This is time period of this Psalms tends to be believed around the time when the Caldeans had taken over and sent the people into exile into Babylonia, or it perhaps is the time of the Maccabees. Yet there was always a prophet. Jeremiah, Zechariah and some of the other minor prophets. The allusion there is none left is perhaps meaning none visible at the time of the take over and destruction and exile. Yet Jeremiah was present at the exile. The point is the time period was a time of desolation, and the world no longer had a spokesman or prophet from Israel. An ensign had been given to Israel his name Emmanuel born of a Virgin. Yet the world had no sign of what was to come. There hope rested in greed, money and wealth. Remember the temple wealth and the palace wealth had been shown to the enemy and now was taken. The temple destroyed.

Across our own land in modern America we have had prophets rise and fall in session. These people labeled certain things a sign that is not signs, besides the average day dawning or the harvest moon appearing. Everyone wants a sign that the return of Christ is near. The world and Israel was needing proof there was hope in the exile. One has to remember the people Israel heart was turned away from God, only for a few that clung to the word of God, had hope. Those without hope was looking for a sign of their return to Israel, but nothing was given.

As people of Israel left Egypt the devil/dragon raised his head one last time trying to capture Israel as they cross the Red Sea, only for the Red sea to crush the Egyptians head, leaving a mark in history that would be told to all that believe. Even Rehab the harlot believed. This crushing of the enemy would feed Israel through the desert of the ability of their God but it did not end there with the dry desert and need of water. The signs of hope through each miracle and provision from God.

Jeremiah and Isaiah had prophesied the taking over of Israel, it was enough for those of faith to know that there was hope to come. It is the crushing of the spirit the enemy wants to do but can not because the hope God gives each believer tell us there is another tomorrow if we will only believe. I sit and wonder at the hope of the world today the hope given to the world if they will only believe that Jesus is the Son of God, the miracle of Christ birth to the cross to the resurrection and not least but taken up into heaven before the disciples very eyes. The hope that Christ will return given by the coming of the Holy Spirit as promised, the word preached on the day of Pentecost and through out the world. Knowing when the word had been preached everywhere Christ will return. Some of this generation loosing hope of the physical return of Christ with seeing the return of the word of God in their land. The prophesy of God coming to each church and each believers heart, that understands Christ will return. God giving hope for the journey.

Israel was at a state of being crushed in spirit, but to those that believe the hope was still alive that they would return home. Seventy years later after the exile the return from Babylon happened only to be take once more after the building of the temple. Time of Christ Israel was still spread through out the Roman Empire, yet it did not stop the promise Messiah from coming. The hope given to assure us that this world is only temporal and that we look for home to come in the New Jerusalem. The city of Jerusalem now under Israel rule, but the temple is under Islamic power.

The only time governmental power should of rule in the church is when abuse practices are happening and causing harm to children and adults. There is fine line between abuse sometimes and just expecting people to conduct themselves in political correctness of school house rules in society. The wearing of a shirt, Cleanliness, and the listening to those in leadership, even when in disagreement. It polite correctness of society, yet the church world is more lenient then society. Yet the abuse comes from the pulpit or leadership by the demanding their people that enable to do more then they do, financially even out casting when they can not provide. No church will survive except as a club house with certain types of rules. Then there is the church that has all the love in the world but takes the abuse of the world without no regards of their own life. Becoming a doorway and open highway for charity, and grace beyond what was human thought possible. Yet to much grace without every teaching truth of how to survive and live in this world, will only allow the chariety being the only thing sought. The government often mistaking religious law in opposition to their rules, not realizing that individual choice to obey God even when the law of God is superior to the the law of man.

The crushing of the world against the church because they believe not and care not for the church today. No longer desiring to hear God’s people and yet sometimes the word has to be taken from the land but not the believers heart to wake the dead that understood not the hope of the word of God. As the crushing comes the word is for each believer in their heart. When the enemy prevails it is only a sign that God’s word rang true once more, but God’s word will rise again.

The poor and weak are often the ones caught in the middle of the rise and fail of religious and legal society. Often the potential sacrifice. Yet like turtledove the sacrifice is made for the poor and for the mother of Christ. A way made for the people to give without it being handout only but allowing even the poor to make a small sacrifice. Yet it is when the poor give beyond their ability that is the mistake. Loss of life and loss of hope, because their money would only stretch so far and their sacrifice took almost all they had. In truth it is the pray of every poor person that the devil will leave them alone and not have control, after all the devil has bigger fish to fry. Bigger fish that will go to the pit with him. The truth of all things every person needs God to plead their cause. Job was the first asking for a lawyer, not yet realizing the Messiah was present with God’s word. The Messiah being much more then Christ alone but every part that precedes out of His mouth to our hearts and back to God the Father, reminding of his promise of provision to those the diligently seek him.

Dear Heavenly Father breath the hope of life today to your people, giving them the assurance of the sign to all believers that Jesus will return. That those Eastern clouds were part and your Son will shine giving us the hope and victory won. In Jesus precious name, Amen.