It will now be very clear who the Lord is for, and who He is against.

This has been determined by how the nations, families, and individuals have stewarded ‘The Ark’ ~ in other words how have we handled His Presence, His Name, His covenant?

The Lord specifically brought me to 1 Samuel 5:9 this morning, “But it happened that after they had taken it to Gath, the hand of the Lord was against the city, causing an extremely great panic [because of the deaths from the plague], for He struck the people of the city, both young and old, and tumors broke out on them.”

This references when the Ark of God was captured by the Philistines after it was originally taken from Shiloh and brought to the camp at Aphek where it was seized by the Philistines, then brought to Ashdod and placed “beside” their temple god Dagon (1 Samuel 4:11; 5:1). From there the Philistine governors told the men to bring the Ark to Gath, after the hand of the Lord caused a plague in the territory of Ashdod where He caused them to be dumbfounded and struck with tumors (1 Samuel 5:6).

1 Samuel 5:9 is an account of the second strike of tumors, the plague sent that resulted in many deaths. When you do not fear the Lord, you will fear the plague. The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, though most have become wise in their own eyes therefore there is no power or aid to subdue the consequences to mishandling His Presence and ceasing to fear the Name of the Lord. The Lord is Merciful yet also Just, and He cannot go against His Word. He does not change, though we can.

There is a great need for many to humble themselves under the hand of the Lord in this very hour, for literally the saving of their physical lives. If you fear the plagues most likely you will succumb to them, if you fear the Lord, He will protect you.

You either serve the Lord God or you do not. You either fear His Holy Name or you do not. You either humble yourself or you do not.

Do not let ignorance or pride be the end of you! Mercy triumphs over Judgement, though Mercy is granted to the repentant of heart.

The Juncture of Gath

The city Gath as referenced in 1 Samuel 5:9 means “winepress” in Hebrew, Strong’s number 1660 describes the word as “winepress fat”. I believe we are at juncture of another great pressing. This pressing will ultimately lead unto the pressing as mentioned below in Revelation. However, what is happening now is a great burst of every old wineskin. Whatever has not yet burst will now burst. Soon, nothing from the old will remain. All the fat that can be pressed or cut away will be separated and burned. The enemy may want to keep you silent in your spiritual slumber, he may not sound the alarm but the Lord is sounding His alarms through the remnant mouthpieces across the earth, calling us all to return again and render our hearts before Him. Is His Name above every other name in our lives?

“Then another angel came out of the temple (sanctuary) in heaven, and he also had a sharp sickle. And another angel came from the altar, the one who has power over fire; and he called with a loud voice to him who had the sharp sickle, saying, “Put in your sharp sickle and reap the clusters of grapes from the vine of the earth, because her grapes are ripe [for judgment].” So the angel swung his sickle to the earth and harvested the grapevine of the earth, and threw the grapes into the great wine press of the wrath and indignation of God [as judgment of the rebellious world]. And the grapes in the wine press were trampled and crushed outside the city, and blood poured from the wine press, reaching up to the horses’ bridles, for a distance of sixteen hundred stadia.” ‭‭Revelation‬ ‭14‬:‭17‬-‭20‬ ‭AMP‬‬

May the Mighty hand of the Lord bless you and keep you! We are at large on the verge of a monumental shift; do not fear the darkness, for it is in this Name only that we fear, and He is the Light of the world ~ Jesus.

“I am the Lord, and there is no one else; There is no God except Me. I will embrace and arm you, though you have not known Me, That people may know from the rising to the setting of the sun [the world over] That there is no one except Me. I am the Lord, and there is no other, The One forming light and creating darkness, Causing peace and creating disaster; I am the Lord who does all these things.” Isaiah‬ ‭45‬:‭5‬-‭7‬ ‭AMP‬‬

“And he who does not take up his cross and follow Me [cleave steadfastly to Me, conforming wholly to My example in living and, if need be, in dying also] is not worthy of Me. Whoever finds his [lower] life will lose it [the higher life], and whoever loses his [lower] life on My account will find it [the higher life].” ‭‭Matthew‬ ‭10‬:‭38‬-‭39‬ ‭AMPC‬‬

If you have not known the Lord, or have fallen away from intimately knowing Him, He is extending His mercy to you today! Humble yourself and give Him your life, ALL of your life for He is the only One who is able to keep it.

“If you will revere and fear the Lord and serve Him and hearken to His voice and not rebel against His commandment, and if both you and your king will follow the Lord your God, it will be good! But if you will not hearken to the Lord’s voice, but rebel against His commandment, then the hand of the Lord will be against you, as it was against your fathers.” ‭‭1 Samuel‬ ‭12‬:‭14‬-‭15‬ ‭AMPC‬‬