Psalms 8:1 and 31:1-3a

My Shepherd met me in His green pastures and laid me down in Matthew 15. The Mind of the Spirit engaged the spirit of my mind in verse 21:

Matthew 15:21 ¶ Then Jesus went thence, and departed into the coasts of Tyre and Sidon.

I remembered that after Jesus left Tyre and Sidon, He entered Decapolis:

Mark 7:31 ¶ And again, departing from the coasts of Tyre and Sidon, he came unto the sea of Galilee, through the midst of the coasts of Decapolis.

Why did this verse capture my mind and stir ponderings in my heart? It relates to the configuration of the “promised Land” as it will be defined in these “last days.” Remember, the prophet Jacob prophesied that Zebulun would occupy Lebanon as far north as the border of Zidon (Sidon), (Genesis 49:13). Zebulun has never occupied any part of Lebanon. (See any map of Israel from Joshua through David and Solomon.) It is a prophecy for the last days (Genesis 49:1). Sometime during “these last days” (Hebrews 1:2), Israel will absorb the southern half of Lebanon.

Now, consider what is implied by Jesus’ excursions into Lebanon and Decapolis (Decapolis — see map below). Also, Matthew 19:1 describes Jesus’ travels into “the coasts of Judaea beyond Jordan.” “Beyond Jordan” signifies the area east of the Jordan River in the vicinity of Judaea, called Perea. (See Map, below.)

Jesus expressly said He had come exclusively to the “lost sheep of the house of Israel” (Matthew 15:24; see Matthew 10:6). It is believed by most that His excursion into Tyre and Sidon, and into Decapolis, and Perea were exceptions when He extended His reach beyond Israel’s “promised land” into Gentile territory. However…!

Tyre and Sidon were assigned by lot to the tribe of Asher (Judges 13:1-6). The land of Decapolis was assigned to the tribes of Israel, including the half-tribe of Manasseh. This is the land which Moses conquered when Israel fought with the Amorites (Numbers 21; see Joshua 13:7-12; significant because of God’s promise to Abram regarding the Amorites: Genesis 15:16).

However, Israel never completed their assignment to conquer and subdue all the land God promised to them. They never fully drove out the inhabitants of Tyre and Sidon, although promised to Israel (Judges 13:1-6), nor did Israel fully drive out the inhabitants of Decapolis (Joshua 13:7-13).

Jesus delivered the devil-possessed daughter of the Syro-Phoenician woman, when traveling in Tyre and Sidon (Matthew 15:21-28), and drove out the legion of devils from the Demoniac He encountered in Decapolis, in the country of the Gadarenes (Matthew 8:28; among other miracles there: Mark 7:31-37).

Along the still waters, as I reflected on all this, it occurred to me that Jesus was marking all the area God had originally promised to Israel. Jesus expressly stated His mission was exclusively to the “lost sheep of the house of Israel,” and since all of His ministry was spent in areas we can show from Scripture were alloted to Israel, it seems to me that Jesus described the “territory” of Israel by His itinerary.

Taking all of this together, I think the last days’ boundaries of Israel are going to include “all Lebanon” (Joshua 13:5), the land Moses conquered (Numbers 21; Joshua 13:7-12), and the rest of Canaan (Judges 3:3), and south to the Arish, along the river, or Wadi el Arish. This moves Israel’s borders north into Lebanon and east to the border of Syria, and south just under 17 miles to Arish.

Israel never occupied all of its promised land, and might come up short again. The prophecy of Jacob informs us that Israel will expand her last days territory into Lebanon at least as far as to the border of Sidon.

Prophecy also makes it clear Israel will have her Temple and the daily sacrifice will be reinstated (Daniel 9:27; Isaiah 2:1-5; Micah 4:1-5).

In the valley of the shadow of death, where the Cross reminds us Christ has come in the flesh, spoiled principalities and powers on the Cross, defeating death by His resurrection, and securing to Himself “all power in heaven and in earth” (Matthew 28:18), I knelt, and heard Him say, “If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me” (Luke 9:23).

At the table, we comisserated for a while on the relationship between God’s last days promise to Israel (Isaiah 2; Micah 4) and His last days promise to the Church (Matthew 24:14), in the light of recent developments in the Middle East. I thanked Him for hearing our prayers of intercession for Israel, for the oppressed people of Iran, and for open doors for the gospel of the kingdom to be preached in all the world as a witness to every nation (Matthew 24:14). He anointed my head with His oil and filled my cup with His grace. Goodness and mercy followed me as Jesus led the way into the harvest.

Praying for revival! 🙏

Going live asap:

https://rumble.com/v76ktxa-shepherds-pasture.html