WHEN GOD AWAKENS – Entering The Year 2021 - Paul M Hanssen
The Almighty Ancient of Days, the Living God, needs no rest. He has no bed into which He lies down. He that watches over His people neither slumbers nor sleeps (Psalm 121:4). The LORD of hosts is forever alert, awake, conscious, and active.
With all of this being true, God does however retreat. There are numerous examples that are given throughout the Word of God when God was ‘silent’. There are other times in which He did not respond to the plea and prayer of His people due to His fierce displeasure. There are examples of God’s glory departing from His temple which was His holy habitation among men. However, these periods of His retreat were mostly short-lived. The day always arrived when God ‘awakened’, stirred Himself, and arose.
Then the Lord awaked as one out of sleep, and like a mighty man that shouteth by reason of wine. (Psalm 78:65)
Psalm seventy-eight is a Maschil Psalm of Asaph. A Maschil Psalm is an instructive lesson. It is a Psalm that was written to teach wisdom. A Maschil Psalm is a poetic form of teaching. Psalm seventy-eight is a Maschil Psalm that provides us with an instructive overview of the nation of Israel’s history beginning with their deliverance from Egypt and ending with the establishment of the Kingdom on Zion through David.
Somewhere in the middle of this incredible instructive story, God’s glory departed from Israel. At this point, Israel had claimed the Land of Canaan. Shiloh had become the center of religious activity and government. The Tabernacle of Moses had been raised in Shiloh and remained there for approximately 370 years. Toward the end of this time period, Samuel was the judge and the prophet of Israel, whilst simultaneously Eli was the high priest. Samuel was the final of the fifteen judges of Israel, before the period of the Kings began and before the Kingdom of God was established in Zion. In other words, the time when God’s glory departed was a period of transition and change that was beginning to take place in Israel. God was about to lead His nation into a new era. But before God brought about this transformation, He withdrew Himself and went into exile.
So that he forsook the tabernacle of Shiloh, the tent which he placed among men; And delivered his strength into captivity, and his glory into the enemy's hand. (Psalm 78:60-61)
For almost seventy years the Ark of God, along with God’s glory presence remained in exile in the house of a man named Abinadab (1 Samuel 7:1). At the end of this seventy-year time period, God called a shepherd boy named David and raised him up to become the King of Israel.
It was then, at the beginning of David’s reign, that the LORD awakened. What that means is that God was now ready to return to His people and cause the nation to cross the threshold of transition into the time of the establishment of His Kingdom. Every time God is about to do a new thing, or when He is about to move in a particular way, He awakens and stirs Himself, as it were.
And the LORD shall inherit Judah his portion in the holy land, and shall choose Jerusalem again. Be silent, O all flesh, before the LORD: for he is raised up out of his holy habitation. (Zechariah 2:12-13)
Awake, why sleepest thou, O LORD? arise, cast us not off for ever. Arise for our help, and redeem us for thy mercies' sake. (Psalm 44:23.26)
This thou hast seen, O LORD: keep not silence: O LORD, be not far from me. Stir up thyself, and awake to my judgment, even unto my cause, my God and my LORD. (Psalm 35:22-23)
Awake, awake, put on strength, O arm of the LORD; awake, as in the ancient days, in the generations of old. Art thou not it that hath cut Rahab, and wounded the dragon? (Isaiah 51:9)
(all highlights added by the author)
Whenever God awakened, stirred Himself, and arose, it was always in defense of His people. It was also during the periods of Israel’s history when great and mighty things were about to occur. God awakened for the purpose of transitioning His people. He awakened to perform wonders. He stirred Himself to reveal His glory presence. He arose to manifest His power. It was precisely during one such awakening that God raised up David. Through David, the Kingdom of God was established in Zion. Through David, the nation was given a shepherd to lead and to feed them. Through David the Ark of God was restored to Israel and God’s glory presence once again dwelt among them.
Moreover he refused the tabernacle of Joseph, and chose not the tribe of Ephraim: But chose the tribe of Judah, the mount Zion which he loved. And he built his sanctuary like high palaces, like the earth which he hath established for ever. He chose David also his servant, and took him from the sheepfolds: (Psalm 78:67-70)
I believe that 2021 is going to be a year when the remnant church will witness the awakening of God. When God awakens, He refuses the old orders and establishes the new. As God awakens in this season, He will choose Judah worshippers to arise. As God awakens, Zion will be established within the hearts of His people. When God awakens, He will cause ‘Davids’ to awaken. As ‘Davids’ arise in this generation, a new army of worshipping warriors will emerge. As the ‘Davids’ stir themselves and arise, a move of God will be seen and experienced in the land. God’s glory presence will return, and with the glory will come a sweep of revival. This revival will not be like past revivals. It will be an unexplained, an unexpected, and a supernatural move of God’s Spirit awakening the hearts of His people.
I have much more to say about this matter. However, for now, I want to encourage the called, chosen, and the faithful (Revelation 17:14) to join themselves to the awakening and stirring of the hand of God. He has chosen Judah, He has chosen Zion, and He has chosen David. Arise! Arise worshipping warriors! Usher in the RETURN OF GOD’S GLORY PRESENCE! (Acts 3:19).
Pastor Paul M Hanssen