READING FOR DECEMBER 30, 2024: JOSHUA 7, REVELATION 19, PSALM 132:1-10 JOSHUA 7 This is a sad story about how one disobedient man brought defeat to an entire nation and death to his family. God gave Joshua, who in turn gave all the people, strict instructions about what to do in Jericho with certain items dedicated for destruction and precious metals designated to be placed in the nation’s treasury. Because one man, Achan, desired a beautiful mantle plus silver and gold for himself, the nation was defeated by Ai. Ai was an enemy that Israel’s spies considered not worthy of deploying many troops in order to defeat; however, it routed Israel because of Achan’s greed and disobedience. God used a lottery system to winnow down the nation by tribes, families, and finally individuals to determine the guilty man. You may recall that lots were also used by the apostles to determine God’s choice for a replacement for Judas after his great sin.
Although Achan confessed and the materials were retrieved, his sin was punished by his stoning along with his sons and daughters. The text plainly says that this punishment did indeed turn the Lord’s righteous anger away from the nation. Are we ever tempted to think acts done in secrecy have no negative impact to ourselves, our family, our church, or even God’s reputation. The news is filled with stories of fallen Christian leaders whose private sins have damaged countless lives. If we say we are Christians, then our personal conduct must reflect God’s values. There is no such thing as getting away with sin with God. It is also true that, as Israel did, the church still needs to address the private sins of its people: “Do you not judge those who are within the church? But those who are outside, God judges, remove the wicked man from among yourselves” (1 Cor.5:12-13).
REVELATION 19: Christmas is a time for parties. We enjoy getting together and eating and drinking and laughing and exchanging gifts. Revelation 19 speaks of a coming party. After the complete fall of Babylon in the previous chapters, this chapter opens with a great multitude shouting, “HALLELUJAH!” A few verses later it is announced that the time has come for the party to end all parties…the wedding feast of the Lamb. (19:6-9) This is the fulfillment of another of Jesus’ parables.
"The kingdom of heaven is like a king who prepared a wedding banquet for his son. He sent his servants to those who had been invited to the banquet to tell them to come, but they refused to come. "Then he sent some more servants and said, `Tell those who have been invited that I have prepared my dinner: My oxen and fattened cattle have been butchered, and everything is ready. Come to the wedding banquet.' "But they paid no attention and went off--one to his field, another to his business. The rest seized his servants, mistreated them and killed them. The king was enraged. He sent his army
READING FOR DECEMBER 30, 2024 CONTINUED: REVELATION 19, PSALM 132:1-10 and destroyed those murderers and burned their city. "Then he said to his servants, `The wedding banquet is ready, but those I invited did not deserve to come. Go to the street corners and invite to the banquet anyone you find.' So the servants went out into the streets and gathered all the people they could find, both good and bad, and the wedding hall was filled with guests. "But when the king came in to see the guests, he noticed a man there who was not wearing wedding clothes. ‘Friend,' he asked, ‘how did you get in here without wedding clothes?' The man was speechless. "Then the king told the attendants, `Tie him hand and foot, and throw him outside, into the darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.' For many are invited, but few are chosen” (Matthew 22:1-14}.
There is a coming banquet, and the Bible portrays it as a real party with real food and drink. Jesus said, “Blessed is the man who will eat at the feast in the kingdom of God” (Luke 14:15). A time is coming when we will gather on the other side and sit down for a great banquet…the wedding feast of the Lamb. When you think of a wedding feast, do you think dull and boring? Weddings are a time of celebration, joy and laughter. Much thought and preparation goes into a wedding feast. This was particularly true in the Jewish world of Jesus’ day. When you have a wedding reception, you put out the best you can afford. In the parable, the feast included oxen and fattened cattle. This was going to be quite the feast! What kind of reception do you think God can afford?
All are invited but not everyone will attend. In the parable Jesus said there would be those who ignore the invitation. All are invited, but only those with the proper clothing will be seated. This is shown in the parable by the one who was not dressed properly. Note that in today’s text, wedding clothes are given to the guests to wear. (19:8) Paul explains the nature of that clothing, “…all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ.” (Galatians 3:27) Are you dressed and ready for the great wedding feast?
PSALM 132:1-10 As the people traveled to the Temple, they asked for God’s special presence, for the priests to be clothed with righteousness, for the saints to shout for joy, and, for the sake of David, favor to be bestowed on God’s anointed one. We as a church assemble once a week. It’s such a danger for our frequent worship to become routine, even mindless. Consider why we should be joyful to gather together. We are now the priests clothed in the righteousness of Jesus: “You yourselves like living stones are being built up as a spiritual house, to be a holy priesthood, to offer spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ” (2 Peter 2:5). Although God the Father did turn away from His Anointed One (called the Christ or Messiah)for our sakes when He hung on the cross so that our sins could be punished, the Father has now “highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father” (Phil. 2:9-11). Aren’t you getting eager for Sunday?
