25 June 2014
1 Samuel 4
Isaiah 50
Revelation 10; 11
“THE NATIONS RAGED, BUT …”
We wrestle over understanding some of the symbolic language in the book of Revelation - but then come to clear and dramatic statements of the divine intentions for the future. Revelation 11 which we read today is a particularly outstanding example; the vision of 24 elders “who fell on their faces and worshipping God saying, ‘We give thanks to you Lord God Almighty, who is and who was, for you have taken your great power and begun to reign. The nations raged, but your wrath came, and the time for the dead to be judged, and for rewarding your servants, the prophets and saints, and those who fear your name, both small and great, and for destroying the destroyers of the earth.” [Revelation 11:16-18] Note how the “small” are mentioned first.
Let us “give thanks” that the all seeing all knowing Creator of all things is exercising the ultimate control and destiny of all things. However, he allows human beings to exercise their freewill - foreseeing what that will lead to - both short and long term - before it is time - his time - to exercise his “great power.”
In our Isaiah reading chapter [Isaiah 50] there are appropriate personal words of encouragement to put alongside this vision in Revelation. “The Lord GOD has given me the tongue of those who are taught, that I may know how to sustain with a word him who is weary. Morning by morning he awakens; he awakens my ear to hear as those who are taught” [Isaiah 50:4] Let us awaken each morning with words (resulting in our subsequent thoughts) from the word of God.
Finally, Isaiah 50:10 has a question for us to answer; “Who among you fears the LORD and obeys the voice of his servant? (Isaiah 52:13-14 makes it clear “my servant” is Jesus) Back to Isaiah 50:10, “Let him who walks in darkness and has no light trust in the name of the LORD and rely on his God.” Our world is full of darkness, so we absolutely must do this.
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- DC
Thought for the Day
25 June 2014
"The Truth calls men and women to express its ideals in all walks of life and conditions of environment. The apostle therefore lays down the rule that believers should look upon their environment chiefly as a means of perfecting character, and not be so anxious about changing it as using it to His glory who called them (1 Corinthians 7:17-28). “Let every man, wherein he is called, therein abide with God.” The slave was the Lord’s “free-man”, and the master was the Lord’s slave; but what did it matter to either so long as they were heirs of everlasting life? The call of the gospel is a revolution not of circumstances but of outlook. “Nevertheless”, he says, “if thou mayest be made free, use it rather” (1 Corinthians 7:21). And again we have a word of wisdom for today."
- L.W. Richardson
The Time is Short (1954)
The first part of 1 Samuel 4:1 should be part of ch3:21, and therefore read:
"And the LORD appeared again in Shiloh:for the Lord revealed himself to Samuel in Shiloh by the word of the Lord.
And the word of Samuel came to all Israel"
This shows that the LORD revealed Himself through His word, and then Samuel taught the nation of Israel.
The same is for us, the wonderful message of the gospel of the Kingdom through the Lord Jesus Christ, has been revealed to us, we are to also give out that message to others.
1 Samuel 4
Isaiah 50
Revelation 10; 11
“THE NATIONS RAGED, BUT …”
We wrestle over understanding some of the symbolic language in the book of Revelation - but then come to clear and dramatic statements of the divine intentions for the future. Revelation 11 which we read today is a particularly outstanding example; the vision of 24 elders “who fell on their faces and worshipping God saying, ‘We give thanks to you Lord God Almighty, who is and who was, for you have taken your great power and begun to reign. The nations raged, but your wrath came, and the time for the dead to be judged, and for rewarding your servants, the prophets and saints, and those who fear your name, both small and great, and for destroying the destroyers of the earth.” [Revelation 11:16-18] Note how the “small” are mentioned first.
Let us “give thanks” that the all seeing all knowing Creator of all things is exercising the ultimate control and destiny of all things. However, he allows human beings to exercise their freewill - foreseeing what that will lead to - both short and long term - before it is time - his time - to exercise his “great power.”
In our Isaiah reading chapter [Isaiah 50] there are appropriate personal words of encouragement to put alongside this vision in Revelation. “The Lord GOD has given me the tongue of those who are taught, that I may know how to sustain with a word him who is weary. Morning by morning he awakens; he awakens my ear to hear as those who are taught” [Isaiah 50:4] Let us awaken each morning with words (resulting in our subsequent thoughts) from the word of God.
Finally, Isaiah 50:10 has a question for us to answer; “Who among you fears the LORD and obeys the voice of his servant? (Isaiah 52:13-14 makes it clear “my servant” is Jesus) Back to Isaiah 50:10, “Let him who walks in darkness and has no light trust in the name of the LORD and rely on his God.” Our world is full of darkness, so we absolutely must do this.
-------
- DC
Thought for the Day
25 June 2014
"The Truth calls men and women to express its ideals in all walks of life and conditions of environment. The apostle therefore lays down the rule that believers should look upon their environment chiefly as a means of perfecting character, and not be so anxious about changing it as using it to His glory who called them (1 Corinthians 7:17-28). “Let every man, wherein he is called, therein abide with God.” The slave was the Lord’s “free-man”, and the master was the Lord’s slave; but what did it matter to either so long as they were heirs of everlasting life? The call of the gospel is a revolution not of circumstances but of outlook. “Nevertheless”, he says, “if thou mayest be made free, use it rather” (1 Corinthians 7:21). And again we have a word of wisdom for today."
- L.W. Richardson
The Time is Short (1954)
The first part of 1 Samuel 4:1 should be part of ch3:21, and therefore read:
"And the LORD appeared again in Shiloh:for the Lord revealed himself to Samuel in Shiloh by the word of the Lord.
And the word of Samuel came to all Israel"
This shows that the LORD revealed Himself through His word, and then Samuel taught the nation of Israel.
The same is for us, the wonderful message of the gospel of the Kingdom through the Lord Jesus Christ, has been revealed to us, we are to also give out that message to others.
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