Psalm 40:1-5, 16-17, Isaiah 33:1-24, Revelation 5:1-14 - Lectionary for 12/17/11 - Commemoration of Daniel the Prophet and the Three Young Men

Today is the commemoration of Daniel the Prophet and the Three Young Men. Today's readings are Psalm 40:1-5, 16-17, Isaiah 33:1-24, and Revelation 5:1-14. Who is worthy to stand before God? We see in our Psalm and in our reading from Isaiah the blessings on the one who is righteous, who walks in the ways of the Lord. And we can all aspire to having such a walk. We can all desire righteousness. However, in the final analysis, we all fall short. God requires nothing less than perfect obedience, all the time, in every way, in thought, word, and deed. What will we do? Who will be found who can proclaim God's grace? Who will be found to proclaim God's glory and mercy rightly? The righteous one, the Lamb of God, Jesus Christ, is the one who is worthy. He is the one who can stand before God in his own righteousness and approach the Lord, for he has walked in the ways of the Lord perfectly. All praise be to Jesus Christ, the perfect Lamb of God, who has "ransomed people for God from every tribe and language and people and nation, and {who has} made them a kingdom and priests to our God" (Rev. 5:9-10, ESV).