A Desolate House*

Has America become a desolate house? Regarding more on this question, I hope to soon be publishing my book, "The Late Great United States", because I believe that both the nation and the church are missing the Word of God. I also challenge you to see the documentary "Monumental", from Kirk Cameron, as well as reading Jonathan Cahn's books, "The Harbinger", and "The Return of the Gods". In seeking the answer to the question asked at the beginning of this message, Proverbs says: "As snow in summer, and as rain in harvest, so honour is not seemly for a fool. As the bird by wandering, as the swallow by flying, so the curse causeless shall not come." (Prov. 26:1-2). "A fool" is defined in scripture as someone who says in their heart "there is no God" (Ps. 14:1). While we hear the atheists proclaim this more and more, even believers act like a fool when they go against the Word of God! We hve seen the resulting signs of a curse come to this land, as Proverbs warned: the pandemic, economic, political, and weather crises, and so on. The prophet Ezekiel was told to prophesy the Word of the LORD to the mountains of Israel, that because of her sins, Israel's enemies have caused the nation to become desolate: "...the enemy hath said against you, 'Aha, even the ancient high places are ours in possession'...because they have made you desolate, and swallowed you up on every side, that ye might be a possession unto the residue of the heathen, and ye are taken up in the lips of talkers, and are an infamy of the people..." (Ezek. 36:1-3). The LORD then prophesied that this enemy that took joy in the shame of Israel will experience His jealous wrath. These enemies are natural but also spiritual, and seek the high places of the land. Demons are real, and we have given place and permission to these enemies to inhabit our land. What caused this desolation by the hands of an enemy to fall upon Israel in the first place? The LORD revealed to Ezekiel: "...when the house of Israel dwelt in their own land, they defiled it by their own way and by their doings: their way was before me as the uncleanness of a removed woman. Wherefore I poured my fury upon them for the blood that they had shed upon the land, and for their idols wherewith they had polluted it. And I scattered them among the heathen...according to their way and according to their doings I judged them." (v. 17-19). The LORD added that wherever He scattered His people, they continued to profane His name in those nations. He would restore Israel, not for the people's sake, but for the sake of His holy name, for which He had pity. He would sanctify His great name, which His own people had profaned among the heathen, by restoring His people to their own land (v. 20-24). Not only would the LORD restore His people to their land, but "I will sprinkle clean water upon you, and ye shall be clean: from all your filthiness, and from all your idols, will I cleanse you. A new heart also will I give you, and a new spirit will I put within you: and I will take away the stony heart out of your flesh, and I will give you a heart of flesh. And I will put my spirit within you, and cause you to walk in my statutes, and ye shall keep my judgments; and do them." (v. 25-27). The LORD, in sanctifying His own great name, also promised to make David (referring to the Messiah), "my servant", the one King over them, their one Shepherd, to be their Prince forever: "Neither shall they defile themselves any more with their idols, nor with their detestable things, nor with any of their transgressions...so shall they be my people, and I will be their God." (see Ezek. 37:21-28, see also Hos. 3:4-5). Israel, among other things, had been worshipping idols. We still worship idols today when we make anything more important than God. Israel sinned before the LORD and profaned His name. We all have sinned and come short of the glory of God, scripture says - and the wages of sin is death. The prophet Hosea also wrote what the LORD said about His people, which we see today also: "...there is no truth, nor mercy, nor knowledge of God in the land, By swearing, and lying, and killing, and stealing, and committing adultery, they break out, and blood toucheth blood. Therefore shall the land mourn...My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge, because thou hast rejected knowledge, I will also reject thee, that thou shalt be no priest to me: seeing as thou hast forgotten the law of thy God, I will also forget thy children...I will change their (His people's) glory into shame...they set their heart on their iniquity." (Hos. 4:1-3, 6-8). We see this desolation of our land taking the form of an unrelenting attack against our children, as Hosea wrote above, with lies and twisted perversions. America, church, have we become a desolate house? Jesus spoke about certain disasters that had befallen groups of people in Israel in His time. He said that those victims were no greater sinners than others, "... but except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish." (Lk. 13:1-5). Jesus also told the parable of a man who had a fig tree that failed to yield expected fruit for three years. He ordered his vinedresser to cut it down so it wouldn't encumber the ground while producing nothing. The vinedresser asked the man to allow him to dig around and fertilize the tree for that year, and if it still did not produce, then it could be cut down. (v. 6-9). The LORD is not quick to judge or destroy, and will give the time and opportunity for His people to show Him the fruits justly expected by Him from their lives. Most of those who refused to hear Jesus' words were the religious leaders of His time. Jesus severely scolded the most religious of the people telling them that they cared for the outward appearance of righteousness only, while inside they were full of corruption, like tombs. These same religious leaders criticised Jesus for healing on the sabbath, when even a common animal, Jesus told them to their shame, deserved comfort and care even on the sabbath. Certainly, He said, a descendant of Abraham was entitled to be loosed from the bond of infirmity on the sabbath (v. 10-16). He warned them when asked if many would be saved, "Strive to enter in at the strait gate: for many, I say unto you, will seek to enter in, and shall not be able." (v. 23-24). He said that the door would be shut, and many would come knocking and asking to be let in, but shall receive this answer from the Master, "I know you not, whence you are." (v. 25). These who are shut out would include those who had seen Him, and eaten with Him, but nevertheless, He would not know them, and instead say, "...depart from me, all ye workers of iniquity". While others would enter into the kingdom, these would be thrust out, "And behold, there are last which shall be first, and there are first, which shall be last." (v. 26-30). These people felt assured in their place in the Kingdom of God based upon a meaningless and hypocritical outward appearance of righteousness, but they would find that they were mistaken. (see also Mt. 23:1-28). As Jesus continued on His journey toward Jerusalem, He reminded them that Jerusalem killed the prophets of God, while refusing to be gathered "under Jesus' wings": "Behold, your house is left unto you desolate: and verily I say unto you, You shall not see me, until the time come when you shall say, Blessed is he that cometh in the name of the Lord." (Lk. 13:31-35, see also Mt. 23:29-39). The LORD leaves us a time and an opportunity to turn back to Him. In 2 Chron. 7, the LORD answers Solomon's prayer as the work of the new temple is completed. The LORD makes this promise: "If I shut up heaven that there be no rain, or if I command the locusts to devour the land, or if I send pestilence among my people; If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land...mine eyes shall be open, and mine ears attent unto the prayer that is made in this place...and mine heart shall be there perpetually." (v. 11-16). That "place" was the temple, but we are the living temple of God. However, to Solomon, the LORD said, "...if thou wilt walk before me , as David thy father walked, and do according to all that I have commanded thee, and shalt observe my statutes and my judgments; then will I stablish the throne of thy kingdom, according as I have covenanted with David thy father...But if ye turn away, and forsake my statutes and my commandments, and shall go and serve other gods, and worship them; then I will pluck them up out of my land which I have given them; and this house, which I have sanctified for my name, will I cast out of my sight, and will make it to be a proverb and a byword among all nations..." (2 Chron. 7:17-22, excerpt). We know that Solomon did not walk after the LORD as his father, David, walked, and after Solomon's reign ended, the nation became divided, and many of the kings that followed established idols in the land. We are doing the same things as Israel did. We have just had an election in this country, and we voted for our choices. Will it change anything? The only thing that will change the desolation of our house is "If My people..." from 2 Chron. 7, which we read above. We recently honored our veterans, including those who gave their lives in service to this county, as we should. When will we honor Jesus, who died for us? God's people, for now, are being given the time and opportunity to repent, that God might heal our land. *Based on Dr. Kenneth E. Stevenson's 11/13/2022 message to the church. To contact us, submit a prayer request, give a praise report, or to support this ministry: P.O. Box 154221, Waco, TX, 76705 OR Everlastingcovenant@ymail.com. You can also find us on Facebook, Twitter, theshroudofturin.org, and END TIME SCHOOL, also on Facebook.

A Samuel Return to the LORD

When the prophet Samuel ("Heard of God") was a boy in Israel, the priesthood under Eli and his sons was idolatrous, and corrupt (1 Sam. 2:12). They had contempt for the holy things of the LORD, and consumed His holy things upon themselves. The result of this behavior caused the people to disrespect the holy things also (v. 17). It was this attitude of disregard for the things of the LORD that caused Israel to bring the ark of the covenant from Shiloh (rest, quiet, tranquility, that which belongs to him) to the place of battle with the prevailing Philistines, hoping the presence of the ark of God would bring them victory (1 Sam. 4:3). The ark is not a talisman to be brought out and used by an idolatrous priesthood. The ark was not significant only because it was a piece of religious furniture. Its importance lies in Whose presence it represents. It is a holy vessel (Lk. 1:35) containing the Word of God  which is living,(Jn. 1:1-3) His covenant and His commands, the manna, the Bread of life come down from heaven (Jn. 6:33), and His spiritual authority of miraculous resurrection power (Aaron's staff that budded). It is a place of the blood covering, and the seat of His mercy. The ark was a type and picture of God's salvation, Jesus.

In this case, the Philistines continued to prevail, and not only took the victory that day, but they also took the ark! It was a shame and horror to have the ark of God fall into the enemy's hands. The corrupt and indifferent priests also died that day. When the news got back, Eli's daughter-in-law gave birth naming her child "Ichabod" saying, "The glory is departed from Israel: for the ark of God is taken."  (1 Sam. 4:21-22).

The glory of God, the ark of God, could not be handled by just anyone. One must be cleansed and set apart, or suffer grievous harm, even death. Also, the ark of His glory could not be kept just anywhere, or mixed with idols. The Philistines discovered this as they placed the ark in their idol's temple, next to the image of their false god. The statue of the false god was destroyed by the presence of the ark, and the people of the Philistine city and the nearby area were destroyed also (1 Sam. 5:1-6). Wherever the Philistines moved the ark, death followed. Finally, they sought to return the ark to Israel on a cart with offerings of gold to appease the anger of the God of Israel, which had come upon them (1 Sam. 6:3).

Even as the ark was returned, the men of the city where it arrived mishandled the ark, and many died (1 Sam. 6:19). Finally, the man Eleazar was sanctified and set apart to keep the ark in Kirjath-jearim. It remained there for twenty years (1 Sam. 7:1-2).

For twenty years, the ark was removed from Shiloh (to be at rest, He whose it is, that which belongs to Him, also a Messianic name). For twenty years, no one was found in Israel who was able to bring the ark back to where it belonged, and all the people lamented (to wail with mourning, to groan, see also Zech. 12:10,12) after the LORD (1 Sam. 7:2).

They lamented because the spiritual condition of the people of God was such that they were no longer separated with the ark, but they were separated from the ark.

The prophet Samuel, told the people that he would show them the way to restoration:

"And Samuel spake unto all the house of Israel, saying, "If you do return unto the LORD with all your hearts, then put away the strange gods and Ashtaroth from among you, and prepare your hearts unto the LORD, and serve Him only: and He will deliver you out of the hands of the Philistines."   ! Sam. 7:3

The children of Israel obeyed and put away their false gods, and idols. Samuel then instructed them:

"...gather all Israel to Mizpeh, and I will pray for you unto the LORD."   v. 5

Mizpeh means "watchtower", an elevated place or structure used as a look out for enemies. However, this watchtower is also a prophetic place according to its root meaning "to lean forward, to peer into the distance, to await, to observe." At this assigned place, the things Samuel would show them would not only bring them to a path of restoration, but would also have a prophetic significance, which we will see.

"And they gathered together to Mizpeh, and drew water, and poured it out before the LORD, and fasted on that day, and said there, "We have sinned against the LORD." And Samuel judged the children of Israel in Mizpeh."    v. 6

 

The people gathered to that place, drew water and poured it out, fasted, and confessed their sin. Not only was this the way to their restoration, but it is the way to ours also.

מִצְפָּה

The letters that form the Hebrew word "Mizpeh" are shown above. Each letter has a meaning that reflects this path to restoration, not only for Samuel's era, but, prophetically, for the appearing of Messiah, as well. It is an eternal truth. Let us look at the letters:

Mem refers to water and blood. The people drew water, and poured it out at Mizpeh. Jesus is the water and the blood (Jn. 19:34, 1 Jn. 5-6). The second letter of Mizpeh is tsadde. This letter is a righteous desire, a trail, a journey, a hunt. The people journeyed to gather at Mizpeh, because they were seeking and desired righteousness. Jesus tells us to seek Him, and He will be found ((Lk. 11:10). The third letter, peh, refers to an open mouth, speaking, a beginning. The children of Israel  opened their mouths and confessed. The beginning of our path to salvation is with our confession (Rom. 10:9-10, Rom. 14:11, 1 John 1:9). The final letter, he, tells us to behold, watch, see, reveal. Samuel brought them, and prophetically, us, to the watchtower to see the restoration and salvation of God.

At this moment of restoration, the Philistines, again began an attack. Samuel offered a young lamb as a sacrifice that day in Mizpeh also, even as Jesus is our Lamb of sacrifice (Jn. 1:29). The LORD thundered a great thunder, and the Philistines were smitten. All the days of Samuel's life, the Philistines were subdued, and did not come again into Israel (1 Sam. 7:13).

Isn't it time for us also, His Church, to seek that journey of righteousness, and repentance, and bring back the presence of the LORD, and His glory? Haven't we also become "Ichabod", because the glory has departed from us? As Samuel instructed Israel, if we want to return to the LORD with all of our hearts, we must put away from us the idols, and false gods to which we have attached ourselves: the powers, desires, and cares of this world. The holy covenant of God will not share a place with our idols. If we confess our sins, as Israel did at Mizpeh, He will cleanse us of all unrighteousness. We are His royal priesthood, His holy priesthood, and we are to minister before the ark of His glory as such.

We desperately need a Samuel return to the LORD.

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