Zechariah 1
Message to Zechariah during Darius’ reign verse 1
In the eighth month – in the second year of Darius
came the word of the LORD unto Zechariah
son of Berechiah
son of Iddo the prophet – saying
Message to turn to the LORD verse 2- 4
The LORD has been sore displeased with your fathers
THEREFORE say you to them – Thus says the LORD of hosts
Turn you unto ME – says the LORD of hosts
and I will turn unto you – says the LORD of hosts
Be you not as your fathers
to whom the former prophets have cried – saying
Thus says the LORD of hosts
Turn you now from your evil ways
and from your evil doings
BUT they did not hear – nor hearken unto ME
says the LORD
Message of the past responded too by Israelites verse 5- 6
Your fathers – where are they? – And the prophets
do they live for ever?
BUT MY words and MY statutes
which I commanded MY servants the prophets
DID they not take hold of your fathers?
and they returned and said
Like as the LORD of hosts thought to do unto us
according to our ways – and according to our doings
SO has HE dealt with us
Second message on February 15th verse 7
Upon the four and twentieth day of the eleventh month
which is the month Sebat – in the second year of Darius
came the word of the LORD unto Zechariah
the son of Berechiah
the son of Iddo the prophet – saying
Vision of four horsemen verse 8
I saw by night – and BEHOLD a man riding on a red horse
and he stood among the myrtle trees that were in the bottom
and behind him were there
red horses – speckled – white
Conversation with angel verse 9
THEN said I – O my lord – what are these?
AND the angel that talked with me said unto me
I will show you what these be
Angel explains four horsemen verse 10- 11
AND the man that stood among the myrtle trees answered and said
These are they whom the LORD
has sent to walk to and fro through the earth
AND they answered the angel of the LORD
that stood among the myrtle trees
and said
WE have walked to and fro through the earth – and – behold
all the earth sits still – and is at rest
Conversation of angel to LORD verse 12- 13
Then the angel of the LORD answered and said
O LORD of hosts – how long will
YOU not have mercy on Jerusalem
and on the cities of Judah
against which YOU have had indignation
these threescore (60) and ten years?
AND the LORD answered the angel that talked with me with
good words and comfortable words
Message to heathen nations verse 14- 15
SO the angel that communed with me said unto me
Cry you – saying – Thus says the LORD of hosts
I am jealous for Jerusalem and for Zion with a great jealousy
AND I am very sore displeased with the heathen that are at ease
FOR I was but a little displeased
AND they helped forward the affliction
LORD going to show mercy to Jerusalem verse 16
THEREFORE thus says the LORD
I am returned to Jerusalem with mercies
MY house shall be built in it
says the LORD of hosts
AND a line shall be stretched forth upon Jerusalem
LORD going to show mercy to all of Israel verse 17
CRY yet – saying – Thus says the LORD of hosts
MY cities through prosperity shall yet be spread abroad
AND the LORD shall yet comfort Zion
AND shall yet choose Jerusalem
Vision of four horns verse 18- 19
THEN I lifted up mine eyes – and saw – and behold four horns
AND I said unto the angel that talked with me
What are these?
AND he answered me
These are the horns which have scattered
Judah – Israel – Jerusalem
Vision of four carpenters verse 20- 21
AND the LORD showed me four carpenters
THEN said I – What come these to do?
AND HE spoke
saying
These are the horns which have scattered Judah
SO THAT no man did lift up his head
BUT these are come to fray them
to cast out the horns of the Gentiles
which lifted up their horn
over the land of Judah
to scatter it
COMMENTARY:
DAILY SPIRITUAL BREAKFAST: Young Believers
: 3 Therefore say you to them, Thus says the LORD of hosts; Turn you to ME, says the LORD of hosts, and I will turn to you, says the LORD of hosts. (7725 “turn” [shuwb] mean return, to turn back, to do again, to cease from, restore, be recovered, or back & forth.)
DEVOTION: Each prophet gives a message to the children of Israel regarding their present relationship to the LORD. Every time it is not good. They were drifting away from the LORD. They were having a time of prosperity they thought that they were the ones who created it. They were wrong.
During good times it seems that they always thought everything was OK between them and the LORD. They didn’t work at their relationship. It just seemed to be good and they were going to think any different about it.
The message was to return. HIS message to us is always to return. If we are in good fellowship we have returned. If our thought is that we didn’t need to worry about our relationship, we were thinking wrong.
What are you doing to improve your relationship to the LORD? HE wants us to be in constant communication with HIM while we are serving HIM through our daily walk with HIM.
CHALLENGE: We have to do our part if God is going to do HIS part. HE wants to hear from us or we will hear from HIM!!
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: 6 But my words and my statutes, which I commanded my servants the prophets did they not take hold of your fathers? And they returned and said, Like as the LORD of hosts thought to do unto us, according to our ways, and according to our doings, so hath he dealt with us.
(5381 “take hold” [nasag] means overtake, cause to reach, to be able to secure, to move oneself, stretch out, or to attend to)
DEVOTION: The forefathers admitted that they were wrong according to the words and statutes of the LORD. HE had sent HIS prophets to tell them what was going to happen and it did. They knew what was going to happen and they knew they had to change directions.
The problem was that they didn’t change until what the LORD said was going to happen happened. Then they realized the LORD was true to HIS word and wanted to share it with future generations.
We need to learn from the past. We either have to learn from the past that happened in the Old Testament or the past that happened in the New Testament or the past that happened to us individually.
History repeats itself many times in our lives. We have a tendency to commit the same sin over and over again. Israel as a nation had this tendency. Churches have a tendency to commit the same sin if the people don’t want to change.
The LORD warns each generation of what is coming. We are living in the end times according to the Word of God. It has lasted for over two thousand years from the time of the death of Christ. Some think that nothing is going to happen. They are wrong. God never lies. What HE says HE is going to do, HE does. HE was longsuffering with Israel and HE is longsuffering with us.
CHALLENGE: Let the Word of God overtake you to the point that you truly serve HIM with your whole body, soul and spirit.
DAILY SPIRITUAL LUNCH: Transitional Believers
: 11 And they answered the angel of the LORD that stood among the myrtle trees, and said, We have walked to and fro through the earth, and, behold, all the earth sits still, and is at rest. (3427 “sits still” [yashab] means to dwell, to marry, sit down, remains sitting, to be inhabited, continues in a certain state, condition, or activity, or abide.)
DEVOTION: Angels are watching us all the time. They want to understand our salvation. They want to know what the LORD is doing with us. They are not omnipresent. They can only be in one place at one time. They will never become human and we will never become angels. There were two separate creations. The angels were created before us but we will be greater than the angels.
The Angel of the LORD is thought to be Jesus Christ. The other angels are answering to HIM. HE knows what they are doing but still asks them questions. Remember HE is omniscient and they are not.
The angels’ assignment was to walk to and fro throughout the whole earth to report to the LORD what was happening. Do you really think HE didn’t know what was going on? HE did but wanted them to be part of HIS program.
HE wants us to be part of HIS program as well. We are here for a reason. We are here to bring glory to HIM. If any human doesn’t bring glory to the LORD he/she is not HIS servant. If you are not HIS servant, than heaven is not going to be you eternal home.
CHALLENGE: What report was given regarding your service to HIM today?
DAILY SPIRITUAL SUPPER: Mature Believers
: 15 And I am very sore displeased with the heathen that are at ease: for I was but a little displeased, and they helped forward the affliction. (7600 “ease” [sha’anan] means quiet, secure, careless, wanton, tumult and arrogant)
DEVOTION: The heathen were at secure in the thought that they were never going to be conquered. They were secure in their abilities to defeat armies. They thought they had to answer to anyone or any god.
The LORD was displeased with HIS people. This displeasure was only going to last for a short time. However, the heathen were thinking that the Israelites were theirs to do with as they please. The LORD had a different idea. HIS displeasure with HIS people was only going to last seventy years.
Zechariah was sent to encourage the people in the fact that the LORD was going to deal with the heathen nations. HE was going defeat the heathen nations and set Israel back up as a nation.
This chapter also informs us that the LORD is watching everything that goes on here on earth. HIS angels are traveling to and fro over all the earth and reporting back to HIM.
The Angel of the LORD speaks to the Father regarding the condition of the earth. HE wants the Father to show mercy to HIS people. The Father answers with good and comfortable words. This Angel of the LORD is thought to be a theophany of Jesus Christ. A theophany is a visible appearing of deity in the Old Testament. Jesus is eternal. HE didn’t come into existence in Bethlehem. HE was in the Garden of Eden. HE was part of the creation of the world with the Father and the Holy Spirit. The Godhead has been active and will be active throughout eternity past and future.
The world has a plan to give Christians a hard time for the rest of the existence of the world. The LORD has a different idea. Our suffering or affliction is only for a short time then comes eternity with HIM.
The world’s way of thinking is very different from the way the LORD thinks about HIS people. We need to remember that when we are going through tough circumstances. The LORD is working HIS plan which is going to take place in HIS timing. Praise the LORD!!!
CHALLENGE: Things in our world are getting more interesting every day. Watching the new on television should encourage us that Scripture is being fulfilled as we watch.
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DISCIPLINES OF THE FAITH:
BODY
Chastity (Purity in living)
Fasting (Time alone with LORD without eating or drinking)
Sacrifice (Giving up something we want to serve the LORD)
Submission (Willing to listen to others and LORD)
Solitude (Going to a quiet place without anyone)
SOUL
Fellowship (Gathering together around the Word of God)
Frugality (wise use of resources)
Journalizing (Writing down what you have learned from the LORD)
Study and Meditation (Thinking through your study in the Word)
Secrecy (Doing your good deeds without others knowing but God)
SPIRIT
Celebration (Gathering around a special occasion to worship LORD)
Confession (Tell the LORD we are sorry for our sins on a daily basis)
Prayer (Conversation with God on a personal level)
Silence (Letting the LORD deal with some problems and needs)
Worship (Time to praise the LORD alone or in a group)
God’s house will be rebuilt verse 16
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DOCTRINES OF THE FAITH:
Scripture (66 inerrant books of the Bible)
Word of the LORD verse 1, 7
Thus says the LORD of hosts verse 3, 4, 14
Words verse 6
Statutes verse 6
Thus says the LORD verse 16
God the Father (First person of the Godhead)
LORD – Jehovah (Covenant keeping, Personal) verse 1- 4, 6, 12, 13, 16, 17, 20
Word of the LORD verse 1, 7
LORD sore displeased verse 2, 15
LORD of hosts verse 3, 4, 6, 12, 14, 16, 17
LORD will turn toward HIS people verse 3
Indignation for 70 years verse 12
Jealous God verse 14
God the Son (Second person of the Godhead –God/man, Messiah)
Angel of the LORD = Theophany = Christ verse 11- 14, 19
God the Holy Spirit (Third person of the Godhead – our comforter)
Trinity (Three persons of the Godhead who are co-equal = ONE God)
Angels (Created before the foundation of the world – Good and Evil)
Man riding a red horse & stood verse 8- 10
Lord verse 9
Angel verse 9
Angel of the LORD verse 11- 14, 19
Walk to and fro on earth verse 11
Questioned LORD of hosts verse 12
Man (Created on the sixth twenty-four hour period of creation)
Darius verse 1, 7
Heathen verse 15
Horns of the Gentiles verse 21
Sin (Missing the mark set by God on man and angels)
Evil ways verse 4
Evil doings verse 4
Not hear the LORD verse 4
Not listen verse 4
Heathen verse 15
Salvation (Provided by Christ’s death on the cross for our sins)
Prophet verse 1, 4- 7
Turn toward the LORD verse 3, 4
Cry the message of the LORD verse 4, 17
Hear verse 4
Commands verse 6
Servants verse 6
Mercy verse 12, 16
Good words verse 13
Comfortable words verse 13
Comfort verse 17
Choose verse 17
Israel (Old Testament people of God)
Zechariah the prophet verse 1, 7
Berechiah verse 1, 7
Iddo the prophet verse 1, 7
Fathers verse 2, 4- 6
Former prophets verse 4
Jerusalem verse 12, 14, 16, 17, 19
Cites of Judah verse 12, 19, 21
Zion verse 14, 17
Israel verse 19
Four carpenters verse 20
Church (New Testament people of God)
Last Things (Future Events)
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QUOTES regarding passage
Feinberg (p. 38) has an excellent summary of the teaching and application of the first
Vision:The distinctive features of comfort for Israel in this first vision are: (1) the presence of the Angel of Jehovah in the midst of degraded and depressed Israel; (2) His loving and yearning intercession for them; (3) the promises of future blessings. We may say, then, that the import of the vision is this: although Israel is not yet in her promised position, God is mindful of her, providing the means of His judgment on the persecuting nations, and reserving glory and prosperity for Israel in the benevolent and beneficent reign of the Messiah.
The series of visions carry us through God’s dealings with Israel from the time of their chastisement by God under the Gentile powers until they are restored to their land with their rebuilt city and temple under their Messiah King. The first vision gives the general theme of the whole series; the others add the details … When the world was busy with its own affairs, God’s eyes and the heart of the Messiah were upon the lowly estate of Israel and upon the temple in Jerusalem. (Barker, K. L. (1986). Zechariah. In F. E. Gaebelein (Ed.), The Expositor’s Bible Commentary: Daniel and the Minor Prophets (Vol. 7, pp. 613–614). Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan Publishing House.)
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1:9–11. When Zechariah asked about the vision’s meaning (What are these? cf. v. 19; 4:4, 11; 6:4; also cf. 5:6) an interpreting angel answered. In the fifth and sixth visions the angel asked Zechariah if he knew the meaning (4:2, 5, 13; 5:2). Apparently this was to rouse his curiosity. This angel referred to in the visions as the angel who was talking with me (1:11, 13–14, 19; 2:3; 4:1, 4–5; 5:10; 6:4), was not the Angel of the Lord (1:11–12; 3:1–6). The interpreting angel showed Zechariah the meaning of the vision by allowing its actors to speak. The first speaker was the central figure astride the red horse, who referred to the other riders as the ones the Lord has sent to go throughout the earth. The phrase “to go throughout” seems to be used here in the military sense of patrolling or reconnoitering. Just as the Persian kings had mounted messengers to send throughout the empire, so the Angel of the Lord had sent out angelic horsemen to reconnoiter the world scene. The patrol reported to their Leader, now called “the Angel of the Lord.” That this “Angel” (lit., “Messenger”) is a manifestation of the preincarnate Christ is established in chapter 3 where He is specifically called “the Lord” who yet refers to “the Lord” as another Person (3:2). Also He is seen exercising the divine prerogative of forgiving sins (3:4). (Cf. comments on “the Angel of the Lord” in Gen. 16:7.) The patrol had completed its assignment of searching throughout the earth, and had found the earth peacefully inhabited, at rest from war, but Israel was not at peace and rest. Was this report good news or bad news? If the reference is to the peace that existed during the second year of Darius, it was the result of Persian oppression and injustice, so this was bad news to Israelites who were under Gentile domination. Perhaps the vision has a more eschatological reference in anticipation of the worldwide kingdom of Messiah, since the patrol covered not only the vast Persian Empire, but also the whole world—though perhaps “the whole world” is a figure of speech (synecdoche) for the Persian Empire.
1:12. The intercession of the Angel of the Lord is unusual, for this divine Messenger is usually seen representing God to people rather than functioning in an intercessory role representing people to God. That the divine Messenger addressed the Lord Almighty in prayer supports a distinction of Persons in the Godhead, and contributes to the implicit doctrine of the Trinity in the Old Testament. The lament formula How long? expresses the deep need of Israel to have the Lord act on her behalf. The 70 years of promised Captivity were over (cf. Jer. 25:12; 29:10), but the city was still not rebuilt. (Lindsey, F. D. (1985). Zechariah. In J. F. Walvoord & R. B. Zuck (Eds.), The Bible Knowledge Commentary: An Exposition of the Scriptures (Vol. 1, pp. 1550–1551). Wheaton, IL: Victor Books.)
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The army (vv. 7–11). In the first vision, the prophet saw a man on a red (bay) horse, leading an army astride red, brown, and white horses. This “man among the myrtle trees” was the Angel of the Lord (vv. 11–13), the second Person of the Godhead, who in Old Testament times made temporary preincarnate appearances on earth. As the Angel of the Lord, the Son of God appeared to Hagar (Gen. 16:7–14), Abraham (18; 22:11–18), Jacob (31:11, 13), Moses (Ex. 3), Gideon (Jud. 6:11–23), and Samson’s parents (Jud. 13).
But there was also an “interpreting angel” there who explained various things to Zechariah (Zech. 1:9, 13–14, 19; 2:3; 4:1, 4–5; 5:10; 6:4–5). Ten times during these visions, Zechariah asked questions of this angel and received replies (1:9, 19, 21; 2:2; 4:4, 11–12; 5:5, 10; 6:6). “If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach, and it will be given to him” (James 1:5, nkjv). “The secret of the Lord is with those who fear Him, and He will show them His covenant” (Ps. 25:14).
In this first vision, the Angel of the Lord taught Zechariah the meaning of the horsemen (Zech. 1:10): they are God’s angelic army that patrols the earth and carries out the decrees of the Lord (v. 11, and see Deut. 33:2; 1 Kings 22:19; Job 1:6–7; 2:1–2; Dan. 7:10; Matt. 27:63). Jehovah is “Lord of Hosts,” the Commander of the armies of heaven and earth.
The messengers reported that the Gentile nations were “at rest and in peace.” After the upheaval of empires and Persia’s conquest of Babylon and other nations, this would appear to be an encouraging report, but it really wasn’t. The Jewish remnant was in distress while the Gentile powers were at ease. Haggai had promised that the Lord would shake the nations and redeem His people (Hag. 2:6–9, 20–23), but this important event hadn’t occurred yet. The kingdom promised by the prophets seemed to be a dream that would never come true.
The appeal (Zech. 1:12). A remarkable thing happened: the Son of God interceded for the people of God who were in great affliction! For centuries, “How long?” has been the cry of suffering people, especially the people of Israel (Ps. 74:9–10; 79:5; 80:4; 89:46; Hab. 1:2). “How long?” is even the cry of the martyred saints in heaven (Rev. 6:10). That the Son of God should so identify Himself with the cries of His people reveals His compassion and concern. “In all their distress he too was distressed” (Isa. 63:9, niv). (Wiersbe, W. W. (1997). Be heroic (pp. 88–89). Colorado Springs, CO: ChariotVictor Pub.)
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1:10 patrol. A symbolic military description of angelic movement patrolling and reconnoitering on a global scale. The purpose is to ascertain the state of the enemy and to respond to God’s will in engaging that enemy triumphantly.
1:11 the angel of the Lord. Elsewhere the Angel of the Lord is frequently identified with the pre-incarnate Lord Himself (e.g., Ge 16:11, 13; 18:1, 2, 13, 17; 22:11–18; Ex 3:2, 4; Jos 5:13; 6:2; Jdg 6:12, 14; 13:21, 22). In v. 13, this Angel is called Lord, and is the divine commander-in-chief of this angelic army. all the earth is peaceful and quiet. In contrast to the difficulties facing the exiles, without temple or city walls, the heathen nations were superficially at rest, occupied with their own selfish interests (cf. v. 15). This was generally the condition in the second year of Darius. The contrast makes the plight of Israel all the more distressing and the hope for the fulfillment of Hag 2:7, 22 more intense.
1:12 The Angel of the Lord interceded to God the Father on behalf of Israel, pleading for the withdrawal of God’s chastening hand. The “seventy years” refers to God’s words to Jeremiah concerning the length of Judah’s exile (Jer 25:11, 12; 29:10). (MacArthur, J. F., Jr. (2006). The MacArthur study Bible: New American Standard Bible. (Zec 1:10–12). Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson Publishers.)
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Others have long since noticed the striking significance of the names in this first verse: “Zechariah the son of Berechiah, the son of Iddo.” Zechariah means Jehovah remembers; Berechiah is Jehovah blesses; and Iddo, The appointed time. So read, we would have: “Jehovah remembers, Jehovah blesses at the appointed time.” Thus, when the set time to favor Zion has come, all the promises of the Lord will be fulfilled, and carried out in blessing. If any think such an interpretation fanciful, let them remember how the apostle, by the inspiration of the Holy Ghost, dwells on the meaning of names, and their order, in the case of Melchizedek, King of Salem, in Hebrews 7:2. There is surely more than a hint in that remarkable passage that there are vast stores of instruction in the names of men and places used throughout the Scriptures that many of us have little dreamed of.
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The rider on the first horse would seem to be the Covenant-Angel, standing for the people of Jehovah’s choice. The other horses speak of the providential agencies, possibly angelically-directed, working among the Gentile nations. Observe, the Lord had sent them. The powers that be are ordained of God. They had lately been used for the chastisement of offending Israel. Now all the world was at peace, and the nations utterly indifferent to the low estate of the seed of Abraham.
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It is a little difficult here to distinguish between the Angel of Jehovah riding on the horse among the myrtles (who really speaks of Messiah Himself as the Angel-intercessor on behalf of Israel, as in Rev. 8:1–4), and the interpreting-angel who explained the visions to Zechariah. The latter it is, in verse 14, who gives the seer a prophetic message telling him to’ “Cry thou, saying, Thus saith the Lord of hosts: I am jealous for Jerusalem and for Zion with a great jealousy. And I am very sore displeased with the heathen that are at ease: for I was but a little displeased, and they helped forward the affliction.” (Ironside, H. A. (1909). Notes on the Minor Prophets. (p. 346). Neptune, NJ: Loizeaux Brothers.)
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FROM MY READING:
Taking GOD Seriously by D. Stuart Briscoe
Zechariah
Because of their discouragement, they have decided that they will concentrate on their own interests without concern for the things of the LORD. (p. 160)
The people have become dispirited, lax in their spiritual experience. He points out how, historically, the situation can be directly attributed to the laxity of their forefathers and their own disobedience. Unless they are very careful, he says, they ae going to get themselves back in exactly the same position. (p. 161)
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TOZERSPEAKS (volume 2) by A. W. Tozer
In my estimation this brings to light a most wonderful truth! In the Body of Christ there are no insignificant congregations. Each has His Name and each is honored by His Presence. (p. 377)
But people do insist on asking questions aobut the size and number of people in a church because they are carnal. I know all about such human judgments: “This is a very little church” or “That is a poor, unknown church.” (p. 377)
Luther sowed, Wesley watered, Finney reaped, but they were only servants of the Living God. (p.380)
Why is it, then, that believers are not experiencing all that God desires for them? Why is it that our church attendance has become a social thing? Why does it become merely form and ritual?
Well, it is because we are badly instructed. We have been badly taught. (p. 382)
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Old Testament WORDS for Today by Warren W. Wiersbe
But focusing on what unbelievers do and have means walking by sight and not by faith.
Asaph learned that the worldly life is only a dream, and a mirage (Ps. 73:20), while believers are in touch with reality and eternity. We should not be envious of the lost because their destiny is to perish (vv.17,27); neither should we be envious of other Christians, because we don’t have either the ability or the authority to pass judgment on other believers (Rom. 14:4). When you are in the sanctuary, in fellowship with God, you shouldn’t look at other people or even at yourself. Your focus should be on the Lord. (p. 82)
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Obadiah 1
Edom is judged because she has acted with violence toward Israel.
INSIGHT
Esau and Jacob were brothers. Esau was the father of the nation Edom, and Jacob was the father of the nation Israel. Therefore, in a sense, the nations Edom and Israel are brothers. A day comes when Assyria wages war against Jerusalem. But instead of joining Israel, their brother, in the fight against Assyria, Edom joins Assyria and fights against their brothers in Jerusalem. Because of this breach of loyalty, God pronounces judgment on Edom through the prophet Obadiah. God offers no hope for possible restoration or deliverance for Edom. Her fate is sealed. Edom is destroyed as a nation. (Quiet Walk)
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THE DEVIL IS A PERSON
Ye are of your father the devil, and the lusts of your father ye will do.
John 8:44
The second thing that the Bible tells us about the devil is that he is a person. This is most important at the present time, because it has been the fashion for at least a century not to believe in the devil as a person. This is true not only of those who are unbelievers but also of many who call themselves Christians. They say they believe in the power of evil or an evil influence or a kind of lack in us, but they have a feeling that to believe in a personal devil is to be very much behind the times. But that is thoroughly unbiblical, because the Bible teaches us that the devil is a person.
For myself, there is one proof that is more than sufficient in and of itself, and that is the accounts we have in the Gospels of the temptations of our Lord. Now obviously our Lord’s temptations came from somewhere, and when people say that temptation to evil is something that arises solely from within and from a certain lack of power or positive qualities in us, they have no explanation to offer for the temptations of our Lord. It was a person who tempted our Lord, and our Lord addressed him as such; it was the devil who spoke to Him, and He spoke to the devil (Luke 4:1-13)–not an influence, but a person. Furthermore, we find the same thing in the book of Job in the first chapter, where the devil appears quite clearly as a person and addresses God. And God addresses him.
The biblical teaching is in no doubt at all about this. Our Lord, turning to certain Jews one day, said to them, “Ye are of your father the devil, and the lusts of your father ye will do” (John 8:44). How often you find the phrase, “the wicked one”–for example, “then cometh the wicked one” (Matthew 13:19).
A Thought to Ponder: It was a person who tempted our Lord, and our Lord addressed him as such. (From God the Father, God the Son, p. 117, by Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones)
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Dead to Sin–Alive unto God
“For I through the law am dead to the law, that I might live unto God. I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.” (Galatians 2:19-20)
One of the greatest doctrinal truths of the Bible is that the Christian life is one of victory over sin. The law of God has condemned us as lawbreakers (James 2:10), but Christ died for our sins, and “ye also are become dead to the law by the body of Christ” (Romans 7:4).
We should live in victory over sin, but somehow we still stumble. “If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.” The remedy for such lapses is at hand, of course. “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness” (1 John 1:8-9).
Nevertheless, if Christ is really living in us by His Spirit, if we have reallybeen born again, then we cannot continue to live in sin. “How shall we, that are dead to sin, live any longer therein?” (Romans 6:2). “Knowing this, that our old man is crucified with him, that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin. For he that is dead is freed from sin” (vv. 6-7).
The secret to making this doctrine practical reality in our lives is simply the motivation of gratitude. In the words of our text, “the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.”
We already have the necessary resources: forgiveness, freedom from guilt, eternal life, and the indwelling Spirit of Christ. We must simply avail ourselves of His power, because He loved us and saved us. “Reckon ye also yourselves to be dead indeed unto sin, but alive unto God through Jesus Christ our Lord” (Romans 6:11).
(HMM, The Institute for Creation Research)
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Third he is honest with God in his devotional life. It’s hard enough for the stagnant servant to lie to others, but when he starts lying to God in his praying and meditating, he’s really in trouble. We must accept what God says in his Word, apply it first to ourselves, and then talk honestly to God about what HE wants us to do. Openness and honesty with God in the secret place will deliver us from deception and evasion in the marketplace.
Honesty with God ought to result in honesty with ourselves, and that means measuring ourselves accurately. Do we know what areas of life and ministry need to be strengthened? Are we willing to turn the others for help and admit that we need it? Can we make plans for actions that will improve our skills and then stick with those plans?
(10 Power Principles for Christian Service by Warren W. & David W. Wiersbe)
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