Those whose god is themselves have created "the desolation of many generations." Yet they will cry "peace and safety" even when every area of human endeavor has been hopelessly corrupted and people are wallowing in their lusts, as is happening today in America. Every form of worldliness, lust, and self-seeking will increase until the Lord Jesus comes with His saints.

The Lord alone shall be exalted in the day of redemption.

We are drawing near to the coming of the Lord. The coming of the Lord will usher in the day of redemption. The day of redemption will be characterized by the fierce onslaught of Christ and His saints. The earth will be invaded. Every government shall bow before the Son of God or be crushed with the rod of iron. The kingdoms of this world shall become the Kingdom of our God and His anointed.

The hymns of today are hymns of war. The tambourines are playing in unison. The banners are raised upward in the worship of the King and then hurled downward to portray the utter destruction of the enemy. The parade of flags around the assembly is welcoming the King of all kings. Every meeting is Palm Sunday, as it were.

One may wonder why—if a needy world awaits the righteousness, peace, and joy, that can come only from the Lord Jesus Christ through His saints—why are we spending valuable time playing tambourines, waving banners, carrying flags, and dancing before the Lord? It is because this is the way God works. Righteousness and praise must go before the army of the Lord or God's people will be defeated. God must be pleased before any victory can be won, and there must be holiness in the camp as we know from the incident concerning Achan.

Notice carefully the following verse:

And when the camp setteth forward, Aaron shall come, and his sons, and they shall take down the covering vail, and cover the ark of testimony with it: (Numbers 4:5)

The children of Israel, with Judah (meaning praise) leading the way, marched forward against the enemy. Real men fought with sharp swords and much blood was shed. But in the meantime certain procedures concerning the holy things of the Tabernacle had to be followed with exceedingly great care, such as covering the Ark of the Covenant with the Veil that separated the Holy Place from the Most Holy Place.

We may think we are ready to march against the enemy that holds mankind in chains. But God requires actions on the part of the "priesthood," the "Levites," the singers and so forth. At this time we cannot understand the reason for the specific services that were performed in association with the Tabernacle of the Congregation, even in the day of war. But we must realize that the battle was then and is now the Lord's. If we are to be successful we must look up to Jesus and follow His directions carefully.

To be continued.