December 24, 2010

2 Chronicles 29

What a celebration! It is the glory of our Lord that He desires for us to return to Him as did Hezekiah. Ahaz had left a horrid legacy for Hezekiah. Under Ahaz’s authority, “They. . .shut up the doors of the vestibule, put out the lamps, and have not burned incense or offered burnt offerings in the holy place to the God of Israel.” It is a sad day when we quit seeking the glory of the Lord. But equally so, it is a joyful day when we return to seeking Him. Notice the order that the Levites took to seeking the Lord. First they cleansed the temple then they offered themselves and sacrificed. Remember sacrifices speak of the Lord Jesus. Finally there was great unity and rejoicing together.

One day we will all sit down at the marriage supper of the Lamb. Our cleansing will be complete. The sacrifices will be done. We will enjoy His glory. We will enjoy each other. It is the glory of the Lord that He desires such unity. O Lord speed that day! Indeed we serve a glorious King. Speak His glory to someone today!

--john

Revelation 15

Fire in the Scripture is frequently a symbol of the judgment of God. Fire burns away the impurities leaving only the pure metals. Fire kills bacteria leaving clean vessels. Here the saints who have victory are seen standing on a sea of glass mingled with fire. We presume that the fire does not burn or harm them because that which is dross has already been burned away. Even in the midst of God’s holiness they stand victorious because the Lamb has removed their sin and given them His righteousness.

They sing the song of Moses and the song of the Lamb. Presumably The Song of Moses is the one recorded in Exodus 15. It is the song that he and the children of Israel sang after God’s mighty deliverance from the Egyptians through the Red Sea. The song of the Lamb for the saints would be the song we sing because He has delivered us. He brings us safe through His judgments. He took the judgment for us on our behalf. It is a great and marvelous work! It truly demonstrates once again that He is the Almighty. His deliverance is just. He cannot be accused in any way of injustice. His deliverance is true. It is completely consistent with all of what He is like. He indeed is holy in all that He has done!

After His judgment is done, He opens His tabernacle and temple. The saints cannot enter at first, because it is filled with His wrath. His wrath is still hot against those who refuse to trust in the Lamb. Once the wrath is removed, the saints, we, are invited into His presence. For this we are destined, to enjoy forever the presence of the Almighty God without interference from any sin or unholiness. It will be pure ecstasy. Indeed we serve a glorious King! Speak His glory to someone today!
--Pastor John