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Read Zechariah 11
Zechariah 11:1 Open your doors, O Lebanon, so that fire may devour your cedars! TWO years after the first visions of restoration and promise, the Lord revealed to Zechariah that he will judge Israel. We are to continually know how precious is God’s grace to promise us tender mercies and eternal life. Salvation and promise from God’s throne is his pleasure. Our pleasure is to respond in love and obedience. Let’s examine our lives in view of Israel’s continuing struggles amid God’s loving promises. Zechariah 11:1-3 Open your doors, O Lebanon, so that fire may devour your cedars! 2 Wail, O pine tree, for the cedar has fallen; the stately trees are ruined! Wail, oaks of Bashan; the dense forest has been cut down! 3 Listen to the wail of the shepherds; their rich pastures are destroyed! Listen to the roar of the lions; the lush thicket of the Jordan is ruined! What reads as a judgment is more of God’s grief that he will devastate Israel one day when they reject the Messiah. The description of trees, animals and pasture represent the Jordan Valley, a place of diverse agriculture and natural environments. It is very similar to other judgments throughout Scripture prophesying dramatic physical destruction. Zechariah 11:4-6 This is what the Lord my God says: “Pasture the flock marked for slaughter. 5 Their buyers slaughter them and go unpunished. Those who sell them say, “Praise the Lord, I am rich!” Their own shepherds do not spare them. 6 For I will no longer have pity on the people of the land,” declares the Lord. “I will hand everyone over to his neighbor and his king. They will oppress the land, and I will not rescue them from their hands.” These very difficult verses point to the severe grief that was certainly on God’s heart. His will for Israel was redemption, righteousness and rest in his blessings. But his wrath has marked Israel for slaughter – a very difficult truth to receive. He condemns evil leaders – shepherds who lead his people astray. Assuredly, this is the unbeliever’s destiny. But God is gracious to redeem the faithful. To lead some people out of this deadly pasture, God directs Zechariah to be Israel’s shepherd. He must replace the corrupt leaders who afflicted the people’s minds. Christian, you are called into the condemned “pastures” of your world to lead people to safety. Zechariah obeys because it is the Lord’s command. Psalms 23:1 The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not be in want. 2 He makes me lie down in green pastures, he leads me beside quiet waters. Read Zechariah 10
Zechariah 10:1-2 Ask the Lord for rain in the springtime; it is the Lord who makes the storm clouds. He gives showers of rain to men, and plants of the field to everyone. 2 The idols speak deceit, diviners see visions that lie; they tell dreams that are false, they give comfort in vain. Therefore, the people wander like sheep oppressed for lack of a shepherd. THIS is the first of two “shepherd” chapters. Even after God’s remarkable promises to Israel, bad shepherds will arise again to lead people astray until the Good Shepherd arrives. What is a good Christian shepherd to do? In addition to learning God’s ways in Scripture, we can find some answers in Bible-application teachings. One such resource is a book entitled “Family Shepherds: Calling and Equipping Men to Lead Their Homes” by Voddie Baucham Jr. He reveals very specific ways God teaches a man to be a good shepherd in his home. God has ordained the man to lead his family to faithful living. The most severe threat to the church worldwide is men who reject that role. A husband and father’s life of faith is the most critical element to guide a family into a vital, living relationship with the Lord Jesus Christ and his church. Ladies, there is much for you, too. The men who have studied this book and put into practice its biblical principles find the power of God’s love strengthening their faith lives, their marriages and their homes. Being a good shepherd at home then extends into the church. The world desperately needs good shepherds in the church. We have been given the gift of Salvation and eternal life. But our response is too often to wander in our walk, rejecting our calling and ignoring our purpose. We do not lead for God but follow for our own good. Instead of shepherds, we become lambs who love false leaders. Peter warned of this: 2 Peter 2:2 Many will follow their shameful ways and will bring the way of truth into disrepute. One of the main purposes of the series of the New Testament epistles is to keep the church on track with Jesus. The LORD God calls you to stand up, to take the staff of salvation and lead. Whether you are reading this in Africa, India, Mongolia, the United States or elsewhere, you know the problems with men who reject God’s Word, who are complacent in their so-called social “faith”. In too many churches, people leave the leadership mantle to “someone else”, usually people who are more politically oriented than spiritually gifted. Regardless of who you are in the church or in the culture, if Jesus is your Lord, you are appointed as a shepherd to some. It is first your household. Then see how you are to affect those in your workplace, your friendships, your neighborhood and with others you encounter. Follow Jesus. The lead others to follow him, too. Matthew 9:36 When he saw the crowds, he had compassion on them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd. 37 Then he said to his disciples, “The harvest is plentiful but the workers are few.” Read Zechariah 9
Zechariah 9:9-10 Rejoice greatly, O Daughter of Zion! Shout, Daughter of Jerusalem! See, your king comes to you, righteous and having salvation, gentle and riding on a donkey, on a colt, the foal of a donkey. 10 I will take away the chariots from Ephraim and the war-horses from Jerusalem, and the battle bow will be broken. He will proclaim peace to the nations. His rule will extend from sea to sea and from the River to the ends of the earth. ONE reason we must not simply read but study the Bible is to grasp a deeper wisdom regarding God’s essence and character. Prophecies are a good way to know of God’s sovereign authority as chosen men and women declare what God is doing and what he will do. To understand the prophets, then, we must know they may shift from verse-to-verse and sometimes within a verse to speak of one future time and then another. These two verses are an example. Verse 9 may be a familiar verse to you. It describes Jesus’ triumphant “Palm Sunday” entry into Jerusalem. Matthew 21 records this prophecy to point to its fulfillment in Christ. We’ve learned from Isaiah, too, that such language is spoken around 700 BC before these words about 540 BC. Jesus, the King, came in peace. But he was crucified, rejected by the Jewish rulers who refused to see him as their King, who fulfilled Zechariah’s words. As a result, we await now for verse 10’s words to be accomplished. Jesus is the Prince of Peace, but his peace has not yet come to fulfillment. Beginning in verse 10 to the end of the chapter, God points to the end of war. One day there will be no more war horses or weapons in Israel – symbolic of the world. Peace will be announced to the nations, and the King’s peace will hold throughout the entire earth for eternity. What is the time between verses 9 and 10? This is your time, the time for knowing God’s character and declaring salvation to the nations. It is the age of the church. This is the time God has ordained for his gospel to be proclaimed to the ends of the earth. The rejected then risen Messiah has commanded, “Therefore (Because all authority had been given to him, he could command this.) go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you.” (Matthew 28:19-20a) In God’s plan there is a waiting time between verses 9 and 10 because it is God’s will to draw billions of people into heaven. He has decreed his purpose and given us his truth and his purpose. The final verses of this chapter portray a beautiful picture of eternity. Do want to know what heaven is like? See how the eternal city will sparkle as jewels in a crown. Divine blessing on nature will produce ongoing abundance. At the right time there will be no war, no tears, no disease, no one thing out of place. This is God’s character promising the fullness of himself to you. Psalms 87:5-7 Indeed, of Zion it will be said, “This one and that one were born in her, and the Most High himself will establish her.” 6 The Lord will write in the register of the peoples: “This one was born in Zion.” 7 As they make music they will sing, "All my fountains are in you.” Read Zechariah 8
Zechariah 8:20-23 This is what the LORD Almighty says: “Many peoples and the inhabitants of many cities will yet come, 21 and the inhabitants of one city will go to another and say, ‘Let us go at once to entreat the LORD and seek the LORD Almighty. I myself am going.’ 22 And many peoples and powerful nations will come to Jerusalem to seek the LORD Almighty and to entreat him.” 23 This is what the LORD Almighty says: “In those days ten men from all languages and nations will take firm hold of one Jew by the hem of his robe and say, ‘Let us go with you, because we have heard that God is with you.’” THE present and future hope in God’s compassion continues. This particular passage reminds us God’s plan is for all the world. Not only is he restoring the Jews to know and live by his commands, God will use the Jews to bring many more to know him. God will cause those who do not know him to seek after his people and to follow them as they go to the LORD. This is the history of the church. We see in Acts 2 how people of many languages were in Jerusalem to hear the gospel preached. We know also from Acts how the apostles went to other countries, then to Gentiles to declare the gospel. The New Testament epistles record churches planted throughout the Arabian Peninsula, Africa and into Europe. The church’s history is well recorded from there to its present worldwide presence. More and more people of various languages and nations are hearing and believing the gospel because Christians go. God’s Word through Zechariah’s prophecy has come and is coming true. On this day I urge you to consider your role in God’s plan to make him known. Will you be one who is ready to lead people to Jesus? Will you invite them to walk with you as you demonstrate God’s grace and salvation? Will you be one who is ready to be Jesus’ instrument of love in his eternal saving purpose? As I write this, I’m listening to Rich Mullins’ brief, powerful song of discipleship, “Step by Step”: Oh God, You are my God And I will ever praise You Oh God, You are my God And I will ever praise You I will seek You in the morning And I will learn to Walk in Your ways And step by step You’ll lead me And I will follow You all of my days Perhaps this can be a song on your heart today. Read Zechariah 7 & 8
Zechariah 7:1 In the fourth year of King Darius, the word of the Lord came to Zechariah on the fourth day of the ninth month, the month of Kislev. 2 The people of Bethel had sent Sharezer and Regem-Melech, together with their men, to entreat the Lord 3 by asking the priests of the house of the Lord Almighty and the prophets, “Should I mourn and fast in the fifth month, as I have done for so many years?” Zech 8:19 This is what the Lord Almighty says: “The fasts of the fourth, fifth, seventh and tenth months will become joyful and glad occasions and happy festivals for Judah. Therefore love truth and peace.” TWO years have passed since the visions of chapters 1-6. As you read Zechariah’s interchange with the LORD and with the Jews, perhaps you can see this in the light of Zechariah being God’s teacher. For years, the Jews have been doing certain fasts in memory of particular sad events in Israel’s history. As this new of restoration has begun, the people want to know, “Should we continue the fast of mourning?” This seems to be an appropriate question, but as you read through chapter 7, you read the LORD’s response: “Was it really for me that you fasted?” “Were you not just feasting for yourselves?” Here is God using Zechariah as his intercessor to instruct his people – and now us – to understand why we come before God. We can all think of times when we’ve gone to church, Bible study, prayer or even a fast with the attitude, “I’ll do this to please God, so he’ll provide my desires.” God’s ways of grace can become the way of a false religion based on our preferences and not God’s will. The question’s answer comes in chapter 8:19. The Jews are to rejoice during the appointed fasts. There is much work to be done. Nehemiah will not come along about 100 years later to rebuild Jerusalem’s walls. Progress of physical rebuilding, establishing homes and farms amid people opposing the Jews would be difficult. Worshiping God despite a broken down temple would constrain the Jews obedience to the law. Still and surely, the Jews must not look to the past with mournful hearts, but they are to look forward with joy because God is leading them. This is a powerful lesson for us. Our “religious” practices must be heart habits, grounded in loving God. We must approach the church and the Bible with a desire to learn more of God, so we will love him more. Loving God more moves directly to loving others more. This is what God wanted for his people then and certainly what he wants for us now. Read Zechariah 6
Zechariah 6:11-13 “Take the silver and gold and make a crown, and set it on the head of the high priest, Joshua son of Jehozadak. 12 Tell him this is what the Lord Almighty says: ‘Here is the man whose name is the Branch, and he will branch out from his place and build the temple of the Lord. 13 It is he who will build the temple of the Lord, and he will be clothed with majesty and will sit and rule on his throne. And he will be a priest on his throne. And there will be harmony between the two.’” LET’S begin with John 2. When Jesus first went to Jerusalem, he dramatically cleared the merchants’ tables to cleanse the temple (The other gospels have him doing this the week of his passion. There is evidence he did this twice.): John 2:14 In the temple courts he found men selling cattle, sheep and doves, and others sitting at tables exchanging money. 15 So he made a whip out of cords, and drove all from the temple area, both sheep and cattle; he scattered the coins of the money changers and overturned their tables. 16 To those who sold doves he said, “Get these out of here! How dare you turn my Father's house into a market!” 17 His disciples remembered that it is written: “Zeal for your house will consume me.” (from Palms 69:9) 18 Then the Jews demanded of him, “What miraculous sign can you show us to prove your authority to do all this?” 19 Jesus answered them, “Destroy this temple, and I will raise it again in three days.” At his trial three years later, these men would use Jesus’ words against him. Matthew 26:61 “This fellow said, ‘I am able to destroy the temple of God and rebuild it in three days.’” Even mockers at Jesus’ crucifixion pointed to Jesus’ “foolish” claim (Matthew 27:40). How vile and blind are we to dismiss the LORD’s eternal words as foolishness. Jesus, of course, is the Living Temple we worship. He is the Branch, who covers our sins. His zeal for the temple’s holiness was his zeal for his own holiness. God’s wrath whips away those who defile and minimize his name, who mock and revile his Word. He is a God jealous for his own reputation. The merciful Creator commands his creation to worship him. Again God points Zechariah to see Joshua, the high priest, as the Christ. The name “Joshua” literally means the man whose name is the Branch, and he will branch out from his place and build the temple of the Lord. “Joshua” means “Jehovah saves”. It is Yeshua in Hebrew. Joshua – Jehovah saves – is the one who literally led his people into the Promised Land (Judges 2). “Jesus” is Greek for Joshua – Yeshua - who is the One who spiritually leads us into Heaven’s Promise. Luke 1:31 You will be with child and give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus. The vision of the four chariots is God’s power come from heaven – the bronze mountains – to judge the earth. The North is specifically mentioned because Judah’s worst enemies had come from that direction. All is settled there and throughout the earth. The Temple of God is ready to come; the crown will sit on the head of the Great High Priest, who is the King of Kings. Acts 17:31 For he has set a day when he will judge the world with justice by the man he has appointed. He has given proof of this to all men by raising him from the dead. Read Zechariah 4
Zechariah 4:1-3, 14 Then the angel who talked with me returned and wakened me, as a man is wakened from his sleep. 2 He asked me, “What do you see?” I answered, “I see a solid gold lampstand with a bowl at the top and seven lights on it, with seven channels to the lights. 3 Also there are two olive trees by it, one on the right of the bowl and the other on its left.” … 14 So he said, “These are the two who are anointed to serve the Lord of all the earth.” DO you appreciate the personal tone of these visions? Zechariah describes his own physical and emotional condition as a man awakens from his sleep. The visions are mind-challenging, physically depleting. Scripture records that all who hear from God are dramatically affected. It seems, too, that the prophet shares the angel’s messages as if he sharing a friend’s conversation. This chapter even seems to have a bit of humor as Zechariah must twice ask the angel the meaning of the olive trees. This vision shifts from Joshua, the high priest, to Zerubbabel, the king in Jerusalem. Then it includes both of them – and also Jesus. First is the golden lampstand. It is a vision here to represent the real lampstands of Exodus and 1 Kings. God designed lampstands with seven lights for his tabernacle and temple. These represent the physical display of his glory in the worship places. The lampstands are also an image of his church in Revelation 1:12 I turned around to see the voice that was speaking to me. And when I turned I saw seven golden lampstands. This particular lampstand points to God’s unending light. From a large bowl above, 49 tubes (seven lines to seven lights) fuel the light. Seven multiplied by seven is perfection and promise. This is the Savior’s presence, his eternal kingdom, the everlasting light for his people. Zerubbabel is the governor of Judah as the Jews returned. By rights of his lineage, descended from David, he was given some authority over a portion of the Jews while in exile. When Darius of Persia allowed the Jews’ return, Zerubbabel led about 50,000 people to Jerusalem and Judah. Thus, he is as a king but not of Persia or even of Judah. That land and title still belonged to Darius. But he is the designated king or a governor of the Jews. The vision confirms to Zechariah, the prophet, that Joshua will be the priest and Zerubbabel will be the king to lead Israel for this time. Thus, this vision is a profound illustration of the Christ to come. He is eternal, the Light of the World, everlasting to everlasting. He is our Prophet, Priest and King. See, too, how the lampstand and the olive trees point to the Day of the Lord. Revelation 11:4 These are the two olive trees and the two lampstands that stand before the Lord of the earth. Read Zechariah 3
Zechariah 3:6-10 The angel of the LORD gave this charge to Joshua: 7 “This is what the LORD Almighty says: ‘If you will walk in my ways and keep my requirements, then you will govern my house and have charge of my courts, and I will give you a place among these standing here. Listen, O high priest Joshua and your associates seated before you, who are men symbolic of things to come: I am going to bring my servant, the Branch. 9 See, the stone I have set in front of Joshua! There are seven eyes on that one stone, and I will engrave an inscription on it,” says the Lord Almighty, “and I will remove the sin of this land in a single day. 10 In that day each of you will invite his neighbor to sit under his vine and fig tree,” declares the Lord Almighty. GOD’s vision of redemption continues. Joshua and the others are men symbolic of things to come. Here is a lesson for our lives. Do we show to the next generation the things to come? What will come? Salvation, removal of mankind’s dirty clothes, will come to the entire world. Note how the LORD’s words are consistent from the beginning of the Bible to this point. As God told the Jews during the exodus, he tells them again, “If you will walk in my ways and keep my requirements, then…” In one way or another, the LORD has always finished his gracious stipulation with an assurance. “Obey, and you will be my people.” “Obey, and you will live in plenty in the Promised Land.” “Obey, and I will bless you and watch over you.” Here he specifically tells Joshua: 1) You will govern my house. 2) You will have charge of my courts. 3) You will have a place among these standing here. God has chosen Joshua and the priests are to be his diligent disciples. They must show to the Jews and the nations that God’s blessings flow unto his own. Then what? Jesus will come to transform the earth. What powerful images: Jesus is God’s servant, the Branch, who will bear gospel fruit and cover his people in God’s salvation. Jesus is the stone I have set in front of Joshua! Indeed he is the stone the builders rejected; he is the capstone who holds the universe in sure order; he is the Foundation of his church. Jesus is also the seven eyes on that one stone. He sees throughout the earth to know salvation belongs to all who believe in him. Through his crucifixion, Jesus has removed the sin of this land in a single day. Jesus is your brother. In him you become one with God and with other believers. You will invite your neighbor to sit under his vine and fig tree. The peace of God will come in Christ. Do you wonder about your past sins? Then wonder no longer. In Christ they are gone. Be a symbol for others, so they may know of the things to come in God’s eternal promises. Read Zechariah 13-14
Zechariah 14:8-10 On that day living water will flow out from Jerusalem, half to the eastern sea and half to the western sea, in summer and in winter. 9 The Lord will be king over the whole earth. On that day there will be one Lord, and his name the only name. 10 The whole land, from Geba to Rimmon, south of Jerusalem, will become like the Arabah. But Jerusalem will be raised up and remain in its place, from the Benjamin Gate to the site of the First Gate, to the Corner Gate, and from the Tower of Hananel to the royal winepresses. ONE of the many reasons to read the “Old Testament” is to more deeply understand the imagery Jesus uses to identify himself to his people. Twice the gospel of John records Jesus using living water as his essence. John 4:13 Jesus answered, “Everyone who drinks this water will be thirsty again, 14 but whoever drinks the water I give him will never thirst. Indeed, the water I give him will become in him a spring of water welling up to eternal life.” And in John 7:38 “Whoever believes in me, as the Scripture has said, streams of living water will flow from within him.” Many who heard Jesu knew he was speaking of the prophets’ images from Zechariah, Ezekiel and Jeremiah. How sure and plain the gospel message is proclaimed. The truth of God comes through the law, the prophets, the gospels and the epistles. Prophet to prophet, testament to testament, apostle to apostle God makes himself known to the human mind. How is it possible the gospel can be so distorted or ignored? Are you thirsty? Go to the Water as the psalmist proclaims: Psalms 42:1 As the deer pants for streams of water, so my soul pants for you, O God. Drink of God to fill your soul. The Father, the Son and the Spirit flow grace, love, comfort, strength peace and joy into your life. Be refreshed in the thirst-quenching hope and life-giving love from the Savior whose living water is ever-flowing. Hebrews 10:22 let us draw near to God with a sincere heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled to cleanse us from a guilty conscience and having our bodies washed with pure water. September 22
The Holy Land Read Zechariah 2 Zechariah 2:1, 12-13 Then I looked up – and there before me was a man with a measuring line in his hand! … 12 The Lord will inherit Judah as his portion in the holy land and will again choose Jerusalem. 13 Be still before the Lord, all mankind, because he has roused himself from his holy dwelling.” “THEN I looked up.” Indicates Zechariah has a second vision that moves immediately from the first. Verses 12-13 summarize the chapter, which is God’s intention to re-establish his presence in Judah. The LORD’s will is that Judah will be a holy land. Here is the only place in the Bible “holy land” is used. Let’s see why the LORD uses it here. Zechariah 2:1 Then I looked up — and there before me was a man with a measuring line in his hand! 2 I asked, “Where are you going?” He answered me, “To measure Jerusalem, to find out how wide and how long it is.” The command to physically measure Jerusalem confirms God will physically rebuild the city as the Jews return from exile. Zechariah 2:3 Then the angel who was speaking to me left, and another angel came to meet him 4 and said to him: “Run, tell that young man, ‘Jerusalem will be a city without walls because of the great number of men and livestock in it. 5 And I myself will be a wall of fire around it,’ declares the Lord, ‘and I will be its glory within.’” The LORD points from the physical city toward the eternal city. Judah will truly be his holy land. God will be fully present with his people in the new heaven. He will be the city’s walls – its protector and its glory. Revelation 22:3 No longer will there be any curse. The throne of God and of the Lamb will be in the city, and his servants will serve him. 4 They will see his face, and his name will be on their foreheads. You, Christian, can look forward to living in God’s holy land. Zechariah 2:8 For this is what the Lord Almighty says: “After he has honored me and has sent me against the nations that have plundered you – for whoever touches you touches the apple of his eye – 9 I will surely raise my hand against them, so that their slaves will plunder them. Then you will know that the Lord Almighty has sent me. When we read of Christians being impoverished, persecuted, jailed and killed for their faith, do we wonder, “Do they trust God’s justice will be done against his enemies?” So often the opposition is “winning”, isn’t it? But we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him (Romans 8:28). His will is certainly going to be accomplished on earth. See God’s loving, sure message: whoever touches you touches the apple of his eye. God’s church is the center point of his vision. He sees you as his own against all who reject him and you. What great love the Father has lavished on us that we should be called the children of God. (1 John 3:1) Out of Jerusalem’s rubble would come a city and his temple. But that, too, would break down. Your heart must be full to praise God the Holy Spirit has extended God’s holy land throughout the entire world. From Jesus sacrifice, he is building an eternal kingdom. God’s holy land is where he is worshiped, honored, loved and obeyed. Prayerfully this is at your household, your workplace, your church and wherever his people gather to confess, “Holy, holy, holy is the Lord God Almighty, who was, and is, and is to come.” (Revelation 4:8b) |
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November 2024
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