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Haggai 2:1-9; Zechariah 1:1-6; Haggai 2:10-19; Ezra 5:2; Haggai 2:20-23; Zechariah 1:7-5:11<\/strong><\/span> I\u2019ve been talking about a lot of obedience in recent blog posts.\u00a0 \u00a0Here\u2019s a great verse of a promise of a blessing from God for obedience, from Haggai chapter 2 verse 19: \u201cI am giving you a promise now while the seed is still in the barn, before you have harvested your grain and before the grapevine, the fig tree, the pomegranate, and the olive tree have produced their crops. From this day onward I will bless you.\u201d\u00a0 <\/em>Below is a Greek icon of the prophet Haggai from the 18th century: Today we start the book of the prophet Zechariah!\u00a0 You\u2019ll note that we are now at the 2nd to the last book of the Old Testament.\u00a0 Malachi is after Zechariah.\u00a0 Zechariah was a prophet during the post-exile (returned from Babylon) period at about the same time Haggai was a prophet.\u00a0 Both started their prophecies in 520 B.C. \u2013 however, Zechariah prophesied for many more years going forward \u2013 probably until about 480\/475 B.C.\u00a0 \u00a0Zechariah\u2019s name means, \u201cThe Lord remembers,\u201d which is fitting for this book.\u00a0 God is remembering his covenant promise to the Israelites in this post-exilic period.\u00a0 Zechariah\u2019s prophecies are similar to Haggai\u2019s in that he is encouraging the Israelites to rebuild the temple.\u00a0 Zechariah is a wonderful book, filled with 8 night visions, 4 messages, and 2 oracles.\u00a0 A good overview of the book of Zechariah is online at bible.org <\/span>at this link<\/span>.<\/span><\/p>\n Chapter 1 verse 3 stood out to me in today\u2019s readings: \u201cReturn to me, and I will return to you, says the LORD Almighty.\u2019\u201d<\/em> What a great calling and promise from God!\u00a0 Return to me \u2013 and I will return to you.\u00a0 Are there areas in your life where you need to change your ways and return to God?\u00a0 If you change our ways, or repent, and return to God, do you believe that God will also return blessings to you for this act of repentance?\u00a0 Will you return to God?\u00a0 Why would this be wise? Is it a risky waste of time to be apart from God?\u00a0 Will you no longer turn back?<\/span><\/p>\n In verse 8 we begin to read about Zechariah\u2019s night visions.\u00a0 It is interesting to note that all 8 of his visions in this book take place in 1 night.\u00a0 Visions are different from dreams in that Zechariah is an in an awake state while these visions occur.\u00a0 You\u2019ll note that the four horsemen described here are very similar to the \u201cfour horsemen of the apocalypse\u201d described by John in Revelation chapter 6, which we recently read.\u00a0 The four horns in verse 18 are thought to represent Assyria, Egypt, Babylon, and Persia and the four blacksmiths in verse 20 are thought to represent Egypt, Babylon, Persia, and Greece.\u00a0 Below are the visions of Zechariah from a 14th century illuminated Bible: <\/span><\/p>\n Today in Zechariah we read about the future prosperity of Jerusalem, the Exiles being called home, and cleansing for the high priest.\u00a0 \u00a0Chapter 2, verses 4 & 5 stood out to me in today\u2019s readings: \u201c\u201dHurry, and say to that young man, `Jerusalem will someday be so full of people that it won\u2019t have room enough for everyone! Many will live outside the city walls, with all their livestock\u2013and yet they will be safe. For I, myself, will be a wall of fire around Jerusalem, says the LORD. And I will be the glory inside the city!\u2019\u201d<\/em>\u00a0 My mind took me to the thought of the holy heavenly Jerusalem being chocked full of people who love God!\u00a0 And a wall of fire \u2013 holy protection \u2013 surrounding everyone in a heavenly Jerusalem and providing safety.\u00a0 And God\u2019s glory reigning eternally\u2026\u00a0 I don\u2019t think this is quite proper exegesis on this passage\u2026\u00a0 \ud83d\ude42 but I like the thought!<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n Chapter 1 verse 13 also jumped out at me: \u201cBe silent before the LORD, all humanity, for he is springing into action from his holy dwelling.\u201d\u201d<\/em>\u00a0 I think sometimes we get so busy during the Christmas season that we forget to be silent and to be still.\u00a0 We can just go, go, go \u2013 rush, rush rush \u2013 and maybe miss the true meaning of Christmas?\u00a0 Don\u2019t forget the song, \u201cSilent Night, Holy Night\u2026.\u201d\u00a0 \u00a0Can you find time and space to be silent before the Lord this upcoming Christmas?\u00a0 And time and space to reflect upon what the advent of Jesus as a baby in the manger means to you?<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n Chapter 3 verses 8 & 9 were also beautiful for me today as we think about the birth of Jesus: \u201cListen to me, O Jeshua the high priest, and all you other priests. You are symbols of the good things to come. Soon I am going to bring my servant, the Branch.\u00a0Now look at the jewel I have set before Jeshua, a single stone with seven facets.\u00a0 I will engrave an inscription on it, says the LORD Almighty, and I will remove the sins of this land in a single day.\u201d<\/em>\u00a0 Are you looking forward to the coming of the Branch?\u00a0 What does the Branch symbolize to you?\u00a0 Verse 9 above also looks beyond Christmas and toward Good Friday \u2013 How were our sins removed in a single day?\u00a0 Do you believe that your sins were removed by Jesus on the cross on that single day?<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n And chapter 3 verse 10 is powerful: \u201cAnd on that day, says the LORD Almighty, each of you will invite your neighbor into your home to share your peace and prosperity.\u201d <\/em>Will you have an opportunity over this next couple of weeks to invite someone into your home to share in your peace and prosperity?\u00a0 Or, if not, can you find an opportunity to go out and share your peace and prosperity with others?\u00a0 Maybe volunteer at a place that has neighbors that really need your peace and prosperity?<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n Today in the book of the prophet Zechariah we read about Zechariah\u2019s visions of a Lampstand and Two Olive Trees, a Flying Scroll, and a Woman in a Basket.\u00a0 Chapter 4 is essentially a vision of encouragement for the Jews to rebuild the temple in Jerusalem \u2013 not by their own might, but by relying on the Spirit of God.\u00a0 The rebuilding will be led by Zerubbabel, the political leader of Jerusalem at this post-exilic time, as well as by Joshua, the priest \u2013 and these two are represented by the 2 olive trees in the vision.\u00a0 The bowl of oil held by the lampstands in the vision represents God\u2019s power through his spirit.\u00a0 Below is an image of Zechariah\u2019s vision of the lampstand and olive trees from a Cervera Bible from Spain from approximately the year 1300:<\/span><\/span> Chapter 4 verse 6 stood out to me in today\u2019s readings: \u201cIt is not by force nor by strength, but by my Spirit, says the LORD Almighty.\u201d<\/em>\u00a0 How often in our own lives do we try to do things by our own force or our own strength?\u00a0 And not look to God?\u00a0 Would we ultimately lead more productive and peaceful and joyful and restful lives if we instead allowed God\u2019s Spirit to move in our lives?\u00a0 Or will we continue to try to do things by our own force and strength?<\/span><\/span> Verse 10 is a great reminder for each of us \u2013 \u201cDo not despise these small beginnings, for the LORD rejoices to see the work begin, to see the plumb line in Zerubbabel\u2019s hand.\u201d<\/em>\u00a0 If we do feel led by the Spirit of God to work on something \u2013 and it turns out to be maybe something bigger than ourselves \u2013 do we sometimes get discouraged by the task before us?\u00a0 Do we despise small beginnings?\u00a0 Be encouraged to know that God rejoices in small beginnings!\u00a0 Take the first step!\u00a0 Take the plumb line in your hand!\u00a0 <\/span>(I will be honest \u2013 it\u2019s not always easy to get motivated for typing in this blog each evening.\u00a0 Most days I am motivated \u2013 but not always.\u00a0 Sometimes I just have to \u201ctake the plumb line in my hand\u201d \u2013 get started with the typing \u2013 and God shows up\u2026.)<\/span><\/span> In chapter 5 we read about the vision of the flying scroll \u2013 which is a very large scroll with a purpose of encouraging repentance with a clear message of judgment.\u00a0 The second vision of the woman in the basket is essentially purging sin from the land of Jerusalem, and plopping it down in a more fitting place where they will build a temple for it!\u00a0 \u00a0To worship the sin\u2026 Babylon\u2026\u00a0 <\/span>Are there areas in our life where we need to deposit some sin into a basket, close the lid, and let the basket be taken away to another place far from us?\u00a0 Is it possible that there are areas of sin in our life where we actually worship the sin somehow?\u00a0 Will we turn away from this false idol worship and return to loving God whole-heartedly?<\/span><\/span> Worship Video: <\/strong>Today\u2019s readings reminded me of Britt Nicole\u2019s song \u201cWalk on The Water:\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n \n
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