Author Archives: gonelikeashadowatevening

Advocate, Bible, Blessing, Covenant, Deliverance, God's Will, Protection, Safety, Scripture

TABLES TURNED

ZECHARIAH 12:2

“‘Behold, I am going to make Jerusalem a cup that causes staggering to all the peoples around; and when the siege is against Jerusalem, it will also be against Judah.’”

Have you ever intended to pull a prank on someone that backfired, and you ended up being the one pranked? It can happen. It is also possible that those nasty words you use against someone will come back to haunt you. Ricochets aren’t good. They can bring great harm on others and yourself.

Here in today’s verse, Zechariah begins his latest prophecy. Jerusalem is described as a cup which is now causing those who have been against her to stagger. We are seeing that today in the land of Israel. All around her, literally surrounding her, are nations that want to wipe her off the map. But God has caused them to be staggered. Beware to all those who oppose her.

APPLICATION

You can’t read this verse without looking at Isaiah 51:21-23.

“21 Therefore, listen to this, you afflicted, who are drunk, but not with wine: 22 This is what your Lord, the LORD, your God Who contends for His people says: ‘Behold, I have taken from your hand the cup of staggering, the chalice of My anger; you will never drink it again. 23 I will put it into the hand of your tormentors, who have said to you, “Lie down so that we may walk over you.” You have also made your back like the ground, and like the street for those who walk over it.’”

Zechariah has said almost the same thing. What do I get from this? God has His children’s back. We would do well to remember that. If we have evil intent against another believer, beware. God is their protector. And if others are trying to cause you harm, trust in the One Who has protected His children.

If you are like me, I have been the victim of some pretty harsh things in my life. When you choose to do what is right, you will anger some other people. Sometimes those are even other believers. 1 Peter 4:19 says, “So then, those who suffer according to God’s will, should entrust themselves to their faithful Creator and continue to do good.” Can you say you are doing that.

I praise You, Father, for having my back and seeing me through life’s challenging moments.

(Praise the Lord for His faithfulness to me. This is blog #2800. God is so good!

Standard
Abiding, Bible, Blessing, Creation, Faith, Glory, Holy Spirit, Obedience, Scripture

THINGS GOD DOES

ZECHARIAH 12:1

“The pronouncement of the word of the LORD concerning Israel: The LORD who stretches out the heavens, lays the foundation of the earth, and forms the spirit of a person within him, declares:”

Creation! Isn’t it amazing? I had the privilege recently to visit Newfoundland. One day we visited several sites in Western Newfoundland and saw majestic mountains, rocky shores and beautiful landscapes. My friend who accompanied me said several times, “How can anyone see this and not believe in a Grand Creator?” I agree.

Zechariah begins a new prophecy in chapter 12 and opens up by describing the Great Creator. Look at the verse again. God is the one who created the heavens (all the stars, the sun, the moon, etc.). He set the foundation of the earth (established boundaries for the seas and land, formed mountains and the landscape). He also formed man and placed a spirit in each. Just read Genesis 1:26-28. Look at all that God does.

APPLICATION

Just because God is finished creating, that does not mean He has stopped working. He is still very much at work in the world. We just have to open our eyes to see it. In Romans 1, Paul says it is apparent, if we look. Verse 20 says, “For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes, that is, His eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly perceived, being understood by what has been made, so that they are without excuse.”

Look at all the Lord is doing all around you. He has placed His Holy Spirit in you, if you are a believer. Do you get that? The Spirit of God dwells in you. 1 Corinthians 6:19 tells us, “Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, whom you have from God,…” God loves you and wants to dwell within you. God is still at work.

So, if God is in you and is still at work, there is no limit to what you can do. But you must submit your will to His. Then He is able to work in and through you to accomplish great things. Jesus even told us we would do greater things than Him. Hard to believe, huh? But Jesus said it, so it has to be true. Let’s get to work with God today.

Father, I want to do Your will today. Use me as Your vessel.

Standard
Bible, Dependence, Power, Scripture, Strength

POWERLESS

ZECHARIAH 11:17

“‘Woe to the worthless shepherd who abandons the flock! A sword will be on his arm and on his right eye! His arm will be totally withered, and his right eye will be blind.’”

I was in a hotel room recently that had some power issues. The coffee maker did not work, and the television did not work. They were both plugged in but had no power. I could not figure out how to fix it. So, I called maintenance. They were “Johnny on the spot” and came right up. He quickly diagnosed the problem and got them both working. A man has to have his coffee, right?

The Lord is speaking here in verse 17 today and describing the “worthless shepherd.” The right arm symbolized his strength and power. His right eye symbolized his knowledge or what he thought he knew. Both would be rendered powerless, according to the Lord. Many scholars think this shepherd represents the “abomination of desolation” that is described in 2 Thessalonians 2.

APPLICATION

Where does your power come from? Carl, I have been working out and having gotten so powerful. That is not what I am talking about. Physical strength is important to us, but our spiritual strength is so much more important. You cannot rely on your own strength. One of my favorite verses of Scripture is Philippians 4:13. “I can do all things through Christ Who strengthens me.” Is that true of you?

When we rely on Christ for our strength, we do not have to worry about our right arm or our right eye. All our strength comes through Him. All our knowledge comes from Him. Through Him we can work and through Him we can see. Have you ever stopped to think that your powerlessness to face life’s challenges is because you are trying to do it in your own strength? So many of us do that.

It has taken me decades to realize that truth. Sure, I knew it intellectually. But only through the trials of life did I discover just how true it is. Earlier in Zechariah we saw another favorite verse of mine. Zechariah 4:6 tells us, “Then he said to me, ‘This is the word of the LORD to Zerubbabel, saying, “Not by might nor by power, but by My Spirit,” says the LORD of armies.’” We should all learn to live by that.

Lord, I am powerless without You. Strengthen me according to Your power.

Standard
Abiding, Accountability, Bible, Guilt, Scripture, Teaching

GOD’S TESTINGS

ZECHARIAH 11:16

“‘For behold, I am going to raise up a shepherd in the land who will not care for the perishing, seek the scattered, heal the broken, or provide for the one who is exhausted, but will devour the flesh of the fat sheep and tear off their hoofs.’”

I get asked a lot why God allows His children to be tested so much. These questions come from solid believers, people who truly love Jesus. Do you know what I tell them? I say, “I don’t know.” Isn’t that a great answer? Seriously, I don’t know, but I trust Him. I know He wants what is best for me. I may not see it now, but it’s coming.

The Lord, speaking through Zechariah, tells the people that He is going to raise up someone (or some nation) to test them. They will be scattered, stricken and left with no hope. Why? Because of their rebellion and lack of repentance. Sin will have its reward. That reward costs us – a lot. Israel’s sin was costly. Not a very encouraging word.

APPLICATION

Read Ezekiel 34:1-5. Zechariah seems to pulling from Ezekiel’s words. Look at verses 3-4. “3 You eat the fat and clothe yourselves with the wool, you slaughter the fat sheep without feeding the flock. 4 Those who are sickly you have not strengthened, the diseased you have not healed, the broken you have not bound up, the scattered you have not brought back, nor have you searched for the lost; but with force and with violence you have dominated them.”

Just who is Ezekiel and Zechariah talking about? The false prophets and religious leaders of the day were guilty of leading the people right into bondage. How? They were not teaching the people God’s commandments. They had gotten lazy and now the people were going to suffer.

Listen to me. If you are a leader or teacher in your church, you had better take it seriously. You are responsible, as a teacher, for every word that you teach. You can’t make the people follow it, but you have to teach it. Don’t be weak. Be bold and present the Word unfiltered.

Lord, keep me accountable to others for the words I use when I teach.

Standard
Accountability, Authority, Bible, God's Will, Harm, Scripture, Teaching

THE RIGHT TOOL

ZECHARIAH 11:15

“And the LORD said to me, ‘Take again for yourself the equipment of a foolish shepherd.’”

My dad had quite the tool collection when he passed away. Over decades he had accumulated those tools, one by one, as he needed them. I remember him telling me that if he had a job to do at the house or on one of our vehicles that required a certain tool, he would purchase it. That way he would have it the next time it was needed. Having the right tool is important.

The Lord tells Zechariah to act the part of a foolish shepherd and acquire the wrong tool. Cyril explains it well. “Good shepherds, who understood their business, had slight staves, that, if there should be occasion to strike, the stricken sheep might not be bruised; but one who understandeth not, beats them with thicker clubs.” Right job, wrong tool. Damage was done with the wrong tool.

APPLICATION

There are so many good applications to this truth today. Let’s take, for example, preaching and teaching about God. We have the perfect tool to use for that – the Bible. Those who study and prepare are able to use it for God’s glory. Others use everything but the Word. They use social media. They use lights and music. They will use anything but the Word. Right job, wrong tool.

If you are in the position to lead others in your church, remember to use His Word. James 3:1 says, “Do not become teachers in large numbers, my brothers, since you know that we who are teachers will incur a stricter judgment.” This is serious business. We have to use the right tool and use it correctly. Even the right tool handled incorrectly can harm.

I am thankful for mentors in my life who have taught me well. They showed me the importance of holding God’s Word in the highest regard and to be careful in how I handle it. I have to be careful to make sure everything I say is based on His Word, not mine. I know I have the right tool, and I know I have the right job. But I must continue to sharpen my skills in handling this tool.

O God, Your Word is the truth I need to share. Give me the wisdom to teach it well.

Standard
Abiding, Bible, Division, Enemies, God's Will, Scripture, Union

A DIVISION

ZECHARIAH 11:14

“Then I cut in pieces my second staff Union, to break the brotherhood between Judah and Israel.”

I don’t like division in the family. When I am at odds with my sweet wife, normally over something I have done, I feel awful. I want to make things right. I want union. I want harmony. Sometimes, however, division cannot be stopped. Things happen to divide you. It’s out of your control. Then what do you do?

Judah and Israel had been drawn together because of the temple and Jerusalem. However, with the destruction of the temple and their city, the tribes were dispersed by the enemy. They were separated from each other and lost that bond. This is what Zechariah is referring to in his prophecy in verse 14. The day was coming when this would be fulfilled.

APPLICATION

How we handle conflict and division says a lot about our walk with Jesus. Are we the instigator or the cause of the division? We know that is sin and must be confessed. Is someone else the reason the division exists? How can you point them to the answer? We will never find the answer in ourselves. We have to turn to the Word.

Look at what Paul says in Ephesians 4:1-3, especially verse 3. “1 Therefore I, the prisoner of the Lord, urge you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling with which you have been called, 2  with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love, 3 being diligent to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.”

Look closely at Paul’s words there. We have to walk worthy, in humility and gentleness, with patience, bear others in love, and work hard to preserve the peace. It all starts with walking worthy. It’s not us doing this. It’s Christ in us. Our flesh only wants what it wants. But the Spirit will move us towards peace, if we submit. Just like Judah and Israel, we are going to face divisions at times that we cannot avoid. How will you respond?

I am thankful, Lord, that I am united with You and am forever joined to Christ.

Standard
Abiding, Accountability, Bible, Blessing, Commands, Rejection, Scripture

THROWN TO THE POTTER

ZECHARIAH 11:13

“Then the LORD said to me, ‘Throw it to the potter, that magnificent price at which I was valued by them.’ So I took the thirty shekels of silver and threw them to the potter in the house of the LORD.”

I struggled to come up with a personal illustration of this verse. I have never been paid thirty shekels of silver and have never thrown it to the potter in church. I can only point you to the story of Judas Iscariot in Matthew 27:3-10. You need to read that in its entirety, but here are a few of the verses. “5 And he threw the pieces of silver into the temple sanctuary and left; and he went away and hanged himself. 6 The chief priests took the pieces of silver and said, ‘It is not lawful to put them in the temple treasury, since it is money paid for blood.’ 7 And they conferred together and with the money bought the Potter’s Field as a burial place for strangers.”

Zechariah is giving a vision here from the Lord to share with the people. No scholar thinks Zechariah actually took money and threw it at a potter in the temple. But look at how this prophecy was fulfilled perfectly by Judas and the priests. The rejection of Jesus by Judas and the priests symbolized perfectly Zechariah’s vision as told to the people. Keep in mind, Zechariah was written around 500 years before Judas’ betrayal.

APPLICATION

So, what does this mean for us? To continue our thought from yesterday’s blog, how have you spurned the Lord? How have you rejected His gift of grace and mercy? We run the danger of doing that even after becoming a Christian. We can get so focused on our life or even in living according to some set of rules we have been given that we reject the freedom we have in Jesus.

People say But Carl, it’s too hard to live for God. I just can’t be holy like that. To that I share 2 Peter 1:3. “3 for His divine power has granted to us everything pertaining to life and godliness, through the true knowledge of Him who called us by His own glory and excellence.”

You can accept and obey every command given to you by God. God does not expect us to obey something we are incapable of. So, let us stop throwing away the clear commands of the Father and seek ways to obey. Rely on the power of the Holy Spirit Who can guide you perfectly in God’s way.

Father, I was just as guilty as Judas before coming to You. Forgive me for not walking more holy.

Standard
Abuse, Bible, Confrontation, Enemies, Harm, Humiliation, Insults, Mockery, Ransom, Salvation, Scripture

WHAT AN INSULT!

ZECHARIAH 11:12

“And I said to them, ‘If it is good in your sight, give me my wages; but if not, never mind!’ So they weighed out thirty shekels of silver as my wages.”

Have you ever been truly insulted? It is not a good feeling. It’s embarrassing and humiliating. If it is done in front of others, that insult is magnified. That probably happened to me the last time while I was working with a fellow who disliked me because of my ministry. He called me a rather nasty name right in the middle of a staff meeting.

In today’s verse, we find Zechariah writing about his proposed wages from those he asked it – thirty shekels of silver. What you may not know is the standard price for a good servant was twice that. This price of thirty was what was paid for a servant that had been gored by an ox (see Exodus 21:32) and was therefore damaged goods. But you must remember that Zechariah was acting on behalf of Jehovah. The people were spurning God, not just Zechariah.

APPLICATION

Before Christ, we were all guilty of spurning God. We figuratively spit in His face and refused the gift He offered us in His Son, Jesus Christ. But after we become believers, we see the value of the gift. We offer all we have to be one with Him. I am reminded of Matthew 13:45-46. “45 ‘Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant seeking fine pearls, 46 and upon finding one pearl of great value, he went and sold everything that he had and bought it.’”

What price can you place on your gift of salvation? If we don’t offer Him everything, we are insulting the God of creation. We are saying we don’t value His gift to us. He laid down His life in the form of Jesus. He shed divine blood for us. He suffered and bled for all mankind. Why would we not give Him everything?

I can’t think of a single thing right now in my life that I place above that. I couldn’t have always said that. In the past I took my salvation for granted. I made it look cheap. Not now! I see its value in my life. Can you say the same? Is it worth everything to you? Lay it all down at His feet and watch what He does with it. I won’t spoil the surprise!

O Lord, my God, You are so good to me. I praise You for paying the ultimate price for my salvation.

Standard
Abiding, Admonished, Advocate, Affliction, Belief, Bible, Choices, Commands, Danger, Deliverance, Escape, God's Will, Remembering, Scripture

THEY KNEW

ZECHARIAH 11:11

“So it was broken on that day, and so the afflicted of the flock who were watching me realized that it was the word of the LORD.”

Sometimes you just know! Right? Call it a gut thing or something just didn’t feel right. Perhaps you remembered something you had been told earlier. A situation jogged your memory and you said, “Aha, I remember that.” Whatever the reason, you have that “Spidey sense” that warns you about something. You heed the advice you have been given and avoid a catastrophe.

“The afflicted of the flock” referred to in today’s verse had done just that. They had heard the warnings from Zechariah and fled Jerusalem before it was surrounded and destroyed. They escaped into the mountains. How did they know this? Because Zechariah had forewarned, and they had believed him. These were the humble and devoted ones who were still seeking to follow Jehovah. Their devotion was rewarded.

APPLICATION

How can we escape terrible situations in our lives? By listening to and obeying the Lord. His Word gives us ample warning of the things we should and should not do. Before you freak out, it is not a book of rules. It’s a guidebook for life. 1 Corinthians 10:11 says, “Now these things happened to them as an example, and they were written for our instruction, upon whom the ends of the ages have come.”

Here’s a verse you probably know. Romans 6:23 tells us, “For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.” I could go on listing verse after verse, passage after passage about God’s warnings to us. The warnings, in and of themselves, mean nothing unless you are willing to listen and obey. Just because we read it or hear it doesn’t mean we are delivered. We have to obey.

I have discovered that if you stay close to Jesus, if you read His Word regularly, if you memorize and meditate on it, if you apply His Word to your life and spend time with Him daily in prayer, then you will be quick to hear and obey all those warnings. Or will you be like the other Israelites who heard but did not heed the warnings? It’s your choice.

I hear You, Lord, and I will obey.

Standard
Abiding, Advocate, Battles, Bible, Blessing, Choices, Consequences, Danger, Evil, God's Will, Obedience, Protection, Scripture

YOU ARE ON YOUR OWN

ZECHARIAH 11:10

“‘And I took my staff Favor and cut it in pieces, to break my covenant which I had made with all the peoples.’”

I have had numerous experiences dealing with youth who refused any correction, who refused any counsel. They were determined to do their own thing. When these youth would threaten to run away, I always told them that I could not stop them from doing that. But if they did, I would not be able to protect them. They would be on their own, susceptible to all the evil that was in the world just waiting to attack.

Today’s verse has God saying about the same thing to Israel. His staff of favor was being cut in pieces. He would not continue to protect and show favor to them because they were choosing to go after other gods. They were forsaking Him. How horrible that must have sounded to the people. They had crossed the line with God. They would now feel the wrath of their enemies which had been shielded by God up to now.

APPLICATION

You may have heard it explained this way. As believers, as long as we abide in Him, as long as we follow the Master, His “umbrella of protection” is over us. Nothing can touch us unless it goes past Him first. This is not to say we won’t face hard times or tragedies. But knowing He allowed it should give us faith to carry on.

Read these words of Peter in 1 Peter 4:12-13. “12 Beloved, do not be surprised at the fiery ordeal among you, which comes upon you for your testing, as though something strange were happening to you; 13 but to the degree that you share the sufferings of Christ, keep on rejoicing, so that at the revelation of His glory you may also rejoice and be overjoyed.”

That is the key. We need to stay close to Him to receive His protection. We do not want that staff of Favor to be lifted. But also, when we do face hardships, remember He is there. If you have wandered from the Truth, return to Him. If you are abiding but going through a hard time, trust Him. He is there. Don’t forget that. He is there.

Lord God, I praise You for Your abundant grace and mercy. Forgive me when I wander from Your embrace.

Standard