Come to Understanding

Come to Understanding

They also that erred in spirit shall come to understanding,

and they that murmured shall learn doctrine. — Isaiah 29:24

So they read in the book in the law of God distinctly, and gave the sense,

and caused them to understand the reading. — Nehemiah 8:8

May 14, 2012
Volume 11 Number 10

Springs of Water

(Part 2)

The land of Idumea (Edom) is described as a dried and parched place that is inhabited by unclean birds and other creatures, including Lilith, also called a "screech owl," which is the great owl goddess of the night:

14 The wild beasts of the desert shall also meet with the wild beasts of the island, and the satyr shall cry to his fellow; Lilith also shall rest there, and find for herself a place of rest.

15 There shall the great owl make her nest, and lay, and hatch, and gather under her shadow: there shall the vultures also be gathered, every one with her mate. -Isaiah 34

Such a description may also apply to those that are devoid of the "living water" of the Spirit of God. Yahshua (Jesus) cautions that such dry places are where unclean spirits travel. They seek places that are void of the Spirit of God, which become their gathering places:

43 When the unclean spirit has gone out of a man, he walks through dry places, seeking rest, and finds none.

44 Then he says, I will return into my house from where I came out; and when he has come, he finds it empty, swept, and garnished.

45 Then goes he, and takes with himself seven other spirits more wicked than himself, and they enter in and dwell there: and the last state of that man is worse than the first. Even so shall it be also to this wicked generation. -Matthew 12

This is the kind of dry place that develops in the absence of the Word of God. Yahweh warns us of a time when there would be such a place. He describes it as a time of famine, when even those that search for His Word will be unable to find it:

11 Behold, the days come, says the Lord Yahweh, that I will send a famine in the land, not a famine of bread, nor a thirst for water, but of hearing the words of Yahweh:

12 And they shall wander from sea to sea, and from the north even to the east, they shall run to and fro to seek the word of Yahweh, and shall not find it. -Amos 8

The outcome of such a famine for the words of Yahweh is the formation of a spiritually dry place, void of the living water of the Spirit of God.

13 In that day shall the fair virgins and young men faint for thirst. -Amos 8

When we find ourselves hungry and thirsty in a dry land inhabited by unclean spirits, we can find hope if we will diligently seek out the "book of Yahweh," and read it!

16 Seek you out of the book of Yahweh, and read: no one of these shall fail, none shall want her mate: for my mouth it has commanded, and his spirit it has gathered them. -Isaiah 34

Through diligent study, we gain knowledge of Yahweh and discover more about His will for our lives. While some may see little value in studying the Word of God, Yahweh cautions us:

6 My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge: because you have rejected knowledge, I will also reject you, that you shall be no priest to me: seeing you have forgotten the law of your God, I will also forget your children. -Hosea 4

His Word is the foundation of wisdom and understanding:

5 Get wisdom, get understanding: forget it not; neither decline from the words of my mouth.

6 Forsake her not, and she shall preserve you: love her, and she shall keep you.

7 Wisdom is the principal thing; therefore get wisdom: and with all your getting get understanding. -Proverbs 4

In other words, He is saying that we must get understanding with everything that is within us, with all that we have! If we receive the wisdom and understanding that Yahweh offers to us, then we will do exactly what David said. We will bless His holy name with all that is within us!

1 Bless Yahweh, O my soul: and all that is within me, bless his holy name. -Psalms 103

Yahweh gives a promise to those that seek to quench their thirst. He promises the water of His presence:

17 When the poor and needy seek water, and there is none, and their tongue fails for thirst, I Yahweh will hear them, I the God of Israel will not forsake them.

18 I will open rivers in high places, and fountains in the midst of the valleys: I will make the wilderness a pool of water, and the dry land springs of water.-Isaiah 41

For those that trust in Yahweh and seek out His word, there is healing for the dry land:

1 The wilderness and the solitary place shall be glad for them; and the desert shall rejoice, and blossom as the rose.

2 It shall blossom abundantly, and rejoice even with joy and singing: the glory of Lebanon shall be given unto it, the excellency of Carmel and Sharon, they shall see the glory of Yahweh, and the excellency of our God.

3 Strengthen you the weak hands, and confirm the feeble knees.

4 Say to them that are of a fearful heart, Be strong, fear not: behold, your God will come with vengeance, even God with a recompense; he will come and save you. -Isaiah 35

While the eyes of many are blinded and their ears are deafened to the Word of God, Yahweh promises that they will both see and hear. That is when the water will come forth into the wilderness, as streams flowing through a desert. The thirsty land that was once the habitation of dragons, unclean spirits, will flow with springs of water:

5 Then the eyes of the blind shall be opened, and the ears of the deaf shall be unstopped.

6 Then shall the lame man leap as a hart, and the tongue of the dumb sing: for in the wilderness shall waters break out, and streams in the desert.

7 And the parched ground shall become a pool, and the thirsty land springs of water: in the habitation of dragons, where each lay, shall be grass with reeds and rushes. -Isaiah 35

As the desolate land is filled with life-giving water, there is no room for the ravenous beasts, the unclean spirits that once dwelt there. Instead, there is a "highway" through which the holy pass over the land:

8 And a highway shall be there, and a way, and it shall be called The way of holiness; the unclean shall not pass over it; but it shall be for those: the wayfaring men, though fools, shall not err therein.

9 No lion shall be there, nor any ravenous beast shall go up thereon, it shall not be found there; but the redeemed shall walk there: -Isaiah 35

This highway is the way of holiness that is opened by the "Branch" that grows out of the "root of Jesse," upon whom the fullness of the Spirit of Yahweh rests:

1 And there shall come forth a rod out of the stem of Jesse, and a Branch shall grow out of his roots:

2 And the spirit of Yahweh shall rest upon him, the spirit of wisdom and understanding, the spirit of counsel and might, the spirit of knowledge and of the fear of Yahweh; -Isaiah 11

Yahshua the Messiah (Jesus Christ) is the son (descendent) of David, who is the son of Jesse (see Matthew 1:6):

1 The book of the generation of Yahshua the Messiah, the son of David, the son of Abraham. -Matthew 1

As shepherds feed the sheep of the fruitful pastures the Word of God, the Branch of the root of Jesse is the Savior, Yahshua, that is called "Yahweh our Righteousness:"

3 And I will gather the remnant of my flock out of all countries where I have driven them, and will bring them again to their folds; and they shall be fruitful and increase.

4 And I will set up shepherds over them which shall feed them: and they shall fear no more, nor be dismayed, neither shall they be lacking, says Yahweh.

5 Behold, the days come, says Yahweh, that I will raise unto David a righteous Branch, and a King shall reign and prosper, and shall execute judgment and justice in the earth.

6 In his days Judah shall be saved, and Israel shall dwell safely: and this is his name whereby he shall be called, YAHWEH OUR RIGHTEOUSNESS. -Jeremiah 23

Yahshua, "Yahweh our righteousness," is the highway of salvation for the remnant of Yahweh’s people:

16 And there shall be a highway for the remnant of his people, which shall be left, from Assyria; like as it was to Israel in the day that he came up out of the land of Egypt. -Isaiah 11

Through Him, Yahweh’s people return from the desolate wilderness with everlasting joy:

10 And the ransomed of Yahweh shall return, and come to Zion with songs and everlasting joy upon their heads: they shall obtain joy and gladness, and sorrow and sighing shall flee away. -Isaiah 35

Through Him, Yahweh’s people "draw water out of the wells of salvation:"

2 Behold, God is my salvation; I will trust, and not be afraid: for Yah Yahweh is my strength and my song; he also has become my salvation.

3 Therefore with joy shall you draw water out of the wells of salvation. -Isaiah 12

Yahshua is the Well of Salvation, the Spring from which the Living Water of the Spirit of God flows. This is the day to praise Yahweh and "make mention that His name is exalted:"

4 And in that day shall you say, Praise Yahweh, call upon his name, declare his doings among the people, make mention that his name is exalted. -Isaiah 12

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Scriptures are taken from the Proper Name Version of the King James Bible.