Rev. 12; Psalm 50

Revelation 12
vv. 1-6  The characters in this narrative are obviously symbolic. According to Warren Wiersbe in With the Word Bible Commentary, p. 1619, this is what the symbols mean. "The Child is Jesus Christ, and the woman represents Israel who brought the Savior into the world. The dragon is Satan who tried to keep Jesus from being born and attempted to kill Him after He was born."

We can learn some things about our great enemy, Satan, from this chapter. Though he is a worthy foe for us, we know that He is no match for God who dwells within us!

• Satan is a deceiver. Satan and those angels that followed him were cast out of heaven. vv. 7-9
• He accuses us before God. v. 10
• He is a cruel persecutor of those who worship and trust the Lord. vv. 12-17

Don't be afraid! Though this passage paints a rather dark picture, remember that Satan's time is short, v. 12), and his doom is sealed because of the blood of Christ. "Now have come the salvation and the power and the kingdom of our God, and the authority of his Christ. For the accuser of our brothers, who accuses them before our God day and night, has been hurled down. They overcame him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony..." vv. 10-11

Psalm 50
This psalm views God as a judge in a courtroom. He is given the following titles in this psalm: The Mighty One, God, the Lord, (v. 1), judge (v. 6), Most High (v. 14). He is judging "religious" people here.

• God wants sincere worship. We can't earn His favor with our "sacrifices." 
• He wants the sacrifice of thanksgiving. v. 14
• He wants our devotion and obedience. v. 14
• He wants us to call on Him in our times of need. v. 15

God particularly rebukes hypocrites--people who say one thing and practice another. They recite His laws, but they do not obey them. They are thieves, adulterers, slanderers, and deceitful people. God may be silent for a time, but He will eventually judge these evil doers. vv, 16-22

v. 23 repeats the importance God places on thanksgiving. "He who sacrifices thank offerings honors me, and he prepares the way so that I may show him the salvation of God."