Luke 21 (5)

Pray Psalm 119.49, 50.
Remember the word to Your servant,
Upon which You have caused me to hope.
This is my comfort in my affliction,
For Your word has given me life.

Sing Psalm 119.49, 50.
(Wycliff: All for Jesus)
Lord, remember all the good Word You have spoken unto me!
For I ever hope in You, Lord as I serve You joyfully.

This my comfort in affliction, this my comfort in all strife:
that Your Word is my redemption, giving me eternal life!

Read Luke 21.1-33; meditate on verses 29-33.

Preparation
1. What did Jesus say about the fig tree?

2. What did He say about His words?

Meditation
The patterns of creation are reliable. The seasons come and go, and we know what to expect with each one. When the fig tree starts to bud, summer is near. And when the signs of the times begin to be in evidence, know that the Kingdom of God is at hand (vv. 30, 31).

Why is the creation so predictable? Does it run on automatic pilot? Are the “laws” of physics sovereign in the workings of creation? No. These “laws” are but descriptions of how the eternal Word of God upholds, sustains, manages, and arranges every detail of created life (cf. Ps. 104; Heb. 1.3). As Jonathan Edwards explained, “It is by the immediate influence of God upon things according to those constant methods which we call the laws of nature, that they are ever obedient to man’s will, or that he can use them at all” (An Humble Attempt).

Since the Word of God is all-comprehensive and all-powerful over all aspects of the creation, we can believe that what Jesus spoke concerning the last days and the signs of His appearing will be just as reliable and certain (v. 31). Creation continues as it does because Jesus speaks continuously to it according to His purposes and will. A day is coming when He will speak this old, sinful world into oblivion and speak a new one into existence (v. 33). Since we see the signs indicating the Kingdom has come, we prepare for the day of its full and final coming by devoting ourselves to seeking the Kingdom and righteousness of God. All the words Jesus has spoken about His Kingdom will endure, even once heaven and earth have passed away.

Cling to those words and live by them. He Who speaks them will never fail you nor forsake you.

Treasures Old and New: Matthew 13.52; Psalm 119.162
God’s words are always reliable and true.

“In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth…
Then God said, ‘Let there be light’; and there was light” (Gen. 1.1, 3).

Is there light today? Does the sun still shine? Is God’s word true and reliable? Yes, it is.

“Now in the first year of Cyrus king of Persia, that the word of the LORD by the mouth of Jeremiah might be fulfilled, the LORDstirred up the spirit of Cyrus king of Persia…” (Ezra 1.1).

Was Cyrus a real person? Did he end the Babylonian captivity of the Israelites as predicted? Is God’s word true and reliable? Yes, it is.

Jesus said to His disciples, “we are going up to Jerusalem, and all things that are written by the prophets concerning the Son of Man will be accomplished. For He will be delivered to the Gentiles and will be mocked and insulted and spit upon. They will scourge Him and kill Him. And the third day He will rise again” (Lk. 18.31-33).

Was Jesus mocked and insulted and spit on? Was He killed? Was He raised from the dead three days later? Is God’s word true and reliable? Yes, it is.

“When you see these things happening”—bad things to the creation and the created—“know that the kingdom of God is near” (Lk. 21.31).

Did God say that this will happen? Do you believe Him? Yes, I do.

“Heaven and earth will pass away, but My words will by no means pass away” (Lk. 21.33).

Jesus said that. I believe Him because His words are always reliable and true. Yes, they always are.

“The grass withers, the flower fades, but the word of our God stands forever” (Is. 40.8).
“Now this is the word by which the gospel was preached to you” (1 Pet. 1.25).

Jesus said, “…if it were not so, I would have told you…” (Jn. 14.2).

Yes, He would, because His Word is always reliable and true.

For reflection
1. How should knowing God’s Word is reliable and true encourage us in reading and studying it?

2. How have you experienced the fact that God’s Word is reliable and true?

3. How will you “look for” (Bullinger) the coming of God’s Kingdom today?

[W]hen we know that many of those things of which the Lord has spoken come to pass, we ought to acknowledge that the kingdom of God and the Day of the Lord is already at the door and that therefore we should look for it by diligently working to form ourselves in godliness and virtue. Heinrich Bullinger (1504-1575), An Ecclesiasticall Exposition upon Saint Mathewe 23.29

Pray Psalm 119.51-56.
Commit your way to the Lord. Preview your day and ask the Lord to shine the light of His Word on everything you do and say. Ask Him for courage to serve Him faithfully and well.

Sing Psalm 119.51-56.
(Wycliff: All for Jesus)
Though the proud deride and taunt me, I will trust Your faithful Word.
Let Your judgments from of old be all my comfort, holy Lord.

Indignation grips me, Savior, for those who forsake Your Word.
All Your statutes, all Your favor, I will sing with joy, O Lord!

In the night Your Name attends me, and I keep Your holy Word;
let Your precepts all befriend me, as I keep them, glorious Lord.

T. M. and Susie Moore

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Except as indicated, all Scriptures are taken from the New King James Version. © Copyright 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved. For sources of all quotations, see the weekly PDF of this study. All psalms for singing are from The Ailbe Psalter (Williston: Waxed Tablet Publications, 2006), available by clicking here.