Heaven Is My Throne (Acts 7:48-53)
“This is what the LORD says: “Heaven is My throne, and earth is My footstool. What kind of house will you build for Me? Or where will My place of repose be? Has not My hand made all these things? And so they came into being,” declares the LORD. “This is the one I will esteem: he who is humble and contrite in spirit, who trembles at My word.
Whoever slaughters an ox is like one who slays a man; whoever sacrifices a lamb is like one who breaks a dog’s neck; whoever presents a grain offering is like one who offers pig’s blood; whoever offers frankincense is like one who praises an idol. Indeed, they have chosen their own ways and delighted in their abominations. So I will choose their punishment and I will bring terror upon them, because I called and no one answered, I spoke and no one listened. But they did what was evil in My sight and chose that in which I did not delight.”
You who tremble at His word, hear the word of the LORD: “Your brothers who hate and exclude you because of My name have said, ‘Let the LORD be glorified that we may see your joy!’ But they will be put to shame.” Hear the uproar from the city; listen to the voice from the temple! It is the voice of the LORD, repaying His enemies what they deserve! Rejoice with Jerusalem “Before she was in labor, she gave birth; before she was in pain, she delivered a boy. Who has heard of such as this? Who has seen such things? Can a country be born in a day or a nation be delivered in an instant? Yet as soon as Zion was in labor, she gave birth to her children. Shall I bring a baby to the point of birth and not deliver it?” says the LORD. “Or will I who deliver close the womb?” says your God.
Be glad for Jerusalem and rejoice over her, all who love her. Rejoice greatly with her, all who mourn over her, so that you may nurse and be satisfied at her comforting breasts; you may drink deeply and delight yourselves in her glorious abundance. For this is what the LORD says: “I will extend peace to her like a river, and the wealth of nations like a flowing stream; you will nurse and be carried on her arm, and bounced upon her knees. As a mother comforts her son, so will I comfort you, and you will be consoled over Jerusalem.” When you see, you will rejoice, and you will flourish like grass; then the hand of the LORD will be revealed to His servants, but His wrath will be shown to His enemies.
Final Judgments against the Wicked
For behold, the LORD will come with fire—His chariots are like a whirlwind—to execute His anger with fury and His rebuke with flames of fire. For by fire and by His sword, the LORD will execute judgment on all flesh, and many will be slain by the LORD. “Those who consecrate and purify themselves to enter the groves—to follow one in the center of those who eat the flesh of swine and vermin and rats—will perish together,” declares the LORD. “And I, knowing their deeds and thoughts, am coming to gather all nations and tongues, and they will come and see My glory. I will establish a sign among them, and I will send survivors from among them to the nations—to Tarshish, Put, and the archers of Lud; to Tubal, Javan, and the islands far away who have not heard of My fame or seen My glory. So they will proclaim My glory among the nations. And they will bring all your brothers from all the nations as a gift to the LORD on horses and chariots and wagons, on mules and camels, to My holy mountain Jerusalem,” says the LORD, “just as the Israelites bring an offering in a clean vessel to the house of the LORD.”
“And I will select some of them as priests and Levites,” says the LORD. “For just as the new heavens and the new earth, which I will make, will endure before Me,” declares the LORD, “so your descendants and your name will endure. From one New Moon to another and from one Sabbath to another, all mankind will come to worship before Me,” says the LORD. “As they go forth, they will see the corpses of the men who have rebelled against Me; for their worm will never die, their fire will never be quenched, and they will be a horror to all mankind.”
God is fed up with His people playing religious games! Now He is continuing the warnings He began in Chapter 65.
“Whoever slaughters an ox is like one who slays a man; whoever sacrifices a lamb is like one who breaks a dog’s neck; whoever presents a grain offering is like one who offers pig’s blood; whoever offers frankincense is like one who praises an idol. Indeed, they have chosen their own ways and delighted in their abominations. So I will choose their punishment and I will bring terror upon them, because I called and no one answered, I spoke and no one listened. But they did what was evil in My sight and chose that in which I did not delight.”
Wait a minute! The offerings described here are the ones God ordered through Moses. But God knows the human heart, and He knows that even when His people are bringing the prescribed offerings to Him, they are going to sneak out to worship demons later. That’s why God is saying that slaughtering an ox amounts to murder, that sacrificing a lamb is like breaking a dog’s neck (dogs were considered unclean animals), that grain offerings made for show are tantamount to offering pig’s blood (pigs were also unclean) and offering frankincense is like praising an idol. (By this point, the Jews might have been offering the same incense used in the temple to idols, something that God had totally forbidden and that was punishable by death).
The faithful in Jerusalem are enduring persistent mockery from their wicked friends and neighbors. God is encouraging the faithful to stand firm but also assuring them that they WILL see Jerusalem restored and the evil punished. The faithful will be sent to share the good news of God with the ends of the earth while the wicked will receive full recompense for their vile deeds.
Part of this prophecy appears to have already come true. The nation of Israel came into existence very quickly, despite major opposition from several different sources. Israel has continued to prosper despite repeated attacks of all kinds. The horrors of World War II drove Jews from many different parts of the world to Israel. On the other hand, there are parts of this prophecy that obviously have yet to be fulfilled.
APPLICATION: What comfort can we gain for ourselves from this chapter? One assurance is that righteousness will be rewarded. Many of us have found ourselves standing for the right while colleagues have settled for expediency. Sometimes, we have even been punished for being honest and transparent. But God is promising us that He will reward us and that He can give us “peace like a river.” Rivers flow continually and big rivers never dry up. When God gives peace, He gives it in super – abundance. God promises spiritual abundance and comfort. But make no mistake! God is not promising to carry us around on a silken pillow, nor will He shield us from hardships. Jesus admonished his disciples in John 16:33 “I have told you these things so that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take courage; I have overcome the world!”
These days, Christians in many parts of the world are paying with their lives for believing in Christ. Why are these people willing to risk everything in this fashion? God has never changed; He has been the same throughout history. Even in the midst of terrible trials, believers have had the overflowing peace of the Holy Spirit. These people have been willing to give up earth for heaven. Why not ask God for His peace and see what happens? What do you have to lose?
PRAYER: Father God, thank You for loving us and for caring for us. Lord, please give Your abiding peace to all who read these words. In the matchless Name of King Jesus. Amen.
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