Psalm 50; Neh. 1-1:11; Rev. 5:11-6:11; Matt. 13:18-23
Nehemiah is approximately 65-70 years after the rebuilding of the temple. The Jews had a temple but they were vulnerable to their enemies as the city had no wall for protection. Nehemiah was eager for news of the city and yet when he hears of its condition he is heartbroken. He is a man with a good job, cupbearer to the king, one of the trusted associates of the king, and yet his heart is with his own people and in their distress he too is distress because he loved Jerusalem. We have no idea whether he had ever even been there, but we deeply identifies with its shame. His response is to pray, something we see again and again in this book. He prays two specific things, confession of sin, both of the nation and his own family’s contribution to that reality, and then he calls on God to do as He had promised in the covenant. Nehemiah’s prayer is based in God’s promise that when His people, called by His Name, would repent and return to Him, He would restore them. He is counting on the greatness of God and the covenant faithfulness of God. The Lord is able to do what he asks and is bound by the covenant and His own lovingkindness to do these things.
Jesus explains the parable of the sower to the disciples. The seed is all good but the ground on which it fell was varied and the condition of the soil made all the difference in the world as to what it produced. Can you see your own life story in the parable? As I mentioned yesterday I sometimes see all the above in my life, depending on the circumstances. It is hard to avoid the reality that we are not always ready to receive the good Word in season. In Judaism it was considered sinful for two Jews to be talking about anything other than the law, it demanded their constant attention. In Christianity, too often, those who take the Name of Jesus are inattentive to the Word and neglect its study, much less discussion with one another. How wonderful if we all loved the Word as David did when he wrote Psalm 119.
"To him who sits on the throne and to the Lamb be blessing and honor and glory and might forever and ever!" That is either the end of history because of blasphemy, ascribing worship in heaven to anything or anyone other than the One who sits on the throne, or it is a game-changer. The response of the creatures was “Amen!” and the elders fell down and worshiped. Everything changes at this moment, the work of the Lamb for salvation is complete, now judgment begins with the summoning of the plagues by the four living creatures as the Lamb opens the first four seals. Finally, as the fifth seal is opened, the martyrs cry out for justice for the shedding of their blood. They are given white robes and told that such time has not yet come, there is more blood that will be shed before this is complete. Do our hearts cry out for justice for those who are persecuted for their faith, who die daily for Jesus? Do we identify ourselves with these in prayer?
Holy, holy, holy! though the darkness hide Thee,
Though the eye of sinful man Thy glory may not see;
Only Thou art holy; there is none beside Thee,
Perfect in power, in love, and purity.
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