Holiness, that secure place, that consecrated and dedicated place, that hallowed sanctuary that is clean, pure and sanctified [Beauty of Holiness, 4/1/21] is under a vicious attack from all that is ungodly, evil, vile, wicked and lawless. Rebellion against the Holy is on full display before all our eyes today.

There is a place called Shechem, wherein is the government of God [Land of Promise. X. Shechem]. Shechem means shoulder and we know from Isaiah, the Prophet, “The government shall be upon His shoulder” (Isaiah 9:6). Shechem, the place of the government of God lies in the valley between Mount Ebal (the place of cursing) and Mount Gerizim (the place of blessing) (cf. Deuteronomy 11:29). Whether we are living under a curse or a blessing depends on obedience: “Blessing, if you obey the commandments of the LORD your God. . .a curse, if you will not obey. . .” (Deuteronomy 11:27a-28a).

When the children of Israel went to Samuel, the Judge and Prophet of the LORD, asking that they be given a king to rule over them, it grieved Samuel very much. But the LORD said to Samuel, “Hearken unto the voice of the people in all that they say unto thee; for they have not rejected thee, but they have rejected Me, that I should not reign over them” (cp. 1 Samuel 8:4-7).

Similarly, today we see a rejection of the Holy One to reign over the people. We see a rebellious people from Mount Ebal, the place of cursing, speaking against the Holy, “calling evil good and good evil, that put darkness for light and light for darkness, that put bitter for sweet and sweet for bitter” (cf. Isaiah 5:20). Disorder for order, chaos for righteous governance, lies for truth; this is what we see happening in our midst right now.

What then shall we do? Shall we despair? Shall we cower in fear? Shall we withdraw? Or shall we proceed? Shall we advance? Shall we go forth in all that has been given unto us of Him? What do the Scriptures reveal to us? What sayeth the LORD? The LORD has spoken in times past through His prophets, and now speaks in these last days through His Son (cf. Hebrews 1;1). Today He says go forth. Go forth in love, go forth in power, go forth in Holiness, and “be not weary in well doing; for in due season you shall reap, if you faint not. As you have opportunity, do good to all, especially to those who are of the household of faith” (Galatians 6:9-10).

The Blessings of Mount Gerizim shall yet be realized to the faithful. The government of God shall yet reign in righteousness. Our prayer continues to be “Thy Kingdom come, Thy will be done on earth as it is in Heaven” (Matthew 6.10). Holiness shall yet prevail, and Jesus, the Lamb, shall yet be glorified.

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