God’s Joy
For Meditation
A lot of people call Richmond a foodie town. This summer, we've discovered that the Bible is a foodie book! Among the many themes that we can trace throughout the Bible, food is one of the most prominent. This whole summer, we've seen that each story about food serves as God's invitation into something God wants to give us, whether it is rest, provision, care, generosity, compassion, grace, restoration, or hospitality. God truly wants us to not only know but also to taste and see his goodness.
This Sunday, we're ending this summer series by looking at the culminating image of feasting in the Bible: the wedding supper of the Lamb in Revelation 19. This is a powerful image that brings together so many of the other stories we've looked at this summer. It not only gives us a vision of the future - which is a vision of feasting and joy - but it also reminds us what living in the present is all about: life with God and life with each other. Ultimately, the wedding supper of the Lamb is an invitation into God's joy. "Let us rejoice and be glad and give God glory!" (Rev. 19:7)
In preparation for worship, read Revelation 19-21 and invite God to fill us with hope about the joyful future that awaits us. We will feast with God forever.
Revelation 19:6–9
6 Then I heard what sounded like a great multitude, like the roar of rushing waters and like loud peals of thunder, shouting:
“Hallelujah!
(Fine linen stands for the righteous acts of God’s holy people.)
9 Then the angel said to me, “Write this: Blessed are those who are invited to the wedding supper of the Lamb!” And he added, “These are the true words of God.”
For our Lord God Almighty reigns.
7Let us rejoice and be glad
and give him glory!
For the wedding of the Lamb has come,
and his bride has made herself ready.
8Fine linen, bright and clean,
was given her to wear.”