READING GUIDE FOR DECEMBER 26: JOSHUA 5, REVELATION 17, PSALM 130 JOSHUA 5 It turns out that even before cable TV or other social media, millions of people crossing over a river at flood stage couldn’t be kept secret but was big news. The entire leadership of the Amorites and Canaanites experienced fear that melted their hearts and depleted their spirits. Consider what it would feel like to know an entire nation with millions of people committed to our elimination had successfully crossed the Atlantic Ocean and was marching toward us with hostile intent. They were right to be afraid.
Before they were fit to engage the enemy, all the men of war had to be circumcised—with exception of Caleb and Joshua. All these men had been born in the wilderness during a time when the nation was not in full obedience to God, such as with circumcision. Remember that this was a sign in the most intimate spot of the body of God’s covenant relationship with Israel: “You shall be circumcised in the flesh of your foreskins, and it shall be a sign of the covenant between me and you” (Gen. 17:11). Before we serve God, we need to be in relationship with God. Today, we need to be born again by God’s grace through faith. This act of commitment was painful to them physically, especially since they did not do it earlier as God prescribed: “He who is eight days old among you shall be circumcised” (Gen. 17:12). It is always better not to delay obeying God.
Now we come to much discussed encounter between Joshua and the “commander of the army of the Lord.” Joshua asks if He is for them or against them. This commander simply answers no. Perhaps He was saying no to the appropriateness of the question. At that response, Joshua has the sudden realization that he had better immediately bow down and worship this man. That might seem strange to us because of God’s first commandment: “You shall have no other gods before me” (Ex. 20:3). This man doesn’t disavow this worship but tells Joshua to “take off your sandals from your feet, for the place where you are standing is holy” (vs.15). These were the very words God spoke to Moses from the burning bush. Many scholars and this writer believe this is a theophany, an appearance of Jesus before His earthly birth in Bethle-- hem. He appears as a man, which describes Jesus. Yet He also speaks with authority and is worshipped as God. There are believed to be several other theophanies in the Old Testament.
REVELATION 17: This chapter shows the final display of God’s wrath as poured out upon the city of Babylon which is portrayed as a harlot. Scholars have various opinions on the identity of this city. (Rome, Jerusalem, Babylon or even the church that goes apostate.) We can’t be sure of the identity, but we can be sure of why God judges her. She is full of abominations and adulteries. She is also guilty of killing God’s people. The woman is portrayed riding a beast with seven heads and ten crowns. The 10 crowns are said to represent ten kings who will receive power to make war against the Lamb. We will reflect on the outcome of that war:
READING FOR DECEMBER 26 CONTINUED: REVELATION 17, PSALM 130
They will make war against the Lamb, but the Lamb will overcome them because he is Lord of lords and King of kings--and with him will be his called, chosen and faithful followers. (17:14)
We gather to celebrate Christmas Eve and we remember that Jesus came into the world so that we might be saved. But there is another reason Jesus came.
The reason the Son of God appeared was to destroy the devil's work. (1 John 3:8)
…he too shared in their humanity so that by his death he might destroy him who holds the power of death--that is, the devil… (Hebrews 2:14)
We don’t normally think of the first Christmas as being an act of war, but in a very real sense, that is what it was. The light had come to invade and ultimately defeat the darkness. Jesus had come to reclaim that which had been lost in the garden of Eden. While on earth, Jesus confronted and defeated the powers of darkness. His death on the cross sealed the defeat and assured that the war would be won. (Remember Revelation 12:11 declares the enemy was overcome by the blood of the Lamb!) Although the enemy has been defeated, he continues to fight right up until the battles portrayed here in Revelation. But the end has already been determined…The Lamb will win the war. He is the Lord of lords and the King of kings.
Those who follow the King of kings are portrayed as called, chosen and faithful. We are a called and chosen people. Peter says, “But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people belonging to God, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light” (1 Peter 2:9). May these words describe us as we seek to follow Jesus.
PSALMS 130 The Psalmist said he cried out to the Lord while in the depths. We might never cry out to the Lord with much passion if we are never in the depths of life. Perhaps that is a real blessing that accompanies such a crisis. Here the Psalmist only asks for God’s attention, not a specific result. God knows better than we what we need at such a time of challenge. Notice the Psalmist’s understanding of both God’s holiness and mercy. Our guilt before such a holy God is more than we could ever address by our own efforts. But God’s mercy, made available to us by Jesus at the cross, is sufficient for us if we put our faith in Him. This forgiveness in turn makes us revere God, not ignore Him once our guilt is gone. Let’s be honest, do we really wait in hope for the Lord and on His word as would a sentry, think Paul Revere, waits for the first light of dawn before war with a dreaded enemy? Let’s measure ourselves in this regard through our prayers, Bible reading, and default thought life. Finally, he said this mercy from and reverence for God is possible for God’s people as a community. That includes Yorktown Methodist. Let’s revere our God, not be ashamed of HIm: “I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes” (Rom1:16).
