Lambs of the Lamb, we are

New Guest: Like this one, most posts are devotional; those related to CAR BIZ can be found by searching for that title. You might start with 'Welcome,' the first post in the archives, dated November 12, 2008, where I introduce myself and the blog.

November 7, 2009
Devotions: Ps 23, 27, 75, 76; Ezra 9:1-15; Rev 17:1-14; Mt 14:22-36

YHWH is my Shepherd, so I shall not want; He makes me lie down in green pastures; He guides me to still waters; He restores my soul. He leads me in ways of righteousness, to honor His name. Even though I walk through the darkest valley, the shadow of death, I fear no evil, for You are with me. Your rod and staff comfort me. You prepare a table before me, right in the face of my enemies; You anoint me with oil; my portion overflows! Surely goodness and love will pursue me all my days, and I will dwell in YHWH’s house forever. YHWH is my light and my salvation’ He is my stronghold; I fear no one! When the wicked assail me, slandering me, God makes them stumble and fall. Though an army oppose me, my heart remains resolute; I am confident, even in times of war. I have asked YHWH for one thing: that I may dwell in His house all my days, to behold His beauty and to inquire in His sanctuary. God will hide me in His shelter on days of trouble; He will receive me in His tent and put me high upon a rock, above the fray. God exalts me above my enemies, and I offer shouts of joy; I sing to God. Lord, hear when I shout; be gracious and answer me! You have told me to seek You, and I do so. Don’t hide Your face from me, Lord, nor turn me away in anger. I am Your servant; You are my Help and Stay! Teach me Your ways, Lord; lead me on a level path, despite my enemies. Don’t surrender me to their anger and lies and violence. I believe that I will see YHWH’s goodness while I live. I wait for God in confidence; I will be brave and strong and wait upon my God. Lord, I thank You and recount Your wondrous acts of power and mercy. Let the proud not boast; God is sovereign, and He is the one true Judge. I will rejoice and sing His praises forever; He will abase the wicked and exalt the righteous. God has put His earthly home in Zion. Lord, You are more glorious than the everlasting mountains. At Your rebuke, the forces of evil are destroyed; You are awesome and terrible, YHWH! None can withstand Your wrath. So I bow to YHWH and to Him alone, terrible to the rulers of earth.

The leaders of the Jerusalem community approached Ezra, reporting that the people, the priests and Levites had not separated themselves from the pagans of the land and their abominations: Canaanites, Hittites, Perizzites, Jebusites, Ammonites, Moabites, Egyptians and Amorites. They had intermarried, and the leaders had offended most. Ezra rent his garments, tore his hair and beard, and sat appalled. At evening, he rose from his mourning and fell upon his knees and prayed to YHWH with arms outstretched: ‘O my God, I am ashamed; I blush to face You, my God. Our iniquities are as high as heaven! We continue in sin, and for this our kings and priests have been given to the swords of our enemies. For a moment, Lord, You have showed mercy to this remnant; You have given us security and a place to stand, here in Your holy place. You have brightened our eyes and revived us, even in our bondage. For we are slaves, yet our God has not forsaken us, but has extended to us His steadfast love, moving the kings of Persia to grant us revival to set up God’s house, to repair its ruins, and to protect us in Judea and Jerusalem. What can we say, Lord? Even here, even now, we have forsaken You and Your commands to separate ourselves from the pollutions of the residents of these lands, and to avoid intermarriage with them, so that we could keep this land and pass it along to our descendants. You have always punished us less than our sins deserve—how then can we offend You again? Will You not consume us for these presumptuous sins? O YHWH, God of Israel, You are just! We fall before You in our guilt; no one could stand before You, because of these offenses!’

One of the seven angels with the bowls of wrath offered to show John ‘the judgment of the great whore seated upon many waters, with whom the kings of earth have fornicated and made the whole earth drunk.’ He carried me into a great wilderness, and there I saw a woman sitting on a scarlet beast covered with blasphemous names; it had seven heads and ten horns. The woman was dressed in purple and scarlet, bedecked with gold, jewels and pearls. In her hand, she held a gold cup filled with abominations and the impurities of her fornication. On her forehead was written a mysterious name: ‘Babylon the great, mother of harlots and of earth’s abominations.’ The woman was drunk with the blood of the saints and the martyrs of Jesus. When I marveled, the angel said, ‘Why marvel? The beast was, is not, and will ascend from the abyss and will go to perdition. Earth-dwellers whose names are not recorded in the Book of Life will marvel to behold this beast, which was, is not, yet is to come. Be wise: the seven heads are seven mountains on which the woman is seated; they are also seven kings: five fallen, one now ruling and one yet to come. When the last comes, it will be only for a short time. The beast is an eighth, belonging to the seven; and it goes to perdition. The ten horns are ten kings; they have not yet received power to rule, but they will receive authority as kings for an hour, along with the beast. All these agree and give all their power and authority to the beast. They will make war on the Lamb and the Lamb will conquer them, for He is Lord of lords and King of kings, and those with Him are called, chosen and faithful.’

After feeding the multitude, Jesus sent His disciples back across the lake to the other side. He remained, dismissed the crowd, and went up on the mountain alone to pray. Hours later, the boat was still struggling against the wind and waves. In the fourth watch of the night, Jesus came to them, walking on the water. The disciples were terrified, thinking they were seeing a ghost. But Jesus said to them, ‘Take heart; it is I; have no fear!’ Peter replied, ‘Lord, if it is You, bid me come to You on the water.’ Jesus answered, ‘Come!’ And Peter left the boat and began to walk to Jesus on the water. But when Peter noticed the wind, he became afraid; immediately, he began to sink and cried out, ‘Lord, save me!’ Jesus reached out and caught his hand, saying, ‘Man of little faith, why did you doubt?’ When they got into the boat, the wind ceased and those in the boat worshiped Jesus, saying, ‘Truly, You are the Son of God.’ They completed their crossing and landed at Gennesaret. The people there recognized Jesus, and brought all the sick of that region to Him. All sought even to touch the fringe of His garment; as many as touched it were made well.