"And I heard a great voice out of heaven saying, Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and He will dwell with them, and they shall be His people, and God Himself shall be with them, and be their God." (Revelation 21:3).

         The years slip by and the processing seem unending, how we yearn for the fulfillment of the vision which He has imparted-- that He purposes to dwell with man in reality. From Genesis to Revelation the promise is given, sometimes spoken of directly, and sometimes alluded to in parable, to challenge us to continue to follow the vision-- to press toward the mark, and in HIS time enter into the joy of our Lord, and the fullness of His life. Here is the ultimate goal of God's purpose being wrought out through the ages -- TO bring forth man in His own image. Here is the victory of the Redeemer! A people, in whom, and with whom He can dwell. We are to ABIDE IN HIM, even as He will ABIDE IN US. All of the processing which we have endured are to this end, that God will not only dwell with men, but in a permanent relationship which shall satisfy His heart, as well as fill every longing within our own heart. God speaks very loudly in His action, in His works. What He does is a revelation of His inner thought, will, and purpose. And when He opens our eyes to see, we shall bow low before Him, to worship Him for all that He is.
         The Scripture begins, "In the beginning God. .." The Book/Bible is about God, it is not about demons, Satan, etc. Negatives are allowed, spoken of, and brought to our attention only as they are used by God for the outworking of His purpose. Whatever happens; good or evil, easy or hard, they are appointed to reveal more of His plan for the ages. Jesus admonishes us to "Seek ye first the kingdom of GOD, and His righteousness." (Matthew 6:33). We seek for His Divine Government/Kingdom, and all these other things will be added as they are needed for the accomplishment of His will in us. The more we see Him "In the beginning," the more we will also see Him "In the ending," and will acknowledge that it has been, and is GOD ALL THE WAY. All of the various happenings are recorded as window/glimpses of God in the demonstration of His power, love, mercy, righteousness, etc. Our very first reaction to any circumstance should be "WHAT DOES GOD PURPOSE IN THIS." Our story is found in HIS STORY-- how precious are the workings of His grace.
         Beginning with the observation that first of all it is GOD, in all of His Godshipness (if such a word could be coined) , the next thing we see is the fact that God is our Creator-- "In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth. And the earth was without form, and void; and darkness was upon the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters." (Genesis 1:1-2). There is so much truth and mystery contained in these two verses-- and right now we shall leave them with the Revelator-- what He quickens is ours to receive, and what He wraps up in the shroud of mystery will remain to await another day of quickening.
         This wee glimpse we have received-- The Scriptures begin with God creating the heaven and the earth. Then something happened, for we read that "the earth was without form, and void; and darkness was upon the face of the deep," Jeremiah said, "I beheld the earth, and, lo, it was without form, and void; and the heavens, and they had no light." (Jeremiah 4:23). But Isaiah takes us back even further, and says, "For thus saith the Lord, that, created the heavens; God Himself that formed the earth and made it; He hath established it, He created it not in vain, He formed it to be inhabited: I am the Lord; and there is none else." (Isaiah 45:18). What happened between the time God created the heavens and earth and it became void, we know not, but He did not create it in vain (void) so something caused it to become that way. But this much we are beginning to see, GOD was/is responsible for it becoming dark, empty, etc. and for the distinct purpose that HE  might move upon it, and bring forth a new creation for His glory and His praise. He created it to be inhabited-- and HE is now brooding over a people that shall ultimately inhabit it with Him. "Blessed are the meek: for they shall inherit the earth." (Matthew 5:5). And He is bringing forth "a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of Him who hath called you out of darkness into His marvelous light." (1 Peter 2:9).
         Suffice it for now to see that THE WORK IS HIS, that He is the Doer, the Creator, and truly "God has known from all eternity what He does today." (Acts 15:18. Knox Trans.).  "According to the purpose of Him who worketh all things after the counsel of HIS own will." (Ephesians 1:11).
         So we pick up with the statement, "And the Spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters." Moved-- the Hebrew word is "rachaph," and speaks of a brooding, cherishing, vivifying action. While the creature remains utterly helpless, God remains very near. And let it be clear in our own heart, the creature begins nothing, continues nothing, perfects nothing. But whenever there is a change, the AGENT IS ALWAYS THE WORD OF GOD. The first move, or initiative, is always on His part. Each degree of transformation is the work of the Word in us, and its extent is in proportion to the revelation we receive from Him. He speaks, and His Word produces what He determines.
         The Spirit of God is, was, and always will be a continuous movement. There " is never any stagnation in Him. HE IS LIFE! "And the Spirit of God moved f upon the face of the waters." Literally it speaks of the BROODING PRESENCE OF GOD hovering over His creation to bring forth life. Same word is used by Moses in Deuteronomy 32:11, where Jehovah is represented as having found Israel "in a waste, howling wilderness;" and then, "as an eagle stirreth up her nest, fluttereth over her young, spreadeth abroad her wings," so also God raised up and protected His people. We find this allegory so precious-- and brooding presence of God, fluttering over us-- emanating life with love and protection, tenderness and care. Certainly there will be those times of discipline, correction, etc. but always with a view towards the ultimate result of oneness with Him as He draws us to Himself.
         A brief thought in regards to the Spirit being "on the move"-- the Word is clear, HE goes before us to direct our path. "When He putteth forth His own sheep, He goeth before them, and the sheep follow Him." (John 10:4). It is equally true that He is behind us. John had a tremendous experience of coming to grips with the Lord behind him. "Heard behind me a great voice, as of a trumpet." (Revelation 1:10). Why behind him? Because, like as for Israel, we cannot make good progress and truly see God in all of our future, in the positive unfolding of His plan and purpose, until we also see Him in all of our past. HE must needs come between us and our past, regardless of how dark that path seemed to be. We do learn that HE is in control of all our yesterdays, our to days, as well as all of our tomorrows.
         And it is also true that HE guards both sides of us-- "And thine ears shall hear a word behind thee, saying, This is the way, walk ye in it, when ye turn to the right hand, and when ye turn to the left." (Isaiah 30:21). He surrounds us, hovers over us, and is constantly watching over us, even when we cannot see Him there,  as Job tells us-- "On the left hand, where He doth work. ..on the right hand, that I cannot see Him." (Job 23:9). Often times He blinds our eyes, for He would have us walk by faith-- but ever He's with us,  nourishing, protecting, and leading us from victory to victory.
         How precious is the promise that-- "He shall cover thee with His feathers,  and under His wings shalt thou trust. His truth shall be thy shield and thy buckler. Thou shalt not be afraid for the terror by night; nor for the arrow that flieth by day." (Psalm 91:4-5).This expresses divine security, shelter, sureness, going far beyond our words to convey the blessedness of His keeping. Covered by God whatever evil befalls us, whatever negatives come our way, they are purposed by God for our ultimate good. How we need to have our hearts focused on this reality, for it is GOD that overshadows us-- brooding over us until He has completed a work within us that shall redound to His praise. Christ must come first, first, and first again. "He is before all things, and by Him all things consist. -That in all things He might have the preeminence." (Colossians 1:17-18).
         In bringing Israel forth from the land of Egypt, "The Lord went before them by day in a pillar of a cloud, to lead them the way; and by night in a pillar of fire, to give them light; to go by day and night." (Exodus 13:21). To be led by God day and night is a wondrous thing- -to have Him go before them to show them the way. But there was much more to come, for Pharaoh was not yet willing to have them leave, and he sent his host, chariots, horses, etc. to pursue after them. Then "The angel of God, which went before the camp of Israel, removed and went behind them: and it came between the camp of the Egyptians and the camp of Israel." (Exodus 14:19-20). OVERSHADOWED, FLUTTERED OVER BY THE PRESENCE OF GOD-- He was between His people Israel and the Egyptians. He was their shield and buckler! The adversary could not come nigh the Israelites, for they could not push their way through the presence of God which served as a wall of protection-- the defending angel was between pursuer and the pursued.
         God's promise unto Israel was-- "My presence shall go with thee, and I will give thee rest." (Exodus 33:14). Herein is a promise what sends a yearning deep into our being. There is a "brooding presence" here that defies our word and thought. The manifestation of His presence all during their time in the wilderness was there in a manner that was wondrous to behold. With His presence manifested as a cloud which served both as direction, going before them and directing their way day by day,  and as protection, removing occasionally to come behind them and protect them from their enemies. It also protected them in another way for it shaded them from the scorching sun, and occasionally afforded them refreshing dews. And then by night the pillar of fire to give them light, and also whatever degree of warmth that was necessary. Drawing from the record of this, the Psalmist refreshes us with the reminder-- "The Lord is thy Keeper: the Lord is thy shade upon thy right hand. The sun shall not smite thee by day, nor the moon by night. The Lord shall preserve thee from all evil." (Psalm 121:5-7).Praise God!
         "Thou wilt shew me the path of life: in Thy presence is fullness of joy; at Thy right hand there are pleasures for evermore." (Psalm 16:1). We may not have a visible "cloud" of His presence, but surely HE is ever with us. He said, "I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee:" (Hebrews 13:5).
         Now, that which was without form, void, engulfed in darkness, is then to have the Spirit brooding over this chaos to bring forth light. One thing is certain, God antedates the void and darkness-- HE WAS/IS light long before there was/is a darkness to contend with. Whatever chaotic conditions evolved, He knew He could BROOD OVER IT ALL and bring forth light and life.
         "I form the light, and create darkness: I make peace, and create evil; I the Lord do all these." (Isaiah 45:7). Sometimes we cry out, "Lord, why the darkness? Why the void? Why the "without form?" And He says to us, "Have patience, My child, I will brood over it, My presence shall cover it, and I will bring to birth that which I have purposed."
         The Egyptian bondage was grievous, the pressure, the stress, the excessive slave labor challenge. Negative conditions that are hard to comprehend. But God is ready to brood over it all. One cannot see what is forming, taking shape in the darkness. And when there are sudden throes of travail, some very awesome birth pangs (we refer to them as the ten plagues), it seems to be more like death, than an emerging deliverance. But God says we are to hold steady, He will brood over it all, and birth a new day of victory, as He doth cherish and nurture us.
         And now we can see what Isaiah meant when he said, "In all their affliction He was afflicted, and the Angel of His presence saved them; in His love and in His pity He redeemed them; and He bare them, and carried them all the days of old." (Isaiah 63:9). How often has the ANGEL OF HIS PRESENCE come between us and the tension, the pressures, grief of this world, and we are spared an overwhelming blow from the negative realm. He is our Redeemer,
        He lifts us up, He carries us all the way through until He has brought us to the place prepared for us. Ever we see the work is His-- and it depends not on what man can do, nor what the world affords, all our provision is found in Him!
        Yes, in spite of all the emptiness, the void, the chaotic happenings that seem to strip us so severely, we also can declare: "Although the fig tree shall not blossom, neither shall fruit be in the vines; the labour of the olive shall fail, and the fields shall yield no meat; the flock shall be cut off from the fold, and there shall be no herd in the stalls: Yet I will rejoice in the Lord, I will joy in the God of my salvation. The Lord God is my strength, and He will make my feet like hinds' feet, and He will make me to walk upon mine high places." (Habakkuk 3:17-19). The victory in us is always HIS! In our shortsighted view, we are prone to "blame the devil" or whatever, for the negatives in our life, but we do well to see that they are not only God-allowed, but God-appointed, and He will MOVE upon us until He has brought forth that which He has purposed-- anew creation.
         "Behold, I send an Angel before thee, to keep thee in the way, and to bring thee into the place which I have prepared." (Exodus 23:20).
         "I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also." (John 14:2-3).
         There is a place prepared for us. But might we also say, there shall be a people prepared for that place. And it takes these many pressures of the day to shapen, polish, strip away the old, and clothe us with the new. It is recognizing this necessity that Paul faced up to the thorn given for the flesh, and found a realm of peace and victory in the grace of God. "He said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for My strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me." (2 Cor. 12:9). Note the phrase, "may rest upon me." The Greek word is  "episkenoo" meaning "to tabernacle on." It speaks of the panoply of God, the power/presence of God forming a magnificent covering over us. We thrill to the strength imparted to us when He overshadows us with His brooding presence-- what excitement when His glory is revealed-- but what about the arena of weakness which prepares us for that unveiled glory? Ah, we must accept the infirmities if we would have the power of Christ to REST UPON US-- flutter over us, move upon us, cherishing and vivifying!
         The coverings of God are manifold, and we use many allegories and symbols to express and tell of His overshadowing, both from the negative as well as the positive. Paul did not call it his "dark night of the soul," but he did call it a "thorn for the flesh." He experienced the times of weakness, and he experienced God's all-sufficient grace, and the power of Christ that RESTED upon him, covered him through it all. Let God call for the darkness and strip us to nothing, afterwards shall come the glory of GOD'S PRESENCE to bring us into anew realm of life and victory.
         David gradually learned about God's control over the dark until he could say, "He made darkness pavilions round about him, dark waters, and thick clouds of the skies." But this was not the end of the processing, for he went on to say, "Thou art my Lamp, O Lord; the Lord will lighten my darkness." (2 Samuel 22:12). David knew that GOD'S BROODING PRESENCE could hover over every dark situation and use it to birth a triumph that would ultimately reveal the positive blessings of God, but even more, he knew that GOD was responsible for the darkness. "He sent darkness, and made it dark." (but He also) "Brought forth His people with joy, and His chosen with gladness." (Psalm 105: 28, 43).
         In view of this awesome truth how meaningful is the word that Isaiah spoke, "For, behold, the darkness shall cover the earth, and gross darkness the people." This is nought but the handiwork of God. There is a purpose being wrought which staggers the imagination. Set the stage for a manifestation of God's glory. How? By covering the earth, and the people, with intense darkness. And then KNOW that the brooding presence of God will overshadow this negativity, and "The Lord shall arise upon thee, and His glory shall be seen upon thee. And the gentiles (nations) shall come to thy light, and kings to the brightness of thy rising." (Isaiah 60:2-3). Darkness is but a means to an end. In the final outworking it will be joy unspeakable and full of glory.
         Change the metaphor for a brief moment, the Psalmist says that Israel bore the testimony that "Many a time have they afflicted me from my youth: yet they have not prevailed against me. The plowers plowed upon my back: they made long their furrows. (But) the Lord is righteous." (Psalm 129:2-4).
         The situation was very dark-- the adversaries were plowing some deep, long furrows. Yet let it all happen as God purposes, for the darkness is not the final word. The deep furrows plowed upon us, while grievous to endure, are not the end of the matter. THE LORD IS RIGHTEOUS, and He will turn the darkness to dawning of anew day. He will sow His seed into the plowed furrows, and bring forth a crop that glorifies Him through it all. What we need to do is WAIT PATIENTLY while God's presence broods over us, because He has a light, life, glory to be revealed which exceeds our comprehension.
         When Moses knew he was coming to the end of his earthly sojourn, he spoke specific blessings upon each tribe of Israel. We note this one. "And of Benjamin he said, The beloved of the Lord shall dwell in safety by him; and the Lord shall cover him all the day long, and he shall dwell between his shoulders." (Deut. 33:12). What security, as the Lord COVERS him, holding him close-- between His shoulders-- the intimate presence of the Lord. It also blends in the thought of love-- of which we also read of John, "Now  there was leaning on  Jesus'  bosom one of His disciples whom Jesus loved." (John 13:23). Here is a covering greatly to be desired-- the love of God!
         "His banner over me was love." (Song of Solomon 2:4). The banner, the standard-- bespeaks of identification. When He places HIS BANNER over us He draws us into His love, we are numbered as one of His own, we belong to the God of the banner, the standard that covers us. "Thou hast given a banner to them that fear thee, that it may be displayed because of the truth." (Psalm 60:4). "Yea, He loved the people; all His saints are in Thy hand." (Deut. 33:3).
         Blend all these precious truths together-- the darkness is controlled by  Him who turns it into light. The banner/covering/ standard identifies us in His love. His overshadowing presence broods upon us until He has brought forth a people for His praise.
         Now, briefly apply these precious truths and promises to your own situation and processing. The dark times are predestined for our good. The devil is not to blame, he did not turn out the light. God sent the darkness and betimes He covers us with it so that He might work in secret that which will ultimately redound to His glory. Then He covers us with His love. Indeed, "The Lord hath appeared of old unto me, saying, Yea, I have loved thee with an everlasting love: therefore with loving-kindness have I drawn thee." (Jer.31:3). One thing is certain, the brooding presence of God is a covering of LOVE, love that never faileth. Nor does any shroud of darkness take away, or minimize that love-- indeed, it only serves to enhance and magnify His love, while He perfects that which concerneth us. God is bringing to birth a new creation with whom He shall be able to dwell, and with whom He can express His love in unlimited measures.
         "He hath clothed me with the garments of salvation, He hath covered me with the robe of righteousness." (Isaiah 61:10).
 "He loveth righteousness and judgment: the earth is full of the goodness of the Lord." (Psalm 33:5).
         Among the many coverings spoken of in the Word, the robe of righteousness, is certainly essential if we would fellowship with Him. His holiness, His standard of righteousness, is included in the BANNER that is given to cover us, and to identify us as belonging to HIS kingdom. No darkness is able to diminish or depreciate His righteousness. It is a robe that cannot be torn or corrupted, because it is HIS holiness, not something of our own making. When He has finished brooding over us we will have a spotless robe. For He shall clothe us with salvation, and we shall be changed-- changed into His image-- becoming lights that shine undaunted. We have cringed at the darkness surrounding, for little did we understand that it is GOD in control as He works out His purpose of the ages. But the facts remain-- GOD is GOD-- our CREATOR-- and He can use the raw material of darkness, chaos, void, and bring forth anew creation. Far beyond what we can ask or think His brooding presence cherishes, vivifies, undergirds and overshadows. praise God!

                                                      Darkness-- gross darkness-- 'Tis a product of His making,
                                                      Awesome truth He is revealing, He hath purposed for His using.
                                                      He shall move upon the waters, fill the void, and flutter o'er it.
                                                      Brooding Presence-- hope abounding, night endures the time of weeping.
                                                      But there's joy reserved for morning, out of darkness comes a dawning.
                                                      Glory spreading o'er His people, to His praise we bow in worship.

        God be praised-- His plan is perfect, He shall birth anew creation. And the dark, it holds such promise! fear no more the bleak and barren. Brooding Presence shall accomplish far more than we ask or think. Amen!
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(1)Prinzing, Ray and Doris "Letters of Truth"  Boise, Idaho 83705, P.O. Box 5822

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