Then the angel who talked with me came forward and said to me, “Lift your eyes and see what this is that is going out.” And I said, “What is it?” He said, “This is the basket that is going out.” And he said, “This is their iniquity in all the land.”

Zechariah 5:5-11

Then the angel who talked with me came forward and said to me, “Lift your eyes and see what this is that is going out.” And I said, “What is it?” He said, “This is the basket that is going out.” And he said, “This is their iniquity in all the land.” Zechariah 5:5-6

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 5:5-11, which the commentary outlines as the second of three divisions for the text 5:1-6:15 (5:1-4, 5-11, 6:1-15).   The commentary provides historical context for sin and iniquity of the people at the time of this text: "They were cheating one another and being dishonest in business. Prior to the exile, Amos decried the same type of dishonesty[.]"  We are referred to Amos 8:4-7 for more details on the deceitfulness of the people. The commentary, consistent with the resource I used in my post yesterday shares more on Shinar, and how this represents Babylon, where wickedness "has a place of honor": "wickedness, which is so offensive in the promised land, has a home and a place of honor in Babylon. In Scripture Babylon is not just the place of Israel’s exile. It also represents sin, idolatry, rebellion, and wickedness....from the beginning to the end of Bible, Babylon signifies sin....The removal of idolatry prepares Israel for the second coming of Christ, the final conflict between God and all the nations of the earth with Babylon at the center, and Christ’s millennial reign, as portrayed in Revelation 19–20."  As I posted yesterday, we can be encouraged that in our daily battle with sin, God makes us aware of our sin and gives us the power to overcome sin - see Ephesians 6:10-20 for how we are to put on the whole armor of God in our battle.  The commentary concludes by emphasizing that God not only convicts us of our sin and cleanses us, He also does so for unbelievers, and He "continues to produce the fruit of God’s holiness in our lives and transforms us into the image of Jesus. By the Spirit, believers are able to “put to death the deeds of the body” and live holy lives - see also Galatians 5:22-23, 2 Corinthians 3:18, and Romans 8:13.

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My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an awesome God who loves us and who is full of amazing grace to reveal and convict our hearts of our sin, and soften our hearts so that we run into Your arms for forgiveness and salvation....thank You Jesus!  Amazing grace indeed!  I am not deserving of such blessings.  My sin is great and it continues...daily.  Please 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.