Then I saw another sign in heaven, great and amazing, seven angels with seven plagues, which are the last, for with them the wrath of God is finished.
2 And I saw what appeared to be a sea of glass mingled with fire—and also those who had conquered the beast and its image and the number of its name, standing beside the sea of glass with harps of God in their hands.3 And they sing the song of Moses, the servant of God, and the song of the Lamb, saying,
“Great and amazing are your deeds,
    O Lord God the Almighty!
Just and true are your ways,
    O King of the nations!
4 Who will not fear, O Lord,
    and glorify your name?
For you alone are holy.
    All nations will come
    and worship you,
for your righteous acts have been revealed.”
5 After this I looked, and the sanctuary of the tent of witness in heaven was opened,6 and out of the sanctuary came the seven angels with the seven plagues, clothed in pure, bright linen, with golden sashes around their chests. 7 And one of the four living creatures gave to the seven angels seven golden bowls full of the wrath of God who lives forever and ever, 8 and the sanctuary was filled with smoke from the glory of God and from his power, and no one could enter the sanctuary until the seven plagues of the seven angels were finished.

​Meditation
The already accomplished victory of Jesus will one day be fully applied. The kingdom of Jesus has been inaugurated and will soon be fully consummated, removing the wicked and their wickedness from the world through the complete application of God’s wrath. When we sing FROM Christ’s salvation, our hearts will begin to beat with Heaven to fuel hope and holiness.
 
John sees another sign, this one pointing to the completion of God’s wrath against the wicked and their wickedness in the world (1-2). The “seven” angels and plagues are introduced in today’s reading, emphasizing the complete accomplishment of God’s wrath (1, 5-8).
 
John sees a “sea of glass” with conquerors consecrated by Christ’s victory to form a chorus to sing (another) song, this one an ancient song of salvation. The song of Moses was sung after victory over the Egyptian army when Israel crossed the Red Sea (Exodus 15). Continuing themes of Moses first song (God’s victory, His rule over nations, the fear of Him, and His holiness; 3-4), this reprise is sung before victory over the wicked. In struggle, saints are secure in God’s steadfast love to sing of salvation!
 
Later visions will reveal the execution of the complete application of God’s wrath, but celestial saints are already singing of victory. With grateful hearts, Christians join the heavenly chorus by singing of salvation in a world of struggle and suffering.
 
Richly Dwelling
-What stands out to you about the song of salvation sung by the heavenly choir?
 
-The “sea of glass” represents the calm coming from Christ’s finished work, peace in a world of problems and pain. Do you have a settled and secure spirit from Christ’s sure victory demonstrated by His rule and reign? Why or why not?
 
-Jesus is King and He rules over everything, even now. Will you join the chorus of Heaven by singing of Christ’s salvation?
 
 
Key Verse
3 And they sing the song of Moses, the servant of God, and the song of the Lamb, saying, “Great and amazing are your deeds, O Lord God the Almighty! Just and true are your ways, O King of the nations!

For we know that if the tent that is our earthly home is destroyed, we have a building from God, a house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens. 2 For in this tent we groan, longing to put on our heavenly dwelling, 3 if indeed by putting it on we may not be found naked. 4 For while we are still in this tent, we groan, being burdened—not that we would be unclothed, but that we would be further clothed, so that what is mortal may be swallowed up by life. 5 He who has prepared us for this very thing is God, who has given us the Spirit as a guarantee.
6 So we are always of good courage. We know that while we are at home in the body we are away from the Lord, 7 for we walk by faith, not by sight. 8 Yes, we are of good courage, and we would rather be away from the body and at home with the Lord. 9 So whether we are at home or away, we make it our aim to please him. 10 For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each one may receive what is due for what he has done in the body, whether good or evil.
The Ministry of Reconciliation
11 Therefore, knowing the fear of the Lord, we persuade others. But what we are is known to God, and I hope it is known also to your conscience. 12 We are not commending ourselves to you again but giving you cause to boast about us, so that you may be able to answer those who boast about outward appearance and not about what is in the heart. 13 For if we are beside ourselves, it is for God; if we are in our right mind, it is for you. 14 For the love of Christ controls us, because we have concluded this: that one has died for all, therefore all have died; 15 and he died for all, that those who live might no longer live for themselves but for him who for their sake died and was raised.
16 From now on, therefore, we regard no one according to the flesh. Even though we once regarded Christ according to the flesh, we regard him thus no longer. 17 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come. 18 All this is from God, who through Christ reconciled us to himself and gave us the ministry of reconciliation; 19 that is, in Christ God was reconciling the world to himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and entrusting to us the message of reconciliation. 20 Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, God making his appeal through us. We implore you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God. 21 For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.

​Meditation
The sovereign grace of God compels Christians to be controlled by Christ’s love for Christ’s service. John Calvin says, “Everyone who truly considers and ponders the wonderful love that Christ has shown us… cannot but be bound to Him by the tightest chain so as to devote themselves to His service.” (Calvin, Second Epistle of Paul, p 74). Love leads Christians to see all of life as service to our Savior, Jesus Christ.
 
Paul’s focus on the eternal realities include longing for our future body (1-5) and for eternity with Christ (6-10). Until these realities are fully realized, Christians walk by faith and not by sight (7). Walking by faith means the future promises of Christ form and fuel present service to Christ.
 
Paul persuades Christians (11) to embrace this new purpose. Jesus Christ died for us and, therefore, we live for Him. Christ’s love controls Christians to “no longer live for themselves but for Him who for (our) sake died and was raised” (14-15). New creation has come for those in Christ (17), so Christians are ambassadors for Christ, ministers of reconciliation (18-19). Jesus appeals to the world through His people that He has purchased.
 
The love of Christ controls the servants of Christ to communicate the hope of the work of Christ in a world hardened by sin: “The old has gone and the new has come!... Be reconciled to God!” And our message is sure: Christ became sin so we can become righteous (21), an objective fact anchoring our hope and compelling us into Christ’s service.
 
Richly Dwelling
-What stands out to you about the purpose Christ has for the people He has purchased?
 
-Do you see all of life as an arena to engage with eternal realities of Christ, new creation coming, and an opportunity for people to be reconciled to God? What does this say about whether you are walking by faith or by sight?
 
-Are you controlled by Christ’s love, bound closely to Him in full service to Him? Take time to consider the amazing love of Christ and ask His Spirit to help you see all of life as service to Him.
 
Key Verse
14 For the love of Christ controls us, because we have concluded this: that one has died for all, therefore all have died; 15 and he died for all, that those who live might no longer live for themselves but for him who for their sake died and was raised.

​That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we looked upon and have touched with our hands, concerning the word of life— 2 the life was made manifest, and we have seen it, and testify to it and proclaim to you the eternal life, which was with the Father and was made manifest to us--3 that which we have seen and heard we proclaim also to you, so that you too may have fellowship with us; and indeed our fellowship is with the Father and with his Son Jesus Christ. 4 And we are writing these things so that our joy may be complete.
Walking in the Light5 This is the message we have heard from him and proclaim to you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all. 6 If we say we have fellowship with him while we walk in darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth. 7 But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus his Son cleanses us from all sin. 8 If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. 9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. 10 If we say we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us.

​Meditation
God’s grace invites us to have fellowship with Him and one another by walking in the light. Children are afraid of the dark. Many adults are afraid of the light, not wanting to expose sin. The gospel cycle of confession and cleansing empowers believers to walk in the light.
 
John writes for “joy to be complete (fulfilled)” (4). Look at the relational descriptions of the fellowship John offers: Hearing, seeing, touching… Jesus who was light manifest in the world. Full joy is found in deeper fellowship with one another through authentic fellowship with the Lord (1-3).
 
The gospel frees us to embrace the light, welcoming believers into real relationship with God, who is light. With God, there is no darkness (5). Two cycles of confessing and cleansing are offered to empower us to embrace the light and walk with God:
 
Cycle 1: Admit you have a foot in darkness so you can practice the truth (6). Cleanse yourself with the blood of Jesus by keeping both feet in the light and walking forward in faith (7).
 
Cycle 2: Count on it: there is darkness somewhere in your heart (8). We all trespass by walking in darkness in some capacity, so confess your sin to the Lord to be cleansed by His grace. God is faithful and just. God will cleanse you and purify you (9-10).
 
The fullness of joy is found when we overcome our fear of the light to embrace God’s cycles of grace, walking with God in real relationship and having deeper fellowship with one another.
 
Richly Dwelling
-Are you afraid of the light, to confess your sins and struggles? Why? What does this reveal about the security you have (or do not have) in God’s steadfast love?
 
-Where do you have a foot in darkness, trespassing outside of God’s design by allowing your desires to give birth to sin?
 
-How do the gospel cycles empower you to confess and be cleansed? Take a moment to welcome God’s cleansing.
 
Key Verses
7 But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus his Son cleanses us from all sin. 

 Then Bildad the Shuhite answered and said:
2 “How long will you hunt for words?
    Consider, and then we will speak.

3 Why are we counted as cattle?
    Why are we stupid in your sight?

4 You who tear yourself in your anger,
    shall the earth be forsaken for you,
    or the rock be removed out of its place?
 
5 “Indeed, the light of the wicked is put out,
    and the flame of his fire does not shine.

6 The light is dark in his tent,
    and his lamp above him is put out.

7 His strong steps are shortened,
    and his own schemes throw him down.

8 For he is cast into a net by his own feet,
    and he walks on its mesh.

9 A trap seizes him by the heel;
    a snare lays hold of him.

10 A rope is hidden for him in the ground,
    a trap for him in the path.

11 Terrors frighten him on every side,
    and chase him at his heels.

12 His strength is famished,
    and calamity is ready for his stumbling.

13 It consumes the parts of his skin;
    the firstborn of death consumes his limbs.

14 He is torn from the tent in which he trusted
    and is brought to the king of terrors.

15 In his tent dwells that which is none of his;
    sulfur is scattered over his habitation.

16 His roots dry up beneath,
    and his branches wither above.

17 His memory perishes from the earth,
    and he has no name in the street.

18 He is thrust from light into darkness,
    and driven out of the world.

19 He has no posterity or progeny among his people,
    and no survivor where he used to live.

20 They of the west are appalled at his day,
    and horror seizes them of the east.

21 Surely such are the dwellings of the unrighteous,
    such is the place of him who knows not God.”
 
Meditation
Jesus talked about hell more than any other person in the Bible, even described as “the greatest theologian of hell.” Hell is real, the default destination for everyone who does not know Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior. Jesus can rescue believers from hell because He endured hell in His death to lovingly offer the abundant life of heaven.
 
Bildad’s second speech is an exceptional exposition on hell with horrible application, displaying the danger of misunderstanding the gospel. Bildad pontificates about “the place of him who knows not God” (21), a place of total darkness (5-6), inexorable punishment (7-10), and total terror (11-14), desolation (15-16), and separation from the world of light and life (17-20).  Hell is a horrible reality awaiting people who do not know God.
 
Bildad is convinced Job’s suffering is evidence he is on path to Hell. Bildad’s angry and defensive reply (1-4) is reacting to Job’s claim of innocence in suffering. Bildad’s moralism can only equate suffering with people who deserve it. There is no category in Bildad’s theology of a blameless and upright person (1:1, 8; 2:3) enduring the pains of suffering. Self-righteous people cannot understand gospel suffering.
 
Job points to Jesus as the truly blameless and upright person who endured hell in our place so we, by faith alone, can experience the abundant life of Heaven. Jesus took “the place of him who knows not God” (2 Corinthians 5:21) so that by His grace believers can know God personally and enjoy Him forever.
 
Richly Dwelling
-What do you think of Bildad’s descriptions of hell?
 
-Why is his application so dangerous, going to the conclusion of his moralistic framework?
 
-How does this amplify the power of the gospel, highlighting what Christ endured for us so that we can know the abundant life of Heaven through Him? Look at Bildad’s descriptions of hell. Yes, Jesus endured all of that for you SO THAT you can be restored in relationship with God!
 
Key Verses
21 Surely such are the dwellings of the unrighteous, such is the place of him who knows not God.”

In the days when the judges ruled there was a famine in the land, and a man of Bethlehem in Judah went to sojourn in the country of Moab, he and his wife and his two sons.2 The name of the man was Elimelech and the name of his wife Naomi, and the names of his two sons were Mahlon and Chilion. They were Ephrathites from Bethlehem in Judah. They went into the country of Moab and remained there. 3 But Elimelech, the husband of Naomi, died, and she was left with her two sons. 4 These took Moabite wives; the name of the one was Orpah and the name of the other Ruth. They lived there about ten years, 5 and both Mahlon and Chilion died, so that the woman was left without her two sons and her husband.
Ruth's Loyalty to Naomi6 Then she arose with her daughters-in-law to return from the country of Moab, for she had heard in the fields of Moab that the Lord had visited his people and given them food. 7 So she set out from the place where she was with her two daughters-in-law, and they went on the way to return to the land of Judah. 8 But Naomi said to her two daughters-in-law, “Go, return each of you to her mother's house. May the Lord deal kindly with you, as you have dealt with the dead and with me. 9 The Lord grant that you may find rest, each of you in the house of her husband!” Then she kissed them, and they lifted up their voices and wept. 10 And they said to her, “No, we will return with you to your people.” 11 But Naomi said, “Turn back, my daughters; why will you go with me? Have I yet sons in my womb that they may become your husbands? 12 Turn back, my daughters; go your way, for I am too old to have a husband. If I should say I have hope, even if I should have a husband this night and should bear sons, 13 would you therefore wait till they were grown? Would you therefore refrain from marrying? No, my daughters, for it is exceedingly bitter to me for your sake that the hand of the Lord has gone out against me.” 14 Then they lifted up their voices and wept again. And Orpah kissed her mother-in-law, but Ruth clung to her.
15 And she said, “See, your sister-in-law has gone back to her people and to her gods; return after your sister-in-law.”16 But Ruth said, “Do not urge me to leave you or to return from following you. For where you go I will go, and where you lodge I will lodge. Your people shall be my people, and your God my God. 17 Where you die I will die, and there will I be buried. May the Lord do so to me and more also if anything but death parts me from you.” 18 And when Naomi saw that she was determined to go with her, she said no more.
Naomi and Ruth Return19 So the two of them went on until they came to Bethlehem. And when they came to Bethlehem, the whole town was stirred because of them. And the women said, “Is this Naomi?” 20 She said to them, “Do not call me Naomi; call me Mara, for the Almighty has dealt very bitterly with me. 21 I went away full, and the Lord has brought me back empty. Why call me Naomi, when the Lord has testified against me and the Almighty has brought calamity upon me?”
22 So Naomi returned, and Ruth the Moabite her daughter-in-law with her, who returned from the country of Moab. And they came to Bethlehem at the beginning of barley harvest.

​Meditation
A harvest of hope awaits children of God returning home. Like the prodigal son (Luke 15), returning home leads to the open arms of our Father who is eager to heal and fill.
 
Naomi left Bethlehem during famine, migrating to Moab for food but with a full heart and home (1-2). While an immigrant in a foreign country, Naomi’s two sons married Moabite women before dying (3-5). Widowed, empty, and far from home, Naomi’s suffering birthed bitterness.
 
When stuck in suffering, we often cope in unhealthy ways. Naomi sought to isolate herself by pushing her daughters-in-law away while raising her fist at God. Orpah returned to familiar gods and old ways. Determined to trust the God of Israel, Ruth clung to Naomi (6-18). Ruth’s faith is a ray of hope breaking through the dark clouds of Naomi’s bitterness.
 
Returning to the land of God’s promises, Naomi doubles down on her depression telling the community, “I went away full. The Lord has brought me back empty.” (19-20) Blinded by suffering, Naomi blames God. But like new life in spring, hope buds with the promise of the beginning of the barley harvest (21). God’s sovereign grace will bring life through death.
 
We identify with Naomi’s journey. When tough times approach, we can become bitter as brokenness moves from bad to worse. We must look to the Lord’s redemptive reversal of suffering, the cross of Christ emphasizing God’s promise to work all things for the good of His people and the glory of His name. We must return home to our Father’s love.
 
Richly Dwelling
-What stands out to you about the migration motif of Naomi?
 
-Where do you go when suffering and struggle strike? Naomi’s unhelpful ways were leaving, isolating, bitterness, depression, and blaming God. How about you?
 
-How does the redemptive reversal of Christ’s work, His death on the cross, and resurrection from the grave, encourage and empower you to have hope in hard times and return home to the Father’s love?
 
Key Verses
22 So Naomi returned, and Ruth the Moabite her daughter-in-law with her, who returned from the country of Moab. And they came to Bethlehem at the beginning of barley harvest.

Now these are the nations that the Lord left, to test Israel by them, that is, all in Israel who had not experienced all the wars in Canaan. 2 It was only in order that the generations of the people of Israel might know war, to teach war to those who had not known it before. 3 These are the nations: the five lords of the Philistines and all the Canaanites and the Sidonians and the Hivites who lived on Mount Lebanon, from Mount Baal-hermon as far as Lebo-hamath. 4 They were for the testing of Israel, to know whether Israel would obey the commandments of the Lord, which he commanded their fathers by the hand of Moses. 5 So the people of Israel lived among the Canaanites, the Hittites, the Amorites, the Perizzites, the Hivites, and the Jebusites. 6 And their daughters they took to themselves for wives, and their own daughters they gave to their sons, and they served their gods.
Othniel7 And the people of Israel did what was evil in the sight of the Lord. They forgot the Lord their God and served the Baals and the Asheroth. 8 Therefore the anger of the Lord was kindled against Israel, and he sold them into the hand of Cushan-rishathaim king of Mesopotamia. And the people of Israel served Cushan-rishathaim eight years.9 But when the people of Israel cried out to the Lord, the Lord raised up a deliverer for the people of Israel, who saved them, Othniel the son of Kenaz, Caleb's younger brother. 10 The Spirit of the Lord was upon him, and he judged Israel. He went out to war, and the Lord gave Cushan-rishathaim king of Mesopotamia into his hand. And his hand prevailed over Cushan-rishathaim. 11 So the land had rest forty years. Then Othniel the son of Kenaz died.
Ehud12 And the people of Israel again did what was evil in the sight of the Lord, and the Lord strengthened Eglon the king of Moab against Israel, because they had done what was evil in the sight of the Lord. 13 He gathered to himself the Ammonites and the Amalekites, and went and defeated Israel. And they took possession of the city of palms.14 And the people of Israel served Eglon the king of Moab eighteen years.
15 Then the people of Israel cried out to the Lord, and the Lord raised up for them a deliverer, Ehud, the son of Gera, the Benjaminite, a left-handed man. The people of Israel sent tribute by him to Eglon the king of Moab. 16 And Ehud made for himself a sword with two edges, a cubit[a] in length, and he bound it on his right thigh under his clothes.17 And he presented the tribute to Eglon king of Moab. Now Eglon was a very fat man. 18 And when Ehud had finished presenting the tribute, he sent away the people who carried the tribute. 19 But he himself turned back at the idols near Gilgal and said, “I have a secret message for you, O king.” And he commanded, “Silence.” And all his attendants went out from his presence. 20 And Ehud came to him as he was sitting alone in his cool roof chamber. And Ehud said, “I have a message from God for you.” And he arose from his seat. 21 And Ehud reached with his left hand, took the sword from his right thigh, and thrust it into his belly. 22 And the hilt also went in after the blade, and the fat closed over the blade, for he did not pull the sword out of his belly; and the dung came out. 23 Then Ehud went out into the porch and closed the doors of the roof chamber behind him and locked them.
24 When he had gone, the servants came, and when they saw that the doors of the roof chamber were locked, they thought, “Surely he is relieving himself in the closet of the cool chamber.” 25 And they waited till they were embarrassed. But when he still did not open the doors of the roof chamber, they took the key and opened them, and there lay their lord dead on the floor.
26 Ehud escaped while they delayed, and he passed beyond the idols and escaped to Seirah. 27 When he arrived, he sounded the trumpet in the hill country of Ephraim. Then the people of Israel went down with him from the hill country, and he was their leader. 28 And he said to them, “Follow after me, for the Lord has given your enemies the Moabites into your hand.” So they went down after him and seized the fords of the Jordan against the Moabites and did not allow anyone to pass over. 29 And they killed at that time about 10,000 of the Moabites, all strong, able-bodied men; not a man escaped. 30 So Moab was subdued that day under the hand of Israel. And the land had rest for eighty years.

Meditation
Jesus is the ultimate judge who rescues all who cry out for mercy. God is just to rescue because the work of Jesus justifies all whose faith is in Him (Romans 3:21-26). Grace summons cries for salvation.
 
Israel failed test after test God put forward to evaluate their response to His redemption by living holy lives in the land He provided (1-6). The pattern of Judges is established through the first judge we meet: Othniel, Caleb’s younger brother. The complete pattern is seen in Othniel’s account, quickly illustrated by Ehud:
Rebellion (7),
Retribution (8),
Repentance (9a),
Rescue (9b-10), and
Rest (11).
The pattern is unpacked through Judges and points to the ultimate rescue and rest offered through the person and work of Jesus.
 
The Lord’s rescue through Ehud puts flesh on the bones of Othniel’s cycle. In a hilarious and brilliantly written narrative (12-30) we encounter the depth of sin and the height of God’s mercy. The repeated word “tribute” (15, 17, 18 x2) describing what Israel offered to the “fat” king of Moab is otherwise reserved for the grain offering Israel was commanded to use in worship to the Lord (Leviticus 2). Israel’s 18 year “service” was misdirected worship, and the weight of their transgression is evidenced in the mass of King Eglon. Yet still, when Israel cried out, the Lord raised up a judge to rescue and give rest. From the depth of sin and rebellion, God hears our cry for rescue and responds.
 
God’s love is steadfast. Grace gives us ground to cry out for rescue.
 
Richly Dwelling
-What stands out to you from today’s reading, especially the depth of Israel’s rebellion (1-6), the pattern of the judge cycle (7-11), and/ or the picture God gives of the pattern through the hilarious rescue of Ehud (12-30)?
 
-Where do you identify with the failure of Israel’s test and the desperation of crying out for rescue?
 
-How can you be more anchored in God’s steadfast love, allowing the security of His salvation to fuel holiness in your life and worship? Be specific.
 
Key Verses
9 But when the people of Israel cried out to the Lord, the Lord raised up a deliverer for the people of Israel, who saved them, Othniel the son of Kenaz, Caleb's younger brother.