Bible Scripture Reading

Today's Blog Title: "A Call to Repentance"
Today's Blog Scripture Reading: Zechariah 1:1-21
Today's Blog Key Verse: Zechariah 1:3 "Therefore say to them, 'Thus says the LORD of hosts: "Return to me," says the LORD of hosts," "and I will return to you," says the LORD of hosts."

In verse 1, the "eighth month" corresponds to October-November on our calendar.  "Darius" ruled Persia from 522 to 486 B.C.  Thus his "second year" was 520 B.C.  The name "Zechariah" means "Yahweh Remembers" emphasizing God's FAITHFULNESS to His COVENANT PROMISES and to His people.

The "fathers" in verse 2, refers to the ancestors of the present generation who had disobeyed God and had come under His Judgment, 2nd Chronicles 36:15-16.

In verse 3, the words "Return to Me" remind us of the DEPTHS of God's UNCONDITIONAL LOVE.  "Says the LORD of hosts,": The personal Name translated LORD speaks of God's GRACIOUS nature as He relates to His people, Exodus 3:15.  The "hosts" are the angelic armies that await His EVERY COMMAND.

"Do not be like your fathers," in verse 4, means that just because the older generation was UNFAITHFUL to God  is NO reason for their sons and grandsons to be UNFAITHFUL.  What an ENCOURAGING WORD!  Our CHOICES are not determined by the EXAMPLE or TRAINING we have received.  We are FREE to CHOICE for ourselves.  So let's CHOOSE God and DO what is RIGHT in His SIGHT.

In verses 5 and 6, "Your fathers, where are they?" refers to their "fathers" who had been killed or exiled and even the "prophets" had perished.  The previous generation had been overtaken by God's judgment, Deuteronomy 28:15-68.

Verses 1:7-6:15, contain the eight night visions.  ALL eight night visions occurred on one night and constitute a unity of revelation.  The FIRST is most IMPORTANT, because it provides a key for UNDERSTANDING the other seven.  The night visions were not presented to the prophet in the form of a DREAM, but rather with the prophet in some form of trance, Acts 10:10, 11:15, Revelation 1:10.  The OVERALL message of these VISIONS for the nation of Israel in Zechariah's day was: "The LORD is with you, therefore rebuilt the temple."  For Israel of the future, the visions outlined the prophetic program for Israel from the time of RESTORATION from Babylonian captivity to the INSTITUTION of the MILLENNIAL KINGDOM.

The "Myrtle trees" in verse 8, is an evergreen tree that was once very common in the vicinity of Jerusalem, Nehemiah 8:15.

In verses 12 and 13, the prophet overhears a conversation between "the Angel of the Lord" and God.  This may be a conversation between the preincarnate Jesus and First Person of the trinity, God the Father, Psalm 110.  It is certainly an ILLUSION to the ROLE of Jesus as INTERCESSOR. As the author of the Book of Hebrews states, Jesus LIVES to make INTERCESSION for us at the right Hand of the Father, Hebrews 7:25.  "Seventy years" refers to the period of exile during which the temple lay in ruins from 586-515 B.C. Jeremiah 25:7-14.

"The angel who spoke with me" in verse 14, is the interpreting angel in the dramatic vision, NOT the "Angel of the Lord" of verse 11.  "I am zealous" in verse 14, we can see the passion of the Lord in his defense of His SPECIAL RELATIONSHIP with Israel and Jerusalem.

In verse 15, "I am exceedingly" speaks of the anger of God was against the nations that He had used to PUNISH His UNREPENTANT people.

In verse 16, "I am returning to Jerusalem with mercy..." shows God's PROMISE to show COMPASSION on His people and to rebuild the Jerusalem temple.  "A surveyor's line" was used to make measurements in preparation for the new construction.  The stretching of the line was a promise that he work would begin and the completion of the task would follow.

The four horns in verses 18-21, are representative of the "Four Gentile" world powers earlier introduced in Daniel Chapters 2, 7, and 8.  Here as in other Old Testament prophecy, a horn represents POWER and AUTHORITY.  The horns that persecuted Israel and Judah included Assyria, Babylon, Medo-Persia, and later Greece.

It's significant, that as pagan world powers arise, so do the "craftsman" in verses 20 and 21, that tear them down.  The dynamics of their destruction are explained in Habakkuk Chapter 2.  The craftsmen or "smiths" destroyed the "horns."  Babylon destroyed Assyria, Medo-Persia, conquered Medo-Persia, and Rome overcame Greece.  There are dominant themes in the prophecies in Daniel 2:7-45. 

Click on this link at www.cindi-davis.blogspot.com for a Bible Verse Writing from Psalm 18:35-36.

Your Sister In Christ,
Cindi           

Bible Scripture Reading

Today's Blog Title: "Introduction to the Book of Zechariah"

Today we start into the 11th of the 12 Minor Prophets, the Book of Zechariah.  Zechariah has more messianic prophecies than any other Minor Prophet and make frequent mention of both the first and second advents of the Messiah.  The Angel of the Lord is more prominent in Zechariah  than in any other of the prophetical writings.  Zechariah is also one of the most devotional of the prophetic books, dwelling more completely on the person and work of Jesus Christ than any other prophetic writings.  Except for the apocalyptic sections (the eight night visions), its basic language and style are simple and direct.

Zechariah is frequently called the "prophet of hope."  As a young man, he reinforced the urgings of Haggai that led exiles who returned from Babylon to finish the rebuilding of the fallen temple of the Lord.  The Book of Zechariah contains a series of fascinating visions conveying vital spiritual truths, 1:7-8:23 and an extends portrait of events leading up to God's final victory at history's end, 9:1-14:21.  How these last chapters must have encouraged the little Jewish community that was struggling economically and surrounded by hostile enemies. How it should encourage as Christians today to meditate on the coming, certain triumph of God over evil.

The prophet identifies himself as "Zechariah" (Yahweh Remembers), the son of Berechiah (Yahweh Blesses), the son of Iddo (the Appointed Time.)  Zechariah's prophecies had two purposes:

First: They challenged the returning exiles to turn to the Lord, to be cleansed from their sins and to experience again the Lord's Blessing, 1:3.

Second: Zechariah's words comforted and encouraged the people regarding the rebuilding of the temple and God's future work among His people, 1:16-17, 2:12, 3:2, 4:9, and 6:14-15.  

The theme of Zechariah is the glory of the Lord, Yahweh.  The theme is set forth as being the motivation for completing the task or rebuilding the temple, and for showing that the people of the prophet's day are an important part of God's ultimate program of displaying His glory through the nation in the future.

THEOLOGICAL OUTLINE OF ZECHARIAH

 I.  NIGHT VISIONS 1-6
II.  FASTING 7-8
III. MESSIAH'S REJECTION 9-11
IV. MESSIAH'S TRIUMPH 12-14 

Click on this link at www.cindi-davis.blogspot.com for a Writing called: "I REFUSE."

Your Sister in Christ,
Cindi    

 

Bible Scripture Reading

Today's Blog Title: "The Coming Glory of God's House"
Today's Blog Scripture Reading: Haggai 2:1-23
Today's Blogs Key Verse: Haggai 2:4 "Yet now be strong, Zerubbabel, say the LORD; and be strong Joshua, son of Jehozadak, the high priest; and be strong, all you people of the land, says the LORD, and work; for I am with you, says the LORD of hosts."

The prophets second message in verse 1 is dated "in the seventh month, in the one and twentieth day of the month,"  which was about a month and a half after his receipt of the first message and almost a month after the actual building had began.

In verse 2, "Speak now" Haggai was called again to address the leaders Zerubbabel and Joshua and the true people of God.

Verse 3 is talking about the temple of Solomon which was one of the wonders of the Ancient World, 1st Kings 6.  The older temple would have loomed large and magnificent, far outstripping the present structure.  So even though the building was completed, there may have been the sense among the people that it was "as nothing."

"Covenanted" in verse 5, refers to the Covenant to His firm commitment to His chosen people.  We as Christians today have received just this kind of covenant from God in Jesus Christ His Son.  Whenever a task seems to great for us, we can remember God's words to the responsive generation that completed the second temple: "My Spirit remains among you. Do not fear."

In verse 6, "shake the heavens and the earth," is the only verse in Haggai quoted in the New Testament.  Hebrews 12:26, relates it to the end of the world, when God will introduce a cosmic earthquake that destroys every human society and calls all mankind to judgment.

Some interpret the words "Desire of All Nations," in verse 7, as a Messianic title that speaks of the JOY of the REDEEMED of the nations at the time of the rule of King Jesus.  Others observe that the Hebrew word for "desire" is used for objects as in 2nd Chronicles 32:27, Hosea 13:15 and Nahum 2:9 rather than persons.  However, the word is used occasionally for persons, 1st Samuel 9:20.

"The glory of this latter temple," in verse 9, refers to the physical presence of Jesus in the second temple.  In Ezekiel  Chapters 10 and 11 we read how Ezekiel had earlier witnessed the departure of God's Glory from Solomon's temple, prior to the destruction by Nebuchadnezzar.  Although the builders of the second temple, prayed for the shekinah glory to return, there is no record that it ever did.  This prophecy would be fulfilled only in the return of that glory in the embodiment of Jesus Christ, of whom His disciples said in John 1:14, "And we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father."

Haggai's third message in verses 10 and 11, was a message of affirmation.  This message came about two months after the message of Haggai 2:1-9.

In verses 10-14, a "dual warning" is given.  The two questions that were posed here, underline a basic element in Old testament ritual law.  Holiness is not "catching," but defilement is.  That means, that if a person is touched by a holy thing he will not be made holy, but a holy thing will be defiled if touched by something unclean. 

What lessons did these lived parables teach?  First, they warned the revived community that DISOBEDIENCE and SPIRITUAL indifference are catching.  A few malcontents in the community of FAITH can CORRUPT the whole.  How important then to ENCOURAGE everyone to MAINTAIN an attitude of ENTHUSIASTIC TRUST in the Lord. 

Second, and most important, the pre-exilic Jewish community had felt safe because their city held God's temple.  Haggai warns them that rather than being considered holy because they were in contact with the new temple, this generation must REMEMBER  that their sins WILL defile the Lord's house!  They must live COMMITTED LIVES, or God will cause this temple to be destroyed, even as Solomon's temple was dismantled by the Babylonians!

In verses 12-19, Haggai talks about the blessings ahead.  God will BLESS His people, but it will not be because  once again there was a temple in Jerusalem, but because the people have put God FIRST.

In verse 22, "I will overthrow," Haggai focused on the POWER of God to do His Will among the nations, Daniel 2:21).  These words speak BOTH in a general way of the SOVEREIGNTY of God over the nations throughout history, as well as more specifically of God's FINAL JUDGMENT on the wicked nations at the time He institutes the rule of His Son as King of kings, Psalm 2; 110; Revelation 19.

"A signet ring" was an item of great value in the ancient world.  The ring was used by the owner for the signing of letters and official documents.  It was a mark of such honor and authority, as Zerubbabel's ministry was to bear.  He would care with him the AUTHORITY of the Lord, and would represent the Lord.

Clink on this link at www.cindi-davis.blogspot.com for Scripture Writing from Psalm 71:5 and 8.

This closes the Book of Haggi, which was the 10th of the Minor Prophets.  Our next Study, will be the 11th book of the Minor Prophets, the Book of Zechariah.

Your Sister In Christ,
Cindi