Psalms 8:1 and 16:2.

My Shepherd met me in His green pastures and laid me down in Isaiah 66. The Mind of the Spirit engaged the spirit of my mind in two clauses, one from each of the first two verses:

Isaiah 66:1 ¶ Thus saith the LORD, The heaven is my throne, and the earth is my footstool: where is the house that ye build unto me? and where is the place of my rest?

Isaiah 66:2 For all those things hath mine hand made, and all those things have been, saith the LORD: but to this man will I look, even to him that is poor and of a contrite spirit, and trembleth at my word.

In the first verse, I was drawn nigh to God when He asked: “Where is the place of my rest?” In the second verse, I was touched by the clause: “To this man will I look, even to him that is poor and of a contrite spirit, and trembleth at my word.”

I have read verse three incorrectly. I thought it followed verse two as explaining what it means to “tremble at [His] word.” The Spirit showed me that actually, part A of verse three is a preface to part B of that verse. Look at it that way and see if you agree.

Isaiah 66:3 He that killeth an ox is as if he slew a man; he that sacrificeth a lamb, as if he cut off a dog’s neck; he that offereth an oblation, as if he offered swine’s blood; he that burneth incense, as if he blessed an idol. Yea, they have chosen their own ways, and their soul delighteth in their abominations.

Along the still waters, I reflected on all of this. The word Yea indicates that what follows is a reflection on what preceded. The ox, the lamb, the oblation, and the incense are all offerings to God. But these children despised the offerings, defiled them, and treated them with contempt: they killed the ox as if they “slew a man” (murder), they sacrificed the lamb as if it were a dog, rather than as a representation of the Lamb of God, they presented their oblation (a voluntary offering) as if offering swine’s blood, and they burned incense as if blessing an idol.*

Evidence that verse three should be taken as a rebuke is the severe rebuke that follows: “I also will choose their delusions, and will bring their fears upon them; because when I called, none did answer; when I spake, they did not hear: but they did evil before mine eyes, and chose that in which I delighted not.” They did not tremble at His word. He was looking away from these children, not to them.* (SEE BELOW: A PROPHETIC NOTE)

My Shepherd impressed on my heart the importance of authenticity and sincerity. He would have us be authentic, that is, genuine, unpretentious—honest with ourselves and with Him regarding who we are, warts and all. He would have us be sincere, that is, honest about our feelings, motivations, and intentions in any given act or feeling. I want my LORD to “look toward me” — to “see me,” and take pleasure in my service to Him.

As for preparing Him a “place for [His] rest” (Isaiah 66:1), I marvelled! Jesus is at this moment preparing a “habitation of God through the Spirit” (Ephesians 2:22, see 2:19-22). This “Temple” is “in the Lord.” And we are baptized by the Spirit into Christ (Romans 6:3; Galatians 3:27), so that, “[we] also are builded together for an habitation of God” (Ephesians 2:22), and this is being accomplished “through the Spirit.” God makes His abode in Christ, and so we, being in Christ, are “builded together” for His place of rest. Interestingly, God rested on the day after He made man! The “house” will be completed when we are raised in His likeness (Philippians 3:20-21; 1 Corinthians 15:51-58).

In the valley, kneeling in the shadow of His Cross, I was reminded that today Jesus’ Spirit dwells in my heart in this “body of sin” (Spirit in our hearts: 2 Corinthians 1:22; Galatians 4:6; body of sin: Romans 6:6). He reminded me that, nonetheless, this body is claimed by Him to be His Temple in the earth today (1 Corinthians 6:16-17), and I must present it to Him a “living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God” (Romans 12:1), a vessel (the body: see )sanctified to God (1 Thessalonians 4:4), “meet for the master’s use, and prepared unto every good work” (2 Timothy 2:21). I stood before Him, raised my hands in salute to His Majesty, and proclaimed this body is His, set apart to His use. He looked toward me! And His Spirit spoke: “If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me” (Luke 9:23). I did!

Goodness and mercy were waiting for us at the table. Immediately upon our arrival there, my Shepherd anointed my head with His oil and filled my cup with His grace while goodness and mercy, standing at attention, looked straight ahead, their eyes fixed on the Shepherd. Christ set the cup in my hand and turned toward the Harvest. I stepped behind Him. He paused; I stepped to His side, and we continued into the Harvest, goodness and mercy following.

Praying for revival! 🙏

Going live asap.

https://rumble.com/v6wv10s-shepherds-pasture.html

[*A PROPHETIC NOTE: Our Heavenly Father turns His attention again to those to whom He would look in verse 5: “Hear the word of the LORD, ye that tremble at his word” (Isaiah 66:5). He lays out a prophecy regarding the “tremblers,” saying they will be delivered from the persecution of the despisers and vindicated (Isaiah 66:5-7), predicting the return of His people to their land (Isaiah 66:8-11).

Many look at 1948 as the fulfillment of this prophecy. Elements of the prophecy are fulfilled in the 1948 Gentile recognition of the State of Israel, but other aspects of this prophecy remain unfulfilled. For one, the Gentile nations that support Israel’s right to a homeland in a limited portion of what was Israel are divided over the disposition of Jerusalem. Also, the definition of her boundaries doesn’t come near the borders of the Davidic empire. Jacob’s last days prophecy (Genesis 49:1) has Zebulon occupying Sidon to the north (Genesis 49:13). The present northernmost city of Israel is Kiryat Shmona, about three miles from the Lebanon border, and about 35 miles as the crow flies, or 50-55 miles driving distance from Sidon (Zidon).

Furthermore, the promise that she will enjoy “the glory of the Gentiles like a flowing stream,” and that the Gentiles will be “borne upon her sides, and be dandled upon her knees,” or that the Gentiles will “be comforted in Jerusalem” is not yet fulfilled (Isaiah 66:14). This part of the prophecy will not be fulfilled until “the LORD will come with fire, and with his chariots like a whirlwind, to render his anger with fury, and his rebuke with flames of fire,” when the LORD will “plead with all flesh: and the slain of the LORD shall be many” (Isaiah 66:15-16).

Isaiah 66 describes a condition unlike what is prophesied in Isaiah 2 and Micah 4, where people will say they are in the days prophesied in Isaiah 66, but the streets of Jerusalem will be filled with idols (Isaiah 2:1-5, 6-8), leading to Jerusalem being spiritually called Sodom (Revelation 11:8). At the fulfillment of Isaiah 66, “They that sanctify themselves in the gardens behind one tree in the midst, eating swine’s flesh, and the abomination, and the mouse, shall be consumed together, saith the LORD” (Isaiah 66:17). This occurs in the time leading up to the creation of “the new heavens and the new earth” (Isaiah 66:22; see Revelation 21:1). This prophecy begins at the onset of the Millennium, which is in the Day of the LORD, a prophetic period that follows the Last Days (Hebrews 1:2 indicates we are now living in the last days).]