As we approach the time of the Feast of Tabernacles we reflect on the time when the people of Israel experienced the presence of God with them for forty years. That time was prophetic and a type of the days of the Kingdom of God on earth (Deuteronomy 8:4). We also think about the coming of Jesus Christ as the Word made flesh. And the Word became flesh, and did tabernacle among us, and we beheld his glory, glory as of an only begotten of a father, full of grace and truth (John 1:14, YLT).
John the Baptist came before Christ preparing the people for His coming. His message was one of repentance. “THE VOICE OF ONE CRYING IN THE WILDERNESS, ‘MAKE READY THE WAY OF THE LORD, MAKE HIS PATHS STRAIGHT. ‘EVERY RAVINE SHALL BE FILLED UP, AND EVERY MOUNTAIN AND HILL SHALL BE BROUGHT LOW; AND THE CROOKED SHALL BECOME STRAIGHT, AND THE ROUGH ROADS SMOOTH; AND ALL FLESH SHALL SEE THE SALVATION OF GOD’” (Luke 3:4b–6, NASB).
Instead of thinking about paving a nice highway for the coming of the Lord I started thinking about the areas of my own heart that must be prepared for His coming. I thought of the valleys as the areas where I realize that I lack and I must receive from Him. The mountains and hills made me think about the areas where I tend to be so assured of what I know that they actually limit the coming of the Lord to completely fill my heart. Let this time of preparation before the Feast of Tabernacles be effective as the Holy Spirit reveals to us the valleys that must be filled up and the mountains that must be brought low.
Isaiah 40:3-5
Colossians 1:25-27
Galatians 4:19
Ephesians 3:19-21
2 Thessalonians 1:10
2 Corinthians 4:7