READING FOR DECEMBER 17, 2025: ISAIAH 6, REVELATION 11, PSALM 124 ISAIAH 6 What do we think about God? How important is He in our daily lives? How do we approach Him? How can we gain an accurate understanding of who we are in relation to Him? In this epic chapter, Isaiah is given a glimpse of God, possibly in a vision, that answers all the above questions. This vision allows Isaiah to be useful to God in ministry. It will do the same for us if we believe and act upon it. What does Isaiah see? What do we see? What real difference does it make to us?
Isaiah had this experience of God in the year King Uzziah (also called Azariah) died. Uzziah was a king of Judah who served long and well, until the end of his life. Remember God gave Uzziah leprosy because of his disobedience in his last years. At this particular moment of transition and possible uncertainty, God chose to reveal who He was to His prophet Isaiah. Isaiah vividly experienced God as exalted high beyond any earthly king and totally in charge, sitting on His throne in heaven. He also saw seraphims, six-winged heavenly beings, who had a more long-term understanding of God. What did they say about God to themselves? “One called out to another and said,' Holy, Holy, Holy, is the Lord of armies. The whole earth is full of His glory’” (vs.3).
We might think that Isaiah’s writings were visionary symbolism out of the Old Testament that have little meaning for us in 2025. Yet, what was Jesus’s disciple John’s description of a future scene in heaven? “And the four living creatures, each one of them having six wings, are full of eyes around and within; and day and night they do not cease to say, ‘Holy, holy, holy is the Lord God, the Almighty, who was and who is and who is to come.’ And when the living creatures give glory, honor, and thanks to Him who sits on the throne, to Him who lives forever and ever” (Rev. 4:8-9). Do we perceive God as Isaiah and John experienced Him to be?
Immediately after more fully understanding God, Isaiah had a much more accurate view of himself: “Woe to me, for I am ruined! Because I am a man of unclean lips, And I live among a people of unclean lips; For my eyes have seen the King, the Lord of armies” (vs. 5). Upon this accurate confession, a seraphim touched Isaiah’s lips with a burning coal as a means of atoning for Isaiah’s genuine guilt (sinfulness) before he was able to interact with this holy God. We today also must have our guilt atoned for to be acceptable to God:“All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and all are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus. God presented Christ as a sacrifice of atonement, through the shedding of his blood—to be re- ceived by faith” (Rom. 3:23-25). Have we and our loved ones received this atonement by faith or are we mis- perceiving who God is and who we are? Our best efforts aren’t enough. We must receive His atonement.
Upon receiving this atonement, Isaiah immediately responded to God’s call for service, even before knowing the nature of the service. Maybe, our response to God’s call to serve is a sign that we have truly been saved. Then God shockingly told Isaiah to tell Judah to keep listening without understanding. He told Isaiah to make Judah’s hearts insensitive so that they won’t turn to Him and be saved. WHAT? Isaiah asked God how long he should keep sharing this sarcastic message. God said the nation had to experience great devastation, which He had long warned would occur if they disobeyed. Yet, a remnant (stump/seed) would survive: Jesus is coming. Interestingly, Jesus used these very same words from Isaiah 6 when he explained to his disciples why He spoke in parables (Matt. 13). His purpose was slightly different because his listeners were not receptive to the basic truth they had already been given. Thus, they would not understand additional truth given through parables. Sometimes Old Testament prophesies have a double fulfillment: one immediate and one much later.
READING FOR DECEMBER 17, 2025 CONTINUED: REVELATION 11, PSALM 124 REVELATION 11 Chapter 11 begins with the story of God sending 2 men who will witness in the holy city. After 1260 days of witnessing, the beast from the abyss kills them. But God resurrects them 3 ½ days later.
Following this story, the seventh trumpet sounds with a declaration that the reign of Christ will now begin on the earth. This will fulfill what had been spoken for generations:
- The LORD will reign for ever and ever. (Exodus 15:18)
- You will be with child and give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus. He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give him the throne of his father David, and he will reign over the house of Jacob forever; his kingdom will never end. (Luke 1:31-33).
- You will be with child and give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus. He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give him the throne of his father David, and he will reign over the house of Jacob forever; his kingdom will never end. (Luke 1:31-33)
- Of the increase of his government and peace there will be no end. He will reign on David's throne and over his kingdom, establishing and upholding it with justice and righteousness from that time on and forever. (Isaiah 9:7)
- The days are coming," declares the LORD, "when I will raise up to David a righteous Branch, a King who will reign wisely and do what is just and right in the land. (Jeremiah 23:5)
When the trumpet sounds, the 24 elders fall on their faces and begin to worship. (Five times in Revelation it tells of them falling before the throne…5:8, 5:14, 7:11, 11:16, 19:4). Many people in the Bible fell on their face including Abraham, Moses, Joshua, Job, Daniel, David, Solomon, Ezekiel, Peter, James, John, Paul and even Jesus. This is genuine humility before a holy God. The song the elders sing offers thanks to God for the begin- ning of Christ’s reign. Their song makes it clear Christ’s reign will mean a day for judgement on the earth. How- ever, it will also be a day for rewards for God’s servants and saints. (11:18) These rewards will come to “both small and great.” God is a generous God and will reward generously. In his book, “A Life God Rewards,” Bruce Wilkinson lists seven things God will reward us for. Look over the list and read the related scriptures. Consider one thing you could do this week that might lead to a reward on the day God rewards his saints:
- God will reward you for SEEKING Him. Matthew 6:6, 18 Hebrews 11:6
- God will reward you for SUBMITTING to your employer. Ephesians 6:7-8
- God will reward you for SELF-DENIAL in his service. Matthew 16:24-27
- God will reward you for SERVING those in need. Proverbs 19:17, Matt. 10:41-42
- God will reward you for SUFFERING for his name. Luke 6:22-23
- God will reward you for SACRIFICES you make for him. Matthew 19:29, Luke 6:35
- God will reward you for SHARING your time, talent and treasure. Matthew 6:3-4, 1 Timothy 6:18-19
PSALM 124 David is so intent on communicating one truth that he asks all of Israel to repeat after Him: “What if the Lord had not been on our side when people attacked us?" The answer: swallowed by their enemies. In this Christmas season, let’s not forget where we would be if Jesus hadn’t come to earth to offer Himself as a sacrifice for our sins: “You were dead in your offenses and sins, in which you previously walked according to the course of this world” (Eph. 2:1). Our status as having God on our side is only by God’s grace once we place our faith in Jesus: “By grace you have been saved through faith; and this is not of yourselves” (Eph. 2:8-9). Jesus said, “The one who is not with Me is against Me; and the one who does not gather with Me scatters” (Matt. 12:30). Which side are we and our children on? There is no neutral position.
