16 December 2009
Psalm 119:49-72; Zech. 3:1-10; Rev. 4:1-8; Matt. 24:45-51

The high priest is a representative of the people. As he stands before the Lord, Satan rightly accuses him of being unprepared and unfit for the Lord. Satan knows righteousness, he is the ultimate legalist and here we see a foreshadowing of the coming of Jesus. By fiat, the Lord declares Joshua to be righteous and provides him with the clean garments required to come into His presence. It is all about grace and mercy triumphing over judgment but it does not mean there is no judgment. The passage ends with the Lord making a promise to Joshua concerning the future of the nation and the peace and prosperity it will enjoy.

Jesus says there is such a thing as judgment. The master chooses between his servants and makes distinctions between them. The delay in God’s coming again seems to either encourage us to speculate on the signs or to lose our sense of expectant waiting and go pursue other interests. Christians are to be in the mode of expectant waiting, a waiting that knows what it is waiting for and is preparing for the coming or advent of what it is waiting for. We are called to be “faithful and wise” if we are to be commended and blessed. Faithful relates to knowing our Lord and continuing to do His will even when He is absent and wise relates to remaining prepared for His return that we would greet Him with joy and not shame.

The scene in heaven at the throne is glorious and awe-inspiring. The idea of a door in heaven standing open is a thrilling idea and yet John wisely waits until the angel with the trumpet bids him come up. The majesty of God should give us an indication of what we are waiting for, what is to come. All of heaven worships and proclaims His glory with the three-fold proclamation in which we join our voices each Sunday in the celebration of the Eucharist. As we either sing or say those words we should be reminded that our hearts are indeed lifted up to heaven with the chorus who forever sing this song that never becomes rote but ever remains spontaneous praise in His presence.

You have dealt well with your servant,
O LORD, according to your word.
Teach me good judgment and knowledge,
for I believe in your commandments.