Today’s Reading:  Ezek 26:1–27:36, Rev 13:1–10, Job 36:13–23

Today’s Theme: Sovereignty and Perseverance

Today’s theme looks at the sovereignty the Lord holds over the enemy. The Devil can only do what God allows within the enemies limited freedom. We also look at the perseverance of the saints which we are encouraged to pursue in the light of God’s sovereignty.

Ezekiel 26:1–27:36

God revealed in judgement

and her daughters on the mainland shall be killed by the sword. Then they will know that I am the Lord. (Ezekiel 26:6, ESV)

God can be revealed to us in blessing or in judgement…the choice is ours.

Prophecy fulfilled

I will make you a bare rock. You shall be a place for the spreading of nets. You shall never be rebuilt, for I am the Lord; I have spoken, declares the Lord God. (Ezekiel 26:14, ESV)

This prophecy is fulfilled, Tyre was never rebuilt.

The fall of Babylon

and down from their ships come all who handle the oar. The mariners and all the pilots of the sea stand on the land and shout aloud over you and cry out bitterly. They cast dust on their heads and wallow in ashes; (Ezekiel 27:29–30, ESV)

Reminds us of when Babylon falls in revelation.

Revelation 13:1–10

What God allows

Also it was allowed to make war on the saints and to conquer them. And authority was given it over every tribe and people and language and nation, (Revelation 13:7, ESV)

God sovereignly allowed this, the devil can’t just do whatever he wants, only what he is allowed to do. So the devil’s freedom is limited and what God allows works within God’s wider plan to glorify His own name.

The perseverance of the saints

If anyone is to be taken captive, to captivity he goes; if anyone is to be slain with the sword, with the sword must he be slain. Here is a call for the endurance and faith of the saints. (Revelation 13:10, ESV)

We are called to persevere as saints, we must resist the devil.

Job 36:13–23

Don’t cherish anger

“The godless in heart cherish anger; they do not cry for help when he binds them. (Job 36:13, ESV)

We should not hold on to (cherish) anger, it is like holding a hot coal in our bare hands close to our chest…A really bad idea, it will only hurt us.

God cannot be taught anything new

Who has prescribed for him his way, or who can say, ‘You have done wrong’? (Job 36:23, ESV)

God is the great teacher, none of us can teach Him anything. God never has to learn, Open Theism  is wrong (Open Theism is the idea that God does not know the future and is not totally sovereign and so is learning all the time… which is preposterous. Just because God has foreknowledge does not mean he planned it [predestined] or desired it).

Most of the above post is a copy of the original notes from the same date in 2014.

Additional resources

The Gospel Coalition on Revelation 13