December 10, Day 345 – Like Jewels in a Crown

Psalm 140:1-5; Zechariah 9-11; Revelation 1

Today we come to the first part of Psalm 140, verses 1-5. David prays, “Rescue me LORD, from evildoers” (verse 1). God was pleased to take these words – like jewels from David’s crown – and share them with us as a part of His inspired Word. These same words ought to be regularly in the heart and frequently expressed from the voice of every believer. God also wants us to request His “rescue from evildoers” (verse 1). Why? Because evildoers are “violent; they devise evil plans; they stir up war every day; and they have the poison of vipers on their lips” (verses 2-3). The word “rescue” is a soteriological word that means “to deliver or to save,” which is exactly what God wants to do for us. We have mentioned in the past that God wants no one to perish and that all should come to Him (cf., 2 Peter 3:9). Notice David’s plea: “Keep me safe, LORD” (verse 4). Not only is this a legitimate prayer for us all to pray, but also it is God’s will that we should pray for safety. God wants to save us from evildoers as much as He wants to save us from sin, from death, and from hell. Unfortunately today, many people mock and make jokes about the idea of being “saved,” but God takes salvation seriously, so we should take it seriously, too.

We also see an oracle in Zechariah 9-11 about God’s judgment on some of Israel’s enemies – specifically – on “the land of Hadrach, on Syria (i.e., ‘Damascus’), on the Phoenicians (i.e., ‘Tyre and Sidon’), and on the Philistines (i.e., ‘Ashkelon, Gaza, and Ekron’,” verses 1-6). Here, Zechariah also foretells the coming of Israel’s Messiah – “Rejoice greatly, O Daughter of Zion! Shout, Daughter of Jerusalem! See, your King comes to you, righteous and having salvation, gentle and riding on a donkey, on a colt, the foal of a donkey” (verse 9). This prophecy of Christ’s first advent was fulfilled with His triumphal entry into Jerusalem (cf., Luke 19:28-38). Zechariah immediately follows this prophecy with another – his revelation of Christ’s second advent, when “the LORD will appear over them; His arrow will flash like lightning” and “He will … save them on that day as the flock of His people … sparkling in His land like jewels in a crown” (verses 14-17). In chapter 10, Zechariah presents a picture of the LORD’s comfort and care for Israel as His remedy for the deceptions of idolatry that have caused the “people to wander like sheep – oppressed for lack of a shepherd” (verse 2). He says, “the Cornerstone will come from Judah” (verse 4), and even though “He scattered them among the peoples, He would yet redeem them back from Assyria and Egypt …” (verses 4-12). In chapter 11, Zechariah predicts the betrayal by Judas for “thirty pieces of silver thrown to the potter” (verses 12-13); he revisits Israel’s initial rejection of her good Shepherd (verses 8-9); and her unfortunate acceptance of “the foolish and worthless shepherd” (i.e., the Antichrist) in the future tribulation period.

Today we also begin with the first chapter of the book of Revelation, a book we should read often and understand – at face value – just exactly like we read Psalm 140. There is no reason to receive or read this book any other way. From chapter 1, I want to emphasize that this book is a gem – it is "the revelation of Jesus Christ – which God gave Him to show His servants what must soon take place” (verse 1). Although John the Apostle recorded it, nevertheless, it is not John’s revelation; it is Christ’s revelation to us. In chapter 1, we learn that this book is a letter written from our Lord Jesus Christ to seven ancient churches, but its message is equally important and just as meaningfully significant for us today. The book is a disclosure (an unveiling) about the eternal work of Jesus Christ – “what you have seen, what is now, and what is to come.”