Zechariah 6
Vision of four chariots verse 1- 4
And I turned – and lifted up mine eyes – and looked – and behold
there came four chariots out from between two mountains
and the mountains were mountains of brass
In the first chariot were red horses
and in the second chariot black horses
and in the third chariot white horses
and in the fourth chariot
grisled and bay horses
THEN I asked and said unto the angel that talked with me
What are these – my lord?
Angel explains purpose of chariots verse 5- 6
AND the angel answered and said unto me
These are the four spirits of the heavens
which go forth from standing
before the Lord of all the earth
The black horses which are therein go forth
into the north country
and the white horses go forth after them
and the grisled go forth toward the south country
LORD sent the chariots verse 7
And the bay went forth
and sought to go that they might walk
to and fro through the earth
and HE said
Get you hence walk to and fro through the earth
SO they walked to and fro through the earth
LORD speaks to Zechariah verse 8
THEN cried HE upon me – and spoke unto me – saying
BEHOLD
these that go toward the north country have quieted
my spirit in the north country
Zechariah to receive gold and silver to make crown verse 9- 11
AND the word of the LORD came unto me
saying
Take of them of the captivity
even of Heldai – Tobijah – Jedaiah
which are come from Babylon
and come you the same day
and go into the house of Josiah
the son of Zephaniah
THEN take silver and gold and make crowns
and set them upon the head of Joshua
the son of Josedech
the high priest
Zechariah to give message to Joshua the high priest verse 12- 13
AND speak unto him – saying – This speaks the LORD of hosts
saying
BEHOLD the man whose name is The BRANCH
and HE will grow up out of HIS place
and HE shall build the temple of the LORD
EVEN HE shall build the temple of the LORD
and HE shall bear the glory
and shall sit and rule upon HIS throne
and HE shall be a priest upon HIS throne
and the counsel of peace shall be
between them both
Crown to be a memorial verse 14
The crowns shall be to Helem – Tobijah – Jedaiah – Hen
the son of Zephaniah
FOR a memorial in the temple of the LORD
Obedience the key to fulfillment verse 15
AND they that are far off shall
come and build in the temple of the LORD
and you shall know that the LORD of hosts
hath sent me unto you
AND this shall come to pass
IF you will diligently
obey the voice of the LORD your God
COMMENTARY:
DAILY SPIRITUAL BREAKFAST: Young Believers
: 7 And the bay went forth, and sought to go that they might walk to and fro through the earth: and he said, Get you hence, walk to and fro through the earth. So they walked to and fro through the earth. (1245 “sought” [baqash] means require, request, seek out, besought, ask, begging, to seek to find, to seek to secure, exact, to discover, or to try to get or reach something one desires.)
DEVOTION: Obedience is the key to serving the LORD. The angels have to be obedient to the LORD. They can’t do anything without the LORD’S permission. They can’t even leave heaven unless HE tells them to. They are at HIS beck and call. When HE commands them to do something – they do it.
Here we find the angels eager to go and patrol the earth. They want to see what is going on and to do what the LORD bids them to do. It is thought that they were to issue judgment on the nations for their treatment of HIS people Israel.
Angels are powerful. They are not almighty but they have power given to them to do whatever the LORD commands. Some are sent as messengers to prophets which is what is happening throughout the book of Zechariah.
Zechariah wants to understand what is happening and the angel explains it to him. We want to understand what is happening and the Holy Spirit gives us instructions regarding how to understand what is happening.
Many times it would be good to have an angel visit us and tell us what is going to happen next but we have enough information in the Word of God to get us prepared for events that are coming.
CHALLENGE: What do you desire most in life? Is it to please the LORD with all your heart and soul and mind? That should be and can be our desire.
DAILY SPIRITUAL LUNCH: Transitional Believers
: 8 Then cried he upon me, and spake unto me, saying, Behold, these that go toward the north country have quieted my spirit in the north country. (5117 “quieted” [nuwach] means to appease, to rest, to settle down and remain, to repose, or cause to rest.
DEVOTION: Here we have a vision of four chariots. They come from between two mountains: Mount Zion and Mount of Olives? Two of the four horses go to the north to deal with those who have been enemies to Israel. In the north was both the kingdoms of Assyria and Babylon. The nation of the south was Egypt that was going to be dealt with as well at HIS return. They are going to be defeated. The other horses are going to go to and fro over all the earth signifing that the LORD is in control of all the earth. HE is watching what is happening and knows what HE is going to do next. It was all fixed before the foundation of the world.
This vision was to tell Zechariah that the issue with the nation of Babylon was settled. The LORD was telling him that he could rest assured that Babylon was defeated. This vision was concerned with future judgment. The horses went out to see what wars were in the future.
The last part of this chapter gives a description of the coming BRANCH. This BRANCH is the Messiah or Christ. This is giving a rundown of what was going to happen during the Millennial reign of Christ after HIS second coming.
The LORD was going to assure Zechariah and all those who read his prophesies that HE had a plan for the future and it was set. The LORD is coming again to take HIS own people to be with HIM before the Tribulation hits the earth with judgment.
Then the Millennium will be a time of peace during the reign of Christ over the world. The LORD Jesus Christ is going to wear two crowns or two offices: King and Priest.
Are we ready for the return of the LORD? Are we winning our friends and loved ones to the LORD? One article says that it takes 86 Christians to win one to the LORD. Let’s change that stat.
CHALLENGE: Our time is limited to reach those around us for the LORD. Events seem to be working toward HIS return. Listen for the trumpet sound!!
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: 12 And speak unto him, saying, Thus speaks the LORD of hosts, saying, Behold the man whose name is The BRANCH; and he shall grow up out of his place, and he shall build the temple of the LORD. (6779 “grow up” [tsamach] means spout, spring up, bud, have an event happen, or bear.
DEVOTION: Throughout the prophets we find references to the coming Messiah. There are two coming. The first time he comes as the suffering servant and the second as the reigning King. The problem is that many misinterpreted the passages to think that when the Messiah came it was going to be as a King right away. They were wrong.
The first coming of Christ was to be a substitute for mankind in their need of redemption from sin. HE was a suffering servant who died in our place to give us the possibility of becoming a follower. All those who repented of their sins and obeyed the LORD were redeemed. All those who rejected the LORD and lived as they pleased will not be redeemed but spend eternity in the lake of fire with the devil and his angels.
The second coming is still future in Zechariah’s time and in our time. HE will come at the designated time that only God knows. We are not to predict the day. We are not to stop working until the LORD returns.
When the LORD or Branch returns the second time HE is going to be a King and a Priest. HE came as a man to die for our sins. HE returns are our King.
There will be a third Temple built during the Millennium. HE will establish training for all those who come to learn more about HIM. HE will accept sacrifices from all those who come to worship HIM.
CHALLENGE: God establishes hope with all the prophets so that no matter what is happening around us we can KNOW that HE is there with us through all our circumstances.
DAILY SPIRITUAL SUPPER: Mature Believers
: 13 Even HE shall build the temple of the LORD; and HE shall bear the glory, and shall sit and rule on HIS throne; and HE shall be a priest on HIS throne: and the counsel of peace shall be between them both. (6098 “counsel” [‘etsah] means purpose, advice, something that provides direction, prudence, wisdom, cares, plan, scheme, or to execute a plan.)
DEVOTION: Later in this devotional we will look at the previous verse regarding the Branch which is Jesus Christ. HE is the Messiah. Here we have a reference to Joshua which is another name for Jesus. One is Old Testament and the other New Testament.
This crown that was to be made was to be put on the head of the High Priest but he was also going to be sitting on a throne and ruling the people. He was to be not only a priest but a king. This is fulfilled only in the Messiah. Christ is returning to reign in the third Temple.
It will be a time of peace that has not been experienced as yet by the children of Israel or even in our time period.
Christ is going to be a priest after the order of Melchisedek (Hebrews 5:6). Remember that Jesus was of the tribe of Judah which was not the natural tribe for priests. So we are introduced to Melchisedek in the time period of Abraham as he offered tithes to him to show his obedience to the LORD.
We are to understand the importance of the role Christ is going to play in the future but HIS role today is that of our High Priest. We can turn to HIM anytime with our confession. HE is our representative before the Father who is the one who sends us blessings.
CHALLENGE: The Godhead has a plan that they made before the foundation of the world and they are working their plan. Their plan includes all those who are genuine followers of the LORD!!!
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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)
Josedech – high priest verse 11
Temple of the LORD verse 13- 15
Build in the temple of the LORD
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DOCTRINES OF THE FAITH:
Scripture (66 inerrant books of the Bible)
Word of the LORD verse 9
God the Father (First person of the Godhead)
Lord – Adonai (Master, Owner) verse 5
Lord of all the earth verse 5
LORD – Jehovah (Covenant keeping, Personal)
verse 9, 12- 15
Word of the LORD verse 9
LORD of hosts verse 12, 15
Temple of the LORD verse 12- 15
Voice of the LORD your God verse 15
God the Son (Second person of the Godhead –God/man, Messiah)
Man verse 12
BRANCH verse 12
Build a Temple verse 12, 13
Bear the glory verse 13
Shall sit and rule upon the throne verse 13
HE shall be a priest upon HIS throne verse 13
Rule on the throne verse 13
Counsel of peace verse 13
King verse 13
Priest verse 13
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 15
Angels (Created before the foundation of the world – Good and Evil)
Angel that spoke with Zechariah verse 4, 5
Four spirits of the heavens verse 5
Stand before the Lord of all the earth verse 5
Walk to and fro through the earth verse 5- 7
Cried to Zechariah verse 8
Man (Created on the sixth twenty-four hour period of creation)
North country verse 6, 8
South country verse 6
Heldai – crown verse 9
Tobijah – crown verse 9, 14
Jedaiah – crown verse 9, 14
Babylon verse 10
Helem verse 14
Hen the son of Zephaniah verse 14
Sin (Missing the mark set by God on man and angels)
Salvation (Provided by Christ’s death on the cross for our sins)
Obey the voice of the LORD verse 15
Israel (Old Testament people of God)
Zechariah saw four chariots verse 1- 8
First chariot – red horses go to north
Second chariot – black horses
Third chariot – white horses
Fourth chariot – grisled and bay horses
Asked: What are these my lord?
Sons of Zephaniah
LORD of hosts has sent me
House of Josiah the son of Zephaniah verse 10
Joshua the son of Josedech – high priest verse 11
Silver, gold and make crowns
and set them upon the head
of Joshua – son of Josedech
Diligently obey the voice of the LORD your God verse 15
Church (New Testament people of God)
Last Things (Future Events)
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DONATIONS:
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QUOTES regarding passage
15 Gentiles will contribute materials for the construction of the messianic kingdom temple. When this happens, the people will know that the Lord sent his messenger (Messenger?) to them. All this will happen if the people render absolute obedience to the Lord’s word. “Those who are far away” must refer to Gentiles and be paralleled with such passages as 2:11; 8:22; Isaiah 2:2–4; 56:6–7; 60:1–7. They will help build the temple by contributing their wealth (silver, gold, and other materials) to it, as was done for Solomon’s temple and for the second temple (cf. the preceding verses). Isaiah 60:5–7 also predicts that this will happen. For the identification of the messenger (“me”), see comments at 2:8–11 and 4:9. Perowne (p. 98) gives the correct understanding of the conditional clause at the end of the verse: “The meaning is not, that the coming and work of Messiah, but that their share in it depended on their obedience.” The conditional element—obedience—relates, then, to the people’s participation individually (cf. Deut 28:1–2, 15; 30:1–10). In the new covenant (Jer 31:33–34; Ezek 36:26–27), God personally guarantees that the people will ultimately obey; his Spirit will enable them to do so. (Barker, K. L. (1986). Zechariah. In F. E. Gaebelein (Ed.), The Expositor’s Bible Commentary: Daniel and the Minor Prophets (Vol. 7, p. 641). Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan Publishing House.)
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The Crowning of Joshua
Strictly speaking, the last verses of Zechariah 6 are not a vision. Yet this portion is so closely connected with what has gone before that it is actually a continuation of and a climax to the earlier visions. Moreover, it parallels the incident involving Joshua the high priest in chapter 3. In the earlier passage Joshua appeared as a representative and pointed forward to one who would perfectly fulfill the priestly office, thereby removing the sin of the land “in a single day.” In this passage Zechariah is to crown Joshua with a crown made with silver and gold brought from Babylon, after which the crown was to be laid up in the temple as a memorial of this symbolic act. The act pointed forward to that greater priest who should wear the crown of his father David and who, according to this prophecy, would “branch out from his place and build the temple of the Lord. … He … will build the temple of the Lord, and he will be clothed with majesty and will sit and rule on his throne. And he will be a priest on his throne. And there will be harmony between the two” (Zech. 6:12–13).
In the Hebrew text the word for “crown” (ʿataroth) is plural. That has led some liberal scholars to imagine that two crowns are being discussed and to insert the words “and on the head of Zerubbabel the governor.” This is not only an unjustified interpolation—a vice of which liberal scholars are all too often guilty—it also completely misses the point. In Israel the priestly and kingly offices were kept separate. The priest never wore a crown or sat upon a throne. The king never performed the priestly functions. Yet here a crown is placed upon the head of Joshua, not Zerubbabel, pointing forward to the one who should be both king and priest. It is said that “he will be a priest on his throne” (v. 13).
Baron says of this text: “This is one of the most remarkable and precious Messianic prophecies, and there is no plainer prophetic utterance in the whole Old Testament as to the Person of the promised Redeemer, the office he was to fill, and the mission he was to accomplish.”
This is one of those prophecies in which nearly every word is important. In the Hebrew text the prophecy begins “Behold the man,” the very words Pilate used to present the beaten Christ to the people of Jerusalem: “Ecce homo!” On the occasion referred to in Zechariah, it is not the humiliated Christ who is in view; it is Christ triumphant. The next key word is “Branch.” It occurred earlier (in 3:8), but here its significance is expounded. He will have a small and insignificant beginning but will in time “branch out from his place” and dominate the world. Next we are told that he will “build the temple.” What temple is this? It is not the temple to be built in Zechariah’s day, for the completion of that work had been promised to Zerubbabel (4:9). This is Messiah’s temple. It may be a literal temple built during the earthly millennium in which Christ shall rule, a temple into which the wealth of the Gentiles shall come (cf. Isa. 2:2–4; 56:6–7; Ezek. 40–48; Mic. 4:1–7; Hag. 2:7–9). But it may also be the spiritual temple, the church, which Paul refers to as “a holy temple in the Lord” (Eph. 2:21).
Four Hebrew words, rendered “He will be a priest on his throne,” portray all that the prophets had spoken about the Messiah’s person and work. “Here is the true Melchizedek, who is at the same time King of Righteousness, King of Salem which is King of Peace, and the great High Priest, whose period, unlike the Aaronic, abideth ‘for ever.’ ” By sitting, he ends his work of atonement and assumes the rule of his church and world forever.
What is the result of his atonement and rule? The text describes it as “harmony” or peace. Harmony between whom? Not between the two offices; that relationship has been harmonious from the beginning. Not between God the Father and his servant the Son; that too has existed from eternity. The peace is between the holy God and sinners, between God and ourselves. Is Christ your peace? He has made that peace at his cross. It must be found there if you are to find it. (Boice, J. M. (2002). The Minor Prophets: an expositional commentary (pp. 514–515). Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Books.)
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6:15. Imperceptibly the divine instructions to Zechariah to perform the symbolic crowning seem to have merged with a prophecy spoken by the Branch or the Angel of the Lord (who are One and the same), who is sent by the Lord (the Lord Almighty has sent Me to you). The deputation from Babylon, though consisting of Jews, appears to be typical of all those who are far away who will help to build the millennial temple. People from many nations around the world will bring their wealth for the temple (Isa. 60:5, 9, 11; 61:6b; Hag. 2:7–8). (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. 1559). Wheaton, IL: Victor Books.)
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Commemoration (vv. 14–15). Zechariah then took the crown from off Joshua’s head and gave him his priestly miter (3:5). Why? Because the symbolic act was over and the crown did not belong to Joshua. It belonged to the coming Messiah. Zechariah placed the crown somewhere in the temple as a memorial (reminder) of the Lord’s promise of a King-Priest who would bring peace and holiness to His people.
God will be faithful to His promises even if His people are unfaithful (2 Tim. 2:12–13), but they will miss out on the blessings. He didn’t put any conditions on the wonderful promise of a future King-Priest, but Zechariah 6:15 seems to limit God’s working to the obedience of His people. “This will happen if you diligently obey the Lord your God” (niv).
This statement is a reference to God’s covenant recorded in Deuteronomy 28: “Now it shall come to pass, if you diligently obey the voice of the Lord your God” (v. 1). The remnant of Jews then in the Holy Land had to obey God’s laws so that He might protect them and bless them as He promised, for the Messiah had to be born from this nation. Within a few centuries, the Angel Gabriel would visit Mary and tell her she had been chosen to bring the promised Messiah into the world (Luke 1:26–38). The faithfulness of one generation assured the blessing of the next generations and ultimately the blessing of the whole world.
The visions are ended. We have seen a vivid panorama of God’s plans for Israel, culminating in the King-Priest on David’s throne, ruling over Israel and the whole world.
Remember these prophecies the next time you pray, “Thy kingdom come.” (Wiersbe, W. W. (1997). Be heroic (p. 117). Colorado Springs, CO: ChariotVictor Pub.)
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6:12–15 In this brief section, 8 facts are given about Messiah, the Branch: 1) He will come from Israel (v. 12); 2) He will build the millennial temple (vv. 12b, 13a); 3) He will be glorious (v. 13); 4) He will be king and priest (v. 13); 5) He makes peace (v. 13); 6) He opens the kingdom to Gentiles (v. 15a); 7) He will corroborate God’s Word (v. 15b); and 8) He demands obedience (v. 15c). This, as always, is the essential matter. After Israel believes, the Messiah will come to set up His kingdom (cf. 12:10–13:1; 14:9–21). Faith and cleansing must come first. (MacArthur, J. F., Jr. (2006). The MacArthur study Bible: New American Standard Bible. (Zec 6:12–15). Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson Publishers.)
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Upon the brows of the associates of Joshua crowns were also placed, as setting forth the dignity of restored Israel when they shall all be a kingdom of priests. This was done “for a memorial in the temple of the Lord” (ver. 14). Then followed a declaration that “they that are far off shall come and build in the temple of the Lord, and ye shall know that the Lord of hosts hath sent me unto you. And this shall come to pass, if ye will diligently obey the voice of the Lord your God” (ver. 15). (Ironside, H. A. (1909). Notes on the Minor Prophets. (pp. 373–374). Neptune, NJ: Loizeaux Brothers.)
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Ver. 15. And they that are afar off shall come, &c.] Into the temple; not the material temple; nor is this a prophecy which was fulfilled in Herod, a stranger, repairing that, as Kimchi suggests; but into the spiritual temple, the church; and is a prophecy of the calling of the Gentiles, who are said to be afar off, Ephes. 2:12, 13, from God; from having his image on them; from subjection to his law; from the knowledge and fear of him; and from communion with him: from Christ; from the knowledge of his person, righteousness, and salvation by him; from love to him, faith in him, and fellowship with him; from the Spirit of God, and from the people of God, and from any solid hope of eternal life: now these being called by grace, and brought to Christ under the drawings of the Father’s love, shall come to his church, and join themselves to his people: and build in the temple of the Lord; upon the foundation Christ; and be useful in building up others, either by private conversation, or by public preaching the word; it is not said, they shall build the temple of the Lord; that is Christ’s work; hut build in it: and ye shall know that the Lord of hosts hath sent me unto you: that is, the Prophet Zechariah, who was sent to the Jews to declare these things to them; or, as the Targum adds, to prophesy unto you; which they would fully know, and be assured of, when these things should have their accomplishment: and this shall come to pass, if ye will diligently obey the voice of the Lord your God: not that the fulfilment of the above predictions depended upon their obedience; but when they should in the latter day obey the Gospel of Christ, or the word of the Lord their God, as the Targum paraphrases it; then this would come to pass, that they should know that the prophet had his mission from the Lord. (Gill, J. (1810). An Exposition of the Old Testament (Vol. 6, p. 709). London: Mathews and Leigh.)
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FROM MY READING:
Cark C (NY): Be careful: I got a message from you or it shown on your wall here.. Please tell all the contacts in your messenger list not to accept friendship request from Andrea Wilson. She is a hacker and has the system connected to your Facebook account. If one of your contacts accepts it, you will also be hacked, so make sure that all your friends know it. Thanks. Forwarded as received. Hold your finger down on the message. At the bottom in the middle it will say forward. Hit that then click on the names of those in your list and it will send to them THIS Is REAL
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Haggai 1
Haggai explains that God’s people suffer because they neglect to finish the temple.
INSIGHT
As the children of Israel return from the Babylonian captivity, their first order of business is to rebuild the temple. Haggai, a prophet of God who is ministering at the time, encourages the people to work hard at restoring the temple. With great enthusiasm, they quickly lay the foundation. But discouragement sets in and work on the temple is soon forgotten as they begin to build their own houses. Finally, after 15 years, Haggai tells them that the afflictions they are suffering are because of their neglect of the temple. They must finish the temple first and then resume building their houses. First things first. God demands proper priorities. (Quiet Walk)
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ONE COVENANT OF GRACE
I will be their God. Genesis 17:8
Consider the new disposition of the covenant of grace–the word “new” simply means a new administration of the same covenant. Let us remind ourselves of God’s purpose in this covenant of grace. Through sin and the Fall men and women lost their knowledge of God–they were estranged from Him, and God’s purpose of redemption was to bring us back to know Him. The working out of the new economy of this covenant has been done in and through our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. It is important, first of all, that we should establish clearly that we are still dealing with the same covenant. So let me give you these proofs.
The first is that there is but one covenant of grace, and it is the same covenant in the Old Testament as it is in the New Testament. We notice that the great promise made in the Old Testament (“I will be their God”–the promise made to Abraham in Genesis 17:8) is mentioned several times in the New Testament. It is one and the same promise. The greatest thing that can happen to anybody is to say, “My God.” Nothing is to be compared with this, and it is the New Testament term as well as the Old Testament term.
The second proof is that you find the same kind of blessing in the Old Testament and in the New Testament. Take Psalm 51 and see what David prays there: “Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me” (verse 10); he wants to have the joy of his salvation restored to him (verse 12). Sometimes Christian people speak very wrongly of the kind of spiritual experience that was enjoyed by the Old Testament saints. There is a tendency to say that we have this experience but that they had nothing. You would be very surprised to hear that the psalmist is further on spiritually than you are!
A Thought to Ponder: There is but one covenant of grace, and it is the same covenant in the Old Testament as it is in the New Testament. (From God the Father, God the Son, pp. 235-236, by Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones)
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Life’s Uncertainties
“Thomas saith unto him, Lord, we know not whither thou goest; and how can we know the way?” (John 14:5)
Many times along life’s way we face uncertainties, opposition, and even doubt. When we do, it is helpful to recognize that those who lived with Christ when He was here on Earth faced the same perplexities. His answers and assurances to them in John 14 are meant for us as well.
“Let not your heart be troubled,” He said (John 14:1)—an emphatic command that could be rendered “Don’t continue to be troubled.” The solution: “Ye believe in God, believe also in me.” We believe God can supply all the answers to our troubles. But Christ is God! He is the solution. He is “the way, the truth, and the life” (14:6), and is the onlysolution, for “no man cometh unto the Father, but by [him].”
He is the way: “In my Father’s house are many mansions. . . . I go to prepare a place for you. And . . . I will come again, and receive you unto myself” (14:2-3). Whatever else may befall us, our destiny is sure. His reputation is at stake, for He has promised a place in the Father’s house.
He is the truth: Peter had just been informed of his coming denial (13:38), that he would openly assert a lie. Jesus said He is “the truth.” “The words that I speak unto you I speak not of myself: but of the Father that dwelleth in me” (14:10). Words and thoughts not in accordance with His are not “truth,” we can be sure of that.
He is the life: Speaking of His imminent death, Christ said, “Whither I go, thou canst not follow me now; but thou shalt follow me afterwards” (13:36), indicating their own eventual persecution and martyrdom. Yet their ultimate victory, as well as comfort (14:16-18), were assured.
How can those things be? “Whatsoever ye shall ask in my name,” Christ said, “that will I do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son” (14:13).
(JDM, The Institute for Creation Research)
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“God commands us to be filled with the Spirit,” said Moody, “and if we are not filled, it is because we are living beneath our privileges. (p. 106)
Any so-called spiritual experience that robs people of their God-given intelligence and self-control is not from the Holy Spirit. (p. 107)
Either God is accomplishing HIS will in and through us by HIS Spirit, or we’re doing our own thing in our own way and passing it off as the work of God. (p. 107)
To quote A. W. Tozer again, “The Spirit-filled life is not a special edition of Christianity. It is part and parcel of the total plan of God for His people. (p.108)
We don’t “use” the Holy Spirit so we can glorify ourselves; he uses us to glorify Christ. (p. 109)
(10 Power Principles for Christian Service by Warren W. & David W. Wiersbe)
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Daily Hope
Today’s Scripture
Psalm 136
Sunday has concluded and I trust it was a day that you set aside to worship and to give praise for all that the Lord has done for you. Our Sunday service concluded with the Lord’s Table and a time of examination so that we might eat and drink of this special observance with a grateful heart. As we examine ourselves, we recognize that His mercy endures forever!
That is the point of this psalm as well! The psalmist draws the reader into the recognition that they are to give praise to the Lord for His unfailing mercy. It is an antiphonal psalm where a group of people would echo or repeat a phrase after the speaker had spoken. In this case the repeated phrase is, “For His mercy endures forever.” In the first three verses, the speaker draws the reader and the congregation into the psalm by identifying the One Whom to praise. The passage then emphasizes the work of God in creation and His wondrous works in earth and heaven (vv.4-9).
Most of the psalm (vv.10-25), is the heralding of God’s work toward the people of Israel and His care for them. The psalmist recounts the Lord’s hand and power in the nation as He directed them from Egypt, through the Red Sea. God continued to lead them through the wilderness and defeated their foes in advance by giving them the land He had promised despite their lowly stature and number. He concludes the psalm as he began with the call for the assembled to give thanks and their antiphonal refrain, “For His mercy endures forever.”
At the beginning of a busy work week as many demands are going to vie for your time and energy, this is a great psalm to consider! Be reminded that His mercy abounds and is new every morning! May we remember, “Through the Lord’s mercies we are not consumed, Because His compassions fail not. They are new every morning; Great is Your faithfulness.” Lamentations 3:22–23.
With an Expectant hope, Pastor Miller
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