Boqer Or (Good Morning Light)!

Shalom Friends,

In Psalms 69, is a deep water text prophesied by King David that I have not fathomed until recently.  So let us this morning put on our deep water mixed gas re-breathers and explore this rare territory of spiritual maturity.  There is so much in this short Psalm, so for the sake of pinpoint accuracy, let’s keep focused on one theme and it has to do with supernatural zeal and reproach.  Please read Psalm 69 now….

You will notice that much of the language of this Psalm is also used in the NT concerning The Messiah Jesus rejection and persecution before the glorious day of His resurrection.  He is the greatest Champion the Universe has ever witnessed!  It is so rich and powerful that time does not suffice us to study all the pearls here.  But there is one area that continues to resurface in the NT, and that is the mystery of being hated and rejected because of a passion for His House to be preserved and not defiled!

Here is a brief overview that will help you quarry out this tremendous maturity realm He wants us to be comfortable in.

  1.  David is speaking of being overcome with the dangerous and sudden flashfloods that are in the Judean and Negev desert areas of the tribal area of Judah (verses 1-3).
  2. These dangerous flash floods are a type and shadow of the evil and godless enemies that are searching to destroy him, who are not just the Philistines war lords,  but also King Saul and his mighty men (verse 4).
  3.  Because he has trusted in God, even his friends, and siblings have rejected him (vs. 8).
  4. Yet a consuming passionate zeal has consumed and eaten him up!  God’s house must not be defiled (verse 9)!

Now comes in the mystery I would like present to you who are called to be champions in these last days.  …And it has to do with supernatural reproach.  Many strong believers I know who develop a deep love for Abba will automatically precipitate a love for His House that will be full of passion and zeal.  However, as they launch forward to confront the sin, compromise, rebellion, hypocrisy, luke warmness, doctrinal error, worldliness, etc… that stems from the man pleasing pulpits in the land, a supernatural reproach hits them that they do not fully understand.  The more they stand up for holiness the more reproach, persecution, ridicule, abandonment, and the evaporation of friendships ensue.  Most become very troubled by this and feel that they are the reasons for this breakdown in relationships with other believers and soon shame and guilt enters in.  The radical and zealous lover of Abba and His house then are faced with the option of toning things down and becoming politically correct in the House of God or they can continue to go solo and usually develop bitterness and a chip on their shoulder against their religious persecutors who get even more riled up (i.e. friendly fire).

What Abba wants me to encourage you’all this morning with is a very mysterious activity of His Divine providence.  (I pray He opens your eyes to this process.)

  1. When you go red hot for Him and obey whatever He tells you to do…you will be popular with Heaven but very, very unpopular with mankind.
  2. This zeal for His house is ignited and fueled by your love and passion for His presence and Truth.  You are not out to prove yourself right or looking to put others down.  Instead you are pointing out the way of truth.  You are operating in His Spirit of Justice and feel His pleasure in so doing!
  3. Those who are in the darkness will not only not listen, but also hate you (see John 3)
  4. The more you stand your ground in this test the more reproach and persecution will be directed towards you…even sometimes from those you would consider close and/or family.

Why does Abba allow this to happen?  Why is this not just the work of the enemy and the sinful fallen nature of man?

Let us look at Psalm 69:9 again,

“ For the zeal of Thine house hath eaten me up; and the reproaches of them that reproached Thee are fallen upon me.” (Ps. 69:9 Authorized English Version)

Ok, dear warriors, are you ready for this deep water mystery….

When we enter into a zeal and passion for Him and His house more than for ourselves and our houses.  He then bestows on us His most glorious honorable service for His Namesake while we transverse this planet before being taken home.  And the most honorable service we can do for Him is this.  All the reproaches that sinful man spews out towards Him and His Son are also allowed and directed to fall upon us to bear.

I know this is deep, so let me repeat again…..  Our greatest honor this side of glory is to carry His reproach!  It is part of glorious honorable service to be persecuted, censured, blamed, criticized, reproach, scolded, rebuked, treated as the scum of the earth, the dregs of all things…reproached!

This is our hidden altar of Hebrews 13:10-13,

“ We have an altar, whereof they have no right to eat which serve the tabernacle.  For the bodies of those beasts, whose blood is brought into the sanctuary by the high priest for sin, are burnt without the camp.  Wherefore Jesus also, that he might sanctify the people with his own blood, suffered without the gate.  Let us go forth therefore unto Him without the camp, bearing His reproach.” 

While the majority of pulpits in the Christianized nations of the world are moving towards luke warm messages of self consumption, there is a remnant of warrior lovers who are positioned to not only sound the shofar of warning in these last days, but also have been equipped by Abba to bear and carry His reproaches.  This is our greatest reward this side of glory and I have thoroughly enjoyed finally resting in this Divine mystery for His Namesake.

We live in a region of the world (Middle East) where His Name is not only blasphemed continually but also where many who love Him are brutally killed and/or persecuted.  It takes great courage to speak out and evangelize in this sector and one must be prepared with great stamina against the reproaches and troubles that are directed towards those who preach Jesus the Messiah and Risen from the dead.  Perhaps this is why so many believers come to visit or work in Israel but are afraid to boldly declare His Name here.  There is so many ministries who come here only to do good will projects but do not preach the Gospel.  Why?  Because they have counted the cost and have decided it is too great and backed away from the reproach.  They want to the acceptance of man more than the acceptance of Heaven.  And that is the bottom line….

And it is here where the division is made between those who are heroes in man’s eyes or those who are the true champions in Heavens eyes.  What will you be and who will you sponsor in your love for this Land and its lost people Israel?

Be strong and do not deny His Name in this late hour, but enter into the mystery of the zeal for His house consuming you……

In His service for your faith,

Scott and Dalit