Daily Devotional | All Nations Will Fear the Lord

The Israelites spent a good part of the book of Exodus building the tabernacle according to God’s specifications. When it was time for the dedication, the nation rejoiced (Ex. 40). Everything was consecrated. The priests purified themselves. “Then the cloud covered the tent of meeting, and the glory of the Lord filled the tabernacle. Moses could not enter the tent of meeting because the cloud had settled on it, and the glory of the LORD filled the tabernacle” (vv. 34–35).

The “cloud,” as a manifestation of God’s glory, was a beautiful and fearful thing. It filled the tabernacle in a way that excluded all else. In a similar scene (v. 8), Revelation 15 introduces the book’s third sevenfold cycle of God’s judgments—first seven seals, then seven trumpets, and now seven bowls of God’s wrath. On such an occasion, the prophet Habakkuk said, “The LORD is in his holy temple; let all the earth be silent before him” (Hab. 2:20). Silence here signifies awe, reverence, humble submission, and worship. Before God’s perfect justice, there is nothing to be said, from one perspective. Yet from another perspective, shouts of praise are also appropriate.

For those who love the Lord, the outpouring of His wrath means that justice is at last being done to the wicked. The God who has redeemed us has now come to reign! The day has finally arrived when every knee will bow and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father (Phil. 2:9–11).

In today’s reading, “those who had been victorious over the beast...sang the song of God’s servant Moses and of the Lamb” (vv. 1–4). In the end, all will show the fear of the Lord and glorify His name. “For you alone are holy. All nations will come and worship before you.”

Go Deeper

Where do you stand with Christ? Will you rejoice when He returns (see 2 Thess. 1:7–10)? If in doubt, make your peace with God today by calling on the name of Christ our Savior (John 3:16).

Pray with Us: Father, we await the time when everyone will glorify the name of Your Son, when all nations will come to Your throne and will know the fear of the Lord. As we conclude our study, give us wisdom to walk worthy of Your kingdom. Amen!

BY Brad Baurain

Dr. Bradley Baurain is Professor and Program Head of TESOL (Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages) at Moody Bible Institute. Bradley has the unique privilege of holding a degree from four different universities (including Moody). He is the author of On Waiting Well. Bradley taught in China, Vietnam, the United States, and Canada. Bradley and his wife, Julia, have four children and reside in Northwest Indiana.