But they refused to pay attention and turned a stubborn shoulder and stopped their ears that they might not hear. They made their hearts diamond-hard lest they should hear the law and the words that the LORD of hosts had sent by his Spirit through the former prophets. Therefore great anger came from the LORD of hosts. “As I called, and they would not hear, so they called, and I would not hear,” says the LORD of hosts, “and I scattered them with a whirlwind among all the nations that they had not known. Thus the land they left was desolate, so that no one went to and fro, and the pleasant land was made desolate.”

Zechariah 7:11-14

But they refused to pay attention and turned a stubborn shoulder and stopped their ears that they might not hear. They made their hearts diamond-hard lest they should hear the law and the words that the LORD of hosts had sent by his Spirit through the former prophets. Therefore great anger came from the LORD of hosts. “As I called, and they would not hear, so they called, and I would not hear,” says the LORD of hosts, “and I scattered them with a whirlwind among all the nations that they had not known. Thus the land they left was desolate, so that no one went to and fro, and the pleasant land was made desolate.” Zechariah 7:11-14

I continue my study of the last four books of the OT (complete: Zephaniah, Haggai; to complete: Zechariah, Malachi) - using the Christ-Centered Exposition Commentary volume for this book.  For today, my focus is a commentary-assisted review of Zechariah 7:11-14, which the commentary outlines as the fourth of five divisions for the text 7:1-8:23 (7:1-3/8:18-23, 7:4-7, 7:8-10, 7:11-14, 8:1-17). Here, the commentary emphasizes how God is sharing how His people turned their back on Him and stopped listening to Him and this led their exile and the destruction of the temple.  It shares: "[n]ow, decades later, God reminded the current generation of Jews that the reason they were having to rebuild the destroyed temple and the ruined city of Jerusalem was simply because their forefathers had not listened to Him. God’s judgment in Israel’s history stands as a warning to people who are more intent on obeying their own desires rather than obeying God’s voice."  The commentary then speculates what it would be like if God did indeed stop talking to His people - and even if He were talking, are we as believers listening to Him?  Jeremiah's words to God's people offer great encouragement: "[y]ou will seek me and find me, when you seek me with all your heart" (Jeremiah 29:13). 

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My Prayer: Father, I know You are there - You offer great comfort in all circumstances.  You save.  And I know I can never be separated from Your love.  What incredible blessings!  I am not deserving.  My sin is great and it continues...daily.  Please forgive me and help me turn from and overcome such sin and turn towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind and love others as You love me.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength.  Please continue to heal Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo.  Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior.  Please provide Godly friends and spouses to Zach and Dustin.  Help me serve You, my family, my church, and others.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.

But they refused to pay attention and turned a stubborn shoulder and stopped their ears that they might not hear. They made their hearts diamond-hard lest they should hear the law and the words that the LORD of hosts had sent by his Spirit through the former prophets. Therefore great anger came from the LORD of hosts. “As I called, and they would not hear, so they called, and I would not hear,” says the LORD of hosts, “and I scattered them with a whirlwind among all the nations that they had not known. Thus the land they left was desolate, so that no one went to and fro, and the pleasant land was made desolate.”

Zechariah 7:11-14

But they refused to pay attention and turned a stubborn shoulder and stopped their ears that they might not hear. They made their hearts diamond-hard lest they should hear the law and the words that the LORD of hosts had sent by his Spirit through the former prophets. Therefore great anger came from the LORD of hosts. “As I called, and they would not hear, so they called, and I would not hear,” says the LORD of hosts, “and I scattered them with a whirlwind among all the nations that they had not known. Thus the land they left was desolate, so that no one went to and fro, and the pleasant land was made desolate.” Zechariah 7:11-14

I resume my study of the last four books of the OT (complete: Zephaniah, Haggai; to complete: Zechariah, Malachi) - using the Christ-Centered Exposition Commentary volume for this book.  For today, my focus is an unassisted review of Zechariah 7:11-14, which the commentary outlines as the fourth of five divisions for the text 7:1-8:23 (7:1-3/8:18-23, 7:4-7, 7:8-10, 7:11-14, 8:1-17).  Here the Lord uses as a warning how Israel stopped listening to the Lord and so He stopped listening to them.  The people were scattered (including exile) and the land was made desolate.  We should heed this warning and remember all that He has done and cultivate a heart of humility (poverty of spirit - see yesterday) and gratitude - and remember that without God we can do nothing.  He is before all, in all, and He holds all things together - see Colossians 1:15-17.

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My Prayer: Father, You are an awesome God and You save!  You also provide mercies that are new every morning and that never cease - I know that I can never be separated from Your love.  Thank You Jesus!  I am not deserving of my salvation nor any of the blessings that You pour out for me.  My sin is great and it continues...daily.  Please forgive me Jesus and help me overcome and turn from my sin towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind and love others as You love me.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength.  Please continue to heal Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo.  Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior.  Please provide Godly friends and spouses to Zach and Dustin.  Help me serve You, my family, my church, and others.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.

"Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven."

Matthew 5:3-4

"Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven." Matthew 5:3-4

I continue to pause my study of Zechariah and of the last four books of the OT (complete: Zephaniah, Haggai; to complete: Zechariah, Malachi) - using the Christ-Centered Exposition Commentary volume for this book.  Today, my preparation to lead Sunday school at my church, where our class is doing a study on prayer based on the book by A Praying Life, moves along.  Chapter 7 makes much of poverty of spirit and how it should motivate and animate our prayer life.  This diagram from chapter 6 illustrates poverty in spirit:

This message from John Piper on DesiringGod.com defines and provides greater detail on poverty of spirit, including scripture examples of those who demonstrate poverty of spirit.  Our recognition and growing maturity of poverty of spirit is driven by our view of (1) God's holiness, and (2) our own sinful nature.  As we grow closer to God, our view of both comes into sharper focus.  In terms of prayer, anxiety, which is discussed in chapter 8 (see my brief post yesterday), should drive us into the arms of our Father and actually help our prayer life (vs serve as an excuse).  Matthew 5:3-4 should always be top of mind (scripture memorization) so that we can have a constant reminder of the blessing of being poor in Spirit. One of these verses (scripture memorization) should also be top of mind (I like Psalm 46:1).  Chapter 7 encourages us to lean on excerpts from text with bulleted prayers (God is our refuge) that can be repeated throughout the day - continuously.  

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My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You ARE my refuge and strength and I know You and Your love are with me always - thank You Jesus!  I am not deserving of such blessings.  My sin is great and it continues...daily.  Please forgive me Jesus and help me overcome and turn from such sin towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind and love others as You love me.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength.  Please continue to heal Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo.  Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior.  Please provide Godly friends and spouses to Zach and Dustin.  Help me serve You, my family, my church, and others.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.