Every downcast face, every darkness in my face, and all features of the evil one in it, shall disappear. I shall be given a face like the face of my fathers, lifted up with honor, shining with grace, decent with gentleness and a living stone of witness.
I offered my back to those who beat me, my cheeks to those who pulled out my beard; I did not hide my face from mocking and spitting. Therefore, I have set my face like flint and I know I will not be put to shame.
My forehead is like adamant stone before my enemies and the seal of the redeemed protects me. My temples behind my veil are like the halves of a pomegranate.
Now lets go over it again, part by part with related scriptures.
Every downcast face.
Genesis 4:6
Then the Lord said to Cain, “Why are you angry? And why has your countenance fallen?
Every darkness in my face
Numbers 6:25
The Lord make His
face shine on you,
And be gracious to you;
Romans 11:10 (When the eyes are darkened, the face is in turn darkened)
“Let their eyes be darkened to see not,
And bend their
backs forever.”
And all features of the evil one in it
Numbers 13:33
There also we saw the Nephilim (the sons of Anak are part of the Nephilim); and we became like grasshoppers in our own sight, and so we were in their sight.”
1 Samuel 17:11
When Saul and all Israel heard these words of the Philistine, they were dismayed and greatly afraid.
1 Samuel 17:24 (The features of the evil one in the face of evil people are indeed dreadful)
When all the men of Israel saw the man, they fled from him and were greatly afraid.
Shall disappear
Psalm 51:7
Purify me with hyssop, and I shall be clean; Wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow.
[ Repentance changes the features of the face because it changes the heart of man. The early fathers of the Church teach us that the image of God in Man has been distorted as a result of the fall; and so Man was no more ‘in God’s image and likeness’ (Genesis 1:26-27). However, through baptism, repentance, and sanctification process, the first image is restored. ]
2 Corinthians 3:18
But we all, with unveiled face, beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as from the Lord, the Spirit.
I shall be given a face like the face of my fathers
Luke 1:17
It is he who will go as a forerunner before Him in the spirit and power of Elijah, to turn the hearts of the fathers back to the children, and the disobedient to the attitude of the righteous, so as to make ready a people prepared for the Lord.”
Lifted up with honor, shining with grace, decent with gentleness and a living stone of witness.
(Living stones that testify to the features of Christ)
When our lives are transformed through redemption, each believer acquires several spiritual characters like: meekness, gentleness, wisdom, and joy; all of which are living features and characters of Christ when He appeared in the flesh. However, in most cases, each believer will have one or more prominent features; and hence, we say that this brother/sister is characterized by love, joy, wisdom, or long suffering, etc. All these features ultimately reflect and glorify the work of the grace of Christ. This will be witnessed by everyone when we are glorified with Him.
Psalm 8:5
Yet You have made him a little lower than [a]God,
And You crown him with glory and majesty!
Ephesians 2:7
so that in the ages to come He might show the surpassing riches of His grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus.
1 Peter 2:5
you also, as living stones, [a]are being built up as a spiritual house for a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.
I offered my back to those who beat me, my cheeks to those who pulled out my beard; I did not hide my face from mocking and spitting.
Isaiah 50:6
I gave My back to those who strike Me,
And My cheeks to those who pluck out the beard;
I did not cover My face from humiliation and spitting.
Therefore, I have set my face like flint and I know I will not be put to shame.
Isaiah 50:7
For the Lord God helps Me,
Therefore, I am not disgraced;
Therefore, I have set My face like flint,
And I know that I will not be ashamed.
My forehead is like adamant stone before my enemies
Ezekiel 3:9
Like emery harder than flint I have made your forehead. Do not be afraid of them or be dismayed before them, though they are a rebellious house.”
And the seal of the redeemed protects me.
Revelation 7:2-3
2 And I saw another angel ascending from the rising of the sun, having the seal of the living God; and he cried out with a loud voice to the four angels to whom it was granted to harm the earth and the sea, 3 saying, “Do not harm the earth or the sea or the trees until we have sealed the bond-servants of our God on their foreheads.”
Revelation 14:1
Then I looked, and behold, the Lamb was standing on Mount Zion, and with Him one hundred and forty-four thousand, having His name and the name of His Father written on their foreheads.
My temples behind my veil are like the halves of a pomegranate.
Song of Solomon 4:3
“Your lips are like a scarlet thread,
And your mouth is lovely.
Your temples are like a slice of a pomegranate
Behind your veil.
I suggest you by this book by Dr. Atef Meshreky to get the prayers on all the parts of the inner man.
