Work on rebuilding the temple is begun under the direction
of Zerubbabel with the prophets Haggai and Zechariah standing alongside
supporting the work. Of course there
will be opposition to the work and the governor of the province comes to ask
who has given permission to do this thing.
The elders know that this work is of God, the prophets have confirmed it
to them and they will not be dissuaded from continuing. The governor then determines to send a
message to the king, Darius, to inform him of what he feels is a dangerous
endeavor to allow. The emphasis is
clearly on the idea that the God of these people is really in charge but they
also allege that Cyrus had given them his permission. The governor’s request is that the records be
searched to see if any such royal warrant was issued and it is clear that he
doesn’t believe it.
Jesus teaches using a parable about sowing seed. It seems this parable comes up often in the
lectionary. I have come to believe that
the condition of the soil of my heart changes regularly and yet the Lord
continues to sow seed even when it isn’t yielding anything or is being taken
away by the birds. He is constantly at
work softening the ground of my heart to receive and yet I believe that knowing
this also calls us to do some of that work also. We can’t be passive with respect to our
hearts, we need to be vigilant in keeping birds away, tending it to keep thorns
out and making it receptive to what is being sown. The disciplines of the church, prayer,
worship, meditation, fasting, study, simplicity and the like are our work to constantly
work the soil. When we practice these
things, we work together with Him and are more fruitful in our lives. Do we want that enough to make some effort?
John is taken to the heavenly throne. What he sees there is a riot of color and
things incredibly unfamiliar. The “one”
on the throne is only described as having “the appearance of jasper and
carnelian.” The rainbow around the
throne is “like an emerald.” On the
twenty four thrones are seated twenty four elders with white robes and golden
crowns. Who are these elders? Are they heavenly beings or do they represent
two groups of twelve? Around the throne
are living creatures like but unlike any creatures we have ever experienced
except in the prophetic literature like Ezekiel and Daniel. These give glory and honor to the one on the
throne and when they do the elders cast down their golden crowns “around the
glassy sea.” This is all more than we
can prepare to experience without being, as John was, “in the Spirit.” We need faith, a vision that transcends this
world, and preparation by the pursuit of God’s kingdom and righteousness in our
lives if we are to approach this throne.
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