Today’s Reading: Ezek 14:1–15:8, Rev 5:1–14, Job 33:29–33
Today’s Theme: Every Nation, Tribe and Tongue
Today’s theme is the worship of Jesus, the worthy Lamb and the Lion of the tribe of Judah, as opposed to the worship of worthless idols. He has redeemed us from every nation, tribe and tongue.
The bible describes mankind by three categories, these are nations, tribes and tongues. Notice none of these is colour. God’s groupings for mankind show the dignity with which we should see all men. The disrespectful generalisation of people by the colour of their skin, is a human invention.
Ezekiel 14:1–15:8
Idolatry, a heart problem
“Son of man, these men have taken their idols into their hearts, and set the stumbling block of their iniquity before their faces. Should I indeed let myself be consulted by them?(Ezekiel 14:3, ESV)
This is the inevitable result of idolatry, we end up taking the false god into our hearts and become devoted to the thing. Lord, today we ask that you break the power of every idol in our lives.
Idolatry separates us from God
that I may lay hold of the hearts of the house of Israel, who are all estranged from me through their idols.(Ezekiel 14:5, ESV)
Idolatry brings estrangement to our relationship with God.
Don’t go astray
that the house of Israel may no more go astray from me, nor defile themselves anymore with all their transgressions, but that they may be my people and I may be their God, declares the Lord God.”(Ezekiel 14:11, ESV)
The reason God judges the false prophet and the hypocrite is so that His people will no longer go astray, but will be His people in truth.
The judgement of the city
even if these three men, Noah, Daniel, and Job, were in it, they would deliver but their own lives by their righteousness, declares the Lord God.(Ezekiel 14:14, ESV)
Us living in London does not mean it will be spared Judgement. Let us pray for our city.
Our Children need to know God
even if these three men were in it, as I live, declares the Lord God, they would deliver neither sons nor daughters. They alone would be delivered, but the land would be desolate.(Ezekiel 14:16, ESV)
Our children need to know the Lord for themselves.
God’s tools of judgement
“For thus says the Lord God: How much more when I send upon Jerusalem my four disastrous acts of judgment, sword, famine, wild beasts, and pestilence, to cut off from it man and beast!(Ezekiel 14:21, ESV)
God’s chosen tools of Judgement (not the devil or man).
God’s purpose in judgement
They will console you, when you see their ways and their deeds, and you shall know that I have not done without cause all that I have done in it, declares the Lord God.”(Ezekiel 14:23, ESV)
God has a purpose in Judgement. God has a purpose in everything He does.
God’s reason for judgement
And I will make the land desolate, because they have acted faithlessly, declares the Lord God.”(Ezekiel 15:8, ESV)
The reason for the judgement is clearly seen here. God does nothing without a reason, even if the reason is not known to us.
Revelation 5:1–14
The Lion of the tribe of Judah
And one of the elders said to me, “Weep no more; behold, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, has conquered, so that he can open the scroll and its seven seals.”(Revelation 5:5, ESV)
Jesus became a man and conquered sin and death in a way that we could not. This seal is in some way connected to mankind and the earth.
These are wonderful titles for Jesus.
Jesus, The Slain Lamb
And between the throne and the four living creatures and among the elders I saw a Lamb standing, as though it had been slain, with seven horns and with seven eyes, which are the seven spirits of God sent out into all the earth.(Revelation 5:6, ESV)
This is another image of Jesus which stands in sharp contrast to the image of Jesus as the Lion of the tribe of Judah.
Jesus is God
And when he had taken the scroll, the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders fell down before the Lamb, each holding a harp, and golden bowls full of incense, which are the prayers of the saints.(Revelation 5:8, ESV)
This verse shows clearly that Jesus is God and He is to be worshipped.
Every nation, tribe and tongue
And they sang a new song, saying, “Worthy are you to take the scroll and to open its seals, for you were slain, and by your blood you ransomed people for God from every tribe and language and people and nation,(Revelation 5:9, ESV)
This is where the idea of ‘finish the mission’ comes from, every people group must hear the Gospel, as though God wants a sample from every nation.
Also this is where we get the understanding of the fact that people should be defined by nation, tribe and language, not by the colour of their skin.
We will reign in the earth
and you have made them a kingdom and priests to our God, and they shall reign on the earth.”(Revelation 5:10, ESV)
We will reign in the new earth.
Worthy is the Lamb
saying with a loud voice, “Worthy is the Lamb who was slain, to receive power and wealth and wisdom and might and honour and glory and blessing!”(Revelation 5:12, ESV)
AMEN! Worthy are you Lord Jesus.
Praise God, The Father and The Son
And I heard every creature in heaven and on earth and under the earth and in the sea, and all that is in them, saying, “To him who sits on the throne and to the Lamb be blessing and honour and glory and might forever and ever!”(Revelation 5:13, ESV)
The Worship due to both the Father and the Son.
Job 33:29–33
God’s mission
to bring back his soul from the pit, that he may be lighted with the light of life.(Job 33:30, ESV)
God’s great mission to save the souls of men
Speak with power
If not, listen to me; be silent, and I will teach you wisdom.”(Job 33:33, ESV)
Job did remain silent, a sign of the power with which this young man spoke.
Most of the above post is a copy of the original notes from the same date in 2014.
Additional resources
The Gospel Coalition on Revelation 5