And
the LORD said to Satan, “The LORD rebuke you, O Satan! The LORD who has
chosen Jerusalem rebuke you! Is not this a brand plucked from the
fire?” Zechariah 3:2
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 3:2, which the commentary outlines as the second of six divisions for the text 3:1-10 (3:1, 3:2, 3:3, 3:4-5, 3:6-7, 3:8-10). The commentary aptly provides the theme for how it sees the text: God Wants Us to Feel Sorrowful When We Are Guilty. First the commentary shares that "God’s sovereign ability to reprimand Satan in this manner is a reminder that the Lord and Satan are by no means equal forces in the universe. As powerful as Satan’s tactics against God and God’s people can be, he is no match for the Lord. Accordingly, when Yahweh rebukes Satan, the enemy becomes silent. The commentary then shares how the fire at the end of v2 describes the opposition, oppression, and exile/captivity of God's people. At the same time, we are exhorted to see how such trials are designed to shape us into more of God's image: "God’s Word commands us, “Endure suffering as discipline: God is dealing with you as sons. For what son is there that a father does not discipline?” (see Hebrews 12:6-7). God wants His children to feel grief and sorrow over our sin because grief and sorrow over sin are the ways that God brings us back to Him" (see also 2 Corinthians 7:10). Satan wants us to see the shame and guilt of our sin with no hope. God, instead, provided His Son Jesus Christ as a way out to have forgiveness and victory over sin and death. The commentary concludes with: "God loves believers so much that He won’t allow us to sin and feel good about it. However, unlike the way Satan attacks us with guilt, God’s kind of guilt will never lead us to hopelessness and despair. Instead, He will allow His people to experience godly sorrow over their sin so that they will return to Him. He’s always ready for us to return to Him so that we can be forgiven." Amen!
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My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an awesome God who gives us hope - the victory over sin and death is already won. Thank You Jesus! You are an awesome God who loves us. 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 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 to me today and every day.
