Realm of the Lion and Lamb

Revelation 5:5-6

And one of the elders saith unto me, Weep not: behold, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, hath prevailed to open the book, and to loose the seven seals thereof.

Here we see at the first as at the last the dual nature of God. See how he is set across the throne with the elders around as seen in the text. Nor does the lion of this tribe find himself defenseless. Even so I am finding myself at a loss for words when joining God's work with what we have already been given. See, at no time has the lion of that tribe left himself defenseless nor even left us alone. How merciful God is and yet swift to act. You will see here as the lion how he removes man's bitterness and then takes it away. Small wonder then so many have been tempted into giving up or thinking he had left his people there alone. See, the Lion of the tribe of Judah assumes a protective stance. He rights our wrongs with it does he not. Even so do all the days of evil follow him and for such praise his name. See him now as he brings all things back to himself. Once was not our adversary the devil too well known as a roaring lion, the one that seems whom he may devour. Only God could bring about the shift, my friends.

So too does Hosea note that the people were once going up with their prides to seek unto the Lord. Sure, we must seek him while he may be found and call upon him while he is near. But such is not really what he is after here as seen in the text. As God he wants your whole heart. So intimately too does he know our sins and our sorrows having borne them himself. The fact that he knows then when you come with your pride is telling to say the least. For so is he king of that too. You might have been led out into the wilderness and tempted of men. Yet at no time has God ever left his children alone no matter who might have carried them off. Here you have to remember that little word Judah is seen as a collective hidden among men. For so was termed the southern kingdom whether in part or in whole.

And I beheld, and, lo, in the midst of the throne and of the four beasts, and in the midst of the elders, stood a Lamb as it had been slain, having seven horns and seven eyes, which are the seven Spirits of God sent forth into all the earth.

How nice it is that the same God that knows his people intimately is the same one that makes them return. How good God is to his people nor is that it by any stretch of the means. So too does the God who fights for his people now come with the sword. Look with my me at this sight here. How good God is to his people who gathers them together as sheep having gone astray but knows them so well. See the difference between a lion and a lamb is found in the nose with both having the same relative shape and position. For so God knows each of us well. Just think of it, the God who hung the stars in position and set aside Heaven's glory for a time is concerned about your life and mine. More than that there might be some sheep not of his fold whom he has had to go gather. Might this be the reason for his appearance then as that of a lamb that has been slain. See, our son demanded an offering, even that of the holiness of God.

For this cause then, has God sent his Son. See too how obedient he was being obedient in all things even to the death of the cross. Herein lies the shift. The lamb that had been slain did not always stay defenseless. Nor did the lion ever continue to devour. He might be down and out today but he's ruling tomorrow. He might be walking through this old world below for now seen in part and lacking much. But then, my friends, therein comes the shift. See now he makes peace through us therein by the blood of Son. Henceforth do all our days ring with his praise. See him now as he is bringing all things out and makes our peace with the world through the blood of his Son. Only God could do any such. It is just who he is my friends. This then is what turns the Lamb into the lion and from there back again.

For just as it is with the Father so it is with the church; he bears us as well. Some of us never knew when he all our sins and sorrows bore that included us. Yet here we are as all things borne unto the Son. See him now as he opens the book and with it dispels every last remaining trace of the past. The only thing with him are now himself, us, and eternity my friends. Is it not just like God to make the difference. Thank God that he who has borne all has never left us alone. So just as he has had victory so too will we also be. How much more should we not trust him through all that we go through, whether an exaltation, a horn, a valley, or an eye. He is the God that knows all my friends. As such he is bringing all things out.