For today, One Year Bible Online links here.

    Some people blame their parents for everything that is wrong in their lives and refuse to credit them for anything that has gone right. These people are sure that they are pure as new fallen snow, when in fact they are as corrupt and venal as anyone. They proudly proclaim how much they have overcome, sure that they are much better than their parents. The truth is that they use others for their own gain, no matter what the cost to those others. No one is truly good until they recognize the debt they owe to others, especially their parents, and take responsibility for their own sins.

    This is a great psalm to meditate on. I will indeed thank God with all of my heart. I will praise Him in the presence of those who think that they are gods. God is greater than all others, but He cares for the humble and lowly. His plans for my life will come out exactly as He planned. I will praise His name and thank Him for what He has done every day of my life.

    John describes how next he saw an angel with one foot on the sea and one foot on the land. This angel held a small scroll, which he gives to John. However, before he did that something interesting happened. The “seven thunders” spoke something in response to the angel’s shout. What is interesting about this is that John was told not to record what they said. Everything else which John witnessed in this vision he was encouraged to write down for us, but not this.
    When John was given the scroll he was told to eat it. He was also told that when he ate it, it would be sweet in his mouth but sour in his stomach. John tells us that he did eat it and it was indeed sweet in his mouth, but sour in his stomach. John was then told that he must prophecy concerning many peoples, nations, and kings. This makes me think that the small scroll represents the word of God which He gives to some among us to speak to our fellow man. It is often sweet to us when we speak it, because there is a certain pleasure and self-satisfaction which comes from speaking God’s word to others. However, when we really digest what we have been given, we get a sense of our own short comings and failings which we did not have before.

    The core of this passage is in the beginning of chapter 2 when the prophet calls the people to gather together in repentance. I think the message here is similar to the one contained in the small scroll in Revelation. It is a call for us to gather in repentance of our sins. The call goes out to humbly seek God and follow His commands, to live righteously and humbly. We are not called to identify what sins others are committing. We are called to identify the sins which we are committing and to repent of those sins.

For today, One Year Bible Online links here.

    If you are a willing accessory to a crime you will hurt yourself. If you are questioned about the crime you will be afraid to say anything because you might implicate yourself. This is especially true if the authorities have identified the primary offender and know that you have a connection with them.

    I struggle with what this psalm means to me, with what lesson I can take from it for my life today, or what actions it should inspire me to undertake. I think that perhaps the key thing I can take from it is that I need to obey God’s commands. His promises to us are conditional on us doing His will.

    When I read this passage the four living beings John describes remind me of the four living beings which are described in the first chapter of Ezekiel. There are other aspects of John’s vision which bear a resemblance to Ezekiel’s vision. John describes the one on the throne as glowing brilliantly. Ezekiel describes something glowing brilliantly from within the cloud. These similarities are not an accident. Both John and Ezekiel are attempting to describe their vision of the glory of God. Such a description is a challenge for any human being.
    I want to point out the meaning I see in the imagery here. The four living beings have eyes all over their bodies, which suggests that they see everything that is happening. The twenty-four elders sit on thrones in the presence of God, which suggests to me that they are the holiest humans to ever live. These two groups spend all day, every day, praising God. The four living beings say again and again throughout the day that God is holy and reminding those present the He was, is, and is to come (I love that description of God). The twenty-four elders respond by submitting their authority to God (laying their crowns before Him) and praising Him.
    It is worth spending a little time looking at the content of their praise. They say that God is worthy to receive glory, honor, and power. Further they tell us that He is worthy because He created everything that is and those things exist only because God willed that they exist. Nothing and no one is able to even exist unless God wills for them to exist.

    Obadiah prophesies against Edom. He proclaims that the entire nation will be destroyed and all of its possessions looted. It will become as if it had never existed. Having made this declaration, he then tells us why this will happen. Edom will suffer this fate because it refused the help the people of Israel in their time of need. Not only did Edom refuse to help Israel in their time of need, they assisted those who attacked them and looted them along with their enemies. Obadiah goes on to prophesy that not only will Edom be judged and suffer for mistreating Israel, but all nations will be judged by how they treated the people of Israel. Those who persecute and attack the people of Israel will be swallowed up by history and disappear. Only those who join with the people of Israel will be saved.