December 23
Zechariah 4:1-5:11
Revelation 14:1-20
Psalm 142:1-7
Proverbs 30:21-23
Zechariah 4:6 – Joshua was the religious leader, a high priest, and is known for his robes, but they were dirty. Zerubbabel was the civil leader, a military general, and is told that “not by might nor by power, but by my spirit.” The man with beautiful robes can’t trust in his robes. The leader of a great military force can’t trust in his might.
Zechariah 4:10 – “The day of small things,” especially as we see lampstands referring to churches in Revelation 1:20. This verse has a great challenge to every new church that starts with just a handful of people, in a rented storefront, and/or with a tentmaker/part-time pastor. Maybe to outsiders it looks like God is doing greater things at the church down the road, but God’s reward to those new ministries is not based on “might” or “power” but on faithfulness!
Zechariah 4:14 – Who are the anointed ones? We read about them in Revelation 11:4 – Moses & Elijah who represent the Law and the Prophets. What does the New Testament tell us about the Law and the Prophets?
- The Golden Rule is the Law and the Prophets (Matthew 7:12)
- On the Two Great Commandments hang the Law and the Prophets (Matthew 22:40)
- The Law and the Prophets were until John the Baptist (Luke 16:16)
- The Law and the Prophets did write of Jesus (John 1:45)
- The righteousness of God without the law is witnessed by the Law and the Prophets (Romans 3:21)
Zechariah 5:3 – What is cursed? The violators of the Eighth Commandment and the Third Commandment. Some commentators think this 450 square foot flying scroll is the Ten Commandments (1 command from each side of the Tablets). At those dimensions (30’x15′), it is larger than the average hotel room (13’x25′) – the Law will overwhelm the house of the sinner (Zechariah 5:4).
Zechariah 5:6 – What’s going on here? The Law has gone forth, and the ephah (a container holding about 9 gallons) has a woman in it symbolizing wickedness (a Proverbs 7-type woman, not a Proverbs 31-type woman). A lead lid was put on the ephah, keeping the wickedness in. Two women take the ephah away to Shinar/Babylon (Genesis 10:10 – land of Nimrod, Genesis 11:2 – tower of Babel, Daniel 1:2 – palace of Nebuchadnezzar). Yes, a land of wickedness will be based in Babylon (Revelation 17:5).
Revelation 14:7 – Why should God be worshipped? He is the Creator. If God created us, then we are responsible to Him. That is why people in modern times try to flip that reality and argue that we created God. Their whole objective is to avoid any responsibility before Him.
Revelation 14:8 – The angel is proclaiming judgment against Babylon (the land of Shinar) that we just read about (Zechariah 5:11).
Revelation 14:10 – For those who believe the God of the New Testament is all about love as compared to the God of the Old Testament, they should have a problem with this verse. God IS love, but God is also just. Let’s warn people to avoid the wrath of God!
Psalm 142:3 – When I’m overwhelmed, I can trust the LORD! As Job says in Job 23:10, “But he knoweth the way that I take: when he hath tried me, I shall come forth as gold.” Not only that, but He prays for us when we don’t know what to pray (Romans 8:26)! “Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities: for we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered.”
Proverbs 30:22 – Is the Bible promoting class separation? No. Solomon says a man that isn’t diligent should not be ruling (Proverbs 22:29).
The odious woman seems analogous to the contentious woman of Proverbs 27:15 … for a man who had 700 wives (1 Kings 11:3), he probably had some good advice on what women to avoid!
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