OUR FATHER WHO VINDICATES HIS PEOPLE

Psalm 9 verse 4 says this;

For you have upheld my right and my cause, sitting enthroned as the righteous judge.

This verse, the words of the Lord's servant, gives the reason why he sings praises to the Most High God.

The servant was under attack from his enemies and stood accused in the courtroom of judgement.

In this court, the Lord who is a righteous Judge, ruled in favor of His servant and protected his right and his cause.

Those who had brought the accusations against the servant were beset with destruction and  ruin.

This prophecy in Psalm 9 speaks of the Lord Jesus facing trial in the spirit when He descended into hell but was vindicated by God the Father  and the spirit kingdoms that  had falsely persecuted Him were uprooted and blotted out as Psalm 9 verse 6 says;

Endless ruin has overtaken my enemies, you have uprooted their cities; even the memory of them has perished.

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OUR FATHER WHO BLESSES THE FAITHFUL

The book of Isaiah chapter 65 verse 3;

a people who continually provoke me to my very face, offering sacrifices in gardens and burning incense on altars of brick;

This verse speaks of the people of God who offered sacrifices in gardens and burned incense on altars to false gods thus angering the Lord.

These rituals were part of the evil practices that the people were getting involved in which also included necromancy and occultic vigils.

It is these practices that alienated the people from their God and brought down judgement on themselves and caused their destinies to be truncated.

Conversely, those who remained faithfull had their lives blessed by the Lord and their futures secured by Him. 

Amen.

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OUR FATHER WHO REVEALS THE SON TO US

The book of Mark chapter 3 verse 12 says this;

But he gave them strict orders not to tell others about him.

This verse records the Lord instructing demonic spirits not to tell others about Him.

Hearing about the miracles of healing that Jesus was doing, people came from Judea, Jerusalem, Idumea, and the regions across the Jordan and around Tyre and Sidon.

As people crowded around Jesus to get healed by Him, the impure spirits that saw him, fell down and cried out, "You are the Son of God".

These spirits, when they came within sight of Jesus, were able to recognize His great power and authority and they shouted out warnings to others and to be disruptive to His ministry.

But Jesus, commanded them to be silent about Him because the knowledge of Jesus' identity was to be revealed to men by God the Father and not  proclaimed by impure spirits.

As Mathew chapter 16 verses 16 - 17 says;

Simon Peter answered, “You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God.”

Jesus replied, “Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah, for this was not revealed to you by flesh and blood, but by my Father in heaven.

Amen

(Ceremony with a crown and collar)

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OUR FATHER WHO JUDGES THOSE WHO REJECT HIS OFFER OF SALVATION

The book of Isaiah chapter 66 verse 4 says this;

They have chosen their own ways, and they delight in their abominations; so I also will choose harsh treatment for them and will bring on them what they dread. For when I called, no one answered, when I spoke, no one listened. They did evil in my sight and chose what displeases me.”

This verse speaks of the harsh judgment that will befall those who have resolved to go their own way and participate in evil activities.

The Lord called them and they did not answer Him. He spoke to them and they declined to listen.

At every turn, they chose their own counsel and pressed on in their evil ways and antagonized God.

In the end, the things they dreaded will be brought against them for they chose death instead of life.

2

 OUR FATHER INDICTS FALSE PROPHETS

The book of Ezeliel chapter 13 verse 10 says this;

 “‘Because they lead my people astray, saying, “Peace,” when there is no peace, and because, when a flimsy wall is built, they cover it with whitewash,

This verse, referencing the false prophets who falsely prophecied to the people of Jerusalem that they would have peace because they would be spared judgement, misguided the people and lead them astray.

When weak walls were built as defences, these false prophets whitewashed the walls to give the illusion that they are effective defences against enemy intrusion.

Such is the effect of false prophecies. The people are mislead into believing they are safe when the judgement they are under approaches and their defences are weak.

Have mercy Lord.

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OUR FATHER WHO FREES US FROM OPPRESSION

The book of Isaiah chapter 19  verse 14 says this,

The Lord has poured into them a spirit of dizziness; they make Egypt stagger in all that she does, as a drunkard staggers around in his vomit.

This verse speaks of the regimes that oppressed God's people being rendered inoperative by a spirit of dizziness.

In a stupor, the machinery of oppression set up to suppress the Lord's people can only lurch around in confusion.

This intervention by the Lord saves His people and gives them an opportunity to be free as their enemies lose their ability to think and organize themselves.

Amen.

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OUR FATHER WHOSE LIGHT SHINES ON THE RIGHTEOUS

Psalm 97 verse 11 says this;

Light shines on the righteous and joy on the upright in heart.

The book of Mathew chapter 5 verse 6 says this;

Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled.

This beatitude, spoken by the Lord Jesus as part of the sermon  on the mount, speaks of sinners who even in their state, yearn desperately to be righteous and this principle declared by the Lord assures those who hunger and thirst for righteousness that they are not doing so in vain but rather that they will be filled with righteousness.

Psalm 97 then reveals what happens to those who are filled with this righteousness that they have yearned for;

The light and joy of the Lord shines on them.

Amen.

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 OUR FATHER BLESSES THOSE WHO FEAR HIM.

Psalm 1 verse 1 says this;

Blessed is the one  who does not walk in step with the wicked or stand in the way that sinnersà take or sit in the company of mockers,

Those who reverence the Lord and stay away from those who mock Him and those who avoid  associating with the wicked or defend the actions of those who do wrong.will be blessed.

Amen.

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OUR FATHER WHO IS SPIRIT

The book of Ezekiel chapter 11 verse 5 says this;

Then the Spirit of the Lord came on me, and he told me to say: “This is what the Lord says: That is what you are saying, you leaders in Israel, but I know what is going through your mind. 

This verse records the words from the Lord that the prophet Ezekiel was given by the Holy Spirit to the leaders of Israel.

The personhood of the Holy Spirit is clearly delineated in this old testament verse where He descends on Ezekiel and instructs him to say some specific words. By this, the Spirit of God is characterized as a person.

Further to that, the Spirit of God refers to Himself as Lord when He tells Ezekiel to say; "This is what the Lord says".

The Lord is telling the leaders of Israel that even though they are saying certain things, nevertheless the Lord knows what is going through their minds.

This ability to know the veiled thoughts in the minds of men is a definitive marker of God.

This verse makes clear that the Holy Spirit is a person and that His identity is that of the Lord and that He has the capability of knowing the minds of men which is only in  the purview of God.

Amen.

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OUR FATHER WHO SENT A REDEEMER FOR THOSE WHO CONFESS THEIR SINS BEFORE HIM 

The book of Isaiah chapter 59 verse 13 says this;

rebellion and treachery against the Lord, turning our backs on our God, inciting revolt and oppression, uttering lies our hearts have conceived.

In this verse, we see the people of God acknowledging tbeir sins before the Lord. 

They  confess their rebellion and treachery against God in which they turned their backs against their own God and then encouraged others to join in the revolt against Him using deceptive narratives that they had made up against the Lord.

This confession  of their sins secures the promise of God that the Redeemer would come to Zion as it says in Isaiah chapter 59 verses 20 - 21;

“The Redeemer will come to Zion, to those in Jacob who repent of their sins,” declares the Lord.

“As for me, this is my covenant with them,” says the Lord. “My Spirit, who is on you, will not depart from you, and my words that I have put in your mouth will always be on your lips, on the lips of your children and on the lips of their descendants—from this time on and forever,” says the Lord.

Amen.

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OUR FATHER WHO CHARGES US TO KEEP WATCH AND PRAY

The book of Isaiah chapter 56 verse 10 says this;

Israel’s watchmen are blind, they all lack knowledge; they are all mute dogs,  they cannot bark; they lie around and dream, they love to sleep.

This verse describes those who are charged to be watchmen over Zion.

Instead of keeping vigilant guard over the people of God, they are do not scan the borders, they do not strategize and use knowledge to help their positions. They are silent when they should be giving warning to others of impending attacks.

Instead, they lounge around,  sleeping and dreaming.

To be good watchmen, while on our shifts;

We must always be tuned into the spirit and staying awake in order to keep ahead of what is happening in that realm.

We must not be distracted by things of the flesh and its appetites or drift off to sleep. 

We must not divert our attention towards the pursuit of our own gain.

We must not get caught up in social diversions because we believe that because things were uneventful yesterday,  things will be uneventful today.

We must remain alert and nimble in prayer.

Amen.

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OUR FATHER WHO  IS WORTHY OF HONOR AND PRAISE

Psalm chapter 99 100 verse 12 3 says this;

Know that the LORD is God. It is he who made us, and we are his ; we are his people, the sheep of his pasture.

This verse, as part of exhorting the people of God to joyously worship our God, reminds us who the Lord is. He is truly God and is the one who made us and we are voluntarily in His custody. We belong to Him and we are a flock of sheep under His care.

He is worthy of our worship because, as verse 5 says;

 For the LORD is good and his love endures forever; his faithfulness continues through all generations.

Amen.

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OUR FATHER WHO VINDICATES US

From Psalm 26;

Vindicate me, Lord

Look at my heart and mind

For I always remember 

That you are unfailingly kind

Because I  put my trust in You

My feet are on a level place

I love where Your glory dwells

I gladly  proclaim Your praise

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OUR FATHER WHO GAVE US FREEDOM (2)

Continuing with Genesis chapter 2 verse 9, let us  summarize that there were many trees in the garden that were suitable for the man whom God had formed and then there were two trees singled out from the rest that were in the centre of the garden.

It is important to consider that trees are often used in scriptures as metaphors for modes of civilization.

Ezekiel chapter 31 most clearly illustrates this but in other examples as well.

Ezekiel chapter 31 verses 3 - 4 says this;

Consider Assyria, once a cedar in Lebanon, with beautiful branches overshadowing the forest; it towered on high, its top above the thick foliage.

The waters nourished it, deep springs made it grow tall;

Ezekiel chapter 31 verse 18 says this;

“‘Which of the trees of Eden can be compared with you in splendor and majesty? Yet you, too, will be brought down with the trees of Eden to the earth below; you will lie among the uncircumcised, with those killed by the sword.

“‘This is Pharaoh and all his hordes, declares the Sovereign Lord.’”

This verse explicitly mentions the trees of Eden in comparing the civilization of the various kingdoms and empires on earth.

In Mathew chapter 13 verse 13 - 32, the Lord Jesus described the civilization of the kingdom of God as a mustard seed that grew in the garden and became a great tree. The verse reads this way;

He told them another parable: “The kingdom of heaven is like a mustard seed, which a man took and planted in his field. Though it is the smallest of all seeds, yet when it grows, it is the largest of garden plants and becomes a tree, so that the birds come and perch in its branches.”

With this pattern in mind, we can look at the trees in the garden of Eden as representing the modes of civilization that were available to the human race at the onset of our endeavor that were good options for the continuance for our race but at the center of the garden were the tree of life and the tree of the knowledge of good and evil which brought complexity to the array of choices we had.

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OUR FATHER WHO GAVE US FREEDOM (1)

The book of Genesis chapter 2 verse 9 says this;

The Lord God made all kinds of trees grow out of the ground—trees that were pleasing to the eye and good for food. In the middle of the garden were the tree of life and the tree of the knowledge of good and evil.

This verse, speaking of the garden of Eden in which the Lord God had placed man upon creating him, describes a large variety of trees that grew out of the ground. These trees were beautiful and had excellent fruit to eat. 

In the center of the garden were two trees that were named the tree of life and the tree of the knowledge of good and evil.

Amen.

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OUR FATHER WHO USED THE INJUSTICE OF MEN TO BRING ABOUT HIS GREAT SALVATION

In the book of Isaiah chapter 59 verse 4, we read this;

No one calls for justice; no one pleads a case with integrity.

They rely on empty arguments, they utter lies; they conceive trouble and give birth to evil.

This verse speaks of some of the practices that separate a people from God and that cause His face to be hidden from us so that He will not hear us.

Among other things listed in the chapter, this verse speaks the failure to insist on justice and the use of fallacious and bad- faith arguments to press cases. Injustice is perpetrated by hollow arguments buttressed with deceptions.

As well, trouble is sown and the resulting evil is yielded as a harvest.

These conditions were in place during the time that the Lord Jesus was conducting His ministry in the promised land. The religious leaders of the time, plotting to kill Him, used deception and invalid arguments to press charges against Him so that He was sentenced to death.

In any society, when the legal and cultural discourse deteriorates to this level, it is an indicator that darkness has gained an upper hand as it had during the time of Jesus. 

However, the forces of darkness did not comprehend that their corrupt activities against Jesus were going to result in their humiliation and defeat when Jesus rose from the dead.

When the Spirit of God then occupied the hearts of the people who believed the good news of the salvation through Jesus, the antidote to the corrupt nature of men could go into all the world and go from one generation to the next generation forever.

As Isaiah chapter 59 verses 20 - 21 says; 

“The Redeemer will come to Zion, to those in Jacob who repent of their sins,” declares the Lord.

“As for me, this is my covenant with them,” says the Lord. “My Spirit, who is on you, will not depart from you, and my words that I have put in your mouth will always be on your lips, on the lips of your children and on the lips of their descendants—from this time on and forever,” says the Lord.

Amen.

4

OUR FATHER WHOSE LAW YIELDS FRUIT IN THE LIVES OF THOSE WHO FOLLOW IT

Psalm 1 verses 3 - 4 says this;

That person is like a tree planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit in season and whose leaf does not wither—whatever they do prospers.

Not so the wicked! They are like chaff that the wind blows away.

This passage, speaking of those who delight in the law of the Lord, describes how they are like a tree near streams of water that are perpetually green and complete their cycles of fruitfulness season after season.

On the other had, those who do not delight in the law of the Lord and sit in the company of mocker, are not roooted and so they wither and dry up and blow away in the wind like empty husks.

Following the Lord's ways supports life and fruitfulness while pursuing wickedness  uproots life and yields destruction.

Amen.

5

OUR FATHER WHOSE FAITHFULNESS NEVER FAILS

From Psalm 117

Praise the Lord

All you nations

Extol His holy name

For great is His love for us

And His faithfulness never fails

Amen

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OUR FATHER WHO NEVER FORSAKES THOSE WHO SEEK HIM

From Psalm 9;

I will give thanks unto You my Lord 

With all my heart I will sing with all my might

I will tell of the great things You've done

I'll be glad and in You I will always delight

Those who know Your name 

Trust in all You do

For You have never forsaken 

Those who search for You.

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OUR FATHER WHO IS ABLE TO MARSHALL EVERYTHING AND EVERYONE HE NEEDS TO ACCOMPLISH HIS PURPOSES

The book of Isaiah chapter 45 verse 11 says this;

“This is what the Lord says— the Holy One of Israel, and its Maker: Concerning things to come, do you question me about my children, or give me orders about the work of my hands?

The prophet Isaiah, conveying what the Lord God of Israel said, asks if there was anyone who could legitimately question Him about His children or legitimately give Him directions about the things He made with His hands.

Afterall, He made the earth and mankind upon the earth as verse 12 says;

It is I who made the earth and created mankind on it. My own hands stretched out the heavens; I marshaled their starry hosts.

As well, the Lord stretched out the heavens and called forth the stars. 

In the Lord's great power and sovereignty, He also called forth king Cyrus as the leader who, even though he did not acknowledge the Lord,  was given strength and guidance to conquer kingdoms and to ultimately rebuild Jerusalem and free the captive children of Israel from Babylon.

Amen.

4

OUR FATHER WHO ADVISES OF THE WORTHLESSNESS OF IDOLS

The book of Isaiah chapter 44 verse 9 - 10 says this;

All who make idols are nothing, and the things they treasure are worthless.

Those who would speak up for them are blind; they are ignorant, to their own shame.

Who shapes a god and casts an idol, which can profit nothing?

The absurdity of idols is highlighted in this passage.

Idols, made by the hand of men and then upheld as objects to venerate, are profitless.

How can a man confer anything upon a block of wood that was otherwise to be put to mundane use like a fire for cooking food?

This pretense invites judgement upon those who perpetuate the practice of idol worship.

Amen.

7

OUR FATHER WHO SPEAKS TO HIS SERVANTS FROM A PILLAR OF CLOUD

The book of Psalms chapter 99 verses 7 - 9 says this;

He spoke to them from the pillar of cloud; they kept his statutes and the decrees he gave them.

Lord our God, you answered them; you were to Israel a forgiving God, though you punished their misdeeds.

Exalt the Lord our God and worship at his holy mountain, for the Lord our God is holy.

The Psalmist, speaking of the three servants of God, Moses, Aaron and Samuel, says that the Lord spoke to them from a pillar of cloud and they obeyed what the Lord told them.

This passage reveals that the Lord also spoke to the prophet Samuel in the same way as He did to Moses and Aaron in the desert.

Whereas these three servants heeded God's word, the Israelites were not always obedient to.the Lord and, though he was forgiving towards them, He punished their misbehaviour.

The psalm ends with an exhortation to exalt and worship God at His holy mountain for He Himself is holy.

Amen.

2

OUR FATHER WHO JUDGES HIS OWN PEOPLE

The book of Isaiah, in chapter 22 verse 3 - 5, says this;

All your leaders have fled together; they have been captured without using the bow.

All you who were caught were taken prisoner together, having fled while the enemy was still far away.

Therefore I said, “Turn away from me; let me weep bitterly. Do not try to console me over the destruction of my people.”

The Lord, the Lord Almighty, has a day of tumult and trampling and terror in the Valley of Vision, a day of battering down walls and of crying out to the mountains.

This passage is a prophetic utterance by the prophet Isaiah about Judah and the city of Jerusalem.

The Lord, through Isaiah, declared that even though Jerusalem was a exuberant and boisterous city, she would be abandoned by her leaders when the day of judgement came.

Those who are slain from it will not have died in battle or in the honorable defence of the city.

Instead, the fleeing leaders would be captured a long distance away while the people left in Jerusalem suffer tumult and terror as the walls of the city are torn down.

They cried to the mountains for help but to no avail for the Lord had removed the protective covering from over them.

As verse 8 says;

The Lord stripped away the defenses of Judah,  and you looked in that day to the weapons in the Palace of the Forest (armoury).

Lord have mercy on us.

3

OUR FATHER WHO BRINGS HIS PEOPLE TO DWELL IN HIS HOUSE

The book of Psalms chapter 54 84 verse 10 says this;

Better is one day in your courts than a thousand elsewhere;

I would rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my God than dwell in the tents of the wicked.

The psalmist, having gained access to the house of the Lord, declares that a single day in the courts of God is better than a thousand days spent anywhere else

The experience of being in the presence of God is so wonderful that the psalmist says that it is preferable  to do the most mundane tasks in the house of the Lord than to be autonomous in the tents of the wicked.

In verse 4, those who are there are described as always worshiping God in response to the goodness of God.

Blessed are those who dwell in your house; they are ever praising you.

Amen.

4

OUR FATHER WHOSE WILL IT WAS THAT WE BE SAVED

The book of Galatians chapter 1 verses 3 - 5 says this;

Grace and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ, who gave himself for our sins to rescue us from the present evil age, according to the will of our God and Father, to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen.

In his letter to the people of the church in Galatia, the apostle Paul greeted them with a blessing of grace and peace from God the Father and from the Lord Jesus.

Paul then defines the role of the Lord Jesus as the one who gave Himself to pay for our sins when He came to earth on a recue mission to save us from our evil age.

Paul also defines the role of God the Father as the One whose will it was for the Lord Jesus to give His life for us and for the rescue to be carried out.

For this will to save us, the Apostle Paul ascribes  glory to God the Father for ever and  ever.

Amen.

5

OUR FATHER WHO DELIGHTS IN US

From Psalm 149;

Zion be glad 

In your  King

Sing and dance

For He delights 

In His faithful ones

He crowns the humble

With victory

And they rejoice in Him

May the praise of the Lord

Always  rise from them

OUR FATHER WHO SURROUNDS US WITH FAVOUR AS WITH A SHIELD

Psalm 5 says this;

Listen to my words, Lord, consider my lament.

Hear my cry for help, my King and my God, for to you I pray.

In the morning, Lord, you hear my voice; in the morning I lay my requests before you and wait expectantly.

For you are not a God who is pleased with wickedness; with you, evil people are not welcome.

The arrogant cannot stand in your presence. You hate all who do wrong; you destroy those who tell lies.

The bloodthirsty and deceitful you, Lord, detest.

But I, by your great love, can come into your house; in reverence I bow down toward your holy temple.

Lead me, Lord, in your righteousness because of my enemies—make your way straight before me.

Not a word from their mouth can be trusted; their heart is filled with malice.

Their throat is an open grave; with their tongues they tell lies.

Declare them guilty, O God! Let their intrigues be their downfall. Banish them for their many sins, for they have rebelled against you.

But let all who take refuge in you be glad; let them ever sing for joy. Spread your protection over them, that those who love your name may rejoice in you. Surely, Lord, you bless the righteous; you surround them with your favor as with a shield.

Amen.

3

OUR FATHER WHO WILL JUDGE

Psalm 35 verse 9 says this;

May those who seek my life be disgraced and put to shame; may those who plot my ruin be turned back in dismay.

May they be like chaff before the wind, with the angel of the Lord driving them away; may their path be dark and slippery, with the angel of the Lord pursuing them.

Since they hid their net for me without cause and without cause dug a pit for me, may ruin overtake them by surprise—may the net they hid entangle them, may they fall into the pit, to their ruin.

Then my soul will rejoice in the Lord and delight in his salvation.

This passage captures the grief and betrayal that was felt by the Lord  Jesus when He was plotted against, betrayed, put on trial and sentenced to death.

Those in power plotted to kill Jesus and their efforts were going to lead them to be put to shame.

Because they engaged in scheming against an innocent man to kill  Him without cause, they were doomed to be driven away by the angel of the Lord and be caught by the net they set for the Lord Jesus and fall into the pit that they had dug.

The Lord did pray for the forgiveness of the ordinary soldiers who had crucified Him with the prayer  in the book of Luke chapter 23 verse 34 that reads;

“Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing.”

This, however, only applied to those who were carrying out the sentence and did not know who they were killing. The religious leaders who plottered against Jesus along with Judas Iscariot were not exempt from the judgement that would reciprocate what they had intended for the Lord.

2

 OUR FATHER TO WHOM WE CALL FOR HELP

Psalm 79 verses 3 - 4 says this;

They have poured out blood like water all around Jerusalem,  and there is no one to bury the dead.

We are objects of contempt to our neighbors, of scorn and derision to those around us.

This passage captures a time of death and mayhem in the nation of Israel. Hatred and scorn towards the children of Jacob is amplified among their neighbours.

In the shock of the attack against them, the people ask God to relent from His anger. They call on the Lord to intervene to save them in their time of desperation so that His name would be glorified.

The psalm ends with a request to the Lord to save the captives condemned to death at the hands of their captors. 

May the groans of the prisoners come before you; with your strong arm preserve those condemned to die.

Pay back into the laps of our neighbors seven times the contempt they have hurled at you, Lord.

Then we your people, the sheep of your pasture, will praise you forever; from generation to generation we will proclaim your praise.

Amen.

2

OUR FATHER WHOSE LIGHT WILL FILL THE WHOLE EARTH

The book of Isaiah chapter 60 verses 1 - 3 says this;

“Arise, shine, for your light has come, and the glory of the Lord rises upon you.

See, darkness covers the earth and thick darkness is over the peoples, but the Lord rises upon you and his glory appears over you.

Nations will come to your light, and kings to the brightness of your dawn.

This passage is the beginning of the prophetic declaration by the prophet Isaiah of the coming global revelation of the kingdom of Zion.

In an epoch of darkness that will engulf the whole earth, the day of the appearance of Zion will suddenly dawn and the light of the Lord will shine through the people of His kingdom to such an extent that the nations of the world will be drawn to the brightness that they will carry from the Lord our God.

Amen.

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