The Tent of Meeting

Last week, the Lord led me to 1 Samuel 5 when the Philistines took the Ark of the Covenant from Israel. They carried the Ark into Dagon’s Temple in Ashdod and left it there. Early the next morning, they entered into the temple of Dagon and saw that the idol was bowed before the Ark of the Lord! They took Dagon and put the idol back in its place. When they arose the next morning, they saw Dagon again before the Ark of the Lord, except this time, its head and hands were missing. Finally, the Lord sent disaster upon the Philistines, and they had tumors that were so horrific they ( the people of Ashdod) decided to send the Ark of the Lord to Gath, but then they too broke out in tumors. The people of Gath then sent it to Ekron. Ekron begged them to return it to Israel as death had already entered that city, and they were afraid that more would come. They, too broke out in painful tumors. 

When the Lord led me to this, I began to see a pattern emerge. First, the Philistines took the Ark of the Covenant FROM Ebenezer, which translated means “stone of help” to their Philistine city called Ashdod, which means “stronghold”. There is a vast difference between the stone of help and a stronghold. Strongholds imprison! After Ashdod, the Philistines sent it to another city of theirs called Gath,which means “winepress”. The crushing and pressing occurred. After Gath, they sent the Ark of the Lord to Ekron, which means “uprooting”. This is where we are finishing. 

The Lord revealed that in this season, it has felt like we went from the stone of help to a stronghold. Some circumstances made the Body and Bride of Christ question if they had done something wrong. However, just like the last prophetic word I shared about untethering from the old, the Lord is doing a continuous work in His People. Yes, you have felt the weight of all you had to carry, but the last part is the uprooting of old thoughts and systems that have held you back. It is a full circle journey because just as the Ark of the Lord returned to its rightful place, so are you. This detour was deliverance, not destruction. What felt like a delay was preparation to carry a better seed. The uprooting was needed. 

When I think about how the Philistines worshipped, it was on their knees, sitting back, or head down. The tumors that are described are said to be hemorrhoids. Can you imagine the pain of kneeling with these excruciating tumors? Still, God gave the enemies a chance. First, he had the idol in a worship position towards the Ark, then cutting off its head was significant in Philistine culture as the head was known as the power, authority and seat of wisdom and the hands were known for works. This is because Dagon was considered to be in charge of the crop of fertility and grain. The Lord resorted to the tumors when the message was not received. What was the message? That God is the seat of wisdom, had all power and all authority to take a stone idol and make it do what He wants it to. Then He showed how He could destroy the idol, and lastly, he afflicted those who worshipped the idol and considered God one of many gods. (Dagon was made of stone and it was a stone to the forehead that took Goliath, a Philistine, down, and cutting off his head finished the job. Yet it was the stone that rolled away that gave us the better foundation!)

The Lord said, “Nicole, share this with the Body of Christ. “I am making the enemy return what has been stolen, for those he used to steal it have seen that it only brings trouble when they lack the authority to carry it. Yes, I say unto you that I am cutting off their heads (authority) and their hands (false works) for they have set themselves as idols with hearts made of stone, but it is the cornerstone that will shatter their glass houses until all is exposed and seen. Put down your stones of accusation, for I am dealing with them in this hour. Do not let their blood be on your hands. Instead, let My Blood speak the Word and cover you. For I have seen all that has worked against you,” says the Living God. “And I will give you justice! Are my scales not balanced? Are My ways not Wise? Why do you continue to roll in mud when I have given you My Palace as your portion? I say to you, live holy, live purely, and watch as my limitless power moves beyond the pale.”

I had to look up “beyond the pale” since I have never heard it before. It actually means “offensive” or “unacceptable”. This is the next part of the Word of the Lord. His power will be offensive to the religious spirit in this hour because the spirit of religion relies on hierarchy, systems of control, and limitations. Our God is a God of limitless power and authority, and you are chosen by Him. Be aware that the spirit of religion has become bolder because of platforms that give them microphones rather than mantles and allow them to condemn those who wear His Crown because they don’t like the skin you are in. Fear not, they are tares, and they are being sifted which is why there is such an attack by this brood of vipers.

As the Lord continues to move in your life remember the better covenant. Inside of the Ark of the Lord were the 10 commandments, a jar of manna, and the rod of Aaron who was a high priest. Now, Jesus has written the law of Love on our hearts through relationship with Him, He is the Bread of Life on which we feast, and He is also our High Priest through the order of Melchizedek. He is the Ark and we are His Tabernacle where He resides. This is why when two or more are gathered, it becomes the Tent of Meeting. Let us lay down the stones of retaliation, for we have the cornerstone, the Rock on which we stand. Instead, we wield the sword of His Spirit which is the Word of the Lord. The Lord will deal with them. For now, let us prepare ourselves like the Bride He has called us to become.