Today’s Reading: Esther 1:1-2:20, Psalm 114

Some of the Jewish families had grown and flourished while in exile. For many, it was the only life they knew. Their great-grandparents would have remembered life in Jerusalem, but they themselves were born and raised in the Persian culture. Over the last 100 years of exile and beyond, they had been given the freedom to own businesses and hold government positions. They had blended into the culture and it was easier to stay in the known than to journey back to the unknown as most of the Jewish families had done.

EASIER TO STAY IN THE KNOWN THAN TO JOURNEY BACK TO THE UNKNOWN

God is calling me to sit in this part of the story for a moment. How often do we choose what is familiar and comfortable over what God is calling us to next? Are we using God’s blessings as an excuse to stay rooted where we are, rather than remaining open to where God wants us to be? Is it easier to stay in the known than to allow God to turn the page and begin a new chapter of our lives?

The book of Esther tells us of one family’s story of staying in Persia rather than returning to their homeland. God took this decision to stay and chose to use them in a mighty way in the lives of all the other Jewish families in Persia. Their faith was preserved in a godless country, and God used that faith to save His people once again.

Xerxes the Great was the fifth king to reign in Persia. Like the other kings, he was known for his pride and impulsiveness. In the third year of his reign, King Xerxes prepared a banquet for all of his military officers, as well as the royal families. This party lasted six months as the guests took time to plan their upcoming battles and military strategies, while being wined and dined in the luxury of the palace.

At the end of this strategy session, the king threw a banquet that lasted seven days. All of the men in the fortress of Susa were invited to the beautifully decorated palace courtyard and given an abundance of the finest wine available. This boosted the king’s ego as the men celebrated the generosity of their leader with no limits placed on how much wine they drank.

At the same time, all the women in the royal palace were invited to a banquet thrown by Queen Vashti. The king’s attendants came to get the queen and bring her to the king’s banquet, for he wanted all the nobles and officials to gaze upon her beauty, but she refused to come. Some say that it was against Persian culture for a respectable woman to attend an all-male party such as this one; some say the king wanted her to come in with only her crown upon her head so that his guests could see the beauty of her body.

Refusing the king probably seemed like the right thing to do but it had its consequences. In his anger, King Xerxes ordered a written decree that the queen be banished from his presence forever. Her disrespect had embarrassed the king, and the king’s advisors wanted to make an example of her so that other women would not follow her example and refuse their husbands.

The king later realized the permanence of this decision he had made out of anger and in a state of drunkenness. To correct the situation, a search was made across the empire to find beautiful young women to be brought into the king’s harem in order to find a replacement for the queen. These young women would go through a year of beauty treatments, spend one night with the king and then be taken to live among the harem of wives in the palace. If the king remembered his night with her, she was invited back into his presence.

Esther was one of the young women chosen to come to the palace. Scripture does not tell us how she felt about this life that was chosen for her, but it is easy to imagine that she would have grieved the loss of her own plans and been saddened by the separation from her family. God was watching over Esther and she found favor with the eunuch in charge of her care. He treated her kindly, ordered a special menu for her, and assigned seven maids to her care, giving her the best place in the harem. She was not where she wanted to be but she was not alone as God watched over her. She was unaware of God’s plans to use her for the preservation of His people.

TRUSTING GOD IN THE UNKNOWN WHEN WE HAVE NO WAY TO GET BACK TO THE KNOWN

Perhaps you are not where you want to be, not where you planned to be. Perhaps decisions have been made for you that were out of your control. My prayer for you is that your faith will continue to grow as you trust that God has a larger plan at work. I pray that you are able to see the evidence that He is using your position to strategically use you in the lives of those around you. I pray that you will experience a peace that only God can give, and that He will give you favor with those you come in contact with today. May you recognize that God can take any situation and use it to provide for His people.

Tremble, O earth, at the presence of the Lord,
at the presence of the God of Jacob.
He turned the rock into a pool of water;
yes, a spring of water flowed from solid rock. — Psalm 114:7-8

Today’s Reading: Nehemiah 4-7, Psalm 123

“What does this bunch of poor, feeble Jews think they’re doing? Do they think they can build the wall in a single day by just offering a few sacrifices? Do they actually think they can make something of stones from a rubbish heap — and charred ones at that?” – Nehemiah 4:2

Things did not go easily as they rebuilt the wall. They faced criticism and opposition. The people would mock, “That stone wall would collapse if even a fox walked along the top of it!” (Nehemiah 4:3) Their response was to pray but eventually they became discouraged. Day after day they heard the voice of defeat saying that it could not be done, and they began to listen to that voice.

“The workers are getting tired, and there is so much rubble to be moved. We will never be able to build the wall by ourselves.” – Nehemiah 4:10

NEHEMIAH CHOSE TO DROWN OUT THE VOICE OF DEFEAT AND STAY FOCUSED ON THE TASK GOD HAD CALLED HIM TO.

Nehemiah had to do the same thing that we have to do daily — he had to DROWN OUT the voice of defeat! He had to push away the negativity and criticism in order to keep his eyes focused on the God who had called him to do hard things. His determination inspired those around him.

“Don’t be afraid of the enemy! Remember the Lord, who is great and glorious, and fight for your brothers, your sons, your daughters, your wives, and your homes!” – Nehemiah 4:14

After this, they changed their plan. While half of the men worked, the other half would stand armed with swords against the attacks. Some of the laborers used one hand to support the load while the other hand held a weapon. They carried their weapons with them at all times! We have the same weapon against the voice of defeat and opposition to God’s work; God has given us the same armor of protection to stand strong!

A final word: Be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. Put on all of God’s armor so that you will be able to stand firm against all strategies of the devil. For we are not fighting against flesh-and-blood enemies, but against evil rulers and authorities of the unseen world, against mighty powers in this dark world, and against evil spirits in the heavenly places.

Therefore, put on every piece of God’s armor so you will be able to resist the enemy in the time of evil. Then after the battle you will still be standing firm. Stand your ground, putting on the belt of truth and the body of armor of God’s righteousness. For shoes, put on the peace that comes from the Good News so that you will be fully prepared. In addition to all of these, hold up the shield of faith to stop the fiery arrows of the devil. Put on salvation as your helmet, and take the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.

Pray in the Spirit at all times and on every occasion. Stay alert and be persistent in your prayers for all believers everywhere. – Ephesians 6:10-18

Father God, help us to see a need and be willing to be part of the answer to that need. And when things get tough, when we face opposition, clothe us with your armor and give us the faith needed to drown out the voice of defeat. We love you, Lord. Amen.

So on October 2 the wall was finished — just fifty-two days after we had begun. When our enemies and the surrounding nations heard about it, they were frightened and humiliated. They realized this work had been done with the help of our God. – Nehemiah 6:15-16

They said it couldn’t be done, but they did not know the power of God. They said it was too big of a job, but they did not know how big our Lord is. They said the problems were too large, but they did not know the generosity of the God we serve!

THEY SAID IT COULD NOT BE DONE BUT, WITH GOD’S HELP, IT WAS FINALLY FINISHED.

What are you trying to rebuild that seems illogical to those around you? What are you trying to solve that seems impossible? I pray you sense God’s protection around as He equips you with His Spirit to do all He has called you to do. And when others question your integrity, mock your purpose, or twist your words, may you lift up your eyes to the Lord of mercy who has called you for such a time as this.

I lift my eyes to you,
O God, enthroned in heaven.
We keep looking to the Lord our God for his mercy,
just as servants keep their eyes on their master,
as a slave girl watches her mistress for the slightest signal.
Have mercy on us, Lord, have mercy,
for we have had our fill of contempt.
We have had more than our fill of the scoffing of the proud
and the contempt of the arrogant. – Psalm 123:1-4

Today’s Reading: Nehemiah 3, Psalm 122

At last the wall was completed to half its height around the entire city, for the people had worked with enthusiasm. – Nehemiah 4:6

Under the leadership of Nehemiah, the people of God began to work together to rebuild the wall and to restore the city of Jerusalem. Various family groups from all of Israel were assigned sections of the wall so that work was being done on every side of the city.

WHEN GOD’S PEOPLE WORK TOGETHER IN OBEDIENCE TO GOD, THE IMPOSSIBLE IS ACCOMPLISHED.

Then Eliashib the high priest and the other priests started to rebuild at the Sheep Gate. They dedicated it and set up its doors, building the wall as far as the Tower of the Hundred, which they dedicated, and the Tower of Hananel. People from the town of Jericho worked next to them, and beyond them was Zaccur son of Imri.

The Fish Gate was built by the sons of Hassenaah. They laid the beams, set up its doors, and installed its bolts and bars. Meremoth son of Uriah and grandson of Hakkoz repaired the next section of wall. Beside him were Meshullam son of Berekiah and grandson of Meshezabel, and then Zadok son of Baana. Next were the people from Tekoa, though their leaders refused to work with the construction supervisors.

The Old City Gate was repaired by Joiada son of Paseah and Meshullam son of Besodeiah. They laid the beams, set up its doors, and installed its bolts and bars. Next to them were Melatiah from Gibeon, Jadon from Meronoth, people from Gibeon, and people from Mizpah, the headquarters of the governor of the province west of the Euphrates River. – Nehemiah 3:1-7

The third chapter of Nehemiah goes on to list all of the people who participated in the rebuilding of the wall. Each group had a specific talent or trade that they used for the good of the nation. The level of cooperation between the various leaders, tradesmen, and family groups showed what can be accomplished when God’s people work together in obedience to God’s call.

WHEN GOD’S PEOPLE RESPOND TO GOD’S CALL IN UNITY AND COOPERATION, THE WORK IS ACCOMPLISHED.

The Fountain Gate was repaired by Shallum son of Col-hozeh, the leader of the Mizpah district. He rebuilt it, roofed it, set up its doors, and installed its bolts and bars. Then he repaired the wall of the pool of Siloam near the king’s garden, and he rebuilt the wall as far as the stairs that descend from the City of David. Next to him was Nehemiah son of Azbuk, the leader of half the district of Beth-zur. He rebuilt the wall from a place across from the tombs of David’s family as far as the water reservoir and the House of the Warriors.

Next to him, repairs were made by a group of Levites working under the supervision of Rehum son of Bani. Then came Hashabiah, the leader of half the district of Keilah, who supervised the building of the wall on behalf of his own district. Next down the line were his countrymen led by Binnui son of Henadad, the leader of the other half of the district of Keilah. – Nehemiah 3:15-18

And next to him…and next to him…and next to him… This chapter goes on and on to describe the cooperation and various assignments that led to the steady progression of the wall. Each individual doing their part, each family using the skills of their trade, each neighborhood working together for the common good.

And so I ask myself this morning what level of cooperation the Lord is calling me to. What do I need to put aside or reconcile in order to be in full harmony with those on my right and those on my left? May God be given glory for all that occurs among and through the body of Christ, so that His kingdom will be advanced and so that the lost will be found.

I was glad when they said to me,
“Let us go to the house of the Lord.”
And now here we are,
standing inside your gates, O Jerusalem.
Jerusalem is a well-built city;
its seamless walls cannot be breached. — Psalm 122:1-3

Today’s Reading: Nehemiah 1-2

Ezra and Nehemiah’s stories are quite similar. While Ezra had returned to Jerusalem to teach the people and unify them in repentance, Nehemiah was still back in Persia serving as the cupbearer to the king. When news arrived that the Jews in Jerusalem were experiencing opposition, he mourned on their behalf. The Temple had been rebuilt in the midst of the opposition, but the wall of Jerusalem had been torn down and the gates had been burned. Without the wall, the city was vulnerable against future attacks.

IT WAS THE DESIRE OF NEHEMIAH’S HEART TO GO TO JERUSALEM TO HELP THE PEOPLE REBUILD THE WALL, SO HE PRAYED FOR GOD TO GIVE HIM THE DESIRE OF HIS HEART.

“O Lord, God of heaven, the great and awesome God who keeps his covenant of unfailing love with those who love him and obey his commands, listen to my prayer! Look down and see me praying night and day for your people Israel. I confess that we have sinned against you…O Lord, please hear my prayer! Listen to the prayers of those of us who delight in honoring you. Please grant me success today by making the king favorable to me. Put it into his heart to be kind to me.” – Nehemiah 1:5-6,11

An invitation was required in order to approach the king of Persia or engage him in conversation. Nehemiah would be in the presence of the king as his cupbearer, but he could not ask for permission to travel to Jerusalem without the king first speaking to him. An intervention of God was needed in order for Nehemiah to have the opportunity he wanted. God saw the desire of Nehemiah’s heart to serve his people and faithfully answered his prayer. The king noticed that Nehemiah had a heavy heart and asked him if he was troubled, giving Nehemiah the opportunity to ask for some time off to return to Jerusalem. Again, just like Ezra, the king granted Nehemiah’s request in a generous way because the gracious hand of God was on him (Nehemiah 2:8).

When Nehemiah arrived in Jerusalem, he inspected the condition of what was left of the wall. He went back to the Jewish leaders and said: “You know very well what trouble we are in. Jerusalem lies in ruins, and its gates have been destroyed by fire. Let us rebuild the wall of Jerusalem and end this disgrace!” Then I told them about how the gracious hand of God had been on me, and about my conversation with the king. They replied at once, “Yes, let’s rebuild the wall!” So they began the good work (Nehemiah 2:17-18).

NEHEMIAH SAW A NEED, PRAYED FOR THE NEED AND THEN ALLOWED HIMSELF TO BE PART OF THE ANSWER TO THAT PRAYER.

Now that’s leadership! Nehemiah sets a great example for us. That last part is where we sometimes miss out on an opportunity to be used by God. Nehemiah saw God’s movement, recognized that the gracious hand of God was on him and testified to the rest of his people of God’s faithfulness. His bold requests, his intercessory heart, and his testimony of God’s grace are what gave the people courage and inspiration to rebuild the city of Jerusalem, starting with its wall.

Father God, help us to be more like Ezra and Nehemiah. Help us to see the needs around us and respond with a willingness to be part of the solution. Give us a heart that unselfishly leaves our comfort zone in order to rebuild that which sin has destroyed. Give us eyes to see the need and ears to hear your call. May we have the courage to begin the good work today. Amen.

Today’s Reading: Ezra 9-10

EZRA LED THE PEOPLE IN THE CONFESSION OF THEIR SINS

Just as Ezra was able to ask for provision and protection for his people, he was also willing to humble himself and confess on behalf of the people. When Ezra arrived in Jerusalem, he found they had done exactly what God had told them NOT to do — they had married women from other nations who served false gods. Ezra could have washed his hands of all this sin and stood back in self-righteousness for he had not disobeyed God. Instead he tore his clothes, fell to his knees and lifted his hands to the Lord praying:

“O my God, I am utterly ashamed; I blush to lift up my face to you. For our sins are piled higher than our heads and our guilt has reached to the heavens…once again we have abandoned your commands!…O Lord, God of Israel, you are just. We come before you in our guilt as nothing but an escaped remnant, though in such a condition none of us can stand in your presence.” – Ezra 9:6,10b,15

Ezra led those around him in the study of God’s word.
Ezra led those around him in prayer and fasting.
Ezra led those around him in the journey God had called them to.

But here is where I am overwhelmed by the humble actions of this man of God:
Ezra led his nation and his people in confession of their sins. He took the sins of the nation upon himself, taking responsibility for their sins and stepping into God’s presence in repentance of such sin, even though he himself had not disobeyed God in this way. This reminds me of how Jesus, who was without sin, was willing to die for our sins.

Therefore, since we have a great high priest who has gone through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold firmly to the faith we profess. For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are – yet was without sin. Let us then approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need. – Hebrews 4:14-16

Let US approach the throne of grace so that WE may receive mercy and find grace to help US in our time of need. There is power in the unified voice of a community of believers who chooses to humbly confess together on behalf of the whole church.

While Ezra was praying and confessing, weeping and throwing himself down before the house of God, a large crowd of Israelites—men, women and children—gathered around him. They too wept bitterly. – Ezra 10:1

We sin as individuals and we go before God, humbly asking for His forgiveness. We sin as a family or as a church or group of people and we humbly pray for mercy. We sin as a nation and the appropriate thing to do is still to humble ourselves, fall on our knees in mourning and beg the Almighty God of Justice to have compassion on us and forgive us as a nation. Oh God, hear our prayers!!!

I WANT TO BE AN EZRA-LIKE LEADER!

I want to be like Ezra. What about you? Let’s join our voices together today and repent for the sins of our family, of our church, of our community and of our culture. Lord, forgive us for the many times we step out of your plan and disobey as individuals, as congregations and as a nation. Lord, give us mercy and grace in our time of need. Hear our cry for forgiveness and show us your grace and your mercy. Give us the courage to stand strong and give us the humility to bow in unison. We pray this in your holy name, Amen.

Today’s Reading: Ezra 6:15 – 8:36, Psalm 125

Who is this Ezra? Here are a few of my thoughts on the lifestyle and essence of Ezra.

This Ezra was a scribe who was well versed in the Law of Moses, which the Lord, the God of Israel had given to the people of Israel. He came up to Jerusalem from Babylon, and the king gave him everything he asked for, because the gracious hand of the Lord his God was on him…This was because Ezra had determined to study and obey the Law of the Lord and to teach those decrees and regulations to the people of Israel. – Ezra 7:6,10

EZRA WAS A STUDENT OF THE WORD OF GOD

He recognized that God had given the Law of Moses to the people of Israel for a reason and he was determined to STUDY it, KNOW it, and OBEY it in order to TEACH it. He saw the benefit of spending time studying God’s word in order to better UNDERSTAND God and His laws – to know God’s commands and obey them. He went beyond just being a hearer of the Word; he was a doer. He went past the purpose of learning for his own sake to becoming a conduit of God’s Word to others.

Because Ezra was dedicated to God and well versed in the Law, God blessed Ezra by giving him favor with the king for the benefit of all God’s people. Anything he asked for the king was prepared to give him BECAUSE the gracious hand of the Lord his God was on him. Ezra recognized that this favor was of God and not based on his own worth or merit.

EZRA HUMBLY GAVE GOD THE GLORY

When the king said, “If you need anything else for God’s Temple or for any similar needs, you may take it from the royal treasury,” Ezra’s response was to praise the Lord. When the king recognized Ezra’s wisdom as having come from God, Ezra praised God for demonstrating such unfailing love to him by honoring him before the king, his council, and all his mighty nobles! “I felt encouraged because the gracious hand of the Lord my God was on me” (Ezra 7:28).

Ezra’s humility, knowledge and wisdom situated him to be used by God in leadership. He was strategically positioned to be effective in God’s eternal plan. He gathered together some of the family leaders to return with him to Jerusalem. Before they began their journey, Ezra led the entire group in a time of fasting and humbling themselves before the Lord, praying that God would give them a safe journey and protect them, their children, and the goods they were bringing to Jerusalem.

EZRA LIVED OUT HIS FAITH IN HIS ACTIONS

Ezra could have asked the king for soldiers to escort them to Jerusalem with all of this silver and gold that would make them vulnerable against bandits and robbers on their four-month journey. It would have been a reasonable request. But Ezra once again saw the importance of living out his faith in his actions.

Ezra had previously testified to the King, “Our God’s hand of protection is on all who worship him, but his fierce anger rages against those who abandon him” (Ezra 8:22). Ezra knew that he needed to back these words up with faith in God so they fasted and earnestly prayed for God to take care of them, and God faithfully heard their prayer. At the end of the journey, Ezra was able to testify that God, rather than the king’s men, had protected them.

Lord, I want to be like Ezra. I want to be a student of your word, praying and fasting for Your guidance and protection. I want to live out my faith, not looking for human answers. I want to be a woman of prayer who looks to you for protection and for answers.

I WANT TO BE AN EZRA-LIKE LEADER!

Those who trust in the Lord are as secure as Mount Zion;
they will not be defeated but will endure forever.
Just as the mountains surround Jerusalem,
so the Lord surrounds his people, both now and forever.
The wicked will not rule the land of the godly,
for then the godly might be tempted to do wrong.
O Lord, do good to those who are good,
whose hearts are in tune with you. – Psalm 125:1-4

Today’s Reading: Zechariah 12-14, Psalm 146

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 10:1

ASK THE LORD FOR WHAT YOU NEED DURING THIS SEASON OF LIFE.

Ask the Lord for what you need during this season of life. Ask the One who can provide what is needed to turn the brown grass of winter into the green pastures of spring. Bring your needs to the God who is both Provider and Protector — the One who can strengthen your weaknesses and restore you to wholeness.

“I will strengthen Judah and save Israel;
I will restore them because of my compassion.
It will be as though I had never rejected them,
for I am the Lord their God, who will hear their cries.
The people of Israel will become like mighty warriors,
and their hearts will be made happy as if by wine.
Their children, too, will see it and be glad;
their hearts will rejoice in the Lord.
When I whistle to them, they will come running,
for I have redeemed them.” – Zechariah 10:6-8a

The God who has redeemed us is calling us to Himself. He desires to restore us in order to bring us joy. He has been actively pursuing us since we were in our mother’s womb, and He continues to draw us into the relationship He created us for. So, when the waves are crashing in and the storm clouds are darkening, trust in your Redeemer to provide all that you need. Ask the Lord for what you need.

ASK THE LORD FOR WHAT YOU NEED DURING THIS SEASON OF LIFE.

“They will pass safely through the sea of distress,
for the waves of the sea will be held back,
and the waters of the Nile will dry up.
The pride of Assyria will be crushed,
and the rule of Egypt will end.
By my power I will make my people strong,
and by my authority they will go wherever they wish.
I, the Lord, have spoken!” – Zechariah 10:11-12

Rejoice, you people of Jerusalem!
Rejoice in the Lord your God!
For the rain he sends demonstrates his faithfulness.
Once more the autumn rains will come,
as well as the rains of spring.
The threshing floors will again be piled high with grain,
and the presses will overflow with new wine and olive oil. – Joel 2:23-24

ASK THE LORD FOR WHAT YOU NEED DURING THIS SEASON OF LIFE.

But joyful are those who have the God of Israel as their helper,
whose hope is in the Lord their God.
He made heaven and earth,
the sea, and everything in them.
He keeps every promise forever.
He gives justice to the oppressed
and food to the hungry.
The Lord frees the prisoners.
The Lord opens the eyes of the blind.
The Lord lifts up those who are weighed down.
The Lord loves the godly.
The Lord protects the foreigners among us.
He cares for the orphans and widows,
but he frustrates the plans of the wicked.
The Lord will reign forever.
He will be your God, O Jerusalem, throughout the generations.
Praise the Lord! – Psalm 146:5-10

Today’s Reading: Zechariah 9-11

Rejoice, O people of Zion!
Shout in triumph, O people of Jerusalem!
Look, your king is coming to you.
He is righteous and victorious,
yet he is humble, riding on a donkey—
riding on a donkey’s colt.…
Because of the covenant I made with you,
sealed with blood,
I will free your prisoners
from death in a waterless dungeon.
Come back to the place of safety,
all you prisoners who still have hope!
I promise this very day
that I will repay two blessings for each of your troubles. – Zechariah 9:9,11-12

THE LORD WILL APPEAR.

The Lord is coming. He is coming on a donkey. The Lord will come and free the captives, giving us hope. He calls His people to RETURN to Him so that He can SAVE them. The Shepherd GATHERS His sheep and RESTORES their beauty.

The Lord will appear above his people;
his arrows will fly like lightning!
The Sovereign Lord will sound the ram’s horn
and attack like a whirlwind from the southern desert.
The Lord of Heaven’s Armies will protect his people,
and they will defeat their enemies by hurling great stones.
They will shout in battle as though drunk with wine.
They will be filled with blood like a bowl,
drenched with blood like the corners of the altar.
On that day the Lord their God will rescue his people,
just as a shepherd rescues his sheep.
They will sparkle in his land
like jewels in a crown.
How wonderful and beautiful they will be!
The young men will thrive on abundant grain,
and the young women will flourish on new wine. – Zechariah 9:14-17

THE LORD WILL CARE.

The Lord will appear, will sound the ram’s horn, will attack like a whirlwind, will protect his people, will defeat their enemies, will rescue. He will care for His flock, strengthening them and restoring them because He has compassion on them. He will come to redeem them, because He loves them. God’s people will shout in battle, will be filled, will sparkle like jewels, will thrive, and will flourish. How wonderful and beautiful they will be!

So I cared for the flock intended for slaughter—the flock that was oppressed. Then I took two shepherd’s staffs and named one Favor and the other Union. – Zechariah 11:7

But the sheep rejected the shepherd who had redeemed them. So the Lord took the staff called Favor and broke it. Then He took the staff called Union and He broke it. The Lord had made a covenant with them but it was now broken and they had lost his favor. Judah & Israel had been family and now their union was no more.

“Then I will pour out a spirit of grace and prayer on the family of David and on the people of Jerusalem. They will look on me whom they have pierced and mourn for him as for an only son. They will grieve bitterly for him as for a firstborn son who has died.” – Zechariah 12:10

THE LORD WILL CLEANSE FROM SIN.

“Strike down the shepherd,
and the sheep will be scattered,
and I will turn against the lambs.
Two-thirds of the people in the land
will be cut off and die,” says the Lord.
“But one-third will be left in the land.
I will bring that group through the fire
and make them pure.
I will refine them like silver
and purify them like gold.
They will call on my name,
and I will answer them.
I will say, ‘These are my people,’
and they will say, ‘The Lord is our God.’” – Zechariah 13:7b-9

Father God, we thank you for the grace you extend to us when we seek forgiveness. We are blessed by the ways in which you shepherd us and we thank you for your protection. Lord, thank you this morning for this reminder that you are a shepherd who loves us and who redeems us — a shepherd who was willing to rescue the flock marked for slaughter. We pray that you restore our nation back to a place of union and cleanse us from our sins, so that we can receive your unmerited favor. Amen.

“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. 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.” – Zechariah 3:8-9

Today’s Reading: Zechariah 7-8, Psalm 109

As God’s people were returning from exile to a city and land that had been destroyed, they were discouraged with the work that lay ahead of them — the task God was calling them to. God reminded them, as He sometimes reminds us, that their current condition was a direct result of their own sinful decisions.

There are times when we choose to do our own thing, making a mess of what God intended to be a masterpiece.

“Your ancestors refused to listen to this message. They stubbornly turned away and put their fingers in their ears to keep from hearing. They made their hearts as hard as stone, so they could not hear the instructions or the messages that the Lord of Heaven’s Armies had sent them by his Spirit…Since they refused to listen when I called to them, I would not listen when they called to me, says the Lord of Heaven’s Armies. As with a whirlwind, I scattered them among the distant nations, where they lived as strangers. Their land became so desolate that no one even traveled through it. They turned their pleasant land into a desert.” – Zechariah 7:11-14

What was the message they had refused to listen to? What did they refuse to do that God was telling them to do? Look at the two verses right before this passage: Judge fairly, and show mercy and kindness to one another. Do not oppress widows, orphans, foreigners, and the poor. And do not scheme against one another (Zechariah 7:9-10).

SEEK TRUTH AND MAKE PEACE

God wanted them to put the needs of others above their own desires and they refused. God wanted them to honor the truth and love God by loving others. They chose self-preservation instead, only to find out that, by trying to build a life for themselves, they had instead destroyed their chance of truly experiencing life. They had turned their beautiful promised land into a desert. They made a mess out of what could have been a masterpiece.

God went from being an angry God determined to punish to a God of grace determined to bless His people once again. But his instructions remained the same as before.

“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. 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…The traditional fasts and times of mourning you have kept in early summer, midsummer, autumn, and winter are now ended. They will become festivals of joy and celebration for the people of Judah. So love truth and peace.” – Zechariah 8:16-19

LOVE TRUTH AND LIVE PEACE

God was ready to dwell among His people — to bless them with His presence — but He demanded they live in peace with one another and treat each other justly. Sometimes this is where we struggle in families or in churches. We pray for God to bless our efforts, to bless our growth, but we stubbornly hold onto grudges. We sit back and wait for someone else to come begging for forgiveness instead of seeking restoration with each other. Now that’s what I would call a mess — a missed opportunity to allow the hand of God to create a masterpiece. Truth and peace – God would love to turn our mourning into joy and celebration but we must first love truth and live peace.

REVEAL TRUTH AND RESTORE PEACE

When God lives among us, He creates a sense of community. You may say this is impossible for the group of people you are thinking of right now, but God says nothing is impossible for Him! Invite Him to dwell among you and He can REVEAL TRUTH and RESTORE PEACE into any situation. Look at what He did for the Israelites when they returned to their war-torn country.

“And now the Lord says: I am returning to Mount Zion, and I will live in Jerusalem…Once again old men and women will walk Jerusalem’s streets with their canes and will sit together in the city squares. And the streets of the city will be filled with boys and girls at play…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.” – Zechariah 8:3-6

When we have fixed our relationships with each other and God’s presence is dwelling among His people, then we can be about the task of doing what God has told us to do! We must first obey God’s command to love Him by loving others and then we will be ready to follow His calling in our lives. Then, when PEACE IS RESTORED, He strengthens us with His presence and tells us:

“Be strong and finish the task!” and “So don’t be afraid. Be strong, and get on with rebuilding the Temple!” – Zechariah 8:9,13

And this is my favorite part! When we are living in truth and peace, and God’s presence is living among us, it will become evident to all those around us. They will see the difference God’s presence is making in our lives and they will want to become a part of it. Instead of seeing a mess, they will see God’s masterpiece. As in Zechariah 8:23, people will see what we have and say, “Please let us walk with you, for we have heard that God is with you.”

Oh, may God’s presence be evident in our lives today! May others see God living in us and among us in such a powerful way that they want what we have — God’s presence in our lives!

Today’s Reading: Zechariah 3-6, Psalm 87

God chose two men to play an important role in the rebuilding of the Temple and also in the rebuilding of the nation. He placed Zerubbabel son of Shealtiel as governor of Judah (you can find him in the genealogy of Jesus in Matthew 1), and he installed Jeshua son of Jehozadak as high priest (Haggai 2:2).

The passage of Scripture in the third chapter of Zechariah beautifully describes how Jeshua was cleansed from his sins and called by God. Before you read the passage, I ask you to prepare your heart. Picture that this passage is about you. Satan is pointing out all the times you have sinned, revealing all your imperfections; but the Lord is rejecting Satan’s accusations, saving you from the pit of hell and clothing you with redemption. Claim this Scripture today and rebuke Satan for the ways in which he tries to discourage you and tell you that you are not worthy or capable of what God has told you to do. Put yourself in place of Jeshua the high priest, coming out of exile and receiving his call from God.

CALLED BY GOD FOR A SPECIAL ASSIGNMENT

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. 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.”

Jeshua’s clothing was filthy as he stood there before the angel. 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.”

Then I said, “They should also place a clean turban on his head.” So they put a clean priestly turban on his head and dressed him in new clothes, while the angel of the Lord stood by.

Then the angel of the Lord spoke very solemnly to Jeshua and said, “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. – Zechariah 3:1-7

My love for you is passionate and strong. So take off the filthy clothes of your past. I have taken away your sins and I am giving you fine new clothes — priestly garments that come with a calling. SO follow my ways and carefully serve me, for I am giving you a job to do.

When the accuser tells you that you cannot do what God has called you to do or that you cannot live the holy life that the Lord of Heaven’s Armies expects, remind him of the Lord’s words to Zerubbabel:

It is not by force nor by strength, but BY MY SPIRIT, says the Lord of Heaven’s Armies. Nothing, not even a mighty mountain, will stand in Zerubbabel’s way; it will become a level plain for him! And when Zerubbabel sets the final stone at the Temple in place, the people will shout: ‘May God bless it! May God bless it!” – Zechariah 4:6-7

EQUIPPED BY GOD FOR THE CALL OF GOD

God had commissioned Zerubbabel to rebuild the Temple — not an easy task. God had commissioned Jeshua to rebuild the Temple worship — also not an easy task. But He was not asking them to do it of their own strength. In that regard, the Accuser is right. We are not capable of doing what God is asking us to do. At least not of our own strength. But God equips us, He fills us, He works through us to accomplish His will. Where there seem to be mountains before us, God is capable of leveling the path ahead. And WHEN GOD IS IN IT, GOD WILL BLESS IT!

“…But now the Lord says: Be strong, Zerubbabel. Be strong, Jeshua son of Jehozadak, the high priest. Be strong, all you people still left in the land. And now get to work, for I AM WITH YOU, says the Lord of Heaven’s Armies. My Spirit remains among you, just as I promised when you came out of Egypt. So do NOT be afraid.” – Haggai 2:4-5

Be strong! I have cleansed you and clothed you in new garments. I am the God of what is ahead. I am in the middle of what I am asking you to do and I will bless it. I am the God of your yesterdays and you have been forgiven, so flee from your captivity and stop wearing those filthy clothes. Do not be afraid. I am with you.

Jesus, the name that charms our fears / That bids our sorrows cease / ‘Tis music in the sinner’s ears / ‘Tis life and health and peace / He breaks the power of canceled sin / He sets the prisoners free / His blood can make the foulest clean / His blood availed for me [O For a Thousand Tongues to Sing, Charles Wesley]