Reflection for Day 290 or October 23 - Ezekiel 39-40;
Psalm 88; Revelation 11
More apocalyptic! Both Ezekiel and Revelation reveal
their authors’ commitment to the ultimate triumph of God over the forces of
evil. In florid and fantastic imagery, we are shown the ultimate destruction of
those who oppose the Almighty. For both the Israelites who suffered in
Babylonian exile and the Christians who struggled under Roman persecution, the words of both of these books brought comfort and hope to those who were helpless
in their particular situations. The destruction of the Temple in 587 B.C., and
then again in 70 A.D. plays a big part in these writings, and its restoration
and re-building served as a symbol of God’s final victory to those who first
read these texts.
What does God’s “triumph” look like today? The phantasmagorical pictures of Ezekiel and Revelation may not serve us as well as they did those of the ancient world, yet the utter and complete
success of God’s reign that is portrayed is not lost on us. The song of victory
in Revelation 11:16-18, and the assurance of God’s mercy and forgiveness in
Ezekiel 39:25-29, ring as true today as they ever did! No matter how great our
sin or disobedience or neglect or self-centeredness, the abiding goodness and
love of God will continue to sustain us in our darkest hour.
Doug McCaleb
Trinity Cathedral
Miami
Psalm 88; Revelation 11
More apocalyptic! Both Ezekiel and Revelation reveal
their authors’ commitment to the ultimate triumph of God over the forces of
evil. In florid and fantastic imagery, we are shown the ultimate destruction of
those who oppose the Almighty. For both the Israelites who suffered in
Babylonian exile and the Christians who struggled under Roman persecution, the words of both of these books brought comfort and hope to those who were helpless
in their particular situations. The destruction of the Temple in 587 B.C., and
then again in 70 A.D. plays a big part in these writings, and its restoration
and re-building served as a symbol of God’s final victory to those who first
read these texts.
What does God’s “triumph” look like today? The phantasmagorical pictures of Ezekiel and Revelation may not serve us as well as they did those of the ancient world, yet the utter and complete
success of God’s reign that is portrayed is not lost on us. The song of victory
in Revelation 11:16-18, and the assurance of God’s mercy and forgiveness in
Ezekiel 39:25-29, ring as true today as they ever did! No matter how great our
sin or disobedience or neglect or self-centeredness, the abiding goodness and
love of God will continue to sustain us in our darkest hour.
Doug McCaleb
Trinity Cathedral
Miami
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