Advocate

This is the 100th post to this blog.
Jesus describes the Holy Spirit to His disciples as the Comforter.
"And I will pray the Father and He will give you another Comforter, that He may abide with you forever-the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees Him nor knows Him; but you know Him for He dwells with you and will be in you."   Jn. 14:16-17

The word used for "Comforter" in Greek is "Parakletos". As much as this word means to give succor, comfort, and help, it also means one who pleads another's cause before a  judge, a counsel for the defense, an advocate, an intercessor.
Jesus is our Advocate with the Father as well:
My little children, these things I write to you so that you may not sin. And if anyone sins, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous. And He Himself is the propitiation for our sins, and not for our sins only, but also for the whole world."   1 Jn. 2:1-2
                                                             and
"But He, because He continues forever, has an unchangeable priesthood. Therefore, He is also able to save to the uttermost those who come to God through Him, since He always lives to make intercession for them."         Heb. 7:24-25

While I had been familiar with the scriptures about Jesus being our Advocate with the Father, I had not thought much about the Holy Spirit being an Advocate, according to the meaning of the term "Comforter".
King Solomon wrote of those who had no "comforter", no one on their side:
"Then I returned and considered all the oppression that is done under the sun:
And look! The tears of the oppressed,
But they have no comforter-
On the side of the oppressors
there is power,
But they have no comforter."            Eccl. 4:1

I considered that as a believer. I have received the Holy Spirit. However, I do not spend much time as an advocate, pleading the cause of one before a judge. I don't give much thought or spend time as a counsel for the defense. While I pray for my brothers and sisters in Christ, I can't say that I advocate for those who are not. I pray for their repentance, and salvation, but I do not "advocate" for their defense.
Defense counsels do not always have an innocent for a client. Sometimes they defend the undefendable. That is sometimes difficult for us to accept, because our hearts cry out for justice. However, Jesus said, "They that are whole have no need of the physician, but they that are sick." How can I advocate, or make a defense for the guilty?
At His own crucifixion, Jesus was an advocate for the guilty:
"Then Jesus said, Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they do."    Lk. 23:34
After He had said this they mocked and ridiculed Him.
Whether they had knowledge of who Jesus was, or not, they certainly knew they had railroaded an innocent man to death on false charges. It doesn't get more undefendable than that. Yet Jesus advocated for them before the Father. What possible fruit could come of such advocacy?  Well, Christ's disciple, Joseph of Arimathea, sat upon the Sanhedrin, that Council of men who had falsely accused and judged Jesus (Mt. 27:57, Mk. 15:43). Jesus' secret disciple, Nicodemus, was also part of that Council (Jn. 3:1). The Centurion, partaking in the execution of Christ, ended up declaring, "Truly, this was the Son of God." (Mt. 27:54, Mk. 15:39). Many priests, who were the main accusers of Christ, would come to salvation after the resurrection (Acts 6:7). And we also, were just as guilty as they were, before we came to a saving knowledge of Jesus. When Jesus advocated for them, He was advocating for me. Shouldn't we advocate for others? Isn't that the very meaning of the Holy Spirit, Parakletos, in us?
When His disciples were clamoring for Him to judge those who had rejected Him, Jesus rebuked them and said, "You know not what manner of spirit you are of". (Lk. 9:55)
Before the time of the judgment, there is first the time for advocacy on behalf of the accused.
Moses advocated before God, pleaded with Him, on behalf of the rebellious children of Israel, when God was prepared to render judgment against them. Moses didn't defend them based upon their innocence, which was non-existent, but he defended them based upon upholding the glory of the name of the LORD before the other nations, and reminding the LORD of His promise to Abraham, Isaac, and Israel. The LORD relented from the harm He said He would do to His people. (Ex. 32:11-14).
The Spirit of Wisdom delights in the creation of God, including man:
"Then I was beside Him as a master craftsman;
And I was daily His delight.
Rejoicing always before Him,
Rejoicing n His inhabited world,
And My delight was with the sons of men."        Prov. 8:30-31

After creating man, God saw everything that He had made, and indeed it was very good. (Gen. 1:31). Shouldn't we advocate for what Elohim called "very good", and for what Wisdom delighted in?

Out of this very rejoicing and delight over the creation of man, comes the heart of advocacy and defense, which is the name and character of the Holy Spirit.

Our Father has given us the Spirit of the Advocate.


"Father Forgive Them"
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HX5GyVOW2ws

Oracles

"So Aaron shall  bear the names of the sons of Israel on the breastplate of judgment over his heart, when he goes into the holy place, as a memorial before the LORD continually. And you shall put in the breastplate of judgment the Urim and the Thummim, and they shall be over Aaron's heart when he goes in before the LORD. So Aaron shall bear the judgment of the children of Israel over his heart before the LORD continually."      Ex. 28:29-30
The Hebrew meaning of the word Urim is lights, light of fire, to become light, shine, to be made light, light of revelation.
The Hebrew meaning of Thummim is perfection, complete truth, innocence, integrity, uprightness wholeness, fullness, welfare, safety, prosperity, to be finished, completed, done, to be completely crossed over (as a river).
The Breastplate of Judgment, also known as the Breastplate of Decision, was worn by the High Priest. Inquiries made of God were brought to the High Priest by the king, or by another priest. Only these were permitted to make inquiries regarding God's will. The High Priest was the only one who could wear the breastplate, because, according to Jewish tradition, "it could only be read by the guidance of the Spirit of God, by one upon whom the Shekkinah (glory of God) rested. Only one question was allowed at a time."
In Psalm 27, David speaks of going to the House of God:
"One thing I have desired of the LORD, that will I seek;
That I may dwell in the house of the LORD
All the days of my life,
To behold the beauty of the LORD,
And to inquire in His temple."                Ps. 27:4
This Psalm begins by David declaring:
"The LORD is my light and my salvation;
Whom shall I fear?
The LORD is the strength of my life;
Of whom shall I be afraid?"
Rabbinical teaching holds that this is a Psalm about David going to the House of God to inquire of the Urim and Thummim in the Priest's Breastplate of Judgment. He describes this experience as beautiful, and he expresses the desire that he could remain in the LORD's house this way forever. He describes the inquiry as seeking God's face. He describes God as "light" and "safety" ("Of whom shall I be afraid? The LORD will take care of me; He shall hide me"). He then encourages us to "Wait on the LORD. Wait, I say, on the LORD". David is saying to wait there in the House of the LORD before the Urim and Thummim, until you get your answer from God.
Jesus also told His disciples to "wait" for the baptism of the Holy Spirit which occurred on the Feast of Pentecost (Acts 1:4). He described it as the promise from the Father.

Believers may see the connection to Jesus, and also, to those who follow Him, in the meanings of Urim and Thummim noted above.
We have the Holy Spirit, and Jesus the Living Word, within our hearts. Jesus, our High Priest, described Himself as Light and Truth (Jn. 8:12, 9:5, 14:6), Urim and Thummim. Jesus declared that we, His followers, were also the light of the world. The Holy Spirit in us is described as the Spirit of Truth:
However, when He, the Spirit of truth has come, He will guide you into all truth; for He will not speak on His own authority, but whatever He hears He will speak; and He will tell you things to come."       Jn. 16:13
We, as His disciples, are also described as being, or having, light and truth:
"You are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hidden...Let your light so shine before men..."       Mt. 5:14,16
"You are all sons of light and sons of the day. We are not of the night nor of darkness."
                                                                                       1 Thess. 5:5
"...proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light."
                                                                                       1 Peter 2:9
"...the truth of Christ is in me..."       2 Cor. 11:10
"For you were once darkness but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light. (for the fruit of the Spirit is in all goodness, righteousness and truth)."     Eph. 5:8-9
"...the church of the living God, the pillar and mainstay of the truth."    1 Tim. 3:15
"Of His own will He brought us forth by the word of truth, that we might be a kind of first- fruits of His creatures."       James 1:18
"...that we may know Him who is true; and we are in Him who is true, in His Son, Jesus Christ. This is the true God, and eternal life."      1 Jn. 5:20

Light and Truth, Urim and Thummim, are the nature of Jesus Christ and the Holy Spirit, who both reside within us, as His living temples or tabernacles:
"Or do you not know that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and you are not your own?        1 Cor. 6:19
"...what fellowship has righteousness with lawlessness? And what communion has light with darkness?....And what agreement has the temple of God with idols? For you are the temple of the living God. As God has said:
I will dwell in them and walk among them.
I will be their God,
And they shall be My people."                            2 Cor. 6:14-16

The breastplate of righteousness (Eph. 6:14), containing the Urim and Thummim, is worn by us, and within us, as witnesses of Christ's presence in the world, and the infilling of the Holy Spirit. We are also called "kings and priests", who, as noted above, are the only ones who can handle, and inquire of the Urim and Thummim:
".you also as living stones, are being built up a spiritual house, a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ...you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people, that you may proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light."    1 Pet. 2:5,9
"To Him who loved us and washed us from our sins in His own blood, and has made us kings and priests to His God, and Father, to Him be glory and dominion forever and ever."
                                                                                                     Rev. 1:5-6
"And have made us kings and priests to our God, and we shall reign on the earth."
                                                                                                     Rev. 5:10

The world needs us to be that Urim and Thummim witness to them of Christ in us.

Our Father has called us, as priests and kings, to be living tabernacles of His oracles, Urim and Thummim, Christ and Spirit, in the world.


"Psalm 27:Adonai Ori-The L-RD is My Light"
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wMZkqhZFVqc

Cups

The Passover Seder includes drinking four cups of wine throughout the Seder. The four cups reflect the four "I will" promises that the LORD made to the Israelites in Ex. 6:6-7:
"Therefore say to the children of Israel: "I am the LORD; I will bring you our from under the burdens of the Egyptians, I will rescue you from their bondage, and I will redeem you with an outstretched arm and with great judgments. I will take you as My people, and I will be your God. Then you shall know that I am the LORD your God who brings you out from under the burdens of the Egyptians."

God identified Himself to Moses in Ex. 3 as Jehovah, LORD, "I AM WHO I AM". Again, in the verses above, God ties His promises to this same Name and identity: "I am the LORD." In Hebrew, this name is represented by four letters: Yod, He, Vaw, He. After the yod and the vaw, He gives the he. He means to look, to see, to be revealed, to behold. It is a pictograph of a man holding his hands up. See he below:


 So it is: yod, BEHOLD!, vaw, BEHOLD!. He gives emphasis after each of those two letters. Yod is the arm and hand. It is about power and strength, work and creation, a finished work, a leader. See yod below:

 Vaw is a tent peg, to secure, to nail, to join. It is about completion, redemption, and transformation. So, according to the meanings of the four letters, His Name can also mean "Creator Behold! Redeemer Behold!" See vaw below:


The four cups of Passover also memorialize the four-lettered Name of the LORD revealed at that time to His people, who were in bondage.

In the Seder, the first cup is the Cup of Sanctification, or Kiddush. This reflects the promise of the LORD to bring His people out from among the Egyptians, out from under their burdens. Sanctification means to be apart from, or separated from, in order to be holy. This same call is to us today:
"Such were some of you. But you were washed, but you were sanctified, but you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus and by the Spirit of our God."   1 Cor. 6:11 and
"Therefore
"Come out from among them
And be separate says the Lord.
Do not touch what is unclean,
And I will receive you."                             2 Cor. 6:17, Isa. 52:11
The first Hebrew letter of His Name, Yod, is the hand and arm by which He brings us out, and creates the sanctification of His people.
The second cup of the Seder, is the Cup of Judgment, Makkot. The LORD promised "I will rescue you from their bondage." The LORD did this through the ten plagues, and through the drowning of the Egyptian army in the Red Sea. Jesus said to us,
"Now is the judgment of this world; now the ruler of this world will be cast out."    Jn. 12:31
"...fear God and give glory to Him, for the hour of His judgment has come; and worship Him who made heaven and earth, the sea and the springs of water."      Rev. 14:7
The second letter of the LORD's name, He, is revealed in Ex. 14:13, when the Israelites are physically and permanently separated from the Egyptians at the Red Sea:
"And Moses said to the people, "Do not be afraid. Stand still and see (behold) the salvation of the LORD, which He will accomplish for you today. For the Egyptians whom you see today, you shall see again no more forever."
That is a hands in the air (He) "BEHOLD", statement! Hallelujah!
The third cup of the Seder is the Cup of Redemption. It celebrates the promise of the LORD,
"I will redeem you with an outstretched arm...". To us, Jesus is the work of the LORD, who redeemed us from the bondage of sin and death, even as the LORD redeemed Israel from bondage of slavery:
"And they sang a new song saying:
You  are worthy to take the scroll,
And to open its seals;
For You were slain,
And have redeemed us to God by Your blood
Out of every tribe and tongue and people and nation,
And have made us kings and priests to our God;
And we shall reign on the earth."            Rev. 5:9-10
The third letter of His Name, Vaw, is a peg, or a nail, as Jesus was nailed to the cross. Jesus referred to this cup that He would be drinking (Mt. 20:22). The vaw also means, completion, redemption, and transformation. That nail of His Name, joined us together again with the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.
The fourth cup of the Seder meal is the Cup of Praise, Hallel. It represents the promise of the LORD, "I will take you as My own people." We also have the promise that Jesus made to us to "take us" to  be with Him:
"For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout with the voice of an archangel with the trumpet of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And thus we shall always be with the Lord."     1 Thess. 4:16-17
The fourth letter of the LORD's Name, the last He, is the BEHOLD! of praise that is revealed as God tabernacles with His people:
"And I heard a loud voice from heaven saying, "Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and He will dwell with them, and they shall be His people. God Himself will be with them and be their God."        Rev. 21:3
This BEHOLD, or He, is a fulfillment of that fourth cup and promise of God, "I will take you as My people, and I will be Your God."

The four cups of wine that we share in the Passover Seder, reminds us of the LORD's four promises to the Israelites and to us. They were promised in the Old Covenant, and fulfilled in the New Covenant in Jesus's blood (Lk. 22:20, Mt. 26:28). At the same time, as we take the cups, we lift up the four letters of His great Name!

The Father's Name is in His Passover.

"Your Great Name"
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QXH0MjGe10s

"All Honor, All Glory, All Power"
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nHOM-hOi7uU

Faithful

There is a scripture that was brought to my mind this morning. At the time, I was thinking of projects and plans begun, but never continued nor finished. It is one of those scriptures that we learn and hear about from even the beginning of our walk. Jesus taught it when speaking about a master or ruler who returns and asks for an accounting of talents from his servants to whom he had given them. The master says to two out of three servants:
"His lord said unto him, "Well done, thou good and faithful servant: thou hast been faithful over few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord."
                                                                      Mt. 25:14-30, Lk. 12:42
                                                      and
"And he said to him, "Well done, good servant; because you were faithful in a very little, have authority over ten cities."                      Lk. 19:17

When the scriptures had been brought to my mind, I stopped because I hadn't given much thought to them in a long time.
Usually, when we hear these scriptures, our attention is grabbed by the "ruler over many things", and "authority over ten cities". Our minds kind of quickly slide past the "few things", and "very little" parts.
It's the same with life. Often I am so focused on bigger things, what I think are more important things, that I want to get done in the Kingdom of God, that I neglect the "few things" as unimportant.
However, we may be surprised when we face Jesus, when He asks us about the small things, or the few things that He had assigned to our lives. We might give Him a blank stare, and tell Him how we struggled to accomplish huge things on His behalf, so we didn't have time to spend on those small things. They seemed so unimportant at the time. He might end up telling us that we were never supposed to tackle the huge things-the Father would accomplish those. We were to first be faithful to those few things that He gave us.
There are a couple of quotations that I am recording here:

"Be faithful in small things, because it is in them that your strength lies."
                                                  and
"God didn't call me to be successful. He called me to be faithful."

Both of these quotations are attributed to Mother Teresa. I think the second one is especially interesting.
Perhaps we confuse success with faithfulness. We view success in large things to be what our Father wants from us, and we burn ourselves out, and become grieved, trying to do His job. We carry the world's definition of "success" into our walk with God. 

Mother Teresa was a little nun who felt she was called to minister to the poorest of the poor, whom we seldom think about, in a place that we are never going to go. She should have lived her life out without us ever hearing of her. However, from that obscurity, came a ministry that impacted the world, and still continues to do so. I doubt if she took time to look for bigger things to accomplish. She must have spent most of her time doing what she had to do in order to minister to one starving, sick baby at a time. Just one at a time.

The world might not view as "successful" John the Baptist's preaching and baptism of repentance. The world still thinks of him as a wild man who was beheaded. He was by himself in the wilderness, eating locusts and honey, dressed in whatever items he could find. Even many of the people of his own day, according to Jesus (Mt. 11:7-9, 21:24-25), came to see him for the novelty interest, as well as to be baptized. Yet John accomplished the one thing God had assigned for his life: he identified the Messiah, the Lamb of God, in their midst.

Philip the Apostle had preached to hundreds, perhaps thousands, in Samaria, and showed great miracles of God there to confirm the Gospel of Christ, yet we know him best by the fact that he stopped to speak to one African servant (Acts 8). He explained a scripture to him, which brought out the whole Gospel, and he baptized the Ethiopian man. Would this one act have been his definition of a "successful" life in the Gospel?  Probably not, but this one encounter is why he is recorded for all time and history. He might have considered it a small thing at the time.

John the apostle was exiled to an island to be kept from communicating and preaching the Gospel. He might have felt he was a failure at that point, being kept from evangelizing, missing his greater calling. However, he was given a vision while in exile, and he faithfully wrote it down. That was what Jesus asked him to do:
"Write the things which you have seen, and the things which are, and the things which will take place after this."                               Rev. 1:19 (see also Rev. 1:11, 21:5)
 
Though John was prevented from personally preaching and evangelizing to many at this point in his life, he faithfully completed the few things he was asked to do. God provided the even greater things. He provided John's "Revelation of Jesus Christ" to all of us.
The world burdens, pressures, weighs down, and burns out to accomplish "success". Jesus said, however, "My yoke is easy, and My burden is light." Who are we going to believe: Jesus, or the world?
I sometimes forget about the "few things", the small things, the light things, and wonder how I can build God's Kingdom single-handedly. I wonder how to be a "success" in my walk, and for the Kingdom, converting millions on this planet and beyond. How did God ever manage without me?!
Well, it starts and ends with the "few things". God handles the "much".
The day of the Master's return draws near, and the days of my natural life left here on earth are fewer than when I started. It's time to re-examine priorities, and review what the "few things" are that were to be accomplished in my life:
Am I faithfully attending and supporting the place of worship to which He first assigned me? Am I planting the seed that He gave me to sow where He has assigned me to sow it?
Am I living the Gospel in front of my family and friends?
Am I praying as the Spirit has prompted me?
Am I living and teaching Jesus to my children and grandchildren?
Have I been faithful and honorable in my employment and finances?
Did I give God glory when the opportunity arose, or did I take the credit myself?
Am I a giver, or a taker?
Do I use the talents and gifts He placed in me to bless Him and others, or to bless myself?
Did I honor and care for my parents as He would have had me to do, or was I too busy?
Did I welcome and treat people who came across my path as Jesus would do?
Did I not only start, but complete those few things that He asked me to do?
This is part of my list. Your "few things" list might be different. The items on my list probably won't save the whole world, nor change history, but you never know! They are however some of the "few things" that were assigned to my life. Father, help me, and remind me, to faithfully complete these things.

Our Father calls us to be faithful in the few things.

"Faithful Over a Few Things"
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Oh7whEWnDaM

"Instruments of Peace"
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iBc4uxiXsfc

"Jehovah Knows"
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uswAKffJRKA

Life-Cycle

Like a human life, I think the prophetic word or promise from God, has a life cycle. Some interesting things can be seen about it in 2 Kings 4. This is the story of the prophetic word given by Elisha the Prophet to a Shunammite woman.
In verse 8, the prophet Elisha, whose name means "God is Salvation", makes a prophetic promise to a notable (great) woman from Shunem (Double resting place). We could say that this prophetic promise is like one given by Jesus to the Church. Jesus is the spirit of prophecy (Rev. 19:10). The woman had made a special place for "God is Salvation" in her home, as the Church, or believer, has made a special place for Jesus in their hearts, in their spiritual home.
Because of this special relationship with the prophet, he wants to give her the desire of her heart (Ps. 20:4, 37:4). That desire has nothing to do with worldly things. She is not interested in being mentioned to the king. She says she lives with her own people. She is part of a separated body of people.

 

THE LIFE CYCLE OF THE PROPHETIC WORD

 

THE SEED:



Elisha, "God is Salvation", calls her (chosen). She stands (stand firm, hold one's ground, remain) in the door (opening, entrance, let loose, break forth). The Church also abides in Jesus, who says "I AM the Door" (Jn. 10:7-9).
The prophetic promise comes to the Shunammite woman in the form of a child (v. 16). It is a miraculous promise, because she and her husband have no children. It is such a great promise that she struggles with faith. She says to the man of God, "Do not lie to your maidservant." This prophetic word has a season of manifestation, called "the time of life", which is not immediate. We receive the prophetic promise with faith and patience. It will manifest at its appointed time.
CONCEPTION/BIRTH:
At the appointed time, "Double Resting Place" does conceive and bear the prophetic promise, her son.
GROWTH/MATURING:
Something happened when the child of prophecy was grown (become great, magnified, powerful, do great things, exceed, excellent tower). He went out to his father, who was with the reapers (be vexed, grieved, shortened, cut down, curtailed, much discouraged).
With the prophetic promise, just when we are about to see it manifest and grow to the greatness promised, it comes to a day of heavy testing. It is a time of being cut down, and even discouraged and grieved.
The boy cries out that the attack is to his head (upper part, summit, principal, height, top) in verse 19. The attack upon the prophetic promise is really an attack upon the headship of God, the authority of His living Word, Jesus. The prophetic word will be tried and challenged, and we will be tried and challenged with it. Will we continue to stand in the door, as Double Resting Place did?
DEATH:
The father tells a lad (to shake the head like a lion about to roar) to carry (lift up, exalt) the prophetic promise to his mother. A mother, of course, means a natural mother, but it is also a term to describe the relationship between a prophetess and the people. It is a spiritual relationship, as well.
When the child, or prophetic word, was brought to his mother, he sat (dwelled, remained, abided) on her knees (though weak from fear, to bless, kneel, adore, praise, thank God). She held him there until noon (double light, window, also time of unexpected attack). He died (be executed, put to death, die prematurely).
It is at this point, that many of us might erroneously give up on the prophetic word, or believe that perhaps, it was a false word. However, that is not what Double Resting Place did. She laid her prophetic promise on the bed, shut the door, and went as quickly as possible to "God of Salvation". She shut the door, perhaps, so no one would be able to enter and speak words of death over her child, so no one would look with natural eyes, and see only the outer appearance. It also means to surrender. Not surrendering it to an enemy, but surrendering that prophetic promise back into the control of the One who gave it, and no one else.
Her husband didn't understand why she would seek out "God of Salvation", when it wasn't an appointed time of worship. Some people only seek out God religiously at appointed times, or certain days of the week, but her relationship with God was not like that. Before she left to go to "God is Salvation", she told her husband, "It shall be well" (v. 23). The word used here is shalom. This word means peace, but it also means completeness, safety, quiet tranquility and contentment. The root word shalam, means to make whole, restore, to pay, to be completed, to be finished. I wonder if Jesus spoke the word "Shalom" on the cross, when He said "It is finished" (Jn. 19:30)?
RESURRECTION:
When Double Resting Place gets to "God of Salvation", she continues to say "shalom". His servant tries to discourage her from clinging to the prophet's feet, but she persists. The prophet knows the woman is vexed (bitter like myrhh), but the reason has been hidden from him by God. The woman questions "God is Salvation" about the prophetic promise that was made to her. The prophet sends his servant ahead with his staff (support, trust in God). Now was the time for trust in God, whether they understood what was going on, or not. When the staff is laid upon the child, there is not yet a response. Again, would we be discouraged from the lack of response?
When the prophet gets to the woman's home, into the room with the lad, he shut the door between himself and the mother, and began to pray. The God of Salvation is not always going to tell us, or show us how He's going to do something. Sometimes we think He has to reveal this to us. Not so. At this point, the work will be between "God of Salvation" and the prophetic promise. This is a sovereign work of God
The prophet then laid on the child. He stretched himself out ( to prostrate one's self, to cast self down), even as the LORD humbles Himself and magnifies His word above all His name (Ps. 138:2).  The prophet stretches himself out as Jesus stretched Himself out in humility on the cross. The prophet made contact with the boy at three places: the mouth, the eyes, and the palms of the hands: Pe, Ayin, Kaph.
The eyes of "God of Salvation" touched the eyes of the child, the mouth touched the child's mouth, and the palms of the hands to those of the prophetic promise. In touching, He made them the same, in agreement: the mouth, to make the speech and declaration the same, the eyes, to make the vision, understandng and experience the same, the palms of the hands, to make the work, the lifting up and casting down, the same as His. The warmth of His body created by the blood, gave living warmth to the prophetic promise.
Then He walked through the house, up and down, returned, and did the same again.
This time, the boy opened his eyes and sneezed (stranger, alien, enemy prostitute, profane, loathsome, to turn aside from God, and from the way of truth and uprightness) seven (swear, oath, vow, curse) times. A loathsome, profane enemy, estranged from God, had cursed what the LORD had sworn, or promised. The grip of that enemy had now been broken. The prophetic promise had been resurrected from death to life.
The mother was called, and when she came in to him, her son was returned to her alive. "Take up thy son."
AFFIRMATION:
Why does the prophetic promise go through this life-cycle? Perhaps so in the end, we will have experienced the truth of the word that says:
"Then said the LORD unto me, "Thou hast well seen: for I will hasten (to watch for, be alert) My word to perform it."                                      Jer. 1:12

And

 

"So shall My word be that goeth forth out of My mouth: it shall not return unto Me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it."

                                                                                   Isa. 55:11

 

                                                                      And

 

"Heaven and earth will pass away, but My words will by no means pass away."

 

                                                                                   Mt. 24:35, Mk. 13:31, Lk. 21:33





Our Father will watch over His prophetic promise.


"Because He Lives"
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PBvU7arNhQs

"One Thing Remains"
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QYCJ8EvkGCs

Betrayal

Psalm 55, written by David, is described as a Maschil, or Contemplation. Its purpose, according to the Hebrew meaning, is to attain prudence, to wisely understand, to have insight into something.
The Psalm opens with David describing to God that he is terrified:
"My heart is severely pained within me,
And the terrors of death have fallen upon me.
Fearfulness and trembling have come upon me,
And horror has overwhelmed me.
                                                                            Ps. 55:4-5

David was so distraught and afraid, that he wished he could grow wings like a dove, and fly away into the wilderness, to escape.
However, David was not a man who easily became afraid. He fought lions and bears as a young boy. He fought giants, and enemies that numbered in the ten thousands (1 Sam. 18:7-8, 21:11). He ran from nothing. Something here, though, has brought him great terror.
He describes what he perceives are the spiritual threats against him, and against the city. I believe that these are spiritual threats he is perceiving, because David is a warrior, not fearing human enemies. David saw these things running around the top of the city wall, which a flesh and blood enemy would not be able to do. Also, he saw them carrying out their evil in wide, open places, undiscerned:
"Destroy, O LORD, and divide their tongues,
for I have seen violence (violence, cruelty, wrong, injustice, to make bare) and strife (disputes, quarrelling, complaint, controversy, adversary) in the city.
Day and night, they go around it on its walls;
Mischief (trouble, wickedness, specifically associated with idolatry) and sorrow (trouble, toil, heavy wearisome labor) are also in the midst of it (in the inner part, to draw near, brought near).
Wickedness (evil desire, chasm of destruction, engulfing ruin, greedy desire, and coveting) is in its midst;
Deceit (oppression, injury, fraud, violence, cutting to pieces) and guile (treachery, to mislead, betray) do not depart from its streets (out in the open, wide, broad places).
                                                                                 Ps. 55:9-11

David tells us that it was not a personal, nor national enemy that has created this threat. He said he could bear it if that was the case. He could even hide from it then, if he so chose. This spiritual terror and attack upon him, and the city, came because of a friend:
"But it was thou, a man mine equal,
Mine guide (gentle, intimate friend, teacher),
and mine acquaintance (intimately known).
We took sweet counsel together,
and walked unto the house of God in company.        Ps. 55:13-14

Not only did these spiritual attacks result from the betrayal by a close friend, someone gentle that David would never have expected to betray him, even a trusted advisor, but the friend was also a fellow worshipper of God, a member of the congregation.
David has revealed in this Maschil, or contemplation, that this betrayal opened the door to spiritual attack against himself, and also against the whole city, which was flooded with these destroying spirits. The LORD has revealed this to him, and consequently to us, for prudence and wisdom.
Mt. 24:10, and Mark 13:12 tells us that in the End Times, betrayal will run rampant, even among the closest family members. We know, of course, that Jesus experienced just such a betrayal. Using the illustration of Ps. 55, we can only imagine the terrors released by that betrayal. Psalm 55 may also be a prophetic insight into that betrayal. We have seen betrayal increase within the Body of Christ, against leaders, and against fellow saints. We need to be aware, as David is revealing to us, what powers of evil are loosed through betrayal in the midst.
We should guard our hearts against this wickedness of betrayal, and it should not be allowed to have any part in us. Great damage has already been done because of it.
Is there a remedy for the terrible consequences of betrayal? I believe we have been given an example:
On the night He was betrayed, Jesus offered thanks and obedience to His Father, and He offered His body broken, and His blood poured out for us (1 Cor. 11:23-26).
As we follow His example, we do the same  by offering thanksgiving and obedience to God, and offering ourselves, our bodies, as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to Him (Lev. 22:29, Ps. 107:22, 116:17, Rom. 12:1).
Self-interest breeds betrayal. Perhaps self-sacrifice remedies the terrible fruits of it.

Our Father reveals prudence and wise understanding regarding the personal and corporate costs of betrayal.


"The Kiss-Betrayal of Jesus"
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k88Y8VGs7dY

Artwork at top of page- "The Kiss of Judas" (carving) by Francisco Salzillo

Guard

In 2 Kings 17, after warning them to change their ways, the LORD removed His people of the northern kingdom of Israel from the land, and sent them into exile in the hands of their captors and conquerors, the Assyrians, because they mixed the worship of idols with their worship of Him. They stiffened their necks and rejected the LORD's warning to turn from these ways, and they continued to follow idols. Israel chose to follow the ways of the nations around them. They rejected His covenant (v. 13-15).
The conquering Assyrians filled the now empty land of Samaria (meaning Watch mountain-to guard, protect, to keep watch, to preserve), in Israel, with foreign inhabitants from various cities under their rule. They did this so the land would not be empty and uninhabited (v. 24).
These various peoples brought by the Assyrians into the land of Samaria came with their gods and pagan practices.
The Assyrians brought people from Babylon (Confusion, to mingle by mixing) into the land. These Babylonians brought with them the practice of making Succothbenoth, a demonic version of a tabernacle, where booths are established as brothels to worship idols with promiscuous and perverse sexual activity.
The Assyrians brought in people from Cuttah (Crushing), who worshipped Nergal (Hero), the planet Mars.
People from Ava (Ruin, distortion, overthrow, twisted, perverted) were also brought to the land. They worshipped Nibhaz, an idol in the shape of a dog, representing the lord of darkness.
Foreigners from Hamath (Fortress, walls of defense) came. They brought with them the worship of Ashima (Guiltiness: "I will make desolate") and Tartak (prince of darkness in the form of an ass).
The Assyrians also brought in people from Sepharvaim (Enumeration), who practiced the burning of their children in fire to the gods of Adrammelech (glorious, majestic prince), and Anammelech (idolatrous image of the king).
So the territory, Samaria, that was meant to guard, preserve, keep watch over, and protect the ways of the LORD, became a land filled with idol and demon worshipping foreigners because Samaria did not fulfill their God-given purpose, and went after other gods themselves. They mixed the profane things of this world with the holy things of God. They mixed His truth with the lies of demons.
The foreign people who had been brought into the land of Samaria, began being attacked and killed by lions (v. 25). The king of Assyria was told that this was happening because the new-comers did not know the God of the land, the God of Israel. A priest was brought back to teach them about the LORD God. The foreigners learned the knowledge of the LORD, but also continued to practice their idolatry as well (v. 26-29). These practices continued generation after generation for many years (v. 41).
Like Samaria, we believers are equipped by God to be a watch mountain, a preserver, a protector of the truth of God's word, and His covenant. Even worse comes upon the land as the people of God forget their covenant truths, and mix the commandments of men and the world, with the word of God (Mt. 15:9, Col. 2:20-22). The land becomes filled with ungodly beliefs and practices that affect not only the present generation, but generations to come.
The responsibility for preserving the truth of God, lies not with the ignorant, but with the people of God. It was the Samarians who broke covenant and followed ungodliness, even after warnings, when they were the ones who should have been watching, guarding, protecting and preserving, according to the meaning of their name. Strangers to God, brought in by the enemy, who are only nominally knowledgeable in the ways of God, are not going to do this for us, though we blame them. We are to preserve the truth and covenant in our own lives as living epistles, as the Apostle Paul wrote about us. The word is to be preserved in us, and lived through us:
"Clearly you are an epistle of Christ, ministered by us, written not with ink but by the Spirit of the living God, not on tablets of stone but on tablets of flesh, that is, of the heart. And we have such trust through Christ toward God."             2 Cor. 3:3-4

It is the covenant people of God who are to be faithful in our own lives to keeping and guarding the pure relationship with our Father that Jesus provided with His blood. 
The Book of Proverbs tells us the value of keeping the word that is written in our hearts:
"My son, give attention to My words; Incline your ear to My sayings. Do not let them depart from your eyes; Keep them in the midst of your heart; For they are life to those who find them, and health to all their flesh. Keep your heart with all diligence, for out of it spring the issues of life...Do not turn to the right or the left, remove your foot from evil."
                                                                                 Prov. 4:20-27

King David, mourning over the violence of the wicked, talks about how the LORD tests the righteous:
"When the foundations are destroyed, what hath the righteous wrought?"
                                                                                  Ps. 11:3, JPS Tanakh


Our Father has called us to be a "watch mountain", to guard, preserve, keep and protect.


"Find Us Faithful"
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eERKnxzNzwg