What are we to do when we hear of wars and rumors of wars?
Messiah Himself prophesied of the signs that will occur and increase in both frequency and intensity before His Second Coming and the end of the world/age.
As it is today, we see a worldwide convergence of these signs like never before in history!
Matthew 24:6. You will hear of wars and rumors of wars, but see to it that you are not alarmed. These things must happen, but the end is still to come.
Aramaic Bible in Plain English
It is going to happen that you are going to hear battles and reports of wars. Take heed that you will not be troubled, for it is necessary that all these things should happen, but it will not yet be the end.
In Matthew chapter 24, Messiah describes the events leading up to His second coming and the establishment of His Kingdom on the Earth for His Millennium Kingdom. The scriptures in Revelation 5:10 New KJV
And have made us kings and priests to our God; And we shall reign on the earth. and in 2Tim. 2:12 if we endure we shall also reign with Him. as well as in 1Pet.2:9.
tell us that His chosen, will be kings and priests ruling with Him on earth.
This post is not a line by line study of all these verses in Mathew, rather a look at verse 6 wars and rumors of wars; and how we are to respond as His talmidim/disciples. Today there are many conflicting news reports of what is happening in the ongoing conflicts in Ukraine and elsewhere. This post is not a commentary on the wars in any measure, only on our response to how scripture is being fulfilled in our day and time.
We must as believers and disciples of Messiah pray earnestly for His will and plan and purpose to be established, and not what we think should be done. At times like these when distractions come and propaganda is flourishing, we should do as the disciples did and ask the Lord
what is happening,
how we should respond and
what is our role in these days.
This chapter in Matthew is doubly prophetic, in the sense that the Temple was destroyed in 70 A.D. after Messiah/Christ was resurrected and His ecclesia/called apart-ones/ church was established. However, it is also prophetic of events leading up to His return/ 2nd coming, when the Temple in Jerusalem will be rebuilt.
Jesus/Yeshua answered their questions and in all the scriptures we read He says we are:
to not be worried.
In verse 6
see that ye be not troubled:
Why?
Because our Heavenly Father knows what is happening
and what the final outcome will be.
Psalm 33:10-11 tells us clearly that:
8Let all the earth fear the Lord;
Let all the inhabitants of the world stand in awe of Him.
9For He spoke, and it was done;
He commanded, and it stood fast.
10The Lord brings the counsel of the nations to nothing;
He makes the plans of the peoples of no effect.
11The counsel of the Lord stands forever,
The plans of His heart to all generations. NKJV.
We are to look to Him, Who is the author and finisher of our faith and not to the arm of the flesh.
What does this mean for us?
It means, is He really first place in our lives?
Here in Lamentations 4 there is a great example for us.
Lamentations 4:17
New King James Version
Still our eyes failed us, Watching vainly for our help; In our watching we watched For a nation that could not save us.
Amplified Bible
[And as for us,] yet our eyes failed, Looking in vain for help. Watching [from the towers] we watched For a nation that could not save.
Aramaic Bible in Plain English
The Person of LORD JEHOVAH divided them, and he will not continue to gaze at them. Do not accept the persons of the Priests, and to the Elders do not show affection
tiḵ·le·nāh 3615
כְלֶ֣ינָה
תִּכְלֶ֣ינָה
tiḵ-le-nāh
failed
Strong’s Hebrew: 3584.
כָּחַשׁ (kachash) — to disappoint …
Definition. to disappoint, deceive, FAIL, grow lean
Lamentations 4:17
HEB: (עֹודֵ֙ינוּ֙ ק) תִּכְלֶ֣ינָה עֵינֵ֔ינוּ אֶל־
NAS: our eyes failed, [Looking] for help
KJV: As for us, our eyes as yet failed for our vain
INT: while failed our eyes to
New King James Version
Still our eyes failed us, Watching vainly for our help; In our watching we watched For a nation that could not save us.
Amplified Bible
[And as for us,] yet our eyes failed, Looking in vain for help. Watching [from the towers] we watched For a nation that could not save.
The Assyrians were ready to march on Judah and instead of turning to God for help, they, Judah, looked to the nation of Egypt to help and deliver them, yet Egypt had their own problems and would not come to help Judah. The people placed their hope of salvation in the arm of the flesh instead of the arm of the Lord.
The words..
our eyes yet failed for our help in watching…
is a sad state of affairs giving a picture of their situation.
We could say it in today’s vernacular as: our eyes have become worn out, or tired and exhausted watching for the help that never arrived.
This is reflected in our nations today.
Here in Lamentations, it is clear in what and in whom the hearts of the people were trusting; and the condition of their hearts was obvious by their behavior. We could say it’s the fruit ..it’s what is obvious for all to see.
Another Hebrew word for failed is kalah
which has the idea of:
becoming exhausted after putting
every part of your being into something.
kalah
Strongs# 3615
to be complete, at an end, finished, accomplished, or spent.
Original Word: כָּלָה
Part of Speech: Verb
Transliteration: kalah
Phonetic Spelling: kaw-law’
Kalah
hey lamed kaf
כָּלָה
KALAH: Word Origin: a prim. root
Definition: to be complete, at an end, finished, accomplished, or spent
NASB Translation
accomplish (2), accomplished (1), annihilate (1), annihilated (2), been consumed (2), been spent (1), brings to pass (1), brought (1), came to an end (1), ceased (1), come to an end (5), complete (1), completed (10), completely gone (1), completion (1), consume (6), consumed (16), decided (3), demolish (1), destroy (10), destroyed (4), destroyed them all (1), destroys (1), destruction (1), determined (1), devoured (1), died (1), end (4), ended (3), ending (1), exhausted (2), exterminated (1), fail (10), failed (1), fails (2), faints (1), feed (1), finish (6), finished (67), finishes (1), fulfill (2), languish (1), languishes (1), longed (1), make an end (1), over (1), perish (1), perishing (1), plotted (1), put an end (2), ravage (1), settled (1), spend (3), spent (5), terminate (1), use (1), used (1), vanish (2), vanishes (1), waste away (1), wastes away (1), yearned (1).
To waste away, be exhausted, fail, especially of eyes exhausted by weeping Lamentations 2:11,
strained by looking (figurative) for relief or refreshment, pine, languish Lamentations 4:17;
Kalah is like waiting for that phone call that never comes, or the letter that never arrives; today it could be the unreceived text or email that would indicate our release from a stressful situation. Both Joseph and Daniel had to wait….
It’s easy to understand that both in and relying on our own strength, we would soon be complete, at an end, finished, accomplished, or spent or exhausted.
The people of Judah were unable to trust in the God they could not see. Their faith was not in His promises and the supernatural assistance He would provide.
They chose instead to trust in the strength of Egypt to help them.
In scripture, Egypt is a type of the world and its’ systems. They put their faith in the physical/tangible help that they could see and they believed that Egypts’ physical strength would save them; and yet it did not;
it failed- kalah –them.
It is the same today, for many who call themselves Christians by name, yet only pay lip service to our Heavenly Father. This is often because they do not have a personal relationship with Him; and although they say they have faith, and trust in God, when a crisis hits, they will look for an Egypt to trust in first, one that they can see to help them.
As examples, this can be in the form of people and government aid and help.
Jesus/Yeshua said of them: ‘These people draw near to Me with their mouth, And honor Me with their lips, But their heart is far from Me. Matthew 15:8.
We must heed the warning of those who have gone before us, that if the help/deliverance is not our Fathers’ planned way of escape, then doing it our way using the arm of the flesh, it will fail.
There is a well known old song whose lyrics say:
“stand up, stand up for Jesus, stand in His strength alone, the arm of flesh will fail you, ye dare not trust your own”.
Yes, the arm of flesh will fail you.
Why?
Because as humans, we are fickle, weak, and self-serving. We have a natural tendency to look out for our own interests. It’s not that our Heavenly Father cannot or will not use people and institutions to aid us; rather it’s who we turn to and trust in first. This is clear in His Word and even warns us there is a curse for trusting in man!
Amplified Bible
Thus says the LORD, “Cursed is the man who trusts in and relies on mankind, Making [weak, faulty human] flesh his strength, And whose mind and heart turn away from the LORD.
Jeremiah 17:5 Aramaic Bible in Plain English
Thus says LORD JEHOVAH: “Cursed is the man who trusts a son of man and will make a son of flesh his arm, and from LORD JEHOVAH his heart will turn away Cursed is the man who trusts in man, and will lean his arm of flesh upon him, while his heart departs from the Lord
New King James Version
Thus says the LORD: “Cursed is the man who trusts in man And makes flesh his strength, Whose heart departs from the LORD.
2 Chronicles 32:8
With him is only the arm of flesh, but with us is the LORD our God to help us and to fight our battles.” So the people were strengthened by the words of Hezekiah king of Judah.
Psalm 118:8
It is better to take refuge in the LORD than to trust in man.
Psalm 146:3
Put not your trust in princes, in mortal man, who cannot save.
Isaiah 2:22
Put no more trust in man, who has only the breath in his nostrils. Of what account is he?
Isaiah 20:5
Those who made Cush their hope and Egypt their boast will be dismayed and ashamed.
Isaiah 30:1
“Woe to the rebellious children,” declares the LORD, “to those who carry out a plan that is not Mine, who form an alliance, but against My will, heaping up sin upon sin.
The words: in vain…
Amplified Bible
[And as for us,] yet our eyes failed,
Looking in vain for help.
– indicates: without any answer –
The word vain comes from vanity, which we associate with pride.
Proverbs 16:18 warns us that
Pride goes before destruction, a haughty spirit before a fall.
First pride, then the crash –
the bigger the ego, the harder the fall.
Trusting in the arm of flesh
is simply
trusting in human natural strength.
There is so much arm of the flesh available today, in the various arms of government which offer support; that people don’t need faith in God, and many simply feel entitled to all the governments so named ‘free’ handouts. These are not free as they are only available from the population who pay taxes on their earnings.
The scripture says we are to:
trust in the Lord.
WHY?
because this world and it systems have an expiration date.
Who and what do we look to for help in a crisis?
To whom do we turn first?
Whose name is the first one on our lips?
Of course we are to help each other, but as David said:
I look to the hills whence cometh my help?
and David qualified it precisely:
My help comes from the Lord which made heaven and earth.
Psalm 121:1-2
With all the negative news swirling around us and the uncertainties of what may happen next we are
not to be alarmed.
Don’t be troubled family.
He knows all these things are happening and is allowing them to proceed in order for all things to be fulfilled, according to His prophetic word.
Luke 21:28 And when these things begin to come to pass, then look up, and lift up your heads; for your redemption draweth nigh.
Our Heavenly Father is in control, no one or anything else is, whatever they may believe or tell us. The battle is spiritual first and we see the outworking in the natural realm.
But not a single sparrow can fall to the ground without your Father knowing it. And the very hairs on your head are all numbered. So don’t be afraid; you are more valuable to God than a whole flock of sparrows. Matthew 10:29-31
Nothing happens without our Fathers’ acknowledgment and agreement, it’s all in His prophetic timing.
As Yeshua/Jesus said, you could have arrested Me anytime but this is the hour given to you according to Gods plan.
When Jesus was arrested, He said to them, “This is your hour—when darkness reigns”. Luke 22:53.
Every day of Me being with you in the temple, you did not stretch out the hands against Me; but this is your hour, and the power of the darkness.”
Then Jesus said to the chief priests, temple officers, and elders who had come for Him, “Have you come out with swords and clubs as you would against an outlaw? 53 Every day I was with you in the temple courts, and you did not lay a handon Me. But this hour belongs to you and to the power of darkness.” 54Then they seized Jesus, led Him away, and took Him into the house of the high priest.
Aramaic Bible in Plain English
I was with you every day in The Temple and you did not stretch forth your hands against me, but this is your hour and of the Prince of Darkness.”
The reason is clear, the darkness is given its’ allocated hour/time..but only for a short season as our Heavenly Father allows.
Amplified Bible
The LORD has made everything for its own purpose, Even the wicked [according to their role] for the day of evil.
1 And Jesus went out, and departed from the temple: and his disciples came to him for to shew him the buildings of the temple.
2 And Jesus said unto them, See ye not all these things? verily I say unto you, There shall not be left here one stone upon another, that shall not be thrown down. 3 And as he sat upon the mount of Olives, the disciples came unto him privately, saying, Tell us, when shall these things be? and what shall be the sign of thy coming, and of the end of the world? 4 And Jesus answered and said unto them, Take heed that no man deceive you.
5 For many shall come in my name, saying, I am Christ; and shall deceive many. 6 And ye shall hear of wars and rumours of wars:
see that ye be not troubled:
for all these things must come to pass, but the end is not yet.
This has happened all throughout the church age, the age of grace, and is not the only signs of the end. However, with a search you’ll see many rumors in news articles that line up with the rest of the verses.
7 For nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom: and there shall be famines, and pestilences, and earthquakes, in divers places.
Pestilence can mean any plague/virus or natural disaster that disrupts normal life or way of living.
8 All these are the beginning of sorrows (birth pains).
verses 7-8 are specific signs of the second coming, and they are similar to birth pains as they increase in intensity and frequency.
9 Then shall they deliver you up to be afflicted, and shall kill you: and ye shall be hated of all nations for my name’s sake.
10 And then shall many be offended, and shall betray one another, and shall hate one another.
11 And many false prophets shall rise, and shall deceive many.
12 And because iniquity shall abound, the love of many shall wax cold.
13 But he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved.
14 And this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations; and then shall the end come.
Nothing is a surprise or shock to Him.
This is why we are to
Trust in the Lord with all thine heart
Aramaic Bible in Plain English
Hope in LORD JEHOVAH from your whole heart and do not trust upon the wisdom of your soul.
Amplified Bible
Trust in and rely confidently on the LORD with all your heart And do not rely on your own insight or understanding.
New King James Version
Trust in the LORD with all your heart, And lean not on your own understanding;
Keep our eyes on the Lord keep our hearts open to our Heavenly Father as He leads and directs us and keep our words in line with His. Don’t focus on the negative things that fight our faith, but on those things that increase and sustain it which are listed in Phil. 4:8.
Not only on what but more importantly WHO
is true, noble, just, pure, lovely, and worthy of praise, we are to think on things that are of excellence. We are to think of our loving Heavenly Father, our Savior Who is full of mercy and truth, He is worth thinking and meditating on continuously. This faith this trust, of an absolute certainty, will never fail – kalah us.
Joshua 21:45 Not one of all the LORD’s good promises to the house of Israel had failed; everything was fulfilled.
and Joshua 23:14 And now I am about to go the way of all the earth, and you know in your hearts and souls, all of you, that not one word has failed of all the good things that the LORD your God promised concerning you. All have come to pass for you; not one of them has failed.
Romans 9:6 Theirs are the patriarchs, and from them proceeds the human descent of Christ, who is God over all, forever worthy of praise! Amen. 6 It is not as though God’s word has failed.
Amplified Bible
However, it is not as though God’s word has failed [coming to nothing].
Numbers 23:19
God is not a man, that He should lie, or a son of man, that He should change His mind. Does He speak and not act? Does He promise and not fulfill?
It’s time to rise up, by forging deep roots in Him, for He is our strength and our salvation.
We are to build inner faith 1Samuel 17:36 strong in the inner man. He builds us up from the inside out where no one but Himself can see the progress. It is a pattern, a blueprint, used over and over in all His courageous Saints, who became great warriors and who won great victories.
Are we daily building inner faith?
David is one we easily recall. As a youth he was given charge over his fathers’ sheep, tending the flock making sure they were fed, watered; and protected from predators and enemies that would harm them and seek to kill, steal and destroy.
He killed the lion and the bear. Developing great courage and tactics of a fight that proved victorious; then when the giant Goliath challenged, he moved unflinchingly to confront this uncircumcised Philistine.
That which had been tested and tried when he was alone and no one had witnessed but God; became very evident to everyone present, in this moment of national crisis. It was said David was, above his fellows, and it was in this area of faith in his God; and the courage developed through experience, that his God would be his strength and work victory for him. Secret training through tests and trials, developed the secret faith, which had its’ moments of open revelation. It is our Heavenly Fathers’ Way. We are to build faith from the lesser challenges and it will be the measure of our deliverance and victory in the times of need.
Shalom Shalom Family…
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