Psalm 45; Ezra 5:1-17; Rev. 4:1-11; Matt. 13:1-9
The Persian governor of the neighboring province decides to investigate the work being done in Jerusalem. His concern is great that these men are rebels who are up to no good, restoring their own kingdom. He inquires of the men rebuilding the temple and all they seem to tell him is that they have the permission and warrant of King Cyrus to carry out the work. The governor decides to ask the king himself about the matter. He has some real concern that the work they are doing is done well and will stand up to any test, they are using large stones, wood to fortify the walls and the work is progressing apace. If the king doesn’t act to stop the work soon, it will be too late. He asks respectfully that a search be made for the king’s permission for this work.
The parable of the sower used to haunt me because I saw myself in the poor soil more often than not. I saw that the word would immediately produce joy and passion in me but it would not take root and soon the cares of life would choke out those good things and nothing would remain. I still see that in some ways but I also see that God has worked the soil in my heart in order to improve it so that the Word takes deeper root now than before. In the first lesson we see the prophets Haggai and Zechariah sowing seeds into the people of Jerusalem to encourage them to the work of building the temple, it didn’t come naturally, Haggai had to first awaken in them the desire to work for God’s glory by convicting them that they had previously worked for themselves. God works both as sower and as the preparer of the ground. His work bears more fruit, however, when we work with Him on that ground.
John sees into heaven itself, into the throne! He sees the most glorious sight imaginable, the throne with twenty-four elders gathered round and the living creatures proclaiming the holiness and the glory of God. The elders worship God primarily for His creation, that He brought all things into existence. How interesting that this is one of the key things under attack today by those outside the church, those who consider themselves atheists. They attack and doubt the very thing that is the subject of the worship of the elders. When they worship around the throne, these elders, who have crowns of their own, cast them down around the sea that surrounds the throne as the separation between them and God. Worship is one of the chief ways in which we work with the Lord in preparing the ground of our hearts to receive Him and His Word.
Holy, holy, holy! All the saints adore Thee,
Casting down their golden crowns around the glassy sea;
Cherubim and seraphim falling down before Thee,
Who was, and is, and evermore shall be.
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