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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2 Chronicles 29-30

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Read 2 Chronicles 29-30


Verse for meditation: 2 Chronicles 30:26 ESV

So there was great joy in Jerusalem, for since the time of Solomon the son of David king of Israel there had been nothing like this in Jerusalem.


Reflect


Suggest you spend a time of worship, just enjoying His presence, and wondering what it would feel or be like to experience joy in this present day or a future time.


What does it really take to have joy? What is joy?


Is there any similarity between the time of Solomon and that of Hezekiah? What can we learn from these times?


Relate


Reading through the passage, it's easy to be caught up in its flurry of activities. For a lot seemed to be happening. A lot of names were even mentioned. And the way things looked, the priests were given another chance to put things right, to do what they were supposed to do, but had somehow stopped doing. Then, because of the sudden sheer volume of work, the Levites were also called in to help.


The temple had been sorely wanting in the area of purification. Its former shine needed to be brought back, both figuratively and literally, for the glory of God to return. All in all, it took sixteen days to restore the temple to its respectable former state. On the one hand, it could be said that a considerable number of days were needed to clean up the temple after all the years of neglect and misuse, but on the other, it could be said that the whole task of repairing and restoring the temple was done fairly quickly by normal standards. Because everyone was putting their heart in it.


Strict adherence to protocols were not the usual order of the day. Instead, the attitudes of the people were more taken into account. Since they were dead serious, earnest, and desiring to return, their sacrifices were considered acceptable. For indeed the sacrifices pleasing to God are a broken and contrite spirit. 


The whole festivity was topped off with an abundance of offering. Great generosity was on display. It extended even to their neighbours. While the hardened ones in the Northern Kingdom mocked at it when handed an invitation, there were many who still made their way back to the temple.


'This largeness of heart is always characteristic of men who are really in fellowship with God, for it is in harmony with the heart of God.' (Morgan)


Acting as the main focal point, the temple exerted a centripetal force, drawing people back to it from every corner. The recent post - pandemic return of church goers couldn't compare at all since it failed to even make a splash. It speaks a lot about the attitude of worshippers today, which is unlike that day, where there was much repentance by the people. Along with it, there was also much praise (Psalm 149: 6) and worship by the people. As a result, there was great rejoicing and feasting, which lasted more than 14 days, so much so that it is said to be marked by joy like no other times in history other than the days of Solomon.


There is joy when things are put right and made right. So, for the joy set before him, Christ endured the cross (Hebrews 12: 2). There is also joy in the midst of an abundance of goodwill, which the Psalmist knew so well (Psalm 16: 11). Most of all, there is joy in God's presence: 'What a glorious hour when God, and not his creatures, the Lord, and not his works, shall be our daily joy! Our souls shall then have attained the perfection of bliss.'


Besides, joy is also being at peace with oneself, with God and with others. For joy is communal at its heart.


At both times when there was joy, the temple was the central topic, whether it was the building of the temple, or the restoration of the temple. The temple served, therefore, as a surrogate for a right relationship with God, which it presupposed. Christ is the supreme example and an embodiment of the temple (John 2: 19, 21). For which, we are all now God's temple (1 Corinthians 3: 16).


So then, have we experienced joy? If not, why not?


Rest


Lord, thank you for this joy in you. May we be right by you. And also right by others. May there then be an outpouring of worship and goodwill.


Naville Chia


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