I have gone astray

Psalm 95:1 O come, let us sing unto the LORD: let us make a joyful noise to the rock of our salvation. 2
Let us come before his presence with thanksgiving, and make a joyful noise unto him with psalms. 3 For
the LORD is a great God, and a great King above all gods.

Greetings to all, and especially to my brothers and sisters in Christ,

Happy (Blessed) Thanksgiving...

What brings "happy thanksgiving" to a child of GOD's heart? Well, everything that GOD Provides for
one of HIS children ought to bring "happy thanksgiving." I am very thankful that by HIS Grace, GOD is
making me more thankful for all that HE has provided for me. Everything from a warm little house (along
with HIS Helping me to take care of things around this warm little house to keep it warm and dry, etc.), a
beautiful chubby chihuahua, a few good friends, always something to eat (physical and Spiritual Food),
family... and above all, HIS So Great Salvation, and a Greater Love for HIM by the Work of HIS Son
Jesus in me, and also for HIS Correction by HIS Word (and countless other "Benefits" HE has Provided
and Done for me as well).

Psalm 116:12 What shall I render unto the LORD for all his benefits toward me? 13 I will take the cup of
salvation, and call upon the name of the LORD. 14 I will pay my vows unto the LORD now in the
presence of all his people. 15 Precious in the sight of the LORD is the death of his saints. 16 O LORD,
truly I am thy servant; I am thy servant, and the son of thine handmaid: thou hast loosed my bonds. 17 I
will offer to thee the sacrifice of thanksgiving, and will call upon the name of the LORD. 18 I will pay my
vows unto the LORD now in the presence of all his people, 19 In the courts of the LORD'S house, in the
midst of thee, O Jerusalem. Praise ye the LORD.

GOD has been Blessing me with a greater understanding that HE is very pleased to see a thankful heart
in HIS children. This is the "offering" HE desires to see us bringing to HIM. HE brings
thankfulness/thanksgiving to our hearts with all of HIS Benefits toward us, and then we bring It back to
HIM... as the "sacrifice of thanksgiving."

GOD doesn't want us to sacrifice or offer anything else, but a broken and contrite heart, thankful for
what HE has done for us (HIS True children).

Psalm 40:6 Sacrifice and offering thou didst not desire; mine ears hast thou opened: burnt offering and
sin offering hast thou not required.

Psalm 51:15 O Lord, open thou my lips; and my mouth shall shew forth thy praise. 16 For thou desirest
not sacrifice; else would I give it: thou delightest not in burnt offering. 17 The sacrifices of God are a
broken spirit: a broken and a contrite heart, O God, thou wilt not despise. 18 Do good in thy good
pleasure unto Zion: build thou the walls of Jerusalem. 19 Then shalt thou be pleased with the sacrifices
of righteousness, with burnt offering and whole burnt offering: then shall they offer bullocks upon thine
altar.

One of those "bullocks" is you, if you are one of HIS children and have that Broken and Contrite Heart of
Christ. Yes, really it is Christ in you, but if you are GOD's child, Christ is in you, and you are
"inseparable" and so HE offers HIMself in you to GOD's Glory...

Romans 12:1 I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a
living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.

Remember, we can't do This. Christ must Do It in us. Even though It is "our reasonable service" and
what ought to be done by a child of GOD. Even a child of GOD indwelt by GOD's Holy Spirit (Christ)
can do nothing without Jesus Doing It for them. This cannot be stressed enough...

Philippians 2:13 For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure.

John 15:5 I (Jesus) am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same
bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing.

Isaiah 26:12 LORD, thou wilt ordain peace for us: for thou also hast wrought all our works in us.

So by God's Mercy Jesus Christ our LORD and Saviour works in HIS children to do HIS Good Pleasure
in us. HE is the One "working out our own Salvation" in us with fear and trembling. We can't do That.
HE must do It. Reading both verses below, we see that GOD Tells us plainly that it is GOD Doing this
Work (yes, all our works in us, Isaiah 26:12).

Philippians 2:12 Wherefore, my beloved, as ye have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but
now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling. 13 For it is God
which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure.

Nothing to boast about aye?

Right, Nothing.

Happy Thanksgiving. "Thank You Father for Doing everything that must be done, by Your Son. Thank
You for Letting HIM have HIS Way with Your people."

A dear sister once told me that she always looked for Christ first in the Bible, and then would consider
how what she was reading applied to her. When she told me this i really appreciated her words, but i
didn't have a "good handle" on "The Reality" of what she shared. Even though i knew Jesus Christ IS
The Word of God, seems i was still "trying" to "do the Doing" that God Commands us to do as i would
read in HIS Word. I have learned since then by GOD's Mercy, that only HE can Do these Commands in
me. Even up until recently i had a very wrong understanding of this Wonderful Truth. My incorrect
understanding disallowed me from seeing Jesus Christ for Who HE Really is, in HIS Word. I had a lot to
learn and still do, but GOD by HIS Grace, has Corrected a lot of my wrong understanding, and HE has
really been Blessing me with "Seeing Jesus" everywhere in the Bible now.

Has HE been doing this with you also? Please consider the following...

Psalm 20:1 {To the chief Musician, A Psalm of David.} The LORD hear thee in the day of trouble; the
name of the God of Jacob defend thee; 2 Send thee help from the sanctuary, and strengthen thee out of
Zion; 3 Remember all thy offerings, and accept thy burnt sacrifice; Selah. 4 Grant thee according to
thine own heart, and fulfil all thy counsel.

Although we may think that GOD is Speaking of one of HIS many children in these verses, did you know
that GOD is Really Talking about GOD here? This is GOD's Word Speaking of HIS Son Jesus Christ.
We have learned that it is only Christ that the Father hears; it is HIM Crying out to the Father in HIS
children for them (Galatians 4:6). Christ is the One Whose Offerings and Burnt Sacrifice is acceptable.
True, by God's Mercy HIS Burnt Sacrifice is my Burnt Sacrifice, but... What do we have to offer of
ourselves? Well, as we learn from HIS Word... "Thanksgiving." Next, i don't want GOD to "grant me
according to my own heart." Foolish as i can be? No way. You also my friend. We may think we know
what's best, but not quite. This can only be Speaking of Jesus Christ, The Wonderful One, The
Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace (Isaiah 9:6).

I want HIS Counsel to be fulfilled in me, for my best and to HIS Glory, don't you? HE only Knows what is
Best. Regarding "Big Things" and "little things."

This is confirmed as we read the next verse in Psalm 20 (as "we" - GOD's elect enter the Picture)...

Psalm 20:5 We will rejoice in thy salvation, and in the name of our God we will set up our banners: the
LORD fulfil all thy petitions.

"...all Thy (LORD Jesus) petitions."

Yes, That is Speaking of the LORD Jesus' Petitions. The Petitions of our Intercessor Who Prays to the
Father for us. The One Whose Salvation we rejoice in. The One "we" are "talking about" as we "pray"
This Psalm, This Verse.

To have HIS Counsel and Petitions fulfilled in us by HIS Son is truly Something to be Thankful for (and
something to behold!). As God Works in us to submit to HIM by HIS Spirit, we can - and will - be very
happy and thankful to see HIM Work This in us. To see This happening by HIM in our lives is a
Tremendous Blessing. We can know HIS will, yes... "The Counsel of Christ" as we continue to "learn in
silence" by HIS Grace, in subjection to our King, and let HIM Do the Doing for us. This is really the only
way This Blessing will be "realized." As we "step aside" and let GOD Do as HE wills in us. As HE keeps
us focused on HIM and resting in HIM and HIS Doing.

There are those who talk about "Messianic Psalms" etc. as though only certain passages are Speaking
of Christ. They are wrong, and their understanding is very limited. To them i would like to say... The
whole Bible is "Messianic." The whole Bible is Talking about Jesus! Keep it simple and may GOD Help
us to forget so many things we were wrongly taught in the past. Like that sister shared, we should
always be looking for Christ in HIS Word, for HE is There, and Desires to Make HIMself Known unto HIS
children. I have experienced, and i believe This comes with "growing in Grace," that as God continues
to make me to grow in HIM i do see Jesus more and more as i read and study HIS Word. Words of
GOD that used to be a "burden" to me are now a "Joy" as i know all of God's Commandments have been
fulfilled for me in Christ. I am very Thankful to HIM for This, and Praise HIM for It! With this growth, by
HIS Grace, HE is also showing me HIMself outside of HIS Word, in my daily life and in HIS creation, like
never before.

2 Peter 3:18 But grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. To him be
glory both now and for ever. Amen.

In this study, i would like to look at one of the Blessings that GOD imparts to all of HIS True children, for
which we all should be very, very Thankful and happy to receive...

Correction:

As God continues to Guide HIS people into all Truth, as we grow in Grace, there will be Correction. Oh
how thankful we should be when HE Corrects us of wrong understanding, of error. This is a "tell-tale"
sign of a child of GOD. According to HIS Word we can see that this is going on today, and GOD is
actually doing a "Marvellous Work" today in this regard.

Let's look at how a child of GOD can err, but let's also look at how GOD Corrects them. Let's also
consider how this applies to us today regarding the "Marvellous Work" GOD is doing.

Psalm 119:176 I have gone astray like a lost sheep; seek thy servant; for I do not forget thy
commandments.

The Hebrew Word rendered "gone astray" is a very good Word to look at. There are about fifty
occurrences. Our LORD may Bless you with a good understanding of Correction as you study this
Word which Speaks of "erring." We will only look at a couple of those occurrences here.

First, another (well known) "lost sheep" passage where this Word is found, which ought to "stir a
thankful soul" as we consider what Christ has Done for us (HIS saved lost sheep)...

Isaiah 53:1 Who hath believed our report? and to whom is the arm of the LORD revealed? 2 For he
shall grow up before him as a tender plant, and as a root out of a dry ground: he hath no form nor
comeliness; and when we shall see him, there is no beauty that we should desire him. 3 He is despised
and rejected of men; a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief: and we hid as it were our faces from
him; he was despised, and we esteemed him not. 4 Surely he hath borne our griefs, and carried our
sorrows: yet we did esteem him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted. 5 But he was wounded for our
transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with
his stripes we are healed. 6 All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own
way; and the LORD hath laid on him the iniquity of us all. 7 He was oppressed, and he was afflicted, yet
he opened not his mouth: he is brought as a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before her shearers
is dumb, so he openeth not his mouth. 8 He was taken from prison and from judgment: and who shall
declare his generation? for he was cut off out of the land of the living: for the transgression of my people
was he stricken. 9 And he made his grave with the wicked, and with the rich in his death; because he
had done no violence, neither was any deceit in his mouth. 10 Yet it pleased the LORD to bruise him;
he hath put him to grief: when thou shalt make his soul an offering for sin, he shall see his seed, he shall
prolong his days, and the pleasure of the LORD shall prosper in his hand. 11 He shall see of the travail
of his soul, and shall be satisfied: by his knowledge shall my righteous servant justify many; for he shall
bear their iniquities. 12 Therefore will I divide him a portion with the great, and he shall divide the spoil
with the strong; because he hath poured out his soul unto death: and he was numbered with the
transgressors; and he bare the sin of many, and made intercession for the transgressors.

Praise GOD for So Great Salvation and such a Wonderful Saviour!

In both Psalm 119:176 and Isaiah 53:6 we see GOD's elect "lost sheep." Notice in Psalm 119:176 we
see the statement:

"...seek thy servant; for I do not forget thy commandments."

Can you see Christ here? Yes, we see Christ crying out in the child of GOD, our Wonderful Intercessor
Speaking for us. It is HE Who does not forget GOD's Commandments, for HE is "The Word of God."
We ourselves can and do forget HIS Commandments. Yet HE makes This True for us, because HE is
with us. Emmanuel (Matthew 1:21-23). HE is our Saviour, The One who Does what we can't Do. Also,
as we see "Thy servant," we should also think of Christ, because HE is GOD's only True Servant, and
thankfully, HE indwells each of GOD's "True servants" (HIS elect who have been made "True" because
of Christ).

What about the first part of this verse?

"I have gone astray like a lost sheep;"

Can we say this is also Speaking of Christ? Would that be wrong to think that Christ had ever gone
astray? No, that would not be wrong, because HE did "go astray" (not in the sense of "erring" but in the
Fact that HE took all of our sins (elect) upon HIMself which we read about in Isaiah 53). HE is GOD and
cannot err, but as the "Lamb of GOD" HE took upon HIMself all of the errors, all of the sins of HIS
people.

And so the Son cries out to the Father on behalf of all of HIS elect lost sheep...

Psalm 119:176 I have gone astray like a lost sheep; seek thy servant; for I do not forget thy
commandments.

As we look more at this Word Strong's #8582 (Hebrew), by GOD's Grace we find more of what HE has
already been Showing us in HIS Word. The Word has to do with "being deceived." If our LORD allows,
please look at some of those occurrences. Some of the places where it is found: Proverbs 7:25, 10:17,
12:26, 21:16, Isaiah 3:12, 9:16, 19:13,14. Yes, thankfully by God's Grace we also see much in HIS
Word about HIS Granting of Repentance and Correction to HIS people (who have been deceived).

The test for today from God Almighty is... Have you received HIS Correction? Are you receiving HIS
Correction? Or in your pride, is your heart hardened toward God?

GOD is Doing a "Marvellous Work and a Wonder" today:

God is Doing a "Marvellous Work and a Wonder" today, while HE brings Correction to HIS True people,
but Delusion to those who are not HIS True people. What we (GOD's True people) are seeing is
something truly amazing, and HE gives us much Direction in HIS Word as to what we are to do (Yes,
Christ will Guide us, and HE will "fulfil all HIS Counsel" in us). It is a True "Wonder" to behold, Done by
the Hand of Almighty GOD, as by HIS Grace HE is giving discernment (and "understanding of the
vision") to HIS True people (while Deluding those who are not HIS).

We read about This in Isaiah 29...

Isaiah 29:1 Woe to Ariel, to Ariel, the city where David dwelt! add ye year to year; let them kill sacrifices.
2 Yet I will distress Ariel, and there shall be heaviness and sorrow: and it shall be unto me as Ariel. 3
And I will camp against thee round about, and will lay siege against thee with a mount, and I will raise
forts against thee. 4 And thou shalt be brought down, and shalt speak out of the ground, and thy
speech shall be low out of the dust, and thy voice shall be, as of one that hath a familiar spirit, out of the
ground, and thy speech shall whisper out of the dust.

By GOD's Grace as we look at Isaiah 29, we can learn a lot about what GOD is doing today. In the
above passage we see GOD uses "Ariel" as a name for HIS corporate people (just like "Jerusalem,"
"Judah," "Egypt," etc.). Notice it is the "city where David (Christ) dwelt!" (but no more; HE has
Departed). Notice the Strong Language GOD uses; how HE is "against" this city. HIS Judgment is
upon this "people." Notice verse four; GOD Speaks about the "speech" of this "city," and HE has some
"hard sayings" about their "speech." GOD Says...

"Thy voice shall be, as of one that hath a familiar spirit, out of the ground, and thy speech shall whisper
out of the dust."

The Word "whisper" is also rendered "peep." This brought me to a related passage where GOD Speaks
of the same "Marvellous Work and Wonder." HIS Language about their speech is definitely "Not Good"
and GOD is letting us know that their "speech" is not HIS Speech. That is for sure. The LORD willing
we will look at that other passage also (Isaiah 8:5-22). For now let's continue here in Isaiah 29. Notice
also that God Says at the beginning of verse four...

"And thou shalt be brought down, and shalt speak out of the ground, and thy speech shall be low out of
the dust,"

..."brought down;" this Word also means "humbled" or "abased." Another occurrence of that Word...

Psalm 18:26 With the pure thou wilt shew thyself pure; and with the froward thou wilt shew thyself
froward. 27 For thou wilt save the afflicted people; but wilt bring down high looks.

So we see that GOD is "abasing the proud," in Isaiah 29, yes, those with "high looks." Notice that GOD
Says twice that they will speak, or their voice... will be "out of the ground." The Word "ground" is the
Word usually rendered "land," and "earth" (Strong's #776, Hebrew) which at times GOD uses to speak
of HIS corporate people. In this passage it might seem to speak of the land of HIS corporate people
("Arial," or "Jerusalem," etc), and really it does speak of that "land" (from whence HIS True people are to
depart). Notice however, that GOD provides more information. HE also uses the Word "dust," and HE
Tells us that their "speech shall whisper (peep) out of the dust." "Thy speech shall be low out of the
dust." The Word "dust" is the same Word used by GOD in the creation account, as is the Word
"ground/earth." Thus, GOD seems to be letting us know that the "speech" of HIS corporate people
(today) is coming out of the "earth," or the "dust" of the earth. Man was made from the dust of the earth,
and so without the "Spritual Birth" his "speech" will be "earthy" instead of Spiritual. Yes, these are those
spoken of by GOD as a "natural man," those who receive not the Things of GOD, including HIS
Instruction and Correction...

1 Corinthians 2:14 But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are
foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.

GOD tells us about the "wisdom" of the natural man, and that it is "earthly"...

James 3:14 But if ye have bitter envying and strife in your hearts, glory not, and lie not against the truth.
15 This wisdom descendeth not from above, but is earthly, sensual, devilish. 16 For where envying and
strife is, there is confusion and every evil work.

This is very helpful to consider as we continue in Isaiah 29, picking up in verse nine...

Isaiah 29:9 Stay yourselves, and wonder; cry ye out, and cry: they are drunken, but not with wine; they
stagger, but not with strong drink. 10 For the LORD hath poured out upon you the spirit of deep sleep,
and hath closed your eyes: the prophets and your rulers, the seers hath he covered. 11 And the vision
of all is become unto you as the words of a book that is sealed, which men deliver to one that is learned,
saying, Read this, I pray thee: and he saith, I cannot; for it is sealed: 12 And the book is delivered to him
that is not learned, saying, Read this, I pray thee: and he saith, I am not learned.

Notice what GOD Says in verse eleven:

"And the vision of all is become unto you (natural man) as the words of a book that is sealed..."

This doesn't mean that those who the Book is sealed to (natural man, those who don't have
understanding), when asked by someone to share Truth from GOD's Word, will just sit down and say...

"I cannot; for it is sealed: (to me, for i am but a natural man without understanding of the vision)"

or:

"I am not learned."

No! Pride is much Bigger than that! Pride will not allow such a response, especially from a "natural
man" who by his dead nature is proud, thinking he is "wise," (since HE hasn't been "broken" by GOD,
and "quickened" by HIS Spirit). The natural man is against GOD, and he will stand against GOD using
GOD's own Word. And he will be "swift to speak" his foolish mind. He is deceived. He is a "woman"
who is usurping The Man (Christ)'s Authority.

Yes, these men are "drunken." "The LORD hath poured upon them the spirit of deep sleep and hath
closed their eyes." Of course they have a form of "godliness" (2 Tim 3:5), and so to the "untrained eye"
they will appear to be True children of GOD. But by GOD's Provision, the True children of GOD have
"trained eyes" to discern, and as GOD Says in 2 Timothy 3:5, we are to "turn away from them." Yes,
This is our Father's Direction my dear brothers and sisters in Christ. Not mine, HIS. Jesus Christ HIS
Son will Work in us to Do This in HIS children.

Hence, the "Marvellous Work and a Wonder"...

Isaiah 29:13 Wherefore the Lord said, Forasmuch as this people draw near me with their mouth, and
with their lips do honour me, but have removed their heart far from me, and their fear toward me is
taught by the precept of men: 14 Therefore, behold, I will proceed to do a marvellous work among this
people, even a marvellous work and a wonder: for the wisdom of their wise men shall perish, and the
understanding of their prudent men shall be hid.

By GOD's Grace, HE is Showing HIS True children the Work HE is doing today. HE is Correcting HIS
people of error, while Deluding HIS corporate people. This is a Tremendous, Awesome, "Supernatural,"
Spiritual Wonder at all times, when Almighty GOD Corrects one of HIS people by HIS Word. The same
is True when HE sends Delusion. Today, however, apparently since we are right close to the True Day
of Judgment, and GOD is pouring out HIS Spirit upon HIS True people, GOD Speaks of This as a
"Marvellous Work and a Wonder."

My dear brothers and sisters in Christ, This Prophecy is being fulfilled today before our eyes. GOD is
Speaking of the Strong Delusion HE has sent upon HIS corporate people. As we have been seeing by
HIS Grace however, HE is also imparting Correction to HIS True people, and with HIS Correction, more
understanding from HIS Word by HIS Spirit, to "see the vision." What we are beholding is a "horror"
indeed (Psalm 119:53), but it is also an Awesome Wonder for GOD's True children. It is a "Marvellous
Work" for which we ought to Thank HIM with Psalms of Praise (1 Chronicles 16:7-36).

1 Chronicles 16:7 Then on that day David delivered first this psalm to thank the LORD into the hand of
Asaph and his brethren. 8 Give thanks unto the LORD, call upon his name, make known his deeds
among the people. 9 Sing unto him, sing psalms unto him, talk ye of all his wondrous works. 10 Glory
ye in his holy name: let the heart of them rejoice that seek the LORD. 11 Seek the LORD and his
strength, seek his face continually. 12 Remember his marvellous works that he hath done, his wonders,
and the judgments of his mouth; 13 O ye seed of Israel his servant, ye children of Jacob, his chosen
ones. 14 He is the LORD our God; his judgments are in all the earth.

Be of Good Cheer. Offer the "sacrifice of thanksgiving" unto our LORD. HE is Worthy. HE is Good and
Doeth Good (all the time... Psalm 119:68). HIS Righteousness is an Everlasting Righteousness, and
HIS Law is the Truth. Psalm 119:142. HE never Did Wrong and never will. HE Always Does Right.

Sadly, for them who "have not (Christ)," and yet Thankfully and Wonderfully for us who do have HIM, it
appears we are living in the Day when GOD is "taking away that which "they" seemed to have..."

Luke 8:16 No man, when he hath lighted a candle, covereth it with a vessel, or putteth it under a bed;
but setteth it on a candlestick, that they which enter in may see the light. 17 For nothing is secret, that
shall not be made manifest; neither any thing hid, that shall not be known and come abroad. 18 Take
heed therefore how ye hear: for whosoever hath, to him shall be given; and whosoever hath not, from
him shall be taken even that which he seemeth to have.

Yes, these "who hath not" would be the "natural men" who never did have Christ after all. These "who
hath" are those who have Christ, and in these last days GOD is imparting not only Correction, but much
Understanding from HIS Word, which is hidden from those who "hath not."

Now briefly to that parallel passage in Isaiah 8...

Isaiah 8:16 Bind up the testimony, seal the law among my disciples. 17 And I will wait upon the LORD,
that hideth his face from the house of Jacob, and I will look for him.

GOD (Christ HIMself, our Master/Teacher) hides HIS Face from the house of Jacob (HIS corporate
people, those who "hath not" Christ), but HE "binds up" the Testimony, and "seals" the Law among HIS
disciples (HIS True children, yes those "who hath Christ," the ones who learn from Christ, and receive
HIS Correction, sometimes with our Father's Loving Chastisement, sometimes sore and often grievous,
but always Good - Hebrews 12:5-13). See how GOD "takes away" that which HIS corporate people
have seemed to have? HE hides HIS Face so that they cannot see HIM. HE causes "the wisdom of
their wise men to perish, and the understanding of their prudent men to be be hid." (Isaiah 29:14) HE
"sends them strong delusion, that they should believe a lie: That they all might be damned who believed
not the truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness." (2 Thes 2:11,12).

At the same time, Christ HIMself "waits upon and looks for the LORD" for us. That's the only Reason i
understand what i understand in HIS Word, and if you are HIS child, That's the same only Reason you
understand what you understand in HIS Word. Remember Psalm 20:4? The Father is Granting Christ
according to HIS Own Counsel for you and for me, and for all of HIS children. Yes, even for those who
are not HIS True children. HE is LORD of all.

Now, let's look at some other Things GOD has to Say in Isaiah 8...

Isaiah 8:9 Associate (evil) yourselves, O ye people, and ye shall be broken in pieces; and give ear, all
ye of far countries: gird yourselves, and ye shall be broken in pieces; gird yourselves, and ye shall be
broken in pieces. 10 Take counsel together, and it shall come to nought; speak the word, and it shall
not stand: for God is with us. (elect, not with them "who hath not")

Yes, the Word "associate" is usually rendered "evil" or "evildoer" and has everything to do with
"wickedness." Does not verse ten make you think of what GOD has just brought us through and how
the bad counsel (heresies) that we ourselves took part in have come to nought. Yes, the heresies which
came out of the minds of men (women teachers).

Next verse; Praise GOD for HIS Correction, and notice our Dear Father's Direction once again to "turn
away from the heretics" (2 Tim 3:1-7; verse 5) who continue to hold to the lies in the "fire" that God has
been pulling HIS True people out of...

Isaiah 8:11 For the LORD spake thus to me with a strong hand, and instructed me that I should not walk
in the way of this people, saying,

Note: The Word "instructed" is usually rendered "chastise." It is also rendered "instructed" in the
following verse, which i must share, where GOD sure Speaks to me about the "pit" (fire) HE pulled me
out of...

Deuteronomy 4:36 Out of heaven he made thee to hear his voice, that he might instruct thee: and upon
earth he shewed thee his great fire; and thou heardest his words out of the midst of the fire.

Have you been hearing HIS Words out of the midst of the fire dear brother, dear sister? If so, i am
rejoicing with you by HIS Grace (and offering the "sacrifice of thanksgiving" with you in HIM).

Deuteronomy 8:5 Thou shalt also consider in thine heart, that, as a man chasteneth his son, so the
LORD thy God chasteneth thee.

Here the Word is rendered "chasteneth" twice.

Now continuing in Isaiah 8...

Notice the next verse in Isaiah 8, which shows the separation of GOD's True people from the "false
brethren" (who were "brought in unawares" and "that brought us into bondage:" "to whom we are to give
no place, that the Truth of the Gospel might continue in us." (Galatians 2:4,5)

Isaiah 8:12 Say ye not, A confederacy ("conspiracy, treason"), to all them to whom this people shall say,
A confederacy; neither fear ye their fear, nor be afraid.

We were a part of the "conspiracy" ("treason") but may we be no more my brethren.

Isaiah 8:13 Sanctify the LORD of hosts himself; and let him be your fear, and let him be your dread. 14
And he shall be for a sanctuary; but for a stone of stumbling and for a rock of offence to both the houses
of Israel, for a gin and for a snare to the inhabitants of Jerusalem.

Praise GOD for the Work HE is doing. As HE is Binding the "tares" for the burning, HE is also
Delivering and Keeping HIS "wheat" safely in HIS "Barn" (Matthew 13:30), warm and dry in the cloudy
and dark day (Ezekiel 34:12), in this "time of harvest" (Matthew 13:30). All by HIS Son, The True Word
of GOD.

Next, we find a verse where GOD Speaks of "false shepherds catching men." This would be all of those
who do not have Christ so that they are without a Love (and discernment) of the Truth.

Isaiah 8:15 And many among them shall stumble, and fall, and be broken, and be snared, and be taken.

Then back to verse sixteen. The LORD Jesus HIMself Speaking...

Isaiah 8:16 Bind up the testimony, seal the law among My disciples. 17 And I will wait upon the LORD,
that hideth his face from the house of Jacob, and I will look for him.

The Saviour "Doing the Doing" for HIS people. HE will wait upon the LORD in HIS people (because we
can't of ourselves).

The Saviour Who Hides HIS Face from HIS corporate people (who think they have everything "all
figured out" but they are really under HIS Delusion).

The LORD Jesus continues Speaking...

Isaiah 8:18 Behold, I (Christ) and the children whom the LORD hath given me are for signs and for
wonders in Israel from the LORD of hosts, which dwelleth in mount Zion.

Now we come to the "wizards" (these are the "false shepherds" of our day who have been ruling GOD's
people with force and cruelty - Ezekiel 34:4)...

Isaiah 8:19 And when they shall say unto you, Seek unto them that have familiar spirits, and unto
wizards that peep, and that mutter: should not a people seek unto their God? for the living to the dead?
20 To the law and to the testimony: if they speak not according to this word, it is because there is no
light in them.

This brings us back to Isaiah 29, the parallel passage we started with. Remember how GOD Tells us in
Isaiah 29:4 that the voice of these "wizards" is "coming out of this earth," out of their own "natural mind"
rather than from the Spirit of GOD...

Isaiah 29:4 And thou shalt be brought down, and shalt speak out of the ground, and thy speech shall be
low out of the dust, and thy voice shall be, as of one that hath a familiar spirit, out of the ground, and thy
speech shall whisper (peep) out of the dust.

Connecting these verses, we see that their voice is as one that hath a familiar spirit, because they do
have "familiar spirits."

Don't listen to them that tell you to "seek unto them that have familiar spirits, and to wizards that peep,
and that mutter." This is what has been going on for far too long. Can you see it now? This is exactly
what we had been doing, in looking to "women teachers" for answers from GOD.

The LORD willing try to keep Ezekiel 14:6-11 as a "frontlet" in front of your eyes, from here on out.
GOD is Working in HIS True children to keep us from that wickedness HE Warns us of there.

Then at the end of Isaiah chapter eight GOD tells us "the end" of all of those that have "familiar spirits,"
and the "wizards that peep, and that mutter." But not only them my dear brothers and sisters, also "the
end of all of those who do seek unto them (those who seek unto these false shepherds)..."

Their "end" is continuous "darkness."

Isaiah 8:21 And they shall pass through it, hardly bestead and hungry: and it shall come to pass, that
when they shall be hungry, they shall fret themselves, and curse their king and their God, and look
upward. 22 And they shall look unto the earth; and behold trouble and darkness, dimness of anguish;
and they shall be driven to darkness.

Has GOD called you out of the darkness? Into HIS Marvellous Light?

1 Peter 2:6 Wherefore also it is contained in the scripture, Behold, I lay in Sion a chief corner stone,
elect, precious: and he that believeth on him shall not be confounded. 7 Unto you therefore which
believe he is precious: but unto them which be disobedient, the stone which the builders disallowed, the
same is made the head of the corner, 8 And a stone of stumbling, and a rock of offence, even to them
which stumble at the word, being disobedient: whereunto also they were appointed. 9 But ye are a
chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the
praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light: 10 Which in time past were
not a people, but are now the people of God: which had not obtained mercy, but now have obtained
mercy.

If so, let's offer unto GOD the "sacrifice of thanksgiving" together in Christ.

In HIS Love, with Happy Thanksgiving,
Mark Seashock

PS: I have been great Blessed by GOD in singing HIS Word to HIM; it’s a nice way to meditate in HIS
Word. If you like to sing to the LORD maybe you can try singing Proverbs 3 (or a portion of It) to the
tune of “Sweet Hour of Prayer,” which is a very nice tune. I have been often singing a portion that GOD
Helped me to memorize (Proverbs 3:5-8).

It would go like this…

Trust in the LORD with all thine heart
And lean not unto thine own understanding
In all thy ways acknowledge HIM,
And HE shall Direct, HE shall Direct thy paths

Be not wise in thine own eyes,
Fear the LORD and depart from evil.
It shall be health to thy naval,
And mar.. row to… All thy bones.

I have found that you can sing the whole Proverb starting from verse one, and then you add the first
verse of Proverb 4 to end the “Hymn” with a Beautiful Statement from GOD, our Heavenly Father…

Hear, ye children, the instruction of a Father,
and attend to know understanding.

You can sing it so that each verse equals two of the above “lines,” sometimes with some “improvising,”
(shortening/elongating) if you know what I mean.

Singing to the LORD is a nice way to show our thankful heart to HIM, don’t you agree? Although I do
like the words to the song “Sweet Hour of Prayer,” as one dear brother once shared with me, “Why not
sing GOD’s Words instead of man’s words?” I say “Amen” to that.

Ephesians 5:15 See then that ye walk circumspectly, not as fools, but as wise, 16 Redeeming the time,
because the days are evil. 17 Wherefore be ye not unwise, but understanding what the will of the Lord
is. 18 And be not drunk with wine, wherein is excess; but be filled with the Spirit; 19 Speaking to
yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the
Lord; 20 Giving thanks always for all things unto God and the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus
Christ; 21 Submitting yourselves one to another in the fear of God.