Tremble, O Earth
“Tremble, O earth, at the presence of the Lord, at the presence of the God of Jacob, who turned the rock into a pool, the hard rock into springs of water.” (Psalm 114:7-8)
“Holy, holy, holy is the Lord Almighty; the whole earth is full of his glory.” (Isaiah 6:3)
I am sitting with these two passages, and am drawn to the emphasis on the ‘earth’. There is the ‘trembling’ of the earth, which is so very evident in our world today. There is also the fullness of God’s Glory in the earth, which is evident when we open our eyes to see the marvels of creation all around us.
But, there is another way to look at the ‘earth’ than merely the natural creation, or the planet we live on.
This way of looking sees that WE are the earth. We were formed out of the dust of the earth; so that, our very natural existence is ‘earthy’. Put another way: we are not separate from; but, connected to earth.
Once I begin to look at my life this way, I begin to see that when God speaks to the ‘earth’, He is also speaking to me. I begin to see the powerful movement and purposes of God in my life. That is the heart of the passages above. And, what comes from them is an important word for the Church.
God is calling us to a place of REPENTANCE. He is calling His Church to ‘tremble’. This word means: “To writhe, be in labor, give birth, be in deep anguish”. Everything about this word speaks to a place of travail to bring about something new.
As a nation, we are in very great turmoil. Literally, everything is shaking and is in real danger of complete and total collapse. We cannot continue the course we are on. There must be a real ‘change’. But, hear this: change will only come to this nation when the people who are called by God’s Name in this nation humble themselves-TREMBLE-before the Lord on behalf of the nation.
Here is what the Lord says: “The days of complacency and apathy are over. Once again, I AM shaking everything that can be shaken. The kingdoms of this world, built upon greed are shaking and falling. The little kings of this world who have exalted themselves through ego, vanity, and pride are being revealed for who they truly are-IMPOTENT, IMPOTENT. The images they have created of their greatness are all smoke and no substance; their garments of illegitimate royalty, woven out of silken strands of the spider’s web, cannot hide their nakedness. They are covered with sores, from the soles of their feet to the tops of their heads. And, their actions are proving their words have been lies. The promises of fame, fortune, glory, all lie broken in the dust.”
“The Land is groaning, and the people are broken, bound, blind, and burdened. There is a great wasting away in a Land once called to abundance. For, Righteousness has been forsaken by the very ones who have been called by My Name to be My Glory in the Land.”
“WAKE UP! WAKE UP! For, I AM moving with power in these days. I AM turning this nation by great shaking; and, this shaking is causing My Bride to awaken from her slumber, and to rise up to embrace her destiny.”
The Lord says, “Therefore,TREMBLE before Me, O My Church! Let the doorposts and lintel of your Holy Temple shake before My Glory. Let everything within you writhe, embrace, the FEAR OF THE LORD; for, I AM before you, the God of Glory, the God of Power, the God of Might. And, I AM about to do wondrous things, amazing things, in you and through you.”
“It is the TIME OF BIRTHING. It is the DAY OF GREAT DELIVERANCE. You are bringing forth what I placed deep within you. The SEED OF LIFE has germinated and grown strong within you. Now, the CHILD OF DESTINY is pushing out, pushing through.”
“Listen, Beloved. You are not laboring in vain. You are not trembling for no purpose. For, as I poured living water from out of the solid rock, so now I AM pouring forth LIVING WATER.”
“THE WATERS HAVE BROKEN, THE WATERS HAVE BROKEN! Now is the time, now is the day, for you to rise up and come forth carrying in your hands My Authority and Power. ARISE NOW in Holy Fear; for, My Presence, My Presence, goes before you. I have heard the cries of the people and the groaning of the land. And, I AM moving swiftly to bring justice and healing upon the land, and to set every captive free,” says the Lord.