Old Dog I
Back to: Yom Kippur and the Book of Life
Valley Of The Shadow
Bob Neumann
THE VALLEY OF THE SHADOW
Like so often before I was in quiet prayer and meditation when suddenly I stood in “the Valley of Vision”. Just ahead of me sat MY LORD on an escarpment of rock. In the few steps it took to walk to HIS SIDE the whole vista around us took shape and form. Seldom have I seen HIM sitting so casually looking out to the distance. Once again HE was in traveling attire, and underneath the robes where the ARMOR of THE KING OF GLORY, THE LORD OF HOSTS. I was dressed in dark work clothes, sweaty and covered with dust.
HE was looking out before us at an immense expanse of land. And as I sat to HIS left HE asked. “DO YOU KNOW WHAT IS BEFORE YOU?”.
Where we were sitting was like a great mountaintop looking down at the hills and valleys below it. The center of this landscape was a winding valley that went back and forth till it crossed the whole vista to a far, far point opposite to us which I could not see, but knew was there. Often in intercession and warfare I have been in this valley. The Valley the Shepherd/King of Israel sang about called the Valley of the SHADOW. The Valley I have known in my spirit that I would cross since I first bowed my knee to my LORD.
So I had to ask; “is it my time LORD?”. And with that gentle laughter in HIS EYES HE turned to me and said, “SORT OF”. And I found myself laughing out loud. For so long in my mind I ‘had figured things out’ and as all my vain imaginations came crashing to the ground a strange exhilaration filled my entire being. With a simple gesture HE extended HIS ARM to that point at the terminus of the VALLEY OF THE SHADOW, and in my spirit I again saw ZION. THE CITY on THE MOUNTAIN OF THE LORD. The place where my ABBA’S HOUSE is, the place my heart yearns to be.
“YES”, MY MASTER stated, “IT IS YOUR TIME OLD FRIEND, BUT I HAVE ONE FAVOR TO ASK YOU.” ”MASTER, what ever you want of me I will do.”, was my quick reply.
“I KNOW, BUT BECAUSE I CALL YOU FRIEND, YOU MUST KNOW MY PLANS.” All I could do was nod my head and HE CONTINUED. ” WHEN YOU PASS THROUGH THE VALLEY YOU WILL TAKE ALL MY SHEEP WITH YOU.”
And I felt a sudden ’emotion’ begin to well up inside me. A mixture of dread and jubilation hard to explain. And I looked into the valley and remembered all the big uglies of past encounters. And I thought of all the studies about the Armies of GOD HIS MOST HOLY SPIRIT had lead me through these past months.
“YESHUA, MY LORD?”, I had to ask. ”How far off did I get?”.
“SHEMUEL”, HE WHISPERED as HE leaned toward me. “NONE OF MY PROPHETS SAW WHAT WILL NOW TAKE PLACE ANY MORE CLEARLY THAN YOU.” and as HE moved away from me we both laughed for I knew how so wrong I was on so many things. And I immediately remembered the image of Balaam’s mule and the idea that any old donkey will do. And HE JUST LAUGHED.
As we sat and looked at the dread grayness of the valley before us I saw the ‘cities’ and strongholds on the hills that lined the valley. The place where the ten witnesses saw the Nephelim…the GIANTS in the land. After a few more moments HE stood and declared: “IT IS TIME FOR YOU TO SEE”.
And suddenly the vista changed and instead of an open countryside we were above cities and farms. Some of the cities were huge. And all looked as if they had been bombed from numerous air assaults. In the great cities the skeletal remains of what could have been skyscrapers stood up above the debris and rubble. Like the valley, the dread grayness covered a most barren land.
“THIS IS THE FUTURE OF AMERICA AND THE WORLD.”, HE began. “OF COURSE YOUR BROTHERS IN THE LANDS DISTANT FROM YOU HAVE MUCH LESS TO LOOSE THAN THE LAODICEANS BECAUSE THEY CHOSE ME OVER THEIR LUXURIES. BUT ALL WILL FEEL THE BIRTHPANGS. ALL THAT WAS BUILT UPON THE SAND WILL NOW FALL. BUT TOO MANY TEMPLES HAVE STANDING IN THEM THE ABOMINAL THING THAT MAKES THEM DESOLATE. THESE TEMPLES MUST BE PURGED, BUT NOT ALL WILL, SHEMUEL. SO YOU MUST TAKE MY SHEEP THROUGH THE FLOOD AND THE FIRE TO GOSHEN WHERE MY SHADOW WILL COVER THEM.”
It was hard to digest these WORDS and HE knew it as HE turned to me.
“Master”, I thought you said we were going to ZION?” ”MY FRIEND, ZION IS WHEREVER I AM.” as HE WHISPERED those words HIS GLORY seared through me and I fell to the ground trembling. It seemed like eternity passed me till I felt two hands lift me to my feet and strength and peace fell on and through me as I felt HIS gentle KISS on my cheek. “THE SHEEP COME FIRST” was all I heard as the vista changed.
THE SHEEP
Suddenly we were standing in a place of twilight like a deserted 4-lane highway. Once again HE was ROBED AND HOODED and now I was in a simple military style dark colored uniform. As we walked quickly we passed huge numbers of children and scattered adult sized people. Even the smallest baby was dressed in the same uniform I wore. And suddenly I sensed ABBA’S PRESENCE as I realized MY CAPTAIN was not noticeable. I have to use that terminology because HE still walked with me but no one noticed HIS PRESENCE. So I asked ABBA, “is this YOUR ARMY?”. ” YES, SON”, HE replied. “I WANT YOU TO TAKE MY CHILDREN HOME.”
One of the strangest things was the ‘quiet’ and the stillness of all this. There was no wasted noise or movement. It was like everyone knew where they were supposed to be and what they were supposed to do. I came to a point where a very large group stood waiting. In this group I recognized many faces, all much younger than in the present world. There were a few couples I recognized. But most were lone women. Many of the ‘praying’ grandmas I know as ABBA now sees them. As young women in their late teens/early twenties. I went to one couple and he had a full backpack and a rifle on his back. He embraced his wife and started to move to the far side of the group to guard the side. She put her youngest in the arms of the oldest and moved up the line to place an infant on her back and chest and a toddler holding to each hand. So the few men went to guard. All the women to carry babies. But they were so few. It seemed we had so many preteens carrying and leading toddlers. So many children.
And suddenly I was at the front of the column and MY CAPTAIN stood with me.
WALKING POINT
Around about us were 12-15 ”men”. Some were obviously male and some female but were in full battle dress. And I realized that here were the ”named” apostles/prophets over the South East US of A. I felt like I ‘knew’ most of them but this was not the time for chit chat.
As the CAPTAIN spoke our instructions all seemed to take a spot and watched as THE CAPTAIN turned to me and started to speak to me privately as HE slowly smeared chamo paint on my face and we turned and trotted off into the darkness. The other pointmen followed and the whole army moved out quietly into the VALLEY.
As we pushed ahead I sensed the presence of ANGELIC WARRIORS as we came across demonic sentries posted on the line of march. It was obvious that they knew where the army would eventually march, but it seemed to matter little for MY CAPTAIN is the MASTER OF ALL WARFARE. And each demonic position was quickly neutralized as SWORD met demon and THE WORD always is victorious.
Occasionally we came across snares and trip wires, mines and laser security. Many I could take out, but many I waited for another ‘pointman’ to catch up and take it out as I tried to get farther ahead of the army.
And then we came to a point under a large hill and a great tower on the hill. The area was surrounded by ANGELIC WARRIORS who had been waiting a long time for us. Here THE CAPTAIN stopped me and said: “THIS IS WHERE YOUR BATTLE CHANGES.” and as HE patted me on the back I went up the hill with a couple thousand Warring Angels eager for battle.
The details are not necessary except for one point. When the tower fell a principality was dispatched. Only when the demon’s head rolled I found two forms at my feet. An intact human body and a decapitated demon shortly to enter the abyss. And as I stood over this serpent seed THE MOST HOLY SPIRIT explained that I was looking at the completed counterfeit. , a flesh and blood that gave everything it had to the enemy’s cause. The terminology given at that time for all who will want to quote “WE BATTLE NOT AGAINST FLESH AND BLOOD…” is ”incidental collateral damage”.
ARRIVING AT GOSHEN
The vision was long and in some ways repetitive. But I and all the pointmen got a good instruction at the traps ahead of us. Eventually we made it to the place of safety prepared, set aside for us. Here the pointmen spread out and began to settle the children in; making place for those who would follow. ANGELIC WARRIORS stood on the walls and were scattered though the city of refuge. And I felt like we had ”made it”. Of course it was at that time MY CAPTAIN came to me and simply said, “LET’S GO!”.
And suddenly we were flying high above the landscape and below us for endless miles stretched THE CHILDREN on THE MARCH. The number was staggering. And I realized it would take as long as it took us to get to GOSHEN for them to complete the journey. And suddenly I began to understand the ”FAVOR” MY CAPTAIN was asking. And suddenly we were standing in mid air looking at the center of the darkness. At a city of literal abomination.
Once again eternity stopped as the KING OF GLORY willed it. “IT IS TIME TO COUNTERFEIT THE COUNTERFEIT, OLD DOG. TOO LONG THE DECEIVER HAS PLAYED BY HIS RULES. I CAME TO DESTROY THE WORKS OF THE ENEMY. THIS NOW TAKES PLACE ON A MOST PERSONAL MANNER. THEY WORRIED OF YOUR WOLFISH NATURE IN THE PAST. WILL THEY NOTICE THE LION THAT WAS ALWAYS THERE BELOW THE SURFACE? ”I AM RELEASING YOU AND ALL THE YOUNG LIONS TO FEED UPON THE ENEMY AND HIS SEED. TO DEVOUR THE DEVOURER. TO BE AS SLY AS ANY SERPENT AND TO APPEAR AS MEEK AS YOUNG DOVES. THE MANNA DOES NOT FALL IN GOSHEN. IT DOES NOT FALL IN CANAAN. YOU WILL BRING PROVISIONS TO GOSHEN FROM THE PALACES AND STRONGHOLDS OF EGYPT. YOU WILL TAKE THE ABUNDANCE OF CANAAN FROM THE GIANTS YOU SLAY AND THE CITIES YOU DESTROY.”
With that we looked down upon the city of abomination and HE POINTED at a palace.
THE ASSAULT
And without hesitation I simply fell. And landed in full black armor into the very throne room of hell for all I know. It was fun. Being the proverbial 900 pound gorilla is quite an interesting image as one word came through my mind and one word shouted from my mouth “RACHA” is the best I can spell it’ “FOOL”. Call it a wake up call to the prince of AMERICA. I wasn’t declaring THE WORD any more, I was swinging all six feet of it with sheer pleasure, but only the flat of the SWORD. My purposes was to humiliate and to ”count coups” if you understand the ancient American image. I came to challenge and to get everyone’s attention. I did quite well till that small gentle voice screamed at me I had better leave. My verbal assault was partly scriptural and mostly that was psalms. But there were some colorful terms I had to have picked up somewhere down the road, which I will not repeat now.
So as easily as I fell into the viper’s pit I zoomed upward with legions in hot pursuit only to come face to face with THE HOSTS OF HEAVEN. That was when things got interesting. All in all it was a costly blow to the enemy and a solid diversion for the CHILDREN. Keeping the enemy confused and diverted in the days ahead will be our job.
STANDING GUARD OVER GOSHEN
As the last demon corkscrewed down into the valley of the shadow the HOSTS OF HEAVEN turned as one and flew. In my spirit I sensed “north” but it was just discernment as much as a direction. And suddenly there was GOSHEN before me. But I did not enter because the last of the army was not yet in. so I landed nicely in the rear area where stood MY CAPTAIN with the ROD OF IRON in HIS RIGHT HAND. Quickly we came to that narrowing on the ROAD where only one man can pass easily. And I signaled the men of the rear guard to move on with the children to GOSHEN. So I had walked POINT and now I stand as the Rear Guard.
We stood quietly for awhile and MY CAPTAIN can stand quietly a very long time. So I asked, “LORD, when will the enemy be coming.” I had to figure that we were not waiting without reason. And the answer I got gave me much to ponder.
“WHEN THE BEAST PREPARES TO RISE UP AND DEVOUR MY SHEEP AND ONLY FINDS GOATS HE WILL NOT BE HAPPY”, and the SON LAUGHED as I began to hear Psalm 2 sung in my spirit. And I too had to laugh, for my FRIEND THE KING is still a TEACHER/RABBI without equal. PELE YAW’ATS.
Psalm 2:1-12
1 Why do the heathen rage, and the people imagine a vain thing?
“BECAUSE MY SHEEP ARE SAFELY IN THE SHEEPFOLD AND BEYOND THEIR GRASP”.
2 The kings of the earth set themselves, and the rulers take counsel together, against the LORD, and against his anointed, saying,
3 Let us break their bands asunder, and cast away their cords from us.
”BUT ALL THEIR PLANS AND EFFORTS WILL BE USELESS AGAINST ME AND MY ANOINTED.”
4 He that sitteth in the heavens shall laugh: the Lord shall have them in derision.
”WHAT GREATER PLEASURE CAN I HAVE THAT PLEASES MY FATHER MORE THAN HUMILIATING AND DEFEATING THE ACCUSER”.
5 Then shall he speak unto them in his wrath, and vex them in his sore displeasure.
”MY WRATH IS ABOUT TO BE POURED OUT BUT FIRST I WILL THUNDER AGAINST THOSE WHO REFUSED THEIR INVITATIONS AND IGNORED MY FATHER’S LOVE”
6 Yet have I set my king upon my holy hill of Zion.
7 I will declare the decree: the LORD hath said unto me, Thou art my Son; this day have I begotten thee.
”SOON, SHEMUEL. VERY SOON THEY WILL CRY OUT FOR THE ROCKS AND MOUNTAINS TO COVER AND HIDE THEM FROM MY FATHER’S EYES AND MY WRATH. BUT THEY CAN NOT HIDE”.
8 Ask of me, and I shall give thee the heathen for thine inheritance, and the uttermost parts of the earth for thy possession.
”THIS IS HOW YOU WILL SHELTER, CLOTH, FEED MY SHEEP. TAKE FROM THEM ALL THAT MY DEAREST ONES WILL NEED”.
9 Thou shalt break them with a rod of iron; thou shalt dash them in pieces like a potter’s vessel.
(And with these WORDS HE handed me the ROD of IRON and I began to tremble) “DID I NOT SAY I WOULD GIVE ALL AUTHORITY TO THE SERVANTS TRIED AND PROVEN WHOM I CALL FRIEND. THERE ARE NO MORE MANTLES AND OFFICES, POSITIONS AND TITLES IN MY KINGDOM EXCEPT FOR TWO. SERVANT AND STEWARD. THERE IS NO GLORY OR ACCLAIM, ONLY RESPONSIBILITY AND ACCOUNTABILITY. TOO MANY WHO SPEAK MY NAME WITHOUT SUBMITTING TO MY AUTHORITY ARE NOW BOUND FOR THE FIRE AND DO NOT EVEN KNOW IT. NOR WILL THEY HEAR ANY FURTHER WARNINGS SO THERE WILL BE NONE.”
10 Be wise now therefore, O ye kings: be instructed, ye judges of the earth.
”THE GOATS HAVE NOT BEEN WISE, THEY WOULD NOT RECEIVE INSTRUCTION. SO WHAT IS LEFT?”
11 Serve the LORD with fear, and rejoice with trembling.
12 Kiss the Son, lest he be angry, and ye perish from the way, when his wrath is kindled but a little. Blessed are all they that put their trust in him. (KJV)
”THOSE THAT CHOSE TO SERVE ME WILL CONTINUE TO DO SO. MANY WILL NOW COME FORWARD AND CARE FOR THE LITTLEST AND THE LEAST. THEY HAVE PLACED THEIR TRUST IN ME AND I WILL NEVER FORSAKE THEM. ONLY A LITTLE OF MY WRATH WOULD DESOLATE THE EARTH. SO I WILL ALLOW THE PRINCES OF EGYPT AND BABYLON TO RISE UP AGAINST AN UNFAITHFUL CHURCH. MINE ARE KNOWN BY ME EVEN IF THEY ARE STILL BOUND IN DARKNESS. I WILL SET THEM FREE IN MY OWN TIME AND IN MY OWN WILL.”
And suddenly we were above GOSHEN and all the children were safely and literally under HIS SHADOW.
THE THRONE ROOM
Once again I stood at HIS side as we made our way to ABBA. And as THE SON sat at HIS RIGHT HAND ABBA looked at me and smiled as I knelt before HIM. And the fragrance of HIS PRESENCE was sweet and gentle as HIS PEACE flooded my spirit. ”SON, I PLACE MY LITTLEST ONES IN YOUR HANDS. AS TENDER AS YOU ARE WITH THE WEAKEST AND SMALLEST, YOU MUST BE AS HARD AND RUTHLESS TO THOSE WHO DESIRE TO HARM MY PRECIOUS ONES. THIS IS NOT CRUEL IN ANY WAY. MY SPIRIT GUIDES YOU AND I HAVE GIVEN YOU MY HEART. YOU WILL KNOW THOSE WHO ARE MINE AND THOSE THAT COME TO STEAL AND DESTROY. GIVE NO QUARTER AND SHOW NO MERCY TO MY ENEMIES. ”
And suddenly I was back in the real world…. If you want to call it that.
And now it is written and let whoever has ears to hear and eyes to see judge for themselves.
SELAH MARANATHA
old dog in Goshen