Wow, here we go with the pestilence again — twice in this psalm. They do get around and we are often caught unaware by their tactics. They pop out of nowhere and grab hold of our attention and our emotions. Once our ‘feelings’ are involved, it is more difficult to send them packing.

Verses 5 and 6 go together.  Let’s hear the rest of the promises.

You shall not be afraid of the terror by night,
Nor of the arrow that flies by day,

Nor of the pestilence that walks in darkness,
Nor of the destruction that lays waste at noonday.

In case you didn’t read the first post about pestilence, or forgot about its meaning, pestilence isn’t about beetles or locusts but about words.  Here we go:

PESTILENCE—is Strong’s #1696, a primitive root.  It looks like this:   And it is defined as to arrange; but used figuratively (of words), TO SPEAK; to subdue: KJV – answer, appoint, bid, command, commune, declare, destroy, give, name, promise, pronounce, rehearse, say, speak, be spokesman, subdue, talk, teach, tell, think, use [entreaties], utter.

Now we will see the letters:

= Dallet 4 = Earth or creation. Means: Door, Gate, Impoverished man

= Bet 2 = Divide or Division     Means: House/Family; God’s word, God’s dwelling place

= Resh 200 = Insufficiency, Poverty (When we allow human reasoning to be our master,      poverty of the Spirit results. Picture: the Head  Means: Head, Chief, Beginning, Highest, Most Important, a Person, Human Reasoning vs. Obedience

 Pestilence: How often the enemy enters the Door (Dallet) of our Home (Bet) when we are already feeling weary or down on ourselves or upset with someone else and he Speaks judgment, unbelief, or stirs strife that causes us to feel Insufficient (Resh) and question if God really is in charge. Those emotions bring division in our relationship (Bet) with God and those we love most.

If we aren’t eating daily from God’s word and receiving His truth as our identity and lifestyle, we’ve stepped out of the Secret Place and opened the door for the enemy’s visit. He doesn’t even have to knock. The door is standing wide open and he can come and go as he wills. He cannot come into the Secret Place because he doesn’t want to contend with God.

What is sadder is that when we begin to feel inadequate or judged, we often close the front door of our hearts. We keep Jesus outside, out of fear that He will reject us. Yet, this is what He says to us.

In Isaiah 1:18,
“Come now, and let us reason together,”
Says the Lord, “Though your sins are like scarlet,
They shall be as white as snow;
Though they are red like crimson,
They shall be as wool.”

And in Revelation 3:20 He says: “Behold (pay attention) I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come into him and dine with him, and he with Me.”  This is Jesus talking to believers. He is saying, just open the door and let Me in and we will sit down and eat together.

In Middle East culture, sharing a meal with someone represents a covenant relationship. Do you remember the story of Him sharing a meal with Peter and the other disciples? It was after His resurrection. Peter had blown it big time. But the first thing Jesus wanted to do was to share a meal with him and let Peter know that He still loved him.

Let’s move on to ‘WALKS.’

Walks is Strong’s #1980 and it looks like this: And it is defined as to go, come, walk, depart or go away.

= Hey  5 = Grace.  Means: Revelation – 5 is the number of Torah, Behold, Give Attention – (at the end of a word: comes from letter before)

 = Lamed  30 =  Blood of Messiah, Dedication to a task.  Means: Staff, Goad or Stick, to Teach or Instruct, Authority, to Control, Urge Forward, a Tongue

= Final Kaf 500 = Anointing of the hand on the head, Redemption. Means: To Bend Down, Surrender, Palm of the Hand, Wing – Good works with our hand in Yeshua

WALKS: We are to be led by the revelation of God’s Word(Hey) and surrender in obedience to Him(Final Kaf). But the enemy uses the Word as a Goad to shame and humiliate or he twists the word (Lamed). If we listen to him we often surrender to his ploys and he Covers us–puts us in bondage.

Okay let’s wind this up with DARKNESS.

Darkness is Strong’s #652 and it looks like this:   and it is defined as dusk:—darkness, obscurity, and privily.

= Aleph 1= God – Echad – Unity, Unique (no other like it) Means: Ox-head—Strength or Leader, Most Important, First – The Strength and Power of the leader

= Pey 80 = New Governmental Order.  Means: Mouth, to Speak, Open or Beginning.

= Lamed  30 =  Blood of Messiah, Dedication to a task.  Means: Staff, Goad or Stick, to Teach or Instruct, Authority, to Control, Urge Forward, a Tongue

DARKNESS: The enemy always portrays himself as a Powerful Leader (Aleph). He attacks by Speaking his words (Pey). Portraying himself as an Authority, he Goads us and sometimes even uses God’s word to attack us, (Lamed) blinding us to the Father’s love.

As a voracious student of God’s word, I often used His word to beat myself up. The enemy had to do very little but nudge me once in a while. It seemed that every verse I read was an accusation. I did not measure up, UNTIL, one day, I got hold of His love and everything changed. Suddenly, I saw His word as a love letter of instruction and counsel. I even created my own Bible cover “Love Letters from Papa.”

In October 2012, He spoke a strong word to me about this.

~~~Journal Notes~~~

“I am always faithful. My word is My bond. You can depend on it, plan for it’s fulfilling. Rest in My love and faith will come in natural flow. I L-O-V-E, Love you all the T-I-M-E, time. I said ALL. Did you hear Me?

Live LOVED. Live it and enjoy the freedom, the joy, and the strength it brings. My love releases power.

The enemy would have you believe otherwise. He focuses on your weaknesses, your failings. Give them to Me as you would place broken toys into the hands of a loving father. I make all things new—that includes YOU –All of you. My love heals and makes new. My love washes and makes clean. My love restores and strengthens.

Your weaknesses allow opportunities for you and I to deepen relationship as you run to Me in repentance and I wash you clean with My love. There is no fear in love, Beloved. Tell them—that I L-O-V-E, Love them ALL the T-I-M-E, time. ALL—Always. Even as I bring correction, it is wrapped in love.

My love burns for you. It burns to set you free. It burns for you to see who I am and who I’ve created you to be. We are one—even now—we are one.

Religion kills, but love brings Life, joy unspeakable and full of glory. LIVE LOVED.”

We are a blessed people.  We have the best Father ever and we never need to fear.  We may face tremendous trials, but He will be with us and never forsake us.  May we learn to live in the secret place in my prayer.

Next, we will finish up verse 6.  See you tomorrow.

Shalom ♥

 

Photo by Johannes Roth on Unsplash