The Daily Lectionary with Commentary
Friday, November 17, 2023
Divine Sovereignty: From Mercy to Judgment
Psalm 123; Judges 2:16-23; Revelation 16:8-21
(Revised Common Lectionary Year A)
(Semi-continuous Reading Plan)
Introduction
Friday, November 17, 2023
Divine Sovereignty: From Mercy to Judgment
Psalm 123; Judges 2:16-23; Revelation 16:8-21
(Revised Common Lectionary Year A)
(Semi-continuous Reading Plan)
Introduction
The sacred tapestry of the Bible provides us a window into the vast range of divine interactions, from deep compassion to stern judgment. In Psalm 123, we observe the human heart, turned upwards in longing and supplication, seeking mercy from the Lord, the Master in heaven. The passage in Judges 2:16-23 offers a contrasting image, depicting the cyclical nature of Israel's disobedience and God’s disciplinary measures, even while raising up judges as instruments of deliverance. In the apocalyptic visions of Revelation 16:8-21, we are introduced to the climactic culmination of divine judgment on a rebellious world. Across these passages, we are reminded of God's sovereignty in all circumstances, whether it is in extending mercy, correcting His people, or executing final judgment. Through this study, we gain deeper insight into the holistic nature of God's governance over humanity, where mercy and justice are perfectly balanced in His eternal purpose.
A Psalm and A Prayer
Responsive Readings from the Psalms and Prayers
for Public Worship and Private Devotions
Psalm 123
Our eyes look to God
Responsive Readings from the Psalms and Prayers
for Public Worship and Private Devotions
Psalm 123
Our eyes look to God
Amidst the vast collection of hymns, laments, and praises found in the Book of Psalms, Psalm 123 stands out as a poignant cry for mercy. In the midst of oppression and disdain from those who hold themselves in higher esteem, the psalmist looks towards the heavens, seeking God's unfailing grace. It is a timeless reminder of the humility with which we approach the Creator, recognizing our dependence on His mercy and longing for His favor. As you read this psalm, may you be reminded of the ever-present love of God, who never turns a deaf ear to the pleas of His children, and may you find solace in His embrace.1 I lift up my eyes to you, *
to you who sit enthroned in heaven.
2 As the eyes of slaves look to the hand of their master, *
as the eyes of a female slave look to the hand of her mistress,
So our eyes look to the Lord our God, *
till he shows us his mercy.
3 Have mercy on us, Lord, have mercy on us, *
for we have endured no end of contempt.
4 We have endured no end *
of ridicule from the arrogant,
of contempt from the proud.
Heavenly Father, Sovereign Lord, We lift our eyes to You, enthroned in the heavens, recognizing Your power, Your majesty, and Your unending love. As servants look to their master's hand, as a maid looks to her mistress, so our eyes look to You, O Lord our God, awaiting Your mercy.
Forgive us when we falter, when our gaze drifts away from You, help us to keep our focus, our trust, and our hope ever centered on You.
In a world filled with pride and contempt, shield us from the scorn of those at ease, from the contempt of the proud. Let Your mercy be upon us, as we place our trust in Your lovingkindness.
Help us, Lord, to seek humility and patience, to be instruments of Your peace, and witnesses of Your grace. For in You, we find our refuge, our strength, and our salvation.
Be with us today and every day in Jesus Christ, Who taught us to pray:
“Our Father who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread, and forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us, and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For thine is the kingdom and the power, and the glory, forever and ever. Amen.”
The Book of Judges describes a turbulent period in Israel's history, marked by a recurring cycle of sin, oppression, repentance, and deliverance. As the Israelites settle in Canaan, they frequently stray from their covenant with God, worshiping the gods of the Canaanites and engaging in behavior that brings about their own downfall. This passage from Judges 2:16-23 provides a concise overview of this cyclical pattern, highlighting God's mercy in raising up judges to save the Israelites, but also underscoring the stubbornness of the people who continuously revert to their old ways.2 16 Then the Lord raised up judges, who saved them out of the hands of these raiders. 17 Yet they would not listen to their judges but prostituted themselves to other gods and worshiped them. They quickly turned from the ways of their ancestors, who had been obedient to the Lord’s commands. 18 Whenever the Lord raised up a judge for them, he was with the judge and saved them out of the hands of their enemies as long as the judge lived; for the Lord relented because of their groaning under those who oppressed and afflicted them. 19 But when the judge died, the people returned to ways even more corrupt than those of their ancestors, following other gods and serving and worshiping them. They refused to give up their evil practices and stubborn ways.
20 Therefore the Lord was very angry with Israel and said, “Because this nation has violated the covenant I ordained for their ancestors and has not listened to me, 21 I will no longer drive out before them any of the nations Joshua left when he died. 22 I will use them to test Israel and see whether they will keep the way of the Lord and walk in it as their ancestors did.” 23 The Lord had allowed those nations to remain; he did not drive them out at once by giving them into the hands of Joshua.
Commentary
Verse 16: Even in the midst of Israel's disobedience, God's mercy is evident. He raises up judges, leaders who would deliver the Israelites from the hands of their oppressors.
Verse 17: The Israelites' infidelity to God is compared to spiritual prostitution. Despite the salvation they received through the judges, the people continuously turned to idolatry and abandoned the ways of their forefathers.
Verse 18: God's compassion is highlighted once more. He heeds the cries of His people, acting on their behalf when they're oppressed, demonstrating His enduring faithfulness even when they're faithless.
Verse 19: This verse underscores the depth of Israel's rebellion. Not only did they revert to their old ways after a judge's death, but they even surpassed their ancestors in their wickedness.
Verse 20-21: The consequences of Israel's continuous breach of covenant are made clear. God's anger is aroused, and He speaks of the implications of their disobedience.
Verse 22: Despite the punishment, God's actions are purposeful. By not driving out the nations, God intends to test Israel, to see if they would return to His ways. This test reveals both God's justice in holding them accountable and His desire for their repentance and restoration.
Verse 23: The chapter concludes with a historical note, reinforcing the fact that God did not immediately expel all the nations from Canaan during Joshua's leadership.
This cyclical pattern in Judges serves as a reminder of the dangers of complacency in our spiritual journey and the ever-present need for repentance and renewal. It underscores the importance of faithful adherence to God's commands, the consequences of turning away, and the boundless mercy of God who remains ever-willing to save and restore.
Revelation, the final book of the Bible, is a prophetic and apocalyptic narrative that offers readers a vivid depiction of the end times. Written by the apostle John during his exile on the island of Patmos, this chapter falls within a section that details the outpouring of God’s final judgments upon the earth, symbolized by seven bowls of wrath. Revelation 16:8-21 presents the final climactic episodes that culminate in the battle of Armageddon and the immediate events preceding it. As with much of Revelation, these verses are replete with rich symbolism and imagery, and they have been the subject of varied interpretations throughout Christian history.16 8 The fourth angel poured out his bowl on the sun, and the sun was allowed to scorch people with fire. 9 They were seared by the intense heat and they cursed the name of God, who had control over these plagues, but they refused to repent and glorify him.
10 The fifth angel poured out his bowl on the throne of the beast, and its kingdom was plunged into darkness. People gnawed their tongues in agony 11 and cursed the God of heaven because of their pains and their sores, but they refused to repent of what they had done.
12 The sixth angel poured out his bowl on the great river Euphrates, and its water was dried up to prepare the way for the kings from the East. 13 Then I saw three impure spirits that looked like frogs; they came out of the mouth of the dragon, out of the mouth of the beast and out of the mouth of the false prophet. 14 They are demonic spirits that perform signs, and they go out to the kings of the whole world, to gather them for the battle on the great day of God Almighty.
15 “Look, I come like a thief! Blessed is the one who stays awake and remains clothed, so as not to go naked and be shamefully exposed.”
16 Then they gathered the kings together to the place that in Hebrew is called Armageddon.
17 The seventh angel poured out his bowl into the air, and out of the temple came a loud voice from the throne, saying, “It is done!” 18 Then there came flashes of lightning, rumblings, peals of thunder and a severe earthquake. No earthquake like it has ever occurred since mankind has been on earth, so tremendous was the quake. 19 The great city split into three parts, and the cities of the nations collapsed. God remembered Babylon the Great and gave her the cup filled with the wine of the fury of his wrath. 20 Every island fled away and the mountains could not be found. 21 From the sky huge hailstones, each weighing about a hundred pounds, fell on people. And they cursed God on account of the plague of hail, because the plague was so terrible.
Commentary
Verses 8-9: Here, the fourth angel pours out his bowl on the sun, causing it to scorch people with fire. This is a symbolic representation of divine judgment, emphasizing its intensity and severity. Despite the pain inflicted by this judgment, the people did not repent, underscoring the hardness of the human heart even in the face of evident divine wrath.
Verses 10-11: The fifth bowl targets the throne of the beast, casting his kingdom into darkness. The beast, widely understood as a figure representing the antichrist or a system of opposition to God, experiences direct judgment. The gnawing pain felt by the people could signify spiritual anguish or despair. Yet, again, rather than turning to God, they blaspheme His name, reaffirming their rebellion.
Verses 12-14: With the pouring of the sixth bowl, the Euphrates River dries up, preparing a way for the kings from the East. This act might be symbolic of the removal of barriers, allowing for the gathering of nations for the ultimate battle between good and evil. The unclean spirits depicted as frogs, emanating from the dragon, beast, and false prophet, are demonic forces that work deceptive miracles to rally the world's rulers for this great conflict, often referred to as the battle of Armageddon.
Verse 15: In the midst of these unfolding events, Jesus interjects a timely reminder of His imminent return, encouraging believers to remain watchful and pure. The imagery of being naked and shamefully exposed may symbolize spiritual unpreparedness or unrighteousness.
Verses 16-21: The narrative reaches its climax as the nations gather at Armageddon, a term rooted in the Hebrew Har Megiddo or Mount Megiddo. While the exact location and nature of this battle have been debated, it symbolizes the ultimate confrontation between the forces of good and evil. The unprecedented earthquake and the accompanying cataclysmic events are manifestations of God's final and decisive judgment on a rebellious world.
In summary, Revelation 16:8-21 offers a sobering glimpse into the future judgments that await a world in rebellion against its Creator. While the imagery is intense and at times perplexing, the overarching message is clear: God's sovereignty and justice will prevail, and humanity is urged to repent and align with His purposes.
Throughout this passage, readers are called to reflect on the grave consequences of turning away from God and the inevitable justice that ensues. The use of intense imagery serves as a sobering reminder of the seriousness of God's warnings and the finality of His judgments.
Optional parts of the readings are set off in [square brackets.]
The Bible texts of the Old Testament, Epistle, and Gospel lessons are from The Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide. Commentaries are by Kenny Sallee, ThM.
The Daily Lectionary is a three year cyclical lectionary. We are currently in Year A. Beginning with the first Sunday of Advent in 2023, we will be in Year B. The year which ended at Advent 2022 was Year A. These readings complement the Sunday and festival readings: Thursday through Saturday readings help prepare the reader for the Sunday ahead; Monday through Wednesday readings help the reader reflect and digest on what they heard in worship. Revised Common Lectionary Daily Readings, copyright © 2005 Consultation on Common Texts. www.commontexts.org
The Daily Lectionary with Commentary for Friday, November 17, 2023
Divine Sovereignty: From Mercy to Judgment
Psalm 123; Judges 2:16-23; Revelation 16:8-21
The sacred tapestry of the Bible provides us a window into the vast range of divine interactions, from deep compassion to stern judgment. In Psalm 123, we observe the human heart, turned upwards in longing and supplication, seeking mercy from the Lord, the Master in heaven. The passage in Judges 2:16-23 offers a contrasting image, depicting the cyclical nature of Israel's disobedience and God’s disciplinary measures, even while raising up judges as instruments of deliverance. In the apocalyptic visions of Revelation 16:8-21, we are introduced to the climactic culmination of divine judgment on a rebellious world. Across these passages, we are reminded of God's sovereignty in all circumstances, whether it is in extending mercy, correcting His people, or executing final judgment. Through this study, we gain deeper insight into the holistic nature of God's governance over humanity, where mercy and justice are perfectly balanced in His eternal purpose.
