Rev. 2:8-11; Psalm 33:12-22

Rev. 2:8-11
In His opening words to the church in Smyrna, Jesus emphasizes Himself as "the First and the Last, who died and came to life again." In this way He was identifying with their suffering because He Himself suffered. "I know your afflictions and your poverty..." The Christians in Smyrna were doubly persecuted. Since they would not worship Caesar, they were forbidden to work and so were desperately poor. The Jewish establishment (whose religion was accepted by Rome) were not under such restraints, but they also rejected the Christians. Though these believers in Smyrna were suffering physically from the Romans and from the Jews, yet they were rich! v. 9 Their values were on eternal things which can never be taken away. Indeed we are all rich because we're children of the Most High God!

"I know the slander of those who say they are Jews and are not, but are a synagogue of Satan." Any religion who rejects Jesus Christ as God's Son is not a true religion and is in reality doing Satan's work.

Christ does not say anything negative to this church! What wonderful, faithful believers they must have been! He does warn them not to be afraid of what they were about to suffer. He warned them of the devil's plans for them to put some of them in prison to test them. He told them that they would suffer persecution for ten days. Then He encouraged them to "Be faithful, even to the point of death, and I will give you the crown of life." Notice that Christ values our faithfulness. These people did not have the approval of most of the people of their day, but they had God's approval and His promise of rewards in heaven. They would never face the final judgment at "the second death." v. 11 We will see in Revelation 20 and 21 that "the second death" is the lake of fire.

Psalm 33:12-22
This psalm has praised God as the Creator and Lord over all the earth. v. 12 tells us that even nations are responsible to God. "Blessed is the nation whose God is the Lord,..." Of course, nations are made up of individuals and "From heaven the Lord looks down and sees all mankind; from his dwelling place he watches all who live on earth--he who forms the hearts of all, who considers everything they do." vv. 13-15 Just think of it! Some people may think their sin is hidden, that it's a secret, but it's never hidden from God. Even a king with all his resources is no match for God. vv. 16-17

God sees the evil in the world, but He also sees the good, and He sees His children when they are in need. "But the eyes of the Lord are on those who fear him, on those whose hope is in his unfailing love, to deliver them from death and keep them alive in famine." What a security detail this is!

For our meditation today: "We wait in hope for the Lord; he is our help and our shield. In him our hearts rejoice, for we trust in his holy name. May your unfailing love rest upon us, O Lord, even as we put our hope in you." vv. 20-22