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| 1 Ask ye of the LORD rain in the time of the latter rain; so the LORD shall make bright clouds, and give them showers of rain, to every one grass in the field. |
Showers of rain – Truth. B256
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| 2 For the idols have spoken vanity, and the diviners have seen a lie, and have told false dreams; they comfort in vain: therefore they went their way as a flock, they were troubled, because there was no shepherd.
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| 3 Mine anger was kindled against the shepherds, and I punished the goats: for the LORD of hosts hath visited his flock the house of Judah, and hath made them as his goodly horse in the battle. |
The shepherds – Greedy, ignorant, lazy teachers. F287
In the battle – The time of trouble. D527
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| 4 Out of him came forth the corner, out of him the nail, out of him the battle bow, out of him every oppressor together. |
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| 5 And they shall be as mighty men, which tread down their enemies in the mire of the streets in the battle: and they shall fight, because the LORD is with them, and the riders on horses shall be confounded. |
And they – Verses 5 to 12 evidently apply to the second advent. R2124:5
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| 6 And I will strengthen the house of Judah, and I will save the house of Joseph, and I will bring them again to place them; for I have mercy upon them: and they shall be as though I had not cast them off: for I am the LORD their God, and will hear them. |
House of Joseph – Not mentioned as antagonistic or a rival kingdom to Judah or Ephraim, but as unitedly sharing divine favor--of the same kind and at the same time. R2124:5
Not cast them off – The Lord assures Israel that the coming favor will be to both, and to all the tribes. R2124:5
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| 7 And they of Ephraim shall be like a mighty man, and their heart shall rejoice as through wine: yea, their children shall see it, and be glad; their heart shall rejoice in the LORD. |
They of Ephraim – Christendom. D22
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| 8 I will hiss for them, and gather them; for I have redeemed them: and they shall increase as they have increased. |
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| 9 And I will sow them among the people: and they shall remember me in far countries; and they shall live with their children, and turn again. |
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| 10 I will bring them again also out of the land of Egypt, and gather them out of Assyria; and I will bring them into the land of Gilead and Lebanon; and place shall not be found for them. |
The land of Egypt – The kingdom of darkness. F458
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| 11 And he shall pass through the sea with affliction, and shall smite the waves in the sea, and all the deeps of the river shall dry up: and the pride of Assyria shall be brought down, and the sceptre of Egypt shall depart away. |
Through the sea – The coming time of anarchy. D596
River shall dry up – "The sixth angel poured out his vial upon the great river Euphrates, and the water thereof was dried up." (Rev. 16:12) R1371:6
And the sceptre – Right to rule. B83
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| 12 And I will strengthen them in the LORD; and they shall walk up and down in his name, saith the LORD. |
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