More 6 of 20 “GREAT AND AMAZING” Thoughts from today’s Bible readings – Dec. 28th
We have a particularly mind challenging set of chapters to read today! One could write a book of comments about them – but we would need special spiritual insight into the correct meaning of some of the verses – but this is the wonder of God’s word – which presents us with a lifelong challenge of how to fit most, if not all, of its’ ‘jigsaw pieces’ correctly into place.
First, are the words of the LORD when he finally “answered Job out of the whirlwind and asked him: ‘Who is this that darkens counsel by words without knowledge?’ “[38 v.1,2] The LORD is not saying that Job has spoken that which is wrong. (only the 3 friends are guilty of that, see ch. 42 v.7)
Job confesses, “I have uttered what I did not understand, things too wonderful for me …” And how great are the wonders of nature and space which humans have discovered in recent years – and have blindly tried to fit them into the human theory of evolution! Job was not guilty of that – and we must not be either.
Zechariah has an awe-inspiring chapter for us – its’ climax describes how one day (and how soon now?) “the LORD will be king over all the earth. On that day the LORD will be one and his name one.” [14 v.9] This leads us to the wonderful but challenging words and visions in ch. 15 of Revelation – and makes us ask – what is to happen before the LORD is king over all the earth?
John says at the start of the chapter, “Then I saw another sign in heaven, great and amazing … seven plagues … with them the wrath of God is finished.” And then “they sing the song of Moses … and the song of the Lamb, saying, “Great and amazing are your deeds, O Lord God the Almighty! Just and true are your ways, O King of the nations! Who will not fear, O Lord, and glorify your name? For you alone are holy. All nations will come and worship you … ” [v.3,4]
How long now!? How “great and amazing” will be our experience if we are blessed, through his mercy and his grace, to witness these wonders. We surely long to witness the time when the Creator’s “righteous acts have been revealed.” [v.4] This will be because we have, here and now, embraced “the law of the Spirit of life (that) has set (us) free in Christ Jesus from the law of sin and death.” [Romans 8 v.2]
