Zechariah 1:3 Therefore, say to the people, ‘This is what the Lord of Heaven’s Armies says: Return to me, and I will return to you, says the Lord of Heaven’s Armies.’ 4 Don’t be like your ancestors who would not listen or pay attention when the earlier prophets said to them, ‘This is what the Lord of Heaven’s Armies says: Turn from your evil ways, and stop all your evil practices.’
5 “Where are your ancestors now? They and the prophets are long dead. 6 But everything I said through my servants the prophets happened to your ancestors, just as I said. As a result, they repented and said, ‘We have received what we deserved from the Lord of Heaven’s Armies. He has done what he said he would do.’”
So an angel appeared to Zechariah with more messages from God. He wanted this message from God shouted to the people - "My love for Jerusalem and Mount Zion is passionate and strong". As I read that, I think that message from God applies to His children today - His love for us is passionate and strong. And then there was another message from God - "Shout and rejoice, O Jerusalem, for I am coming to live among you". Again, I think this message applies to us. He does live among us...He lives within us! That truly should bring joy and peace to our lives. I think we are so brainwashed by the world, we don't even realize what we have.
In Job, there is a passage about Satan coming to God and talking about "His kids". Here is another reference that shows Satan's ability to "discuss" us with God:
Zechariah 3:1 Then the angel showed me Jeshua the high priest standing before the angel of the Lord. The Accuser, Satan, was there at the angel’s right hand, making accusations against Jeshua. 2 And the Lord said to Satan, “I, the Lord, reject your accusations, Satan. Yes, the Lord, who has chosen Jerusalem, rebukes you. This man is like a burning stick that has been snatched from the fire.”
We are blameless before God. When we put our faith in Christ, we are like that 'burning stick that has been snatched from the fire'. And when Satan accuses us before the Father because of our failures, Satan gets the same message from God. Jesus Himself said that He did not come to condemn the world, but that the world through Him would be saved. In Romans it says "There is no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus." When we acknowledge what He has done for us and submit our lives and will to Him, we are "in Him".
3 Jeshua’s clothing was filthy as he stood there before the angel. 4 So the angel said to the others standing there, “Take off his filthy clothes.” And turning to Jeshua he said, “See, I have taken away your sins, and now I am giving you these fine new clothes.”
The Bible tells us that we are now "clean" through and through because of what Christ has done for us. God removes the filth of our lives, and replaces it with His holiness.
6 Then the angel of the Lord spoke very solemnly to Jeshua and said, 7 “This is what the Lord of Heaven’s Armies says: If you follow my ways and carefully serve me, then you will be given authority over my Temple and its courtyards. I will let you walk among these others standing here.
As I read the "if you follow my ways", it brought me back to the fact that I've been pondering Daniel and his status of being "precious" to God. I know we can't 'earn' salvation, it is a free gift from God. And I know because of Christ, we are all 'precious' to Him. I was beginning to type that with obedience comes a special blessing from God, but I have a different thought now. Perhaps it is only that obedience brings an 'awareness' of the special blessing from God. We say that salvation can't be earned. So, it goes to figure that blessing can't be 'earned' either. We are all 'seated with him in the heavenly realms'. We are all 'sealed with the Spirit of God'. We have all been made 'holy and without fault in his eyes'. For those that are 'saved', all these blessings are ours. We don't earn them. Perhaps it's just that if we are walking in disobedience, we aren't aware of or acknowledging all God has done for us. Cooper and I discussed this on the way to school this morning. As we talked, I had another thought, and that was that obedience brings 'privileges'. I love Cooper regardless of what he does. Because I have 'adopted him into my family' he is my son. That will never change. But he is granted 'privileges' based upon his choices (attitude and actions). He receives more 'privileges' and 'blessings' when he is obedient and submissive, than he does when he is rebellious. I'll still 'muse' on that thought.
8 “Listen to me, O Jeshua the high priest, and all you other priests. You are symbols of things to come. Soon I am going to bring my servant, the Branch. 9 Now look at the jewel I have set before Jeshua, a single stone with seven facets. I will engrave an inscription on it, says the Lord of Heaven’s Armies, and I will remove the sins of this land in a single day.
The verse above is another prophecy as to the coming of Christ.
For the remainder of this blog I'm just going to copy verses that spoke to me without commenting on them:
Zechariah 4:6 Then he said to me, “This is what the Lord says to Zerubbabel: It is not by force nor by strength, but by my Spirit, says the Lord of Heaven’s Armies.
Zechariah 4:10 Do not despise these small beginnings, for the Lord rejoices to see the work begin.
Zechariah 7:9 “This is what the Lord of Heaven’s Armies says: Judge fairly, and show mercy and kindness to one another. 10 Do not oppress widows, orphans, foreigners, and the poor. And do not scheme against each other.
Zechariah 8:2 “This is what the Lord of Heaven’s Armies says: My love for Mount Zion is passionate and strong; I am consumed with passion for Jerusalem!
6 “This is what the Lord of Heaven’s Armies says: All this may seem impossible to you now, a small remnant of God’s people. But is it impossible for me? says the Lord of Heaven’s Armies.
7 They will be my people, and I will be faithful and just toward them as their God.
9 “This is what the Lord of Heaven’s Armies says: Be strong and finish the task!
12 For I am planting seeds of peace and prosperity among you.
14 “For this is what the Lord of Heaven’s Armies says: I was determined to punish you when your ancestors angered me, and I did not change my mind, says the Lord of Heaven’s Armies. 15 But now I am determined to bless Jerusalem and the people of Judah. So don’t be afraid. 16 But this is what you must do: Tell the truth to each other. Render verdicts in your courts that are just and that lead to peace. 17 Don’t scheme against each other. Stop your love of telling lies that you swear are the truth. I hate all these things, says the Lord.”
18 So love truth and peace.
23 “This is what the Lord of Heaven’s Armies says: In those days ten men from different nations and languages of the world will clutch at the sleeve of one Jew. And they will say, ‘Please let us walk with you, for we have heard that God is with you.’"
Zechariah 9:11 Because of the covenant I made with you,
sealed with blood,
I will free your prisoners
from death in a waterless dungeon.
Zechariah 10:1 Ask the Lord for rain in the spring,
for he makes the storm clouds.
And he will send showers of rain
so every field becomes a lush pasture.
Zechariah 12:1 “This message is from the Lord, who stretched out the heavens, laid the foundations of the earth, and formed the human spirit.
God wants obedience as a way of testing devotion. But when we sin and disobey his first reaction is to take away a blessing. Punishment soon follows. We do not want the wrath of God. He still loves us the same, and that is why he has to punish us.
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