One of Zechariah's prophecies has been applied to Jesus from the beginning of the Christian church.
Zechariah wrote, "I will pour out a spirit of compassion and supplication on the house of David and the inhabitants of Jerusalem, so that, when they look on the one whom they have pierced, they shall mourn for him, as one mourns for an only child, and weep bitterly over him, as one weeps over a firstborn.. . . On that day a fountain shall be opened for the house of David and the inhabitants of Jerusalem, to cleanse them from sin and impurity."
After Jesus was crucified, his side was pierced to make sure he was dead.
Zechariah also wrote, "I am going to bring my servant the Branch. . . says the LORD of hosts, and I will remove the guilt of this land in a single day."
Early Christian writers mentioned Zechariah's words when they described how the sacrifice of Jesus brought salvation to all people.
God, when we look on Jesus, help us to realize what you have done through his life, and help us to be cleansed from our impurity and sin. Thank you. Amen.
People weren't very well off in Haggai's day, in spite of their hard work.
Haggai told them
, "You have sown much, and harvested little; you eat, but you never have enough; you drink, but you never have your fill; you clothe yourselves, but no one is warm; and you that earn wages earn wages to put them into a bag with holes."
If you're going to the trouble of earning money, you definitely don't want to put the money into a bag with holes. But how can you avoid it? Most of us have had our investments decrease in value over the past year or two. (I even own some bank stocks that the government "rescued" and turned into worthless paper.)
In Haggai's day, there was a reason that nothing was paying off. Haggai said the people were neglecting an important task that needed to be done, and because of that neglect, nothing else had been working out. Haggai said if the people changed their priorities, things would immediately turn around.
Sometimes it's not that simple. Things take a turn for the worse and there's nothing we can do about it. But sometimes the power to change for the better is within our grasp, if only we knew what particular action(s) to take. It's worth asking God what actions in our lives would make the most difference.
Have you ever heard a parent yell to the kids, "That's it! Everyone go to your rooms and don't come out until I say so!"? Maybe you've heard it. Maybe you've even said it.
How about this one (it's less common): "That's it. Everyone out of the house and don't come back. Ever!"
Hopefully you haven't said that yet.
Zephaniah said that's the point God had reached. He said God wanted everything off the planet. "I will utterly sweep away everything from the face of the earth, says the LORD. I will sweep away humans and animals; I will sweep away the birds of the air and the fish of the sea. I will make the wicked stumble. I will cut off humanity from the face of the earth, says the LORD."
But Zephaniah also said there might be a way out: "Seek the LORD, all you humble of the land, who do his commands; seek righteousness, seek humility; perhaps you may be hidden on the day of the Lord's wrath."
The book of Zephaniah is fairly gloomy, written to a people about to be completely wiped out because of their actions.
God, long before we get to that spot, help us to seek righteousness and humility! Thank you! Amen.
Have you ever wondered how God could stand to watch the evening news? All the things going on that are so unjust! All the violence and crime! How can a righteous God take it?
Habakkuk wondered that. He asked God, "How long shall I cry for help, and you will not listen? Or cry to you 'Violence!' and you will not save?"
Unlike people who don't wait for an answer, Habakkuk said he wasn't leaving until he heard back from God. "I will stand at my watchpost, and station myself on the rampart; I will keep watch to see what God will say to me, and what God will answer concerning my complaint."
We don't know how long it took, but Habakkuk got an answer. God told him, "Write the vision; make it plain on tablets, so that a runner may read it." God doesn't want this message to be hidden in small print! God wants everyone to see it, even if they are rushing past: "There is still a vision for the appointed time; it speaks of the end, and does not lie. If it seems to tarry, wait for it; it will surely come, it will not delay. . . . The earth will be filled with the knowledge of the glory of the LORD, as the waters cover the sea."
Wow! That's worth waiting for! The earth will be filled with the knowledge of the glory of the LORD! As much as the waters cover the sea." No mistaking that!
God, let your glory be known in our lives as much as the waters cover the sea. Thank you! Amen.
Pastor Mark writes: While hiking the Wonderland Trail on Mt. Rainier, one can encounter sunshine, snow or days of rain. Occasionally the weather is downright hostile.
One year I was caught in a fierce storm, protected only by a small tent, which I crawled into early, about 4 p.m. It was raining hard, and fierce gusts of wind pushed the sides of the tent almost to the ground, first one direction, then another.
As I lay in the tent watching, I was very aware how thin my protection was. The storm was threatening to snap the flexible poles of my tent. Perhaps because the storm was so fierce, I imagined a bear's paw taking a swipe and shredding my tent. But all through the night the tent and poles held. Although it was very wet outside, inside the tent I was warm and relatively dry.
Sometimes God's protection is like that. It seems a little thin. The protective walls around us seem to be buffeted by winds too strong for it. Inside God's protection, we're not quite as dry as we'd like to be. We may not be free from fear. But in spite of the fierce storm we're caught in, we're still surprisingly warm.
Nahum 1:7 says: The LORD is good, a stronghold in a day of trouble. God protects those who take refuge in God, even in a rushing flood.
God, be with people who are caught in storms. Help us to take refuge in you and to experience your amazing protection. Thank you! Amen.
When Micah thought about how much God had done for people, he wondered what would be an acceptable thank offering in response to such generosity.
Micah concluded that far more than material possessions, what God really wants is for us to do justice, love mercy and walk humbly with God.
God, thank you for your amazing generosity to us. Help us to do what's most important in your eyes: to do justice, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with you. Amen.
Most people know that running from God makes no sense. But some people try it anyway.
Sometimes people want to get away from God's plans. They have a plan they think they will like better.
Others want to get away not from God's plans but from God. They've done something they're ashamed of, perhaps. For whatever reason, they don't want to face God.
A song in the Bible says there's nowhere we can go to escape God's mercy and love. God is everywhere. Running from God makes no sense because it's futile. It can't be done.
It also makes no sense because God loves us and wants the best for us. When we run from God, we run from the best life we could have towards something worse. Why would anyone want to do that?
Jonah was a someone who tried to run away. He didn't like God's plan. Too ambitious, perhaps. Too dangerous, perhaps. Too merciful, for sure.
God wanted Jonah to go to a city that Jonah didn't like and warn them of impending disaster. Jonah was afraid if he went that God would have mercy on the city, so Jonah fled the opposite direction.
Everyone reasons to run from God. None of them lead to what's best.
God, when you call and ask us to do something great, help us to realize how much love you have for us and that your plans are worth doing, even if they are far outside our comfort zone. Thank you for your mercy, for us and for everyone else. Amen.
Obadiah told his nation that the day they stood by and watched a nearby rival be plundered, they were like the invaders.
(If that applies to television -- that standing by and watching makes us as bad as what we're watching -- we're all in trouble!)
Obadiah tells his nation, "You should not have rejoiced . . . on the day of their ruin, you should not have bosted on the day of their distress."
God, help us to do what is right in your eyes. We don't want to stand by and watch when we should be taking action. Glorify your name in all the earth. Glorify your name in our lives. Thank you. Amen.
When the nation of Israel was first being formed, God gave them detailed instructions on how, when, where and why God should be worshiped. But by the time of the prophet Amos, it had all gone bad.
Even if the people were getting the details of worship right, their actions throughout the week were so unjust that God couldn't stand it.
God told Israel, "Take away from me the noise of your songs; I will not listen to the melody of your harps. But let justice roll down like waters, and righteousness like an ever-flowing stream."
God, help us to do what's most important: letting justice roll down like waters, and righteousness like an ever-flowing stream. Let all the nations of the earth experience justice and righteousness. Thank you for your mercy for us. Amen.
Joel told his nation that devastation was coming: waves of locusts, pictured as maurading invaders, would completely strip the land, leaving nothing to eat.
After describing how terrible the time would be, Joel wrote a verse of hope that we often sing in the weeks before Easter: "Return to the Lord your God, for God is gracious and merciful, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love."
People often cannot escape the consequences of their actions. But God is gracious. When people begin acting in their own best interests, devastation can often be avoided.
God, be with people who don't realize how gracious and merciful you are. Help us all to turn to you and follow your ways. Thank you. Amen.
Hosea said God wanted him to marry a prostitute as a sign that Hosea's nation was being unfaithful to God.
When his wife gave birth to a daughter, Hosea said God told him to name the girl "Not Loved."
Could that be true?
What would you think of a man who called a four-year-old girl "Not Loved" every time he saw her? Doesn't that sound mean spirited and maybe a little creepy?
Hosea said his broken family life was a symbol of how the people of his nation were unfaithful to God and how God no longer loved them. When Hosea's wife had a son, Hosea said God told him to name the boy "Not My People." Wouldn't it be cruel to call a boy "Not My People" all through his formative years, just to make a point?
No doubt about it: Hosea's family life presents some challenges. So does his book.
One thing is certain: if you have been told you were not loved, that's not God's message to you. God loves you, in spite of what you may have been told by your mom or dad or other people speaking for God.
God, be with people who don't know you love them. Help them to experience your deep affection and love. Help them to know your mercy. And for any people who have been wounded by their parents, we ask your deep healing. Thank you. Amen.
