Zechariah 11
Time of destruction coming to nature verse 1- 2
Open your doors – O Lebanon
that the fire may devour your cedars
Howl – fir tree – for the cedar is fallen
because the mighty are spoiled
Howl – O you oaks of Bashan
for the forest of the vintage is come down
Shepherds with no compassion for sheep verse 3- 5
There is a voice of the howling of the shepherds
for their glory is spoiled
a voice of the roaring of young lions
for the pride of Jordan is spoiled
THUS says the LORD my God
Feed the flock of the slaughter
Whose possessors slay them
and hold themselves not guilty
and they that sell them say
Blessed by the LORD – for I am rich
and their own shepherds pity them not
LORD has no pity on disobedient verse 6
FOR I will no more pity the inhabitants of the land
says the LORD
BUT lo – I will deliver the men every one into his neighbor’s hand
and into the hand of his king – and they shall smite the land
and out of their hand I will NOT deliver them
Zechariah names two staves: Beauty and Bands verse 7- 9
And I will feed the flock of slaughter
even you – O poor of the flock
and I took unto me two staves
the one I called Beauty [Favor]
and the other I called Bands [Union]
and I fed the flock
Three shepherds [prophets, priests, judges]
also I cut off in one month
and my soul loathed them
and their soul also abhorred me
Then said I – I will not feed you – that that dies – let it die
and that that is to be cut off – let it be cut off
and let the rest eat every one the flesh of another
Stave beauty cut in half verse 10- 11
And I took my staff – even Beauty – and cut it asunder
that I might break my covenant
which I had made with all the people
And it was broken in that day
and SO the poor of the flock [believer]
that waited upon me knew that it
was the word of the LORD
Thirty pieces of silver for potter verse 12- 13
And I said to them
IF you think good – give me my price
and IF not – forbear
SO they weighed for my price thirty pieces of silver
and the LORD said to me
Cast it unto the potter [lowest of laboring class]
a goodly price that I was prized at of them
AND I took the thirty pieces of silver
and cast them to the potter in the house of the LORD
Stave bands cut in half verse 14
THEN I cut asunder mine other staff – even Bands
that I might break the brotherhood
between Judah and Israel
Uncaring shepherd verse 15- 16
And the LORD
said to me
Take unto you yet the instruments
of a foolish shepherd [Antichrist]
FOR lo – I will raise up a shepherd in the land
which shall not visit those that be cut off
neither shall seek the young one
nor heal that that is broken
nor feed that that stands still
BUT he shall eat the flesh of the fat
and tear their claws in pieces
Judgment on uncaring shepherd verse 17
WOE to the idol shepherd [Antichrist] that leaves the flock
the sword shall be upon his arm – and on his right eye
his arm shall be clean dried up
and his eye shall be utterly darkened
COMMENTARY:
DAILY SPIRITUAL BREAKFAST: Young Believers
: 5 Whose possessors slay them, and hold themselves not guilty: and they that sell them say, Blessed be the LORD; for I am rich: and their own shepherds pity them not. (6238 “rich” [ashar] means enrich, to make rich, to gain riches, get abundance, or pretend to be rich.
DEVOTION: Money is not the root of all evil, it is the LOVE of money that is the root of all evil. Money is important in all of our lives. Some have it and some don’t. Some are trained when they were young to use money wisely while others were not trained at all. Some were never taught not to spend more than they earn. They had to find out the hard way.
In the pass banks would send out credit cards without any application. Also now we find that banks have given mortgages to people who could not afford them. Some even gave loans with balloon payments due after a number of years that they probably knew the people who were applying for a loan couldn’t pay. Housing has lost many people their financial freedom. They are singing: “I owe, I owe, so off to work I go.”
In this passage we find people getting wealthy off the poor of the community. It is wrong. The ones who are getting wealthy are the leaders of the nation that were there to help the poor people but decided to help themselves more.
God is going to judge them for their actions. However, they think that it is God who helped them get wealthy and blessed HIM for all their wealth. They were wrong. HE didn’t condone their actions. HE is declaring them guilty through the prophet. They will pay the consequences for their actions.
Leaders are held to a higher standard. God is the judge. HIS timing is always perfect. Don’t take advantage of those you are called to lead. Shepherd those under your care wisely.
CHALLENGE: Understand the difference between making money wisely and using people to make money for you. Employers are to be fair to their employees. Employees are to give their employers a good day’s work.
DAILY SPIRITUAL LUNCH: Transitional Believers
: 7 And I will feed the flock of slaughter, even you, O poor of the flock. And I took to me two staves; the one I called Beauty, and the other I called Bands, and I fed the flock. (7462 “feed” [ra’ah] means shepherd, pastor, herdsmen, keep, companion, graze, or protect.)
DEVOTION: Zechariah was given the role of being a shepherd to a people who were going to go into captivity. Some of them were going to be killed. So, he was taking care of people who were doomed from the beginning. They were unwilling to repent and so the LORD had to send judgment.
He also took two shepherd’s staffs and named them Beauty and Bands. Beauty signified that the people where favored by the LORD because HE made a covenant with them that if they were obedient, HE would rescue them. If they were disobedient, HE would chasten or judge them and punish them. Later Zechariah cut the staff in half signifying that they had broken the covenant.
The second staff was called Bands which meant that the twelve tribes were originally together and God still considered them HIS people but there would be a division because of the disobedience. They would be divided instead of united. God has a desire for HIS people to work together to bring glory to HIS name. They were not doing this.
So God wants shepherds who will lead HIS people to a closer walk with HIM. HE wants a people who will follow only good shepherds. Neither was happening here. It should be happening in our life. Make sure you are following the right shepherds today.
CHALLENGE: The key is the obedience of those who claim to be followers of the LORD. If they are not genuine the LORD knows their heart and so anything, they say has to match what their heart is saying. If not match then no deliverance.
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: 12 And I said to them, If you think good, give me my price; and if not, forbear. So they weighed for my price thirty pieces of silver. (2308 “forbear” [chadal] means cease, refrain, desist, to leave unchanged, or come to an end.)
DEVOTION: This is the price of a bond servant. This is also the price that was to be paid to a servant who was gored by an ox.
Zechariah was asking for this amount of money as severance pay as he was quitting as the shepherd of the unrepentant people. He was quitting because they were not listening which he knew at the beginning that they were a people doomed to slaughter. He acted the part to prove a point that they were not going to listen to his message.
The same was true with the LORD Jesus Christ came to earth. HE gave a message of repentance but the religious leaders wanted nothing to do with HIM and so paid Judas this price (Matthew 26: 15) to become a traitor. Judas took this money and kissed Jesus outside the garden. Then when he realized what he had done tried to return the money but they had Jesus and were not going to give Jesus back HIS freedom. Judas threw the money down and they took it to buy a field to bury strangers in (Matthew 27:7)
How much will it take to cause us to deny the LORD? Will it be more or less than thirty pieces of silver?
CHALLENGE: Our words and actions can betray Christ in us to those who are watching.
DAILY SPIRITUAL SUPPER: Mature Believers
: 17 Woe to the idle shepherd that leaves the flock! The sword shall be on his arm, and on his right eye: his arm shall be clean dried up, and his right eye shall be utterly darkened. (457 “idle” [‘eliyl] means good for nothing, idol, worthless, of nought, or no value.
DEVOTION: The arm gives us the idea of strength. The right eye gives us the idea of intelligence. Here we find that this shepherd was not using his strength to help the flock. Also, they were not using their intellect to help the flock. This individual is the Antichrist of the last days. He will seem like he has the interests of Israel at heart but he does not. He is a liar. He is a servant of the devil.
This chapter has Zechariah playing the role of Jesus Christ the “good shepherd” that is rejected by the leadership of Israel. The two staffs represent the favor and union that they had under God but lost when the rejected Christ at HIS first coming. They were going to suffer under the destruction of Jerusalem by the Romans in 70 A. D. This was a picture of the destruction during the Tribulation period in the future.
The thirty pieces of silver paid to the potter was used of the price that Judas received from the leadership or shepherds of Israel for betraying Christ. It was the price for a slave that had been gored or slain by an ox. It was a “goodly price” for a slave [Exodus 21:32]. It was used by the priests to buy a potters field. Potters were the lowest on the laborer scale as far as wages were concerned.
So again the LORD is getting the point across that these leaders were not giving their energy or intellect to help the flock of God. So they were not getting fed intellectually or given food to gain strength in themselves. The three shepherds are thought to be the prophets, priests and kings who led the children of Israel away from the LORD. It was the leadership that told the people to say “Crucify HIM.”
We know that our political leaders are getting us farther away from the LORD’S laws. We know that there are many pastors who are not following the Bible but what is politically correct and therefore leading their people astray. We have many false prophets telling us not to worry. Our time is one that needs to have more food presented to the children of God each Sunday. Our time needs theologians that teach the truth of the Word of God. Our time needs not to follow the fads of the church but the Word of God. Please pray for all our leaders. We do have some who are “worthless or good for nothing.” Let us not follow those leaders. There is a remnant that is following the LORD faithfully. Our prayer is that we are part of that remnant. And that you are part of that remnant. Remember all those who say they are Christians are not true followers because they have been deceived by their leaders.
CHALLENGE: In the future there is going to be a leader whose total loyalty is to the devil. He will act like he cares but in reality he is a deceiver. Be warned!!! Even some Christians can be deceived by false leaders.
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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)
House of the LORD verse 13
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DOCTRINES OF THE FAITH:
Scripture (66 inerrant books of the Bible)
This says the LORD my God verse 4
Covenant verse 10
Word of the LORD verse 11
God the Father (First person of the Godhead)
LORD – Jehovah (Covenant keeping, Personal) verse 4- 6, 11, 13, 15
No more pity verse 6
Not deliver verse 6
House of the LORD verse 13
God the Son (Second person of the Godhead –God/man, Messiah)
God the Holy Spirit (Third person of the Godhead – our comforter)
Trinity (Three persons of the Godhead who are co-equal = ONE God)
God – Elohim (Creator, Sovereign, Plural name) verse 4
LORD my God verse 4
Angels (Created before the foundation of the world – Good and Evil)
Man (Created on the sixth twenty-four hour period of creation)
Lebanon verse 1
Bashan verse 2
Jordan verse 3
Neighbor verse 6
King verse 6
Sin (Missing the mark set by God on man and angels)
Glory is spoiled verse 3
Pride verse 3
Not guilty verse 5
Shepherds pity them not verse 5
Abhorred God verse 8
Foolish shepherd verse 15
Idol shepherd verse 17
Salvation (Provided by Christ’s death on the cross for our sins)
Not guilty verse 5
Rich verse 5
Covenant verse 10
Israel (Old Testament people of God)
Judah verse 14
Israel verse 14
Church (New Testament people of God)
Last Things (Future Events)
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DONATIONS:
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QUOTES regarding passage
17 This same sinister figure is now called “the worthless shepherd” because of his diabolical deeds, such as deserting the flock, in contrast to the Good Shepherd John 10:11–13). For this reason judgment is pronounced against him. While this counterfeit shepherd may have found a partial, historical fulfillment in such leaders as Bar Kokhba, who led the Jewish revolt against the Romans in a.d. 132–35 and was hailed as the Messiah by Rabbi Akiba, it seems that the final stage of the progressive fulfillment of the complete prophecy awaits the rise of the final Antichrist (cf. Ezek 34:2–4, Dan 11:36–39; John 5:43; 2 Thess 2:3–10; Rev 13:1–8). The imprecation calls for his power (“arm”) to be paralyzed (“completely withered”) and his intelligence (“right eye”) to be frustrated or nullified (“totally blinded”). For the fulfillment with respect to the Antichrist or “beast,” see Revelation 19:19–21; 20:10. “With arm and right eye out of action the leader will be powerless to fight, or even to take aim, against his enemies” (Baldwin, Zechariah, p. 187). Feinberg (pp. 213–14) concludes the first oracle and introduces the second: “The judgment here (vs. 17) brings to a close the cycle of prophecy which began with judgment (9:1). Judgment has gone from the circumference (the nations) to the center (Israel); Zechariah will yet reveal that in blessing the direction will be from the center (Israel) to the circumference (the nations) as in chapter 14.” (Barker, K. L. (1986). Zechariah. In F. E. Gaebelein (Ed.), The Expositor’s Bible Commentary: Daniel and the Minor Prophets (Vol. 7, pp. 679–680). Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan Publishing House.)
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11:8–9. The identity of the three shepherds disowned by the True Shepherd is not indicated (accounting for the more than 40 interpretations of v. 8!). Most likely, the shepherds refer to three kinds of Jewish leaders—prophets (custodians of the Law), priests, and kings (or civil magistrates)—all of them inadequate. Closely linked to the disowning of the three shepherds is the flock’s disowning of their True Shepherd whom they detested, a word (used only here in the OT) that means to loathe to the point of nausea. The Messiah (portrayed by Zechariah) repudiated His role as Shepherd (I will not be your Shepherd), and He relegated the flock to their doom, involving foreign oppression (Let the dying die and the perishing perish) and internal civil strife (Let those who are left eat one another’s flesh). An alternate interpretation sees this last clause as speaking of the cannibalism that occurred in the Roman siege of Jerusalem in a.d. 70.
11:10–11. The revoked covenant (symbolized by breaking the staff called Favor) had been made with all the nations, apparently to secure God’s providential protection of Israel. The divine disfavor on Israel because of her rejection of the True Shepherd resulted in spiritual blindness (Rom. 11:25) and national destruction and dispersion. Only the believing remnant (the afflicted of the flock) who recognized Jesus as the true Messiah understood His true origin in God.
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After rejecting the True Shepherd, the flock of Israel will accept a foolish and worthless shepherd. This is a prophecy of the end-time Antichrist who will do the very opposite of Christ the True Shepherd (cf. John 5:43).
11:15–16. Zechariah was called on to portray a second prophetic role, this time a foolish shepherd. The Hebrew word rendered “foolish” (’ěwîl) suggests a person who is a coarse, hardened fool. This shepherd will have no concern for the flock and its needs; he will be interested only in his own gluttony. Instead of defending the flock, the foolish shepherd will destroy it (cf. Rev. 13:7).
11:17. Thus the foolish shepherd is also a worthless shepherd who rightfully deserves the condemnation pronounced (Woe). The arm indicates his strength and the eye his intelligence. The foolish plottings of the worthless shepherd will be annulled when the True Shepherd returns (cf. 12:10; Rev. 19:19–20). (Lindsey, F. D. (1985). Zechariah. In J. F. Walvoord & R. B. Zuck (Eds.), The Bible Knowledge Commentary: An Exposition of the Scriptures (Vol. 1, p. 1566). Wheaton, IL: Victor Books.)
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The true Shepherd (Zech. 11:4–14). God commanded Zechariah to play the role of the true Shepherd. He became a type of the Messiah at the time when our Lord was ministering on earth. The flock of Israel was destined for slaughter because of their wicked rulers, but he was to do his best to rescue them. The Jewish leaders weren’t concerned about the sheep; they were concerned only about their own position and power. Did Zechariah actually obtain a flock and become a shepherd, or was this only to be written in his book? Isaiah, Jeremiah, and especially Ezekiel used “action sermons” to get the attention of the careless people, so perhaps that’s what Zechariah did. He carried the two instruments of a faithful shepherd, a staff (crook) to guide the sheep and a rod to ward off enemies, and he paid special attention to the oppressed (“poor”) in the flock, those who needed special attention. According to verse 11, some of the “poor of the flock” were watching him, so apparently this was an “action sermon.”
He called the one staff “Beauty” (Favor, Grace) and the other one “Bands” (Union). He fed the flock and even got rid of three unfaithful shepherds. Then one day he broke both of the staves! God’s favor to His people had come to an end; the covenant union between God and His people was broken. But so also was the union between Judah (the Southern Kingdom) and Israel (v. 14).
God is long-suffering and waits for sinners to repent and believe, but there comes a time when He has done all that He will do to reach them. This happened to Israel when Jesus was ministering on earth. “But although He had done so many signs before them, they did not believe in Him” (John 12:37, nkjv). Jesus Himself said, “How often I wanted to gather your children together, as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, but you were not willing” (Matt. 23:37).
Actually, the people wanted Zechariah to quit! He asked for his wages and they gave him the price of a slave, thirty pieces of silver (Ex. 21:32), an amount that he sarcastically called “a lordly—handsome—price.” So disgusted was he with his wages that he went to the temple and threw the money to the potter who was working there, perhaps supplying vessels for the priests. (Wiersbe, W. W. (1997). Be heroic (pp. 138–139). Colorado Springs, CO: ChariotVictor Pub.)
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11:7 I pastured the flock. The prophet did feed the truth of God to his people as a picture of what Messiah would do when He came. the afflicted of the flock. Only the poor responded when Jesus came to feed the flock (cf. Mt 11:5; 1Co 1:26). They were the lowly who would not follow the pride of the priest, scribes, and Pharisees, but believed on Jesus. Favor … Union. The prophet’s symbolic act called for him to take “two staffs.” Eastern shepherds often carried two sticks, a rod to ward off wild beasts and a staff to guide and retrieve wayward sheep (cf. Ps 23:4). The staff speaks of Christ the Good Shepherd who expressed the love and grace of God by tenderly leading and protecting His people (Mk 6:34), while the rod speaks of His unifying ministry, binding together the scattered house of Israel into one fold (cf. v. 14; Mt 15:24). (MacArthur, J. F., Jr. (2006). The MacArthur study Bible: New American Standard Bible. (Zec 11:7). Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson Publishers.)
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Ver. 17. Woe to the idol-shepherd, &c.] Or, the shepherd of nothing; that is, no true shepherd, that is good for nothing, for an idol is nothing in the world, 1 Cor. 8:4 and who is an idol himself, sits in the temple of God, and is worshipped as if he was God, 2 Thess. 2:4; Rev. 13:4, 8, 15 and is an encourager and defender of idolatry: that leaveth the flock; has no regard to its spiritual concerns; does not feed it, but fleece it, and leaves it to the cruelty and avarice of his creatures under him: the sword shall be upon his arm; with which he should feed the flock: and upon his right eye with which he should watch over it: his arm shall be clean dried up; his power shall be taken away from him; the antichristian states, which supported him, shall withdraw from him; the ten kings shall hate the whore, strip her naked, eat her flesh, and burn her with fire. Rev. 17:16: and his right eye shall be utterly darkened; not only given up to judicial blindness, which has been always his case; but his kingdom shall be full of darkness, Rev. 16:10. his hidden things of darkness shall be exposed; all his crafty schemes will be confounded; and all his wit, cunning, and subtlety, will cease; and every thing desirable to him will be taken away from him. His arm may denote his secular power, which shall be taken away from him: and his right eye his knowledge of the Scriptures, judgment in controversies, and infallibility pretended to by him, which will cease, even in the opinion of men. Ben Melech interprets it the eye of his heart or mind; and so Aben Ezra. (Gill, J. (1810). An Exposition of the Old Testament (Vol. 6, pp. 736–737). London: Mathews and Leigh.)
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In this new role Zechariah revealed the character of the coming antichrist. Verse 17 calls him “the idol shepherd,” perhaps because his image is to be set up in the temple (Revelation 13). As head of the revived Roman empire he will sign a seven-year treaty with the state of Israel, but the treaty will mask his secret purpose. His real objective will be to lull the Jews into a false sense of security. He will get their temple built so he can desecrate it and then turn on them with a program of persecution of unprecedented proportions. (Phillips, J. (2009). Exploring the Minor Prophets: An Expository Commentary (Zec 11:15–17). Kregel Publications; WORDsearch Corp.)
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FROM MY READING:
Scripture tells us of certain ones who have sent their sins on before to the judgment. You can send your sins on before to judgment, have them judged and settled and disposed of now, while you are still on earth. The Savior will cover your sins –cover them! An old brother said: “If Jesus Christ had covered our sins with His life, when they took His life away they would have been exposed. But He covered them with His death, and by His death He forever put my sins where they cannot be found, under the blood of the everlasting covenant.” Do you believe it? You certainly have powerful control over your emotions! (p. 87 TozerSpeaks vol. 1)
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Thirty pieces of silver was the value the law set on a slave who had been gored and slain by an ox. Such was the value man put upon Him who had been acquired as a bondman from His youth. (Ironside, H. A. (1909). Notes on the Minor Prophets. (405). Neptune, NJ: Loizeaux Brothers.)
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Acts 8
The stoning of Stephen initiates a wave of persecution, led by Saul.
INSIGHT
As the Jewish believers flee Jerusalem, Philip comes upon an Ethiopian dignitary who is struggling to understand the Scriptures. “Do you understand what you are reading?” Philip asks. “How can I, unless someone guides me?” is the reply (vv. 30-31). We are God’s method to reach the world for Christ. The Lord could have resorted to skywriting, sending personal visions to all people, or sending angels. Instead, He chose men and women to reach other men and women. Our responsibility is simple: to manifest the character of Christ and proclaim His name wherever we go. The work is God´s, and He will use you if you will let Him. (Quiet Walk)
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PROPHECIES ABOUT CHRIST’S BIRTH
But thou, Bethlehem Ephratah, though thou be little among the thousands of Judah, yet out of thee shall he come forth unto me that is to be ruler in Israel; whose goings forth have been from of old, from everlasting. Micah 5:2
Take a number of prophecies with regard to Christ’s birth. First of all we are told something with regard to the time of His appearance. In Malachi 3:1 the prophet says, “Behold, I will send my messenger, and he shall prepare the way before me: and the Lord, whom ye seek, shall suddenly come to his temple, even the messenger of the covenant, whom ye delight in: behold, he shall come, saith the LORD of hosts.” That is very significant. Furthermore, you remember that in Micah 5:2 we are given an exact prophecy with regard to the place of His birth”that it was to be in Bethlehem. “But thou, Bethlehem Ephratah, though thou be little among the thousands of Judah, yet out of thee shall he come forth unto me that is to be ruler in Israel; whose goings forth have been from of old, from everlasting.” We are told that He was to be of the tribe of Judah and of the house of David in Jeremiah 23:5-6: “Behold, the days come, saith the LORD, that I will raise unto David a righteous Branch, and a King shall reign and prosper, and shall execute judgment and justice in the earth. In his days Judah shall be saved, and Israel shall dwell safely:and this is his name whereby he shall be called, THE LORD OUR RIGHTEOUSNESS.”
Then in Isaiah 7:14 we are told that He is to be born of a virgin. The prophet is promising a sign, and a sign is obviously something unusual. If a virgin has a child, it is unusual, and it is a sign. We are specifically told in Matthew 1:22-23 that this verse in Isaiah was indeed a prophecy that our Lord would be born of a virgin.
A Thought to Ponder: We are given an exact prophecy with regard to the place of His birth. (From God the Father, God the Son, pp. 249-250, by Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones)
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Grow in Grace
“But grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and for ever. Amen.” (2 Peter 3:18)
These last words of the apostle Peter urge us to grow in each of two important phases of the Christian life—grace and knowledge. Such growth into Him in all things (Ephesians 4:15) will indeed give glory to Him, now and forever.
When we first become Christians, we are newborn babes (Greek brephos, 1 Peter 2:2). Our spiritual birth has been by the Word of God (1 Peter 1:23) on the basis of the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead (1 Peter 1:3).
As the Christian life began with the Word, it can only grow on the Word. “As newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of the word, that ye may grow thereby” (1 Peter 2:2). Here, “of the word” is the Greek logikos, elsewhere used only in Romans 12:1, where it is translated “reasonable.” It is the source of our English word “logical.” New Christians must feed on unadulterated, logical truth if they are to grow, and this can be found only in the Holy Scriptures.
There is another word used for babes: Greek nepios, “without speech.” This word is used for toddlers, old enough to walk but not yet able to speak plainly or to act unselfishly. It is used for “carnal” Christians. “I, brethren, could not speak unto you as unto spiritual, but as unto carnal, even as unto babes in Christ. I have fed you with milk, and not with meat” (1 Corinthians 3:1-2).
Carnality in Christians is arrested growth at the “babes in Christ” stage and is clearly abnormal. Such stumbling, quarrelsome babes need to be fed with meat, as well as milk, if they are to grow: “For every one that useth milk is unskillful in the word of righteousness: for he is a babe” (Hebrews 5:13). May the Lord enable us to grow in His grace and in the knowledge of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ!
(HMM, The Institute for Creation Research)
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Today’s Scripture
Judges 13:15-24; Ruth 1:19-21; Isaiah 9:6-7
The day dawns brightly even though there are clouds between us and the sunshine. This is a truth we often miss as we look at the underside of the clouds in the sky. In much the same way we struggle to understand the challenges that come into our lives as we only have access to one side of the equation.
Manoah was the father of Samson that struggled with God’s plan for his family’s future. An angel of the Lord had spoken to his wife an astounding promise of a son. Manoah desired a word of confirmation yet when the angel arrived and confirmed the promise, Manoah’s response was fear and unworthiness. “We shall surely die, because we have seen God!” (Judges 13:22).
Naomi was a woman who followed her husband and dark clouds filled her life as he and her two sons passed away suddenly (Ruth 1:3-5). During this period of grief, she changed her name from Naomi (pleasant) to Mara (bitter) as all she could see was the clouds of grief and sorrow. The sun was shining but all that could be seen was the clouds of adversity and grief.
Isaiah was a prophet in a nation that was in darkness and about to be exiled. The forecast was filled with adversity and suffering for him and his people. Yet the prophet is given a message filled with hope through a Child that would be born (9:6). The people of Israel could not see the promise through the darkness of their present time.
Do you feel that the clouds are thick overhead and God is distant and unseen? Does it appear your life is a tangle of broken and twisted events that only point toward disaster? Take courage, Charlotte Murray penned these words as a prayer;
“Father, my life is in a tangle, thread after thread appears, twisted and broken and knotted, viewed through the lapse of years. I cannot straighten them, Father; Oh, it is very hard; somehow or other it seemeth, all I have done is marred. I did not see they were getting into this tangled state; how it is happened I know not- is it too late, too late? Is it? “Ah No!” Thou dost whisper, “Out of this life of thine yet may come wonderful beauty wrought by My power divine.” Take then, the threads, O my Father, let them Thy mind fulfill, work out in love a pattern after Thy holy will.”
Like Manoah, Naomi, and the people of Israel, you may look at circumstances and see nothing but angry clouds and hopelessness rolling over your life. The storm will pass, and the Sun will reappear as God affirms His love for you. He is, “… Extraordinary Strategist, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace” (Isaiah 9:6). (The Net Bible).
With an Expectant Hope, Pastor Miller
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