When we find ourselves in distress, either personally or as people of God, it is necessary that we turn to the Heavenly Father, and call out to Him, in a similar way as the people of Israel did in the time of Gideon when they were oppressed by the Midianites (cf. Judges 6:7).
Judges 6:7:
7 When the Israelites cried out to the Lord because of Midian, …
7 When the Israelites cried out to the Lord because of Midian, …
The Maintenance of Genuine Spiritual Unity in the Sonship of God
When this affliction is examined in a prophetic context, it becomes clear that God’s people faced discord and dissension. This is evident from the meaning of the name ‘Midian’, which is ‘strife, quarrel’.
When disunity among saints in Christ is not stopped, the result is that the anointing of the Holy Spirit cannot flow in its fullness, and thus it leads to a desolate spiritual status.
Psalm 133 reveals that it is the unity among the brethren, and thus sons of God, that powerfully reveals the priesthood of God on earth and His communication represented by the beard, as well as His works and ways represented by the robe in their greatness which represented by Hermon.
Psalm 133:1-3:
1 How good and pleasant it is when God’s people live together in unity!
2 It is like precious oil poured on the head, running down on the beard, running down on Aaron’s beard, down on the collar of his robe.
3 It is as if the dew of Hermon were falling on Mount Zion. For there the Lord bestows his blessing, even life for evermore.
1 How good and pleasant it is when God’s people live together in unity!
2 It is like precious oil poured on the head, running down on the beard, running down on Aaron’s beard, down on the collar of his robe.
3 It is as if the dew of Hermon were falling on Mount Zion. For there the Lord bestows his blessing, even life for evermore.
Judges 6:8a reads of the sons of Israel, wherein we can see a reference to the importance of the position in the sonship of God, which is in Christ Jesus. He is the firstborn among many brethren, and in His sonship glorious liberty is manifested (cf. Romans 8:21.29).
Judges 6:8a (KJV):
8a That the LORD sent a prophet unto the children [Note: sons] of Israel, …
8a That the LORD sent a prophet unto the children [Note: sons] of Israel, …
Romans 8:21.29:
… 21 that the creation itself will be liberated from its bondage to decay and brought into the freedom and glory of the children [Note: sons] of God.
… 21 that the creation itself will be liberated from its bondage to decay and brought into the freedom and glory of the children [Note: sons] of God.
The Cry and the Prophetic Intervention of God
The cry of the people of Israel to God resulted in the LORD sending a prophet to the Israelites who reminded them of God’s intervention in the past to reveal to them a spiritual course of action (cf. Judges 6:8).
Judges 6:8 (KJV):
8 That the LORD sent a prophet unto the children of Israel, which said unto them, Thus saith the LORD God of Israel, I brought you up from Egypt, and brought you forth out of the house of bondage; …
8 That the LORD sent a prophet unto the children of Israel, which said unto them, Thus saith the LORD God of Israel, I brought you up from Egypt, and brought you forth out of the house of bondage; …
From experience gained, when a true prophet or prophetess of God enters the room of a community of saints who are desperately or longingly seeking and looking for God, the awe and presence of God’s being in the form of the ‘flying eagle’ can increase (cf. Revelation 4:7d).
Revelation 4:7d:
…, 7d the fourth was like a flying eagle.
…, 7d the fourth was like a flying eagle.
This results, among other things, in the prophetic anointing extending over the respective saints, causing them to increase in power and vision, to be fuelled in hope, and to be quickened in their progress (cf. Isaiah 40:31).
Isaiah 40:31:
… 31 but those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.
… 31 but those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.
According to the Word of God, we know that the prophet can be ‘a room within a room’ or even ‘a city’ within a city (cf. Jeremiah 1:18-19).
Jeremiah 1:18-19:
18 Today I have made you a fortified city, an iron pillar and a bronze wall to stand against the whole land – against the kings of Judah, its officials, its priests and the people of the land.
19 They will fight against you but will not overcome you, for I am with you and will rescue you,’ declares the Lord.
18 Today I have made you a fortified city, an iron pillar and a bronze wall to stand against the whole land – against the kings of Judah, its officials, its priests and the people of the land.
19 They will fight against you but will not overcome you, for I am with you and will rescue you,’ declares the Lord.
This indicates a culture which is separate, being the prophetic presence of God, which is like a light shining in a dark or even dirty place (cf. 2 Peter 1:19 i.c.w. John 17:16).
2 Peter 1:19:
19 We also have the prophetic message as something completely reliable, and you will do well to pay attention to it, as to a light shining in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts.
19 We also have the prophetic message as something completely reliable, and you will do well to pay attention to it, as to a light shining in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts.
John 17:16:
16 They are not of the world, even as I am not of it.
16 They are not of the world, even as I am not of it.
The prophetic presence of God and the associated awe among the people result in the wisdom and knowledge of God spreading among them, contributing to, and securing guidance for the future (cf. Psalm 111:10; Proverbs 1:7a; Proverbs 9:10).
Psalm 111:10:
10 The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom; all who follow his precepts have good understanding. To him belongs eternal praise.
10 The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom; all who follow his precepts have good understanding. To him belongs eternal praise.
Proverbs 1:7a:
7a The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge, …
7a The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge, …
Proverbs 9:10:
10 The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, and knowledge of the Holy One is Understanding.
10 The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, and knowledge of the Holy One is Understanding.
The Call to Remember the Intervention of God
Through the longing of the people of Israel at the time of Gideon in the form of their outcry to God, a prophet came to them who is not mentioned by name, which indicates humility and the goal of delivering God’s direction.
Here the prophet uses the power of the call to remember God’s intervention in the past, resulting in a spiritual approach. He said that God brought them up from Egypt and brought them out of the house of slavery.
Since God is Spirit (cf. John 4:24a) and denotes the bringing up of the people of Israel out of Egypt by carrying them on His eagle’s wings into His presence, prophetic anointing is of great significance in this context (cf. Exodus 19:4).
John 4:24a:
24a God is spirit, …
24a God is spirit, …
Exodus 19:4:
4 “You yourselves have seen what I did to Egypt, and how I carried you on eagles’ wings and brought you to myself.
4 “You yourselves have seen what I did to Egypt, and how I carried you on eagles’ wings and brought you to myself.
Based on the prophet’s statement, it is clear that he is reminding God’s people of their spiritual position and telling them that it is necessary for them to first allow the power of God’s leading to take them in their spirit to a higher spiritual place. And then to remove themselves with their souls from the place of intimidating communication, which can represent a community of people (Note: slave house) that goes contrary to what the will of God is at this time.
The outcry of the people involves a gathering of saints into an assembly in the form of an army within the calling of the LORD for this time. This is what the Hebrew word for ‘cry’ means, namely, ‘to call and gather’. (Note: part excerpt from the Elberfelder Study Bible on the Hebrew word ‘cry – sā’aq’ with word key number: 2250).
The prophet mentions two geographical places to the people of Israel, which is first about the land (Note: spiritual level) and then about the house (Note: relational level).
The Erasing of False Statements and the Rushing of Many Waters
It is necessary that we erase the intimidating communication or words of people that are stored in us from the past and go contrary to what the Lord says. From this comes the willingness to hear God’s direction for this time and act accordingly.
Since the communication of God is like the sound of many waters (cf. Ezekiel 1:24a i.c.w. Revelation 1:15c), the word from Psalm 42:7 has a special meaning.
Ezekiel 1:24a:
24a When the creatures moved, I heard the sound of their wings, like the roar of rushing waters, like the voice of the Almighty, …
24a When the creatures moved, I heard the sound of their wings, like the roar of rushing waters, like the voice of the Almighty, …
Revelation 1:15c:
…, 15c and his voice was like the sound of rushing waters.
…, 15c and his voice was like the sound of rushing waters.
Psalm 42:7:
7 Deep calls to deep in the roar of your waterfalls; all your waves and breakers have swept over me.
7 Deep calls to deep in the roar of your waterfalls; all your waves and breakers have swept over me.
In the context of this message, it is about the dynamic and weighty communication of God who speaks from His Spirit which is one depth to our Spirit which is the other depth, moving like waves and billows over our inner man. It should be noted here that Jesus also spoke of water in terms of the Spirit in connection with the inner man at the time of Sukkot (Note: Feast of Tabernacles; cf. John 7:38-39a).
John 7:38-39a:
38 Whoever believes in me, as Scripture has said, rivers of living water will flow from within them.’
39a By this he meant the Spirit, whom those who believed in him were later to receive. …
38 Whoever believes in me, as Scripture has said, rivers of living water will flow from within them.’
39a By this he meant the Spirit, whom those who believed in him were later to receive. …
The waves and billows are the forces of God’s voice that help to renew our minds and spirits so that we are able to discern and align ourselves with God’s plan. His billow is the force that brings us into repositioning according to His will and even pushes us into it through the guidance of the Holy Spirit.
For it is the Spirit of truth who takes from Christ and the Father and proclaims it to us (cf. John 16:14-15).
John 16:14-15:
‘… 14 He will glorify me because it is from me that he will receive what he will make known to you.
15 All that belongs to the Father is mine. That is why I said the Spirit will receive from me what he will make known to you.’
‘… 14 He will glorify me because it is from me that he will receive what he will make known to you.
15 All that belongs to the Father is mine. That is why I said the Spirit will receive from me what he will make known to you.’
Let us position ourselves as the prophet Jonah (Note: means ‘dove’) did in the inner being of God’s greatness and allow Him to speak to us as well as bring renewal to our minds and spirits where it is needed (cf. Jonah 2:1.3 i.c.w. Romans 12:2; Ephesians 4:23-24).
Jonah 2:1.3:
1 From inside the fish Jonah prayed to the Lord his God. …
3 You hurled me into the depths, into the very heart of the seas, and the currents swirled about me; all your waves and breakers swept over me.
1 From inside the fish Jonah prayed to the Lord his God. …
3 You hurled me into the depths, into the very heart of the seas, and the currents swirled about me; all your waves and breakers swept over me.
Romans 12:2:
2 Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is – his good, pleasing and perfect will.
2 Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is – his good, pleasing and perfect will.
Ephesians 4:23-24 (KJV):
23 And be renewed in the spirit of your mind; 24 And that ye put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness.
23 And be renewed in the spirit of your mind; 24 And that ye put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness.
This is what we should remain focussed on – the renewing of our spirit of our mind. In times of great confusion and called to bring order where there is chaos, we can only be effective, when we leave our comfort zone (Note: familiar traditions, old patterns and self-righteous structures) to follow Christ.
Amen and Amen.
In His Wisdom,
Daniel Glimm