Today’s readings.. (1 Samuel 4), (Isaiah 50), (Revelation 10,11)

We may wrestle over understanding some of the symbolic language in the book of Revelation – but then come to clear and dramatic statements of the divine intentions for the future.  Ch. 11 which we read today is a particularly outstanding example; the vision of 24 elders “who fell on their faces and worshipping God saying, 

‘We give thanks to you Lord God Almighty, who is and who was, for you have taken your great power and begun to reign.  The nations raged, but your wrath came, and the time for the dead to be judged, and for rewarding your servants, the prophets and saints, and those who fear your name, both small and great, and for destroying the destroyers of the earth.” [v.16-18]  Note how the “small” are mentioned first. 

Let us “give thanks” that the all seeing all knowing Creator of all things is exercising the ultimate control and destiny of all things.   However, he allows human beings  to exercise their freewill – foreseeing what that will lead to – both short and long term – before it is time – his time – to exercise his “great power.” 

In our Isaiah reading chapter (50) there are appropriate personal words of encouragement to put alongside this vision in Revelation.  “The Lord GOD has given me the tongue of those who are taught, that I may know how to sustain with a word him who is weary.  Morning by morning he awakens; he awakens my ear to hear as those who are taught” [v.4]  Let us awaken each morning with words (resulting in our subsequent thoughts) from the word of God.

Finally, v.10 has a question for us; “Who among you fears the LORD and obeys the voice of his servant?  (Ch. 52 v.13-14 makes it clear “my servant” is Jesus)  Back to v.10, “Let him who walks in darkness and has no light trust in the name of the LORD and rely on his God.”  Our world is full of darkness, so we absolutely must do this.