Why does our Creator even care about us?
Why does he care about a people called Israel?
From what I see in the Tanakh He has every
reason to care. He says that Israel is His first born. That Israel is His
child. He is their Parent. The Parent has bonded with His child. Compare that
to us, humans that have children and bond and love them with all our hearts. We
want them to have a wonderful life, a healthy life, a bountiful life. We do
everything we know to do to teach them how to live a fulfilling , blessed,
happy life. We teach them through different means. We speak the truth and how
to live correctly, morally, wisely. But as we all find out, teaching is one
thing, living and experiencing is quite another.
Our children make mistakes. Sometimes they are
small and insignificant in the scheme of things. We try to show them the right
way. Sometimes they are life threatening mistakes (drugs, drinking and driving,
etc) Again we try to teach them. Then sometimes they completely rebel and they
go off on their own and have to learn the hard way. This is the story of Israel
and the hard lessons they have to learn to become a true child of YHWH and to
be able to assist or stand beside Him as he carries on His work. The work of creation.
This is the story of a rebellious child
returning to his Parent. A child that has learned his lesson and desires with
all his heart to once again stand beside his Parent . He has learned humility, thankfulness, and
most of all an undeserved love that has been patient, merciful and extended
grace beyond any he could have done for his own child.
I am going to try to give my thoughts on how
this reunion of love will occur. I believe we are seeing an awakening of that
rebellious son of YHWH. That child is
realizing he has come to the end of his rope and hope. And he remembers he has
a Parent that loves him and will take him back and to give him an inheritance
that will eventually lead to the whole universe and a part in the building of a
righteous nation, earth and universe.
Israel rebels and Israel is dispersed by an
angry God, their Parent, YHWH.
As of today Israel is still scattered.
Ezekiel speaks of how it is with the leaders of
the people of Israel in chapter 34.
1 And the word of the LORD came unto me, saying:
2 'Son of man, prophesy against the shepherds of Israel, prophesy, and say unto
them, even to the shepherds: Thus saith the Lord GOD: Woe unto the shepherds of
Israel that have fed themselves! should not the shepherds feed the sheep?
YHWH states here why Israel was scattered.
4....but with force have ye ruled over them and
with rigour. 5 So were they scattered, because there was no shepherd; and they
became food to all the beasts of the field, and were scattered. 6 My sheep
wandered through all the mountains, and upon every high hill, yea, upon all the
face of the earth were My sheep scattered, and there was none that did search
or seek.
Oh, did you think that it was because the
people, the populace rebelled? Well, possibly one should reconsider that idea.
I suggest that readers of scripture read very carefully who YHWH is addressing
when speaking through a prophet. It will make all the difference in the world
when trying to understand what happened to the nation that YHWH chose to be a
"light to the nations".
8....My sheep became a prey,..... because there
was no shepherd, neither did My shepherds search for My sheep, but the shepherds
fed themselves, and fed not My sheep;
10 Thus saith YHWH: Behold, I am against the
shepherds; and I will require My sheep at their hand, and cause them to cease
from feeding the sheep; neither shall the shepherds feed themselves anymore;
and I will deliver My sheep from their mouth 11 For thus saith YHWH: Behold,
here am I, and I will search for My sheep, and seek them out. 12 As a shepherd
seeketh out his flock in the day that he is among his sheep that are separated,
so will I seek out My sheep; and I will deliver them out of all places whither
they have been scattered in the day of clouds and thick darkness.
15 I will feed My sheep, and I will cause them
to lie down, saith YHWH. 16 I will seek that which was lost, and will bring
back that which was driven away, and will bind up that which was broken, and
will strengthen that which was sick; and the fat and the strong I will destroy,
I will feed them in justice.
Going to other scripture here:
Jer. 10:21 For the shepherds have become stupid And have
not sought YHWH; Therefore they have not prospered, And all their flock is
scattered.
Jer 12:10 "Many shepherds have ruined My
vineyard, They have trampled down My field; They have made My pleasant field A
desolate wilderness.
Jer 23:1 "Woe to the shepherds who are
destroying and scattering the sheep of My pasture!" declares the Lord.2
Therefore thus says YHWH of Israel concerning the shepherds who are tending fn
My people: "You have scattered My flock and driven them away, and have not
attended to them; behold, I am about to attend to you for the evil of your
deeds," declares YHWH
Jer 25:34 "Wail, you shepherds, and cry;
And wallow in ashes, you masters of the flock; For the days of your slaughter
and your dispersions have fn come, And you will fall like a choice vessel.35
"Flight will perish from the shepherds, And escape from the masters of the
flock.
36 "Hear the sound of the cry of the
shepherds, And the wailing of the masters of the flock! For YHWH is destroying
their pasture, 37 "And the peaceful folds fn are made silent Because of
the fierce anger of YHWH.
Zech 11:17 "Woe to the worthless shepherd
Who leaves the flock! A sword will be on his arm And on his right eye! His arm
will be totally withered And his right eye will be blind ."
Jer. 8:1 At that time, saith YHWH, they shall
bring out the bones of the kings of Judah, and the bones of his princes, and
the bones of the priests, and the bones of the prophets, and the bones of the
inhabitants of Jerusalem, out of their graves; ( identifies the shepherds)
2 and they shall spread them before the sun, and
the moon, and all the host of heaven, whom they have loved, and whom they have
served, and after whom they have walked, and whom they have sought, and whom
they have worshipped; they shall not be gathered, nor be buried, they shall be
for dung upon the face of the earth. 3 And death shall be chosen rather than
life by all the residue that remain of this evil family, that remain in all the
places whither I have driven them, saith YHWH of hosts.
Jer44:9 Have ye forgotten the wicked deeds of
your fathers, and the wicked deeds of the kings of Judah, and the wicked deeds
of their wives, and your own wicked deeds, and the wicked deeds of your wives,
which they committed in the land of Judah, and in the streets of Jerusalem?
10 They are not humbled even unto this day,
neither have they feared, nor walked in My law, nor in My statutes, that I set
before you and before your fathers.
Ez, 22:6 Behold, the princes of Israel, every
one according to his might, have been in thee to shed blood. 7 In thee have
they made light of father and mother; in the midst of thee have they dealt by
oppression with the stranger; in thee have they wronged the fatherless and the
widow. 8 Thou hast despised My holy things, and hast profaned My sabbaths.
Ez.22:23 And the word of YHWH came unto me,
saying:
24 'Son of man, say unto her: Thou art a land
that is not cleansed, nor rained upon in the day of indignation. 25 There is a conspiracy
of her prophets in the midst thereof,
like a roaring lion ravening the prey; they have devoured souls, they take
treasure and precious things, they have made her widows many in the midst
thereof. 26 Her priests have done violence to My law, and have profaned My holy
things; they have put no difference between the holy and the common, neither
have they taught difference between the unclean and the clean, and have hid
their eyes from My sabbaths, and I am profaned among them. 27 Her princes in
the midst thereof are like wolves ravening the prey: to shed blood, and to
destroy souls, so as to get dishonest gain. 28 And her prophets have daubed for
them with whited plaster, seeing falsehood, and divining lies unto them,
saying: Thus saith YHWH, when YHWH hath not spoken.
29 The people of the land have used oppression,
and exercised robbery, and have wronged the poor and needy, and have oppressed
the stranger unlawfully.
30 And I sought for a man among them, that
should make up the hedge, and stand in the breach before Me for the land, that
I should not destroy it; but I found none. 31 Therefore have I poured out Mine
indignation upon them; I have consumed them with the fire of My wrath; their
own way have I brought upon their heads, saith YHWH.'
Hopefully, I have shown here who the shephereds
are and what they have done to the people of Israel.
Have the
narcissitic shepherds been destroyed? Has justice been done, as of yet?
Possibly Ezekial will answer these questions.
YHWH goes
on to say even the fat sheep among the lean will be judged as they pushed the
weaker ones out of the way and trampled on pasture and muddied the clean
waters. He is going to also judge the greedy ones of the flock.
Now back to Ezekial 34:
23 And I will set up one shepherd over them, and
he shall feed them, even My servant David; he shall feed them, and he shall be
their shepherd.
24 And I the YHWH will be their God, and My
servant David prince among them; I YHWH have spoken.
23 And I will set up one shepherd over them, and
he shall feed them, even My servant David; he shall feed them, and he shall be
their shepherd.
24 And I the YHWH will be their God, and My
servant David prince among them; I YHWH have spoken.
25 And I will make with them a covenant of
peace, and will cause evil beasts to cease out of the land; and they shall
dwell safely in the wilderness, and sleep in the woods.
26 And I will make them and the places round
about My hill a blessing; and I will cause the shower to come down in its
season; there shall be showers of blessing.
27 And the tree of the field shall yield its
fruit, and the earth shall yield her produce, and they shall be safe in their
land; and they shall know that I am YHWH, when I have broken the bars of their
yoke, and have delivered them out of the hand of those that made bondmen of
them.
28 And they shall no more be a prey to the
nations, neither shall the beast of the earth devour them; but they shall dwell
safely, and none shall make them afraid.
Has this occurred? I don't understand why some
think that this has all been fulfilled. We see news daily of what is going on
over there, Peace is not in the state of Israel, in 2013 nor any year before it
back to 1948.
30 And they shall know that I YHWH their God am
with them, and that they, the house of Israel, are My people, saith YHWH
31 And ye My sheep, the sheep of My pasture, are
men, and I am your God, saith the Lord GOD.'
To me, the first part if Ezekial 34 describes
the people of Israel perfectly. There are many that are wanting to know the
truth of YHWH, or of our Creator (many do not, yet know His Name because it was
purposely hidden) , yet the way is barred for them. Barred by the shepherds and
the greedy ones. Those that KNOW the truth have not come forward with it, it is
hidden and kept from the people. Please , reread the verses above if you did
not get that the first time.
I would like to add an article inset at this
time, explaining why there is a state of Israel in existence. Is this the
return of Israel that YHWH spoke about? http://atheism.about.com/library/glossary/judaism/bldef_zionism.htm (
you will have to copy and paste this URL) In so many ways, I don't think
so. However, I do think that YHWH has allowed it. Why?
So that there is a presence there and a
government. A government of those that want to fulfill the destiny of Israel,
their way. The elite of the Jews (and now Israel) have the ambition and
understanding to accomplish something that YHWH said He would do. Those leaders
have "jumped the gun" with their own plans but they have only set
themselves up to be brought to justice for all they have done and allowed to
happen to His children. I use the old cliche of the "cream rising to the
top so it can be scraped off, cream not being a good thing in this case.
Judgement
will first come to the land of Israel. When it is finally the cleansed beacon
on the hill, then and only then will YHWH be able to shine forth to the
world. Until this occurs the earth is
still in darkness. And the conspiracy continues. Hopefully not for much longer.
I want to
add here that I am not anti-semetic. That is a big word and encompasses so much
more than I am speaking about. I am only speaking of the shepherds, the leaders,
the movers and shakers that have created a government and state and put a label
on saying that we represent all Jews. All the jews are not involved , many are
victims of the supposed ideas set forth by the elite, and many Jew and Gentile,alike,
are deceived into believing their lies.
Ezekial 35
Now, we come to Ezekiel 35. Why in the world
would this subject of Mt. Seir be here in the middle of a timeline about the
return of Israel? Mt. Seir is already pretty desolate, it is mostly desert . I
think YHWH is speaking about the neighbors around Israel that have always
wanted the land, have a spirit of jealousy and this hatred has spread to all
the surrounding nations that at one time was the Ottoman Empire. Because of
that hatred , I believe we are seeing a revival, so to speak, of that old empire.
The driving force of that unity is the hatred of Israel and the desire for the
land. YHWH will use them as a tool. but for what?
The
Prophecy against Mount Seir
1 Moreover the word of the LORD came unto me,
saying,
2 Son of man, set thy face against mount Se'ir,
and prophesy against it,
3 and say
unto it, Thus saith YHWH; Behold, O mount Se'ir, I am against thee, and I will
stretch out mine hand against thee, and I will make thee most desolate.
4 I will
lay thy cities waste, and thou shalt be desolate, and thou shalt know that I am
YHWH.
5 Because thou hast had a perpetual (long
standing, ancient) hatred, and hast shed the blood of the children of Israel by
the force of the sword in the time of
their calamity, in the time that their iniquity had an end: (or, at the time of
the end of their iniquity.)
6
therefore, as I live, saith YHWH, I will prepare thee unto blood, and
blood shall pursue thee: since thou hast not hated blood, even blood shall
pursue thee. 7 Thus will I make mount Se'ir most desolate, and cut off from it
him that passeth out and him that returneth.
8 And I
will fill his mountains with his slain men: in thy hills, and in thy valleys,
and in all thy rivers, shall they fall that are slain with the sword.
9 I will make thee perpetual desolations, and
thy cities shall not return: and ye shall know that I am YHWH.
10 ¶ Because thou hast said, These two nations
and these two countries shall be mine, and we will possess it; whereas YHWH was
there:
11 therefore, as I live, YHWH, I will even do
according to thine anger, and according to thine envy, which thou hast used out
of thy hatred against them; and I will make myself known among them, when I
have judged thee.
12 And thou shalt know that I am YHWH, and that
I have heard all thy blasphemies which thou hast spoken against the mountains
of Israel, saying, They are laid desolate, they are given us to consume.
13 Thus
with your mouth ye have boasted against me, and have multiplied your words
against me: I have heard them.
14 Thus
saith YHWH; When the whole earth rejoiceth, I will make thee desolate.
15 As
thou didst rejoice at the inheritance of the house of Israel, because it was
desolate, so will I do unto thee: thou shalt be desolate, O mount Se'ir, and
all Idume'a, even all of it: and they shall know that I YHWH.
As we saw in chapter 34 the state of the Israeli
people is pretty grim. The leaders are self-serving tyrants. The people are
being used for the leaders gain. They have told lies and manipulated for the
benefit of the leaders. In many ways
Israel is like the Vatican at this time. The seat of Rome rules the followers
from afar. There is the seat of a government
and the followers are dispersed....likewise, Israel is the seat of
government (altho I think there is a higher power influencing them. A hidden ,
human, higher government that keeps behind the scenes and this is possibly the
case with the Catholic Church, also) and the people consider Israel their homeland.
Also notice this prophesy is directed to Edom
and the land, all of it. Not the whole world. This will only involve the land
surrounding Israel. There are many prophecies speaking of their destruction
/punishment for what they do to Israel in Isaiah and in Ezekiel and others.
I know this hatred has manifested itself down
through the ages and has partially been fulfilled at least once in the days of
Babylon. However, this prophecy is more or less dated. The hatred is an ancient
hatred and has had plenty of time to fester. And we also see the statement
," in the time that their iniquity had an end: (or, at the time of the end
of their iniquity.) In the last chapter
we saw that the iniquity was deeply embedded in the leaders, but justice is to
come and put an end to it.
How will this justice come? I think, YHWH is
referring to it here in Ezekiel 35. Referring to it? Yes, I believe, YHWH's
main objective is to place this chapter not only because it is important to know when ,but also who He is using for the
justice to be meted out but also to say , Okay, we got the mess cleaned up in
the land, the evil had be exterminated by the Edomites and their neighbors, who
have hated Israel for centuries . Now it does not say that Edom destroyed or
even instigated the destruction but they
rejoiced over it, had blood on their swords (participated) and will attempt to pillage and take it over. There
are many prophecies about this happening, Zech. 14 , for one, so not much
detail is required here in the chapters that deal more with Israel's return....it does, however, come
in very handy to know when, in the timeline that YHWH cleans up His land and rids it of the
evil leaders. Actually it is very important.
We see this is what has occurred as we go into
Ezekiel 36.
Ezekiel 36:5 this is what the Sovereign LORD
says: In my burning zeal I have spoken against the rest of the nations, and
against all Edom, for with glee and with malice in their hearts they made my
land their own possession so that they might plunder its pastureland.'
I must add here,
The lesson to be learned and learned very well is this. Even though
Israel has some really bad problems that needs to be dealt with it is not our
place to correct them, to hate them, or throw stones at them. We are all guilty
of something. YHWH holds Israel, as a nation, to a higher standard.....much is
required of them. YHWH will take care of it and by no means should we as individuals
or nations lay a hand on them. Israel is YHWH's child to deal with and He will.
It must take place and for that I grieve, (repentance would be so much better)
but just like raising our own children, we know it hurts us more than it hurts
them. If we want our children to become the best they can be disipline/justice
must be meted out.
So at the end of Chapter 35 the land is
inhabited by the enemy , but they also have done a service so that the next
events can occur.
Ezekiel 36
1 And thou, son of man, prophesy unto the mountains
of Israel, and say: Ye mountains of Israel, hear the word of YHWH.
2 Thus saith YHWH: Because the enemy hath said
against you: Aha! even the ancient high places are ours in possession; 3
therefore prophesy, and say: Thus saith YHWH: Because, even because they have
made you desolate, and swallowed you up on every side, that ye might be a possession
unto the rest of the nations, and ye are taken up in the lips of talkers, and
the evil report of the people; 4 therefore, ye mountains of Israel, hear the
word of YHWH:
Note here: mountains of Israel appears to be referring
to the land itself, not the people.
This is how Ezekiel 36 begins. The land of
Israel is now the in the hands of the enemy. The world mocks and ridicules the
land. Probably those that love the land, Jews and those that love YHWH and His promises are
distraught. Especially if they do not understand the timeline and the purpose
of what has just happened. HOWEVER, YHWH
keeps His promises and Israel has a job to do, Now hear what YHWH plans to do
when all hope seems lost.
22 Therefore say unto the house of Israel (the
people, dispersed )l: Thus saith YHWH: I do not this for your sake, O house of
Israel, but for My holy name, which ye have profaned among the nations, whither
ye came. 23 And I will sanctify My great name, which hath been profaned among
the nations, which ye have profaned in the midst of them; and the nations shall
know that I am YHWH, saith YHWH, when I shall be sanctified in you before their
eyes.
24 For I will take you from among the nations,
and gather you out of all the countries, and will bring you into your own land.
Then comes some of the most wonderful words in
scripture. And the whole purpose for having an Israel, a son.
8 But ye, O mountains of Israel, ye shall shoot
forth your branches, and yield your fruit to My people Israel; for they are at
hand to come. 9 For, behold, I am for you, and I will turn unto you, and ye
shall be tilled and sown; 10 and I will multiply men upon you, all the house of
Israel, even all of it; and the cities shall be inhabited, and the
waste places shall be builded; 11 and I will multiply upon you man and beast,
and they shall increase and be fruitful; and I will cause you to be inhabited
after your former estate, and will do better unto you than at your beginnings;
and ye shall know that I am YHWH.
.......25 And I will sprinkle clean water upon
you, and ye shall be clean; from all your uncleannesses, and from all your
idols, will I cleanse you. 26 A new heart also will I give you, and a new
spirit will I put within you; and I will take away the stony heart out of your
flesh, and I will give you a heart of flesh.
27 And I will put My spirit within you, and
cause you to walk in My statutes, and ye shall keep Mine ordinances, and do
them. 28 And ye shall dwell in the land that I gave to your fathers; and ye
shall be My people, and I will be your God. 29 And I will save you from all
your uncleannesses; and I will call for the corn, and will increase it, and lay
no famine upon you. 30 And I will multiply the fruit of the tree, and the
increase of the field, that ye may receive no more the reproach of famine among
the nations. 31 Then shall ye remember your evil ways, and your doings that
were not good; and ye shall loathe yourselves in your own sight for your
iniquities and for your abominations.
32 Not for your sake do I this, saith YHWH GOD,
be it known unto you; be ashamed and confounded for your ways, O house of
Israel.
...........34 And the land that was desolate
shall be tilled, whereas it was a desolation in the sight of all that passed
by.
35 And they shall say: This land that was
desolate is become like the garden of Eden; and the waste and desolate and
ruined cities are fortified and inhabited.
36 Then the nations that are left round about
you shall know that I YHWH have builded the ruined places, and planted that which
was desolate; I YHWH have spoken it, and I will do it. 37 Thus saith YHWH GOD:
I will yet for this be inquired of by the house of Israel, to do it for them; I
will increase them with men like a flock. 38 As the flock for sacrifice, as the
flock of Jerusalem in her appointed seasons, so shall the waste cities be
filled with flocks of men; and they shall know that I am the LORD.'"
How long has he waited for His child to return.
He will remind them of there ways. He will cause them to be brought to shame
for their actions. Just like a parent of today should sit down with his child
and explain why he was punished, that the punishment was just. The child will be
deeply ashamed of his actions. The rebellion is gone , the defiance is gone,
the pride of self is gone. The lesson has been learned. And as a loving parent
would do, forgiveness is extended. Comfort is given. All is wiped clean. The evil has
been removed. The deception has been eradicated. A fresh , clean heart has been given. An understanding of the purpose has finally pierced the minds of the stiff-necked, rebellious children
of YHWH . They actually GET IT! The child has realized that FATHER does know best. They are ready to be that
"light". They are ready to obey and do things right. The plan can now move forward.
What is the plan, the purpose for all this
trauma to a people. Why has Israel gone through all of this? Why them? What is
YHWH's plan ? Is it just to have a righteous nation/child. Or is there a far
greater purpose? And most of all was it
worth it?
Ah! Now we come to the most well known scripture
of all. How I love this. How wonderful ! I will set it here in full.
Ezekiel 37
1 The hand of YHWHwas upon me, and YHWHcarried me
out in a spirit, and set me down in the midst of the valley, and it was full of
bones;
2 and He caused me to pass by them round about,
and, behold, there were very many in the open valley; and, lo, they were very
dry.
9 Then said He unto me: 'Prophesy unto the
breath, prophesy, son of man, and say to the breath: Thus saith YHWH: Come from the
four winds, O breath, and breathe upon these slain, that they may live.'
11 Then He said unto me: 'Son of man, these
bones are the whole house of Israel; behold, they say: Our bones are dried up,
and our hope is lost; we are clean cut off.
14 And I will put My spirit in you, and ye shall
live, and I will place you in your own land; and ye shall know that I YHWHhave
spoken, and performed it, saith YHWH.'
15 And the word of YHWHcame unto me, saying:
16 'And thou, son of man, take thee one stick,
and write upon it: For Judah, and for the children of Israel his companions;
then take another stick, and write upon it: For Joseph, the stick of Ephraim,
and of all the house of Israel his companions; 17 and join them for thee one to
another into one stick, that they may become one in thy hand.
18 And when the children of thy people shall
speak unto thee, saying: Wilt thou not tell us what thou meanest by these?
19 say into them: Thus saith YHWH: Behold, I
will take the stick of Joseph, which is in the hand of Ephraim, and the tribes
of Israel his companions; and I will put them unto him together with the stick
of Judah, and make them one stick, and they shall be one in My hand.
20 And the sticks whereon thou writest shall be
in thy hand before their eyes.
21 And say unto them: Thus saith YHWH: Behold, I
will take the children of Israel from among the nations, whither they are gone,
and will gather them on every side, and bring them into their own land; 22 and
I will make them one nation in the land, upon the mountains of Israel, and one
king shall be king to them all; and they shall be no more two nations, neither
shall they be divided into two kingdoms any more at all;
23 neither shall they defile themselves any more
with their idols, nor with their detestable things, nor with any of their transgressions;
but I will save them out of all their dwelling-places, wherein they have sinned, and will cleanse them; so shall they be
My people, and I will be their God.
24 And My servant David shall be king over them,
and they all shall have one shepherd; they shall also walk in Mine ordinances,
and observe My statutes, and do them.
25 And they shall dwell in the land that I have
given unto Jacob My servant, wherein your fathers dwelt; and they shall dwell
therein, they, and their children, and their children's children, for ever; and
David My servant shall be their prince for ever.
26 Moreover I will make a covenant of peace with
them--it shall be an everlasting covenant with them; and I will establish them,
and multiply them, and will set My
sanctuary in the midst of them for ever.
27 My dwelling-place
also shall be over them; and I will be their God, and they shall be My
people.
And the reunion of Judah and Ephraim is beyond
words, wonderful.I want to also draw attention to something very
interesting and that I have not noticed before.
26 Moreover I will make a covenant of peace with
them--it shall be an everlasting covenant with them; and I will
establish them, and multiply them, and will set My sanctuary in the midst
of them for ever. 27 My
dwelling-place also
shall be over them; and I will be their God, and they shall be My people....
He is speaking of 2 separate places or things....My
sanctuary, which I assume will be the temple, and His dwelling-place, also. One
shall be in their midst, the temple. And one shall be over them. Food for thought IMO.
Another question to ponder....how will the dispersed
people of Israel come home? Will they
return by plane? and legal means, passport, customs, etc? Remember the land at this point is not like
it is today. Will there even be an airport
to land on? Will the enemy allow all these Israelites return? How do you think this will happen?
I am not a poet as you will see. However, I wrote
this at a time of great longing. A longing that has never left me. My life is
been that of searching and wanting Him to be my King, my God and most of all My
Father. I think this goes well here for it speaks of the time we make that
journey, may it be soon, YHWH.
Oh, how I long for your pastures.
I long for Your loving care,
Oh, YHWH, you are my Shepherd
Lead me far from evil's lair.
I long for Your loving care,
Oh, YHWH, you are my Shepherd
Lead me far from evil's lair.
Your rod of correction is heavy
for I long for your Holy law.
I will hasten to obey You,
and wait for you in awe.
Keep me from the briars and thornsfor I long for your Holy law.
I will hasten to obey You,
and wait for you in awe.
That rip and tear the flesh.
Lead me on Your holy path,
to Your meadows fresh.
Tall trees are swaying in delight,
with violets, roses and daffodils.
Little children are dancing among them
and playing on grassy hills.
with violets, roses and daffodils.
Little children are dancing among them
and playing on grassy hills.
The redeemed of YHWH have arrived
at appointed time and place.
The congregation of YHWH is waiting
to look upon His face.
at appointed time and place.
The congregation of YHWH is waiting
to look upon His face.
YHWH, our Shepherd, and we His sheep.
We will hear Him when He calls.
On the road to Zion we will go.
Like sheep into their stalls.
We will hear Him when He calls.
On the road to Zion we will go.
Like sheep into their stalls.
Next, Chapter 38
Before
getting into chapter 38, I want to make an observation. Notice that in chapter 34 and 37 David is
brought into the picture. In 34 he is
introduced at the time of the bad shepherds, and in 37 he is beginning his rule
over the united tribes of Israel.
Ezekiel
34
23 And I will set up one shepherd over them, and
he shall feed them, even My servant David; he shall feed them, and he shall be
their shepherd.
24 And I the YHWH will be their God, and My
servant David prince among them; I YHWH have spoken.
24 And My servant David shall be king over them,
and they all shall have one shepherd; they shall also walk in Mine ordinances,
and observe My statutes, and do them.
25 And they shall dwell in the land that I have
given unto Jacob My servant, wherein your fathers dwelt; and they shall dwell
therein, they, and their children, and their children's children, for ever; and
David My servant shall be their prince for ever.
In Ezekiel 37
24 And My servant David shall be king over them,
and they all shall have one shepherd; they shall also walk in Mine ordinances,
and observe My statutes, and do them.
25 And they shall dwell in the land that I have
given unto Jacob My servant, wherein your fathers dwelt; and they shall dwell
therein, they, and their children, and their children's children, for ever; and
David My servant shall be their prince for ever.
In chapter 34 David (or is it David's son,
branch?) We see a leader. I make a casefor HaMashiach or the Messiah, here. He
comes in at a time of the bad shepherds and at the end of Israel's iniquity.
From other scriptures we see the task he has before him. I always think of
Malachi 4:
1 "For
behold, the day is coming, burning like a furnace; and all the arrogant
and every evildoer will be chaff; and the day that is coming will set them
ablaze," says the YHWH of hosts, "so that it will leave them neither
root nor branch."
2
"But for you who fear My name, the
sun of righteousness will rise with healing in its wings; and you will go forth
and skip about like calves from the stall.
3
"You will tread down the wicked, for they will be ashes under the soles of
your feet on the day which I am
preparing," says the Lord of hosts.
4
"Remember the law of Moses My
servant, even the statutes and ordinances which I commanded him in Horeb for
all Israel.
5
"Behold, I am going to send you Elijah the prophet before the coming of
the great and terrible day of the YHWH.
6
"He will restore the hearts of the fathers to their children and the hearts
of the children to their fathers, so that I will not come and smite the land
with a curse.
Who is Elijah? Is it the old prophet of Israel
or is this someone else? Many think it
is the old one, I do not.
2
"But who can endure the day of His (his) coming? And who can stand when He
appears? For He(he) is like a refiner's fire and like fullers ' soap.
3
"He will sit as a smelter and purifier of silver, and he will purify the
sons of Levi and refine them like gold and silver, so that they may present to
YHWH offerings in righteousness.
4
"Then the offering of Judah and
Jerusalem will be pleasing to YHWH as in the days of old and as in former
years.
5
"Then I will draw near to you for judgment; and I will be a swift witness
against the sorcerers and against the adulterers and against those who swear
falsely, and against those who oppress the wage earner in his wages, the widow
and the orphan , and those who turn aside the alien and do not fear Me," says YHWH of hosts.
6
"For I , YHWH, do not change; therefore you, O sons of Jacob, are not consumed.
7
"From the days of your fathers you have turned aside from My statutes and
have not kept them. Return to Me, and I will return to you," says the Lord
of hosts. "But you say, 'How shall we return?'
The scripture that comes to mind after the
purging of the land of Israel, something
else also happens. It involves justice meted out to Edom.
Isaiah 63
1 'Who is
this that cometh from Edom, with crimsoned garments from Bozrah? This that is
glorious in his apparel, stately in the greatness of his strength?'--'I that
speak in victory, mighty to save.'--
2
'Wherefore is Thine apparel red, and Thy garments like his that treadeth in the
winevat?'--
3 'I have
trodden the winepress alone, and of the peoples there was no man with Me(me);
yea, I trod them in Mine(mine) anger, and trampled them in My (my) fury; and
their lifeblood is dashed against My (my) garments, and I have stained all My
(my) raiment.
4 For the
day of vengeance that was in My(my) heart, and My(my) year of redemption are
come.
5 And I
looked, and there was none to help, and I beheld in astonishment, and there was
none to uphold; therefore Mine own arm brought salvation unto Me, and My fury,
it upheld Me.
6 And I
trod down the peoples in Mine anger, and made them drunk with My fury, and I
poured out their lifeblood on the earth............
12 That caused His glorious arm to go at the
right hand of Moses? That divided the water before them, to make Himself an
everlasting name? 13 That led them through the deep, as a horse in the
wilderness, without stumbling?
14 As the
cattle that go down into the valley, the spirit of the LORD caused them to
rest; so didst Thou lead Thy people, to make Thyself a glorious name.'
This person is covered with blood and not
recognized. If this is Yliyahu he made
an appearance before Israel was purged and he was not very popular, now he
comes out of Bozrah, Edom and has reeked vengence on them, alone.
He returns a hero. Does this remind you of
anyone else? Not only does Moses come to
mind but also Yliyahu's father David.
I digress. I had to make my case for HaMasciach.
Now back to the Timeline. Ezekiel 38.
Now we come to Gog and Magog....When does this
awesome event occur.....I know many , Jew and Christians, believe this is the
next event on the horizon,now. Hopefully
this timeline has made it very clear that we are not there , yet. The mountains
of Israel must be cleansed. Israel , all of it , must return and Judah and
Ephraim will be reunited and a king will be ruling over them.
THEN:
7 Be thou
prepared, and prepare for thyself (Gog and Magog), thou, and all thy company
that are assembled unto thee, and be thou guarded of them.
8 After
many days thou shalt be mustered for service, in the latter years thou shalt
come against the land that is brought back from the sword, that is gathered out
of many peoples, against the mountains of Israel, which have been a continual
waste; but it is brought forth out of the peoples, and they dwell safely all of
them.
9 And
thou shalt ascend, thou shalt come like a storm, thou shalt be like a cloud to
cover the land, thou, and all thy bands, and many peoples with thee.
10 Thus
saith the YHWH: It shall come to pass in that day, that things shall come into
thy mind, and thou shalt devise an evil device;
11 and
thou shalt say: I will go up against the land of unwalled villages; I will come
upon them that are at quiet, that dwell safely, all of them dwelling without
walls, and having neither bars nor gates;
12 to
take the spoil and to take the prey; to turn thy hand against the waste places
that are now inhabited, and against the people that are gathered out of the
nations, that have gotten cattle and goods, that dwell in the middle of the
earth.
why would the leaders want you to know that
their judgment has not yet come. The words describing them in present day is
not a very pretty picture. Matter of
fact it is pretty horrid. I would not want Israel nor the world to know what I
am doing so they just ignore Ezekiel 35 and move on to chapter 38 trying to
convince the people that Gog and Magog will occur next....they think we are
still blind, I suppose, but Israel is waking up.
15 And
thou shalt come from thy place out of the uttermost parts of the north, thou,
and many peoples with thee, all of them riding upon horses, a great company and
a mighty army;
16 and
thou shalt come up against My people Israel, as a cloud to cover the land; it
shall be in the end of days, and I will bring thee against My land, that the
nations may know Me, when I shall be sanctified through thee, O Gog, before
their eyes.
17 Thus
saith the Lord GOD: Art thou he of whom I spoke in old time by My servants the
prophets of Israel, that prophesied in those days for many years, that I would
bring thee against them?
18 And it
shall come to pass in that day, when Gog shall come against the land of Israel,
saith the Lord GOD, that My fury shall arise up in My nostrils.
19 For in
My jealousy and in the fire of My wrath have I spoken: Surely in that day there
shall be a great shaking in the land of Israel;
20 so
that the fishes of the sea, and the fowls of the heaven, and the beasts of the
field and all creeping things that creep upon the ground, and all
the men that are upon the face of the earth, shall shake at My presence, and
the mountains shall be thrown down, and the steep places shall fall, and every
wall shall fall to the ground.
21 And I
will call for a sword against him throughout all my mountains, saith the Lord
GOD; every man's sword shall be against his brother.
22 And I
will plead against him with pestilence and with blood; and I will cause to rain
upon him, and upon his bands, and upon the many peoples that are with him, an
overflowing shower, and great hailstones, fire, and brimstone.
23 Thus
will I
magnify Myself, and sanctify Myself, and I will make Myself known in
the eyes of many nations; and they shall know that I am the LORD.
He directs His anger at the enemies of Israel.
Ezekiel 39
1 And thou, son of man, prophesy agaisnt God,
and say. Thus says YHWH: Behold
I am against thee, O God, chief prince of
Meshech and Tubal;
2 and I will turn thee about and lead thee on,
and will cause thee to come up from the uttermost parts of the north; and I
will bring thee upon the mountains of Israel:
3 and I
will smite thy bow out of thy left hand, and cause thine arrows to fall out of
thy right hand.
4Thou shall fall upon the mountains of Israel,
thou, and all they bands , and the peoples that are with thee, I will give thee
unto the ravenous birds of every sort and beast of the field, to be devoured.
5 Thou shall fall upon the open field, for I
have spoken it, says YHWH.
6 And I will send a fire on Magog, and on them
that dwell safely in the isles; and they shall know that I am YHWH.
7 And my
holy name will I make known in the midst of My people Israel; neither will I
suffer My holy name to be profaned anymore; and the nations shall know that I
am YHWH, the Holy One in Israel.
8 Behold, it cometh, and it shall be done, saith
the YHWH; This is the day whereof I have spoken.
9 And
they that dwell in the cities of Israel shall go forth, and shall make fires of
the weapons and use them as fuel, both the shields and the bucklers, the bows
and the arrows, and the hand-staves, and the spears, and they shall make fires
of them seven years;
10 so
that they shall take no wood out of the field, neither cut down any out of the
forests, for they shall make fires of the weapons; and they shall spoil those
that spoiled them, and rob those that robbed them, saith the YHWH.
11 And it
shall come to pass in that day, that I will give unto Gog a place fit for burial
in Israel, the valley of them that pass through on the east of the sea; and it
shall stop them that pass through; and there shall they bury Gog and all his
multitude; and they shall call it the valley of Hamon-gog.
12 And
seven months shall the house of Israel be burying them, that they may cleanse
the land.
13 Yea,
all the people of the land shall bury them, and it shall be to them a renown;
in the day that I shall be glorified, saith the YHWH.
14 And
they shall set apart men of continual employment, that shall pass through the
land to bury with them that pass through those that remain upon the face of the
land, to cleanse it; after the end of seven months shall they search.
15 And
when they that pass through shall pass through the land, and any seeth a man's
bone, then shall he set up a sign by it, till the buriers have buried it in the
valley of Hamon-gog.
16 And
Hamonah shall also be the name of a city. Thus shall they cleanse the
land.
17 And
thou, son of man, thus saith YHWH: Speak unto the birds of every sort, and to
every beast of the field: Assemble yourselves, and come; gather yourselves on
every side to My feast that I do prepare for you, even a great feast, upon the
mountains of Israel, that ye may eat flesh and drink blood.
18 The
flesh of the mighty shall ye eat, and the blood of the princes of the earth
shall ye drink; rams, lambs, and goats, bullocks, fatlings of Bashan are they
all of them.
19 And ye
shall eat fat till ye be full, and drink blood till ye be drunken, of My feast
which I have prepared for you.
20 And ye
shall be filled at My table with horses and horsemen, with mighty men, and with
all men of war, saith the YHWH.
21 And I
will set My glory among the nations, and all the nations shall see My judgment
that I have executed, and My hand that I have laid upon them.
22 So the
house of Israel shall know that I am the YhWH their God, from that day and
forward.
Also, please compare this to what happens in
Zech. 14: 1. In this battle Jerusalem is
taken and terrible things happen, however , it appears that a shield of
protection is given to the righteous (12:8) , but later in the chapter he
refers to the punishment that will be meted out to all the nations that have
come down to destroy and take it over. When reading this and the preceeding
chapters,11 and 12 in Zechariah I see his judgment of the bad shepherds and
quickly speaks of their punishment and purging of Jerusalem. Then he speaks of
how He will judge all the nations that had a part in it and all those that want
to take advantage of the land and people there after the punishment. But when
they come down again for the second time, He is there to protect Israel,
completely, verse 2, On that day He sets
His feet on the Mt of Olives. In
Zechariah it appears that all the events of Ez 34-39 happen quickly. I pray
that it does.
In Zech. 14:14. this is a very curious verse.
Hopefully I understand it now.
And Judah also whall fight against Jerusalem,
and the wealth of all the nations round about shall be gathered together, gold
, and silver, and apparel, in great abundance.
If the shepherds are getting justice at the time
of this verse I can very well understand this verse. When the skirts are lifted
on the leaders, what will that do to the common every day Jew? I don't think it
will be a pleasant thing.
23 And the nations shall know that the house of
Israel went into captivity for their iniquity, because they broke faith with
Me, and I hid My face from them; so I gave them into the hand of their
adversaries, and they fell all of them by the sword.
24 According
to their uncleanness and according to their transgressions did I unto them; and
I hid My face from them.
25
Therefore thus saith YHWH: Now will I bring back the captivity of Jacob, and
have compassion upon the whole house of Israel; and I will be jealous for My
holy name.
26 And
they shall bear their shame, and all their breach of faith which they have
committed against Me, when they shall dwell safely in their land, and none
shall make them afraid;
27 when I
have brought them back from the peoples, and gathered them out of their
enemies' lands, and am sanctified in them in the sight of many nations.
28 And
they shall know that I am YHWH their God, in that I caused them to go into
captivity among the nations, and have gathered them unto their own land; and I
will leave none of them any more there;
29
neither will I hide My face any more from them; for I have poured out My spirit
upon the house of Israel, saith the Lord GOD.'
Zech. 14:
4 And YHWH shall be king over all the earth;
in that day YHWH , alone shall be worshipped and shall be invoked by His
true name.
Now is this the End of the timeline? It is only the beginning. Israel is now to be
that pure light to shine that it could have been thousands of years ago, but
had to learn and grow up and mature the hard way. They are now a beacon to lead the earth to
YHWH. There will no longer be belief
systems, or shepherds teaching us to have a blind faith.....Faith has never
been the answer. The only answer for mankind is KNOWING.
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