Getting to your High Places

Opening Prayer:

Today you will get to your High Places Lord impart on us revelation knowledge understanding To be co-laborers with you and see you act on our behalf

                                Lord thank you for your gentleness 

thank you for your kindness 

thank you for your strength 

that you impart to lead us in paths of empowerment

Thank you for restoration for years 

that the cankerworm Has eaten

And thank you for your helpers 

who stand on the Rock 

and like sword that sharpeneth sword 

So is every  burden cut off  that weighs us down

to break free so we can step up to our high places 

and step on the enemy's necks 

And so LORD anoint your servants to stand 

with a double-edged sword in our mouths.   

Everything you do comes from a place of love 

A place of no fear and as a warrior for good for righteousness. 

You encourage us to find that one thing we are good at 

that we may serve you with and win battles 

That life joy hope strength beauty 

and everything good may prosper

At the center your will is where the battle is fiercest

where we are resisted most but where we have open heavens

To your revelations your wisdom 

your protection your deliverance 

to channel our inheritance of  thrones of glory

into the natural.

May you take control of my fingers the works of my hands 

that my voice echo yours and give me an encouraging heart

that your works be glorified

Even in the midst of the cry of the battlefield 

to do warfare and to see your goodness on the earth.

 

To understand God's Ways is to be instructed to have knowledge for the admonition and the building of mighty men (and women) of valor – for there be some youth who question how relevant is God's Word for today and so we take the story of Hannah and see that with patience with courage with prayer we can make transactions with God to see His will established in our personal lives as well as in the greater body of His Kingdom.   That is how personal He is in our every day lives to turn some personal adversity into victory for one's life as well as the greater good of many.  So Hannah reached her high place!

1 Samuel 1-2

Now too we read that there was a certain man who lived in Ramathaim-zophin -

These are the 2 high places the 2 hills of mount Ephraim 

On which watch towers were built

Where watchmen kept continual guard for the safety of the land

Your gaze too Lord is continually on your children

You watch over them to bless to deliver them

Now this certain man had two wives

And he loved his wife Hannah more

And gave her a double portion 

For Hannah was tender hearted and gracious and feared the Lord

but the Lord had shut up her womb from having children

Her adversary she mocked her year  by year

when she went up to the house of the Lord

Provoking her sore to make her fret

Because of her barrenness

Yet Peninnah the name of the other wife had many children

So by all appearances 

some would question God's goodness

As Hannah was without children

Now Eli the priest sat upon a seat

By the post of the temple of the Lord

For the Lord establishes his priest on a seat of judgement

where Israel could come for advice and justice

And Hannah with bitterness of soul

Did not consider the compassing bullocks that is her many enemies

And she poured out her heart so only her lips moved

But her voice was not heard

She vowed a vow and said "O LORD of hosts

If thou wilt indeed look upon the affliction

Of thine handmaid and remember me

And not forget thine handmaid

But wilt give unto thine handmaid a man child

Then I will give him unto the LORD

All the days of his life"

And Eli said "Go in peace: and the God of Israel

Grant thee thy petition that thou has asked of him"

So Hannah went her way

And her countenance was no more sad

And she rose up early to worship before the Lord

And returned to her house

And this certain man whose name was Elkanah

Knew Hannah his wife

And the LORD remembered her

Wherefore it came to pass that she bare a son

And she called his name Samuel

And Elkanah was also consecrated to the LORD

And went up to offer unto the LORD

The yearly sacrifice and his vow

For the husband had also made some kind of vow concerning Samuel 

to allow him to be given to the temple 

to be raised as a priest unto the LORD

Only he said may it be that the LORD establish his word

And it came to pass that afterwards 

Hannah had many more children to keep

For children are a blessing of the LORD

And now we listen in as Hannah lets it rip

She claims victory won by the LORD 

For the LORD needed a priest to raise to take the place of Eli's sons

Their names were Hophni (means a pugilist or boxer) and Phinehas (means a serpent's mouth)

They were called sons of Belial (Devil) for they knew not the LORD

Now Eli their father was very old

And heard all that his sons did to Israel

And how they lay with the women

And how they forced the Israelites to give them 

more than their portion of the meat offering

And to give the raw meat before the fat had been burnt

Which was required as a sweet smelling offering to the LORD

This robbed the offerrers 

Of their portion of meat too that they and their families had 

And would rob them of the joy 

which after a long journey to get to Shiloh it was 

Part of the sacrifice ritual to afterwards feast and eat

But by now the hearts of the sons were hardened to the rebuke of their father

Who lamented saying if one man sin against another

The judge shall judge him:

But if a man sin against the LORD who shall intreat for him

The LORD rebukes the priest Eli for his sons saying

"honorest thy sons above me, to make yourselves fat 

With the chiefest of all the offerings of Israel my people?"

For they made the LORD's people to transgress

And "them that honor me I will honor

And they that despise me shall be lightly esteemed"

And "behold the days come that I will cut off thine arm

And the arm of thy father's house that there shall not be

An old man in thine house

And he whom is not cut off in the flower of his life

Shall be to grieve thine heart"

And this shall be a sign unto thee

That thou shalt see both thy sons die in one day

And also thou shalt see an enemy in My house

Which came to pass when the Ark of the Covenant

Was captured by the philistines that same day"

And I will raise me up a faithful priest

That shall do according to that

which is in mine heart and mind

And I will build him a sure house

And whoever is left in thine house shalt beg my faithful priest

To be put to work in the temple that he may eat for they will experience poverty

Now this was the punishment of Eli's house 

For pampering themselves

And lording it over the Israelites

Now know that the LORD will give these promises and none of the punishments

For you too to have a sure house and to dwell in His house forever that is heaven 

That promise is there for anyone who will wholeheartedly serve the LORD

Hannah and the LORD claim justice and victory

Over their enemies who every day torment and despise

And question the Kingship of the LORD

Believing they can prosper without honoring the LORD

For by giving the boy Samuel to the service of temple of the LORD

Hannah's and the LORD's enemies are broken to pieces and silenced.

Hannah in her prayer speaks of a divine reversal

Where she that was barren now has a family to enjoy

Where he who is weak receives divine strength

And the proud are humbled

And the reason God gives

Is because He is a God of knowledge who weighs actions

And it refers to God's keeping an accurate account 

of all words and deeds of men 

to see which side of the ledger to put them

Men will give account of every idle word 

as well as the good words 

and of everything done in the body;

Whether it be good or bad.

And another reason He gives 

Is also because He has laid the foundations of the earth

And by virtue of creation He is the owner of all things

He speaks of thunder upon His adversaries who will not repent

And as an aside note how thunder is called down by Samuel to witness

Against the people of Israel who wanted to be like other nations

And demanded to be ruled by a King

Instead of a prophet and judge like Samuel 

who served without taking anything from them

And delivered them from their enemies 

So Samuel called down thunder that day as a witness against them

That the people would know that should they stop serving the LORD

That they would be scattered which has happened many times in Israel's history

And can happen to any nation whose abomination becomes a stench 

In the nostrils of the LORD as is abortion the killing of babies

That a nation through ignorance becomes then cursed

This is her prayer which speaks of praise for a God and vanquishment over enemies.:

1 And Hannah prayed, and said, My heart rejoiceth in the Lord, mine horn is exalted in the Lord: my mouth is enlarged over mine enemies; because I rejoice in thy salvation.

2 There is none holy as the Lord: for there is none beside thee: neither is there any rock like our God.

3 Talk no more so exceeding proudly; let not arrogancy come out of your mouth: for the Lord is a God of knowledge, and by him actions are weighed.

4 The bows of the mighty men are broken, and they that stumbled are girded with strength.

5 They that were full have hired out themselves for bread; and they that were hungry ceased: so that the barren hath born seven; and she that hath many children is waxed feeble.

6 The Lord killeth, and maketh alive: he bringeth down to the grave, and bringeth up.

7 The Lord maketh poor, and maketh rich: he bringeth low, and lifteth up.

8 He raiseth up the poor out of the dust, and lifteth up the beggar from the dunghill, to set them among princes, and to make them inherit the throne of glory: for the pillars of the earth are the Lord's, and he hath set the world upon them.

9 He will keep the feet of his saints, and the wicked shall be silent in darkness; for by strength shall no man prevail.

10 The adversaries of the Lord shall be broken to pieces; out of heaven shall he thunder upon them: the Lord shall judge the ends of the earth; and he shall give strength unto his king, and exalt the horn of his anointed.