A Cup Of Trembling

Zechariah 12:2

Behold, I will make Jerusalem a cup of trembling unto all the people round about, when they shall be in the siege both against Judah and against Jerusalem.

In ancient siege warfare, an attacker would at times throw up a massive ramp of earth in order to gain entrance into a walled city and overcome its inhabitants. Israel is increasingly being surrounded by the siege mounds of her enemies. It is the first stage of encircling prior to the final assaults against Jerusalem by the Antichrist. The Messiah is pleading with His people for awakening. They are to respond by putting off the arm of the flesh and turning to the only true source of protection. The Holy One of Israel will gather them under His wings when they do so. Sadly, that time is not quite yet. As it is written,

Zephaniah 1:15

That day is a day of wrath, a day of trouble and distress, a day of wasteness and desolation, a day of darkness and gloominess, a day of clouds and thick darkness,

See also Take Thee A Tile; Walk In the Day; The Wind and the Fountain

Related Scriptures: Zechariah 12:1-14; Isaiah 29:1-24; Luke 13:31-35; Matthew 23:37-39; Zephaniah 1:1-18

Out Of the Iron Furnace

Deuteronomy 4:20

But the LORD hath taken you, and brought you forth out of the iron furnace, even out of Egypt, to be unto him a people of inheritance, as ye are this day.

Israel was delivered out of the iron furnace of oppression and bondage by the LORD. The furnace is where the purification begins, preparation for receipt of His promises according to His covenant. Until the human heart is purified it cannot receive the promise of God. That is why He has promised a new heart and a new spirit.

Genesis 15:17

And it came to pass, that, when the sun went down, and it was dark, behold a smoking furnace, and a burning lamp that passed between those pieces.

The Abrahamic covenant began with this vision of a furnace, and God's promise of the land. The burning lamp represented the LORD Himself walking through the blood of the sacrifice to establish His covenant with Abraham. We can partake of this same covenant by faith in God through the blood of Jesus Christ.

Isaiah 31:9

And he shall pass over to his strong hold for fear, and his princes shall be afraid of the ensign, saith the LORD, whose fire is in Zion, and his furnace in Jerusalem.

God specifically calls Jerusalem His furnace. All the nations of the earth will be purified in this furnace. Those outside of Christ will dwell eternally in Satan's furnace. As it is written,

Matthew 13:37-42

He answered and said unto them, He that soweth the good seed is the Son of man; The field is the world; the good seed are the children of the kingdom; but the tares are the children of the wicked one; The enemy that sowed them is the devil; the harvest is the end of the world; and the reapers are the angels. As therefore the tares are gathered and burned in the fire; so shall it be in the end of this world. The Son of man shall send forth His angels, and they shall gather out of His kingdom all things that offend, and them which do iniquity; And shall cast them into a furnace of fire: there shall be wailing and gnashing of teeth. Then shall the righteous shine forth as the sun in the kingdom of their Father. Who hath ears to hear, let him hear.

I pray that you have ears to hear. Cast away all confidence in anything else, and trust in the Lord Jesus Christ alone.

See also Eye to Eye; Depart From Evil; The True Tabernacle

Related Scriptures: Deuteronomy 4:1-20; Genesis 15:1-21; Isaiah 31:1-9; Matthew 13:34-53

Christ: The Breastplate of Righteousness

Ephesians 6:14-15

Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness; And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace;

The truth that sets mankind free is that Christ was made sin for us. He knew no sin, yet He took it upon Himself in order to liberate man from his sinful fallen nature, and reestablish the covering of righteousness with which God endued Adam. We can rest in the peace of God wearing the breastplate of righteousness. When we dwell in Christ we have put on the Lord in our spirits, and this realization protects the very core of our being. Thereby are we made the righteousness of God in the gospel of Christ, and filled with His glory the way He intended.

See also The Refuge of Lies; Laborers Into His Harvest; Beth: God’s Cleansing Word

Related Scriptures: 2Corinthians 5:1-21; Genesis 1:26-31; Philippians 4:4-9; Romans 13:10-14; Proverbs 4:20-27; 1Corinthians 1:18-31

Withstand in the Evil Day

Ephesians 6:12-13

For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places. Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.

The flesh and blood battle is about taking up the cross and walking in the Spirit. But when we are in the spirit and the conflict becomes heated, the battle is now against dark spiritual forces. This is when the enemy directly engages us, and we must always have on the full armor and be ready to respond. These conflicts are accelerating in pace and severity as the second coming of the Lord Jesus Christ approaches, just as He prophesied in Matthew 24. Events around the world and especially in the Middle East, while they are of deep concern, are merely the beginning of sorrows. We can take hope in all of this, however, for the LORD has promised that believers are not appointed to wrath, and He also gave us His Word that He would never leave us, nor forsake us.

See also Tower of Salvation; The Power of God’s Might; Gimel: Bountiful Life in God’s Word

Related Scriptures: Luke 9:18-27; Galatians 5:16-26; Matthew 24:1-14; 1Thessalonians 5:1-25; Hebrews 13:5-21

The Fruit of the Lips: Peace

Isaiah 57:18-19

I have seen his ways, and will heal him: I will lead him also, and restore comforts unto him and to his mourners. I create the fruit of the lips; Peace, peace to him that is far off, and to him that is near, saith the LORD; and I will heal him.

The LORD sees the iniquities of the human heart, and every aspect of transgression and sin that is conceived in the heart is laid open before Him. He set out to make mankind in His own image, and He will perform it. It is the express will of God to remove all iniquity and heal us of its effects. When we repent and receive the Lord Jesus into our hearts, the healing can begin, by the power of the Holy Spirit dwelling in our hearts. Then, by placing His Word in our mouths, peace will begin to flood our souls and the healing becomes progressive. Jesus is the Way, the Truth, and the Life: and He is restoration in our souls that leads to eternal right relationship. Glory to God!

See also The Lord and Harpazo; The Spirit Shall Lift Up A Standard; Daleth: Quickened By God’s Word

Related Scriptures: Hebrews 4:11-16; Psalm 107:1-43; Psalm 41:1-13; Psalm 23:1-6

To Revive the Spirit of the Humble

Isaiah 57:15

For thus saith the high and lofty One that inhabiteth eternity, Whose name is Holy; I dwell in the high and holy place, with him also that is of a contrite and humble spirit, to revive the spirit of the humble, and to revive the heart of the contrite ones.

When our hearts are crushed, broken, and oppressed, the LORD has promised to move in and inhabit them. When our spirits are depressed and abased, this is when the LORD abides to make us alive again. This is the revival that speaks of the Lord’s peace: nourishment, restoration, wholeness, and energizing. There is the power of God behind His promise and His Word, He dwells in eternity, and here He is describing His second home. This is what draws the Creator of the universe to draw us; a humble spirit and a broken heart, submitted to Him.

See also The Valley of Vision; Fall Upon That Stone; The True Tabernacle

Related Scriptures: Psalm 34:1-22; Luke 18:9-14; Psalm 51:10-17; John 14:23-31; James 4:1-12

Inherit My Holy Mountain

Isaiah 57:13

When thou criest, let thy companies deliver thee; but the wind shall carry them all away; vanity shall take them: but he that putteth his trust in Me shall possess the land, and shall inherit My holy mountain;

The inheritance God promised to Abraham now also belongs to the Church by faith, and we will possess the land and inherit the holy mountain of the LORD. For this to happen, the LORD clearly states one of His conditions here, “Trust Me!” This is a daily process of placing our trust in Him and continuing to trust Him every step of the way. To do otherwise amounts to leaning on our own understanding, trusting in ourselves, and getting in His way. He makes the results of this course of action clear-cut too: let your own devices deliver you, but the wind will blow them all away and leave behind emptiness and foolishness.

See also Walking Through the Fire; Warn Every One; Genesis Walk

Related Scriptures: Genesis 12:1-7; Galatians 3:1-29; Proverbs 3:1-35; Isaiah 31:1-9