“That Day” spoken of above ...is a day where there flowed out an abundance of life. “That day” the mountains would drop down an over-abundance of “New Wine” (freshly squeezed grapes producing uncorrupted juice spilling forth health and recovery). “That Day” the hills would flow with milk (the needed staple to strengthen those to continue their recovery). “That Day” the source or the fountain head of “Judah or Praising” would come forth from the House of the Lord. This fountain would cause an abundant watering of the Valley of Shittim (The Valley of Acacia or the Scourge).
The words “valley of Shittim” (if researched) will lead our minds and hearts to thought provoking events and places. The Acacia or “Thorned Tree” will bring us to the burning bush, the tabernacle, the ark of covenant, the base station for Joshua in conquering the promised land, the crown of thorns, the scourging … and sooner or later our hearts will rest in Jesus' sacrifice for us. “But He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities, the chastisement of our peace was upon Him and with His stripes we are healed”.
The undercurrent that creates this flow of life as pictured in this amazing prophesy, has its source in “that day”. As a result of “that day” there was a fountain head of abundant flowing life established in the House of God. If we can but submit our lives to the power of “That Day”, and allow “that day” to affect every area of our life, then our living becomes a portal of the abundant healing, recovery, strengthening, and fearless encouragement for others.
This life, although it is filled with movement and purpose, sometimes brings the snow, the ice, and the chill that brings a stillness to the lives of so many. I am not talking about weather … I am talking about seasons of life where we feel useless or are made to feel worthless in the circumstances we find our selves. Sometimes the feeling of uselessness is compounded by the abandonment that takes place by those whom we choose to count on for encouragement. This not to be forever, but it is a cold dark place that makes it hard to begin again.
A parallel thought is found in Psalm 147:18 – “He sendeth out His word, and melteth them: He causeth His wind to blow and the waters to flow.” Psalm 147 is an unbelievable song of provision, but there is a subliminal truth hidden in the undercurrent that I would like to leave with you. The power to encourage, to comfort, to recover, to heal, and to strengthen is not found in the world that has turned its back on God … it flows from Him and through those who belong to Him. Those whose hearts are downcast need Gods people to truly allow the undercurrent of “That Day” to flow through their lives.
(Oh, If I could shout the blessing of this undercurrent living into you with a simple Word) …. Where would Naomi be without Ruth, David without Jonathan, James without John, Nathaniel without Philip, Andrew without Simon Peter, Paul without Barnabas or Jeff without Joe? Jeff without Joe?
Joe, my brother, was determined to love me “no matter what” when we were but toddlers. We were two peas in a pod but not because of Jeff, but because of Joe. We drifted apart a little as older teens because of sinful choices and friends attached to those choices. But the season came, Joe found himself in the snow, the ice and the chill that sin actually had brought into his life. Joe took a long look into “That Day” and saw Jesus' sacrificial love for him, heard the Word, melted before Him and the Wind of God's change began to blow as the water of life began to flow through him. That love for others began to stir passionately in Joe as one by one he led his family to Christ. Joe let us see “that day” through him and in one night both my future wife and I, and other family members heard the Word, melted and God's Wind and Water began to flow through us.
Oh, If I could shout the blessing of living into you with a simple Word, that word would be LOVE. Not the noun that the whole world sings about, but the Heaven sent verb that is willing to lay down its life for a friend. For God so loved the World … so now, should we.
Begin to Love with the greater Love that God wants to pour through us.
“That Day” … from the scourging … to the surging... through us ... to them ... for Him. Amen!
HLFA,
Jeff