ZECHARIAH LESSON TEN

Welcome to Bible study online! Zechariah is a terrific book to study, especially as we see the Day of the LORD approaching. I like to think of it as the “Apocalypse of the Old Testament”, because it contains so many parallels with the New Testament book of Revelation. There are plenty of Scriptures to look up, so grab your Bible, and thanks for joining us!

ZECHARIAH LESSON TEN


Zechariah 8 once again shifts in tone from warning and convicting the people of their sins to encouragement. The LORD will again address the question of memorial fasting for the people, but in the context of encouragement. I think that it is important for us to see that before God can truly bless us, we must come to a right understanding of our own sinfulness and need of repentance.

Zechariah 8:1-2 says,

“Again the word of the LORD of hosts came, saying, ‘Thus says the LORD of hosts: “I am zealous for Zion with great zeal; with great fervor I am zealous for her.”’”

We see throughout the book of Zechariah the name “LORD of hosts” used. Let’s take a look at what that name implies. The transliteration from Hebrew is “Jehovah Sabaoth,” and it means the LORD of hosts. First, whenever we see the name LORD all in capital letters, it is used for the name Jehovah. Jehovah is the covenant name used by God Himself for His people Israel. When Moses, at the burning bush, asked God what name He wanted the Children of Israel to know Him by, God said, “I AM THAT I AM.” So, Jehovah really means “I AM.” This name implies self-existence—i.e. no one and nothing created Him. He exists of His own. It also implies that everything else that exists has come into existence through Him. The name Sabaoth means “a great host,” and is often understood to mean heaven’s armies, armies in general, or just a great host on the earth. This name implies that God is in control of armies and nations, both heavenly and earthly. Why is He using this name in the book of Zechariah? I think that because the Israelites have been through a great trial by earthly armies and nations through their captivity and through the opposition of those who did not want to see them rebuild their Temple and become reestablished in their homeland, they are in need of encouragement. The name LORD of hosts reminds them that God was there and in control when the armies came against them and when their persecutors came to thwart their activities, and He is the One who will get these enemies out of the way so that His will can be accomplished. These armies and hosts are at His disposal and He is using them to help perfect the hearts of His own people, not to discourage them from doing His will.

In verse 2, He uses the word “zeal” or “zealous” three times. It is a strong word denoting great passion. The word literally means "a feeling so intense it causes the face to become red." Nahum 1:2-3 says,

“God is jealous, and the LORD avenges; the LORD avenges and is furious. The LORD will take vengeance on His adversaries, and He reserves wrath for His enemies; the LORD is slow to anger and great in power, and will not at all acquit the wicked.”

The word rendered “zealous” is also often translated “jealous” and when used of God denotes a righteous jealousy. The character of God is complete moral uprightness and absolute perfection—we can’t really even comprehend it—and when He created the world, everything was just as perfect as He is. The creation was meant to constantly express the glory and perfection of its Creator—but then sin and rebellion came. The holiness of God simply cannot tolerate sin the way we do. He may overlook it and be patient for a time, but the time will come when He will deal decisively with it. The time finally came when He used other nations to discipline the wickedness of His own people. But the problem now is that these nations enjoyed their task too much and used the occasion to profane the Lord, and thus proved to be His enemies. Now, He will take vengeance against them and restore His people. We see that God has a great passion for His people, not because they are worthy, but because He plans to accomplish His own great purpose through them. (Note: the word passion does not imply emotionalism, though emotions do get involved; it really means a driving purpose.)

Zechariah 8:3 says,

“I will return to Zion, and dwell in the midst of Jerusalem. Jerusalem shall be called the City of Truth, the Mountain of the LORD of hosts, the Holy Mountain.”

Notice the use of the name “Zion” in the past two verses. Zion is the poetic name of Jerusalem, but the interesting thing is that it comes from a root word that means “dry, parched, wilderness.” Now why would God choose such a place for Himself? Jesus said that it is the sick who need a physician, not the well. I think that the name Zion is a picture of those who realize their need of God—they are a dry, parched wilderness with no real life apart from Him, and so God is ready to give them Living Water—spoken of by Jesus to the woman at the well.

Jerusalem will be called the City of Truth, but when will this be? Jesus said, “I am the Way, the Truth, and the Life.” It will be the City of Truth when He is residing there. Revelation 20:4 tells us that Jesus will reign on the earth for 1,000 years and that His saints will reign with Him in resurrected bodies. Daniel 7:14, 27 tells us the same thing—that the Messiah will be given a kingdom and all nations will serve Him, and that His saints will rule with Him. Ezekiel 48:30-35 describes the gates of Jerusalem in the days of the King and the name of the city will be called THE LORD IS THERE. Wow!

Verses 4-5 of Zechariah 8 tell us that in those days when the King reigns in Jerusalem, it will be a time of ultimate safety and security. Old people will sit in the streets watching young children at play. Amos 9:13-15 tells us that there will be almost more food than can be harvested. Some interpret these verses to mean that there will be a dearth of technology and the people will return to an agrarian society—living close to the land without the “benefit” of television, electronics, automobiles, etc.

Verse 6 asks a rhetorical question:

"If it is marvelous in the eyes of the remnant of this people in these days, will it also be marvelous in My eyes?"


If it seems unbelievable to man, is it unbelievable to God? The answer is “no.” God has seen the end from the beginning (Isaiah 46:9-10) and He has His plans well in hand. His plans are great and He has no intention of letting sin de-rail His ultimate purpose in creation.

Zechariah 8:7-8 says,

“Behold I will save My people from the land of the east and from the land of the west; I will bring them back and they shall dwell in the midst of Jerusalem. They shall be My people and I will be their God, in truth and righteousness.”

His use of the words “east” and “west” signify the whole earth. These verses, I believe, are actually prophesying a future scattering over the whole earth, with a re-gathering. In Matthew 24:31, Jesus said, “He will send His angels with a great sound of a trumpet, and they will gather together His elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other.” The Bible mentions two groups of people as God’s “elect”—the first mentioned is the nation of Israel and the second is the Church. As I see it, the Church is the “heavenly elect” and Israel is the “earthly elect.” The Church, we are told in the New Testament, will be gathered to Christ in the air at the sound of a trumpet. I think that these verses in Zechariah are telling us that any remaining Israelites who have not already returned to the Promised Land at the coming of Messiah will be gathered and returned there. The destruction of Jerusalem in AD 70 brought about the scattering prophesied in verses 7-8 and we have been seeing a re-gathering for the past 60 years. Those who hate Israel would do well to take notice of what the Lord says He will do toward His enemies—and remember that those who are the enemies of Israel are the enemies of God.

Notice that the Lord says they shall be My people—He is going to renew His covenant with them, but it will not be like the old covenant that they broke. Jeremiah 31 says that under the new covenant, He will write His laws on their hearts—in other words, they will be made new on the inside. Are the Jews His people now? Yes and no. Physically, yes they are descended from Abraham through Isaac. But no, because they do not know Him spiritually—they have not received the inner circumcision of the heart promised by Jeremiah 31. Romans 2:28-29 tells us that the outward part does not make one a true Jew. In John 3, Jesus told Nicodemus that he must be born again or he could not enter the kingdom of Heaven. This re-birth was the inner change spoken of in Jeremiah 31, and because the Jewish nation by and large refused it, it was made available to the Gentiles. In the days of the Millennial Kingdom, however, the Jews will all receive it in a single day!

God says that He will be their God in truth and righteousness. I was reminded of Jesus before Pontius Pilate as recorded in John 18:37-38. Pilate was hearing with his own ears the very Truth of God, and his sad response was, “What is truth?”

OBSERVATION: We are so bogged down with our own opinions and personal outlooks that it is often easy to read the Bible and still miss the Truth! It takes a humble heart to hear the truth, because a humble heart doesn’t mind being cut to the quick by the truth.

Verses 9-10 of Zechariah 8 recall the political and economic difficulties that prevailed when the Jews laid the foundation of the Temple, but it enjoins them to be strong—be brave. I once made a study of the imperative commands of Jesus and I discovered that the most often used imperative was some form of “Don’t be afraid.”

QUESTION: Do we really expect everything to go smoothly for us just because we are obedient to do God’s will? Wrong-O! When we are doing God’s will, we should expect a great deal of enemy resistance. But never forget Jehovah Sabaoth—God is holding Satan’s leash and He is allowing him to check out our hearts (remember the testing of Job), not because God needs to test us, but because we need to see ourselves for who we really are. We need to know our weakness, because only then will we truly depend on Jehovah Sabaoth. II Corinthians 12:9-10 says, “My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness. Therefore most gladly I will rather boast in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.”

Verses 11-12 indicate that God is ready to end Israel’s time of testing and bring about prosperity and peace for them. NOTE: prosperity does not test you—adversity does.

Verse 13 is especially interesting to me:

“And it shall come to pass that just as you were a curse among the nations, O house of Judah and house of Israel, so I will save you, and you shall be a blessing.”

Why were they a curse among the nations? This question brought to mind events of I Samuel 4 in which the Philistines captured the Ark of the Covenant during a battle with Israel. They set it up in their own pagan temple, but for months the Philistines were plagued with all sorts of problems. They kept trying to pass the Ark off to different Philistine cities, but each city in turn would suffer terrible plagues while it possessed the Ark. In other words, the Ark became a curse because it was not where it was supposed to be. Likewise, as the Israelites were scattered among the nations, they became a curse—not because they did anything wrong, but because the nations treated them terribly and rejected them. This ill-treatment must be judged and therefore, the presence of the Jews was a curse because it revealed the true condition of the hearts of the nations. Recall the promise God made to Abraham, “I will bless those who bless you and curse those who curse you.” At the writing of this lesson, Durban II has just concluded and the UN basically sponsored a platform for a great deal of cursing against Israel. It gives me the shivers. The good news, however, is that God is going to save Israel, and they will become a blessing for the whole world because the nations will turn to Messiah when He comes. When the Philistines let the Ark go back to Israel, they were healed of all their plagues. When Israel is once again in the Promised Land under the reign of Messiah, the ills of the rest of the world will also be healed.

I see verses 14-15 as among those prophecies that have a dual fulfillment. During the days of Zechariah, God is indicating that captivity is ending and a time of peace is coming. I think it also points to the future Millennial Kingdom, spoken of in previous verses.

God again interjects instructions/warnings in verses 16-17. So often we get complacent about sin during times of prosperity, and these warnings are necessary as they enter a time of prosperity. First, He says, “Don’t tell lies.” Language is the gift of God to mankind, allowing us to express the thoughts of our spirits. To express something contrary to what our spirits know to be true is a gross abuse of this great gift, and frankly, God hates it. But honesty demands that we take a close look at the truth, and we are so adept at looking the other way instead. Secondly, those in places of authority must judge rightly. Aren’t most of us in some place of authority from time to time? Parents, teachers, leaders, etc. are all in places of authority. Sometimes, we make mistakes because we have to lead without having all the facts. Mistakes must be acknowledged and set right. But I think here God means that we must judge and lead in a way that honors Him—in righteousness. Thirdly, don’t plan evil and don’t think evil of others. If we know something terrible about another person, it should grieve us; it should not be an occasion to make ourselves look important by gossiping. This does not preclude church discipline—sin must be addressed and dealt with in the body; however, we should not be eager to suspect the worst without any real evidence. Finally, God says a second time, “Don’t tell lies.” He really hates lying. Oswald Chambers taught that, because everything we have—our bodies, minds, genetics, talents, etc.—has come from God, there is really only one gift we can make to offer back to Him, and that is our character. Character is made on a daily basis, one decision at a time. Lying mars character terribly.

In verse 18, God returns to the question of fasting. We learn from this verse that there were actually four fasts that were instituted to commemorate the tragic events that occurred 70 years earlier.

1. The fast of the 10th month commemorated the beginning of the siege of Jerusalem (II Kings 25:1-2)

2. The fast of the 4th month commemorated the breach of Jerusalem’s walls (Jeremiah 39:2)

3. The fast of the 5th month commemorated the destruction of the Temple (II Kings 25:8)

4. The fast of the 7th month commemorated the assassination of Gedaliah, the governor left in charge of Judah after the Babylonians conquered them (II Kings 25:25)

The question asked by the Jews in chapter 7 was: Should we continue to observe these fasts? God’s answer is, “You were not fasting for Me, but for your own sorrows. I am going to turn your sorrows into joy and you will feast with Me, rather than fasting in self-pity.”

The closing verses of Zechariah 8 again prophesy what it will be like on the earth during the days of the Millennial Kingdom. Everybody will want to go to Jerusalem because God will be there. Righteousness and truth will prevail and prosperity will be a true blessing, not something that separates us from God and makes us apathetic, as it so often does now.

As I write this lesson, events in the Middle East have been heavy on my mind. As I feared during the last presidential campaign, our new President has seen fit to embrace the Moslem countries of the world at every turn, while largely ignoring Israel. He does not seem to recognize the danger that the leadership of Iran with its development of nuclear weapons is posing, both to Israel and to the United States. Meanwhile, Russia is busy selling arms and allying itself with most of the Moslem nations of the world, supplying Iran, Turkey, Sudan, and Syria with missiles. I certainly don’t claim to have any knowledge of God’s timetable, but events seem to be shaping up so that the battle of Ezekiel 38-39 could be triggered at any time. It is literally a powder keg waiting for the match. I don’t want the United States to turn against Israel—please pray for President Obama’s eyes to be opened. Please pray for Benjamin Netanyahu and the peace of Jerusalem. And please pray for the elect in Russia and the Islamic nations who will be severely impacted when Ezekiel 38-39 does come to pass.

Thanks for following along! The next lesson is scheduled to post in about one week.

ZECHARIAH LESSON NINE

Welcome to Bible study online! Zechariah is a terrific book to study, especially as we see the Day of the LORD approaching. I like to think of it as the “Apocalypse of the Old Testament”, because it contains so many parallels with the New Testament book of Revelation. There are plenty of Scriptures to look up, so grab your Bible, and thanks for joining us!



ZECHARIAH LESSON NINE


Zechariah 7 opens by giving us a time frame—it is the fourth year of the reign of King Darius. Looking back at the beginning of the book of Zechariah, we see that it has been two years since Zechariah saw ten visions in a single night regarding the nation of Israel. In chapter 7, the word of the LORD is coming to Zechariah again, and it is coming in response to a question. We are about to see that a religious question is being asked, but the answer will cut to the very heart of the people. Isn’t that what happened when the scribes and Pharisees asked Jesus questions, also?

In verses 1-3, a group of men headed by Sherezer and Regem-Melech have come to the temple to pray and to ask a question of the priests. The translation of verse two is a little bit difficult, but the most likely understanding is that the people of Bethel, which means “house of God”, have sent this delegation to ask the question. Bethel is located north of Jerusalem. When the captives returned to the land of Israel from Babylon, they returned to the cities of their fathers, and two hundred captives returned to Bethel. An interesting thing to note here is that Bethel was part of the northern kingdom that was carried away captive by the Assyrians before the Babylonians ever came and defeated the southern kingdom and destroyed Jerusalem. Many believe that the ten tribes that made up the northern kingdom were “lost”, but we see from this verse that they were never really “lost” at all. When Babylon defeated Assyria, they were assimilated into the Babylonian Empire, and some were actually carried from Assyria to Babylon. At any rate, they never forgot where they were really from, and when the command came to return, they went back home.

In verse 3, we find the question that has prompted this pilgrimage.

“Should I weep in the fifth month and fast as I have done for so many years?”

Why have they been fasting in the fifth month? The only fast God ever commanded for the Israelites was on the Day of Atonement, and this is not that particular fast. When did it start, and why? The Jews have been fasting in the fifth month for seventy years now because it was in the fifth month that the Temple was destroyed in 586 BC. II Kings 25:8-10 gives the sorrowful news:

“In the fifth month, on the seventh day of the month (which was the nineteenth year of King Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon), Nebuzaradan the captain of the guard, a servant of the king of Babylon, came to Jerusalem. He burned the house of the LORD and the king’s house; all the houses of Jerusalem, that is, all the houses of the great, he burned with fire. And all the army of the Chaldeans who were with the captain of the guard broke down the walls of Jerusalem all around.”

So we see that the fast of the fifth month is a commemorative fast, and the question is rather logical. Now that we have returned from captivity and the Temple is being rebuilt, is there a reason to continue fasting in memory of its destruction?

Before we look at the Lord’s soul-searching answer to this question, let’s take some time to explore the issue of fasting. What exactly is a fast and why do some do it? Should we fast? When and why? The Western world knows and understands very little about fasting and we certainly don’t practice it with any regularity. The only real exception I know of would be strict Roman Catholics during Lent, and even they do not practice a complete fast. Because of our great scientific interest, we tend to focus on the things that we can examine by physical means. During the twentieth century there were great leaps in technology because of this, but unfortunately, the other aspects of reality, i.e., the soul and spirit, were largely ignored and the church declined. Even the great interest that was seen in psychological studies often had its roots in trying to connect human behavior with environmental stimuli, genetics, hormones, etc. In my view, the result was a tendency to reduce human beings to the level of “things” to be studied and understood from a scientific standpoint. We tend to regard the “inner man” separately from the “outer man”, rather than the “whole man.” Thus, we make little connection between fasting and spirituality, and we run to medical doctors first rather than consulting with God when we have a physical problem. Also, the Western world, because of its great wealth, is very focused on self-satisfaction and fleshly gratification. A pepperoni pizza is much more gratifying to our flesh than a growling stomach. This desire for gratification is very evident in the churches as they have become more focused on entertainment and making everything “fun”, rather than true devotion to Christ.

So what does the Bible tell us that a human being really is? If we are more than what can be examined under a microscope or analyzed by a psychologist, just what is man? Genesis 2:7 tells is that,

“the LORD God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into him the breath of life, and man became a living being.”

This verse gives us three elements in the creation of man: a body of dust, the breath of life, a living being (also translated “soul”). I Thessalonians 5:23 echoes this same three-part teaching,

“Now may the God of peace Himself sanctify you completely; and may your whole spirit, soul, and body be preserved blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.”

The idea that we see from Genesis and I Thessalonians is that a man is a unified being. There is a body, soul, and spirit all interconnected and interdependent. One does not exist without the other two. Our tendency is to compartmentalize these three, but that is not the biblical view—the three make a human being. Let’s examine each of these three parts in a little more detail.

The body—that’s the easy part—is from the Greek word “soma”, and it means the physical body that we see and touch. This is the part that was formed out of dust. The Apostle Paul says that “it is of the earth—earthy.” (I Corinthians 15:47-48) I believe that when man fell into sin, the earth fell with him because he was formed of earth, and was meant to rule the earth under God’s headship. Sin threw a wrench into the whole business.

The spirit—pneuma—is not too hard to understand. When Genesis 2:7 says that God breathed into the body the “breath of life”, I think it is describing how the spirit was given to the body. Jesus said, “I am the Way, the Truth, and the Life…” so when God breathed into the body of earth, Life came in. The Greek word “pneuma” actually means “spirit, breath, wind, mind.” So we see that the breath of the Living God brought to the man a spirit/mind. Genesis also tells us that man was made in the image of God, and I believe that this breathing in of a spirit/mind was the point at which the image of God was stamped on the man.

The soul is a little more difficult to understand. In Genesis, when man is referred to as a living being, it is the same word that describes the animals as living beings, or souls. The Greek word for soul is “psuche”, and it is described as that thing which animates a living creature. In contrast to the mind, it refers more to the seat of the senses, appetites, passions, desires. These are sometimes called “soul traits.” If animals have “psuche” or “soul”, what distinguishes them from human beings? They lack the “pneuma” or spirit which can communicate with and know God. They are not made “in His image.” Incidentally, at death, these three become separated for a time, but are reunited permanently at the resurrection.

To get an idea of the relationship of spirit, soul, and body, I like to visualize a capital letter I. A capital letter “I” has three interconnected lines. The top line represents the spirit or what some might call the “higher nature.” The body is represented by the line at the bottom—firmly on the earth. The line connecting the two is the soul, called by some the “lower nature.” Oswald Chambers taught that the soul is like a gateway that allows the spirit and body to communicate and understand each other. The body experiences something, and the soul communicates with the spirit that the body is well, sick, uncomfortable, whatever. The spirit reacts to what has been communicated also. The spirit is aware that the body has seen a tragedy, and it communicates grief to the body. The body reacts according to the spirit’s direction. The body sees a wonderful thing and the soul communicates this. The spirit rejoices and the body reacts to the joy of the spirit. When we begin to look at it this way, we can see that the three really are a connected unit; one influences the other constantly.

So what does all this have to do with fasting? I read a new book by Scot McKnight called Fasting, and in it he asserts, “Fasting is the natural, inevitable response of a person to a grievous sacred moment in life.” He says that a person who views himself as a whole entity, not three separate unconnected parts. will naturally and normally respond to certain moments in life by fasting. These moments might include: the death of a loved one; recognition of sin or separation from God; national disaster; national sin; other deep distresses. Sacred moments make eating seem sacrilegious. If one’s spirit is distressed, it is normal for the body to respond by not eating for a time.

SOME QUESTIONS ABOUT FASTING

What is a fast? Strictly speaking, it means to go without any food at all for a time. Abstinence is going without certain types of food or eating significantly less food. Abstinence is generally what is practiced during Lent.

Does a fast include water? An absolute fast includes not drinking as well as not eating. This type of fast is not recommended from a physical standpoint because it is too stressful for the body.

How long should a fast be? The fasts mentioned by the Pharisees were generally 24 hours or less. They might run from evening to evening, or from evening to noon or mid-afternoon. Sometimes a fast might be longer, as was in the case of Esther who fasted for three days, preparing to give up her life, if necessary, to save her people. Moses, Elijah, and Jesus all endured what I think can only be called “supernatural” fasts, because they fasted 40 days. They were all in the intimate presence of God for 40 days, and eating would have been unthinkable in that situation. Therefore, I think that God supernaturally upheld their physical bodies while they were in His presence.

Can everybody fast? No…I don’t believe so. The very young, the very old, those with diabetes or other serious illnesses, pregnant women, and nursing mothers have no business to be stressing their bodies by fasting.

Should fasting be observed for the purpose of self-discipline? If one’s besetting sin is gluttony, fasting may very well help tear down this stronghold. Also, if one recognizes the sin of pride, denying the body may be of help in humbling oneself. But I think that I would agree with Mr. McKnight’s idea that fasting is a response, not a means to achieve an end. Paul tells us in Colossians 2:20-23 that severe treatment of the body is of no use in the battle against sin, although he does in other places tell us that he keeps his body under strict control. There is a bit of a fine line here, but it goes to motivation. Why are you doing what you are doing? John Piper wrote, “Half of Christian fasting is that our physical appetite is lost because our homesickness for God is so intense. The other half is that our homesickness for God is threatened because our physical appetites are so intense.” Isn’t it great to know that someday our physical bodies will be redeemed along with our spirits and this situation will be joyfully resolved?

This brings us to God’s answer to the question posed, and, much like Jesus did, God answers them with a soul-searching question of His own. Zechariah 7:5-6 says,

“When you fasted and mourned in the fifth and seventh months during those seventy years, did you really fast for Me—for Me? When you eat and when you drink, do you not eat and drink for yourselves?”

Why were you fasting? Was it for Me? Israel was meant to proclaim the glory of God to the nations (Deuteronomy 7:6). The nations were to learn of the righteousness of God through Israel (Isaiah 56:3-6; Deuteronomy 32:43). The Temple was to be a House of Prayer for all the nations (Isaiah 56:7).

POINT: The name of God had been so profaned by His people’s wickedness that He destroyed the Temple by the hand of Nebuchadnezzar and scattered His people. It broke God’s heart. Did they have any concern for His Name, His fame, His glory in the earth and among the nations? Were they fasting because of the shame and disgrace their sin had brought to God’s cause? No—they only felt sorry for their own sad situation.

QUESTION: When we come up against the consequences of our own sin and we mourn, are we concerned about how it affects God, or are we just sad for ourselves?

OBSERVATION: The people still don’t seem to understand why God dealt with them as He did. How often we misunderstand both God and others because we can only see and evaluate through our own narrow focus.

God doesn’t leave them hanging, but in verses 9-10, He gives them explicit instructions:

“Execute true justice; show mercy and compassion everyone to his brother. Do not oppress the widow or the fatherless, the alien or the poor. Let none of you plan evil in his heart against his brother.”

Do we have true justice today, or can a good lawyer fix it all up? Don’t we have way too many unjust lawsuits? And is there any real justice in the socialist idea of creating class envy for the purpose of taking from the wealthy and giving to the poor? Shouldn’t it be up to the wealthy to do good to the poor themselves?

Do we show mercy and compassion, remembering our own frailty, or do we sometimes take advantage of someone who is in a tough situation (think about the freeway!). Aren’t we way too quick to judge through our own narrow view without knowing the other person’s side of things because we are under the mistaken notion that they are no different from us?

Aren’t the weak oppressed by the strong today? Think of all the predatory lenders who have been quick to take advantage of people in trouble. But more than that, are we demanding of others in our attitude, always trying to find a way to get them to do what we want for our own gratification?

How about planning evil? The headlines are full of terrorism and violence and even the financial schemes of men like Madoff, but do we ever find a way to take revenge when someone has harmed us? Isn’t gossip a form of “planning evil?”

Verses 11-12 go on to say that the people stopped their ears and hardened their hearts. Do we make excuses for why it is ok that we did or said thus and so when we really shouldn’t have? That is a form of hardening the heart. If we see ourselves in any of these sins that the Lord has just condemned, we need to remember that today is the day of repentance—thank God! Jesus said in John 6:44 that no one could come to Him unless the Father was drawing him. In other words, we can’t repent at our own leisure. Proverbs 29:1 was often quoted by Billy Graham, “He who is often rebuked, and hardens his neck, will suddenly be destroyed, and that without remedy.” Repentance is a gracious opportunity, not an inalienable right, and it must be done today, and thereafter, every day. Repentance should really become a way of life for those who believe in Jesus.

The final verse of Zechariah 7 says that the people who would not repent of their sin made the pleasant land desolate. Sin makes us desolate and fruitless. This is expected of the world, but it is a tragedy for God’s people.

A FINAL WORD ABOUT FASTING

We live in a world characterized by sin, and just as Lot was tormented by what he saw in Sodom, so should we be tormented by the evil of our days. Fasting is a normal response to these feelings, and sometimes, God responds in a particular way when we fast as a result of spiritual grief and distress. But please remember, that a fast of more than 24 hours must be broken carefully. Reintroduce foods slowly, as though you are recovering from a stomach virus. If you break a long fast with a large meal, there will be severe intestinal cramping within a few hours, so be careful. I find that it takes more self control to properly break a fast than it does to endure the fast.



Thanks for following along! Lesson Ten is scheduled to post in about a week.

ZECHARIAH LESSON EIGHT

Welcome to Bible study online! Zechariah is a terrific book to study, especially as we see the Day of the LORD approaching. I like to think of it as the “Apocalypse of the Old Testament”, because it contains so many parallels with the New Testament book of Revelation. There are plenty of Scriptures to look up, so grab your Bible, and thanks for joining us!

ZECHARIAH LESSON EIGHT


With the vision of the flying scroll and the woman in the ephah, the tone of the visions has changed from that of encouragement to warning. Yes, God wants to build an enduring kingdom on this earth, but it must be based on righteousness. He simply will not tolerate sin. The next vision in Zechariah’s remarkable night serves to reiterate this point.

THE VISION OF THE CHARIOTS

Zechariah 6:1-4 says, “Then I turned and raised my eyes and looked, and behold, four chariots were coming from between two mountains, and the mountains were mountains of bronze. With the first chariot were red horses, with the second chariot black horses, with the third chariot white horses, and with the fourth chariot dappled horses--strong steeds. Then I answered and said to the angel who talked with me, ‘What are these, my lord?’”

For those who have studied Revelation, the mention of these horses should raise a red flag. The opening verses of Revelation 6 describe the coming of four horsemen, and we often hear them referred to as the “four horsemen of the apocalypse.” I believe Zechariah’s horses with their chariots symbolize the same things as those horsemen in Revelation, so let’s take a look at what those horsemen symbolized. The red horseman brought with him war and bloodshed. The black horseman brought famine and death. The white horseman was a conqueror—a world ruler, whom most believe to be the coming Antichrist, although we do see later on in Revelation that Jesus Himself returns to earth on a white horse. The horseman on the dappled horse in Revelation brought death in general from all sources.

In Zechariah’s vision, the horses are pulling chariots and the Scriptures point out that the horses are very strong. This is a picture of warfare. Chariots were designed with either two or four wheels and they were used in warfare or for the transportation of the ruling class. Judges 4 and 5 relate a story that explains how chariots were used in warfare and the very great advantage they gave to those who had them. The Israelites had fallen into the sin of idolatry, and in order to get their attention and turn them back to Him, God allowed them to be oppressed by the king of Canaan. His commander, Sisera, had nine hundred iron chariots, so he was pretty well invincible. The Israelites had nothing but foot soldiers who were no match for the iron chariots. In the end, when the Israelites turned back to God, God delivered them by sending a mighty storm so that the chariots got stuck in the mud and were of no use to the Canaanite oppressors. So when we see these chariots in Zechariah, this is a picture of divinely-appointed warriors, heading out to do the will of God in the earth.

POINT: If we won’t do the will of God in the earth, God will send others who will. We are not His only option.

I think it is very important to notice where these chariots are coming from. They are coming out from between two bronze mountains. In the Bible, bronze is always a symbol of judgment. The altar in the Tabernacle, along with all of its serving utensils, was made of bronze, because the altar was the place where sin was judged as worthy of death. So these chariots coming out from between two bronze mountains are coming for the purpose of executing God’s judgment. Just as the four horsemen in Revelation brought judgment on the world for its sin, these four chariots are bringing judgment. In the previous two visions, we saw the moral law of God going out over the whole earth, and people hardened their hearts and would not repent. Instead, they took wickedness encased in commercialism and enshrined it in Babylon to worship the love of the world. Now, God is responding to their sin.

Why were there two mountains? There is a difference of opinion about this, and some commentators try to pin it down to two mountains in Israel. A lot of interesting things happened on different mountains in the Bible: Jesus taught on the Mount of Olives; Elijah met God on Mount Sinai; Moses met God on Mount Sinai; Elijah defeated the prophets of Baal on Mount Carmel; the Blessings and the Curses of the Law of Moses were spoken on two different mountains; Jesus ascended to heaven on a mountain; Jesus was transfigured on a mountain. So what are these two mountains? My mind wants to connect them to the two mountains mentioned in Galatians 4:21-31. In these verses, Paul tells us about two different covenants that were given on two different mountains. The covenant of Law was given through Moses on Mount Sinai. This covenant instructed the people in the righteous requirements of God and provided a means of atonement through sacrifice, although I believe that the animal sacrifices were merely symbolic of God’s promised Perfect Sacrifice. This covenant was weak because it could not change the heart of a man—it merely showed him his sin. The second covenant was made at Mount Calvary. It was there that the Perfect Sacrifice, Jesus Christ, offered Himself to God as a means of atoning for the sin of mankind. This covenant is much better because it carries with it the power to change the heart. So we see that these two mountains were places where sin was meant to be judged and dealt with. They were truly bronze mountains.

Continuing on in Zechariah 6:5, we read, “And the angel answered and said to me ‘These are four spirits of heaven, who go out from their station before the Lord of all the earth.’”

Why are these spirits being sent throughout the earth? The verses following verse 5 tell us that they are walking to and fro throughout the earth. Why is God, Who created us and truly loves us, sending war, bloodshed, famine, conquerors, and death in general throughout the earth? The Old Testament tells us over and over that the only time the Israelites truly sought the Lord was when they were in trouble. And are we really any different? What does God want from us? Why did He make us to start with? He wanted fellowship and a loving relationship with us. The only way that He can have that, apparently, is when we are in trouble. We are so pathetic because of sin that we only want God when we need something from Him. And are we really any different in our relationships with our fellow man? Aren’t we constantly trying to get what we want out of other people? Don’t we often try to conform other people to our image, and if they won’t be like us, we have no “use” for them? Aren’t we the biggest “idols” in our own lives? Don’t we deserve to suffer for our self-centeredness and the way we ignore the purpose for which we were created? Many folks complain that the Old Testament is all about judgment, judgment, judgment, but for every act of judgment, weren’t there years and years and years of undeserved patience and mercy?

What are the hearts of these spirits like? Psalm 104:4 says that God “makes His angels spirits, His ministers a flame of fire.” These spirits come out from between the two bronze mountains, and they are eager to serve the LORD. They take no pleasure in killing, but they do take pleasure in serving their God. Zechariah 6:8 says a startling thing:

“And He called to me, and spoke to me, saying, ‘See, those who go toward the north country have given rest to My Spirit in the north country.’”

Why are the angelic spirits bringing judgment throughout the earth? It gives rest to God. When God looks at sin, He is anything but restful. He is grieved, offended, and very angry. It is horrible to Him. When God created the earth, He was able to rest on the seventh day because He saw that everything He had made was good and perfect. His heart was at rest. But after sin came, there was no more rest for the heart of God.

POINT: If we cannot see sin as horrible, we are not as close to God as He wants us to be. These judgments have come from God and they give rest to His Spirit, because they work to put a stop to sin and cause people to seek Him. If we will accept His judgment and allow it to work true repentance in our lives, it will give us rest too. But we must be willing to identify ourselves with the death of Jesus and God’s verdict on the cross that sin must die.

PRAYER: LORD, make my heart a place where You can rest.


JOSHUA THE HIGH PRIEST IS CROWNED

Zechariah 6:9-11 records, not so much a vision, but an instruction to Zechariah. It is very interesting because God is about to reveal a mystery to the people. Verses 9-10 tell us that three captives have just arrived in Jerusalem from Babylon. Their names are Heldai, Tobijah, and Jedaiah. In the Bible, names often have great significance, and these three are very interesting. Heldai means “transient; short time; the world is passing away.” Tobijah means “the Goodness of Jehovah”, and Jedaiah means “The Lord has known.” Heldai has just come to Jerusalem from Babylon, the most worldly place ever, and his name signifies that the world is passing away. Tobijah and Jedaiah have come from the place of Israel’s captivity and their names signify that God is good and has not forgotten His people, but knows all their troubles. Zechariah is instructed to go to them and receive the gift of gold and silver that they have brought with them from Babylon. When he gets these precious metals, he is to take them to the house of Josiah whose father is Zephaniah. Josiah’s name means “founded on the Lord” and Zephaniah means “God has hidden; covered over.” Now this is really interesting because when Zechariah gets to Josiah’s house, they are to use the gold and silver to make an elaborate crown. This crown is to be made by a man whose name means “founded on the Lord.” I think that this means that God is getting ready to do something new and important. Josiah’s father’s name indicates a mystery, or a hidden secret. This thing that God is about to do is a mystery that has been hidden from men in former times, but He is ready to reveal it to them.

What is this mysterious secret that God wants to surprise them with? Verse 11 says,

“Take the silver and gold, make an elaborate crown, and set it on the head of Joshua the son of Jehozadak, the high priest.”

How is it that the High Priest is to wear the elaborate crown of a king? When Israel was established, God was to be her king and He was to rule through the priestly line of Aaron. There was no human king involved. But the people rejected God as their king and asked the prophet Samuel to give them a king to rule over them “like the Gentiles do.” At first, God gave them a king they could respect named Saul, but God had to reject Saul because of his sin. Then God gave them David and David was a man who followed God with his whole heart. He was not sinless, but he was repentant, and that made all the difference to God. So God established a covenant with David that his descendants would rule Israel forever. So how is it that Joshua the High Priest, a descendant of Levi and not of David, is to be crowned, and not with the priest’s mitre but with the king’s elaborate crown?

Zechariah 6:12-13 gives us the answer.

“Behold the Man whose name is the BRANCH! From His place He shall branch out, and He shall build the temple of the LORD. Yes, He shall build the temple of the LORD. He shall bear the glory, and shall sit and rule on His throne; so He shall be a priest on His throne, and the counsel of peace shall be between them both.”

In this picture, God is revealing to His people that the Messiah, when He comes, will fulfill three roles:

Prophet – Deuteronomy 18:15-16

Priest – Hebrews 3:1-2

King – Hebrews 1:8

Thus, the High Priest will wear the King’s crown. In the old days, there was often a power struggle between the priests and whoever was king. The king had his own ideas about ruling, but the priests knew the Law of God and His requirements. Often the king was corrupt, and sometimes even the priests were corrupt, so God would raise up prophets to try to deal with things. But when the Messiah comes, He will reign as Priest and King and there will be no more infighting. He will be the only Prophet necessary. How will He be a priest if He is a descendant of David, who was of the tribe of Judah and not Levi? Hebrews 5: 1-10 tells us that there will be a new priestly line, after the order of Melchizedek, who was priest in Jerusalem during the days of Abraham and long before Levi was born. (See also Psalm 110:4; Genesis 14:17-20)

The final verses in Zechariah 6 encourage the Jews to continue because great days are coming. Despite all the bad things that have happened, and despite their sin, God will bring in His Messiah who will build His temple. The temple they are building now is only a symbol of what is to come, because the Messiah will build the true temple. Joshua is not the BRANCH, but he is a symbol of the BRANCH that is coming; he must be careful to depict this symbol in a holy manner. When Messiah comes, there will be no separation of religion and state, but God will rule and there will be peace. The lives of God’s people will never be “compartmentalized” between the sacred and the secular. There will be a crown for the Messiah, and Revelation tells us there will be crowns for His worshipers also; Righteousness will rule over the earth. Verse 15 indicates that even the Gentiles will be included in this kingdom. All who will worship the Lord will be welcome to Him. The final words of chapter 6 are again a reminder that obedience is required. We are all expendable if we won’t obey.

POINT: God has no pleasure in the death of the wicked. (Ezekiel 18:23) He has great plans for the people of the earth. He will establish a kingdom of peace and righteousness where all of man’s needs will be met and there will be constant fellowship with God and each other. Sin will be banished to a place called Hell and nothing will disturb His people ever again. He gives us the opportunity to choose our own path—will we follow Him into a glorious kingdom of light or will we follow our own dark desires? We can choose Jesus, or we can choose our own dark, sinful selves. (Revelation 22:10-17)

Thanks for following along! The next lesson will post in about one week, and the topic will be fasting.

ZECHARIAH LESSON SEVEN

Welcome to Bible study online! Zechariah is a terrific book to study, especially as we see the Day of the LORD approaching. I like to think of it as the “Apocalypse of the Old Testament”, because it contains so many parallels with the New Testament book of Revelation. There are plenty of Scriptures to look up, so grab your Bible, and thanks for joining us!

ZECHARIAH LESSON SEVEN


The prophet Zechariah has been having quite an exciting night so far. Let’s take a look back at the visions he has seen, and the messages they impart:

Four Horses – God has not forgotten Israel

Four Horns – Israel’s oppressors will be punished

Four Craftsmen – Israel will be rebuilt

Measuring Jerusalem – A new hope

Joshua the High Priest – Redemption

The BRANCH – Messiah will come

Lampstand – The Light of the Lord will stand in Israel


All of these visions have brought comfort, encouragement, and consolation to Zechariah and to the nation of Israel. However, lest they be lax and fall into the same sinful pattern as before…


THE VISION OF THE FLYING SCROLL


Zechariah Chapter 5 deals with two flying objects. I believe that the fact that they are flying signifies that something is going on in the spiritual realm. The word for “spirit” actually means “wind, breath, or mind.” Therefore, when we see something moving through the air, it would seem reasonable that this denotes spiritual activity.

Verses 1-2 say this, “Then I turned and raised my eyes, and saw there a flying scroll. And he said to me, ‘What do you see?’ So I answered, ‘I see a flying scroll. Its length is twenty cubits and its width ten cubits.’”

A scroll was used for writing in the days before there was paper and printing presses, so we can deduce that this scroll has something written on it, but the fascinating thing is its size. Scrolls were normally book-size, but this is 20 cubits x 10 cubits. A cubit was the length of a man’s forearm, so this scroll is approximately 30 feet x 15 feet. This is the size of a billboard, so it is no ordinary scroll. In researching the meaning of this particular size, I was not able to find anything definitive in the Scriptures, but J. Vernon McGee’s commentary indicated that these were the dimensions of the Holy Place in the Tabernacle. If so, this measurement would seem to indicate that the scroll has something to do with the holiness of God.

Verse 3 continues, “Then he said to me, ‘This is the curse that goes out over the face of the whole earth. Every thief shall be expelled, according to this side of the scroll, and, every perjurer shall be expelled, according to that side of it.’”

We see from this verse that this particular scroll, like most, was written on both sides. They did not waste any space in their copying, so both sides were used. But what is this scroll and what does it signify? A big clue is that this scroll is going out over the face of the whole earth, not just Israel. It includes everybody. Many commentators believe that this scroll represents the Law of Moses, but I disagree on the basis of this point. The Law of Moses was a covenant given to the people of Israel, not to the whole world. While it was certainly possible for Gentiles to enter the covenant and begin to keep the law, it was largely a Jewish covenant. Rather than the Law of Moses, I believe that this scroll contains the moral law of God that was embodied in the Ten Commandments. It represents the very holiness of God. The Ten Commandments were part of the Law of Moses—very true. But the Bible makes it plain that man has known from the beginning the moral laws of God—long before the Ten Commandments were given to Moses. Let’s take a look at it.

In the beginning, in the Garden of Eden, from which forbidden tree did the first couple eat? It was the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil. Eating from this tree taught them the moral law of God—that which is good and right, and that which is evil and unrighteous. My hero Oswald Chambers explained it this way—we know what is good and right because we experience evil; Jesus knew what was evil because He experienced what was good and right. In Romans 1:18-32, the Apostle Paul explains clearly that man has always, by virtue of the creation, had the capacity to understand the righteousness and holiness of God and God’s righteous requirements of man, so that man is completely without excuse. Romans 7:14-25 details the wretchedness of man who knows and understands the moral law of God, but is drawn by the presence of sin to do the very opposite. To reiterate the point that man knows and is responsible for the moral law of God, let us remember that God sent a flood to destroy the evil works of the world long before Abraham, who was the beginning of the Jewish nation, was born. Also, God destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah for their wickedness before ever Moses came on the scene. We see, therefore, that the moral law of God does indeed go over the whole earth, and all men are held accountable for it. Thankfully, however, not only does the moral law go out over the whole earth, in Matthew 24:14, Jesus said, “This gospel of the kingdom will be preached in all the world as a witness to all the nations, and then the end will come.”

Looking closely at Zechariah 5:3, we see that there is a division in this moral law, because it says that the thief is expelled according to what is written on one side, and the liar according to what is written on the other. The Ten Commandments, as recorded in Exodus 20, can easily be divided into two categories. The first four commandments pertain to man’s relationship to God. We are to treat God as holy in all that we say, think, and do. Thus, the perjurer, who has sworn to tell the truth “so help me God”, is profaning the Lord’s Name. The last six commandments pertain to man’s relationship to man. Thus the thief is condemned because he has violated another man’s property.

Now, why does Zechariah say that this scroll is a curse going out over the face of the whole earth? Isn’t God interested in blessing us? The answer for this question is found in Deuteronomy 30:10-20. Moses tells the people very plainly that the law he has given them will either be a great blessing or a terrible curse—it is up to them. If they obey the law, it will result in unprecedented blessing, and God does desire to bless them, but only on His terms. If they disobey the law and forget the Lord, it will result in terrible curses of every description. The choice will be entirely up to them, but they have been warned. As we see in Zechariah, the law going out settles into the minds of the people. In the righteous, it produces repentance; in the wicked, it produces hardness and destruction.

In the days of Jesus, He used parables for specific purposes. The disciples were curious about His method, so in Matthew 13:10-17, He explained that He used this method because the hearts of the people were too hard to receive His teaching. If He had given them the “straight scoop”, they would have rejected it, and would have been judged much more harshly because they saw the truth, but ignored it. However, by using parables that the hard-hearted could not understand, they were shielded from further judgment, while the open-hearted could understand and profit from His teaching. But I believe that Zechariah’s vision signifies that the time for full judgment has come; therefore, it pertains to the time of the End. Those who persist in hardening their hearts will be destroyed. This vision was given to Zechariah, a Jewish priest, because the Scriptures tell us that “judgment begins with the House of God.” (1 Peter 4:17)


THE VISION OF THE WOMAN IN THE EPHAH

The next thing that Zechariah sees, continuing in chapter 5, is another flying object. As we read on, try to imagine how Zechariah must have felt watching all these amazing things during this night.

“So I asked, ‘What is it?’ And he said, ‘It is a basket (ephah) that is going forth.’ He also said, ‘This is their resemblance throughout the earth: Here is a lead disc lifted up, and this is a woman sitting inside the basket’; then he said, ‘This is Wickedness!’ And he thrust her down into the basket, and threw the lead cover over its mouth.”

This is an extraordinary vision, but it has enormous application in our lives, and I think, particularly at this point in our nation’s history. This basket, or ephah, was a dry measure that equaled about one bushel. Also, lead discs were often used as counterweights for measuring in the buying and selling process. So we see that this vision deals with commercialism. Personally, I think that being a businessman must be one of the most morally challenging things in the world, and I do pray for them as they seek to do right by their customers, employees, government, and still make a living for their families. Let’s take a look at what went on in the land of Israel that caused God to send such a vision.

Amos 8:1-7 says, “Thus the Lord God showed me: Behold a basket of summer fruit. And He said, ‘Amos, what do you see?’ So I said, ‘A basket of summer fruit.’ Then the LORD said to me: ‘The end has come upon My people Israel; I will not pass by them any more and the songs of the temple shall be wailing in that day,’ says the Lord God—‘Many dead bodies everywhere, they shall be thrown out in silence.’ Hear this, you who swallow up the needy, and make the poor of the land fail, saying: ‘When will the New Moon be past, that we may sell grain? And the Sabbath, that we may trade wheat? Making the ephah small and the shekel large, falsifying the scales by deceit, that we may buy the poor for silver, and the needy for a pair of sandals—even sell the bad wheat?’ The LORD has sworn by the pride of Jacob: “Surely I will never forget any of their works. Shall the land not tremble for this, and everyone mourn who dwells in it?”

What do we see going on in these verses? The people were impatient for the holy days to end so that they could get back to selling in the markets and making more money. Were they thankful for the bountiful crops that the Lord had given them? No, they spent the Sabbath wishing the day would hurry up and get over with so that they could get back to business. But along with their impatience toward their religious “duty”, they falsified their scales and made their ephahs too small in order to cheat their customers. And not only did they cheat people in measurements, they knowingly sold bad product. Their treacherous practices resulted in the poor getting poorer. My, but doesn’t this sound familiar? Just a few weeks ago, we saw that a major peanut distributor knowingly sold bad products that actually resulted in the deaths of a number of people and sickened many more—all for money. How many laws do we have that require “fair labeling” in order force manufacturers and sellers to be honest. Have you ever bought what looked like a large box of something, only to open it up and find it more than half full of air? Have you ever bought a package of hamburger meat only to discover when you cut into it that the inside is brown? Have you ever dealt with a salesman who made promises that were not kept? How about all the subprime mortgage mess that has gone on in recent months? The list goes one forever, but it is inevitably true that the poorest get hurt the worst in scams, schemes, and greedy practices. They just can’t afford it. And aren’t we in such a rush to make more money that very few businesses still close on Sunday to allow time for worship? Do we ever sit through a sermon impatiently waiting because we want to get on to the next thing—even if it is just a 1:00 tee time?

You know, I think that free enterprise capitalism is probably the best opportunity for the most people to get along in a fallen world. Yet it is not without its pitfalls. Listen to the prophet Isaiah in 5:7-9:

“He looked for justice, but behold, oppression; for righteousness, but behold, a cry for help. Woe to those who join house to house; they add field to field, till there is no place where they may dwell alone in the midst of the land! In my hearing the LORD of hosts said, ‘Truly, many houses shall be desolate, great and beautiful ones, without inhabitant.’”

Don’t we have a problem with stuff? I mean, how much do we really need? Will we ever have enough? How big do the closets have to be? When they get full, we have to go rent storage for all the rest! How much space do we need per person? Isn’t it true that the more space each person has, the more we are able to live alone? If we have a TV in every room, we don’t have to get along together—we can get along alone! But this is not what God had in mind. He wanted us to share, live together as families and communities, and learn to love. Isn’t it true that, although we have more stuff than any civilization before us, we are less satisfied than any other society before us?

But, getting back to the ephah in Zechariah, there is one other peculiarity about it and that is that there is a woman inside this bushel-size basket. What is the imagery of the woman? The book of Revelation offers two symbolic women. The first is in Revelation 12 and she is a woman clothed with the sun, with the moon under her feet, and a crown of twelve stars. She is about to give birth. As we follow the progress of this image, it is easy to see that this woman symbolizes Israel. She is wrapped in light, as God Himself is (Psalm 104:2), and her crown is twelve stars symbolizing the twelve tribes of Israel. She is about to give birth to the Messiah, and she is suffering because of this. The other woman we see in Revelation is Mystery Babylon, and we see her in chapters 17 and 18. These chapters reveal that she is a political entity—a particular city, but more than that, she is the heart and soul of commercialism and spiritual adultery. Zechariah has told us that the woman in the ephah is “Wickedness,” so let’s see what happens to her.

“Then I raised my eyes and looked, and there were two women, coming with the wind in their wings; for they had wings like the wings of a stork, and they lifted up the basket between earth and heaven. So I said to the angel who talked with me, ‘Where are they carrying the basket?’ And he said to me, ‘To build a house for it in the land of Shinar; when it is ready, the basket will be set there on its base.’”

First of all, let’s look at the two winged women. Throughout the Bible, angels when they are pictured are masculine—Gabriel, Michael, the angels featured in Daniel, the angels who visited Abraham, the angels in Revelation—they are all male. These two are pictured as females with stork wings. Now, storks are unclean birds—a Jew could not eat a stork. Therefore, the image is not a portrayal of holy angels, but rather the agents of evil. I think I will take just a little minute right here to chase a rabbit. This passage is not a condemnation of women. On the contrary, I believe that men are made in the image of El Elyon, God Most High, and they are endowed as the head. Women are made in the image of El Shaddai, the All Powerful Nurturer. Together, they present the full image of God. What women choose to nurture will affect the entire course of society. If women nurture the love of the world, men will try to move heaven and earth to get more stuff for them. If women nurture their children and homes, the stuff will take a back seat.

In the passage, the women are taking the ephah to the land of Shinar, where a house is being built. She will be put up on a pedestal—presumably to be worshipped. Where is Shinar? Genesis 11 first introduces us to Shinar—it is the place where the Tower of Babel was built and that later became known as Babylon. So we see that, from Genesis to Revelation, Babylon is a recurring theme in the Bible. What will we do with Babylon—the love of money, pleasure, power, and spiritual adultery? Will we embrace it because it makes us feel good, or will we leave Babylon, like Zerubbabel’s ragtag group of faithful Jews did? What will we nurture in our lives, and who will we serve? It’s either Babylon or Jesus. If you try to walk along the wall balancing between the two, you will most likely fall into Babylon, because the flesh you are shackled to still has the seed of sin. Jesus deserves all of us—whole-hearted. Choose wisely, and lay up your treasure in heaven. Keep eternity in your eyes.





Thanks for following along again! The next lesson is scheduled to post in one week.