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December 15

Scripture for today: Micah 1:1-4:13; Revelation 6:1-17; Psalm 134:1-3; Proverbs 30:1-4

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“Lift your hands toward the sanctuary, and praise the Lord” (Psalms 134:2 NLT).

From: December 15, 2019

BRING YOUR WORSHIP WITH YOU THIS SUNDAY!

Psalm 134 is the last of the 15 “Psalms of Ascent,” which were written to be sung by pilgrims as they climbed up Mount Zion to worship at the Temple in Jerusalem. Singing these worship songs made the journey more joyful and helped them get their praise on before they arrived.

Worship is not only for the sanctuary, but for the journey along the way. “Lift your hands” and praise the Lord as you rise in the morning and as you move throughout the day. Don’t just go to attend a worship service today. Bring your worship with you.

PRAYER: Dear Father, we lift our hands and hearts to You on this Lord’s Day. As we prepare to gather together in worship, we lift our voices to You even as we rise. For we want to bring our worship with us, not waiting until we arrive. May we offer even greater worship as we gather with Your people today. For You are worthy of both our individual and our corporate praise. In Jesus’ name, amen.

“And I looked, and behold, a white horse. He who sat on it had a bow; and a crown was given to him, and he went out conquering and to conquer.” (Revelation 6:2 NKJV).

From: December 16, 2017

John saw Christ the Lamb open the first of seven seals. The first four seals revealed the four horsemen of the apocalypse. The word “apocalypse” comes from the Greek word meaning, “to unveil” or “to reveal.” Thus, the title of the book, the “Revelation of Jesus Christ.” The identity of the four horsemen is a matter of much debate. But a careful comparison of Christ’s description of the last days in Matthew 24 with Revelation 6 is helpful. The first rider has a crown, a bow and rides a white horse. This is not Christ, although he does seem to masquerade as such. This rider represents religious deception, those that come claiming to be Christ, “deceiving many” (Matt. 24:5). In the last days, there will be a great religious deception that will “conquer” (“overcome”) many.

Yet, those who know the Lord Jesus Christ will not be overcome. For they are “overcomers” in Jesus’ name. As John wrote in his first epistle, “For whatever is born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world—our faith. Who is he who overcomes the world, but he who believes that Jesus is the Son of God?” (1 John 5:4-5).

“And you, O tower of the flock, hill of the daughter of Zion, to you shall it come, the former dominion shall come, kingship for the daughter of Jerusalem” (Micah 4:8 ESV)

From: December 15, 2016

Micah prophesied that “kingship” would come to a “hill” where stood the “tower of the flock.” This prophecy points to the birth of the Messiah, Jesus Christ. In the Hebrew, the phrase “tower of the flock” is “Migdal Edar.” It described both a tower and a place. It would have been a two-story stone watchtower that the shepherds used to keep watch over their flocks. And “Migdal Edar” also described a place near Bethlehem on the road to Jerusalem (Gen.35:19-21). The tower would have been on a “hill” to enlarge the shepherd’s view from the top story. The bottom story was used as a stable for newborn lambs. The shepherds of Bethlehem were known for raising sacrificial lambs to sell to the Temple in Jerusalem. It was to these shepherds at “Migdal Edar” that Micah prophesied the Messiah, the Lamb of God, would come. And so He did.

“Behold, bless the Lord, All you servants of the Lord, Who by night stand in the house of the Lord!” (Psalm 134:1 NKJV)

From: December 15, 2015

One of the psalms of ascent, written to prepare pilgrims as they climbed the steps to the temple. This psalm was addressed to those who served in the temple at night. Certainly, it addressed the Levites assigned to serve as a night watch, that their work should never be considered mundane but always worshipful. It also brings to mind those like the old woman Anna who continually fasted and prayed at the temple (Luke 2:47). Today, it is a reminder to those who serve the Lord to remember to offer praise to Him even in the most mundane moments of service. It also encourages those who are experiencing sleepless nights not to waste the time, but to take the opportunity to lift up hands of worship to God.

“As I watched, the Lamb broke the first of the seven seals on the scroll. Then I heard one of the four living beings say with a voice like thunder, “Come!” (Revelation 6:1 NLT)

From: December 15, 2014

In Revelation 6, John saw Christ the Lamb open six of the seven seals. The first four seals revealed the four horsemen of the apocalypse. The word “apocalypse” comes from the Greek and literally means, “to unveil, to reveal.” Thus, the title of the book, the “Revelation of Jesus Christ.” The identity of the four horsemen is a matter of much debate. But understanding that the best way to interpret Scripture is by Scripture, a careful comparison of Christ’s description of the last days in Matthew 24 with Revelation 6 is helpful. The first rider has a crown, a bow and rides a white horse. This represents religious deception, those that come claiming to be Christ, deceiving many (Matt. 24:5). The second rider comes with a sword and riding a red horse. This represents the increase of wars in the earth (Matt. 24:6-7 “wars and rumors of wars”). The third rider comes carrying scales and riding a black horse. This represents famine (Matt. 24:7). And the fourth rider comes on a pale (Greek, “chloros” – pale green) horse and represents disease and pestilence (Matt. 24:7). When will these four horsemen appear? I believe they were released when Christ ascended and have roamed the earth in ever-increasing ways ever since. Yet, we should not be afraid, for Christ the Lamb has revealed this to us, so that we would love His appearing.

“He shall judge between many peoples, and shall decide for strong nations far away; and they shall beat their swords into plowshares, and their spears into pruning hooks; nation shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall they learn war anymore” (Micah 4:3)

From: December 15, 2013

After three chapters of judgment, God spoke of a future day when the nations would “study war no more.” But this peace cannot precede judgment. Otherwise, the seeds of the next war would be contained therein. Many asked Micah to stop preaching such stuff. Too negative. But Micah replied with the word of the Lord, “Do not my words do good to him who walks uprightly?” In other words, the one who “walks uprightly” understands that real peace is more than the cessation of hostilities. It is the changing of the human heart that comes only through the Lord, that fills everyone with love and forgiveness.

“Oh, people of Judah, shave your heads in sorrow, for the children you love will be snatched away” (Micah 1:16)

From: December 15, 2012

The prophet Micah foretold a day when Judah would fall to Babylon and their children would be taken. Evil always targets the innocent. Didn’t the worldly king Herod kill all those under two years in Bethlehem, trying to kill Jesus? What happened in Newton, CT yesterday reminds us that evil is real and that humanity is fallen and that Jesus is our only hope of redemption.

“They will beat their swords into plowshares and their spears into pruning hooks. Nation will not take up sword against nation, nor will they train for war anymore” (Micah 4:3)

From: December 15, 2011

A description of the Millennial Kingdom where the nations sing, “I ain’t gonna study war no more!” Only the Lord can bring such a thing to pass. His return will finally accomplish “Peace on Earth.”