Back-to-back “will worship” days are unusual. I’ll take Psalm 8:1 and 16:2 for Temple worship today.

My Shepherd met me in His green pastures and laid me down in Ezekiel 39. Verse 26 is where the Mind of the Spirit engaged the spirit of my mind: (I’ll include verse 25 to complete the sentence)

Ezekiel 39:25 Therefore thus saith the Lord GOD; Now will I bring again the captivity of Jacob, and have mercy upon the whole house of Israel, and will be jealous for my holy name;

Ezekiel 3926 After that they have borne their shame, and all their trespasses whereby they have trespassed against me, when they dwelt safely in their land, and none made them afraid.

Jesus prophesied that the shame and reproach upon Israel (as a nation) would continue to the end of the Times of the Gentiles (Luke 21:24). Nebuchadnezzar began the times of the Gentiles. God gave him a dream that foretold the times from its beginning to its end. As Daniel prophesied, that “time” concludes when the stone cut without hands (Christ) comes down upon the feet of the image and destroys all the kingdoms of this world.

Ezekiel prophesied the end of the times of the Gentiles and of the reproach of Israel (Ezekiel 39:1-7; 8-16, 17-21, 22-24, 25-29).*

[*There has been no war massed by Gog and those with him against Israel that fits the description given in Ezekiel 39. There has been no massive 94% reduction of the people of Gog (usually understood to be Russia and her allies). There has never been a seven-year period during which Israel buries the dead in Hamon-gog, the area we now call Jordan, east of the Dead Sea. Since none of this occurred, the 1948 “birth” of the nation of Israel cannot be the restoration of Israel prophesied in Ezekiel 39:22-29. The reproach has not been removed, even though, according to Isaiah 2 and Micah 4, she will fall into the world’s embrace. Israel will compromise with her heathen neighbors for a peace that is not the Peace.]

Along the still waters, as I reflected on this, I remembered that these things are written for the admonition and learning of those upon whom the ends of the world are come, that is, us (Romans 15:4 “For whatsoever things were written aforetime were written for our learning, that we through patience and comfort of the scriptures might have hope.”)

Sometimes, we pass through times of chastening, testing, proving, with manifold trials and temptations. Peter spoke, by the Spirit, of how we pass through seasons of “manifold temptations” (1 Peter 1:6). In view of this, he exhorted us to minister to one another the “manifold grace of God” (1 Peter 4:10). We may overcome the manifold temptations by His manifold grace.

Sometimes the “season” seems long. Israel, for example, has long carried the burden of her shame, for the uncleanness and transgressions God has testified concerning them (Ezekiel 39:23-24).**

[**I am a Gentile, and I know what has come upon Israel, and why: “And the heathen shall know that the house of Israel went into captivity for their iniquity: because they trespassed against me, therefore hid I my face from them, and gave them into the hand of their enemies: so fell they all by the sword.

According to their uncleanness and according to their transgressions have I done unto them, and hid my face from them.” (Ezekiel 39:23-24).]

But GOD has not forsaken His people utterly, nor cast them off forever. He promised that He would bring them out of their reproach and restore them to their former glory, and even beyond, “After that they have borne their shame, and all their trespasses they have trespassed against me” (Ezekiel 39:26-27).

Israel’s “season” was extended because they refused to repent; therefore, they have not yet been restored, their “refreshing” is delayed but not denied (Acts 3:19).

When we pass through “manifold temptations” and suffer chastening for our trespasses and iniquities, we will bear our shame for a season. And after we have “borne” our shame and the burdens of our trespasses, He will “have mercy” (Ezekiel 39:25). We can extend the “season,” or shorten it.

There is a “long season” (1 Chronicles 5:3). Israel extended their “season” in the wilderness by their unbelief and stubbornness (Joshua 24:7; Exodus 32:9; Deuteronomy 9:6, 13; Acts 7:51). They could have gone into the land, but because of their unbelief, they were made to wander in the wilderness until that generation passed (Numbers 14:35). We sometimes extend our “season.”

There is a “short season” (Revelation 6:11). Sometimes the saints must wait for other saints to come along.

Then there is the season of fruitfulness (Psalm 1:3). Remember that purging is preparation for a season of greater fruitfulness (John 15:1-2).

What season are you in? Is it a time of chastening? Don’t extend it by rebellion and resentment. Humble yourself under the mighty hand of GOD and He will exalt you in “due time” (1 Peter 5:6). Submit yourselves therefore unto God. Resist the Devil, and he will flee” (James 4:7).

If you are in a season of waiting, be patient, GOD will move in due time.

If you are in a season of fruitfulness, rejoice, but also prepare for a season of purging so that you might bring forth more fruit.

In the valley, kneeling in the shadow of His Cross, I heard the Spirit whisper in my heart His counsel to 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). It begins with denying self—humbling ourselves under the mighty Hand of GOD. This involves a surrender of our will to His. Then we “take up our cross” — keeping it with us at all times. And we follow Him (1 Peter 2:21).

At the table, He anointed my head with His oil and filled my cup with His grace. Goodness and mercy followed us into the harvest.

Praying for revival! 🙏

Going live when I get a break in my travels.