Author Archives: gonelikeashadowatevening

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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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?

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Abiding, Bible, Peace, Quiet, Scripture

STILL AND QUIET

ZECHARIAH 1:11

“So they responded to the angel of the LORD who was standing among the myrtle trees and said, ‘We have patrolled the earth, and behold, all the earth is still and quiet.’”

One reason I love to hunt is the stillness and quiet of the forest. You can’t really explain it or show a picture of what I mean. You really just have to experience it. Call me crazy, but to be twenty feet up a tree as day breaks is exhilarating. The feeling is truly unexplainable. The next time I head into the woods, you have to come with me, lol.

The stillness and quiet these angels reported was due to the lack of war at the time. Israel had been hammered by wars which led to their exile. Since returning to Israel, there had been more unrest. But at this moment they were experiencing a little peace. As we will see later in Zechariah, this peace would not last.

APPLICATION

The peace of Christ is the only true peace. Only through surrender to Him can we finally find that peace our soul is looking for. Jesus tells us in Matthew 11:28-30, “28‘Come to Me, all who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. 29  Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and YOU WILL FIND REST FOR YOUR SOULS. 30  For My yoke is comfortable, and My burden is light.’”

Are you looking for peace? Are you looking for stillness and quiet? Look no further. Place your trust in Jesus. Maybe you are a believer, but you are still struggling resting in Him. Psalm 46:10 says, “‘Stop striving and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted on the earth.’” Listen to Him. He is offering you exactly what you want – peace and quiet.

I remember my mama saying when we would ask her what she wanted for her birthday or Mothers’ Day. She would say, “A little peace and quiet.” She might get that for a few minutes, but with four kids, it didn’t last long. She’s in her eternal peace now. That is what I long for. One day, we believers will experience that perfect peace. Amen?

Thank You, Lord, for giving us Your peace. I can rest in You.

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Angels, Bible, Blessing, Caregiver, God's Will, Guard, Protection, Scripture

ON PATROL

“And the man who was standing among the myrtle trees responded and said, ‘These are the ones whom the LORD has sent to patrol the earth.’”

ZECHARIAH 1:10

I was just talking to a fellow brother in Christ who serves as a deputy in Wyoming. He shared that the county where he serves is very large. He could drive an hour west, east or north and still be in the county. His department has to cover that area, so they are on patrol a lot. Much of the area is sparsely populated, but they still require their services.

I wondered about that when I read verse 10 today. “The man” standing under the myrtle trees tells Zedekiah that the ones he asked about were on duty for the Lord. They were sent to patrol the earth. Their roles were not to deliver any messages to the people, only to patrol and report back to their superiors in the angelic realm.

APPLICATION

You may not believe in guardian angels, but Scripture teaches that in several places, Zedekiah 1:10 being one of them. These angels in today’s verse were watching over the people and then reporting back to heaven. Hebrews 1:14 tells us, “Are they not all ministering spirits, sent out to provide service for the sake of those who will inherit salvation?”

How about Matthew 18:10? “‘See that you do not look down on one of these little ones; for I say to you that their angels in heaven continually see the face of My Father who is in heaven.’” That is probably my favorite since it is from the very mouth of Jesus. God is watching over us and uses His angelic forces to do so.

I have never seen an angel, that I know of (except for my sweet wife). But I am certain I have entertained some without knowing (Hebrews 13:2). Probably with all my travels around the globe, my guardian angel has had to work overtime, covering different time zones on different continents. Notice to my angel – I will traveling again soon so get your wings tuned up.

Lord, thank You for covering me with Your angels. I know I am safely guarded and protected according to Your will.

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Answers, Asking, Bible, God's Will, Questions, Scripture, Trust

WHAT IS THIS?

ZECHARIAH 1:9

“Then I said, ‘What are these, my lord?’ And the angel who was speaking with me said to me, ‘I will show you what these are.’” 

So many times we are faced with questions for which we do not have answers? Why did this happen to me? Why would God allow this? Tough questions! I know I have had those questions in the past. I still have questions like that. As long as we are here on this earth, we will face these types of questions.

Zechariah was no different. Here he is having this incredible experience and he asks the angel, “What are these, my lord?” You can just imagine what he is going through. But he did not hesitate to ask for clarification. And better yet, the angel didn’t scold him. He simply said, “I will show you what these are.” I bet Zechariah couldn’t wait.

APPLICATION

The next time you have a question for God, don’t hesitate. One of my favorite verses is Jeremiah 33:3. “‘Call to Me and I will answer you, and I will tell you great and mighty things, which you do not know.’” Just call on the Lord. He stands ready to give us answers. God doesn’t want to keep us guessing. He wants us to rest in Him.

He can give you the peace that passes understanding. He can give you rest for your soul. How about these verses from 1 John 5? “14 And this is the confidence that we have toward him, that if we ask anything according to his will he hears us. 15 And if we know that he hears us in whatever we ask, we know that we have the requests that we have asked of him.” What more could you ask?

So, ask away. God isn’t bothered by your questions. He doesn’t say, “Just cause.” Didn’t you just hate that answer from your parents, lol? There are some things that God does that defies answers. We can’t begin to explain God’s mind, but we can trust Him. I was reading in Job today. Remember what he said to his wife after she told him to curse God and die? He said, “‘Shall we actually accept good from God but not accept adversity?’” Know this – God is listening, and He will answer in His perfect time.

Help me trust You like Job did, Lord. I want to be bold to ask and then wait on You to answer.

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