Revelation 8
Silence in heaven before seventh seal openedverses 1-2
And when HE had opened the seventh seal
there was silence in heaven about the space of half an hour
And I saw the seven angels which stood before God
and to them were given seven trumpets
Prayers of the saintsverses 3-5
And another angel came and stood at the altar – having a golden censer
and there was given unto him much incense
that he should offer it with the prayers of all saints
on the golden altar which was before the throne
And the smoke of the incense – which came with the prayers of the saints
ascending up before God out of the angel’s hand
And the angel took the censer – and filled it with fire of the altar
and cast it into the earth – and there were voices
thundering – lightnings – earthquake
Seven angels with the seven trumpets readyverse 6
And the seven angels which had the seven trumpets prepared
themselves to sound
First angel soundedverse 7
The first angel sounded
and there followed hail and fire mingled with blood
and they were cast upon the earth
and the third part of trees was burnt up
and all green grass was burnt up
Second angel soundedverses 8-9
And the second angel sounded – and as it were a great mountain
burning with fire was cast into the sea
and the third part of the sea became blood
and the third part of the creatures which
were in the sea and had life – died
and the third part of the ships were destroyed
Third angel soundedverses 10-11
And the third angel sounded – and there fell a great star from heaven
burning as it were a lamp
and it fell upon the third part of the rivers
and upon the fountains of waters
And the name of the star is called Wormwood
and the third part of the waters became wormwood
and many men died of the waters
because they were made bitter
Fourth angel soundedverses 12-13
And the fourth angel sounded
and the third part of the sun was smitten
and the third part of the moon
and the third part of the stars
so as the third part of them was darkened
and the day shone not for a third part of it
and the night likewise
And I beheld
and heard an angel flying through the midst of heaven
saying with a loud voice – Woe – Woe – Woe
to the inhabiters of the earth by reason of the
other voices of the trumpet of the
three angels – which are you to sound
COMMENTARY:
DAILY SPIRITUAL BREAKFAST: Young Believers
: 1 And when he had opened the seventh seal, there was silence in heaven about the space of half an hour. (4602 “silence” [sige] means hush, refraining from words, quietness or to hiss)
DEVOTION: We have just left worship in heaven. There was praise coming from all the mouths of those who were redeemed by the blood of the Lamb.
Now we have a refraining from words because of the second group of judgments on the earth. The seven trumpets were about to be sounds as the seventh seal was opened by the Lamb of God, Jesus Christ.
Each phrase of the Tribulation time period was progressively worse. This hush was to show that those in heaven knew that something worse was going to happen to the earth and its people. This seventh seal was the beginning of the trumpet judgments. The seventh trumpet is going to be the beginning of the vial judgments of the last half of the Tribulation. When we think of judgment coming in the future, we should not have a smile on our face. We should have tears in our eyes because most of the world is rejecting our Savior, Jesus Christ.
Most of the world is religious and says that it believes in God but their god is not the god of the Bible. Most are deceived into believing that as long as they believe in a god they are on their way to heaven. There is only one true God and that is the one who send HIS Son, Jesus Christ, to die for our sins. There are many false teachers even in within what we would call “Christian” circles. They are beginning to teach that there are other ways to heaven. They are beginning to teach that other religions lead to the same place. These are false teachers that will receive a greater judgment when they spend eternity in the lake of fire.
As each judgment falls on the earth there is very little repentance. There will be some saved but only some. This chapter tells us that God saves the prayers of the saints for this time of judgment. We are to pray for the LORD to take vengeance for us and we are not to take it ourselves. This is a time of vengeance for the world’s treatment of the followers of Christ.
CHALLENGE: We need to not get bitter waiting for the LORD to issue judgment on this world. We need to feel genuine sorrow for those outside of Christ. Our prayers should be for their salvation.
: 4 And the smoke of the incense, which came with the prayers of the saints, ascended up before God out of the angel’s hand. (2368 “incense” [thumiama] means odor, aromatic substance burnt, fragrant stuffs or perfume, burnt for religious worship)
DEVOTION: While on earth the Tribulation was happening, in heaven there was still a worship service going on. The worship of the LORD never ends. It is something that has continued from the time angels and humans were created. Some think that the angels were created on the sixth day along with Adam and Eve. It is never really stated.
However, what is involved with the worship in heaven is that the prayers of the saints were represented by the smoke of the fragrant stuffs or perfume offered to the LORD. So the prayers of the saints were always before the LORD. HE not only listened to them but HE smelt the offerings.
The Bible takes time to show what is going on in heaven, so that we can understand what is going to happen in eternity. The angels seem to be given the responsibility to be messengers of the LORD to the saints. They present the prayers to the LORD even though HE hears all of them.
Communication needs to be present now and throughout eternity. Our prayers are the way that we communicate with the LORD. So many believers are not prayers. If they read this final book of the Bible, they might realize how important our prayers are to the LORD.
On this occasion an angel collects the fire from the altar and casts it to the earth. Those of our prayers that were meant to ask the LORD for judgment are finally being answered during this time period.
CHALLENGE: Understand what is going to happen to our prayers. There answer might be answered many years from the time they were stated. Accept this truth. They are not forgotten by the LORD
DAILY SPIRITUAL LUNCH: Transitional Believers
: 11 And the name of the star is called Wormwood: and the third part of the waters became wormwood; and many men died of the waters, because they were made bitter. (4087 “bitter” [pikraino] means to produce a bitter taste in the stomach, to embitter, exasperate, render angry, indignant, to be or become sour and sharp to the taste, or to make sharp)
DEVOTION: During this first half of the second half of the seven year period of the Tribulation the trumpets are sounded with each of the seven judgments given by the LORD to those who reject Jesus Christ.
When the third trumpet sounded, there was something falling from the sky into the a third of the rivers and springs of the world. This object caused the drinking water of the earth to become bitter. Some say that it became poisonous.
Whatever was true people died from drinking this water. It doesn’t seem impossible that people would keep drinking this water when they saw their neighbors and friends die from drinking it.
However, we find many people who take drugs can watch their friends die from the same drugs and yet keep taking them. It would seem that they would take the warning from the death of their friends but many think that it could happen to them but not to them.
We can deceive ourselves into believing anything. We can think that others are judged for certain sins but we will never be judged for them. We have to realize that whatever we sow we reap. We need to watch what we think about sin. There are always consequences.
CHALLENGE: Don’t let your friends talk you into something that you know is wrong in the sight of the LORD. Walk away or as the Bible sometimes states “Run.”
:12 And the fourth angel sounded, and the third part of the sun was smitten, and the third part of the moon, and the third part of the stars; so as the third part of them was darkened, and the day shone not for a third part of it, and the night likewise. (4654 “be darkened” [skotizo] means to cover with darkness, to darken. 2 to be covered with darkness, be darkened. 2a of heavenly bodies as deprived of light. 2b metaph. 1b1 of the eyes. 2b2 of the understanding. 2b3 of the mind. [Strong, J. (1995). Enhanced Strong’s Lexicon. Woodside Bible Fellowship]) (MW)
DEVOTION: Darkness has a lot of different meanings. Sometimes going outside at night can be a fun thing, but often it is a scary thing. One of the good things about darkness is that it allows man to rest at night. God had originally created the light in order to separate light from darkness (Genesis 1:3-5), and the lights in the sky were created on the fourth day (Genesis 1:14-19). God’s plan was to have a contrast between darkness and light, and each was to serve a function (God did not make light last 24 hours a day).
What is interesting about this discussion of darkness in the book of Revelation is that it parallels the idea of darkness and sin in the gospel of John (see particularly John 1:4-5). The ultimate form of darkness is the darkness that occurs in the minds of men, when they refuse to accept God as the authority in their lives and His Son Jesus as the Savior for their sins. In spite of all of the signs which occur in the book of Revelation, it is clear that most of mankind continues to live in rebellion against God in the darkness of their souls. As if to confirm this, God sends the judgment of darkness on the world in this chapter (similar to how He did so during the plagues in Egypt and during the crucifixion of Jesus) (Exodus 10:21-22, Matthew 27:45).
So, during these days of shortened light, God is giving people an opportunity to repent once again. Nothing will stop the horrible set of judgments that God has planned for this earth, but within these there will be an invitation for men to come to Him. Light exposes darkness.
CHALLENGE: Is there any area of your life that you have not exposed to the light yet? Maybe you feel ashamed to admit it, but now is the time to invite Christ to come in and do a total makeover of our life. Make this decision your intentional step for today.
DAILY SPIRITUAL SUPPER: Mature Believers
: 13 And I beheld, and heard an angel flying through the midst of heaven, saying with a loud voice, Woe, woe, woe, to the inhabiters of the earth by reason of the other voices of the trumpet of the three angels, which are yet to sound! (2730 “inhabiters” [katoikeo] means inhabitant, to dwell, settle, reside, live in, or to settle down in a fixed dwelling)
DEVOTION: Even during the Tribulation time period there were warning issued to all those who would listen to them. The people living during this time period would see their friends and relatives dying. They would see what was happening to their world.
The angels were flying around issuing warnings of worse things to come. They were given the people an opportunity to change their ways and follow Jesus Christ.
Some people were listening. Remember the picture of people from every nation coming to know Jesus Christ even during this time period. Those who rejected Christ before the beginning of the Tribulation seem to be the ones who are not willing to listen to the warning. They were a group that cursed God instead of becoming a following HIM.
Are you listening to the warnings that were given concerning this time period in the history of the world? We don’t know when the LORD is going to sound the trumpet for believers are to come up to meet HIM but we know that the Bible tells us what is going to happen to those who reject Christ for eternity.
CHALLENGE: This book is giving us insight into the future that we need to sit up and take notice. We need to act on the knowledge we have learned from the Word of God.
DISCIPLINES OF THE FAITH:
BODY
Chastity (Purity in living)
Fasting (Time alone with LORD without eating or drinking)
Sacrifice (Giving up something we want to serve the LORD)
Submission (Willing to listen to others and LORD)
Solitude (Going to a quiet place without anyone)
Silenceverse 1
SOUL
Fellowship (Gathering together around the Word of God)
Frugality (wise use of resources)
Journalizing (Writing down what you have learned from the LORD)
Study and Meditation (Thinking through your study in the Word)
Secrecy (Doing your good deeds without others knowing but God)
SPIRIT
Celebration (Gathering around a special occasion to worship LORD)
Confession (Tell the LORD we are sorry for our sins on a daily basis)
Prayer (Conversation with God on a personal level)
Prayers of all saintsverse 3
Prayers of the saintsverse 4
Silence (Letting the LORD deal with some problems and needs)
Worship (Time to praise the LORD alone or in a group)
Altarverse 3
Golden censerverse 3
Incenseverses 3, 4
Fire of the altarverse 5
DOCTRINES OF THE FAITH:
Scripture (66 inerrant books of the Bible)
God the Father (First person of the Godhead)
Godverses 2, 4
Throneverse 3
God the Son (Second person of the Godhead –God/man, Messiah)
God the Holy Spirit (Third person of the Godhead – our comforter)
Trinity (Three persons of the Godhead who are co-equal = ONE God)
Angels (Created before the foundation of the world – Good and Evil)
Angelsverses 2-8, 10, 12, 13
Seven angels – seven trumpetsverses 2, 6
Another angel – golden censerverses 3, 5
Angel’s handverse 4
Four angels soundedverses 7-12
Three angels yet to soundverse 13
Man (Created on the sixth twenty-four hour period of creation)
Sin (Missing the mark set by God on man and angels)
Salvation (Provided by Christ’s death on the cross for our sins)
Saints verses 3, 4
Prayers of the saintsverses 3, 4
Israel (Old Testament people of God)
Church (New Testament people of God)
Last Things (Future Events)
Seventh sealverses 1-6
Silence in heaven
Cast fire from altar to earth
Voices
Thunderings
Lightnings
Earthquake
First angel with trumpet soundedverse 7
hail and fire mingled with blood
third part of trees burnt up
all green grass burn up
Second angel soundedverses 8-9
third part of sea became blood
third part of creatures of sea died
third part of ships were destroyed
Third angel soundedverses 10-11
great star fell from heaven: Wormwood
third part of rivers &
fountains of water
third part of waters became wormwood
men died in the waters
Fourth angel soundedverse 12
third part of sun was smitten
third part of moon
third part of stars
so a third part was darkened
Angel flyingverse 13
saying with loud voice: Woe, woe, woe
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QUOTES regarding passage
3–4 Before the trumpet judgments are executed, another angel enacts a symbolic scene in heaven. He takes a golden censer filled with incense and offers the incense on the altar in behalf of the prayers of all God’s people. Earlier, in connection with the martyred saints (6:9), John mentioned the altar that was near God’s presence. Likewise, a strong assurance is here given to the suffering followers of Christ that their prayers for vindication are not forgotten because God will speedily vindicate them from their enemies’ assaults. So close is the altar to God that the incense cloud of the saints’ prayers rises into his presence and cannot escape his notice (cf. Ps 141:2). (Johnson, A. F. (1981). Revelation. In F. E. Gaebelein (Ed.), The Expositor’s Bible Commentary: Hebrews through Revelation (Vol. 12, p. 489). Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan Publishing House)
Another angel (ἀλλος ἀγγελος [allos aggelos]). Not one of the seven of verse 2 and before they began to sound the trumpets. This preliminary incident of the offering of incense on the altar covers verses 3 to 6. Stood (ἐσταθη [estathē]). Ingressive first aorist passive of ἱστημι [histēmi] (intransitive), “took his place.” Over the altar (ἐπι του θυσιαστηριου [epi tou thusiastēriou]). See 6:9 for the word for the burnt-offering, here apparently the altar of incense (clearly so in Luke 1:11; possibly also Rev. 9:13), but it is not clear that in apocalyptic the distinction between the two altars of the tabernacle and temple is preserved. Aleph C Q have the genitive, while A P have the accusative ἐπι το θυσιαστηριον [epi to thusiastērion]. A golden censer (λιβανωτον χρυσουν [libanōton chrusoun]). Old word for frankincense (from λιβανος [libanos], Matt. 2:11; Rev. 18:13), but here alone in N. T. and for censer, as is plain by the use of χρυσουν [chrusoun] (golden) with it. Cf. 1 Kings 7:50. Much incense (θυμιαματα πολλα [thumiamata polla]). See 5:8 for θυμιαμα [thumiama] (the aromatic substance burnt, also in 18:13), but here for the live coals on which the incense falls. That he should add (ἱνα δωσει [hina dōsei]). Sub-final clause (subject of ἐδοθη [edothē], was given, singular because θυμιαματα [thumiamata] neuter plural) with ἱνα [hina] and the future active indicative of διδωμι [didōmi], to give, instead of δῳ [dōi], the second aorist subjunctive. Unto the prayers (ταις προσευχαις [tais proseuchais]). Dative case. In 5:8 the θυμιαματα [thumiamata] are the prayers. Upon the golden altar (ἐπι το θυσιαστηριον το χρυσουν το [epi to thusiastērion to chrusoun to]). Accusative case here, not genitive as above, and apparently the altar of incense as indicated by the word golden (Ex. 30:1ff.; Lev. 4:17). Note triple article here το [to] (once before the substantive, once before the adjective, once before the adjunct “the one before the throne”). (Robertson, A. T. (1933). Word Pictures in the New Testament (Re 8:3). Nashville, TN: Broadman Press.)
8:3–5. Before the trumpets sounded, however, a dramatic introduction was given them by another angel, one in addition to the seven, who stood before the golden altar with a golden censer. In the Old Testament tabernacle a censer made of copper, probably heavy to handle, was used to carry coals from the brazen altar outside the tabernacle to the altar of incense inside. Later, in the temple, Solomon used censers made of gold (1 Kings 7:50; 2 Chron. 4:22).
This is the only reference to censers in the Book of Revelation, though golden bowls full of incense, which probably were not censers, are mentioned in Revelation 5:8. Like the golden bowls of 5:8, however, the golden censer offering incense here is symbolic of the prayers of all the saints.
This offering in heaven corresponds to the custom of offering incense on the altar of incense in both the tabernacle and the temple. The censer would hold the coals, and a separate vessel would carry the incense which was to be poured on the coals once the altar was reached. The resulting smoke was typical of prayer ascending before God.
In verse 5 the angel offered the incense on the coals before God, and then, taking the censer with the fire still in it, he threw it on the earth. As a result there were thunder, rumblings, flashes of lightning, and an earthquake. The picture is one of ominous anticipation. (Walvoord, J. F. (1985). Revelation. In J. F. Walvoord & R. B. Zuck (Eds.), The Bible Knowledge Commentary: An Exposition of the Scriptures (Vol. 2, p. 951). Wheaton, IL: Victor Books.)
8:3 censer. A golden pan, suspended on a rope or chain, that was used to transport fiery coals from the brazen altar to the altar of incense, in order to ignite the incense, symbolizing the prayers of the people (5:8; Ex 27:3; cf. Lk 1:8, 9). This occurred twice daily at the time of the morning and evening sacrifices. (MacArthur, J. F., Jr. (2006). The MacArthur study Bible: New American Standard Bible. (Re 8:3). Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson Publishers.)
Ver. 3. And another angel came, &c.] The Ethiopic version adds, from the east, as in ch. 7:2 pointing to the same angel, and who is intended: for not a created angel, as Gabriel, or any other, is meant; nor any mere man, at least not Pope Damasus, who lived in Constantine’s time, as Lyra thought; nor Constantine himself, which is the opinion of Brightman, who thinks that his, and the desires of other good men to make peace, and compose the differences occasioned by the Arian heresy, are designed by the incense and prayers; and this being brought about at the counsel of Nice, when the Arian blasphemy was condemned, and truth confirmed, is intended by the ascent of the smoke of the incense with the prayers, out of the angel’s hands; when there followed upon this great contentions, heart-burnings, and persecutions, signified by fire, voices, thunderings, &c. and others have been of opinion that the Emperor Theodosius is designed, and that respect is had to his prayer both in the church, and at the head of his army, before the battle with Eugenius, the saints in the mean while putting up united prayers to God for success, and which was obtained; and this victory was attended with a miraculous tempest, and gave a deadly blow to the Pagan religion. Yet neither of those, but Christ himself, the Angel of the covenant, and of God’s presence, is here intended, who appeared in an angelic form; so the high-priest in the day of atonement was called שליח, an angel, or messenger, to which the allusion is; and stood at the altar; either of burnt-offerings, and may be rendered stood upon it; and so may represent his sacrifice, which had been lately offered up for the sins of his people, he being both altar, sacrifice, and priest; or rather the altar of incense, since mention is made of a censer and of incense, and the smoke of it; and seeing this altar is a golden one, as that was, and is before the throne, as that was before the vail, by the ark of the testimony; Exod. 30:1, 3, 6 and so Christ is here introduced as the high-priest, advocate, and intercessor for his people, though both altars may be respected in this verse: the altar may design the altar of burnt-offering, from whence the coals were taken in the censer; and the golden altar the altar of incense, where the coals being brought, the incense was put upon them, and offered; and here he stood, as every one concerned in the service of the sanctuary did; having a golden raiser; the Ethiopic version adds, of fire; for this was a vessel in which were put burning coals of fire, taken from off the altar before the Lord, Lev. 16:12 and which may denote the sufferings of Christ, the pains he endured in his body, the sorrows of his soul, and the wrath of God, which was poured like fire upon him; the altar from which they were taken off was typical of Christ in his divine nature, which is the altar that sanctifies the gift, and gave virtue to his blood and sacrifice; and all this being before the Lord may shew that Christ’s sufferings were according to the will of God, were grateful to him, and always before him; for these burning coals in the censer were also carried within the vail, representing heaven, where Christ entered by his own blood, and where he is as a Lamb that had been slain, the efficacy of whose death always continues; and this being a golden censer shows the excellency and perpetuity of Christ’s sacrifice and intercession. In the daily service the priest used a silver censer, but on the day of atonement a golden one; though at the daily sacrifice there was a vessel used, called חכף, like to a large golden bushel, in which was a smaller vessel full of incense, and may be what is here designed: and there given unto him much incense; the intercession of Christ is meant by the incense, which, like that, is sweet and fragrant, very grateful and acceptable to God, and also pure and holy; for though it is made for transgressors, yet in a way of righteousness, and consistent with the holiness and justice of God; nor is there any like it, nor should there be any besides it; the intercession of angels, and saints departed, ought to be rejected: and it is perpetual, or will be for ever; see Exod. 30:7, 8, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38 and whereas it is said to be much, this is an allusion either to the many spices used in the composition of the incense, see Exod. 30:34 the Jews say, that eleven sorts of spices were ordered to Moses, and the wise men have added three more, in all fourteen; or to the priest’s handfuls of incense, which he took and brought within the vail on the day of atonement, Lev. 16:12 and which were added to, and were over and above the quantity used every day; and even in the daily service the pot of incense was not only filled, but נדוש, heaped up; now this may denote the fulness of Christ’s intercession, which is for all his elect, called and uncalled, greater or lesser believers, and for all things for them, as their cases be; for conversion, discoveries of pardon, preservation, perseverance, and glorification; and to support this, he has a fulness of merit, which makes his intercession efficacious; for incense was put upon the burning coals in the censer, or upon the fire before the Lord, Lev. 16:13 signifying that Christ’s intercession proceeds upon his sufferings and death: his blood and sacrifice, from whence all his pleas and arguments are taken in favour of his people, and which always prevail: and this is said to be given him, as his whole work and office as Mediator, and every branch of it is; he is appointed to this work, is allowed to do it, and is accepted in it, by him that sits upon the throne: in the daily offering of the incense, one took the incense and gave it into the hand of his friend, or the priest that was next him; and if he wanted instruction how to offer it, he taught him, nor might any one offer incense until the president bid him; to which there seems to be an allusion here: now the end of this was, that he should offer it with the prayers of all saints upon the golden altar which was before the throne; the Vulgate Latin and Ethiopic versions add, of God; the prayers of the saints, rightly performed, are themselves compared to incense, being very grateful and acceptable to God, Psal. 141:2 and the Arabic version here renders it in connexion with the preceding clause, and explanative of that, and there was given unto him much incense and much spice, which are the prayers of the saints, as in ch. 5:8 and at the time of incense the people prayed; see Luke 1:10 and these are spiritual sacrifices, which Christ the high-priest presents for the saints, perfumes with the incense of his mediation, and makes acceptable to God, being offered upon, and coming up from that altar which is before him, and which gives value to every thing that is put upon it: and they are the prayers of saints, who are set apart by God the Father, whose sins are expiated by the blood of Christ, and who are sanctified by the spirit of God; who draw nigh to God with a true heart, and call upon him out of a pure heart, and in sincerity and truth; the prayers of such righteous ones, through faith in Christ, avail much with God; and the prayers of all saints are regarded by Christ, and presented by him, whether they be rich or poor, high or low, greater or lesser believers. The Jews often speak of an angel, whose name is Sandalphon, who is appointed over the prayers of the righteous, and takes them and presents them to God: so Raphael in Tobit 12:15. says he was one of the seven holy angels that carry up the prayers of the saints; and the heretic Elxai, who was originally a Jew, talked of the holy angels of prayerb: so the Jews say, that God by, or through his Word, receives the prayers of Israel, and has mercy on them. In the Greek text it is, that he should give, &c. that is, the incense, agreeably to the Hebrew phrase in Numb. 16:47 and elsewhere. (Gill, J. (1809). An Exposition of the New Testament (Vol. 3, pp. 745–747). London: Mathews and Leigh.)
FROM MY READING:
(Remember the only author that I totally agree with is the HOLY SPIRIT in the inerrant WORD OF GOD called THE BIBLE! All other I try to gleam what I can to help me grow in the LORD!!)
An angel with a golden censer with incense (symbolizing prayer) adds to it the prayers of the saints. Then the angel takes the censer and throws it to the earth, unleashing the seven trumpet judgments. It is a serious reminder that God answers the prayers of His people. They had prayed that God would avenge them and He answered. (December 17, Living The New Testament by Paul Enns)
JUST DO SOMETHING by Keven DeYoung
But there are foolish ways to us this “open door” theology. Christians are sometimes guilty of using the absence of an open door as an excuse for laziness: “I put my resume on Monster.com last week and no one has contacted me. The Lord just isn’t opening any doors.” Perhaps, but maybe you should make some phone call, knock on some doors, and visit every potential employer in town before you blame your unemployment on God. (p. 77-78)
Remember God’s will for your life is your sanctification, and God tends to use discomfort and trials more than comfort and ease to make us holy. (p. 79)
The whole fleece approach to life is dangerously close to violating Jesus’ admonition, “You shall not put the Lord your God to the test: (Matthew 4:7). (p. 80)
Open doors, fleeces, random Bible verses, and impressions, if construed in the right way, have their place in the Christian’s life. But in my experience, these tools have been wielded for more harm than good. They are easily abused, manipulated, and lend themselves to superstition. (p. 85)
TRUE REST
Come to me, all ye that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.
Matthew 11:28
The gospel announces that rest is only to be found in a knowledge of God, because God has made us, and He has made us in such a way that we never can know rest apart from Him. Augustine put that perfectly when he said, “Thou hast made us for Thyself, and our souls are restless until they find their rest in Thee.”
You can scale the heights or plumb the depths, you can travel around the world, as many people have done, trying to find rest and peace, but you will never find it. God has so made us—and this is the glory and the dignity of man—that nothing can finally be made at rest until our souls are satisfied in God. And the world, I suggest to you, is an eloquent sermon on that particular theme. With all that we have in the modern world of wealth and culture and education and everything else, look at the picture of unutterable restlessness all around us. “There is no peace, saith my God, to the wicked” (Isaiah 57:21). There is no rest apart from a knowledge of God.
The Lord alone can give us this knowledge. “Come unto me, all ye that labor and are heaven laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me” (Matthew 11:28-29). Notice the personal reference; all along He is pointing to Himself. Yes, but He is doing more than that—He is contrasting Himself with everybody else. His claim is that “Neither knoweth any man the Father, save the Son, and he to whomsoever the Son will reveal him” (Matthew 11:27). He says that not only can He give us this knowledge of God, but that no one and nothing else can give us and create this knowledge in us.
A Thought to Ponder: “Thou hast made us for Thyself, and our souls are restless until they find their rest in Thee.”
(From The Heart of the Gospel, p. 162, by Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones)
Our Sins in His Body
“Who his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by whose stripes ye were healed.” (1 Peter 2:24)
When Christ suffered on the cross for our sins, His entire body suffered. A vicious crown of thorns was pressed into His brow, and then “they smote him on the head” and “spit upon him” (Mark 15:17, 19). He already was weak and battered from Pilate’s dreaded scourging with the infamous Roman cat-o’-nine-tails (John 19:1).
Cruel spikes were driven into His hands and nails into His feet, suspending His pain-racked body from the cross (Psalm 22:16). The word “stripes” in our text actually appears in the singular. Christ on the cross was one big stripe, or wound. Finally, He died (v. 33) and “one of the soldiers with a spear pierced his side, and forthwith came there out blood and water” (John 19:34).
Indeed, He was bearing our sins in every last part of His body on the tree! The enormity of the necessary payment provides a partial measure of the enormity of our sins in the sight of a holy God. “The whole head is sick, and the whole heart faint. From the sole of the foot even unto the head there is no soundness in it; but wounds, and bruises, and putrifying sores: they have not been closed, neither bound up, neither mollified with ointment” (Isaiah 1:5-6). “Their throat is an open sepulchre; with their tongues they have used deceit; the poison of asps is under their lips:…Their feet are swift to shed blood:…There is no fear of God before their eyes” (Romans 3:13, 15, 18).
But He bore all the sins of our body, and therefore we, in God’s sight, are dead to sins and alive to righteousness. “O the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! how unsearchable are his judgments, and his ways past finding out!” (Romans 11:33). (HMM, The Institute for Creation Research)
The Lord speaks directly to Samuel, and all Israel recognizes Samuel as a prophet.
INSIGHT
For all the glory of speaking directly with the Lord, Samuel is given a very difficult task: He must deliver to Eli a troubling message from the Lord. With a pure heart and nothing to gain or lose by the encounter, Samuel tells Eli the truth.
We too must sometimes confront people with truth, knowing that the truth will hurt. Ephesians 4:15 instructs us to speak the truth in love. Speaking the truth without love is destructive.
Samuel’s example is a difficult one but a good one. Like Samuel, we can only fulfill such a task if our hearts are pure and we do not manipulate the situation for our own benefit.
(Quiet Walk)
The idea of keeping watch is that of being alert, providing care, guarding and protecting. In other words, our task as church leaders is to care for the church, to oversee the spiritual condition and growth of the congregation. Providing this care involves overseeing the spiritual growth of people and assisting and ministering to people in times of crisis.
(p. 128)
Our responsibility as leaders and as a church is to foster and contribute to the spiritual growth of people, encouraging them in spiritual transformation. (128)
(Developing Leaders for the Small Church by Glenn C. Daman)
Israel demands a king from the Lord.
INSIGHT
The Lord intends to rule Israel by theocracy, which means that God will rule through a man who will be His spokesman. In rejecting this method, the Israelites are not rejecting Samuel but God. To be sure there is a problem with Samuel’s sons not walking after the Lord, but rather than ask God for another theocratic administrator, they demand a monarchy. In seeking to correct a legitimate problem, they make matters worse because their motives are wrong. They have a selfish desire for a king like the nations around them.
When we see legitimate problems, we must be careful that we do not demand wrong solutions. There is no substitute for pure motives when it comes to problem solving. (Quiet Walk)
A RIGHT CONCEPTION OF GOD
Hallowed be thy name. Luke 11:2
When the disciples came to our Lord and said, “Lord, teach us to pray, as John also taught his disciples,” He replied, “When ye pray say, Our Father which art in heaven, hallowed be thy name” (Luke 11:1-2). You must start, said our Lord, with a right conception of God. Now is this not where we all tend to go astray? So often our initial error and trouble is that our ideas of God are so loose. Let us be quite frank and honest about this. Most of us, before we listen to Jesus Christ, rather feel that we are in a position even to criticize God: “Why should God….? Why this? Why that?” We are, we think, the judges even where God is concerned.
Now what our Lord tells us at the beginning is, “Put off thy shoes from off thy feet, for the place whereon thou standest is holy ground” (Exodus 3:5). Can you imagine God, can you picture Him? God is utterly and absolutely holy, so much so that we cannot imagine Him, eternal in His holiness and His absolute perfection.
That is what our Lord taught about God, and we must start there. We have to realize that if to know God is the first essential thing in rest and peace, we must begin by knowing something of His nature and character, and that is what our Lord always taught about Him. Take His own attitude toward the Father. Look at the time He spent in prayer; observe the way in which He was always careful to say that He did nothing of Himself, that the works He did were those the Father had given Him to do, and that all the words He spoke were those that the Father gave Him.
A Thought to Ponder: You must start, said our Lord, with a right conception of God.
(From The Heart of the Gospel, pp. 173-174, by Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones)
The Victor’s Crown
“And every man that striveth for the mastery is temperate in all things. Now they do it to obtain a corruptible crown; but we an incorruptible.” (1 Corinthians 9:25)
Ancient athletes who “strove for the mastery” devoted their whole lives to training and were “temperate in all things,” hoping thereby to receive the victor’s crown someday.
There are 21 references to the victor’s crown in the New Testament, in either the verb or noun form. In most of these, the crown is used as a symbol of the Christian’s “incorruptible” reward at the end of his spiritual race.
In 1 Thessalonians 2:19, it is called a “crown of rejoicing,” speaking of the joy awaiting the faithful witness when he meets again with those he has influenced for Christ in this present life. Paul spoke of our “crown of righteousness” (2 Timothy 4:8) when we shall be “like him” (1 John 3:2), with our old sinful weaknesses and desires gone forever. Peter said it would be a “crown of glory that fadeth not away” (1 Peter 5:4). James and John both said it is a wonderful “crown of life” (James 1:12; Revelation 2:10), that is, eternal life, in contrast to this present life of faithful submission to trials and persecution and possible death, for Christ’s sake.
The first four references to this victor’s crown, however, refer to the crown worn by Christ Himself. “Then came Jesus forth, wearing the crown of thorns, and the purple robe. And Pilate saith unto them, Behold the man!” (John 19:5).
Marvelous irony this, that a crown intended as an instrument of ridicule and pain would be transformed into a kingly crown of triumph! “But we see Jesus…crowned with glory and honour; that he by the grace of God should taste death for every man” (Hebrews 2:9). In the very suffering of death, He defeated death and sin and Satan himself, and His crown of thorns became a crown of eternal glory and universal honor.
(HMM, The Institute for Creation Research)
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