110 – God is gathering His clouds 3

Ascribe ye strength unto God; His excellency is over Israel And His strength is in the clouds.

PSALM 68:34 KJV

Earlier, we began a meditation on the clouds: who and what they are and how we can be a part of them. We said that the clouds are a collection of the faithful saints through the ages and that they are for warfare, harvest and to give directions to the people of God. These clouds are a people of faith and obedience who obey the Lord and follow Him wherever He goes, Revelations 14:1-4. A little flock to whom will belong the first dominion, Micah 4:8. Hebrews 11-12:1 shows a list of some of these men who are clouds of witnesses. They obtained a good report, yet God has designed something better for us who will be gathered as clouds in this generation. To understand the activities of the clouds we looked at the battle in Judges 4 and 5 and saw a time where the Israelites were under great oppression until Deborah arose.

Judges 5 is a very prophetic chapter that has relevance to us today. During these last days, the battle will be fought by people whose conversation (lifestyle) is in the heavens, looking for their saviour, Philippians 3:20. Judges 5:2 shows that the reason why this battle is fought is because God wants to avenge his enemies. Isaiah 35, Ezekiel 35 and 36 gives more insight into the vengeance of the Lord towards the enemies of Israel. Though these nations spoke against Israel, they failed to realize that God is in their midst and so a war against Israel was a war against God. In our days men, in their pride have set up systems against the Lord and His anointed and they will all be brought down by these men and women who are the clouds.

The reason for the oppression they faced was due to lack of leadership. Judges 5:7 said that the inhabitants of the villages (the chieftain) ceased. The people went through the byways, instead of the highway which signifies holiness, Isaiah 35:8. They abandoned the fountain of living water, which signifies the Word of God and dug cisterns for themselves. Though the Lord is not pleased with sin and a state of rising and falling, He is willing to help His people for His sake. However, when the people began to offer themselves willingly, there was a deliverance. Psalm 110 speaks of a willing people in the day of the Lord’s power, a people of obedience who fear the Lord with their whole heart. These are His clouds. Judges 5:10-11 shows these willing governors as sitting on white asses, who sit in the place of judgement and walk in the way. The result of their ministry is that people are delivered from the noise of archers ( words from the enemy, Psalm 64:1-5) as they draw water (the Word of God and well of Salvation). The people are free and have strength to take the battle to the gates.

The battle here was fought in the heavens, by those who had heeded the call to the mountain, those in the cloud. Deborah arose and Barak also arose to take captivity captive. Out of Ephraim and Benjamin came out those who destroyed Amalek. From Machir (a tribe in Manasseh) came out governors. Zebulun and Naphtali jeopardized their lives unto the death. Interestingly, Jesus started picking his disciples from Zebulun and Naphtali in Matthew 4:19-22 and these where they that poured out their lives for the sake of the gospel. Issachar was with Deborah. These are intercessors who bear the burden of the Lord and know what Israel ought to do at every season, 1 chronicles 12:32. There were those among the tribes with cold feet towards the battle: Reuben, Dan and Asher who were on the seashore or in the boats instead of in the battle field.

Judges 5 shows the manner of people who constitute the Lord’s cloud for this last battle, men who obey and have faith in the Lord. Men who are mountain dwellers and who do not love their lives unto the death. It is written that the Kingdom of this world will become the Kingdom of our God and His Christ. However, the medium of the Lord’s return to claim these Kingdoms are the clouds. May we be a part of these faithful believers for this end time work.

Prayer for today: Father thank you for Your call to me to come up the mountain to be a part of Your clouds. Help me to be obedient and diligent to Your call, following You wherever you go, that I may stand with You in the clouds when You are coming to establish Your Kingdom on earth.