Day 255. 12th September Bible Commentary With Dr. Toyin Ojo Taken From The Book Of Zechariah, And Ezra.
THE BRANCH
ZECHARIAH 6:1-15
The spiritual adventure of the prophet Zechariah continues with the angel of the LORD. When Zechariah looked up he saw four powerful chariots of Red horses, Black horses, White horses and the fourth dappled. And then he asked; what are these my LORD? The angel answered—They are the four Spirits of Heaven.
JOSHUA NAMED AND CROWNED THE BRANCH.
He will build the temple of the LORD, many will come to help him even from distant places. (Read v.13). The LORD formed a cordial team around Joshua the high priest (see v.14).
Though the LORD has guaranteed Joshua his unwavering support Joshua must meet up this T&C:
“… This (promise) will happen if you diligently obey the LORD GOD” v.15.
EZRA 5:3-17
OPPOSITION AROSE as the work of the temple progressed, the governor of the Trans-Euphrates TATTENAI and some of his officials confronted them, and went further with their wicked plans to obstruct the construction of the temple as they wrote a report to the king Darius. Yet the eyes of God monitored the progress of the work.
“But the eye of their God was watching over the elders of the Jews, and they were not stopped until a report could go to Darius and his written reply be received.” v.5.
They prompted the king to search the archives if indeed king Cyrus had decreed the rebuilding.
EZRA 6:1-14a
In response to their letter the king affirmed the approval and issued the decree that governor Tattenai and his associates should keep off the temple and made the Trans-Euphrate’s royal treasury liable for all the expenses incurred and or required for burnt offerings in Jerusalem or face grave consequences ( see v.11-12 ).
· He covets the blessings of the God of heaven (v.11).
“So the elders of the Jews continued to build and prosper under the preaching of Haggai the prophet and Zachariah, a descendant of Iddo.” v.14a.
ZECHARIAH 7:1-14
IF YOU LISTEN I WILL LISTEN:
God wants his love reciprocated. And the love of his people for him authentic.
They have not been sincere and he confronts that ( Read 4-6,11-13 ). Their fast and feast is hypocritical, at least not with divine purposes.
What God expects of us as believers;
v.9-10;
· To administer true justice
· Show mercy and compassion to one another
· Do not oppress the widow or the fatherless, the foreigner or the poor.
· Do not plot evil against each other.
· Do not manipulate and or destroy other people’s identity
ZACHARIAH 8:1-23
GOD AND HIS PEOPLE WILL REUNITE;
· He is jealous for Zion v.2
· He will be a faithful and righteous God (v.8)
· People will be safe going about their business “The seed will grow well, vine will yield its fruits, the ground will produce its crops, and the heavens will drop their dew. I will give all these things as an inheritance to the remnant of this people.” v.12.
· Judah and Israel were a curse; they will be a blessing. “Just as you Judah and Israel, have been a curse among the nations, so will I save you and you will be a blessing. Do not be afraid but let your hands be strong.” v.13
God is determined to do good again but he has expectations too. They are stated in v.16-17;
· Speak the truth to each another
· Render true and sound judgement in your courts
· Do not plot evil against each other
· Do not love to swear falsely;
For I hate all these things declares the LORD Almighty.
FAST AND FEAST FOR MY SAKE AND IN MY NAME. (Read v.19).
The fasting and feasting of the people will be pleasing to him again! And, they will do this spiritual exercises in joyfulness and in jubilation.
They will be so favoured many will love to be associated with them.
“This is what the LORD Almighty says: In those days 10 people from all languages and nations will take firm hold of one Jew by the hem of his robe and say ‘Let us go with you, because we have heard that God is with you’” v.23.
NIGHT: Be rich, and be rich in good works. Read 2Timothy 6:17-18.
Do good even if you are nicknamed a do-gooder, not for the promotion and or the recognition that comes with it but because it enables fellow inhabitants of the earth to smile and shine too. And surely as the sun comes everyday your promotion will come authorised by the LORD God (Read Psalms 75:6-7).
Day 254. 13th September Bible Commentary With Dr. Toyin Ojo Taken From The Book Of Zechariah Chapter 9-14.
PROPHECIES
Today’s chapters are the words of the LORD God commanded through the prophet Zechariah, some of which foreshadows Christ.
ZECHARIAH 9:1-17
The Word of the LORD spoken by the prophet Zechariah.
The LORD will favour and protect Jerusalem - bringing judgement against the nations that have oppressed her. Some of those oppressors where mentioned: Hadrak, Damascus, Hamath, Tyre, Sidon, Ashkelon, Gaza, Ashdod, Ekron and the Philistines.
“But I will encamp at my temple
to guard it against marauding forces.
Never again will an oppressor overrun my people,
for now I am keeping watch.” v.8
GOD SENDS A KING AND FAVOURS DAUGHTER ZION AND DAUGHTER JERUSALEM.
“….. See, your king comes to you,
righteous and victorious,
lowly and riding on a donkey,
on a colt, the foal of a donkey.
The battle now will be broken.
He will proclaim peace.” v.9&10.
…. Inference on Christ.
The prisoners will be set free because of the covenant blood (v.11)
Inference on Christ by extension and deed - a divine law honoured.
God will restore twice as much (v.12)
PLEASE SPARKLE, FELLOW BELIEVERS PLEASE SPARKLE! Our God is near.
“The LORD God will save his people on that day as a shepherd saves his flock.
They will sparkle in his land
like jewels in a crown.
How attractive and beautiful they will be!
Grain will make the young men thrive,
and new wine the young women.” v.16-17.
ZECHARIAH 10:1-12
ASK THE LORD FOR ANYTHING! He is the ever constant doer — See he gives “rain in the springtime;…… showers of rain to all people, and plants of the field to everyone.” v.1
· Therefore do not believe idols and diviners.
· Lack of direction or false vision both lead to emotional burn-out increasing your vulnerability giving room to oppression {good spiritual care -SHEPHERDING- is scarce, therefore many more nations are fast replacing the role with social care psychiatric and psychological therapy}. Church you miss it, the world steps in❗️
· Leaders and Pastors; beware, the LORD God Almighty care for his people much more than you could believe ( see v.3).
“ From Judah will come the cornerstone,
from him the tent peg,
from him the battle ball,
from him every ruler.” v.4
This verse infer Christ the cornerstone being the perfection/fulfilment of this prophecy.
THE POWER OF UNITY will come through for God’s people (v.5).
In his compassion God will strengthen, save, restore and redeem his people. (v.6-8). God will gather back his scattered people from all the places — Egypt, Assyria, Lebanon, the
raging sea will be subdued.
ZECHARIAH 11:1-17
Verse 1-3 is a declaration against God’s people (v.1-3).
SHEPHERDING CORRECTLY even as a minister?
God could not find a good shepherd - He is the Good shepherd. His rescue mission was in fact at some point frustrated especially by the flock but God is concerned for the oppressed flock. It was so unpleasant therefore his staff favour and unity, withdrawn.
“Woe to the worthless Shepherd,
who deserts the flock!
May the sword strike his arm and his right eye! May his arm be completely withered,
his right eye totally blinded.” v.17
ZECHARIAH 12:1-14
WORD FOR ISRAEL {You &I}
“The LORD, who stretches out the heavens, who lays the foundation of the earth, and who forms the human spirit within a person, declares. I am going to make Jerusalem a cup that sends all the surrounding people reeling…. I will keep a watchful eye over Judah, but I will blind all the horses of the nations….. The people of Jerusalem are strong because the LORD Almighty is their God….. And I will pour out on the house of David and the inhabitants of Jerusalem a spirit of grace and supplication.” (Extracts from v.1,2,4,5&10).
We can rejoice because the affliction shall not last.
ZECHARIAH 13:1-9
The LORD will rid the land of idolatry, all the people will be cleansed, even their minds.
Prophets will hide in shame
‘I will remove both the prophets and the spirit of impurity from the land’. v.2.
No longer will God’s people be deceived. There will only be a third left when God has scattered and struck both the shepherd and the sheep.
“This third I will put into the fire;
I will refine them like silver
and test them like gold.
They will call on my name
and I will answer them;
I will say, they are my people
and they will say, The LORD is our God.” v.9.
ZECHARIAH 14:1-21
The LORD will strike ALL nations, they will attack Jerusalem. The city captured, houses ransacked and women raped. For ‘the LORD will be king over the whole earth. On that day there will be one LORD, and his name the only name.” v.9. After a unique day when “there is no distinction between day and night” (see v.7).
Then all nations of the earth will be stricken with panic for the desolation brought by the LORD.
“ Judah too will fight Jerusalem. The wealth of all the surrounding nations will be collected — great quantities of gold and silver and clothing.” v.13-14.
Then all nations will acknowledge God and come to worship the LORD Almighty , they will go up to celebrate the Festival of Tabernacles year after year or incur God’s wrath —
· They will have no rain.
· And be stricken with deadly plagues.
· No merchant will be in the house (see footnotes one year NIV Chronological Bible p.g.1202).
“On that day HOLY TO THE LORD will to be inscribed on the bells of the horses, and the cooking pots in the LORD’s house will be like the sacred bowls in front of the altar” v.20.
NIGHT:
Ask and it will be given you … (Matthew 7:7)
Ask the LORD for rain in spring ( Zechariah 10:1) — I want you to reflect on the fact that we get lots of things without asking the LORD. Then, let’s also reflect on the fact that we have the opportunity and or responsibility to ask for somethings for which we may be entitled. For example:
· Rain in spring.
· A young bride getting pregnant.
©️ 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024 Dr. Toyin Ojo
Get the book: Toyin Ojo Bible Commentary on Amazon.
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Warmth
Toyin
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