Wondrously

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“You will have plenty to eat, and be satisfied, and will praise the name of the Lord, your God, who has dealt wondrously with you; and my people will never again be disappointed.”

The Lord is so kind to us and knows it is hard for us to praise when we are hungry, thirsty and tired. He provides liberally for our temporal needs. He is our ever loving and glorious Lord and will not treat us harshly or put us through situations that we cannot handle. Some of those situation will be stressful and strenuous but we face them in the power of the Holy Spirit and not in our own strength.

God gives us all things richly to enjoy and we should enjoy the things that He gives us in the course of our lives. There are some leaders who would restrict enjoyment and keep the people of God in penury to support their own empires and ideas. This is not God’s way and we resist the impulse to succumb to such folly. There are some who will force their nearest and dearest to suffer for someone else’s ideas and cause heartache and stress. This is not how God operates.

God says we will have plenty to eat and be satisfied. We will praise His name for the provision and for the enjoyment of it. God deals with us generously and openly and we are so glad to know him and serve Him. He says that no one who follows Him or lives to praise His name will be disappointed.

There are very great blessings to be had and known through repentance and faith, and the enemy of our souls will keep us blind and insensible with his lies and misrepresentations of the Loving God we serve. He presents God as some kind of spoil sport and we will live all our lives in misery and destitution if we should follow Him. There are some who live like this to their detriment and the detriment of their families, but this is not the way of God. We are to rejoice every day. We are to be happy in the Lord our God and experience His love through the moments of our days.

Satan is a liar through and through and we listen to him at our own peril. He must not be allowed to steal your peace and joy in the Lord and to treat yourself in a cruel way. We are to be kind and that includes towards ourselves.

“The merciful man does good to his own soul, but he who is cruel troubles his own flesh.”

Proverbs 11:17

The Lord deals wondrously with us and loves us beyond all our perceived loving and we take His blessings with the joy that He gives them…

Restore

“I will restore to you the years that the swarming locust has eaten, the great locust, the grasshopper, and the caterpillar, my great army, which I sent among you.”

Here we have the incredible. The holy God is so willing and able to bless He can cover over and give back to us the effects of the years of wandering and sin. This is another amazing promise of the Lord. All those years of sinful desire and hurtful behaviour will be covered over by new and glorious memories that blot out the sin and degradation of those days, not to be remembered any more. We have this in this life but to the full extent in the coming kingdom when no hurtful thing will follow the child of God into the full realisation of the coming kingdom.

“They will not hurt nor destroy in all my holy mountain; for the earth will be full of the knowledge of the Lord, as the waters cover the sea.”

Isaiah 11:9

In that great day, the mercy of the Lord will be seen and known by all His redeemed people. The years of the devouring of the locust will be over and their destructive influences will be healed. The Lord permitted them to take hold and oppress His people for a specific purpose, to teach them and constrain them to return to their first love of Him.

In our lives also we seek the blessing of the Lord as we turn from our sin and failure and return to fellowship with the Lord. Though our days have been oppressive and the enemy has pressed in, we overcome by His mighty power and God promises to renew our lives and restore the fellowship with Him.

Beloved, we hold fast to our faith in Christ and the fellowship of walking with Him every day. We keep ourselves in the love of God and look to Him to refresh our life with blessing and the forgetfulness of troubles.

Overflow

“The threshing floors will be full of wheat, and the vats will overflow with new wine and oil.”

The blessing of the Lord brings abundance. The outpouring of His mercy brings life and peace to us. All our provisions overflow with the goodness of God. From the bread that we eat to the wine that we drink. God has promised that His people will never be without the necessities of life and He will provide for them.

“I have been young, and now am old, yet I have not seen the righteous forsaken, nor his children begging for bread.”

Psalm 37:25

God will also provide for our spiritual desires, which we have now as faithful people of God. God does not just bless His people but pours down His righteousness until there is overflow. The bread of the Word is poured out in abundance and the effect is monumental blessing on the people of God, bringing in those who are being saved. The new wine and the oil of salvation is in full supply – it is the days of renewal and revival. Many long for these days and in our day, they seem so far away. But the Lord is not slow concerning His promise that He will pour out a blessing when we come to Him.

“Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house, and test me now in this,” says the Lord of hosts, “if I will not open you the windows of heaven, and pour you out a blessing, that there shall not be room enough for.”

Malachi 3:10

We must keep to the Word of God and obey His holy commands. We must bring all our vows to full fruition and keep the commandments of the Lord. Surely He will encourage us as we come. God is not weary-minded concerning His promises but give us the encouragements we need to follow what He wants us to do.

The question for us is do we want His blessing? Do we believe it is worth having? Have we become so worldly minded that we cannot conceive of how wonderful it would be?

Beloved, we must call out for the overflow. We must desire it above all else. When we put away our sin and pray to the Lord of the harvest, He will pour out such a blessing we will not be able to contain it, or ourselves.

Lord, come and fill us with your Holy Spirit that we will desire you and only you. May you be our blessing. May your Spirit overflow…

Rain

“Be glad then, you children of Zion, and rejoice in the Lord, your God; for he gives you the former rain in just measure, and he causes the rain to come down for you, the former rain and the latter rain, as before.”

God will pour out such blessing on His people that they will rejoice. As He rejoices over their salvation, so we can also rejoice at what the Lord has done on our behalf. Salvation is ours, never to be lost, for it does not depend on our performance, but on the grace of God. God has sent the rain as blessing on His people, that their land will be green and verdant and fruitful. God blesses us and gives us thankfulness, that we also might serve Him and rejoice to do His perfect will. Our lives will then produce fruit for eternity and we will have peace.

The rain of the gospel falls when the Lord designs it to fall. It falls in both seasons of the year that there might be fruit to God all the year. As the message of the gospel goes forward we share it in faith that it will bear fruit and souls will be saved. God sends the blessing of the past year and the year to come. All blessing is from His gracious hand and will sustain us in all the circumstances of our lives. We are commanded to rejoice, we should rejoice for all things are ours, the gift of God, and we enjoy the blessings with great thankfulness and joy.

We thank Him for the blessing of the “former and the latter rain,” the rain that falls at the beginning of life and the rain that falls on our later years. The Lord will never leave His children unfruitful and without purpose. He does not leave us wondering what it is all about, but gives us usefulness and purpose in all our circumstances.

“…that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith; to the end that you, being rooted and grounded in love, may be strengthened to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth, and to know Christ’s love which surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled with all the fullness of God. Now to him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us, to him be the glory in the assembly and in Christ Jesus to all generations forever and ever. Amen.”

Ephesians 3:17-21

Strength

“Don’t be afraid, you animals of the field; for the pastures of the wilderness spring up, for the tree bears its fruit. The fig tree and the vine yield their strength.”

The judgment has passed and there is no need of fear, even for the animals in the fields, who were also affected by the sinful behaviour and lifestyle of the people. God speaks to them and tells them that there is plenty for them all. The pastures are springing up out of the wilderness and the trees are coming into fruit. The fig tree and the vine are becoming rampant for they have regained their strength.

This is synonymous with the blessings of the people of God. Where before they wandered in the wilderness they are now enjoying the green pastures of their own land. The growth of the ground has sprung up to furnish all their needs and desires and they are walking in the green pastures.

“The Lord is my shepherd: I shall lack nothing. He makes me lie down in green pastures. He leads me beside still waters. He restores my soul. He guides me in the paths of righteousness for his name’s sake.”

Psalm 23:1-3

The people of God now enjoy safe pasture for the Day of Wrath is passed and they are safe in the land. Their lives are bearing fruit to God and are enjoying the strength of the Spirit within. This is true for their lives in this world and also for the life to come when Christ returns to take His people to heaven. We have freedom and power now to live for God and will enter into the full reality of that kingdom life when Christ comes for His church.

“I heard a loud voice out of heaven saying, “Behold, God’s dwelling is with people, and he will dwell with them, and they will be his people, and God himself will be with them as their God. He will wipe away every tear from their eyes. Death will be no more; neither will there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain, any more. The first things have passed away.”

Revelation 21:3-4

Rejoice

“Land, don’t be afraid. Be glad and rejoice, for the Lord has done great things.”

The Lord exalts in His people and rejoices with them. He tells them not to be afraid any longer for all punishment and wrath has now passed away. He Himself has dealt with the problem and the disgrace has passed over. The people can now rejoice for the judgment has gone and they are rescued from it. The whole land can be glad for the desolation has been averted and the land is now free.

The Lord has done great things in rescuing His people. Such is the work of salvation that has been procured for them. Never again will they face this condemnation for it has all passed away.

“There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus, who don’t walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit.”

Romans 8:1

The people have returned to the Lord and are now living in fellowship with Him and can enjoy all the benefits of their salvation. We also can enjoy the presence of the Lord with us when we repent and give up our sin and deny the flesh and it’s hold on our lives. To live in the power of the Spirit of God is life and peace.

“For the mind of the flesh is death, but the mind of the Spirit is life and peace;”

Romans 8:6

When we walk with our God the Lord, it makes us joyful because we are in his gracious presence and at peace with Him. To entertain the flesh is to dampen that relationship and cause ourselves a lot of grief. We do not need to live in doubt or fear but in the freedom that comes when we acquiesce to the love of Christ and obey Him.

Remove

“But I will remove the northern army far away from you, and will drive it into a barren and desolate land, its front into the eastern sea, and its back into the western sea; and its stench will come up, and its bad smell will rise.” Surely he has done great things.”

The Lord continues to bless His people with release from their enemies and promises to remove the threat and the reality of the locust invasion for good. The locust army is referred to as the northern army for it is just like a band of marauders that are threatening the land and will invade and destroy all around it. This army has been waiting in the wings of the scenario for the command of the Lord to exercise His judgment on the nation. Now the repentance has happened and salvation has come there is no need for this invasion.

God promises to remove the threat far away from His people and this army will now be driven into the destitution it threatened on the people of God. It will be drowned in the depths of the sea never to be remembered any more except for the momentary rank smell it will make as it is disposed of. This is reminiscent of the promise to cast our sins into the sea of God’s forgetfulness, never to be remembered any more.

“He will again have compassion on us. He will tread our iniquities under foot; and you will cast all their sins into the depths of the sea.”

Micah 7:19

Surely He has done great things! The Lord is merciful toward His people and loves them and rescues them for their sin and condemnation. The whole of the people of God are saved and not one is lost…

Satisfied

“The Lord answered his people, “Behold, I will send you grain, new wine, and oil, and you will be satisfied with them; and I will no more make you a reproach among the nations.”

The justice of the Lord is slow to strike and His mercy is quick to bless. The people of God have turned and been forgiven and they know this because the Lord now promises to bless them. The Lord will remove the reproach of His people and renew their vigour before the nations. He will not require them to be constantly regaled and looked upon as pariahs, but rescue them from the blaming gaze of the ungodly nations around them.

The gross sins of the people of God have been atoned for, and God is willing to forgive them all their moral debt and set them free to live and serve Him in great joy. He will pour in the oil and the wine of blessing and healing and give the grain of sustenance for the fainting hearts of the nation.

This is the gracious answer of the Lord to a sinful and destitute people, who are His people, whom He loves. The Lord is kind to the unlovely and saves those who are in peril of death. He loves to be kind and to exercise His mercy and compassion to the broken hearted. The Israelites nation has severely tested His patience, and has tried His grace sorely, but repentance brings salvation and healing to the nation. It is the same for us also. We fall into sin and get caught up in persistent wrong-doing and cannot get free of it. It holds us like a vice and we are trapped in the sin of our hearts and minds. Only the mercy of the Lord can free us from the grip of sin and bring us to the state of repentance and faith.

When we come to Him, we accept the remedy for our sin, the sacrifice of Jesus on the cross and the price He so willingly paid to set us free. The path of humility is the only way. There is no other Saviour and we can never save ourselves. We throw ourselves on the mercy of the Lord and we are safe to do so, for He will fully pardon us.

“… let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts; and let him return to the Lord, and he will have mercy on him; and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon.”

Isaiah 55:7

Only the death of Christ could satisfy the demand of God’s holy law and He has fulfilled all righteousness for our sake. Only God can deal with us and forgive us and satisfy our weary hearts and save our wretched souls. This is what He did for His people and He will do for us when we also repent and believe.

Pity

“Then the Lord was jealous for his land, And had pity on his people.”

The pleas of the priests are heard by the Lord and He listens to their cry for mercy and grace. God does not change His mind, but in His forbearance is showing us His dedication to justice and will always give way to mercy.

“Mercy triumphs over judgment.”

James 2:13

There are many mysteries in the Scripture and many aspects of God’s character we do not understand, but we know He is the sovereign Lord and He decides to relent or punish the guilty. The pleadings of the prophet are heard by the people and they now turn. The people and their leaders and the whole nation repents before the Lord and the wrath of God passes and He forgives the sin of the people. The Lord is full of pity for the creatures He has made and will turn from His wrath at their pleadings, if sincere.

The Lord is also jealous of His people, and will not hand them over to the judgment of the wicked without mercy. He is jealous that they should not suffer the ignominy of going into destitution, even though they deserve it. He will not bring judgment on His land unless there is no repentance.

“You have heard of the patience of Job, and have seen the Lord in the outcome, and how the Lord is full of compassion and mercy.”

James 5:11

The pity of the Lord has saved His people from certain destruction. The Lord softens their heart to believe and they turn and are saved. So also with us. When we hear God speak into our mind and conscience, may we repent and put all our trust in Him.

Heritage

“Let the priests, the ministers of the Lord, weep between the porch and the altar, and let them say, “Spare your people, Lord, and don’t give your heritage to reproach, that the nations should rule over them. Why should they say among the peoples, ‘Where is their God?'”

The first in line for the weeping are the ministers and priest of the Lord. They have been so remiss they have allowed the people to slip into sin with no reproof. They cannot approach the Lord nor can they go to the altar, for they are unworthy priests. They must stay in the congregation of the people and weep with the people, so all can see their tears and realise the depth of the problem. They have lost their privileges because of their sin. God tells the, what to say, for they are so remiss that have forgotten how to approach the Lord and how to repent. They are to come to God with sober minds and torn hearts and remonstrate with Him and present their case for forgiveness. Why should God wait and forgive any longer?

“Come now, and let us reason together,” says the Lord: “Though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow. Though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool.”

Isaiah 1:18

The kindness and the mercy of the Lord always shines through. The sins of the people are deep dyed, but God waits for them to come to Him and present their case against wrath. God will listen and though they are sinful, yet there is forgiveness and the offer of cleansing.

The priest are to argue that the people of God will become a reproach to the unbelieving world if they are chastised, and the name of God will be derided by the enemies of God. This is a probability, but God will not be deflected from justice because of that consideration. This is another consequence the people have not considered, that the enemies of God will scoff and rejoice at their demise. God is dishonoured by their behaviour and they have not considered Him. The priests and ministers are to plead the case with the Lord.

“Answer me, Lord, for your loving kindness is good. According to the multitude of your tender mercies, turn to me. Don’t hide your face from your servant, for I am in distress. Answer me speedily! Draw near to my soul, and redeem it. Ransom me because of my enemies.”

Psalm 69:16-18

This is an appropriate prayer for the repentant soul, full of pleading with the Lord and a heartfelt desire for forgiveness and mercy. We seek redemption and the ransom of our souls from the cruelty of the enemy.

Daughters of the Kingdom

Women who glorify God