Women In Waiting

Bob Neumann

July 9, 1999

I had been in prayer for a long period without any strong leadings by THE MOST HOLY SPIRIT. I was in that “quiet place” when I heard a soft murmur of voices. At 3–4 a.m. my house should be quiet, so I stepped into the hallway and into the second heaven.

I found myself standing along the wall of a small and crowded room. It looked like I had walked into a “Pajama Party/Sleep Over” circa biblical era. The first thing I noticed was the lack of TV, VCR, Microwave Popcorn, Telephone, etc., which made this definitely a spiritual/unnatural event.

The second thing I noticed was the Daughter of Zion and her HOPE CHEST, which was pushed up against the wall below an opening which passed for a window. Instead of the flowing white gown and the gown of gold I have seen her in, she wore only a coarse shift. Very demure, and obviously the fashion statement of the day because all the “young ladies” were similarly dressed. I call them “young” because they were. Probably not much more than 13-16 as best I could tell. Of course, back in the first century girls were married off young.

Then again in “Christian America” few virgins could be found over 16 anyway. (Most of them would be ugly boys.) Well I thought it a good place for bad humor, on my part. For in a very nontechnical vision of a “joyful” event, this had to be the nicest place I have ever been short of ABBA’S THRONE and the third heaven.

The room was filled with giggles and laughter, and I felt like I had been eavesdropping when I felt the nudge of THE MOST HOLY SPIRIT say. Count them. So I did there were eleven young women, with ten surrounding the Daughter of ZION. Somewhere along the line I began to hear snatches of conversation. It took little time to realize that the Daughter of ZION was talking about the coming WEDDING. What was quickly obvious was that none of the TEN had ever seen the BRIDEGROOM. I listened as she described my MASTER in glowing details to the “ooh’s” and “ahhh’s” of the Maidens. It also was obvious that few were overly interested in the information she was trying to share. After a while the girls turned in. All had bed robes and lamps, few had been lit.

Bad sign I thought. I wondered how long had they been out of oil. As the night filled with the sounds of sleeping females I watched one small figure steal away from the group and take a seat on the HOPE CHEST. As she placed a lit lamp on the window sill I watched the bland shift turn into the GOWN OF WHITE.

I watched as her hands raised and eyes closed. As her lips trembled and the ROOM FILLED with the scent of LILIES AND ROSES, I watched tiny tears stream from her eyes. I did not notice my own tears till I felt a hand brush my cheek. Along side me stood THE RUACH. THE MOST HOLY SPIRIT. Dressed in a plain brown robe THE MOST HOLY gently whispered. SHEMUEL, DO YOU UNDERSTAND WHAT YOU SEE? The answer seemed simple. THE BRIDE had made herself ready. and she is calling out for her BELOVED.

WE BOTH ARE WARRIOR. THAT MEANS YOUR DAY HAS COME. ARE YOU READY? NO ANSWER WAS NEEDED BECAUSE MY SPIRIT MAN WAS FILLED WITH THE SONG OF THE LAMB. And I began to sing to HIS BRIDE. DAUGHTER OF ZION, WHY DO YOU WEEP? THE BRIDEGROOM COMES JUST AS HE SAID. HE’S GIVEN HIS WORD, HIS PROMISE HE’LL KEEP. EVEN IF YOUR MAIDENS ARE ASLEEP IN THEIR BEDS. KNOWING HE’S COMING KEEPS YOU FROM SLEEP.

OH DAUGHTER OF ZION, REJOICE NOW THIS NIGHT! YOUR HEART IS BROKEN, FRAGRANT AND PURE. THE KING NOW COMES IN GLORY AND MIGHT. TO WHISK YOU AWAY, THAT YOU CAN BE SURE HE WILL SING OF HIS LOVE AS YOU DANCE IN THE LIGHT.

OH DAUGHTER OF ZION, PROVEN AND TRIED! YOU WERE PURCHASED WITH SUCH A GREAT PRICE IT WAS FOR YOU THAT HE SUFFERED AND DIED, LAID IN THE TOMB WITH OILS, ALOE AND SPICE. THEN RISING TRIUMPHANT, HE WILL NOT BE DENIED. SO DAUGHTER OF ZION QUICKLY HE COMES TO TAKE YOU AWAY AND MAKE YOU HIS BRIDE NOTHING CAN KEEP HIM FROM COMING TO YOU FOR HE PROMISED YOU’LL REIGN AT HIS SIDE SO ALL MAY KNOW ALL HE SAID IS NOW TRUE. OH DAUGHTER OF ZION, WHO STANDS IN HIS LIGHT, CLOTHED IN GLORY AND WALKING UPRIGHT. THE KING OF GLORY AND POWER AND MIGHT KNOWS HOW LONG YOU’VE FOUGHT THE GOOD FIGHT, COMES NOW JUST LIKE A THIEF IN THE NIGHT.

And as the song ended so did the vision. But not my tears.

Selah

Old Dog