Spiritual Practices: Lectio Divina
Lectio Divina, or Diving Reading, is a method of reading, reflecting on, and praying the Scripture that has been used by the church for centuries. It focuses on communing with God in Scripture rather than simply studying Scripture for intellectual understanding. Click here for more information on how to practice Lectio Divina. Here are some suggested verses in this passage that may lend themselves to conversation with God through the practice of Lectio Divina.
Suggested Verses
“Therefore they are before the throne of God,
and serve him day and night in his temple;
and he who sits on the throne will shelter them with his presence.
They shall hunger no more, neither thirst anymore;
the sun shall not strike them,
nor any scorching heat.
For the Lamb in the midst of the throne will be their shepherd,
and he will guide them to springs of living water,
and God will wipe away every tear from their eyes.”
(Revelation 7:15-17)
Lectio Divina, or Diving Reading, is a method of reading, reflecting on, and praying the Scripture that has been used by the church for centuries. It focuses on communing with God in Scripture rather than simply studying Scripture for intellectual understanding. Click here for more information on how to practice Lectio Divina. Here are some suggested verses in this passage that may lend themselves to conversation with God through the practice of Lectio Divina.
Suggested Verses
“Therefore they are before the throne of God,
and serve him day and night in his temple;
and he who sits on the throne will shelter them with his presence.
They shall hunger no more, neither thirst anymore;
the sun shall not strike them,
nor any scorching heat.
For the Lamb in the midst of the throne will be their shepherd,
and he will guide them to springs of living water,
and God will wipe away every tear from their eyes.”
(Revelation 7:15-17)
Exploring the Text: The multitude before the throne
In Revelation 7, John describes a crowd beyond number gathered before the throne of God. Look at the way he describes this crowd in verse 9. John says they were from every nation, every tribe, every people, and every language. No single race, no single ethnicity, no single people, no single language, has a monopoly on God; he came for all. Also notice that John recognizes them as different nations, different tribes, different peoples, and different languages. God created each people as he wants us to be. When we come to God, he does not wipe away our culture, our language, our tribe. Instead, he redeems us right where we are and he makes us more fully that nation, tribe, culture, and people. John did not see a homogenous group of people that all looked the same, talked the same, and acted the same. He saw every nation, every tribe, every language, every people represented in the crowd and all of them redeemed by God and praising God just as God made them to be.
In Revelation 7, John describes a crowd beyond number gathered before the throne of God. Look at the way he describes this crowd in verse 9. John says they were from every nation, every tribe, every people, and every language. No single race, no single ethnicity, no single people, no single language, has a monopoly on God; he came for all. Also notice that John recognizes them as different nations, different tribes, different peoples, and different languages. God created each people as he wants us to be. When we come to God, he does not wipe away our culture, our language, our tribe. Instead, he redeems us right where we are and he makes us more fully that nation, tribe, culture, and people. John did not see a homogenous group of people that all looked the same, talked the same, and acted the same. He saw every nation, every tribe, every language, every people represented in the crowd and all of them redeemed by God and praising God just as God made them to be.