READING FOR DECEMBER 12, 2024: DEUTERONOMY 29, REVELATION 7, PSALM 120 DEUTERONOMY 29 In Exodus 24:7 Moses “took the Book of the Covenant and read it as the people listened.” This happened at Mount Siani, called Mount Horeb here. Now as they prepare to cross into the promised land, Moses calls the people again to “enter into the covenant with the Lord your God, and into His oath which the Lord your God is making with you today” (vs 12). So much had happened since the Mosaic Covenant was first forged over 40 years before. Israel saw God’s miraculous provisions of food, water, clothing, and protection. Despite these signs, the nation failed to perceive God’s love and faithfulness toward them: “to this day the Lord has not given you a heart to know, nor eyes to see, nor ears to hear” (vs. 4).
Let’s consider our walk with the Lord as individuals and as a church. Have we adequately perceived His goodness in providing for our physical needs and most of all our salvation via the Gospel? As many of us stand near the close of this life’s journey, might there be value in re- affirming our commitment to Jesus as our Lord and Savior? A possible pitfall for Israel as they ventured into the land would be to adopt the gods and abominable practices of these nations. For those who choose this path, God offers no hope: “His wrath will burn against that person, and every curse that is written in this book will lie upon him, and the Lord will wipe out his name from under heaven” (vs. 20). So too, if we abandon our trust in Jesus as our Lord and Savior, we are without hope: “For this reason, we must pay much closer attention to what we have heard, so that we do not drift away from it. For if the word spoken through angels proved unalterable, and every violation and act of disobedience received a just punishment, how will we escape if we neglect so great a salvation?” (Heb. 2:1-3). Verse 22 suggests future generations will evaluate our obedience to God. Has our walk with the Lord been such that it has attracted our children and grandchildren to receive Jesus for themselves? As these verses suggest, the stakes couldn’t be higher, but we still have time.
REVELATION 7: Before the seventh seal is open, there is another scene of worship around the throne. It involves 144,000 people who have been chosen from the tribes of Israel and a great multitude that no one could count. They are joined in worship by the angels, elders and living creatures. Today we want to focus on verse 14, “These are they who have come out of the great tribulation; they have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb.” It was this verse that led the hymn writer to write:
Have you been to Jesus for the cleansing power? Are you washed in the blood of the Lamb?
Are you fully trusting in His grace this hour? Are you washed in the blood of the Lamb?
Are you washed in the blood, In the soul cleansing blood of the Lamb?
Are your garments spotless? Are they white as snow? Are you washed in the blood of the Lamb?
READING FOR DECEMBER 12, 2024 CONTINUED: REVELATION 7, PSALM 120 Are you walking daily by the Savior's side? Are you washed in the blood of the Lamb?
Do you rest each moment in the Crucified? Are you washed in the blood of the Lamb?
When the Bridegroom cometh will your robes be white? Are you washed in the blood of the Lamb?
Will your soul be ready for the mansions bright, And be washed in the blood of the Lamb?
Lay aside the garments that are stained with sin, And be washed in the blood of the Lamb;
There's a fountain flowing for the soul unclean, O be washed in the blood of the Lamb!
In 7:15-17 there are some specific promises for those who have been washed by the blood:
- They will stand before the throne of God
- They will serve God
- God will spread his tent over them
- They will not hunger or thirst
- They will not be scorched
- Jesus will be their shepherd
- Jesus will lead them to springs of living water
- God will wipe away every tear
Take a moment and reflect on each one of these. For those who are saved, thank Jesus for removing the stain of sin from our lives through the cleansing power of his blood.
PSALM 120 This is the first of the 15 Psalms of Ascents, commonly thought to be so named because they were sung by pilgrims on the way up to Jerusalem. Likely Jesus sang these Psalms as he traveled as a youth from Nazareth to Jerusalem. This one begins with the Psalmist in distress. That almost seems like the default position for many of us as we age. The specific distress the Psalmist here faces is liars. Has anyone spread false stories against us? It is frustrating and painful. Often it happens when we are trying to do something good for others. If you read the trials of Jesus, notice the lies spoken against Him, even as He was giving Himself for the world’s sins. What should we do in these cases? Most times getting even or complaining to others doesn’t work, but “complaining” to God does. Verse four says God will defend us with burning coals. Paul takes a similar approach: “If your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink. In doing this, you will heap burning coals on his head” (Rom. 8:20). The Psalmist laments that people in his town always change the subject to hostility. Instead, let’s be peacemakers: “Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God” (Matt. 5:9).
