Repost of "The Year 20:23"
This was originally posted on January 3, 2023. Then, I reposted it a few months later. As we near the end of this year, I want to post it yet again so we can look back and see that God has been faithful to perform what He told us He would do this year. We are currently in the midst of this coming to pass, so I hope rereading it encourages you as much as it does me.
On December 31, the Lord prompted me to look up 20:23 verses to go along with the new year. I realize that the people who added the chapter and verse notations to the Bible were not necessarily divinely inspired by God in the same way as the authors of the books of the Bible, and so we cannot look to chapter and verse numbers for doctrine as we would the Spirit-breathed Scriptures. However, God can use numerous means to call our attention to something or to give us a message, like license plate numbers, the time on a clock, etc.
I found several 20:23 verses in the Bible, but just four bore witness to my spirit and I felt that they were indicators of the year to come. Three verses spoke of judgment on our enemies, and one verse was a warning to believers.
Judgment on Enemies
The armies of Moab and Ammon turned against their allies from Mount Seir and killed every one of them. After they had destroyed the army of Seir, they began attacking each other. II Chronicles 20:23 (New Living Translation, NLT)
May God give them a bellyful of trouble. May God rain down his anger upon them. Job 20:23 (New Living Translation, NLT)
The Lord detests double standards; he is not pleased by dishonest scales. Proverbs 20:23 (New Living Translation, NLT)
All of these verse spoke to me of judgment that will come to the enemies of God in 2023.
II Chronicles 20:23 refers to confusion among the enemy and that they turned on one another and killed each other. The enemies of righteousness have already begun to turn on one another- some out of conviction and some just to save their own skin. This will continue as whistleblowers and others will continue to come forward with damaging evidence of corruption and crimes against humanity within government, corporations, healthcare, the entertainment industry, and even the church. Their camp has become more and more divided and they are turning on one another in a desperate attempt tp escape punishment for their crimes. They are destroying themselves from within. Righteousness will prevail.
Job 20:23 speaks of God’s anger towards those who have been committing evil deeds. Those who have committed atrocities upon children will feel the wrath of God. Those who loosed biological weapons on the world will feel the wrath of God. Those who have pressured the public to take injections of unproven and deadly substances will feel the wrath of God. Those who have been responsible for poisoning our food, our air, our water, and our soil will feel the wrath of God. Those who have stolen our finances and heaped them up for themselves will feel the wrath of God. Those who have mocked God and scorned His messengers will feel the wrath of God. 2023 will not be a good year at all for the ungodly. They will feel nothing but trouble and the anger of God will be their reward for their wicked actions.
Proverbs 20:23 mentions God’s hatred for double standards and for cheating people. Those who have falsely accused others of the very wrongs they themselves have done will not get away with it. Their efforts to divide and to treat certain people with contempt will not go unpunished. Their censorship of specific people and specific groups of people will be addressed by God. And their thievery and cheating ways will be exposed for all to see. The sheets will be yanked away to show everyone their theft of elections and their theft of money, freedom, and the truth.
Warning to God’s People
The final 20:23 verse I want to mention is a warning to God’s people, while it is also a promise of financial increase.
Remember, you must not make any idols of silver or gold to rival me. Exodus 20:23 (New Living Translation, NLT)
God’s Word says that the wealth of the sinner is laid up for the just, promising us a great wealth transfer. This verse tells us not to make wealth our god. As the gold, silver, and the riches that have been horded by the wicked are released into our hands, we must maintain a right heart about money. We cannot allow ourselves to see money and wealth as our source. God is always our Source. Yes, God is giving us this wealth to bless us. However, its primary purpose is so we can be a blessing to others. We are not to be a reservoir where money is dammed up and is not allowed to be released. Instead, we are to be a stream or river that carries that money to those who need it. Always put God first place in your life and do not allow Him to take a backseat to money or materialism. When you do, you’ll always be blessed and have plenty for yourself and others.
I believe these verse show us that 2023 will be an amazing year for the righteous and a horrible year for the wicked. I have mentioned many times that I do not hold the office of a prophet. However, God speaks to every believer and will give them prophetic insight if they are paying attention. I believe that these particular verses are speaking to us loud and clear about 2023.
