Revelations 22:12-21

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Read Revelations 22:12-21 Verses for meditation: Revelations 22:12-13, 16, 20-21 ESV: 12 "Behold, I am coming soon, bringing my recompense with me, to repay each one for what he has done. 13 I am the Alpha and the Omega, the first and the last, the beginning and the end.” 16 “I, Jesus, have sent my angel to testify to you about these things for the churches. I am the root and the descendant of David, the bright morning star.” 20 He who testifies to these things says, “Surely I am coming soon." Amen. Come, Lord Jesus! 21 The grace of the Lord Jesus be with all. Amen. Reflect How does it feel to be reading the very last few verses of the bible? What do the proclamations, the last few of them, say about Christ? Come, Lord Jesus! Does this really express our desire? How does the greatest book end, and on what note? But is this really the end? Relate With mixed feelings, I'm writing this last devotion based on the final ten verses of the greatest book, the bible. What a journe...
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EXODUS 30-31/PSALM 48

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READ: Exodus 30-31/Psalm 48

Verse chosen for meditation

Exodus 31:14, "You shall keep the Sabbath, because it is holy for you..."


REFLECT

These are the two chapters that ended with the delivery of two stone tablets to Moses (31:18) before the infamous golden calf (32) episode. God described how the tent of meeting was to be organised and gave instructions for the Day of Atonement (Ex. 30), a day whose fulfilment was found in the sacrifice of Jesus on the cross for our sins. 

There was then Oholiab and Bezalel, gifted with knowledge and all craftsmanship, who were commissioned to make the ark and the furnishings and the mercy seat (31:1-11). Bezalel was “filled with the Spirit of God” (31:3), showing that such indwelling and infusing of God’s Spirit is related not only to more narrowly defined “spiritual” matters but practical matters like building. God gifts carpenters as much as preachers, mechanics as much as lecturers, and both have their role to play in the building up of the kingdom of God. 


RELATE

The chapters conclude with a description of the Sabbath (31:12-17). This is “throughout your generations” (31:13, 16) for a particular purpose. The Sabbath is not simply for relaxation but to act as a “sign” (31:13, 17) that they “may know that I, the LORD, sanctify you” (31:13). When Jesus came and appeared to break the Sabbath, according to the Pharisaic narrow interpretations, he said that he was “Lord of the Sabbath” (Matt. 12:1-8; Mark 2:23-28; Luke 6:1-5). The Sabbath was intended to be a sign to point to Christ as the Lord, in whom is our rest from guilt, condemnation, and judgment. 

The Sabbath also echoes the created order of the universe: “in six days the LORD made heaven and earth, and on the seventh day he rested and was refreshed” (31:17). If God rested one day in seven, who are we to think that we do not also need a similar pattern of rest? Our bodies appear to be made for such an order: one day out of every seven given over to worship, rest, and renewal. The atheistic Soviet Union attempted for a time to change this pattern by introducing a ten-day work week—thinking it would increase productivity—but they found that it was unsustainable and had to revert back to the pattern set up by God in creation. 


REST

We conclude these chapters with the reminder that the Law of God was “written with the finger of God” (31:18). God’s moral Law is unchangeable, for it represents his unchangeable character. It comes as a result of redemption, that then leads to obedience, an obedience which trembles at God’s Word that comes from God’s mouth and God’s Law, written by the finger of God himself. 


Tan Tee Khoon

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