He is Zealous for Zion!

These next couple of weeks we will be spending time in the Book of Zechariah. This book is a challenge and only in part because the "Z" on my keyboard is broken. Zechariah is the longest of the Minor Prophets and with that also comes the notoriety of being one of the most obscure and difficult books in the Old Testament to understand. Zechariah was preaching at the same time as Haggai with the purpose of encouraging the people to rebuild the temple.

Zechariah however, has a completely different feel to it from Haggai. It is Apocalyptic in nature; filled with symbolic visions much like Ezekiel and Daniel. These visions also lend the book to be very messianic in nature similar to Isaiah. This complexity leads to us spending more time here than we have on the other Minor Prophets. We must approach Zechariah with humility and ask God to help us to understand the contextual meaning of the book, or what it meant for those who were hearing of these visions first hand. There is also a message for us in those very same lines which is why we search its pages today.

The basic message and theme of the book are clear enough: "I am extremely zealous for Jerusalem and Zion" (Zech. 1:14).

When you place Zechariah and Haggai side by side you find that Zech's visions came in between Haggai's second and third prophecies or while the temple was being rebuilt. Haggai had led the people through a period of repentance prior to the start of the work (Haggai 1:12-15). So as Zechariah shares his visions with the people we are reminded that repentance is not just a one-time act.

Following this first message, three months later Zechariah has a series of eight visions in one night. The first four of which we will cover this Sunday and the next four next week. First, we see the rider and the horses, Zechariah sees a man riding on a red horse among Myrtle trees in a hollow, followed by red, sorrel, and white horses (Zech 1:7-9). The horses are further explained as sent by the Lord to patrol the earth to report back to the Lord. Their report to the Angel of the Lord is that“we have patrolled the earth, and right now the whole earth is calm and quiet.” Then "Angel of the Lord," asks how long will God not show mercy on Jerusalem and Judah (Zech 1:12). The Lord's response is comforting words Zechariah is told to proclaim: (Zech 1:13-17)

"The Lord replied with kind and comforting words to the angel who was speaking with me.

14 So the angel who was speaking with me said, “Proclaim: The Lord of Hosts says: I am extremely jealous for Jerusalem and Zion. 15 I am fiercely angry with the nations that are at ease, for I was a little angry, but they made it worse. 16 Therefore, this is what the Lord says: In mercy, I have returned to Jerusalem; My house will be rebuilt within it”—this is the declaration of the Lord of Hosts—“and a measuring line will be stretched out over Jerusalem.

17 “Proclaim further: This is what the Lord of Hosts says: My cities will again overflow with prosperity; the Lord will once more comfort Zion and again choose Jerusalem.”


Praise the Lord for His zeal for His people! He is just as zealous for you and I as He is in these verses for Jerusalem and for Zion!

As the explanation continues, however, we see that, while may seem the nations are "at ease" their judgment is forthcoming and God will show mercy to Jerusalem. This vision and the next both confirm the promise made to Zerubbabel by Haggai in Haggai 2:20-22.

"20 The word of the Lord came to Haggai a second time on the twenty-fourth day of the month: 21 “Speak to Zerubbabel, governor of Judah: I am going to shake the heavens and the earth. 22 I will overturn royal thrones and destroy the power of the Gentile kingdoms. I will overturn chariots and their riders. Horses and their riders will fall, each by his brother’s sword."

The other three visions, the four horns and four craftsmen, the man with the measuring line, and Joshua the High Priest each follow suit, with the goal to stir up the people to complete the temple, and exhorting them to repentance.

As we approach these visions (and the next four) it would be easy for us to simply skim them and point to Christ as the final fulfillment but as with all scripture, we must be cautious in seeking to understand these visions. Unless we have an inspired interpretation provided in the New Testament we should use caution and humility when interpreting them outside their original context!

Hope this helps to lay a foundation for you for this next miniseries through the book of Zechariah!

See ya Sunday!

Priorities

The prophet Haggai's book might be the second shortest in the Old Testament but that doesn't mean it is short on wisdom for us today. As the book opens in the opening verses we find a message that digs right to our own hearts. Take a look - Haggai 1:2-9

“The Lord of Hosts says this: These people say: The time has not come for the house of the Lord to be rebuilt.” The word of the Lord came through Haggai the prophet: “Is it a time for you yourselves to live in your paneled houses, while this house lies in ruins?” Now, the Lord of Hosts says this: “Think carefully about your ways:

You have planted much but harvested little.

You eat but never have enough to be satisfied.

You drink but never have enough to become drunk.

You put on clothes but never have enough to get warm.

The wage earner puts his wages into a bag with a hole in it.”

The Lord of Hosts says this: “Think carefully about your ways. Go up into the hills, bring down lumber, and build the house. Then I will be pleased with it and be glorified,” says the Lord. “You expected much, but then it amounted to little. When you brought the harvest to your house, I ruined it. Why?” This is the declaration of the Lord of Hosts. “Because My house still lies in ruins, while each of you is busy with his own house.

The people had been back in Jerusalem for 18 years and their homes were finished and luxurious but the temple was in shambles. "The time has not come" is the excuse they have been using for all these years while they worked and worked securing their own all while neglecting the Lord's.

The Lord explains through Haggai that all the work they were doing for their own benefit was for naught. When we toil and labor for ourselves and neglect the Lord we expect much from our toils but actually see very little fruit. Why? Because we've neglected the Lord. 

We need to put the Lord first in all we do -- when we do so the result? Well simply put - Haggai 1:13 says, Haggai the Lord’s messenger, delivered the Lord’s message to the people, “I am with you”—this is the Lord’s declaration.

When we put him first he is with us and we find our satisfaction in him and him alone... 

see ya Sunday!

Not Just Roses and Unicorns

One of my favorite books of the Bible is the book of Habakkuk. Not just because the prophet has a cool sounding name either. But because of the manner in which he views the world. In Christianity today there is a prevailing line of thought that emphasizes the idea that when you trust in Christ all your problems vanish.

This is a myth that needs to be silenced once and for all.

Yes, it is true that when you surrender to Christ your most basic spiritual problem, your relationship with God is solved. But with that solution emerges an entirely new set of problems that you didn't face when you were an unbeliever.  Struggles like: "Why do good people suffer and evil people prosper?" or "Why isn't God answering my prayer?" or "When I'm doing my best for the Lord, why do I experience the worst from others?"

Friends, those who claim to be without problems are either not telling the truth or they are not growing and experiencing real life. Living in a dream world blocking out all reality.

That wasn't Habakkuk. Habakkuk surveyed the land of Judah, and the international scene, he found himself struggling with some serious problems. Thankfully, Habakkuk did the right thing he took his problems to the Lord.

We should follow Habakkuk's example and turn to God when the world seems to fall apart around us.

Hope to see you on Sunday!

A Familiar Place...

This Sunday as we prepare our hearts for worship and for communion our text brings us to a familiar place. We find the Prophet, Nahum, proclaiming pending judgment against the city of Nineveh. We encountered Nineveh previously when we studied Jonah. At that point, facing a similar punishment, the city was given an opportunity to repent. One hundred fifty years or so later God through Nahum offers Nineveh no such opportunity. The Assyrians had their chances to walk in obedience and exhausted all of them. Now the moment has arrived in which they would answer for the atrocities committed throughout the generations.  Nahum assures the children of God that "the Lord is slow to anger but great in power; the Lord will never leave the guilty unpunished." (Nahum 1:3a)

This message of Nahum for the people of God is one of consolation and encouragement that God has heard their cry and will judge those who have harmed his children without reservation. This message for those who do evil, however, is one of warning. A warning that we cannot rely on what mercy was shown to those who have gone before us. The faith of our fathers, the faith of our grandfathers and great-grandfathers, is their faith to share for our education and encouragement but is not nor can it ever be our saving faith. That saving faith is found in none other - no amount of prayer, no amount of sacrifice, no amount of another's love or faith can grant someone salvation. The only faith that can save you is yours.  The Lord may be merciful and slow to anger, but the day of judgment does finally come. Will you be ready?

The question we must ask ourselves is this - are we trusting in what your parents or ancestors might have done to escape the judgment of God or are you trusting in what Christ has done for you? Putting your faith in him alone?

See ya Sunday!