READING FOR JANUARY 2, 2025: JOSHUA 10, REVELATION 22 PSALM 134 JOSHUA 10 In these early days of conquest, Jerusalem is in the strange position of leading the opposition against God’s people. Adoni-Zedek, its king, was concerned when he learned of the covenant between the large and mighty Gibeonites and Israel. Thus Adoni-Zedek reasoned his safest way to strike a blow against Israel was to form a coalition of kings to fight against Israel’s new ally. The clever Gibeonites were smart enough to know their best option was to seek help from the God-empowered Israelites. This could have been a convenient time for Israel to wriggle out of its pact with Gibeon, which was forged through Gibeon’s deception. Joshua, however, was both a man of God and a man of his word. Let’s emulate Joshua in keeping our promises, no matter the circumstances. These include commitments to our employer, our spouse, our friends, and especially our God. (Notice the words of the songs we sing each Sunday. We’re making pretty bold commitments each week in His presence.)
God told Joshua that he would give them the victory, but Israel did just not take a nap. They collaborated with God by marching through the night to confront the enemy. Throughout the Bible, God gives the victory to those who proactively serve His Kingdom. May we at Yorktown Methodist Church similarly both trust and obey to fulfill our mission make disciples for Jesus. There will be plenty of time to rest in eternity if Jesus is our Lord and Savior. At Gibeon, God amplified the swords of Israel with killer hailstones. His involvement was decisive—as it always is. Joshua asked God to do something never before done, lengthen the day so that they could fully destroy the enemy. God answered this astounding request. How the astronomical details were worked out isn’t clear and not important. Our creator God can do this. In fact, this event was recorded in the Book of Jashar, apparently a well-respected reference source of the time.
The rest of the chapter describes the admittedly brutal defeat of all the opposing Amorite kings. Many folks understandably cringe when reading such graphic accounts of total devastation. Remember God’s prior statements about these inhabitants: “You must not live according to the customs of the nations I am going to drive out before you. Because they did all these things, I abhorred them” (Lev. 20:23). These practices included child sacrifice and sex with animals. God’s holiness also required similar discipline against Israel. But the one who suffered the most was Jesus who paid the price for all our sins on the cross. God’s love for us caused the most brutal suffering upon the most innocent person in history. There was no other way.
Revelation 22: We began this study of Revelation by noting that the central focus of the book is Jesus himself. This is clearly seen in this last chapter. Let’s consider the names and titles given to Jesus in this chapter: The Lamb (22:1), The Lord (22:5),
READING FOR JANUARY 2, 2025 CONTINUED:REVELATION 22 PSALM 134
The God of the spirits of the prophets (22:6), The Alpha and Omega (22:13),
The First and the Last (22:13), The Beginning and the End (22:13)
The Root and Offspring of David (22:16) The Bright and Morning Star (22:16)
The Lord Jesus (22:20)
All of these titles show that there is no one like him. Jesus is above all. And he invites us to spend eternity with him. He invites us to take the free gift of the water of life. (22:17) The first verses of the chapter give us more detail about the place he calls us to. This is what he meant when he said, “In my Father's house are many rooms; if it were not so, I would have told you. I am going there to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am. (John 14:2-3) We will be where Jesus is! We will see the King on his throne, and we will serve him. (22:3) Just imagine what it will be like to see the face of Jesus! (22:4) Take a moment and sing this classic Gaither chorus:
What a day that will be
When my Jesus I shall see
And I look upon his face
The one who saved me by his grace
When he takes me by the hand
And leads me through the Promised Land
What a day, glorious day that will be
We finish our study of Revelation with the blessing of the last verse of the Bible:
The grace of the Lord Jesus be with God's people. Amen.
PSALM 134 This is the last of Psalms of Ascent. It is a call for praise from those whose “job" it is to serve in the Temple during the night shift. You may recall God so commanded the priests: “You shall remain day and night for seven days and fulfill your duty to the Lord, so that you will not die; for so I have been commanded (Lev. 8:25).” Do those of us who might do the “work” of the ministry,
especially work that is not highly visible or appreciated, ever think God should be satisfied that we did our bit, regardless of our attitude? Perhaps we even feel sorry for ourselves that our efforts are not noticed enough. Even in these situations we cannot forget to praise our wonderful God enthusiastically. This is not the only place where praise is prescribed by lifting hands: “I want the men in every place to pray, lifting up holy hands” (1 Tim. 2:8). As we do this, we in turn are blessed by God from His position of total preeminence.
