December 8, Reading 1 – Ezra 3, 4

Reading

Audio, Visual

SAA Notes

The returnees began well, but stopped building the new smaller temple because political opposition led to the government of the day banning any further work for seventeen years. We too should expect opposition from both individuals and governments to the building of that spiritual temple the Church. The message is: don’t give up! Keep on!

SJA Notes

* God in Heaven, You by wisdom founded the earth, by understanding You established the heavens.

“Then the work on the house of God that is in Jerusalem stopped, and it ceased until the second year of the reign of Darius king of Persia.”

How the frustrations of the evil one can bear us down!

Bad men, adversaries, conspired against the exiles, playing politics of the worst kind.

The new king ordered work to stop.

And the people stopped.

Yet God does not stop working good for His people.

We see that while the physical work of rebuilding the bricks-and-mortar temple stopped for a time, the work of God in His people did not.

God was not thwarted!

This is a wonderful truth for us to wrestle with when life gets tough, as we are worn down or even sometimes hard-stopped.

God is not rendered powerless by man’s design or the spiritual workings of demons and lying spirits. God is not broken by the machinations of the devil.

No.

Satan was crushed! Jesus won the victory! Death and hell defeated.

This is our king. Praise God, Hallelujah!

* Gracious God,

Please help us to see Your work in us, building Your church in us, Your Spirit at work refining us toward You.

Please remind us of Your sovereignty, Your power without equal, Your good and absolute intent.

Thank You for the hope we have in You, Lord God.

Amen.

December 8, Reading 2 – Daniel 5

Reading

Audio, Visual

SAA Notes

Belshazzar treats the LORD with contempt as the idol of a conquered nation, though he knows his grandfather’s history and his declaration. He and his guests eat from the Jerusalem Temple’s plates and dishes. Daniel is the only one who can interpret God’s revelation. What was Belshazzar’s sin? (v.22,23)

SJA Notes

* Dear God, may You be lifted up and not our own hearts this day.

“And you his son, Belshazzar, have not humbled your heart, though you knew all this, but you have lifted up yourself against the Lord of heaven.”

Belshazzar, son of Nebuchadnezzar, failed to learn from his father’s hard-won lessons.

He chose to reject the wisdom that his father learned.

God will not be mocked.

God is not slow to bring about His will as we might consider slowness (see 2 Peter 3).

Belshazzar knew how God had worked in his father’s life and chose to turn away.

Our sin is our own, nobody else’s.

We cannot blame another for our sin or for the consequences thereof.

But our salvation, won for us through the work of Jesus on a cross two thousand years ago – This is where hope lies, the only hope!

Belshazzar knew the truth of God and decided to walk another path.

Do not be like Belshazzar!

The final day will come. You are either found in Jesus or found wanting.

Jesus is the key.

Be found in Jesus.

* Thank You that You save us from our sin and from the just punishment for our sin.

Thank You for giving us escape and refuge, rescue and redemption.

Thank You for Jesus.

Amen.

December 8, Reading 3 – Revelation 1

Reading

Audio, Visual

SAA Notes

This rich picture of Jesus is drawn from Genesis 3:24, Joshua 5:13-15, Ezekiel 1:7,27, Daniel 7:9,13, 8:17, Ezekiel 43:2, all through Ezekiel! This picture links Him to the whole of the Old Testament story of God’s dealings with mankind, from the Fall to Israel’s entrance into the Promised Land under Joshua, to the promise of the Messiah in Daniel’s revelation and in the prophets.

SJA Notes

* Father God in Heaven, may our hearts be open to Your word to us today.

“Behold, he is coming with the clouds, and every eye will see him, even those who pierced him, and all tribes of the earth will wait on account of him. Even so. Amen.”

Previously in his letters the apostle John has reminded us of the importance of acknowledging Jesus’ return.

Here he pointedly reminds us again of the hard word that this will be, for many people.

All tribes of the earth will WAIT on account of the King returning.

He is not a human king, mighty for a moment then gone to the dust like all others.

He is not a broken king, ruling with selfishness or greed, no lust for power or wealth or prestige.

What Jesus is – He is the Alpha and the Omega, He is the ALMIGHTY.

As John so carefully points us to in his writings – JESUS IS GOD.

This book details for us much of what will happen when Jesus returns.

Jesus is returning.

And all will see Him.

* Dear God Above,

You are eternal, ever-living, the first and the last, the living God, holy and true.

There is none like You.

You hold the keys of death and hades.

You are the Almighty.

Please fix in us a right and true thinking about Your return.

Amen.