King David has just brought back the Arc of the Covenant, “So they brought the ark of the LORD, and set it in its place in the MIDST OF THE TABERNACLE that David had erected for it.” (2 Samuel 6:17) This was important because this was the PRESENCE OF GOD to them. Now David is praying to the Lord, “For Your word’s sake Lord, and according to Your own heart, You have DONE ALL THESE GREAT THINGS, to make Your servant know them. Therefore YOU ARE GREAT, O Lord GOD. For there is NONE LIKE YOU, nor is there ANY GOD BESIDES YOU, according to all that we have heard with our ears.” (2 Samuel 7:21-22)
“Now, O LORD God, the word which You have spoken concerning Your servant and concerning his house, ESTABLISH IT FOREVER and do as You have said…Now therefore, let it please You to bless the house of Your servant, that it may continue before You FOREVER; for You, O Lord GOD, have spoken it, and with Your blessing let the house of Your servant (Israel) be blessed FOREVER.” (2 Samuel 7:25,29)
Well we know that Israel was taken captive by the Babylonians and spent 70 years there before being sent home by King Cyrus. In the first year of his reign 538 BC, he was PROMPTED BY GOD to decree that the TEMPLE IN JERUSALEM SHOULD BE REBUILT and that Jews who wished to could RETURN TO THEIR HOMELAND for this purpose. Then in 70AD General Titus of Roam came to Israel captured the city, tore down the temple, killed thousands of Jews and took the rest out of Jerusalem and scattered them ALL OVER THE WORLD. This all happened because of Israel’s disobedience but God NEVER FORGOT HIS COVENANT with them.
So God prompted Joel to prophecy, “For behold, in those days and at that time, When I BRING BACK THE CAPTIVES OF JUDAH AND JERUSALEM, I will also gather all nations, And bring them down to the VALLEY OF JEHOSHAPHAT; And I will enter into judgment with them there On account of My people, My heritage Israel, Whom they have scattered among the nations; THEY HAVE ALSO DIVIDED UP MY LAND.” (Joel 3:1-2) As we know on David Ben-Gurion, the head of the Jewish Agency, proclaimed the establishment of the State of Israel On May 14th 1948. U.S. President Harry S. Truman recognized the new nation on the same day.
Then Jesus speaking of this event said, “Now learn this parable from the fig tree: When its branch has already become tender and puts forth leaves, you know that summer is near. So you also, when you see all these things, know that it is near—at the doors! Assuredly, I say to you, THIS GENERATION WILL BY NO MEANS PASS AWAY TILL ALL THESE THINGS TAKE PLACE.” (Matthew 24:32-34) So, how long is a generation, well Moses says, “The days of our lives are SEVENTY years; And if by reason of strength they are EIGHTY years…” (Psalms 90:10) “So KEEP WATCH. You do not know on what day your Lord will come.” (Matthew 24:42)
Your Personal Pastor -Bill Stockham