“THE LORD WILL JUDGE THE ENDS OF THE EARTH”

Todays readings.. 1Samuel 2, Isaiah 48, Revelation 5&6

Hannah, who was to be the mother of Samuel, “My heart exults in the LORD; my horn is exalted … because I rejoice in your salvation.” [1 Sam. 2 v.1] She was exalted in heart because of God’s promises which she whole heartedly believed and embraced: let us do the same. She declares “Talk no more so very proudly, let not arrogance come from your mouth; for the LORD is a God of knowledge, and by him actions are weighed.” [v.5]

All those who believe in the LORD (and his Son) must develop the same attitude to the wonder of the all-seeing presence of the Creator. Verse 10 is the awesome climax of her prayer. The adversaries of the LORD shall be broken to pieces; against them he will thunder in heaven. The LORD will judge the ends of the earth; he will give strength to his king and exalt the horn of his anointed.”

Jesus is the anointed of the LORD! (see Psalm 45 v.7) he is “his king,” David in Psalm 18 opens out a vision of when “his king” reigns, (v.49,50). Let us make sure he is our king.

Our thoughts go in awe to ch. 6 in Revelation which we also read today! A ”loud voice” cries! “O Sovereign Lord, holy and true, how long before you will judge and avenge our blood on those who dwell on the earth?” [v.10] We ask this question even more urgently today!

To say the last 3 verses are awesome is an understatement! “Then the kings of the earth and the great ones and the generals and the rich and the powerful, and everyone … hid themselves in the caves and among the rocks of the mountains, calling to the mountains and rocks, “Fall on us and hide us from the face of him who is seated on the throne, and from the wrath of the Lamb, for the great day of their wrath has come, and who can stand?”

How much does our utterly godless world deserve his wrath!

Our final – and wonderful thought – comes from ch. 5! A “Lamb” appears, “standing, as though it had been slain” [v.6] – an obvious symbol of Jesus. A “new song” is sung to him, “Worthy are you … for you were slain, and by your blood you ransomed people for God from every tribe and language and people and nation, and you have made them a kingdom and priests to our God, and they shall reign on the earth.”