THE LORD SPOKE (August 28)

Daily Reflections from Scripture:

Old Testament: Psalm 117-118

Baruch habah. That’s how you say “welcome” in Hebrew. Literally, it means “blessed is he who comes” and is derived from Psalm 118:26. While today it is a common greeting used for anyone who might appear at the front door or step off a plane, in biblical times it was clearly used with messianic overtones.

In Matthew 11:3, from his prison cell John sends his disciples to ask Jesus, “Are you the one who was to come?” Jesus sends them back with the glad report that He was indeed the fulfillment of the messianic expectations of Isaiah 61:1.

Quoted by the crowds that followed Jesus at His “Triumphal Entry” into Jerusalem, this phrase is included in all four Gospel accounts (Mat. 21:9; Mk. 11:9; Lk. 19:38; Jn. 12:13). It was the high moment of Jesus’ presentation as Israel’s Messiah, the Son of David, to whom loud “Hosannahs” were due.

Jesus himself quoted it and placed it in a yet future context (Mat. 23:39; Lk. 13:35) when He spoke of the desolation of the Jewish people in the last days. That will finally lead to His second coming and the relieved shout of this messianic greeting once again, “Blessed is He who comes!”

In the Last Day we too will shout “Blessed is He who comes!” In Revelation 19:9 we read of that future event when it is said, “Blessed are those who are invited to the wedding supper of the Lamb!” When He comes to sit down at that table, blessing will fill up blessing to the point that we will shout “like the roar of rushing water and like loud peals of thunder”...

Hallelujah!
For our Lord God Almighty reigns.
Let us rejoice and be glad
and give him glory!
For the wedding of the Lamb has come
and his bride has made herself ready.
Rev. 19:6-7

Are you ready for that? Are you ready to shout, “Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord”? Baruch haBa b’Shem Adonai!


New Testament: Revelation 2-3

They were seven contemporaneous churches in John’s day. He’d probably visited or at least knew them all since his time spent at Ephesus. The order of the seven churches is actually the same as that which would have been followed by a postman making mail deliveries. Each letter begins with a commendation (with the exception of the last one, Laodicea). Each letter then voices a complaint (with the exceptions of Smyrna and Philadelphia), followed by a recommended correction.

By way of application, we can also observe that all seven represent types of local churches that have existed throughout the history of the Church. They demonstrate characteristics which are observable in all periods - from John’s day right down to the present. Consider, for example...

Ephesus (2:1-7) - It started so well under Pastor Paul and Pastor Timothy, but thirty years later it had lost its edge or, as John puts it, “forsaken [its] first love”. Coldness was its problem.

Smyrna (2:8-11) - It struggled from the beginning because of poverty and the strong opposition of a hostile Jewish population. This little church suffered persecution early on. Christ was its joy (there’s not one word of condemnation).

Pergamum (2:12-17) - Persecution was strong here too but the church did not renounce its faith. They remained true to the Lord. But, they let some damnable heresies creep in. Concession was its problem.

Thyatira (2:18-29) - This church had continued to grow and was known for its love, faith, service, and perseverance. But in doing so it had chosen to tolerate bad doctrine and immorality had crept in. Compromise was its problem.

Sardis (3:1-6) - It was located in a city of great wealth and fame and the church had become infected with the same concern for appearances. Substance was lacking for the most part. Contamination was its problem.

Philadelphia (3:7-13) - More than any other, this church was known for its missionary activity. Though its own strength was limited, it didn’t fail or give up but stood as a pillar in the worship of God. Commendation was its reward.

Laodicea (3:14-22) - Equivocating from the start, this church was too content with “life as usual”. Unaware of the needs or the dangers around them, they thought everything was just fine. Complacency was its problem.

So, where does your church fit into this picture? Are you a part of the faithful ones who are commended by the Lord of chapter one?

THE LORD SPOKE (August 27)

Daily Reflections from Scripture:

Old Testament: Psalm 111-116

“He will have no fear of bad news” (Ps. 112:7a). Does that sound like you? Would you be interested to know how that could be true? Just back up to see who is the antecedent of “he” and you’ll find the clue: “him who is generous and lends freely” (Ps. 112:5a). Keep backing up and you’ll find that it’s the man who fears the Lord (Ps. 112:1a). Take a look at his characteristics:

• finds great delight in the Lord’s commands (Ps. 112:1b)
• righteousness (Ps. 112:3b, 4b, 6b, 9b)
• gracious (Ps. 112:4b)
• compassionate (Ps. 112:4b)
• generous (Ps. 112:5a, 9a)
• just (Ps. 112:5b)
• unafraid (Ps. 112:7a,8a)
• trusting in the Lord (Ps. 112:7b)

That’s quite a listing! Are those qualities you’d like to have characterize your life? Take a second look. Twice it links righteousness with being generous (Ps. 112:4-5,9b). Twice it says he will have “no fear” (Ps. 112:7,8) and twice that he will have a strong heart (Ps. 112:7,8). Does that also include the physical heart? Take another look at the list of benefits:

• children who also love the Lord (Ps. 112:2)
• wealth and riches (Ps. 112:3)
• good in a variety of forms (Ps. 112:5)
• honor (Ps. 112:9)

All that and more is promised to “the man who fears the Lord” (Ps. 112:1). So how can a person access that truth?

1. Start by thinking of Him at all times. He should be a factor in every equation of your life.
2. Learn all you can about Him and His ways. This comes from the Bible. So you should read some Scripture every day. Read consistently; read meditatively; read hungrily.
3. Speak often to Him. Tell Him what you think, what you fear, what troubles you. Ask Him to help you.
4. Determine to follow through on what you’re discovering and learning about Him. Obey His commands; follow His ways; think His thoughts.

New Testament: Revelation 1

Any portion of Scripture will bring a blessing to those who read it but this part of the Bible makes a special promise to that effect. First to the reader but even more so to the one who “keeps” this prophecy. How do you “keep” prophecy? After reading it, you “take it to heart” (NIV), meaning, you live it out expectantly. You look for His coming and you long for the fulfillment of that which is promised.

Revelation 1:13-16 provides the only physical description we have of the Lord Jesus anywhere in the Bible. A few clues can be picked up in the Gospel accounts (He didn’t look strikingly different from others, He had a beard) but not much is known before this point. What we’re given here is a view of Him already in His glorified state, after His return to heaven. Jesus was...

dressed in a robe reaching down to his feet and with a golden sash around his chest. His head and hair were white like wool, as white as snow, and his eyes were like blazing fire. His feet were like bronze glowing in a furnace, and his voice was like the sound of rushing waters. In his right hand he held seven stars, and out of his mouth came a sharp double-edged sword. His face was like the sun shining in all its brilliance. (Rev. 1:13-16)

When John, His best friend on earth, saw Him (Rev. 1:17), he fell at His feet as though dead. We’ll likely do the same. His blazing eyes will see right through us (could that be the fire of I Cor. 3:13-15?) and His thundering voice will rattle us in a way we’ve never yet experienced. What glory that will be!

John tells us that he was “in the Spirit” on “the Lord’s Day” when this happened (Rev. 1:10). This is most likely a reference to the day of Jesus’ resurrection (i.e. Passover season), not any given Sunday. That use of the term “Lord’s Day” comes into Christian practice much later. At this point, it referred to a yearly observance of Christ’s resurrection from the dead, not simply the first day of the week. Being in exile on the island of Patmos because of his witness for Christ, John was commissioned to write what he had seen (chapter 1, and everything that preceded in his Gospel account), what he was seeing (chapters 2-3), and what was yet to be seen (chapters 4-22).

What follows is the most staggering vision of the future that has ever been given to man. For 2000 years it has kept us captivated and wondering at many of the details. We see “through a glass darkly” something of what the future holds and we stand in awe. We tremble. We wait. And we say, “Amen. Come, Lord Jesus.”