And the LORD their God shall save them in that day as the flock of his people: for they shall be as the stones of a crown, lifted up as an ensign upon his land.
9 – 12 November 2024
And the LORD their God shall save them in that day as the flock of his people: for they shall be as the stones of a crown, lifted up as an ensign upon his land.
The word above, in Zechariah 9:16, rendered “stones” is ‘eben, with which the LORD definitively refers us to its uses in Psalms 102:14 & 118:22. In these references He invokes the complete Psalms in which He gives a full understanding of the above verse, which also echoes Isaiah 8:18.
Isaiah 8
18 Behold, I and the children whom the LORD has given me are for signs and for wonders in Israel from the LORD of hosts, which dwells in Mount Zion.
19 And when they shall say unto you, Seek unto them that have familiar spirits [of the known dead], and unto wizards that peep, and that mutter: should not a people seek unto their God? [should they be looking] for the living to the dead [who peep and mutter the ways known to lead into death]?
20 [Shouldn’t they be looking] To the law and to the testimony [in which are the ways of life]: if they speak not according to this word, it is because there is no light [understanding and life] in them.
Psalms 102
1 Hear my prayer, O LORD, and let my cry come unto you.
2 Hide not your face [paniym – your presence] from me in the day when I am in trouble [tsar – among enemies]; incline your ear unto me: in the day when I call answer me speedily.
3 For my days are consumed like smoke, and my bones are burned as a hearth.
4 My heart [mind] is smitten, and withered like grass; so that I forget to eat my bread.
5 By reason of the voice of my groaning my bones cleave to my skin.
6 I am like a pelican of the wilderness: I am like an owl of the desert.
7 I watch, and am as a sparrow alone upon the house top.
8 My enemies reproach me all the day; and they that are mad [insane] against me are sworn against me.
9 For I have eaten ashes like bread, and mingled my drink with weeping.
10 Because of your indignation and your wrath: for you have lifted me up, and cast me down.
11 My days are like a shadow that declines; and I am withered like grass.
12 But you, O LORD, shall endure forever; and your remembrance unto all generations.
13 You shall arise, and have mercy upon Zion: for the time to favor her, yea, the set time, is come.
14 For your servants take pleasure in her stones [‘eben – those in whom your word is reserve to be spoken at this moment], and favor the dust [‘aphar – the ruin of the earth] thereof.
15 So the heathen shall fear the name of the LORD, and all the kings of the earth your glory.
16 When the LORD shall build up Zion, he shall appear [ra’ah – be seen] in his glory.
17 He will regard the prayer of the destitute, and not despise their prayer.
18 This shall be written for the generation to come: and the people which shall be created [as the first generation of His new creation] shall praise the LORD.
19 For he has looked down from the height of his sanctuary; from heaven did the LORD behold the earth;
20 To hear the groaning of the prisoner; to loose those that are appointed to death;
21 To [now at this moment] declare the name of the LORD in Zion, and his praise in Jerusalem;
22 When the people are gathered together [into His ONE BODY], and the kingdoms, to serve the LORD.
23 He weakened my strength in the way; he shortened my days.
24 I said, O my God, take me not away in the midst of my days: your years are throughout all generations.
25 Of old have you laid the foundation of the earth: and the heavens are the work of your hands.
26 They shall perish, but you shall endure: yea, all of them shall wax old like a garment; as a vesture shall you change [chalaph] them, and they shall be changed [chalaph – the renewing of Isaiah 40:31 & 41:1]:
27 But you are the same, and your years shall have no end.
28 The children of your servants shall continue, and their seed shall be established before you [paniym – by Your presence with us, in us].
Psalms 118
1 O give thanks unto the LORD; for he is good: because his mercy endures forever.
2 Let Israel [upon whom this expected end has come] now [open their mouths and] say, that his mercy endures forever.
3 Let the house of Aaron [in whom is this light] now [open their mouth and] say, that his mercy endures forever.
4 Let them now that fear the LORD say, that his mercy endures forever.
5 I called upon the LORD in distress: the LORD answered me, and set me in a large place.
6 The LORD is on my side; I will not fear: what can man do unto me?
7 The LORD takes my part with them that help me: therefore shall I see my desire upon them that hate me.
8 It is better to trust in the LORD than to put confidence in man.
9 It is better to trust in the LORD than to put confidence in princes.
10 All nations compassed me about: but in the name of the LORD will I destroy them.
11 They compassed me about; yea, they compassed me about: but in the name of the LORD I will destroy them.
12 They compassed me about like bees: they are quenched as the fire of thorns [misleaders quickly burned up]: for in the name of the LORD I will destroy them.
13 You have thrust sore at me that I might fall: but the LORD helped me.
14 The LORD is my strength and song [the words we joyfully repeat as received], and is become my salvation.
15 The voice of rejoicing and salvation is in the tabernacles of the righteous: the right hand of the LORD does valiantly.
16 The right hand of the LORD is exalted: the right hand of the LORD does valiantly.
17 I shall not die, but live, and declare the works of the LORD.
18 The LORD has chastened me sore: but he has not given me over unto death.
19 Open to me the gates of righteousness: I will go into them, and I will praise the LORD:
20 This gate of the LORD, into which the righteous shall enter.
21 I will praise you: for you have heard me, and are become my salvation.
22 The stone [‘eben] which the builders refused is become the head stone of the corner.
23 This is the LORD’s doing; it is marvelous in [opening] our eyes.
24 This is the day which the LORD has made; we will rejoice and be glad in it.
25 Save now [Hosanna], I beseech you, O LORD: O LORD, I beseech you, send now prosperity.
26 Blessed be he that comes in the name [declaring the identity, presence] of the LORD: we have blessed you out of the house of the LORD.
27 God is the LORD, which has shown us light: bind the sacrifice with cords, even unto the horns of the altar.
28 You are my God, and I will praise you: you are my God, I will exalt you.
29 O give thanks unto the LORD; for he is good: for his mercy endures forever.
Job 38
1 Then the LORD answered Job out of the whirlwind, and said,
2 Who is this that darkens counsel by [misguided, misleading] words without knowledge [of God]?
3 Gird up now your loins [prepare yourselves for this journey into the unknown] like a man; for I will demand of you, and answer you me.
4 Where were you when I laid the foundations of the earth [here and now, as I did the old]? declare, if you have understanding.
5 Who has laid the measures thereof [from beginning to its end and now again beginning it], if you know? or who has stretched the [measuring] line upon it?
6 Whereupon are the foundations thereof fastened? or who laid the corner stone [‘eben] thereof [now turning it again to Me];
7 When the morning stars sang together [speaking My words, bringing this new day], and all the sons of God shouted for joy [realizing My presence with them, in them as light and life]?
8 Or who shut up the sea [humanity] with doors, when it brake forth [with its own words and ways of corruption], as if it had issued out of the womb [thinking to create themselves into something they made in their own evil image]?
9 When I made the cloud [the earth without the understanding held there] the garment thereof, and thick darkness [their ignorance and confusion their ways create] a swaddling-band [protecting them from themselves] for it,
10 And [by their own doing] brake up for it my decreed [choq – this appointed time and] place, and set bars and doors [holding them in the hell they created],
11 And said, Hitherto shall you come, but no further: and here shall your proud waves be stayed [shiyth – made to end, at the beginning by this word again established]?
12 Have you commanded the morning [this sun to rise upon all] since your days; and caused the day-spring [shachar – dawn] to know his place;
13 That it might take hold of the ends [ending the old age and beginning the new] of the earth, that the wicked might be shaken out of it?
14 It is turned as clay to the seal [this shaking is My signature pressed into the earth]; and they stand as a garment [the covering of My ONE flesh BODY].
15 And from the wicked their light [understanding] is withholden, and the high arm [the wicked in power] shall be broken.
16 Have you entered into the springs of the sea? or have you walked in search of the depth [this deep understanding held below the surface]?
17 Have the gates of death [and hell] been opened unto you? or have you seen the doors of the shadow of death?
18 Have you perceived the breadth [start to finish] of the earth? declare if you know it all.
19 Where is the way where light dwells [it is with God alone]? and as for darkness, where is the place thereof [which is in the earth that’s rejected Him],
20 That you shouldest take it to the bound thereof [now, when every eye sees the result of following the wicked into debilitating and dysfunctional insanity], and that you should know the paths [followed] to the house thereof?
21 Know you it, because you were then born? or because the number of your days is great?
22 Have you entered into the treasures of the snow? or have you seen the treasures of the hail [the LORD’s understanding frozen in heaven, there reserved until it’s now sent, both as purity and against the current corrupt crop of the wicked in power],
23 Which I have reserved against the time of trouble, against the day of battle and [My just] war?
24 By what way is the light parted [into these many colors, showing the sign that I have not come to destroy, as men have, but to save, to rescue the willing from destruction], which scatters the east wind [My Almighty Spirit working to change the minds of man] upon the earth?
25 Who has divided a watercourse [revealing, in the experience, what man’s words and ways of ignorance produce] for the overflowing of waters, or a way for the lightning of thunder [My voice heard as the sound of understanding from the cloud];
26 To cause it to rain [My word from heaven] on the earth, where no man is; on the wilderness, wherein there is no man;
27 To satisfy the desolate and waste ground; and to cause the bud of the tender herb [new life] to spring forth?
28 Has the rain a father? or who has begotten the drops of dew?
29 Out of whose womb came the ice? and the hoary frost of heaven, who has gendered it [brought it forth in a known form from its progenitor]?
30 The waters are hid as with a stone [‘eben – in me, hidden in my flesh, from where His voice flows], and the face of [paniym – manifesting the LORD’s presence, revealing] the deep [that] is frozen.
31 Can you bind the sweet influences of Pleiades, or loose the bands of Orion?
32 Can you bring forth Mazzaroth in his season? or can you guide [nachah – lead] Arcturus with his sons? [now, when God’s people have become as many at the stars of heaven He’s awakened, as He promised]
33 Know you the ordinances [chuqqah – the limit ordained and appointed] of heaven? can you set the dominion thereof in [by unbreakable decree, ruling] the earth?
34 Can you lift up your voice to the clouds [where My understanding is held], that abundance of waters [My words] may cover you?
35 Can you send lightnings [understanding from there], that they may go and say unto you, Here we are [as in me, saying here I Am]?
36 Who has put [shiyth – stayed the proud wave of the wicked, by] wisdom in the inward parts? or who has given understanding to the heart [mind]?
37 Who can number the clouds in wisdom? or who can stay the bottles of heaven [keep understanding held there],
38 When [ignorance covers the earth without this word of God] the dust grows into hardness, and the clods cleave fast together?
39 Will you hunt the prey [seek this understanding] for the lion? or fill the appetite of the young lions [from whom it will be heard roaring],
40 When they couch in their dens, and abide in the covert to lie in wait [for it to come from the mouth of lions]?
41 Who provides for the raven [covered in darkness] his food? when his young ones cry unto God, they wander for lack of meat [without this deep understanding].
Isaiah 40
21 Have you not known? have you not heard? has it not been told you from the beginning? have you not understood from the foundations of the earth?
22 It is he that sits upon the circle [chuwg – the full circuit of ages, beginning to end, and beginning again; only appearing elsewhere in Job 22:14 & Proverbs 8:27] of the earth, and the inhabitants thereof are as grasshoppers; that stretch out [in this firmament, this full exposition] the heavens as a curtain, and spreads them out as a tent to dwell in:
23 That brings the princes [corrupt powers] to nothing; he maketh the judges of the earth as vanity [worthless].
24 Yea, they shall not be planted; yea, they shall not be sown: yea, their stock shall not take root in the [new] earth: and he shall also blow upon them, and they shall wither, and the whirlwind [His Almighty Spirit changing the face of the earth] shall take them away as stubble.
25 To whom then will you liken me, or shall I be equal? says the Holy One.
26 Lift up your eyes on high, and behold who has created these things, that bringeth out their host by number: he calleth them all by names by the greatness of his might, for that he is strong in power; not one fails.
27 Why sayest you, O Jacob, and speak, O Israel, My way is hidden from the LORD, and my judgment is passed over from my God?
28 Have you not known? have you not heard, that the everlasting God, the LORD, the Creator of the ends [beginnings and ends] of the earth [ages], fainteth not, neither is weary? there is no searching of his understanding.
29 He gives power to the faint; and to them that have no might he increases strength [giving this understanding only He possesses].
30 Even the youths shall faint and be weary, and the young men shall utterly fall:
31 But they that wait upon [qavah – expect] the LORD shall renew [chalaph – change] their strength [their understanding]; they shall mount up with wings as eagles [the final face of the unfolding presence of the LORD]; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint.
Isaiah 41
1 Keep silence before me, O islands [places without this word of God]; and let the people renew [chalaph] their strength: let them come near; then [once they have removed corruption and put on this understanding] let them speak: let us come near together to judgment.
2 Who raised up the righteous man from the east [by this light rising], called him to his foot, gave the nations before him [paniym – by manifesting My presence with him, in him], and made him rule over kings? he gave them as the dust [‘aphar] to his sword, and as driven stubble to his bow.
3 He pursued them, and passed [‘abar – from death into life] safely; even by the way that he had not gone with his feet.
4 Who has wrought and done it, calling the [new] generations from the beginning [in this new creation]? I the LORD, the first, and with the last; I Am he [who begins and ends ages of heaven and earth].
5 The isles saw it, and feared; the ends of the earth were afraid, drew near, and came.
1 Corinthians 15
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 [flesh] body; it is [in the uncovering: the apocalypse] 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 [bringing the natural from death into life]. [“…now made manifest by the appearing of our Savior Jesus Christ, who has abolished death, and has brought life and immortality to light through the gospel: 11 Whereunto I am appointed a preacher, and an apostle, and a teacher of the Gentiles {those who haven’t known the LORD always among them}” 2 Timothy 1].
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 does corruption inherit incorruption.
51 Behold, I show you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed [allasso – reconciled, when we see our immortality as He sees],
52 In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye [the epiphany, when we see as He sees], at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed [allasso – reconciled, seeing as He sees].
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.
Proverbs 8
1 Does not wisdom cry? and understanding put forth her voice?
2 She stands in the top of high places, by the way in the places of the paths.
3 She cries at the gates, at the entry of the city, at the coming in at the doors.
4 Unto you, O men, I call; and my voice is to the sons of man.
5 O you simple, understand wisdom: and, you fools, be you of an understanding heart.
6 Hear; for I will speak of excellent things; and the opening of my lips shall be right things.
7 For my mouth shall speak truth; and wickedness is an abomination to my lips.
8 All the words of my mouth are in righteousness [tsedeq]; there is nothing froward or perverse in them.
9 They are all plain [nakoach] to him that understands, and right to them that find knowledge.
10 Receive my instruction, and not silver; and knowledge rather than choice gold.
11 For wisdom is better than rubies; and all the things that may be desired are not to be compared to it.
12 I wisdom dwell with prudence, and find out knowledge of witty inventions [mzimmah – evil conspiring].
13 The fear of the LORD is to hate evil: pride, and arrogancy, and the evil way, and the froward mouth, do I hate.
14 Counsel is mine, and sound wisdom: I am understanding; I have strength.
15 By me kings reign, and princes decree justice.
16 By me princes rule, and nobles, even all the judges of the earth.
17 I love them that love me; and those that seek me early shall find me.
18 Riches and honor are with me; yea, durable riches and righteousness.
19 My fruit is better than gold, yea, than fine gold; and my revenue than choice silver.
20 I lead in the way of righteousness, in the midst of the paths of judgment:
21 That I may cause those that love me to inherit substance; and I will fill their treasures.
22 The LORD possessed me in the beginning of his way, before his works of old.
23 I was set up from everlasting, from the beginning, or ever the earth was.
24 When there were no depths, I was brought forth; when there were no fountains abounding with water.
25 Before the mountains were settled, before the hills were I brought forth:
26 While as yet he had not made the earth, nor the fields, nor the highest part of the dust of the world.
27 When he prepared the heavens, I was there: when he set a compass [chuwg – the circuit, beginning to end] upon the face [paniym] of the depth [manifesting His presence by giving this deep understanding]:
28 When he established the clouds above [where understanding is held in heaven when it leaves the earth]: when he strengthened the fountains of the deep:
29 When he gave to the sea [humanity] his decree [choq], that the waters [word of men] should not pass [‘abar – would not bring the dead to life] his commandment [peh – mouth, without His word from His mouth]: when he appointed [chaqaq – by the decrees of His mouth] the foundations of the earth:
30 Then I was by him, as one brought up with him: and I was daily his delight, rejoicing always before him [paniym – always in the LORD’s presence];
31 Rejoicing in the habitable part of his earth; and my delights were with the sons of men.
32 Now therefore hearken [shama’ – obey] unto me, O you children: for blessed are they that keep my ways.
33 Hear [shama’ – obey] instruction, and be wise, and refuse it not.
34 Blessed is the man that hears [shama’ – obeys] me, watching daily at my gates, waiting at the posts of my doors.
35 For whoso finds me finds life, and shall obtain favor of the LORD.
36 But he that sins against me wrongs his own soul: all they that hate me love death.
Job 22
10 Therefore snares are round about you, and sudden [pith’own – this is the “instant” destruction that comes upon the wicked who refuse correction] fear troubles you;
11 Or darkness [ignorance], that you can not see [Him]; and abundance of waters cover you [men’s words keep Him hidden].
12 Is not God in the height of heaven [with this full understanding]? and behold the height of the stars [His people who are lights in the darkness], how high they are!
13 And you sayest, “How does God know [all these things]? can he judge through the dark cloud [ignorance men falsely call understanding]?
14 Thick clouds are a covering to him [when understanding isn’t in the earth but remains reserved in heaven], that he see [ra’ah] not [that He is not seen]; and he walks in the circuit [chuwg] of heaven [from beginning to the end when He is seen].”
15 Have you marked the old way which wicked men have trodden?
16 Which were cut down out of time, whose foundation was overflown with a flood:
17 Which said unto God, Depart from us: and what can the Almighty do for them?
18 Yet he filled their houses with good things: but the counsel of the wicked is far from me.
19 The righteous see it [Him], and are glad: and the innocent laugh them [the wicked] to scorn.
20 Whereas our substance [the life He flows into us] is not cut down, but the remnant of them [the wicked] the fire consumes.
21 Acquaint now yourself with him [the LORD unknown in the darkness], and be at peace [with Him]: thereby good shall come unto you.
22 Receive, I pray you, the law from his mouth, and lay up his words in your heart.
23 If you return to the Almighty, you shall be built up, you shall put away iniquity far from your tabernacles.
24 Then shall you lay up gold as dust [‘aphar – these treasure will replace the ruin], and the gold of Ophir as the stones of the brooks.
25 Yea, the Almighty shall be your defense, and you shall have plenty of silver [these treasure of heaven].
26 For then shall you have your delight in the Almighty, and shall lift up your face [paniym – exalt His presence in His word above all other voices] unto God.
27 You shall make your prayer unto him, and he shall hear you, and you shall pay your vows [obeying His command to give this word as received].
28 You shall also decree a thing, and it shall be established unto you: and the light shall shine [this understanding] upon your ways.
29 When men are cast down, then you shall say, There is lifting up; and he shall save the humble person.
30 He shall deliver the island of the innocent: and it is delivered by the pureness of your hands.
The word, in verse 29 above, rendered “lifting up” is the three times used word gevah, which speaks of the pride and arrogance from which men are cast down: humbled.
Job 33
13 Why do you strive against him? for he gives not account of any of his matters.
14 For God speaks once, yea twice, yet man perceives it not.
15 In a dream, in a vision of the night, when deep sleep falls upon men, in slumbering [in death] upon the bed;
16 Then he opens the ears of men, and seals their instruction,
17 That he may withdraw man from his purpose, and hide pride [gevah] from man.
18 He keeps back his soul from the pit, and his life from perishing by the sword.
19 He is chastened also with pain upon his bed, and the multitude of his bones with strong pain:
20 So that his life abhors bread, and his soul dainty meat.
21 His flesh is consumed away, that it cannot be seen; and his bones that were not seen stick out.
22 Yea, his soul draweth near unto the grave, and his life to the destroyers.
23 If there be a messenger [mal’ak – an angel of the LORD, to manifest His presence] with him, an interpreter, one among a thousand, to show unto man his [the LORD’s] uprightness:
24 Then he is gracious [freely giving this gift of salvation] unto him, and says, Deliver him from going down to the pit [the same as “grave” above in verse 22]: I have found a ransom [the price of redemption].
25 His flesh shall be fresher than a child’s: he shall return to the days of his youth:
26 He shall pray unto God, and he will be favorable unto him: and he shall see [ra’ah] his face [paniym] with joy [realizing it is His presence manifested]: for he will render unto man his [the LORD’s] righteousness.
27 He looks upon men, and if any say, I have sinned, and perverted that which was right, and it profited me not;
28 He will deliver his soul from going into the pit [shachath – the same as above], and his life shall see the light [which is understanding].
29 Lo, all these things works God oftentimes with man,
30 To bring back his soul from the pit [the same as above – the grave, the place where the dead are held in the belly of the earth: in sheol: in hell] ], to be enlightened with the light of the living.
Jeremiah 13
15 Hear [shama’ – and obey] you, and give ear; be not proud: for the LORD has spoken.
16 Give glory to the LORD your God, before he causes darkness, and before your feet stumble upon the dark mountains, and, while you look for light, he turns it into the shadow of death, and make it gross darkness.
17 But if you will not hear [shama’ – and obey] it, my soul shall weep in secret places for your pride [gevah]; and my eye shall weep sore, and run down with tears, because the LORD’s flock is carried away captive.
18 Say unto the king and to the queen, Humble yourselves, sit down: for your principalities shall come down, even the crown of your glory.
19 The cities of the south shall be shut up, and none shall open them: Judah [all the leaders of God’s people] shall be carried away captive all of it, it shall be wholly carried away captive [as they have been].
20 Lift up your eyes, and behold them that come from the north [out of the places of darkness]: where is the flock that was given you, your beautiful flock?
21 What will you say when he shall punish [paqad – appear as the Chief Overseer of the earth] you? for you have taught [the corrupt leader now in power in church and state] them to be captains, and as chief over you: shall not sorrows take you [as it has], as a woman in travail [to bring forth the child of My new creation: My ONE BODY]?
22 And if you say in your heart, Wherefore come these things upon me? For the greatness of your iniquity are your skirts discovered, and your heels made bare.
23 Can the Ethiopian [those covered in their own darkness] change his skin, or the leopard his spots? then may you also do good, that are accustomed to do evil.
24 Therefore will I scatter them as the stubble that passes away by the wind of the wilderness.
25 This is your lot, the portion of your measures from me, says the LORD; because you have forgotten me, and trusted in falsehood.
26 Therefore will I discover your skirts upon your face, that your shame may appear [as it now does].
27 I have seen your adulteries, and your neighings, the lewdness of your whoredom, and your abominations on the hills in the fields [in all the governments of the earth]. Woe unto you, O [New Heavenly] Jerusalem! will you not be made clean? when shall [‘achar – in these last days] it [shall] once [again] be?
Psalms 77
1 I cried unto God with my voice, even unto God with my voice; and he gave ear unto me.
2 In the day of my trouble [tsarah – this tribulation] I sought the LORD: my sore ran in the night, and ceased not: my soul refused to be comforted [refused to be led into all understanding by the LORD with us, in us working and speaking unknown].
3 I remembered God, and was troubled: I complained, and my spirit was overwhelmed. Selah.
4 You hold my eyes waking: I am so troubled [by the taught corruption] that I cannot speak.
5 I have considered the days of old, the years of ancient times.
6 I call to remembrance my song in the night: I commune with my own heart [the LORD in my mind]: and my spirit made diligent search.
7 Will the LORD cast off forever? and will he be favorable no more?
8 Is his mercy clean gone forever? does his promise fail forevermore?
9 Has God forgotten to be gracious? has he in anger shut up his tender mercies? Selah.
10 And I said, This is my infirmity [weakness]: but I will remember the years of the right hand of [the work, the manner of] the most High.
11 I will remember the works of the LORD: surely I will remember your wonders of old.
12 I will meditate also of all your work, and talk of your doings.
13 Your way, O God, is in the sanctuary [in Your presence]: who is so great a God as our God?
14 You are the God that does wonders: you have declared your strength [this understanding] among the people.
15 You have with your arm redeemed your people, the sons of Jacob and Joseph. Selah.
16 The waters saw you, O God, the waters saw you; they were afraid: the depths also were troubled.
17 The clouds poured out water: the skies sent out a sound [qowl – His voice]: your arrows also went abroad.
18 The voice of your thunder was in the heaven: the lightnings lightened the world: the earth trembled and shook.
19 Your way is in the sea [among us], and your path in the great waters, and your footsteps are not known.
20 You led your people like a flock by the hand of Moses [those draw from the waters below] and Aaron [those giving this light as received].
Psalms 78
1 Give ear, O my people, to my law: incline your ears to the words of my mouth.
2 I will open my mouth in a parable: I will utter dark sayings [held in men’s ignorance] of old:
3 Which we have heard and known, and our fathers have told us.
4 We will not hide them from their children, showing to the generation to come the praises of the LORD, and his strength, and his wonderful works that he has done.
5 For he established a testimony in Jacob, and appointed a law in Israel, which he commanded our fathers, that they should make them known to their children:
6 That the generation to come [in this new creation] might know them, even the children which should be born; who should arise and declare them to their children:
7 That they might set their hope in God, and not forget the works of God, but keep his commandments:
8 And might not be as their fathers, a stubborn and rebellious generation; a generation that set not their heart aright, and whose spirit was not steadfast with God.
9 The children of Ephraim [God’s people, the last generation of the old and corrupt creation, in double ruin], being armed, and carrying bows, turned back in the day of battle.
10 They kept not the covenant of God, and refused to walk in his law;
11 And forgot his works, and his wonders that he had showed them.
12 Marvelous [eye opening] things did he in the sight of their fathers, in the land of Egypt, in the field of Zoan.
13 He divided the sea, and caused them to pass through; and he made the waters to stand as a heap.
14 In the daytime also he led them with a cloud, and all the night with a light of fire.
15 He clave the rocks in the wilderness, and gave them drink as out of the great depths.
16 He brought streams also out of the rock, and caused waters to run down like rivers.
17 And they sinned yet more against him by provoking [doubting the presence of] the Most High in the wilderness.
18 And they tempted [doubted] God in their heart [minds] by asking meat for their lust.
19 Yea, they spoke against God; they said, Can God furnish a table in the wilderness?
20 Behold, he smote the rock [I Am], that the waters gushed out, and the streams overflowed; can he give bread also? can he provide flesh for his people?
21 Therefore the LORD heard this, and was wroth: so a fire was kindled against Jacob, and anger also came up against Israel;
22 Because they believed not in God, and trusted not in his salvation:
23 Though he had commanded the clouds from above, and opened the doors of heaven,
24 And had rained down manna [which they knew not that it was this same word from the mouth of God] upon them to eat, and had given them of the corn of heaven.
25 Man did eat angels’ food: he sent them meat to the full.
26 He caused an east wind to blow in the heaven: and by his power he brought in the south wind.
27 He rained flesh also upon them as dust, and feathered fowls like as the sand of the sea:
28 And he let it fall in the midst of their camp, round about their habitations.
29 So they did eat, and were well filled: for he gave them their own desire;
30 They were not estranged from their lust. But while their meat was yet in their mouths,
31 The wrath of God came upon them, and slew the fattest of them, and smote down the chosen men of Israel.
32 For all this they sinned still, and believed not for his wondrous works.
33 Therefore their days did he consume in vanity, and their years in trouble.
34 When he slew them, then they sought him: and they returned and enquired early after God.
35 And they remembered that God was their rock, and the high God their redeemer.
36 Nevertheless they did flatter him with their mouth, and they lied unto him with their tongues.
37 For their heart [mind] was not right with him, neither were they steadfast in his covenant.
38 But he, being full of compassion, forgave their iniquity, and destroyed them not: yea, many a time turned he his anger away, and did not stir up all his wrath.
39 For he remembered that they were but flesh; a wind that passes away, and comes not again.
40 How oft did they provoke him in the wilderness, and grieve him in the desert!
41 Yea, they turned back and tempted God, and limited the Holy One of Israel.
42 They remembered not his hand, nor the day when he delivered them from the enemy.
43 How he had wrought his signs in Egypt, and his wonders in the field of Zoan.
44 And had turned their rivers into blood [to be seen as words draining the life from those who obeyed them]; and their floods, that they could not drink.
45 He sent divers sorts of flies among them, which devoured them; and frogs, which destroyed them.
46 He gave also their increase unto the caterpillar, and their labor unto the locust.
47 He destroyed their vines with hail, and their sycamore trees with frost.
48 He gave up their cattle also to the hail, and their flocks to hot thunderbolts.
49 He cast upon them the fierceness of his anger, wrath, and indignation, and trouble [tsarah – tribulation], by sending evil angels [with evil messages] among them.
50 He made a way to his anger; he spared not their soul from death, but gave their life over to the pestilence;
51 And smote all the firstborn in Egypt; the chief of their strength in the tabernacles of Ham:
52 But made his own people to go forth like sheep, and guided them in the wilderness like a flock.
53 And he led them on safely, so that they feared not: but the sea overwhelmed their enemies.
54 And he brought them to the border of his sanctuary, even to this mountain, which his right hand had purchased.
55 He cast out the heathen also before them, and divided them an inheritance by line, and made the tribes of Israel to dwell in their tents.
56 Yet they tempted and provoked the Most High God, and kept not his testimonies:
57 But turned back, and dealt unfaithfully like their fathers: they were turned aside like a deceitful bow.
58 For they provoked him to anger with their high places, and moved him to jealousy with their graven images.
59 When God heard this, he was wroth, and greatly abhorred Israel:
60 So that he forsook the tabernacle of Shiloh, the tent which he placed among men;
61 And [by their own poor choices] delivered his strength into captivity, and his glory into the enemy’s hand.
62 He gave his people over also unto the sword; and was wroth with his inheritance.
63 The fire consumed their young men; and their maidens were not given to marriage.
64 Their priests fell by the sword; and their widows made no lamentation.
65 Then the LORD awoke as one out of sleep, and like a mighty man that shouts by reason of wine.
66 And he smote his enemies in the hinder parts: he put them to a perpetual reproach.
67 Moreover he refused the tabernacle of Joseph, and chose not [a leader from] the tribe of Ephraim [God’s people at large]:
68 But chose the tribe of Judah [the elect remnant], the mount Zion which he loved.
69 And he built his sanctuary [His manifested presence] like high palaces, like the earth which he has established forever.
70 He chose David [I Am] also his servant, and took him from the sheepfolds:
71 From following the ewes great with young he brought him to feed Jacob his people, and Israel his inheritance.
72 So he fed them according to the integrity of his heart; and guided them by the skilfulness of his hands.
