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"For though thy people Israel be as the sand of the sea, yet a remnant of them shall return: the consumption decreed shall overflow with  righteousness. For the Lord God of hosts shall make a consumption, even determined, in the midst of all the land." [Isaiah 10:22-23]. 

            The Hebrew word for consumption is "kalah" and literally means: to end, be finished, a completion. While betimes it is also used in the sense of destruction, it is with a view of bringing something to a complete end. Thus, while there are judgments to be endured, and processings which will bring man to the end of self, nevertheless this is all used to prepare the way for when it shall OVERFLOW WITH RIGHTEOUSNESS. When all iniquity has come to an end then only righteousness shall remain and flourish to the glory of God.                                
            At the risk of being repetitious, we quote again, "I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the Lord, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end." [Jeremiah 29:11].
            Amplified, "Thoughts and plans for welfare and peace, and not for evil, to give you hope in your final outcome."
            Rotherham, "Plans of welfare, and not of calamity, to give you a future and a hope."
            The end of all things is not a writhing torment in some eternal fire to burn forever, with God providing some miraculous body that is not consumed, so that the torment might continue perpetually. This is not God's thoughts toward man. Such thoughts have sprung out of the carnal mind, and do a gross injustice to the love and mercy of God, and are blasphemous toward His nature and character. His thoughts toward men are of PEACE, to bring all iniquity to an end, and then after that end, a new hope, a future, His glorious life.
            When the Son has reigned until all enemies are subdued under His feet, and "The last enemy that shall be destroyed is death," [1 Corinthians 15:26], then it is self-evident that no other enemies exist. All is conquered, all is subdued, all is brought into the harmony of His rule and authority.
            Then, "ln the end the whole of created life will be rescued from the tyranny of change and decay, and have its share in that magnificent liberty which can only belong to the children of God." [Romans 8:21, Phillips].
            Regardless of man's carnal theology, regardless of his warped and perverted doctrines, this shall not change God's plans, nor alter that which He has purposed. "The Lord of hosts hath sworn, saying, Surely as I have thought, so shall it come to pass; and as I have purposed, so shall it stand." [Isaiah 14:24].
            "For He will finish the work, and cut it short in righteousness: because a short work will the Lord make upon the earth." [Romans 9:28]. He will finish the work, He will bring it to the full, to a completion, and it will be done "IN RIGHTEOUSNESS." Furthermore, He will "cut it short." This phrase comes from the Greek word "suntemno," to cut off at once. When the time has come for iniquity to end, and His righteousness to overflow, God's action will be swift and conclusive. The time may seem long, and the years may roll by in succession, but there is an appointed time in His purpose when He shall finish, cut it short, and victory shall be realized. It is because man knows not the times arid seasons of His plan, that it appears endless to us. But full well our God knows the end from the beginning.
            This is true both in respect to the overall plan and purpose of the ages, as well as for the more intermediate events and times which He has marked out for us, such as the ending of this particular age in which we live. "And except those days should be shortened, there should no flesh be saved: but for the elect's sake those days shall be shortened." [Matthew 24:22]. Here we have a different Greek word for "shorten," being "koloboo," and quite literally meaning: to amputate.
            No need to expand at length on the pressures which necessitate this urgent action, suffice it to say that "for the elect's sake" these days will be amputated, they will not be unduly prolonged.
            For the Lord shall rise up as in mount Perazim, He shall be wroth as in the valley of Gibeon, that He may do His work, His strange work; and bring to pass His act, His strange act. Now therefore be ye not mockers, lest your bands be made strong: for I have heard from the Lord God of hosts a consumption, even determined upon the whole earth." [Isaiah 28:21-22].
            Many workings, many acts, and through the ages they are unfolded and brought to pass. But God also has "A COMPLETION, EVEN DETERMINED UPON THE WHOLE EARTH." It is a strange work, a strange act― and men have not been able to discern nor figure it out. Only in the measure that HE imparts a divine revelation by His Spirit, do men gain insight into His secrets. But He does refer back to a previous working, something He did in mount Perazim, and in the valley of Gibeon.
            In 2 Samuel 5:20, after David had been anointed king over all Israel, the Philistines came against him, spread out in the valley of the giants, and David enquired of the Lord, "Shall I go up to battle," and the answer came, "Yes." So David went forth to battle, and won, and called the name of the place Baal-perazim, or literally, lord of the breaches. For, he said, "The Lord hath broken forth upon mine enemies before me, as the breach of waters."
            Marvellous! One of God's strange works is how He can sovereignly make a breach in the enemy opposition, and open up away where there seems to be no way, so that we might pass through the midst and gain the victory. He made a breach, He opened the way through the Red Sea and led His people forth through the waters. Mountains on either side, the enemy pushing hard behind them, and the waters before them― and God made a breach, opened the way through the waters. A generation later they came to the river Jordan, with the promised land on the other side, and again God made a breach, opening the way through the waters, until they had passed clean over Jordan.
            Truly our God is LORD OF ALL, and part of His unusual workings is to make a breach, an opening, away through the wilderness, through the waters, through the trial, when all seems so very hopeless― yes, HE BREAKS THROUGH, and leads us forth triumphantly.
            But never will there be a breach made as glorious as that which He has yet purposed, as we read, "We don't know what we shall become in the future. We only know that, if reality were to break through, we should reflect His likeness, for we should see Him as He really is!" [1 John 3:2, Phillips]. WHEN REALITY BREAKS THROUGH― that is the victory we are waiting for! And He is going to OPEN THE WAY for us to partake of the fulness of redemption. We have an hope firmly anchored beyond the veil, but that veil shall be OPENED, and then shall we SEE HIM AS HE REALLY IS.
            Not only did the Lord rise up with a strange work in mount Perazim, to give a break through, but He also had a strange act, He was wroth in the valley of Gibeon.
            Although sorely beaten in the first round of battle, the Philistines came up yet again, and spread themselves in the valley of Rephaim (or, of the giants). So David enquired of the Lord, will this be a repeat of last time? Shall I go up again? But the answer was, No. There was a whole new plan, for God had another strange act to fulfill. This time, "fetch a compass behind them, and come upon them over against the mulberry trees. And let it be, when thou hearest the sound of a going in the tops of the mulberry trees, that then thou shalt bestir thyself: for then shall the Lord go out before thee, to smite the hosts of the Philistines." [2 Samuel 5:23-24]. And so it was, a Divine outworking that put the enemy to flight, and David gained a tremendous victory. Whether it is a breakthrough, or whether God comes up from behind and routs the enemy, the victory is secure, for HE is LORD! He is Conqueror of all!
            One other historical record of a strange work in the valley of Gibeon. When the five kings of the Amorites came against Gibeon, and Joshua, because of the league he had made with the inhabitants of Gibeon, so he had to come to their rescue, God gave Joshua a tremendous victory over these five kings. And it was so, that while they were pursuing the enemy, and night was coming on, that Joshua waxed bold, "And he said in the sight of Israel, Sun, stand thou still upon Gibeon; and thou, Moon, in the valley of Ajalon. And the sun stool still, and the moon stayed, until the people had avenged themselves upon their enemies. ― So the sun stood still in the midst of heaven, and hasted not to go down about a whole day." [Joshua 10: 12-13]. God did a very strange work, "And there was no day like that before it or after it, that the Lord hearkened unto the voice of a man: for the Lord fought for Israel."
            Yes, God has appointed some glorious BREAK THROUGHS for His people, times when He will come up behind the enemy and put them to flight, and He also controls the TIME― so that we learn to wait for His timing, as David did when he listened for the moving in the tops of the mulberry trees. Not only do we DO IT GOD'S WAY, we also must do it GOD'S TIME. And then He can either shorten the time, or lengthen it, if necessary, until the victory is realized. God's strange work and act will always confound the enemy, and bring forth "judgment unto victory;" and  it will end in righteousness!
            We are well admonished not to mock nor scoff. "Because sentence against an evil work is not executed speedily, therefore the heart of the sons of men is fully set in them to do evil." [Ecclesiastes 8:11]. Seems we often feel, Lord, they have done an evil work, so let them reap what they sow, RIGHT NOW. Speedily let them get their due. But God has great patience, even to allow the sons of men to run their course, and seemingly without the deterrent of swift judgment. Nevertheless God has decreed a consumption, a completion, an end, when He will judge the world in righteousness, and establish His kingdom.
            "Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful." [Psalm 1:1]. You might not understand what all God has purposed and planned. But "Be ye not mockers, lest your bands be made strong; for I have heard from the Lord God of hosts a completion, even determined upon the whole earth." [Isaiah 28: 11]. So though we do not presently see it, we dare not make light of it.
            Peter wrote that "There shall come in the last days scoffers, walking after their own lusts, and saying; Where is the promise of His coming? for since the fathers fell asleep, all things continue as they were from the beginning of creation." [2 Peter 3:3-4].
            What makes you think there will be a bend in the road? What makes you think that God will do a strange act, and bring in the kingdom age? Thus the carnal mind mocks at the hope of the believer. But HIS WORD standeth sure, and He hath declared that there shall come an end― an end to iniquity, and then righteousness shall overflow.
            "Weeping may endure for a night, but joy cometh in the morning." Psalm 30:5]. JOY― from a Hebrew word meaning: triumphant proclamations of victory. The night might seem dark and long, and our tears flow as a river, but there will be a MORNING, the dawning of a new day, even the Day of the Lord, when there shall be rejoicing, shouts of victory, for HE will cause His people to prevail over all their adversaries.
            Surely, "The secret of the Lord is with them that fear Him; and HE WILL SHEW THEM HIS COVENANT." [Psalm 25:14]. He stands in a covenant relationship with His people. He ratified it by an oath. "Because He could swear by no greater, He sware by Himself." [Hebrews 6:13]. Men have to swear by something greater than themselves, so they invoke the help of a higher power, to make up for their lack. But there is none greater than our God. And when He would confirm His promise by an oath, He literally interposed Himself, He placed Himself between the promise and the people, to become the FULFILLER OF THE PROMISE.
            For in His covenant, God promises for both Himself and for us, saying, "I WILL….THEY SHALL."  Pledging His Word for both Himself and for His creation. "I WILL put My laws into their mind, and write them on their hearts: and I will be to them a God, and THEY SHALL be to Me a people." [Hebrews 8:10]. Thus He becomes both the Author and the Finisher of our faith. He writes His laws into our heart and mind, and then He comes to dwell within us by His Spirit to live out the fulfillment thereof. He moves upon us by His Spirit, and we come to a place of surrender, and then He lives out through us the reality of that surrender. We cannot do this in ourselves, but HE DOES IT THROUGH US. "The life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, arid gave Himself for me." [Galatians 2:20]. Truly it is GOD ALL THE WAY!
            Such love of God for His creation is hard for the natural man to understand. "And the Pharisees and the scribes murmured, saying, This Man receiveth sinners..." [Luke 15:2].  They could not comprehend a love that was able to receive that which was unlovely. So Jesus went on to give them three of the most beautiful parables, of the lost sheep, the lost coin, and the lost (prodigal) son.
            Though there were ninety and nine sheep safe in the fold, because there was yet one sheep that was lost, the shepherd went searching for it, and when he found it, he brought it back with rejoicing, saying, "Rejoice with me; for I have found my sheep which was lost." Significant in this that it is the SHEPHERD'S JOY, not the sheep's joy that is recorded. The lost did not come to the shepherd, and rejoice because he had found the shepherd. Rather, the shepherd went out and sought for the lost sheep, and when he had found it, HE REJOICED. His plan was fulfilled the way He purposed it. "Likewise, I say unto you, there is JOY in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner that repenteth. [Luke 15:10].
            Balak had hired Balaam to come and curse Israel for him, but Balaam was so dealt with by God, that he declared, "Behold, I have received commandment to bless: and HE HATH BLESSED; and I cannot reverse it. He hath not beheld iniquity in Jacob, neither hath He seen perverseness in Israel: the Lord his God is with him, and the shout of a king is among them." [Numbers 23:20-21].
            It was THE LORD who had "met Balaam, and PUT A WORD IN HIS MOUTH," (verse 16), and so Balaam could only utter that which God had placed within him. Right here we see the glorious ministry of reconciliation, "not imputing their trespasses unto them...." [2 Corinthians 5:19].
            There is no doubt about the iniquity and perverseness. Jacob was a supplanter, a conniver, a deceiver. And all his seed have also sinned and come short of the glory of God. But God has commanded a blessing, not a cursing, and He does not impute their trespasses unto them. "For I will be merciful to their unrighteousness, and their sins and their iniquities will I remember no more." [Hebrews 8:12].
            Herein is grace in glorious operation. That God can take that which is unlovely, perverse, self-centered, and view it for the vessel which He shall bring forth when He has purged and purified and made it anew to His praise.
            Curse Israel for their iniquity, man cries out, but the answer comes back, don't curse them, bless them― speak well of them, tell of the new creation that shall be brought forth when the Jacob-nature is replaced with the Divine nature. For, "The Lord his God is with him, and the shout of a king is among them." HE who is King of kings and Lord of lords will lead His people out of the wilderness of sin, and into the new land where righteousness overflows, where they shall not hurt nor destroy. Praise God!
            "Behold the tabernacle of God is with men, and He will dwell with them, and they shall be His people, and God Himself shall wipe away all tears from their eyes, and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away. And He that sat upon the throne said, Behold, I make all things new." [Revelation 21:3-5].
            Here is a victory that is "exceeding abundantly above all that we can ask or think." [Ephesians 3:20]. The bondage of vanity, the tyranny of change and decay, the horror of corruption and death, shall be ended. GOD HIMSELF shall wipe away all tears from their eyes. HE shall cause righteousness to fill the universe. Then shall we know the reality of that promise, "Where sin abounded, grace did much more abound: that as sin hath reigned unto death, even so might grace reign through righteousness unto eternal life by Jesus Christ our Lord." [Romans 5:20-21].
            We have seen sin abound. The reports of evil fill the newscasts. One can give their attention to this negativism until it fills their vision, and all they can see is the evil everywhere. Yet, it is clearly written, where sin abounds, "GRACE DOTH MUCH MORE ABOUND." Thus, there is a new perspective for the child of God. LOOK FOR THE ABOUNDING GRACE! It is there, it is even now abounding, it goes before us to bring us into the totality of His life where righteousness overflows.
            Christendom is well aware of the scripture foretelling that, "There shall be signs in the sun, and in the moon, and in the stars; and upon the earth distress of nations, with perplexity; the sea and the waves roaring; men's hearts failing them for fear, and for looking after those things which are coming on the earth…" [Luke 21:25-26]. Looking for all these things is enough to quail the spirits of the stout-hearted. Doom, despair, and misery; the more men look after these things, the more negative they become. All they can see is that "sin aboundeth." Yet there is another view set before us, a divine vision that ought to fill our consciousness, knowing that "GRACE ABOUNDETH MORE." Therefore we ought to be "looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life." [Jude 21], because HE shall bring us out of the darkness and into His light; out of the death-realm and into His life; out of earth's sorrow and into His joy, for truly, "The kingdom of God is not meat and drink; but righteousness, and peace, and joy in the holy Spirit." [Romans 14:17].
            "As for me, I will behold Thy face in righteousness: I shall be satisfied, when I awake, with Thy likeness." [Psalm 17:15]. Herein was the positive assurance of the Psalmist, not just that he would behold Him who is righteous, but that while he beholds His face, the Psalmist himself will be IN RIGHTEOUSNESS. If you are not "in righteousness," you cannot behold His face. No man can look upon the face of God and live, unless he is pure as He is pure. The realms of wickedness, "The Lord shall consume with the spirit of His mouth, and shall destroy with the brightness of His coming." [2 Thessalonians 2:8]. But they who have been
purged and purified and made white, shall stand before Him. Indeed, He is able "to keep you from falling, and to present you faultless before the presence of His glory with exceeding joy." [Jude 24].
            We shall be satisfied because we shall be IN HIS LIKENESS, of the same state, conformed to His image, partaking of His divine nature, and clothed with a body like unto His glorious body, for we shall be "IN RIGHTEOUSNESS."
            Righteousness does not consist in DOING righteousness, but in BEING righteous, it is a STATE OF BEING, ''as He is." So when He brings an end, a completion to the present state of evil, and righteousness shall overflow, it bespeaks of a condition when all men are made righteous. That they then shall DO righteousness is self-evident, because all their doing shall spring forth out of their state of being. A righteous nature can only produce righteous acts. It is a new creation species that is lifted into the heavenlies to be seated with Christ. And they who are seated in the heavenlies with Him are partakers of a life that has never sinned, it is HIS LIFE, reproduced in men.
            He that is IN CHRIST, is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new." [2 Corinthians 5:17]. Everyone becomes holy as He is holy, pure as He is pure, perfect as He is perfect. Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect. [Matthew 5:48].
            God does not tantalize nor mock us! He does not set before us a vision that cannot be realized. However lofty and high it appears to us at present time. However low we seem to dwell, and marvel at the span between. Nevertheless, HE "is the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End, the Author and the Finisher of our faith, and HE shall bring us into this new state of being. Thy people also shall be ALL RIGHTEOUS: ...the work of My hands, that I may be glorified." [Isaiah 60:21].
            For it is by faith that we await in His Spirit the righteousness we hope to see." [Galatians 5:5, Phillips]. We have an expectation, a hope, of being all righteous, filled with His life. Faith, which maintains an eye single to Him, looks for this grace which is abounding more.
            Until the Spirit be poured upon us from on high then judgment shall dwell in the wilderness, and righteousness remain in the fruitful field. And the work of righteousness shall be peace; and the effect of righteousness quietness and assurance for ever." [Isaiah 32:15-17].
 

To overflow with righteousness,
How precious is the word,
Beyond the creeds and platitudes
Which men so oft' have heard.
To be as pure as He is pure,
A nature so divine,
We praise God for His judgments now,
To purge and to refine.
To overflow with righteousness,
This hope we now embrace,
And rest assured that it shall be
For every tribe and race.
 

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(1)  Prinzing, Ray and Doris. WHISPERS OF HIS JUDGMENTS. (now out of print), Boise, Idaho 83705}

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