Matthew 24:15-22; Psalm 122

Matthew 24:15-22
(The following notes are adapted from The Bible Exposition Commentary Vol 1 , by Warren Wiersbe, p. 87 and following.)
Remember that this passage describes the coming Great Tribulation--a period of 7 years. The Church will be with the Lord in heaven. And so it's important to remember that this chapter is written primarily to the Jews. We study it because God tells us that all scripture is profitable for us! The material in vv. 1-14 refer to the first 3 1/2 years. According to Daniel 9 and other prophecies, Israel will have made a 7-year agreement with the Antichrist in which he promises to protect them. After 3 1/2 years, he will break the agreement. He will set a supernatural image of himself up in the Temple and demand that people worship it. He will claim that he is God. He is Satan's representative, and Satan has always wanted people to worship him. At this point, the Jewish people will know what to do--"flee to the hills"! Then a time of indescribable suffering and violence will begin. During the first half of the Tribulation, the calamities were natural ones--wars, famines, earthquakes. During the last half, the judgments will be supernatural and devastating. According to v. 22, some will believe and be converted during the Tribulation, and God will shorten this period of judgment for their sake.

Psalm 122
We will end on little lighter note this evening! Psalm 122 is "A song for pilgrims ascending to Jerusalem." It is one of several in this section of the psalms. It was originally written to the Jews of course, but we can make application to ourselves.

• We should find joy in gathering together with other believers. Let's ask God to make this true. May He help us to be generous in our evaluation of fellow Christians. May we minimize their faults and maximize their good qualities just as we would hope they would do for us. I believe God can give us grace to truly look forward to going into "the house of the Lord." v. 1
• We should be full of thanksgiving to the Lord! v. 4 The call for thanksgiving is found throughout the scripture. God desires and expects us to be a thankful people.
• We should pray for peace and prosperity for others. v. 6 We can pray this for ourselves too of course, but somehow that's easier than praying it for others! We should pray and work for peace in our churches. When God's people do this, perhaps God will cause that peace to spread throughout our communities. May we truly wish peace for others, and may we rejoice when others prosper.

MEDITATION:  "Our help is from the Lord, who made heaven and earth."  Psalm 124:8