November 2003

HINDS’ FEET IN HIGH PLACES

Part 21

“He makes my feet like hinds’ feet,
and sets me on my high places!”

(2 Sa 22:34)

          In this series, we are searching the heart of the Lord to get a clear understanding of what are the “high places” whereon He has promised to set His people. One thing we should have learned from the failed venture that took place in Ge 11:1-9.

“(After the great flood of Noah) the whole earth was of one language,
and of one speech. And it came to pass, as they journeyed from the
East, that they found a plain in the land of Shinar; and dwelt there.
They said one to another, Come, let us make bricks and burn them
thoroughly. They had brick for stone and slime for mortar so then
they said, Come, let us build us a city and a tower whose top may
reach to heaven; and let us make a name for ourselves, lest we
be scattered abroad on the face of the whole earth. Then the Lord
came down to see the city and tower that the children of men had
built, and He said, Behold, the people are one, and they have all
one language; and now with this project under way, nothing that
they have imagined to do will be restrained from them!
So come, let us go down there, and confound their language
that they may not understand one another's speech! Thus the Lord
scattered them abroad from there across the face of all the earth:
and they discontinued building the city. Therefore the name of it is
called Babel; because it was there that the Lord did confound the
language of all the earth: and it was from there that the Lord did
scatter them abroad upon the face of the whole earth.”

           Heb 894 defines Babel as: “confusion”. This word is also the root for the name, Babylon. There is much confusion in the earth about the true identity of God; thus many religions exist in the earth where people worship their own concept of God. Some of these even embrace multiple gods- also goddesses. In some instances, like Hinduism, their gods are beasts of the earth!
           Sadly, there is also confusion among religions that profess Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior. This work was accomplished by “doctrines of devils” spawned by MAN’S FEAR OF DEATH!!
           Fear can drive sane men mad, even as it stampedes a herd of cattle to its death. Thus when some men of flesh heard of Scriptural accounts of SUFFERING and MARTYRDOM, they were driven to entertain vain imaginations in their minds, whereby their foolish hearts were darkened! (Ro 1:21) Thus, in the 1800’s, a presumed prophetess did conceive a fanciful notion of a “rapture” in which the Church of Christ would be “lifted off the earth” to some“high places” in the great unknown, to ESCAPE GREAT TRIBULATION! I don’t know about you, but the idea of being suddenly sucked up into the air, to sail upward like a human satellite out of this atmosphere and through a black hole to some perceived paradise with a “mansion” for every man, is as frightening a prospect as remaining on the earth and trusting Christ through whatever tribulation He has planned for me.
Which of our forefathers evaded the tribulation of their times? Did Noah? Did Joseph? Did Moses? Did David? Did Elijah? Did Jeremiah? Did John the Baptist? Incredibly, did Jesus Christ escape His Divine Destiny? Did His 12 original apostles? Did Stephen, or Paul escape tribulation? All of these could testify that the way up to God’s “High Places” is not to “Fly away, O glory”, in a science fiction“rapture” event, but to STAND IN THE EVIL DAY, CLAD IN THE WHOLE ARMOR OF GOD! (Eph 6:13)
           Consider this, why would God provide His people with His own whole Armor of Anointing if He knew they would never need to wear it?! Why exhort His children to be “Strong in the Lord” if He knew they would not have to face the “evil day” of tribulation? These questions are answered when we look in the suffering eyes of Jesus Christ on the Cross! He is “The Truth” who promises free all men from death! His Anointing vows to break the yoke of sin! His Mercy pledges to release all men from their prison of unbelief! And His Perfect Love swears it shall cast out all our fears! So with our hearts liberated from crippling fear and unbelief; with our minds free from sinful thoughts; with no more intimidation from death; and being attired in the whole Armor of God; why should we want to escape whatever tribulation may come?

THE WORLD SHOULD FEAR THE SONS OF GOD,
NOT THE SONS OF GOD FEAR THIS WORLD!!!!
(Selah! Pause and calmly think of this!)

Hear these Words of the Lord from Ps 27:1-3; and 23:1-6!

“The LORD is my Light and my Salvation; whom shall I FEAR?
The LORD is the Strength of my life; of whom shall I be AFRAID?
When the wicked, even mine enemies and my foes, came upon me
to eat up my flesh, they stumbled and fell! Though a host should
encamp against me, MY HEART SHALL NOT FEAR! And if
war should arise against me, I will be confident in all this!!”

“The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want (for anything).
He makes me lie down (to rest and feed) in green pastures;
He leads me beside still waters. He restores my soul: and
He leads me in the paths of righteousness for His Name's
Sake. Yes, even if I should walk through the valley of the
shadow of death, I WILL FEAR NO EVIL, FOR YOU
ARE WITH ME!! Your rod and Your staff comfort me;
You prepare a table before me in the presence of all my
enemies! You anoint my head (“Christ is the Head of
every man!” 1 Co 11:3) with oil (of gladness, Ps 45:7);
my cup runs over! Surely Goodness and Mercy shall
follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the
House of the LORD for ever!!”

THE SANCTUARY OF THE LORD
AND HIS LOVING PROTECTION
SURELY IS OUR HIGH PLACE!!

[TO BE CONTINUED]