Author Archives: gonelikeashadowatevening

Angels, Battles, Belief, Bible, Defense, Fighting, Glory, Protection, Scripture

WATCH THE BATTLE

ZECHARIAH 1:21

“And I said, ‘What are these coming to do?’ And he said, ‘These are the horns that have scattered Judah so that no one lifts up his head; but these craftsmen have come to frighten them, to throw down the horns of the nations who have lifted up their horns against the land of Judah in order to scatter it.’”

Have you ever watched a good fight? I remember the old Muhammed Ali and Joe Frazier fights. I particularly remember all of us boys talking about it for days before it happened. The night of the fight we would often all get together at one our houses to watch these two men duke it out for the Heavy Weight Championship. Blow after blow fell until one of them was crowned the champion.

The horns and the craftsmen are going to “throw down” according to the angel who is talking to Zechariah here in verse 21 of chapter 1. A cosmic battle is taking place for Israel. Zechariah is watching it happen before it happens. We, of course, know the result of this battle. Israel was restored and is still among us today.

APPLICATION

Oh, the battles that are going on right now in heaven on your behalf! You can’t see them, but you can be reassured that they are happening. How do I know? Because the Word tells us so. Deuteronomy 20:4 says, “for the LORD your God is the One who is going with you, to fight for you against your enemies, to save you.”

How about the story of Elijah and his servant in 2 Kings 6? “15 Now when the attendant of the man of God had risen early and gone out, behold, an army with horses and chariots was circling the city. And his servant said to him, ‘This is hopeless, my master! What are we to do?’ 16 And he said, ‘Do not be afraid, for those who are with us are greater than those who are with them.’ 17 Then Elisha prayed and said, ‘LORD, please, open his eyes so that he may see.’ And the LORD opened the servant’s eyes, and he saw; and behold, the mountain was full of horses and chariots of fire all around Elisha.” 

Unseen to you right now are hordes of angels in heaven and our Lord sitting on His throne. At His command they soar to earth to battle our adversaries. You don’t believe this? Just ask the Lord. He defends His own. If you are one of His children, He will come to your aid. He will “throw down” those horns in your life.

Father, I trust You to protect me and keep me.

Standard
Advocate, Bible, Brokenness, Caregiver, Hearing, Kingdom, Restoration, Scripture

CRAFTSMANSHIP

ZECHARIAH 1:20

“Then the LORD showed me four craftsmen.” 

My dad was a craftsman. He was self-taught, having worked with wood all his life. As a boy and young man, he had to work on the farm where they had to rebuild, repair and create new items for their work. I am sure this helped him learn the skills he showed me as I was growing up. He continued to tinker with this craft until he was no longer able to do so. He knew how to fix stuff.

The Lord is gracious, isn’t He? You see, He not only showed Zechariah the four horns that had destroyed the nation, but He also showed him four craftsmen who would rebuild. You can just imagine the joy Zechariah felt when he learned this. This message of hope for the nation was needed. Having returned from their latest exile, this message of hope was just what the people, needed to hear.

APPLICATION

And what comforting words those are to us today. God is still rebuilding lives. He is still repairing the broken and thrown away things. Are you broken? Do you feel as if you have been thrown on the garbage heap of life? Take heart, my friend. God can take you just like you are and restore you into a useable vessel, fit for His kingdom.

Just as my dad would take a broken and discarded rocker and rebuild it into a beautiful and useable heirloom, our God will restore you. Everything my dad repaired will one day burn, but you, beloved, will never be discarded by the hand of the One who rebuilt you.

I am reminded of the words of Peter in 1 Peter 2:9. “But you are A CHOSEN PEOPLE, A royal PRIESTHOOD, A HOLY NATION, A PEOPLE FOR GOD’S OWN POSSESSION, so that you may proclaim the excellencies of Him who has called you out of darkness into His marvelous light;” You were restored for a purpose. Now, you are the craftsman, spreading the words of the Gospel, which always builds up and never tears down.

Create in me a new heart, O God. Make my hands Your hands. 

Standard
Affliction, Belief, Bible, Covenant, God's Will, Judgment, Rescue, Scripture, Suffering

SCATTERING

ZECHARIAH 1:19

“So I said to the angel who was speaking with me, ‘What are these?’ And he said to me, ‘These are the horns that have scattered Judah, Israel, and Jerusalem.’” 

I love Waffle House, a restaurant chain here in the U.S. Their specialty is breakfast. Their staff have a certain lingo they use to describe the orders that are called out loud from the waiter(ess) to the cook who you can see at the grill. One particular word they use is “scattered,” which means to spread the hash browns on the grill. I love mine scattered and smothered (with onions), “covered” (with cheese), “chunked” (with diced ham), “diced” (with diced tomatoes), “peppered” (with jalapeño peppers), and “topped” (with chili). Where is my nearest Waffle House?

The angel tells Zechariah in today’s verse that the horns “have scattered Judah, Israel, and Jerusalem.” They had been spread out due to these nation’s conquest of them. Of course, these nations had been the “hand of God,” delivering His judgment. After all the scattering, God is bringing them back. It’s as if the Lord wants to make sure Zechariah and the people don’t forget.

APPLICATION

You may feel “scattered” today. You may believe God has forgotten you and left you in exile. That is not true. God has a unique plan for your life, unlike any other. He will not leave you destitute and forgotten. Jesus said this concerning the last days. “‘And then He will send forth the angels, and will gather together His elect from the four winds, from the end of the earth to the end of heaven.’”

Do you think He has forgotten you? No way. That is just a lie from the pit of hell. The devil loves to whisper those words to get us to doubt who we are in Christ. Philippians 2:15 tells us this about who we are. “…so that you will prove yourselves to be blameless and innocent, children of God above reproach in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation, among whom you appear as lights in the world,…”

You and I are children of the Holy God. He may scatter us at times on the grill of life, but He will gather us back in. He will not allow His children to go unguarded and unprotected. So why does God allow the wicked to prosper and me to suffer? Aww, the question of the ages. Trust! He is there. Just like that short order cook at the Waffle House, He is always listening. And His preparation is always perfect.

On the days I feel I am scattered, gather me in, Lord.

Standard
Bible, Courage, Defeat, Defense, Devil, Enemies, Oppression, Prayer, Protection, Safety, Satan, Scripture

FOUR HORNS

ZECHARIAH 1:18

“Then I raised my eyes and looked, and behold, there were four horns.” 

I am a deer hunter. For all you animal lovers, please forgive me. I love to hunt and eat venison. I put out trail cameras to watch and see what deer are moving through the area I am scouting. I particularly like to watch for the big bucks with their beautiful antlers. The width, height and girth of the antler usually shows the age and health of the deer. The more mature and powerful deer normally have the biggest rack.

As you can imagine, today’s verse sparked my interest. The mention of horns made me curious, just as it did Zechariah when he saw this. Most scholars agree that these horns represented four powerful nations that had the potential to destroy. Benson says this about these four horns in his commentary, “the most ancient and prevailing opinion among the Jews themselves, and perhaps the most probable of any, is, that the four great empires, the Assyrian, or Babylonian, the Persian, Grecian, and Roman, are intended; namely, the empires alluded to by the four beasts, Daniel 7.” Whatever they represented, it definitely caught Zechariah’s attention.

APPLICATION

Okay Carl. Let’s see how you apply this verse about horns to us. I’m glad you said that. What powers or forces do you fear? Who has come against you? It doesn’t matter the number. You may have or have had multiple forces come against you. The same God who defended and restored Israel is here today. He stands ready to take on those horns.

Paul tells us in Ephesians 6 that we must be prepared to take on these forces of evil. You have read, I’m sure, the passage on the armor of God in Ephesians 6:10-17. But did you stop there? You see, the secret to taking on these horns is found in verse 18. “With every prayer and request, pray at all times in the Spirit, and with this in view, be alert with all perseverance and every request for all the saints,”

We have to pray, seeking God and His strength. It is not about our strength. It is completely His strength that defeats these horns that come against us. And we must pray for “all the saints.” As we lift up others, God lifts us up. So, pray and believe. Let God smite those horns of evil in your life.

I will trust You, O God, to take up my defense. I will not fear when I see these horns come against me.

Standard
Bible, Blessing, Filled, Promises, Scripture

FILLED TO OVERFLOWING

ZECHARIAH 1:17

“Again, proclaim, saying, ‘This is what the LORD of armies says: “My cities will again overflow with prosperity, and the LORD will again comfort Zion and again choose Jerusalem.”’”

I remember a fishing trip I took with my dad one time to a local fishing hole. This little pond was full of brim (which is a small panfish). Man, that day we tore them up. My dad had a wire mesh fishing backet that he hung over the side of the boat. It had a flip down lid so all you had to do was push down on the lid and drop the fish in the basket. We caught so many we couldn’t push the lid down anymore. That basket was filled to overflowing.

After all the suffering, after all the judgment and punishment, after all the days in exile, God was restoring Israel. He promised to fill the cities again. “My cities will again overflow with prosperity.” He also said He would comfort and choose them. I just love that. Promises made and promises kept. God always keeps His promises. You know that, right?

APPLICATION

I bet you have examples of times the Lord has filled your coffers to overflowing. That’s why I don’t have a problem asking for the Lord to meet a need. I know His storehouse is filled to overflowing. He wants to meet our needs (and maybe even some of our wants). Philippians 4:19 tells us so. “And my God will supply all your needs according to His riches in glory in Christ Jesus.”

One of the things I have to do as a missionary is ask people to partner with us financially. I have realized that by asking them, I am giving them an opportunity to be a blessing to us and also be blessed by the Lord. I have some friends in ministry who have a real problem asking for financial support. They know they need to, but it can be awkward. That’s true. But blessings are waiting.

Let me let you in on a little secret. Are you listening? I am asking God for two million dollars in 2023 for the ministry I serve with – Every Man A Warrior (www.everymanawarrior.com). God is changing men’s lives around the world through the skills we teach. If you want to be a part of that, go to our site and give right there. I want you to be blessed through the overflowing God has given you. Be blessed.

You are the provider of our abundance, Lord. You truly fill us to overflowing.

Standard
Accountability, Bible, God's Will, Restoration, Scripture

A MEASURING LINE

ZECHARIAH 1:16

“Therefore the LORD says this: ‘I will return to Jerusalem with compassion; My house will be built in it,”’ declares the LORD of armies, ‘and a measuring line will be stretched over Jerusalem.”’ 

I inherited some of my dad’s tools. He had a shop full of them, but there was one thing I really wanted. I probably wouldn’t use it much, but I had such fond memories of using it with my dad on projects. It was chalk measuring line. Have you ever seen one? My dad’s was a metal case with red powdered chalk inside. On the side of the case was a winding handle for winding up the string that was inside the box. The way it worked was you would pull that string out and one person held that string over the board you wanted to cut. The other person would have the other end with the case and hold it firm against the wood. Then you would grab that string and snap it, making a straight line across that board. Now you had a straight line to use to guide your cut.

Why did I spend so much time explaining the chalk line? Because today’s verse talks about God’s measuring line. In previous passages, God uses this measuring line for judgment against Israel (2 Kings 21:13; Isaiah 34:11). But in today’s verse, God is using it for blessing. He is restoring the nation after their exile and is using that measuring line to help rebuild what had been torn down.

APPLICATION

Dear brothers and sisters, listen closely. God wants to rebuild what the enemy has destroyed in your life. Perhaps you have gone through a horrible divorce. God can restore you. Maybe you have a wayward child. God can restore that child. Whatever has been lost, God has a way of filling that gap in your life. I don’t want to give the impression that He will do it in the way you want Him to or expect Him to. We have to leave that up to Him.

Psalm 51:12 is one of my favorite verses about restoration. “Restore to me the joy of Your salvation, and sustain me with a willing spirit.” David is crying out to God. What does God do? Well, you know the story. David was one of the greatest kings of Israel. Even though he had fallen and sinned against His God, he was restored and strengthened.

Let God use His measuring line in your life. He may have to cut off something in order to build you up properly. He may measure your life and realize these pieces aren’t needed. Listen to Him. He is the Master Builder.

Father, measure and cut as You see appropriate. I trust You as You build me up.

Standard
Abiding, Bible, Blessing, Confession, Consequences, Decisions, God's Will, Scripture

TAKING IT TOO FAR

ZECHARIAH 1:15

“‘But I am very angry with the nations who are carefree; for while I was only a little angry, they furthered the disaster.’”

As a parent, I had the responsibility to discipline my children. I had one rule for spanking – only for willful disobedience. You may disagree, but I believe the appropriate use of spanking can be helpful in rearing our children. My children always knew why they were receiving that discipline and were prayed over afterwards. There is the danger of going too far with this, though.

That’s exactly what the Lord was referring to in today’s verse. He had used the other nations to discipline his children. They were the tool God used to administer His judgment. But some of these nations went too far and tried to annihilate His chosen children. He says he was “very angry with the nations” that did this. They “furthered the disaster,” which was never God’s intention.

APPLICATION

We can take things too far, whether it be a good thing or a bad thing. Too much exercise can be bad for your health (at least that’s my excuse, lol). Too much sugar is definitely not good for you. But can you get too much of God? I don’t think so, but the downside of that is His light exposes our sins. Psalm 90:8 says that. “You have set our iniquities before you, our secret sins in the light of your presence.”

Before you say anything, let me explain something. Getting too close to God may not feel good at the moment, but it is certainly what is best for us. Those sins that are exposed need to be exposed. Psalm 10:9 says, “One who walks in integrity walks securely, but one who perverts his ways will be found out.” So, is God taking it too far? I don’t think so.

I have to admit that I have been guilty of taking things too far at times. One example would be watching College football (American football for all my non-U.S. followers). I could watch it all day on Saturday. I had to make a decision to limit that to my favorite team’s game. We can take things too far, can’t we? Ask the Lord if you are taking Him too far. I bet He says no.

Father God, I want to be in Your presence, even though I know it will drive me to my knees in repentance.

Standard
Battles, Bible, Defense, Husbands, Jealousy, Love, Rescue, Scripture

A JEALOUS GOD

ZECHARIAH 1:14

“So the angel who was speaking with me said to me, ‘Proclaim, saying, This is what the LORD of armies says: “I am exceedingly jealous for Jerusalem and Zion.”’” 

Jealousy is often portrayed as a bad thing. Sure, jealousy can make us do stupid things. It can lead us to lash out at others. But I want you to know that I am jealous – for my wife. Just let some other man look at her the wrong way. My jealousy erupts to protect and defend her. My love for her will allow nothing else. Proverbs 6:34 warns me though against any extreme reaction. “For the woman’s jealous husband will be furious, and he will show no mercy when he takes revenge.”

God is saying to the people through the angel and then through Zechariah that He is a jealous God. Matthew Poole says this about verse 14. “I have been jealous against, but now am jealous for Jerusalem; my love is now heightened to a very high degree of compassion for my people, and of indignation against her enemies and oppressors.”

APPLICATION

That’s how God feels about you now. He is a jealous God. He loves you with an everlasting love. He will rise up against your enemies to defend you. He will guard and protect you. You belong to Him, and nothing can change that. Once you have given your life to Jesus, that covenant is sealed. You may be attacked. You may suffer at times. But God is there to bring you through.

What are you jealous about? You have no right to be. Acts 7:9 shows us a negative result of jealousy. “‘The patriarchs became jealous of Joseph and sold him into Egypt. Yet God was with him,’” You know the story of Joseph. He was sold as a slave, falsely accused by his master’s wife, sent to prison, forgotten about for a couple of years and then finally put into power by Pharoah.

You are probably thinking you are quite sure about that kind of rescue. Well, honestly, I would prefer a different route to freedom also. But I trust my God, who loves me jealously, to have my back. I may not approve of His methods, but I trust His purpose. Do you? Will you come all this jealous God to love you for eternity? He is waiting for your response.

Lord, Your jealousy over me is not sinful. It is pure and holy.

Standard
Bible, Comfort, Compassion, Faithfulness, Grace, Love, Scripture

COMFORTING WORDS

ZECHARIAH 1:13

“And the LORD responded to the angel who was speaking with me with gracious words, comforting words.”

You have heard it said that it is not so much what you say as how you say it. That is true. I have experienced that many times in ministry. Comforting words are not hard. They can do so much for the person listening. When people are hurting or worried, words of comfort can soothe the wounds. Comforting words are also deliberate and thoughtful. As we look at today’s verse, think about that.

I love this verse. Just look at the words again. The Lord spoke gracious and comforting words to the angel who was asking Him the question we saw in verse 12. The word used for “gracious” is towb, which is the basic word for good, kindly, joyful or beautiful. It is used over 560 times in the Old Testament. In contrast is the word for “comfort,” which is only used 3 times (here, Isaiah 57:18, Hosea 1:8). It means comfort, compassion or repenting. The Lord is showing His comfort and compassion as He speaks.

APPLICATION

Oh, listen to this verse today. The Lord is the same Lord who spoke those words. Psalm 103:8 says, “The Lord is compassionate and gracious, slow to anger and abounding in love.” Do you believe that? Have you experienced His comfort and grace? Boy, I have time and time again.

I also love Lamentations 3:22-23. “22 Because of the Lord’s great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail.

23 They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness.” How comforting is that? That’s our Lord. That’s our God. He hasn’t changed. And now we have that same responsibility – to share comfort.

Paul tells us in 2 Corinthians 1:3-5 some of the most comforting words. “3 Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, 4 who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves receive from God. 5 For just as we share abundantly in the sufferings of Christ, so also our comfort abounds through Christ.” Will you be the source of comfort for others?

Thank You, Father, for Your comforting words. Give me those same words as I comfort others.

Standard
Answers, Asking, Bible, Promises, Questions, Scripture

ARE WE ALMOST THERE?

ZECHARIAH 1:12

“Then the angel of the LORD said, ‘LORD of armies, how long will You take no pity on Jerusalem and the cities of Judah, with which You have been indignant for these seventy years?’”

You dread the question every five minutes. You are on a road trip with your little kids. You know the question. “Are we almost there?” The standard answer is “Yes, just five more minutes.” Of course, those five minutes will last an hour or two, right? We are so impatient. We want everything to be at our fingertips instantly.

The angel that was talking to Zechariah asked the LORD of armies a question. “How much longer, LORD?” You see, for seventy years they had been in Babylon. We knew from Jeremiah 25:11-12 that this was going to happen. “11 ‘This entire land will be a place of ruins and an object of horror, and these nations will serve the king of Babylon for seventy years. 12 Then it will be when seventy years are completed I will punish the king of Babylon and that nation,’ declares the LORD, ‘for their wrongdoing, and the land of the Chaldeans; and I will make it an everlasting desolation.’”

APPLICATION

The next verse (which we will see tomorrow) begins God’s answer to the question. So, how does this verse apply to us today? One way I believe it applies is that God keeps His promises. Jeremiah prophesied seventy years in exile and then it would end. We see that happening in this verse. We are in an age where we see prophesies being fulfilled. Many, including me, believe we are near the day of Christ’s return. Now, I am not setting a date. Don’t worry. But the point is, God always is true to His Word.

Another point is that it is okay to ask God questions. The angel didn’t hesitate asking Him. Why should we? He tells us to ask Him. He wants to hear from us. He knows we don’t have all knowledge. He knows we have questions. Some questions He won’t answer yet, but He will. But don’t hesitate to ask.

I have so many questions for God. Some will wait until heaven – like “Why did you have to make mosquitos?” Other questions I ask every day. “Lord, why would you rescue me, as wicked as I am?” or “Lord, will You please draw ______ to You? They need Jesus.” I know as long as I ask with the right motives, God will answer in His perfect time.

Lord, are we almost there? How much longer?

Standard