Today’s Reading: Ezek 24:1–25:17, Rev 11:15–12:17, Job 36:1–12
Today’s Theme: Man’s vengeance vs God’s victory
Today’s theme looks at the destructiveness and fruitlessness of man’s spite and vengeance contrasted against God’s victory over evil and the establishment of his kingdom. In Job we see that God is not vindictive, spiteful or mean.
Ezekiel 24:1–25:17
Sovereign God
I am the Lord. I have spoken; it shall come to pass; I will do it. I will not go back; I will not spare; I will not relent; according to your ways and your deeds you will be judged, declares the Lord God.”(Ezekiel 24:14, ESV)
God is Sovereign and so can say this in truth
A high price
On that day your mouth will be opened to the fugitive, and you shall speak and be no longer mute. So you will be a sign to them, and they will know that I am the Lord.”(Ezekiel 24:27, ESV)
What a high price the prophet had to pay to bring the message to the people.
Don’t rejoice in destruction
For thus says the Lord God: Because you have clapped your hands and stamped your feet and rejoiced with all the malice within your soul against the land of Israel,(Ezekiel 25:6, ESV)
We should never rejoice at the destruction of others, especially Israel
Don’t be vengeful
“Thus says the Lord God: Because Edom acted revengefully against the house of Judah and has grievously offended in taking vengeance on them,(Ezekiel 25:12, ESV)
We should not act vengefully
The flesh
“Thus says the Lord God: Because the Philistines acted revengefully and took vengeance with malice of soul to destroy in never-ending enmity,(Ezekiel 25:15, ESV)
The philistines are like the flesh which is always at war with the spirit
Revelation 11:15–12:17
The kingdom
Then the seventh angel blew his trumpet, and there were loud voices in heaven, saying, “The kingdom of the world has become the kingdom of our Lord and of his Christ, and he shall reign forever and ever.”(Revelation 11:15, ESV)
The glorious takeover of the Lord Jesus, is it a sudden takeover or a gradual one through his people? The bible tells us that both are true, we should seek to establish his kingdom but he will come with the final decisive victory.
We should care for the earth
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.”(Revelation 11:18, ESV)
We still have the Edenic mandate of caring for the earth
The blood and the word
And they have conquered him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony, for they loved not their lives even unto death.(Revelation 12:11, ESV)
Thank you for your precious blood and for the testimony of your word
Job 36:1–12
God is not vindictive
“Behold, God is mighty, and does not despise any; he is mighty in strength of understanding.(Job 36:5, ESV)
God is not vindictive spiteful or mean