It’s one of those mornings: I’ll use Psalm 31:1-3 for Temple worship today.

My Shepherd met me in His green pastures and directed me to that parcel addressed at Jeremiah 40-43. The Mind of the Spirit engaged the spirit of my mind, Jeremiah 40:10:

Jeremiah 40:10 As for me, behold, I will dwell at Mizpah to serve the Chaldeans, which will come unto us: but ye, gather ye wine, and summer fruits, and oil, and put them in your vessels, and dwell in your cities that ye have taken.

The Holy Ghost whispered the words of Gedaliah, made governor of Judah after Nebuchadnezzar destroyed Jerusalem: “I will dwell at Mizpah.”

Mizpah (aka Mizpeh) is a city in the ancient region of Benjamin, what Israelis today call Judea and Samaria, in the southern part of the West Bank. It is located about 7-10 miles a little northwest of Jerusalem. The word mizpah means watchtower, and it’s situated on high ground overlooking Jerusalem. On a clear day, one could see Olivet from Mizpah.

The physical distance from Mizpah to Jerusalem is only about 7 miles, but the historical distance is immense: Mizpah was the ancient “capital” of Israel in the days of Samuel.* Mizpeh is where Saul was chosen to be king (1 Samuel 10); the monarchy began in Mizpeh.

David succeeded Saul to the throne and is the king who settled the kingdom’s capital in Jerusalem and brought the Tabernacle to Mt. Moriah, along the ridge called Zion (1 Chronicles 11:4-8). Nevertheless, GOD required a clear separation between the priesthood and the monarchy (See 2 Chronicles 27:19).

The significance of Gedaliah saying, “I will dwell at Mizpah,” was that it signified the loss of Jerusalem; Israel had been set back 479 years, to the time of Saul’s anointing, the beginning of the monarchy in Mizpeh.

Along the still waters, as I reflected on these things, I understood that Gedaliah and the remnant remaining in Judah after Nebuchadnezzar destroyed the Temple and scattered Judah from Jerusalem, God actually offered to allow them to remain in “the land” and promised to prosper them, and “cause you to return to your own land” (Jeremiah 42:9-12). They had been displaced from Jerusalem, but God promised that if they would submit to His chastisement, God would “shew mercies unto you, that he (Nebuadnezzar) may have mercy upon you, and cause you to return” (Jeremiah 42:12). They could have returned to their homes in Jerusalem, David’s city. But they rebelled, and so the word of the LORD by Jeremiah was fulfilled: for the people said, “No; but we will go into the land of Egypt,” and compounded their insult toward GOD, so that He sent the sword of Nebuchadnezzar after them there and destroyed them as He promied (Jeremiah 42:13-22); see 43-44).

The Spirit reminded me that His chastisements are not meant to destroy, but to correct (Hebrews 12:5-13). If we refuse correction, what was meant for our good will turn to evil. Let us learn from what happened to Judah (Romans 15:4; 1 Corinthians 10:11).

If the LORD has raised His rod of correction against us for our backsliding, stop sliding backward from Him; don’t follow the example of Judah in the days of Gedaliah.

Gedaliah foolishly refused Johanan’s counsel, who warned him against the rebel Ishmael, and was destroyed. Then Johanan took the leadership of the remnant, and refused the counsel of Jeremiah, and led the people into Egypt, where they were also destroyed.

And all of this came upon them because the remnant leaned to their own understanding, and reasoned that they would be safer in Egypt than in God’s promised land. The prophet warned them. If only Judah had heeded his first word: Jeremiah: “Thus saith the LORD, Stand ye in the ways, and see, and ask for the old paths, where is the good way, and walk therein” (Jeremiah 6:16a). But they said, “We will not walk therein” (Jeremiah 6:16b). God continued to reach out to Judah for an additional thirty-seven years. But they continued in their rebellion and were cut off.

When God’s word rebukes us for some sin, stop immediately, and return to the “old paths.” Don’t mistake God’s mercy for surrender to your rebellion. Don’t stubbornly continue leaning on your own understanding. Stop and ask for the “old paths.” When driven from “Jerusalem,” and set back to “Mizpeh,” accept the judgment, be content. Then you may return to the former place of blessing, your “Jerusalem,” until the time of chastisement is completed. They could have dwelt in the land and prospered, allowing them to keep the land during the chastisement against the day of the return (Jeremiah 29:10). But though He would, they would not: Luke 13:34, “O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, which killest the prophets, and stonest them that are sent unto thee; how often would I have gathered thy children together, as a hen doth gather her brood under her wings, and ye would not!”

In the valley, Jesus reminded me that the reason the saints lose His blessing is that they fail to heed His word. And the reason they fall farther into judgment is that they refuse His correction. Let us say with David: “My times are in thy hand: deliver me from the hand of mine enemies, and from them that persecute me” (Psalm 31:15). He assigned seventy years to them (Jeremiah 29:10). They ended up extending the time they would serve the Gentiles for an additional 600+ years. Jesus offered to restore them (Luke 19:42), but they blew it again, and so Jesus withdrew His offer to restore the kingdom to Israel (Matthew 21:43) and extended the “times of the Gentiles” to His return (Luke 21:24). That was about 2000 years ago, and the prophetic clock is still ticking. Selah!

I knelt in the shadow of His Cross, and Jesus reiterated what my duty is, and the duty of every disciple: “If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me” (Luke 9:23). A large part of denying self is to turn away from your own understanding, and Trust Him. I fear we are not better than our Jewish counterparts. I think I hear the contemporary Christian responding to the call as they did then.

The Call: “Stand ye in the ways, and see, and ask for the old paths, where is the good way, and walk therein, and ye shall find rest for your souls.”

Their Answer: “But they said, we will not walk therein” (Jeremiah 6:16b).

The arrogance of God’s people never ceases to astound and befuddle!

At the table, we discussed the distance from Mizpeh to Jerusalem and back to Mizpeh. The importance of being patient during chastisement in Mizpeh: we remember that Mizpeh is elevated to serve as a watchtower to keep an eye on Moriah (Zion) and Olivet to the south, and Shiloh to the north.

My Shepherd anointed my head with His oil and filled my cup with His grace. Goodness and mercy came running to catch up and follow us into the harvest.

Praying for revival! 🙏

Going live asap:

https://rumble.com/v74prc2-shepherds-pasture.html

[*Mizpeh is where Saul was anointed to begin the monarchy of Israel, and where the “congregation” gathered to the Prophet Samuel for the word of the LORD. The Tabernacle was located in Shiloh, about 9-11 miles north, in Ephraim. One might expect the king would be anointed in Shiloh, but GOD established a clear separation between the House of GOD and the “House” of the new monarchy. He brought them together in David, but required a clear separation between the priesthood and the monarchy (See 2 Chronicles 27:19).]