Thursday, January 16, 2025

Therefore love truth and peace. "Thus says the LORD of hosts: Peoples shall yet come, even the inhabitants of many cities. The inhabitants of one city shall go to another, saying, 'Let us go at once to entreat the favor of the LORD and to seek the LORD of hosts; I myself am going.' Many peoples and strong nations shall come to seek the LORD of hosts in Jerusalem and to entreat the favor of the LORD. Thus says the LORD of hosts: In those days ten men from the nations of every tongue shall take hold of the robe of a Jew, saying, 'Let us go with you, for we have heard that God is with you.'"

Zechariah 7:1-3 and 8:18-23

Therefore love truth and peace. "Thus says the LORD of hosts: Peoples shall yet come, even the inhabitants of many cities. The inhabitants of one city shall go to another, saying, 'Let us go at once to entreat the favor of the LORD and to seek the LORD of hosts; I myself am going.' Many peoples and strong nations shall come to seek the LORD of hosts in Jerusalem and to entreat the favor of the LORD. Thus says the LORD of hosts: In those days ten men from the nations of every tongue shall take hold of the robe of a Jew, saying, 'Let us go with you, for we have heard that God is with you.'" Zechariah 8:19b-23

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 7:1-3 and 8:18-23, which the commentary outlines as the first 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, building on my post yesterday, a heart transformation is required to more fully experience God.  The commentary describes this first division as "framing" the entirety of the text and how God transforms fasting - which God's people did to commemorate events and periods in Jerusalem's history when the temple was destroyed - into feasting, which is described in the latter verses of chapter 8.  The commentary further describes how God did not require such fasting - only during Yom Kippur (see Leviticus 23:16-32) was fasting commanded. It shares that "[God] can take the most difficult circumstances, the most broken times of your life, and turn them into times of feasting and fruitfulness through His power....experiencing God’s living presence requires deep transformation in our lives."  We must fully surrender our lives to God and seek Him daily through scripture reading, study, prayer, corporate worship, service, and other spiritual disciplines. We must seek God with a "hunger and thirst for righteousness" (Matthew 5:6) to transform our hearts (Romans 12:2) into more of His image and so that we can best be able to understand His will for our lives.  

Comment and discuss this post.

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, thank You for working in my heart and mind to transform me into more of Your image - I know there is more work to do but I am grateful for what You have done - particularly that You have saved me and given me more of a hunger and thirst for righteousness.  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 Your 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 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.