Psalm 61 shows David calling out to God again for protection, provision and safety BECAUSE David has done this in the past and God has ALWAYS come through for him! Verse 3:
3For You have been a shelter and a refuge for me, a strong tower against the adversary.
"You have been" is the Hebrew word, "hayah", which is a verb meaning: to become, to come to pass, to exist. What I found most interesting and powerful is that this same word, "hayah" is the Hebrew word used in Exodus 3:14:
14And God said to Moses, I AM WHO I AM and WHAT I AM, and I WILL BE WHAT I WILL BE; and He said, You shall say this to the Israelites: I AM has sent me to you!
"I AM that I AM" means that the God Who made the Covenant is also the God Who keeps the Covenant! It is HIS declaration of His divine control of ALL things! When David reminds himself (and us!) Who God has been to him in the past, it brings great confidence in the fact that God WILL BE the same in every circumstance he will ever face! Remember that "Our God IS God" and let Him BE God! AMEN!
In Mark 11 we see Jesus making His triumphal entry into Jerusalem. He allowed the people to publicly honor Him, something that He had never allowed them to do before this. Verses 7-11:
7And they brought the colt to Jesus and threw their outer garments upon it, and He sat on it. 8And many [of the people] spread their garments on the road, and others [scattered a layer of] leafy branches which they had cut from the fields. 9And those who went before and those who followed cried out [with a cry of happiness], Hosanna! [Be graciously inclined and propitious to Him!] Praised and blessed is He Who comes in the name of the Lord! 10Praised and blessed in the name of the Lord is the coming kingdom of our father David! Hosanna (O save us) in the highest [heaven]! 11And Jesus went into Jerusalem and entered the temple [enclosure]; and when He had looked around, surveying and observing everything, as it was already late, He went out to Bethany together with the Twelve [apostles].
When Jesus did this, He accomplished two things:
- He declared himself to be Israel's King and Messiah.
- He deliberately challenged the religious leaders.
This set in motion the plot by the Jewish leaders, but actually the PLAN of God! The people who celebrated the triumphal entry of Jesus into Jerusalem were those who supported Him and followed Him, most from the area of the Galilee. Those who would shout "Crucify Him" later, were NOT the same people. Those were most likely from Judea and Jerusalem.
When we were in Israel we walked the path that Jesus would have taken down the mountain. We could not enter the gates He would have entered because they were sealed up by the Muslims who believe that they can stop Messiah from returning by doing so! Silly, isn't it?! It was amazing to look at the city from the perspective that Jesus would have had at this particular time. He knew exactly what He was about to do less than a week later and He marched right into it! Thank You, Jesus!
Isaiah 35 is a declaration of the way things will be during the Millennial reign of King Jesus! That time is coming sooner than we think! Until that time we are to "occupy", or "carry on His business"! (Luke 19:13) Remember what Jesus said in John 14:12:
12I assure you, most solemnly I tell you, if anyone steadfastly believes in Me, he will himself be able to do the things that I do; and he will do even greater things than these, because I go to the Father.
That's what we are supposed to be doing, so that Isaiah 35:5-6 can be happening right now!
5Then the eyes of the blind shall be opened, and the ears of the deaf shall be unstopped. 6Then shall the lame man leap like a hart, and the tongue of the dumb shall sing for joy. For waters shall break forth in the wilderness and streams in the desert.
Let's be "about our Father's business" until the time that Jesus appears to take us to the Marriage Supper! He will be well pleased to find us doing so! AMEN!
Shalom in Him!
