E20.05.87.htm

"WOE TO AR'I.EL, TO AR'I.EL". (Isaiah 29:1-8).

JEHOVAH BESIEGES HIS SPIRITUAL "ALTAR"? WHY?
A siege is the means by which all access and communication are cut off. In His prophecy, Jehovah makes particular reference to the "voice" of members of His "altar" class becoming "a faint low twitter from the dust" and as a "whisper on the ground", because He is pressing on His "hearth and altar" class. (Isaiah 29:2 4 Moffatt). While this takes place, access to our Heavenly Father through His "altar" class is denied to "all the nations pressing on God's altar". (29:7 Moffatt). And, in a moment appointed by Jehovah, enemies of the "altar" class of spiritual "Mount Zion" that did "fight against her" and "distress her" shall suddenly* "crumble into dust". (29:7 RSV). When "punishment shall come from the Lord of Hosts" upon "the horde of all the nations warring against Ariel", then these "ruthless foes shall fly like chaff". Their "siege-works, and all her oppressors" (oppressing anointed visionaries of His "altar") "shall fade as a dream, a vision of the night." (29:5-7 NEB). All enemies of heavenly "Mount Zion" shall be awakened to the realization that by warring against the spiritual work of its anointed members during their lives, they actually warred against the Lifegiver Almighty God Jehovah Himself ! (29:8 NEB).

Punishment from the Lord of Hosts is for the refusal of faithless enemies of God to listen to His instruction, who said to His anointed seers, "See not" and to His prophets, "Prophesy not to us what is right; speak to us smooth things, prophesy illusions, leave the way, turn aside from the path, let us hear no more of the Holy One of Israel." (30:9-11 RSV). This is the reply of the Holy One of Israel: "Because you have rejected this warning and trust in devious and dishonest practices, resting on them for support, therefore you shall find this iniquity will be like a crack running down a high wall, which bulges and suddenly,* all in an instant, comes crashing down". (30:12,13 NEB). The outcome of their warring activities is desolation, as prophesied in Isaiah 30:15-17 (Moffatt).

Approach to the Holy One of Israel is through personal sacrifice, atonement, pardon and acceptance. Salvation is by way of the truth and the life of Christ Jesus the High Priest in heaven, who has been appointed to offer both spiritual gifts and sacrifices as mediator of a new covenant. (Heb Ch.8 & 9).

Instead of consulting the Eternal God Jehovah, enemies of God rely upon the "force of chariots" such as the police and authorities of "Egypt" to fabricate schemes and form attacks upon anointed members of the spiritual "altar" class of God. But Jehovah has His own plans, and "will attack these schemers, and their evil allies". Then shall "supporter and supported both collapse and crumble." (Isaiah 31:1-3 Moffatt).

In fulfilment of the prophecy concerning the symbolic "high wall" of iniquity built by enemies of God to defend themselves against Him, it will be "mercilessly shattered" as an earthen jar, so that nothing of it remains to "fetch fire from the hearth" (of the altar of God) or "water from the well" to quench their spirit thirst after its collapse. (Isaiah 30:12-14 NEB & Moffatt).

SIEGE:	The action of surrounding a town, castle, etc in order to cut off all communication and in the end to reduce or take it.
PRESS:	The condition of being hard pressed; a critical situation; straits, distress. *Fig.* Of an enemy etc: To bear heavily on; to reduce to straits; to beset, harass.

(Cont. on Page 27/5/87).

20/5/87.