ZECHARIAH 10:7

“Ephraim will be like a warrior, and their heart will be joyful as if from wine; indeed, their children will see it and be joyful, their heart will rejoice in the LORD.”

Recently, my wife has been going through old photographs. She found one of my son, when he was 2 ½ or 3, standing on a little wooden box in our house with his little green pocket New Testament. He would mimic me preaching by saying, “Oo, Ah, Oo, Ah, Oo, Ah!” I hope I didn’t sound like that. Lol. He was watching my every move those weeks he accompanied me to the campus chapel at John de la Howe School in South Carolina.

I love how the Lord reminds the people here that their children are watching them. As they rejoice, their children will as well. But notice the last phrase, “their heart will rejoice in the Lord.” They won’t be joyful because of their parents’ joy. Their joy will be in the Lord. Their parents’ faith will be the source of their own faith in the Lord. They are being taught by example.

APPLICATION

There is a phrase that is often used in my ministry with men. “More is caught than taught.” We teach men how to walk with God, succeed in life and multiply spiritually through our Every Man A Warrior material. But the men are watching us put into practice the very skills we are teaching. They want to hear our personal stories about applying these skills.

In our teachings, we talk about being a Level 7 man of the Word. That Level 7 means we memorize, meditate, study, apply, grow convictions about, see success in and finally teach another man concerning a passage of Scripture. We tell life stories of applying the Word. These men catch it as we throw out these examples. I just love when I see a man “catch it.”

As a parent and grandparent, I want my children and grandchildren to catch what I am throwing spiritually. I want them to know me as a man who seeks after God’s own heart, just like King David (without the affair and murder, lol). When I am gone, I pray I will leave a legacy of caught truths about God’s Word with others. What are you throwing out to others?

Father, help me be an example to my family but also others around me. Let them catch spiritual truths from my life.

ZECHARIAH 9:4

“Behold, the Lord will dispossess her and throw her wealth into the sea; and she will be consumed with fire.”

You may have had an experience in your life when you lost a lot of money or some property. It may have been such a sum that it took you years to recover. You may still be trying to recover. Those kinds of experiences can lead to someone being impoverished (made poor). Some homeless people on the streets suffered such a loss and never got over it.

The Lord is saying here in verse 4 of chapter 9 that He is going to take away all the wealth of Tyre. Remember, in verse 3 it talked about their great wealth. Silver was like dust and gold was like mud to them. But soon they would discover what poverty felt like. Because of their unbelief and idolatry, they would be judged and sentenced by God.

APPLICATION

Our salvation should be the most valued thing we possess. Nothing else comes close. Nothing else will last forever. Nothing else will give us eternal rewards. When David was addressing Saul in 1 Samuel 26:23, he said, “‘And the LORD will repay each man for his righteousness and his faithfulness;’” That is what the Lord values – our righteousness (which is from Christ) and our faithfulness.

Our Lord wants us to put value in things that are eternal, not the temporal things that will rot and rust. Jesus tells us this clearly in Matthew 6:19-21. “19 ‘Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. 20 But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys, and where thieves do not break in or steal; 21 for where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.’”

I recently updated my will and listed some of my worldly possessions, designating to whom each should go at my death. Now, I am not planning an early departure (lol), but I want to avoid all the drama that often accompanies families when someone dies. Everything I have accumulated and will still accumulate will all be left behind. All I am taking with me is my faith in my Lord. Will you be taking that with you? I hope so.

Father, I know the greatest possession I have is Your Son, Jesus. He will embrace me in Glory one day.

ZECHARIAH 6:1

“Now I raised my eyes again and looked, and behold, four chariots were going out from between the two mountains; and the mountains were bronze mountains.”

One of my favorite, all-time movies is Ben Hur. Probably one the iconic scenes from that movie is the chariot race towards the end of the movie. If you haven’t seen it, I won’t spoil the ending for you. But it is a great race with lots of action. Those chariots were intimidating in a race. I can’t imagine how they appeared in battle. They must have been terrifying for any soldier on the ground.

This eighth vision of Zechariah is so full of imagery. Most scholars agree, both Jewish and Christian, that the four chariots represent the four great powers that ruled – Babylonian, Medes and Persians, Greek and Roman. But notice the bronze mountains. This seems to indicate that their course was defined by God. He controls and restrains all powers. They can only do what He allows.

APPLICATION

If that is the case, then we have nothing to fear. If every power is under the ultimate authority of God, we know that He will allow only what we can handle. Romans 8:28 comes to mind. “And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose.”

So, explain the bad things that we face, Carl. I can’t. But I do know that we have to trust the Lord in all things. James talks about that in the first chapter of his epistle. James 1:2-4 says, “2 Consider it all joy, my brothers and sisters, when you encounter various trials, 3 knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance. 4 And let endurance have its perfect result, so that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.”

I do not understand why we face world powers like these mentioned here in Zechariah. I do not understand the mind of God. I don’t have to. I trust Him. That may sound foolish or naïve. You can think that if you wish. “I know whom I have believed and am persuaded that He is able to keep that which I’ve committed unto Him against that day.”

Thank You, Lord, for restraining the powers that come against me. I know You are in control.

ZECHARIAH 4:10

“‘For who has shown contempt for the day of small things? But these seven will rejoice when they see the plumb line in the hand of Zerubbabel—they are the eyes of the LORD roaming throughout the earth.’”

Often in our world, it is the small things that have the biggest impact on us. Take for example, the covid virus. The molecule itself is so small you cannot see it with the naked eye. But just look at the havoc that little, tiny molecule caused around the world. Economies were shut down. Health care systems were crammed beyond capacity. And sadly, thousands of lives were lost.

So, when the Lord says to not show contempt for the day of small things, that’s important. He was referring to the beginning of the temple rebuild. What seemed small and insignificant was fulfilled into a finished structure. The eyes of the Lord see all things, and He knows how each and every day will arrive and end. He sees it all. This insignificant temple would one day welcome the feet of Jesus.

APPLICATION

1 Chronicles 16:9a is almost quoted verbatim here in today’s verse. “For the eyes of the LORD roam throughout the earth, so that He may strongly support those whose heart is completely His.” God sees the small things in your life and can make them great. Starting out small in your Quiet Times can grow to a more complete study of the word.

In my ministry with Every Man A Warrior, we teach men to start small and grow big. We tell them to not try to disciple thirty men. They should start with 3 or 4 and pour into them and watch what happens. The multiplication will occur in their hearts. Also, the principles of starting small apply to our daily lives. Focus on each day separately and walk with Him. He knows the big picture and causes the increase.

Are you appreciative for the small things? We take so much for granted. We focus on the big stuff and not the little stuff. Little stuff matters. Piece by piece they make whole. Learn to thank God for these. Stop looking for the big stuff. Just as He told Zechariah, He is telling us to not despise the small stuff.

Thank You, Lord, for the little things in life take for granted.

ZECHARIAH 2:7

“‘You, Zion! Escape, you who are living with the daughter of Babylon.’”

Have you ever watched a greased pig chase at a county or state fair? They will slick up the little pigs with some type of oil and then have people (usually children) get in the pen and try to catch one. Those little pigs just slip right out of their hands. They wiggle and squeal and slide away. It is really hilarious to watch. The winner, of course, is the one who can catch the pig and bring it to the one in charge.

Zion, the name by which the children of Israel was called, is being told to escape from Babylon. Danger is approaching. The Lord God is about to deliver judgment on Babylon for the way they have treated them during their exile. The Hebrew word for “escape” literally means to slip away yourself. They needed to decide. They couldn’t stay there.

APPLICATION

I don’t know why but the words to the song by Paul Simon keep going through my mind. “Slip Slidin’ Away” says this in the chorus. “Slip slidin’ away, Slip slidin’ away, You know the nearer your destination the more you’re slip slidin’ away.” Call me weird but things just pop in my head sometimes, especially song lyrics.

We are slip slidin’ away. We, as believers, have escaped the clutches of Satan and are headed toward Jesus. We had to make that decision to slide away. Satan was not going to release us willingly. But the blood of Jesus breaks every chain that binds us. He set us free by His sacrifice so that we could slip slide away, right into His arms.

Unfortunately, some of us are like those greased pigs. Once we are in our Savior’s arms, we wiggle and squirm. We want our “freedom” again to do as we wish. We have to remember that we are safe in His arms. He only wants to comfort and protect us. Will you stop wiggling and allow Jesus to caress you and love you?  

Help me to rest in Your all-powerful hands, O God. I know You will protect and shield me.

ZEPHANIAH 3:20

“‘At that time I will bring you in, even at the time when I gather you together; indeed, I will make you famous and praiseworthy among all the peoples of the earth, when I restore your fortunes before your eyes,’ says the LORD.”

One of my kids’ favorite movies growing up was “The Goonies.” These kids discover this hidden pirate treasure deep within the underground coves beneath their city. Of course, you have to throw in some bad guys who are also trying to get the treasure. It is a humorous and suspenseful movie that ends with the bad guys getting caught and the kids getting rescued. The big “fortune” wasn’t achieved, but they were returned home.

Zephaniah ends his book by sharing God’s final words to His people. He is bringing them back in. He is gathering them home. He even tells them that others will praise them as He makes their name known. Then He tells them the best news. He is going to restore their fortunes. That is really saying, according to the Hebrew text, that He is going to return all the captives. They are coming home!

APPLICATION

What have you lost and are waiting on it to be stored? Maybe it is your health. I can relate to that, having gone through two stem cell transplants. Perhaps it is your financial stability. You may have lost a job or lost money in the market. You may be the parent of a wayward child that you are waiting to return. We all have something in our lives that we want restored.

Probably my most favorite verse about restoration is Psalm 51:12. “Restore to me the joy of Your salvation, and sustain me with a willing spirit.” Of course, Psalm 51 is David’s prayer to the Lord, begging forgiveness and restoration.

Before you throw stones at David, why do you need restoration?  We have all fallen short, haven’t we (Romans 3:23). Our Lord is a Lord of restoration. He desires to restore us just like He did in the days of Zephaniah. One big difference we have is Jesus. His Son is the instrument of restoration. Whether you are coming to Him for the first time or the tenth, He will restore you to the place you need to be.

I am so thankful for Your powerful restoration in my life. I praise You for bringing me back to You.

JONAH 3:8

“‘But every person and animal must be covered with sackcloth; and people are to call on God vehemently, and they are to turn, each one from his evil way, and from the violence which is in their hands.’”

I may have told this story before in one of my blogs (I’m getting older, so just pretend you haven’t heard it, lol). I was on a trip once with a work colleague in North Carolina. We were driving back to Florida after a conference and decided to stop and get a bite to eat. We finished and got back on the interstate. After about 30-45 minutes I begin to notice things I had seen already along the highway, only this time they were on the opposite side of the road. We had headed in the opposite direction. Wrong way!

Jonah is watching what is taking place there in Nineveh. Now, the king continues his proclamation demanding that not only the people but that every animal be covered in sackcloth as a sign of mourning. But what he says next grabs me. He tells them to call on God with all their strength. That’s what the Hebrew word for “vehemently” means. And he says they are to turn from their evil ways and violence. That’s true repentance.

APPLICATION

True repentance requires a change in behavior. It requires us to turn from the direction we have been going and go in a totally new direction. That new direction is at the discretion of the Lord. He may change the direction, according to what He is trying to teach us at the moment.

The problem we have is that we like to determine our own direction. We veer off the course the Lord is showing us, determined to show Him how we can handle it. I just finished reading “Pilgrim’s Progress.” That was Christian’s problem. He kept trying alternative routes which all brought him pain and grief.

I am getting too old to try it on my own. I know if I stick with the Lord, He will always keep me safe. It may not be easy, but it’s safe. It always is when I am traveling with Him. Will you today allow the Lord to direct your steps? There is no telling what you may find yourself doing.

I come before You, O Great Elohim, and bow before You. I turn from my evil ways.