheld the earth, and, lo, it was without form, and void; and the heavens, and they had no light.
24 I beheld the mountains, and, lo, they trembled, and all the hills moved lightly.
25 I beheld, and, lo, there was no man, and all the birds of the heavens were fled.
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.
27 For thus hath the LORD said, The whole land shall be desolate; yet will I not make a full end.
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.
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.
30 And when you art spoiled, what will you do? Though you cloth thyself with crimson, though you deck you with ornaments of gold, though you rent face with painting, in vain shall you make thyself fair; thy lovers will despise you, they will seek thy life.
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.

Jeremiah 33 Authorized (King James) Version (AKJV)
1 Moreover the word of [Jehovah] came unto Jeremiah [Jehovah rising] the second time, while he was yet shut up in the court of the prison, saying, 2 [This is the promise of Jehovah] the maker thereof, [Jehovah] that formed it, to establish it; [Jehovah] is his name; 3 call unto me, and I will answer you, and show you great and mighty things, which you knows not. 4 For [this is the promise of Jehovah], the God of Israel, concerning the houses of this city, and concerning the houses of the kings [those in power], which are thrown down by [those who they exalted], and by [their words]; 5 they come to fight with [those who have become fat and at ease], but it is to fill them with the dead bodies of men, whom I have slain in mine anger and in my fury, and for all whose wickedness I have hid my face from this city. 6 Behold, I will bring it health and cure, and I will cure them, and will reveal unto them the abundance of peace and truth. 7 And I will cause the captivity of [those in power] and the captivity of Israel to return, and will build them, as at the first. 8 And I will cleanse them from all their iniquity, whereby they have sinned against me; and I will pardon all their iniquities, whereby they have sinned, and whereby they have transgressed against me.

9 And it shall be to me a name of joy, a praise and an [honor] before all the nations of the earth, which shall hear all the good that I do unto them: and they shall fear and tremble for all the goodness and for all the prosperity that I procure unto it. 10 [This is the promise of Jehovah]; Again there shall be heard in this place, which [you] say shall be desolate without man and without beast, even in the cities of [those in power], and in the streets of Jerusalem, that are desolate, without man, and without inhabitant, and without beast, 11 the voice of joy, and the voice of gladness, the voice of the bridegroom, and the voice of the bride, the voice of them that shall say, Praise [Jehovah] of hosts: for [Jehovah] is good; for his mercy [endures] for ever: and of them that shall bring the sacrifice of praise into the house of [Jehovah]. For I will cause to return the captivity of the land, as at the first, [says Jehovah]. 12 This is the promise of [Jehovah] of hosts; Again in this place, which is desolate without man and without beast, and in all the cities thereof, shall be an habitation of shepherds causing [my people as] flocks to lie down. 13 In the cities of the mountains, in the cities of the vale, and in the cities of the south, and in the land of [the sons and daughters of my power], and in the places about Jerusalem [my city founded on my principles of peace and security], and in the cities of [those in power], shall the flocks pass again under the hands of him that [is speaking to them], [says Jehovah]. 14 Behold, the [day has] come, [says Jehovah], that I will perform that good thing which I have promised unto the house of Israel [my nation that governs under God] and to the house of [those in power].

15 In those days, and at that [appointed] time, will I cause the Branch of righteousness to grow up unto David; and he shall execute judgment and righteousness in the land. 16 In those days shall [those in power] be saved, and Jerusalem [my city] shall dwell safely: and this is the name wherewith she shall be called, [Jehovah our Righteousness].

17 For [this is the promise of Jehovah]; David shall never want a man to sit upon the throne of the house of Israel; 18 neither shall the priests the Levites want a man before me to offer burnt offerings, and to kindle meat offerings, and to do sacrifice continually.
19 And the word of [Jehovah] came unto Jeremiah, saying, 20 [This is the promise of Jehovah]; If [you] can break my covenant of the day, and my covenant of the night, and that there should not be day and night in their season; 21 then may also my covenant be broken with David my servant, that he should not have a son to reign upon his throne; and with the Levites the priests, my ministers. 22 As the host of heaven cannot be numbered, neither the sand of the sea measured: so will I multiply the seed of David my servant, and the Levites that minister unto me.

23 Moreover the word of [Jehovah] came to Jeremiah [Jehovah rising], saying, 24 [Consider you] not what this people have spoken, saying, The two families which [Jehovah] hath chosen, he hath even cast them off? [In this] they have despised my people, that they should be no more a nation before them. 25 [This is the promise of Jehovah]; If my covenant be not with day and night, and if I have not appointed the ordinances of heaven and earth; 26 then will I cast away the seed of Jacob, and David my servant, so that I will not take any of his seed to be rulers over the seed of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob: for I will cause their captivity to return, and have mercy on them.

The parts above enclosed in brackets are those I have either modified or added for clarification of their spiritual meaning, that we might understand the LORD’s message to us in this His appointed time.

The “elements” spoken of in 2 Peter 3 are the first principles (oracles) as the foundational beliefs upon which the world stands. See James 3 as it tell in the same context of the words of men (untamed by a well reasoning mind) are what sets the fires of hell. I will post James 3 also.

2 Peter 3 King James Version (KJV)
1 This second epistle, beloved, I now write unto you; in both which I stir up your pure minds by way of remembrance:
2 That you may be mindful of the words which were spoken before by the holy prophets, and of the commandment of us the apostles of the LORD and Savior:
3 Knowing this first, that there shall come in the last days scoffers, 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 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 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; in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up.
11 Seeing then that all these things shall be dissolved, what manner of persons ought you to be in all holy conversation and godliness,
12 Looking for and hasting unto the coming of the day of God, wherein the heavens being on fire shall be dissolved, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat?
13 Nevertheless we, according to his promise, look for new heavens and a new earth, wherein dwells righteousness.
14 Wherefore, beloved, seeing that you look for such things, be diligent that you may be found of him in peace, without spot, and blameless.
15 And account that the longsuffering of our LORD is salvation; even as our beloved brother Paul also according to the wisdom given unto him hath written unto you;
16 As also in all his epistles, speaking in them of these things; in which are some things hard to be understood, which they that are unlearned and unstable wrest, as they do also the other scriptures, unto their own destruction.
17 You therefore, beloved, seeing you know these things before, beware lest you also, being led away with the error of the wicked, fall from your own steadfastness.
18 But grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our LORD and Savior Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and for ever. Amen.

James 3 King James Version (KJV)
1 My brethren, be not many masters, knowing that we shall receive the greater condemnation.
2 For in many things we offend all. If any man offend not in word, the same is a perfect man, and able also to bridle the whole body.
3 Behold, we put bits in the horses’ mouths, that they may obey us; and we turn about their whole body.
4 Behold also the ships, which though they be so great, and are driven of fierce winds, yet are they turned about with a very small helm, wherever the governor directs.
5 Even so the tongue is a little member, and boasts great things. Behold, how great a matter a little fire kindles!
6 And the tongue is a fire, a world of iniquity: so is the tongue among our members, that it defiles the whole body, and sets on fire the course of nature; and it is set on fire of hell.
7 For every kind of beasts, and of birds, and of serpents, and of things in the sea, is tamed, and hath been tamed of mankind:
8 But the tongue can no man tame; it is an unruly evil, full of deadly poison.
9 Therewith bless we God, even the Father; and therewith curse we men, which are made after the similitude of God.
10 Out of the same mouth proceeds blessing and cursing. My brethren, these things ought not so to be.
11 Does a fountain send forth at the same place sweet water and bitter?
12 Can the fig tree, my brethren, bear olive berries? either a vine, figs? so can no fountain both yield salt water and fresh.
13 Who is a wise man and endued with knowledge among you? let him show out of a good conversation his works with meekness of wisdom.
14 But if you have bitter envying and strife in your hearts, glory not, and lie not against the truth.
15 This wisdom descends not from above, but is earthly, sensual, devilish.
16 For where envying and strife is, there is confusion and every evil work.
17 But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, and easy to be entreated, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality, and without hypocrisy.
18 And the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace of them that make peace.

Jeremiah 33  Authorized (King James) Version (AKJV)
1 Moreover the word of [Jehovah] came unto Jeremiah [Jehovah rising] the second time, while he was yet shut up in the court of the prison, saying, 2 [This is the promise of Jehovah] the maker thereof, [Jehovah] that formed it, to establish it; [Jehovah] is his name; 3 call unto me, and I will answer thee, and show thee great and mighty things, which thou knows not. 4 For [this is the promise of Jehovah], the God of Israel, concerning the houses of this city, and concerning the houses of the kings [those in power], which are thrown down by [those who they exalted], and by [their words]; 5 they come to fight with [those who have become fat and at ease], but it is to fill them with the dead bodies of men, whom I have slain in mine anger and in my fury, and for all whose wickedness I have hid my face from this city. 6 Behold, I will bring it health and cure, and I will cure them, and will reveal unto them the abundance of peace and truth. 7 And I will cause the captivity of [those in power] and the captivity of Israel to return, and will build them, as at the first. 8 And I will cleanse them from all their iniquity, whereby they have sinned against me; and I will pardon all their iniquities, whereby they have sinned, and whereby they have transgressed against me.

9 And it shall be to me a name of joy, a praise and an [honor] before all the nations of the earth, which shall hear all the good that I do unto them: and they shall fear and tremble for all the goodness and for all the prosperity that I procure unto it. 10 [This is the promise of Jehovah]; Again there shall be heard in this place, which [you] say shall be desolate without man and without beast, even in the cities of [those in power], and in the streets of Jerusalem, that are desolate, without man, and without inhabitant, and without beast, 11 the voice of joy, and the voice of gladness, the voice of the bridegroom, and the voice of the bride, the voice of them that shall say, Praise [Jehovah] of hosts: for [Jehovah] is good; for his mercy [endures] for ever: and of them that shall bring the sacrifice of praise into the house of [Jehovah]. For I will cause to return the captivity of the land, as at the first, [says Jehovah]. 12 This is the promise of [Jehovah] of hosts; Again in this place, which is desolate without man and without beast, and in all the cities thereof, shall be an habitation of shepherds causing [my people as] flocks to lie down. 13 In the cities of the mountains, in the cities of the vale, and in the cities of the south, and in the land of [the sons and daughters of my power], and in the places about Jerusalem [my city founded on my principles of peace and security], and in the cities of [those in power], shall the flocks pass again under the hands of him that [is speaking to them], [says Jehovah]. 14 Behold, the [day has] come, [says Jehovah], that I will perform that good thing which I have promised unto the house of Israel [my nation that governs under God] and to the house of [those in power].

15 In those days, and at that [appointed] time, will I cause the Branch of righteousness to grow up unto David; and he shall execute judgment and righteousness in the land. 16 In those days shall [those in power] be saved, and Jerusalem [my city] shall dwell safely: and this is the name wherewith she shall be called, [Jehovah our Righteousness].

17 For [this is the promise of Jehovah]; David shall never want a man to sit upon the throne of the house of Israel; 18 neither shall the priests the Levites want a man before me to offer burnt offerings, and to kindle meat offerings, and to do sacrifice continually.

19 And the word of [Jehovah] came unto Jeremiah, saying, 20 [This is the promise of Jehovah]; If [you] can break my covenant of the day, and my covenant of the night, and that there should not be day and night in their season; 21 then may also my covenant be broken with David my servant, that he should not have a son to reign upon his throne; and with the Levites the priests, my ministers. 22 As the host of heaven cannot be numbered, neither the sand of the sea measured: so will I multiply the seed of David my servant, and the Levites that minister unto me.

23 Moreover the word of [Jehovah] came to Jeremiah [Jehovah rising], saying, 24 [Consider you] not what this people have spoken, saying, The two families which [Jehovah] hath chosen, he hath even cast them off? [In this] they have despised my people, that they should be no more a nation before them. 25 [This is the promise of Jehovah]; If my covenant be not with day and night, and if I have not appointed the ordinances of heaven and earth; 26 then will I cast away the seed of Jacob, and David my servant, so that I will not take any of his seed to be rulers over the seed of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob: for I will cause their captivity to return, and have mercy on them.

The parts above enclosed in brackets are those I have either modified or added for clarification of their spiritual meaning, that we might understand the Lord’s message to us in this His appointed time.

Galatians 3  King James Version (KJV)
1 O foolish Galatians, who hath bewitched you, that you should not obey the truth, before whose eyes Jesus Christ hath been evidently set forth, crucified among you?
2 This only would I learn of you, Received you the Spirit by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith?
3 Are you so foolish? having begun in the Spirit, are you now made perfect by the flesh?
4 Have you suffered so many things in vain? if it be yet in vain.
5 He therefore that ministers to you the Spirit, and works miracles among you, doeth he it by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith?
6 Even as Abraham believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness.
7 Know you therefore that they which are of faith, the same are the children of Abraham.
8 And the scripture, foreseeing that God would justify the heathen through faith, preached before the gospel unto Abraham, saying, In thee shall all nations be blessed.
9 So then they which be of faith are blessed with faithful Abraham.
10 For as many as are of the works of the law are under the curse: for it is written, Cursed is every one that continues not in all things which are written in the book of the law to do them.
11 But that no man is justified by the law in the sight of God, it is evident: for, The just shall live by faith.
12 And the law is not of faith: but, The man that does them shall live in them.
13 Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us: for it is written, Cursed is every one that hanged on a tree:
14 That the blessing of Abraham might come on the Gentiles through Jesus Christ; that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith.
15 Brethren, I speak after the manner of men; Though it be but a man’s covenant, yet if it be confirmed, no man disannuls, or adds thereto.
16 Now to Abraham and his seed were the promises made. He said not, And to seeds, as of many; but as of one, And to thy seed, which is Christ.
17 And this I say, that the covenant, that was confirmed before of God in Christ, the law, which was four hundred and thirty years after, cannot disannul, that it should make the promise of none effect.
18 For if the inheritance be of the law, it is no more of promise: but God gave it to Abraham by promise.
19 Wherefore then serves the law? It was added because of transgressions, till the seed should come to whom the promise was made; and it was ordained by angels in the hand of a mediator.
20 Now a mediator is not a mediator of one, but God is one.
21 Is the law then against the promises of God? God forbid: for if there had been a law given which could have given life, verily righteousness should have been by the law.
22 But the scripture hath concluded all under sin, that the promise by faith of Jesus Christ might be given to them that believe.
23 But before faith came, we were kept under the law, shut up unto the faith which should afterwards be revealed.
24 Wherefore the law was our schoolmaster to bring us unto Christ, that we might be justified by faith.
25 But after that faith is come, we are no longer under a schoolmaster.
26 For you are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus.
27 For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ.
28 There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female: for you are all one in Christ Jesus.
29 And if you be Christ’s, then are you Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise.

Job 19 is Job responding to Bildad’s address. We see in translating the name Bildad is a failed friend, as in he is failing Job when he is needed. If you know the story, Bildad along with two of Job’s other friends were accusing him instead of being supportive as true friends should be. (Think of our divided national house of people under God.)

Job 19  King James Version (KJV)
1 Then Job answered and said,
2 How long will you vex my soul, and break me in pieces with words?
3 These ten times have you reproached me: you are not ashamed that you make yourselves strange to me.
4 And be it indeed that I have erred, mine error remains with myself.
5 If indeed you will magnify yourselves against me, and plead against me my reproach:
6 Know now that God hath overthrown me, and hath compassed me with his net.
7 Behold, I cry out of wrong, but I am not heard: I cry aloud, but there is no judgment.
8 He hath fenced up my way that I cannot pass, and he hath set darkness in my paths.
9 He hath stripped me of my glory, and taken the crown from my head.
10 He hath destroyed me on every side, and I am gone: and mine hope hath he removed like a tree.
11 He hath also kindled his wrath against me, and he counts me unto him as one of his enemies.
12 His troops come together, and raise up their way against me, and encamp round about my tabernacle.
13 He hath put my brethren far from me, and mine acquaintance are verily estranged from me.
14 My kinsfolk have failed, and my familiar friends have forgotten me.
15 They that dwell in mine house, and my maids, count me for a stranger: I am an alien in their sight.
16 I called my servant, and he gave me no answer; I entreated him with my mouth.
17 My breath is strange to my wife, though I entreated for the children’s sake of mine own body.
18 Yea, young children despised me; I arose, and they spoke against me.
19 All my inward friends abhorred me: and they whom I loved are turned against me.
20 My bone cleave to my skin and to my flesh, and I am escaped with the skin of my teeth.
21 Have pity upon me, have pity upon me, O you my friends; for the hand of God hath touched me.
22 Why do you persecute me as God, and are not satisfied with my flesh?
23 Oh that my words were now written! oh that they were printed in a book!
24 That they were graven with an iron pen and lead in the rock forever!
25 For I know that my Redeemer lives, and that he shall stand at the latter day upon the earth:
26 And though after my skin worms destroy this body, yet in my flesh shall I see God:
27 Whom I shall see for myself, and mine eyes shall behold, and not another; though my reins be consumed within me.
28 But you should say, Why persecute we him, seeing the root of the matter is found in me?
29 Be you afraid of the sword: for wrath brings the punishments of the sword, that you may know there is a judgment.

It is a time to listen and hear the word of Jehovah (The LORD our God).

Zechariah 1  Young’s Literal Translation (YLT) – (*the translations of names in parentheses are my additions)
1 In the eighth month, in the second year of Darius, has a word of Jehovah been unto Zechariah (*Remembered of Jehovah), son of Berechiah (*Blessed of Jehovah), son of Iddo (*To advance at the appointed time), the prophet, saying:
2 `Jehovah was wroth against your fathers — wrath!
3 And you have said unto them, Thus said Jehovah of Hosts, turn back unto Me, An affirmation of Jehovah of Hosts, And I turn back unto you, said Jehovah of Hosts.
4 You shall not be as your fathers, To whom the former prophets called, saying: Thus said Jehovah of Hosts, Turn back I pray you, From your evil ways and from your evil doings, And they did not hearken, Nor attend to Me — an affirmation of Jehovah.
5 Your fathers — where [are] they? And the prophets — to the age do they live?
6 Only, My words, and My statutes, That I commanded My servants the prophets, Have they not overtaken your fathers, And they turn back and say: As Jehovah of Hosts designed to do to us, According to our ways, and according to our doings, So He has done to us?’
7 On the twenty and fourth day of the eleventh month, (it [is] the month of Sebat (*transportation by correction),) in the second year of Darius, has a word of Jehovah been unto Zechariah, son of Berechiah, son of Iddo, the prophet, saying:
8 I have seen by night, and lo, one riding on a red horse, and he is standing between the myrtles that [are] in the shade, and behind him [are] horses, red, bay, and white.
9 And I say, `What [are] these, my lord?’ And the messenger who is speaking with me saith unto me, `I — I do shew you what these [are].’
10 And the one who is standing between the myrtles doth answer and say, `These [are] they whom Jehovah has sent to walk up and down in the land.’
11 And they answer the messenger of Jehovah who is standing between the myrtles, and say, `We have walked up and down in the land, and lo, all the land is sitting still, and at rest.’
12 And the messenger of Jehovah answereth and saith, `Jehovah of Hosts! till when dost You not pity Jerusalem, and the cities of Judah, that You have abhorred these seventy years?’
13 And Jehovah answereth the messenger, who is speaking with me, good words, comfortable words.
14 And the messenger who is speaking with me, saith unto me, `Call, saying: Thus said Jehovah of Hosts: I have been zealous for Jerusalem, and for Zion [with] great zeal.
15 And [with] great wrath I am wroth against the nations who are at ease, For I was a little wroth, and they assisted — for evil.
16 Therefore, thus said Jehovah: I have turned to Jerusalem with mercies, My house is built in it, An affirmation of Jehovah of Hosts, And a line is stretched over Jerusalem.
17 Again call, saying: Thus said Jehovah of Hosts, Again do my cities overflow from good, And Jehovah has again comforted Zion, And He has fixed again on Jerusalem.’
18 And I lift up mine eyes, and look, and lo, four horns.
19 And I say unto the messenger who is speaking with me, `What [are] these?’ And he saith unto me, `These [are] the horns that have scattered Judah, Israel, and Jerusalem.’
20 And Jehovah doth shew me four artizans.
21 And I say, `What [are] these coming in to do?’ And He speaketh, saying: `These [are] the horns that have scattered Judah, so that no one has lifted up his head, and these come in to trouble them, to cast down the horns of the nations who are lifting up a horn against the land of Judah — to scatter it.’

The Hebrew word shebet from the Strong’s Hebrew Dictionary: #7626: shebet (pronounced shay’-bet) from an unused root probably meaning to branch off; a scion, i.e. (literally) a stick (for punishing, writing, fighting, ruling, walking, etc.) or (figuratively) a clan:–X correction, dart, rod, sceptre, staff, tribe.

In Job 37:13 shebet is translated correction, and in Psalms 2:9 it is the “rod” in the hand of the LORD.

Job 37  King James Version (KJV)
1 At this also my heart trembles, and is moved out of his place.
2 Hear attentively the noise of his voice, and the sound that goes out of his mouth.
3 He directs it under the whole heaven, and his lightning unto the ends of the earth.
4 After it a voice roars: he thunders with the voice of his excellency; and he will not stay them when his voice is heard.
5 God thunders marvelously with his voice; great things doeth he, which we cannot comprehend.
6 For he says to the snow, Be you on the earth; likewise to the small rain, and to the great rain of his strength.
7 He seals up the hand of every man; that all men may know his work.
8 Then the beasts go into dens, and remain in their places.
9 Out of the south cometh the whirlwind: and cold out of the north.
10 By the breath of God frost is given: and the breadth of the waters is straitened.
11 Also by watering he wearies the thick cloud: he scatters his bright cloud:
12 And it is turned round about by his counsels: that they may do whatsoever he commands them upon the face of the world in the earth.
13 He causes it to come, whether for correction, or for his land, or for mercy.
14 Hearken unto this, O Job: stand still, and consider the wondrous works of God.
15 Dost you know when God disposed them, and caused the light of his cloud to shine?
16 Dost you know the balancings of the clouds, the wondrous works of him which is perfect in knowledge?
17 How your garments are warm, when he quiets the earth by the south wind?
18 Have you with him spread out the sky, which is strong, and as a molten looking glass?
19 Teach us what we shall say unto him; for we cannot order our speech by reason of darkness.
20 Shall it be told him that I speak? if a man speak, surely he shall be swallowed up.
21 And now men see not the bright light which is in the clouds: but the wind passes, and cleanses them.
22 Fair weather cometh out of the north: with God is terrible majesty.
23 Touching the Almighty, we cannot find him out: he is excellent in power, and in judgment, and in plenty of justice: he will not afflict.
24 Men do therefore fear him: he respects not any that are wise of heart.

Psalms 2  King James Version (KJV)
1 Why do the heathen rage, and the people imagine a vain thing?
2 The kings of the earth set themselves, and the rulers take counsel together, against the LORD, and against his anointed, saying,
3 Let us break their bands asunder, and cast away their cords from us.
4 He that sits in the heavens shall laugh: the LORD shall have them in derision.
5 Then shall he speak unto them in his wrath, and vex them in his sore displeasure.
6 Yet have I set my king upon my holy hill of Zion.
7 I will declare the decree: the LORD has said unto me, You art my Son; this day have I begotten you.
8 Ask of me, and I shall give you the heathen for your inheritance, and the uttermost parts of the earth for your possession.
9 You shall break them with a rod of iron; you shall dash them in pieces like a potter’s vessel.
10 Be wise now therefore, O you kings: be instructed, you judges of the earth.
11 Serve the LORD with fear, and rejoice with trembling.
12 Kiss the Son, lest he be angry, and you perish from the way, when his wrath is kindled but a little. Blessed are all they that put their trust in him.

Zechariah 2  Young’s Literal Translation (YLT)
1 And I lift up mine eyes, and look, and lo, a man, and in his hand a measuring line.
2 And I say, `Whither are you going?’ And he said unto me, `To measure Jerusalem, to see how much [is] its breadth, and how much its length.’
3 And lo, the messenger who is speaking with me is going out, and another messenger is going out to meet him,
4 and he said unto him, `Run, speak unto this young man, saying: Unwalled villages inhabit doth Jerusalem, From the abundance of man and beast in her midst.
5 And I — I am to her — an affirmation of Jehovah, A wall of fire round about, And for honor I am in her midst.
6 Ho, ho, and flee from the land of the north, An affirmation of Jehovah, For, as the four winds of the heavens, I have spread you abroad, An affirmation of Jehovah.
7 Ho, Zion, be delivered who art dwelling [with] the daughter of Babylon.
8 For thus said Jehovah of Hosts: After honor He has sent me unto the nations who are spoiling you, For he who is coming against you, Is coming against the daughter of His eye.
9 For lo, I am waving my hand against them, And they have been a spoil to their servants. And you have known that Jehovah of Hosts has sent me.
10 Singe, and rejoice, O daughter of Zion, For lo, I am coming, and have dwelt in your midst, An affirmation of Jehovah.
11 And joined have been many nations unto Jehovah in that day, And they have been to Me for a people, And I have dwelt in your midst, And you have known that Jehovah of Hosts has sent me unto you.
12 And Jehovah has inherited Judah, His portion on the holy ground, And He has fixed again on Jerusalem.
13 Hush, all flesh, because of Jehovah, For He has been roused up from His holy habitation!’

Beginning today with a culminating point and then looking at it as alluded to in recent messages. The theme is summed up in this one statement the LORD makes when telling of His intended end for us and the means of getting there. The end is found in Jeremiah 11:5 where we are told, “That I may perform the oath which I have sworn unto your fathers, to give them a land flowing with milk and honey, as it is this day.” The means, being true now as it has been in all time past, is found written (for today’s context) in Jeremiah 11:4, “Obey my voice, and do them, according to all which I command you: so shall you be my people, and I will be your God.”

The point is again as we have discussed many times and it is actually the origin of the original sin. The thought to be original sin (error – straying away from truth) was not the beginning of sin; it was sin entering into a people God separated to Himself. Again if we reexamine the event we see the entry by the subtle advice of one already in a state of error. The error was in the form of listening to one already in rebellion against the truth (truth as the essence of God’s person).

In Jeremiah 11:3 we see the LORD is speaking of the “Covenant” when telling of what we are to “do.” We see in the following verses the LORD speaking of this being what He had spoken to the fathers when He brought them out of Egypt, and that they were now turned back to the same corrupted ways.

Jeremiah 11
1 The word that came to Jeremiah from the LORD saying,
2 Hear you the words of this covenant, and speak unto the men of Judah, and to the inhabitants of Jerusalem;
3 And say you unto them, Thus says the LORD God of Israel; Cursed be the man that obeys not the words of this covenant,
4 Which I commanded your fathers in the day that I brought them forth out of the land of Egypt, from the iron furnace, saying, Obey my voice, and do them, according to all which I command you: so shall you be my people, and I will be your God:
5 That I may perform the oath which I have sworn unto your fathers, to give them a land flowing with milk and honey, as it is this day. Then answered I, and said, So be it, O LORD.
6 Then the LORD said unto me, Proclaim all these words in the cities of Judah, and in the streets of Jerusalem, saying, Hear you the words of this covenant, and do them.
7 For I earnestly protested unto your fathers in the day that I brought them up out of the land of Egypt, even unto this day, rising early and protesting, saying, Obey my voice.
8 Yet they obeyed not, nor inclined their ear, but walked every one in the imagination of their evil heart: therefore I will bring upon them all the words of this covenant, which I commanded them to do: but they did them not.
9 And the LORD said unto me, A conspiracy is found among the men of Judah, and among the inhabitants of Jerusalem.
10 They are turned back to the iniquities of their forefathers, which refused to hear my words; and they went after other gods to serve them: the house of Israel and the house of Judah have broken my covenant which I made with their fathers.
11 Therefore thus says the LORD, Behold, I will bring evil upon them, which they shall not be able to escape; and yough they shall cry unto me, I will not hearken unto them.
12 Then shall the cities of Judah and inhabitants of Jerusalem go, and cry unto the gods unto whom they offer incense: but they shall not save them at all in the time of their trouble.
13 For according to the number of your cities were your gods, O Judah; and according to the number of the streets of Jerusalem have you set up altars to that shameful thing, even altars to burn incense unto Baal.

What we have here is the indictment, and men know it is what has come to pass. In this world where men listen to everything other than the LORD they think their own words and ideas are what men should be listening to. In their pride and self-centered lusts for power and prominence they refuse to hear the still (calm) small voice of the LORD as He is calling them out of error and into this once again separate state of Eden. These same men blame everyone else for being “not real Christians” when they are the purveyors of error, and are those in rebellion. Get the beam out of your own eye; then you will see and be able to help YOUR BROTHER get the splinter out of his.

This takes us to Jeremiah 31 where there is a statement made about the fathers eating sour grapes and this setting their children’s teeth on edge. This is telling of the sins of the father being manifest in their children having to suffer the consequences. The LORD herein tells us that this will not be so in our time and He will bring us again back to Himself and to the place He promised (flowing with milk and honey). The way (good advice) is the same, but here we are told He will write His law into our minds on our hearts (our reasoning mind).

Jeremiah 31
10 Hear the word of the LORD, O you nations, and declare it in the isles afar off, and say, He that scattered Israel will gather him, and keep him, as a shepherd doth his flock.
11 For the LORD hath redeemed Jacob, and ransomed him from the hand of him that was stronger than he.
12 Therefore they shall come and sing in the height of Zion, and shall flow together to the goodness of the LORD, for wheat, and for wine, and for oil, and for the young of the flock and of the herd: and their soul shall be as a watered garden; and they shall not sorrow any more at all.
13 Then shall the virgin rejoice in the dance, both young men and old together: for I will turn their mourning into joy, and will comfort them, and make them rejoice from their sorrow.
14 And I will satiate the soul of the priests with fatness, and my people shall be satisfied with my goodness, says the LORD.
15 Thus says the LORD; A voice was heard in Ramah, lamentation, and bitter weeping; Rachel weeping for her children refused to be comforted for her children, because they were not.
16 Thus says the LORD; Refrain your voice from weeping, and your eyes from tears: for your work shall be rewarded, says the LORD; and they shall come again from the land of the enemy.
17 And there is hope in your end, says the LORD, that your children shall come again to their own border.
18 I have surely heard Ephraim bemoaning himself thus; You hast chastised me, and I was chastised, as a bullock unaccustomed to the yoke: turn you me, and I shall be turned; for you are the LORD my God.
19 Surely after that I was turned, I repented; and after that I was instructed, I smote upon my thigh: I was ashamed, yea, even confounded, because I did bear the reproach of my youth.
20 Is Ephraim my dear son? is he a pleasant child? for since I spoke against him, I do earnestly remember him still: therefore my bowels are troubled for him; I will surely have mercy upon him, says the LORD.
21 Set you up waymarks, make you high heaps: set your heart toward the highway, even the way which you went: turn again, O virgin of Israel, turn again to these your cities.
22 How long wilt you go about, O you backsliding daughter? for the LORD hath created a new thing in the earth, A woman shall compass a man.
23 Thus says the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel; As yet they shall use this speech in the land of Judah and in the cities thereof, when I shall bring again their captivity; The LORD bless you, O habitation of justice, and mountain of holiness.
24 And there shall dwell in Judah itself, and in all the cities thereof together, husbandmen, and they that go forth with flocks.
25 For I have satiated the weary soul, and I have replenished every sorrowful soul.
26 Upon this I awaked, and beheld; and my sleep was sweet unto me.
27 Behold, the days come, says the LORD, that I will sow the house of Israel and the house of Judah with the seed of man, and with the seed of beast.
28 And it shall come to pass, that like as I have watched over them, to pluck up, and to break down, and to throw down, and to destroy, and to afflict; so will I watch over them, to build, and to plant, says the LORD.
29 In those days they shall say no more, The fathers have eaten a sour grape, and the children’s teeth are set on edge.
30 But every one shall die for his own iniquity: every man that eats the sour grape, his teeth shall be set on edge.
31 Behold, the day [has] come, says 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, says the LORD:
33 But this shall be the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel; After those days, says 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 neighbor, 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, says the LORD: for I will forgive their iniquity, and I will remember their sin no more.
35 Thus says the LORD, which gives the sun for a light by day, and the ordinances of the moon and of the stars for a light by night, which divides the sea when the waves thereof roar; The LORD of hosts is his name:
36 If those ordinances depart from before me, says the LORD, then the seed of Israel also shall cease from being a nation before me for ever.
37 Thus says the LORD; If heaven above can be measured, and the foundations of the earth searched out beneath, I will also cast off all the seed of Israel for all that they have done, says the LORD.

In the above chapter the LORD uses the similitude of Rachel morning because her children are separated from her. This is alluding to a divided kingdom and thereby resulting in her (as the nation) being separated from the Promised Land. The analogy goes on to tell of Ephraim being the one that returns. Here we are told of the generation skipped as Joseph who was separated from his brothers and then the final national return and unity in Ephraim his son. Ephraim means fruit, as in double fruit, or more contextually correct final (second of two) fruit. This description is telling us to refer to Genesis 49 and Israel’s blessing of his children when telling them of “the last days” (the oath of the tribes).

Before looking at Genesis 49 we need to refer back to Habakkuk 3, which we have looked at in recent days. It tells us of the battle we are engaged in, and the judgment of LORD as it appears in the form of the GOOD ADVICE, as He writes it in our minds (as if rays of light being the power coming from his hand).

Habakkuk 3
2 O LORD, I have heard your speech, and was afraid: O LORD, revive your work in the midst of the years, in the midst of the years make known; in wrath remember mercy.
3 God came from Teman, and the Holy One from mount Paran. Selah. His glory covered the heavens, and the earth was full of his praise.
4 And his brightness was as the light; he had horns coming out of his hand: and there was the hiding of his power.
5 Before him went the pestilence, and burning coals went forth at his feet.
6 He stood, and measured the earth: he beheld, and drove asunder the nations; and the everlasting mountains were scattered, the perpetual hills did bow: his ways are everlasting.
7 I saw the tents of Cushan in affliction: and the curtains of the land of Midian did tremble.
8 Was the LORD displeased against the rivers? was your anger against the rivers? was your wrath against the sea, that thou didst ride upon your horses and your chariots of salvation?
9 Your bow was made quite naked, according to the oaths of the tribes, even your word. Selah. Thou didst cleave the earth with rivers.
10 The mountains saw thee, and they trembled: the overflowing of the water passed by: the deep uttered his voice, and lifted up his hands on high.
11 The sun and moon stood still in their habitation: at the light of your arrows they went, and at the shining of your glittering spear.
12 You did march through the land in indignation, thou did thresh the heathen in anger.
13 You went forth for the salvation of your people, even for salvation with your anointed; thou wounded the head out of the house of the wicked, by discovering the foundation unto the neck. Selah.

Genesis 49
9 Judah is a lion’s whelp: from the prey, my son, thou are gone up: he stooped down, he couched as a lion, and as an old lion; who shall rouse him up?
10 The scepter shall not depart from Judah, nor a lawgiver from between his feet, until Shiloh come; and unto him shall the gathering of the people be.
11 Binding his foal unto the vine, and his ass’s colt unto the choice vine; he washed his garments in wine, and his clothes in the blood of grapes:
12 His eyes shall be red with wine, and his teeth white with milk.
13 Zebulun shall dwell at the haven of the sea; and he shall be for an haven of ships; and his border shall be unto Zidon.
14 Issachar is a strong ass couching down between two burdens:
15 And he saw that rest was good, and the land that it was pleasant; and bowed his shoulder to bear, and became a servant unto tribute.
16 Dan shall judge his people, as one of the tribes of Israel.
17 Dan shall be a serpent by the way, an adder in the path, that bites the horse heels, so that his rider shall fall backward.
18 I have waited for thy salvation, O LORD.
19 Gad, a troop shall overcome him: but he shall overcome at the last.
20 Out of Asher his bread shall be fat, and he shall yield royal dainties.
21 Naphtali is a hind let loose: he gives goodly words.
22 Joseph is a fruitful bough, even a fruitful bough by a well; whose branches run over the wall:
23 The archers have sorely grieved him, and shot at him, and hated him:
24 But his bow abode in strength, and the arms of his hands were made strong by the hands of the mighty God of Jacob; (from thence is the shepherd, the stone of Israel:)
25 Even by the God of thy father, who shall help thee; and by the Almighty, who shall bless thee with blessings of heaven above, blessings of the deep that lies under, blessings of the breasts, and of the womb:
26 The blessings of thy father have prevailed above the blessings of my progenitors unto the utmost bound of the everlasting hills: they shall be on the head of Joseph, and on the crown of the head of him that was separate from his brethren.

The above passage begins by telling of Judah ruling until Shiloh comes, and to him shall the people be gathers. This is followed by telling of the same event using the analogy of the colt and the foal that will be tied to the vine, and then of the garments washed in the blood of the grape. This is the same colt and foal tied until the Lord Jesus commanded them to be brought to him. He is Shiloh, and as with Shiloah, these are the still (calm) water that secretly flow under Zion. These are all referring to the lowly king coming into the city (according to the scriptures).

Zechariah 9
8 And I will encamp about mine house because of the army, because of him that passes by, and because of him that returns: and no oppressor shall pass through them any more: for now have I seen with mine eyes.
9 Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion; shout, O daughter of Jerusalem: behold, thy King cometh unto thee: he is just, and having salvation; lowly, and riding upon an ass, and upon a colt the foal of an ass.
10 And I will cut off the chariot from Ephraim, and the horse from Jerusalem, and the battle bow shall be cut off: and he shall speak peace unto the heathen: and his dominion shall be from sea even to sea, and from the river even to the ends of the earth.

Philippians 2
1 If there be therefore any consolation in Christ, if any comfort of love, if any fellowship of the Spirit, if any bowels and mercies,
2 Fulfill you my joy, that you be likeminded, having the same love, being of one accord, of one mind.
3 Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory; but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves.
4 Look not every man on his own things, but every man also on the things of others.
5 Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus:
6 Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God:
7 But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men:
8 And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.
9 Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name:
10 That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth;
11 And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
12 Wherefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling.
13 For it is God which works in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure.
14 Do all things without murmurings and disputings:
15 That you may be blameless and harmless, the sons of God, without rebuke, in the midst of a crooked and perverse nation, among whom you shine as lights in the world;
16 Holding forth the word of life; that I may rejoice in the day of Christ, that I have not run in vain, neither laboured in vain.
17 Yea, and if I be offered upon the sacrifice and service of your faith, I joy, and rejoice with you all.
18 For the same cause also do you joy, and rejoice with me.
19 But I trust in the Lord Jesus to send Timothy shortly unto you, that I also may be of good comfort, when I know your state.
20 For I have no man likeminded, who will naturally care for your state.
21 For all seek their own, not the things which are Jesus Christ’s.
22 But you know the proof of him, that, as a son with the father, he hath served with me in the gospel.
23 Him therefore I hope to send presently, so soon as I shall see how it will go with me.
24 But I trust in the Lord that I also myself shall come shortly.
25 Yet I supposed it necessary to send to you Epaphroditus, my brother, and companion in labor, and fellow-soldier, but your messenger, and he that ministered to my wants.
26 For he longed after you all, and was full of heaviness, because that you had heard that he had been sick.
27 For indeed he was sick nigh unto death: but God had mercy on him; and not on him only, but on me also, lest I should have sorrow upon sorrow.
28 I sent him therefore the more carefully, that, when you see him again, you may rejoice, and that I may be the less sorrowful.
29 Receive him therefore in the Lord with all gladness; and hold such in reputation:
30 Because for the work of Christ he was nigh unto death, not regarding his life, to supply your lack of service toward me.

Philippians 3
1 Finally, my brethren, rejoice in the Lord. To write the same things to you, to me indeed is not grievous, but for you it is safe.
2 Beware of dogs, beware of evil workers, beware of the concision.
3 For we are the circumcision, which worship God in the spirit, and rejoice in Christ Jesus, and have no confidence in the flesh.
4 Though I might also have confidence in the flesh. If any other man thinks that he has whereof he might trust in the flesh, I more:
5 Circumcised the eighth day, of the stock of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, an Hebrew of the Hebrews; as touching the law, a Pharisee;
6 Concerning zeal, persecuting the church; touching the righteousness which is in the law, blameless.
7 But what things were gain to me, those I counted loss for Christ.
8 Yea doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but dung, that I may win Christ,
9 And be found in him, not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith:
10 That I may know him, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, being made conformable unto his death;
11 If by any means I might attain unto the resurrection of the dead.
12 Not as though I had already attained, either were already perfect: but I follow after, if that I may apprehend that for which also I am apprehended of Christ Jesus.
13 Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before,
14 I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.
15 Let us therefore, as many as be perfect, be thus minded: and if in any thing you be otherwise minded, God shall reveal even this unto you.
16 Nevertheless, whereto we have already attained, let us walk by the same rule, let us mind the same thing.
17 Brethren, be followers together of me, and mark them which walk so as you have us for an ensample.
18 (For many walk, of whom I have told you often, and now tell you even weeping, that they are the enemies of the cross of Christ:
19 Whose end is destruction, whose God is their belly, and whose glory is in their shame, who mind earthly things.)
20 For our conversation is in heaven; from whence also we look for the Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ:
21 Who shall change our vile body, that it may be fashioned like unto his glorious body, according to the working whereby he is able even to subdue all things unto himself.