READING FOR DECEMBER 17, 2024: DEUTERONOMY 32, REVELATION 10, PSALM 123 DEUTERONOMY 32 Verse 21 of the previous chapter clarifies that the song Moses recites in this chapter is for a time “when many evils and troubles find them, that this song will testify before them as a witness.” Unlike most of our hymns and choruses today, this is not a totally happy song. Yes, like many praise songs, it extols God’s greatness and perfect work: “For all His ways are just; A God of faithfulness and without injustice, Righteous and just is He” (vs. 4). But then it prophesies Israel’s unfaithful: “They have acted corruptly against Him. They are not His children, because of their defect; But are a perverse and crooked generation” (vs. 5). In a sense God at least temporarily disowns them as His children. Not likely a phrase we will sing this Christmastime around the tree. As through-- out the Bible, God calls upon the fathers or elders to be a source of spiritual instruction for the community: “Ask your father and he will inform you, your elders, and they will tell you. When the Most High gave the nations their inheritance” (vs. 7-8). This is still the father’s role: “Fathers, do not provoke your children to anger, but bring them up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord” (Eph. 6:4).
Verses 9-14 remind of God’s provisions to Israel. But the following verses again prophesy of Israel’s falling away and God’s response. For those who think God never brings about pain in this life, consider these words: “I will add misfortunes to them; I will use up My arrows on them. They will be wasted by famine and emaciated by plague and a bitter epidemic; and the teeth of beasts I will send against them with the venom of crawling things of the dust” (vs. 23-24). God said He would wipe out the nation except that observing godless nations might mistakenly believe they had triumphed over God’s people. Here the good news, also known as the Gospel, comes to the rescue: “For the Lord will vindicate His people, and will have compassion on His servants, when He sees that their strength is gone” (vs. 36). When we understand we are weak in our own sinfulness and only God’s grace can save us; then at last we have hope. This ultimately comes through the atoning death and resurrection of Jesus: “Rejoice, you nations, with His people; For He will avenge the blood of His servants, and will return vengeance on His adversaries, and will atone for His land and His people” (vs. 43).
REVELATION 10: Before the seventh trumpet sounds in chapter 11, there is a pause for a message from an angel. He declares that the mystery of God will soon be accomplished and to verify it he gives John a little scroll to eat. Let’s use this chapter to reflect on angels, which are mentioned over 75 times in the book of Revelation. These beings have a key role in the scenes depicted there.
The first thing we can know for certain about angels is that they are real beings. They are not myths like unicorns, nor are they cute chubby children-like cherubs with wings. Angels are a completely different type of creation than humans. Therefore, we do not get our “wings” and become angels when we die. We are humans and will always be distinct from angelic beings.
READING FOR DECEMEMBER 17, 2024 CONTINUED: REVELATION 10, PSALM 123 Angels are called ministering spirits: “Are not all angels ministering spirits sent to serve those who will inherit salvation?” (Hebrews 1:14).
Angels are not sons and daughters of God. They are servants who serve the King and his children. Angels serve those who will inherit salvation. That means us! We may never know how often angels watch over us and protect and serve us. Angels do not have flesh and blood bodies; however, they may have some physical-like properties, for throughout Revelation, they are portrayed holding objects such as trumpets, swords and bowls. Although they don’t have physical bodies, several times in the Bible they take the form of a human being. We are encouraged to be good to strangers because it might be an angel in disguise: “Do not forget to entertain strangers, for by so doing some people have entertained angels without knowing it” (Hebrews 13:2).
In chapter 4, we learned of 100 million angels around the throne. Just as each human is unique, so is each angel. However, throughout Scripture only three angels are mentioned by name: Gabriel, Michael and Lucifer. These names suggest that all angels have names and names imply personality and uniqueness. We know that all angels are not alike for our text today speaks of another “mighty angel” as if to suggest he was superior to other angels.
Not all angels are good. We will learn in chapter 12 that some angels rebelled against God and joined a mighty angel named Lucifer. Rather than serving God’s children, these angels war against them. Take a moment and thank God for His angels that watch over you.
PSALM 123 The Psalmist rightly looks to the One who is enthroned in heaven for direction and support. Only He has ultimate authority. When we look elsewhere, we foolishly settle for help and wisdom that is infinitely less than sufficient. As a former piano student, this writer finds the metaphor of looking intently at the hands of the master extremely meaningful. Good piano students are totally focused on their teachers’ hands so that they can emulate their musical skill. So we as Christians can look to Jesus as the model for living: “Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children; and walk in love, just as Christ also loved you and gave Himself up for us, an offering and a sacrifice to God as a fragrant aroma” (Eph. 5:1-2). The Psalmist suggests that there are plenty of other sources of so-called wisdom, but these are essentially the scoffing of those who are full of foolish pride.
