Old Dog IV
To Offend Many….
May 22, 2000:
Last night I had a wondrous night. Sort of sets me free….sort of… Sort of explains one heck of a lot that just didn’t want to fit into place. Call it a time of remembrance, a time of instruction. Then again it was ”my time” to simply come into agreement with what MY LORD AND MASTER is doing. In HIS WORD HE SAYS that is exactly what HE WANTS to do with everyone. Personally I was more than content to sit at HIS FEET and get what FELL FROM ABBA’S TABLE. But then again, HE WAS RIGHT, as USUAL. I will enjoy watching what will now begin to take place. I will still grieve a bit when it happens, but HE ASSURED ME AGAIN… “EVERYTHING WILL BE ALL RIGHT”. Great promise. SO….if anyone is interested HE’S STILL THE SAME…
Jeremiah 33:1-5
1 Moreover the word of the Lord came unto Jeremiah the second time, while he was yet shut up in the court of the prison, saying,
2 Thus saith the Lord the maker thereof, the Lord that formed it, to establish it; the Lord is his name;
3 Call unto me, and I will answer thee, and show thee great and mighty things, which thou knowest not.
4 For thus saith the Lord, the God of Israel, concerning the houses of this city, and concerning the houses of the kings of Judah, which are thrown down by the mounts, and by the sword;
5 They come to fight with the Chaldeans, but it is to fill them with the dead bodies of men, whom I have slain in mine anger and in my fury, and for all whose wickedness I have hid my face from this city. (KJV)
If you really believe HE IS MAKER, FORMER, AND LORD HE WILL TELL YOU. Now we all hear verses 1-2-3 quoted and requoted, but never with what follows. Maybe that is why the “stuff” HE TELLS me offends so many. It certainly is not corroborated by the shepherds and scribes of the AMERICAN CHURCH. What happened last night brings me PEACE. That is all I really need.
Like most ”encounters” with MY GOD it began as a simple vision. Actually it was the “vision” I first saw…. that was of GOD. It was a pleasant place where HIS SHEEP grazed safely. Straight out of Bach. HE once again was THE GOOD SHEPHERD. But for the first time I was not on all fours. I walked with HIM…EYE TO EYE. And it unnerved me. HE BEING ALL-KNOWING knew my feeling of uncertainty and simply smiled.
Looking at HIS FACE I HEARD ABBA again, “IT’S GOING TO BE ALL RIGHT, SON.” And it was. PEACE BEYOND UNDERSTANDING just filled me. I noticed myself take a long deep breath and look at HIM SMILING PLACIDLY.
“FOR WHAT WE ARE ABOUT TO RECEIVE, EH CALEB”?, HE KIDDED. I remembered the old saying both my grandfathers joked about. Out of the blue I thought of a song and wondered if once again the “band play Waltzing Matilda”, one more time. And would anyone understand the price that was paid…for nothing. Maybe someone from “down under” might catch it….but I really don’t care any more. That is what is funny about when THE MOST HOLY SPIRIT BRINGS REMEMBRANCE to you of images and stuff that makes no sense to anyone else. As I pondered this THE GOOD SHEPHERD leaned on HIS STAFF and just waited for me. Out of the blue I thought HE HAS ALWAYS BEEN LONG SUFFERING with me.
“I THINK A BETTER WORD CALEB IS ‘PATIENCE’. IN SPITE OF YOURSELF YOU
HAVE NOT MADE ME SUFFER OVER YOU. GREATLY CONCERNED AT TIMES, BUT ETERNAL OMNISCIENCE HAS IT’S PERKS.” With that HE walked to a little rise where some trees stood and we sat in the shade, looking down at HIS SHEEP. They were of all sizes and shapes. In fact there was no uniformity of “breed”. That was something real new and I pondered as we sat and just watched as the SHEEP munched good thick grass. I had to think that this was the way it was supposed to be. All in “one flock” with only ONE SHEPHERD, ONE LORD.
“IT’S NOT LIKE YOU IMAGINED IT, IS IT CALEB?” HE ASKED leaning against a tree. I looked at HIM and looked back at HIS SHEEP. The feeling of “being right” was all over me and I wondered why my mind still could not filter out all the garbage that was running through it. “MAYBE IT IS NOT ALL GARBAGE CALEB. REMEMBER YOU ARE THE WORK OF MY HANDS. SOMETIMES WHAT THE WORLD SEES AS FLAWS AND IMPERFECTIONS ARE NOT. ALL WORKS OF TRUE ART ARE SPECIALLY MADE TO SHOW MY SKILL AND THE UNIQUENESS OF MY TALENTS.”
Now I just had to absorb this chunk of wisdom and I just stared at HIM and watched HIM STARE BACK at me. Is it proper to say HE had a smug look on HIS FACE….SMILE AND ALL?
“OR IS IT THAT I LIKE TO JERK YOUR CHAIN CALEB?” HE LAUGHED. “WHY DO YOU HAVE TROUBLE WITH THESE FLAIRS OF PERSONALITY WE HAVE?”
HE WAITED for a response and I had to be honest with HIM….and myself. For so long I have wondered why no one else seemed to “see” and “hear” HIM as I was now doing. More to the point why would HE WANT me to try and put it to “paper” and send it out on the WWW? For so long I have pondered and wrestled with this and I stared back at HIM. Now part of the problem is I know HE KNOWS every thought I think before I think it. HAS ALWAYS KNOWN….and there is the conundrum. I just looked down at HIS FEET and stayed silent.
“MAYBE MY FRIEND YOU CAN NOT SEE THAT I ENJOY YOU MORE THAN YOU CAN FATHOM. LIKEWISE FEW HAVE I EVER FOUND WHO WILL OBEY ME IN SPITE OF ‘THE COST’. THE ISSUE OF ‘THE COST’ OF FOLLOWING ME HAS ALWAYS COME INTO PLAY. IT IS WRITTEN, MANY ARE CALLED CALEB. IN FACT THE CALL HAS GONE OUT TO THE WHOLE WORLD. THE ISSUE IS THAT FEW CHOOSE TO OBEY. FEW CHOOSE TO FOLLOW. FEW CHOOSE TO GIVE THEIR ALL.”
I listened and thought and HE BEGAN…”IS IT NOT WRITTEN..”(and HE SPOKE in everyday language….)
17 For Christ sent me not to baptize, but to preach the gospel: not with wisdom of words, lest the cross of Christ should be made of none effect.
18 For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the power of God.
19 For it is written, I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, and will bring to nothing the understanding of the prudent.
20 Where is the wise? where is the scribe? where is the disputer of this world? hath not God made foolish the wisdom of this world?
21 For after that in the wisdom of God the world by wisdom knew not God, it pleased God by the foolishness of preaching to save them that believe.
22 For the Jews require a sign, and the Greeks seek after wisdom:
23 But we preach Christ crucified, unto the Jews a stumblingblock, and unto the Greeks foolishness;
24 But unto them which are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God, and the wisdom of God.
25 Because the foolishness of God is wiser than men; and the weakness of God is stronger than men.
26 For ye see your calling, brethren, how that not many wise men after the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble, are called:
27 But God hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise; and God hath chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things which are mighty;
28 And base things of the world, and things which are despised, hath God chosen, yea, and things which are not, to bring to nought things that are:
29 That no flesh should glory in his presence.
30 But of him are ye in Christ Jesus, who of God is made unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption:
31 That, according as it is written, He that glorieth, let him glory in the Lord.
Now HE HAD done this in the past to me, but not to this degree. And I sat quiet. It was way to much at one time, and I said so to HIM. I watched HIS FACE change from merriment to concern and I had this heaviness just slowly tap me on the shoulder and say “yo”.
I watched THE GOOD SHEPHERD slowly stand and reach down to help me to my feet. HE USED HIS RIGHT HAND. HE HELD HIS RIGHT HAND BEFORE MY FACE AND SAID “THIS IS MY HAND OF MERCY. AND I CHOSE TO REACH DOWN AND BRING YOU TO ME, FOR MY REASONS SO MY WORDS WILL BE FULFILLED. YOU WERE NOT THE FIRST BUT YOU ARE INDEED ONE OF THE LAST.” With that being said HE moved the STAFF to HIS RIGHT HAND and reached out HIS LEFT HAND AND TOOK MY RIGHT ARM. “THIS IS MY HAND OF GRACE. NO, CALEB, YOU NEVER DESERVED EITHER MY GRACE OR MY MERCY. NO MAN EVER HAS, EVER WILL. I CHOSE YOU LIKE I CHOSE ALL WHO CALLED OUT TO ME AND GAVE THEIR ALL UPON MY ALTER. THAT IS WHY YOU WERE GIVEN THE IMAGE OF LIVING SACRIFICE AND ‘REASONABLE SERVICE’.”
”I KNOW YOU ARE TROUBLED BY THE VISIONS OF THE GATE AND THE BREACH. DO YOU WONDER WHY YOU DID NOT QUOTE ALL FROM THAT VERSE ABOUT THE ”GAP”?”
“Yes, LORD, I wondered. it seemed you were more focused on the image of “breach”.”
“SOMEONE WILL BRING IT UP, SOMEONE YOU DO NOT EXPECT. BUT THEN AGAIN, NO ONE READS THAT WORD, THEY JUST QUOTE THEIR OWN INTENTIONS.” Once again HE stopped and quoted….
And I sought for a man among them, that should make up the hedge, and stand in the gap before me for the land, that I should not destroy it: but I found none. 31 Therefore have I poured out mine indignation upon them; I have consumed them with the fire of my wrath: their own way have I recompensed upon their heads, saith the Lord GOD.†
“HAVE YOU EVER WONDERED WHY NO ONE PICKS UP THE IDEA THAT TO ‘STAND’ IN THE PROVERBIAL GAP MEANS THAT THEY ARE STANDING AGAINST
ME? IS IT JUST ONE OF THOSE THINGS CALEB? OR JUST MAYBE THERE IS A DEEPER DECEPTION IN THE MIDST OF MY FLOCK?”
Now I had always thought that this was because we are called out to stand on the walls and to call out till ZION is restored. Moses stood before GOD and HIS WRATH was ‘put aside’. I had no real answer because I “knew” HE was talking about HIMSELF. THE MAN who would stand in the “GAP” was THE LAMB. It was HIS BLOOD that enabled us to OVERCOME the enemy…to speak THE WORDS of our testimony…..to ”forget about our lives and not worry about “death” because we are just that….DEAD. Living sacrifices….
And I remembered the song “FOR ZION’S SAKE I WILL NOT BE SILENT, FOR JERUSALEM’S SAKE I WILL NOT BE STILL….” …..Isaiah 62…and John Michael Talbot…. and suddenly I was on my knees crying at HIS FEET. The grief I felt was tremendous. But I did not know why. THE MOST HOLY SPIRIT was weeping….. ABBA was weeping.
“ON YOUR WALLS JERUSALEM, I HAVE SET MY WATCHMEN. I HAVE ALWAYS PLACED MY WATCHMEN, ROBERT SON OF ROBERT SON OF JOSEPH SON OF LEO….”
And HE kept on and on…..AND HE STOPPED….”THE REASON I PUT MY WATCHMEN ON THE WALLS WAS NOT TO WARN MY PEOPLE BUT TO SEEK MY MERCY AND GRACE FOR A PEOPLE THAT DENIED MY NAME AND ABUSED MY WORD. NOW THE TIME OF MY WATCHMEN IS OVER.”
One again I stood over the city and watched the ARMY OF DARKNESS enter the city….
“WHY DID YOU NOT STAND AND FIGHT HERE, OLD DOG?”
It was like a jolt of electricity running through me and my grief was gone. Instead I felt a cold churning in my belly and I looked up. No longer was THE GOOD SHEPHERD standing before me, BUT THE LAMB OF GOD. Bright and Glorious. No humor in HIS EYES. With neither permission nor a ‘helping hand’ I stood before my LORD and KING and realized the TRUTH.
“I wanted that city destroyed, MASTER. I did not want to push the enemy back. I wanted Joel’s Army to destroy what was evil and perverse.” I almost spat the words out the raw anger bubbling up. I almost missed the change of reference. THE SHEPHERD had always called me “Caleb”…or ”boy” and I always enjoyed it. BUT…. MY CAPTAIN…THE LORD OF HOSTS…THE LAMB WHO ALONE IS WORTHY TO TRAMPLE THE WINEPRESS OF THE WRATH OF A HOLY GOD always calls me “OLD DOG”. Something has happened and I look at HIM wondering what has happened.
HE SMILED AND LAUGHED.
And I felt the universe shake and all creation tremble before HIM. Suddenly I understood why the heathens rage and plot vain things. they refused HIS WILL AND PURPOSE and have earned HIS HATRED AND HIS WRATH. And suddenly I was in the BREACH standing among the fallen. the pain and weariness flooded me. All around the corpses were piled. Among the multitudes of the enemy were the few who went to the BREACH. My fellow soldiers…my brothers…none whose names I had known…whose faces I could recognize. I stood there wondering…waiting for the last attack as the ARMY OF DARKNESS massed to my front and my rear. One on my left and one on my right all of three of us remained. and suddenly we were pulled up and out. but this time I “heard” THE TRUMPET and THE SHOUT….and we were snatched away from the destruction.
“YOU WERE SO FOCUSED ON THE BATTLE AT HAND YOU DID NOT HEAR THE ORDER TO EVACUATE, THE BUGLE CALL TO FALL BACK AND REGROUP.”
I know I must have looked stupid….how could I have missed it…it was so loud….so long.
“IT IS EASY TO GET A LITTLE DISTRACTED AMONG THE DEAD AND IN THE HEAT OF BATTLE. THAT IS AN EXCUSE I WANT TO HEAR. MY SERVANTS COMPLETELY GIVEN OVER TO ME. FOCUSED ON THE ISSUES THEY WERE TOLD TO BE CONCERNED ABOUT. BUT TELL ME WHERE WAS THE GREAT ARMY THAT CARRIES MY BANNER IN SONG AND DANCE TO CRUSH THE ENEMY?”
I looked at HIS GRIN and had to shake my head. I thought of Caleb and Joshua….Shamgar….David and his wilderness army….Gideon and the 300….Abram and the 318 born in HIS HOUSE and TRAINED with the sword. and I remembered the preachings and teachings and prophesies of THE GLORIOUS ARMY marching into hell for a heavenly cause….
“SORRY DOG, BUT YOU KNOW THAT ”HEAVENLY CAUSE” SONG IS FROM BROADWAY”.
I had to laugh….HE WAS RIGHT…
OF COURSE I AM RIGHT!”
I looked at HIM and HIS SMILE and HIS EYES WERE FILLED WITH LAUGHTER. and I heard that SWEET GENTLE VOICE WHISPER in my spirit. “BEHOLD THE LAMB OF GOD WHO TAKES AWAY THE SINS OF THE WORLD. BEHOLD THE LAMB WHO IS WORTHY TO OPEN THE SEALS. BEHOLD THE LAMB WHO TREADS THE WINEPRESS”.
I was a no brainer I slowly knelt down and placed my forehead to the ground at HIS FEET. The ELECTRICITY I felt before was nothing compared to this. I heard music and singing unlike anything I had ever heard. I could hear words. HOLY….KADOSH….and what was probably every language ever spoken….
HOLY….HOLY….HOLY….IS THE LORD GOD ALMIGHTY….WHO WAS ….WHO IS….WHO WILL ALWAYS BE…..
I felt a familiar touch on my head and a GENTLY LOVING VOICE….speak my name….
“SHEMUEL”
I looked up and saw ABBA’S FACE. once again the tears ran down my face as I looked upon HIM. they say you can not look at GOD and live. I wondered of all the times HE
TOOK MY HAND and WALKED WITH ME. maybe I should say I WALKED WITH HIM. once again paradox….one again I realized I did not care. thoughts were useless in HIS PRESENCE. HE REACHED OUT AND TOUCHED MY TEARS.
”WHY DO YOU WEEP SON?”, HE ASKED GENTLY.
“I’m sorry ABBA, I just do not understand.”
“I KNOW, THAT IS WHY YOU ARE HERE. FOR YOU SEE SON THE TIME OF MY WATCHMEN IS OVER. YOU HAVE FOUGHT THE GOOD FIGHT. NOW YOU JUST HAVE TO FINISH THE COURSE. YOU HAVE DONE WELL. DO NOT JUDGE YOURSELF. DO NOT ATTEMPT TO EVALUATE ANYTHING BECAUSE YOU WERE NEVER GIVEN ALL THE PIECES. JUST THE ONES WE WANTED YOU TO HAVE TO DO YOUR SERVICE. BECAUSE YOU LEARNED OF HIM YOU LEARNED TO LOVE AS MY SON YOUR LAMB LOVES. WITHOUT ANY STRINGS ATTACHED. MAN LIKES STRINGS. MAN LIKES HIS GAMES. ALL I EVER ASKED WAS FOR MAN TO OBEY. YOU OBEYED BECAUSE YOU LOVED. BECAUSE YOU WERE LOVED THE COST OF OBEDIENCE WAS NEVER CONSIDERED TO HIGH”.
I stood their in HIS THRONE ROOM. Much like Isaiah and John must have and like them I felt out of place. I thought about HIS WORDS. I wondered why THE LAMB had not spoken this. the time of HIS WATCHMEN being over was not expected. but then I remembered HIS WORDS from before. the warnings from JEREMIAH. From the PSALMS about seeking THE LORD while HE may be found.
”OPEN UP THE ANCIENT GATES” I heard from behind me as two strong HANDS grabbed my shoulders as HE SHOOK ME AND LAUGHED…
“DON’T YOU REMEMBER THE VISION OF THE THREE CITIES?” ,HE ASKED WITHOUT WAITING FOR AN ANSWER CONTINUED, “THAT WAS THE FIRST VISION OUTSIDE OF ME AND MY SHEEP THAT YOU WERE GIVEN. HAS ANYTHING CHANGED FROM THE FIRST TIME YOU WATCHED IN THE VALLEY OF VISION?”
“TELL ME OLD FRIEND WHAT TROUBLES YOU?”
I watched as SON took HIS PLACE at ABBA’S RIGHT HAND. HE GRINNED and ABBA SMILED GENTLY. What could I say. all along I had wondered if I had failed over and over. Did I get HIS MESSAGE out? Did I sound the warning….warnings? I felt like a failure in my own eyes. And as I thought these thoughts ABBA just shook HIS HEAD “NO”….HE was right I can not judge….then I heard again THE SWEET AND GENTLE VOICE OF HIS MOST HOLY SPIRIT quoting the GOSPEL….
1 And he went out from thence, and came into his own country; and his disciples follow him.
2 And when the sabbath day was come, he began to teach in the synagogue: and many hearing him were astonished, saying, From whence hath this man these things? and what wisdom is this which is given unto him, that even such mighty works are wrought by his hands?
3 Is not this the carpenter, the son of Mary, the brother of James, and Joses, and of Juda, and Simon? and are not his sisters here with us? And they were offended at him.
FIRST ABBA SPOKE….”SHEMUEL, MANY HAVE TAKEN OFFENSE AT YOU BECAUSE OF MY WORD I HAVE PLACED IN YOU. MANY STUMBLE AND FALL CURSING YOU WITH BOTH WORDS AND THOUGHTS NOT KNOWING YOU WERE MEANT TO BE A SOLID STONE IN MY HOUSE. YOU WERE MEANT TO CAUSE OFFENSE. BECAUSE I OFFEND MANY WHO DO NOT KNOW ME”.
Once again I sensed HIS GRIEF. it had nothing to do with me….I now understand. it has everything to do with whom I serve. WHOM I LOVE.
THEN THE LAMB SPOKE…”PERSONALLY I HAVE ENJOYED WHEN THE WISE AND THE MIGHTY GAG AND RETCH BECAUSE I CHOSE TO USE YOU AND THOSE WHO FAIL TO “FIT” IN. IN THEIR EYES YOU ARE INDEED FOOLISH AND WEAK. YOU HAVE NO WEALTH, NO POWER BASE, NO CONNECTIONS IN THE WORLD AS THEY SEE THEMSELVES. YOU ARE COMMON CLAY AND THEY ARE “GOLD” AND “SILVER”. LITTLE DO THEY UNDERSTAND THAT CLAY, GOLD AND SILVER ARE ALL ”EARTHEN” MATERIAL WHICH I SHAPE ACCORDING TO MY PLEASURE. ALL IT TAKES IS OBEDIENCE STEMMING FROM A BROKEN HEART AND A CONTRITE SPIRIT.”
“I PLAN TO TRAMPLE THE ARROGANT AND DESTROY THOSE WHO DEEM THEMSELVES WISE AND MIGHTY IN THEIR OWN EYES. IT WILL PLEASE ME TO USE YOU AND THOSE WHOM I HAVE CHOSEN IN MY PLEASURE”.
I stood and listened as THE LAMB SPOKE. THINGS HAD INDEED CHANGED. A “NEW THING” has begun if you look with man’s eyes. ONLY it is all there in HIS WORD.
Interesting stuff
selah
dog