Psalm 140, 142; Isa. 24:14-23; 1 Pet. 3:13-4:6; Matt. 20:17-28
The prophetic word of Isaiah bears some resemblance to the book of the Revelation in that from time to time the scenes of judgment are interrupted by praise. This passage begins with one such interlude and it is easy to be captured by this praise coming from the ends of the earth in the hope that the judgments of God are exhausted but here the praise is broken by the prophet himself who does not join the chorus but instead proclaims that betrayal is still seen on the earth and, as we will also see, in the heavens. At this, the judgment breaks out afresh against the whole earth and then ultimately all those in heaven and on earth who rebel against the Lord. The fallen angels and all those kings of earth are imprisoned for a season of time prior to the final judgment while the Lord reigns from Jerusalem. Sounds very much like the Revelation given to John.
Jesus speaks of His death as they go up to Jerusalem for the Passover. He is warning them about what is going to happen next. They knew that it hadn’t been safe for them there but who could truly have imagined what was in store? The mother of James and John certainly didn’t believe it. Her belief was clearly that this was the moment that Jesus would be glorified but her idea of glory didn’t match Jesus’ idea. She thought He was going to take His rightful place as king of the Jews and she wanted her sons to be vice-regents with Him. He has always been king even if we don’t recognize Him as such, He needed no earthly acclamation or recognition. Likewise, our citizenship is in heaven but do we still live and work for earthly acclaim or have we embraced our status as the beloved children of God and now can live as Jesus here commands?
When was the last time anyone asked you to make a defense for the hope that is in you? Too often we share the concerns and fears of the world and they see nothing in us that is different from the spirit in themselves. In my adult lifetime I am concerned that Christians have become indistinguishable from non-Christians through our immersion in politics. What started out as a particular set of issues that were important to Christians, primarily moral issues like abortion and the moral education of our children in the public schools, have now become lost in the conversation that centers around economics. There are many places where a uniquely Christian perspective can and should be brought to light in politics but we should be judicious and unwavering in those places and more soft-spoken and less interested in others. Our true and ultimate citizenship is in heaven and those are the concerns we should primarily express in our lives here, those things that have to do with God’s will for humanity and the rest of creation. We need to be a set apart people, not blending in seamlessly with the world.
Hark! the Name of Jesus, sounded
Loud, from golden harps above!
Lord, we blush, and are confounded,
Faint our praises, cold our love!
Wash our souls and songs with blood,
For by Thee we come to God.
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