Prepare the Way

What's Prepare the Way?

In days past, a King in victory would announce himself coming prior to going past an area. What people would do is to lower the mountains (places of idols altars) and fill up the valley (places of idols sacrifice) to make the road flat. Then they would redo the terrain and make the way straight so that the King and His train (officials, soldiers, captives, spoils) can go through. It's a victory laps.

Who shall carry the call?

Mark 1:1–8

1

The beginning G746 the G3588 of G2098 gospel G2098 of Jesus G2424 Christ, G5547 the Son G5207 of God; G2316

2

As G5613 it is written G1125 in G1722 the G3588 prophets, G4396 Behold, G2400 I G1473 send G649 my G3450 messenger G32 before G4253 thy G4675 face, G4383 which G3739 shall prepare G2680 thy G4675 way G3598 before G1715 thee. G4675

A Word is given

3

The voice G5456 of one crying G994 in G1722 the G3588 wilderness, G2048 Prepare ye G2090 the G3588 way G3598 of the Lord, G2962 make G4160 his G846 paths G5147 straight. G2117

we are commanded to Prepare the Way

4

John G2491 did G1096 baptize G907 in G1722 the G3588 wilderness, G2048 and G2532 preach G2784 the baptism G908 of repentance G3341 for G1519 the remission G859 of sins. G266

Why in the wilderness and not in the city? Because sin has created stronghold that makes it
God's tabernacle used to dwell with Israel in the beginning and was later moved outside of the camp of Israel after much sin entered their camp.
When the Israelites complained, God sent snakes and causes many to perish. They cried out to Moses who cried out to God. God told Moses to life a snake outside of the Camp. Those who went out and see the snake (in their pain and suffering) were healed. (Numbers 21#6; John 3#14 likened to how we are saved by putting our faith in Chris)
Christ did healed a blind man but he pulled him outside of the camp (add address here)
The Repentance that John preach requires proof before baptism is applied. (1) They left their camp to go to the wilderness and (2) They have to bring a proof of repentance. Much of the church today lack the proof of repentance. Repentance means to turn away from sin as much as turning to God.

5

And G2532 there went out G1607 unto G4314 him G846 all G3956 the G3588 land G5561 of Judaea, G2449 and G2532 they of Jerusalem, G2415 and G2532 were G907 all G3956 baptized G907 of G5259 him G846 in G1722 the G3588 river G4215 of Jordan, G2446 confessing G1843 their G846 sins. G266

Here is the result of Obidience

6

And G1161 John G2491 was G2258 clothed with G1746 camel's G2574 hair, G2359 and G2532 with a girdle G2223 of a skin G1193 about G4012 his G846 loins; G3751 and G2532 he did eat G2068 locusts G200 and G2532 wild G66 honey; G3192

Camel's hair, a girdle of skin were the attire of the prophet Elijah whom Jesus likened John too.
Camel's hair are rarely used at the time; it's are much more uncomfortable than linen at the time. so is the girdle. Most of use would not eat The Locust or the wild honey --> Part of the outward working of Repentance is to afflict oneself (taking away your own comfort)
However, Camel's hair keeps you warmer in the cold whether of the wilderness and cooler in the heat of the day. --> It's peculiar that the thing that many overlooked, even steer clear from, are beneficial in the eyes of God.
Had John not inflicted himself by wearing camel's hair he might not have survived the wilderness.
Locusts are food that are Clean to eat according to the Law of Moses. They represent the overlooked things.
Wild Honey are sweet the taste yet bitter in the stomach. This represent the Word of God.
What does John represent then? Those who are called to prepare the way? Is that not us?

7

And G2532 preached, G2784 saying, G3004 There cometh G2064 one G3588 mightier than G2478 I G3450 after G3694 me, G3450 the G3588 latchet G2438 of whose G3739 shoes G5266 I am G1510 not G3756 worthy G2425 stoop down G2955 and G3089 to unloose. G3089

8

I G1473 indeed G3303 have baptized G907 you G5209 with G1722 water: G5204 but G1161 he G846 shall baptize G907 you G5209 with G1722 the G4151 Holy G40 Ghost. G4151

He's announcing the King to come in the process of preparing the way

Wisdom

The way is prepared even before the king arrive. We're not supposed to wait around. We are called to ushered (find the reference) in the Kingdom of God. But who shall carry this good news? Those who are willing to inflict themselves, to look for the overlooked things and love the Word of God will then be ready to carry this call.

Seek understanding and obey the call. He who is faithful will give you his Grace to see you through.

Be of Good Courage

2 Samuel 10:4–5 – Hanun humiliates David’s servants

1

And it came to pass H1961 after this, H310 that the king H4428 of the children H1121 of Ammon H5983 died, H4191 and Hanun H2586 his son H1121 reigned H4427 in his stead. H8478

2

Then said H559 David, H1732 I will shew H6213 kindness H2617 unto H5973 Hanun H2586 the son H1121 of Nahash, H5176 as H834 his father H1 shewed H6213 kindness H2617 unto me. H5978 And David H1732 sent H7971 to comfort H5162 him by the hand H3027 of his servants H5650 for H413 his father. H1 And David's H1732 servants H5650 came H935 into the land H776 of the children H1121 of Ammon. H5983

3

And the princes H8269 of the children H1121 of Ammon H5983 said H559 unto H413 Hanun H2586 their lord, H113 Thinkest H5869 thou that David H1732 doth honour H3513 thy father, H1 that H3588 he hath sent H7971 comforters H5162 unto thee? hath not H3808 David H1732 sent H7971 his servants H5650 unto H413 thee, to H5668 search H2713 the city, H5892 and to spy it out, H7270 and to overthrow H2015 it? H2015

4

Wherefore Hanun H2586 took H3947 David's H1732 servants, H5650 and shaved off H1548 the H853 one half H2677 of their beards, H2206 and cut off H3772 their garments H4063 in the middle, H2677 to H5704 their buttocks, H8357 and sent them away. H7971

5

When they told H5046 unto David, H1732 he sent H7971 to meet H7125 them, because H3588 the men H582 were H1961 greatly H3966 ashamed: H3637 and the king H4428 said, H559 Tarry H3427 at Jericho H3405 until H5704 your beards H2206 be grown, H6779 and return. H7725

David had no ill-intention yet the princes were easily persuaded and deceived. They lacked discernment for who David is. --> train your Discernment.
They cut off half of their beards and garments show disrespect towards their strength and dignity

6

And when the children H1121 of Ammon H5983 saw H7200 that H3588 they stank H887 before David, H1732 the children H1121 of Ammon H5983 sent H7971 and hired H7936 the Syrians H758 of Beth-rehob, H1050 and the Syrians H758 of Zoba, H6678 twenty H6242 thousand H505 footmen, H7273 and of king H4428 Maacah H4601 a thousand H505 men, H376 and of Ish-tob H8147 twelve H6240 thousand H505 men. H376

7

And when David H1732 heard H8085 of he sent H7971 Joab, H3097 and all H3605 the host H6635 of the mighty men. H1368

8

And the children H1121 of Ammon H5983 came out, H3318 and put the battle H4421 in array H6186 at the entering in H6607 of the gate: H8179 and the Syrians H758 of Zoba, H6678 and of Rehob, H7340 and Ish-tob, H2897 and Maacah, H4601 by themselves H905 in the field. H7704

The children of Ammon called upon the nations to go against David the King so he sent Joab.

9

When Joab H3097 saw H7200 that H3588 the front H6440 of the battle H4421 was H1961 against H413 him before H6440 and behind, H268 he chose H977 of all H3605 the choice H977 of Israel, H3478 and put in array H6186 against H7125 the Syrians: H758

10

And the rest H3499 of the people H5971 he delivered H5414 into the hand H3027 of Abishai H52 his brother, H251 that he might put in array H6186 against H7125 the children H1121 of Ammon. H5983

11

And he said, H559 If H518 the Syrians H758 be too strong H2388 for H4480 me, then thou shalt H1961 help H3444 me: but if H518 the children H1121 of Ammon H5983 be too strong H2388 for H4480 thee, then I will come H1980 and help H3467 thee. H3467

12

Be of good courage, H2388 and let us play the men H2388 for H1157 our people, H5971 and for H1157 the cities H5892 of our God: H430 and the Lord H3068 do H6213 that which seemeth H5869 him good. H2896

Notice that they draw upon the choice men of Israel. That means they have already trained up even before they were called upon. If we start training when we are called, it might be too late. Wisdom is to prepare even beforehand.
To stand against the Nation, Joab and Abishai rely also upon one another. They have a strategy for battle.
Think about Abraham men (find the reference). Abraham brought 300 men against 10,000. He fought against multiple kingdom. Mind you these kingdom fought the Giants to get into the land (Find the reference). Yes, the Lord were with them. But would untrained men have the courage to carry the call?
How about David and Goliath? He refused to take the king's armor and choose to take the equipment that he's used to. (likely his shepherd staffs and the slingshot) Is he an untrained kid? No. This brother fought the lions and bears, fam!!
YET, being trained doesn't mean everything. When Gideon called upon Ephraim to fight the Midian and ... (Find the reference), although they were trained with the bow refused the called. Thus, they did not join in the glory of the battle.
Notice he said "Let the Lord do that which seemed good to Him" after preparing for war and just before he's about to fight the enemy. We the church often think that we just need to wait and let the Lord take everything back for us. Yet, THAT'S NOT GOD'S WAY. WAKE UP

13

And Joab H3097 drew nigh, H5066 and the people H5971 that H834 with H5973 him, unto the battle H4421 against the Syrians: H758 and they fled H5127 before H6440 him. H6440

Joab started the battle here while the Syrians were just waging war.

14

And when the children H1121 of Ammon H5983 saw H7200 that H3588 the Syrians H758 were fled, H5127 then fled H5127 they also before H6440 Abishai, H52 and entered H935 into the city. H5892 So Joab H3097 returned H7725 from H5921 the children H1121 of Ammon, H5983 and came H935 to Jerusalem. H3389

15

And when the Syrians H758 saw H7200 that H3588 they were smitten H5062 before H6440 Israel, H3478 they gathered themselves H622 together. H3162

16

And Hadarezer H1928 sent, H7971 and brought out H3318 the Syrians H758 that H834 beyond H5676 the river: H5104 and they came H935 to Helam; H2431 and Shobach H7731 the captain H8269 of the host H6635 of Hadarezer H1928 before H6440 them. H6440

17

And when it was told H5046 David, H1732 he gathered together, H622 all Israel H3478 and passed over H5674 Jordan, H3383 and came H935 to Helam. H2431 And the Syrians H758 set themselves in array H6186 against H7125 David, H1732 and fought H3898 with H5973 him. H5973

18

And the Syrians H758 fled H5127 before H6440 Israel; H3478 and David H1732 slew H2026 seven H7651 hundred H3967 chariots H7393 of the Syrians, H758 and forty H705 thousand H505 horsemen, H6571 and smote H5221 Shobach H7731 the captain H8269 of their host, H6635 who died H4191 there. H8033

19

And when all H3605 the kings H4428 servants H5650 to Hadarezer H1928 saw H7200 that H3588 they were smitten H5062 before H6440 Israel, H3478 they made peace H7999 with H854 Israel, H3478 and served H5647 them. So the Syrians H758 feared H3372 to help H3467 the children H1121 of Ammon H5983 any more. H5750

David the King came in after and finished the battle that started by Joab his servant.
700 chariots is the number of a decisive and complete breaking of enemy power.
40,000 horsemen is the number of complete dispersion of the opposing forces.
The enemy is now put under Dave's feet.

Wisdom

There are times when trouble come by no cause, even from those who you called friend. By lack of discernment, the nations are deceived. Nations shall called upon nations to stand up against The Lord and His Kingdom (and us). What shall we do? Like David sent Joab. He has sent us forth. Are we trained? Can we fight Giants and Mighty men? Be of Good Courage!

Luke 10:4 – Sent out two by two, taking nothing

4

Carry G941 neither G3361 purse, G905 nor G3361 scrip, G4082 nor G3366 shoes: G5266 and G2532 salute G782 no man G3367 by G2596 the G3588 way. G3598

Luke 22:35 – “When I sent you without purse, bag, or sandals, did you lack anything?”

35

And G2532 he said G2036 unto them, G846 When G3753 I sent G649 you G5209 without G817 purse, G905 and G2532 scrip, G4082 and G2532 shoes, G5266 lacked ye G5302 any G3361 thing? G5100 And G1161 they G3588 said, G2036 Nothing. G3762

Luke 22:36 – “Let the one who has no sword sell his cloak and buy one.”

36

Then G3767 said he G2036 unto them, G846 But G235 now, G3568 he that G3588 hath G2192 a purse, G905 let him take G142 and G2532 likewise G3668 scrip: G4082 and G2532 he that G3588 hath G2192 no G3361 sword, G3162 let him sell G4453 his G846 garment, G2440 and G2532 buy one. G59