Category: Minor prophets
A True Fast!
Scripture reading for October 1st: Zechariah 7-8
“Then the word of the Lord Almighty came to me: “Ask all the people of the land and the priests, ‘When you fasted and mourned in the fifth and seventh months for the past seventy years, was it really for me that you fasted? And when you were eating and drinking, were you not just feasting for yourselves?'” Zechariah 7:4-6
Many times we who are the Lord’s children go through the motions when we seek to worship or serve the Lord. We do what is expected or required, but don’t really put our hearts into it. I know that I have done that before with fasting. As soon as you seek to fast, your flesh acts up and distractions come faster than ever before! You have a hard time focusing for prayer and thoughts of food or irritations come to distract you.
God used Zechariah to preach to His people on this subject as they returned to work on the temple. You see, God did not want them just to not have food and mourn during the fast. He wanted them to administer justice and show mercy and compassion to one another. He wanted them to care for the needy and poor and help the widow and orphan. He wanted their hearts to truly love each other instead of thinking evil. (Zechariah 7:8-10) Real fasting that pleases God has to do with refocusing on what God really loves and doing that. It was to produce positive results and progress in godliness.
God’s people just went through the motions and so God said that He did the same. He became angry with them, and scattered them among the nations. This is why the land became desolate and rested for the seventy years. Hard hearts and disobedience had brought their inevitable consequences.
But now, God was again jealous for Jerusalem! He would now show good and blessing to this city and favor them. The true fast would be a joyful time and the festivals would be filled with happiness as they loved truth and peace. God would gather His people again back to the land and many peoples and nations would also come and join themselves to the Jew! (Zechariah 8:15-23)
Fasting has always been a way for God’s people to draw closer to Him and find their true appetites satisfied. God, Himself, is enough for us. A true fast brings cleansing to body and soul. The body cleanses itself from toxins and waste as we quit eating and drink lots of water. The soul quits focusing on bodily appetites and focuses on the Lord and His will. Toxins of the soul include bitterness, depression, apathy, unforgiveness, lack of truth and injustice. The water of God’s word washes the soul clean. Take time soon for a true fast! It will work wonders for body and soul!
A Burning Stick, Snatched From the fire!
Scripture reading for September 29th: Zechariah 3-4
When we face an impossible looking task for the Lord, we begin to take inventory of our resources. We check our bank account to see how much money we have; we check our physical and mental abilities to solve the problem; we consult those who might help us with the work to see if we have enough manpower to do the job we look at all the obstacles and see how the task might be accomplished. God’s people and their leaders faced a task that looked impossible: the rebuilding of the temple and of Jerusalem! God sent visions to Zechariah to expand their resources and bring encouragement!
The second of eight visions pictured Joshua, the high priest, standing before the Lord, and Satan there accusing him. The Lord rebuked Satan and spoke of Joshua as a burning stick snatched from the fire!(Zechariah 3: (Jude 22,23) He then ordered Joshua’s filthy clothes to be removed and clothed him in clean garments. Joshua was told that if he walked in the Lord’s ways and kept His requirements, he would govern God’s house and have a place among those standing there by the throne of God.
In this vision, Joshua the high priest was symbolic of things to come. God would send His servant, the Branch, and would remove the sin of Israel in a single day. Wow! Zechariah is getting vision of things to come that we now see and understand! Jesus Christ was the servant of the Lord who was sent by God. He was and is the Son of God. He fully obeyed all of God’s requirements and walked in His ways. He became sin and was made like the burning stick, under the fires of God’s judgment for us. God raised Him from the dead, snatching Him from the fire, and seated Him at His right hand! In obeying His Father, Jesus Christ removed the sin from the land and from all people in one day!
And that wasn’t all of the visions from the Lord. Next, Zechariah saw a golden lamp stand with a bowl at the top and seven lights on it. There were two olive trees standing on either side of the bowl. Zechariah again asked for understanding. “So he said to me, “This is the word of the Lord to Zerubbabel: ‘Not by might nor by power, but by My Spirit,’ says the Lord.” (Zechariah 4:6) God was again giving vision to those leading the rebuilding. It was not their might, power, or ability that would accomplish the task. God would bless their efforts and He would see it through by His Spirit!
As I reflect on this last vision, I see the church as the lamp stand and the lights in the world. The Spirit is the oil that brings the energy for the work and light. God’s anointed leaders help with the dispensing of the anointing oil as they live by faith and do their assigned jobs! Their lives of faith reflect God’s Glory and the work goes forward! It may seem like our work is small–only a plumb line to measure the progress! Don’t despise it– live by faith in the power of His Spirit! The mountain will become a plain!
A Wall of Fire!
Scripture reading for September 28th: Zechariah 1-2
Which do you prefer: a scathing rebuke? or encouragement? God’s prophets used different styles and approaches to get the message to God’s people. The prophet Zechariah prophesied during the time of the first return to Jerusalem after captivity in Babylon. Zechariah is one of the longest of the minor prophets and he employs a very encouraging style of message designed to motivate the Jews who came to rebuild Jerusalem. Let’s look at how he encourages them in these first two chapters!
Zechariah begins his message with a word from the Lord to Israel. The Lord had been angry with their forefathers because they would not respond to His call for them to return to Him. For years prophets had been sent with a simple message calling for repentance from evil and idolatry and a faith response of obedience toward God. But the people of God would not respond so God’s word, which promised consequences and curses for disobedience, overtook them! (Deuteronomy 28:15) People just can’t outrun the word of the Lord! (Zechariah 1:6)
Zechariah then was given a night vision of a man riding a red horse. This rider was followed by riders on red, brown and white horses. As he asked the Lord for understanding, an angel answered him. These horses and riders were ones that the Lord had sent throughout the whole earth and they reported back that the world was at rest and peace. The angel then turned to the Lord and asked Him a question: “How long will you withhold mercy from Jerusalem?” (Zechariah 1:12-13) (Revelation 6:1-7)
The Lord answered the angel with encouraging words about Jerusalem. He was jealous for Jerusalem and would return to Jerusalem with mercy. The temple would be rebuilt and the measuring line again stretched over the city in order to build the wall of protection around it and keep it secure. Prosperity would again flow to God’s people and God, Himself, would comfort them. (Zechariah 1:14-17) (Revelation 11:1-2)
It sounded good, but in the vision four horns appeared. Zechariah was puzzled and asked their meaning. They represented the nations that had lifted their power against Israel and scattered them. (Zechariah 1:18-21) They would be thrown down by spiritual forces of the Lord in the heavenly realm. A spiritual conflict would go on as the temple was rebuilt, but God’s people would succeed!
God’s people would succeed because their protection was not just physical walls! In fact, Jerusalem would be a city without walls! God, Himself, would be a “wall of fire” around the city and its Glory! (Zechariah 2:4-5) What a glorious vision of encouragement to those who had by faith come to rebuild the city! God’s promises can be depended on and faith lays hold of them. God further stated that His people were the “apple of His eye” and that He would deal with anyone who would oppose them!
Are you fearful today? Do you need a word of encouragement? Read Zechariah 1-2 and let God speak vision and encouragement! He is your wall of fire and Glory forever!
Sunday Rest and Reflection: “Priorities”
September 27th, 2009
Dear friends,
Greetings on this another day of rest and reflection concerning all God has done. Last Sunday night was marked by a deluge of rain that brought some trouble to our church building. We were replacing the roof and doing needed repairs, when about 5 inches of rain fell in a short time. We had felt roofing material on the roof, but it did not protect it from the heavy rain and we ended up with water inside the building. Many came to help with the clean-up. I am thankful that our church family pulls together in times of difficulty and redirects their priorities to help with our church building.
As I reflect on what God is saying through this time, I feel that He is gently reminding us of our priorities. Haggai, the last minor prophet we looked at this week, delivered a message from God about priorities. (Haggai 1:7-8) People are God’s priority, and He wants us to seek the lost. (Luke 19:10) Building His temple brings Him honor and He delights in each new ‘living stone’ that is added. We must be careful to assess our own lives and even our own church priorities. Are we spending more time on ourselves than on God’s priorities? Does it seem like we have a purse with holes in it? Are our crops ‘short’ because God is wanting to get our attention? Could it be that He is hindering our efforts because our priorities are misplaced?
God’s people listened and obeyed Haggai. (Haggai 1:12) The people feared the Lord and heeded the word from Him. God then stirred up the spirit of Zerubbabel, the governor, and he and the people of God began to work again on the house of the Lord! God declared that He would be with them and would bless them as they again worked. This looks like the standard ‘formula’ for revival in action!
“When I shut up the heavens so that there is no rain, or command the locusts to devour the land or send a plague among My people, if My people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and will heal their land.” 2nd Chronicles 7:13-14
As God’s people, let’s be about the Lord’s business. Let’s seek to humble ourselves and pray and seek His face. He promises forgiveness and blessing! Have a great week of right priorities! Jesus is coming soon! The Glory of this temple will be greater than the former!
In His Love, Pastor John
The ‘Desired of the Nations’ Is Coming!
Scripture reading for September 26th: Haggai 1-2
Have you ever struggled with priorities? We have so many choices and opportunities. Many times they all look good. Mary and I had just about gotten our children through college and the last one was ready to get married. We were enjoying our first senior pastorate in Lacey, Washington and an empty nest. We loved to go out on my day off and go antiquing and sight-seeing in that beautiful state. None of those things were sinful and we were having a good time. Then God spoke to us through a missionary and our friends about enlarging our family by adoption. To be honest, that choice did not initially look like something we wanted to do with all our hearts. We wrestled with it for some time, before becoming settled on the Lord’s will and priority for our lives. After we chose, we knew we had done the right thing!
Haggai was speaking to people who had chosen to come back from Babylon and rebuild the Temple and Jerusalem. Initially, these people had the right priority and obeyed the Lord. But they had drifted away from the priorities that once motivated them and began to focus on themselves, their own houses, and family needs. They neglected the house of the Lord! (Haggai 1:2-4) Haggai spoke to them directly from the Lord’s word through him.
“Give careful thought to your ways. You have planted much, but harvested little. You eat but never have enough. You drink but never have your fill. You put on clothes, but are not warm. You earn wages, only to put them in a purse with holes in it.” “Give careful thought to your ways. Go up into the mountains, and bring down timber and build a house, so that I may take pleasure in it and be honored,”says the Lord.” (Haggai 1:5-8)
Have you experienced lack of satisfaction and lack of fulfillment? It may be your priorities are out of whack like those who were in Jerusalem to rebuild the Lord’s temple. They had gotten their focus onto themselves and their houses and neglected God’s house! God was gently reminding them of their priorities. If we seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, everything we need will be added to us. If we try to grab what we need, even what we have will be lost! (Matthew 6:33)
We need to be about God’s business, because a shaking is coming! (Haggai 2:6) God is going to shake the earth, sea, and all the nations of the earth. The ‘desired of the nations’ (Jesus Christ) is coming and will fill His house with glory! Jesus Christ did this in human form about 500 years after Haggai’s time. He will do it again during the millennial reign following the rapture of the church. The temple was the place of the first house, we are His temple today! “”The glory of this present house will be greater than the glory of the former house,” says the Lord Almighty. “And in this place I will grant peace,” declares the Lord Almighty.” (Haggai 2:9)
God Rejoices Over You With Singing!
Scripture reading for September 25th: Zephaniah 1-3
“The Lord your God is with you, He is mighty to save, He will take great delight in you, He will quiet you with His love, He will rejoice over you with singing.“ Zephaniah 3:17
Zephaniah was a prophet around 630 B.C. during the reign of Josiah, a good king of Israel. He spoke some pretty strong words to the nation of Judah concerning the coming day of the Lord. Through Zephaniah, God warned that He would sweep everything from the face of the earth. (Zephaniah 1:2-3) He was going to take man completely from the face of the earth, and the animals, birds, and fish in the sea as well! Wow! That sounds like a very thorough cleaning similar to the great flood of Noah’s day!
Even Judah was warned of God’s hand against those in that nation who were idolaters. There were those who claimed to be Abraham’s descendants but were worshiping Baal, the Canaanite fertility god. Even some of the priests of God’s house had fallen into idolatry. They were worshiping Molech and the starry host using astrology. (Zephaniah 1:4-5) By the way, astrology is popular today in America. Almost every newspaper has a horoscope and some people read it daily and try to order their life by the predictions of the stars. Many follow the example of Judah in Zephaniah’s day, and turn away from following the true God. They are complacent or have followed gods of convenience and pleasure. (Zephaniah 1:12)
Zephaniah cried out to this complacent and sinful people that their appointed time was coming when judgment would bring a day of wrath and destruction. Trouble, clouds, darkness and death were on the horizon. Their money could not save them on this day of wrath that would come suddenly at the appointed time. (Zephaniah 1:17-18)
The only remedy offered by Zephaniah was to seek the Lord with humble hearts. Those who responded would be sheltered by the Lord. What was needed in this time of complacency, was a desire to seek God! An appetite for God must come from a heart that is humble and not centered on idols or upon oneself. (Zephaniah 2:2-3) Idolatry is all about making a god that gives me what I want, instead of serving the God who made me to do what He wants!
We know from history that the young king, Josiah, turned to the Lord and led a revival that removed the idols and cleansed the land. He likely was responding to this prophet’s strong preaching. When we repent, God relents! He would rather be mighty to save us than mighty to judge us! He takes great delight in His people and desires to quiet us in His love. He rejoices over us with singing! Picture God spinning around in delight singing a song of joy over our return to Him! (Zephaniah 3:17) This reflects the thought of the Hebrew words of this verse! God is so merciful; turn to Him today before the coming “day of the Lord”.
Are You Listening, God?
Scripture reading for September 24th: Habakkuk 1-3
“How long, O Lord, must I call for help, but you do not listen? Or cry out to you, “Violence!” but you do not save? Why do you make me look at injustice? Why do you tolerate wrong? Destruction and violence are before me; there is strife, and conflict abounds.” Habakkuk 1:2-3
Have you ever had questions for God? Have you asked God for answers, but wondered if He was listening or ignoring your cry? Habakkuk found himself in such a position. He was called to speak to God’s people on behalf of God but his words went unheeded by the people. He began to question God and He was silent. God always hears His people but sometimes is slower to respond than we would like. Sometimes, His response brings more questions!
In this case, God told Habakkuk how He was going to raise up the Babylonians and use them to sweep over the land and destroy it. (Habakkuk 1:6-11) These people were a law unto themselves and they were bent on violence. They were guilty men whose strength was their god. They were ruthless and impetuous and cruel. Habakkuk was perplexed that a God who was holy could use something as vile and lawless as the Babylonians. Why would God even think of such a thing?
We can read God’s answer to Habakkuk’s complaint because God told him to write it down. His answer spoke of the time of the end and would prove true. (Habakkuk 2:2-3) Babylon was full of pride and evil desires, but God used them to chastise His people for a season. In the end, Babylon would be punished because sin always brings punishment and death. God’s people were to deal with these revelations by a simple fact: “the righteous will live by his faith.” Habakkuk 2:4.
It really doesn’t matter if we have questions and God doesn’t answer. It doesn’t matter if, when He does answer, the answer causes more questions. God’s ways are always righteous and just. His people must learn to trust Him and live by faith in who He is! We please God only when we live by faith! (Hebrews 11:6) God promised Habakkuk that He would judge the wicked and bring woe to those who live for themselves. He also promised to fill the earth with His glory! (Habakkuk 2:14)
Habakkuk ends his book with a prayer and a psalm. The prayer is for God to renew His deeds in their day and time. It’s a great short prayer for revival. (Habakkuk 3:2) The psalm tells of the splendor of the Lord as He comes to judge the earth and deliver His people. It ends with a strong statement of faith! Habakkuk had his focus on the Lord and His just and holy character and nothing else matters! He is prepared to wait on God, no matter what! Living by faith is the way of the righteous!
Shallow Revival!
Scripture reading for September 23rd: Nahum 1-3
A century earlier, Jonah had come to Nineveh and called the people to repentance. A great wave of conviction fell on leaders, men and even the animals. All repented and called on the Lord and He had mercy and saved them from destruction. (Jonah 3:6-10) What a revival! These people got serious and averted the destruction that God had promised!
Our reading today is from the prophet Nahum. God sent him back to Nineveh with another message for them. This time it was a decree of divine displeasure and coming destruction. (Nahum 2:13) Their time for change had come to an end and they had failed the test. The revival of a century earlier had temporarily caused them to humble themselves and seek the Lord, but they soon returned to their wicked ways. God gave them time to change, but the revival did not affect their hearts.
In the midst of this prophecy, Nahum speaks a word of hope and encouragement to Judah. He gives them a word of “good news” and peace. The wicked will no longer invade them and they would be restored to their land. In fact, the wicked would be completely destroyed! (Nahum 1:15) This good news speaks to all of us today as well. We know that God has defeated evil through the cross of Jesus Christ. The triumph of Jesus Christ is already sure and He will ultimately defeat all wickedness and evil and set up His reign of peace on the earth.
It is interesting that God always warns the wicked of the coming disaster. He never leaves them to wonder what happened and why. He uses prophets for the heathen nations and sends them with words that are clear and easy to understand. Nahum’s word was unmistakable. “. . all because of the wanton lust of a harlot, alluring, the mistress of sorceries, who enslaved nations by her prostitution and peoples by her witchcraft.” “I am against you,” declares the Lord Almighty. All who see you will flee from you and say, ‘Nineveh is in ruins–who will mourn for her?’ Where can I find anyone to comfort her? ” (Nahum 3:4-5, 7)
As we think of God’s warnings about the defeat of all wickedness and the final judgment, it is easy to think that He is speaking of something far away or that His warning are meant for someone else. It is easy to give lip service to God, but still have a heart far from Him. This is a day of mercy and a day of “good news”! If you need to respond, don’t let your heart have a shallow revival! Go for the deep revival of true repentance and holiness that brings everlasting peace and blessing!
“Peter replied, “Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. The promise is for you and your children and for all who are far off–for all the Lord our God will call.” Acts 2:38-39
Keep it Simple!
Scripture reading for September 22: Micah 6-7
“He has showed you, O man, what is good. And what does the Lord require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God.” Micah 6:8
The prophet Micah had a rough time during his years of work. Many people heard the messages He preached, but most were very complacent or even became his enemies because the message threatened their comfort zones and called for repentance and change on their part. It is easier to ‘kill the prophet’ than to apply the truth and change! God’s heart was also broken, for He desired a people who would simply act justly, love mercy and walk humbly with Him! (Micah 6:8)
As we read these last two chapters of this prophet, we see in the verses words of Jesus as He walked this earth revealing the heart of the Father and reaching out to lost people, first among the Jews. Through Micah, the Lord called out to the city to heed His word. As Jesus wept over Jerusalem, the Lord “called out to the city”. (Micah 6:9, 16, Matthew 23:37-38) As Jesus looked for fruit on the fig tree, but found none and cursed it, so Micah stated that he was miserable because there were no “early figs that I crave”. (Micah 7:1, Mark 11:12-14) Micah warned that because of our walk with the Lord, enemies would arise from those close to us. (Micah 7:6, Matthew 10:34-36) Jesus used Micah’s words to exhort the people to love God more than they loved their families’ opinions or religion.
Micah saw the judgment of God coming on a people who were complacent and just going through the motions of religious ritual. He cried out in warning, but few heeded. He saw the earth being made desolate because of the wicked deeds of it’s inhabitants. (Micah 7:13) Jesus also warned of the coming day of the Lord when judgment would come upon those who were wicked! (Matthew 24)
So, today, let’s keep it simple! Let us love Jesus Christ with all our heart, soul, mind, and strength and love our neighbors as ourselves! These are the two great commandments that Jesus left His people. If we do love with our hearts, we will do justly toward God and others. We will show mercy and walk humbly with our God as He leads us by His Holy Spirit! What could be easier? Try it, you’ll like it!