¶ Sing, O daughter of Zion; shout, O Israel; be glad and rejoice with all the heart, O daughter of Jerusalem.
15 The LORD hath taken away thy judgments, he hath cast out thine enemy: the king of Israel, even the LORD, is in the midst of thee: thou shalt not see evil any more.
16 In that day it shall be said to Jerusalem, Fear thou not: and to Zion, Let not thine hands be slack.
17 The LORD thy God in the midst of thee is mighty; he will save, he will rejoice over thee with joy; he will rest in his love, he will joy over thee with singing.
18 I will gather them that are sorrowful for the solemn assembly, who are of thee, to whom the reproach of it was a burden.
19 Behold, at that time I will undo all that afflict thee: and I will save her that halteth, and gather her that was driven out; and I will get them praise and fame in every land where they have been put to shame.
20 At that time will I bring you again, even in the time that I gather you: for I will make you a name and a praise among all people of the earth, when I turn back your captivity before your eyes, saith the LORD.
OUR ANCHOR THIS YEAR IS A VERY BEAUTIFUL AND POWERFUL AFFIRMATION OF GOD’S DIVINE PRESENCE IN OUR MIDST
AND IT IS ALSO A POWERFUL INVITATION TO DELIBERATELY PRACTISE GOD’S PRESENCE BY CHOOSING TO ALWAYS SING,DANCE ,SHOUT AND REJOICE IN THE PRESENCE OF THE LORD
NOW THERE ARE MANY WAYS TO PRACTISE GOD’S DIVINE PRESENCE
YOU CAN PRACTISE GOD’S DIVINE PRESENCE BY PRAYERFULLY STUDYING THE BIBLE EACH DAY AND BY ABSOLUTE FAITH IN GOD’S WORD
IN OTHER WORDS YOU CAN MAKE DAILY BIBLE STUDY AND PRYERS YOUR LIFE STYLE
YOU CAN PRACTISE GOD’S DIVINE PRESENCE BY YOUR VARIOUS CHEERFUL OFFERINGS TO GOD AND OTHERS
YOU CAN PRACTISE GOD’S DIVINE PRESENCE BY GIVING TO THE POOR AND NEEDY AROUND YOU
YOU CAN PRACTISE GOD’S DIVINE PRESENCE BY PREACHING JESUS CHRIST AND HEALING THE SICK AND SETTING THE CAPTIVES FREE
YOU CAN PRACTISE GOD’S DIVINE PRESENCE BY FAITHFULLY TEACHING THE UNCOMPROMISING WORD OF GOD ,
YOU CAN ALSO PRACTICE GOD’S PRESENCE BY LIVING A HOLY AND PRAYERFUL LIFE
YOU CAN PRACTISE GOD’S DIVINE PRESENCE BY CHOOSING TO BE PEACEFUL AND REJOICING EVERYDAY OF YOUR LIFE
WE PROBABLY DO ALL THIS AT ONCE OR AT DIFFERENT TIMES EACH DAY
BUT ONE SURE WAY TO CONSTANTLY PRACTICE GOD’S PRESENCE AND QUICKLY ACCESS HEAVEN IS THROUGH PRAISE AND WORSHIP FROM THE DEPTHS OF OUR HEARTS. PS 22:1-3
1 .» My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me? why art thou so far from helping me, and from the words of my roaring?
2 O my God, I cry in the daytime, but thou hearest not; and in the night season, and am not silent.
3 But thou art holy, O thou that inhabitest the praises of Israel.
THE PSALMIST STARTED HIS PRAYERS AND FELLOWSHIP WITH THE LORD WITH A KIND OF COMPLAINT
BUT HE SUDDENLY REMEMBERED THAT MURMURINGS AND COMPLAINTS WOULD NOT BRING DIVINE PRESENCE ,ONLY PRAISE AND WORSHIP WOULD
PSALM 21 :13 Be thou exalted, LORD, in thine own strength: so will we sing and praise thy power.
Make a joyful noise unto the LORD, all ye lands.
2 Serve the LORD with gladness: come before his presence with singing.
3 Know ye that the LORD he is God: it is he that hath made us, and not we ourselves; we are his people, and the sheep of his pasture.
4 Enter into his gates with thanksgiving, and into his courts with praise: be thankful unto him, and bless his name.
5 For the LORD is good; his mercy is everlasting; and his truth endureth to all generations. PS 100
THIS IS A CHOICE WE MUST MAKE DAILY ACCORDING TO THE ANCHOR WE HAVE THIS YEAR
OUR FAITH MUST BE STRONG LIKE WE HAVE HEARD LAST SUNDAY,BUT WHAT HAPPENS WHEN YOUR FAITH IS TESTED?
2 CHRONICLES 5:1-14
Thus all the work that Solomon made for the house of the LORD was finished: and Solomon brought in all the things that David his father had dedicated; and the silver, and the gold, and all the instruments, put he among the treasures of the house of God.
2 Then Solomon assembled the elders of Israel, and all the heads of the tribes, the chief of the fathers of the children of Israel, unto Jerusalem, to bring up the ark of the covenant of the LORD out of the city of David, which is Zion.
3 Wherefore all the men of Israel assembled themselves unto the king in the feast which was in the seventh month.
4 And all the elders of Israel came; and the Levites took up the ark.
5 And they brought up the ark, and the tabernacle of the congregation, and all the holy vessels that were in the tabernacle, these did the priests and the Levites bring up.
6 Also king Solomon, and all the congregation of Israel that were assembled unto him before the ark, sacrificed sheep and oxen, which could not be told nor numbered for multitude.
7 And the priests brought in the ark of the covenant of the LORD unto his place, to the oracle of the house, into the most holy place, even under the wings of the cherubims:
8 For the cherubims spread forth their wings over the place of the ark, and the cherubims covered the ark and the staves thereof above.
9 And they drew out the staves of the ark, that the ends of the staves were seen from the ark before the oracle; but they were not seen without. And there it is unto this day.
10 There was nothing in the ark save the two tables which Moses put therein at Horeb, when the LORD made a covenant with the children of Israel, when they came out of Egypt.
11 ¶ And it came to pass, when the priests were come out of the holy place: (for all the priests that were present were sanctified, and did not then wait by course:
12 Also the Levites which were the singers, all of them of Asaph, of Heman, of Jeduthun, with their sons and their brethren, being arrayed in white linen, having cymbals and psalteries and harps, stood at the east end of the altar, and with them an hundred and twenty priests sounding with trumpets:)
13 It came even to pass, as the trumpeters and singers were as one, to make one sound to be heard in praising and thanking the LORD; and when they lifted up their voice with the trumpets and cymbals and instruments of musick, and praised the LORD, saying, For he is good; for his mercy endureth for ever: that then the house was filled with a cloud, even the house of the LORD;
14 So that the priests could not stand to minister by reason of the cloud: for the glory of the LORD had filled the house of God.
SOLOMON ASSEMBLED ALL THE ELDERS, THE LEVITES AND ALL THE LEADERS OF THE CHILDREN OF ISRAEL TO BRING GOD’S ARK OUT OF THE CITY OF DAVID INTO THE NEW TEMPLE V:1-3
ALL THE ELDERS AND LEVITES TOOK UP THE ARK AND KING SOLOMON AND ALL THE CONGREGATION MADE A LOT OF BLOOD SACRIFICE VS 4
THEN THE PRIESTS BROUGHT IN THE ARK AND PUT IT UNDER THE CHERUBIMS.THEY ARE THE ANGELS OF MERCY VS 5-9
WHAT WAS IN THE ARK? VS 10 GIVES THE ANSWER
VERSE11-14 THE PRIESTS AND LEVITES HAD SANCTIFIED THEMSELVES AND WERE UNITED IN PRAISE AND WORSHIP AND GOD CAME DOWN MIGHTILY
VERY IMPORTANT THAT ALL ELDERS, PASTORS AND MINISTERS PRACTICE SANCTIFY THEMSELVES AND CONSTANTLY PRACTISE GOD’S PRESENCE THROUGH CONSTANT PRAISE AND WORSHIP FROM A PURE HEART
ALL CHURCH WORKERS I.E ALL LEVITES OR CHOIR, USHERS SCERETARY ETC MUST SPEND TIME PRACTISING HIS PRESENCE BEFORE STANDING BEFORE THE PEOPLE OF GOD TO MINISTER
WE ARE KINGS AND PRIESTS UNTO GOD BY THE BLOOD OF JESUS CHRIST
I PETER 2:9
But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light:
WE ARE BEING INVITED THIS YEAR TO CONSTANTLY ENTER INTO GOD’S PRESENCE WITHOUT FEAR OR DOUBT,BUT WITH CONFIDENCE AND FAITH AND TRUST IN THE LOVE OF GOD
WE MUST ENTER STRAIT INTO GOD’S DIVINE PRESENCE BY PRAISE AND WORSHIP,BECAUSE CHRIST OUR HIGH PRIEST HAS GIVEN US ACCESS TO THE PRESENCE OF GOD BY HISS BLOOD
HEBREWS 10:19-25
Having therefore, brethren, boldness to enter into the holiest by the blood of Jesus,
20 By a new and living way, which he hath consecrated for us, through the veil, that is to say, his flesh;
21 And having an high priest over the house of God;
22 Let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience, and our bodies washed with pure water.
23 Let us hold fast the profession of our faith without wavering; (for he is faithful that promised;)
24 And let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works:
25 Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching.
THIS IS THE WILL OF GOD FOR OUR LIVES THIS YEAR AND TILL HE COMES TO FETCH US
CHRIST OUR KING HAS GONE AHEAD OF US WITH HIS BLOODINTO THE PRESENCE OF GOD
HEB 4 :14-16.
Seeing then that we have a great high priest, that is passed into the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our profession.
15 For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin.
16 Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.
WE MUST JUST LEARN TO PRACTICE WAITING ON THE LORD WITH SINGING AND THANKSGIVING BEFORE YOU SLEEP
WHEN YOU WAKE UP YOU MUST WAIT ON THE LORD WITH PRAISE AND WORSHIP,WORD STUDY AND PRAYERS
PSALM 149
¶ Praise ye the LORD. Sing unto the LORD a new song, and his praise in the congregation of saints.
2 Let Israel rejoice in him that made him: let the children of Zion be joyful in their King.
3 Let them praise his name in the dance: let them sing praises unto him with the timbrel and harp.
4 For the LORD taketh pleasure in his people: he will beautify the meek with salvation.
5 Let the saints be joyful in glory: let them sing aloud upon their beds.
6 ¶ Let the high praises of God be in their mouth, and a twoedged sword in their hand;
7 To execute vengeance upon the heathen, and punishments upon the people;
8 To bind their kings with chains, and their nobles with fetters of iron;
9 To execute upon them the judgment written: this honour have all his saints. Praise ye the LORD.
IF YOU ARE DEPRESSED OR UNHAPPY ENGAGE THE MINISTRY OF THOSE WHOM GOD HAS CALLED AND ANNOINTED WITH CONSTANT JOY AND SINGING
WE EXALT THE APOSTLES,PROPHETS,ETC BUT WE NEED TO BEGIN TO APPRECIATE THOSE WHOSE MINISTRY IS TO HELP US MINISTER TO GOD AND TO OTHERS
THEY ARE KNOWN AS MINISTRY OF HELPS
1 COR 12:27-31
Now ye are the body of Christ, and members in particular.
28 And God hath set some in the church, first apostles, secondarily prophets, thirdly teachers, after that miracles, then gifts of healings, helps, governments, diversities of tongues.
29 Are all apostles? are all prophets? are all teachers? are all workers of miracles?
30 Have all the gifts of healing? do all speak with tongues? do all interpret?
31 But covet earnestly the best gifts: and yet shew I unto you a more excellent way.
THEY ARE MANY HELP MINISTERS ON YOUTUBE WHO SING POWERFULLY AND WHO NEVER SEMM TO BE UNHAPPY OR DEPRESSED
WHO ARE ALWAYS AMAZINGLY IN GOD’S PRESENCE,AND ALWAYS FILLED WITH JOY
BECAREFUL THOUGH THAT YOU DON’T ENGAGE COMMERCIAL SINGERS
I PARTICULARLY LOVE BUKOLA BEKES AND NATHANIEL BASSEY OR DON MOEN
OR DARLENE ZEDECH , JUST TO NAME A FEW POWERFUL GOSPEL MUSIC MINISTERS.
THEY ARE GENUINELY ANOINTED BY GOD TO HELP US ENTER HIS PRESENCE WHENEVER WE ARE STUCK
THEIR SONGS ,AND EVEN THEIR DANCES WILL LIFT YOU STRAIT INTO GOD’S PRESENCE
ACTUALLY, I FIND THE PSALMS VERY VERY USEFUL WHENEVER I STRUGGLE TO CONNECT WITH HEAVEN
KING DAVID WILL ALWAYS BE THE BEST WORSHIP AND PRAISE MINISTER OF GOD ,AND OF COURSE THE BEST DANCER
LEARN TO GET INTO THE PSALMS FOR YOUR PRAISE AND WORSHIP .
MANY STRUGGLE TO PRAISE GOD PROPELY BECAUSE THEY LACK THE KNOWLEDGE OF THE PSALMS
SONGS: CLAP YOUR HANDS ALL YE PEOPLE ‘’’’ I WILL ENTER HIS GATES’’’’’ MY SOUL GIVE THANKS TO THE LORD ‘’’’’’
WE CLAP OUR HANDS ‘’’’
WHEN YOU READ GOD’S WORD AND PRAY TO HIM EARLY IN THE MORNING YOU WILL REMIND HIM OF HIS GRACE AND MERCY AND LOVE TOWARDS YOU AND OTHERS FOR THAT DAY AS YOU PRAISE HIM PS 89:1-2
IF YOU WANT TO DEFEAT SATAN AND HIS COHURTS YOU NEED GOD’S PRESENCE PS 114
GOD’S PRESENCE TERRIFIES THE KINGDOM OF DARKNESS AND ASSURES OUR VICTORY ALL THE TIME
HENCE DAVID PRAYS IN PS 51,DO NOT CAST ME AWAY FROM YOUR PRESENCE AND DO NOT TAKE YOUR HOLY SPIRIT FROM ME
HE KNOWS THE IMPLICATIONS OF NOT DAILY HAVING DIVINE PRESENCE
WE MUST MAKE SURE THAT SIN SATAN AND THE FLESH DON’T CUT US OFF FROM GOD’S PRESENCE
IT IS ALSO VERI IMPORTANT THAT WE UNDERSTAND THAT GOD’S DIVINE PRESENCE IS A VERY POWERFUL BUT DANGEROUS THING
FOR EXAMPLE ,WE READ IN 1 SAMUEL 4 THAT THE CHILDREN OF ISRAEL WERE BEING DEFEATED IN BATTLE
AND SO THE ELDERS BROUGHT IN THE ARK OF THE COVENANT REPRESENTING GOD’S PRESENCE INTO THE BATTLE FIELD
THE PEOPLE OF ISRAEL REJOICED AND SHOUTED GREATLY AT THE PRESENCE OF THE LORD
YET THEY WERE TERRIBLY DEFEATED BY THE PHILISTINES WHO WERE EQUALLY TERRIFIED BY GOD’S PRESENCE
IT WAS SUCH A TERRIBLE DAY OF DEFEAT AND HUMILIAYION FOR ISRAEL THAT EVEN THE ARK WAS CAPTURED BY THE PHILISTINES
THE PHILISTINES CARRIED THE ARK OF THE COVENANT OF GOD INTO THE SHRINE OF THEIR GOD
1 SAMUEL 5
And the Philistines took the ark of God, and brought it from Ebenezer unto Ashdod.
2 When the Philistines took the ark of God, they brought it into the house of Dagon, and set it by Dagon.
3 And when they of Ashdod arose early on the morrow, behold, Dagon was fallen upon his face to the earth before the ark of the LORD. And they took Dagon, and set him in his place again.
4 And when they arose early on the morrow morning, behold, Dagon was fallen upon his face to the ground before the ark of the LORD; and the head of Dagon and both the palms of his hands were cut off upon the threshold; only the stump of Dagon was left to him.
5 Therefore neither the priests of Dagon, nor any that come into Dagon’s house, tread on the threshold of Dagon in Ashdod unto this day.
6 ¶ But the hand of the LORD was heavy upon them of Ashdod, and he destroyed them, and smote them with emerods, even Ashdod and the coasts thereof.
7 And when the men of Ashdod saw that it was so, they said, The ark of the God of Israel shall not abide with us: for his hand is sore upon us, and upon Dagon our god.
8 They sent therefore and gathered all the lords of the Philistines unto them, and said, What shall we do with the ark of the God of Israel? And they answered, Let the ark of the God of Israel be carried about unto Gath. And they carried the ark of the God of Israel about thither.
9 And it was so, that, after they had carried it about, the hand of the LORD was against the city with a very great destruction: and he smote the men of the city, both small and great, and they had emerods in their secret parts.
10 Therefore they sent the ark of God to Ekron. And it came to pass, as the ark of God came to Ekron, that the Ekronites cried out, saying, They have brought about the ark of the God of Israel to us, to slay us and our people.
11 So they sent and gathered together all the lords of the Philistines, and said, Send away the ark of the God of Israel, and let it go again to his own place, that it slay us not, and our people: for there was a deadly destruction throughout all the city; the hand of God was very heavy there.
12 And the men that died not were smitten with the emerods: and the cry of the city went up to heaven.
GOD’S PRESENCE WAS NEITHER A BLESSING TO THE PHILISTINES NOR TO THE CHILDREN OF ISRAEL ON THAT DAY
THE PHILISTINES WERE FORCED TO RETURN THE ARK TO ISRAEL
BOTH THE CHILDREN OF ISRAEL AND THE PHILISTINES SIMPLY DID NOT UNDERSATAND WHO THEY WERE DEALING WITH
WHEREVER THEY TOOK THE ARK DESTRUCTION FOLLOWED TILL THEY FOUND A HOLY MAN
1 SAMUEL 6:19-21
And he smote the men of Bethshemesh, because they had looked into the ark of the LORD, even he smote of the people fifty thousand and threescore and ten men: and the people lamented, because the LORD had smitten many of the people with a great slaughter.
20 And the men of Bethshemesh said, Who is able to stand before this holy LORD God? and to whom shall he go up from us?
21 And they sent messengers to the inhabitants of Kirjathjearim, saying, The Philistines have brought again the ark of the LORD; come ye down, and fetch it up to you.
1 SAMUEL 7:1-6
1 ¶ And the men of Kirjathjearim came, and fetched up the ark of the LORD, and brought it into the house of Abinadab in the hill, and sanctified Eleazar his son to keep the ark of the LORD.
2 And it came to pass, while the ark abode in Kirjathjearim, that the time was long; for it was twenty years: and all the house of Israel lamented after the LORD.
3 ¶ And Samuel spake unto all the house of Israel, saying, If ye do return unto the LORD with all your hearts, then put away the strange gods and Ashtaroth from among you, and prepare your hearts unto the LORD, and serve him only: and he will deliver you out of the hand of the Philistines.
4 Then the children of Israel did put away Baalim and Ashtaroth, and served the LORD only.
5 And Samuel said, Gather all Israel to Mizpeh, and I will pray for you unto the LORD.
NOW 2 SAMUEL 6:1-17
1 ¶ Again, David gathered together all the chosen men of Israel, thirty thousand.
2 And David arose, and went with all the people that were with him from Baale of Judah, to bring up from thence the ark of God, whose name is called by the name of the LORD of hosts that dwelleth between the cherubims.
3 And they set the ark of God upon a new cart, and brought it out of the house of Abinadab that was in Gibeah: and Uzzah and Ahio, the sons of Abinadab, drave the new cart.
4 And they brought it out of the house of Abinadab which was at Gibeah, accompanying the ark of God: and Ahio went before the ark.
5 And David and all the house of Israel played before the LORD on all manner of instruments made of fir wood, even on harps, and on psalteries, and on timbrels, and on cornets, and on cymbals.
6 ¶ And when they came to Nachon’s threshingfloor, Uzzah put forth his hand to the ark of God, and took hold of it; for the oxen shook it.
7 And the anger of the LORD was kindled against Uzzah; and God smote him there for his error; and there he died by the ark of God.
8 And David was displeased, because the LORD had made a breach upon Uzzah: and he called the name of the place Perezuzzah to this day.
9 And David was afraid of the LORD that day, and said, How shall the ark of the LORD come to me?
10 So David would not remove the ark of the LORD unto him into the city of David: but David carried it aside into the house of Obededom the Gittite.
11 And the ark of the LORD continued in the house of Obededom the Gittite three months: and the LORD blessed Obededom, and all his household.
12 ¶ And it was told king David, saying, The LORD hath blessed the house of Obededom, and all that pertaineth unto him, because of the ark of God. So David went and brought up the ark of God from the house of Obededom into the city of David with gladness.
13 And it was so, that when they that bare the ark of the LORD had gone six paces, he sacrificed oxen and fatlings.
14 And David danced before the LORD with all his might; and David was girded with a linen ephod.
15 So David and all the house of Israel brought up the ark of the LORD with shouting, and with the sound of the trumpet.
16 And as the ark of the LORD came into the city of David, Michal Saul’s daughter looked through a window, and saw king David leaping and dancing before the LORD; and she despised him in her heart.
17 And they brought in the ark of the LORD, and set it in his place, in the midst of the tabernacle that David had pitched for it: and David offered burnt offerings and peace offerings before the LORD.
50,670 MEN FROM BETHSHEMEH DIED JUST FOR PEEPING INTO THE ARK
THEN IT WAS KEPT IN THE HOUSE OF ABINADAB FOR 20 YEARS INSTEAD OF ITS NORMAL PLACE IN THE MIDST OF THE TABERNACLE BETWEEN THE CHERUBIMS
AFTER WARDS DAVID DECIDED IT WAS TIME TO RETURN THE ARK TO THE TABERNACLE
CAN YOU BELIEVE WHAT THEN HAPPEENED TO UZZAR WHO HAD LIVED WITH THE ARK IN HIS FATHER’S HOUSE FOR 20 YEARS?
HE STILL COMMITTED THE TERRIBLE ERROR OF TRYING TO HELP THE ARK OF THE COVENANT FROM FALLING OFF THE CART
HE WAS STRUCK DEAD AND DAVID UNDERSTOOD THAT GOD WAS STILL ANGRY AND SENT THE ARK TO THE HOUSE OF OBEDEDOM FOR ANOTHER THREE MONTHS
DAVID COULD HAVE KEPT THE ARK IN HIS OWN HOUSE ,BUT HE WAS TOO UPSET WITH THE LORD FOR KILLING UZZAR
8 And David was displeased, because the LORD had made a breach upon Uzzah: and he called the name of the place Perezuzzah to this day.
9 And David was afraid of the LORD that day, and said, How shall the ark of the LORD come to me?
DAVID WAS UPSET AND AFRAID ,BUT OBEDEDOM WAS NOT ,SO HE GOT BLESSED
JESUS SAYS BLESSED ARE ALL THOSE WHO ARE NOT OFFENDED IN HIM
MATHEW 11:1-6
Now when John had heard in the prison the works of Christ, he sent two of his disciples,
3 And said unto him, Art thou he that should come, or do we look for another?
4 Jesus answered and said unto them, Go and shew John again those things which ye do hear and see:
5 The blind receive their sight, and the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed, and the deaf hear, the dead are raised up, and the poor have the gospel preached to them.
6 And blessed is he, whosoever shall not be offended in me.
WHO CAN UNDERSTAND OUR GOD INDEED?HIS WAYS ARE PAST KNOWNG
BUT WHAT CONCERNS US NOW IS THAT HIS SPECIAL PRESENCE IS WITH US THIS YEAR AND WE NEED TO GUARD THAT PRESENCE VERY VERY VERY JEALOUSLY
WE ARE TO SET VERY HEALTHY BOUNDARIES BETWEEN US AND THE PRESENCE OF GOD AROUND US
DON’T GET TOO COMFORTABLE,DON’T BE TOO FAMILIAR WITH GOD’S PRESENCE:
JOSHUA 3
¶ And Joshua rose early in the morning; and they removed from Shittim, and came to Jordan, he and all the children of Israel, and lodged there before they passed over.
2 And it came to pass after three days, that the officers went through the host;
3 And they commanded the people, saying, When ye see the ark of the covenant of the LORD your God, and the priests the Levites bearing it, then ye shall remove from your place, and go after it.
4 Yet there shall be a space between you and it, about two thousand cubits by measure: come not near unto it, that ye may know the way by which ye must go: for ye have not passed this way heretofore.
5 And Joshua said unto the people, Sanctify yourselves: for to morrow the LORD will do wonders among you.
6 And Joshua spake unto the priests, saying, Take up the ark of the covenant, and pass over before the people. And they took up the ark of the covenant, and went before the people…………………………….13 And it shall come to pass, as soon as the soles of the feet of the priests that bear the ark of the LORD, the Lord of all the earth, shall rest in the waters of Jordan, that the waters of Jordan shall be cut off from the waters that come down from above; and they shall stand upon an heap.
14 ¶ And it came to pass, when the people removed from their tents, to pass over Jordan, and the priests bearing the ark of the covenant before the people;
15 And as they that bare the ark were come unto Jordan, and the feet of the priests that bare the ark were dipped in the brim of the water, (for Jordan
hat the waters which came down from above stood and rose up upon an heap very far from the city Adam, that is beside Zaretan: and those that came down toward the sea of the plain, even the salt sea, failed, and were cut off: and the people passed over right against Jericho.
17 And the priests that bare the ark of the covenant of the LORD stood firm on dry ground in the midst of Jordan, and all the Israelites passed over on dry ground, until all the people were passed clean over Jordan.
LET’S NOW STAND UP TO READ PS 51 AND PRACTISE GOD’S PRESNCE TODAY
